2015-01-30 - A Miserable Errand
| Title: A Miserable Errand | |
|---|---|
| Summary: A busy laundry-filled Saturday is interrupted by Westar, Denizen of Labyrinth, who apparently hates waiting in line. Can the heroes defeat his monster, or will they be hung out to dry? | |
| Who: | |
| Where: Shitamachi Low City | |
| OOC - IC Date: 17 May 2014 - 01/30/2015 | |
<Pose Tracker> Hayato Nishi [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
Saturday is, for many, a day for getting things done. Whatever weekly schedule one subscribes to, Saturday and Sunday tend to have less going on - which in turn makes them good days for catching up on housework and errands. Sure, most of the ATMs might be closed, and government offices remain stubbornly shuttered - but for nearly anything else, this is the day to do it.
Such a shame that half the city seems to agree.
Grocery stores are bustling, hardware shops are rejoicing, and the laundromats are particularly busy today. A nice, sunny day well-suited for air-drying laundry once it's washed, so it's largely the washers that are seeing a lot of use - and the line seems to stretch for blocks. Most of those waiting in line are fairly good-natured about it, eagerly participating in conversation or playing games on cellphones while they wait. It's a nice day, so where's the rush?
There is, toward the back of the lengthly line, someone who seems to be in a rush. Saddled with basket after basket containing what seems to be four persons' worth of laundry is a towering hunk of a young man. Blond, tall, seemingly not a local. The first half hour was fine, getting caught up trading tips with others in a similar situation...but he's getting hungry. And bored. And generally frustrated. "Why is everyone doing their laundry -today-? Gah, how miserable..."
He pauses in the middle of his outburst, quieting in light of the eyes turning towards him. He leans to one side, looking down the long line to the washing machines that are seeing such heavy use. Slowly, his gaze passes over the rest of the line...and he nods.
"Right. I'm going to try something. Excuse me, thank you, be careful with those whites...." Cautiously, he picks his way out of the crowd, heading somewhere nearby - and laden with those baskets of laundry. A noble sentiment, but where else can he go to get his laundry done today?
Still, the line is one body shorter, conversation is picking up, and it's a nice day for nothing to go wrong.
<Pose Tracker> Yayoi Kise [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Yayoi Kise laundry day! Yayoi enjoyed helping mother with chores and this week was her day to infact, do laundry. She did so, with a smile, despite long lines and overworked machines that barely did thier jobs due to years of overuse. It still did the job, and besides. where else was she going today for the rest of today? She had no plans, and everyone else was busy with thier own things.
This all, however, did not make the small girl look any less overwhelmed with the laundry bag that was almost half her size! She'd figure it out of course.
Her eyes look to Hayato's outburst with a blink- though, she's far too shy to say anything about, she can only look in wonder. Was that boy getting upset with the wait? Regardless, he seems to have left as quickly as he made a fuss, making her wonder if he'd been chased away by all the stares. She sympahtatizes with this--- being the center of attention is /horrible/.
She bites her lip and looks back forward. Yeah, the line is a little long.
<Pose Tracker> Ikiko Hisakata [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
With a sunny day like this, it's the perfect weather for feeding stray dogs, especially when there's multiple packs to feed due to upcoming schedule complications. It's enough to keep Ikiko busy.
Instead, she's in line with a basket of laundry.
Due to a minor mishap at home, there was a load of laundry that had to be done today while a few things were repaired. Since all she's mentioned of her habit of feeding strays is that it's a flexible club activity, her parents sent her to the laundromat, figuring that it wouldn't interfere too badly.
Well, if she hurries afterwards, she might be able to still get everything done, even if she does wind up running late.
<Pose Tracker> Inori Yamabuki [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.
While Inori was mostly happy with her life at Ohtori, there were some days when she felt a number of students were disconnected with reality. Today was one of those days. "It's your turn, Yamabuki-san." A third year in the fashion club pointed to a large number of their old projects. "Have a servant come by and pick up the dry cleaning." Before she could even register everything wrong with that statement, the girl was out the door to enjoy her weekend. "I don't-" Sighing, she turned towards the the closet's worth of clothing.
~Later~
Making multiple trips from Ohtori to the local dry cleaners was enough to make her day a hassle. By the time she finished, it was already late afternoon. Resigned to the fact that the day had become laundary day, she make a quick trip home to pick up everything for the family as a whole. They were working so hard and late these past few weeks that it felt like a way pitch in.
When she arrived though with a basket of laundry in her arms, and two tied mesh bags on top of it, she was greeted by the sight of a line so endless she felt like it'd be June before she made it. Sighing again, she took her place in line, and leaned down to set the basket easily beside her, waiting for the line to move up. Her phone buzzes, and her eyes briefly lit up, until she saw the message. She quickly tapped back, 'Laundry day. Maybe later.'
Later as in next June, this was indeed miserable. Amicably she gave a quick wave to Ikiko, who she recognized further up in the line, before browsing her favorite blog of kitten and puppy pictures. It was the only thing that could possibly save her now from this misery!
<Pose Tracker> Hayato Nishi [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
In an alley, not too far off:
"Switch! Over!"
Raucous laughter interrupts the everyday errands of those waiting in line. Cape billowing in a summer breeze, the executive of Labyrinth most muscular of head and body stands atop a lamp post, arms folded with a slightly haughty expression. "Denizens of Tokyo! I am Westar, denizen of Labyrinth, and faithful servant of Mobius. You, who wait endlessly to do your laundry - prepare to know despair!"
Of course he isn't carrying any laundry. That was left atop a nearby roof.
He focuses a moment, summoning a yellow diamond between his hands - and snatching it up, hurls it into the laundromat to lodge in one of the tumbling washing machines. "Nakewameke! Obey my command!"
The doors burst open as, in a billowing storm of smoke, the chosen washing machine emerges. Supersized, now, with cartoonish eyes atop the boxy body, and adorned with suitably heavy metal arms and legs. There's a glass door on the front, suds and water churning away in an endless rotation. Pavement cracks, and the mechanical monster bellows. "SPIIIIN CYCLE!"
The panic is immediate - a gargantuan monster appearing in downtown Tokyo? Never mind not being able to finish the laundry, this is what's worth worrying about. Westar, for his part, just bellows with laughter as the monstrous clothes-washer begins its rampage. "Cry more! Wail more! Everything for Mobius!"
COMBAT: Hayato Nishi transforms into Nakewameke! COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 3 opponents!
<Pose Tracker> Ikiko Hisakata [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
Ikiko waves back to Inori -- always nice to see Animal Care club members from the other schools! She starts looking around, trying to see if she can spot anyone else that she knows. Once she spots Yayoi, she goes to wave--
And the Nakewameke bursts out of the laundromat.
"/Really?/" she says, ducking down a nearby alley. After finding a place to safely hide both herself and the laundry, she touches her locket. "Lycan Locket!" she calls, and with a silvery glow of lupine shapes she transforms into Cute Wolf Tsukiko.
Leaping high out of the alley, the wolfgirl lands on top of a lightpole. "You might be here to cause trouble, but you and your youma are going to be washed up!" she calls to Westar and the Nakewameke.
COMBAT: Ikiko Hisakata transforms into Cute Wolf Tsukiko! COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Bark! on Westar. COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Yayoi Kise [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Yayoi Kise is mostly happy to wait in line, her eyes look over to Ikiko, who she knows and gives a wave politely, if not overtly and obvious, and looks back towards the laundry machines. This is boring, but...once it's done, she can go home , fire up her laptop and watch the new episode of the current Kamen Rider Season. This will make all this worth it.
Then there's a loud rancourus laughter from outside, of the evil variety, and then something quick shooting through the air, hitting a washing machine and turning into some sort of monster.
"Eeeek!" insists Yayoi, as she drops her bag. This isn't how it's supposed to go! Laundry! and Kamen Rider! And--and! Acccck! Now the day was gonna be ruined because she'd be too tired after fighting this thing to do anything.
She moves behind a row of washing machines in the chaos and pulls out a makeup compact. "Pretty Cure!, Smile Charge!"
In a flash of yellow light, Cure Peach hops up onto the rows of washing machines in the laundry mat. then pauses. Does. Does she really need to make a speech about laundry? Oh well. -,-;;
"People come to a laundry mat to clean thier clothes so they look special for the people in thier life! AND I, the shining, sparkling, ROCK PAPER SCISSORS of Justice!..." she calls out. "Won't let you ruin this!" she says--- and at the same time throws--- ROCK! With her hand at the monster.
COMBAT: Yayoi Kise transforms into Cure Peace! COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Bark!, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Cute Wolf Tsukiko is Psyched! Exhausted applied to Westar! COMBAT: Cure Peace has used Pikarin Janken! on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar accepts Cure Peace's Pikarin Janken!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Westar is Taunted!
<Pose Tracker> Inori Yamabuki [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.
Suddenly her attention was drawn away from a pic of a kitten sticking their tongue out by the man atop the lamppost, immediately put on her guard, "As if this day couldn't get any more-" She doesn't finish, realizing that was of course, Westar's intent, given the speech. Before he even throws the data diamond, she's hoists up the basket and bags of laundry on top of it, running over to the dry cleaners just a few stores down.
The bewildered employee gawked at her as she dropped them on the counter, "Not dropping off, I'll be back for this soon!" Suddenly the Nakewameke's bellow resounded with 'SPIN CYCLE' interrupting her, before she adds, "You may want to take off early." She says with some urgency, "Like right now!"
Gripping a clover shaped key, she inserted it into her phone just as she rounded the corner into the alley, "Change!" Spreading her arms over her head, she lowers them as she states, "Pretty Cure- Beat up!" Suffused with the golden light of her Linkrun, she takes a leap of faith, and moments later is transformed into Cure Pine.
Rushing back on the street, she takes up a defensive stance. Part of her doesn't want to fight this without her friends, but Peach and Berry were unlikely to be able to get up here in time. "This is petty even for Labyrinth, Westar! People have little enough leisure time as is, without you taking away from that by interrupting their laundry!"
Launching herself at it, leading with a series of light kicks and jabs which are meant to probe it's defenses, before she spins into a twisting strike, attempting to directly punch the Nakewameke's glass door. Perhaps not the wisest place to aim, but she was upset. She was hoping to have some time with her friends later on!
COMBAT: Inori Yamabuki transforms into Cure Pine! COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pineapple Punch on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Pine's Pineapple Punch, taking 9 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
Westar's villainous scheme is off to an excellent start. This is how you deal with a long line at the laundromat! From atop his perch, he watches with satisfaction as the gathered crowd flees as a disorganized mob. It might not be the rich personal torment Soular prefers, but fear and panic are plentiful here.
And as an added bonus, he'll have the washing machines all to himself shortly!
Much more swiftly than anyone could have expected, though, there's opposition. A wolf-girl challenges his Nakewameke, which actually staggers back in surprise. Westar himself is caught off-guard - seriously, not even a minute, was she in line too or something? - but endeavours to recover. "That's what you think - but it's high time Labyrinth started cleaning things up around here!"
Cure Peace arrives next, with a challenge of her own. "Looking special? Who needs that! It's time-" Inspiration strikes, and he gives his monster a silent urge to go with his taunt. He knows this Cure's game, after all. "-that we cut you out of the picture!" The Nakewameke throws scissors....and stares, along with Westar, at Cure Peace's fist. They...lost?
And as it turns out, that wasn't even the fist they should have been watching - Cure Pine's entry delivering a blow to the Nakewameke, making it audibly ring. Still - it's solid. This might be harder than it looks. "Hmph - this entire 'weekend' is wasted on the likes of you! Labyrinth has no need of such things - Nakewameke! Let's get started dealing with the dirt!"
"SUDS UP!" The mechanical monstrosity braces itself, practically vibrating as the spin reaches a higher pitch - and then the glass door flies open. It's a torrent of soapy water, sweeping down the street to usher straggling civilians ever onward. Not only is it cleansing, it's also incredibly slippery - the ground might be a touch unsafe to walk on after this.
The Nakewameke's door slams shut, and it flexes its arms in triumph with a wide-legged stance. Westar mimics the pose, grinning viciously.
COMBAT: Westar has used Wash Cycle on Cute Wolf Tsukiko. COMBAT: Westar has used Wash Cycle on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Westar has used Wash Cycle on Cure Pine. COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking. COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko narrowly dodges Westar's Wash Cycle, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Flash ability activates! Tangle applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko! COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly braces Westar's Wash Cycle, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Block ability activates! Cure Pine's Parry ability activates! Tangle applied to Cure Pine! COMBAT: Cure Peace narrowly dodges Westar's Wash Cycle, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Cure Peace's Fade ability activates! Cure Peace's Flash ability activates! Tangle applied to Cure Peace!
<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
Tsukiko flashes a grin to the two Cures in yellow -- fighting monsters is always more fun with friends and allies around! Now, to follow Cure Pine's lead and bring the fight to the youma...
The wolfgirl's eyes widen as the Nakewameke unleashes a geyser of soapy water. She backflips out of the way of the jet of sudsy water, feeling like she's forgetting about something. Her feet touch down on the ground--
And slip out from under her, causing her to fall on her rear -- hard.
"Ow!" Tsukiko yelps. After a tentative try to regain her footing, she changes her tactics. Bracing her feet against a curb, she presses off like she was jumping for the rooftops. Instead of going upward, however, she rapidly slides across the soapy ground, grabbing for the youma's feet to come to a halt -- and to bring her close enough to bite its ankles with magic-boosted fangs.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Silver Fangs on Westar. COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Cure Peace gives a coy smile when she wins the game. "Ha!" she calls out. Only for her celebration to be called short when the monster unleashes a torrent of suds and slipper water. She jumps out of the way! Straight into the air! Only to come down straight onto a slipperly floor and fly feet first straight up into the air. She slides backwards with the water, and looks embarassed by this miscalcuation of her actions!
She manages to get back onto her feet, and does her best to look determined again. "If you think you're just going to wash us away...." she calls out. She crackles with an electrical aura, before she strikes from a distance, sending a wave of energy out from two fingers hoisted in 'peace signs'.
She looks at the other two--- The Cute Wolf, and Cure Pine, going in close--- thinking it's best if she keeps a distance. For now. Ranged support is also important!--right?
COMBAT: Cure Peace has used Precure Electric Storm! on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Silver Fangs, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Westar! COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Peace's Precure Electric Storm!, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Cripple and Stun applied to Westar!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.
Landing the blow against the all too Nakewameke, Pine puts some distance between the monster and herself with a series of back flips, when she rights herself, she shakes her hand with a wince as she looks upon it. "It's not a waste!" Pine protests at Westar, though not as forcefully as she can muster. Perhaps something shook her confidence in herself a little more recently? "It's time you can use to spend with the people you care about. Or just to give yourself a break. How could anyone do without that?"
The monster however answers, and suddenly she's hit by a torrent of soapy water. At first, she crosses her arms, and tries to endure it as best as she can, despite becoming sopping wet in the process. It works, until it makes the pavement underneath her slippery. Suddenly with her feet slipping underneath her, her arms flail as she tries to regain balance. Once the assault ends, she tries to take a single step forward, and nearly finds herself flat on her back for her troubles! "Uwaeh!" She cries, as she puts a hand down to catch herself.
Standing up more cautiously, she looks to the others gathered with her, surprised that she recognizes them both. "Let's be careful! It looks like he planned this one to be really dangerous!" Yes, she said 'planned'. This time, she waits for the Cute Wolf getting her feet out from under her, she bends at the knees, and leaps towards the lamp post like she's going to attack Westar directly, a leg outstretched. It's just a feint though, as it turns out, the Labyrinth executive far too dangerous to attack with his monster still about.
Instead, she kicks off the post about a yard lower than his post, performing a spin through the air to change direction, before leading with a flying kick towards the Nakewameke. She immediately follows up with a combination of quick jabs and punches, trying to follow up on their efforts to wear down the monster.
COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Pretty Cure Fresh Assault on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Pine's Pretty Cure Fresh Assault, taking 19 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
They're working together. Even as his enemies recover from the suds-soaked water, Westar frowns. This trio seems to know each other well enough to work together, at any rate - which means this could be more difficult than he'd like. "Nakewameke! Stand firm!"
The machine does its best to follow the orders - but its stance is disrupted in moments by Tsukiko's shining fangs. Staggering into a puddle, it's struck by Cure Peace's electical storm - and between the metal and the water, the shock pierces through its defenses. Meanwhile, Peace moves to assault Westar, who leaps to return the favor - but her fake-out move catches the Nakewameke utterly off guard sending it flying into a nearby building.
Damage probably not covered under warranty.
Westar, fist slammed against the pavement, grimaces. "If that's how you're going to play it..." He springs forward, leaping to grasp one of the Nakewameke's arms, and physically hauls it upright again. "Then we're not going to rest until you're hung out to dry!"
He pauses a moment to grin at his own joke, and then turns to Pine. "I don't know what kinds of weekends you might be used to - but we do just fine without them!" He folds his arms, and frowns - though whether it's at Cure Pine or what he just said is anyone's guess. "Besides which - I don't see your companions here. Are you stuck doing chores by yourself too?"
Having caught its figurative breath, the Nakewameke takes a step forward, slamming its fists into the ground in challenge. The tumbling suds, which had slowed, begin to spin back to full force...
COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Pine. COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cute Wolf Tsukiko. COMBAT: Westar has used Westar's Lending A Hand! on Westar. COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking. 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! COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly dodges Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Cure Pine! COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko narrowly braces Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Block ability activates! Cripple, Diversion, and Exhausted applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko! COMBAT: Cure Peace fails to brace Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Cure Peace!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Cure Peace makes a face as Westar gets involved directly with his Nakewameke and helps it up. "That joke was awful! You should feel /awful!/" she chides. Well. "I M-mean besides for just the joke! You can't just upset peoples chores like this!" she insists loudly, still, she's caught up in the force of the suds and winces a bit as she clenches her teeth.
She looks to the Cute Wolf, and the Other Cure.. "Look I--- hey! You're not doing this alone, we were all here right!?" she asks. She's not sure. "She wasn't the only one trying to do what needs to be done!" she says as she gives a curt nod to Cure Pine!
COMBAT: Cure Peace has used Smile! Smile! Smile! on Cure Pine. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking. COMBAT: Cure Pine accepts Cure Peace's Smile! Smile! Smile!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower applied to Cure Pine!
<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
Tsukiko gets clear of the Nakewameke before the lightning hits, sliding her way clear and starting to stand back up. Then the youma slams its feet into the ground, and her own feet slip out from under her again. While the landing isn't as painful this time, it still knocks the wind out of her. Getting to her feet once more, the wolfgirl nods to Cure Peace. "We can't let something like awkward footing bring us down," she agrees, shaking some of the suds off and carefully testing her footing.
Turning back towards the Nakewameke, she glares defiantly towards it. "We're going to pull the plug on this!" she yells as she leaps forward to ricochet off of the youma. While her attack lacks some of its usual power, it at least helps keep her confidence up.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Overrun Bounce on Westar. COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Overrun Bounce, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Cute Wolf Tsukiko is Psyched!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.
While initially she exults as a result of how their efforts temporarily bring the Nakewameke down, it doesn't last for long, as Westar punchs the pavement, the mere force of it causes Pine to backpeddle away from the Nakewameke and not follow up on her attack. It gives him more than enough time to haul the Nakewameke up without hindrance. Then comes the rebuttal. Pine's luminous eyes go wide, as she reflexively answers, "If I asked my friends to come help, they'd come! But they're working hard and need their time too!" A beat, "Do you really do fine without that time?" She finally asks, "Wouldn't you want a break after a week of hard work?"
Still his words stung bringing back all those feelings of self-doubt after her recent tarot reading session with Love's friend, Setsuna Higashi. All of that despair, from a single card. The Lovers in Reverse, representing her future. Broken relationships with her friends. It's the other Yellow Cure that provides support and encouragement, and while it doesn't banish all of those feelings, she does allow herself a small smile as thanks to Peace. "You're right. I'm not alone. You're all here with me." Though, even she couldn't help but consider that she'd prefer her teammates. "Let's reclaim our day!" She looks sidleong at Tsukiko, "Ready?" Inwardly she can't help but think how /cute/ Tsukiko is as always, mildly envious of her tail and ears.
Digging deep within herself, she lets the Cute Wolf charge first as she pushes aside such feelings based on how long Love, Miki and herself had been together. How could a fortune telling wipe away so many years of being together? While doubt lingered, the faith in herself and those friends, as well as Peace's assurance gave her the strength to rush forward. Taking the direct approach, she rushes inside the Nakewameke's guard, before leaping into it, knee outstretched to smash into it's bulky, solid form.
COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Dogged Conviction on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar perfectly braces Cure Pine's Dogged Conviction, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Brace!
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
As awful as he should feel, Westar continues grinning in the face of Cure Peace's accusations. "Hah! Are you saying it's a chore to deal with us?"
The Nakewameke turns to look at Westar. "...I know, it's a stretch, mocking the enemy is harder than it looks!" The Nakewameke, not convinced, turns back to the girls.
"WASHED UUUUUP!"
Tsukiko's flying leap catches the Nakewameke between the eyes - and its footing slips on a patch of its own suds, thanks to the ongoing distraction. Bellowing in fury, it starts to stomp forward. Pine's charge meets it head-on, and it meeds the knee with outstretched hands - Cure and youma clashing with sparks flying. In the end, though - with a surge of strength, it forces the Pretty Cure back, and trumpets its unharmed state. "FRESHLY CLEANED!"
During the melee, Westar takes a moment to clamber up another lamp post. Clearing his throat audibly, he points to his opponents. "Enough of the puns! Even if there's three of you, you're stuck here with piles of laundry to do, and I control the machines! What are you going to do about that, Pretty Cure?!" A beat.
"...and even if you're working all week, if you're ordered to work on something after that you do it, right?!" It's not just him, right? "...Nakewameke! Take them to the cleaners!" Fed up with the jokes, the Nakewameke charges forward, and -past- the line with arms outstretched to catch Cures Pine and Peace. Whirling, one hand stretches out in an attempt to grab the bouncing wolf-girl - and if successful, throw her into the swirling waters for a quick bath.
COMBAT: Westar has used Flying Clothesline on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Westar has used Flying Clothesline on Cure Pine. COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Cute Wolf Tsukiko. COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking. COMBAT: Cure Peace perfectly dodges Westar's Flying Clothesline, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Cure Peace's Fade ability activates! Cure Peace's Flash ability activates! COMBAT: Cure Pine fails to counter Westar's Flying Clothesline, taking 19 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Cure Pine's counterattack, Pretty Cure Roundhouse Kick, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar! COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko fails to counter Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 35 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko's counterattack, High-Speed Kick, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar!
<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
Tsukiko lashes out with a kick to try driving the Nakewameke's hand away, but instead of knocking the *hand* away from *her*, she propels *herself* away from the hand -- and into the washing machine.
"Ack-phlbt!" the wolfgirl sputters as she rattles arround in the wash. She focuses on keeping her head above the soapy water, and lets the lupine part of her soul sharpen its focus as she scrambles away from the Nakewameke.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Wolf's Blessing on Cute Wolf Tsukiko. COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking. COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko accepts Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Wolf's Blessing, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Surge applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Cure Peace leaps out of the way of the rampaging youma with a leap into the air and comes down nearby, frowning a lot, as she grits her teeth. "Of course we do things we're asked to do, it's important!" she insists. "I didn't come here because I wanted to to! I came here because it was my turn to do the laundry! But I don't do it every week, either! It's fun to take turns! and give the other person a break! Don't you split chores with your friends!? Do---do you even have friends!?" she asks. "Or are they all monsters you make like this!?" she asks. She's not sure about these people who seem to all dress the same and yell about Mobius or something.
Regardless, she leaps into the air and then with a sparkling flash, nearly explodes into a bolt of lighting down at the creature, trying to plow into it with all her might.
COMBAT: Cure Peace has used Precure Lightning Strike on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Peace's Precure Lightning Strike, taking 5 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.
Pine's knee meets Nakewameke's hands. For a moment, the clash seems uncertain, but then Westar's Nakewameke capitalizes upon her inner doubt, it's titanic strength forcing her to fall back, as she flips backwards and skids upon the pavement. 'Even if you're working all week, if you're ordered to work on something after that you do it, right!?' For a moment, Pine's eyes grow wide with a certain realization.
The hesitation costs her, as the Nakewameke charges forward, leaping into the air, she twists into a powerful roundhouse kick... which is interrupted by the Nakewameke striking her mid-section first, hurling to strike a patch of still sudsy street. She continues to slide across it until she crashes into a now abandoned Takoyaki stand that was starting to set up earlier to capitalize on the rush. Suddenly covered with flour and potato starch intended to create the octopus balls, she rises, looking entirely pained from the experience, and shaking out the flour from her hair, taking a moment to wring out her side tail.
Finally her own retort comes, only half-believing it herself at first, due to the atmosphere at Ohtori but with growing conviction as she speaks. "It's not like that! We're not ordered to do anything! We volunteer because we want to help out. It's about doing our part, to help everyone succeed!" A beat, as she adds in frustration, "Why can't you understand? It's not the same way with you and your fellow executives?" Having not seen them interact, she has no idea just /how/ wrong she was.
And now, it was time for her to do her part, considering her options here. Mindful of the treacherous footing on the street, she tries to patiently size up her foe, before trying to leap up and over behind it. Bending down low, she attempts to sweep out the bulky leg from under it, hoping the Nakewameke would find it hard to get up on the street it had made slippery.
COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Doing her part - By sweeping the leg! on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Cure Pine's Doing her part - By sweeping the leg!, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine is Psyched!
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
Churning water, turn turn turn - and after a quick spin cycle, Tsukiko escapes the Nakewameke's imprisonment. It pauses to gloat for a moment, triumphant over two opponents - and then its arms cross to take the impact of Cure Peace's lightning charge. Not a perfect defense - metallic arms still conducting electricity - but it's solid all the same. It's neglected Cure Pine, though - the leg sweep enough to force it to stumble a few steps.
While his Nakewameke battles the heroes' blows, it falls to Westar to combat their words. Cure Peace, talking about taking turns, gets a furios denial. "What - of course I have friends! My Nakewameke are my comrades-in-arms! Right?"
"WASHING UP!"
"...right!" Westar clears his throat, and turns to Cure Pine. "It's not orders - it's my role! Whether doing laundry, or gathering Misery Energy, or dealing with you - all of today's chores, I'll accomplish for Mobius's sake!"
The Nakewameke slams its hands into the ground anew, bellowing in challenge. "SEPARATE YOUR COLOURS!" An abrupt rush forward, hands outstretched to snatch up Cures Pine and Peace for a dunking much like Tsukiko got - followed by water and soap erupting from an open door to sweep down the street once more.
At least the roads are getting a good cleaning, right?
COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Cure Pine. COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Westar has used Wash Cycle on Cute Wolf Tsukiko. COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking. COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly braces Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Block ability activates! Cure Pine's Parry ability activates! Trap applied to Cure Pine! COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko narrowly dodges Westar's Wash Cycle, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Flash ability activates! Tangle applied to Cute Wolf Tsukiko! COMBAT: Cure Peace narrowly braces Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Cure Peace!
<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
Tsukiko rolls away from the geyser of soapy water, making sure not to leap onto the sudsy ground. Her footing isn't the best, but at least she's on her feet and relatively stable.
Stable, and balanced enough to move. Skating forward on the soapy road, she quickly circles the Nakewameke, trying to keep it in one place and possibly causing it to trip over its own suds.
COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Herd the Quarry on Westar. COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.
It's not orders. It's his role. Did Westar really give himself over so willingly to Mobius, with all of his heart? Cure Pine knows nothing about Labyrinth, except that it's a place that seems so sad and depressing. Yet Westar always carried out his tasks with such exuberance. Being so close to the Nakewameke leaves her open, as she's snatched up, and thrown inside with the other yellow Cure.
Apparently the Nakewameke seperated the yellow from the rest, which meant the waters would be... "AIYAGH! H-H-H-" She's trying to say 'Hot', but being bounced around inside, she keeps getting interrupted, and it's all she can do to just endure the experience, before all of a sudden, it ends, and she's washed out on the street. It takes her some time to get up, dizzy and stumbling now covered in suds and hot water, small wisps of steam floating up from her frilly yellow clothing.
With such fervent conviction from Westar, how could she ever hope to overcome him, and his Nakewameke comrade-at-arms? Her chest heaving as she breathes to try to recover from one of the most uncomfortable experiences she's had in her time as a Pretty Cure, she finally says, "And this is my role as a Pretty Cure." She puts her hands together over her head, and claps, "To stop you, for everyone's sake." A beat as she adds with a note of regret, "I'm sorry for what I have to do to your comrade. Nasty things, nasty things, fly away! Pretty Cure-"
She forms a diamond with her fingers, as healing power gathers between them. Without Peach and Berry, could she truly do this? What if Setsuna's prediction was right? That she was going to lose her friendship with one of them soon? With that lingering doubt could she even hope to help Tsukiko and Peace bring this down? She just had to muster some of that faith she found in herself, the day Eas came into her life, the day she became a Pretty Cure. Sometimes, she had to believe in herself too, rely on her own abilities. "-Healing Prayer!"
As she spreads out her hands towards the Nakewameke, gleaming, banishing light tries to wash over it, an attempt to disrupt the forces that held it together.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Pine has used Pretty Cure Healing Prayer on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Cure Peace is dunked, but does her best to hold her breath because this is horrible. She comes off of this with a dizzying look. @,@;. But she shakes it off as best as she can, as she clenches her fists. "Hey! You can't seperate us that easily!" she calls out. Even though that may or may not had been what just happened.
She attempts to jump forward, despite dripping in soap and water, and give this machine a might punch in it's side.
"Don't you share your work with your friends then!? Don't they do laundry somedays? Why don't you switch up chores.... so everyone gets some time off and gets a chance to do the easier chores, too?..." she asks.
"Work ... is that all you do!?" she asks.
COMBAT: Cure Peace has used Precure Punch! on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Herd the Quarry, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Trap applied to Westar! COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Peace's Precure Punch!, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Cure Peace is Psyched! COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Pine's Finisher, Pretty Cure Healing Prayer, taking 103 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
The Nakewameke's charge is somewhat wild - and Tsukiko's swift maneuvering leads it to soapy patch after soapy patch. Heavy metal feet slide and stumble, leading it off guard - enough that Cure Peace's direct punch sends it skidding to a halt near the laundromat. And then-
A prayer of faith, conviction and hope. Pineapple-yellow light washes over the Nakewameke in an abrupt storm, cleansing and purifying, working to wash the evil away. Westar stares at the turnabout, and clasps his own hands together in return. There's a fizzing noise, audible within the storm of light...
...and then the moment passes. The Nakewameke stands, slumped over. The slippery suds, the damage to the area, all of it has been cleansed...but Westar's own power has bolstered the Nakewameke enough that it somehow persists.
To Peace's question, he has no answer. To Tsukiko's challenges, he has no redress. To Pine...he relaxes a moment, staring at the enemy of Labyrinth. "...at least you apologize. Nakewameke!" He grits his teeth, biting back...something.
"EXTRA CLEAN!" The monster practically gleams in the sunlight as it surges forward. It rattles, it clangs, it's barely moving in a straight line - but it's moving at full force. Normally, Westar's Nakewameke unleash their fury in a clumsy cavalcade of chaos - but today, the machine has incredible intent. Blowing past Cure Peace and Cute Wolf Tsukiko, it slams to a halt in front of Cure Pine, and brings as much force to bear as it can muster.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Westar has used Overwhelming Force on Cure Pine. COMBAT: Westar has used Collateral Damage on Cure Peace. COMBAT: Westar has used Collateral Damage on Cute Wolf Tsukiko. COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking. COMBAT: Cure Pine narrowly braces Westar's Finisher, Overwhelming Force, taking 43 Fatigue damage! Cure Pine's Block ability activates! Cure Pine's Parry ability activates! COMBAT: Cure Peace narrowly braces Westar's Collateral Damage, taking 5 Fatigue damage! COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko fails to brace Westar's Collateral Damage, taking 11 Fatigue damage!
<Pose Tracker> Cure Peace [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed.
Cure Peace raises her arms as the machine crashes forward through her into Cure Pine. Ack! That's no good! "Hey! Watch out!" she tries to call out as she's pushed to the side. But she grits her teeth, it's all she can do as the monster crashes through like a bolt of lightning in it's own right.
"I'm not going to..let you just do this!" she calls out as she raises a hand skyward "Pretty Cure!...." she calls out as a lighting bolt is called from the sky, and strikes her hand---
She of course, always looks surprised when this happens because it's shocking! It doens't quite hurt as feel really weird. Regardless, she spins, charging the energy further--- before striking out. "PEACE THUNDER!" she calls out as she sends a dramatically huge bolt of lightning into Westar's Youma, hoping to help in finally taking it out.
COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Peace has used Peace Thunder on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Peace has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Peace's Finisher, Peace Thunder, taking 96 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting!
<Pose Tracker> Cute Wolf Tsukiko [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
The stampeding Nakewameke leaves Tsukiko spinning, causing her to hit a wall. "Oof," she grunts as she reorients herself. She takes a deep breath...
...and howls.
The wordless song of the howl carries her feelings, the friendships one can make while waiting in line, the beauty of the day, and the feelings of accomplishment when you get done with your chores. It's a beautiful song, pleasant to hear... but jarring on the ears of youma.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.
Westar, of all Labyrinth executives is known for his overwhelming strength. It's a defining trait in his Nakewameke, as they always give the Fresh Cures hard fights in what can often be described as straight up brawls. However, today, Pine learned something new about Westar. Perhaps she no longer sees him as the brawn, but the one who cares for his Nakewameke like she does her animal friends.
It causes a pang of guilt as he says 'At least you apologize', putting into perspective what she's been doing all along. She was saving people, but she was demolishing Westar's comrades to do it. And yet, she couldn't stop, she knew that. She could never stop. As Westar's Nakewameke comes up at her, she balances on one leg, her other leg curling up against her body. She raises her arms, and takes the full brunt of the blow, head on.
Cure Pine, was known for her endurance, which was perhaps how the boundless faith she represented manifested within her as a Pretty Cure. The force of it all but flattens her into the street, causing a giant crater of spidery cracked concrete. For a moment, it doesn't look like she's going to get up. And yet, she does on trembling, shaky legs.
Her expression is defiant of the fate the maimed Nakewameke intends to bring to her. "I'm sorry." One arm is drawn back, before she punches the Nakewameke head on, with as much force as she can muster. It wasn't much... her next statement little more than a whisper, "But I won't let you have your way."
COMBAT: Cure Pine has used Defiant Resolution on Westar. COMBAT: Cure Pine has finished attacking. COMBAT: FINISHER! Cute Wolf Tsukiko has used Soulful Howl on Westar. COMBAT: Cute Wolf Tsukiko has finished attacking. COMBAT: Westar narrowly braces Cure Pine's Defiant Resolution, taking 2 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting! COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cute Wolf Tsukiko's Finisher, Soulful Howl, taking 56 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting!
<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
When Cure Pine gets up, both Westar and Nakewameke are taken aback. One last desperate attack, brought to bear against the Nakewameke...one met by a metal hand of the monster's own. For a moment, the two are paused in a brief tableau. Quiet faith.
And then...Tsukiko howls. A song of friendship - true friendship, not constructed camaraderie - of beauty, of satisfaction. The fizzing heard before resounds once more as the purifying song strikes deep into the heart of the monster - the yellow diamond located prominently on its control panel. It ripples, it resonates with the note - and slowly, the diamond begins to dissolve.
Fury and surprise and determination strike forth - lightning slamming down on the mechanical monster. As it sparks and rages, it's utterly obscured from sight. When the lightshow of Peace's fury finally ends, ground sizzling...a washing machine remains. Unharmed, still quietly rumbling away even disconnected from the laundromat. With a ding, it finally comes to a halt and signals that the load is complete.
Atop his perch, Westar stares. Stares at Tsukiko, as the last echoing notes of her howl fade away. Stares at Peace, still sparking with lightning. Stares at Pine, trembling in her conviction.
He clenches one fist...and then releases it. "...fine. That's enough for today. Someone else can deal with you next time!" He leaps - up to a nearby rooftop, vanishing from sight in moments. All that seems to remain is the cleanup - and not much of that, even. It might take a few hours, but the downtown should return to normal soon.
Not as far away as one might expect, a young man takes several loads of laundry home, preparing to complain that his housemates should do their share. Perhaps not with much hope of victory, but preparing to complain all the same.
<Pose Tracker> Cure Pine [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed.
Cure Pine doesn't really know what to say. For a while, she watches Westar with a quiet stare, then turns and walks away, a limp in her step. There's really no retort she could give that would make her feel better about justifying her actions. There's nothing she could say that could make her feel better about her relationship with her friends. After she detransforms, she walks back into the dry cleaners as if nothing had happened, save perhaps she'd gotten soaked fleeing from the rampage, which is why she looks a little more soaked than usual.
Hoisting up her laundry, she moves back into line, waiting for the laundromat to open back up so she'd be closer to the front of the line. While she does so, she opens up her linkrun, and sends a text to Love Momozono and Miki Aono. It reads: 'It's been a miserable day. Would you both like to get some donuts once I'm done with my laundry?' Better to hold onto the things she valued, while she could, than to take them for granted.
