[ open ]

[hairington]

Who: steve harrington and ota
When: may
Where: around the primary settlement, horizon, solvunn in general.
What: various starters, tls, etc for the month.
Warnings: trauma response from last event, talks of pit time, probably a lot of emotions.

Comments

[ofthesword]

[All right, well. Two things: first, he figured throwing a bear would give the bears the chance to think they'd picked the wrong fight. Second... okay, it hurt like hell, but being gnawed on like a chicken bone still doesn't really beat getting impaled.

They're just different pains.

Before Nero's got a chance to sock it in the face, Steve's just yelling at it and swinging his sword around in a way that might've worked if he was, uh, bigger, maybe. Actually, whatever Steve's doing seems to really have pissed the fucker off, as it roars with Nero's blood still dripping from its teeth.

Nero curses as he pushes up to his feet, shaking his arm as the skin begins knitting back together.]

I figured they weren't this fuckin' dumb! [Nero picks up a rock and chucks it at the bear going for Steve (after making sure Aloy's not about to bite it, either). The thing bounces right off its shoulder, cutting through the fur, but it doesn't once take its eyes off Steve.] What the hell did you do, Steve? You turned it into the Terminator!

[He's gonna have to throw a second bear, isn't he?]

[hairington]

[ part of steve might have been slightly hurt at aloy's lack of confidence in him, but he's also. you know. not entirely looking to wrestle the creature bear handed (ha ha ha ha ha). he is armed for a reason, though even with the sword and his training, the odds aren't entirely in his favor. ]

I'm open for suggestions! [ steve continues to back away towards the trees, away from the maypole. the bear looks...well, honestly, the bear looks freaking furious and steve definitely realizes he may have made a poor decision here, but it's not over yet. he has had some sword training where it concerns animals or beasts, though the idea of killing it still isn't top of his list.

he notices the rock out of the corner of his eye as it hits the bear's shoulder and falls, the bear not even flinching at the impact. ] It's fine! It'll be fine. It's just going to be distracted with me for a- shit! [ because of course that's when the bear roars again and lunges for steve, forcing him to dive and roll off to the side. reflexes and practice and adrenaline make for a fantastic combo as steve is back up on his feet in no time, which is almost too slow as the bear slides along the ground and turns to where steve had rolled off to.

there is brief eye contact between the two of them where steve does consider turning and running, but he knows he's nowhere near fast enough, so instead he just. goes back to facing the bear and walking steadily backwards away from it. ] Nero?! [ he calls after another moment, eyes not moving from the bear. ] Your arm better yet?

[lightkeeping]

[Luckily, Aloy's un-enchanted, un-flung bear seems to be behaving more like a normal animal. She keeps swinging the branch at it, eventually casting it aside in favor of jabbing at it with her spear, and though it is clearly unhappy with the situation, it eventually starts to back off, perhaps not wanting to meet the same fate as its family.

Whatever's going on with Steve's bear is a bigger problem. Once it seems apparent that her opponent plans to slink off back into the woods, Aloy is turning on her heel and sprinting towards where Steve is cornered, the motion ending in a flying leap towards the animal.

She may not have Nero's supernatural ability, but she is strong, and the bear is distracted. Aloy more-or-less lands on it, immediately trying to wrap her arms around its thick neck with the clear goal of choking it out.]

Nero!

[They could. They could probably use the help.]

[ofthesword]

[This is absolutely not how he saw this thing going. Now he's halfway convinced Solvunn's bear population's been inflicted with rabies or something. A rabies that Steve just made magically worse. Nero spares a glance at Aloy, but -- unsurprisingly -- she's taken care of herself fine.

Which means Steve.

And Nero is not letting anything happen to Steve. What the hell kind of teacher would he be if he did?

But he's still -- fuck, that thing already chewed his arm down to bone, and though he can heal from anything (probably), it's not as instant as it was back home -- or the shit from the pit's still infecting him. Skin is knitting, but he's still got muscle and bone exposed, and he's pinned his arm against his stomach to not make it worse.]

Shit.

[This is absolutely not how he wanted to do this. He didn't want to -- expose this, at all, in front of people who might not understand. With people who might question it. The pit was different; they didn't have anyone else who could do what he could do. Who could help them get off the goddamn island.

And Aloy's good, but he doesn't want her getting ripped open, either.]

Hold on! [Luckily everyone who was enjoying their particular pole has run off after seeing Nero get attacked. The last thing he needs is more Solvunnites treating him like a goddamn god. Nero kicks off the ground hard enough to leave indentations of his boots, running across the space the bear and Steve have tracked between them.] Aloy, get off!

[He's got enough time. His tail slams into the ground when he slides in front of the bear, anchoring him down, and then both wings flare up from his back. With Aloy off, both demonic hands grab the bear, claws gripping hard as it roars and flails, and the wings roll back like arms and throw the bear even farther than the first one, knocking trees down from the speed of which it lands in the woods.

Nero sucks in a breath, then releases it. The wings dissipate.] That's not how I saw today going. You guys okay?

[hairington]

[ here's the thing: steve hasn't really had a ton of opportunities to use this ability, or whatever it is, in real time. his combat situations, despite his and nero's near-constant training, have been limited and generally around others. the moment never really called for it, and while this isn't the first time steve's used this, it's the first time the stakes were...actually there.

the bear swipes at him, and steve actually does block it - though whether or not that deters the bear or angers it more is hard to tell. thankfully, since steve is still face to face with the bear as he continues to walk backwards, he has a pretty great view of watching aloy just. launch herself through the air and land on the back of the creature.

which is really freaking cool. how is she always so cool?

she gets her arms around its thick neck, and the bear rears back, roaring out with anger and confusion and...well. a lot of anger. steve resets his feet to get ready to dive back in if things get bad, but he can't get too close - not with how those claws are being thrown around. but he's ready, and his decision is already made, if aloy needs help...

which is, as if on cue, when nero slides into the picture. it also means that he has a front row view of the wings as they flare out from nero's back, and all steve can really do is watch as the wings do their thing. it's wild, probably one of the most insane things steve has ever seen, and he's pretty sure he's not even breathing as the bear goes hurtling through the trees.

and just as soon as they flared, they're gone, and nero is checking in on both of them. steve's eyes are still wide, his face brightening. ]

Dude! What the hell was that? Those wings are sick- [ and then, because nero did ask a legitimate question, he sheaths his sword. ] I'm okay, Aloy? Are you? Is your arm getting better? Holy shit- Aloy, you were riding that thing for a sec there!