2014-10-09 - Breathtaking Literature
| Title: Breathtaking Literature | |
|---|---|
| Summary: There's a sale on romance novels. An insanely good sale. And people seem to enjoy them - even if they're acting more tired than usual. Certainly, a deal to be aware of - and one worth taking up! | |
| Who: Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, Minako Aino, Tuxedo Mask, Homura Akemi, Madoka Kaname, Kuniko Saito, Nadeshiko Fujisaki | |
| Where: Shibuya Shopping District | |
| OOC - IC Date: 24 March 2014 - 10-09-2014 | |
<Pose Tracker> Glittering Crux Masque [Admin (S)] has posed.
It's been the talk of the district for days - a bookshop in Shibuya offering a special promotion. Romance novels, just one hundred yen per customer, one per customer per day. It's blatantly a gimmick meant to lure repeat business, but it seems to be working; customers, predominately female, are drawn to pick up something to relax with. There's also an upswing in hopeful male customers, many of whom wind up buying something else on special to have an excuse to hang around. Overall, business seems to be booming.
There's a few oddities standing out, though. The sheer popularity, while understandable, is a bit extreme - surely not everyone really needs to go back for a new book four days in a row, right? And many of those who purchased the books are utterly exhausted in the morning - up late reading, or something more sinister? There's also minor details - like the abrupt change in policy from a previously rather exclusive shop - but it might be enough to be worth checking out. Worst case, great deal on a book.
The hour is late - the sun having set not long ago, businesses throughout the district starting to close up. The bookshop is one of those with extended hours, and is still open for the inevitable press of customers...and yet, something's not right. From reputation, and from the last few days of Shibuya experience, there should be a line extending out the door at even this hour. Instead...the lights are on, but the shop is dreadfully quiet.
Within the store entrance, the cause is clear. Customers are piled up unconscious against the shelves - some slumped in a seated position, others flat on their faces still holding some cherished tome. Not a one of the scores of people here seems to be the least bit conscious. It's not, however, utterly silent - the sounds of conversation can be heard from the cash register area.
The bookshop's proprietor, a middle-aged woman with a dreadful pair of horn-rimmed glasses, stands silent before what would seem to be the only customer left standing - a blonde-haired man in a crisp white uniform. Those bold enough to venture into the shop at all can clearly hear what he has to say - he's far from quiet.
"Really, now. This should not have been difficult - any of your compatriots could have followed my instructions clearly, so why not you? Stay here, be patient, and make sure as many people as possible receive those books. Was that so much to ask?" Jadeite shakes his head. "You shame your Queen with such rash behaviour - and now, there's all of this to clean up."
<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Madoka is a silly girl, a dreamy girl, and in the absence of love letters in her locker is always glad to lose herself in another outlet of paperback fantasy. She also lives in this neighborhood, so perhaps it's that confluence of factors that has made her such easy prey. The last few nights she's been up later and later, hardly sleeping at all, pouring herself into these books, being consumed by them instead of consuming them.
And now she needs one more. Trusted child that she is, her parents don't mind her going out for a late night book shopping spree; bundled up in a puppy dog-eared, soft cream hoodie, stripey-pink leggings and a tan skirt, she sets forth on her quest for cute literature that sometimes makes her blush.
Well, it makes her blush a lot. (The punchline is that she hasn't even selected any of the racier titles.)
She's a little wobbly on her way down the street, but giggles it off as her usual clumsiness and her unusual exhaustion. Her most recent book -- 'Love Among The Star-Cats' -- clutched to her chest, she happens to meet another girl on her way to the same store, and inevitably they strike up a conversation.
"And I loved the part at the end of Chapter Five, where Strongapuss the Magnificent turned out to be Nyanara the Brave all along. She's so brave and wonderful, protecting her friend like that..." Her floaty giggle has a slightly manic edge to it, but the stars in her eyes are real as they look over at Minako Aino. Although quite a bit shorter than her unexpected companion, she's making up the difference by trying to balance on the curb, her free hand flung out and windmilling wildly whenever she starts to lose her balance, which is essentially continuously.
As now; unable to save herself, she stumbles off the curb, then cheerfully, tiredly gets back on. "It's so cool meeting another fan like this! What's your favorite part?"
<Pose Tracker> Minako Aino [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
"When Nyanara and Tama get together, of course!" Minako exclaims, though even her exclamations are lacking in their usual energy. Minako's been tired the past few days; she's waved it off as post-exam fatigue. After all, she was always tired after all those late nights of studying! And her mother's endless nagging this time of year didn't exactly help assuage her exhaustion.
Minako claps a hand to her mouth. "I didn't spoil it for you, did I? /Did I/?"
'Love Among The Star-Cats' was the first book that Minako Aino had bought this week. Today marked day three of her venture to the store. Minako had a hard time passing up a good deal -- and this really was one!
Minako Aino had never been given a generous allowance. In fact, she had spent the whole week following exams trying to convince her mom to give her a raise. But the second Minako got her exam scores back, all her dreams of a fatter pocketbook quickly fell to the wayside.
Normally, Minako was not much of a reader. But she did have two weaknesses: pop idol magazines and pulp romance novels with really ~*~SCANDALOUS~*~ love scenes. And fortunately, this particular bookshop had them in spades -- and at 100 yen a pop!
This sale was almost too good to be true!
<Pose Tracker> Yukimi Amane [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Yukimi Amane, being a bit of a dope who's behind on the times, didn't hear about this sale until just today, after parting ways with Lera and Ikuto at the Starbooks. How could this be?! Romance novels for just a hundred yen! Even if it's only one per customer per day, it's already been going on for several days! All the good books must already be sold out...!
Still, Yukimi, who is a sucker for romance and daydreams, has to rush over to see if she can't find something good for herself. She'd completely expected an enormous line, so when she approaches the shop, at first she thinks she hasn't reached it yet and so passes by it completely. She stops after half a block, looking puzzled, and double-checks the address on the flyer she found. ...She's already passed it, so...
She turns around, looking confused. There's a store with the lights still on... She double-checks the times. It should still be open--maybe it's just not crowded because it's gotten so late? Approaching it again, she finds the names match, and looks inside.
She gasps loudly, claps her hand over her mouth, and ducks down into a crouch and crab-walks backwards out of immediate sight. She hardly needs her partner's warning to tell that something sinister is going on. Not with all those people collapsed inside. Being right there, it's not hard to overhear the loud conversation just within, and Yukimi feels her face redden.
/It's some kind of evil plot,/ she realizes, heart pounding. /That voice sounds familiar.../
(I recognize it as well. Let us withdraw for the moment and return transformed.)
/Okay!/ Yukimi turns around and, not watching where she's going, starts to dash off for a dark spot or alleyway where she can transform unseen. She might well rush right past Madoka and Minako, or perhaps someone else entirely, without even realizing it.
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
Kuniko Saito has heard about this HOT DEAL on HOT READS but has not yet had the opportunity to investigate. Now, though, she's made her way up, wearing her cook's whites still, her black nylon valise slung over one shoulder like a briefcase.
Approaching the store, she sees -- no line.
Dang, she thinks, hissing in a breath through clenched teeth. Did they run out...?!
She starts running forwards, towards the shop - and pauses when Yukimi passes near her, which is strange enough to make her skid to a stop. But Yukimi's gone by the time she's turned her head to look.
"Huh?" she says, before her attention turns towards that shop. Silent...
Kuniko steps forwards, several paces, and pauses with a wide-eyed gasp as she sees people sprawled out. She can hear a chiding voice. Sidling to the side, she ducks behind a garbage can, back pressing to a wall.
<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
"We're late, we're late, augh how is it we're late?!"
Here is the story of how Usagi Tsukino, Makoto Kino, and Rei Hino are late for this most wonderful sale.
DAY 1: "What, no! We have plenty of time! Come on, Rei-chan, are you afraid I'll beat you this time and become the GOD DRIVER?"
DAY 2: "I feel like we were going to do something today."
DAY 3: "Aaaa Mako-chan teach us how to make lunch like that, we have all evening!"
DAYS AFTERWARD: It gets pretty ridiculous.
TODAY: "No, I'm sure it's this bus, see?"
It wasn't.
Usagi dashes down the sidewalk, arms flailing in an entirely counterproductive way (she doesn't account for wind resistance in her day to day life) as she tries to lead her friends to love and, why not, maybe there will be some justice.
But there's no line. Just a few scattered people. Usagi freezes near the entrance, stunned. "Are we... too late?" She slowly turns to look over her shoulder at the other two girls, her shocked expression slowly gaining a smile. "Or are we super lucky somehow and we shouldn't question it?"
<Pose Tracker> Mamoru Chiba [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
While Usagi's looking over her shoulder, Mamoru -- in glasses and a grandpa cardigan because somehow he's rocking hipster like he's pretending to be one -- comes around the corner from the other direction. He glances up and down the street. He looks at the girls. "Half an hour ago," he says slowly, "it looked like the fake sale at Osa-P, here."
He reaches up to adjust his glasses, then looks at the door. Then up the street further, where familiar pink and familiar blonde enthuse, he squints; he takes his glasses off and pockets them, all his movements reserved, all serious. "I'm questioning it. But then, I wasn't here for the romance novels."
This last, he says a little too quickly, expression going kind of arch. Moving over to the door himself -- delicately manuevering around Usagi -- Mamoru peers inside, past the shelves. "Oh, damn. Everyone's on the floor."
COMBAT: Mamoru Chiba transforms into Tuxedo Mask!
<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
The winner is he who has one more round in his magazine.
Homura Akemi checks the gunmetal magazine belonging to her Howa Type 89 assault rifle for the third time. Madoka, Minako, and the others were not the only ones whom were up late the past few nights reading. The difference was that Homura was reading books of a different sort, namely those written by Erwin Rommel. His works read pretty easily for the dark-haired teenager. In fact, it was not long before she had read everything that he had ever written. But even the best laid plans break apart when contact is made with the enemy, again his words that Homura had memorized. Another storm was coming and while Homura did not know which was the wind was blowing; she was loathe to be caught unprepared for this one. Nodding her head in approval, she slides the magazine into the belly of the assault rifle and places the weapon among its brothers and sisters on the weapon rack. Her preparations for tonight were complete.
Inside a nearby alleyway (that may or may not be the same one that Yukimi chose), Homura drops from the sky and into a low crouch, her clothes signifying that she was already transformed. She stands up slowly and casually tosses back her hair as she strides forward out from the mouth of the alleyway. Having exited the alley, Homura peers around for where she should begin her patrol. Her entire body stiffens at the sight of a certain cream hoodie and tan skirt wearing girl. Was this coincidence that Madoka Kaname would be out and about on this specific night that Homura already knew was dangerous? No. Homura knew better than to believe in such baldurdash. Keeping as much of a low profile as she can muster, Homura decides to shadow Madoka and Minako for the time being. It was always better to be safe than sorry when Madoka Kaname was involved.
COMBAT: Homura Akemi transforms into Puella Magi Homura!
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Rei was sick to death of this sale and she hasn't even been to the bookstore yet. It's been the talk of the school, and her friends have all been chatting up a storm about it. That in itself is fine..but her grandfather caught wind of it by the second day. Eager to circumvent the one per customer per day rule but lacking in disguises or clones, he's been pestering her to go get something for him too, to double his haul. After shunning his pleas she finally relented, her heart melting to his plaintive wails. Or maybe it was the money he finally offered for three non-sale books of her own choosing. That might also have had something to do with it.
Her grandpa had given her a title to look for, "Day of the Axolotl," after she put her foot down about his first choice, "Doki Doki Unladylike Disco Panic Story." She has no idea what an axolotl is, but if it has a lewd cover then he can forget about it.
Usagi caught wind of her plan to visit the bookstore, /of course./ With gritted teeth, a bulging vein in her forehead, and perhaps a little too much defensiveness too quickly, she insisted that she wasn't going for her own sake, she wouldn't be caught dead reading such stories! Fortunately Makoto's presence gave Usagi somebody to gush over them with, and hopefully that would distract her from teasing a bit..
Her eyebrows raise when they arrive, especially after hearing so many stories about rambunctuous crowds, even in the later hours. Furrowing her brows and turning to Usagi with a hand on her hip, she scowls slightly. "Did it end yesterday without you noticing?" She turns back to the store. "No..grandpa wouldn't have made a mistake like that."
When Mamoru speaks, she glances over her shoulder, registering him before returning her gaze forward, paying him little mind..but as he nears the window, his last comment catches her attention. She whirls towards him in surprise. "What did you say?" Without waiting for an answer, she runs in, throwing the door open to see for herself.
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Nadeshiko Fujisaki is, for her own reasons, not especially a consumer of such romances as these. She spends much too much of her time on baking and dancing and shopping for the rest of the Guardians and homework and helping other children with /their/ homework and (etc) (this is a very long list we're elliding here). Still, occasionally, she finds time in her busy schedule to fret about Baaya, the family housekeeper and caretaker. Baaya, although herself an exceptionally busy woman, /does/ indulge in the occasional romance now and again, and...
And it's been spreading. Nadeshiko's mother isn't half the flawlessly impenetrable iron woman she's taken as by those who don't know her well, but Nadeshiko's never seen her eat three books in as many days, gushing about them openly with Baaya. And she's certainly never seen that happen simultaneous with similar scenes around Ohtori, with teachers complaining of a scourge of exhausted students, and students complaining of a scourge of inattentive teachers. It is the duty of a Guardian to pay attention to these kinds of things!
Which is why, when Baaya surfaced into Nadeshiko's room to ask her to go to the store for her, Nadeshiko set aside her homework and agreed with a smile. Maybe she should go see about these herself.
"They must be very good books!" Temari chimes beside her, flitting from side to side.
"I don't read that much," Nadeshiko admits with an unsteady smile. "I can't say I've read any books good enough to make me lose /this/ much sleep...But I don't know what else it could be."
"I guess we'll find out!" her fairy friend chimes, as Nadeshiko rounds the corner to discover--
Well, saying there's no line might be mistaken, at this point, since there's like 15 high schoolers here, in various stages of alarm. "Hello?" she wonders aloud, waving politely. No Guardian cloak today; late enough she's had time to change, for once. She's sporting her ankle-length skirt and powder-blue vest, instead. "...I'd heard this store would be packed..." she murmurs, concerned.
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Kino [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Makoto is yawning as she trails down the sidewalk in Usagi's wake, one hand raised to cover her mouth while the other arm stretches up behind her head. Mako's been wanting to check out this bookstore for days, ever since she first heard about the promotion - romance and bargain shopping are, after all, two of her favorite things - but Usagi has a way of wreaking havoc on plans, and Makoto's fatigue today has, sadly, nothing to do with staying up late immersed in a love story.
Being a soldier of love and justice is rough on the sleep schedule.
"...huh?" is Makoto's intelligent response when Usagi first comes to a stop and the three of them take in the distinct absence of a sale crowd. "That's weird..." Brows drawing together in confusion, she glances toward Rei, then back to the store. "No, it was definitely supposed to still be going today. I checked."
On another day, she might've teased Mamoru about his presence here... but she doesn't get the chance before he gets that look inside and his ominous statement squelches flat any hopes of a pleasant evening of shopping and romance novels. As Rei charges toward the door and throws it open, Makoto turns a serious look toward Usagi and begins to reach for the familiar shape of her Jupiter pen. "I think we'd better transform, Usagi-chan," she says in a low murmur
<Pose Tracker> Glittering Crux Masque [Admin (S)] has posed.
Whether due to some stray breeze, the reverberations of footsteps, or simple harsh gravity, one of the displayed piles of books gives way to its own instability and topples. The clatter the tomes make as they hit the ground marks the entrance of several would-be customers at once; the conversation between the storekeeper and the blonde man is, as such, interrupted.
The former says nothing immediately. She looks to the new patrons, then to the collapsed civilians, and then to the blonde man. Whatever her impulse - she will not act without his order. For his part, the uniformed Heavenly King raises one hand to pinch his nose.
"Look at this. More witnesses, and even more to deal with because you could not hold your patience." He shakes his head, looking at those who have entered with disdain. "Well, well. You've stumbled across my subordinate's mess. Do not trouble yourselves with trying to understand; very soon, none of this will be your concern."
Looking over those who have barged in with impassive disdain, he turns back to the woman. "Tidy this up, Manutia, before the entire prefecture stumbles across your mess. The conscious ones first, then dispose of the rest."
She convulses. The horn-rimmed glasses shine with an unearthly light, seeming to twist and shift until they're more akin to a horned mask - and the light of that transformation itself masking another. The prim and proper storekeeper is no more; in her place, a gaunt gangly figure, grey and leathery, with long arms ending in vicious-looking claws. "TIAAAAA!"
Every book in the shop shines at once - a feeling of fatigue falling over the area. Worse, but still manageable, for those actually carrying books bought here. The youma steps slowly over the counter with horribly long legs, hunched over as it looks over the room. How many witnesses are left to remove?...
The jingle of a bell forces a decision. In the blink of an eye, it's gone from the counter, looming over the recently opened door. A pink-haired girl and a blonde-haired one, both previous customers, both having just entered, are faced with a monstrous creature. It grins beneath its horned mask, and holds out open green-tinged claws. First, drain their life energy, then clean up the rest.
COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 8 opponents! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque transforms into Youma Form Manutia!
<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
"Wow, /really?!?/"
Many people when spoiled on the ending of their new most favorite novel ever would be angry or aghast or resentful. Madoka, however, is enthusiastic, Minako's joy infectious, taken into her and magnified threefold. "Oh my gosh, that's so romantic..." It's a good thing Sayaka isn't here, because she would be teased remorselessly for her aspirations. Except they aren't, not really. This kind of impossible romance is her favorite kind, because she's not at all interested in the real thing. Ask her if there are any cute boys in her life who she's got a crush on, and she'll say no with total honesty. The people who make her blush in /real life/ are totally different from the fantasy boyfriends of books like these.
"It's like that song I heard on youtube recently..."
Normally she wouldn't be so bold, but she's /extra/ loopy right now. When Madoka's energy gutters to dangerously low levels, she has something of a last gasp of frenetic eagerness, a sort of love of the life she's losing, before it's gone forever. Before her light goes out.
She has no idea Homura is nearby, watching, as she clutches her free hand to her chest and warbles in a breathy voice trained only by the Ohtori children's choir back when she was a little girl...
"The warm feeling is c'est la vie / to confine myself to being me! C'est la vie, I want to keep loving you!"
She flips a pink twintail in a precise imitation of a youtube video she's watched about ten billion times, then giggles sleepily. "Have you seen that channel, it's got the same name as the song! 'C'est la vie', it's, um, French or something... I love it so much, everything on it is just the cutest..."
Blithely they have arrived at the store and walked in. Madoka's in a helpless daze; Homura may have been being sneaky but she's essentially oblivious to anything that isn't Minako Aino or two inches in front of her nose.
Like enormous green-tinged claws. She lets out a panicked shriek, trying to grab Minako's shoulder and backpedal them both out of the way, but her momentum is supernaturally leeched away before it can even begin, and she slumps towards the ground. The light is quickly leaving her eyes, replaced by only dullness.
<Pose Tracker> Minako Aino [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
"Really!"
Minako nods her head with enthusiasm, though she feels a sudden wave of dizziness roll over her. Maybe she should sit down? There's a park bench right over there, isn't there? But the store's right around the corner. She should be able to make it there, right? All she needs to do is walk it off!
Right?! Besides, it's nice to talk about the admittedly few books she liked with somebody! Shun-kun might be a voracious reader, but he didn't seem like the type who'd enjoy gossiping about 'Love Among The Star-Cats'. Or any romance novel, for that matter!
How disappointing...!
But one thing that isn't disappointing is the change of topic! Minako's crazy about music, and she's all ready to talk about the latest jams with her newfound pink-haired friend.
Except Madoka's not there to discuss the new Arashi or KAT-TUN single.
She's talking about Minako Aino's very own YouTube channel.
"You know it?!" Minako's channel only has 28 subscribers -- or at least it did, last she checked this morning! She can hardly believe that she's met someone in the flesh who's actually seen it. C'est La Vie.
"That's--" Minako fights, and fails to supress a yawn. She tries again: "That's my YouTube... channel."
Normally, Minako would be far more excited. But somehow, today, it feels like the energy is just being sapped right out of her.
Minako follows in after Madoka, only vaguely aware of her surroundings. Somehow, she can't seem to focus. And maybe that's why she doesn't seem to take note of anything -- or anyone nearby, familiar or no.
And that's why Minako is slow to react when a green claw reaches out towards her. She takes a step backwards, nearly stumbling over Madoka in the process. She's on the verge of reaching for her transformation pen, tucked into her school uniform pocket when slowly, the last of her energy is drained from her body.
Minako crumples to the floor.
<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
The enemy attacks. Madoka falls, drained. And Homura's plan summarily implodes on itself. SNAFU.
Realizing this, Homura Akemi's facial expression becomes an unswerving straight line. It was now time to improvise.
.Out from the 'shield' on her arm, Homura retrieves one of the Japanese assault rifles she had prepped from earlier. She nestles the bulky rifle under one arm as she leaps in and out of time itself. The visible act of this is Homura leap-frogging increasingly closer to the pink-haired girl in the tan skirt at an unnatural speed. There was no time to waste and Homura will do her best to push through the unnatural wave of fatigue that enters the area thanks to the Youma. Afterall, no tiredness in the world would prevent Homura Akemi from trying to dash to her beloved friend's side.
Should the raven-haired gunslinger not be interrupted, she will drop down in front of where Madoka slumped over. Unfortunately, Homura will leave Minako's defense to someone else. Madoka Kaname and her safety was the priority here. Hommando now levels a cold gaze towards the clawed Youma. There was only one sure way for Madoka to get her energy back. She would have to kill this Youma.
The Howa assault rifle gets charged with a simple hand movement and Homura quickly points the weapon at the horned mask wearing monster. Crack-Crack. Homura goes for a headshot.
COMBAT: Homura Akemi has used Bullet Time on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Rei's heart falls. Mamoru was right, the bookstore is strewn with bodies. How he could have been so blase about it eludes her..but now's not the time for that at all. Crouching next to the nearest person, a young teenage girl in earmuffs, she feels for a pulse with two fingers against the victim's neck. It's weak..but it's there. She isn't dead, and hopefully the others aren't either.
There's a muted crash across the store, closer to the main entrance than the side door that Rei had used. Standing up on her tiptoes to peer over the shelf, she can make out a few girls, including../the Princess./ Her lungs fill with water. Another sound, a voice this time..her vision tracks to its source..a slim man with a crown of golden hair, next to an older woman. His outfit is unmistakable, and Rei crouches down in swift alarm, the water in her lungs turning to ice. /Jadeite../
Things were starting bad and getting worse very quickly. Rei doesn't see the woman next to Jadeite transform, but she knows the drill by now, and hears her inhuman shriek. Her eyes are getting strangely heavy, a dull ache throbbing in her temples, energy trickling out and away from her..as the books begin to glow, she gets a suspicion of where her strength is going. Clutching her transformation pen, hidden from view by the shelf, she mutters the words quietly, hoping to catch them by surprise despite the flashiness of her metamorphosis.
The strange field of exhaustion and ennui doesn't affect her so badly now, but it can't be discounted entirely. Standing up with back to the books, knees bent to ensure that she can't be seen over the rows, she very slowly peers around the side..and sees the youma charge straight for Minako and her pink-haired companion. Blanching, she dashes forward, tripping over an unconscious woman in scrubs in her haste before climbing back to her feet.
"Leave them alone, beast! Or in the name of Mars, I will condemn you!" Her voice is panicked, giving the lie to her bluster. She's afraid..and the sight of both girls crumpling to the ground like juiced fruits doesn't help.
COMBAT: Rei Hino transforms into Sailor Mars! COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used In The Name Of Mars on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking. COMBAT: Kuniko Saito transforms into Poissonnier Kuniko!
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
Kuniko stares at the passing hip bone of Mamoru Chiba. Others are moving in, and Kuniko is hearing words she doesn't like. Words like 'dispose' and 'tidy up' and 'mess'. She sidles into the nearby alleyway.
There, her case is opened, and the blue cloth of an apron is drawn out. Tied on... Light glitters up into her arms, through her body, a thrill through darkness and the night.
Adjusting her fisherman's cap, Kuniko kicks down the back door. (Down is an exaggerated term - she actually jimmies the latch open, pulling it aside and marching into the back room.)
The passage past rock-bottom remainders keeps the young chef from seeing them immediately, but the glowing deathly light makes her stagger. Grinding her teeth, she presses forwards, exhaling as she approaches the sales floor.
"I heard all of it, you maniacs! You're going to jail -" Kuniko pauses when she sees that the Youma has revealed its true shape, her eyes going wide, momentarily taken aback. She had suspected, perhaps, some magical crime - books have their own aromas, after all, and must have their own form of Terroir - but this is something different. Something worse.
"I see what's going on here," she says then. "Some kind of a creature... the law isn't equipped to handle crimes like what you've done, and the Magic Association isn't in the business of policing the streets. And your victims can't defend yourself. So the one to judge you's gonna have to be..."
As Mars introduces herself, Kuniko adjusts her cap. "Me."
Her other hand comes up, fast and flashy. Purple objects fly out of it, tumbling through the air - with a sweetly acidic scent to them. Then, the evoked terroir within erupts - alkaline vegetable wrapping and lemon-juice-laden interiors both reaching heights of their mutual receptivity. They bust, and burst, sending fragrant eruptions of flavor around the youma-- and perhaps its neighbor as well.
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Yalanci Dolma on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to dodge Homura Akemi's Bullet Time, taking 34 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to dodge Sailor Mars's In The Name Of Mars, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Sailor Mars is Psyched! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly dodges Kuniko Saito's Yalanci Dolma, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Glittering Crux Masque's Fade ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque's Flash ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
"G-guh, Mamoru-san?!" Usagi chokes, twirling around to face him. She glances over her shoulders at first Rei and then Makoto, and in all this commotion she begins to notice: Hey, these are familiar faces! The blonde girl opens her mouth to begin replying or saying hello or asking questions but there's a lot of stuff happening at once and her attention management skills aren't that great--
--oh hey is that Minako and Madoka--
It's about when the monster arrives that Usagi realizes Makoto was saying they should transform. Usagi, face somehow paler, backpedals while clutching frantically at her brooch. She feels like she's falling backward, which isn't unusual but she could also swear that she's not actually losing her balance. This--sinking feeling--spreading through her body--
Bullets. Minako, the princess, in danger. Madoka, her friend, in danger. This is becoming common for both of them. The surge of panic at this thought helps Usagi stay awake.
Stumbling away in the commotion, the blonde girl somehow manages to flee the scene around a corner. Surely, a civilian like her will forget all this in moments!
Besides, her retreat is being covered by SAILOR MOON.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"
Bursting in through a back door, the twintailed warrior gestures accusingly into the shop!
"I was really looking forward to trying to read romance novels! I'm normally a huge fan of romance manga instead, and I was extremely proud of myself for wanting to try something new! Instead, you're confirming my prejudice that books put you to sleep! I won't forgive anyone who attempts to trick young women into not giving reading a chance!"
She spins with grace and poise, hair twirling around her as she strikes a fierce pose.
"I'm the sailor-suited pretty soldier of love and justice, Sailor Moon! And, in the name of the moon, I will punish you!"
COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino transforms into Sailor Moon! COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used In The Name Of The Moon on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly braces Sailor Moon's In The Name Of The Moon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon is Psyched! Diversion and Trap applied to Glittering Crux Masque!
<Pose Tracker> Tuxedo Mask [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Glancing over his shoulder at Makoto and Usagi and giving them a quick, firm, wide-eyed nod, Mamoru completely misses Madoka and Minako entering while Rei's jamming her way in the door-- which is why when he turns back around, he half-swallows a yelp. "Shimatta!" he bites off. "I've got Aino-san, you three!" he yells, diving into the cloud of fatigue; he disappears into the sudden confusion and it's a tall black swirl of red-lined cape and white mask and gloves that arrives on the scene, ignoring the danger--
(what else can he do?)
the Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom
(all doubts are cast aside in favor of logic; if not him, the fighters will lose time not fighting)
--and landing noiselessly next to the crumpled form of Minako Aino. The exhaustion and ennui don't pull at him so badly like this; he can make it outside with her. He can. He knows he can. Expression faintly grim, he swiftly crouches and gathers the long-haired blonde girl, then moves them both the hell out of the way of the influx of magical girls until he can get past them out the door.
It doesn't take long.
Tuxedo Mask spares the quickest of glances in Sailor Moon's direction as he carries Minako out, half-wrapped in his cape; if he manages to catch her gaze, she'll see unquestioning trust and pride, all for her.
Then he's gone with the Princess in his arms.
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Nadeshiko's hand slowly falls, and her eyes tick up to Temari. The little fairy nods and floats away from Nadeshiko's side to take a look in through the windows, and...
"Nadeshiko!" the fairy calls at her; full volume, yet inaudible just the same to most. "It's a monster!"
That'd be when the shriek hits, and Nadeshiko bites out a low, quiet displeasure, before she composes herself. People are scattering, some are even /collapsing/, and Nadeshiko glances in Temari's direction, shouting "Temari!" and moving to skip a short ways away. Her transformation isn't so majestic as Sailor Moon's, but... "Chara Change!"
The little fairy whips up to whirl ephemeral cherry blossoms about her shoulders, and chime a solemn, "Chin! Ton! Shan!"
What actually happens visually is that Nadeshiko's hair ornament changes to a bundle of cherry blossoms, and a naginata appears in her hands in a flash of pink light. She spins it around her fingertips with an expert's grace, takes a long, slow, composed breath. OK. Monster threatening a bunch of people. Amu-chan nowhere to be seen, but there's a lot of others here fighting. This...should be fine. Right.
So she splits the quiet by storming into view - she can't pass the door with a /monster/ right there, so she takes up stance outside it. She drops straight from moving to a low-set weapon stance, eyes flashing with intent. She...doesn't have a cool catch phrase. So she does what she does best: Improvisation. "Back off and go home! Don't think we won't hurt you if you don't! Doing this to innocent peoples' hearts isn't something I'll forgive!"
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki transforms into Chara Change! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Polite Invitation To Depart on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly dodges Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Polite Invitation To Depart, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque's Fade ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque's Flash ability activates! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has adjusted his boss levels. He is now ready to take on 6 opponents!
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Kino [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Funny thing about Sailor Soldiers - where one goes, chances are good you'll find two, and where there are two, you're more than likely to find three. Barely a moment after Tuxedo Mask carries the collapsed Minako out through the door to safety and disappears from view, Sailor Jupiter takes his place, planting herself firmly in the open entryway as though to ensure that no servant of evil can pursue. "We've got things here, Tuxedo Kamen-san - get her to safety!"
Even here at the fringe of the effect she can feel the energy drain tugging at her, pulling at the fatigue that her lack of sleep has left her with, but she stubbornly ignores it for now - there's work to be done. Jupiter's green eyes sweep quickly over the scene within the bookstore, taking in the situation, noting the other magical girls who've already joined the fight. A brief nod of recognition to Kuniko, and then the Senshi of Courage turns her full attention back to the enemy, backing up Sailor Moon's declaration with a fierce glare.
"Preying on people who just want a little romance in their lives is unforgivable!" Even as her voice rings out through the shop, Sailor Jupiter is already raising her hands over her head, calling a wind that sweeps in through the open doorway behind her and fills the room with a fresh scent of blooming springtime flowers. "In the name of Jupiter, we'll beat you down!"
Roses bloom from nowhere in her hands, scattering a flood of petals into the wind that now bears down on the youma in a blizzard of color and fragrance.
COMBAT: Makoto Kino transforms into Sailor Jupiter! COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Flower Hurricane on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly braces Sailor Jupiter's Flower Hurricane, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Stun and Trap applied to Glittering Crux Masque!
<Pose Tracker> Glittering Crux Masque [Admin (S)] has posed.
The first indication the youma gets that its targets are not all helpless civilians is Homura's determined gunfire. Bullets crack through the air, and the force sends the youma flying back from the doorway. It's quick to stand once more, but there's cracks in the mask. Condemnations from Sailors Mars and Moon cause it to whip its head around - surprise and caution visible on its monstrous face. It leaps back as Kuniko's Dolma detonate in a cascade around it, but is swiftly caught in the storm of petals. It's looking around frantically, and glances at the door-framed Nadeshiko with a frown. It's outnumbered, and it knows it - escape routes are cut off, and it seems to be gauging which exit is the most easily cleared.
One of the fallen pair is being guarded; the other, carried away by Tuxedo Mask. Jadeite watches that doorway for a long moment, considering what that might signify...but there are more important matters. The scheme was meant to be subtle, and there had been no accounting for the possibility of the Senshi and their ilk interfering. Still, perhaps he can salvage this minor disaster.
"Well, now. It seems this plan has been uncovered. Such a shame - it might not have been as straightforward as posing as a temple attendant, but the Dark Kingdom has enjoyed this bounty all the same. Still, you choose to interfere, as you always do." He scowls at the lot - how dare they interrupy? Enough is enough - he holds up one hand, and an eldritch light shines there. "Perhaps tonight that will end. Manutia - I grant you a chance to redeem yourself. Take this power, and slay all those who oppose you."
From caution and terror to bold glory in an instant - empowered by Jadeite's strength, Manutia lets out a warcry. "TIAAAA!" It moves swiftly - darting about the room faster than before, claws flashing out to tear at the bookshelves without rhyme or reason. A flurry of torn pages masks its passage - but it's no longer dreaming of escape. Only pain.
COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Vicious Critique on Sailor Moon. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Vulgar Vanity on Sailor Jupiter. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Vicious Critique on Nadeshiko Fujisaki. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Royal Marauder on Homura Akemi. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Vicious Critique on Sailor Mars. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Royal Marauder on Kuniko Saito. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has finished attacking. COMBAT: Kuniko Saito narrowly counters Glittering Crux Masque's Royal Marauder, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Kuniko Saito's Reverse ability activates! Diversion applied to Kuniko Saito! COMBAT: Kuniko Saito's counterattack, Boning Knife, partially gets through, doing 16 Fatigue damage to Glittering Crux Masque! Critical Counterhit! COMBAT: Homura Akemi narrowly dodges Glittering Crux Masque's Royal Marauder, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Homura Akemi's Fade ability activates! Homura Akemi's Flash ability activates! Diversion applied to Homura Akemi! COMBAT: Sailor Mars narrowly dodges Glittering Crux Masque's Vicious Critique, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Sailor Mars's Fade ability activates! Sailor Mars's Flash ability activates! Trap applied to Sailor Mars! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki fails to dodge Glittering Crux Masque's Vicious Critique, taking 23 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly braces Glittering Crux Masque's Vicious Critique, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Parry ability activates! Trap applied to Sailor Moon! COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly counters Glittering Crux Masque's Vulgar Vanity, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Bind Break! All of Glittering Crux Masque's debuffs are cleared! COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter's counterattack, Supreme Suplex, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Glittering Crux Masque!
<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
New Friend C'est La Vie Youtube Creator -- they never did exchange names -- is whisked away. And other magical girls are announcing themselves; Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and some other voices that do not name themselves for the convenience of her fading comprehensions.
She's too weak to do more than allow the shadow of a relieved smile to bloom in the corners of her mouth, the smile that would blossom with joy and excitement upon seeing any of her friends or their friends, with awe and respect upon seeing any of these brave young women in action, and to hide the worry in her heart that she feels every time they put their lives on the lines for everyone else.
All she can do is weakly reach out, with the last of her strength, to grip the back of Homura's heel. The smoothness of her boot barely yields to the tiny pressure of her touch. "Sorry, Homura-chan," she exhales, the whisper of the wind between her teeth. There's an enormous amount of guilt in those two syllables.
This is all her fault. It has to be. It always is.
And now Homura-chan is saving her again, and she doesn't even have the energy to cry.
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
The arrival of the Sailor Senshi and Nadeshiko - as well as that girl with the firearms - is obscurely pleasing to Kuniko. Cool. This should be easier then! 'Easier', she thinks, even as that blonde man speaks.
Kuniko points a thin-bladed knife at him. "Yeah? Your hairstyle's forcing ME to -" She falters, seeing that shine. Her snapback fades, and then the youma moves. Kuniko raises her hands in self-defense -
SHING!
The boning knife, a present from Gordon - Chef - a magical rabbit, a master of cuisine, and her patron in this life of hers - glitters. Kuniko is forced back against a bookshelf, but her blade, honed sharp and kept with love, makes its mark.
Breathing heavily, Kuniko doesn't speak in reply. The knife is slid back into the invisible world of Mise-en-place. Kuniko hunches over-- and a familiar, fragrant smell wafts out from around her. No perfume, this, but a welcome scent of fresh-ground coffee.
"Sailors! Have this - it's a navy special espresso!" Kuniko declares, before spinning the three saucers and their three little cups towards the three sailor-suited champions of three justice -- but that, perhaps, is less than three's proper due, to abuse it in such a way.
The coffee itself is revivifying, fresh and poignant, with a creamy head and - is that a touch of salt in it?
Kuniko may not fully comprehend the nature of their sobriquet.
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Espresso Service on Sailor Moon. COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Espresso Service on Sailor Jupiter. COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Espresso Service on Sailor Mars. COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has finished attacking. COMBAT: Sailor Moon accepts Kuniko Saito's Espresso Service, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon is Cheered! COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter accepts Kuniko Saito's Espresso Service, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Sailor Jupiter is Cheered! COMBAT: Sailor Mars accepts Kuniko Saito's Espresso Service, taking 0 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Several people burst through the back doors of the bookstore. Their sudden appearances cause Homura to swivel her assault rifle in their direction. But thankfully, she recognizes Sailor Moon and Kuniko easily enough. Their next actions alone help dissuade any notion that they might be hostiles. Out of the corner of her eye, Homura notices that Minako is grabbed and spirited away by Tuxedo Mask. Good. In times past, Homura herself may have been right alongside Minako and Madoka as they joyously strolled to the bookstore. But those were happier times and this was now. With now being the time where Homura Akemi stands with a military assault rifle in her hands and her long black hair flowing down her back. A time where she has the strength to protect the person dearest to her heart. She will not...she must notlet any harm fall upon Madoka...at all costs.
More allies arrive and Homura realizes that they now have the upper hand in this battle. But this advantage is soon wiped away when the Youma is powered up by Jadeite. This was going to be a tough fight afterall. Madoka's plea and her grabbing of her heel causes Homura Akemi to look away from her target and down at Madoka. The youma takes advantage of this by choosing this precise moment to slash at Homura. The attack was much faster than Homura had anticipated and the black-haired girl must act now purely on instinct. She drops down and embraces what she can of the crumpled Madoka for a last minute time stop that allows the two of them to barely excape getting torn in two by the powered up creature. The only thing remaining in that spot is the girl's assault rifle which rattles against the ground noisily. That was far too close. Homura begrudgingly lets go of Madoka now that they are safely away from that attack. "Madoka, I'll always protect you." She says in a voice barely above a whisper.
There are so many things more that Homura wants to say, but so little time to say them in. Right now, the priority would be to put this creature down as quick as possible which would restore some of Madoka's lost energy. Eveything else was all secondary concerns to Homura Akemi.
"Destroy this creature and everyone gets their energy back," reports Homura bruquely as she reaches into her 'shield' once more to pull out a small tube. She preps the flashbang grenade by removing the safety and pulling the pin. "And cover your eyes." She goes on to instruct to her allies before tossing the grenade underhand at the Youma. With it wearing a mask of sorts, this might be just enough to thoroughly disorient the creature even further. And the more this creature was kept out of whack, the higher chance that Madoka Kaname could be kept safe and out of Kyubey's grasp.
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Lights upon lights upon lights..glowing books and shining energies flying to and fro, arcane assaults and magical modifications and pretty prestidigitations..and in all the sound and the fury, Sailor Mars' spirits lift as she catches up to the circumstances, and feels the charge of battle. It felt good to declare herself, and it even seemed to distract the youma somewhat..both girls are whisked away, pink by black, and Minako by-
/Tuxedo Mask../
A troubled look flits across her face as she glances to Sailor Moon and Sailor Jupiter. Neither seems worried..and for all his mysteriousness, he's proved an ally before. There is good reason to trust him. Rei /does/ trust him, as much as she can for as little as she knows of him. And if this were anybody else, even one of the other Senshi, she wouldn't have given it a second thought.
But this is the /princess../ and protecting her is their highest duty, above even protecting the innocent and vanquishing evil. Her throat tight, she thinks, her mind bouncing around like dice in a shaking jar. Casting her thoughts out, she can feel Phobos, feel Deimos, outside of the building. She can't send words to them, but she /can/ send /impressions./ Her shoulders drop a little, her stresses very slightly eased as she senses her companions taking flight, following the unconscious princess from high in the sky, black feathers concealed against the night. If anything bad happens, then one of them will stick with Minako, and one will return to her.
Returning her attention to the situation at hand, Rei's eyes goggle as a blaze of light flashes next to her head, perilously close..jumping aside, she couldn't tell what had hit her, but she could feel it. Rubbing her temple, she almost doesn't notice that a coffee cup and saucer fly towards her head. Plucking the cup out of the air with a hand, she spins on her heel, barely catching the saucer on her toe. Standing on one leg like a flamingo, she throws back the coffee in a single gulp. She can feel its heat, but isn't bothered by it so much. She's the Sailor Senshi of fire after all!
"Thanks!"
Kicking the saucer up and grabbing it with her free hand, she places cup in saucer, and brings both to her forehead, planting her feet in the ground in a wide stance. The porcelain pretties burst into flame in her hands, a shimmering orange shooting heatwaves into the air! Her arms both explode forward at once, thrusting the diningware towards the rampaging beast, it shoots like a comet. In its travel, the fire blazes and burns, growing bigger, longer, and taking on a distinctive shape. The coffee cup becomes the brain of a flaming dragon, teeth like torches as it lunges for the demon's flesh.
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Searing Serpent on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking. COMBAT: Homura Akemi has used Flashbang on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to brace Homura Akemi's Flashbang, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Glittering Crux Masque! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly dodges Sailor Mars's Searing Serpent, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque's Fade ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque's Flash ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Sailor Moon surveys the scene with desperate need. Minako: left with Tuxedo Mask. Madoka: left with Shield Girl--no, Homura Akemi. Youma: being super creepy. And--the pretty soldier spares a moment of puzzled, panicked attention for Jadeite.
"You!" is all she can exclaim before Manutia's rampage threatens her. Sailor Moon yelps and darts aside, avoiding a jostled bookshelf and finding herself in claw-grasp of the hideous, empowered monster. She grits her teeth and uses her concern for her friends as a shield, thrusting her hand forward and sparking a brief, silvery shield that stops her from being slashed to ribbons but still sends her toppling backward into another shelf.
The air goes out of her with an "oof!" but, judging from Manutia's strength, it could have been a lot, lot worse. Her mind races for what to do and no matter how good a guardian she tries to be, she can't help but end up at missing Ami all over again. Her breath comes fast. Don't think about that.
Some coffee floats over. Usagi recalls the last time she freaked out at floating food and dutifully takes it in hand, sampling the artful taste. Ami would like this. There, that's something she can focus on: Ami has to try this one day! Usagi gulps the rest of the coffee down because she's kind of a hot mess.
Setting the cup onto a bookshelf, Usagi selects a book that looks important. She chooses by weight and dustiness and finds a truly massive tome that takes two white-gloved hands to manage. The pretty soldier steps out into the store and hefts it over her head.
"HEY! Haven't you heard that old proverb?! Those who attack books are doomed to be attacked by books!"
She has been hanging out with Minako for like a week, seriously.
Sailor Moon throws the volume, now glittering with the lunar magic of Usagi's belief in how important it is, directly at Manutia's head. She is not a great aim.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Sailor Moon Says on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly dodges Sailor Moon's Sailor Moon Says, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque's Fade ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque's Flash ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Nadeshiko makes the possibly rookie mistake of assuming anyone carting people away from the sight of a monster fight is not taking them to some secret sorcery lab to disect their tasty souls, or whatever. As Madoka (she dimly remembers the Ohtori middle schooler, as well as she remembers any of them at least) and her friend (?) are whisked away from the field, Nadeshiko adjusts her stance to a more threatening one. "He's going to power it up?" she mutters. "Temari, get out of here!"
"STRING 'ER UP BY HER TOES!" Temari jeers at the fighting warriors. Her voice is inaudible; a fairy perceptible only by a select few. Still, perhaps the, uh...encouragement, will linger in the back of their minds.
For Nadeshiko, the only encouragement she gets is a sudden claw across the chest. She moves to leap aside, but is just not fast enough; the hit takes her head on and sends her tumbling backwards, grunting. She liked that sweater! But now this thing's stronger than ever...what's she gonna do...
She has to have faith in the others. They can't just run! It's like Homura said, if they let it go, all these people will lose that energy! For...ever? Is that how this energy works?
Nadeshiko stumbles up to her feet, takes a long, deep breath, and: "OKAY, FINE, YOU LITTLE BOOK NOODLE!!" /Completely loses it/.
Nadeshiko is normally a pretty reliable, quiet-minded girl, but Chara Change changes that equation quite a lot, and so she charges. She doesn't really have a way to play it safe. So she rushes directly into the enhanced, more powerful than ever monster, thrusting and sweeping her naginta with a rapid flurry of precise but powerful strokes. "See how you like it! Ha! Ha! HiiIYA!"
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Flurry on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly counters Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Flurry, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque is Quipped! Glittering Crux Masque's Reverse ability activates! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque's counterattack, Calamity and Calm, partially gets through, doing 14 Fatigue damage to Nadeshiko Fujisaki!
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
The room is a confusion of shredded paper and binding, the mad charge of the youma and its flashing claws. Sailor Jupiter only ust manages to see it bearing down on her, and instinctively shifts her stance to meet the attack, redirecting enough of the force of Manutia's assault to send the claws slicing along her arm and through part of her glove instead of gouging into her body.
Ignoring the sting of pain and the warm trickle of blood underneath the arm of her glove, Jupiter turns a fierce-eyed look towards Jadeite, undaunted. "It doesn't matter how big you talk," she declares. "Your monster won't stop us."
Homura's words have her glacing sidelong, and as Jupiter remembers the fight at the park her lips tighten into a thin line, but she's not stupid enough to ignore the warning; her hand lifts to shield her eyes, averted from the glare of the flashbang as it goes off.
When she looks up again, there's a cup of coffee in front of her.
Surprise flashes across her face then, but Sailor Jupiter doesn't hesitate to reach for the espresso-- "Thanks!" she calls to Kuniko, raising the cup in a quick and sketchy salute before she drinks it down. It's delicious, hot and bracing, and she can practically feel the caffeeine going straight into her blood, restoring all of her flagging energy to full potency. In an abrupt burst of motion she flings the empty cup at the youma's head, not even pausing to aim - it doesn't matter if it hits or not, it's nothing but a feint, meant to distract Manutia for one critical moment before a whipcrack of lightning leaps from Jupiter's fingers.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Jupiter Thunderbolt on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly braces Sailor Jupiter's Jupiter Thunderbolt, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque is Quipped!
<Pose Tracker> Glittering Crux Masque [Admin (S)] has posed.
Jadeite vanishes from sight for a moment, reappearing seated atop one of the bookshelves. Manutia has been a helpful enough pawn - though any youma would have served as well in its place, frankly. Still, the Senshi are out in force; as Manutia's rampage is met with knives at at least one judo-throw, he muses on the potential for setting up some sort of trap...
There's a high-pitched whine.
Homura's flashbang detonates, momentarily filling the room with blinding white light. Manutia shades its mask with one claw, while Jadeite is forced to throw up an arm against the light. In the wake of that diversion, the youma suffers further assault - it dives ignobly to one side to avoid the fangs of Sailor Mars's fire dragon, but the flames ignite the fluttering pages around it in a brilliant conflagration. A spinning, shining book whips by - clipping the edge of the mask on its way to slam into Jadeite's bookshelf.
As the shelf wobbles, Nadeshiko charges in. The youma, fed up with the state of affairs, meets this with equally sharp claws - vicious weapons clashing back and forth for a brief exchange, before the youma breaks off with a leap backwards - just in time to slash through the incoming lightning bolt with one claw. Shocking, but better than it might have been. "Tia...."
Perch stabilizing, Jadeite considers those who have dared to oppose him - along with their bold proclamations. The dark-haired Homura, defensive of her charge, gets a moment's consideration. "Indeed. Perhaps we should depart, Manutia, that you might keep that girl's life force." A cruel smile, even as the Youma continues battling.
And, of course there's the Sailor Scouts. Moon, Mars, Jupiter.... "Yes. Me. Are you hoping to be in time to save people here, unlike the other day? Or are you three still lost without Sailor Mercury holding your hands?" He laughs, this time, and waves for Manutia to continue its rampage. Crushing these heroes' spirits is all well and good...but crushing their bodies is so much sweeter a victory to bring to Beryl.
The beleaguered youma, in spite of the assaults on it, is filled with strength not its own. It continues dashing around the room, lashing out at random with lengthly claws. Along the way, though, it grabs a pair of tomes of its own - charging them with dark power, and wielding them as bludgeons against Sailors Moon and Mars!
COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Vicious Critique on Kuniko Saito. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Vicious Critique on Sailor Jupiter. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used The Book on Sailor Mars. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used The Book on Sailor Moon. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Vicious Critique on Nadeshiko Fujisaki. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Vicious Critique on Homura Akemi. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has finished attacking. COMBAT: Sailor Moon fails to dodge Glittering Crux Masque's The Book, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Cripple, Stun, and Trap applied to Sailor Moon! COMBAT: Sailor Mars fails to brace Glittering Crux Masque's The Book, taking 26 Fatigue damage! Cripple, Stun, and Trap applied to Sailor Mars! COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Glittering Crux Masque's Vicious Critique, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates! COMBAT: Kuniko Saito narrowly dodges Glittering Crux Masque's Vicious Critique, taking 18 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki perfectly dodges Glittering Crux Masque's Vicious Critique, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Flash ability activates! COMBAT: Homura Akemi fails to counter Glittering Crux Masque's Vicious Critique, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Homura Akemi! COMBAT: Homura Akemi's counterattack, Suspend Time, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Glittering Crux Masque!
<Pose Tracker> Madoka Kaname [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
'I know,' thinks Madoka. And it's true. She knows Homura will protect her; she's always known. From the moment this stranger appeared in her dreams, and then in her heart, some part of her beyond reason and beyond explanation has had perfect faith in Homura's intentions. She's so confusing, and sometimes cruel. Sometimes she seems to do the wrong things. But that Homura truly believes she's doing them for Madoka, of that she has no doubt.
Dangling limply in Homura's arms, she allows herself to briefly let go, to sink deeper into the waiting gray that is rising up to meet her, in that place where she no longer has to work or worry because there is nothing left to do. Nothing else /to/ do. Nothing she can do.
"Shouldn't... have to," she burbles, semiconscious. Because that, certainly, is true. Homura will always protect Madoka, because Madoka always needs protection. Is always helpless when the going gets tough.
But there's really nothing else she can say, or even think. Drowning in bitter self-recrimination, she succumbs at last to the call of Jadeite's magic, and sleeps deeply, in a place where there are no dreams, not even for a silly girl like her.
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
"I'm going to hold Mercury-chan's hand again one day, really soon!" Sailor Moon challenges back, cheeks reddening in fluster. She wobbles between decision here--should she engage Jadeite, or the youma? But--
"We have to stop the youma to return everyone's energy!" she gambles on a truth. The villains taunt the heroes with mean truths, right? This seems to line up with what she's seen before!
What also lines up is Manutia's book and Sailor Moon's face. The pretty soldier attempts to leap aside, dancing away from the furious bludgeoning, and it works for all of two swings. There's too much fury and not enough elegance in this duel, and Usagi is overwhelmed by the ferocious strength wielded by the monster. Her shout of pain is cut short as she's not only knocked aside but into a shelf, the two of them tumbling over.
Sailor Moon rolls to her feet, slowly and with marked lack of coordination--her head is spinning. This is some sort of boss fight gimmick, right? Maybe--ugh, she can't think! Instinctively reaching for her moon stick--and rewarded with it, born from a glimmer of silvery magic in thin air, the pretty soldier attempts to buy herself some breathing room with a crescent slash of pale moonlight that leaps cometlike across the room.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used She Did Start Harry Potter Recently on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly dodges Sailor Moon's She Did Start Harry Potter Recently, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque's Fade ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque's Flash ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
"Geez!" Kuniko says as she sees a grenade fly through the air. She covers her eyes with one hand, gritting her teeth for the impending BANG -
There it is.
Kuniko is gratified to hear thanks from Sailor Mars, as well as seeing the eagerness of Sailor Moon to guzzle down that bean juice. When Sailor Moon speaks words of wisdom, Kuniko's eyes widen. She does not know any better. '/that's so true/' she thinks, almost visibly --
It's moving. Sharp claws rake at her side, and without her knife at hand, Kuniko can't counterstrike as she did before. Rends appear in her culinary finery, the sea-blue fabric ripping lightly. Gritting her teeth, Kuniko hunches over again, grasping at her side.
"hhh," she breathes out, reaching forwards - and with a clatter of hidden metal, draws out a trio of skewers, glistening with fresh-grilled cheese. They're flung towards the youma, Kuniko saying as she does, "Don't listen to him -- if you want something better in life than just sucking energy and being yelled at, try this!"
And if she doesn't, well, in a little bit they'll burst in a fit of culinary pique. (And she criticized Homura's gunhappiness.... (Well, in her head, at least.))
Kuniko's eyes cut back to Jadeite, seeing people moving in the background. They're alive, she thinks with relief. "So who are you, her supervisor?!" she manages to crack, voice shaky.
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Halloumi Cheese on Skewers on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to dodge Kuniko Saito's Halloumi Cheese on Skewers, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Kuniko Saito is Psyched!
<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Homura Akemi knows that she must step out of time again to avoid the Youma's attack. She also knows that she can't risk Madoka getting caught in the crossfire. Once more, she grabs ahold of Madoka desperately and phases them both out of time and space. But she miscalculates the erratic nature of the creature's attack. She resumes time right as the youma switches directions and simply runs straight into a swiped claw. All Homura can do is shield Madoka from the blow by turning her back to the creature's claw. The claw rips into Homura with a red spray of blood following the brutal attack and Madoka would have the unfortunate opportunity to witness Homura's grimacing reaction first hand. Thankfully, Madoka was fading out of conciousness and would possibly be spared from this nightmare. It was all for the best as Madoka's words were drilling their way deep into Homura's heart. A different kind of pain now filled the violent violet girl. But for Madoka, Homura would gladly bear any kind of pain. It doesn't matter if she shouldn't have to or not, she'll make this same sacrifice everytime...as many times as it takes.
The Puella Magi grits her teeth and turns back around. It was no longer time to 'play nice'. Her shield is activated again and she removes -another- assault rifle from it, a carbon copy of the assault rifle that she left lying on the floor.
This deadly weapon is leveled towards the masked attacker and Homura's thumb moves to operate the switch on the side of the weapon. It had once read the words SEMI, but the weapon is now switched to AUTO. Homura Akemi aims down the sights and pulls the trigger down hard. The weapon violently begins to shake as it spits round after round at the Youma. Homura doesn't stop firing until the entire magazine is spent and every single piece of brass is ejected from the weapon. "Unacceptable," replies the raven-haired girl simply to Jadeite's taunt.
Sailor Moon repeating Homura's advice from before grants a blank look from the Puella Magi. Everyone was more likely to listen to her anyways. Homura knows all too well the pain of trying to get others to listen to her advice. That usually ended poorly and in needless bloodshed and tears. This way was much easier.
COMBAT: Homura Akemi has used Machine Gun Fury on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly counters Homura Akemi's Machine Gun Fury, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque's Reverse ability activates! Stagger applied to Glittering Crux Masque! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque's counterattack, To Slay A Sparrow, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Homura Akemi!
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Jadeite speaks in his smug fashion. It's amazing how somebody who loses so often could be so cocky! Still..there's a shred of an ember of truth to one part of his words. They're not the same without Ami-chan..not least because there are more burning books around here by the moment, and Sailor Mercury could easily douse the flames.
Angrily flipping her hair at Jadeite's taunts, she points straight at Usagi. "Sailor Moon! Pay no attention to that goon! He's just a buffoon! Crazy as a loo-"
Her moxy is cut short by a bellowing gray-skin American'ing its way straight towards her, clutching a shadow-oozing copy of the Principia and smashing it in her face like a frying pan. Caught unawares, too late to dodge, she attempts to brace herself..and fails utterly. The miserable, accursed gift to humankind collides with her head with a /THWUMP,/ and Sailor Mars falls straight back, falling face up and grunting out a stacatto cry of pain. Sailor Moon falls near her, felled by some other glorious contribution to human understanding, and Rei just /knows/ that she's gonna use this as an excuse to poo poo books without pictures the next time it comes up. Pushing her palms against the pile of books that 'cushioned' her fall, she throws herself back up, tottering on her heels a little before righting herself.
Scanning around to get the lay of the land, Rei doesn't ask Usagi if she's ok, but she does check, and puts a hand on her shoulder, offering a quick smile. She hasn't forgotten what Usagi said to her at the Shrine. Her smile fades as she stares hard at the rampaging marauder. Extending her right arm, she snaps her fingers.
The burning books in the youma's vicinity further enflame..the little fires seem to grow and extend, tapering into a point and wriggling away from the paper pages, as though they were getting sucked into a vacuum cleaner. Instead, the flames writhe away completely, leaving the burnt books damaged but considerably less on fire than before, a few dozen little footlong worms twisting through the air like jellyfish in the water, all sightlessly inching closer to graze against demonhide.
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Searing Serpent on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque perfectly dodges Sailor Mars's Searing Serpent, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Glittering Crux Masque's Fade ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque's Flash ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
This time when the youma comes at her, Sailor Jupiter simply braces to meet the attack, squaring her stance and raising her arms before her as a shield. Once again, the claws rip through her gloves and leave red lines on her skin, drawing a hiss of breath out through Jupiter's teeth, but there's no time to worry about herself right now - dismay flashes across her face as she sees Manutia going after Sailor Moon and Mars with those massive books, but Sailor Mars is already helping Sailor Moon back up, so Jupiter once again rounds on Jadeite.
This time she looks really pissed.
"Shut up!" she shouts up at the Dark General, electricity crackling in the air around her to punctuate the words. "You don't know anything!" She reaches up and grips lightning, arcs of it writhing over her fingers, and for a moment it genuinely looks as though she means to climb the shelves and go after him directly--
--but Homura and Sailor Moon are both right; their duty right now is to end the youma and restore everyone's energy. "I don't want to hear you even say Mercury's name!" Sailor Jupiter snaps instead, and leaps into motion, charging at the youma with fists ablaze.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Lightning Fist on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to dodge Sailor Jupiter's Lightning Fist, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is Psyched!
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Nadeshiko trades blows with a doubly monstrous Youma, and comes out - well, not shredded to ribbons, so big success there. She staggers away while Manutia jumps back; Nadeshiko's wheezing faintly from the exertions. It got powered up by that general guy - did she hear Sailor Moon call him Jadeite? - And Nadeshiko knows she's already trailing behind Amulet Heart and those like her. She's got the experience to push the most out of her Chara Change, and the trust in Temari too, but without a Character Transformation...She shakes her head. It...won't be an issue forever, she reminds herself.
She sees the attack coming, and grins a little. "Slow!" she jeers, and moves this time; sweeps low below the claw, then yields a step to a second claw, and then pirouettes neatly to the side of a third sweep before Manutia is moving on to someone else. "Still...still OK," she reminds herself. Grips her naginata tighter. She waits for her move. Sailor Mars is casting a flame into th mix, and Nadeshiko decides she doesn't particularly want to be in the middle of a group of blasters going all-out right now, so she does the next best thing. Sailor Moon's right; the youma's gotta go. She sets her stance hard, and hollers, "We need that energy back. Those peoples' hearts and lives aren't yours to play with! ... SO FALL OVER, KID!!" and then WHIPS the naginata at Manutia, blade-first. It being what it is, it won't skewer or pierce. That would be violent! It does, however, impart enough force to bend iron bars or, for instance, send Youma bouncing across a bookstore.
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Throw on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to dodge Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Throw, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque is Quipped!
<Pose Tracker> Glittering Crux Masque [Admin (S)] has posed.
While he doesn't know the full story with all those gathered here, Jadeite is happy to taunt them - and can't help but note that any enemy of Dark Fall defeated is a victory for Beryl. "And of course, if you can't stop her, then none of these people will ever wake up." Perhaps an overstatement, but these meddling youths won't know any better.
Kuniko's question is met with a mocking bow from the bookshelf seat. "Jadeite, of the Four Heavenly Kings. I suppose I could help by informing you that my youma do not eat...cheese." Indeed, Manutia settles on trying to bat the skewers aside, snarling at the explosion. The reveal of a second machine gun is met with immediate action - a quick swipe unleashing a wave of power to scatter half the bullets to one side. Moment by moment, it's getting faster - Sailor Moon's attack only grazing it, and a swift leap carries it out of the path of Mars's flames.
This does, however, carry it into the path of Jupiter's fist and Nadeshiko's naginata - both strikes slamming fully into it. "Tiiiii..." Its fury builds with each moment, and the claws glint strangely.
The taunts, however, are bringing a scowl to Jadeite's face - considerably less calm, he gestures sharply to indicate Sailor Mars and Nadeshiko. "Manutia. Stop playing around - deal with those two, now." The youma, howling, lunges forward - a storm of paper from a hundred ruined books erupting in its wake. Under the cover of the charge, it claws at the two indicated - but this time, there's that ominous green tinge to its claws, and it seems to hunger with each strike. It follows up with a wild charge at Sailor Jupiter - orders or not, it is a being of hate and wrath.
COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Paging Godot on Kuniko Saito. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Paging Godot on Homura Akemi. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Paging Godot on Sailor Moon. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Ravenous Festivities on Sailor Mars. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Ravenous Festivities on Nadeshiko Fujisaki. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Ravenous Festivities on Sailor Jupiter. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has finished attacking. COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly braces Glittering Crux Masque's Paging Godot, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Parry ability activates! Blind applied to Sailor Moon! COMBAT: Kuniko Saito fails to brace Glittering Crux Masque's Paging Godot, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Kuniko Saito! COMBAT: Homura Akemi narrowly dodges Glittering Crux Masque's Paging Godot, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Homura Akemi's Fade ability activates! Homura Akemi's Flash ability activates! Blind applied to Homura Akemi! COMBAT: Sailor Mars fails to dodge Glittering Crux Masque's Ravenous Festivities, taking 43 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque drains 17 fatigue from Sailor Mars! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki narrowly dodges Glittering Crux Masque's Ravenous Festivities, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Flash ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque drains 6 fatigue from Nadeshiko Fujisaki!
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Sailor Moon's head is still ringing. She tries to concentrate on what's going on: the other girls repositioning and attacking on their own, the youma tearing about the place, Jadeite being Jadeite. It's difficult even to focus on the reclining general. She raises her wand in preemptive wariness.
Even disoriented, Usagi knows how fast this youma is moving. The adjective that comes to mind is 'dangerously.'
She only has a yelp of warning for the others when Manutia is commanded to move. They all heard it too, but Usagi is panicking and wants to do something to help. The swarm of paper kicks up before her and she is quick to guard herself, reacting to the motion despite the relative lack of danger. It's more obfuscation when she's already having trouble landing a hit.
Usagi bites her lip. It hurts. She hesitates with her wand, and then--hearing the viciousness beyond the confines of her vision--she reacts with unthinking, desirous need. The pretty soldier thrusts her lunar scepter forward, crying out as she wills some kind of resolution, anything--
The wave of ruined books forms into a true wave now, a portion of them rising up like a tower and then crashing down all at once.
COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Read or Die (or maybe purify) on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking. COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to brace Glittering Crux Masque's Ravenous Festivities, taking 40 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque drains 16 fatigue from Sailor Jupiter!
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
Paper storms upwards into Kuniko's face; she staggers back against the shelves, collapsing them; her eyes water as she hisses in and out, heavy rapid breathes as the youma charges around.
Jadeite lays out the stakes.
Stakes, Kuniko thinks. If I had a good slab of tuna, I could...
But does she? No; she hasn't been to Tsukiji in days.
Kuniko reviews the fish she has and is horrified to find that the cupboard is nearly bare. What DOES she have, she thinks - some eel, some bony fish...
She has no answer for Jadeite. Only one anchovy. "But," she says, "with this anchovy..."
A knife moves softly as Kuniko crouches. Is this bravery? It's the focus on the work. She can't devastate this thing, she thinks; but perhaps others can.
"Hey! To go with the coffee, since this is our first time meeting!" Kuniko calls again, spinning another plate on her finger and then tipping it to sail towards Sailor Mars...
On that plate is a spread of white and red. Is it the Japanese flag? No - a ripe tomato, held carefully at the peak of freshness and given a brief dip in salt water after slicing, intermixed with thick slices of mozzarella cheese, the authentic sort made from water buffalo milk. A single anchovy, filleted and spread, with toast points of the most immaculate white bread, brushed with garlic-infused olive oil and toasted on a hot griddle - no crust, merely the perfect points. All of it dressed with white wine vinegar and a crushed and diced leaf of basil, with a small strip of wakame seaweed to add that elusive fusion-cuisine charm.
"I added a little red pepper to the dressing - it seemed to suit you!" Kuniko calls.
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Tomato and Mozarella Antipasta on Sailor Mars. COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has finished attacking. COMBAT: Sailor Mars accepts Kuniko Saito's Tomato and Mozarella Antipasta, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Withstand applied to Sailor Mars! Cleanse! All of Sailor Mars's debuffs are cleared! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly dodges Sailor Moon's Read or Die (or maybe purify), taking 41 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Glittering Crux Masque's Fade ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque's Flash ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Paper flies towards Homura Akemi and she's not able to get completely free of it when she tries to evade. The swarm of once books obscure her vision, but Homura is able to position herself so Madoka is spared from getting any nasty papercuts at the cost of Homura herself getting a few. Homura then drops the magazine from her weapon, pulls a fresh one from her 'shield', and slams the fresh magazine into the magazine well of her assault rifle. She's now ready for action once more without having to pull another assault rifle from her collection.
"I'm reloaded," begins Homura as she slaps the bottom of the magazine that she placed into her weapon. "Your creation has outstayed it's welcome. It's time to see if it has learned to dodge bullets." She remains near Madoka's side with her assault rifle in hand. And the selector switch on her weapon remains on AUTO. But no attack comes outright from the girl, it seems that Homura is taking a slight break from the action. The Puella Magi does not seem completely idle, however. She does stand ready to intercept any blow that is aimed towards the slumped Madoka.
COMBAT: Homura Akemi has used Timely Insight on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to dodge Homura Akemi's Timely Insight, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque is Quipped! Analysis performed by Homura Akemi!
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Rei's mouth has gotten her in trouble with a moody boy again. It isn't the first time and it certainly won't be the last. Like a furious grizzly bear, the thing, this Manutia, charges forward in a fear-inspiring display of mass and rage. As it hurtles near Rei prepares to jump over it..but she's distracted by the green stains on the claws, and the thought that it may be poison. It only lasts a beat..and maybe it wouldn't have mattered if it hadn't happened..but with her attention grabbed for a beat her jump is delayed by two. The beast raises its claw like a cat's paw and swipes at her, catching her full on in the stomach and stabbing painfully into her body, the force of its swing throwing her back. She collides headfirst with a bookshelf that totters from side to side, and then falls straight onto her.
Blowing her hair out of her face with a wince, she's glad she's still conscious. A voice calls out to her, and she turns her head to the side to glance at the speaker. It's the coffee pitcher from before. Her ears are ringing, and she can't understand the words that she could hear..but as odd as the appearance of the dish that coasts straight to her is, the question of what to do with it is much more straightforward. She can't see her hands, but she uses them to reach through the books to tug the plate closer. Wriggling slowly and in discomfort, Rei manages to contort it up to her mouth. Her eyes widen. Not only was the dish produced from thin air, it looked /very/ good..and Rei's been to enough expensive restaurants to tell. Her hand wavers as she brings the Italian delicacy to her lips, closing her eyes and savoring the first bite..
/Exquisite.../
Feeling strengthened, she quickens her meal, wolfing down the rest. A shame to do something to such a work of art, but then so's burning books. Battle insists upon its own nature. Empowered by good eating, she grips the solid frame of the shelf, and throws it up and away from her. As she stands, books fall away from her like dead leaves. Heavy ones.
/Burning books.../ a shame indeed. Her trick hadn't worked last time..maybe it was because all of the little fires were too puny to matter. At least it put some fires out...Maybe if..hmm.
She doesn't extend her arm and then snap this time. Rather, Rei shoves it forward while snapping, her attitude much snappier. The fires of the burning books gathered and extended in a single tendril before pulling off completely like a shedded wrapper. This time, though, the fires are at Rei's side, not the youma's. They floating fires gather together, weaving into a powerful rope like strands of twine..and spiral forward towards the monstrosity, singing the air and spraying sparks in its wake, a red rocket.
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Searing Serpent on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly braces Sailor Mars's Searing Serpent, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
"Jadeite," Temari murmurs, from her position in the rafters. "Of the Four Heavenly Kings...?" ...which? Aren't there a lot of those? That's not an uncommon thing to call a group of four! Nadeshiko reads those comics!
Speaking of Nadeshiko, she's got a problem. Her eyes snap up when Jadeite indicates her. She flexes her hand, and any doubts of her powers being magical fade in moments; the spear reappears in her hand with a flash! of sparkling sakura blooms, and Nadeshiko sets herself to defense. "C'mon! Give it a try! I'm right here!" The thing comes shrieking at her; and Nadeshiko moves.
She's like a vision of elegance as she swirls away from the savage claws, swan leaping over a fallen book display and landing on her feet. But the glow of those claw still pulled at her, and when she comes down, it's with ragged, heavy breaths. Still. He's taunting them so. If they can't win this, those people might never wake up? It's all too plausible for Nadeshiko; that's pretty much how X-Eggs work. Sort of. They're a little fuzzy on the details there, honestly...
So she decides to risk it. She sees Sailor Mars winding up as well, and takes her chance. While the spiral snake rushes in Nadeshiko takes a few quick steps and then drops to her knees, stage sliding right under the thread of mystic flame and hopefully preventing the Youma from being able to stop her with its claws. She pushes up with a dancer's grace; quickly spinning up to her feet and lashing out with a full-bodied sweep of her naginata across Manutia's flank! "Can't let you do that!"
COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Swipe on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly dodges Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Swipe, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Glittering Crux Masque's Fade ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque's Flash ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
This is getting increasingly out of hand.
For all the confidence that Sailor Jupiter came into this fight with, buoyed up further still by the boost from Kuniko's espresso, the youma's only getting faster, her mad charges harder for any of them to keep up with. Jupiter would shield her friends and allies if she could, but there's no time - even as she starts to move towards Sailor Mars, Manutia is done and coming at her with those green-stained claws.
Like before, Jupiter squares her stance, but this time it does no good at all. The monster's claws dig in deep, and past the pain she can feel the way the strength goes out of her, bringing on a wave of dizziness that turns her vision grey around the edges for a moment.
She staggers back several steps from the impact, one hand coming up to hold her bleeding shoulder even as she shakes her head to clear the fog from her eyes. The other girls are still holding up, still fighting, but if this keeps up...
This can't keep up.
She comes to a decision, and Sailor Jupiter's face sets in an expression of hard determination as she sets all of her focus on the youma. No time to look aside to the others, or to try to communicate to them what she means to do - she can't match this thing's speed, but if she can just slow it down long enough for the rest of the magical warriors to get their hits in--
Sailor Jupiter gathers her strength and leaps, hurling herself full-force at the youma with arms outstretched, with every intention of smashing the damn thing right into the floor.
COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Supreme Suplex on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque perfectly dodges Sailor Jupiter's Supreme Suplex, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Glittering Crux Masque's Fade ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque's Flash ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Glittering Crux Masque [Admin (S)] has posed.
Manutia stands taller in the wake of its assault - it drank deep, and added even more to its stock of life energy. Invigorated, it swings its gangly arms about - an ominous glow glinting behind its mask. What can't it dodge?
It can't dodge a tidal wave of books. Carried forth by moonlight, too broad for the youma to escape in time. As it starts to rise in the wake of the assault, flames crash into its momentarily pinned form, and a blade finds leathery flesh before it can get free. That's the last blow to strike it, though - it leaps high over Jupiter's full-force charge, and meets Homura's steely gaze.
Jadeite, brushing a bit of debris from one sleeve, considers the fight. The youma seems doing well, but...the six facing it are dangerous in their own right. More irksome, they aren't dead. Perhaps discretion and caution are called for. "I believe I said enough playing - if you aren't going to take this seriously, retreat and conserve your energy." He smirks, briefly, toward Homura and Usagi. "This is the difference between the other three and myself - I know when to claim the true pr-"
"TIA!" Manutia hones its claws for a moment - and ignoring Jadite's orders, rushes to continue the fight. Even if it's beginning to tire - victory is close. Victory can be attained! This may be a brief rebellion - but for the next few moments, it's staying focused on the battle. Rushing with stolen energy, it moves to lash out at a handful of those opposing it.
"Manutia! How dare you disobey me - return to the Dark Kingdom, or else-"
COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Doorstopper on Sailor Mars. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Doorstopper on Sailor Jupiter. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Doorstopper on Nadeshiko Fujisaki. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Vicious Critique on Kuniko Saito. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Vicious Critique on Homura Akemi. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has used Royal Marauder on Sailor Moon. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque has finished attacking. COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly dodges Glittering Crux Masque's Royal Marauder, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates! Diversion and Stun applied to Sailor Moon! COMBAT: Kuniko Saito narrowly counters Glittering Crux Masque's Vicious Critique, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Kuniko Saito's Reverse ability activates! Trap applied to Kuniko Saito! COMBAT: Kuniko Saito's counterattack, Boning Knife, partially gets through, doing 15 Fatigue damage to Glittering Crux Masque! COMBAT: Homura Akemi perfectly dodges Glittering Crux Masque's Vicious Critique, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Homura Akemi's Fade ability activates! Homura Akemi's Flash ability activates! COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter perfectly counters Glittering Crux Masque's Doorstopper, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter's counterattack, Jupiter Thunderbolt, bursts all the way through, doing 10 Fatigue damage to Glittering Crux Masque! Glittering Crux Masque is Quipped! COMBAT: Sailor Mars narrowly braces Glittering Crux Masque's Doorstopper, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Sailor Mars! COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki narrowly braces Glittering Crux Masque's Doorstopper, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Parry ability activates! Stun applied to Nadeshiko Fujisaki!
<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
Homura Akemi keeps her assault rifle leveled at the Youma. She does her best to track her target in her sights as she just waits for the perfect moment to pull the trigger. Even Jadeite's continued taunting is not enough to interrupt Homura's concentration. It doesn't matter how much Homura Akemi knows or doesn't know about this encounter from past timelines anymore. All the young black-haired girl needs to know is what she is going to do next. She is not going to let this creature escape with Madoka's energy as long as Homura still has any energy to spare in this fight.
The moment finally comes when the youma is dead center in her sights. All Homura needs to do now is pull the trigger and send a wall of lead down towards her foe. But the last time she did this, a good portion of her bullets were swiped harmlessly away. Another course of action had to be pursued. Homura Akemi throws down her rifle suddenly, it makes a rather loud noise as it bangs off the ground before it comes skidding to a halt.
But by the time the weapon comes to a complete stop, Homura is gone. When she reappears, she's at the feet of rampaging Youma with a metal device covered in a putty like substance in her hands. This explosive device is planted at the Youma's feet and then Homura disappears again in a flash. Strangely enough, those unconcious individuals whom were close to the blast radius are haphazardly tossed into the corner of the room just as the explosives go off in an attempt to blast the youma straight to whatever hell it originates from.
Hopefully Jadeite will soon realize just how serious Homura Akemi can be.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Homura Akemi has used Time Bomb on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Homura Akemi has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to dodge Homura Akemi's Finisher, Time Bomb, taking 107 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Usagi lets out a long breath. She's feeling better now--physically. Emotionally, she's now able to view the literary battlefield with more clarity, and what she sees is...
Smirking.
She is a credulous person. She believes Jadeite's confidence, his claim that he's going to circumvent the usual tale and leave them all hurt and adrift again. She can't think of anything heroic and cool to say to his claim. It puts a clamp around her throat.
Sailor Moon follows Jadeite's gaze in the other direction, finding Homura and giving her a nervous glance. Then the youma screams and it's all action.
The monster rushes. Jadeite admonishes. Usagi stumbles backward out of its swiping sharpness, finding balance with a hand against the wall behind her. She realizes, thoughtlessly and with gut impulse, that this is the moment she has to make count.
Usagi knows Makoto and Rei will do what's best. She hopes Homura will, because she must at least care for Madoka. The other magical girl with them, she looks more than tough enough to handle herself.
There's not enough time for the Planet Attack. But, before they all found the strength of believing in each other, they found the strength of believing in themselves. Well--that's true for the others. Usagi knows whatever strength she has she's borrowing, from her friends or from strangers. She's okay with that. For what she's about to do, she's only giving back.
"Moon Healing..."
Stepping forward with renewed boldness, Sailor Moon raises her crescent wand and traces the broad circle of the moon before her. If Manutia moves with power that is not her own, so does the pretty soldier, though her blessing is one of grace and poise rather than wallowing violence. Nothing touches her. Not explosions, not taunting, nothing.
The silvery light of her etched circle is joined by an array of blues, reds, greens, and oranges, a kaleidoscopic halation that silhouettes her twirling figure.
"ESCALATION!"
With a touch, Sailor Moon gives all this beauty away. The light, the radiance, the emotion--all of it comes rushing outward like her very breath, spreading through the store like her very will: Banish the darkness haunting this place, bring back the light in everyone's eyes.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Moon has used Moon Healing Escalation on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Kuniko Saito [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
Rei Hino might know that this isn't purely an Italian dish - though it's based on it. The cheese was gently smoked... it's a dish with real Mediterreanean focus.
MEANWHILE, Manutia strikes outwards, defying Jadeite. That's a little interesting, Kuniko thinks in the tunnel space that comes before she is given a smash upside the head by the rampaging monster; she is ground against a bookcase, which, finally, gives out. Her hat falls off; she sprawls in the wreckage for a moment.
But she still has her knife in her hand, and there is, at least, a scratch to this youma-handled culinary cat.
The world's shaking, just a little. Kuniko pushes herself up. There's another explosion - "Tsk... that firebug!" she says to herself through the ringing of the detonations, her own ears acclimated to noise and clamour by the blessing of Mise-en-place. Fire's spreading.
Kuniko looks at the steel in her hand, the steel in her soul - and straightens up, slamming one hand on a hidden cutting board. "Right," she says. "I--"
Kuniko squints. Why are those people in a heap now?
FOCUS, she thinks. Ingredients are sliced and mingled, and soon -
A bowl is sent towards Sailor Mars. It is an unassuming piece of ceramic. Atop of it, glistening with undulant freshness and the zest of the sea, are thin slices of tuna - sashimi grade, sliced so thin as to be translucent. Atop it is a glisten of orange sauce, sweet and faintly pungent, with essence of pressed garlic infused. Arranged atop it are slivers of green onion --
Forming the sigil for the planet 'Mars'!
That isn't the only wonder. The tuna may seem slightly unusual in its hue, but the reason soon becomes clear. Instead of the pristine white of rice, as is traditional, the thin and sand-hued pasta - couscous - infused with the savor of a simmering dashi stock. And the sand itself has a distinctly martian hue - for it has been thickened gently with a mixture of North African "harissa" chili paste and kuzu starch!
"I thought I was out of tuna," Kuniko observes, even as the manifestation of her passion wends its way to the senshi of passion and fire. "How did I...?"
COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has used Tekkadon au Couscous on Sailor Mars. COMBAT: Kuniko Saito has finished attacking. COMBAT: Sailor Mars accepts Kuniko Saito's Tekkadon au Couscous, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower applied to Sailor Mars! Cleanse! All of Sailor Mars's debuffs are cleared!
<Pose Tracker> Nadeshiko Fujisaki [Ohtori Academy (5)] has posed.
Nadeshiko's got to move again pretty quickly; she snaps her blade up this time, the pole of her naginata taking the hit and letting Nadeshiko off with little more than a few inches of yielded ground. "We can't let her get away!" Nadeshiko barks out, feeling saucy enough to call orders, but it...isn't actually going. "It's staying...?" she wonders, blankly. "Now! Take it down!"
Nadeshiko sets her stance and gets ready to charge in. "You're giving that energy back!" she declares. "I'm not letting you keep even one drop!" And then, manic, "NOW SIT STILL FOR ME WHILE I CUT IT ALL OUT OF YOU LIKE A GOOD GIRL! NAHAHAHA!"
When she hits, it's like a train; a sudden whip and whirl of naginata blades, her arms and spear all but disappearing beneath the speed of her all-out assault. "TA! TA! TA! OOOOURYAAAAAAAAAA! I'll make sure you can't swallow anything ever again!"
Her raucous threats aside, Nadeshiko's aggressive push ends when she realizes she needs to get the hell out of the way of all the blasters, and hurls herself aside just before Homura decides to blow the damn monster up. Nadeshiko tumbles to a stop and quickly clambers to her feet, muttering, "You wanna come over here and try that!?" because she's not in the most passive of moods.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Fujisaki-ryu Meteor Attack on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.
Her charge meets only air, and Sailor Jupiter nearly stumbles from expecting an impact where there is none; she stops short, re-orienting herself to find Manutia again after the youma vanished over her head.
Almost as soon as she's located the creature, there's a massive brick of a book flying at her face. Jupiter reacts on pure reflex. Her hand is thrown outward, a blast of electricity pouring from her fingers; it meets the literary missile midflight and the poor maltreated tome explodes into shreds of burned paper and scorched binding even as the lightning traces its path back to strike Manutia herself.
A wisp of steam curls up from her fingertips, and Sailor Jupiter's breath leaves her in a little hiss.
For just a moment she looks upwards again, eyes finding Jadeite once more. "Lost control of your monster, huh?" The words are scathing, but there's a frustration crackling within the Senshi of Thunder, burning in her eyes. She's supposed to be the brawler of the Sailor Senshi, but what good is she doing anyone like this, barely able to land a hit? She can't even ramp up the power, not in the confines of the bookstore with unconscious civilians lying around all over the place--
--or maybe she can. Between one blink and the next, she realizes that the area around Manutia, at least, is clear of helpless victims. Was it that way before? she can't remember, but Sailor Jupiter doesn't question it now. As Homura's explosives go off, as Sailor Moon prepares to unleash the purifying energy of her wand, the little lightning rod that sticks up from the center of Jupiter's tiara is sparking with the gathering charge that tingles in the air around her.
"Once we've cleaned up your mess," she calls out to Jadeite, gathering electricity between her hands, "you're next!"
And then she thrusts her hands outward toward Manutia with a peal of thunder, releasing all that pent-up charge in a searing bolt of white-hot energy as tightly focused as Sailor Jupiter can make it. "SUPREME THUNDER!"
COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter has used Supreme Thunder on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed.
How nimble, this fiend..darting and dancing far better than she would have expected. The sale has been going on for a few days..between then and now it must have gorged itself on people's life forces. It had grown strong..and to her dismay, her next strike, while markedly better than its predecessor, clearly wasn't what it would take to defeat it. She needs to think bigger.
Fire spreads more easily in some places than others, and this is no swimming pool. A bookstore isn't the worst place for a fire, but it's a lot closer to it than most places, and the longer the fight wore on, the bigger the inferno will become. And there are a lot of people he-...
As Mars looks to some of the unconscious bodies, they suddenly vanish, every last one of them, all in the blink of an eye. She doesn't have long to ponder it before an ear-shattering explosion rips through the store, making her heart pound and her blood spike with adrenaline. She's seen some truly nasty magic, but..there's just something about a bomb going off. Flinching, she ducks down..and finds at her knees a simple bowl with wondrous contents, her own sigil staring her straight in the face.
/Am I dreaming?/ No, but..how surreal things have become..taking hold of the chopsticks, she plucks up a single slice of the finest tuna, gingerly opening her mouth and laying it upon her tongue like an artifact on an altar..and closes her eyes in pure pleasure. The taste takes her away from the fight for a moment, to another place entirely, even as the temperature distractingly builds all around her. Neural pathways light up, her brain suddenly shifting to process the food and the feelings it inspires in her. Her eyes open, and she sees things differently. The fire is food too. Which means...
She's standing in a banquet hall.
Standing up with the bowl in her hands, Rei lifts it up to her forehead, like an ofuda..and begins to murmur words of prayer, words of power. The bowl begins to glow with an incandescent white light, channeling her mantra like a holy artifact. Consumed with the shining, the white lifts up from the food, and congeals into a single point the size of a marble..and the marble hovers up into the air. Mars takes another bite, with couscous and onion along with the delicate tuna. The fires, all of them, begin to concentrate and extend towards the orb, reaching out with burning tentacles that stretch and narrow into very thin strips. When the flames touch the orb, the rest of the flame is violently sucked in towards it, and in a moment all of the fire in the room is gone, vanished into the tiny white hole.
Sailor Mars continues to eat. This one..this one she's going to /properly/ enjoy. All of the flames that had only just disappeared explode out of the little marble, reds and oranges turned pure, unblemished white. The snowy flames all pour out with the full force of conflagration, exploding out to bathe the youma in its flames.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Mars has used By Fire Be Cleansed! on Glittering Crux Masque. COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking. COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to dodge Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Finisher, Fujisaki-ryu Meteor Attack, taking 86 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to dodge Sailor Moon's Finisher, Moon Healing Escalation, taking 141 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque is unable to keep fighting! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque fails to dodge Sailor Jupiter's Finisher, Supreme Thunder, taking 60 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque is unable to keep fighting! COMBAT: Glittering Crux Masque narrowly dodges Sailor Mars's Finisher, By Fire Be Cleansed!, taking 57 Fatigue damage! Glittering Crux Masque is unable to keep fighting! Glittering Crux Masque's Fade ability activates! Glittering Crux Masque's Flash ability activates!
<Pose Tracker> Glittering Crux Masque [Admin (S)] has posed.
Jadeite's furious condemnation of his youma's rebellion is cut off by the tangible proof of Homura Akemi's conviction - manifested in the form of a thunderous detonation. His eyes widen - in surprise, first, then confusion at the movement of the civilians. Surely, one of them must have been in the blast zone...no?
From the smoke, Manutia emerges - in spite of the additional power from its master, it's grievously injured. In addition to the smoke, blindingly swift were the strikes from the meteoric Nadeshiko - one set of claws is broken entirely. Still, it stands. Ringing from lightning and bomb and blade, it stands.
And then everything goes white. Brilliant moonlight washes over the youma, searing and purifying. It tries to get clear, with every ounce of speed it has left - but just as brilliant, a bolt of lightning tears into it with a thunderous crack, pinning it in place. Determination, and hope.
And finally, passion. The fires that threatened to tear loose in the wake of Homura's bomb bend to Sailor Mars's will - her passion combined with that of her meal, as fuel for the flames. Into the brilliant light the flames rush - and when the light fades, the youma is utterly destroyed. A few traces of unburnt sparkling dust, perhaps; no more.
"...all of you. Do not forget the Dark Kingdom will triumph in the end. And know that there will be a reckoning for this offense." One hand held up as if to ward away the light and flame, Jadeite glowers at those who opposed him. The scheme wasn't utterly ruined - it's only today's claim that is lost - but it is ended. He blames his fool of a youma, and these girls who dared to step in.
Scowling in fury - tempted for an instant to throw caution to the wind and join in the fight himself - Jadeite teleports out of the area. In his wake, the bookstore is left in silence; damage to the shelves is largely repaired, most of the books seem to have survived, and those fallen civilians are slowly, gradually beginning to stir.
