She’d been going at it with this freak for what felt like HOURS, and although she’d managed to land a few hits that would’ve taken down any normal human, he seemed no closer to relenting than when they’d first started— then again, he wasn’t a normal human, not really, and he’d managed to get a few hits of his own. Her entire body ached, muscles straining as twin blades blocked another heavy hit that still sent her stumbling backwards, boots digging into the mud. She didn’t have to see beneath her clothes to know that her skin was covered in blossoms of black and blue, with more likely to show up by tomorrow.
Hardly able to see through the sanguine stained lenses of her mask, Nicolette had to wonder how many more sin points she’d acquired from shedding this much blood on holy ground. If she weren’t already bound to Hell, this would’ve surely put her on the list.
❝ Yo— FUCK !! ❞ Before she could react, his weapon swung into the back of her legs and send her flying towards the dirt. As he went to plunge the cold steel through her torso, Nicolette rolled to the side and let out a cry in anguish as it cut through her side ( loud enough to miss the third voice drawing nearer ). The hunter’s body hit the ground hard, knocking the breath from her lungs, leaving her momentarily disoriented and gasping for air. Vision blurred, and Nicolette was sure the unhinged maniac with his weapon hovering above would be the last thing she ever saw before a fresh wave of blood splattered across her mask from the newly formed wound in his chest.
The scream that followed left a ringing in her ears, the image of his innards spilling onto the mud in front of her body etched behind her eyelids as she closed them and groaned. It was all the same, but usually she was the one standing above the corpse when the deed was done. Hands splayed out around her, searching for her discarded weapons, fingers itching to feel the familiar metal in their grip— a sign of security and about as close to safety as one could get these days. Sitting up as quickly as her body would allow, ready to defend against whatever foe had decided to steal another’s kill, she found herself hesitating as the pain in her body all but began to dissipate. A soft chime filled the air and in a moment, she was in perfect shape. Relief was short lived as a thought suddenly occurred.
There was only one group of SICK FUCKS with an ability like that.
Even through obscured lenses, she could see the bright white church garments and visibly cringed. ❝ Goddammit… ❞ came the sneer through grit teeth, a very literal curse to God himself, said under her breath as if to avoid garnering anymore wrath. Keen ears prickled at the sound of his gasp, and it was a sense of superiority and comfort in his fear that allowed her to look directly at him. Moving slow, is if not to break the growing tension, a hand lifted to push the plague mask up and off her head before hooking it to her belt. If this was going to lead to another fight, it’d be easier to win with a full line of sight.
His kind were a fucking chore to kill.
❝ Oh, yeah? I dunno, looked to me like you were enjoying yourself quite a lot. Isn’t it a sin to LIE? ❞ A sneer tugged at her lips, brows knit together in suspicion. Members of the choir were nothing but crazed lunatics and zealots. You couldn’t trust a word they said— for all their preaching about morals, you’d sooner find a dagger in your back or throat slit the moment you looked away. The atrocities they’d committed rivaled even that of the beasts and blood drunk hunters that roamed the streets of Yharnam. If not for the fact that he’d just saved her life ( and that she might not swing fast enough ), she’d have killed him already. ❝ What’s wrong? You seem a little… TENSE. Shouldn’t you be thrilled? You just saved someone’s life… my HERO. ❞
watching the hunter of hunters slowly remove the gas mask from her countenance and revel in his fear that he was all too self-aware of, soma could hear old churchmen of his past scolding him for his benignancy and disquietude— his façade was slipping, fast; had he not known to rid himself of such reprehensible behaviour, he would be slack-jawed and quivering before her instead. she was not so fortunate. a grit of his teeth and a quietly held inhale to steel his nerves, he breathed out slow, with his lips forming a smile at the end of his breath.
❛ hero? oh, my. . . please, none of that nonsense. i might blush. ❜ an awkward but soft chuckle bubbles at the back of his throat— he’s still quite new to interacting with these wretched lunatics. ❛ besides . . . ❜ feeling it only fair, he removed his blindfold cap with ease, his white tresses spilling onto his shoulders and his red hues squinting blearily as they adjusted to the sudden invasion of light. pressing the cap to his chest, he leaned forward in a courteous bow before continuing where he left off. ❛ i cannot let the great ones gaze upon me idling whilst perverseness plagues these streets. ❜
he was painfully aware of the fact that he could not simply turn tail and run, nor chatter his way out of this encounter. while their chittering may not appear hostile to any onlookers, this was a perilous waltz between two murderers. each of their respective parties had their own fearsome notorieties. while they were ignorant of their rankings, the cloth adorned on their backs is enough to cripple the average person with terror. soma opted on leading this dance. arrogantly.
turning their back to her, he knelt before the dismembered foe and reached forward to shut the corpse’s horror stricken eyes. their mind battling the holy great-sword at his back begging— pleading— to conquer more, they murmured a quiet prayer.
should she strike while his back was turned, he would beckon the arcane to swallow them both whole in a blaze of blinding fury. while there was an off chance that she might succeed in disabling him before he could take his course of action, soma was willing to gamble— living was never a strong desire to begin with. tutting softly at the body, he kept his back turned as he softly shook his head in disproval, ❛ are you always so sloppy, bird? those wings of yours should be clipped. i mean, my goodness, what a mess you’ve made... i thought you folk were supposed to be the best of the best. ❜
with one last taunt, he adds, ❛ such matters belong to the church, anyways. have you no respect for the eyes upon you whilst you work? ❜
