~~~~RP1~~~~

Shadow hugged her nodding. "Hey your smart. You got this Kat. Piece of cake" Shadow said his voice sounding relaxed though inside he was just as scared as she was. He pulled away from her and smiled gently. "C'mon. Lets go." Shadow said.

Katia takes another shaky breath before nodding, wrapping a wing around him weakly before taking them down to the demonsplace. She looks around for a second, eyes adjusting to the dim light before gesturing towards the arena's, heading towards where they had gone to watch Joker so long ago.
"W-we're headed to stage or arena four. It's medium sized, rough, old... Jokers probably there, he's always the first to arrive to these things..." She says.

Shadow wrapped his arm around her waist reassuringly. "Maybe Joker can give you some tips about the arena...not that there are magical things that spawn out of the ground to help you but who knows maybe." Shadow said only half joking. He switched his eyes to the bright blue and noticed he could see a lot better in the darkness of the demonsplace.

"I know this arena actually... It's from one of the older wars. I remember it having lots of broken bits of metal i think... We don't really make the arena's themselves challenging, they're just holes left from different wars... It's more about the strength of who's there." Kat replies as the arena's come into view. A few had demons of all shapes and sizes gathered around them. One of the stages farthest away seemed to have multiple demons in the bright outfits of the circus gathered around, Ram could barely be made out, a bit away from the group.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6_Buws3bpw I have no words...)

Shadow nodded thinking. He gazed into the vast pit upon arrival. "Holy shit..." He cursed. "I didn't know it would be so big..." Shadow said a nervous lump forming in his throat. "So where do we go from here?" He asked looking around at the growing crowd.

(what in the name of jesus christ did I just watch....)

"This one's actually rather small. YOu should see the biggest ones. Could probably fit five of my father in that." Kat comments as they get close. The crowd seemed divided into several groups. On one side was what looked like half the circus crew, all chattering and speaking amongst themselves. Joker was closest to the edge of the stage, saying something to Ram, who was now sitting on one of the shards of metal that rose and curved inwards towards the center of the vast pit. He looked over and watched the groups on the other side. Several reptilian type demons standing around, along with two or three dream eaters and other assorted groups. Back where they were, past the circus crew, was a group surrounding Distortion. Every one of them sported some type of black feathers or crow skull, whether it be their own or simply worn on them. Bella stood with Katia's sister, speaking with her in soft tones. Morpheus was sitting on the edge of the stage, looking curiously at the rubble below him.
(That my friend, was art. pure, beautiful, art. *sheds single tear* )

(*stares* I have no words all right. For you. I have no words for you.....XDXDXDXDXDXDXD)
"Woah....that's insane. How do you get in?" Shadow asked planing a path either towards Morpheus or to the pit bottom depending on what Kat would decide.

Kat leads him around, trying not to attract any attention from the groups. Eventually she comes to a spot far from everyone, another, much smaller, hole in the ground. She gestures towards it with her free arm. "I use the stairs of course~" She says, trying to sound calm and maybe even a bit happy, though it was sorta choked out. She takes a shaky breath, steadying herself, her tail twitching though it was weighed down. "Once I head down there... I... I'd rather you stay with Joker... He won't let anything happen to you, and he's basically got an army at his back if... And his reputation will keep most away from him so... My sister will probably come sit with you too..." She says, trying to think, trying to hide all nervousness and fear.

"Ok." Shadow whispered the reality of the situation hitting him. He wrapped his arms around her biting the inside of his cheek harshly to keep from crying. He nodded to her before turning away tears silently streaming down his face. He found Joker and smiled pitifully. "Hey." He croaked at the demon, not specifically addressing Joker or Ram.

(FINALLY a chance to show more of Joker's true self~ and Ram :3)
Joker looks over at the sound, noticing him, and pulling him over by him and Ram once he notices the tears. "Don't let them see you cry, They don't deserve the satisfaction of knowing that they brought you to tears." He says quickly and quietly, his usual fake smile not wavering as he set Shadow closer to Ram and away from his crew. "Everything will be okay. Everyone's got their plans to help whatever side they're on. But I'd say that we've got more going for us. Poisoners and one who's resistant to poison. fire paired with a pyro. strings paired with one who's been controlled however..." He rambles to himself, voice picking up his usual lighthearted and a bit suspicious tone.
Below, footsteps could be heard as Katia began to descend the stairs cut from the rock. Heading down into the arena alone.
(bleh)

Shadow wiped his face and drew his expression to stone. "OK, thanks then." Shadow said to Joker. He turned to Ram. "SO whats your story dude. I hear your a pureblood." Shadow said

Ram doesn't turn his head, still focused on the groups on the opposite side. "Used to be..."
Below Katia steps out into the open, the colors in her wings and eyes cracking and shattering till she was fully transformed, her voice now harmful, her thoughts scattered and strange. She plays with her scythe, trying to stay calm. The group opposite Shadow and them jeered, while the circus, Murder, and others cheered and yelled encouragements.

Shadow grew quiet and watched Kat. He glared at the opposite crowd, his eyes glowing a dark red. He turned to Joker. "Where's the other guy?" Shadow asked searching for the competitor. There was a knot in his chest as he tuned into the scattered emotions of Kat trying to purify the signal from her and the other demons, not feeling motivated enough to do anything else.

"There's never a specific time for these things. though it's good you guys got here first.~ They say who gets here first is to who the luck clings. Though the lower ranks wounds are usually the worst." He says, still watching. "Though he should be arriving soon. Looks like more of his buddies are coming." He comments, looking off to the left. Katia's sister and Bella approach, coming to sit with Joker and Shadow.

Shadow nodded too Joker still unable to say much. He couldn't tear his eyes away from Kat though he regarded Bella and Katia in a small, barely noticeable nod that seemed to drain his energy completely. He watched every movement around Kat including the group surrounding Distortion. He tried to pick a single being out of the mob of shapes unsuccessfully and he resumed to reading Kat, in the most distress he had been in a while.

After a while Kat's sister says something apparently towards Distortion and he emerges from the curious crowd surrounding him, joining the little group of Kat's closer friends, a few of his group staying with him. The two most prominent were two little girls, one in a dress heavily torn, and lazily stitched back together. She had black feathers sewn in little patterns across the dull fabric. In the hand of the other was a ribbon, which the first held onto as well. The second sister had shorter hair and a neat dress, which mostly matched the others. Her eyes were eerily vacant however, and she was dead silent. They both stuck near Distortion, the first chattering away about something, and the second following silently, watching Shadow with dull eyes.
on the other side the groups parted to let the challenger through. more of him than before could be seen. Four extra legs trailed behind him, giving him eight limbs, six of which were covered in strong speckled scales, with claws like daggers and large sharp spines trailing down his back and along his tail. over his chest he appeared to be wearing cloth covered in his own scales. Swiftly, and with no trouble at all, he simply climbs down into the pit, already taking a swipe at kat with a strong whip of his tail. She blocks it with her scythe and hisses, cutting at his tail. It nicked a spine, taking part of it off, already earning a warning growl from the demon as he took his place by the wall opposite of her.
(nevermore and neverborn again~)

Shadow regarded no one. His senses no longer existed other than his sight as he watched desperately the pit. He watched the opponent surprised by his extension of body parts and the new additions, and defense mechanisms. "Damn...." Shadow breathed finally not realizing he had stopped.

Kat's sister made a sort of strangled noise, easily heard as she was sitting next to him. Her own eyes were a bright yellow, reflecting her own fear and worry. Bella had an arm around her, trying to keep her calm. Distortion sat with a heavy air around him, while there seemed to be cracks in Jokers usual mask of happiness. Ram watched from where he hung over the pit silently, his staff hanging from an arm. The rest of both sides chattered and bet on who would win.

"I can't believe they bet on this. Sick bastards." Shadow mumbled finally turning his head to Katia. "Good to see you both again. Though I wish they had been under different circumstances." He commented offering a sad smile to both girls.

She nods weakly, eyes still on her sister. "Y-yeah... If only things would calm down for us... " She says quietly, sniffling.
"Why not bet on this? to anyone else it's just a show, entertainment." joker says, now sitting on the edge, feet hanging over the side, into the stage.
Below Kat waits for the demon to make a move, scythe at the ready. He circles, striking out at seemingly random times with any of his eight claws. Kat easily dodges and blocks each strike before seeing her chance and taking a swing at him, the blade of her scythe curving upwards, though the blow did not go further than his scales, and she quickly spreads her wings, using them to help her quickly retreat from his claws.

"How can she beat him? He has scaled armor and we have no god damn black arrow." Shadow said only half joking.

"She just has to find a way... I know she doesn't like that form but... It has its benefits.." Her sister says, watching grimly.
"Come on! I just need a scratch!" Kat's main thought screamed out as she lunged at the other demon again, her blade coming within inches of him before he dodged and circled around her before striking again, this time catching her side as she moved to retreat, nearly knocking her to the ground.

Shadow leapt from his seat skidding to the edge of the stage his left foot sliding off the edge. "KAT YOUR STRONGER THAN THAT! THINK ABOUT LEARNING TO FLY! TRY TO MOVE DIFFERENT MUSCLES!" Shadow screamed at her, praying she would understand his hint, his voice just barely reaching over the roar of the crowd. His throat burned and he did not move from his precarious position as he strained his eyes to find any flaw in the demons moves or attacks. He extended his wings to help balance though he wanted nothing more than to dive into the pit and help some how.

Kat moves out of reach, thinking of how she could get to the demon. He lunges again, she moves to dodge. He smiles, planning for her action and snaking around her, moving to crush her and coming close before she realizes what's going on and turning to slash at him, extending her reach by shifting her grip further down on the handle of her scythe. She cuts into flesh this time, getting at skin instead of scales, though barely. Leaving just a scratch on him. She retreats once more, flicking her tail dangerously, hoping the poison would work while he immediately begins to move to trap her against the wall, fangs now dripping something that was eating at the ground below. Katia swings at him, aiming to drive him further away from her, but he he comes in closer with an unexpected burst of speed, clamping his fangs through her armor and into her arm.