tushanshu_logs | EVENT | LANDFALL | KITHIKA

EVENT | LANDFALL | KITHIKA | BOTTLE

Characters: ALL!
Date: February 12th - 28th
Location: Kithika, inside the bottle
Situation: The discovery of an artifact from the first war against Malicant reveals the land of Kithika within a dimension of the Death Plane... and just happens to be contained inside a bottle.
Warnings/Rating: Please indicate content warnings in subject headers as applicable.

OOC INFORMATION ♦ CITY OF KEELIAI ♦ INSIDE THE BOTTLE ♦ THE WORLD EATER
Arriving in Kithika is unpleasant for the most part. Transport through the glass vessel deposits you in the middle of a thick and murky swamp, with air so hot and humid it feels as though one is breathing through a wet towel. This is a place of perpetual night and there are no celestial bodies visible overhead through the twisted vines to break up the blackness, making the only light visible that which comes clumps of marsh fungus that emit a steady glow in a variety of muted colours: pale blue, whitish green, watery mauve. The only other light comes from those who can generate it themselves and that will reveal numerous broad-leaved trees, in some places standing too thick to move through. Below, knee-deep water laps in swirls at their legs, accompanied by the occasional slithery feel of something moving in the bracken against wet limbs, gone before it can be identified. A variety of strange noises from creatures of the swamp fill the air with buzzing and hoarse croaking, interrupted by the screech of mosquitoes the size of hummingbirds darting past and hungry for a meal.

---

OOC NOTE: Characters will not be able to progress past the Temple and the Grounds for 48 IC hours after which point, the way to continue onward to find the dragon will be discovered. The second log will be posted on the 17th, to help spread out the tagging. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yes, perfect. Things are going exactly to plan (for once in Miles' life). He makes sure to cry out "No! Don't!" as he's being absorbed, but lets the blackness overtake him until there's nothing left but Venom before reaching out with the strongest venom blast he can muster, stronger than anything he's tried before. This worked last time. This freed the guy inside Venom before. Hopefully it'll free Peter now.]

[The sound that Venom makes is the furthest possible thing from human. Somewhere in there is a scream from Peter himself, as Miles's blast tears first through the suit and then into him. The whole suit shakes and convulses and jerks around both Peter and Miles, as though it were reaching out to grab onto anything that would take it. It hisses and shrieks and thrashes--

And then Peter wakes up.

Oh, my God.

He starts clawing and tearing at any little piece of black goo that still cling to him. Get it off.

As his mind finally starts rejecting the suit, on top of Miles's venom blast, the suit starts to go lifeless, limp, melting off of their bodies and falling to the ground around them, where it hisses and steams as though it had fallen onto a hot frying pan. Only then did the stuff disappear, gradually, even as somewhere in Peter's mind he could still hear it screaming.]

Oh, my God... [Peter finds himself crouched on the ground with his head in his hands.] Oh, my God...

[At first Miles is just so happy that his plan worked. His fist pounds the air in triumph. But then concern takes over, concern for Peter and what he just went through. What that must have felt like.

He kneels before him, hand reaching out to touch his shoulder.] Peter... you okay? It's alright now, it's gone.

Peter! Miles! [Kaine had been running towards them when Venom suddenly exploded, and nothing good usually comes from explosions... He's more than a little relieved to see that's not the case here.]

That took stones, kid.

[The last few minutes have been a complete overload, and May was running right besides Kaine before she reaches Peter and drops to the ground next to him to hug him tightly.]

Hey, hey, it's okay. Nothing bad happened, you're alright, you both did it.

[He might not be her Peter Parker- definitely not her dad, but he's definitely a Peter Parker- way more than that fake that showed up to taunt Kaine was. The real Spider-Man. But that counted for Miles too, didn't it?]

Oh, my God... Oh, God, what'd I...

[He almost ate Miles. He almost ate Miles. Peter doesn't even know how to justify that or process it or anything. Maybe he'd had Venom all over him, but in his mind, that hardly matters. For whatever reason he hadn't fought back. He let it happen. What seems to makes it worse is knowing that had he succeeded there, he wouldn't have stopped. He would've gone for Kaine and May next. He wouldn't have stopped until the suit was satisfied, and who even knew what that meant.

The hug from May seems to help. A little, anyway. But he doesn't return it, he just... sits. Shaken and wide-eyed and terrified of himself.]

Don't... Don't touch me, don't-- I almost- Oh, God...

[Miles backs off, allowing Spider-Girl some room and respecting Peter's wishes not to be touched. He stays in a crouch, keeping to Peter's level.]

But you didn't. You didn't. It wasn't you, man, it wasn't you.

[Kaine makes no attempt to get any closer to or try to console Peter. Not because he doesn't care, but because he knows it won't make a bit of difference. He knows because that was exactly the way he felt when he fell into these kinds of situations, and it isn't until now that he realized it's a trait he picked up from his original.

He makes a note to talk to Peter later, when it mattered. When he would actually listen to what others were trying to say, rather than now when he knows, regardless of what anyone says, Peter wouldn't really hear them.

Besides, May and Miles are much better suited for that kind of task, anyway.

Careful not to look anywhere near where Aracely's body lay hanging on the web in the alleyway, Kaine looks around for his monster. The only thing, to his knowledge, still keeping them in this Wonderland version of Houston. He vaguely recalled it taking up a perch near the fight, but it wasn't where he thought he had seen it go.

Kaine finds it in the absolute worst place possible: near the no-longer-unconscious-pseudo-Peter.]

Shit!

Why should I believe you? You were too afraid to face the truth before. You claimed to embrace the Spider, but while you enjoyed my power, you soon cast me out. You feared me.

[Spider-Man's voice is soft, and riddled with gasps, thanks to Kaine's blow to his throat.] B-because... I've realized... what a... fool I was... to reject you... But if you'd... prefer a reject like Kaine...

Even now we are bound together. One cannot live without the other.

I'm not as weak... as I used to be.

Then embrace me once more, Peter Parker. Embrace the Spider.

[Kaine had started running the second he realized those two were together, but even with the proportionate speed of a spider, he isn't quick enough to stop the pair from being enveloped in a large cocoon. He tries to pop out one of his stingers, only to realize he can't. They're gone, gone because the Other has gone back to Peter. By the time he tries to rip it open with his bare hands, it's too late...

Spider-Man has emerged from the cocoon, showing no signs of injury. Even his ripped off mechanical spider leg has returned, despite the ripped one still laying in the alley.]

This is what you were afraid of, Kaine? You're a fool--you've only been fearing yourself!

Parker, you have no idea what you've just done. [Goes to fire a webline at him, only to realize that's gone too. Shit, another gift from the Other.]

Were you looking for these? [Stingers pop out from Spider-Man's wrists, as he charges Kaine. Kaine manages to flip Peter, but not before getting knicked by one of the stingers first. Almost instantly it's a struggle to remain standing, and he drops to one knee.]

Wait, yours are venomous?! [Even in the midst of all of this nonsense, Kaine can't help but think "not fair."]

Just another sign you aren't worthy to have my DNA, abomination.

[Spider-Man lunges for Kaine again, determined he won't miss this time.]

Edited 2014-03-09 03:08 (UTC)

[May's spider-sense goes off again, while she's there next to Peter, which makes no sense because-

Uhoh.

She had completely forgotten about the spider-creature in the middle of the craziness.

How could she forget about the scary spider-creature?

The scary spider-creature that's making a giant cocoon around it and the fake-Spider-Man.

Way to go, Parker!

She jumps up from the position she's in, and jumps from one wall to another using her bio-magnetism to propel her faster than she would completely under her own power, not that gets her there before Kaine suddenly drops to one knee.]

Kaine!

[She fires a burst of impact webbing at the 'Superior' Spider-Man.]

Miles, get Peter out of here!

[Because even if he was up for another fight, he definitely doesn't need to watch some evil adult version of himself try to kill Kaine.]

[Peter's head is swimming a little, buzzing incessantly as though his spider-sense was overloaded and going berserk. He swears he can still hear the suit in his head, taunting him, talking about fear of his powers, of himself, of-- Wait.

That's not Venom's voice in his head.

Immediately he's turning to look up, trying to reorient himself to what's happening around him. Way to go, Parker, you forgot about the fact that there are bigger things to freak out about than your own personal meltdown.]

Kaine-- Kaine, what--

[His eyes widen as his sights settle, as the haze clears and he's able to focus and more or less identify what's going on. Kaine is fighting... Spider-Man? No, that's not right. It has mechanical limbs like Doc Ock. Why would a Spider-Man want - or even need - something like that?]

What the-- What is that? [Miles may be the only one within earshot now that May's run off, but Peter's directing the question to anyone who can answer.] Who is that?? Why is it fighting Kaine?

[Miles isn't sure what's going on over there, but Spider-Girl said to get Peter out of here, so that's what Miles is going to do.]

I don't know, but between the two of them, I'm sure they can handle it. C'mon, let's go. You don't need more of this right now.

[He puts an arm around Peter's shoulder and tries to guide him to stand up.]

[The impact webbing causes Spider-Man to stagger backwards as he fights the tendrils rapidly wrapping around his body. This gives Kaine the time he needs to roll to the other side of the alley and force himself to his feet.

Fucking Parker.

Unfortunately, the impact webbing soon snaps as Spider-Man breaks free.]

The Other grants me strength beyond your wildest dreams, girl. Your little toys aren't going to stop me.

[Yeah, strength Kaine was missing right about now. But being the reject had its strengths... literally. Even without the Other his strength still greatly surpasses Peter's. He grabs hold of the wall with his palms, and with a roar he rips it off the rest of the building, the debris falling down on top of Spider-Man. It also effectively blocked Spider-Man's path to the kids.

Though he's fighting to remain standing, stand he does as he looks over at May.]

That's not going to hold him for long. We're all playing to our weaknesses in this alley... We've got to take this out into the open.

[Well, that's not promising in the least. And by 'least' she means 'at all'. Enough that she's ignoring the urge to quake in her booties. Though whoa, Kaine. She knew he was strong, but pulling a wall down on that Spider-Man!? It's a good thing she was on the ground!]

You're right. The roof?

[She points upward, before leaping onto the wall and beginning to make her way up.]

[With Miles's help, Peter manages to get up onto his feet only to pull himself out of his reach. His attention is fixed on the fight on the other side of the alley. So maybe Kaine can rip a chunk of wall and bring it down on the other guy's head. And maybe May is super agile and athletic and stuff. But Peter's seen his fair share of superheroes get taken down on a good day just because of circumstances. He's not about to take chances here. Not when it comes to his friends.]

You- Miles, you're hurt. [ I hurt you. ] You need to get that looked at. I'm gonna- [ Get it together, Parker. ] I've gotta help them.

[He draws in a deep breath and starts toward them. Safety in numbers, right?]

[Miles sighs. There's no way he's going to let the others risk their lives against a crazy bottle-magic Spider-guy-thing and NOT help. He steps up to Peter, coming alongside him.]

There's no one who can look at it right here. I'll be okay. You just... be careful, alright?

[Then he goes invisible and jumps up the alley wall, aiming to get behind the Spider-guy-thing and close him in.]

As good a place as any.

[Good, none of them seem to notice I'm barely capable of standing. He flicks his wrist to web up to the roof... only to remember he still doesn't have that anymore. Fuck. This is what he gets for coming to relying on Parker's--well, the Other's--powers. He considers doing it the old way--making a running jump to get halfway up the wall, then wallcrawl to the roof--but then his right leg, the leg Parker knicked, threatens to give out from beneath him, and he realizes that jumping is just not an option, unless his goal is to fall flat on his face. With a sigh, he staggers over to the wall and begins climbing up the wall using mainly his arms.

He makes a mental note to never attempt to be a hero ever again.

Spider-Man yells as he frees himself from beneath the rubble of the wall, not in pain, but in anger. This farce has gone on for far too long, and he's humored the girl and the abomination for far too long. No sooner does he free himself from the wreckage, does his spider-sense alert him to someone behind him. He spins on his heel and jabs at the air with his venomous stinger, hoping to actually hit whatever's registering as a threat. Curse the stupid thing for not being specific!]

You fool! I know you're there!

[May sends another burst of impact webbing at the Spider-Fake from above and behind, now that he's turned, flipping through the air as she does so, to get the best angle.

Which gives her a better view of Kaine wallcrawling with mostly his arms.]

Kaine, you need a hand there?

[It's probably somewhat strange that jumping into this fight helps take Peter's mind away from the whole Venom thing. It distracts in exactly the right way. One day Peter will try to figure out a healthier alternative to this coping method. But that's definitely not happening today.

Once Miles is out of sight it's only half a moment before Peter's springing forward, bee-lining toward this Mecha Arm Spider-Man guy. His spider sense blares just before he reaches him, so he quickly jumps to one side, out of the way of any attack. When he sees that he's jabbed at the air Peter flicks his wrist and fires a line of webbing for that hand, aiming to cover it and more or less disable the stinger.]

And I know you're there! Talk about your happy coincidences.

[Miles stays quiet, waiting for his chance and watching the fight. The stab wound in his side aches, and he presses a hand to it to staunch the bleeding.

Except Miles' Spider-Sense isn't as good as the others', or maybe it's just that he doesn't have enough practice, because he barely gets out of the way of Bad-Spider-Guy's stinger in time. Hanging onto the wall, he drops the invisibility (no point to it now that the bad guy knows he's there).]

Yeah, and you're not the only one with tricks. [And he fires a stinger of his own.]

Edited 2014-03-25 01:09 (UTC)

[Crap, someone noticed. He pushes up with his still responding leg and leaps up to the rooftop.]

I'm fine.

[He's not fine.]

Parker! I'm the one you want! Leave the kids out of this!

[You know, the kids who are doing an a much, much better job of taking you on than he is right now. Still, he doesn't want them getting hurt. As it is, he can barely stand, and that's only because he got lucky... next time he uses one of those the kids might not be.

Spider-Man, for his part, isn't doing so well against said kids. Though he tries to dodge the impact webbing from May, it hits his leg as the tendrils go everywhere, pinning him to that spot. He goes to break himself free when his spider-sense alerts him to Peter's assault, which he tries to avoid, but there's only so many ways he can bend with his leg stuck to the ground and his stinger winds up covered in a ball of webbing. He's so distracted by Peter he doesn't realize until his Spider-Sense goes off too late that Miles was trying something, and the stinger hits him square in the back. He staggers as the sedative hits him just enough to slow him down, but not enough to stop him.]

Argh! Why are you protecting him?! This... this.... thing who has thought about ways to kill you all! I am trying to help you by destroying it once and for all!

[Kaine winces at that. To be fair, he does blame the Other for that one... even if he's not sure it was all the monster's influence.]

Edited 2014-03-27 03:13 (UTC)

[She lands on the side of the wall, further up, but not yet on the roof.]

'Thing'? 'Destroy'?

You are aware that you're talking about a person, right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT | LANDFALL | KITHIKA | BOTTLE

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject