[Video/Action]

[radiantchicken]

[Video]
I'm bored.

[Torin's doppelganger looks it; he's lazily lounging around somewhere that looks to be the castle, and he's holding a sword. Every so often, he'll sharpen it or examine the blade.]

So here's what I'm gonna do.

[He leans forward conspiratorially, still holding that sword. There's a dangerous gleam in his eyes.]

Everyone's got someone who annoys 'em, right? Really gets under their skin. You'd be better off without 'em. That's where I come in. You point me at the target of your annoyance, and I take care of 'em for you. Fast or slow, your call. I don't want anything in return--just something to test these swords with. This stinkin' castle is full of 'em. And if I don't get any names, I'll just have to go find some targets on my own.

[His grip on the sword shifts as he tenses.]

Count on it. Or I'm not the Demon Sword Priest.

[With that, Torin's doppelganger suddenly slashes the sword at the piece of paper he'd been using to access the network, thus ending the feed.]


[Action, specify real Torin or Torin's doppelganger]
[The real Torin caught his double's broadcast and sprang into action. He's got to go find the guy before anyone gets hurt. He starts the search in Germany, but after a while, wonders if perhaps the double has gone back to Locke, where the most damage could be caused. Torin wouldn't put it past him. He's flying everywhere, clearly searching for something. He'll respond if he's called out to, and if he spots another Numbered he's seen on the Network, he'll touch down next to them in hopes of asking if they've seen anything.

But if it's dark, and there's the rustle of wings overhead, look out--the Demon Sword Priest just may have found himself a new target. Nothing wrong with divebombing people while waving a sword around for a little trolling action that might escalate into an actual fight depending on the reactions the doppelganger gets. Reveling in others' fear is fun, after all. There's now a seemingly homicidal sword-wielding birdman swooping down on you, what do?]

Comments

Video; Real!Arthur

[knights_king]

Uh, dude. This ain't exactly normal, what you're offerin'.

You get a weird echo, today?

[radiantchicken]

Tch. I didn't get anything.

Anything other than bored, that is.

[knights_king]

Not that I think you were a pushover, but dude--you ain't an assassin or anything.

[radiantchicken]

And how do you know that?

[knights_king]

Cause, you're just--

I dunno, man. You acted like it was a big deal to put people in danger!

audio

[dragon_blossom]

Yourself. [ The fed-up tone of voice is a hint that it's the original recipe Marina - but then, these two don't really talk. ]

audio

[radiantchicken]

Not an option. Try again.

audio

[dragon_blossom]

I'm all out of ideas then, sorry.

audio

[radiantchicken]

What, there's no one you want to get rid of?

audio

[dragon_blossom]

I don't even want the evil clones dead. I might want them gone, but not like that.

[ Although damn, she'd be happy to punch some of 'em. ]

[elfstoned]

[Oh, damn. Real!Aaron knows in his head that someone else can probably handle this...bird...dinosaur...thing, but what he was told in January keeps echoing through his head: there are fewer of them, now.

Well...he'd been thinking of going to Germany anyway.

Aaron's not sure what he's going to do when he gets there, but he goes through the teleporter and arrives at the castle. Torin's doppelganger isn't hard to find. He's in a room surrounded by swords. Aaron walks into the room, empty-handed, intending to talk.]

You know, I don't think you should touch those.

[radiantchicken]

You don't?

[The doppelganger's voice is filled with contempt as he turns to face the human who is daring to tell him what to do. He's lazily reaching towards one of the swords.]

And what if I take one anyway?

[elfstoned]

That depends, doesn't it? Are you just a kid, who can't help touching things he's told not to? Or are you planning to do something dangerous with them?

[radiantchicken]

I'm only seven. I suppose you could say I'm a child.

[The birdman's tone is a little mocking at that.]

But I'm planning on doing something dangerous with them anyway.

[elfstoned]

[Oh hell.]

You're much too young to be touching those. I'm going to have to take them away.

[He sounds more confident than he feels. If this...giant bird...is anywhere as good with these weapons as he brags he is, Aaron just might get actually killed here. His plan is to stall until security arrives.]

video, I APOLOGISE FOR ARNOLD

[bythewaves]

[ Normal people would probably be disgusted, or angry, or a thousand other emotions. But Arnold, now, Arnold sounds delighted ]

Another talking bird! With a sword even! Oh, that is a nice blade too. Did you come up with that name on your own?

video, NO NEED, IT'S GREAT

[radiantchicken]

[The doppelganger approves of Arnold's delight.]

Nah, it's one of those things that just came to me. Damn sight better than anything the humans ever called me.

[He's examining the sword closely.]

You think this is a good one? I still haven't tested it.

video OH GOOD I AM GLAD

[bythewaves]

Well I don't know much about swords, really. But it is a very nice looking sword, and your plummage is beautiful! Such lovely colours!

video

[radiantchicken]

There's a whole room of them at this castle. One of them is bound to be good.

[And he sort of ruffles his feathers, the better to show them off.]

...I am rather good looking, aren't I?

[Oh, good, the doppelganger's vain.]

video

[bythewaves]

Such bright colors! [ Arnold agrees enthusiastically ] Truly magnificent!

There are? Is that where you got yours sir?

Action . . . with doppel-Torin!

[icy_heavens]

[What do? Well, dodging seems like a good start. A shunpo to the side as a Pulse goes through him. The Pulse doesn't even make him miss a step, he's so used to them now. In light of all the recent trouble, Toushirou does have his sword on his back, but he doesn't bring it out just yet.]

Action!

[radiantchicken]

[The doppelganger actually laughs as he wheels back around to make another pass at Toushirou. He hadn't been expecting anyone to be able to do anything against him other than scream.]

[icy_heavens]

[Well, that's awfully short-sighted, doppel-Torin. Not expecting to go after any Numbered?

[This time, the sword comes out, lightning quick, into a firm block.] Going out on a limb here and guessing that you're the double. [Because yeah, this isn't like Torin at all.]

[radiantchicken]

[There is a fine line between shortsightedness and overconfidence. The doppelganger didn't think any Numbered would actually be able to give him problems.]

Double, schmouble. Doesn't matter.

[He's trying to break that block.]

[icy_heavens]

[Quite a miscalculation, there. So many of the Numbered are so very dangerous should they choose to be.

[And while Toushirou is among those dangerous folk, he isn't superhumanly strong. The weight of their locked swords is getting to be too much and he has to pull back via another shunpo before he winds up disarmed. He's not helpless without the sword, but he's much more capable and versatile while he's got it and Torin's doppleganger won't be an easy opponent. He needs every option he can get.]

Matters a hell of a lot, if this is the way you have a good time. [Toushirou is normally a more proactive fighter than this. Under normal circumstances, he'd press an attack right now rather than taking the defensive position he has. But this is someone who shares the face of someone he's fought alongside before, and part of him hasn't quite separated the two versions yet.]