Twilight of the Gods

"Who else could they be working with? I doubt Hector intends to take on all of us with only Eduj and some weak Hollows at his side," Astarte said. "But then, I suppose he could be in league with the human."

"I kind of doubt that," Mortal said.

--

Atae shook her head.

E"I've got it. Strip poker."
============================
S"I don't know of any Hollow who would willingly work with a human. They must have some agenda of their own."

"...I fail to see what they could possibly accomplish," Astarte said.

Noct was stunned, "I... I'm listening..."

Atae raised an eyebrow, "What is strip poker?"

--

Mortal let out a small yawn.

E"It's where we play Poker, a type of card game, & every time you lose a hand, you have to take off an article of clothing."
==================================
S"Then there is nothing more we can do tonight."

"I... don't know how to play poker," Atae said, "That seems unfair."

--

"Sweet, lets go home," Mortal said.

Astarte rose without another word and began walking to her quarters. She could faintly sense Eduj's spiritual pressure nearby, moving away from the Throne Room.

Mortal waved to Astarte, "Goodnight, Astarte." Then she opened a garganta to her home, and stepped through. Sab waved goodnight to Senthose before following after.

"Goodnight," Astarte spoke over her shoulder and continued on her way.

E"I was joking anyway."
==============================
*Once the Garganta is shut, Astarte becomes aware of a book slamming closed. When she looks to her windowsill, a tall human with shoulder-length black hair, wearing suspenders & a white shirt, is sitting there. He removes the bookmark, smiling vaguely at her. Then, in a simultaneous movement, the bookmark elongates as green flames transform it into a sword, & he suddenly reappears behind her, slashing down towards her right shoulder.*

"Who are--!" Astarte was cut off by the sudden attack and spun on her heel, attempting to avoid the strike while drawing her own Zanpakuto.

"Oh, okay," Atae said.

Noct seemed slightly disappointed.

--

/haremsex

*Euryale looks around.*

E"You don't really want to, do you?"
===========================
*The mystery man uses his momentum to spin & steps forwards, slashing at her again.*

Astarte lifted her blade to block the second slash while charging a Balla in her free hand.

"Not really, but this is your house, not mine..." Atae said, "I don't know what is customary..."

E"It is customary to do what the guest wants to do."
================================
*Sparks emerge from where the blades meet. He smiles at her creepily, then speaks in a soft tone.*

<Ah, I remember now. I've seen Amentia quite a few times in the past, haven't I? In Hueco Mundo, & in Hell. Not to mention...the second release. Oh, but you can't do that in the castle, can you?>

Astarte stared blankly at the stranger for a moment before leaping backwards and hurling her Balla at his chest. Questions flooded her mind as she did this, but one took precedence over all.
"Who are you, human?" She demanded as she landed on the other side of the room.

Nearby, Eduj could feel Astarte's spiritual pressure fluctuating and began a walk to her quarters.

*Of course, it had taken her so long to react that he could effortlessly block the Bala with his weapon.*

<You don't remember? Try a little harder, would you. I'm sure, at the back of your mind, you know me from somewhere. Maybe a vague memory, or a trace of spiritual pressure...Amentia certainly remembers. And why shouldn't she? I've been there since before she was even forged.>

Astarte tilted her blade and squinted down at it, the faint light that streamed through the window glancing and glinting off of its surface. Her grip tightened and her eyes locked back onto Tsukishima.
"I will ask once more..." She said, her free hand glowing bright red. "Who are you?"

<Who do you want me to be?>

*Tsukishima appears behind her again, this time upside-down, & slashing at the back of her neck.*

Astarte dived forward and somersaulted across the floor. As she rolled back onto her feet she extended her left arm backwards and fired an already charged Cero at the stranger.

Eduj had nearly arrived at the quarters when he heard the distinctive sound of a Cero being charged and fired. He went from a walk to a run.

*Tsukishima jumps & the Cero breaks through the window, spilling shattered glass. He then runs across the ceiling & dives at Astarte with a stab.*

Astarte turned and attempted to parry the stab, but was distracted by the door directly behind her bursting open and allowing Eduj inside.

*And so Astarte is stabbed in the chest. Curiously, when the mystery man pulls his blade away, there is no wound. He instantly turns to slash at Eduj.*