The Nexus

[The Widening Gyre] "Are you claiming you didn't pick your job?" , Hoshiki asks deadpan. "Maybe we should switch. Jobs, I mean. You could be a Grim Reaper fighting evil spirits and I could be a detective. How about that?" As he talks, the swordsman observes the giant snake Micha...

The newcomer turns to look at the wolfman, wide-eyed. "Uh, thanks, I guess" , they answer hesitantly. They sound younger than they look, their voice low but feminine. They're at least 1,70 meters tall and broad-shouldered, but next to Codebreaker they look like a kid. "Uh... people he...

[Widening Gyre] Between firing his shots, Michalson might realize someone is looming behind him. It's Senshi Hoshiki, a black haori hanging on his shoulders, otherwise clad in white. His hands rest on the hilts of his swords. Somehow, the large man snuck there unnoticed. "You pick the oddest f...

Roar of an engine can be heard from outside as someone drives and parks a motorbike near the tavern. Soon after the noise stops, the rider steps in. They're clad in black leather biker gear from the toes to their neck, their face obscured by a shining black full helmet with a black visor. They halt ...

[Day of the Duel] The swordsman watches over his shoulder as the detective goes. He's not quite sure who he is putting up a front for. Sighing, he turns his attention to task yet left undone. He tidies up the grave, leaving the silver sword to mark it. The horse, he leaves where he put it. Then he ...

[Day of the Duel]

The swordsman is asking why the detective survived. He's just skeptical of the answer given. "Wouldn't have been of much help, dead", Hoshiki remarks, "I suggest you go now. I have things to do and nothing will be achieved by you lingering here."

[Day of the Duel] "Luck? Why would luck have anythong to do with it?" , the swordsman wonders, "neither of you stood on my way by chance. You chose to. The difference is that the girl had chosen to walk a path of self-destruction before ever setting a foot before me. But what about y...

[Day of the Duel] "He did that knowing a blade to the chest would not kill him" , Hoshiki states, "though I suppose it did not make a difference for him. As said, he didn't come here expecting to survive. He didn't trade his life for yours. He just kept you from dying for nothing. Se...

[Day of the Duel] Michalson has some time to start digging before Hoshiki returns, carrying the metal horse on his shoulders. The swordsman lowers the inanimate husk next to the hole the detective may be digging. Now that no spirit is present to give it life, it is more apparent that no mechanism n...

[Day of the Duel] "Aye. It would end poorly." He doesn't add that it would likely end poorly for him, not Hoshiki. "And no, we can't. But carryin' him will be difficult with my leg. What do you plan on doin' with him? He deserves a proper send-off. In... whatever way you people do it...

[Day of the Duel] Hoshiki meets Michalson's stare, stone-faced. Michalson can see his injured eye has recovered, but not as it was, glimmering like a blue star in its socket. "I suppose that is fair" , he responds after a heavy moment of silence. He moves his gaze and gestures at the dest...

[Day of the Duel] "Reaper affairs are a matter of Reaper jurisdiction" , Hoshiki says plainly, "and I did ask if you're here as a matter of law. You said no. But you seem confused." He rests the sword against his shoulder and turns to face Michalson fully. "I couldn't take ...

[Day of the Duel] "I don't see what relevance the former has for the latter" , Hoshiki says, "a spirit such as her is made for a purpose." He steps closer, standing next to the fallen Reaper's body, looking down at it whime weighing the silver sword in his hand. "Among thos...

[Day of the Duel]

Hoshiki raises an eyebrow. "And what reason did you expect me to see?"

[Day of the Duel] "Yet, you brought her here and tried to stop her from fleeing she wanted to" , Hoshiki recounts without passion. He scans the detective from head to toe. "I do not see her on you." He doesn't see Bunny anywhere, really, having lost track of where Lia hid her in...

[Day of the Duel] A wall of sounds hits Michalson a split second after the flash. This close, it's not much different from someone firing a cannon next to him. The stench of ozone fills the air. Hoshiki stands at the point of impact, his torso bare - his haori trampled in the mud and his kimono shi...

[Day of the Duel] Hoshiki barely hears Michalson's words, because he has to change his position to deflect another blow. The ground rumbles and the rain turns into steam as steel clashes with fire. But he does hear them and it all clicks in place. Is it not exactly what the man told him at the tave...

[Day of the Duel] As Michalson spirals deeper into despair, behind him, an invisible hand lifts up the silver polaxe. Unseen to the detective, the spectre of a man glances at him. He weighs the weapon in his hands, shaping it like soft clay, into the shape of a sword. "Path of Destruction: Arm...

[Day of the Duel] Michalson has seen Sandels in a bad shape before, but this is the first time he has a good look of what exactly the man's wrappings cover. Where the bindings are torn or loose, he can see very unhealthily tanned skin wrapped tightly around wiry muscles and bones. The man's face is...

[Day of the Duel] Sensing something is wrong, Hoshiki turns, and Michalson witnesses one of the unlikeliest displays of swordsmanship. The blade blurs through the air, swatting two out of three bullets away like flies. The third hits. the back of Hoshiki's right hand, causing his grip to falter. Ev...

[Day of the Duel] Michalson's words are drowned by a loud bang, akin to a gunshot, accompanied by flash of crimson light. From his position, the detective can't see it, but the magic bullet hits the swordsman right in his exposed eye. The hardened glue bends and cracks as Hoshiki curls his left han...

[Day of the Duel] Michalson doesn't have much time, but he uses what he's got to do more than shoot. His right hand tosses a globe that explodes against Hoshiki in a mass of adhesive substance. His left hand aims the gun and shoots. Instead of a bullet, a gout of flame erupts from the barrel. Aside...

[Day of the Duel] Michalson gives Sandels a look that suggests a profanity-laden rant without spelling it out. "I blocked one o' your spells. I'm not doin' it now so you can do whatever the hells you want. I don't care if you and that berk kill each other but you won't involve Bunny or anyone ...

[Day of the Duel] Hoshiki is yet to recover from his throw when Michalson shoots him. The man staggers, but manages to retain his balance. Frowning, he glares down at the detective. The bullet hurt, no doubt - but the detective might get the feeling he just tried to hunt a rhino with a peashooter. ...

[Day of the Duel] Bunny cries victoriously when Michalson's hold slips and she takes to the skies like a big, clumsy bat. Sandels shakes his head slightly before his eyes drift on the green cloud rolling towards him. "I told you. Distractions!" , he says, "now undo your counter-spell...

[Day of the Duel] "Distractions, detective!" , Sandes says, loudly but without passion. "Focus on the truth before your eyes: you cannot win a fight against him , and neither can I, not when held back by this mortal shell. Give me my tool back, and I can fight him as a spirit, Reaper...

[Day of the Duel] "He can bloody well try! Now settle down, I need both hands for this. Even if one of 'em is useless." With Hoshiki temporarily occupied by Lia, Michalson can focus on Sandels. Who is, apparently, also trying something instead of being smart about it. Piking leather-head ...

[Day of the Duel] Michalson manages to grab Bunny's leg and holds her in place even as she frantically flaps her wings, trying to get away. "No, you fool! All it means is he will go through you!" Hoshiki opens his mouth to comment, but before he can, the mass of fungi erupts from the grou...

[Day of the Duel] Hoshiki walks closer as Bunny and Michalson exchange words. Sandels is left standing some distance behind the swordsman, though the tip of Hoshiki's sword remains leveled at him. "I respect the sentiment" , the swordsman says, having heard Michalson's words, "but I ...

[Day of the Duel] [Day of the Duel] "Yes. It is quite perplexing" , Sandels comments Michalson's remark about loyalty, without a hint of irony. Meanwhile, the swordsman has lost his patience with this discussion. When Michalson confirms he's not here as representative of law, Hoshiki unsh...