APT MESS ⦁ open w/closed prompts.

[venatik]

Who: Levi Ackerman venatik & you! Open with closed prompts.
What: Event things.
When: 9.8 and on throughout the month.
Where: Prompts will have locations.

Content Warnings: Event-typical warnings. Attack on Titan-typical warnings can be found here.

001 ⦁ GROWING PAINS | crenshaw district | open.

( This seems like a good place for it.

He feels a little stupid, but while patrolling, he figures the ritual might be a good idea. When he sees someone carting a flower, he stops them. Maybe a little severe looking. )

Hey. Is there any real benefit to that?

002 ⦁ POST-GROWING PAINS | prufrock district | closed to winter.

( He has his omni-directional mobility gear on as always, black cloak over his form to hide the straps. He doesn't look too different from usual. He looks to Winter, the two of them outside the place he lays his head at night: )

Did you want to do this with our own weapons at first, or hand to hand?

003 ⦁ RIVER OF REGRET | ???? | open.

( This sure is strange. Being whisked away from the streets of Cellar Door to here, a boat on a strange river.

He stays silent but watchful, knife drawn and bared.

Then the bodies start showing up — no one he recognizes. He looks over each of them in turn. )

Who ... Are these people?

004 ⦁ POST-RIVER OF REGRET | cellar door | open.

( The haunted faces of bar patrons in the Red ... What have they seen?

Levi has a feeling he knows what it is.

While he carries no regrets of his own, he doesn't exactly relish seeing the dead bodies of others' own relations; it's a lot for everyone. Levi doesn't really drink much, but it looks like the person next to him needs it. He takes a deliberate drink of his whiskey. )

Shit, you good? You look like you're about to throw up.

005 ⦁ BLOODSPORT | prufrock district | open | animated blood/gif in link.

( He rockets up through use of his ODMG, wires anchored firmly in a tall wall on the edge of the arena. This place is perfect for his gear, and he would be lying if he said that the familiar feeling of zipping around wasn't nice in a way.

There's a rather tall sort of monster in the center of the arena, though its skinny and top-heavy, resembling more of an alien-type than something bestial. Tentacles speed towards him and nearly collide; there it is.

He shoots forward on that opportunity, spiraling up the tentacle and severing it.

Then he's covered in its blood, a high-pitched screech sounding through the arena. )

Fucking disgusting.

( He's on the ground again to regroup, bouncing on his heels and then sending his hooks straight into its forehead: )

I'll kill you for that one.

( More spinning, traveling up its tall body and cutting deep.

If you can't discern a weak-point, why not cut randomly? Seems to work out; the thing topples over, and he's on the ground again. More blood.

Ew. )

006 ⦁ WILDCARD

( any other ideas or want to plot? hmu @ vandalisto! )

Comments

001

[notimeforfailure]

[She glances up at the casual question and responds with a faint shrug.]

The meaning of ritual is dependent on the individual. It's certainly not going to give me any special abilities, but I chose to indulge in it for my own sake.

[Lysithea's flower looks... unhappy.]

I think it depends on the mindset you bring.

[venatik]

( Better not pry there, he thinks. As if he would anyway. )

Yours looks a bit down. Might need some watering.

[notimeforfailure]

It's fine.

[Lysithea huffs as it loses another petal before their eyes.]

...The upkeep of magical flowers was not a part of my education.

[venatik]

( He doesn't comment on the petal, or the sad state of the flower any further. )

Mine either. Thanks, though. I was curious about this whole deal.

[notimeforfailure]

Well, there's no reason to do this if it's not meaningful to you in a specific way. It's about letting go of the past.

[She can't say that everyone would feel the same way, after all.]

[venatik]

That's a topic that's going around a lot, even not connected to the flower thing.

( Suppose that comes with the territory. )

Seems like a lot of people are finding that easy.

[notimeforfailure]

Easy?

[Lysithea echoes with a note of faint surprise.]

...I wouldn't say that. There's a lot of people attempting the ritual, but I would hesitate to characterize the choice as 'easy.'

It's desirable, perhaps.

[venatik]

Mm. I misspoke, then.

( That's a bit of insight that fits more; he hadn't thought about it too deeply. He narrows his eyes a little, and looks down at the ground. A few beats pass, perhaps a beat too long. )

... You sort of remind me of someone. He'd probably find it easy. Certainly desirable.

( Then he scoffs at himself. )

Jeez. Listen to me. I don't mean to give you my life story — just curious and I can't seem to shut up.

[notimeforfailure]

Er.

[Lysithea blinks.

As far as she can tell, he has said very little about himself so far. Lysithea judges that this is a man who feels that giving his name is already too much information.]

Well, I don't mind. Who is this you speak of?

[venatik]

His name's Erwin. He was the Commander of my branch.

( Man. Erwin's death sucked.

... To say the least. )

He had an interesting way he looked at things. Saw things most people didn't. Got 'em to think.

[notimeforfailure]

Oh.

I'll... take that as a compliment. Thank you.

[This is definitely an overreach, but Lysithea continues on cautiously.]

He is no longer your Commander?

[venatik]

No, he died in the line of duty.

( Sounds mechanical. )

My second commander after him was absolutely bat-shit.

( In the best way, but he doesn't say that. )

[notimeforfailure]

My condolences.

[Lysithea offers with a slightly bowed head, conscious that despite the man's lack of emotion, it was clear he held his former commander in high regard.]

I... also lost somebody a few years ago - somebody I considered a mentor.

You have not been happy with your new command?

002 ⦁ Post-Growing Pains

[winter_bestowed]

( It seemed that people were a bit more on edge now that things were settled and they were adjusting to this new world. The new powers were something that many still needed to practice and something that made them a bit uneasy it seemed. Winter's own hadn't changed much, though she had noticed her glyphs taking on additional attributes. She'd arrived shortly ahead of their scheduled time, taking a moment to look around before he approached.)

Whichever you would prefer to start with, though given the history of encounters hand to hand combat will be less likely to occur. Even with other dreamers it often comes down to non-lethal use of weapons.

Also before we begin we should probably discuss limits. Other than your clothes and armor do you have any additional protection from wounds?

(Winter had found that outside of those from Remnant very few seemed to have active auras to help them in combat.)

[venatik]

Weapons, then.

( He considers her question, swinging the blades in small circles; he's plainly tensing up for the training ahead. )

No. I had nothing more than speed on my side.

( And that usually worked out pretty well, though not all the time. )

I wasn't a Titan shifter or anything, and there's no ... magic where I come from.

[winter_bestowed]

I assume that means that you're not familiar with aura or semblances then, since most of those who come from worlds outside of Remnant seem to classify them as magic.

(Winter would likely keep her blades sheathed then, to avoid any accidental damage to him if he didn't have aura to protect him from the blade. That he mentioned speed was good, they would be able to keep up with each other then, since Winter used speed in place of power as well.)

Don't hesitate to strike me with your attacks, I'll stop you if it gets to be too much or I run out.

Are you ready?

[venatik]

Nope. Nothing like that.

( He nods at her question then. There's a few beats before he switches his grip on one of the blades to a stabbing grip; with that, he steps in and flicks his wrist to slash upright with it. )

[winter_bestowed]

(He was quick, Winter just barely had enough time to react and move just out the range, the blade just an inch from her as she pulls her own Saber around with a horizontal slash with the holster.)

No hesitation, good.

[venatik]

( He's quick to jerk out of the way, though the holster grazes his robe. )

Shit —

( The properly-gripped blade comes up in another twist, a rising sort of cut meant to get some distance between them. )

[winter_bestowed]

(The attack did its job, driving Winter back further and giving Levi a little distance though how long the gap would remain was questionable, a ring of white light appeared around Winter's feet. A speed glyph that would accelerate her next charge.

Winter reset the blade and sheath to its normal spot, ready for another quickdraw and slash. There was no reason to not make this a challenge from the start.)

bloodsport

[armd]

(okay but what do you do if you can't... do any of that.

abby waits on the ground, practically thrumming with impatience. why was she pitted in with somebody who clearly understands what they're doing and doesn't need any help? the monster is too busy dealing with the full-on assault, and barely seems to register her presence at all. it's driving her crazy. all abby wants to do is fight, and rip, and kill.

when it topples to the ground, presumably dead, she shouts aloud in pure frustration and rounds on her arena partner, braid whipping behind her.)

The fuck is your problem?

[venatik]

I didn't get enough hugs as a child.

( He flicks some blood at the ground.

What could she possibly be mad about? He just did all the work. His old squad would be cheering him on. )

I don't see what I did wrong.

[armd]

We were supposed to defeat it together.

(she's aware that she sounds petulant, but it's the energy that spurs the snappy response. it's filling her up, making her twitchy, and it's easy to take that impulse out on him in lieu of a monster to kill.) Ask them to give us another one.

[venatik]

Ah. I didn't really get instructions when I showed up here —

( At her order, he goes to open his mouth again, but stops when the gate opens once more.

The beast that lumbers out isn't anything like the first; rather quadrupedal and vicious as it speeds forward on sight. )

[armd]

(oh he actually did it. well– good.

the one he pulls for the both of them is fucking fast, and abby sucks in a breath as it speeds toward them. it isn't large, but that hardly matters if it's going to try to ram her. still, she remembers those wires her companion was zipping around on, her gaze flickering to him for a brief moment,)

Trip it. I'll get around the side– (she breaks into a run, trying to distract it.)

[venatik]

On it.

( Maneuvering in such a way to trip the beast is difficult, but not impossible; he speeds up and around on the gas, then shoots his anchors into its foreleg and pulls.

There's a move he hasn't done before. It pays off, the thing crashing into the dust and roaring in anger.

He spins and lands gracefully a few paces away from the beast, blades at the ready in case he needs to step in again. )

All yours!

005

[survivalthroughhate]

[There's a slow clapping, one part sarcastic but also a little bit genuine after what he just observed from Levi.]

Not bad. Not bad at all. But why not give you a real challenge, hmmmm?

[He pulls out a sword with two blades, one that requires a great deal of dexterity. Of course Maul would have a sword with twin blades, it was practically his trademark after all. He points the longer end at Levi.]

Defend yourself!

[Then he goes on the attack.]

[venatik]

( Levi wants to attack this guy on principle when he starts clapping, words derisive.

He's quick to raise his blade to block Maul's own, letting the other loose to slash at his abdomen. )

I hate the competitive types.

( Should be a show for the spectators, if they release another monster ... )

Always got something to prove or compensate for.

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul talks as he fights, his whole world narrowing down to the fight he is in. He immediately goes on the offensive, stabbing out with one end as he uses the other to block any other attacks.]

I was molded into an assassin.

[He slashes at Levi, aiming for his chest.]

Fighting is all I've ever been good at.

[He flips into a back handspring, still holding onto his sword. He comes back up holding it with both hands. There's a grin on his face that makes him look slightly unbalanced with all the sharp fangs in his mouth.]

And you are going to find out, I am very good at what I do.

[venatik]

Can't wait to hear the rest of your life story.

( The slash makes contact across his chest, slicing through cloak and shirt alike, and Levi doesn't seem terribly bothered by the blossoming wound, though he grimaces a little.

He charges as Maul flips backwards, quickly stabbing into his space. )

[survivalthroughhate]

You won't get the chance once you're bleeding out on the ground.

[The smile doesn't leave his face as he parries the blow, going on the defensive for the moment so he can judge how seriously he needs to take his opponent. No matter the fact they're battling in the middle of an arena due to bloodlust, Maul is enjoying himself immensely.]

[venatik]

Mmhm.

( He's tired of it already, but he switches his grip on one of the blades to hold it in a stabbing position, where the other is held upright and proper; he flicks his wrist and goes low. )

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul gives a twist to the middle part of the blade, splitting them into two, a long and short sword. He holds the short in his right and the long in his left. He strikes out with the left, using the short sword as a parrying blade for whatever Levi might be trying next.]

[venatik]

( Ok, enough.

Levi shoots his anchors forward, attached to wires, aiming for Maul's legs; the maneuver is an attempt to catch him off guard. )