[The book falls open to no particular page, and he glances up to watch Childe with the blade before it disappears again. Interesting. HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THOTS.
The book closes and lifts out of his hand to drift shoulder-level near him, but out of the way. He opens his hand, and a small mound of grey material appears in his hand. When he looks up at Childe again, there is a glint in his eyes, but perhaps not the kind Childe lacks.]
Do you want a demonstration, or do you want me to not go easy on you?
[He should go back to thots... that is my opinion... me, pixi. I think Essek could get swingo.
WHAT IS THERE A GRAY MOUND. WHAT IS THAT. The temptation to goad Essek into knocking him on his ass without hesitation is so incredibly strong, but Childe is shockingly responsible when it comes to new opponents, so...]
[He should just start blasting Childe, but the material he has in his hand is for a spell that, while not difficult for someone like Childe to dodge, would be terrible with the two of them this close together.
He closes his hand over the gray mound in his hand.]
Learning my abilities so you can combat them? [Teasing. He turns away from Childe slightly.] Will you give me some things to work with?
[Bestow upon him the enemies.]
I have a certain limit to which I can perform before I'll need to rest.
Okay 90% of the time he does not make the innuendo jokes even if he notices they are there, but just this once, since it's the day after thots party, he can't resist--]
He quickly turns on his heel and slaps his arms together - forearms, palms, and all. The gray dust explodes between his hands, and he's already saying a string of words in another language.
It happens fast, but Childe has enough time. The air between them is blighted by the smell of ozone, and the very fabric of the world begins to tear just in front of his fingers. A small slit, at first, before the opening grows suddenly and sharply outward ahead of him toward Childe, slipping just past Childe. A fissure in reality, space sundered open and glistening inside with a vision of the universe.
Dodging the powerful force damage from the ravine of gravitational energy is one thing, having not been inside it, but dodging the way it ultimately pulls anyone within even ten feet of it toward it in heavy, pulsing waves is another.]
[The funny thing about training under a woman who can open up abyssal rifts is... you get pretty good at dodging things that strongly resemble abyssal rifts! There are differences, of course, and it's Childe's turn to be enthralled by them, but he's no longer the starry-eyed teenager caught up in the wonders of limitless possibility. With even a false version of his power back, his body moves almost on its own--there's a spark of purple lightning in his eyes before he dodges with practically inhuman speed.
Still, this is the first time he's seeing Essek's power, so there is, of course, no way for him to know exactly how far he needs to dodge. But you know what solves that problem? Being a ranged fighter also! Damn, that's just not fair.
He doesn't have a ton of time, probably, so his aim certainly isn't perfect, but it's enough for him to summon a Hydro bow and fire in Essek's direction, not so much aiming to actually harm him (which he couldn't do anyway), but to break his concentration.]
[The only bad part about being a glass cannon is being a glass cannon. He's got power and he's got range, but as a wizard, he doesn't often have a lot of speed - spells take incantations, arm movements, materials, sometimes all three - and he doesn't always have a lot of resilience.
This is why you're in a part, and you're in the back line.
The return fire startles him in action, naturally. (He lets out a AH! of surprise even.) He grabs the book from the air as he throws himself into a short sprint to the side away from the arrow. He flicks his wrist, and the book vanishes, freeing his hand to begin drawing patterns in the air in front of himself as he comes to a stop. Seems suspicious, but a sigil merely flashes then dissipates.
Sometimes you have to just protect yourself from pointy things because you're squishy!]
[Yeah that's what he thought you'd do, CATALYST USER.
In a real battle, he wouldn't let up on the onslaught, naturally--but it's no fun to spar if he only gets a tiny glimpse of what Essek can do, so he lets him flee, the water in his hand melting seamlessly into a double-ended spear.]
That's why you do shields first, Thelyss!
[I'M SORRY... HE LOVES TO TAUNT WHEN HE'S NOT FIGHTING AT FULL STRENGTH... at least his tone is playful and not rudely mocking, though he's still light on his feet, ready to dodge whatever Essek throws at him next.]
Quiet! I can't shield when I am executing a sneak attack!
[He is going to break this smartass fox.
The spear worries him. He knows if Childe gets close, it will be incredibly dangerous. As dangerous as it can be in a simulation. He has a few tricks, but still. Alright.
Once more, he begins speaking and gesturing. A ten-foot sphere of dark violet and indigo undulating shadows starts growing from a point near Childe. It expands outward at a somewhat dangerous speed.]
He is fast and dangerous with this spear, but fortunately, he's not in the mood to end this so easily. Instead of going for the easy twink target again, he prowls to the side, watching the sphere with sharp eyes. Presumably, he cannot stab shadows, but maybe he will try...]
And he lets Childe prowl and watch it, and when he thinks Childe has a little more focus on it than on him, he starts whispering in the grizzled other language, motioning with his hands. The sphere wobbles like it might collapse which may be an extra sign.
Three glowing darts have appeared in front of him; magic missiles. They fire off simultaneously, arching down low and swooping up after Childe as the sphere from before ripples into nothing.]
Hatefully, he is delighted by the way the spear vanishes from his hand--this is exactly why he was not put off by Essek being a squishy mage. UNFORTUNATELY... HE KNOWS WHAT MAGES ARE CAPABLE OF AT FULL POWER... which this isn't, he's sure, but neither is he, so that's fine.
Essek may like to float, but can he fly? It is not fair in the slightest, but Childe can; once again, there's a flash of lighting before he dodges the missiles, leaping into the air. Like the first part of this clip, except he doesn't have his mask on his face and he doesn't do his magical girl monster transformation. Instead, he summons up another bow--Electro, this time--and shoots at the missiles, testing to see if they can be knocked aside or not.]
[god he is so incredibly sexy in his full form i love you tartaglia!!!!!!
He is not a flying around sort of guy completely, but he can glide some. The flying is unfair. He should maybe work on something that lets him do more than float around up and down.
The missiles do go after Childe even with lift-off, but they also happen to be easily knocked aside by the electric shots. They explode upon impact, nothing crazy, but enough to give the impression they wouldn't be small ouchies if they had hit. Even so, he takes a moment to go over what he wants to throw next.
He is feeling a little safe, both because he knows Childe is more hungry for the witness than out to hurt him and because he threw the shield up.]
Childe is like a cat or dog full of energy wanting to play, and Essek is nothing but a little twink wizard with what amounts to a mana pool.]
You're getting too arrogant!
[He raises both hands; there is one thing in each palm; what looks like fur and coal. He slaps them together while speaking and then he expands his hands away from each other. A globe of darkness swallows Childe completely, seeping outward.
It's dark. Dark. Childe can't see through it, can't even see his own hands and arms. The only light that permeates the darkness is the faint glow of his weapon - magical light. Everything else is a swarming mass of shadow.
It gives him time to prepare the next attack. A prism, glimmering. An incantation. Even if Childe moves, he is still hit. The edge of his mind pulls like putty, a gravity of force reaching down into the depths of him and sending a burning sear through his existence.
Childe's mind twists. It spirals around and around, and each end of his body is pulled until it feels like he is turning into spaghetti noodle. He spirals, long and thin, whites behind his eyes.
And then in one loud, growing whoosh, he is out of the darkness in the air in another area, higher up. He can see, though the light is momentarily blinding. He is falling, fast, pressed from behind by a strange and crushing force. The gravity will hurt, but more than that.
Essek is already prepared with three more missiles, aimed at where he thinks Childe will land.]
Well, normally he would save this for emergencies, but since it is Simulations, he doesn't have to worry about any true damage or side effects. Plus, it doesn't really matter if Essek knows what all he can do, seeing as Essek is not from his world and Childe can't use these powers outside of this room anyway...
ALL THIS TO SAY, he and the missiles hit the same spot at the same time--but when the false dust clears, Childe is no longer standing there as himself. Instead, he is transformed, a huge hole in the ground from where he braced his landing with his... WHATEVER THE HELL THIS WEAPON IS idk. Blue light ripples across the ground, the glow even more spooky in the purple light of the fake Abyss.
When he laughs, it is distorted--still very much Childe-like laughter, but a very different voice. If he's in pain, he doesn't show it.]
Quickly, he spins around and and tries to run to beat the edge of the whale. It's too large; he isn't fast enough without some kind of magical boost giving him more movement speed. The watery whale smashes into most of him, and he gasps at the pressure of the surge. Water floods his mouth and nose. He's knocked prone on the ground.
Anyway Childe likes Essek enough to be nice to him, so after he is a butthead like this he will adjust the Sim Room controls to make the whale vanish and snap back to his usual self, as if it never happened. No harm done!
He grins brightly, though, looking delighted. There is the briefest glimpse of thought, a can-- before he hops back out of thoughtshare range.]
Despite all of the simulation vanishing, his throat still has the sensation of being filled with water, so he chokes on a cough a few times before slowly pushing himself up with his forearm.
He could be nice and come help him up, but he does not. Instead, he summons a small Hydro fish, which he sends over to swim in a little circle around Essek before it disappears with a splash. It doesn't heal him or anything, it is just there to be cute. Or annoying. Both?]
Of course. How a person behaves on the battlefield says more about them than words ever could.
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The book closes and lifts out of his hand to drift shoulder-level near him, but out of the way. He opens his hand, and a small mound of grey material appears in his hand. When he looks up at Childe again, there is a glint in his eyes, but perhaps not the kind Childe lacks.]
Do you want a demonstration, or do you want me to not go easy on you?
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WHAT IS THERE A GRAY MOUND. WHAT IS THAT. The temptation to goad Essek into knocking him on his ass without hesitation is so incredibly strong, but Childe is shockingly responsible when it comes to new opponents, so...]
Show me first, but go all out after.
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He closes his hand over the gray mound in his hand.]
Learning my abilities so you can combat them? [Teasing. He turns away from Childe slightly.] Will you give me some things to work with?
[Bestow upon him the enemies.]
I have a certain limit to which I can perform before I'll need to rest.
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Okay 90% of the time he does not make the innuendo jokes even if he notices they are there, but just this once, since it's the day after thots party, he can't resist--]
So you need to work on your stamina?
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He quickly turns on his heel and slaps his arms together - forearms, palms, and all. The gray dust explodes between his hands, and he's already saying a string of words in another language.
It happens fast, but Childe has enough time. The air between them is blighted by the smell of ozone, and the very fabric of the world begins to tear just in front of his fingers. A small slit, at first, before the opening grows suddenly and sharply outward ahead of him toward Childe, slipping just past Childe. A fissure in reality, space sundered open and glistening inside with a vision of the universe.
Dodging the powerful force damage from the ravine of gravitational energy is one thing, having not been inside it, but dodging the way it ultimately pulls anyone within even ten feet of it toward it in heavy, pulsing waves is another.]
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Still, this is the first time he's seeing Essek's power, so there is, of course, no way for him to know exactly how far he needs to dodge. But you know what solves that problem? Being a ranged fighter also! Damn, that's just not fair.
He doesn't have a ton of time, probably, so his aim certainly isn't perfect, but it's enough for him to summon a Hydro bow and fire in Essek's direction, not so much aiming to actually harm him (which he couldn't do anyway), but to break his concentration.]
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This is why you're in a part, and you're in the back line.
The return fire startles him in action, naturally. (He lets out a AH! of surprise even.) He grabs the book from the air as he throws himself into a short sprint to the side away from the arrow. He flicks his wrist, and the book vanishes, freeing his hand to begin drawing patterns in the air in front of himself as he comes to a stop. Seems suspicious, but a sigil merely flashes then dissipates.
Sometimes you have to just protect yourself from pointy things because you're squishy!]
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In a real battle, he wouldn't let up on the onslaught, naturally--but it's no fun to spar if he only gets a tiny glimpse of what Essek can do, so he lets him flee, the water in his hand melting seamlessly into a double-ended spear.]
That's why you do shields first, Thelyss!
[I'M SORRY... HE LOVES TO TAUNT WHEN HE'S NOT FIGHTING AT FULL STRENGTH... at least his tone is playful and not rudely mocking, though he's still light on his feet, ready to dodge whatever Essek throws at him next.]
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[He is going to break this smartass fox.
The spear worries him. He knows if Childe gets close, it will be incredibly dangerous. As dangerous as it can be in a simulation. He has a few tricks, but still. Alright.
Once more, he begins speaking and gesturing. A ten-foot sphere of dark violet and indigo undulating shadows starts growing from a point near Childe. It expands outward at a somewhat dangerous speed.]
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[YOU ARE TOO EASY TO TEASE LITTLE MAN
He is fast and dangerous with this spear, but fortunately, he's not in the mood to end this so easily. Instead of going for the easy twink target again, he prowls to the side, watching the sphere with sharp eyes. Presumably, he cannot stab shadows, but maybe he will try...]
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And he lets Childe prowl and watch it, and when he thinks Childe has a little more focus on it than on him, he starts whispering in the grizzled other language, motioning with his hands. The sphere wobbles like it might collapse which may be an extra sign.
Three glowing darts have appeared in front of him; magic missiles. They fire off simultaneously, arching down low and swooping up after Childe as the sphere from before ripples into nothing.]
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Hatefully, he is delighted by the way the spear vanishes from his hand--this is exactly why he was not put off by Essek being a squishy mage. UNFORTUNATELY... HE KNOWS WHAT MAGES ARE CAPABLE OF AT FULL POWER... which this isn't, he's sure, but neither is he, so that's fine.
Essek may like to float, but can he fly? It is not fair in the slightest, but Childe can; once again, there's a flash of lighting before he dodges the missiles, leaping into the air. Like the first part of this clip, except he doesn't have his mask on his face and he doesn't do his magical girl monster transformation. Instead, he summons up another bow--Electro, this time--and shoots at the missiles, testing to see if they can be knocked aside or not.]
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He is not a flying around sort of guy completely, but he can glide some. The flying is unfair. He should maybe work on something that lets him do more than float around up and down.
The missiles do go after Childe even with lift-off, but they also happen to be easily knocked aside by the electric shots. They explode upon impact, nothing crazy, but enough to give the impression they wouldn't be small ouchies if they had hit. Even so, he takes a moment to go over what he wants to throw next.
He is feeling a little safe, both because he knows Childe is more hungry for the witness than out to hurt him and because he threw the shield up.]
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And he's right, Childe is feeling eager and invigorated, but he also... wants to show off a little... just a little. So, playfully--]
What happened to not taking it easy on me? Do your worst.
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Childe is like a cat or dog full of energy wanting to play, and Essek is nothing but a little twink wizard with what amounts to a mana pool.]
You're getting too arrogant!
[He raises both hands; there is one thing in each palm; what looks like fur and coal. He slaps them together while speaking and then he expands his hands away from each other. A globe of darkness swallows Childe completely, seeping outward.
It's dark. Dark. Childe can't see through it, can't even see his own hands and arms. The only light that permeates the darkness is the faint glow of his weapon - magical light. Everything else is a swarming mass of shadow.
It gives him time to prepare the next attack. A prism, glimmering. An incantation. Even if Childe moves, he is still hit. The edge of his mind pulls like putty, a gravity of force reaching down into the depths of him and sending a burning sear through his existence.
Now you gotta roll a d10.]
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8]
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Childe's mind twists. It spirals around and around, and each end of his body is pulled until it feels like he is turning into spaghetti noodle. He spirals, long and thin, whites behind his eyes.
And then in one loud, growing whoosh, he is out of the darkness in the air in another area, higher up. He can see, though the light is momentarily blinding. He is falling, fast, pressed from behind by a strange and crushing force. The gravity will hurt, but more than that.
Essek is already prepared with three more missiles, aimed at where he thinks Childe will land.]
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Well, normally he would save this for emergencies, but since it is Simulations, he doesn't have to worry about any true damage or side effects. Plus, it doesn't really matter if Essek knows what all he can do, seeing as Essek is not from his world and Childe can't use these powers outside of this room anyway...
ALL THIS TO SAY, he and the missiles hit the same spot at the same time--but when the false dust clears, Childe is no longer standing there as himself. Instead, he is transformed, a huge hole in the ground from where he braced his landing with his... WHATEVER THE HELL THIS WEAPON IS idk. Blue light ripples across the ground, the glow even more spooky in the purple light of the fake Abyss.
When he laughs, it is distorted--still very much Childe-like laughter, but a very different voice. If he's in pain, he doesn't show it.]
Impressive! But there's nowhere to run.
[Get whale'd]
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Also: shit.
Quickly, he spins around and and tries to run to beat the edge of the whale. It's too large; he isn't fast enough without some kind of magical boost giving him more movement speed. The watery whale smashes into most of him, and he gasps at the pressure of the surge. Water floods his mouth and nose. He's knocked prone on the ground.
S O G G Y.]
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Anyway Childe likes Essek enough to be nice to him, so after he is a butthead like this he will adjust the Sim Room controls to make the whale vanish and snap back to his usual self, as if it never happened. No harm done!
He grins brightly, though, looking delighted. There is the briefest glimpse of thought, a can-- before he hops back out of thoughtshare range.]
A fine match! I understand you a lot better now.
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Despite all of the simulation vanishing, his throat still has the sensation of being filled with water, so he chokes on a cough a few times before slowly pushing himself up with his forearm.
He squints a bit at Childe.]
Do you...?
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He could be nice and come help him up, but he does not. Instead, he summons a small Hydro fish, which he sends over to swim in a little circle around Essek before it disappears with a splash. It doesn't heal him or anything, it is just there to be cute. Or annoying. Both?]
Of course. How a person behaves on the battlefield says more about them than words ever could.