"Dey, are you going to an anime convention or are you really joining us? What's with the ANBU mask?" Gopal comments in his usual teasing tone, gesturing to Fang's mask which resembles very much like a stylized face of a dog. Fang sends a glare up at the older boy, "This IS my paintball mask, if it's not obvious enough for you."
"Whoa- Whoaaaaa~! It is? It's so cool~" Api's eyes sparkle in childlike fascination as he not-so-gently lifts up Fang's hand that's holding onto the aforementioned mask. With stars in his eyes, the little ball of energy is awed all the more at being able to admire the mask up close. "Whaa~!"
Fang smirks at the praise his gear is getting, his ego clearly stroked. Petir clicks his tongue, "Cool gear won't guarantee a win though. Skills will."
The bespectacled boy's eyes snap to glare daggers at the eldest septuplet, "What are you implying? That I don't have the skill to win this..?"
Fang didn't miss the cocky smirk being formed under the challenging eyes of his authoritative friend and rival. The spiky haired boy can just feel the anger rising in his core. Fine, looks like he has to teach this cocky guy a lesson and put him in his place.
"I'll wipe that smirk right off your face."
"Ha, I'd like to see you t-"
That's when Tanah deems it best to intervene before things get a little too out of hand. He can already sense the rising tension between the two and he's worried they might end up having a different kind of fight rather than the promised and much awaited paintball one.
Stepping in between the two and gently prying them apart and away from each other, Tanah says, "Alright, knock it off, you two... Those are not the kind of shots that we want to see you two fire at each other."
"Yeah. If there's gonna be any shots fired," Solar begins, " it'll be in the form of these," with one hand on his waist and the other with his palm held up by his side.
Fang and Petir stares at the empty palm being held up by the arguably smooth moved septuplet with dumbfound looks. The two are just about to ask what the heck is Solar trying to imply, only to have the words die off in their throats when Thorn backs up his brother's point by placing a green paintball on Solar's gloved palm. So that's what they want to see fired. Paintballs. Go figure.
"Ahhhh," both nod, finally understanding.
"So slow," Air remarks dryly with his hands behind his head. Gopal is quick to run up to the cool one's side to exchange high fives and laugh at Fang and Petir's expense. Though the dark looks being shot his way by the two is successful in making the older boy cower in fear behind Air's blue-clad form and for Angin to burst out laughing. "Hahaha, scaredy cat~"
Tanah frowns, "Can't you guys cut the fooling around already? So we're starting the game now or what?"
That receives a nod from the rest.
"Alright, guys. Game play style is Elimination," Petir begins, "Three life counts, and the basic rules apply which means..."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Start!
Breath steady behind his mask, Fang crouches low amongst partially-dried shrubberies as he watches his first target intently. His index finger readies itself on the trigger as the marker is directed at the unsuspecting player in the field.
"You're mine now," he whispers low.
His first shot is fired at an astounding speed and Fang internally shouts out 'heck yes!' when his attack hits and leaves a solid purple mark on the back of the other player's armor. Angin lets out a startled yelp and hurriedly makes a 180 turn and readying his own marker for retaliation. His gaze darts around before him.
"What the...?" The boy in navy blue and white wind-like swirl motif mask mumbles as he scans the area before him. He slowly lowers his paintball gun and huffs when he sees no one. "He got away..." Either that or Angin just can't seem to pinpoint the other player's whereabouts as in-range-of-shot as he may be.
Angin then reaches behind to run two digits over a small section on his back then brings his fingers up for inspection. His lapis-blue eyes scan the substance and his brows furrow.
"Fang's purple paint..."
Angin: 2 lives remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Fang has made a successful escape from Angin's range of sight and shot and is now running through the wooded area in search of his next prey. He's quick and alert even amongst all the uneven and considerably winding path. Dodging tree after tree and feet not missing a beat, keeping up a fast pace. His eyes effectively scanning the area of anything or anyone within close range.
Fang comes to a sudden halt and jumps behind the closest tree that's able to provide him a decent coverage. He peeks from behind the tree and smirks. "Second target spotted."
From a considerable distance, he spots Gopal trudging down the path with his paintball marker pointed in front of him, it's as if Gopal is readying to fire at whatever that'll jump into his front line of vision. "What an ineffective tactic," Fang can feel himself smirking.
Fang advances toward the older male swiftly and surely. He's sure to take proper safety measures and uses the availability of the trees, shrubs and anything the wooded area has to offer to his advantage. Once he's sure he's within effective shooting range, the spiky haired boy brings up his marker steadily and aims the muzzle."Letting yourself be a victim to tunnel vision will just cease your awareness and will make you,"
He fires an absolute hit, "... an easy target."
Gopal: 2 lives remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Come on, why try? We both know who'd win." Air finds himself smiling dryly at Solar who has his marker at the ready just as he does.
Solar's lips quirk at that, "Oh, do we now?"
"Yes, we do, actually. It'll be me." Comes the ever so sure reply from Air. Solar remains quiet and Air continues, "So why don't you surrender, huh? It'll make it easier for the both of us. Wave the white flag, why don't you?"
Solar's eyes narrow behind the yellow tinted lens of his predominantly white mask with yellow swirls. Air finds him as zero threat and Solar is feeling more than a little indignant at how much of a pushover he's being regarded as by the other. If he has to earn the respect of a not-to-be-trampled-with player, so be it.
A fine white gloved finger eases itself on the trigger in a swift movement and Air is left with no room to talk when he notices the incoming golden yellow paintball whizzing in his direction. "Yikes!"
Caught by surprise, the boy clad in blue falls on his back. The paintball that was launched at him smacking against a tree behind him and yellow paint splatters make their way to the top of his powder blue hoodie. Air sighs in relief, 'I'm fine, those little splatters don't count as a loss.'
But he realizes he shouldn't let relieve sink in just yet. Not when Solar aims the marker lower and directly at him. Air scurries to sit upright and he can just feel the sweat trickling down his face as he watches how the deft gloved finger eases itself on the trigger, ready to fire. He gulps. Air looks up at his brother and contemplating on shooting for a while only to abandon the idea. He knows, if he even tries to make a move, he'd be shot right then and there way before he even gets the chance to try and aim at Solar.
Air couldn't see behind Solar's mask, but the beginning of a smirk is forming at the edge of the on-the-offensive brother's lips. "Heh, you're telling me to wave the white flag, eh? The only flag there will be here is in the form of your life count flagging..!"
Air doesn't get a chance to reply as Solar already fires his next shot.
"Solar Beam Strike!"
Air: 2 lives remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Ah man.. I probably shouldn't have run my mouth instead of my hands just then," Air finds himself grumbling as he walks past trees after trees. He regards the solid mark on a spot that's considerably on the left of his armor. "And was Solar actually aiming for my heart? Was he that mad..?" Air shudders at the thought.
"Air!"
The aforementioned boy has no chance to reciprocate in any way when he's all too suddenly tackled to the ground by a bouncing blur of mahogany. "Yikes!" Air's back finds itself meeting the ground once more and he groans.
Air blinks slowly and then gazes up to regard the person who just launched himself onto him. He is met with the sight of Api hovering over him, mask off, with one hand beside Air's shoulder to keep himself up –and luckily, not crushing Air and his paintball gun with his weight. Api's other hand that's not busy supporting his weight, is grasping firmly onto his paintball marker, the safety lock on.
"Api, what the heck? Physical contact is against the rules! And never take off your mask during a game..!"
"Eh?" Api looks down at his brother with round surprised eyes. The fiery brother quickly scrambles to get up and off his brother, words spilling out of his mouth as he does so, "Ah- oh, right! Sorry! Sorry! I forgot about that..!"
Api laughs awkwardly when he's seated on his heels and has put on his mask that is of flaming red in color with bright yellow flame-like motifs framing the sides. Air just frowns at him as he sits upright too. "For your sake, I hope you didn't damage my gun.." The lapis-icy blue masked brother gripes. Api doesn't say anything for a while though he just smiles placatingly behind his mask as he watches Air check for any damages or anything out of place on his paintball marker. There seems to be none.
"Sorry about that, but surely it's fine. I don't mean any harm..~" Api tries while Air points his muzzle to the right of him, an old tree becoming his target. His middle and index finger pulls at the trigger back and forth, "Blizzard Blast..."
A chain of shots are launched and five solid blue paint splatters marred the tree in a slanted line. The firing seems to be okay, too, Air nods.
"Walking the trigger?" Api questions with his head tilted to the side.
A slant smile under blue mask. "What do you think?" Air sets his paintball gun down on his lap and regards his brother with a raised brow, "Since my gun is fine, what was it that you said about not meaning any harm?"
"Ah, that. How about a momentary truce, brother?" Straight to the point.
Now Air has both his brows raised, his interest piqued. "Do continue.."
So Api tells his brother what's on his mind and why he's proposing such a thing in an all-on-all kind of fight. After Api explains all that he can, he's left with looking up at Air expectantly as the other leans back with an arm propped behind him and a contemplating look on his face that's mostly obscured by blue mask.
"I see what you mean. Strength in number, yes?"
Api lights up at that. "Exactly!"
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Oh no, oh no... I've already lost one life...and so soon...! Ayoyo..!" Gopal despairs, careful to keep his voice to a minimum -or as low as it can get - and shakes his head. He has already lost a life from an ambush courtesy of the bespectacled boy in the gang. He has the proof in the form of a purple blob on the sleeve of his camo shirt.
Holding his paintball marker close to his chest and taking in a deep breath, he keeps on advancing, careful to look in more than one direction this time.
That's when he spots something off amidst the scenery of the woods in the northwest. It's another player, crawling low on the grass and dead leaves and is moving steadily. The player is clad in mostly dark gray clothing and from what Gopal can see of it, his mask is the only thing that's somewhat striking and appears to be a huge contrast to both, his gear and the environment. Freaking white. For goodness sake, is this player trying to dress inconspicuous or stand out?
"Solar," Gopal breathes.
The usually dazzling boy is immersed in whatever it is before him. Gopal's eyes follow Solar's line of sight and catches Thorn walking slow as the latter takes in the sight of how a succession of blue paint had marked a poor, beautiful tree. Thorn stops to run the tips of his fingers over the vandalized surface. "This is Air's paintball color..."
Because knowing the difference between Angin's darker azure blue paint and Air's lighter arctic blue is just that mandatory.
'Dey, Solar, you know how your brother is like when he's mourning for some tree. You really shouldn't take advantage of him,' Gopal's lips purse into a thin line and he's really tempted to give Solar a piece of his mind.
"You mustn't let your emotions get the best of you on the battlefield, brother.." Solar comments under his breath, finger on the trigger and ready to claim a life –a life count anyway. "Heh,"
SPLAT!
An army green colored paintball has hit the small of one of the player's heavily clothed back. A cry of alarm escapes the boy's lips.
"Eep!"
Solar's eyes go wide in alarm and although he would never admit that he just yelped in a pitch that sounds an awful much like a little girl's, he sure as heck did just that. The sudden thump to his back caught him way off guard.
Thorn's head whips in the direction of the noise, fully alert of the other's presence now. His eyes narrow down at Solar from amongst the dead leaves and overgrown grass and the player in gray seems to be glaring at something behind him, seeing as how he's propping himself up by the arms and turning to glare at the back.
"Gopal...!" Solar hisses through gritted teeth once he spots the bigger boy amongst the trees. With a sheepish smile, Gopal just waves his hand, "Hi~" before zipping right off with his hypothetical tail between his legs.
When Solar turns his head to regard his brother in green-black gear again, he seems to have gone too.
Solar: 2 lives remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Thorn shakes his head slowly after he's certain he's made a good distance between himself and Solar. He had let his guard down in the battlefield and he just narrowly missed the payment for his action. "That was a close call..."
His lips form itself into a thin line as he glares down at his left hand. Blue paint that was still wet when he had grazed his fingers upon it on the tree mere minutes ago has now dried on the tips of his index and middle finger. "Why does Air find it okay to mark down that tree?" That's when his lips pull into a frown, "Alright, next time we play paintball, no more woodsball.." For the sake of the trees and nature and the likes.
"How did the paint even get to your fingers and JUST the tip of your fingers?" Another voice inquired so suddenly. Green eyes snap up from paint coated digits to the newcomer that's ... right above his head. Thorn tilts his head up to regard the other boy way up above him.
"Did Air shoot you at the hand or was it some sort of crazy splatter?" The boy adds, noticing the shade of light blue paint. He knows full well Air is the one who carries that soft shade of blue paintball. He for one, owns darker blue ones. Deep blue paint that matches most of his gear.
Sitting on top of a tree branch is, you've guessed it, Angin. He's staring down at Thorn behind his ultramarine-white swirl patterned mask and is leaning down rather precariously that he's more than likely to fall down if he were to even sneeze. It's made a whole lot more worrisome what with him only using one hand to hold onto the branch as the other one is preoccupied with holding his paintball marker.
Thorn's face scrunches up into an expression of pure dismay. "Angin, get down here..! That's dangerous and- and you'll hurt the tree- I swear, if that branch breaks, you'll be sorry!"
...wow, such heart-warming concern. Wait. Now hold the phone, is his prime concern his brother's safety or the well-being of the tree? ("Both, really." "Thorn, please.")
"Get down now, Angin..!" The brother in green reiterated.
"What'll you do if I don't~?"
"I'll - I'll..-" Thorn struggles for what to say to get him to sound convincing enough so that Angin would stop messing around. "I'll.. shoot you down..!"
"You wouldn't dare."
"Are you testing me?"
Angin shrugs with a mischievous curve of his lips, "I dunno. What if I am~?Are you really gonna shoot me?"
Thorn's uncertain eyes steels on his provocative brother. Thorn isn't the type to get mad or riled up easily but that doesn't mean he lacks a backbone or is a freaking pushover. Angin is just flat out testing his patience, he just knows it.
The hand clad in a dark arm warmer tightens its grip on the marker. He is so tempted to respond to that challenge.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Hey, brother~" Angin smiles as he steps out from behind a tree to greet his arguably closest brother, Petir.
Petir readily aims at Angin, "Do you even know what you're getting yourself into? Walking all willy nilly in front of an enemy without your marker at the ready? Are you looking forward to losing?" Is the not-so friendly reply Angin got from his brother.
"Awwh, don't be like that, and here I tho- Yikes!"
The carefree daredevil's words are cut off as he cries out so suddenly. He just got shot by the side on the arm mid sentence by red. Bright cherry red and not definitely Petir's darker scarlet. Jumping to Angin's side to face the direction where the offending shot had presumably come from, Petir takes a shot in the dark and fires two attacks, "Lightning Bolts!"
There was silence for a while and then Petir hears the rustling of leaves as both Api and Air step into view. Petir scowls while Angin frowns at the offending two. The scowl the eldest septuplet has easily transcends into a smirk when he notices that his shot had hit a bullseye and the solid mark of his scarlet paint had branded Api's armor. Air however, seems free of any red marks. The only paint present on his armor, being Solar's brand of yellow.
Api is pouting, clearly displeased about getting a single life wiped out, a contrast to Air who looks calm and cool as can be through all of this. Petir makes a vow to himself to wipe that look off Air's face. "Heh, you're awfully adept as usual, Petir," Air commends with a cock of his head.
Petir doesn't oblige Air with a reply. Not in the form of words anyway.
A shot is fired and Air would've gotten hit if he hasn't already anticipated his confrontational brother's actions. "So typical of you.. Can't even settle a dispute with words, brother." Air smiles under his mask after he makes a successful dodge from the assault. He directs the muzzle of his paintball marker at Petir and returns the favor.
Just as quick as Air was when he had dodged his attack, Petir zaps out of the paint bullet's path as Angin, too jumps clear.
"I am not getting hit a second time!" Angin asserts. "Cyclone Rush!"
That's when he finally retaliates, his shot cuts through the air to almost hit a dodging Api on the shoulder. Angin clicks his tongue, 'so close!'
Api ends up steering clear from a few more of Angin's barrage of attacks and is running dangerously closer to Air's side. Air is concentrating on taking away Petir's life count to notice his incoming fiery bother.
"Water Sphe-!"
"Fire Ba-!"
The names of their respective attacks are stopped midway when the two brothers ultimately crash into each other, Api knocking into Air's side sending all of their shots –5 shots just on Air's part– to go flying around in undesired directions, missing Angin and Petir by a long shot.
"Ouch!" Both brothers fall to the ground in an ungraceful heap.
Angin bursts out giggling as Petir stands firm and aims low. Air, having fallen seated on the ground with a dizzy Api on his lap, recovers quick to aim his muzzle right back at Petir.
"What a mess," Petir finally says behind a smirk.
Air grits his teeth and presses the trigger on his brother... And nothing. "Huh? Why is-" A look of pure horror makes its way upon the usually calm brother's features. His marker is out of ammo!
Api slowly sits upright, groaning and holding his head with a free hand and that's when Air, knowing full well that he's in hot water now, finds it best to "Retreat, Api!"
"What?!" Api is baffled by such a command but Air gets on his feet freakishly fast and makes a break for it anyway, desperately in search of safety to reload.
"Hey!" Petir bellows and makes to shoot at the retreating figure. He misses when Air turns to run behind tree after tree and is soon out of sight before you know it. A rough shove at his shoulder sends Petir stumbling to the opposite side. "What the heck-?!" He demands, only to realize Angin had just pushed him clear and out of the path of Api's shot. Petir had been so focused on Air just then, he hadn't noticed Api firing at his & Angin's direction before turning around and running after his partner, whining, "Air~! Wait for me!"
The brother in dark red and black huffs and throws away the notion of wanting to call Angin out for breaking one of the most basic rules. Yeah, his brother may have initiated physical contact, but no one else needs to know. Petir acknowledges the fact that he owes Angin so he turns a blind eye.
Angin laughs, his eyes crinkling behind the light blue tinted lens of his mask. "Haha, where ya goin' running off like a scared hamster in its ball like that~"
"Heh," that's when Petir finds himself having a mental image of Air running off like a scared little hamster in the safety of its beloved ball (of water) with its tail between its legs. Those two are just unlucky that Api has poor sense of awareness to just run into his partner like that.
"So looks like those two are ganging up on us other players," Angin says thoughtfully after he's calmed down from all that laughing. He looks up as if thinking deeply about something, a finger to his masked face where his mouth should be. Petir ponders on this as well. So even in an all-on-all battle, there are still those who'd initiate a truce presumably until all the other players are taken out so it's only left with just the two of them to duke it out to determine a winner. Petir wonders if the others are doing this too, besides Air and Api.
"Well, then I guess it's a good thing that I had already planned to ask ya to partner up with me," Angin says eventually, turning to look at his brother with an expectant grin. Petir just blinks at Angin behind the lens of his mask at his words.
"Hm, so that's why you weren't aiming to shoot me out just now..." Petir concludes.
Angin nods enthusiastically, "Mhmm~!"
Angin: 1 life remaining
Api: 2 lives remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Air, why did we have to run away?" Api complains once Air has already reloaded his gun. They're walking somewhat aimlessly in the woods now looking for new targets, their shoulders a little slumped from their earlier defeat. Air grunts, "Because things were not in our favor just now.."
"Huh?" Api whines in disbelief. "C'mon, maybe you'd think that way but running away ain't cool."
Air stops in his tracks and whips to face Api, enraged. "Oh just shut up, will you?!"
Api didn't take kindly to being lashed at and returns in kind, "Oh please! What I said is true, okay?! That's not cool!"
"You know what's not cool? That you had seriously vaporized my chances at landing even a single hit on Petir when you mindlessly ran into me! You dolt!"
Air grits his teeth and shoves Api by the shoulder sending his brother stumbling back a few steps. "Hey! Physical contact is against the rules!" He shouts, stamping a foot.
"What, you're calling me out? You initiated physical contact too just now, remember?!" Obviously Air is referring to the time Api had tackled him during their first encounter since the game had started. Api advances forward to glare at Air from behind the red lenses of his mask.
Flames of anger burst in Api's red eyes as Air glares cold and unforgiving at him.
Like fire and water, they clash.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Tanah walks along in the woods, his sight jumping from left to right, forward and back every so often in search of any of his brothers or friends. He spots none. But he can't be so sure that he's safe just because his eyes caught no sign of imminent threat. He keeps his head up and advances, not letting the idea of enemies lurking around slow him down.
Keeping his gaze up and all, Tanah fails to notice the uneven patch of earth in his path. He loses his balance upon stepping into the slightly steeper level and just as Tanah falls on his knees and braces himself with a firm hand on the ground to keep himself from face planting from the trip, a paintball bullet whizzes right over and past his head from his right. That was just way too close for comfort.
It suddenly occurs to Tanah that he would've lost a life if it weren't for the ground tripping him over and making him get so close to the earth that he could almost kiss the dirt before him – since it is just an arm's length away from his face. Now, who ever said the earth is against him?
Still in his position on the ground, Tanah's head looks up at the said paintball that had splattered against the surface of an innocent tree by his left. All he sees is the ominous scarlet red and that's enough to make his breath hitch and him, wide eyed. "Oh no."
Tanah gets back on his feet and readies himself to face the oncoming offender. He recognizes the other player instantly by his predominantly black gear with scarlet lightning bolt patterns marking certain areas.
"Nice move dodging my attack there, " Petir commends as he stands before him. Tanah furrows his brow and narrows his eyes. Facing Petir in any form of battle really isn't a thing everyone would like to experience. His brother can be and really is way too intense. Guess Tanah is just way too lucky to get the chance to go up against him so soon.
"Looks like it's time to get really serious."
"A shame that you weren't already since the beginning of the game."
The two eyes engage in a brief stare down before they're off the moment their timely shots are. A succession of dark crimson paintballs dubbed as "Lightning bolts" are fired at his opponent as Petir keeps up with running and dodging attacks from Tanah and vice versa. Tanah almost yelps when a shot narrowly misses him even as he runs.
'Why does it seem as though Petir is getting faster and faster? When did he manage to unlock the inhuman ability to run at the speed of lightning..?!' Tanah demands internally as his eyes remain fixed on his brother who seems to bolt from one location to another in a blink of an eye as though his speed is enhanced by super powers.
Tanah hates to admit it, but it awfully seems like Petir is likely to get the best of him. That's when he notices an unanticipated blue shot whizz through the air and..
SPLAT!
The familiar sound rings through Tanah's ears and no, that shot had not hit a tree or some other inanimate object within the perimeters. Rather, the dark armor of a player.
Petir and Tanah go silent.
The two all-too-bewildered brothers simultaneously turn to face the direction from where the stray blue shot had come from. There, they see Angin from a considerable range looking just about as shocked as they do. Then Tanah notices how that look of Angin's shifts to an expression of pure dread as if he just realized he had done something he shouldn't have.
"Angin, what the heck?!" Petir erupts suddenly, making both Tanah and Angin almost jump out of their skin. Dark scarlet eyes are screaming rage and menace and Tanah is secretly glad he's not the one the look is being directed at. Though he wonders why Petir seems so upset about this. He knows Petir is by no means a sore loser and is more than a humble opponent when defeated –fair and square anyway, because he will break cheaters' limbs.
Tanah is really tempted to ask why his brother is taking this hit so horribly but thinks that now really isn't the best time to do so. That's when...
THUD!
Tanah feels a thump, a sudden pressure to his back that he almost loses his balance. He staggers and brings forth a foot to brace himself. He zips to face the back of him only to be greeted by the sight of evergreen trees and shrubs that's lacking in the sight of a player. Whoever it is that had shoot him is either really fast and has made a swift getaway without even being noticed or is really adept in the art of hiding and-or camouflage.
Going unnoticed by the three brothers just then, is a player shroud in a dark shade of green and pure midnight black. His legs are quick to take him away from the now risky area after he had made an obvious declaration of his presence by releasing the shot that had taken one of Tanah's three life counts.
Leaves brush and rustle against his clothes as he practically glides as fast as his feet would take him through the wooded area. Even with a few stray branches and shrubs, an almost dense thicket in his line of path, his pace isn't disturbed.
"I did it..! My first shot," the player breathes, a small smile flits on his lips as he proceeds through the winding path. He managed to make a sneak attack on one of his brothers and now he feels like the fun is really beginning for him.
He stops running and silently regards his armor with mild discontent. A patch of cobalt blue branding his midnight black protective gear. He's still a little taken aback by what happened a while back, how Angin had easily maneuvered out of his line of shot even with the latter being up in a tree with little to no space to run to. But Angin managed.
Not only did Angin succeed in dodging his attack, but he retaliated all too quickly and without seeing it coming, a blue shot courtesy of the player in navy blue had marred his armor.
"Now, to get my revenge," Thorn huffs.
Petir: 2 lives remaining
Tanah: 2 lives remaining
Thorn: 2 lives remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Api's state of being disgruntled from his earlier non-paintball type of fight with Air doesn't last long. Not when he runs into Tanah about 5 minutes later. And no, Api does not find that this is happening all too soon. He needs a distraction from what just happened earlier as well as an outlet for his frustration.
Tanah takes cover behind a tree and the said tree ends up taking the blazing red blows from the devil-may-care player. "Api sure isn't going easy with his attacks."
And it's true. Tanah hardly got the chance to respond in kind to his dancing flame of a brother's continuous barrage of attacks. He seems to be shooting red all over the place as if he's sending spheres and spheres of flames to dance around in the small clearing with him. To dance, flicker and most importantly, take out Tanah.
Tanah can no longer remain rooted behind the tree for cover when Api emerges from the side, making the brother in gold and carob brown vulnerable and exposed. A loud cackling laughter emits from the close to maniacal and predatory grin of the one in red, "I'm too hot to handle!"
'He's lost it,' Tanah thinks as he drops and rolls out of Api's line of fire. This might be it. He'll get shot sooner or later at this rate. After just getting his first life taken away not even fifteen minutes ago, now he's gonna lose his second one in the hands of another one of his brothers –yes, Tanah later found out that it was Thorn who had shot him, if the chartreuse paint on the back of his armor is of any indication.
"Wh-what?" Api gasps suddenly, his shoulders going tense.
Tanah looks at his brother in puzzlement for a brief moment only to realize that, finally, the ball of fire is out of ammo. 'Now's my golden opportunity,' Tanah beams. No mercy.
"Take this!"
Api: 1 life remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Oh, c'mon, I said I'm sorry."
"Well, sorry doesn't give me back the life count I just lost because of you!"
Angin huffs and pouts childishly. "I wouldn't have accidentally shot you if you hadn't moved around so much though.."
Petir's eyes sharpen and he glares daggers at his brother. "What did you say..?" Hands gripping the paintball gun tightly for a brief moment. "Just say that again,"He challenges.
Angin is about to do just that, repeat exactly what he said to recreate his crude emphasis only to end up backpedaling with a start. "H-hey, watch where you're aiming that.." He chokes, taking slow precautionary steps back.
Petir's muzzle levels at Angin, still and undeterred.
"Leave."
It's just one word but it's definitely more than enough to get Petir's point across and for Angin to ultimately scramble away, yelping when he almost trips over his own foot in his haste.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"I hope Api ends up running out of ammo during a battle, maybe only then he'd understand how I'd felt.." Air finds himself grumbling bitterly as he pushes his powder blue hoodie down, revealing more of his cerulean shaded cap.
It really is awfully warm this time of the year and Air wishes he'd get a little break already. Still, as much as he wants to just chill, he wants to win this little warfare first and foremost. He probably would've just chose to surrender for the sake of getting to sit around doing nothing if he were to remain the same person he was about a couple of years prior, which is downright lazy and listless. But he's a new man –uhh, boy– now, and no way is that an option in his book anymore.
And if it were to be two years ago, there's almost no way he could've dodged an incoming projectile as swift as he can now. Which is exactly what he's doing.
"Ha," Air smirks triumphantly when he all too easily evades a purple paintball.
"Huh, you just got lucky there," Fang gripes, his gloveless finger not easing away from the trigger.
"Oh, wanna see about that?" Air is quick to challenge.
Fang can only smirk at the other's mutual enthusiasm, "You bet."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Dey, pssstttt...!" A whispery voice begins from what sounds like behind some bushes. Though he can't tell exactly where it's coming from.
". . . "
"Pssst..!"
". . . "
"PSSSSTT..!"
"I heard you the first time," Thorn sighs in exasperation, dropping some of the notion of staying on the offense. He can tell that it's Gopal, as if the style of approaching and the all too familiar voice is anything to go by.
"Oh really? Hehe..." The voice laughs awkwardly and Thorn can already imagine Gopal scratching his cheek in a sheepish manner as he speaks. "What do you want?" Thorn prods with a cock of a thin brow.
"Ah, good that you're asking! How does a truce sound to ya?"
That's when Thorn finds his mouth rounding into an 'oh'. He blinks once, "Excuse me?"
"Partner up with me and lets whittle down the number of players as a team until there's just the two of us."
Thorn thinks about what Gopal is trying to say for a while before murmuring, "Sounds.. interesting."
The sudden loud rustling of leaves and creaking of tree branches startles Thorn briefly that he almost yelps just like how Solar did. Almost. Luckily, he didn't. Because that would be embarrassing. Gopal just emerges from the top of a tree and jumps right down with ease like a trained gymnast. Thorn could've sworn the other boy was hiding behind some bushes and he's a little taken back by how effective the other's skills at remain hidden is. He was utterly fooled.
With his marker tucked under an arm, Gopal jogs closer towards Thorn and without warning, the bigger boy grabs the shorter one by the shoulders before shaking him in excitement. Thorn holds his paintball marker to his chest and can just feel himself being lifted slightly off the ground as Gopal continues his not so subtle actions. "Are you saying you'll agree? That's great!"
Well, Thorn hadn't actually said that, but he's willing to consider.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"That Fang..!" Air groans in agitation as he stomps through the area shrouded by trees. As if his mood isn't already brought down by Api, now he just lost to the egotistical bespectacled guy of the gang. Things are really not going in his favor.
Air's spitefully narrowed eyes widen when he spots green. No, not green as in trees and greeneries and the usual nature stuff. But players. Two, actually, and both are clad in green. One larger and dressed in a darker shade than the other.
Scowling lips curve upward into a sly smirk that's filled with anything but angelic intent.
"Ah!" A shrill startled gasp escapes Thorn the moment he felt the unexpected thump to his armored back. Gopal quickly zips his mouth in a thin line to stifle a laughter threatening to spill out. He's doing an awful job at it though. Not even the dirty look Thorn is throwing at him through his mask can make the laughter subside.
Being caught up in trying not to laugh at Thorn's admittedly funny squeak proves to be an unwise action when Gopal, too, ends up getting shot right on the bicep.
"Look who's laughing now." Thorn comments dryly with a roll of his green eyes.
"Awh, look at what you've done, Thorn. You made me lose my focus and now we lost the perpetrator."
That comment is enough to make Thorn's gloved palm smack his face and his head shake ever so slowly, "Oh my goodness."
Air: 1 life remaining
Thorn: 1 life remaining
Gopal: 1 life remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Api's gaze remains fixed on the paint splatter on his armor as he proceeds without heed, his mask off for the second time. One of his fingers finds a place on top of the patch of paint and glides over it. Api clicks his tongue, it's still damp and fresh as his feeling of recent defeat by Tanah.
The hand then flies to the harness fastened to his hip. Deft fingers close around a pod of paintballs and reloads the hopper without missing a beat. Just like how Tanah had one-upped him. Without missing a single beat. "Aduh," just the thought of that makes Api mutter in mild irritation...and in Malay too. Surely that's saying something.
Api is forced to an abrupt stop in his track when he collides into something, or rather someone, who yelps just as he does. Sounds like him too.
"Watch it, will ya?" Api growls lightly.
"I could say the same for you." The other player returned although less vicious.
Api's sour mood is overtaken by mild surprise in an instant the moment he recognizes the player as Angin. "What're you doing?" Api inquires with a slight tilt of his head with eyes wide and questioning, before adding, "Alone..."
Angin blinks at his brother, dumbfound. Then a small smile makes its way on his face and is threatening to turn into a wider one. A giggle, "Hehe, again, I could say the same for you." Angin's round eyes behind blue tinted lens give his brother a once-over and he really is questioning just how much more crazy and reckless Api is when compared to him to even have the gall to take off the only protective gear his face so very much requires.
Api frowns slant and huffs indignantly. "We broke up."
"Interesting and an awfully direct choice of words," Angin giggles softly, "But I guess I can say the same for me and Petir." He won't say why though.
"But hey!" Bright fiery orbs suddenly light up when an idea crosses Api's mind. The same idea he had when he approached Air. "Why don't you pair up with me then? Since we are on the same boat!"
"You're just way too keen on doing combos with others, aren't you, brother?" Angin teases good-naturedly. He won't admit that he likes the idea way too much and probably would've suggested the same thing. After all, he was the one who had gone to Petir before the whole unfortunate incident that drove their pact to an abrupt end.
"C'mon~ Join forces with me," Api is looking at Angin with hopeful stars in his eyes at this point, eager for an answer and who would've guessed (everybody, really) for Angin to nod a solid agreement. "How could I say no to my little bro~"
Api is about to cheer in uncontained joy when he's promptly shut up by Angin's hand over his mouth. Round ruby-tangerine eyes blink questioningly at the one in navy blue whose gaze is fixed at something behind him.
Angin's hand slowly drops from his brother's mouth to his side and he motions towards the direction behind Api using his marker. The brother in red turns to see exactly where his brother is looking at and surprise, surprise, his little eyes spy one of his other brothers who's clad in grey clothes and ridiculously striking white and yellow mask.
He pulls his mask back on and Api can just feel the evil little grin taking over his face.
"Would you like to test our teamwork on this poor little soul, brother~?" Angin singsonged in an ever so innocent and casual tone as if he's inviting Api to a picnic.
A manic grin, "You bet."
And lets just say Solar hardly stands a chance against two of his brothers, especially when one of them is a trigger-happy, wild ball of energy and the other being as swift as the wind and just as carefree in his shootings.
Solar: 1 life remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"Hmm, I think this might be saying something. That the earth has led us to one another once more... So I can get my revenge on you." Tanah grins full of vigor under his mask as Thorn returns the hot-blooded enthusiasm in kind, "Hmm, I'm pretty sure the path of these trees are the ones showing me the way and wants me to get the better of you for a second time."
"Dey, enough with all of this ridiculous nature and elemental talk, will ya?" The older male intervenes from the side with an expression saying that he's growing tired of the brothers' unnecessary small talk. Tanah and Thorn, however, merely send dirty looks at him for interrupting their little oh-so important verbal exchange.
And soon enough, like rudely asked for, the brothers begin their little paintball warfare with chains and chains of shots flying around accompanied by battle cries that is more than a must to get the situation lively and the feel real to them.
Tanah finds himself backed up against a tree and his movements are constrained as the moment he tries to break free to the left, Thorn's attacks sends him back pedaling.
With his back to a tree, front blocked by Thorn and Gopal, unable to run left for fear of Thorn shooting again what with his marker constantly at the ready AND having Gopal ready to shoot if he tries to escape to the right, Tanah comes to a conclusion that he's in fact a sitting duck in this situation.
The inevitable hit by green comes in before he gets another thought in.
Tanah: 1 life remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
This is like a stalking or tailing game now, Air swears. He's after Fang from a safe distance as the latter is hot on an oblivious Petir's heels.
The muzzle of the player in blue directs pointedly at the spiky haired boy. Air tuts, "You really shouldn't have gotten on my bad side, Fang. You'll meet your Waterloo all too soon."
A miniature blue sphere cuts through the air and says hello to the dark shade of violet of Fang's gear. The boy starts in alarm, and combined with the sound of the paintball hitting his back, Petir is now alert and made aware of his presence.
The septuplet in black and scarlet turns on his heels to instinctively shoot at the potential offender and a scarlet paintball smacks onto Fang's armor within the same minute the blue one had. Luckily for Fang, multiple shots within the same moment still counts as a single life loss but that doesn't mean getting pelted by twice and by different people in one go is something he'd cheer about.
Petir takes off East, refusing to spare another glance at Fang for now especially after being caught so off-guard by the other and the thought of nearly losing to the other boy makes him filled with unease.
A laughter rings out from somewhere behind Fang and he turns, his gaze ricochets from one spot to another and catches the sight of blurry powder blue mixed with cerulean running from one tree to another and another as it takes off in the same direction as Petir.
Petir's ears catch on how the familiar laughter that's taking in different octaves come closer and closer to him. He knows what's up. It's undoubtedly one of his brothers as well as being the one who had just inadvertently saved his back when he had made Fang his target.
Petir eases up on his pace and the other player, Air, soon catches up and is running at a considerable distance to his right. Trees block Petir's sight of his brother momentarily as they run and this happens again every so often as they continue through the wooded area.
"Where's Angin, dear brother?" Air says, his glance dancing over his brother briefly before directing itself in front again, mindful of the path ahead. Petir scowls and Air continues, "I didn't see him the whole time Fang was tailing you."
"Mind your own business, Air."
"Don't need to be so on edge, brother. Just like a gentle wave crashing the beach, I honestly come in peace."
"If you're looking to take Angin's place, then forget it. I don't need backup and certainly not a partner."
"Oh really?" The brother in blue muses, "That's not what it seems like a while back, now did it?"
Petir feels a low growl form in his throat. He really feels like snapping another one of his brother's head off.
Fang: 2 lives remaining
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Fang thinks this'll make up to what just happened. He'll take out one of Air & Petir's brothers and they'll be even... somewhat. He's facing Tanah and both share a brief moment of communal silence before a brief exchange of words.
"Hope you like eating my dust 'cause that'll be exactly you're gonna do," Fang asserts in overconfidence.
Tanah smirks, "We'll just see about that."
...and their little bullet exchange begins.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
As much as the brothers know that they should feel even just a little bit abashed at how they're formed now, they don't deign the feeling much thought.
When it comes to these siblings, it's more than common to see two pairs that's consisting of one in red and the other in blue. But this time, the combination is rather off considering...
"Ah, looks like I don't have to feel bad about ganging up with Api~" Angin comments wryly as one of his fingers that's closed around his marker taps on it. Cobalt blue eyes taking in the sight before him.
Air makes to reply his brother as he stands next to Petir who has finally conceded to the idea of teamwork once more –or else he wouldn't hear the end of Air's taunts about how he had saved him, "Likewise, I suppose."
So Api is with Angin while Petir is with Air this time around. Not combinations that are unheard of but really are not something you'd see often.
Petir remains steely and quiet as he engages in a cold stare down with an uncharacteristically silent and brooding Api. Both of the brothers seeing red at this point.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"I think you're missing the point of 'ensnaring', brother." Solar finds himself making an amused comment as he smiles a mocking smile at his brother in green, "I don't think this 'Ensnaring Thorns' technique of yours is well thought out."
"Thorn, you're not just gonna take that from him, are you? Show your brother what your attacks're made of!" Gopal attempts to defend his partner.
Thorn's darling green orbs hardens as his eyes narrow down at his brother. Choosing to remain silent, he continues his barrages of attacks. His brother runs to the opposite direction as to avoid the succession of green bullets. Quick feet takes Solar to a wider, more obvious clearing and Thorn has to stop his lips from twitching into a sinful smile, the while hounding his brother.
Solar's feet suddenly stop dead in their tracks.
"What's the matter, brother?" Thorn inquires behind him, voice so unfamiliarly wry.
Because of what's before him, Solar is forced to an abrupt halt and can't advance forward. A considerably large mass of semi-dried shrubs stand in his way and stretches a good width on both sides and that makes walking around the thing just downright a difficult challenge. The moment Solar tries to make a run to the left, two shots stop him from advancing and sends him backpedalling.
'Okay, so going around the bush is a no go,' Solar gulps. He glances at the plants blocking his path. The stems are all endowed with fine pointed thorns that prevent him from going through it.
Like Tanah was, Solar is truly trapped. "No way," his breath hitched.
When Solar's frantic eyes settle on his brother, he's met with the sight of Thorn done reloading his hopper with the flick of a wrist. Thorn is fostering a really dark smile at this point as he explains, "Ensnaring meaning to trap."
Pale-yellow orbs widen at the cold nature of his brother's voice, "Huh?" That's when he knows he messed up and is going to pay dearly for running his mouth like a jerk the way he did.
"Anything you would like to add?"
Solar stares hard at his brother and solemnly shakes his head in a way as if he'd just been asked if he had committed a murder. He closes his eyes and braces himself for the inevitable ending shot. Marker loaded with green levels at gray body gear, "Very we-"
"Thorn! Let me take him down, please!" The brothers suddenly hear. Solar's eyelids flutter open and there he sees Thorn staring at Gopal in mild surprise before nodding slowly, reluctantly. "I... I suppose that's okay... Sure?" Thorn is questioning his decision though.
'Oh heck, no...' Solar gripes internally, feeling his face fall. 'It'll be another century till I let myself lose face to Gopal without a fight.'
What happens next turns out to be both pretty hilarious yet, mildly frustrating. Every time Gopal shoots at Solar, the latter ends up reciprocating and fires quick as if by the speed of light and both their attacks end up colliding and exploding midair. The splatters fall to the ground and stain the grass with artificial green and yellow.
"Come on, Solar! Stop ruining my shots. You look just about ready to admit defeat a while ago..!" Gopal whines after his fourth shot bursts on impact with Solar's own shot. More drops of paint litter the small clearing.
His muzzle never lowering, the one in gray denies, "Nuh-uh," with half lidded eyes that scream, "I'm so tired of this nonsense." And Thorn is just left standing there and watching the two still shooting idiots like an idiot himself. Thorn's green eyes blink slowly as they turn to look at his brother and then at his partner. He feels a trickle of sweat forming on his temple from the ridiculousness of it all. "Uhh-"
Suddenly, loud cries and caws of numerous birds echo through the small clearing. The boys look up to see flocks of birds take through the sky, all fleeing from a certain location to the North. Little do the boys know, the place the birds are fleeing from is just way too close for comfort...
"There must've been about a couple dozen of them," Gopal gawks. Thorn feels obliged to nod ever so slowly.
When Solar comes to from his own sense of being distracted, he notices just how his opponents in green seem to be out of it, still. The battle he was having with Gopal -if what he's been doing with him can even be called that– is momentarily forgotten. Now, Solar would be considered as stupid if he were to let this opportunity pass up.
Two shots take flight just like the birds in the sky, one looking to take out the player in camo and the other, a brother.
"I'm sorry I failed you!" are the words that come from Gopal on his knees in the most dramatic way possible. Solar would've rolled his eyes at that if he isn't so taken aback by the sudden hit to his shoulder by his own brother, Thorn, who had noticed Solar's incoming attack and snapped to just in time to dodge the attack by ducking out to the side.
Eyes closed, Solar purses his lips and takes a deep breath. 'He really bested me,' he admits before an urge to smile comes in. "I'm out, I guess." Bright eyes behind yellow lens open only to crinkle sheepishly in a grin as the owner holds his gloved hands up in a manner as if to surrender.
"Me too," Green eyes soften in a little smile as Thorn shrugs a single shoulder. Solar feels his eyes go wide from what he just heard. There's no way he heard it right, he thinks.
"E-Excuse me?" He squeaks.
His eyes scan his elder septuplet brother's gear –what he can see of it anyway- and finds that his shot, indeed, did not mar Thorn so how could he be out? He knows they're practically connected in so many ways than most siblings would be, but a shot to Solar himself doesn't equal a shot to his brother as well. That's hogwash as well as freaking unfair and stupid in its entirety.
Then, he hears Gopal sigh exasperatedly, "You seriously missed it? The moment you were too out of it from being taken out, he got shot too..at the back." Which explains how Solar had missed it. Still, Solar needs to know, "But.. Who shot him?"
"I did."
After the oh-so confident voice declares such, Fang emerges from the shadows. The other three boys can just imagine the smug look that's obviously present behind the mask that obscures the spiky haired one's face.
"So, the three of you guys are finally out of the game, right?" Fang questions with a slightly elated tone and bright glint to his eyes. Solar confirms with a hum and Thorn with a nod of his head.
Fang chuckles a mischievous little "Hehe," and his shoulders shake twice.
"Dey, don't get so happy just yet. You're not even the winner."
"Oh yea?" Fang smirks, "Who else is there that's left in the game? I mean, I just saw most of your brothers," he turns to look at Thorn and Solar, "get involved in a huge paint explosion before I continue to bolt on right over here. Pretty sure they're all out."
Thorn and Solar exchange looks of incredulity. "Explosion..?" "I'm pretty sure either Api or Angin could've been responsible for that... I mean, they're THAT crazy enough."
"Sounds about right," Gopal nods.
Fang places a hand to his hip, the smirk still plastered on his face. "I guess there's no one else left to challenge me, huh."
"Don't be so sure about that."
All eyes dart to the North, where the new voice had come from, and see a player in dark gear advance from amidst the foliage and into the small clearing.
Fang's face drops instantly. "I thought you were supposed to be out from the explosion.."
"You thought wrong," is the simple reply from behind red and black mask.
"Whoa! Your back is like a dark canvas of blue and red splatters!" Gopal suddenly chirps once he takes a look at Petir's back. The boy in dark red gear sighs heavily as he recollects what just happened.
After Air's 'Twin Water Eels' attack had failed to land a hit on Angin and Petir's 'Lightning Blades' had narrowly brushed Api, the latter decided with all guns blazing that it was best to bring out the 'heavy artillery'.
Oh yeah, the freak brought out the paint grenades and four of them, and they're as red as the flashing warning siren that's going off in Petir's racing mind. Petir stopped dead in his tracks and swore he didn't breath for a moment the second he caught the new arms his brother brought out as well as the crazed glint to the ruby-orange orbs of Api's eyes.
Angin seemed to be wide eyed just as Petir is and it's not only because of Api. Heck, today, Petir found out that Api and Air really were two peas in a pod when he saw his own partner in powder blue hoodie holding the same kind of weapon as well, but two and in blue. Maybe Air's less crazy, considering the grenades he held were definitely less than Api's, but Air's eyes were no less unsettling than those of their fiery brother's, and Petir would admit that.
Knowing full well if they end up getting caught in what's to come, it wouldn't be pretty. So, as any sane person would, Petir and Angin tried to make a run for it.
Too. Late.
"Blazing Meteor!"
"Iceberg Eruption!"
Those were the only things heard before ear piercing caws and cries from fleeing birds and probably any other animals within their vicinity rang out as paint exploded and went just about everywhere. Every. Freaking. Where.
Petir thought he had made quite a good distance but that proved to not be enough seeing as how he wasn't spared from Api and Air's huge bomb splatters. Only Petir's back suffered when he had turned his back and ran away. Same goes for Angin. His back was taken out and considering that was his last life, he's out. Api and Air who were at their final lives as well are out of the game after being in that huge explosion and that's just good for everyone, Petir decides.
Gopal, Solar, Thorn, Angin, Api & Air: OUT
Petir, however, is left with one more life to spare.
"Lets do this."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Trees, shrubs, grass and land covered in more splatters of paint that is primarily of scarlet and violet in color. Many signs of fires and missed shots left behind by the two friends-slash-rivals' relentless exchange to rid each other out of the game can be seen marking the area.
Both are panting short steady breaths as their eyes lock. Narrowed eyes gaze pointedly at the other and brows fixed in a furrow from focused determination.
The muzzle of Petir's paintball marker is aiming directly at Fang's chest and stands only a mere 30 feet away from the other player. Likewise with Fang and his own marker, Petir is at his mercy just as he is at the other's.
"Guys! Shooting each other at such a close range is dangerous!" Thorn exclaims in worry with a mix of panic from the sidelines.
Ears deaf to the concern-laced words, Fang and Petir smirk knowingly at one another. Fingers of both players are itching to pull the trigger and just win it all. To end the other in one swift blow and come out on top.
Petir breathes low, "I will..."
"... reign supreme..!" Fang finishes.
And the sounds of two shots echo throughout the clearing.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
"I can practically feel the bruise forming on my chest from that close-range shot and it is SO worth it," Fang laughs as he walks ahead of the others.
Fang: 1 life remaining
Petir: OUT
Petir glares lightning daggers into the back of Fang's head as he trudges behind the so-called 'winner' and 'best of the best' back to the designated starting and ending point of the game. Who would've known Fang actually had 2 lives just then when Petir himself was down to a single life.
The eldest septuplet shakes his head and murmurs, "Fang's right though... I can seriously feel the bruise humming in pain." Thorn smiles ruefully at his brother and pats his shoulder. "You were really impressive back there though," He consoles. Petir can't help but to return the little smile his brother is offering him, "Hm, thanks."
The other players who are long out of the game, Angin, Api and Air, are already at the designated spot of meeting and seem to be comfortable on the grass as they wait for the other eventual 'losers' and probable 'winner'. Angin, lying sprawled on the grass next to Api's sitting form, shifts to a sitting position as well upon noticing the approaching group. "Would you take a look at that. The rest of the group is back~"
"Is it safe to assume that we've got ourselves a winner, then?" Air inquires.
Api, sitting with his legs in a W, leans forward and props his hands before him. Bright lively eyes look up at the players who had just arrived. "Ahh! Who is it? Who is it?" He chirps excitably.
"Heh, yours truly, of course," Fang asserts, lacking on the humble side, as usual.
"Ohhh," Api nods with wide fascinated eyes that's typical of a child. Air cocks a brow at the player behind the white hound-like mask, "So.. I should be congratulating you now?"
"No need," Solar interjects sourly.
"He's given himself enough congratulatory words and pats on our way here," Petir supplies with just as much petty envy as Solar.
Gopal and Thorn are left to nod in agreement to the eldest septuplet's claim.
Fang makes to cross his arms while still holding onto his marker."Pfft, you guys are just jea-"
"Hold up," Air suddenly says, cutting Fang's sentence. With a firm gloved hand up, arctic blue eyes scan the other players before him. The others direct their attention to Air, each sporting their own questioning and expectant look. Eyes serious and sharp, the hooded brother continues, "Where in the world is Tanah?"
The rest blanches and go silent at that question.
"Holy... wow," Solar finally breathes out after remaining stiffly quiet for a long moment just as the others still are. Thorn twiddles his fingers in a guilty manner. "We're awful," he mumbles softly.
"You're saying no one took him out yet?!" Fang demands in incredulity.
Api shakes his head, "Since he isn't here," Angin finishes his brother's sentence, "It's safe to say he's still not out."
Well, isn't that something interesting to find out?
"Glad you can make it," Petir says so suddenly.
That's when Fang feels a small section on his back being suddenly put pressure upon and he jolts forward a bit. "Wha-"
He just got shot, his mind expounds simply. His one remaining life count. Gone.
Fang turns around to see Tanah a few ways away from him, the septuplet in earthy gold and black lowering his marker. So Petir's actually greeting his brother.
"You saw him sneaking up on me!" Fang explodes.
Petir smirks and his eyes crinkle in mocking amusement. "Yeah, so?" He sneers.
A single eye twitches in irritation behind the stylized animal mask.
"Do you really think YOU have the right to be mad right now, Fang?" An exasperated tone questions firmly. The aforementioned boy's anger subsides considerably and he turns to look at the one questioning him, Tanah, with a mild frown. Fang is about to answer when he suddenly gets a feeling he should just shut up. Tanah's got a point.
Tanah yanks his mask off, "You guys..! All of you forgot about me!" His voice raises indignantly as he advances toward the group of brothers and friends.
"I didn't," Air quickly defends, albeit his hands are raised as if he admits he's guilty and is surrendering to the truth of the accusation. Beside him, Api is scratching his cheek sheepishly.
Tanah turns to glare at Fang again, "And you..! You should know well that I wasn't out yet. It's not like you've shot me during our last encounter, so what makes you think that I've been wiped out?"
Fang throws his hands up, "I honestly thought... You were involved in the whole explosion, I swear."
Tanah purses his lips into a thin line and narrows his golden eyes up at the taller boy as a show of indignant anger. Fang looks down at him and actually has the galls to take off his mask to smile placatingly at the shorter one, "Uhh, sorry."
A deep breath. Then a sigh. "Fine... I forgive you."
"Hey, how about we have a go at speedball next time around?" Petir suggests out of the blue as he takes off his cap to run his fingers through sweaty dark locks. The white streak of his hair sways gently along with the dark locks amidst the blowing wind that brushes past.
"That way, no way would you be forgotten in such an open and exposed area," Gopal chimes in as an attempt to pacify Tanah. He's not doing a good job at it as Tanah only grunts, hardly pleased.
Thorn nods, "Speedball actually sounds nice. I don't think I like woodsball considering how even the trees are dragged into this whole ordeal."
"Great! So it's decided!" Api pounces eagerly in his sitting position. Without even a warning, the bouncing flame grabs Air by his only gloved hand and yanks him to a standing position, proclaiming, "And we'll totally own all of you with our new combination attack!"
"Api and Air's Twin Attack," the new attack formation is dubbed by the two brothers. Look who's made up so quickly.
"Yea, yeah~" Solar rolls his eyes, "Not if me and Thorn has anything to say about it." An arm of his drapes itself over the shoulder of his aforementioned brother in green. Solar smiles a million-dollar smile at Thorn, "Right, Thorn? You know, I'd really like to work with you, and that technique of yours.. maybe we can think of our own combo attack, yea?"
A soft laugh from behind green-black mask, "Of course, brother" and that's when Solar mentally fist pumps and shouts out, 'victory!'
"Wait," Gopal starts, "I thought we're gonna team up again next time, Thorn..!"
"Nuh-uh. Find a new partner. He's with me," With his head tilted up and eyes almost as if looking down on the older male through yellow lens, Solar's hand makes a motion to usher Gopal away.
"So cruel, diva~" Angin laughs. Noticing how his comment even manages to make Petir chuckle, Angin leans closer to the other and attempts in a half-singsong way, "Yeah, I know that I let you down. Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?"
Petir fixes his cap back on and promptly pushes Angin away by the shoulder albeit the action is lacking in any real force. Petir actually laughs, "Idiot, don't even attempt a so-called 'apology' with a song reference."
Angin fakes a whine, "Awwh, but how am I supposed to know what to say in an apology apart from a 'sorry' without the aid of song lyrics?"
Petir rolls his eyes good-naturedly, "Try to think hard."
"You know," Tanah begins, trying to sound casual. "Even though I officially won, I really don't feel like I did." Tanah shrugs and glances up once more at Fang, "The expected hype I should be feeling is lacking, I think.." He concludes.
"Not the kind of victory you were expecting, huh?" Fang questions with a playful cock of a brow. Tanah nods looking a little tired and defeated despite his actual victory.
That's when one of his brothers chooses to throw in his two cents, "If it helps you feel any better, I'm actually glad you're the one who won instead of Fang."