Masa con Papas: Proxy's Memory

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

 

Bucket: Where are we heading?

Charon: Place where we can find a little piece of mind.

Bucket: And… all of them? Your proxies?

Charon: Not sure if that’s all of them but.. Mm.

Bucket: I’ve… much to think about.

Charon: Likewise.

Bucket: I managed to pick up a number of documents regarding guild experiences with you.

Bucket: And I talked to your grandmother as well recently.

Charon: And? Where are you going with this?

Bucket: I didn’t really know what to anticipate.

Charon: Start with Erica.

Bucket: “More stubborn than any of us. Kind of a feat.”

Bucket: “Get him to back down quick cause once he’s settled, he’s not changing his mind.”

Bucket: “At that point? You’re stuck with ‘em. Better make sure he comes back.”

Charon: And?

Bucket: Looks true so far.

Charon: That really all of it?

Bucket: She said you were good with tools, if we weren’t already so deep in…

Bucket: What’s the word?

Charon: Technicians?

Bucket: Good way to phrase it.

Charon:... What were you going to say?

Bucket: It’d feel rude now.

Charon: Try me.

Bucket: Glasses.

Charon:.. Suppose that’s not wrong. Me, Manzana, Fenton…

Bucket: Rosario.

Charon: Haven’t gotten chance to gauge her much.

Bucket: Won’t have to, one of Ali’s hires.

Charon: That’ do it. 

Bucket: But… I’ve worked with her in the past as well.

Bucket: Ali’s been playing a fairly sizable role in my current ventures.

Charon: Was wondering about that.

Bucket: She’s got all the money and contacts. As much as she played a large role in pushing me into my own situation… I can’t deny that she’s efficient.

Charon: Don’t know how anyone puts up with her.

Bucket: She’s a lot like you… but she’s had far less love in her life.

Bucket: I’m happy to see you’ve so many friends..

Charon: Don’t get to see most of them often to be fair..

Bucket: Mm. I understand that feeling…

Bucket: Is this.. Really all in this castle?

Bucket: I’m aware it’s not of this realm but..

Charon: Styx tends to horde, let’s put it like that.

Bucket: It’s somber..

Charon: Mm..

The two of you enter a endless field, the entrance covered in moss and cracked tile far in the distance now.

The sky is long enough to make anyone feel small.

Bucket:... You’re going to fight me out here.

Charon: It won’t be much of a fight.

Bucket: I thought we were done?

Charon: Maybe. We can walk back at any point if you’d like but..

Charon: A stranger approached me today, got a bit dramatic but..

Charon: Managed some good advice out of it.

Charon: I know that deep down this is the best way to understand you.

Bucket: We… You don’t have to do this. I’m sorry for-

Charon: Would you be satisfied if we walked back now?

Bucket: I’ve put you through enough, we-

Charon: Yes or no?

Bucket: ... No.

Bucket: Whoever you spoke to seems to know a lot about me.

Bucket: Aspects I’d never want to admit..

Charon: Mm..

Bucket: So then..

Charon: Nothing but your best.

Bucket: It’d be dangerous-

Charon: Worry about yourself.

With a flick of the wrist, a portal manifests near the larger knight.

Charon: Reach in there, pull out the sword that feels best.

Bucket nods, sticking a hand into the rift.

With a single swing they managed to tear out a massive blade, the portal shattering.

Bucket: That’ll be plenty.. Are you ready-

Charon: As much as I’ll ever be.

Your skull is still vibrating from the rush of drawing blood from Opera.

Bucket puts their guard up.

Bucket: Begin-

As soon as the words exit, Rook dives in with a tank full of gas and a flurry of jabs.

The other dog retaliates, guarding with the flat of the blade and using their weight to push back with immense force.

You use this momentum to approach, your own hand reaching toward the rift at your hip.

You grab a handle comfortably..

Rook takes a massive counterblow, their full weight into a tackle to shove the ghostly dog off of them.

You feel a fog coming in, illusionary smoke trickling into your lungs.

You're low on time to make things count.

You're in range.

Rook makes a second attempt to dive in pressuring the dog, claws slamming the dirt and grass below you into their face.

The dog covers their eyes but instinct allows them to push through and wind up a swing so heavy, the air and grass nearby are shredded.

There's no way they could potentially win a direct trade. Neither could you for that matter.

The illusion starts to take hold, your final chance.

You attached a rift to Rook as they go in swinging one last time, Bucket obliges, diving lower than the proxy's hook and coming in with the counter blow. 

They swing full force.

The world seems to pause for a moment.

The rift flickers.

You switch positions with Rook.

Checkmate.

You drawn the tuner from the rift at your own hip, swinging back with full confidence.

Blades meet, you parry their blow.

You feel the entire force of their attack flow through you, knocking them back with the first motion.

They maintain their footing and guard despite all this.

It didn't disarm them, it didn't crack their blade nor make them stagger all that much.

The kinetic energy starts to overwhelm, you're thinking faster than you ever have in your life..

You do the one thing you know they can't anticipate.

The second swing, releasing the kinetic energy.

Directly under your own feet.

You launch right at the dog, elbows covered in metal gauntlets pivoting the strike.

Your full weight pinpointed with the force of their swing back at them.

This time it's enough to break their guard.

Their footing is strong Despite this, you need to be able to down them in the next hit.

If you could just repeat-

You give rook a nod.



The proxy swings at you, you parry it and in one slick motion and redirect it at them.

A sloppy guard from Bucket, one that doesn't manage to maintain the same defense.

You repeat this.

Again.

And Again.

Something has to give and it's not going to be you.

Guarding each counterblow visibly straining their body, the world around them cracking and crumbling as they tank t until..

You swing...

They're not there.

Rook screeches as they're slammed aside.

It's coming.

As you're pulling your brain out of the dirt, you feel the force coming.

You turn around, Bucket's sword in mid motion.

The look on their eyes, there is no fear.

They think nothing of you.

You won't be able to swing back fast enough.

You abandon the blade.

You use your free hand to guard, this is it.

This is all you can do.

You push back full force as it clashes, you can feel the framework of the gauntlet crumbling.

Your hand inside burning, crackling.

And yet..

a natural parry, you thrust back.

Bucket's guard breaks.

There's a spike of pain in their face. Their sword finally gives.

The kinetic force remains, with your other hand you release it in one big counterpunch.

It sends them directly into the floor, the intensity leaving deep a trail in the dirt.

Checkmate.