striketwice | reverie ⚡️ overflow

( from here )

[ Oh, he does not like the way her eyes follow him, like a predator zeroing in on its prey. If there's one thing Alec does not enjoy being, it's prey.

That ball of lightning comes shooting his way, and old instincts kick in. Alec's been more or less out of the mercenary game for a while, but it's hard to forget how to fight another magic user. Like riding a bike. Still moving, he hits the deck, sliding a short ways on his back. The lightning still clips his shield as it passes, though it seems to be none worse for wear.

With that same inhuman speed, he's up and splaying a palm in her direction, sending a ~~Firebolt~~ small ball of flame her way. It won't do much, he knows, but it's all a distraction anyway, because the next moment, Alec simply winks out of being.

He's still here. Just invisible. ]

[ this is all a game to her. if she hits him, doesn't hit him, breaks the shield, just keeps him dodging... it doesn't matter. her blood pumps, her joy soars. this is exactly what she's made for, baby!

the flame blooms and blisters across her; again, no effort to avoid it. she merely shields her eyes, and when she glances up and finds him gone, her heart only beats faster.

did he run? let's bank on... no. ]

Aleeeeec. Where'd you go?

[ starts to walk, slowly, aimless, dragging her kanabo over the path behind her so it scrapes. she scans the trees, just in case he's the perching type, but no good. ears perked for breathing, or...

hmm. sends up another little current skittering across the ground. ]

[ Like he's going to answer that. Alec is well-versed in moving silently, though he has no idea how sharp her senses really are. Even with all the noise she's making dragging that weapon around, it could only be a matter of time before she finds him, so he's going to have to act fast.

That current does not have to skitter far. It pings off his shield... right behind her. The instant it does, he knows he's been had, so he snaps an invisible hand out, planting it right between her shoulder blades. Magic seizes hold of all the air in her lungs and tears it right out of her. It's like being punched in the gut without the impact.

As long as he's touching her, she won't be able to breathe. ]

[ she feels him touch and takes a breath to turn and swing--tries. to take a breath.

instead, she makes an awful hitching, rattling sound that might have been a laugh, in another world. so it's like that, is it? dirty trick. she's into it. ]

Hhh... hhhaah...

[ but if he's touching her, then... that dome of his must not be separating them anymore. maybe, maybe!

so even as her throat works and her chest aches and her eyes tear up, she's lashing her tail up to twist around his wrist, even unseen. to check. ]

[ Risky move, he knows, dropping his shield to get this close. She's proven too resilient and downright immune to the most powerful things in his arsenal, so this is his best bet. Even an oni needs to breathe.

Her tail comes up and twists around his wrist with no resistance. Yep, the jig is up. He steps closer, snakes his free arm around her neck from behind to hold her in place. She'll find him difficult to move, for a supposed human. Was he always this strong?

His breath huffs against her ear, words ground out through gritted teeth. ]

Maybe you ought to lie down for a little nap.

[ you all think you're so witty. grunting another painful-sounding laugh, petering out quickly without breath to round it out, she palms at the arm curving her throat. there he is, muttering into her ear... she didn't expect it, but he's really getting her going!

the corners of her vision are beginning to pulse and blur. there's fire in her chest. she lists slightly in his grip, tail writhing, but it's not enough. he is too much for her to fight the way she wants, tooth and nail, like a monster fights, when she can't even take a breath. ]

...with me... won't you...?

[ but what she can do is force her arm... up, and she can let it—and the kanabo she's still clutching onto—swing back down like a pendulum. just in case she might bust a knee in sideways while she's at it.

this is her last chance. ]

[ He doesn't realize her gamble until a split second too late. She lets gravity power her swing, and though Alec tries in the last moment to shuffle away, the weapon does come into contact with his leg. Shit fucking hurts, but as ever, his tricks spare him from the worst. The kanabo catches on the fabric of his jeans, breaks skin, but bones don't cunch like they should. The joint doesn't cave.

He hisses through his teeth and his invisibility gutters out, his form flickering back into being. His grip on her, however, stays solid. In fact, he pulls his arm against her throat a little tighter, jostling her as the magic etched onto his arm continues to deny air entry into her lungs. ]

I said take a nap.

[ haha, do you hold every lady this way, Alec? she feels the hint of give as he tightens around her, and with it comes the need to try, try again--

and she can't. she's fading fast. a thud as the kanabo falls from her fingers. her tail unravels from his arm next.

each heartbeat blisters in her ears, painful. ]

H-Hhhah.

[ and down she goes. oh, yes. she'll remember you. ]

[ Even when she goes limp, he holds on for a moment or two longer, and when he's certain it's not a ruse, he just... lets her go. Lets her fall to the ground like a heap of bricks.

He steps over her, wobbly, and limps into the library to get to his nearest portal. Fuck this and fuck her. ]

reverie ⚡️ overflow

"sprezzatura."

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