aerialassault | 000 [Action] 4th Walled

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4th wall

000 [Action] 4th Walled

[The mass influx of wingless people doesn't throw Cliff off his game. After the last few weeks of cleaning up messes and dealing with the natural fallout of the Malnosso's influences within the village, the flood of new faces is somewhat relaxing for a laid back guy.

He set's his sights primarily on helping out in the Welcome Center for the weekend, planning on spending his time pestering his friends while he was on the lookout for familir faces that he hadn't seen for a while. When he's not there he spends his time hanging out in the Battle Dome or Good Spirits in the evenings before returning to his apartment in the Ground Building at night.

All in all, it's a pretty normal day.]

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[Busy at the Welcome Center is the nice way to put it. Souji has been up since the newcomers started pouring in at midnight, making more maps and writing up information pamphlets, trying to figure out where people could stay if they were staying, and trying to update the housing lists. It's insane, even with the extra help, and after awhile, the work just gets to him.

So rather than work, he takes a minute, crumples a map that he'd made a mistake on into a small compact paper ball and - as Cliff walks by - launches it right at the back of his head.]

[Thwap.

The paper ball harmlessly hit his head and fell to the floor, only to be retrieved moments later as the Klausian himself stooped to pick it up.

He glanced over at Souji, grinning.]

Got something you wanna say?

[When it connected, he hid back behind the desk, peering up over the edge like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.]

I don't like drawing maps - my hand is stiff and I think my eyes might explode.

[And - give him a moment to think.]

Oh, and hi.

[In that moment, Souji was the perfect picture of a bratty kid trying to get out of his homework or shirk his classroom duties. Hands on his hips, Cliff just shook his head when he heard these words.]

Are you trying to say that you wanna take a break and get outta this place for a bit?

[Because that was the message he was getting here.]

[Souji slid down behind the desk entirely and let out a loud sigh, dropping to the ground with a soft thud.]

Are there still new people out there?

[Cliff moved closer and peered over the desk to level with Souji.]

No, not yet. I dunno what's up with this place right now.

[All new people, no familiar faces. He closes his eyes for a moment, reminding himself not to get his hopes up - a mantra done every month now that the Newfeather arrival is so constant. When his time is up, he tilts his head back and looks up at Cliff, the plaintive whine of a child clear on his face.]

I think making so many maps and pamphlets has broken me. Do you think a person can go crazy from drawing too many of the same things?

[Cliff himself had stumbled upon a couple of familiar faces throughout the rush, but their naked, wingless shoulders was almost unnerving for him to observe after spending a year among the 'angels'. He had a hunch that Nel and Amena-- especially Ameena, weren't going to be staying for very long in this world.

His hunches were rarely wrong.]

...Actually, I think they can. [Cliff replied to Souji's question, in complete seriousness.] There's a reason that repetitive actions can be used as a form or torture.

[He offered a hand.]

C'mon. Let's get you outta here and into the fresh air.

I knew it - this place is driving me insane.

[He takes the hand and spins around as he stands to face Cliff.

...

Then he points over his shoulder.]

But you might want to watch out.

[Because there is a pig heading straight for your head.]

[He looked over his shoulder to glance at the incoming pig--

Too. Late. There wasn't enough time to dodge.]

Eee-gaah!!

[Aerial Assault to the face, Saizo Style!]

[Saizou bounces right off Cliff's face and rebounds flying back to the table he'd launched himself from. The table tips and he slides off, using the momentum to run squealing around the room for another go at him.

Meanwhile, Souji just steps back and calls out.]

Remember, you did say you wanted speed training~!

[Speed training. Right. Alert now, Cliff stepped away from the table himself and kept a keen eye on the little pig that was hurtling around the room.]

Uh-- Right. But, I thought you wanted to do that with the Vac!?

[Souji leans forward onto the counter, lacing his fingers under his chin as he watches.]

Voomy? Oh no, I said it would be Saizou helping you train so you can catch me. If you can't outrun him, he'll never let you near me.

[Aaand here he comes. Saizou threaded through several table and chair legs and flew at Cliff's stomach this time, going for a headbutt right in the gut.]

[A quick sidestep and Cliff was out of harm's way for the time being-- he threw Souji a quick look of pure disbelief.]

Here!? He's gonna wreck the place!

[Saizou kicked off the edge of the counter and bounced back, skidding until he was under a table and grunting. He wasn't giving up yet, Cliff. You're still too close to his master.

Meanwhile, Souji shrugged.]

It repairs itself and I can just right the tables he kicks over. I'm sure it'll be fine if you're fast enough.

[....Aaaaand just to make things worse, Souji pushed himself up onto the counter and gave Cliff a small kiss on the cheek. That was answered by enraged squealing from under the table and the sound of scrabbling hooves coming toward him again.]

Good luck~

You-- that--!!

[He had no words at his disposal after the brief kiss, and in the face of of an infuriated little pig charging at full tilt, there was no time.]

--Aah, crap!!

[Cliff took off at this point, out the door. Maybe there would be no civilian casualties if he could get Saizo out of the building...]

[Souji waved happily as Cliff made for the door. As he ran, Saizou changed directions and flew towards the door, trying to cut off his exit. Squealing madly, the pig charged right at Cliff's heels.]

[It wasn't a sidestep this time so much as a dodge. There was no comparison between pigs and bullets afterall. The former had the potential to be cuddly and was far easier to dodge.

Sorry, Saizou. Cliff is just going to keep running out into the plaza.]

[And the pig (plus owner) are going to follow. Saizou is grunting and charging after Cliff, right on his heels, whereas Souji leans against the door of the Welcome Center and waves to them both.]

Is it helping at all?

[Cliff sent him a sharp, incredulous look as he starte making a lap around the building.]

Not really!

[He called, keeping a sharp watch out for any nipping little pig that might try to trip him.]

Don't worry!

[Souji called, waiting until Cliff came around to the other side of the building - Saizou still hot on his heels and squealing madly.]

Give it a few days and I'm sure it will!

You're gonna do this every day?!

[Souji...he can't tell if you're trolling or not right now.]

Well, Fayt-kun said you needed speed practice, so~

Yes?

[Oh, look out, Cliff. Here comes Saizou from around the fountain, using the edge of it to launch himself at Cliff's face.]

Gah!

[Cliff swerved to dodge Saizou and just managed it-- barely. Turning, Cliff rerouted his direction and bee lined for the other side of the plaza.

Sure, he could outrun a pig. No problem!]

[He can't help but laugh and barely turned away in time to put a hand up to hide it. For someone so big, he certainly was agile - and strangely afraid of Saizou hitting him. He waved goodbye to them both as Saizou skid to a stop and whipped around, speeding off after Cliff again as he ran to the other side of the plaza.]

If you can get back inside before he can, I'll keep him outside and you can come back in~

[Saizou freezes and turns back, eyeing Cliff. Can he outrun the pig to make it inside?]