mechanicalmastermind: (Snerk)

[personal profile] mechanicalmastermind 2012-05-05 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
As per the usual, Dirk looked upon the coming game with caution. He didn't trust anything that came from any sort of large corporation, let alone one that constantly pit it's players against one another, but backing out wasn't an option here. It never was and there was no way that he was going to let Jake wander in to this mess without him right there to keep an eye on him. Of course, he just stood loosely, confident and relaxed to most untrained eyes.

"The fact that you can even say that must mean that I have not yet schooled you enough in the way of the Strider. Get ready to lose, English."
mechanicalmastermind: (Derse Dilemma)

[personal profile] mechanicalmastermind 2012-05-05 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Are those the things you tell yourself before you go to sleep at night? Maybe after this I'll rehash the conversation of how each thing that I make is a little bit of me. If you can handle it, that is." Dirk is entirely confident in his abilities to hold his own against Jake, but that didn't mean he was going to go in blind. He knew that Jake was strong which meant that this would be an actual scuffle and he was banking on it being at least a little distracting.

He ignored the gnawing feeling that something really wasn't right, that this place felt way too much like the colosseums of old. He stood straight, surveying the arena to look for places he could use for cover if need be, potential exits. Of course he didn't find any of the latter. That would be too simple. He was so close to Jake he could hear his erratic breathing. His own rush of adrenaline matched his friend's, but he wasn't sure if it was for the same reason.

The second the buzzer went off, Dirk was moving. He spun away, dodging a blast aimed at his foot and kicking up the dirt that Jake loosened. He didn't expect Jake to actually aim at his person and he was correct. He flipped his sword and dashed in, swinging with the blunt edge. It wouldn't cut, but it would certainly hurt and still had the very likely potential of breaking bone.
mechanicalmastermind: (You're really pissin me off)

[personal profile] mechanicalmastermind 2012-05-05 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
As long as the dirt's intended purpose was successful, Dirk could care less about how bad it tasted. He slipped into the cloud and silently moved across the ground. The difference between he and Jake was that he had stealth. Jake was far too gungho and aggressive in ways that left him wide open. While it was a fault, it was his unpredictability that also made him a threat.

He wasn't surprised when he felt the firm connection of his sword against flesh and he knew from many observed battles between Jake and his own programed AI that Jake was quick to recover, but he didn't expect that much speed. He barely flinched at the metal pressing against his flesh. When Jake spun, so did Dirk, moving with the motion of Jake's elbow rather than against it. He swung his sword backwards. It was an awkward angle so he knew it wouldn't be very effective but it might aid in giving him the space he needed to pull off a more effective maneuver against Jake's over-exuberant attacks.

It was as he spun that he finally got a good look at the audience. While this place wreaked of a ground that had soaked up many a man's blood, these people weren't reacting the way one would while watching a fight. That means that the two of them weren't delivering something that they wanted. Blood. They wanted blood. His eyes flicked from the crowd, to the clock that was ticking down, and back to Jake and his heart dropped clean into his stomach.

If there was ever a time where he wanted to be wrong in his entire life, now was that time. He tilted his torso in such a way to make an opening for Jake to attack. He wouldn't dodge this one. He needed to see how the crowd reacted and he hoped Jake would take the bait and see it as a mistake on his friend's part rather than a set up.
mechanicalmastermind: (Watching you)

[personal profile] mechanicalmastermind 2012-05-05 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
A gasp escaped him as Jake's fist connected with his bared torso. Had this been any other circumstance he would have given Jake the battle that he deserved, that he wanted, but he couldn't do it. Not this time. That didn't stop the pain from dancing along his ribs. He could feel bruise already forming under the skin. He deflected some of the force from the rest of the jabs, accepting the pain in hopes that it would save them somehow.

The silence of the crowd that followed each punch weighed on him heavier than any wound ever would. He let Jake knock his sword out of his hand, but made sure that it didn't get kicked too far away. He just might need it in the very near future. Between the pressure of Jake's punches against his chest and his weight against his abdomen it made it difficult to breathe. He snatched Jake's hand clean out of the air, fingers wrapping around his wrist in a vicegrip that would likely bruise, and tugged him down. His free hand found its way to Jake's throat and he strained the muscles in his hand to make it look like he was gripping tightly without actually doing so. Surely the crowd's reaction to what seemed like a choking grip would give him the answer he needed.

He used his body to guard their faces from the crowd, hands shielding from the ever-unchanging scrutiny of the crowd around them. They needed to do something and they needed to do something fast. He didn't want to think about what would happen if the clock hit zero. As soon as Jake was close enough to hear him, he whispered.

"I think I figured out what they want us to do to each other."
mechanicalmastermind: (Derse Dilemma)

[personal profile] mechanicalmastermind 2012-05-05 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
He saw the anger spark in Jake's eyes before the other even had the chance to speak. He wanted more than anything to be able to give Jake the fight he wanted and for the two of them to come out of this, hands clasped on each other's shoulder, tired, bruised, bleeding, but alive. That wouldn't happen. Not today and he was starting to get the sinking suspicion that Jake knew that.

A bruised rib he could deal with. A dislocated jaw was another story. He had to break his grip on Jake's neck to block the punch. His forearm took the brunt of the damage. Fuck. He was doing this on purpose. He couldn't bite back the growl that rumbled low in his chest. His fingers found that familiar hilt quickly, out of reflex, but he didn't use it to swing. Instead he pushed his forearm against Jake's chest and attempted to buck up his hips to throw Jake off.

"Are you fucking stupid or is this just how blind you normally are?" He spat. Maybe if he got Jake angry enough he would lose his cool, but that was a really big stretch.
mechanicalmastermind: (Snerk)

[personal profile] mechanicalmastermind 2012-05-05 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
He swore quietly under his breath. Stuck under Jake like this he was at a severe disadvantage. One thing he never considered himself to be was a quitter and this would not be any different. Despite how fast his brain calculated the options, the plans, the opportunities, he couldn't think of a way out of this that didn't involve one or both of them meeting a rather cruel demise.

He didn't bother blocking the punches. Instead he tried to return with quick jabs to the more sensitive areas on Jake's body. It was a lot more difficult to do with his sword in his clenched fist but one hand was all he really needed right now. He continued to use the arm with the sword in it to try and push Jake's chest back. It was the pistol whip that got him. Clean on the side of the head, his vision when bright and, for a moment, his limbs went weak. He tried to blink away the lights as pain split his skull.

He wasn't entirely sure how it happened, his flight reflex must have kicked in for the moment he was prone, but he felt his arm swing up in an attempt to connect the butt of his sword with Jake's skull. He pushed back to pull himself out from under Jake and stumbled to his feet, spitting the blood that had filled his mouth.

"Is that all you can really think about? It's really how you run isn't it? Fighting is all you ever think about." He scoffed and smirked through blood-stained teeth, "It's pathetic." It was now that he was grateful for his shades. He might have looked a little desperate otherwise. There were three minutes left to plan how to get Jake out of this. Himself was a second priority now.
mechanicalmastermind: (Derse Dilemma)

[personal profile] mechanicalmastermind 2012-05-05 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
So it really was blood these bastards wanted, wasn't it? He watched out of the corners of his eyes as the audience slowly moved forward, leaning towards the battle now. Some still looked terribly bored. He scoffed almost silently and moved his focus back to Jake. His head was pounding and his body ached. If he didn't act soon all of this would be over in a way that he didn't want it to end. His brain wouldn't stop hiccuping over both of them not making it out alive, but dammit he couldn't lose Jake.

He flicked his sword out and rolled his stiff shoulder. He gave Jake the moment to recover from the blood dripping from his mouth. Must've pierced his tongue with his teeth. He would heal, "What's that? Did I hit a sensitive nerve?" He started moving forward but his body forced him to stop at the barrage of bullets.

It would have been so simple to just step forward into them, but the only thing they really would have done would shatter through the bone in his shins and he would be stuck there, helpless. Something about Jake's tone struck him and he tried pushing forward despite the bullets.

"Jake don't you fucking do it!" He couldn't keep the tinge of panic from his voice.
mechanicalmastermind: (The end is nigh)

[personal profile] mechanicalmastermind 2012-05-05 05:57 am (UTC)(link)
He could hear his blood rushing in his ears again only this time it wasn't because of adrenaline. He had to get to Jake. This couldn't happen. This wasn't happening. He was not about to lose someone just because he couldn't think of a way out of a simple fucking death match. He shouldn't have hit him that hard. He should have stayed close because at least then he could have grabbed him, stopped him. Anything.

"Bullshit! Heroes don't blow their fucking brains out all over the fucking floor!" He didn't like how his voice cracked. He didn't like this place or how the people watching leaned forward in anticipation as they wondered who would brutally slaughter who. His grip tightened on his sword. If he did it first then-

No. Jake thought of that. He was smarter than he led on. He let the blade fall and finally just pushed himself through the lessened spray of bullets. By some miracle none actually pierced the skin, just skimmed by. It stung but it didn't matter. None of it mattered. It couldn't, not if Jake didn't make it through this. What worth was he if he couldn't save one of his own goddamn friends? How was he supposed to save a world if he couldn't save one person?

"No! Jake don-" His words were cut off by the final shot. He stumbled as he watched what should be inside his skull burst out and all over the ground. He scrambled to catch him, as if that would help. He couldn't breathe past the lump that formed in his throat. He pulled Jake's corpse into his arms and shook him.

"Jake! God no please...Jake." He knew it was no use but he couldn't help it. He wiped desperately at the blood and matter clumped at the bullet wound but nothing he did made it any better. Nothing he could do would change what just happened. He didn't realize how much he was shaking as he desperate searched for a pulse or how the tears had already started to spill down his dirt and blood encrusted cheeks.

"Jake." He croaked, blood covered hand smoothing his unruly hair back, "Jake." The sound from the audience washed over him like a stifling blanket as he held Jake to him, "You stupid, self-centered asshole." He didn't even hear the men coming to take the body, to remove him from the arena so they could start the next match, "Come back."

By the time the men got to him the fight had left him. He stood without much cause and retrieved his sword, but when the men made to take Jake he put the blade to their throats. The audience fell silent in anticipation, "Don't. Touch him." He slid in and knelt down, taking Jakes lifeless body in his arms. If anyone was going to give him a send off, it was him, not the bastards that orchestrated his demise. Of course, they would come later and take Jake by force, but not until Dirk had cleaned him up and prayed to every single god that ever existed that when they next saw each other again he wouldn't turn into some sobbing school girl and that Jake would be okay and maybe not even remember what happened.

Or that he wouldn't punch his fucking lights out.
mechanicalmastermind: (You connect and sew the tapestry)

[personal profile] mechanicalmastermind 2012-07-13 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
The week had been a long one, one with even less sleep than he usually had. It was a week spent researching and collecting information on the likelihood of Jake's resuscitation. Everyone reassured him that everyone came back here, that the moderators of this bloody game wouldn't let their precious pieces be done away with so easily, but as time passed he started to believe those words less and less.

Each day he would clean Jake's body, keep it as preserved as he possibly could, but nothing could stop the growing doubt in the back of his mind. The body would continue to decompose in his bedroom. It was a health hazard. He needed to dispose of it if it got any worse. A couple of times he almost did but he couldn't bring himself to do it. 'Just one more day' he would say to himself. That was three days ago. He couldn't bring himself to burn the only person whoever truly believed in him. If he were in that bed, would Jake do the same?

He tried not to think too much on such things and continued to take care of Jake as if he were still alive. Finally his body was starting to give way and he found himself dozing longer than intended. It wasn't until Jake's hand fell into his lap that Dirk sprung to alertness. His sword was half-way out of his sylladex when he realized what was happening. He mumbled a quick rhyme to put it back before putting Jake's glasses in his hand and sitting back down in the chair next to his own bed.