deercountry | (no subject)

[ He could make the decision for Mob, he knows, say they need to take it down. But this is a problem they both have to face, where avoiding or running won't always be the safest option. Robby wants to hear Mob's choice, not because he's looking for any particular answer -- but he'd be willing to work with him, if possible.

Because he said he'd help Mob protect, and use his powers in the way he was comfortable with. And he knows subduing isn't what Mob likes... ]

...You're right. [ But if he's leaning that way, they can come to agreement, or plan. Death is death, but: ] If it was just us, we could practice running, or avoiding it. But people are gonna be coming through this way back and forth. [ ... ] We'll make it quick.

[ There's none of Robby's usual note of confidence. His voice is firm, and there's a level of certainty, thanks to the necklace he wears tucked under his clothing gifted to him for this trip. But there's still a deed to be done, a fight to be had, and Robby remembers well--the claws that ripped into him before, his fingers being torn apart as he reached into the head of a beast.

He needs to face this too, he thinks. He looks at Mob, pinching his lips. ]

Unless it's someone like us, we can't save anyone who's become a beast yet. And the ones out here--they've been stuck like this for a long time.

This is the only way we can help them, too.

[ He doesn't know if it gives Mob any comfort, but Robby's had the thought for a while, even about himself: if he was turned and hurt people, he couldn't blame anyone for putting a stop to him. ]

Maybe... we could try to free it at least. If we weaken it maybe we can exorcise it so it can move on peacefully.

[he's really been avoiding beasts, even learning about them too much, so he still isn't sure how possible that is for him. they aren't evil spirits, he knows that, but they really are so like curses. that he knows. that he can banish, probably. maybe.

and it is a little easier to imagine it like freeing someone from a curse rather than beating down or killing a dangerous creature. rather than killing at all.]

I don't know if that will work. But Robby- [yes, nodding to robby now, faint determination to the set of his shoulders. maybe together they could figure this out properly. ] Let's try.

[ Ah-- the idea gives Robby some pause, but not because it sounds impossible. Mob would know better what his powers can do towards exorcism, and while he isn't completely sure either, it's still in his wheelhouse. Robby vaguely remembers some half-hearted suggestion though about exorcism and corruption, thinks about it now, even if it's not on the exact same lines.

But it's the determination in Mob's last words that he catches too, and there's no backing out now, though Robby wasn't thinking of it. His walking comes to a stop, and he takes a breath as he nods. ] Okay.

[ And he lets off the back around his shoulders, pulls off from its hooks the bo staff. The creature hides behind a tree, but moved in from where it last was. Robby knows its movements from his omen's vision linked inside his mind. He's paying attention, even as he asks: ] You got my back?

I do. [mob promises, and starts keeping that promise by raising his hand and lending robby power.

it's the same as it's been, and with more experience now robby might notice a few things. for one thing the power is very much tied to mob's emotions, which are nearly always very muted. because they're moving through robby they start to latch onto his emotions too. anger? makes the power spike, offensive, ready to lash out. fear? it gets more defensive likely, wrapping tighter around him.

it sparks close to his skin, lightening any blows, though only so much. but the truly fun thing? have a gander at the beast now and how horrifying it is to see a soul eaten away by corruption. needless to say it's a gruesome picture, the agony of the soul clear and wailing, and mob will probably feel bad about subjecting him to when he realizes. he wasn't really trying to share that aspect of his powers, but the back and forth just brought it through.

but this isn't only about power sharing anymore. mob really is trying with all they've been working on, gathered enough stability not to fear corruption as deeply. the necklace robby gave him helps, so when the beast dashes from behind the tree to start it's attack mob does the hand movement they've been working on. which in turn sends a blast of power that knocks the creature off course with a snarl.]

[ He's used to this feeling, the way the energy courses through him: like an edge taken off his body, a weight dismissed where his limbs feel at ease. It's different from his state of mind, but it does make him more aware. And he does feel more aware, not only of their surroundings, but another: as if he can feel Mob present in another sense.

Some people might be aware of others this way, feeling their emotions; and Robby can be empathetic, but this is another level of awareness. ...one that Robby doesn't exactly have the time to examine, since he turns with the boost to face their upcoming problem, and what he sees is a different level of awareness. One he wasn't ready for or expecting, but neither is there time to make heads or tails of that.

Because the beast lunges, and gets knock back by the slap of Mob's power, but just as easily rises with its multiple limbs. Robby sprints at an angle instead of head-on, while the beast comes straight for him -- and so does Robby's omen come straight for the beast, speeding on all fours.

There's collision between the two as the omen becomes a mass of darkness that startles it off its path, stumbling to get out from the shadows and to look around. It takes a second, but it's a second where Robby's redirected himself to come directly at the beast, who turns to finally see him just as Robby's omen has disappeared itself with Robby's steel-covered boots instead of his staff -- because Robby uses that to stab into the ground and throw his feet into a kick that bounces the beast some feet.

So cool, much wow. But just as Robby can sense now Mob's own feeling, it's not with a cool confidence that Robby chases after the beast. There's some feeling of trust present that dusts the determination he works with, that layers over something more raw, and honest: a fear, trembling under that. An increase to his pulse, gripping at him. He fights despite it, knocking the butt of his staff into the creature's face that it doesn't get time to lift, but his staff then knocked by the back appendage that whips out, grabs at it and tries to drag Robby forward.

The other appendage raises, its tip pointed at Robby, above him -- and Mob might see it, be able to do something before the spike that shoots out, tracking him even if Robby manages to get his staff released with a kick coming from directly under the monster's chin so he can stumble back with his weapon in tow. ]

[cool indeed. even given the situation mob can't help admiration, that likely brushes through to robby like a warm breeze.

largely mob's attempting to offer some sort of support- shielding, a burst of power if it looks like it's needed. a fear scratches at the back of his head and it takes him a moment to really process it. no, it's not from him, he realizes. he has his own fears but in truth? very few are pointed at the beast itself. it's upsetting to look at, he's a little scared it could hurt robby, but he has no real fear for himself in this.

what he's afraid of is becoming like the beast, proof this could happen to him.

so this other fear, it takes him a moment to place it as foreign- as robby's fear. mob's eyes slide to robby, a little surprised at that revelation. it's not a though he didn't know robby didn't feel safe sometimes, but... well, it's different to feel it. it's different to see what it feels like under the brave front robby has right now. it's a little sad, maybe a lot sad if he's honest. but it also makes him realize just how brave robby is to turn to him and agree to fight.

that distraction isn't great, it makes him gasp when the creature tries to drag robby forward. he's a solid 58% right now and it snaps up to 61% as he throws his hand out to wrap his energy around the spike and stop it inches from making contact with robby.

a bead of sweat drips down his temple, that little flare of alarm muting stubbornly again, shoved down. he sends the spike slamming into the ground and embedding itself there, the appendages lasting out wildly for a moment, barely held back by the barrier mob tries to throw up between it and robby.]

[ The barrier gives Robby pause, unexpected and yet not. He knows in the way everything feels that it's coming--as if the burst of panic behind him is still visible, as if Mob was right there within his view. But Robby's not used to being on this side of a barrier either (or any), and it, and the bashing of appendages and the claws that come up with the beast correcting its position upright, has Robby paused for the second where it shoots up around him.

There's a panic, not his own, separate from the rattling fear in his heart; and Robby tries to reassure it by feeling, like some kind of silent communication being shared, even when you're in the midst of trouble that you can't pull yourself away from. Because there comes the reassurance, and there's an idea of a way of stopping this being concocted at the same time, with Robby's omen moving from his staff to his gauntlets. He thrusts his hand to make it roll over his fist as he concentrates in the same vein he hopes to tell Mob, focus--not knowing if he can be felt, heard, but the message in indication for the shield. Keep that up, please.

Because he's collecting the energy given, bringing out the power of the coldblood bracelet around his wrist, in accordance with the fist he's pulling back. Robby just needs a few seconds; a few seconds that doesn't settle his nerves, his beating pulse, but seconds that allow him to rise above that anxiety, to see his opponent, and--

--And to signal for the barrier to drop just as his fist is ready to slam forward with an explosion of ice. The ice grabs around the beast even as it's knocked back to the ground, pinning it to the forest floor, but also connecting it to Robby and his gauntlet in a thick circular block in the space between them both. ...this is probably what happens when you're so new to ice blood magic.

It's cold, freezing cold, and the beast's soul wails all the more as it scorches in its low temperature pressed tight close against its body. Even Robby has to tug at his hand to get free of the ice, having better luck if he can maybe-- ask for that barrier back, just to break the ice in the contact?? Thanks, magical barrier. ]

[the reassurance ripples through his power, not unlike a hand at his shoulder. that's the feeling he gets, ticking down from 61% to 59%. settling a little, though a touch awed by this connection in general. he didn't really expect sharing his power would get like this, a feedback loop rather than just handing something over.

it's nice. it's also a little scary, because his emotions aren't things he's very comfortable with but they're at the forefront of whatever is happening. all of that is easy to ignore for the moment though, when he has to focus on the here and now. robby and the beast, something between them saying to hold the barrier strong.

the barrier in question seems to thicken when mob catches on to that, the beast slamming uselessly against it in sparks of light. it vanishes when mob feels that pull to let it drop, the tenacity to keep going through the anxiety, the power built and now ready to be unleashed.

and boy is that a lot of ice. mob blinks, watching the mass of ice form, the beast thrash and scream with it. it's hard to tell if the barrier is answering more to robby or mob when it forms to help separate robby from the beast, cracking through it with shards of the ice floating and shimmering prettily in the aura. mob will even raise a finger to try and help crack the remaining bits around robby's hand.]

Wow. [well said, mob. the beast seems thoroughly pinned at the moment too, which while unpleasant to watch is also a mild relief.]

[ Oh, thanks for that hand freedom there. His gauntlets don't cover the entirety of Robby's hand, leaving everything below his upper knuckles exposed, and it's the added benefit of Mob's power keeping Robby from seriously gritting his own teeth about the pain of the cold. Though he can still feel where it was, even as it's been shattered, but he isn't thinking about that now. ]

Mob -- can you do anything about it? Do we need to beat it more?

[ It's a cruel question, and Robby's realising he really doesn't know what else to do but beat it up, regardless of their end goal in this. But if he has to, he'll do so.

But Mob has to make the call. Maybe massively icing a beast is not the right tactic? ]

[mob moves closer to robby, glancing to his hand to make sure it looked okay before his attention goes to the beast. could he do something about it?]

I don't know. [he admits, turning to face it more.] But I want to try. No one should have to live like this.

[it's too cruel to the soul in there. hopefully with it pinned in place he could experiment a little to see what he could do.

he raises his hands, the typical glow forming around him and them before slamming into the beast. it's odd to witness, the beast thrashing all the more as energy just pours out of mob with seemingly no end. the mess that is the beast's soul begins to contort, the heavy, hateful veins of corruption that warp it beginning to snap.

mob's brow furrows a little. the howling of the beast begins to sound a little more human in it's agony, which seems to send a jolt of horror through mob robby can feel echoing. the energy dips, mob's fingers curling. the job is clearly not done, but he's spooked.]

[ The hand is red from the cold, but Robby isn't making a fuss about it right now, doesn't want to detract from what they're doing. He's telling Mob to focus on the beast, but Robby's got his concerns on the ice, hoping it'll hold. It's a thick block, more than Robby had intended - but then, he hadn't so much any intention beyond 'ice it' - but a magical monster is still a magical monster.

But the mix of blood magic and Mob's own fuelled into Robby seem to be sticking. Robby moves back an instinctive step when this new energy begins to form, flooding into the monster--the sight inspiring awe, but confusing too. It's a lot of power, and even Robby seems capable of registering that--or maybe for how much it is, there's so much more that can be used.

(So is it a lot, or not much at all? Maybe he's not ready to read power levels after all....)

Still, Robby hears the shifting vocals, and he feels himself becoming hopeful in a desperate way that it's working--just as that sharp horror jolts through him, though dulled. But horror is horror, it hits the body a certain way, and Robby recognises it. He also recognises it isn't his.

He reaches out and grips Mob's shoulder with his less reddened hand. ]

You can do this, Mob. There's someone there, we can't leave them like this--that's what we said. Nothing's worse than what they are now. We can't leave this job half-done.

[ He speaks loudly, to be heard over the energy and the anxiety in that horror. It pushes down on his own fear, where Robby doesn't even feel it except in the looseness of his limbs; replaced by a trust, a confidence.

He believes in Mob because he has no reason not to; when he's felt his strength himself, and because Mob deserves his trust. ]

[mob looks over to him, the horror chipping away, back to the determination of before as he offers a little nod. robby's right, he can't be distracted by things. this was a human but they're suffering a lot now, no matter what he does.

with a long breath he ups the power again, pouring it into the beast. if he's still touching mob's shoulder he'll clearly feel the trust back, the resolve easier with robby at his back. he wasn't alone. this beast wasn't alone either. they'd do their best.

with an especially high jolt of power the last of the corruption and decay snaps. the form of the beast begins to melt, but more so the horrifying, twisted mass that was it's soul seems gentler, more human. it doesn't linger long, it can't, but there is undoubtedly a sense of peace that comes with how it fades away, leaving only the empty body behind.

mob lowers his hands, a slow blink as he watches all this before he looks over to robby. they did it? it's a little hard to believe it worked but all signs point to success. at the very least the beast is clearly dead, fading under the ice.]

Thank you. [he does have to say, because without robby things would definitely not have worked out the same way.]

[ Robby doesn't let go of Mob's shoulder, not without a request to. This is about as much as he knows he can do, has been shown this type of support, even if it's not been in the middle of anything like this. He needs to be strong too, despite the sight and sounds--

This is what Trench is, too. You can't avoid it at every level all the time.

It's easier to witness, however, when Robby knows what Mob is doing, or trying to do; putting his trust in him, backing him up this way. He can't run away, get absorbed in his own fear-- he has to be strong. And there's a reward in their not running as the wailing comes to an end, the body melting in on itself, and the spirit there, once a twisted deformed mass, showing something more calm, ordinary.

There for a few seconds, and then the empty shell of what was once a beast now more like an empty skin left behind, frozen in its block of ice. Everything is quiet, and Robby just stares at it between wonder and bafflement.

Until Mob says 'Thank you', and he lets go of a breath, looks at him, and turns so he can wrap an arm around his back and give him a squeeze of a one-armed hug. ]

You did it. [ See? his tone implies, Robby lingering for a few seconds in that hold before he withdraws, a smile pressing into his cheeks. ] I didn't know anyone could do that, but you did. You... you did great, Mob.

[ Helping someone that much... and they made it out alive, too. That's a more personal feeling, one he can't ignore, his fear from earlier loosening in his body and turning into relief. A kind of relief that's wetting his eyes some, his lips rolling and pinching together. ]

[the one armed hug gets a little more of a smile, his trepidation and unease really starting to melt to the reality that things did work out far better than he expected. a glance to the ice then back to robby, and he allows himself to sound relieved. be relieved.]

I wasn't sure either... Corruption must be like cursed energy. [not exactly but close enough. his smile warms just a tick though.]

We did it. Your kick was really cool. [the ice too but he'll always be more impressed by non-power things.] Ah, and so was your omen. That was-

[a glance over again, where the soul had departed. with the power still rolling between them there's a definite, sharp feeling of 'maybe things will be okay,' just a little spike of hope that maybe it wasn't quite so grim and terrifying as he first thought.]

[ Ah, his omen, still lingering and making shadows waft off from Robby's gauntlets (and they do waft more at the compliment...!). Robby looks over where Mob does, sensing that pang, and--he smiles with it. Sniffling with his own relief, a small chuckle escaping as he looks back. ]

...if you want to keep trying against beasts, I'll help you. I need to face them too. [ It's a soft-spoken offer, his mind acknowledging that fact of needing to get over his own fears. Still: ] But we don't have to go out of our way. Even if you can help beasts, it's up to you, okay?

I just don't want you feeling like you have to do anything.

[ Because of his powers. He's sure they've spoken about this before, but--Robby still wants Mob to make the decisions here. ]

[honestly it's a relief to hear that. there's a certain pressure in knowing this is something he can do now, yet another thing that most people can't and will expect him to- fair expectations even, given everything.

but like master reigen robby is offering him an out instead of piling that expectation on further, making it feel like a real decision rather than necessity he'll just need to cope with. he's grateful.

he looks back to robby after a moment.] If it can help like this I want to. I don't like it, but it'd feel worse to do nothing. [a beat. robby is facing his own fears he now realizes, after that fight and what he felt through it.

he wants to offer him a similar feeling of actual choice, if he can. if robby does feel pressured in some way.] We can decided together? When we're feeling okay about it. Ready to um, ready to face it all.

[ It's scary. Being out here, being in a world with monsters and living with that. Robby isn't someone who goes out and puts his life on the line, so why should he expect someone younger than him to do that? A guy who got chased up a tree, has problems with explosions and his stamina. A guy who dislikes violence.

He couldn't. Even if there's so much that Mob can do with his powers, he couldn't ever be happy with a guy like Mob roaming around--even if he understands the good behind it, and does smile with acceptance with Mob's decision when he voices it. After all: Mob also sad he wanted to be someone who helped people.

So it's a tiny smile, one that's grateful as well when the offer's turned back around on him, and Robby gives an eventual nod. ]

Yeah-- [ He gives a low laugh, moving awkwardly on his feet; tentative about asking if Mob knew how he felt too (he could feel Mob too, he's sure), and instead: ] Monsters freak me out. You don't know what they can do.

[ He doesn't mind sounding like a coward over a reason like that... ]

[really it's one of those things where upfront honesty eases mob a little. he thinks admitting to being afraid is a lot braver than acting like you aren't just to seem tough. so his shoulders droop a little and he nods.]

I don't like being near them. It's really scary to imagine we could become like that. [so maybe not as afraid of what they can do, just the reality of them. a little scared of what they can do though.]

Has- [a pause, more because he knows this might be an answer neither one of them wants to hear or say. still.] Has one of the monsters here hurt you before?

[ It's an obvious question, or should be. If Robby's come to be familiarised with anything about Mob, it's his easiness to just ask whatever's on his mind. Rather, it's not a penchant of his that Robby really focuses on, but--

But this might be the one time when he minds, pausing him, a struggle in him if to answer. Robby chews on the thought. ]

...I watched a friend nearly get eaten by one. She wasn't human, but- her skin got torn off. [ He doesn't look at Mob as he explains, doesn't exactly clarify properly what being human or not human has to do with this, but he's also just--speaking. Flatly answering than engaging. ]

After that, [ he says with a breath, ] I lost it when I saw one in the woods when I got lost out here. It had something to do my Patron [ ... ] I nearly died.

[ Those words are spoken harder, and Robby -- he starts to walk, his omen re-emerging from his gauntlets in a shadowy mass to do its scouting. But it does look at Mob, briefly--its head lowered, but something like trust being granted to the boy as it moves on ahead to watch their surroundings. ]

[well that's absolutely awful.

suddenly mob feels like he understands robby maybe a little better. it's not like he couldn't grasp not having powers in this place was scary- he does kind of know what it's like to be powerless, even if that world had monsters of a different kind. maybe what he struggled with was the fact people cared about robby, so surely that felt a little safer. they'd be there for robby, if he needed it. he'd be there for robby. maybe it wouldn't always work out that way, but surely it was something.

he hadn't really thought about robby having to watch someone else get hurt, not be able to be there for them. mob's been lucky in that regard, so many close calls with friends but they never got hurt that badly. (only ritsu once, but it's better not to think about that.) robby who came running to help him before he knew how strong mob was. the robby who still would anyway, he's pretty sure.

what a terrible thing to experience. (64%)

nearly dying isn't much better, another little spike (65%, 66%) as he pointedly pushes away the image of robby hurt at all. he glances over instead, a look to robby's omen and a little nod before his attention is all on robby, shibe watching behind them.]

And you still faced one here. [just a long pause there. heck, robby made sure mob was comfortable even.] You're really brave.

It's okay to run away though, if it's too much. Master Reigen taught me that.

I couldn't run. [ That's the core answer to situations in Miyagi-do, isn't it? If you can, then run. ] Sure, I could run now and let everyone deal with the problems, but when I can't, I'm going to be stuck. I'm never gonna get over it. At least like this, I can face them on my terms. I know there's others around if I need them.

[ ...it's still not his main reason for coming, but it's part of why he chose to engage with the beast as he had. For himself, and for Mob, because they're not so different in what they need: to face the dangers around them, so they'll be ready next time.

Robby looks over to him, a thin line for a mouth tightly pinched. ]

I don't wanna stayed scared. So I'm not running this time.

[being stuck, never getting over it. not staying scared.

after a long moment mob nods. maybe some of this conversation even plants itself in the back of his mind for later use and contemplation. there's something niggling to that, about being scared like being stuck.]

I don't want to stay scared either. I'm really glad you asked to do this, with the beast. [a pause] I don't think I would have alone.

I'm sorry you had to go through all that though.

[ It's a heavy subject on Robby, where speaking about it in the moment doesn't make him feel great. Mob calls him brave, and maybe it's nice, but there's so many feeling wrapped up in it, the reminders of what happened before.

Breathe, is also a Miyagi-do lesson. Don't let the emotion drag you down. Rise up above it. ]

It's fine. But... I want you to be prepared when this happens to you. When you can't just run, and you have to deal with danger. If you can, do, [ because that will always be good, ] but this is what balance is about, too. You can't freeze up when times get hard -- you have to push through them. You need to know when to act, and what you can do.

[mob listens, a faint furrow to his brow though he nods along. robby went through a lot to learn this, and it tracks with a lot of what mob knows already. it's good advice. once again he is pretty sure robby will be a really good sensei one day.

still...] How... do you learn when to act? When people are hurt, or you can protect them, that I think I know. But outside of that...

It's hard. Walking away could mean someone is hurt by what you left behind. Or fighting makes things go out of control, if you don't walk away. [a beat] How do you trust yourself to know, Robby?

[ Robby laughs, a single note--not really funny, not really bitter, but something inbetween. ]

You're asking the wrong guy. All I do is make the wrong calls. [ Still, Mob isn't really asking him for his experience....and maybe saying that doesn't help, but Robby looks at Mob all the same, tries to focus properly on the question. ]

Look... you're gonna make bad calls sometime. I don't know how far someone should fight here; I think that's up to the person, up to you. You need to know your limits, not just as someone who can fight or use special powers, but what you're ready to take on. You're never the only guy out there who can do something.

[ Is this the kind of worry someone with powers like Mob has to worry about? He wonders, but a thought comes to him. ]

Sensei told me you shouldn't put passion before principle. When you fight, you always fight for what you believe in, really. I've done a bad job at that--he told me that back in the Valley, but I kept a fight going here I shouldn't've because of my own feelings at the time. It turned out okay in the end, but...

[ But... ] Don't beat yourself up if you don't have the answers right away. You'll find them. [ He gestures out, back to the way you came. ]

You found out today what you can do with a beast.

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cw: gore-ish details to an android

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