Second Ax [@the.boneless, video]

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar's improving on using the video function. This time, he gets it on the first try. His voice is just a little above a whisper and he's looking off to the side at something just beyond the camera. The background shows he's in the forest beyond the city.]

Does anyone know where I can find a fire-proof bridle?

[The question seems a bit of a non-sequitur until he turns the camera to the side. There's a Ponyta standing not too far off. Ivar's been trying to get it closer all afternoon. It's taken a lot of patience, but now it's only about ten feet away. Its diamond-shaped eyes narrow as it watches the Viking and the Pokemon tosses its head, too suspicious to come any closer.]

Come on. I won't hurt you. Just a little further. Come on.

[For someone who usually keeps everyone at arm's length with a combination of sarcasm and toughness, he sounds far more gentle than usual. It seems to be working, as the Ponyta takes a hesitant step forward, ears pricked forward in anticipation. Ivar's face is a combination of wonder and awe. He's about ten seconds away from completely freaking out. This creature looks like something from an old legend, a horse with a mane and tail of fire. This qualifies as the coolest thing he's seen since he came to the city.]

Comments

[ragnarsson]

[Ponyta is hit head on and is affected by confusion, blinking its eyes as it tosses its head back and forth. It paws the ground with its hooves before letting out a whinny, rearing onto its hind legs at it runs right at Phantump. With a cry of 'Phantump, phantump!', it dodges the oncoming tackle attack. Unfortunately, the Ponyta doesn't stop when Sprig avoids the attack.]

Fuck. Move! [He shoves Letha hard to get her out of the way as the Ponyta charges at the two of them. They barely avoid the fire Pokemon, which stops and turns around, ready for another attack.]

[burntbridges]

[Sprig has made a grave mistake, which by extension is Letha's grave mistake. And it doesn't really hit her until she's on the ground, squeaking with shock at the new scrape on her arm. She looks up to see the Ponyta rearing for another attack, and scrambles to get up and move to hide behind Ivar.]

Sprig, tackle it!

[Sprig is not about to do anything of the sort. He is hiding in the tree above them, regretting everything.]

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar reluctantly pulls a knife out of his vest. Not that he thinks it will be much help against a creature that is literally on fire, but hey, it's better than no protection at all. Ponyta weaves from side to side for a moment as it tries to shake off the confusion. Ivar glares up at the Phantump in the tree above them. Well, there's one last tactic he can use. Guilt.]

Sprig, your owner is about to die. Get down here!

[The Ponyta foal charges again. There's nowhere to go this time. Ivar braces for impact. This is going to hurt. Then, with a small cry of 'Phan, phan!', Sprig gathers his courage. He can't let Letha get hurt. He jumps from the tree, hitting Ponyta's side, knocking it to the ground. It's only a young Pokemon, after all, and it doesn't rise, dazed from the move.]

Will that ball work on it?

[He saw Sprig come in and out of its Pokeball, so he's gotten the basic gist of how it works down.]

[burntbridges]

I- maybe-...

[She's not thinking exactly straight, but Ivar seems to have gotten through Sprig's head so at least there's that. She stumbles a bit as she reaches into her bag and grabs her spare pokeball, shoving it into Ivar's hand.]

Just throw it, it'll do all the work on its own.

[Sprig is now floating over the ponyta, all puffed up from pride. Were the situation as contained as she'd planned it to be Letha would be giggling at him, but... she just feels personally victimized by this. And her arm's bleeding, and she's somewhat dizzy, and she's still angry at Ivar for that crack about losing her baby.]

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar throws the Pokeball at the downed Ponyta and it disappears into the ball in a flash of light. The ball wriggles around for a few moments as it tries to escape before it finally settles down with a final Ping!

Only then does Ivar breathe a sigh of relief. He wheels over to the Pokeball and pick it up. Curious, how such a small device can contain a creature so much larger. Then he turns his attention back to Letha.]

Are you alright?

[He'll yell at her in a minute about how foolish she was, but for now, he's making sure they both survived a near-death experience with a fire horse.]

[burntbridges]

[She glances down, checking that her belly doesn't have any signs of damage, before offering him a shy little nod before returning Sprig to his ball.]

I'm fine... I'll be fine.

[Just as soon as this dizzy spell passes, but she chocks it up to the shock of the ponyta attack.]

[ragnarsson]

[He pockets the Pokeball and makes his way over towards Letha. He can see the nice little scrape she'd picked up. Some of his anger evaporates, but there's always plenty left over in case he wants to yell at her later.]

Let me look at your arm.

[burntbridges]

[She hesitates, before walks over and offering her arm to him. She landed hard on the area around her elbow, and the spot on her forearm that got scraped is already growing into a bruise. They show up pretty easily, from how pale and thin her skin is.

Her fingers are shaking a bit; she's seen first-hand the sort of damage he can do, and there's still a nagging fear that he's still angry at her. She's never been in a position of having someone angry at her who could do any real damage, but the thought is frightening enough on its own.]

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar counts both of them lucky that neither one of them ended up hurt worse than they already are. This could have ended in a bad way. His voice has a harsh, angry tone to it, though he doesn't so much as raise a hand to Letha. He's not that kind of man.]

Don't ever do something stupid like that again! Next time, you do as I tell you. Do I make myself clear?

[burntbridges]

[She flinches, and her arm retreats so she can cross her arms defensively. She sort of knew it was coming, but it still stings. It hurts in an accurate way, because how many times has she been yelled at for ignoring people and doing something stupid and getting herself hurt? Far too many times, by any count.]

I'm sorry. [She tries to make herself as small as she can, but... she's taller than him in his wheelchair, so it doesn't create quite the same effect as cowering under her husband.] I just wanted to..

[She trails off because... well, she wanted to show off. And that's a moot point after she almost got trampled by a flaming horse.]

[ragnarsson]

You wanted to prove me wrong. You did a wonderful job of it. If Sprig hadn't found his courage, we'd probably be dead right now.

[Oh, he's on a roll now, giving vent to everything he's been thinking. It's very easy to glare with his blue on blue eyes and he does so now, trapping her under a gaze designed to make the person under it feel five inches tall. It's very effective.]

You knew these creatures are dangerous and you just jumped in without even thinking of the consequences. You weren't thinking what was best for yourself or even for your child. You were being selfish.

[burntbridges]

[Oh, she feels five inches tall alright. But the insults are so familiar, so very much like what one of her family members would say, that she manages to trip into her courage. She bristles as she starts to argue, her voice still meek and cracking.]

You weren't much better, wandering off into the woods after that thing without an ounce of knowledge about them. I came out here to help you, and the least you could do was thank me, if it weren't for me you wouldn't have it at all.

[ragnarsson]

I can take care of myself, Letha. I don't need you helping me.

[He'd had everything under control before she'd spooked the fire horse. His voice drips with sarcasm as he goes on.]

Fine then. You want a thank you? Thank you for being an idiot and almost getting yourself killed. Now don't ever do it again.

[burntbridges]

And what would you have done if I hadn't been here to be its target? At least I have the legs to run from danger!

[Oh Letha. Honey. This is low even for you.]

[ragnarsson]

[That's it. All bets are off. Before he even thinks of what he's doing, his hand has pulled out the knife from his vest, and he's holding it at Letha's throat. His movements are so fast there's just a blur between pulling out the blade and pressing it to her.]

It's time for you to leave.

[It's only because of the time it takes to press the blade to her throat that saves her life. It gives him just enough to time to reconsider his course of action. Ivar's killed people for far less when they insult him.]

[burntbridges]

[She's never had a knife to her throat, and her heart stops for a moment when she feels the cold steel. She freezes, trembling as her mind races from Sprig, to the sword, to the pair of tailors' scissors hidden in her skirt. She doesn't have a single chance with any of them against Ivar when he's angry, and she's not stupid enough to make him angrier when a child is depending on her continuing to live.]

I'm- I'm sorry. [She backs away, stumbling over an exposed root and feeling almost numb from the emotions mixing in her.] I didn't mean to- I'm sorry. I'll leave.

[She is definitely crying now, although she doesn't have the presence of mind to try and wipe her eyes.]