http://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/mediawiki-1.23.2/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Glittering+Crux+Masque&feedformat=atomBattle Fantasia MUSH - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T16:38:42ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.23.2http://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2022-11-27_-_Snowball_Carnival2022-11-27 - Snowball Carnival2022-11-28T04:20:24Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Snowball Carnival''' |..."</p>
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<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Snowball Carnival'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''It's a lovely snowy day. Such a shame someone chose violence.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Natsuki Kuga]], [[Mai Tokiha]], [[Mikoto Minagi]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Ohtori Gardens<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2022-11-27 - January 29th, 2016<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki has had a hard week. Bad enough she had to waste her precious time on homework, but it got doubled for daring to speak her mind to Ishigami sensei. <br />
<br />
So, after that Natsuki needed some stress relief and seeing the snow on the ground a childhood memory emerged and she was granted an idea. She sent a text out asking if anyone was free and could meet them in the garden. <br />
<br />
She wore her new light blue jacket that had a white trim around the hood, along with her matching dark blue mittens and hat. <br />
<br />
While she waited she had Duran create extra snow to fill the battleground. Before long she had a pile of ready to throw snowballs. <br />
<br />
Now all she needed was targets.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Despite herself, Mai is actually enjoying the day.<br />
<br />
There might be a few reasons for this. Maybe her inner cook is satisfied with what she managed to make the other day. Maybe it's a good night's sleep. Maybe it was a nice chat with Chie and Aoi between classes about new releases of albums. Maybe it's the lack of a work shift today. <span style="color:#444444">Or maybe it's that Takumi is too focused on studying today to try to have a chat.</span><br />
<br />
Regardless, the day is nice. However - there's a text as she's starting to depart campus grounds for grocery shopping, and her meager plans are moderately derailed.<br />
<br />
"...am I free? ...I guess. I swear, if Kuga's trying to get us haunted again..."<br />
<br />
The gardens are close - and surprisingly snow-covered, given the weather of late. Mai pulls up the edge of her bright red scarf as she surveys the wonderland of white, wondering whither came this scene of fluff. It seems empty, and she tries to find where the path had gone.<br />
<br />
Her coat is a mustard shade of yellow that stands out against the snow, her scarf is a brighter red than even her hair, and she absolutely is a target.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto doesn't have childhood memories of snowball fights, but the people here have taught her how they work, anyway. It means that when she spies Mai wandering into the DANGER ZONE, she doesn't grasp the sword, on her back. (Not this time, Natsuki.) Instead, she ducks behind a hedge, and pats a ball flat in her own golden mittens. Her coat, of course, is also a fetching burnished gold, darker than mustard. She has the unique talent of appearing too small inside it, even though it's her size.<br />
<br />
Mikoto, of course, also received that message. But Mikoto can see the horrors which shall pass, and so her footfalls are lighter, as she approaches from the side --<br />
<br />
-- and lobs a snowball at Natsuki!! Interception!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki grins as she spies Mai, who might as well be wearing a sign that said "Come and attack me!" <br />
<br />
"Hey, Mai," Natsuki greeted as she picks up a snowball. "Thanks for com-"<br />
<br />
Mikoto attacks first. Natsuki nearly drops her snowball and barely dodges the one Mikoto throws at her. <br />
<br />
"Clever girl," Natsuki mutters. "Take this!" she cries and throws a ball at Mai.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> Carol of the Bells - Samuel Kim - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHe_i98krmo<br />
<br />
Mai was not expecting a battle. Not entirely.<br />
<br />
In fairness, this is a bizarre weather circumstance verging on the supernatural - she could be expecting some horrible ice-maze with a marine monster within, or an Akuma, or some other kind of monster that shifted the weather - but it's winter, it's snow, and the text she got didn't warn of monstrous calamity going on. So - she trusted Kuga, and assumed it might be safe.<br />
<br />
"Hey, Kuga. What's-"<br />
<br />
Abruptly, there's movement from a hedge - and Mai's heart lurches at seeing Mikoto on the move, on the attack-<br />
<br />
But there's no sword? Just a...snowball?<br />
<br />
"Mikoto?! What's going-" And she looks up at Natsuki again in time to see the glistening, well-shaped snowball hurtling her way with the accuracy a gun-wielding HiME can muster.<br />
<br />
On instinct, Mai crosses her arms - but she has no flaming rings, not that they'd even help. The snowball glances off of her interception, bursts, and splatters her face with wet snow. All Mai can do is stagger back, and fall on her rear.<br />
<br />
She trusted Kuga.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"MAI!" Mikoto calls, in warning, as Natsuki's ball flies for her. It's all for nothing, though -- Mai crashes onto her backside, and Mikoto is left --<br />
<br />
Well, maybe /some/ people would stare in horror at this horrific betrayal.<br />
<br />
Mikoto, on the other hand, scoops up another snowball.<br />
<br />
(It's okay. This whole process has been carefully explained and re-explained to her.)<br />
<br />
"Natsuki!!" Mikoto calls out, hot-blooded. Her snowballs are as blatant as she is, and she flings hers at alarming speed. Luckily, Duran's snow was surely designed for just this purpose, so even her fastball shouldn't hurt /too/ much.<br />
<br />
Her fatal flaw, perhaps, is that she turns back to -- "Mai! It's snowball fight! Get up, get up!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki pumps a fist in the air. Feels good to hit the target! (Mai seemed shocked. She did realize it's a snowball fight right? Questions for later)<br />
<br />
Mikoto ball flies again, but Natsuki isn't as fast and manages to get her hat knocked off. <br />
<br />
Her eyes narrow, but she has a smirk on her lips. <br />
<br />
"Good hit, let's see you dodge these!" <br />
<br />
With a snowball in each hand she throws and dives for cover.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai did not realize this was a snowball fight at first. That's what made it an ambush.<br />
<br />
Her scarf saved her getting snow in her mouth, at least, but now it's wet too. She wipes snow from her eyes, gradually pulling herself to her feet. She's in disbelief, at first, but she's soon warming up from the shock of betrayal to find her rage.<br />
<br />
"...I'm up, Mikoto - watch out!" She's got eyes on the snowball aimed at her ONLY FRIEND RIGHT NOW more than she does the one aimed at her - but she at least remembers enough to shield her face this time, letting out the softest of grunts as the snowball splatters against her jacket.<br />
<br />
She splurged enough to get a properly waterproof jacket, at least, though it's weatherbeaten and torn in more than a few places. This might put it to the test.<br />
<br />
"This was an unjust ambush, Kuga, and you will pay for that." She's too exposed here - Mai glances around, opting to use a particularly elaborate bit of fencing as cover. Yes there's gaps in it, but not big ones. A moment to gather a snowball of her own, and the next time Kuga shows her smug face, there will be chilly ammunition flying her way!<br />
<br />
Not very accurately, though. Mai...has not exactly practised snow combat that much in the past few years.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Mai!" Mikoto chirps, happily, as Mai finds her way to her feet. "Mai, Mai! Yeah!!" She believes in Mai /so much,/ in fact, that she fails to notice --<br />
<br />
"Huh?" Mikoto grunts, as she turns, too late,<br />
<br />
and SPLAT.<br />
<br />
A snowball pomphs right into her face, and she sniffs and she can SMELL COLD, face all a-scrunch, eyes going blink-blink-blink-blink-blink. She staggers back, a step, but give her credit -- she doesn't lose her footing. "Waaah!" Mikoto whines, scrabbling at her face.<br />
<br />
She hops up, and then up AGAIN, onto the rooftop of a garden pagoda. "Natsukiiii!!" Mikoto yowls, and her overwrought retribution is less eloquent than Mai's, but her /snowball/ --<br />
<br />
Well, Mikoto has the high ground, and she has a /very/ strong snowball arm, actually.<br />
<br />
It's okay, Mai. Mikoto is strong enough in all types of combat to cover for you!<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki sees Mikoto and makes a run to take cover as she flips over an old table. <br />
<br />
"You're not getting me that easy, Mikoto!" <br />
<br />
She throws a snowball and ducks as Mai tries to hit her. <br />
<br />
"You need to do better than that, Tokiha!" she taunts.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto believes in Mai! That makes one of them. Mai curses as her snowball goes wide - and as Natsuki makes herself a new bit of cover.<br />
<br />
"What did Mikoto do to you anyway, Kuga?! Was writing a report on one art piece so bad you had to take it out on the world?" Natsuki's snowball splatters into the fence, and parts go through - but at least the partial cover helps a bit, and lets Mai duck the spray.<br />
<br />
She looks up at Mikoto - who has a vantage point, at least some supply of snow for ammunition, and a lot better accuracy than her. She's really something to behold-<br />
<br />
-but more to the point, Natsuki Kuga has to pay. Mai tries to practice making snowballs and popping up to hurl them, but her aim really needs work - and the few that are shaped well enough to be on target just splatter against the table. She opts instead to call up to Mikoto - "You can do it, Mikoto! Get her in the face and I'll make deluxe ramen tonight!"<br />
<br />
And with bribery sorted, Mai starts moving along the fence, looking for a better angle on her nemesis.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Stop running!!" Mikoto yells back, to Natsuki, in just the way she couldn't when they met.<br />
<br />
It's better, now that she can actually talk to her in the middle of a pitched battle, surely.<br />
<br />
(Snowball battle. With snowballs.)<br />
<br />
Mikoto ducks down closer to the roof of the pagoda, and builds another set of snowballs. Pat, pat, pat! Pat, pat, pat! It's like cracking an egg in reverse..!!<br />
<br />
Her head peeks out, when Mai calls out. "Ramen..?" She asks, and her eyes shine. "Yeah! Yeah!!!" And -- then she has to flatten down, to avoid a snowball flying overhead, but at least she dodges this one.<br />
<br />
Promptly, Mikoto takes a couple of snowballs...<br />
<br />
... and leaps from the roof of her pagoda, to charge Natsuki's cover head-on! "Natsukiiii!!" Mikoto cries, as she lobs first one, then the other --<br />
<br />
It's an all-out attack!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki snaps at Mai's accusations. "I had to do /two/ projects, all because one arrogant art teacher was in a bad mood." She throws another volley of snowballs in Mai's general direction, making them quickly and slushily.<br />
<br />
"Make me!" She retorts to Mikoto - and as the all-out attack begins, Natsuki breaks into a run, abandoning that table for the greater safety of a nearby wall of...snow?<br />
<br />
It doesn't seem like much cover, but she has a second between incoming snowballs, so she calls out with a smirk. "Duran! Load snow cartridge!"<br />
<br />
Two on one wasn't fair, after all.<br />
<br />
From an innocuous mound of snow, the metal wolf arises. Neither claws nor teeth are bared, but it has a pile of snowballs well-prepared on each gun barrel - and with a howl, it starts rapid-firing them at Mikoto.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Two?! What did you do, mouth off to his fa-" Mai's retort is cut off by the barrage, one big snowball catching her in the chest with a big splat and slush getting under her scarf and on her neck and AUGH.<br />
<br />
She ducks down behind the cover of the fence again, trying not to cheer too loudly as Mikoto goes all-out to finally take Natsuki down. She's flushed out of cover, heading for another fort, but they're gradually cornering her-<br />
<br />
And then Natsuki Kuga reveals her backup.<br />
<br />
This was never fair to begin with.<br />
<br />
From here, Mai can't do anything to protect Mikoto from the barrage - her very cover is in the way. But she can run around the corner while Kuga is flush with victory, arms pumping furiously as she puts on the speed as best she can, to approach from the other side.<br />
<br />
Mai's aim with a snowball is not good enough to guarantee revenge. If she tried, Natsuki would probably just snipe it out of the air herself. But she's always been a better projectile than anything she throws, anyway-<br />
<br />
-and so with a yell of vengeance, Mai leaps at Natsuki in a flying tackle, aimed to drag both of them down into that wet-looking snowbank. If Mai's going down, then she's taking her nemesis with her!<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"OKAY!" Mikoto insists, loudly, to Natsuki's taunt of a retort. She's very good at forcing conflict, actually. She is empowered by Mai's cheering, even if it isn't /too/ loud, and she's gonna live forever.<br />
<br />
But then, /betrayal/ --<br />
<br />
Mikoto pulls up, eyes widening, as she faces down the chrome gaze of, "Duran!"<br />
<br />
She scrambles back, to leap away -- but the Child is faster still even than a body which remembers, and the snowballs catch her. She falls, and disappears, into a mound of snow which grows larger with the dakka-dakka-dak of rapid snowball launching.<br />
<br />
For long moments, there is silence.<br />
<br />
And then, a piteous approximation from the pile: "Mai... she beat me again..." There, under the snow, Mikoto's eyes are dazed spirals, as she lifts her hand for a snowball and it collapses into the white.<br />
<br />
It's all up to Mai, now.<br />
<br />
SNOWBALL COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi is unable to keep fighting!<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The snowballs fly and Natsuki cackles as she takes Mikoto down. <br />
<br />
"You're good Mikoto, but I just have better-" <br />
<br />
She is promptly cut off as Mai tackles her. <br />
<br />
She in is shock and struggles too late before they have both tossed into the snowbank. <br />
<br />
For a moment all Natsuki could see, touch and even taste was white. <br />
<br />
After a brief daze, she finally manages to break out of the snow and gasps for air. <br />
<br />
"ARE YOU TRYING TO SUFFOCATE ME?!" she snaps as she makes certain Mai is able to dig herself out too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Everything is white, white now...<br />
<br />
And cold. And wet. Mai lost her scarf somewhere in her run or tackle - not that it matters much given how much snow is already getting down her collar. And yet, for all that the slush of winter chills flesh and bone, her heart is warm.<br />
<br />
With the fires of revenge.<br />
<br />
She emerges from that wintry tomb a moment after Natsuki does, taking a welcome breath of air. Her good mood has been shattered into a bitter Pyrrhic triumph, and she looks around a moment.<br />
<br />
At Natsuki next to her, finally looking bedraggled.<br />
<br />
At Duran, finally out of ammunition, sitting proudly on his haunches.<br />
<br />
At Mikoto, defeated, in a pile of snowballs, murmuring apologies of defeat.<br />
<br />
And finally, Mai turns back to Natsuki, answering calmly with a smirk and a single word.<br />
<br />
"Yes."<br />
<br />
And then with ruthless cheer, she lunges to drag the instigator back into the snowbank.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Marinette_Dupain-ChengMarinette Dupain-Cheng2022-11-21T02:30:47Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div><br />
{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Marinette Dupain-Cheng'''<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2" align="center" |<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:<br />
| Marinette Dupain-Cheng<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:<br />
| Ladybug<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:<br />
| Female<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:<br />
| <br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Height:<br />
| <br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:<br />
| Blue-Black<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:<br />
| Light Blue<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign: <br />
| <br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type: <br />
| <br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food: <br />
| TBD<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food: <br />
| TBD<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject: <br />
| TBD<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject: <br />
| TBD<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:<br />
| Magic Association<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Position:<br />
| Middle School Student<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | School:<br />
| [[School: Juuban Public School]] (8)<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Source:<br />
| [[Miraculous Ladybug]] (FC)<br />
|-<br />
! style="text-align:left" | Player:<br />
| [[User:Gullwhacker|Gullwhacker]]<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Marinette Dupain-Cheng''' is a middle school student, fashion designer, activist, romantic, and sometimes a superhero.<br />
<br />
== Quote ==<br />
"Um... what exactly am I supposed to do with /this/?!" <br />
<br />
== Profile ==<br />
Marinette Dupain-Cheng is a normal girl with a normal life. The daughter of French and Chinese bakers, she has something of a cosmopolitan view of the world. She's a passionate artist, working on fashion projects in her spare time - and she's a romantic, nursing crushes for months while trying to figure out what to do with them - and she's got a secret. When evil rises up, she transforms into the mysterious Ladybug, a masked heroine who confidently stands against the forces of darkness.<br />
<br />
== A Girl Like Any Other ==<br />
Marinette Dupain-Cheng is a normal girl who does normal girl things, such as:<br />
* Having her photo taken with BMW's CEO's mother and a famous model<br />
<br />
== Personality ==<br />
Marinette has a lot of energy, a sometimes-fleeting attention span, and a drive to throw herself into many passions. She's often juggling at least three ideas at any time, having a creative spark that shows itself in her own fashion creations. Some of her interests can have odd niches - she enjoys heavy metal and fighting games as much as she enjoys graphic design and fashion trends - but whatever catches her interest, she throws herself into.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, all her energy and passion can have its downsides. She can fixate on a project far far past what is reasonable, often working late into the night to finish just one more stitch. Furthermore, if things start to seem to go wrong she's quick to concoct catastrophe-scenarios in her head - jumping to panicked conclusions that reach absurd proportions. Anxiety and panic have her seen as a mouse more often than not.<br />
<br />
And yet, she hates injustice. She finds the steel in her spine when friends or passions are wronged - when unfairness and dishonesty rise up. When it's a matter of principle, something she can't look away from - watch out.<br />
<br />
== Powers/Abilities ==<br />
As Marinette, she has a variety of minor talents. She's multilingual, speaking French fluently and Standard Chinese less so. She's very creative, plying her hand at cake decoration and sketching and sewing and woodworking alike. A knack for detail, skilled at seeing how disparate elements can come together as a cohesive whole.<br />
<br />
As Ladybug, holder of the Miraculous of Creation, she's something of a trickster-heroine. An agile parkour expert, she wields a magical yo-yo in off-the-wall tricks to bewilder and distract her enemies. Her signature spell, 'Lucky Charm', grants her an item that can become the key to victory - though figuring out how to use a cat toy or a pair of chopsticks is often a challenge. Her greatest spell, 'Miraculous Ladybug', is built for purifying evil and restoring damage caused by powers of darkness.<br />
<br />
== Relationships ==<br />
[[Usagi Tsukino|Tsukino-senpai]] - One of Marinette's upperclassmen. The gulf between middle school and high school never seemed so large, but it's heartening for Marinette to see someone who's a little clumsy act with dignity and grace under pressure. Marinette looks up to Usagi a /lot/, and does her best to listen to her advice - but it's easy to be distracted by the glamour.<br />
<br />
[[Rei Hino|Hino-senpai]] - One of Usagi's friends, and by extension another upperclassman that Marinette can look up to. She's an Ohtori student, so Marinette doesn't see her quite as often - but she can respect the shrine maiden's grace and sage advice. Her willingness to pick a fight is inspirational!<br />
<br />
[[Usagi Tsukino|Sailor Moon]] - Almost a senpai to /Ladybug/, this is one of the stalwart defenders against the forces of darkness. Marinette is something of a fan, having once made a winter coat inspired by her outfit - and then in a lucky turn of events, got to give it to her indirectly. Ladybug is a bit more professional, though - she respects Sailor Moon's experience, but acknowledges that they're both fellow warriors against darkness.<br />
<br />
More to be written!<br />
<br />
== Logs ==<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|linksto = {{PAGENAME}}<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 3<br />
|rowcolformat=width=80%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki that {{PAGENAME}} participated in.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Juuban]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/FoodFood2022-11-20T03:46:43Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>Japanese cuisine is highly seasonal, with many dishes using ingredients only available at the right time. Modern technology has eased this burden, but it is still traditional to eat certain foods at certain times of year. <br />
<br />
''Special thanks to Kuniko Saito's player for contributing the Winter entry of this guide! Special thanks to the playerbase of Battle Fantasia for contributing to the Summer entry of this guide! And more character (un)favorite foods are always welcome!!''<br />
<br />
__TOC__<br />
<br />
==Autumn==<br />
Some in Japan call autumn the 'season for eating.' Coming off the heat of summer, there's a trend towards savory dishes that celebrate the bountiful harvest, and nice warm comfort food to eat as the weather turns colder.<br />
<br />
'''Sanma''' (literal translation 'autumn knife fish'), or Pacific Saury, are sleekly silver fish that rise fat and juicy for fishermen in the fall, considered an iconic centerpiece of autumn cuisine. They are typically served whole (even as sushi!), and when cooked, sanma are seasoned with salt and grilled over a charcoal fire. The crispy skin is a much-beloved part of the experience, often garnished with soy sauce. In early September, Tokyo's Meguro district holds a festival where many thousands of charcoal-grilled sanma are given away for free tasting!<br />
<br />
'''Satsumaimo''', or Japanese sweet potatoes, are purple on the outside, bright yellow on the inside, and are drier in texture, but sweeter and creamier in taste, than yams. Traditionally, they are roasted whole, on hot stones outside (lending themselves well to the centerpiece of a scene where characters tend, then consume, their roasting sweet potatoes while raking leaves or otherwise enjoying the season; they are also sold, steaming hot, out of the open backs of minivans, by men who attract their customers by singing an iconic lamenting song). Satsumaimo are also popular fried, mashed, or boiled. The stereotypical consequence of overeating satsumaimo is a popular source of fart jokes among the young (and sometimes the old).<br />
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'''Kabocha''' are essentially Japanese pumpkins. On the outside they're green rather than orange, and on the inside they're somewhat sweeter than the Western squash, with a rich, butternut flavor. In the fall, they're made into soups, barbecued, battered and fried as tempura (alongside maple leaves, '''Momiji Tempura''', an unusual autumn treat!), and, yes, even used in Western-style pies. <br />
* The most classic comfort food preparation of kabocha, however, is as a filling for breaded and fried croquettes, locally called '''korokke''' -- kabocha (also, satsumaimo) korokke are an often-homemade autumn snack. Watch out for the hot oil when it pops! Independent of season, korokke made with regular potatoes, or sometimes with ground meat, are popular throughout the year, and are sold at delightfully hot temperatures for pocket change prices at the konbini.<br />
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'''Matsutake''' pine mushrooms are the most prominent of the fungi that, nurtured by summer's high humidity, pop up for harvesting in the fall. Impossible to cultivate, they're highly prized and very expensive, starting at a hundred thousand yen per pound for the premium grade, and occupy a similar position of honor in Japanese cuisine as truffles do to the French. To make a few matsutake mushrooms stretch a long way, they are popularly featured in a seafood broth soup called '''Matsutake Dobin Mushi''', which is served in a clay teapot. When eaten whole, their delicate, smoky flavor is best preserved by grilling them on an open flame, and they are sometimes sprinkled over rice. Cheaper mushrooms are also popular in autumn, with hearty mushroom broth sometimes replacing the standard cup of miso soup served alongside a meal.<br />
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'''Kaki''', or Japanese persimmons, are ubiquitous in the fall, a sweet and tangy fruit found ripening on trees all over the country. Making a day out of a kaki picking trip is a common weekend treat. Besides eating them straight off the tree, they are often served chilled, or dusted with sugar and dried (a treat called '''hoshigaki'''). <br />
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'''Kuri''', also commonly called by their French name '''maron''', are Japanese chestnuts (with a similar omnipresence to kaki, seen on trees everywhere, but an entirely different taste -- creamy, sweet and rich). They're usually sold uncooked so that they can be prepared at home, but you can get bags of roasted kuri at your supermarket or konbini for a good sidewalk snack. Roasting your own at the end of a trip to a kuri picking farm makes for a good finale to a September day! <br />
* '''Shinmai''', or "new rice," comprises the first harvests of rice in autumn. Shinmai is said to be moister, sweeter, and more beautiful than ordinary rice, and starting in late September one of the best ways to prepare it is with kuri boiled alongside rice in the pot, creating a hearty sticky rice dish ('''kuri-gohan''') with a tiny dose of sweetness. Gingko nuts are also a popular shinmai topping, because of their subtle flavor, which allows the rice's unique qualities to shine through. <br />
* Boxes of '''kuri-kinton''', or candied chestnuts, are popular gifts for friends and family in autumn -- in this treat, kuri are steamed, mashed, combined with sugar, then twisted into a bun shape. The snack is popularly enjoyed with a cup of hot tea. Kuri are also used in many other Japanese sweets, including '''kuri-manju''' cakes.<br />
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==Winter==<br />
The prototypical dish for winter cuisine in Japan is the '''hot pot''', also known as ''nabemono''. Ingredients are combined in a pot and boiled, forming a rich broth; it is typically shared, with individual diners plucking out their favored morsels, and the broth typically mixed with rice at the end and consumed as a final course. Eating nabemono with your friends would be an excellent reason for a social scene; gather together, stick your legs underneath the kotatsu, and enjoy the warmth of friendship and flavor. <br />
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Nabemono is very versatile. Indeed, the name can be translated as "cooking pot stuff." Here are some common styles of nabemono; all of them can be considered to have vegetables such as bok choy and daikon involved, as well as varieties of mushroom. <br />
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* '''Sukiyaki:''' Thinly sliced beef (sometimes pork) simmered with vegetables and a soy sauce/sugar/sweet rice wine sauce. Before eating, the hot ingredients are usually dipped in a small bowl of raw beaten egg. Common at year-end parties and suitable for all ages. <br />
* '''Shabu-shabu:''' Thin sliced beef is boiled in water or broth and eaten with dipping sauces. This dish may be considered similar to the "fondue" style meals available in America. It is quite suitable for service with fine ingredients, particularly wagyu beef and other marks of conspicuous consumption. <br />
* '''Yosenabe:''' A combination style of nabemono which combines all sorts of things and cooks them well together: meat, seafood, tofu, egg, and vegetables. A common "homestyle" meal, often with a thicker sauce than is typical for nabemono. <br />
* '''Yudofu:''' Nabemono prepared in a kombu stock and featuring tofu as the primary protein, with citrus and spicy sauces. Socially considered as vegetarian, though small amounts of fish are typically involved. <br />
* '''Chankonabe:''' A nabemono dish that is a common restaurant meal, it was originally a heavy dish eaten by sumo wrestlers to put on weight efficiently. Very high in protein, often with chicken, fish, beef and various vegetables, chankonabe is a good meal for growing young'ns when served in less heroic proportions. <br />
* '''Ishikari-nabe:''' A Hokkaido specialty, this hot pot features salmon and potato as well as butter. <br />
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'''Oden''' is another characteristic winter dish, prepared in a manner similar to hot pot but made available as its own individual dish in many venues. Featuring boiled eggs, daikon, fishcakes and a soy/dashi broth, most convenience stores have a bubbling pot of oden to sell by the cup during the winter months. <br />
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'''Tori zosui''' is another winter favorite; a thick rice soup with chicken, often prepared with leftover rice and served with sliced scallions on top. It's an excellent and popular way to warm up after a bitterly cold day.<br />
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====Winter Holidays====<br />
There are also some specifically traditional holiday dishes, associated with an individual day or days. Your character is likely to eat them, and may well help prepare them!<br />
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* '''Christmas Cake:''' These cakes are typically a simple sponge cake, frosted with whipped cream and decorated with strawberries plus a chocolate plate that says "Merry Christmas!" Something of a more structured strawberry shortcake. It is eaten on Christmas Eve, which is, in Japan, typically celebrated as a romantic holiday a la Western Valentine's Day, and is thus perhaps the hardest night of the year to get a table at a nice restaurant. Yule Log cakes are also popular.<br />
* '''KFC:''' There is a tradition of obtaining Kentucky Fried Chicken meals as a Christmas dish, in part because turkey is an absolute unknown in Japan. A 1974 advertising campaign started a tradition, and now a bucket of KFC "Christmas Chicken" (with salad and a cake) is typical fare on Christmas, often ordered months in advance to beat the lines. <br />
* '''Osechi ryori:''' An umbrella term for food prepared specially for the New Year's period, these dishes come in a huge range of ingredients that are meant to encourage good luck and fortune for the upcoming year. They are typically sweet, sour, dried or otherwise preserved, as they come from a time before refrigeration was common, and when many markets would be closed for some time. Traditionally, nothing should be cooked on New Year's Day, so the preparation of osechi is finished before New Year's Eve. Osechi ryori is arguably the most important meal of the year, with each dish serving as a symbol or wish for the coming year. The food is even eaten in a special way by using chopsticks that are rounded on both ends; one side for the humans to use, one side for the gods. There are so many varieties that space would prohibit easy discussion. A more detailed discussion is present at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osechi Wikipedia] including a plan for a three-tiered "jubako" box.<br />
* '''Toshikoshi soba:''' This is eaten at night on New Year's Eve. A simple meal with buckwheat soba with toppings such as seaweed, fried tofu, or vegetables. The long noodles are said to symbolize a long life, their consumption representing "crossing over from one year to the next," the meaning of ''toshi-koshi''. Another theory is that it is very simple to make - a relief after preparing several days' worth of osechi for the upcoming celebrations! It is often considered bad luck to leave any of your toshikoshi soba uneaten.<br />
* '''O-zoni:''' A soup eaten during on the morning of New Year's Day, considered very lucky, featuring local ingredients and lots of mochi. While many areas have their own specialties, the typical Kanto-area meal uses a soy sauce/dashi broth, squared and grilled mochi, and meat and vegetables to preference. <br />
* '''Nanakusu gayu:''' Eaten on January 7th, this is a collection of seven wild edible herbs eaten with rice in order to ease the stomach after all of the things listed above, which have been eaten over the course of several weeks.<br />
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==Spring==<br />
Spring cuisine is all about appreciating the beginning of the growing season, as shoots and ferns unfurl from the ground, and petals blossom on fruit trees. These events are cause for major public celebrations, and, in turn, the fruits and vegetables in question are heavily featured in a variety of dishes.<br />
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Besides the bounty of the rich brown earth, there are naturally seasonal selections from the deep blue sea: <br />
* '''Tai''', or Red Sea Bream, are rich-tasting fish that are in season in spring, and famously symbolize good luck in Japan. Besides eating them as sashimi or grilled with salt, '''Tai-chasuke''' is a dish where tai is served on rice with dashi fish stock poured on top.<br />
:* For people who can't abide the fish, but still want their good luck, there is also '''Taiyaki''', a traditional Japanese sweet named after and shaped like tai. They're filled with '''anko''' (sweet red azuki bean paste), and often served at cherry blossom viewing parties (called hanami).<br />
* '''Ika''' (Squid) is available good and fresh throughout the year, they're sweetest in the spring. '''Hotaru-Ika''' (firefly squid) are particularly popular served as a snack accompanying drinks, prepared in a variety of ways, including as sashimi, sauted, or boiled in soy sauce.<br />
* '''Magaki''' (Pacific Oysters) are in season from late winter to spring, where they become bigger and sweeter. They're often served in an all-you-can-eat format, grilled, steamed, or even fried.<br />
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'''Sansai''' are much-beloved Japanese mountain vegetables that sprout in spring and are enthusiastically consumed. Many are picked from the wild; indeed, most are difficult to cultivate on a mass scale, and they're often quite bitter and tough until boiled or otherwise processed to consume. Besides serving them raw in salads, seared on the grill, or battered and fried as tempura, there are numerous specific dishes unique to a given mountain vegetable.<br />
* '''Nanohana''' are the young spring shoots of rapeseed plants; though they're available in plain green at supermarkets for most of the year (and are closely related to broccoli -- the florets, stems and leaves are all edible), in spring they are prized for their bright yellow flower buds, which arrive in late March, in between the plum and cherry blossoms. Wandering through yellow fields of nanohana is a much-beloved practice, and fields outside of Tokyo are planted and sculpted into mazes, not unlike corn mazes in North America during Halloween. Unlike many sansai, nanohana isn't bitter or tough, so no pretreatment is required to enjoy it. Flowering nanohana is traditionally used as a side dish called '''ohitashi''', where it is briefly boiled until tender, and served with soy sance, dashi, bonito flakes and/or toasted sesame seeds. '''Karashiae''' is a similar dish, but the soy sauce is seasoned with spicy mustard.<br />
* '''Takenoko''' (literally "child of bamboo") is a bamboo shoot, which can only be picked in a very tight window of the correct size and tenderness. Even then, takenoko must be boiled in rice bran water (with a couple of hot chili peppers added to, paradoxically, increase the bamboo's sweetness) for over an hour, to soften the flesh and reduce its bitterness. '''Takenoko-gohan''', or bamboo shoot rice, involves steaming precooked takenoko in rice (sometimes with fried tofu and shiitake mushrooms), flavored with soy sauce, dashi, mirin (sweet rice wine) sake and sugar. As a solo entree, larger pieces of bamboo cooked in a similar seasoning blend are served as '''takenoko no nimono''' ("simmered bamboo shoots"). Takenoko is also featured prominently in stir fry, in the spring.<br />
* Other sansai, essentially all of which require advance parboiling, include '''Fuki''' (Butterbur), in which both the stalks and buds are used; spiraling, curled '''Kogomi''' (Ostrich Ferns) which are blanched and simmered; '''Shungiku''' (Spring Chrysanthemum) which are often served with a sesame dressing, or added to soups and hot pots; '''Tara no Me''' (the fresh shoots of the Angelica tree, sometimes called the "king" of sansai) which are particularly popular as tempura; '''Wasabina''' (Wasabi Mustard Greens) often used in salads; and '''Yama Udo''' (Mountain Asparagus) which is typically thinly sliced and pickled in miso, vinegar and sugar, or, if served fresh, can be grilled or sauteed.<br />
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'''Ichigo''' (strawberries) are in season in Japan from December to March, making them the go-to fruit for early spring. They're much beloved for their ability to brighten up this dreary time of year, and appear everywhere, in everything. Particularly fancy breeds of premium berry are marketed as high class gifts in department stores, but anyone can buy normal strawberries -- including going out to greenhouses to pick them, a spring activity known as '''ichigo kari'''.<br />
* '''Daifuku''' are a very popular traditional Japanese sweet, comprised of a glutinous rice ball filled with sweet white or red anko, but in spring, they're sold with an entire strawberry inside, and called '''ichigo daifuku'''. These are hawked from the food stall to the konbini and back again, and are best enjoyed with a cup of green tea.<br />
* Strawberry shortcakes in Japan are sponge cake and whipped cream layer cakes with fresh strawberries between the layers and on top (Christmas cakes are usually strawberry shortcakes), which is a little different from the cake with the same name in the West.<br />
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'''Ume''', the Japanese plum, is the first major tree to blossom in spring, and its flowering is avidly anticipated by the populace (though without quite the intensity of the excitement surrounding sakura blossoms, see below). Accompanying all this hype are uses of its fruit flavor. Since ume is often pickled as unbelivably sour, salty '''umeboshi''', it's available year-round, but when the weather starts to warm and spring is around the corner, ume-flavored chips (which are sort of like fruity salt and vinegar chips) and other snacks and sweets, appear on the shelves of the supermarkets and konbini.<br />
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'''Sakura''' blossoms are the main event for the celebration of the arrival of spring (even though ume come first and are also celebrated separately). In Tokyo, they begin to bloom in April, and as the public eagerly follows the cherry blossom front (as forecasted by the weather bureau, as it moves from South to North) to find out exactly when the blossoms will pop, you'll find sakura-flavored (or at least sakura-colored) everything; there's Sakura Kit Kats, Starbooks lattes, donuts, tarts, roll cakes, ice cream, taiyaki, mochi, and more. Sakura fever turns the shelves of the supermarket bright pink.<br />
* '''Sakura-mochi''' is the iconic traditional sweet associated with hanami (as well as Hinamatsuri, the Girls' Festival, celebrated on March 3rd); it is the sweet, pink mochi of spring, wrapped around anko and topped with an edible leaf from a sakura tree (which is the only part of the sweet, actually, that involves actual sakura). <br />
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====Bento====<br />
'''Hanami''' (literally, "flower viewing") is the traditional Japanese custom of throwing a party under flowering trees (especially sakura trees) in order to properly appreciate the blossoms in the brief time that they're around -- only a week or two a year! People gather in huge numbers, play or listen to music, and hold elaborate feasts on picnic blankets. Although there are often food stalls in larger parks, preparing and packing your own food is common, making this a great place to discuss '''bento''', the Japanese boxed lunch.<br />
* Making yourself a great lunchbox is satisfying, but the true importance of bento comes from the feelings you put into preparing them for other people. It's a chance to imbue love into every bite -- parents make bento for their children if they can, and giving a specially prepared bento to a friend (or crush!) is a great demonstration of affection. <br />
* Bento boxes (which can, themselves, vary greatly, ranging from elegant to cute to steadfastly functional to straight-up disposable -- and the same is all true of the chopsticks packed with them) are usually designed with a few subdivisions, to separate small portions of multiple dishes, such as rice, meat, and pickled or cooked vegetables. Everything tends to be served in bite-sized pieces, for convenience, and it's not uncommon for individual pieces of food to be cut into whimsical shapes, such as apple-rabbits, hot dog-octopi, and so forth.<br />
* Taking the decorative element one step further, '''kyaraben''' ("character bento," as in anime/manga character) and '''okekakiben''' ("picture bento") arrange all of the elements of a bento into a recognizable image. Such meals require snapping a picture on your cell phone to immortalize your beautiful lunch before eating it!<br />
* Not all bento are made by a loved one; anyone can buy bento from convenience stores or supermarkets, and some restaurants specialize in takeout bento. You can even purchase bento at railway stations ('''ekiben'''), which is a surprisingly old tradition with a huge variety of offerings, where local specialties compete for the appetites of travelers. Purchasing a box lunch at a station shop -- or while on a train, for longer trips -- remains one of the special treats of Japanese railway travel.<br />
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==Summer==<br />
Executive summary about the themes of summer cuisine in Japan.<br />
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Savory:<br />
* Somen -- Mikoto<br />
::* Nagashi somen<br />
::* Zaru somen<br />
* A non-somen cold noodle way to beat the heat is with '''Hiyashi Chuka''' (literally, 'Chilled Chinese'), a cold pasta salad composed of ramen noodles, arranged artfully (and VERY colorfully) with vegetable (and sometimes meat) garnish. Thinly sliced carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes are popular toppings, and ham and shrimp are not unheard of. Some chilled sour soup broth is drizzled on top. Konbini serve prepackaged Hiyashi Chuka with a hardboiled egg.<br />
* '''Hiyayakko''' (sometimes called hiyakko or yakko-dofu) is chilled tofu, served with various toppings; its name refers to the servants of samurai in the Edo period. Chopped green onion, dried tuna flakes, and soy sauce are one common combination of toppings, but you can also find hiyayakko topped with shiso, yuzu rind, daikon, ginger, plum paste, or even mustard.<br />
* '''Rei shabu''' is a pork dish, related to the popular wintertime shabu-shabu (a hot pot) - though rei shabu is more akin to a cold pork salad. Unlike regular shabu-shabu, the vegetables of rei shabu - things like daikon, cucumbers, tomatos, green beans and carrots - are raw, and the thinly-sliced pork, once boiled, is dipped in ice water to cool it down. Rei shabu is served with a variety of cold sauces, like miso or sesame sauce, and is sometimes served with somen noodles.<br />
* '''Unagi''' or freshwater eel is a common ingredient in Japanese cooking, although it's also so highly prized that there's a day in midsummer when one is ''expected'' to eat unagi (specifically ''doyou no ushi no hi,'' the midsummer day of the Ox from the Chinese zodiac cycle; it may fall anywhere between mid-July to early August). Since eating raw eel poses a high risk of food poisoning, unagi is ''always'' cooked, frequently grilled. In particular, the cooking style known as ''kabayaki'' involves splitting the eel along either the back or the belly, gutting and boning it, cutting it into square filets, skewering, and dipping in a sweet soy sauce-based sauce prior to broiling on the grill. Once unagi has been cooked, it may be served donburi-style over rice (which includes the dish known as ''unaju''), or torn up and mixed with the rice to make ''hitsumabushi'', which is especially popular in the Nagoya area.<br />
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Sweet:<br />
* '''Watermelons''' are considered a luxury in Japan, and are grown accordingly by farmers as a gut-pleasing treat. The rind is thinner and the flesh around the seeds are sweeter as compared to their Western counterparts. As such you can find them in many unusual shapes(cube, face, Godzilla egg!?) which can make them ornamental and expensive. The Densuke watermelon of Hokkaido considered to be the ferrari of these tasty treats with prices ranging up to 400,000 yen. However their luxurious nature makes them the perfect gift to offer your favorite senpai during the hotter months of the year! Summer gatherings and festivals aren't complete without a round of Suikawari(Watermelon Splitting).<br />
:*Suikawari: A game between friends where a person is handed a wooden stick or bokken, blindfolded, spun three times then told to have at it. ’Official’ Rules for Suikawari: <br />
::#Players placed between 5-7m away from the watermelon. <br />
::#Blindfold tested with large yen bills.(May not apply to the 'Ohtori' rich.) <br />
::#Time Limit of 3 minutes. <br />
::#Scoring determined on how clean a break was made.<br />
::#Melon collectively devoured after break is made for bonding between friends.<br />
* '''Kakigori''' is shaved ice covered in flavored syrup like strawberry, lemon, melon, bubblegum, or a variety of other festive flavors, along with actual toppings like mochi, sweetened red beans, fruit slices, or even ice cream. Unlike a snow cone Kakigori is soft, cloud-like, and without much texture. Kakigori is a popular dessert when on the go, and many summer festival food stalls can be found shaving gigantic blocks of ice into this cool, fluffy treat. <br />
* '''Garigari-kun''' is a particularly popular brand of Japanese ice pop. At a glance, they are similar enough to any other ice cream bar, coming individually packaged (at a reasonable price!) with a large-mouthed mascot. Within is a slab of ice milk on a stick, notable for having bits of ice intentionally included to give it that gari-gari crunch. The most notable aspect of these treats is the variety of flavour - while fruit and soda flavours are commonly available, Gari Gari Kun is infamous for limited-time flavours such as Onsen Manju, Cream Pull, Rare Cheese, or Spaghetti Napolitan. Yes, really. And if your stick says Atari (winner), you can get another one for free!<br />
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Drinks: <br />
* '''Mugicha''' (barley tea) is just the thing to cool a person down on a hot summer's day, or even a hot summer's night, since it's caffeine-free. Plain mugicha is a mellow brown color and has a savory, roasted taste with a touch of bitterness; sometimes it's sweetened with sugar. It can be purchased at any konbini or made at home using roasted barley teabags.<br />
* Ramune -- Lera Camry<br />
* '''Umeshu''' is an aromatic liqueur made by steeping unripened ume fruits (Japanese plums) in alcohol (typically shouchu, also called white liqueur, but also sake, brandy, whisky, or other liqueurs) and sugar, with a refreshingly sweet, tangy taste. Its alcohol content varies with the drink used: usually around 10-15% ALC, about the same as wine or mead, or, at its strongest, diluted sake, but sometimes as low as 5% (similar to many beers) or as high as 25% (like undiluted sake, or fortified wine). It is believed that umeshu has many health benefits; it's said to relieve exhaustion, promote digestive health, and stimulate the appetite. The legal drinking age in Japan is 20, but due to lax enforcement, it's relatively easy to gain access to alcohol for enterprising students, largely through convenience stores or umeshu brewed at home (which is quite easy!), or sometimes through vending machines, though these are becoming less common. The umeshu-tasting festivals do reportedly check identification at entry! Of course, there's always nonalcoholic umeshu - though some brands are reported not to taste much like umeshu at all.<br />
<br />
====Festival Food====<br />
Summer is the season of festivals so let's do a food stall feature!<br />
* '''Yakitori''' -- literally grilled chicken, but not necessarily chicken! The important part is it's bite-sized food on skewers, grilled over charcoal. It's a regular festival and event food, and also popular to have while drinking! It's pretty ubiquitous. Generally it's going to be meat charred on sticks, often (maybe even mostly) with vegetables as well. It might go with salt, but with tend to have sauce; 'tare' sauce is one option, a mix of sake, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar, but the idea is something sweet and savory. The particular cut of meat isn't all that important--while the most traditional is chicken, as mentioned it might have beef, octopus, or sausage just as a start. <br />
:* Fish on a stick! That's not just an exclamation, it's also sweetfish, or '''Ayu''' - a freshwater fish with a light texture. Often seen at fireworks displays, it's a popular festival snack associated with summertime. Grilled or barbequed, it's topped with salt, and its crispy outer flesh hides a distinctive sweet taste. Some people even say it tastes similar to a watermelon! It's served whole, and it is artfully placed on a stick in a wavelike swimming shape, to give an impression of swimming up against a current.<br />
* '''Karaage''' -- While the Curse of the Colonel is infamous amongst baseball fans in Japan, don’t mistake Western fried chicken for Karaage. Karaage is fried chicken where flavors like sake, soy sauce, garlic or ginger are added to the chicken before the flour is added rather than simply into the flour itself. This process adds a juiciness to the meat that Kentucky Fried Chicken simply lacks! While this frying style was originally from China, it’s been adapted into something uniquely Japanese that they can be proud of. Each region of Japan has it’s own regional twist on this delicious treat such as Nagoya’s spicy version or Gifu’s karaage that’s black due to a type of algae mixed in. <br />
* '''Takoyaki''' is a crispy savoury snack made of diced boiled octopus legs covered in a wheat flour-based batter, shaped into balls. While octopus is the operative ingredient - it's right there in the name! - takoyaki can also contain things like seasonal vegetables, tempura scraps (or tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onion. It's typically served with okonomi sauce - a sweeter and less salty cousin of Worcestershire sauce - and mayonnaise, but can also be served with goma-dare (sesame and vinegar sauce) or ponzu (soy sauce, with dashi and citrus vinegar), amongst other variations. It originated in Osaka, but is now popular throughout Japan. Takoyaki is typically eaten by stabbing the ball with a toothpick, and served in paper dishes which resemble boats. It's also served piping hot, so be careful not to eat too quickly!<br />
* Ikayaki -- Pluto<br />
* Hotate Butter Yaki<br />
* '''Okonomiyaki''' is a pancake or omelette-like dish served, much like their comparisons, with a variety of toppings and fillings. There are two main ways this savory dish is served! the Osaka-style has the extra chosen toppings mixed in to the batter and cooked together and pan-fried, served much like a stuffed griddle cake. The Hiroshima-style version serves it much like a layered cake, with the chosen extra toppings stacked on top of the batter cake one after another. Cabbage, green onion and pork seem to be the most common ingredients, but locations that serve the dish have many different ingredients on request, such as vegetables, seafood (such as octopus, shrimp, and squid) beef, and cheeses. Certain locations offer more unique varieties such as with fried noodles or chicken! <br />
* '''Yakisoba''' is stir-fried noodles, plain and simple. While sometimes made with buckwheat soba noodles, most servings are prepared with thinner ramen-style noodles, making it quick and easy to prepare. The dark sweet-and-savoury sauce gives the fried dish a tang, and diced vegetables and meat are usually thrown in - ranging from chicken to pork to hot dogs to Spam, depending on the locality. While an actual dish is sometimes used, the festival food is commonly served on a humble paper plate - or in a bun, for a meal on the go.<br />
* '''Yakitomorokoshi''' is just corn on the cob (on a stick), except that it isn't 'just' anything. Rather than being boiled, buttered and salted, its preparation is uniquely Japanese. After a brief boil to soften it up, chefs throw their corn on a charcoal grill and brush the corn's surface with some combination of soy sauce, mirin and sugar, which forms a glaze. The smell is amazing, somehow nutty, salty and sweet at the same time, and many a customer is led to this stall by simply following their nose.<br />
* Tai is a spring fish but '''taiyaki''' is as valid an entry at any summer festival as it is at hanami viewing. These traditional Japanese pastries are shaped like the fish they're named after, and are somewhere between a waffle and a cake, stuffed with sweet azuki red bean paste (or, more recently, custard, chocolate, or even cheese or meat). Part of the fun of taiyaki at festivals is that you get to see them made in specially molded griddles, right there in the stall -- and the art of flipping over a half-baked 'fish' with a chopstick without getting batter and filling everywhere is fine, indeed...<br />
* '''Crepes''' - A popular street food that can be sweet or savory, although the sweet variety is more popular in Japan. They are often served as a cone and filled with cream or custard and a kind of fruit such as banana, strawberry, blueberry, peach, kiwi or apple. They can also be filled with ice cream, chestnuts or almonds,or if someone if filling very decadent a cake topping such as cheesecake, brownie or chocolate cake. A sauce is drizzled among the inner folds and over the top of the crepe such as strawberry jam, chocolate, caramel, nutella or kuromitsu. The more savory kind of crepe, often just called 'snack crepes' often include tuna, egg, bacon, cheese, sausage, ham, spinach or chicken as their filling and then topped off with a sauce such as Japanese mayonnaise, curry sauce, pizza sauce, teriyaki sauce or even salsa.<br />
* '''Dango''' -- Dumplings made of rice flour called Mochiko and served on sticks with many regional varieties of the sweet treat(or savory in Gifu where they’re served with soy sauce!). The Japanese have been eating dango since the Jomon period and how they’re served has evolved over time. Offerings of dango are made during special festivals to the kami for purification purposes before taking them home and eating them for good luck. It’s referenced in the odango hairstyle(o- is honorific) which in Japan can be conflated with any variety of bun. Just watch out calling anyone sporting this kind of hairstyle odango-atama(bun-head or dumpling-head) unless you’re charming enough to get away with it.<br />
* '''Jaga bata''' means butter potato, and it's pretty much exactly that -- potatoes, steamed in wood ovens, and stuffed with butter, salt, and soy sauce. It's especially popular to use the smaller 'reject' potatoes for this purpose, turning them into a nearly bite-sized street food, but the paper boats they come in sometimes just have one big potato instead.<br />
* '''Karumeyaki''', or grilled caramel, is a mixture of egg whites, sugar (brown or white), baking soda and water. It's similar to French and Italian meringues, and has a taste and texture similar to honeycomb and meringue cookies. It's often sold in Japanese festivals (matsuri), where it can be cooked on portable burners or simply sold in packets. There are other flavors as well, such as coffee or vanilla. Freshly made Karumeyaki ends in a ball with a crispy crust that melts in one's mouth when eaten. <br />
* '''Castella''' (or kasutera) is a fairly simple sponge cake, made with sugar, flour, eggs, and starch syrup. Their creation dates back to Portugese merchants in the 16th century, and the modern Japanese castella cake is a specialty of Nagasaki owing to this connection. Full-sized castella can be bought year-round, but the bite-sized '''baby castella''' (bebi kasutera) is a popular festival snack. Besides the plain recipe, there are varieties made with powdered green tea, brown sugar, honey, etc.<br />
* '''Wata-ame''' or watagashi is cotton candy, usually very similar to the Western version, also known as fairy floss or candy floss in various parts of the world. Sugar which has been melted into a liquid state, and flavorings and/or colorings added, is spun into tiny strands, and gathered on a stick to serve, sometimes covered with a decorative plastic bag (usually adorned with anime or other artwork) for protection until it's eaten. Wata-ame dissolves quickly in contact with water and readily melts again in high heat, so it's not something to save for ''much'' later!<br />
* Ringo Ame<br />
::* Ichigo Ame<br />
::* Mikan Ame<br />
::* Ume Ame<br />
* '''Choco bananas''' are frozen banana treats, covered in chocolate. While the chocolate is traditionally milk chocolate, there are also varieties made with white chocolate, strawberry chocolate, or other varieties - which can make for a dazzling rainbow of snacks. They're often topped with sprinkles, nuts, coconut flakes, or other sweets. Don't worry about getting your hands dirty, because they're served on sticks, just like toffee apples. Choco bananas are staples of Summer festivals, and they're a common sight in stalls.<br />
<br />
==Favorite Foods==<br />
Everybody has a favorite food -- and often it isn't just the food, but the story of why they like it, who they like it prepared by, and where and when they most like to eat it. <br />
<br />
* Add your character's favorite food to this bullet list -- one long paragraph recommended. Please include your character's name and both a cultural summary of the food and its particular significance and specifics for the character. It's okay if your food was mentioned already elsewhere in the guide -- no two bowls of ramen are alike, after all.<br />
* [[Adrien Agreste|Adrien's]] favorite food is '''pizza with his favorite toppings being cheese, mushrooms, pepperoni and sausage'''. Due to his carefully watch model diet, he doesn't get to have it often, but it's a delightful treat for him when it does. It especially becomes an even more favorite when his friends invite him to go and share a pizza with them. It's just how it's like from the shows he watched on tv!<br />
* [[Eri Shimanouchi|Eri Shimanouchi's]] favorite foods are '''Okonomiyaki''' and '''Modanyaki'''. Although she's been a vegetarian since starting middle school, her love of these varieties of Osakan soulfood hasn't changed, as it reminds her of happier times during her youth. Instead she's just sworn off red meat varieties and substitutes seafood instead. It is extremely rare for her to eat it in front of friends though because she's embarrassed about how messily she eats it. Her favorite location for it is a small grill in Ogikubo Tokyo, which was within walking distance from her former territory in Shinjuku.<br />
* [[Fuu Hououji|Fuu Hououji's]] favorite food is '''tessa''', fugu sashimi which has been sliced so thinly that it's almost transparent. Only specially trained and licensed sushi chefs are even allowed to prepare tessa, due to the potential danger of pufferfish poisoning; as such, it's an expensive luxury dish, not something that even the Hououji family goes out for very often - but that rarity is part of why Fuu enjoys it so much, when she has the opportunity. (In an interesting bit of irony, the Emperor of Japan is forbidden by law from ever eating fugu out of concern for his health, making Fuu's favorite dish something that the Emperor himself can never eat.)<br />
* [[Hotaru Tomoe|Hotaru Tomoe's]] favorite food is '''nihon soba''', buckwheat noodles. They're a very plain and easily digestible meal, but that isn't why Hotaru likes them; rather, it's because she associates them with the tradition of staying up late at night on New Years Eve. Every year Hotaru gets to have them, it's another year she's still alive.<br />
* [[Kozue Kaoru|Kozue Kaoru’s]] favorite foods are the '''Milk Shake''' and '''Cake'''. She will never admit it though, because she likens those things to this nostalgic sweetness invoked by the memories of the most important people in her life. Part of growing up she feels is pretending she doesn’t like these childhood treats. All the same, whenever her twin Miki invites her out to a small bakery on Southern Cross Island, it’s rare that she refuses outright. Instead she complains the whole trip.<br />
* [[Madoka Kaname|Madoka Kaname's]] favorite food is '''cream stew''', a popular yoshoku dish firmly established as a standard, home-cooked meal. '''Yoshoku''' ('western food') refers to a uniquely Japanese style of Western-influenced cooking which originated during the Meiji Restoration. Despite its name, there is no cream in cream stew; it is rather based in béchamel sauce, a white roux, which can be bought in granular packet form in stores. It's very colorful, with chicken (or sometimes pork), potatoes, carrots, onions and green peas, and its mild taste is especially popular with kids. It is also called 'white stew', a name which appeared in 1947 when Japanese schools started serving stew with skim milk added to it, to supplement calcium for children to help them recover from lack of nutrition during the war. Papa Kaname prepares it with homemade chicken stock!<br />
* [[Mai Tokiha|Mai Tokiha's]] favourite food is '''atsuyaki tamago''', or sweet rolled omelets. Made from a mix of eggs and sweetened dashi, these omelets are usually cooked in a square frying pan, so that thin layers can be rolled over and over to create a distinctive log of seasoned egg. It's not just because Mikoto Minagi is very good at cracking eggs; rather than just serving as a breakfast food, the slices of rolled omelet resemble little gold bars and nestle very nicely into bento boxes. It's neat and tidy, looks nice, and gives a nicely sweetened boost of protein to help get through the day. Even if she was just cooking for herself, she'd probably make them; making lunches for people she cares about definitely makes them worth the effort.<br />
* [[Marinette Dupain-Cheng|Marinette]] is particularly fond of '''macarons'''. A French cookie delicately formed from meringue and almond flour, these delicate treats come in a wide variety of flavours and colours. Marinette is admittedly biased in the source, as her family's bakery makes them frequently. In addition to being light, sweet, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, macarons lend themselves well to an artistic flair. The batter is very easy to colour, and the little puffs can easily be adorned with bits of icing. Just picture a cute little kitty-cat, or a deceitful hamburger, or a ridiculously elaborate replica of the Discworld - the sky is as ever the limit.<br />
* [[Mikoto Minagi|Mikoto Minagi's]] favourite food is Mai Tokiha's '''ramen noodles'''! Ramen is a common Japanese dish - wheat noodles, served in broth which is typically meat- or fish-based, with a variety of toppings. Many regions of Japan have their own variation of ramen: Tokyo's own spin on the recipe involves curly noodles and chicken broth with a little dashi, though perhaps Mai's own tendency to use chicken in her ramen is also because chicken is cheaper than some of the other meats in the market. Mai's ramen noodles were Mikoto's introduction to the fact that food could taste /good/ instead of just being plain sustenance, and she is forever grateful to her friend for revealing that there were wonders of taste she had never before experienced. She'll never be able to forget the wonders of that very first meal. Though Mai can make many other more complicated dishes which exhibit her skills as a cook, Mikoto's first choice for dinner is always Mai's ramen. It's never quite the same thing twice - there are always different ingredients on sale, after all!<br />
* [[Nori Ankou|Nori Ankou's]] favorite dish is '''grilled marine snails'''. As a child Nori's parents would often grill shellfish when the weather was cool but not yet snow-encrusted, and the simple flavors were a fond memory for her, as were dashing the shells open and playing with the shards as if she were a Jomon princess. Her particular taste for marine snails was developed in the sea-caves near Ohtori when she was laying low, and when they were her only food. She cooks them in a traditional Japanese way: the snails are arrayed in their shells atop a charcoal fueled grill with the openings turned up, and each is anointed with a sauce - whether shoyu, mirin, or sake. The meat of the snail is tricky to pull out compared to the French escargot, although she often has the aid of Batiste's clever little paws. It is a private sort of treat that feels eternal, and the connection to her childhood is gratifying too - even if she would never admit it. (She still plays with the shells, but she takes greater care to wash them off.) <br />
* [[Plagg|Plagg's]] favorite food is cheese. His most beloved kind is camembert, but he loves any kind of cheese. Old, string, stinky, cheese sticks, marbled, blue, etc Just set any kind of cheese out and he'll devour it, just be careful you don't lose a finger as a result.<br />
* [[Steven Universe|Steven Universe's]] favorite food will of course always be '''hot dogs'''! A packaged meat in a tubular shape, generally pork, beef or turkey with seasonings, is grilled until plump, then served on a bun with an assortment of condiments and toppings such as diced onions, chili, cheeses, peppers and pickles. They hold great significance besides great flavor, such as fond memories, or recalling the times of Beach City. They even help use alien technology*! Whenever he bites in to one, it all comes back to him in the best way possible.<br />
* [[Utena Tenjou|Utena Tenjou's]] favorite food is '''rose tea''', especially as prepared at her favorite tea shop on Southern Cross Island, Magnolia Cafe. There's just something noble about the way it tastes! Rose is a more popular flavor in Japan than it is in Western cuisine, and there are both green tea and black tea versions (plus a heavily sweetened rose milk tea!). It is not uncommon to blend a rose tea with sakura flavor as well. <br />
* [[Westar|Westar's]] favourite Earth food is '''donuts'''. These sweet treats are made of dough, cut into rings and deep-fried to a crispy puffy perfection. There are a thousand and one variants on the simple donut, with as many flavours to try as one might imagine. Common additions to the dough are spices, fruit, or chocolate. Many donuts, after frying, are subsequently dipped into glaze, coated with icing, or dusted with sugar. Amid all these choices, though, Westar's preference is for simple and familiar. An uncoated plain donut, whose ring contains a heart shape as its hole, the hallmark of Kaoru-chan's stand.<br />
<br />
==Least Favorite Foods==<br />
Everybody has at least one food they despise, too, and often an interesting reason why! <br />
<br />
* Add your character's least favorite food to this bullet list -- one long paragraph recommended. Please include your character's name and both a cultural summary of the food and its particular significance and specifics for the character. It's okay if your food was mentioned already elsewhere in the guide -- no two bowls of ramen are alike, after all.<br />
* [[Hotaru Tomoe|Hotaru Tomoe's]] least favorite food is '''milk'''. Everyone is always nagging her to drink it so that it will make her strong, but this is obviously, empirically not the case. In Japan, milk only became widely consumed after the westernization. It's also worth noting that something on the grocery store shelf called 'miruku' may or may not be real milk -- if it's 100% real, it will be labeled with the Japanese word for milk, 'gyuunyuu'. Hotaru hates both in any event.<br />
* [[Madoka Kaname]] claims that her least favorite food is '''inago no tsukudani''', a Japanese dish featuring locusts that are boiled in soy sauce and sugar, but it is a fairly safe bet that she named it as, like, the least offensive possible choice. It's said this dish originated from famines suffered because of locust swarms; after locusts ate all the crops, there was nothing left to eat but the pests themselves. <br />
* [[Mikoto Minagi|Mikoto Minagi's]] least favourite food is the '''super spicy curry bun'''. Curry buns, or kare pan, are a popular Japanese snack: curry wrapped in doughnut-like dough which is coated in bread crumbs, and deep-fried or occasionally baked. Toyofuku, in Asakusa Traditional District, claims it's been making its own version - with prime cuts of wagyu beef and handmade panko breadcrumbs - for over a century! While many curry buns are made with relatively mild curry, the super spicy curry bun is a pre-packaged pastry of death, hot enough to keep people awake when they're working long hours. Mikoto happened to steal a pack when she first came down from her mountain home, totally unaccustomed to the fact that spicy food existed. Her heightened senses and complete inexperience with hot food combined to make it a horrible, painful experience, which left her rampaging through the school as a dark blur which led students to talk about the Fire-Mouthed Cat Demon which haunted Ohtori's grounds ever since. On that day, Mikoto learned a painful, awful lesson: ''food can be an enemy, too.'' While Mikoto hates all types of spicy food, she has never forgiven the super spicy curry bun for its transgressions.<br />
* [[Nori Ankou|Nori Ankou's]] least favorite dish is '''very sweet things'''. This category does not include all desserts or sweet flavors, but candied fruits or similar treats were not a point of appeal for her. Some of this is that she does not have much of a sweet tooth - but most of it is that her mother, who was to Nori's understanding a lower-upper-class home-maker without strong responsibilities, thanks to the family business, was a dedicated SWEETS HUNTER. Nori would often be brought along to these places and associates sugar and dessert confections, to some extent, with the presence of a distant but controlling maternal figure. <br />
* [[Usagi Tsukino|Usagi Tsukino’s]] least favorite food are '''carrots'''. Usagi in Japanese means bunny or rabbit and as such one might think this is the result of one too many jokes or puns being thrown her way. That’d only be half-right. The rest of the truth is that Usagi has a palate that's still a little like a child's and just doesn’t like the taste or the texture of carrots, going so far as to not request them in her curry dishes. So you read it here first, the bunny on the moon just does not like carrots.<br />
* [[Utena Tenjou|Utena Tenjou's]] least favorite food is '''sausage'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
For more information, please see: [[Holidays and Events]], [[Culture]]<br />
<br />
[[Category:Theme]][[Category:Culture]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2022-10-20_-_Scarf_of_Sorrow2022-10-20 - Scarf of Sorrow2022-10-22T00:34:19Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Scarf of Sorrow''' |-..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Scarf of Sorrow'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''It's a nice, if blustery, day by the river. Westar has a scarf.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Setsuna Higashi|Cure Passion]], [[Mikoto Minagi]], [[Abiko Tsugaru]], [[Kyouka Okazaki]], [[Adrien Agreste|Chat Noir]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Tama River<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2022-10-20 - January 20th, 2016<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Hayato Nishi [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's a chilly, blustery day by the Tama River - but the sun is bright and there's good cheer in the air. The wind might be cold, but that makes it excellent for flying kites if you think ahead enough to bring gloves. The water might be unswimmable, but it's a peaceful scene for snacks and/or studying. In general, it is a nice day.<br />
<br />
Snack carts are plentiful, of course. Anything hot is very welcome on a day like this - if you want coffee or soup or fresh-fried donuts, there's a place to get it. The crowds are cheerful and the day is beautiful.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, there is a horrible Executive.<br />
<br />
He's in his civilian disguise, such as it is. A black shirt, a puffy orange vest, and a burnt-yellow scarf. He stands apart from the crowds, perched atop an unused equipment shed that has fewer kayaks than it really should. And, of course, he has a bag of donuts for snacking on, all to himself so he needs not share.<br />
<br />
"The crowds today are filled with happiness..." He peers at them through the heart-shaped hole in the donut. "But what would turn that happiness to the greatest misery? Something about the cold? Making their delicious treats turn on them? Or the games thaspfhfph-"<br />
<br />
His musings are cut off as the wind shifts, blowing his scarf straight into his face.<br />
<br />
It takes a minute for him to untangle himself, and in the process his donut is lost in the river below. He glowers, folding his arms in a terrible fury. "...the weather. The weather will make people miserable, an- apffmblmb NOT AGAIN!"<br />
<br />
Finally, he tears off the treacherous scarf, glaring at it. "You were meant to make me warm, not miserable! You know what? You do it!"<br />
<br />
He claps his hands, Switching Over to the uniform of Westar - a billowing white cape to contrast against the black and yellow sleeveless outfit. In spite of the chill, he stands tall, hurling the scarf high into the air - and then throwing a yellow diamond to pin it immediately afterward. "Nakewameke! Obey my command!"<br />
<br />
And then, to the crowds, it appears. A towering robot taller than a house, all sleek lines with yellow circuitry running up its arms and legs. Strangely, it doesn't have hands - instead, its wrists end in cloth, billowing scarves trailing behind it in the wind as it holds its arms out wide. Yellow diamonds jut from its face like angry bug's eyes, and a third much longer scarf billows from its neck. It slams into the shore of the river in a diving kick, striking a pose as Westar lands on a nearby tree, announcing his presence.<br />
<br />
"I am Westar! Denizen of Labyrinth, and faithful servant of Lord Mobius! Your fear and misery will help us fill the Sorrow Gauge! Now, Nakewameke-"<br />
<br />
And the wind picks up as the monster bellows. "<b><span style="color:#CCCC00">DRAMATIC WIND!</span></b>"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Hayato Nishi transforms into Nakewameke!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 6 opponents!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi has fully healed herself.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto Minagi... is eying the river with a dangerous glint in her eye. She's in her Ohtori uniform, after school, not her swimsuit -- but she's still so /tempted,/ to go in there and get a fish.<br />
<br />
"Setsuna, can I bring fish to hospital?" She wonders, out of nowhere, and that might be the one thing stopping her from tragedy.<br />
<br />
Instead, she gets a taiyaki fish snack from one of the carts, and nibbles it as she watches the sky. "Nice day..." She reflects, smiling. She thinks of how Mai would be, in a day like this.<br />
<br />
Which, coincidentally, is when a giant scarf attacks.<br />
<br />
"Nakewameke?!" Mikoto barks, as she springs back. In a smooth motion she unshoulders her sword-case from her back and draws Miroku, grasping it in her hands. She looks further afield, to the tree, and snaps: "Westar!"<br />
<br />
It would be easy to say she's just angry, but she isn't. It's -- complicated, between those sharp edges.<br />
<br />
"Rrrmm..." Mikoto growls, a shade uncertainly, shifting back on a heel and frowning. But she's never been one to hesitate, so inevitably that motion was just the beginning of a launch /forward,/ her blade swinging horizontal against the Nakewameke's legs.<br />
<br />
(She is, at least, going for the /monster./)<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has fully healed herself.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi transforms into HiME Mikoto!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Devastation on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's cold, yes. It's a little ridiculous. Setsuna Higashi, for one, is not /entirely/ certain that winter was a good decision. On the other hand, there's hot chocolate, and snow can be fun, and... <br />
<br />
Well, Earth is just different, and not particularly climate-controlled, and it's best to take the bad with the good, right? <br />
<br />
Right. <br />
<br />
So Setsuna is out here with some donuts. And friends! She chomps down on one cheerfully, still in uniform. Once she's partway through chewing she answrs Mikoto, "Hno." <br />
<br />
...Well, he still has some donut left. But it's an answer anyway. She is unaware of the guy on the shed, because she doesn't usually look up to shed roofs, even if it might be a good idea. But she recognizes a certain shout... <br />
<br />
"?" <br />
<br />
"Westar!" Setsna looks around--but people are running already, not paying attention to her. And Westar knows exactly who she is. So she pulls her Linkrun, and narrows her eyes. "Pretty Cure! Beat... Up!" <br />
<br />
The next step takes her into a field of light, on which her clothes change to the red dress of her battle form, her head becomes adorned by the hearts and diamond and wings familiar to those who know her. Her hair becomes longer, pinker--and her boots form, as she leaps upward, somersaults, and falls into an endless ocean, before rising up onto real ground again to land, heels together, click-clack! <br />
<br />
"Freshly ripened! Cure Passion!" <br />
<br />
She throws out a hand. "Westar!" she says, pointing straight at him. She... <br />
<br />
"...is that your scarf?" she says insead, tilting her head in confusion instead of heroism. "..." <br />
<br />
She just goes with it. Passion charges forward into a dizzying flurry of strikes!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi transforms into Cure Passion!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Breaking Wave on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar braces 12 Fatigue damage from Cure Passion's Breaking Wave, taking 5 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar partially dodges 8 Fatigue damage from Mikoto Minagi's Obsidian Blade: Devastation, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Mikoto Minagi is Psyched! Stagger and Stun applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Abiko Tsugaru "Hmmm... hm hm." Abiko muses to herself as she looks over the selection of warm snacks available, though judging from the crumbs she's had plenty already. She's in her school uniform, backpack flung haphazardly over her shoulder and half unzipped showing... another bag of snacks? That's not important though as she finally gets her fresh donuts -- This must be heaven.<br />
<br />
Just as she is about to take that first wonderful bite there is a massive crash into the nearby river shore, the force causing her to stumble and drop her oh-so precious snacks, "Ah-!" she cries out as they spill onto the ground. She doesn't know who the weirdo in the cape is or his scarf-mecha friend, just that she was robbed of her precious snacks.<br />
<br />
She pulls her phone out, joking aside this seems bad and it's her job to help stop the bad things, right? A few quick taps later her outfit begins to glow, building in intensity as the light shifts and moves over her body before bursting briefly to finally reveal her Hero transformation.<br />
<br />
A quick glance down and gripping of her fist, "This is feeling less weird.." she trails off and looks as Setsuna and Mikoto dive headlong at the monster, "I'll help!" she calls out to them, joining in the initial assault. She quickly picks up speed before launching herself towards the center of Nakewameke, her right arm snapping out<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru transforms into Yuusha Abiko!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has used Forceful Palm on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Kyouka likes the Tama area, for several reasons. She heads out here into the wilderness to train with Fate, but she also just likes te outdoors. It's not the warmest of days (though she /did/ remember to bring her gloves--and is bundled up with a nice warm jacket), and today in particular she just wanted to take some time to get some fresh air and to clear her head of what happened at Sanbu, what's going on with Yumi, and... oh yeah, apparently /literally saving the world/ the night before.<br />
<br />
"... When did this become my life?" she muses to herself, not for the first time.<br />
<br />
It's actually working a bit. There's a nice atmosphere with the people around and the snack carts set up... and there's even a few of her friends here!<br />
<br />
She wanders over towards the others, hailing them with a wave. "Hey, guys! ... I don't think the hospital would appreciate that, Mikoto... Might be best to save it for when Yumi gets back to her dorm." She starts looking over the selection in the cart, trying to choose between snacks, when...<br />
<br />
A giant scarf monster attacks.<br />
<br />
"Aww, c'mon," she mutters to herself. "That's like... the third or fourth one this week."<br />
<br />
Nake/what/? No, not important. Get the details later. Kyouka brings her wrist up to across her body besides her face, letting the sleeve pull back to reveal Strike Wolf's standby form. "Strike Wolf, set up!" In a surge of wild purple energy her school outfit vanishes, replaced with her barrier jacket: visor, tank top, vest, shorts, and armored gauntlets and boots.<br />
<br />
It's a good thing most people run from a monster. That way they don't get to see them running towards it.<br />
<br />
She takes off after the others. A brifest of crouches, long enough for a small magical circle to appear under her feet, and then she's propelling herself forward, right at the monster's chest with her foot extended and a kiai yell.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki transforms into Barrier Jacket Wolf Fighter!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has used Fang Breaker Strike on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Adrien Agreste [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It was a windy blustery day and if Adrien was honest he was thankful for it. They were suppose to be having a photoshoot for his fall collection. However, they the photographer ending up delaying it for a few hours. He kept trying to take photos of Adrien walking among the leaves, but the winds and leaves were not co-operating and ruining the shot he was going for. <br />
<br />
After the fifth time of leaves blocking his viewing he sighed as he rubbed his fingers for warmth and depite they needed the wind to die down. Adrien did not mind this at all. He got time to himself to enjoy the crowd around him, sample a donut and just watch some leaves fall. <br />
<br />
"This is awesome," Adrien says aloud. <br />
<br />
A grunt came from his jacket pocket. "It's too cold for this, unless we did a nice warm fondue." <br />
<br />
"I don't think we can pull that off here," Adrien whispered back as he used his cellphone to take a selfie in front of the river. His fingers lingers over his contacts. He toyed with the idea of calling Marientte. It would be late notice, but maybe she might be able to come up and join in- <br />
<br />
He heard a shout. <br />
<br />
Adrien turned and spotted Westar. <br />
<br />
"So much for it being a quiet day," Plagg grumbled. <br />
<br />
"No, but fighting should warm you up," Adrien said as he raced behind a tree and held out his ring. <br />
<br />
"Claws out, Plagg!" <br />
<br />
The transformation was quick as always and within second Chat Noir appeared on the scene as he jumped onto a tree branch and waved to the others joining the fight. "Time to get this nakewameke shaking like a leaf!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Adrien Agreste transforms into Chat Noir!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has adjusted his boss levels. He is now ready to take on 5 opponents!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir has used Cat's Got Your Tongue on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar braces 12 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Fang Breaker Strike, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Kyouka Okazaki is Psyched! Cripple applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar partially dodges 2 Fatigue damage from Chat Noir's Cat's Got Your Tongue, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Westar is Quipped! Cripple applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Abiko Tsugaru's Forceful Palm, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Abiko Tsugaru is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
For a moment, Westar can stand triumphant on his tree branch. His Nakewameke looks impressive, and is hard to ignore. Already, the day is being ruined - crowds scattering from the posing titan, screams of fear and panic, drinks and snacks being abandoned instead of enjoyed - everything is going just as planned.<br />
<br />
As much as he had planned. Which was very little. And there was very little point in planning, because-<br />
<br />
Opposition arrives. Five of them, two familiar, three less so. Mikoto comes in with her sword right out of the gate, and only a warning shout from Westar has the Nakewameke leap into the air to evade the blade instead of trying to endure it. Even so, it tears a rent in the leg-<br />
<br />
And then Cure Passion starts punching it in the air, Wolf Fighter's kick lands squarely on a guarding arm, and Yuusha Abiko's palm strike sends it crashing back to the mud below.<br />
<br />
And to add insult to injury, Chat Noir steals Westar's idea for a perch, making - admittedly a good joke.<br />
<br />
"As terrifying as ever, Minagi..." Westar calls out, arms folded ominously as the commander he is. An image he soon ruins by snapping back at Cure Passion. "So what if it is? It blew in my face, Cure Passion! And now it's going to do - something like that to all of you!"<br />
<br />
He looks between the new arrivals, fuming, and addresses Chat's joke. "Don't think we're scared just yet! We'll see who's shaking in the end - Nakewameke! Buy yourself some space!"<br />
<br />
It is, in the end, still a towering metal monstrosity - even if it is shaking a bit from the impacts. It digs in, briefly, before springing forward in a leap. One arm lashes out at Mikoto, the lengthy scarf whipping out to try to ensnare the sword-wielder; the other whips in the air, sending a mighty gust of wind and debris to billow at Chat Noir, Wolf Fighter, and Yuusha Abiko. And, at last, it goes to meet Cure Passion directly with a pointed kick of its own.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Mikoto Minagi.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Winds of Misery on Abiko Tsugaru.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Winds of Misery on Chat Noir.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Winds of Misery on Kyouka Okazaki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Anti-Cure Kick on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion dodges 14 Fatigue damage from Westar's Anti-Cure Kick, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Westar is Psyched! Cure Passion's Fade and Flash abilities activate! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi counters 10 Fatigue damage from Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Mikoto Minagi's Reverse and Tactician abilities activate! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi's counterattack, Obsidian Blade: Dynamo, partially gets through, doing 12 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki perfectly dodges 22 Fatigue damage from Westar's Winds of Misery, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Kyouka Okazaki's Fade and Flash abilities activate! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru counters 9 Fatigue damage from Westar's Winds of Misery, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Abiko Tsugaru's Tactician ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru's counterattack, Rain of Cherry Blossoms, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir dodges 7 Fatigue damage from Westar's Winds of Misery, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Chat Noir! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The creature leapt into the air, and only a last second adjustment on Strike Wolf's part kept her heading in at least the close enough direction to land some kind of a blow, even if it wasn't where she'd originally intended. She rebounds backwards off of the guarding arm and somersaults backwards to land back on solid ground.<br />
<br />
The villain addresses Mikoto by name, as well as Cure Passion, and the latter made that comment... "... Do you two know this guy?" she asks aloud as she lands from her first attack. "Anything we should know about this thing?"<br />
<br />
Then it unleashes gusts of winds and she charges right towards it--only to slide neatly underneath the gust and to gracefully pick herself back up into a run without losing any of her momentum. Another superpowered leap rushing up--then a kick off of midair to divert her direction right for the creature's head instead of completing the arc.<br />
<br />
<Piercing Fang,> announces her device, as she drives her fist into its face.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has used Piercing Fang Strike on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's nice to see Kyouka, too! But Setsuna doesn't get much time for pleasantries. And Abiko will help! Passion remembers her from another recent fight, and then a nice time around the amusement park. So of course she'll accept. "They're stronger than they look!" she warns by way of welcome. <br />
<br />
Kyouka, too, is here, and that yell of hers gets a fierce nod from Passion. And Chat Noir's quip gets--<br />
<br />
Okay, Passion doesn't get it. "...Do leaves shake a lot?" she wonders of him. <br />
<br />
But Westar answers her as she hits the ground from where she was striking, and the red Cure narrows her eyes at him. "That doesn't make sense," she tells him. "Do you want to try that line again?" <br />
<br />
She'll let him! <br />
<br />
That kick straight at Passion misses her--but only barely, as Passion whirls out of the way and uses her momentum to continue a whirling assault of kicks as she seems entirely willing to ladder-kick her way up into the sky off this scarf. <br />
<br />
"Yes," Passion says in the air to Kyouka, "I know him. ...He's from Labyrinth. The same world I came from. I used to work with him to gather misery energy for Mobius-sama." <br />
<br />
"But not anymore!" Kick!!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Rising Passion on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Abiko Tsugaru grins as her attack knocks the giant robot back, "Ha! Now... Why are you even -doing- this?" she demands, pointing at Westar accusingly with narrowed eyes -- 5ft of snack-deprived fury staring at the man. Her hubris gets the better of her, though, as the robot begins lashing out with the scarfs and sends slashing wind and debris her way. Her vambraces pulse with a magical light that spreads then bursts forth, delicate pink shards that resemble cherry blossoms streaking forward to intercept and attempt to overpower the onslaught but only partially succeeds.<br />
<br />
There's a flash of a magical barrier around Abiko as the attack impacts, her purple scaled, black shelled turtle-fairy manifesting to protect their Hero but it's not perfect and she's sent sliding back with her arms in front of her face as a shield. She takes a couple of quick breaths before she grits her teeth, motes of light gently floating off of her body body while narrow rays of light seem to be concentrating back into her core accompanied by a burst of air that blows around her hair for a few seconds leaving her looking focused.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has used Radiant Cloak on Abiko Tsugaru.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru accepts Abiko Tsugaru's Radiant Cloak, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Accelerate and Empower applied to Abiko Tsugaru! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Kyouka and Setsuna dash Mikoto's hopes and dreams, and she sighs. "'Kay," her acceptance is immediate, and her smile comes back a moment later. "Kyouka, there's taiyaki!" They're little pastry fishies filled with deliciousness. They're not as good offerings for Tama, but they're good offerings for /Mikoto./<br />
<br />
When Kyouka bemoans /another/ monster, though, Mikoto assures her -- deliberately, grasping the words and placing them together -- "Busier than normal. Sometimes it's quiet a long time."<br />
<br />
She perks up from her sharpness, though, to call -- "Chat Noir! Yeah!" She remembers the boy with catlike powers! She doesn't understand all his jokes, but she's enthusiastic, anyway.<br />
<br />
Mikoto scowls to Westar, a moment later. "No, I..." But she pauses, and trails off, glancing away. Can she really say she's not like that any more, given how she's been acting?<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke, as it happens, is more dangerous than it looks -- because it strikes in her unsteadiness, and Mikoto's gaze snaps to the scarf as it whips into her field of vision. Without thinking she launches herself towards it, and slices -- but even though she attacks so quickly, the scarf still manages to whip about her, in that uniquely irritating way.<br />
<br />
"I worked with Westar," Mikoto explains, when she's at least cleared enough space to think again. "In Dark Fall. I wasn't with Labyrinth, but I had to gather suffering, so he had stuff to teach me anyway."<br />
<br />
She insists: "Westar's stronger than he looks."<br />
<br />
With a growl, Mikoto charges the Nakewameke again. She spins, once, twice, three times, and with a holler, she brings her sword around in a diagonal slash upwards.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Dauntlessness on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chat Noir [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chat Noir could see some new faces he hadn't met before but there was no time for greetings. <br />
<br />
"Watch out!" he called out as the gust of wind attacked. <br />
<br />
Chat Noir did his best to dodge, but his foot got caught on a branch and he was knocked out of the tree. He did manage to land on his feet, but that didn't mean it did hurt. <br />
<br />
"Ow," he muttered and looked around. "Everyone, alright?" he called out. <br />
<br />
He quickly gathered himself and went to go for another attack.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir has used Introduction To The Staff on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar dodges 9 Fatigue damage from Chat Noir's Introduction To The Staff, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Chat Noir is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Rising Passion, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar dodges 6 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Piercing Fang Strike, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Kyouka Okazaki is Psyched! Stun applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar braces 12 Fatigue damage from Mikoto Minagi's Obsidian Blade: Dauntlessness, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Mikoto Minagi is Psyched! Diversion applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It would be rude to bring it up - but Westar nods solemnly when Cure Passion and Mikoto Minagi bring up their shared pasts. "That's right. We were once-" He hesitates on the word he'd like to say, and goes with one that can't be denied. "-allies. These two know everything about causing misery and sorrow!"<br />
<br />
He says this like it's something to be proud of.<br />
<br />
But one of the new people asks directly, and Westar elects to answer with the official line. "For Mobius. Everything is for Mobius - to bring the greatness of Labyrinth to other worlds."<br />
<br />
But the attacks keep coming. Chat Noir has a long staff swinging in one direction, and the Wolf Fighter is attacking from another angle - so it leaps again, catching a few glancing blows. Mikoto tears free of one scarf, and comes in with another dangerous swing - one that the monster catches on one arm with a clang.<br />
<br />
This leaves it open to getting kicked in the face by Cure Passion, sending it reeling.<br />
<br />
"Not so fast!" Westar darts in, and somehow catches the weight of the toppling Nakewameke, shoving it upright again as he points at Cure Passion and Mikoto Minagi. "You both know full well how quickly my Nakewameke and I are willing to give up! So cry and wail - because you're in for the long haul! Get them!"<br />
<br />
In the middle of his taunt, Westar's Nakewameke is already moving. It stomps fiercely at Kyouka, aiming to flatten the Wolf Fighter - whips its remaining fully-intact scarf at the Yuusha Abiko - and whips the ribbons of sword-rent scarf in a flurry of swipes at Chat Noir!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Mikoto Minagi.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Kyouka Okazaki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Player not found.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Abiko Tsugaru.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Dangerous Cat Toy on Chat Noir.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Westar's Lending A Hand! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar accepts Westar's Westar's Lending A Hand!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Withstand applied to Westar! Cleanse! All of Westar's debuffs are cleared! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru perfectly counters 35 Fatigue damage from Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Abiko Tsugaru's Tactician ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru's counterattack, Rain of Cherry Blossoms, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi cleanly braces 0 Fatigue damage from Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Diversion and Exhausted applied to Mikoto Minagi! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion counters 0 Fatigue damage from Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion's counterattack, Crimson Counter, partially gets through, doing 17 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir perfectly counters 28 Fatigue damage from Westar's Dangerous Cat Toy, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Chat Noir's Reverse and Tactician abilities activate! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir's counterattack, Nine Lives, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki decisively counters 21 Fatigue damage from Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 7 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki's counterattack, Fang Breaker Strike, partially gets through, doing 17 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chat Noir [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chat Noir finished swinging his staff at the Nakewameke and smirks as he at least managed to strike it's foot as it jumped. <br />
<br />
"Soon, you shall feel the wind of defeat," Chat quips. <br />
<br />
It doesn't take long for the Nakewameke to strike with strips of fabric. <br />
<br />
"A cat toy for me? You shouldn't have," Chat Noir remarks and he spins his staff. Swiftly, he gets the fabric wrapped around his staff. "Too bad I have a habit of breaking my toys." <br />
<br />
With a hard pull, Chat Noir tugs at the fabric hoping it would at least cause the Nakewameke to lose it's balance.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir has used Cat's Cradle on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar braces 7 Fatigue damage from Chat Noir's Cat's Cradle, taking 10 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"West arrr? Ehh... Labyrinth? Moobius?" Abiko cocks her head to the side as Westar speaks, blinking a few times before shaking her head, "If you say so." she concedes with a shrug, not her job to figure out crazytalk... But Cure Passions did say he was more dangerous than he seemed... and he -did- summon a giant robot with questionable fashion-sense.<br />
<br />
No more time to sit and think about it, the intact scarf whips and snakes towards her but instead of backing up she rushes towards it, the pink shards swirling around her body again only this time they don't falter -- whipping and spinning around her body and forcing the scarf back. Just as they begin to fade there is a burst of energy from the little hero and they flare back to life as she tries to weave close to the robot, the shards streaking around her violently.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Kyouka remembers what Setsuna told her--the very first night they'd met (well, /really/ met, when identities had been revealed)--about being a former enemy. She'd tucked that away, made one attempt to ask, but, well, the timing wasn't right.<br />
<br />
Westar's arrival might've forced the issue.<br />
<br />
"Misery energy," she muses softly. File /that/ away for later, too.<br />
<br />
Passion's declaration of 'But not anymore!' does get a smile from her, though, if a brief one.<br />
<br />
She spares a glance for Abiko, "You hangin' in there okay?"<br />
<br />
"I saw!" she shouts to Mikoto. And then Mikoto assures her--and she shapres a sharp nod. Just busier than usual. So it's not like this all the time. "Gotcha. Thanks, Mikoto."<br />
<br />
Then she explains, about gathering /suffering/... and there's that name Dark Fall, again. Hrm. More questions--and it seems like Mikoto's got a similar history to Setsuna.<br />
<br />
More questions for later.<br />
<br />
And--a new magical friend! She winces a little as he gets knocked out of a tree. "Are /you/ okay?"<br />
<br />
"Looks like they've found a better calling!" she retorts to Westar.<br />
<br />
Then that monster comes stomping for her--And she stands her ground. A band inscribed with runes appears around her gauntlet as violet energy charges up, then she slames her fist upwards, meeting fist with foot with a shockwave release of energy.<br />
<br />
<Fang Breaker.> Fangs, feet. Close enough.<br />
<br />
She grits her teeth as she's pushed into the ground--but she can tell that the Nakawhatever got the worse end of the deal.<br />
<br />
Once she's done shoving the beast away she leaps back and focuses. A spell circle appears under her feet, as energy charges, flowing upwards into her body, giving her a briefly shimmering aura. It surges--and then she's flickering out of sight.<br />
<br />
<Fang Fury Barrage.><br />
<br />
In a moment she's on the creature, unleashing a swift kick--then she flickers away, lands briefly in a different spot, and then appears at the monster again with a kick--unleashing a flurry of blows that aren't all that strong individually, but together might hopefully overwhelm her foe.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has used Fang Fury Barrage on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has used Rain of Cherry Blossoms on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion, to be fair, is /often/ rude to Westar. Somewhat less after a certain time... But even then she can't really stop herself. She knows the word he was going to use, and she is quiet while he doesn't use it. Instead, he says 'allies', and--<br />
<br />
"That's right." It's much less fraught. She doesn't have to argue with that one. <br />
<br />
But Westar steps in to help his Nakewameke. Passion doesn't argue that he's strong--when Mikoto says that, she actually nds, even if she's not about to say it out loud. "We'll just have to beat it into submision!" <br />
<br />
Passion /leaps/ towards the Nakewameke as she reacts with a yell, already feeling the Misery Energy leaching into her arms and weakening her even as she punches the scarf right in the--scarf! <br />
<br />
Chat Noir... tangles up the fabric!! Passion jumps back to regroup, and decides to take advantage of that. "Right! We'll break this one too!" <br />
<br />
With that, Passion launches forward, somersautling into the air and bringing down her heel in a devastating axe kick for the Nakewameke's center, moving right in time with Abiko's strikes!! "Hah!" <br />
<br />
But someone asked, so... <br />
<br />
"Lord Mobius--Mobius-sama--he wants to conquer all the worlds, to bring his idea of 'order' to them like Labyrinth lives in. To remove all choice." <br />
<br />
"...And I won't let that happen! Earth's happiness is worth preserving!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Passionate Kick! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar decisively counters 15 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Fang Fury Barrage, taking 5 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Fists of Injustice, partially gets through, doing 35 Fatigue damage to Kyouka Okazaki! Critical Counterhit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to counter Abiko Tsugaru's Rain of Cherry Blossoms, taking 24 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Fists of Injustice, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Abiko Tsugaru! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar braces 10 Fatigue damage from Cure Passion's Passionate Kick!, taking 8 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar says it's for Lord Mobius, and Mikoto hears, in her mind, the way she always used to explain her actions:<br />
<br />
It's an order.<br />
<br />
"Westar's working hard," she says, and it's exactly the sort of comment one makes in the office, to remark on the efforts of a coworker which have left them exhausted. "Sorry for leaving before you." /Osakini shitsureshimasu,/ the universal expression of regret for leaving others with so much more to handle.<br />
<br />
Mikoto did warn everyone that he was stronger than he looked -- so she doesn't at all seem surprised by him physically supporting his Nakewameke. She does look briefly baffled by what he /says/ -- she knows what he /means,/ but she doesn't /expect/ the sentence to work that way.<br />
<br />
"There's crepes here too," Mikoto says, as she looks back to -- a food cart all toppled on its side in the violence. "Ahh!" She yelps, devastated at the realisation that WESTAR has RUINED their SNACKS, and she berates him: "Westarrrr!!!"<br />
<br />
Mikoto springs upwards, and brings her sword overhead, onto the Nakewameke, in a vertical downwards swing. It's only at the last moment that she manages to divert her assault to not chop it right down the /middle,/ targeting its scarf, instead. Thank Fate for those little de-escalations, really.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Disequilibrium on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Mikoto Minagi's Obsidian Blade: Disequilibrium, taking 46 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke is a towering figure of misery - but it is being met and matched.<br />
<br />
Swirling cherry blossoms block one scarf, and renew themselves for a second assault. A mighty punch blocks one stomping foot ferociously, and a staff tangled in thread pulls it to an awkward hop. And then the proper counterattack begins.<br />
<br />
Abiko's shards of light attack from one side, Kyouka's blitz assault from the other. The Nakewameke tries to answer each with a flurry of punches - but while punch can counter punch, the shards of light tear into its arm. Cure Passion darts in with a punch and a kick, and metal rings loudly in answer. It bellows - "<b><span style="color:#CCCC00">DRAMATIC-</span></b>"<br />
<br />
And then Mikoto slices its main scarf clean off.<br />
<br />
"Wh- My scarf!" Westar has backed off because there is a lot of reason to not be in the middle of that fray, but from atop a fallen crepe stand he points in outrage. "That- you're not - you're not the only one who's lost snacks today, Minagi! But I'm ready to make sure things get done!"<br />
<br />
Abiko gets a stern reprimand. "Mobius! It's Mobius - and I'm Westar, whatever certain people might say!"<br />
<br />
Kyouka - gets a furious glare, and Cure Passion's words strike a pang. "Your personal happiness - you might have found that, but there's a price to pay! And eventually - eventually..."<br />
<br />
He shakes his head, and turns at last to Chat Noir. "My comrades might break, sure - but we'll serve Lord Mobius to the end! Nakewameke - time to really cut loose!"<br />
<br />
The towering monster turns to him in silence.<br />
<br />
"...I know you've been working hard. Seriously, though, they're looking dangerous! Really don't hold back!"<br />
<br />
It crouches - and leaps into the air once more. It crosses its arm, wind billowing behind it, and then ejects the scarves attached to its arms to whip out anew at Mikoto and Kyouka. Then it descends, diving in another kick at Cure Passion, finally aiming to just stomp Chat Noir and Abiko flat.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Flying Scarf on Mikoto Minagi.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Flying Scarf on Kyouka Okazaki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Anti-Cure Kick on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Chat Noir.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Abiko Tsugaru.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion partially dodges 6 Fatigue damage from Westar's Anti-Cure Kick, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Westar is Psyched! Cure Passion's Fade and Flash abilities activate! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki fails to dodge Westar's Flying Scarf, taking 29 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Kyouka Okazaki! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru fails to dodge Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 29 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Abiko Tsugaru! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir dodges 22 Fatigue damage from Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Chat Noir! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi perfectly dodges 24 Fatigue damage from Westar's Flying Scarf, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Mikoto Minagi's Fade and Flash abilities activate! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chat Noir [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chat Noir rolls to one side to avoid being stepped on by a Nakewameke. "That was close - I nearly lost one of my lives!" He quips as he springs up to his feet.<br />
<br />
He calls out to Westar, laughing briefly. "Have you considered giving your monsters vacation days? It might have earned one after all this!"<br />
<br />
He takes his staff up, spinning it a few times as he looks over the towering monster. "You'd better watch out, though - I'm about to move with a little feline-ous intent." With a confident grin, he sprints in - swinging wildly at one leg, using the momentum to swing around, and keeping up a barrage of strikes that launch him into the air.<br />
<br />
"Bye-bye, little robot~" He laughs, and then his staff extends rapidly straight into the Nakewameke's face!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Chat Noir has used Feline-ous Intent on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chat Noir has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Got it, Westy-chan" Abiko calls out, the display of skill and power from the other Magical People leaving her a little bit in awe, even as the giant Robot launches into the air and begins it's renewed assault. As it closes in on her, she stumbles on some loose debris and if not for her turtle-fairy friend would indeed be a pancake.<br />
<br />
The crash and flash of light sends her bouncing back a couple of times with some chunks of earth and stone, that one looked like it hurt. She stands up and relaxes her hands for a moment before kicking up two large chunnks of stone and launching them at the robot with quick strikes from her palm, "It sounds like you just want this world to be as boring and gloomy as that other place! And you hurt my snacks!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has used Rock kicker on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion actually twitches a little too at the talk of 'Moobius.' She can't help it. But it's true... Westar is working hard. Passion doesn't apologize, though. Nor does she seem focused on the snacks... <br />
<br />
Perhaps because, if one looks back at where she was seated, /her/ snacks were secured next to the shed. Betrayal!? <br />
<br />
A food cart! That's a problem all the same. But Passion notices Mikoto trying hard... <br />
<br />
"Right. You're Westar. And I'm..." <br />
<br />
Personal happiness, he says. Passion shakes her head. "It's not just that," she says. "Even if I hadn't, it would still be worth protecting. There are so many people and things on this world--and this is only one world! It's all important!" <br />
<br />
His comrades... <br />
<br />
The monster cuts loose; it hits Passion with another kick, and this time it hits a lot harder, knocking her backward into another cart. "Gh--" <br />
<br />
And there she hears Chat NOir, and... "...Feline-ous...?" she wonders. It takes her a moment to stand--and when she does, she lifts her hand to the sky. "...Sing! Rhapsody of Happiness!" <br />
<br />
She calls out the beginning of her chant, and a heart-shaped harp bursts into being in a mass of sparkling light, in her hand. She takes its topper in her other hand, and combines the two before her. "Passion Harp!" <br />
<br />
"...Westar," she says. "...You just don't understand." <br />
<br />
She breathes in, and focuses, before calling, "Roar! O Storm of happiness!" <br />
<br />
Passion lifts the Harp to the air, and kicks off, beginning to twirl in place. "Pretty Cure--" <br />
<br />
She whirls, and whirls, and whirls, until the air around her blurs and red begins to cover everything. Hearts bubble from the air like fog.<br />
<br />
"Happiness... Hurricane!" <br />
<br />
They are everywhere, pink and purple and red, and suddenly they rush towards the Nakewameke, bursting all around it like countless red bubbles.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Passion has used Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"The price we pay to live... is worth it, Westar!" Mikoto yells, even though Westar wasn't talking to /her./ "Passion's not alone! Me neither! And, and we'll help --" him, Mikoto wants to say, except he's commanding his Nakewameke, and they're in trouble.<br />
<br />
She still remembers what Kintoleski told her, when she was all alone. She still remembers his certainty that he would die; her certainty she would not. The difference between them...<br />
<br />
Why was her opinion so unique, in Dark Fall?<br />
<br />
She is afraid for Westar.<br />
<br />
Mikoto leaps, before her mind catches up, from the ejected scarf -- bullet-train-quick, she blurs, from one part of the shore to another. She growls, all frustration bubbling through her throat. "Even if I say lots of really good words, Westar won't listen!" She snaps, annoyed. "I get it! I get it!"<br />
<br />
She frowns, and adds, more sullen, more quiet: "... I couldn't listen, neither."<br />
<br />
There's something that makes her more miserable, here, than the snacks -- though, being clear, she is still DEEPLY upset about the snacks.<br />
<br />
"I'm gonna break it!" She yells, in warning. Or maybe it's a threat: "You know what's next, Westar!"<br />
<br />
Mikoto doesn't want to destroy him, of course, but -- if she has to scare him off, she can at least give him a good reason. He needs a good reason, she thinks.<br />
<br />
A good reason like Mikoto Minagi charging down his Nakewameke, blade spinning in revelation about her as she moves. Once, twice, three times, and the sparks fly as she plants her foot, CRASHING that blade into the Nakewameke, horizontal, right into its middle.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Deontology on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Kyouka already knew she liked Setsuna. But hearing her so strongly state that she wants to protect the Earth? Definitely having the opposite effect on her than the one Westar is trying to induce, that's for sure.<br />
<br />
She's unleashed her attack--and the robotic scarf thing fends off her blows and catches her /just/ right as she slams into an oncoming fist in her haste. She goes flying, rumbling roughly as she bounces along the ground until she comes to a stop--slamming into an upturned donut cart. "I'm okay!" she wheezes out as she staggers to her feet. "Thanks, buddy," she says quietly to Strike Wolf.<br />
<br />
<You're welcome.><br />
<br />
She catches that glare--and just smirks in response. She'll take it.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, she's still getting her footing as the monster launches its next volley. She tries to dodge--but instead is lashed by the scarf, sending her tumbling over the donut cart. "Augh." /Again/ she picks herself up. "I'm still okay!" she shouts.<br />
<br />
Though the second time she sounds a bit more pained than the last.<br />
<br />
"You want dangerous?" she spits out. "Fine. I'll /show/ you dangerous."<br />
<br />
She holds out her right hand. A violet circle appears beneath her feet, inscribed with runes and symbols. She holds out her hand, a bright, shimmering ball of light appearing in front of it. It grows brighter and brighter as power flows into it. Winds pick up around her as the cart is slowly pushed away, with the much lighter snacks themselves slowly whipping around her. "I don't care who you serve, if you're collecting misery or suffering or /whatever/. You ruined a perfectly nice day and I've just about had it up to /here/ with weird crap threatening people lately." The snacks are whipped into a frenzy now as she snatches that shimmering ball of energy in her fist.<br />
<br />
The cart, just about to lift off, suddenly settles. All of the snacks suck towards Kyouka as the vacuum left by the winds stilling draws them in... and then the power flows through her, whipping them away from her once more. Her body is encased in a bright, shimmering white aura, little motes of white energy circling around in the flurry with the knocked-over pastries. Her fist is a blazing white light as Kyouka draws back into a crouching attack stance, left hand in front, right hand drawn back and held high.<br />
<br />
"So do us /all/ a favor and /get off my damn planet./" The light in her gauntlet flares brightly.<br />
<br />
<Shining Moonlight Strike.><br />
<br />
She jumps--and surgets right at the monster, flickering to complete the distance in an instant as she winds back, and then slugs the monster for all she's worth, slamming her first home and releasing all of that bright white light up close and personal..<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Kyouka Okazaki has used Shining Moonlight Strike on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar partially dodges 4 Fatigue damage from Abiko Tsugaru's Rock kicker, taking 17 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Chat Noir's Finisher, Feline-ous Intent, taking 90 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar braces 52 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Finisher, Shining Moonlight Strike, taking 35 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar braces 66 Fatigue damage from Mikoto Minagi's Finisher, Obsidian Blade: Deontology, taking 44 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Finisher, Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane, taking 100 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Here they are, the five of them, on this chilly January day. All with fury to fling, all with words to say.<br />
<br />
Yuusha Abiko has joined a not-that-exclusive list of people Westar will probably just yell at a lot in future. "Westar! Westar of Labyrinth, it isn't that hard to understand! And-" Well she's not wrong. But he has a plan for that. "-good! Cry over those snacks, it really helps us out!"<br />
<br />
Chat Noir is full of quips and commentary, and Westar fumes. "My Nakewameke get just as many holidays as I do!" Which might be none. "We stand together- wait are you going to steal my Nakewameke?!"<br />
<br />
The Wolf Fighter - Kyouka - is angry. Actually angry, and that puts her on an entirely different list in Westar's head. He laughs, in response, because at least that anger counts for something. "It won't be your planet forever! I might not know who you are either - but just know that I'm the worst of the Executives of Labyrinth at creating misery!" He laughs, like that's something to be proud of - or maybe it's a warning.<br />
<br />
Mikoto knows how this works. How this ends. She lived it, somehow survived leaving it - and he yells back at her certainty. "Don't think it'll be easy all the time, Minagi! You know what's waiting!"<br />
<br />
And Cure Passion is - Passion. Or Setsuna. Not Eas. Not any more, he's learned that lesson at least, and to her his fury abates a bit. "That's how you think now, isn't it? It's all important - but Mobius would take care of it all, wouldn't he?" He sounds uncertain - and maybe, in the end, he can't understand.<br />
<br />
But they're coming.<br />
<br />
A rock flies at the Nakewameke from one side, and it tries to lean neatly out of the way. That step puts it in Chat Noir's path, and the barrage of blows pin it in place. The followup strike to the face cracks something vital as Kyouka and Mikoto rush in from opposite sides.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke is loyal. It tries to block the devastating strikes. One arm meets Mikoto's blade, and shatters to fragments as a sacrifice. The other arm meets Kyouka's fist, and crumples like a tin can underfoot to desperately blunt the blow. It fought hard, but it's already falling apart -<br />
<br />
And then the melody of happiness rings out, engulfing what remains in joy and pink bubbles. From within the storm, there's a faint "<span style="color:#CCCC00">fizzzzz.....</span>"...<br />
<br />
And when the light fades, the Nakewameke is no more, the Data Diamond having dissolved entirely, the light of happiness having set some of the wrongs to right. Purified of evil, that yellow scarf drifts on the breeze.<br />
<br />
There's a clunk as Westar sets his perch - the fallen crepe cart - upright again. "Fine. You and your friends have won this day, Cure Passion - but you know this isn't the end. APHBLARGL-"<br />
<br />
Whatever else he had to say was cut off as that drifting scarf found its place once more in his face. Westar rips it free, looks around, and just says-<br />
<br />
"It's cold. I'm going home." A leap to the shed, a leap to a tree, and he's quickly out of sight.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's a flurry of coordinated efforts, and--Passion finishes the deal with...<br />
<br />
Well, you see something new every day in this gig, now don't you?<br />
<br />
Kyouka delivers her blow and rebounds, letting Setsuna's attack finish off the robotic scarf thing. She watches it disintegrate, and then turns her attention towards Westar. She's spent, but... she's still got some fight left in her. She takes up her stance again. "There's /way/ more of /us/ than there are of /you/, so if you think you're taking this planet, /think again/."<br />
<br />
And then Westar... just leaves.<br />
<br />
Kyouka blinks.<br />
<br />
"Uh, I know I'm new to this, but... shouldn't we... go after him? I know we used a lot of magic, but we still outnumber him..." She looks to her fellow magical girls--well, Setsuna and Mikoto, anyway, who seem to have connections to this villain and have been doing this longer than she has.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"What a strange man..." Abiko says, trailing off a bit and exhaling with a bit of relief and likely fatigue, "I bet he'd make another weirder, bigger robot... He looked like that kind of guy." she says, sitting down as her Hero Transformation fades away but this time, the turtle stays out (Even if only the magical type could see them) and floats around Abiko and even head-boops her, "Fine Fine, I'll share." eh mumbles, fishing out the bag of chips from her backpack and opening them up, grabbing one for herself before she looks back at Kyouka and then Setsuna. <br />
<br />
Staaaare<br />
<br />
"So... That was Westy-chan, and there is a Moobius and they have a vendeta against people enjoying snacks.." she says outloud, tapping her chin like she's actually thinking about it.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru transforms into Abiko Tsugaru!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar tells Mikoto she knows what's waiting, and she /does/ flinch, just for a moment.<br />
<br />
It won't stop her, but... she knows.<br />
<br />
She knows the score when Westar's scarf is purified, too -- when he declares he's done. "Okay," she nods, straightening up. She walks over to her sword case, and sheathes it, without a single care for her identity.<br />
<br />
Mikoto shrugs Miroku's sword-case back onto her shoulder, and shakes her head, to Kyouka. "Westar gave up for now. If we hunt him now, it's not defending. It's attacking. I don't want to be someone who gives people no choice but to fight any more." She shakes her head, looking over to Setsuna. "We can choose to stop and say that's enough," she says, thinking of someone who knows very well Mikoto couldn't always do that. "That's important."<br />
<br />
She pauses, and, a moment later: "Lord Mobius," she corrects Abiko's pronounciation, offhand. She keeps the 'Lord'. It feels correct to honour that -- just don't ask her why.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mobius... <br />
<br />
"No, Westar," Passion says, shaking her head. "He wouldn't." <br />
<br />
But it isn't the end. He's going home. Cure Passion looks after Westar where he goes for a few moments. They've won, but.. "I know," she says. "It's not over." <br />
<br />
Then she looks over to Kyouka at her question, and shakes her head. "...If we back him into a corner, he'll get /really/ dangerous. That was him fighting just to make people unhappy--not wanting to kill anyone. If he fought at his full strength, instead of using a Nakewameke..." <br />
<br />
"We might not come home. He's a /lot/ stronger than he sounds." <br />
<br />
She regards Chat Noir, with a smile, and then ooks to Abiko, with a frown. <br />
<br />
"His name is Westar," Cure Passion corrects. "...And there's a Mobius-sama. If you take either of them lightly, you're likely to die." <br />
<br />
"Because you're new, I won't hold it against you this time." <br />
<br />
Then she nods to Mikoto. "It's what she says, too. We wouldn't be defending--we'd be attacking. And it does make a difference."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Kyouka looks to Mikoto curiously as she explains. And there's a contemplative look as she considers...<br />
<br />
'But... when I'm fighting... sometimes I can't really control myself.'<br />
<br />
There's just a little bit of a... not quite smile as she listens to Mikoto's reasoning, standing up from her stance and dropping her guard. And then she looks to Passion as she clarifies about backing Wester into a corner and nods, her expression growing a bit more somber. "... Right, okay then."<br />
<br />
She takes in a deep breath, and through some unspoken signal between her and Strike Wolf, her barrier jacket releases, leaving her in her school uniform with a purple parka on top. Then she releases the breath as she calms herself. "Yeah, I'm not much for attacking people, either. Fighting /back/, on the other hand... But I guess that part's done, now."<br />
<br />
"Well, that was probably the least disturbing thing I've fought in the last week, at least..." she mutters to herself.<br />
<br />
She looks over to Abiko, gently shaking her head at the offered chips. "Hey, how you holdin' up. Oh, and Mikoto, come meet the new girl! Abiko Tsugaru, Mikoto Minagi. Mikoto Minagi, Abiko Tsugaru. She just transferred into our--" A nod of the head to indicate herself and Setsuna "--class."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Fighting seems to take it out of Abiko, but with the introduction she smiles at Mikoto and gives a slight head-bow to her, "It's nice to meet you, even if this is all still new and strange... I mean seriously, what even was that thing?" she rambles and grumbles a bit before offering more chips to the Turtle-fairy who happily crunches them down.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto makes a querying sound in her throat, as Kyouka turns her attention from ethical lessons to --<br />
<br />
"Hi!" She bounds up, and the shift in her demeanour is /palpable./ Her sharp eyes grow round with eagerness, and the smile across her face is nothing like the severity she wore in the battle. "I'm Mikoto! I'm from Ohtori! Eleventh grade!" She's awfully short for someone that far into highschool, but never mind that.<br />
<br />
She will also stare at Abiko's snacks until she gets some.<br />
<br />
Mikoto is, apparently, Like That.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion--soon, Setsuna Higashi again, in a flash of red light--stares after Westar a little longer. "It was..." <br />
<br />
She trails off, and shakes her head. "...I think I'm going to head back," she says instead. "I'm not... feeling very hungry, at the moment. Take care, everyone." <br />
<br />
Putting her hands in her coat pockets, Setsuna starts to walk away.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2015-10-26_-_We%27ll_Have_Donuts_When_You_Win2015-10-26 - We'll Have Donuts When You Win2022-10-21T22:10:50Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: We'll Have Donuts When..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: We'll Have Donuts When You Win'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Eas is preparing for her final battle. Westar is trying to fix something broken.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Setsuna Higashi|Eas]], [[Westar]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Desolate Mansion<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2015-10-26 - September 3, 2014<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Some days ago, there was a terrible storm. A pillar of light, dark and terrible, to split the very heavens asunder. A storm foretelling the rise and fall of Queen Beryl and Queen Metallia. Events to shake the very world, with winds howling as the tides of fate changed.<br />
<br />
For a time, the dark revelled as the light was banished forever - and for a fleeting time, even Westar was able to find success in gathering misery with his Nakewameke. But the storm shifted, the light returned...and as if to spite him, a tree came down in the storm.<br />
<br />
Right through the balcony by his room.<br />
<br />
For days - interrupted by the advent of the new school year - Westar has been busy enacting repairs on the spooky mansion in the woods. Patching up the hole in his wall was the first priority, of course, and he did so with...more skill than any of the magical girls he's fought might expect. It is perhaps fortunate that the mansion sees few visitors, for the sight here would be...difficult to explain.<br />
<br />
There's a half complete scaffold for a replacement balcony.<br />
<br />
Westar is standing, arms folded, in the splendour of his Executive regalia, cape billowing behind him...and a yellow hard hat on his head as he inspects the ongoing construction work.<br />
<br />
And there's a second hard hat, grown to monstrous proportions with dark powers and a yellow Data Diamond, carefully moving a wooden beam into position with steel girder limbs.<br />
<br />
"A bit to the left...there. All right, we just need to rivet that in the place, and you can take five!"<br />
<br />
"NAKE."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eas [None] has posed.<br />
<br />
The horrible storm signaled a lot more things for Setsuna... For Eas. /Her/ mission was different; the light was gone, yes, but she was ordered to go find it, and snuff it out before it could return. <br />
<br />
She failed. ...Again. <br />
<br />
For a while, she'd stayed close to the mansion regardless. ...But it wasn't exactly comfortable. She'd had a shouting match with Soular, ending in her smashing a mug in her hand while it still had coffee in it. ...And then she stormed off. <br />
<br />
...and then she used the special weapon that Mobius-sama gave her... and came back afterward looking approximately like death warmed over, and since has been scarce again. <br />
<br />
Now, however, she's not scarce. ...She finally, after Westar has just about finished the replacement, noticed that something even happened while she was out traversing various worlds. Now however... <br />
<br />
Eas stops a few feet away, looking up at the scaffolding, dressed in her Labyrinth battle attire. Her white hair is ruffled by the breeze. The black clothes only serve to make her skin look even paler than it is... Or would, in most circumstances. In these, it can't; she looks approximately like death warmed over. Her eyes are bloodshot, fatigue obvious, even though now her outfit is pristine like her injuries had never happened. <br />
<br />
...And...<br />
<br />
"...What are you doing?" Eas asks uncharacteristically, from behind Westar.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke is more observant than Westar as concerns Eas's approach; it pauses in its work, looking over as she makes her way over. It's the hesitation that Westar notices more than the footsteps behind him, and he frowns. "Is something wrong with the beam? I inspected them myself, and the lady gave me a good deal-"<br />
<br />
He freezes at the voice behind him - instinct more than fear - before his shoulders slump. Whether in resignation or relief, it's hard to say - but he nods to the monster before turning around. "Just anchor it in place, and then take a break. I'll come get you in a bit."<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke, for its part, definitely looks relieved. And maybe a bit worried...but it is literally built to follow orders.<br />
<br />
Westar turns, and it is starkly evident that he is the tallest of the three Executives of Labyrinth - easily towering over Eas, now that he stands confident. As squared as his shoulders might be, though, his face is more...quizzical. "Eas, you're back?"<br />
<br />
A pause. Oh right, the question. "I'm overseeing repair work - a tree came down, and damaged our base of operations. Since I was here, and had the training..." He trails off, uncertain. He wasn't...ordered to repair it, it's just that that was his standard mission for so long it's habit...<br />
<br />
He glances to the side, then turns back to Eas - and frowns, finally noticing just what state she's in. He hazards a guess, though his body is already tensing in anticipation... "...I'm guessing you fought them? Pretty Cure, and the rest..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eas [None] has posed.<br />
<br />
Eas's red eyes stay focused on the monster for a moment, looking over it, the beams that it's using... But only then does she look back to Westar. He seems questioning about her presence, but--<br />
<br />
She isn't questioning; she looks at him fairly blankly, without her usual venom. ...There is something different about her, though. It's in her eyes; the hollow quality they've had essentially forever is gone, replaced by something... else. It's like there's a spark in her eye, even if it's dim now. ...It's not like her at all. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, I'm back," she answers brusquely, and then waits for Westar's answer. Still, though, she doesn't actually yell at him. Instead... <br />
<br />
"...I guess that makes sense." <br />
<br />
She hesitates, when she sees him frowning at her, clearly looking her over and noticing how badly she's doing. ...Hesitates, and glances away, "Yeah, I fought them. Brought out my new weapon and everything. It didn't work. I already went over this with Soular."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
For a minute, there's near-complete silence - broken only by the Nakewameke hammering in rivets as quietly as it can. It makes this as swiftly as possible as well, and quickly slinks off around back to do...whatever Nakewameke do when they're on break. A question possibly no one in any world had ever thought to ask, before.<br />
<br />
During this, Westar is quiet. At first, there's that dread, that fear, that waiting for the stiletto-pointed shoe to drop...but Eas answers without venom. Without enthusiasm, or even frustration...and the worry in Westar's very being shifts to a different flavour.<br />
<br />
If he were a denizen of Earth, there's one question he'd ask - but as a denizen of Labyrinth, Westar has difficulty even thinking the words 'are you okay?'<br />
<br />
Instead, he stumbles over his words, blurting out the first response to come to mind. "No one told me about any new weapon...you must be pretty important to Mobius-sama, to get that." He shakes his head. "But yeah, all of them are annoyingly good at fighting and winning when they should be giving up....wait, Soular's back? I've been wondering where he was..."<br />
<br />
Little of Westar had been seen for some days. Getting lost on the way back from the beach was...an adventure, to say the least.<br />
<br />
He hesitates again, glancing to the still-damaged mansion, the work left to do...but decides to postpone that mission. His gaze, serious in its solemnity, meets Eas's weary eyes - and for the moment, he really does seem taller. "...I keep saying we're outnumbered. You know that if you need me for a plan, you just have to say so, right? If we fought at the same time..." He shakes his head. "You really do have the hardest mission, huh?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eas [None] has posed.<br />
<br />
Eas sure doesn't speak up. She just stands there, the tails of her outfit swaying behind her as she looks towards the ground in the distance. <br />
<br />
If Westar asked, she might not have an answer. ...On the other hand, she might. She's pretty far gone from being a good citizen of Labyrinth, now. Soular helped her be certain of that. <br />
<br />
"..." 'You must be pretty important to Mobius-sama.' Eas looks a little haunted by that. But, "Yeah, I thought someone'd killed him. But he got back and just asked why I didn't think to check. It's not like there's any reason for either of us to care anyway." <br />
<br />
Eas finds Westar looking at her again though... and she does look back up at him. And she's definitely looking up; he's so... tall. And... <br />
<br />
He offers what he always does. <br />
<br />
"Westar..." It's an odd look in her face; she's tired, yes, fatigued, and weary, but it's almost, in the moment, like she's thinking about it. <br />
<br />
It passes, and she sighs, closing her eyes. <br />
<br />
"You never get it, Westar. ...That's the whole point. So what if we fight at the same time? If we can't do it on our own, then it doesn't mean anything. It isn't good enough." <br />
<br />
She shakes her head, and looks up at him again. "You sound like you're trying to butter me up for something. What is it you want, Westar? Telling me Mobius-sama values me to give me what he did... Talking about how my mission's hard. What are you trying to gain?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The wind is beginning to howl. Leaves in the trees, gradually beginning to dry out, rustle noisily as the two Executives stand before each other. Even the trees speak of autumn's inevitable funeral march toward the coming winter, as foliage begins to dry out.<br />
<br />
What the season bodes, few can say.<br />
<br />
Westar's eyes widen in shock - and then narrow in terrible fury. "Killed?! That must be why he wasn't answering his phone..." That and the fact that the phone was left behind, but never mind that. "So did someone go after him? Is there an enemy we have to worry about - and is that why..."<br />
<br />
'Why you look so terrible', he doesn't ask.<br />
<br />
The fury fades, though, and there's...hope. Fleeting hope that this time, Eas will take him up on it. Once again, that hope is dashed; once again, he can stand like one of those trees, watching things descend further. But still...<br />
<br />
"It doesn't matter who gets the credit. Everything for Mobius-sama - when your mission succeeds, we all benefit. That's what it means!..." He folds his arms, furrows his brows -<br />
<br />
- and finally punches out the elephant in the room. "...and if we fight at the same time, then maybe you won't get so damaged." He looks to the side. "...a-after all. We have to be ready for whatever else Mobius-sama commands, right? And you're a valuable Executive, you're skilled at making people miserable...we need you around. That's what I'm trying to gain."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eas [None] has posed.<br />
<br />
Eas can feel the changing seasons in her bones, for all that she could never feel such things back in Labyrinth. They didn't happen, in the same way; it was all controlled. ...But even then, there were things beneath the surface. Labyrinth is controlled, but it's not like people aren't alive. <br />
<br />
"Homura Akemi. ...Apparently she was wrong, she didn't kill him after all. But I thought..." <br />
<br />
It's part of why she looks terrible, sure. But she's never been one of the trees; 'unmoving, unmoved' is something she's only gotten worse at pretending. After all, she was known for her anger, not for her cool. <br />
<br />
Everything for Mobius-sama.. And--<br />
<br />
Eas's eyes widen, suddenly, as she looks back and stares at Westar outright when he mentions her condition. When he says... <br />
<br />
That they need her. <br />
<br />
"Westar..." <br />
<br />
She forces herself to look away, to turn her back, but he might see the note of panic in her eyes before she manages it. "That's--Don't you see? That goes against everything we know! ...You shouldn't /care/! If I fail--if--If I die, then you should be /glad/ that a weak agent isn't holding you back any longer! You aren't supposed to--" <br />
<br />
She turns back around, and looks up frantically, "It matters to me! I--I need the credit! Don't you get it? The whole time, I've worked! I've done everything for him! I'm--" <br />
<br />
She shakes her head, eyes squeezing shut again, arms crossing as she steps again toward the trees... But only a couple of steps. She stops, then, and finds that she needs a moment before she can talk anything.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
This world is different.<br />
<br />
There's no control. There are 'rules', but they're more loose guidelines than the absolute dictates of Mobius. Schools - easily the most regimented things Westar has seen here - are practically anarchic chaos compared to the daily life in Labyrinth. And that's to say nothing of the weather, that which even skilled mages can't seem to predict.<br />
<br />
It's fascinating and unsettling all at once, and the best Westar can do is try to roll with it.<br />
<br />
The fury returns again - but almost cold, this time, as he narrows his eyes again. Eas's words, combined with her general state...Westar comes to a conclusion. It might not be the right one, but it's a conclusion all the same. "Homura Akemi...so she's trying to be an enemy of Labyrinth, huh?"<br />
<br />
Westar's not exactly known for his cool, either - but perhaps worryingly, he isn't yelling.<br />
<br />
...but as he calms down, he finds he can't look directly at Eas. She's absolutely right, after all - he's not supposed to care. That's not a Labyrinth trait, that's not something he's supposed to do...yet again, Westar is screwing up.<br />
<br />
Business as usual, then.<br />
<br />
Westar is quiet as Eas is frantic with her words - with her protests, with her desperation. Is quiet, as she starts to step towards the trees.<br />
<br />
And then, arms folded, cape wafting in the breeze, he speaks. "Yeah...it doesn't make any sense. But all the same...I'm used to this. This mission, gathering Misery Energy, working with you and Soular. I finally know what I'm doing, along with you two...so I don't want that to change."<br />
<br />
The leaves, drying in the autumn air, are rustling.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eas [None] has posed.<br />
<br />
This world is different... and frightening. <br />
<br />
It exhausts Eas. <br />
<br />
But it's already become part of her, now. She knows that she can never go back to the way she was, whether she'd like to or not. ...And some days, she doesn't know whether she'd like to. <br />
<br />
Somehow, despite the fact that she /never/ pays attention to Westar... This, she picks up. This she sees. Eas looks him over when he mentions Homura, and when he isn't yelling. She can guess what that means. <br />
<br />
She doesn't know what she can say about it, though. Maybe Westar can take her where she couldn't. <br />
<br />
...Not that even now she's going to admit to even thinking it. <br />
<br />
But now, staring out at the falling leaves, feeling the cold breeze... <br />
<br />
"...Used to it, huh...?" She looks up toward the sky, feeling like she could just blow away at any moment. <br />
<br />
"...You'd better get used to it," Setsuna says, like she'd said to someone else what feels like a long time ago. She can't help it; she laughs, a sound that comes deep from her stomach, not entirely unpleasant. ...It dies off quickly, though, something unsuited to Eas's looks and nature. More seriously she speaks, "Things are going to change." <br />
<br />
She turns around, and she's got herself under control again... Except for a haunted look in her eyes. Haunted, with... Regret. <br />
<br />
"...I'm sorry, Westar."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Autumn has come to the ominous mansion, and with it a promise of changing seasons. The frigid season of death approaches, and its advent is heralded. Here, now, on the third day of the new semester.<br />
<br />
Westar stands next to the half-complete balcony, staring in...disbelief, perhaps, would be the best word for it. Things are going to change? Things are already changing.<br />
<br />
He'd expected insults. He'd expected mockery. He'd expected cold silence, and the most passionate follower of Mobius storming out of the area in raw fury.<br />
<br />
Westar never expected laughter like that - sad, rather than mocking.<br />
<br />
He never expected an apology.<br />
<br />
"Eas..." He looks anew at his fellow executive - past, if possible, the signs of wear and exhaustion and the ravages of battle. There was a glint in her eye that he can't comprehend - and a look of sorrow he can't fathom. "You don't mean..."<br />
<br />
There's a notice that any of them could expect to receive, after all.<br />
<br />
"...what are you planning?" His arms, formerly folded in confidence, slip down to hang by his sides. There's no hand held out to help - that was never the Labyrinth way - but...there's a concern in his eyes that frankly shouldn't be there. If he were Soular, it might be 'curiosity' - but for Westar, it's just an earnest...honesty. "What kind of plan do you have, for your mission? If there's anything I can..."<br />
<br />
He trails off. He made the offer once, there's no reason to expect it to be accepted the second time...and yet, he lets the question hang.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eas [None] has posed.<br />
<br />
This mansion never really was a part of the world around it. ...Still, as Eas looks up at it... She thinks that she might miss it. <br />
<br />
It was home.<br />
<br />
Past exhaustion, past worry, past the ache that comes of being in the same battle for a long time, there /is/ that glint. Eas's wine-red eyes betray some of her feelings, as even Westar, who she so often called stupid, can see the thing that she's saying. She can tell. <br />
<br />
In the same way she can feel the concern, see it all too clearly... But she makes herself keep looking at Westar, regardless. <br />
<br />
"...There's nothing you can do," she answers. She knows that the question wasn't only about what he could do for her mission. ...But it's not like she can say that. <br />
<br />
"I know what I'm going to do. ...What I have to do." The wind picks up again behind her. ...This place never really did feel like a part of everything else. Eas only got that feeling more and more, the longer she was here. <br />
<br />
She doesn't mention receiving any letters. <br />
<br />
"You'd be better off not thinking about it. Just go back to your mission." With that, Eas turns halfway, about to begin to walk away.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Home.<br />
<br />
A strange concept for the trio - but the unnatural chill pervading the mansion's area set it apart from the world - and that much closer to Labyrinth, in a way. Quieter. Darker. More oppressive.<br />
<br />
Just like the world they call home.<br />
<br />
Westar is in some ways the most foolish of the trio...but in some ways, he can be perceptive. He meets her gaze for a time...but his conviction wavers before hers, and his eyes descend to the ground below. To that harsh, dead earth - where somehow, weeds alone manage to thrive. His shoulders slump for a moment when she refuses help yet again...<br />
<br />
But there's no way he can't think about it.<br />
<br />
"...do your best, Eas. We'll have donuts when you win." There's no enthusiasm in his tone, no joy at the thought of those sugary treats, and he too turns halfway. "Nakewameke! Get back to..."<br />
<br />
He's quiet for a moment, as the Nakewameke creeps around the corner of the mansion. The executive works his jaw, furrows his brow...and finally nods. "Start putting on lattice, you can do that without supervision."<br />
<br />
And then he turns back to the departing girl. "Eas! You're wrong about one thing - I can do more than nothing, you know!" He walks forward with a long stride, catching up swiftly as he tosses his hard hat to one side - but rather than join her, he continues right past her. "You do what you have to do. I'll make sure that Akemi girl doesn't get in your way while you do it."<br />
<br />
And without waiting for a reply, he storms off as the wind picks up.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eas [None] has posed.<br />
<br />
At least unhappiness is something safe. It's familiar; the dark, quiet, overcast skies of Labyrinth are predictable. <br />
<br />
Things here... Aren't. <br />
<br />
Eas never noticed how much Westar seems to pick up. But she can see it, now; all she really had to do was /look/, to see. ...But how could she accept his help? She couldn't. <br />
<br />
Her heels settle just a little bit more into the ground. <br />
<br />
'Do your best.' <br />
<br />
She can't help but simply stop, stay where she is. ...She'd look back at him, if she thought she could do it without her expression betraying her. <br />
<br />
She looks anyway, slowly and with large eyes, as he walks right past her. She watches his back, as he passes her, as he declares his intent to do something horribly dangerous. As... <br />
<br />
Eas can feel the cold. ...Maybe it's not outside, in the wind. Maybe it's just in her. <br />
<br />
She looks away--away from the mansion, above all else--and closes her eyes, her breath slow. She can feel the tears, even in this form, even small. <br />
<br />
"...Idiot," she says, sniffling softly, as she turns to walk in the other direction. "Big, stupid... Idiot." <br />
<br />
Eas walks off into the woods, and hopes that Westar doesn't get hurt.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2022-10-18_-_You%27re_Enough,_Already2022-10-18 - You're Enough, Already2022-10-19T22:52:48Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: You're Enough, Already..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: You're Enough, Already'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Mikoto finds a dozing Mai instead of a finished supper. How much is enough?''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]], [[Mikoto Minagi]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Ohtori Dormitories<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2022-10-18 - January 19th, 2016 (late)<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's been a somewhat long day. January is as cold as ever, and even without a work shift there were any number of little errands that had to be done. Grocery shopping, getting a box to hide eggs in, surreptitiously trying to find out from a brother's roommate how said brother is without him catching on, Actual Homework, and the list goes on and on.<br />
<br />
The sun might have been low in the sky when Mai started on one last project. It might be gone by now, but at least the lights in the kitchen are on - and her studying notes are covered in a closed textbook in a fit of pique, so at least that abyss has not claimed her. But the work is a little tedious, so a chair was brought over to the counter to make the work a little easier.<br />
<br />
The stove is off. It wasn't time to use it just yet. There's a pot, with some celery and carrots and onions all laid out neatly next to it, thus far only containing a few bones. The cutting board shows the project in progress - some bone-in cuts of chicken and a knife to separate meat from bone. About a third of the pieces seem to have been dissected, but the knife rests carelessly among the rest.<br />
<br />
Mai, for her part, has her slightly-greasy hands folded on her apron, chin resting against her chest, eyes closed. Just a moment. She just needs a moment to...<br />
<br />
...what time is it, again?<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto has had her own... projects. Her own encounters. She's visiting Yumi in hospital pretty regularly, but Mai can surely understand something like that. She /does,/ at least, get home in time for dinner. She's not about to make Mai wait and worry, any more. (So long as she can help it.)<br />
<br />
She hasn't mentioned Conflagria, yet, in respect to the notes which have been all covered up and not quite buried down. She /has/ gone to clean herself up after the day, because Mai doesn't have to lecture her to bathe any more.<br />
<br />
Not too much, anyway.<br />
<br />
If she lingers by the mirror, well...<br />
<br />
But out she comes, in her pink cat-faced pyjamas, one ear folded over one eye. Her braids are still a little damp against her face, but her hair is /mostly/ toweled off. She wanders to the kitchen, with a plaintive, "Maiii!"<br />
<br />
A beat, and she hurries in the rest of the way, leaning in to Mai's chair, staring directly at her face. "Maiiiiiiii," Mikoto says, again, face all scrunkled up with a sceptical expression.<br />
<br />
If that doesn't work, she's going to /poke her,/ right in her collarbone.<br />
<br />
"Maaaa-aaaa--aaiiiii!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai doesn't bolt upright when the shower turns off. Or the first time her name is called. Or even the second.<br />
<br />
It's not until Mikoto actually pokes her that she starts, head jerking up in alarm. "I'm sorry! I never meant-"<br />
<br />
She's bleary. Bewildered. Eyes dart around the room in a fleeting panic, and she only settles down when her gaze finds the ridiculous cat on Mikoto's pyjamas.<br />
<br />
"...oh. Sorry, Mikoto, I must have..." She tilts her head, listening to the chilly wind outside, and relaxes another fraction. "...not raining. Okay. I'm okay. I must...be more tired than I thought."<br />
<br />
She looks at the incomplete butchery and grimaces. "I was really hoping to be a little further along...I'm sorry, Mikoto, I'd ramen for dinner okay?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto grasps the side of the chair, and fixes Mai with a dry, dry expression, lip all jutting out, brow lowered uniform across her eyes.<br />
<br />
She doesn't have to point out that Mai's going too far; she has a /look/ for that.<br />
<br />
"Yah-huh," Mikoto straightens up, looking over the chopped ingredients. "Only been out since I cleaned..." She leans down, and sniff, sniff, sniff, "... it's still good," Mikoto decides, straightening up.<br />
<br />
"Ramen! Yup!" Mikoto agrees, eagerly, before she blinks, and turns back to the counter. "... but is this ramen, Mai?" She pokes the edge of the cutting-board, with its pieces of chicken, which Mai didn't ask her to chop up.<br />
<br />
Baby steps.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai is all too familiar with the expression. All too familiar, after the months, the years of living together with Mikoto...it's become a familiar one, especially lately. She doesn't flinch back too much...but she does avert her gaze and clear her throat.<br />
<br />
There is admittedly a sigh of relief as the expert in such matters pronounces the meat to still be good. Not a waste just yet.<br />
<br />
"This...no. Maybe? But probably not. I was planning on turning the chicken into little fried bites, maybe with a sweet sauce - we'd have some tonight and some in our lunches tomorrow." She gets up, stumbling a moment before finding her footing, and trundles over to the sink to wash her hands. "...and I still might try to make that for tomorrow, but something quick might be better right now."<br />
<br />
Sink. Water. Kettle. And to the stove, kicking it once to remind it that it can be replaced with magic from a baleful star if it doesn't behave.<br />
<br />
"...but I also wanted to make chicken soup from the bones. It's supposed to be good for colds, or for people who have been out in the cold, and after getting Takumi from Sanbu..." She trails off, watching little blue flames lick at the base of their tired-but-true kettle.<br />
<br />
"...it just seemed like a good thing to do."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto at least clears out of Mai's space when she looks aside, in a conversation more fit for cats than people. It's nice how Mai can talk that language, too.<br />
<br />
"That sounds good!" She enthuses; she is always enthusiastic. But Mai says she wanted to make soup, too, and Mikoto cants her head. "'Kay," Mikoto agrees, since Mai already realises why she can't do that much tonight. Without another word, she scoops the chicken into one bowl, and the vegetables into another bowl -- Mai has already given her the Lecture on Food Safety -- covers them up, and tucks them into the fridge.<br />
<br />
She fetches the things for ramen, while she's in here. AND SHE SEES THE EGGS, which is a problem for later.<br />
<br />
"Takumi don't really got a cold," Mikoto points out, putting the things on the counter. "It was Wraiths, Mai." She pauses, and blinks. "... but, Takumi doesn't know that, right? So it's for Takumi?"<br />
<br />
Mikoto smiles, brightly. "It's okay, Mai. Sleep! Try tomorrow!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Problems for later: those leftover bits of everything, and the looming threat of the eggs.<br />
<br />
"Oh- thank you, Mikoto! Could..." Mai hesitates, admittedly, before making a decision as wise as any she's made tonight. "Could you grab a few eggs, too? I can poach or fry them to go on top."<br />
<br />
She can court a little disaster, as a treat.<br />
<br />
While she rummages for an appropriate pan, she thinks aloud. "I know it wasn't actually a cold - but it was a cold place and everyone was out there for hours. It's...maybe I'm just being silly. But for Takumi - for Chie and Aoi - I feel like I can at least do this much. Something that at least feels helpful."<br />
<br />
She sets a frying pan next to the heating kettle, and lets out a sigh. "...I'm not sure I can sleep properly until I do something."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Sure you can," Mikoto points out, as if telling Mai the sky is dark right now, which it is, because it's night-time. "You just did."<br />
<br />
She at least goes back to the fridge to retrieve a few eggs -- Mai has probably had to explain patiently that 'a few' means 'three' and 'a couple' means 'two', but she gets it /now/ -- and cracks them, helpfully, into three separate bowls. It's a lot of washing up, but it makes her happy. Crik-CRACK goes the eggshell, and the two halves perfectly separate...!<br />
<br />
Mikoto loves egg!<br />
<br />
And Mikoto loves --<br />
<br />
"Mai's enough," Mikoto insists, once the bowls have all been filled with Egg. "Mai's enough already."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Wh- I closed my eyes for one minute, Mikoto!" Or ten. It might have been ten.<br />
<br />
Mai grumbles under her breath, but it's not her Actually Angry grumble, it's the Okay That Was A Good One grumble. She turns on the stove, gets a little bit of butter for the pan, and goes to grab the knife-<br />
<br />
Goes to wash the knife while Mikoto cracks eggs. And despite everything, despite the frustration of Endless Omelettes - she has to acknowledge that Mikoto has utterly mastered Egg.<br />
<br />
It's the little things, those little joys, that are why Mai--<br />
<br />
"I..."<br />
<br />
Her hands still a moment, in this kitchen where it's dark outside and she doesn't even have supper ready, where a helpful thing for friends and family has to be put off until morning, where her books for university dreams lie insufficiently studied, where she just hasn't done enough.<br />
<br />
She can't do enough. She can't be enough. Can she?<br />
<br />
"...thanks, Mikoto." She takes a deep breath, lets out a sigh, finishes washing the knife, and goes to chop some scallions in advance of the ramen. "You're really- you know you're great, right?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto /didn't/ know that, apparently.<br />
<br />
Because Mai says that, and Mikoto stares at her back, cheeks a bright and affectionate pink, eyes wide as the bowls she just cracked those eggs so expertly into. Normally, one would expect her to respond immediately in the affirmative -- Mikoto has always had an excellent sense of her own achievements -- except she doesn't say anything, for a moment.<br />
<br />
"Mai," she starts, finally. "Mai, I... I got something to..." There's books on the table, and chicken in the fridge, and Mai is very, very tired --<br />
<br />
Mikoto shakes her head, and starts again: "Can I tell Mai something?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's not that late. Not really. Mai has stayed up later than this many a night, running on dark elixirs and sheer spite, and part of her frustration is that she knows full well she can do better than this. But-<br />
<br />
She glances around the kitchen in some small frustration. It's not just a little bit of health concern, her supply of instant coffee is mysteriously absent, and she's still not sure whether she ran out or whether caring friends made it go away.<br />
<br />
...and she's been feeling a little less spiteful after having an actually pleasant tea date with Mami Tomoe, not that she talked about that.<br />
<br />
In the moment, she gets the bowls ready, noodles laid out with seasoning, and pours in the boiling water. The ramen will cook quickly, at least, and in the meantime...<br />
<br />
Mai turns to Mikoto as she starts pouring eggs from their little dishes into the frying pan, letting things start sizzling merrily. "There's something..." She visibly bites back a yawn. "...important, Mikoto?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto watches Mai glancing about; she's missing something. Mikoto isn't sure what it is, because Mikoto doesn't drink coffee, but she sees that /something's/ bothering her.<br />
<br />
But -- Yumi said she should tell her how she feels, even if...<br />
<br />
Her hand curls at her chest, and Mikoto frowns, to herself, watching Mai frown. "Um..."<br />
<br />
Her heart goes bum-badda-bum, far, far too quickly. "I... I want kombu on top! We still got some, right?!" It's an entirely plausible thing, for Mikoto to say, never mind that she knows very well they still have some seaweed left.<br />
<br />
She should have said it, but she doesn't want to surprise Mai when she's cooking, again. Last time, she hurt herself, and Mikoto worries, too.<br />
<br />
(Not just about that.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai's smile at the request is amusement and warmth and happiness all in one. It's an easy request, an innocent one, and that- that much is something Mai can do.<br />
<br />
"Of course, Mikoto. No trouble at all." Just a moment while she turns to get it out-<br />
<br />
-a moment she lets the relief show on her face, that it was something so light after all. It couldn't have been what she'd been dreaming about, after all.<br />
<br />
But there's ramen to finish, and kombu to slice into strips, eggs to cover and finish cooking sunny-side up, and maybe just a little ginger to grate for her own bowl...<br />
<br />
"...and there we go. Not the supper I'd planned, but...I hope it's good." Mikoto's bowl has two of the three eggs, because Mai is still Mai - but she serves the bowl with a little flair and a bright smile.<br />
<br />
(It couldn't be what Mai was dreaming off. What Mikoto said that night all those months ago...no.)<br />
<br />
(After what Mai said to /Mikoto/ that night, there's no way the love could still be there, right?)<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai is... relieved? Is she relieved because...<br />
<br />
Did she know what Mikoto wanted to say?<br />
<br />
Is she happy she didn't?<br />
<br />
Mikoto shakes her head, and her braids flick-splatter against her cheeks. No, no, it can't be that. Mai's just happy it's something she can do, she tells herself, firmly. She has to tell herself, firmly.<br />
<br />
But Mikoto is quick enough to take a seat at the table, and her eyes grow round as dinner-plates when Mai puts the noodles in front of her. "I love Mai's ramen!" Mikoto declares, with ferocious enthusiasm, immediately digging in.<br />
<br />
She's still so open; she still declares her love so fiercely.<br />
<br />
... but Mikoto loves everything, just like that, doesn't she?<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Maybe Mai's just relieved that it isn't talk of a new monster or looming disaster. Some important talks have been heavy in entirely impersonal ways.<br />
<br />
Mai carefully sets her own bowl on the table before sitting a little heavily in the chair. She doesn't quite close her eyes, but they are heavy, and- pyjamas, right, she'll need those after dinner. Even putting aside any other plans, there's so much to do.<br />
<br />
But there's earnest joy, and another of those warm, pleased smiles at Mikoto's open outburst. As Mai digs into her own meal - a bit of heat from her own ginger-sprinkled meal, she knows that truth at least.<br />
<br />
Mikoto loves Mai....'s ramen. That's enough. That's enough already.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2022-10-16_-_Stuck_On_This_Road2022-10-16 - Stuck On This Road2022-10-17T02:07:41Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Stuck On This Road'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Mai bumps into Natsuki at a roadside ramen stand, and the two get caught up on what kinds of messes they are.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]], [[Natsuki Kuga]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Taiyou Ramen Stand<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2022-10-16 - January 19th, 2016<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki had been craving ramen. She wouldn't say it's her favorite food or anything, but it was hot, filled her up and convenient. Normally she go just get some instant at the store, but today she felt like treating herself to a ramen stand. <br />
<br />
The stand here wasn't a super populated spot and was small. Less of a chance of her being spotted and also made it easy to keep an eye out for anyone trying to spy on her without her being aware. Currently, there was only the cook and no one else. It was a perfect time to go. <br />
<br />
She ordered one special and tried to resist her mouth watering when she was presented with the steaming hot bowl. She gave her thanks, broke apart her chopsticks (thrilled she got them to tear apart evenly) and began to dig in. She had to blow on it, and almost burned her tongue on the first bite, but it tasted so good. Nothing could beat this meal right now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It has been, as days go, not too terrible a one. School today was a little wearying; trying to cut back on coffee was, if not even ranked among Mai's top ten bad decisions, still not a great idea this week.<br />
<br />
But when one finds pens pulling themselves apart from one's hand jitters, it's time to cut back on the old black elixir.<br />
<br />
Still, just because she's a little tired doesn't mean Mai doesn't have responsibilities. And one of those is...food. Groceries, to be precise. More groceries than she'd hoped to need today, which in turn meant a little hunting for bargains. Her grocery bag might be a little heavy, and the number of eggs balanced on it means that she's really looking for less-trodden routes back home.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's a wrong turn, but...she's a little tired, and at least a snack on the way home won't blow her budget...if it's a small one. And if it's nothing like her lunch.<br />
<br />
The hanging drape is brushed aside, and a girl in an Ohtori uniform carefully sets down her shopping before taking a seat. "...green tea, please. And a few vegetable gyoza." A moment, while the shopkeeper sets to getting that ready, and Mai glances over, blinking a few times.<br />
<br />
"...I'm not interrupting some secret meeting, am I, Kuga?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki heard the footsteps behind her. Her body got ready to run if need be as she turned, but relaxed when she spotted Mai. Her friend didn't seem to notice she had sat next to her until after she had order. <br />
<br />
Natsuki cracked a smile. "Naw, you're good. In fact," she look to the chef "but her order on my bill and double that order of gyoza." <br />
<br />
Natsuki rarely treated anyone. Shizaru a few times sure but she usually insisted on treating Natsuki. Mikoto was a different story. She never hesitated when Natsuki offered to pay for food. Mai, however, could be a bit more stubborn about it. Natsuki understood, she couldn't deny she was the same way, but she still felt the need to try sometimes. Someone had to right? <br />
<br />
She looked to Mai as she ate another mouthful. "Did you want some of my ramen? I got plenty."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Someone has to. But ah, such an arduous battle it might be.<br />
<br />
"Kuga, I couldn't possibly take food out of your bowl. I'm sure you must be starving after...stake-outs, I guess? Mikoto comes home ravenous a lot." She grins, and tries to wave off the offer. "But seriously, are you sure about offering to pay? I'm pretty sure that between the two of us, I'm the one who's gainfully employed."<br />
<br />
...which is actually true this week. Part-time work makes it hard to always make that kind of a defense against the sinister schemes of generosity.<br />
<br />
The tea, at least, arrives quickly, and Mai takes a sniff - before letting out a yawn. "...I miss coffee. I know it's bad for me, but I just can't comprehend how someone like that functions on a drink like this..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki waved a hand. "It's fine," she said. "Trust me, I got plenty to cover us." <br />
<br />
And she did. She wouldn't say she was over flowing, but her grandfather sent her enough to keep food on her table and the clothes on her back. He also occisonally send her extra and would encourage her to do something 'fun' with it. <br />
<br />
'The mission is important,' he would say, 'but you are still a girl with a life ahead of her. I know your mother would wish for you to have some normal like any girl your age would have'. <br />
<br />
Natuski didn't know if treating her friend would count as the 'fun' he suggested, but she didn't think he would object either. <br />
<br />
"I feel you on the lack of coffee," she said. "Shizaru keeps telling me to cut back too, but it's also the best thing to shake off the effect of lack of sleep." <br />
<br />
The order came and Natsuki took a gyoza, knowing Mai wouldn't start eating until she ate one herself. <br />
<br />
"So, how are you? I know I've had my head deep in my research for the last few weeks." She frowned. "I've heard..a lot of things been going on, but not the exact details." She placed a hand on Mai's shoulder. "Have you been okay?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Why, oh why, do delinquent bikers seem to know Mai so well? Mai does, indeed, wait until Natsuki's taken one of the double-order before she separates her own chopsticks. They don't quite split cleanly, and she glares balefully at that one extra bit of wood on one side.<br />
<br />
"...shakes it off for a while. But I got so deep into studying I think I had more caffeine than blood, my closest friends might have stolen my supply, and I kind of decided I needed a break." There might also be health impacts, but it's not like she's going to start caring about those now.<br />
<br />
"...you should probably take breaks every so often. Blood pressure and all that." Except to warn other people off of coffee. Hypocrisy rings strong.<br />
<br />
The first gyoza is always the tastiest, and Mai takes a moment to just relish the flavour she can't quite match at home. A sigh of satisfaction, and she closes her eyes. "...but yeah, there's been a lot. Had a tea-date with an old enemy, had to pick up more eggs because Mikoto knows one way to help with breakfast, and...well, the whole thing with that Sanbu village that was in the news."<br />
<br />
She turns her head to Natsuki and opens one eye a crack, murmuring more quietly so that the cook wouldn't hear even if he was listening. "...the village had a problem with Wraiths. These...grief-creatures. Be careful around them if you see them, Natsuki, because they got in my head something awful."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki nodded as she silently listen to Mai. She took another bite, but narrowed her eyes as she heard Mai mentioned the witches. <br />
<br />
"I heard about those things, Wraiths," she whispered back. "They sound nasty." <br />
<br />
Natuski had to admit she wouldn't be sure how she would react if one got near her. Would she run? Would she be scared? She like to think she could shake it off, but Natsuki wasn't so sure. Sometimes she didn't feel like she knew herself as well as she ought to at times. <br />
<br />
"How did you managed to defeat?" she asked. "Or did you end up needing a rescue to get out of it?" <br />
<br />
She knew there were certain magical girls to take care of those creatures, but Mai was a powerful HIME. Natsuki would like to assume a HIME could fight it, but she wasn't certain.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"...rescue." It's a quiet admission, but an earnest one. "If I hadn't had help, hadn't had-"<br />
<br />
She cuts herself off, and takes a deep breath. "A bunch of us went down to that village to track down some missing people. Most of them were able to shrug off the worst of the...feelings there. But me?" A bitter laugh. "It wasn't a good place for me. It might have been the worst possible place for me, personally. Something I couldn't just try to out-burn."<br />
<br />
She takes up the cup of tea, and takes a cautious sip. From the expression on her face, it's...not her favourite drink ever.<br />
<br />
"Talk to one of the Puella Magi if you really need to know more. I'm not saying what they used to face was any better, but I do not envy them having to hunt those things all the time. Even if Sanbu was supposedly a...special circumstance." She sighs, takes a swig of tea-<br />
<br />
-and from the expression on her face, very nearly has to choke it down. "...I don't think I can handle giving up coffee, Kuga."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki couldn't say much. She could only imagine how much it hurt Mai's pride at having to be rescue. She did take a note to question one of the Puella Magi about it, but that was for later. <br />
<br />
Natsuki suddenly noticed how tired Mai look. She knew this kind. It wasn't the kind form just working too hard or studying too much or even playing video games for three nights in a row. <br />
<br />
It was feeling your whole world was resting on your shoulders unless you found or did the right thing or nothing would have made it worth it. Nothing would have made all of the pain worth it. <br />
<br />
Natsuki had seen this exhaustion in the rearview mirror of her bike late at night wondering if it would ever stop and what she would do if or when she stopped, if she ever. <br />
<br />
It suddenly dawned on Natsuki it might not have just been coffee Mai was referring to. <br />
<br />
"It's hard to give anything up really." She set down her chopsticks in thought. "I mean, it all just becomes a habit after awhile, second nature you know? It's like trying to get a cat to not clean it's paws or a dog to not bark at an intruder. It's hard to break that."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The worst part - the truly soul-crushing part of Natsuki's analysis is, however weary might Mai look, however ruined by the ravages of life she might be-<br />
<br />
This is her after a few days of trying to recover.<br />
<br />
Even so, she jolts at Natsuki's words, as if they're an ice-cold knife to her kidney. Mai turns, slowly, to her paranoid friend, and balks a little at the philosophical insight. Just a bit. Okay, maybe more than a bit.<br />
<br />
"...yeah. That was kind of the problem I had." A moment, while she considers those words. "No. That's basically my whole problem, isn't it? But..."<br />
<br />
She waves at her cup, which does not contain coffee. "It's hard to give some things up. It's impossible to give some things up, because they're..."<br />
<br />
She sighs. "...that's a bit too heavy, Kuga. Don't make me turn those words around on you, because you challenge the queen of hypocrisy at your own peril." She does snag another couple of gyoza, this time without so much as an ounce of remorse.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki twitched at the words, but she knew Mai wasn't wrong. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, can't deny I'm not guilty of it too." She shut her eyes in thought. "There are things I know Shizaru would like me to give up, but I can't. I know the road I'm own, and I just can't steer off of it." <br />
<br />
She sighed and went for another bite of her food. "I honestly don't know what the answer here is, do you?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly, and goes for a much slower sip of the tea. It's not terrible - it's not exactly a masterful brew, and the quality doesn't match that of the shop she was at yesterday, but as long as she's not expecting it to be coffee it's...drinkable.<br />
<br />
"We're getting close to finishing high school." A pause. "Well, I am, at least, I don't know what your attendance records are like. Closer and closer to being 'adults'. I'd have hoped we'd have more figured out by now, but my biggest ambitions are...the same thing I've been doing for a decade."<br />
<br />
It's a cold January day and yet that thought seems to give her more of a chill. "...I need to try to change. I know that. Even if it wasn't real, I was told I shouldn't follow the same terrible example. But I can't just...step away from responsibility either. I can't walk away from what I need to do."<br />
<br />
But maybe, one day, somewhere...<br />
<br />
"...ask me in three years, Kuga. Because then Takumi will be as much of an 'adult' as we're supposed to become, and maybe then I can finally walk off this path."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Three years," Natsuki muttered. <br />
<br />
She didn't knew where she would be by then. She had never cared about graduation, but what if she hadn't learned the truth of her mother's death by then? Could she just keep on going. Her grandfather wasn't going to be alive forever either. She did always worry a bit when he mentioned he was getting over a cold. She lost her mother so suddenly, and the possibility she wake up one morning to find he was gone too rose with each year. <br />
<br />
But what else could she do? Natsuki would never feel complete until she knew the truth. If she didn't she would spend the rest of her life with the question nagging at the back of her mind. <br />
<br />
Natsuki raised her chopsticks to Mai. "I guess here's to steering ahead and avoiding all off roads for as long as we can."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai salutes with her own chopsticks. "It's a dismal road we're on but I guess we're stuck with it."<br />
<br />
She pins another gyoza between her chopsticks, but pauses with it above the dipping sauce. "That...does bring a question to mind, Kuga. Where...did you learn to drive that motorcycle, exactly? You did get actual lessons, right?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki smirked. "I do have a license if that's what you're wondering," she said ate another bite. "And in case your wondering my grandfather taught me. He apparently was quite the wild man back in his day."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"A license? You let the government know you exist? Will wonders never cease." With a grin, Mai bites into her snack.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki shrugged. "Never said it was an official license."</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2022-10-16_-_Stuck_On_This_Road2022-10-16 - Stuck On This Road2022-10-17T02:06:37Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Stuck On This Road'''..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Stuck On This Road'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Mai bumps into Natsuki at a roadside ramen stand, and the two get caught up on what kinds of messes they are.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]], [[Natsuki Kuga]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Taiyou Ramen Stand<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2022-10-16 - January 19th, 2016<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki had been craving ramen. She wouldn't say it's her favorite food or anything, but it was hot, filled her up and convenient. Normally she go just get some instant at the store, but today she felt like treating herself to a ramen stand. <br />
<br />
The stand here wasn't a super populated spot and was small. Less of a chance of her being spotted and also made it easy to keep an eye out for anyone trying to spy on her without her being aware. Currently, there was only the cook and no one else. It was a perfect time to go. <br />
<br />
She ordered one special and tried to resist her mouth watering when she was presented with the steaming hot bowl. She gave her thanks, broke apart her chopsticks (thrilled she got them to tear apart evenly) and began to dig in. She had to blow on it, and almost burned her tongue on the first bite, but it tasted so good. Nothing could beat this meal right now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It has been, as days go, not too terrible a one. School today was a little wearying; trying to cut back on coffee was, if not even ranked among Mai's top ten bad decisions, still not a great idea this week.<br />
<br />
But when one finds pens pulling themselves apart from one's hand jitters, it's time to cut back on the old black elixir.<br />
<br />
Still, just because she's a little tired doesn't mean Mai doesn't have responsibilities. And one of those is...food. Groceries, to be precise. More groceries than she'd hoped to need today, which in turn meant a little hunting for bargains. Her grocery bag might be a little heavy, and the number of eggs balanced on it means that she's really looking for less-trodden routes back home.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's a wrong turn, but...she's a little tired, and at least a snack on the way home won't blow her budget...if it's a small one. And if it's nothing like her lunch.<br />
<br />
The hanging drape is brushed aside, and a girl in an Ohtori uniform carefully sets down her shopping before taking a seat. "...green tea, please. And a few vegetable gyoza." A moment, while the shopkeeper sets to getting that ready, and Mai glances over, blinking a few times.<br />
<br />
"...I'm not interrupting some secret meeting, am I, Kuga?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki heard the footsteps behind her. Her body got ready to run if need be as she turned, but relaxed when she spotted Mai. Her friend didn't seem to notice she had sat next to her until after she had order. <br />
<br />
Natsuki cracked a smile. "Naw, you're good. In fact," she look to the chef "but her order on my bill and double that order of gyoza." <br />
<br />
Natsuki rarely treated anyone. Shizaru a few times sure but she usually insisted on treating Natsuki. Mikoto was a different story. She never hesitated when Natsuki offered to pay for food. Mai, however, could be a bit more stubborn about it. Natsuki understood, she couldn't deny she was the same way, but she still felt the need to try sometimes. Someone had to right? <br />
<br />
She looked to Mai as she ate another mouthful. "Did you want some of my ramen? I got plenty."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Someone has to. But ah, such an arduous battle it might be.<br />
<br />
"Kuga, I couldn't possibly take food out of your bowl. I'm sure you must be starving after...stake-outs, I guess? Mikoto comes home ravenous a lot." She grins, and tries to wave off the offer. "But seriously, are you sure about offering to pay? I'm pretty sure that between the two of us, I'm the one who's gainfully employed."<br />
<br />
...which is actually true this week. Part-time work makes it hard to always make that kind of a defense against the sinister schemes of generosity.<br />
<br />
The tea, at least, arrives quickly, and Mai takes a sniff - before letting out a yawn. "...I miss coffee. I know it's bad for me, but I just can't comprehend how someone like that functions on a drink like this..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki waved a hand. "It's fine," she said. "Trust me, I got plenty to cover us." <br />
<br />
And she did. She wouldn't say she was over flowing, but her grandfather sent her enough to keep food on her table and the clothes on her back. He also occisonally send her extra and would encourage her to do something 'fun' with it. <br />
<br />
'The mission is important,' he would say, 'but you are still a girl with a life ahead of her. I know<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki waved a hand. "It's fine," she said. "Trust me, I got plenty to cover us." <br />
<br />
And she did. She wouldn't say she was over flowing, but her grandfather sent her enough to keep food on her table and the clothes on her back. He also occisonally send her extra and would encourage her to do something 'fun' with it. <br />
<br />
'The mission is important,' he would say, 'but you are still a girl with a life ahead of her. I know your mother would wish for you to have some normal like any girl your age would have'. <br />
<br />
Natuski didn't know if treating her friend would count as the 'fun' he suggested, but she didn't think he would object either. <br />
<br />
"I feel you on the lack of coffee," she said. "Shizaru keeps telling me to cut back too, but it's also the best thing to shake off the effect of lack of sleep." <br />
<br />
The order came and Natsuki took a gyoza, knowing Mai wouldn't start eating until she ate one herself. <br />
<br />
"So, how are you? I know I've had my head deep in my research for the last few weeks." She frowned. "I've heard..a lot of things been going on, but not the exact details." She placed a hand on Mai's shoulder. "Have you been okay?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Why, oh why, do delinquent bikers seem to know Mai so well? Mai does, indeed, wait until Natsuki's taken one of the double-order before she separates her own chopsticks. They don't quite split cleanly, and she glares balefully at that one extra bit of wood on one side.<br />
<br />
"...shakes it off for a while. But I got so deep into studying I think I had more caffeine than blood, my closest friends might have stolen my supply, and I kind of decided I needed a break." There might also be health impacts, but it's not like she's going to start caring about those now.<br />
<br />
"...you should probably take breaks every so often. Blood pressure and all that." Except to warn other people off of coffee. Hypocrisy rings strong.<br />
<br />
The first gyoza is always the tastiest, and Mai takes a moment to just relish the flavour she can't quite match at home. A sigh of satisfaction, and she closes her eyes. "...but yeah, there's been a lot. Had a tea-date with an old enemy, had to pick up more eggs because Mikoto knows one way to help with breakfast, and...well, the whole thing with that Sanbu village that was in the news."<br />
<br />
She turns her head to Natsuki and opens one eye a crack, murmuring more quietly so that the cook wouldn't hear even if he was listening. "...the village had a problem with Wraiths. These...grief-creatures. Be careful around them if you see them, Natsuki, because they got in my head something awful."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki nodded as she silently listen to Mai. She took another bite, but narrowed her eyes as she heard Mai mentioned the witches. <br />
<br />
"I heard about those things, Wraiths," she whispered back. "They sound nasty." <br />
<br />
Natuski had to admit she wouldn't be sure how she would react if one got near her. Would she run? Would she be scared? She like to think she could shake it off, but Natsuki wasn't so sure. Sometimes she didn't feel like she knew herself as well as she ought to at times. <br />
<br />
"How did you managed to defeat?" she asked. "Or did you end up needing a rescue to get out of it?" <br />
<br />
She knew there were certain magical girls to take care of those creatures, but Mai was a powerful HIME. Natsuki would like to assume a HIME could fight it, but she wasn't certain.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"...rescue." It's a quiet admission, but an earnest one. "If I hadn't had help, hadn't had-"<br />
<br />
She cuts herself off, and takes a deep breath. "A bunch of us went down to that village to track down some missing people. Most of them were able to shrug off the worst of the...feelings there. But me?" A bitter laugh. "It wasn't a good place for me. It might have been the worst possible place for me, personally. Something I couldn't just try to out-burn."<br />
<br />
She takes up the cup of tea, and takes a cautious sip. From the expression on her face, it's...not her favourite drink ever.<br />
<br />
"Talk to one of the Puella Magi if you really need to know more. I'm not saying what they used to face was any better, but I do not envy them having to hunt those things all the time. Even if Sanbu was supposedly a...special circumstance." She sighs, takes a swig of tea-<br />
<br />
-and from the expression on her face, very nearly has to choke it down. "...I don't think I can handle giving up coffee, Kuga."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki couldn't say much. She could only imagine how much it hurt Mai's pride at having to be rescue. She did take a note to question one of the Puella Magi about it, but that was for later. <br />
<br />
Natsuki suddenly noticed how tired Mai look. She knew this kind. It wasn't the kind form just working too hard or studying too much or even playing video games for three nights in a row. <br />
<br />
It was feeling your whole world was resting on your shoulders unless you found or did the right thing or nothing would have made it worth it. Nothing would have made all of the pain worth it. <br />
<br />
Natsuki had seen this exhaustion in the rearview mirror of her bike late at night wondering if it would ever stop and what she would do if or when she stopped, if she ever. <br />
<br />
It suddenly dawned on Natsuki it might not have just been coffee Mai was referring to. <br />
<br />
"It's hard to give anything up really." She set down her chopsticks in thought. "I mean, it all just becomes a habit after awhile, second nature you know? It's like trying to get a cat to not clean it's paws or a dog to not bark at an intruder. It's hard to break that."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The worst part - the truly soul-crushing part of Natsuki's analysis is, however weary might Mai look, however ruined by the ravages of life she might be-<br />
<br />
This is her after a few days of trying to recover.<br />
<br />
Even so, she jolts at Natsuki's words, as if they're an ice-cold knife to her kidney. Mai turns, slowly, to her paranoid friend, and balks a little at the philosophical insight. Just a bit. Okay, maybe more than a bit.<br />
<br />
"...yeah. That was kind of the problem I had." A moment, while she considers those words. "No. That's basically my whole problem, isn't it? But..."<br />
<br />
She waves at her cup, which does not contain coffee. "It's hard to give some things up. It's impossible to give some things up, because they're..."<br />
<br />
She sighs. "...that's a bit too heavy, Kuga. Don't make me turn those words around on you, because you challenge the queen of hypocrisy at your own peril." She does snag another couple of gyoza, this time without so much as an ounce of remorse.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki twitched at the words, but she knew Mai wasn't wrong. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, can't deny I'm not guilty of it too." She shut her eyes in thought. "There are things I know Shizaru would like me to give up, but I can't. I know the road I'm own, and I just can't steer off of it." <br />
<br />
She sighed and went for another bite of her food. "I honestly don't know what the answer here is, do you?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly, and goes for a much slower sip of the tea. It's not terrible - it's not exactly a masterful brew, and the quality doesn't match that of the shop she was at yesterday, but as long as she's not expecting it to be coffee it's...drinkable.<br />
<br />
"We're getting close to finishing high school." A pause. "Well, I am, at least, I don't know what your attendance records are like. Closer and closer to being 'adults'. I'd have hoped we'd have more figured out by now, but my biggest ambitions are...the same thing I've been doing for a decade."<br />
<br />
It's a cold January day and yet that thought seems to give her more of a chill. "...I need to try to change. I know that. Even if it wasn't real, I was told I shouldn't follow the same terrible example. But I can't just...step away from responsibility either. I can't walk away from what I need to do."<br />
<br />
But maybe, one day, somewhere...<br />
<br />
"...ask me in three years, Kuga. Because then Takumi will be as much of an 'adult' as we're supposed to become, and maybe then I can finally walk off this path."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Three years," Natsuki muttered. <br />
<br />
She didn't knew where she would be by then. She had never cared about graduation, but what if she hadn't learned the truth of her mother's death by then? Could she just keep on going. Her grandfather wasn't going to be alive forever either. She did always worry a bit when he mentioned he was getting over a cold. She lost her mother so suddenly, and the possibility she wake up one morning to find he was gone too rose with each year. <br />
<br />
But what else could she do? Natsuki would never feel complete until she knew the truth. If she didn't she would spend the rest of her life with the question nagging at the back of her mind. <br />
<br />
Natsuki raised her chopsticks to Mai. "I guess here's to steering ahead and avoiding all off roads for as long as we can."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai salutes with her own chopsticks. "It's a dismal road we're on but I guess we're stuck with it."<br />
<br />
She pins another gyoza between her chopsticks, but pauses with it above the dipping sauce. "That...does bring a question to mind, Kuga. Where...did you learn to drive that motorcycle, exactly? You did get actual lessons, right?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki smirked. "I do have a license if that's what you're wondering," she said ate another bite. "And in case your wondering my grandfather taught me. He apparently was quite the wild man back in his day."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"A license? You let the government know you exist? Will wonders never cease." With a grin, Mai bites into her snack.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Natsuki Kuga [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Natsuki shrugged. "Never said it was an official license."</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2022-10-07_-_Ohtori%27s_Most_Eligible_Bachelor2022-10-07 - Ohtori's Most Eligible Bachelor2022-10-17T01:11:42Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Ohtori's Most Eligible..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Ohtori's Most Eligible Bachelor'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Studying requires caffeine. Studying also requires a table. And two people haven't seen each other in a while.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]], [[Kozue Kaoru]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Starbooks Coffee<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2022-10-07 - January 17th, 2016 (ish)<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kozue Kaoru [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
For how Kozue carried herself in the past... catching a glimpse of her you'd expect her to be chatting up a boy in a suggestive pose, or doing something to show off the glamorous life of a model.<br />
<br />
Things you don't expect? Seeing her at Starbooks studying in the Infinity Middle School uniform. She's got a table to herself, one of those half open booth half chair numbers, as she sits on the booth side, eyes scanning her history notes.<br />
<br />
She's got a Venti Latte too, which she picks up every now and then for a sip.<br />
<br />
There's noone on the other side of her with the chairs. People either doubt their perceptions with a 'Nah couldn't be' or they do ask to join her and get waved off dismissively.<br />
<br />
It's so normal, that it's eerie.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It has been a very long week, and shows no signs of improving any time soon.<br />
<br />
The downfall of Mai's mental state can, this month, be summed up simply. The end of high school approaches, and Mai should at least consider pursuing higher education. University entrance is a competitive field, and good grades are necessary. Magical girls rarely have time to study, so a lot of cramming is needed. And caffeine can substitute for sleep in a crisis.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately Mai's supply of coffee at home has run out. Or been confiscated by well-meaning friends. Hard to be sure, she's been studying history instead of mathematics.<br />
<br />
She's fiiiine.<br />
<br />
Still, to get a...few more hours of useful studying in, she needs coffee. Which brings her, Ohtori uniform and all, to Starbooks - ordering a venti black, wincing at the price but paying it anyway, and looking for a table to sit at. Most of them are occupied, but-<br />
<br />
Mai blinks. Stares a second, blinks a few times, starts to rub at her eyes but remembers she's holding a coffee cup in that hand, and ultimately opts to step forward. Hesitant, perhaps, but...she's a few stolen hours past caution anyway.<br />
<br />
"Long time no see. Is this seat taken?"<br />
<br />
Mai Tokiha, alive and unaccompanied, approaches.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kozue Kaoru [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"I'm bu-"<br />
<br />
Kozue actually looks up as she recognizes the voice, squints at Mai, then tells her.<br />
<br />
"Sure, go ahead and take a load off."<br />
<br />
Kozue puts a hand on her chin, inspecting Mai for a moment, then...<br />
<br />
"You look like hell." She tells her, bluntly. "Overtime shifts or entrance exams?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai actually laughs at the blunt critique, setting her coffee on the table before pulling out the chair.<br />
<br />
(It is, relatively speaking, the good stuff - and a sight better than what Mai usually drinks.)<br />
<br />
"Both. But mostly the latter, the shift work is..." She wiggles a hand, frustration writ on her face. "...intermittent these days. Though with exams, that's a blessing."<br />
<br />
She sits, setting down her handbag on the floor, and takes a sip from her drink. "You look...better. Than the last time I remember us talking, that is."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kozue Kaoru [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Kozue just smiles a touch as Mai laughs, and listens to the brief explanation of her woes. "... Intermittent? Don't tell me you got blacklisted or something from steady work? /In Tokyo/?" Kozue asks with an air of incredulity.<br />
<br />
'You look...better'<br />
<br />
"Are you really that surprised? I'm modeling after all."<br />
<br />
In the end it's a light joke though, as she knows what she means.<br />
<br />
"It really doesn't get much worse from the last time we talked, so you're setting a pretty low bar."<br />
<br />
Kozue could ask if Mai's reconciled with her brother, but she's pretty sure she knows the answer to that. And asking would open her up to questions about Sayaka, so she doesn't.<br />
<br />
"You having to deal with much in the way of 'extracurricular nonsense' lately?"<br />
<br />
That's probably her way of saying 'HiME business'. It's one thing she hasn't kept up on much. In part because thinking about the loss of Cassandra hurts. Still, she feels she should know.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai just shakes her head, chuckling - smiling at the joke, even as she takes another sip of coffee. Only after everything does the smile begin to fade - the beauty of studying is it kept her from thinking about any of the hard questions.<br />
<br />
"Given how much things went to hell over the past year...I will set that bar low and just call a day good if I don't wake up alone again." She hesitates, thinking over her words, and just lets the phrasing lie. "But yeah, intermittent - getting permission from the school for one proper part-time job was enough challenge, and that one had some unkind words when I forgot to call in sick. It's...I'll start properly looking after graduation."<br />
<br />
She takes another drink of coffee. The thought alone is tiring.<br />
<br />
"But I've been steering clear of most of the nonsense. Just...plans. Plans for the future, and recovering from stormy nights." She looks down at her coffee, frowns, and pops the lid off entirely to make it easier to drink.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kozue Kaoru [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's a stab of 'something' on Kozue's face as Mai mentions she calls a day good if she doesn't wake up alone again. Just a subtle drawing back from it.<br />
<br />
However, she doesn't remark otherwise, instead there's just this indelicate snort as Mai mentions they had unkind words when she forgot to call in sick, "Yeah, because calling in to work should be someone's highest priority when they're so sick they can barely string two thoughts together.<br />
<br />
It's odd that Kozue, who's probably never had a regular job as some blue collar worker sympathizes with Mai's position, though perhaps she just has a higher amount of self awareness than the average Ohtori student.<br />
<br />
"Plans huh?"<br />
<br />
There's this moment when Kozue is giving Mai this long look, knowing she can barely afford things as is, between Takumi and tuition - if she doesn't get a 'scholarship' then the only chance she's got is some predatory loans.<br />
<br />
"What kind of plans?"<br />
<br />
Kozue asks with curiosity, prying just lightly. Perhaps trying to see if it'll come out from Mai naturally.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai laughs without mirth at the quip, but the coffee beckons. And yet.<br />
<br />
Coffee doesn't actually fix anything. She picked up that much in health class. It doesn't energize the body or remove the need for sleep - it just keeps the brain from feeling tired for a little while. The black drink doesn't really solve problems, it just...patches over the issues and lets them build up.<br />
<br />
She takes a swig. No wonder she's drawn to it.<br />
<br />
"Planning...I don't know. The plan...the plan was always to have me go off to America for a while, whenever we finally..." She looks down. "...finally heard about a donor. And we wait, and we wait, and suddenly I'm not looking into high schools any more. So maybe I need to look into universities after all, and that's just..."<br />
<br />
Irritating. Strange. Terrifying.<br />
<br />
Mai waves off actually answering what the concept is to her, just that it doesn't sit well.<br />
<br />
"...I don't know. And that's the truth, I don't know where I'm going. So I'm studying to see if university becomes an option, and failing that I guess I try to find a job that'll forgive me for getting k-"<br />
<br />
She cuts herself off, scowls, and takes another swig of coffee. It should probably be savoured, but that's not happening.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kozue Kaoru [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Kozue takes a sip of coffee, then she leans back and watches Mai tiredly explain her situation. Even independent of entrance exams, she's obviously worn out. It's plain to anyone from the outside in, just listening to how she talks.<br />
<br />
"Hmm."<br />
<br />
Kozue's fingers play on the edge of her coffee. "Honestly? It sounds like you're trying to have it all, and because of that you're able to enjoy none of it. You're stretched too thin. If you were focused just wholly on your brother's situation, you'd just try to marry rich right?"<br />
<br />
Kozue gives her a wry look, "That'd take care of that right away. And at Ohtori that'd be easy enough /for you/."<br />
<br />
She props her hand back up on her cheek, "But you want something for yourself after all, even if you're so frazzled that you can't figure out what something is."<br />
<br />
There's a pause, and...<br />
<br />
"You're like someone I knew once, not making choices, just running up against walls."<br />
<br />
The worst part about that evaluation is? It's clear she's not trying to be mean. She's telling it like it is, but that carries a certain kind of cruelty unto itself doesn't it?<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai, worn out enough to start just chugging hot coffee, hears Kozue's first suggestion and chokes on that unhelpful brew.<br />
<br />
She splutters - undignified - and flushes brightly at Kozue's wry expression. How is it that someone so much younger can sound so - so worldly?!<br />
<br />
And yet. And yet she's right and wrong all at once, and it's the truths that burn. Truths and hot coffee, admittedly.<br />
<br />
"Th-" Mai's first attempt at a retort breaks into a cough into her elbow. Once she settles that down, she re-lids her coffee forcefully, and stares Kozue in the face. "...okay. First of all, thank you for the suggestion, I hate it with every fiber of my being."<br />
<br />
Mai clenches a hand whose finger never held a ring. "The thought crossed...no. Not that. And - you're not wrong. I...yearn for the day I can stop burning the candle at both ends."<br />
<br />
What she wants to do - not the petty everyday, what her dream is - it's in the shadow of past sins, and she can't see it. But...<br />
<br />
"...What happened to them? Your fr- the person you knew?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kozue Kaoru [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"It wasn't a suggestion."<br />
<br />
Kozue says with a mischievous twinkle in her blue eyes. It was more an assessment of her situation. "You're just exhausted."<br />
<br />
Drawing herself back up off her hand, she picks back up her coffee, and takes a sip.<br />
<br />
However, Mai then asks. And Kozue stops drinking the coffee, and puts it down. There's something like an audible sigh, she was trying to avoid this. However, she's still always on her mind to some degree.<br />
<br />
"She died."<br />
<br />
Kozue puts it succinctly. Sayaka started making choices. They were mistakes. She died.<br />
<br />
Had she kept herself in the fugue of not making choices and bludgeoning herself against walls...<br />
<br />
... she would have died anyway.<br />
<br />
Which was the correct path?<br />
<br />
... There wasn't one.<br />
<br />
In the end both paths would lead to her leaving her side.<br />
<br />
"There's no point to me telling you that. It's not some cautionary tale."<br />
<br />
There's a slight shrug of her slim shoulders, and...<br />
<br />
"It just is."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's true. Mai is a little exhausted. Usually she can catch up by letting grades slip, but...that window has closed.<br />
<br />
Kozue answers. Mai pales, and the ghost of a curse escapes on her breath. Died, and died in a way that miracle reunions...didn't fix.<br />
<br />
In the end, though...there are inevitabilities in this world, and one of them is...<br />
<br />
"It just is," Mai repeats. Solemn, not flippant, not questioning. She just nods, even if there was no point to hearing it.<br />
<br />
A moment of silence. Mai doesn't reach out - maybe it's familiarity, maybe it's how the grief is worn - but that gesture isn't meant for here. Instead, after another moment of studying Kozue in silence, Mai lets out a breath.<br />
<br />
"Damn. I'm sorry for your loss." There are words unsaid as she shuts her mouth, questions she could ask about the how and the when and the who - but it's loss and grief and that's an old friend she doesn't talk to as much as she should. Instead-<br />
<br />
"...if you ever want to talk. About...whatever. I'll sit down to listen, if you want." She hesitates, then slips in a little bit of levity. "I can do that much for someone who isn't family."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kozue Kaoru [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
On her best days Kozue doubts that perception that Sayaka is dead. Where did those chocolates come from? She never had them before. It's such a dumb thing to pin hopes on someone's status on though, some uneaten Valentine's chocolates in a waterlogged box.<br />
<br />
Yet, she does.<br />
<br />
On her worst days... well...<br />
<br />
For a while, she doesn't say anything, but then she cracks the smallest smile at the end, "Maybe I'll take you up on that someday."<br />
<br />
Before she repeats... "Some day."<br />
<br />
It's hard enough for her to even talk about it with Mami, and the two have shared grief.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Some day.<br />
<br />
"Ten...twelve years..." It's a quiet murmur, under Mai's breath - and she shakes her head. Grief isn't so easy to just...accept. That much she knows all too well.<br />
<br />
"Some day. There's no rush." Words spoken quietly, but solemnly.<br />
<br />
Mai's hand is on her coffee cup. She doesn't reach for it again - what little it can do is already done, and when she gets home she might just crash. But before that - if only to atone for bringing dark days into the mood -<br />
<br />
"...so. Should I go?" It comes out smaller than she intended, but Mai finds a bit of fire, dredged from the depths to warm the conversation. "Or do you want to hear about how Ohtori dating prospects have gotten even worse since you left?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kozue Kaoru [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Do you want to go?" Is Kozue's answer, once she finally processes what Mai has to say. "You don't have to. I'm just studying."<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"I'm listening. Nothing would surprise me, up to and including that Chu-Chu is now Ohtori's most eligible bachelor."</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2022-10-12_-_Since_We_Aren%27t_Dead2022-10-12 - Since We Aren't Dead2022-10-13T05:27:19Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Since We Aren't Dead''..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Since We Aren't Dead'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''It's been far too long since they had a good stand-off. There's reasons for that. Maybe they can talk about it over tea.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]], [[Mami Tomoe]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Chofu Suburban District<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2022-10-12 - January 18, 2016<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chofu has a wealth of lovely little shops. Upon recommendation, Mai has chosen a quiet but apparently-decent little one for a nice little afternoon. Dressed in neither school nor work uniform, her red scarf sits coiled up on the table next to her as she waits in a nice-if-casual outfit. The atmosphere, at least, is nice - hopefully befitting the conversation she...<br />
<br />
Well, she hasn't exactly been putting it off. Things just happened. She got busy. There were priorities. Like a lost cat.<br />
<br />
Regardless, she's sitting a little heavily in her chair, eyes closed as she goes over past...opinions. Comments. History. She's had at least one full night's sleep since the battle for Sanbu, so she's at least somewhat rested, but...perhaps a little uneasy, all the same.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's a lack of coffee - her eyes open as a waiter stops by the table. "Sorry, I'm waiting for someone before I order. It shouldn't be too long, I hope."<br />
<br />
Though if it were...well, maybe that would be fair enough. Mai pulls out her phone, checking the time before glancing at the start of that delayed conversation.<br />
<br />
> <span style="color:#ff4500">hey, tomoe</span><br><br />
> <span style="color:#ff4500">since we still aren't dead, want to meet up for tea?</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's always the lost cat. And Mami of course can fill up time quite easily herself; patrols take up a lot of her time, for instance. Much like today... Today, when she may or may not have decided to finish up a patrol rather than replying immediately to a text. Maybe. Just possibly. <br />
<br />
As it happens, she did reply, though: <br />
<br />
> <span style="color:#ffec8b">That's true, we're not. That's as good a reason for tea as any.</span><br><br />
> <span style="color:#ffec8b">Where to?</span><br />
<br />
If you wonder whether Mami took a while to decide whether the response was just right before sending it... Then maybe she did. But now, and not /too/ long after that... <br />
<br />
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Mami says. She made a point of changing out of her uniform, likewise in casual... well, for Mami. For Mami casual is still pretty nice. <br />
<br />
"...Good afternoon."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Time can be all over the place in its value. A week ago Mai might have thrown herself into studying, or trying to investigate international grade standards, or maybe too much cooking...but maybe she's been stretching herself a bit thin.<br />
<br />
At least, so she might think a day after an all-nighter driving trip.<br />
<br />
There's a voice, finally, jarring Mai out of an eternal moment, and she looks up once again at elegance and grace. Once again, once again maybe an old grudge burns - but some of that feels like a lifetime ago. So Mai smiles faintly, and answers.<br />
<br />
"I suppose it is. Part of me wondered if you would even want to come, after..." She shakes her head. "Anyway. I saved you a seat. Afraid I haven't ordered anything yet."<br />
<br />
A beat. "...admittedly not sure what to order, myself. I've been bound to coffee for too many weeks."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Maybe. Maybe a /little bit/. Mami, on the other hand, is relatively well-rested! Late nights are the enemy of beauty, after all. ...But more that hunting Wraiths is agreeing with her rather more than hunting Witches did, as that goes... <br />
<br />
And she still hasn't started doing things like 'attending clubs at school'. <br />
<br />
Despite the all-nighter Mami looks perfectly made up as always. It's just how she nearly always is. <br />
<br />
"After," Mami agrees, "But then, I wouldn't expect you to invite me most days." And she wasn't going to be the one to not go! <br />
<br />
"Coffee can be good," Mami says, perhaps even heretically. "But if you want something different from your coffee, maybe a nice green." She ventures the suggestion bravely enough, but in truth it's a tenative kind of thing. <br />
<br />
She does take the offered seat, though.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Officially, Mai isn't in any clubs. Unofficially - well, her attendance at Infinity's cooking classes is admittedly very intermittent. But what time Mai would have spent on clubs has instead gone to part-time jobs and...household management, in a way. Practice for the future, budgeting, saving...<br />
<br />
She could probably afford more karaoke outings, if she had the time. But that would be a waste.<br />
<br />
And yet, she's here at a fancy tea shop, and just content that the prices aren't any worse than the menus she's usually handing out.<br />
<br />
"If I'm honest, I fully intended to after you...got back." The waiter is in earshot, at the moment, so vagueness seems appropriate. "I just had some...mistakes to deal with. Things I never apologized for, properly."<br />
<br />
She hesitates again, then looks down at the menu to distract herself a second. Rose petals are a 'probably not', but what else is in the selection of black teas?...<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
While Mami Tomoe has been managing her own household for years, she traditionally hasn't needed jobs. That may change if she keeps on this strange trend of living longer than any Puella Magi she knows, but for now, her money is holding. And... <br />
<br />
Vagueness. "...Hm." Mami pauses, at that, considering, and shakes her head. "...Well, we all made some of those," she allows after a moment. "...And I could've reached out to you instead," she decides after a moment. <br />
<br />
She glances down at the menu, and back to Mai. ".../Before/ things got dangerous, that is."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai looks up sharply at the...admission. A fairer comment than...well, than Mai expected she deserved, honestly. It's a moment for her to take in the words, digest them - and ultimately end up chuckling at the situation and herself. "What am I even doing..."<br />
<br />
She smiles, a little brighter this time. "Pretty sure I said this already, Tomoe, but I'll say it again. It's...really good to see that you're not dead." A moment, while Mai considers how to follow that up-<br />
<br />
-and an uttered curse under her breath as the waiter approaches. The timing. With a touch of impatience, she runs her finger down the menu, taps once, glances at where her finger landed, and places her order. "A cup of the Darjeeling, please. And one of the mixed-fruit scones."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami has gained a certain amount of perspective since.. then. But what is she doing? Mami smiles faintly, though she doesn't laugh. Until Mai actually makes her statement, which prompts Mami to have to take the time to think of her response--and to get a spare mokment thanks to the waiter. <br />
<br />
"...The Earl Grey," she answers, "With one of those scones as well." She'll try it! <br />
<br />
When the waiter heads off, Mami looks back to Mai and gives her a wry look. "Would it be stating the obvious if I said 'me too'?" A beat, "I don't mind hearing it more than once. I left a lot... unfinished," she settles on. "And how we'd left things was one of those."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
With the waiter gone, Mai is free to chuckle at Mami's expression. "In my experience, being happy to not be dead is a...fairly normal reaction. Bafflement, too."<br />
<br />
It's not a subject she brings up often. But in this case, it's a little easier. Or maybe there's less consequence for joking about it.<br />
<br />
"...and you did, at that. Leave things unfinished, that is. Once you weren't around, I'd like to say we managed fine, but...we really didn't." Rubeus and Peridot. The Book of Darkness. Personal problems for Mai. Walpurgisnacht. Mai's expression darkens a little more with each memory - each resolved, but not without cost.<br />
<br />
"But yeah. Whatever it is we had going..." Mai lifts her head, looking that much more tired, and waves her hand in an uncertain pattern. "...well, a lot of it seems to have mattered a lot more in the moment. Maybe I've changed too much."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Bafflement I didn't have as much. I felt like... someone meant for me to be here." She remarks fondly on the sensation, though it's strange to say, and she becomes a little self-conscious about it a moment later, instead saying, "But I suppose if nothing else there's still something in common, right?" <br />
<br />
Unfinished... Mami nods. "I... got to know a little of what happened, while I was... gone. I like to think I could've helped, but... I don't know. I think of the things I could've done differently, and some of them are just hard to imagine. I have another chance now, though--I won't spend it dwelling on the one that I didn't get." <br />
<br />
Mami does notice the tired look. "...It felt very important at the time," she says. "It all did. But if you've changed, then so have I, I think." <br />
<br />
"...Maybe some of it's what we've lost. And maybe some of it's what we /haven't/."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Someone...wanted you here." Mai whispers under her breath. Maybe that's the feeling. Maybe that's what felt different for Mai. But it is ultimately something else in common, and Mai can't help but groan a little at the comparison. "Just add it to the list..."<br />
<br />
There was business, unfinished. There were disasters, unaided. And Mami speaks up about chances, and what best to do with them, and Mai offers a smile in return.<br />
<br />
They've both changed. It's been close to a year since they last properly argued - admittedly because it wasn't that long after that last argument that the arguments became impossible - and it's impossible to not grow up at least a bit in that time.<br />
<br />
"Well, you handled your second chance better than I did. And maybe it helps that we don't have moral arguments between us with lives on the line quite as much any more. Though-" Mai bites off a few words, shakes her head.<br />
<br />
"...you know- who am I kidding, you can't have known. I wrote some texts to you a while back, right before Walpurgisnacht. About what I thought of you, what we had in common." She takes a breath, lets it out, shakes her head. "...do you really want to hear about messages to the dead, though?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Add it to the list. ...Mami doesn't elaborate on that difference, not for now, but it's something close to her heart all the same A warm radiance... <br />
<br />
"...It wasn't all 'me'," she admits. "As you say--there's a lot less of... that. I don't know that I could've ever come up with a proper solution to that. But now, we have one of sorts. And I'll take it." <br />
<br />
But what could she have known...? <br />
<br />
Mami tilts her head. "I didn't get them," she says. "My phone's full of--well, texts that aren't those, I suppose." <br />
<br />
She considers. "It is a little morbid," she allows. "...But if it was important enough for you to say then, maybe it's important enough to say now."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai groans a little more audibly this time. "It's almost too embarrassing to say, now. I was something of a hot mess at the time, between the looming end of the world, Mikoto being gone, and having just lost another friend-"<br />
<br />
She takes a deep breath, lets it out. There's a lot to remember, a lot to dredge up, but Tomoe's right, it was important. "A minute. Just...give me a minute."<br />
<br />
That's long enough for the tea to arrive, at least. A momentary distraction, scones delivered warm with little pots of butter and jam, a wonderful steaming cup set before Mai. She can have those smells, at least - warmer and more pleasant than the memories she's going through.<br />
<br />
"...I'm pretty sure I called you a tea-drinking snob, for one. But mostly that...you were, for the longest time, someone I could compare myself against. Because we have so much in common, the differences were things we could cling to. ...Maybe the similarities, too."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami's internal sass generator immediately floats the idea that she could say 'At the time?' but she doesn't. She indeed gives an internal frown to the generator. So, when Mai mentions what's going on.... <br />
<br />
"...Right. That's fine. Take your time." <br />
<br />
The memories are memories, but tea and scones are tea and scones. And that comment--Mami actually smiles at that statement. "Hmmm. Fair enough, I suppose." Tea-drinking snob... But--<br />
<br />
"That's... true. We do have a number of both. Sure, we have very different approaches, but..." ZShe trails off, and picks up her tea, inhaling the bouquet before she opens her eyes again. <br />
<br />
"Well, you're not the only one with a few things to share. I think I saw you as a threat. ...More than most magical girls."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's hard, going back, sometimes. Back to a moment of heartbreak, of being at the lowest of lows, just to remember what was said in that weakness - but if it matters enough-<br />
<br />
Well. It matters.<br />
<br />
The bouquet of Darjeeling is a mysterious smell, but not a terrible one - not like the acrid menace of Mai's usual coffee. So she takes in a breath of it, elects to let it cool a moment longer, and considers the scone before her while Mami responds. Different approaches, definitely -<br />
<br />
-and a moment of honesty that has Mai fold her hands away from the butter knife.<br />
<br />
"...I suppose that's fair, but why? The firepower to level a building, the stubbornness to stick to a conviction at the cost of making enemies, or something else we have in common?"<br />
<br />
Mai Tokiha, having reclaimed a bit of her smile, has not entirely silenced her internal sass generator.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami doesn't make a habit of going back much. She's trying to look forward. She doesn't always succeed, of course. <br />
<br />
Mami notices that Mai has taken her hand from the knife. And then she laughs faintly at the questions. "Those are both factors," she says. "They both certainly apply. But combined with the last, that was the big problem." <br />
<br />
"You're older than I am," she points out. "So, this older girl, who doesn't agree with my way of doing things, and is willing to say so loudly... It made you a threat that made other threats happen." <br />
<br />
"It was like that, for a long time. Magical girls were with me... or against me. And that was true enough for so long that even when it didn't have to be anymore I stuck with it."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai sits back in her seat a moment, at the accusation, at the admission. She takes a sip of her tea before responding, because it'd be a shame to waste it if things go any worse. And, to the credit of all of Ohtori's snobs, this is admittedly a very pleasant drink.<br />
<br />
The coffee fan has her reasons for choosing an unpleasant drink most days, but she can confess that this is nice.<br />
<br />
"...you've been doing this for longer than I have. My first week after entering this life, you dazzled me with your elegance in battle, and just because I'm technically older-" She laughs, once, shaking her head. And then mirth fades to sorrow, and she shakes her head again.<br />
<br />
"...I got to see that happen for Eri. Her optimism, her hopes, gradually turning to bitter distrust...I do see it, Tomoe. How you got there. So me standing up to you even just the once..." She sighs. "...that's kind of petty, you know."<br />
<br />
She lets that statement stew a little while as she reaches for the scone finally, splitting it open and slowly taking up the butter knife to add that spread, before commenting again.<br />
<br />
"I mean, I should certainly know petty."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It could go worse! It could go much worse. Mami sips at her tea, too, once she finishes talking. It's good tea; she knew it would be. She is familiar with a lot of the tea places in Tokyo. She knows what she likes. <br />
<br />
"Not just that," she allows, "...But it really, really didn't help." <br />
<br />
Mai knows petty, hm? "You saw it with Eri. That's true. I still had hopes, but... The other girls were so hostile to them, for the longest time. And so I couldn't see it when things started to change." <br />
<br />
"...I'd been hurt before," she admits. "First, by the others, the veterans who... Honestly? I don't even remember their names. I've outlasted all of them. But it doesn't feel 'better' than them all the same. And then... I put my heart into a girl, trained with her, made a partnership... and then it all fell apart. And then she became the greatest proponent of exactly the approach that I'd sworn to oppose. ...Sakura-san and I have a long history." <br />
<br />
"But that's in the past. These days, we can... talk out more of these difficulties. Even when it's awkward to do it." <br />
<br />
She ooks down into her tea. "...Mostly I was afraid. But that's different, these days. I'm... not afraid, any longer."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
A new chance is wonderful. An opportunity to talk out things that should have been talked out long ago.<br />
<br />
Mai has had...a few, now, it feels like. And she's squandered them for the most part.<br />
<br />
"You're as frustratingly amazing as ever, Tomoe." There's no real heat to the quip, and it's a softer expression on Mai's face. "Seriously, though, if you can be optimistic about things, that's...well, that's hope, right?"<br />
<br />
She purses her lips a moment. "...I'll share a secret. I didn't get involved in the...arguments about approaches. Because my best friend was involved, and because..." Mai pauses, leans in to whisper. "...Because you were right. And I was just too spiteful to say it."<br />
<br />
She leans back, takes another sip of her tea, and just deflates a bit. Watches the butter melt onto a warm scone. "...it's a lot better to be able to clear the air now. Less to fight over. And - well, I kind of let go of the real reason I hated you."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
For a little while longer, Mami's scone goes unbuttered. She is focused on what she's saying, and on the tea. But the scone will have its moment, and soon. Maybe after that quip... <br />
<br />
"Thank you?" Mami replies lightly, and then... well. "I don't want to just dwell on what I've lost, though... don't get me wrong. I have. She's..." Mami rails off, and shakes her head. Insead, she looks up at Mai as she shares a secret, and... Mami stays leaned in for a moment. She looks... distantly sad. "...It wasn't fair," she settles on. "And I had it easy. My best friend believed in me and my way all the way. ...And now she's gone. And I have to wonder... Could I have done differently?" <br />
<br />
Mami picks up the scone, and starts to ready it. <br />
<br />
"There's reasons I try not to dwell. It doesn't go anywhere pleasant. So..." A beat, "With that in mind, do you /want/ me to ask what that real reason was?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Most of what was lost was restored, but some things - some mistakes - remained. Mai got off lightly, by comparison, and it was a long few months to dwell on what didn't return to her immediately.<br />
<br />
Sorrow is something all too familiar. And Mai knows something about how to handle sorrow.<br />
<br />
Namely that she's terrible at it.<br />
<br />
"...it wasn't fair. And - you didn't have it easy. Those doubts about what could have been, what you should have done differently-" Mami doesn't want to dwell on it. And yet - for Mai, that is the important thing. "That's why. That's the real reason."<br />
<br />
She doesn't reach for her scone, for all that it's ready to be devoured. Nor does Mai sip at her tea, even as it begins to cool past the point of deliciousness. Because this is what she could only admit to the dead.<br />
<br />
"It's guilt. It's survivor's guilt. It's looking back on a past mistake, a past tragedy, and having it stick with you forever. Doing everything you could, putting yourself on the line, all to try to make amends for something you once did." Mai actually grits her teeth a moment, before trying to let it go, but the anger remains even after all this time-<br />
<br />
"You reminded me of myself, Mami Tomoe. Of the person I still can't forgive." She finally lets out a breath, looking down at the table. "Unfair as it was...that's why."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Acknowledging--understanding--isn't the same thing as dwelling. Mami could say that, but she doesn't. Because insead she is listening to what Mai has to say on it. Her own tea continues to sit, with the now-ready scone, buttered and prepared. Mami watches Mai, instead. As she mentions the guilt... <br />
<br />
"...I see." <br />
<br />
The anger is stil there. Mami sees it--and she sees how it wasn't about her, exactly. "...We both displaced the past onto the present. Onto people around us." She pauses, and looks still at Mai. Unfair or not... <br />
<br />
"I've layered more and more over the first one. Every mistake, every loss..." <br />
<br />
"....I appreciate you telling me," she settles on at length. "I wish I had something to make it better... but pretending I do would be the same kind of thing that got us fighting in the first place, right?" Mami picks up her tea after all. "For me... I didn't really set out to forgive myself. And when the stakes are high, and I think I'm going to fail people, that litany doesn't go away. I still remember the faces I couldn't save. Starting with those first two." <br />
<br />
"...I..." She hesitates, to say this. "I told you, that I felt like... Something /wanted/ me here. That same something helped me let go. I don't know if it's... a religious thing, or just something of my experiences, or even to do with having been... gone, for a long time." <br />
<br />
"But that's what it was like for me, at least."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's been a long time. And it's like yesterday, perhaps.<br />
<br />
Maybe it wasn't about either of them. Mai looks up, meets Mami's gaze, and just nods. Nods, and searches for words - but slowly takes up her tea to match, if only for something to occupy her hands. Because...sometimes something just hurts and there isn't a way to make it feel better.<br />
<br />
But there's an honest, earnest confession to cap it off, and Mai considers that answer. Considers happier days, and that strange warmth that came with waking up in a hated uniform.<br />
<br />
"It's...not a clear-cut thing. I think...I think you've changed for the better. You were...gone for a while, and I don't think any of us ever expected you back. Me, I barely got time to rest - there are days it feels less a kindness and more a task unfinished."<br />
<br />
She takes a sip of tea, but it's beginning to cool a little too much. Down the cup goes - but the scone is still warm, and she takes a piece in her hand, even as the butter drips down a cragged edge.<br />
<br />
"...it's not the same. But when that new day dawned, when I found myself in a kitchen I never expected to see again - I remembered. Like...something was reminding me to be kind in a way I could manage. If I hadn't been stretched so thin-" She shakes her head. "...I should make time. Before things change again. Just, I don't know, make parfaits for you and Sakura-san and Eri, and subject you all to a weirdly awkward dinner party."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Tea is tea. It is exacting, it requires precision... and it is what it is. The physical world is easier to focus on in many respects. Mami, too, drinks her tea. But evenually, after a while of silence, Mai speaks up, and Mami listens. <br />
<br />
"I appreciate that," Mami says, of having changed for the better. But there's not much she can say about Mai's experience with returning to life. It's not the same, no. But... <br />
<br />
"...Maybe it's not /so/ different," Mami says. <br />
<br />
"...No more 'if's, hm?" Mami answers. "...I think that sounds nice. I'm willing to deal with some awkwardness for a good dinner." A smile. "I think we all need to remeber to make that time." Pause. "Which means..." <br />
<br />
Mami sets down her teacup, "I should probably make some time, too." Sigh. "Well, let me know if you do find it, yes?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
A second chance at life was granted for a reason, after all. It feels...ungrateful to use that chance for the ordinary, everyday - but at the same time, a chance to live again could maybe be used to live again.<br />
<br />
Mai finally takes a bite of the scone. And utters a very quiet curse. "...with bakeries like this, how am I supposed to compete?"<br />
<br />
It is very good. Too good, in a way - but she spreads a little jam on another piece all the same.<br />
<br />
"I can't promise it'll all be nice. For one, I'm still firmly an amateur cook. For another, I've still got too much pride and might butt heads with you again. Old habits die harder than we do." She grins a bit, perhaps a little teasingly - hearts have been bared but the world is a little better a place.<br />
<br />
"...and I'm still something of a hot mess, to be honest. You saw that just a few days ago-" She shakes her head. "-but I won't get into that. I'm willing to follow your lead on that situation, at least. Well, yours and Eri's."<br />
<br />
...the scone really is quite good with jam.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami Tomoe does not hesitate to use her second chance on cake and tea as well as on believing in justice. ...She does try the scone once Mai has, though. "It is good," she agrees, and smiles amiably at the worry. She is... still fairly secure in her own.<br />
<br />
"Oh, that's fine," Mami says, airily. "I can't promise I won't, either." Old habits... Yes. The world is a little better a place; Mami actually laughs.<br />
<br />
The matter of messes, though... "It was a hard situation," is all Mami will asy about it for now. "...But good. I have my worries for Eri-chan, but she won't steer you wrong, I think." A beat, "And obviously I think my approach is working out well enough!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami Tomoe can laugh, and so can Mai, because some things are better.<br />
<br />
Mai is in no mood to bring up just how the Wraiths got into her head, and Mami seems to be willing to let the matter lie. There's faith in Eri, and as for Mami's approach working...<br />
<br />
"Well, of course you would think that. You're Mami Tomoe, after all." The older of the two girls brings back that smirk as old as their arguments.<br />
<br />
But she also raises her tea cup and holds it out in a kind of toast. "Don't worry. I fully intend to let you know if I don't like how you're doing things - or if I think you're getting self-destructive again. At least, so long as you're ready to call me out for being a hypocrite."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Oh, Mami's not going to touch that one. There are people who can talk to Mai about that issue and Mami is quite certain her name is not on the list. Eri maybe. But that smirk... Mami laughs again. Of course she would. But still--<br />
<br />
"Good," Mami answers, lifting her own teacup the same way. "By all means. I welcome it if it comes to it." A beat, "...I suppose I can stay ready for that in turn."<br />
<br />
Clink.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-12-01_-_Cause_For_Alarm2019-12-01 - Cause For Alarm2022-10-07T22:48:18Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Who needs class when you serve Dark Fall?</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Cause For Alarm'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Mikoto is trying to figure out how best to make her old friends miserable. Westar has a few suggestions.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar|Hayato Nishi]], [[Mikoto Minagi]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Dark Burger<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-12-01 - July 20th, 2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
A new day brings with it new demands, and for once Mikoto has tried to attend class. The long-sleeved magenta shirt underneath her Ohtori orange still marks her for an outsider - but more than that is the fact that she cannot answer a single question throughout the morning.<br />
<br />
She doesn't attend Ohtori regularly any more. She doesn't really know the answer to the questions.<br />
<br />
But her latest scheme failed, so she's looking to listen in on what everyone is excited for now, so she can ruin /that/ instead.<br />
<br />
Well... that's what she /was/ doing.<br />
<br />
It's what she was doing until she saw someone she didn't want to talk to, and she decided she didn't need to be in Ohtori for a few hours.<br />
<br />
Maybe she'll go back later and skulk around the clubs.<br />
<br />
Right now, she's hungry.<br />
<br />
She's hungry, and the Obsidian Lord's little sister has no need to want for a budget. It's not difficult at all for her to head into the fast-food eatery and order something; she doesn't have to worry about her change. She gets in line, thankful she's missed the noon rush: there aren't many school-age youth while school's still in session, and all the salarymen have already gone back to work.<br />
<br />
It means the lines are just /agonisingly/ long instead of /soul-crushingly/ long.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Hayato Nishi [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Life goes on, as ever-evolving on Earth as it is unchanging in Labyrinth.<br />
<br />
The last few months have been educational for the young man calling himself Hayato Nishi, as old routines take on new dimension with new components to his mission. He'd expected the university life to be more or less the same as high school life, but the reality proved to be rather...different.<br />
<br />
On a positive note, it seems as though concocting dark plots in class is less noticed than it was at Infinity.<br />
<br />
Today marks the start of a new week, and Hayato's lectures are done for the term. Exams might loom, but that's another day's problem - for today, he's hungry and in a mood to not cook for himself. There's exercising to do, and muscle mass requires calories.<br />
<br />
Thus, Dark Burger. The lines have shortened a bit by the time he enters - though an argument seems to have started up by the counter involving a surly-looking cashier with a chip on his shoulder. Not Hayato's problem, but it's a delay...though, at least, a delay that he appears to not have to suffer alone.<br />
<br />
"Minagi! Didn't expect to see you here." He gets in line behind the shorter girl, rolling one shoulder. "I thought those schools still had classes - something come up again?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto looks up, from where she was frowning at the cashier, when she hears her name. Her scowl fades when she sees who's calling - they might not have their capes on right now, but they're still familiar to each other. It is not, particularly, an expression replaced by a smile, but it is at least /less/ unfriendly than she looked. A lack of unfriendliness is like friendliness.<br />
<br />
She hums noncommittally, as Hayato asks whether something came up. "... I wasn't learning anything good. And they kept asking me stuff I didn't know. So I left."<br />
<br />
That's apparently something you can /do/ in school. You can just /leave./<br />
<br />
Mikoto might be... a /bad influence./<br />
<br />
"Guess Hayato can do that, too, in university..." Mikoto doesn't know much about university classes. She's never needed to look into it. She has a different career plan.<br />
<br />
She frowns as she looks to the front of the line, where the argument is progressing. "... want to eat?" She asks, leaving implied the rider of eating together. It's obvious they came here to eat, so she doesn't need to explain herself.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Hayato Nishi [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar's cape is nowhere to be seen, but there's an honest cheer here - maybe a little brighter without that edge of malice that Westar has on the battlefield. Without Switching Over, Hayato Nishi is just tall, buff, and generally friendly.<br />
<br />
"Eh..." Hayato wobbles one hand. "No real questions, but they take attendance. Can't just skip out if class is in session, and I'm supposed to pay some attention. Mo-"<br />
<br />
For a moment, he freezes, realizing the public place they're in and that he's supposed to keep some kind of low profile. Mentioning Mobius is a bit of a giveaway, and so he tries to recover. "-ooom? Wants to know if there's information of value there, so I'm supposed to learn what there is and pass on anything useful."<br />
<br />
Westar's mission is to be studious. What kind of disaster...<br />
<br />
"Anyway, yeah. Got hungry and Shun got mad when I started the grill, so here I am. If you've got time to catch up..." He gestures to a nearby table, as a trio of customers storm by in a fury. The argument's wrapping up, so maybe Mikoto can order soon...<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Unlike Westar-come-Hayato, Mikoto has little delineation between her civilian disguise and reality. Perhaps that's why she remains dour, even when there's nothing here she's fighting against.<br />
<br />
She grunts, as Hayato makes his graceful recovery, and doesn't criticise his segue. It's as good a cover-up as she could have managed, and she knows what he means. "Sure," she agrees, vaguely, as he trails off, and steps up to order.<br />
<br />
Any further argument is shut down by her scowl and the money she hands over immediately. She doesn't stop long enough to figure out which one of those two worked. Instead she makes her way to the table Hayato indicated, landing her tray on the table with a light /thud./<br />
<br />
She takes a bite out of her burger as she waits. It's only when Hayato catches up that Mikoto will comment; she swallows first, because somewhere in her two years in Tokyo she learned she was supposed to do that. "My orders haven't changed," from harvesting their suffering, presumably, though she doesn't spell it out in a place like this, "so listening to them at school is good sometimes. I get to know more about what they care about right now."<br />
<br />
Munch, munch. "... but they know my face. I'm not like Hayato, so everyone knows it's me. Makes it harder." Mikoto frowns. It's not like she knew she'd need to do this, later in her life, and she ought to keep her secret. Besides, even if she tried, SEARRS would have still betrayed her.<br />
<br />
The food is good, she thinks, even as she eats slowly and doesn't look at all happy about it.<br />
<br />
"It's only... gotten harder," she adds, looking down at the beef with shaded eyes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Hayato Nishi [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's not long after Mikoto gets set up that Hayato follows - order placed, paid, and received. Perhaps it helps that the young man with the scuffed-out nametag went on break. Perhaps there was just a bit of luck to be had.<br />
<br />
Either way, Hayato is here, prompty munching on fries as Mikoto explains her side of things. The girl's exact mission is enough of a mystery that he tilts his head, trying to piece together something unsaid that he doesn't know for certain. Knowing what people care about is important, but...<br />
<br />
"Yeah, it's hard. You're outnumbered, and half of them know you well enough to keep trying to talk things out in the middle of a fight, right?" Hayato grabs a handful of fries, pauses, and plucks one away to hold with his other hand, separate from the group. "It's like Eas. She was one of us, and she knows exactly what Shun and I have as our orders - so some of the fights with her are hard. Not because she knows how to fight my monsters, but because she knows how to confuse me."<br />
<br />
There's a pause, as those words hang in the air, and then he stuffs the handful of fries in his mouth, chewing quickly before swallowing. "Cuts both ways, but those girls are a lot better at backing each other up than our side. So yeah, that's rough."<br />
<br />
He leans forward, wresting his chin on one hand. "Might be better to step back, try a different angle. Like - you're learning what they care about, but they know about those weaknesses and tend to protect them. You could, uh, figure out what makes younger siblings upset, and do that, and then them being mad will make your real enemies upset?"<br />
<br />
Frowning, Hayato shrugs before leaning back to unwrap his burger. "...depends on what you really want to do here."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto hums acknowledgement, with a little nod, as Hayato asks that question. Golden eyes track the course of that lone singular fry, as she continues nibbling at her burger.<br />
<br />
It cuts both ways...<br />
<br />
Her eyes shut, briefly, as she nods.<br />
<br />
She looks to Hayato again, as he makes his suggestions. "Eat," she answers, after he trails off - and then she frowns, as she realises he wasn't asking what she wants to do /here,/ at Dark Burger.<br />
<br />
"I'm supposed to... make them suffer," she explains, quietly, a little disgruntled. "They say I'm the one suffering... but... I wouldn't be sad if I didn't know them." She shakes her head, puffing a breath through her teeth. "They say... lots of things. I'm not supposed to listen..."<br />
<br />
With a dissatisfied little hum, she takes another bite from her burger, and she knows it's been cooked well. It's hot and tender and the vegetables are crisp. It's good.<br />
<br />
It's good, so she doesn't know why she still feels bad.<br />
<br />
"I think... hurting their family will just make things worse." Some of them are... particularly protective of their siblings. "I'm trying not to make things bad again," she does not stop to explain what bad is and how it's something which happened, "but... I'm working against myself. Sometimes I... forget, and... I hurt them a lot." Softly, she adds: "I haven't killed anyone yet, but... I guess I must've been trying."<br />
<br />
Mikoto looks away, lips pressing to a thin line. "When I get more orders, I usually end up hurting them a lot more... so I'm trying to figure it out for myself. Lord Brother said I didn't need to kill them, but it's hard to control myself... I guess I'm just like that," she notes, dismal.<br />
<br />
Munch. Mikoto looks back up to Hayato, hope like fragile spun glass. "But... it gets better, right?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Hayato Nishi [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Eating is a good idea. Even a Dark Burger Double Abyss tastes far better than any of the standard rations in Labyrinth, and it's something to appreciate while it lasts - until Mobius takes over and standardizes everything.<br />
<br />
Hayato nods sagely at Mikoto's grumblings about whether to listen to these former friends, because Westar has to put up with some of that too. It's sympathy, such as it is - the kind of problem he can recognize.<br />
<br />
Violence, though...the rule of beasts is a vicious one, and while Westar can be wanton with his destruction there's still something of a line. The girl before him has always been more comfortable with that line than him, so if even she's having misgivings...<br />
<br />
Maybe his unease shows on his face, and it doesn't dispel when her orders come up. Maybe it's proof that Mobius really is the best one to rule over everything, if this is what other powers in Dark Fall prefer as a way of doing business - but then again, Northa exists. Maybe this is just what to expect.<br />
<br />
"...it's chaotic and messy. Once we win - " As if it's ever in question. " - things can just settle down and get back to routine. That's something to...look forward to."<br />
<br />
There's a burger in front of him, the likes of which won't exist once Mobius takes over. Without saying a word, Hayato closes the wrapper back over it, folding his hands.<br />
<br />
"...'make them suffer', huh? If you're not scared of making them mad - " Admittedly, he kind of is - given how Cure Passion alone reacted to that one Nakewameke, this might be a gamble, but if Minagi needs some kind of alternative option... " - then mess with them before dawn. They're teenagers, having to get up for class is misery enough, so if you make enough commotion that they lose sleep and don't have time to go back to it - then they'll suffer without you having to get all...stabby."<br />
<br />
That's a Westar plan if ever there was one.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> Muse - United States of Eurasia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ok0expLH1o<br />
<br />
Mikoto doesn't exactly look happy with what she's being made to do, but she doesn't say it's /wrong,/ either.<br />
<br />
It's not wrong, because her Lord Brother gave her the power she wields, and her Lord Brother isn't wrong, not ever. He can't be wrong... can he?<br />
<br />
She will pretend she never posed that question to herself.<br />
<br />
She grunts, nodding to his assurances that things will improve. "They'll get used to it..." She'll get used to it, she adds, silently. She's fighting for a better world - a world made better by her Lord Brother - and all the sacrifice must be worth it. She can't forget their future.<br />
<br />
Mikoto watches Hayato wrap his burger up again, and doesn't comment on how he wouldn't have something as unique as fast food if his Lord Mobius were the one to succeed. She has the thought, certainly - can see how it might wound him - she thinks that way, these days. But she doesn't have to fight Hayato. There are so few people... she doesn't have to fight.<br />
<br />
She finishes off her own burger in silence.<br />
<br />
That restraint is rewarded with /advice,/ the way Hayato has always helped her with the transition. She frowns - first at his mention of fear and then in thought, as he goes on to explain his idea. "... right. They go to sleep late, 'cause we're causing trouble, then they have to wake up early... so they won't be thinking right, and they'll feel bad." She doesn't go so far as to explain how she knows that.<br />
<br />
"I think that'll work!" Mikoto decides, and she can't quite manage smiling about it but her expression is at least gentler than it was. "... thanks, Hayato. It's... easier with help. Without Hayato, I'd really..." But she stops and trails off, because even if it's easier with friends, the only one she's meant to love is her Lord Brother. That means she can't feel warmly towards him. Something she can justify with cats is harder, with a person.<br />
<br />
She grunts, the corner of her lip scrunching, and she stands abruptly. "It's useful," she settles on, more removed. "... I'd better get back to work. Good luck with school." That's work, for him, too.<br />
<br />
Mikoto seems a little embarrassed, as she makes her escape.<br />
<br />
He says that magical girls are better at backing each other up, but it wasn't so long ago that she fought as a magical girl, too.<br />
<br />
... she'll get used to it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Hayato Nishi [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
She's going back to 'work', not to school. If Hayato were inclined to be more responsible, he might say something about that...but things are what they are.<br />
<br />
"Just exams left. I'll be able to get back to work soon, too." He should be enthusiastic about that, shouldn't he.<br />
<br />
But at least he managed to help an ally today. That's at least something.<br />
<br />
Left alone, he things about just what he's got to do before ever returning to that burger.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-08-15_-_Dead_Girls_Feel_No_Suffering2019-08-15 - Dead Girls Feel No Suffering2022-10-07T22:47:54Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Soup and sorrow.</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Dead Girls Feel No Suffering'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''After the defeat of Westar's latest Nakewameke, a couple of Dark Fall members go to have post-defeat ramen and a chat about the nature of misery.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Mikoto Minagi]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Taiyou Ramen Stand<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-08-15 - June 23rd, 2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> New Power, Cure Stick - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKRJ1SCensI<br />
<br />
It's a noisy evening in Asakusa, as a great commotion is going on in the main market streets. Chaos and calamity, trouble and turmoil, a menacing monster to ruin shopping trips and cause misery.<br />
<br />
It's slightly odd-looking. A traditional wooden bun steamer was chosen to corrupt, but the Nakewameke of Labyrinth are almost always partly mechanical - especially when Westar sends them out. The result is a clanking robot whose limbs and torso all resemble wooden barrels, venting steam with every step. Billowing clouds of mist make it hard to see exactly what transpires...<br />
<br />
...but it is very, very loud. Defiant shouts, resounding blasts, fierce impacts that make a giant bun steamer go flying. In spite of its stature, it might be outmatched. There's a shout, culminating in a ferocious "FRESH!", and the mist gets very bright indeed.<br />
<br />
Westar doesn't stay to watch his monster get demolished - he's been at this enough to recognize when it's over. Gloomily, he picks his way among bits of debris flung from the battle, absent-mindedly sidestepping a searing bolt of light, and just makes his way further down the street.<br />
<br />
His footsteps come to a halt by Taiyou Ramen Stand - still intact and still manned, in spite of the excitement. Shoulders heavy and stomach empty, he makes his way to the counter, brushing cape aside as he takes a seat.<br />
<br />
"...one large beef ramen, please."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Everything looks small from a distance. It's just coincidental that one of those things is small up close, too.<br />
<br />
Mikoto Minagi needs to figure out how to make them pay, because her mind keeps clicking back to one option, and it's still too raw and new in her mind. She thought maybe she could learn something if she shadowed one of her senior agents, but all that mist makes it hard to see, even with keen eyes.<br />
<br />
She could go in and /help,/ she supposes, but Westar said they didn't much do that, and anyway, she's trying to figure out how it works, and she'd mess that whole process up if she got involved.<br />
<br />
A figure in the shadows deflects a slab of robot which goes flying out of the morass a little too close to her, and springs away before the rest of it can come apart. Westar's leaving, after all. That must mean it's time to go.<br />
<br />
A girl with a sword-case slung over one shoulder sweeps the veil of Taiyou's ramen stand aside, and goes to sit down. Maybe it's not so strange to see caped figures stalking in. It's far past a reasonable hour, and this is when the spirits pour out. Of course, there is a certain sense of politeness to ghosts. "The same," Mikoto says quietly to the patron of the establishment, glancing to the broader man beside her. "Thank you."<br />
<br />
Mikoto, at least, isn't a terribly unusual sight in these places, strange as she sometimes is.<br />
<br />
She still likes ramen.<br />
<br />
Once they've gotten their meals - no self-respecting yatai worker would interrupt late workings, even if these people /aren't/ ghosts - Mikoto murmurs the usual gratitude and cracks her chopsticks open, taking a slow mouthful or three. "... Westar left," she says, finally, looking to him in light confusion. "Why?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar doesn't really have a lot to say at first. The time waiting for the soup is spent in silence, failure hanging heavy on his shoulders. When it arrives, though -<br />
<br />
Ah, warm as the summer evening might pretend to be, that delicious steam brings true warmth to body and soul. That soy-scented broth, the shavings of beef, the dozen and one vegetables included as garnishes - the ramen here gleams with the heat of hospitality.<br />
<br />
There's a snap as Westar separates his chopsticks. Unlucky, perhaps, there's a chunk jutting out of the top - but little does he care. Noodles, first, then a mouthful of beef, and it isn't until he's swallowed down four mouthfuls of ramen that he answers his companion.<br />
<br />
"...no point in watching things fall apart." It's quiet, his voice - no boastful bellow, no proud proclamation. His words are those he might not even admit to Soular, but someone like Minagi isn't likely to try to twist them on him. "I try to support them, I really do. Some days there's a chance it'll make the difference, might tip things over into victory - or it's worth it just to keep things going longer. Sometimes, though....you know how many times I've gone out there, Minagi?"<br />
<br />
He pauses, slurping a long mouthful of ramen - a bit crass, perhaps, but nothing that hasn't been done before. "...I'm learning to see the writing on the wall. Some days, you can tell that your side's losing, and it's leave or risk getting set on fire."<br />
<br />
A moment's pause, as he fishes around for that decorative little cake, holding it up to the yatai's light for a moment. "...also, I was hungry."<br />
<br />
Chomp. Ramen's best enjoyed when hot.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> La Roux - Growing Pains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg1dYfnpW3k<br />
<br />
There's something clean and genuine to Mikoto, even now she tries so hard to play a game she doesn't understand. She is unused to lying and posturing. She does neither, as she listens to Westar's quiet admission. She sees no need to try.<br />
<br />
(Chopsticks were a metaphor, once. It hardly seems important now.)<br />
<br />
Westar tells her how little point there is, sometimes. He asks that incisive question, and Mikoto hums acknowledgement as her gaze slips back to her ramen-bowl, shaded with some old sadness. She knows he's tried a lot of times. She knows because they stopped him so many times, and so did she.<br />
<br />
There's nothing unusual to slurping ramen, in Japan; it's a perfectly normal way to express the food is good. Perhaps it's a cultural difference, but Mikoto doesn't seem fazed. She nods, with a quiet thoughtful noise, and takes a few more mouthfuls of her own bowl in silence. "Me too." On their hunger.<br />
<br />
It's good, she insists, to herself. This ramen is good.<br />
<br />
"So it's better to give up and leave," she concludes, finally. "Even if it didn't work." Maybe the words are shaped like condemnation, but they're not delivered with any particular invective. "... guess it makes sense. There's... lots of times it felt... too dangerous to fight any more." Where the danger lies is a variable thing.<br />
<br />
Another mouthful, another. It's good.<br />
<br />
"... monster's not very dangerous," she points out, after another pause. "Lots worse things to make magic. But Westar's aren't deadly. They're annoying." Is /that/ what magical girls think?! With curiosity borne of her own deficiency, she asks: "Why?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's no judgment from Minagi, which is a relief for the Executive. Frankly, his orders starting out were vague, but there's a niggling notion that doing things the way he has violated the spirit of them.<br />
<br />
As long as he gets some kind of results, though-<br />
<br />
-well, expectations are apparently low.<br />
<br />
The ramen is good, he silently agrees, and after sipping from the bowl he can't hide the smile on his face. For him, the sentiment is earnest, without regret or remembrence.<br />
<br />
Compared with the food he's known all his life, everything here is delicious.<br />
<br />
Westar can't hide the side glance at Mikoto's comment of 'too dangerous to fight', and honestly doesn't even try. There have been dangers, and she was chief among them - but she's an ally now, so he doesn't voice the thought.<br />
<br />
There's another question, though, and Westar contemplates a ramen noodle as he considers his answer. He knows his monsters are seen as more annoying than deadly, he knows what kind of reputation he has among the magical girls as a whole, he knows what his actions have been.<br />
<br />
There's no anger. Not even resignation. When he speaks, it's like he's reciting a truth from the telephone book. "Deadly force isn't part of my orders."<br />
<br />
He slurps the noodle down, and then clarifies. "My orders are to gather as much Misery Energy as possible. If a Nakewameke is active while people are sad or scared or upset, then we make progress. It's as simple as that." Maybe not so simple, with trans-dimensional searches and Northa siphoning from the gauge for her own schemes and a dozen other factors - but those aren't part of his orders, either. "Getting people killed is a waste of resources - dead bodies can't get emotional about things, so there's not much point in doing that."<br />
<br />
Maybe that's the full answer - but after another long gulp of broth, a few more noodles, a few slivers of beef - after all that, his shoulders soften a bit, and from his slouch he glances at Mikoto. "Besides. If it's a deadly threat, you people - well, the people you used to work with, anyway - tend to answer in kind, and I can get more work done if I'm not dead either."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar is following orders.<br />
<br />
Mikoto nods, with an affirmative noise; it makes perfect sense to someone like her. And all the things he says make sense, too. There's a twitch of a frown as she glances to him from around a mouthful of ramen and he lumps her in with /them,/ but he corrects himself quickly enough, so she doesn't complain. Especially not when he's still /right./<br />
<br />
"I'm... supposed to make them suffer," she volunteers, after another moment of silence devoted to her noodle bowl. "I don't have to kill them. But... it's hard," she confesses, in quiet sadness. "They go too far, and I get too mad, and... and I'm scared I'm hesitating. I can't do that." Perhaps Westar isn't the only one who'd admit things here he wouldn't elsewhere.<br />
<br />
She pokes at a ramen noodle with her chopstick. "I thought... maybe if I followed Westar... I could learn how," she says, not quite able to look at him. "'Cause Westar used to make me feel bad. I don't, want to kill them. I just - want to hurt them." The word catches in her throat a little. It must be a shred of vegetable.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Orders are orders, and Westar is just glad that someone else not from Labyrinth gets it.<br />
<br />
Even the large bowl of ramen can only go so far, and the noodles are getting further apart in Westar's bowl. Maybe that's convenient; he can pick at it a little more idly while Minagi talks about her own orders, her own troubles. He nods sadly at the concerns, at the fears that the magical girls seem to invoke - and his brow furrows a bit. Whatever fury was brewing turns to surprise, though, at an absurd idea.<br />
<br />
"Huh? You want to learn from me?" He scratches the back of his head, bafflement written plain on his face as he tries to figure out what she means. "I follow orders, but Soular's way more effective. I just keep going out and hope quantity will make up for quality. I mean, I can try..."<br />
<br />
What did he do to Minagi?<br />
<br />
Maybe there's a more useful topic. "So - the magical girls. Most of them keep trying and trying to change your mind, to try telling you that your orders are wrong and causing suffering. I've known...allies who got swayed by that kinda thing, so all I can suggest is...look at the big picture. What you're doing all this for." What Mobius wants is deontologically good, and that's what matters.<br />
<br />
"As for you...I dunno. I guess I told you what you were doing? Not sure how that would make someone miserable..." Shrugging, he turns back to his bowl, because broth must be slurped when hot.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There is something immutable about commands from on high.<br />
<br />
Even when they're vague.<br />
<br />
Mikoto's Lord Brother told her to make them suffer. He didn't tell her /how./ She just has to figure it out. She just has to figure out a way how to do it without falling into berserkergang and making a terrible mistake.<br />
<br />
It's like she's fighting a war on two fronts. Someone probably said not to do that, at some point in Japanese history.<br />
<br />
Westar is surprised to hear that Mikoto is trying to learn from him, and she's confused to see /him/ so baffled. There's just question marks all around, as she scrunches her lip around a stray noodle. (It disappears a moment later.) "Soular made me feel bad too," Mikoto supposes, on making her miserable. "... but Soular does it different."<br />
<br />
Even if she tried very, very hard, Mikoto doesn't think she'd ever be able to follow Soular's example. He's too thoughtful about it. It's hard for Mikoto to think at all in the middle of a fight.<br />
<br />
She picks at her dwindling bowl, glancing aside as Westar advises her. She hums over the remnants of her noodles, looking away when he tells her to look at why she's doing it, and listens without looking to the rest.<br />
<br />
"For our future..." That's what she's doing this all for. She doesn't need to know any more than that, does she?<br />
<br />
She doesn't need to think about what that future looks like, or why they need to cry so much.<br />
<br />
"... magical girls... say lots of things. How... I know this is wrong, I'll get hurt, I'm not happy, I'm... 'brainwashed'... whatever that is," Mikoto grumbles, in grumpy aside, because she's never heard the word before. "It's too much. I'm so - mad. I want to make them pay. Or... maybe Miroku does," she adds, more uncertainly, shaking her head. "I don't know. Maybe it don't matter." They're of a kind, the two of them.<br />
<br />
She puffs out her cheek with a grumbling little noise, weaving a stray noodle around her chopstick. It's easier to focus on Westar's actions than the girls'. "Westar... saw what I was. I felt... really bad, 'cause I thought I was different. Thought I was on their side. I didn't wanna see it." Munch, munch, go the noodles. "... guess truth hurts worse."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Everything for Mobius.<br />
<br />
Everything for Lord Brother.<br />
<br />
So much similarity, even with the unfathomable gulf that is one of them being horribly mistaken.<br />
<br />
Westar, like Mikoto, is nearly at the end of his bowl. While she ponders, he leaps figuratively ahead, picking out the last of the noodles and garnishes. It's still delicious, but it's beginning to cool off - but then, he's almost done.<br />
<br />
He waits until Mikoto's done talking, done reminiscing, before he speaks again. No authority, no fear - he's musing aloud, almost curious. "That's...kind of the weird thing about life on Earth. This idea that people can do things differently, and not have one of the ways be wrong...it's weird. It's confusing. But here we are."<br />
<br />
Bowl in both hands, he swirls the broth. "Like you said, you've seen my monsters. My strategy might not be yours. But you're the one wielding Miroku, right? Go with the strategy you think would work. If you want my advice, though..." Swirl, swirl - and then in one fell swoop, Westar chugs the rest of the broth.<br />
<br />
Glug, glug, glug - thunk. Bowl drained, he gives Mikoto as serious a look as he can muster. "I do my best when something makes me miserable, and I turn around and use that. You need to hurt them? Think about what hurt you the most. That might work best."<br />
<br />
There's a clink as he sets down his payment on the counter, clapping his hands as he nods to the cook. Minagi gets a grin from the man, an encouraging nod. "You're pretty scary, I think you'll be fine. Just give me a shout if you need anything, okay? And thanks for sharing the meal." With a flourish of his cape, he ducks out of the yatai, starting towards home.<br />
<br />
Eventually he might remember to drop the transformation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Sometimes it's gotta be different," Mikoto supposes. "That's why it's not just me." She's all the strength her Lord Brother needs, out here, but sometimes he needs a chisel rather than a chainsaw.<br />
<br />
And that's why they keep Nagi around.<br />
<br />
Mikoto supposes she should be grateful to him for how he must have served her Lord Brother while she'd forgotten where to find him. But... no. No, he's still a loathsome little gnat, even if he has some use.<br />
<br />
It's easy to feel annoyed at the people standing beside her, when they were needling her not so long ago. It's easy to feel ashamed of how she opposed them, not knowing the truth. But even if Westar has a different approach, Mikoto thinks there's a certain similarity to their philosophies, and that might make it easier to talk to him, too. They're both hungry.<br />
<br />
"My strategy..." Mikoto muses, and follows suit with the last of her broth. She's never really had a strategy: only instinct. It's hard to take those intuitive parts, remove and explain them, name them for explicit thought. She still remembers struggling to do so on the ship like a hand, in that cell with Endo. She's never been a very good teacher. She doesn't remember enough.<br />
<br />
(Mikoto has not approached Endo since... for a while now. It's just too complicated.)<br />
<br />
But as guarded as she is - tries to be, Mikoto does want advice, desperately. And so when Westar looks to her he will find her looking up at him, attentive and intent. If there's something sickly about the taste of his advice, it's drowned out by beef and broth.<br />
<br />
It makes perfect, awful sense, face dawning pained recognition. She grunts agreement, with a firm and serious nod. "I understand." If it hurts her, it will hurt them, too. Of course. She was amongst them for so long. She must have picked up something of their sensibilities. So if she doesn't like it...<br />
<br />
Westar grins to Mikoto, but Mikoto can't quite muster a smile back. "'Kay," she nods, again, and at least it's friendlier this time. "Thanks, Westar."<br />
<br />
And she is left alone to finish off the remnants of her noodles.<br />
<br />
And she is left alone to think about...<br />
<br />
'I can see the pain in your eyes! The one who's really going to suffer is you! Not us!'<br />
<br />
...---...<br />
<br />
"Mikoto." Her Lord Brother turns his head, smiling to her, warm and welcoming as she approaches him, her equipment placed aside. His gaze casts with casual ease over her body, the trace suggestions of battle she has worn so often on her return to his demesne, and she looks up to him in firm assurance that his wishes have been carried out.<br />
<br />
She doesn't waste words on the telling, any more. How much it costs her. What she thinks. Why she's still sad sometimes, even though she has everything she ever wanted.<br />
<br />
His hand comes to rest beside that cut in her shirt, at the shoulder, so gently. "... I see you've been working hard." And her gaze softens at the recognition, cracks at the edges. He praises her and she smiles, because there is approval in the way he breaks his long silence, approval in his eyes. "You wound them so deeply. Listen to their hearts scream..."<br />
<br />
There are no secret things as she looks up to him, gentled under his touch. He looks at her as if she is the only thing he sees, and his loving attention is a blessing, the only thing which keeps her fighting under the constant onslaught of their attacks. But her eyes remember what her throat has forgotten how to say. She has never been able to hide anything. The way she does not like their cries - the way she screams just as fiercely.<br />
<br />
He reaches up, fond of voice and touch as a strong hand reaches out to play one of her black braids about his fingers. "I know," he assures her, quietly, concern in the curve of his brow; she knows it is true because he loves her. She hears so much in two words, recognition of all the pain she suffers, the weight of what he asks. "There is so much power in their pain, Mikoto. That power is something I need. For our country, for the peace of the world..."<br />
<br />
His fingers tuck that braid behind her ear, delicately. "... for our happiness..."<br />
<br />
She tilts her face into the motion, acquiescent and allayed in the face of his intensity, framed by warm purple light.<br />
<br />
"... bring me the strength to build our future. Bring me their suffering."<br />
<br />
Distantly Mikoto remembers what Fate has said, and thinks it a strange little thing, that she warned against her Lord Brother hurting her, when the truth is so different.<br />
<br />
He needs it so badly.<br />
<br />
Mikoto has no choice but to grasp a double-edged blade.<br />
<br />
She'll do it to herself.<br />
<br />
"Yes, Lord Brother," she finds she replies, with little thought paid to it; it is heartfelt for all its automation.<br />
<br />
She will shatter herself on the cliffs of her loyalty. It is for his sake.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-07-01_-_It_Was_One_Time2019-07-01 - It Was One Time2022-10-07T22:47:08Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Welcome to the dark side, Mikoto.</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: It Was One Time'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Westar is informed that Dark Fall has a new ally in Mikoto Minagi. He has questions.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Mikoto Minagi]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Akihabara Electric Town<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-07-01 - June 12th, 2019<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> Nine Inch Nails - The Greater Good https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seXBoFSnw48<br />
<br />
After her defeat at the hands of Cure Passion, Mikoto rests on the obsidian throne, her head lain safely in her Lord Brother's lap. She dozes, half out of sleep, black-glass dreams running through her mind. The warmth of other people doesn't seem to chase them away, any more, but that's okay. They're reminders of her happy youth, her Lord Brother's love.<br />
<br />
But as she slowly wakes, comforted and in comfort, more recent memories start invasively seeping in. Those girls said so many things. Her eyes scrunch, lips pressing together. Half-asleep, it feels like there's something to those words she can't... quite... gras--<br />
<br />
"Mikoto," she hears his gentle voice, feels his fingers stroking concern through her hair.<br />
<br />
With a sleepy little noise, her eyes blink open, and she smiles up to him. She is love, love, love. What was she thinking about..? Her obsidian heart is so full, with the love she sees in his eyes, too.<br />
<br />
She pushes herself up, leans against his side with the sluggishness of old slumber. Slowly, in the intimacy of silence, the question comes back to her. And when it does, there is a troubled little tint to her eyes, a breath drawn in and held for long moment. She looks down, to her fingers curled in against his jacket.<br />
<br />
"Mikoto," he says again, softly, as his capable hand pauses in stroking her hair to tilt her head, gently guiding her gaze back up to his. He looks at her and she knows she is his world, focused with such concern on her and her alone. "What's the matter?"<br />
<br />
Is anything wrong?, Mikoto has to ask herself, in the wake of his worry. Doesn't she know that her enemies will say things to hurt her and try to turn her blade aside? Enemies are enemies, he told her. She can't listen to them.<br />
<br />
... but...<br />
<br />
She finds her voice is meek, when she answers, fear that she has failed him. "They're our enemies," she ventures, uncertain. "... but... they said..." She can't quite manage to say what they said. It's too scary to approach.<br />
<br />
He sees her pain; he feels every inch of it, concern written plain for her. "Oh, Mikoto," he sighs, the breath revealing to her how heavy the weight he carries. "They'll say anything to sway you. But they'd never accept us. Those girls will always fight what they cannot accept. You survived among them... I'm sure you saw it. They are very dangerous, Mikoto."<br />
<br />
She can't deny it: there have always been some people they strove against, people they fought, even people they killed. Before the war, those people...<br />
<br />
'Mikoto... look at me... in the eyes. ... we have the same eyes.'<br />
<br />
'But I remember when /I/ opposed Pretty Cure and Puella Magi.'<br />
<br />
Their words run through her mind, and the implication frightens her. His eyes are so gold; their eyes are so gold. She finds herself almost wanting to look away. She finds she can't, gaze flicking to the side of his face and centering back on him, him, him. She looks up to him, and her uncertainty is his.<br />
<br />
"Mikoto," he soothes her, fingers stroking gently in her hair, "believe in me." It is a reminder of the commission which binds her, and the tension in her face softens.<br />
<br />
"Yes, Lord Brother."<br />
<br />
For long moments they are silent, as he gazes to her eyes. He is her world, too. There is nothing in existence but the glow of that gold.<br />
<br />
Finally, he speaks, takes mercy on her confusion. "Against strong enemies," he explains, softly, "we must have strong allies, who will not be misled by the ones who oppose us. Do you understand, Mikoto?"<br />
<br />
"Yes, Lord Brother," he asked and Mikoto must answer.<br />
<br />
A smile crosses his face, before it fades to something more serious. "Who opposes the magical girls of Tokyo, Mikoto?"<br />
<br />
It is only natural he would ask her; she fought alongside them for so long. (She thought she was one of them for so long.) She knows the answer. Her teeth press in against her lip, as she looks up to him, helplessly. He looks to her, gentle and expectant.<br />
<br />
She knows the answer. She must answer. "... Dark Fall."<br />
<br />
"Good," he praises her. Presses further: "Who are our allies, Mikoto?"<br />
<br />
'I'm not good... but I'm not like Westar!'<br />
<br />
Oh, she realises, warmth at the pendant by her chest. It dulls her gaze, dulls her protests, a hundred clashes with dark forces. "Dark Fall," she answers, again. "... we're Dark Fall." And that's why the magical girls can't accept them, she realises. That's why they oppose her - and her Lord Brother. It makes so much sense, now. That's how he knows they'll hurt them. That's why they're a threat.<br />
<br />
He smiles his pride at her conclusion, and joy sparks in the morass of her heart, a fragile smile flickering over her face in turn. "Good," he murmurs. "Get along with them, won't you, Mikoto?" As if he has seen the conflict she struggles with: "These are people you don't have to fight."<br />
<br />
Gratitude shines in her eyes, because he's still looking after her. "Yes, Lord Brother."<br />
<br />
They have allies. They're not alone.<br />
<br />
...---...<br />
<br />
There are all sorts, in Akihabara on a Saturday: cosplayers and nerds of every variety. It's the sort of place someone could blend in - even if they're not dressed for the season. At least it's not so warm in the morning light, a light drizzle leeching away the heat of summer.<br />
<br />
The young scion of Minagi sits under the broad umbrella of an outdoor cafe, the sort where every waitress has a themed outfit. It's hidden in an out of the way corner of the district; there isn't much traffic, back here. She likes it better that way.<br />
<br />
If she finds someone, she'll give them a hard time. But no one can blame her if there's no one around, can they? It's not that she's neglecting her duties, she justifies it to herself. She's not avoiding it.<br />
<br />
Us three, she thinks, out of nowhere.<br />
<br />
Fine, she goes on to herself, exhausted. Maybe she's avoiding it a little. Her Lord Brother did warn her it would be hard. And she wants to make him happy, she really does. Making him smile is the most important thing in the world. It's just - everyone was so...<br />
<br />
She really betrayed them, she thinks, gaze dropping to the half-eaten cake on her plate. It's delicious. No one could tell, with the morose look she gives it.<br />
<br />
But even though she hurt them, so many still call her their friends. She couldn't even call Cure Passion's display vengeful. She was fighting her, but she didn't...<br />
<br />
"I don't get it," Mikoto mutters, to herself. Don't they understand - she's their enemy?<br />
<br />
Mikoto stabs half-heartedly at her cake with the western fork this cafe uses, scowling at it. She can remember their litany of destruction. She knows how dangerous her erstwhile friends are to her. Hurting them shouldn't worry her any more.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<span style="color:#79e5e5">Directive: Reclassify Earth entity designated 'Mikoto Minagi' as tentative ally of Labyrinth.</span><br />
<br />
"...my foot she is."<br />
<br />
The note had arrived just as every other official notice from Labyrinth - ornately sealed and delivered immediately and directly to Westar's present location.<br />
<br />
At the time, that was his apartment, in his bed, landing directly on his sleeping face.<br />
<br />
It's been some time since it arrived, and still he scowls at the contents. Northa's hand would be recognizable even without the signature, yet part of him really wants to disbelieve. With a sigh, he folds it back up, tucking it into a pocket of his cape.<br />
<br />
In any other part of Tokyo, walking around with pale green hair and a billowing cape would get at least three magical girls challenging him within minutes. In Akihabara, it's Saturday, and he's gotten a dozen enthusiastic compliments already.<br />
<br />
(The cape would normally get overbearing in summer heat. But after last summer, he learned to stick ice packs in it.)<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the enthusiasm is a double-edged sword. Wander as he might, he can't find any easy opportunities for misery - frankly these lunatics would probably cheer at the sight of a Nakewameke. Give it another few hours, and maybe it would be hot enough that something might work...but right now? Right now there's almost no potential misery to be found.<br />
<br />
And yet, speaking of double-edged swords...<br />
<br />
"...that's pretty good timing for Earth." He clenches one fist a bit, but steps across the cafe's boundary without hesitation. No point in waiting to be seated - he has a table in mind, and between his confidence and his arms the waitstaff seem content to step back and watch for the moment.<br />
<br />
A shadow passes over the cake, a figure looming taller than the girl seated here. His arms are folded, and he glances between the girl there and what's in a nearby case. Present, difficult to ignore, but just out of stabbing distance...<br />
<br />
"...not like us, huh?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Capes are hot, but Mikoto doesn't stay out too long, so it's fine. She's not uncomfortable with the warm way her Lord Brother has dressed her. He just wants her not to get cold at home.<br />
<br />
A sharper shadow joins the gentle one of the umbrella canopy, as someone joins her underneath it, out of the lightly-pattering rain. Mikoto frowns, irate but unhurried, as she turns her head to see who has the gall to interrupt her.<br />
<br />
And then she has to look up, because she was expecting a tall girl, not a /very tall man./<br />
<br />
... is this better, or worse?<br />
<br />
For once, Mikoto doesn't reach for the strap of her sword-case, on seeing Westar. She remembers her Lord Brother's command, and she has no intention to cause trouble. But her lips press tightly together, because it wasn't so long ago she did intend to. It's not easy, seeing him now.<br />
<br />
Then he asks his question. Her eyes widen, and she looks away, humming through her lips. Perhaps she's ashamed she didn't realise it. But, then, she'd never have listened to an agent of Dark Fall, telling her she was just the same. ... because, she thinks, magical girls don't listen to them.<br />
<br />
"I didn't know," she insists. "Didn't remember." She thought she was like them. She tried so hard to be like them.<br />
<br />
A breath puffs through closed teeth, and she clicks her tongue against it in frustration before she returns her attention to Westar. And here she says, perhaps, the most unlikely thing in the world: "... Westar was right about me. I should've listened."<br />
<br />
Because she is good, and she is like Westar.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The fleeting sunshower pitter-patters down onto Westar's head, the patio umbrella offering no respite to those who stand clear of its protection. The Executive himself seems unperturped, however; months and months of Soular stealing his umbrella on stormy days has inured him against the sorrows of rainfall.<br />
<br />
He's like a boulder as he waits for an answer. The answer is memory, apparently, a statement answered in turn with a noncommittal grunt. The following statement is clearly a surprise, though,, the Executive taking a step back as his eyebrows shoot up.<br />
<br />
"...I was right?" A fleeting joy is ruthlessly squashed, however, as he returns to that same looming glower. "Well. That just goes to show..."<br />
<br />
Maybe a frown, instead, as he considers the girl. "Hang on. So you're working with us now...but before, you were helping them. You said you didn't remember which side you were supposed to be on...but you were still that ruthless?"<br />
<br />
Westar starts pacing. Unlike some, he never got the memo about intimidating circling, so instead he just walks back and forth, muttering aloud. "How's that work, anyway - are you going to do more or less of that whole..."<br />
<br />
Awkwardly, he gestures to the sword-case.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto frowns, fingers tightening around her fork. She remembers telling Eri enemies must be defeated; remembers telling Kasagami she was not merciless enough to be King; remembers telling Chitose murder was her best option.<br />
<br />
She takes in a breath; she nods, scowling, with a quiet little grunt.<br />
<br />
How did she not realise just how different she was..?<br />
<br />
... maybe she didn't want to realise.<br />
<br />
Westar starts pacing, but Mikoto is secure enough in her own power to stay seated. Or maybe she's trying to avoid problems; awkward as this situation is, misunderstandings happen. He's muttering, but her ears are sharp enough to listen anyway. It's a shame. If she couldn't hear him, she might not have heard him cut to the core of the issue a second time.<br />
<br />
Mikoto hums, unsettled, as her eyes fall on Miroku again. Miroku, who cries out for bloodshed, who is designed to kill.<br />
<br />
Just like her.<br />
<br />
And now she knows it - now she really, truly knows it, the way she never could before - and there's something else, too.<br />
<br />
That boy... he...<br />
<br />
Perhaps the long silence is unsettling, too, as Mikoto deals with her discomfort. "... Lord Brother said I don't have to kill them," she says, finally. "I just gotta make them suffer." Those are her orders: it's easier to think about them.<br />
<br />
Maybe it would be easy to leave it at that.<br />
<br />
But people move like that when they're nervous, when they're unsure. And maybe there's still a part of Mikoto who wants to be understood with words, not just intuitively.<br />
<br />
She's more hesitant, when she speaks again. "It'd be easier... if I was like that. I have to, think about it, all the time. Remember, to think. So I talk to them. 'Cause I have to think about it." Her fingers rub at the fork, quiet for a moment. "It's just... I wanted one of them dead. I got what I wanted... but, by then I remembered what I'd done, and... I didn't want it no more. I think... that's why my Lord Brother let me do it this way. I just... couldn't afford to, know how sad killing was. I guess if I did, I would've remembered..."<br />
<br />
Mikoto really shouldn't be so sad around someone who deals in sorrow. She shakes her head, biting at her lip for a moment, pushing aside those complicated feelings.<br />
<br />
"If my Lord Brother decides it's best way to hurt them," she says, firmer now, "I won't hold back. But if they think they can still reach me, they'll suffer more, won't they?" It's a convenient sort of justification. Maybe that's what she tells herself. "I've learned they draw line at killing. Everything changes when someone dies. So, that's why..."<br />
<br />
Her lips scrunches, eyes blinking shut for a moment. They were her friends, she thinks and does not say. The fighting was supposed to be over. She was supposed to...<br />
<br />
She desperately does not want to kill Eri again.<br />
<br />
"... that's why," she says, instead.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar's mutterings were always meant at least for a giant monster's ears; he might not have been as quiet as he thought he was.<br />
<br />
It's an awkward situation, regardless, and the mystery that is HiME Mikoto Minagi sits before him with unfinished cake. Someone fighting against Labyrinth, but with a willingness to kill - she's not unique, but is certainly rare. Understanding people is difficult, but maybe...<br />
<br />
And then in a handful of sentences, Mikoto's change of heart is made clear.<br />
<br />
Westar's footsteps slow to a halt, and he looks at Mikoto with his head tilted. There's elaborations, of course, and some of them are even useful tips. The core of everything is clear to him, now. The most important decision that Mikoto has made is understood.<br />
<br />
"So in short...someone finally started giving you orders properly. Good. Sounds like this 'Lord Brother' guy is doing a better job than whoever you were listening to before."<br />
<br />
The tragedy of death is something that, officially, Westar isn't supposed to contemplate. At most, unnecessary waste of resources is meant to be avoided. He...might be a little more tentative than intended there. Maybe.<br />
<br />
Flimsy justifications always were flimsy.<br />
<br />
He takes a few steps away from Mikoto, looking out over the outdoor cafe's fence. A moment, considering the city, considering everything that was said. Then an answer, without facing her directly.<br />
<br />
"...you'll fit in just fine. People who die can't produce sorrow or misery or suffering, which makes killing...wasteful. My orders are to gather as much of those things as I can, so the line they want to draw works out for me." He drums his fingers on the fence, hesitating again, then turns to face her.<br />
<br />
"Glad you're on board for now. You do your thing, I'll do mine, and hopefully we won't have any more problems. Just...don't expect much working together in this group, not like you used to have." He frowns. "Learned that the hard way. So yeah. Good luck with all that suffering, and listen to that 'Lord Brother' of yours. Sounds like he's got good advice."<br />
<br />
With a flourish of his cape, he turns to walk away, leaving behind girl, sword, and cake. A thought strikes him on his way out, though, and he turns for one last parting word.<br />
<br />
"And no more dropping trees on me or my allies, you hear me?!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mikoto isn't a /giant/ monster.<br />
<br />
(Especially compared to Westar, she's actually very small.)<br />
<br />
Perhaps it isn't surprising, that someone like her can offer workable advice in misery; she is well-bred and finely crafted. More than that, she is inside their hearts, where their blood should be. She learned so much - how did her Lord Brother put it? - surviving with them.<br />
<br />
A lot of the things she learned were good. Some, less so.<br />
<br />
Westar comes to understand her explanation, and the truth behind it. Her tension relaxes when he reaches his conclusion; the only correct conclusion. "We're family," she says, smiling up to him, as if it explains everything: why her Lord Brother knows how to consider her feelings, why his orders are good and right and just.<br />
<br />
It's nice to hear /someone/ appreciate her Lord Brother's assistance. The girls say such awful things about him. She hates that most of all. How could they insult him like that? He's the most important person in the world.<br />
<br />
Westar steps away, and gives some hard-earned advice of his own. This time, Mikoto is listening. "Thanks," she says, and she means it. "I will. Let's get along, Westar." That's what her Lord Brother told her to do, after all.<br />
<br />
But perhaps he doesn't quite understand who Mikoto's family really is, and they're allies, so she clarifies as he turns: "Westar might know my Lord Brother as the Obsidian Lord."<br />
<br />
That might have been the end of it, if Westar didn't turn around. For a moment Mikoto's face is stricken, as she remembers what she did to Yumi. Sadness floods her eyes, as she is confronted with the danger she can pose even to the people she loved.<br />
<br />
She can't accept that sadness; she can't feel that regret. She pushes it aside with anger, angry Westar would linger on the past, angry he would assume she'd go against her Lord Brother's wishes to hurt her allies, angry Westar made her feel bad. After a moment of stunned silence, she yells after him:<br />
<br />
"ONE TIME!"</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2015-03-24_-_Rolling_Out_The_Misery2015-03-24 - Rolling Out The Misery2022-10-07T02:17:24Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Rolling Out The Misery..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Rolling Out The Misery'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''The petty annoyances of passing traffic lead Westar to unleash a monster on the shopping ward - but he was unprepared for the response he received.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Inori Yamabuki|Cure Pine]], [[Kanade Minamino|Cure Rhythm]], [[Ikiko Hisakata|Cute Wolf Tsukiko]], [[Duck|Princess Tutu]], with a cameo by Anthy Himemiya.<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Shibuya Shopping Ward<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2015-03-24 - June 12th, 2014<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Hayato Nishi [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Shibuya Shopping District is busy this afternoon. Between yesterday's downpour and this morning's intermittent drizzles, the general atmosphere is damp - but the spirits of those in the district are not. Precipitation has cleared up, and shops are doing good business - with children hopping over puddles on their way to get treats, or socialites carefully bagging new clothing, it's a general sense of fun.<br />
<br />
There's still occasional reminders of the season - the clouds remain an ominous gray, benches are all rather wet, and puddles line the sides of the streets - with storm drains just clogged enough that there's practically small ponds slowly draining in spots.<br />
<br />
Traffic is light, but still in existence - and some cars take curves a touch too quickly. The odd car in a rush might tear through puddles, leaving sprays of water obnoxiously in its wake as it heads off to whatever matter of import awaits its driver - but for the most part, it's as nice a day as one can get with those looming clouds.<br />
<br />
Nice for most. Not too far from the main shopping hub - a few streets away - a tall blond-haired man steadily makes his way down the sidewalk with an umbrella overhead and purchases in hand. Food, for the most part, and one or two school things - mostly just a chance to get out and see how people are handling the weather. Better than expected - even a sudden downpour wouldn't quench that happiness. What to do, what to do...<br />
<br />
His musings are interrupted by one of those rare cars in a terrible hurry - speeding in order to get to a red light faster, racing through a massive puddle, and unleashing a mighty spray of water that completely drenches the man. His umbrella is lost in the water spray, his food ruined, and generally he's all washed up. Most would curse the impoliteness, and move on...but he is not most, and there's no one else near him.<br />
<br />
"Switch....over!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Hayato Nishi transforms into Westar!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Ikiko Hisakata [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Rain or shine, Ikiko does her best to feed her canine friends on a fairly regular basis. At times this season it's felt like there were more rain-dogs (and -cats) coming out of the sky than there were dogs on the ground, but days like today make for a nice change of pace.<br />
<br />
Of course, when the rain is bad enough, it does make for delays, which is why she's carrying more supplies than usual. "Okay, I've already fed the dogs in that neighborhood, making up for yesterday," she muses to herself. "Which means that I should go feed... hmm, should I get that pack out of the way now, or should I feed that other one to avoid other delays?"<br />
<br />
She's not in any particular hurry, which is probably good considering that she seems to be a bit preoccupied in thought.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kanade Minamino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The raining was pouring hard, and nothing could be heard except for the gentle pitter patter of the rain drops. Kanade actually like the sound of the rain, but she much preferred to listen to it in her dry, warm room, with a mug of tea. Never the less, the Lucky Spoon didn't stop her deliveries because of rain, and it wouldn't start now. <br />
<br />
Kanade was doing her best to keep her box of custom order cupcake dry inside the water proof bag. <br />
<br />
"Nyaa, it's so wet," Hummy moaned from inside the second bag that hung off Kanade's shoulder. "Kanade, can't I have one cupcake?" <br />
<br />
"No, Hummy, these aren't for you," Kanade replied for the fifth time. "I promise, you can have a cupcake when we get home. Okay?"<br />
<br />
Hummy gave a slight pout, which on Hummy resembled more of a half smile. "All right, but Hummy wants hot chocolate too."<br />
<br />
Kanade swears. "Don't blame me if you ended up rotting your teeth."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Inori Yamabuki [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Having heard it through the grapevine that a very specific line of Summer fashions for the discerning customer had arrived, Inori had hastened to Shibuya directly after her club activities were over with. <br />
<br />
Once there however, she moved at a more leisurely pace, wending through the aisles to browse the clothing on the racks and displays. And more often than not, taking out her linkrun to snap pictures to later upload to her blog. "They move everything around in this store so much." She fretted, having trouble finding one section in particular. <br />
<br />
Turning a corner, a look of delight sparkled on her face. "Oh!" A moment later she picked a lovely looking Yukata off the rack, turning it around in her hands for a time, before she finally snapped a picture on the linkrun. "This would look so wonderful on Takara-chan!" <br />
<br />
A moment later, she was putting the tiny yukata back onto the rack, almost running right into the pet apparel store clerk that bore her a friendly smile and easy greeting of 'Irasshaimase!' 'buki put a single finger to her cheek as she considered, before asking, "Do you have any clothing for a monkey about..." <br />
<br />
She lowered her hands to just in front of her before seperating them a little bit apart, then changing them to vertical positions, showing the dimensions for more a mouse, than what one would think of for a monkey, "...I have a classmate at school who has a friend about that size." The store clerk stared at her hands, as if in disbelief, before saying, "Just one moment, I'll check in the back." And vanishing through an employee door, leaving 'buki to stand there, browsing through the saved pictures on her linkrun. <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Anthy is not good with crowds. She *is* good at pretending when need be, but she would really rather avoid them when possible. That's why, when she goes out for errands, she does so while framed by rain, hoping the wetness would keep crowds to a minimum... but it seems that didn't work out well for her. The purple-haired girl keeps to herself, stepping around people and avoiding the streets, thanks to those racing cars sending water splashing every which way. The last time she was drenched, it really didn't go well for her... well, until Utena-sama appeared.<br />
<br />
She breathes out a sigh, glancing around nervously. There's just one last item to pick up, and then she can return to campus... Where was the spice store again...?<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Duck [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Duck loves travelling out of town to the city! (And don't ask how travelling out of Gold Crown Town leads to the rest of her school in a tower. It makes perfect sense.) She's still not terribly /familiar/ with it -- the city is huge, and towering, and full of cars which never seem to be much of a problem in her quiet little Germanic hamlet -- but Duck manages to remain positive even despite this.<br />
<br />
She's even smiling despite the rain. Well, she is a duck, after all. The puddles can't phase her. 'And if I accidentally turn back into duck,' she thinks to herself, 'at least I won't have to go far to change back!'<br />
<br />
Duck pauses, for a moment, raising a hand to her lips as she looks in her reflection on the storefront glass. 'Oh, but I shouldn't think like that. It wouldn't do to turn into a duck in the city! Everyone would see! And then I'd--' Duck realises she's stopped outside of a jeweler's, as she looks past her reflection to the shelves inside. "Oh!" Duck clasps her hands together, staring at the glittering gems. "It's so pretty!"<br />
<br />
Does she dare go inside and look? She surely can't afford it. But does she dare to browse despite that?!<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's a sound audible around the bend. The rev of an engine, from the sounds of things - another racy car, taking advantage of the light traffic in a manner that causes everyone just a little bit more trouble. Cats and dogs twitch their ears, and those pedestrians who notice the sound coming let out a collective sigh of exasperation. Great, some other idiot driver-<br />
<br />
And then the vehicle rounds the bend. It's not some red sports car racing to the ends of the world - it's a tire. A two-story-tall tire, wide as a small car, and bizarrely making engine noises as it squeals around the corner. From the axle, metal limbs extent - held upright in spite of the wheel's rapid spinning.<br />
<br />
And oh, does it spin. From its path, water sprays - it swerves, it weaves, it hits every single puddle it can reach. As it approaches the intersection, it bounces once - and lands on heavy metal legs. A giant tire with metal arms and legs, glowing eyes, and a yellow diamond prominent among the treads. This is what has appeared. "ROAD RAAAAGE!"<br />
<br />
From the thing's hand, a figure leaps to a nearby traffic light - a figure with a cape, a black outfit highlighted in yellow, with light green hair. Westar, of Labyrinth...looking considerably more drenched than anyone else, right now. "People of Shibuya! Cry and wail - your sorrow shall become tears to fill the Misery Gauge! Now, Nakewameke - ruin their day!"<br />
<br />
Panic is just beginning to set in as the tire monster begins to rev up. Even as Westar takes a moment to start wringing out his cape, the shouts of fear are a suitable backdrop for his monster - and the giant tire's eyes glint in delight. Now, where is the nearest puddle...<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar transforms into Nakewameke!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 4 opponents!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Ikiko Hisakata [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.<br />
<br />
At the first sound of the revving engine, Ikiko takes a few steps away from the curb, but still seems to be thinking about the strays. When the Nakewameke makes its appearance, she whirls around, her eyes wide. They narrow when Westar makes his little speech, and Ikiko ducks into a nearby alley.<br />
<br />
There is a brief clatter, then a glow of silver, and moments later Cute Wolf Tsukiko leaps out into the roadway. "Not if we can help it!" the wolfgirl calls out challengingly, glaring at both the Nakewameke and Westar. "We're going to stop this attack and drive your Nakewameke out of town!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Ikiko Hisakata transforms into Cute Wolf Tsukiko!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Bark! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kanade Minamino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Let's see," Kanade muttered. "So, Mom said the place was up the street and-" Suddenly, the words 'Road Rage!" could be heard across downtown. "NYAA!!" Hummy screamed as people ran by screaming and a monster came into view. "What's that thing?!" <br />
<br />
"A monster! And- YAY!" <br />
<br />
A wave of water suddenly appeared as she heard the laughter of a man. Kanade spun around holding the bag of cupcakes to her chest as the water hit her. <br />
<br />
Thankfully, the cupcakes were saved, but Kanade not so much. She might have well have gone diving in the river, and she couldn't be any wetter. <br />
<br />
"Nyaa!" Hummy cried as she shook the water off her. "I'm soaking wet!" <br />
<br />
Kanade went quiet, glaring at the monster up ahead. "Hummy, stay here," she instructed as she placed the fairy on the ground and handed her the bag of cupcakes. "Do your best to keep those dry" <br />
<br />
"Will do, nyaa!" Hummy cried with a salute. <br />
<br />
Kanade muttered a thank you and then gave her full attention to the monster. "That thing is making everyone wet on an already wet day! And it almost ruined my delivery! UNFORGIVABLE!" She fetch her cure module and cried "Let's Play! Precue Modulation!" With in seconds, Kanade was engulfed in bright lights. Her body became lighter as the magic took hold. Kanade vanished and the warrior Cure Rhythm took her place. <br />
<br />
"Strumming the wild Melody! Cure Rhythm!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Kanade Minamino transforms into Cure Rhythm!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Duck [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
VREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE<br />
<br />
Duck whirls to face the noise, startled by the loud noise - to this day, she's not used to the screeching tire of fast cars. But what she turns to witness isn't a car at all, it's --<br />
<br />
"A wheel?!" Duck exclaims, forgetting to keep her thoughts inside her head for a moment. Yellow gems aren't heart shards, she'd /know/ if that was what was going on, but this is still just so bizarre! A giant wheel -- that's a tire, right? It's called a tire? Duck's pretty sure of that -- just coming out to screech through every puddle and get everyone wet?<br />
<br />
And what's this about a Misery Gauge?<br />
<br />
As the girl transformed into a cute wolf runs out of the alleyway, the duck disguised as a cute girl runs into it. And she curls into herself, and the egg forms, and shatters --<br />
<br />
The prima ballerina of Gold Crown Town leaps out from between the buildings, landing delicately, rising en pointe to better look up at the man who curses them.<br />
<br />
"Why? Why do you feel the need to drown the happiness of all these people?" Princess Tutu does not sound angry, and the sincerity in her voice refuses to be washed away into one of those puddles which the tire-wheel swerves to catch.<br />
<br />
"What causes you to wish such misery upon them...?"<br />
<br />
And then she has to leap away, as the tire-wheel screeches into the puddle in front of her. Damp, dirty standing water splashes onto her immaculate tutu. She doesn't seem to mind.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Duck transforms into Princess Tutu!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck has used Please Talk With Me! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Bark!, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cute Wolf Tsukiko is Psyched! Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar perfectly dodges Duck's Please Talk With Me!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Inori Yamabuki transforms into Cure Pine!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
At the squeal of rubber on pavement, 'buki looks up from her phone, through the glass front of the store. The two story car flashes by splashing everything in its wake, and she looks back at her phone, shaking her head as if it were merely a bad driver. She looks up again, eyes wide as her mind finally processes, 'Zounds! That wasn't a car, but a humongous tire!' <br />
<br />
The store clerk returns in that moment, showing off a catalogue of wares meant for hamster sized pets, but her customer is already running towards the front of the store, looking over her shoulder with a hand as she offered an anxious apology, "Thank you very much! I'll keep you in mind in the future!" A beat, "You may want to take your break right now, but stay in the store!" <br />
<br />
Sliding on her shoes quickly and grabbing her Umbrella, she all but skidded through the glass doors onto the side walk to catch a fleeting glimpse of the rampaging Nakewameke, with Westar stop the traffic light. The shrieks of people getting wet are causing a panic, and 'buki's eyes narrow in determination, as she moves into the nearby alleyway. <br />
<br />
Not long after, a flash of light precedes a figure jumping across the roof tops of the various tores in Shibuya, bounding from one rooftop to another through the grey haze of rain. Ultimately, just like gravity, she descends, fist held back with obvious intent to crash against the Nakewameke. "There's only one response to you and your comrade trying to ruin everyone's day, Westar!" None of her teammates were here, but she'd caught a flash of Cure Rhythm's transformation on the way. <br />
<br />
The statement is like a battle cry for her and for Cure Rhythm, though its certainly not shouted as exuberantly as Peach might, and timed just a moment before her fist would try to make contact with the creature mid-leap, "Let's- Pretty Cure!" <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Punch on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar perfectly braces Cure Pine's Pineapple Punch, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Brace! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke is, in spite of its limbs, a tire. A wheel, not a full car. It shouldn't be making engine noises...and yet, it is. Cute Wolf Tsukiko appears, challenging Westar and growling at the Nakewameke - which growls back, in those same engine-revs. "RAAAAAAGE!"<br />
<br />
Westar scowls, water dripping from his cape with each twist. "You all just keep showing up! Why can't I just gather misery for five minutes without people interfering?" The towering tire makes no comment on this statement. Cure Rhythm catches his attention with her own furious speech - by the time he looks, she's already transformed. Which makes him scowl even more. "Another one?! What is Eas even doing, there's just more Precure all the time!"<br />
<br />
Then Princess Tutu speaks. There's a poignant question there - one to strike into the soul. Something to make Westar truly think about his actions...so rather than think, he dodges it utterly. Damp cape flopping behind him, he folds his arms in introduction. "I am Westar - Denizen of Labyrinth, and faithful servant of Lord Mobius! All worlds are to bow to him - that's all the reason I need!" As he rants, there's a direct blow - Cure Pine charging into action, a single fist outstretched, to slam into the tire's body full-force....<br />
<br />
-gloiiiiing-<br />
<br />
And it bounces back from the hit, beginning to spin in midair. "TRAFFIC VIOLAAAATION!" It slams into the pavement, still spinning - and water and dirt spray wildly in all directions, a veritable wave of grime to hide the tire from sight. What will it do next?...<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sinister Skid on Cure Rhythm.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sinister Skid on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sinister Skid on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sinister Skid on Duck.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko narrowly braces Westar's Sinister Skid, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Block ability activates! Blind applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly dodges Westar's Sinister Skid, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Cure Pine! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm fails to brace Westar's Sinister Skid, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Cure Rhythm is unable to keep fighting! Blind applied to Cure Rhythm! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck fails to dodge Westar's Sinister Skid, taking 20 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Rhythm [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Rhythm screamed as the water stroked, but she barely managed to keep her balanced. She glared at the man. "Westar huh?" she muttered. So, Buki and the others were exaggerating about him. She is fully prepared to make her first attack, but pauses when she noticed a figure in white. She looked like a ballerina. Who on earth was see? <br />
<br />
However, the thoughts are quickly brought back into the battle as she spies a familiar girl not far from the enemy. "Cure Pine!" she called out cheerfully, and went to attack the monster..<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has used Pretty Cure Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Tsukiko gets an arm up to protect her face and turns slightly to guard against the spray of watery crud. A few splatters get in her eyes, but with a brief shake the wolfgirl is able to shake off the worst of the water.<br />
<br />
Looking around at the other magical girls, she smiles. "Glad to see you, everyone!" Tsukiko calls to the others, a happy enthusiasm in her voice. "I know we can stop him if we work together!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Encourage the Pack on Cure Rhythm.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Encourage the Pack on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Encourage the Pack on Duck.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine accepts Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Encourage the Pack, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine is Cheered! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck accepts Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Encourage the Pack, taking 0 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm accepts Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Encourage the Pack, taking 0 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Rhythm's Pretty Cure Kick, taking 8 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Duck [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Princess Tutu isn't alone in trying to swerve this villain from his path. Some use force, and some, like her, use words -- but Westar seems indifferent to both approaches. The girl looks up at him, and the way her lips purse in and her brow arcs up suggests far too much concern for an adversary.<br />
<br />
"Is that really how you feel, Westar-san...?" Out of town, the honourifics seem just as normal as Germanic titles would be in town. That's just how the story affects her. "Is this truly what you want to do?"<br />
<br />
The tire bears down on her again, and even though Princess Tutu tries to leap away again, she's not /quite/ fast enough to avoid the majority of the water which sprays onto her. Her orange hair drips, slightly, as does her costume -- and yet, despite the water, it all seems to keep its volume, the feathers just as fluffy as they were even with the dirty water.<br />
<br />
Must be a magic thing.<br />
<br />
"I'm glad you feel that way," Princess Tutu calls to the Cute Wolf Tsukiko, smiling to her. "We must protect the city." And yet - and yet, she doesn't seem to want to acknowledge Westar as an enemy. She turns to him, again, hands up and elbows out as she turns in a delicate pirouette.<br />
<br />
"Westar-san," she calls, hands reaching up over her head as she comes to a stop, twirling around each other. "... won't you dance with me?" One hand reaches out, as if to invite him down.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Duck has used Is That How You Really Feel?! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Duck's Is That How You Really Feel?!, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Westar is Taunted! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
-gloiiiiing- <br />
<br />
Cure Pine somersaults backwards as her fist slams into it, reverberating. As she lands, she waves her fist in the air, a muted 'i-taiii' leaving her lips as a mild complaint. One hand gripping the other, she massages it, before she sees the spinning Nakewameke start to create a storm of muddy grit and water. <br />
<br />
Leaping out of the way, she's still hit with a giant glob of it right in the head, leaving her golden sidetail muddy and dripping, with grit getting into her eyes and her entire dress just getting soaked all over. As she lands with a light splash, she immediately starts rubbing it with her other hand, she tries to get the grit out of her eyes, but isn't quite successful. Now the complaint is less mild, "It's- everywhere!" <br />
<br />
She still takes the time to wave to Rhythm mid-battle, squinting where she thinks she is! "Rhythm! I'm so lucky that you were here today. I don't think Peach and Berry can make it in time! We'll have to handle it as best as we can with the others!" Which is when Tsukiko calls out her encouragement, which she receives with one last brush of the back of her arm against her eyes, "Right!" She doesn't quite trust her vision, because, is that a ballerina over there? She's so beautiful! Too beautiful to be out in the rain. <br />
<br />
Deciding to switch tactics, given how sturdy the thing is, she leaps at it, and tries to grasp the giant tire from the side mid-spin. It's enormous, so while she doubts her chances here, she's hoping to pull it off-balance. "Not all worlds bow to him Westar-" Then, she let's gravity be her lever, dropping to the ground, and trying to cast it down onto the street. "-and that's all the reason I need!" <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Twist on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Cure Pine's Pineapple Twist, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Even as water sprays everywhere, those opposing Westar's Nakewameke aren't giving up - and the bystanders of the district are heartened by the display. While still not wanting to get close to the battle for obvious reasons - including the fact that it's a very wet monster - Tsukiko's encouragement is contagious. Cheers can be heard from close-by, annoying Westar further.<br />
<br />
The monster is being more inconvenienced than the denizen of Labyrinth - it rolls with Rhythm's kick as best it can, bouncing up into the air once more - but Pine catches up with it there, and hurls it back down. There's a crash as more solid parts slam into pavement, more water spraying from the impact, and another -gloooing- noise. Staggering upright once more, it looks to Westar for guidance...<br />
<br />
But Westar is being questioned by a ballerina, and this time the question strikes home. Is this /really/ how he wants to spend his day? With school done, with shops to explore, with so much of Earth to experience...is unleashing terror on the people of Tokyo really what he wants to be doing? A hand is extended...and he turns his head to the side, arms remaining folded. His response is quieter, almost petulant. "...everything for Mobius-sama."<br />
<br />
"OIL CHECK!" The Nakewameke shouts an outburst, determined to not be forgot amidst quiet entreaties. One arm levers it upright, and it starts bouncing about - aiming to slam down near the two Cures, revving its engine loudly to drown out cheers and pleas both.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Tire Bounce on Cure Rhythm.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Tire Bounce on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Revving Up on Duck.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Revving Up on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly counters Westar's Tire Bounce, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Reverse ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine's counterattack, Pretty Cure Roundhouse Kick, partially gets through, doing 7 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko fails to dodge Westar's Revving Up, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck narrowly braces Westar's Revving Up, taking 3 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm fails to dodge Westar's Tire Bounce, taking 19 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Tsukiko winces at the loud revving, trying in vain to cover her canine ears. "Owwww," she whines, cringing and trying to hear herself think.<br />
<br />
The wolfgirl takes a leap back, adding some distance in an effort to bring the impact of the noise down far enough to not be as painful. Taking a deep breath, she bounds forward, leaping feet-first towards the Nakewameke in an effort to knock it back from the Cures and possibly interrupt it enough for the ballerina's voice to carry over the noise.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Overrun Bounce on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Rhythm [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
After managing to land a kick, Rhythm jumped back to the ground and looked to Cure Pine. "And Melody can't make it either," she responded after Cure Pine gave her an update on the situation. So we'll have to make do," Rhythm told her. She then heard the wolf girl's cheer. "Let's do this!" she yelled back, however it was quickly forgotten as she stared in amazement at the ballerina. She she actually somehow getting through to Westar? <br />
<br />
Yet, Cure Rhythm didn't have long to dwell on this. The tire monster suddenly bounced and ram right towards them. "Look out!" she yelled to Pine, but she didn't have time to evade the attack. Rhythm yelled as the attack hit her head on. "Ow," she groaned as she attempted to climb back to her feet. <br />
<br />
She glanced up back to the monster with a determine glare. "I won't be beaten!" She raced ahead, and taking a page from Melody's book, attempting to punch it right in the face.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has used Pretty Cure Punch on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Rhythm's Pretty Cure Punch, taking 10 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly counters Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Overrun Bounce, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Cute Wolf Tsukiko is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Tire Bounce, partially gets through, doing 6 Fatigue damage to Cute Wolf Tsukiko! Critical Counterhit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Duck [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
No matter what his lord might require of him, Princess Tutu can't shake the feeling that something is holding Westar back. That, perhaps, she could reach him. Wasn't she meant to reach into everyone's heart -- even the people who seem to be her enemies? The Prince could be anywhere. And even where he isn't, she still wants to help--<br />
<br />
The wheel shouts something else, and its engines rev and scream. Princess Tutu staggers back, her heel coming back down onto the ground again for some extra support as she raises a delicate hand to her face to try and wave away the exhaust, coughing to try and bring air into her lungs again. The movements seem almost heartbreaking, as if the illusion of the perfect porcelain ballerina has been shaken by such a human reaction.<br />
<br />
(For those who see her as human, anyway. No doubt there are some in the crowd who see a great, graceful swan, the guardian of dance. But Princess Tutu doesn't know that normal people, people who aren't involved, see her differently. How could she? It's not like she stops to ask.)<br />
<br />
"Westar-san," she calls out, again, her eyes watering from the fading smoke. "Why, when you are so wet, do you try and soak others with unkind wheels?"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Duck has used Acknowledge Your True Feelings! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Duck's Acknowledge Your True Feelings!, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Westar is Quipped! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Hurling a two story Nakewameke is harder than it looks, given its titanic mass. She's lucky she managed to get any leverage at all. When Pine finally lands with a heavy splash that cleans off more of the mud but gets her more soggy in the process, she's massaging her hand again with the other. <br />
<br />
With her vision a little more clear, she offers a smiling thumbs up to Tsukiko, the wolf-girl's call for cooperation being particularly inspiring to one of her interests. Unfortunately that's the same time the tire tries to crash down on her and Rhythm who calls out the warning, gives Pine enough time to react. She responds with a light skip in the air, using the momentum to spin into a a powerful roundhouse kick at the creature. <br />
<br />
It serves to arrest some of its momentum, but ultimately the colossal creature wins out in this clash, as the kick only arrests its momentum a bit, before knocking Pine to the street and crashing on top of her with an enormous splash. It takes her some time to get up, gripping a trembling arm as she looks up at it. "T-Thanks for the warning!" She calls out to Rhythm. <br />
<br />
And as Rhythm goes first, Pine trails up behind her. Unlike with Rhythm's partner Melody, the two of them had no harmony power together, so their movements are asynchronous, but she tries to back her up nevertheless by hitting low with a vicious knee smash, when Rhythm goes high for the face. <br />
<br />
And mid-attack, seeing the graceful ballerina addressing Westar causes her eyes to sparkle with awe, as if there was something about Princess Tutu that just caused 'buki to instinctively adore her. "She's so graceful!" Could it be the fact that she's a dancer? In part, but there's another component to why she instinctually just likes her. <br />
<br />
Hint: 'Quack.'<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Express on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Pine's Pineapple Express, taking 16 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke is an embodiment of grudges and misery - the wheel that drenched Westar has now been turned to ruin the days of everyone else. But...this can only go so far, and the line is being held. Cure Rhythm responds to the tire's flattening of her with a single empowered punch - and while it continues to bounce back, it went a bit high. Cure Pine follows her lead, not perfectly in sync but enough to work together - and her blow strikes an unprepared foe in midair, knocking it up once more.<br />
<br />
Tsukiko leaps higher, slamming into it from above to spike it down. The tire does its best to roll with this, and even as it hits pavement it bounces up to meet her with a second impact. But...steadily, it's being driven back. Away from the now-cheering crowd, pushing it back from being able to run freely.<br />
<br />
While the battle against the wheel menace rages on, Princess Tutu continues to reach out to Westar's heart, asks for his true feelings. He shakes his head violently in response, water flying from his soaked hair - Switching Over didn't deal with the drenching he'd received. "It's my mission - for Mobius's sake, I need to find things to cause misery! And a car ran through a puddle, so..."<br />
<br />
Someone in the crowd overheard, and actually cheers Westar on for this. Which is just baffling...and makes him feel even more foolish than usual. The executive of Labyrinth shakes his head even more violently, trying in vain to get those words out of his head. "Nakewameke! Just...run them down!" It's not clever, it's not tactical, it's just...frustration.<br />
<br />
Which is this Nakewameke's nature, really. As it picks itself up from the triple threat, it spins up - but doesn't waste time standing on ceremony. A straightforward run down the road, engines roaring, with intent to flatten. "ROAD RAAAAAAGE!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Rundown Rollout on Cure Rhythm.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Rundown Rollout on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Rundown Rollout on Duck.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Rundown Rollout on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly braces Westar's Rundown Rollout, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Block ability activates! Cure Pine's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm narrowly dodges Westar's Rundown Rollout, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Cure Rhythm's Fade ability activates! Cure Rhythm's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko fails to counter Westar's Rundown Rollout, taking 37 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko's counterattack, High-Speed Kick, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck fails to dodge Westar's Rundown Rollout, taking 27 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Duck [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Why must you cause misery? It brings you no joy!" Princess Tutu says, reaching out. But Westar turns away, and commands the wheel to attack them again.<br />
<br />
The moment her eyes linger on him is the moment which costs her. Realising that the attack is inevitable, her legs bend to leap away --<br />
<br />
But like a bird in the middle of taking flight, the wheel catches her as she springs up, throwing her down to the ground. A moment later, it skids over her, the treads marking her tutu with mud.<br />
<br />
For a moment, she is silent. And then, shaking, she pushes herself up again, looks up to him again. Her face is scuffed, and not even her magical costume has evaded the effects of being run down.<br />
<br />
"Westar-san..." Her voice wavers, for a moment, as she slumps back down.<br />
<br />
For a moment, before she pushes herself up, more successfully the second time, staggering to her feet.<br />
<br />
"That car, that puddle... it splashed over you, didn't it? These troubles... weren't they first yours?" He's run her over, and still Princess Tutu reaches out to him. "Instead of making others sad... let us dry you off! This lovely shopping trip needn't be ruined for anyone..!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Duck has used Please Talk With Me! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The impact with the Nakewameke is bouncier than Tsukiko was expecting, making her landing an unbalanced three-point affair instead of a crisp two-point crouch. Before she can completely recover, the Nakewameke charges forward, and all her attempt at lashing out with a kick does is give her a funny pose as the giant tire rolls over her.<br />
<br />
"That... could have gone better," the wolfgirl groans as she picks herself up, grimy tire markings and all. She shakes herself slightly, glaring at Westar briefly before looking back at the Nakewameke. "I think it's time to let some air out of you!" she growls before darting forward, grabbing onto the tire and trying to bite it before it rolls over her again.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Silver Fangs on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Duck's Please Talk With Me!, taking 1 Fatigue damage! Westar is Quipped! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar perfectly dodges Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Silver Fangs, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The tire rushes towards Pine head on, in an attempt to run her down. She does the unwise thing perhaps, and tries to stand her ground, with arms crossed. This time however, it pays off, the tire careens by her, clipping her with a grazing hit and hurling her away. <br />
<br />
As she lands, she puts down a hand into a handstand which then moves into a series of back flips, before she finally skids to a stop when she slows down the momentum, water droplets flying everywhere. <br />
<br />
Shaking out her golden hair, she decides to give the graceful Ballerina, who was doing a fantastic job on her own, more ammunition to work with. "Aren't you miserable yourself, Westar? You think of the 'things' you use to cause misery as your comrades, not things." A beat, "Do you really want to sacrifice them for just a little misery?" <br />
<br />
She then turns to face Rhythm, seeing her hurting, she tries to give her a little encouragement. "We can do this Rhythm! We just need to give one final push, then we can enjoy drying off to donuts and the softest cat paws ever! I believe in you!" <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has used I believe! on Cure Rhythm.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm accepts Cure Pine's I believe!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Cure Rhythm! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Rhythm [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Rhythm sees the attack and manages to barely dodge. She landed hard on the ground, her knees were going to hurt in the morning, but she did it. Also, the poor wolf girl didn't seem as lucky. <br />
<br />
She was feeling so tired, all she had to do today was deliver cupcakes? How did it turn into this? <br />
<br />
However, Cure Pine's word give her the encouragement she needs. "You're right!" she called back to her friend. "When this is over, let's get hot chocolate too! I promised Hummy!" She set her sights back to Westar, and recalled on what the ballerina had said having an effect on him. <br />
<br />
"You're suppose to be a top general, but this is what one does? Making a monster out of spite, just because he got wet! That's hardly dignified! A five year old wouldn't get this upset!" <br />
<br />
Rhythm decided it was time to pull the big guns. "Watch this Cure Pine! Hopefully this works!" Being fuelled by Pine's words earlier she targeted the monster and went to give the oversize monster the biggest swing it ever would experience.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has used Pretty Cure Jazz Swing on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Rhythm's Pretty Cure Jazz Swing, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Cure Rhythm is Psyched! Stagger and Stun applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The wheel is relentless - at least on the surface. And yet, even as it tears down the street, bouncing wildly into the air...it's slowing. Its movements are becoming more ponderous, more considered. The water sprays in its wake have died down to nearly nothing - even as the bystanders cheer on the quartet opposing Westar, the Nakewameke does little to trouble them. "CRY AND WAIL!...."<br />
<br />
Westar stares as Tutu gets up, and reaches out again. It's...is this her designation? Keep befriending, over and over, regardless of consequence? Or is she damaged, somehow, like his fellow executives keep saying he is? Whatever the reason, she just keeps getting up, keeps talking...<br />
<br />
Asphalt crunches as Westar leaps down from the traffic light. He looms - towering even on the same ground as those opposing him. Words, words, all of them having something to say to him, to his mission, to his very cause - but he's not driven by the same passions as Eas, hasn't thought things through as carefully as Soular. He's uncertain.<br />
<br />
At Pine's words, he looks to the beleaguered tire - metal instead of rubber meeting Tsukiko's fangs, up until Cure Rhythm slams it to lodge against a lamppost. Rhythm's words give him pause - he steps back, feeling even less certain about this mission. And Tutu - Tutu keeps trying to understand, to empathize, and it's something he can scarcely deal with. "It...it doesn't matter. Everything for Mobius - this is my mission, and I have to..."<br />
<br />
He trails off, the words feeling hollow. She's offering to -help-, offering a peaceful way out...he takes a fierce step forward toward Tutu in response. Not elegant, but "You can't be serious! For the sake of finding Infinity - gathering misery is what I /do/, and you're still planning on giving me a towel?!"<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke, diamond flickering strangely, growls - revs that phantom engine loudly, and starts to spin in place. Gathering speed, gathering strength, preparing to go on an absolute rampage...<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used One Step Forward on Duck.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Revving Up on Cure Rhythm.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Revving Up on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Revving Up on Cute Wolf Tsukiko.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly dodges Westar's Revving Up, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Cure Pine! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar is unable to keep fighting!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko fails to dodge Westar's Revving Up, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar is unable to keep fighting!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Rhythm narrowly dodges Westar's Revving Up, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Cure Rhythm's Fade ability activates! Cure Rhythm's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar is unable to keep fighting!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck accepts Westar's One Step Forward, taking 0 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar is unable to keep fighting!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Tsukiko wipes her mouth -- the metal of the rim didn't taste very good, although it undoubtedly tasted better than the rubber -- then clamps her hands to her ears, about as ineffectively as the previous time. "Not again," she cringes, backing off again.<br />
<br />
This time, though, the engine noise seems to be gaining pitch and (thankfully) losing volume. The wolfgirl carefully takes her hands off of her ears and watches the Nakewameke as its diamond flickers. She's still ready to fight it off as needed, perhaps with a heartfelt howl... but the fight seems to be out of the tire.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Duck [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar stares, and Princess Tutu meets his gaze, everything about her stance and expression so, so painfully honest. She wants to help him. She wants him to be able to recognise his true feelings. She doesn't believe he really wants to soak everyone's shopping.<br />
<br />
Even when he falls to the asphalt, the ground crunching under his heavy weight, she doesn't falter. Even as he storms towards her, she doesn't flinch, or step away. "I know you feel you must... but is this really what you /want/ to do? Are those feelings of spite and misery all which lie inside your heart?"<br />
<br />
Her arms lift up over her head again, her hands twirling around each other, before she reaches out to him.<br />
<br />
"Please, Westar-san... won't you dance with me?"<br />
<br />
Princess Tutu's words hold dangerous power, because it might almost sound like a good idea.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Duck has used Dance With Me! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Duck has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Duck's Finisher, Dance With Me!, taking 48 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! Westar is Quipped! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Rhythm [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Rhythm grinned in triumph at the success her swing had. "Okay, Pine, let's you and-" Her words trail off as the tire monster suddenly died down as if it had suddenly run out of gas. <br />
<br />
"Huh?" was the only word that could leave her mouth as she watch the tire turn back to it's original harmless form. <br />
<br />
Yet, hearing the ballerina's voice again, it all made sense. Somehow she had gotten through to Westar. Rhythm watched in awe as the ballerina moved with grace she could only dream of having. "Pine," she asked her friend. "Do you know who that is?" She suddenly wished Hibiki was here. If anything could temp her friend into loving music again, it was watching this ballerina dance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Great job Rhythm!" She calls out, but the sound of the Nakewameke revving up its engines psychs Pine out a little, sending her leaping to the rooftop of a shop from the diversion which makes her believe its coming for her. Once there, she spins around and puts her hands above her head, beginning the words of her Healing Prayer. "Nasty things, nasty t-" <br />
<br />
The words catch in her throat as she watches the yellow data diamond fade. Her hands slowly drop back to her side, as she looks uncertainly at it. Then at Tutu, reaching out a single hand to the Labyrinth Executive. Her mouth drops just a little, her eyes sparkling but not with sparkles, just a little bit of water. How could someone be such a beautiful person? To offer such empathy and understanding to someone literally trying to ruin everyone's day? She says nothing for a while, simply watching before dropping back off the building with only a click clack sploosh of boots upon wet pavement. <br />
<br />
Taking a few steps towards Rhythm, she whispers softly once she's near her, as if afraid she'd break the spell, she says the first thing that comes to mind, "An incredibly beautiful person." A moment later, she realizes that hardly answers the question, so she clarifies further. "I don't know, but I'd like to." <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
As quickly as the tire roared to life...it comes to an abrupt halt at that earnest gaze - at the moment when Westar is, however briefly, honest about his feelings here. At the moment Princess Tutu's words, reaching out, find their mark. Spite and misery where what fuelled the monster, but...<br />
<br />
Among everything else, all the ups and downs, this is a world that has donuts. That's at least one thing he'd rather be doing than unleashing a monster here.<br />
<br />
Smoke billows from the Nakewameke gone still, as a glorious swan spreads her wings and extends an offer. Caught up in the moment, Westar...accepts. Takes another step forward, and expresses his feelings here through dance. It's clumsy - he's not a dancer, having a single awkward square dance under his belt. But...<br />
<br />
His feet stomp. Fury, at things going wrong for him, everything he does seeming to fail. And then...hesitation. His feet still, slide, seeking new footing. Curiously, tentatively, a step forward - then back, then forward - the anger isn't the only step his heart wants to make. Where he should go, that is...<br />
<br />
Westar's brief attempt at ballet, matched and encouraged by the art's emissary, is interrupted by something smacking into his hand. The faded, colourless, powerless Data Diamond from his Nakewameke - freed from the monstrous form it had created, returning to its owner. A reminder, of where his true loyalty is supposed to lie. "I-"<br />
<br />
He looks around - the awestruck crowd, not despairing but heartened. The Nakewameke, completely gone, returned to the form of a tire. Two Pretty Cure, right here, still at full strength - and the wolf-girl besides, and this baffling ballerina. He's lost the battle, and he's lost his path. "You...you all enjoy this day. I..."<br />
<br />
He bolts - running before those words can ensnare and confuse him any further. They've all gone and made things hard - trying to understand why he does what he does, asking questions that make him think....he's not supposed to have to think, he has Mobius! He needs to figure this out...<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Duck [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
No matter that Westar doesn't know how to dance - Princess Tutu somehow knows just the powerful steps to make to highlight his performance. He is the star, and she is his spotlight. It's not her way of dancing, but she's dedicating to helping him find his --<br />
<br />
Except the performance is cut short, as the gem finds its way back to him. In a way, it almost mirrors the Heart Shards with inverted shades; a Heart Shard comes to her and the dancer is freed from their burdens, but when the Data Diamond returns to Westar, it's as if his burdens crash back upon his shoulders. She stops when he stops, her hand curling to her chest. "Westar-san..?"<br />
<br />
But he's gone. And a moment later, looking at the crowd which has gathered, the girls she fought with, Princess Tutu realises that she has to leave as well. "Thank you - I'm sure everyone will be safe now."<br />
<br />
She bows her head to them, and smiles, and then she's leaping away.<br />
<br />
She can't linger too long, after all. She can't risk it, not with the rules of the story...</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2017-01-29_-_Kotatsu_of_Sorrow2017-01-29 - Kotatsu of Sorrow2022-10-06T22:14:16Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Kotatsu of Sorrow'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''On a brutally cold day, there's trouble when Labyrinth tries to claim the last kotatsu in the shop.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Setsuna Higashi|Cure Passion]], [[Inori Yamabuki|Cure Pine]], [[Iona Hikawa|Cure Fortune]], [[Garnet]], [[Makoto Kino|Sailor Jupiter]], [[Kasagami Araki]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Shibuya Shopping Ward<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2017-01-29 - December 24, 2014<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"One remaining, folks, one remaining! After this, we are out, out, out of stock - so it'll be sold to the highest bidder!"<br />
<br />
There's a commotion in front of an appliance store in Shibuya - many shops have closed up entirely in light of the brutal winter storm, but others have lights on as they attempt to peddle in the snowpocalypse. Those places selling home appliances have notices in their windows - electric blankets are out of stock, space heaters are sold out, anything even remotely connected to warmth is harder and harder to get...except for this. One final prize, and the shop's seedy-looking owner is milking it for all it's worth.<br />
<br />
"Twenty thousand! I'll pay twenty thousand!"<br />
<br />
"Twenty-two!"<br />
<br />
"Twenty-five!"<br />
<br />
The shopkeeper rubs his hands together, grinning as he mutters to himself. "Saving stock for the very peak...sometimes I surprise even myself!" And then he calls out to the shivering crowd. "How about thirty, do I hear-"<br />
<br />
"One Data Diamond!"<br />
<br />
The crowd, as a whole freezes. The voice came from above - standing atop a snowed-in delivery truck stands Westar, Executive of Labyrinth, bare-armed and slowly frosting over. In one hand, he holds a yellow diamond. Those who had seen his actions before murmur, and some start to try to get out of the way; others are a little bolder, if diminished by the cold. "Who are- " "You can't-"<br />
<br />
"I am Westar! Denizen of Labyrinth, and faithful servant of Lord Mobius! This device, which brings joy and warmth..." He shivers a moment, rubbing his arms for warmth, then continues. "...now it shall bring you misery, and belong to the forces of Labyrinth! N-n-n-nakewameke! Obey my command!"<br />
<br />
The diamond is flung, striking the small table on display to a desperate crowd. Smoke billows, and many start running - and then there are shouts and cries of panic, as a monster is revealed. Robotic in appearance, towering and broad, with legs strong enough to withstand the deepest snow.<br />
<br />
It's very wide, wearing a colourful quilt as if it's a cloth - and from where the edges brush the ground, steam can be seen billowing up. It's a giant robotic table, with cloth and heat - its name is known to all, and joy turns to misery as it bellows out its identity.<br />
<br />
"KOTAAAATSUUUUUU!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar transforms into Nakewameke!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 4 opponents!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Kino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Someone would have to be *incredibly* desperate--or incredibly determined--to brave the winter storm and torrential snows for... really just about anything. Christmas Eve marks the beginning of winter break for students, but it's also a day of love for couples. Makoto hasn't had a date in a long while, and the last person she dated turned out to be... not really interested in her for her, let's put it. At her apartment, she has a working kotatsu, and her stove is still operational, and she's got sweaters and hot chocolate aplenty, though admittedly she's running low on groceries after such a long snow, but what gets *her* out into this storm is looking out the window, thinking how romantic it would be to watch the storm while cuddled up with someone nice on the couch under a blanket, and whispering, "Senpai..."<br />
<br />
Half an hour later, Makoto Kino is loaded to the gills with warm clothes, from hat to scarf to mittens to coat to leggings to boots, determined to do--/something/, she's not exactly sure yet, but it feels right to get out there and haul around in the bitter cold. At the very least, it takes her mind off her romantic woes, so at least it's working.<br />
<br />
But then, as she makes her way through Shibuya, she overhears the bellow of a monster, and turns to see a kotatsu Nakewameke rear up over the crowd through a plume of smoke.<br />
<br />
"Westar?!" she utters--the yellow diamonds are his, right? Though, either way, this is *exactly* what she was looking for! With the snows this thick, she barely needs to duck into an alleyway to transform, but some habits are good to maintain.<br />
<br />
"Jupiter Star Power - Make Up!"<br />
<br />
A moment later, Sailor Jupiter appears, leaping down in front of the kotatsu with a look of anger on her face. "Westar! How dare you turn one of the most beloved items of winter into a tool to gather misery?! Even if Santa Claus forgives you, in the name of Jupiter, I will not!!" Jupiter twists around and jerks a thumb at her face, glare fierce and ferocious. "The sailor-suited pretty soldier of love and courage, Sailor Jupiter, has arrived! I'll fill you with so much regret, it'll leave you numb!!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Makoto Kino transforms into Sailor Jupiter!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used In The Name Of Jupiter on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Sailor Jupiter's In The Name Of Jupiter, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is Psyched! Diversion and Stagger applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Inori Yamabuki [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Earlier~<br />
<br />
The Yamabuki animal hospital is crowded to the bursting with stray animals. Warming blankets and portable heaters are on everywhere. And right now three girls are experiencing the miracle of life as a mother gives birth to puppies. "Merry Christmas everyone." In a corner crowded by surge protectors that have been daisy chained only by necessity, an adorable fairy cat shivers. <br />
<br />
Her heater had been taken to help warm the expecting mother and the swell of heat not being directly on her just isn't enough for her after being accidentally exposed to the draft from outdoors caused in the aftermath of a fairy tone(Or fari tone) rampage. Right now the fairy tones- free of their katamari predicament are working a plug into the last remaining outlets of a unit brought they just brought out of storage, "Y-y-you're a-a-all l-l-lifesavers n-nyaa!" Fari proudly clicks on the switch to high- and the coils start glowing red. There's the sound of a fuse guttering out and then the whole hospital goes black. <br />
<br />
For a few seconds there's only silence other than the mews of kittens and the barks of puppies before one of the fairy tones pipes up, "Hibiki did it~fafa." <br />
<br />
Now~<br />
<br />
After all the animals were moved, a process which only took only a few /hours/ of trudging through snow in one of the worst storms ever- the girls were on the look out for something a little more energy efficient so the Momozonos didn't suffer the same fate. This took them to Shibuya- which means they transformed for the trip, since the trains weren't actually running. <br />
<br />
"Sold out?" Inori Yamabuki shivers as she looks at the sign, then at her companion. "Even in the city... we can't afford a whole kotatsu. What do you think? Maybe the next store will have something?" <br />
<br />
But then, "One Data Diamond!" 'buki freezes, "Right now!?" 'buki looks with disbelief. She thought the storm would deter even Labyrinth. She thought /wrong/- as she gestures for Setsuna to follow down a frosted alleyway.<br />
<br />
"Change! Pretty Cure - Beat Up!"<br />
<br />
Girded for battle, Cure Pine leaps into the snow just outside of the store, "Westar! It's too dangerous outside for you to be doing something like this to desperate people who just want to stay warm on Christmas!" Driving straight forward, she rears back her fist and after a short hop drives it dead center into the table portion of the Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Inori Yamabuki transforms into Cure Pine!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Punch on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Pine's Pineapple Punch, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Setsuna Higashi is on a very important mission. She is also very, very, very chilly. She's bundled up in extra layers, tights on under her pants and a red coat and boots and scarf and gloves and her face is chilly too. But at least the exercise was good. After all... <br />
<br />
Earlier, Setsuna, who's often happy to help out with Buki's family's animal hospital--helped move rather a lot of animals to her house, and it was good for her to get out of the house on the one hand... But on the other... <br />
<br />
Well, on the bright side the trip was easier when transformed. But on the downside, she's not anymore. Regardless she stands there with Inori, looking up at the same sign, her scarf wrapped around her mouth and nose. She looks guilelessly with big red eyes at her ompanion over the sign, shivering again herself. When Buki asks, Setsuna reaches up to pull down her scarf, "It's worth--" <br />
<br />
Setsuna stops. Setsuna blinks. ...And Setsuna recognizes the voice. Rushing along with Buki she darts into the alley and... <br />
<br />
"Change! Pretty Cure! - Beat Up!" <br />
<br />
Likewise prepared for battle, Cure Passion somersaults into the snow beside her teammate. "Westar!" The pink-haired Cure calls, imperiouly. "...Don't tell me you /like/ this weather." A shake of her head before she rushes forward after Buki, darting to her side. "I won't let you hurt these people /or/ keep that kotatsu!" <br />
<br />
She leaps up and punches straight down for the Nakewameke--and then spins midstrike to kick it with concrete-busting force.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi transforms into Cure Passion!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Flash Feint on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki transforms into Crimson Rose Duelist!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The freezing cold isn't too much of a problem for one Kasagami Araki. The other Executive in the area happens to find the chill weather thrilling in an extreme-conditions kind of way. It helps that Kasagami's a fan of certain American survival tv shows. <br />
<br />
Her (newly replaced) black coat is bundled up around her, scarf tight about her neck, and thus it is that her Student Council Uniform is almost completely hidden. There's also a suspiciously sword-shaped bundle of cloth in her left hand. A very long one in fact. <br />
<br />
Her target isn't the shifty store selling overpriced appliances. No, it's the coffee shop next door that's stayed open against all odds. It's a mixture of impossibly loyal salarymen, teenagers out on a lark, and a punk or two with a taste for coffee. After a quick razzing of one punk and one Ohtori student out way past curfew, she's ordered a nice, strong coffee to keep her warm in her own egregious violation of school rules. <br />
<br />
Being Student Council has it's upsides. <br />
<br />
And then there's an explosion, people fleeing from the store next door. Sipping her coffee as other people hunker down in fear, Kasagami jogs over to the door of the coffee shop. She leans out, one eye narrowed, as she scans what's going on. A massive...is that a Kotatsu!? A swivel to Westar, then to Jupiter. She listens, observes, and grips her sword. The way he speaks, about misery, about this Mobius...definitely someone here to cause pain and misfortune. And on Christmas Eve of all nights! <br />
<br />
A Dark General has come to harm her Kingdom in the making, and it sparks a deep rage in Kasagami. The coffee shop is filled with a wonderful scent, a whirlwind of roses sweeps past her, the young woman left with red highlights and a coat festooned with the floral crimson petals. Those in the shop are left bewildered, several passed out. <br />
<br />
WHAM! That's the sound of a door being thrown off of it's hinges as the Crimson Duelist stalks through the snow towards the giant Kotatsu youma and it's creator! She stops, even as Jupiter finishes her speech and Pine goes punching like no one's business! Her coffee-holding hand reaches out, and points at Westar, sword arm at her side as she leans at an elegant yet rakish angle! Point! <br />
<br />
"What kind of /Executive/ goes out and ruins the most romantic day of the year!? Who're you to stop lovers and friends from snuggling under the warmth of a kotatsu!? I, who will be this world's King, won't allow such a thing! Go warm up back home with your own friends and family!" <br />
<br />
And then, her coffee cup is sipped once, before she gives a perfect baseball pitch. That now rose-scented, petal-adorned cup of expensive latte flies for the offending other Executive's face!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Warm Up Westar-kun! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Iona Hikawa [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Iona Hikawa isn't here! She's back at home under her own kotatsu. She likes her kotatsu, all toasty and warm. She even has a friend over!<br />
<br />
Well, said friend is Glassan, a familiar fairy, who has snuggled inside the kotatsu as well. They sigh, content in the fact that they're inside the warm house, and not outside in the freezing cold.<br />
<br />
But from where Glassan is sitting, she has a view to the outside, and Glassan's eyes catch motion from the outside-- smoke. The fairy slides out from under the quilt and makes her way to the window, causing Iona to stir and watch her fairy. Glassan looks out the window for a few moments, before suddenly turning to Iona in a panic. "Iona, there's trouble at Shibuya!"<br />
<br />
Iona immediately pulls from the kotatsu, and grabs her mirror. "Right."<br />
<br />
So it's no surprise when Cure Fortune comes streaking out of the skies, boot aimed directly for the Kotatsu. If it hits, all the better, but regardless she rebounds off the impact, flipping in the air and landing a few feet away. Unlike a few other Pretty Cures, Cure Fortune doesn't mince words, she just stares daggers at the Nakewameke, and its controller.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Iona Hikawa transforms into Cure Fortune!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Star Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Flash Feint, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Psyched! Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Kasagami Araki's Warm Up Westar-kun!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortune Star Kick, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune is Psyched! Stun applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's brutally cold, and the number of available kotatsus has just dwindled from one to zero as a towering robot of steel and darkness looms. Its colourful quilt-mantle sweeps over snowbanks, melting them in moments as a promise of what heat this appliance-turned-monster could be providing...had Labyrinth not hijacked it.<br />
<br />
This, however, has not gone unopposed. Westar hears his name called, and turns to behold Sailor Jupiter - glowering in fury, and shouting accusations his way. He answers her pose with one of his own, slapping a hand on his bicep. "Neither you nor Santa need to say anything - everything belongs to Mobius! This is just going to belong to him a little sooner - and good luck bringing that much regret! My arms are already going numb!"<br />
<br />
The sleeveless outfit may have been a mistake.<br />
<br />
That half-frozen arm gets thawed in a hurry as a hurled cup of coffee splashes against it, eliciting a surprised yelp. The Labyrinth Executive's gaze is drawn over to the Crimson Duelist, confusion on his face at the new challenger. "What kind?! An executive of Labyrinth, that's who! Who do you think you are - it's Mobius who will rule this world, and under his supervision, there's no need for any of this 'romance'! So just step aside, and let-"<br />
<br />
Wham! Wham! Wham!<br />
<br />
In rapid succession, three Pretty Cure make their entrance with staggering efficiency - Cure Fortune's silent kick strikes from one angle, Cure Pine's punch dead center, and Cure Passion's kick blindsiding the giant machine-monster to finish the job. The triple impact sends it staggering one step, then another, and it lands heavily against the side of that greedy appliance store.<br />
<br />
Somewhere, a gauge drips as its owner realizes the damage this late opening has brought him.<br />
<br />
"Dangerous?! It's dangerous for you to jump around in weather like this! And I don't like it, Eas - if Mobius just controlled temperature here, we wouldn't have this problem!" He rubs his hands together, privately bemoaning his lack of gloves. "But just try to stop me - or better yet, come back to Labyrinth! We'll have a kotatsu soon!"<br />
<br />
"Nake...." Slowly, the kotatsu-monster rises up once more, colourful mantle billowing out. There's a sudden rush of heat as the cloth parts a moment - swiftly replaced by the return of that bitter, bitter cold. "...wameke!" From beneath the mantle, hidden arms suddenly fling wide, hurling projectiles at Sailor Jupiter and the Crimson Duelist - the fruit most suited to a kotatsu, friendly citrus fruits.<br />
<br />
And then it lunges forward - and the very air seems to hiss as it lashes out at the Precure who struck it. The hands at the ends of the arms are like coils, and they're glowing - instantly evaporating whatever snow they touch. Careful, they're hot...!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Orange You Cold? on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Orange You Cold? on Kasagami Araki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: The entered attack name could match more than one available attack. Please try being more specific.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Don't Punch The Heater! on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Don't Punch The Heater! on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has adjusted his boss levels. He is now ready to take on 5 opponents!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Don't Punch The Heater! on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine fails to dodge Westar's Don't Punch The Heater!, taking 23 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to brace Westar's Orange You Cold?, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Sailor Jupiter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki perfectly dodges Westar's Orange You Cold?, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Kasagami Araki's Fade ability activates! Kasagami Araki's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune fails to dodge Westar's Don't Punch The Heater!, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Cure Fortune! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Don't Punch The Heater!, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! Cripple applied to Cure Passion! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs71P6z9LZ8<br />
<br />
She's glad that there are others here. Fortune and Jupiter and more! She didn't expect so many with everyone to show with so many stranded by the snow. Impact is made- alongside the other two Pretty Cure. And Pine tries to kick off of it- only to be struck in mid-air by an arm coil- glowing red hot by her right arm. It strikes her down to the street, crashing her into concrete, and causing a giant furrow in the snow flurries. "Gh-hothothothothot-" <br />
<br />
Pine rolls over to stick her right arm squarely in the ice. "Ahhhhh~" Relief radiates off her as much as heat when the snow does it's work of cooling the burn. There's one long exhalation as she rolls over in the snow. "Just a second... need a second..." <br />
<br />
Drawing herself up to her feet she dusts snow off with her good arm to give the other one a look. After a quick inspection. "All I want to do is get home to make sure a litter of puppies are doing alright. You're the reason we're having to jump around in the snow." <br />
<br />
You know it's strange. Christmas is supposed to be a romantic holiday! And yet she didn't feel any regrets for having noone to spend it with like that. <br />
<br />
To her taking care of that litter of newborn pups was the best possible way to spend her Christmas. <br />
<br />
There's a look of desperation she gives sidelong to Cure Passion. The puppies were definitely in good hands and good company but... <br />
<br />
But in that shared moment, something passes between them. And with a nod, she takes off into a run- as she pumps hard and vaults up into the air- <br />
<br />
The two girls meet in the air, Pine descends in time with her- a single bright boot extended. The two of them drive hard into the Nakewameke with two shouts in unison, "Double Pretty Cure Kick!"<br />
<br />
And just after impact- she adds one thing, "And call her Cure Passion - It's Christmas!" Wait is she implying that should be Westar's Christmas gift to Setsuna!? How greedy! And after he went to all that trouble getting them a Kotatsu!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has started a combo targeting Westar!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar tells Jupiter that she'll have a tough time making him feel any number than he already does, and Jupiter--pauses. "Yeah, that's a good point," she grumbles, eyeballing him. Her own transformation gives her some protection from the elements (otherwise, there's no way she could have made it through the North Pole in a mini-skirt), but apparently not everyone's so lucky. "If you're so cold, why did you even come out here?!"<br />
<br />
But before he can answer, several Pretty Cures CAREEN in, two chiding Westar for basically the same in, one not even wasting her breath. They're not the only ones to arrive; the Crimson Duelist appears, talks about how *she* is totally going to rule the world kthx, and pitches her cup of coffee at the enemy. Jupiter, however, is furrowing her eyebrows at her. Sailor Moon told her about her kidnapping, and described the people responsible... And this woman...<br />
<br />
"Hey," she says angrily, squaring up against the Crimson Duelist. "Are you--"<br />
<br />
WHAM.<br />
<br />
Jupiter, don't forget: you're still fighting Westar and his Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
Skidding back along the snow under the cannonball size and force of a delightfully fruity mikan orange, Jupiter struggles to get back onto her feet. That really blind-sided her--teach her to look away while fighting an enemy! As much as she hates having to fight alongside someone who kidnapped one of her best friends, she can't just ignore the Nakewameke, as Westar has so kindly reminded her. After a moment, Jupiter shoves the giant mikan off herself and into the air with a mighty and angry roar, then staggers up to her feet, glaring at the monster. As the orange begins to fall, she rears back her fist--and then POW! She punches it right back into the Nakewameke!!<br />
<br />
Or punches clear through the orange. You know. Either or.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jupiter, for her part, gets a look. Mostly of confusion. "...Huh? Do I know you?" Someone hasn't gotten the memo about the sailor senshi, it seems! But then there's more important things going on! Like Westar. And giant kotatsu's! <br />
<br />
That eye narrows harder, glaring right into Westar's own. Teeth grit, before she turns her attention to that attacking youma! It's huge! "A world without love and romance isn't something I'll accept! Sounds like you're my competition then! I won't hold back!" <br />
<br />
And as much as she'd like to tangle with Westar, there's a giant kotatsu rampaging! Specifically, tossing fruit! Lots of fruit! An entire market's worth of fruit! At first Kasagami has to step to the side to barely avoid the first barrage, whistling as it rakes a cut across her shoulder! "This better not be simple conbenie fruit!" <br />
<br />
Then her sword flashes, slicing aside several more of the incoming delicious edibles! A spin, a cut, pause. That sword moves like lightning despite it's length, slashing aside fruit like a blender. What she can't cut, she dodges in great pirouettes and jukes, a dancing, elegant style that finally sends a shower of flying fruit up into the air! She wipes the near-frozen sweat off her brow, straightens her now slashed-up coat, and catches the fallen fruit along the length of her blade! <br />
<br />
"That's not a weak youma. I'll give you that, Executive of Labyrinth! Let me show you the power of the Disciplinary Executive!" <br />
<br />
Then, she leaps up, rebounds off of the side of the coffee shop's wall, and flies high above the fruit-flinging kotatsu! <br />
<br />
All around her sword, those halves of fruit are consumed by growing roses! Happy fruit blossoms into dark crimson flowers! They grow more and more numerous as Kasagami floats in the air. Both hands grip her sword! And then she makes a single slash in the air as she gets some impressive hang-time, hair and coat fluttering as she sports a cocky, self-confident smile. <br />
<br />
Those very same petals around her sword gather in a dance more appropriate to spring, and with just as much warmth. It's a dance of life, ambition, desire and longed-for romance all wrapped up in those magical crimson rose petals as they begin their dance. <br />
<br />
They slice more keenly than any sword should they touch the kotatsu, but against the Pretty Cure and Jupiter? Nothing more than potentially allergy-choking roses so known to Ohtori.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion appreciates the others here too; she even sees Fortune. But she has things to say, more than usual for her. "I happen to /like/ romance, Westar!" Passion heard the words that inspired that line though, glanced over to see Kasagami's approach. "But even if I didn't I wouldn't come back to Labyrinth! I don't care if you have a kotatsu, I have a kotatsu too!" <br />
<br />
She ducks under to recover from her kick, "And even if it gets really, extremely, unbearably cold here, I'd still--" Turn, "Rather stay" bend at the knees, "On earth!" <br />
<br />
But just as she's moving to strike again, the Nakewameke charges, and instinctively Passion throws her arms up before herself as she leaps away. This proves to be a mistake; it's /hot/, burning her forearms as she grits her teeth in pain. <br />
<br />
"Hey!" she calls out to Kasagami, "Stop it with the Executive stuff! Don't think I've forgotten the last time I saw you!" Passion starts wheeling back, and catches Cure Pine's words, looking to her as she mentions the puppies. "Right..." She smiles faintly. "That's why we're here!" Pine looks at her in desperation, and Passion looks at her like every time she gets to share something with her friend is the first time. She nods back--and takes into a run, moving the other direction, bending and /leaping/ into the air--<br />
<br />
Passion descends in time with Pine, a single red boot extended. She shouts with her, "Double Pretty Cure Kick!" as they impact. <br />
<br />
As she's bouncing off she hears Pine's addition, and makes it to the ground in a stuck landing beside her. "Thank you, Pine!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has joined the combo started by Cure Pine!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Orange You Mad!! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Sailor Jupiter's Orange You Mad!!, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Dance in the Petals on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: COMBO! Cure Pine and Cure Passion have used Combo: Merry Christmas with Love Signed Pretty Cure!, composed of Pretty Cure Fresh Kick, on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune continues to watch the Nakewameke, attempting to try and predict its actions to avoid them, or find an opening to attack the monster.<br />
<br />
But the Nakewameke lunges first, and Fortune tries to dodge by leaping away, but the Nakewameke strikes true and she gets a lot of hot coils applied directly. The force slams her down to the ground, and she rolls to a stop in the snow. On the bright side, this does cool her down just a little bit. On the not so bright side, as Fortune stands back up, the marks of the coils still glow a little red.<br />
<br />
This is when she notices the others. The girl that she vaguely remembers from the ice cream, two other Pretty Cure, and... well, she's not sure if she's seen Jupiter before, but she's there. That's when she turns back to the Nakewameke. She doesn't spare anyone any words, as she lauches forward again, to try and hit the Nakewameke as many times as she can, with her punches.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Flurry on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Pine and Cure Passion's Combo: Merry Christmas with Love Signed Pretty Cure!, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Pine and Cure Passion are Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar perfectly counters Kasagami Araki's Dance in the Petals, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Counter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Quilted Mantle, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Kasagami Araki! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortune Flurry, taking 7 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's sizzling, as those coils are exposed to the air - but as the Pretty Cure are driven back, the Nakewameke pulls them back under its mantle with a shiver. It's cold out, after all, even for giant robot monsters with built-in heating elements.<br />
<br />
That says as much about the cold as anything, really.<br />
<br />
Westar sprints through the snow, muttering rapidly about the cold as he keeps getting caught in snow banks, ice slicks, or snow balls from particularly cheeky children - but in short order he's at his monster's side, giving it a bit of a shove to dislodge it from the building. It takes a stomp forward, and then a second, groaning at the cold...<br />
<br />
And then an orange clips it right between the eyes.<br />
<br />
"Hey! I'm out here for the same reason you are - to get something warm! Nakewameke, don't take that lying down - " And then, just as abruptly, there are flower petals everywhere, courtesy of a would-be world ruler. He blinks at her declaration, seemingly baffled - and then the Nakewameke bellows as it charges into the flower storm, sweeping a strangely durable quilt through the razor-sharp petals.<br />
<br />
The scent of flowers fills the air, for a moment.<br />
<br />
Then there's the menace that is Pretty Cure. Pine has a demand, and Passion has a response - Westar whirls on both of them. "You like...do you know how you sound?! And - wait, you already had one this whole time?! How could you?!" He folds his arms, glowering, and frowns all the more at Pine's words. "She's - you know what? Fine! If she's saying things as weird as that, then she's too far from the Eas I know - don't think I'll share the warmth after this, 'Cure Passion'! Cure Pine, Cure Fortune - you'd better prepare yourselves!"<br />
<br />
Stomp. The Nakewameke takes a step forward, and spreads its quilt wide. For a few, blissful moments, warmth fills the air again - warmth enough that the snowbanks nearby seem to recede just a bit, to make one forget that it's brutally cold out - <br />
<br />
And then it's gone in an instant, bringing the cold back with brutal force. In that moment, a hand lashes out to snatch at Sailor Jupiter; a table leg stomps down towards the Duelist; and the quilt slams back down in front of the Cures, shutting them out in the cold harshly.<br />
<br />
From atop the table, finally warming up, Westar calls out. "Cry more! Wail more! Your grief, misery, and shivering will fill the Sorrow Gauge!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Kasagami Araki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Westar's Lending A Hand! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar accepts Westar's Westar's Lending A Hand!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Withstand applied to Westar! Cleanse! All of Westar's debuffs are cleared! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Block ability activates! Cure Passion's Parry ability activates! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine fails to dodge Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Cure Pine! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly dodges Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune's Fade ability activates! Cure Fortune's Flash ability activates! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Cure Fortune! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki fails to brace Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Kasagami Araki! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates! Trap applied to Sailor Jupiter! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The reaction Sailor Jupiter gets for her budding anger from Kasagami is puzzlement, and between that and getting beaned with a giant orange, it helps Jupiter remember that Sailor Moon was kidnapped as *Usagi*, not Sailor Moon, and so grilling the Crimson Duelist haphazardly might do more harm than good. Unfortunately for Jupiter, she's not the cunning, savvy type with a way with words, so this realization means all she can really do is glare at the Crimson Duelist a whole lot before focusing back on the Nakewameke. ...Which is hiding its heating coils back under its blanket. Why did she think it was a good idea to go out into the snow, again? She can't even remember anymore!<br />
<br />
(Success.)<br />
<br />
Cures Pine and Passion scold Westar a whole bunch, insisting on Passion instead of Eas as usual--Jupiter slides Passion a half-smile for that when Westar finally submits--and then braces herself for the incoming Nakewameke hand. She can't quite avoid it, there's just too much snow around to make dodging easy, but with her arms braced, she at least makes it so she's got room to maneuver when the monster picks her up, rather than being squeezed half to death. It's got a hell of a grip, though, and it takes almost all her strength to keep it that way. So, what's a girl to do when she can't use her muscles?<br />
<br />
Use her magic.<br />
<br />
With a roar, the lightning rod emerges from Sailor Jupiter's tiara. There was but a moment of glorious warmth before the Nakewameke attacked, and she'll have warmth again once she gets home, but until then--! "The only one who's going home crying tonight is YOU! SUPREME..." Lightning bolts crash down from above Jupiter, crackling around her tiara rod. Then they shoot forward, directly for the Nakewameke's face. "THUNDER!!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Supreme Thunder! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Jupiter's Supreme Thunder!, taking 22 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
A durable blanket shield! Kasagami tch's in annoyance! Thing thing is smarter than it looks, or perhaps, it's master is just that crafty! Kasagami sticks her landing, and sees that leg coming! But it's too huge and fast even for her to immediately leap out of the way! Her good eye goes wide as that foot stomps at her, and she brings up her blade at the last second! Cruuuuunch! There's the sound of steel on steel, cracking concrete, and flexing muscles as Kasagami struggles to not be squished beneath that foot! She can feel her bones creaking under the very weight! <br />
<br />
With a howl, Kasagami's right hand punches the blunt end of her nodachi, hard enough to get her just /that/ much room to maneuver! She takes a near-perpendicular leap away from that smashing leg just in time for it to crash down! She's sent flying even further, smashing right back through the window of the coffee ship and crashing amidst a table! SMASH! <br />
<br />
She doesn't rise for a moment, groaning as she does. A deep, sucking breath, and she lets out a low chuckle. "So that's the power of a General, huh? This is so FUN!" <br />
<br />
Then, she bursts out of the coffee shop, adding a second exit to the poor business! Crashing through the wall, her sword is held behind her as a swirling vortex of petals and pure, crimson energy runs along her sword. That magic-heated blade practically sizzles with the power and weight of her dreams before she tries to bring it down right on the table portion of the giant kotatsu! It's as if she's holding a Nakawameke-sized sword made mostly out of roses, swung down in a perfect example of an aerial, leaping samurai attack! SLASH!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Falling Petals Cut The Soul on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Well- at least he did it! <br />
<br />
Pine skids on snow after flipping back from the impact and waves out her arm again. Getting too close to that thing was only exacerbating the burn there. But then- "Wait no don't-!" Is there anything worse than stepping out in the cold once you were getting warm and toasty? The instant drop of temperature from the Nakewameke turning it off causes her skin to feel like she was dipped in a frozen bath. As she crosses her arms and shivers. "W-W-Who could pre-pre-prepare themselves for t-t-that?" She shivers and shakes and suffers and tries not to rub her burned arm too hard. <br />
<br />
"W-W-Was it r-r-really this cuh-cuh-cold before? I-It feels l-l-like it got w-w-worse-"<br />
<br />
Pine trudges forward at the Nakewameke. One step after another. It's cold so it's slow going and it's likely the Nakewameke is going to come after her any second and then- lightning zooms overhead to strike the Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
She takes a very short hop forward and kicks it in one of its shins! <br />
<br />
It's not a strong kick relatively speaking, but right now it is super cold! "Th-Thanks for the- Oh-Opening." She offers to Jupiter. She wants it to sound enthusiastic but right now that's tough!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Fresh Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Kasagami Araki's Falling Petals Cut The Soul, taking 37 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Pine's Pineapple Fresh Kick, taking 2 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune lands from the punching fit again, and listens to Westar's speil about why he's here, and his response to the other Magical Girls here too. In fact , here now is Fortune's time to actually wax poetic for once. "I have a kotatsu too! It's nice and I want to go back into it!"<br />
<br />
All right, so Fortune isn't the best at Speechwriting. However, she does prefer actions over words, and the Nakewameke suddenly brings in the cold, causing Fortune to shiver as the cold freezes her skin. She rubs her body for a few moments, teeth chattering. <br />
<br />
She considers options for a moment to warm herself up, and the Cure reaches for her mirror... but she decides against it. Pine Arabian could work, but she's not sure she wants to replace snow with sand. Not yet. So instead, she tries to punch the Nakewameke right dab in the middle of the table, putting as much strength as she could into it.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortunate Punch on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion sticks her chin out defiantly at Westar's question about how she sounds, and frowns suddenly at 'How could you!?' She opens her mouth as if to say something, but Westar moves on to Pine and suddenly... <br />
<br />
"Hey! I don't sound weird!" It's very... defensive, though she glances around and spots Sailor Jupiter smiling at her a little, which helps her abrubt self-consciousness. But before she can say anything more than that, it's suddenly warm, amazingly warm--<br />
<br />
And then the cold is /back/. It's even worse than before! The red Cure can't help but shiver, rubbing her upper arms for an instant before she gets control of herself. "S-super cold, P-Pine. I d-don't know i-if it was this bad before." Her burned arms still hurt. In fact they hurt /worse/, and she feels so tired. <br />
<br />
But there's lightning above, and Fortune crashing in; so not long after Pine goes in, half a second, Passion hops upward to punch once, punch twice, and then spin with a couple of light kicks on her way down. <br />
<br />
"W-why d-does it /get/ this c-cold!?" she complains to Pine.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Passion Pinwheel on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Passion's Passion Pinwheel, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortunate Punch, taking 9 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke has a tight grip on one of those facing it- and it brings Sailor Jupiter closer to those glowing eyes on the table's edge. This proves to be a mistake, as a storm of lightning blasts it in the face, repeatedly, forcing it to release the girl let it be electrocuted. One stray bolt blasts the part of the table where Westar stands, and the Executive topples from a suddenly unstable perch.<br />
<br />
It's fine, the awning of the appliance store broke his fall. Unfortunately, it also broke.<br />
<br />
Laughing maniacally, the Crimson Duelist forms a great blade of rose petals and dreams of world domination, slashing at the Nakewameke. It doesn't cut through - but the entire beast shudders from the impact. Upon seeing the three Precure coming for it, it hunkers down, bringing the bulk of the table to bear against the feet and fists of Passion, Pine, and Fortune. Fortunately for the monster...<br />
<br />
It is very, very cold.<br />
<br />
"Fun? Fun?!" Emerging from where he toppled, Westar stares incredulously at Kasagami. He seems utterly baffled, and turns to the three Cures out in the cold. "I don't think any of you have said this was fun before. It's not a panda train, after all." He tilts his head in puzzlement, then claps his hands, rubbing them together - why doesn't Mobius's outfit have gloves or something?<br />
<br />
He turns, abruptly pointing at Cure Fortune. "You too?! What is it with you Precure and actually having ways to stay warm?! The mansion is freezing - Labyrinth needs this kotatsu more than any of you do!" Even he seems to be feeling the cold, matching Pine's shivering as he shakes his head at Passion. "It's ridiculous, right? It shouldn't be this cold - and it's not Soular, before you even start! Just let Mobius fix things!"<br />
<br />
Finally, he runs over to give his Nakewameke a nudge. "Come on, get up! We can finish this quickly - just get fired up, and deal with them all at once!" Slowly, the kotatsu-Nakewameke rises, steam billowing from beneath its quilt all over again.<br />
<br />
"KOTAAAATSU!" Its eyes seem to glow as it charges forward suddenly, sweeping its quilt left and right as it bears down on the group as a whole - but it seems to lock eyes with Cure Fortune in particular, this time. "BETTER STAY WAAAARM!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Kasagami Araki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used All Fired Up! on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly braces Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Block ability activates! Cure Pine's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion fails to brace Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 34 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly braces Westar's All Fired Up!, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Westar is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki narrowly dodges Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Kasagami Araki's Fade ability activates! Kasagami Araki's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to counter Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 33 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter's counterattack, Jupiter Thunderbolt, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Oh come on! Flashing steal! Bursting magic! Contests of strength, power, and cunning! Labyrinth Executive! Next time, I want it to be you and me!" A challenge, and a far-too-happy grin scent Westar's way from Kasagami! Someone might be a fight junkie here! <br />
<br />
At least Westar seems to care about his subordinate newly acquired kotatsu monster. As the thing charges, Kasagami does a roll to the side, that massive quilt barely catching her across her side hard enough to rip off her coat completely! Even some of her student council uniform gets shredded as she's sent flying into a light pole! WHAM! <br />
<br />
Steel stabs to concrete, and she wrenches herself up to her feet again. Dusting off a slurry of snow on her back, Kasagami takes a deep breath. She pulls up her sword, and then, takes up a thrusting stance. Knees bend, and then she charges the quilt-wielding creature! Just before she rushes past, there's a moment where her body shimmers, and her sword glows. She doesn't pause as she makes a single stab through the Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
Those keen eyed might notice that, for just a moment, two swords existed where Kasagami thrust. Surely a trick of the eyes!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Crimson Cage Lite on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar brings up an excellent point on the benefits of living in a world where everything is decided for you- even the climate. "It's u-usually not this cold though." <br />
<br />
It's almost unnaturally so- she has her suspicions that Dark Fall is maybe up to something and Westar just isn't in the loop... which given what she knows about even Westar's own comrades and how they treat him is an entirely fair assumption- however she doesn't know for sure. So she doesn't voice that aloud. Fortunately the longer she's in the cold the more she adjusts to it.<br />
<br />
But in comes the Nakewameke, sweeping with a blanket that she suspects is heavier than a titanium plate. Putting up her arms as her guard at the last second, she tries to roll with the force of the swishing blanket. But even so as heavy as it is, as strong as the Nakewameke, it drives her back across the street. <br />
<br />
She exhales a few foggy breaths before- "I mean- you're right that it's miserable when things hit extremes, but a world without winter is- too sad to think about. It's a world without building snowmen, or enjoying the warmth around the kotatsu. Or seasonal food, like- like oden- or roasted chestnuts- or- or- just quiet moments where a kitten snuggles up beside you to stay warm!" <br />
<br />
She's about to say something else, about taking the good with the bad. But as the words are about to leave her mouth she thinks about how someone like Soular might use it against her. She opens her mouth, and it gives her pause. How weird is it that he's not even here and she's thinking about how he might poke holes in her argument? <br />
<br />
But she tries to pick it up again. "Oh! And what about Christmas. Spending time with people you-" Her eyes flit over to Setsuna, "-care... about..." <br />
<br />
Wow isn't that an awkward silence. Cure Pine has officially decided to keep her mouth shut as she storms forward to leap and smash her knuckles into the thing. <br />
<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Punch on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jupiter, whose arms are currently occupied, throws Pine a wink. "No problem!" she shouts. Should she really be that unfazed by the cold...? Rest assured, once she gets back home, she'll be feeling it again... Though she, too, has a kotatsu at home, so home also means she'll have a solution to the cold problem. When Passion complains to Pine, Jupiter pipes in, "Yeah, it's usually not *this* cold--but sometimes you get these really intense snowstorms. It's just a thing that happens."<br />
<br />
Or it might be some kind of Dark Fall plot, but for now, Jupiter genuinely believes it's just really bad weather. She's been a bit behind on the magical girl news lately... But when Westar starts complaining, she scowls, far less sympathetic.<br />
<br />
"You should've thought of that ages ago!" she shouts at him. "How long've you been terrorizing Earth?! You should know the seasons change and winter can get really cold! If you hadn't put off getting a kotatsu until there was a blizzard, you wouldn't have this problem!"<br />
<br />
Unusually logical for Jupiter. It helps that it's just the plain truth. When the Nakewameke unhands her, she lands with a soft *piff* in a nearby snowback, eyes determined. That kotatsu blanket weighs down heavy upon them, and with her tiara's rod already out, she starts to call another bolt of lightning down. "JUPITER THUNDERB--"<br />
<br />
*Boff*. That's the sound of something heavy landing on something soft.<br />
<br />
Ahh, terrible as the blizzard is, the snow really is beautiful...<br />
<br />
Slowly, a lump bulges out where Jupiter was smacked down. Slooowly, the lump pushes up. Sloooowly, the edge crawls closer as someone pulls it nearer. And then, finally, Jupiter HEAVES the blanket back over her head, herself heaving for breath. She's looking awfully battered--and *awfully* mad.<br />
<br />
"My guardian Jupiter! Create a storm! Call the clouds! Bring down the lightning!!" she calls as electricity writhes around her like something living, whipping back and forth around and before her as she calls the magic of several bolts into one. "SUPREME..." They merge together. "THUNDER..." They begin to transform-- "DRAGON!!" --and an enormous dragon made of pure lightning emerges, opening its snout and roaring in defiance as it charges towards the Nakewameke. It pauses but a moment to consider its prey; then it dives for the Labyrinth monster, maw gaping wide, in an attempt to swallow it hole.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter has used Supreme Thunder Dragon on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"T-the mansion is pr-pretty drafty," Passion admits in an aside to Pine that nevertheless ends up loud enough to hear before of the effort getting words out in the cold. But Westar's obviously cold too, shivering away, and Passion can't help but feel that commonality, bonded by serious cold. <br />
<br />
"S-shouldn't b-be," she agrees despite herself, and then speaks up, "H-he wouldn't t-tell you if it was him! R-remember the h-heat w-wave!?" <br />
<br />
Passion would really, really like to remember that heat wave right now. <br />
<br />
But she glances to Pine. "I-is that s-so?" That's a relief. But in comes the Nakewameke, and Passion unclasps her arms to try to dig into her position with arms crossed in front of her... and slides through the snow until the arm impacts her and /she/ impacts a wall, hard enough to knock the wind out of her and send pain all through her back radiating outward. "Uh--" <br />
<br />
While she's sliding down the wall she can hear everything Buki says in defense of winter, and they're nice, lovely words. She drags herself out in the middle, and is there in time for Pine to look at her and mention Christmas. "I'm.... Really looking forward to that," she says with a little smile, and looks up to Westar and his Nakewameke again. ...Just in time to hear... 'You should know the seasons change and winter can get really cold!' <br />
<br />
Passion's head turns in embarrassment. She looks very battered, too. But she looks up again, "Jupiter's right! You could've just bought a kotatsu! Mobius-sama's stipend accounts for things like that!" <br />
<br />
But Passion herself sets her stance, takes a breath, and gets ready. "Pine!" she calls, "It's time!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Beat... UP! on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion accepts Cure Passion's Beat... UP!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune watches, and jumps back just as the Kotatsumaneke lunges at her. The impact hits, though Fortune manages to avoid falling and skids backwards due to the impact. "I keep my kotatsu after I'm done with it?" Perhaps, to the untrained eye, Iona's desire for not spending money may be a little weird, but maybe this guy is commanded by Lord Mobius to throw their Kotatsu out every year? This does puzzle Cure Fortune a bit. "I also wear coats!"<br />
<br />
Still in her post-skid location, Fortune just re-orients herself to keep her standing, then spins the dial on her bracelet. "Fortune..." She waves a hand above her hand and five stars appears. "Star Ring!" The stars turn into rings, which fly towards the Nakewameke to try and bind it.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Star Ring on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Kasagami Araki's Crimson Cage Lite, taking 19 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Pine's Pineapple Punch, taking 27 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stagger applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Sailor Jupiter's Finisher, Supreme Thunder Dragon, taking 36 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Fortune's Fortune Star Ring, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Tangle and Trap applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Steam is billowing out from beneath the Nakewameke's quilt - the heater seems to be working in overdrive, enough to take the edge off the cold. It's a constant war of temperatures - delightful warmth versus deadly cold, and perhaps a little worrying that the former is coming from the robotic monstrosity.<br />
<br />
Kasagami continues to be just a little manic, but Westar can't help but grin. He doesn't answer her challenge verbally, but the flexing of one bicep might be answer enough - his fists are ready. For now, though, she's going after the Nakewameke - and an impossible second sword is enough to punch through something metallic, beneath that quilt. There's a hiss of steam, and it groans...<br />
<br />
Cure Pine gives a passionate defence of Winter, and for a moment Westar seems lost in thought. It's not the snowmen or kotatsu as much is it is the food - but oh, is there ever some delicious food this time of year. But then she mentions the reason for the season, and... his expression becomes frostier, as if doused in something truly chilly. Fortunately, she follows up with punching his monster, which is much less ambiguous. "You can't distract me with snacks that easily, Cure Pine - this kind of weather is just plain miserable!"<br />
<br />
Cure Passion - Eas - follows up with a few good points. Namely, that the mansion is cold, and that Soular is often a jerk. Sailor Jupiter also has a few hard-to-refute arguments to throw into the mix, and Westar is left looking between the two of them for a moment. "It wasn't this brutal in January, Jupiter! This kind of cold is ridiculous - and I tried to get a heater! This guy was sold out of everything!" He folds his arms with a huff. "And Soular's been warning me about his plots lately, I'll have you know! We're working together these days, 'Cure Passion' - isn't it time you did the same?!"<br />
<br />
And then his argument is interrupted by a massive lightning bolt. "Wh- Nakewameke! Don't let it hit your diamond!" The monster, obligingly, lurches - narrowly avoiding obliteration, and letting out a massive groan as the voltage ravages it. Starlight shines down, pinning it in place moments later, and Westar whirls on the third Cure here. "You - you don't have a coat now! How are you staying warm, it's freezing!"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"You know what, enough of this! Nakewameke, it's time we finished this - if Pretty Cure and their friends want to be warm so much, then let's give them exactly what they want and get out of here!" He claps his hands, the diamond on his belt shining a moment - and the kotatsu glows an ominous yellow in response. It lurches forward, shaking off the last of the voltage, and flings the quilt open as it charges. A veritable wave of heat slams out, melting ice with a hiss, dazzling and dazing all in sight...<br />
<br />
And covering as the overcharged kotatsu stomps over delivery trucks, snowbanks, and magical girls opposing it. "OVERHEAAAATED!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used No Sleeping In The Kotatsu! on Kasagami Araki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used No Sleeping In The Kotatsu! on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 28 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine fails to dodge Westar's No Sleeping In The Kotatsu!, taking 21 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly dodges Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune's Fade ability activates! Cure Fortune's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is unable to keep fighting! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki narrowly dodges Westar's No Sleeping In The Kotatsu!, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Kasagami Araki's Fade ability activates! Kasagami Araki's Flash ability activates! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"You're supposed to get a heater BEFORE it gets this cold! It's too late once there's a blizzard chucking snow everywhere!" Jupiter argues back at Westar. A part of her marvels at the sheer ridiculousness of arguing about space heaters while fighting a space heater monster. Westar's just that kind of guy. It *is* true this weather is inherently miserable, though...<br />
<br />
Soular--that was the snooty smarty-pants, right? Jupiter remembers fighting him once, almost a year ago. He'd had his monster kidnapping children, the scumbag. It's been a long time, but rest assured he'd get a fist to the face if he were here.<br />
<br />
Jupiter does notice Passion turning her head away, looking embarrassed, when she talks about the changing seasons. Wait--did Passion forget? It's true the cold wasn't as bad last year, though. "It's okay!" she reassures her all the same. "A couple more months and it'll be spring again, sure enough!"<br />
<br />
But for now, Westar commands his Nakewameke to end it. Sailor Jupiter prepares to brace the attack--but going from super-cold to super-HOT is too much of a surprise. The wave of heat slams into her, sending her flying into a building as it melts ice and snow in its wake. Jupiter coughs, heaves, and shakes as she attempts to get back up--<br />
<br />
WHUMP.<br />
<br />
That would be the snow from the roof of the building she'd crashed against landing on her all at once.<br />
<br />
After the battering Westar's monster gave her, which was a hell of one that has already left her badly worn out and unlikely to actually be able to continue the attack, it'll be a while before Jupiter digs herself out. It's up to the others, now...<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKRJ1SCensI<br />
<br />
Jupiter makes an excellent point and Pine's jaw drops, "Wait- that's what it's about? He was just- he didn't anticipate... winter..." <br />
<br />
Her head hurts- and she's fairly sure it's not from a Nakewameke impact But Pine says it's time- "Right! A hand moves to her Linkrun."<br />
<br />
If she was complaining about the cold before though, that's soon not a concern. As the Kotatsu charges up to overload- this feels surprisingly familiar. In the way she kind of hopes its power sputters out. But no. Apparently Mobius Data Diamonds are super energy efficient as it begins it's heat wave slams into her. Suddenly it's like being in a desert on the hottest day of the year, as she breaks into a sweat instantly. Turns around, and starts to run away from the path of its rampage. <br />
<br />
Maybe she'd even make it- except the melting snow becomes slushy ice right before it starts to evaporate, and she slips. <br />
<br />
And a monstrous footstep then crashes down beside her, knocking her out of the way with a shriek. She almost loses grip on that Linkrun in mid-air, but her fingers spasm down on it hard enough to keep it in her grip as she rolls across the sloshy wet ground.<br />
<br />
And now her clothes and hair are wet. This is going to be super awful once she's out of range of the Kotatsu monster's heat. Fortunately she can transform back- but she still might be miserable. <br />
<br />
But Passion was counting on her to stay in this fight- and Jupiter has vanished under an awning's worth of snow, "Ki-Kirun!" Kiii~ <br />
<br />
A fairy key hops out of nowhere, bounces around in mid-air, then inserts itself into the top of her Linkrun. Running her fingers across the screen, a bejeweled flute shimmers into existence, which she catches, then spins into a flourish by her face like an actual flute, "Heal Harmony of Faith! Cure Stick- Pine Flute!" <br />
<br />
Playing the keys with concentric circles of light and sound- faith and belief personified- she waves it while saying the words of the spell writ in her heart, "Nasty Things- Nasty Things fly away!" A hop at the end, before she uses it to draw a diamond in mid-air with the tip of the flute, "Pretty Cure Healing Prayer-" Jutting it back, she casts her arm forward, launching it through the air. "-FRESHHHHHH!" <br />
<br />
Trailing streams of gold, carrying a faintly tropical scent- it careens towards the Nakewameke before bursting into impact, gold hearts upon hearts. She twirls the end of the flute like a baton to try to maintain the spell and heal the wrongness binding the creature together, "Haaaaaaaaaaaa!" <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Pine has used Precure Healing Prayer Fresh! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Fleeex. Okay, that's a pretty good bicep. Kasagami slowly nods, and shoots a cocky thumbs-up! If anything, she looks even more excited than before. Unfortunately, before she can literally throw a glove or otherwise toss him invitations for fists and swords and milkshakes, in charges the massive kotatsu with thatburst of overheating air! Even Kasagami gets caught up in it, the young woman URK'ing in surprise! The wind sends her flying upwards, even as it manages to rip apart her boots and the leg-cuffs of her uniform! She's left barefoot, in the air, and her toes are freezing! <br />
<br />
Thankfully she can only feel one set, but it's a small comfort. "Th...THOSE WERE MY FAVORITE BOOTS!" <br />
<br />
Never mess with a piece of Ohtori Student's fashion. Her eye narrows to a slit, and she raises her blade high with one hand! Her entire body glows red, and the air around her becomes a whirlwind that attracts not snow, but more of those sharp crimson petals! Even from her wounds, red bruises seems to turn to even more petals, until high above, there's an absolute sea of the things. Kasagami strikes a pose, imperious, merciless, and with just a hint of that manic desire in her eye as she lands atop a light pole. Her free hand points. <br />
<br />
"When I, Kasagami Araki, rule this world, there will be no suffering through despair of evil monsters!" She proclaims loudly, before giving an almost casual swipe of her blade. <br />
<br />
"Bloody Rose Storm." <br />
<br />
Like a dimly sparkling waterfall, the crimson tide of flowers falls, swirling and rotating around each other to make a deluge, magic burning hot thanks to the weight of her anger, and pure hatred of the monster before her. There's something horribly personal in her tone, a burning fury not quite yet unleashed as she throws down the last of her magic.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Kasagami Araki has used Bloody Rose Storm on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune points directly at Westar. "The desire to protect this city keeps me warm!" And a beat passes, and the Nakewameke stomps around. Fortune tries her best to dodge and weave past the stomping, but it doesn't quite take. On the one hand, she doesn't get stomped. Which is nice. On the other, well, she does get kicked like a football down the street, rolling to a stop into another snowbank.<br />
<br />
Fortune stands up slowly, arm making way for her legs propping herself back up. When that's done, she turns towards to the Nakewameke and spins her dial. <br />
<br />
"Pretty Cure!" She raises her hand, and dozens of tiny twinkling stars appears all around her. "Star Streaaam!" She lowers it to point directly at the Nakewameke, and they all rush towards it, aiming to fill it up with wonderful relaxation!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Fortune has used Pretty Cure Star Stream on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jupiter's reassurance gets Passion looking up at her again, giving her a hesitant smile. "Thank you..." <br />
<br />
But Westar has things for her to hear, too. "He has?" Passion answers, eyes widening in surprise. That's very much the opposite of any answer she was expecting. But her eyes narrow again and set. "I'm not going back, Westar. I--" The lightning bolt crashes in and Passion is suddenly more concerned with hopping back out of the way a little further than talking. <br />
<br />
"Westar! Don't--" <br />
<br />
The pink-haired Cure feels the searing heat as it washes over her, and she immediately moves to plant her foot enough to spring herself out of the way. She half-succeeds, and is hit mid-air, hit straight in the shoulder and then the chest and slammed backwards and out of the kotatsu's path rather than being completely trampled over foot; she hits a car, falls into a snowbank. <br />
<br />
Falling to the ground, Passion lands in a crouch, huffing for breath for an instant. The warmth of pain suffusing her body at least makes it easier to ignore the chill settling back in. She'll need that for wat's coming. She looks immediately around, sees Jupiter gone, Pine befor eher--<br />
<br />
Pine's still here. As she starts to summon her flute, Passion takes a breath and closes her eyes. Her hand stretches out, ling fingers at a point. "Akarun!" With a happy trill, a tiny fairy in red with a little key spins around her hand, bouncing around until she calls, "Sing! Rhapsody of Happiness! Passion Harp!" Akarun hops into the instrument. She opens her hand and it bursts into being in her hand, the cap clasped in her other hand and brought down to complete her implement. Bringing it in close to her chest, she strums a few notes. "Roar, O Storm of Happiness!" Another strum before white feathers whirl up behind her and red hearts begun to bubble up all around her and she starts to twirl in place. <br />
<br />
"Pretty Cure...!" She spins, more and more, finally lifting the harp up above herself. The hearts and featres move faster and faster, "Happiness Hurricane!!" <br />
<br />
Harp in one hand, she holds it out as her magic crashes towards the Nakewameke, to engulf in pink, purple, and red hearts, one of the larger seeking to bubble up all around and envelop it completely. <br />
<br />
She waves her harp, "Haaaaah...!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Passion has used Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Kasagami Araki's Finisher, Bloody Rose Storm, taking 33 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Fortune's Finisher, Pretty Cure Star Stream, taking 70 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Pine's Finisher, Precure Healing Prayer Fresh!, taking 150 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine is unable to keep fighting!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Finisher, Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane, taking 88 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's a moment, immediately after the Nakewameke's rampage, that it is weakened. That oppressive heat fizzles out for a moment, the relentless metal legs sag in exhaustion, and the monster is vulnerable. After a rampage like that, however, who would dare to stand against it?<br />
<br />
Everyone, that's who.<br />
<br />
Arcs of distant lightning dance over one leg, pinning it for a moment. Kasagami's proclamation is heard - answered with an abrupt "When you WHAT?!" from Westar - and swiftly followed by a deluge of rose petals. Roses, once more - but a tidal wave that even that terrific quilt can't easily brush aside. The Nakewameke defends as best it can against the would-be world ruler, bringing up the quilt to shield itself...<br />
<br />
But even as winter's chill starts to win the war against Westar's monster, Cure Fortune proclaims her inner warmth. Desperation, glittering in the darkness, a torrential river of stars from another angle. The quilt is held to block the petals, and ill-positioned to guard against the stars - and once the first star finds a wrinkle in that defence, it's as good as shattered. Countless stars, in a stream, blow open the quilt to reveal mechanical workings within - along with a clear shot at the diamond empowering it. Black smoke sizzles from every impact, the monster staggering<br />
<br />
And then there is music. A flute of faith, invoking a prayer of healing, barrelling in as a shining yellow diamond with enough good to contrast against Labyrinth's darkness. A harp of passion, invoking a rhapsody of happiness, swirling around the prayer with a whirlwind of crimson. The twin powers strike home - and with a crackle, assembled forces billow in a storm of light and warmth enough to drive back winter's bite for a handful of minutes. It's blinding, it's roaring, and there's a faint little 'fizzzzzz' from within.<br />
<br />
When the light fades, an ordinary kotatsu remains, on its side in the snow. Much of the street has been put to rights - though the storefront of the appliance store has seen better days.<br />
<br />
From a nearby snowbank, a hand punches out to grasp a stop sign. Carefully, Westar hauls himself out, looking at those still standing, well aware of the melting snow. "...it's too cold for this. Until next time, Pretty Cure!" He turns, and starts to dash-<br />
<br />
-stopped short for a moment by the fact that his hand is frozen to the post-<br />
<br />
-and with a yell, ripping the sign from the concrete, and running off with it. He'll...just have to thaw out his hand at the mansion.<br />
<br />
The warmth of victory might linger for a few minutes, but winter's chill is slowly returning. Snow gently descends on the now-mostly-evacuated area, blanketing the battlefield in white. And...there's a free kotatsu up for grabs, apparently.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune watches as the monster fizzles and the Kotatsu remains. But she doesn't smile, as now that the combat is over, the cold starts to set in.<br />
<br />
Fortune looks at the other magical girls, the Rose Duelist, Cure Passion, Cure Pine, and even Sailor Jupiter, before she turns away. Wings expand to allow her to fly, and with a leap she zooms off into the distance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar flees, and finally, the powers of the magical girls combined destroy the creature! Kasagami actually watches a little bit in concern as Westar /rips out the sign frozen to his hand/! <br />
<br />
"H..HEY! USE LOW HEAT ON THAT! You'll get frostbite burns." P...poor Westar. <br />
<br />
Then, she pitches herself off of the lightpole in exhaustion, landing on a comforting bed of rose petals just above the snow. Shudder. Shiver. <br />
<br />
"H...hey. Anybody care if I make off with that kotatsu? My feet are freezing!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion can't argue with it being cold. Her attention is fully on Westar once he pulls himself out, and then--<br />
<br />
She blinks at the fact that he's frozen, and then sighs as he just rips the sign out. Her forehead and fingers meet in the middle as she finishes that sigh. It's kind of a big sigh. <br />
<br />
In that span of time Fortune disappears, and Kasagami falls above the snow and asks... That question. Passion frowns. "No, you can't steal the kotatsu! It goes back to the store!" <br />
<br />
The red Cure crosses her arms, with only one glance to her yellow Cure partner. Somehow, the fact that she's already starting to shiver again doesn't break her glare.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2017-01-29_-_Kotatsu_of_Sorrow2017-01-29 - Kotatsu of Sorrow2022-10-06T22:14:03Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Kotatsu of Sorrow''' |..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Kotatsu of Sorrow'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''On a brutally cold day, there's trouble when Labyrinth tries to claim the last kotatsu in the shop.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Setsuna Higashi|Cure Passion]], [[Inori Yamabuki||Cure Pine]], [[Iona Hikawa|Cure Fortune]], [[Garnet]], [[Makoto Kino|Sailor Jupiter]], [[Kasagami Araki]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Shibuya Shopping Ward<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2017-01-29 - December 24, 2014<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"One remaining, folks, one remaining! After this, we are out, out, out of stock - so it'll be sold to the highest bidder!"<br />
<br />
There's a commotion in front of an appliance store in Shibuya - many shops have closed up entirely in light of the brutal winter storm, but others have lights on as they attempt to peddle in the snowpocalypse. Those places selling home appliances have notices in their windows - electric blankets are out of stock, space heaters are sold out, anything even remotely connected to warmth is harder and harder to get...except for this. One final prize, and the shop's seedy-looking owner is milking it for all it's worth.<br />
<br />
"Twenty thousand! I'll pay twenty thousand!"<br />
<br />
"Twenty-two!"<br />
<br />
"Twenty-five!"<br />
<br />
The shopkeeper rubs his hands together, grinning as he mutters to himself. "Saving stock for the very peak...sometimes I surprise even myself!" And then he calls out to the shivering crowd. "How about thirty, do I hear-"<br />
<br />
"One Data Diamond!"<br />
<br />
The crowd, as a whole freezes. The voice came from above - standing atop a snowed-in delivery truck stands Westar, Executive of Labyrinth, bare-armed and slowly frosting over. In one hand, he holds a yellow diamond. Those who had seen his actions before murmur, and some start to try to get out of the way; others are a little bolder, if diminished by the cold. "Who are- " "You can't-"<br />
<br />
"I am Westar! Denizen of Labyrinth, and faithful servant of Lord Mobius! This device, which brings joy and warmth..." He shivers a moment, rubbing his arms for warmth, then continues. "...now it shall bring you misery, and belong to the forces of Labyrinth! N-n-n-nakewameke! Obey my command!"<br />
<br />
The diamond is flung, striking the small table on display to a desperate crowd. Smoke billows, and many start running - and then there are shouts and cries of panic, as a monster is revealed. Robotic in appearance, towering and broad, with legs strong enough to withstand the deepest snow.<br />
<br />
It's very wide, wearing a colourful quilt as if it's a cloth - and from where the edges brush the ground, steam can be seen billowing up. It's a giant robotic table, with cloth and heat - its name is known to all, and joy turns to misery as it bellows out its identity.<br />
<br />
"KOTAAAATSUUUUUU!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar transforms into Nakewameke!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 4 opponents!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Kino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Someone would have to be *incredibly* desperate--or incredibly determined--to brave the winter storm and torrential snows for... really just about anything. Christmas Eve marks the beginning of winter break for students, but it's also a day of love for couples. Makoto hasn't had a date in a long while, and the last person she dated turned out to be... not really interested in her for her, let's put it. At her apartment, she has a working kotatsu, and her stove is still operational, and she's got sweaters and hot chocolate aplenty, though admittedly she's running low on groceries after such a long snow, but what gets *her* out into this storm is looking out the window, thinking how romantic it would be to watch the storm while cuddled up with someone nice on the couch under a blanket, and whispering, "Senpai..."<br />
<br />
Half an hour later, Makoto Kino is loaded to the gills with warm clothes, from hat to scarf to mittens to coat to leggings to boots, determined to do--/something/, she's not exactly sure yet, but it feels right to get out there and haul around in the bitter cold. At the very least, it takes her mind off her romantic woes, so at least it's working.<br />
<br />
But then, as she makes her way through Shibuya, she overhears the bellow of a monster, and turns to see a kotatsu Nakewameke rear up over the crowd through a plume of smoke.<br />
<br />
"Westar?!" she utters--the yellow diamonds are his, right? Though, either way, this is *exactly* what she was looking for! With the snows this thick, she barely needs to duck into an alleyway to transform, but some habits are good to maintain.<br />
<br />
"Jupiter Star Power - Make Up!"<br />
<br />
A moment later, Sailor Jupiter appears, leaping down in front of the kotatsu with a look of anger on her face. "Westar! How dare you turn one of the most beloved items of winter into a tool to gather misery?! Even if Santa Claus forgives you, in the name of Jupiter, I will not!!" Jupiter twists around and jerks a thumb at her face, glare fierce and ferocious. "The sailor-suited pretty soldier of love and courage, Sailor Jupiter, has arrived! I'll fill you with so much regret, it'll leave you numb!!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Makoto Kino transforms into Sailor Jupiter!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used In The Name Of Jupiter on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Sailor Jupiter's In The Name Of Jupiter, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is Psyched! Diversion and Stagger applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Inori Yamabuki [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Earlier~<br />
<br />
The Yamabuki animal hospital is crowded to the bursting with stray animals. Warming blankets and portable heaters are on everywhere. And right now three girls are experiencing the miracle of life as a mother gives birth to puppies. "Merry Christmas everyone." In a corner crowded by surge protectors that have been daisy chained only by necessity, an adorable fairy cat shivers. <br />
<br />
Her heater had been taken to help warm the expecting mother and the swell of heat not being directly on her just isn't enough for her after being accidentally exposed to the draft from outdoors caused in the aftermath of a fairy tone(Or fari tone) rampage. Right now the fairy tones- free of their katamari predicament are working a plug into the last remaining outlets of a unit brought they just brought out of storage, "Y-y-you're a-a-all l-l-lifesavers n-nyaa!" Fari proudly clicks on the switch to high- and the coils start glowing red. There's the sound of a fuse guttering out and then the whole hospital goes black. <br />
<br />
For a few seconds there's only silence other than the mews of kittens and the barks of puppies before one of the fairy tones pipes up, "Hibiki did it~fafa." <br />
<br />
Now~<br />
<br />
After all the animals were moved, a process which only took only a few /hours/ of trudging through snow in one of the worst storms ever- the girls were on the look out for something a little more energy efficient so the Momozonos didn't suffer the same fate. This took them to Shibuya- which means they transformed for the trip, since the trains weren't actually running. <br />
<br />
"Sold out?" Inori Yamabuki shivers as she looks at the sign, then at her companion. "Even in the city... we can't afford a whole kotatsu. What do you think? Maybe the next store will have something?" <br />
<br />
But then, "One Data Diamond!" 'buki freezes, "Right now!?" 'buki looks with disbelief. She thought the storm would deter even Labyrinth. She thought /wrong/- as she gestures for Setsuna to follow down a frosted alleyway.<br />
<br />
"Change! Pretty Cure - Beat Up!"<br />
<br />
Girded for battle, Cure Pine leaps into the snow just outside of the store, "Westar! It's too dangerous outside for you to be doing something like this to desperate people who just want to stay warm on Christmas!" Driving straight forward, she rears back her fist and after a short hop drives it dead center into the table portion of the Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Inori Yamabuki transforms into Cure Pine!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Punch on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Pine's Pineapple Punch, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Setsuna Higashi is on a very important mission. She is also very, very, very chilly. She's bundled up in extra layers, tights on under her pants and a red coat and boots and scarf and gloves and her face is chilly too. But at least the exercise was good. After all... <br />
<br />
Earlier, Setsuna, who's often happy to help out with Buki's family's animal hospital--helped move rather a lot of animals to her house, and it was good for her to get out of the house on the one hand... But on the other... <br />
<br />
Well, on the bright side the trip was easier when transformed. But on the downside, she's not anymore. Regardless she stands there with Inori, looking up at the same sign, her scarf wrapped around her mouth and nose. She looks guilelessly with big red eyes at her ompanion over the sign, shivering again herself. When Buki asks, Setsuna reaches up to pull down her scarf, "It's worth--" <br />
<br />
Setsuna stops. Setsuna blinks. ...And Setsuna recognizes the voice. Rushing along with Buki she darts into the alley and... <br />
<br />
"Change! Pretty Cure! - Beat Up!" <br />
<br />
Likewise prepared for battle, Cure Passion somersaults into the snow beside her teammate. "Westar!" The pink-haired Cure calls, imperiouly. "...Don't tell me you /like/ this weather." A shake of her head before she rushes forward after Buki, darting to her side. "I won't let you hurt these people /or/ keep that kotatsu!" <br />
<br />
She leaps up and punches straight down for the Nakewameke--and then spins midstrike to kick it with concrete-busting force.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi transforms into Cure Passion!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Flash Feint on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki transforms into Crimson Rose Duelist!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The freezing cold isn't too much of a problem for one Kasagami Araki. The other Executive in the area happens to find the chill weather thrilling in an extreme-conditions kind of way. It helps that Kasagami's a fan of certain American survival tv shows. <br />
<br />
Her (newly replaced) black coat is bundled up around her, scarf tight about her neck, and thus it is that her Student Council Uniform is almost completely hidden. There's also a suspiciously sword-shaped bundle of cloth in her left hand. A very long one in fact. <br />
<br />
Her target isn't the shifty store selling overpriced appliances. No, it's the coffee shop next door that's stayed open against all odds. It's a mixture of impossibly loyal salarymen, teenagers out on a lark, and a punk or two with a taste for coffee. After a quick razzing of one punk and one Ohtori student out way past curfew, she's ordered a nice, strong coffee to keep her warm in her own egregious violation of school rules. <br />
<br />
Being Student Council has it's upsides. <br />
<br />
And then there's an explosion, people fleeing from the store next door. Sipping her coffee as other people hunker down in fear, Kasagami jogs over to the door of the coffee shop. She leans out, one eye narrowed, as she scans what's going on. A massive...is that a Kotatsu!? A swivel to Westar, then to Jupiter. She listens, observes, and grips her sword. The way he speaks, about misery, about this Mobius...definitely someone here to cause pain and misfortune. And on Christmas Eve of all nights! <br />
<br />
A Dark General has come to harm her Kingdom in the making, and it sparks a deep rage in Kasagami. The coffee shop is filled with a wonderful scent, a whirlwind of roses sweeps past her, the young woman left with red highlights and a coat festooned with the floral crimson petals. Those in the shop are left bewildered, several passed out. <br />
<br />
WHAM! That's the sound of a door being thrown off of it's hinges as the Crimson Duelist stalks through the snow towards the giant Kotatsu youma and it's creator! She stops, even as Jupiter finishes her speech and Pine goes punching like no one's business! Her coffee-holding hand reaches out, and points at Westar, sword arm at her side as she leans at an elegant yet rakish angle! Point! <br />
<br />
"What kind of /Executive/ goes out and ruins the most romantic day of the year!? Who're you to stop lovers and friends from snuggling under the warmth of a kotatsu!? I, who will be this world's King, won't allow such a thing! Go warm up back home with your own friends and family!" <br />
<br />
And then, her coffee cup is sipped once, before she gives a perfect baseball pitch. That now rose-scented, petal-adorned cup of expensive latte flies for the offending other Executive's face!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Warm Up Westar-kun! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Iona Hikawa [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Iona Hikawa isn't here! She's back at home under her own kotatsu. She likes her kotatsu, all toasty and warm. She even has a friend over!<br />
<br />
Well, said friend is Glassan, a familiar fairy, who has snuggled inside the kotatsu as well. They sigh, content in the fact that they're inside the warm house, and not outside in the freezing cold.<br />
<br />
But from where Glassan is sitting, she has a view to the outside, and Glassan's eyes catch motion from the outside-- smoke. The fairy slides out from under the quilt and makes her way to the window, causing Iona to stir and watch her fairy. Glassan looks out the window for a few moments, before suddenly turning to Iona in a panic. "Iona, there's trouble at Shibuya!"<br />
<br />
Iona immediately pulls from the kotatsu, and grabs her mirror. "Right."<br />
<br />
So it's no surprise when Cure Fortune comes streaking out of the skies, boot aimed directly for the Kotatsu. If it hits, all the better, but regardless she rebounds off the impact, flipping in the air and landing a few feet away. Unlike a few other Pretty Cures, Cure Fortune doesn't mince words, she just stares daggers at the Nakewameke, and its controller.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Iona Hikawa transforms into Cure Fortune!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Star Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Flash Feint, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Psyched! Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Kasagami Araki's Warm Up Westar-kun!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortune Star Kick, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune is Psyched! Stun applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's brutally cold, and the number of available kotatsus has just dwindled from one to zero as a towering robot of steel and darkness looms. Its colourful quilt-mantle sweeps over snowbanks, melting them in moments as a promise of what heat this appliance-turned-monster could be providing...had Labyrinth not hijacked it.<br />
<br />
This, however, has not gone unopposed. Westar hears his name called, and turns to behold Sailor Jupiter - glowering in fury, and shouting accusations his way. He answers her pose with one of his own, slapping a hand on his bicep. "Neither you nor Santa need to say anything - everything belongs to Mobius! This is just going to belong to him a little sooner - and good luck bringing that much regret! My arms are already going numb!"<br />
<br />
The sleeveless outfit may have been a mistake.<br />
<br />
That half-frozen arm gets thawed in a hurry as a hurled cup of coffee splashes against it, eliciting a surprised yelp. The Labyrinth Executive's gaze is drawn over to the Crimson Duelist, confusion on his face at the new challenger. "What kind?! An executive of Labyrinth, that's who! Who do you think you are - it's Mobius who will rule this world, and under his supervision, there's no need for any of this 'romance'! So just step aside, and let-"<br />
<br />
Wham! Wham! Wham!<br />
<br />
In rapid succession, three Pretty Cure make their entrance with staggering efficiency - Cure Fortune's silent kick strikes from one angle, Cure Pine's punch dead center, and Cure Passion's kick blindsiding the giant machine-monster to finish the job. The triple impact sends it staggering one step, then another, and it lands heavily against the side of that greedy appliance store.<br />
<br />
Somewhere, a gauge drips as its owner realizes the damage this late opening has brought him.<br />
<br />
"Dangerous?! It's dangerous for you to jump around in weather like this! And I don't like it, Eas - if Mobius just controlled temperature here, we wouldn't have this problem!" He rubs his hands together, privately bemoaning his lack of gloves. "But just try to stop me - or better yet, come back to Labyrinth! We'll have a kotatsu soon!"<br />
<br />
"Nake...." Slowly, the kotatsu-monster rises up once more, colourful mantle billowing out. There's a sudden rush of heat as the cloth parts a moment - swiftly replaced by the return of that bitter, bitter cold. "...wameke!" From beneath the mantle, hidden arms suddenly fling wide, hurling projectiles at Sailor Jupiter and the Crimson Duelist - the fruit most suited to a kotatsu, friendly citrus fruits.<br />
<br />
And then it lunges forward - and the very air seems to hiss as it lashes out at the Precure who struck it. The hands at the ends of the arms are like coils, and they're glowing - instantly evaporating whatever snow they touch. Careful, they're hot...!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Orange You Cold? on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Orange You Cold? on Kasagami Araki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: The entered attack name could match more than one available attack. Please try being more specific.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Don't Punch The Heater! on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Don't Punch The Heater! on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has adjusted his boss levels. He is now ready to take on 5 opponents!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Don't Punch The Heater! on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine fails to dodge Westar's Don't Punch The Heater!, taking 23 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to brace Westar's Orange You Cold?, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Sailor Jupiter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki perfectly dodges Westar's Orange You Cold?, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Kasagami Araki's Fade ability activates! Kasagami Araki's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune fails to dodge Westar's Don't Punch The Heater!, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Cure Fortune! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Don't Punch The Heater!, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! Cripple applied to Cure Passion! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs71P6z9LZ8<br />
<br />
She's glad that there are others here. Fortune and Jupiter and more! She didn't expect so many with everyone to show with so many stranded by the snow. Impact is made- alongside the other two Pretty Cure. And Pine tries to kick off of it- only to be struck in mid-air by an arm coil- glowing red hot by her right arm. It strikes her down to the street, crashing her into concrete, and causing a giant furrow in the snow flurries. "Gh-hothothothothot-" <br />
<br />
Pine rolls over to stick her right arm squarely in the ice. "Ahhhhh~" Relief radiates off her as much as heat when the snow does it's work of cooling the burn. There's one long exhalation as she rolls over in the snow. "Just a second... need a second..." <br />
<br />
Drawing herself up to her feet she dusts snow off with her good arm to give the other one a look. After a quick inspection. "All I want to do is get home to make sure a litter of puppies are doing alright. You're the reason we're having to jump around in the snow." <br />
<br />
You know it's strange. Christmas is supposed to be a romantic holiday! And yet she didn't feel any regrets for having noone to spend it with like that. <br />
<br />
To her taking care of that litter of newborn pups was the best possible way to spend her Christmas. <br />
<br />
There's a look of desperation she gives sidelong to Cure Passion. The puppies were definitely in good hands and good company but... <br />
<br />
But in that shared moment, something passes between them. And with a nod, she takes off into a run- as she pumps hard and vaults up into the air- <br />
<br />
The two girls meet in the air, Pine descends in time with her- a single bright boot extended. The two of them drive hard into the Nakewameke with two shouts in unison, "Double Pretty Cure Kick!"<br />
<br />
And just after impact- she adds one thing, "And call her Cure Passion - It's Christmas!" Wait is she implying that should be Westar's Christmas gift to Setsuna!? How greedy! And after he went to all that trouble getting them a Kotatsu!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has started a combo targeting Westar!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar tells Jupiter that she'll have a tough time making him feel any number than he already does, and Jupiter--pauses. "Yeah, that's a good point," she grumbles, eyeballing him. Her own transformation gives her some protection from the elements (otherwise, there's no way she could have made it through the North Pole in a mini-skirt), but apparently not everyone's so lucky. "If you're so cold, why did you even come out here?!"<br />
<br />
But before he can answer, several Pretty Cures CAREEN in, two chiding Westar for basically the same in, one not even wasting her breath. They're not the only ones to arrive; the Crimson Duelist appears, talks about how *she* is totally going to rule the world kthx, and pitches her cup of coffee at the enemy. Jupiter, however, is furrowing her eyebrows at her. Sailor Moon told her about her kidnapping, and described the people responsible... And this woman...<br />
<br />
"Hey," she says angrily, squaring up against the Crimson Duelist. "Are you--"<br />
<br />
WHAM.<br />
<br />
Jupiter, don't forget: you're still fighting Westar and his Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
Skidding back along the snow under the cannonball size and force of a delightfully fruity mikan orange, Jupiter struggles to get back onto her feet. That really blind-sided her--teach her to look away while fighting an enemy! As much as she hates having to fight alongside someone who kidnapped one of her best friends, she can't just ignore the Nakewameke, as Westar has so kindly reminded her. After a moment, Jupiter shoves the giant mikan off herself and into the air with a mighty and angry roar, then staggers up to her feet, glaring at the monster. As the orange begins to fall, she rears back her fist--and then POW! She punches it right back into the Nakewameke!!<br />
<br />
Or punches clear through the orange. You know. Either or.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jupiter, for her part, gets a look. Mostly of confusion. "...Huh? Do I know you?" Someone hasn't gotten the memo about the sailor senshi, it seems! But then there's more important things going on! Like Westar. And giant kotatsu's! <br />
<br />
That eye narrows harder, glaring right into Westar's own. Teeth grit, before she turns her attention to that attacking youma! It's huge! "A world without love and romance isn't something I'll accept! Sounds like you're my competition then! I won't hold back!" <br />
<br />
And as much as she'd like to tangle with Westar, there's a giant kotatsu rampaging! Specifically, tossing fruit! Lots of fruit! An entire market's worth of fruit! At first Kasagami has to step to the side to barely avoid the first barrage, whistling as it rakes a cut across her shoulder! "This better not be simple conbenie fruit!" <br />
<br />
Then her sword flashes, slicing aside several more of the incoming delicious edibles! A spin, a cut, pause. That sword moves like lightning despite it's length, slashing aside fruit like a blender. What she can't cut, she dodges in great pirouettes and jukes, a dancing, elegant style that finally sends a shower of flying fruit up into the air! She wipes the near-frozen sweat off her brow, straightens her now slashed-up coat, and catches the fallen fruit along the length of her blade! <br />
<br />
"That's not a weak youma. I'll give you that, Executive of Labyrinth! Let me show you the power of the Disciplinary Executive!" <br />
<br />
Then, she leaps up, rebounds off of the side of the coffee shop's wall, and flies high above the fruit-flinging kotatsu! <br />
<br />
All around her sword, those halves of fruit are consumed by growing roses! Happy fruit blossoms into dark crimson flowers! They grow more and more numerous as Kasagami floats in the air. Both hands grip her sword! And then she makes a single slash in the air as she gets some impressive hang-time, hair and coat fluttering as she sports a cocky, self-confident smile. <br />
<br />
Those very same petals around her sword gather in a dance more appropriate to spring, and with just as much warmth. It's a dance of life, ambition, desire and longed-for romance all wrapped up in those magical crimson rose petals as they begin their dance. <br />
<br />
They slice more keenly than any sword should they touch the kotatsu, but against the Pretty Cure and Jupiter? Nothing more than potentially allergy-choking roses so known to Ohtori.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion appreciates the others here too; she even sees Fortune. But she has things to say, more than usual for her. "I happen to /like/ romance, Westar!" Passion heard the words that inspired that line though, glanced over to see Kasagami's approach. "But even if I didn't I wouldn't come back to Labyrinth! I don't care if you have a kotatsu, I have a kotatsu too!" <br />
<br />
She ducks under to recover from her kick, "And even if it gets really, extremely, unbearably cold here, I'd still--" Turn, "Rather stay" bend at the knees, "On earth!" <br />
<br />
But just as she's moving to strike again, the Nakewameke charges, and instinctively Passion throws her arms up before herself as she leaps away. This proves to be a mistake; it's /hot/, burning her forearms as she grits her teeth in pain. <br />
<br />
"Hey!" she calls out to Kasagami, "Stop it with the Executive stuff! Don't think I've forgotten the last time I saw you!" Passion starts wheeling back, and catches Cure Pine's words, looking to her as she mentions the puppies. "Right..." She smiles faintly. "That's why we're here!" Pine looks at her in desperation, and Passion looks at her like every time she gets to share something with her friend is the first time. She nods back--and takes into a run, moving the other direction, bending and /leaping/ into the air--<br />
<br />
Passion descends in time with Pine, a single red boot extended. She shouts with her, "Double Pretty Cure Kick!" as they impact. <br />
<br />
As she's bouncing off she hears Pine's addition, and makes it to the ground in a stuck landing beside her. "Thank you, Pine!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has joined the combo started by Cure Pine!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Orange You Mad!! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Sailor Jupiter's Orange You Mad!!, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Dance in the Petals on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: COMBO! Cure Pine and Cure Passion have used Combo: Merry Christmas with Love Signed Pretty Cure!, composed of Pretty Cure Fresh Kick, on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune continues to watch the Nakewameke, attempting to try and predict its actions to avoid them, or find an opening to attack the monster.<br />
<br />
But the Nakewameke lunges first, and Fortune tries to dodge by leaping away, but the Nakewameke strikes true and she gets a lot of hot coils applied directly. The force slams her down to the ground, and she rolls to a stop in the snow. On the bright side, this does cool her down just a little bit. On the not so bright side, as Fortune stands back up, the marks of the coils still glow a little red.<br />
<br />
This is when she notices the others. The girl that she vaguely remembers from the ice cream, two other Pretty Cure, and... well, she's not sure if she's seen Jupiter before, but she's there. That's when she turns back to the Nakewameke. She doesn't spare anyone any words, as she lauches forward again, to try and hit the Nakewameke as many times as she can, with her punches.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Flurry on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Pine and Cure Passion's Combo: Merry Christmas with Love Signed Pretty Cure!, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Pine and Cure Passion are Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar perfectly counters Kasagami Araki's Dance in the Petals, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Counter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Quilted Mantle, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Kasagami Araki! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortune Flurry, taking 7 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's sizzling, as those coils are exposed to the air - but as the Pretty Cure are driven back, the Nakewameke pulls them back under its mantle with a shiver. It's cold out, after all, even for giant robot monsters with built-in heating elements.<br />
<br />
That says as much about the cold as anything, really.<br />
<br />
Westar sprints through the snow, muttering rapidly about the cold as he keeps getting caught in snow banks, ice slicks, or snow balls from particularly cheeky children - but in short order he's at his monster's side, giving it a bit of a shove to dislodge it from the building. It takes a stomp forward, and then a second, groaning at the cold...<br />
<br />
And then an orange clips it right between the eyes.<br />
<br />
"Hey! I'm out here for the same reason you are - to get something warm! Nakewameke, don't take that lying down - " And then, just as abruptly, there are flower petals everywhere, courtesy of a would-be world ruler. He blinks at her declaration, seemingly baffled - and then the Nakewameke bellows as it charges into the flower storm, sweeping a strangely durable quilt through the razor-sharp petals.<br />
<br />
The scent of flowers fills the air, for a moment.<br />
<br />
Then there's the menace that is Pretty Cure. Pine has a demand, and Passion has a response - Westar whirls on both of them. "You like...do you know how you sound?! And - wait, you already had one this whole time?! How could you?!" He folds his arms, glowering, and frowns all the more at Pine's words. "She's - you know what? Fine! If she's saying things as weird as that, then she's too far from the Eas I know - don't think I'll share the warmth after this, 'Cure Passion'! Cure Pine, Cure Fortune - you'd better prepare yourselves!"<br />
<br />
Stomp. The Nakewameke takes a step forward, and spreads its quilt wide. For a few, blissful moments, warmth fills the air again - warmth enough that the snowbanks nearby seem to recede just a bit, to make one forget that it's brutally cold out - <br />
<br />
And then it's gone in an instant, bringing the cold back with brutal force. In that moment, a hand lashes out to snatch at Sailor Jupiter; a table leg stomps down towards the Duelist; and the quilt slams back down in front of the Cures, shutting them out in the cold harshly.<br />
<br />
From atop the table, finally warming up, Westar calls out. "Cry more! Wail more! Your grief, misery, and shivering will fill the Sorrow Gauge!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Kasagami Araki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Westar's Lending A Hand! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar accepts Westar's Westar's Lending A Hand!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Withstand applied to Westar! Cleanse! All of Westar's debuffs are cleared! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Block ability activates! Cure Passion's Parry ability activates! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine fails to dodge Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Cure Pine! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly dodges Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune's Fade ability activates! Cure Fortune's Flash ability activates! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Cure Fortune! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki fails to brace Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Kasagami Araki! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates! Trap applied to Sailor Jupiter! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The reaction Sailor Jupiter gets for her budding anger from Kasagami is puzzlement, and between that and getting beaned with a giant orange, it helps Jupiter remember that Sailor Moon was kidnapped as *Usagi*, not Sailor Moon, and so grilling the Crimson Duelist haphazardly might do more harm than good. Unfortunately for Jupiter, she's not the cunning, savvy type with a way with words, so this realization means all she can really do is glare at the Crimson Duelist a whole lot before focusing back on the Nakewameke. ...Which is hiding its heating coils back under its blanket. Why did she think it was a good idea to go out into the snow, again? She can't even remember anymore!<br />
<br />
(Success.)<br />
<br />
Cures Pine and Passion scold Westar a whole bunch, insisting on Passion instead of Eas as usual--Jupiter slides Passion a half-smile for that when Westar finally submits--and then braces herself for the incoming Nakewameke hand. She can't quite avoid it, there's just too much snow around to make dodging easy, but with her arms braced, she at least makes it so she's got room to maneuver when the monster picks her up, rather than being squeezed half to death. It's got a hell of a grip, though, and it takes almost all her strength to keep it that way. So, what's a girl to do when she can't use her muscles?<br />
<br />
Use her magic.<br />
<br />
With a roar, the lightning rod emerges from Sailor Jupiter's tiara. There was but a moment of glorious warmth before the Nakewameke attacked, and she'll have warmth again once she gets home, but until then--! "The only one who's going home crying tonight is YOU! SUPREME..." Lightning bolts crash down from above Jupiter, crackling around her tiara rod. Then they shoot forward, directly for the Nakewameke's face. "THUNDER!!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Supreme Thunder! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Jupiter's Supreme Thunder!, taking 22 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
A durable blanket shield! Kasagami tch's in annoyance! Thing thing is smarter than it looks, or perhaps, it's master is just that crafty! Kasagami sticks her landing, and sees that leg coming! But it's too huge and fast even for her to immediately leap out of the way! Her good eye goes wide as that foot stomps at her, and she brings up her blade at the last second! Cruuuuunch! There's the sound of steel on steel, cracking concrete, and flexing muscles as Kasagami struggles to not be squished beneath that foot! She can feel her bones creaking under the very weight! <br />
<br />
With a howl, Kasagami's right hand punches the blunt end of her nodachi, hard enough to get her just /that/ much room to maneuver! She takes a near-perpendicular leap away from that smashing leg just in time for it to crash down! She's sent flying even further, smashing right back through the window of the coffee ship and crashing amidst a table! SMASH! <br />
<br />
She doesn't rise for a moment, groaning as she does. A deep, sucking breath, and she lets out a low chuckle. "So that's the power of a General, huh? This is so FUN!" <br />
<br />
Then, she bursts out of the coffee shop, adding a second exit to the poor business! Crashing through the wall, her sword is held behind her as a swirling vortex of petals and pure, crimson energy runs along her sword. That magic-heated blade practically sizzles with the power and weight of her dreams before she tries to bring it down right on the table portion of the giant kotatsu! It's as if she's holding a Nakawameke-sized sword made mostly out of roses, swung down in a perfect example of an aerial, leaping samurai attack! SLASH!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Falling Petals Cut The Soul on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Well- at least he did it! <br />
<br />
Pine skids on snow after flipping back from the impact and waves out her arm again. Getting too close to that thing was only exacerbating the burn there. But then- "Wait no don't-!" Is there anything worse than stepping out in the cold once you were getting warm and toasty? The instant drop of temperature from the Nakewameke turning it off causes her skin to feel like she was dipped in a frozen bath. As she crosses her arms and shivers. "W-W-Who could pre-pre-prepare themselves for t-t-that?" She shivers and shakes and suffers and tries not to rub her burned arm too hard. <br />
<br />
"W-W-Was it r-r-really this cuh-cuh-cold before? I-It feels l-l-like it got w-w-worse-"<br />
<br />
Pine trudges forward at the Nakewameke. One step after another. It's cold so it's slow going and it's likely the Nakewameke is going to come after her any second and then- lightning zooms overhead to strike the Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
She takes a very short hop forward and kicks it in one of its shins! <br />
<br />
It's not a strong kick relatively speaking, but right now it is super cold! "Th-Thanks for the- Oh-Opening." She offers to Jupiter. She wants it to sound enthusiastic but right now that's tough!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Fresh Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Kasagami Araki's Falling Petals Cut The Soul, taking 37 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Pine's Pineapple Fresh Kick, taking 2 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune lands from the punching fit again, and listens to Westar's speil about why he's here, and his response to the other Magical Girls here too. In fact , here now is Fortune's time to actually wax poetic for once. "I have a kotatsu too! It's nice and I want to go back into it!"<br />
<br />
All right, so Fortune isn't the best at Speechwriting. However, she does prefer actions over words, and the Nakewameke suddenly brings in the cold, causing Fortune to shiver as the cold freezes her skin. She rubs her body for a few moments, teeth chattering. <br />
<br />
She considers options for a moment to warm herself up, and the Cure reaches for her mirror... but she decides against it. Pine Arabian could work, but she's not sure she wants to replace snow with sand. Not yet. So instead, she tries to punch the Nakewameke right dab in the middle of the table, putting as much strength as she could into it.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortunate Punch on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion sticks her chin out defiantly at Westar's question about how she sounds, and frowns suddenly at 'How could you!?' She opens her mouth as if to say something, but Westar moves on to Pine and suddenly... <br />
<br />
"Hey! I don't sound weird!" It's very... defensive, though she glances around and spots Sailor Jupiter smiling at her a little, which helps her abrubt self-consciousness. But before she can say anything more than that, it's suddenly warm, amazingly warm--<br />
<br />
And then the cold is /back/. It's even worse than before! The red Cure can't help but shiver, rubbing her upper arms for an instant before she gets control of herself. "S-super cold, P-Pine. I d-don't know i-if it was this bad before." Her burned arms still hurt. In fact they hurt /worse/, and she feels so tired. <br />
<br />
But there's lightning above, and Fortune crashing in; so not long after Pine goes in, half a second, Passion hops upward to punch once, punch twice, and then spin with a couple of light kicks on her way down. <br />
<br />
"W-why d-does it /get/ this c-cold!?" she complains to Pine.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Passion Pinwheel on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Passion's Passion Pinwheel, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortunate Punch, taking 9 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke has a tight grip on one of those facing it- and it brings Sailor Jupiter closer to those glowing eyes on the table's edge. This proves to be a mistake, as a storm of lightning blasts it in the face, repeatedly, forcing it to release the girl let it be electrocuted. One stray bolt blasts the part of the table where Westar stands, and the Executive topples from a suddenly unstable perch.<br />
<br />
It's fine, the awning of the appliance store broke his fall. Unfortunately, it also broke.<br />
<br />
Laughing maniacally, the Crimson Duelist forms a great blade of rose petals and dreams of world domination, slashing at the Nakewameke. It doesn't cut through - but the entire beast shudders from the impact. Upon seeing the three Precure coming for it, it hunkers down, bringing the bulk of the table to bear against the feet and fists of Passion, Pine, and Fortune. Fortunately for the monster...<br />
<br />
It is very, very cold.<br />
<br />
"Fun? Fun?!" Emerging from where he toppled, Westar stares incredulously at Kasagami. He seems utterly baffled, and turns to the three Cures out in the cold. "I don't think any of you have said this was fun before. It's not a panda train, after all." He tilts his head in puzzlement, then claps his hands, rubbing them together - why doesn't Mobius's outfit have gloves or something?<br />
<br />
He turns, abruptly pointing at Cure Fortune. "You too?! What is it with you Precure and actually having ways to stay warm?! The mansion is freezing - Labyrinth needs this kotatsu more than any of you do!" Even he seems to be feeling the cold, matching Pine's shivering as he shakes his head at Passion. "It's ridiculous, right? It shouldn't be this cold - and it's not Soular, before you even start! Just let Mobius fix things!"<br />
<br />
Finally, he runs over to give his Nakewameke a nudge. "Come on, get up! We can finish this quickly - just get fired up, and deal with them all at once!" Slowly, the kotatsu-Nakewameke rises, steam billowing from beneath its quilt all over again.<br />
<br />
"KOTAAAATSU!" Its eyes seem to glow as it charges forward suddenly, sweeping its quilt left and right as it bears down on the group as a whole - but it seems to lock eyes with Cure Fortune in particular, this time. "BETTER STAY WAAAARM!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Kasagami Araki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Bashing Blanket on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used All Fired Up! on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly braces Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Block ability activates! Cure Pine's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion fails to brace Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 34 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly braces Westar's All Fired Up!, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Westar is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki narrowly dodges Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Kasagami Araki's Fade ability activates! Kasagami Araki's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to counter Westar's Bashing Blanket, taking 33 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter's counterattack, Jupiter Thunderbolt, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Oh come on! Flashing steal! Bursting magic! Contests of strength, power, and cunning! Labyrinth Executive! Next time, I want it to be you and me!" A challenge, and a far-too-happy grin scent Westar's way from Kasagami! Someone might be a fight junkie here! <br />
<br />
At least Westar seems to care about his subordinate newly acquired kotatsu monster. As the thing charges, Kasagami does a roll to the side, that massive quilt barely catching her across her side hard enough to rip off her coat completely! Even some of her student council uniform gets shredded as she's sent flying into a light pole! WHAM! <br />
<br />
Steel stabs to concrete, and she wrenches herself up to her feet again. Dusting off a slurry of snow on her back, Kasagami takes a deep breath. She pulls up her sword, and then, takes up a thrusting stance. Knees bend, and then she charges the quilt-wielding creature! Just before she rushes past, there's a moment where her body shimmers, and her sword glows. She doesn't pause as she makes a single stab through the Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
Those keen eyed might notice that, for just a moment, two swords existed where Kasagami thrust. Surely a trick of the eyes!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has used Crimson Cage Lite on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar brings up an excellent point on the benefits of living in a world where everything is decided for you- even the climate. "It's u-usually not this cold though." <br />
<br />
It's almost unnaturally so- she has her suspicions that Dark Fall is maybe up to something and Westar just isn't in the loop... which given what she knows about even Westar's own comrades and how they treat him is an entirely fair assumption- however she doesn't know for sure. So she doesn't voice that aloud. Fortunately the longer she's in the cold the more she adjusts to it.<br />
<br />
But in comes the Nakewameke, sweeping with a blanket that she suspects is heavier than a titanium plate. Putting up her arms as her guard at the last second, she tries to roll with the force of the swishing blanket. But even so as heavy as it is, as strong as the Nakewameke, it drives her back across the street. <br />
<br />
She exhales a few foggy breaths before- "I mean- you're right that it's miserable when things hit extremes, but a world without winter is- too sad to think about. It's a world without building snowmen, or enjoying the warmth around the kotatsu. Or seasonal food, like- like oden- or roasted chestnuts- or- or- just quiet moments where a kitten snuggles up beside you to stay warm!" <br />
<br />
She's about to say something else, about taking the good with the bad. But as the words are about to leave her mouth she thinks about how someone like Soular might use it against her. She opens her mouth, and it gives her pause. How weird is it that he's not even here and she's thinking about how he might poke holes in her argument? <br />
<br />
But she tries to pick it up again. "Oh! And what about Christmas. Spending time with people you-" Her eyes flit over to Setsuna, "-care... about..." <br />
<br />
Wow isn't that an awkward silence. Cure Pine has officially decided to keep her mouth shut as she storms forward to leap and smash her knuckles into the thing. <br />
<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Punch on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jupiter, whose arms are currently occupied, throws Pine a wink. "No problem!" she shouts. Should she really be that unfazed by the cold...? Rest assured, once she gets back home, she'll be feeling it again... Though she, too, has a kotatsu at home, so home also means she'll have a solution to the cold problem. When Passion complains to Pine, Jupiter pipes in, "Yeah, it's usually not *this* cold--but sometimes you get these really intense snowstorms. It's just a thing that happens."<br />
<br />
Or it might be some kind of Dark Fall plot, but for now, Jupiter genuinely believes it's just really bad weather. She's been a bit behind on the magical girl news lately... But when Westar starts complaining, she scowls, far less sympathetic.<br />
<br />
"You should've thought of that ages ago!" she shouts at him. "How long've you been terrorizing Earth?! You should know the seasons change and winter can get really cold! If you hadn't put off getting a kotatsu until there was a blizzard, you wouldn't have this problem!"<br />
<br />
Unusually logical for Jupiter. It helps that it's just the plain truth. When the Nakewameke unhands her, she lands with a soft *piff* in a nearby snowback, eyes determined. That kotatsu blanket weighs down heavy upon them, and with her tiara's rod already out, she starts to call another bolt of lightning down. "JUPITER THUNDERB--"<br />
<br />
*Boff*. That's the sound of something heavy landing on something soft.<br />
<br />
Ahh, terrible as the blizzard is, the snow really is beautiful...<br />
<br />
Slowly, a lump bulges out where Jupiter was smacked down. Slooowly, the lump pushes up. Sloooowly, the edge crawls closer as someone pulls it nearer. And then, finally, Jupiter HEAVES the blanket back over her head, herself heaving for breath. She's looking awfully battered--and *awfully* mad.<br />
<br />
"My guardian Jupiter! Create a storm! Call the clouds! Bring down the lightning!!" she calls as electricity writhes around her like something living, whipping back and forth around and before her as she calls the magic of several bolts into one. "SUPREME..." They merge together. "THUNDER..." They begin to transform-- "DRAGON!!" --and an enormous dragon made of pure lightning emerges, opening its snout and roaring in defiance as it charges towards the Nakewameke. It pauses but a moment to consider its prey; then it dives for the Labyrinth monster, maw gaping wide, in an attempt to swallow it hole.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter has used Supreme Thunder Dragon on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"T-the mansion is pr-pretty drafty," Passion admits in an aside to Pine that nevertheless ends up loud enough to hear before of the effort getting words out in the cold. But Westar's obviously cold too, shivering away, and Passion can't help but feel that commonality, bonded by serious cold. <br />
<br />
"S-shouldn't b-be," she agrees despite herself, and then speaks up, "H-he wouldn't t-tell you if it was him! R-remember the h-heat w-wave!?" <br />
<br />
Passion would really, really like to remember that heat wave right now. <br />
<br />
But she glances to Pine. "I-is that s-so?" That's a relief. But in comes the Nakewameke, and Passion unclasps her arms to try to dig into her position with arms crossed in front of her... and slides through the snow until the arm impacts her and /she/ impacts a wall, hard enough to knock the wind out of her and send pain all through her back radiating outward. "Uh--" <br />
<br />
While she's sliding down the wall she can hear everything Buki says in defense of winter, and they're nice, lovely words. She drags herself out in the middle, and is there in time for Pine to look at her and mention Christmas. "I'm.... Really looking forward to that," she says with a little smile, and looks up to Westar and his Nakewameke again. ...Just in time to hear... 'You should know the seasons change and winter can get really cold!' <br />
<br />
Passion's head turns in embarrassment. She looks very battered, too. But she looks up again, "Jupiter's right! You could've just bought a kotatsu! Mobius-sama's stipend accounts for things like that!" <br />
<br />
But Passion herself sets her stance, takes a breath, and gets ready. "Pine!" she calls, "It's time!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Beat... UP! on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion accepts Cure Passion's Beat... UP!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune watches, and jumps back just as the Kotatsumaneke lunges at her. The impact hits, though Fortune manages to avoid falling and skids backwards due to the impact. "I keep my kotatsu after I'm done with it?" Perhaps, to the untrained eye, Iona's desire for not spending money may be a little weird, but maybe this guy is commanded by Lord Mobius to throw their Kotatsu out every year? This does puzzle Cure Fortune a bit. "I also wear coats!"<br />
<br />
Still in her post-skid location, Fortune just re-orients herself to keep her standing, then spins the dial on her bracelet. "Fortune..." She waves a hand above her hand and five stars appears. "Star Ring!" The stars turn into rings, which fly towards the Nakewameke to try and bind it.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Star Ring on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Kasagami Araki's Crimson Cage Lite, taking 19 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Pine's Pineapple Punch, taking 27 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stagger applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Sailor Jupiter's Finisher, Supreme Thunder Dragon, taking 36 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Fortune's Fortune Star Ring, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Tangle and Trap applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Steam is billowing out from beneath the Nakewameke's quilt - the heater seems to be working in overdrive, enough to take the edge off the cold. It's a constant war of temperatures - delightful warmth versus deadly cold, and perhaps a little worrying that the former is coming from the robotic monstrosity.<br />
<br />
Kasagami continues to be just a little manic, but Westar can't help but grin. He doesn't answer her challenge verbally, but the flexing of one bicep might be answer enough - his fists are ready. For now, though, she's going after the Nakewameke - and an impossible second sword is enough to punch through something metallic, beneath that quilt. There's a hiss of steam, and it groans...<br />
<br />
Cure Pine gives a passionate defence of Winter, and for a moment Westar seems lost in thought. It's not the snowmen or kotatsu as much is it is the food - but oh, is there ever some delicious food this time of year. But then she mentions the reason for the season, and... his expression becomes frostier, as if doused in something truly chilly. Fortunately, she follows up with punching his monster, which is much less ambiguous. "You can't distract me with snacks that easily, Cure Pine - this kind of weather is just plain miserable!"<br />
<br />
Cure Passion - Eas - follows up with a few good points. Namely, that the mansion is cold, and that Soular is often a jerk. Sailor Jupiter also has a few hard-to-refute arguments to throw into the mix, and Westar is left looking between the two of them for a moment. "It wasn't this brutal in January, Jupiter! This kind of cold is ridiculous - and I tried to get a heater! This guy was sold out of everything!" He folds his arms with a huff. "And Soular's been warning me about his plots lately, I'll have you know! We're working together these days, 'Cure Passion' - isn't it time you did the same?!"<br />
<br />
And then his argument is interrupted by a massive lightning bolt. "Wh- Nakewameke! Don't let it hit your diamond!" The monster, obligingly, lurches - narrowly avoiding obliteration, and letting out a massive groan as the voltage ravages it. Starlight shines down, pinning it in place moments later, and Westar whirls on the third Cure here. "You - you don't have a coat now! How are you staying warm, it's freezing!"<br />
<br />
A beat.<br />
<br />
"You know what, enough of this! Nakewameke, it's time we finished this - if Pretty Cure and their friends want to be warm so much, then let's give them exactly what they want and get out of here!" He claps his hands, the diamond on his belt shining a moment - and the kotatsu glows an ominous yellow in response. It lurches forward, shaking off the last of the voltage, and flings the quilt open as it charges. A veritable wave of heat slams out, melting ice with a hiss, dazzling and dazing all in sight...<br />
<br />
And covering as the overcharged kotatsu stomps over delivery trucks, snowbanks, and magical girls opposing it. "OVERHEAAAATED!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used No Sleeping In The Kotatsu! on Kasagami Araki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used No Sleeping In The Kotatsu! on Cure Pine.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 28 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine fails to dodge Westar's No Sleeping In The Kotatsu!, taking 21 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly dodges Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune's Fade ability activates! Cure Fortune's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is unable to keep fighting! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki narrowly dodges Westar's No Sleeping In The Kotatsu!, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Kasagami Araki's Fade ability activates! Kasagami Araki's Flash ability activates! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"You're supposed to get a heater BEFORE it gets this cold! It's too late once there's a blizzard chucking snow everywhere!" Jupiter argues back at Westar. A part of her marvels at the sheer ridiculousness of arguing about space heaters while fighting a space heater monster. Westar's just that kind of guy. It *is* true this weather is inherently miserable, though...<br />
<br />
Soular--that was the snooty smarty-pants, right? Jupiter remembers fighting him once, almost a year ago. He'd had his monster kidnapping children, the scumbag. It's been a long time, but rest assured he'd get a fist to the face if he were here.<br />
<br />
Jupiter does notice Passion turning her head away, looking embarrassed, when she talks about the changing seasons. Wait--did Passion forget? It's true the cold wasn't as bad last year, though. "It's okay!" she reassures her all the same. "A couple more months and it'll be spring again, sure enough!"<br />
<br />
But for now, Westar commands his Nakewameke to end it. Sailor Jupiter prepares to brace the attack--but going from super-cold to super-HOT is too much of a surprise. The wave of heat slams into her, sending her flying into a building as it melts ice and snow in its wake. Jupiter coughs, heaves, and shakes as she attempts to get back up--<br />
<br />
WHUMP.<br />
<br />
That would be the snow from the roof of the building she'd crashed against landing on her all at once.<br />
<br />
After the battering Westar's monster gave her, which was a hell of one that has already left her badly worn out and unlikely to actually be able to continue the attack, it'll be a while before Jupiter digs herself out. It's up to the others, now...<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKRJ1SCensI<br />
<br />
Jupiter makes an excellent point and Pine's jaw drops, "Wait- that's what it's about? He was just- he didn't anticipate... winter..." <br />
<br />
Her head hurts- and she's fairly sure it's not from a Nakewameke impact But Pine says it's time- "Right! A hand moves to her Linkrun."<br />
<br />
If she was complaining about the cold before though, that's soon not a concern. As the Kotatsu charges up to overload- this feels surprisingly familiar. In the way she kind of hopes its power sputters out. But no. Apparently Mobius Data Diamonds are super energy efficient as it begins it's heat wave slams into her. Suddenly it's like being in a desert on the hottest day of the year, as she breaks into a sweat instantly. Turns around, and starts to run away from the path of its rampage. <br />
<br />
Maybe she'd even make it- except the melting snow becomes slushy ice right before it starts to evaporate, and she slips. <br />
<br />
And a monstrous footstep then crashes down beside her, knocking her out of the way with a shriek. She almost loses grip on that Linkrun in mid-air, but her fingers spasm down on it hard enough to keep it in her grip as she rolls across the sloshy wet ground.<br />
<br />
And now her clothes and hair are wet. This is going to be super awful once she's out of range of the Kotatsu monster's heat. Fortunately she can transform back- but she still might be miserable. <br />
<br />
But Passion was counting on her to stay in this fight- and Jupiter has vanished under an awning's worth of snow, "Ki-Kirun!" Kiii~ <br />
<br />
A fairy key hops out of nowhere, bounces around in mid-air, then inserts itself into the top of her Linkrun. Running her fingers across the screen, a bejeweled flute shimmers into existence, which she catches, then spins into a flourish by her face like an actual flute, "Heal Harmony of Faith! Cure Stick- Pine Flute!" <br />
<br />
Playing the keys with concentric circles of light and sound- faith and belief personified- she waves it while saying the words of the spell writ in her heart, "Nasty Things- Nasty Things fly away!" A hop at the end, before she uses it to draw a diamond in mid-air with the tip of the flute, "Pretty Cure Healing Prayer-" Jutting it back, she casts her arm forward, launching it through the air. "-FRESHHHHHH!" <br />
<br />
Trailing streams of gold, carrying a faintly tropical scent- it careens towards the Nakewameke before bursting into impact, gold hearts upon hearts. She twirls the end of the flute like a baton to try to maintain the spell and heal the wrongness binding the creature together, "Haaaaaaaaaaaa!" <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Pine has used Precure Healing Prayer Fresh! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Fleeex. Okay, that's a pretty good bicep. Kasagami slowly nods, and shoots a cocky thumbs-up! If anything, she looks even more excited than before. Unfortunately, before she can literally throw a glove or otherwise toss him invitations for fists and swords and milkshakes, in charges the massive kotatsu with thatburst of overheating air! Even Kasagami gets caught up in it, the young woman URK'ing in surprise! The wind sends her flying upwards, even as it manages to rip apart her boots and the leg-cuffs of her uniform! She's left barefoot, in the air, and her toes are freezing! <br />
<br />
Thankfully she can only feel one set, but it's a small comfort. "Th...THOSE WERE MY FAVORITE BOOTS!" <br />
<br />
Never mess with a piece of Ohtori Student's fashion. Her eye narrows to a slit, and she raises her blade high with one hand! Her entire body glows red, and the air around her becomes a whirlwind that attracts not snow, but more of those sharp crimson petals! Even from her wounds, red bruises seems to turn to even more petals, until high above, there's an absolute sea of the things. Kasagami strikes a pose, imperious, merciless, and with just a hint of that manic desire in her eye as she lands atop a light pole. Her free hand points. <br />
<br />
"When I, Kasagami Araki, rule this world, there will be no suffering through despair of evil monsters!" She proclaims loudly, before giving an almost casual swipe of her blade. <br />
<br />
"Bloody Rose Storm." <br />
<br />
Like a dimly sparkling waterfall, the crimson tide of flowers falls, swirling and rotating around each other to make a deluge, magic burning hot thanks to the weight of her anger, and pure hatred of the monster before her. There's something horribly personal in her tone, a burning fury not quite yet unleashed as she throws down the last of her magic.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Kasagami Araki has used Bloody Rose Storm on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Kasagami Araki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune points directly at Westar. "The desire to protect this city keeps me warm!" And a beat passes, and the Nakewameke stomps around. Fortune tries her best to dodge and weave past the stomping, but it doesn't quite take. On the one hand, she doesn't get stomped. Which is nice. On the other, well, she does get kicked like a football down the street, rolling to a stop into another snowbank.<br />
<br />
Fortune stands up slowly, arm making way for her legs propping herself back up. When that's done, she turns towards to the Nakewameke and spins her dial. <br />
<br />
"Pretty Cure!" She raises her hand, and dozens of tiny twinkling stars appears all around her. "Star Streaaam!" She lowers it to point directly at the Nakewameke, and they all rush towards it, aiming to fill it up with wonderful relaxation!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Fortune has used Pretty Cure Star Stream on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jupiter's reassurance gets Passion looking up at her again, giving her a hesitant smile. "Thank you..." <br />
<br />
But Westar has things for her to hear, too. "He has?" Passion answers, eyes widening in surprise. That's very much the opposite of any answer she was expecting. But her eyes narrow again and set. "I'm not going back, Westar. I--" The lightning bolt crashes in and Passion is suddenly more concerned with hopping back out of the way a little further than talking. <br />
<br />
"Westar! Don't--" <br />
<br />
The pink-haired Cure feels the searing heat as it washes over her, and she immediately moves to plant her foot enough to spring herself out of the way. She half-succeeds, and is hit mid-air, hit straight in the shoulder and then the chest and slammed backwards and out of the kotatsu's path rather than being completely trampled over foot; she hits a car, falls into a snowbank. <br />
<br />
Falling to the ground, Passion lands in a crouch, huffing for breath for an instant. The warmth of pain suffusing her body at least makes it easier to ignore the chill settling back in. She'll need that for wat's coming. She looks immediately around, sees Jupiter gone, Pine befor eher--<br />
<br />
Pine's still here. As she starts to summon her flute, Passion takes a breath and closes her eyes. Her hand stretches out, ling fingers at a point. "Akarun!" With a happy trill, a tiny fairy in red with a little key spins around her hand, bouncing around until she calls, "Sing! Rhapsody of Happiness! Passion Harp!" Akarun hops into the instrument. She opens her hand and it bursts into being in her hand, the cap clasped in her other hand and brought down to complete her implement. Bringing it in close to her chest, she strums a few notes. "Roar, O Storm of Happiness!" Another strum before white feathers whirl up behind her and red hearts begun to bubble up all around her and she starts to twirl in place. <br />
<br />
"Pretty Cure...!" She spins, more and more, finally lifting the harp up above herself. The hearts and featres move faster and faster, "Happiness Hurricane!!" <br />
<br />
Harp in one hand, she holds it out as her magic crashes towards the Nakewameke, to engulf in pink, purple, and red hearts, one of the larger seeking to bubble up all around and envelop it completely. <br />
<br />
She waves her harp, "Haaaaah...!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Passion has used Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Kasagami Araki's Finisher, Bloody Rose Storm, taking 33 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Fortune's Finisher, Pretty Cure Star Stream, taking 70 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Pine's Finisher, Precure Healing Prayer Fresh!, taking 150 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Pine is unable to keep fighting!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Finisher, Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane, taking 88 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's a moment, immediately after the Nakewameke's rampage, that it is weakened. That oppressive heat fizzles out for a moment, the relentless metal legs sag in exhaustion, and the monster is vulnerable. After a rampage like that, however, who would dare to stand against it?<br />
<br />
Everyone, that's who.<br />
<br />
Arcs of distant lightning dance over one leg, pinning it for a moment. Kasagami's proclamation is heard - answered with an abrupt "When you WHAT?!" from Westar - and swiftly followed by a deluge of rose petals. Roses, once more - but a tidal wave that even that terrific quilt can't easily brush aside. The Nakewameke defends as best it can against the would-be world ruler, bringing up the quilt to shield itself...<br />
<br />
But even as winter's chill starts to win the war against Westar's monster, Cure Fortune proclaims her inner warmth. Desperation, glittering in the darkness, a torrential river of stars from another angle. The quilt is held to block the petals, and ill-positioned to guard against the stars - and once the first star finds a wrinkle in that defence, it's as good as shattered. Countless stars, in a stream, blow open the quilt to reveal mechanical workings within - along with a clear shot at the diamond empowering it. Black smoke sizzles from every impact, the monster staggering<br />
<br />
And then there is music. A flute of faith, invoking a prayer of healing, barrelling in as a shining yellow diamond with enough good to contrast against Labyrinth's darkness. A harp of passion, invoking a rhapsody of happiness, swirling around the prayer with a whirlwind of crimson. The twin powers strike home - and with a crackle, assembled forces billow in a storm of light and warmth enough to drive back winter's bite for a handful of minutes. It's blinding, it's roaring, and there's a faint little 'fizzzzzz' from within.<br />
<br />
When the light fades, an ordinary kotatsu remains, on its side in the snow. Much of the street has been put to rights - though the storefront of the appliance store has seen better days.<br />
<br />
From a nearby snowbank, a hand punches out to grasp a stop sign. Carefully, Westar hauls himself out, looking at those still standing, well aware of the melting snow. "...it's too cold for this. Until next time, Pretty Cure!" He turns, and starts to dash-<br />
<br />
-stopped short for a moment by the fact that his hand is frozen to the post-<br />
<br />
-and with a yell, ripping the sign from the concrete, and running off with it. He'll...just have to thaw out his hand at the mansion.<br />
<br />
The warmth of victory might linger for a few minutes, but winter's chill is slowly returning. Snow gently descends on the now-mostly-evacuated area, blanketing the battlefield in white. And...there's a free kotatsu up for grabs, apparently.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune watches as the monster fizzles and the Kotatsu remains. But she doesn't smile, as now that the combat is over, the cold starts to set in.<br />
<br />
Fortune looks at the other magical girls, the Rose Duelist, Cure Passion, Cure Pine, and even Sailor Jupiter, before she turns away. Wings expand to allow her to fly, and with a leap she zooms off into the distance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar flees, and finally, the powers of the magical girls combined destroy the creature! Kasagami actually watches a little bit in concern as Westar /rips out the sign frozen to his hand/! <br />
<br />
"H..HEY! USE LOW HEAT ON THAT! You'll get frostbite burns." P...poor Westar. <br />
<br />
Then, she pitches herself off of the lightpole in exhaustion, landing on a comforting bed of rose petals just above the snow. Shudder. Shiver. <br />
<br />
"H...hey. Anybody care if I make off with that kotatsu? My feet are freezing!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion can't argue with it being cold. Her attention is fully on Westar once he pulls himself out, and then--<br />
<br />
She blinks at the fact that he's frozen, and then sighs as he just rips the sign out. Her forehead and fingers meet in the middle as she finishes that sigh. It's kind of a big sigh. <br />
<br />
In that span of time Fortune disappears, and Kasagami falls above the snow and asks... That question. Passion frowns. "No, you can't steal the kotatsu! It goes back to the store!" <br />
<br />
The red Cure crosses her arms, with only one glance to her yellow Cure partner. Somehow, the fact that she's already starting to shiver again doesn't break her glare.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2016-11-01_-_Railing_Against_Misery2016-11-01 - Railing Against Misery2022-10-06T21:41:16Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Railing Against Misery'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Early morning is a time of stress at the best of times, but mornings shortly before finals even more so. Studying to do, homework to hand in, questions to ask, final chances at club meetings...and that's just for students. Still, it's fortunate that Tokyo's trains are such a pinnacle of precision timing...Except when they aren't.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Setsuna Higashi|Cure Passion]], [[Usagi Tsukino|Sailor Moon]], [[Minako Aino|Sailor Venus]], [[Makoto Kino|Sailor Jupiter]], [[Fuu Hououji]], [[Lera Camry]], [[Jad Werke]], [[Chika Aki]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Tama Outer City<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2016-11-01 - Dec 02, 2014 - RL Date><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> Wild Arms 3 - Gunmetal Action<br />
<br />
It's morning. This cannot be denied, cannot be held back - the Earth kept turning for another night, and so the land of the rising sun is greeted by the morning sun. Tokyo has stirred to life, and driven by the twin fuels of toast and coffee, office workers and students alike set forth to their daily travail.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, whatever schedule one might have in mind for the day's commute, it has been thoroughly derailed. Awayuki station is packed. Yotsuba station is jammed with confused students. Chofu, Nishitama, Shibuya, Shinjuku... Every train station in the city is filled with frustrated commuters in various states of worry. It doesn't matter if you slept in, got up on time, or woke with the dawn - no one is getting where they're going on time.<br />
<br />
Across the city, it's the same story - for the third, the tenth, maybe the fiftieth time, there's a triple chime to get everyone's attention followed by an announcement. "Attention all commuters. All lines are experiencing significant delays. We apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciate your understanding..." Further details of the announcement are lost in the ensuing round of groans - all the cultures of politeness in the world can't mask the anger, the misery, the despair at everyone's realizations that there's no hope of getting where they're going on time...<br />
<br />
Delays defy explanation...but listen - can you hear it? Perhaps, if you hold some hope of fixing this problem, you might yet hear it. The sound that races through-<br />
<br />
"WHOO, WHOOOOO!"<br />
<br />
Across the city, from station to station, the same sight is seen. A billowing cloud of steam, heralding the arrival of a terrific vehicle - a huge black locomotive with yellow trim. It's easily twice the size of the usual train cars, barely fitting down the track, but in spite of its bulk it moves quickly. Switching tracks without warning, this behemoth must be a nightmare for any traffic control - and its joyriding clearly the cause of the morning's delays.<br />
<br />
It's also clearly not natural. A steam engine in this day and age is bad enough - but there's details. The cars behind it are sleek, futuristic, and seem like they're right out of some dystopic novel; the front of the locomotive seems to have glowing eyes more than lamps, with a yellow diamond prominently displayed in the centre; and the conductor's cab is open to the air, revealing the train's master.<br />
<br />
It's Westar. He has a yellow conductor's cap on, and grins as he pulls the cord at every station without even pretending to stop.<br />
<br />
"WHOO, WHOOOOOO!"<br />
<br />
OOC: Welcome to an early morning dose of misery and despair! As the scene has indicated, today's Nakewameke is part of a high-speed battle around the city - Westar's monster is just going to have a grand time stopping all traffic until it's stopped, so try to find ways to keep up in your poses!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar transforms into Nakewameke!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 7 opponents!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Setsuna is entirely accustomed to waking up earlier than Love, these days. The morning routine she's gotten used to over the past three months is pleasant, even nice. Get dressed in her uniform, have breakfast, say her farewells to the Momozono home and start walking towards the station. <br />
<br />
...She hasn't been doing it for so long, however, that she's accustomed to lengthy delays. Nevertheless, at first she's patient. She gets here amidst the crowds, but Setsuna is used to waiting around quietly much more than anyone else here. <br />
<br />
...That patience lasts about five minutes. Setsuna frowns, as not only are the crowds still stuck, but she hasn't been joined by a certain other girl. There's a big, uniquely teenage sigh that escapes her lips as she listens to the announcement for what must be the tenth time now. Maybe more. She forgot to count. <br />
<br />
She starts to nudge her way through the crowd to have a look, when--<br />
<br />
Steam. Steam, and a whistle, neither of which make even half sense to her until she sees the big black locomotive. "...You're /kidding/ me," she says, staring up at it, at the cars behind it that /are/ more familiar, at its... eyes, with the yellow diamond. <br />
<br />
Setsuna dashes back under cover as she finds she was not in fact being kidded at all, as the crowd is occupied enough not to see her pull out her Linkrun and shimmer red. <br />
<br />
For a moment, she debates, alone, whether she could let it go. She shakes it off, feeling guilty for the lapse. She has to protect everyone. And besides... <br />
<br />
"WESTAR!" <br />
<br />
Cure Passion /leaps/ from the back of the train, touching down on a turnstile and somersaulting forward to slam into one of the secondary cars, rolling up to her feet on its surface. "What /is/ it with you and mornings!?" It lacks some of the bite her words might usually, sounding a little more tired than usual. "These people might have somewhere really important to be!" <br />
<br />
She's certainly not going to admit that this is a pretty good plan. <br />
<br />
"So I'll derail your plans!" <br />
<br />
The pun is completely unintentional as Passion swings down and /slams/ her fist straight into the car she's standing on.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi transforms into Cure Passion!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
This... this was different. And not that different was inherently good or bad, of course. But Jad had never actually seen a problem like this. <br />
<br />
He didn't take the train of course. He didn't get paid enough from his odd jobs to be able to waste money on things like TRAIN TICKETS or anything like that. Especially when it was easier to stay in shape by jogging everywhere he went. But as the West-Star-Express went roaring past, he and just looked at the huge steam train and its evil face and laughing conductor and just... stopped for a moment. <br />
<br />
"...alright, I guess I'm going to get more of a workout that I expected this morning." <br />
<br />
And thus Jad is chasing the train down the track, a jet of water roaring down one of the rails and the mage riding on top of that wave at a fair rate of speed in pursuit of the train. He occasionally kicks back and forth from one foot to the other to keep his balance as the huge train makes the track shake, rattle, and roll beneath his water stream. <br />
<br />
And of course Jad is grinning the entire time. This was kind of fun, although he wasn't going to be able to do this very often with actual legit trains running around. But this one couldn't stay on for too long or the city would end up rioting! And so the blue haired mage steps to the left, his water stream breaking away from the rail and boosting him around so he's (kind of) close to Westar. His barrier jacket flutters out behind him, being whipped around in the passing breeze like a bit of a crazy looking tail, and Jad's hair is pushed straight back as he waves both arms so that he can try and get Westar's attention. Enough that he can shout at least. <br />
<br />
"SIR, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE DISENGAGE YOUR LOCO FROM YOUR MOTION AND STOP THIS TRAIN IMMEDIATELY!" <br />
<br />
Pause. <br />
<br />
"OR ELSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE FORCED TO TRACK YOU DOWN, AND THEN EVERYTHING IS GOING TO GO OFF THE RAILS."<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke transforms into Barrier Jacket!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has fully healed himself.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has used Aggressive Shouting on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Impassioned Feeling on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
While Fuu is no stranger to occasional difficulties with the trains, and tends to give herself enough time to compensate - allowing for the occasional necessity of taking alternate routes, waiting for a delayed train to finally show up, contingencies like that - for the Tokyo rail system to suffer from THIS much trouble is, well, unheard of. The only good news, really, is that this much delay is going to mean a lot of teachers are late as well; hopefully it'll be considered an excused lateness.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, rather than depending on her ears for the announcement, Fuu is scrolling through various news and social-media feeds on her phone, trying to sift through all the speculation and tease out the trwhoo, whooooo!th ...<br />
<br />
She looks up just in time to see a streak of yellow and black tearing through the station, coupled with an uneasy twist in her gut - a twist which is all too familiar.<br />
<br />
"Please excuse me, coming through ..." She starts working her way back out of the press of commuters, headed towards the stairs. She's closing apps on her phone as she goes, and bringing up the map; she won't be able to use the GPS for long, of course, but getting a sense of where that train's probably going to stop next will help.<br />
<br />
Shortly thereafter, Fuu's phone has dropped off the network more completely than if she'd simply turned it off - and the Magic Knight of Wind is setting personal records for traversing the city in a hurry, harnessing her wind magic to boost her leaps almost (but not quite) to the point of true flight. It's a precarious balance - if she misses a landing point, or touches down on a roof with too much speed behind her, it's going to be painful as well as embarassing, but if she manages it right it'll let her take advantage of the railway's curves and carve away at the distance. And once she gets close enough -<br />
<br />
"WINDS OF ADMONISHMENT!!"<br />
<br />
- she can try to help apply an airbrake to the Nakewameke Express, turning the normal whirlwind on its side and applying as much air friction as she can against the front of the train. It's only the front end she's targeting, though; she doesn't want to impair any of her allies, and it lifts her heart as always to see other magical girls (and boys) rallying against the threat.<br />
<br />
... or should that be 'railing' against it, the Wind Knight wonders.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji transforms into Wind Knight!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Admonishment on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chika was not normally one to take the train. She usually liked to ride her bicycle to school in the mornings. Her route typically carries her alongside the train tracks however, and... well... <br />
<br />
The WhooWhoo of the train, mixed with seeing her favorite Pretty Cure smashing down onto the train... combined with the Wind Knight and... is... is that someone else using water!? <br />
<br />
Chikas eyes track the train, and she starts to pedal in the direction of it rapidly. The young Puella Magi can see when the city needs a little help, and she is too helpful for her own good. Puella issues of energy be danged! <br />
<br />
She hops off her bike on the run, ripping her ring off and transforming into Puella Magi Chika in mid-stride. Gone is the Juuban uniform and winter clothing. Chika is wearing a light cyan dress with white accents and ties around her joints to allow mobility, pinning the billowing fabric of her sleeves tight at her elbows. She has on a massive pair of metal gauntlets, comically oversized for her body. But she moves like they are weightless. And as she runs towards the train, she takes a page half out of Jads book. <br />
<br />
Chika jumps up into the air, turning around and facing the ground as she brings both her palms together and slams them at the dirt. A gout of water erupts from her hands, blasting herself skywards like a young whelp at the end of a firehose. Psssshhhewwww! Its not as elegant as the skating water-mage, but the Puella Magi manages to angle herself close enough that she slams down almost onto the last car, her metal gauntlets digging in. The thought of /actually/ attacking the train doesn't occur to her, and she starts to run along the cars carefully as she tries to near the front where the conductor is. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki transforms into Puella Magi Chika!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has fully healed herself.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Kino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Somewhere near Infinity Institute, Shun Minami awakens in a hotel room he'd booked just for tonight. He showers, dresses, and saunters down to the breakfast buffet to have a meal and enjoy ("enjoy") a cup of oversugared tea at a seat next to a window overlooking the Tama Outer City. Sipping slowly, his eyes track a certain runaway train in the distance as it makes its rapid way around the city. He particularly enjoys the parts where the train's whistles blows as it passes stations without ever slowing down. While other patrons of the hotel watch and murmur in concern, Shun smiles and chuckles.<br />
<br />
He'll enjoy his leisurely walk to school, approximately three blocks away.<br />
<br />
But today's outing isn't about him.<br />
<br />
No, it's about one Makoto Kino, who WON'T enjoy the hell-commute to school. Currently, she sprints from the II dorms, where she and Usagi had spent the night with Lera after getting the crap beaten out of them by a gothloli (THANKS, VITA), over to the closest train station.<br />
<br />
"We are gonna be SO late!" she bellows; she doesn't even have her school uniform, much less her schoolbag. She'd hoped to drop by her place first to get changed and pick up her things, but then she'd overslept (specifically, she had punched the alarm Lera had set to wake her up in time to do that, then spent another twenty minutes apologizing profusely for it once she'd properly waken up) and now she'll be lucky if she can make it to school at all on time. The prospect of coming to school out of uniform is an embarrassing one, and all told it's really tempting to call off sick, but without parents, it's always a royal pain to do that.<br />
<br />
But when she arrives at the station, Makoto screeches to a halt, then gawks at the crowds around the station. "What in the..." she begins. Looking around, and hearing the announcements, it's clear that there's a big delay--but why? Japanese trains are *extremely* punctual, so at first, she worries that there was a major accident or something like that. But then she sees a too-futuristic train with a yellow diamond on its face, being conducted by a certain green-haired Labyrinth executive...<br />
<br />
"Are you *kidding* me?" she groans. "We don't have time for this!" All the same, she shoots Usagi a look, gives her a sharp nod, and then ducks somewhere around a corner where no one is watching to transform.<br />
<br />
Green sparkles and atom-shaped lightning bolts later, and Sailor Jupiter leaps out, racing along after the speeding train. Still, her forte is strength, not speed, and while she's an athletic girl, this is a literal train she's up against. Unless someone were to literally fly her up and over to that Nakewameke train, she'll have a tough time getting on board.<br />
<br />
HINT, HINT.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Makoto Kino transforms into Sailor Jupiter!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"C'mooooooooooon," Lera Camry groans at the latest announcement that all lines are delayed. "What gives! We didn't usually have traffic like this on Midchilda!"<br />
<br />
&lt;Actually...><br />
<br />
"I know, I know," the orange-haired girl sighs. "We totally did." She sighs, her shoulders slumping. The pastel blue uniform coat sags, too. She looks up and frowns -- and then looks at Usagi and Makoto guiltily. After all, they left her apartment, and their school is across town. Her expression becomes crestfallen at Makoto. "I'm so sorry! You're gonna be late, y'know? I-It's usually not nearly this bad in the morning..."<br />
<br />
Her school, at least, is close by.<br />
<br />
Not that it matters, necessarily.<br />
<br />
'WHOO, WHOOOOO!'<br />
<br />
Her head turns as she sees the billowing steam -- not a common sight in Tokyo's subways -- and then her eyes widen. The sleak, futuristic cars at odds with it. The eyes, instead of lamps. The Executive of Labyrinth, wearing a conducto's hat, and grinning at them.<br />
<br />
One eyebrow, perched over a squinting amber eye, twitches.<br />
<br />
There is a blur of green and red-orange. She doesn't bother shouting her transformation sequence. Setsuna yells at Westar directly; Jad pleads with him with logic; Fuu flies in with a strategy; Chika jumps right for it. Lera does none of these things. She has her erstwhile guests in each hand, grabbing their collars. She took Makoto's hint, but... maybe a little too literally.<br />
<br />
And she yells one name: "WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!"<br />
<br />
Her hammer-Device is over her back. Broken Ground chimes, apologetically: &lt;Sorry. She can get bent out of shape about that one. Also. Er. Sorry.> The former Device of Jaren Zastava adds, awkwardly: &lt;For... er. Trying to kill you and whatnot. Oh, she's dropping you! Brilliant! We can have an awkward conversation later!><br />
<br />
Lera does, in fact, let them down on the back of the train. She sits down in front of the Sailor Senshi. "Let's go!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry transforms into Barrier Jacket Aphelion!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Road Rage on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Bad enough that Usagi Tsukino and Makoto Kino got thoroughly hammered* last night, but since they spent the night at a dorm at Infinity last night... they are in no way ready for school this morning. And despite the situation of their punctuality being grave, Makoto and Lera had a hard time getting Usagi out of bed this morning and to the station. <br />
<br />
Listlessly she enters the overcrowded station with a piece of toast hanging from her mouth, posture so drooped that her twintails are nigh touching the train platform. She's too bleary eyed to even consider why the station is this crowded, her eyes on this communicator with Luna's face. "What do you mean you and Mako-chan are across town? It's a school day!" <br />
<br />
Usagi only grunts, not really wanting to explain that they were attacked as she chews on her breakfast. The delays are announced and she simply groans as Mako declares that they're going to be late- "What was that? The trains are delayed? Seriously? At this rate you'll be lucky to make it to school by noon!" -but in reality she's not too fussed about it. She waves a hand at Lera as Lera declares it's not usually this bad, as if to say it's okay. If delays were everywhere on the usual punctual Tokyo Train system their school could hardly blame them for being- WHOO, WHOOOOO! <br />
<br />
There's a dark blur as an enormous steam engine, bellowing smoke passes by the station. That train has /eyes/. And that conductor's cab- <br />
<br />
The toast falls out of her mouth. <br />
<br />
And Usagi flailingly scrambles to grab it mid-air, but it's already hit the ground. She might have wailed like a child for the loss of her breakfast but suddenly she all but shouts into her communicator exhaustion replaced by panicked adrenaline, "They're locomoting-" "What?" "-there's a locomotion-" "Slow down Usagi-chan! I can't understand you!" "It's Labyrinth! they're joyriding in a train monster!" "Labyrinth!? Well don't just stand there! Get on it and stop them before you're too late to class!" <br />
<br />
"Moon Cosmic Power - Make Up!" <br />
<br />
In aerial pursuit of the train, Sailor Moon squealed like a child, "We're going so fast! H-Hey you have a good grip on both of us right Lera-chan? And don't worry about it Ground- wait, drop? Can't she just set us DOWNNNNNN-" But she's already let her go, and Sailor Moon shrieks. Far from majestically dropping onto the train like she was in the middle of a heist movie, but instead she slams down unceremoniously and almost straight rolls off the side, barely catching herself. <br />
<br />
Straightening- she calls out the conductor at the open-air engine, "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! In the tradition of Stationmaster Tama, cats have always protected the railways of Japan and today is no different! Today they've sent this Pretty Sailor-Suited Conductor of Love and Justice- Sailor Moon- to stop your joyride! In the Name of the Moon-" <br />
<br />
Hand over hand, she points, promising that she's going to try to punch his ticket, "-I will punish you!"<br />
<br />
*Writer's Note: In this circumstance, hammered refers to being flattened with a hammer, rather than the other entertaining meaning. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino transforms into Sailor Moon!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used In The Name Of The Moon on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Jad Werke's Aggressive Shouting, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Jad Werke is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly counters Cure Passion's Impassioned Feeling, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Westar is Taunted! Diversion and Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Labyrinth Bickering, partially gets through, doing 2 Fatigue damage to Cure Passion! Diversion applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Lera Camry's Road Rage, taking 0 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: The entered attack name could match more than one available attack. Please try being more specific.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly counters Fuu Hououji's Winds of Admonishment, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! Trap applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Full Steam Ahead!, partially gets through, doing 10 Fatigue damage to Fuu Hououji! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Minako Aino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Minako Aino's commute from her family's home to the Infinity Institute actually isn't too bad. The Institute is within walking distance -- a somewhat long walk, sure, but an easy one for a girl in the kind of shape she's in (hashtag not-so-humblebrag).<br />
<br />
But when Artemis' stern voice came over her communicator to inform her of the whackiness around the city's trains, well, Minako's priorities changed. Being late to classes was a drag to be sure, but it's hard to want to /go/ to school when exams are looming so large over everything else!<br />
<br />
One brightly-colored transformation (in a back alley) later, the Goddess of Love herself, Sailor Venus, comes into view ahead of the train, leaping from rooftop to rooftop at a dead sprint. With narrowed eyes, she puts on a burst of speed, and /leaps/ --<br />
<br />
-- to land atop the train at Sailor Moon's side, and while she does not fall over like her cosmic comrade does, Venus does have to briefly pinwheel her arms to maintain her balance before she stands up straight with her chin held high. She MEANT to do that. IT WAS DELIBERATE.<br />
<br />
"It takes a first-class jerk to throw a wrinkle in the morning commute so close to final exams!" Sailor Venus declares, and she, too, points an accusatory finger towards Westar, her eyes narrowed into slits. "Looks like it's up to us to derail your plans!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Moon's In The Name Of The Moon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon is Psyched! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Minako Aino transforms into Sailor Venus!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has used In The Name Of Venus on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Venus's In The Name Of Venus, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Venus is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> Wild Arms 3 - Blood, Tears, and the Dried-Up Wasteland - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgzsMrgSCsQ<br />
<br />
Tokyo's rail system, for its faults, generally isn't this backed up - and so that scene of misery plays across the city. The most frustrated are probably those early birds who generally beat the rush...but today, Westar beat them all. This joyride has been going on for at least an hour already, and his second cup of coffee goes into the firebox.<br />
<br />
But perhaps it's finally at an end. There are shadows eclipsing the morning sun, and the Nakewameke's conductor looks up in surprise. Jets of water erupt from the left, and from the right, carrying Chika and Jad closer to the runaway train. The former contents herself with boarding one of the bulky transport cars, while the former closes in to wave to the Executive personally. The wind carries a knight at dangerous speeds nearby, and a howling windstorm tries to stop the train - but there's a lot of momentum, and while it's slowed for a moment it just keeps going. Still, it's enough to let others catch up a bit more quickly...<br />
<br />
Jad gets an answering shout. "Sorry, whoever you are, but I've got a schedule to keep! Places to see, people to make late - so I'm staying on track!" He grins, and pulls the cord - and a whistle blast bellows out from the engine, sure to deafen the water mage and the Wind Knight.<br />
<br />
And then the reckless ones arrive. Cure Passion lands with a slam on one car, yelling at Westar directly - and for a moment, a pang strikes him. "Morning's a great time to get up, and you know it! Besides, your stupid alarm clock is still keeping me up - come back to the mansion and turn it off already!" He folds his arms with a huff, glaring at his former comrade - and slams a fist down on the panel. "Or better yet - come all the way back to Labyrinth!" The car she's standing on opens abruptly, revealing seats she'll probably recognize - they're rigid and uniformly gray and square. Bit of a drop down to them, though...<br />
<br />
The argument lasts long enough for Lera to deposit a pair of senshi, swiftly joined by a third - and everyone has a great many angry things to say to Westar. He looks from one to another to the next, and...makes a show of checking his watch. "That's what you get for letting your trains get run by cats - if this were a Labyrinth train, things wouldn't get this tangled this easily! If you really wanted to get to your exams, you'd have gotten up earlier anyway! And my name is not Westie - it's Westar! Denizen of Labyrinth, and faithful conductor for Lord Mobius!"<br />
<br />
The entire train seems to rumble in answer - and hatches hiss open all over. Mechanical arms are ready to harry those who approach the cab, even as Westar starts shoveling heaps of fuel into the furnace to regain some lost speed. With a WHOOO! WHOOOOOOO!, the train surges forward even faster...<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has adjusted his boss levels. He is now ready to take on 8 opponents!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used WHOO! WHOOOO! on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used WHOO! WHOOOO! on Jad Werke.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Sailor Moon.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Sailor Venus.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Chika Aki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Miserable Morning on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Westar's Lending A Hand! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar accepts Westar's Westar's Lending A Hand!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Withstand applied to Westar! Cleanse! All of Westar's debuffs are cleared! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion fails to brace Westar's Miserable Morning, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Taunted! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Sailor Jupiter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry's Block ability activates! Lera Camry's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke fails to brace Westar's WHOO! WHOOOO!, taking 16 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly braces Westar's WHOO! WHOOOO!, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Block ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Parry ability activates! Stun applied to Fuu Hououji! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus narrowly dodges Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Venus's Fade ability activates! Sailor Venus's Flash ability activates! Cripple applied to Sailor Venus! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki fails to brace Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Chika Aki! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly counters Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Reverse ability activates! Sailor Moon's Tactician ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon's counterattack, Supersonic Train, Supersonic Misery, Supersonic Wailing!, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Makoto crooks Lera a friendly, placative smile. "Hey, it's not your fault! You don't control the trains, Lera-chan!" Her smile fades. "Actually, I'm worried that there might be trouble down the--"<br />
<br />
Then Westar happens. Then flight happens. Then Ground happens ("this might not be the best time to talk about this, yeah," she says). Then Lera happens, and Sailor Jupiter has to flail to keep her balance and not fall off the train, landing a *little* too close to the edge for comfort. Good thing Sailor Moon is here to tell Westar what for! And hey, is that--<br />
<br />
"Sailor Venus!" Jupiter calls, grinning at her friend. She pulls herself upright, finally stabilized--just in time for Conductor Westar to look over their way and make a few smart-ass remarks that nonetheless strike close to home. She scowls and thrusts a finger at him. "Hey! The exams aren't on *yet*! Don't say such ominous things!!"<br />
<br />
God, she really hopes nobody pulls anything like this the *actual* week of exams... And there's everything else going on in the magical world right now, too--Jupiter recognizes a couple of the other girls who'd come to help fight from that night with the Chevaliers. If some disaster happened, timed or untimed, all the study sessions in the world wouldn't save her then. Harried by these thoughts, and a lack of proper sleep, Sailor Jupiter nonetheless charges forward, jumping from car to car, before sliding in not *quite* as far as the front cab--instead, she attempts a solid kick against the fuel car with a loud shout, hoping to knock some of that coal(?) over and out.<br />
<br />
...Would that even be effective? It *is* a monster, after all. Whatever!! It'd make her *feel* better, anyway! Those mechanical arms can just bring it on, if they think they can take her!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Jupiter Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Sailor Jupiter's Jupiter Kick, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
&lt;Ground. Tell me - is there some previous history between your master and this... deplorable fellow that we should be aware of?> Schwartzritter asks, the gem on the back of Jad's right gauntlet flashing as Lera comes crashing down from above to land on the back of the locomotive. Sure LERA is too far away to make it out, but devices have their ways. &lt;Just to make sure we're not interfering with some sort of honor match or something like that of course. Terribly rude to do such a thing.> <br />
<br />
Jad himself gives a sort of 'ACK!' as one of the arms that sprouts from the train flails at him... and then there is a loud *KATHUNK* as he drifts too far away from the train and runs into an upright. Or maybe more of a *KATONG* because it's more of a sign than an upright. But regardless, THAT REALLY HURT. He tumbles for a moment, before sliding to a stop with a faint 'oooowwwwww' issuing up from his still form. <br />
<br />
&lt;That was quite graceful sir.> his device comments after a moment. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, yeah, I know. But we've still got a train to catch, and we're not going to do it laying around here!" <br />
<br />
Jad levers himself back up and rockets forward again, the stream of water appearing under one foot as he leaps onto the rails. "We'll have to take the inside track to cut him off!" he tells his device, and they rocket forward - its taking more power to actually catch up with the West-Star-Express, but the mage manages it within a few moments. His water stream carries him past the train, and he grins and offers a quick wave to Cure Passion and Lera as he races by - and a few other girls he hasn't met yet, that's... interesting. He'll have to rectify that at some point. <br />
<br />
"I'm going to try and rock the train - be careful - but hopefully this'll rattle whats-his-name around so you can get a good shot in!" Jad calls out, a magical circle on the back of one of his gloves amplifying his voice. And with that he streaks forward, shooting past Westar in the engine and giving him a wide arc. <br />
<br />
Which means that Westar has a great view as Jad skims above one rail, the water he is riding on surging around for a moment and spinning into a circle above his right hand. And then Jad hurls that spinning vortex of water onto the tracks right in front of the oncoming train. <br />
<br />
Generally this attack is used to launch things into the air and at something as a weapon. In this case however, Jad uses it to deliver a knock that will make the train skip for a moment, an event that should be... unsettling for the train. Who likes to be derailed, after all?<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has used Geyser Launcher on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Sorry!" Lera yelps down to Sailor Moon. Then, she looks at Sailor Jupiter, and flashes her a quick grin. It doesn't last, though, as she looks irritated. "Nakewamekes can be pretty tough, y'know? But--oh! Jad!" Then, she looks at the Pretty Cure here. "Passion! We're here!"<br />
<br />
&lt;He comes from Labyrinth. Tough guy. Not too bright. Passion came from there too. She left.> Broken Ground transmits back to Schwartzritter. &lt;Don't worry. Not some kind of duel.><br />
<br />
Lera's amber eyes turn to Westar, now that she has landed, and she shakes her head sharply. "You shouldn't make people late, Westie!" she yells, not budging on the name. (But not answering him either.) "And--and don't tell Passion that she should go back to Labyrinth! She isn't going to do that!"<br />
<br />
She reaches over her back and pulls away her Intelligent Device. Broken Ground's hammerhead unfurls, the clockwork mechanisms unfolding with a click. The gem at their center flashes a brilliant color, before the girl swings it down. Light flows, gathering into the hammerhead.<br />
<br />
She weathers the increased speed -- and she holds her ground, while the top of the train shakes under her. Her hammer sends out a burst of energy along the train's roof, erupting with spikes and flares of lava-like energy -- which rushes in a straight line towards the conductor's box (and the big data diamond at the front).<br />
<br />
&lt;Fault Siege!><br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Fault Siege on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Passion is definitely one of the reckless ones, up here on the train with nothing more than her ability to jump at the right time. She's fast, and she spots Chika and Jad early from her peripheral vision. But then she's shouting, taking out her feelings on this too-familiar train car. <br />
<br />
"Of course it's a good time to get up when someone like you isn't wrecking things!" Passion snaps back, already gritting her teeth against his request. She glares right back at him, if anything with /more/ force than when she lived back at the mansion with him. ...And so she's so caught in glaring at him that she doesn't expect the panel to lower /her/ car. He makes his invitation--and Passion scrambles as she feels her footing give way, unable to hop out of the way in time. <br />
<br />
She lands hard in the car itself, shaking her head and checking her surroundings. ...But what she sees she knows well. A strangled cry of panic slips past her lips as her eyes widen to see the car, and for a half-instant, she's certain that somehow he's sent her back. "I--I won't!" <br />
<br />
She doesn't even finish standing up, unwilling even to /touch/ more of the car than she has to as she leaps upward and onto the next car, from which vantage point she can see the senshi, can see Lera, and others. She can hear Lera defending her. But... The presence of Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter, while she thinks about Labyrinth, does her nerves no favors. She takes off at a run towards the cab, but halts abrubtly another car up, staring up at Westar again. "I don't /want/ to go back to Labyrinth!" she calls out at him. "Turn the alarm off yourself! What do I have to go back to!? Mobius-sama... Mobius-sama already sent Northa after me once! And now I should go back--for you!?" <br />
<br />
"You're an idiot! A moron! No one would want to be your comrade!" Her voice breaks, and she squeezes her eyes shut against it, leaping further upward. "Even when I was Eas, I couldn't stand you!" <br />
<br />
She slams down towards the cab with her foot outstretched, striking with concrete-shattering force.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Passionate Descent on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Gaaah!" <br />
<br />
Chika was way back at the rump-end of the cars, where her water burst landed her. When the train wobbles and picks up speed, those arms erupting out of it, she is caught off guard and knocked onto her back. It doesn't really sting, but it knocks the wind out of her lungs. <br />
<br />
Its a moment before Chika lurches back to her feet, and starts to move her way up the train. What even /is/ this thing?! She might have fought a Nakewameke before, but that doesn't mean she really understands what they are. She starts to leap up the train, her movements a little slow and sluggish as she tries to get her breath back. "Stupid... train..." She starts to punch the train, digging her gauntleted hands in for purchase as she 'digs' her way up the train. Punch, pull, punch pull!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has used Metal Blitz Combo! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
When she hears her name called in a familiar voice, Sailor Venus turns in place to flash a winning smile and a peace sign towards Sailor Jupiter's direction, the gravity of the situation momentarily cast aside. "Good morning, Sailor Jupiter! It's been too long."<br />
<br />
But Westar's words draw the sailor-suited Soldier of Love's attention again, and Venus' expression goes uncharacteristically grim. Labrynth and Mobius. She's getting /pretty sick/ of hearing those names, and it isn't even entirely Soular's fault. (It is absolutely entirely Soular's fault.)<br />
<br />
But the attacking arms emerge before she can vocalize these feelings. Instead, it's "Watch out!" that Sailor Venus calls sharply towards her friends even as she herself springs into motion, narrowly avoiding having her block taken off! But with the speed of the train and the sheer number of attacking arms to contend with, she doesn't entirely avoid them all: even a glancing blow under these circumstances is enough to send her staggering back, narrowly managing to avoid toppling off the edge of the speeding train!<br />
<br />
The look on her face suggests the surprise is going to take a moment to fully recover from. That could have ruined her day in a big way.<br />
<br />
Sailor Venus does not yet react to Cure Passion's presence, though her words do not go unheard. She's already bringing her hands to bear as bright orange and gold energy begins to swirl into being around her, a steely-eyed gaze locked on Westar as he tries to add more fuel to the furnace. Oh no you /don't/!<br />
<br />
"Venus Love-Me Chain -- BIND!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has used Love-Me Chain Bind on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly counters Jad Werke's Geyser Launcher, taking 5 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Full Steam Ahead!, partially gets through, doing 14 Fatigue damage to Jad Werke! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar perfectly braces Cure Passion's Passionate Descent, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Brace! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Lera Camry's Fault Siege, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Chika Aki's Metal Blitz Combo!, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHJe_Te8D5g<br />
<br />
Unexpectedly- Sailor Venus shows up, "Venus-chan you made it!" And with only the smallest stumble, on a moving train that's impressive, "And such a graceful entrance too!" Admiration shines in her eyes. But Westar is calling out his answer... and hatches are opening up all over and the train is rumbling... <br />
<br />
Sailor Moon shrieks, falling to all fours and clinging to the train in a desperate struggle to take hold- worried something is about to happen like the giant hammer the prior night. The jewels on her odango resonate but the train is /so loud/ that even supersonic waves might be lost in it. Noone sees the frames where she's really scared and wiping her eyes after right? But for some reason, that outburst keeps the misery from settling in.<br />
<br />
Standing up tall and straight with only the slightest stumble, she spreads her stance to keep her moonboots dug in. She holds up a hand to lecture him, "Ha! Shows what you know underestimating cats! Because they've also sent Conductor Jupiter! And /she's/ strong enough to stop your train cold all by lonesome!" <br />
<br />
In her mind's eye she imagines Chibi-Jupiter jumping in front of the train, grabbing it with both of her hands, jumping high in the air, and suplexing it. Somehow the train ends up perfectly upside down with X's over it's Nakewameke eyes rather than causing one of the biggest railway disasters in Japanese history, but that's Usagi's imagination for you. <br />
<br />
"Since she's on the job, we'll make it back long before we'll ever have to worry about exams!" <br />
<br />
But the argument between Cure Passion and Westar is turning nasty and- "P-Passion-chan isn't that a bit harsh? I mean..." She gives the other Sailor Senshi a nervous look, rubbing the nape of her neck, "...if he was really your old comrade- shouldn't you be telling him to- stop and hoping he will rather than tearing into him?" <br />
<br />
In a way she's perhaps asking, 'Ixnay on the Easay so my comrades don't remember arkday ercuryMay.'<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used In the tradition of Sabin... on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter accepts Sailor Moon's In the tradition of Sabin..., taking 0 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The abrupt whistle blast catches the Wind Knight by surprise, right as she's about to try and set foot on the train's roof along with her allies. It has a couple of additional effects on her as well, as if surprise alone wasn't enough.<br />
<br />
First off is the deafening - the Wind Knight's hearing just kind of goes away due to the extreme volume of the whistle at too-close range, leaving the archetypal ringing in her ears in place of all the noise of a monstrous train rampaging around the Tokyo rail lines, speeches and rebuttals and attack calls, and the general frenzy of combat. So you'll have to excuse her if she misses some important strategizing amongst her allies.<br />
<br />
More critical right at the moment, though, is that the whistle more or less obliterates her focus - and the Magic Knight of Wind abruptly drops out of sight, the wind which *had* been boosting her latest leap abruptly dissipating.<br />
<br />
It's actually kind of fortunate that Westar deploys all those arms; the Magic Knight of Wind manages - just barely - to grab hold of one of them, and scrambles up along its length as best she can while trying not to get hurled off into the distance. It also gives her a fairly good chance to try and size things up; if this Nakewameke depends at all on its actual *mechanisms*, then she's in a prime position to try and get a better look at something that might turn out to be a useful detail en route to better footing.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Let Me Take A Look on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Sailor Venus's Love-Me Chain Bind, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Let Me Take A Look, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Analysis performed by Fuu Hououji! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar happens.<br />
<br />
Stations are flying past at remarkable speed. Even with extra unwanted passengers, even with harrying elements, the Misery Express is on a no-stop run.<br />
<br />
There are some remarkable efforts, though. Jupiter slides past snatching arms to land a solid kick to the cars - a shockwave rippling through the metal to start dumping some of that high-density fuel it's carrying. (Just like in Labyrinth. High efficiency, low emissions, smells terrible.) Jad brings up a geyser of water to derail the train - but it smashes through the water with a loud WHOO, WHOOOO! - Westar's certainly enjoying that whistle.<br />
<br />
Chika is met with mechanical arms - but frankly they're meant for lifting freight, not fighting Puella Magi, and so she's able to use them as purchase to fight her way forward. Lera is less constraint, raining fire and fury from the sky - the train puts on a burst of speed to keep diamond and conductor out of harm's way, but it still scores along the side. The man in question leans out, shaking a fist - and a second shake to the Senshi in the back. "I, WESTAR, had to wait with Soular for half an hour the other day! So there! And - we'll see if Jupiter is as tough as a cat, you, uh... Whatever! As for Eas..."<br />
<br />
Eas - or Cure Passion - is getting along with Westar as well as ever. In return, Westar whirls around, silent for a moment as he just stares at Eas in fury, in sorrow, in... "Are you even listening to yourself?! You're still calling him Mobius-sama - don't pretend..." And then she interrupts with harsher words, descending on the cab in full fury...and has her foot caught by a muscular hand. "...you're lying. You're LYING!"<br />
<br />
He's diverted for a momen - allowing the Wind Knight to catch up, and get a good look at the train. Shining gold chains spring forth at Venus's command, winding around the wheels, entangling the engine - but it keeps fighting forward, all the same. It's clearly struggling, now...<br />
<br />
But Westar is furious. With a wordless shout, he hurls Cure Passion back - and one of the larger cars opens up to reveal the Heavy Freight Arms. One moves to intercept an airborne Passion, to snatch her in a crushing grip; another pair lunge out to snatch at the flying mages, Jad and Lera.<br />
<br />
"TUNNELLLLLL!" The train gives fair warning that a tunnel is coming up - and the cars bulk up, to make it a very, very tight fit for anyone on top of the cars. A few of the stray bits sticking up shear off, and it's very very dark for a minute. Once the train emerges, who knows what's coming next...<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Extremely Low Clearance on Sailor Moon.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Extremely Low Clearance on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Extremely Low Clearance on Sailor Venus.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Extremely Low Clearance on Chika Aki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Extremely Low Clearance on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Jad Werke.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly dodges Westar's Extremely Low Clearance, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Fade ability activates! Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates! Blind applied to Sailor Moon! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke perfectly counters Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke's counterattack, Reverse Tide, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki narrowly dodges Westar's Extremely Low Clearance, taking 19 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to dodge Westar's Extremely Low Clearance, taking 27 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Sailor Jupiter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly braces Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Block ability activates! Cure Passion's Parry ability activates! Trap applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly dodges Westar's Extremely Low Clearance, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry fails to counter Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 37 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Lera Camry! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry's counterattack, Mantle Heart, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chika was battering her way slowly up the train, making decent headway. A hand punched into a car here for purchase... Yanking on an arm that swings her way for more purchase... The dogged Puella Magi is starting to close in on the others, when... Tunnel! <br />
<br />
She'd missed the warning in her focused efforts, and the first sign of the tunnel to her is when the cars start snugging together, and the looming dark wall ahead. <br />
<br />
"Oh." <br />
<br />
CRUNCH. <br />
<br />
Chika had thrown herself backwards in an effort to avoid the clearance. She got caught by the wall, carried down a length of a car, and then she managed to wedge herself between two of the rail cars. Less by skill and more by getting rolled into it by the tunnel overhang. There is some definite wincing from the Puella Magi after that wild rolling ride into the tiny gap between the cars. She can't exactly swing a fist in here, and waits for the train to emerge before she crawls her bedraggled and bruised figure out from between the cars. That time waiting gave her plenty of opportunity to eyeball the train and the connections between the train for signs of weakness she might be able to exploit! And maybe get a better understanding of what this Nakewameke is. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has used Studious Examination on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Chika Aki's Studious Examination, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Chika Aki is Psyched! Analysis performed by Chika Aki! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus narrowly braces Westar's Extremely Low Clearance, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Sailor Venus! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Well, that didn't work out as well as he might have wanted. But Jad wasn't expecting to stop this on his own. After all, why did you have friends if you weren't going to fight this sort of thing together with them? But still, it seems like there's something personal at stake for the Pretty Cure in red - not that Jad knows what it is. He just figures that things will work themselves out with a bit of time and effort. <br />
<br />
Speaking of time and effort, the train suddenly is getting WAY TOO TOUCHY FEELY for Jad to be comfortable with. "Hands off! I'm not going to be touchy feely with some evil demon... train... motor... thing!" The blue haired mage pulls one hand back, several magical circles spinning around one hand as the arm swings towards him - and he snaps that fist forward, his hand meeting the huge oncoming one and knocking it away with a shower of water that creates a shimmering rainbow in the air for a moment before Jad kicks off the track and keeps moving. <br />
<br />
One of the girls is attacking the train with some sort of chain of energy, and that seems like a great idea - Jad raises one hand, a spinning complex triangle forming there as he channels his magic into his own disruptive effort. Shimmering focusing triads appear around the train, and chains of water launch out, each of them trying to latch onto the side of the train and slow it down even more! Wester wants to go faster? JAD SAYS WESTAR NEEDS TO GO SLOW! As a bonus, Lera and the others who are getting swatted at can probably grab one of the chains and use it to keep from having an unfortunate and less than ideal meeting with the gravel train bed or one of the rails. <br />
<br />
Out of spite, he also sends one chain to try and grab the chain for the train whistle and keep it out of Westar's grasp. ...which might make the whistle sound EVEN MORE but at least it's not Westar who's pulling it.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has used Tidal Bind on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Jad Werke's Tidal Bind, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Jad Werke is Psyched! Tangle and Trap applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuxSiLMzkYA<br />
<br />
Lera's eyes widen a little bit at Passion's words. They are more heated than she expected to hear out of her. She opens her mouth, as if to say something, and then clamps it closed again. "Passion..."<br />
<br />
&lt;Camry! Incoming!> Broken ground chimes. Lera turns her head, eyes widening, and then throws an open palm out for the hand. "Ground, stop it!" she yells.<br />
<br />
&lt;Mountain Aeg--> Before they can finish the spell, though, the claw smashes through the barrier she starts. The barrier shatters into spectral glass, before it clutches around her waist and roughly lifts her up. Lera yelps as she gets grabbed, then lifted up into the air. Her hand reaches out -- and she grabs for Jad's chain of energy, clutching on.<br />
<br />
That stabilizes her, as she flips up into the air, and keeps her attached for a moment -- and swings Broken Ground down. She points the hammer downward -- and a magical circle swirls into existence, spinning rapidly. "We've got this! C'mon, Ground!"<br />
<br />
She focuses -- and a ball of energy swirls into existence, thick strands of light forming and twisting into a sphere. Then, it flies down, like a ball of molten magma, straight towards the train below. It explodes in a fireball, and the back blast sends Lera flying up higher into the air, her grip on the chain lost.<br />
<br />
Her flight spells kick in, and she hovers, then, before zipping back towards the train.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Magma Bomb on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It may be a good thing for Cure Passion that the train is moving //so fast// -- Sailor Venus barely has time to appreciate the way her chain strikes true before the train itself thoughtfully bellows a warning:<br />
<br />
TUNNEL!<br />
<br />
A quiet, frustrated 'tch!' is all that she vocalizes before she's in motion, already anticipating the problem. Sailor Venus keeps a tight grip on her end of the glowing chain so tightly entangled within the train's workings and goes sprinting not for the engine, but for the edge of the train as the tunnel comes bearing down too quickly on one of her allies: Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br />
It happens fast. Sailor Venus springs off the side of the side of the train and has just enough time to throw her arm around Jupiter's waist ("Got you!") before the chain goes taut, and the pair of senshi come up against the side of the train just in time for it to pass into the tunnel. Venus may be a great deal smaller than Jupiter, but it doesn't stop her from putting her own back between the brunette and the speedily-passing wall like a human shield, keeping her securely against the train until it's safe to return to the roof. What are friends for?<br />
<br />
"That was too close," Venus says under her breath as she retakes her place atop the train. "And now I'm /mad/. Sailor Moon! Sailor Jupiter! Let's show this jerk what we're made of!"<br />
<br />
Without waiting for a response, Venus is once again on the move, and as she calls out her intentions, she /does/ sound like she took that hit on Sailor Jupiter personally.<br />
<br />
"ROLLING HEART VIBRATION!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has started a combo targeting Westar!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It certainly isn't the train's own warning shout that alerts the Magic Knight of Wind to the encroaching tunnel; rather, she sees it coming - literally, she's facing forwards when the train comes around a bend with the tunnel just ahead, and she scrambles to flatten herself against the train's roof ...<br />
<br />
Only for her current spot to be one where the train bulges outwards in the process of bunching up. At least she doesn't get smacked right off the Nakewameke Express for her trouble - but it's a rather uncomfortable squeeze until they're out of the tunnel. It also gives her an opportunity to think through what she saw while she was climbing up the train's side and that arm. Whether this knowledge is going to do her any real good or not ... well, she'll have to figure that out on the run, so to speak.<br />
<br />
At least her ears are working again, more or less. The Wind Knight gets back up to a crouch once the train is in the open again, weighing her options and glancing around at her allies, all of whom are looking somewhat the worse for wear at this point - but if any of them are in need of a Winds of Healing, it's not showing.<br />
<br />
The Wind Knight's bow and quiver materialize, and she quickly nocks an arrow to the string, taking another look ahead of the train and gauging where they're likely to turn. The arrow is drawn back -<br />
<br />
But she's not actually aiming at the train that everyone is currently on top of, at least in any means that makes sense. And given the headwind, loosing an arrow seems like it's not going to do a whole lot of good; it's more likely to just get blown away and go through a window or something as they pass ... right?<br />
<br />
The arrow is loosed anyway, angled into the turbulence along the train's nearer side - and if the Magic Knight of Wind calculated her shot right, the wind will blow the arrow right into one of the openings from which the arms are extended. It may not do a great deal of direct damage, but sticking random objects into gears is a time-honored method of messing up machinery. (Admittedly, it also doesn't always work *that* conveniently ... but it may be worth the effort.)<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Trick Arrow Shot on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"I'm okay!" Jupiter calls back to Venus when she shouts her warning. Turning back toward her, however, pulls her attention in another certain direction.<br />
<br />
Sailor Jupiter hadn't noticed Cure Passion at first, and so when Westar had gone on about her coming back to Labyrinth, she hadn't connected the dots at first--she was kind of busy flailing to not fall to her messy doom, and then yelling back at Westar for herself. But when *Lera* yells back at Westar about Passion and how she's not going to back to Labyrinth, it hits Sailor Jupiter all over again. Lera and Westar had been yelling at each other about Eas leaving Labyrinth before, during the Nakewameke battle at the mall. She turns towards Cure Passion, green eyes going wide--and then Passion herself confirms it.<br />
<br />
"YOU were Eas? YOU?" she demands, hands balling into fists. She'd meant to follow up on that, ask Ami about it, but so much had been happening lately it'd completely slipped her mind, only for it to smack her right in the face all of a sudden, right here, right now. Don't think just because she forgot for a little while that she forgot about Dark Mercury, or about that Nakewameke one-on-one battle ages ago, Eas.<br />
<br />
But still, as razor-sharp as her glare is right now, Sailor Jupiter does know where her priorities lie. It helps that Sailor Moon so cheerfully talks her up as Conductor Jupiter, and that with her here they'll be to school before they know it. Between her anger at Passion-Eas and the misery Westar instilled in her, she just smiles grimly at her friend--not exactly as inspiring as it would otherwise be--but it does help her focus.<br />
<br />
Just in time for the Nakewameke to yell "TUNNEL!!" and Jupiter to turn around to get smacked right in the face, and upper body, by a whole lot of brick. WHAM, goes the Sailor Senshi, tumbling down several cars, eyes spinning. Sailor Venus, in an act of her typical quick thinking, saves her from falling off the train entirely by swinging down with her Love-Me Chain and catching Jupiter by the hand, letting both of them cling to the side of the train as they pass through the tunnel and giving Jupiter a moment to catch her breath, physically and mentally. If she'd been a regular human being, that definitely would have killed her. Because of that, she entirely misses Westar yelling back at Eas, sounding genuinely enraged and hurt.<br />
<br />
When the two of them climb/crawl back up on top of the train, Jupiter gives Venus a somewhat hazy-eyed nod. "Thanks a lot," she says. "You really saved me back there." But hey, what *are* friends for, right?<br />
<br />
Venus calls for a combination attack, and Jupiter nods decisively. "You got it!" She sucks in a breath as the lightning rod emerges from her tiara. "SUPREME..." she calls, crossing her arms in front of her, index and pinky fingers extended. A bolt of lightning crashes down onto it, then crackles onto her, just before she thrusts her arms out. "THUNDER!!" she calls, sending the lightning out to join with Venus's Rolling Heart Vibration.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has joined the combo started by Sailor Venus!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar perfectly counters Fuu Hououji's Trick Arrow Shot, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Full Steam Ahead!, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Fuu Hououji! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Lera Camry's Magma Bomb, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXwf44YjpuU<br />
<br />
As tough as a cat? That finger drops, and Sailor Moon looks at Westar like he sprouted another head, "Wait what? No I'm saying Jupiter-chan is that tough, not that cats- Oh forget it!" But Passion is making Westar pretty mad isn't she! And Jupiter is getting worked up and really Moon can't blame her- "H-Hey Jupiter-chan, maybe we should talk about that later..." She's tapping the tips of her pointer fingers together. <br />
<br />
That anxiety that everyone might turn on Passion continues... but the cars are bunching up and suddenly there's a very cramped, very dark tunnel coming up! Turning around quickly, Sailor Moon scrambles backwards, falling part of the way, sliding towards the side of the car. Sliding over the side, a hand reaches out to nab the edge. <br />
<br />
She makes it just in time, her other hand coming up to join that one, as she closes her eyes at the horrific screeching and sparks from pieces of the top of the train getting torn off. Leg's dangling, she kicks outward, then braces both of her legs against it, then flips back atop it, blonde odangos streaming behind her in the strobe effect of one tunnel light after another. <br />
<br />
And in those lights- she notes that mad scramble to catch Jupiter and help her up, "Jupiter! Venus!" She scrambles that way as if she were going to help both of them back up, grip the chain if need be and pull with all of her might but they're already back up- "I shouldn't have worried!" Sailor Moon grins, "I mean when /hasn't/ Sailor Venus saved the day?" That's not actually a question where she's thinking about the answer. <br />
<br />
She wouldn't want to think about that.<br />
<br />
Venus is mad though! And so, when she calls for her attack, the three girls act as a unit. A hand moves to her tiara as she braces herself against the train. "Moon Tiara-" <br />
<br />
It becomes alit with silver radiance that acts as a beacon within the tunnel. As soon as she hears the other two, she hurls it forward, "-ACTION!" It curves in an arc, intercepting the rolling heart/electrical combination on the way- and suddenly the edge of the Tiara is covered with spinning orange hearts and crackling with bright blue electricity. <br />
<br />
It zooms forward, faster than the train, arcing over Westar's head- while Sailor Moon cups her hands over her mouth, "If you're going to be like this Westar- then I'll make you accept Jupiter-chan and Venus-chan's-" It then cuts downwards, towards the face of the Nakewameke sending hearts and arcs of electricity everywhere, "-electrifying lovestruck combination!" <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has joined the combo started by Sailor Venus!<br />
<br>COMBAT: COMBO! Sailor Venus, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Moon have used All-Star Senshi! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Sailor Venus, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Moon's Combo: All-Star Senshi!, taking 158 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZMWszd5SRk<br />
<br />
Despite Passion's interruption, Westar's first words do strike at her. She's still calling him Mobius-sama. But how can she do anything else? She throws out the rest of her words and kicks at him--<br />
<br />
But she's caught, unable to break her heel free from her ex-comrade's grip, her ankle twisting painfully as she starts to fall. She doesn't have long to do it, though. In fury, Westar hurls her back, and Passion has no idea where she's going to land. By instinct as much as anything else, she crosses her arms over herself, braces for some impact, and thus when the Heavy Freight Arms catch her, she's almost ready for it. They grab and crush, and she grits her teeth, trying not to cry out as even through her defense they're mercilessly strong. After a few moments she wriggles free, and clangs against the metal of two cars behind her captor. <br />
<br />
'P-Passion-chan isn't that a bit harsh?' Sailor Moon's words ring in Passion's mind as she recovers herself, along with Lera's voice. ...And Sailor Jupiter's question. They're all difficult, and while Passion couldn't look in the moment at Jupiter's glare, she can remember it all too well. As she gets to her feet she sounds tired--no, disheartened. "Yes, that was me," she answers her, and settles her gaze on Westar again. <br />
<br />
"You--" She stops short, looking around, as she doesn't see Chika anymore, and she's largely behind the others. "Where's..." She hopes she didn't fall off. <br />
<br />
She refocuses on her opponent. "Just--Just stop it already! I don't... I don't care what you think anyway!" she lies to Westar. She watches the attack come in... <br />
<br />
And lunges forward, with a flurry of punches, kicks, and strikes on the heels of the others' attacks. "So call me a liar all you want! I'm still not going back!" She doesn't have a lot of heart in her words though.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Following Flurry on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Passion's Following Flurry, taking 22 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> Wild Arms 3 - Crossfire Sequence - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNVQK3tuqsc<br />
<br />
The train emerges into morning light once more, immediately blowing past another station full of frustrated commuters. Somehow, in all the commotion, the vehicle got onto a nice ocean-view line; for the foreseeable future, it's open track and a nice view of shining seas illuminated by dawn's light. Rosy hues are fading into blue even now, marking stark contrast against the black and yellow locomotive.<br />
<br />
In the commotion of the tunnel, it's taken some damage. One heavy freight arm, reaching for Jad, was lost on the edge of the tunnel. The rearmost two cars have been shaken loose, trailing in its wake. Finally, all this battering is starting to shake the pistons loose a bit. But the engine is still strong, and steam is vented in a terrible whistle to celebrate the continuing trouble-<br />
<br />
-up until shining chains make a point of ripping that piece in particular off. Chika can spy steam spewing from the new vent, drowning out Westar's angry shouting for a moment - but the sudden blast of steam redirects Fuu's trick shot to lodge between metal plates instead of the vital component she'd been targetting. For his part, Westar actually climbs up on the roof, and punches the incoming ball of magma in fury - and bereft of its toot-toot, the train lets out a miserable moan.<br />
<br />
In all the arguing with mages and a certain Cure, though, he's forgotten about the Senshi entirely. Unified on the now-rearmost cart, they unleash beauty and courage and hope - a tiara winging through the air, embraced by orange and blue, to swing down at the train head-on - the vehicle in turn aiming to plow through it like it did everything else.<br />
<br />
Everyone still on the train receives a ferocious jolt as it actually jumps the tracks from the impact - the roar of mechanical pain accompanied by a screech of metal on metal, sparks flying from derailed wheels. Cure Passion's words and fury exacerbate the situation, blow after blow hammering into the fuel supply - and the side of that car gives way, dumping the train's fuel entirely.<br />
<br />
"Nakewameke! Get a hold of your-" Westar, having fallen back into the cab from the impact, is cut off as the train runs over a switch and the screeching just gets louder. "...Fine then! If you want to play it that way, 'Cure Passion', then you and all your friends can deal with this!" He reaches down, and pulls a big yellow lever.<br />
<br />
And the screeching...stops. There's a series of ker-chunks, as all the cars decouple at once - the track switches causing them to spread out to the left and right. It's a wide tableau, and a great view...as the train jumps the tracks, intentionally. "TRANSFORM!"<br />
<br />
It wheels around in the air, rear section separating to lock onto separate tracks as the front of the locomotive turns to face its pursuers. Steam hisses from the sides, pistons lunging out as it sweeps from left-to-right, peppering everyone in sight with locomotive strikes. "NAKEWAMEKEEEEEE!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Sailor Moon.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Sailor Venus.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Jad Werke.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Chika Aki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki narrowly counters Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 23 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki's counterattack, MegaFist, partially gets through, doing 11 Fatigue damage to Westar! Critical Counterhit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke fails to brace Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 21 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to brace Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 40 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon perfectly counters Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Sailor Moon's Reverse ability activates! Sailor Moon's Tactician ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon's counterattack, Spiralling Heart Rod, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus narrowly dodges Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Sailor Venus's Fade ability activates! Sailor Venus's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry perfectly braces Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Brace! Lera Camry's Block ability activates! Lera Camry's Parry ability activates! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chika crawls out of the gap between trains she'd hidden in when they scooted through the tunnel, a little too slow for Cure Passion to notice her. still on the train right away. She gets to her feet, looking forwards and starting to run to join the others. <br />
<br />
The show put on by the Senshi has Chika looking on with something akin to awe as she sees the three magical girls working in tandem, like a fluid unit. It brings a little pang to her heart of longing, wishing for that same coordination... But Puella Magi just aren't like that. She heaves a little sigh, focusing her eyes back on the prize. <br />
<br />
And thats when Westar pulls his leavor, causing the cars to decouple as the train pulls of the most elaborative locomotive maneuveurs; Multi-track-drifting! She watches the Nakewameke spin itself to land on two tracks. More importantly, she sees steam venting form it... And if there is steam... <br />
<br />
She is disrupted from her trainheh) of thought by the pistons being fired at herself and others. <br />
<br />
"No!" <br />
<br />
Chika's vocal admonishment is met with her gauntlet swelling in size to that of a dumpster. Surprise! She throws her fist forwards, heaving it into the piston coming her way as it crunches into her first, denting the metal. She grimaces but carries through on the follow up, knocking that Piston away and at least giving a bit of tit for the tat she took. <br />
<br />
Chika isn't much of a talker, but she looks to Cure Passion who she has wound up beside. "I don't know who this creep is, but lets stop this here!" She says encouragingly, before turning to look back at the train. Her gauntletted hands go out to her side, and then she starts to make throwing motions forwards. Every single one flings a long spear of water ahead of her, just a jet of dense H20 to be a nuisance. And you know what parts of trains don't like water; Coal deposits and steam lines! Anywhere she sees steam, or any chance she can to whip one by Westar at where he was shovelling, Chika is barraging the Nakewameke with an onslaught! <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has used Water Barrage on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The train comes screeching to a halt, transforming into a towering monstrosity of metal and giant fists. And as one of those fists comes swinging around, Jad looks at it for a moment and takes a moment to sigh. <br />
<br />
"Oh fiddlesticks-" <br />
<br />
There is a loud, metallic screech, followed by an almost comically loud *CHOOOOOOOOOOOOM* as the Loco-Motive strikes Jad head on with one of those fists. One moment the blue haired mage is standing there. The next moment he is just gone, with a faint contrail through the air detailing his flight path out and away from the scene of the fight. <br />
<br />
... <br />
<br />
Almost too far away from the fight to actually be seen, Jad is laying in a long track of torn up ground, with most of it piled up behind him from where he hit the ground, dug in, and skidded along until he finally came to a stop. For a moment he just lays there, his eyes in spinny circles as he lets out a dazed 'Orrrooooo @_@', taking a moment to collect his bearings. Finally he reaches up and grabs the edge of his small crater and pulls himself back up, raising one fist weakly and shaking it at Wester. "Barely... felt a... thing!" he shouts, despite the fact that he is way too far away for anyone to hear him. "Gonna have to-" and he falls over sideways. <br />
<br />
"Schwartz. Boost please." <br />
<br />
There is a surge of magic, and Jad pushes himself back up, streamers of water rising around him and flowing along his arms and legs as he focuses. "Dunno if we can get back in time, but we're gonna try! Let's go!" <br />
<br />
And with that he takes off at full speed right back into the fight.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has used Strength of the Tides on Jad Werke.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke accepts Jad Werke's Strength of the Tides, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower and Withstand applied to Jad Werke! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Sailor J-Jupiter, um--"<br />
<br />
Lera starts to say something as she falls -- but first, the Sailor Senshi are moving in tandem, /and/ Sailor Moon suggests they talk about it later. She swallows, even while she watches the three of them strike. Her eyes widen a little at that.<br />
<br />
She comes down, listening as Passion shouts. Her lips purse and she frowns, before she calls out: "Passion! You--you know it's fine! You know!"<br />
<br />
&lt;He's doing something!> Ground interjects. The train jumps the tracks -- and then pistons come flying and smashing in. Lera's amber eyes widen before she calls out: "Ground!"<br />
<br />
&lt;PROTECTION!><br />
<br />
A half-dozen circles of pale yellow light appear -- and the pistons that come for Lera smash into them instead. Sparks fly, exploding where steel strikes the energy barriers, but they hold them at bay. Lera grits her teeth, before she lifts upward. She glances down at Jad, for a moment. "You all right, down there?"<br />
<br />
&lt;Schwarz has the right idea. Boosting.> Broken Ground shimmers and light flows into Lera, giving her a brief golden glow.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Earth's Heart! Erupting Hope! on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry accepts Lera Camry's Earth's Heart! Erupting Hope!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower and Surge applied to Lera Camry! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Well, the Wind Knight thinks, it was sort of worth a try.<br />
<br />
Her train of thought stops there as the train tilts precariously, knocked off the rails by the three-Sailor assault. The Magic Knight of Wind is still trying to retain her balance when Westar pulls the lever and calls loudly for the Nakewameke to transform; that's the point at which the Wind Knight just hunkers down and focuses on *not falling off*. The cars decouple; this could be a bad thing, especially if they all stay animated when physically separated from the Nakewameke's 'core,' but then it -<br />
<br />
She's still trying to figure out how to describe what just happened (in terms that make some kind of sense beyond the immediate context, anyway) when she gets violently pistoned in the face and the breastplate. Her armor takes the impact far better than her glasses do; her hastily-conjured wind barrier *might* have prevented worse injury than that, but she already knows she's going to have to wear her backup pair at school today.<br />
<br />
Oh yes, she also needs to get her breath back, since it was knocked out of her lungs just now. *THAT* takes priority for a couple of extra moments; once she can breathe semi-normally again, the Wind Knight dismisses her bow and quiver, willing her sword to materialize instead. While the ... giant robot form of the Nakewameke probably has a lot more weak points that could be capitalized upon, this kind of high-speed mobile encounter is not really good for archery - and, well, her glasses are cracked, which is going to mess up her aim even more. For now, she conjures a fresh tailwind and leaps at the Nakewa-mecha, shouting a kiai as she tries to cleave another opening in its 'armor' - damaging an existing joint would be fine, but if she can't get at one, she'll just settle for opening a new gash somewhere on its form.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Sword Strike on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Chika Aki's Water Barrage, taking 9 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Sword Strike, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon urges everyone to not deal with the Eas/Passion issue just yet, and Lera stammers out Jupiter's name, and Passion seems very upset besides, but even if no one had said anything, Sailor Jupiter *did* kind of just get clonged face-on by a brick tunnel ceiling. Considering that Passion's fighting Westar with everything she's got right now, Jupiter can overlook this for now--but she *will* be asking Usagi about this later, since she seems to know what all this is about.<br />
<br />
For now: "We got it!" she cheers, pumping a fist when the Rolling Tiara Thunder impacts with the Nakewameke. "Great teamwork, Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus!" But then the train jolts hard, nearly bucking the Soldier of Protection off again. Eurgh, this is ticking her off! ...Even if it *was* Moon's, Venus's, and her combined magical might that caused it, and the Nakewameke's subsequent self-deconstruction, in the first place. Jupiter braces herself as the Nakewameke cars decouple, jump tracks, and then recombine into a separate train to glare at and strike at its magical girl opponents.<br />
<br />
She grits her teeth and bears it, one arm up to protect her head and face, one hand still holding on. As the attacks pile on, she keeps her eyes keen for an opening--until--!<br />
<br />
"There!" she shouts, jumping forward for one of those pistons. Her tiara rod still extended, electricity traces along all of her limbs, allowing her to 'skate' along the tracks like an ice skater on a frozen pond with grace and speed. It also allows her to grab tight hold of the transformed train, buck her knees down, and tilt her center of gravity back until she--and, potentially--the train itself--goes smashing backwards onto the tracks, lightning exploding in every which direction.<br />
<br />
That's right. Sailor Jupiter just (tried to) suplex a train.<br />
<br />
If it succeeds, static-electric magnetism should theoretically set the train right-side-up again afterwards so as to avoid it crashing horribly... or it might keep it too attached to the rails for Jupiter to pull it off at all.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Lightning Suplex on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Sailor Jupiter's Lightning Suplex, taking 29 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion doesn't give another thought to how close she came to being lost with a gripping arm when the train caught hold of her moments ago, though it was very close. But she does jolt with the impact of jumping tracks, is off-balance for a couple of her strikes and barely catches herself with a kick to send herself in the right direction. The fuel supply drops off, and she lets out a set of breaths, looking up again at Westar after her flurry. <br />
<br />
"It's over, Westar!" Passion shouts as Westar talks to his Nakewameke, but then he has one more trick up his sleeve. She blinks once, unsure of which answer to give or what to say at all--but suddenly the cars are in motion. "Deal with--" <br />
<br />
'With what' is answered quickly, and Passion leaps, twirling mid-air as she manages almost to get out of the way of the pistons--it still hits her side, though not head-on, and she continues her spin until she hits down on the car next to Chika. Chika is pretty enouraging, though Passion can't quite smile at her, looking at her hesitantly instead. "...Right," she agrees. <br />
<br />
Only then does she call back up and answer her girlfriend, "But..." She looks up at her, as she moves to check on Jad, as Ground's magic starts to boost her. She remembers their conversation about this. "I--I know!" she calls to Lera, more loudly. <br />
<br />
But there's Jupiter, and they're all focusing on the monster, and not her. Passion elects to do the same. "I'm going on ahead," she says to Chika, and sprints for the edge of her car, leaping off of it towards the Nakewameke. She kicks once, and bounces, springing back to a car which she handsprings off of, giving her the momentum to reach Lera flying above--and she twists mid-air to kick off of her feet, somersaulting down and letting her momentum carry her straight into the Nakewameke's face as it comes back down.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Pinball Passion on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Okay, Sailor Venus reflects as she's sent flying off the back of the train. /Maybe/ that hit a little harder than they intended.<br />
<br />
The senshi is able to awkwardly twist around in the air, almost like a cat, and manages a landing that is remarkably steady considering just how quickly she had to react and how loud the panicking voice in the back of her head had become. She briefly goes crosseyed and blows some hair out of her face, then refocuses her attention on the battle at hand...<br />
<br />
...just in time to see Sailor Jupiter seize her opening. The sight actually causes her to momentarily freeze in surprise, blinking twice... and then her mouth parts for an absolutely /massive/, almost wolfish smile. "That's the way, Jupiter! Show that thing what you're made of!"<br />
<br />
And then her eyes turn, at last, towards Passion. For a moment, her expression clouds... but then she raises her voice, pointing towards her with her shoulders square. "Don't let this jerk put a single doubt in your head!" she shouts, forcing the words out for her own benefit almost as much as Passion's. "You're fighting the good fight now, and... and that's all that matters!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has used Don't be afraid! on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
'Great Teamwork!' And immediately Sailor Moon is excited enough to think that maybe she needs to give them both an excited hand shake because /LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID!/ but she doesn't get time, the train emerges back into the light, though it's just after she adjusted to the dark, so the sudden shine is blinding. Squinting, she's nearly jolted off by the attack, only catching her tiara on its return in a backwards bunny hop, and placing it back to her brow. <br />
<br />
But the train is jumping the tracks and Sailor Moon shrieks as she's thrown off- to land gracelessly on her butt on the platform besides the track. Sailor Moon takes a moment to rub her sore posterior, before realizing the shadow of the train is looming right over her. "Oh. F-From this angle you're much-" <br />
<br />
Suddenly Pistons are lunging out, sweeping at her, "-BIGGERRRR!" She shrieks, and the Spiral Moon Heart Rod is in her hand. It's spinning in sparkling whorls all of her own. One piston strikes it creating a shower of sparks on impact, and sends her stumbling to the side from the massive force, trailing glittering stardust. The impacts are coming faster and faster and it's taking all she can to keep up with it simply by flourishing her rod to defend against strike.<br />
<br />
Moon stumbles this way from strike, only to be sent back that way- it looks like she's really getting hammered, but eventually she wends her way out of the labyrinth of pounding pistons and is still forced to keep running after the thing! "Huh-Hey stop! Don't throw us off then make us chase you! It's too early in the day for us to have to run track!" She whines as if she were being thrust into PE class early. Sweat pours off her brow as her chest heaves with each ragged breath as she runs forward.<br />
<br />
Placing a hand to the Cosmic Heart Compact, it begins to shine with pink light, a pinwheel of radiance which flows down into the rod. "Moon Sparkling-" She points it straight at the Nakewameke, "-SENSATION!" Stream after stream of gleaming pink and silver curl around and attempt to crash into it like a starburst shower of light. <br />
<br />
But then she stops, and has to gape in awe because, "J-Jupiter-chan actually-" Sailor Moon shifts her rod to the side in her hands in order to applaud excitably, clapping over and over and over- "JUPITER!" -then with one final clap, she clasps her hands together over the rod and leaps in the air like was a cheerleader responding to an Ace player making an incredible play, "We're gonna win and you know why?" Upon landing she thrusts a hand in her air, "Because we've got the strongest on our side! Go Jupiter!" <br />
<br />
She was just so proud, she told Westar earlier that Jupiter would /do the thing/ and then Jupiter /did the thing so well/! <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Moon Sparkling Sensation on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Moon's Moon Sparkling Sensation, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Pinball Passion, taking 33 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion accepts Sailor Venus's Don't be afraid!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Cheered! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Some distance down the track - still a fair distance away, though perhaps not as far as one might hope - there's a small trainyard for the trains that have been pulled off the line due to the ongoing rampage. Once things are cleared up, they should be able to return to the noble duty of helping people get to work and school...<br />
<br />
...as long as this battle is finished before Westar's runaway Nakewameke Express gets there. There isn't much time!<br />
<br />
Jad and Lera are hammered by the train's barrage, and put out of sight long enough for Westar to put them out of mind - at least for the immediate moment. Spears of water lance out from Chika, almost as biting as the 'creep' insult, and every jet hisses against increasingly hot metal. In the veil of mist, Fuu lunges in unexpectedly close, and her sword catches a seam in the armor plating. There's no immediate reaction - until there's a blast of steam, and Westar yells in surprise.<br />
<br />
And then, out of the mist, a spark of lightning, and the locomotive lifts unexpectedly. Those piston arms flail in surprise as it flips in the air - and smashes into the tracks, diamond first.<br />
<br />
Yes, Sailor Jupiter just suplexed a train.<br />
<br />
Momentum is a powerful thing, and so it recovers in short order - bouncing back upright, about to get back onto the tracks - just in time for Cure Passion to kick it in the face with almost as much force. It lands on the rails with a horrific metal screech, and sparkling stardust elicits a hiss of evil being purified while driving it further back.<br />
<br />
"Nakewameke!" Thrown from the car by that flurry of impacts, Westar shouts from his koala-like perch clinging to a nearby tree - sorrowfully bereft of his hat. "Enough playing around - time to get back on schedule!"<br />
<br />
There's a loud toot - steam venting in the absence of a whistle - and the front wheels, held in the air by an awkward stance, start spinning wildly. It leaps one last time, righting itself on the rails...and barrelling forward with alarming speed to meet its pursuers head-on!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Runaway Train on Sailor Venus.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Runaway Train on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Runaway Train on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Sailor Moon.<br />
<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Chika Aki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly braces Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Block ability activates! Cure Passion's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki narrowly braces Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly dodges Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Fade ability activates! Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly dodges Westar's Runaway Train, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to dodge Westar's Runaway Train, taking 28 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus fails to dodge Westar's Runaway Train, taking 36 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jad continues to run towards the fight as fast as he can. With his device reinforcing his body, that means he can run... much faster than someone might expect, as the water flowing along his limbs contributing some additional force to each movement. Which means he gets back fast enough to find out that there's... actually a lot still going on. <br />
<br />
To be accurate, Westar is unleashing the fury of his monster on the gathered magical girls. It's roaring forward at high speed, and that means only one thing. <br />
<br />
It's a CHALLENGE. And Jad is totally going to meet it head on. <br />
<br />
The blue haired mage comes roaring out of the distance and races back into the fight, moving so that he's directly in the path of the oncoming train. He lands on the ground, blue energy surging down into the ground for a moment before it pushes back against him... and sends the mage flying straight at the front of the locomotive! <br />
<br />
"Schwartz, FULL POWER!" he shouts, pulling one arm back. All of the water moving along his limbs flows into a spiraling torrent, which gathers right at the front of his fist. And he soars through the air, aiming right at the EVIL LOOKING FACE of the scary demon train thing. Really he's not left a lot of consideration for... dodging. Or how he's going to land, really. It's all going towards just slamming into the oncoming train. <br />
<br />
Punching it really. <br />
<br />
Really. <br />
<br />
Hard. <br />
<br />
Jad grins, and shouts, "TORRENT! ERRRRRRRUPTION!" His fist lashes forwards, the orb of water in front of his knuckles compressing into a small point, and he discharges all of his accumulated water magic into a single, focused line right at the devil engine thing.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Jad Werke has used Torrent Eruption on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chika finishes throwing her blasts of water, panting lightly from the exertion. But when she sees what Westar and the Nakewameke are doing, she doesn't shy from the incoming train. No, Chika braces her footing on the car that she is on with Cure Passion, and brings her gauntleted hands out in front of her to CATCH the train! <br />
<br />
"Don't let him push us around! We can do this!" She is trying to be encouraging, but well... Chika is sorely unpracticed when it comes to working in a group. She aspires to be a team-player, but its a work in progress! <br />
<br />
Her hands grip the front of Mecha-Train Nakewameke, and thats about the last time she has any real control over her position. She gets carried along with the rampaging train, legs and feet dangling and scraping against the ground before she is knocked off to one side. She tumbles onto her side, rolling and flopping back into a seated position with a wince. Bruised, dinged, and more then a little sore she staggers to her feet and looks down the tracks at the departing train leaving her behind. <br />
<br />
"Oh no.... no you don't..." The battered Puella Magi says with a tired frown, moving out onto the tracks and standing in a straight line behind the train. "C-clear a shot!" She calls in warning to the other Magical girls. <br />
<br />
Chika reaches her hands out to either side of her as water starts to coalesce from her gauntlets into each hand. The forming water creates a skim over both gauntlets as Chika takes a broad stance, bracing her booted feet against the struts holding the track. "Twin... Spiral.... GEYSER!" her voice rings out, louder and clearer then it almost ever is. <br />
<br />
She places her hands in front of her as a torrent of water erupts from her hands, two swirling vortexes chasing after the train and closing in on it. And with the train going away from her, it gives her a clear shot right into the cab where Westar used to be... and hopefully, into the furnace fueling the train. Quench it!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Chika Aki has used Twin Spiral Geyser! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Lera isn't too surprised when Passion kicks off her feet. She gives her a little boost, to kick her back towards the Nakewameke. The girl looks down, then, staring at the mecha.<br />
<br />
And the suplexing.<br />
<br />
She watches Chika and Jad lay into it. The Midchildan swings Broken Ground up in front of her and focuses. Motes of light begin to pull into the hammerhead, as it opens up. They gather, swirling around it, and the gem in the center of the clockwork hammer glows brighter and brighter. Then, she swings it down.<br />
<br />
A magical circle appears under feet, spinning around rapidly. Then, the motes of light all rush outward. They shoot and dart over the surroundings, weaving in towards the train cars, before they collide with it in a final, titanic explosion.<br />
<br />
&lt;Bombadier Cascade!><br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Lera Camry has used Bombadier Cascade on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Jad Werke's Finisher, Torrent Eruption, taking 102 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Chika Aki's Finisher, Twin Spiral Geyser!, taking 51 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Lera Camry's Finisher, Bombadier Cascade, taking 43 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
If only Sailor Venus' inner turmoil over offering Cure Passion those words of encouragement hadn't been so distracting. As it is, when her eyes snap back towards the runaway train, they do so a split-second too late.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke plows directly into the distracted Soldier of Love, who lets out a sharp cry of mingled pain and surprise as she's sent /flying/ off of the tracks. She hits the ground some distance away, and it takes a moment for her to actually skid to a halt.<br />
<br />
The good news is, although that definitely hurt, it didn't hurt /enough/. Sailor Venus rolls first to her stomach, gritting her teeth, then slowly pushes herself back up to her feet. She staggers, her eyes flashing, and doesn't even bother with a clever wind-up, or masking the lingering pain in her voice as orange-gold chains once again swirl and flash into being around her extended fingertip.<br />
<br />
"VENUS... LOVE-ME... CHAIN..!!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Venus has used Venus Love-Me Chain on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The biggest problem with getting in close to something that you could normally ride inside of is that when it makes a sudden move, getting out of the way is *very* difficult.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, the Wind Knight manages not to get totally crushed; she gets buffeted rather badly, but she manages to come out ofi t still on her feet, even though the Nakewameke is STILL bearing down on several of her allies with even more force than she had to survive. There's really no time for fine strategizing or support magic at this point - all she can do is pour everything she's got into one final attack, and hope that their combined efforts finally put the brakes on the Nakewameke's disruptions of the morning commute.<br />
<br />
"EMERALD ... *CYCLONE!!!*" shouts the Magic Knight of Wind, drawing her arms up and back, then flinging her hands forward as though gathering up the wind itself and hurling it at the monster. There's a reason why trains get halted in anticipation of a typhoon - a mundane crosswind of sufficient force can derail a train, and stronger winds can actually hurl the cars around like an angry child with a toy train set. With the Magic Knight's power infusing the Emerald Cyclone, though, the wrath of the gale is even more destructive; she's not trying to scatter the cars which constitute the Nakewameke, so much as to rip the monster apart and shatter the Data Diamond which acts as the Nakewameke's core.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Fuu Hououji has used Emerald Cyclone: Full on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of suplexing an enemy that's much, much bigger than you. It's even better when it's an actual /train/. Just call her Conductor Jupiter!<br />
<br />
This is underscored by Venus grinnin' like a villain, cheering her on directly, and Sailor Moon all but clapping with glee at Jupiter's feat of strength, cheering her on by bragging about her to Westar. Jupiter can't help but grin back, taking a moment to flex an arm and clap a hand over her bicep. Rosie the Riveter pose, go!<br />
<br />
"We've just got a little left to, everyone!" she calls, leaping back down the tracks as the train Nakweameke rights itself. "Let's give this thing everything we've got--" She points a finger over at Westar, clinging as he is to a tree, bereft of his conductor's hat. "And send that jerk packing!!"<br />
<br />
But Westar's not done yet. When he orders his Nakewameke to get back on schedule, Jupiter steels herself to take any new attack head-on--but no matter how you slice it, it's just a bad idea to try to tank a train. This occurs to her at the last second, and she attempts to throw herself clear, but too little, too late; it clips her hard, sending her ramming down into the ground to eat dirt. She coughs and spits and grounds, pushing herself back upright. *That's* going to leave a nasty bruise... She's already got a bad collection from Vita last night, too.<br />
<br />
Maybe she *should* just call off sick today.<br />
<br />
For now, though, like she said, there's still that one last push to go. She takes a deep breath, channeling the air and ozone into her body. The lightning rod from her tiara is still extended, miraculously unbent. "This is it, Westar," she announces, bending her arms back so her elbows are perpendicular to her waist. "We won't let you rampage as you please any longer!" Her green eyes snap open, narrowed and deadly, as lightning snaps, crackles and pops around her antenna. "For the sake of everyone's morning commute--Sailor Jupiter will fill you with so much regret, it'll leave you numb!!"<br />
<br />
With a roar, she claps her electrified hands together, then pulls them apart, bolts of lightning crackling with audible heat between them. She pulls both her hands back as she turns to the right, pressing the power together like an onigiri--and then she pitches it, hard and fierce, at the Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
"SPARKLING! WIDE PRESSUUUUURE!!"<br />
<br />
Upon impact, if it strikes true, it will explode with far greater force than its football-sized shape would imply.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter has used Sparkling Wide Pressure on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbPztpB7keA<br />
<br />
Back on schedule? "Oh so you're giving up so everyone can go about their day? Wise decision!" But then there's a loud toot, and Sailor Moon puts her hand over her ears as she cringes and- when she looks back in front of her the train has righted itself and it's barelling straight- towards her. <br />
<br />
Needless to say, Sailor Moon is terrified. Her scream is easily the equal of the toot, and as she leaps out of the way, she's still brushed by the side of the locomotive that knocks her far- far away from the tracks and upon impact, she rolls further. It looks bad for a moment, like it knocked her out, but after a few seconds she rolls over with a groan, then puts her hands underneath her to pull herself up on trembling limbs. <br />
<br />
She's far enough away, that her words might not be heard- but then again they might, "We're all just trying to get on with our lives." Almost to her feet, "Why do you have to- keep preventing us from moving on?" And then upon her feet, "Why do you have to ruin everyone's day? Well-" <br />
<br />
Up on her feet, she holds the Spiral Moon Heart Rod high over her head, determination filling her with Jupiter's statement. Every part of her might hurt but- "-we're not going to allow it any longer." Look into it, and it's a window into eternity, past the clouds, past the heavens, a glimpse of the Silver Millenium with it's majestic minarets and spires, timeless and sleep. But then just as quickly it draws one back, to simply a girl- no a Sailor Senshi, holding the rod high as light leaks out of the tiny heart window. <br />
<br />
It becomes a flourishing dance from side to side, spinning it in whorls of light- for all of her clumsiness, the dance would make any prima ballerina proud in its grace, as if that grace itself were part of the spell. Holding it alongside herself she begins to twirl, slowly at first, "MOOOONNNNNNNNN SPIRALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL-" Faster and faster she spins, her twintails like blonde ribbons twirling in their own rhythm as she went, like the ends were slightly slower than the rest of her, "-HEEEEARRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTT-" <br />
<br />
And then she tucks in, ending in a kneel like a gymnast at the finale of a floor routine. "-ATTACK!" <br />
<br />
Raised high, it becomes a galaxy pinwheel of light, between each sparkling trail of stars are smaller rivers of hearts. Hearts upon hearts- that join into one heart of tremendous size, incredible loveliness- she sends it crashing towards the train Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Moon has used Moon Spiral Heart Attack! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion lands nimbly on the train car she was riding before after her assault, nodding to Chika at what she says as she does--but stops altogether short when she sees /Venus/ looking at her. Immediately she expects to hear some remonstration, some note that it isn't over, and that they'll be talking about this later, but instead... <br />
<br />
Her eyes widen at Venus's encouragement, and she can't help but put on a brief, tiny smile towards the more experienced magical girl before her. There's no time for it to last, and those doubts don't chase away so easily as all that... <br />
<br />
But it helps. It helps right when it might be needed most, as Westar delivers his next set of orders. It lunges forward, and Passion crosses her arms before herself in defense, as the train slams into her and she just... takes it, for all that it batters her arms and sends her skidding backwards and wrecks the car she was on that Chika no longer is. She lowers her arms, body aching, emotionally wounded, and looks at everyone else fighting so hard against the Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
She can't fail to do something. Even after everything... <br />
<br />
A little red key-fairy springs into existence around her, ribboned and cheerfully trilling. "...Right, Akarun." Stretching out her hand, there's a musical tone as a heart-shaped heart appears in her hand. In her other hand, raised to the sky, there's a brilliant glow--until it coalesces into a jewel that she slips into the top of the harp. "Sing, O rhapsody of happiness! Passion Harp!" She begins to play a string of notes, ascending plucks of the strings, and there's a flash of red light. "Roar, storm of happiness!"<br />
<br />
White feathers surround her, the entire traincar she's on, rising from beneath her in a torrent as she sets her feet. "Pretty Cure! Happiness... Hurricane!" <br />
<br />
Waves of red, purple, and pink energy begins to spiral upward and around her, all arranged in gigantic hearts as she twirls in place, spinning faster and faster and faster until they all burst towards the Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
It's briefly as if it's submerged, and all these hearts--one big one surounding it--are the bubbles. "Haaaaah--!" <br />
<br />
Her spin stops, and Cure Passion channels her magic with all her might, holding the harp before her and waving it in place until her magic explodes in purifying light.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Passion has used Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Venus's Finisher, Venus Love-Me Chain, taking 40 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Finisher, Emerald Cyclone: Full, taking 31 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Sailor Jupiter's Finisher, Sparkling Wide Pressure, taking 166 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Sailor Moon's Finisher, Moon Spiral Heart Attack!, taking 319 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Finisher, Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane, taking 143 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
A runaway train, now barrelling back the way it came, and plowing through whatever it finds along the way. If it gets away, then this miserable morning will continue...but that's a big if.<br />
<br />
The Device-wielding mages, forgotten for a few moments, interrupt the escaping locomotive with elemental force. Jad gathers water into a head-on collision, and there's a loud hiss as it smashes into the torrent full on. Metal screeches as the wheels spin faster than the train is actually going, as it drives forward - and then that power is undercut by spiraling water plowing into the depleted furnace. Motes of light whirl around before bearing down on it in a cascade of destruction...<br />
<br />
chugga chugga chugga<br />
<br />
From the explosion of water and steam and light, the train emerges - that robotic face looking furious as it somehow keeps going. It's still heading back to that tunnel, and then who knows where - before golden chains catch it, pinning it in place. A howling windstorm aids in this endeavour, holding it in place however hard the engine might strain - and then a sparkling orb of light and lightning homes in on the eye of the storm, shocking the mechanical monstrosity enough that that driving engine goes almost completely still. It sizzles, a moment-<br />
<br />
And then there is light. From the left, in memorial to a fallen kingdom, a veritable galaxy of hearts streams forth. From the right, a hurricane of happiness sings a song of redemption. The two streams intertwine, engulfing the monstrous train entirely in a storm of pink and crimson that billows outward over the area.<br />
<br />
...fizzle...<br />
<br />
Where the whirling hearts pass, damage to the tracks is set right. Where happiness and majesty shine, those Labyrinth-esque traincars evaporate into nothingness. Where they pass over a tree, there's a yelp, crash, and a few moments later a splash as Westar is blown from his perch all the way into the ocean.<br />
<br />
Where that runaway train was, there rests a toy locomotive, on its side between the tracks.<br />
<br />
In the wake of battle's end, there is a distant cheer - the next station isn't that far off from here, and its frustrated patrons were more than happy to see this rampage put to an end. (There may even be a few cellphone videos!) As the morning sun rises higher in the sky, the victorious heroines are treated to a round of impromptu applause and cheering.<br />
<br />
Eventually, the trains get back on the tracks. Eventually, class and work beckon. And eventually, perhaps seen and heard by a handful here, Westar gets back to shore.<br />
<br />
"...I'm gonna be so late for class, now..." And without even pausing to taunt those who have beaten him, Westar runs off, dripping.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chika flumps down onto her knees on the track, watching her attack depart into the train, and the veritable cacophony of kaleidoscopic colors, chains, eruptions, explosions, and all fun and sundry attacks. <br />
<br />
She stays on the tracks with her gauntletted hands moving to fold in front of her, watching as the train is reverted to toy train sized. She relaxes now that she can, the distant cheering bringing a soft smile to her lips, much the same as the one she wears when she looks over the Sailor Girls. She looks down at herself, battered and uniform tore up a bit. But its the soul gem on her chest, the bright cyan shot through with inky blackness that swirls threateningly that has her heave a soft sigh. She rises to her feet slowly, and looks about to get her bearings. Quietly, she sets off in the direction of Tokyo Bay.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Everyone's attacks assault the Nakewameke, until it's little more than a puff of smoke amidst effervescent fizzy bubbles. Sailor Jupiter straightens from her stance and looks around, but Westar's already beating a hasty exit. More importantly, the people at the upcoming station are clapping and cheering, and Jupiter grins bashfully at their adulation. Still, she waves to them, then turns to Venus and Moon. Her gaze pauses on Passion and Lera, but... No, this isn't the time or place.<br />
<br />
"So... skip school today?" she murmurs to her fellow Sailor Senshi. Either way, she's definitely not inclined to head out again after reaching her apartment... The hassle of calling out without a guardian will be worth it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
And after it's all done and there's only a toy train, Sailor Moon falls over flat on her face. But it's not like she's not alright, because as soon as Jupiter asks that- she sticks up a hand from her prone position, "Haiiiiii!" <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jad punched the train! And it did some damage, but that doesn't mean he somehow made the train weight less than it did. <br />
<br />
And thus he comes to a stop a modest distance away from the battle again, this time without having cut another furrow in the earth. But he did skid again, and there is a faint layer of dew on the ground around him from where the last of his magic had faded away. And so he looks up in the air for a moment. <br />
<br />
And grins. <br />
<br />
"Well, that was certainly interesting. Now I just gotta..." <br />
<br />
<Not move. You need to recover your energy.> his device notes. <br />
<br />
"...or do that instead, yes that is good."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
And thus ends another Nakewameke's rampage. The Magic Knight of Wind checks herself, making sure her footing is stable; then she looks about to see who among her allies may need help. A hand getting back to one's feet, a healing spell to mend serious injuries ... she's still aware that she needs to get to her school in as timely a manner as she can, but the Wind Knight doesn't like to abandon her allies, during or after a battle. Certainly, some of them will want to leave all the faster - maybe to protect their identities, maybe just because they don't want to feel obligated, maybe for reasons more personal than either of those guesses. Those who can linger, though, will be offered a Winds of Healing - and whether any individual warrior accepts or declines, the green-clad Magic Knight simply smiles and nods in acknowledgement, before casting the restorative spell or moving on.<br />
<br />
The Wind Knight eventually sets out on her way as well, no longer in the desperate hurry she displayed while trying to intercept the Nakewameke to begin with, able to take more caution in her travels, perhaps even to enjoy them. Certainly she can stop and work some healing magic on herself, somewhere en route back to Tama.<br />
<br />
With quite a bit of luck, Fuu might actually have time for a nap before classes get off to a belated start. Seh's not depending on that, though.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
With the way that Sailor Venus sways unsteadily on her feet, the fact that the response she gives Sailor Jupiter is probably no surprise. She gives a slightly wobbly-voiced "Haiiiiii~" in perfect harmony with Sailor Moon, sounding precisely as exhausted as one might expect from a girl who just got hit by a train.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion breathes a sigh of relief when the train is gone--when /that/ train, too familiar, is gone. She glances towards the heart of the diamond, spots the toy... But that's all for the moment. Well, all until there's applause. <br />
<br />
Passion blinks, altogether surprised and a little shy at the attention, hesitating before she just looks firmly away from the crowd with a faint redness to her cheeks. <br />
<br />
They probably don't mean her, anyway. <br />
<br />
She gets to thus watch Chika leave, and more t othe point, sees Jupiter looking at her. She glances to Jad, but sees him breathing, watches Fuu go. She refuses healing. Instead... <br />
<br />
The senshi are so... <br />
<br />
"I..." She hesitates, "I don't think I'm going to school, either."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jad thrusts a fist into the air in solidarity with the red and pink one! <br />
<br />
"Thaaaat sounds like a great idea because I just hit a train and the TRAIN HIT BACK. And I think I feel a little discombobulated." <br />
<br />
It's amazing that he knows that word. It's even more amazing that he's using it correctly, but Jad's probably been waiting for a chance to do this. "But he does roll his head to the side and looks at Passion for a moment, and raises an eyebrow. She did seem friendly with Lera, but... was it really his place to comment? <br />
<br />
Perhaps when he was more combobulated.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2016-11-01_-_Railing_Against_Misery2016-11-01 - Railing Against Misery2022-10-06T21:40:39Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Railing Against Misery..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Railing Against Misery'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Early morning is a time of stress at the best of times, but mornings shortly before finals even more so. Studying to do, homework to hand in, questions to ask, final chances at club meetings...and that's just for students. Still, it's fortunate that Tokyo's trains are such a pinnacle of precision timing...Except when they aren't.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Setsuna Higashi|Cure Passion]], [[Usagi Tsukino||Sailor Moon]], [[Minako Aino|Sailor Venus]], [[Makoto Kino|Sailor Jupiter]], [[Fuu Hououji]], [[Lera Camry]], [[Jad Werke]], [[Chika Aki]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Tama Outer City<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2016-11-01 - Dec 02, 2014 - RL Date><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> Wild Arms 3 - Gunmetal Action<br />
<br />
It's morning. This cannot be denied, cannot be held back - the Earth kept turning for another night, and so the land of the rising sun is greeted by the morning sun. Tokyo has stirred to life, and driven by the twin fuels of toast and coffee, office workers and students alike set forth to their daily travail.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, whatever schedule one might have in mind for the day's commute, it has been thoroughly derailed. Awayuki station is packed. Yotsuba station is jammed with confused students. Chofu, Nishitama, Shibuya, Shinjuku... Every train station in the city is filled with frustrated commuters in various states of worry. It doesn't matter if you slept in, got up on time, or woke with the dawn - no one is getting where they're going on time.<br />
<br />
Across the city, it's the same story - for the third, the tenth, maybe the fiftieth time, there's a triple chime to get everyone's attention followed by an announcement. "Attention all commuters. All lines are experiencing significant delays. We apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciate your understanding..." Further details of the announcement are lost in the ensuing round of groans - all the cultures of politeness in the world can't mask the anger, the misery, the despair at everyone's realizations that there's no hope of getting where they're going on time...<br />
<br />
Delays defy explanation...but listen - can you hear it? Perhaps, if you hold some hope of fixing this problem, you might yet hear it. The sound that races through-<br />
<br />
"WHOO, WHOOOOO!"<br />
<br />
Across the city, from station to station, the same sight is seen. A billowing cloud of steam, heralding the arrival of a terrific vehicle - a huge black locomotive with yellow trim. It's easily twice the size of the usual train cars, barely fitting down the track, but in spite of its bulk it moves quickly. Switching tracks without warning, this behemoth must be a nightmare for any traffic control - and its joyriding clearly the cause of the morning's delays.<br />
<br />
It's also clearly not natural. A steam engine in this day and age is bad enough - but there's details. The cars behind it are sleek, futuristic, and seem like they're right out of some dystopic novel; the front of the locomotive seems to have glowing eyes more than lamps, with a yellow diamond prominently displayed in the centre; and the conductor's cab is open to the air, revealing the train's master.<br />
<br />
It's Westar. He has a yellow conductor's cap on, and grins as he pulls the cord at every station without even pretending to stop.<br />
<br />
"WHOO, WHOOOOOO!"<br />
<br />
OOC: Welcome to an early morning dose of misery and despair! As the scene has indicated, today's Nakewameke is part of a high-speed battle around the city - Westar's monster is just going to have a grand time stopping all traffic until it's stopped, so try to find ways to keep up in your poses!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar transforms into Nakewameke!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 7 opponents!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Setsuna is entirely accustomed to waking up earlier than Love, these days. The morning routine she's gotten used to over the past three months is pleasant, even nice. Get dressed in her uniform, have breakfast, say her farewells to the Momozono home and start walking towards the station. <br />
<br />
...She hasn't been doing it for so long, however, that she's accustomed to lengthy delays. Nevertheless, at first she's patient. She gets here amidst the crowds, but Setsuna is used to waiting around quietly much more than anyone else here. <br />
<br />
...That patience lasts about five minutes. Setsuna frowns, as not only are the crowds still stuck, but she hasn't been joined by a certain other girl. There's a big, uniquely teenage sigh that escapes her lips as she listens to the announcement for what must be the tenth time now. Maybe more. She forgot to count. <br />
<br />
She starts to nudge her way through the crowd to have a look, when--<br />
<br />
Steam. Steam, and a whistle, neither of which make even half sense to her until she sees the big black locomotive. "...You're /kidding/ me," she says, staring up at it, at the cars behind it that /are/ more familiar, at its... eyes, with the yellow diamond. <br />
<br />
Setsuna dashes back under cover as she finds she was not in fact being kidded at all, as the crowd is occupied enough not to see her pull out her Linkrun and shimmer red. <br />
<br />
For a moment, she debates, alone, whether she could let it go. She shakes it off, feeling guilty for the lapse. She has to protect everyone. And besides... <br />
<br />
"WESTAR!" <br />
<br />
Cure Passion /leaps/ from the back of the train, touching down on a turnstile and somersaulting forward to slam into one of the secondary cars, rolling up to her feet on its surface. "What /is/ it with you and mornings!?" It lacks some of the bite her words might usually, sounding a little more tired than usual. "These people might have somewhere really important to be!" <br />
<br />
She's certainly not going to admit that this is a pretty good plan. <br />
<br />
"So I'll derail your plans!" <br />
<br />
The pun is completely unintentional as Passion swings down and /slams/ her fist straight into the car she's standing on.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi transforms into Cure Passion!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
This... this was different. And not that different was inherently good or bad, of course. But Jad had never actually seen a problem like this. <br />
<br />
He didn't take the train of course. He didn't get paid enough from his odd jobs to be able to waste money on things like TRAIN TICKETS or anything like that. Especially when it was easier to stay in shape by jogging everywhere he went. But as the West-Star-Express went roaring past, he and just looked at the huge steam train and its evil face and laughing conductor and just... stopped for a moment. <br />
<br />
"...alright, I guess I'm going to get more of a workout that I expected this morning." <br />
<br />
And thus Jad is chasing the train down the track, a jet of water roaring down one of the rails and the mage riding on top of that wave at a fair rate of speed in pursuit of the train. He occasionally kicks back and forth from one foot to the other to keep his balance as the huge train makes the track shake, rattle, and roll beneath his water stream. <br />
<br />
And of course Jad is grinning the entire time. This was kind of fun, although he wasn't going to be able to do this very often with actual legit trains running around. But this one couldn't stay on for too long or the city would end up rioting! And so the blue haired mage steps to the left, his water stream breaking away from the rail and boosting him around so he's (kind of) close to Westar. His barrier jacket flutters out behind him, being whipped around in the passing breeze like a bit of a crazy looking tail, and Jad's hair is pushed straight back as he waves both arms so that he can try and get Westar's attention. Enough that he can shout at least. <br />
<br />
"SIR, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE DISENGAGE YOUR LOCO FROM YOUR MOTION AND STOP THIS TRAIN IMMEDIATELY!" <br />
<br />
Pause. <br />
<br />
"OR ELSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE FORCED TO TRACK YOU DOWN, AND THEN EVERYTHING IS GOING TO GO OFF THE RAILS."<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke transforms into Barrier Jacket!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has fully healed himself.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has used Aggressive Shouting on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Impassioned Feeling on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
While Fuu is no stranger to occasional difficulties with the trains, and tends to give herself enough time to compensate - allowing for the occasional necessity of taking alternate routes, waiting for a delayed train to finally show up, contingencies like that - for the Tokyo rail system to suffer from THIS much trouble is, well, unheard of. The only good news, really, is that this much delay is going to mean a lot of teachers are late as well; hopefully it'll be considered an excused lateness.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, rather than depending on her ears for the announcement, Fuu is scrolling through various news and social-media feeds on her phone, trying to sift through all the speculation and tease out the trwhoo, whooooo!th ...<br />
<br />
She looks up just in time to see a streak of yellow and black tearing through the station, coupled with an uneasy twist in her gut - a twist which is all too familiar.<br />
<br />
"Please excuse me, coming through ..." She starts working her way back out of the press of commuters, headed towards the stairs. She's closing apps on her phone as she goes, and bringing up the map; she won't be able to use the GPS for long, of course, but getting a sense of where that train's probably going to stop next will help.<br />
<br />
Shortly thereafter, Fuu's phone has dropped off the network more completely than if she'd simply turned it off - and the Magic Knight of Wind is setting personal records for traversing the city in a hurry, harnessing her wind magic to boost her leaps almost (but not quite) to the point of true flight. It's a precarious balance - if she misses a landing point, or touches down on a roof with too much speed behind her, it's going to be painful as well as embarassing, but if she manages it right it'll let her take advantage of the railway's curves and carve away at the distance. And once she gets close enough -<br />
<br />
"WINDS OF ADMONISHMENT!!"<br />
<br />
- she can try to help apply an airbrake to the Nakewameke Express, turning the normal whirlwind on its side and applying as much air friction as she can against the front of the train. It's only the front end she's targeting, though; she doesn't want to impair any of her allies, and it lifts her heart as always to see other magical girls (and boys) rallying against the threat.<br />
<br />
... or should that be 'railing' against it, the Wind Knight wonders.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji transforms into Wind Knight!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Admonishment on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chika was not normally one to take the train. She usually liked to ride her bicycle to school in the mornings. Her route typically carries her alongside the train tracks however, and... well... <br />
<br />
The WhooWhoo of the train, mixed with seeing her favorite Pretty Cure smashing down onto the train... combined with the Wind Knight and... is... is that someone else using water!? <br />
<br />
Chikas eyes track the train, and she starts to pedal in the direction of it rapidly. The young Puella Magi can see when the city needs a little help, and she is too helpful for her own good. Puella issues of energy be danged! <br />
<br />
She hops off her bike on the run, ripping her ring off and transforming into Puella Magi Chika in mid-stride. Gone is the Juuban uniform and winter clothing. Chika is wearing a light cyan dress with white accents and ties around her joints to allow mobility, pinning the billowing fabric of her sleeves tight at her elbows. She has on a massive pair of metal gauntlets, comically oversized for her body. But she moves like they are weightless. And as she runs towards the train, she takes a page half out of Jads book. <br />
<br />
Chika jumps up into the air, turning around and facing the ground as she brings both her palms together and slams them at the dirt. A gout of water erupts from her hands, blasting herself skywards like a young whelp at the end of a firehose. Psssshhhewwww! Its not as elegant as the skating water-mage, but the Puella Magi manages to angle herself close enough that she slams down almost onto the last car, her metal gauntlets digging in. The thought of /actually/ attacking the train doesn't occur to her, and she starts to run along the cars carefully as she tries to near the front where the conductor is. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki transforms into Puella Magi Chika!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has fully healed herself.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Makoto Kino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Somewhere near Infinity Institute, Shun Minami awakens in a hotel room he'd booked just for tonight. He showers, dresses, and saunters down to the breakfast buffet to have a meal and enjoy ("enjoy") a cup of oversugared tea at a seat next to a window overlooking the Tama Outer City. Sipping slowly, his eyes track a certain runaway train in the distance as it makes its rapid way around the city. He particularly enjoys the parts where the train's whistles blows as it passes stations without ever slowing down. While other patrons of the hotel watch and murmur in concern, Shun smiles and chuckles.<br />
<br />
He'll enjoy his leisurely walk to school, approximately three blocks away.<br />
<br />
But today's outing isn't about him.<br />
<br />
No, it's about one Makoto Kino, who WON'T enjoy the hell-commute to school. Currently, she sprints from the II dorms, where she and Usagi had spent the night with Lera after getting the crap beaten out of them by a gothloli (THANKS, VITA), over to the closest train station.<br />
<br />
"We are gonna be SO late!" she bellows; she doesn't even have her school uniform, much less her schoolbag. She'd hoped to drop by her place first to get changed and pick up her things, but then she'd overslept (specifically, she had punched the alarm Lera had set to wake her up in time to do that, then spent another twenty minutes apologizing profusely for it once she'd properly waken up) and now she'll be lucky if she can make it to school at all on time. The prospect of coming to school out of uniform is an embarrassing one, and all told it's really tempting to call off sick, but without parents, it's always a royal pain to do that.<br />
<br />
But when she arrives at the station, Makoto screeches to a halt, then gawks at the crowds around the station. "What in the..." she begins. Looking around, and hearing the announcements, it's clear that there's a big delay--but why? Japanese trains are *extremely* punctual, so at first, she worries that there was a major accident or something like that. But then she sees a too-futuristic train with a yellow diamond on its face, being conducted by a certain green-haired Labyrinth executive...<br />
<br />
"Are you *kidding* me?" she groans. "We don't have time for this!" All the same, she shoots Usagi a look, gives her a sharp nod, and then ducks somewhere around a corner where no one is watching to transform.<br />
<br />
Green sparkles and atom-shaped lightning bolts later, and Sailor Jupiter leaps out, racing along after the speeding train. Still, her forte is strength, not speed, and while she's an athletic girl, this is a literal train she's up against. Unless someone were to literally fly her up and over to that Nakewameke train, she'll have a tough time getting on board.<br />
<br />
HINT, HINT.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Makoto Kino transforms into Sailor Jupiter!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"C'mooooooooooon," Lera Camry groans at the latest announcement that all lines are delayed. "What gives! We didn't usually have traffic like this on Midchilda!"<br />
<br />
&lt;Actually...><br />
<br />
"I know, I know," the orange-haired girl sighs. "We totally did." She sighs, her shoulders slumping. The pastel blue uniform coat sags, too. She looks up and frowns -- and then looks at Usagi and Makoto guiltily. After all, they left her apartment, and their school is across town. Her expression becomes crestfallen at Makoto. "I'm so sorry! You're gonna be late, y'know? I-It's usually not nearly this bad in the morning..."<br />
<br />
Her school, at least, is close by.<br />
<br />
Not that it matters, necessarily.<br />
<br />
'WHOO, WHOOOOO!'<br />
<br />
Her head turns as she sees the billowing steam -- not a common sight in Tokyo's subways -- and then her eyes widen. The sleak, futuristic cars at odds with it. The eyes, instead of lamps. The Executive of Labyrinth, wearing a conducto's hat, and grinning at them.<br />
<br />
One eyebrow, perched over a squinting amber eye, twitches.<br />
<br />
There is a blur of green and red-orange. She doesn't bother shouting her transformation sequence. Setsuna yells at Westar directly; Jad pleads with him with logic; Fuu flies in with a strategy; Chika jumps right for it. Lera does none of these things. She has her erstwhile guests in each hand, grabbing their collars. She took Makoto's hint, but... maybe a little too literally.<br />
<br />
And she yells one name: "WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!"<br />
<br />
Her hammer-Device is over her back. Broken Ground chimes, apologetically: &lt;Sorry. She can get bent out of shape about that one. Also. Er. Sorry.> The former Device of Jaren Zastava adds, awkwardly: &lt;For... er. Trying to kill you and whatnot. Oh, she's dropping you! Brilliant! We can have an awkward conversation later!><br />
<br />
Lera does, in fact, let them down on the back of the train. She sits down in front of the Sailor Senshi. "Let's go!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry transforms into Barrier Jacket Aphelion!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Road Rage on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Bad enough that Usagi Tsukino and Makoto Kino got thoroughly hammered* last night, but since they spent the night at a dorm at Infinity last night... they are in no way ready for school this morning. And despite the situation of their punctuality being grave, Makoto and Lera had a hard time getting Usagi out of bed this morning and to the station. <br />
<br />
Listlessly she enters the overcrowded station with a piece of toast hanging from her mouth, posture so drooped that her twintails are nigh touching the train platform. She's too bleary eyed to even consider why the station is this crowded, her eyes on this communicator with Luna's face. "What do you mean you and Mako-chan are across town? It's a school day!" <br />
<br />
Usagi only grunts, not really wanting to explain that they were attacked as she chews on her breakfast. The delays are announced and she simply groans as Mako declares that they're going to be late- "What was that? The trains are delayed? Seriously? At this rate you'll be lucky to make it to school by noon!" -but in reality she's not too fussed about it. She waves a hand at Lera as Lera declares it's not usually this bad, as if to say it's okay. If delays were everywhere on the usual punctual Tokyo Train system their school could hardly blame them for being- WHOO, WHOOOOO! <br />
<br />
There's a dark blur as an enormous steam engine, bellowing smoke passes by the station. That train has /eyes/. And that conductor's cab- <br />
<br />
The toast falls out of her mouth. <br />
<br />
And Usagi flailingly scrambles to grab it mid-air, but it's already hit the ground. She might have wailed like a child for the loss of her breakfast but suddenly she all but shouts into her communicator exhaustion replaced by panicked adrenaline, "They're locomoting-" "What?" "-there's a locomotion-" "Slow down Usagi-chan! I can't understand you!" "It's Labyrinth! they're joyriding in a train monster!" "Labyrinth!? Well don't just stand there! Get on it and stop them before you're too late to class!" <br />
<br />
"Moon Cosmic Power - Make Up!" <br />
<br />
In aerial pursuit of the train, Sailor Moon squealed like a child, "We're going so fast! H-Hey you have a good grip on both of us right Lera-chan? And don't worry about it Ground- wait, drop? Can't she just set us DOWNNNNNN-" But she's already let her go, and Sailor Moon shrieks. Far from majestically dropping onto the train like she was in the middle of a heist movie, but instead she slams down unceremoniously and almost straight rolls off the side, barely catching herself. <br />
<br />
Straightening- she calls out the conductor at the open-air engine, "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! In the tradition of Stationmaster Tama, cats have always protected the railways of Japan and today is no different! Today they've sent this Pretty Sailor-Suited Conductor of Love and Justice- Sailor Moon- to stop your joyride! In the Name of the Moon-" <br />
<br />
Hand over hand, she points, promising that she's going to try to punch his ticket, "-I will punish you!"<br />
<br />
*Writer's Note: In this circumstance, hammered refers to being flattened with a hammer, rather than the other entertaining meaning. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino transforms into Sailor Moon!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used In The Name Of The Moon on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Jad Werke's Aggressive Shouting, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Jad Werke is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly counters Cure Passion's Impassioned Feeling, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Westar is Taunted! Diversion and Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Labyrinth Bickering, partially gets through, doing 2 Fatigue damage to Cure Passion! Diversion applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Lera Camry's Road Rage, taking 0 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: The entered attack name could match more than one available attack. Please try being more specific.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly counters Fuu Hououji's Winds of Admonishment, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! Trap applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Full Steam Ahead!, partially gets through, doing 10 Fatigue damage to Fuu Hououji! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Minako Aino [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Minako Aino's commute from her family's home to the Infinity Institute actually isn't too bad. The Institute is within walking distance -- a somewhat long walk, sure, but an easy one for a girl in the kind of shape she's in (hashtag not-so-humblebrag).<br />
<br />
But when Artemis' stern voice came over her communicator to inform her of the whackiness around the city's trains, well, Minako's priorities changed. Being late to classes was a drag to be sure, but it's hard to want to /go/ to school when exams are looming so large over everything else!<br />
<br />
One brightly-colored transformation (in a back alley) later, the Goddess of Love herself, Sailor Venus, comes into view ahead of the train, leaping from rooftop to rooftop at a dead sprint. With narrowed eyes, she puts on a burst of speed, and /leaps/ --<br />
<br />
-- to land atop the train at Sailor Moon's side, and while she does not fall over like her cosmic comrade does, Venus does have to briefly pinwheel her arms to maintain her balance before she stands up straight with her chin held high. She MEANT to do that. IT WAS DELIBERATE.<br />
<br />
"It takes a first-class jerk to throw a wrinkle in the morning commute so close to final exams!" Sailor Venus declares, and she, too, points an accusatory finger towards Westar, her eyes narrowed into slits. "Looks like it's up to us to derail your plans!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Moon's In The Name Of The Moon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon is Psyched! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Minako Aino transforms into Sailor Venus!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has used In The Name Of Venus on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Venus's In The Name Of Venus, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Venus is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> Wild Arms 3 - Blood, Tears, and the Dried-Up Wasteland - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgzsMrgSCsQ<br />
<br />
Tokyo's rail system, for its faults, generally isn't this backed up - and so that scene of misery plays across the city. The most frustrated are probably those early birds who generally beat the rush...but today, Westar beat them all. This joyride has been going on for at least an hour already, and his second cup of coffee goes into the firebox.<br />
<br />
But perhaps it's finally at an end. There are shadows eclipsing the morning sun, and the Nakewameke's conductor looks up in surprise. Jets of water erupt from the left, and from the right, carrying Chika and Jad closer to the runaway train. The former contents herself with boarding one of the bulky transport cars, while the former closes in to wave to the Executive personally. The wind carries a knight at dangerous speeds nearby, and a howling windstorm tries to stop the train - but there's a lot of momentum, and while it's slowed for a moment it just keeps going. Still, it's enough to let others catch up a bit more quickly...<br />
<br />
Jad gets an answering shout. "Sorry, whoever you are, but I've got a schedule to keep! Places to see, people to make late - so I'm staying on track!" He grins, and pulls the cord - and a whistle blast bellows out from the engine, sure to deafen the water mage and the Wind Knight.<br />
<br />
And then the reckless ones arrive. Cure Passion lands with a slam on one car, yelling at Westar directly - and for a moment, a pang strikes him. "Morning's a great time to get up, and you know it! Besides, your stupid alarm clock is still keeping me up - come back to the mansion and turn it off already!" He folds his arms with a huff, glaring at his former comrade - and slams a fist down on the panel. "Or better yet - come all the way back to Labyrinth!" The car she's standing on opens abruptly, revealing seats she'll probably recognize - they're rigid and uniformly gray and square. Bit of a drop down to them, though...<br />
<br />
The argument lasts long enough for Lera to deposit a pair of senshi, swiftly joined by a third - and everyone has a great many angry things to say to Westar. He looks from one to another to the next, and...makes a show of checking his watch. "That's what you get for letting your trains get run by cats - if this were a Labyrinth train, things wouldn't get this tangled this easily! If you really wanted to get to your exams, you'd have gotten up earlier anyway! And my name is not Westie - it's Westar! Denizen of Labyrinth, and faithful conductor for Lord Mobius!"<br />
<br />
The entire train seems to rumble in answer - and hatches hiss open all over. Mechanical arms are ready to harry those who approach the cab, even as Westar starts shoveling heaps of fuel into the furnace to regain some lost speed. With a WHOOO! WHOOOOOOO!, the train surges forward even faster...<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has adjusted his boss levels. He is now ready to take on 8 opponents!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used WHOO! WHOOOO! on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used WHOO! WHOOOO! on Jad Werke.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Sailor Moon.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Sailor Venus.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Chika Aki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Miserable Morning on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Westar's Lending A Hand! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar accepts Westar's Westar's Lending A Hand!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Withstand applied to Westar! Cleanse! All of Westar's debuffs are cleared! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion fails to brace Westar's Miserable Morning, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Taunted! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Sailor Jupiter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry's Block ability activates! Lera Camry's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke fails to brace Westar's WHOO! WHOOOO!, taking 16 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly braces Westar's WHOO! WHOOOO!, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Block ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Parry ability activates! Stun applied to Fuu Hououji! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus narrowly dodges Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Venus's Fade ability activates! Sailor Venus's Flash ability activates! Cripple applied to Sailor Venus! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki fails to brace Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Chika Aki! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly counters Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Reverse ability activates! Sailor Moon's Tactician ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon's counterattack, Supersonic Train, Supersonic Misery, Supersonic Wailing!, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Makoto crooks Lera a friendly, placative smile. "Hey, it's not your fault! You don't control the trains, Lera-chan!" Her smile fades. "Actually, I'm worried that there might be trouble down the--"<br />
<br />
Then Westar happens. Then flight happens. Then Ground happens ("this might not be the best time to talk about this, yeah," she says). Then Lera happens, and Sailor Jupiter has to flail to keep her balance and not fall off the train, landing a *little* too close to the edge for comfort. Good thing Sailor Moon is here to tell Westar what for! And hey, is that--<br />
<br />
"Sailor Venus!" Jupiter calls, grinning at her friend. She pulls herself upright, finally stabilized--just in time for Conductor Westar to look over their way and make a few smart-ass remarks that nonetheless strike close to home. She scowls and thrusts a finger at him. "Hey! The exams aren't on *yet*! Don't say such ominous things!!"<br />
<br />
God, she really hopes nobody pulls anything like this the *actual* week of exams... And there's everything else going on in the magical world right now, too--Jupiter recognizes a couple of the other girls who'd come to help fight from that night with the Chevaliers. If some disaster happened, timed or untimed, all the study sessions in the world wouldn't save her then. Harried by these thoughts, and a lack of proper sleep, Sailor Jupiter nonetheless charges forward, jumping from car to car, before sliding in not *quite* as far as the front cab--instead, she attempts a solid kick against the fuel car with a loud shout, hoping to knock some of that coal(?) over and out.<br />
<br />
...Would that even be effective? It *is* a monster, after all. Whatever!! It'd make her *feel* better, anyway! Those mechanical arms can just bring it on, if they think they can take her!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Jupiter Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Sailor Jupiter's Jupiter Kick, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
&lt;Ground. Tell me - is there some previous history between your master and this... deplorable fellow that we should be aware of?> Schwartzritter asks, the gem on the back of Jad's right gauntlet flashing as Lera comes crashing down from above to land on the back of the locomotive. Sure LERA is too far away to make it out, but devices have their ways. &lt;Just to make sure we're not interfering with some sort of honor match or something like that of course. Terribly rude to do such a thing.> <br />
<br />
Jad himself gives a sort of 'ACK!' as one of the arms that sprouts from the train flails at him... and then there is a loud *KATHUNK* as he drifts too far away from the train and runs into an upright. Or maybe more of a *KATONG* because it's more of a sign than an upright. But regardless, THAT REALLY HURT. He tumbles for a moment, before sliding to a stop with a faint 'oooowwwwww' issuing up from his still form. <br />
<br />
&lt;That was quite graceful sir.> his device comments after a moment. <br />
<br />
"Yeah, yeah, I know. But we've still got a train to catch, and we're not going to do it laying around here!" <br />
<br />
Jad levers himself back up and rockets forward again, the stream of water appearing under one foot as he leaps onto the rails. "We'll have to take the inside track to cut him off!" he tells his device, and they rocket forward - its taking more power to actually catch up with the West-Star-Express, but the mage manages it within a few moments. His water stream carries him past the train, and he grins and offers a quick wave to Cure Passion and Lera as he races by - and a few other girls he hasn't met yet, that's... interesting. He'll have to rectify that at some point. <br />
<br />
"I'm going to try and rock the train - be careful - but hopefully this'll rattle whats-his-name around so you can get a good shot in!" Jad calls out, a magical circle on the back of one of his gloves amplifying his voice. And with that he streaks forward, shooting past Westar in the engine and giving him a wide arc. <br />
<br />
Which means that Westar has a great view as Jad skims above one rail, the water he is riding on surging around for a moment and spinning into a circle above his right hand. And then Jad hurls that spinning vortex of water onto the tracks right in front of the oncoming train. <br />
<br />
Generally this attack is used to launch things into the air and at something as a weapon. In this case however, Jad uses it to deliver a knock that will make the train skip for a moment, an event that should be... unsettling for the train. Who likes to be derailed, after all?<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has used Geyser Launcher on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Sorry!" Lera yelps down to Sailor Moon. Then, she looks at Sailor Jupiter, and flashes her a quick grin. It doesn't last, though, as she looks irritated. "Nakewamekes can be pretty tough, y'know? But--oh! Jad!" Then, she looks at the Pretty Cure here. "Passion! We're here!"<br />
<br />
&lt;He comes from Labyrinth. Tough guy. Not too bright. Passion came from there too. She left.> Broken Ground transmits back to Schwartzritter. &lt;Don't worry. Not some kind of duel.><br />
<br />
Lera's amber eyes turn to Westar, now that she has landed, and she shakes her head sharply. "You shouldn't make people late, Westie!" she yells, not budging on the name. (But not answering him either.) "And--and don't tell Passion that she should go back to Labyrinth! She isn't going to do that!"<br />
<br />
She reaches over her back and pulls away her Intelligent Device. Broken Ground's hammerhead unfurls, the clockwork mechanisms unfolding with a click. The gem at their center flashes a brilliant color, before the girl swings it down. Light flows, gathering into the hammerhead.<br />
<br />
She weathers the increased speed -- and she holds her ground, while the top of the train shakes under her. Her hammer sends out a burst of energy along the train's roof, erupting with spikes and flares of lava-like energy -- which rushes in a straight line towards the conductor's box (and the big data diamond at the front).<br />
<br />
&lt;Fault Siege!><br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Fault Siege on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Passion is definitely one of the reckless ones, up here on the train with nothing more than her ability to jump at the right time. She's fast, and she spots Chika and Jad early from her peripheral vision. But then she's shouting, taking out her feelings on this too-familiar train car. <br />
<br />
"Of course it's a good time to get up when someone like you isn't wrecking things!" Passion snaps back, already gritting her teeth against his request. She glares right back at him, if anything with /more/ force than when she lived back at the mansion with him. ...And so she's so caught in glaring at him that she doesn't expect the panel to lower /her/ car. He makes his invitation--and Passion scrambles as she feels her footing give way, unable to hop out of the way in time. <br />
<br />
She lands hard in the car itself, shaking her head and checking her surroundings. ...But what she sees she knows well. A strangled cry of panic slips past her lips as her eyes widen to see the car, and for a half-instant, she's certain that somehow he's sent her back. "I--I won't!" <br />
<br />
She doesn't even finish standing up, unwilling even to /touch/ more of the car than she has to as she leaps upward and onto the next car, from which vantage point she can see the senshi, can see Lera, and others. She can hear Lera defending her. But... The presence of Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter, while she thinks about Labyrinth, does her nerves no favors. She takes off at a run towards the cab, but halts abrubtly another car up, staring up at Westar again. "I don't /want/ to go back to Labyrinth!" she calls out at him. "Turn the alarm off yourself! What do I have to go back to!? Mobius-sama... Mobius-sama already sent Northa after me once! And now I should go back--for you!?" <br />
<br />
"You're an idiot! A moron! No one would want to be your comrade!" Her voice breaks, and she squeezes her eyes shut against it, leaping further upward. "Even when I was Eas, I couldn't stand you!" <br />
<br />
She slams down towards the cab with her foot outstretched, striking with concrete-shattering force.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Passionate Descent on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Gaaah!" <br />
<br />
Chika was way back at the rump-end of the cars, where her water burst landed her. When the train wobbles and picks up speed, those arms erupting out of it, she is caught off guard and knocked onto her back. It doesn't really sting, but it knocks the wind out of her lungs. <br />
<br />
Its a moment before Chika lurches back to her feet, and starts to move her way up the train. What even /is/ this thing?! She might have fought a Nakewameke before, but that doesn't mean she really understands what they are. She starts to leap up the train, her movements a little slow and sluggish as she tries to get her breath back. "Stupid... train..." She starts to punch the train, digging her gauntleted hands in for purchase as she 'digs' her way up the train. Punch, pull, punch pull!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has used Metal Blitz Combo! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
When she hears her name called in a familiar voice, Sailor Venus turns in place to flash a winning smile and a peace sign towards Sailor Jupiter's direction, the gravity of the situation momentarily cast aside. "Good morning, Sailor Jupiter! It's been too long."<br />
<br />
But Westar's words draw the sailor-suited Soldier of Love's attention again, and Venus' expression goes uncharacteristically grim. Labrynth and Mobius. She's getting /pretty sick/ of hearing those names, and it isn't even entirely Soular's fault. (It is absolutely entirely Soular's fault.)<br />
<br />
But the attacking arms emerge before she can vocalize these feelings. Instead, it's "Watch out!" that Sailor Venus calls sharply towards her friends even as she herself springs into motion, narrowly avoiding having her block taken off! But with the speed of the train and the sheer number of attacking arms to contend with, she doesn't entirely avoid them all: even a glancing blow under these circumstances is enough to send her staggering back, narrowly managing to avoid toppling off the edge of the speeding train!<br />
<br />
The look on her face suggests the surprise is going to take a moment to fully recover from. That could have ruined her day in a big way.<br />
<br />
Sailor Venus does not yet react to Cure Passion's presence, though her words do not go unheard. She's already bringing her hands to bear as bright orange and gold energy begins to swirl into being around her, a steely-eyed gaze locked on Westar as he tries to add more fuel to the furnace. Oh no you /don't/!<br />
<br />
"Venus Love-Me Chain -- BIND!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has used Love-Me Chain Bind on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly counters Jad Werke's Geyser Launcher, taking 5 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Full Steam Ahead!, partially gets through, doing 14 Fatigue damage to Jad Werke! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar perfectly braces Cure Passion's Passionate Descent, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Brace! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Lera Camry's Fault Siege, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Chika Aki's Metal Blitz Combo!, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHJe_Te8D5g<br />
<br />
Unexpectedly- Sailor Venus shows up, "Venus-chan you made it!" And with only the smallest stumble, on a moving train that's impressive, "And such a graceful entrance too!" Admiration shines in her eyes. But Westar is calling out his answer... and hatches are opening up all over and the train is rumbling... <br />
<br />
Sailor Moon shrieks, falling to all fours and clinging to the train in a desperate struggle to take hold- worried something is about to happen like the giant hammer the prior night. The jewels on her odango resonate but the train is /so loud/ that even supersonic waves might be lost in it. Noone sees the frames where she's really scared and wiping her eyes after right? But for some reason, that outburst keeps the misery from settling in.<br />
<br />
Standing up tall and straight with only the slightest stumble, she spreads her stance to keep her moonboots dug in. She holds up a hand to lecture him, "Ha! Shows what you know underestimating cats! Because they've also sent Conductor Jupiter! And /she's/ strong enough to stop your train cold all by lonesome!" <br />
<br />
In her mind's eye she imagines Chibi-Jupiter jumping in front of the train, grabbing it with both of her hands, jumping high in the air, and suplexing it. Somehow the train ends up perfectly upside down with X's over it's Nakewameke eyes rather than causing one of the biggest railway disasters in Japanese history, but that's Usagi's imagination for you. <br />
<br />
"Since she's on the job, we'll make it back long before we'll ever have to worry about exams!" <br />
<br />
But the argument between Cure Passion and Westar is turning nasty and- "P-Passion-chan isn't that a bit harsh? I mean..." She gives the other Sailor Senshi a nervous look, rubbing the nape of her neck, "...if he was really your old comrade- shouldn't you be telling him to- stop and hoping he will rather than tearing into him?" <br />
<br />
In a way she's perhaps asking, 'Ixnay on the Easay so my comrades don't remember arkday ercuryMay.'<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used In the tradition of Sabin... on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter accepts Sailor Moon's In the tradition of Sabin..., taking 0 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The abrupt whistle blast catches the Wind Knight by surprise, right as she's about to try and set foot on the train's roof along with her allies. It has a couple of additional effects on her as well, as if surprise alone wasn't enough.<br />
<br />
First off is the deafening - the Wind Knight's hearing just kind of goes away due to the extreme volume of the whistle at too-close range, leaving the archetypal ringing in her ears in place of all the noise of a monstrous train rampaging around the Tokyo rail lines, speeches and rebuttals and attack calls, and the general frenzy of combat. So you'll have to excuse her if she misses some important strategizing amongst her allies.<br />
<br />
More critical right at the moment, though, is that the whistle more or less obliterates her focus - and the Magic Knight of Wind abruptly drops out of sight, the wind which *had* been boosting her latest leap abruptly dissipating.<br />
<br />
It's actually kind of fortunate that Westar deploys all those arms; the Magic Knight of Wind manages - just barely - to grab hold of one of them, and scrambles up along its length as best she can while trying not to get hurled off into the distance. It also gives her a fairly good chance to try and size things up; if this Nakewameke depends at all on its actual *mechanisms*, then she's in a prime position to try and get a better look at something that might turn out to be a useful detail en route to better footing.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Let Me Take A Look on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Sailor Venus's Love-Me Chain Bind, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Let Me Take A Look, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Analysis performed by Fuu Hououji! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar happens.<br />
<br />
Stations are flying past at remarkable speed. Even with extra unwanted passengers, even with harrying elements, the Misery Express is on a no-stop run.<br />
<br />
There are some remarkable efforts, though. Jupiter slides past snatching arms to land a solid kick to the cars - a shockwave rippling through the metal to start dumping some of that high-density fuel it's carrying. (Just like in Labyrinth. High efficiency, low emissions, smells terrible.) Jad brings up a geyser of water to derail the train - but it smashes through the water with a loud WHOO, WHOOOO! - Westar's certainly enjoying that whistle.<br />
<br />
Chika is met with mechanical arms - but frankly they're meant for lifting freight, not fighting Puella Magi, and so she's able to use them as purchase to fight her way forward. Lera is less constraint, raining fire and fury from the sky - the train puts on a burst of speed to keep diamond and conductor out of harm's way, but it still scores along the side. The man in question leans out, shaking a fist - and a second shake to the Senshi in the back. "I, WESTAR, had to wait with Soular for half an hour the other day! So there! And - we'll see if Jupiter is as tough as a cat, you, uh... Whatever! As for Eas..."<br />
<br />
Eas - or Cure Passion - is getting along with Westar as well as ever. In return, Westar whirls around, silent for a moment as he just stares at Eas in fury, in sorrow, in... "Are you even listening to yourself?! You're still calling him Mobius-sama - don't pretend..." And then she interrupts with harsher words, descending on the cab in full fury...and has her foot caught by a muscular hand. "...you're lying. You're LYING!"<br />
<br />
He's diverted for a momen - allowing the Wind Knight to catch up, and get a good look at the train. Shining gold chains spring forth at Venus's command, winding around the wheels, entangling the engine - but it keeps fighting forward, all the same. It's clearly struggling, now...<br />
<br />
But Westar is furious. With a wordless shout, he hurls Cure Passion back - and one of the larger cars opens up to reveal the Heavy Freight Arms. One moves to intercept an airborne Passion, to snatch her in a crushing grip; another pair lunge out to snatch at the flying mages, Jad and Lera.<br />
<br />
"TUNNELLLLLL!" The train gives fair warning that a tunnel is coming up - and the cars bulk up, to make it a very, very tight fit for anyone on top of the cars. A few of the stray bits sticking up shear off, and it's very very dark for a minute. Once the train emerges, who knows what's coming next...<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Extremely Low Clearance on Sailor Moon.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Extremely Low Clearance on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Extremely Low Clearance on Sailor Venus.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Extremely Low Clearance on Chika Aki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Extremely Low Clearance on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Jad Werke.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly dodges Westar's Extremely Low Clearance, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Fade ability activates! Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates! Blind applied to Sailor Moon! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke perfectly counters Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke's counterattack, Reverse Tide, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki narrowly dodges Westar's Extremely Low Clearance, taking 19 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to dodge Westar's Extremely Low Clearance, taking 27 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Sailor Jupiter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly braces Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Block ability activates! Cure Passion's Parry ability activates! Trap applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly dodges Westar's Extremely Low Clearance, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry fails to counter Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 37 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Lera Camry! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry's counterattack, Mantle Heart, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chika was battering her way slowly up the train, making decent headway. A hand punched into a car here for purchase... Yanking on an arm that swings her way for more purchase... The dogged Puella Magi is starting to close in on the others, when... Tunnel! <br />
<br />
She'd missed the warning in her focused efforts, and the first sign of the tunnel to her is when the cars start snugging together, and the looming dark wall ahead. <br />
<br />
"Oh." <br />
<br />
CRUNCH. <br />
<br />
Chika had thrown herself backwards in an effort to avoid the clearance. She got caught by the wall, carried down a length of a car, and then she managed to wedge herself between two of the rail cars. Less by skill and more by getting rolled into it by the tunnel overhang. There is some definite wincing from the Puella Magi after that wild rolling ride into the tiny gap between the cars. She can't exactly swing a fist in here, and waits for the train to emerge before she crawls her bedraggled and bruised figure out from between the cars. That time waiting gave her plenty of opportunity to eyeball the train and the connections between the train for signs of weakness she might be able to exploit! And maybe get a better understanding of what this Nakewameke is. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has used Studious Examination on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Chika Aki's Studious Examination, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Chika Aki is Psyched! Analysis performed by Chika Aki! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus narrowly braces Westar's Extremely Low Clearance, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Sailor Venus! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Well, that didn't work out as well as he might have wanted. But Jad wasn't expecting to stop this on his own. After all, why did you have friends if you weren't going to fight this sort of thing together with them? But still, it seems like there's something personal at stake for the Pretty Cure in red - not that Jad knows what it is. He just figures that things will work themselves out with a bit of time and effort. <br />
<br />
Speaking of time and effort, the train suddenly is getting WAY TOO TOUCHY FEELY for Jad to be comfortable with. "Hands off! I'm not going to be touchy feely with some evil demon... train... motor... thing!" The blue haired mage pulls one hand back, several magical circles spinning around one hand as the arm swings towards him - and he snaps that fist forward, his hand meeting the huge oncoming one and knocking it away with a shower of water that creates a shimmering rainbow in the air for a moment before Jad kicks off the track and keeps moving. <br />
<br />
One of the girls is attacking the train with some sort of chain of energy, and that seems like a great idea - Jad raises one hand, a spinning complex triangle forming there as he channels his magic into his own disruptive effort. Shimmering focusing triads appear around the train, and chains of water launch out, each of them trying to latch onto the side of the train and slow it down even more! Wester wants to go faster? JAD SAYS WESTAR NEEDS TO GO SLOW! As a bonus, Lera and the others who are getting swatted at can probably grab one of the chains and use it to keep from having an unfortunate and less than ideal meeting with the gravel train bed or one of the rails. <br />
<br />
Out of spite, he also sends one chain to try and grab the chain for the train whistle and keep it out of Westar's grasp. ...which might make the whistle sound EVEN MORE but at least it's not Westar who's pulling it.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has used Tidal Bind on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Jad Werke's Tidal Bind, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Jad Werke is Psyched! Tangle and Trap applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuxSiLMzkYA<br />
<br />
Lera's eyes widen a little bit at Passion's words. They are more heated than she expected to hear out of her. She opens her mouth, as if to say something, and then clamps it closed again. "Passion..."<br />
<br />
&lt;Camry! Incoming!> Broken ground chimes. Lera turns her head, eyes widening, and then throws an open palm out for the hand. "Ground, stop it!" she yells.<br />
<br />
&lt;Mountain Aeg--> Before they can finish the spell, though, the claw smashes through the barrier she starts. The barrier shatters into spectral glass, before it clutches around her waist and roughly lifts her up. Lera yelps as she gets grabbed, then lifted up into the air. Her hand reaches out -- and she grabs for Jad's chain of energy, clutching on.<br />
<br />
That stabilizes her, as she flips up into the air, and keeps her attached for a moment -- and swings Broken Ground down. She points the hammer downward -- and a magical circle swirls into existence, spinning rapidly. "We've got this! C'mon, Ground!"<br />
<br />
She focuses -- and a ball of energy swirls into existence, thick strands of light forming and twisting into a sphere. Then, it flies down, like a ball of molten magma, straight towards the train below. It explodes in a fireball, and the back blast sends Lera flying up higher into the air, her grip on the chain lost.<br />
<br />
Her flight spells kick in, and she hovers, then, before zipping back towards the train.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Magma Bomb on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It may be a good thing for Cure Passion that the train is moving //so fast// -- Sailor Venus barely has time to appreciate the way her chain strikes true before the train itself thoughtfully bellows a warning:<br />
<br />
TUNNEL!<br />
<br />
A quiet, frustrated 'tch!' is all that she vocalizes before she's in motion, already anticipating the problem. Sailor Venus keeps a tight grip on her end of the glowing chain so tightly entangled within the train's workings and goes sprinting not for the engine, but for the edge of the train as the tunnel comes bearing down too quickly on one of her allies: Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br />
It happens fast. Sailor Venus springs off the side of the side of the train and has just enough time to throw her arm around Jupiter's waist ("Got you!") before the chain goes taut, and the pair of senshi come up against the side of the train just in time for it to pass into the tunnel. Venus may be a great deal smaller than Jupiter, but it doesn't stop her from putting her own back between the brunette and the speedily-passing wall like a human shield, keeping her securely against the train until it's safe to return to the roof. What are friends for?<br />
<br />
"That was too close," Venus says under her breath as she retakes her place atop the train. "And now I'm /mad/. Sailor Moon! Sailor Jupiter! Let's show this jerk what we're made of!"<br />
<br />
Without waiting for a response, Venus is once again on the move, and as she calls out her intentions, she /does/ sound like she took that hit on Sailor Jupiter personally.<br />
<br />
"ROLLING HEART VIBRATION!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has started a combo targeting Westar!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It certainly isn't the train's own warning shout that alerts the Magic Knight of Wind to the encroaching tunnel; rather, she sees it coming - literally, she's facing forwards when the train comes around a bend with the tunnel just ahead, and she scrambles to flatten herself against the train's roof ...<br />
<br />
Only for her current spot to be one where the train bulges outwards in the process of bunching up. At least she doesn't get smacked right off the Nakewameke Express for her trouble - but it's a rather uncomfortable squeeze until they're out of the tunnel. It also gives her an opportunity to think through what she saw while she was climbing up the train's side and that arm. Whether this knowledge is going to do her any real good or not ... well, she'll have to figure that out on the run, so to speak.<br />
<br />
At least her ears are working again, more or less. The Wind Knight gets back up to a crouch once the train is in the open again, weighing her options and glancing around at her allies, all of whom are looking somewhat the worse for wear at this point - but if any of them are in need of a Winds of Healing, it's not showing.<br />
<br />
The Wind Knight's bow and quiver materialize, and she quickly nocks an arrow to the string, taking another look ahead of the train and gauging where they're likely to turn. The arrow is drawn back -<br />
<br />
But she's not actually aiming at the train that everyone is currently on top of, at least in any means that makes sense. And given the headwind, loosing an arrow seems like it's not going to do a whole lot of good; it's more likely to just get blown away and go through a window or something as they pass ... right?<br />
<br />
The arrow is loosed anyway, angled into the turbulence along the train's nearer side - and if the Magic Knight of Wind calculated her shot right, the wind will blow the arrow right into one of the openings from which the arms are extended. It may not do a great deal of direct damage, but sticking random objects into gears is a time-honored method of messing up machinery. (Admittedly, it also doesn't always work *that* conveniently ... but it may be worth the effort.)<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Trick Arrow Shot on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"I'm okay!" Jupiter calls back to Venus when she shouts her warning. Turning back toward her, however, pulls her attention in another certain direction.<br />
<br />
Sailor Jupiter hadn't noticed Cure Passion at first, and so when Westar had gone on about her coming back to Labyrinth, she hadn't connected the dots at first--she was kind of busy flailing to not fall to her messy doom, and then yelling back at Westar for herself. But when *Lera* yells back at Westar about Passion and how she's not going to back to Labyrinth, it hits Sailor Jupiter all over again. Lera and Westar had been yelling at each other about Eas leaving Labyrinth before, during the Nakewameke battle at the mall. She turns towards Cure Passion, green eyes going wide--and then Passion herself confirms it.<br />
<br />
"YOU were Eas? YOU?" she demands, hands balling into fists. She'd meant to follow up on that, ask Ami about it, but so much had been happening lately it'd completely slipped her mind, only for it to smack her right in the face all of a sudden, right here, right now. Don't think just because she forgot for a little while that she forgot about Dark Mercury, or about that Nakewameke one-on-one battle ages ago, Eas.<br />
<br />
But still, as razor-sharp as her glare is right now, Sailor Jupiter does know where her priorities lie. It helps that Sailor Moon so cheerfully talks her up as Conductor Jupiter, and that with her here they'll be to school before they know it. Between her anger at Passion-Eas and the misery Westar instilled in her, she just smiles grimly at her friend--not exactly as inspiring as it would otherwise be--but it does help her focus.<br />
<br />
Just in time for the Nakewameke to yell "TUNNEL!!" and Jupiter to turn around to get smacked right in the face, and upper body, by a whole lot of brick. WHAM, goes the Sailor Senshi, tumbling down several cars, eyes spinning. Sailor Venus, in an act of her typical quick thinking, saves her from falling off the train entirely by swinging down with her Love-Me Chain and catching Jupiter by the hand, letting both of them cling to the side of the train as they pass through the tunnel and giving Jupiter a moment to catch her breath, physically and mentally. If she'd been a regular human being, that definitely would have killed her. Because of that, she entirely misses Westar yelling back at Eas, sounding genuinely enraged and hurt.<br />
<br />
When the two of them climb/crawl back up on top of the train, Jupiter gives Venus a somewhat hazy-eyed nod. "Thanks a lot," she says. "You really saved me back there." But hey, what *are* friends for, right?<br />
<br />
Venus calls for a combination attack, and Jupiter nods decisively. "You got it!" She sucks in a breath as the lightning rod emerges from her tiara. "SUPREME..." she calls, crossing her arms in front of her, index and pinky fingers extended. A bolt of lightning crashes down onto it, then crackles onto her, just before she thrusts her arms out. "THUNDER!!" she calls, sending the lightning out to join with Venus's Rolling Heart Vibration.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has joined the combo started by Sailor Venus!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar perfectly counters Fuu Hououji's Trick Arrow Shot, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Full Steam Ahead!, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Fuu Hououji! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Lera Camry's Magma Bomb, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXwf44YjpuU<br />
<br />
As tough as a cat? That finger drops, and Sailor Moon looks at Westar like he sprouted another head, "Wait what? No I'm saying Jupiter-chan is that tough, not that cats- Oh forget it!" But Passion is making Westar pretty mad isn't she! And Jupiter is getting worked up and really Moon can't blame her- "H-Hey Jupiter-chan, maybe we should talk about that later..." She's tapping the tips of her pointer fingers together. <br />
<br />
That anxiety that everyone might turn on Passion continues... but the cars are bunching up and suddenly there's a very cramped, very dark tunnel coming up! Turning around quickly, Sailor Moon scrambles backwards, falling part of the way, sliding towards the side of the car. Sliding over the side, a hand reaches out to nab the edge. <br />
<br />
She makes it just in time, her other hand coming up to join that one, as she closes her eyes at the horrific screeching and sparks from pieces of the top of the train getting torn off. Leg's dangling, she kicks outward, then braces both of her legs against it, then flips back atop it, blonde odangos streaming behind her in the strobe effect of one tunnel light after another. <br />
<br />
And in those lights- she notes that mad scramble to catch Jupiter and help her up, "Jupiter! Venus!" She scrambles that way as if she were going to help both of them back up, grip the chain if need be and pull with all of her might but they're already back up- "I shouldn't have worried!" Sailor Moon grins, "I mean when /hasn't/ Sailor Venus saved the day?" That's not actually a question where she's thinking about the answer. <br />
<br />
She wouldn't want to think about that.<br />
<br />
Venus is mad though! And so, when she calls for her attack, the three girls act as a unit. A hand moves to her tiara as she braces herself against the train. "Moon Tiara-" <br />
<br />
It becomes alit with silver radiance that acts as a beacon within the tunnel. As soon as she hears the other two, she hurls it forward, "-ACTION!" It curves in an arc, intercepting the rolling heart/electrical combination on the way- and suddenly the edge of the Tiara is covered with spinning orange hearts and crackling with bright blue electricity. <br />
<br />
It zooms forward, faster than the train, arcing over Westar's head- while Sailor Moon cups her hands over her mouth, "If you're going to be like this Westar- then I'll make you accept Jupiter-chan and Venus-chan's-" It then cuts downwards, towards the face of the Nakewameke sending hearts and arcs of electricity everywhere, "-electrifying lovestruck combination!" <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has joined the combo started by Sailor Venus!<br />
<br>COMBAT: COMBO! Sailor Venus, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Moon have used All-Star Senshi! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Sailor Venus, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Moon's Combo: All-Star Senshi!, taking 158 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZMWszd5SRk<br />
<br />
Despite Passion's interruption, Westar's first words do strike at her. She's still calling him Mobius-sama. But how can she do anything else? She throws out the rest of her words and kicks at him--<br />
<br />
But she's caught, unable to break her heel free from her ex-comrade's grip, her ankle twisting painfully as she starts to fall. She doesn't have long to do it, though. In fury, Westar hurls her back, and Passion has no idea where she's going to land. By instinct as much as anything else, she crosses her arms over herself, braces for some impact, and thus when the Heavy Freight Arms catch her, she's almost ready for it. They grab and crush, and she grits her teeth, trying not to cry out as even through her defense they're mercilessly strong. After a few moments she wriggles free, and clangs against the metal of two cars behind her captor. <br />
<br />
'P-Passion-chan isn't that a bit harsh?' Sailor Moon's words ring in Passion's mind as she recovers herself, along with Lera's voice. ...And Sailor Jupiter's question. They're all difficult, and while Passion couldn't look in the moment at Jupiter's glare, she can remember it all too well. As she gets to her feet she sounds tired--no, disheartened. "Yes, that was me," she answers her, and settles her gaze on Westar again. <br />
<br />
"You--" She stops short, looking around, as she doesn't see Chika anymore, and she's largely behind the others. "Where's..." She hopes she didn't fall off. <br />
<br />
She refocuses on her opponent. "Just--Just stop it already! I don't... I don't care what you think anyway!" she lies to Westar. She watches the attack come in... <br />
<br />
And lunges forward, with a flurry of punches, kicks, and strikes on the heels of the others' attacks. "So call me a liar all you want! I'm still not going back!" She doesn't have a lot of heart in her words though.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Following Flurry on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Passion's Following Flurry, taking 22 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> Wild Arms 3 - Crossfire Sequence - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNVQK3tuqsc<br />
<br />
The train emerges into morning light once more, immediately blowing past another station full of frustrated commuters. Somehow, in all the commotion, the vehicle got onto a nice ocean-view line; for the foreseeable future, it's open track and a nice view of shining seas illuminated by dawn's light. Rosy hues are fading into blue even now, marking stark contrast against the black and yellow locomotive.<br />
<br />
In the commotion of the tunnel, it's taken some damage. One heavy freight arm, reaching for Jad, was lost on the edge of the tunnel. The rearmost two cars have been shaken loose, trailing in its wake. Finally, all this battering is starting to shake the pistons loose a bit. But the engine is still strong, and steam is vented in a terrible whistle to celebrate the continuing trouble-<br />
<br />
-up until shining chains make a point of ripping that piece in particular off. Chika can spy steam spewing from the new vent, drowning out Westar's angry shouting for a moment - but the sudden blast of steam redirects Fuu's trick shot to lodge between metal plates instead of the vital component she'd been targetting. For his part, Westar actually climbs up on the roof, and punches the incoming ball of magma in fury - and bereft of its toot-toot, the train lets out a miserable moan.<br />
<br />
In all the arguing with mages and a certain Cure, though, he's forgotten about the Senshi entirely. Unified on the now-rearmost cart, they unleash beauty and courage and hope - a tiara winging through the air, embraced by orange and blue, to swing down at the train head-on - the vehicle in turn aiming to plow through it like it did everything else.<br />
<br />
Everyone still on the train receives a ferocious jolt as it actually jumps the tracks from the impact - the roar of mechanical pain accompanied by a screech of metal on metal, sparks flying from derailed wheels. Cure Passion's words and fury exacerbate the situation, blow after blow hammering into the fuel supply - and the side of that car gives way, dumping the train's fuel entirely.<br />
<br />
"Nakewameke! Get a hold of your-" Westar, having fallen back into the cab from the impact, is cut off as the train runs over a switch and the screeching just gets louder. "...Fine then! If you want to play it that way, 'Cure Passion', then you and all your friends can deal with this!" He reaches down, and pulls a big yellow lever.<br />
<br />
And the screeching...stops. There's a series of ker-chunks, as all the cars decouple at once - the track switches causing them to spread out to the left and right. It's a wide tableau, and a great view...as the train jumps the tracks, intentionally. "TRANSFORM!"<br />
<br />
It wheels around in the air, rear section separating to lock onto separate tracks as the front of the locomotive turns to face its pursuers. Steam hisses from the sides, pistons lunging out as it sweeps from left-to-right, peppering everyone in sight with locomotive strikes. "NAKEWAMEKEEEEEE!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Sailor Moon.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Sailor Venus.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Jad Werke.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Precision Piston Power on Chika Aki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki narrowly counters Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 23 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki's counterattack, MegaFist, partially gets through, doing 11 Fatigue damage to Westar! Critical Counterhit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke fails to brace Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 21 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to brace Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 40 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter narrowly braces Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter's Block ability activates! Sailor Jupiter's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon perfectly counters Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Sailor Moon's Reverse ability activates! Sailor Moon's Tactician ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon's counterattack, Spiralling Heart Rod, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus narrowly dodges Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Sailor Venus's Fade ability activates! Sailor Venus's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry perfectly braces Westar's Precision Piston Power, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Brace! Lera Camry's Block ability activates! Lera Camry's Parry ability activates! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chika crawls out of the gap between trains she'd hidden in when they scooted through the tunnel, a little too slow for Cure Passion to notice her. still on the train right away. She gets to her feet, looking forwards and starting to run to join the others. <br />
<br />
The show put on by the Senshi has Chika looking on with something akin to awe as she sees the three magical girls working in tandem, like a fluid unit. It brings a little pang to her heart of longing, wishing for that same coordination... But Puella Magi just aren't like that. She heaves a little sigh, focusing her eyes back on the prize. <br />
<br />
And thats when Westar pulls his leavor, causing the cars to decouple as the train pulls of the most elaborative locomotive maneuveurs; Multi-track-drifting! She watches the Nakewameke spin itself to land on two tracks. More importantly, she sees steam venting form it... And if there is steam... <br />
<br />
She is disrupted from her trainheh) of thought by the pistons being fired at herself and others. <br />
<br />
"No!" <br />
<br />
Chika's vocal admonishment is met with her gauntlet swelling in size to that of a dumpster. Surprise! She throws her fist forwards, heaving it into the piston coming her way as it crunches into her first, denting the metal. She grimaces but carries through on the follow up, knocking that Piston away and at least giving a bit of tit for the tat she took. <br />
<br />
Chika isn't much of a talker, but she looks to Cure Passion who she has wound up beside. "I don't know who this creep is, but lets stop this here!" She says encouragingly, before turning to look back at the train. Her gauntletted hands go out to her side, and then she starts to make throwing motions forwards. Every single one flings a long spear of water ahead of her, just a jet of dense H20 to be a nuisance. And you know what parts of trains don't like water; Coal deposits and steam lines! Anywhere she sees steam, or any chance she can to whip one by Westar at where he was shovelling, Chika is barraging the Nakewameke with an onslaught! <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has used Water Barrage on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The train comes screeching to a halt, transforming into a towering monstrosity of metal and giant fists. And as one of those fists comes swinging around, Jad looks at it for a moment and takes a moment to sigh. <br />
<br />
"Oh fiddlesticks-" <br />
<br />
There is a loud, metallic screech, followed by an almost comically loud *CHOOOOOOOOOOOOM* as the Loco-Motive strikes Jad head on with one of those fists. One moment the blue haired mage is standing there. The next moment he is just gone, with a faint contrail through the air detailing his flight path out and away from the scene of the fight. <br />
<br />
... <br />
<br />
Almost too far away from the fight to actually be seen, Jad is laying in a long track of torn up ground, with most of it piled up behind him from where he hit the ground, dug in, and skidded along until he finally came to a stop. For a moment he just lays there, his eyes in spinny circles as he lets out a dazed 'Orrrooooo @_@', taking a moment to collect his bearings. Finally he reaches up and grabs the edge of his small crater and pulls himself back up, raising one fist weakly and shaking it at Wester. "Barely... felt a... thing!" he shouts, despite the fact that he is way too far away for anyone to hear him. "Gonna have to-" and he falls over sideways. <br />
<br />
"Schwartz. Boost please." <br />
<br />
There is a surge of magic, and Jad pushes himself back up, streamers of water rising around him and flowing along his arms and legs as he focuses. "Dunno if we can get back in time, but we're gonna try! Let's go!" <br />
<br />
And with that he takes off at full speed right back into the fight.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has used Strength of the Tides on Jad Werke.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke accepts Jad Werke's Strength of the Tides, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower and Withstand applied to Jad Werke! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Sailor J-Jupiter, um--"<br />
<br />
Lera starts to say something as she falls -- but first, the Sailor Senshi are moving in tandem, /and/ Sailor Moon suggests they talk about it later. She swallows, even while she watches the three of them strike. Her eyes widen a little at that.<br />
<br />
She comes down, listening as Passion shouts. Her lips purse and she frowns, before she calls out: "Passion! You--you know it's fine! You know!"<br />
<br />
&lt;He's doing something!> Ground interjects. The train jumps the tracks -- and then pistons come flying and smashing in. Lera's amber eyes widen before she calls out: "Ground!"<br />
<br />
&lt;PROTECTION!><br />
<br />
A half-dozen circles of pale yellow light appear -- and the pistons that come for Lera smash into them instead. Sparks fly, exploding where steel strikes the energy barriers, but they hold them at bay. Lera grits her teeth, before she lifts upward. She glances down at Jad, for a moment. "You all right, down there?"<br />
<br />
&lt;Schwarz has the right idea. Boosting.> Broken Ground shimmers and light flows into Lera, giving her a brief golden glow.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Earth's Heart! Erupting Hope! on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry accepts Lera Camry's Earth's Heart! Erupting Hope!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower and Surge applied to Lera Camry! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Well, the Wind Knight thinks, it was sort of worth a try.<br />
<br />
Her train of thought stops there as the train tilts precariously, knocked off the rails by the three-Sailor assault. The Magic Knight of Wind is still trying to retain her balance when Westar pulls the lever and calls loudly for the Nakewameke to transform; that's the point at which the Wind Knight just hunkers down and focuses on *not falling off*. The cars decouple; this could be a bad thing, especially if they all stay animated when physically separated from the Nakewameke's 'core,' but then it -<br />
<br />
She's still trying to figure out how to describe what just happened (in terms that make some kind of sense beyond the immediate context, anyway) when she gets violently pistoned in the face and the breastplate. Her armor takes the impact far better than her glasses do; her hastily-conjured wind barrier *might* have prevented worse injury than that, but she already knows she's going to have to wear her backup pair at school today.<br />
<br />
Oh yes, she also needs to get her breath back, since it was knocked out of her lungs just now. *THAT* takes priority for a couple of extra moments; once she can breathe semi-normally again, the Wind Knight dismisses her bow and quiver, willing her sword to materialize instead. While the ... giant robot form of the Nakewameke probably has a lot more weak points that could be capitalized upon, this kind of high-speed mobile encounter is not really good for archery - and, well, her glasses are cracked, which is going to mess up her aim even more. For now, she conjures a fresh tailwind and leaps at the Nakewa-mecha, shouting a kiai as she tries to cleave another opening in its 'armor' - damaging an existing joint would be fine, but if she can't get at one, she'll just settle for opening a new gash somewhere on its form.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Sword Strike on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Chika Aki's Water Barrage, taking 9 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Sword Strike, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon urges everyone to not deal with the Eas/Passion issue just yet, and Lera stammers out Jupiter's name, and Passion seems very upset besides, but even if no one had said anything, Sailor Jupiter *did* kind of just get clonged face-on by a brick tunnel ceiling. Considering that Passion's fighting Westar with everything she's got right now, Jupiter can overlook this for now--but she *will* be asking Usagi about this later, since she seems to know what all this is about.<br />
<br />
For now: "We got it!" she cheers, pumping a fist when the Rolling Tiara Thunder impacts with the Nakewameke. "Great teamwork, Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus!" But then the train jolts hard, nearly bucking the Soldier of Protection off again. Eurgh, this is ticking her off! ...Even if it *was* Moon's, Venus's, and her combined magical might that caused it, and the Nakewameke's subsequent self-deconstruction, in the first place. Jupiter braces herself as the Nakewameke cars decouple, jump tracks, and then recombine into a separate train to glare at and strike at its magical girl opponents.<br />
<br />
She grits her teeth and bears it, one arm up to protect her head and face, one hand still holding on. As the attacks pile on, she keeps her eyes keen for an opening--until--!<br />
<br />
"There!" she shouts, jumping forward for one of those pistons. Her tiara rod still extended, electricity traces along all of her limbs, allowing her to 'skate' along the tracks like an ice skater on a frozen pond with grace and speed. It also allows her to grab tight hold of the transformed train, buck her knees down, and tilt her center of gravity back until she--and, potentially--the train itself--goes smashing backwards onto the tracks, lightning exploding in every which direction.<br />
<br />
That's right. Sailor Jupiter just (tried to) suplex a train.<br />
<br />
If it succeeds, static-electric magnetism should theoretically set the train right-side-up again afterwards so as to avoid it crashing horribly... or it might keep it too attached to the rails for Jupiter to pull it off at all.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has used Lightning Suplex on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Sailor Jupiter's Lightning Suplex, taking 29 Fatigue damage! Sailor Jupiter is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion doesn't give another thought to how close she came to being lost with a gripping arm when the train caught hold of her moments ago, though it was very close. But she does jolt with the impact of jumping tracks, is off-balance for a couple of her strikes and barely catches herself with a kick to send herself in the right direction. The fuel supply drops off, and she lets out a set of breaths, looking up again at Westar after her flurry. <br />
<br />
"It's over, Westar!" Passion shouts as Westar talks to his Nakewameke, but then he has one more trick up his sleeve. She blinks once, unsure of which answer to give or what to say at all--but suddenly the cars are in motion. "Deal with--" <br />
<br />
'With what' is answered quickly, and Passion leaps, twirling mid-air as she manages almost to get out of the way of the pistons--it still hits her side, though not head-on, and she continues her spin until she hits down on the car next to Chika. Chika is pretty enouraging, though Passion can't quite smile at her, looking at her hesitantly instead. "...Right," she agrees. <br />
<br />
Only then does she call back up and answer her girlfriend, "But..." She looks up at her, as she moves to check on Jad, as Ground's magic starts to boost her. She remembers their conversation about this. "I--I know!" she calls to Lera, more loudly. <br />
<br />
But there's Jupiter, and they're all focusing on the monster, and not her. Passion elects to do the same. "I'm going on ahead," she says to Chika, and sprints for the edge of her car, leaping off of it towards the Nakewameke. She kicks once, and bounces, springing back to a car which she handsprings off of, giving her the momentum to reach Lera flying above--and she twists mid-air to kick off of her feet, somersaulting down and letting her momentum carry her straight into the Nakewameke's face as it comes back down.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Pinball Passion on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Okay, Sailor Venus reflects as she's sent flying off the back of the train. /Maybe/ that hit a little harder than they intended.<br />
<br />
The senshi is able to awkwardly twist around in the air, almost like a cat, and manages a landing that is remarkably steady considering just how quickly she had to react and how loud the panicking voice in the back of her head had become. She briefly goes crosseyed and blows some hair out of her face, then refocuses her attention on the battle at hand...<br />
<br />
...just in time to see Sailor Jupiter seize her opening. The sight actually causes her to momentarily freeze in surprise, blinking twice... and then her mouth parts for an absolutely /massive/, almost wolfish smile. "That's the way, Jupiter! Show that thing what you're made of!"<br />
<br />
And then her eyes turn, at last, towards Passion. For a moment, her expression clouds... but then she raises her voice, pointing towards her with her shoulders square. "Don't let this jerk put a single doubt in your head!" she shouts, forcing the words out for her own benefit almost as much as Passion's. "You're fighting the good fight now, and... and that's all that matters!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has used Don't be afraid! on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
'Great Teamwork!' And immediately Sailor Moon is excited enough to think that maybe she needs to give them both an excited hand shake because /LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID!/ but she doesn't get time, the train emerges back into the light, though it's just after she adjusted to the dark, so the sudden shine is blinding. Squinting, she's nearly jolted off by the attack, only catching her tiara on its return in a backwards bunny hop, and placing it back to her brow. <br />
<br />
But the train is jumping the tracks and Sailor Moon shrieks as she's thrown off- to land gracelessly on her butt on the platform besides the track. Sailor Moon takes a moment to rub her sore posterior, before realizing the shadow of the train is looming right over her. "Oh. F-From this angle you're much-" <br />
<br />
Suddenly Pistons are lunging out, sweeping at her, "-BIGGERRRR!" She shrieks, and the Spiral Moon Heart Rod is in her hand. It's spinning in sparkling whorls all of her own. One piston strikes it creating a shower of sparks on impact, and sends her stumbling to the side from the massive force, trailing glittering stardust. The impacts are coming faster and faster and it's taking all she can to keep up with it simply by flourishing her rod to defend against strike.<br />
<br />
Moon stumbles this way from strike, only to be sent back that way- it looks like she's really getting hammered, but eventually she wends her way out of the labyrinth of pounding pistons and is still forced to keep running after the thing! "Huh-Hey stop! Don't throw us off then make us chase you! It's too early in the day for us to have to run track!" She whines as if she were being thrust into PE class early. Sweat pours off her brow as her chest heaves with each ragged breath as she runs forward.<br />
<br />
Placing a hand to the Cosmic Heart Compact, it begins to shine with pink light, a pinwheel of radiance which flows down into the rod. "Moon Sparkling-" She points it straight at the Nakewameke, "-SENSATION!" Stream after stream of gleaming pink and silver curl around and attempt to crash into it like a starburst shower of light. <br />
<br />
But then she stops, and has to gape in awe because, "J-Jupiter-chan actually-" Sailor Moon shifts her rod to the side in her hands in order to applaud excitably, clapping over and over and over- "JUPITER!" -then with one final clap, she clasps her hands together over the rod and leaps in the air like was a cheerleader responding to an Ace player making an incredible play, "We're gonna win and you know why?" Upon landing she thrusts a hand in her air, "Because we've got the strongest on our side! Go Jupiter!" <br />
<br />
She was just so proud, she told Westar earlier that Jupiter would /do the thing/ and then Jupiter /did the thing so well/! <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has used Moon Sparkling Sensation on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Moon's Moon Sparkling Sensation, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Pinball Passion, taking 33 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion accepts Sailor Venus's Don't be afraid!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Cheered! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Some distance down the track - still a fair distance away, though perhaps not as far as one might hope - there's a small trainyard for the trains that have been pulled off the line due to the ongoing rampage. Once things are cleared up, they should be able to return to the noble duty of helping people get to work and school...<br />
<br />
...as long as this battle is finished before Westar's runaway Nakewameke Express gets there. There isn't much time!<br />
<br />
Jad and Lera are hammered by the train's barrage, and put out of sight long enough for Westar to put them out of mind - at least for the immediate moment. Spears of water lance out from Chika, almost as biting as the 'creep' insult, and every jet hisses against increasingly hot metal. In the veil of mist, Fuu lunges in unexpectedly close, and her sword catches a seam in the armor plating. There's no immediate reaction - until there's a blast of steam, and Westar yells in surprise.<br />
<br />
And then, out of the mist, a spark of lightning, and the locomotive lifts unexpectedly. Those piston arms flail in surprise as it flips in the air - and smashes into the tracks, diamond first.<br />
<br />
Yes, Sailor Jupiter just suplexed a train.<br />
<br />
Momentum is a powerful thing, and so it recovers in short order - bouncing back upright, about to get back onto the tracks - just in time for Cure Passion to kick it in the face with almost as much force. It lands on the rails with a horrific metal screech, and sparkling stardust elicits a hiss of evil being purified while driving it further back.<br />
<br />
"Nakewameke!" Thrown from the car by that flurry of impacts, Westar shouts from his koala-like perch clinging to a nearby tree - sorrowfully bereft of his hat. "Enough playing around - time to get back on schedule!"<br />
<br />
There's a loud toot - steam venting in the absence of a whistle - and the front wheels, held in the air by an awkward stance, start spinning wildly. It leaps one last time, righting itself on the rails...and barrelling forward with alarming speed to meet its pursuers head-on!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Runaway Train on Sailor Venus.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Runaway Train on Sailor Jupiter.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Runaway Train on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Sailor Moon.<br />
<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Chika Aki.<br />
<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Nakewameke Rampage on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly braces Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Block ability activates! Cure Passion's Parry ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki narrowly braces Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon narrowly dodges Westar's Finisher, Nakewameke Rampage, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Sailor Moon's Fade ability activates! Sailor Moon's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly dodges Westar's Runaway Train, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter fails to dodge Westar's Runaway Train, taking 28 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus fails to dodge Westar's Runaway Train, taking 36 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jad continues to run towards the fight as fast as he can. With his device reinforcing his body, that means he can run... much faster than someone might expect, as the water flowing along his limbs contributing some additional force to each movement. Which means he gets back fast enough to find out that there's... actually a lot still going on. <br />
<br />
To be accurate, Westar is unleashing the fury of his monster on the gathered magical girls. It's roaring forward at high speed, and that means only one thing. <br />
<br />
It's a CHALLENGE. And Jad is totally going to meet it head on. <br />
<br />
The blue haired mage comes roaring out of the distance and races back into the fight, moving so that he's directly in the path of the oncoming train. He lands on the ground, blue energy surging down into the ground for a moment before it pushes back against him... and sends the mage flying straight at the front of the locomotive! <br />
<br />
"Schwartz, FULL POWER!" he shouts, pulling one arm back. All of the water moving along his limbs flows into a spiraling torrent, which gathers right at the front of his fist. And he soars through the air, aiming right at the EVIL LOOKING FACE of the scary demon train thing. Really he's not left a lot of consideration for... dodging. Or how he's going to land, really. It's all going towards just slamming into the oncoming train. <br />
<br />
Punching it really. <br />
<br />
Really. <br />
<br />
Hard. <br />
<br />
Jad grins, and shouts, "TORRENT! ERRRRRRRUPTION!" His fist lashes forwards, the orb of water in front of his knuckles compressing into a small point, and he discharges all of his accumulated water magic into a single, focused line right at the devil engine thing.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Jad Werke has used Torrent Eruption on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Jad Werke has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chika finishes throwing her blasts of water, panting lightly from the exertion. But when she sees what Westar and the Nakewameke are doing, she doesn't shy from the incoming train. No, Chika braces her footing on the car that she is on with Cure Passion, and brings her gauntleted hands out in front of her to CATCH the train! <br />
<br />
"Don't let him push us around! We can do this!" She is trying to be encouraging, but well... Chika is sorely unpracticed when it comes to working in a group. She aspires to be a team-player, but its a work in progress! <br />
<br />
Her hands grip the front of Mecha-Train Nakewameke, and thats about the last time she has any real control over her position. She gets carried along with the rampaging train, legs and feet dangling and scraping against the ground before she is knocked off to one side. She tumbles onto her side, rolling and flopping back into a seated position with a wince. Bruised, dinged, and more then a little sore she staggers to her feet and looks down the tracks at the departing train leaving her behind. <br />
<br />
"Oh no.... no you don't..." The battered Puella Magi says with a tired frown, moving out onto the tracks and standing in a straight line behind the train. "C-clear a shot!" She calls in warning to the other Magical girls. <br />
<br />
Chika reaches her hands out to either side of her as water starts to coalesce from her gauntlets into each hand. The forming water creates a skim over both gauntlets as Chika takes a broad stance, bracing her booted feet against the struts holding the track. "Twin... Spiral.... GEYSER!" her voice rings out, louder and clearer then it almost ever is. <br />
<br />
She places her hands in front of her as a torrent of water erupts from her hands, two swirling vortexes chasing after the train and closing in on it. And with the train going away from her, it gives her a clear shot right into the cab where Westar used to be... and hopefully, into the furnace fueling the train. Quench it!<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Chika Aki has used Twin Spiral Geyser! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Chika Aki has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Lera isn't too surprised when Passion kicks off her feet. She gives her a little boost, to kick her back towards the Nakewameke. The girl looks down, then, staring at the mecha.<br />
<br />
And the suplexing.<br />
<br />
She watches Chika and Jad lay into it. The Midchildan swings Broken Ground up in front of her and focuses. Motes of light begin to pull into the hammerhead, as it opens up. They gather, swirling around it, and the gem in the center of the clockwork hammer glows brighter and brighter. Then, she swings it down.<br />
<br />
A magical circle appears under feet, spinning around rapidly. Then, the motes of light all rush outward. They shoot and dart over the surroundings, weaving in towards the train cars, before they collide with it in a final, titanic explosion.<br />
<br />
&lt;Bombadier Cascade!><br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Lera Camry has used Bombadier Cascade on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Jad Werke's Finisher, Torrent Eruption, taking 102 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Chika Aki's Finisher, Twin Spiral Geyser!, taking 51 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Lera Camry's Finisher, Bombadier Cascade, taking 43 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
If only Sailor Venus' inner turmoil over offering Cure Passion those words of encouragement hadn't been so distracting. As it is, when her eyes snap back towards the runaway train, they do so a split-second too late.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke plows directly into the distracted Soldier of Love, who lets out a sharp cry of mingled pain and surprise as she's sent /flying/ off of the tracks. She hits the ground some distance away, and it takes a moment for her to actually skid to a halt.<br />
<br />
The good news is, although that definitely hurt, it didn't hurt /enough/. Sailor Venus rolls first to her stomach, gritting her teeth, then slowly pushes herself back up to her feet. She staggers, her eyes flashing, and doesn't even bother with a clever wind-up, or masking the lingering pain in her voice as orange-gold chains once again swirl and flash into being around her extended fingertip.<br />
<br />
"VENUS... LOVE-ME... CHAIN..!!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Venus has used Venus Love-Me Chain on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Venus has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The biggest problem with getting in close to something that you could normally ride inside of is that when it makes a sudden move, getting out of the way is *very* difficult.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, the Wind Knight manages not to get totally crushed; she gets buffeted rather badly, but she manages to come out ofi t still on her feet, even though the Nakewameke is STILL bearing down on several of her allies with even more force than she had to survive. There's really no time for fine strategizing or support magic at this point - all she can do is pour everything she's got into one final attack, and hope that their combined efforts finally put the brakes on the Nakewameke's disruptions of the morning commute.<br />
<br />
"EMERALD ... *CYCLONE!!!*" shouts the Magic Knight of Wind, drawing her arms up and back, then flinging her hands forward as though gathering up the wind itself and hurling it at the monster. There's a reason why trains get halted in anticipation of a typhoon - a mundane crosswind of sufficient force can derail a train, and stronger winds can actually hurl the cars around like an angry child with a toy train set. With the Magic Knight's power infusing the Emerald Cyclone, though, the wrath of the gale is even more destructive; she's not trying to scatter the cars which constitute the Nakewameke, so much as to rip the monster apart and shatter the Data Diamond which acts as the Nakewameke's core.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Fuu Hououji has used Emerald Cyclone: Full on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of suplexing an enemy that's much, much bigger than you. It's even better when it's an actual /train/. Just call her Conductor Jupiter!<br />
<br />
This is underscored by Venus grinnin' like a villain, cheering her on directly, and Sailor Moon all but clapping with glee at Jupiter's feat of strength, cheering her on by bragging about her to Westar. Jupiter can't help but grin back, taking a moment to flex an arm and clap a hand over her bicep. Rosie the Riveter pose, go!<br />
<br />
"We've just got a little left to, everyone!" she calls, leaping back down the tracks as the train Nakweameke rights itself. "Let's give this thing everything we've got--" She points a finger over at Westar, clinging as he is to a tree, bereft of his conductor's hat. "And send that jerk packing!!"<br />
<br />
But Westar's not done yet. When he orders his Nakewameke to get back on schedule, Jupiter steels herself to take any new attack head-on--but no matter how you slice it, it's just a bad idea to try to tank a train. This occurs to her at the last second, and she attempts to throw herself clear, but too little, too late; it clips her hard, sending her ramming down into the ground to eat dirt. She coughs and spits and grounds, pushing herself back upright. *That's* going to leave a nasty bruise... She's already got a bad collection from Vita last night, too.<br />
<br />
Maybe she *should* just call off sick today.<br />
<br />
For now, though, like she said, there's still that one last push to go. She takes a deep breath, channeling the air and ozone into her body. The lightning rod from her tiara is still extended, miraculously unbent. "This is it, Westar," she announces, bending her arms back so her elbows are perpendicular to her waist. "We won't let you rampage as you please any longer!" Her green eyes snap open, narrowed and deadly, as lightning snaps, crackles and pops around her antenna. "For the sake of everyone's morning commute--Sailor Jupiter will fill you with so much regret, it'll leave you numb!!"<br />
<br />
With a roar, she claps her electrified hands together, then pulls them apart, bolts of lightning crackling with audible heat between them. She pulls both her hands back as she turns to the right, pressing the power together like an onigiri--and then she pitches it, hard and fierce, at the Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
"SPARKLING! WIDE PRESSUUUUURE!!"<br />
<br />
Upon impact, if it strikes true, it will explode with far greater force than its football-sized shape would imply.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Jupiter has used Sparkling Wide Pressure on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Jupiter has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbPztpB7keA<br />
<br />
Back on schedule? "Oh so you're giving up so everyone can go about their day? Wise decision!" But then there's a loud toot, and Sailor Moon puts her hand over her ears as she cringes and- when she looks back in front of her the train has righted itself and it's barelling straight- towards her. <br />
<br />
Needless to say, Sailor Moon is terrified. Her scream is easily the equal of the toot, and as she leaps out of the way, she's still brushed by the side of the locomotive that knocks her far- far away from the tracks and upon impact, she rolls further. It looks bad for a moment, like it knocked her out, but after a few seconds she rolls over with a groan, then puts her hands underneath her to pull herself up on trembling limbs. <br />
<br />
She's far enough away, that her words might not be heard- but then again they might, "We're all just trying to get on with our lives." Almost to her feet, "Why do you have to- keep preventing us from moving on?" And then upon her feet, "Why do you have to ruin everyone's day? Well-" <br />
<br />
Up on her feet, she holds the Spiral Moon Heart Rod high over her head, determination filling her with Jupiter's statement. Every part of her might hurt but- "-we're not going to allow it any longer." Look into it, and it's a window into eternity, past the clouds, past the heavens, a glimpse of the Silver Millenium with it's majestic minarets and spires, timeless and sleep. But then just as quickly it draws one back, to simply a girl- no a Sailor Senshi, holding the rod high as light leaks out of the tiny heart window. <br />
<br />
It becomes a flourishing dance from side to side, spinning it in whorls of light- for all of her clumsiness, the dance would make any prima ballerina proud in its grace, as if that grace itself were part of the spell. Holding it alongside herself she begins to twirl, slowly at first, "MOOOONNNNNNNNN SPIRALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL-" Faster and faster she spins, her twintails like blonde ribbons twirling in their own rhythm as she went, like the ends were slightly slower than the rest of her, "-HEEEEARRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTT-" <br />
<br />
And then she tucks in, ending in a kneel like a gymnast at the finale of a floor routine. "-ATTACK!" <br />
<br />
Raised high, it becomes a galaxy pinwheel of light, between each sparkling trail of stars are smaller rivers of hearts. Hearts upon hearts- that join into one heart of tremendous size, incredible loveliness- she sends it crashing towards the train Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor Moon has used Moon Spiral Heart Attack! on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Sailor Moon has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion lands nimbly on the train car she was riding before after her assault, nodding to Chika at what she says as she does--but stops altogether short when she sees /Venus/ looking at her. Immediately she expects to hear some remonstration, some note that it isn't over, and that they'll be talking about this later, but instead... <br />
<br />
Her eyes widen at Venus's encouragement, and she can't help but put on a brief, tiny smile towards the more experienced magical girl before her. There's no time for it to last, and those doubts don't chase away so easily as all that... <br />
<br />
But it helps. It helps right when it might be needed most, as Westar delivers his next set of orders. It lunges forward, and Passion crosses her arms before herself in defense, as the train slams into her and she just... takes it, for all that it batters her arms and sends her skidding backwards and wrecks the car she was on that Chika no longer is. She lowers her arms, body aching, emotionally wounded, and looks at everyone else fighting so hard against the Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
She can't fail to do something. Even after everything... <br />
<br />
A little red key-fairy springs into existence around her, ribboned and cheerfully trilling. "...Right, Akarun." Stretching out her hand, there's a musical tone as a heart-shaped heart appears in her hand. In her other hand, raised to the sky, there's a brilliant glow--until it coalesces into a jewel that she slips into the top of the harp. "Sing, O rhapsody of happiness! Passion Harp!" She begins to play a string of notes, ascending plucks of the strings, and there's a flash of red light. "Roar, storm of happiness!"<br />
<br />
White feathers surround her, the entire traincar she's on, rising from beneath her in a torrent as she sets her feet. "Pretty Cure! Happiness... Hurricane!" <br />
<br />
Waves of red, purple, and pink energy begins to spiral upward and around her, all arranged in gigantic hearts as she twirls in place, spinning faster and faster and faster until they all burst towards the Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
It's briefly as if it's submerged, and all these hearts--one big one surounding it--are the bubbles. "Haaaaah--!" <br />
<br />
Her spin stops, and Cure Passion channels her magic with all her might, holding the harp before her and waving it in place until her magic explodes in purifying light.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Passion has used Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Sailor Venus's Finisher, Venus Love-Me Chain, taking 40 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Finisher, Emerald Cyclone: Full, taking 31 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Sailor Jupiter's Finisher, Sparkling Wide Pressure, taking 166 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Sailor Moon's Finisher, Moon Spiral Heart Attack!, taking 319 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Finisher, Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane, taking 143 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
A runaway train, now barrelling back the way it came, and plowing through whatever it finds along the way. If it gets away, then this miserable morning will continue...but that's a big if.<br />
<br />
The Device-wielding mages, forgotten for a few moments, interrupt the escaping locomotive with elemental force. Jad gathers water into a head-on collision, and there's a loud hiss as it smashes into the torrent full on. Metal screeches as the wheels spin faster than the train is actually going, as it drives forward - and then that power is undercut by spiraling water plowing into the depleted furnace. Motes of light whirl around before bearing down on it in a cascade of destruction...<br />
<br />
chugga chugga chugga<br />
<br />
From the explosion of water and steam and light, the train emerges - that robotic face looking furious as it somehow keeps going. It's still heading back to that tunnel, and then who knows where - before golden chains catch it, pinning it in place. A howling windstorm aids in this endeavour, holding it in place however hard the engine might strain - and then a sparkling orb of light and lightning homes in on the eye of the storm, shocking the mechanical monstrosity enough that that driving engine goes almost completely still. It sizzles, a moment-<br />
<br />
And then there is light. From the left, in memorial to a fallen kingdom, a veritable galaxy of hearts streams forth. From the right, a hurricane of happiness sings a song of redemption. The two streams intertwine, engulfing the monstrous train entirely in a storm of pink and crimson that billows outward over the area.<br />
<br />
...fizzle...<br />
<br />
Where the whirling hearts pass, damage to the tracks is set right. Where happiness and majesty shine, those Labyrinth-esque traincars evaporate into nothingness. Where they pass over a tree, there's a yelp, crash, and a few moments later a splash as Westar is blown from his perch all the way into the ocean.<br />
<br />
Where that runaway train was, there rests a toy locomotive, on its side between the tracks.<br />
<br />
In the wake of battle's end, there is a distant cheer - the next station isn't that far off from here, and its frustrated patrons were more than happy to see this rampage put to an end. (There may even be a few cellphone videos!) As the morning sun rises higher in the sky, the victorious heroines are treated to a round of impromptu applause and cheering.<br />
<br />
Eventually, the trains get back on the tracks. Eventually, class and work beckon. And eventually, perhaps seen and heard by a handful here, Westar gets back to shore.<br />
<br />
"...I'm gonna be so late for class, now..." And without even pausing to taunt those who have beaten him, Westar runs off, dripping.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Chika Aki [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Chika flumps down onto her knees on the track, watching her attack depart into the train, and the veritable cacophony of kaleidoscopic colors, chains, eruptions, explosions, and all fun and sundry attacks. <br />
<br />
She stays on the tracks with her gauntletted hands moving to fold in front of her, watching as the train is reverted to toy train sized. She relaxes now that she can, the distant cheering bringing a soft smile to her lips, much the same as the one she wears when she looks over the Sailor Girls. She looks down at herself, battered and uniform tore up a bit. But its the soul gem on her chest, the bright cyan shot through with inky blackness that swirls threateningly that has her heave a soft sigh. She rises to her feet slowly, and looks about to get her bearings. Quietly, she sets off in the direction of Tokyo Bay.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Everyone's attacks assault the Nakewameke, until it's little more than a puff of smoke amidst effervescent fizzy bubbles. Sailor Jupiter straightens from her stance and looks around, but Westar's already beating a hasty exit. More importantly, the people at the upcoming station are clapping and cheering, and Jupiter grins bashfully at their adulation. Still, she waves to them, then turns to Venus and Moon. Her gaze pauses on Passion and Lera, but... No, this isn't the time or place.<br />
<br />
"So... skip school today?" she murmurs to her fellow Sailor Senshi. Either way, she's definitely not inclined to head out again after reaching her apartment... The hassle of calling out without a guardian will be worth it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
And after it's all done and there's only a toy train, Sailor Moon falls over flat on her face. But it's not like she's not alright, because as soon as Jupiter asks that- she sticks up a hand from her prone position, "Haiiiiii!" <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jad punched the train! And it did some damage, but that doesn't mean he somehow made the train weight less than it did. <br />
<br />
And thus he comes to a stop a modest distance away from the battle again, this time without having cut another furrow in the earth. But he did skid again, and there is a faint layer of dew on the ground around him from where the last of his magic had faded away. And so he looks up in the air for a moment. <br />
<br />
And grins. <br />
<br />
"Well, that was certainly interesting. Now I just gotta..." <br />
<br />
<Not move. You need to recover your energy.> his device notes. <br />
<br />
"...or do that instead, yes that is good."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
And thus ends another Nakewameke's rampage. The Magic Knight of Wind checks herself, making sure her footing is stable; then she looks about to see who among her allies may need help. A hand getting back to one's feet, a healing spell to mend serious injuries ... she's still aware that she needs to get to her school in as timely a manner as she can, but the Wind Knight doesn't like to abandon her allies, during or after a battle. Certainly, some of them will want to leave all the faster - maybe to protect their identities, maybe just because they don't want to feel obligated, maybe for reasons more personal than either of those guesses. Those who can linger, though, will be offered a Winds of Healing - and whether any individual warrior accepts or declines, the green-clad Magic Knight simply smiles and nods in acknowledgement, before casting the restorative spell or moving on.<br />
<br />
The Wind Knight eventually sets out on her way as well, no longer in the desperate hurry she displayed while trying to intercept the Nakewameke to begin with, able to take more caution in her travels, perhaps even to enjoy them. Certainly she can stop and work some healing magic on herself, somewhere en route back to Tama.<br />
<br />
With quite a bit of luck, Fuu might actually have time for a nap before classes get off to a belated start. Seh's not depending on that, though.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Venus [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
With the way that Sailor Venus sways unsteadily on her feet, the fact that the response she gives Sailor Jupiter is probably no surprise. She gives a slightly wobbly-voiced "Haiiiiii~" in perfect harmony with Sailor Moon, sounding precisely as exhausted as one might expect from a girl who just got hit by a train.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Passion breathes a sigh of relief when the train is gone--when /that/ train, too familiar, is gone. She glances towards the heart of the diamond, spots the toy... But that's all for the moment. Well, all until there's applause. <br />
<br />
Passion blinks, altogether surprised and a little shy at the attention, hesitating before she just looks firmly away from the crowd with a faint redness to her cheeks. <br />
<br />
They probably don't mean her, anyway. <br />
<br />
She gets to thus watch Chika leave, and more t othe point, sees Jupiter looking at her. She glances to Jad, but sees him breathing, watches Fuu go. She refuses healing. Instead... <br />
<br />
The senshi are so... <br />
<br />
"I..." She hesitates, "I don't think I'm going to school, either."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Jad Werke [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Jad thrusts a fist into the air in solidarity with the red and pink one! <br />
<br />
"Thaaaat sounds like a great idea because I just hit a train and the TRAIN HIT BACK. And I think I feel a little discombobulated." <br />
<br />
It's amazing that he knows that word. It's even more amazing that he's using it correctly, but Jad's probably been waiting for a chance to do this. "But he does roll his head to the side and looks at Passion for a moment, and raises an eyebrow. She did seem friendly with Lera, but... was it really his place to comment? <br />
<br />
Perhaps when he was more combobulated.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2016-03-25_-_Good_Morning_Misery2016-03-25 - Good Morning Misery2022-10-06T20:27:19Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Good Morning Misery'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''It is a terribly early hour of the morning, and Westar is a horrible executive.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Setsuna Higashi|Cure Passion]], [[Lera Camry]], [[Nori Ankou||La Sirene du Nord]], [[Fuu Hououji]], [[Iona Hikawa|Cure Fortune]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Tama Outer City<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2016-03-25 - Oct 10, 2014<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There are times that sit on boundaries. Dusk and dawn, noon and midnight - times that are when the feeling of the day changes. Temporal thresholds, perhaps. This hour isn't quite one of them, but it still sits in a grey area.<br />
<br />
It is -early-. Or late, perhaps, viewed through a different lens. But this is an hour when trains do not run, birds do not sing, and the city is as silent as it could be. It is early, in that no one is starting their day just yet - students slumber, workers rest their heads, and even the most ambitious bakers are rolling over and waiting a little longer before getting started. It is late, in that even the most vibrant of night lives have drawn to a close, when enthusiasm and alcohol can no longer stand vigilant against the call of sleep.<br />
<br />
Somewhere between four and five AM, Tokyo rests as much as it ever does. To be awake now is to sacrifice any hope of sleeping soundly again before school and work let out their calls - this is the hour when even songbirds rest.<br />
<br />
And then, in the heart of residential districts...a yawn. "Make up for Eas's share of Misery Energy? Fine. Nakewameke..." Another yawn, and a slurp. "...obey my command!"<br />
<br />
There it is. That terrible noise - all of them, and yet particular noises find their marks with an accuracy only dark magic can grant. The beeping, the buzzing, the chipper little tunes - the sound of an alarm clock, at three times the volume, loud as can be. A blaring that does not cease, even when snooze buttons are frantically mashed or smashed. There are cries of despair and misery from every corner as everyone, young and old, gets an incredibly rude awakening.<br />
<br />
And it just won't stop. Bleary eyes might spot it - a black alarm clock, golden numbers blazing the absurd hour for one and all to see, grown to mammoth proportions with mighty metal limbs to support it. A Nakewameke, causing misery without having to smash so much as a lamp. Just standing proud and tall, waking up -everyone-.<br />
<br />
And nearby, on a rooftop, stands its commander. Westar, denizen of Labyrinth, faithful servant of Mobius, and holding a cup of coffee large enough to engulf the average mascot.<br />
<br />
"GOOOOOOOD MORNING TOKYO!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar transforms into Nakewameke!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 5 opponents!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Nori Ankou.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Iona Hikawa.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Setsuna Higashi.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry perfectly dodges Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Dodge! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to dodge Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Fuu Hououji! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Setsuna Higashi! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Nori Ankou narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Nori Ankou's Block ability activates! Nori Ankou's Parry ability activates! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Nori Ankou! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Iona Hikawa narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Iona Hikawa's Block ability activates! Iona Hikawa's Parry ability activates! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Iona Hikawa! <br />
<br>COIN FLIP: Iona Hikawa flips a coin. It lands on tails!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Lera's alarm clock is going off -- buzzing incessantly. The Midchildan is unflappable, though, and she rolls over in her bed. She doesn't even blink at it; she doesn't even wake up. She knows how much time she has. She scarcely even notices when she reaches her hand out, presses the "Sleep" button, and nothing happens.<br />
<br />
She remains still for a moment. Then, slowly, one amber eye opens up. "What's going on?"<br />
<br />
'GOOOOOOOD MORNING TOKYO!'<br />
<br />
&lt;I want to hit him. Lera. We need to hit him. I require my standard eight hour recharge period!> Soaring Sky snaps.<br />
<br />
"Y-You actually don't, y'know?"<br />
<br />
It is a short while later that a streak of red-orange cuts across the dawn sky. At the head of it is the fabulous mage-adventurer, Lera Camry; she lands, green coat fluttering after her, and she looks -- impossibly -- refreshed and awake. "Westie!" she snaps up at his rooftop. "This is not cool, y'know! Th-this is gonna wake everyone up! This--"<br />
<br />
&lt;--is unforgivable!> Soaring Sky interrupts. &lt;I was in the middle of a wonderful recharge process which you so rudely interrupted! I gather these Earth humans require similar and I'm sure that's very fascinating! But let us focus on the problem at hand: YOU INTERRUPTED MY RECHARGE PROCESS!><br />
<br />
Lera turns her head, looks down at Sky, and makes a face. "...Sky," she grumbles. "That's... no!"<br />
<br />
Then, she looks back at the Nakewameke, and points her sword directly for it. There is a shimmer up the length of the blade -- and a bolt of golden light, tinged red and orange at the edges -- fires up for the Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry transforms into Barrier Jacket Perihelion!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Aurora Bolt on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Lera Camry's Aurora Bolt, taking 8 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP<br />
<br />
"Wh..." Setsuna stirs, rolling over in her bed and trying to cover her head with her pillow. She reaches out, vaguely, with one hand, fumbling around to try to find her phone. "Don't..." <br />
<br />
It drops onto the ground. <br />
<br />
Blearily, she stretches out, trying to find it beside the bed, wincing. She throws the blanket over her head, too. <br />
<br />
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. <br />
<br />
"Whyy..." <br />
<br />
THUD. <br />
<br />
Setsuna reaches a little too far, and tumbles hard onto her floor. "What... Owwww..." <br />
<br />
She finally opens her eyes, and then picks up her phone, opening up to see... there's... it's not turning off. "....Love, turn off your alarm!!" she calls from the next room over. "It's so early!" <br />
<br />
But it doesn't turn off. Nobody turns it off. BEEP BEEP BEEP...<br />
<br />
Setsuna often doesn't sleep great on the /best/ of nights, and now--...now... <br />
<br />
She stands up, rubbing her arm from where she bashed it falling, and looks up the window glumly. ...That's when she sees--<br />
<br />
'GOOD MORNING TOKYO!' <br />
<br />
"..." <br />
<br />
Setsuna's left eye twitches. "...Westar." <br />
<br />
NOT LONG AFTER:<br />
<br />
A flash of crimson light hops from one building to the next, landing down on the ground in short order not far from Lera. <br />
<br />
"His name is /Westar/," she grumbles, and Cure Passion's brilliant red eyes are ringed with obvious fatigue. ...They're red-rimmed. There are bags under her eyes. Somehow, even her glorious pink hair is ruffled. <br />
<br />
"WESTAR!" Cure Passion calls. ...It doesn't, for a moment, particularly /sound/ like Cure Passion. It sounds like... <br />
<br />
Well, it sounds like what usually happened if Westar's alarm managed to wake Setsuna Higashi up. <br />
<br />
"It's... five o'clock..." <br />
<br />
She looks up at the Nakewameke, and then at him, eye still twitching, "IN THE MORNING!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi transforms into Cure Passion!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Impassioned Feeling on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
3:30 AM<br />
<br />
Nori Ankou, who had slept after class and then gone for a run, lays back down in her civilian guise, comfortable in the carefully cultivated fortress of softness and pale fabrics within which she could pass days, weeks, perhaps months. Her phone and Batiste's (in matching otterboxes) are charging on the nightstand. The moon is gentle. Everything is as nice as it can be in this world. <br />
<br />
And she sleeps. <br />
<br />
But before she can drift into the wonderful realm of dreams... <br />
<br />
4:XX AM <br />
<br />
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ <br />
<br />
Batiste whines piteously and hides his face in his paws. Nori Ankou's eyes snap open. After some fiddling, it simply doesn't STOP. <br />
<br />
After thirty seconds of fiddling, Nori Ankou grasps the decorative little lantern she often keeps on a shelf. It gleams darkly. The scent of the sea rises -- <br />
<br />
NOW <br />
<br />
La Sirene has learned how to drizzle unlight, like the oil on the old wheels of trains, around her, and conceal her passage. As such she might seem to just /appear/ out of nowhere on one of the nearby roofs, though it's really more that the light around her had been distorted for some time. Her eyes have managed somehow to be even paler and darker-ringed than is usually the case. <br />
<br />
"Nakewameke... Well," la Sirene du Nord says. Her eyes close for a moment. <br />
<br />
"Let's get to it," she says, as they open again, somehow even more shaded. <br />
<br />
That's when the shimmering unblack rays of that reversed light streak out of la Sirene's Pharos, even as she vaults with overenthusiastic energy from roof top to roof top, aiming to sweep and skirt and glance and perhaps find out just where the Nakewameke likes it least. <br />
<br />
She seems to be out of pithy things to say... /for now/ <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Nori Ankou transforms into La Sirene du Nord!<br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Pieces of the Perfect Black on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Passion's Impassioned Feeling, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Westar is Taunted! Exhausted and Stagger applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace La Sirene du Nord's Pieces of the Perfect Black, taking 24 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Blind applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Normally, Fuu Hououji is capable of rolling out of bed and greeting the day with her nigh-perpetual smile like nothing was wrong. However, the first problem is that she had a project to put the finishing touches on before handing it in today, and she pushed her bedtime later than normal because of course she didn't think there would be time to polish it off in the morning. What if she overslept? (Not that she usually does, but still ...)<br />
<br />
The *second* problem is the nature of what wakes her up. She's dimly aware, even as she reaches out of her blankets, that this doesn't sound like her normal alarm clock. It's also coming from the wrong direction; her alarm clock is on the nightstand to the left of her bed, and this incalculable cacophony is coming from her right - or was, while she was lying on her back.<br />
<br />
By the time she levers one eyelid open to look at why her clock's snooze button isn't working, Fuu is further awake than even she would claim any right to be at this hour ... and she sees exactly what hour that *is*.<br />
<br />
Still groggy (from insufficient sleep as well as whatever effects the Nakewameke's clamor is having), she nonetheless gets dressed properly for the day ahead, gathers her bag for school, sneaks down to the front door, puts her shoes on, and steps outside, latching the gate behind her. Only then -<br />
<br />
"Belief becomes power ... Winds -" A poorly-timed yawn interrupts her transformation call before she finishes, "Guide me!!"<br />
<br />
- does she transform, finally, into the Magic Knight of Wind. And only then does she realize that she should probably have left some kind of message so her family wouldn't wonder if she was abducted in the middle of the night ... well, she can text her mother later with an apology. That should give her time to figure out a properly suitable excuse, as well.<br />
<br />
At least FINDING the monster won't be any trouble, but the Wind Knight is in no shape to take the traditional Rooftop Express in pursuit of the calamitous clamor. So some of their neighbors might catch sight of a strangely-dressed teenager making her way along the sidewalks in something of a hurry.<br />
<br />
She's one of the slower magical girls to arrive, as a result - and she's certainly one of the quieter ones this morning. But sleep deprivation doesn't stop her from raising her bow, drawing back an arrow ...<br />
<br />
And trying to hit whatever passes for the Nakewameke's snooze button with that arrow. Or maybe the speaker.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji transforms into Magic Knight!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Trick Arrow Shot on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Trick Arrow Shot, taking 2 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Iona Hikawa [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The sounds of alarm clocks wake up even Iona Hikawa, she of the strict regimented sleep cycle. While she's usually awake and ready to go the moment she wakes up on time, disrupting her routine does not sit well with her. And so it is that a bleary-eyed Hikawa opens her eyes to the very, very loud noises. She grumbles as she rustles her arms around, trying to find the alarm clock. When she finds it, she hits the sleep button... and it still continues. So she continues to hit the button. When the sound continues, she finally sits herself up, trying to figure out how to wake up fully and clear the alarm. <br />
<br />
When the alarms continued, even past a minute or two, she yells down to her sister. "Maria! Turn off your alarm! It's really loud!"<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for Iona, there's no response, and it takes the bleary Cure a few moments to realize that her sister isn't around anymore.<br />
<br />
It's about this point that Glassan stirs from her little bed, sitting up and looking around. "Iona, what's that noise?"<br />
<br />
"It's my alarm clock... and my sister's alarm clock... and my grandfather's." Fairy and Cure look at one another for a few moments, and then look outside. Iona sweeps the curtains aside to look outside, and while Westar and his alarm-clocky antics weren't visible from where Iona lives, there's a /lot/ of sounds coming from a /lot/ of alarm clocks.<br />
<br />
Glassan looks at Iona again, and sighs tiredly. "You better transform."<br />
<br />
Iona lets out a similar tired sigh. "Right."<br />
<br />
One transformation with cheerful music later, and Cure Fortune comes streaking out of the skies to give the Nakewameke the most /ferocious/ drop kick. Regardless if she hits or the monster manages to avert her kick, she leaps away from it to get some distance, and slowly draws a star with one arm. "The star of hope that glitters in the night--" Cure Fortune yawns. "sky. Cure Fortune!"<br />
<br />
Glassan follows behind moments later, yelling to Fortune. "Beat him up, Cure Fortune!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Iona Hikawa transforms into Cure Fortune!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Star Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Fortune's Fortune Star Kick, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The skies are dark. On the distant horizon to the east, perhaps there's a hint of light - but a hint, and nothing more. It is early, and no one wants to be doing anything.<br />
<br />
But there's an awful lot of yelling. The Nakewameke doesn't even need to move much - and it actually seems sluggish, itself - to cause people outrage and misery. Across the district, people are waking up unexpectedly, and while there isn't a whole lot of sorrow there's a great deal of misery. Surrounded by shouts of anger, Westar yawns and takes another slug of coffee.<br />
<br />
...it takes a moment before he realizes some of those shouts are aimed at him.<br />
<br />
"Wha...you!" He points down at Lera from his rooftop. "That's the point! This is a misery I know well, and- hang on. Your devices sleep? Bardiche never mentioned that..."<br />
<br />
And then there is a shout of absolute rage, and Westar goes pale - the coffee falling from his grip to splatter somewhere below. "E-Eas! It, uh..." He turns, and sees Eas...no, Passion, in a rage. ...and then frowns, hand twitching around the cup it no longer holds. "...h-hey! Eas! It absolutely is - and all this is your fault!....you never turned off your alarm clock when you left, and it wakes me up every single day off!"<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke, meanwhile, continues blaring its reveille for one and all to hear. It's slow and bulky today, and heavy metal deflects both Lera's bolt and Fuu's sleep-deprived arrow. That takes two hands, though - and so la Sirene's darkened blasts find their mark, obscuring those flashing numbers with something akin to ink. "M-MORNING RES-"<br />
<br />
And then Cure Fortune descends from above to kick it in the snooze button. Blissfully, if briefly, everything is returned to blessed silence.<br />
<br />
"....WAKE UUUUP!" It didn't snooze long - and while the beeping hasn't built to the same volume again, it's starting to move. One hand reaches out to grab Cure Fortune on the rebound, and another reaches for the roof-hopping Sirene. It also moves forward, heavy metal foot descending upon Lera's general position...<br />
<br />
And though the numbers are obscured, it turns to face Fuu and Passion, alarm blaring all the louder.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on La Sirene du Nord.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Incessant Alarm on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Incessant Alarm on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Incessant Alarm, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! Stun applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord narrowly counters Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 21 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord's counterattack, Les Mysteres, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune fails to dodge Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 51 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Cure Fortune! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly braces Westar's Incessant Alarm, taking 13 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry perfectly counters Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Lera Camry's Reverse ability activates! Lera Camry's Tactician ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry's counterattack, Sentinel Flash, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Set--Passion!" Lera cries out, as the red Cure drops down. Others, too, arrive on the street. "Everyone! We've got to--"<br />
<br />
&lt;Stop this thing!> Sky interrupts again. &lt;And it isn't sleep! It's a recharge cycle! I doubt Bardiche would see fit to mention to you!><br />
<br />
Lera's eyebrow twitches slightly. But, then she sees the huge foot come crashing down for her, and her eyes widen. She swings the sword up, and a cross-shaped burst of light flashes from it. The foot hits -- and then bounces backward, as Lera skids away quickly, taking a couple of deep breaths. "Don't blame it on her, Westie! She--that's ridiculous! Just go unplug the alarm, y'know!"<br />
<br />
She swings her sword-device to one side. Light flashes along it, before Lera goes airborne for a moment. "C'mon, Cure Passion!" she yells. "Let's show this big ugly alarm clock who's boss!"<br />
<br />
&lt;DEVICE RESPECT KIIIIIIIIIIICK!> Soaring Sky bellows. Lera floats there, dumbfounded, until Sky adds: <Lera! Kick him! Hurry!><br />
<br />
"Th--that's not how it wooooorks!" Lera whines, before she accelerates -- and spins, launching a brutal kick at the Nakewameke's clock.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Sonic Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> La Sirene du Nord [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The sun may rise in the EAS, but that doesn't give him an excuse. There will be, it seems, no Morning Rescue for this creature. <br />
<br />
La Sirene's bleary eyes turn. Yes, she thinks. Propane (wasn't it?) and those other girls. Cure Passion, Cure Fortune, and the Magic Knight... yes. <br />
<br />
But with only minutes to spare - well, she finds that she's HANDED a major problem. "LES MYSTERES," La Sirene says, but - she's a little slow. From the lack of agility in her signature counterspell comes the dire fate of being HELD TIGHT. Her arms are pinned! Her Pharos is... not really usable now! She kicks and squirms even as she's squeezed! <br />
<br />
"Curse you! You demon from the pit! I was asleep! My OTTER was asleep! He needs to sleep a LOT, because he is not like you and me!! You're going to injure his health and as the hall of mystery is my witness I won't forgive you!!" la Sirene hisses and spits as she struggles!<br />
<br />
Then she sees Lera kick. She stops struggling during this. <br />
<br />
And then la Sirene ooches around, pulling one arm out of her coat's sleeve in order to get some room to do so and administering a bunch of kicks up at the underside of the "hand" grasping onto her, aiming to crush it beneath the blows of her lovely, but definitely thick, heavy and ruggedly nautical boots! As she does, she pulls herself steadily lower, aiming to slip that grasp -- <br />
<br />
And fall to a rooftop! Hopefully a roof top. Maybe a road below. Who knows. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Salute the Four Corners on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
This monster is quickly becoming one of the most offensive of its sort that the Wind Knight can recall doing battle with - and not just in counterpoint to, say, a defensively-oriented Nakewameke. On the other hand, the wall of sound which assails the green-clad Magic Knight seems to give her an idea; she shifts her bow to her right hand, aiming her left hand with its glove-jewel at the giant animate alarm clock, and shouts as loudly as she can over the ceaseless racket:<br />
<br />
"WINDS OF ADMONISHMENT!!"<br />
<br />
Sound has to travel through the air, after all; the whirlwind which manifests as a result of her spell-call is meant to trap an enemy within its currents, and possibly she's hoping it'll have the effect of muffling - if not muting - the blaring noise from the monster. On the plus side, she's starting to look more awake than she did when she got here.<br />
<br />
... time will tell whether that's a plus for her personally, or for her allies, or only for the Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Admonishment on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Passion is /livid/. ...Westar drops his coffee under her stare, and--<br />
<br />
"And now you're LITTERING!" The pink-haired warrior pauses, though, frowning up at Westar's answer to her. "W-what? MY fault!? But you're--" <br />
<br />
...Her... <br />
<br />
That's... Well, /that/ part may actually be her fault. <br />
<br />
"Just go--" Passion turns to Lera, who chimes in on her behalf. "Right! Whatever, so I forgot! That doesn't mean you should wake everyone /else/ up! ...Besides! You don't need sleep!" <br />
<br />
Right. Show him who's--<br />
<br />
Setsuna's lip twitches. "His name is /Westar/!" she insists, turning to frown at Lera. "Not Westie, /Westar/!" <br />
<br />
But at that, the noise gets to her again, Passion covering her ears as she crouches against the pain. "Aaaah--" <br />
<br />
"And you're insulting Sky! And you're hurting an otter! ...And I had nothing to do with your stupid monster!" <br />
<br />
"And--Haaaaaaaah--!" <br />
<br />
Cure Passion leaps upward, kicks off a building, and /charges/ almost faster than she can be seen at the Nakewameke, slipping past underneath and then ringing out with a vicious kick along the way.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Flash Feint on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune, either because she's tired as all get out, or because she's legitimately not expecting it, gets suddenly grabbed by the giant hand of the awakened morning "Hey!" Fortune shouts, as she tries to pull her arms free. There's a part of Fortune who really wants eye laserbeams right about now. She glares at Westar, spilt coffee and all. If /she/ had eye lasers, oh he would be really sorry right now.<br />
<br />
Eventually she does manage to pull an arm free, and uses it to punch the giant hand right next to where her other arm is pinned, trying to get that free. If she gets both arms free, oh the punches she could give Westar right now. Instead, she just lets her tiredness and crankiness out on the hand that's holding her.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Flurry on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Cure Passion's Flash Feint, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace La Sirene du Nord's Salute the Four Corners, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Bind Break! All of La Sirene du Nord's debuffs are cleared! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortune Flurry, taking 9 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Lera Camry's Sonic Kick, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Lera Camry is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Winds of Admonishment, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! Trap applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke's first assault is a brutal wake-up call - but is met with alert opposition. There's a terrible noise - but after a few moments, Fuu's wind manages to blunt the worst of it. There's grasping arms, one of which smashes through a shadowy mystery only to lose its grip moments later.<br />
<br />
Fortune's imprisonment is a bit more secure - but this leaves her in prime position to do some pummelling, the clock-monster letting out a groan as she hammers its arm. The stomp is the worst move made, that step forward actually rebounding - and then Lera kicks, and Passion kicks harder, and la Sirene gets in a few solid hits.<br />
<br />
It looks to Westar for commands. Westar...is busy arguing with just about everyone.<br />
<br />
"Recharge cycle, sleep, same thing! Labyrinth calls it a rest period, but we're on Earth - so it's sleep!" He points at Lera's device, then shifts attention to her. "What!? Now who's being ridiculous! I can't - Hey! Respect my Nakewameke too, dangit!"<br />
<br />
La Sirene, once free, gets a dose of yelling as well. "Otters are just swimming ferrets, and I'll gladly wake those things up!" He has to raise his voice to reach above the wind - and folds his arms, glaring right back at Cure Fortune.<br />
<br />
And Passion, of course, is livid. "Litter - That's your fault too! I need sleep just as much as you do - and you're not doing your share of gathering Misery Energy, so I have to get up early! This is on you!"<br />
<br />
A bit childish, perhaps. The Nakewameke...shrugs, as only a giant alarm-clock-robot can, and starts blaring loudly again - squeezing Cure Fortune a little tighter, and stomping forward.<br />
<br />
The noise level violations continue.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Such Misfortune on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on La Sirene du Nord.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion fails to brace Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly counters Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 10 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji's counterattack, Spinning Slash, partially gets through, doing 7 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord fails to brace Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to La Sirene du Nord! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly braces Westar's Such Misfortune, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry perfectly dodges Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Lera Camry's Fade ability activates! Lera Camry's Flash ability activates! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"What? But--it's fine if I call him, Westie, y'know? He looks like a Westie!" Lera retorts to Setsuna, mid-kick. She bounces backward and shakes her head quickly, before she wrinkles her nose -- and then she grumbles at him. "Y-Your Nakewameke is plenty scary! It has to go, Westie!"<br />
<br />
She may be stubborn. Despite her prowess and luck in this battle thus far, Lera Camry is no mornings person.<br />
<br />
"You've upset Sky, you're making La Sirene du Nord upset, you've gotten her /otter/ angry, and you're--you're making me have an argument with my girlfriend!" she snaps back. Her cheeks redden, before she flies in quickly, doing a tight spin. She leaves a trail of light after her. &lt;Yes! And whatever you call it... you interrupted it! UNACCEPTABLE!><br />
<br />
She spins in midair, sword gripped in two hands. Plasma fire ignites up the side of the blade, crackling and wavering. <Inferno Slasher!> Sky cries out, as she slashes hard at the digital display of the alarm clock -- and an explosive blast of flame shoots off just as she strikes.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Inferno Slasher on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Lera Camry's Inferno Slasher, taking 38 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Tarte is not a /ferret/!" Passion calls back, offended on her tiny friend's behalf. "He's a fairy! An adorable fairy!" <br />
<br />
Passion ducks again under the Nakewameke's arm, amidst... Well, amidst arguing. That's what she's really doing here. She is tired, it /shows/ how tired she is, and she is cranky. And--<br />
<br />
"His name is not WESTIE!" Passion argues back, frowning as she hops to get herself into a better position to find her next strike. "It's Westar! He doesn't look like a Westie, he's the Executive from the western district! It's not fine!" <br />
<br />
Not that she's done.<br />
<br />
"Of course I'm not doing my share! I don't even HAVE a share!! And maybe you wouldn't need so much sleep if you weren't so loud all the time! Always clank, clank, CLANK right in the middle of everything!!" <br />
<br />
She stumbles, covering her ears again, the hearts on her headband shining in what light there is as she does. It /hurts/. <br />
<br />
"And--" Passion looks up, and sees Cure Fortune, gritting her teeth as she sees her sister Cure in such a position. "I won't let you keep doing this!" she shouts. <br />
<br />
...It might lack the usual moral gravitas, given her shouting, but that doesn't matter. Passion flips upward and /kicks/ down as hard as she can, glaring at the Nakewameke the whole time. <br />
<br />
"Let GO! And stop ringing already!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Obey My Command on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Arguably it's just as well that the Wind Knight doesn't have to contend with Westar trying to argue with her; 'awake enough to defend herself' doesn't translate very well into 'awake enough to hold her own in a debate'. She is, however, alert enough to swap bow for sword when the Nakewameke approaches into melee range.<br />
<br />
(One nice thing about weapons that materialize when needed and dematerialize when not required: you don't lose time rummaging around in your inventory for the right equipment at a crucial moment. Real-time action RPGs generally pause the action while you're poking around equipment screens for a *very good reason*, after all - and those that don't have their own reasons for it, by and large.)*<br />
<br />
The sword finishes materializing just in time for the Wind Knight to retaliate properly when the Nakewameke smacks her; she slashes back at it - sort of trying to cut Cure Fortune free, but more concerned with damaging the monster (and not QUITE trusting her aim enough not to hurt the Pretty Cure). Then she steps back and to the side, trying to circle around and get behind the Nakewameke. If this monster is as much like a modern alarm clock as it seems, then ...<br />
<br />
Well, she barely needs to LOOK for the speaker grill - walking in front of it brings a noticeably more intense sonic assault. At this rate, she's going to have *two* headaches by the time the fight is over: one from too little sleep, and a similar one from all the noise she has to endure in this fight. But she's not going to let a headache (or two of them) stop her from doing her best -<br />
<br />
And her kiai as she tries to stab into and destroy the clock's speaker, or whatever passes for it, is more likely than not to be *completely* drowned out. Yay for inadvertant stealth?<br />
<br />
Well, she wasn't exactly subtle about maneuvering for a backstab, either.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Are These Wires Important on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Tarte is not a /ferret/!" Passion calls back, offended on her tiny friend's behalf. "He's a fairy! An adorable fairy!" <br />
<br />
Passion ducks again under the Nakewameke's arm, amidst... Well, amidst arguing. That's what she's really doing here. She is tired, it /shows/ how tired she is, and she is cranky. And--<br />
<br />
"His name is not WESTIE!" Passion argues back, frowning as she hops to get herself into a better position to find her next strike. "It's Westar! He doesn't look like a Westie, he's the Executive from the western district! It's not fine!" <br />
<br />
Not that she's done.<br />
<br />
"Of course I'm not doing my share! I don't even HAVE a share!! And maybe you wouldn't need so much sleep if you weren't so loud all the time! Always clank, clank, CLANK right in the middle of everything!!" <br />
<br />
She stumbles, covering her ears again, the hearts on her headband shining in what light there is as she does. It /hurts/. <br />
<br />
"And--" Passion looks up, and sees Cure Fortune, gritting her teeth as she sees her sister Cure in such a position. "I won't let you keep doing this!" she shouts. <br />
<br />
...It might lack the usual moral gravitas, given her shouting, but that doesn't matter. Passion flips upward and /kicks/ down as hard as she can, glaring at the Nakewameke the whole time she tries to drive down at its wrist. <br />
<br />
"Let GO! And stop ringing already! And--" She frowns at Lera, "We are not /fighting/!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> La Sirene du Nord [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Don't blame others for your lack of wisdom and cruelty! I mean the cruelty you have," la Sirene echoes after Cure Passion chides Westar. "Not that you have a lack of it, doing such a wicked thing!!" <br />
<br />
But then Westar adds insult to injury. <br />
<br />
"J... just swimming ferrets...?!" <br />
<br />
La Sirene's face blanches. <br />
<br />
"JUST swimming ferrets? You foolish fool! Otters show us that no matter how hard we may feel confined by where we live, whether on stone or in sea, we have the power to change where we are. Otters show us that even in a hard-scrabble life full of sorrow there is always room for comfort, for play, for companionship, for a lazy dinner out or for a sign of true friendship!" <br />
<br />
La Sirene topples through the air and lands on the edge of a nearby roof. Sliding her arm back into her coat sleeve, she declares with a narrowing of her sleep-deprived eyes, "When they sleep together at sea... Otters will hold each others' hands!! So they won't drift away!!" <br />
<br />
"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT OTTERS!!" La Sirene screams with curiously resonant force. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Otter Facts 4 U on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune continues to linger in the fist, punching it back and forth as it pulls her around the battlefield. At least, that's until it squeezes Fortune pretty hard. She stops punching at this point, and tries to push the fingers apart, to try first of all to keep it from completely crushing her, but at the same time also try and create enough space for her to escape. <br />
<br />
Her early-morning haze, thanks to getting grabbed and swung about, is starting to clear, and finally Fortune realizes there's more magical girls trying to fight the Nakewameke. In fact, she's pretty sure she's seen them all before. She watches the Magic Knight and the red-dressed Cure try to help her get free from the monster<br />
<br />
She then turns away as she curls her hands together and brings it down on the wrist of the monster, to try and free her from its grasp.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Hammer Time on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Passion's Obey My Command, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Westar is Quipped! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Are These Wires Important, taking 4 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces La Sirene du Nord's Otter Facts 4 U, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! La Sirene du Nord is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Hammer Time, taking 9 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Westie?! -Eas is right! It's Westaaaaaaar!" Westar lets out a big yawn, in the midst of this battle; without any coffee for himself, even he's feeling the hour. There's anger from Lera, and Soaring Sky, and just about everyone - and he lets out another yawn while the Nakewameke fights.<br />
<br />
It's a straightforward rampage, and for the most part it carries forward regardless of anything in its way - that is, up until it takes another blazing strike to the Snooze Button, this time courtesy of Lera. Cure Fortune is free to hammer at the wrist again, and with Cure Passion's kick added in, the hand falls slack entirely. Fuu, meanwhile, is free to to a bit of precise stabbing for a few moments before the Nakewameke jolts awake once more. "NAKEWAMEKEEEE!"<br />
<br />
...at least the alarm has stopped. It's still loud, but not ear-piercingly loud.<br />
<br />
Westar, meanwhile, is being yelled at on two fronts. "I make noise during the day, and sleep at night! That's how it's supposed to work, except when SOME PEOPLE leave their alarm on when they apparently plan to leave forever! Clean up your room already! Your share and your room!" He turns, confronting Sirene's anger. "They're Mist - whatever! Earth animals are earth animals, and all that friendship doesn't matter back in Labyrinth!"<br />
<br />
He pauses for a second, brow furrowed - and whirls back to Lera and Passion a moment. "And you two totally are arguing! Nakewameke - split them apart!"<br />
<br />
It obliges - lunging forward at the pair of them. Lera, it tries to catch entirely; Passion, it tries to scoop up only long enough to hurl after the other Cure. It whirls around, storming toward Fuu and La Sirene - even without the noise, it's alarmingly fast...<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Passionate Throw on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Passionate Throw on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on La Sirene du Nord.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji perfectly dodges Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry fails to dodge Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 40 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Lera Camry! <br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord fails to brace Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 27 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Passionate Throw, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! Stagger applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune fails to dodge Westar's Passionate Throw, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stagger applied to Cure Fortune! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"He is so a Westie! Just look at him, y'know!" Lera answers Setsuna, before her nose wrinkles. "A-And we're--" They are totally fighting, but she doesn't want to say that to Setsuna directly. "...He is totally a Westie!"<br />
<br />
She is busy 'not' fighting to the extent that she is surprised at the Nakewameke's sudden approach and Westar's orders. Her eyes shoot wide open -- the hand catches onto Lera, snatching her out of the air. She yelps; the fingers begin to wrap tightly around her, starting to crush her, and she hisses softly. Her arms, at least, are lifted over its fingers.<br />
<br />
She still has a grip on Soaring Sky. She looks sideways at Setsuna, and the frustration from a moment before is gone. She looks back at Westar and the Nakewameke, and something more instinctive takes over. "You... you can't keep us apart!"<br />
<br />
She doesn't mean arguing.<br />
<br />
"Passion!" she cries out. "You--you go in close! I'm gonna get that thing to you!"<br />
<br />
<Let's do this! Both of you! For the sake of completed recharge cycles!><br />
<br />
"Th--that isn't why we're doing this!"<br />
<br />
Lera is still gripped in the Nakewameke's hand. She doesn't care. She aims her sword at the Nakewameke with both hands; the blade splits up the middle, forks of lightning shooting between the split blade halves. A bright white glow gathers, while a trio of spinning control rings with runes inside them appear. The rings of light shimmer.<br />
<br />
<Aurora Burst...><br />
<br />
Then, the beam fires. It explodes down the middle of the trio of rings, guided by them -- and then right for the side of the Nakewameke. The blast attempts to push it directly into Cure Passion's path!<br />
<br />
"...RAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Lera Camry has started a combo targeting Westar!<br />
}}COIN FLIP: Cure Fortune flips a coin. It lands on heads!<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
This time, the Wind Knight is fast enough on the uptake to leap away before the clock monster can trample her. She alights on a lamppost nearby without even realizing it, and after a moment's wobbling, reacquires her balance. "You do realize that if Eas-san has taken permanent leave of Labyrinth, there's nothing to stop you from turning off her alarm yourself, right?" she points out to Westar.<br />
<br />
Apparently she's awake enough by now to try throwing logic at an inherently illogical argument.<br />
<br />
She's also alert enough to hop back down to the ground, her skirts billowing a bit more than the movement should dictate - and not settling down; rather, the breeze picks up even further around her as her gaze focuses on the alarm clock Nakewameke. "And as for you, Nakewame-Tokei-san ... your duties end here!" The wind ruffling her clothes and hair picks up further as the Magic Knight of Wind draws her arms up and back ...<br />
<br />
"EMERALD CYCLONE!!!"<br />
<br />
And turns the full wrath of the tempest against the monster, holding back *only* just enough to spare her allies from unnecessary turbulence. It's possible she's still going to be cranky today, unless she manages to catch a bit more of a nap somewhere before classes start up.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Fuu Hououji has used Emerald Cyclone: Full on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"You stay out of this!" Passion snaps at Westar, looking away from where she was frowning Lera's way. "And stop calling me EAS!" <br />
<br />
Passion could be learning a lot about otters right now. She could be seeing something in Cure Fortune, who she's tried to help before. And a little bit, that's true. ...But also...<br />
<br />
"Clean it up yourself!" Passion snaps at Westar again. "You make noise with your stupid weights! And your stupid time in the middle of everything, and the stupid coffee you bring back and--"<br />
<br />
"NO!" <br />
<br />
Westar orders the Nakewameke to split them apart, and Passion's eyes go wide, her hart immediately gripped as if by that same hand. ...But then, she has her own problem in the same instant, hurled bodily at Cure Fortune, gripped hard enough that she only has time to try to shift out of the way of a tree that would otherwise be in her path. <br />
<br />
She hears Lera's instructions. <br />
<br />
"Right! ...I'm with you!" <br />
<br />
Setsuna glances to Fortune, to make sure she's all right--and then narrows her eyes. She looks at Lera, sees her starting to move, and she takes a breath, trying to calm herself just enough... <br />
<br />
"All right. ...She's counting on me. Let's..." <br />
<br />
'RAAAAAAAAY!' <br />
<br />
"Haaaaah--!" Cure Passion is in motion. She moves too quickly to be seen, now, a blur of red rushing towards the Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
She emerges /behind/ it, faced away, crouched down with her arm up still behind her. <br />
<br />
Only then will the impact of her too-quick flurry be felt. <br />
<br />
"...You /won't/ keep us apart."<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Passion has joined the combo started by Lera Camry!<br />
<br>COMBAT: COMBO! FINISHER! Lera Camry and Cure Passion have used Combo: Passion Burst, composed of Aurora Burst Ray and Fresh Moment, on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Finally, Cure Fortune is free! After ten thousand years! It's time to conquer--er, save the Earth! Or it seems like ten thousand years, anyway. Regardless, Cure Fortune immediately spreads her shirt wings and flies up into the air, to try and avoid such entanglements in the future. "Hey! If she doesn't live there anymore, and her alarm is bothering you, why don't you go inside and /turn it off/? I--" <br />
<br />
She stops and looks at Westar, then to Cure Passion. Then she looks at Westar again. Why was a dark general living with a Pretty Cure? Cure Fortune's face scrunches up as she tries to conceptualize a situation that this made sense. Was she... kidnapped? Was /he/ kidnapped? Maybe they were friends before they learned they were destined to fight each other? Maybe... lovers? That may explain why the monster's jockey was so adamant that she was arguing with one of the other girls.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune grabs her head as she tries to make sense of all of this, but she just sighs and yells back up. "It's way too early in the morning to start arguing!" She spins the dial on her PreBrace. "Pretty Cure..." She sweeps an arm above her head, and many tiny sparkling stars appear around her. "Staar Streaam!" She swings her hand forward, sending all of these stars towards the giant alarm clock, hoping to fill it with relaxation and happiness.<br />
<br />
And maybe with that happiness it will /stop making noise/.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Fortune has used Pretty Cure Star Stream on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Fuu Hououji's Finisher, Emerald Cyclone: Full, taking 53 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Finisher, Pretty Cure Star Stream, taking 23 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Lera Camry and Cure Passion's Finisher, Combo: Passion Burst, taking 187 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune has an admittedly good idea - but one that seems to stymie Westar. "But - that's her room!" He folds his arms, but can't help but let out another yawn - perhaps worried by the look in her eye. Whatever she's thinking... He turns to face Fuu, blinking blearily. "But if it's not permanent, then Eas will want her room back!"<br />
<br />
Westar logic.<br />
<br />
Lera and Cure Passion, in spite of the Nakewameke's best efforts, are determined to stay together. Even with Lera captured, Soaring Sky begins to shine; even flung away, Cure Passion starts charging forward. The Nakewameke bellows - but at least does not blare that alarm - and prepares to solve one problem by throwing the other.<br />
<br />
Then a cyclone rises up, binding it in place as the wind shreds away.<br />
<br />
Then stars shine brilliantly, smashing the time display and driving it back step after step.<br />
<br />
And then the couple strikes - blazing power smashing into the diamond, which shudders and fizzles - and a strike swift as lightning, making the whole monster go rigid.<br />
<br />
"Fizzz...."<br />
<br />
There's an eruption of smoke, billowing through the air...and when it clears, a simple alarm clock rests on the pavement. There's still the background noise of countless people grumbling about being up too early, but the monster itself is defeated at last.<br />
<br />
And Westar...Westar stares blankly at the aftermath of his monster. At the heroines triumphant, at Lera and Passion united again, at the general atmosphere of people being very irate...and all he can do is yawn again.<br />
<br />
"...fine. You win...today. I'm...going back to bed. But know this, Pretty Cure - and their allies!" He points - pauses - checks his phone. "...you've got school in something like two hours!"<br />
<br />
"...wait. I've got school in two hours!" And Westar flees, in despair and panic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune watches the monster fizzle and dissipate, breathing a sigh of relief as she slowly floats back down to the ground. She smiles, looking upon the battlefield, at the girl dispensing otter facts, and the Magic Wind Knight, and the Pretty Cure and that girl she knows.<br />
<br />
Maybe one of these days Fortune will learn their names, but that day isn't today.<br />
<br />
Westar talks about how they've only got two hours to get to school. She's not too surprised, only letting out a slight sigh. She turns to leave the battlefield, only to come face to face with Glassan, who looks like she's holding back... a sneeze? "Fortune, I feel the power of a good morning!" Cure Fortune can only just glare at the fairy, but there's a slight smile, as she rubs her partner's nose. The fairy sneezes, and out pops two cards from her purple ladybug backpack!<br />
<br />
...One of which is an adorable set of footy pajamas, and the other is a matching night-time hat. Cure Fortune takes these cards, looks at them... then immediately shuffles past them on her way off the battlefield, mumbling something like "I need to get to practice."<br />
<br />
Glassan takes this opportunity to address the other magical girls. "Well, ah, thank you all for saving the city, I'm sure Cure Fortune appreciates all of you, deep inside, and--"<br />
<br />
"Come along." Cure Fortune grabs Glassan by her backpack and pulls her away as the Cure shambles away, her tiredness preventing her from flying away.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Lera touches down on the ground -- the Nakewameke done away with -- and lets out a long breath, before she blinks her eyes a couple of times. She turns to look at Westar, then she opens her mouth. She doesn't say anything, until after he already is running away. She sighs, after that.<br />
<br />
"Westie..."<br />
<br />
She smiles awkwardly at Glassan; she glances at Fuu, too. Then she turns at Cure Passion, and starts to walk over to her. Her hand reaches up to the back of her head, scratching awkwardly as she does.<br />
<br />
"Nice punch!" she says. "You, um, you did really well, y'know?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The Magic Knight of Wind walks back over to Lera and the remaining Pretty Cure, removing her glasses for a moment and - after feeling around in her skirt pockets - materializing a handkerchief out of her glove-jewel to clean the lenses. "Are you two all right?" she inquires. "I can cast a healing spell on us before we go our separate ways ... I'm not sure if we're all going to the same school or not?"<br />
<br />
Well, it's half true - she's seen Lera around the Infinity campus often enough to know, at any rate. She only has a one-in-three chance of guessing the remaining Cure's scholastic setting of choice, though.<br />
<br />
(Maybe worse, but the Sister Schools do seem like absolute magnets for magical girls ...)<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
That sound is all too familiar to Cure Passion, even if she's used to hearing it from another position. The Nakewameke dissipates... <br />
<br />
"It's not temporary," Passion says, turning to look at Westar. "...I'm Pretty Cure, now." <br />
<br />
But she can't quite be happy about the victory. Her anger, at least, is fading. ...Mostly into exhaustion, as her shoulders sink slightly while Westar runs away. Two... Hours.. <br />
<br />
"It's Westar," Passion says again, more quietly, glancing down at the ground. <br />
<br />
She looks up again, putting on a smile despite herself, as Glassan looks at them. "I hope we can talk, sometime. Take care." <br />
<br />
Then, slowly, she looks to Lera. <br />
<br />
"...I guess I did, huh? We did it." She pauses, turning to look at Fuu. <br />
<br />
"...No, thank you. I'll be all right. I appreciate your help." <br />
<br />
She pauses, and then looks up at Lera again. ".../Westar/. Westar. You can say it."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"I'm all right!" Lera says to Fuu, with a bright smile; it's not quite felt -- she feels a little tired, and this is certainly more than a brisk jog before she goes to school -- but she wants to be sure it comes across. "The Barrier Jacket took the worst of it. You're okay, too, um--" She almost calls her by name. "--uuum, Super... Wind Knight?"<br />
<br />
<Splendid!> Soaring Sky sighs. <Please get me back home. I need to resume the recharge cycle. Honestly!><br />
<br />
Lera sighs. The Midchildan rolls her eyes, before she looks back at Setsuna. She nods down at her. They did do it! She hesitates, though, as she hears that. 'You can say it.' Lera's eyebrow raises at that.<br />
<br />
"I /could/," she agrees. Her smile comes back and turns playful, this time. "But... y'know!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Just 'Wind Knight,'" the Magic Knight of Wind says with a smile. "I suppose I should head to school and see if I can steal a bit of a nap before class time. Breakfast as well, possibly ..."<br />
<br />
She takes a moment to rub her eyes before putting her glasses back on. "This was likely one of the worst monster attacks, just for its timing. Of course that was deliberate, though ..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Sorry we interrupted you, Sky. You did really well, though!" <br />
<br />
...Passion may be indulgent of Sky for some reason. She smiles again to Fuu, too, though she does wait to see if she's also all right. The truth for her is that she's mostly tired. "It is early. Good luck with your classes... Wind Knight?" <br />
<br />
But... Lera hesitates. And then her eyebrow lifts. And then--<br />
<br />
Passion doesn't smile, playful or otherwise. Instead, she frowns, and something in her eyes looks... <br />
<br />
Hurt. <br />
<br />
Passion shakes her head. "No. I /don't/ know. ...Fine. Whatever. I'm going home." <br />
<br />
Cure Passion just turns around and starts walking.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"No kidding," Lera says to Fuu. "It has some timing, y'know?"<br />
<br />
She hesitates, when she looks back at Setsuna. She catches the hurt look in her eyes first and the smile vanishes from her face. She opens her mouth to say something else, but then she closes it and looks down at the ground. Soaring Sky goes conspicuously silent after that, as Cure Passion begins to walk away.<br />
<br />
Lera stands there, staring down at the ground awkwardly for a moment, before she looks at Fuu. The smile on her face, this time, is very forced. "I, um, I better... get going. See you at school, y'know?"<br />
<br />
She starts walking, and not coincidentally in the same direction as Passion did.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2016-03-25_-_Good_Morning_Misery2016-03-25 - Good Morning Misery2022-10-06T20:22:39Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Good Morning Misery'''..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Good Morning Misery'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''It is a terribly early hour of the morning, and Westar is a horrible executive.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Setsuna Higashi|Cure Passion]], [[Lera Camry]], [[Nori Ankou||La Sirene du Nord]], [[Fuu Hououji]], [[Iona Hikawa|Cure Fortune]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Tama Outer City<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2016-03-25 - Oct 10, 2014<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There are times that sit on boundaries. Dusk and dawn, noon and midnight - times that are when the feeling of the day changes. Temporal thresholds, perhaps. This hour isn't quite one of them, but it still sits in a grey area.<br />
<br />
It is -early-. Or late, perhaps, viewed through a different lens. But this is an hour when trains do not run, birds do not sing, and the city is as silent as it could be. It is early, in that no one is starting their day just yet - students slumber, workers rest their heads, and even the most ambitious bakers are rolling over and waiting a little longer before getting started. It is late, in that even the most vibrant of night lives have drawn to a close, when enthusiasm and alcohol can no longer stand vigilant against the call of sleep.<br />
<br />
Somewhere between four and five AM, Tokyo rests as much as it ever does. To be awake now is to sacrifice any hope of sleeping soundly again before school and work let out their calls - this is the hour when even songbirds rest.<br />
<br />
And then, in the heart of residential districts...a yawn. "Make up for Eas's share of Misery Energy? Fine. Nakewameke..." Another yawn, and a slurp. "...obey my command!"<br />
<br />
There it is. That terrible noise - all of them, and yet particular noises find their marks with an accuracy only dark magic can grant. The beeping, the buzzing, the chipper little tunes - the sound of an alarm clock, at three times the volume, loud as can be. A blaring that does not cease, even when snooze buttons are frantically mashed or smashed. There are cries of despair and misery from every corner as everyone, young and old, gets an incredibly rude awakening.<br />
<br />
And it just won't stop. Bleary eyes might spot it - a black alarm clock, golden numbers blazing the absurd hour for one and all to see, grown to mammoth proportions with mighty metal limbs to support it. A Nakewameke, causing misery without having to smash so much as a lamp. Just standing proud and tall, waking up -everyone-.<br />
<br />
And nearby, on a rooftop, stands its commander. Westar, denizen of Labyrinth, faithful servant of Mobius, and holding a cup of coffee large enough to engulf the average mascot.<br />
<br />
"GOOOOOOOD MORNING TOKYO!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar transforms into Nakewameke!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 5 opponents!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Nori Ankou.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Iona Hikawa.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Setsuna Higashi.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry perfectly dodges Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Dodge! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to dodge Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Fuu Hououji! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Setsuna Higashi! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Nori Ankou narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Nori Ankou's Block ability activates! Nori Ankou's Parry ability activates! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Nori Ankou! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Iona Hikawa narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Iona Hikawa's Block ability activates! Iona Hikawa's Parry ability activates! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Iona Hikawa! <br />
<br>COIN FLIP: Iona Hikawa flips a coin. It lands on tails!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Lera's alarm clock is going off -- buzzing incessantly. The Midchildan is unflappable, though, and she rolls over in her bed. She doesn't even blink at it; she doesn't even wake up. She knows how much time she has. She scarcely even notices when she reaches her hand out, presses the "Sleep" button, and nothing happens.<br />
<br />
She remains still for a moment. Then, slowly, one amber eye opens up. "What's going on?"<br />
<br />
'GOOOOOOOD MORNING TOKYO!'<br />
<br />
<I want to hit him. Lera. We need to hit him. I require my standard eight hour recharge period!> Soaring Sky snaps.<br />
<br />
"Y-You actually don't, y'know?"<br />
<br />
It is a short while later that a streak of red-orange cuts across the dawn sky. At the head of it is the fabulous mage-adventurer, Lera Camry; she lands, green coat fluttering after her, and she looks -- impossibly -- refreshed and awake. "Westie!" she snaps up at his rooftop. "This is not cool, y'know! Th-this is gonna wake everyone up! This--"<br />
<br />
<--is unforgivable!> Soaring Sky interrupts. <I was in the middle of a wonderful recharge process which you so rudely interrupted! I gather these Earth humans require similar and I'm sure that's very fascinating! But let us focus on the problem at hand: YOU INTERRUPTED MY RECHARGE PROCESS!><br />
<br />
Lera turns her head, looks down at Sky, and makes a face. "...Sky," she grumbles. "That's... no!"<br />
<br />
Then, she looks back at the Nakewameke, and points her sword directly for it. There is a shimmer up the length of the blade -- and a bolt of golden light, tinged red and orange at the edges -- fires up for the Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry transforms into Barrier Jacket Perihelion!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Aurora Bolt on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Lera Camry's Aurora Bolt, taking 8 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP<br />
<br />
"Wh..." Setsuna stirs, rolling over in her bed and trying to cover her head with her pillow. She reaches out, vaguely, with one hand, fumbling around to try to find her phone. "Don't..." <br />
<br />
It drops onto the ground. <br />
<br />
Blearily, she stretches out, trying to find it beside the bed, wincing. She throws the blanket over her head, too. <br />
<br />
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. <br />
<br />
"Whyy..." <br />
<br />
THUD. <br />
<br />
Setsuna reaches a little too far, and tumbles hard onto her floor. "What... Owwww..." <br />
<br />
She finally opens her eyes, and then picks up her phone, opening up to see... there's... it's not turning off. "....Love, turn off your alarm!!" she calls from the next room over. "It's so early!" <br />
<br />
But it doesn't turn off. Nobody turns it off. BEEP BEEP BEEP...<br />
<br />
Setsuna often doesn't sleep great on the /best/ of nights, and now--...now... <br />
<br />
She stands up, rubbing her arm from where she bashed it falling, and looks up the window glumly. ...That's when she sees--<br />
<br />
'GOOD MORNING TOKYO!' <br />
<br />
"..." <br />
<br />
Setsuna's left eye twitches. "...Westar." <br />
<br />
NOT LONG AFTER:<br />
<br />
A flash of crimson light hops from one building to the next, landing down on the ground in short order not far from Lera. <br />
<br />
"His name is /Westar/," she grumbles, and Cure Passion's brilliant red eyes are ringed with obvious fatigue. ...They're red-rimmed. There are bags under her eyes. Somehow, even her glorious pink hair is ruffled. <br />
<br />
"WESTAR!" Cure Passion calls. ...It doesn't, for a moment, particularly /sound/ like Cure Passion. It sounds like... <br />
<br />
Well, it sounds like what usually happened if Westar's alarm managed to wake Setsuna Higashi up. <br />
<br />
"It's... five o'clock..." <br />
<br />
She looks up at the Nakewameke, and then at him, eye still twitching, "IN THE MORNING!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi transforms into Cure Passion!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Impassioned Feeling on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
3:30 AM<br />
<br />
Nori Ankou, who had slept after class and then gone for a run, lays back down in her civilian guise, comfortable in the carefully cultivated fortress of softness and pale fabrics within which she could pass days, weeks, perhaps months. Her phone and Batiste's (in matching otterboxes) are charging on the nightstand. The moon is gentle. Everything is as nice as it can be in this world. <br />
<br />
And she sleeps. <br />
<br />
But before she can drift into the wonderful realm of dreams... <br />
<br />
4:XX AM <br />
<br />
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ <br />
<br />
Batiste whines piteously and hides his face in his paws. Nori Ankou's eyes snap open. After some fiddling, it simply doesn't STOP. <br />
<br />
After thirty seconds of fiddling, Nori Ankou grasps the decorative little lantern she often keeps on a shelf. It gleams darkly. The scent of the sea rises -- <br />
<br />
NOW <br />
<br />
La Sirene has learned how to drizzle unlight, like the oil on the old wheels of trains, around her, and conceal her passage. As such she might seem to just /appear/ out of nowhere on one of the nearby roofs, though it's really more that the light around her had been distorted for some time. Her eyes have managed somehow to be even paler and darker-ringed than is usually the case. <br />
<br />
"Nakewameke... Well," la Sirene du Nord says. Her eyes close for a moment. <br />
<br />
"Let's get to it," she says, as they open again, somehow even more shaded. <br />
<br />
That's when the shimmering unblack rays of that reversed light streak out of la Sirene's Pharos, even as she vaults with overenthusiastic energy from roof top to roof top, aiming to sweep and skirt and glance and perhaps find out just where the Nakewameke likes it least. <br />
<br />
She seems to be out of pithy things to say... /for now/ <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Nori Ankou transforms into La Sirene du Nord!<br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Pieces of the Perfect Black on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Passion's Impassioned Feeling, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Westar is Taunted! Exhausted and Stagger applied to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace La Sirene du Nord's Pieces of the Perfect Black, taking 24 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Blind applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Normally, Fuu Hououji is capable of rolling out of bed and greeting the day with her nigh-perpetual smile like nothing was wrong. However, the first problem is that she had a project to put the finishing touches on before handing it in today, and she pushed her bedtime later than normal because of course she didn't think there would be time to polish it off in the morning. What if she overslept? (Not that she usually does, but still ...)<br />
<br />
The *second* problem is the nature of what wakes her up. She's dimly aware, even as she reaches out of her blankets, that this doesn't sound like her normal alarm clock. It's also coming from the wrong direction; her alarm clock is on the nightstand to the left of her bed, and this incalculable cacophony is coming from her right - or was, while she was lying on her back.<br />
<br />
By the time she levers one eyelid open to look at why her clock's snooze button isn't working, Fuu is further awake than even she would claim any right to be at this hour ... and she sees exactly what hour that *is*.<br />
<br />
Still groggy (from insufficient sleep as well as whatever effects the Nakewameke's clamor is having), she nonetheless gets dressed properly for the day ahead, gathers her bag for school, sneaks down to the front door, puts her shoes on, and steps outside, latching the gate behind her. Only then -<br />
<br />
"Belief becomes power ... Winds -" A poorly-timed yawn interrupts her transformation call before she finishes, "Guide me!!"<br />
<br />
- does she transform, finally, into the Magic Knight of Wind. And only then does she realize that she should probably have left some kind of message so her family wouldn't wonder if she was abducted in the middle of the night ... well, she can text her mother later with an apology. That should give her time to figure out a properly suitable excuse, as well.<br />
<br />
At least FINDING the monster won't be any trouble, but the Wind Knight is in no shape to take the traditional Rooftop Express in pursuit of the calamitous clamor. So some of their neighbors might catch sight of a strangely-dressed teenager making her way along the sidewalks in something of a hurry.<br />
<br />
She's one of the slower magical girls to arrive, as a result - and she's certainly one of the quieter ones this morning. But sleep deprivation doesn't stop her from raising her bow, drawing back an arrow ...<br />
<br />
And trying to hit whatever passes for the Nakewameke's snooze button with that arrow. Or maybe the speaker.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji transforms into Magic Knight!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Trick Arrow Shot on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Trick Arrow Shot, taking 2 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Iona Hikawa [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The sounds of alarm clocks wake up even Iona Hikawa, she of the strict regimented sleep cycle. While she's usually awake and ready to go the moment she wakes up on time, disrupting her routine does not sit well with her. And so it is that a bleary-eyed Hikawa opens her eyes to the very, very loud noises. She grumbles as she rustles her arms around, trying to find the alarm clock. When she finds it, she hits the sleep button... and it still continues. So she continues to hit the button. When the sound continues, she finally sits herself up, trying to figure out how to wake up fully and clear the alarm. <br />
<br />
When the alarms continued, even past a minute or two, she yells down to her sister. "Maria! Turn off your alarm! It's really loud!"<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for Iona, there's no response, and it takes the bleary Cure a few moments to realize that her sister isn't around anymore.<br />
<br />
It's about this point that Glassan stirs from her little bed, sitting up and looking around. "Iona, what's that noise?"<br />
<br />
"It's my alarm clock... and my sister's alarm clock... and my grandfather's." Fairy and Cure look at one another for a few moments, and then look outside. Iona sweeps the curtains aside to look outside, and while Westar and his alarm-clocky antics weren't visible from where Iona lives, there's a /lot/ of sounds coming from a /lot/ of alarm clocks.<br />
<br />
Glassan looks at Iona again, and sighs tiredly. "You better transform."<br />
<br />
Iona lets out a similar tired sigh. "Right."<br />
<br />
One transformation with cheerful music later, and Cure Fortune comes streaking out of the skies to give the Nakewameke the most /ferocious/ drop kick. Regardless if she hits or the monster manages to avert her kick, she leaps away from it to get some distance, and slowly draws a star with one arm. "The star of hope that glitters in the night--" Cure Fortune yawns. "sky. Cure Fortune!"<br />
<br />
Glassan follows behind moments later, yelling to Fortune. "Beat him up, Cure Fortune!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Iona Hikawa transforms into Cure Fortune!<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Star Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Fortune's Fortune Star Kick, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Cure Fortune is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The skies are dark. On the distant horizon to the east, perhaps there's a hint of light - but a hint, and nothing more. It is early, and no one wants to be doing anything.<br />
<br />
But there's an awful lot of yelling. The Nakewameke doesn't even need to move much - and it actually seems sluggish, itself - to cause people outrage and misery. Across the district, people are waking up unexpectedly, and while there isn't a whole lot of sorrow there's a great deal of misery. Surrounded by shouts of anger, Westar yawns and takes another slug of coffee.<br />
<br />
...it takes a moment before he realizes some of those shouts are aimed at him.<br />
<br />
"Wha...you!" He points down at Lera from his rooftop. "That's the point! This is a misery I know well, and- hang on. Your devices sleep? Bardiche never mentioned that..."<br />
<br />
And then there is a shout of absolute rage, and Westar goes pale - the coffee falling from his grip to splatter somewhere below. "E-Eas! It, uh..." He turns, and sees Eas...no, Passion, in a rage. ...and then frowns, hand twitching around the cup it no longer holds. "...h-hey! Eas! It absolutely is - and all this is your fault!....you never turned off your alarm clock when you left, and it wakes me up every single day off!"<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke, meanwhile, continues blaring its reveille for one and all to hear. It's slow and bulky today, and heavy metal deflects both Lera's bolt and Fuu's sleep-deprived arrow. That takes two hands, though - and so la Sirene's darkened blasts find their mark, obscuring those flashing numbers with something akin to ink. "M-MORNING RES-"<br />
<br />
And then Cure Fortune descends from above to kick it in the snooze button. Blissfully, if briefly, everything is returned to blessed silence.<br />
<br />
"....WAKE UUUUP!" It didn't snooze long - and while the beeping hasn't built to the same volume again, it's starting to move. One hand reaches out to grab Cure Fortune on the rebound, and another reaches for the roof-hopping Sirene. It also moves forward, heavy metal foot descending upon Lera's general position...<br />
<br />
And though the numbers are obscured, it turns to face Fuu and Passion, alarm blaring all the louder.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on La Sirene du Nord.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Incessant Alarm on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Incessant Alarm on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Incessant Alarm, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! Stun applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord narrowly counters Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 21 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord's counterattack, Les Mysteres, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune fails to dodge Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 51 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Cure Fortune! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly braces Westar's Incessant Alarm, taking 13 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry perfectly counters Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Lera Camry's Reverse ability activates! Lera Camry's Tactician ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry's counterattack, Sentinel Flash, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Set--Passion!" Lera cries out, as the red Cure drops down. Others, too, arrive on the street. "Everyone! We've got to--"<br />
<br />
<Stop this thing!> Sky interrupts again. <And it isn't sleep! It's a recharge cycle! I doubt Bardiche would see fit to mention to you!><br />
<br />
Lera's eyebrow twitches slightly. But, then she sees the huge foot come crashing down for her, and her eyes widen. She swings the sword up, and a cross-shaped burst of light flashes from it. The foot hits -- and then bounces backward, as Lera skids away quickly, taking a couple of deep breaths. "Don't blame it on her, Westie! She--that's ridiculous! Just go unplug the alarm, y'know!"<br />
<br />
She swings her sword-device to one side. Light flashes along it, before Lera goes airborne for a moment. "C'mon, Cure Passion!" she yells. "Let's show this big ugly alarm clock who's boss!"<br />
<br />
<DEVICE RESPECT KIIIIIIIIIIICK!> Soaring Sky bellows. Lera floats there, dumbfounded, until Sky adds: <Lera! Kick him! Hurry!><br />
<br />
"Th--that's not how it wooooorks!" Lera whines, before she accelerates -- and spins, launching a brutal kick at the Nakewameke's clock.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Sonic Kick on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> La Sirene du Nord [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The sun may rise in the EAS, but that doesn't give him an excuse. There will be, it seems, no Morning Rescue for this creature. <br />
<br />
La Sirene's bleary eyes turn. Yes, she thinks. Propane (wasn't it?) and those other girls. Cure Passion, Cure Fortune, and the Magic Knight... yes. <br />
<br />
But with only minutes to spare - well, she finds that she's HANDED a major problem. "LES MYSTERES," La Sirene says, but - she's a little slow. From the lack of agility in her signature counterspell comes the dire fate of being HELD TIGHT. Her arms are pinned! Her Pharos is... not really usable now! She kicks and squirms even as she's squeezed! <br />
<br />
"Curse you! You demon from the pit! I was asleep! My OTTER was asleep! He needs to sleep a LOT, because he is not like you and me!! You're going to injure his health and as the hall of mystery is my witness I won't forgive you!!" la Sirene hisses and spits as she struggles!<br />
<br />
Then she sees Lera kick. She stops struggling during this. <br />
<br />
And then la Sirene ooches around, pulling one arm out of her coat's sleeve in order to get some room to do so and administering a bunch of kicks up at the underside of the "hand" grasping onto her, aiming to crush it beneath the blows of her lovely, but definitely thick, heavy and ruggedly nautical boots! As she does, she pulls herself steadily lower, aiming to slip that grasp -- <br />
<br />
And fall to a rooftop! Hopefully a roof top. Maybe a road below. Who knows. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Salute the Four Corners on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
This monster is quickly becoming one of the most offensive of its sort that the Wind Knight can recall doing battle with - and not just in counterpoint to, say, a defensively-oriented Nakewameke. On the other hand, the wall of sound which assails the green-clad Magic Knight seems to give her an idea; she shifts her bow to her right hand, aiming her left hand with its glove-jewel at the giant animate alarm clock, and shouts as loudly as she can over the ceaseless racket:<br />
<br />
"WINDS OF ADMONISHMENT!!"<br />
<br />
Sound has to travel through the air, after all; the whirlwind which manifests as a result of her spell-call is meant to trap an enemy within its currents, and possibly she's hoping it'll have the effect of muffling - if not muting - the blaring noise from the monster. On the plus side, she's starting to look more awake than she did when she got here.<br />
<br />
... time will tell whether that's a plus for her personally, or for her allies, or only for the Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Winds of Admonishment on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Passion is /livid/. ...Westar drops his coffee under her stare, and--<br />
<br />
"And now you're LITTERING!" The pink-haired warrior pauses, though, frowning up at Westar's answer to her. "W-what? MY fault!? But you're--" <br />
<br />
...Her... <br />
<br />
That's... Well, /that/ part may actually be her fault. <br />
<br />
"Just go--" Passion turns to Lera, who chimes in on her behalf. "Right! Whatever, so I forgot! That doesn't mean you should wake everyone /else/ up! ...Besides! You don't need sleep!" <br />
<br />
Right. Show him who's--<br />
<br />
Setsuna's lip twitches. "His name is /Westar/!" she insists, turning to frown at Lera. "Not Westie, /Westar/!" <br />
<br />
But at that, the noise gets to her again, Passion covering her ears as she crouches against the pain. "Aaaah--" <br />
<br />
"And you're insulting Sky! And you're hurting an otter! ...And I had nothing to do with your stupid monster!" <br />
<br />
"And--Haaaaaaaah--!" <br />
<br />
Cure Passion leaps upward, kicks off a building, and /charges/ almost faster than she can be seen at the Nakewameke, slipping past underneath and then ringing out with a vicious kick along the way.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Flash Feint on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune, either because she's tired as all get out, or because she's legitimately not expecting it, gets suddenly grabbed by the giant hand of the awakened morning "Hey!" Fortune shouts, as she tries to pull her arms free. There's a part of Fortune who really wants eye laserbeams right about now. She glares at Westar, spilt coffee and all. If /she/ had eye lasers, oh he would be really sorry right now.<br />
<br />
Eventually she does manage to pull an arm free, and uses it to punch the giant hand right next to where her other arm is pinned, trying to get that free. If she gets both arms free, oh the punches she could give Westar right now. Instead, she just lets her tiredness and crankiness out on the hand that's holding her.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Fortune Flurry on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Cure Passion's Flash Feint, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace La Sirene du Nord's Salute the Four Corners, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Bind Break! All of La Sirene du Nord's debuffs are cleared! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Fortune Flurry, taking 9 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly dodges Lera Camry's Sonic Kick, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Lera Camry is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Winds of Admonishment, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! Trap applied to Westar! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke's first assault is a brutal wake-up call - but is met with alert opposition. There's a terrible noise - but after a few moments, Fuu's wind manages to blunt the worst of it. There's grasping arms, one of which smashes through a shadowy mystery only to lose its grip moments later.<br />
<br />
Fortune's imprisonment is a bit more secure - but this leaves her in prime position to do some pummelling, the clock-monster letting out a groan as she hammers its arm. The stomp is the worst move made, that step forward actually rebounding - and then Lera kicks, and Passion kicks harder, and la Sirene gets in a few solid hits.<br />
<br />
It looks to Westar for commands. Westar...is busy arguing with just about everyone.<br />
<br />
"Recharge cycle, sleep, same thing! Labyrinth calls it a rest period, but we're on Earth - so it's sleep!" He points at Lera's device, then shifts attention to her. "What!? Now who's being ridiculous! I can't - Hey! Respect my Nakewameke too, dangit!"<br />
<br />
La Sirene, once free, gets a dose of yelling as well. "Otters are just swimming ferrets, and I'll gladly wake those things up!" He has to raise his voice to reach above the wind - and folds his arms, glaring right back at Cure Fortune.<br />
<br />
And Passion, of course, is livid. "Litter - That's your fault too! I need sleep just as much as you do - and you're not doing your share of gathering Misery Energy, so I have to get up early! This is on you!"<br />
<br />
A bit childish, perhaps. The Nakewameke...shrugs, as only a giant alarm-clock-robot can, and starts blaring loudly again - squeezing Cure Fortune a little tighter, and stomping forward.<br />
<br />
The noise level violations continue.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Such Misfortune on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on La Sirene du Nord.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion fails to brace Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly counters Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 10 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji's counterattack, Spinning Slash, partially gets through, doing 7 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord fails to brace Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to La Sirene du Nord! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune narrowly braces Westar's Such Misfortune, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry perfectly dodges Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Lera Camry's Fade ability activates! Lera Camry's Flash ability activates! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"What? But--it's fine if I call him, Westie, y'know? He looks like a Westie!" Lera retorts to Setsuna, mid-kick. She bounces backward and shakes her head quickly, before she wrinkles her nose -- and then she grumbles at him. "Y-Your Nakewameke is plenty scary! It has to go, Westie!"<br />
<br />
She may be stubborn. Despite her prowess and luck in this battle thus far, Lera Camry is no mornings person.<br />
<br />
"You've upset Sky, you're making La Sirene du Nord upset, you've gotten her /otter/ angry, and you're--you're making me have an argument with my girlfriend!" she snaps back. Her cheeks redden, before she flies in quickly, doing a tight spin. She leaves a trail of light after her. <Yes! And whatever you call it... you interrupted it! UNACCEPTABLE!><br />
<br />
She spins in midair, sword gripped in two hands. Plasma fire ignites up the side of the blade, crackling and wavering. <Inferno Slasher!> Sky cries out, as she slashes hard at the digital display of the alarm clock -- and an explosive blast of flame shoots off just as she strikes.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Inferno Slasher on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Lera Camry's Inferno Slasher, taking 38 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry is Psyched! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Tarte is not a /ferret/!" Passion calls back, offended on her tiny friend's behalf. "He's a fairy! An adorable fairy!" <br />
<br />
Passion ducks again under the Nakewameke's arm, amidst... Well, amidst arguing. That's what she's really doing here. She is tired, it /shows/ how tired she is, and she is cranky. And--<br />
<br />
"His name is not WESTIE!" Passion argues back, frowning as she hops to get herself into a better position to find her next strike. "It's Westar! He doesn't look like a Westie, he's the Executive from the western district! It's not fine!" <br />
<br />
Not that she's done.<br />
<br />
"Of course I'm not doing my share! I don't even HAVE a share!! And maybe you wouldn't need so much sleep if you weren't so loud all the time! Always clank, clank, CLANK right in the middle of everything!!" <br />
<br />
She stumbles, covering her ears again, the hearts on her headband shining in what light there is as she does. It /hurts/. <br />
<br />
"And--" Passion looks up, and sees Cure Fortune, gritting her teeth as she sees her sister Cure in such a position. "I won't let you keep doing this!" she shouts. <br />
<br />
...It might lack the usual moral gravitas, given her shouting, but that doesn't matter. Passion flips upward and /kicks/ down as hard as she can, glaring at the Nakewameke the whole time. <br />
<br />
"Let GO! And stop ringing already!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Obey My Command on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Arguably it's just as well that the Wind Knight doesn't have to contend with Westar trying to argue with her; 'awake enough to defend herself' doesn't translate very well into 'awake enough to hold her own in a debate'. She is, however, alert enough to swap bow for sword when the Nakewameke approaches into melee range.<br />
<br />
(One nice thing about weapons that materialize when needed and dematerialize when not required: you don't lose time rummaging around in your inventory for the right equipment at a crucial moment. Real-time action RPGs generally pause the action while you're poking around equipment screens for a *very good reason*, after all - and those that don't have their own reasons for it, by and large.)*<br />
<br />
The sword finishes materializing just in time for the Wind Knight to retaliate properly when the Nakewameke smacks her; she slashes back at it - sort of trying to cut Cure Fortune free, but more concerned with damaging the monster (and not QUITE trusting her aim enough not to hurt the Pretty Cure). Then she steps back and to the side, trying to circle around and get behind the Nakewameke. If this monster is as much like a modern alarm clock as it seems, then ...<br />
<br />
Well, she barely needs to LOOK for the speaker grill - walking in front of it brings a noticeably more intense sonic assault. At this rate, she's going to have *two* headaches by the time the fight is over: one from too little sleep, and a similar one from all the noise she has to endure in this fight. But she's not going to let a headache (or two of them) stop her from doing her best -<br />
<br />
And her kiai as she tries to stab into and destroy the clock's speaker, or whatever passes for it, is more likely than not to be *completely* drowned out. Yay for inadvertant stealth?<br />
<br />
Well, she wasn't exactly subtle about maneuvering for a backstab, either.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Are These Wires Important on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Tarte is not a /ferret/!" Passion calls back, offended on her tiny friend's behalf. "He's a fairy! An adorable fairy!" <br />
<br />
Passion ducks again under the Nakewameke's arm, amidst... Well, amidst arguing. That's what she's really doing here. She is tired, it /shows/ how tired she is, and she is cranky. And--<br />
<br />
"His name is not WESTIE!" Passion argues back, frowning as she hops to get herself into a better position to find her next strike. "It's Westar! He doesn't look like a Westie, he's the Executive from the western district! It's not fine!" <br />
<br />
Not that she's done.<br />
<br />
"Of course I'm not doing my share! I don't even HAVE a share!! And maybe you wouldn't need so much sleep if you weren't so loud all the time! Always clank, clank, CLANK right in the middle of everything!!" <br />
<br />
She stumbles, covering her ears again, the hearts on her headband shining in what light there is as she does. It /hurts/. <br />
<br />
"And--" Passion looks up, and sees Cure Fortune, gritting her teeth as she sees her sister Cure in such a position. "I won't let you keep doing this!" she shouts. <br />
<br />
...It might lack the usual moral gravitas, given her shouting, but that doesn't matter. Passion flips upward and /kicks/ down as hard as she can, glaring at the Nakewameke the whole time she tries to drive down at its wrist. <br />
<br />
"Let GO! And stop ringing already! And--" She frowns at Lera, "We are not /fighting/!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> La Sirene du Nord [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Don't blame others for your lack of wisdom and cruelty! I mean the cruelty you have," la Sirene echoes after Cure Passion chides Westar. "Not that you have a lack of it, doing such a wicked thing!!" <br />
<br />
But then Westar adds insult to injury. <br />
<br />
"J... just swimming ferrets...?!" <br />
<br />
La Sirene's face blanches. <br />
<br />
"JUST swimming ferrets? You foolish fool! Otters show us that no matter how hard we may feel confined by where we live, whether on stone or in sea, we have the power to change where we are. Otters show us that even in a hard-scrabble life full of sorrow there is always room for comfort, for play, for companionship, for a lazy dinner out or for a sign of true friendship!" <br />
<br />
La Sirene topples through the air and lands on the edge of a nearby roof. Sliding her arm back into her coat sleeve, she declares with a narrowing of her sleep-deprived eyes, "When they sleep together at sea... Otters will hold each others' hands!! So they won't drift away!!" <br />
<br />
"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT OTTERS!!" La Sirene screams with curiously resonant force. <br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has used Otter Facts 4 U on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune continues to linger in the fist, punching it back and forth as it pulls her around the battlefield. At least, that's until it squeezes Fortune pretty hard. She stops punching at this point, and tries to push the fingers apart, to try first of all to keep it from completely crushing her, but at the same time also try and create enough space for her to escape. <br />
<br />
Her early-morning haze, thanks to getting grabbed and swung about, is starting to clear, and finally Fortune realizes there's more magical girls trying to fight the Nakewameke. In fact, she's pretty sure she's seen them all before. She watches the Magic Knight and the red-dressed Cure try to help her get free from the monster<br />
<br />
She then turns away as she curls her hands together and brings it down on the wrist of the monster, to try and free her from its grasp.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has used Hammer Time on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Passion's Obey My Command, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Westar is Quipped! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Fuu Hououji's Are These Wires Important, taking 4 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces La Sirene du Nord's Otter Facts 4 U, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! La Sirene du Nord is Psyched! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Hammer Time, taking 9 Fatigue damage! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Westie?! -Eas is right! It's Westaaaaaaar!" Westar lets out a big yawn, in the midst of this battle; without any coffee for himself, even he's feeling the hour. There's anger from Lera, and Soaring Sky, and just about everyone - and he lets out another yawn while the Nakewameke fights.<br />
<br />
It's a straightforward rampage, and for the most part it carries forward regardless of anything in its way - that is, up until it takes another blazing strike to the Snooze Button, this time courtesy of Lera. Cure Fortune is free to hammer at the wrist again, and with Cure Passion's kick added in, the hand falls slack entirely. Fuu, meanwhile, is free to to a bit of precise stabbing for a few moments before the Nakewameke jolts awake once more. "NAKEWAMEKEEEE!"<br />
<br />
...at least the alarm has stopped. It's still loud, but not ear-piercingly loud.<br />
<br />
Westar, meanwhile, is being yelled at on two fronts. "I make noise during the day, and sleep at night! That's how it's supposed to work, except when SOME PEOPLE leave their alarm on when they apparently plan to leave forever! Clean up your room already! Your share and your room!" He turns, confronting Sirene's anger. "They're Mist - whatever! Earth animals are earth animals, and all that friendship doesn't matter back in Labyrinth!"<br />
<br />
He pauses for a second, brow furrowed - and whirls back to Lera and Passion a moment. "And you two totally are arguing! Nakewameke - split them apart!"<br />
<br />
It obliges - lunging forward at the pair of them. Lera, it tries to catch entirely; Passion, it tries to scoop up only long enough to hurl after the other Cure. It whirls around, storming toward Fuu and La Sirene - even without the noise, it's alarmingly fast...<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Lera Camry.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Passionate Throw on Cure Passion.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Passionate Throw on Cure Fortune.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on Fuu Hououji.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has used Alarming Paces on La Sirene du Nord.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji perfectly dodges Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry fails to dodge Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 40 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Lera Camry! <br />
<br>COMBAT: La Sirene du Nord fails to brace Westar's Alarming Paces, taking 27 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion narrowly dodges Westar's Passionate Throw, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion's Fade ability activates! Stagger applied to Cure Passion! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune fails to dodge Westar's Passionate Throw, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stagger applied to Cure Fortune! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"He is so a Westie! Just look at him, y'know!" Lera answers Setsuna, before her nose wrinkles. "A-And we're--" They are totally fighting, but she doesn't want to say that to Setsuna directly. "...He is totally a Westie!"<br />
<br />
She is busy 'not' fighting to the extent that she is surprised at the Nakewameke's sudden approach and Westar's orders. Her eyes shoot wide open -- the hand catches onto Lera, snatching her out of the air. She yelps; the fingers begin to wrap tightly around her, starting to crush her, and she hisses softly. Her arms, at least, are lifted over its fingers.<br />
<br />
She still has a grip on Soaring Sky. She looks sideways at Setsuna, and the frustration from a moment before is gone. She looks back at Westar and the Nakewameke, and something more instinctive takes over. "You... you can't keep us apart!"<br />
<br />
She doesn't mean arguing.<br />
<br />
"Passion!" she cries out. "You--you go in close! I'm gonna get that thing to you!"<br />
<br />
<Let's do this! Both of you! For the sake of completed recharge cycles!><br />
<br />
"Th--that isn't why we're doing this!"<br />
<br />
Lera is still gripped in the Nakewameke's hand. She doesn't care. She aims her sword at the Nakewameke with both hands; the blade splits up the middle, forks of lightning shooting between the split blade halves. A bright white glow gathers, while a trio of spinning control rings with runes inside them appear. The rings of light shimmer.<br />
<br />
<Aurora Burst...><br />
<br />
Then, the beam fires. It explodes down the middle of the trio of rings, guided by them -- and then right for the side of the Nakewameke. The blast attempts to push it directly into Cure Passion's path!<br />
<br />
"...RAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Lera Camry has started a combo targeting Westar!<br />
}}COIN FLIP: Cure Fortune flips a coin. It lands on heads!<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
This time, the Wind Knight is fast enough on the uptake to leap away before the clock monster can trample her. She alights on a lamppost nearby without even realizing it, and after a moment's wobbling, reacquires her balance. "You do realize that if Eas-san has taken permanent leave of Labyrinth, there's nothing to stop you from turning off her alarm yourself, right?" she points out to Westar.<br />
<br />
Apparently she's awake enough by now to try throwing logic at an inherently illogical argument.<br />
<br />
She's also alert enough to hop back down to the ground, her skirts billowing a bit more than the movement should dictate - and not settling down; rather, the breeze picks up even further around her as her gaze focuses on the alarm clock Nakewameke. "And as for you, Nakewame-Tokei-san ... your duties end here!" The wind ruffling her clothes and hair picks up further as the Magic Knight of Wind draws her arms up and back ...<br />
<br />
"EMERALD CYCLONE!!!"<br />
<br />
And turns the full wrath of the tempest against the monster, holding back *only* just enough to spare her allies from unnecessary turbulence. It's possible she's still going to be cranky today, unless she manages to catch a bit more of a nap somewhere before classes start up.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Fuu Hououji has used Emerald Cyclone: Full on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"You stay out of this!" Passion snaps at Westar, looking away from where she was frowning Lera's way. "And stop calling me EAS!" <br />
<br />
Passion could be learning a lot about otters right now. She could be seeing something in Cure Fortune, who she's tried to help before. And a little bit, that's true. ...But also...<br />
<br />
"Clean it up yourself!" Passion snaps at Westar again. "You make noise with your stupid weights! And your stupid time in the middle of everything, and the stupid coffee you bring back and--"<br />
<br />
"NO!" <br />
<br />
Westar orders the Nakewameke to split them apart, and Passion's eyes go wide, her hart immediately gripped as if by that same hand. ...But then, she has her own problem in the same instant, hurled bodily at Cure Fortune, gripped hard enough that she only has time to try to shift out of the way of a tree that would otherwise be in her path. <br />
<br />
She hears Lera's instructions. <br />
<br />
"Right! ...I'm with you!" <br />
<br />
Setsuna glances to Fortune, to make sure she's all right--and then narrows her eyes. She looks at Lera, sees her starting to move, and she takes a breath, trying to calm herself just enough... <br />
<br />
"All right. ...She's counting on me. Let's..." <br />
<br />
'RAAAAAAAAY!' <br />
<br />
"Haaaaah--!" Cure Passion is in motion. She moves too quickly to be seen, now, a blur of red rushing towards the Nakewameke. <br />
<br />
She emerges /behind/ it, faced away, crouched down with her arm up still behind her. <br />
<br />
Only then will the impact of her too-quick flurry be felt. <br />
<br />
"...You /won't/ keep us apart."<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Passion has joined the combo started by Lera Camry!<br />
<br>COMBAT: COMBO! FINISHER! Lera Camry and Cure Passion have used Combo: Passion Burst, composed of Aurora Burst Ray and Fresh Moment, on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Finally, Cure Fortune is free! After ten thousand years! It's time to conquer--er, save the Earth! Or it seems like ten thousand years, anyway. Regardless, Cure Fortune immediately spreads her shirt wings and flies up into the air, to try and avoid such entanglements in the future. "Hey! If she doesn't live there anymore, and her alarm is bothering you, why don't you go inside and /turn it off/? I--" <br />
<br />
She stops and looks at Westar, then to Cure Passion. Then she looks at Westar again. Why was a dark general living with a Pretty Cure? Cure Fortune's face scrunches up as she tries to conceptualize a situation that this made sense. Was she... kidnapped? Was /he/ kidnapped? Maybe they were friends before they learned they were destined to fight each other? Maybe... lovers? That may explain why the monster's jockey was so adamant that she was arguing with one of the other girls.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune grabs her head as she tries to make sense of all of this, but she just sighs and yells back up. "It's way too early in the morning to start arguing!" She spins the dial on her PreBrace. "Pretty Cure..." She sweeps an arm above her head, and many tiny sparkling stars appear around her. "Staar Streaam!" She swings her hand forward, sending all of these stars towards the giant alarm clock, hoping to fill it with relaxation and happiness.<br />
<br />
And maybe with that happiness it will /stop making noise/.<br />
<br />
{{Quotation|1=<br>COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Fortune has used Pretty Cure Star Stream on Westar.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Cure Fortune has finished attacking.<br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Fuu Hououji's Finisher, Emerald Cyclone: Full, taking 53 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Fortune's Finisher, Pretty Cure Star Stream, taking 23 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br>COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Lera Camry and Cure Passion's Finisher, Combo: Passion Burst, taking 187 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
}}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune has an admittedly good idea - but one that seems to stymie Westar. "But - that's her room!" He folds his arms, but can't help but let out another yawn - perhaps worried by the look in her eye. Whatever she's thinking... He turns to face Fuu, blinking blearily. "But if it's not permanent, then Eas will want her room back!"<br />
<br />
Westar logic.<br />
<br />
Lera and Cure Passion, in spite of the Nakewameke's best efforts, are determined to stay together. Even with Lera captured, Soaring Sky begins to shine; even flung away, Cure Passion starts charging forward. The Nakewameke bellows - but at least does not blare that alarm - and prepares to solve one problem by throwing the other.<br />
<br />
Then a cyclone rises up, binding it in place as the wind shreds away.<br />
<br />
Then stars shine brilliantly, smashing the time display and driving it back step after step.<br />
<br />
And then the couple strikes - blazing power smashing into the diamond, which shudders and fizzles - and a strike swift as lightning, making the whole monster go rigid.<br />
<br />
"Fizzz...."<br />
<br />
There's an eruption of smoke, billowing through the air...and when it clears, a simple alarm clock rests on the pavement. There's still the background noise of countless people grumbling about being up too early, but the monster itself is defeated at last.<br />
<br />
And Westar...Westar stares blankly at the aftermath of his monster. At the heroines triumphant, at Lera and Passion united again, at the general atmosphere of people being very irate...and all he can do is yawn again.<br />
<br />
"...fine. You win...today. I'm...going back to bed. But know this, Pretty Cure - and their allies!" He points - pauses - checks his phone. "...you've got school in something like two hours!"<br />
<br />
"...wait. I've got school in two hours!" And Westar flees, in despair and panic.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Fortune [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Cure Fortune watches the monster fizzle and dissipate, breathing a sigh of relief as she slowly floats back down to the ground. She smiles, looking upon the battlefield, at the girl dispensing otter facts, and the Magic Wind Knight, and the Pretty Cure and that girl she knows.<br />
<br />
Maybe one of these days Fortune will learn their names, but that day isn't today.<br />
<br />
Westar talks about how they've only got two hours to get to school. She's not too surprised, only letting out a slight sigh. She turns to leave the battlefield, only to come face to face with Glassan, who looks like she's holding back... a sneeze? "Fortune, I feel the power of a good morning!" Cure Fortune can only just glare at the fairy, but there's a slight smile, as she rubs her partner's nose. The fairy sneezes, and out pops two cards from her purple ladybug backpack!<br />
<br />
...One of which is an adorable set of footy pajamas, and the other is a matching night-time hat. Cure Fortune takes these cards, looks at them... then immediately shuffles past them on her way off the battlefield, mumbling something like "I need to get to practice."<br />
<br />
Glassan takes this opportunity to address the other magical girls. "Well, ah, thank you all for saving the city, I'm sure Cure Fortune appreciates all of you, deep inside, and--"<br />
<br />
"Come along." Cure Fortune grabs Glassan by her backpack and pulls her away as the Cure shambles away, her tiredness preventing her from flying away.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Lera touches down on the ground -- the Nakewameke done away with -- and lets out a long breath, before she blinks her eyes a couple of times. She turns to look at Westar, then she opens her mouth. She doesn't say anything, until after he already is running away. She sighs, after that.<br />
<br />
"Westie..."<br />
<br />
She smiles awkwardly at Glassan; she glances at Fuu, too. Then she turns at Cure Passion, and starts to walk over to her. Her hand reaches up to the back of her head, scratching awkwardly as she does.<br />
<br />
"Nice punch!" she says. "You, um, you did really well, y'know?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The Magic Knight of Wind walks back over to Lera and the remaining Pretty Cure, removing her glasses for a moment and - after feeling around in her skirt pockets - materializing a handkerchief out of her glove-jewel to clean the lenses. "Are you two all right?" she inquires. "I can cast a healing spell on us before we go our separate ways ... I'm not sure if we're all going to the same school or not?"<br />
<br />
Well, it's half true - she's seen Lera around the Infinity campus often enough to know, at any rate. She only has a one-in-three chance of guessing the remaining Cure's scholastic setting of choice, though.<br />
<br />
(Maybe worse, but the Sister Schools do seem like absolute magnets for magical girls ...)<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
That sound is all too familiar to Cure Passion, even if she's used to hearing it from another position. The Nakewameke dissipates... <br />
<br />
"It's not temporary," Passion says, turning to look at Westar. "...I'm Pretty Cure, now." <br />
<br />
But she can't quite be happy about the victory. Her anger, at least, is fading. ...Mostly into exhaustion, as her shoulders sink slightly while Westar runs away. Two... Hours.. <br />
<br />
"It's Westar," Passion says again, more quietly, glancing down at the ground. <br />
<br />
She looks up again, putting on a smile despite herself, as Glassan looks at them. "I hope we can talk, sometime. Take care." <br />
<br />
Then, slowly, she looks to Lera. <br />
<br />
"...I guess I did, huh? We did it." She pauses, turning to look at Fuu. <br />
<br />
"...No, thank you. I'll be all right. I appreciate your help." <br />
<br />
She pauses, and then looks up at Lera again. ".../Westar/. Westar. You can say it."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"I'm all right!" Lera says to Fuu, with a bright smile; it's not quite felt -- she feels a little tired, and this is certainly more than a brisk jog before she goes to school -- but she wants to be sure it comes across. "The Barrier Jacket took the worst of it. You're okay, too, um--" She almost calls her by name. "--uuum, Super... Wind Knight?"<br />
<br />
<Splendid!> Soaring Sky sighs. <Please get me back home. I need to resume the recharge cycle. Honestly!><br />
<br />
Lera sighs. The Midchildan rolls her eyes, before she looks back at Setsuna. She nods down at her. They did do it! She hesitates, though, as she hears that. 'You can say it.' Lera's eyebrow raises at that.<br />
<br />
"I /could/," she agrees. Her smile comes back and turns playful, this time. "But... y'know!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Just 'Wind Knight,'" the Magic Knight of Wind says with a smile. "I suppose I should head to school and see if I can steal a bit of a nap before class time. Breakfast as well, possibly ..."<br />
<br />
She takes a moment to rub her eyes before putting her glasses back on. "This was likely one of the worst monster attacks, just for its timing. Of course that was deliberate, though ..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Sorry we interrupted you, Sky. You did really well, though!" <br />
<br />
...Passion may be indulgent of Sky for some reason. She smiles again to Fuu, too, though she does wait to see if she's also all right. The truth for her is that she's mostly tired. "It is early. Good luck with your classes... Wind Knight?" <br />
<br />
But... Lera hesitates. And then her eyebrow lifts. And then--<br />
<br />
Passion doesn't smile, playful or otherwise. Instead, she frowns, and something in her eyes looks... <br />
<br />
Hurt. <br />
<br />
Passion shakes her head. "No. I /don't/ know. ...Fine. Whatever. I'm going home." <br />
<br />
Cure Passion just turns around and starts walking.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"No kidding," Lera says to Fuu. "It has some timing, y'know?"<br />
<br />
She hesitates, when she looks back at Setsuna. She catches the hurt look in her eyes first and the smile vanishes from her face. She opens her mouth to say something else, but then she closes it and looks down at the ground. Soaring Sky goes conspicuously silent after that, as Cure Passion begins to walk away.<br />
<br />
Lera stands there, staring down at the ground awkwardly for a moment, before she looks at Fuu. The smile on her face, this time, is very forced. "I, um, I better... get going. See you at school, y'know?"<br />
<br />
She starts walking, and not coincidentally in the same direction as Passion did.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2017-05-26_-_All_Friends_Here2017-05-26 - All Friends Here2022-10-06T20:11:31Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: All Friends Here'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Mami gets in touch with Usagi to discuss recent events. Usagi invites a few friends for the discussion about principles.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mami Tomoe]], [[Usagi Tsukino|Sailor Moon]], [[Makoto Kino|Sailor Jupiter]], [[Mai Tokiha]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Jewelry OSA-P (rooftop)<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2017-05-26 - Jan 21, 2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, messages can be passed on in simplicity. This is mostly one of those times; Mami has Usagi's number, and has a spare moment when no one is looking at her during class. Thus, during the day... <br />
<br />
Usagi Tsukino gets a text message. <br />
<br />
>I need to talk to you about something important. Can you meet me after school? I'll be in Shibuya. OSA-P is fine. If you can't, I can come to you.<br />
<br />
>Before you ask, I can't tell you what it is in this format.<br />
<br />
Mami puts away her phone again and gets back to a class she's barely paying attention to anyway. At least she's seated in the back.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The buzz of a phone startles Usagi Tsukino out of a perfectly good nap, drool pooling on the edge of her desk. With a snort she sits bolt upright just in time to hurriedly to open her phone and... <br />
<br />
For a moment she just stares, before she hears a whisper near her ear. "What's that all about? Some mystery guy inviting you out on a date to my mom's store?" Naru's expression looked somewhat sly as Usagi turned her head just enough to catch sight of her, "Sounds serious. Why haven't I heard anything about him?" <br />
<br />
Usagi flaps her hand gently at Naru, "You're getting the wrong idea Naru-chan. It's not a date. It's not even a guy! Look-" Surreptitiously she tries to show her the screen while the lecturer is distracted, where at the top it's labelled <3<3 Mami Tomoe <3<3.<br />
<br />
Naru stared at it speculatively, before acquiescing, "Why's she acting so mysterious about it then?" "That's..." She considers for a few moments, "...a very good question." <br />
<br />
After a few moments she starts tapping a message back.<br />
<br />
>We'll be there with bells on Mami-chan!<3~<3<3<3[[User:Glittering Crux Masque|Glittering Crux Masque]] ([[User talk:Glittering Crux Masque|talk]])<3<br />
<br />
>Not literal bells. That would be loud.<br />
<br />
>I wonder where that expression came from anyhow?<br />
<br />
>I just looked it up - England!<br />
<br />
>I'm more cultured than I thought!<br />
<br />
>But to clarify we'll be there with Fukus on, not bells!<br />
<br />
-=-=-<br />
<br />
Mako simply gets shown this whole text exchange at lunch. Usagi is not the slightest bit embarrassed by it. <br />
<br />
Text to Mai Tokiha: <br />
<br />
>Some important news is being delivered after school on top of the Jewelry Shop OSA-P. No bells required and no pressure! Come if you can!<br />
<br />
>Though your wristlets and anklets kinda look like bells... so maybe you should come with them on!<br />
<br />
>Mars-chan has clarified that they are not in fact bells, but Magatama. But she didn't have to be so mean about it! >:(:(:([[User:Glittering Crux Masque|Glittering Crux Masque]] ([[User talk:Glittering Crux Masque|talk]]):( Meanie Mars-chan. <br />
<br />
Sailor Moon arrives in the mid-afternoon. OSA-P's cylindrical structure reflecting the sliver of orange sunlight peaking through grey clouds. Down below store goers are still filtering in and out- Shibuya streets still chock full of shoppers. <br />
<br />
She's standing atop the Jewelry store, kneeling next to the side as she leans over the edge to look down at the sidewalk below, "I really wish we could meet inside." She kind of pouts, "I bet Naru-chan's mom would give us a good deal too..." <br />
<br />
She's distracting herself really. It's been a while since she was last here. The first time she was here was the first time she fought as Sailor Moon. The first time she met... <br />
<br />
The idea of serious news is bringing those memories back to the surface.<br />
<br />
"What do you think Jupiter-chan? Maybe after we could all go in and browse..." But even more serious than these serious memories... anything to avoid instantly going back to the Hikawa Shrine after for more studying for entrance exams. <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There is a ticking of a clock, in a lunchtime detention/extra-credit lesson. Several students are attending, each struggling with varying levels of homework set before them. All save one - Mai Tokiha is not working on what has been set before her in the least, but instead is engaged in a staredown against her History teacher.<br />
<br />
The clock ticks.<br />
<br />
Mai's glare continues.<br />
<br />
Midori does not waver.<br />
<br />
The box of cake mix on Mai's desk remains unopened.<br />
<br />
Abruptly, a timer rings, and there's a mass sigh of relief through almost all present. There's a buzzing in Mai's pocket as she stands up; with little ado, she picks up her schoolbag and heads for the door. There is but one parting comment...<br />
<br />
"...are you really sure the school wants to risk that again, sensei?" And then she's off, to check just what that text was.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
>Important news? All right, I'll try not to run late - I think I can find OSA-P...<br />
<br />
>'Mars-chan' sounds like a wise woman. I suppose 'formal' attire's warranted anyway.<br />
<br />
>So, are you going to look up what Magatama are, or just make your friend explain? :p<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
Fortunately, the new bridge was built wide enough to accommodate the usual after-school traffic from Ohtori, and Mai Tokiha was able to make good time heading toward the shopping district. An unfortunately crowded train might have dampened her spirit a bit, but she's soon able to join the crowd in a little bit of window-shopping. Some of those jackets look rather cute, and there's a flashy music store that's calling to her...but they aren't the reason she's here today. OSA-P is as glittering as always, but it's into the alley to the side that the girl slips.<br />
<br />
Darkness is illuminated briefly by fire, and from the shadows of the alley a form quickly rises up. With her rings spinning to give her aid, Mai leaps to a fire escape, and then from there to the roof - letting out a sigh upon seeing the Senshi already present. "Good to see you, Sailor Moon - and it's been a while, Sailor Jupiter." Mai gives the two a small sheepish wave. "Sorry I'm late, traffic was...well, to be honest, the usual. Busy down there today - if not for this news, I'd almost like to go looking for sales..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"I thought they were bells, too," Jupiter admits sheepishly after the fact. The texts themselves she can only sigh at in that 'oh, Usagi' sort of way: one part exasperation, one part affection. She's still not sure what to think about Mami, or Sayaka for that matter--she's done her best to eradicate any monsters as they appear, including Familiars if she's in a position to be able to (since she can't spot them on her own), functionally not hunting Eri down while also not allowing her to do as she pleases with regards to innocent lives. Jupiter sympathizes with her desire to live, but... it's just not right to live at the expense of other people...!<br />
<br />
Which brings them to today's meeting, which isn't about Eri but her allies: the Outer Senshi. Jupiter stands with Sailor Moon on the rooftop overlooking Osa-P, gloved arms folded over her ample chest. "What," she says to her, "as ourselves, or as Sailor Senshi? Even if she did, though, I'm not sure we could afford nice jewelry like that..." She sighs wistfully. "Though it sure is nice to look, huh?" Just imagine one of those diamond rings on her left index finger...! She can just see a handsome young man (slash paper cardboard cut-out with fill-in-the-blank features because Jupiter is in between major crushes right now) slipping it onto her finger after emotionally declaring his everlasting love for her... So romantic...!<br />
<br />
She's snapped out of her fantasy when someone jumps up onto the roof. Jupiter tenses for a second, then relaxes when she sees it's Mai. "Oh, uh, yeah," she utters--technically they saw each other just the other day, but Jupiter's not about to clarify that point. "Let's see, it's just Mami-san left, then, huh?" She looks around, frowning. "I wonder if she got caught in traffic too..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
For the record, Usagi's texts back got a small sigh, prompting Mami to glance around quickly to make sure that no one was looking at her with her phone and about to say something. But then, she'd already put it away, so it doesn't matter. <br />
<br />
It was a nicer day for that, for a little while, but school is school. Mami tried to focus on her work as best she could, and kept to herself. <br />
<br />
She'd rather be thinking of magical business than Japanese history. It's a good thing nobody in the Chevaliers is actually in her class... <br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
It was obnoxious to get across the bridge, though. Unfortunately, she doesn't have the magic to waste on that kind of magical transport to get her across, so she does it the normal way. <br />
<br />
Even in the normal way, Mami Tomoe knows all the right shortcuts in Shibuya. <br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
It's the other side of the building that she reaches first, dressed already in her fabulous battle attire, her floral hatpin catching the light, despite the dim in its gem. She leaps up, bounces across a wall to the other, and in that way coms to a somersaulted landing atop the roof of OSA-P. How many times has she been here just because? Truth be told... <br />
<br />
She wouldn't mind shopping, either. But it's not a handsome young man she'd think about gifting her something shiny and beautiful. <br />
<br />
She lands, and curtsies politely. "Sailor Moon, you came. Sailor Jupiter must be the 'we' you mentioned--good. I--" <br />
<br />
She pauses, stiff, as she realizes Mai is there, and transformed as well. Mai Tokiha... <br />
<br />
If it weren't Mami, one could swear that she's /nervous/. (She's nervous.) "...Hello, Tokiha," she says uncertainly. "Tokiha-san." She corrects. A pause. She looks right back to Sailor Moon and hisses, "What is /she/ doing here?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Right? They sure look like the bells they use at those summer festivals."<br />
<br />
>She's a total meanie! It was an honest mistake!<br />
<br />
>I know what they are already!<br />
<br />
>In fact I know it so well that she's going to be super impressed with me now!<br />
<br />
>;_;<br />
<br />
>She told me six year olds know more about history than I do! THAT IS SO UNTRUE MARS-CHAN!<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon slowly stands back up to face Jupiter, "As ourselves. Imagine what Luna would say if we tried to go shopping as Sailor Senshi!" Putting a hand on her hip, and wagging a finger which does not look at all like how a cat would do things, "Moon-chan! That's just irresponsible! I mean what happens if it led people to figuring out who you are. And what if people think that means the Sailor Senshi are sponsoring stores? What then?" But Sailor Moon stops wagging her finger and puts it to her chin instead in deep thought, "... maybe that's not a bad idea after all." <br />
<br />
Now she's daydreaming alongside Jupiter, of the stores just /giving/ them stuff for sponsoring them, her fingers all decked out in tasteful jewelry. Haruka Tenoh and Tuxedo Kamen down on one knee, kissing her fingers... and then later in their arms...<br />
<br />
"It would be so wonderful..." She says almost as dreamily as Jupiter. <br />
<br />
But then Mai is up on the roof, and she waves a hand excitedly, "Mai-chan! I'm so happy that you made it! And you know- maybe we could do that after..." She gives Jupiter this look which just says 'Pleaseeee?' <br />
<br />
Mami though shows up with her usual dignity, curtseying and- Sailor Moon looks both ways at Jupiter and Mai to see how they're reacting, before she gives a little exaggerated bow. <br />
<br />
But Mami hisses and Sailor Moon rubs the nape of her neck, just under a twintail as she says back, quietly but in a conversational enough tone that the others can hear, "Well I invited her. You said it was important news right?"<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Sailor Moon grossly underestimated the amount of animosity the two hold for each other. Despite having seen some of it. <br />
<br />
"And I figured if Mami-chan had important news it was really serious and we should really bring out the big guns. Because you already have super big guns, the biggest- but if it's this serious, then we'd need even more?" <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Sailor Jupiter muses aloud, and Mai can't help but join her in pondering the possibility. "Yeah, it was pretty rough - I managed to get onto the train at the last second, so if she wasn't that luck....hang on, Mami?!" That musing cuts short in an instant, Mai's eyes widening as she whirls to look accusingly at Sailor Moon. "Hang on, you never mentioned-"<br />
<br />
There are soft, elegant footfalls on the rooftop behind here as the fourth member of this gathering makes her arrival. Even Mai's accusations are interrupted - but then, so is Tomoe's greeting, so there's that. Golden rings glinting in the faint afternoon light, Mai takes a step to the side as she turns to the Puella Magi.<br />
<br />
At least there aren't guns. At least there isn't fire.<br />
<br />
"Tomoe-san. Good afternoon." A pause. A not-quite-smile. "Trouble on the bridge?"<br />
<br />
And then there's a very good question for Sailor Moon, and Mai turns to the host of the meeting expectantly.<br />
<br />
The HiME makes a quiet little 'ah' sound in response to the matter-of-fact confession of the invitation. She glances back towards Mami, then to Sailor Moon again, finally letting out a sigh. "We'll see about afterward, depending on where the mood goes from here. I hadn't realized that it would be Tomoe-san delivering the news, though..."<br />
<br />
Mai glances back to the apparent news-giver, takes a deep breath, and lets her hands fall flat by her side. It's a visible relief, letting go of that tension for the moment Letting out the breath, she takes another step back to put her firmly on the sidelines here. "All right. For what it's worth, Tomoe-san, I still have to have words with 'her' about everything - so is this news you're comfortable having me in the loop for, or would you rather I go?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It honestly never occurred to Jupiter that Sailor Moon never actually told Mai /or/ Mami that the other was coming. She just assumed that it was in a text she hadn't been shown, even though Sailor Moon literally showed her ever text she sent. No doubt Ami, Rei, or Minako would have caught it and said something, but Makoto... just didn't. In the same way that Sailor Moon apparently never thought that she needed to inform each of them that she'd invited the other/had been invited by the other, it never occurred to Jupiter to question if she'd brought everyone up to speed. Granted that Jupiter isn't really aware of the animosity between their magical girl senpais, even moreso than Moon herself... Had it been her, she might not have thought to say anything either.<br />
<br />
Aside from the fact that it's kind of rude to invite someone to someone else's party, as it were, USAGI.<br />
<br />
For the moment, though, Sailor Jupiter just laughs at her friend's imitation of their feline mascot. "That sounds like her, yep! I dunno that it'd be good to sponsor stores--it might look like we're selling out when we're supposed to be defenders of love and justice! But it sure would be nice to get free stuff, huh?" You can't get any cheaper than free, and Jupiter's on the hunt for a bargain!<br />
<br />
But then Mai is gawking at the mention of Mami, and Mami shows up and is surprised by Mai's presence, and Jupiter looks back and forth between the two with increasing confusion. Then she furrows her brows and leans in to her friend. "Sailor Moon," she murmurs, "you *did* tell everyone about what was going on... right?" Hahahaha Jupiter sometimes you're so naive.<br />
<br />
Even moreso when the air crackles with tension at Mami's arrival. That's... weird? It puts Jupiter on edge, too, without really knowing why. She can tell that there's some bad blood here, but for the life of her, she couldn't begin to guess why. "Hey, we're all on the same side here, right?" she hazards. "Let's just stay civil. This news is important." She knows it is, because she's got important news of her own to share, after all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami hears Sailor Moon's response, her apparently awkward response, which makes that entirely worse. She /invited/ her. Invited Tokiha. Mami had assumed there would be at least one of her teammates, but... <br />
<br />
"The train was crowded," Mami answers Mai simply, but it sounds slightly like an excuse; she's still set of her guard, though she straightens her posture a bit to try to regain her poise. It sort of works. <br />
<br />
Important news, though. Sailor Moon explains it, and Mami hesitates. "That's... quite sensible of you, Sailor Moon," she admits more graciously than she feels. She isn't entirely convinced until Mai lets her hands fall, and Mami herself relaxes slightly--not entirely--a moment after she speaks. "I... See. ...She wasn't involved. You have a right to know this yourself. Regardless of what you choose to do about it." <br />
<br />
A pause, as Mami crosses her arms finally--the most un-ready stance she can easily make--and looks to Sailor Jupiter. "You're right. I hope we all are on the same side in this... And I'm fairly certain that it's true." A breath out, "I'm glad you in particular came, Sailor Jupiter." <br />
<br />
After all... <br />
<br />
Mami draws in another breath, "There was an incident here in Shibuya recently. I was out on a patrol at the time. ...Sailor Pluto and Sailor Uranus made an effort to kill a young girl named Hotaru Tomoe with their power. 'For the sake of the universe', Sailor Pluto claimed, as well as that we wouldn't understand while she could not explain. ...Frankly what she said was somewhat incomprehensible in the fact of their actions; I think they will go after this girl again." <br />
<br />
"A group of us," she looks to Jupiter, with a nod of acknowledgements, "Fought them off for now. Regardless, they have ties to you, Sailor Moon, and you should know what they're doing." <br />
<br />
Mami shakes her head. "...They're quite serious, and quite dangerous. I--the Chevaliers--can't allow them to have their way in this."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Maybe there's a way to do it without causing problems to everyone's image of us as heroines of love and justice..." Moon considers that problem before Jupiter. "...I mean Venus-chan back when she was V-chan had all that merchandise..." <br />
<br />
But Mai whirls on her and Jupiter asks if she told everyone. Sailor Moon is drawn up on her heels like that one two combination had lifted her off the ground, she waves both her palms in mid-air, "I didn't think it would be a problem. B-Besides it'll be-" <br />
<br />
Honestly that's the source of many of Usagi's problems. She didn't think before acting. <br />
<br />
"-okay." <br />
<br />
She's rapidly trying to let out some of the tension too, "Yeah I mean... we're all friends here." That's /way/ too optimistic even for her honestly. Just because she's friends with everyone here doesn't mean they're all friends with each other. <br />
<br />
But whoever Mai is talking about when it comes to 'her' is something she fails to comprehend, as she looks one way, then another as if confused, but she doesn't question. <br />
<br />
But- it's as if her world starts to lose color once Mami gets down to it. Once she learns what Uranus and Pluto did. "They-" She almost answers automatically. Almost. Only a single word gets out before her brain catches up.<br />
<br />
But she almost said 'wouldn't.'<br />
<br />
Consider this: if we believe you risk your own life and those of everyone you love by interfering with our mission, what lengths would we go to, to prevail? Against even you, Sailor Moon?<br />
<br />
Fate has no care for hope.<br />
<br />
The sounds of the city below are just so loud all of a sudden, as the news filters into her consciousness, permeates it.<br />
<br />
They tried to kill Chibi-Usa's best friend.<br />
<br />
For the sake of the- <br />
<br />
Everything snaps back all of a sudden, "That... doesn't make any sense!" She says finally, it's not that she doesn't believe Mami. It's not that she doesn't believe the Outers aren't capable of murder but- <br />
<br />
"Why would they be after Hotaru-chan? How can going after her possibly be for the fate of the-"<br />
<br />
But whoever holds those Talismans is already dead, Sailor Moon. They just don't realize it yet.<br />
<br />
It's like she was grasping for a way that they were just mistaken, or it was a misunderstanding. Obviously Hotaru wasn't their target it was the Dark General behind her. But unfortunately... it makes too much sense. <br />
<br />
Sailor Moon looks towards Jupiter and finally says- "Maybe they think she has a talisman." <br />
<br />
The idea, that they would kill that girl who was so protective over Chibi-Usa. Just makes her feel so cold. She already looks a shade paler already. <br />
<br />
She sounds so quiet to her own ears, "It's... what they're after. They say if the talismans are brought together it'll summon... a power that will kill everything." It takes her a few moments, before the words roll out on her tongue, "The Holy Grail." <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
If the subject were lighter, or the attendance at this gathering a little different, Mai would have happily joined Jupiter in plotting sponsorship deals. Bargains are great, after all. Alas...<br />
<br />
Jupiter's clued in to the awkwardness of the situation, but is trying to play peacekeeper. Mai glances over to the tall Senshi, and drawls out a blunt response to the 'same side' plea. "Usually."<br />
<br />
Still, it's a fair request, and after a moment Mai lets out a sigh. "But sure, I'll do my best - we were both invited by Sailor Moon, after all. I'll trust your judgment here." There's a faint smile from the fiery-haired girl, before she straightens up to face Mami.<br />
<br />
After a moment, Mai joins the pattern of folding her arms over her chest. What, it's cold out, and she had to take a light jacket this morning. A simple nod at the explanation of non-involvement, and then...she listens.<br />
<br />
Very quickly, her breath stills. The two Sailor Senshi mentioned...Mai doesn't exactly know either of them well. Maybe no one does. Of Sailor Pluto, she knows very little. But Sailor Uranus? Any hope of disbelief is dispelled by a year-old memory.<br />
<br />
( "It doesn't matter what's fair or what happened to her. Nothing is worth that risk. Not her life, not mine, and not any of yours! She has to die!" )<br />
<br />
"That attitude again..." Mai murmurs to herself, belatedly realizing that she actually said it aloud. She starts, gaze flickering around almost as if embarrassed, before joining the Puella in looking at Jupiter. "...you helped fight her off? Good on you, Jupiter..." She's about to join in the argument proper, condemning those actions immediately, but-<br />
<br />
A more recent memory, of a not-so-innocent youth with golden hair.<br />
<br />
-Mai lets out an explosive breath, nearly snarling in irritation. "Ugh. Dammit, you should have invited Kuga too, and then I could let her be the pragmatic one." Clenching her hands, Mai glances to the side. "It's not exactly...impossible for them to have a reason for going after an innocent-looking girl. I know full well that age doesn't mean a whole lot given what we do. Even then, I can't..."<br />
<br />
Can't condone it. Can't automatically condemn it. Mai bites her lip, takes a shaking breath, tries to find a way to continue - but Sailor Moon brings up a possible reason.<br />
<br />
There's a girl giving you a grateful look, Sailor Moon - even as cold and sorrowful as the argument might be.<br />
<br />
It's a tenuous argument, but frankly Mai's in a mood to grasp at straws. "...so stupid. Can't they ever consider -trying- the peaceful resolution for things like this? To just...find some other way, that doesn't involve murder for the sake of magically apocalyptic trinkets. Just...finding some other choice."<br />
<br />
Something catches in her throat, and she whirls on her foot, turning away from the other three to fume in silence for a moment.<br />
<br />
...so stupid.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Oh yeah... She had her own video game and plushies and posters and everything. But was Venus really involved in that directly?" Jupiter wonders. "I always had the impression that some game developers were inspired by her and made a game based on her adventures and stuff." Jupiter has not based this in fact whatsoever. It's just what she assumed, and her assumptions have never been challenged, so she's gone on assuming it well into the catastrophic merging of the second and third seasons. <br />
<br />
But Mami speaks, sharing her news. Jupiter nods to her, expression growing serious. Even if she's not sure about Mami, she *did* help protect Hotaru, and that counts for a lot. As it happens, that matter is exactly what Mami's here to talk about. Jupiter looks at Moon. "She's right," she says. "You remember what I mentioned the other day, about news I needed to share with the whole team?" And then everyone got so deluged by studying for entrance exams that they haven't had a chance to actually get together all at the same time since, delaying the sharing of that news. Yes, that is exactly what caused this delay. "That's what Mami-san's talking about." She clenches a fist in anger. "Uranus and Pluto... They literally tried to murder an innocent girl in broad daylight! In front of crowds of people! They didn't even /care/!"<br />
<br />
Maybe she has a talisman, Sailor Moon suggests. Jupiter's scowl doesn't abate, nor do her fists unclench, but this does slowly permeate the furrow of her brow. "That... would make sense," she says slowly. She shakes her head, fast and harsh. "But that still doesn't give them any right! They think they can kill whoever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want, completely without consequences! It makes me sick!"<br />
<br />
Mai's praise on Jupiter doesn't get her to cool down, exactly, but she does smile a bit as she nods back to her. "Of course," she says. "I can't just stand by and watch them attack an innocent girl." As far as Alyssa goes, well... Jupiter wasn't involved in that battle, though she's tangentially aware of it. Arguably Alyssa isn't an innocent girl--she'd done quite a few things to earn her fate--though Jupiter would be quick to say she still didn't deserve to /die/. And what of Hotaru? Even if the Outers are right and she's dangerous, is it right to kill someone before they've even done anything? Either way, when Mai mutters about them, Jupiter adds impassionately, "I know, right?! They don't even *try* to think of any other way! What's *wrong* with them?!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
All friends here? Mami looks to Sailor Moon when she says that with an eyebrow lifted. There's a moment still, before she stops, and looks to the others. It's not really true, but it's only unkind and unmannerly to point that out at the moment. Mami decides against it. <br />
<br />
Honey eyes dart over to Tokiha again as the older girl makes her decision, it seems, and Mami lets out a breath. That makes things... Easier. Much easier. <br />
<br />
The cold doesn't appear to bother Mami; truthfully she isn't paying attention to it, and it's easier to stay composed when she's occupying this role, telling others something important. And when they react... <br />
<br />
"I don't know why they would be after her," Mami admits, uncrossing her arms enough to set her hands out and shrug. Mai's mentioned an attitude, begun to get angry. ...And yet... Well, Mami can't be sure what to expect with Mai. Jupiter though, Jupiter was there, and Mami is appreciative of the corroboration. <br />
<br />
"...A talisman," Mami repeats, looking thoughtfull at Sailor Moon. The explanation is so quiet, though. "Sailor Moon, do you need to sit down?" She gives her a look of concern. But... <br />
<br />
"...As Jupiter says," Mami answers. "Honestly, what they do if it doesn't harm others isn't my concern. This, though..." Mami sighs, "I'm tired of fighting people. I want to be done with it. But I can't allow this." <br />
<br />
Mai's words come out, Jupiter's as well, and Mami can't help but admit, "It's because they're certain that they're right, I'm sure. That this is the appropriate thing to do. ...I respect Sailor Pluto. I know that she will do whatever it takes in her mind. No, it's not impossible for them to have a reason." <br />
<br />
"...But I refuse to conclude that we live in a world where the only way to safeguard it is to sacrifice innocents. Holy Grail or not." <br />
<br />
"But I didn't only come to tell you this to speculate about what it is they want. Regardless of their reasons, the Chevaliers will be moving to oppose them in this. I don't expect any of you join up, but if you need help on this issue... We're here." <br />
<br />
"If not... You can use their own word and spread this information. They can't explain, and we wouldn't understand. They seemed not even to entertain the possibility of talking about this issue... Not that I tend to talk much when someone ambushes a young girl. She's only even /alive/ now because of Sailor Jupiter."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon flinches when Mai says 'That attitude again...' because frankly Uranus and Neptune and Pluto had exposed her to a lot of it. For Uranus in particular, it felt like sometimes trying to grasp wind in one's fist in order to keep a reason to believe she was a good person. And yet she fully believed she was. Almost like she'd latched down with both hands in mid-air and just /believed/ she'd captured wind there- but refused to look. <br />
<br />
Does she need to sit down? All the others were standing so tall, so strong in the face of this news. While she felt like she didn't have any strength at all. <br />
<br />
Because /she/ will never know strength. No matter how long she lives.<br />
<br />
In fact she knew she didn't, without other people. <br />
<br />
And still she wills herself to stay up on her feet, to not sink down on her knees- shaking a hand at her, "I'm fine Mami-chan. D-Don't worry." <br />
<br />
She's not fine at all.<br />
<br />
And Jupiter says that she's known this as she was there at the attack. Moon doesn't hold it against her, after all so much had been going on that if Jupiter had hit her with this news prior she wouldn't have even to be able /think/ of studying for entrance exams. Not that she does anyhow. She already believed this had happened, but somehow Jupiter saying it makes it even more real. Makes it settle further in. <br />
<br />
"T-They must have thought it was really important and..." <br />
<br />
Sailor Moon's shoulders just sink as she sees Jupiter's anger, as she feels Mai's radiate. She closes her eyes and- takes a breath. Just makes herself breathe. For a while, that's all she does, "It's not like I condone it or anything..." She looks at Jupiter, then Mai then says quietly. She's looks sad, like she can't even muster anger, "...I don't..." <br />
<br />
There are no circumstances under which Sailor Moon would ever sacrifice an innocent life.<br />
<br />
"...it's just that it means that we're going to have to fight them. Like we're all caught in this bad dream and can't wake up..." Another breath- "...they probably have considered other options. I know they have. They would have had to! Sailor Pluto wouldn't..." <br />
<br />
She has to believe that Sailor Pluto wouldn't.<br />
<br />
"...just... decide to do something like this... and Uranus... they act so cold but..." <br />
<br />
The only thing you can do to please me is surviving. The only thing you can do to anger me is dying. Don't make the mistake of thinking I care about what you do or feel.<br />
<br />
"...they're not! I know they're not!"<br />
<br />
Her shoulders are shaking a little.<br />
<br />
"...and Neptune, she tried to convince Mars-chan for us to stay away... they don't... they don't want to fight us either..." <br />
<br />
Just breathe Usagi, breathe. <br />
<br />
Her hands shake as she puts a hand up to her face, presses a palm there against the wet she didn't realize was present. In fact she's surprised. <br />
<br />
"...but if they're after Hotaru-chan. If they decided that's the only way... It... doesn't matter, all of that..."<br />
<br />
All of her feelings about them. They just don't matter. That's the part that felt the most like a bad dream. <br />
<br />
Pinching her eyes shut for a moment, she slowly opens and the glove across her eyes. Giving Mami a long look. It's less determination and more, resignation. <br />
<br />
"If the Chevaliers are protecting Hotaru-chan then I'll help defend her- or anyone the Outers threatens. But I'll never be on board with just attacking them."<br />
<br />
And by now. Mami definitely knows why.<br />
<br />
"We'll just keep trying to find a way to make them listen." <br />
<br />
So that they can all wake up. <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
No one is really fine with this news.<br />
<br />
Mai looks up at stormy skies, frustration and anger burning inside, emotional heat making the chill without sharper and yet less. She lifts her chin, staring out into the clouds, remembering the Maiden of Dreams, the truth behind Alyssa Searrs, the unresolved question of Eri...<br />
<br />
Maybe they all need to sit down. But given who suggested it, there's no way she can join in on the sentiment. Petty, perhaps. But there it is.<br />
<br />
Jupiter's anger is direct, and open, and oh so refreshing. It's enough to bring the faintest of smiles to Mai's face, that breath of fresh air helping her out of the past. "Broad daylight...I guess I was wrong. They've gotten even worse than they were a year ago." Mai turns, finally, giving Jupiter a nod - and able to feel her own fingers again, she throws her hand down as if to throw away an idea. "Care? They might care. They just figure that their 'world-saving' reasons are more important than the consequences of murder in broad daylight. Some people just have their priorities way out of whack, Jupiter. And some people just figure that murder is just as good for solving problems as making a cup of soup!"<br />
<br />
She might not just be talking about enemies, admittedly.<br />
<br />
Mami...Mami doesn't get a reply just yet. A glance, briefly, to the comment of being tired of fighting people...<br />
<br />
But given the hospital, is that so unreasonable?<br />
<br />
And then there's Sailor Moon - visibly struggling, showing the unease that the rest of them might just be hiding. Anger cools to a sad look, a consolate gaze - but there's little more she can offer, save her own words. "...I can't condone it. Not without...if the reason is that critical, if there's that much at stake, then..." She swallows, hard.<br />
<br />
And wonders if Mikoto has been asked to help in this task, yet. There's a shiver that runs through Mai, abruptly, even though the weather isn't -that- cold.<br />
<br />
As Sailor Moon goes on, though, Mai's shoulders slump just a little more. It's like there's lead in her gut, a heavy feeling, and she closes her eyes while turning away from the Senshi. "...I wish I could argue with you, Sailor Moon - argue that confronting these Outers might prevent this kind of tragedy. But honestly? They have their convictions. They have faith that their cause is just. Ambushing people like that, trying to beat sense into their heads..."<br />
<br />
Mai opens her eyes, and meets Mami's gaze with a hint of apology, and a hint of bite in her tone. "...trying to change their minds with violence just doesn't work."<br />
<br />
She doesn't hold that gaze, but turns away from the Puella Magi - turns away from all three of them. Her shoulders hang for a moment, a brief shudder in her frame, and then she straightens up. "...I'll try to at least spread the word. If you need backup, if you need help protecting this victim...you have my number, Sailor Moon. Part of me wishes I could just be pragmatic, but honestly? I'd rather live in the world where it's right to protect children. I'll stay in touch."<br />
<br />
Without further ado, she steps forward - leaps forward - to the next rooftop, with flickers of flame helping her escape. There's nothing else she has to say, not until she can think this through a little more.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Open and direct: that's Sailor Jupiter, all the way! She almost laughs at Mai. "Soup? What?" But she probably won't get an answer to that. Jupiter figures that Mai was probably just trying to lighten the mood a little. She doesn't get the sense like she's being flippant, in any case, so Jupiter can smile without feeling like Mai isn't taking this seriously.<br />
<br />
That smile fades as she nods at Mami. "Yeah. I don't want to fight other magical girls, either. But if they're not gonna give us a choice, I'm not gonna back down, either," she says, eyes narrowing dangerously. She nods again at the offer of the Chevaliers. Jupiter... isn't sure if it's right to accept that offer on its head; it feels selfish, only fighting with the Chevaliers once it's on the topic of a Senshi problem, rather than a Puella Magi issue. But at the same time, Hotaru's life is on the line. That's more important than her pride.<br />
<br />
She purses her lips at Sailor Moon's shock, and her insistence on not seeing the Outers as bad people. She's not so sure that Neptune told Mars to have them stay away because they don't want to fight; to her, it sounded like they regard the Inners as nuisances and don't want to be bothered with them. All the same, she rests a hand on Sailor Moon's shoulder and squeezes. She doesn't say anything for now; she just lets her presence be reassuring. ...She doesn't have any easy answers, either. That's why they all came together on this.<br />
<br />
She nods to Mai when she excuses herself, then looks over at Mami. "We should get going, too. Have a safe trip home," she says. Then she'll attempt to escort Sailor Moon off the roof, where they can de-transform and slip into the crowd. ...and maybe stop by Osa-P to improve their moods before heading home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"...All right," Mami says to Sailor Moon when she forces herself to stay upright and says she's fine. Mami can tell that it's a lie... But a magical girl has pride. Mami accepts Usagi's, and Sailor Moon's. <br />
<br />
Mami doesn't stop to say anything to Mai about how she doesn't want to fight others; the fact that she said it at all was if anything a nod to that fatigue, one of the little ways that despite herself she shows more that bothers her these days. <br />
<br />
...More doesn't mean all that much by most standards, though. <br />
<br />
But What Moon says... Of course she doesn't condone what they're doing, though Mami wondered if she might try to find a way. She talks about a bad dream that they're all caught in, and Mami has to admit that there's some truth to it, even if it mostly sounds like a fantay to make it all sound better. <br />
<br />
Whether they considered other options or not, whether they're cold or not... <br />
<br />
"...Murder is very final. I can see why it's an attractive solution. But we don't have the right, even if it would make things easier. That's what needs to be remembered. These are real lives." <br />
<br />
That isn't only about enemies, either. <br />
<br />
Mai's word about ambushes surprise her; Mami looks straight to the older girl, makes it easy to meet her eyes. "You..." <br />
<br />
But with her, to a point it /had/ worked. <br />
<br />
"...Take care, Tokiha-san," Mami says to Mai's back, shaking her head. Should she have told her to leave after all...? <br />
<br />
Mami made the offer to everyone that she did for a reason; she doesn't tak it as an insult not to join. She has... other feelings abou that. Instead... <br />
<br />
"Take care, Sailor Moon, Sailor Jupiter. ...But there's no rest for me just yet. I have patrols to do. Contact me if anything changes." <br />
<br />
She takes a breath, and walks to the other side of the roof. She lingers there for a few moments, until after she's sure everyone else is gone. <br />
<br />
That girl... <br />
<br />
At least the Outer Senshi are a simpler opponent emotionally. Mami Tomoe, steps off of the roof, preparing to stick to the alleys again, away from people.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2017-05-26_-_All_Friends_Here2017-05-26 - All Friends Here2022-10-06T20:07:42Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Slightly less belated posting of a log.</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: All Friends Here'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Mami gets in touch with Usagi to discuss recent events. Usagi invites a few friends for the discussion about principles.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mami Tomoe]], [[Sailor Moon|Usagi Tsukino]], [[Sailor Jupiter|Makoto Kino]], [[Mai Tokiha]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Jewelry OSA-P (rooftop)<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2017-05-26 - Jan 21, 2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, messages can be passed on in simplicity. This is mostly one of those times; Mami has Usagi's number, and has a spare moment when no one is looking at her during class. Thus, during the day... <br />
<br />
Usagi Tsukino gets a text message. <br />
<br />
>I need to talk to you about something important. Can you meet me after school? I'll be in Shibuya. OSA-P is fine. If you can't, I can come to you.<br />
<br />
>Before you ask, I can't tell you what it is in this format.<br />
<br />
Mami puts away her phone again and gets back to a class she's barely paying attention to anyway. At least she's seated in the back.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The buzz of a phone startles Usagi Tsukino out of a perfectly good nap, drool pooling on the edge of her desk. With a snort she sits bolt upright just in time to hurriedly to open her phone and... <br />
<br />
For a moment she just stares, before she hears a whisper near her ear. "What's that all about? Some mystery guy inviting you out on a date to my mom's store?" Naru's expression looked somewhat sly as Usagi turned her head just enough to catch sight of her, "Sounds serious. Why haven't I heard anything about him?" <br />
<br />
Usagi flaps her hand gently at Naru, "You're getting the wrong idea Naru-chan. It's not a date. It's not even a guy! Look-" Surreptitiously she tries to show her the screen while the lecturer is distracted, where at the top it's labelled <3<3 Mami Tomoe <3<3.<br />
<br />
Naru stared at it speculatively, before acquiescing, "Why's she acting so mysterious about it then?" "That's..." She considers for a few moments, "...a very good question." <br />
<br />
After a few moments she starts tapping a message back.<br />
<br />
>We'll be there with bells on Mami-chan!<3~<3<3<3[[User:Glittering Crux Masque|Glittering Crux Masque]] ([[User talk:Glittering Crux Masque|talk]])<3<br />
<br />
>Not literal bells. That would be loud.<br />
<br />
>I wonder where that expression came from anyhow?<br />
<br />
>I just looked it up - England!<br />
<br />
>I'm more cultured than I thought!<br />
<br />
>But to clarify we'll be there with Fukus on, not bells!<br />
<br />
-=-=-<br />
<br />
Mako simply gets shown this whole text exchange at lunch. Usagi is not the slightest bit embarrassed by it. <br />
<br />
Text to Mai Tokiha: <br />
<br />
>Some important news is being delivered after school on top of the Jewelry Shop OSA-P. No bells required and no pressure! Come if you can!<br />
<br />
>Though your wristlets and anklets kinda look like bells... so maybe you should come with them on!<br />
<br />
>Mars-chan has clarified that they are not in fact bells, but Magatama. But she didn't have to be so mean about it! >:(:(:([[User:Glittering Crux Masque|Glittering Crux Masque]] ([[User talk:Glittering Crux Masque|talk]]):( Meanie Mars-chan. <br />
<br />
Sailor Moon arrives in the mid-afternoon. OSA-P's cylindrical structure reflecting the sliver of orange sunlight peaking through grey clouds. Down below store goers are still filtering in and out- Shibuya streets still chock full of shoppers. <br />
<br />
She's standing atop the Jewelry store, kneeling next to the side as she leans over the edge to look down at the sidewalk below, "I really wish we could meet inside." She kind of pouts, "I bet Naru-chan's mom would give us a good deal too..." <br />
<br />
She's distracting herself really. It's been a while since she was last here. The first time she was here was the first time she fought as Sailor Moon. The first time she met... <br />
<br />
The idea of serious news is bringing those memories back to the surface.<br />
<br />
"What do you think Jupiter-chan? Maybe after we could all go in and browse..." But even more serious than these serious memories... anything to avoid instantly going back to the Hikawa Shrine after for more studying for entrance exams. <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There is a ticking of a clock, in a lunchtime detention/extra-credit lesson. Several students are attending, each struggling with varying levels of homework set before them. All save one - Mai Tokiha is not working on what has been set before her in the least, but instead is engaged in a staredown against her History teacher.<br />
<br />
The clock ticks.<br />
<br />
Mai's glare continues.<br />
<br />
Midori does not waver.<br />
<br />
The box of cake mix on Mai's desk remains unopened.<br />
<br />
Abruptly, a timer rings, and there's a mass sigh of relief through almost all present. There's a buzzing in Mai's pocket as she stands up; with little ado, she picks up her schoolbag and heads for the door. There is but one parting comment...<br />
<br />
"...are you really sure the school wants to risk that again, sensei?" And then she's off, to check just what that text was.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
>Important news? All right, I'll try not to run late - I think I can find OSA-P...<br />
<br />
>'Mars-chan' sounds like a wise woman. I suppose 'formal' attire's warranted anyway.<br />
<br />
>So, are you going to look up what Magatama are, or just make your friend explain? :p<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
Fortunately, the new bridge was built wide enough to accommodate the usual after-school traffic from Ohtori, and Mai Tokiha was able to make good time heading toward the shopping district. An unfortunately crowded train might have dampened her spirit a bit, but she's soon able to join the crowd in a little bit of window-shopping. Some of those jackets look rather cute, and there's a flashy music store that's calling to her...but they aren't the reason she's here today. OSA-P is as glittering as always, but it's into the alley to the side that the girl slips.<br />
<br />
Darkness is illuminated briefly by fire, and from the shadows of the alley a form quickly rises up. With her rings spinning to give her aid, Mai leaps to a fire escape, and then from there to the roof - letting out a sigh upon seeing the Senshi already present. "Good to see you, Sailor Moon - and it's been a while, Sailor Jupiter." Mai gives the two a small sheepish wave. "Sorry I'm late, traffic was...well, to be honest, the usual. Busy down there today - if not for this news, I'd almost like to go looking for sales..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"I thought they were bells, too," Jupiter admits sheepishly after the fact. The texts themselves she can only sigh at in that 'oh, Usagi' sort of way: one part exasperation, one part affection. She's still not sure what to think about Mami, or Sayaka for that matter--she's done her best to eradicate any monsters as they appear, including Familiars if she's in a position to be able to (since she can't spot them on her own), functionally not hunting Eri down while also not allowing her to do as she pleases with regards to innocent lives. Jupiter sympathizes with her desire to live, but... it's just not right to live at the expense of other people...!<br />
<br />
Which brings them to today's meeting, which isn't about Eri but her allies: the Outer Senshi. Jupiter stands with Sailor Moon on the rooftop overlooking Osa-P, gloved arms folded over her ample chest. "What," she says to her, "as ourselves, or as Sailor Senshi? Even if she did, though, I'm not sure we could afford nice jewelry like that..." She sighs wistfully. "Though it sure is nice to look, huh?" Just imagine one of those diamond rings on her left index finger...! She can just see a handsome young man (slash paper cardboard cut-out with fill-in-the-blank features because Jupiter is in between major crushes right now) slipping it onto her finger after emotionally declaring his everlasting love for her... So romantic...!<br />
<br />
She's snapped out of her fantasy when someone jumps up onto the roof. Jupiter tenses for a second, then relaxes when she sees it's Mai. "Oh, uh, yeah," she utters--technically they saw each other just the other day, but Jupiter's not about to clarify that point. "Let's see, it's just Mami-san left, then, huh?" She looks around, frowning. "I wonder if she got caught in traffic too..."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
For the record, Usagi's texts back got a small sigh, prompting Mami to glance around quickly to make sure that no one was looking at her with her phone and about to say something. But then, she'd already put it away, so it doesn't matter. <br />
<br />
It was a nicer day for that, for a little while, but school is school. Mami tried to focus on her work as best she could, and kept to herself. <br />
<br />
She'd rather be thinking of magical business than Japanese history. It's a good thing nobody in the Chevaliers is actually in her class... <br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
It was obnoxious to get across the bridge, though. Unfortunately, she doesn't have the magic to waste on that kind of magical transport to get her across, so she does it the normal way. <br />
<br />
Even in the normal way, Mami Tomoe knows all the right shortcuts in Shibuya. <br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
It's the other side of the building that she reaches first, dressed already in her fabulous battle attire, her floral hatpin catching the light, despite the dim in its gem. She leaps up, bounces across a wall to the other, and in that way coms to a somersaulted landing atop the roof of OSA-P. How many times has she been here just because? Truth be told... <br />
<br />
She wouldn't mind shopping, either. But it's not a handsome young man she'd think about gifting her something shiny and beautiful. <br />
<br />
She lands, and curtsies politely. "Sailor Moon, you came. Sailor Jupiter must be the 'we' you mentioned--good. I--" <br />
<br />
She pauses, stiff, as she realizes Mai is there, and transformed as well. Mai Tokiha... <br />
<br />
If it weren't Mami, one could swear that she's /nervous/. (She's nervous.) "...Hello, Tokiha," she says uncertainly. "Tokiha-san." She corrects. A pause. She looks right back to Sailor Moon and hisses, "What is /she/ doing here?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Right? They sure look like the bells they use at those summer festivals."<br />
<br />
>She's a total meanie! It was an honest mistake!<br />
<br />
>I know what they are already!<br />
<br />
>In fact I know it so well that she's going to be super impressed with me now!<br />
<br />
>;_;<br />
<br />
>She told me six year olds know more about history than I do! THAT IS SO UNTRUE MARS-CHAN!<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon slowly stands back up to face Jupiter, "As ourselves. Imagine what Luna would say if we tried to go shopping as Sailor Senshi!" Putting a hand on her hip, and wagging a finger which does not look at all like how a cat would do things, "Moon-chan! That's just irresponsible! I mean what happens if it led people to figuring out who you are. And what if people think that means the Sailor Senshi are sponsoring stores? What then?" But Sailor Moon stops wagging her finger and puts it to her chin instead in deep thought, "... maybe that's not a bad idea after all." <br />
<br />
Now she's daydreaming alongside Jupiter, of the stores just /giving/ them stuff for sponsoring them, her fingers all decked out in tasteful jewelry. Haruka Tenoh and Tuxedo Kamen down on one knee, kissing her fingers... and then later in their arms...<br />
<br />
"It would be so wonderful..." She says almost as dreamily as Jupiter. <br />
<br />
But then Mai is up on the roof, and she waves a hand excitedly, "Mai-chan! I'm so happy that you made it! And you know- maybe we could do that after..." She gives Jupiter this look which just says 'Pleaseeee?' <br />
<br />
Mami though shows up with her usual dignity, curtseying and- Sailor Moon looks both ways at Jupiter and Mai to see how they're reacting, before she gives a little exaggerated bow. <br />
<br />
But Mami hisses and Sailor Moon rubs the nape of her neck, just under a twintail as she says back, quietly but in a conversational enough tone that the others can hear, "Well I invited her. You said it was important news right?"<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, Sailor Moon grossly underestimated the amount of animosity the two hold for each other. Despite having seen some of it. <br />
<br />
"And I figured if Mami-chan had important news it was really serious and we should really bring out the big guns. Because you already have super big guns, the biggest- but if it's this serious, then we'd need even more?" <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Sailor Jupiter muses aloud, and Mai can't help but join her in pondering the possibility. "Yeah, it was pretty rough - I managed to get onto the train at the last second, so if she wasn't that luck....hang on, Mami?!" That musing cuts short in an instant, Mai's eyes widening as she whirls to look accusingly at Sailor Moon. "Hang on, you never mentioned-"<br />
<br />
There are soft, elegant footfalls on the rooftop behind here as the fourth member of this gathering makes her arrival. Even Mai's accusations are interrupted - but then, so is Tomoe's greeting, so there's that. Golden rings glinting in the faint afternoon light, Mai takes a step to the side as she turns to the Puella Magi.<br />
<br />
At least there aren't guns. At least there isn't fire.<br />
<br />
"Tomoe-san. Good afternoon." A pause. A not-quite-smile. "Trouble on the bridge?"<br />
<br />
And then there's a very good question for Sailor Moon, and Mai turns to the host of the meeting expectantly.<br />
<br />
The HiME makes a quiet little 'ah' sound in response to the matter-of-fact confession of the invitation. She glances back towards Mami, then to Sailor Moon again, finally letting out a sigh. "We'll see about afterward, depending on where the mood goes from here. I hadn't realized that it would be Tomoe-san delivering the news, though..."<br />
<br />
Mai glances back to the apparent news-giver, takes a deep breath, and lets her hands fall flat by her side. It's a visible relief, letting go of that tension for the moment Letting out the breath, she takes another step back to put her firmly on the sidelines here. "All right. For what it's worth, Tomoe-san, I still have to have words with 'her' about everything - so is this news you're comfortable having me in the loop for, or would you rather I go?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It honestly never occurred to Jupiter that Sailor Moon never actually told Mai /or/ Mami that the other was coming. She just assumed that it was in a text she hadn't been shown, even though Sailor Moon literally showed her ever text she sent. No doubt Ami, Rei, or Minako would have caught it and said something, but Makoto... just didn't. In the same way that Sailor Moon apparently never thought that she needed to inform each of them that she'd invited the other/had been invited by the other, it never occurred to Jupiter to question if she'd brought everyone up to speed. Granted that Jupiter isn't really aware of the animosity between their magical girl senpais, even moreso than Moon herself... Had it been her, she might not have thought to say anything either.<br />
<br />
Aside from the fact that it's kind of rude to invite someone to someone else's party, as it were, USAGI.<br />
<br />
For the moment, though, Sailor Jupiter just laughs at her friend's imitation of their feline mascot. "That sounds like her, yep! I dunno that it'd be good to sponsor stores--it might look like we're selling out when we're supposed to be defenders of love and justice! But it sure would be nice to get free stuff, huh?" You can't get any cheaper than free, and Jupiter's on the hunt for a bargain!<br />
<br />
But then Mai is gawking at the mention of Mami, and Mami shows up and is surprised by Mai's presence, and Jupiter looks back and forth between the two with increasing confusion. Then she furrows her brows and leans in to her friend. "Sailor Moon," she murmurs, "you *did* tell everyone about what was going on... right?" Hahahaha Jupiter sometimes you're so naive.<br />
<br />
Even moreso when the air crackles with tension at Mami's arrival. That's... weird? It puts Jupiter on edge, too, without really knowing why. She can tell that there's some bad blood here, but for the life of her, she couldn't begin to guess why. "Hey, we're all on the same side here, right?" she hazards. "Let's just stay civil. This news is important." She knows it is, because she's got important news of her own to share, after all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami hears Sailor Moon's response, her apparently awkward response, which makes that entirely worse. She /invited/ her. Invited Tokiha. Mami had assumed there would be at least one of her teammates, but... <br />
<br />
"The train was crowded," Mami answers Mai simply, but it sounds slightly like an excuse; she's still set of her guard, though she straightens her posture a bit to try to regain her poise. It sort of works. <br />
<br />
Important news, though. Sailor Moon explains it, and Mami hesitates. "That's... quite sensible of you, Sailor Moon," she admits more graciously than she feels. She isn't entirely convinced until Mai lets her hands fall, and Mami herself relaxes slightly--not entirely--a moment after she speaks. "I... See. ...She wasn't involved. You have a right to know this yourself. Regardless of what you choose to do about it." <br />
<br />
A pause, as Mami crosses her arms finally--the most un-ready stance she can easily make--and looks to Sailor Jupiter. "You're right. I hope we all are on the same side in this... And I'm fairly certain that it's true." A breath out, "I'm glad you in particular came, Sailor Jupiter." <br />
<br />
After all... <br />
<br />
Mami draws in another breath, "There was an incident here in Shibuya recently. I was out on a patrol at the time. ...Sailor Pluto and Sailor Uranus made an effort to kill a young girl named Hotaru Tomoe with their power. 'For the sake of the universe', Sailor Pluto claimed, as well as that we wouldn't understand while she could not explain. ...Frankly what she said was somewhat incomprehensible in the fact of their actions; I think they will go after this girl again." <br />
<br />
"A group of us," she looks to Jupiter, with a nod of acknowledgements, "Fought them off for now. Regardless, they have ties to you, Sailor Moon, and you should know what they're doing." <br />
<br />
Mami shakes her head. "...They're quite serious, and quite dangerous. I--the Chevaliers--can't allow them to have their way in this."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Maybe there's a way to do it without causing problems to everyone's image of us as heroines of love and justice..." Moon considers that problem before Jupiter. "...I mean Venus-chan back when she was V-chan had all that merchandise..." <br />
<br />
But Mai whirls on her and Jupiter asks if she told everyone. Sailor Moon is drawn up on her heels like that one two combination had lifted her off the ground, she waves both her palms in mid-air, "I didn't think it would be a problem. B-Besides it'll be-" <br />
<br />
Honestly that's the source of many of Usagi's problems. She didn't think before acting. <br />
<br />
"-okay." <br />
<br />
She's rapidly trying to let out some of the tension too, "Yeah I mean... we're all friends here." That's /way/ too optimistic even for her honestly. Just because she's friends with everyone here doesn't mean they're all friends with each other. <br />
<br />
But whoever Mai is talking about when it comes to 'her' is something she fails to comprehend, as she looks one way, then another as if confused, but she doesn't question. <br />
<br />
But- it's as if her world starts to lose color once Mami gets down to it. Once she learns what Uranus and Pluto did. "They-" She almost answers automatically. Almost. Only a single word gets out before her brain catches up.<br />
<br />
But she almost said 'wouldn't.'<br />
<br />
Consider this: if we believe you risk your own life and those of everyone you love by interfering with our mission, what lengths would we go to, to prevail? Against even you, Sailor Moon?<br />
<br />
Fate has no care for hope.<br />
<br />
The sounds of the city below are just so loud all of a sudden, as the news filters into her consciousness, permeates it.<br />
<br />
They tried to kill Chibi-Usa's best friend.<br />
<br />
For the sake of the- <br />
<br />
Everything snaps back all of a sudden, "That... doesn't make any sense!" She says finally, it's not that she doesn't believe Mami. It's not that she doesn't believe the Outers aren't capable of murder but- <br />
<br />
"Why would they be after Hotaru-chan? How can going after her possibly be for the fate of the-"<br />
<br />
But whoever holds those Talismans is already dead, Sailor Moon. They just don't realize it yet.<br />
<br />
It's like she was grasping for a way that they were just mistaken, or it was a misunderstanding. Obviously Hotaru wasn't their target it was the Dark General behind her. But unfortunately... it makes too much sense. <br />
<br />
Sailor Moon looks towards Jupiter and finally says- "Maybe they think she has a talisman." <br />
<br />
The idea, that they would kill that girl who was so protective over Chibi-Usa. Just makes her feel so cold. She already looks a shade paler already. <br />
<br />
She sounds so quiet to her own ears, "It's... what they're after. They say if the talismans are brought together it'll summon... a power that will kill everything." It takes her a few moments, before the words roll out on her tongue, "The Holy Grail." <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
If the subject were lighter, or the attendance at this gathering a little different, Mai would have happily joined Jupiter in plotting sponsorship deals. Bargains are great, after all. Alas...<br />
<br />
Jupiter's clued in to the awkwardness of the situation, but is trying to play peacekeeper. Mai glances over to the tall Senshi, and drawls out a blunt response to the 'same side' plea. "Usually."<br />
<br />
Still, it's a fair request, and after a moment Mai lets out a sigh. "But sure, I'll do my best - we were both invited by Sailor Moon, after all. I'll trust your judgment here." There's a faint smile from the fiery-haired girl, before she straightens up to face Mami.<br />
<br />
After a moment, Mai joins the pattern of folding her arms over her chest. What, it's cold out, and she had to take a light jacket this morning. A simple nod at the explanation of non-involvement, and then...she listens.<br />
<br />
Very quickly, her breath stills. The two Sailor Senshi mentioned...Mai doesn't exactly know either of them well. Maybe no one does. Of Sailor Pluto, she knows very little. But Sailor Uranus? Any hope of disbelief is dispelled by a year-old memory.<br />
<br />
( "It doesn't matter what's fair or what happened to her. Nothing is worth that risk. Not her life, not mine, and not any of yours! She has to die!" )<br />
<br />
"That attitude again..." Mai murmurs to herself, belatedly realizing that she actually said it aloud. She starts, gaze flickering around almost as if embarrassed, before joining the Puella in looking at Jupiter. "...you helped fight her off? Good on you, Jupiter..." She's about to join in the argument proper, condemning those actions immediately, but-<br />
<br />
A more recent memory, of a not-so-innocent youth with golden hair.<br />
<br />
-Mai lets out an explosive breath, nearly snarling in irritation. "Ugh. Dammit, you should have invited Kuga too, and then I could let her be the pragmatic one." Clenching her hands, Mai glances to the side. "It's not exactly...impossible for them to have a reason for going after an innocent-looking girl. I know full well that age doesn't mean a whole lot given what we do. Even then, I can't..."<br />
<br />
Can't condone it. Can't automatically condemn it. Mai bites her lip, takes a shaking breath, tries to find a way to continue - but Sailor Moon brings up a possible reason.<br />
<br />
There's a girl giving you a grateful look, Sailor Moon - even as cold and sorrowful as the argument might be.<br />
<br />
It's a tenuous argument, but frankly Mai's in a mood to grasp at straws. "...so stupid. Can't they ever consider -trying- the peaceful resolution for things like this? To just...find some other way, that doesn't involve murder for the sake of magically apocalyptic trinkets. Just...finding some other choice."<br />
<br />
Something catches in her throat, and she whirls on her foot, turning away from the other three to fume in silence for a moment.<br />
<br />
...so stupid.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Oh yeah... She had her own video game and plushies and posters and everything. But was Venus really involved in that directly?" Jupiter wonders. "I always had the impression that some game developers were inspired by her and made a game based on her adventures and stuff." Jupiter has not based this in fact whatsoever. It's just what she assumed, and her assumptions have never been challenged, so she's gone on assuming it well into the catastrophic merging of the second and third seasons. <br />
<br />
But Mami speaks, sharing her news. Jupiter nods to her, expression growing serious. Even if she's not sure about Mami, she *did* help protect Hotaru, and that counts for a lot. As it happens, that matter is exactly what Mami's here to talk about. Jupiter looks at Moon. "She's right," she says. "You remember what I mentioned the other day, about news I needed to share with the whole team?" And then everyone got so deluged by studying for entrance exams that they haven't had a chance to actually get together all at the same time since, delaying the sharing of that news. Yes, that is exactly what caused this delay. "That's what Mami-san's talking about." She clenches a fist in anger. "Uranus and Pluto... They literally tried to murder an innocent girl in broad daylight! In front of crowds of people! They didn't even /care/!"<br />
<br />
Maybe she has a talisman, Sailor Moon suggests. Jupiter's scowl doesn't abate, nor do her fists unclench, but this does slowly permeate the furrow of her brow. "That... would make sense," she says slowly. She shakes her head, fast and harsh. "But that still doesn't give them any right! They think they can kill whoever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want, completely without consequences! It makes me sick!"<br />
<br />
Mai's praise on Jupiter doesn't get her to cool down, exactly, but she does smile a bit as she nods back to her. "Of course," she says. "I can't just stand by and watch them attack an innocent girl." As far as Alyssa goes, well... Jupiter wasn't involved in that battle, though she's tangentially aware of it. Arguably Alyssa isn't an innocent girl--she'd done quite a few things to earn her fate--though Jupiter would be quick to say she still didn't deserve to /die/. And what of Hotaru? Even if the Outers are right and she's dangerous, is it right to kill someone before they've even done anything? Either way, when Mai mutters about them, Jupiter adds impassionately, "I know, right?! They don't even *try* to think of any other way! What's *wrong* with them?!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
All friends here? Mami looks to Sailor Moon when she says that with an eyebrow lifted. There's a moment still, before she stops, and looks to the others. It's not really true, but it's only unkind and unmannerly to point that out at the moment. Mami decides against it. <br />
<br />
Honey eyes dart over to Tokiha again as the older girl makes her decision, it seems, and Mami lets out a breath. That makes things... Easier. Much easier. <br />
<br />
The cold doesn't appear to bother Mami; truthfully she isn't paying attention to it, and it's easier to stay composed when she's occupying this role, telling others something important. And when they react... <br />
<br />
"I don't know why they would be after her," Mami admits, uncrossing her arms enough to set her hands out and shrug. Mai's mentioned an attitude, begun to get angry. ...And yet... Well, Mami can't be sure what to expect with Mai. Jupiter though, Jupiter was there, and Mami is appreciative of the corroboration. <br />
<br />
"...A talisman," Mami repeats, looking thoughtfull at Sailor Moon. The explanation is so quiet, though. "Sailor Moon, do you need to sit down?" She gives her a look of concern. But... <br />
<br />
"...As Jupiter says," Mami answers. "Honestly, what they do if it doesn't harm others isn't my concern. This, though..." Mami sighs, "I'm tired of fighting people. I want to be done with it. But I can't allow this." <br />
<br />
Mai's words come out, Jupiter's as well, and Mami can't help but admit, "It's because they're certain that they're right, I'm sure. That this is the appropriate thing to do. ...I respect Sailor Pluto. I know that she will do whatever it takes in her mind. No, it's not impossible for them to have a reason." <br />
<br />
"...But I refuse to conclude that we live in a world where the only way to safeguard it is to sacrifice innocents. Holy Grail or not." <br />
<br />
"But I didn't only come to tell you this to speculate about what it is they want. Regardless of their reasons, the Chevaliers will be moving to oppose them in this. I don't expect any of you join up, but if you need help on this issue... We're here." <br />
<br />
"If not... You can use their own word and spread this information. They can't explain, and we wouldn't understand. They seemed not even to entertain the possibility of talking about this issue... Not that I tend to talk much when someone ambushes a young girl. She's only even /alive/ now because of Sailor Jupiter."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon flinches when Mai says 'That attitude again...' because frankly Uranus and Neptune and Pluto had exposed her to a lot of it. For Uranus in particular, it felt like sometimes trying to grasp wind in one's fist in order to keep a reason to believe she was a good person. And yet she fully believed she was. Almost like she'd latched down with both hands in mid-air and just /believed/ she'd captured wind there- but refused to look. <br />
<br />
Does she need to sit down? All the others were standing so tall, so strong in the face of this news. While she felt like she didn't have any strength at all. <br />
<br />
Because /she/ will never know strength. No matter how long she lives.<br />
<br />
In fact she knew she didn't, without other people. <br />
<br />
And still she wills herself to stay up on her feet, to not sink down on her knees- shaking a hand at her, "I'm fine Mami-chan. D-Don't worry." <br />
<br />
She's not fine at all.<br />
<br />
And Jupiter says that she's known this as she was there at the attack. Moon doesn't hold it against her, after all so much had been going on that if Jupiter had hit her with this news prior she wouldn't have even to be able /think/ of studying for entrance exams. Not that she does anyhow. She already believed this had happened, but somehow Jupiter saying it makes it even more real. Makes it settle further in. <br />
<br />
"T-They must have thought it was really important and..." <br />
<br />
Sailor Moon's shoulders just sink as she sees Jupiter's anger, as she feels Mai's radiate. She closes her eyes and- takes a breath. Just makes herself breathe. For a while, that's all she does, "It's not like I condone it or anything..." She looks at Jupiter, then Mai then says quietly. She's looks sad, like she can't even muster anger, "...I don't..." <br />
<br />
There are no circumstances under which Sailor Moon would ever sacrifice an innocent life.<br />
<br />
"...it's just that it means that we're going to have to fight them. Like we're all caught in this bad dream and can't wake up..." Another breath- "...they probably have considered other options. I know they have. They would have had to! Sailor Pluto wouldn't..." <br />
<br />
She has to believe that Sailor Pluto wouldn't.<br />
<br />
"...just... decide to do something like this... and Uranus... they act so cold but..." <br />
<br />
The only thing you can do to please me is surviving. The only thing you can do to anger me is dying. Don't make the mistake of thinking I care about what you do or feel.<br />
<br />
"...they're not! I know they're not!"<br />
<br />
Her shoulders are shaking a little.<br />
<br />
"...and Neptune, she tried to convince Mars-chan for us to stay away... they don't... they don't want to fight us either..." <br />
<br />
Just breathe Usagi, breathe. <br />
<br />
Her hands shake as she puts a hand up to her face, presses a palm there against the wet she didn't realize was present. In fact she's surprised. <br />
<br />
"...but if they're after Hotaru-chan. If they decided that's the only way... It... doesn't matter, all of that..."<br />
<br />
All of her feelings about them. They just don't matter. That's the part that felt the most like a bad dream. <br />
<br />
Pinching her eyes shut for a moment, she slowly opens and the glove across her eyes. Giving Mami a long look. It's less determination and more, resignation. <br />
<br />
"If the Chevaliers are protecting Hotaru-chan then I'll help defend her- or anyone the Outers threatens. But I'll never be on board with just attacking them."<br />
<br />
And by now. Mami definitely knows why.<br />
<br />
"We'll just keep trying to find a way to make them listen." <br />
<br />
So that they can all wake up. <br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
No one is really fine with this news.<br />
<br />
Mai looks up at stormy skies, frustration and anger burning inside, emotional heat making the chill without sharper and yet less. She lifts her chin, staring out into the clouds, remembering the Maiden of Dreams, the truth behind Alyssa Searrs, the unresolved question of Eri...<br />
<br />
Maybe they all need to sit down. But given who suggested it, there's no way she can join in on the sentiment. Petty, perhaps. But there it is.<br />
<br />
Jupiter's anger is direct, and open, and oh so refreshing. It's enough to bring the faintest of smiles to Mai's face, that breath of fresh air helping her out of the past. "Broad daylight...I guess I was wrong. They've gotten even worse than they were a year ago." Mai turns, finally, giving Jupiter a nod - and able to feel her own fingers again, she throws her hand down as if to throw away an idea. "Care? They might care. They just figure that their 'world-saving' reasons are more important than the consequences of murder in broad daylight. Some people just have their priorities way out of whack, Jupiter. And some people just figure that murder is just as good for solving problems as making a cup of soup!"<br />
<br />
She might not just be talking about enemies, admittedly.<br />
<br />
Mami...Mami doesn't get a reply just yet. A glance, briefly, to the comment of being tired of fighting people...<br />
<br />
But given the hospital, is that so unreasonable?<br />
<br />
And then there's Sailor Moon - visibly struggling, showing the unease that the rest of them might just be hiding. Anger cools to a sad look, a consolate gaze - but there's little more she can offer, save her own words. "...I can't condone it. Not without...if the reason is that critical, if there's that much at stake, then..." She swallows, hard.<br />
<br />
And wonders if Mikoto has been asked to help in this task, yet. There's a shiver that runs through Mai, abruptly, even though the weather isn't -that- cold.<br />
<br />
As Sailor Moon goes on, though, Mai's shoulders slump just a little more. It's like there's lead in her gut, a heavy feeling, and she closes her eyes while turning away from the Senshi. "...I wish I could argue with you, Sailor Moon - argue that confronting these Outers might prevent this kind of tragedy. But honestly? They have their convictions. They have faith that their cause is just. Ambushing people like that, trying to beat sense into their heads..."<br />
<br />
Mai opens her eyes, and meets Mami's gaze with a hint of apology, and a hint of bite in her tone. "...trying to change their minds with violence just doesn't work."<br />
<br />
She doesn't hold that gaze, but turns away from the Puella Magi - turns away from all three of them. Her shoulders hang for a moment, a brief shudder in her frame, and then she straightens up. "...I'll try to at least spread the word. If you need backup, if you need help protecting this victim...you have my number, Sailor Moon. Part of me wishes I could just be pragmatic, but honestly? I'd rather live in the world where it's right to protect children. I'll stay in touch."<br />
<br />
Without further ado, she steps forward - leaps forward - to the next rooftop, with flickers of flame helping her escape. There's nothing else she has to say, not until she can think this through a little more.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Jupiter [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Open and direct: that's Sailor Jupiter, all the way! She almost laughs at Mai. "Soup? What?" But she probably won't get an answer to that. Jupiter figures that Mai was probably just trying to lighten the mood a little. She doesn't get the sense like she's being flippant, in any case, so Jupiter can smile without feeling like Mai isn't taking this seriously.<br />
<br />
That smile fades as she nods at Mami. "Yeah. I don't want to fight other magical girls, either. But if they're not gonna give us a choice, I'm not gonna back down, either," she says, eyes narrowing dangerously. She nods again at the offer of the Chevaliers. Jupiter... isn't sure if it's right to accept that offer on its head; it feels selfish, only fighting with the Chevaliers once it's on the topic of a Senshi problem, rather than a Puella Magi issue. But at the same time, Hotaru's life is on the line. That's more important than her pride.<br />
<br />
She purses her lips at Sailor Moon's shock, and her insistence on not seeing the Outers as bad people. She's not so sure that Neptune told Mars to have them stay away because they don't want to fight; to her, it sounded like they regard the Inners as nuisances and don't want to be bothered with them. All the same, she rests a hand on Sailor Moon's shoulder and squeezes. She doesn't say anything for now; she just lets her presence be reassuring. ...She doesn't have any easy answers, either. That's why they all came together on this.<br />
<br />
She nods to Mai when she excuses herself, then looks over at Mami. "We should get going, too. Have a safe trip home," she says. Then she'll attempt to escort Sailor Moon off the roof, where they can de-transform and slip into the crowd. ...and maybe stop by Osa-P to improve their moods before heading home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"...All right," Mami says to Sailor Moon when she forces herself to stay upright and says she's fine. Mami can tell that it's a lie... But a magical girl has pride. Mami accepts Usagi's, and Sailor Moon's. <br />
<br />
Mami doesn't stop to say anything to Mai about how she doesn't want to fight others; the fact that she said it at all was if anything a nod to that fatigue, one of the little ways that despite herself she shows more that bothers her these days. <br />
<br />
...More doesn't mean all that much by most standards, though. <br />
<br />
But What Moon says... Of course she doesn't condone what they're doing, though Mami wondered if she might try to find a way. She talks about a bad dream that they're all caught in, and Mami has to admit that there's some truth to it, even if it mostly sounds like a fantay to make it all sound better. <br />
<br />
Whether they considered other options or not, whether they're cold or not... <br />
<br />
"...Murder is very final. I can see why it's an attractive solution. But we don't have the right, even if it would make things easier. That's what needs to be remembered. These are real lives." <br />
<br />
That isn't only about enemies, either. <br />
<br />
Mai's word about ambushes surprise her; Mami looks straight to the older girl, makes it easy to meet her eyes. "You..." <br />
<br />
But with her, to a point it /had/ worked. <br />
<br />
"...Take care, Tokiha-san," Mami says to Mai's back, shaking her head. Should she have told her to leave after all...? <br />
<br />
Mami made the offer to everyone that she did for a reason; she doesn't tak it as an insult not to join. She has... other feelings abou that. Instead... <br />
<br />
"Take care, Sailor Moon, Sailor Jupiter. ...But there's no rest for me just yet. I have patrols to do. Contact me if anything changes." <br />
<br />
She takes a breath, and walks to the other side of the roof. She lingers there for a few moments, until after she's sure everyone else is gone. <br />
<br />
That girl... <br />
<br />
At least the Outer Senshi are a simpler opponent emotionally. Mami Tomoe, steps off of the roof, preparing to stick to the alleys again, away from people.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2015-10-10_-_I_Chose_Me2015-10-10 - I Chose Me2022-09-30T21:12:35Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Very, very belated posting of a log.</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: I Chose Me'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Stranded together on a beautiful island by Beryl's malediction, Mai and Mami have few options besides talking. Understanding does not always lead to friendship.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]], [[Mami Tomoe]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
A desert island somewhere in the multiverse (Prism Flower)<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2015-10-10 - August 30th, 2014 or so <br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
So far, things are simply /not/ turning up in Mami Tomoe's favor, lately. <br />
<br />
While eventually she will (not that she knows this yet) make her way to Sayaka in greater time than she was expecting, just this /moment/ she is opening her eyes to find that she's sitting next to a tree. ...A few yards around her, there is sand, some greenery. And then there is water. <br />
<br />
Lots, and lots, and lots of water. And the bright sun overhead. ...And she, of course, is still dressed in her magical attire, a cluster of guns having made the trip with her, though they are currently on the ground around her. <br />
<br />
She is not feeling particularly at her best. <br />
<br />
And she is not alone. <br />
<br />
"...Wait, what?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Things have not gone entirely well for Mai Tokiha.<br />
<br />
The journey to the North Pole was, naturally, a cold one - and she, out of pride or suspicion, abandoned helicopter and portal both. A trip to the arctic in style, riding Kagutsuchi for the hours it took to reach Beryl's sanctum, friends accompanying her on the dragon's back. When they arrived, though...<br />
<br />
An ambush. Hordes of demons, strong enough that Mai found herself fighting separately from her Child just to stay alive. And even when victory was won...<br />
<br />
Across the countless worlds, she's found herself here. Alone, for the moment - not yet having had the chance to find out if her Child will answer when called. And hot - terribly hot, and not in the self-confident sense. Her scarf and winter jacket have to be abandoned immediately, dumped ignobly upon the sand beside her. Into the sky she squints, shading her eyes - and then out into the endless blue ocean beyond.<br />
<br />
There's no ships. No ports. Nothing. Just a sunny island, and a HiME left to try to cool off in the tropical heat alone-<br />
<br />
-not alone, judging by the exclamation. Mai turns, a bright expression of relief on her face, speaking before even looking. "Oh good, someone else. At least I'm not stuck here al-" The word dies on her tongue, a brief strangled noise sounding from her throat as she realizes just who she's stuck here with.<br />
<br />
In the bright sun, Mai Tokiha sags. "Of course. It just had to be you here."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"..." <br />
<br />
Mami sighs, completely openly. She heard the whole thing, of course, the relief before Mai actually looked at her, all of it. She isn't bothering to change, for the moment. Her head is already swimming in the aftermath of the battle at the North Pole, of... <br />
<br />
She decides to think about Mai. <br />
<br />
"My, Tokiha-san, it's so lovely to see you, too." She keeps a skeptical, level stare for a good second. <br />
<br />
...Then, her shoulders sink slightly, too, and she shakes her head. <br />
<br />
"...I never thought I'd wonder if I'd rather just be by myself," she says remembering the last time they 'spoke'.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's a gentle breeze, rustling great palm leaves, gently stirring up the ocean's surface. For a moment, Mai tries not to think about Mami, just enjoying the breeze...but it's hard to ignore. And the sun is blazing hot, making it distinctly uncomfortable.<br />
<br />
More uncomfortable than this pending conversation?...maybe. Meeting Mami's gaze, Mai lets out an open sigh of her own. "...and here we are. Sorry, I'm sure there's plenty of people you'd rather see right now, but I guess we're stuck."<br />
<br />
She hesitates a moment - then scoops up her winter clothes, approaches to join Mami in the shade. Cautious, and still wearing her shining bangles - but fairly calm. "...I'll be honest, though, I can think of worse people to be stuck on a desert island. I don't suppose you happen to know anything?..."<br />
<br />
Worse people. Plenty, even. Mai goes to Ohtori, after all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami looks out over the water, as it continues to flow and rock in the distance... And the not so distance. She gets the firm impression that she isn't dreaming after all. ...But she can't go telling Mai what she thinks. Not about... <br />
<br />
"...You're apologizing," Mami points out, and looks up at the older girl thoughtfully. ...The fact is that Mai /is/ older than Mami, something Mami hadn't considered until now, though it's fairly clear. <br />
<br />
They both go to Ohtori. <br />
<br />
"I suppose, given all that's going on, that we can... Set some things aside. ...Just for now." <br />
<br />
Pause. <br />
<br />
"I'm afraid that I don't. I should be with someone else right now. ...Someone I was trying to watch out for. I don't know why I'm here, or why you're here, or even where this place /is/."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai arrives, claiming a spot of shade close to but not next to Mami. Her roommate is practically a cat in her own way, and Mai is being practically feline herself in her mannerisms here. She glances over after a moment, with just the hint of a smirk. "Apologizing for darkening the figurative door, at any rate. But, hesitant as I might be to say it...you're right. Bigger things to worry about."<br />
<br />
It's a good bit cooler in the shade, and Mai wipes at her brow. Any hope that the seemingly-senior magical girl here knows more than Mai does is, unfortunately, quickly stamped out. "...worth a shot. I guess we're in the same boat - no idea where we are. Or why we're stuck together, of all people." Another sigh, and Mai looks out into the distant ocean.<br />
<br />
...no Mikoto. No Eri. Not even Natsuki is here, wherever here is... She mutters quietly, but not so quietly that the Puella Magi can't hear. "...I really hope they're all right."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"I'm surprised that you're apologizing regardless," Mami answers. She doesn't smirk back, but she does lift an eyebrow... before inclining her head. "Yes. ...Though this /would/ be an ideal place to settle our differences. The ocean doesn't care much." <br />
<br />
A pause. <br />
<br />
"None at all. Of all the things I expected--... Well, when I thought I might not be going home again, this wasn't exactly what I assumed would happen." <br />
<br />
...Mami turns to look at Mai. "I hope so, too."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"The ocean doesn't burn, you mean?" Mai stretches out her arms - still wearing those bangles, and with a wary eye to the heap of guns near Mami - tries to spy anything at all on the horizon. She's got fairly good eyes, but...nothing. Nothing to be seen, nothing to distract from her companion here. "...but in spite of what you probably think of me, I'm not exactly eager to get into a battle to the death. Sorry to disappoint - again."<br />
<br />
She's a bit more tense - as relaxing as the island might seem, it's hard to forget certain promises that were made, before. But - in spite of how much they might be at odds, there's one thing that's clear. Even Mami Tomoe, it seems, can care about someone else.<br />
<br />
Which really makes their agrument all the more frustrating, if she's to think about it.<br />
<br />
Mai looks over at Mami again - really looks, this time, trying to catch the worry in her expression. "...you know. Once upon a time, I really did think highly of you. This being before we ever spoke, mind, but - I saw you in action. I was impressed, back then. And now...now, I just wonder why. Why you're doing...all of this."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami doesn't even bother looking, anymore. Not right now, anyway. The ocean can just be the ocean. <br />
<br />
"That's right," she says back. "...Is that so? Well, I /am/ disappointed." <br />
<br />
Despite the sweet expression, a master of sarcasm like Mai will almost certainly recognize it. <br />
<br />
Mami can't hide that feeling Mai's looking for--it's present. ...But looking, the worry is barely covering over something tired, something that comes out at Mai's explanation. ...And then it just stays there, as she shakes her head and looks up to the sky. <br />
<br />
"...All of what, exactly, Tokiha-san? Exactly what are you wondering?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's no denying it - and Mai Tokiha, Master Of The Sarcastic Drawl, recognizes Mami's tone for what it is. She laughs, more than she has since that reflection appeared before her, sharp and loud. "Well, isn't that a shame? Guess we'll have to reschedule, Tomoe..."<br />
<br />
But there's...well. That tired look, beneath the worry, beneath the sarcasm...Mai looks away, casting her own gaze into the azure heavens. She doesn't like staring into what could be a reflection. "...why you fight. Why you step up to the cause...or why you feel like you should tell others what they should do. Take your pick."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Maybe I can pencil you in after the apocalypse." <br />
<br />
Mami's sense of humor, as a rule, is typically understated. <br />
<br />
...And absent, now, in the face of those questions. She doesn't see her reflection in Mai, for many reasons, not least of which that in a lot of ways she simply doesn't /know/ Mai. ...But she sees the way the older girl looks away. She can feel that maybe something showed through. Something she ought to hide... <br />
<br />
But she thinks of the terrible battle at the North Pole, of the last time she saw Mai... and of seeing Homura, the way that she saw her that day. <br />
<br />
"...Do you know what happens, Tokiha-san," Mami begins, "To a Puella Magi who uses up the last of her magic? ...Who stops fighting. I'm sure that you don't. We keep such things a secret. ...But would you like to?" <br />
<br />
A beat, "I've been fighting this way for a long time, now. I was a scared little girl when I started, you know. I remember so clearly how I thought that I could help people." She lets that hang on the air. "...But you know, there's so much more to helping others than you think about, when you're a child. And not everyone is interested in that same goal. ...Even those that are, even those that /try/ to help..." <br />
<br />
"Well, it doesn't matter what good intent you have to the one you can't save. They're still dead, the same way as if you meant for it to happen."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Tell you what. If it winds up being my fault, consider yourself to have a reservation." Black humour, perhaps, but there's no better place for it.<br />
<br />
There's a quiet that seems to fall over the small, barely populated island. Any quip Mai might want to make to the girl in yellow...it's not the time. Not the place. It's just...<br />
<br />
At the mention of the grand secret of the Puella Magi...the HiME's eyes widen in surprise. Surprise, hope...fear. It's a mystery she's wondered for...months, easily. Something secret to one of her dearest friends, something that could help Mai keep her safe...<br />
<br />
And yet, shrouded in mystery, it's a secret that worries her. A peril hanging over that friend, of which her only knowledge is that there's precious little she can do to help.<br />
<br />
Mai closes her eyes. For a moment, all that can be heard from her are long, calming breaths. Breaths that become considerably shorter as Mami talks about intentions, about helping others...<br />
<br />
"I know about intentions." It's quiet, almost angrily uttered. "And I don't mean the obvious - that's been my life for years. Working and working to try to make things better for - for someone important to me. And...it won't make a bit of difference. It still comes down to whether he can find a donor, whether the operation succeeds...I can do everything I can, and it still might amount to nothing. So..."<br />
<br />
She sighs, letting out her breath in a single burst. "...I get desperate. If the people I love are in danger...well. You saw what can happen. My intentions...it's all I can do to keep the people I care about safe, in what ways I can. And Eri-chan...all I know is that she has to keep fighting those Witch things, that she doesn't have a choice to stop. That there's nothing I can do to help, there..."<br />
<br />
Mai goes quiet a moment longer. A long, deep breath...and she turns to Mami. "This won't help at all. But...I need to know anyway. What happens?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Wonderful," the blonde girl replies. "I'll keep that in mind." <br />
<br />
For Mami, it feels less like it falls, and more like she's the one who puts it there, like she's blanketed this sandy little place in something she ought to have kept for herself. ...But it's a little too late to put it back now. Once something's broken... <br />
<br />
Mami sees shattered glass, in her memory. She clsoes her eyes, shaking her head to dispel it so she can let herself listen to Mai, instead. ...The calming breaths don't exactly help since they aren't very calm. <br />
<br />
Mai actually /talking/ gives her something else to focus on. What she /says/... <br />
<br />
Mami finds herself watching Mai, drawn into that particular story. She remains quiet, right up until Mai actually turns to look at her. She finds that Mami is already looking back, and something in her eyes might have some of that reflection, after all. <br />
<br />
Mami regrets bringing it up. <br />
<br />
"No," she agrees, "It won't help. ...What happens, Tokiha-san, is very simple. If we run out of magic--if we stop fighting--we die. If we lose, if we can't win against the Witches--we die. If we make just enough mistakes..." <br />
<br />
Mami attempts to hold Mai's gaze, "And even if we don't, you can only keep going for so long. Everyone slips up eventually. ...Have you met many Puella Magi even your age, Tokiha-san?" <br />
<br />
Finally, she turns her head. "Whatever a Puella Magi's mission, whatever it is that she wants to accomplish--I advise that you recall that hunting is a matter of life and death for each one of us. ...And most of us are more than willing to make it someone /else's/ death."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's no immediate response to Mami's explanation. Little bits of information - little glimpses into the life into the Puella Magi, the price paid for the wish they receive...a piece of the puzzle is finally put into place, and everything around it matching at last. Mai's silence is deep - for half a minute, she doesn't even breathe.<br />
<br />
And then that held breath is released in an explosive burst, with a quiet utterance that is absolutely unladylike.<br />
<br />
The HiME stands - aside from that expetive, having not yet uttered a word. She looks far away from Mami, just staring into the horizon - or maybe further still. Finally, though... "...so stupid. Of course she-" There's a frustrated, infuriated, strangled noise, and she abandons that statement. Just...puts the silence back, to hang for a few minutes while Mai paces around the terribly small shore of the island.<br />
<br />
"...she really did try to hide that. But...small wonder she hasn't talked about her future lately. At all." Mai slumps down under the same tree as Mami - a trunk between them, so the HiME doesn't have to -look- at the Puella Magi. But closer, all the same. "...it's worse knowing. But thanks, all the same."<br />
<br />
A wave crashes nearby, and Mai's head just falls back against the trunk. "...Tomoe. Do you want to know why I have a fiery dragon of destruction?" She sighs - and before the Puella Magi can answer, Mai continues. "There was a monster. A big one - one that survived being cut in half, for crying out loud - and it was bound and determined to eat my little brother. There's no way he could run. no way for us to escape...and I was offered a choice. Break the seal on Kagutsuchi, put my life on the line, and save him. How hard a choice do you think that was?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami doesn't break that silence. ...Not until Mai does. <br />
<br />
She turns to look at Mai at that particular thing she said, but she doesn't actually speak up. Instead, she stays quiet... and watches. She watches, and thinks about how clearly Mai's feelings come out, all that just... Pure, simply-expressed anger. <br />
<br />
She feels envy, as she looks. <br />
<br />
She doesn't say 'you're welcome.' Instead, she listens to the same wave crashing, head still turned to look at Mai, still listening as she goes on. ...She would hae said she was interested, regardless. <br />
<br />
"I see," Mami replies. "...This is 'him.' The one you were talking about." She pauses, but it's not a question. She lets that pause draw out, another moment, and then looks more closely at Mai, attempting to meet her eyes. <br />
<br />
"...So was it the next instant you accepted? Or did you think about it for /two/ seconds?" <br />
<br />
A beat. <br />
<br />
"...I wish I could say I would have done the same. Regardless of what I think of your approach, Tokiha-san... Well." <br />
<br />
Golden eyes turn back out on the waves. "...About her, well... It's difficult, when you're in a situation like that, to think about your future. I've done this for years, now. A long time. And for my part..." She looks down at her hand. "Well, I don't have a future. It's that simple. But the world does. And if I'm going to be gone, then..." <br />
<br />
"You asked why I feel like I can tell people what to do? ...It's because I want things to get /better/ after I die. Not worse."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
When Mami asks her question, Mai's eyes are closed. She laughs softly in response - that kind of little laugh that's barely concealing a sob. "...yeah, exactly. One of those really awful questions with a horribly easy answer. ...I don't know what you might have done, Tomoe, I just know what I did. Would still do."<br />
<br />
The HiME is quiet herself, staring out into the waves. The topic takes a turn for the...fatalistic from there, but it's not like it's ground Mai hasn't trod before. "...I am sorry to hear that. In spite of everything...you, Homura, Eri. None of you deserve that. As for me..."<br />
<br />
She laughs, again. Quiet and sad. "...I haven't bothered thinking about my future. Not until I've done what I can to make sure my brother can still have his.Until I've done the same for all the others who are precious to me...but I'm not like you. I'm not bold enough to think of what the whole world's going to do after I'm gone....just a few people."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami nods, quietly, at what Mai says about what she did, and what she'd do again. She keeps silent, though, for the moment; she can hear what was almost crying in that voice. It's clear. <br />
<br />
...And the next is... <br />
<br />
'None of you deserve that.' Mami is particularly silent about that point; it's more than not talking. It's actively looking away. <br />
<br />
Mai's the only one laughing. ...But not the only one sad, at least. <br />
<br />
"...I see." Finally, she speaks up, but the words come out slightly roughly, as if in those moments of not speaking more time passed than Mami realized or expected, and she forgot how to speak up. "You think it's bold, hm? ...I suppose. I'm not one to shy away from something dramatic." A pause. <br />
<br />
"You don't know what I'd do," the blonde girl answers, "But I do. We realy are different, you know. ...You see, I was faced with a similar situation, once. But when it was /my/ family on the line? I chose me." <br />
<br />
"I hope you can protect them. I mean that. But while I respect your reasons... You are wrong about one thing." Mami turns back to look at Mai. "Some of us deserve exactly what we're getting."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Rough, earnest words. Mai doesn't smile at Mami's comments about dramatics, as much as they might amuse her - they're finally being honest with each other in their own way. For the magnitude of their clash...it's different outlooks on life. And Mami's might not be one Mai can agree with, but it's at least one she might understand and respect-<br />
<br />
'But I do.' The ocean is suddenly less interesting than the nearest pebble - Mai rounds around fully to stare at Mami openly. As the younger veteran magical girl admits to at least one similarity between them...a greater one than Mai might have imagined.<br />
<br />
"You chose..." The HiME trails off, looking at Mami Tomoe in new light. Once upon a riverbank, there was a choice...and finally, deep in her heart, Mai can understand the girl before her. A single, selfish, tragic choice...and trying to make up for that choice. In Mami, Mai can see herself reflected.<br />
<br />
Which means Mai can accept Mami just as readily as she accepts herself.<br />
<br />
"...deserve what you're getting?....mm." Mai's response is simple and harsh; she doesn't argue the point.<br />
<br />
The older girl stands up, takes a few steps out of the shade to stand in the sun again. Turned away from the tree, she looks out into the distance. "...I feel a little bad for some of the people we both know, Tomoe. We're...probably not ever really going to get along enough to be friends."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami doesn't really expect respect or understanding from Mai. ...Not that it's really about expecting anything. Some things are shared only because they've been held so long that they just start spilling, one way or another. <br />
<br />
Mai stares at her, and Mami looks back, calmly. ...Calmly isn't really the right word, though. It has all the hallmarks of calmness; slow, even breathing, no sudden movements, a simple, neutral expression--but there's something different to it. <br />
<br />
It's the face of a girl who's started to give up. <br />
<br />
Mami inclines her head, slowly, at that response. It's simple, it's harsh... There's something almost elegant about that. "That's right." <br />
<br />
Mami stays seated. She doesn't bother to look out into the distance. She can already see something else without focusing anywhere but within. <br />
<br />
"They'll live," Mami answers, sounding again like she's the senior magical girl. Knowing where she stands helps. "And so will you."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Part of Mai just wants to burst out laughing at the irony of it all. That this girl - this pillar of the magical community - with whom she'd clashed so much... The problem wasn't how different they were. It's how similar they were, differing largely in how they answered.<br />
<br />
It's a strange kind of relief, even if it cements the rift between them.<br />
<br />
Mami acting as the senior magical girl...she might be. Though which of them has longer experience with guilt...never mind. This time, Mai does laugh to herself a bit, tilting her head back as she mutters aloud. "I've lost enough for the sake of my selfishness..."<br />
<br />
A deep breath - and she turns back to the still-seated Mami. One in the light, one in the shade, the two can look at each other clearly. "...so. As...nice as this island might be, I do have people I care about. I don't know about you - but I think it's time I got out of here. See if there's a path to my precious people out there."<br />
<br />
A moment's hesitation, as Mai looks at the doomed Puella Magi. "...interested in coming along?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
After all, the rumors about Mami don't talk about her history much. They only mention that she's been doing this for years... And that she's noted as something of a loner. That she used to be with the Tuners, but couldn't work with them. <br />
<br />
But things are a little different, over time. <br />
<br />
Mami looks to Mai, at her muttering. But she only looks. And then she's seeing her clearly, still seated where she is at the moment. <br />
<br />
'I don't know about you - ' <br />
<br />
Her lip twitches, slightly, just at the side, with the sheer sting of that implication. <br />
<br />
It makes it more surprising when Mai offers something. <br />
<br />
She hesitates, looking out over the ocean... the featureless, everlasting ocean. <br />
<br />
"...I'll go," she answers. "There are still things I have to do."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Still things to do?... "...reason enough, I guess."<br />
<br />
Mai brings one hand up to her chest for a moment, closes her eyes in concentration...then opens them, looking at Mami with a slightly more confident smirk. "Just for the record, I'd appreciate it if you pass on shooting me if this works. ...and if it doesn't, things are going to be a lot more awkward." She closes her eyes again, looking deep within...and then speaks a single word as a plea, an entreaty from far away.<br />
<br />
"Kagutsuchi."<br />
<br />
There's a feeling like a resounding heartbeat, the faintest suggestion of a strange sword piercing the heard of Mai's shadow - and then the ocean behind her ignites in a grand inferno. The beast towering above her is mercifully the same as ever - alabaster flesh adorned with strange bits of armor, serpentine body accompanied by wings that are as great sheets of flame. Between dragon and phoenix, Kagutsuchi spreads his wings and sings out a triumphal cry.<br />
<br />
Many eyes look down on the island - look directly at Mami. Mai holds up a hand before the Child, though, shaking her head. "No. She's an...ally."<br />
<br />
For how long, she doesn't say. But she turns to Mami all the same, and holds out one hand. No friendly smile accompanying it, but an invitation all the same. "So. Willing to accept a ride?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Oh, I already said you'd live. I don't make a habit of missing when I shoot." Mami plays it off casually, and then she watches something she hasn't gotten a chance to really stop and see. <br />
<br />
...It's a strange thing to watch. She remembers how frightening Kagutsuchi is, as it looks down at her. Her breath catches. For all her experience... /This/ thing remains terrifying. <br />
<br />
"...Well, it had to be fire, didn't it?" She shakes her head. <br />
<br />
Looking up at Mai, though, she doesn't smile, either. She instead reaches out to take the hand. "All right. For now, we're in this together."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It is a testament to the Tokiha self-preservation trait that Mai doesn't even blink at the implicit threat.<br />
<br />
Kagutsuchi, for his part, watches the Puella Magi carefully - by whatever metric the Child uses, Mami is being treated as a serious potential threat. But...Mai has commanded, and Mami is only a potential threat, so Kagutsuchi acquiesces. The sinuous, serpentine tail curls gently around to rest upon the shore, offer Mami a way to climb on.<br />
<br />
"Sorry, Tomoe. That's all the magic I got - fire, more fire, and a side order of fire." Mai grips the hand - a professional handshake, more than an enthusiastic one - and nods. "Right. We just have to find how to get back to Beryl's lair, and make her answer for...all this.<br />
<br />
As they climb on the dragon's back, Mai looks back upon the tiny island. She's quiet for a moment...and then laughs to herself, a smile on her face. "...hey, Tomoe? I'll say this much - I could have been stuck on an island with worse than you. At least you're not one of those creep's who'd have spent the whole time staring at my chest." Not to name names. "Those, I might have fed to Kagutsuchi."<br />
<br />
Whether or not that was a joke, Kagutsuchi lets out a soft whale-like croon in answer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mami thought it was clever. <br />
<br />
Mami acts calmly, making no sudden movements... In part because she is still expecting this whale-dragon to pounce at more or less any second. She /is/ a potential threat, to be certain. ...And maybe more of one than Mai /or/ Mami can realize. <br />
<br />
"It could be worse," she says instead, and this professional handshake is something she can accept. "So, you're saying it's going to be easy. I'm glad, I was thinking I might want to have some tea before it gets much later." <br />
<br />
She walks along after, and is listening for sure when Mai actually /smiles/ her way. Saying that... <br />
<br />
Mami, expression pleasant, laughs softly, glancing down at the island, too. <br />
<br />
"If we'd been stranded here with a boy like /that/, I'd have helped you do it."</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/LogsLogs2021-07-19T12:39:44Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Added the July 2021 section to Logs.</p>
<hr />
<div>To create a page for your log, simply create a page with a title of 'YYYY-MM-DD - Log Title'. This index page will automatically link it in the appropriate month folder, as long as the appropriate category is included at the end with:<br />
<br />
<pre><br />
[[Category:Logs]] <br />
</pre><br />
<br />
For the fancy summary table you may use this code:<br />
<pre><br />
{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: <Your title>'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''<The summary>''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
<Who is involved. Make sure to place their names [[Between the brackets]]><br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
<The location><br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
<RL Date - IC Date><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
</pre><br />
If you're interested in using an automatic log-cleaning script, please reference [https://pastebin.com/LGXybZ8r Log Muncher], made and shared by our former player [[Lucy Iwai]].<br />
<br />
For the overall story of Battle Fantasia MUSH, please see our [[Timeline]].<br />
<br />
[[Cutscenes]] are listed on their own page.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===2013===<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2013-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2013-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of October.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2013-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of November.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2013-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2014===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-02-% <br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of February.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-03-% <br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of March.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of April.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of May.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of June.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''August:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-08-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of August.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of October.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of November.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2015===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-02-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of February.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-03-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of March.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of April.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of May.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of June.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''August:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-08-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of August.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of October.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of November.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2016===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-02-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of February.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-03-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of March.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of April.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of May.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of June.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''August:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-08-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of August.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of October.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of November.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2017===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-02-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of February.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-03-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of March.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of April.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of May.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of June.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''August:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-08-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of August.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of October.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of November.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2018===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-02-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-03-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''August:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-08-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of August.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''November (note for IC chronological purposes that we started a [[Previously On Battle Fantasia|flashback timeloop plot]] on 11/11/18):'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2018-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2019===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2019-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2019-02-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2019-03-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April (note for IC chronological purposes that we ended a [[Previously On Battle Fantasia|flashback timeloop plot]] on 04/06/19):'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs¦cutscenes<br />
|titlematch = 2019-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of April.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs¦cutscenes<br />
|titlematch = 2019-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of May.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs<br />
|titlematch = 2019-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of June.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs<br />
|titlematch = 2019-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''August:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs<br />
|titlematch = 2019-08-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs<br />
|titlematch = 2019-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs<br />
|titlematch = 2019-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs<br />
|titlematch = 2019-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs<br />
|titlematch = 2019-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2020===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-02-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-03-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''August:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-08-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2020-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2021===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2021-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2021-02-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2021-03-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2021-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2021-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of May.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2021-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of June.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2021-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Oatmeal_Lace_CookiesOatmeal Lace Cookies2019-07-25T00:08:35Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>'''Oatmeal Lace Cookies'''<br><br />
''Source: Family recipe''<br><br />
''Yield: About six dozen cookies''<br />
<br />
====Ingredients====<br />
* ½ cup flour<br />
* ¼ tsp baking Powder<br />
* ½ cup sugar<br />
* ½ cup quick cooking oats<br />
* 2 Tbsp heavy cream<br />
* 2 Tbsp light corn syrup<br />
* 1/3 cup melted butter or margarine <br />
* 1 tsp vanilla<br />
<br />
====Directions====<br />
* Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit.<br />
* Sift flour, sugar and baking powder together into a bowl.<br />
* Mix together until well blended.<br />
* Add quick-cooking oats.<br />
* Mix together the cream, corn syrup butter and vanilla.<br />
* Add the cream mixture to the flour/oatmeal mixture.<br />
* Using ¼ tsp measuring spoon, drop onto an ungreased (or parchment-lined) baking sheet 2” apart.<br />
* Bake in oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until lightly browned.<br />
* Allow to stand a few seconds before removing from the pan.<br />
<br />
''It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.''<br />
<br />
[[File:OatmealLaceCookies.jpg]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/File:OatmealLaceCookies.jpgFile:OatmealLaceCookies.jpg2019-07-25T00:08:16Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
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<div></div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Oatmeal_Lace_CookiesOatmeal Lace Cookies2019-07-25T00:02:27Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "'''Oatmeal Lace Cookies'''<br> ''Source: Family recipe''<br> ''Yield: About six dozen cookies'' ====Ingredients==== * ½ cup flour * ¼ tsp baking Powder * ½ cup sugar * ½..."</p>
<hr />
<div>'''Oatmeal Lace Cookies'''<br><br />
''Source: Family recipe''<br><br />
''Yield: About six dozen cookies''<br />
<br />
====Ingredients====<br />
* ½ cup flour<br />
* ¼ tsp baking Powder<br />
* ½ cup sugar<br />
* ½ cup quick cooking oats<br />
* 2 Tbsp heavy cream<br />
* 2 Tbsp light corn syrup<br />
* 1/3 cup melted butter or margarine <br />
* 1 tsp vanilla<br />
<br />
====Directions====<br />
* Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit.<br />
* Sift flour, sugar and baking powder together into a bowl.<br />
* Mix together until well blended.<br />
* Add quick-cooking oats.<br />
* Mix together the cream, corn syrup butter and vanilla.<br />
* Add the cream mixture to the flour/oatmeal mixture.<br />
* Using ¼ tsp measuring spoon, drop onto an ungreased (or parchment-lined) baking sheet 2” apart.<br />
* Bake in oven for 6 to 8 minutes, until lightly browned.<br />
* Allow to stand a few seconds before removing from the pan.<br />
<br />
''It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.''</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/The_Kitchen_SinkThe Kitchen Sink2019-07-24T23:58:12Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>This is a space for Battle Fantasia's OOC community of cooking enthusiasts to share their passions with each other! Feel free to edit this page to add your recipes, or other articles, using the format at the top. Don't forget to add <nowiki>[[Category:Recipes]]</nowiki> to your new pages!<br />
<br />
* [[Adobo (Filipino)]] by ''MycoHime''<br />
* [[Carnitas]], by ''MycoHime''<br />
* [[Carrot Vichyssoise]] by ''MycoHime''<br />
* [http://www.closetcooking.com/2013/12/chicken-enchilada-stuffed-spaghetti.html?m=1 Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash, by Closet Cooking], submitted by ''Matildarose''<br />
* [[Chili Chop Suey]] by ''Kinzo Hiroyuki''<br />
* [[Chocolate Chip Cookies]], by ''Pink Moon Stick''<br />
* [[Cranberry Cinnamon Buns]], by ''Glittering Crux Masque''<br />
* [[Latkes]], by ''Pink Moon Stick''<br />
* [[Peanut Chicken Pasta]], by ''Glittering Crux Masque'' <br />
* [[Beef Rendang]], ''Glittering Crux Masque''<br />
* [[Apple Pie]], by ''Glittering Crux Masque''<br />
* [[Maple Curry Chicken Pasta]], by ''Glittering Crux Masque''<br />
* [[Oatmeal Lace Cookies]], by ''Glittering Crux Masque''<br />
<br />
They're not part of the Battle Fantasia community, but deserve an honorable mention: [http://stuffinfluffcooking.tumblr.com/ Stuffin' Fluff Cooking] is a wonderful blog where adorable mascots teach recipes, very much in the tradition of our own [[Theme_Primer#Cooking_With_Mascot|Cooking With Mascot]] theme!<br />
<br />
<br />
Back to [[Miscellaneous]].<br />
<br />
[[Category:Miscellaneous]][[Category:Recipes]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-06-14_-_More_Important_Than_Homework2019-06-14 - More Important Than Homework2019-06-23T01:54:05Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: More Important Than Ho..."</p>
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<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: More Important Than Homework'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''After a long day of bussing and homework, it's time to go home. It's nice that, after so long, a couple of friends can go home together again.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]], [[Eri Shimanouchi]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
The long path from Linden Baum diner back to Ohtori Academy Dormitories<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-06-14 - June 8th, 2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The sun is low in the sky, but has yet to dip below the horizon. Long shadows stretch out from many a building as twilight descends upon Tokyo, summer's heat making its approach well-known. The days are getting longer, and even a business like Linden Baum won't stay open until nightfall.<br />
<br />
As closing time arrives, the last calls for orders go out. Coffee machines are turned off and cleaned, slices of cake are offered at an end-of-day discount, and one by one chairs get set on tables. Eventually, though, even the things left to clean run out.<br />
<br />
It helped, admittedly, that some troublemakers were banned yesteday. Maybe someday that ban will even stick.<br />
<br />
One by one, the waitresses duck in back to change into street clothes before heading out. Third from the last is Mai, giving the managers on duty a wave once dressed in jean-shorts and a red t-shirt. With a satchel slung over her shoulder, she approaches one of the few tables not yet wiped down, one of the few that still has someone seated at it.<br />
<br />
"Well, once we're out of the way, it looks like they'll be able to lock up. How goes the battle against the monster that is..." She peers over a shoulder, frowning at the page for a moment. "...literature analysis?"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<SoundTracker> Twilight Street - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvhLzvpwxZ4<br />
<br />
"Trouble you for a to-go cup?" The girl asks, but doesn't have Mai actually take the task of transferring coffee from the mug to the enclosed cup, complete with corrugated ring to keep her hand protected. She's standing at the doorway after Mai is done changing, waving that to-go cup back and forth at nearly eye level, before turning and adjusting her bag over her shoulder. "Tolstoy is so dry. I wouldn't want him to hang around my g- Oh hold on a second." <br />
<br />
The girl interrupts raising her coffee cup to dance over a few steps in front of Mai towards one of the Lindenbaum window boxes of flower. Her fingers trace a line across the topsoil instead, sending a green glitter over some gardenias with limp stems.<br />
<br />
They're already starting to perk up by the time she sidesteps back in front of Mai and starts walking backwards in front of her on her sidewalk. Holding up her coffee cup like she's about to take a sip. "And everryooonnnee has their own take on him whether you want it or not. Remember that upperclassman that dropped by my table earlier?" She has this curl of her lip like she's both smiling and experiencing a bad smell all at once, "He sure had his. Had to tell him I just wasn't interested."<br />
<br />
And then she does take that sip of coffee, lowering it not long after.<br />
<br />
"In... both respects."<br />
<br />
There's a glimmer of mischief in her eyes, before that look softens out into just a smile that reaches her eyes too.<br />
<br />
"These kind of battles. They feel so normal - ne - Mai-chan?"<br />
<br />
Pivoting around, she falls back into line beside her, her chin lifted upwards slightly. "Kind of nice."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
After a day spent around coffee and cake and myriad Western-style foods, simply being outside in Tokyo is a relative breath of fresh air. Mai stops in her tracks as Eri ducks over to check on the flowers, taking a moment to stretch out her arms and back.<br />
<br />
Another day, another paycheck.<br />
<br />
She catches a glimpse of the green sparkles, a moment's worry flashing in her eyes - but things are different now. Such a little thing is fine, now. They're supposed to be different.<br />
<br />
The sidewalk is quiet; bright as the skies might be, this hour is a quiet one around here. Most places would have closed, already, so the two of them have freedom to just walk and enjoy the twilight hours. As Eri comments on that upperclassman, Mai's own face contorts into a look of similar disgust.<br />
<br />
"Ugh, that guy? I think I saw him get chalk thrown at him in math class last week. Not surprised he assumes he's some magical fount of knowledge." A smirk replaces the disgust for a moment, a keen look in Mai's eye. "Honestly, Eri-chan, I might kind of have to judge you if you were interested."<br />
<br />
Mischief meets mischief, smiles meet smiles.<br />
<br />
"...yeah. I really missed this. Maybe not all the customers at work, but having something reliable. Being able to just stop by a table and vent for a minute between orders. Just...being able to talk again."<br />
<br />
There's no cold breeze to accompany those words, no sudden pathos in the world; the sun is still bright, the air is still warm. And yet, and yet, the shadows of the city grow longer and longer.<br />
<br />
Walking side by side, Mai leans her head in her friend's direction. "It's really nice."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"To suffer the slings and arrows of your judgement over my taste in guys..." Eri gives this small shake of her head, grinning from ear to ear for a moment. She doesn't finish that story right away, as the impishness of that grin smooths out into a smile as Mai talks more and more. And when she leans her head her way.<br />
<br />
"Who are you and what have you done with Mai-chan?"<br />
<br />
The girl says with the hint of a collected and calm accusation, "The Mai-chan that complained constantly over the torrid love affairs of the pineapple duo, the demanding customers, the awful manager." <br />
<br />
And her smile just seems more and more present as she teases her harder. "To make serving them into such a positive experience. Surely you're an agent of Dark Fall here to lull me into complacency."<br />
<br />
Raising up the hand that's bearing a ring rather than a coffee cup to her mouth, she allows this little giggle.<br />
<br />
Rather than simply agree that it's nice, as she already has, she decides to tell instead.<br />
<br />
"Well as it turns out - you won't have to judge me in my taste in guys. Oh sinister soldier of the Dark Restaurant Corporation. The story ends with him getting all /angry/ over me telling him I'm not interested."<br />
<br />
There's this tiny turn of her head, just enough to show more of her eyes to the other girl.<br />
<br />
"But I didn't want him to make so much of a fuss that you'd have to intervene, so I just told him I have a girlfriend."<br />
<br />
Rather than providing any further details though she just instantly moves into asking, "And how have /you/ been doing in class? No fibbing by the way. We have class in the same building now, I can always just check the lists~"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
In response to mocking accusation, Mai springs away from Eri, a gasp on her breath and a hand on her heart. "Eri-chan! How could you - how could you be so clever as to see through my disguise! Now, all my sinister schemes of discounting cake and giving free refills are ruined - ruined, I tell you!"<br />
<br />
Laughing, she spins to take a turn walking backwards in front of Eri, grinning broadly. "Well, as a member of the Dark Restaurant Conspiracy - I'm not sure I can even kid about that, you know I resorted to working for Dark Burger for a few weeks? Anyway, I'm supposed to prattle on about the customer being right - but if two customers disagree then I'm supposed to side with whoever buys more." With a flourish, she gestures to the coffee Eri's holding, a grin refusing to leave.<br />
<br />
"So with that said - my thanks for breaking the brain of another teenage guy. One down, and only far too many to go." The lights of the bridge to Southern Cross Island are shining bright against sunset-blazoned skies, Mai's feet tracing a familiar path without even having to look behind her. "Seriously, though, if you need backup I will not hesitate to boot a jerk out. I've got seniority, now. It's like authority except without any kind of pay increase."<br />
<br />
She turns back to facing forward - there's just enough traffic on the bridge that walking backwards is a little unwise - and runs one hand along the railing. "As for classes, uh. Worse, better, worse. Honestly my grades were taking a nosedive before everything...happened. Doing better now, I guess, though focusing on homework is a bit tricky some nights."<br />
<br />
Most nights, if she's honest. But instead, she's Mai.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Eri simply puts her fingertips in the air as a gesture like an anime detective having solved the mystery. "Did you expect anything less from me?"<br />
<br />
She can't keep it up though, as it becomes laughter again in short order. The girl breaking up her laughter by taking a sip from her coffee.<br />
<br />
"Unfortunately it's a thing that only works for so long. Once he puts the pieces back together he might even come back." Before there's something soft and warm in her eyes, "I know you would. Dark... Restaurant... Senpai."<br />
<br />
Perhaps one of the things she learned is that she doesn't have to do things on her own. However, in this case it was a privilege to handle this one on her own.<br />
<br />
However then Mai turns back to facing forward again, and Eri finds herself just listening for a moment. There's a soft sound from her, and before long Mai feels the sensation of fingertips on her arm. With the cool sensation of a metal band breaking it up.<br />
<br />
And for a few seconds that's all that happens, just a quiet touch. Then a light pressure beyond just that delicate touch not long after.<br />
<br />
"I think we both know there are things more important than homework."<br />
<br />
It's a quiet statement of solidarity perhaps. Saying it without saying it. Like she doesn't want to intrude upon Mai talking about it until she's ready.<br />
<br />
Her fingertips lift off her arm not too long after, returning to her side as she walks alongside her, "You know I don't have to hunt so much anymore. Believe it or not, I got done less than an hour the other day. Means I have so much more free time." There's something in her tone which is optimistic, positive. Like she's looking on the bright side of life and is trying to lure Mai over to that side too, "I can see myself coming over for dinner so much more often."<br />
<br />
Perhaps what she can do for Mai is give her someone to cook for.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
A light touch on one arm. A quiet bit of solidarity. A statement that dances around what isn't said.<br />
<br />
Mai's response is wordless. Silence for a moment; a long breath, drawn in; a deep sigh.<br />
<br />
If Mai leans into that touch, however brief it might have been, she doesn't say anything about it.<br />
<br />
But maybe Eri found the best thing to give Mai, in the end.<br />
<br />
"An hour...really?" There's a look of awe in Mai's eyes, and her posture straightens up a bit as she looks at her friend. It's almost as if there was a burden she'd worried about carrying, left abandoned at the food of the bridge; as the land of Fuka finds its way beneath their footfalls, Mai practically beams at Eri's optimism. "That's a relief - I mean, that's great! I'd wondered, when you started helping the flowers again..."<br />
<br />
The path to the dorms is shrouded, as a burning sky grows just a little bit dimmer with the passage of time. There's just a bit more life to Mai's steps, now, at least compared with the last few days' treads homeward. "Well, if you're not caught up in...as much, now, that'd be great. You're welcome any time! Just, er, excuse the mess for tonight."<br />
<br />
There's a buzz, briefly, sounding from Mai's satchel. She pauses just a moment to glare at it, but moves on without reaching for whatever it was.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Wouldn't be an hour for most people, but... I'm pretty incredible, if you didn't know." The girl says with a sense of haughtiness so over the top that it can't /truly/ be real. "No competition. No territory to maintain. No reason we have to fight over it. I can take days off if I want."<br />
<br />
She still has to hunt for the rest of her life, but it feels less like chains now. Doesn't it?<br />
<br />
Still. Perhaps one day she'll disappear within the Law of Cycles. That's just how it works now, and she couldn't be happy about it.<br />
<br />
There's a glimmer of a smile in her eye, "And yes - I have a little extra magic now for such things."<br />
<br />
As if to demonstrate Eri lifts a hand, and there are four little dark cubes held between her fingertips. Mai might remember how grief seeds look. They're so different that it is evidence perhaps that the world is truly different.<br />
<br />
Dipping her hand back down into her bag, she releases them for now.<br />
<br />
She hears the buzz of course.<br />
<br />
"How about I help you tidy up? Though later I'm going to be asking you for more cooking lessons."<br />
<br />
Whoa, really? That's a surprise.<br />
<br />
And yet Eri has a smile on her lips that seems intent on dispelling whatever feelings were in that text message. "I was hopeless at it before - but sometimes I wonder if that was because I sabotaged myself a little. Made myself hopeless at it."<br />
<br />
Perhaps she's not just talking about cooking either...<br />
<br />
"Well. It's high time I learned - if you're willing to give it another go at teaching me. After all, I'm seeing someone with..." Now her smile is so wide it's dimpling, "... quite an appetite."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's like a strange dream, in a way. There's a suspicion worrying at the back of Mai's mind, that this is another of those dream-world fantasies like what the Book of Darkness absorbed everyone into, that all the hopes and reliefs of the past week are nothing but illusion.<br />
<br />
...but the world isn't perfect. Enough has gone wrong - is going wrong - that it's hard to reconcile with a fantasy. The cubes are different enough to the seeds of old that it puzzles her for a moment, but...different isn't necessarily bad.<br />
<br />
The world is better, even if only incrementally.<br />
<br />
There's surprise in Mai's eyes as she turns to Eri in the wake of that offer, mouth working for a moment before she stammers out an answer. "That...that'd be great, if it isn't any trouble. It's hopefully not too bad, I've just not been staying on top of things." The dormitory itself is just visible through the trees that line the path; they're getting close.<br />
<br />
Mai only hums quietly at the thought of sabotage, glancing over Eri for a moment before smiling. "Well, if you're talking about who I think you're talking about...you definitely shouldn't hold yourself back. Quantity cooking isn't exactly a specialty of mine, but I'll do my best to come up with a few things. Ask around, see if I can find a few possible favourites. Tonight's my treat, though!"<br />
<br />
Ramen is always doable, though.<br />
<br />
Maybe now, it's getting a little darker. Maybe now, it's getting a little colder. A mischievous idea flirts with Mai for a moment, and she glances at Eri as they walk. Waiting for the right moment, waiting for Eri to take a sip of her coffee, before almost nonchalantly asking a light-hearted question.<br />
<br />
"So does that mean Tomoe's single, now?"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Hey I get it." Eri knows how her room looked when she was too depressed to consider picking it up. "You're just a little behind. I'm here to help you catch up."<br />
<br />
Before Eri lets out this low hum, her cheeks pinkening from Mai making her own internal guessing. "Well she also likes /quality/ cooking. Did you know she once took me to Sukiyabashi Jiro? Sometimes I wonder how she got a reservation..."<br />
<br />
There's a glimmer in her eye that seems a little mischievous. "I'm not worried though. If there's one thing your cooking is good at. It's having that... sense of hospitality. Making people feel like they're home again. And that's worth more than any number of Michelin Stars."<br />
<br />
However Eri mistakes Mai echoing the mischief as something else and so she's lifting her coffee the moment Mai asks that question. Suddenly her eyes flare wide and she's coughing, making this hacking noise as she less spat it up and more that it just went down wrong as a result of trying to stop herself from that. "G-Geez Mai. Timing!" She mentions as she dabs the back of her hand across her lips.<br />
<br />
There's this light inhalation like she's getting herself ready to answer, and then slowly she forms her answer, "I don't know. Maybe she is. Maybe she's not. The two of us made up - but agreed we're wrong for each other. I think we've still got a ways to go before I feel like I can..." <br />
<br />
Her chin tilts up and there's this awkward look behind her eyes, "...ask her something like that. You know? We just started being friends again. I don't want her to see me as her... jealous ex."<br />
<br />
For a moment her eyes shutter and a smile forms again, "One step at a time. That's the right way to handle this I think."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Mai's face might be a little flushed from the effluent praise, but the grin at Eri's sputtering surprise is undeniable. She stalls her steps for a moment to give Eri time to recover, but she's too proud of her timing for it to have been anything but intentional.<br />
<br />
Eri winds up giving a far more serious answer than expected, and the triumphant grin soon fades to an understanding smile. "Sorry about that. The opportunity was right there, and it's not like it's the first time we've done that to each other..."<br />
<br />
Mai shakes her head, and gestures toward the dorm. The doors still admit students at this hour, and the stairs aren't too far from there. "You're handling things...pretty maturely, honestly. One step at a time, being friends after everything...that's probably the best way. I was mostly kidding, anyway - I do want to see if I can be friends with her, but let's face it. If we wound up having to do anything domestic together, the security deposit would not survive."<br />
<br />
She pauses on the threshold of her room, hand on the door handle. "...that is something I've been working up the nerve to do. To have people over again - to have friends, or people I'd like to be friends over for a meal. Just...it's something that just feels right, somehow."<br />
<br />
With that, she opens the door, to reveal a darkened room. A moment to find the light switch, to illuminate things - to illuminate a bit of gradual creeping disarray. Laundry piled up to spill over the end of a bed, a few pots left to be cleaned later, books and papers scattered over the table - a dozen little signs of having just let things slide one day after another.<br />
<br />
The kinds of things that couldn't be left alone with a roommate around.<br />
<br />
"...sorry about the mess."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Maybe I've grown up a little." Is Eri's simple response to Mai stating she's handling things pretty maturely. Well that and - "The Security Deposit wouldn't last a week." As they walk through the door.<br />
<br />
However as Mai mentions that she's trying to work up the nerve to ask people over again, Eri shakes her coffee cup as if testing how much is left. Before then looking sidelong. "Take your time. You want it to feel natural right? You don't have to force yourself."<br />
<br />
There's that smile, as she steps through the door. "Especially around m-" That's Eri catching sight of the extent of the mess. Elongating a single syllable word in that moment. "-e."<br />
<br />
For a moment the girl just stops. Then she slowly drops her nearly empty coffee cup at the top of an overflowing waste bin, before reaching into her bag and dropping it after producing one item. Skirting over Mai's apology as if it never existed.<br />
<br />
"You know someone once told me that wearing a headband makes cleaning up go by that much quicker. Shame I don't have one."<br />
<br />
Instead she simply puts on two leather gardening gloves, as she walks into the kitchen. And returns with a large black garbage bag. And a laundry bin not too long after.<br />
<br />
"Don't worry about a thing Mai. I've got this."<br />
<br />
After all, if there's one thing she's learned, it's that sometimes people just need a helping hand. And so long as they're still accepting help? It's a sign that things can get better.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Maple_Curry_Chicken_PastaMaple Curry Chicken Pasta2019-06-23T01:43:05Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "'''Maple Curry Chicken Pasta'''<br> ''Source: Local restaurant, purportedly.'' This is probably my most commonly cooked pasta recipe. The concept is one that's fairly common..."</p>
<hr />
<div>'''Maple Curry Chicken Pasta'''<br><br />
''Source: Local restaurant, purportedly.''<br />
<br />
This is probably my most commonly cooked pasta recipe. The concept is one that's fairly common around here, most restaurants having their own variations. I like how this one turns out, for the most part; one recipe should make enough for 4-5 servings, and if the cream cheese is cut out it also works pretty well with rice.<br />
<br />
====Ingredients====<br />
* 1 tbsp olive oil<br />
* 1 lb (or so) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips<br />
* Salt and pepper<br />
* 2 tbsp butter<br />
* 1 medium onion, peeled and cut into slivers<br />
* 2 cloves garlic, crushed<br />
* 2 tbsp mild curry paste<br />
* '''Optional:''' About 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper<br />
* '''Optional:''' About 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms<br />
* 1 tsp sugar<br />
* 1/4 cup maple syrup<br />
* 3/4 cup chicken broth (or water)<br />
* 1/2 cup milk (or cream)<br />
* 2 tbsp light cream cheese (plain, garden vegetable, whatever)<br />
<br />
* 3 cups cooked pasta (any kind, penne is popular).<br />
<br />
====Instructions====<br />
In a large frying pan, heat the oil on medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper, and fry in the pan until browned. Remove cooked chicken to a plate or bowl and set aside.<br />
<br />
Reduce heat to medium, and melt the butter. Add the onion and garlic, and sauté for about two minutes. Add curry paste, and cook for another minute. If using any optional vegetables, add at this stage, and cook for a couple of minutes more.<br />
<br />
Add the sugar, and once it begins to caramelize (or after a minute or two), add the maple syrup. Let that bubble away for a minute or so, then add the broth and milk (or equivalents). Bring to a boil, then cook until liquid is reduced by half.<br />
<br />
Add the cooked chicken, and simmer for a few minutes until evenly heated. Add the cream cheese (if using), and stir until melted and mixed in. Add cooked pasta, stir to coat, and serve.<br />
<br />
<br />
Back to [[The Kitchen Sink]].<br />
<br />
[[Category:Recipes]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/The_Kitchen_SinkThe Kitchen Sink2019-06-23T01:18:16Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>This is a space for Battle Fantasia's OOC community of cooking enthusiasts to share their passions with each other! Feel free to edit this page to add your recipes, or other articles, using the format at the top. Don't forget to add <nowiki>[[Category:Recipes]]</nowiki> to your new pages!<br />
<br />
* [[Adobo (Filipino)]] by ''MycoHime''<br />
* [[Carnitas]], by ''MycoHime''<br />
* [[Carrot Vichyssoise]] by ''MycoHime''<br />
* [http://www.closetcooking.com/2013/12/chicken-enchilada-stuffed-spaghetti.html?m=1 Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash, by Closet Cooking], submitted by ''Matildarose''<br />
* [[Chili Chop Suey]] by ''Kinzo Hiroyuki''<br />
* [[Chocolate Chip Cookies]], by ''Pink Moon Stick''<br />
* [[Cranberry Cinnamon Buns]], by ''Glittering Crux Masque''<br />
* [[Latkes]], by ''Pink Moon Stick''<br />
* [[Peanut Chicken Pasta]], by ''Glittering Crux Masque'' <br />
* [[Beef Rendang]], ''Glittering Crux Masque''<br />
* [[Apple Pie]], by ''Glittering Crux Masque''<br />
* [[Maple Curry Chicken Pasta]], by ''Glittering Crux Masque''<br />
<br />
They're not part of the Battle Fantasia community, but deserve an honorable mention: [http://stuffinfluffcooking.tumblr.com/ Stuffin' Fluff Cooking] is a wonderful blog where adorable mascots teach recipes, very much in the tradition of our own [[Theme_Primer#Cooking_With_Mascot|Cooking With Mascot]] theme!<br />
<br />
<br />
Back to [[Miscellaneous]].<br />
<br />
[[Category:Miscellaneous]][[Category:Recipes]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-05-20_-_Walpurgisnacht:_New_Day2019-05-20 - Walpurgisnacht: New Day2019-05-21T23:27:45Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Putting what I remember of my colour formatting in Mai's poses.</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Walpurgisnacht: New Day'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''[[The Fourth Wish|A new day dawns.]]''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Who''':<br><br />
[[Fuu Hououji]], [[Kasagami Araki]], [[Steven Universe]], [[Takeo Akamizu]], [[Utena Tenjou]], [[Sayaka Miki]], [[Nori Ankou]], [[Kimiko Akane]], [[Eri Shimanouchi]], [[Rei Hino]], [[Mai Tokiha]], [[Setsuna Meioh]], [[Vita Yagami]], [[Mami Tomoe]], [[Ren Aizawa]], [[Kyouko Sakura]], [[Endo Naoki]], [[Anthy Himemiya]], [[Homura Akemi]]<br />
|-<br />
|'''Where:'''<br><br />
Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo<br />
<br />
|-<br />
|'''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
5/20/2019 - 06-02-2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
[[2019-05-18 - Walpurgisnacht: Sagitta Luminis|PREVIOUSLY ON]] [[2019-05-19 - Walpurgisnacht: Liminality|BATTLE FANTASIA]] <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's like matter and antimatter where the infinite barrage of the fully realized power of hope collides with the infinite expanse of the ultimate, final witch. Again the reaction seems to consume... everything, creating the inescapable event horizon of a black hole, except -- it's a supermassive white hole, instead.<br />
<br />
This time, it isn't a star that's born.<br />
<br />
This time, it's the whole universe...<br />
<br />
...every universe...<br />
<br />
l e t <br />
t h e r e <br />
b e <br />
h o p e <br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> You Are The New Day - The King's Singers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeuVBc76jas<br />
<br />
This time, when your eyes clear, it's late afternoon, and you're right in the middle of something.<br />
<br />
Maybe you're playing sports, and you've got the ball.<br />
<br />
Maybe you're in club, playing your instrument or baking your cake.<br />
<br />
Maybe you're in the middle of a date.<br />
<br />
Maybe you're just taking a walk down by the river.<br />
<br />
Maybe you're already home, doing your homework -- or procrastinating.<br />
<br />
But you're living your life -- your ordinary life -- an ordinary life that should be impossible. You haven't had time. You've been too focused on other duties. You've been too miserable.<br />
<br />
And, even if none of those things were true: it should be impossible because Tokyo was destroyed. You saw it happen. Blow by blow, the city wielded as a weapon to pulverize itself.<br />
<br />
Only... it wasn't.<br />
<br />
Check the date and it's the same: June 2, 2015.<br />
<br />
But nothing is as it was left.<br />
<br />
Tokyo is whole -- WHOLE -- whole in a way that makes your heart whole, too.<br />
<br />
The city is tall and shining and lovely, except for the parts that are short and green and lovely. The streets are clean and clear... except for the part where they're full of throngs of people. Busy people. Busy, mostly happy people.<br />
<br />
Just like you, people out and about, doing what they love.<br />
<br />
It's like Walpurgisnacht never existed in the first place.<br />
<br />
There was no evacuation; no superstorm, real or fake; no rain even, the last week has been nothing but sun, perfect for the switch to summer uniforms.<br />
<br />
There was, you gradually realize, thanks to a variety of little clues, no ''war''. <br />
<br />
Your grades are better, for starters, whether you find a paper buried in your bookbag or pinned to your fridge by a proud parent. So too is your attendance at school, club, work, and every other obligation in your life. That part-time job you lost because you kept missing shifts? You've got a recent paycheck.<br />
<br />
Maybe you're in a group chat on your phone with someone you thought was your enemy. <br />
<br />
Maybe you have a selfie with them from a recent trip to the amusement park.<br />
<br />
Maybe you have a recent voice mail from someone who should be dead. <br />
<br />
Maybe YOU should be dead, and the last thing you remember, after dying, is being suffused in a warm pink light, before waking up, just like everyone else, inside your own bodies, inside your own lives.<br />
<br />
There's also the easily-spotted matter of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building, wholly intact, towering on the skyline; nor are large sections of Haneda Airport closed for repairs.<br />
<br />
It's a beautiful day.<br />
<br />
It's the first day of the rest of your life.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
You could spend it scouring your belongings for more clues, or the internet, or the newspaper. You won't find many. There are no conveniently detailed secret diaries; there's little to glean from paging through personal planners in either direction, past or future, other than evidence of a life -- your life -- lived in a way consistent to who you are. Lived the way you would have if you'd had the chance.<br />
<br />
Now you do have that chance -- what are you going to do with it?<br />
<br />
It bothers you less than you might have expected, not knowing EXACTLY the sequence of events, in this world, precisely as they transpired, up until you blinked your eyes and suddenly remembered that just a second ago you were in the middle of the cosmos watching the universe be destroyed and recreated... by... someone. A girl. A wholly unremarkable girl, a sort of civilian hanger-on to the magical community, who was, somehow, involved in endless trouble. You can't quite recall her face. And what was her name again? This bothers you less than it might've, too.<br />
<br />
It helps that most things are the same as they ever were. <br />
<br />
Friends and family in your life still are perfectly and entirely themselves, and your relationships with them are the same. With seamlessness that is less remarkable than it is simply intuitive, both remember the same conversations, the same activities, that let you pick up pretty much where you left off. <br />
<br />
Recent supernatural events are also essentially identical. The World Tree bloomed last month and left a blizzard of petals on everyone and everything for weeks. There have been a lot of UFO sightings lately. Right now, a monster of the day is menacing the grocery store in Clover Town Street, and magical girls are mobilizing to stop it. <br />
<br />
Suicide rates are down, though, especially in hospitals, construction sites, derelict buildings and, collectively, on Southern Cross Island. It's obvious why, to those in the know. Walpurgisnacht never happened...<br />
<br />
...because Witches never existed.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
You ''could'' spend your new day investigating mysteries, but then your eyes catch on a rainbow.<br />
<br />
<br />
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Rainbow Bridge (#626) +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+<br />
Despite its name, the Rainbow Bridge spends most of its time bone-white, <br />
like an angel's harp carved of driftwood in the dark water of the bay. <br />
Periodically it crosses beneath an island every bit as man-made and <br />
geometrical as the bridge itself, planting pillars to claim it and then <br />
traversing water again. It's visible from a wide variety of angles from the <br />
coastline, forming a hypoteneuse that crosses the bay via Odaiba and, with <br />
the aid of less iconic bridges, permits quick travel from Yamanote to <br />
Shitamachi. <br />
<br />
Foot traffic is possible across the bridge, and many visitors dare the long <br />
walk to get a good view of the city on one side, and the sea on the other. <br />
Walking atop a bridge is a poor way to see the bridge itself, of course, but <br />
that is what the Yurikamome elevated train line is for. Slung beneath the <br />
bridge for much of its journey, the fully automated, driverless train gives <br />
a great view of the Rainbow Bridge on its way to Odaiba. <br />
<br />
For a few hours every night, this expensive landmark truly lives up to its <br />
name, glowing with different hues depending on the season or holiday. <br />
Rarely, a combination of floodlights makes a genuine rainbow of the bridge, <br />
with deep reds at its foot and violet at its peak. Small, colorfully lit <br />
tugboats and civilian craft float beneath the gleaming bridge, buoyant on <br />
the liquid dream of a starry sky. <br />
<br><br />
<br />
The sun is sunk deeply into Tokyo Bay --<br />
<br />
-- and, across Tokyo, the lights are coming on.<br />
<br />
And you realize: if anyone else knows what you know, if anyone else remembers what you remember...<br />
<br />
...that's where they're going to go.<br />
<br />
Because of course they are. Of course you are.<br />
<br />
It's where it all began.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Fuu blinks awake from her reverie, shaking her head. Debugging script isn't exactly a ball of excitement, even in her long-going pet project, but to actually doze off in the middle ... ? Not exactly a promising sign.<br />
<br />
She pauses, glancing at the clock (and date) in the corner of the computer's screen. Wasn't there something else she'd been doing? Not fighting the vagaries of RPG Maker's coding language, but something ...<br />
<br />
Other.<br />
<br />
With a sigh, Fuu gets up from her desk to move around her room, slipping her glasses off to rub her eyes, and thinking - or trying to think, at least. Something nightmarish happened, something hopeless; she remembers hurting all over. Not that any of those memories are particularly unique to a specific fight for the Magic Knight of Wind. But it was dark and stormy, and it clearly *isn't* - the sun is shining, flowers are blooming, maybe she should be out and about instead of cooped up trying to finish her game that she's so close to *finished* with. Close enough to imagine copies on the Infinity Computer Club tables at Summer Comiket, even.<br />
<br />
Which makes these last little bugs all the more annoying.<br />
<br />
Fuu leans over her keyboard, typing in a comment at the start of the event, then saves the project. She's tempted to change clothes - her new AkaMira dress is hanging on the closet door, waiting for an excuse to be worn (such as a date or a dance) - but instead of taking the extra time, she heads out in her casual spring outfit, letting her mother know she'll be back for dinner.<br />
<br />
- - - - -<br />
<br />
At first, Fuu doesn't have anywhere more specific to go, but between scrolling through messages on her phone and her gaze wandering across particular landmarks, she sets her course towards the Rainbow Bridge. If she's not alone in this feeling of something out of place, it's as good a point to meet up as any. Besides, the weather is so beautiful, the view from the Bridge *has* to be worth going out of her way for, just on general principle. Not a cloud in the sky, and just enough of a breeze to balance out the sun's warmth into perfect comfort.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Slowly, Kasagami Araki opens her eyes and blinks out the sleep in them. She feels warm, safe, and most of all? Surrounded by love. Bare arms are wrapped around the familiar shape of a person. The scent in her nose too is one she knows perfectly, and as her cheek nestles against another she very reluctantly pulls away. <br />
<br />
To stare into the face of one Setsuna Meioh. It's a quiet, cute little tree bank overlooking the Tama river. There's a blanket laid out, half forgotten basket with food mostly devoured. Kassie isn't roughed up from battle, or even in her Student Council uniform. Rather she's in track pants, a sleeveless shirt, a black windbreaker hung over the branch of a tree carelessly a few feet away. <br />
<br />
She startles, and offers a little tug to help her love up, hands soon grasping the Senshi's own. <br />
<br />
"Setsu-chan...isn't this Tama? What about Tokyo!?" She looks down, then to Pluto. It's sunny, warm. This can't be the aftermath of the disaster and collision of two universal powers! <br />
<br />
Every search on phones, every triple check of texts and time confirms reality. That the world is in one piece. No sign of Walpurgisnacht. Kasagami can't wrap her mind around it, but there's just no denying the truth impossible though it might seem. <br />
<br />
That's about when Kassie decided to lead Setsuna on a ten minute dance around the tree, and even tried to shove her beloved into the Tama for an impromptu swim out of sheer ''joy''! <br />
<br />
But intuition is a funny thing, and no matter how happy the Duelist is, she can't help but come to the same conclusion as so many magical girls will. A glance over to a rainbow, her eyes close, and then Kassie faces her love with a smile that's as at-ease as she's been in ages since the war, since her loss in the Duels, and the horrors of Walpurgisnacht. <br />
<br />
"Let's go find out if this all isn't just some brilliant dream. I really, really hope it's real." She leans in, seeking warm lips. Suddenly it all feels that much more real, and Kassie lingers to ensure that her beloved knows that all is going to be alright. <br />
<br />
Everything tastes like love and devotion, and the only pain is in parting for the moment. <br />
<br />
The sun sinks, lights spark up, and Kasagami Araki finds herself on the Rainbow Bridge with coat and hair all aflutter. Her heart beats quickly, hope swimming in her chest and a thousand little pinpricks of worries running up her calves. She awaits to spy others, standing tall and poised even if her gaze is a little ''too'' alert.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The light returned, a clash of ages unlikely to be seen for eons to come again. Despair bled from those around Steven, and he too knew something deeper and darker than even that.<br />
<br />
But of course, of course! The universe would not leave it that way. The universe, that was a girl with pink hair.<br />
<br />
The brightest like and the greatest lack thereof meet, and the boy loses his sight and sense of self in it, as his heart rises in his chest...<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
Saltspray. Seagulls calling like laughing to each other. Sand crunching under large paws. A skittering, glinting lizard flees on the beach. A fluffy pink mane.<br />
<br />
These are the first sensations to return to a waking Crystal Gem. Or was it really waking? Perhaps a return to self would be more apt. "What... the beach?!" A look around as wing caught his ruffly little head. Sure as sunshine, it was. About a half a kilometer down the beach from the Gem Temple. He can see the outstretched hand with the washer and dryer on it. A set of identical shirts dry splayed on a line, tied between two titanic fingers.<br />
<br />
Even Lion has lost the bead on the lizard and has jsut been running, looking around too.<br />
<br />
"MOWWRMPF!"<br />
<br />
That is about the best way to spell the noise that Lion emits when he collids with a boulder on the beach and thus off of it. Steven gets launched off his back, tumbles head over heels a time or two, and faceplants into the sand. "BLUH!" he gags, spitting out some sand that wedged itself into his mouth on graceful landing.<br />
<br />
Woobly for a few moments, Lion trundles his way over to Steven. "What's... going on?" he asks. "Lion! You're okay!" he exclaims, wrapping his arms the distance they can travel around the cat's meaty neck. "I'm... okay. Huh. We're home, but this doesn't even look the same!" A thought dawns on him. A hand thrusts into a pocket and pulls out a whole phone. Not broken and half-melted.<br />
<br />
The date is the same. "Lion, we need to ride, buddy!" he says, hopping back atop his faithful steed. They head for the city proper.<br />
<br />
The schools, the hospital, everything is just fine. Cities are full of people. No storms. No emptiness besides the usual amount felt! Lion keeps running, seemingly enjoying, or even understanding the events played out. As if given a second chance to run wild and free. Well, sorta-free. Free enough for him!<br />
<br />
Steven begins to mess with his phone, see if he can make heads or tails of anything. Most of it is the same. Same friends on social media, same favorited videos on streaming sites. He checks his pictures and videos.<br />
<br />
Theres a folder named 'Lion :)' responsible for roughly 37% of his phone's internal storage. The boy sighs. "I should clean that out sometime." Some things never change.<br />
<br />
He checks others. Some pictures he recognizes. Some he doesn't. But they aren't unusual for the most part. Photos with friends and family he knows and hangs with. Perhaps a hangout unremembered, or a birthday party he apparently got to go to that he remembered missing.<br />
<br />
One photo stands out.<br />
<br />
It is one of the most recent pictures taken. or at least ones not moved to the Lion folder.<br />
<br />
It was a picture of a trio under the blooming sakura trees. An elegant french style table and three seats were arranged among the falling petals. Tea and biscuits with jam were being srved. It looks like Steven is being taught proper etiquette among such fine things as a tea party!<br />
<br />
It was him, Pearl of course, and...<br />
<br />
"...Mami."<br />
<br />
There she was, holding a teacup, her golden hair portray beautifully in the falling petals. She looked like she was showing how to keep a teacup properly level by balancing a petal on a rim as she lifted it. It looks like a grand time.<br />
<br />
He checks the date on the photo. "It's past her... uh." Did something happen that changed?<br />
<br />
Every neighborhood passed through shows the same results. A pristine cityscape. Unbroken, unbent. Even as the sun goes down the city awakens with its myriad of lights. Shop signs, billboards, skyscrapers. All turn on. One set of lights always stands out in the city though. "..The bridge!" Steven gasps, eyes full of stars to welcome the sky's own as he looks up and out from the waterside. "Let's head there!"<br />
<br />
Where the yinitially gathered. If that was whole, the place of true initial destruction, then everything should be okay! Or at least the child hopes.<br />
<br />
Paws strike the ground as Lion picks up speed, to head back to where it all began to end.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
CLACK. <br />
<br />
Takeo blinks his eyes. <br />
<br />
CLACK <br />
<br />
His vision comes to focus through the Mesh of his Kendo head guard. <br />
<br />
CLACK <br />
<br />
He's in Kendo. Takeo slides neatly backward in a text book C-Step. His Shinai held between him and his opponant slides forward and swings. <br />
<br />
CLACK <br />
<br />
Takeo moves his Shinai to deflect the attack, and automatically begins a rapid series of counter strikes aiming for any one of the upper body strike points. He drives the student back and slides back again in anotehr C-step. Wait. Tokyo ... Blew up. <br />
<br />
From the bleachers he hears his Mother, "GET YER HEAD IN THE GAME TAKEO AND TAKE THAT LOOSER OUT!" <br />
<br />
He blinks several more times. Maybe, in a round about way Mom was right, now is NOT the time to question. Now is the time to fight. He squares his shoulders and gives a roguish grin, not seen by anybody, through the mask. Even if he had found himself in some strange timeline, Mom was still the hyper competitive mother he knew and loved.<br />
<br />
An hour or so later, Takeo went with his mother and father to visit Mika. He stood at the foot of the bed and watched both his parents whisper to her while she appeared to sleep. Takeo, however saw what he always saw. IV tubes. Monitors. And Mika's eyes looking sunken. He saw his failure as sure as he saw the Sheathe being torn assunder by the Black Knight. <br />
<br />
Well. It was too much to hope for that maybe he hadn't been a screw up in whatever this was. <br />
<br />
As his parents left the room, he moved to stand next to Mika and brushed a strand of hair aside. "I don't know what's going on sis. But I'm glad you're safe." He then took out his phone and quickly flipped through it. Pictures, a selfie or six with him and Sparkles and one with a disgruntled rabbit, one or two with mai, Eri and Mikoto .... <br />
<br />
Not for the first time today, Takeo blinks, and looks out the Window of the Hospital. He sees the Rainbow and the Bridge. He nods to himself and flips to text messaging. <br />
<br />
To: Puff The Fire Breathing Dragoness <br />
<br />
Hey. Hope you are better? Just let me know if you need an Umbrella before the next rain storm okay? <br />
<br />
He turns the screen on his phone off and heads downstairs to his Motorcycle, telling his parents he has homework. His mother blinks in surprise at the words being uttered by Takeo while his Father just gives him a nod. He gets on the blue bike and puts his helmet on and then screams through the remarkably intact streets of Tokyo. He rides through the city the way he always does, recklessly and sliding around corners, but this time there is a slight sense of urgency. He needs to see if others are having this problem or if it's just him. <br />
<br />
It honestly isn't the first time he's had memories in his head that wasn't him. After all he has an entire life in Camelot that belongs to Lancelot. This one just feels .... He doesn't know, and he wants to find out, and not for the first itme a Rianbow Bridge might point him in the right direction.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Utena Tenjou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Utena is flying.<br />
<br />
She soars to impossible heights -- reaches the top of her trajectory -- and seems to hang in the air for a minute, letting her hair catch up with her momentum and swirl around her.<br />
<br />
But her eyes are strangely empty, all of a sudden, staring at nothing.<br />
<br />
She catches a couple of fingers on the hoop, hangs off of it blankly for a second, then hits the concrete, hard. <br />
<br />
She sprawls.<br />
<br />
The ball was nothing but net, but nobody noticed, let alone her.<br />
<br />
"Captain!!"<br />
<br />
The boys crowd around their unofficial chieftain, worry writ plain on their faces. She may be one of them, but when the chips are down, all of them would protect her from harm. She isn't their ''prince'', not really...<br />
<br />
Utena says nothing for too long, while the others mutter.<br />
<br />
'Give her some air!' 'Anything broken, Tenjou?' 'It looks like she's in shock...'<br />
<br />
Just as a consensus is building to take her to the infirmary, she shakes her head, and sucks in a long breath, one that fills her with something -- something like courage. Something like strength. Something like herself, again.<br />
<br />
If she's blinking back sudden tears, the boys are collectively too polite to say anything. They'll discuss it behind her back later.<br />
<br />
She jumps to her feet, looking around at the school, at all their faces, at the sky, like she's never even seen any of them before, gaping like a slack-jawed dope. And then she seems to come to a conclusion:<br />
<br />
"Sorry guys, I have to go!"<br />
<br />
A very confused basketball game proceeds without her.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
<SoundTracker> CALLING https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3nzCr4kzDk<br />
<br />
Just as well that she was in her workout clothes, because she came at a run. With occasional intersection-stops where she jogged in place to wait for her companion to catch up. With occasional nearly-tripping-over-her-own-feets because she wasn't looking where she was going.<br />
<br />
Because she was looking everywhere else instead.<br />
<br />
Lost in random, individual details of the living, breathing Tokyo that rises all around her. Things she knows as well as her own heartbeat and thought she'd never see again. Things she never noticed before and never would have had the chance to.<br />
<br />
It all means so much ''more'' now.<br />
<br />
All of it.<br />
<br />
The only way she can possibly begin to process it all is to move her body.<br />
<br />
So she runs, and runs...<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
Utena glistens a bit in the twilight as she finally arrives at the Rainbow Bridge.<br />
<br />
"Beautiful..." she breathes.<br />
<br />
But she wasn't looking out over the Bay when she did.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Miki [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<SoundTracker> Eri Kitamura - Thank You Letter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcQouKZBkgs<br />
<br />
Dishes clink softly in Mami's kitchen. Two girls stand side-by-side before the sink, working together. There is no haste in their motions, even as the task slowly nears its end, the pile of clean dishes vastly outweighing the ones that remain dirty. Their cooperation, even after all this time, flows beneath the surface of thought, and that bond draws them beneath as well, to someplace calm. Where every problem has an answer. Where happiness can last.<br />
<br />
This should have been lost forever. The taller girl, the one with blue hair and a soft musical hum, the one who pulled her sleeves up to rub a cloth against clean dishes? How many times had she asked her bedroom ceiling if she could see Mami just one more time? But most people don't get even one miracle in their life, and Sayaka had used hers up already. What were the odds of two?<br />
<br />
Well, Sayaka knew already that she was lucky. She got to meet Mami to begin with.<br />
<br />
"I tried to hold on," Sayaka confides. She is grasping the lip of a freshly cleaned teacup, as Mami's fingers hold the handle on its other side. "To the time, to the people. I wanted to keep all of it." She takes the teacup, and starts polishing the dripping china, looking down at it, past it.<br />
<br />
"I wanted you to know that part. That as bad as it got..."<br />
<br />
She looks to the side, to Mami's face. She has that same loyal canine smile as ever. "I was ''happy''."<br />
<br />
The teacup rests atop the dried dishes, and Sayaka offers her hand for another. When she accepts it, she glances down at Mami's side of the sink. Empty, at last. Sayaka's smile tightens for a moment, and she blinks a few times preemptively. But she takes the cup, and dries it dutifully, and places it up with all the others. She pats her hands on the towel, back and forth as she folds it, resting it against the edge of the sink as she turns to face Mami. She exhales, shoulders dropping. She regards her senior, content. After a moment, she shakes her head ruefully.<br />
<br />
"I don't know how to say goodbye to you, Mami-senpai. Every time I try it just comes out... thank you, thank you."<br />
<br />
Stepping forward, Sayaka gently places her arm behind Mami's back, and draws her into a delicate hug.<br />
<br />
"Thank you," she repeats softly. There's a momentum to it, like something's come undammed, but its flow is calm, not fierce. "Thank you," she tells her partner. "Thank you, thank you... thank you."<br />
<br />
She holds Mami a bit longer. But only a bit.<br />
<br />
"You have to go, senpai," Sayaka whispers. Motes of dust drift through the sunlight streaming through the windows. All the old beloved details of Mami's home surround them. Sayaka knows which drawer the silverware is in, which cabinet the spices. She knows which cup is Mami's favorite.<br />
<br />
Her voice is warm, reassuring. It's the trust in it, perhaps. In Mami, and in the future too.<br />
<br />
"You have to go," she says, one last time.<br />
<br />
And then Mami is there, really there. Back in her own kitchen, in a world filled with friends. The dishes are all sparkling clean, arranged on the drying rack just as Mami remembers Sayaka placing them. But every one of them is still wet, dripping slowly.<br />
<br />
The rest is up to her.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czn1ysoOHVM<br />
<br />
Nori Ankou drowses on the train.<br />
<br />
She's coming back from school. She wants to stop at home, to shower and change.<br />
<br />
There's an event tonight, isn't there? Or something, at least. <br />
<br />
But this pleasant pastel drowse ends when her phone buzzes insistently. Like an indignant bee, she is driven to full awareness. Fishing the phone out, she looks at it, everything coming back into focus. <br />
<br />
Nori brings out the phone. <br />
<br />
&gt; KOZUE - 4:19 pm <br />
<br />
&gt; Ankouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu<br />
<br />
&gt; You left your hat again <br />
<br />
&gt; If you do it once more, I'm keeping it.<br />
<br />
There is an attached photo. <br />
<br />
The photo is of... <br />
<br />
Of... <br />
<br />
The train conductor ends up getting involved, and since it is not quite rush hour, the worst that comes to pass is a couple of the grumpier sorts giving Nori Ankou a cross look for carrying on. Because as she gazed on that figure, that hand, the half-wry face, the dusty-blue hair, the clear skin-- <br />
<br />
"By everything in heaven, Batiste," Nori Ankou says, "it was a photograph from life." <br />
<br />
Batiste sips his coffee. <br />
<br />
"... What?"<br />
<br />
Nori blinks at him, slowly. <br />
<br />
"What?" <br />
<br />
-=-=-=-=-<br />
<br />
Nori Ankou leans against the wall space that used to be a sensible portion of an office. The former windowsill is an excellent place to rest a third cup of coffee. She has been speaking for a while. Batiste has listened without judgment or skepticism. The story is strange, but there are many strange stories in this city. <br />
<br />
"... this place shouldn't even be here." <br />
<br />
"Was it wrecked, in the storm?" <br />
<br />
"It was beyond wrecked," Nori says. "The entire building... it..." <br />
<br />
Nori is silent long enough that Batiste prompts her, but gently. "Did it fall, cousin?" <br />
<br />
"No, it..." <br />
<br />
The memory comes to her. h-h-h. <br />
<br />
"It was... It was descending like it was thrown... I think I nearly died, trying to turn it away just a little bit, but the others..."<br />
<br />
"It seems courage is there, even in such a nightmare," Batiste muses. "That's nice to think about, isn't it?" <br />
<br />
"... I think I have to go," Nori says. "For a walk, I mean. Just... to see everything. To feel that everything really... or really didn't..." <br />
<br />
Nori doesn't finish the sentence. She gazes out at the water as it begins to sparkle, the silver-time starting, soon to be the gold-time, the ruby-time, then-- nothing. A beauty the Sea of Tears never sees save in times of greatest disaster. <br />
<br />
"Ah," Batiste says. He hesitates - and then says; "Well, then; enjoy yourself. Shall I make a little something for when you get b-" <br />
<br />
Batiste is suddenly gathered up and clutched to Nori's chest fiercely. Her chin rests against the otter's head. He squeeps once in surprise, but his forelimbs come round, hugging Nori around her neck. <br />
<br />
Seven seconds later, she relents. "I'd like that," Nori says. <br />
<br />
NOW<br />
<br />
Nori pauses in the public garage. She is standing in front of an empty parking space. Nori raises one hand and her index finger extends... and she shakes it at the empty air. <br />
<br />
Here, she thinks. It was here. This was the last step I took before the world...<br />
<br />
She closes her eyes for four seconds. Then she opens them again. <br />
<br />
The next minute, she is walking across the Rainbow Bridge as the lights come on at Tokyo. She is wearing a light cloth jacket, more of a second shirt, of richly textured linen resting over a red shirt with a clouds-and-moon motif in black print. Below that are some plain slacks in slowly gradiented black-at-the-waist to twilight-of-dawn purple at the cuffs, and a pair of boring athletic trainers (some things aren't fashion - not many, but some) on her feet. <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kimiko Akane [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There is a brief rustling behind the bushes of the park. "Shhhh... don't let them hear you." Kimiko whispers to something small and fluffy in her hands. She doesn't even care right now that her Ohtori uniform is getting dirty on the ground and she seems oblivious to anything happening around her in that moment. "I wish you guys could come with me to the dorms but..." She sighs and pulls a tiny, black kitten back up to her chin, nuzzling it as it lets out another tiny 'mew' and bats at a few errant hairs dangling around her face.<br />
<br />
As the girl gets up to wipe off the dirt from her skirt, she suddenly freezes. Kimiko turns from the kittens and is suddenly looking for her phone in her bag. There is almost a franctic speed at which she pushes buttons once she finds it. Nothing at a glance stands out to her at all. The few pictures she cherished most are still in the memory of the phone, Tokyo is still in one piece and everything seems as it should be. All of this is the most unusual thing of all because it shouldn't be 'normal' right?<br />
<br />
Carefully tucking the kittens out of sight, Kimiko knows where she needs to be and soon she is running with a spark of energy she hasn't felt in a long time. There is a lingering feeling though as she runs that she shouldn't be here...period. Nothing should be like this but the more she tries to remember more details of what happened, the more she just feels the fuzzy pink light and warmth in her heart...along with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.<br />
<br />
It takes her awhile to reach the bridge but as she gets closer, Kimiko slows her pace. It feels like this is just another dream and like none of this should be real. Worried that at any moment she could wake up, Kimiko lingers behind the rest...nervously glancing over the bridge to the waters below.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<br />
Blinking owlishly behind her glasses, a girl looks around the classroom. Looking as dazed and confused as if she'd woken up from a nap on her desk. There's no drool though, her glasses aren't crooked, her face doesn't feel smooshed in. There's no signs she was asleep at all. Right in front of her are meticulously written notes from her classes. An assignment handed back with a grade of 89 with an encouraging note beside it - 'Keep up the good work!' Kazuko Saotome was in front of the classroom wielding her pointer. The clock showed it was near the end of the class day - so not in homeroom.<br />
<br />
And there's a vase of white blossomes on a single desk in the classroom. That give a sense of familiarity as if she'd done it herself..<br />
<br />
There's a certain confusion about her as she bends over to slide a hand into her bag, fishing about for her phone. Strangely enough it's off - when before she always just silenced it.<br />
<br />
Pressing her thumb to the on switch, she waits, and waits, and waits as it illuminates. And loads.<br />
<br />
Initially she intended to browse the web, but the number of unread text messages catches her eye.<br />
<br />
Instead her thumb clicks down on it.<br />
<br />
my daffodils aren't coming in as well as i hoped.<br />
<br />
would you mind seeing what you could do for them? we can have tea after of course.<br />
<br />
Her fingers jolt suddenly and she nearly drops the phone, hunching over in the chair of her desk as she keeps scrolling.<br />
<br />
you forgot your lunch again.<br />
<br />
both of them. I made one extra for you know who~<br />
<br />
just swing by my dorm after school if you don't have time during lunch.<br />
<br />
I think the soil lacks the proper tilth.<br />
<br />
Surely it couldn't be the wind that disagrees with them.<br />
<br />
id tell you to be more discrete about sneaking out at night but<br />
<br />
who am i kidding? put that passion on display erichan~<br />
<br />
so tell me about her. whats she like?<br />
<br />
Attached: sheratan.png<br />
<br />
Drop by next week? She must miss you.<br />
<br />
Or perhaps it is simply the taste of your toes she misses. The little carnivore...<br />
<br />
hang out after school? u know where<br />
<br />
Link: Rumiko Takahashi Will Be at Mandarake This Weekend for a Signing.<br />
<br />
"Shimanouchi-kun!"<br />
<br />
There was a faint pause, before suddenly there was the dull noise of chair legs scraping, and her chair was pushed on backwards and she was standing upright. A reflexive, "Hai!" - came out of her lips. Several in the class snickered as they noted the phone in her hands. Moreso when she hastily tried to hide it behind her back.<br />
<br />
"Since you are proving yourself to be an expert on this subject. Why don't you weigh in on this dispute for us? Is texting back a 'good night' after a second date a sign of someone desperate for a relationship or does it simply mean one is wishing them a good night?"<br />
<br />
The girl has this look on her expression where her eyes are dots for a moment, like she's experiencing some strange emotional whiplash. "I... I think..."<br />
<br />
There's a lengthy pause as if she were attempting to frame her answer. Then slowly, this smile appears on her face, as predictably as the image of a certain bridge. "... I think it doesn't matter."<br />
<br />
The teacher takes on a tone of a certain patience, "Would you mind... explaining what you mean by that?"<br />
<br />
There's this shake of her head, and it's unclear if she was saying she won't, or if it's... "I think a lot of things I thought mattered just... don't anymore. If someone really matters to you then... little things like that? Shouldn't be a problem at all."<br />
<br />
Unlacing her hands from her phone behind her back, the girl reaches down to grab her bag. "I'm going to go do meet some people who matter a lot to me right now."<br />
<br />
Kazuko Saotome looked like she didn't even know where to begin discussing this one. However as the other girl turned to walk up the rows of her classmates, she at least settled on, "Shimanouchi-kun! You are ''not'' excused from class right now!"<br />
<br />
The girl actually stops for a moment, to look over her shoulder, that smile still there. "Life is just too short to worry about what I'm excused for." And then without saying anything else. Her slow steps turn into a fast paced walk as she hits the door. Turns the knob, and as soon as that portal is thrown open. She starts to jog down the steps, her bag jostling back and forth the whole way.<br />
<br />
BGM Change: Sora Wo Miagete - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOnXWk-Bwno<br />
<br />
Picking up the pace, she only stops long enough to hit up the shoe lockers. Bouncing on one foot as she slides one on - then the others.<br />
<br />
Then she hits the door of the high school academic building, the Ohtori floral scents strong within her nostrils. She keeps running, pounding the pavement at a speed that would make any hall monitor's head spin if they tried to catch up to her. Down the path - through the gate.<br />
<br />
It was a beautiful day, and for once in her life - she wanted to take it at a full tilt sprint. Uncaring about breathlessness, stitches in her sides, she runs straight all the way off Southern Cross Island.<br />
<br />
-=-=-<br />
<br />
The girl is panting by the time she catches sight of the Rainbow bridge, on the pedestrian paths overlooking the bay, her summer uniform a little drenched in sweat. The rest on the train helped, though she spoiled that some by being so fidgety...<br />
<br />
For a moment, her hand touches the back of a bench, as she struggles to just breathe. Normally that sensation would be torturous. Today it feels... the opposite. It feels wonderful.<br />
<br />
Gripping her glasses, she takes a moment to wipe them with a little cloth. Then holding them up in front of her, she looks into the sun upon the sparkling bay and the bridge beyond, squinting in the sunglare.<br />
<br />
There's... just something wrong with me...<br />
<br />
I'm here for you. You don't have to handle it all on your own.<br />
<br />
Sucking in a deeper breath, she takes in the scent of the area, and with a smile says to noone in particular, "The only thing that's wrong with me is that I didn't figure out something so important sooner."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Twa-- nnnng?<br />
<br />
That's the sound a bow makes when surprise loosens the fingers a fraction too soon, when the arrowhead is tilted down with the weapon in a gesture learned as soon as Rei Hino was tall enough to wield it. It plants, with a muffled TONK, in sun-warmed earth, the grass risen high in good conditions.<br />
<br />
Rei watches it with a dumbfounded sort of expression for a moment, before her gaze rises to the sun, hair black as crow's feathers fluttering in a gentle breeze. One hand lifts from the bow to shield her eyes, because there are no clouds. No hint of rain at all.<br />
<br />
"Ah... Hino-san?" Ventures a fellow archer, as she looks from the misplaced arrow to the girl who fired it. "Are you all right?"<br />
<br />
"Yes -- of course," Rei realises how she must look and looks back to them, fixing on a smile. "The sun must have just been in my eyes."<br />
<br />
"That makes sense," says another member of Ohtori's Archery Club, in the sort of tone which suggests it makes no sense to him at all, but it's acceptable to let it slide.<br />
<br />
Which is strange in itself, considering how frustrated the club was getting with her before this. They're still a little frustrated, perhaps. Frustrated enough to make it known they're accepting her faults, but not enough to point them out openly. It's the sort of subtle social barometer which is as alarming as the sun, really.<br />
<br />
Rei laughs, holding a palm flat before her. "Forgive me for leaving before you, but would you excuse me? I just remembered something I have to take care of."<br />
<br />
"Okay," says the first girl, a frown of concern flickering over her face. "Thanks for your hard work today. We'll see you again tomorrow, right?"<br />
<br />
"I'll be here!" Rei says, as she hurries to put her things away.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
It's only when she gets out of the school -- out of her archery gear, out of sight of her classmates -- that Rei can really look up at the city and try to absorb it. Tokyo Tower is still piercing the sky. Everyone is still going about their normal, daily lives. The sun is shining.<br />
<br />
Her phone has no answers. There's nothing there she recognises. A lot she doesn't. It's like something which describes a life in parallel to hers; a life where the world was not screaming dissolution too quickly.<br />
<br />
"How is this possible?" She asks, out loud, as she looks up at the city.<br />
<br />
"Anything's possible when you're young!" An old woman replies as she passes, in perfect cheer, as if the world hadn't been torn to shreds. Rei wonders if she was in the shelter as 4-4-4 careened towards it. It happened, she insists, to herself; she knows it happened. She saw it happen.<br />
<br />
But even so, there's the distant silhouette of 4-4-4, standing proud and firm and whole.<br />
<br />
It's so much. It's so much, so much her heart is full to bursting, and she scrubs at her face when she realises just how damp it is.<br />
<br />
And if anyone knows how something like this could be possible, she knows just where they'd be.<br />
<br />
Rei rushes to the Rainbow Bridge, hope in her eyes.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's an infinite darkness, and an even greater light, because now there is hope-<br />
<br />
The clink of glass jolts Mai Tokiha out of her reverie. It's far too bright for a moment, harsh fluorescent bulbs blinding her with unexpected reflections, and she goes to shield her eyes - but there's an unexpected weight in her hands, shifting uneasily as she starts to move.<br />
<br />
Hesitation. Caution. Care. Muscle memory is as strong of that in the mind, and she holds her hand steady as she tries to blink away the daze. What was she doing?...<br />
<br />
Cookie crumbs smile up at her, cheerfully decorating whipped cream. It's neat, and tidy, and lacks a certain spark that she can't quite place, but it's still a cheerful touch to a surely delicious parfait. One of two, the companion having just been placed on the table moments ago, with just this one left on the tray.<br />
<br />
For a moment, Mai stops breathing, her eyes wide. The magenta booths, the confused unfamiliar faces seated before her, the sounds of cutlery and coffee and countless conversations coalescing in the background. She's not in her school uniform, she's not in casual wear - a poofy shirt and lopsided magenta apron she could swear she'd had to return the better part of a year ago.<br />
<br />
This must be some kind of terrible dream, and that mantra is all that keeps her from screaming on the spot. With shaky hands, she sets down the second parfait; with a shaky smile, she asks if the customers before her would like anything else off of Linden Baum's menu.<br />
<br />
~@~@~<br />
<br />
For better or for worse, that was her last table of the hour. She can take her break - or even, as her manager laughs, head home early if she doesn't mind forfeiting the rest of the shift's pay. It's not an offer necessarily born of kindness, but it's one worth considering as she sits down.<br />
<br />
"...is this a dream? Or was that nightmare..." It was all ashes. Everything that surrounds her, down to the very chair she's sitting on, was sundered and shattered and scorched to oblivion. The city was as good as gone, turned to pyres of witchfire by an unstoppable force, before...<br />
<br />
...before...<br />
<br />
It's hazy, and she tries to steady her breath with her hands on her head. Everything seems fine, if not some perfect illusion, and yet to get from there to here seems utterly...<br />
<br />
Her phone. Tentatively, she reaches to her purse to retrieve it, to see what it might say. Are there clues there?<br />
<br />
An email about picking up another short shift - apparently she's got no fixed schedule, just being offered a few hours whenever there's an opening. It's just stressful and self-destructive enough to be believable.<br />
<br />
The current date. The same as when everything happened, if she remembers correctly - admittedly during the worst of the storm she was beginning to lose track of days.<br />
<br />
A note from Takumi, beginning to prod with increasing impatience. Not as terse or tense as she remembers it being, but maybe she'd read too much into it before.<br />
<br />
A short conversation with - Mai chokes on air, staring unblinking at the exchanged words, heartbeat flooding her ears.<br />
<br />
: <span style="color:#FF5F00;">supper probably late tonight, sorry. got an offer last-minute</span><br />
<br />
: <span style="color:#008000;">You say that like it's a date, instead of getting called in to cover a shift at work.</span><br />
<br />
: <span style="color:#FF5F00;">covering a date, i'll have you know. it counts if it's not my romance, right?</span><br />
<br />
: <span style="color:#008000;">Whatever helps you endure all those lovey-dovey couples~</span><br />
<br />
Her phone starts to fall from a numb hand. She absolutely scrambles when it hits her knee, double-checking the sender, double-checking the time, verifying that the words exist and that it's not a dream and it turns out her screen is incredibly hard to read through tears - <br />
<br />
The Rainbow Bridge, something in her soul suggests, and she stuffs the device in her purse even as another message comes in. It's not important, nothing's important, she just has to - <br />
<br />
"Manager? I changed my mind. I'm out for the day - " There's a crash, and the smell of pineapple, and Mai bullies through it. " - and someone else can clean that up. I suddenly have somewhere to be."<br />
<br />
~@~@~<br />
<br />
She's running.<br />
<br />
The shoes Mai always had for work are fairly comfortable - being on one's feet for hours at a time is good motivation to have that particular garment have some quality. The sun-dried pavement is fantastic for running on, and her footfalls barely slip at all.<br />
<br />
The city is beautiful.<br />
<br />
It's a statement that could be said at any time, and yet it's possible to forget it so easily. Day after day, ever the same - unless contrasted against the memory of storm-wracked destruction, of the streets rendered to nothing. Here and now, as the sun sets on a perfect day, it's all so beautiful.<br />
<br />
The scent of the sea is on the wind.<br />
<br />
It's a breeze Mai can feel keenly. Linden Baum's uniform was never meant for warmth, sporting a somewhat short skirt. She'd normally change out of it barring extreme circumstances, and her everyday clothes were right there in a bag - but it's a bag that thumps against her side with every step. However appropriate her attire might be just doesn't matter right now, because she has somewhere to be.<br />
<br />
The Rainbow Bridge.<br />
<br />
The sun has fully set by the time Mai arrives at a dead run, but seeing the bridge intact once more is a sight to bring tears to her eyes. Maybe everything she's seen was some terrible nightmare - but that nightmare was the apex of so much gone wrong, so many piled tragedies. So much had gone wrong, too much for a single dream, but now-<br />
<br />
But here-<br />
<br />
Her hands rest on her knees for a moment as she catches her breath, catches great gasps to make up from the long run. Her heart in her throat, she slowly rises, slowly looks to see who else is here. Who might have remembered.<br />
<br />
Who might be alive.<br />
<br />
Her searching gaze catches glinting glasses, and her voice comes out breathily, unbelieving. "You're all right..."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Ah, to wake up in the arms of love.<br />
<br />
Setsuna stirs to the stirring of the girl she's entangled with, and her first sensations are wholly Kasagami. She feels the smooth-and-rough texture of Kassie's skin and the movement of honed muscles beneath, and rubs her cheek against one she knows so very well, and cherishes even better.<br />
<br />
A sense of peace enfolds her, even as the swordswoman's strong embrace does. Of... belonging. She's right where she should be, where she must be... isn't she?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Without knowing how she knows... she knows. And so it goes for so many things, in the senshi's busy head. The deaths. The grieving. The war. She knows they are done with, as if... they never were? The Guardian of Time is a woman accustomed, in certain ways, to accepting the impossible. She eases into this new understanding of the world and it assimilates thusly, and there is an extra modicum of that peace in the smile she shares with Kasagami as they rise together -- Kasagami in her casually rakish clothes, Setsuna in her darkly floral sundress.<br />
<br />
They dance beneath the sun, and it is beautiful and impetuous and joyful, romantic and dramatic and perfectly imperfect, and it is so much more than either of the two of them could achieve singly.<br />
<br />
But she is not so affected by her lover's enthusiasm that she'll countenance an unplanned dip in the river, and she grabs that pushing hand and whirls them both away from the riverbank with a severe look that her low laughter ruins. Mirth still shapes her lips as Kassie takes them with her own.<br />
<br />
"Let's do, dear heart. Let's go and see." Her fingers clutch Kassie's like a promise, unspoken.<br />
<br />
Who leads? Who could tell? They go to the Rainbow Bridge together, to see, and that is what matters.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Vita Yagami [None] has posed.<br />
<br />
Vita comes awake to the sound of hammer and ball, the sharp CLACK that is like her whole life compressed into waveform.<br />
<br />
She jerks up, like she'd been dreaming of falling, her whole body having gone from rest, to seized, to rest again. She slaps her hand to her chest, taking sudden, deep, near-panicked breaths. The woman nearby, Kozakura-san, gives her a concerned look, the wrinkles that have conquered her papery face doing nothing to sour the kind, but concerned, smile. "Vita-chan?" she prompts. "Was it a bad dream...?"<br />
<br />
Vita gives her a brief, unseeing look. Buildings flying, an inverse titan tearing the city she'd dared call hers to protect apart like a child. Everything breaking, inside and out.<br />
<br />
Birds chirp above. Mishima-san turns from his chair, closer to the field, the long-bald man giving her the concerned look of a man who knows the place another is in. The player with the mallet now is Takahata-san, swinging the mallet up in the same casual hoist Vita has infected the whole senior center with.<br />
<br />
"....y, yeah," she says, half feeling like she's still falling. Light. Light. Someone -- her thoughts scrabble at it, instinctively questing for something she knew was important, but they fall away like the gentle, proper falling of leaves, and as her breathing calms her need to fill in a blank she can't quite remember the size of calms with it. "I--" she says, slowly, and then hops up. "Sorry, I think --uhm, I mean, I have to do something!"<br />
<br />
And then she scampers off, yanking out the phone Hayate had got her, not bothering to go out the sign-out desk -- she'd catch hell for that later -- and entirely hopping the fence around the garden, thumb sliding across the device. Names she remembers more from stalking them across Tokyo than any actual conversations coming up right there in her hand, culminating with a big happy "DID IT!!" and fireworks flanking a picture of herself and an older and only ''somewhat'' more feral girl holding aloft a golden trophy at an arcade Vita doesn't entirely remember ever even going inside. Vita is standing on a box. That sounds right.<br />
<br />
Vita very carefully hand-constructs the recipient list of the group text that she fires off to the Midchildan and Belkan contingent. The contents are rather less refined: "!??!!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!!?!?"<br />
<br />
She hits send on it and only then realizes she has wound her way to the Rainbow Bridge, her little heart pounding in her chest, and slumps against a lamp, wide blue eyes casting out across the scene of clear water and entirely intact colored metalwork.<br />
<br />
Mami Tomoe (Mami) pages Pink Moon Stick and Eri Shimanouchi: Yeah, package + signed receipt with Kozue's name on it<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mami Tomoe [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Light. Perfect light. And then... Like always. Always, in dreams, things just are as they are, and when they aren't, that's fine, too. Little things, little things that could be nothing at all, turn out to be everything. A tiny touch, a little miracle in every night, the unseen seen once again. <br />
<br />
That face; that face, that was gone, far away... <br />
<br />
There is light again as Mami opens her eyes, slowly, light tracking past golden irises as she stands back up from where she must have been leaning, might have fallen asleep on her feet for all she knows. It is warm--it is... <br />
<br />
Mami tilts her head, thoughtfully, as she sees the dishes; her hands are clean, naturally, gloves hung to dry naturally. The feeling of arms about her is absent--there's a face, in her dreams, that she can't recall... a fading light, and... <br />
<br />
"...Sayaka," the blonde murmurs with deep feeling, looking up into nothing at all... and knowing, then. She looks down--looks to the drying dishes, looks around her apartment, thoughtfully. "...?" she begins to ask, undoing her apron, hanging it carefully, stepping back into the kitchen for now. She looks to the living room--space for many, and photographs still. Three seats currently set, though with nothing at them. <br />
<br />
She can't recall it--the someone. There naturally isn't anyone here right ''now'', the one person who might be out and about for the moment... and Mami finds... <br />
<br />
She steps to the window, pulls aside the curtain, and looks across the cityscape to the setting sun. How many times, has she looked out at this view? How many times, alone, and then with others? And yet... <br />
<br />
She sniffs once, despite herself, blinking, and shakes her head, composing herself. Yet--<br />
<br />
Has it ''ever'' been so beautiful as it is today? <br />
<br />
The details of her dream are already fading, now, but the knowledge remains. When was it, that it had happened? "...I know," she says softly, as softly as a snowflake on the window at a ski lodge, soft enough not to wake a sleeping girl on the Hokkaido train. Just then, she isn't sure exactly who she's saying it to, why she's saying it at all. Except it felt... necessary, somehow. <br />
<br />
"...I have to go," she agrees, closing her curtain, and returning to the counter to gather her things where they remain next to a box on the counter. She glances at the box with a tilt of her head before it clicks--a delivery, brown paper... labelled 'KOZUE KAORU', with a signed receipt. She pauses--and then nods, gathering keys, purse, phone... One last turn, over the apartment. There is no one there sipping tea in a circle with other girls. There is no one at the dishes; there is no one at her tiny triangular table. <br />
<br />
...But, there are daffodils, in the window box. ...They could be healthier. ...Regardless--Mami turns, to go. <br />
<br />
-=-=-<br />
<br />
Alive - Gimme Sympathy - Metric: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqldwoDXHKg <br />
<br />
The train is just like always. Mami Tomoe, in a yellow dress and black overblouse with a little ruffle, travels just along with everyone else, the people of Tokyo, from Shibuya. Her hand rests on one of the handles--she certainly didn't get a ''seat''. <br />
<br />
...All these people, with all their lives. What must they be feeling, now...? <br />
<br />
-=-=-<br />
<br />
Her light boots--for the summer--pad along the walkway as she steps through the city, hand on the strap of her purse and by her shoulder for the moment as she walks through the city and lights turn from sun to electric. Up, up, there is the place... <br />
<br />
-=-=-<br />
<br />
The lights of the Rainbow Bridge are brilliant, reflect nicely on Mami's light dress, pale skin, as she steps along the sidewalk, walking around pedestrians, up up up the bridge... <br />
<br />
As Mami Tomoe arrives.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Ren-chan?"<br />
<br />
"Hmm?"<br />
<br />
Raising her head from her desk and blinking slowly, Ren comes back into conciousness, turning to look at her mother. Mrs. Aizawa stands in the doorway of her daughter's room, dressed in her usual work uniform. "I'm heading to the lab to meet your father. We'll be there all night. Big deadline coming up. I left you some dinner on the counter."<br />
<br />
Ren blinks some more, then smiles, nodding. "Ahh! Ok mom! Don't work too hard!"<br />
<br />
Mrs. Aizawa smiles back, chuckling softly. "Shouldn't I be saying that to you? Make sure you get to bed at a reasonable hour, alright?"<br />
<br />
"Mmmhmm!" Ren nods again, waving goodbye as her mother steps back and shuts the door. Now alone, she sighs, turning around to look at the homework she apparently fell asleep in the middle of. Rubbing her eyes she stares down at it for a few moments, before deciding that a break is definitely in order.<br />
<br />
Downstairs in the kitchen she finds the food left out for her and begins to gingerly eat away at it. She's not particularly hungry... and her thoughts keep drifting elsewhere. It's in the middle of her seventh bite that she comes to a realization. Dropping the set of chopsticks onto the floor, she turns sharply on her heel and runs back upstairs -- into her room and over to her phone. She begins pouring through it, seeing texts between her, Endo, Lera, Setsuna, and...<br />
<br />
"Eri-chan..." She whispers, clutching her phone. She checks the date for confirmation, feeling tears begin to prickle at her eyes. She wipes them away before they fall, shutting her eyes temporarily.<br />
<br />
When she reopens them, she has a destination in mind. The Rainbow Bridge. In her next breath Ren is running downstairs and out the door, exiting the front yard, feet pounding against the pavement as she heads for it.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kyouko Sakura [None] has posed.<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUNDTRACK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpQel47JNqo <br />
<br />
There's a clicking clacking sound that, in isolation, sounds a little like the cocking of a pistol, but as further elements of light and noise bloom around it, the sound is given further definition. A 100 yen coin pushed through a slot and tumbling through concealed machinery. Kyouko's arm is still touching the shining red maw that just swallowed her coin, though she does not recall reaching towards it. Her eyes affixed to a question, a challenge, a prompt. <br />
<br />
CONTINUE? <br />
<br />
Kyouko doesn't remember coming to the arcade, nor what song she had apparently failed to dance along with. That's surprising, as she thought herself more than a match for this game and not prone to misstep, but they don't ask the question unless something went wrong along the way. Nevertheless, the question is before her, and she has her answer. The price has been paid, the rest is a matter of will. <br />
<br />
Pressing a button as red as she is, Kyouko glances behind her before selecting a new dance. There's a kid watching her, as there often is given her reputation in these parts. Kyouko jerks a thumb back to the screen, flashing a toothy little grin. <br />
<br />
"You're up." <br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
SOUNDTRACK CHANGE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kX6G4gQ1Rg <br />
<br />
At first she simply walks, threading her way through the sidewalkers and sidewatchers going about their business like on just about any other day. A dreamlike harmony of familiarity and novelty permeate her sentiments. She remembers much about much but not all about all, but among the things she can recall is that she had died by her own hand and another's, and yet here she is. A gentle warmth of thrill and anointed comfort beat out from her heart and she does not, for the moment, get caught up in the wondering as much as the wonderment. <br />
<br />
She's alive. The girl who lived now lives again. <br />
<br />
Surely she's not alone. She has to find the others. <br />
<br />
Now Kyouko understands where she's off to. Off to find her friends, of course. Off to find Eri. Off to find if Mami and Sayaka came back too. Off to find them all, all of them that share color and import with her life. Her heart knows where to go, and bids her legs to lead and her mind to follow. <br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
She finds them. It's astonishing how many there are...from face to face, some more familiar than others, Kyouko cannot find a stony expression among them. The joy that had been budding within her reverberates with the unbridled happiness and relief bubbling up all around her, growing into a greater harmony of feeling than she could manage alone. Were they all like her? Returned? There were so many... <br />
<br />
What happened after she died? <br />
<br />
Time, time, her heart soothes at her head. Time for that, and time for this. This comes first. Her eyes dew over in successive stripes. She sees Mami...Mami, who she'd given up on ever seeing again. Mami, who had last looked at her with such hard eyes. Mami's alive again...Mami Tomoe is alive! And Homura, Homura Akemi...it's no surprise at all that Homura lives, but Kyouko had been so sure that she'd let her down. Does she still have her chance, then, to stand with Homura in her hour of need? <br />
<br />
Kyouko does not see Sayaka, and her heart sinks a little. There's someone else she doesn't see, but she doesn't realize it. <br />
<br />
Kyouko sees her comrades, girls she'd fought shoulder to shoulder with, and more than once. Some of the girls they'd fought against are here too, but there aren't any sides now. Just everybody, all together together. She sees the Outer Senshi, some of her longest standing allies. In hours of need, they had been there to help because of their pact, and Kyouko can't help feeling a little responsible for their being here now, too, though she wouldn't be able to say why. But the sight of them often signified that things would be alright, so of course they must be here at the moment when that feels truer than ever. <br />
<br />
Kyouko sees Eri Shimanouchi. <br />
<br />
For a heartbeat she panics, her eyes snapping to the gem in Eri's hair. When she sees green gleaming back at her her relief is a thunderclap. There were people to see, to share smiles and embraces and words with. But Eri comes first. From the moment Kyouko sees her she doesn't look to anybody else, a broad smile fully unfurled from cheek to cheek as she politely but insistently presses through the crowd to reach her. <br />
<br />
Seizing Eri up in her arms, Kyouko fiercely pulls their frames together, burying her face in her green crown of hair. She doesn't quite let go, but she does lean back far enough to steal a fleeting kiss, grinning a pirate's grin and taking her hands in her own. <br />
<br />
"Hello..."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Endo Naoki [Juuban Public School (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Arigato gozaimasu!"<br />
<br />
The cash register closes with a mechanic ca-chink as another customer leaves the konbini when Endo Naoki works. The ritual is the same as ever, repeated seemingly infinitely throughout the day. The shelves are the same too, the polished tiles, the fluorescent lights, humming refrigerators, the quiet jingle that plays as Tokyo's citizen's enter purchase their daily snacks, magazines, and other needs.<br />
<br />
Endo is the same too, but the life he remembers is suddenly very different. For a moment his eyes lose focus, his gaze transfixed by a row of potato chips. It's only a moment later that the hang wagging in front of his face brings him back to reality.<br />
<br />
"Hey Naoki-san," Asks his fellow clerk with concern. "What's the matter?"<br />
<br />
The words go, for a minute, ignored. Endo's hands fish out his phone, fingers unsteady as he presses keys. He doesn't get very far before he's confronted with a sea of photographs, text messages, and line chats. They go by in a blur of swipes, some-like tearing into a crab buffet in Hokkaido with a dark-haired enemy-more confusing than others.<br />
<br />
"Naoki-" Comes the insistent, now indignant, voice of the boy next to him.<br />
<br />
"Ahhh...sorry." The words are almost apologetic, but more distracted than anything.<br />
<br />
BGM Change: Lift Every Voice - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiwuPvYJ_WI<br />
<br />
"I have to go."<br />
<br />
He doesn't wait for an answer. He also doesn't apologize for tipping over a stack of umbrellas on the way out. The streets outside are bright, and the sun shines down on Tokyo's concrete jungle once again. There are no broken skyscrapers, no ruined storefronts, no empty streets. There's people, and sound, and LIFE.<br />
<br />
He's not sure where to first, but he's sure he needs to go. Somewhere, and fast. He's at a fast walk first, a jog after. The path becomes instinctive somewhere along the way, though he's can't say where. Down a flight of stairs, past the subway gates with a hurried slam of his card against the electronic sensor. Onto a train, just before the doors synch shut.<br />
<br />
He's the first off at his stop, weaving around commuters and up stairs. The boy breathes in the smell of the sea as he jogs toward the Rainbow Bridge, the place where they'd all gathered before the storm.<br />
<br />
He is not hard to see coming. Or to hear. "Ren-chan!" He calls out, desperately hoping for an answer. There are a dozen more names he could add-and will get around to-but settles on: "Everyone!"<br />
<br />
It's the first person he calls out to that he finds first, though. When his eyes find Ren across the bridge he goes there first, seizing the girl in his arms and hugging her tight against him. He doesn't let go, not for a long time.<br />
<br />
Eventually he will. There are other faces he's been desperate to see, and all will get their turn. But for now, he's happy.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Anthy Himemiya [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Anthy is doodling.<br />
<br />
It's not so strange for her eyes to be suddenly empty. Possibly no one notices but her. The person most likely to notice is busy gathering herself on the basketball court, and Ohtori's resident weird girl sits quietly adjacent to the bustle of sports, up on an otherwise unoccupied bleacher.<br />
<br />
Her eyes do empty, though.<br />
<br />
It's still summer, but...<br />
<br />
The season changes.<br />
<br />
Soundtrack: Tool - Intension https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIFrAMgWdSs<br />
<br />
Anthy goes, too. Goes where ''she'' does.<br />
<br />
A pad of school paper with flowers and cakes filling the margins remains on the bleachers.<br />
<br />
-=-=-=-<br />
<br />
She's out of breath when she gets there, but she makes it.<br />
<br />
Her steps were more sure, but it is easier to know where to place your feet when they follow in someone else's, however scattered. Easier when you're looking at one person, instead of all around you.<br />
<br />
Anthy doesn't say anything, but looks, gives Utena a winded sort of smile -- agreeing, agreeable.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<SoundTracker> Aphex Twin - Hy a Scullyas Lyf A Dhagrow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo9CFF2QDjU<br />
<br />
The last little bundle of motes that were Madoka fade away into nothing but a memory of light.<br />
<br />
-=-=-=-<br />
<br />
She's been here a while, now.<br />
<br />
Unmoving.<br />
<br />
Not unmoved. Never that, any more.<br />
<br />
Oh, some of her shifts as the saltwater wind wills: the looping bows upon her coat; the ruffles of her skirt; her long fine hair, so glossy and inky black. It's just the girl herself, within all of these motile flourishes, who occupies the apex of Rainbow Bridge's sweeping arch as if she is its newest marble sculpture.<br />
<br />
Homura Akemi has no idea how long she's been standing here.<br />
<br />
She usually has such a good sense of time, but... there is no shield upon her arm any more, and her mind, her heart, have both been elsewhere since the soles of her black stockinged feet touched the bridge's pedestrian sidewalk.<br />
<br />
Her soul is exactly where she left it, upon the back of her hand, though maybe not exactly ''how'': pure and clean and violet. She does not see its state, though on some deeper level she feels it, and ignores the feeling. She is looking down at her joined palms, instead.<br />
<br />
There is treasure cupped in them, priceless beyond imagining.<br />
<br />
No one else would know it, to lean in and look with her. At least not at first. They are beautiful ribbons, brightly red and fiercely cute. They'd look amazing in the hair of the right girl.<br />
<br />
They even ''feel'' like the right girl. At least they do to Homura, whose palms host their satiny softness.<br />
<br />
"Madoka..."<br />
<br />
What syllables are these she speaks, into the open air with the broken longing of a dying soul saying her final amen?<br />
<br />
It's a name, a girl's name. Some girl's name.<br />
<br />
A name that symbolizes everything for Homura.<br />
<br />
A name for a girl who is gone.<br />
<br />
She's not sobbing openly, not any more. Maybe the sobs subsided as she stood here; Homura does not know that, either. She was crying so hard... Now, a lonely tear makes its slow way across the perfect plane of her cheek, as if forging a new path.<br />
<br />
Homura stands very still, shoulders hunched, head down. She might be waiting for everyone to arrive. Or maybe she waits for someone who never will.<br />
<br />
But what she's really doing is remembering.<br />
<br />
''Remembering.''<br />
<br />
As hard as she can, as vividly as she can, as longingly as she can. She's etching every last iota of her last embrace with the last Madoka into her heart, into her mind -- running it over and over like a movie reel taped end to end. Living in the memory, as long as she is allowed.<br />
<br />
It's all she has left, or so she believes. She's a very stubbornly lonely girl, is Homura Akemi. Very stubbornly alone.<br />
<br />
So alone.<br />
<br />
Bereft.<br />
<br />
And it's on her face, as plain as all the emotions she never shares.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin] has posed.<br />
<SoundTracker> The Sixth Station https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHOYeXezhQI<br />
<br />
Night has fallen by the time everyone's on the bridge.<br />
<br />
But it feels more like night has risen, instead.<br />
<br />
The world turned upside down.<br />
<br />
Or is it that the world turned right-side up?<br />
<br />
The rainbow on the bridge is at full glow, painting everyone in their color, and then in someone else's color. It shifts lazily through the spectrum, back and forth.<br />
<br />
But it's Tokyo itself, Tokyo shining into the sky and its neon glory reflected out over the water, that creates the greater rainbow.<br />
<br />
It's all so magical. Lights in the darkness. The many millions of people, each one of them, too, casting their own distinct shine. In Tokyo, everyone is so intensely surrounded by the presence of life and yet -- just now, on the bridge, they're the only ones around, both deeply within this beautiful world and somehow within one all their own. Magical.<br />
<br />
The air is still warm with the promise of summer long after the sun has gone.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's warm with something else, too.<br />
<br />
&lt;&lt; Who? &gt;&gt; Kyuubey asks Homura curiously, looking over at her from his perch a couple of railing posts down. He is fluffy and soft and guileless. His eyes may fail to contain much emotion, but there's something deeply human about the puzzlement that fills them as they become surrounded by new arrivals. It makes his upper ears perk and his lower ears droop. Being confused is the worst! And humans are so confusing! &lt;&lt; What's going on? Why is everyone here? &gt;&gt;<br />
<br />
Maybe not.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Nori Ankou [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<SoundTracker> https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1920hx<br />
<br />
They aren't alone, are they? <br />
<br />
Nori watches people come up - familiar people. Even in the fading light they stand out. <br />
<br />
Takeo, Endo, Ren.<br />
<br />
Steven, Fuu, Vita. <br />
<br />
Kasagami, Setsuna, Eri. (Eri! Nori's eyes widen.) <br />
<br />
Kyouko, Utena, Anthy, Kimiko, Rei-- and--<br />
<br />
Nori can sense a single tear nearby but - shining before all of them, flooding ahead of all of that awareness - someone else. Someone who she saw... <br />
<br />
Who...<br />
<br />
It was moving already for the sight of Kozue, however second-hand. There is wonder in seeing Kyouko too, as well as Eri. But they were rumor to Nori, news heard secondhand. Nori's eyes water as she thinks back for a moment to that time when the film of the world seemed to jerk and shudder and- and it couldn't be so, could it? And now it isn't. <br />
<br />
So the first thing that Nori Ankou does is that she turns on her heel and walks towards Mami. She is close enough that she does not have time to get up to a run, but it is still a forceful and determined walk that turns into a sudden tight and almost-crushing hug, an embrace that reveals a depth of feeling as well as the trailing of long black hair. <br />
<br />
Nori's breath hitches for a moment as she buries her face in Mami's shoulder. She lets go after two seconds, with a shuddering gasp of breath. This close, Mami gets an excellent view of the smile-through-tears, deep blue eyes sparkling with joy. <br />
<br />
Then she coughs for a moment and steps a half-pace away. "Oh, excuse me, I didn't mean to... well; I suppose for moments like this, you can forgive me, can't you, Tomoe-san?" <br />
<br />
Nori's head turns then. Towards Homura. And Homura isn't alone. She looks past him. Nori feels her back stiffen at that guileless question. She can see his ears, those soft and precious and adorable and delightful and deceitful ears droop and wiggle. <br />
<br />
Nori's lips part - <br />
<br />
And then they close...<br />
<br />
And she smiles at Kyubey for a moment, before her eyes turn towards the single figure. <br />
<br />
"Homura," Nori says. Not Homura-chan but not Akemi either. <br />
<br />
"... ..." <br />
<br />
"Do you still want," Nori asks, "to go on that trip?" <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<br />
If there's a lead? It's in the heart, for Kasagami's only thoughts are for the curiousity of the day and the sheer warmth that's made hers far freer of despair that it has any right to be. More and more as she finds her way with her love to the Rainbow Bridge, that feeling of hope only intensifies. <br />
<br />
And amidst the lights of Tokyo and the rainbow on the bridge, Kasagami spies so many familiar faces. Ones she long thought lost, gone forever. Mami, Eri, Kyouko, Kimiko, they're all there, plain as day. The Duelist looks upon each one. Amazement for Endo. Conflict and surprise at Mami. Eri, Kyouko, and Kimiko all share a look of utter joy in particular, gaze dotting to each one. <br />
<br />
"All of you! You're alive!" Her breath is short. A hand goes to Kasagami's heart as she wills it into beating once more. Grinning at the others that all made it through to this day on the backs of a miracle? <br />
<br />
Boots thud repeatedly as she starts stalking up to the group of those utterly alive when they by all rights shouldn't. Her gaze is the softest on the Shepherds, and a hand is reaching out to Eri and Kyouko first. The swell in her chest is overwhelming, however, and she falls to her knees just short of the pair. <br />
<br />
"Eri-chan, Kyou-chan...I'm not dreaming! Come on, tell me this isn't some cruel dream!" Here, she manages ''one'' glare to the Incubator for the briefest of moments. <br />
<br />
Her eyes are misty, and it's a wonder she doesn't break out in sobs. She reaches for the hem of Eri and Kyouko's uniforms, just to confirm they aren't ghosts. <br />
<br />
"Mami, Endo, Kimi-chan..." She can't hold on for too long. Already, she's crying. <br />
<br />
The Shepherds, that motley group of friends, her little delinquent family, lives.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
He gets off the bike so fast barely remembers to put the kickstand down. He's moving quickly, his vision blurring as his eyes fill with tears, which spill like silent rain when the helmet is taken form his head, his hair, messy and spilling out of the helmet down his back. With a clatter the helmet hits the bridge and is forgotten as Takeo Akamizu rushes Eri Shimanouchi and drags her into the biggest and tightest big brother embrace he has ever given. <br />
<br />
His tears fall into her green hair and he tries to speak but it comes out as a laughing sob as he falls to his knees, dragging her with him. "Eri-chan. I'm so sorry." He finally manages to get out between sobs. "I wasn't there. I was a terirble friend and I wasn't there. You and Sparkles are my best friends I wasn't there when you needed me." He squeezes her even harder and sobs again into her hair, his eyes squeezed shut to try and stop the flow of tears falling down. He whispers, "Please forgive me Eri. Please." <br />
<br />
He suddenly realizes, he might be in other people's way, and releases Eri, getitng up and stepping back. He wipes the tears away with the back of a hand uselessly as they just come back in a mix of pure elation and sadness. <br />
<br />
As otehrs approach Eri, he spies Steven and Endo. Endo whom he last saw fall in battle. He laughs and shakes his head and then scoops both his arms around Steven and Endo putting his head down as he hugs the two fo them tightly. "I don't have many friends, I tend to hide and run around like an idiot, but I consider both of you friends and brothers in arms." He sniffles a little, overjoyed at seeing TWO of his dead friends alive again. He shakes his ehad agian. "No more guys. My Dorm Friday's after School. Dungeons and Dragons and Video Games and loads of Bacon and chips and a freaking barrel of Mt Dew." He closes his eyes and jsut grins as he laughs in happiness. <br />
<br />
He steps back and goes to the railing of the bridge. He folds his arms over his chest and puts his back agaisnt the railing to watch everybody. An honest grin is spread on his face, the first in a very long time, and he doesn't even care about the tears. As he watches the happy reuninions, and just seeing others be ... Happy, his eyes stop on one girl with red hair. He catches her eye and bows his head to her with a little wave. His own smile is wider because she's actually smiling. He's seen her be nothing but miserable lately and there she was, with a real smile on her face. He gives her a wink, but doesn't approach her, remaining where he is to just .... Take it all in. <br />
<br />
Hope. Somewhere out there the Black Knight hid and made ready to do Morgana's bidding, and there were plenty of other baddies out there. Right now though? Right now Takeo Akamizu felt nothing but elated joy and untainted hope.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<br />
Eri has almost put her glasses back on her face when suddenly she hears...<br />
<br />
There's a moment's pause, and then she shoves them back on. Turning to face Mai. "Mai-chan..." For a moment, that's all there is, before she gets this silly little look on her face, the corner of her lip tugging a little at her word choice, "Yeah, I guess I am. Miss me?"<br />
<br />
She doesn't wait for an answer. Suddenly her arms are around her, and she's murmuring into Mai's shoulder.<br />
<br />
"I missed you."<br />
<br />
Anything else she could possibly say, feels less important than the fact that she missed her surrogate big sister. That all the little things and big things that came between them just all matter less to her than that fact. Parting after a few moments...<br />
<br />
However as she does, in the crowd of girls showing up - there's... someone familiar.<br />
<br />
"Ah... Mai-chan." And Eri cants her head towards Mami Tomoe. As if indicating... she's here. And there's this furtive smile on there. "Wish me luck?"<br />
<br />
There's a moment of approach, and... Eri clears her throat from the side. "Mmm... I..."<br />
<br />
Eri is standing there to the side of Mami and she's just... standing there. And it's hard to say what she's thinking by her expression, like she's a little abstracted. Her hands clasped together in front of her. "...wow you know what?" The girl steps up to Mami and hugs her, tightly. Instantly murmuring something into her ear, "Screw it."<br />
<br />
It's a whisper that can be heard by noone else, as if she didn't want anyone else to hear her say something like that to Mami Tomoe - yet it's something she knows she ''can'' say to her, "Remember what I said about 'nothing gets better - it just gets worse until it's over'?"<br />
<br />
There's a slow blink of her eyes, like she was trying to prevent herself from crying, "I was wrong. I'm ''so'' glad I was wrong." There's a light pause, before she adds in this light tone, "And I'm even more glad you're back here... with us."<br />
<br />
And for a moment she just doesn't care about what anyone thinks of her hugging Mami Tomoe. A girl she didn't kill. The only one whose reaction she cares about right then is Mami's herself. Which is why perhaps she doesn't linger overlong in that hug, before parting - in case it's awkward ''for her''.<br />
<br />
Spotting Homura by herself, perhaps she was going to wave her over to the two of them. Or instead walk over to her herself. However then Takeo seizes her up in a hug, and she's suddenly caught up in his arms. And for a moment she seems a little swept up in Takeo's emotional display, but she's hugging back, "Hey, Takeo-kun. It's alright. It's alright. It's not your fault. None of what happened is on you. In any way. Promise." A hand from her hug, rubs his back soothingly, "But if you want me to say it? To say 'I forgive you'. If it would make you feel better?" There's this light pause, before she murmurs quietly, "I forgive you." <br />
<br />
Slowly she unravels her arms from around him, and takes a step back, "It's all okay now. Everything is going to be okay." And perhaps she presents her smile as evidence of that.<br />
<br />
However she has almost no warning between Takeo before that face - that hair she knows too well enters her field of vision. Of Kyouko Sakura walking up to her. And in that moment she seizes up just a little. Perhaps her mind had settled on the one thing she needs to say right now. However, now that she sees her again, that one thing becomes so difficult.<br />
<br />
And then Kyouko is suddenly pressed against her, cheek to cheek. There's something a little wide in her eyes, something a little startled in her posture.<br />
<br />
She remembers all of Kyouko's final words, her acceptance. Yet perhaps she wondered if things had changed anyhow. And she was ready for that.<br />
<br />
God she thought she was ready. For anything.<br />
<br />
The moment Kyouko seizes her up and buries her face in her hair. The girl's lip quivers just perceptibly, as her nose twitches from being caught flat-footed emotionally by this. When Kyouko leans back to steal a kiss, she might notice the tears that are rolling down her cheeks.<br />
<br />
And a smile so hard that they're dimpled. It feels like it's been so long since these smiles came so easily for her.<br />
<br />
"Hey." Is her response to her hello. There's this sense of teenage shyness in that word choice, that's perhaps in part due to the slight pinkening in her cheeks.<br />
<br />
Though that shyness fades in a moment, "You know. I was just thinking of something really important you said to me." <br />
<br />
A hand reaches up, and her fingertips brush back her own hair just over her ear. "And there you were - right here..." Her lips push together for a moment, as she maintains that smile amidst her tear-stained cheeks. "...with me."<br />
<br />
And it feels like anything else she could say to her just doesn't matter compared to that.<br />
<br />
The hand drops, and she lets Kyouko take both of her hands in hers.<br />
<br />
And there's a certain gravity in her tone as Kasagami approaches, and hugs them both on her knees. "Well. Easy way to know for sure..." <br />
<br />
Eri Shimanouchi then with a completely serious expression, takes back one hand from Kyouko, intent on giving it back to her before long. Then reaches for Kasagami's wrist. And clamps two fingers on the skin, with a light twist as she pinches her. "... still here?" That somberness turns into a teasing lightness, "Guess we're both really here then."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Ren Aizawa [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Ren makes it to the bridge. And everyone is there.<br />
<br />
''Everyone''.<br />
<br />
She blinks, chest heaving from the effort of running the whole way. Then, her eyes begin to prickle with tears again, though this time she doesn't wipe them away. "Everyone!" Ren shouts, smiling brightly, body beginning to shake. Her eyes roam around the assembled faces, finally landing on Eri's. She's about to move forward and embrace the girl when a familiar voice shouts her name from behind. Whirling around, she's just in time to be scooped up into a tight hug by Endo.<br />
<br />
"Endo-kun!" She shouts happily, hugging him back. He's alive! Alive alive alive! She laughs, burying her face against his chest, closing her eyes and just basking in this... ''miracle''.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The night rises, and none of them are alone.<br />
<br />
The bridge lights up with colour and voices both, and every familiar face that Mai sees brings back just a little more of her smile. It's hard to believe, it's hard to imagine that this place still exists, that these people are here - but the disbelief seems to be common, and Mai laughs with just a hitch.<br />
<br />
There's something about Homura that jars Mai out of her joy for a moment. Something about the girl is a reminder, a fleeting dream of a thought that something or someone is missing. Mai's eyes dart around, trying to place it, trying to find what's missing.<br />
<br />
There is someone missing. Someone with dark hair, and a badly disguised case on her back, and a laugh whose absence leaves a hole in Mai's heart. <span style="color:#808080;">Someone was told to leave...</span><br />
<br />
Someone's still missing. But someone else is here.<br />
<br />
Mai can't even think of an answer to Eri's question - can't even properly hear the question - before there's arms around her, and her arms hold on to Eri in return. Her surrogate little sister is here, and she's alive, and the hug needs to last for all the moments that were lost for that half year.<br />
<br />
"Always. I always did, I..."<br />
<br />
What might interrupt the hug is the hiccup. Mai jolts back suddenly, hands rushing to her mouth as she hiccups again. There's tears in her eyes, and suddenly there's laughter in her voice, interrupted periodically as more hiccups burst out, and between the tears and the giggles it just seems like too much. "...I'm a bit of a mess, but what else is new?"<br />
<br />
She joins Eri in turning to behold the auspicious arrival, and yet somehow her smile doesn't fade. "...always. Good luck, Eri-chan."<br />
<br />
She needs a moment to breathe. A moment to just step back, and see how that reunion goes, and see how everyone else seems to be alive. The sight of Endo has her blinking, blinking and then laughing because somehow it's right and wrong all at once, that that someone's nemesis is alive and well after all.<br />
<br />
Her smile freezes in place at the sight of the little figure next to Homura, a sharp gasp finally quelling those helpless hiccups. Kyubey is here, is confused about the whole situation...<br />
<br />
...let him be. One little paw out of line, and old promises might be revived - but the crime that warranted punishment seems to have been corrected.<br />
<br />
Takeo waves, and Mai sobs a little giggle as she waves back. "You're as ridiculous as ever, Akamizu-kun!" Maybe she should have read that message that arrived, but nothing but getting here seemed to matter. For now, she can just laugh at his open affection, as if she isn't in the middle of the exact same thing.<br />
<br />
And then, as Eri moves away from Mami Tomoe, Mai approaches. Tentative footsteps, conscious of the waitress outfit she's wearing that feels right and wrong and misplaced all at once. Mai steps forward, stands before the girl she'd once called enemy, swallows heavily. "...Tomoe."<br />
<br />
Another step forward, to join the cascade of those giving her a hug. Arms firm, heart pounding, cheeks still wet. A few moments of silence, before she murmurs quietly in privacy.<br />
<br />
"Believe it or not, I am so wonderfully happy you aren't dead."<br />
<br />
She takes a step back after that, smile turning from sheer joy to something more comfortable, something more confident, something maybe even a little more smug - even though the tears still running down her cheeks undermine it. "I guess whatever I might have wanted to say to you isn't meaningless after all. There's a lot - some too late, some too early - but for now let me just say that I think things are better with you around."<br />
<br />
It's a beautiful night, and things just seem to be better. Finally.<br />
<br />
<span style="color:#808080;">...almost.</span><br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Vita Yagami [None] has posed.<br />
<br />
Vita trots up amid a sea of heartful, weeping reunions. It takes her a little bit to really process what all is happening here. She first identifies that it looks like the others of her own crew haven't descended; the rest of the Yagami clan is fine and all is well on that front, she's not offhand sure where the Midchildan crew got off to, or Lera's girlfriend...she doesn't see Steven yet, or that cat girl (spacing important) Mikoto, or that Chibi-Usa girl she's met outside of considering how many pages she'd be worth something like twice--<br />
<br />
But the weeping of joy and high laughters of victory mean that Vita feels alright just settling back against the post she's found and listening. The calls of delight at friends thought lost catch her ear, and she slips her phone up, flipping through apps. Wondering....<br />
<br />
.....but no, she sees, the day and date of that immutable final loss marked and accounted. Well. Worth checking, she thinks, and tries to ignore her heart twisting as she stuffs the phone back in its solid black bag, little cartoon skull on the zipper. Fire-engine red pigtails bob ass he sweeps around and sees Mami arriving. Now there's some mixed emotions. She decides to think about muffins, instead of bullets in the night.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.<br />
<SoundTracker> Joe Satriani - If I Could Fly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RJmiMq1pOA<br />
<br />
The bridge loomed fast. It cut the sky open with glorious color as evening rolled into nightfall. Pattering of paws signaled Steven's arrival onto the scene. "Heeeeey!" he called, still a ways away, flailing his arms happily.<br />
<br />
Lion skids to a halt and the boy disembarks to meet his friends. "Everyone's okay!" he exclaims, full of overflowing joy. No one is hurt, people are all okay! Including Mami, who is ''standing right there now''.<br />
<br />
Even reunions are being had! "Whoop!" the boy lets out as he suddenly finds himself in a cool guy hug! "H-Hey Takeo! Endo!" he says, turning to face them fully. "I would love to hang out with you guys! It sounds like it'll be a blast."<br />
<br />
There are so many people he wants to talk to here!<br />
<br />
Yet it feels like the one person he wants to say something to isn't here for some reason. But who is it? Maybe he jsut wants to see all his magical fighting friends in one spot. Yeah, that is probably it.<br />
<br />
Funny, too, because it makes him think of a song for some reason. A shame he has no instruments!<br />
<br />
Kasagami and Setsuna too, made it out alive! "Hey you two! You did great out there, Kasagami," he tells the older magical role model. He isn't sure what Setsuna might have done, but it is good to see her regardless!<br />
<br />
Homura and Kyubeay were present too. The later actually doesn't seem to know what is going on-- a strange first. "Guys, we should... celebrate or something! Like, I dunno, something!"<br />
<br />
He wants to hang out with everyone for all the hard work they have done! Nori catches his eye next. She worked hard and has surely felt pain and sadness this day. "Hiii..." he coos nicely toward her. "...Doing okay? How's mister otter?"<br />
<br />
Her home was thrown like a casual javelin. What surprise she must have felt to see it whole now.<br />
<br />
His sweeping eyes land on Mami next, but he will give her a moment. Surely she is going to bombarded by friends. And they have all night to talk.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2018-06-06_-_Clean_Up:_A_Chance_To_Clear_The_Air2018-06-06 - Clean Up: A Chance To Clear The Air2019-05-10T01:03:51Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Clean Up: A Chance To..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Clean Up: A Chance To Clear The Air'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''With Shizuru's graduation, one of Eri's biggest shields against bullying is gone. Things just keep getting worse, and estranged friends can only help with so much.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Eri Shimanouchi]], [[Mai Tokiha]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Ohtori Academy - Washrooms<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2018-06-06 - April 23rd, 2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The bell from high towers of white marks the end of the school day. And Eri Shimanouchi is up and out the classroom door already - it spares her the whispers of spurned classmates. Even walking ahead of most of the student body - it gave her this feeling of disconnection... and pursuit.<br />
<br />
Like that moment when everything in a labyrinth suddenly is aware you're exist. When you abandon all pretense and transform - and a deadly convergence happens where one is the crossroads of the mob.<br />
<br />
But it was fine today - because she's ahead of everyone.<br />
<br />
Yanking open the string of her shoe locker, she grabs her brown loafers, puts them on the floor and toes a foot-<br />
<br />
There's a grimace of startlement as she retracts her foot like it bit her. It dangles in the air. A little red smudge at the bottom of her sock and a few clinging wet noodles that began to peel off as gravity caused them to splatter to the floor. Staring down at it even as the tittering begins. "Maybe noodles are someone's way of confessing to you Shimanouchi." A group of girls walk behind her. "After all - everyone knows soggy and wet is more your taste than straight."<br />
<br />
Not even looking in their direction - she picks up each shoe delicately by the toes.<br />
<br />
Then cocking her arm back makes a twist of her wrist and slings the noodles and sauce at their backs without letting go - splattering the backs of mustard uniform and hair with curry sauce and noodles - their backs becoming a canvas for some recreation of Jackson Pollack. The shrieks of indignation as pristine uniforms are besmirched are predictable.<br />
<br />
But she's already walking in the other direction, towards the restroom, shoes dangling in her hands. The chorus of 'Freak!' and 'She can't protect you anymore!' goes unanswered as she shoves open the bathroom door roughly.<br />
<br />
-=-=-<br />
<br />
BGM Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukx7aJfj-1A<br />
<br />
~Ten minutes later~<br />
<br />
The soles of her shoes are out - while the loafters themselves rest on the mirror ledge in front of the sink. Eri futilely dabs at them with a paper towel, on occasion running them under a faucet again before scrubbing more vigorously.<br />
<br />
This solution is going to subject her to an afternoon of squishy toes but... she can't divert to go back to the dorm long enough for them to properly dry.<br />
<br />
Every so often people go in and out - but she completely ignores them.<br />
<br />
Instead she keeps scrubbing diligently - but despite her best efforts...<br />
<br />
They never seem any cleaner.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It was a near thing, getting to class on time this morning. The night was a long one, no quibbles about it, and getting back to sleep took...longer than Mai's responsibilities might have hoped.<br />
<br />
Absolutely worth it, but there were consequences. There are always consequences for action.<br />
<br />
She's gotten better at keeping her crutch out of sight over the past few days. It helps with the stares, and the whispers, and the mutterings about only wanting attention... But here she is, going to school more or less on time, strangely well-prepared for class for a change. One would almost think that not having part-time jobs would help with academics...<br />
<br />
But it's not perfect. Her mind wanders, as every problem with a solution is a reminder of everything yet unresolved. Between classes, she starts typing out a message - types a dozen drafts, discarding each one for some reason or another...and before she knows it, the day is at an end.<br />
<br />
Nineteen steps to the classroom door. Fifty-seven to the stairs. Too many stairs to warrant counting, even if it isn't the student council's building. And then she's in sight of the shoe lockers...<br />
<br />
Too late to step in. Too late to see more than Eri's retaliation - the instrument of noodle delivery clearly spelling out the circumstances. Too late to chase after her (former?) friend as she runs off.<br />
<br />
It's always too late...right?<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
The bathroom opens and closes, opens and closes, and then...doesn't open for a while. Stays shut for a good long while, until the message becomes clear that most would be better served by choosing another bathroom. Many would steer clear just by virtue of not wanting to be anywhere near a girl visibly on crutches, lest injury be contagious.<br />
<br />
Those who remain steer clear of Mai Tokiha, lest injury be contagious.<br />
<br />
The door opens, closes, and there's a clunk. An indoor shoe, singular, steps on the bathroom floor. Steps closer. Pauses for a moment. Step, step, step - and there's a packet of antiseptic wipes being slid into Eri's field of vision.<br />
<br />
"These might work a little bit better, if you'd like any help."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The door opens again - and she isn't paying attention to anyone who's coming in right now. Her attention solely devoted to the task of wiping.<br />
<br />
Even when Mai steps into her field of vision she doesn't notice. It could just be another girl needing to use the sink. Or maybe someone who's just asking what's wrong. Or it could be just another familiar in the labyrinth that was Ohtori.<br />
<br />
The voice snaps her out of it. At the same time though she doesn't seem startled. She just keeps looking down at what she's doing. And then setting the soles down on the edge of the white porcelain sink, she grips the anti-septic wipe - and goes right back to it.<br />
<br />
Silence hangs between them for a while, as she works with an anti-septic wipe and makes a little progress. But only a little...<br />
<br />
When she does break the silence again - now that. That might be startling. Her voice devoid of anything - whisper thin. "You know it was only a year ago that I imagined this moment going a little differently..."<br />
<br />
What moment? What is she talking about?<br />
<br />
"... you seeing me in my high school uniform for the first time." Perhaps she's making a strong assumption there. In a life of tip-toeing around each other than Mai hasn't seen her already. But all the same she suspects...<br />
<br />
"I'd make a turn and pose - ask you how I look... wonder if you were proud that I buckled down and managed to pass those exams despite... how we live."<br />
<br />
The wiping motion stops for a moment as she lifts it up - and scrutinizes that spot she was wiping. Dissatisfied she runs the sole beneath the faucet again.<br />
<br />
"Well... I don't have to wonder about that anymore..."<br />
<br />
After all. She knows beyond any doubt one thing.<br />
<br />
And that is that Mai Tokiha is by no stretch of the imagination proud of her.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
If Mai were of a mindset to blame herself for every single thing, Eri working on as if Mai hadn't said anything could be seen as damnably familiar. But right now, Mai is almost too tired for that level of self-loathing. Right now...right now, there's that familiar silence, as little bits of progress might as well be nothing.<br />
<br />
Mai has no words to interrupt that thin voice. Nothing to say, everything to hear. Has it really been a year? At least half that, at any rate, as Mai threw herself into job after job after job...<br />
<br />
"Circumstances could...certainly be a lot better." It isn't quite mirth in her tone - just that little acknowledgement that what she's just said is an understatement of criminal proportions. Silence echoes for a long moment after that, until finally Mai continues. "We haven't...it's been a while. You kind of deserved a chance to make a stunning entrance, but...I guess today wasn't it. And you're right, you don't have to wonder."<br />
<br />
Silence. Stillness.<br />
<br />
And then Mai reaches over, takes the sole Eri isn't working on along with a wipe, and starts scrubbing at it. "I am proud. Proud that you managed to get through things exams, to make it to school, to still be here...even in spite of everything else you've been doing."<br />
<br />
Mai's gaze, like Eri's, is solidly locked on the sink; she turns the sole one way and another before digging in with a wipe-clad nail as if to scrape out the tomatoes with sheer grit. "Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty I'm disappointed or even horrified by...but I'm glad you're still going."<br />
<br />
A pause. A deep breath, let out in a long sigh. "...I'm sorry. For your loss, to start."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<br />
In a better world Mai telling her that circumstances could certainly be a lot better might have brought about a smile. Here in this one, it only causes the corners of her lips to tug. Like the muscles were just too fatigued to even try.<br />
<br />
The scrubbing motion does slow though. She's not satisfied with the state of her soles, but they're getting to a state that's at least better than nothing. Mai takes the other and the two girls work at it. But then - she says something that...<br />
<br />
Well she stops working at it.<br />
<br />
She doesn't quite look at Mai. Instead her gaze is fixed on the sole, the only vision of Mai the bottom of the mirror. That indirect view out of her periphery.<br />
<br />
Through her dirty spectacles... it's the first time she's actually /seen/ Mai Tokiha in some time. She doesn't answer though until after Mai Tokiha mentions her loss... and what she focuses in on is strange<br />
<br />
"... I won't claim that I'm not surprised to hear you say that - that you're proud of me. Because I am... but at this point... it's meaningless to be proud at me for that."<br />
<br />
Isn't she going to say something about Mami Tomoe? Changing her tack, she grasps a paper towel, and instead begins to dab it dry. The first one sops up so much fluid so quickly that she can't dry it - so does the second. But the third she gets to starts to actually make progress.<br />
<br />
"You know how you grow up hearing about the things you have to look forward to when you're older? But at the same time - you're told they're poison. Cigarettes. Alcohol. Then you hear enough guys complain about their girlfriends and girls about their boyfriends that dating and marriage starts to sound like poison too..."<br />
<br />
Tossing the third, she moves on to the fourth. "... a career too. My mother always used to complain about work - and I've seen enough of your shifts at the Linden Baum..."<br />
<br />
There's this light shake of her head that shifts her bangs, "... what about kids? I'm not even sure if I can have them - and even if I could... nine months is a long time not to hunt. And let's say I could... well taking care of them after while living like I do? Sounds like another kind of poison to me..."<br />
<br />
Turning the sole around, she starts wiping down the rubber part of it some. "...eventually everything I have look forward to after high school? Sounds like just adding more poison to my life. So what am I really here for now - other than to keep myself from being disowned and having to live on the streets like my senpai?"<br />
<br />
Even now she can't look her way. "I'm happy to hear you say it... sure... but I shouldn't let you be proud of something so meaningless. After all - I'm not clinging to hope for a future like you'd want for me... I'm just delaying the inevitable."<br />
<br />
And then after a pregnant pause in which she's still rubbing away at the soles of her damp shoes, "...And it's kind of you to offer your condolences. But I'm not sorry for my loss. I think it would be inappropriate for me to pretend like I'm mourning some great loss after what I did. After all. I cut her off so readily."<br />
<br />
There's something so empty in the way she says it - but so matter of fact too. "Tomoe-san told me months ago this was going to end in one of two ways. Either she was going to kill me - or I was going to kill her. And that there was no alternative because there was no chance of either of us backing down. I chose to survive. I chose to make certain those in my care survived. It's as simple as that."<br />
<br />
To regret that she took that life would be the same to her as saying that she wishes she had died - that everyone she was fighting alongside had died.<br />
<br />
But far worse than that is... to regret survival... would be to make Mami Tomoe's death - the taking of her wish from her - it would become a meaningless act of violence.<br />
<br />
And that she will not allow.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's a lot of red to be rid of here, isn't there? These soles are probably forever tarnished, however hard the two of them might try to make them clean. While Eri's work comes to a halt, Mai keeps digging in, striving...even if it's pointless, even if she can't really make any progress.<br />
<br />
She's working - but her gaze flicks up to the mirror when Eri calls the pride meaningless.<br />
<br />
There's a frown crossing her face at the comment about poisons. Parts of it are true enough, parts bring a rather stern expression to Mai's face - but she doesn't interrupt. She just works, bit by bit, as Eri rants - though she looks to one side at the mention of Linden Baum.<br />
<br />
That 'poison' burns deep.<br />
<br />
Mai's work on the sole slows as Eri shifts to the subject of kids, of futures, of what there is to look forward to, and eventually she just shifts her stance to lean a little more heavily on the counter.<br />
<br />
It's heavy. It's dismal. There was that vision, once, of a future holding everything Eri is wary of, and Mai finds her hands rubbing at each other, making sure her fingers are unadorned. Maybe there's nothing for Eri to look forward to.<br />
<br />
But in the end, Mai turns to look at Eri properly. No reflection here, she returns to a direct gaze, as Eri speaks of a choise without regrets.<br />
<br />
"Mami Tomoe really did that. I wish...I don't know. That I could be surprised she was still willing to go so far?" A sharp, mirthless laugh. "...that would be a lie. I told her I didn't have any illusions left after we fought. Maybe I just wish things hadn't come to this. But...they did."<br />
<br />
Mai is quiet for a moment, but her gaze is unyielding. A long stare, as if trying to read...something in Eri's expression, in that matter-of-fact emptiness. "Maybe it was doomed to be you or her. Maybe this was how it had to be, and I don't blame you for choosing your survival at that tipping point. I just know you cared about her once, and I'm sorry you lost whatever it is you saw in her."<br />
<br />
That gaze finally breaks, Mai looking up to the ceiling with a laugh. "Hell, I kind of miss her, and you know how I felt about her. Take that however you will."<br />
<br />
She's abandoned work on the sole for the moment, turning her back to the mirror as she gazes up at the ceiling. "...so you're alive in the end. That means you still have a choice, a chance to find something to look forward to. Until then...maybe it's just going through the motions. Maybe it's paying homage to a dream you already threw away. Or maybe there's a purpose left. I don't know...but giving up means you'll never find out."<br />
<br />
There's a long pause. A wistful look becomes a glower becomes shame, and Mai looks away from Eri entirely, turning back to the soiled sole. "...sorry. Again. For imposing my wishes on you, this time...I've just spent far too long making sure someone else has the chance to find out what he could do one day."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<br />
Had Eri been looking at that moment - she might have sworn she'd have been viewing Shizuru's hand. Though with far more motivation to claw off the adornment. She is unfortunately not. Her own memories of that experience are...<br />
<br />
Well that is what nightmares are for.<br />
<br />
But as Mai turns to look at her properly - Eri stops the drying motion again, and looks at Mai now out of the corner of her eye. There's just a light nod - even though the question is rhetorical. What... did she see in her?"<br />
<br />
There were times when she was wretched and hypocritical - and flawed. Self-righteous and pathetic. They were flaws to an ideal of once upon a time. Flaws that made her real. Flaws that made her human.<br />
<br />
Those things that might allow her to understand her.<br />
<br />
What she lost that day was precious beyond reckoning. The feeling that there was someone that might understand her.<br />
<br />
But - does it matter if there's someone that understands her if...<br />
<br />
"What does it matter Mai? What does it matter how I felt - or what I saw... if she didn't choose me - but instead chose to destroy everything that I am?"<br />
<br />
... they don't choose her.<br />
<br />
"Everything that used to matter just feels so... meaningless." Taking another paper towel, she presses it down to the sole hard with her hand against the sink, as if to squeeze the fluid out of it, to wring it out. It's not a delicate motion. "That's so you... missing her. But you always did enjoy having someone who could work you up around. Someone to challenge you. Even if you didn't like the way she did things - you were glad someone like her existed - ne?"<br />
<br />
Grinding the side of her hand against the towel and running it gradually along the length...<br />
<br />
"That's what senpai says - that we should find something for the two of us to look forward to... even if we don't know what it is - to just... hope there's something we can find worthwhile."<br />
<br />
Closing her eyes for a moment as Mai finally says that, she opens them and turns her way fully. "Look. Maybe I'm a little annoyed that you are - but it's not too much different from what I /would/ want... if I thought it were possible. In the end you just want what's best for me right? So as irritated as I am - I'm more happy that... you're still there rather than - wishing I was dead or something. Or if not that than just... wanting me to go away and treating me like I'm someone you were embarrassed you used to know. I guess that's how I thought this was going to go given the kind of influence I've been on Mikoto's life."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"It..." Mai pinches the bridge of her nose, at the memory of Mami Tomoe, but there's a shaking in her shoulders that seems to be the hint of laughter. "...that's kind of it, yeah. She was a reminder, a...what I could have been. Maybe what I wanted to be, or couldn't be...someone who lived her life a way I refuse to. Someone who drove me to do better just to spite her. So I was kind of glad she existed. We were just similar enough to hate each other."<br />
<br />
The laughter fades. Mai's shoulders slump in resignation, and she looks down at the floor. "Maybe that's why it matters. Because she's...she was the kind of girl who did what she thought was 'right' instead of what might have made her happy."<br />
<br />
There's condemnation in Mai's tone, naturally. That and a healthy dose of resignation.<br />
<br />
Back to working on the sole, trying to push her guilt into destroying those tomato stains, she scrubs furiously for a moment in place of an immediate answer. Another deep breath, another drawn-out sigh, and she reaches for the paper towels herself.<br />
<br />
"You don't know what it is, you don't even think it's possible...but you're trying, anyway. Trying to make sure it's not for nothing. I hate what the life of a Puella Magi has done to my friend, but...whatever chance there is to find happiness in spite of the world, I'd rather you went for." She works the sole with deep strokes of the paper towel, trying to squeeze the water out - maybe a bit rougher than the shoe deserves, but she has to catch up somehow.<br />
<br />
There's a smile returning to her face, however faint, however tenuous. "As for Mikoto...I'll admit, I was absolutely furious at you for a while there. Seeing her in hospital was..." Silence, as Mai just lets that sentence die the death it deserves. "...but through no fault of yours, she then wound up dragged into three more life-threatening situations within a week. So...you only get some of the blame. She was always going to get into fights regardless, and any attempt to the contrary is just me fighting a battle I can't win, ne?"<br />
<br />
That little exasperated smile might have been a while coming, but it's back. "She's doing better, by the way. I've been trying to help her recover."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<br />
As Eri listens - it's not too different from what she used to think. Looking up to her. Measuring herself up to her - and finding herself lacking. And then the first time she was rejected - trying to prove her wrong. A little out of spite - but for other reasons too.<br />
<br />
There's the lightest kind of sigh. "Maybe the two of you would have done better then the two of us managed. We didn't even make it to our first date." Is she teasing - while being sad and nostalgically wistful? Perhaps.<br />
<br />
"It's what we all want isn't it? There to be something better for the people we love - for them to be happy." It's asked a sort of rhetorical question. Because of course the answer is yes.<br />
<br />
But that leads into Mikoto... "Furious huh? Well you had every right to be I guess ... I wish I hadn't left her there. I wish... it doesn't matter. She refused me healing her so I had no choice. I'm glad she's doing better now after all that... but... yeah... that's... the way she is..."<br />
<br />
Something about her posture changes, like something tenses as she talks about her nature. "I can't get her to stop. When I offered her a choice... it's because I wanted her to have a choice. It wasn't... until after..."<br />
<br />
Inhaling through her nostrils, she doesn't finish that thought. "If I tell her to stop it's as good as telling her she's worthless. She can't understand it in any other way. I want her to have a better life than this Mai. A better life than what's left for me."<br />
<br />
Then suddenly she starts wringing the sole out with something akin to fury, her teeth actually grinding within her mouth. "As things stand... that's impossible."<br />
<br />
She could tell her more. She could tell her why. She could tell her what she /suspects/ and what she /knows/.<br />
<br />
But she can't. For the same reasons she couldn't tell Mikoto why Mai is the way she is. She can't tell Mai why Mikoto is how she is.<br />
<br />
Besides breaking her confidence - wouldn't it make things worse to confront these things now?<br />
<br />
"But it's okay... I'll find a way. It'll only stay impossible if the two of us give up on her."<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<SoundTracker> Mood Music: Again (AmaLee cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-WRihrquec<br />
<br />
There are regrets, of course. Chances come and gone. But what choice is there now, but to just keep moving on?<br />
<br />
"Eri Shimanouchi. I'll just say this, to be as blunt and cynical as I can get away with. In spite of everything, you're fully up to date on dates I've been on." Teasing is answered with teasing, that echo of what once was. Once that wheezing laugh is done with, anyway.<br />
<br />
Mikoto is what's important to Mai, today, and the lack of sleep backs that up. "We really are a walking disaster. All I want to do is make sure the people I care about are safe...Mikoto just wants to keep me safe right back. But..." There's more that isn't said. More that can't be said.<br />
<br />
More that won't be said.<br />
<br />
It's another stone on the monument of Wrongness that seems to lurk near Mikoto, but as ever Mai's used to trying to ignore it. Instead, she does a bit of wringing herself, holding the sole up to the light. Not truly clean - some of those stains might be indelible - but it's better. Just a little bit better.<br />
<br />
"Finding a better life for her?...I'll drink to that. I don't know what it is for her, or you, or...but there's something. There's sure to be." A deep breath, straightening up-<br />
<br />
And with an awkward shuffle to the side, leans close enough to Eri to put an arm around her. Half a hug after half a year, Mai murmurs quietly. "...good luck. I'd rather you found a way that involved somewhat less murder, but...stay safe, okay? Not just for Mikoto's sake, but for yours."<br />
<br />
Maybe the encouragement will just be painful.<br />
<br />
Maybe Mai doesn't care.<br />
<br />
If this winds up being the last chance to say it...then she'll say it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.<br />
<br />
<br />
There's this annoyed arch of her brow at the teasing that involves a pun too. "/Really/?" She's not asking if she's /really/ up to date, she's asking /Really Mai/?<br />
<br />
But...?<br />
<br />
Eri doesn't say anything during this portion. It gets complicated and she knows it. It's never just protecting the people she loves. There's always something else thrown into the mix.<br />
<br />
Mai would love to protect her - but can she really justify it if Eri is murdering people to survive?<br />
<br />
Eri would love for Mai to come protect her - but what if it crushed her emotionally little by little to do so? Some bitterness still stabs deep at Mai's inaction but... at least she's safe.<br />
<br />
And that's all she ever wanted.<br />
<br />
"... Maybe I'll join you if you do." Ever since her first experience with drinking - she's mostly steered clear but...<br />
<br />
But then Mai hugs her from the side - and it's a little unexpected. Right now especially. But her hand drops what she's doing. And after this moment of tenseness, she just relaxes into that hug and let's herself have this moment of affection after so long of not having any from the girl she considers to be as close to a big sister as she has.<br />
<br />
"If it's any consolation..."<br />
<br />
It's a whisper thin murmur.<br />
<br />
"...I'd want the same thing."<br />
<br />
A moment later she adds, "But the world is cruel Mai-chan. And..."<br />
<br />
At this point there's just this light note of vulnerability that seems almost heart-breakingly sad.<br />
<br />
"...I don't know what else to do. If I stop - I die. And then I'm no good to anyone."<br />
<br />
Unlacing herself from the hug, she grasps at her shoes, and delicately inserts the soles. Placing her feet in them experimentally - there's the lightest liquid squish all the same. It'll have to just be good enough. "Thanks and... Mai..." Taking a few steps towards the door, she places her hand against it.<br />
<br />
...try to be less hard on yourself every now and then... not everything is your fault... not even most things are..."<br />
<br />
Is she still teasing even now? Perhaps a little.<br />
<br />
"... everything just gets all twisted around in this crazy mixed up world we live in."<br />
<br />
A world where a good people like Mai Tokiha and Mikoto Minagi become twisted up as children.<br />
<br />
Mikoto Minagi training to be a killer from when she should have been in pre-school. Mai Tokiha taking on the guilt of a dead mother and a sickly brother from a young age.<br />
<br />
She can't apply the same thing to herself though - see herself in the same way. She had every advantage to becoming a good kid.<br />
<br />
And instead she chose to be a killer.<br />
<br />
She slips through the door without any further fanfare - and is gone.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-05-07_-_From_Somewhere,_A_Transmission2019-05-07 - From Somewhere, A Transmission2019-05-08T03:26:25Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Reaction to the first third was 'first off, how dare you', which is always a good sign.</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: From Somewhere, A Transmission'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''The storm is here, and one girl is busy sending messages. Even those that might never be read.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
A darkened room.<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-05-07 - June 4th, 2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Cutscenes]]<br />
<br />
So much is no longer normal. There's a storm raging that seems to threaten the existence of Tokyo itself, forcing a general evacuation. There's turmoil and secrets and betrayals and deaths in the magical girl community. There's a pointed absence where once there was a constant companion.<br />
<br />
This much is normal: there's a teenager, on her phone, texting.<br />
<br />
'''To: Chie-chan, Aoi-chan'''<br />
look, its complicated<br />
tbh, both of you should just focus on getting to safety<br />
just think of it like that whole military occupation mess<br />
and i'll just mysteriously vanish for a few days again<br />
just like old times<br />
thanks for worrying, though<br />
it really does mean a lot.<br />
<br />
Without waiting for a reply, she closes that conversation, flips to another. She takes a deep breath, just listening to the rain raging outside. Her fingers are slower to pick out words, hesitation creeping in every so often as she worries what reply she might get.<br />
<br />
'''To: Usapyon'''<br />
going to be honest, still worried about her.<br />
your cat's awesome, my jerkface brat is a jerkface, but that fox-thing...<br />
no one's trusting it, but it's not done manipulating.<br />
you're better at supportive words than me - people listen to you.<br />
<s>so it's selfish of me, but i want to coun</s><br />
<br />
She stops, stares at the words, then deletes the line and starts again.<br />
<br />
just let me know if it pops up again, wasn't kidding about burning it to ashes on sight<br />
<br />
There's no point waiting for an immediate reply. The hour is awkwardly late, and many people have better things to do than to check their phones. She checks another conversation for any kind of notification, knowing that the hope is in vain, and settles for rereading her last outbound message - the 'unread' flag shining bluntly in dim light.<br />
<br />
'''To: Eri-chan'''<br />
It's not fair.<br />
You deserved better. You deserve capital letters, at least.<br />
Maybe I'm hoping going to that effort will offend you into replying somehow.<br />
Maybe I'm hoping Madoka-chan lied, or was lied to.<br />
It's stupid of me. I was stupid about a lot of things.<br />
tried to claim the moral high ground like i was tomoe or something<br />
because at the end of the day maybe i learned too much from her<br />
or maybe i'm just trying to shift the blame again<br />
trying to be less hard on myself, and failing<br />
but you deserved better than what this crazy mixed up world gave you.<br />
I miss my friend.<br />
I miss my little sister.<br />
<br />
Maybe that's all there is to do. Try to blink away the tears, tears left over from when she wrote half these messages, and just reflect on things she could have said. Choices she could have made, or messages to the dead. Wiping her eyes with her sleeve, she swipes to another conversation - one with no replies, one that probably never would have had replies even if her messages could be read.<br />
<br />
'''To: Tomoe.'''<br />
would you be surprised if i said i didn't hate you?<br />
maybe it's easier, knowing you're gone<br />
maybe i'm just able to step back and reflect<br />
maybe it's that eri can't be hurt any more, so it doesn't matter<br />
but honestly<br />
i kind of wish you were still around<br />
we didn't get along, but we got not-along in a way that let us reflect, maybe<br />
because we both knew what guilt feels like<br />
and what channelling it unhealthily feels like<br />
but i can't compare myself to you any more, and you'll never read this<br />
and me calling you arrogant is completely meaningless now<br />
kind of a shame, given what's coming your arrogant leadership might have actually helped<br />
but i guess we'll have to do our best<br />
so thanks for setting that example, you tea-drinking snob<br />
<br />
There's a laugh, paired with a sniffle, and she sets down the phone to just indulge. Lying back on the mattress, looking up at the ceiling, just trying to imagine what response that message could have brought forth - and then, abruptly, the phone buzzes. She scrambles into a half-roll, hoping and not hoping and wondering - and then flinching at the name associated with the conversation. Deep breaths might not be enough, and she types in a little anger.<br />
<br />
'''To: Takumi'''<br />
i recognize your concern, but save it<br />
i told you what i've been dealing with, but not everything that's going on<br />
your sister kept secrets from you, big shock<br />
anyway, you're evacuating, i'm not<br />
the storm comes with a problem that my friends were supposed to handle<br />
but they died<br />
someone has to do something<br />
and i'm someone.<br />
focus on yourself, and stop worrying about me.<br />
<br />
She hits send with force, slamming down the phone and rolling away from it. There's a minute, maybe two, before she goes to check it. Perhaps that was a little too blunt - but the messages are already flagged as read, and there's no reply. What's done is done.<br />
<br />
What's to do...another couple of messages, shorter, but perhaps important.<br />
<br />
'''To: Kuga'''<br />
hoping you didn't throw away this phone after giving me the number<br />
i mean that only happened like six times<br />
and counting<br />
anyway, if you're not evacuating, storm's part of a witch thing, be careful<br />
and if you are evacuating<br />
takumi should be too, so please keep an eye on him.<br />
<br />
'''To: Bacon Fiend'''<br />
sorry i didn't make it to the planning meeting<br />
i'm not with the evacuees, though<br />
let me know when and where things go down<br />
and you'll get your dragon<br />
...so listen<br />
i'll try to stay alive if you do, deal?<br />
<br />
The rain seems even louder outside, and the arm holding the phone falls limply to one side. The storm rages on, and she's alone. No evacuation, no real plan, just staying put where she needs to be. Where she promised to be. Absent-mindedly, she thumbs to another conversation, where her last message shines.<br />
<br />
'''To: Mikoto'''<br />
i'm sorry<br />
i could say it a hundred times<br />
(i did, i deleted them because it would take too much space)<br />
everything is falling apart, and i lashed out<br />
maybe i always was a terrible person<br />
maybe i was mad at you saying you loved me because i don't deserve it<br />
but i miss you<br />
if you can't forgive me, then say so<br />
with words or sword, whatever<br />
if you want to come home, though, i'll be here<br />
i don't care about the evacuation, i'll only leave to fight the witch eri can't any more<br />
until then i'll wait in our room<br />
our home<br />
....please come back.<br />
<br />
There's a little flag by her messages, indicating that they haven't been read. Not the most recent, not those sent days ago, none of them. The messages are just like those she wrote to the dead - almost bereft of meaning.<br />
<br />
And yet, maybe she can hope.<br />
<br />
As she curls up on her bed in the Ohtori dormitories, listening to the raging storm that rattles windows and tears at the earth, Mai hopes. That's all she can do.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-05-03_-_Rain_On_His_Parade2019-05-03 - Rain On His Parade2019-05-05T22:20:46Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Rain On His Parade'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''On a rainy day, Mai neglected to bring a lunch. Takeo has one for her, which is a nice gesture for someone wracked with guilt.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]], [[Takeo Akamizu]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Ohtori Academy - Gardens<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-05-03 - June 3rd, 2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Ohtori's gardens are quiet, this time of day.<br />
<br />
They shouldn't be, on principle. Hard work from landscapers and florists both have restored the sprawling greenery to its former glory, and the month of June is home to countless blooms in riotous colours. If not for the weather, countless youths would surely be romancing each other amid the blossoms.<br />
<br />
If not for the weather. It's been raining for days, and there's no sign of it stopping any time soon.<br />
<br />
The classrooms are warmer. Full of friendships, full of life, full of cheer to ward off the damp chill of this endless June rainstorm. Voices there, suggesting games or after-school activities or just a chance to pretend everything's normal-<br />
<br />
Mai begged off, claiming she needed to work up an appetite for her lunch.<br />
<br />
She didn't have a bento with her when she left the room.<br />
<br />
Mai's footsteps down the garden path are slow, meandering, ignorant of whatever puddles might be present. It's a lazy gaze that passes over the arrangements, the tableau - she isn't an expert, she isn't an artist, but it's beautiful to behold. The gardeners did amazing work.<br />
<br />
Eri did amazing work.<br />
<br />
She didn't bring an umbrella, didn't even bring a coat - Mai has only her summer uniform against the elements, and the rain that pours down is rapidly soaking through. Nonetheless, her pace remains slow, finally drifting to a halt by a recently refurbished gazebo. It's not exactly cover against the storm, it's just close to where she met...<br />
<br />
Where she first met...<br />
<br />
If nothing else, the gazebo is something for her to lean a shoulder on, to try to find her strength or will or anything - anger burnt bright twice this week, and now she just feels so empty.<br />
<br />
Empty, and alone.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Somebody knew what was happening, because for whatever reason, and somehow, this somebody was observant. He walks slowly through the gardens, wearing his student council jacket, and an umbrella. In one hand he has a bag held close to his body. He enters the gazebo behind Mai and quietly stands there behind her, silent as he contemplates her. <br />
<br />
The look isn't creepy, or stalkerish, it's caring and full of compassion. he too looks wounded and hurt and he finds his cheeks also suddenly wet as he realizes where the two of them are. Takeo sighs softly and sets the bag down. He takes off his jacket and drapes it lightly over Mai's shoulders before he sits down beside her, holding the umbrella over the two fo them. <br />
<br />
Takeo is silent for a very long moment before he says softly. "I brought bento and cake. I bought both." He reaches down and picks up a bento box and hands it to Mai with a slight smile. "I know things have been ... hard ... recently." He looks into Mai's eyes and gives her a soft smile. "Just .... You feel alone, but you're not. I'm here Mai. I'll do my best to always be here, no matter what."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's warmth on her shoulders, shelter from the downpour, compassion for a dampened soul. Mai doesn't react when the rain stops falling on her, nor when the jacket is draped over her - it's only when Takeo speaks that she looks up, looks at what's here instead of what used to be.<br />
<br />
"...lunch? You - you didn't have to do that. I'm not-" Her protests are interrupted, abruptly, by a snarl from her stomach. It's absurd, she probably had something to eat...last night? Maybe?<br />
<br />
Mai's face reddens. Whether embarrassment over her body or whatever effect Takeo's words might have had, none can tell.<br />
<br />
"...I'll see how the bento looks before I risk fighting the cake." It flickers there, the faintest ghost of a smile, before Mai sits down next to Takeo. She sets the bento in her lap, unwraps it, but doesn't lift the lid just yet.<br />
<br />
She's looking in her lap, not at the boy next to her. She starts to speak a few times, toying with words of gratitude or compassion, and yet - and yet when she finally finds her words again, her voice is stern.<br />
<br />
"...words are cheap. You can't - you can't promise that lightly. I can't promise that, that 'no matter what', I'll be there. There's always something, another danger, another monster - " She swallows heavily. " - another Alyssa Searrs. How do I know you won't disappear, next time?"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Takeo is silent for a very long moment. He too looks down at his lap, his expression filled with thought. Finally he reaches under his shirt and removes the Knight's Amulet there. He turns it over and over in his hand as he examines it. Finally he offers it to Mai. "You're right. I can't promise that. I can swear to defend the innocent, and swear to defend you, and swear to never leave your side, but the truth is I'm human." He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. <br />
<br />
When he opens his eyes there is a deep sadness there. "I want to keep that promise. To always be there. To make sure you're never alone. But I have so many memories that tell me that simply put I'm..." He pauses. "I'm just human. I can summon lightning, I can sword fight against anybody and win, but I'm just human. I could die. I could fall ill. I could simply misunderstand something and be late, or miss a clue to be there to help you." <br />
<br />
He looks out into the rain. "But I can promise that I will do my best. I can swear to defend you as best I can, and not because I believe you need it, because frankly your Dragon can beat me without trying, but because I want to stand beside you against anything that could threaten ... us." He reddens deeply. "And. Not jsut ... You and me. Any of "us", like Kassagami, or your brother and my sister. I can promise you that I'll simply do my best because I care for you." <br />
<br />
He then opens the bento and snaps the chopsticks carefully. "I can promise that if you'll let me, I'll be there as long as I can." He looks at Mai and gives her a weak version of his roguish grin. "I can also promise to never make a cake again and only buy them, for the benefit of everybody's health."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
When it's offered, Mai stares at the Knight's Amulet for a very long time. Stares at it, through all of Takeo's honest words of devotion, of promising to do his best to protect...her. Like the title of HiME means she's a princess worthy of a knight in shining armor.<br />
<br />
There's a hint of a smile on her face, a hint of a blush - but she pulls the jacket a little closer around her shoulders, and that warmth dims all too quickly.<br />
<br />
"You're...you're a good person, Takeo. Probably the best knight in shining armor I can name. Whether or not it's for...an 'us'...you're someone I can believe in." She lays her hands on the bento box, a faint laugh sounding more like raindrops than sunshine. "I just can't...I'm worried you're putting too much faith in me. My own brother realized he can't trust me any more, so why should anyone else?"<br />
<br />
If she lets him, he'll be there...Mai turns to meet that grin, but doesn't answer in kind. Can't bring herself to answer, searching for words and finding none - and then, finally, she turns away to lift the lid of her bento box.<br />
<br />
"I think not making any other cakes might suit both of us for the better. So what exactly did you pack for a bento - I'm not picky, I'm just wondering if I should expect rice topped with bacon and a side of bacon..." Her smile as she peeks under the lid is weak, but maybe it is returning.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's not too elaborate, as Takeo is not the food master that others are. He definately can not claim to be a master at food organization. He's more of a food destroyer. However despite this it is clear that the purchased items were packed with care. Hot Dogs cut into Octopi, along with chicken Terriyaki with steamed vegetables and rice are in both boxes. A simple fair, but again, lovingly packed as the Chicken is to one side, and the Octopi appear to be marching (Crawling?) toward the chicken. He smiles at Mai and shrugs a shoulder. "No bacon." he says simply, and perhaps shockingly. <br />
<br />
He takes the packaged cake out of the bag and cuts it in half and sets the bigger half toward Mai. It's a simple chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. Then he takes his chop sticks and lifts an octopi from the box. "I'm ... Not a good person Mai." He says as he looks into the rain. "I've made mistakes. Big ones." he eats the hot dog octopus and stares into the rain. "But I want to be better." He says after he swallows. He doesn't elaborate, he doesn't explain. He just sits there beside Mai and goes for another piece of food. "We, as in people, are .... Interesting things. Especially siblings. I should be there for my Sister. I can't. I can name a hundred excuses as to why I can't, but none of them are real. She's my sister, and I love Mika. The truth is, I'm scared. I'm scared I've been a terrible brother. That I somehow caused this, and I'm scared that I can't help her, and she's going to die. I don't see Mika because I'm selfish. Because I'm a coward. I'm a Knight because I have the memories of some French guy, and I have memories of that guy destroying a whole Kingdom because he was an idiot. It terrifies me that I'm going to make those same mistakes." <br />
<br />
He stops talking and eats another Octopi. He stares out in the rain. Swallows and looks into the bento box. "I'm not a good person Mai." he Looks at her and nods once. "No matter what you think of yourself, You are." He smiles weakly at her. "We're human. We make mistakes. Even super ninja soldier Mikoto is at her core, simple a scared little girl who has no idea what she's doing. She's just human. You however are a GOOD human. You care. It's why you're out here, in this place." He gestures with the chopsticks. "You always find the good in people. You always put others first. You took care of your brother for the longest time and then you took care of Mikoto as well. You watched over Eri, and you fed a lost idiot when he forget his lunch. Multiple times. Sometimes on purpose because he missed your cooking." He blushes slightly. "You're more of a Knight than me Mai."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It might not be elaborate, but it's a sight better than anything Mai's made for herself in the last few days. She lifts up the little octopus, a wry smirk on her lips as she looks at Takeo. "No bacon. I guess it really is the end of the world."<br />
<br />
She digs in quickly. Eating in a hurry is an...acquired skill, and she's been skipping enough meals lately that instinct kind of takes over. She's about halfway through the box when Takeo speaks up again, pulling her attention from the food.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, he's talking about mistakes. Mistakes and excuses and fears.<br />
<br />
There's a quiet little clack, not even enough to be heard above quiet words, as Mai's chopsticks fall from her fingers.<br />
<br />
She can't interrupt Takeo's self-flagellation. Parts of it are too real, too personal, echoing in her ears as shared traumas do. All she can do is flinch away at the mention of Mikoto's name, hand trembling as she grips the edge of the bench.<br />
<br />
"I thought...I thought you were going to do your best. That includes being honest, and I don't..." It's a stone bench, there's very little risk of Mai breaking it with her grip alone - but the edge of the bench digs into her fingers.<br />
<br />
"...you should tear down whatever pedestal you've put me on. Every one of your mistakes - I've done the same, or even worse. I'm a terrible sister, I was scared to be honest with Takumi until he found out the truth on his own, and I'm not a good person." She sets the bento beside her, and rests her head in her hands. "I've been taking care of my brother because I had to make up for ruining his life in the first place, I kicked Mikoto out a few days ago, I abandoned Eri for months and didn't even know she'd died - and now you have to be the one bringing me lunch!"<br />
<br />
There's quiet, for a moment, as Mai breathes heavily. The rain just keeps pouring down, and it's all too familiar.<br />
<br />
"...I think this was a mistake, Takeo. Whatever image of me you have...I'm not that girl. I'm not sure I ever was." She stands up, pulling the jacket from her shoulders to lay on the park bench. "...thank you for the lunch."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Takeo stands setting his ow Bento box down. "Mai!" He says quickly. He doesn't reach out for her, he's not dumb, but his hand does jerk toward her before he stops himself. "Just ... Wait. Please." He says as tries quickly to stop her from leaving. "I'm sorry. I wasn't .... I just ... I wanted to ..." He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I'm not good at this. I'm sorry. Listen, I .... " He opens his eyes and looks at Mai and runs a hand through his head. "Listen. The world might end if we don't beat that Wellpur-sneezey name thing, I don't want .... We shouldn't ...." <br />
<br />
There are so many things he wants to say. Well really just two words. He squares his shoulders and looks at Mai. If she turns to face him he looks into her eyes, if she doesn't he just says it to her back. "We're human Mai. Both of us. We make mistakes BECAUSE we're human. But if the world might end, I need to tell you," he takes a deep breath. "I love ... You ... More than bacon. I'd give up bacon. I'd eat vegetables regularly. Whatever happens in the next few days, whatever we face, I will be there. Beside you if you'll let me. I just .... Once. With no monsters ready to destroy us, I just wanted you to know that." He holds out the umbrella. "Please take the umbrella Mai-chan. I have a jacket, and you ... I just don't want you to get a cold."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Despite her words, Mai's departure halts - halts just before she would have left the umbrella's protection. Whatever scrap of self-preservation instinct she has left seems to remind her that it's pouring rain, remind her to think twice.<br />
<br />
She doesn't dare look at Takeo while he's talking. Her shoulders are slumped, and there's no pride in her stance. Still, she listens.<br />
<br />
One hand comes up, slowly, to rest over her heart. Silence, before any answer.<br />
<br />
"...I wish you wouldn't." Words from a dream she once had, echoed in response to that earnest speech, that honest confession. "I'm a terrible date, a terrible friend, a terrible person to live with, and I just seem to drive the people I care about further away. Caring about me like that...you deserve better."<br />
<br />
A heartbeat.<br />
<br />
"...thank you. For telling me all that."<br />
<br />
Mai really doesn't dare turn to look at Takeo right now.<br />
<br />
She straightens up, shoulders square, looking out into the rainstorm. "We've faced darkness on the horizon before. The Garden of Time, the North Pole, Alyssa...it's dire, but there might be light afterwards. If so, then maybe..." Trailing off, she shakes her head.<br />
<br />
"...we'll see, okay? In the meantime, Takeo...you're a better person than you think. Keep yourself dry, I'm already drenched anyway." With that, she runs out into the rain and the fog and the endless downpour - but at least there's a spark to her step now, something to push her forward.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-05-03_-_Rain_On_His_Parade2019-05-03 - Rain On His Parade2019-05-05T22:20:24Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Rain On His Parade'''..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Rain On His Parade'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''On a rainy day, Mai neglected to bring a lunch. Takeo has one for her, which is a nice gesture for someone wracked with guilt.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]], [[Takeo Akamizu]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Ohtori Academy - Gardens<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-05-03 - June 3rd, 2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Ohtori's gardens are quiet, this time of day.<br />
<br />
They shouldn't be, on principle. Hard work from landscapers and florists both have restored the sprawling greenery to its former glory, and the month of June is home to countless blooms in riotous colours. If not for the weather, countless youths would surely be romancing each other amid the blossoms.<br />
<br />
If not for the weather. It's been raining for days, and there's no sign of it stopping any time soon.<br />
<br />
The classrooms are warmer. Full of friendships, full of life, full of cheer to ward off the damp chill of this endless June rainstorm. Voices there, suggesting games or after-school activities or just a chance to pretend everything's normal-<br />
<br />
Mai begged off, claiming she needed to work up an appetite for her lunch.<br />
<br />
She didn't have a bento with her when she left the room.<br />
<br />
Mai's footsteps down the garden path are slow, meandering, ignorant of whatever puddles might be present. It's a lazy gaze that passes over the arrangements, the tableau - she isn't an expert, she isn't an artist, but it's beautiful to behold. The gardeners did amazing work.<br />
<br />
Eri did amazing work.<br />
<br />
She didn't bring an umbrella, didn't even bring a coat - Mai has only her summer uniform against the elements, and the rain that pours down is rapidly soaking through. Nonetheless, her pace remains slow, finally drifting to a halt by a recently refurbished gazebo. It's not exactly cover against the storm, it's just close to where she met...<br />
<br />
Where she first met...<br />
<br />
If nothing else, the gazebo is something for her to lean a shoulder on, to try to find her strength or will or anything - anger burnt bright twice this week, and now she just feels so empty.<br />
<br />
Empty, and alone.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Somebody knew what was happening, because for whatever reason, and somehow, this somebody was observant. He walks slowly through the gardens, wearing his student council jacket, and an umbrella. In one hand he has a bag held close to his body. He enters the gazebo behind Mai and quietly stands there behind her, silent as he contemplates her. <br />
<br />
The look isn't creepy, or stalkerish, it's caring and full of compassion. he too looks wounded and hurt and he finds his cheeks also suddenly wet as he realizes where the two of them are. Takeo sighs softly and sets the bag down. He takes off his jacket and drapes it lightly over Mai's shoulders before he sits down beside her, holding the umbrella over the two fo them. <br />
<br />
Takeo is silent for a very long moment before he says softly. "I brought bento and cake. I bought both." He reaches down and picks up a bento box and hands it to Mai with a slight smile. "I know things have been ... hard ... recently." He looks into Mai's eyes and gives her a soft smile. "Just .... You feel alone, but you're not. I'm here Mai. I'll do my best to always be here, no matter what."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's warmth on her shoulders, shelter from the downpour, compassion for a dampened soul. Mai doesn't react when the rain stops falling on her, nor when the jacket is draped over her - it's only when Takeo speaks that she looks up, looks at what's here instead of what used to be.<br />
<br />
"...lunch? You - you didn't have to do that. I'm not-" Her protests are interrupted, abruptly, by a snarl from her stomach. It's absurd, she probably had something to eat...last night? Maybe?<br />
<br />
Mai's face reddens. Whether embarrassment over her body or whatever effect Takeo's words might have had, none can tell.<br />
<br />
"...I'll see how the bento looks before I risk fighting the cake." It flickers there, the faintest ghost of a smile, before Mai sits down next to Takeo. She sets the bento in her lap, unwraps it, but doesn't lift the lid just yet.<br />
<br />
She's looking in her lap, not at the boy next to her. She starts to speak a few times, toying with words of gratitude or compassion, and yet - and yet when she finally finds her words again, her voice is stern.<br />
<br />
"...words are cheap. You can't - you can't promise that lightly. I can't promise that, that 'no matter what', I'll be there. There's always something, another danger, another monster - " She swallows heavily. " - another Alyssa Searrs. How do I know you won't disappear, next time?"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Takeo is silent for a very long moment. He too looks down at his lap, his expression filled with thought. Finally he reaches under his shirt and removes the Knight's Amulet there. He turns it over and over in his hand as he examines it. Finally he offers it to Mai. "You're right. I can't promise that. I can swear to defend the innocent, and swear to defend you, and swear to never leave your side, but the truth is I'm human." He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. <br />
<br />
When he opens his eyes there is a deep sadness there. "I want to keep that promise. To always be there. To make sure you're never alone. But I have so many memories that tell me that simply put I'm..." He pauses. "I'm just human. I can summon lightning, I can sword fight against anybody and win, but I'm just human. I could die. I could fall ill. I could simply misunderstand something and be late, or miss a clue to be there to help you." <br />
<br />
He looks out into the rain. "But I can promise that I will do my best. I can swear to defend you as best I can, and not because I believe you need it, because frankly your Dragon can beat me without trying, but because I want to stand beside you against anything that could threaten ... us." He reddens deeply. "And. Not jsut ... You and me. Any of "us", like Kassagami, or your brother and my sister. I can promise you that I'll simply do my best because I care for you." <br />
<br />
He then opens the bento and snaps the chopsticks carefully. "I can promise that if you'll let me, I'll be there as long as I can." He looks at Mai and gives her a weak version of his roguish grin. "I can also promise to never make a cake again and only buy them, for the benefit of everybody's health."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
When it's offered, Mai stares at the Knight's Amulet for a very long time. Stares at it, through all of Takeo's honest words of devotion, of promising to do his best to protect...her. Like the title of HiME means she's a princess worthy of a knight in shining armor.<br />
<br />
There's a hint of a smile on her face, a hint of a blush - but she pulls the jacket a little closer around her shoulders, and that warmth dims all too quickly.<br />
<br />
"You're...you're a good person, Takeo. Probably the best knight in shining armor I can name. Whether or not it's for...an 'us'...you're someone I can believe in." She lays her hands on the bento box, a faint laugh sounding more like raindrops than sunshine. "I just can't...I'm worried you're putting too much faith in me. My own brother realized he can't trust me any more, so why should anyone else?"<br />
<br />
If she lets him, he'll be there...Mai turns to meet that grin, but doesn't answer in kind. Can't bring herself to answer, searching for words and finding none - and then, finally, she turns away to lift the lid of her bento box.<br />
<br />
"I think not making any other cakes might suit both of us for the better. So what exactly did you pack for a bento - I'm not picky, I'm just wondering if I should expect rice topped with bacon and a side of bacon..." Her smile as she peeks under the lid is weak, but maybe it is returning.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's not too elaborate, as Takeo is not the food master that others are. He definately can not claim to be a master at food organization. He's more of a food destroyer. However despite this it is clear that the purchased items were packed with care. Hot Dogs cut into Octopi, along with chicken Terriyaki with steamed vegetables and rice are in both boxes. A simple fair, but again, lovingly packed as the Chicken is to one side, and the Octopi appear to be marching (Crawling?) toward the chicken. He smiles at Mai and shrugs a shoulder. "No bacon." he says simply, and perhaps shockingly. <br />
<br />
He takes the packaged cake out of the bag and cuts it in half and sets the bigger half toward Mai. It's a simple chocolate cake with vanilla frosting. Then he takes his chop sticks and lifts an octopi from the box. "I'm ... Not a good person Mai." He says as he looks into the rain. "I've made mistakes. Big ones." he eats the hot dog octopus and stares into the rain. "But I want to be better." He says after he swallows. He doesn't elaborate, he doesn't explain. He just sits there beside Mai and goes for another piece of food. "We, as in people, are .... Interesting things. Especially siblings. I should be there for my Sister. I can't. I can name a hundred excuses as to why I can't, but none of them are real. She's my sister, and I love Mika. The truth is, I'm scared. I'm scared I've been a terrible brother. That I somehow caused this, and I'm scared that I can't help her, and she's going to die. I don't see Mika because I'm selfish. Because I'm a coward. I'm a Knight because I have the memories of some French guy, and I have memories of that guy destroying a whole Kingdom because he was an idiot. It terrifies me that I'm going to make those same mistakes." <br />
<br />
He stops talking and eats another Octopi. He stares out in the rain. Swallows and looks into the bento box. "I'm not a good person Mai." he Looks at her and nods once. "No matter what you think of yourself, You are." He smiles weakly at her. "We're human. We make mistakes. Even super ninja soldier Mikoto is at her core, simple a scared little girl who has no idea what she's doing. She's just human. You however are a GOOD human. You care. It's why you're out here, in this place." He gestures with the chopsticks. "You always find the good in people. You always put others first. You took care of your brother for the longest time and then you took care of Mikoto as well. You watched over Eri, and you fed a lost idiot when he forget his lunch. Multiple times. Sometimes on purpose because he missed your cooking." He blushes slightly. "You're more of a Knight than me Mai."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It might not be elaborate, but it's a sight better than anything Mai's made for herself in the last few days. She lifts up the little octopus, a wry smirk on her lips as she looks at Takeo. "No bacon. I guess it really is the end of the world."<br />
<br />
She digs in quickly. Eating in a hurry is an...acquired skill, and she's been skipping enough meals lately that instinct kind of takes over. She's about halfway through the box when Takeo speaks up again, pulling her attention from the food.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, he's talking about mistakes. Mistakes and excuses and fears.<br />
<br />
There's a quiet little clack, not even enough to be heard above quiet words, as Mai's chopsticks fall from her fingers.<br />
<br />
She can't interrupt Takeo's self-flagellation. Parts of it are too real, too personal, echoing in her ears as shared traumas do. All she can do is flinch away at the mention of Mikoto's name, hand trembling as she grips the edge of the bench.<br />
<br />
"I thought...I thought you were going to do your best. That includes being honest, and I don't..." It's a stone bench, there's very little risk of Mai breaking it with her grip alone - but the edge of the bench digs into her fingers.<br />
<br />
"...you should tear down whatever pedestal you've put me on. Every one of your mistakes - I've done the same, or even worse. I'm a terrible sister, I was scared to be honest with Takumi until he found out the truth on his own, and I'm not a good person." She sets the bento beside her, and rests her head in her hands. "I've been taking care of my brother because I had to make up for ruining his life in the first place, I kicked Mikoto out a few days ago, I abandoned Eri for months and didn't even know she'd died - and now you have to be the one bringing me lunch!"<br />
<br />
There's quiet, for a moment, as Mai breathes heavily. The rain just keeps pouring down, and it's all too familiar.<br />
<br />
"...I think this was a mistake, Takeo. Whatever image of me you have...I'm not that girl. I'm not sure I ever was." She stands up, pulling the jacket from her shoulders to lay on the park bench. "...thank you for the lunch."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Takeo stands setting his ow Bento box down. "Mai!" He says quickly. He doesn't reach out for her, he's not dumb, but his hand does jerk toward her before he stops himself. "Just ... Wait. Please." He says as tries quickly to stop her from leaving. "I'm sorry. I wasn't .... I just ... I wanted to ..." He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I'm not good at this. I'm sorry. Listen, I .... " He opens his eyes and looks at Mai and runs a hand through his head. "Listen. The world might end if we don't beat that Wellpur-sneezey name thing, I don't want .... We shouldn't ...." <br />
<br />
There are so many things he wants to say. Well really just two words. He squares his shoulders and looks at Mai. If she turns to face him he looks into her eyes, if she doesn't he just says it to her back. "We're human Mai. Both of us. We make mistakes BECAUSE we're human. But if the world might end, I need to tell you," he takes a deep breath. "I love ... You ... More than bacon. I'd give up bacon. I'd eat vegetables regularly. Whatever happens in the next few days, whatever we face, I will be there. Beside you if you'll let me. I just .... Once. With no monsters ready to destroy us, I just wanted you to know that." He holds out the umbrella. "Please take the umbrella Mai-chan. I have a jacket, and you ... I just don't want you to get a cold."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Mai Tokiha [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Despite her words, Mai's departure halts - halts just before she would have left the umbrella's protection. Whatever scrap of self-preservation instinct she has left seems to remind her that it's pouring rain, remind her to think twice.<br />
<br />
She doesn't dare look at Takeo while he's talking. Her shoulders are slumped, and there's no pride in her stance. Still, she listens.<br />
<br />
One hand comes up, slowly, to rest over her heart. Silence, before any answer.<br />
<br />
"...I wish you wouldn't." Words from a dream she once had, echoed in response to that earnest speech, that honest confession. "I'm a terrible date, a terrible friend, a terrible person to live with, and I just seem to drive the people I care about further away. Caring about me like that...you deserve better."<br />
<br />
A heartbeat.<br />
<br />
"...thank you. For telling me all that."<br />
<br />
Mai really doesn't dare turn to look at Takeo right now.<br />
<br />
She straightens up, shoulders square, looking out into the rainstorm. "We've faced darkness on the horizon before. The Garden of Time, the North Pole, Alyssa...it's dire, but there might be light afterwards. If so, then maybe..." Trailing off, she shakes her head.<br />
<br />
"...we'll see, okay? In the meantime, Takeo...you're a better person than you think. Keep yourself dry, I'm already drenched anyway." With that, she runs out into the rain and the fog and the endless downpour - but at least there's a spark to her step now, something to push her forward.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-04-26_-_After_The_Rain,_There_Are_Cookies2019-04-26 - After The Rain, There Are Cookies2019-04-27T04:45:05Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: After The Rain, There..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: After The Rain, There Are Cookies'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''Summer uniforms are supposed to be in fashion, but the weather doesn't agree. On a rainy day, two girls walk from Juuban to a nice warm bakery.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Marinette Dupain-Cheng]], [[Niramo Umokeshi]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Juuban Public School<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-04-26 - June 01, 2015<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Marinette Dupain-Cheng [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<SoundTracker> It's Raining Somewhere Else - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrvDq4Py1QE<br />
<br />
Some days, some weeks, things just seem quiet. Classes pass by without incident, club activities are routine instead of dramatic, and there seems to be very little to shake up the world of those leading a mostly-normal life. Tests have been written, grades have been agonizing, love confessions have been attempted and failed miserably, and generally...<br />
<br />
Generally, life goes on.<br />
<br />
It's not without incident, though. Little things, almost distant events. Like the late blooming of the World Tree, or a pasta lesson gone horribly awry, or rumours of terrorist attacks downtown, or a recent tragic announcement from Ohtori.<br />
<br />
So here Marinette stands, at the front doors of Juuban. She tried to go to her club meeting, she really did - but some of the seniors were in a tie-dye mood, and the odor was just a little overpowering today. Better, perhaps, to go home and work on some homework or a personal project - even if the skies outside are weeping tears of sorrow.<br />
<br />
For a moment, she tugs at the short sleeves of her summer uniform, a dark look furrowing her brow. "...It's not that it isn't elegant, just...kind of chilly on a day like this. Isn't June supposed to be sunny?!"<br />
<br />
She almost seems to be yelling at her bag for a moment - but that's crazy, a schoolbag can't answer. Nothing alive could be hiding in there. ...though maybe something is hiding. Marinette peers inside, as if addressing her books. "Didn't you...umbrella? My umbrella is in here, right?!"<br />
<br />
Outside, the rain is pouring down in rivers, and the middle-school student is working herself up into a panic. "Oh no - now I'm going to get drenched, and someone's going to have to take pity on me, and I'll get overwhelmed with another ridiculous unrequited crush and wind up tripping over two ridiculously handsome boys-"<br />
<br />
A somewhat absurd panic, admittedly.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
As the days past by, the seasons pass and time crawls into the beginning of June. Crawls by, in the case of one Juuban student, after the chaos that was only a month ago. The blooming of the World Tree opened up a can of worms with Yuhira and Wakatuski, but Yuhira seems to finally be letting the dust settle over her likeness to that of a certain mouse-suitted individual. The everyday routine of school, juggling club activities and meeting with friends hasn't been shaken up in the last few weeks.<br />
<br />
The relative normalcy of it all is a nice change of pace, and one Niramo doesn't mind enjoying.<br />
<br />
Not that life in Tokyo is never dull, far from it. The lack of magical-based chaos, of monsters to whack and bystanders to save, has been a point of discussion with those she knows is in 'the know', but it's almost like a vacation in itself.<br />
<br />
A loose ponytail sways from side to side as Niramo is walking towards the front doors of Juuban. While normally she would be watching yet another repeat of animated shows from decades gone by with the rest of the Anime Club, she had to excuse herself quickly Takk started to get a little too into the duel of Ronin Samurai versus Shadow Lord Z. There's only so many times she can fake a sneeze and try to silence the Kwami at the same time.<br />
<br />
"For someone who acts like they doesn't seem to understand emotions, you get a little carried away..." Dark green eyes playfully glare at her closed bookbag, but surely she's just wondering about a friend of hers.<br />
<br />
Her one-sided mild rant is cut off as the doors come into view, and Niramo makes a face as stares at the downpour on the other side of the glass. It's like the weather knew when they were going to change to the summer uniforms and wanted to make things as miserable as possible! "It doesn't look like it let up any..."<br />
<br />
Pulling free her collapsible umbrella from a side pocket on her bookbag, Niramo opens it up and takes a step forward towards the doors before Marinette catches her eyes. Marinette's panics are somewhat legendary from how quickly they can escalate and occur at the drop of a hat. This one seemed to be about...a missing umbrella turning into a romance manga plotline?! Better if she heads this off before Marinette starts adding time-traveling children to the mix.<br />
<br />
"Marinette-san, did you misplace your umbrella? I'm taking the subway today, but I can keep you dry if you want!" Niramo never has put in much stock about how sharing an umbrella supposedly leads to you finding your soulmate, but her life is too busy to think about love. Besides, it'll be innocent between the two of them!<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Marinette Dupain-Cheng [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's a voice calling out from behind her, and Marinette stiffens on the spot. How many people would have overheard her rant - how many people might misconstrue (or correctly construe) what she said?<br />
<br />
If it's Adrien who heard what she side, then she might have to just perish on the spot. As one does.<br />
<br />
Mercifully, Marinette is spared at least a little bit of embarrassment, heaving a visible sigh of relief at the sight before her. "Oh, it's just you, Niramo-chan. Yeah, my umbrella is hiding on me, or maybe I forgot it, or maybe it got stolen. I just don't even -"<br />
<br />
She slumps for a moment. "Honestly, that'd be a big help. I know clubs are supposed to keep going for a while, but I just can't handle the Fashion Club on a day like this. I kind of want to go home and design a better raincoat or something. Of course, I'd probably forget that too...are you sure it's not too much trouble?"<br />
<br />
There's a quiet little roar as the downpour seems to build itself back up, and Marinette can only rub the back of her head. "...I can offer baked goods? I'm sure my parents are making fresh cookies today!"<br />
<br />
She really doesn't like the cold and wet.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Seeing Marinette turn around in her panic only to visibly deflate in relief upon seeing her has the Jubann giggling, though hopefully Marinette won't get the idea it was about her panic attack. Well, not completely about her panic attack, anyways. The completely opposite from Wakatuski in that regard, unless you get her talking about computers. It's like a switch gets flipped then.<br />
<br />
Wait, now she's the one getting sidetracked...<br />
<br />
A mischievous smirk forms on Niramo's lips, and she raises an eyebrow. "Maybe it was borrowed by a 'ridiculously handsome boy'? Don't worry about it, Marinette-san! I'm sure it'll turn up, maybe back at home?" A little bit of teasing can go a long way, and Marinette always seems like she can take it in good nature. She always seems to bounce back from her panics, after all.<br />
<br />
Designing a new raincoat catches Niramo's attention, and she tilts her head just a bit. "Can you really make a raincoat yourself? It can't be as easy as just cutting out some fabric from a roll of cloth, right?" She tried knitting a circle once, but somehow tied her hands together.<br />
<br />
Her mom never did get the needles free from that tangled ball of yarn...<br />
<br />
Shaking her head from side to side, the ravenette holds up her umbrella a little more. "It's fine, really! I would stay as well, but...uh, some of the club members were getting a little too rowdy, and I have social studies homework I keep putting off. I don't mind!" It would keep the homework at bay a little longer, and---<br />
<br />
Wait...cookies? Fresh cookies on a cold, wet June day? Helping someone in need is it's own reward, but surely a little bonus like this is just a benefit of being good, right? "W-well, I don't want to bother about the cookies, but...if you're offering, it would be rude of me to refuse!" Niramo glances back out towards the downpour waiting her, but with some sugary baked goods waiting out there, it makes it worth it to be in this mess.<br />
<br />
"We better hurry, then. Don't want to give the weather a change to get worse, right?"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Marinette Dupain-Cheng [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
At the teasing, Marinette can only bury her face in her hands. "You heard that...." Still, it's light teasing, and as expected Marinette is able to bounce back in relatively short order. She sighs, shaking her head, and carefully closes her bag so no water will get in. "Honestly, I probably just left it at home, next to the pictures-"<br />
<br />
Marinette shuts up in a hurry, clearing her throat. "Right! Rain. Probably going to get worse, given the way my luck goes sometimes - so yeah, home sounds pretty good. If you're willing to be bribed?" She gestures to the doors with a giggle, then pauses to rub her arms.<br />
<br />
Definitely should have brought a coat.<br />
<br />
It's June, and it's raining, and it's far more miserable weather than it has any right to be. Still, Marinette is in slightly brighter spirits as the two of them walk. A teasing grin finds its way onto her face as she hops over one puddle. "I'm sure rudeness is the only reason you're taking up that little offer - but honestly, it should be fine. Warm and fresh out of the oven is the best way to have them, and on a day like today I expect there'll be plenty. And if there aren't...well, I can always whip up a batch as thanks."<br />
<br />
There's a couple of vehicles on the road, rainwater splashing in their wake as they meander along, and Marinette pauses to think. "So to pick up what I was saying earlier - it's not quite that easy, unless you just want a poncho. Which is definitely an option, to be sure, but it's kind of nice to have something a little more dramatic. It's not the first coat I've made - though admittely the last one was a winter coat, and I gave that one to Sa- Someone I kind of admire?"<br />
<br />
She's blushing. Just a bit, but she's blushing at the memory. "Stop me if I'm babbling, seriously stop me."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Niramo's smile grows softly at Marinette taking the teasing in stride, but a small part of her notices the quick change in subject when Marinette mentioned pictures. Maybe she actually did have someone in mind when she was thinking about a 'ridiculously handsome boy'? Maybe Marinette was a bit of a stalker and taking pictures of someone she was interested in from afar?<br />
<br />
"Bribing is a bit strong of a word. I'm thinking it's more like a token of friendship?" Not that she's close with Marinette, persay, but she wouldn't mind changing that for the future. Having another normal friend who doesn't know a thing about magic would be nice!<br />
<br />
Rain drums on the fabric of the plain black umbrella, giving temporary shelter from the worst of the rain. Already Niramo is missing the blazer from the winter uniform, but already had everything back in the closet when she saw the rain outside this morning. Besides, dad had plenty of umbrellas for her to 'borrow', so it's all good! "What? Of course it is, Marinette-san! Besides, perfectly good cookies go bad after a few days, so...think of this as cleaning inventory!"<br />
<br />
Everything has a good excuse when it comes to sweets!<br />
<br />
It takes a good deal of willpower not to shudder when Marinette offers to bake if she needs to. She always thought the rumors about the fire breathing demon cat were just Ohtori urban myth, but to see it in action? Mikoto didn't deserve that suffering...neither did the pasta, now that she thinks about it. It was so young, so innocent, and a mixture of unlabeled spices and exotic experimenting turned it to the side of darkness. "I-if you do have to make some, i'll help. Things taste better when you share the work, right?"<br />
<br />
The rain is soaking into her shoes a little, but it's not too bad when the wind dies down. Weather like this is just asking for a good book and a warm blanket to make everything better. "Ponchos can be dramatic, maybe if you add add those thin twin cloak-tail things to the back?" Niramo flails a free hand in demonstration of the proper term of fashion, showing just how knowledgeable she was on that front. "I usually tend to wear what's comfortable over what's fashionable when i'm not at school, but you have a point about the coat. A friend of mine tries to teaches me how to look better, but I think she's finally starting to given me up as a lost cause on that front."<br />
<br />
That same small part of her catches the last-second correction by Marinette, but she doesn't think about prying. Someone she admires...someone like Kasagami? There might be a reason she Marinette doesn't want to say her possible senpai's name, but it's none of her business, even if her curiosity wants to be sated. "Marinette-san, you're fine, really! Someone I admire has a coat that she wears often, and she makes it look very dramatic. Sometimes I wonder if she sleeps in it, honestly. Knowing her, she might wear it in the middle of summer just because it will make her stand out."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Marinette Dupain-Cheng [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's still damp, still chilly, but with an umbrella overhead it's not quite as bad. Unfortunately it's terrible weather for summer fashions, which Marinette was too optimistic about picking out; as they walk along the road, she hugs her schoolbag close to herself.<br />
<br />
"Split the difference and call it a token of gratitude. I'd rather bring a box of macarons for a token of friendship...and one of these days, I hope I can bring in a box and have it survive." She hangs her head in honest despair for a moment - the last attempt met an unfortunate fate in traffic. A worthy sacrifice, but still...<br />
<br />
Niramo might not shudder - and even if she did the damp chill might mask the reason - but Marinette can pick up on the doubt in her voice. "Cookies I can handle! I have a recipe. I have a very strict recipe! But that's an absolute last resort, yes. It should be fine - Maman tends to keep the bakery well-stocked, and just insists that anyone ducking in from the rain pick up something..."<br />
<br />
Marinette rubs at her arms again when the wind picks up, cringing. "Ponchos are all well and good, but - well, you've seen me, right?" She gestures at herself emphatically. "I'm the kind of person that trips on air, something flowing enough to wrap around me would be a death sentence! Sleek coats for me all the way - it's about the cut, and making sure that water flows where it's supposed to..."<br />
<br />
She frowns for a moment, looking Niramo up and down - and then sighing despite herself. "As cute as our summer uniforms are, they don't say a lot about anyone's sense of style, huh? Anyway, don't worry about it too much - it's kind of a, how would I put it, a confidence thing. You'll look better in something you're happy wearing! So just - pick what appeals." There's a pause, before Marinette gets a mischievous gleam in her eye.<br />
<br />
"Though on that note...Ao or Aka?"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
While the umbrella is a great shield against the rain, it does little against the dropping temperatures and wind when it chooses to bite at exposed skin. And with today being the first day of the summer uniforms, it's a brutal time to change indeed. The best that can be done is to just grin and bear it, but having someone she can speak to out in public is a big help, after all!<br />
<br />
Marinette appears to recall her previous box of cookies all too well, and Niramo just shakes her head. "I'm guessing that's just how the cookie fumbles?" While it's a shot in the dark, Niramo has seen Marinette's more 'graceful' movements, so it's a safe bet on the pun. Teasing and wordplay might be a good distraction, too!<br />
<br />
She may not have shuddered, but she doesn't hide her wince when Marinette picks up on her doubt. "Well, okay, Marinette-san. Besides, the pasta wasn't really your fault. The labels were terrible and...well, Usagi-san did somehow make pancakes explode in the class before the last one, actually. There's a reason why baking soda doesn't go in batter!"<br />
<br />
Marinette's preference on her coats fits her well, and so does her advice on fashion. Finally, someone that agrees you don't need extravagant dresses for social events! "Oh, absolutely. Even during the winter, I'll take being a little cold over having a poofy coat that you can't walk in. Sleek and simple tends to work best for me!" Niramo's school uniform fits her fashion choices as well. Nothing has been added to the uniforms, but they still look clean despite the storm around them.<br />
<br />
Marinette's next question catches Niramo completely flatfooted, and she almost stops in place before she realizes it would be bad manners to let Marinette get wet. Ao...and Aka? Yuhira has gone on about those fashion lines from time to time, but she often tends to tune her friend out until she gets back to a subject she can understand well. Ao was the one with the silk linings, right?<br />
<br />
Knowing Marinette wants an answer, she can only give a shrug of her shoulders. "Is neither a good option here? I mean, I know I can get a membership card since I go to Juuban, but...they both seem to be about dressing to impressing? I usually just get the cheapest plain clothes I can buy..."<br />
<br />
It does leave more money for new figurines or books, but Marinette is likely going to be scandalized by this...<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Marinette Dupain-Cheng [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Niramo's pun elicits a loud groan from Marinette. "Please stop. For the love of mercy, don't make any of those kinds of jokes around my Papa - he'll join in, and then we'll never hear the end of the baking jokes." She turns, a stern look on her face. "I've heard too many, I guarantee the first one will be something along the lines of 'rising to the occasion is the yeast I could do'. And please, let that pasta stay buried..."<br />
<br />
The staring means that Marinette isn't watching her footing as closely, and there's a significant splash as she steps into a particularly deep puddle. She looks down, face wrinkling at the sight. "...at least we're close. It soaked right through, because of course it did..."<br />
<br />
A sigh.<br />
<br />
"Well, we're close anyway - just down the block there." Marinette gestures to where her family's bakery stands out with brightly lit windows and a faint smell of chocolate and butter. "I'll be glad to get there - I'd rather have the poofy coat if it just means I could get warm! I really, really do not like the cold..."<br />
<br />
There's something that could be a sound of agreement from her bag.<br />
<br />
Niramo's answer does catch Marinette flat-footed, and only the fact that there's a horrible amount of rain has her catching up in time. "I mean - admittedly, the clothes themselves are a little pricey, I just got a couple of accessories. It's...I don't know, trying to explain why fashion is the way it is is like trying to explain why someone might like math."<br />
<br />
As they reach the doors, Marinette pauses to give Niramo a wry look. "I think I might see why your friend gets frustrated, though. Well, if you ever do want to impress someone, then I'll do my best to help! And in the meantime - come in, it looks like there's a tray just out of the oven!"<br />
<br />
And at some point, Marinette is absolutely going to slip a few warm cookies into her bookbag, because that is what normal people separated from magic do.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The sight of Marinette's home so close is a port in the literal storm, a chance to dry off before she would need to brave the weather to head home herself. The rain might be pouring, but it doesn't mask the smell of baked goods. "Wait, your parents run a bakery? I just thought your mom was doing a bake sale for tomorrow..." It does explain how Marinette would know how to bake cookies, at least!<br />
<br />
At least Niramo isn't the only one caught off guard by the question of AoAka, and another giggle breaks through despite the out of season storm. "I think that might be for the best. Thank you again, Marinette-san. I knew it would be rude to refuse!"<br />
<br />
And if there are more cookies disappearing from the plate than what two girls can handle, the blame can be focused on someone else entirely. Bookbags make a great hiding hole for friends of even smaller statue.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-04-06_-_TIMELINE_X:_Three_Dances,_Interrupted2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Three Dances, Interrupted2019-04-07T04:34:50Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: TIMELINE X: Three Danc..."</p>
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<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: TIMELINE X: Three Dances, Interrupted'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''#LetMaiDance2014 ''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Mai Tokiha]], Midori Sugiura (cameo), Takeo Akamizu (cameo), Mikoto Minagi (cameo), Mami Tomoe (cameo)<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Ohtori Academy<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-04-06 - September 13th, 2014<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
'''<span style="color:#FF5F00">Timeline X - Three Dances, Interrupted</span>'''<br />
<br />
Time and time again, so much of Mai Tokiha stays constant. Always slow to adopt the life of a magical girl. Always willing to give the benefit of doubt to those who threaten her. Always prepared to burn the world down when threats are levied against her loved ones.<br />
<br />
Every time the Ohtori Sports Festival concludes, Mai Tokiha is always on the dance floor when the SEARRS invasion begins. Always, some event is interrupted by the destruction of the bridge, heralded by golden skies.<br />
<br />
~ ~ ~<br />
<br />
A romantic song concludes, and the dance floor begins to clear of romantic couples. The orchestra conductor flips over a page, clearing his throat and raising his baton - only to be interrupted by a hand slamming down on the sheet music.<br />
<br />
"Take a break from the slow dances, already! Everyone here just finished an amazing sports festival - you need to start playing some upbeat songs that will help all of us celebrate our youth!" Even in a ballgown, the girl flips her ponytail while pumping a fist into the air. "As a young maiden of-"<br />
<br />
"Sugiura-sensei, you are a teacher." Mai interrupts Midori's rant from a few meters away, grinning the whole time. "However much of a genius of history you're supposed to be - and I'm still unconvinced that Mikoto doesn't have you beat - odds are pretty good you're older than your students."<br />
<br />
"Mai-chan, how could you..."<br />
<br />
"You're not wrong, though. So, on behalf of the rest of us youthful -students-..." Mai emphasizes the last word to the point that Midori turns away with a huff. "...could we get a few more upbeat songs? This isn't all about romantic couples, after all."<br />
<br />
The conductor takes a moment to consider, then nods. Flipping a few pages, he announces a number. It's a few moments for the orchestra to arrange themselves accordingly, and then swift violins begin an upbeat little jive piece. A number of small groups begin to congregate, jumping around to the music and just enjoying the atmosphere.<br />
<br />
"All right, sensei, come on and join us."<br />
<br />
"Oh, -now- I can mingle with the students?"<br />
<br />
"No, you get to mingle with the waitresses. Linden Baum survivors and all that." There's a grin on Mai's face, as she starts nearly-skipping towards the familiar faces there. "Akane-chan isn't around, but I figure even if you bailed after a week..."<br />
<br />
Abruptly, the skies shine gold...<br />
<br />
~ ~ ~<br />
<br />
The candlelight seems to dim as the lady in yellow steps onto the dance floor, accompanied by a knight in shining tuxedo. It's the hour for couples to step forward proudly, but Mai's chin isn't exactly held high - she's blushing ferociously, almost as much as the young man by her side.<br />
<br />
Almost.<br />
<br />
"I still can't believe you said that - admittedly I didn't know a word of it, but still!" Mai hisses to her boyfriend, whirling on him as soon as the two of them have found a spot for the dance to begin. "Did you see that poor Juuban girl who actually understood what you said? I thought she was about to catch-"<br />
<br />
"Sorry. I'm - really sorry about this. That idiot just keeps speaking up at the worst times." Takeo hangs his head, scuffing one foot against the dance floor - heedless of whatever mark he might leave on the marble. "I mean, I still want to dance! If you want to. Dance, that is."<br />
<br />
A hand rests on his chest for just a moment, and Mai shakes her head. "It's fine. I've known about your little 'lake' problem for months, and truth be told it beats what half the Ohtori guys tend to say without resorting to foreign languages. Just relax, and try not to think about the bacon-wrapped whatever those were that Mikoto's found."<br />
<br />
The shorter member of the couple smirks ferociously as the taller half's gaze whips around in a panic before settling. "Nice try, Mai-chan, but you know that I care about you more than bacon. Not just because you can make bacon."<br />
<br />
Mai smiles, stepping into the dance pose, and rests her head on Takeo's shoulder. The music picks up, and a slow waltz begins. As the slightly clumsy steps begin, Mai murmurs. "Coming from you...that really means a lot. Almost as much as that ridiculous confession you pulled...though given that it worked, maybe I shouldn't call it ridiculous."<br />
<br />
She leans back, looking into her boyfriend's eyes, and considers.<br />
<br />
Sorrowfully, the skies shine gold...<br />
<br />
~ ~ ~<br />
<br />
There's a hand on Mai's arm, as if to hold her back for a moment. Imploring eyes peek out from behind dark hair, a question hesitatingly voiced. "Mai, dancing's for people who like each other, right? Why...?"<br />
<br />
Mai shakes her head, earrings flashing in the light of a thousand suspended candles, and laughs quietly. "Not this time, Mikoto. It's not always about having a romantic dance with someone we like. Right now, this..." She turns to the dance floor, a smirk quirking her lips as she steps forward.<br />
<br />
"It's about neither of us being willing to back down."<br />
<br />
It doesn't take long for Mai to reach her dance partner, violet eyes locking on gold. The part-time waitress curtseys, that smirk still on her lips. "I confess, I'm surprised you're going ahead with this. Or is this more of those 'principles', Tomoe-san?..."<br />
<br />
The calm smile on Mami Tomoe's face doesn't even shake for an instant as she holds out her hand. "We both have to consider the impact of our actions, Tokiha-san. Whatever the circumstances, I gave my word that I would be here. I do appreciate that you decided to keep yours."<br />
<br />
Hand takes hand. "I think we both know what this was really about."<br />
<br />
"True. Now, as the older partner, I believe it would be your responsibility to lead."<br />
<br />
"Oh? I thought you relished that mantle of ordering people around."<br />
<br />
As ever, the skies blaze gold...<br />
<br />
[[Category:Cutscenes]]<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-04-06_-_TIMELINE_X:_Once_In_A_While,_Take_Him_Seriously2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously2019-04-07T02:38:10Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
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<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''No Eas. No Soular. Westar has nothing left but his duty.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Labyrinth<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-04-06 - ????<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The crash of body against metal rings throughout the halls of Labyrinth, echoes of a mighty conjoined blow fading into the distance. As the building he crashed into crumples in on itself, Westar tumbles to the roadway below, not even able to land in anything more dignified than a faceplant. There's a faint sizzle as the purification behind the combined punch works its magic against the darkness that empowers Mobius's servants...but that swiftly grows to a halt.<br />
<br />
"I...I won't let you..." It's muffled, mumbled into the metallic roadway beneath him, but Westar's words can just barely be heard as he twitches. There's a slam, fist punching into that ground that supports him, and Westar struggles to rise. Arms and legs trembling, he struggles to his feet. "Not after Soular...not after Eas..."<br />
<br />
Hunched over, he slowly stands - and then his right leg gives out, forcing him to one knee. "Damn it! Obey me, body - I can't...I can't fail again!" The sizzling returns, his will fading against the power that the assembled Pretty Cure brought to bear, and he collapses on the ground. Head hung low, Westar seems almost ready to accept that he's been defeated.<br />
<br />
Almost.<br />
<br />
The clap echoes loudly, rebounding off of countless buildings around him. Once more - one last time - golden power shines between Westar's palms as his brow furrows in concentration. The Data Diamond emerges slower than it ever had before, but it shines there, waiting for a target, for an object to corrupt and transform. With a shaking hand, Westar takes hold of it. "Nakewameke..."<br />
<br />
And slams it into his own chest.<br />
<br />
"OBEY MY COMMAAAAAND!"<br />
<br />
More pained than ever, the shout calls out as Westar's form is engulfed by a surge of darkness and golden light. Smoke billows out, choking the lanes between these strange buildings, obscuring everything for a long few seconds. There's silence as Westar's shout fades away...and then a noise.<br />
<br />
It's like the motor of heavy construction equipment, that whirring, that grinding of metal. Familiar, perhaps, to those from Earth - but then there's a crash of metal on metal that makes everything shake. Another whirr, another crash. Then, from the smoke, it emerges.<br />
<br />
Yellow and black. They always were Westar's colours. Often have they towered like this, but something seems strange, seems different. Harsh lines of steel encase a form almost like a giant ape. An unholy amalgamation of technology and monstrosity, the whirr of motors accompanying every movement. From the monster's back drapes a great cape - black, tattered, shining with yellow lights, spreading like wings. The head is strangely unarmored - the closest to human, though the lime-green fur covering it makes it stand out.<br />
<br />
Its face is pinched, as if its very existence is sorrow and pain - but the monster's eyes open, glaring balefully at the heroes assembled before it. Motors whirr as staggering steps turn to a crouch, to a sprinter's start, and there are but a handful of words as warning before it charges.<br />
<br />
Words spoken with Westar's voice, echoing with an unnatural timbre.<br />
<br />
"'''<span style="color:#CCCC00">Everything for Mobius-sama.</span>'''"<br />
<br />
[[Category:Cutscenes]]<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-04-06_-_TIMELINE_X:_Once_In_A_While,_Take_Him_Seriously2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously2019-04-07T02:37:51Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Glittering Crux Masque moved page 2018-11-12 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously to 2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously: Date of on-camera vs. date of writing</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''No Eas. No Soular. Westar has nothing left but his duty.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Labyrinth<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2018-11-12 - ????<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The crash of body against metal rings throughout the halls of Labyrinth, echoes of a mighty conjoined blow fading into the distance. As the building he crashed into crumples in on itself, Westar tumbles to the roadway below, not even able to land in anything more dignified than a faceplant. There's a faint sizzle as the purification behind the combined punch works its magic against the darkness that empowers Mobius's servants...but that swiftly grows to a halt.<br />
<br />
"I...I won't let you..." It's muffled, mumbled into the metallic roadway beneath him, but Westar's words can just barely be heard as he twitches. There's a slam, fist punching into that ground that supports him, and Westar struggles to rise. Arms and legs trembling, he struggles to his feet. "Not after Soular...not after Eas..."<br />
<br />
Hunched over, he slowly stands - and then his right leg gives out, forcing him to one knee. "Damn it! Obey me, body - I can't...I can't fail again!" The sizzling returns, his will fading against the power that the assembled Pretty Cure brought to bear, and he collapses on the ground. Head hung low, Westar seems almost ready to accept that he's been defeated.<br />
<br />
Almost.<br />
<br />
The clap echoes loudly, rebounding off of countless buildings around him. Once more - one last time - golden power shines between Westar's palms as his brow furrows in concentration. The Data Diamond emerges slower than it ever had before, but it shines there, waiting for a target, for an object to corrupt and transform. With a shaking hand, Westar takes hold of it. "Nakewameke..."<br />
<br />
And slams it into his own chest.<br />
<br />
"OBEY MY COMMAAAAAND!"<br />
<br />
More pained than ever, the shout calls out as Westar's form is engulfed by a surge of darkness and golden light. Smoke billows out, choking the lanes between these strange buildings, obscuring everything for a long few seconds. There's silence as Westar's shout fades away...and then a noise.<br />
<br />
It's like the motor of heavy construction equipment, that whirring, that grinding of metal. Familiar, perhaps, to those from Earth - but then there's a crash of metal on metal that makes everything shake. Another whirr, another crash. Then, from the smoke, it emerges.<br />
<br />
Yellow and black. They always were Westar's colours. Often have they towered like this, but something seems strange, seems different. Harsh lines of steel encase a form almost like a giant ape. An unholy amalgamation of technology and monstrosity, the whirr of motors accompanying every movement. From the monster's back drapes a great cape - black, tattered, shining with yellow lights, spreading like wings. The head is strangely unarmored - the closest to human, though the lime-green fur covering it makes it stand out.<br />
<br />
Its face is pinched, as if its very existence is sorrow and pain - but the monster's eyes open, glaring balefully at the heroes assembled before it. Motors whirr as staggering steps turn to a crouch, to a sprinter's start, and there are but a handful of words as warning before it charges.<br />
<br />
Words spoken with Westar's voice, echoing with an unnatural timbre.<br />
<br />
"'''<span style="color:#CCCC00">Everything for Mobius-sama.</span>'''"<br />
<br />
[[Category:Cutscenes]]<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2018-11-12_-_TIMELINE_X:_Once_In_A_While,_Take_Him_Seriously2018-11-12 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously2019-04-07T02:37:51Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Glittering Crux Masque moved page 2018-11-12 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously to 2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously: Date of on-camera vs. date of writing</p>
<hr />
<div>#REDIRECT [[2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Talk:2019-04-06_-_TIMELINE_X:_Once_In_A_While,_Take_Him_SeriouslyTalk:2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously2019-04-07T02:37:51Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Glittering Crux Masque moved page Talk:2018-11-12 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously to Talk:2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously: Date of on-camera vs. date of writing</p>
<hr />
<div>== What Happened This Timeline ==<br />
<br />
Multiple-choice question for the readers: What happened to Eas and Soular in this timeline? Pick whichever option feels most right/tragic.<br />
<br />
1. Defeated by Pretty Cure (and allies), in the way most Dark Generals tend to go.<br><br />
2. Failed Mobius-sama for the last time, and eliminated as useless.<br><br />
3. Earlier lines of defense; defeated, possibly alive but Westar's the last guardian.<br><br />
4. The good guys managed to get through to them, convincing them to switch sides.<br><br />
5. They're fine. That's not what Mobius-sama told Westar, though.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Talk:2018-11-12_-_TIMELINE_X:_Once_In_A_While,_Take_Him_SeriouslyTalk:2018-11-12 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously2019-04-07T02:37:51Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Glittering Crux Masque moved page Talk:2018-11-12 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously to Talk:2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously: Date of on-camera vs. date of writing</p>
<hr />
<div>#REDIRECT [[Talk:2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Talk:2019-04-06_-_TIMELINE_X:_Once_In_A_While,_Take_Him_SeriouslyTalk:2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously2019-04-07T02:33:32Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: /* What Happened This Timeline */</p>
<hr />
<div>== What Happened This Timeline ==<br />
<br />
Multiple-choice question for the readers: What happened to Eas and Soular in this timeline? Pick whichever option feels most right/tragic.<br />
<br />
1. Defeated by Pretty Cure (and allies), in the way most Dark Generals tend to go.<br><br />
2. Failed Mobius-sama for the last time, and eliminated as useless.<br><br />
3. Earlier lines of defense; defeated, possibly alive but Westar's the last guardian.<br><br />
4. The good guys managed to get through to them, convincing them to switch sides.<br><br />
5. They're fine. That's not what Mobius-sama told Westar, though.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Talk:2019-04-06_-_TIMELINE_X:_Once_In_A_While,_Take_Him_SeriouslyTalk:2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously2019-04-07T02:33:10Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: /* What Happened This Timeline */ new section</p>
<hr />
<div>== What Happened This Timeline ==<br />
<br />
Multiple-choice question for the readers: What happened to Eas and Soular in this timeline? Pick whichever option feels most right/tragic.<br />
<br />
1. Defeated by Pretty Cure (and allies), in the way most Dark Generals tend to go.<br />
2. Failed Mobius-sama for the last time, and eliminated as useless.<br />
3. Earlier lines of defense; defeated, possibly alive but Westar's the last guardian.<br />
4. The good guys managed to get through to them, convincing them to switch sides.<br />
5. They're fine. That's not what Mobius-sama told Westar, though.</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-04-06_-_TIMELINE_X:_Once_In_A_While,_Take_Him_Seriously2019-04-06 - TIMELINE X: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously2019-04-07T02:26:37Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Once In A While, Take..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Once In A While, Take Him Seriously'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''No Eas. No Soular. Westar has nothing left but his duty.''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Labyrinth<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2018-11-12 - ????<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The crash of body against metal rings throughout the halls of Labyrinth, echoes of a mighty conjoined blow fading into the distance. As the building he crashed into crumples in on itself, Westar tumbles to the roadway below, not even able to land in anything more dignified than a faceplant. There's a faint sizzle as the purification behind the combined punch works its magic against the darkness that empowers Mobius's servants...but that swiftly grows to a halt.<br />
<br />
"I...I won't let you..." It's muffled, mumbled into the metallic roadway beneath him, but Westar's words can just barely be heard as he twitches. There's a slam, fist punching into that ground that supports him, and Westar struggles to rise. Arms and legs trembling, he struggles to his feet. "Not after Soular...not after Eas..."<br />
<br />
Hunched over, he slowly stands - and then his right leg gives out, forcing him to one knee. "Damn it! Obey me, body - I can't...I can't fail again!" The sizzling returns, his will fading against the power that the assembled Pretty Cure brought to bear, and he collapses on the ground. Head hung low, Westar seems almost ready to accept that he's been defeated.<br />
<br />
Almost.<br />
<br />
The clap echoes loudly, rebounding off of countless buildings around him. Once more - one last time - golden power shines between Westar's palms as his brow furrows in concentration. The Data Diamond emerges slower than it ever had before, but it shines there, waiting for a target, for an object to corrupt and transform. With a shaking hand, Westar takes hold of it. "Nakewameke..."<br />
<br />
And slams it into his own chest.<br />
<br />
"OBEY MY COMMAAAAAND!"<br />
<br />
More pained than ever, the shout calls out as Westar's form is engulfed by a surge of darkness and golden light. Smoke billows out, choking the lanes between these strange buildings, obscuring everything for a long few seconds. There's silence as Westar's shout fades away...and then a noise.<br />
<br />
It's like the motor of heavy construction equipment, that whirring, that grinding of metal. Familiar, perhaps, to those from Earth - but then there's a crash of metal on metal that makes everything shake. Another whirr, another crash. Then, from the smoke, it emerges.<br />
<br />
Yellow and black. They always were Westar's colours. Often have they towered like this, but something seems strange, seems different. Harsh lines of steel encase a form almost like a giant ape. An unholy amalgamation of technology and monstrosity, the whirr of motors accompanying every movement. From the monster's back drapes a great cape - black, tattered, shining with yellow lights, spreading like wings. The head is strangely unarmored - the closest to human, though the lime-green fur covering it makes it stand out.<br />
<br />
Its face is pinched, as if its very existence is sorrow and pain - but the monster's eyes open, glaring balefully at the heroes assembled before it. Motors whirr as staggering steps turn to a crouch, to a sprinter's start, and there are but a handful of words as warning before it charges.<br />
<br />
Words spoken with Westar's voice, echoing with an unnatural timbre.<br />
<br />
"'''<span style="color:#CCCC00">Everything for Mobius-sama.</span>'''"<br />
<br />
[[Category:Cutscenes]]<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-03-16_-_TIMELINE_3:_Sleigh_Bells_of_Sorrow2019-03-16 - TIMELINE 3: Sleigh Bells of Sorrow2019-03-17T13:46:06Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Sleigh Bells of Sorrow..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Sleigh Bells of Sorrow'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''On a lovely day in the shopping district, the Christmas spirit is in full swing. Free hot chocolate, red-capped promoters for myriad businesses, Westar attacking with a Nakewameke...''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Westar]], [[Setsuna Higashi]], [[Inori Yamabuki|Cure Pine]], [[Steven Universe]], [[Fuu Hououji]], [[Niramo Umokeshi|Sourisi]], [[Rei Hino|Sailor Mars]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Shibuya Shopping Ward<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-03-16 - December '''23rd''', 2014<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
'Tis the season to be jolly, Shibuya Shopping Ward is decked with holly.<br />
<br />
The holiday season has arrived, and the lights of the shopping district seem exceptionally festive this close to the the end of the year. The lightest dusting of snow rests elegantly on awnings and streetlamps, bright daylight gleaming off of purest white, while store windows display gift recommendations framed by twinkling rainbow-coloured lights.<br />
<br />
It's festive enough without people - but the shopping district is utterly packed with people. Families out to enjoy the sights, teenagers and young adults rushing about in eleventh-hour gift hunts, and the Santas. Bright red hats trimmed with white fur are absolutely everywhere, as seemingly every store has hired an assistant to ring a bell or hand out hot chocolate or something. One cheerful young man or woman after another waves, each in varying degrees of the spirit of the season. It's commercialism, perhaps, but it's bright and cheerful.<br />
<br />
There's room in the middle of the street, at least, as a small parade winds its careful way along. Leading the procession is a float in the shape of a giant sleigh, with a fully costumed Santa Claus on top waving. This one's taller and broader than most, the red jacket not a perfect fit but more or less fitting the character. His voice booms out, grabbing the attention of shoppers one and all. "Ho ho ho! A Merry Christmas to all..."<br />
<br />
Abruptly, his gloved hand grabs that jacket and flings off the entire outfit in a single motion. The jacket and beard both go flinging high, revealing the black outfit and billowing cape concealed beneath. "And a Sorrowful New Year!"<br />
<br />
....it's Westar.<br />
<br />
Without further ado - or introduction - he flicks out a yellow diamond and slams it into the sleigh he's standing on. Black smoke explodes outward in an instant, clearing to reveal a holiday vehicle much more menacing. It's made of black metal with glowing crimson lines running up and down, the reindeer have vanished and replaced with rocket engines on the back, and the front of the sleigh has become a menacing face with a golden diamond between its eyes. "NAKEWAMEKE..."<br />
<br />
Westar laughs, taking up the reins once more. The engines at the back of the sleigh whine as they build up a charge, steam billowing from vents that look like teeth on the sleigh's front. The Executive controlling it starts to speak, pauses, and then grins.<br />
<br />
"For the glory of Labyrinth, all your tears shall now fall!"<br><br />
"Cry and wail for the Sorrow Gauge - and dash away, all!"<br />
<br />
With a roar, the sleigh rockets down the street, spraying slush to either side in its wake and splattering many a nice winter coat.<br />
<br />
The jerk.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Westar transforms into Nakewameke!<br />
COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 5 opponents!<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"C'moooon.... tell me your secreeeets! Please?"<br />
<br />
The voice of Steven Universe comes out from the moving crowd, as some have to step out of his way. Or rather, not /his/ way, but what he is riding. At some recent point from being forced to homeschool, he has come across a... lion? Yeah, a pink one at that. And it is apparently taking a stroll down a sidewalk. It walks amongst people as if it has been doing it his whole life, majestic, yet completely unthreatening toward anyone that comes close.<br />
<br />
Little Steven is draped over its back, riding it like a mount, well, sideways. It is unusually large for even a male lion, and can support the boy well.<br />
<br />
An odd place to see one though, here in Shibuya.<br />
<br />
Steven himself is decked out in winterwear, a floofy pink jacket, a pair of jeans, and some galoshes for the snow, and a pair of light blue gloves on his hands.<br />
<br />
He is also wearing a magnificent scarf acquired quite recently at a fashion event!<br />
<br />
PLAP<br />
<br />
And now it is wet. So is Lion, who seems thoroughly unpleased. THe look on the boys face is one of SILENT RAGE that his new scarf got wet. THe wet everywhere else was fine, but THE SCARF.<br />
<br />
"It's that guy again." The way he says it sounds like he is rather annoyed. Westar is like a comic book villain! Why does he do this stuff! "Lion, chase that sleigh! We gotta stop it-- UWAH!"<br />
<br />
Off like a bolt the pink feline goes, streaking down the road after the sleigh at high speed, looking like a wet, miserable, angry ball of cat as he goes. "H-Hey! Get back here!" The boy shouts as he summons a shield. "Stop him!" he calls out, mostly to anyone around with the capability to do so, but Lion has a better idea. He opens his toothy maw, and out peals a magical roar with visible pink vibrations to the air, destabilizing everything it touches.<br />
<br />
"Wh... that was cool," he says, gripping the cat's mane. "What else can you do?!"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe has fully healed himself.<br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe transforms into Serious Steven!<br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe has used Just Lion Things on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Inori Yamabuki [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"You're sure it's okay? That I had you to myself for a whole day?"<br />
<br />
'Buki is in a yellow and white jacket - trimmed with faux fur, and leggings that sport cats wearing Christmas hats peeking out of her brown loafers. She'd never wear real fur after all, carrying a shopping bag at her side as she walks alongside Setsuna Higashi. There's kind of nervous laugh, behind her smile. "I mean it's not like I'm complaining. It just feels a little... indulgent? To have had the headline model for AkaMira helping me Christmas shop..."<br />
<br />
Her shoulders had been worked up into a slightly anxious wiggle, as she holds the bag between her two hands. The square is jam packed - and there she is walking alongside a celebrity. A few people had already stopped to ask to take pictures with Setsuna - others for her autograph - others trying to solicit fashion advice.<br />
<br />
It made her feel almost selfish hoarding her to herself. Yet all the same...<br />
<br />
The moment the parade starts - is also the moment that 'buki sees one of her favorite mascots as the subject of a float not far behind Santa's. A large Mama cat with another smaller cat atop it. Each bearing a Santa hat, though the larger cat's was lopsided due to the space made for the baby. "Oh it's NekoKoNeko!"<br />
<br />
Upon sight of it, all doubt fled her as she impulsively grabbed Setsuna's hand and rushed ahead to the side of the street. "Ohmigosh it's so cute!" The girl declares - eyes shining. It's fitting though - like it's part of the holiday season for 'buki to get swept up in the mood. Cute animals in the Christmas spirit making her react like she's almost ten years younger in wonder and cheer.<br />
<br />
However there was an even bigger celebrity in the parade on the float. And as Santa calls out to the crowd, 'buki looks almost eagerly to him. "Merry Christmas Santa-" She's even raised a hand to wave. And then suddenly the outfit is flung off. "-san..."<br />
<br />
'Buki suddenly straightens up like a bolt, "Westar!? How could you?" Like she's indignant of the very /idea/ of Westar impersonating a beloved Christmas icon.<br />
<br />
"Um... Secchan I hate to ask..."<br />
<br />
The girl hands her bag over, "Could you hold this?" This happens just as the Nakewameke sprays them all with slush - "Oh look out!" - and 'buki suddenly - almost impulsively wraps her arms around her, trying to spare her the fate, as the back of her coat gets washed off by icy slush.<br />
<br />
She knows how much Miki hates to have her hard work ruined on the day before she models, so she covers Setsuna for just a moment. Then takes a step back, shaking out ice from her golden sidetail like a dog that just got sprayed by water. "I'm... going to go... get changed..." She says deliberately, like she's implying something, then uses the crowd to disappear into.<br />
<br />
<nowiki> "Change! Pretty Cure - Beat Up!"</nowiki><br />
<br />
When she returns as Cure Pine - it's not on ground level. The Pretty Cure descends from the sky with a kick aimed at the front end of the sleigh. It starts with a kick to the front of the sleigh. It's a prelude to a sudden barrage of kicks in a left-right rhythm as she smashes into the front end of the sleigh like she's dancing in mid-air. "Shouldn't you take some time off from this Westar? It's Christmas!"<br />
<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Inori Yamabuki transforms into Cure Pine!<br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Express on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Westar braces 9 Fatigue damage from Steven Universe's Just Lion Things, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Westar! <br />
COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Pine's Pineapple Express, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cure Pine is Psyched! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Given the events of the year thus far, Fuu has been putting more thought and care into the gifts she's giving this year. She's been working on a scarf for Ferio, even though she discovered in the process that knitting is *not* one of her strong points. (That isn't stopping her from continuing to press onwards with it, mind you. It just means she's got her work cut out for her to finish before Christmas.) She's being similarly deliberate about those gifts she has to pick out at one store or another: a cookbook for her mother, a school organizer for her elder sister Kuu ...<br />
<br />
She's on her way out of another store when Westar goes "HO HO HO"-ing down the street on a rocket sleigh, and a little too much slush splashes not only all over Fuu, but into one of the bags she's holding. She quickly and primly removes the laptop case from the shopping bag, brushing slush off the former and trying to dump residue out of the latter, then gives Westar's back the kind of look that, if looks could actually kill, would be accompanied by high-energy sound effects and a beam of raw force.<br />
<br />
Looks cannot, however, actually kill, so the efficacy of Fuu's glare is substantially mitigated by the fact that the Labyrinth executive probably won't even notice it. Still, Cure Pine and Steven's Lion are trying to bring Westar and the monster sleigh to heel; that gives Fuu enough time to vanish around the corner into an alley, tugging her gloves off in favor of a different hand-worn accessory.<br />
<br />
<nowiki> "Belief becomes power ... Winds, guide me!"</nowiki><br />
<br />
A moment after *that*, there's a call of, "Gale Arrow!" before a single feathered shaft hurtles down between the Nakewameke's engines, wrapped in wind to both accelerate the arrow's flight and steady it against turbulence en route. The Magic Knight of Wind barely gives her arrow time to reach its mark before she leaps from her rooftop perch, aiming to close the distance.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji transforms into Wind Knight!<br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Gale Arrow on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
COMBAT: Westar braces 26 Fatigue damage from Fuu Hououji's Gale Arrow, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Fuu Hououji is Psyched! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Ho ho hold up one freaking second, here.<br />
<br />
Rei Hino is not some sort of last-minute shopper who hasn't even brought Christmas gifts yet. Obviously, she's made them already. Is making them. Look, they're not done them. This is absolutely no comment on how complicated they are. It's just, you know...<br />
<br />
... she ran out of craft paper at one point?<br />
<br />
But let's not get the wrong impression here. She kind of felt like going shopping anyway, in the disgusting glutted crowds directly before Christmas. And if anyone has a problem with that statement, they can feel free to file it straight in the inbox of someone who cares. (Like the fancy decorated homework inbox/outbox combo she's working on for Ami, because cram school gives her a mountain of that stuff to work with and Rei's noticed it can get overwhelming. It's not a big deal. Anyone would notice that sort of thing.)<br />
<br />
So here she is, in a nice Akamira-red coat to ward against the cold, a cute and warm little green dress with long sleeves and high-necked wool looped about her shoulders, stockings underneath. She hasn't yet managed to find what she's looking for, but that's fine, she wants to be out here. There's even entertainment, like that float rolling past.<br />
<br />
HO HO HOLD UP --<br />
<br />
/That ain't Santa./ "Oh my god!" Rei exclaims, in utter exasperation as the Executive reveals himself. "Take a holiday, already! Ugh --" She turns on a heel and flees down a side-street, not quite in time to avoid the slush coating the back of her stockings.<br />
<br />
"Always with this, I swear, what a pain in my..." Rei grumbles, as she glances down at her communicator. She should call it in - get some fire support. (Of course she would phrase it as fire support.) But in the end, it's just Westar, they're busy with Christmas coming up...<br />
<br />
... besides, if she called in every little problem she ran into, how could she criticise /them/ for not stepping up?<br />
<br />
"Whatever," Rei shakes her head, making sure she's safely tucked into the shadows. "Mars Power - Make Up!"<br />
<br />
The girl who charges out in front of the float is clad in traditional sailor fuku instead of street fashion - but like the days he's ruined, she's still a shade furious. "Westar, you /really/ need to work on your timing!" Sailor Mars accuses him, hotly. Cure Pine dives right in, the Wind Knight looses an arrow, and Steven is doing... something with a /Lion,/ but there's one thing Sailor Mars has always done to ruin the Executive's day.<br />
<br />
She produces an ofuda, and prays over it, cutting gestures with hands and fingers: "Rin, pyou, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, zai, zen!" Her wrist flicks as she tosses it towards the yellow Data Diamond. "Evil, begone!"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Rei Hino has fully healed herself.<br />
COMBAT: Rei Hino transforms into Sailor Mars!<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Evil, Begone! on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.<br />
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Sailor Mars's Evil, Begone!, taking 63 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Exhausted applied to Westar!<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"It's fine," Setsuna answers simply, though she gives Buki a pleasant, good-natured sort of look at her nervous laugh, at her talk of indulgence. Obviously, Setsuna doesn't smile a lot around most people... But, well, Buki's a little different, even if Setsuna's usually understated, and sometimes forgets to emote at all. <br />
<br />
...But the Red Future, well--"You're helping me, too," the darker-haired girl points out. "And besides, it's not like my parents are going to tell me I'm out too late." <br />
<br />
Since... she doesn't have them. <br />
<br />
The model is absolutely dressed for the chill, though--cold is definitely one of her banes. But not as bundled as someone might be--she has to dress for the part. A black chiffon skirt, a hint of red leggings visible over her knee-length heeled boots, a snug white coat with gold buttons, gold jewelry--earrings most obviously--and a gold scarf. The kimono style panelling in places accentuates her figure, softens the inside of her sleeves... and as always, her nails, makeup, and hair are both perfect and /highly/ feminine. <br />
<br />
Purple works for winter. <br />
<br />
"Indulge a little. You've got this whole world going for you," Setsuna points out to Buki when it's just them, "So enjoy it." <br />
<br />
A few people have stopped to ask, sure--Setsuna takes pictures, is suitably mysterious, has a whole aura to her when she's On that's a little different--and her advice is good... <br />
<br />
...Though things that really don't suit someone get a simple shake of her head before she suggests something better. <br />
<br />
But, despite her apparent reputation for reading some futures--she does /not/ see all this coming. Oh, the parade, sure--"Oh--" Setsuna looks, too, and her hand is grabbed as she runs along to keep up, laughing despite herself. "It really is," Setsuna agrees, not quite as wondrous or cheerful--but appreciative nevertheless. It's her second Christmas, after all. "...They look like the ones you had last week, don't they?" <br />
<br />
Santa calls to the crowd, and Setsuna turns her head towards him. There's something familiar, there, but she can't place it. "I still..." <br />
<br />
Pause. Pause. ...Frown. "..." <br />
<br />
She already turns towards Buki, expecting what comes--and while she's less indignant, she's already putting out her hands. "Yeah, I can--" <br />
<br />
Setsuna ducks, a little, in Buki's arms, and then rises once the slush passes. "...Thanks," Setsuna says, gratefully, "I'll find a place to stay out of the way, all right?" <br />
<br />
With Buki's bags and her own, the Red Future does not flee--....at least, not undignified like most. She just glances around, and spots a bench to duck behind, but before that--<br />
<br />
"Westar!" Setsuna Higashi calls, frowning, her voice sharp. "You should've kept the beard!" <br />
<br />
.../Then/ she ducks down behind the bench, careful, crouching. She knows the score, and... <br />
<br />
Well, it's not like she can fight them.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Niramo Umokeshi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.<br />
<br />
The streets of Shibuya are chaotic and filled with people during the best of times. With Christmas just around the corner and the streets packed with those scrambling for the perfect present so close to the holiday, it's often all one can do not to be swept up by the crowds. If all goes well for Niramo, she should have the last few gifts just waiting to be wrapped. Now if she can just get to the train station...<br />
<br />
And a Sorrowful New Year!"<br />
<br />
It doesn't take a genius to realize that someone is up to no good, not when someone is used to such phrases. Breathing through her nose loudly in annoyance, Niramo looks down at her bookbag and match stares with her dear friend and ally. A nod shared between herself and Takk is all Niramo needs before she's rushing for the nearest alley. Wrapping will have to wait. "Tail sprout!"<br />
<br />
-----<br />
<br />
Up on the rooftops runs a beige figure, pale tail whipping about as its' owner surries after to keep up from above. Leave it to evil to never take a break, even during these days leading up to one of the most cheerful times of the year. Then again, good doesn't rest as well, and there's yet another magical defender here to help save the day.<br />
<br />
Even if it's only Westar.<br />
<br />
Wood cutting through air can be heard by those with keen ears, the calling card of justice that preludes first one, then another tonfa twirling after that sleight. There's indeed some magic in these plain weaponry, seeing how they're able to keep up with a sleigh speeding along the streets under rocket power.<br />
<br />
"Trying a new take on Christmas when the classic lines are superior? Westar, it's obvious you're up to snow good, there's no sleigh of hand you can do to hide your actions!" Sourisi leaps over the edge of a department store, an annoyed look in her eyes even as the corner of her lips tug with a smile.<br />
<br />
The shopping bags held in her left hand might give a clue to her ire, as well as the overabundance of puns...<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Niramo Umokeshi transforms into Sourisi!<br />
COMBAT: Sourisi has used Crashing Tooth on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Sourisi has finished attacking.<br />
COMBAT: Westar dodges 15 Fatigue damage from Sourisi's Crashing Tooth, taking 23 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Westar is dashing through the snow, in a no-horse open sleigh. Through the streets he goes, laughing all the way...<br />
<br />
The joyride, mercifully for the many shoppers, isn't exactly a runaway success. The mechanized monstrosity is swiftly pursued by a pink Lion, whose roar kicks up the snow and grit through the street. Not enough to stop it entirely, but the villainous vehicle swerves back and forth somewhat wildly from the instability. Sourisi's rapid-fire slashes nip at it with every sway, slowing it down further...<br />
<br />
And then Cure Pine drops in from above just as Fuu's arrow strikes from behind. There's a loud bang from that engine, and it billows smoke as the rapid-fire kicks start smashing home. One, two, three - and the third blow sends Westar's minion into a full-on spin, careening for a moment before coming to a halt having done a full one-eighty turn.<br />
<br />
"Cure Pine. And...you two, again. This season of misery is just getting started, you didn't have to jump in this quickly!" With a harumph, he folds his arms over his chest, red hat slightly akimbo on his head. "It doesn't matter anyway. When everyone here sees you defea-"<br />
<br />
It is at this point that Sailor Mars slams an evil-banishing ofuda right between the Nakwameke's eyes, eliciting a blaze of light and a mechanical roar of pain.<br />
<br />
When the light fades, Westar is coughing from the smoke that spirals up from the much-angrier-looking sleigh. "You again?! I was trying to - never mind! On a day as important as this, things are going to be different. The greatest gift of all - will be enough misery to fill the Sorrow Gauge!"<br />
<br />
He takes up the reins, ready to command the Nakewameke forward - but pauses long enough to yell back at Setsuna. "Eas! If I'd kept the beard on, they wouldn't have known it was me!"<br />
<br />
Now he pulls on the reins, now the engines cough back to life, now the Nakewameke charges forward. Somehow, more slush sprays up from its runners than should have been on the streets - a veritable wave of grey to envelop Fuu and Sourisi. Cure Pine and the Steven-Lion combo get a closer view of the menace, strings of ominously clanging bells unfolding from the sides to whip out at them with a dizzying clang.<br />
<br />
Finally, the sleigh tries to just straight-up run over Sailor Mars.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Dashing Through The Slush on Fuu Hououji.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Dashing Through The Slush on Sourisi.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Bells Of Misery Ring on Cure Pine.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Bells Of Misery Ring on Steven Universe.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Sailor Mars.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars fails to dodge Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 32 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Sailor Mars! <br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe braces 19 Fatigue damage from Westar's Bells Of Misery Ring, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Steven Universe's Block and Parry abilities activate! <br />
COMBAT: Sourisi cleanly braces 17 Fatigue damage from Westar's Dashing Through The Slush, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Sourisi! <br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine counters 8 Fatigue damage from Westar's Bells Of Misery Ring, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Reverse and Tactician abilities activate! Cripple applied to Cure Pine! <br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine's counterattack, Pineapple Reverse, partially gets through, doing 7 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji braces 14 Fatigue damage from Westar's Dashing Through The Slush, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Block and Parry abilities activate! Blind applied to Fuu Hououji!<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"They really do!" 'buki had agreed, joyfully. Like every animal that visits the premises of the Yamabuki animal hospital was special to her. And perhaps - enjoying this simple parade with her - had been her way of taking Setsuna's advice - to indulge a little.<br />
<br />
That was then though - and this is now.<br />
<br />
The thing pivots - and Cure Pine kicks off its whirling self to slide upon the slushy street, taking up a fierce pose. "Sailor Mars! Magic Knight! It's so good that you're - Ohmigosh a Lion!"<br />
<br />
It's pretty predictable what gets the biggest reaction out of Cure Pine - and it's the Lion.<br />
<br />
"You know I did-! I only get a vacation when you take one!" Which means never - given Labyrinth Executives - even in Okinawa.<br />
<br />
Cure Pine - gets a look at the ominously clanging bells alright. Because as it tries to lash her, she reaches out and tries to... /yank/ it free.<br />
<br />
What actually happens is that her expression goes through three stays as she actually catches it in midair.<br />
<br />
1. Oh! I actually caught it?<br><br />
2. Yay!<br><br />
3. ... Wait! OH NO!<br />
<br />
In a matter of seconds the cord is pulled taut as the sleigh rushes by - and Cure Pine is holding on for dear life as the sleigh drags her behind it, bouncing her along the slush covered concrete and it gets in her face and forces her to gargle her just desserts for not thinking this through. "GUHAHHGLE-!"<br />
<br />
However she then grasps higher up on the sleigh bell cords, and starts one grasping motion at a time, like someone climbing a rope without use of her legs works her way up in determination.<br />
<br />
Until eventually she's high enough up that she can work her legs up to a standing position, Now skiing on the road behind it precariously as her boots toss up slush, the Pretty Cure tries to dig her feet in and salvage this by using the momentum of the sleigh to whip her around suddenly on one of its turns. She lets go, allowing that sideways uncontrolled momentum to skate her around on the icy concrete. <br />
<br />
Leaping like a skater in a lutz jump, instead of sticking the landing on the ground, she turns in mid-air to do an aerial manuever and press off the side of a building. Then ricochet at Westar's sleigh Nakewameke, one fist extended.<br />
<br />
"Of course we would have known it was you!"<br />
<br />
The fist she pounds into the side - attempting to use the force of it to try to cause a rollover accident.<br />
<br />
"Who else would do something like this?"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Punch on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Wh... how did you even get the part if you weren't wearing the beard?!" Steven exclaims out toward his admittance toward-- hey, its Setsuna! And other friends from nearby! Okay, so he doesn't have to do this alone! "Careful everyone! This guy is a handful!" He is really strong but also theres something about him thats really... irritating? Perhaps it is his schemes that just dont make much sense.<br />
<br />
Lion continues his charge toward the sleigh as it rips out of its halted spot with great speed after Sailor Mars (!!!) does her coold ofuda thingy! Whipping bells from the sleigh snap out just high enough to hit Steven. The boy deflects with his shield deftly, but the impact makes him roll backwards off of lion and facedown into snow. Slushy snow. Ew.<br />
<br />
"Pffffpffbfpfbbpppt," is roughly the sound Steven makes once he surfaces. "Yuck! Some got in my mouth..." he whines.<br />
<br />
Lion has to skid on the snow a bit and bumps into a snowbank. It takes him a bit to get re-oriented. For the moment, Steven snags his shield off the dimensional anchor in front of his forearm, and wings it at the Nakewamek-sleigh, attempting to lodge it somewhere where it could cause problems to move on the underneath!<br />
<br />
It isn't like the shield could break anyway. It has taken lasers, explosives, drills, fire, more lasers, more drills... you get the picture. "How's everyones holiday going anyway?" he yells, even toward Westar. The boy makes his way over toward the side of the streetway, trying to avoid getting ran over at least. Then again that thing is magical, it could probably bank onto the sidewalk if it wanted.<br />
<br />
The boy perks up toward Cure Pine. "He's cool right? We found him in a Gem Ruin in the desert a few weeks ago! He follows me everywhere and is cool and stuff! You can pet him if you want when we are done, he likes pets!" Meanwhile Lion is scowling as hard as his fluffy face can at the speeding sleigh, waiting for a moment to make a move.<br />
<br />
Can Lions even scowl?<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe has used Throw Shield on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Westar counters 5 Fatigue damage from Cure Pine's Pineapple Punch, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, What Fun It Is To Ride And Punch, partially gets through, doing 5 Fatigue damage to Cure Pine! <br />
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Steven Universe's Throw Shield, taking 35 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"As if that's a gift anyone wants!" Sailor Mars snaps back, and does not dignify his dismay with a discussion. (Does Westar's own misery fill the Sorrow Gauge..?) Certainly she has appeared before to foil his plans with her horrible little prayer slips; she is industrious in battle.<br />
<br />
Perhaps that explains why she stop to scowl at Cure Pine, after the ofuda strikes true. "Cure Pine!" She says, and she is just as harsh to her: "If you get distracted by some cute animal again, I swear --"<br />
<br />
Here her glass house sparkles in the afternoon sun as the Nakewameke takes advantage of her distraction to /straight-up run her over./ With a strangled little noise Mars gives up on her chastisement just a hair too late to leap out of the way, and once she struggles up again she is, just, /covered/ in snow, with nasty tracks over her nice white uniform where the deerless sleigh rode past.<br />
<br />
At least there were no hooves..?<br />
<br />
And there's Steven, talking like they're having a nice, casual meetup. Sailor Mars sucks in a breath through her teeth, counts to ten, and does /not/ yell at the small child. "Oh, it's going /great,/" she says, instead. "You know what'd make it /even better?/" Twitch-twitch goes a smile which is just a little too broad as she faces down Westar, clasping her hands in prayer: "FIRE -- SOUL!"<br />
<br />
A twisting spiral of flame erupts from her fingertips, barrelling down towards the Executive, and maybe it's not actually going great.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Fire Soul! on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.<br />
COMBAT: Westar braces 17 Fatigue damage from Sailor Mars's Fire Soul!, taking 26 Fatigue damage! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Setsuna Higashi left her home behind for this world, for its people... Why wouldn't she encourage the people who might take it for granted to remember otherwise? <br />
<br />
Well, excepting all the ones she doesn't want to talk to. She doesn't bother so much doing that for those, unless she's working. Which... is more often lately. It's fine. <br />
<br />
"There's plenty of misery already!" Setsuna calls. "It's /cold/! Why aren't you wearing sleeves or something!?" <br />
<br />
She knows why; Executives don't have to feel the chill. ...But fairness has /never/ stopped her from trashing Westar's choices, though she is... a little less cruel about it than she used to be. <br />
<br />
"And Mobius-sama doesn't even care about holidays!" <br />
<br />
But--well, Buki says the same thing Setsuna--'Eas'--was planning, more or less, so she chimes in, "Who else would they think it was!? Nobody else uses yellow Data Diamonds!" <br />
<br />
Setsuna's red eyes peek over the bench, her fingers curled around its back for stability, and she watches Lion first, then Cure Pine's graceful maneuvers. And--Sailor Mars's grat power, before... <br />
<br />
"Sailor Mars!" Setsuna Higashi calls out from behind. "You're not supposed to let it hit you!" Then, "Try more fire!" <br />
<br />
But, Steven did ask. How is her holiday...? Does Lion approve of pets...? <br />
<br />
"Don't eat the snow!" she says to Steven instead. And also, "Pet the lion later!"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"What makes you think it's *our* defeat everyone here will see?" asks the Wind Knight - and then the sleigh accelerates again, a wave of slush kicked up that's too sudden and too broad for her to actually dodge away from. She settles for bringing her arms up - right arm forward, so that the armored bracer on her forearm can absorb the bulk of the impact.<br />
<br />
Which, to be fair, it does.<br />
<br />
But it doesn't stop a fair amount of dirty gray not-quite-melted snow from landing squarely on her glasses. That's the kind of thing that slows most people down a bit - and the Wind Knight is not an exception to that. (At least it's on her *glasses* and not straight in her eyes ... but until she can wipe her glasses off, it's still going to mess with her vision.)<br />
<br />
Her bow and quiver vanish, and the green-clad Magic Knight's sword appears in her hands; the Nakewame-sleigh is roaring around too quickly for her to pull off a good melee attack, but she doesn't expect to take out two (or three) engines the same way the first one did. "You know, Westar-san," she calls out, "I'm surprised that you're still trying to collect misery after all this time! I'm sure all of Labyrinth's current members will wake up in a couple of days to see coal spilling out of their stockings, but you *might* persuade Santa-san that you're sorry if you give up right away!"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Gentle Chiding on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sourisi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.<br />
<br />
As Sourisi lands on solid ground, she rolls her eyes as Westar forgets everyone's name except for Cure Pine. Forgetting her name is understandable, but the Wind Knight and Sailor Mars have names that tend to roll off the tongue a bit more.<br />
<br />
There's also Steven, but...well, Steven never went with a fancy moniker. He's just Steven...on a pink lion?! Okay, something new to add to the profile. It was like a mascot, vehicle and power up all in one!<br />
<br />
Sourisi places her bags down just in time to grab her tonfa as they return to her. She could have just left her gifts behind once she climbed up to the rooftops, but it would take precious minutes after the fight backtracking just to find them again. With how cold it is, she's just going to risk it and keep the presents with her. It's what reciepts are for, right?<br />
<br />
With how often these attack happen, surely return policies cover 'act of magical villain' these days.<br />
<br />
Though maybe there's benefits to leaving her personal effects behind, as the Nakewameke calls up a massive wall of street slush to wash over them. With her bags already on the ground, all Sourisi can do is step in front of her bundles and let her body act as a shield for the sludge.<br />
<br />
One gray mouse is wiping her eyes and face clean, though her cargo is safe from the tidal wave. Just in time to see Westar run over the Sailor Senshi with evil reindeer and rocket sleigh. She winces upon seeing the hit and run, but it doesn't seem to dampen Mars' internal fire. No puns there, but her comeback is still very effective. "The gift that keeps on giving, Sailor Mars?"<br />
<br />
Lifting her prestine bags up, Sourisi gives chase on foot once again, clawed boots giving the Miraculous Ninja the traction she needs on powdered streets. It's thanks to the damage already done to the engine that allows her to keep up, and gives her the chance to actually respond to Steven. "Quite well, Steven, though if anyone is looking for last minute gifts, giving me a Santa imposter isn't a great one!"<br />
<br />
Running in the wake of the sleigh isn't easy, but Sourisi is able to leap aboard onto the back of the vessal, holding on tight with her unoccupied hand. With both of her hands now occuiped with sleigh and presents, her rosewood tonfa won't be able to come into play.<br />
<br />
That's why the Miraculous user is kicking the rockets with all her might. "Keep this up, and you might just give yourself Claus-trophia if nothing else!"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Sourisi has used Feral Flail on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Sourisi has finished attacking.<br />
COMBAT: Westar dodges 0 Fatigue damage from Fuu Hououji's Gentle Chiding, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Westar is Quipped! <br />
COMBAT: Westar fails to counter Sourisi's Feral Flail, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Crisp Kringle, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Sourisi! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's like no one wants to let Westar rampage over hills and streets, laughing all the way.<br />
<br />
For a brief moment, at Cure Pine's comment, Westar seems utterly baffled. He starts to speak, thinks better, and then shouts toward the pseudo-civilian watching events. "Eas! Do you know what a vacation is?"<br />
<br />
It's a brief diversion, and by the time Westar turns back to Cure Pine she's trailing along behind him, climbing along the strands of bells. Accusations fly like punches, and as she winds up to punch the sleigh he's suddenly there with a fist to clash against hers. "You and Eas can't have known for sure that it was me! I don't normally have a beard, so-"<br />
<br />
He's not steering while he's punching, though, and the sleigh hits Steven's shield like it's the worst speedbump in the world. The whole thing bounces, taking to the air for a brief and panic-inducing moment. Already off-kilter from the exchange of fists, Westar goes flying and only barely catches himself with the sleigh's other strand of bells. This might have worked out for the best, though, as Sailor Mars proceeds to set his former seat on fire.<br />
<br />
"My holiday?!" With one heave, Westar hauls himself back up to stand on the sleigh's hood, facing back towards his pursuers, looking at Steven in puzzlement. "Is that why everyone in my class decided to hold some out-of-the-blue party last week? I guess that was pretty fun...wait, are you and your weird cat-thing trying to distract me?!"<br />
<br />
The sleigh is still in motion, but has slowed down enough that Fuu's words and Sourisi's kicks manage to catch up. The right-most engine, still smoking from that first arrow, erupts in flames from the ferocious impact - but it's a belated blast, sluggish enough that Sourisi wouldn't be caught. Fuu, on the other hand, gets an extremely puzzled look from the Labyrinth Executive.<br />
<br />
He goes as far as tilting his head, scratching at the white-trimmed red hat he wears. "...I don't get it. What do socks and train fuel have to do with anything?...hey! You're also trying to distract me, aren't you?! Nakewameke!"<br />
<br />
The sleigh groans, flames belching - and then a hatch on the back opens up. Tiny little presents go flying out, sparkling in almost circuit-like wrapping paper. They're small, but there's dozens, even hundreds of them to fly out in the sleigh's wake. Surely, opening them early would be inappropriate...?<br />
<br />
Oh wait.<br />
<br />
They just contain tiny explosives that go off on impact with the ground. Way to spoil the surprise.<br />
<br />
Both Cure Pine and Sourisi are in too close a range to get given those gifts, though, so Westar steps in with a simpler present of more violence. Sourisi he closes in with first, aiming for a simple boot to dislodge her. "Claus this, Santa that - it may be the last minute, but this is the day I had to act! Stop trying to catch a ride to my victory!"<br />
<br />
As for Cure Pine, Westar has a sack that came with the outfit - and he swings it overhand to either club the Pretty Cure with it or maybe even catch her inside. "As for you - even Eas might be impressed if I make sure the Pretty Cure problem is all wrapped up!"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used The Gift That Keeps Giving on Sailor Mars.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used The Gift That Keeps Giving on Steven Universe.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used The Gift That Keeps Giving on Fuu Hououji.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Kind Of The Worst Santa on Sourisi.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Cure Pine.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine braces 26 Fatigue damage from Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Block and Parry abilities activate! <br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji perfectly dodges 34 Fatigue damage from Westar's The Gift That Keeps Giving, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Fuu Hououji's Fade and Flash abilities activate! <br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe braces 16 Fatigue damage from Westar's The Gift That Keeps Giving, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Steven Universe's Block and Parry abilities activate! <br />
COMBAT: Sourisi fails to counter Westar's Kind Of The Worst Santa, taking 32 Fatigue damage! Westar is Psyched! <br />
COMBAT: Sourisi's counterattack, Forest Down, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars partially dodges 8 Fatigue damage from Westar's The Gift That Keeps Giving, taking 33 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Sailor Mars's Fade and Flash abilities activate! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Oh can I!?" Pine's eyes light up as Steven indicates that, because she absolutely wanted to pet the Lion - but as a responsible pet handler she knows better than to do so without asking. Especially with a cat so large.<br />
<br />
However she cringes at Sailor Mar's response. "I wasn't going to do it right now." She says - feeling a little embarrassed.<br />
<br />
Pine suddenly at Westar's comment at the beard has a sweatdrop, "The rest of your hair is still green though... you didn't even change it."<br />
<br />
Westar hitting the speed bump at the same moment of her punch sends Cure Pine careening backwards, "Kyah-!" And a little dizzy from it, she's caught suddenly dancing in a little bit of a panic from side to side as the presents start to become a minefield. However none of them come close.<br />
<br />
And instead Westar swings his Santa sack like a giant club. The Pretty Cure manages to duck the opening of the sack in time, putting up her arms as the sack impacts her, smashing her way effectively, sending her sliding on the ground before her inevitable impact with a bus stop sign. The girl flattens it - or perhaps is flattened by it.<br />
<br />
"I'm /not/ some office deadline for you to meet." The girl says - pained, as she picks herself back up. "And her name isn't Eas anymore."<br />
<br />
She does not dignify whether she'd be impressed with an answer.<br />
<br />
"If you want to impress her-"<br />
<br />
The girl starts breaking into a run, the ice covered ground making her advance a little precarious. There's an almost prissy way to the way Cure Pine runs, raising her hands as she does, but... <br />
<br />
"-then you could start by not trying to ruin her Christmas!" The sudden array of punches she offers into the side of the sled may not be particularly strong - but she's working up a tempo like she's planning on something soon.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine has used The Yellow Heart on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Pine's The Yellow Heart, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine is Psyched! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Woooow!" Steven replies with toward Rei, with honest-to-goodness glee. "That was awesoooome!" His gazes all starry and giddy. It was clear he was a fan of the Senshi. "I-I know that!" he says toward Setsuna! "I mean, normal snow is fine, just not whatever... that is." A gesture is made toward whatever the stewing cauldron of gutter slush is considered. He is gonna need ice cream to get that taste out later.<br />
<br />
THe shield eventually dislodges itself from under Westar's sleigh, but looks like he hit a yule log-size bump! "Uh... well yes and no!" he answers back toward Westar. "I guess it does make a good distraction, but I hope your holiday is going okay! Besides the whole uh, terrorizing civilians thing!"<br />
<br />
Killing them with kinda-kindness. "Yeah, Christmas parties happen a lot this time of year!" Lion scampers up to Steven to pick him back up. No way he can stay close to Westar without him. He climbs aboard his buddy.<br />
<br />
They take off, and immediately have to contend with presents /worse/ than not including the batteries-- ones that actually explode in your face! They fall all around, and the two get rocked around hard. One in particular sends them up in the air a bit, but Lion catches his footing on the descent and they barrel on toward Westar.<br />
<br />
"Totally!" he calls toward Cure Pine. "Soon as we're done here!" A look toward Fuu. "Yeah, she's kidna got a point! Can't you collect energy from some other emotion? Like happiness or fun or something? Why's it always gotta be bad emotions?"<br />
<br />
As for Sourisi... "Did... did you get that joke from my dad?" he asks. "Its a really good one!"<br />
<br />
Lion continues to superspeed run, and Steven climbs atop his mane, hanging on. He projects the shield in front of both of them. "Ramming speed, Lion!"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe has used Shield Slam on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe has finished attacking.<br />
COMBAT: Westar braces 13 Fatigue damage from Steven Universe's Shield Slam, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Steven Universe is Psyched! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Something goes flying out of the sleigh's back hatch, and the Magic Knight of Wind pre-emptively moves away, even though she can't see what those myriad somethings *are*. She's already in mid-air when the 'gifts' start exploding underneath her, as a result - and she makes a point of *not* touching down on the ground again while things are going boom across the pavement. Or maybe, given the small size, it's closer to 'bang' than 'boom' ... ?<br />
<br />
"Not that I'd normally object to a good fireworks display," the Wind Knight comments as she perches on a street light, "but you're supposed to wait until it's dark to start launching them. And firecrackers are more in order for New Year's - Chinese New Year's, specifically - than Christmas, aren't they?"<br />
<br />
She leaps from her perch, descending towards the Nakewame-sleigh - and finally puts her sword to use, trying to drive it into the third of those engines and then lever her blade *down* through it.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Unorthodox Swordplay on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
COMBAT: Westar decisively counters 15 Fatigue damage from Fuu Hououji's Unorthodox Swordplay, taking 5 Fatigue damage! <br />
COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Chestnuts Roasting On An Engine Fire, partially gets through, doing 28 Fatigue damage to Fuu Hououji! Critical Counterhit! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sourisi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Fire roars, fists fly, kicks crash and stern words bite, but the sleigh is still a Nakewameke through and through.<br />
<br />
It makes sense that Westar is completely baffled with Christmas and the traditions that make up the holiday, and he has obviously done some research into it if he had apparently used a Santa costume. The fact Westar still had fun without actually causing sorrow is an interesting tidbit to hear!<br />
<br />
The smoking engine combusts completely into a flaming ruin, Sourisi twisting herself around to the side to escape the flames. With the right-most rocket out, it's surely going to put a damper on this one-man parade! "I say the Wind Knight succeeded in distracting you." There's almost a smug tone to her voice, and Sourisi goes to pull herself and her bags up so to bring the fight to Westar directly!<br />
<br />
Only for Westar to deliver a boot to the head just for her, sending her tumbling out into the snow.<br />
<br />
It's a few moments before Sourisi is able to stop her wild fall enough to stand upright, bruised and battled but all the more annoyed. The bags are not as pristine as they once were, but the contents should be good! Hopefully. "Ow...okay, Westar just made the naughty list."<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke is slower now, but Sourisi is trying a different approach now. A tonfa is pulled free of their clasp but isn't thrown after the speeding sleigh. Instead, Sourisi's tail curls around and taps onto the tonfa, a golden chain of light connecting between the two points. With a bit of a wind up, the battered Miraculous Ninja tosses the weapon out like the boomerang it pretends to be, chain extending all the way back to her. But it's not going for the sleigh.<br />
<br />
As the tonfa twirls ahead of the monstrousness reindeer, Sourisi tugs hard on her tail to yank the weapon back, hoping to give them a set of reins not under Westar's control!<br />
<br />
"It's not really common, but red and green fireworks can sell this time of year. Maybe 'fountain' fireworks?" Then again, fireworks are never legal in the city...<br />
<br />
Steven's comment almost hurts a little. A pun, being compared to a dad joke? Of course he doesn't mean it as an insult, which is a big plus in his favor. "Nope, it's a Sourisi Original, but I think maybe I should go back to the drawing board on that one. That, and i'm starting to run out of puns!"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Sourisi has used Whao Dasher! on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Sourisi has finished attacking.<br />
COMBAT: Westar braces 13 Fatigue damage from Sourisi's Whao Dasher!, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Westar! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Oh, gee, thanks!" Sailor Mars yells back, as Setsuna pipes up. "I'd never thought of it that way -- of /course/ I know that, come on!" At least sniping back at her proves that she's still punchy enough to fight, even after Westar blazed a trail.<br />
<br />
To Sourisi, she points out: "If Westar's set on getting coal this Christmas," just as the Wind Knight says, "I'm more than happy to light it up." Fire is, in fact, the gift which keeps on giving, and she seems quite pleased by Steven's starry-eyed admiration, because Mars is, perhaps, a little bit of a hypocrite about battle focus. "Why, thank you!"<br />
<br />
For instance, there's the way Sailor Mars takes a moment out of moving about the battlefield to gesture, flabbergasted, at Westar, as he wonders why they would hold a party. "HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW WHY AT THIS POINT." Her exclamation is loud, but in a uniform sort of way which might even be pleasing to a Labyrinth Executive. "You've been here for a year, do you not pay ANY attention?!"<br />
<br />
One gloved hand slides down her face. "Oh my God I feel like I'm beating up a puppy here, /why are you like this./" Most of the Dark Generals at least /pretend/ to be competent at manipulating Earth's systems. Westar doesn't seem to even /get/ half the details about the people he's supposed to be making miserable. It's enough to almost make her feel /bad./<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the Nakewameke interrupts Mars's dismay, and instead of getting sad she just gets mad. "Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!" Sailor Mars yelps as she dances between present and present, hopping between explosions just quick enough for none of them to bring her down, and notably /not/ quickly enough not to be battered by a dozen little bangs. Even if Westar is a fool of a General, that doesn't mean he doesn't /hurt./<br />
<br />
Maybe he's even better at blindsiding them /because/ he seems so innocent.<br />
<br />
Which is the sort of thought which leads Mars to snap, as Cure Pine is battered by a sack: "Oh, please! How impressed is she gonna be that you're clobbering her friend, huh?! Get real, Westar, if you can't even remember her name --"<br />
<br />
'More fire,' she said.<br />
<br />
"-- there's no way Secchan's gonna notice you!" And here, Sailor Mars takes another ofuda in hand, and chants, with lilting and deep tones: "No-maku Samanda Bazara da Senda Makaroshada Sowataya um Tarata Kanman..."<br />
<br />
Bringing her hands together, she calls forth a spark of flame which lances through the ofuda, and this time the spiral of flame is not broad and formless. "FIRE SOUL BIRD!" Sailor Mars calls out, and it is so: the flames take the form of a broad phoenix, large enough to coat the sleigh whole in flame as it dives down. But as much as she'd like to save her allies from the fallout - that is rather a /lot/ of fire...<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Fire Soul Bird on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Fire Soul Bird on Fuu Hououji.<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Fire Soul Bird on Cure Pine.<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.<br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine dodges 15 Fatigue damage from Sailor Mars's Fire Soul Bird, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Fade and Flash abilities activate! <br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji partially dodges 4 Fatigue damage from Sailor Mars's Fire Soul Bird, taking 17 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Fade and Flash abilities activate! <br />
COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Sailor Mars's Fire Soul Bird, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Well maybe you know it, but you're not /doing/ it!" Setsuna sasses Sailor Mars, before she turns her eyes on the Wind Knight. "Labyrinth doesn't hang stockings!" Setsuna calls at Fuu with a frown. "And he's getting it by mail--" <br />
<br />
She pauses, at that part. She pretends she didn't say anything. She seems not to register Sourisi's joke, though--instead, as Westar shouts at her--well, she can actually answer this one. She sets her jaw, thinks--<br />
<br />
"It's when humans schedule a break from work!" she calls. "Usually they travel somewhere if they can--the idea is time to refresh yourself lets you work better later, like how even people from Labyrinth sleep!" <br />
<br />
There's no anger in it, no... Well, not really anything; it's definitely a moment to remember that Setsuna, too, is kind of alien... though, "But we definitely knew it was you! And the party was definitely for the holiday!" Pause. Lion and Steven /are/ trying to distract Westar, though, Setsuna will give him that. And if this is the day he had... <br />
<br />
Even Eas might be impressed if--Setsuna blinks, and tilts her head. "I mean, I would," she admits, "But I would also be angry! Don't giftwrap Cure Pine!" She pauses again, and then, as if confused, "...Was that a /pun/, Westar??" <br />
<br />
She stops, though--at Cure Pine's picking herself back up despite the pain, at her defense, and she watches her. Maybe, a little prissy in her way, but... <br />
<br />
"...Pine's already impressed me," Setsuna says, not shouting but raising her voice enough that she thinks the other girl can hear her. 'Not Eas', she says, and maybe, in a way, she always will be... <br />
<br />
But it's nice, to be considered someone different--someone new. To have a future, instead of only a past. <br />
<br />
There's a little of that smile let as she explains to Steven, "Only misery energy draws out what we--" No, not we, not now, and she shakes her head, "What they're looking for!" Pause. "...Besides, Nakewameke aren't really equipped for other emotions..." <br />
<br />
Pause, as she considers Fuu. "Is that how it is...?" Hmm. Sourisi seems to have an idea of it. "<br />
<br />
...But Sailor Mars is there, talking about her, too, and finally bringing th efire, purification and all. "Mars," she starts--and then her eyes widen. "Pine, Look out!" she calls to the others. ...All right, to Pretty Cure first--she can still be a bit selfish. But then, she does believe in Pine and Mars both...<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Like a little drummer, Cure Pine's punches pummel the side of the sleigh. It rocks back and forth, and Lion's high-speed impact knocks one of the runners off entirely. Sparks fly as the corner of the sleigh starts dragging on pavement - but the Nakewameke seems bound and determined to keep going where it's going. Back toward the parade, back towards the biggest crowd of onlookers, back to the maximum opportunity for misery and sorrow.<br />
<br />
It's slowing down, but it hadn't stopped yet - until Fuu leaps in, slamming her sword into one of the remaining engines. Already destabilized from punches and potholes and pyrotechnics, the piece of technology explodes in a massive blast. The sleigh starts reeling, Sourisi's golden chain pulling control of the vehicle away from Westar long enough to crash it into a lamp post. It groans for a moment - and then a wave of flame engulfs the entire vehicle courtesy of Sailor Mars, ancillary explosions filling the air with sound and fury.<br />
<br />
Emerging from the smoke, stomping down hard on a nearby mailbox, Westar pulls off his hat and slaps at the parts that are burning. "I don't need to change my hair! And Eas doesn't need to change who she is for you people!" He looks around, teeth gnashing, but lets out a sigh. "Right, right. Vacation, break from work...what's with this world, anyway?"<br />
<br />
There's more comments being flung his way, more annoyance and taunting. He wheels on Steven for a moment, before sweeping an arm out to indicate all those standing in the way. "Sorrow and misery is what Lord Mobius seeks, not happiness and fun! As for you, Sailor Mars - you've underestimated me! Do you think I'm completely clueless? Today was all part of my plan - all the hopes and joys there were to ruin today in particular! I've been paying attention!"<br />
<br />
Westar tilts his head back, folds his arms, and smirks. "How many dates do you think we wrecked on today - December 23rd, the most romantic day of the year?"<br />
<br />
Silence. The sleigh is silent. The onlooking crowd is silent. Distantly, a hundred meters away, there's an awkward cough.<br />
<br />
The smug look turns downfallen as the silence drags on.<br />
<br />
"...I got the date wrong, didn't I?" Westar brings up one hand, engulfing his face in it. "Nakewameke, just...just attack them."<br />
<br />
The sleigh surges out of the snow, veering wildly and sparking unsettlingly on its trail. It lashes out wildly with those strings of bells, whipping and smashing with wild abandon. All the damage seems to have slowed it down too much to spray slush or run people down anywhere near as well as it used to.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Bells Of Misery Ring on Steven Universe.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Jing-a-Ling Too on Cure Pine.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Jing-a-Ling Too on Sailor Mars.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Ringing Out The Old on Sourisi.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has used Ringing Out The Old on Fuu Hououji.<br />
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji fails to brace Westar's Ringing Out The Old, taking 29 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! <br />
COMBAT: Sourisi dodges 16 Fatigue damage from Westar's Ringing Out The Old, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Sourisi's Fade and Flash abilities activate! Diversion applied to Sourisi! <br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars dodges 9 Fatigue damage from Westar's Jing-a-Ling Too, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Sailor Mars's Fade and Flash abilities activate! Stagger applied to Sailor Mars! <br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine braces 14 Fatigue damage from Westar's Jing-a-Ling Too, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Block and Parry abilities activate! <br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe fails to counter Westar's Bells Of Misery Ring, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Steven Universe! <br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe's counterattack, Repelling Shield, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Secchan..." Pine says, as if a little stunned by her saying she'd impressed her, only able to make a pleased noise after, as if overwhelmed by a little emotion.<br />
<br />
Pine is in the middle of punching Westar's sleigh when Mars sends a phoenix effigy down - and Setsuna's warning turns her around to face it - stunned at the sight of it, she stops punching and waves her palms, "Wa-wait let me get out of the-" There's no time left. And suddenly she's leaping to the side with a shriek as it singes her hair. Pine upon landing is doing a little dance, wiggling and squirming as she pats herself out. "Hot-hot-hot-hot-hot-!" Before she complains, "Sailor Mars..." It sounds a little pouty even.<br />
<br />
However Westar unveils his evil plan!? Westar actually made plans. Pine stops patting herself off to shoot a look at him in abject shock.<br />
<br />
The shock starts to fade though as he mentions that he realizes it's December 23rd. And genuinely - sincerely thinks this is the holiday. Pine...<br />
<br />
... can't help herself, she puts both of her hands over her mouth, and turns around, squatting down. Squealing laughter into her hands. She muffles it hard enough that most people probably wouldn't even have a sense that's what she's doing.<br />
<br />
You see - Pine is too polite to ever laugh at anyone openly, even if it's Westar - she tries her best to hide it.<br />
<br />
<nowiki> She tries.</nowiki><br />
<br />
Pine stands up, wipes off her eyes while her back is still turned, takes a few deep breaths to recompose herself. Then turns around.<br />
<br />
While she doesn't want to encourage Westar - she'd never make fun of him. So she tries to sound as serious as she can manage. "We'll never-!"<br />
<br />
She gets punished for it because the strings of bells whip at her - quick as a lash, and she pivots into trying to shoulder block it. The bells knock her back into a spin.<br />
<br />
Dancing backwards to try to recover her footing, she says, "Even if it's the wrong day - you're still bringing sorrow and misery! And we'll stop you so Secchan can enjoy her Christmas...!" She struggles, she truly does, "... two... days... from now." Somehow - through supreme force of effort, she keeps herself from breaking back into laughter.<br />
<br />
Taking out her Linkrun, she swipes a finger over it. A glowing flute emerges, with rainbow keys, spinning into her hands. "Heal - Harmony of Faith-" She plays the keys to the end, with prismatic light and concentric circles of sound emerging, "Cure Stick - Pine Flute!"<br />
<br />
Taking it up however now less as an instrument and more as a magic wand, she waves it from side to side in a complex choreography, complete with a little leaping move at the end, "Nasty things - Nasty things - fly away!"<br />
<br />
Eventually ending up with her pointing it at the Sleigh Nakewameke - "Pretty Cure Healing Prayer-" Her motions creating a diamond of warm faith and belief - wrought in gold. Then casting back her arm, she calls out- "-FRESHHHHHH!"<br />
<br />
And then stabbing it forward, the Diamond is sent forward at the Nakewameke, before bursting into hearts upon hearts that revolve around it like electrons around an atom - save that it is in reverse. They are positive feelings trying to balance out a core of misery, which Pine struggles to keep control of, twirling her wand as she focuses upon it, "-Haaaaaa!"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Pine has used Pretty Cure Healing Prayer Fresh! on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Tactical memorandum: Engaging explosive targets successfully with melee attacks comes with a hefty price. The Magic Knight of Wind finds this out the hard way - because while she does succeed at destroying an engine, the following explosion catches her basically right in the face - well, right in the *everything*, really. The only good part is that the force of the explosion tosses her violently enough to escape most of the brunt of Mars's Fire Soul Bird.<br />
<br />
And then the Wind Knight's impromptu flight comes to an end as her body slams into a wall (not a window, one of the few actual *walls* along this stretch of the street), with a bell-string driving her further into the architecture for good measure. Maybe not by much - but every little bit hurts.<br />
<br />
It takes a few moments before the Magic Knight manages to move again - but move she does, prying herself out of a roughly Magic Knight-shaped crater in the wall, hissing quietly in pain, but forcing herself to stand on her own two feet ... even if she has to lean on her sword to do it. She's scorched and battered and possibly bleeding; she probably needs to make use of her healing magic to patch herself up - but if she takes the time to heal *herself* then it's time in which she won't be supporting her allies. The best she can do is take a couple of deep breaths to try and clear her head, to force the pain back from her consciousness.<br />
<br />
Also, if she lets herself think about the pain, that might add to the misery Westar's explicitly trying to collect, so she has an extra reason. And then there are the onlookers - she has to at least *look* strong and enduring, for their sake more than for her own.<br />
<br />
She draws in one more breath, and braces her feet and legs, letting go of her sword and allowing it to vanish. That leaves her standing on her own two feet; her legs hurt about as much as the rest of her, but they're still supporting her weight. She raises her arms, drawing back, and focuses her will; the breeze picks up around her, tousling her hair and ruffling at her clothes.<br />
<br />
And her green eyes, not clouded by pain but clear and focused behind her glasses, turn their gaze upon Westar and the Nakewameke.<br />
<br />
"Emerald ... !"<br />
<br />
She draws her raised arms back, as if winding up to throw something - which is, really, exactly what she's doing: the wind intensifies around her, actually blowing some loose soot off her, and a few bits of stray debris away from her as well. It's just that what she's about to fling at Westar and his evil rocket-sleigh is nothing less than --<br />
<br />
"CYCLONE!!!"<br />
<br />
-- the wind itself, amplified and focused, ready to rend and erode away even solid metal.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: FINISHER! Fuu Hououji has used Emerald Cyclone: Full on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (5)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Steven and Lion ram into the back of the sleigh, giving it a good shake! Those bells have reason to ring, now! They have to dodge the sleigh-runner as it skids off. "I dunno, if its original, I would copyright it, before anyone tries a Claus-action lawsuit!" Heh.<br />
<br />
Okay /that/ was bad.<br />
<br />
"Yeah, Mars! Show them whoWUAH--" Lion HITS the brakes on his running when that fire explosion occurs and skids, spinning out for a moment before giving chase again. Steven looks quite dizzy from the moment. "N... Not the teacups..." he moans before snapping to.<br />
<br />
"I mean, can't they make new ones?! Like, go to the drawing board and design new ones? I bet if they did and went off good emotions there would be a lot less fighting and resistance!" A suggestion toward both Setsuna and Westar. Not that Lord Mobius would suddenly change plans for a chubbly little kid with a gemstone in his belly, but constructive criticism made some businesses what they are today.<br />
<br />
...If filling the gauge was a business, anyway. Which if could be??? He has no idea.<br />
<br />
The sleigh retaliates, flinging those bell-straps around like a flail. The boy puts up a curved section of a bubble shield to push it away, but it bounces right off the outside and cracks him right in the head. "HEY OW," he exclaims, holding his head. He isn't sure if the ringing he is hearing is from the bells or the headache he now has.<br />
<br />
"C'mon Lion, let's get em!" the boy says, hopping off and charging the sleigh, as does Lion, a two-pronged attack!<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe has used A Boy and His Cat! on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Steven Universe has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Mars [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Sailor Mars realises, too late, that she has used /perhaps a little too much fire./ "Oh --" she exclaims, eyes widening, as the Wind Knight and Cure Pine are caught in the blast. "Cure Pine! Wind Knight!" She sounds alarmed they've gotten hurt - shocked, even. At least Westar didn't escape, either, and he came out so much worse from the holy flame.<br />
<br />
"Geez," she mutters, self-consciously, looking aside as she scratches a hand at her cheek and tries to save face, "haven't your teams gone over 'don't get in the way of the giant fireball' yet..? E--to, that is..."<br />
<br />
But she's saved from trying to figure out how to apologise in a cool and disaffected manner by Westar pointing out that he has a /sinister plan,/ and Sailor Mars returns her heated attention to him. She narrows her eyes as he unveils just how much he's been paying attention...<br />
<br />
". . ."<br />
<br />
The way her jaw falls open, ready suspicion bleeding out to stunned silence, is something which can only be illustrated with the way she fully fails to say anything in the seconds afterwards.<br />
<br />
Westar could hear a pin drop.<br />
<br />
Certainly, he can hear the way Mars's hand impacts with her face.<br />
<br />
"Give me strength," Sailor Mars mutters a prayer into her palm as Westar realises his mistake. Perhaps it's a worthy prayer not just from her exasperation -- but also for the entirely practical reality that the Nakewameke isn't stopping. Jingle go the bells, and Mars springs back, but it's hardly just one lash of merriment. Back, back she scrambles, and, well...<br />
<br />
She /could/ use more fire, here, but she just /set Cure Pine and the Wind Knight on fire,/ even if the Wind Knight's own explosive feedback took care of most of her damage. Even if she's not going to say it, it's possible that Sailor Mars feels just a little bad about that.<br />
<br />
Just a smidgen. "How is that thing still moving?" Sailor Mars snaps instead, irate, and she produces another ofuda as she chants, cutting the nine symbolic cuts over it before she tosses it out towards the face of the beleagured sleigh. "... Evil, Begone!"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Evil, Begone! on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sourisi [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Sourisi pulls hard on her impromptu chain-rein with both of her hands, her magically agumented strength enough to pull the sleigh off course. For a moment, Sourisi's afraid that she didn't pull like she planned and caused him to charge into some innocent bystanders, but luck is on her side, and the light pole leaves a sizable dent before the sleigh continues.<br />
<br />
But the roar of a massive phoenix crashing into the sleigh in a powerful fireball is startling, and Sourisi stares in horror at the consequences of the assault. Sourisi pulls her gaze from the results to the caster, but doesn't say a word. The mouse girl lets her anger and fustration at the reckless action of the Sailor Senshi show clear on her face. This isn't the time to say anything she might regret, however.<br />
<br />
The will to do what has to be done no matter the cost to others feels too close to Ye-jin Song for comfort. Her wounds of betrayal are only now just healing over, and it's too tender to pick at for long.<br />
<br />
Westar shows that while he can cause misery, he can also break the tension before it's too much. He's been here for a year...right? How could he not yet get everything right about Christmas?<br />
<br />
In that silence, Sourisi could swear that she hears Takk somehow facepalming...despite the fact he's intangable while she's transformed. All Sourisi can do is just hang her head.<br />
<br />
The Nakewameke still possesses a Data Diamond, and even in it's weaken state can still be a threat. It strikes out with bells and reigns, and Sourisi struggles to keep a hold of her chain, the bags and evade at the same time. Alas, the bags pay the price this time, tumbling out of her grip even as she skips to the side, yet thankfully not pulperized by the Nakewameke. Yet.<br />
<br />
Now with her hands free of her presents, Sourisi renews her tugging with her chain, trying to keep Westar's monster in place for the others. "I would try to be a whirlwind of puns all the time, but the Wind Knight has me beat there. Take it down, everyone!"<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Sourisi has used Whao Dasher! on Westar.<br />
COMBAT: Sourisi has finished attacking.<br />
<br />
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Steven Universe's A Boy and His Cat!, taking 23 Fatigue damage! <br />
COMBAT: Westar braces 24 Fatigue damage from Sailor Mars's Evil, Begone!, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Westar! <br />
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Sourisi's Whao Dasher!, taking 25 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Westar! <br />
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Fuu Hououji's Finisher, Emerald Cyclone: Full, taking 106 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Pine's Finisher, Pretty Cure Healing Prayer Fresh!, taking 243 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Westar is unable to keep fighting! <br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Setsuna notices Pine's reaction--but she doesn't draw attention to a girl she knows can be shy. She smiles at her--but... She is not smiling about the fire. She figured they'd be fine, but, even so... Well, when Mars mutters, Setsuna prepares to say something--<br />
<br />
...Okay, she too is very silent. She doesn't face palm but she opens her mouth, and then... clloses it. "Westar..." <br />
<br />
He--he got the date wrong. he facepalms. Setsuna is not actually able to answer him, not immediately. She goes for other things. <br />
<br />
"Mobius-sama doesn't change his plans," Setsuna tells Steven, explaining without malice because--well, she knows this from personal experience. <br />
<br />
The magic flies--the attacks come, and Setsuna starts to lift her head above her hiding place,watching the things that she never quite gets over seeing. And Pine... Well, Pine is fighting here for /her/. Not even laughing, even. And it's true that Westar did it... <br />
<br />
'Two... days from now. "Ah..."<br />
<br />
"They're... pretty strong," Setsuna starts to Mars, by way of explanation, but... "I mean..." <br />
<br />
She pauses. She thinks. She thinks of the holiday coming, of what evveryone has said about it, of all the music she keeps hearing... <br />
<br />
"...It /was/ a good plan," the former Executive admits, rising from behind her bench, glancing to the side, to a ruined bit of road.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.<br />
<br />
They're laughing at him. Westar can tell, and frankly he can't even complain about them too much. Getting the day mixed up...it's an embarrassment. Even if Labyrinth doesn't really have holidays worth keeping track of, he doesn't really have any excuse.<br />
<br />
A boy and his lion tackle the sleigh, tilting it up onto its one remaining runner. An evil-sealing talisman slaps onto its face, again detonating hard enough to launch it back up onto one corner - whereupon Sourisi's golden chain holds it in place, unable to twist or swing or make any kind of counter-attack.<br />
<br />
Fuu's cyclone smashes into the pinned sleigh like a hurricane, ripping it off of the ground and hurling it high into the air. The Nakewameke groans, smoke sizzling from the Data Diamond it sports as it begins to fall - any hope of it surviving impact seems forgone. It never touches the ground, though, as Cure Pine's shining diamond of Belief smashes into it in mid-air, engulfing it in purifying light.<br />
<br />
From the blinding light, there's a faint sound of fizzing, of evil bubbling away, of wrongs being put right. Labyrinth's dark power sizzles away, and the light spreads out - straightening a dented lamp post, cleaning slush from the sides of the road, and leaving an intact sleigh safely alone on the ground in its former decor.<br />
<br />
Westar slowly drags his hand down his face as his Nakewameke ceases to exist, letting out a forlorn sigh. He looks up at the assembled group, battered but victorious - and then at the cheers of the distant crowd. The comments, the laughter, the mockery - he doesn't challenge it, doesn't defend himself. He starts to walk off, pausing only at Setsuna's words.<br />
<br />
"...thanks. I just screwed it up...and, well." A sour look crosses his face, and he turns back to those who have opposed him, donning his red hat once more. "...congratulations, Pretty Cure and associates. You've won this day - so I guess I'll say it again. Merry Christmas to all!"<br />
<br />
He leaps, then - straight from the ground to the top of a two-story building, and calls down once more before running off. "And next year, I'm getting a calendar!"<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/2019-03-12_-_TIMELINE_3:_I_Don%27t_Need_To_Know_Who_You_Are2019-03-12 - TIMELINE 3: I Don't Need To Know Who You Are2019-03-13T03:50:39Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Created page with "{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2" |- ! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: I Don't Need To Know W..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: I Don't Need To Know Who You Are'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''In the wake of a late-night battle, Sailor Moon and Ladybug finally have a chance to talk for a little while. Stress from keeping a secret identity secret is starting to make cracks show for at least one of them, though...''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
[[Usagi Tsukino|Sailor Moon]], [[Marinette Dupain-Cheng|Ladybug]]<br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
Game Center Crown<br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
2019-03-12 - December 22nd, 2014<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Ladybug [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's a crescent moon overhead, shining its light down on the aftermath of battle. A spectre of the night, composed of a thousand crimson eyes blended with lurking shadows and menace, had stalked the alleys of Shitamachi. Whatever it had sought from its victims, it hissed of danger and death.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, its lightning-quick stalking had one weakness - it could only spring from shadow to shadow. For a brief instant, the overloaded sign of Game Center Crown shone like a noon-time sun, scattering darkness as if it were midday. A thousand crimson eyes winced in agony, and the monster screeched in fury - and then confusion, as an unbreakable string wrapped around it. "Now's your chance, Sailor Moon!"<br />
<br />
The deed was done.<br />
<br />
The battle over.<br />
<br />
Perhaps uncharacteristically, though, Ladybug remained - perched atop the roof of the now-darkened arcade. There's a faint sizzle from the sign, and she winces at the odor - but she doesn't comment on it, only staring at the yo-yo held in one hand.<br />
<br />
"...I'm glad I was able to help." She's been saying that, lately - saying it since the invasion and liberation of Ohtori, for which she'd been absent. More monster battles, even when not Akuma, popping up all over the city as needed...<br />
<br />
But her shoulders still slump, and she looks off into the distance in silence for a moment. Belatedly, she shakes her head. "Sorry - are you all right, Sailor Moon?"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Now's her chance?<br />
<br />
"<span style="color:#ff00ff">Moon Princess - HALATION!</span>"<br />
<br />
Coruscating crescents, glimmering pinwheels of sparkles, shining stars. And... it all fades to white.<br />
<br />
There's only a sizzling sign left.<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon looks like she's about to sink down in exhaustion. "Thank goodness...!" She's perhaps just a tad bruised up from the ambushes of it moving from shadow to shadow. For a while, she looks so very tired.<br />
<br />
And then out of nowhere she just grasps Ladybug's hands, with her rod still in one of them and gives them an energetic shake. "That was amazing!" And she has this huge smile. It's a far cry from Chat Noir and their after battle ritual of fist bumps.<br />
<br />
She doesn't hang on awkwardly long though or anything, taking this step back, and clasping her hands over her rod, with this look of admiration. "You did all that even without using your Lucky Charm - you're like an improvisation genius!"<br />
<br />
And this coming from a girl that improvises a lot herself to defeat her monsters. You can only face enough speaker Youma before you learn to throw a microphone at them to defeat them via feedback.<br />
<br />
Then a moment later she seems to remember the question at hand. "I'm okay!" Well she's made that abundantly obvious. "How about you? Nothing that'll show up when you change back?"<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon rubs the back of her head, just grinning as if she doesn't have a care in the world. "Luckily I don't have to worry about anyone thinking anything of it." That kind of comment makes one wonder if Sailor Moon is into athletics or something... some kind of rough lifestyle where people would think nothing of bruises?<br />
<br />
But no, it's just that she's so clumsy that everyone would assume that she simply took a bad spill - again.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Ladybug [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's an awkward handshake, given that each of them is holding a mystical weapon in one hand. Still, Sailor Moon's smile is kind of infectious, and Ladybug can't help but grin beneath her mask in response. "Talking about your own achievements again?"<br />
<br />
When the praise unavoidably turns her way, though, Ladybug almost fidgets with her yo-yo. "I've been...trying to rely on it a little less if I can. I only have a couple of minutes after using it before all this - " She gestures at herself, her mask in particular. " - goes away. But thanks - I'm just glad it worked. And wondering if I should leave an apology note for the arcade."<br />
<br />
She crosses one foot behind herself as she speaks, hoping that it's not too big a lie. Five minutes, if she's honest...but she can't risk even a friend knowing that limit, right?<br />
<br />
There's an awkward pointed question in response, and her eyes widen for a moment. "That - no, no, it's all fine. A few bumps here and there, I guess, but nothing that..." She trails off for a moment, and her head tilts almost comically at that carefree grin.<br />
<br />
"...I really don't wish to pry, but how can you not worry about something like that? Aren't you concerned some enemy like Beryl might connect...I don't even know. I shouldn't ask, sorry." She sighs, the hand holding her weapon dropping to hang idly by her side as she leans her shoulder against a quickly cooling sign.<br />
<br />
"...do I worry about this too much?" The thought slips out without thinking - and as soon as she says it, she purses her lips and glances away.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
As Sailor Moon is called out, she let's this little giggle, and her tongue slips out in a gesture like 'You caught me.' Though when Ladybug mentions leaving a note. Sailor Moon puts a finger to her chin, "Hmm." Then it's like she changes the angle of her head in thought, "Hmm." Then she decides, "I think it'll work out." She puts up a finger, "Motoki-san always says whenever one of the cabinets here breaks down that..."<br />
<br />
This personal anecdote sounds like the wind up for some kind of heroic wisdom. And yet...<br />
<br />
"'It's fine. It's fine. We have good insurance.'"<br />
<br />
In the end it amounts to 'Don't worry about it. I'm sure it'll work out.'<br />
<br />
Though she does add, "But... I'm glad you are. We rarely get to just talk like this after a battle you know." It's not like she blames Ladybug for having to run off before she changes back. She just seems a little sad perhaps that 'that's the way things are.' However Marinette asks the big question. Shouldn't she be worried? "Well... Luna says I need to be constantly vigilant. And..." The girl pulls her fingers apart, one still holding her rod, and back together... "... well I guess she's more right than I want her to be. I've had... a few really close calls. And..."<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon cringes, "... one time - Nephrite did find out. Who I was." She closes her eyes, then does this small inhale through her nostrils, then an exhalation, "I was really worried when he did. That the Dark Kingdom might come after my friends and family. And then well..."<br />
<br />
Her eyes slowly open, and her expression dims in it's cheer. "He died. He was... killed by one of his allies. It was horrible. So horrible I guess that for a while I forgot about... what he found out..." <br />
<br />
Mostly because she was having to comfort one of the few people that mourned his passage, "...but... then I wondered. Did he tell anyone?"<br />
<br />
It's a panic inducing thought. One deferred, but still present. Sailor Moon simply shakes her head. "He didn't. They... didn't trust each other. It feels kinda bad to say I lucked out... but I kinda did."<br />
<br />
Finally her fingers lace together again over the rod, and she gives Ladybug a more sober look, "I don't know how much you worry about it, but I don't think being cautious is... bad?"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Ladybug [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.<br />
<br />
"Good insurance. I've been wondering how many plans cover Act Of Magical Girl..." It'll work out, probably, and at least that gets a little giggle from the girl in red.<br />
<br />
She can't help but shrink in on herself a little bashfully when the rarity of these chats comes up. "It's...honestly, I kind of regret it too. Not being closer to everyone, always having to show up late and leave in a hurry..." She leans into the sign a little more, tucking one foot behind her ankle again. Sailor Moon goes on, though, and Ladybug's interest is practically palpable.<br />
<br />
That interest turns to a horrified gasp, and she steps forward as that cheer finally dims. One step, another, and there's a hand on Sailor Moon's shoulder as wide masked eyes stare at her. "I...I'm glad you lucked out - but I'm so sorry you had to go through that..."<br />
<br />
And then, almost as quickly, she backpedals a step, as if to regain that distance. It's like she's been struck, suddenly, words like a knife striking home. "Trust...maybe I'm making mistakes, Sailor Moon. There's cautious, there's paranoid, and then there's..."<br />
<br />
Ladybug's yo-yo is magical, in many ways - it clips to her side with no trouble, shrinking slightly in the process. She turns partway, profile to Sailor Moon, and looks up at the crescent moon in the sky. "'No one can know who we are.' That's what Ti- my- what Tikki told me when we first met. Evil forces would seek the Miraculous Stones, and so their holders had to keep their identities secret...even from each other."<br />
<br />
She laughs, once, but it doesn't seem funny. "Not even Chat Noir. Maybe that's why he barely talks to me these days - I haven't shown any trust in him, so why should he trust me? I've been so ridiculous about keeping my secret - leaving my magic at home sometimes to keep an alibi, showing up late to attacks to hide where I go to school..."<br />
<br />
She blinks, twice, and turns to Sailor Moon. "I'm not allowed to trust anyone, apparently. Maybe being cautious isn't bad, but doing what I do? I wonder." She moves to wipe at her eyes, but stops - it'd be too awkward.<br />
<br />
Even though the dampness makes her mask chafe.<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Sailor Moon [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed. <br />
<br />
Sailor Moon listens to Ladybug's regrets, her body language. And she sees that moment where there's a horrified gasp. She sees Ladybug backpedal, sees the horror. The doubt...<br />
<br />
And hears the isolation. As a crybaby with far too much empathy for her own good - she's extra sensitive to when the tears come on in others.<br />
<br />
The girl slowly steps forward, and there's something almost solemn about the way she does. "Hey..."<br />
<br />
Once within distance, she puts her arms around her in a hug that wraps around to the back of the bodysuit of her henshin, and squeezes tightly. "... it's hard. It's hard what we do." The other girl whispers near her. "... keeping these kind of secrets from everyone. It's not easy. I'm lucky enough to have four girls who know who I am... who I can talk to about it. But for a while it was just me and... my mentor too." <br />
<br />
There was a little pause, as she had to remember not to say Luna's name right now.<br />
<br />
"And it just makes you feel so isolated doesn't it? You have Tikki - but she... well... she sets the rules. Just like mine does. And they're not always understanding about... how it makes you feel... right?" It's not like she blames Tikki - or Luna for that matter. It's simply that a sort of /duty/ compels them, as she understands with mascots.<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon takes a step back, her arms sliding down Ladybug's arms, back to her hands, where she briefly squeezes them, then steps back. "You're not alone though."<br />
<br />
It sounds like a promise, more than a statement of fact. "Maybe we don't know everything about each other - but we're all in this life together. I don't need to know who you are to know you're someone special to me." She holds up a finger, "And I bet the same is true for Chat Noir too." There's this almost infectious, tangible smile in that moment.<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon waves her glove-covered palms, one hand still holding the rod in two fingers. "Anyhow... I can say all that - but maybe it's hard to let yourself believe it?"<br />
<br />
The girl takes a deep breath, then exhales as a prelude to something. "So... believe this instead."<br />
<br />
The girl puts a palm to her brooch, and suddenly her henshin unravels into so many pink and red ribbons. And instead of Sailor Moon, there stands a normal girl, Usagi Tsukino. Juuban third year middle schooler. Marinette's senpai. And as if there were more evidence required that she's Sailor Moon, the rod still persists, and the brooch is still hooked to her uniform.<br />
<br />
It seems almost careless - after the story she told her. Couldn't someone still be watching?<br />
<br />
"You don't need to reciprocate, Ladybug. I'd never ask you that." The girl shakes her long twintails, "In fact, I think you shouldn't if it would make you feel unsafe. Just..."<br />
<br />
The girl trails off, then there's that smile back. "...know that you're not alone. That you don't have to feel that way. Whenever it's bothering you - whenever it's got you so twisted up you can't stand it anymore... you can always come talk to me. I promise - I'll understand."<br />
<br />
Then those big luminous baby blue eyes blink twice, and Usagi Tsukino puts a finger to her chin. "Oh! I forgot to introduce myself um-" Usagi steps forward and holds out a hand, "Usagi Tsukino - third year middle school, Juuban." Then realizing she's offering the hand with the rod, quickly switches hands, and holds it behind her back, laughing. "Um. Yeah, it's kinda hard to hide this everywhere I go."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Ladybug [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.<br />
<br />
There's comfort, unexpected in light of all the secrets and lies that Ladybug has kept close to her chest. While the other girl whispers, Ladybug just buries her face in Sailor Moon's shoulder. Just for a moment, right?<br />
<br />
"...yeah, it's hard. Is it wrong that I'm a little jealous, that you have that many? Without my mask, my best friend is - is someone I can't breathe a word of this whole life to." She steps back when Sailor Moon does, hands in hands for a moment. "It's rough, yeah. We...butt heads a bit over how to approach this life..."<br />
<br />
Maybe she doesn't entirely trust Homura Akemi's warnings. But she doesn't entirely trust Tikki's advice, either.<br />
<br />
Sailor Moon says she's not alone, but...isn't she?<br />
<br />
Ladybug looks up in surprise at being told she's special, blinking repeatedly. Words are cheap, and the reminder that she isn't supposed to trust anyone echoes in her ears. "I mean-"<br />
<br />
And then Sailor Moon gives her something to believe in.<br />
<br />
"What - you - " She's like a bird, practically in freeze-frame between flailing pointing and open staring in wanton disbelief. There's an entire stack of things to unpack, and she can barely decide where to begin. The rod and the brooch prove that it's not some simple bait-and-switch swap, but-<br />
<br />
"You're...you're unbelievable! Se- Sail- Tsu- " She throws up her hands in exasperation, in disbelief, maybe just to be able to throw something. "You know how dangerous it is - you just told me! You have to worry, and hide, and lie, and -"<br />
<br />
She hasn't taken the outstretched hand yet - there's instead a thump as she sits heavily on the roof, back against the arcade's darkened sign. "...I can't. I just - I can't do the right thing, and trust you in turn. Not yet. And it's not fair, I want to be able to answer you in kind, but..."<br />
<br />
She buries her face in her knees. "...no one can know who I am. I'm sorry."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.<br />
<br />
Ladybug's reaction is definitely warranted, and Sailor Moon scratches the back of her head at first, Before finally nodding cheerfully, "I did say all that! And we do have to do all of those things." Usagi Tsukino agrees, "But it's my choice to share the secret with you. And it's my choice to take the risk..."<br />
<br />
And Ladybug sits down on the ground, burying her face heavily in her knees. Usagi instead of keeping that hand outstretched, lowers herself down behind her, down on her knees on the rooftop, and uses a hand to rub her back. "I already said - you don't have to. You don't have to trust me. You don't have to share in the same way - especially if it makes you feel unsafe. I just chose to do so with you. That's all. I promise. I'm not disappointed in you or anything."<br />
<br />
Instead she quietly whispers, "I'm proud of you - and I don't want to see you hurting if I can do anything about it. So shhh. It's okay. Don't worry about trusting me - or disappointing me - or just... anything like that for a while."<br />
<br />
She murmurs supportively, trying to comfort her. "Just do what's right for you Ladybug. Anytime you want to vent your frustration, or want to cry about it and can't hold it in any longer - then I'm here for you. And if you think this means you can't trust me because I just showed you who I was - then it's enough for me to know that I at least gave you the option." <br />
<br />
There's this pause, and for a while, all she does is try to soothingly rub her back. "Back during the North Pole... I heard... the voice of... well... the one who gave me my powers I think." It's hard to articulate that it's your mother in a past life to someone. So instead she says it another way, "Who gave me the responsibility to be Sailor Moon. And she told me to always remember that I'm a normal girl first." <br />
<br />
Some further emotion enters into her voice, "And that... I guess... just means to be yourself. That I don't always have to be strong for everyone... that sometimes I can be weak for my own sake. I'm not Sailor Moon first - I'm Usagi Tsukino first. I'm clumsy... and a bit of a crybaby... and..."<br />
<br />
There's this light sniff, "I want normal things. Like friends - and a boyfriend. Or just to sleep in some days... and to eat too much... and mess around and enjoy my youth. Duty? Responsibility? They don't always get that."<br />
<br />
That voice becomes a faint whisper, "But /she/ understood that... and I do too."<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Ladybug [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's a choice. It's a risk. It's an extension of trust.<br />
<br />
It's enough to make all the lies Ladybug had to tell over the past year feel like rocks in her gut, dragging her down. Even though Sailor Moon - even though Usagi says it's fine, and that she isn't disappointed, and that it's important to do what feels right...<br />
<br />
More than anything else, Marinette truly wishes she could share her secret.<br />
<br />
Ladybug lifts her head, slowly, turning to the girl beside her. She starts to speak, not hesitating - maybe she can't trust her voice, after all. But...maybe that's for the best.<br />
<br />
It seems like Usagi needs to vent, too.<br />
<br />
At the first sniff, there's a hand on Usagi's back in turn. As the voice fades to a whisper, it moves to her shoulder, as Ladybug leans in.<br />
<br />
"Being normal...sounds pretty great. It's hard dealing with...new roles, new duties, and having the balance everything...all things considered, I think you've done a lot better at that than I have." Her free hand wipes at her eyes, even with the mask in the way. "There's so much I want to do, too -"<br />
<br />
She hesitates again, a catch in her throat. Even talking about her interests, or anything connected to that life as a normal girl...but the cracks have been spreading for a year and something has to give. " - so much I've had to stay all professional about. All, 'keep your distance, citizens' or 'you won't win this time, villain' instead of just geeking out about AoAka or something. Maybe...Maybe I should put M-myself first."<br />
<br />
There's a deep sigh, and she cradles her face in one hand. When she lifts it, though, the mask is still on - as secure as ever. The only change is that there's a little more of a smile, even tinged with sadness. "Thank you, Usagi-chan. For trusting me, for reminding me, for just being..."<br />
<br />
Marinette had kind of underestimated her senpai, admittedly, so the blush on Ladybug's face is more than the mask can hide.<br />
<br />
"...anyway, thanks. I'm still kind of stuck, but at least I'll try to offer this much." She takes the magical yo-yo from her side, tapping it once - and then much like a compact, it opens up to show a little video screen. "I've got a...I guess some kind of magic phone in this. I'm hoping we can exchange numbers, so if you ever need anything - anything at all! - you can reach me."<br />
<br />
She turns, holding out the device for a contact-exchange tap, and as hunched in as her shoulders are there's a sheepish smile on her face. "Would that be okay?"<br />
<br />
<Pose Tracker> Ladybug [Juuban Public School (8)] has posed.<br />
<br />
It's nighttime. Most students should be in bed, though frantic last-minute assignments aren't uncommon at this hour. Amid the darkness, there's a faint, practiced thump of footfalls on a balcony outside one dimly lit room, followed by the silent whisper of the balcony door opening and closing.<br />
<br />
A gloved hand goes first to the desk, to pull a cozy-looking blanket off of the dressmaker's mannequin seated there. A few moments of folding, arranging, and setting the decoy back into a closet for another day's use, and the room is back to normal.<br />
<br />
There's a faint flash of crimson light, washing away a disguise from head to toes and leaving Marinette in some comfortable pyjamas. It's the work of a moment to take off her earrings and set them on her bedside table, and she starts to reach for the switch that will turn off her lamps for the night.<br />
<br />
"<span style="color:#ff0000">Marinette...</span>" The voice of Tikki, released from the Miraculous stones moment before, interrupts the practiced movement. "<span style="color:#ff0000">I'm wondering...this hasn't been easy for you. Maybe...maybe you could at least-</span>"<br />
<br />
"No one can know, right?" Marinette doesn't face Tikki - doesn't dare to face her, not tonight. Right now, at least, her mask doesn't chafe and so she's free to wipe at her eyes with her sleeve. There's a hitch to her voice, a tension, an exhaustion. "That's the rule. We have to keep the Miraculous safe from those who would misuse it."<br />
<br />
A touch of bitter sorrow, too, as her hand rests on the switch. "No one can ever know."<br />
<br />
Click.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Logs]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/LogsLogs2019-03-03T18:18:12Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: Added section for March.</p>
<hr />
<div>To create a page for your log, simply create a page with a title of 'YYYY-MM-DD - Log Title'. This index page will automatically link it in the appropriate month folder, as long as the appropriate category is included at the end with:<br />
<br />
<pre><br />
[[Category:Logs]] <br />
</pre><br />
<br />
For the fancy summary table you may use this code:<br />
<pre><br />
{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"<br />
|-<br />
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: <Your title>'''<br />
|-<br />
|'''Summary''':<br><br />
''<The summary>''<br />
|-<br />
| '''Who:'''<br><br />
<Who is involved. Make sure to place their names [[Between the brackets]]><br />
|-<br />
| '''Where:'''<br><br />
<The location><br />
|-<br />
| '''OOC - IC Date:'''<br><br />
<RL Date - IC Date><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
[[Category:Logs]]<br />
</pre><br />
If you're interested in using an automatic log-cleaning script, please reference [https://pastebin.com/LGXybZ8r Log Muncher], made and shared by our former player [[Lucy Iwai]].<br />
<br />
For the overall story of Battle Fantasia MUSH, please see our [[Timeline]].<br />
<br />
[[Cutscenes]] are listed on their own page.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
===2013===<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2013-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2013-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of October.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2013-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of November.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2013-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2014===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-02-% <br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of February.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-03-% <br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of March.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of April.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of May.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of June.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''August:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-08-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of August.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of October.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of November.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2014-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2015===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-02-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of February.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-03-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of March.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of April.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of May.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of June.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''August:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-08-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of August.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of October.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of November.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2015-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2016===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-02-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of February.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-03-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of March.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of April.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''May:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-05-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of May.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''June:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-06-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of June.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''July:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-07-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of July.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''August:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-08-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of August.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''September:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-09-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of September.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''October:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-10-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of October.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''November:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-11-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of November.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''December:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2016-12-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of December.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===2017===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-01-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of January.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''February:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-02-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of February.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''March:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-03-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for the month of March.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''April:'''<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = 2017-04-%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
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'''September:'''<br />
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'''October:'''<br />
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'''November:'''<br />
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<br />
===2018===<br />
'''January:'''<br />
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'''November (note for IC chronological purposes that we started a [[Previously On Battle Fantasia|flashback timeloop plot]] on 11/11/18):'''<br />
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===2019===<br />
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[[Category:Logs]]</div>Glittering Crux Masquehttp://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Previously_On_Battle_FantasiaPreviously On Battle Fantasia2019-02-16T03:50:59Z<p>Glittering Crux Masque: </p>
<hr />
<div>'''''Previously On Battle Fantasia is a special event that started on Battle Fantasia on 11/11/18.'''''<br />
<br />
The five years of Battle Fantasia MUSH roleplay have established a miraculous and tragic [[Timeline|timeline]]...<br />
<br />
...but it wasn't the first timeline.<br />
<br />
__TOC__<br />
<br />
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm2UHRMKtic Cue the music!]<br />
<br />
[[File:Previously_on_Battle_Fantasia_labels.png|800px|center|link=Previously_On_Battle_Fantasia]]<br />
<br />
===The Wayback Machine===<br />
<br />
It is September 20, 2013.<br />
<br />
The height of fall. Tokyo is golden and beautiful, afternoons still warm with the memory of summer; beginning to be crisp, in the early morning, with the promise of winter.<br />
<br />
It is the second year of the Sister Schools program, which is still new enough to be exciting and also a little uncomfortable. Juuban Public School is about to host the joint sports festival, brushing up their fields. Infinity Institute and Ohtori Academy anticipate shoddiness, but are going to find sportsmanship instead.<br />
<br />
But some students suddenly find themselves having to balance the challenge of finding the right partner for the three-legged race with a new life -- a double life -- a secret life.<br />
<br />
That's because two weeks ago the demonic army of Dark Fall swept into the heart of the magic worlds, the Fairy Realms, and dislodged their masters. They possessed ancient artifacts and used them to explode fairy castles, and they sealed fairy queens away in teacups. They shattered souls, and remade worlds in their own dark image. And so the cries for help went out -- all of them, drawn by an unseen force, to the same blue ball in Space.<br />
<br />
And so it is that today, on Earth, the consequences of centuries, millennia, of planning and battles have come to fruit, as Dark Fall and Ends of the World alike descend not as one, but at once. The greedy fingers of corporate masters tear the dreams out of children's chests in the hunt for the miracle-granting Embryo. A coterie of Belkan Knights root in the shadows for the Linker Cores of the innocent - leaving them half dead and bereft of magic. Orphans stir on Southern Cross Island, finding victims to feed on, as their master's mark blazes in the sky. Underground, the Order of the Glittering Crux seeks to release the seals that will allow them to summon their magitechnological wonders into the real world, and seize it for their own. Witches throng in the shadows, their attention called by the despair of those who see how bleak the world is, their Kiss drawing still more into that trap. Above, the Castle Where Eternity Dwells silently waits to see whose heart will next be savaged by the Duels it oversees. And in the North, Queen Beryl's empire rises again, to finally and absolutely conquer the Earth and therefore the crown jewel of the universe...<br />
<br />
But the guardians of Earth are rising. Tokyo is where that battle will be fought; as Pretty Cures are found by the refugees of the Fairy Worlds, and HiME once more flock to the Land of Fuuka, now called Southern Cross Island, and the Silver Millennium's Sailor Senshi stir at last from their millennia-long slumber. The darkness is deep; but once, a great queen wished for a light to outshine any darkness.<br />
<br />
She will not be disappointed.<br />
<br />
She has you.<br />
<br />
---<br />
<br />
Welcome to 'PREVIOUSLY ON BATTLE FANTASIA', our game's next major plot. Starting immediately, we're taking a trip back in time to our world as it was in September 2013: a more innocent time, with more innocent characters. New transfer students are new once again. Virtually everyone is a freshly recruited magical girl, taking their first steps into the world of fighting evil by moonlight -- youma are scary and their masters mysterious and unknown. Balancing normal and magical life is not old hat but an often-overwhelming act of frantic rushing around and the occasional guilty lie.<br />
<br />
And beautiful friendships are about to be born.<br />
<br />
===Frequently Asked Questions===<br />
<br />
'''WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?'''<br />
<br />
Frankly, the game has been in a very dark place for a very long time, and everyone needs a break. PREVIOUSLY ON BATTLE FANTASIA will occasionally tackle some heavy truths, but overwhelmingly its tone is intended to be lighthearted and fun -- or at least not oppressively, inescapably awful. It is an opportunity for everyone to get a fresh take on their characters, exploring, in a backwards way, exactly how far they've come. <br />
<br />
It is also, frankly, an opportunity for some fan service, and the staff is taking requests on 'alternate timeline' plot points you'd like to see worked into the story. Please email your ideas to battlefantasiastaff@gmail.com or join the brainstorming shared document [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TPfzE1C2d5w4waeg4u8qvS0409jtesO9i4FU8c3eimU/edit?usp=sharing here]!<br />
<br />
'''IS EVERYTHING THE SAME?'''<br />
<br />
No, and we will get into the differences between the first timeline and the final timeline (our regular game) [[#Timelines|below]].<br />
<br />
Obviously, one major difference is that themes and characters that joined the game after September 2013 will have joined it earlier and younger: take a look at your 'school' entries, you'll see you've been sent back two grades! '''(If you are one of these characters, the staff wants to work out the details of your earlier arrival with you -- please contact Pink Moon Stick for a brainstorming session!)'''<br />
<br />
Characters from later SEASONS of certain themes who weren't around at game start (here's looking at you, Chibi-Usa-chan) will not be present in September 2013, but can rejoin us as the timeline catches back up with them.<br />
<br />
'''WAIT, TIMELINES PLURAL?'''<br />
<br />
Yes. We are going to do several, one at a time, and in so doing tell a story, as a game, about the MANY ways things have changed from everyone's original destiny to their current one (not just the hairstyle of Homura Akemi). In each timeline we will be skipping around through the intervening year and a half between past and present to hit various highlight events from the old days that some of our players missed out on, and others would enjoy revisiting. <br />
<br />
If you want to remind yourself and come up with a possible wishlist, http://battlefantasia.pinksugarheartattack.net/Timeline is hideously out of date, but it's the earlier stuff we're especially eager to do, so in that sense it's still a useful resource!<br />
<br />
'''BUT I WANT TO KEEP DOING 2015 ROLEPLAY!'''<br />
<br />
That's completely fine. All 'Previously On' logs are going to be labeled as such; you are welcome to roleplay in the 'current' timeline privately if you like, especially to give yourself a little denouement after certain major events, if you don't want to wait. We stopped at the end of the IC night of May 27, 2015, and will be picking back up on May 28, 2015 eventually; for various spooky plot reasons, please keep your roleplay within the next two days, May 28-29, 2015.<br />
<br />
===Timelines===<br />
<br />
For log titles, please label which timeline you're roleplaying in with the prefix: TIMELINE #:. So, a scene set in the first timeline might <br />
have the title TIMELINE 1: Welcome To Tokyo!<br />
<br />
Each timeline has a game-wide theme designed to help guide the overarching plot of Previously On Battle Fantasia across timelines. There is also a list of differences from the 'final' timeline (regular BF) to help people keep things straight and create prompts for interesting scene opportunities.<br />
<br />
Please add to the bullet point list beneath the current timeline to document significant differences as they appear. We will be adding later timelines to this page gradually, along with their notable changes from the previous timeline required to get the roleplay a'rolling. <br />
<br />
====Timeline One====<br />
'''THEME: FRIENDSHIP.''' ''Everyone is meeting each other for the very first time. Friendships are born, and they are beautiful. Over the course of the first timeline, the innocence and passion of the magical girl community will be powerful enough to forge a grand alliance, in some respects the opposite of the final timeline. A good opportunity for bitter enemies to become dear friends. That doesn’t mean there is no tension among magical girls, but rivalries tend to be less painful and more hopeful.''<br />
<br />
* '''IC Starting Date: September 2013'''<br />
* '''Starting Plots: Sister Schools Athletics Festival, Hosted By Juuban Public School; Fusion'''<br />
:* Madoka Kaname is a newly Contracted Puella Magi and Homura Akemi is a normal girl.<br />
:* Themes/characters that joined at game start are rolled back to... game start.<br />
:* Later themes/characters' integration deals will need to be explained here, please add them in brief after discussing your plan with the staff.<br />
::* '''Miraculous Ladybug''' is pretty much the same except that Hawk Moth began his plot in September 2013 instead of later on. Everyone received their Miraculouses as normal, only they're a little bit younger and cuter.<br />
::* '''Steven Universe''' arrived in Tokyo a little earlier and a little younger, with his powers almost completely unexplored and untested (eg, early season one), because Beach City decided to make their move in 2013 instead of 2015.<br />
::* '''Kasagami Araki''' arrived much earlier and younger in this timeline, as a middle schooler in 9th grade. She notably lacks her cynicism about the world and people in general, being overall more positive and utterly new to her powers as a Duelist. <br />
::* The New Transfer Student List, September 2013: <br />
:::* Homura Akemi<br />
:::* Kasagami Araki<br />
:::* Utena Tenjou<br />
:::* Mai Tokiha<br />
:::* Mikoto Minagi<br />
:::* Makoto Kino<br />
:::* Lera Camry<br />
:* After an eventful transfer to Ohtori - a ''car'' was cut in ''half'' on the boat ride over - Mai is bowled over by a strange girl who moves to attack her, only to run away instead. Mai finds her fainted in a hedge, and realising how hungry she is, brings her home to make some ramen. This is apparently the best thing which has ever or will ever happen, and the girl, Mikoto, attaches to her immediately.<br />
:* 'Buki, amidst trying to get Ohtori students to join her Animal Care Club in the days before the festival, realises that a strange girl is trying to get at the birds in the greenhouse, and meets Mikoto and the cat she's trying to help get a snack. Luckily, she always comes prepared, and she has some canned food Mikoto can offer to her friend instead. Mikoto proceeds to... help... Inori try and get club members, and in the process volunteers herself to help out, instead.<br />
:* Mikoto and Endo meet as the two last entrants to a broom racing contest, and despite the strange match-up, they sweep the competition.<br />
:* After rampaging into the pool, Mikoto is taken to the sports festival's first aid tent, where she is restored by a caring civilian named Yumi Ohzora. She teaches her important facts about money and ownership.<br />
:* Homura Akemi flees the sports festival that occurs on her second day of school, feeling depressed. Madoka, Mami and Eri (a Puella Magi trio, and already fast friends) go to look for her. They find her in a labyrinth, about to be taken by a Witch, and rescue her just in time.<br />
:* Homura, Sayaka, and Hitomi are among the civilians given MIRACLE LIGHTS by the fairy mascots, in order to give the magical girls the power to defeat Fusion. Most of them don't remember this event clearly afterwards, though Homura does.<br />
:* Eri and Mikoto separately come upon a stray cat and start to care for her. When she gives birth, their paths collide. They recruit Madoka, Nori and Homura to help take care of the kittens, which initially are hidden in the Garden Club shed at Ohtori, and eventually are moved to the Kaname household when everyone has to get on a train to go to Hokkaido.<br />
* '''Winter 2013 Plot: Hokkaido and the Star Shards'''<br />
* It is Sunday, December 22nd, the day after final exams -- and the second day of the school trip to Hokkaido (which began immediately after exams ended). As everyone has known for over an IC month, the Sister Schools have decided to pack everyone up and spend their Winter Break all together in the frozen paradise of Hokkaido! For most of an IC week, everyone will be staying at the Kubota Ski Resort (with occasional organized trips into Sapporo proper), skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and enjoying the rightfully famous all-you-can-eat crab buffets! While school trips are not /technically/ mandatory, they might as well be -- parents won't let their kids get out of it. It's all been paid for out of the joint Sister Schools Initiative fund, so money is no object.<br />
* In the last three IC months, monster-of-the-day attacks have become all too commonplace (it's mostly been youma and the occasional evil lieutenant). Magical girls have gained a little more experience and comfort with their new powers, but, a few months into their double life, are beginning to really feel the wear and tear of all those little white lies, evenings spent fighting instead of studying, and so forth.<br />
* Characters have had numerous opportunities to meet one another and become friends off the battlefield, allies on the battlefield, or both. People are encouraged to gently hash out progress in their relationships OOCly to make sure they're on the same page, since some fast forwarding is required.<br />
* The major scuttlebutt in the magical community has to do with seven golden "star shards" which have fallen to Earth and nestled themselves in the hearts of seven humans -- if united, they are rumored to be able to grant one single wish. Six of them have emerged (and been fiercely contested by magical girls, men in black, and monsters), though no one is sure who currently has how many. The seventh shard has yet to appear.<br />
:* After distracting a bear from Niramo when the two of them wander away from the lodge, Mikoto becomes worried about that bear not hibernating like all the students say bears are supposed to. Dismissive explanations lead her to investigate on her own, where she runs into Eas, instead. They briefly clash, and Eas immediately exploits the upper hand as she realises that Mikoto is holding back. Luckily, she's willing to talk, if only to make demands, and after Mikoto explains that she really just is out here to investigate the bears, Eas lets her go. Mysteriously, the bear problem is solved.<br />
:* In December 2013, Steven Universe awakens his magical powers on Hokkaido, in the midst of a dire wish to end Christmas; filled with its spirit by his friends and classmates, he manifests his shield for the first time. The resonance of his first Rose Shield tears the wish apart, returning the world to normal.<br />
:* The Moon Princess appears very early (compared to the original timeline), on Hokkaido, after the Maiden of Nightmares sends a lethal attack at Sailor Moon which is taken by Madoka Kaname instead. The Princess wields the Ginzuishou, and a miracle occurs on Christmas Eve.<br />
:::* The Maiden is redeemed by the unlikely forgiveness of her assumed enemies.<br />
* '''Spring 2014 Plot: White Day and Queen Beryl'''<br />
* It is March 13, 2014, and tomorrow is White Day -- the distaff counterpart of Valentine's in Japan, the day that girls give chocolates to their friends and loved ones. It's a stressful time. Who can find enough hours in the day to sit their final exams, defeat the forces of evil, AND make (or even buy!!) chocolate for tomorrow -- and what will happen if this symbol of romance /isn't/ realized? Especially when the battles are reaching a feverish pitch. Most of the Jewel Seeds have been found, and possession over the last few will likely make or break the outcome. The Dueling Game is in full swing. Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite and Kunzite, the Four Heavenly Kings, have died in their pursuit of the Moon Princess and her Ginzuishou, as have innumerable youma. There have been countless clashes between Magical Girls, Orphans, and men in black, clashes which are starting to seem like they serve some greater, darker purpose. Last night Sailor Moon and her Court went to the Moon, then returned with the dual burdens of terrible knowledge and a cursed sword. Everyone else woke up this morning having just experienced the same dream about it (+bbread 12/110, 12/111). The very same dream. Winter is just now yielding to spring. The bite in the air has softened into promising warmth. Tiny leaves and other nascent greenery makes the treetops look like they're inhabited by ghosts. The plum trees have blossomed, but the sakura haven't quite yet.<br />
* In the last three IC months, the fledgling bonds of the magical girls have strengthened immeasurably through both battle and time spent in their fledgling, normal lives. Profound relationships have formed. Large sleepovers and other magical girl gatherings have become normal (though, oof, so difficult to find time for). Their might is waxing, as they come into their true power -- the deeper, stranger, more wondrous power of the heart. But so is their danger, for the very same reason, as an open heart... is a vulnerable one.<br />
:* Sailor Moon and friends go to the Moon on the night of March 12, while everyone else suffers a disturbing silvery nightmare, so Madoka calls for a sleepover on White Day, March 14 so they can face the night with the support of one another.<br />
:* At the sleepover, Mami Tomoe coins the group name 'Covenant of Style', which catches on like wildfire.<br />
:* On the morning of March 15, Beryl issues her challenge to the world: threatening all life on it and daring the magical girls to stop her. They disrupt her evil ritual and she is slain at the hands of the Outer Senshi, but not before she murders her much-hated Princess Serenity first. Usagi is revived by the Ginzuishou, which responds to the feelings of her friends, and afterwards they all defeat Queen Metallia together.<br />
:* After the events of the North Pole, Mikoto reassures Homura by carrying her up a tree and showing her how nice high places are.<br />
* '''Summer 2014 Plot: Orphans, and an orphan'''<br />
* It is August 6, 2014. Cicadas whirr staccatos, forcing them through the oppressively heavy air. Nary a breeze stirs across Tokyo Bay; there is no respite from the concrete-gathered might of the sun as it absorbs and re-emits from every surface in the city. Sweat beads at temples, at necklines, at the bottom of the back. But it just makes the ice cream sweeter. The resumption of school is weeks away and the obligations of summer homework might as well be on another planet. It's a long, hot, lazy summer. What a great time to be alive.<br />
* In the last five months: After defeating Queen Metallia and returning home, the magical girls resolved the Jewel Seed Incident (approximately per canon, with the apparent death of Precia and the redemption of Fate, and also per BF canon, with the full withdrawal of the TSAB from Earth and the stranding of Lindy). In terms of trouble on the /rise/, it mostly takes the form of increased Orphan attacks (HiME are busting out all over) and greater activity by Labyrinth -- Nakewameke out the ears, as they strive to fill their Fuko Gauge to the brim, harvesting the despair of Tokyo citizens. Also, everyone went up a grade, which means some middle schoolers are now in high school. Though school is not currently in session.<br />
* Chibi-Usa and Sailor Pluto have arrived in Tokyo. (Black Moon won't be far behind, while the Death Busters were always here but have yet to start overt operations; similarly the Wolkenritter have been present but are just now starting to become truly desperate.) And so has Northa.<br />
:* Mai finds an Orphan during her summer job as a lifeguard, and when the night falls she and Mikoto take care of it. Then Mikoto drags her off to the party which was distracting all the civilians, even though they didn't have an invitation.<br />
:* An Orphan attacks Sensouji Temple, threatening to eat all the cold snacks, only to be brought down by a group of magical girls. It's believed to be a lion dance with very good effects in the aftermath, and the people involved in the battle are lauded as excellent actors.<br />
:* Mikoto continues trying to get through to Eas, finding her after a Nakewameke attack. They share donuts and surprisingly friendly conversation, and Eas gives Mikoto advance warning about her next attack.<br />
:* Kasagami hosts a fancy summer party on behalf of the School Council, featuring the impromptu D.J., Steven Universe.<br />
:* Mikoto and Kasagami spar and no one gets stabbed for real.<br />
:* Steven, Niramo, Ami and Mikoto band together to create THE ULTIMATE SANDCASTLE (plus one whale lord.)<br />
:* Mikoto drags Endo out from his job at the convenience store to go watch fireworks instead.<br />
:* Eas creates her ultimate Nakewameke, and sends out invitations to the magical girls of Tokyo to meet her at Tokyo Tower for a showdown. She nearly succeeds--but when she emerges from her command post to talk to the assembled magical girls, Klein activates his failsafe, and they're left to save themselves /and/ her; she stays on Earth, as a (relatively) ordinary girl.<br />
:* Marinette is caught by her parents one night talking to Chat Noir and thinks they're going out. After a date night at Marinette's residence, the fiction becomes a reality.<br />
* '''Timeline One: Walpurgisnacht'''<br />
:* Walpurgisnacht comes to Tokyo. The magical girls rise to confront it en masse, but not without casualties. Among them are Eri Shimanouchi and Mami Tomoe, which leaves only Madoka Kaname to deal the final blow -- which, legend says, must be dealt by a Puella Magi. She sacrifices herself in order to save the city -- and her friends. And especially Homura Akemi, who hears her last words.<br />
:* Homura makes a Contract with Kyuubey: ''I want to redo my meeting with Kaname-san. But this time, instead of her saving me... I want to be the one to save her!'' She becomes a Puella Magi, and the magic of her wish sends her back in time... ending Timeline One.<br />
<br />
=====Timeline One Logs=====<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = %TIMELINE 1:%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for Timeline One.<br />
}}<br />
====Timeline Two====<br />
'''THEME: DREAMS.''' ''Homura's dream has come true -- and that makes it easier for everyone else to pursue theirs, because the life of a magical girl is a whole lot safer when they have an ally who can stop time to keep them from harm. It's mostly a good thing, but there's nothing like peril to inspire rapid bonding, so although the magical girl community is still (relatively) unified, it is slightly more loosely knit than it was in Timeline One. And with a little less magical stress in their lives, people are able to focus more on their individual goals rather than joint ones -- pursuing their different, unique, beautiful dreams.''<br />
* A few months have passed since the timeline began, along with a few major events: <br />
:* Homura Akemi is a newly Contracted Puella Magi who has joined the Mami/Madoka/Eri konbi, and is still learning how to master her unusually difficult powers. Unable to keep the secret, Madoka spilled her guts to Sayaka about being a magical girl within the first forty-eight hours.<br />
:* As with the original timeline, the Sports Festival was a big success, but it seems to have really inflamed competitive spirits and the rivalry between the Sister Schools is more pronounced than before.<br />
:* Fusion was defeated without the girls being sucked inside his soul and freed by their friends and Miracle Lights; it was just a conventional (though the first physically gigantic, and still relatively dramatic) battle.<br />
:* Believing the monster to have eaten her best friend, Puella Magi Madoka battled Dessert Witch Charlotte, alone and crippled by grief. But Sayaka Miki had just been lost in the Labyrinth, and contracted on the spot upon witnessing the battle. Madoka narrowly avoided losing her head as the two defeated their first Witch together.<br />
:* On Hokkaido, the Maiden of Dreams was redeemed without her killing Madoka Kaname or awakening Princess Serenity (because of a timely Homura rescue). That means the identity of the Moon Princess is still a mystery, and the hunt is on. Zoisite and Kunzite are still alive and Queen Beryl has yet to enact her North Pole ritual. <br />
:* Because the timeLOOP has begun, weird temporal effects are occurring, and one of them is that Sailor Pluto basically hit a weird patch of timenoise on her way over, and accidentally overshot her trip. She has arrived just now, in April 2014. (Chibi-Usa will still arrive post-Beryl.)<br />
* There are other minor differences between the second and first timelines as well.<br />
:* In haste, Sayaka wished for the first thing that came to mind. Now with each mystically assured victory the Ohtori Middle School Softball team achieves on its way to an inevitable championship, Sayaka feels less and less fulfilled...<br />
:* Ye-jin Song arrives and is elected new captain of Ohtori Dance Club. Secretly, she's come to help hunt HiME...<br />
:* Madoka has the unusual combination of confidence, time, and commitment to self-improvement to actually go out for sports for once. She joins the Archery Club where she studies diligently alongside Rei.<br />
:* Natsuki and Mikoto's battle on the cruise liner was more serious this time around, and several floors were damaged, but the ship remained structurally intact. Mai's efforts have, once again, seen them going from enemies to friends.<br />
:* Mikoto was introduced to the Puella Magi by Homura, this time, who was eager to meet her old friend again. Mikoto was initially shy, but soon warmed up to her, alongside Madoka, Eri, and the others.<br />
:* Upon realising that Homura was trying to learn how to fight, Mikoto relented to Kasagami's attempts to get her to join Kendo club, so that she could figure out how to teach her.<br />
:* Rather than unintentionally insulting Rei, Usagi instead pleaded for her help in the wake of the bus incidents outside Hikawa Shrine, prompting Rei to commit to protecting Usagi early. <br />
* '''IC Starting Date: April 2014'''<br />
* '''Starting Plots: Student Council Ball; The Jewel Seed Incident'''<br />
* It is April 17, 2014, and the cherry blossoms are in bloom. It's the second week of the new school year. A transformative time, as students acclimate to their new classes, their new classmates, their new clubs (or incessant club recruiters, for the holdouts) -- and now, tonight, their new student councils. Elections are over, and the Sister Schools are celebrating with a shared social that really can only possibly be called a ball, because Ohtori Academy is hosting. Besides having the best venue, they also have the most surprising outcome: Kasagami Araki is the new Ohtori High School Student Council President, having won her victory by a single vote (secretly, Akio Ohtori's, because the Academy is not a democracy...). <br />
* But life isn't just sparkling apple cider and roses. The Jewel Seeds -- called 'Lost Logia' by the offworlders pursuing them, but to any magical girl recognizable as magical jewels that contain the cross-section of terrible power and the potential to grant wishes -- have almost all been found. The dark mage Fate Testarossa, and her allies in Labyrinth, have claimed roughly half; the radiant newcomer, Nanoha Takamachi, and her friends, have the rest. Can Fate's heart be reached before something terrible happens?<br />
:* At the 2014-2015 Sister Schools Student Council Inauguration Ball, Niramo and Takeo get in a fight with some boys who were harassing Suzuka Tsukimura and are disciplined by Kasagami in her role as the new Ohtori Student Council President. Rei and Usagi join the Dance Queen competition with predictable results. Utena encourages Anthy (a Dance Queen nominee) to attend and therefore does as well, wearing one of the dresses they were gifted by the dance committee in solidarity. Disaster strikes as Nanami (who arranged the nomination and the dresses) causes Anthy's dress to dissolve in the middle of the dance floor, but Utena comes to the rescue.<br />
:* At a Dance Club recruitment drive held at Ohtori shortly after the Inaugurational Ball, Niramo receives some much needed confidence from both Ye-Jin and Fumiko. It's enough that Niramo actually reconsiders her choice in clubs, dropping her enrollment in the Anime Club and taking up Dance at Juuban instead.<br />
:* Nanoha Takamachi leads the magical girls in confronting her rival Fate Testarossa; she proposes an all-out one on one duel for the Jewel Seeds, and Fate accepts. But Precia intervenes, ostensibly out of concern that Nanoha's friends will jump in and gang up on her enforcer, and forcibly duplicates Fate with magic, creating a wild battle. Despite her numbers advantage, Fate loses anyway; Precia seizes the Jewel Seeds before Nanoha can and leaves, but not before punishing Fate for her failure both physically and emotionally. Nanoha takes a broken Fate home.<br />
::* Lindy Harlaown makes contact with Nanoha, as does Arf, who can give them the coordinates to the Garden of Time. Nanoha and her friends climb aboard the Arthra to confront Precia in her fortress before she fully activates all the Jewel Seeds and causes an existential threat to the foundations of the multiverse. Fate stays behind, but encouragement from Arf and (unexpectedly) Eas, as well as bearing witness to the support of her friends now fighting Precia in her name, allows her to regain her will to fight. She and Eas catch up and rescue the group at a crucial moment, and then everyone proceeds to confront Precia.<br />
::* But reality is fragmenting quickly, and the group winds up having to pass through Precia's past in order to reach her in the present. A dialogue begins, but whether or not Precia's heart was moved will remain an eternal mystery, because at the moment of truth, she is murdered by Northa, Chief Executive of Labyrinth, who immediately orders Eas to join her in exterminating her allies. Eas tries to bargain with Northa for their lives, which Northa takes as disloyalty; she uses the Jewel Seeds to create doppelganger replacements for all the magical girls, INCLUDING Eas, to be her new, loyal, army. The magical girls must confront these dark reflections of themselves and defeat them before the Garden of Time collapses into less than nothingness; they manage to do so, together, and escape on the Arthra in the nick of time. In the battle, Eas is forced to destroy her Data Diamond to defeat her double, and she joins them without her powers on the ship.<br />
::* As the Arthra returns to Earth, it is abruptly and unexpectedly destroyed by an enormous blast of Dark Energy that came from the North Pole. The magical girls (and the crew) are able to escape, teleporting back to Tokyo just in time to watch the contrails of the surprise attack fade from the sky. It's terrifying power... but now they know where they need to go to put an end to the threat of Queen Beryl.<br />
:* Mami Tomoe and Sayaka Miki acknowledge their growing attraction to one another and begin to date. Homura Akemi and Madoka Kaname are inseparable, but not officially together.<br />
* '''Summer 2014 Plot: North Pole'''<br />
:* The sakura faded and the trees grew leaves -- soft breezes became oppressive heat -- and spring yielded into summer. In late June, school hasn't quite let out for vacation, but that hasn't stopped the Sailor Senshi from taking a trip to the Moon, in part hoping for a way to release the kidnapped Mamoru Chiba, now known as Dark Endymion, from Queen Beryl's brainwashing. The Midchildans, meanwhile, have finished running analyses of the blast that destroyed their spaceship, and are able to organize an operation to storm the pinpointed spot in the Arctic by surprise.<br />
:* The magical girls get separated at the North Pole and begin fighting their way into the Dark Kingdom against the army that appears to defend it. The Inner Senshi die getting their Moon Princess into position to defeat Queen Beryl, but in the aftermath, Usagi is able to revive them. Everyone celebrates, then joins together to oppose the true dark power behind even Beryl's throne, the destructive entity Queen Metallia. The Maiden of Dreams, rescued on Hokkaido, reappears to help at this critical moment. Everyone's hearts join together, and the explosive power of their dreams defeat Queen Metallia. Overcome by their feelings and the transcendent moment, Sayaka and Mami share their first kiss.<br />
:* However, Madoka Kaname uses up all of her magic, and collapses even as Queen Metallia is destroyed for good. Her Soul Gem becomes a Grief Seed, and she becomes a massive Witch, Kriemhild Gretchen. Her friends are forced to face this horror, but Homura Akemi turns away. Armed with the horrible truth of the Puella Magi, she jumps back to the past again to try to prevent this future from ever happening... ending Timeline Two.<br />
<br />
=====Timeline Two Logs=====<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = %TIMELINE 2:%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for Timeline Two.<br />
}}<br />
====Timeline Three====<br />
'''THEME: TRUST.''' ''As in its complexities, its limitations, and its breakdown. Up until now, being a magical girl has included automatic membership in a sort of collective sisterhood -- the world has been divided into 'the magical girls' and 'the bad guys'. But a simple question changes everything: 'What if the fairy mascots and other sources of power don't actually have the magical girls' best interests at heart?' It's an unbelievable idea, but simply rejecting it means that, for some reason, Homura Akemi is trying to drive a wedge between magical girls and their mascots. In other words: not all magical girls can be trusted. Once planted, this seed of uncertainty can only continue to flower, and has done so spectacularly.''<br />
* Numerous factors have further exacerbated the issue of trust between magical girls. Major examples include:<br />
:* Competitions for limited magical resources, such as Star Shards, Jewel Seeds, and Grief Seeds, have all been far more intense than in previous timelines, with ugly consequences for would-be friendships. <br />
:* Friendly fire is more of a narrative problem in this timeline than it has been (or will be) in others; even girls with the best of intentions might damage the trust of their allies by accidentally clipping them with one of their attacks, in a critical moment.<br />
:* Magical girls are generally less willing to explain themselves and their actions to one another, since it's harder to know who to trust. <br />
:* Secret identities are far more tightly protected than in Timelines One and Two. This means that sometimes people are friends as magical girls and, separately, friends as civilians, but that the crucial bond of trust that connects the two worlds is often missing. Sometimes, things are even more complicated, and magical girl rivals have no idea that their opposite number is their best friend at school.<br />
* Although things are far from outright war, the magical girl community is under strain, and cracks are beginning to show. Rivalries are more heated and less friendly. 'Teams' can also sometimes be understood as 'schisms'. Conversely, true bonds of trust between individual girls are more precious and beautiful than ever. (And like all precious things -- they are vulnerable.)<br />
* '''TIMELINE THREE IS SUBSTANTIALLY DARKER (OR, AT MINIMUM, MORE COMPLEX) THAN TIMELINES ONE AND TWO.''' It is not, however, an exercise in misery. The main 'tragedy' of the timeline, compared to the previous ones, is the environment of paranoia that has sprung up in the community. Even the most open-hearted magical girls have reasons to think more critically and carefully about their counterparts, and the ways of the world, than they normally would. (More reasons, in fact, than in the prime timeline, which did not have Homura Akemi sowing seeds of doubt from the start, nor such extreme competitions for the Star Shards and Jewel Seeds.)<br />
* An entire year has passed since the beginning of this timeline; it is picking up several months after the last one ended, in fact (September; T2 ended in late June). All this is to say that quite a bit has happened, and happened differently, and happened in a way to put strain on trust between magical girls (while in turn forging some unbreakable bonds along the way):<br />
:* The Fall 2013 Sports Festival, and Fusion's assault on Tokyo, occur essentially as they did in Timeline Two.<br />
:* After spending enough time rebuilding her magical girl friendships that they'd have reason to trust her, Homura Akemi reveals the awful truth that Puella Magi are tricked by Kyuubey into accepting a fate where they will become Witches. It does not go over well, and creates a FIRESTORM of rumor and speculation that reaches all corners of the magical girl community. Everyone has heard about it. '''Nobody believes it (no exceptions!).''' Everyone has different opinions on why Homura would make such a claim, some more generous than others.<br />
:* For a variety of reasons which certainly include heightened anxiety, magical girls' unanswered wishes are at the forefront of their minds when the Star Shards' existence becomes revealed, and the fight over them becomes (almost) as vicious between magical girls as it is between magical girls and Dark Fall demons/men in black from Ends of the World. <br />
::*In the end, the star shards are never gathered in one place. Individual shards are painstakingly hidden by their current owners. The Maiden of Dreams remains a broken, nameless entity suffering endless torture within her seven golden prisons -- and nobody even knows that she exists.<br />
:* The Jewel Seeds are hotly contested for basically the same reason. The Device-users of Earth do not line up neatly behind Nanoha Takamachi in her efforts to oppose Fate Testarossa; Endo Naoki especially wants to seize them for himself, which damages his relationship with Ren Aizawa.<br />
::* Precia Testarossa does get her hands on all the Jewel Seeds eventually, after washing her hands of Fate. The magical girls are forced to unite to stop her from permanently sundering reality, and manage to do so, though not everyone participates in the operation. The Harlaowns are not involved; the Arthra is never allowed to come to Earth, due to rampant distrust between the TSAB and the Magic Association. Afterwards, Fate lives with the Takamachis.<br />
:* Events surrounding the North Pole go more similarly to the PRIME timeline than either timelines one or two. In late summer 2014, once Usagi Tsukino is revealed as the Moon Princess, Mamoru Chiba is kidnapped and brainwashed into Dark Endymion, and the Four Heavenly Kings are dead, Queen Beryl issues her collective challenge to the magical girl community and dares them to stop her from making her dark wish.<br />
::* Arriving in disorganized, separate groups, they fail. So, every magical girl in the world except for Sailor Moon and the Inner Senshi are banished to the Multidimensional Chaos World by the force of Beryl's wish. Adventures in bizarro spacetime ensue.<br />
::* Back on Earth, the Inner Senshi die getting Sailor Moon past the DD Girls. She is forced to confront Beryl and Dark Endymion alone, and is narrowly able to do so. Afterwards, her wish for her friends revives the dead and recalls the missing, and everyone gathers together to put a permanent end to Queen Metallia.<br />
::* The Maiden of Dreams is not present to help the girls gestalt their power, and so instead this battle is messy and dangerous. The magical girls triumph without anyone dying, but the aftertaste is a little bittersweet, tainted by injuries, plus the trauma of the uncontrolled dimension-hopping which resulted from Beryl's dark wish.<br />
:* The World Tree roars onto everyone's radar when it's attacked by weird, sword-wielding shadows seemingly trying to disrupt a mysterious sparkly magical girl ritual, and by the end of summer everyone knows it exists, that it's a vitally important conduit of Earth's magical power, and that there's a more-and-less subtle battle being waged between men in black, Dark Fall demons and operatives (especially agents of Labyrinth such as Eas and Soular), Orphans, and the Magic Association, for control of the nexuses of magic that harness the World Tree's strength.<br />
:* The Outer Senshi are present, active and renowned for their brutal determination to save the world by any means necessary without bothering to explain their methods -- in other words, they're the poster girls for how not all magical girls can be trusted.<br />
:* The Wolkenritter are also getting active, creating rumors about magical girls who attack other magical girls in dark alleys -- and fear.<br />
:* Drawn to investigate the source of the crazy rumor about Puella Magi and Witches, Kyouko Sakura and other Puella Magi close in on the Konbi's neighborhood. There aren't enough Grief Seeds to go around, and the question of hunting familiars becomes crucial. Tensions are rising.<br />
:* Summer vacation happened. There was no trip to Okinawa. The return of school is something of a relief for kids stuck in the sweaty concrete prison of Tokyo. <br />
:* Despite everything, magical girls also give each other reasons to trust one another as well. Every day is another act of kindness. Every friendship is its own miracle. <br />
* There are other differences between the second and third timelines as well.<br />
:* You are encouraged to add other differences between the second and third timelines to this list!<br />
:* Please put your September 2013-September 2014 differences here, they're fun and interesting to imagine, especially as things have changed quite a bit between timelines two and three! Weird temporal effects continue to justify larger changes, such as when a character first came to Tokyo or first became a magical girl, as long as it happened after September 2013 (the beginning of Homura's time loops). Please run truly strange ideas by the staff first.<br />
:* Mikoto Minagi and Natsuki Kuga's battle on the ship was once again more serious, with a large hole blown through several floors to expose the fight to the sky, but the ship managed to retain its structural integrity.<br />
:* Mikoto spends a lot of her time searching for her brother, and so she has no time for clubs. Most of her associations are people she's met through Mai; on her own she is awkward and gruff, and does not generally reach out to make friends. Much of her involvement in early magical conflicts simply came down to the fact that Mai was there, rather than any urge of her own to get involved. What was seen as feline whimsy in the prime timeline now becomes much more suspicious: why does Mikoto so often go off on her own? Where was she when they needed help at the North Pole, or when Precia was threatening the world? And why does she keep herself shrouded in such mystery..?<br />
:* The strain of the magical community means that Mikoto has had less exposure to kind life lessons, and so she is a much fiercer fighter. Mai has made what she doesn't approve of clear, and so Mikoto generally tries to avoid killing or doing severe injury to human opponents and will defend civilians, but she has no compunctions against hitting her opponents so hard that they don't want to get up again. She has a wild and unrestrained fighting style which makes it very easy for mistakes to happen and for allies to get hit.<br />
:* Endo Naoki more than briefly considered using the Jewel Seeds to grant his own wish, leading to various squabbles with other Mages. He eventually came around to help stop Precia Testarossa, but harsh feelings may remain. With less sources of trusted support Endo tries to shoulder more of Tokyo's burdens, and listens more closely to the advice of his intelligent device, Fallen Stern.<br />
:* Ye-jin Song is hunting HiME. . .<br />
:* Shizuru Fujino is moving in secret towards the goals of Ends of the World. As the men in black continue to show up at various flashpoints of magical import, a woman in black with a strange red naginata often accompanies them. Her identity is unknown, but she has already shown a frightening ruthlessness that only adds to the cloud of suspicion in place.<br />
:* Rei Hino was much more immediately suspicious of Luna's story of destiny, though she did eventually accept a place in the team. She is fiercely protective of her magical identity, and few people know outside of the Inner Senshi. She has come down especially hard on Usagi, viewing her crybaby idealism as unsuited to the strenuous climate of magical Tokyo. She's hard on the rest of the Senshi, too - and everyone else she comes to care at all about. She is unwilling to trust the rogue elements of the community, and even after a year, is slow to open her heart to her friends. She still carries the fear that if she comes to trust and rely on others, she will be betrayed and tossed aside.<br />
:* Kasagami Araki joins at the end of summer vacation 2014 as the new Student Council Disciplinary Executive, despite being a transfer student and having only just entered the school. She is much more cynical this timeline, having worked for Ends of the World before coming to Ohtori. As DE, she has been put in charge of the civilian patrols for the 'vampires' on campus...and has enthusiastically been assisting in the hunt for HiME as well as the goals of Ends of the World.<br />
:* Ladybug is incredibly secretive, being very formal in her interactions with other magical girls in order to preserve her secret identity. Even her ostensible partner, Chat Noir, gets to hear little more than business from her. Where exactly she's based is hard to tell, as she shows up for monster attacks across Tokyo - though she seems fastest to respond to attacks near Infinity, and takes the longest to appear when attacks happen near Juuban. Unbeknown to ''everyone'', this is because Marinette intentionally waits when there's an attack close to home - a devotion to secrecy that has even Tikki irritated. <br />
* '''IC Starting Date: September 2014'''<br />
* '''Starting Plot: SEARRS Invasion'''<br />
* It is September 10, 2014, and Southern Cross Island is apparently infested by vampires. Or maybe it's a stalker. At any rate, girls who go out alone at night are being found unconscious and, from the disarray of their possessions, have been searched for valuables. Magical girls suspect that this is really someone trying to identify them within the ordinary student population of Ohtori Academy. The school has implemented an extremely strict campus curfew enforced by Disciplinary Executive patrols, however, which makes it slightly more difficult to mount the kind of MAGICAL patrols needed to investigate and guard against the real threat. Those who've taken the risk anyway have discovered that the true perpetrators are Orphans -- the native demonic enemy that HiME were born to fight. But Orphans have always seemed mindless in their monstrosity. Could something -- or someone -- be directing their actions?<br />
* From a more normal perspective, summer is finally over, Fall Semester is in session, and for 9th-graders especially, it also brings High School Entrance Exams into focus as a looming existential threat to their ordinary lives. It is harder than ever to find enough time for it all.<br />
* The Fall 2014 Sports Festival is coming up soon. Juuban had it last year, and now it's Ohtori's turn to host, and despite the campus safety issues the plan seems to be moving forward. That makes it roughly the one-year anniversary of most magical girls' careers; a time for reflection. How have things changed since they discovered the world of magic? How have THEY changed?<br />
<br />
=====Timeline Three Logs=====<br />
{{#dpl: |category = logs <br />
|titlematch = %TIMELINE 3:%<br />
|notcategory = News Files<br />
|notcategory = cutscenes<br />
|ordermethod = title<br />
|columns = 2<br />
|rowcolformat=width=100%<br />
|suppresserrors = yes <br />
|noresultsheader=There are no logs on this wiki for Timeline Three.<br />
}}<br />
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