middleofsomewhere | The Will to Fight: Ongoing: Red and Purple

The Will to Fight: Ongoing: Red and Purple

Dawn Attack

It's been a busy few days of fighting demons, attacking keystones and fighting both on the demon and human planes. On the morning of day nine of the month of Kazoo a gate opens close to the base camp that the two teams have made.

It seems the demons have decided to focus on this unexpected threat, because it is a sizable force, with a number of the large demons. They march towards the camp with single-minded focus, the opportunity to stop these unwanted defenders taking precedence over their desire to destroy the city.

The advantage to the landscape being as ruined as it is, is that there isn't much to stop the lookouts from seeing this force headed towards them. A gate opening is not subtle. There should be enough time to make sure the defenders are ready.

Scouting Ahead

Once that skirmish is won those on the Red team will find their SCA's beeping, with an exclamation point far out to the east.

A group of demons is congregating at the location indicated. Investigate why, defeat the demons and close any gates nearby.

It will take a while to get there and there is plenty to do on the way for those that follow the exclamation point. Roaming packs of demons, gates to be closed. Exhausting work, especially for those going in and out of the demon gates.

Protecting the City

Once it is clear that these defenders are not going to be easy to wipe out, the attacks on the city itself get more frequent. The demons have changed tactics: rather than sending in large groups they open many small portals, sending small strike teams to harry and target individuals.

Some of the attacks are clearly meant as traps: they open the gates in or very close to the city, to lure the Voidtreckers in to where they will be affected by the spell. Ranged attacks may be useful here.

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[ He's not hard to miss, not when Roland is at the edge of stress. Running amok, trying to make sense of what to do, where to go. How to be in two places at once. They wont let up, the demons, even if they've changed up their tactics by sending smaller hordes, one at a time. That's worse, and he knows it. They have unlimited troops to spare, in a place they're already accustomed to; meanwhile, the Voidtreckers were stretching as far and wide as possible.

Speaking of being stretched too thinly. Roland stops his gait, but even when Ken rebuffs him, he doesn't let up. ]

Ken, what's -

[ A hand darts out to his shoulder, lacking his usual grace in favor of urgent concern. Whatever resistance he meets, he adjusts, not wanting to hurt him, but wondering why he's curled up so defensively like this. The answer comes clear enough when even in the darkness, Ken's complexion is paler than pale.

Roland crouches on one knee, the hand on Ken falling back down to his side. ]

Dammit...All right. Let's get you to a tent, okay? Can you walk? Can you point out to me where you're injured?

[ Surely Ken knows he's not fine, that this is the opposite of fine. And they're on a battlefield that demands them to move swiftly, move with purpose. There's no time for Roland to play coy or pretend. ]

[Ken grunts quietly at the sudden hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. He doesn't need to go to a tent and he doesn't need to... point anything out.]

I... I'm not injured... not really... those a-attacks that the little ones throw out and just... how the other side affects me... this coat helps protect me a little, but um. I have a darkness... weakness. I - I promise I'm not going to hold anyone back just because of my own weakness.

[ That's almost worse than an actual, physical injury. ]

You're working really hard, Ken. Don't you worry. You're not holding anyone back.

[ It's almost an irony that it's Roland who finds him this way; Roland who seemingly has an affinity, a resistance to darkness so when he enters portals...it takes longer for him to tire. ]

[ But for now, he needs to focus. His arms position around Ken as if getting ready to carry him if he needs to. If he won't move. ] Those attacks are really bad. If we don't get you to a place where I can administer some quick first aid, it's going to get a whole lot worse. Please. Come with me and let's get you patched up.

... I'm not... I healed all the cuts and stuff. I'm just... tired. B - but I don't want to worry Vexen... I don't want him to see how bad it is or he'll make me stay back. I... I can still fight. I have to. Red needs all the people it can get.

[He tries to sit up straight but he's tired enough for there to be a slight ringing his ears. He has to hold on. He has to.]

I have... light-based attacks. They work really well...

...

[ There are plenty of ways to deal with the stubborn folk. But he has none of the luxury of time to choose among it. Roland would rather act fast so he can get the job done and save a life, versus pretending there's more to gain over growing shy to do what must be done. He takes a solid breath before he does the unexpected.

He moves to lift Ken up with both arms cradling the boy, lighter than he ever expected a kid like him could weigh. ]

If you don't want to worry Vexen, then you have to get better before he ever finds out. [ And it's a good thing Roland is Roland, uncaring if this move will earn him his roommate's wrath. So be it. If there is not enough resistance, he will stride over to the nearest open tent, empty, with only a cot on the ground and some makeshift wooden surfaces that act as tables. ] Red needs its warriors. So be a warrior for me, and take the help. I'm just going to get your stamina back, because getting hit by smaller demon magic means they drain it out of you. After this, you do whatever you want to do. I won't stop you. Deal?

Edited 2021-03-19 14:25 (UTC)

[Ken jerks in Roland's sudden grip but doesn't thrash out - it's more out of surprise than anything, and he's exhausted. He really is light - the hoodies he wears hides just how skinny he is. He's definitely under seventy five pounds... the food hoarding might make even more sense to Roland.]

[This close it's easy to feel the tension in Ken's body, like a coiled toy ready to spring. His muscles twitch occasionally, but he doesn't complain. He'll never complain about the pain and exhaustion that have been a part of his life for years. His chest rises and falls more or less regularly, and as Roland carries him he slowly leans ins head against his roommate. There's no words, just silent acceptance.]

I'm trying. ... I'm trying. I don't want anyone to lose someone because I can't be there to heal them. I don't want someone to be trapped because I wasn't there to kill what was hurting them. I can deal with the scary things. I can deal with being hurt if I need to.

[His voice is quiet and a little rough, small breaths and tensions betraying his emotional state.]

I don't... I'm trying. I'm not... you know.

['Supposed to be alive'.]

... The least i can do is keep my team alive.

[ He listens to Ken speak while making space on the sleeping bag for him, opening it up and setting him down propped up with as many bags as possible to create a makeshift pillow. Out of his Arms Band comes a couple of Sixth Censers, like incense dishes with light emitting out of their pocket centers. He sets three at a time around Ken, slowly emitting a magical steam that wraps them up in a comforting, fragrant haze.

Ken will feel his magical stamina return to him, little by little, but not all of it. It will be enough though, Roland hopes.

When Ken finishes, Roland nods in understanding, closing his eyes. A heavy hand rests on Ken's shoulder. ]

I get that. I really do. I know it's hard to believe someone like me won't understand completely, but...trust me. I know what it's like to be responsible for a lot of people all at once, worrying if you'll be able to be there for them or not. [ He shakes his head, bangs falling loosely against his forehead. ] And I'm talking about back then too, in my old life, not just because I'm helping out the train today.

[ He watches the smoke grow thicker, but none of it is uncomfortable. In fact, the scent of Sixth Censers remind him of home. ]

You're one of the good ones, Ken. It's really good to care about your team like this, it's good you have their back. But the least you can do for anyone...is to take care of yourself first. If you push yourself too far, you'll have nothing left to give anyone.

[ He tries to meet his eye again. For someone so young, and for Roland to speak to him like this, wise beyond his years...It's heartbreaking all on its own. When would these kids ever get a break? ]

Now take it from an old man and lend me just a couple of minutes inside this tent for now, okay? Have you even taken a sip of water recently?

[ There's some humor he tries to inject here now, and he's already summoning a water bottle from his Arms Band in preparation. ]

Edited 2021-03-21 15:47 (UTC)

[He's out of it enough to not really pay attention to the incense or the really much of anything Roland is doing. His eyes close a little bit, though not totally.]

I know. ... I've been drinking water. I'm used to long periods of fighting, I know how it can tire you out... that stupid place makes it faster and I hate it. ... I just want people to take me seriously. I always have to do more because people see me as lesser because of my age. I can't... I can't afford to not.

[He leans into Roland's hand a bit, finally closing his eyes and taking a few deep breaths.]

That's always the worst, isn't it? When people look at you and see you as too young to do anything useful. Heh. I guess you and I have that in common.

[ Of course, Roland speaks of another time. Not now, when his face is not what its supposed to look like. He speaks of experiences long past, glad to have seen those seasons through...The upstart president, the youngest ever elected. Ah, what memories. He relates well to it, and it comes out as earnest.

Roland unscrews the cap from his water and gently nestles it against Ken's clasped hands, ready for him to drink from when he feels like it. He won't force it. But the hand on his shoulder does make it to his forehead, and he frowns. He's clammy. Cold. Like the life still isn't back from him. He tries not to show he's too concerned, so as not to worry the kid. He's already having a tough time dealing with someone forcing him to take five minutes off.

But he's so cold... ]

Hey, when were you hit by that demon? Was it just recently? Or was it a while back now?

... Yeah.

[He takes a drink, just a small sip. It's hard to not totally down it, but he knows he has to pace himself.]

Um... recently. I'm not... I'm not good at... I feel useless in there. Spears aren't helpful on the keystones, lightning doesn't work either... light works on the demons but not the keystones.

Right. I thought as much.

[ It explains his current state well. But it also means Roland knows precisely what to do. In the palm of his hand, glimmering gold light appears for a split second before a small item rests on his palm - or rather, a small slice of a legume. A senzu bean, a third of it snapped neatly from the rest of the bean's body.

He offers it to Ken without hesitation. ]

Here. Eat this. It'll help you regain your strength. If one isn't enough, take the other half. I have one more, and I know the guy supplying it. It's no trouble at all.

[ Roland's not going to let up on this one, palm still open despite whatever protests he may hear from Ken. ]

We can talk strategy to help you in there after you get better. Deal?

... Okay.

[Hesitantly he takes the bean and eats it, feeling strength flow back into his body like he'd just taken a high-level restorative medicine. His body sags rather than just lies there with no strength and he unconsciously leans into Roland, taking a few deep breaths.]

[Mentally, he's still tired - he might have his magic back, but his brain is buzzing a little too much and he needs a minute of not fighting.]

... Um. ... Thank you.

[It's still hard to say that, especially to an adult that he's not trying to put on the 'charming kid' act for.]

[ He's visibly pleased at the senzu bean working its magic. And even though there's some level of urgency to be had, to return to the fight...in this space of the tent, he tries to calm the energy with his own practiced ease, nodding as soon as Ken finishes eating the legume and gripping his other shoulder encouragingly. ]

You're welcome. You're doing great. Thanks for all the hard work out there.

[ He repeats it, but it's something that bears repeating anyway. And Ken can take pleasure in the fact that Roland isn't the type of adult to want to be lied to, or to coddle when it's not what the situation calls for. He respects Ken, and did promise to look out for him if he can, when he can. ]

Take the rest. [ The other two slices of the bean are placed gently in his small hands, cupped for good measure. ] Keep it with you at all times, even when we're not on a mission. Heard it can keep you full for a while, even if it's been cut up like that. And look at what good it did for you, yeah?

[ Yes. He definitely needs it more than Roland. ]

... Okay. I'll... I'll do that.

[He takes a few deep breath and looks down at his hands. The beans seem so small... but they did so much.]

You're... going to rest too, right? You've been running around so much.

[ He hopes Ken doesn't lose those...and he does mean it when he says he knows the guy who has them on him at all times. But whether or not he actually goes to Trunks for a refill is up to anyone's guess; busy in his thoughts as he is.

Speaking of. He chuckles and nods at Ken. ]

thanks. But I am resting. See? Right now. [ For emphasis, he sits nicer next to Ken, crossing his legs. ] Let's wait till the incense runs out, then we can both get back to work. For now...

[ He crosses his arms back against his chest and keeps an eye out for anyone who might barge in. Peace for a time when chaos was at its height. He's okay like this. He'll get back into the swing of things soon. ]

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The Will to Fight: Ongoing: Red and Purple

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hope this is ok, if not let me know!

it's fine he's just Upset

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