17410/Half an Ounce of Impure...

Half an Ounce of Impure...
Date of Scene:	13 March 2024
Location:	Hell's Kitchen
Synopsis:	Khanitiel follows Sonja into danger, seeking to protect her. In the end, this potential ward proved more than a match for the dark things that were hiding in the shadows.
Cast of Characters:	Khanitiel, Mary Jane Watson

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Khanitiel has posed:
    Night in Hell's Kitchen is everything it is cracked up to be. Addicts with their racoon eyes, thugs with their weapons near at hand, and drug dealers with their caddies and diamonds. Everything bad has its place here at night, save in those moments when a ray of light breaks through the darkness, or a blackness even greater comes to be.

    It's unclear which it will be, but there is a kind of growing unease in those on the street. There is a sense that something is wrong. Not the usual wrong. Worse. It has people on edge, even if they don't exactly know it.

    It is through this environment that the towering form of Khanitiel moves. She is following a woman. A young woman who reminds her of someone she knew once. Perhaps it's the voice she overheard, or the way she moves, or some physical feature. Whatever it is, that memory has sparked an old directive: protect. While the wings are gone, the drive to save is not.

    She wears a black tank top which clings to her tightly. Not by design, by on account of nothing quite fitting a woman with her frame. The glowing wounds where her wings once were are notable. As is her creepy, machine-efficient motions. The beauty she bears only seems to make people uncomfortable. Even here.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
It's a quiet night. And on this night the pulsations of Sonja have been allowed to take hold. There's always something amiss in Hell's Kitchen, and Sonja longs to hunt. Mary Jane has enough influence on her that things will not be broken too badly.. But Sonja cries for blood, and Mary Jane cannot eternally deny her. THat is part of their deal. Sonja is allowed her violence, but Mary Jane can set limits. It does not leave either woman fully happy. But like all things, it is a compromise. With their gestalted mentality working together on it.
    She's tied a bandana with eye slits over it about her face, and rather than her normal blade she's taken two edged pipes that she's taken the time to cut barbs and spikes into to make for a rather brutal melee weapon sheathed over her bck. She is stalking through the night, seeking prey.
    But it seems someone else has the same idea. The woman possessed by a spirit over ten thousand years old can make out her tracker readily - and the angel does stand out quite a bit if not trying to conceal herself. Along her patrol, Sonja stops and lets the angel catch up. "You. What do you want?" She would go to take out the two improvised weapons she had taken the time to make, getting them ready. "If you think to fight me then you are a fool."

Khanitiel has posed:
    It is not confusion that greets Sonja's query. Confusion is too emotional. It is more like waiting for a computer to generate an answer for a complex question. Her voice, though. Khanitiel speaks without any sense of life or energy.

    "I do not want anything," she explains. "I would fail to protect you if I attacked."

    About the two women, a miasma of sorts seems to seep from the ground. It's foglike fingers drift near the pair, but abruptly recoil back, as if stung. There's a sense of sudden wrongness, and then from a dark alleyway they start to appear. There are six creatures with forms like humans, but with bloated flesh and dripping ichor. They move like wildly-controlled marrionettes, moving smoothly one moment, then suddenly charging through several steps like a stop motion reecording.

    They speak no words. They simply attack. Their weird motion makes them annoying to deal with, to say the least.

    Khanitiel's senses go off immediately. "Abominations!" It is perhaps ironic that she puts herself between Sonja and the monsters. It's unlikely that Khanitiel is the stronger of them.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would pff and sneer at Khanitiel, "Then you make assumptions if you think that I cannot protect myself. And answer me then who you are that you think I need such things as /protection/." Never mind the imminent threat, Sonja's first priority was the one that would think she could not handle herself. Even as she would twist her improvised weapons over with glee at getting to beat something down - whether it was her erstwhile protector or whatever might be after them.
    Knowing Sonja's mood at any particular point, it was probably a mix of both. She could be flexible that way with her weapons out. She did love a good --;
    And then those things were coming out that would look like humans, but clearly not be. Sonja would glare at Khanitiel with a 'we'll settle this later' as Sonja would shriek a battle cry. "Freaks, you do not impress me! You will, hwoever, hopefully make for a decent warmup for the night's slaughter." Mary Jane was releasing just a bit more of Sonja's restraints seeing these things weren't human. And better them than her ally. Hopefully enough to slacken Sonja's fury at having something to cut loose some on. Then there's a high pitched cackle over as she goes to charge the first one. Pipes going up to block at a swung wrist, intent on stopping it clean if she could. Then kicking out with a booted foot with intent to aim right over at the pelvis. Strike intended to cripple by breaking a hip. She wasn't expecting these things to go down cleanly, so first priority was to go for immobilization strikes.

Khanitiel has posed:
    The angel has no time to explain herself. Honestly, action is better in any case. She joins Sonja in the fight. There is no sign of her trying to 'help' in the fight, though. Guardian or not, when one's charge is handling herself well, one does not interfere. This is clearly a growth opportunity!

    That first abomination swings its arm so hard that Sonja can hear (and maybe even feel) the wrist break. It certain stops it, but it gives no sign of feeling a thing. The strike to the hip is met with that sudden, jagged motion, and instead finds the creature right in the gut. This strike produces a wet sound, and blood (or something like it) sprays from flesh that is so brittle it tears when struck.

    There are many more of these creatures, though, and they do not all lock on to Sonja. The first one to lunge at her is met by Khanitiel. She waits for the creature to get airbourne before throwing her shoulder into it, then bringing to the ground in a satisfying slam that leaves the back of its head splattering on the pavement.

    The others are crowding in quickly, however, and they move in with some level of intelligence. They are trying to separate their targets and surround them.

Khanitiel has posed:
    To achieve this, one charges at Khanitiel from the side while two others throw themselves towards Sonja, attempting to grapple her and drag her down.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
They seem to be operating like a pack. With no restraint, no sense of needing one to take command, and on a level of instinct. She's not sure if they're former, corrupted humans, or this is their natural state. Ironically it makes things somewhat easier. They only have the normal amount of limbs and while extremely enhanced, don't have built in blades, armor, or other spring out weapons and surprises so far. They could be much more dangerous after all. Sonja has fought enough times to appreciate the limitations of a purely humanoid combatant.
    These things can bleed, in a way, but likely won't bleed out. So Sonja goes to try and increase the damage. Repeatedly slashing over and bludgeoning if she can at weak points, trying to go in as hard as she can and as fast as she can. She accepts Khanitiel protecting her flank; they are alliees of convenience for the moment. And Sonja can alawys be ready if the other tries to backstab her at a moment of convenience later on as Sonja has experienced most stalkers from the night have a tendency to do so.
    As the two are forced apart and separated, a demonpile grows atop Khanitiel. Sonja would go to her aid if seh didn't have her own problems. Agaisnt these she can only retreat. The things are fast and powerful, and she has to withdraw to avoid being flanked and pinned. She's backing away, right as one of her weapons is crushed and the other flung away in an overpowering strike!

Khanitiel has posed:
    Khanitiel does not get angry. But she senses the enemy is moving in a way that might cause harm to Sonja. No matter how powerful this woman is, the overpowering drive of an ancient being overrides anything that might seem like common sense. This makes her reckless, unpredictable to the enemy, and cooly violent.

    Before Khanitiel can make her wild attempt at a break through, though, Sonja has to deal with her enemies. The three are spreading out, but not attacking all-out yet. One lunges forward, and then springs back. Then the second at the same time moves in, and finally the third, the most wounded, barrels in. This time it is simply a tackle, followed the blink of an eye later by the two others.

    As that is all coming to bear on Sonja, Khanitiel launches her wild attack. The one thing she has on these creatures is her size. She's big enough to strike first on account of her reach. This opens up just enough of a gap for her to charge forward, slamming her body into one of the creatures and more or less running it over. Not without cost. She is struck in motion, several times, but like her enemies, she has no reaction, no sign of pain.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Sonja is well aware that when faced with overwhelming strength and power, one does not take it head on. Sonja, like that bullheaded follower of Crom, knows well that one meets an enemy in bloodlust but does not fight them on their favored ground or in their favored battle. She did not in her own way survive in her wretched era, blessed of Scathach or not from however long ago by charging in swordfirst all the time. Her goddess did not reward fools nor waste her gifts of vengeance upon them. So she retreats. She falls bcakwards, even when both of her improvised weapons are discarded while the group goes to go after her.
    Shaking her head over at Khanitiel not in an 'I don't need your help' thing but moreso that the angel has left herself so completely open. Sonja goes to now move to her backup weapons - two extending metal poles popped out from her back. Batons that would be used at close quarters. The blunted ends not being quite so as effective than the pipes had been. But enough now for her to at least defend herself if not hit.
    So she goes for quick attempted counterattacks. The things might nto feel any pain or respond to it but they still could have bones broken. So hopefully that meant they were still reliant upon sensory receptors as well. QUick strike sof parry, dodge, twist to avoid one moving to charge at her, and then she goes for counterstrikes. Attmepting to hit forehead and neck to slow it, attempted strike under an armpit to temporarily disable the side.. Then a quick drawn dagger from a sleeve, trying to skewer it in an eye!

Khanitiel has posed:
    These creatures do seem to have some sense of self-preservation, but it is rather tenuous. While they use feints once or twice, one might get the sense that they get bored quickly. They adapt poorly. The creature on the far right is just starting to ready itself for a charge when it gets sent flying by Khanitiel. It slams brutally into the alley wall. But the angel is, well, not exactly enraged, but she sure acts like it.

    She is focused!

    Sonja can certainly here, even if she cannot see, that Khanitiel is entirely bent on annihilating that thing before the others can stop her. She puts all her weight into a kneestrike crushing the abomination's head in a most sickly-sounding way.

    But her three attackers are right behind her, and they ignore Sonja in their almost mad urgency. They can't exactly separate their enemies now, but they might be able to finish off the angel before Sonja can intervene.

    Not that Sonja isn't already occupied. Still, by the time that the others are charging, her approach is bearing fruit. The strike to the forehead does more than one might expect, and blood and some kind of greenish liquid spatter out. The whole thing caves in like a rotten pumpkin. Then its eye is taken, and the thing falls backwards, disrupted to the point where it cannot be anymore.

    Its partner is held at bay by its own allies charging. One of them comes between it and Sonja, buying her yet more time. During that time she may notice the enemy she's defeated melts into the worst smelling puddle of rot and putresence imaginable.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Self preservation is a useful thing in a fight. It makes one defend themselves, fall back, and use strategy and tactics. If one doesn't have such a thing, it makes them often all the more powerful.. But also far more prone to overcommit, be predictable.. And makes them easy to anticipate. So Red Sonja goes to strike in while one of them is vulnerable. Slash at eye, go to skewer over and then kick away body. Now time to try and help her ally of convenience. That by Sonja's conclusion seems to be doing worse than Sonja is herself. So Sonja's going to try and back her up - but once more intercepted. And the woman had better have some healing powers or a sort since she doesn't seem to have enhanced durability protecting her. Sonja however now is rather limited in her weapons beyond the two staves which have the length of batons. These things can still overpower her and a dagger isn't particularly useful for rending damage. But neither are her staves.
    A twist, and she goes to come them to make a large staff. Not the most effective either, but it gies her greater range in the fight. A greater reach lets her defend herself more, and have an easier time playing keepaway. Which against something stronger and more powerful is incredibly useful. More steps back, staff twirling around to block attacks. She's hitting back the things on occasion but the weaon isn't durable enough even with power behind it to do much damage. She needs something better.. She can hold her own and doesn't tire for a long time, but her ally of convenience might not live that long and she can't guarantee her victory in time before Khanitiel bleeds to death.

Khanitiel has posed:
    The angel is able to roll away from much of the damage that was going her way, thankfully. Though rolling in this alley is a punishment all its own. She may want to burn her clothes after. Still, when she is back on her feet she is bleeding from several wounds, two of which appear likely to need stitches.

    Still, Khanitiel has her wits about her, and there is never aa doubt what her priority is. Rather than focus more on her own situation, she sizes the weapon that was knocked from Sonja earlier.

    "Catch this!"

    She does not throw it /at/ the woman. She casts it perfectly to be caught by Sonja safely, however. She might have been able to make good use of that thing herself, but her combat skills are warming up. Or it is just that the situation is feeling familiar, perhaps.

    Sonja finds herself at ths point, facing just one of the creatures now. The other three have directed all their attention to her angelic guardian. Who thus far has demonstrated none of that legendary angelic power. If not for the obvious wounds where her wings were, there'd be nothing to mark her out other than her eerie strangeness.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
It's not the best weapon - it's a pipe that had some pointy bits hacked onto it. It makes useful for dealingw ith someone reasonably ordinary on the streets. Enough to beat and break things but not crush, kill, maim, and mutilate. It laso means however that it is not best for this sort of fight. But MJ does not let Sonja take her full swords out to these sorts of things. Peter owuld be upset with her if she went out and slashed off limbs. There ar elimits to what she can do here.
    THe pipe is not the most useful thing, but it's better than her staff when it comes to having something to hit with. The staff is retracted over to a reinforced baton now as she doesn't make eye contact to express her thanks - not so out of disgust, but moreso as one never takes an eye off an enemy in a fight. Discussion later. Kill first.
    Now she goes to alternate strikes. Neck, pelvis, shoulder. With occasional kicks over at a knee. The point is cripple them given she lacks the most effective things to break them up. Hopefully she can limit their mobility and then deal with them permanently when they're not in a state to chase after her.

Khanitiel has posed:
    Fortunately limbs break, tendors and ligaments tear, and certain areas of the abominations are strangely vulnerable. But there is no set pattern. Khanitiel realizes this as she works to buy Sonja time. She makes no attempt to get help, nor does she show any reaction to her own dangerous situation. There's simply not motive in her to do so.

    Sonja finds her first few attacks drive the creature back. They limit motion, even disabling an arm when the shoulder suddenly shatters, splatting blood in the first and then spurting with a variety of disgusting fluids in the aftermath. Its knee is stronger, but yet it seems to obey the general rules one might expect. It is the third kick that finally breaks through the defenses of the monster and dislocates the knee entirely, toppling the thing onto its side.

    Khanitiel remains essentially insane in her approach to battle. She simply attacks. This round, she acts on the knowledge that they are human in structure and roughly the same in weight. This allows her the opportunity to grab a reaching arm and swing the entire beast around, using it as a projectile against its kind. More damage is dealt to her, with a gash along her back, but the end result is that she's bought herself time and space.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Sonja has seen beings that if you break a limb off they would simply snatch it up and use it as a flail. If a hand was cut off, they would use the broken bone to stab at someone in the eye with. If they laid on the ground bleeding out with their throat slit, they would crawl up and try and bite someone's limb off if not quickly defended. The angel fights with purpose an insanity but is far from the most crazed combatant that Sonja has ever fought against (or with, barbarians had far more fanatics than popular culture caredt o portray). As one of them goes down, she goes to try and stomp at the skull in the hopes of shattering it just to make sure the thing stays down for a few. Then she's on to the next one if possible.
    Then she goes to make way at the ones that Khanitiel had flung, hopefully catching up wtih them before they could scramble back to their feet. Now her zest is more focused on savage beating rather than striking specific points. She has but a few heartbeats to inflict as much damage as she can, even as she attempts to stomp, smash, club, and bludgeon and break whatever bits she can before they fling her away and get up. Savagery was an asset.

Khanitiel has posed:
    It is at this point that Sonja is likely to notice something. First, that when they are down she can quickly tear them to shreads. Hit them hard enough, enough times, and parts of them just collapse. The smell is horrific, but it sure does the job. It is because of this that she has two of them bursting and disintegrating in a few rounds of brutal attacks.

    There is just one left, and regardless of proximity, it seems stuck on its initial target. Sure, it will duck away from any attacks Sonja aims at it, but it never threatens her. It is imprinted.

    The wounds are starting to add up on the angel. Still, she's not slowed down yet. Nor does she give this abomination a pass just because it is, for the moment, not threatening Sonja. With a strange sound, midway between a growl and a hiss, the last monster charges forward.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
They go down but also they stay down. They're not total sponges that seem to be able to take endless amounts of damage, whether from durability or regeneration. They're strong and powerful, but don't seem capable of endless fighting. They're vulnerable to some degree - not as much as a regular human, but not into the realm of totally metahuman that can only be stopped by overwhelming firepower. Sonja has been hurt, but she is not tired. She is still fighting all out and enjoying herself.
    Then as she sees it going towards the angel, and she moves to threaten it, "Do not turn your back to me, beast!" Now her bloodlust is overwhelming her common sense as how DARE an opponent ignore her in combat. This has her truly growing brutal as she moves to charge towards the thing heedless to her own risk of injury or vulnerability. If it wil lturn it's back on her then she'll do her best to try and simply smash into it and then tear it limb from limb!

Khanitiel has posed:
    Th beast /does/ turn its back to Sonja. This leaves it wide open. It begins with a few reasonable expressions of violence by Sonja, and then it becomes evident that it is going to be a true masterclass in brutality. With enough force and determination, legs, arms, and the head can be either severed entirely or obliterated with ongoing bludgeoned force.

    Khanitiel stands as a silent witness to this. There is no emotional response to the power of this woman she meant to protect. Niether pride nor concern. It takes some time, but she will eventually say, "That was truly impressive."

    The Angel is winded, bloodied, but successful enough. "You are injured," she notes. "We need a clean environment so I can tend to your wounds." Says the woman who stands there, foolishly bleeding from her single-minded strategy.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Sonja would look over at the woman, nonplussed at her own broken bones, bleeding bits, and some other minor (to her) injuries. "Nonsense. I have the remainder of my wanderings." What some heroes might call 'patrol' but Sonja calls 'beat things to near death'. Well, that's what Sonja would like it to be - Mary Jane tries to hold her far off from the 'near'. "THis has been an excellent start to the evening. I shall perhaps slack my thirsts if there is more to come." She looks quite merry, quite mad.. And quite, quite happy at the prospect of more things to slaughter the likes of which she does not have to restrain herself over. She gets so few times to slack her thirst, her bloodlust, her fury.. Even as she has now ranged free enough that the discussion in their shared headspace has turned into a full flung argument as Mary Jane and Sonja argue. But Sonja has had enough time as the primary mind in the body and is reveling in her combat that it is difficult for Mary Jane to do more to slow her down.
    "You are welcome to join me if you -wish-. You can hold your own." For Sonja, high words of praise.
    But what she had said early on about this just being the warmup to the night was quite true.

Khanitiel has posed:
    Seeing that Sonja means to continue, the angel will follow. But she will need to make a pit stop. She's hidden away a few possessions not far from here. These include the essentials. Bandages, antiseptic spray, and a needle and thread. While Sonja finds some means to ply her trade, Khanitiel shall be nearby, perched on a dirty stairway, sewing her wounds shut. She will win no awards for her work, but she is absolutely capable of this.

    Then she is back into the action! They face no more creatures of the kind they met earlier, sadly, but there are always the garden variety psychopaths to come across. It is a good night to visit terror and agony upon those who bring suffering to the innocent! Tonight there is little time wasted on speech. Much is expressed in the language of battle.