『 b o o k m a n 』

The priest stared down at the other one-eyed redhead, gripping that cigarette in between his teeth. How long has this brat been here? How many of his pupil’s ‘friends’ are in this stupid city?

“….Why’re you here,” was all the general could manage to spit out. Probably here to ‘record history’, like his job description.

60minutes draw. 第73回「節分のあと」(setsubun)

cursedeye  → refutable  → recordism

          Within a matter of moments as the voice boomed from the sky, shedding light on the dire situation Hive City now faced, everyone had gone into an absolutely frenzy. Chaos everywhere, militia coming down onto their city, people screaming, children crying. Everyone running and pushing, it was a disaster. Through it all, Allen Walker stood in the center, gaze turned towards the sky before turning and running in the opposite direction. As much as he would have liked to do combat with the oncoming enemies, his main priority was protecting the people. 

          It doesn’t take him long to help the remaining civilians to safety and now that the streets are clear for the most part, that leaves him with little work to do–until he sees that there sees to be a team of militia from the alternate city swarming a nearby.  Not a moment is wasted as he runs in their general direction.  ❝ Innocence..give me strength, ❞ he whispers and within a flash of light, his left hand was now jet black, fingers now warped into giant claws and he now adorned a white cowl which gave way to a white cape which flowed as he ran. With enemies in sight, it’s then that he now cries, ❝ Clown belt! ❞ and strands of white move forward, taking five enemies into their grasp and pinning them there. Though there were still many who ran free, with just a single swipe of his claw they had been rendered useless.

          After all of the NPCs had been defeated, it’s only then that Allen looks up to face the person he had just rescued, who arguably had been putting up a fight of their own even with the others being armed. It’s much to his surprise that it is Mukuro Ikusaba, how coincidental that he’d run into her like this. A feeling of relief washes over him as he smiles at her, hand held out for her to take. ❝ Seems like we’re here again, hm? We somehow always end up like this. ❞ though the reunion wouldn’t last long, as in the distance more enemies could be seen coming their way and they had brought friends with them.

     Not an unusual concept for the prolific soldier. If anything, this is a relief to feel like an anonymous force of reality which forces itself through ANYTHING. Everything about her is like a gravitational force skimming across streets like paths of war, skipping over potholes and cars like trenches and bodies, all emotion once again thrown away for the simple sake of DESTRUCTION.

     Little did she figure Allen Walker would be another of these obstacles. That dummy, she sighs, watching his unusual power overthrow targets without much trouble. The white-haired boy notices her at just the same time as she does him, and it seems the calm of the storm has hit - or, really, he’s taken care of the majority of offenders in this area.

     “I guess you’re right, I can’t really get rid of you, can I?” she speaks monotonously, human feeling sitting within her chest once again, sparse feeling resonating within her when she’s speaking to her friend. “But I have been ready, so… let’s go…?” she trails off, looking about one another when she sees… a familiar face. One not too distal from her memory, someone she once met - although briefly - and is somehow connected to her friends like Allen and Lenalee… yet he stands out most within the oncoming crowd, but nonetheless she is fully equipped to aid her companion.

     “I think we found our boss, Allen… if this is what you meant…” she speaks lowly, her combat gear in order and easily accessible before they approach the oncoming challenger…

                   Most would say directly involving himself in murder was more than just standing on the boundary of time and observing... that it was immersing himself in it. But, Lavi had to disagree. Right now, it was him or them. His records, his duty, his life, against theirs. And, during his apprenticeship, one thing had been drilled into his head again and again: he had to endure. To preserve the history of the entire world, its secrets and its hidden depths, he needed to stay alive to keep them. And, it seemed in this situation, the only way to live was to destroy the world that had appeared above his own. The mantra had started almost immediately among his city, whispered voices overlapping each other. Us or them. Us or them.

                   And so now, he waded through the buildings of the mirror city, each movement of his hammer summoning seals and wiping out whole swaths of NPCs. His expression was cold and distant, the purple tattoo spiraling under his eyes splattered with blood. His uniform was splashed with it like water, and red drops speckled his cheeks and hair. Most would find the sight horrifying, but for Lavi, it was only necessary.

                   He was met with no resistance, no worthy opponent. The Bookman cut down those who stood before him, and no one provided even a smidgen of a challenge. Part of him was disappointed, but the larger half was logically pleased with this. It would mean taking down this city would be easier than he’d thought... Until he spotted a splash of white among the suddenly empty street before him, a girl and a familiar-looking boy suddenly standing in the way of Lavi and his small force. For a moment, he didn't react, but it wasn't before long that he tilted his head and regarded them with a cool gaze. These people, like all the rest from this city, weren't worth his concern. With a flick of his hand, he completely took control over the group of militia behind him again.

                   “ Kill them. I don’t want them bothering us later. “

          It’s been about two months since his friend went to bed and never got up, he’d be surprised if thi wasn’t a anatural occurance to happen in this city. But today…no..today he’s not having it anymore. So there he is marching to Lavi’s room, slamming open the door, ❝ Lavi, it’s time to wake up. ❞ and he shakes him vigorously now until he’s just about falling out of his bed and after that’s said and done, a shower of flowers are thrown over the bookman. ❝ Get up. Get up right now, I got these for you and they’re not going to waste. ❞

                “I was hoping that you didn’t have the ability to talk while dancing.” His gaze remained expressionless as he spoke to the redhead in a frank manner. Kurapika kept his lips pressed together as he silently listened to him. There was a look of surprise on his face when he spoke about the land he hailed from and the ongoing war. All the people I know could be dead. The blond knew that feeling all too well. To spend everyday hoping the people you loved were safe and unharmed, only to return to hell. For a brief second, his gaze was overshadowed with grief; but it quickly got replaced by his usual serious eyes. "I wasn’t looking down on you or the others. It was just surprising to see how many people had grown accustomed to this city. I suppose it’s because most of them have been forced to inhabit this place for a long time. As for your war…" He fell silent for a few seconds, as if he was paying his respect to all the people who was participating. "… It is unfortunate. You’re trying to adapt and I respect that. It’s better than letting your thoughts eat you alive. It is something I’m going to do the same while I’m here, but." Brown eyes sharpened as he spoke in a determined tone. "I will find an exit."

                   A soft laugh escaped the exorcist's mouth at the first comment from the other, a smirk quirking his lips upward. " I can assure you, I can do several things at the same time. It comes with my profession. " Which was, all in all, true. Lavi's mind was always working, always in motion, searing everything he saw, heard, felt, or experienced into his memory with accuracy most people couldn't even dream of.