Anyway, as he runs, he leaps, feet finding the surface of the ledge overhanging their little camp, and there Nico stands for a moment, sideways on a sheer wall of stone and dirt. A couple of sprinting strides upward and he leaps again, sailing over the head of the jovially skipping mime to land behind it, blade now in his hand.
Nico whistles, the sound sharp and loud and sudden, to get the thing's attention. ]
[Yet despite his attempt at decrying this sudden battle upon them, Verso's immediately falling into stance, muscles coiled and ready for what he knows will be a fight. It's not the first time he's faced one of these godawful things, though he always wishes it'll be the last.
He barely has time to register the way Nico leaps practically over him and stands sideways on the overhang, much less time to question it. Vampire things, probably!! It's fine. More helpful is the way he springs off and lands directly behind the mime, thus placing it between them.
Their opponent stops briefly, looking at Verso for a moment, before turning its whole, stiff body around and facing Nico again. And then, without much warning-]
Nico! Watch out, it's faster than it looks!
[-it raises one arm up and backwards, and the ghostly image of a GIANT HAMMER flickers in its grip as it then tries to smash it right atop Nico's head.]
[ This thing is indeed very fast for something so large, but Nico is fast as well, propelled by inhuman strength and speed. He sidesteps quickly, the hammer coming down to carve a crater into the dirt. ]
When you saidโ [ The mime rears back to swing again, and this time Nico leaps back, feet alighting on the trunk of a tree, once again leaving him parallel with the ground. ] โthere were things to watch out for, I did not think for a moment you meant this!
[ With the mime seemingly unsure of what to do with an opponent standing on vertical surfaces like it's nothing, Nico takes the moment to strike. Propelled suddenly enough to sheer some of the bark from the tree trunk with the soles of his boots, the vampire leaps forward, blade singing.
Very literally singing, a high, crystalline note emanates from the sword as Nico jabs the blade into the joint of the mime's arm. A moment later, a blast of invisible force explodes from the weapon. It isn't some wild thing, it's controlled, aimed. Precise. Enough to blow a hole through a person, usually. What that does to one of these things remains to be seen. ]
What can I say! We've got a little bit of everything on the Continent!
[It's retorted back as a yell as Nico leaps and dodges the hammer attack, though Verso fully expects a follow-up soon after. But the mime appears thrown off by Nico's strange defiance of gravity, hesitating just long enough for the vampire to thrust forward with a jab at it. A blast of invisible force seems to reverb outwards, sending it back a few feet.]
Putain!
[Verso's turn to charge forward; while he knows the mimes are quite sturdy, an attack like that must have at least cracked its exterior. If Nico could break it completely...]
Nico! Do that again!
[-he commands, as he performs a spinning slice that rakes across the mime's back. Their enemy gives a tinny "oof!", momentarily distracted enough to turn around and face Verso, though with both hands aglow, as though preparing for another "invisible" attack.]
[ The mime rears back to make its attack, one arm raised to strike, only to be halted when what looks like a shackle of vibrant, red light manifests around its wrist. The mime tugs against it, but finds itself held pretty firmly in place.
Nico, eyes aglow with that same light, leaps onto its shoulder with all the ease and poise of a cat. ]
Tell me, friendโ [ A flash of movement, Nico's blade seeking the same place he'd hit earlier to slip into the crack in the mime's exterior, accompanied by that same crystalline hum. ] What is the sound of one hand clapping?
[ As before, the rapier emanates another blast of force. Nico uses the momentum to leap backwards, sailing over the mime's clumsy attempt to grab him with its free hand, to land next to verso. ]
I cannot hold it for long, mon ami!
[ You know, provided the blast didn't take its arm off. ]
[Despite everything, Verso huffs it out with clear amusement. The agility and special rapier notwithstanding, it appears Nico has even a bit more magic to restrain the mime when needed. By the time he lands beside him, their opponent has had a huge hole shattered into its exterior, cracking outwards, and it's clear that it's left it weakened. The mime slumps over, twitching its head now and again in a disturbing way.]
Don't worry, it's my turn now-!
[Alas, the mime still has both arms, and there's a clear attempt at one raising, winding up another strike despite its injury. It lets out one more laugh and lunges at Verso, but he raises his blade to parry, which connects โ that same blade hums with light, and a burst of light energy surges forth and blasts towards the horrid thing, sending it flying backwards.
It lands with a loud crack against a hard, jagged rock at a distance, gives one more pitious "oof", and goes still.]
[ Well! That's that! Nico watches the mime for a few moments more to make sure it doesn't stir, and once it's clear that it won't get back up again, he stows his weapon back in its sheath. ]
You have seen every trick I have to offer, I believe. But you are clearly no slouch yourself!
[Verso watches for a moment longer, too, until it's clear the mime isn't getting up. Then he walks over to it, toeing it with his boot. And heaving a huge sigh.]
Well, I'm mostly a swordman โ "get close and cut them up" is my normal mode of fighting. But I still spice things up now and again with the use of chroma. Some light elemental flair.
[He dismisses his weapons. Then bends down, picks up the round sunglasses from the mime's face... and turns and tosses them at Nico.]
[ He had things he was going to say, no small amount of amazement at a human able to wield magic in any form, but now he's being tossed a pair of sunglasses. He snatches them from the air, turning them over in his hands. ]
[ It is rather uneventful, Nico picking his way through the dark with ease. He even scoops up all the firewood into his arms on his own, so really Verso is just along to look pretty. (He's doing great!)
Once back at camp, Nico sets to work getting a fire built. ]
You live here, oui? Do you spend all your time trying to deal with the Paintress?
[And Verso sets to helping him! Once it's ready, he summons his shortblade again, the blade hot with chroma-induced warmth. A quick rake against the firewood ensures that it catches flame.
It's not the most traditional way to go about it, but it works.]
Yes, I live wherever makes for the safest camp, if that's what you mean.
[As a vagrant tends to do.]
And... well, the Paintress is more than what one person can usually handle. Every year, I wait for the newest Expedition to make land here. Sometimes I miss them completely. But other times, I try to offer my aid โ or otherwise see if they'd be of any help, one way or another.
[Ha. He simultaneously has all the time in the world for those, and yet sometimes the spark of willingness is missing. Such is the reality of living the way he does.]
I might not look it... but I'm an artist and a musician.
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finalflight2025-05-05 12:40 pm
no subject
[ Don't answer that.
Anyway, as he runs, he leaps, feet finding the surface of the ledge overhanging their little camp, and there Nico stands for a moment, sideways on a sheer wall of stone and dirt. A couple of sprinting strides upward and he leaps again, sailing over the head of the jovially skipping mime to land behind it, blade now in his hand.
Nico whistles, the sound sharp and loud and sudden, to get the thing's attention. ]
Over here, mon ami.
no subject
[Yet despite his attempt at decrying this sudden battle upon them, Verso's immediately falling into stance, muscles coiled and ready for what he knows will be a fight. It's not the first time he's faced one of these godawful things, though he always wishes it'll be the last.
He barely has time to register the way Nico leaps practically over him and stands sideways on the overhang, much less time to question it. Vampire things, probably!! It's fine. More helpful is the way he springs off and lands directly behind the mime, thus placing it between them.
Their opponent stops briefly, looking at Verso for a moment, before turning its whole, stiff body around and facing Nico again. And then, without much warning-]
Nico! Watch out, it's faster than it looks!
[-it raises one arm up and backwards, and the ghostly image of a GIANT HAMMER flickers in its grip as it then tries to smash it right atop Nico's head.]
no subject
When you saidโ [ The mime rears back to swing again, and this time Nico leaps back, feet alighting on the trunk of a tree, once again leaving him parallel with the ground. ] โthere were things to watch out for, I did not think for a moment you meant this!
[ With the mime seemingly unsure of what to do with an opponent standing on vertical surfaces like it's nothing, Nico takes the moment to strike. Propelled suddenly enough to sheer some of the bark from the tree trunk with the soles of his boots, the vampire leaps forward, blade singing.
Very literally singing, a high, crystalline note emanates from the sword as Nico jabs the blade into the joint of the mime's arm. A moment later, a blast of invisible force explodes from the weapon. It isn't some wild thing, it's controlled, aimed. Precise. Enough to blow a hole through a person, usually. What that does to one of these things remains to be seen. ]
no subject
[It's retorted back as a yell as Nico leaps and dodges the hammer attack, though Verso fully expects a follow-up soon after. But the mime appears thrown off by Nico's strange defiance of gravity, hesitating just long enough for the vampire to thrust forward with a jab at it. A blast of invisible force seems to reverb outwards, sending it back a few feet.]
Putain!
[Verso's turn to charge forward; while he knows the mimes are quite sturdy, an attack like that must have at least cracked its exterior. If Nico could break it completely...]
Nico! Do that again!
[-he commands, as he performs a spinning slice that rakes across the mime's back. Their enemy gives a tinny "oof!", momentarily distracted enough to turn around and face Verso, though with both hands aglow, as though preparing for another "invisible" attack.]
no subject
Nico, eyes aglow with that same light, leaps onto its shoulder with all the ease and poise of a cat. ]
Tell me, friendโ [ A flash of movement, Nico's blade seeking the same place he'd hit earlier to slip into the crack in the mime's exterior, accompanied by that same crystalline hum. ] What is the sound of one hand clapping?
[ As before, the rapier emanates another blast of force. Nico uses the momentum to leap backwards, sailing over the mime's clumsy attempt to grab him with its free hand, to land next to verso. ]
I cannot hold it for long, mon ami!
[ You know, provided the blast didn't take its arm off. ]
no subject
[Despite everything, Verso huffs it out with clear amusement. The agility and special rapier notwithstanding, it appears Nico has even a bit more magic to restrain the mime when needed. By the time he lands beside him, their opponent has had a huge hole shattered into its exterior, cracking outwards, and it's clear that it's left it weakened. The mime slumps over, twitching its head now and again in a disturbing way.]
Don't worry, it's my turn now-!
[Alas, the mime still has both arms, and there's a clear attempt at one raising, winding up another strike despite its injury. It lets out one more laugh and lunges at Verso, but he raises his blade to parry, which connects โ that same blade hums with light, and a burst of light energy surges forth and blasts towards the horrid thing, sending it flying backwards.
It lands with a loud crack against a hard, jagged rock at a distance, gives one more pitious "oof", and goes still.]
no subject
You have seen every trick I have to offer, I believe. But you are clearly no slouch yourself!
no subject
Well, I'm mostly a swordman โ "get close and cut them up" is my normal mode of fighting. But I still spice things up now and again with the use of chroma. Some light elemental flair.
[He dismisses his weapons. Then bends down, picks up the round sunglasses from the mime's face... and turns and tosses them at Nico.]
Catch.
no subject
[ He had things he was going to say, no small amount of amazement at a human able to wield magic in any form, but now he's being tossed a pair of sunglasses. He snatches them from the air, turning them over in his hands. ]
These are... for me?
no subject
What, don't you like them?
no subject
[ He like. Instantly puts them on, striking a pose with fingerguns and everything. ]
How do I look? Dashing, no?
no subject
Perfectly handsome.
[They suit. That's good.]
And I figure they'd be helpful if there happen to be times when you do need to be walking about in the sun.
no subject
Anyway, Nico takes the sunglasses off for now, since it's well and truly night, and tucks them into a pocket. ]
Oh! Yes, these will be very nice to have! Thank you, mon ami. And for your help in battle, as well. Sorry to have disturbed your rest.
no subject
Well, I guess I can forgive you. Since you did help with the problem at hand.
[He's isn't really fussed.]
In all seriousness, though, I'm glad you're safe. Maybe now we should, ah, walk together to find that firewood, hm?
no subject
Oh! Whoops!
I have gathered a pile already. It should not be too far away!
no subject
Lead the way, mon ami. Then we'll get ourselves properly comfortable by a fire.
[OFF TO GET THE FIREWOOD AND COME BACK? No actual nasty surprises this time.]
no subject
Once back at camp, Nico sets to work getting a fire built. ]
You live here, oui? Do you spend all your time trying to deal with the Paintress?
no subject
It's not the most traditional way to go about it, but it works.]
Yes, I live wherever makes for the safest camp, if that's what you mean.
[As a vagrant tends to do.]
And... well, the Paintress is more than what one person can usually handle. Every year, I wait for the newest Expedition to make land here. Sometimes I miss them completely. But other times, I try to offer my aid โ or otherwise see if they'd be of any help, one way or another.
no subject
[ What do you do for fun, Verso? ]
no subject
[Ha. He simultaneously has all the time in the world for those, and yet sometimes the spark of willingness is missing. Such is the reality of living the way he does.]
I might not look it... but I'm an artist and a musician.
no subject
Truly? Mon ami! So am I!!
[ DID WE JUST BECOME BEST FRIENDS.GIF ]
no subject
He blinks.]
What? Wait... really? Which?
[Artist? Musician??]
no subject
[ He reaches out to grasp Verso's hands, once again sturdy but clearly holding back. ]
It is delightful, non? You must tell me! What is your preferred medium? Your favorite instrument? Perhaps we can play together!
[ Says man without an instrument on him. ]