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[flaredo]

"Heeey, you've reached Yang! Well, actually, you didn't reach far enough, 'cause I'm not here right now! But don't yang up! Just leave a message on this baby, and I'll get back to you soon enough, okay?"

[ Please specify VOICEMAIL, TEXT or CALL. ]

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[flaredo]

[ It's okay, Naoki, she isn't going to stray from his side. But she takes his hand, squeezing reassuringly. ]

... We're gonna have a talk after this.

[masakados]

[Naoki squeezes back at her hand, his fingers sliding through hers and his eyes shut for a moment. It's funny. He remembers the days he'd dreaded speaking about things.]

...Yeah. Please. [And he starts to walk.] We'll just take care of all of this, first.

[flaredo]

Whatever all this is... seriously, what gives? [ WHAT IS ALL THIS SHIT. ]

[masakados]

CERES strikes again. [Naoki supplies dryly as he steps forward, pulling her by the hand. His other one lifts and fire catches once more to send a light before them.]

This is the most twisted I've seen of any Christmas things.

[Murderous Santas and sleighs and reindeer...]

[flaredo]

... Christmas stuff still? I was wondering about that thing outside.

[ Thank god she'd had a nice, sweet one with Naoki, but she's keeping one gauntlet close to her side. Anything jumps them, she'll be ready. ]

[masakados]

Yeah. [Naoki sighs.] I'd like to just... pass on their ideas.

[That's for damn sure. He'll take the one he had with Yang any day. His gaze is fixed ahead of them, though, head cocked as he listens closely.]

Did you run into anyone else yet, Yang? [And her team? He frowns.]

[flaredo]

I was with my team-- we got separated, though. But...

[ ... No. She believes in them. She'll lift her chin, resolutely. ]

They're fine. I'll meet up with them.

[masakados]

[Naoki nods his head too, and a more determined light comes into his eyes.]

You will. I'll help you, too.

...I know there're other people around, I can feel them, but... [And then there comes a skittering sound. And a clattering one from overhead, where the roof gapes open, letting in snowfall.]

[flaredo]

... Let's deal with our company first, and then we can focus on finding everyone else. I'm sure we're not the only ones fighting.

[ So, glancing up-- ]

Wanna give me a boost?

[masakados]

[Naoki's looking up as well, eyes sharp, before back to her as he nods firmly.]

Yeah, no problem.

[He's got you, Yang.]

[flaredo]

I'll be bringing a new friend back with me, so be sure to say hello.

[ And she's letting go of his hand, nodding to him.

... She'll be back. ]

[masakados]

I'll have my most energetic hello waiting.

[And he's shifting to cup his hands together, waiting for her to plant her foot there.

He knows she will-- he trusts her.]

[flaredo]

[ There goes her foot, and she places a hand on his shoulder, just for temporary balance.

BON VOYAGE. ]

[masakados]

[BON VOYAGE INDEED.

Because he's giving her that boost as good as if she weighed nothing at all, tossing her straight up with ease. GO BRING THAT NEW FRIEND BACK.]

[flaredo]

[ Off she sails, straight and true--

And then there's the sound of a gunshot, a bellow of enraged pain as she comes plummeting back down, dragging a screeching reindeer thing with her. To its credit, it's still trying to valiantly impale her. ]

[masakados]

[Ah, there's their guest.

Naoki spreads his feet apart, bracing himself as he watches them plummeting down. One hand shifts, fingers flicking as wind whips up, to slow Yang's descent--]

[flaredo]

[ Completely at ease when she feels the wind rush up to meet her, Yang blows Naoki a kiss-- and then twists mid-air, slamming one gauntlet down against the creature's side.

It's one pissed, squalling reindeer coming down to meet you, Naoki. At least your girlfriend will land just fine. ]

[masakados]

[Naoki grins briefly, pleased, but then his eyes are on the reindeer plummeting right for him. He shifts his stance, pulls back an arm... and when it's within range, grabs it by one leg, swinging it bodily to the side, into the ground.

So hard that the floor around it (like the place weren't already damaged enough) buckles, collapsing around it in a crater. That gives it some pause, enough time for Naoki to step back, cracking his knuckles.]

[flaredo]

[ And Yang lands, straightening up from her crouch as her hair flares bright. The flooring is already a mess, but it's fine. That's one more reindeer to take on. ]

Honey, I'm home.

[masakados]

Just in time, we've got a guest to entertain.

[--and then he hears the faint sound of skittering footsteps from behind them, turning. Those weird little toothy guys she mentioned, he thinks, attracted by the noise.] Or more than one.

[flaredo]

That's okay. [ She steps forward, gauntlets raised and eyes narrowed. ] If they're hungry, I have just the thing.

[masakados]

[Naoki's moving, to place his back to hers, him facing the reindeer, her facing-- yeah, on a glance back, those are certainly little goblins or gremlins or. In keeping with the season, he supposes they'd be elves.]

Then, we better serve it up before they get impatient.

[That reindeer's managed to get itself to its hooves and Naoki stares at it... and it bellows angrily, streaking right for him. He braces himself, hands reaching out to stop it, clamping down on the top and bottom of its snout.]

[flaredo]

[ He'll be fine, she knows that-- but all the same, she'll still reach behind, place a solid palm on his back... and then run forward, using her gauntlets to lend her a little more speed as she barrels into the group of goblin thingies. She's a blur of flames and glowing light now, keeping each punch strong and decisive. ]

[masakados]

[That touch, brief as it is, is bolstering. Naoki's grip renews on the reindeer's snout as it tries to thrash, get its jaws open enough to snap at his hands. But there's no way that's happening. When it paws forward, Naoki's tightening his grip and flipping it over.

It slams into the ground headfirst once again, antlers snapping off, and Naoki yanks up one of these as he backpedals from more weakly thrashing legs.

He knows she can handle herself, but he still twists, flinging that antler to spear an approaching elf that thinks it can join in on the brawl, sending it flying off.]

[flaredo]

[ Her boyfriend, gosh-- Yang can't spare him a glance right now, busy driving the elves further back (and sending one flying into the ceiling), but she speeds up further as one more elf collapses, wreathed in flames. Can't let him win-- wait. ]