Checkmate.

First, break their legs. Second, break their armor. And third, pierce their flesh. Indie Platinum/Arknights

[kazimehz]

Kazimehz  — private & selective indie blog for Platinum from Arknights.

Rules  — Please read my guidelines before following or sending questions. 

CW     — This blog features some violent themes due to the source material & Platinum                 being an assassin. People may die a lot around here.

Bio      — Some info on Platinum. WIP for now.

[thatsbelievable]

[dcviated]

setting prompts :: open

send one for our muses to meet in a unique scenario~

@kazimehz sent: 20) an overgrown garden in a heatwave for that meme! send your worst, no one will notice a fresh grave in that setting ;'D

For the first week or so it had been a joke. Zephyr, the wind-flitting Liberi taking a spiritual sabbatical from Rhodes Island to escape untoward attention. Teasing is one thing, but the trail of disaster that had dogged him in the prelude was anything but that. So. The philandering man sought a measure of pace.

And here he was. Is? Might be for longer. 'Here' being rural plains far from any semblance of society or a corner store. Thus living off ... well, this is where one would say 'the land' but really its the generosity of the rancher mercifully employing him. Not quite the perfect naturalist yet.

"I'd like to think I'm getting better at it~!" The assassin remarks to a particularly slow fluffybeast. It responds with a baa, then continues toddling into the barn with its brethren. "Oy! Where's your fucking faith?! Some support?! Psh, another month and I bet I can do it by myself. You're gonna feel so stupid ... tag number ... UB-546." To be expected the conversation was going nowhere.

And neither was the fucking sun. Or the labor to be done. The heat-baked metal latch nearly burns his arm when closing the gate. You'd think, being a bird of the north (not willingly) that the caress of a hot sun would be welcome. But this is ridiculous. Not to mention he still had the grounds outside the barn to take care of. Grown over with ivy and other untended greenery.

The shelter and shade of the barn could not be his companion just yet. With a reluctant sigh (if he doesn't finish this he probably won't get fed) he grabs a machete from the supply closet and then, in a flourish of wind, warps over to where his task awaited him. Earbuds? On. Music? Start. Heat? Unrelenting. Plants? So fucking many.

Lets get this bread.

...the work progresses unremarkably for about an hour. It happens (or he realizes it happens) halfway through taking off his shirt to quell some of the scathing heat. Arms are just about to crest his shoulders with the messy article when he notices her out of the corner of his eye. Standing there. Staring impatiently at him.

Her.

...her?!

FEMALE SPOTTED.

Had Rhodes found him? Zephyr instinctively yanks his shirt down, the fear of what may have been triggered by that exhibition almost sending him into a panic. But. Who the fuck was this?!

"...hi. Uh." Zephyr wipes his brow of sweat after slipping down the earbuds, and, yes. She's still there. Still real. Looks frustrated. Which if you can believe it is a welcome emotion compared to others before. "Sorry bout that. Can I... help you? Lost or something? Not looking to steal fluffybeasts or anything, right?" He cranes his neck to peer around her, in the off chance there were others. Or something else that might give hint into why this woman had arrived.

And there was. In the distance down by the rough worn road that cuts through these pastures, he spots a vehicle. And. Through the haze of hot summer sun he can make out with his sharp Liberi eyes that there was even more nastiness wafting from the hood. Hm.

"Oh. Maybe I can guess."

[kazimehz]

“Wow, you’re a real smart one, huh?” comes the dry response, followed by a barely audible “ugh, fuck my life” muttered into the stale hot air. Of course, Platinum knows this guy, at least on the surface level she knows of all operators with combat abilities. His file hadn’t looked like one requiring deeper investigation—an oversight she gets to regret now. It’s never good to request help from a person one knows so little about. Tragically, she doesn’t have much of a choice right now.

“First, I’d like some bleach to purge that sight from my eyes.” Better to establish her general dislike right away, lest he get any dumb ideas about her. He should get the right ideas instead.

“Second, what the hell is a Rhodes Island operator doing in a place like this, herding fluffybeasts? Did you get kicked out and got stuck living the simple life instead? Must’ve been for sexual harassment, though I don’t remember the file mentioning anything like that…Pretty pathetic either way.”

For a moment, Platinum wonders if this would be her life now, too. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, with no means of escape and only burdenbeasts and other burdens for company. The corner of her mouth twitches with distaste. She’ll never catch up with Darksteel at this rate.

“Whatever. As you can see, I’ve run into some trouble. Do you know anything about fixing that thing?” She lifts a hand to point somewhere behind her back, looking about as motivated as a fluffybeast staring at a grassless field. “It’s not really my kinda thing.” Plus, it would mess up her outfit, which would be a bother. Better to let this guy get his hands dirty instead.

[touchyoudown]

Platinum seemed to be taking this a lot more seriously than Travis had anticipated. Her gaze was fierce by the end of his explanations ; he wondered if he had insulted her in any way without meaning to.... again. Well, he wasn't going to say a word this time. He learned his lesson by now. Though it seemed Platinum had an obsession with achieving boss status. Her appearance must've been entirely important to her. Travis could understand that, from a fashion perspective. He, too, wanted to look sick and picked clothes so that he would stand out from the rest. No basicness here.

He considered her questions for a moment, then nodded sagely, humming slightly in thought.   ❛ Well, having an ultra powerful weapon is one part of it, you also have to master it. Sure, some bosses don't, but then they end up looking lame as hell and it leaves an opening for a counterattack. You don't want to end up in that position. I'm no archer like I mentioned before, but I can find you a master and make sure you're prepared ! Just imagine it... you'll be all the rage when you go back home. New weapon, new you ! ❜ Perhaps, that was being a bit dramatic, but that was how Travis rolled.

He grinned at her, suddenly looking excited, bouncing in place on the floor. ❛ This is gonna be so fucking cool, dude. Like, what if the weapon has some crazy ass abilities, too ? It's very possible. Like, uh, firing a thousand arrows at once or some shit. There's some really high tech weaponry in these parts. I mean you've seen my beam katana, and this is just a basic model. I need way more cash before I can afford any others. ❜ Looks like Travis was quite interested in weapons.

[kazimehz]

Confronted with such enthusiasm, Platinum could only take another sip of her soda to escape getting blinded. Either Travis loved weapons just that much, or he was genuinely excited about getting her a new one. And as useful as the latter option would be, it could come with its own set of problems, and various strings attached. But what choice did she have?

“Right,” she replied tonelessly, a stark contrast to Travis’ conduct. “I don’t need to be all the rage—” Though the urge to call him an idiot remained strong, she swallowed the insults for the time being. “—I just need to be strong enough to take down a tower. I don’t give a damn about the rest. If it means earning more cash and finding a new master…”

Another teacher, another mentor. And certainly another burden for her to carry, as if the images of the past weren’t drowning her mind enough already. Images proving more than anything that mere skill with a weapon wouldn’t be enough to keep her alive. She’d need more than that.

The soda can crumpled in her clenched fist, the sound tearing through Platinum’s ruminations. Good thing she’d already finished the drink, or there might’ve been one more liquid spilled in Travis’ already questionable apartment.

“I’ll do it.” Whatever it was she last said, this would have to suffice as a conclusion. “And one more thing. Would you…” Actually, this was a bad idea, but how else would Platinum uncover his other secrets? There were weapons, sure, but those didn’t explain Travis’ inhuman survival capabilities. “…help me train? I mean, sure, melee and range don’t match, but… Whatever. It’s a dumb idea, just forget it.”

[touchyoudown]

          Travis could practically see all the negative thoughts swirling around in Platinum's brain as she investigated her surroundings. After all, this wasn't the first time he had experienced such a bad reaction from the motel room he called home. He should've been passed feeling angered by people's reactions of it, and he was for the most part, but irritation still lingered. After all, everything in his place was brought here by choice. His figurines were expensive and rare. The wrestling masks were unique and it took him forever to collect all those trading cards. You get the point. Needless to say, those were his passions and it hurt when people disrespected them so openly. To each their own and all that, but one could be respectful about it too.

          ❛ You can sit on the armchair, I'll take the floor. ❜ And to make that point, he seated himself in front of the TV, facing the armchair.

          At the comment about his relationship status, Travis huffed, folding his arms across his chest with defiance. ❛ Hey, I used to have a girlfriend, thank you very much. ❜ There would be no mention that it was all a lie and that his ex-girlfriend was actually his half-sister...

          He nodded at Platinum's question. ❛ So, think of this like a video game, yeah ? The goons are all gonna look basic as hell. Like, around here, they'll be dressed in suits, most likely, or dress shirts and slacks, whatever and they're all gonna look the same, too, I'm talking about same clothes, facial features, curse words they scream at you, their catch phrases, all that. Like the devs ain't gonna waste their time and resources by making them look unique. Now, their leaders on the other hand, their bosses, they're gonna look EXTRA. Flashy outfits, unique dialogue, names, etc. It's pretty obvious and easy once you know the formula. ❜ Travis sounded so sure of himself.

          ❛ Plus, the bosses are also at the end of the level, in the farthest room from the entrance, and the goons are gonna be everywhere else. Also, if we're talking about weapons, usually goons have basic ones like guns, bats, katanas, things like that, while bosses will have something big and powerful like a crazy strong staff or somethin' and unique abilities, too. You still with me ? ❜

[kazimehz]

Fine, armchair it was, though Platinum eyed it with some apprehension. She took a sip of her soda to cope with the mental images of what exactly Travis might normally do in this armchair and seated herself uncomfortably at the very edge of it. Better safe than sorry.

Sorry, though, she was anyway, because Travis’s explanation was both nonsensical and unsettling at once. She nodded to confirm she was listening, but Platinum’s brows furrowed deeply as she took another trip to dissociation-land, kicking his words around in her mind where they caught on too many corners.

The goons look basic as hell. Right. Just like the Armorless Union uniforms Platinum’s squad used to wear. Though they all were individuals, and though Platinum had known all their names by heart, it didn’t matter. To the higher-ups, they were all disposable pawns—just as she would’ve sacrificed them all if need be. If one of them mysteriously disappeared without a trace overnight, no one batted an eye, and no one asked questions. Like it didn’t matter at all if they lived or died.

And Platinum had been barely above them. To those at the top, there’d been no difference between them at all.

“Hah, my life really is a joke then. Even in this place…I don’t look like much of a boss then, do I? I’m not strong enough to be one, either. This sucks,” she commented with a wry smile immediately drowned in another sip of soda. Platinum recovered quickly though, and fixed Travis in an intense gaze hinting at a fierce resolve more serious than their current conversation warranted.

“That new weapon we talked about—will it get me to that boss-level of strength?” She realised a moment too late what a stupid question that was. “If… this were a game I mean.”

[touchyoudown]

@kazimehz moved from here:

          Travis made a mental note to purchase some juice for Platinum at a later date. Purely, to get on her good side, naturally. Their relationship was strained, to put it in nicer terms, and if he could do anything, albeit small, to make a difference, he would. At the sound of knocking, Travis headed over to open the door for her, beverage in hand. Her forgetfulness took him a bit by surprise, a brow rising at her as he handed over the can of soda.

          ❛ Well, we were gonna go take down those assholes, weren't we ? Storm their base and shit ? I changed out my beam katana for a stronger one since it's probably gonna be a shit show if we take the battle to them. You... okay ?    Maybe we should call it a day instead like originally planned ? ❜ He personally didn't care either way and if Platinum wasn't at her best right now it would only put them both at risk. Even though Travis was nearly always reckless it didn't mean he enjoyed getting mauled, hurled, or brought to the brink of death every time.

          He stepped aside, gesturing for Platinum to come in, if she wanted to. ❛ We can always chill in here for a little while, if you'd prefer. Maybe go over our plan, if we even have one. I don't, before you ask. ❜

[kazimehz]

Right, that. Except—well, that was basically having no plan at all. Again. Still, Platinum entered, taking an experimental sip from the soda Travis had handed her, quietly wondering how many calories a single drop of the stuff contained.

Looking up though, Platinum halted, her eyes narrowing as she took in the freshly revealed surroundings. Whatever she had expected to find in Travis’ place, this was worse. Posters, model figures, questionable movies…all in the same aesthetic as that stuff from Higashi, most of the girls depicted looking suspiciously young and underdressed. Weird masks lined the top of the walls, while instruments and various other objects hinted at too many hobbies to count. More than anything, Platinum’s gaze caught on the tissue pack conspicuously placed near to the armchair in front of the TV.

“Chill…in here…” Platinum tonelessly repeated his words as if they suddenly had lost all meaning. “Here.—Really?” She recovered quickly enough, sounding quite chilled indeed. “So, where exactly do you expect me to sit down when there’s barely one chair? On your lap?” It wasn’t a suggestion that needed confirmation. In fact, it very much needed the opposite of that.

“No wonder you’re single,” she concluded and sighed deeply, trying to drown any images bubbling up in her mind with another sip of soda. And she’d remain right there, close to the exit. “Anyway, we do need a plan. Well, maybe you don’t, but I’m lacking some crucial pieces of information, and I’d rather not head towards certain death. So…”

Briefly distracted by the cheerful faces of half-naked anime girls surrounding them, Platinum cringed. How was she supposed to focus on strategy in a place like this?

“You called yourself a normal guy earlier, but you’re not—not even by this town’s standards. Those flunkies we took out before…those are the average losers around here. But those boss guys were on a totally other level. How do you tell them apart?”

[kazimehz]

Flat is justice.

"Why are you telling me this? I have like... DD-cups!!"

[screenshotsofdespair]

[valtsv]

no way am i leaving the crossbow in the car. i might need it, and it goes with my outfit.

[valionce]

SOMEONE NEEDS TO LEARN HOW to read the room.

" oh ? i might have to annoy you further to put that to the test— " he grins, sly. like a child being told to sit still and be silent, the explicit urge to do the very opposite itches beneath his skin. to the exasperation of many, he is more mischief and current than knight or king.

richard mounts his challenge horse in a leap as the countdown reaches dangerous single digits. with reigns clutched in hand, he then leads it into a strut towards their colored gate besides platinum. oh, yes, he's doing this on purpose.

5, 4, 3—

" worry not, lady platinum. i'll win those points. "

at one, horns blare loudly, commencing the game. like the roar of thunder, dozens of beating hooves sound across the arena as contestants charge forward, already setting sights on their enemy targets. armed with the sport's bow, richard nocks his arrows and shoots down two yellow targets before galloping into other colored territory.

as revenge, their riders attempts to do the same and level the field. but surely platinum has it covered.

[kazimehz]

Lady? That word should never accompany the title Platinum, and her lips draw into a thin line, but there’s no time to express further disapproval. The countdown ends, and the game begins. Riders on all sides of the arena instantly burst into action, the neighing of the mounts drowned out in the booming cheers of the audience. Amateurs, the lot of them.

Platinum remains, nocking an arrow with all the calm of a frozen lake on a winter’s day, her golden gaze sticking to the movements of their opponents like glue. Whatever Saberman is up to, it’s no concern of hers—until his actions send the yellow team towards her. Their first set of shots are laughably off target, their aim only improving with the decreasing distance.

Sighing in utter boredom, Platinum loosens arrow number one—it strikes an opposing missile, deflecting it to the ground. Arrow number two, quickly supplied, crashes into the second attack with enough force to split it down the middle. The halves drop as swiftly as the riders’ confidence. She can see it on their faces, the dawning realisation just how outmatched their truly are, and Platinum can’t help a tiny smirk. Her third arrow strikes another, missing its sender by a hair’s breadth. The rider panics, urging their horse to turn around.

The other teams must’ve realised their desperate need for a strategy by now, splitting into two groups: one heading directly for Platinum, clearly aiming to overwhelm her defensive capacities with sheer numbers. The other group rides towards other targets, perhaps hoping to shoot them all down before Sabrony can. It would be all too easy to spook the horses into throwing off their riders, swiftly ending either strategy. Unfortunately, such underhanded methods likely clash with the tournament’s guidelines.

But whatever, other options remain, depending on what Richie Sabes is up to.

[valionce]

DEFENDING? A COLD SWEAT BREAKS across his back as richard manages a chuckle.

❛ well, perhaps if i were of the caster class ... ❜ he muses, considering his options as the rules echo again overhead. sure, ...ue could cover the defense with her magical expertise and handy spells. traps and bounded fields of water will throw their enemies off-guard. but that often meant becoming stationary, spending large amounts of mana, and waiting was never richard's strong suit.

especially regarding wars or challenges. thankfully, the mental nudge from a consort sets him back on the conversation's track.

❛ as a knight, my abilities are far better suited on the offense. however, should my charge ever be in danger, naturally, i will defend them as well. now, i don't mean to boast, but i am very light on my feet— ❜ except, the stage is on horseback and not on foot, though the statement still stands on confidence and a sharp smile. a good offense makes a great defense, or some other, as the saying goes.

❛ ah, but let's talk strategy if you will, ❜ richard then suggests with a welcoming gesture. they're a pair now, and abilities were only worth their salt with a team's synergy, heroic spirit or not. ❛ tell me your strengths, won't you ? i know nothing about my partner besides a name and pretty face. ❜

and that platinum is exceedingly well-trained with a bow.

[kazimehz]

Caster? What is that clown even talking about? A caster wouldn’t do much good for defence, not to mention she hasn’t seen a single person use Arts in this tournament yet. Perhaps it’s even against the rules. One way or another though, it looks like Richard is useless for the role she’d intended to dump onto him. Platinum glowers.

“A knight, huh…” Well, his armour says as much, though in all fairness, many riders in the tournament sport similar getups. But theirs are obvious fakes. Costumes, put on for show and a pretended coolness-factor. Saberman’s doesn’t just look like the real thing, his skills so far are also a clear cut above the rabble. And now she has to work with him and endure these pathetic flirting attempts. Somehow, Platinum’s scowl darkens even further.

“My strengths? Sure. My specialty is killing knights. Especially the ones who annoy me,” she says listlessly. Unfortunately, the rules certainly don’t allow for that, either. To at least no longer have to endure that smug face, Platinum’s gaze drifts over the arena instead, noting the positions of everyone’s targets. Time is running out, and maybe even an annoying knight can have a point sometime. She sighs, while the commentator starts a dramatic countdown.

“Whatever. I’ll handle defence. My aim’s much better than yours, anyway.” He’ll get no explanation for why this is an indisputable fact, or for how this relates to defending their targets. “You’d better get us those points, though, or it’s your stupid face I’m shooting next.”

[bopeep]

w/ a monotone voice “wow that is so wild”

[valionce]

OH, IT MUST BE TOO LATE NOW to explain himself. the brief window for amends is already closing, too. frankly, she couldn't possibly believe someone claiming to be talking to his friends—hidden from sight—after that entire rant. it'd be pointless to try.

so, sarcasm responds first.

❛ ah, is that so ? ❜ richard starts, tacking on a weighty expression. ❛ then, perhaps i should give the comedy routine a shot ... ❜ as if he wasn't already playing the part of a jester, stripping the act after a moment of false consideration to smile back. ❛ —if i fail at this tournament, that is. but, i do not intend to lose. ❜

at an inopportune chime, richard turns his head upward to view the mounted screen. it lists a digital roster of names and rankings sorted in a picturesque menu of horses and their riders. occasionally, a highlight reel with play a few seconds of their success. but most importantly, sitting well off in the top three, side-by-side with a "saber," is the blanche lady before him.

❛ anyway, so that means you're platinum ? ❜ he suggests, having gleaned the information from the board. though richard holds up a hand, shakes his head. ❛ not to worry. i have had a fair share of arrows being sent my way——what's one more ? ❜ pierre practically cringes at the statement.

nevertheless, with a wink, richard finally offers the raised hand for a handshake. ❛ having already discerned your name, i must introduce myself properly. i am richard—allow me to be your partner ! ❜

[kazimehz]

"Yeah, I'm not surprised," Platinum comments dryly, "your face looks perfect for target practice." Well, nothing about it in particular does, but everything he says is just annoying enough to provoke the urge to make him shut up by any means possible. And if the words aren't bad enough, then that wink surely does it.

Platinum rolls her eyes at him, and her gaze drifts towards the audience crowding the seats all around the arena, catching on one individual in particular. She sighs and gently urges the mare to approach her so-called partner.

"What kind of dumbass gives his real name to a potential enemy?" It's a rhetorical question, as the answer sits right there, and Platinum doesn't bother to hide her subtle cringing when shaking his hand. To be fair to Saber/Richard, it's not entirely his fault, but these flirty mannerisms are just close enough to evoking the image of a person best forgotten.

Just as she pulls back her hand, another annoying chime goes off, and the arena erupts with sudden movements. Mechanisms previously hidden push several obstacles above ground, along with four sets of targets coded in different colours. A glance at the screens reveals the teams for this latest task, the boxes containing each name now shaded in the respective team colours. The commentator's overly excited voice cuts through the cheering, announcing the competition's rules. Platinum raises an eyebrow while listening.

She expected the rules to be much simpler: each team shoots as many targets matching their colour as possible before the time runs out. But it's the opposite of that. The goal is to shoot down everyone else's targets while protecting one's own. That doesn't bode well for the other teams.

"Hey, Saber-Richard." It's a double name now. "Are you any good at defending?"

[kazimehz]

touchyoudown​:

        ❛   No offense taken, but, uh, guess humans where you are from aren’t made of such sturdy stuff then   ?  ❜   He also had not meant that to be derogatory in the slightest, however, it was quite obvious how his statement could be taken as such. Too bad Travis never thought about how his words could be twisted into negative connotations. 

       Platinum went back to training and Travis watched her for a few moments, mostly to make sure she was safe and didn’t launch the gun back into her face once more. Once he was confident she was doing well enough, he pulled out his phone, and passed the time playing some anime dating sim. He was so close to reaching full hearts with the woman he had eyes for and would soon be able to take her to bed. Finally. 

        Travis hurriedly shut down the mobile game and shoved the phone into his pocket, not wanting Platinum to catch sight of the debauchery he was engaging in. Something told him she would disapprove and that he might spark her wrath again. 

   ❛   Sweet. Glad the training worked out for ya then. You’ll be a pro in no time.   ❜   Even if she wasn’t he was sure that with her minimal training she would still be able to shoot out most of the thugs in Santa Destroy. Those idiots didn’t know what they were doing, anyway.    ❛   Cool, yeah, let’s head back to the motel then. I don’t really have anything to do on my list for now so no worries. Besides, I didn’t have to take you here if I didn’t want to.    ❜   He gestured for Platinum to follow as he headed back towards his motorcycle and prepared for the ride back to the motel. Speeding through the streets without a care in the world for the laws of the road nor pedestrians they made it back in mere minutes. 

        He parked in the spot right in front and turned off the motorcycle.   ❛   I’m gonna just grab a quick refreshment and change out my beam katana while you drop your bag off. You want anything   ?   I got water, soda, and beer. ❜

"...mh."

Platinum was half-listening at best. As so often, she had fallen back into her habit of mildly paranoid overthinking the moment they'd gotten on his bike. Something had been nagging at her this whole time, and the more she thought about it, the less sense it made.

Travis didn't seem the deceitful type. If anything, he was foolishly blunt about his own capabilities and, unfortunately, about anything else as well. But he wasn't the only one in this place one could consider irregular. When they’d fought those goons on that last job, the difference between them and their bosses was as night and day. It wasn't that people in Terra were less "sturdy". Those minions hadn't been any more impressive than any wannabe thug in a Kawalerielki backstreet, after all. There had to be some hidden logic behind whose bodies followed common sense and whose were, like Travis', outside those boundaries. It was the type of thing a local could tell at a glance while an outsider like Platinum couldn't. And that was a severe disadvantage she'd have to rid herself of as soon as possible. But how?

"Uh." Platinum had no idea how long she'd spaced out and stared at a discoloured patch on the wall, but if she pretended it didn't happen, it clearly didn't. "I prefer juice, but I guess soda's fine..."

Immediately lost to her thinking again, she idly strolled towards her room. Once inside, she set the bag next to the bed and shuffled into the bathroom to put her looks back in order, not that they needed it. Soon enough, she reappeared before Travis's room, and the sound of her own knocking finally snapped her back to reality. Somehow, she had agreed to something, though what exactly?

"So, uh, what's the plan again...?"

[kazimehz]

darksails​:

It appears that Platinum misunderstands the meaning of support and teamwork.  Really now, that was a compliment!  

As she paces about in the collection of used artillery, an argument vies for Bartholomew’s tongue.  After a belittlement so uncalled for, he briefly entertains the idea when doubts come to mind that an archer could fare any better alone.  Could Platinum execute that previous strategy without someone serving as bait?   

“Who can say?”   Bart replies shortly, raising his shoulders into a shrug.  Anything else is discarded and buried; he will offer no more than that.  

“Well, anyway—we should take something back to prove a mission complete.  Aren’t you interested in what will be offered?” 

But more than external plating and word of mouth might be needed to convince the villagers.  So Bartholomew circles the gloompincer, methodically scanning its remains, before settling for a protruding limb.  He grasps it—as if it were nothing but a weed—and effortlessly rips the armored stem from its socket.  

The pirate lifts it high—a bloody proof of victory—to garner Platinum’s opinion.   "Think this will do?  Don’t worry; I’ll be sure to carry it there.“

Platinum stops. She regards Bartholomew with a bored expression, indistinguishable from the usual. Did that guy get hit over the head or something? If not in this battle, it must have happened in a previous one, if not on multiple occasions.

"You think any of those people will want that," she motions to the freshly-removed pincer he's holding up, "in their village?" Shaking her head for good measure, Platinum turns with a shrug, onward to the village and the pitiful folk about to receive the worst trophy ever. "Anyway, I thought your reward was gonna be lodgings. You think they'll throw other stuff at you for bringing back a health hazard? Talk about delusional."

The real question is how the hell he'd been able to tear that dreadful thing off the pincerbeast. For a guy who doesn't look like much, he seems to have a lot of hidden strength, though certainly not in the wits department. She'll file that away for later. Out of this entire, unfortunate and not nearly as boredom-deflecting as she'd hoped trip, this might be the only piece of information worth anything. But she doesn't comment on it, merely toying with some thoughts, as usual. 

When they arrive at the village, Platinum uses the first distraction they encounter (it doesn't take long, as this wannabe-rider seems to have a highly specific type some of the villagers match wonderfully) to wordlessly disappear from sight. But, carefully staying out of eyeshot, she keeps tabs on him for a while longer. As expected, no one seems too happy about that pincer. If nothing else, seeing his prospects with the local mekakure disappear at the sight of that bloody souvenir might've been the most entertaining part of the day yet.

[thatsbelievable]

Did You Know?

Horses may look noble and friendly, but many of them have murder on the mind!

[kazimehz]

@valionce continued from here!

Oh, she tried. She had tried so very hard, for so very long, not to lose her temper; neither to let her horse kick anyone's shins nor to impale anyone's face with an arrow. But this?!

Never mind how someone conned Platinum into joining this ridiculous festival to begin with. Never mind how her ears and tail make her stand out among the crowd, constantly mistaken for the most dedicated horse-girl ever who took her childhood obsession into adulthood and supposedly wears cosplay to match the white mare at her side. Never mind the stupid puns thrown her way throughout every competition so far. Never mind that most of the other contenders are downright pathetic and might as well drop dead right there for all she cares. And never mind that this shitty farce of a tournament has already cost Platinum hours she could've put into doing absolutely nothing instead.

No, now there's this guy, too.

"You've gotta be kidding me. Why the hell would I be jealous of you?" Platinum snaps, as there's no one else nearby at whom this clown could've directed his previous words. "If you need to practice your standup comedy set, I hear there's a circus tent just one field over. Try your luck there, why don't you?"

With a huff, Platinum climbs back atop her mare's back, urging the horse forward to keep up with Mr Comedian.

"For the record, I don't need anyone's charity. Last I recall, we've got the same number of points. For now." Fortunately, the event's organisers mistook her bow and arrows as merely the standard set handed out for the tournament, with minor aesthetic adjustments complimenting Platinum's so-called cosplay — not her fault they didn't ban her military-grade precision gear.

"Anyway, if the next thing asks for teams, then sure, I'll team up with you. — Don't blame me if one of my arrows goes astray and ends up flying your way, though. I will win this stupid competition."