Scene #7178: The Dark Hero's Partner

Owner	Pose
Xion	A farmer's market that was locally known for having excellent fresh produce and a competent butcher had rung the last bell of the night for shoppers, aiming to clear out the store in the next few minutes. It was enough time to get in and out... And there wouldn't be anyone else around to complicate things. Simple and easy. On the way back out, though, an ill wind began to blow. The night sky darkened as the moon was shadowed by a bank of dark clouds, and the rumble of thunder in the distance presaged conflict. The first kiss of rain is heard, not felt, as the sidewalk pavement's tan grit became dappled with swiftly disappearing pools of darkness as the water strikes sun-warmed concrete and escapes back to the sky. A minute passes, of warm spring shower, as the sky slowly opens up more into a full storm. A peal of lighting splits the sky, and in the flash, a figure is outlined on a roof, sitting. Waiting. Watching. They drop into the path, voice inquisitive and feminine. "You're Riku's partner, aren't you?" Their features hidden behind a dark hood, it's hard to make out much beyond a soft chin with lips set in a thin line.
Archer EMIYA	Shopping for fresh produce has been a lot more pointless with the sudden absence of Riku, but he was doing it before looking after the teenager, and he wasn't going to stop this habit now. He's dressed in his usual civilian attire, black pants, black shirt, black shoes, a pair of faux glasses and shaggy, unkempt hair. The sudden rain makes him suck in air through his teeth as he now wishes he brought his a jacket. In fact, he probably would have, if he had known the weather was going to turn this bad. He's pretty sure there was nothing about it on the forecast too. An ill omen, to say the least. As he reaches towards his pocket for his cellphone to call a cab, lightning strikes. They catch a glimpse of the figure's shadow, waiting for them to inevitably come down and confront him. People just love interrupting him the most during his mundane chores. The robe figured eventually speaks, asking him a question that causes him to raise a brow. "Is this a rhetorical question you already know the answer to, or are you seriously asking? I suppose it doesn't matter, really. The answer is yes, though I think I'd use the term 'caretaker' rather than 'partner', personally" Despite the rather snarky answer, Archer is already removing his glasses and slicking back his hair into its usual spikey . Nobody confronts someone in this manner with anything close to good intentions, after all.
Xion	"I wanted to be sure." The 'figure' announces. "But you're right." The pointing hand falls, as the girl in the hooded cloak slowly slides her right heel out and back. Stance widened, she places more tension in her lightly bent knees. "I already mostly knew you were, but, if you had said 'no', I might not have held back at all." Her hands up and back as a metallic 'shwink!' chimes in the air, a silver bar of light resolving into a blue-handled keyblade with a star motif around the head. "You can put down your groceries first." She announces, holding her stance there for a few seconds. Long enough for Archer to put his bag down. Long enough for him to ready himself, as well. But she's not so gracious as to let him just stand there in a deadlock - eventually, she attacks, springing forward into a simple, keytip-forward thrust right for his upper chest. Right for his heart.
Archer EMIYA	"Ah." The line is delivered as flatly as possible. He doesn't say anything more, but it's very clear he's used to this song and dance. At least this time the attacker has the courtesy of letting him put down his groceries. Once the groceries are nicely put down and out of the way, Archer simply beckons towards Xion. It doesn't seem like she needed much egging on though, as they're already jumping and thrusting at them. He almost staggers back, though this seems to be intentional, given that if he didn't he'd be dead. The key grazes against his shirt still, tearing a gash through it. After the initial thrust however, the heroic spirit boldly clings onto to the blade, something clicking inside his head before ultimately pushing the Nobody away as he disengages. "So. Tell me, are you the girl that Riku hurt? I highly doubt it, but I might as well ask. Getting answers from that kid is like drawing water from a stone, after all." Despite the severity of the situation, despite the fact this person is clearly trying to kill them. They're still cracking joke with a wry smile on their face. The smile doesn't last for much longer though, the smug look being replaced with a furrowed expression as they hold a hand out in front of them. There's a flash of bright green as a blade appears in Archer's hand. A familiar blade, one more akin to a key, than anything. Xion's keyblade. They don't leave any air for questions, instead prompting to throw the weapon straight at the hooded assailant's face, another copy of the weapon manifesting in their hand as they follow up with a quick, horizontal slash to the chest.
Xion	"Does he hurt a lot of girls?" Cowl-girl wonders as she's pushed away. She gains a non-insignificant amount of air, braking with the backs of her feet before planting and skidding to a halt with the grind of sole and heel against concrete. "I'm not here for him - I'm here for you." With a surprised uptilt of her head as Archer activates that odd green light and produces a copy of her own keyblade, the figure is pressed immediately on the defensive. Compelled for some reason to bring up her guard and deflect the keyblade, catching silver rod against the length of the one in her hands and with a close-to-practiced precision, grabbing the hilt out of the air. She has no time to be smug as EMIYA just carves into her chest as she makes her QTE, sending her back with a fierce horizontal followthrough that blows her back tumbling and bouncing with a pained 'oof!' against the ground. Planting 'her' two blades, she pushes herself to a knee as dark liquid dribbles down her front from the obviously shorn wound against her front. The damaged zipper lets her coat fall half-open (revealing nothing interesting but a black top, silver belt, and black leggings and shoes) and the hood tumble off her head, revealing... Red-auburn hair, and determined blue eyes. "I need to save you from Riku. But it's something I can't just ask you to let me do." Dismissing her 'extra' blade, she resumes her stance two-handedly, drawing up to make an over head step-attack. There's no way it'd reach EMIYA from where she begins her pose, but as her foot falls the intervening distance disappears in a dark blur, and the blade strokes downward in tempo to the ruffling of the tails of her jacket.
Archer EMIYA	"At least one." There's a prompt, earnest response to the question as his attack connects, the copied keyblade shattering shortly after like cheap goods. There's no attempt to follow up afterwards, the spirit seemingly content with the one attack. It's not like they'd get back up and go at him for seconds... Who is he kidding? But a man can hope. The hooded figure gets up again, her face revealed to him. It doesn't mean much, but the words that come out of her mouth do. "Save...I see. This is about what's inside them, isn't it? " The thing he ignored since he contracted, the weird ominous feeling of being watched. It's clear that this was a bigger problem than Riku let on. Not that Archer didn't know that, but their contract was specifically regarding the Moon Cell, not his personal life and who he chose to let in. Unfortunately, Xion's on the defensive again, and it takes all of his concentration to keep up with the keyblade wielder, another copy being projected and brought over head to deflect the blow. There's an audible shattering noise as the two blades clash, and despite the copy's best efforts, it eventually gives, breaking into pieces as the real deal pushes through. EMIYA's only able to barely get out of the way by jumping, the keyblade digging into his shoulder just a bit and making an awful grating noise as it does so. It doesn't sound like it hit flesh, but the blood from the wound says otherwise. A more serious approach is in order, and after shaking off the pain, they hold two empty hands forward, another flash of green filling the rainy streets as they're now holding onto a pair of black and white blades. They also appear to be muttering something, though the strong pitter pattering of the rain and some convenient thunder drown it out.
Xion	The downswing of Xion's sword leaves a red-black smoky trail as the weight and force of the weapon increases as it bites in - but Archer is made out of stronger and sterner stuff than a single kendo stroke. She slides to a stop, planting her weapon and pivoting on it with a crumble of shattered concrete. "You're in danger." She notes, and the irony of saying that while seriously attacking a man with a lethal weapon is visually not lost on her. With a 'sorry for that' motion of her shoulders and gloved off-hand, she leaves her keyblade planted in the sidewalk and takes a step back. "You have a power like mine. But you're not putting your whole heart into it." Placing her hand across her heart, the auburn haired girl smiles. "If it's because of the darkness in Riku's heart, I hope I can knock it free." "I don't mind you borrowing it." She adds, her eyes a knowing saccade between Archer and Starlight. "But if you won't put your whole heart into it, you'll keep making fragile things. I'll show you - and maybe it'll knock free that darkness in you." Extending her grasping hand, Xion calls 'something intangible' from Archer, motes of red and white gathering in her palm and - as her finger fingers close around the magic - a flash of gold. Closing her eyes, she too mutters some words. "Trace - on." Eyes still closed, she takes those two steps back towards the planted Starlight, jumping from concrete to keyblade, and keyblade high into the air. "Caladbolg!" With her hands, she calls power, sweeping them both up as she reaches the apex of her high-jump. Metallic silver wreathed in a corkscrewing rainbow, Xion's hands conjures a drill-like sword that she hurls like a javelin down at Archer. In the air it begins cracking and breaking, sprouting fractures of molten red and gold - that burst, with a large detonation of molten magical power and rainbow energy.
Archer EMIYA	"I am the Bone of my Sword Steel is my Body and Fire is my Blood I have Created over a Thousand Blades" The storm lets up just a tiny bit, and the words Archer is saying become a bit more apparent. The talk about 'borrowing' and and 'not putting his heart into his weapons doesn't get much out of them. He's heard it a million time. Quality beats quantity, if you love your craft you should be making masterpieces not mass produced trash. It's a debate that gets brought up at least once a month or more, its been exhausted. 'Trace-on' 'Caladbolg' Two sentences are uttered that causes EMIYA to completely drop the chant, and his weapons. This kid. This shitty, god damn kid. They really went and did it. An now empty palm is brought in front of them, as various green lines run down their arm, their magic circuits going into overdrive "The Seven Rings that Cover the Fiery Heavens: Rho Aias!" A massive pink shield projects itself in front of Archer. Just in time to block the thrown projectile and the resulting explosion. One layer. Two layer. Three layers. Four layers. Layer after layer breaks, shielding them even as their limbs slowly start to give out from the linked damage. When it's all done and over. They're still standing in one piece, though they're clearly worse for wear. He could run. Or push himself to the absolute limit, but he's going to take his chances. The girl doesn't seem absolutely out for his blood. She just seems... Rather dense. "I yield. You're clearly the superior Faker. Do as you will." He raises his arms to signify this, leaving himself completely open.
Xion	"What?" the auburn haired faker wonders, dropping lightly from one foot to a casual, standing posture. "I felt so much in there. Your power's really..." She makes a wobble with her fingers, before jamming both hands in her coat pocket. With a light smile she rocks back and forth on her heels, swaying at her waist. "You can look scorched all you want, but that Rho Aias --" Her sway pauses. "It's a seven layer shield, right? I only saw four. I think your Caladbolg would have gotten five or six. Oh well!" With a big emphatic shrug she resumes her impish swaying. "I think I was mistaken, sorry. A heart of darkness couldn't produce such a beautiful rainbow sword. I think it's why mine's weaker..." She pulls back out her right hand to inspect her gloved fingers, flexing them into a fist. "But that's okay." "Thanks for being strong for Riku. I'm not 'faker', by the way." She thumbs to her chest. "My name's Kairi. We need to stop the darkness in Riku's heart before it consumes him. For both of you. For a while yet, we can still, you know." She pantomimes throwing a punch. "Knock it out of him. Make sense? As long as..." Her fist drops. "As long as your heart's in it."
Archer EMIYA	"Had I known all it'd take to convince you was some pretty colors, I'd have started with that." He weakly chuckles and plays it off, but he's pretty clearly dying on the inside. He's wet, he's tired, his groceries are probably collateral damage, his limbs feel like weighted spaghetti and are probably full of fractured sword bones. It's the little things that add up. "Kairi...Kairi... He's never mentioned you, but given his disposition, I'm going to safely assume you're a friend of his in some capacity. Or an ex he doesn't like to bring up." He's actually pulling his cellphone out like he was originally planning to at this point, clearly texting something to someone nonchalantly before going back to the conversation. "Anyway, I'll do what I can, though I have to warn you, I have a habit of falling short just before the finish line. Bad luck, I hope you understand."
Xion	"Yeah, that..." Kairi sighs. She chuckles, or perhaps sheds tears in the rain with the odd hiccup-like expression. A shake of the head, and her eyes come up to look at Archer. "That's Riku." "I'll try to find some other friends to help, then. So you won't have to be bothered to put your heart into it." "I'm looking forward to the day you put your heart into a weapon!" Kairi turns and ducks into an alley, and without pursuit, is swiftly lost into the cityscape.