A Collar of Flames - losing to Lucan

[04:44] My -- How interesting.

Silence would be all that overtook this knight as his gaze remained locked upon Lotlhuitl. His mind a rush of thoughts as if still attempting to decide what course his actions would take moving forwards. This pursuit of power he had come to take upon himself having brought him to this woman engulfed in her own jealousy.

"You are someone I want. Someone I find myself constantly interested in despite knowing nothing about you." Lucan found his words twisted by desire as he stepped forwards now. This pursuit of power having found him standing before a woman engulfed in her chaos all the same that he seemed to understand nothing about.

"You hold a certain closeness to Caesar. I, want the same. So, enlighten me on how you two came to be so close."

He was far from asking, no his words spilled from his lips as nothing less than a demand.
(Lucan)
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[04:58] Lotlhuitl stared at the young man. Chin held high. Silent. Her gaze appraising.

In truth, she hadn't quite worked out what sort of position he held amongst the youthful members of this particular settlement.

"I am someone you want?" Lotlhuitl repeated.

Of course he did. That was all anyone ever wanted from her.

Her tail curled beneath her cloak, rustling the fabric. She shifted, and the countless articles of jewellery she wore jostled and clinked against one another.

"If you wish to be friends with Caesar, speak to Caesar. He is an amicable sort of fellow."

"I'd prefer to remain a mystery." Lotlhuitl plainly was dismissing Lucan. That much was obvious as she pivoted on her back foot, her lovely silken hair fanning out with the motion, and she took steps towards the door.
(Lotlhuitl)
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[05:04] Perhaps -- He hadn't been clear.

Tilting his head towards the door as even a single motion was made towards it, illusions had already begun to claim it. Flesh beginning to ooze from the wood as faces of those fallen in combat peered back. Horrendous and twisted to the whim of Lucan as they seemed in constant pain, screaming even as not a sound spilled from their contorted lips.

"I want the same from you, not him. I suppose my demands weren't clear enough, as this wasn't something I was asking." His words followed as those illusions continued to push outwards. She could push through them should she desire, run all the same though it seemed this Knight was far from complete. Step by constant step drawing him closer towards this Nagual.

"You are someone wrapped in mystery and that alone I have come to hate. I-"

His words cut short, with a glance given towards Amane as she entered the room.
(Lucan)
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[05:16] The sight of flesh -- of faces -- erupting through the wood of the door was enough to give Lotlhuitl pause. To cause her breath to hitch in her throat. To cause a rush of adrenaline to flow through her.

Unexpected.

But merely illusions.

A blush rose to her cheeks. Anger, covering over the fact that she'd been surprised. She'd rather seem angry than admit for a moment that Lucan had startled her.

She snapped back to stare at Lucan, failing to notice that Amane had entered. No, the Nagual assumed that Lucan had been cut short at a mere look. Her scorn grew.

"Demands?"

Lotlhuitl's voice was quiet. Bitter.

She stepped closer to Lucan. Step. Step. Step. Each was accompanied with a distinct sway of her hips, and the music of the metal she wore jostling against metal.

"Caesar promises me assistance with those I hate. He offers me power."

Her eyes narrowed and she found herself looking down to scan his form.

"He's a man, and you're barely more than a boy. You're in no position to make demands of me."

Her gaze flicked back up to stare Lucan in the eyes.

"In any case, I'm not interested."
(Lotlhuitl)
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[05:17] Lucan says, "... Amane. Please give us one moment."
[05:18] Amane Faoleng says, "Mhm...Watch out for the soup, Lotl."
[05:26] No -- He was far above any other.

Snapping his hand upwards in a single moment it would wrap around the neck of this woman. Hands of a warrior threatening all the same as his crimson gaze locked upon the eyes of this mask looking back at him. She had chosen a path of power all the same, chosen a path of strength from one who relied on these children to achieve even a single goal now.

"I was cut short. However you are quickly beginning to wear on my patience. What I seek to achieve is power, such a generous offer has been given to you." His words wrapped in a venomous hatred as a single breath was drawn inwards. This belief she could gain anything more from that man that wandered through these lands as he pleased was irritating all the same.

"I can't stand you. Someone who I can't read, who I can't easily break on a whim deserves some level of respect. Your allure continues to draw me in, so I will make this even more than simple for you."

Pause, followed by a free hand moving to grasp at the hilt of his blade.

"I want you. Caesar is a dog to Arielle now, how can he promise you power?"

What came next? Well, that was entirely up to Lotlhuitl now it seemed.
(Lucan)
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[05:28] Lotlhuitl had been surprised by the Knight of Little Mame. She attempted to break free of Lucan's grasp.
(Lotlhuitl)
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[05:29] w e a k
(Lucan)
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[05:35] test


(Lucan)
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[05:38] The Nagual teleported out of Lucan's grasp. Her hands at her throat. Eyes wide.

She'd listened to his little speech. Her ears were now pinned decidedly back, her tail flicking from side to side like a viper waiting to strike.

She could have fled entirely. Could have just legged it from the building. But the woman didn't: she didn't reject him entirely.

Or.. perhaps she just hung around to mock him.

"Ahaha.." Lotlhuitl laughed, dropping her hands to her sides. It wasn't intentional: she hadn't meant specifically to seem like she was making fun of the young man, but it was highly likely that was the only conclusion Lucan would be able to come to.

"Lucan, while it isn't any of your business, I do feel I must correct you. You misunderstand the nature of my relationship with Caesar."

Her tail flicked.

"It is entirely business. Entirely practical."

Though, that did seem to give the woman pause. "Hmm. That is strange, however. I wonder why you want me and he doesn't."

Corruption flared within her. Reflections where no reflection ought to be shone in a halo around her. A jagged, pale green, mirror-shard-halo.

"Are you not Arielle's dog?"
(Lotlhuitl)
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[05:46] 'Are you not Arielle's dog?'

Those words had sent a chill down his spine as she practically vanished at the first sign of danger. His hand simply hanging in the air as she spoke as if the vivid imagery of her throat still plagued his mind. Turning to face this woman as arms folded once more behind his back in their regal and poised positioning all the same. Tedious this had all come to seem from a woman who knew if she so desired she could leave in a moment.

"I am no dog. I am a proud Knight, one who will guide Little Mame in conquering those that had once looked down upon us. The first step to conquest is reassuring your own strength." Lucan spoke as his gaze narrowed all the same. She had called him nothing more than a boy in the presence of a man that would be met with the same fate as all others. Crushed beneath his boot as he continued to ascend up these steps towards a higher plane of existence.

"My desires come from those who seem more difficult to break. More tedious to overcame than most of the dirt and grime we are going to march over. As for why that man does not want you... Well, I can only assume it's cause he already has you."

She had become his very own, at least in the eyes of this Knight.
(Lucan)
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[05:51] "Do you need to be reassured of your own strength, Shining Knight Lucan, saviour of Little Mame?" Lotlhuitl breathed, pacing around the room. Around Lucan. Her voice was muffled by the mask. Her expression hidden.

But somehow, Lucan might've got the impression that she wasn't particularly impressed by him.

Somehow, he might have got the idea that she'd given a slight frown, finding the idea that Caesar already believed he possessed her.. well, troubling.

"He.. he does not have me. No one has me. I am free."

Did she have commitment issues, or what..


(Lotlhuitl)
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[05:57] Tedious -- This was growing tedious.

Tilting his head back there came a glance shot towards the ceiling above. His crimson gaze locked upon these stones above in silence as she had continued to look down upon this man. Flames sparking to life around his body as what decision had been floating so carelessly throughout his mind seemed the only option he had now.

"Then... I will have you. I will chain you down with this power as a constant reminder, a constant reassurance of my own strength." His words followed by another slew of illusions spilling outwards from around him. Taint and darkness beginning to consume this room once more, all as he continued to crave this show of power that others had yet to reach.

"You may flee. Show cowardice in the presence of those who pursue power rather than mock it. However, I will assure that chain always finds itself wrapped around your neck."

It seemed, he did need that reminder.
(Lucan)
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Lotlhuitl STARED at Lucan, her heart rate suddenly accelerating.

Thu-thump, thu-thump, thu-thump.

She could hear her blood surging in her veins. Her normally steady heartbeat beginning to rise into a swift tempo.

She squared her shoulders.

She narrowed her eyes.

Lotlhuitl's mouth suddenly felt like cotton wool. Dry. She was quietly spooked by the young man, but perhaps not in the way that he would have assumed or intended.

Lucan reminded her of Xoconan.

"I am no coward, I assure you." Her voice was quiet. And yet, there was corruption in her oh-so-silken words. She would not run. She would dance just outside his reach.

Her staff had been slung on her back. And, without hesitation, she unslung it. It was a mythril creation, decorated with intricate runework. The runework wasn't her own, but Xitlalli's. And it was these runes which glowed bright green beneath Lotlhuitl's fingertips as she turned and faced Lucan.

Squaring up for a fight.

Once, Xitlalli had controlled her mind. Once, these runes would've directly influenced her. They still did, in a way. They reminded her that her best friend was in so many ways her superior. Add that little reminder of her own inferiority to Lucan's declaration of keeping her chained with his power, and, well, you got yourself one very ANGRY kitty girl.
Reality LURCHED around Lotlhuitl.

"No," the Nagual said. "Let me tell you how this is going to go down."

Lotlhuitl faced Lucan. Her green eyes glowing with an aberrant pale green light.

"First, I'm going to spank you."

His illusions had surprised her at first, but truthfully? She saw through them now: they were nothing but mere visions.

"And then? If you say sorry very, very nicely, I might not tell anyone about what a foolish young man you are."

She'd had visions before; visions of the future, visions of what her fate would be. All of these had been vastly more horrible than the visages of death Lucan turned against her. And now? She had turned to Sin. Now she had the power to defy any such visions. So, no. His illusions didn't frighten her. But in truth, the possibility of being too weak yet again terrified her.

Reality WARPED around Lotlhuitl. A strange wavering effect surrounded the Nagual: almost like she had previously been a perfectly calm lake, but now Lucan had gone ahead and cast pebbles into it.

For less than a second, it was like reality was unmaking itself: and the willowy Nagual runescribe was at the core of the aberration.

She was not-so-neatly vivisected, this time. Highly reflective pieces of razor sharp, thin, pale green glass sliced through her form, one by one, each at an erratic angle. Where the glass intersected - and it did, this time - it cracked. Threatened to shatter.

But still she moved. Lotlhuitl stood, she moved, she reached for Lucan. Her dissected body surrounded his.

Well, the parts did.

But to look at them caused them not to exist. She existed just out of his reach. For now, at least.


ENVY tore her apart.

Broke Lotlhuitl of the Cruxati down. But it also built her back up again. But into what wasn't entirely clear. Was she a monster? A goddess? A woman in the throes of deepest agony? She was many things: all twisted reflections, cracks distinctly forming in her psyche as she relied more and more on the powers of Sin to protect herself.. and, well, avenge those who wronged her. And, perhaps horrifyingly, what the woman found herself wanting to be was, in a way, a twisted replica of Lucan himself.

Somehow, Lucan may have had the sense of being rifled through. Of having his soul brushed against... and when Lotlhuitl withdrew from him,
a pale green light SHONE around her. Lotlhuitl shuddered, as had reality, and everything snapped back to the way it should be.

And yet, the glow around her persisted.

"I know you, Lucan."

She wanted to mock him. To use his own powers against him, but be better than him.

Strange light hung in the air around Lotlhuitl, the Cruxati Nagual, like shattered glass. Pale and green and reflecting light which shouldn't have been there. It was all suspended in midair.

Sharp.

"You're never going to have me."
(Lotlhuitl)

Osha has entered the room.

Tom Layke has entered the room.


Osha exclaims, "Kya- sorry!"
Aha -- He couldn't help but laugh.

Her words were filled with power but it was naught but a kitten attempting to stand against a lion. Illusions pouring outwards from his cloak as this blade clutched in the hands of Lucan pointed back towards this woman. This sensation of fear around him as his illusions had practically paled in comparison to the warping of this woman that followed. All the same he continued to laugh throughout it all, this fear driving and pushing him forwards as his sights remained settled only upon that beacon of power. This gap between them something he alone would have to close with his own two hands.

"You think you make the rules here? You think you can somehow strike fear into the heart of someone like me? I have been abandoned by everyone, been looked down upon by those I valued as friends! Even now, someone like you believes yourself too good to walk this path that has been opened to me." His words a roar as flames tainted by the touch of occultism pulsed outwards in every direction. Hatred above all else held in his gaze as memories flooded back into his mind. She stood as a bastion to all of them, of that utter and complete disdain for this world that had acted only to bring about his scorn.

"I will have you! That is how this will go, I don't care what malformations you can bring your body to! How you can twist my visions as you please! No, how this is going to end is with my boot planted firmly upon your neck. Then, as the rest of the world will? You will beg to walk this path with me." His confidence rising above all else as not a word more needed to be said. Even as she continued to push him on, even as she continued to act as though she held any sway in this conflict he stepped forwards. In one final roar, all those emotions pouring throughout his tone. Hatred. Anger. Sadness. Rejection, each having manifested in this woman for him to take control of.

"You, you know nothing. You are nothing."

With those words, his blade plunged forwards.
(Lucan)

You have 2 hours, 8 minutes left until your next check. You currently do not qualify for an RPP reward in the upcoming check.

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Here -- Now he stood above it all.

The sound of flesh searing against every strike of his blade like a symphony of sounds. Constantly aiming for the neck of this woman as illusions struck back against this distortion of reality itself. Manifestations of blood and water crashing against his body reduced to nothing but vapor under the overwhelming amount of flames that continued to scatter about. Holding absolutely nothing back as this was a chance to prove himself worthy, prove himself as someone who deserved to walk along this path both Somnus and Tragedy alike had offered to this Knight.

"You... I'll repeat this once more. I can not stand you, I feel this hatred burning away at my insides constantly. Screaming at me to strike you down, screaming at me to not give you any room to breathe." His words rolling from his tongue as for a moment the blade of this Knight pulled back. Blood still sizzling away as the heat that poured off of such tainted it all thesame, occultism mixing with these waters as a glance had shot back towards this woman. She who still stood to block his path, stood to further this hatred was exactly what he required moving forwards.

"And for that, I need you. The ability to bend that hatred to my will... Is that not exactly what I was tasked to do? You will become the manifestation of that, chained to my whim for eternity."

Lucan struck once more, no intention of pulling his blows.
(Lucan)

'You know nothing. You are nothing.'

Lucan's words stole the breath out of Lotlhuitl's lungs. Cold fury had grown within her, and she had surged forward. A mistake. It was not the strange green glass which sliced through her flesh this time, but Lucan's blade.

"Aggh!" Yeah. That was it from her now: there was no witty retort, no threat to bend him over her knee and spank him. She had nothing to say about how he thought he needed her. Nothing to say about how she refused to be chained. Only an angry snarl as she reversed her grip on her staff.


He cut her. Again and again.


But she could turn that into her boon. She was a blood magi! She was strong. She could--

The Nagual danced away from him as she directed his power against him.

Blood flowed from her wounds.

Fire was a poor choice.

As was staying in this room.

"I refuse!"

The corruption flared within Lotlhuitl. Bleeding, she crossed her arms, gritting her teeth behind the snarling-feline mask.

Lucan's powers were drawn out of him once more. A pale imitation of the young knight shining in one of the summoned panes of glass for a moment, before Lotlhuitl lept through it, visibly running for the door.

The glass smashed, shattered. Fragments, still bearing Lucan's image, scattering everywhere.. The Nagual snatched up a shard of copied magic and drew it within herself. Intuition drove her to plunge the green chunk of glass into her own flesh. And so on impulse, she drove the jagged shard into her own bared stomach.

And then? Lucan's illusions instantly twisted, turned on him. Attacked his mind, as the snarling Nagual tactically retreated to the next room over.
(Lotlhuitl)

Lotlhuitl has entered the room.

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Lotlhuitl has sustained an injury in battle...

Lotlhuitl has rolled 4 or over: they may escape capture attempts (unless otherwise specified)!

So -- He gave chase.

Blade dragging behind him as their conflict continued throughout the entirety of this Fort. Illusions assaulting his mind though still he pushed through them with not a word of doubt placed upon himself. She who had chosen to run from power met by a sudden explosion of occultic flames once more, illusions constantly pushing back against one another though all the same falling victim to his whim. Nothing more than a pale imitation that had attempted to stand against the powerful.

"Your corruption is beautiful... You make a mockery of my magic and still I want you. You are not allowed to refuse this gracious offer, for I will make you admit how unworthy you truly are." His words ringing all the same as in the midst of combat a hand had snapped outwards. Flames dancing along his fingertips wrapped around the neck of Lotlhuitl, searing her flesh into the shape of that collar that he had envisioned in his mind.

"I can set you free... I have been offered that freedom all the same, I could of given it to you too! Though, you have chosen chains over truth and power."

Then, it had struck him once more. Those illusions crafted by himself striking at his own mind again, hand recoiling backwards from this woman giving her just a moment to slip from his grasp. Though the question above all else remained, would she flee or would this sin come to accept her fate?
(Lucan)
Lotlhuitl sought a better battlefield. One in which she could move, could keep out of range of the flames.

The Nagual STARED at Lucan, wounded and snarling, tail flicking back and forth like a viper waiting to strike. Only her eyes were visible through her mask, and they were lit with that strange pale green light. Reflecting the young knight's power.

He spoke. In the middle of their fight, in the middle of her trying to WOUND him, he spoke.

Her ears were flicked back, her skin dotted with blood splatter, and burn marks, and, well, actual bleeding cuts.

"You--" Lotlhuitl began to retort. In her anger, she dropped her guard.

His hand was around her neck.

For a moment that stretched on into eternity, the Nagual's eyes had widened. Stared into Lucan's own.

And then? Fire.

"AHGGGG!" the Nagual screamed, arching her back as she felt the flames encircling her neck. Searing her flesh. The woman was in agony, back arched. Twitching in his grasp. Even if she'd been able to respond, Lotlhuitl wouldn't have had the faintest idea what Lucan was talking about. What power, what truth had he offered her?

He'd only ever offered her chains.

Lotlhuitl's gauntlet-clad hand grasped the chunk of glass which she'd stabbed herself with previously. The chunk of glass bearing Lucan's power. She withdrew it from her skin, before plunging it into Lucan. And so it was that his illusions turned on him, one last time.

Curiously, the glass didn't leave a wound on Lotlhuitl, nor Lucan. The green material was corruption, and it slipped through the physical form like it wasn't even there.

It was the sort of magic which penetrated the soul, not flesh.

The Cruxati woman stumbled backwards.

Her mask had distinct scorch marks decorating the bottom edge, along with blood.

"You're mad. What could you possibly offer me that Tragedy hasn't?" Lotlhuitl's voice was hoarse. Pained. A wry, hopeless laugh followed, before she, shaking with the mere effort of standing, said, "I am Cruxati, and Cruxati do not kneel."

Lotlhuitl could have run from him. But instead, she stood firm. As if she was trying to give the impression that she could keep fighting Lucan.
(Lotlhuitl)
Illusions -- Fading in that moment.

The glass plunged into his flesh forcing hands to reach towards what had never been. Vanishing just as soon as he could attempt to rip it from his form, one last final attempt to force his mind to push back against these illusions. Still he continued forwards as she continued to mock this man as though he was somehow lesser to her. Blade leveling with the neck of this woman, all to gently tap and prod against those marks he had left as proof of his power.

"You may witness my ascension of power. I offer you the greatest freedom of all, though I did not choose this path of constant desire for power I am not going to turn away from it." His words rolling from his tongue as a constant reminder had struck Lucan once more. His companions that had viewed this shortcut to strength as vile, they had forced this upon him. They had all the same come to force this upon this Nagual, this woman that represented all of his hate.

"For when the rest of the world flocks to the shepherd... You? You will be standing just that much higher than them, as Somnus proclaimed. However, you're not worthy any longer..."

Pause, followed by a crooked grin as the heat radiating from his blade pushed closer.

"That is, unless you beg. Unless you do kneel, so I can offer you what Somnus Illarian has opened to me."

Ah, there it was.
(Lucan)
Lucan says, "... I will not offer this a third time."
Lotlhuitl's eyes had widened as Lucan lifted his blade. The Nagual was as still (and as stiff) as a statue as the occult Knight made, what Lotlhuitl felt, was an obvious threat.

Her ears were still pinned back. Her oh-so-fluffy tail (lightly singed!) bristled. Behind the mask, her lips had parted, as if to speak. But no words came out. What could she say?

This type of shit was becoming so routine, some part of her could've laughed. After all, how many people had beaten her down, forced her to swear allegiance, now? She didn't laugh. But she could have. Bitterly.

Her blood ran cold. Visibly flinching as she felt the heat from the blade at the marks Lucan had just gifted her.

Pain.

Somnus, again, was ruining her life.

She ignored the intrusion. For whatever reason, the Nagual didn't appear to be inclined towards running to others for help.

"What, do youreally think I'd believe you'd force me to kneel, Lucan? Force me to beg? Such actions would not be honourable. Not befitting that of a knight."

Bitter.

"Really. I struggle to believe breaking me is truly what you want from me. Surely don't want me to kneel. Surely you don't want me to beg." Her eyes narrowed and she attempted to step closer... even with the blade at her neck. Pain in the movement. Metal jostling against metal. Hips swaying.

"What value would you find in me if I was just like everyone else? If I just became some whimpering, mewling idiot in the face of your power?"

She exhaled, and reached up to remove the mask which had been doing the heavy lifting of hiding her emotions from view. She was a terrible liar, had a terrible poker face -- that was why she wore the mask. Unless prevented, she would remove it. Strap dangling between fingertips.

He'd beaten her. Bloodied her. Humiliated her.

And to learn this was all because of Somnus?

Lotlhuitl was filled with cold, bitter rage.

Softly, almost sweetly, she spoke. Demure, for once. Not quite looking at Lucan, only really peering at him out of the corner of her eyes, from beneath long, dark eyelashes. She was bleeding, and hurt..

"I accept your offer of power, and with it, your apology."
(Lotlhuitl)
...

In silence he only listened to her now. In the end she was right, simply witnessing her grovel would be proof alone she never deserved this hand in the first place. This man who had come to desire someone just like him, someone who could view the world as he did allowing his weapon to drop as she pushed just that much closer. Flames fueled by that sickening touch of occultic energy fading from around his body, illusions that had spilled outwards falling back beneath the depths of his coat.

"... You are mine nonetheless. I will not apologize, you will not gain any sympathy from me for making me prove myself to you. Though, I will admit you're right about everything." His words followed as a hand raised upwards now, grasping at the chin of this woman to pull her just that much closer. Crimson irises locked upon Lotlhuitl as her words plagued his mind, continued to hit all the right notes that he had wanted to hear from someone he could so openly hate with a passion.

"My duty as a Knight now is the pursuit of constant power. Do not attempt to hold that title over my head. All the same if you had groveled? Well, I would of actually broken you down."

Just so long as they understood one another.
(Lucan)