3rd kill | video/action;

[justiceerror]

[...well, this sure is a sight, isn't it? battler has no choice, he knew he would be going against his master's wishes by making this broadcast- but he was desperate. he had been searching for her for a while now, well over a day, and he couldn't find her at all. the storm had blown into genessia, it took over and the blizzard was everywhere. it was thick, harsh, and absolutely freezing. it hadn't bothered him, his strength and magic was enough for him to be fine, but the icy cold was harsh enough to bite at his skin.

was there magic involved with the blizzard...? there's no way something natural would ever affect him.

so, his master was missing. he needed to find her, she was his only purpose now, and without her he felt completely empty. he was always just meant to be a husk of a man, but without his master at his side he felt the need to just give up. he needed her.

the broadcast clicks on with battler's face, a genuine frown spread across his features, and he he seems to be covered in snow. the bits of white contrasted with the purple color of his suit, and even the tips of his hair appeared to be frozen.]

....I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't genuinely need.... assistance. [he knows what this means too, that people will attack him, that they won't hear him at all- but as long as his master will be safe he simply doesn't care.]

My master has gone missing and I cannot even sense her. Usually I would know where she is at all times, I would be able to teleport to her if she ever called on me... however she is... simply gone. She cannot be dead- I would know that for sure but... I know she is in danger as well.

You all have your grudges with me, I understand, however let it be known that I cannot harm you any more. My current master instructed me not to hurt or kill anyone anymore, I am simply... hers now, and hers alone.

Aahh get angry with me all you like, attack me if you like, you all love that... don't you? You humans... and your emotions....! It all still fascinates me so much, but now is not the time for me...! My master must be saved, and I need help finding her...! I'm sure.... I'm sure my magic could help her in this blizzard, it must!

My master's name? You all know her very well: Terra Branford. You all hate me... but will you not put aside your hatred in favor of Terra? She has done nothing to earn your hatred... And I will be walking the streets to search for her, seek me out if you must.

[he will be awaiting the intense backlash.]

action;

[as he said he battler would then be walking the streets of genessia in order to look for her. the blizzard was strong, much too intense, and he had to put up an arm in order to shield himself from the sheer force of the wind and ice. she grit his teeth as he walked, his anger for being unable to find her growing more and more intense.

battler would often duck out of the wind in order to hide in a shop, or even in an alleyway. feel free to accidentally run into him then as well.]

Comments

[enchantressofore]

We should start there. I cannot imagine she would grow flowers indoors -- most cannot do without sunlight and warmth. She must have had an area to grow them, separate from a storefront. Perhaps a greenhouse, with a separate storage area for tools.

[ Perhaps if she were in a better state she could have questioned it, just how much power Terra has over him and why. As is, she has no idea of what to say aside from just acting as she is now. Right now, she has to shut down. But it's still hard to do, with anger and fear still barely beneath the surface.

If it's hard for Battler, it's even harder for Adela. Even with her leg cold-proofed as it is, she still feels freezing cold to the point where a lot of her skin is becoming numb, even while dressed for the weather. Her height does her no favours either, as she's just not tall enough to even get her legs out of the snow anymore.

That hardly matters however, and she lets Battler get a little ahead if only so that he can lead the way. He would know better the path to the store, and perhaps in what direction they should go from there.

The sooner they find her, the better. What she'll do after? She still doesn't know. She really is a fool for helping Battler with this, but Adela can't stand by and do nothing, not when it involves this man, not when it may mean abandoning Terra to death if she does leave it be. Perhaps she can come to an answer as they go? ]

[justiceerror]

[battler could feel her trailing behind him, the snow making is extremely difficult to even walk, and the redhead turned around to look at her.]

Follow in my steps- it will be easier for you.

[at least that way she'll have a place to step, and with his height he is definitely able to move through the snow with much more ease than her.]

...She has a greenhouse, yes, that is where we spent most of our nights talking. [before she even became his master.]

more word vomit and a timeskip?

[enchantressofore]

[ She feels tense with that. What politeness he shows for someone he had maimed so badly but six months ago... She scoffs, saying nothing but following in his tread-- she still has that much sense at least. It lets her move much more easily while he is slowed by the snow.

She can do it now. Now, while his back is turned and his steps are slow.

The toxic thought gets dismissed and Adela tries to shake it off, unable to completely dismiss it but still remaining docile. There's something else they need to do first. For all she knows, Terra's life hangs in the balance. She still doesn't know what role Terra plays in all this, but regardless of reason the other girl doesn't deserve to die for her own hate.

It might be easier if she forces her mind off of it, but that also means conversing with the source of her nightmares. Rather than that she remains silent, narrowing her focus on the singular goal they now share.

Which means she's keen to spot any difference in scenery than blowing white snow and cold buildings, more searching for one such as a greenhouse -- possibly with a shed next to it. It might seem to Adela like they're coming up on such buildings in the distance, but are her eyes that good? Are Battler's? ]

[justiceerror]

[striking him down might work, and it might not. battler definitely still had all of his magical barriers up, since he had expected that many people would want to kill him either way. terra will not be happy with this turn of events at all.

battler glanced behind him from time to time, just trying to see what adela was up to. he noticed her struggling, but even so she was willing to go through such lengths in order to help.

...was small talk needed? perhaps, he needed to talk so he could focus less on the biting, magical cold.]

I come from a world where boredom kills- you know. It can literally drive magical beings to death.

[enchantressofore]

[ His voice grates on her. Mocks her. It's taking her back to that cabin six months ago, and she can barely keep herself from becoming nauseous on top of everything else.

She doesn't answer, not meeting his eye and instead noticing her own progress, how he has to pause occasionally so she can catch up. Can they really save Terra like this?

She's barely thinking, only driven by the 'no' she's given herself as she stops and looks over her device. She seems to be looking something up. ]

... If there is no greenhouse and shed near where she works in Genessia, there may be one at her other store in Attleton.

[ She closes her eyes, slumping, almost feeling like this is a surrendering gesture if anything. She wants to kill him still. There are many good reasons why she should. He can still hurt, torture, and kill many people here. Is it that she isn't strong enough to take his life, to carry his blood on her hands? She doesn't know. She still can't bring herself to raise her sword to him again.

When she finally does look at him again, she's still conflicted. This man changed her life. This man took her leg, forced her to live in nightmares for months and to hide said suffering from a dear friend, and yet... Why?

It doesn't feel like a kindness to let him live, but the bottom line is here and now. She can't keep going, and if she does? By the time they do reach Terra, if they do, it will be too late. All she would do from here is slow him down when haste is what he needs.

Why does she believe him about her? Perhaps it is her being a fool, but... If it is true... ]

Go.

[ It's all she has to say to him. It's the only hint she wants to give at what she's going through, because this? She's not about to give him the satisfaction of her hate and anguish of having to do this. He needs to find her, though what he's going to do with her she doesn't know.

Is this even right, to let him go...? ]

[justiceerror]

[...go? what was she even saying?

it seemed as though she really wasn't one for small talk, did he honestly upset her that much? he hadn't even done anything this time around. battler turned to stare at her, looking extremely confused. sure, they had to hurry in order to find his master- but did she really need to act so... dramatic?

the redhead huffed at her, his breath coming out as a white cloud.]

...Why? [why was she letting him go? why wasn't she helping him? that question had so much meaning, but he just needed her to answer something for him.]

[enchantressofore]

Because at this rate I will only slow you down. You cannot afford to waste time, or was Terra's life being in danger a lie as well?

[ It's so hard. Part of her is screaming at her that she shouldn't trust him, that she should end it now. She should kill him. She deserves that vengeance, or justice, or whatever she wants to call it. He deserves to feel that pain inflicted on her and others.

But... Even if it is a lie, and she has the chance to kill him... Will that really help anything? It doesn't reverse any pain inflicted. It doesn't change the fact that her leg is gone, nor does it take away the trauma from that event from her or from others.

Her fist clenches to the point where it's sore, but she shakes her head at him before meeting his eye once more. She has to harden her heart... At least enough to get through this. Even if this makes her feel sick. ]

I know I should not believe a word you say, but if there is even a chance of your word being honest this time? Then you need to stop wasting time and go.

[ It's not forgiveness. She can't ever give him that -- she knows she might very well never be ready to give him that. But, even with how much pain and conflict it's causing her, if she doesn't know whether or not what she's doing is right or wrong... It's probably that she doesn't know that's causing her the most pain then and there. ]