21st Combo - [Video]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd's face is pale, panicked, when the video feed turns on.]

Guys, we have a problem. Cruxis is here.

[He swallows.]

And so is Kratos. He's taken over. It isn't Yggdrasill anymore, it's him. He's-

[His eyes abruptly widen, no longer looking at the Dreamberry but something off screen.]

Damn it, they're back!

[There's a flash of steel as he pulls a sword out, then the feed abruptly turns off.]


[ooc: Backdated to after this.]

Comments

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

[When Lloyd tenses, Zack slowly sits up with his back to the wall in case he needs to move quickly. No sense letting his friend fight alone if that's what it comes to.]

That big flood a while back. Whole place was underwater so it was pretty messed up. Managed to fix the ground floor once the water went down, but the upper levels are still pretty rotted out. Can barely get up there without stepping on a bad floorboard.

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[Something's watching him. He can feel it. Trying to act casual, he stands up, turning around.]

You need any help? I'm pretty good with a hammer and nails.

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

[He may be trying to act casual, but Zack can see he's still tense, and he gets that. Wondering where the next attack is going to be coming from isn't easy.]

How good are you with a saw? Need to get the bad boards out before putting in new ones...probably need to fix up the support columns before moving back in, too.

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

I've helped my Dad fix things up before. We live out on the other side of the forest from the village, so there isn't usually anyone else to help when something breaks or needs to be replaced. I get lots of practice. I'm stronger than I look, too.

[Whatever it was he sensed, he can't see it in the room. Could it have gone somewhere else?

Upstairs?]

Maybe you could show me the damage.

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

Don't have to tell me twice. I'll be glad for any help I can get, man.

[Zack stands up as he says that, casually stretching as he moves towards the stairs to take the lead. If there is something up here after Lloyd, it'll have to go through him first.]

Sure thing. Just watch where you put your feet, okay? Gonna hurt if you fall through 'em.

[It won't take long to get why Zack's saying that; the stairs are incredibly creaky and look they're about to fall apart....along with having a few foot sized holes. Yep. Experience talking.]

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd notices that. Now, what kind of friend would he be if he didn't point that out?]

Looks like your feet already know that.

[He does as Zack says, being careful where he places each foot. The stairs sometimes creak ominously, but thankfully they hold. Once he reaches the top, though-

He stops. His eyes widen in alarm, and he reaches out to grab Zack's shoulder.

There's nothing there.

Nothing but two angels led by Kratos himself.]

Zack, go back down.

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

Something like that. If I wasn't wearing boots I'd have been picking splinters outta my ankles all--

[He stops mid-word, looking over his shoulder at Lloyd and taking in that alarm before he looks back up. He sees nothing, hears nothing, senses no one. That doesn't mean there's nothing there to Lloyd, though, and he takes a deep breath before shaking his head.]

Can't do that. What kinda friend would I be if I let you fight alone, huh?

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd cocks his head as though listening to something only he can hear, then seemingly scowls at a dust mote hanging in the air.]

Leave Zack out of this. He's not part of it.

[As he speaks, he tugs on Zack's shoulder, trying to urge him to back down the stairs. He lowers his voice to a near-inaudible whisper.]

Zack, I'm not kidding. We can't fight them up here. You said the floorboards are bad.

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

[Not part of it. Maybe not part of Lloyd's world, but this is his friend in trouble. He's always part of that, even if he's grinning.]

Yeah. Go down first, okay? I got your back.

[That and he's not sure how well the steps will hold up. Lloyd probably weighs much less than Zack does, too.]

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[He doesn't like it. He doesn't like leaving Zack between himself and three dangerous angels - especially when one of those angels is Kratos. But trying to maneuver and switch places on the rotten stairs would waste time, and so would arguing. He knows Zack will argue.

Despite the anxiety and the dire situation, a warm flush of emotion still rushes through his chest and forms a small smile. I got your back. He doesn't like it. He doesn't like his friend putting himself in danger like this just for his sake.

But he's glad he has a friend like him.

With a nod, he starts picking his way back down the stairs, casting glances over his shoulder to see what the angels are doing. They're advancing. Kratos is speaking. Lloyd shakes his head in response to words only he can hear, irritation on his face again.]

We're not running away. You're the one who lectured me about how it's a bad idea to stick around in someplace with poor footing, remember? Come on, Zack, don't listen to him.

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

[Zack stands ready to bar Lloyd's way if he wants to protest and insist that Zack go down first, but when it doesn't happen, he just grins and follows his friend down. The reaction to the silence has his worry climbing up so high it's nearly ridiculous, but he waves a hand through the air as he avoids a weak part of a step.]

In one ear, out the other. Heard that lecture enough times when I was a kid, anyway. Besides--[He hops down off the last step, grinning as he goes.]

--No shame in running sometimes. Keeps you alive to fight another day.

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd nods firmly.]

That's right. Dwarven vow number one hundred and eight: let sleeping dogs lie. You can't always take on everything.

[At the bottom of the stairs now, he lifts both his swords and prepares. He lowers his voice, speaking to Zack.]

Think you can handle the two angels?

[He'll take on Kratos himself.]

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

No point in trying, either. Gotta pick your battles and your battlegrounds. Just gonna end up in serious trouble if you don't.

[Or worse. Still, Zack picks up his sword from where he'd left it leaning against a wall, then he turns as Lloyd asks him to handle the other two enemies. He could probably take them, there's only one issue. He's only seeing air.]

Probably...I just can't see 'em. Don't know if I'd be able to hit 'em.

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[That makes Lloyd draw up short. He stares at Zack in surprise despite the danger in front of them, something cold worming down his spine.]

You can't see them? But they're right there. I can see them just fine. Why would I be able to see them and not you?

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

[Zack shrugs, looking sheepish, but there's something else in his face. It almost looks like fear, bordering on something like terror.]

I dunno, man. Maybe cause of my cold, but....I just can't see them. Can't hear them or sense them either. There's nothing there for me to hit.

[And the implications of what that means for Lloyd sends shivers down Zack's spine. Hallucinations aren't good.]

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd shakes his head slowly, his heart suddenly pounding with dread.]

It... It's gotta be some kind of mana technique, or maybe a spell. They're making you think they're not there. [His hands tighten around his swords.] If we disrupt it, you'll see them, too!

[Which means he knows what he has to do. He takes a deep breath.]

Stand back, Zack.

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

[In a way, Zack knows the terror that has to be going through Lloyd's system right now. That same terror made him desperate for any answer he could find back just before he arrived. Anything. If it meant downing a building, he'd have done it. So now he reaches out, one hand clasping Lloyd's shoulder almost like a lifeline]

Hey, don't do anything stupid. Wouldn't be the first time I've had to hit a target I couldn't see.

[Granted that had been a training exercise and something had actually been there, but....same difference, right?]

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd takes a deep breath, some of the tension (but not all of it) easing under Zack's supportive hand. He nods once, not backing down, but acknowledging.]

Don't worry, Zack. I have a plan.

[He steps forward, pulling away, grim determination in his face.]

Just be ready as soon as you can see them - and whatever you do, don't listen to what they say.

[Another step. He's deliberately walking toward the unseen threat, swords down at his sides - like he's giving himself up. Trust me, Zack...]

Kratos, I'm the one you want. Leave Zack alone.

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

Okay. If you're sure...

[This time, he just lets Lloyd step forward instead of reaching to stop him again. He really doesn't like this. He wants to reach out, to pull Lloyd back and push them both back out the door they came in, but he only nods and shifts his grip on his sword, ready for action at any second. He'll just have to trust Lloyd to know what he's doing and hope he can fight off anything that might actually be there.

Even if it just dust motes and rotten floorboards. He can fight those too.]

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[He's sure. He's definitely sure. But his attention is on whatever Kratos is saying in response right now.]

No. I'm not sacrificing myself. When I said no one should have to sacrifices themselves, I meant that for me, too. It's not a sacrifice...

[He keeps his arms down, his voice calm and steady as he walks, until the last moment when his expression hardens.]

I never said I was giving up.

[Now!]

Beast!

[He lashes out with his sword, not caring if he actually hits anything. The mana that races out after it, tearing floorboards in its wake, matters most right now. Whatever spell these guys are casting on his friend, it ends now!]

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

[The sudden attack destroys a good portion of the floor and kicks dust and splinters everywhere, but Zack keeps his grip on his sword as he looks for an opening and for whatever has been hounding Lloyd. Only...there's nothing there. No forms made visible by the dust and splinters, nothing forced out of hiding by the mana, and no spell over Zack to break. Zack's shoulders slump and he looks to his friend, eyes full of concern even as he steps forward, reaching out again.]

Lloyd, there's no one there.

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[Lloyd stares. He can't... They didn't even flinch. Beast had gone right through and Kratos and the two angels acted like they hadn't felt anything at all.

Like they weren't even there.

But they were there. He'd been fighting them all afternoon.

Zack's hand lands on his shoulder, and he looks at his friend.]

I don't... I don't understand.

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

[Zack shakes his head, looking up at where Lloyd had been staring. Nothing but dust and echoes and a half-ruined, half-rotted staircase. No enemies, just ghosts. He turns back to his friend, gently tugging him back towards the front of the room.]

Come on. Don't think there's anything they can do to us. They'd have done it already if they could.

[Action]

[redcladidealist]

[He's right. They would have. They should have acted by now. Somehow, though, that makes it even worse, because what it means...

Lloyd swallows, letting Zack lead him away.]

I'm not crazy, Zack. I'm not.

[Action]

[couldnotfly.livejournal.com]

[Zack only shakes his head, smiling softly. The thought that Lloyd was crazy never really crossed his mind. He's just been worried, that's all.]

I know you're not. Just cause they're not there for me doesn't mean they aren't there for you. I mean, it's not like anybody sees the world the same way as everyone else, right? Why should this be any different?

[Still keeping his hand on Lloyd's shoulder, though. More of a show of "I'm here" than anything else, but still.]