Lots of Running to Do

[West Lee]

Manchester had been a very, very bad idea, but it was nearly a year ago now, so who was to say that the same idea couldn't work again in Paris? Sure, the Manchester affair still came back to haunt him nearly every day, but the needs of the many outweigh even the safety of the few, and there were many people who needed his help -- and West still thought it was a good idea.

The principle was simple enough: be on the lookout for possible violence between species, cause a distraction, get the hell out of there along with the humans targeted. The problem was the West worked alone, so he ended up being the distraction, and distractions just didn't get up and walk away without being noticed.

So that was why he was running like the devil was at his heels through what used to be a very posh Parisian neighborhood. Of course, it wasn't so posh now, nor did it offer many places to hide, so West was trying to make do by pushing himself to go faster than he'd probably ever gone before. The vampires -- he seemed to be getting on vampires' nerves a lot lately; in fact, that's exactly what happened in Manchester -- were actually quite a ways behind him but were gaining fast.

As he passed the one or two odd people on the street, West alternated between swearing in Spanish, English, and the small bit of French he had picked up and yelling 'Run!' at the top of his lungs. Needless to say, that didn't help him to move any faster, but it did make him feel better.

He liked to think he cut a striking image in the minds of passer-by: a handsome green-haired boy pursued unjustly (well, justly, actually) in race that he was bound to lose (West hoped that bit wasn't true), only to rise above his opponents and win the day (again, he could only hope).

In reality he probably looked like something of an idiot.

But that didn't matter to him because he couldn't see himself. Unburdened by the knowledge that the great Weston Mark Lee looked like a fool, running from several vampires in the fading light of a Parisian sun, he slipped into a tiny alley. Immediately he started coughing: the stench was terrible. On the plus side, though, it concealed his scent. The human grinned as the vampires ran past.

He took advantage of a fire escape ladder nearby and swung himself up onto it, climbing the short distance to the top of the building it was attached to. Usually he avoided heights, but West happened to know that these particular vampires did too. From his newfound perch, the human pulled out the small revolver he had in a holster on his belt and checked the bullets. All still there. And all useless. Stupid me, he chastised silently. The gunpowder had gotten wet earlier on in the evening.

A call came from across the way and West winced: they had found him. Slipping off the side of the building and sliding down the ladder nimbly, he took off running in the direction he had originally come from, pausing only to shout 'run!' again to a random stranger nearby.

TAGGED: ken, and possible others?
NOTES: <3
LYRICS: Katy Perry
CREDIT: To BUNNYA! from CAUTION 2.0!

[Ken Hyperion]

Through the once-proud streets of Paris, a suicidally courageous young man fled for his life, silhouetted against the heavy, orange light of the setting sun. In relentless pursuit of this nimble vigilante was a crew of ravenous Vampires, themselves fueled by a thirst for revenge as much as for his blood. As the city grew darker, they grew only more dogged in their chase, but this single-minded fixation would prove detrimental in due time. However, when it came to sprints down the perfectly linear city streets, they were at a distinct advantage. Whatever head start the wily youth could lay claim to was quickly negated by their blazing speed. Of course, even an Olympic sprinter would have had his work cut out for him if pit against such athletic competitors. Still the green-haired man charged forward with every last drop of adrenaline his body could muster, proving himself quite the spectacle even in the face of the implacable Vampires.

Unseen to both the hunters and the hunted, however, was a third party who had recently become involved in the fiasco purely through his own volition. The very instant Ken Hyperion saw the vigilante sprint past with the Vampires close behind, he reflexively sprang into action. With a casual flick of his wrist, the had thrown his jacket from his broad shoulders and taken off in a frantic yet skillful dash. So, the chase continued, with the Vampires now pursued by a man whose dedication to his cause far outstripped their own. Being at the height of physical fitness and without the burden of fatigue, Ken at least managed to keep pace with the creatures of the night for a time. However, thanks to his own ceaseless focus on the Vampires, he also managed to completely neglect the vigilante's clever escape into a nearby alley. He thus continued with the misconception that the man was still in mid-sprint.

Ken made a broad, sweeping gesture with his left arm, as though he were cracking a whip or swinging a sword horizontally. In his line of sight was the leg of a Vampire, and it was that limb which Ken acted upon. A small wave of Telekinetic force wrapped around the Vampire's ankle, halting his forward motion. Ken tugged his invisible lasso, sweeping his target right off his feet. While most of his comrades continued searching for their original mark, four of the supernatural thugs stayed behind to see what had happened to their fallen ally. As the Vampire pulled himself to his feet, he turned his head to see Ken standing with his arms crossed no more than five meters down the street. Rather characteristically for the young freedom fighter, Ken's shoulders were back and his head raised up to stare his adversaries in the eyes. "That's kinda messed up." He chastised the hunters. "A whole gang after one guy?" Ken shook his head disapprovingly.

The Vampires wasted no time in going after the seemingly defenseless human. Releasing an explosive burst of condensed Telekinetic energy from his legs, Ken leaped several stories into the air and pulled from his holster a black pistol easily recognizable as a Jericho 941. As he soared over the heads of the Vampires, he fired precisely four rounds from the small firearm. However, when the young man landed on the opposite side of his attackers, his free hand was clenched tightly. As he had predicted, the Vampires were staggered but not quite finished by the bullets. Being relatively low on the totem pole, their regenerative powers weren't exactly up to par with the strongest of Vampires. However, they were still seething with anger at the impudent human who dared to attack them on their home turf. This gave them more than enough incentive to gear up for a second strike.

Ken had a contingency in place, however, for just such an occasion. In fact, his very next move was to holster his gun. I can't keep wasting time on these small fries...That dude back there needs help. Ken lamented inwardly. He then stretched out his fingers and, right on cue, the Vampires doubled over in pain, clearly having been struck by yet another attack. Though difficult to make out in the fading light, Ken had caught the shells of his bullets mid-flight with a broad, Telekinetic safety net once they had emerged from the bodies of the Vampires. Being of such negligible mass, accelerating them back to harmful velocities was a trivial task for a focused psychic. Moving with seamless fluidity, Ken struck his foes twice more, the bullets moving with perfect synchronization. It was the fourth attack which brought the Vampires down, and the very instant they hit the ground, Ken turned and resumed his search for the pursued vigilante.

Of course, he didn't exactly have to look very far. The young man seemed to be doubling back after a failed attempt at losing his supernatural hunters. He passed Ken by, pausing for a moment to urge the young man to run for it; Ken heeded his advice. However, rather than take off in a different direction, he ran alongside the man. "So, how many're we up against?" Ken asked, his face ignited with sheer resolution. "The name's Ken Hyperion, by the way. It's a pleasure."

[Credo]

A

[/i]mber eyes followed the two running figures below. A fluffy tail swayed behind the lean figure of a cat sitting on a railing of a porch. Credo had taken the form of a street tabby today, and he enjoyed lazing around acting cute and getting free treats. He always did like the taste of those fancy treats people had for their cats these days. Even though some of them tasted like shit. But it was food, and Credo never passed up free food.

H[/i]e leaped down from the railing and padded after the two silently. Interested in what they were up too after an interesting brawl like that. He recognized the unmistakable, untamed hair of a certain someone he'd bumped into on more than one occasion. But the other was unknown to him. Perhaps a business partner...? Or... something else? Credo perished the thought and welling jealousy in his chest. He hadn't taken noticed but his pace had increased significantly until he was sprinting after the two figures in the distance.

S[/i]oon the swift paws of a tabby were not enough to keep the pace. He shifted forms again and this time, he took the form of a hawk and took to the winds. For a moment he lost West and his new companion, but soon he spotted his bright green hair's highlighted blond glow against the sunset. Soaring over them, he followed steadily and watching them closely. He was curious as to what this guy was to West. Be it business partner or just someone, Credo was going to find out. And if he didn't like it, something was going to have to change. Fast.

H[/i]e wasn't quite sure, but the unknown person seemed to be human, judging by the telekinetic powers he possessed. However, humans were not the only ones that inherited that power. He couldn't catch a decent whiff from this altitude, so scenting was out of the question as of now. Perhaps he'd get a closer look. Get the drop on this guy if he was planning something. Because if he was, Credo would be sure to let Hell's firey gates welcome him to a true aftermath.

N[/i]ow at this point, Credo just felt like a creeper. Seriously, how many times has it been that he's ran into West already? More than coincidence would allow. Maybe it was just fate telling him he should stick with West, or the other way around. But Credo didn't care at all at this time, his mind set was focused on this person whom he had never seen before. Perhaps he would just attempt to scare the living daylights out of them both by taking the form of Mother War herself. Of perhaps Katsumiki? He mentally chuckled to himself, thinking of the multitude of outcomes that could take place by him choosing to do so. Or maybe he would just appear before the two and give them both a hard time. Or just follow them and see how long it takes for one of them to notice him.
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Notes: Oh snap ya'll[/color]
Tagged: Wessst! Kenneh![/color]
Credit:[/color] TAPER JEAN GIRL ! z10.invisionfree.com/CAUTIONTOTHEWIND/index.php?showuser=17680

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[West Lee]

West was breathing fast, but he wasn't too winded, considering how fast and how far he was going. He had been running so much lately that it was hard to wear him out. However, he could only go so far. The human wasn't stupid, so he knew that if he was forced to keep this cat-and-mouse chase up for very much longer, he'd soon lose his edge. Knowing this just made him run faster.

It took a few moments for him to realize that the random person he had stopped by on the streets was running with him instead of away from him. Usually people dashed in the first direction they could think of, which was anywhere where he was not. West couldn't have known that this stranger was actually a fighter himself who had gone after the vampires while he was stashed up on a rooftop; he had been distracted at the time, and hadn't seen.

So, how many're we up against?" West couldn't help but laugh at this, despite the fact that he should have been saving his breath for running. It was so funny how the stranger had just dashed up out of the blue and immediately jumped to the conclusion that they were on the same side. Somewhere in the back of West's mind he noted that it was rather nice to have another human who was willing to stand up and fight, even when the going got rough.

"Couldn't say," he said between breaths. "Well, kind of. Well, I haven't exactly stopped to count them. More than five, less than twelve. Maybe. Pity they're not Addington's vampires." He shut himself up. Even when his life was in danger, he certainly had a gob. Dodging a tree that someone had planted in the middle of the boulevard for decoration, skipping easily to the side of a rough patch of stones, West found himself grinning maniacally. This was the life!

"The name's Ken Hyperion, by the way. It's a pleasure." Something caught the human's attention, and it didn't have anything to do with his new partner-in-crime. It had to do with an eagle over head -- an eagle seemingly very, very intent on following their progress. West felt his already racing heart beat just a little faster: Credo, again. Or, at least, there was a chance it was Credo. He hoped it was, for purely platonic reasons, of course. It would be nice if the eagle did turn out to be his friend for more reason than one, the least of which being that it was probably a good idea to have a demon at your back while facing off against a pack of angry vampires.

It couldn't be Credo, though. To meet same person by chance three times now was just too.. cliché. It was like someone wanted them to be together. And, besides, there were plenty of people who were shapeshifters in the world -- and who said the eagle wasn't just an eagle, either? It bothered West that Credo had jumped to his mind so quickly. Figuring out a way to satisfy his own curiosity, the human turned, paused for a split second, and made a ridiculous face at the eagle, sticking out his tongue and puffing up his cheeks. That was guaranteed to get their attention, if they were actually a demon or something else, and if it didn't, then it was just an eagle.

Running faster now to catch up with Ken, still grinning like a fool, West nodded a greeting. "West Lee," he said. "I'd shake your hand but we need a plan more than pleasantries. Got a gun?" He ventured a glance over his shoulder. "Ooh, look at them run! ¡Magnifico! So stupid, these ones, but they can sure run."

TAGGED: ken and credo
NOTES: <3
LYRICS: Katy Perry
CREDIT: To BUNNYA! from CAUTION 2.0!

[Credo]

C

[/i]redo continued to soar over the two and watch closely. He mostly kept his eye on the stranger as the two seemed to talk while running from their vampire pursuers. West glanced over his shoulder at the great bird overhead. It seemed he noticed Credo after all. A lot earlier on than he expected. Again, the green haired human glanced over his shoulder and made a face at Credo, sticking his tongue out mockingly. Typical West move, but Credo still squawked, making it know that he did see that little comic skit West pulled there.

H[/i]e kept a steady distance behind them. Still thinking if he should make a grand appearance. But was definitely going to give that guy a hard time. That wasn't an option for anyone. Credo didn't realize that he could be wrong about this guy. And that he could just be an innocent bystander just wanting to help West with his pickle situation. He didn't take into consideration that this dude is most likely into chicks.

T[/i]he great bird flew in a little closer, until he was a little ways above their heads. They seemed to be growing fatigued by this time. Perhaps he could lend them a hand with his shapeshifting skills and provide some sort of faster transportation to where ever. If they were to get to tired, the vampires would most certainly catch them. He glided on the wind for a moment more, contemplating what for would be fastest. He made his decision and swooped down feet in front of the pair and his formed changed with a brilliant yellow-amber light. As the light died down, the form of a large, but lean stallion stood in front of them.

T[/i]he great creature stood a little taller than most horses, bearing a medium length. A chestnut man and charcoal black pelt with specks of brown etched into it. He stomped his hooves, ready to take off when the two would hop on his back. He stood a ways away from them to allow them time to brace themselves to jump onto his back when they reached him. he just hoped they both knew how to mount a horse barebacked... [/size]

Notes:[/color] Getty up!
Tagged:[/color] Kenneh Wessst
Credit:[/color] TAPER JEAN GIRL ! z10.invisionfree.com/CAUTIONTOTHEWIND/index.php?showuser=17680

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[Ken Hyperion]

"Less than twelve?! Lame!" Ken gave a very disappointed sigh. "Oh well. I guess circumstances aren't necessarily ideal for the two of us." He looked to the skies and saw nothing but darkness interrupted only by the lonely afterimages of long-dead stars. This was, of course, an environment in which the likes of Vampires thrived and humankind tended to avoid. Moreover, even if there were "less than twelve" Vampires after the two, it was highly unlikely that they were the only ones to be found in the entire remains of Paris. With the setting sun, their brethren would soon be coming out of the woodwork, and it didn't seem as though this man had a great deal of stamina to spare. Perhaps, Ken digressed, it was for the best that they were pursued by less than a dozen Vampires. Rome wasn't build in a day, as the saying goes, and the liberation of Paris by one, lone hunter would likely be an even more time-consuming task.

So, he ran. However, as Ken made his frantic dash through the post-apocalyptic wasteland that once called itself the cultural epicenter of Europe, he kept a sharp eye on his surroundings. Not so much, at first, to the bird circling overhead- his sights were set on more immediate concerns. First and foremost, he watched for any Vampires attempting to get the jump on the duo. One false step or careless turn of a corner could have spelled disaster, especially in the dense streets of Paris. Second, Ken looked for possible weapons to use against his speedy adversaries, if only to slow or delay their efforts. Outrunning Vampires over long distances was not something that he trained to do, nor was it something that Ken fooled himself into thinking he was capable of. Direct combat with supernatural threats was his specialty, not fleeing them on their home turf. He thus kept an open mind to any useful tools nature might have set before him.

"Aha!" Naturally, where his comrade saw a tree and some rocks, Ken saw a beautiful opportunity to regain lost ground. "Simply magnificent!" He exclaimed. The two nimbly sidestepped the tree, light of foot as they were, but as he passed the decorative landscaping, Ken turned his head and locked eyes with his persistent predators. Holding his palm out, the psychic released a comparatively small pulse of Telekinetic energy, generating an explosive charge of sorts which blasted the rocks into the air along with a thick cloud of dust. Wrapping his fingers into a fist, Ken held the jagged masses in place at the height of their arc and threw them like spears at the Vampires. He accelerated the minerals to such an extent that they possessed kinetic energy akin to bullets, strong enough to at least stagger any creature of the night. This was accomplished without so much as breaking stride, though once his assault was finished, Ken turned back to the path in front of him and continued his desperate sprint.

"Sorry about that, they were getting a little too close for my taste." Ken smiled. The man picked up the pace to catch up with the veteran hunter; Ken, it was apparent, had not been running for nearly as long as his ally, so he had a slight advantage in terms of energy reserves. Nevertheless, the vigilante looked thrilled to be engaged in such a chase and was more than willing to give Ken his name. This was immediately followed by asking if he had a gun on him, to which Ken removed his pistol from its holster. "Not exactly heavy artillery-- well, not unless it's in my hand, anyway." He gave a swift nod of affirmation. "But it gets the job done." In fact, as he wrapped his fingers around the Jericho's grip, Ken's first instinct was to turn and fight, however outnumbered he may have been. However, he quickly reminded himself that his objective was not to route the enemy; it was the safe removal of West from danger.

It was at this moment that Ken took note of the bird hovering overhead, for it was no longer entirely a bird by the time he laid eyes directly upon it. The creature- having indirectly revealed itself as a Shapeshifter- was glowing with a brilliant light and changing form. By the time the light had died down, there stood before Ken and West a gallant, black steed a fair bit larger than any horse that the hunter had seen in his time on the open road. At the sight of this impressive beast, Ken turned to West. "Friend of yours?" He asked with an optimistic grin.

[West Lee]

"Less than twelve?! Lame!" The human couldn't help it: his smile grew immensely. Now this was his kind of guy. Ken hadn't thought twice before running off with him, despite the fact that that was pretty much the best way to ensure that he'd be getting into trouble, and now was keeping pace, even managing to joke about the number of vampires behind. Suddenly, there was a loud screech from the bird overhead, and if West had been smiling before, then he was now looking positively like a Cheshire cat. Credo! He laughed out loud.

Sparing only a glance for Ken as he turned to assault their pursuers, he started running even faster, pushing a little ahead of his companion. Though he didn't get far, it did make him feel a little better. He wasn't trying to outstrip Ken, not at all -- just like the fact that the other human could use telekinetic energy wasn't bothering him either.

West was famous among those who knew him for doing the stupidest things just to prove he could: he had outwitted faeries, outdrank demons, and hidden well enough that werewolves passed him by. He couldn't stand being told that he couldn't do something. So, if it was a matter of prowess or skill, he bested that person or ran himself into the ground; the latter had happened more than a few times.

But telekinesis wasn't like that. He couldn't teach himself how to do it because that was impossible. As the other human came back and apologized for delaying the vampires, West rolled his eyes a little. The vampires hadn't been close enough for him to worry, so why was Ken? Then again, said a small voice in the back of his head, you wouldn't be worried even if they were breathing on your neck.

"You ain't seen nothing yet," he said, quoting someone or something that he couldn't remember the name. Ken pulled out the gun, saying something about how it wasn't 'heavy artillery' but it 'got the job done' and making West wonder what he needed a gun for if he had all these special powers.

He held out a hand. "Can I," he said between breaths, as politely as he could, "have that gun for a minute? 'Cause I think the person that can't make bullets out of pebbles should get the ones made of metal." The small bite of annoyance -- nearly invisible anyways, since he was running and his tone wasn't all that expressive -- faded quickly into the general happy rush of the chase.

Looking upwards, West managed to keep his footing while his eyes followed Credo's descent down to the ground in front of them and his subsequent change into a huge stallion. Up to this point, he hadn't technically been sure that it was the demon, and even now there was room for doubt, but the human was certain of who it was.

"Friend of yours?" Ken asked with a smile. The human blew out a grateful breath, ran up to the horse, swung himself expertly up onto his back, and twined his hands in the mane. "Yup," he said lightly, adjusting his position a little. "Credo, you jealous thing, have you been spying on me? Three times in a row! Soon I'll start having to kiss strangers to get you off my back." The little jibe at the incident that had occurred when they first met was practically impossible to avoid. West knew he'd be joking about that for ages -- if only to convince himself it was nothing.

TAGGED: ken and credo
NOTES: <3
LYRICS: Katy Perry
CREDIT: To BUNNYA! from CAUTION 2.0!

[Credo]

As the two humans approached him fast, a feeling of excitement welled up inside him. For a long time had he not felt this brilliant feeling. For a long, long, time Credo lived an easy laid back life. Living by his own rules and doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. And for a long while, he never experienced the warm feeling of being needed. He lived alone all the time, not having very many connections to go to for company. In fact, he had no connections. Credo hardly ever met anyone interesting and worth the effort of speaking to. Most people these days were selfish, greedy and power hungry. One reason he left Mother War behind him. He grew tired of the constant strife and stress that seated itself upon his shoulders every single day. And the most feared feeling of not waking up the next morning. It wasn't that Credo was afraid of dying. He was afraid of losing the opportunity to find some sort of life for himself. Yes, wandering and partying here and there, living off someone else's misery and not his own was all grand and glorious. But it was a tired life. And a lonely one at that. Who wants to live along for the rest of their lives?

Perhaps now he would finally be of use to someone. It was always a great feeling to help others out. Even if one of them might be stealing your crush from you but heaven knows your wrong and this person is totally straight, therefore eliminating the option of a later seek and destroy mission... But Credo digressed. That was not the case hopefully. However the paranoia still misted his thoughts.

West was first to make it and he expertly mounted the great stallion with ease. "Credo, you jealous thing, have you been spying on me? Three times in a row! Soon I'll start having to kiss strangers to get you off my back." he said, tangling his fingers through chestnut locks. Credo snorted his disapproval of that last bit. Even though he knew very well West was just teasing. He'd have to make sure to be good about getting back at West for that one.


Notes:

[/color] Short post is short... ._.
Tagged:[/color] Wessst! Kenneh
Credit:[/color] TAPER JEAN GIRL ! z10.invisionfree.com/CAUTIONTOTHEWIND/index.php?showuser=17680
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[Ken Hyperion]

"Hm? Oh right, sorry, should've thought of that sooner." The Psychic smiled brightly. Happy to oblige his new friend's request, Ken tossed the vigilante his gun without so much as breaking stride before the two arrived in the presence of the grand, almost regal steed. However, before mounting the chestnut stallion, Ken briefly turned back to the desecrated street and gave a frustrated sigh. "Man, they're so persistent..." He practically scoffed at his dogged pursuers, swift as they were. Taking a step away from West's mount, Ken stared directly into the heart of the rapidly approaching gang. His eyes momentarily flashed with a bright, turquoise aura indicative of his own confidence as much as it was of his Telekinetic powers. True to the spirit of irony, there were no objects which could be easily turned into projectiles in as short a time as Ken had to act, not that it particularly bothered him. "Don't worry, I'll get'em off our tail." He reassured West, giving a broad grin and a thumbs up.

Ken held his arm up palm-out and pointed it toward the Vampires, focusing a particular amount of attention at the three who seemed to be leading the charge. The fingers of his opposite hand were wrapped around his own wrist in a gesture similar to a police officer steadying his hand when firing his pistol. Unlike previous exertions of Telekinetic force, which occurred nigh instantaneously, Ken took a moment to focus a relatively larger amount of energy into a sphere hovering just beyond his palm. To an observer, this process occurred rather quickly, but in the two seconds it took Ken to prepare his next attack, the air around the sphere was heavily condensed into a shape not unlike a small missile. Ken "pulled the trigger" and launched this projectile by giving the slightest twitch of his fingers. The resulting blast completed wiped out the three low class Vampires, overpowering their comparatively weak regenerative properties, and knocked the remaining pursuers off their feet. Wasting not another moment, Ken leaped atop the stallion as soon as he recovered from the recoil of the attack.

"Most of the impact was soaked up by those three in front, but that should give us a couple seconds of a lead." He said. There was, of course, a time to forgo strategy and overwhelm one's adversaries with sheer power. In that respect, the effectiveness of Ken's heavy artillery was self-evident in the debris it raised before striking the three lead Vampires. However, the rest would be rising again shortly, and he certainly knew when it was time to make a hasty retreat.

[West Lee]

He kept his hand held out until Ken replied. "Hm? Oh right, sorry, should've thought of that sooner." West pulled out the gun in his holster and threw it derisively to the side. Grabbing the one his companion was handing to him, he shoved that into the holster instead. The movement didn't even require him to look; guns and any kind of technology were interesting to him. The soft-spoken human had taken quite a few apart in his time, though fewer of those had been put back together again.

Giving West a thumbs up, Ken said, "Don't worry, I'll get'em off our tail." The human immediately made a pretense of leaning forward and brushing some of Credo's mane gently to the side, rolling his eyes and whispering in the horse's ear playfully, "God forbid! He's worse than I am. Dashing about, all James Bond and telekinetic pebbles... We don't have time to waste, but he's just standing there looking cool and, more importantly, making me look bad."

All of his was said quietly enough that only West and Credo could hear it. It was all in jest, really; the human liked to poke fun at his demon friend, too. But it was also kind of true. As much as he appreciated all Ken was doing, West couldn't help but feel like he was losing the spotlight he coveted so much. That was wrong, wrong, wrong -- at least from his point of view. It was him the vampires were chasing, so it was him that should be the one to cleverly defeat them despite all odds.

However, again, he didn't really care. It was better to be surviving than to have your luck give out. West valued the survival of his friends far too much to be annoyed at someone who was pulling more than their share; in fact, if he looked at it more objectively, it was kind of nice to not be the one going above and beyond the call of duty ('a and b the c of d', Timothy always said). There were so many times when he pushed himself past what was safe just to protect those around him. True, West supposed that one couldn't compare him to Ken, since he had no special powers, but the principle was the same.

Soon enough, the other human had finished his defense and turned back. Not too much time had been lost, thankfully, though in West's humble opinion his companion had gained him only as many minutes as he had spent, and so they were now able to get back on track. There was a brief moment where he wondered if Ken knew how to ride a horse, but as the human swung himself up, that fear was dissuaded. Ignoring Ken's comment about who absorbed what energy (because honestly, did he look like he understood technical terms?), West shifted his position slightly and wrapped his hands in Credo's mane.

It had been a long time since he was on a horse. Living in rural Mexico, though, for most of his life was a pretty much surefire way to be around horses. He had always done well with animals in general, even if he preferred people.

Taking a bit of glee in it, West nudged Credo's flanks playfully with his heels to get him going despite the fact that he knew the demon was intelligent enough to run. "Giddyap, horsey," he said with a manic grin. How he wished he had his Stetson with him -- that would have cut quite an image. Between Ken, Credo, and himself, they were quite possible the least inconspicuous, most impossible-looking thing that had ever gone down those Parisian streets. "I've got a place to hide, over by the Pont-au-Change. If buddy boy can get us that far, we'll be safe. Probably."

TAGGED: ken and credo
NOTES: boing~
LYRICS: Katy Perry
CREDIT: To BUNNYA! from CAUTION 2.0!

[Credo]

Hooves clapped anxiously on the solid road. Normally he was never this gitty. But having taken the form of a horse, he became more wired than he normally would be. This is usually the case with shapeshifters of all types. You can the behavior and almost stereotypical habits of the shape you take. So naturally it was something Credo couldn't help. What with all the noise and commotion going on.

It hadn't taken long for the stranger to catch up before he swiftly and temporarily subdued their pursuers using telekinetic abilities humans had possessed. Credo watched with interest shining in his amber eyes. The abilities and sheer determination humans possessed and maintained throughout the passage of time had always sparked curiosity in him. Humans, for as long as they had existed, always survived and persevered through the most perilous of times be it battle against swift spreading ailments or battles among themselves for power or dominance. They as a whole proved to be quite the survivors and to others, a permanent stain on the Earths crust. The demons sought ultimate power, but in all honesty, if humans were included in the war today, they would probably be the victors in the battle of determination and might of the mind. That alone made them a unique species in their own. Though, even if they possessed the ability to have such determination does not mean they are invincible. And they have discovered so time and time again.

West spoke quietly to Credo and the demon swiveled his ears to listen more closely, "God forbid! He's worse than I am. Dashing about, all James Bond and telekinetic pebbles... We don't have time to waste, but he's just standing there looking cool and, more importantly, making me look bad." the human joked. If Credo could giggle he would. But it was beyond a horses ability to do so. So he snorted in a way that would sound like a laugh to the best of his ability, but it just came out sounding like something from a cartoon you would see on tv. Good enough.

The stranger hastily turned and hopped onto the backside of the unnaturally large stallion to join West. "Giddyap, horsey," West said, Credo promptly snorting once again to express his dislike for the "petpet talk" as he would say. "I've got a place to hide, over by the Pont-au-Change. If buddy boy can get us that far, we'll be safe. Probably." the human said. The demon took off instantly, assuming West would direct him, seeing as Credo didn't quite know his way around by now. The clip clopping sound of hooves hard on the ground was loud about them as Credo put much distance between them and the vampires in a short time. But not enough for them to be totally comfortable with the gap in between the groups.


Notes:

[/color] Giddyup! ;D
Tagged:[/color] Wessst! Kenneh!
Credit:[/color] TAPER JEAN GIRL ! z10.invisionfree.com/CAUTIONTOTHEWIND/index.php?showuser=17680
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[Ken Hyperion]

As Ken rode through the streets of Paris on the magnificent steed, he couldn't help but think about how lovely his hair was looking on that particular night. The brilliant light of the moon reflected off of his peculiarly shaded hair, giving it a certain vibrancy. Of course, his only real indication of his current attractiveness was his reflections in what few windows remained in-tact among the debris and wreckage. Though this brought to mind the question of how Ken managed to maintain such perfect hair while traveling the post-apocalyptic remains of Europe and beyond. He had been engaged in battles the likes of which would have killed even the most hardened of warriors, yet his complexion was still perfect. Now that Ken thought about it, everyone he came across was in perfectly good condition, physically speaking. There may have been the occasional battle scar here and there, but they really only served to make the bearer even more attractive in a rugged sort of way. In fact, virtually everyone in the ruined world was exorbitantly good-looking, as though the supernatural creatures had left alive only the supermodels and Olympic athletes.

Actually, it seemed, the more powerful someone was, the more attractive they were, as well. Someone capable of defeating scores of Vampiric assassins, such as Ken himself, was extraordinarily chiseled, tall, and confident. Meanwhile, the typical, low-ranked Vampire or Demon stood a much better chance of being downright monstrous. Meanwhile, a more powerful Demon such as Credo stood as a practically ideal male specimen. It was as though knowing someone's name and backstair made them more likely to be on par with the Hollywood stars of the old world. Then again, when it came to West and Credo, physical appearances were the least of Ken's subjects for contemplation.

All throughout the ride to wherever their destination happened to be, Ken wondered aloud- though he was too spaced out to notice- about their sexuality. Of course, he had absolutely no issue with people of alternative lifestyles! He just couldn't help but wonder whether or not they were involved with one another. They certainly flirted like a couple, or at least a budding couple who had not yet admitted their feelings for one another like in one of those anime Ken would watch whenever he found a reasonably in-tact DVD store to raid. Getting back to the whole subject of physical appearance, they certainly looked like the protagonists of one of those "Shounen-ai" anime...not that Ken watched any of those ever.

[West Lee]

West grinned at the horse's laugh -- or, at least, he assumed it was a laugh, since it was difficult to tell when Credo was a horse -- and patted the dark-haired neck happily, seemingly all the happier for the fact that they were running for their lives. Leaning forward as the demon started off as fast as he could, West asked, "Can you get to the river from here? The Pont-au-Change is the really damn huge bridge on the Seine. Hard to miss." He pictured it in his mind's eye: large and fairly imposing, but in disrepair due to years of disuse. It was famous, and featured in several famous novels and films, none of which he had seen or read. He just knew where it was and how to get down to the door that would lead them to the closest thing to safety he suspected they'd find.

It seemed like safety was always a hot commodity these days, especially for humans. There used to be billions of them on the planet, according to his parents, but those numbers had been cut down so quickly. West glanced down at the horsehair he had tangled in his fingers. He had to keep reminding himself that Credo was a demon; it wasn't something that he thought of often, probably because it was demons who had caused most of the trouble for humans, and he didn't want to think about depressing things when he was spending time with his friend. As if to reassure himself, West rubbed the horse's neck, imagining that he could feel each muscle move as Credo ran. It was odd, but the horse was so distinctively Credo. Not that that was a bad thing. It was just odd.

With perfect timing, Ken chimed in. West immediately turned as best he could to face the human behind him, staring at him incredulously as the blue-haired man started wondering -- aloud -- whether or not he and Credo were a couple. Ken murmured some speculation or another about their sexuality and West flushed with indignation. Normally, he would even have been pleased that someone was pairing him with someone, but when that someone was Credo, it just seemed wrong. That was probably because he only actually had ever wanted to be that close to the demon.

"Now look here," he interjected when the other human got to the bit about shounen-ai manga. "I'm not so sure whether or not you even know what you're saying -- you're spaced out enough, after all -- but shut up, will you." His heart was beating hard in his chest, hard enough that he could feel his pulse in his throat and hands, and West had a feeling that it wasn't from all the running. Tightening his grip on Credo's mane, he turned back to face the front.

Last time he had seen the demon, things had happened. It had started with a kiss, and good Lord, how it had snowballed. West had spent quite a while after they parted trying to sort himself out. He'd gone to bars and to restaurants, trying out this girl or that boy and hoping that one of them would make him feel the same was as Credo -- because then he could say it was normal, that nothing special had happened. He'd tried, but it hadn't worked. Then, with impeccable timing, he'd fallen into one of his slumps, hiding himself away in his safe houses all day. Lots of things crossed his mind, but he hadn't been able to figure anything out.

Back in the present, West felt his shoulders tense as he waited for Credo's reaction. Part of him hoped that the demon would just turn back into a human, beat the living crap out of Ken, then turn back into a horse and ride away into the sunset with him. The more realistic part of him realized that this conversation wasn't over -- that it would only finish after they were in the safe house and Credo was no longer a horse. Either way, this was one awkward situation that West wasn't actually enjoying.

TAGGED: ken and credo
NOTES: ..... |D
LYRICS: Katy Perry
CREDIT: To BUNNYA! from CAUTION 2.0!

[Credo]

Credo carefully listened to what directions West gave him, instructing him to look for a large, aged bridge. Credo kept his eyes pilled for such a thing, tuning out everything else and focusing on getting the two humans to safety. But he unintentionally tuned back in at the most awkward of times. The stranger West had brought along, his name not yet disclosed to Credo, was thinking aloud very rude thoughts. Thoughts that he never imagined the human had the audacity to think aloud. Credo whinnied and snorted, something like that of an irritated horse. Which was what he was at this moment after hearing such things.

Sexuality was a quick way to offend Credo. Not that he was accusing him of discriminating against Credo and West's beliefs. But it was still a touchy subject. Not everyone in the world was open to such things like same sex relationships. And it was that close-mindedness that irritated Credo the most. He was normally a nice guy, very pleasant to be around. However when things like this came to surface, he turned into one of the bitchiest people you would ever meet. First impressions lasted long whiles with Credo. Whiles became months and months turned into years. And if this stranger wasn't already thinking of ways to right the wrong he just created, he would have to hear it from Credo. However Credo was already planning to set the record straight when they reached a safe spot.

West remarked on account that Credo couldn't speak at the moment. Unless the stranger understood loud whinnies and the stomping of hooves, Credo's two cents would have to wait until later.

Credo spotted a huge bridge ahead and the water sparkled quietly under it. Which way West wanted Credo to go now was unknown to him. In turn he started to slow down just in case West instructed any sudden turns. Perhaps there was a safe house, or warehouse close by that West had in mind?


Notes:

[/color] Oh Ken xD
Tagged:[/color] Kenneh Wessst!
Words: 331
Credit:[/color] TAPER JEAN GIRL !
z10.invisionfree.com/CAUTIONTOTHEWIND/index.php?showuser=17680[/center]