maskormenacelogs | [CLOSED] Complicate this world you wrapped for me...

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[CLOSED] Complicate this world you wrapped for me...

WHO: Two murder clowns and a spider
WHERE: Around Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Night; 26th
WHAT: Gift-giving! And unwrapping!
WARNINGS: The love, all the love, there's so much love up in here! ...okay probably violence and grossness, maybe language, too. And these three men are kind of their own warnings if you think about it.

[24 hours has come and gone.

And for 24 hours he's been hiding from the world behind the mask of Lunatic.

There is no going home, not now, not this time. It's over. The jig is up, and all because of one mistake, one tiny little misstep: the unanticipated, the unfortunate, and the untimely crossing of his path and Kay's outside his workplace exactly one day ago.

The latches upon his briefcase had failed, its carried contents spilling out onto the sidewalk: the daily paper; a calculator; various pens and pencils; his communicator; and two file folders which had promptly opened as though at the command of some unseen force, their pages fluttering in the light breeze and drawing attention immediately to the bold black ink stamped upon their white fibers. It wouldn't have taken a genius to figure out they were both imPort folders, but that wasn't what was suspicious about them. Yuri's name was glaring back from the top of each file.

Perhaps Kay saw nothing of consequence. The doctored file had landed atop the real one, after all.

There was no way that she could have read his alias and powers both in the time it had taken him to snatch from her helping grasp his property, stuffing it (too angrily, he reflects now) back into his briefcase. But even if she'd seen just one or the other...

It doesn't matter how much or how little she saw, how much or how little she now knows. It's still too much. And his actions too were suspect in his haste to take control of the situation. And this, coupled with the attack within his apartment building, means that he can't go back now. It means that his life as Yuri Petrov is finished.

It would be wise to stay low, but he doesn't. All he has left is his purpose.

And so, when night falls, when the moon rises, Lunatic rises with it and takes up his hunt. His target? A man without regrets; a killer recently released from prison: Hisoka.]

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[That's all well and good, Yuri, but aren't facade's a bore anyway? Granted, all Hisoka knows of you is that, a facade. Knows Yuri, not Lunatic. That's how it was for everyone or rather- most now. Not that Hisoka had any point to look for Yuri right now, he would- eventually, when his mind was on it. But recently he's been kept very well entertained by other people he's managed to befriend despite being a killer. Despite prison.]

[But now that that's over. He's definitely going to enjoy it. And by enjoy it I mean meander around his home town. He had done this before, a while ago though. And while the dark streets more populated near night seem familiar, he's not the sort to remember the frivolous.]

[Aura thick. Palpable, it permeates around him feeling like dense steam, something people could sense blocks and blocks away though it might just feel like an eerie moment, a cold breeze. Something to make you fear for a second before, realizing that- you're being silly, it's nothing, right? Though Hisoka currently isn't feeling much bloodlust. To be honest he's rather calm tonight, so his aura isn't nearly as relentless as it can be. Though-

if the aura didn't tip anyone off, the bright neon green clothing he's wearing might. Complete with pink lipstick, eyemakeup, earrings and high heels. The latter of which dont' actually- make a single sound as he steps.]

[Calm, as said, till he stops, stands and- glances up from his place on an lit patch of sidewalk. His eyes slimming. Is he sensing something? He adjusts his gaze, adding gyo to his eyes should that help, though he's doubtful of it ever really giving him much here.]

[Facades are useful, at least until they reach the inevitable point when they're not any longer, when maintaining them is more hindrance than the habit is worth. As such, it's not that surprising to Yuri that it's come to this; after all, he's always believed that he will one day need to answer for his own crimes. He'd simply thought it would be on his own terms.

He ought to have known better. Such wishful thinking can only have disastrous results.

But there is a comfort in shedding half of oneself, in fully embracing a side he's only ever been able to don if it were convenient to do so before. And in that comfort, in that skin, that is where he lives, closer now to his purpose than ever.

And closer to Hisoka. Enough to feel traces of the man's power...? Well, it's traces of something that doesn't feel right, and that something soon enough leads him straight to his target. Or above him, if you'd prefer, using blue-green fire to propel himself to a rooftop ledge where he lands, quiet like the clown's footsteps but for the sound of the flames hissing as they disappear.]

Hisoka. Your time has come.

[He'd thank you for painting yourself so brightly, clown, but what figure of justice thanks a sinner before he cuts him down? If he'll get the chance that is. Lunatic notices Hisoka notice him about then. So he steps back, steps out of view and......

Using his fire to manipulate the solidity of the gravel and tar beneath him, passes through the surface to the floor below, then the floor below that, and so on until—

—he emerges in an explosion of brick and flames, the latter whip-like as it lashes out towards Hisoka himself.]

[Oh.]

[Hello there.]

[Very unexpected, incredibly, he doesn't remember anyone he's gained the ire of, though he's spoken to many people just no one so- vibrant. It occurs to him that people DO really have alter ego's here, hero personas, villains, that's usual. Perhaps this is someone's, but who- and then- they've come after him? His time? That pose- the fire flickering around him, eating up the night sky surrounding the figure and giving him frame, making him gorgeous.]

For me? You shouldn't have- [His eyes widening, smiling with this sort of wonder before the ignited man leaves his view and he knows to be on guard. Better to surprise him, because now he's sure to be waiting for something. Calling out, saying it's his time, and then going out of sight? People here have a range of abilities, so it's expected when something happens.]

[The ground heaves and he feels the heat in a moment before anything else, already shielding himself in defensive Nen before there's a moment of heaving under him. Already he'll be out of the way of the rock and flames, lept up and back a ways, already readying several strands of his aura before he stands up straight and looks back to the dust and smoke that rises.]

Teleportation? No, not exactly, it wouldn't normally cause such a thing, you travel through the ground then- surfaces? Hm, but how? [Smiling, glancing around, keeping his nen thick and tight around his body. Ready, so very ready.]

Do I not get a name? You know mine after all, and here you look to have dressed up for me, called out to me, a name only seems fair.

[The eyes of Lunatic's mask blaze through the smokescreen as the dust begins to settle around them, bricks noisily clattering to the sidewalk, a car alarm nearby going off from the disturbance. Not that anyone steps outside to take care of it. Why would they when it's very clear that serious shit is about to go down?

And it's serious indeed, Lunatic thinks.

There's not very many people who are strong enough to endure the heat of his flames—in fact, before coming here, there simply wasn't anyone—but Hisoka hasn't truly endured anything yet, has he? Not with that well-timed leap out of the way, putting distance between himself and the eruption of fire, the explosion of brick and mortar that had come from the wall of the building's first floor with Lunatic's exit.

How quick he is.

And how terribly surprising this world is, spawning vermin the likes of this one man circus act. As far as Lunatic is concerned, though, that means only that his idea of justice is all the more necessary this side of the Porter.]

My name is Lunatic.

[That's all he offers as he shrugs back one side of his cloak—his name, no more—and a crossbow that is lifted and aimed directly at the center of Hisoka's chest.

The trigger is pulled. Of course, it's not one bolt of fire that is launched, but many.]

[Instead they'll call the cops right? Because people's eyes WILL be on them here. Already are. Hisoka catches a movement at a window with a single glance, then another. His attention momentarily somewhere else before slowly- looking to his company again. Normally?

He wouldn't give a damn. He drag this man through the streets and hang him over a lamppost with his aura. But- he'd rather avoid jail again, despite this not his choice.]

I wanted a name, not a description. [Said with a sigh, and too bad for Lunatic but Hisoka had already planned on moving before those arrows shoot. To Lunatic, it appears as though the other man is suddenly- flung up, and towards the horizontal bar of a flag pole protruding from a building behind him. Shoots for it, and suddenly latches onto it, using it to leap off of and suddenly sticks to the side of the building. A glance down before he climbs up the side of the building fast, disappearing over the ledge high.]

[Arrows of fire? So he can manifest it in different shapes and forms? Can he merely shoot it like a flamethrower, or only in the form of projectiles needed to be shot? Him. Still- when he looks from over the ledge to a car one of the arrows hit-

it burns differently from usual fire. Worse.]

[Nnh... he's sure he'll chase. Expecting that teleportation trick again but quickly setting the stage with his aura before Lunatic shows. After all, it's just a few quick flicks of a finger tip for him.]

[Lunatic doesn't laugh.

But he does give chase, just not the way Hisoka expects.

It's not teleportation, after all. The use of his fire allows for him to heat solid matter, to pass through and, if he exercises enough control of those flames, not to harm an object. His movements between point A and point B are still very physical, meaning that descent is certainly a lot easier than ascent within a closed-in space because it requires only one type of fire manipulation, one element of focus.

So the method he uses instead to pursue? The same that brought him here in the first place: flight.

The crossbow lowers and (as the flames dancing in the street below seem to vanish) he shoves off with a burst of fire from beneath his feet. He's not far behind the clown then, rising above the building ledge just a few very short seconds after him. And with a ball of flame ready to launch from his free hand as his feet touch down.]

[Flight unexpected but then- heat rises doesn't it? Fire is energy after all, and using it to propel himself makes more sense than whatever he did prior. It definitely looks much more dramatic as well, like some comet, blazing up from the street to him alone. Romantic~]

[A look up, and he sees that ball in Lunatic's grip, flame, pure flame. He's unsure what it might do to his aura but he's perfectly willing to find out. So- once it's thrown--

Catches it, in a sheet of invisible-to-Lunatic aura, and moves his hands to slide around it, as if wrapping it in something, unperturbed by the fire. He feels- heat, somewhat, but the fire is put out quickly, no smoke, till he pulls his hands away and stands, the aura opening and releasing the smoke that was caught inside where the fire had once been.]

[That solves that. Smiles, looking up to him.]

So many tricks. Full control of fire then- ah- full, that must mean much more than your usual man would think. It's what- lets you move through objects then too, fly- shape it... How magnificent~

[What was that?

One minute the flames had seemed ready to engulf Hisoka, and the next they were being spun up by something unseen by Lunatic's eye, and whatever that thing was, it had snuffed out his fire out as though it was nothing.

Not even Hisoka's hands came away singed.

One thing here is expected, though. The clown's observations are right on the money. It would be easier if they weren't, but really, after his meeting with Hisoka in prison, after their conversation and having witnessed that castle of cards with his own eyes, he'd known that if their paths crossed it would be only a matter of time before Hisoka caught on to how he fought.]

You're fond of tricks too, it seems.

[In both their cases there is sure to be more where the first ones came from, and Lunatic is already gearing up for his next act. This time, not aimed directly at Hisoka himself, but rather, the rooftop surrounding him.

Using the crossbow to launch his firebolts from, they fall in a wide circle around the man. Upon striking the rooftop, the flames will fan out from arrow-to-arrow and create a wall, or—

—another prison, if you'd rather.]

[He prided himself on it, though he does so through gambles. Had he been off the mark, that fire would've engulfed him in moments and his only savior might've been stop, drop, and roll. But as he thought, it WAS indeed fire, if it burned hotter than your usual, but manifested, made, and with his Nen shifted here to be perceived easier by others, but not only affected by other Nen abilities? It made it easier to be a bit more risky. Not that he already wasn't risky enough.]

I could say the same for you.

[And just as he says that well, another trick. Walls. Walls of fire and he's encased? But hadn't he just shown he can protect himself from that fire? His hands are fine after all, as is his stomach chest, even his clothing appears fine despite that ball of fire having been right up against him.]

[Hisoka tilts his head, stays standing, a hand moving to place on his hip.]

But this is so impersonal. Why don't you come down? [Gesturing up a hand, fingers pointed out a little. Flicking aura in Lunatic's direction to quietly catch at this chest. Somewhere NOT engulfed in fire right now...]

[The benefit of the fire prison is that it's significantly more fire to try and snuff out at once. In theory...it ought to take Hisoka longer to pull off something like that, which will bide Lunatic time. Of course, that's in theory. Yuri is hyper aware right now that he doesn't know nearly enough about Hisoka's abilities as the other man seems to know about his.

It doesn't seem very fair...but he's dealt with worse odds. Remembers...Giorno.

That's a loss that still bites. But things now are different, he thinks. Whatever invisible power Hisoka commands, it's unlike Giorno's in that this clown can't simply stand perfectly still, he must physically direct whatever it is he intends to do.

Ah...but then—? Does that mean that gesture just now...?

The wall of fire appears undisturbed, though. So he thinks nothing more of it, resumes what it is he was doing, and that is of course loading steel into his crossbow next. He's at least prepared for any encounters with those where his fire alone might not be enough.]

Justice is impersonal.

[He makes no move to come closer himself, but a steel bolt, which blazes brightly as it is launched, certainly does.]

[Well he certainly can't smother it, no, but he could just leave. That's a thought. Not that he can fly, but a good aura defense, a few steps, he can just jump right off the building. That'd be no fun though, much rather stay an play. Besides, all he knows about this Lunatic fellow he's only learned now. And that's just because he's proving to be the bigger show off so far.]

[Steel bolt?]

[He catches it.]

[Infact, has caught faster and smaller before. Coins shot faster than bullets ever could be. And arrow it nothing. He looks down at it, then up to Lunatic again.]

Now how long have you waited to use that line?

[He's being mocked. It's usually the other way around, Lunatic taunting those who bar his way or those he targets, treating them like inconsequential playthings. It throws them off their guard, lowers their defenses, lets him in...

But not this time.

Not this time.

This time, the one who's being slowly rattled is him. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, there's no denying the fact, either. Which means Hisoka isn't threatened. Because he hasn't really showed his hand yet, perhaps? If that's the case, that means this fight might be better fought in a way Yuri prefers not to.

Up close and personal. The way Hisoka wants.

His footsteps are barely audible as he starts across the rooftop and toward the clown, the crossbow discarded for now. He'll fetch it later when it comes time to leave.]

Is this more to your liking?

[From the other side of the firewall, Lunatic gestures with his hands and the flames disperse and disappear.]

[And- can dispel the fire. That's very useful. When he thought complete control over it, he was right on the money, still.]

[Hisoka smiles, putting a hand to his chin and stepping closer, still not a sound from those heels, strutting on the building top like this is some runway, some arena for them, and letting his presence own it despite the atrociously bright clothing he's wearing. If anything they may take away from any hint of intimidation he could be giving off. But then, Hisoka never really dressed to be intimidating. That wasn't the point.]

So then, your fire is yours? It doesn't spread unless you will it- though I wonder, is it completely separate from other flames? Should it even be called 'fire'? [Some other sort of energy then. Something that just takes the visual look of fire but acts differently. Doesn't spread, doesn't consume material or air unless it's being told to.]

So then, you can only control that flame, and not others? [All thinking out loud, a bad habit but it's more meant to taunt than anything. Also he likes to think out loud.]

[Not someone that controls all flame, just- HIS flame? Maybe.]

I do like it, yes. But now that we're close, do try to keep me interested. [Smirks.] Granted, you're doing so well so far. But that mask is still between us. Pity. Just who are you, we've met before, haven't we?

[Close quarters combat is not ideal, especially not following all of Lunatic's recent physical encounters, but if there's one thing he can boast, it's resilience in spades and a high tolerance for pain.

And right now, he's counting on both to help carry him through whatever exchanges are yet to follow between he and Hisoka. It's the best plan he's got on such short notice, knowing Hisoka is fast enough (at least) to catch a steel bolt. That, admittedly, leaves him less confident than before, when he was able to fight from a distance, but it's clear now that ranged tactics (by themselves) simply won't cut it.

Meaning there is no time for regrets. There is only moving forward.

Or, rather, moving against Hisoka.

Shoulders rise and fall in response to the ponderous questions asked. He has no intention of telling. In fact, on that note, throws back...]

Are you finished?

[Talking, that is, because Lunatic is done listening—made quite evident by the way his gloved palm thrusts toward that face and, more specifically, for the clown's rather prominent nose. And you can bet that hand is on fire, too. He's not going to make it easy for the other man to just grab him, and especially not for his mask.]

[Close. A fist coming at him, of course, but this is indeed is what he wanted. Fire makes it a bit complicated though.]

[His arm thrusts up, blocking the punch and layering itself in Nen at the same time to block itself from being burned. Blocked and- he goes for a counter, swinging his other hand fast towards Lunatic's stomach.]

[Isn't that what Hisoka wants? Complicated is more interesting, and it's certainly safer for Lunatic.

Albeit not by much. And certainly not this close, because he lacks the reflexes required to completely avoid getting hit when his opponent is that fast. In fact, he can't even follow the punch's trajectory to soften the blow because he stepped into it, which just makes it worse. Knocks the air out of his lungs and makes his stomach knot. But at least it's contact. At least it gives him opportunity to grab the clown's wrist with his free hand.

And light it up.]

[Smiles, ups his Nen and will grab at his wrist back, his hand searing for a moment from that fire but it- doesn't seem to phase him at all. His skin getting angry marks before he uses his aura to guard from it, his own hold on Lunatic's wrist. And he- yanks. Moves to try and lift him and throw him hard away from him. Strength enough to easily open a 64 ton door but he doesn't nearly need that much force to throw him should he manage it.]

[And if he does, Lunatic will find he's- attached, somehow. And will bungee back. If all goes as planned, bungee back right into a ready second punch.]

[It's not possible, that level of resistance! But it is. Obviously it is, because Hisoka doesn't burn the way he should, the way Lunatic wants him to.

(No wonder he was in jail for as long as he was. Why ever was he released? What was the government thinking?!)

There's precious little he can do to counter being thrown. Can't fight off a grip that strong, can't break midair with fire for something tugging back at him, tugging him toward Hisoka, and it's.

Downhill from there. That hit lands. Strikes with all the weight of a locomotive and the spots dancing before Lunatic's vision are immense. His ears ring so loudly he doesn't even hear the first crack in his mask as it runs from one eye down to his jaw.]

[Almost cartoon-esque how he flies and then yanks back as if by a mysterious rubberband. Should really be birds or stars around that head instead of spots. Hisoka doesn't stop though, the first hit strikes and he'll follow with a low crouch, swinging his leg around fast to try and trip him.]

[The mask has his attention though. A crack, and that was a heavy punch, the mask seems resilient. But he doesn't want to break it- no. He'd rather, take it off. So he'll focus his strikes away from it for now.]

Are you not accustomed to hand to hand? Or were you expecting less of me? Should I be offended?

[The fact that he doesn't answer should speak volumes for the level of hot water he's convinced he's found himself in. That, and the fact that, after getting struck by that leg next and winding up on his back, he's in quite a world of hurt. He can taste blood on his tongue. Can feel it warm on his lips. Is certain there are bruises beneath his costume rising to the surface of his skin.

What can he do? What can he do? ...retreat? It might be in his best interest. But he can't go back to being Yuri Petrov. Might as well go out in a blaze of glory. Or justice, as it were.

So he's shaky as he stands, but at least he doesn't run. Tells himself that, if this is Hisoka's worst, it's nothing. Pain is temporary. And in this place, so is death. Is that what he's facing here, he wonders, taking a step closer again. And, with that step—hesitating in taking another. Flight mode wanting very much so to take over his fight instincts.]

I have a pop quiz for you. [Smiles. Though it's a slightly bitter smile. He expected more from you, really. But then, this man seems to do better at long range, and long range really isn't Hisoka's style... Pity.]

[He holds up a hand, pointing at- four different places in Lunatic's direction.]

How much force does it take to break a rubberband?

[Waiting, at least, buys him a few minutes to breathe. To steady himself and stop the world from spinning around him, to blink away the black spots in his vision.

And then...to ponder the question asked. And the danger of those gestures.

Leaving him no choice...]

Let's find out.

[Not that he's sticking around to see, not exactly. Not retreating full on, but definitely putting some distance between him and the clown again, by dropping through the rooftop with the sudden rise of blue-green flames once more. And, he hopes, cutting off whatever connection Hisoka was trying to (or did) form.]

[Oooh no, he'll active his aura fast as soon as he sees him shift. The Bungee Gum quickly tugs in all foru directions and he'll find that his hands and feet seem to be connected to- something, those- invisible cords again. Each one bound to a rooftop railing in four different directions. They tug, connected to both his feet and hands and try to pull and stretch him out, lifting him. Like some sort of human trampoline on a medieval stretching bed. The Bungee Gum cords connected near the top of the railings so he'd end up laying face up or down a few feet from the roof floor instead of flush against it. Hopefully it happens before he disappears through the ground somehow. And he here thought he'd go back to flying. He liked flying more.]

[Hisoka

do you even

KNOW

how I N F U R I A T I N G this is

DO YOU?

You can probably guess when Lunatic responds to being bound in such a fashion with waves of fire that rush outward from his body, seeming to ripple fiercely with every tug against those invisible bindings he makes, to wash across the rooftop as if seeking the source of those restraints, be it Hisoka himself or whatever the ties are fastened to.]

Hahaha... You never answered. [Smiling BRIGHTLY. Aww, look, it's mad.]

[He steps closer, keeping his aura strong, stretching, tugging hard at Lunatic's limbs.]

You know, before you let convince you closer to me. You were quite magnificent. Were you going to answer my other questions about your abilities too? [Moves to, kneel down near him, crouching low to the rooftop to look up at him.]

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