maskormenacelogs | the new hunt

Entry tags:

the new hunt

WHO: Martin, assorted (prompts by request)
WHERE: Maurtia Falls at night
WHEN: Groundhog Week
WHAT: Terrible things happen in rapid succession
WARNINGS: violence, murder, self-harm, self-loathing, blood, some nasty vom, wowie there's a Lot going on...

This week is a bad dream that seems to only get worse each time he wakes. In the repeating nights -- the ones where Martin still has courage to step outside and wander -- he finds himself tossed into the madness orchestrated by Woden's whims, in a world even screwier than it was mere hours ago. The rules were barely clear to begin with, but now the world he found himself in is even madder than before.

He's not ready for this. Taking this world even in tiny bits is tough to chew, with things being so big and complicated, crowded and...exposed even at the most calm and stable of time. But this?

How is this supposed to go? What is he supposed to do? Fight? Run? Hide? Die? It's a question he rarely expects to answer for himself: He's been raised to follow the whims and orders of others. Smarter people. Wiser people. People who raised him, who would surely know what's best for him.

So is it a pity or a privilege that the others he's now found himself among are so different? And the answers to that question, far, far from his expectations? Because some of them are certainly not the answers he wants to see through, and, perhaps...a nudge closer to autonomy. Dreadful, necessary autonomy.

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[ and with one last shot, Ryo dashes away, hoping that will buy them time. If Martin wants to follow along or not, it's entirely up to him as Ryo already told him to move. He would rather just not be chased by a seemingly immortal demoniac dog that doesn't seem to want to quit.

And while he runs, of course he is going to load his gun because that's what any normal person would do ]

Guh--khaak--!

[no need to look behind -- Marty's here! hacking on gunk trying to heave up out of his guts, getting stuck in his throat as he runs. job hazard, really, and if they weren't currently running to spare their skins, Martin could spend a minute reflecting on how he ought to be proud to have gotten to that point.

he spits out what did crawl up his throat, about to speak out, but is cut off by noisy thrashing and glass breaking nearby.

see, it's not just monster dogs afoot -- Woden's made the streets a dreadful game of cat and mouse, where most mice don't even know they've been drafted.]

[ noisy trashing means it's just another target. Or at least that's how Ryo sees it, because he doesn't have any other chance to think differently. He instinctively cocks his gun and shoots right at where the sound came from.

Perhaps not the smartest thing to do because that means he just told the whole block where they can find two tasty guys wandering around, but can anyone blame him? ]

Did I get it? [ ryo will just load his gun again because apparently he just carries around a lot of bullets in his very fashionable jacket ]

[is it fashionable, ryo? is it really.

anyway Martin yelps and flinches, hands going over his ears when Ryo fires off another round.]

What-?! [his ears are ringing. also, yeah: that did draw some attention, and there appears to be no time wasted. Martin starts to move, bumping into Ryo before fumbling to tug at his (allegedly fashionable) sleeve as he starts running again before the strangers advancing into view can catch up.

here's the problem, though: he has no idea where he's going, or if wherever he is going is the best bet.]

[ such judgement ]

is that all you can do or say?! [ what the hell kid, just either don't talk or say something else. That is at least, written on Ryo's face but he doesn't feel like saying it out loud. No time for that, honestly.

Apparently he opts with not talking, meaning that keep running is all they do. Until he just grows bored of that, of course. Ryo suddenly stops, and looks back at whoever is chasing them and he just points his gun at them ]

I guess it won't matter if they die. [ the day will just restart again, anyway ]

[there's a response to that, but Martin can't muster much of it besides a few stuttered syllables. it's hard to talk and run for your life at the same time! Ryo's taller, so it takes a bit more effort for Martin to keep pace with those long legs.]

Whoa--!! [he nearly runs right into him when Ryo comes to an abrupt stop, hopping a step backward and gawk in confusion. what is he--??

die? what? Martin's body bristles, practically moving without thinking.]

No! Don't! [he lunges to grab at the barrel of the gun, ignorant to how actually stupid that is.]

[ now why would you do that, that's such a stupid move. The second Martin reaches for his gun, Ryo pretty much shoves him off as hard as he can, caring little if he gets hurt or not at this point ] You are starting to piss me off-

[ and he would have screamed at him because this is what a mature and mentally balanced person would do, but there is little time for that. Whoever is chasing them is nearby and Ryo scoffs, ending up reaching for Martin again and just-

well, teleporting them. Right on top of a nearby building, away from the street.

Of course the second they are there, he shoves Martin away again with an angry frown ] Just what the hell is wrong with you?!

[the scene change doesn't even register, as Martin is tossed backward, yanked forward, and then shoved away yet again. he staggers backward, bumping back against an air conditioning unit affixed at the top of this building, wincing at the hollow bang it makes. there's little time to question that or wonder what's just happened -- not with this man glaring at him so.

hastily, his hands held up:] I-I'm sorry! Please! I just--if, if more people were to die, then... [he shakes his head.] I...I have to try to stop it, I have to try. Please don't be angry, I'm sorry!

It doesn't matter if they die - they won't remember tomorrow. And even if they did, don't you have any sense of survival?! [ ryo doesn't like to be stopped, and he sure doesn't give a damn about one or two people, specially ones that are attempting to kill him. ]

This is how you get killed, you idiot.

[he's taken aback by that it doesn't matter. doesn't...matter? but-- those people are still...!]

I'm sorry, I-- [shaking his head.] I don't--I don't understand you at all, I'm sorry. People shouldn't--I, we...[ugh, words!] If it's--monsters, yes, but--other people? That's wrong!

People kill people all the time! [ he barks back at him, frowning. This utter bullshit of "humans don't hurt humans". That's all humans do ]

This is self-defense. Perhaps you should learn it, instead of relying on others to save you when a "person" is very willing to kill you.

That-!! I-I—!

[he winces, no protest ready on his tongue. a hot wave of shame and unease washes over him; there is nothing more he wants right now than to disappear from sight. in this wanting, his head swivels about for sign of safe escape...finding none.

baffled and afraid, he can barely manage to look back at Ryo for fear of finding more contempt.]

This—this is...I don’t understand, I...I only tried to help, I...I don’t know, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!

What are you sorry for? [ honestly, he doesn't know, he keeps saying he is sorry. Own up to your shit, says the Devil who has done so much shit as well and has been punished for it. He knows very well about owning up.

But the kid just doesn't even know how to speak and say one full sentence and that really annoys him ]

I--

[he gulps, gaping around once more. this is...where are they?]

I just...tried to help. But--But I did wrong again. I'm sorry. I...I don't know what's happening...

You are useless. [ what is wrong with this kid? Why are humans like this?

Ryo rolls his eyes, groaning, and eventually decides it's better to ignore him because clearly there is something wrong with his head. Instead he moves for his gun, not only to make sure the bullets are still there, but almost to move towards the edge of the building and looking down - he just wants to make sure no one is around after all the screaming. ]

[useless...

Martin's throat tightens a little, causing him to swallow again. of course he is. he knows that.]

I... [he shuffles his feet backward a step, his shoulders tucking up. i'm sorry. sure, what good will saying that do? besides make him angrier. deservedly so, of course, but...it doesn't mean Martin wants to be yelled at.]

I'll...go. [that's probably better, right? but, even saying that...

he grimaces, looking over his shoulder. how are they...up here? and...]

But--is that alright? [wincing, he looks back over toward Ryo while he's busy doing his survey.] I mean--it's not safe. Won't you be in danger alone...?

[ Ryo turns his head to look back at Martin. He has a gun in his hand and he just teleported them out of a hairy situation - does he look helpless and in danger? ]

I know it's not safe. But I'm willing to do whatever it takes to survive.

Are you?

...

[what a question. Martin can't even look the guy in the eye at that, feeling a fresh wave of shame. he's...really, truly terrible in all aspects of this, isn't he.]

I...[his hands draw up against himself, picking at the hem of his vest. pressing the fabric presses the little medallion resting behind them, and the chain it hangs from. a reminder. he gulps.]

I can only do...what I can do. That's all. And if that's not...good enough, then... [ashamed, he looks down.] Sorry.

Why are you apologizing to me? Apologize to yourself for being weak. [ ryo is harsh, if that wasn't obvious enough. ]

If it's not enough, you will die. So you suck it up and become stronger instead of whining. [ is he wrong tho? He doesn't think so. ]

R...Right... [no -- no, that's...pretty on-point. it's the sort of thing he'd hear back home. weird how...how that is.

but he shouldn't be hearing this from an outsider, right? that's kind of weird. that he's just standing around being berated, instead of...doing anything of value is...pretty pathetic. he has to press his lips pretty tightly to keep from blurting out another sorry out of reflex, face red.

after a beat, he fidgets, scooting backward again and peering out toward the distance below, his stomach doing another anxious flip. the question of how are they even up here remains unanswered, and at this point he's too afraid to ask and risk stoking more ire.]

You... [he looks back over.] You should get out of here. In case there's more...more like what chased us.

[ it's not like Martin has asked; Ryo would probably just tell him he is way too late for that, probably. And again, he doesn't think that would be a lie - after all, all the kid has been doing is stuttering and apologizing and not really saying much of value, in Ryo's opinion.

He is a champ, clearly.

Ryo shrugs when Martin speaks ]

I'm not afraid. [ just kind of uncertain about killing animals, but- ]

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the new hunt

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