daybreakacademy | hollow plots and zombens

[To say the least of things, this has been one of Gongenzaka's worst months at Daybreak so far. The classes have been fine- mostly at least, as he's certain his distracted state will have caused his recent exams to suffer. But whether he feels he deserves it or not, the staff do have a system in place to make up for it.

After all, there are Other lycans on the campus.

Gongenzaka- a bear for the moment, dressed as he is- sighs as he walks, geta crunching against the snow. So much has happened, and recently, to bring nothing but dark memories to the surface. Guilt...pain... He tries not to dwell, to focus, but it is hard.

And yet...he pauses, sniffing the air. It feels as though someone is there. Perhaps near..?

He stops. And turns...not yet making out the marks.] Ah... bonsoir? [He begins, starting with french.]

...Sir? ...Are you...alright?

[ The man stops when Gon does. He doesn't seem to react when the bear, y'know, starts talking, which is probably Gon's first indication that something is up. A faculty member? Not one he's seen on campus though, nor one that's popped up recently or something.

There is something familiar in his face though. The Parkers have a look to them, and Ben shares some physical similarities with his nephew. Same eyes, similar face structures. He sort of cocks his head to one side, confused? ]

"I don't speak any french. Sorry."

[ He approaches, his expression friendly. It's dark, though, and he's passed under a tree that blocks the moonlight from illuminating his neck properly. ]

[So strange- and so...familiar? Gongenzaka's ears pin back even just from the lack of reaction- but he tries not to get anxious. After all...it's a supernatural school...so...] Auh...

My apologies, then...! [he begins, switching to English.] ...I will use, English, then...please, forgive my accent, however..! It is...not my best, language...

But, sir...I must ask, are you...alright? [He tilts his head, blinking slowly. Something...somethinf doesn't seem quite right about this man's neck. He can't quite see it but...] There are...not many, who are out, at this hour...

[...Here anyway...]

[ He takes another step forward, through the shadow of the trees. A sliver of moonlight cuts across his form, traveling up his faded jeans, the worn brown jacket. Until it rests at his neck, illuminating the array of silver lines splitting him from ear to clavicle. Claw marks. Teeth marks. Lycan marks, unmistakable. If Gon has an eye for such things, he might recognize them as wolf-lycan marks in particular. ]

"Glad you asked, kid. Because I really need to find my nephew. Do you know where he is?"

[Even if he didn't have an eye for it, such injuries were absolutely covered in his Lycanthropy class. The bear's eyes widen- and his heart feels as if it's plummeted in his chest.

The man looks familiar. And the man...he must certainly be a ghost, right?] Your...nephew?

[Peter had an uncle.]

A...auh...

[Gongenzaka takes a step back. ...or at least tries, but finds somehow that he can't will his feet to move.]

And...w...who would that be? ...ah...

[...Peter never did say how his uncle died.]

...Why...rather...

[....It never is a good sign, when the dead rise.]

[ There's no way he survived a wound as grave as that. Surely he'd be in two pieces as a result; the bite mark is particularly deep, looking very odd against Ben's otherwise human features. And the more Gon looks at the man, the more that mark seems to deepen? It's a strange trick of a light that makes the red marks at his throat nearly seem to split him open again. ]

"Why not?"

[ His voice is quiet, easy going. Just a quiet conversation, kiddo, what's the problem here? ]

"You're friends with him, aren't you? I can just feel it. 'course I'm disappointed too, but."

[The bear swallows.] I am...

...I, am merely cautious...why? ...what do you wish to do, when you see him..? You..

[...He suspects saying this aloud will make it worse.

...He says it all the same.] ...You are...dead, are you not....?

[ Oh yeah. That was a bad idea Gon. A really, really bad idea. The man laughs - and as he does so, it's clear that the noise isn't coming from his mouth. Rather that gash bisecting his neck is opening up, splitting him back to reveal a gaping maw ringed with uneven, lupine fangs. ]

"Good job. You figured it out."

[ The grin widens. And Ben sort of rises in place, longer limbs clawing their way out of his body and lifting him away from the ground on stilted legs. Spidery legs, completely at odds with the other lupine parts. It's still recognizably Ben, but. So much more. So much worse. ]

"You'd know, eh kiddo? The kind of damage you and your people cause."

Edited 2019-01-27 04:42 (UTC)

[Bad idea indeed. Now Gongenzaka begins to step back, the hollow rising as his voice catches in his throat. And part of him wants to agree with those words. In fact-] ...Auh...

[He does. But with a swallow, he slides his geta off. Lowering down just slightly...slowly reaching to pick those geta up...] You are...correct. My kind..born, and otherwise...we cause, so much pain...however...

[A growl builds in his throat.] ...You...You have come to do so deliberately...have you not..?

[He wields his geta like weapons upon his hands. His paws, really. And Gongenzaka looks up at the hollow with wide eyes.] ...And I...

I SHALL NOT ALLOW HARM TO BEFALL MY FRIENDS..!

"Tough kid. I'll give you that much."

[ The Hollow's mouth stretches further into a horrible grin. It looms still upward, more of its body expanding from god knows where, until Ben's form is relatively small compared to this giant spider-wolf monstrosity. It looms over Gon for a moment. ]

"Might wanna worry about yourself first. Killing a lycan is going to feel great."

[ And with that, the thing lunges at Gon bodily, one taloned leg slashing at Gon's chest. ]

[Oh delightful. Anglerwolfspider. This is great. Just perfect.

But Gongenzaka braces himself, and does not run- instead he shifts into a steadier stance, thrusting his hands forward with the aim of blocking that leg with the steel geta.] MNH-!

[This is going to be worse than sparring with his teacher in a lycan state, he suspects.] If those are your thoughts...then you are not, the man Peter spoke to me about..!

[ Anglerwolfspider is the BEST, you are just being rude Gon.

The leg stops, momentarily halted by Gon's block. It sort of wobbles a bit, rebalancing itself? And then it lashes out with a different leg, trying to come at Gon sort of from another angle. Meanwhile, its body looms closer, that maw toothy and wet. ]

"People change." [ Its voice is a roiling hiss now. ] "Dying changes you. Just ask him."

[ And why ask Peter? Well - because he's been following his spider-senses around tonight, trying to find his uncle in turn - and here he is. A ways off, but close enough to shout. ]

Gon!

That...Is not how it works! [He stubbornly protests, doing rather admirably at blocking one or two legs at least, even if it threatens to push him back and down into the ground.

And brings that body uncomfortably close, for that matter.

His ears perk, and Gongenzaka is successfully distracted, eyes momentarily flying back to where he heard the shout.] Peter?! AUCK-

[RIGHT YES SPIDER LEGS, TRYING NOT TO BE SLASHED OPEN LIKE A TEDDY,]

[ It's real close. That's where the Hollow wants to be, after all; the legs are less about slashing (although they will do that too, mind yourself there Gon) and more about forcing Gon closer to that big ol' horror mouth currently attempting to eat itself a teddy graham.

Meanwhile, Peter is running towards him, wrists already out, slinging a web at the nearby tree to propel himself closer. ]

Hang on! I'm coming!

[ He's fast, but not that fast. Gon needs to do something big to keep a chunk from getting bitten out of him. ]

[~~Gross~~

Yet for some reason, despite the terror, Gongenzaka seems if anything to abruptly appear more calm.] PETER!

I DO NOT THINK, YOU WISH TO SEE, WHAT THIS IS..! [He shouts back- but his focus, for now, is back on the spider. A number of them are now closer- and now Gongenzaka stops blocking. He can't quite dodge around or away, but the geta act somewhat like a grip as he abruptly moves to grab as many as he can. The hollow is moving forward-

He'll use that to flip it.] HHHHHRRRAAAAUUUUUUUOOO-!

[A motion that takes less than a few seconds.

EAT SNOW.]

[ Holy shit. Peter skids to a halt, his jaw dropping. Did Gon just aikido throw a Hollow? He's pretty sure Gon just aikido threw a Hollow. If this thing weren't also Peter's uncle, then this might also be the coolest thing in his life.

The monster goes down in a mess of limbs and claws. It's not out, no, but the impact of a bear slamming it into the ground with the force of its own weight is enough to stun even it for a moment. It scrabbles fruitlessly for a moment, its claws not finding enough purchase to get back up right away. ]

You - did that really just happen? Are you okay?

[ Pete's gonna run up to Gon first. As much as he loves his monster uncle, he's pretty sure Zomben is gonna be back up in a minute or two. ]

Hauhh...hauhh...hauhh... [Gongenzaka may have succeeded in the throw, but he pretty much sinks to one knee not long after, clearly strained by the motion. He might be able to lift three times his weight, and a bit more- but that's also typically a limit, and this wasn't far from it.]

Th- This is not, the time....hah...for talking, [Gongenzaka insists, shaking himself as the spider tries to get up.] Peter- that creature, it is wearing...the skin, of another, [He manages, looking rightfully terrified.] It is hoping, to kill you, and we need to go!

[Alright so maybe kill is just an assumption. But hey, it's a fair one.]

[ That thing probably weighed a literal ton too, so. Peter kneels next to him for a moment, trying to help him get up. He's not above just carrying the bear but. This would be much easier if Gon is okay enough to run. ]

I - I know. I know he is.

[ He looks so incredibly tired. This isn't his first encounter with Ben this week and he already hates his life. ]

He's probably going to try to kill you too. I --

[ He's going to save a lycan from Ben, isn't he? God. This is sort of the worst? Except not, because Gon is his friend, but the irony is just staggering. Thanks, he hates it. ]

You're right, man. We have to go.

[Just needs a second to get his breath Peter- don't worry, you won't have to carry a bear.

But Gongenzaka does snap his head toward the other, ears drooping.] I... ...You know? [He repeats- but this isn't the time for talking, and he said it already.

So he shakes himself again, and stands.] I... ...we must speak, later, but please know, you have...my condolences, [He manages, glancing to see if 'Ben' is about up.]

But for now, I believe, the safest option, may be, a ruse, with this one..! So, let us run-!

[ LOOK. Look. he'll take condolences later but right now he would very much not to watch his friend die. The monster is scrambling back onto its feet now, spitting out a mouthful of snow. ]

Right! Okay! I'm open to ideas!

[ For now, though, let's get the hell out of here. He'll grab the bear if he has to but he suspects Gon can make better time than him on the ground. ]

[They're honestly a pair of idiots trying to help the other to run. Look after your own selves, boys!

Ideas though-] It is, as best we can see, a spider, yes?

A spider...it cannot swim, very well, yes? [He insists as they run.]

...Therefore, we could trap him, within the pond, on the grounds!

[They just have to somehow outpace a spider to get there. And THEN trick it.

That or head for the mountains and pull a Mulan, look he's spitballing here.]

[ That might work? And it's arguably less fatal than just trying to punch Zomben to death, which Peter is not a fan of. Maybe if they freeze it - maybe if they can slow it down, then Peter can at least talk to his uncle?

It's worth trying. Also he doesn't have any better ideas. ]

Y-yeah, okay. I think I know where you're going with this.

[ He even knows where a pond is, so - come on, they need to start running this way. Meanwhile, the Hollow is definitely gunning for them now - they'd better move fast if they want to make it to the pond before it catches up. ]

Hmn! [Yes, Zomben is...definitely going to catch up...And they'll need a plan....] Auh...Peter, how fast, exactly, can you run? [He asks, fumbling a bit with his sash as they go. He seems to be trying to...tie the geta to his back??]

Like - normal people speed?

[ Maybe a little faster?? Look, he's built for speed in the air not speed on the ground. And this thing behind them is clearly way faster than a normal human. Or a spider human. ]

Then, if I may ask...

[He immediately stops so he can tie these dang geta, but from there lowers to all fours.] ...I, am far faster, this way- so if it is acceptable, I must offer, a ride!

[...

So this is happening.]

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