|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 29, 2009 21:39:56 GMT -5
The Highlanders. Why did he keep coming back? They were all stuck up jerks who shunned him if he actually walked around as his own region. Maybe it was curiosity. He had always wondered what happened to that girl... Thyme. She was sweet to him when no one else was... and he hadn't seen her since the day he left. Of course, he was far too afraid to get near the blasted mansion. Stupid Old Bag. So what was he going to be today? He looked down at his paw hand, it did make everything easier. He could talk to more than one person (not like he enjoyed doing that in the first place) and he could communicate in different languages if he needed to. A little bit of his fear was quelled. But he could never get very comfortable when he shouldn't exist in the first place. He ran his finger along his new pocket knife. If anything got bad, he'd be fine. He would be a pretty blond Highlander, and keep his face scar to impress the Ladies. A Jack of Hearts on his chest to add to the Highland pride. He transformed, one eye remaining black while the other switched to a bright Highland red. Wait... did he just hear something? Conway's heart skipped a beat as he slowly turned to look behind him. This alley was supposed to be safe! No one came this way! He had made sure of it for a week! His eyes widened. Shit. |
|
|
|
Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 29, 2009 21:59:26 GMT -5
It had really just been by chance that Apocalypse had been passing through the area, walking back to the Hearts court with his hands in his pockets, a plastic sack filled with treats for his daughter dangling from one wrist, and a happy smile on his face. It had been a nice trip into town, he'd delivered the paperwork and met with the people who needed to be spoken to about their various concerns. It had all gone surprisingly well, and his belly was full of good food and a glass (or two) of wine. Of course, that had no real effect beyond adding to his good mood. He didn't even see the man slip into the alleyway, only saw the space itself, and it looked like a good place to stop and adjust the ties on his shoe. That was when a noise from down the hall had made him stop, eyes narrowing. He watched the stranger creep into the back of the alley, then he saw something that made his heart stop for a moment. It was something he hadn't seen since... Since Rhiannon had called him to herself against her own son, Jakodi. The boy had changed form, too, melting into a body identical to a younger version of Apocalypse himself. This man wasn't doing that, but he was changing into someone who wasn't himself in a manner that sent shivers up Apocalypse's spine. Of course, he didn't have any time to say or do anything before the man whirled and looked at him through one red eye and one black. Apocalypse dropped the bag he was carrying, the cakes for Linnea spilling out onto the floor, taking on a defensive posture. He was fairly certain that the stranger, whoever he was, wouldn't respond well to being seen changing as he had. " Don't try anything," he said in a warning tone, wishing he could summon Rhiannon without looking too... offensive. |
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 29, 2009 22:17:17 GMT -5
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. The man had seen too much, hadn't he? Who would believe him though? The Joker swallowed hard, his hand still on the pocket knife as his eyes darted to the man's rank.
King of Hearts. Near the courts.
Panic. This man could be a titled King. He probably had a decent reputation either way. People might believe him. Important people. What if this man tried to capture him? What if he sent someone after him. Had he seen his face before the change?
Inside his pocket he flipped open the knife. The expression his his face changed from fear to determination. He just had to be faster than the man. He just had to mess him up enough that no one would believe him. Better to ruin a reputation than kill someone important.
He wasn't going to wait. Conway darted forward, drawing the knife out of his pocket as he did. The thought flashed a little to late that he might have some sort of summonable weapon.
|
|
|
|
Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 29, 2009 22:28:28 GMT -5
For some reason, the world seemed to be moving too slowly. Apocalypse could see what was going to happen, could see it in the man's face, but he couldn't avoid it. He watched, wide-eyed and horrified, as the man did something in his pocket, then dashed forward. He saw the flash of metal, bright in his hand, and pushed back with his legs, trying to get out of the way.
He just wasn't fast enough. There was a sudden and abrupt sting as the blade ripped through the skin of his chest, a spray of crimson.
Apocalypse had never felt anything like it in his admittedly short life. He'd felt pain, yes, but it had always been tempered by the knowledge that any damage would be reversed the second he returned to Scythe form. This was sharp and painful and all together real, too real. He stumbled back a few steps, too stunned to do anything more than look up at the Joker, eyes wide with shock, touching the wound on his chest. It felt like an eternity, but it had all happened in what had certainly been a few seconds.
"Fuck,[/i]" Apocalypse hissed through clenched teeth, touching his Heart marking and summoning Rhiannon, pushing forward with his feet and swinging the blade with all the strength he could manage. His teeth were bared at the other man in a feral snarl, brows furrowed from pain.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 29, 2009 22:44:01 GMT -5
Conway's face turned into a wicked grin as he managed to nick the man. It wasn't his intended target, but it was still a good hit. His grip tightened on the blade as he watched the pale man recoil in shock. Apparently he'd never been cut before? What a shame.
The Joker's eyes widened (though he was still smiling) when he watched the Heart summon a rather large scythe from the mark on his chest. He didn't have much time to evade the man's charge, and he wasn't going to be able to dodge it completely.
The blade whizzed by, catching Conway's shoulder in the process. It wasn't deep enough to distracted the man even if it hurt. As long as it wasn't covered in some sort of poison everything would be fine. Conway growled, hastily changing into a bipedal form, a large Highlander wolf. While he had time, he lunged aiming for whatever chunk of the man he could grab, using a small ability in hopes to make things worse for the King of Hearts.
Tooth Ability: Once a week, this SD is now capable of causing their own teeth to lengthen to twice their size for a full thirty seconds. During this time, their jaw will be excessively flexible and their own teeth are unlikely to damage them.
|
|
|
|
Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 29, 2009 23:05:39 GMT -5
Now things were getting out of control. The gleeful look on his enemy's face was certainly unnerving, and Apocalypse clenched his hands more tightly.
When the blade caught on the man's shoulder, Apocalypse's balance shifted rather abruptly. He was extremely skilled with the weapon, but it was heavy and slow, and he couldn't exactly swing it around for a new hit so soon after landing the first. He brought the scythe up again just in time to see his enemy change once more, this time into a huge wolf. His eyes widened slightly as he brought the weapon up, planning on using it to try and deflect any attacks to his midsection.
Sleeping with women who only had their animal and bipedal forms had taught Pale an important lesson, and that was the fact that human skin was pathetic protection against the teeth and claws of those in other forms.
Of course, that meant his attention was on the man's teeth, and he wasn't paying very close attention at all to the knife he still held. He whipped the blade around, intending to hit the other man with it and keep those wicked-looking teeth away for at least a second. Rather belatedly, Apocalypse realized that this was his first time fighting as the Card. Life had been.. different before.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 29, 2009 23:17:25 GMT -5
Damn that stupid scythe. Conway would have cursed out loud if he wasn't so focused. His teeth were going to completely miss their mark, but at least they were enough to cause a perfect distraction. Conway was not going to let the opportunity slip away. The opening was clear even if he wouldn't escape a bit of hurt.
His mouth was a half an inch away from the blade. It remained open as he shifted his motions. Closing it now would probably cause him a great deal of trouble before the thirty seconds were up, and they certainly weren't, even if things were moving fast. His bite was blocked but his knife was not.
With all the force he could muster as he aimed to jab the knife into the man's gut. Conway wasn't going to let go of the knife until it hit it's mark, and when it did it was going to stay put as far as he was concerned.
|
|
|
|
Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 29, 2009 23:26:18 GMT -5
There was a brief moment in which Apocalypse felt relief, the gnashing teeth seeming only inches from his face. He shifted to attempt to get another swing in, and then, rather abruptly, felt his body falter.
Something... Something had changed. He gripped the scythe tightly as he tried to figure it out, and then he looked down. The man's hand was flush with the white skin of his stomach, putting pressure far deeper inside than a simple punch should have done. The knife, right. He'd completely ignored the knife in his desire to avoid the pain that'd be caused to him by the teeth, and now... A strangled cry ripped from the man's knife and he pushed as hard as he could, trying to get some distance between them.
In his mind, Rhiannon screamed as well, and he knew two abilities he'd never seen fit to use before. The pain that was beginning to flood his body, from the slash across his chest and the blade in his stomach subsided into nothingness. It was as if he'd never been injured, and he felt a renewed burst of strength. Then, he released the second spell with a snarled word. It would only last for a second, but maybe he could get some sort of attack in... The second the spell took place, Apocalypse would lunge forward with the flat of the blade, attempting to knock the Joker over.
If he could knock the man to the floor, it would give him a chance to retalliate.
Pain Resistance Boost
He is now able to ignore any and all pain (even potentially fatal) for up to a half hour. He will not only not be able to feel it, but function on as though it caused him no exertion. In other words, he'll fight like a berserker...though this could be used against him...as he might not realize how close to death he is until it's too late...
Moderate Ability
Once a week, he is now capable of causing an opponent's body to go rigid. They will still be able to move their limbs and function, but their spine will straighten to its fullest extent. Unless the opponent is a Diamond, this will negate all ability to fly and give the opponent a mind-numbingly pleasurable sensation for a full five seconds. The spell itself lasts for thirty seconds. This spell can be broken by a Spade summoning its familiar, though they may not know to do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Jul 29, 2009 23:44:42 GMT -5
Conway gave a small cackle as the man pushed away, the knife still lodged in his flesh. That would at least slow him down, if not stop him. The canine could feel his teeth shrinking to their normal size as he took several steps back.
Quite suddenly his spine was rail straight. A confused whimper escaped him at the sensation of actually standing up to the fullest extent possible from his normal defensive position. What the fuck was going on? And why was the man not slowing down? Was it that blasted Heart ability? It shouldn't have been that strong!
He could still move the rest of his limbs. Fine. Even if he couldn't properly attack he could at least give a defensive swipe with all his might. He absolutely couldn't lose. If he lost here he would either be dead or someone's pet. Both frightening possibilities were enough to make the wicked grin spread further. The idea flickered in his head and he activated it.
A whisper from behind might be enough to startle the man. "Wait!"
Conway hoped it would work.
Amazing Ability: He still cannot communicate verbally with more than one person at a time...but he has opened a floodgate of telepathic abilities within his mind. He can now communicate with up to five people at once, one verbally and the other four mentally. His mental communication and verbal can all go on at exactly the same time, his mind now moves fast enough to be able to distinguish all of the different lines of communication easily. His telepathy can reach people up to one hundred miles away...and he doesn't have to know the person to communicate with them, merely to think of their face and he will open the link should he so desire.
He can do this as often as he wants and it will sound to the other person as though his voice is whispering to them from about a foot behind them.
This power also grants him the ability to be able to see what one of the people he is communicating with is physically doing once per week. Should he activate this power, however, he will be blind to whatever currently surrounds him until he drops that link of communication.
|
|
|
|
Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 30, 2009 0:13:22 GMT -5
Apocalypse let out another enraged snarl as his opponent was suddenly forced bolt upright, lunging forward and opening his mouth as wide as he could manage, teeth flashing in his mouth. There just wasn't room for him to prepare another real swing with Rhiannon, and so he was slipping into close-combat methods that he normally wouldn't even consider. He didn't even care where he bit, so long as he did, and so long as he drew blood.
Shit. He was becoming overwhelmed. He knew a Joker would be a terrifying opponent, and in his mind, Rhiannon was saying that he couldn't let himself fall back simply because of his nerves. It was easy for her to say - after all, she wasn't the one fighting against something considered legendary. Apocalypse was doing the best he could for someone who had no full control of his own abilities.
But he was afraid. He'd seen something he shouldn't have, and now he was in the first fight of his actual life. He had an opponent who had powers he couldn't fully comprehend, and who on top of that, seemed to be completely crazed with lust for causing physical harm. He felt a furred arm in his mouth and closed his jaws around it as hard as he could. It wouldn't be as bad as it would have been, had his enemy been in human form, but as it was... Apocalypse would take what he could get. Once his feet were under him he'd brace himself, ripping as sharply as he could manage, hoping to make the wound deeper and more... lasting.
|
|
