lavoragine | A Tale of Two Mechs (a.k.a still a better love story than Twilight)

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A Tale of Two Mechs (a.k.a still a better love story than Twilight)

[Never underestimate a woman's tenacity. Never forget a woman in the cusp of wrath.

Kallen is no stranger to such traits, not when she possesses them in spades, and she plans to give Slaine a hard reminder of two — come hell or high water. Or in this case, high air.

Yes, air.

Guren's bright pink wings extend outward as a ripple of energy spreads repeatedly and glows from its chest, and this alone would give the otherwise demonic-looking machine a majestic appearance — if it wasn't for the metallic right claw. Or if it wasn't for the fact that it's hovering in front of another robot, almost three times its height. Pure white with specks of gold and red. An almost uncanny resemblance to a certain Knightmare she once fought and hated. It's so large that its very alien-like face takes up the whole screen from Guren's cockpit.

Beads of sweat drip down Kallen's forehead as she glares at the monstrosity in front of her, the hold on Guren's joystick tightening up so much that her knuckles turn pale. She tried the Gefjun nets to disable it, but the Tharsis either dodged them or blasted them away — and even if it hadn't done those things, it was immune to them. Not a single trace of Sakuradite. It even shrugged off the radiative discs thrown its way.

What started out as a simple spar turned into something more when the Tharsis proved itself just as fast and versatile as Guren despite its bulky size — a trait that she initially scoffed at.

'There's no way that thing could keep up with my Guren!'

But she was wrong. Slaine proved her oh, so wrong.

But she can't lose to him. She won't lose to him. Even if he has the obvious advantage in height, even if his robot's specs might be better than hers (not that she'll admit this).]

Acknowledge me!

[Kallen screams out as Guren stretches out its right claw, a powerful blast of dark red energy bursting forth and dissolving the incoming volley of bullets. Pushing the joystick down, she maneuvers her robot into barrel rolling away the next set of attacks in mid-air, and soon two Slash Harkens pop out of its shoulder compartments and latch on to the Tharsis's chest.

Her face contorts into a twisted form of determination, and she grits her teeth, maximizing Guren's speed as it zig-zags its way towards the other robot, its energy-filled claw aiming for the head.]

Slaine Troyard!

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[It had taken Slaine a while to adjust frequencies, picking up the communication channel that Kallen's Knightmare operated with. Much of the time, it was an exercise in futility to even bother - without machines making direct contact pilots from opposing sides couldn't hear each other. That may have been just as well in light of the fact that there was nothing much to say between Versian and UFE forces.

When Kallen practically roars across the comms for the first time, he jolts at the ferocious energy of it. He has had rather animated opponents in the past, in some respects - Marylcian hadn't ever shut up about what a lowly piece of trash he was for being Terran. On the other hand, Inaho was a strange, emotionally void presence the one time they'd exchanged words...and they'd been on the same side then.

So hearing her fiery shouts booming throughout the Tharsis' cockpit is an entirely new experience for Slaine. In contrast, he remains the picture of serenity - even as she's taking him through his paces now.

When the Guren latches onto him and zips closer, he's quick to draw one of the blades housed in the Tharsis' shields, dislodging the cables before he banks sharply to flank her. Most of his actions have been defensive, and he's beginning to suspect that Kallen is misinterpreting his intentions in that.

He's quite aware that she's not using the full potential of her Knightmare, perhaps because it would overwhelm other machines she's come up against]

If I didn't think you a strong opponent, what would the value have been in asking for your time this afternoon?

[Kallen is at her most powerful when Guren's potential is at its maximum, a move that's reserved in the frontlines — but that's when she intends to utterly kill. She'd been able to dispatch and disfigure many Knightmares at ease in the past, thanks to her own quick reflexes and reaction time in combination with her machine's most dangerous weapon, the Radiant Wave Surger.

Hundreds, if not thousands, perished under the crimson red energy, its unbearably hot flare disintegrating the protective metal coating piece by piece until the pilot screamed in agony inside the cockpit, their body exploding along with their Knightmare.

To think that she asked Rakshata to install that weapon back into Guren, just for today's sparring in the bright blue skies, just in case. If she fought, she had to go limitless (to an extent; she can't kill him, after all...). She had to show Slaine just how powerful she could be, a force to be reckoned with despite the obvious differences in their robot's specs.

Even with his capability of dodging her fastest attacks, his reaction time never ceases to surprise her, and with the way he instantly pulls one of the blades from Tharsis' shields, dislodges the Slash Harkens, and — wait, did he just flank her? Kallen steels herself from the attack, feeling the sudden turbulence from where her body suddenly vibrates at the impact. Her breath hitches, and she grabs on to the edges of the dashboard to keep herself steady.

Slaine's voice can be heard through the thick quantities of static from the communications channel on Kallen's end — so calm and serene, the kind that's meant to soothe whoever listens to him. This would've worked if she's not so riled up, too distracted in proving herself.]

That's not what I mean!

[She quickly pulls out the MVS Fork Knife and slams the side of it against Tharsis' blade, thrusting Guren forward.]

If you fight someone, you have to feel passion all the way! That's what I'm trying to show you!

[He and Kallen are entirely different fighters in this regard; that much is quite clear to Slaine. She's a fierce presence in battle, fiery and as she said, passionate. A roaring flame sweeping through a battlefield, he can imagine -fueled by her feelings to burn bright. It's quite a sight to see, even in a sparring situation like the one they're in right now.

In contrast, Slaine doesn't operate that way. He once let his feelings override logic and reason and the results had been disastrous. Even now he feels no less deeply, but he tamps down firmly on these emotions as best he can in order to hide weaknesses and vulnerabilities. This was one of the most valuable lessons Count Saazbaum had taught him.

Should he show weakness, others would take advantage. If he did not remain collected, others would exploit the opening to their advantage. And so, forcefully, he keeps himself as serene as he can. Far from infallible, but if he did have any emotional outburst...he'd not let Kallen hear]

If I got swept up in emotion, I couldn't think objectively.

[He's quick to twist Tharsis' sword out of Guren's grip, slipping away in another attempt to counter. Given the difference in their technologies he avoids using artillery too heavily, concerned with any collateral damage he might do. The battlefields he's been accustomed to were in space, after all.

Here...he could cause considerable damage were he not careful]

[Kallen is no hardcore analyst, but even when trapped in her own web of tempestuous emotions, she knows a fighter when she sees one. How else will she get to acknowledge how a pilot operates if she doesn't fight them? An amateur can drive around a gargantuan robot like Tharsis, but it takes a specially skilled pilot to maneuver it around so gracefully, to work as two parts in one whole.

Slaine is that pilot, a man whose movements are far controlled and swift, whose presence is as serene as the quiet waves from the deep blue sea. His counters are powerful enough to flank Guren with just one movement — yet with enough restraint to not damage it. Not a single weakness to be exploited, he's good at protecting those, like an iron shield that always repairs itself, chinks in armor be damned. She already notes the lack of heavy artillery usage from his end, too.

He's the complete opposite of Kallen who pushes her fiery emotions to the forefront, her passion that transcends the battlefield and engulfs anyone who crosses her. She's like a raging firestorm, seeking to burn brightly and leave a dangerous trail in her wake... and Slaine is like a slowly ascending tsunami. Fire and water: a head to head combat.]

There's nothing wrong with letting yourself feel once in a while.

[Super curt with a rough edge to her tone. A quick intake of breath later, she pushes Guren to do a mid-air flip, narrowly avoiding Tharsis' counter, then attempts to parry by holding the fork knife vertically as she lunges forward.]

And there's a difference between what you feel and what you show, wouldn't you say?

[It's an automatic reply from Slaine, one that breezes past his lips with nary a thought. He's far from unfeeling - his emotions run strong and deep, and had in the past overwhelmed. In those times, he'd failed to achieve what he set out to do. And since then he's learned just how easily they can work against him.

He still feels those emotions, but he does keep a tight grip on them as best he can. They're not something he can fuel himself with in the same way that Kallen does - he's sure that it won't work the same way.

This time, he doesn't attempt to dodge, instead bringing up one of the Tharsis' hulking shields to defend from the impact. If he assumes a predictable pattern it'll be easy for her to pick up on it and subvert it, no matter how swift his actions are. While he can predict attacks, that doesn't mean he can rely solely on it.

And so he doesn't]

[The quick response takes Kallen aback, to the point where she almost misses the heavy clanking sounds of metal against each other, thanks to her fork knife clashing with one of Tharsis' shields. She grits her teeth at the impact, pushing the controls so Guren moves back and swerves to the side.]

You're really getting on my nerves now, you know that?

[Not that she disagrees with Slaine. There will always be people who manage to separate how they feel and what they show; Kallen can do that when she's acting a part, but she has to admit, her opponent has a better handle of it than she does. How else can Slaine remain so calm even during a spar? She's too used to battling with her own emotions on haywire, and against enemies who are equally as intense as she is.

Kallen may possess the most dangerous weapon known in her robot's arsenal, but even if it touches Tharsis, only part of the area will be affected thanks to its sheer size. She may be reckless at times, but she's no fool. Someone like her can't afford to be predictable or rely on that weapon so much, no matter how versatile she may be.

And so, she puts the knife away and moves Guren's hands to grab on to the side of Tharsis' shield, climbing up on it.]

[Slaine should respond to what she has to say - he's certainly not trying to vex her. Remaining calm is simply how he's adapted to his circumstances and covered a weakness that was once glaring. He'd lost too much to his emotions in the past, and he couldn't afford to do so again.

Even if this was simply a spar between friends who both happened to be capable pilots.

But he's rather effectively distracted by the sight of Guren climbing on Tharsis' shield. He huffs out a soft breath that's surely inaudible on her end, if only because it would be terribly rude to laugh... It's just that the size difference between their machines seems so much more apparent when her Knightmare is clambering up part of his Kataphrakt like that]

Kallen...what are you doing?

[There's no masking the quizzical tone of his voice]

[It doesn't take long for Guren to reach the top of Tharsis' shield, a small human-like hand and a massive skeletal claw gripping the edges, and its head slowly emerges from its spot, looming with its blue eyes glowing menacingly. This would make for a frightening image if it were hovering above the wreckage that Kallen caused, or if she's about to crush the pilot deep within their cockpit.

But it just looks comical instead. A ninth-generation Knightmare, powerful as it may be, looks so tiny compared to Tharsis.

Kallen doesn't answer Slaine, not right away at least, when she suddenly launches the Slash Harkens and aims the sharp tips at the very top of Tharsis' arm. It all takes a quick movement of the controls to stretch out the Energy Wings, vibrant pink and glowing radiantly, before the Landspinners pop out from the ankles soon afterwards. She maneuvers Guren to leap forward and land on the arm, using the wings and cables to propel it up.

Congratulations Slaine, you now have a robot wheeling up another robot's arm.]

I'm trying to reach you!

[As much as Slaine doesn't want to give the wrong impression, as he stares wide-eyed at his monitors... A helpless, airy little laugh escapes him before he can quite stop himself. While he understands that Kallen is a formidable opponent and that her Knightmare is a powerful machine, the image of her practically scaling the Tharsis is just a little too silly...

He's never really seen anything quite like it]

I- sorry, I just-

[Give him a moment to compose himself and clarify]

You're climbing my Kataphrakt.

[If they were true enemies, naturally he wouldn't have found it funny at all. But he trusts Kallen, and he knows that she hasn't any intention of doing him real harm or any designs on his life. In fact she's often been the one to insist that he must live - even if he seemed to him there was nothing to live for]

Though I must say... Your Guren is rather nimble, like yourself.

[That being said, he...actually catches her Knightmare with Tharsis' free hand, at least as best he might without risking wrenching a joint]

[Kallen is about to reach for the highest part of Tharsis' arm, the wheels skidding along the metallic surface as she manages to keep Guren moving steady despite the wind's altitude... then she suddenly hears a laugh from the communications channel, catching her off-guard.

Naturally she's quick to assume that he's laughing at her expense. And so, her mouth immediately parts to let out a retort — how dare he mock her! — only she clamps it shut once she hears his words.]

Look, I'm trying to show you what I can do! It's not my fault that your machine is huge! [...] But I'm glad you noticed. Isn't Guren great?

[Though this is becoming less of a spar and more of a test to prove Guren's worth to Slaine — to prove herself what she can truly do. She's never had an opponent like him before, someone who's both kind and frustrating at once, and he's given her plenty of headaches to last a long time. Most of her opponents only care about their lives — not Slaine. He doesn't seem to value his own, which always baffles her.

Her thoughts are interrupted when she glances wide-eyed at her monitors, just in time to see Tharsis' hand catch her Knightmare, effectively stopping her right in her tracks. She lets out a heavy gasp, feeling the slight trembling from her cockpit. At least all of Guren's joints are intact, but now she can't move.]

H-Hey! What are you doing?!

I thought I'd get a better look, if you wouldn't mind.

[It's the only explanation he offers, careful in moving her Guren from the arm of his Tharsis. He uses the other hand of his Kataphrakt to support the Knightmare's weight once he can, trying not to jostle her machine too much in the process.

After all he wouldn't want to cause some accidental damage to Kallen's Knightmare just because Tharsis happens to be larger. She obviously cares a great deal about the machine she pilots, and they're a working unit in battle - that much he can see for himself with ease. Damaging it would be hurting her, in a way.

And he certainly doesn't want that]

The design's unique among Knightmares, isn't it?

[She'd answer him right away, but don't mind her as her body tenses up reflexively at the sudden tremors, and it doesn't take long for Kallen at all to let out a surprised yelp from her lips, embarrassingly high-pitched.

Oh, no, Slaine can actually hear that...

An expression of horror settles across her face once she feels her Knightmare being jostled around, her gaze riveted upon the stress signals coming from the monitors. Had she been facing an actual enemy, she would've been outraged, thinking that they were trying to crush her and her machine apart. But not Slaine, he's not like that. In fact, he has enough control of his robot that his hold is otherwise, well... gentle.

That doesn't stop her from muttering curses under her breath, though. He freaked her out!]

I-Idiot! Watch where you're touching!

[She stammers, taking a moment to slide the Slash Harkens and Landspinners back inside Guren. Its wings, however, remain glowing.]

It's a ninth-generation prototype. You'll never see anything like this.

[The Tharsis stills entirely, his hands hovering over the controls as he peers at monitors. It doesn't appear that he's caused any damage to her machine, which naturally is high on his list of concerns. Sparring with her didn't mean that he needed to do any real harm, and he certainly doesn't intend to.

Her reaction made him think he may have, but when she puts the weapons away, he surmises that isn't the case. That much is a relief - he knows how much Guren means to Kallen, and functionally they're parts of a whole on the battlefield.

Still, he'll ask anyway]

I didn't cause any damage just now...did I?

[The Tharsis is significantly larger, and because of that, he has to be careful. Guren's a weapon just the same but a difference in size can be problematic where damage is to be avoided]

[Slaine is lucky that his hold on Guren is gentle and that he didn't leave behind any scrapes, much less other sorts of damages. Kallen would be livid otherwise, to say the least.

She releases a sigh of relief out of her lips, wiping some sweat drops off her brow as her eyes scan the monitors to check for any internal damages. There are none to be found, much to her gratitude.]

No, I just checked Guren's stats from in here. They're all stable.

[Tharsis looks massive and imposing; from sparring with its pilot, that machine is also powerful in its own right, not just because of its specs. Kallen may be confident in her skills at piloting her Knightmare, but if this were a real no-holds-barred battle, no matter how much she thinks she can't lose to Slaine... she would lose.

Now with a cool head, her expression turns wistful, herself silent, gaze lingering upon the giant Kataphrakt whose face takes up her whole screen. How funny that Slaine is holding her machine between a pair of giant hands. Well, less funny and more awkward. She isn't sure how to feel about this.]

You're not too bad... I guess.

[Reluctant admittance that comes out as grumbles from Kallen.]

That's a relief.

[And for all his apparent calm, his tone reinforces the words. He doesn't want to cause any damage to Guren. Kallen is so connected to her Knightmare that it's practically an extension of herself, and he wouldn't wish to ever cause her any harm either.

For something so important to her... It's necessary to show the utmost care.

He looks over her machine quietly for several moments, keeping Tharsis quite still but for the slight bob of remaining in place while airborne. Knightmares are certainly of a different build, though they're not wholly dissimilar when compared with Kataphrakts.

Surely the specifications would be very different, but the ingenuity behind the design isn't lost on him without knowing that much.

Hearing her second comment, he smiles faintly]

You're a formidable opponent, just as I'd thought. [And after a moment to reflect] There's rather an elegance about your Guren's design, now that I've got a chance to really look.

[Aside from the slightest turbulence, Kallen otherwise feels rather light in Guren's cockpit despite the firm hold on her controls. She can't recall any other time where her Knightmare is held so carefully in between a large pair of robotic hands, much less while airborne, and yet she feels... safe. And reassured.

Her breath suddenly hitches in surprise at Slaine's words, such awe in her expression, and it's like he coiled a rope around her heart and tugged it against her chest, over and over.

He acknowledged her — Kallen Kouzuki, former ace of the Black Knights — at last. It's what she always wanted, those two words straight out of his mouth: formidable opponent.]

Slaine...

[Suddenly Kallen is grateful that Slaine can't see the smile tugging at her lips, gratitude enveloping her completely...

Or the faintest blush on her cheeks as she looks at the monitors with a sheepish expression. Really, he just called her pride and joy elegant. No opponent has ever recognized her machine with such esteem as he does.]

Do you really think so? [Slowly, she rests a hand against the screen, covering part of Tharsis's face.] I was hoping you'd notice how it moves.

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A Tale of Two Mechs (a.k.a still a better love story than Twilight)

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