when in rome...

[thirteen-blades.livejournal.com]

Characters: Espedon, Open
When: About an hour after the smoke appears
Where: Outside the apartment -> The warzone
Rating: TBA
Summary: Espedon hauls it to the warzone with anybody who wants to go along.


Espedon stood beside his unmade bed, looking down at the backpack sitting atop it. He took a quick mental inventory of the pack's contents. The full complement of survival gear would be far too heavy to take, so he limited himself to dried pigeon, torn-up strips of bedsheet, some water, and a few other sundries. Always best to go prepared. Satisfied, he slung the pack over his shoulder and left the apartment. He checked his PDA on the way out.

Moments later, he was outside. The backpack, mostly empty, was slung from both his shoulders. A thin trail of smoke was barely visible over the buildings; not much of a lead, but the city wouldn't be a problem to navigate. Traveling quickly would be the more difficult problem.

As he walked down the steps, he looked to the street to see who had decided to join him.

Comments

[hisxsacrifice.livejournal.com]

Ritsuka grew slightly weak following the kiss, both from the kiss itself and the energy he gave to help power the spell. His cheeks were flushed a bright pink, and he took a moment to catch his breath, ear twitching shyly. His eyes widened slightly in excitement at the spell, feeling half as though Ritsu-sensi would come out of no where to admonish them for using magic outside of battle.

His pride at Soubi's work was quickly suppressed with a frown at his attitude, and he gave another warning grumble of, "Soooubi," though he couldn't stay cross for long and was soon smiling at him again, pressing on through the tunnel.

[thirteen-blades.livejournal.com]

Espedon's eyebrows went up at the kiss. He had thought, for a second, that perhaps 'lead the way' in Common meant 'kiss Ritsuka' in Japanese- but Espedon did sense a transfer of power rising immediately from the act. It was like feeling a displacement of water while submerged, growing from a minor disturbance to a strong flow. Power extended out, shaped itself, and the snow obeyed.

His gaze followed the path of the tunnel as it extended up the hill. It would be better camouflage than the path he had been burning.

"Convenient."

Espedon looked back to Soubi to find him in the middle of his sarcastic bow. The boy's expression was priceless; so sure and so satisfied. Espedon hadn't been aware that they'd been in a contest, andthis elicited a 'hm' from him. He shrugged and gave Soubi a look that said 'yeah, okay, alright.' It was impressive dancing snow, he'd give him that.

Resting Angelfire on his shoulder and letting the shortsword dangle loosely in his hand, Espedon walked, in unsnowy comfort, up the hill.

[fourplay4some.livejournal.com]

Soubi's smug expression remained as he followed Ritsuka up the hill, his triumph recognized by the adult only adding to his feelings of superiority.

The trek to the top of the hill was a short one, easily done now that their path was clear. Once the three were up there, the spell would end and the wind would settle it all back down, likely covering them as it did so. But that would fine as they'd still be able to survey the city while staying under cover. In anticipation of the falling snow, Soubi subtly moved around behind Ristuka and wrapped his arms about his sacrifices' waist, chin settling on his head. To keep him warm just as the spell gave out.

[hisxsacrifice.livejournal.com]

Ritsuka's smiled as the snow fell about, and Soubi's arms settled around him, but the smile faded as the burning city came into view. His eyes widened and he pressed back into Soubi. He'd never seen anything like this in real life. Movies, and history books, but never like this. He wasn't completely ignorant to violence, their spell battles were far from school yard scrapes, but they were nothing on this scale.

[thirteen-blades.livejournal.com]

When the trio reached the crest of the hill, Espedon squatted down, leaning on Angelfire for balance. They had no binoculars, but it wasn't hard to see what had happened.

Cronoss had been a small village, barely more than a main street with a few farms dotting the land around it. Where the houses once stood, there was only blackened rubble. Burned-out skeletons of the few stores and restaurants the village had lined the main street. Splashes of red peppered the snow in the distant, bodies left unburied.

On a road leading out of the village, a line of humvees and troop carriers were on the move, away from the three and away from the destruction they'd caused.

Espedon's expression became grim. He scanned the village for movement- troops, survivors, anything. This had been a complete massacre.

"Everything. The women. The... children," Espedon growled. He edged closer. "I'm going in to get a better look. There's got to be some survivors. Anything. I want to know who they were."

[fourplay4some.livejournal.com]

Soubi's ears twitched and while he didn't understand most of the words, he did understand the way Espedon was scooting forward.

Growling slightly, he reached out a hand to lightly grip the forigeners shoulder and hold him back.

"We need to wait until they are gone or it won't be safe," he said to Ritsuka.

[hisxsacrifice.livejournal.com]

Ritsuka looked torn, wanting to help and wanting to stay out of sight, ears twisting in his dilemma, and he looked away with a guilty blush on his cheeks, again translating Soubi's words. His tail had fluffed up in his worry and twitched back and forth, eyes darting about in a way which said he agreed with Soubi in this instance, as much as it pained him to leave the people suffering any longer then needed.

"...If we get hurt too no one will come for us."

[thirteen-blades.livejournal.com]

Espedon waggled the shorter blade in the direction of the humvees winding their way out of the city.

"I think they're done. Whoever's left would be the cleanup crew," he said, squinting a little, hoping to get a better view. "There's not much we can do for the survivors anyhow. Unless that magic of yours can teleport people."

Which I doubt, unless you just like two-hour winter runs.

"If you two decide to stay here, I can come back and tell you what I saw. To tell the truth, I hope there are a few of them left."

[fourplay4some.livejournal.com]

Soubi's grip on Ritsuka tightened and he nodded at Epsedon. He'd much rather have the adult run off into danger while Ristuka stayed safe.

[hisxsacrifice.livejournal.com]

"We'll wait. Please be careful," he said, offering Espedon a small smile, then looking back to the city with a frown, laying his head against Soubi. Too much death. It frightened him, and this in turn embarrassed him. Too scared to help. What good was he?