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Entry tags:
When there's Nothing left to Burn
Who: Axel and You!
Status: Open
Where: Various
What: Backdated Prompts for Armada Tension and Brand issues
Warnings: N/A gen violence and a Nobody going through emotion-withdrawal
I.) New ink, old habits
[Axel grits his teeth, mirroring Roxas. It had started as a tentative offer to discuss what to do next. One meant to maintain proper distance under the 'new armada rules'. But 10 feet apart turned to five, five turned to one. And let it never be said that 8 and 13 were not equally stubborn.
It hurts. Of course it does. But if they're going to undergo shock therapy just for being in the same vicinity, they may as well at least be making physical contact to trigger it. Axel grips their held hands tighter-- possibly unable to let go from the spasming strain at this point-- as they bare the brunt of the pain together, waves of burning pins and needles shooting through every nerve of their connected grasp.
They're both sporting new ink, matching banners wrapping around alternate arms. The potion gave them enough time to do this one important thing together. It's rapidly wearing off now and both refuse to acknowledge it.
They can do this... it's just another contest. Axel isn't giving up first!]
"Any. Ideas?"
[Unfortunately a Paladin and a Corsair generating pain together meant that entire area was equally unsafe for anyone else. Perhaps it's time to encourage them to stop. If not for their own safety, than everyone elses.]
II.) Rising Tensions [For Paladin or Corsair misfires]
[Axel can feel the itch under his glove from all the way inside of the Tavern, and he wordlessly gets up, smashing a few dubloons on the counter as he retreats. No one else seems to have noticed, but it's easy to detect the first sensations of pain when your body refused to experience much else and Axel finds himself out the door before he can even think much on it.
He has to see what Paladin was stupid enough to come visiting a Corsair Port before a lynch mob runs them out of town.]
"Seriously?"
[The Nobody is every bit the assassin in these moments and Axel hates it. Hates that he has to be the fun police for a group he never wanted to be part of, held no allegiance to, never asked to be branded by-- but what else was new? Axel stalks, keeping his movements slight, his voice just loud enough for the interloper alone to hear him hiss out in warning.]
"I hope you have a pretty good disguise, because I know a Paladin didn't just slink by here and expect a whole Corsair bar not to notice!"
[Axel truly hopes they do. He has yet to see who they are himself, rounding the other side of the building searching the crowd with only the tingle in his wrist for a guide. There is nothing kind in his eyes. Yes, Axel hates this role, but the stocks are empty, people are angry and the Corsair knows just who the ire is going to fall on, if he doesn't briskly encourage the nearest Paladin to just:]
"So, go on, beat it!"
[Before someone makes him beat you.
Or maybe you've already been caught for going on a Corsair mission and could use a little help.]
III.) Burn Out [Sparring and stress relief]
[There's an inferno raging on a vacant spot of land, a perfect dome built out of pillars of fire rising high into the sky to close off the area in a wide ring. At the center of it is one figure clashing his weapons amidst the flurries of flame. Axel is training.
That's one word for it.
He shouldn't have been caught so easily. He shouldn't have let Roxas get taken. He shouldn't have been there at all!
Trying to stray from his violent origins had been a small goal for a while. He's lost as many matches as he had won. Axel hadn't cared much at the time, strength was never why he fought.
Now? It burned.
Axel tosses his chakrum, attempting to warp to its destination and block it before it arrives. Sora was able to do something like that with his keyblade, how did he do it?
He tries again and again, winces at the impact, only barely managing it. It's not enough. He should move faster, burn hotter. MORE.
The pyromancer twists, summoning more fire and daring himself to only dodge at the very last second. He knows just where to step and when, how to let the magic wash over and maneuver with and through him instead of being consumed. He needs to forget. That place, those people the fact that he may have felt something while alone for the first time in ages and of all things to feel it had been something dark.
Axel doesn't want to think about brands, and armadas and the fact that the closest thing he has to emotional tethers are being pushed further and further away.
Things are much simpler in his element. Hawks has the sky. Axel has this. This storm is his, this inferno, the one chaotic thing that makes sense to him alone.
Everyone has been suffering lately, sometimes violence is an escape. If you're brave enough to step in, perhaps you can blow off some steam too.]
VI.) Blowing smoke [Corsair bonding and chitchat]
[Rings of smoke billow in the air from the lone figure sat on the hill. Axel chews something for a moment, before exhaling in plumes of smoke and sighs.
Getting to see Roxas for a bit had been good. Getting their tattoos together this time, instead of years apart, had felt like something meaningful. It had lit some defiant spark back as well as soothed the ache of loneliness. Until it didn't.
Now that they're apart again and he has burnt himself out in every literal sense, the Nobody is just. Empty. The longer he goes without contact with the Paladins he is closest to, the more the absence reminds him of how he was before. Those early empty days of being just 8.
The fight has left him. Now he's just sticking to where others in his armada are. Axel stares distantly at nothing, chew, exhale repeat. One niggling thought on his mind.]
"Why do you think we're Corsair?"
Status: Open
Where: Various
What: Backdated Prompts for Armada Tension and Brand issues
Warnings: N/A gen violence and a Nobody going through emotion-withdrawal
I.) New ink, old habits
[Axel grits his teeth, mirroring Roxas. It had started as a tentative offer to discuss what to do next. One meant to maintain proper distance under the 'new armada rules'. But 10 feet apart turned to five, five turned to one. And let it never be said that 8 and 13 were not equally stubborn.
It hurts. Of course it does. But if they're going to undergo shock therapy just for being in the same vicinity, they may as well at least be making physical contact to trigger it. Axel grips their held hands tighter-- possibly unable to let go from the spasming strain at this point-- as they bare the brunt of the pain together, waves of burning pins and needles shooting through every nerve of their connected grasp.
They're both sporting new ink, matching banners wrapping around alternate arms. The potion gave them enough time to do this one important thing together. It's rapidly wearing off now and both refuse to acknowledge it.
They can do this... it's just another contest. Axel isn't giving up first!]
"Any. Ideas?"
[Unfortunately a Paladin and a Corsair generating pain together meant that entire area was equally unsafe for anyone else. Perhaps it's time to encourage them to stop. If not for their own safety, than everyone elses.]
II.) Rising Tensions [For Paladin or Corsair misfires]
[Axel can feel the itch under his glove from all the way inside of the Tavern, and he wordlessly gets up, smashing a few dubloons on the counter as he retreats. No one else seems to have noticed, but it's easy to detect the first sensations of pain when your body refused to experience much else and Axel finds himself out the door before he can even think much on it.
He has to see what Paladin was stupid enough to come visiting a Corsair Port before a lynch mob runs them out of town.]
"Seriously?"
[The Nobody is every bit the assassin in these moments and Axel hates it. Hates that he has to be the fun police for a group he never wanted to be part of, held no allegiance to, never asked to be branded by-- but what else was new? Axel stalks, keeping his movements slight, his voice just loud enough for the interloper alone to hear him hiss out in warning.]
"I hope you have a pretty good disguise, because I know a Paladin didn't just slink by here and expect a whole Corsair bar not to notice!"
[Axel truly hopes they do. He has yet to see who they are himself, rounding the other side of the building searching the crowd with only the tingle in his wrist for a guide. There is nothing kind in his eyes. Yes, Axel hates this role, but the stocks are empty, people are angry and the Corsair knows just who the ire is going to fall on, if he doesn't briskly encourage the nearest Paladin to just:]
"So, go on, beat it!"
[Before someone makes him beat you.
Or maybe you've already been caught for going on a Corsair mission and could use a little help.]
III.) Burn Out [Sparring and stress relief]
[There's an inferno raging on a vacant spot of land, a perfect dome built out of pillars of fire rising high into the sky to close off the area in a wide ring. At the center of it is one figure clashing his weapons amidst the flurries of flame. Axel is training.
That's one word for it.
He shouldn't have been caught so easily. He shouldn't have let Roxas get taken. He shouldn't have been there at all!
Trying to stray from his violent origins had been a small goal for a while. He's lost as many matches as he had won. Axel hadn't cared much at the time, strength was never why he fought.
Now? It burned.
Axel tosses his chakrum, attempting to warp to its destination and block it before it arrives. Sora was able to do something like that with his keyblade, how did he do it?
He tries again and again, winces at the impact, only barely managing it. It's not enough. He should move faster, burn hotter. MORE.
The pyromancer twists, summoning more fire and daring himself to only dodge at the very last second. He knows just where to step and when, how to let the magic wash over and maneuver with and through him instead of being consumed. He needs to forget. That place, those people the fact that he may have felt something while alone for the first time in ages and of all things to feel it had been something dark.
Axel doesn't want to think about brands, and armadas and the fact that the closest thing he has to emotional tethers are being pushed further and further away.
Things are much simpler in his element. Hawks has the sky. Axel has this. This storm is his, this inferno, the one chaotic thing that makes sense to him alone.
Everyone has been suffering lately, sometimes violence is an escape. If you're brave enough to step in, perhaps you can blow off some steam too.]
VI.) Blowing smoke [Corsair bonding and chitchat]
[Rings of smoke billow in the air from the lone figure sat on the hill. Axel chews something for a moment, before exhaling in plumes of smoke and sighs.
Getting to see Roxas for a bit had been good. Getting their tattoos together this time, instead of years apart, had felt like something meaningful. It had lit some defiant spark back as well as soothed the ache of loneliness. Until it didn't.
Now that they're apart again and he has burnt himself out in every literal sense, the Nobody is just. Empty. The longer he goes without contact with the Paladins he is closest to, the more the absence reminds him of how he was before. Those early empty days of being just 8.
The fight has left him. Now he's just sticking to where others in his armada are. Axel stares distantly at nothing, chew, exhale repeat. One niggling thought on his mind.]
"Why do you think we're Corsair?"
blowing smoke
But he speaks, and there's ease. She kicks a bit of dirt before moving to sit by his side. ]
Well, I can't say for sure... but for me, I'd think 'they' knew I'd prefer to be a Corsair. You find the best info on the wrong side of the law, plus you have more fun...
[ Then, after a bit, a sigh. ]
... And the Paladin deal would just... remind me too much of my brother.
Yesss you knew I always want more Della team bonding ♡
"Heh. Can't argue there." [She wasn't wrong. Even if he was trying to 'go straight' these days.
And Paladins probably didn't get wasted in the desert while on the job.The redhead takes a minute to gnaw on another fire pepper from Ocard-- the secret to his little trick. He holds the bag in silent offering.]"Donald, right?" [She's mentioned the name in passing a few times. He stares, an unspoken question he's held back.]
"Professionwise. He's not a.. uh?" [Well, she must know by now Axel comes from Roxas and by extension Sora's world..]
can never get enough of their cr
[ The idea of Donald being like that still makes her snort-laugh. ]
Aside from him having bad enough luck with normal mortal things... he's not a huge fan of magic. He's sort of trying to take a step away from adventuring, or at least McDuck style adventuring... he's going to go sailing around the world with his girlfriend, and these cute little girls we all kinda adopted from an enemy. Long story.
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"As long as it's not part of any royal navy." [Axel feels some tension ease at the laugh. Honestly that's a bit of a relief. Not that Axel had any fear of Donald or Goofy-- seriously, who could with those guys?-- but the idea of either of them showing up and Della trying to reintroduce them sounded like a disaster waiting to happen.]
"Don't take this wrong way, but if he were, I don't think I'd be on his good side." [Sora might be overkill enough to duel him in the name of friendship, number 8 doubts the King's men were quite so inclined.]
"It's funny though, I swear you mentioned a Scrooge McDuck too."
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Well... given his bad luck and the whole thing with how he talks, he does make accidental enemies easily, so you might have a point...
[ Ah well - she likes Axel, so she's sure if any version of Donald came here, she could bridge the gap! Moving on... ]
Of course I mentioned him - he's our uncle! Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world, and the one who taught us everything about adventuring.
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But okay, that explanation just makes it sound like even MORE like the Donald he vaguely knows! All right. Okay, that does it. One more he's gotta ask.]
"Scrooge McDuck. Not top hat, cane, fancy suit, tiny glasses, Scrooge McDuck?"
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That's the one... or, in this case, that's the two. Sounds like you know an alternate version of him as well.
[ They have Donald, they have her boys, they have Scrooge...
... but they don't have her. It's... troubling, to think about. ]
Aw Della :< clearly its because she's off being too badass to be shown onscreen
[Particularly with the outfit he sported, but.]
"He. Sold icecream." [Axel answers flatly.
Yes. Really.]
"Although.." [Hmm. He fusses with his hair.] "I guess I did hear he was a traveler, come to think of it.."
[So maybe he picked up the recipe from twilight town first??]
"Maybe he really was an adventurer."
have her show up in kingdom hearts 18.087
[ Another little chuckle, but this one... kind of fades. ]
... It's... fine, if you don't know, but... do he and my brother get along? Like... do they talk to each other?
Yes, and somehow written in like she's always been around. Lets go KH 18.087 Part I, hop to it!
"That one you'd be better off asking Sora. He's the one who actually traveled with the guy. I wasn't exactly on their team."
[He fishes for another pepper, idly twirling it between his digits.]
"Heh, and last time I bought anything from ole McScrooge, I was a whole other person."
[He stares off at something distant. A quiet laugh.]
"I don't come from the same time as any of them, you know. All those kids with keys... Guess that's part of why I'm on Corsair."
[Always the odd one out.]
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[ Maybe it's for the best she doesn't know - so she can't make assumptions.
So she can't guess that in their world, "she" destroyed the family too.
She winds up leaning on him a little without looking at him. ]
... If it means anything, I'm glad you're a Corsair. Because it means I can hang out with you.
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"Yeah?" [A lopsided smirk. He teases softly.] "You sure I shouldn't have thrown you back to wait for a different ship?"
[Because when it comes down to it, whoever fished them up first probably played some part in it.]
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Not a chance. You can't get rid of me that easily. I would have climbed back up over and over... I never did know how to quit.
III Like he can let a mention go by
Ah, it's just training.
He whistles, somewhat impressed. ]
Man, are we a terrible match up. [ Hawks laughs a little bit, but he drops down with a little hop, hands in his pockets. ] You look like you could use a partner.
[ And yet, he still volunteers. He pulls his hands out and two primaries zip out of his wings and he catches them deftly in his hands. ]
III Oh hell yeah! Hehe and I'm flattered you noticed
Axel doesn't have it in him to return the bravado, give the usual cocky smirks. He just looks dead inside, the only flicker of acknowledgement easy to mistake as something caused by the flames. The weapons-- did he just remove part of his own wings?-- they do intrigue him though. Did Hawks specialize in a throwing blade of sorts, too? Slowly the assassin raises his weapons back into a matching battle stance.]
"Thought I made it clear you're on a time limit around me?"
[One last warning. A chance to back out, it doesn't always have to be you offering them.]
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Luckily, making it quick is just my style. [ He's not called too fast for his own good without reason. The pain is nothing to him, he's been hurt so much worse. It's a minor irritation, but he doesn't want to push Axel into feeling it.
He doesn't need an out, he's happy to do a little bit of training. He really is planning on using feathers as swords - and Axel is correct, he can shoot feathers like blades as well, but this is more sparring than taking someone down. ]
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"Don't say I didn't warn you."
[And indeed that's the last warning he'll give. He made the effort to care all that he can, he won't pretend further. Axel makes sure the other has eyes on him when he chucks the first chakrum their way, the disk flies forward, wreathed in fire, while he himself follows close behind. It's not about hurting Hawks after all, but to goad the other into showing a bit of their hand.
The assassin needs to see what Hawks can do, how he'll respond. The other boasted themselves a hero, on top of being some sort of workaholic and a speed demon to boot. Axel doesn't doubt they have good stamina too. Let's see how good.]
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The warning is acknowledged and ignored. That chakrum is on fire so he's not going to just smack it aside, he moves. It's probably hard to see him, with the way he hops and then he's gone, showing up next to Axel instead and swinging his blade in his direction. They're sparring, so he's not going to entirely rely on his speed like he would, and admittedly, the feather blade is hard, but dull. ]
Noted~ [ His tone is a bit playful, giving Axel a target for his ire. ]
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"I wonder. Is it part of your hero duties to challenge every guy you find in an inferno."
[There's a savageness to his motions, though he, too, keeps his blades precisely curved. Aiming more for the feather blade to clash against the harder rounder edges of his weapons, rather than attempting to pierce them through with his spikes.]
"Or am I just lucky?"
[Curious if he can break the stalemate through his own force, Axel presses forward in an attempt to shove Hawks back.]
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He meets his blows at first, but the shove knocks him back pretty easily, Hawks sliding as he finds his footing. He's also a lot lighter than he looks, so it's not hard to push him around.
It's then that he realizes his primaries have caught fire and he discards them quickly. That's the trouble, he's flammable.
Another pair of feathers zip into his hands though and he takes his position. ]
Come on, show me what you've got!
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But wow, those feathers went up real quick. It's almost unfair, really.]
"Keep that up you won't have anything left to fly with." [He drawls, just a hint of personality sparking back.
Had Axel wanted to chase the other way, this would be an easy choice. He holds a hand out behind him, forcing the embers to die down just a little more. An advantage isn't what he wants.]
"How about you, I don't think I've seen what you've got."
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Can't get rid of me that easy. [ Fortunately he can lose a good amount of feathers before he can't fly, so he's not too worried about it.
Axel really hasn't seen what he can do because he's sparring on his level. ]
Well if you want me to turn it up a notch- [ Several feathers detach from his wings, at least of ten of them. Axel knows they're flammable, that's an advantage, but can he burn them before they strike?
Each of them is like a little knife, moving fast in all different directions towards Axel. Hawks isn't aiming anywhere vital, naturally. ]
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"Now we're talking."
[This is more akin to the training Axel knows, survival against numbers, outlasting the sheer odds. The Organization wasn't kind when it ran its members through their regimen, it was strength through adversity through and through.
Axel takes to the challenge with relish, letting his first chakrum fly and purposefully aiming for the feathers furtherest back, to try and take as many out as he can. Impossibly his weapon arcs in its travel, to try and catch just a few more as it circles back to its thrower. The other chakrum he keeps in hand to parry and exploit any openings for taking the fight back to the Hero.
It's a maneuver that might cost him, moving further into the danger leaves him open to possibly getting grazed on the arm or cheek, but Axel doesn't seem to mind, eyes alight with adrenaline.]
"Don't tell me every feather you've got does that?"
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That's right, every last one of them. [ His eyes are glinting with the challenge. ]
Ten not enough for you?
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The pyromancer's arm is starting to burn in a manner that has nothing to do the fire he wields, this little playdate will have to draw to a close eventually, but Axel can't be bothered to do more but grip his weapon's crossbars a little tighter to mitigate it. Hawks has his full attention.]
"You want this to be fun for you, too, don't you?"
[The pillars of fire surrounding their little stage sway and unfurl, as if they have a life all of their own, reflecting their master's energy and will.
Come on. Stop holding back. You've seen what he has at his disposal. Make it count. Make him FEEL.]
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Oh I'm having a great time. [ He is, fire and all. Hawks does the calculation and many more feathers come out of his wings, enough to make them look quite a bit smaller, hovering around him at the ready. ]
I really should show you what I do with these. [ A smirk. This is definitely a low blow. One feather zips behind Axel, the quill catching his hood and then if he doesn't notice, he's about to find himself being dragged back several feet, at the same time the feathers start to make their move, zipping around him.
No they're not all attacking at once. That's part of the fun. ]
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[Axel gasps softly as he is expertly tugged backwards by-- a feather? They're THAT strong? He doesn't struggle, he'll summon a weapon to block, if needbe, but intrigue stays him. First he has to make sense of what he is seeing.
Every single released feather. Every single one, operated independently, simultaneously. It almost brings to mind the pyre guppies of the Farplane. If they were also knives. He keeps his eyes peeled, on constant watch for change in formation.]
"Must take a lot of focus, keeping track of all these at once."
[Hm Does the 'spell' break if Hawks were to lose concentration, he wonders?]
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There's no real pattern, these little knives are coming from all directions, although he's still only doing two or three at a time. Hawks has no problem grinning, betraying his amusement.
He has more feathers, but he's only sacrificing as many as he can before he has to stop flying, in case they end up as cinders. ]
Not especially. It's as natural as breathing. [ It did. Once. Someone has trained a lot. ]
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"Then let's make this a little more interesting. You know I can burn anything before it hits me and I know you've got me beat in speed and quantity."
[Or so Axel assumes. Hawks doesn't seem to have broken a sweat this whole time, his demeanor never wavers. He can be pushed further than this, Axel is sure of it. Inky darkness begins to form at Axel's feet and a moment later he allows himself to fall through.]
"How about this?"
[Only to pop out on the other side of some of the feathers, to whack at one with his chakrum to see if he can knock it loose.]
"I'll handle however much you throw at me, if I use fire, I lose. If I can manage one hit, any hit on you, I win."
[He's bound to get scraped up, there's no denying it, but his endurance should see him through to his goal or at least fuel a solid attempt at it before he has to rely on fire to save himself. His warping might not be a match for speed, but hopefully it will keep the hero guessing. As for Hawks.]
"You said making it quick is your style, right?"
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You're on. Catch me if you can!
[ He'll up the feathers to ten, and Hawks stops standing still and starts zipping around. He's fast, he's going fast enough that it could be difficult to keep track of where he is.
The thing is, he's fast, but if Axel gets lucky, or tracks a pattern and gets ahead of him?
Won't be that hard to land a hit. ]
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Nothing is too risky, he attempts anything, even at the cost of running directly into the feathers path's, for a chance at cutting the Hero off.
Axel pants. His arm burns, his cuts sting and he doesn't CARE. He doesn't care because he can't care; not like this. Not after so much isolation. But this, the thrill of battle, of pain and STIMULUS it's enough to keep him going, even if it throws him out of trying to act anything like a human, giving in to baser instincts with savage intensity, like the lower Nobodies that served beneath him. How different was he from them, really, just by having memories and a human form? At his core he's a monster too, just another 'assassin' and he's sating his needs.
He needs to change something up if he's going to catch Hawks. That one feather did manage to pull him by his hood all on it's own..
The next time Hawks comes around, Axel feigns going for him only to target one of the airborne feathers instead. If he can get his hand on one of those, perhaps he'll feel the tug of it direct him to the source controlling it. If he can even grab the thing without it obliterating his hand.]
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He's fast enough to zip out of the way before being cut at least, but it is working.
Initially the feather is sharp, but when Axel grabs it, it softens because Hawks is not so cruel as to slice up his hand like that. Unfortunately for him it's telekinesis and unless he has some psychic ability, there's no way to find the tie. The way Axel can tell he hasn't let that feather go is that it's still wiggling in his grasp, trying to get away.
If he pinched it and took a ride that would definitely be possible. ]
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Hm. Hawks really is a considerate guy, isn't he? Axel will have to return the favor, when he finally lands that hit. His left arm spasms from the strain of the brand nearing its apex. It's going to have to be soon, or he might actually have a way to lose this, even without using fire.
The way the feather continues to wriggle is exactly what the assassin wants. He keeps hold of it like a magnet; no, like a compass. This time Axel retreats, allowing the shadows of a dark corridor to swallow him up to try and gain more 'nonexistant' distance and control over his ill-gotten gain. Hopefully Hawks can't see him but, with this feather, perhaps he can 'see' Hawks. If this lil thing continues to respond to the movements of the rest if its swarm.
It's still strong. No doubt if Hawks commanded, it could drag him effortlessly, even while inside this little pocket of Nothingness. Axel tries to decipher the wriggling.]
"Come on.. just tell me where.." [He growls, voice just a little haggard from the exertion.
Okay. He'll only get one shot at this.
A portal opens and one weapon flies, zipping about, taking up space as it had.
Two, Axel fights to jab the feather between the spokes of his second chakram and another portal opens to let them both fly out in tandem.
Three, zipping in from the left and right the two meet and impossibly spin together, shadows of darkness shifting to merge them into one larger spinning chakram: His Limit Break. It coalesces before Hawks eyes.
And then finally-- completely unarmed-- Axel surges forth from a third entry point to throw himself at Hawks, to try and tackle the Hero out of the way.
Any hit had been the condition, after all. If Axel can just.. make contact--!]
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He should have expected that, but he didn't and the feather vanishing, in that moment he somewhat loses track of it. That's such a strange feeling, and when it comes back out on the chakrum he's expecting it to come back out with Axel himself.
He's a mortal man, he's not perfect, and even with his enhanced senses he can't possibly predict everything.
Axel will indeed knock him right out of the air, and he'll tumble out of harms' way, pinned beneath him with a little oof.
There's a pause as Hawks' brain catches up to what just happened. ]
Well, you got me. [ He quips, unable to hide his utter bewilderment at how that happened. ]
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[Axel wheezes in victory, for once, too breatheless for a follow up comment. There's something to enjoy about Hawks pinned beneath him and he takes the opportunity to smirk with well earned smarm, hair and expression both, all the more wild and crazed. It seems Hawks really did succeed in breatheing some life back in to him. If the brand hurt before just from proximity, though, it stung to high heaven now that they were making physical contact. It's only a moment later that Axel rolls off with a strained grunt, to grip uselessly at the limb and lay on his back a few feet over.
The rest of the fires surrounding their little stage die out completely as Axel surrenders. The battle is truly over.]
"Guess our.. time is up."
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Axel getting off of him and speaking up is enough for him to take a breath and groan as he sits up. ]
Yeah. [ The hand that has the brand - he's just not using it, that arm is kind of dangling, the only sign that he's really being bothered by the pain. He flaps his wings and hovers above Axel for the moment. ]
I'll see you again soon, when all of this is over. [ That's a promise. Then, he flaps again and takes off to give Axel the needed space for the pain to ease. ]
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"Next time." [That'll be something to look forward to.]