star_kingdom | 4th Post; Video/action

Current Location: Destiny Islands

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4th Post; Video/action

[ There's way too many ducks flying around. It's a good thing that Joluk has managed to obtain a decent bow with plenty of arrows. He's doing a pretty good job of shooting them.]

These things really are creepy.

[ He's shooting more of them. A few of his shots miss.]

Damn, I really did get rusty! I've been out of practice for way too long.

[ There are some more successful shots,then another miss.]

What the...?

Did that one just laugh at me?

[ A duck swoops towards him and he barely dodges it.]

Crap! That was way too close!

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[Arriving at the school, it still leaves the problem of the variety of corridors to choose from. Several of the attacks posted over the comm seemed to be originating from here. The place was probably crawling with ducks. Agni almost selected the wrong hallway when he heard some commotion down the other.

He swiftly headed towards the shouting]

[ Joluk attempts to get into an empty classroom, but the door is locked and any attempt at breaking in would allow the ducks to follow him. He's still attempting to beat the ducks back.]

Okay, this was a bad idea.

[It would have been a good idea-- had any of the classrooms been open or an open supply closet had been near. Agni finally caught sight of the other.. but the ducks seemed intent on their target. He grit his teeth and looked for a weapon. The halls were mostly devoid of ready weapons. Spying a garbage can, he whipped the lid off of it to at least use as a shield.]

This will have to do..

[Then he rushed towards the ducks swatting a few to the ground with the lid.]

Perhaps this school has a courtyard?

[The lid unfortunately wasn't keeping them down for long...however..]

I have an idea!

[ Joluk is using a stick to try to beat them away, since he doesn't want to break his bow.]

Uh yeah...

[ At first he's relieved to see Agni, but then he starts to look worried again.]

Agni? There's a bit of a problem.

I'm seeing two of you.

A problem? What sort of problem?

[What makes it worse is the two Agni's mirror each others actions too a tee]

I'm the real one [Both Agni's said and pointed to themselves. This wasn't working was it....]

I'll be right back.

[He ran to get the other half of the garbage can. Theoretically they could lock the ducks up in here]

You see it too?

[Through pure instinct he manages to dodge one of the ducks, then knock it away. He's not sure how much longer he can manage.]

This looks bad. He said he'd be right back, so I couldn't have hit him. He'd do a much better job of defending himself anyway.

I see only you and the rubber ducks.

[Returns with the garbage can]

If we can hit them into this can.. perhaps we can seal them away!

[He started swatting some in there using the lid]

Okay, that could work.

[ He seems a bit calmer, and he's managing to whack a few of them into the can. He still misses occasionally.]

I hope their illusions don't work through the can.

[It's a bit difficult to round the ducks up, and keep them contained but through their diligence they should be corralled soon]

I've heard that the illusions only occur when they touch you...

[Nudges the side of the can]

They shouldn't be able to touch us through this

It's the dreams that only occur when they touch you, and those would knock you out too.

They haven't touched me yet, but they still showed me some disturbing things.

[ He's still trying to knock more into the can.]

It's helping, though.

Then lets renew our efforts to avoid that possibility.

They are more powerful than I initially expected!

[Is too]

I suppose, once they are contained--Ng [Dodges a duck] we'll need to really destroy them.

Yeah.

If I knew they'd be this tough, I probably would've stayed inside. Instead, I tried to use them for target practice. I figured the bright colors would help with that kind of thing.

[ They almost have all of them in.]

I think you still managed to shoot a good many of them. I passed a plenty of defeated ducks on the way in. [If that's any consolation]

I hope the others have managed to avoid them, but where have they been coming from.

[Makes sure that lids on tight when the can is full]

[ It is.]

Considering all those dreams we saw over the communicators, many didn't.

I think that Hades guy had them before.

[ He's going to find something heavy to put over the lid, once it's on tight.]

Mm [He grows quiet for a moment] Many seemed to be struggling with the darkness in their own hearts.. [Kain and Golbez for a couple]

I haven't heard from him since the attack..

[Now thinks Hades in in trouble himself.]

That ought to hold them.

He did say that he had a way to get rid of the ducks, after someone sent them to him.

[ He abruptly sits on the floor. This whole ordeal has him exhausted. Since, he's no longer in immediate danger, he has a chance to rest a bit.]

Thanks.

I'm glad you're here.

It must have gone horribly wrong...

[Agni can be a bit tooooo trusting and naive. No the Hades cup did not clue him inthat Hades might be evil]

Don't mention it. I needed your help as well. It is what friends are for.

That's one way of putting it.

I think I'll still get nightmares after they're destroyed.

[ He shudders a bit, but then forces a smile.]

We finally get to see each other in person.

What did you see?

[It must have been something other than an Agni clone that was preying on Joluk's mind. He tries to return the smile at that sudden realization.]

So we do! I am surprised that we haven't met sooner. I guess I never had the occasion to travel to the Land of Dragons and you hadn't gone to Radiant Garden?

Yeah, I haven't traveled much.

[ He draws in a shaky breath. Well, after Agni shared some personal information, he could do the same.]

At first they just showed me minor annoyances. They made it sound like the ducks were laughing at me when I missed, then they showed some type of dog that laughed at me. Some pheasant appeared when I was starting to get hungry.

I guess that stuff didn't discourage me from shooting them, so they went for something that really disturbed me.

[ He gulps.]

Aterui

[ He barely chokes the name out. He tries to calm himself down enough to speak more. Her death hit him hard.]

She...she's a cousin of mine. The way she died, it was horrible! She was married to this rich guy, Numaji. He's powerful and has lots of land, but he's brutal. I'm kinda glad he's caught in the darkness. He beat Aterui so hard all her bones shattered!

[ He's trembling and convulsively clenching his fists.]

The ducks showed her walking towards me, though she was so beaten up she shouldn't have been able to stand. It looked like she was pleading with me to stop the pain! I still shot at her image. I wanted it to disappear like the others did, but they just made it look like my arrow was sticking out of her chest. They made it look so real!

It's like she died a second time and I killed her.

Neither have I, save to Traverse Town, Radiant Garden, Port Royal, and Destiny Island. Perhaps that is something I should change.

[He waited patiently for Joluk to answer, knowing that whatever it was couldn't have been all that pleasant. The ducks seemed most app to show horrific or terrible things in their illusions.. it sounded like Joluk hadn't been spared a similar vision]

Those initial illusions-- remind me of what I saw.

[Agni got really quiet during the next part. Aterui? He didn't need to ask before Joluk was explaining it without his prompting. He reached out to place a comforting hand on the other man's shoulder. He really didn't have to continue if he didn't feel up to it.]

Such a horrible situation-- how could any man raise his hand against a lady like that...

[Abusing ones position in society..boy that hit a little too close to home. His jaw gaped open when Joluk continued]

No wonder you were unable to continue out there. These ducks.. have no sense of honor or fair play. To see something like that-- to experience it--

I'm sorry you had to go through that. My condolences for your cousin. Maybe one day the Gods will see fit to give your cousin another chance for a happy life, one without such hardships and cruelty.

Yeah...

[ He can't bring himself to say much more. He's still shaking. He grips the hand on his shoulder, perhaps a bit too tightly. He really needs the contact.]

[Doesn't blame Joluk for being so tongue-tied at the moment.It's never easy to recollect a painful memory, especially not one like this. Oh heck.. whether Joluk wants one of not, he's getting a hug.]

[ Joluk could really use the hug. He's tightly clinging to Agni. He isn't likely to let go anytime soon. The images were too disturbing for him, even with the knowledge that they were mere illusions.]

[ I miss my clan.]

[It's alright Joluk, you can keep the hug up as long as you like. If the ducks had shown him something from his dark past or worse he'd need the contact just as much.]

Least we're not alone.

[Yes I should definitely introduce you to my master]

4th Post; Video/action

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Action (Warning: Descriptions of domestic abuse and death)

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