(Closed: Obsidian and Sulfur) Return of the Scourage

[Sulfur]

    Sulfur looked into the cave eagerly. The Kindergarten had become a boring place to train, as most of the strong corruptions were already broken. During one recent fight a rather large corruption had shattered a cave wall of the Kindergarten and opened up a large cave resembling a labyrinth. Sulfur hadn't yet explored it, but he learned that any noise inside drew out the monsters, so he had no real need. These corruptions were the real thing, beasts that could take hits and could definitely dish them out.

    Sulfur summoned five of his blade weapons in the air around him, as well as the two he kept in his hands. Three of the floating blades hovered above him for defense, and the other two darted into the cave and started to ricochet off of the walls. It wasn't long before the distorted, dual toned wails of corruptions drew near. Sulfur darted out of the cave, bringing himself into a wide valley of the kindergarten, more room meant more distance he could create, as he preferred to fight at a distance.

    A total of three beasts came through, they were bulky quadrupeds with large mouths, former quartzes. The creatures darted at him hungrily, leaping into the air. Sulfur charged forward and summoned his remaining five blades. He slid under the first corruption and sent four blades up through it's stomach. The beast's back arched as the blades pierced it, and then as Sulfur moved his fingers the blades twirled like a blender in the beast's stomach. As it poofed he moved all of his blades to one side of him, putting them together like a shield as the next one  nearly gored him with it's tusks. It instead went face-first into the shield. Sulfur leapt over his barrier and stabbed downward with the blades in his hands, a few good swings in poofed the next one.

    The third came at him slowly, as his shield still gave him security. This one was the smartest of the group, but it was wasted. Sulfur had one opponent left, and so he didn't need to be intelligent. All of his blades darted toward it and savagely tore it to shreds. Once he had poofed all three his blades made quick work of shattering them. He sighed in relief, satisfied with his work. However, it had seemed that the corruptions did not only leave their cave to pursue sound, some had crept out overnight. He only then noticed the remaining nine that had surrounded him, hiding in smaller alcoves.

[Deleted]

Obsidian's head shot up as he dropped the piece of wood he'd been carving, spacious eyes narrowing as his hands clenched together. "They hunt, Emerald..." he said quietly, stroking the mane of the smaller corruption next to them. "The Drahenkai are angered. An unwanted guest, perhaps." Obsidians' short axe was summoned in an instant, blade edge dripping in purple liquid. "The Kindergarten near here is most likely where they nest. I shall go and see what is happening. And you, Emmy, get to stay here and not get in trouble! How exciting!" The corruption giggled to himself, summoning another axe in his free hand. He quickly made his way to the site of the attack, the distinct sound of shattering made Obsidian stop in his tracks, face deforming with rage. "Murder." He hissed, stalking his way to one the canyon ledges. A Gem that Obsidian surprisingly didn't recognize was fighting against several malformed Quartzes, a number of blades hovering around him. They were most likely the culprit for the shattering, but Obsidian could hardly blame them in this situation - he had hardly seen so many grouped up before. Tossing both of his weapons down from above, Obsidian jumped in after - summoning more as the first two nearly impacted two of the corruptions.

[Sulfur]

As the axes pierced the corrupted Quartzes squeals of pain erupted from them. Such a throw would have poofed a normal corruption, but these bulky specimen were able to take a hit from attacks such as these. The two however, hardly ignored the attack. They turned to face the newcomer, snarling. The impact of the axes also got the attention of a third.

The rest however, attacked Sulfur. Sulfur had no openings to attack, he kept all ten of his blades beside him, frantically blocking the never-ending rain of attacks from the six corruptions having at him. He was not good at fighting large groups. He realized that three of his enemies had been distracted, before he could discern why he sent a blade to deal with one of the corruption. A lone blade was not very effective against a beast of such power, but the blade unlike the beast, could not be killed, so it would just be a while. Sulfur was panting furiously as he scrambled amidst the mob. He hoped that whatever the disturbance was could distract more of his enemies.

[Deleted]

"Yield." Obsidian snarled, stepping closer to the frothing beasts. One hesitated for a moment while the other two continued to advance. An outstretched claw whiffed by as he dodged, and it was met with an axe blade which sent the corruption reeling and roaring in some sort of anger or pain as the other two ran away. "Drahenkai, vox su millr et bigta." Four more turned to his call and paced around him nervously, as the assault on the other Gem lessened, Obsidian took the chance to get a better look at the them. A flicker of recognition of the Gem's type flashed across his mind before dissolving, causing him to growl in frustration. What was it about them that seemed familiar, but not in a personal way? Perhaps... he new of the type but hadn't seen it before?

[Sulfur]

Sulfur grinned as they finally stopped their advance, he had been looking forward to impaling them with his blades! Suddenly though he was distracted by the source of the chance, a purple gem who was...speaking to them? Sulfur wondered if this meant he had caused the attack, corruptions rarely did something so intelligent. He brought his swords around him as he looked over at the gem. Was it corrupted or just monstrous in appearance. He had surely never seen a normal gem like this, probably a corruption. He had never seen a corruption this untouched before.

"What are you... tell me was this attack your doing?" Sulfur considered his options. If this gem were the culprit he figured he could kill this gem and then flee before the remaining corruptions did much damage. He may simply have to run without attacking if the corruption/gem made the first move. He simply kept his speech simple, making intense eye contact.

[Deleted]

"Yes of course." Obsidian stated, sarcasm thick in his voice. "My master plan was to stop them from poofing you and sending them away so I could face you in single combat." Shaking his head, he exchanged a few more choice words with the rest of the corruptions who decided to heed his warning and leave - with the two Gems now alone. He knelt, facial features turning to that of muffled anger as he picked up a stray Gem shard from one of the ones that were shattered. "What business have you roaming the kindergarten and provoking the Drahenkai? I think that rational decision making is out considering you came alone and you surely must of known that a majority of them hunt in packs."

[Sulfur]

"Packs that large never crawled around here in broad daylight...they seem to keep to the caves." Sulfur began, answering his question first. Sulfur grinned. He left five blades protecting himself and allowed the other five to remain in the air above him. He stared into the corruption's eyes. He was indeed curious about this gem, but since he had been challenged he decided he could forfeit answers. He felt that he should allow his opponent to at least prepare rather than be surprised. Surprise tactics were not the best means of proving your abilities, they hint of cowardice. He found that a shame, as surprising an opponent was so useful. "Why do you want to attack me and risk your life? I would be hard pressed to defeat twelve of those beasts, but you are quite alone. Gems live long, will you rush to your death?"

[Deleted]

"You took me seriously." Obsidian stated, giving Sulfur a wither glare as he despawned his weapons. "Is it because I look scary that you can't detect my sarcasm or is it your severe case of edge?" The corruption's face quickly scrolled through a series of emotions. "Anyway... my other question still stands! What are you doing in the Kindergarten and what exactly did you do to provoke the Quartzes? Are you one of those... Crystal Gems?" He paused, frowning. "They seem to have an unusual knack for trying to 'help' us when all they really do is imprison my kind. Regardless... I don't recognize your Gem type. Answer the first question and then this - what Gem are you?" The other corruptions had fully scattered by now, howls long in the distance as Obsidian and the other Gem stared each other down in this forsaken rift.

[Sulfur]

Sulfur's expression went from cold and devoid of emotion to that of an angry child. He glared hard at Obsidian, a bit flustered looking and stomped one of his feet.

"As if! You're some sort of corrupted beast that can speak to the others! It would be foolish to take something unfamiliar for granted! What do you expect?! I have no knowledge of your kind! Why should I have a low guard!?" He snapped. He sighed and crossed his arms with a pouty expression. He then gave a cynical smirk. "Crystal gems... please! I would not be caught shattered with those insolent wusses. They are but a pathetic branch of dreaming gems who need to get a grasp on reality! I am here to hunt, these beasts are dangerous, and therefore, fun for practice."

Sulfur then hopped off of the floor and levitated a few feet off of the ground.

"Before you ask such a personal question as my gem type, would you explain what exactly you are? I truly have not the slightest idea."

[Deleted]

"Now that you've confirmed that you are somehow more messed up than I am..." Obsidian closed one eye, leaving the other staring at sulfur unblinkingly. "Oh? You want to know what I am? I had thought that not a moment ago I was just a 'corrupted beast' that should be 'shattered for practice'. If it wasn't mind numbingly obvious, I'm a Gem. Corrupted, yes, but I have retained most of my cognitive functions." This new Gem was interesting, if a bit too easy to push (his?) buttons. Obsidian rarely saw Gems that took on male forms similar to his own, and combined with his strange Gem type, made this newcomer an enigma. One that Obsidian wished to figure out before anything else.

[Sulfur]

Sulfur made a sour face as he listened to Obsidian speak. As he hovered his arms slumped downward lazily, as if he were laying on his stomach, yet he was midair. He approached Obsidian, doing a twirl midair as his blades vanished. He floated in a slow circle around Obsidian, getting a look at him. After a while Sulfur put his hair into a ponytail and landed in front of the corruption.

"You could be shattered for practice...just fine...but I have never seen a corruption that can speak... I wonder, will you be more challenging with your mind, or does the brutality of a beast grant it power?" Sulfur's mouth opened unnaturally wide as he laughed suddenly. His blank stare returned abruptly. "I suppose it's my turn. I am a Sulfur gem, probably you have never met one before because I am the only official Sulfur gem that exists. The other Sulfur that exists I created myself artificially, and she is a bit...quirky. So tell me more about this, corruption. Tell me about your transformation and ability to speak..." A mouth opened on Sulfur's hand and said the last word before vanishing into his skin.

Sulfur grinned and leaned forward. "Care to come over for tea? I hate this ghastly place."

[Deleted]

"Ah yes, nothing like ingesting hot liquid with one who just threatened to murder you. Classical. I suppose you'd be pestering me either way so as long as your abode doesn't scream 'deathtrap' I shall accompany you." Obsidian replied, scowl affixed to his face. "And if you want me to answer any of your pesky questions, stop calling me just 'corruption', Sulfur. Cherno is what humans have called me, and it should suit fine for you as well." The probability that this was a trap was overwhelmingly high, but Obsidian could not just sit about while this threat prowled around and shattered whomever he pleased. ...Well one way or another, this encounter could seriously change the course of both of their lives.

[Sulfur]

Sulfur started to walk away, assuming that Obsidian was following. He ignored most of Obsidian's first remark, not really seeming offended by being called out for being indecisive. After a while of walking he stopped however and turned back. He had a bland look on his face as if it bore disappointment.

"My castle is not a 'deathtrap'. It's a luxury estate... well perhaps it has succumbed to time a bit, but it is by no means such a brutal thing as a deathtrap. My blades do well enough thank you." Sulfur said, tilting his head as he spoke. He turned around and kept walking. He put his hands in his pockets as he moved. "Cherno? Tch!... what gem are, or were you? I don't think gems should adopt the lowly naming rituals common among humans. Tell me your gem, that name will suit you better."

[Deleted]

"I'd simply love to tell you, buddy chum pal. The problem lies in the fact that he won't let me know! It can get a bit frustrating when you live right next door and your neighbor doesn't trust you with names, let me tell you! Why this one time- It's not important." Obsidian blabbered on, tone forcibly switching to a pained growl at the end. "I'm sure a Gem like yourself doesn't go around asking the name of his victims first. Besides, even if we've no plans to fight, I'm just a hideous monstrosity, right?" Obsidian's mouth opened again, as if to continue speaking, but slammed itself shut as he looked down, silently following in Sulfur's footsteps as the two Gems continued out of the Kindergarten.

[Sulfur]

Sulfur's smile vanished. He stopped walking and stared for a long while at the gem. His eyes widened in a strange way, and his expression was unreadable for a little while. He turned fully to face Obsidian and walked closer. As Sulfur approached he tilted his head as to look at at Obsidian with one eye. It was as if Sulfur was searching for a minuscule detail on him, and could not rely on both eyes to find it.

"I already said I was interested... " He began in a monotone rasp. His eyes widened even further as he slowly got closer. He now trembled a bit. His emotions were still somewhat unreadable, but it seemed almost as if he were on the verge of rage. "You...don't actually live next to this....neighbor now do you?"