there is no god in heaven; you need to run for cover

[respired]

CHARACTERS: Koltira + a lot of you I am very sorry
DATE: Oct 10 - onwards
WARNINGS: violence; blood; gore; general depraved thoughts i can't believe y'all are threading this with me
SUMMARY: FRENZY.



[ CLOSED STARTERS BELOW.

QUICK NOTES FOR ALL THREADS (EXCEPT AFTERMATH, WHERE ONLY THE FIRST THING IS TRUE):

KOLTIRA IS: COVERED IN CHAINS AND INJURIES

LARGELY INCOHERENT

DEFINITELY GOING TO FIGHT YOU ]

Comments

[fateality]

[Air is choked out as soon as there's pressure on his throat. Twisted Fate coughs, gags, trying to breathe, but he can't, not with the hand around his neck and Koltira's knee pressing into him.

He shudders, squeezing his eyes shut at single order from Koltira.

Fate reaches up, fingers trembling, grabbing onto the hair barely touching him. He pulls, and he stares up, silently pleading as his heart pounds, quick with fear.]

[respired]

[ Ah, the perils of long hair. Koltira howls as Fate gets a good lock in his fist and pulls, sending shocks of fresh pain all along his scalp. Loosening his grip enough for Fate to breathe, Koltira rocks back, though he's still got his palm braced against Fate's throat.

He heaves for a second, his eyes wide and wild. He presses his other palm against Fate's chest, and he feels the heart fluttering there, fast and afraid. Koltira shuts his eyes, biting his lower lip.

It hurts.

He lowers his head, fingers dragging over Fate's chest, over his ribs.

Something's not right--but--

but it hurts -- ]

[fateality]

[He gasps for air, sucking it in, almost choking on it when the pressure's been relieved. Twisted Fate blinks a few times, his eyes having watered from the sensation, and he swallows when he feels the hand moving over him.]

It's okay. [Twisted Fate's voice is rough, understandably so. His fingers release Koltira's hair.]

I know this isn't you.

[No matter how this ends, he knows that much. And if there's even a sliver of Koltira left right now, he's going to give him that much.]

[respired]

[ A rush of recognition. He stares down at Twisted Fate, his eyes open. This is how it goes: he gets a little of what he wants, and it's enough to make him realize how much he doesn't want it. With Fate's suffering comes Koltira's clarity, however brief. ]

I --

[ I want to tear you apart.

He struggles to force himself to move, to let go, despite the demands in his head. The fierce pull of his own cursed blood, its violent, irresistible desires. He thinks of how Fate's throat, torn open, might taste.

He exhales in false, halting breath. ]

I cannot --

[fateality]

[There it is, the moment of clarity. Just enough that he can see him for who he really is. He can't even find it in himself to begrudge Koltira for any of this; there are so many in his life that have wanted to harm or kill Twisted Fate of their own volition, for one reason or another, but him-- Koltira can't control this, or at least not very well. It isn't his fault.

He holds onto that.

Twisted Fate swallows roughly now that he's free, pushing himself up, trying to summon a card. The magic is still gone and he winces.

Damn.

He kicks back, pushing himself away from Koltira.]

Yeah, I know.

I'll see you at the end of this.

[At the very least, maybe this is enough to give him a head start. Maybe while Koltira is having his inner conflict.

Taking a deep, wonderful breath, Twisted Fate takes off. He knows Koltira is fast, but maybe he's had enough for now.]

[respired]

[ He has, and he hasn't. The true part of him, the one rapidly slipping away again, never wanted any in the first place. But the rest of him can't get enough.

With a tremendous exertion of will, Koltira stays where he is. He kneels in the sandy dirt, clawing at it, leaving streaks of Fate's blood behind. He forces himself not to move, not to even look up, not til he's sure Fate has gone. Gone far enough away that Koltira can't sense him, can't hear even the echo of a footstep.

Only then does he stagger to his feet and start to walk again, guilty but unyielding. ]