maskormenacelogs | Magician's Choice [OPEN]

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Magician's Choice [OPEN]

WHO: Hisoka and EVERYONE, anyone.
WHERE: Various
WHEN: Throughout May
WHAT: Lots of stuff. A catch all and open prompts for those interested.
WARNINGS: General Hisoka warning. So, anything from tame sexual implications to violence and gore.

[ The Preamble ]

[Not that he wasn't busy last month, but he feels as though he has things to get back into after everything that happened. Things like- mindless sports, going to arcades, shopping. Things the undead or like undead just kind of get in the way of.]

[Yes, he certainly had fun, certainly kept active during the end of April. It would have been easy for many people to point Hisoka out in the chaos here and there, moving through those hoards or problematic citizens with ease. Often even attacking them back should they come after him, even killing some that really made a display. And the blood was- good.]

[Very good.]

[But killing zombies really isn't that fun when it comes down to it. Rather boring actually. So May's gonna be a nice month of finding that routine again! Well, whatever Hisoka calls a routine anyway.]

[ A ] - Heropa : StarCity Arcade

[Video games were never something Hisoka indulged in often, especially not back home. But they certainly had things he was interested in. Dating Sims for example, very fun, he's always enjoyed romance, and learning the tropes and memes that go along with it? Seeing all possible scenarios? Fun! Anything with puzzles and tactics tended to play into his interests as well which opened up a very wide range of games to be enjoyed. Of course, sitting down for long periods of time was something he wasn't very interested in, his attention span was quite limited if something wasn't really good. So Hisoka had a tendency, when he did play them at all, to constantly switch from one game to another.]

[So what better place for that than an arcade?]

[He's only here because he happened to walk past it and was intrigued by a rhythm game in the front of the store. Lights for one, like some kind of cat, caught his attention quickly and it wasn't long before he was getting quarters and infront of some fighting simulator. There IS a second side to it incase anyone's interested in playing along, and from the back, Hisoka's grey suit and white hair makes him look rather unassuming? That or maybe schooling him in a fighting game could be fun.]

[But he'll be around, he moves from game to game quickly. One could easily cross paths with him on a dancing simulator, or a side scrolling beat 'em up, to some racing game where the seat is almost just too small.]

[ B ] - Nonah : Twinkle Toes

[The large glass doors make it easy to both see all that this store holds (shoes, shoes, more shoes, maybe purses too), as well as then stacks of boxes towering nearby a brightly dressed man who is slightly distressing the store clerks. The women that work there have been trying their best to appease this person but ever since he made sure they knew he was shopping for himself they've had some- trouble. It's not that he's a man really, though a man in that sort of clothing is a bit strange, nice physique or not. It's that he's tried on over twenty things by now and doesn't seem any closer to buying anything.]

[Truth be told. He's just enjoying trying on shoes. But the amount of times he has to get them to go back and get him larger sizes is starting to wear on their nerves. Hisoka notices of course. He just doesn't care. He certainly plans to leave with something, somethings(?), but will see to finding exactly what, even if it means making this day a difficult one for those working here.]

[Maybe he just needs a good second opinion?]

[ C ] - Maurtia Falls : Passione Casino

[Perhaps at a dealer's table for Poker or a more novelty option- a dice game known as Cee-lo, Hisoka can be found. Hands always fast on the cards and always a bit of a spectacle with how he handles them, giving a sort of magician's flare to everything to put on more of a show. He gets players quickly and often do they stay for a while. It's mostly due to how he keeps the chatter high, enjoying various conversations he has and always managing to keep words going along with the cards and chips. Play a few rounds and you might notice your chips are gone before you know it! He does well to distract with a good topic or two, or some flirting. Either way, if you choose to let him deal a few rounds with you, enjoy the attention, he certainly does.]

A new round? Were you lingering close by in wait for it? I'm embarrassed, just for me~?

[That or maybe it's finally after hours and Hisoka's enjoying a drink at the bar. Something equally showing and sweet, possibly with fruit or possibly on fire. A bit hunched over the bar with his fingers sliding over the bottom of the glass. He has a rather dead look in his eyes, staring through the bottles behind the bar, past the tender when he passes by. An expression not really matching the light purple paisley suit he opted to wear for work today.]

[ D ] - Heropa : Some park. What do people even name parks.

[Man what a great day. What a great day for a walk, and this park? Gosh this park is so nice. So well maintained, zombie free after last's months crazy shenanigans. Everything is so nice and spring is really just great, huh? Green grass, blooming trees, people enjoying walks with their dogs, outings with their kids, frisbees coming right at your face fuck you need to duck or something if you can, it's going way faster than a normal frisbee.]

[ E ] - ANYWHERE : Make your own, he's pretty easy to happen upon in most places and situations, if you have an idea for a prompt here and you're unsure or wanna plan it out, let me know!

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[He doesn't. Ken's had to work hard on his fighting style. He's not as fast or strong as his teammates. He can't reach as well as they can, and using the lance simply for what it is only gets him so far. When he sees Hisoka dive low he waits until the last minute, until Hisoka's too close to change direction without missing, to thrust his lance down, digging the butt of it into the ground (he's lucky that it's dirt, it's much easier than the floors of Tartarus) and gripping the handle to pull himself off his feet with the tall weapon as leverage. He's done this enough times against Shadows it's easy enough to swing himself around the handle and whip his whole body around, using the momentum to catapult the heel of his shoe at Hisoka's back. Right at the lower back, where he hit Ken just seconds ago.

An eye for an eye, of course. As the user of Nemesis should.]

[His lips pucker, brows up, Hisoka's smiling when Ken reacts so quickly but he'll ready himself for the kick. His arm bends around, hand open, blocking the kick by grabbing it and stealthily attaching bungee gum to the boy's foot once he catches it in his hand.]

[Quick, he turns around, turning his hand hard and twisting Ken's foot, either to twist up his leg or spiral the boy around in mid air. Only to let go, weave the fingers of his hands together, and slam them down down hard against Ken's body, aiming to send him hard down into the ground.]

[It's coming.

Maybe it's survival instinct that flares up despite his apathy. Ken's in no denial that he still has some attachment to life, and he's also not going to waste precious time wondering about the state of his psyche in a moment like this. But whatever it is, it makes him act, pulling the Evoker out of its holster without thinking and pressing the muzzle to his forehead. Pull the trigger and face your mortality -- mortality doesn't scare him at all, but whatever works, really.]

Nemesis!

[She appears before Hisoka can make contact, a shattering noise and another flash of light and she's going to appear, ramming her body into him with a Cruel Attack to knock him away. Ken knows it won't have as much damage as it would if he were already down, but that's not what he's looking for.]

[Suddenly he's staring. Staring at something unfamiliar, unexpected. And as quickly as that gun shot, as quickly as that name is cried out and that thing appears, Hisoka is flying back, away. Landing with his feet heavy on the ground, dragging before he slows to a stop.]

[His head lifts fast, eyes wide, trying to get another look at that thing, whatever it is. Will it linger, like a stand? Or will it disappear? Can he fight it as he did with Josuke's manifestation? Or does it merely assist the boy when he cries out it's name? What else can it do? Nnngghh- he wants more of it, this power. Something triggered by a gun to a temple and the guts enough to let it bang.]

[She lingers, but only for a moment. Ken lands and pushes himself to his feet and takes his stance again, strapping the Evoker back at his hip. He can take it out again easily but he doesn't need it flying away from him accidentally.

He hadn't been planning to use her, or even this soon. He takes a breath and frowns at Hisoka, narrowing his eyes. He's a lot stronger than he was expecting, but that's other-world humans, he supposes. Whatever laws of nature he grew up used to, he might as well throw them out the window.]

[Just a moment and gone, almost disappointed, though his excited gaze slowly moves down to Ken, the smile not leaving but dimming a little.]

You called her ah- by- [Moves a hand up, making a gun gesture with his fingers, and pointing his index to his own temple.]

Why is that? Does it shock you? So then the gun is fake but skips your heart? [His smile peeling a little wider, standing taller, gesturing his hand out.]

That thing, it's connected to your fear? How you feel, ah, it comes to save you? But I wonder, does it only come at the shot of a gun? [Stepping back, he whips his arms back, them dangling behind him as he suddenly darts at Ken again. Infront of him, aiming an attack at Ken's chest before faking out and suddenly appearing behind him. He gets low again, swiping his leg to trip at Ken's legs, readying to get a steady grip on the back of Ken's neck if he can.]

I don't think on that much.

[He's constantly thinking about Nemesis. Her identity. What she means. The fact that she's him. But as for how and the Evoker works? He's thought about it to explain the mechanics a few times but it hardly mattered to him how they worked. You shoot and the Persona appear. Good enough.

And it's not like knowing would make it easier for him to fight this man. His feet are swiped out from under him and he feels a hand coming up to his neck. Knocked off balance and at this position he's not going to risk getting his Evoker knocked out of his hands. Gritting his teeth, he swings the lance down, behind him, trying to see if he can catch one of Hisoka's legs.]]

[Such a serious boy, is he aware of his own age? Acting like this will only make him age too quickly, it's that spark in a child that helps them really become something. Ah- but maybe there is a drive in there, despite the gloom that seems to loom over Ken.]

[But those eyes. Ah, while they were intense, there's something about the way Ken looks that doesn't- interest him at all. Not that he can see them now. His wipe hit, he feels Ken's stance break as he starts to fall, feels his neck hot against Ken's neck once he gets a grip.]

[Hisoka clenches, holding Ken hard there from the back of his neck, his eyes glancing fast to the sudden movement of that lance. Quickly he'll turn to the side, giving up his grip of Ken to dodge, but throwing him hard through the air in the process.]

[That's going to be sore, is Ken's first thought as gravity works against him and the force of Hisoka's toss hurls him through the air. He felt the muscles in his neck strain, stretching against their will, and he winces at the sharp pain that runs through it. Ugh.

But this is fine. It's fine, he thinks as he takes a breath. It's nothing worth healing over. But he grits his teeth as he lands and narrows his eyes in a glare at Hisoka. He's hardly landed a hit yet. That's annoying. He didn't think Hisoka was weak, but he wasn't anticipating quite this. He aches where he's been hit, and he can hear Nemesis' wheel whirling in his head. Use me, it seemed to say. But no. Not yet.

If he went in with the intention to cut off a leg, he might be able to get a gash in. He kicks the ground again, moving as fast as his power will let him.]

[What an intention! He sees a slight flare in Ken's gaze and it brings a smile back to him, the boy darting to him, aiming to pierce.]

[Hisoka will dodge. Almost effortlessly, going low, very low, and striking upwards under the lance to make it pop up, making a small attack to Ken's ribs with his right hand.]

[Let it hit. Let it get him. Will it hurt? Ken knows it will. He's gotten attacked there plenty of times -- but that also means he's used to it, and he knows he can withstand it. He keeps his grip on the lance even as it's hit up but he kicks out with his feet again, twisting his body around to aim a hit at Hisoka's face.]

[A strike to his face and Hisoka's arm whips up, elbow bent, counter against against his arm and this time leaving a strand of bungee gum, invisible, to Ken's lance. He wonders how long it will stay applied there, or if Ken will sense it some how, considering the lance is manifested and not physical.]

[Lance countered, so he goes for another strike, aiming to slam a flat palm against Ken's sternum.]

[He feels something, but in a fight like this, the smallest distraction can be life-risking. Ken doesn't bother with the strange sticking feeling, brushing it off as soon as he perceives it and letting go of the lance with one hand to grasp Hisoka's wrist with it. Not for long, though; he only uses it to swing himself around the arm for another kick, letting go as soon as he's propelled in the right direction so he can twist around, bringing his other foot around in case Hisoka blocks the first. With his now freed hand, he pulls out and grips his Evoker again, pressing it hard against his head until he feels it dig in.]

Zionga!

[Feeling it stick at all is more than most can say, at least with it his bungee gum still inactive. Right now it's just attached, not pulling yet, but he'd be interested to know Ken can feel it on his lance at all.]

[Blocks that kick, an arm up, fist tight. Blocks the second with his other arm. Knows what the gun does but can't expect everything so he's ready for that body slam when he gets hit with lightning.]

[It strikes and his whole body shakes, heat piling up into him, feeling pain yet feeling energized at the same time.]

[A weak first push up from the ground, before he suddenly leaps away, as spry as ever. His hair a little on end but quickly fixed with a hand, stroking through it, static following his movements here and there. His clothing is burning, his skin a little dark in places. It hurt. Yes. Was surprising, yes. But was gorgeous. Nnnhh, more of that, whatever that this really is, what it can do. He sends Ken a dark, slim smile and the boy will notice it, the slight shift in the air. As if there's something thick all around him, pressuring against him, directed at him and strangely emanating off Hisoka as he stares back, his tongue quickly licking over his lips.]

[He sees and feels the lightning hit, but he doesn't waste time with being satisfied. Hisoka's quick and he knows he has to use that moment that he's reeling from the hit to attack again. He doesn't bother pulling his Evoker away from his head. As soon as it hits he pulls the trigger again, silently summoning Nemesis for another round of Cruel Attack from behind the man as he kicks off the arms Hisoka raised to block him, getting distance so he can regain his stance again.

Cruel Attack, Zionga, Cruel Attack. He takes a breath, tries to gauge how much stamina he has left. It's rare that he summons Nemesis so often in such a short span of time and he can't afford to hit the bottom yet.]

[The Cruel Attacks are easier to deal with, naturally, and those he dodges with barely any effort, but doing so does leave him open to those bolts of lightning. At first he's unsure if he can dodge them, but it seems he can. Pulling away from Ken completely and going far to flip backwards and out of a blast of it. So dodging is possible, though difficult. He can't see where the attack is coming from because it just manifests where ever he is. So being fast enough to escape it is key.]

[Though strangely enough that doesn't seem to always be the case, it is quite fast. And while Ken will notice just how fast Hisoka is in turn, he might also notice the lack of damage Hisoka seems to have taken. The first strike of Zionga it hit him would any defensive Nen. The second only barely seemed to skirt him, dodged. He stands, far from him now, out of reach of that next piercing blow of Cruel Attack due to his dodge of that second Zionga.]

[Again he's smiling though, but this time instead of waiting and staring, he bolts towards him. A heavy strike to Ken's shoulder, the one of the arm holding his lance, and he'll follow for a second blow, aiming to Ken's stomach, ending it with a kick. Up, trying to slam his knee hard up under Ken's chin. Comes at him in a rush, a flurry, the air still thick and all of Hisoka's attention on Ken. Feels some fear in the boy, a rush, had he not planned to use that gun, that entity? Was it really fear in his eyes or just a drive? Please let it be drive, even if it's along side fear. So much fight in this child it'd be a shame if it doesn't push him further, doesn't keep him fighting.]

[It's not fear, but it's not exactly drive either. Ken isn't afraid of Hisoka -- not how fast he is or how strong he is. But Hisoka isn't someone who can stir up his feelings either, not yet, and what he actually feels is irritation. Building up, almost like static, Nemesis' wheels spinning faster and faster until the whirl of it drowns out even the sound of his own breathing as he regards Hisoka with a glower.

It's almost relieving, really.

But ah, this is annoying. Irritating. Vexing. He can get hits in, but it doesn't seem to be doing much -- a defensive mechanism? -- and the two blows he did get in were ones that caught him by surprise. Ken wasn't weak, but he's hardly there.

And he thought he could protect people with this? All of Hisoka's hits land, and he ends up biting his tongue and cheek, but as he feels the blood on his lips and snaps to his senses, Nemesis' whirl quieting for just long enough for him to fumble. He tosses the lance aside -- this isn't a long-distance battle and it just gets in the way -- and grabs onto the leg that hit him, keeping close. If Hisoka was going to keep getting close, then he'll just have to get closer.

Hisoka might have caught the self-deprecating grimace on Ken's lips the moment before he moved, though.]

[It's hopeful thinking that leads hisoka to lean on words like 'fear' and 'drive'. Agitation, frustrating, annoyance, he's familiar with those more, people often feel them for him after all, but in a fight like this, ah, he's hopeful. Still, while Ken has a certain look for him, a slight gleam, it's nothing like the eyes of that boy, Gon. It hardly has Hisoka's heart skipping, as him eager. But perhaps how similar a fight like this is... even the look of that lance near a fishing rod has him more nostalgic than anything. It's yet to be seen if Ken will make him excited as he is, on his own.]

[He has a defense should he want to use it. But it's mostly his own speed, endurance, and strength he's fighting with now. His body aches, sure, and Hisoka has definitely taken damage, but he just doesn't show it. Able to withstand high amounts of pain to the point of misleading his partner into thinking he's fine. Yes, he could go for hours, and he knows he'll win this, but truth be told, those lightning attacks do pack a punch, it's why he banked on finding out if he could dodge them. He'd rather not have to resort to using his Nen in defense just yet.]

[He's grabbed, feels Ken latch onto his after throwing aside that lance. But Hisoka's expression quickly changes. His eyes still wide but his smile gone. He stands. Holding up his leg, mostly likely with the boy still clinging to it.]

Oh-

[His voice a little breathy, but there's a sudden stillness between them. A sudden quiet after all the movement. Staring down to Ken, he moves a clawed hand down. Slow, confident, it's not an attack just a movement to grab. Staring down at Ken with his eyes wide, penetrating, he'll move to clench his hand into the boy's hair and tilt his head back to get a better look at his expression.]

[Or try to anyway, Ken could certainly make it difficult for him. But his other hand stays idle, just standing there, trying to get a better look at that face.]

[Ken's still holding on. He's about to let go, throw himself at Hisoka and maybe fight literally tooth and nail, but he's stilled suddenly by the hand in his hair. It's not gentle, of course; why would it be? It grabs and clenches, yanks at the roots of his hair and makes him scrunch up his face with the sudden pain, but he grits his teeth, mouth still bloody, and glares up at him. Is he... looking at his face?]

... What is it? [he growls out, and the deprecation and apathy that was about to befall gives way to a stronger irritation and a spark of lightening in his eyes. He's quick to cover up any confusion with a veil of rage, and the look he gives Hisoka is sharp and challenging.]

[The movement is grave, heavy, not something coming at him like an attack, but Hisoka's confidence is almost pouring out of him as he goes in for that grab. But the boy relents, lets him, and that almost literal spark back in Ken's eye is good to see.]

[Hisoka smiles, his body bending over, getting his head close to Ken, soaking in that gaze. Ah- he feels a slight shiver, his smile only peeling wider.]

I was wondering for a moment, who my opponent was. Don't lose yourself Ken, I get uninterested quickly.

I haven't lost myself to anything.

[He answers immediately, voice low, snarling almost as he reaches up and grasps Hisoka's hand. He hasn't, he refuses to, and he refuses to let anybody hint that he has. His small blunt nails dig in to Hisoka's skin, but there are no sudden movements from him yet. With the man's hand still gripping his hair, attacking is a stupid idea.]

Good, keep it that way.

[Better that. Good. He'd rather appreciate not seeing that dead look on the boy's face again. There was potential there, it was sickening to see any death in those eyes, in the eyes of someone still with time, and the means to make himself so much more.]

[Hisoka's hand clenches tighter, staring Ken down, his face getting closer, just barely, almost intimate before his smile suddenly pulls up high, splitting his face and he lets go. Pulls back his arm. And pounds the ball of his palm up, under Ken's jaw, whipping his leg to get the boy to fly off.]

[It's a good thing he didn't try to talk. It's a good thing his mouth was closed, his teeth together. The force of the palm is still enough to make them grind together painfully, his jaw making a sound that can't mean anything good before he finds himself sent back, hitting the ground and rolling a few feet before he comes to a stop.

The pain is strong, though a bit dull. It's not hot like a stab found or blinding like the crush of Mudo, but he blinks away the tears that blur his vision as he gets to his feet. His sucks air in through clenched teeth as he realizes it hurts to move his jaw. Great. Would Dia even be able to heal that? But he doesn't let any uncertainty overcome as he flicks his wrist again. The lance he dropped earlier had disappeared seconds after leaving his hands, but it manifests again at his motion, ready to be used.]

[So the lance isn't a complete manifestation. Isn't a lance made real, he make sit like a Conjurer might, dispelling it when he chooses to, and reforms it when necessary.]

[A step back, another, leaning back on a heel and cocking his hips. He smiles, jutting his chin up, gesturing for the boy to come at him again. When he's ready of course.]

[This was what he wanted. He grips the lance again and bolts toward Hisoka. This was what he wanted. To fight, to have his opponent fight back.

He expected Shinjiro to struggle and beg forgiveness or explode in a rage and try to kill him. Not to accept and express just as much regret as Ken had, if not more so. He had just wanted something to justify his rage so he could believe in it fully, to overwrite how empty he really felt underneath all that. The pain in his jaw, the blood in his mouth, the aches all over his body. He liked fighting Shadows. He enjoyed this somewhere inside of himself, though he had never considered it this way.

He swings. The blade cuts through the air faster than it has this entire fight, and he follows it up with another whether it hits or not. He kicks the ground, twists, and thrusts the butt of it up at Hisoka's throat.]

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