[1 vs 1 ] Nay Neigh [Mengyao & Efflo]

[kuropeco]

He hated the Haunted House - loathed it, in fact, to the point where Mengyao grew rather ill just thinking about it. He had not been here for quite some time, not since he had collapsed and fallen into that sleep, but it did not matter. The Haunted House was as it ever was, filled with Insanity and darkness, but there was something oddly pulling about it, drawing him in.

He did not want to be here, but simultaneously he wanted to be here.

Mengyao stepped into a room, idly tucking one hand into the sleeve of his draping robes and glanced around, eyes narrowing slightly. His gaze traced the moth eaten curtains that had perhaps once been white, but were now an off-yellow color, stained and faded. There were several old couches, none of which looked as though they were habitable, their cushions old and matted, and there were one or two ancient armchairs at either end of the spacious room, stuffing falling out of its fabric.

Mengyao's lip curled, and he gave a small sigh. Dust expelled from beneath his feet as he took a couple of steps forward, his robes brushing along the hardwood floor, and with another sigh, he drew his fan out, pressing it against his lips in a thoughtful manner.

He wondered if he would be left alone in his solitude this evening, or if he would be interrupted, as he always was.

STATUS EFFECT

ALL DAMAGE IS MULTIPLIED BY 2, but you CANNOT USE FEAR/ CHARGED ATTACKS. You feel slightly dizzy, everything around you flickers to greys.

sammpai

 

[mare]

Efflo most certainly did not want to be here.

Prone to exploration, he had stumbled on the fog by chance, the encompassing mist pulling him in and loosing him from his intended path. To put it bluntly, Efflo was lost. Even as he searched for the exit in his natural form, where the skulled horse felt most at home, he felt anxious. It was an anxiousness that grew the longer he was immersed in the thick fog.

Something dark loomed murkily ahead. Efflo slowed, casting a wary sidelong glance as the ramshackle house slowly materialized out of the fog. He stepped carefully towards it, inquisitive yet cautious. The decrepit building was not at all inviting yet in comparison to ominously swirling shapes emerging from the thick atmosphere, seemingly out of nowhere, the house at least seemed safer. The first step creaked dangerously as he placed a hoof upon it; oh right, he had forgotten. Houses weren’t meant for horses, and it was unlikely he would get inside unless he changed. In seconds the boil was standing on two legs, emerging from the dark shadows of his transformation. Still cautious, he climbed the steps and opened the door.

His boots clicked softly against the wooden floor, and he treaded slowly along the winding hallway. All the doors Efflo passed were closed, crooked and locked, making him pause curiously when he finally found one slightly ajar. Dark fingers grabbed hold of the handle, pushing it open just far enough to peer inside. The sight of someone standing there was startling enough, and he spooked, knocking the door wide open as he tripped over his feet in attempt to turn tail and run away.

He tumbled into the dusty room, the color draining from his face and the world around him. Efflo scrambled to his feet quickly, not bothering to brush off the dust covering his breeches. He assumed a defensive stance, warily glaring at the person standing before him.

kurotomato

 

[kuropeco]

It seemed his prediction was correct. There was never a moment of peace for Mengyao, not anymore, and especially not with the voices clambering inside of his head. There was a creaking sound from behind him, a floorboard moving, and then a clatter and a scuffle. Mengyao turned around slowly, his fan still against his face, and when no one appeared in his direct line of vision, he lowered his gaze to the creature on the floor.

"And what," he asked calmly. "are you?"

sammpai

 

[mare]

The glare didn’t lessen, and Efflo crawled to his feet, watching the robed one warily.

“What do you mean, what am I? I’m a horse,” he fired back, snorting indignantly as if such a thing should be obvious. His yellow-green tail swished behind him, snapping in annoyance.

“Who are you?”

kurotomato

 

[kuropeco]

A corner of his lip curled. He raised one hand and a long bow fizzled into being, Mengyao curling his fingers around the arrow, which snapped into place against the wire. He lifted it, pulling back on the wire until he felt the familiar weight give, the feathers brushing against his cheek.

"You," he said. "are not a horse."

Snap went the bowstring.


[ HP: 40
DMG: 8 x 2 = 16 oops ]

sammpai

 

[mare]

The arrow sank into his shoulder, piercing the dark skin as he let out a startled cry. Without thinking, Efflo kicked out his leg instinctively, striking back at his foe. It was sloppy and poorly aimed but the heel of his boot connected with something solid beneath those robes, no matter how briefly. Efflo staggered backward, clutching at his shoulder. It hurt, a lot. He was stunned; he couldn’t fathom how the other had been able to summon a bow.

He needed to get out of here, now. Efflo slowly backed towards the door with a scowl. Who did this guy think he was?

“Of course I am. What are you, an idiot?”

Quote:

HP: 14/30
DMG: 6

kurotomato

 

[kuropeco]

This was exactly the reason why Mengyao disliked those of Amityville and Halloween Town. They were such vile creatures, lost in their own sense of self importance; savages, just like Senga.

Yes, the War Horseman would fit right in with these.

A hoof connected sharply with Mengyao's ankle, and he let out a hiss of pain, staggering backwards. He nearly dropped the bow, but managed to tighten his grip at the last moment, swinging it upwards, his dual colored eyes flashing dangerously.

"How dare you," said Mengyao, and repositioned himself, holding the bow steadily in front of him, already drawing the string back once more. He could hear the voices shimmering just below the surface of his mind, buzzing at the frayed edges of his thoughts.

"I am Mengyao Miao, and I am a Horseman of Conquest."


[ HP: 34
DMG: 6 ]

sammpai

 

[mare]

The arrow sliced through the air, grazing his arm this time. The flash of pain was searing, but nearly as bad as the throbbing in his shoulder. He held onto his wounds, panicked that his glowworms had yet to come to his aid. Why couldn’t they come out? He quashed his desire to kick again, stepping backward.

Even more so than his worries, Efflo was dumbfounded when Mengyao sounded positively insulted that he’d struck back. The pony boil didn’t know what the horseman could have possibly expected. He had attacked him first! Efflo had heard of the horsemen, though his knowledge in their kind was lacking. Mengyao’s introduction only confused him further. He shook his head, now was not the time to focus on anything but escape. Efflo inched further and further back towards the door.

“Mengyao… Miao? Conquest?” he questioned quietly, hoping for a distraction long enough to let him run out the door before more the Mengyao let more arrows loose.

Quote:

HP: 8/30
DMG: Attempting to flee

kurotomato

 

[kuropeco]

Mengyao tilted his head, a scowl on his greying face. He desummoned the bow, and took a few steps towards the Halloween student, his expression dark, a cruel sort of smirk on his face.

"That's right," he said. "Glad to see you are not entirely witless. I am a Horseman of Conquest, and you are nothing but a cheap imitation, no matter how hard you try otherwise."

One hand reached out, seized the boil's arm.

"And just where are you going?"


[ HP: 34
DMG: ]

sammpai

 

[mare]

“Then you aren’t really a horse at all then, are you?” he spat out with a harsh bark of laughter.

Still Efflo’s heart pounded, thumping in his chest ast Mengyao approached. He turned hastily to run through the door but found himself halted by strong fingers closing around his arm where the arrow had struck. Wincing, he tried to jerk his limb from Mengyao’s grasp but the horseman held tight. The pain blurred his vision, he wanted to lash out, to kick the horseman but he was dizzy and his movements sluggish.

Quote:

HP: 8/30
DMG: 0 (rly efflo)

kurotomato

 

[kuropeco]

Mengyao arched an eyebrow.

"I am more a horse than you will ever be - or try to be," he said, twisting the boil away from him and brushing his hand across his robes as though he had gotten something dirty on them.

"You...well, you can only hope."

He grabbed an arrow, spun around, and slammed it into the boil's stomach.


[ HP: 34
DMG: 12 ]

sammpai

.....#mengpls

 

[mare]

The arrow sank deep into his flesh, and Efflo grunted, low and guttural as the blow sent him reeling, doubling over and grasping desperately at his abdomen. He spluttered breathlessly, he was so tired. The unbearable exhaustion drowned him rapidly and within seconds he found himself sinking, vision swimming.

With the last of the strength he could muster, Efflo clawed at Mengyao, but he was so weak, so tired. His senses were dull and his movement slow and jarring, his attack futile. The boil fell to his knees, lifting his head up tiredly to glare at the horseman. There would be no running now.

“You’re not a horse,” he spat, his voice darkly quiet and subdued despite its venom. Horses weren’t like this, weren’t cruel like this. Efflo didn’t know what the horsemen were but they certainly weren’t his kind. “You’re not.”

Quote:

HP: -4/30
DMG: 2

kurotomato

 

[kuropeco]

Mengyao took a step closer, more satisfied than he'd been in a very long time. Granted, this was merely a young Amityville student, hardly worth his time, but still, there was something to be said about creating such pain. A victory was a victory, in spite of the circumstances.

He knelt down in front of the boil and smiled, the gesture not quite reaching his eyes, which were bright, almost feverish with the Insanity slowly consuming him. One hand reached out and touched the boil's cheek.

"I'm more than you'll ever be," he said softly and then stood, looking at his hand in disgust before gathering his robes around him and sweeping from the room.

sammpai

 

[mare]

Efflo winced, pulling his face away from Mengyao’s fingers as if their touch burned.

“No,” he whispered weakly but it was useless. His protest was made to an empty room, the horseman gone. All that remained was swirling dust in his wake, and Efflo coughed softly. So tired. Feebly, the boil tried to stand but his legs shook like a newborn colt’s and he dropped back to the floor, exhausted from the exertion of it. Green eyes, dull with pain, searched the room slowly, focusing finally on one of the tattered couches. Yes, he thought, that would do.

He dragged himself across the floor, and inhaled sharply as he lifted himself on sofa, jostling the arrows. Too tired to care, Efflo sank into the dusty fabric and fluff, closing his eyes.

Just a little nap, that was all. He’d leave when he woke up.

kurotomato