avalononline | voice; un: stranger

[Yuber ducks but only barely makes it out of the way. Once he's drawn himself upright he flicks his wrists and a pair of hilts slide from his sleeves into his palms.]

Tricky.

I like it.

[Another flick of the wrists and blades extend from the hilts until their tips brush against the floor.

A skeletal dragon about the size of a wolf pads up from around the corner then sits on its bony haunches and fixes a withering glare on Yuber's back.]

[Not bad. Also more kunoichi style than he was expecting from someone with Kenshin's bloodlust, but he doesn't let up, and doesn't really have the mind to pay much attention to the familiar yet, other than to know it's there and not interfering.]

[Usually Nobunaga's style is more defensive than not, at least when he's not on horseback and using his gun! But while getting Yuber to wear himself out (?! if that is even possible?) might be the most winning strategy, it also increases the risk of Yuber getting seriously hurt, and as Kitsuno pointed out, even Nobunaga didn't really need such things on his reputation in a new unfamiliar place.]

[Ugh, such a pain.]

[So ideally if he can end this quickly, it's for the best, maybe.]

[Even so, while keeping his composure and grace in battle is easy enough, rushing, even figuring out how to rush, how to protect his opponent instead of himself or men, that's... tricky.]

[Especially since he doesn't have a full beat on Yuber's strength and experience. Maybe he should just try to let him wear himself out instead? There's some more -- AT BEST -- glancing blows, clearly guarded and testing the waters!]

[Yuber dances around the attacks, blocking with his twin swords and sneering past them. He's sluggish and he can feel the weakness in his body weighing him down but he refuses to stop fighting.]

You're holding back!

What's the matter? Are you scared?

[It's at this point that the familiar stands up and decides to interfere. It launches itself forward, not at Nobunaga but at Yuber, tackling his legs out from under him and sending him toppling to the floor.]

I don't take pleasure in killing, and defeating you in this state won't help my ambitions.

[Nods to the familiar, moves to help pick Yuber up and throw him into bed.]

Besides, [Absolutely demonic smile!!] Curing you will piss off your pride even more, I'm sure!

Edited 2021-04-14 22:42 (UTC)

Don't touch me!

[Yuber squirms as the bone dragon gently takes one arm its teeth and helps Nobunaga toss him on to the bed.]

I'll break your necks! Both of you!

[He's about to get up when his familiar suddenly leaps up to the scattered blankets, sniffs around, then firmly sits on top of him.]

[Snorts.] Good familiar.

[He's glad his oni doesn't Hideyoshi him to death. One protective loyal insane guardian is enough for multiple universes. Also the only thing having an oni sit on Oda would do... Is make him fight harder.]

[And Nobunaga just summons up all his will, determination, freaking annoyance, and magic. Healing get?]

[It might not work. So far he can't do much, but he's healed scrapes, cuts, minor fatigue, who knows, it might help. And he's making sure to use Yuber's energy for it, so if nothing else, it might put him the fuck to sleep.]

Ugh. I need more sugar. [He hasn't crashed!!! He's just tired from the magic. Magic is stupid, but any weapon is one to use to the fullest.]

[Yuber glares wildly at Nobunaga as the magic is summoned and he feels a pleasant coolness settle into his skin.

The cold isn't fully cured, but the mild fever is broken.]

...Tsk.

[He curls a finger into his familiar's ribs.]

A mighty swordsman like you is a healer?

Demon King.

It's not like I'd use magic for anything else. And Ieyasu isn't here. [He gives no fucks.]

Demon King.

Hah.

[A low snort and he lifts a hand towards Nobunaga. His fingertips start to glow with a warm, almost inviting light.]

This wretched world does have a sense of humor, doesn't it?

...Giving demons the power to heal...

[Someone needs to die for this injustice.]

I don't mind it. [Shrug.] I can murder with guns and swords fine, and healing my soldiers back up is way more dangerous than any of the other magics out there. I mean, blood? Pass.

[Yuber shifts around and stares curiously at Nobunaga. There is a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.]

You have soldiers to heal? Here?

You don't?

[He doesn't have his ARMY, no. But he has some soldiers, yes (and at least one general, but he has the sense not to declare that). And adding to that number is as easy as snapping as his fingers.]

My soldiers were left in another dimension. I can no longer call to them.

[The excitement falls away, replaced by frustration. He violently shoves the bone dragon off of him.]

How many soldiers do you have and why? Is there a war?

[It seems unlikely. Even without his powers he would have caught the scent of massive armed conflict ...he hopes.]

Oh, with magic? [MAGIC.]

[He waves a hand. He doesn't want to get too into it. It's fuzzy anyway, because anything with Akechi is always going to be.] The war is two-fold. Underground, and with other realms. It's more subtle these days. Worse than dealing with ninjas. [He has no idea how much that means to Yuber.] All information, and even worse politically than what I'm used to fielding. [Weary sigh.] If you haven't met, or heard of other versions of yourself, you could miss the undercurrents entirely. [Oda has declared war... on himself. Don't... don't ask.]

The magic of this realm doesn't translate others' well, so if you're hoping to get it back, don't waste your time. I haven't determined yet if that's natural causes or someone's active decision, but I doubt the latter. Too much to lose with filters like that, and no sense enabling new power if the point is just to restrict it entirely -- at least not without demanding subservience.

It is curious that you got healing without soldiers to heal though. Perhaps because you can already kill with traditional means? [Will. Life. He's thinking.]

[Nope, he's at a loss too.]

Shields. [He's 95% sure he's got it now.] So you can guard yourself without soldiers, and play neutral instigator in the wars without allying any direction. Maximum chaos.

[A grin.] At least that's fun, right? [Should he be encouraging a demon to fight him? Probably not, but since that's ALL Oda ever seems to do on the flipside of adding them to his army and expecting them to cut him down 24/7, (see Akechi Mitsuhide) he's just like that.]

Edited 2021-04-16 15:48 (UTC)

[Yuber stares at him through all of this, never blinking. Then...]

Yes. At least chaos is fun.

I've been given far too few chances to partake these days.

[Killing people in dark alleys sates his appetite for a little while. The more talented mages are sometimes even a challenge... But it's not the same as a battlefield.]

[Nothing's like a battlefield, truly.]

So no greater ambitions of your own?

[With a low snarl...]

In this world my only ambition is to escape. To end the stasis, safely restore time and go home so I can finish my work.

How boring. That's simple enough. Kill yourself. But it's boring.

If you don't like being sick, I can promise it can get so much worse.

[Yuber sits up, eyes narrowing into a focused glare, though bitter amusement tugs on his lips.]

Killing myself to leave this mortal coil is not my intent. I don't want to disappear, I want to thrive.

If the only way to do that is to save this world then so be it. I will save the world, time will flow, we will go home and all living things can rejoice.

And I can finish my work.

[Oh good, that's more interesting!]

[Literally, only Oda's thoughts on this.]

Oh good. [Rests both his hands behind his neck.] What's your work at home anyway?

[Yuber looks up and meets his gaze.]

Who cares?

Me. Apparently you. Since you're eager to get back to it.

...Chaos.

[He answers after a long pause.]

My work is chaos.

[If it seems like there should be more to it than that it's because there is. Yuber doesn't feel like getting into the whole True Runes thing, however. ]

Good thing you can do that here.

But I assume there's something specific about your home you miss. Aside from being weaker and your shift in magic.

voice; un: stranger

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