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madimpossibledreamerJojo's Bizarre Adventure/Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU
Chapter Summary: Rush and Johan's final fight...concludes?
Word Count: 1383
Note: HERE THERE PROBABLY BE BUFFY/JJBA SPOILERS
Raised, angry voices quickly make Jotaro’s plan become apparent, even as the steam continues to billow in climactic, scalding bursts, like the earth itself is an angry dragon, and visibility changes again. Given the actual pressure behind the released steam, it’s enough to propel some of it out, rather than just continuing to gather under the tree, making visibility only possible in bursts.
The one thing they all knew they had to do was keep away from the residents of Paxil to avoid the effects of the Well or coming to its attention. Keeping away from the center of Karmaslave’s effects was also a priority. Which is why, of course, Jotaro immediately guessed Johan would ignore both things, in part because that’s what he’d do. He’d adapted the best to The Pretender’s powers, and been able to use that mutual understanding to predict Johan’s movements, too. Of course, it’s not like Johan had gotten here on purpose, but Jotaro had a very good reason for predicting the final battleground. Sure, it’s not great for Xander, but it’s equally a problem for Rush, which makes it the most fitting level playing field they could find.
He was generally against putting innocents in harm’s way, of course, even police officers. As they didn’t have the same powers, avoiding involving them was something Jotaro would have preferred. He’d still made that call with a tip as to Rush’s location, though, following Darling’s confirmation. He’d probably had them in the area, too. He must be counting on the powers of Paxil, particularly at its seat of power, and his knowledge of Rush’s psychology to keep them relatively safe, having seen how those without Stands can hold their own in a battle with a Stand User. That, or he has reason to believe Paxil and therefore its inhabitants are in danger if Rush gets his way. Given how insistent Rush is about removing any trace of his path through history, that’s a reasonable interpretation of the Pillar Man’s actions. Or he’s counting on Ix Welch Ahau to keep them safe with her Stand. Maybe all three. He does think through what he does pretty closely, even if he doesn’t talk through his thought process too much. The rest are probably too scattered (or too hurt, do not think about that Johan) to have helped as much as this.
For one wild moment Johan’s imagination supplies an image of a Frankenstein-style mob complete with pitchforks and torches. Of course, considering the situation, maybe it’s just the implements missing, not the general atmosphere.
Darling has the sense to wedge herself into a crack in the rock before she has a chance to be spotted by the residents as they file in, murmuring. “Rush, make yourself known to us and surrender to this court,” Ix Welch Ahau calls out. She still sounds like she’s got her wits about her, which is good. She’ll need them.
“Oh, if you’re planning on exiling me, I’d be happy to take my leave,” Rush mutters under his breath, not bothering to make sure anyone at the top of the chamber could hear him. It makes sense from his point of view. It’s not like he’s against senseless violence, but he’d gotten what he needed here and was planning on moving on after that. It’s just that Johan and everyone else couldn’t let him do that.
The ticking sound has started again. Which is fascinating. Maybe he’s attempting to adapt to a number of opponents? Whatever the case, it’s perhaps the first mistake Rush has made, in this fight, at least. It will make him vulnerable to hamon again, which means all Xander needs to do is interrupt him in the middle of feeding. As morbid as it is to think, maybe that’s another potential use for the residents, who filter down into the chamber, following the ramps down to meet them.
“Rush! If you do not give yourself up now, I will be forced to use The Machine!” Ix Welch Ahau warns. And Rush—
Rush is entirely unworried. He’s smiling. Is it overconfidence, or something else, something they should be worried about? “Xander Harris, also known as Johan Higashikata. With the Stand The Pretender, which allows you to ‘copy’ memories or powers of your relatives. I assume thanks to the memories of the marine biologist Dr. Kujo you are aware that your average human is roughly half composed of water.”
Yes, but he’s not usually able to manipulate it like that, is he? Otherwise, not a single human in existence could stand a chance against him. Still, Johan’s very concerned about where this is going. Rush of all people doing a villain monologue? He’d refrained from that after dragging Xander behind him like roadkill. The fact that he’s doing so now means that he’s utterly convinced he has the upper hand, and he’s a scientist. He wouldn’t be this certain without some evidence.
Rush just continues. “You are further aware that your chosen battlefield is currently covered in steam? Steam that all of you are now inhaling. Gaseous water. Perhaps you should have studied your grandfather’s fight with one Angelo more closely.”
Crap. Johan tries to move, but—he can’t. He’s rooted to the spot. And it’s not like he can just hold his breath, either. It’s going to weaken his hamon, his Stand, and his general ability to fight if he does that. Never mind the fact that all it would probably do now is prevent Rush from increasing his hold. It wouldn’t erase the fact that he’s affected entirely. A glance around the room suggests he’s far from the only one. Pretender can still move, though. For whatever that’s worth.
This conversational tone—did Angel hear it before he died? It feels...condescending, somehow, and Xander’s blood burns. “I do believe I should leave through the underwater river you yourself discovered for me. I wouldn’t want to make my exit past Dr. Kujo, however little he may be able to do to me soon. I would like to use the steam you’re inhaling to tear apart your insides, choke you, or the like, but I am not used to this many opponents. I suppose some things must happen the old-fashioned way.”
Johan can do nothing as he’s picked up like a rag doll. The clock is still ticking on Rush’s suit. He’s held, dangling, above the Well, before Rush simply lets go. Xander does, too, on a more metaphysical level. If this is his fate, so be it. At least he will not suffer alone.
Rush’s eyes widen as Pretender kicks his legs from behind. It does absolutely no damage, between the Stand and the general Pillar Man durability and Johan’s growing weakness. It wasn’t meant to. All it was intended to do was make Rush lose his balance, and it did that perfectly. They’re both falling.
“I will not share your fate. I will transcend it, unlike your family,” Rush informs him. It’s entirely possible. Kars was able to survive a volcano, and if not for the powers of the Well Rush would just walk out, no harm done.
Xander could quip through Pretender. He closes his eyes, sparing a thought for Ix Welch Ahau and every other resident, hoping that the Well could find a way to protect them against what is to come. A thought for Fitz, who he may never see again, and the mother he was just starting to get to know, his best friends and the new ones who had become so dear to him. And then he channels one last wave of hamon. Rush meets it with a wave of energy of his own, not noticing that this hamon attack is very different than every one that has come before.
They hit the boiling water. If Xander could scream, he would, but instead he continues intentionally channeling a malformed Ripple, this time into the water around them. It’s not exactly harmonious with Rush’s malicious mockery of a Ripple, but it’s close enough that the energy builds, reverberating, destructive. The answering rumble of the earth reverberates through Johan’s bones.
The clock stops ticking. Half of the energy disappears abruptly, but not before it’d done the damage Xander had hoped. The boom’s today, Johan thinks vaguely. Rush starts laughing.
Chapter Summary: Rush and Johan's final fight...concludes?
Word Count: 1383
Note: HERE THERE PROBABLY BE BUFFY/JJBA SPOILERS
Raised, angry voices quickly make Jotaro’s plan become apparent, even as the steam continues to billow in climactic, scalding bursts, like the earth itself is an angry dragon, and visibility changes again. Given the actual pressure behind the released steam, it’s enough to propel some of it out, rather than just continuing to gather under the tree, making visibility only possible in bursts.
The one thing they all knew they had to do was keep away from the residents of Paxil to avoid the effects of the Well or coming to its attention. Keeping away from the center of Karmaslave’s effects was also a priority. Which is why, of course, Jotaro immediately guessed Johan would ignore both things, in part because that’s what he’d do. He’d adapted the best to The Pretender’s powers, and been able to use that mutual understanding to predict Johan’s movements, too. Of course, it’s not like Johan had gotten here on purpose, but Jotaro had a very good reason for predicting the final battleground. Sure, it’s not great for Xander, but it’s equally a problem for Rush, which makes it the most fitting level playing field they could find.
He was generally against putting innocents in harm’s way, of course, even police officers. As they didn’t have the same powers, avoiding involving them was something Jotaro would have preferred. He’d still made that call with a tip as to Rush’s location, though, following Darling’s confirmation. He’d probably had them in the area, too. He must be counting on the powers of Paxil, particularly at its seat of power, and his knowledge of Rush’s psychology to keep them relatively safe, having seen how those without Stands can hold their own in a battle with a Stand User. That, or he has reason to believe Paxil and therefore its inhabitants are in danger if Rush gets his way. Given how insistent Rush is about removing any trace of his path through history, that’s a reasonable interpretation of the Pillar Man’s actions. Or he’s counting on Ix Welch Ahau to keep them safe with her Stand. Maybe all three. He does think through what he does pretty closely, even if he doesn’t talk through his thought process too much. The rest are probably too scattered (or too hurt, do not think about that Johan) to have helped as much as this.
For one wild moment Johan’s imagination supplies an image of a Frankenstein-style mob complete with pitchforks and torches. Of course, considering the situation, maybe it’s just the implements missing, not the general atmosphere.
Darling has the sense to wedge herself into a crack in the rock before she has a chance to be spotted by the residents as they file in, murmuring. “Rush, make yourself known to us and surrender to this court,” Ix Welch Ahau calls out. She still sounds like she’s got her wits about her, which is good. She’ll need them.
“Oh, if you’re planning on exiling me, I’d be happy to take my leave,” Rush mutters under his breath, not bothering to make sure anyone at the top of the chamber could hear him. It makes sense from his point of view. It’s not like he’s against senseless violence, but he’d gotten what he needed here and was planning on moving on after that. It’s just that Johan and everyone else couldn’t let him do that.
The ticking sound has started again. Which is fascinating. Maybe he’s attempting to adapt to a number of opponents? Whatever the case, it’s perhaps the first mistake Rush has made, in this fight, at least. It will make him vulnerable to hamon again, which means all Xander needs to do is interrupt him in the middle of feeding. As morbid as it is to think, maybe that’s another potential use for the residents, who filter down into the chamber, following the ramps down to meet them.
“Rush! If you do not give yourself up now, I will be forced to use The Machine!” Ix Welch Ahau warns. And Rush—
Rush is entirely unworried. He’s smiling. Is it overconfidence, or something else, something they should be worried about? “Xander Harris, also known as Johan Higashikata. With the Stand The Pretender, which allows you to ‘copy’ memories or powers of your relatives. I assume thanks to the memories of the marine biologist Dr. Kujo you are aware that your average human is roughly half composed of water.”
Yes, but he’s not usually able to manipulate it like that, is he? Otherwise, not a single human in existence could stand a chance against him. Still, Johan’s very concerned about where this is going. Rush of all people doing a villain monologue? He’d refrained from that after dragging Xander behind him like roadkill. The fact that he’s doing so now means that he’s utterly convinced he has the upper hand, and he’s a scientist. He wouldn’t be this certain without some evidence.
Rush just continues. “You are further aware that your chosen battlefield is currently covered in steam? Steam that all of you are now inhaling. Gaseous water. Perhaps you should have studied your grandfather’s fight with one Angelo more closely.”
Crap. Johan tries to move, but—he can’t. He’s rooted to the spot. And it’s not like he can just hold his breath, either. It’s going to weaken his hamon, his Stand, and his general ability to fight if he does that. Never mind the fact that all it would probably do now is prevent Rush from increasing his hold. It wouldn’t erase the fact that he’s affected entirely. A glance around the room suggests he’s far from the only one. Pretender can still move, though. For whatever that’s worth.
This conversational tone—did Angel hear it before he died? It feels...condescending, somehow, and Xander’s blood burns. “I do believe I should leave through the underwater river you yourself discovered for me. I wouldn’t want to make my exit past Dr. Kujo, however little he may be able to do to me soon. I would like to use the steam you’re inhaling to tear apart your insides, choke you, or the like, but I am not used to this many opponents. I suppose some things must happen the old-fashioned way.”
Johan can do nothing as he’s picked up like a rag doll. The clock is still ticking on Rush’s suit. He’s held, dangling, above the Well, before Rush simply lets go. Xander does, too, on a more metaphysical level. If this is his fate, so be it. At least he will not suffer alone.
Rush’s eyes widen as Pretender kicks his legs from behind. It does absolutely no damage, between the Stand and the general Pillar Man durability and Johan’s growing weakness. It wasn’t meant to. All it was intended to do was make Rush lose his balance, and it did that perfectly. They’re both falling.
“I will not share your fate. I will transcend it, unlike your family,” Rush informs him. It’s entirely possible. Kars was able to survive a volcano, and if not for the powers of the Well Rush would just walk out, no harm done.
Xander could quip through Pretender. He closes his eyes, sparing a thought for Ix Welch Ahau and every other resident, hoping that the Well could find a way to protect them against what is to come. A thought for Fitz, who he may never see again, and the mother he was just starting to get to know, his best friends and the new ones who had become so dear to him. And then he channels one last wave of hamon. Rush meets it with a wave of energy of his own, not noticing that this hamon attack is very different than every one that has come before.
They hit the boiling water. If Xander could scream, he would, but instead he continues intentionally channeling a malformed Ripple, this time into the water around them. It’s not exactly harmonious with Rush’s malicious mockery of a Ripple, but it’s close enough that the energy builds, reverberating, destructive. The answering rumble of the earth reverberates through Johan’s bones.
The clock stops ticking. Half of the energy disappears abruptly, but not before it’d done the damage Xander had hoped. The boom’s today, Johan thinks vaguely. Rush starts laughing.
