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Post by mugenginga on Feb 4, 2010 23:30:36 GMT -5
Cain would have claimed he couldn't remember the last day he'd had that was this bad, but it would have been a lie. There was a reason the memories were a curse, after all. Still, the sentiment was there. He had no one to blame but himself this time, either. He should have told Abel about magatsuhi sooner, his brother was now and forevermore a demon after all. He heard Abel's words but gave no reaction to them.
When Abel jerked the dagger out, he did allow his eyes to flick to the side. Let Abel take it. It was possible he was off to kill... no, more likely he was off to torture someone. His brother had decided to deal with someone other than him, probably out of some human sympathy for Seth. After all, it had been that which sent Seth out of Himitsu's shop.
Seth had winced as the King of Bel's words were bounced off Cain. He straightened up as Abel addressed him. His eyes widened a bit despite the diverted gaze. Needed healing? Seth's expression then sunk. Abel had probably not reacted well to Nyarlathotep's announcement. If Seth knew Nyarlathotep, the demon had presented it in a way that would incite the worst reaction witht he least harm to himself.
Cain swatted the Kobold's hand away as it moved to follow the order. Seth gave a nervous look towards Abel, but his brother was already retreating. He either hadn't noticed or didn't care. After the King had left the parking lot, Seth was quick to come to Cain's side. He crouched down and looked Cain in the eyes. His oldest brother was still holding his head.
"What?" he growled, swatting the Kobold's hand away again.
"Do you need help getting up?" Cain glared and opened his mouth to answer, but Seth cut him off, "I'm not asking if you want help. Do you need it?"
"I've been hurt worse. You were there. Didn't you threaten to kill me if I didn't live?"
"Cain, what did he do to you?"
Again with the swatted hand, "Drained my magatsuhi, although I doubt he got what he expected."
"I thought..." Seth paused. No, Abel had covered that. He wasn't sure what the internet line had been about, but he'd mentioned that people didn't have to die for it, "What is that? It sounds familiar..."
"Magatsuhi is..." Cain winced and began to growl as he spoke, "If I let you help me, you shut up. Understand?"
Seth hesitated, but finally he nodded. Before Cain would have a chance to speak again, he felt his right arm being put around Seth's neck. The Kobold reached for Cain again, and Cain batted the demon's arm away. The Prince stood up, and Cain offered what support he could. Seth leaned forward and looked at the demon.
"If you just make sure we get up the stairs, you'll be following His Majesty's order."
The Kobold pulled back. No words were spoken to indicate it understood. Cain considered pulling away from Seth, but decided against it. Not just because he didn't want to deal with Seth or Kobold. He really felt drained. Abel was right, it was surprising he had woken up so fast. He would have smirked had he had the energy. He was too stubborn for his own good sometimes.
"Alfonz, was it? Open the door," Seth ordered. When the Kobold didn't move he got an annoyed look, "To help get the General into the building!"
Dammit, puppets were stupid sometimes. Once the Kobold realized following that order was also following the King's, it moved forward to open the door. The group would be up the stairs in a bit. Cain's condition made it slow going.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Feb 5, 2010 22:06:52 GMT -5
"Ow, ow," Atsuro said. He looked down at his still broken arm. Not only was it the same arm as last time, but he was sure now that Abel had somehow broken it in the exact same place as last time. What was wrong with Abel today? He'd been sure that Abel had stabilized this morning, but he was acting more like it was a full moon, when it wasn't anywhere close to one.
He hadn't gone in the apartment yet. He wanted to see what had happened to Cain when he came back up the stairs. Atsuro doubted Abel had killed Cain. There was too much K1 in him to make him kill the cousin/brother he'd practically worshipped most of his life.
Atsuro looked up as he heard someone coming up the stairs. His eyes grew wide once they finally made it up. Seth was helping Cain up the stairs. But Abel didn't seem to be anywhere.
"What happened?" Atsuro asked.
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Post by mugenginga on Feb 5, 2010 22:29:43 GMT -5
Seth looked up, his expression a mixture of pain, worry... and something like anger. Not at Atsuro, the other teenager would be able to tell that, but that emotion from Seth was something he didn't usually sport. Cain glanced behind himself as the Kobold came into view. He was the one that answered Atsuro.
"His Majesty is learning what it means to be a demon," Cain muttered.
"I don't know, Atsuro. Something to do with 'Magatsuhi'," Seth reached over. Cain didn't fight as the teenager reached into one of his inside pockets and pulled out a key. He held it out to Atsuro, but he hesitated and averted his gaze as he saw the limp arm. He turned to the Kobold as best he could with his passenger and gave a command, "Get the middle door open."
Cain's scowl deepened. His hand lifted as he winced and rubbed his temple. He'd probably pass out as soon as he hit the bed. If Atsuro even thought about making a comment about his condition, the man would glare at him. Or as well as he could in his condition. The Kobold was keeping a close eye on Cain, but Atsuro wouldn't miss the empty eyes. Only weak demons under direct command from their King got that look.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Feb 5, 2010 23:42:43 GMT -5
Atsuro looked away as he saw the expression on Seth's face. Things obviously hadn't gone well. Well, of course they hadn't. Things never went good when Abel was mad. He looked back toward them as he heard Cain's muttered comment. Abel was learning what it was like to be a demon? Oh shit, what was going on?
"'Magatsuhi?' What's that?" Atsuro repeated hesitantly.
He looked toward the Kobold. None of them had a Kobold contracted, and Abel's connection to the summoning server had been iffy, but there was one there, and the glazed over look in its eyes meant that Abel had to have given it a direct order. Atsuro didn't comment on Cain's condition, though.
The Kobold grasped the key and lumbered over to Cain's door. It fumbled with the key for a moment before managing to get a good grip on it and get the key into the keyhole. The demon slowly opened the door, and held it open for Seth and Cain.
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Post by mugenginga on Feb 5, 2010 23:57:31 GMT -5
Seth glanced at Atsuro and shook his head. He knew the word, but he couldn't bring out how. He knew he'd heard it in the Demon Realm from time to time. The only one in their group that seemed to know was Cain, and they couldn't pressure him. Had he had the energy, Seth was sure he'd have gotten an explanation in the lobby. He'd have to check his COMP. If he still had Nirad... he looked up as the door opened and helped Cain into the apartment. The Kobold closed the door behind it. Atsuro wouldn't see what was going inside.
"Seth, put me down," Cain said. It was an attempt at an order that fell flat.
"I'll put you down when we get to the bedroom. Alfonz, open the door," Seth ordered.
The Kobold looked as if it wasn't going to respond, but finally did so. Seth helped Cain into the bedroom and sat him down on the bed. Cain used what little strength he had to push Seth away. It wasn't strong, but it wasn't expected so Seth stumbled a bit. He resisted the urge to just lay down and gave a narrow glare at the Kobold.
"I'm in my room, I'm in my bed. The order's been fulfilled. Get out," Cain ordered.
He was looking at the Kobold, but Seth could tell it was aimed at both of them. He guided the Kobold out. Now that the order was fulfilled, the Kobold would likely be coming to its senses shortly. At least the demons were on orders to obey a chain of command. Outside of the battlefield, Seth tended to outrank Cain. At worst, it would balk and they'd have to kill it. Better it died than any unfortunate innocents that got in its way.
Seth pushed open the door to the bedroom and came out. He had pulled his COMP out. The blood that had dripped onto it was almost dry. When he flipped it open, a bit of the blood that had congealed just under the edge seperated, showing that some of it was damper than the rest. Seth wiped it on his pants and looked up at Atsuro. The black haired teenager would be able to see the cut in Seth's shirt and the scabbed over slice now.
"I don't want to talk in the hall," Seth said. His voice was meak, and he indicated Atsuro's room. If Kaido had gotten back, the man would probably be in there. It would be easier to inform both of them, but he wanted Atsuro to go first.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Feb 6, 2010 21:48:15 GMT -5
Atsuro was officially worried. He was sure he'd heard this "magatsuhi" word before too. It was rare to hear the demons around the castle talking amongst themselves; the demons Abel tended to use for servants tended to be the weaker types; the ones that ended up being more puppets than demons. But he was sure he'd heard that term being used before.
He looked up as he saw Seth and the Kobold exit Cain's room. The Kobold had followed obediently behind Seth, but something was obviously wearing off as it stepped out of the room. Its steps were less wooden than they were before. It was after Seth addressed Atsuro that the Kobold shook itself free of Abel's influence, rather literally in this case, as it shook its head and rubbed its forehead once it regained control of itself.
"...WHAT? ME IN HUMAN WORLD AGAIN? ME WAS SLEEPING!" The Kobold turned toward Seth. "WHAT YOU DO?"
Atsuro turned toward the Kobold. "He didn't do anything, Abel did."
"HUMAN KING. HUMAN KING MAKE ME PUPPET," the Kobold realized. "BAH. HUMAN KING STILL TOO HUMAN FOR ME. STILL ACTING TOO MUCH LIKE TAMER."
Atsuro turned back toward Seth. "Hey, do you think you can put him in your COMP before we go back to me and Kaido's room, then? I'd do it, but... yeah." He motioned toward his still broken arm. It would help if he could actually use both arms if he was going to use his COMP.
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Post by mugenginga on Feb 6, 2010 21:53:51 GMT -5
Seth winced a bit. The Kobold race talked altogether too loud. Seth winced a bit as the Kobold accused him of doing something, not the smartest show of weakness. However, Atsuro answered and the Kobold's inability to focus on more than one thing at a time if that much proved an advantage. The situation dawned on the demon and then it proceeded to criticize Abel's humanity. Seth clenched his COMP in anger when Atsuro spoke again.
He jerked out of his thoughts. He looked over to where Atsuro was indicating and a pained look spread across his face again. No, he couldn't, not easily. A demon had to give permission to be drawn into a COMP, and it was far less of a hassle if the demon were contracted. Then again... Seth's expression darkened.
"You're under contract to me. If you want to balk, it won't be a problem for me to defeat you," Seth's voice gave no room for argument... not that it hadn't stopped demons before. Especially from Seth, the Prince tended to be underestimated.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Feb 6, 2010 22:05:07 GMT -5
The Kobold blinked as it was given the order. He was now under Seth's contract? He knew of the human prince and his status, but the good majority of the contracts out there had been annulled the moment Abel took the throne. No new contracts had been made as far as he knew. However, the Kobold was smart enough to not try to attack Seth over the contract issue but not smart enough to not balk it out loud.
"HUMAN PRINCE MAKES NEW CONTRACTS WILLY-NILLY," the Kobold stated. "YOU MASTER NOW. ME NOT HAPPY, BUT ME FOLLOW YOU."
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Post by mugenginga on Feb 6, 2010 22:10:50 GMT -5
Seth didn't say anything. He opened the COMP and drew the Kobold into it. He walked towards the door and turned the handle. It wasn't locked, he was grateful for that. He pulled it open and looked back towards Atsuro. He was letting the pain and worry show in his face now that they were alone. Before Atsuro could respond, however...
"Shit, Cain really did attack you," Kaido stated, standing up from where he'd been sitting.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Feb 6, 2010 22:43:28 GMT -5
Atsuro looked away as he saw Seth's expression. They were alone now; Seth could show those emotions. And he was just as worried as Atsuro was. Probably more. He didn't have a chance to say anything before Kaido made his comment.
"...I'm sure it was an accident, but... Abel really did a number on Cain. He's passed out in his room," Atsuro said. He suddenly remembered something. "Hey, do you know what magatsuhi is?"
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Post by mugenginga on Feb 6, 2010 22:51:31 GMT -5
"Passed out!?"
Kaido took a step back. Cain was passed out. Cain was passed out. If the man had nothing else going for him, he was stubborn. So having passed out because Abel flipped on him. He noted the expressions on Atsuro's and Seth's face. Maybe he'd just clocked him right, the two didn't seem concerned enough for anything all that major. He glanced towards Atsuro and blinked.
"Magi-whatsit?" Kaido paused, "I think I've heard it before, but I couldn't tell ya where. Why?"
"It was an accident," Seth said with a flat voice. His next statement carried the emotion he'd been showing, "Cain tried to kill Souji. We ran into him earlier. Its been a really long day..." He shook his head, "I think Magatsuhi relates to demons. Do any of you have Ameterasu on you? We can get her to heal, and the demons probably know more about Magatsuhi than we do."
If Ameterasu had been lost due to the finicky connection between dimensions, they had other options. Seth could set a healing spell on his COMP and take care of the injuries himself. As for asking demons, Nirad the Garuda was still on his COMP. He could ask him. Kaido didn't have a demon that clicked with him anymore, though. Asura's actions during the event a month and a half past had put it on thin ice with Abel, and that ice had broken the same day Seth's arm had been broken.
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Feb 7, 2010 0:11:34 GMT -5
Atsuro looked toward Seth again. Cain had tried to kill Souji? Abel had been rather worried about Souji's status as a Shadow. Cain might have been trying to go ahead and take Souji down now before he could do anything to them. And Seth had gotten injured in the process...
"Last I checked, I didn't have her," Atsuro said. "Do you have her, Kaido?"
It would be nice if Kaido did. They could get his arm healed while they were at it.
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Post by mugenginga on Feb 7, 2010 4:32:48 GMT -5
Kaido shook his head, "Never been one to keep demons on me for healing."
Seth said nothing. The closest thing to words was a sigh. He opened his COMP and adjusted his spell layout. He didn't skimp on it either, setting one of his own abilities to Diarahan. No need to run the risk of not healing an injury and having to cast more than was needed. He went to the demon summoning screen and selected one of only three demons that had remained on the Island after getting effected by the dimensional distortions. One of four demons he had in total.
The Garuda materialized to Seth's left. Atsuro was at his right and Kaido was in front of the entire group due to having been sitting on the bed before they came in. The bird-like demon's eyes widened as he saw both Atsuro and Seth. His reaction was more severe when he saw Seth's wound. He glanced at the window and shook his head. He knew what phase the moon was in... had it been someone other than Abel? Seth had lifted his uninjured hand to his arm and cast the spell. The skin closed on the wound and Seth found himself looking away. It wasn't pleasant to watch a wound reseal like that.
"Your Highness, what..."
"Just call me Seth," the Prince sighed, "Atsuro, could you turn? I need more direct access to your arm."
"Pardon my rudeness, Your Hig... Seth, but what did you summon me for?"
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Post by Firebreath Fishslap on Feb 7, 2010 21:41:13 GMT -5
Atsuro nodded and turned so that Seth could reach his arm easier. He'd expected Seth to summon Nirad; the Garuda was a demon Seth favored. Atsuro, on the other hand, really didn't have any demons he really favored. The rest of the group seemed to have demons they favored for pretty much any use, or at least had before Abel had killed them in a couple of cases, but Atsuro never really had.
He winced once Seth started healing his arm. The feel of a bone healing back into place was not a pleasant one. It didn't hurt, but that didn't mean that it was a pleasant feeling.
He looked toward Nirad as the Garuda asked its question. "...Do you know what magatsuhi is? It keeps coming up, but none of us know what it is... besides Abel and Cain, and they're both kinda indisposed at the moment."
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Post by mugenginga on Feb 7, 2010 22:06:09 GMT -5
Nirad hadn't received an answer from Seth. The Prince had turned to handle Atsuro's arm. Of the demons involved in the whole mess with the Throne of Bel, he knew he had handled it better than most. It didn't bother him that the King had once been human, or had traces of humanity left. He watched as Seth healed Atsuro's arm. However, when he got the response to his question his eyes widened.
Nirad looked at Atsuro for a few moments, trying to come up with a response. He looked rather serious as he answered, "Did something happen with His Majesty?"
Seth pulled his hand back once he was sure the wound was healed. A small bruise would likely remain. He looked back towards Nirad, and the demon saw the the Prince's expression. The demon looked away and let out a sigh. The King had yet to kill a human, but Nirad could guess what had happened.
"Pardon my forwardness, but may I ask your impression of how bad it is?"
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