othellovonryan | The Bunker of "Safety"

The Bunker of "Safety"

[You find yourself in a large stone room. It has enough room to stand up, even for the tallest, and plenty of space to walk around. Likely Donnie absolutely exploded the insides of this rocky area to make this much space. The walls and corners are cut cleanly thanks to his mystic tools.]

[In the ceiling, recessed with some metal holders are crystals that shine with a warm light. A magic sunlamp.]

[There are a few inches of water on the floor, and probably most impressively is he's managed to make it so the water cycles through to the ceiling to make a light waterfall across all the walls. There are some polished boulders that provide some dry spots in the room.]

[But do make it very hard to try and write or carve things onto any surface in the room.]

[There is also a door with no handle on this side. It's half slid into the stone and has a metal cover, though any investigation will reveal the door is very thick, so probably stone makes up its center.]

[When people being dropped off]

[They can tell Donnie is coming back because the wall with the door is suddenly covered in a purple pink wall that will be shoving them across the room to push them away from the door. Then he'll open the door and drop off the person he's caught, or the food for people.]

[Each time the wall comes up, almost everytime, the walls seem to be getting...pinker.]

[Just for you guys: The Things Donnie is collecting from his connections for all this nonsense]
-Space Titanium to make Fabrications stronger from Korone
-His strength Plus Korone's strength when she's nearby until she bites someone else.
-Glyphs from Hunter
-Ninpo is always a thing
-Kraang things from Danger Memories
-Sedatives, so many sedatives
-Randy's orbment which comes with tech magic like FIRE, strength buffs under conditions, up his crit range for harder hits, makes him faster.
-Crow's guns

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[ "The cost does not matter." Oh boy. Oh boy, that's ominous as fuck, actually! She shifts on her feet, hating the tell-tale slosh of water. Her grip tightens on her blades.

… But if she thinks she thought his words were ominous, they have nothing on the snarl. All that hard work and training, and yet suddenly none of it matters. She's seventeen years old again, inexperienced, over her head, terrified and angry and desperate with it because all around her people are dying.

She's prey.

She's prey and —

He is so fucking fast.

She gets a second shield up just in time: a wall this time rather than a dome or a box. It's weaker, won't be able to take anywhere near as much punishment, but it's fine it's fine it's fine it's what she has to work with, she can deal. she can't give up now.

Donnie gets to feel another blip as she Frog Materias him again. Turtle this tine. Actual turtle, spiny softshell, but it really does only last 2.53 seconds. Korone's there to meet him, using a wingbeat for extra momentum; she swings. Blunt edge first, a one-pivot-two hit combo. The shield comes with, guarding her six. ]

[Tryse is just... Taking notes, arms folded behind her back. She's got nothing to say here, shouting would just be a distraction. Maybe she'd threaten to hurt one of the others, if she'd thought to set something like that up ahead of time. She could've cast her water-breathing spell on Hunter, then threatened to 'drown' him. He was small enough that a threat like that might work, there's no way she could believably threaten to kill Crow or Raphael by holding their face underwater. But the others would object, so that plan gets filed away until she can explain things and not get cracked across the mouth for doing it unannounced.

The transformation's alarming, but not the most extreme she's seen. Like this, he reminds her of a demon she'd seen once, caged in a mystic lab, screaming obscenities in between trying to assume more seductive, or plaintive, shapes in order to convince someone, anyone, to free it.

Funny how the shoe was on the other foot now.

Her biggest regret is escalating things here. Something is seriously wrong with the turtleman and it doesn't seem like Qhyone's style. She's assuming that if the snake had something to do with it, it'd be either more sneky or nature-focused. Also, if the Serpent Lord were influencing him, Donatello would be putting them into conflict with one another. Perhaps giving some of them special privileges the others didn't, trying to drive wedges between them. So not that. Whatever it is, it's clear that blinding him triggered this, and that it'd ultimately been a wasted spell, one they could've used on a more successful escape attempt.

Too many eyes. At least the tentacles aren't on his face, this means that it's not some mutant version of ceremorphosis. The last thing they needed was to be pets of a mind flayer.

...Is it permanent, she wonders? How would he explain it to the rest of the 'camp' if it were? No, they'd have to realize by now that something's up, especially with so many of them gone.

Her thoughts continue along this path. She has a Lot of thoughts. For now, though, she's just hoping that Korone gets out of this intact. Even with her polymorphic tricks, even with his handicap, it's clear that Donatello's got the upper hand. The girl's not moving right, not reacting right. It makes Tryse wonder if she can actually see Donatello. If the turtleman isn't totally lost, if he doesn't break her in an attempt to keep her safe, they'll need all the help they can get.

After all, even a blind magic-user is another body to throw at the problem.]

[There is a weird]

[Mental hiccup at being turned into an Actual Spiny Softshell. After all, he hasn't been one since infancy. Familiar yet nit familiar, no clear memories that far back-]

[The light tendrils are still there, not dismissed, but the real ones are changing with him which is probably another point of concern.]

[The size change and turtle brain change is disorientating and the first strike connects, knocking his head to the side-]

[Then tentacles shoot out to grab her, some feeling same as before, but others are cooler than his fabrications usually run, looking to restrain her arms.]

[ she was ready for tentacles (panic later fight now panic later fight now) and she does not let herself hesitate. she reverses one sword and slashes, skimming over her arm, even as she wrenches herself back and away with all of the strength and speed she has — before any of the tentacles manage to get a good grip.

all followed up by her shield ramming him. it only moves as fast as she can think, and only with the speed that she could throw or push someone, but that's still Fairly Speedy. That plus the sheer strength behind it, from something that makes no sound at all, means that if it hits, it's gonna h u r t.

and if it does hit, it'll just

keep going, trying to slam him into the opposite wall, while Korone backs up ]

What, what did you do?!

[ Why did some of those tentacles feel cool, why didn't they run warm, like all of his constructs always do? ]

[What's more disconcerting is that tentacle is definitely bleeding something viscous, at least the part that gets cut. It doesn't slice easy at all, but it's enough to dislodge the tentacles, and there's an inhuman hiss that isn't Donnie's usual brand.]

[Donnie can see the shield. Not with his own eyes, but all the other eyes, and he leaps as the shield comes, bracing his feet on it and even as the impact makes his legs shake, the tentacles shoot up to dig into stone and pull him up not unlike a spider.]

I already told you. [And more tentacles shoot down, grabbing for her arms and more specifically for the chain around her neck.]

[But]

[None quite go for the back of her neck.]

[ She refuses to make this easy for him.

Some tentacles she dodges. Others she slashes through, featherblades flashing and whirling with a precision that belies how both blind and how super fucking boned she knows she is.

With the tentacles as a guide, she flings her shield at him again. Keeps flinging it, aiming as best she can, as fast as she can. No reprieve for Yanatello! — but then a few things happen at once.

The shield glitches. Shatters, vanishing into sparkling gold. A tentacle wraps tight around one wrist. She wrenches against it with a snarl, not caring if it hurts, and she tries to cut herself free only for another tentacle to stop her short.

And

They're going for her neck.

The chain is short. Way too short to pull over her head, and it's more than strong enough that he won't be able to snap it. He can actually feel that the pendant itself is resisting him. Still too close. Still too much. Nope. Nope nope no no no, fuck this, no. She gathers herself, grits her teeth, and ports —

Except no. She doesn't. The moment she draws on her magic — yanks on it, more like, fuelled by fury and sudden desperation — she drops like a rock with an echoing cry of pain, both swords tumble from hands gone suddenly nerveless. She's not out, she's not unconscious; the pendant is still being stubborn and she's already fighting to pull herself back together, but she's definitely dazed. It hurts it hurts it hurts - ]

Edited 2023-02-08 16:28 (UTC)

[There is a wild abandon in his response. No precision or real thought in his personal defense, both light and real tentacles grabbing at the blades and shoving them away even as it leaves pink blood behind.]

[Others try shoving the shield away, but he also accepts taking the hits because he knows he can take them, and is willing to do so in a way that is certainly out of his character.]

[There's more bruises left behind with the bleeding nose, which at least that blood is red, but there is a single minded determination to get at her.]

[While still not doing much to hurt her. At least with the way the tentacles dig into stone, they could be doing more damage.]

[And then she's down and he freezes.]

[One beat. Two.]

That's ten. [He drops down to the water and moves to her.] Don't you dare, Korone-san, you don't push soul magic past it's limit. [He's moving to kneels beside her, moving to grab her pendant off.]

[ The pendant

doesn't

budge

Not even a little. The same magic that brought it back to her after he stole it the first time is working overtime now, keeping it close. Nevermind that it hurts, nevermind that the chain is digging in, nevermind that her head feels like it's trapped in a vice, nevermind the nausea and the rushing pounding pulsing shrieking in her ears. She won't let go. She won't. ]

You — think I'll make it that, that easy for you? [ Bares her teeth in a facsimile of a smile. A spot of blood drips from her nose. ] F-Fuck. That.

[ GUESS WHAT, FOLKS

IT'S CATATELLO O'CLOCK AGAIN

Just ignore Korone's strangled whine of agony as her headache ramps up to eleven, twelve, twenty. She kicks against the floor, trying to wrench away from the tentacles regardless of how much it might hurt. If she breaks free, she'll scramble for her swords — if not, she'll keep trying anyway.

Either way, Frog Materia might hold for a whole five seconds this time. Wowee. ]

[He is definitely fighting to get this necklace off, trying to not do more damage to her neck, but he needs that dome shield gone to end this without risking giving her a concussion.]

Koro-

[Except then he's a cat AGAIN.]

[There is a hissing sound, as the real tentalces disappear from around her, but he's quick to move the light ones around her, jerking her away from her swords. Well, one of them, she managed to grab one before he had a firm grip.]

[There is a rolling growl from this cat and he needs her to stop, he needs her to stop-]

[....ah, that is an idea.]

[Popping back to normal.] You're being an idiot, Korone-san.

[ Her fingers close around a hilt, and sbe could almost have cried in relief. She doesn't. Mostly because she's too busy yelping at both the yank and the blinding (ha, haha) pain in her head.

Whips back around like a striking snake to sever yet more of those tentacles!! She's clumsier now but decidedly more vicious; she's well past the point of caring if a stray strike hits Donnie himself.

And she just. Tries to drag herself away. She won't get far if she even makes it anywhere at all, but she is TRYING. ]

Go to hell-

Raph and I have scars from pushing soul magic, and the consequences could have been so much worse if there hadn't been three of us.

[There's more damage to tentacles, forcing them away, more of the pink blood hitting the water.]

[He moves closer quite suddenly, his hand reaching for the necklace, and while the scute do their job, they don't let the blade pierce him, his shoulders are a lot less protected now.]

[He]

[Doesn't seem like he was even trying to dodge as he lets the blade dig deep into his shoulder, biting back a grunt of pain, but he's still going for the necklace regardless.]

[ too close too close tooclosetooclose, she's hurting him too close she needs this to stop, please stop. For all her stubborn defiance, and her very real fury, she's losing stamina fast. Fear is flooding in through the cracks to replace it. Her grip on her blade wavers, then tightens again.

She lashes out with a kick at his chest, and

she doesn't think

Just tries to bite his hand, his wrist, whatever she can get at. There won't be any transfer of power though; that's very much with Eve. ]

[There's another grunt of pain, he jerks back, and there's another snarl because that's not fun with the sword, but the tentacles shoot out behind him, forcing him to stay in place and]

[He has to be cruel, he knows.]

[He lets her bite, the hand of his injured arm grabbing her upper arm, and leans in close.]

It hurts, Chocochi- [And he lets the pain bleed into his voice as he speaks into her ear.]

[ She tries to keep her foot planted, tries to keep shoving him back, but as strong as she is, he's still stronger -

Chocochi

Her grip on the sword falters. She doesn't pull it back, but she's not striving forward with it anymore. He can feel the violent tremor in her hands.

She shakes her head, While still biting him. That probably sucks, sorry not sorry. ]

[He doesn't try to pull his hand away from her mouth, does nothing more than to keep himself right there, next to her, tentacles bracing him in place.]

[A few extra slither out to where his stuff is, and is going to wrap around the shield and start squeezing it.]

[He gasps out in pain, his own form shaking because it does hurt and he knows trying to keep control of his reactions won't get what he wants.]

Its all right if you hurt me. I understand. I'm not going to hurt you though. I never want to hurt you.

[ If you don't want to hurt me, stop! ... is what she would say, if her mouth wasn't otherwise occupied. She doesn't let up on the bite. If anything, she bites down harder, even as tears drip down her cheeks.

The tremor gets worse. She doesn't mean to pull the sword back, but she's starting to lose grip on it. Whether from exhaustion or because he's getting to her, it's hard to say.

The one thing that doesn't waver is the shield. Unlike most of the rest of her spells today, this one worked exactly as intended - it won't fall until she does, no matter what he throws at it ]

[There is definitely blood in her mouth.]

[Considering she has tasted his blood, there is something about it that tastes a little different. Wrong.]

[Like a taint that's growing.]

I can't keep letting you hurt yourself more. Even if it means letting you stab me, I can't let that happen. [His hand moves up from her arm now, reaching for her necklace.] I'd rather let you kill me then to watch you destroy yourself.

[ oh, that's. that's sure his blood. in her mouth. which she thought — insomuch as she can think about anything right now, when she's an internally screaming panicky mess — she was prepared for, but she's biting so hard there's kind of a lot of it and the taste is

wrong

blood is always gross but this, this is worse. she gags, choking on it, and pulls away to cough. the sword drops to the floor. ]

D—Donnie—

[ the panicked staticky screaming is getting louder. blood in her mouth. hard to breathe. she grabs for his wrist, tries to pry him off, but she's starting to hyperventilate and that really puts a damper on doing much of anything, doesn't it? ]

[ at least she's still keeping a "grip" on the necklace. it's the one true lifeline she has left. hold on. just hold on. hold on hold on hold on hold on don't let him have it don't let him take it hold on hold on hold on ]

[He doesn't let go of her necklace, not when she keeps pushing. He needs it off her. Even if she can get it back, hopefully it'll be after she's rested, because even if that will be a pain for him, he would rather she be a pain to him then to damage her soul anymore.]

[He would need to figure things out. He knew the bunker was still in Beta, its fine. He has all the time in the world to perfect it.]

I know you don't want to fight anymore, Choco-chan. You're hurting. You don't like hurting others. Just let me keep you safe. You can lash out if it makes you feel better, but I don't think it is anymore.

[ Hold on hold on hold on hold on, no matter what, no matter what do not let go

She can't fight anymore. She's all but stopped trying, merely gripping his hand rather than prying at it.

But she can't surrender, either.

She tries to breathe. In and out, that's it. There's air. There's plenty of air, she can breathe. It takes a hot goddamn minute but she's clawing her way back from the panic attack one ragged, hitching breath at a time. In... and out... in... and out ...

Her eyes crack open. Still clouded and now flooded with tears, but. If those gross Kraang eyes of his happen to look, they'll see it, plain as day, like the sun breaking through a storm:

Resolve. Determination. Spite.

Can she win? No. Is she going to let him? Abso-fucking-lutely not. ]

...

[The Kraang eyes are focused on her.]

[The tentacles squeeze on the dome.]

This would be simpler if I could have tried nuking the shield. My sedatives are in there and head injuries are always a tricky business.

[His voice is detached now, hiding the pain.]

[But then a tentacle is whipping around behind her to strike her in the back of the head.]

[ She hears the change in his voice, but there's really no way to brace for what comes next.

He strikes, and her already throbbing head bursts white hot with pain. She's reeling, crumbling; darkness rushes up to meet her.

The chain slackens. The shield won't disappear immediately once he's taken the pendant, but it will weaken and fade much more rapidly. ]

[He takes the chain and gently lays her down on one of the stones. Going to do a quick check for any injuries he might have missed, check her pulse, needs to be sure she's stable before he goes.]

[He's just gonna keep this pendant. Keep it from her until her body is recovered enough to try and get it back and hopefully that won't be a time where she can hurt herself more.]

[He is...largely ignoring everyone else until the shield times out and he can get his stuff back. Banishing the light fabrications.]

[The]

[The real ones take more focus. They WANT to linger.]

[ She's got plenty of bruises, and there's some nasty swelling — a possible fracture — in one of her wrists from how hard she was fighting him. Her pulse is way too fast. And there is, of course, that mysterious little nosebleed.

If he happens to check with his goggles, he'll be able to see more hairline fractures! ... this time of the soul-magical variety! They're very fine, more like a threat than outright damage. Yet. He was right about one thing: if she had pushed any more, she would have been hurt. Badly. ]

[He is absolutely scanning her with goggles when he's got them back on and he's a little less tentacle-y.]

[Pulling out his own medical supplies with a disposable ice pack, going to wrap it to her wrist for now and will leave more bandages there for her, and some pain killers.]

Really trying to push your soul... [Shakes his head.]

[Yeah, okay, he's grabbing his sedatives and giving her a half dose for her so she'll stay asleep and recover.]

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