The Abyss Gazes Also

[animusnpcs]

Characters: Jason, open
Setting: starting on floor 23 and moving downward
Format: action
Summary: Jason arrives, and he's not happy. Zo has promised his help, but he can't come right away, and he won't strike any direct attacks. It will be up to the characters involved to do what they can.
Warnings: gore and violence

[Jason pulls himself up out of the void with arms much too long and strong to support his odd body, so similar to that of the smaller plague doctors who crawl out and about. The glamour seems to fail around him in an approximate five meter radius. Even with his inhuman face, the human eyes that stare out are cold and furious. Countless scalpels line his six arms, glittering and ready to be yanked out.]

I can't stand interruptions, you know.

[Jason's voice is undoubtedly his, but there's something twisted and odd about its tone with the glamour removed.

He begins to rapidly descend the Tower staircase.]

Comments

[acceptedoblivion]

[Oh, he knew alright. And that's exactly why he tagged along, monster-obtained sword and chestplate and all. He wasn't doing so well with the whole lack of being able to use the darkness at all, but the very thought of Xion going alone-

'I will... protect you.'

He nods slightly, kneeling as his grip on the formerly-orc-sword tightens.]

It's Jason. Best we can do is hold him off unless we can knock out his powers. Even then, I-

[He trails off a second, shaking his head.]

Do what you want. I'll cover the rear if you decide to run.

Ready for Jason whenever

[attheclocktower]

Reno said to try not to die.

[Her voice says she's not sure how much she's going to be able to or even want to follow that order.]

But... Ira's right. We won't be able to kill him, or anything like that. And we're not supposed to anyway.

[Truth be told she doesn't know what to expect at this point. She isn't even sure what she really wants to do. Just that she needs to be here.]

Just... be careful.

[Pot, meet kettle]

[animusnpcs]

[Jason remains on the staircase as he descends--he doesn't seem to want to spare the floor itself a second glance. Still, anyone capable of seeing the staircase in the dark would spot the outstretched limbs and beak, would see how the world falls away into cold, harsh metal around him where the illusions fail.]

It begins!

[gradosfinest]

["Be careful." She's not sure she can make any promises, it's something they as a whole have gotten pretty bad at lately... but she's going to do her best.

And that's when she realizes she sees movement. That's him. That has to be him, Jason in the flesh. And that means the time for thinking, the time for anxiety and worrying and going over a dozen what-ifs is behind them. Quickly she brings her sword up, gripping the hilt firmly in both hands before breaking out into a straight line sprint towards the staircase, sword raised to the side in anticipation of getting into striking range.

But she's not being foolish about this, she's heard of what he can do and she's fully aware Jason will have plenty of time to engage her at range, so as she's running she's tense, focused. Waiting for the inevitable blades that she knows are coming, ready to bolt off towards either side or bring her weapon up in an attempted parry.]

This is as far as you go, Jason! [True, they're a distraction. But Jason doesn't need to know that.]

"Don't cry."

[acceptedoblivion]

[He simply nods once, but not really going to make a promise on whether he will be careful or not. Nothing in his fighting style is - it's raw power, refined only slightly from real practice. In this case? It was more than likely that they'd all die in the attempt to delay him.

When they finally see him, he inwardly grimaces. If there was any way to describe just how messed up he thought scientists were... this would be it.

He follows the charge, sword held in one hand as he charges forward just as tensed and prepared to dodge.]

But Tidus always cries

[attheclocktower]

[She can see the glamour flickering, see how it has no effect. It's no real surprise, though it does make her grimace. That'll make things harder. Not that it was ever going to be easy.

At Jason's actual appearance and Amelia's shout, she hesitates for a half a second then charges forward herself, though not quite straight at him the way the other two are. She aims to get between him and the way down or at least intercept him on the way there. She's not being cheated out of the reason she came here.]

Hey!

[animusnpcs]

Can't you do this tomorrow? [Jason seems annoyed, whipping scalpels out aimed to disable their attacks. He pulls back and attempts to scale over top, using his arms to support his weight.]

[gradosfinest]

[At being so casually dismissed it's hard not to feel a slight jolt of anger, but she does her best to keep it suppressed, a little more concerned about the scalpels headed her way. He's awfully damn fast and the precision with which he threw those with isn't lost on her. To her credit, she's awfully quick on her feet and was anticipating that, halting her charge and managing to break her sword up to deflect the first few before suddenly stepping off towards the side, twisting out of the path of a few more. Fortunately, she's managed to avoid getting stabbed thus far.

Unfortunately, this does has the effect of stalling her charge for the moment, which denies her the chance to try and actually attack right this second.]

[attheclocktower]

[Thankfully Xion hadn't moved to attack Jason directly, which made dodging his attacks slightly easier. Him pulling back, for whatever reason, gives her the chance to place herself firmly in front of the stairs. She holds her sword out in front of her, a warning more than anything, that she's not letting him pass so easily.

She keeps her eyes out though, fully aware he might use one of his many arms to grab the sword or her or knock either out of the way. Or worse.]

No, we can't.

[Somehow this callous dismissal was worse than anything else he might've said. This couldn't be it.]

[acceptedoblivion]

[Ira moves is left arm to cover his face as he steps to the right, wincing as he feels at least one scalpel strike true and stick out of his "skin." Damn. Faster than he thought. Somewhere in the raw and seething hate, he files that away for later.]

Tomorrow's booked. Besides... [Something akin to a mixture of a feral grin and a sneer crosses his lips. Or would were it not for glamour.]

You never explained what a simile or metaphor was.

[And he was intent on at least getting an answer for that with the side of an attempt to distract.