Battle Fantasia MUSH - User contributions [en]

Minako Aino

2014-03-20T05:56:11Z

Lainzilla:

{| class="toccolours" style="width: 25em; float: right; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0em; margin-bottom:2em; text-align: left; font-size: %110" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#fab70f; border: 2px #231f87 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Minako Aino'''
|-
! colspan="2" align="center" | [[File:Minako.jpg]]
|-
! style="background:#fab70f; border: 2px #231f87 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''IC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Full Name:
| Minako Aino
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Aliases:
| Sailor V, Sailor Venus
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Gender:
| Female
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Age/Birthdate:
| 14 / October 22, 1999
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Height:
| 5'2"
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Hair Colour:
| Light Blonde
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Eye Colour:
| Blue
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Astrological Sign:
| Libra
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Blood Type:
| B
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Food:
| Curry rice, ramen, gyoza
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Food:
| Shiitake mushrooms
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Favorite Subject:
| Physical Education
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Least Favorite Subject:
| Math
|-
! style="background:#fab70f; border: 2px #231f87 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Dossier'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Organization:
| [[Organization: The Tuner Organization|The Tuner Organization]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Position:
| Sailor V, Goddess of Love and Beauty
|-
! style="text-align:left" | School:
| [[School: Infinity Institute|Infinity Institute]] (Grade 8)
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Clubs:
| Volleyball Club
|-
! style="background:#fab70f; border: 2px #231f87 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''OOC Information'''
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Source:
| [[Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon]]
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Player:
| [[User:Lainzilla|lainzilla]]
|-
|}
''"In the night sky there must be a crescent moon, and in life there must be love. If you want a wonderful love, just leave it to Minako-sama here!"''

'''Minako''' has lived a double life for some time, fighting in Japan and overseas as the mysterious and famed Sailor V. Her interactions and confrontation with Kaitou Ace led to tragedy; soon after, Minako and her sidekick Artemis transferred to Infinity Institute in order to help the "rookie" magical girls and find the Moon Princess as her true identity, Sailor Venus. As the most experienced Sailor Senshi, Sailor Venus knows a bit more of what to expect from her enemies. She uses the elements of light and metal, and offers sisterly support to Sailor Moon. One might expect her cool-headed nature on the battlefield would transfer to her civilian life, but Minako herself is actually rather boy-crazy, cocky, and very, very odd.

====Fame and Stardom====
Minako maintains a YouTube channel where she uploads videos of herself recording covers of hit pop songs of the day, as well as the occasional video of 'tips for the lovelorn'. While it isn't horribly popular, she still tries to upload new videos fairly regularly, with new songs coming out about once every two weeks, and love tips coming out seemingly at random.

The channel title is '''TO BE DETERMINED''', and while she never reveals any information that could identify her personally, anyone who knows her would easily recognize her, and probably roll their eyes a lot.

====Logs and Cutscenes====
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|order = descending
|columns = 1
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[[Category:Characters]][[Category:Infinity]][[Category:Tuners]]

2013-10-18 - We Hunger For...

2014-03-19T09:01:55Z

Lainzilla:

[[Category: Logs]]
{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''We Hunger For...'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Down by the Tama River, two demons decide to have themselves a picnic of the unexpected hikers in the area. However, one of the Sailor Scouts can not allow the demons to enjoy their afternoon lunch and come to save the people. This could be a very bad mistake.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Sakana Yagijima]], [[Hotaka Domen]], Minako Aino
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Tama River
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
10/18/13 - 10/5/13
|-
|}

::'''[[Sakana Yagijima]] has posed''': 
Typically Sister Six has two chief methods of operation. She either enflames someone's passion in order to form a Reason Crystal to feed her dark masters or steals it away, absorbing it herself. It's a nice afternoon day outside so today...is lunchtime!

A lot of sporty people like to activity it up in the Tama River area, and that means for Sister Six it is basically a buffet. She had brought along a friend from Dark Fall. Why Alastor? Well...

Alastor has ram horns. Sister Six has ram horns. Maybe Sakana was just feeling they were both horny.

The scheme is as follows: Alastor scares people over towards Sister Six while stealing some energy for herself, and she catches them as they flee and noms down herself. Food for everybody!

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
When Hotaka got word that one of the Dark Fall operatives wanted help. He winced. He winced-- and Alastor took over. The plan was a very easy one. This other demon wanted him to chase up people to her. She nom on them. He maybe get to nom as well. Good time for alls. They both had a love for passion, though in the case of Alastor, he got a good deal of that energy from Hotaka when Hotaka was being stubborn and defiant-- and sometimes passionate. It was an odd symbiosis relationship ok?

Soon people could be heard screaming and a demonic cry could be heard. Those people made it over the hill and Alastor was right on their heels with his wings carrying him nearly on them, over them, and he sometimes flip around, just to give them a near swat of a kick if they were dragging behind. He could actually be heard chuckling, before he simply states, "..I should have been a rancher.." with that odd echo in his voice.

Once he had them running toward the other member of Dark Fall, he swoop down the ledge with great speed going after the next unexpected people.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Somehow, Sailor V has already made the scene, jogging from up the trail behind everybody to backtrack to the villains and the buffet. From the distance, an out-of-breath voice shouts to stop.

"Hey! Don't harass runners. They're much too busy running to run away from the likes of you!" says the annoyed voice of Sailor V. In truth, her rapid appearance was not the result of Minako rushing to the scene to take on the guise of Sailor V, but rather Sailor V running ahead of everybody in a race pretending to be Minako so she can win races.

"You're ruining a perfectly good day out in the sun, the last of summer! Today is a day for picnics and gold medals! I won't allow you to ruin it!"

::'''[[Sakana Yagijima]] has posed''': 
Sister Six...or Sister VI...snaps her Starry Sash out as she steps out of hiding, the sash wrapping around a running away runner who was running but now is not running because he's caught up in Sakana's metaphorical web. A dark aura ripples through the sash and he screams before dropping to the ground, drained! Sister Six licks her lips lightly, the sash unwrapping itself from the victim. "And now...huh??"

It's Sailor V! Sister Six's eyes widen in surprise and a smidgen of fear. "That girl...is the one who took out the Dark Agency! Sailor V!" She looks to Alastor and adds, "I heard she heartlessly took down entire families of innocent demons who just wanted to steal the energy from unsuspecting humans!"

She points a finger at V, "We're eating too, so beat it!"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
The demon was having his fun and had his hand to his ear piece while talking to-- someone. However when V makes her presence known he tsks softly and flaps his wings to hover in the air. "No more games time.." He says softly as his eyes flicker with a far brighter gold color before dimming down a bit.

He looks over to Six and gives a nod of his head. "..fought he not to long ago.." He pops the knuckles of his left hand before giving a dark smile. "I have no problem in repaying in kind for them.. or for her deciding to call in all her friends.. Though I can't remember which one called me weak.. but they all start to look the same after awhile, don't they?"

Alastor placed out his left hand to the side summon his Daemon sword from demonic blue flames into his hands. "Hey! V!" He shouts over to her. "You want to protect these people so badly," He points his sword at her. "Just come and /try/. I'll make you wish you never even showed up today!"

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V has absolutely no idea who Alaster is talking about or what situation he refers to, but she decides to take credit anyway. "Yeah, I'm the one who did that thing you refer to. In the past. With an undisclosed number of my friends!" she announces, reaching behind her back to flourish her little compact from who knows where.

"And... and.... I didn't take out innocent demons. I'm like Judge Dredd, I only punish the wicked! Stop misusing the wild power of P.R. or I'll punish you!" she says, then promptly breaks her promise as she chucks her compact down the forest'y path at her horny opponents anyway.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
The Demon has fought V before, even if she doesn't remember. It actually causes him to do a minor face-palm with a low growl. "..infuriating.." However that is when the attack comes in and he quickly raises up his right gauntlet to block most of the incoming magical light. He squints his eyes a bit as the light only burns a bit.

He growls lowly as he then watches as it seems his fellow Dark Fall has more issues maybe with the light itself. He narrows his eyes and then growls at V before he then snarls those fanged teeth in her direction and decides to yell at her for it really. "Hey! Short Skirt!" He then rushes right at her, though he doesn't actually hit her, but he does flicker at her skirt as he passes by, "Why don't you go jump off that cliff and go play with your kiddie friends! Cause your sure don't have it in your to take on us!"

::'''[[Sakana Yagijima]] has posed''': 
Sister Six says, "Wow... you took on Sailor V and didn't end up a pile of goo? That's pretty impressive!" She presses her hands across her cheeks and sighs wistfully. "I guess they do~"

Unfortunately for Sister Six, she has no idea who Judge Dredd is and gives Sailor V a blank stare. "Who is Judge Dredd?" She asks. "Is he passionate? Can I feed on him?" No Sakana, don't try to eat an imaginary totally fictional character!

She yelps as V suddenly throws a boomerang at them. She jumps out of the way.

"Ha! Missed!" Sakana shouts before the boomerang returns and clobbers her in the back of the head.

Dizzily she shakes her head twice then charges Sailor V, lowering her head to...headbutt her! She is pretty quick on her feet, V will notice, and she is also horny! As in she has horns. Headbutting horns.

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V immediately starts shouting angrily at Hotaka. "I'm not a 'kid'. I'm an adult. Practically. For all intensive purposes," she insists, faking left before sidestepping to the right, getting bumped aside by not speared by horns which in Mina's estimation is still a good exchange. Not so much as a fight but as a petulant last moment attempt, she sticks her foot out.

"ALSO! Kids are not for cliffs. You guys are totally irresponsible. I'll teach you how to babysit children in a way not involving cliffs!" she says, pointing her finger straight at Alastor.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
It Seems Alastor kinda gave the room he needed to give for Six to do what she did best. Ramming people. However in perhaps in his pleasure of a plan working out right in his mind, he also realized that sometimes taunting the happy-fun-sailor-moon-tyoes was NOT a smart idea as he gets a beam of light into his face and yelps in minor surprise; which also messes up his spell in return to her threats.

This causes him to flail and then go crashing down the side of the rock face. Would that be the end of Alastor? Not likely as the demon uses his Gauntlet and three metal covered fingers to slam into the rocks and growl as he stares upward. Then slowly looks at a rock climber who is just looking at him. "What are you staring at huh?!"

The Rock climber quickly scrambles /back/ down as Alastor uses his one arm to shove himself back up to the top of the combat area and landing down in a crouch. He still had that sword in his hand and growls lowly. Soon the dark skinned demon goes racing right at V, before he leaps up into the air, hard wing flap, and then comes right back down with a hard cleaving motion of his sword as he drops from the skies.

::'''[[Sakana Yagijima]] has posed''': 
Sakana trips right into V's leg and goes flying through the air--But before she hits the ground, a portal ripples into space before her and she passes through it, vanishing. The portal remains and, in fact, another portal ripples into space above Sailor V--and Sister Six tumbles out of it, recovering enough to twist her body so her foot is coming down for her face! She doesn't have to worry too much, though, V's powerful /makeup/ will prevent significant injury.

"Way to go, Senpai!" Six beams.

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V presumes that the demon that went over the edge is down and out. She turns back to the rammer and squares off, sparing a moment only to raise her hand up and catch her boomerang, which only now has gotten around to returning after circling around the cliff looking for a demon to bang into.

She's already prepared suitable things to say about how billy goats aren't so sure-footed, a comment she hopes doesn't have any unpleasant racial overtones for a ram-girl, when she notices a portal open and the girl disappear. She glances around before turning her eyes up to the air to see not one, but TWO opponents above her. Undaunted, she jumps up to deliver a flying kick of her own at Sakana. Success!

Since it worked so good the first time, she tries to push herself off Sakana and counter any more mid-air attacks with another kick.

It looks quite heroic, but in truth, she's reconsidering the offer to jump down a cliff.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
"Hold it together, Six!" Alastor states as he looks over at the young lady with his gold eyes. "We can make her pay for everything she has done, but only as a team!"

'..I thought you didn't like team-play, Alastor! Besides-- what are we even doing.. she is a sailor scout, right? You told me even after we faught them they are trouble. So why are we even still here! ..what were we doing here anyways?! Alastor!!'

After his big cheer for Six, he grits his teeth and then places his right hand up to his head, before grumbling under his breath something that was-- slightly hard to make out. Something maybe like-- work with me here? It was hard to tell.

'I know your protecting me Alastor.. for whatever the reason, but.. we are also a team too right..? You said you didn't take anything from me because you believed it make us stronger-- so why are you now holding me away? What are you trying to protect me from Alastor!?'

Sadly this little inner wake up of Hotaka came at the /worst/ time, which was suddenly V giving a sharp kick right into Alastor's face and slamming him across the area, through a tree, and slamming him hard into one of the rest buildings. He thumps against that before falling flat on his face. At least now he has a chance for a moment in silence to /talk/ to Hotaka. "..Hotaka-- there is a time and place for you to have your hand in battle.." His eyes glow bright gold. "..this is /NOT/ the time. So silence yourself youth and let me down what I must do! We can discuss the further after we are back home!"

There was some time that Alastor was gone, however the roar could be heard. He wasn't out yet and he could be seen heading right back for the battle at full flight speed with his sword at ready.

::'''[[Sakana Yagijima]] has posed''': 
Sakana might consider a joke like that fishy. Nevertheless, V proves to be the better kicker, catching Sakana in the stomach with the first strike. She gags, once, and then as V tries to bat her away with a second kick, she manages to roll off onto the ground. That...hurt.... Sakana hasn't felt such pain in a long time.

She staggers slowly to her feet before she listens to Alastor's words. What a strange thing to hear from a fellow demon...but she smiles faintly. "That's right...we're out to conquer Earth...together...!" People in Dark Fall have stranger inspirational speeches than other organizations.

"Alright...I'll keep her busy!" A portal ripples into space aboves her and spits out a soccer ball--which Sakana promptly snapkicks into a second portal...as the first appears behind V and spits the soccerball right back at the back of her head! "Even if you are the mighty Sailor V..!"

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V can't dodge what she can't see. She jumps back away from any potential attacks but only manages to get nailed from behind. Right in her head.

Frustrated, she blinks for a few moments, rubbing her head and adjusting her mask to make sure it won't fall off. "Shush, you both. You might be out to conquer Earth, but you can't even conquer your lunchtime!" she says, raising her hand and chucking her compact again, which immediately starts to glow golden and circle around in a looping arc, her aim to give each of her opponents a sharp SMACK right in their precious horns.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Alastor comes racing back in. The crescent nicks the side of his horn, but he keeps moving in. He taps his foot onto a bolder and pushes up into the air. He tries to dive down in time to protect Six, but sadly-- he isn't meant for speed; as one may believe; he is more built to take damage and dish it back. Given how such an attack should have probably done more then just give it a scratch.

The Demon growls lowly as his eyes narrow. "We will get our lunch time, once we dispatch of you-- you little BRAAAT!!" He then shoves right off the ground and moves into a fake, swing, before he spins around and comes down from the other way with the true swing. "And maybe you'll become the main dish!"

::'''[[Sakana Yagijima]] has posed''': 
Sakana opens her mouth to retort to V before cupping her chin and admitting, "Okay." She says. "That was a good one liner! We'll have to start with lunchtime, Alastor!" She spots the compact heading her way and this time manages to get a portal in the way in time to send it flying back at Sailor V, though the strain of moving those portals around is clearly visible as she lets out a breath and wobbles on her feet.

"My horns..." She whispers. "You were going after my horns?? My precious horns?? Do you know how often I polish them? Twice a day, I'll have you know, they're my pride as a woman! It takes /effort/ to make horns look that good!" At least she seems fairly rattled. She picks up her Starry Sash and starts swinging it around. "Now hold still!"

She swings her sash forward and towards V's body, intending to wrap her up and drain her just like she drained that hapless runner who was running away from Alastor (runningly)!

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V laughs and laughs as her boomerang loops around. It's glowing, not sharply as earlier, but brightly and distractingly, making a pleasant ringing sound as it smacks against horns and returns to her hand. "Haaaa!" she says, flicking her own head in what she thinks is a mocking gesture to a goat.

She swats and parries away Alastor's sword with her recently returned weapon as she makes a disgusted face. "Eww, it's always weird to hear the human'ish looking ones talk about eating people," she comments as she's wrapped up in sashes. She tugs on it, then decides it's easier to go towards Sakana then away from Sakana while she's tied up (and away from being cut with swords is a good way to go) and she leaps, deciding to do what she does best to get herself free; kick people.

"You both keep trying to eat me, but you'll find while I taste delicious, I'm not a good part of your diet!" she says, stressing the word 'delicious' in an inappropriate way as she smacks her compact against her, which explodes in a neat display of color and power before she grips it for throwing. "Eat THIS instead!"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Alastor gets slammed by the item and is interrupted before he can reply with a spell in kinda. He shakes his head and then notes some of the color on him, which he shakes his head quickly to knock it off of him. He crouches down for a moment growling lowly. There was a part of the demon now wondering if this was /even/ worth it.

Then there was the human side-- Hotaka-- Hotaka in a strange way believed it was worth it. So down Alastor stayed for a moment before his eyes snapped open. His right hand with the massive black gauntlet with gold started to glow gently in blue flames.

He then started to laugh softly. It wasn't a pleasant laugh. Instead it was a rather scary ones. It was one of those you never want to hear villains do. He then charges right at V. His Gauntlet claw reaching out right for her throat and to slam her right into a tree. If his grip takes and holds, he would start to squeeze on her neck. "You hairless apes discuss me." He snarls out. "Always talking big, always trying to do what is /right/. You can't save this world-- because that would mean saving this world from /itself/ and /you/, /NO ONE/ can save /everyone/."

Once more if his attack holds, he then goes to throw her aside, perhaps right for Six.

::'''[[Sakana Yagijima]] has posed''': 
"It's inevitable, really." Sister Six says and from her tone, she seems like she believes it. "I'm sure you'll impede us plenty, but while you can slow us down, you can't stop us!" Sakana beams cheerfully despite her injuries. She throws herself to the side but the crescent compact slices across her side and she ends up stumbling into another portal, vanishing through it.

--And as before, a portal near Minako spits her out, this time she dives in, horns first, and hit or miss she vanishes through another portal shortly after--only to reappear from the repositioned original once more to throw a kick again. Her speed increases rapidly as she darts in and out, striking rapidly and intending to not give V a chance to recover as she strikes with quick ut brutal strikes. Sometimes she even kicks that soccerball around, continuing to use it as an offensive weapon--her timing explicitely utilized to make use of Alastor's throw.

Her last strike comes in the form of a knee towards the gut, whispering, "There are many ways to taste your passion~" in a matter which is almost certainly flirtatious. She is very much like that.

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V mumbles that the world doesn't need saving from Sailor Senshi, although she might have misunderstood what Hotaka was trying to impart to her. She grips a wrist and tries not to choke before being tossed away, effortlessly turning herself in the air to face Sakana.

Unfortunately, Sakana can choose to be anywhere, and she chooses to be everywhere but in front of V. She contorts her body in the air to try and protect her soft spots from every hit, but it's a poor showing. When she finally hits the ground, she almost wretches, using all of her willpower to keep down her bile, then immediately regreting it as she staggers from the ground to a semi-upright position and just feels terrible.

"Aggh, I might not be able to save everybody, but I'll save myself! And if you like my taste, put this in your mouth and smoke it," she says, cocking her thumb back like a pistol and aiming it at her new best not-friends.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
The Beam fires off and entraps Alastor in light. The Demon snarls and then just chuckles. He was injured and it was starting to show. "Oh you see. Your giving me everything I need, little hairless ape." Those gold eyes staring right at her. "I love it when you humans get feisty and I still have yet to repay you properly for what happened at the pier."

"..and I suppose now with the full knowledge you also /hate/ my kind so and you killed off so many of them, I guess your defeat will be their vengeance. I would take your life-- but it be far more fun for you to remember this day." Those gold eyes narrow sharply. "The day the mighty Sailor V was defeated by two demons."

His right hand with the gauntlet becomes engulfed with flames before he then suddenly slams it hard into the ground. The blue flames irrupt and then seem to vanish. However the ground under V shakes before suddenly black chains with red flakes of 'fire' on them lash up from the ground and try to ensnare the young woman.

"My name is Alastor." He says with a low rumble. "I am the Judge, Jury and most importantly," He smiles then, "..I am the Executioner."

::'''[[Sakana Yagijima]] has posed''': 
Sister Six doesn't know judge dredd but that line was pretty judge dreddy. Except of course it's more like anti-judge dredd because they're demons and Judge Dredd isn't like fond of demons she's pretty sure.

This is too dangerous, she thinks. Her gods may be unstoppable but that doesn't mean V can't melt her into goop. "I have...a plan!" She tells Alastor, swinging her portal forward to spew V's own beam back at her, though she only manages to get part of the beam to return--the rest slides past the portal and slams into her shoulder.

Sister Six takes in a deep breath and then flings the portal forward, intending to engulf V with it--

--and send her out the other portal which is, presently, hovering over the Tama River! "Go into the water!" She yells, quoting Metalocalypse. Because /yeah/.

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V kicks away some chains, then some more chains, and then decides to go after the girl because she seems weaker; a strategy she immediately feels guilty about but knows she doesn't mean it in a bad way.

It's worked so far, so she decides to use her foot to swat away whatever else is incoming, jumping heedlessly towards Sakana. Her kick is pretty accurate, but portals don't have any substance and V flies through.

Distance protects all assembled from any further inappropriate language on Sailor V's part.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Alastor couldn't catch her in the chains, but that is ok because Six let her go take a swim to go cool off those hero shoes. The Demon watches as the light barrier goes away and spreads out his wings for a moment giving them a stretch, before he actually folds them up behind him, which then takes on the resemblance of like that of a cape really.

For a moment, he winces a little, but shakes his itoff. His gold eyes look over to Six. "..I think that is enough fun for one day. If there is one of them, there will be more." He then goes to turn away, before looking over his shoulder. "..I am guessing you can make your own escape out of here easily enough with those portals?"

::'''[[Sakana Yagijima]] has posed''': 
"Haha! Sailor V's all washed up! That should cool her off! Water pun!" Sakana crosses her arms and cackles like, well, like one would expect a Demon Fall lieutenant to. And once she calms down a bit she adds, "Of course. We didn't get to feed much...but I owe you one!" She skips on over, intending to--yes--give Alastor a quick hug. "Thank you so much! Do you have a way out?" She gestures, banishing the smaller portals in preparation to summon one that she can use to skedaddle quickly with.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Alastor snorts softly. "I have my own way to--" Then he is suddenly given a quick hug and it causes him to pause right there. His eyes almost blank out for a second. His brows then furrow, before he blinks his eyes a few times, then rests his hand to his forehead. "..I'll be fine.." He says more softly that time.

'Alastor? Are you ok? See! This is why you shouldn't take full control!'%rThe Demon stands there for a moment before he looks over his shoulder to Six, before he stares at her for a moment. "...We will gain a bigger meal for you later.." His wings then spread out wide, before he kneels down and then leaps hard into the air. His wings carrying him hard into the sky.

'Alastor...'

"..what is.. OH GOD!" The demon has to catch himself for a moment, one could blame it in the distance to probably just the pain he is in.. which was partly true and also partly true swapping control back to the proper owner could be disorienting in the sky. "..anyways.. what is wrong?"

'....'

"Oh. Now your gonna give me the silent treatment?"

'Don't worry about it, Hotaka. Once you land down. I relinquish full control back to you. Besides-- you have the grouchy list to finish.'

"...lazy demon.."

::'''[[Sakana Yagijima]] has posed''': 
Sister Six quirks an eyebrow. "Oh, sorry!" She is assuming she aggravated a wound apparently. But it seems like Alastor will be okay. Or, at least, is insisting on looking tough. "Al..right then. Take care!" She waves before hopping back through her portal. A tough guy like that, she presumes, is probably fine.

2013-11-05 - Weekend Park Time

2014-03-19T09:00:46Z

Lainzilla:

[[Category: Logs]]
{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Weekend Park Time'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''You never know who your going to run into while sitting at a park. Sometimes its nice meeting those you may know, other times, you wish you didn't.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Hotaka Domen]], [[Sakura Akagi]], Minako Aino, [[Kinzo Hiroyuki]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Ueno Museum District
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
11/5/2013 - 10/12/2013
|-
|}

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
It is Saturday! School was out and everyone was free to roam, hang out with friends and enjoy the first day of the weekend before dreading sunday night. It actually a very beautiful autumn day. Birds were singing. People were walking along the sidewalk next to the park enjoying the gentle breeze. It was a bit cool, but thanks to the sun and a few clouds in the sky. It was keeping it pleasant.

There was some activities going on in the park however. Like some people actually using the grass to kick around a soccer ball for one. Others were enjoying picnics with their friends. Some just having fun flying kites and being goof balls.

In the case of Hotaka Domen. The Highschooler was sitting on a bench under a cheery blossom tree. With one hand resting on the side of his chin with the elbow supported on the armrest of the bench. He had one leg crossed over the other and a book in his hand that he was reading. Using his thumb to keep the pages from being moved by the wind. It looked like some kinda novel dealing with sorcery or something. Probably a fantasy book of some kind.

He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt, a pair of jeans, pair of black sneakers, and had a backpack next too him which was slightly unzipped. It looked like it had stuff still inside of it really. Probably more books.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura has seemingly been feeling a bit unwell this week. She's come out to the park to view the autumn-blooming trees, and think a little about her place in the world.

There's also a bookbag over her own shoulder when she arrives. She notices, however, that a good cherry tree spot is already occupied.

That makes her frown. But the book he's reading, at least from faraway, looks quite interesting.

He's an older student, so she is nervous to approach, but clearly lurking on the edges and trying to steal a glance at the book.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino has absolutely no problem strolling around the older students since she often presents herself as one anyway. It's even easier to do so when not in school or in a uniform, so Minako is brimming with confidence today!

This is mostly demonstrated by walking to other groups of students in the park and easily conversing with them or kicking people's soccer balls.

She gives Hotaka a friendly wave and a loud, "Good morning!" while sneakily peeking into unzipped schoolbags left near trees. Curiosity!

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki was done with his sports day, having done the minimal amount of activity required to make his parents happy, that, and he spent most of that time splicing wires together because someone didn't properly lay the wire down and some students ripped them apart.

So now he's in casual wear, with a book bag on as he checks his watch, he seems sort of down about something as he peers over at the small gathering.....there's Sakura---who he kinda knows... and there's Hotaka who he actually knows from school on a base level, most likely, being at the same school and grade..... he doesn't know the blonde though.

He walks on up. "Uh, hey! You guys didn't happen to see, a person with a dog walk around here looking for someone else did you?" he kind of asks to the small group.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Hotaka was busy ready. It is only when he shifts his position to change to the next page does he notice a younger student from his school look in his direction. His blue eyes stare at her for a moment before he raises a brow softly. He is about to motion her over when suddenly there is a loud 'Good Morning!' aimed in his direction.

This causes him to snap his attention around to spot a young lady peeking at his bag. Which she will find... More books! (and a journal) "Morning." Hotaka replies gently as he ponders why she is looking at his bag for. "You wont find much of anything in interest in there. Just library books and some of my own written material."

Thankfully Alastor was being a true lazy demon today and was snoozing. Which was /nice/. Hotaka could have some private time to himself and think straight for once. The cover of the book he was reading had a mage on it and a dragon. The title was rather obscure. Not a mainstream book by any means.

He does at last reach up with his hand and motions for Sakura to come and join him. He doesn't mind someone sharing the bench to read as well. After all, if she was eyeing the book so curiously, she may actually enjoy glancing it over.

That is then when another of Juuban High shows up and Hotaka does /know/ this one. At least seen him around and heard the teachers call his name out. He tilts his head at the question, and places a cloth bookmark on the page he is at on the book. He'll have to get back to this later. "A person walking a dog looking for someone else? No.. I haven't. Though," He shows the book. "I get pretty entrenched in what I am reading sometimes." He hrms softly. "Hiroyuki right? Nice to see you beyond the school grounds."

That is when he realizes he probably should just introduce himself to the two others out of politeness. "..and I guess, so I am not seen a rude guy," He rubs the back of his neck. "My name is Hotaka Domen." Then comes that sheepish smile.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura notices that ... Hotaka is gesturing for her to walk over. Should she? She looks a bit flushed that an older boy would invite her. But Minako's cheerfulness and relative lack of fear interrupts her thought process, which... is probably a good thing for her really.

She also recognizes Kinzo. He's the computer club guy. That's all, though, obviously. She looks over at him, and shakes her head. "Ah, no, sorry. I didn't."

She gives Hotaka a short bow. "Sakura Akagi. Pleased to meet you. I'm sorry for being nosy." She thinks maybe she should explain why she was looking at the book, but 'I'm interested in magic lately' sounds very stupid in her head, so she decides against it.

She does walk over and sit on the bench, but, it's quite tentative. "I was... thinking to sit here and read also, but I guess you had the same idea."

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino announces easily that she's both not looking through bags as well as she's not noticed anything unusual concerning people with dogs. "But all dogs are really friendly and they're always looking for other people to be friendly at or to sniff or whatever, so -anybody- with a dog is looking for somebody else. Is there anything special or in particular about this particular person and dog combination that would make them stand out more," Minako asks, ever eager and anxious to help out others.

"I'm not rude, either. I'm Minako Aino! You might have heard of me!"

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki is late for his meeting then. He kind of brushes a hand across his face. "I'm late then....oh well..." he says a little defeated sounding.

This is like the worse thing to happen to him...being late that is. and it's been happening a lot! (Hotaka would actually know this from class.)

"Oh... yeah. Hey!" he ays to Hotaka. "I've just....been really busy....but I guess it seems my afternoon is free now...I hope my friend isn't too upset." he says with a defeated tone. "I was supposed to dog sit for a bit." he nods. He smiles and waves to Sakura more properly. He doesn't ask about the Computer Club thing again, besides, it's too soon to do that, that'd be rude!

He looks over at Minako a moment. he scratches his head. She's familar, but he doesn't know why. Most certainly not from a Sailor V Fansite that he most certainly never visited. At all. Because the proof doesn't exist anymore.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Hotaka notices the younger students nervousness and smiles softly. He can be pretty shy himself when its a large group, so he kinda understands maybe a bit. He also was once there too. Unsure if it was a good idea to speak to older students and so on. Being looked down upon by those of higher society. Yatta yatta. "No harm done. After all, this was suggested to me by a friend of mine, so if you like to look it through.." He says holding up the book a bit. "..and yeah.. its a nice sitting location. Pleasure to meet you, Akagi."

Then when Minako Aino introduces herself, Hotaka looks over to her. He studies her for a moment, squint eyed a bit really. He-- swears he has seen her before, but from where? "I-- think I may have seen something or heard something about you, but--" He smiles sheepishly once more. "-- I can't remember from where, honestly." He then lowers his gaze. "..sorry."

His attention then goes to his fellow classmate and he hrms softly. "I am sure if they are any decent friend, they will forgive you." He then shrugs his shoulders. "And nothing wrong with being busy. I kinda wish I could get myself into more stuff, but my home life doesn't let me. Which sometimes is kinda bothersome."

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura isn't sure she knows Minako. Is she someone famous? Maybe she was in a magazine or something. She does look kind of familiar maybe? But she races off so awkwardness is avoided.

Hotaka seems forthcoming with the book, so she looks over at it. "Ah, so, are you interested in magic stories?" She'll take it and flip through. In the process she puts her own bookbag between them - partially just accidentally, but partially not accidentally as it's a useful 'barrier' of sorts to prevent accidental contact. She is mentally trying to decide what is less rude to do.

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki is about to ask Minao something when she darts off....huh.

He kind of scratches his head. Huh...she was in more of a rush than he usually is nowadays.

"I guess she forgot some appointment. I kinda know how that feels." he says with another defeated tone. He looks over at the other two. "So what are you two reading today?" he asks. "Something fun or School books?" he asks.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Hotaka hands the book over with simple ease. He doesn't even note the book bag got placed between them cause he isn't even worried about it really. She was a fellow student of the same school. What was he going to do? "I do like some, yeah." He glances over to her. "Fantasy, magic, science fiction. Even some tall tales of history and ritual concepts." He gives a mild shrug. "You never know what may catch a fancy or two."

He then looks over to Kinzo. "Most of my stuff is just for fun reading really. I keep all my school books along with homework at home. Figure I'll get a ton of it done later this evening if not most of it done tomorrow as Homework goes." Hotaka really has no social life. He use too, as some Juuban students would say. Friendly guy, use to be very sociable, but somewhere just grew very distant and drawn in.

Seems some of his social talk still remains however.

"No idea about here though," He says pointing his thumb over to Sakura playfully. He is trying to get her to lighten up a bit. Yes, she may be around two older student here, but Hotaka was pretty sure neither of them are jerks nor would bite.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura's bookbag contains a few books. Sitting on top is the Book of Five Rings, which she got from the library. She pulls it out, but then she looks embarrassed about it at the same time. "Ah... it's about martial arts swordfighting, but... I don't know how to do that. A lot of people say that it's very interesting for general combat strategy... ah, er, not that I mean to get into real fights, but for politics and business use too." She bows her head a little at Hotaka. "I'm also interested in history, I guess."

Not 'I guess,' that's what she seems to be carrying with her, mostly. "What... kind of ritual history do you mean?"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Hotaka listens to what Sakura has to suggest and he places his hands behind his head, looking up at the tree leaves. "Nothing wrong with someone knowing how to protect themselves. After all, sometimes all you have to depend on is yourself.. though.. its nice knowing when someone has your back." Those blue eyes just stare upward as his brown hair is moved by the breeze a bit.

"As for the rituals stuff.." He then lowers his arms and uses his hand to scratch his head a bit in thought. "..well.. mostly for just silly curiosity. That.. and.. I figure if I ever decide to.. like.. write a book, knowing such stuff may be interesting..." He seems to maybe be avoiding the real reason, or it was a strange topic for him to be touching on. After all, rituals, magic, sorcery. Such things by some are bad mojo.

After all. None of such reading has /anything/ to do with trying to find away to unbind something from him. Nope! Then again. Talking of rituals and magic, that may be one has to question what is up with the Celtic rune tattoo, though it was hard to spot because it was almost skin color. It ran from his upper right arm all the way down his lower arm almost to the black cuff bracelet he was also wearing that had some kinda strange language written on it in a light gray color.

Yeah. That kinda stuff had nothing to do with anything at all...

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura looks at the tattoo when Hotaka raises his arm. She usually associates that kind of thing with... Yakuza, or other rough gangs, but it doesn't look like a Yakuza tattoo. Still, it seems to put her on edge for a second. She takes a deep breath through her nose. To... steady herself, maybe? She seems to be a little bit of a nervous type to begin with. So reading books on combat and war strategy seem a little odd. It's definitely not frivolous stuff.

Sakura glances at the bracelet. She can't read it. Wishes she could. "Ah... A book about fantasy? Do you want to be a writer?"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
"Maybe one day." Hotaka says as he glances over to her and then notices she spots the light tattoo. He tsks softly. Yeah. He should have brought he jacket along. He actually spaced it out really. Then closes his eyes with a mild smile. "But not sure when I will ever get that chance." He then looks at her again. "..Though I gotta ask. Why would you be interested in such stuff like war, tactics, and such?"

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura is momentarily distracted by that bracelet. Her little inhale tells her it has... a wrong scent to it. Does he know? He probably DOES, if he's wearing it willingly. The tattoo is almost like a chain that leads into it.

Her silence is notable, but Hotaka interrupts her with his question. "I--"

It's best to lie, she thinks. She blushes and lowers her eyes to her hands. "My dad says that knowing war is something important for someone in business." That's actually true. He really does say that. "And I'm trying to decide what I'd like to be." Also true! See, no lies after all. She's hiding something though maybe.

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki had completely dropped his book bag, because that would happen to him. Books go everywhere, as does a keyboard, a mouse, and a bag of what appears to be potato chips. Luckily, the bottle of colonge in his backpack doesn' go flying anywhere too far as it's was in a different compartment. Though it is something he picks up first and checks it a moment before putting it back! He Sighs and begins picking the books up, all of them have to do with computers or technology of some sort, nothing magical here.

He puts the bag of chips in last. "Ugh...Sorry about that." he says as he head tilts. "Oh, I didn't know you had tattos..." he asides to Hotaka. "Did your parents let you get them?" he asks a bit. He thinks that's kinda rad if they did. Then again, for all he knows, Hotaka may or may not even have them!

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Hotaka smiles softly when Sakura blushes. At least she seems like she is not so on edge. Man. He is glad Alastor is snoozing. This is so nice. He goes to say something to Sakura about the time that suddenly books and stuff go dropping. He almost goes to move to help Kinzo out but thinks better of it.

Besides seems the guy has things well in hand. He rubs the back of his neck when asked about the tattoos. "..its.. kinda a thing.. in my family.." This is honest truth. As much as he hates to admit it. "..kinda was done on a dare on my sixteenth birthday by one of my cousins." Not completely true, but he holds up the lie well enough, though maybe a hint in his eyes that something was off. "I tend to keep it covered up so that I don't get asked about it much."

He looks at his right arm, for a moment, there is a hint of sadness on his face as he looks at the markings, before he then gives them both a soft smile. "I just-- kinda spaced it out today to wear a jacket. Wasn't really expecting to run into people from Juuban out here." He then drums his fingers on his pant legs. "..so like.. if you two could keep it between yourselves. I'd be really grateful."

However Hotaka almost winces as Alastor seems to suddenly looking on. Something caused the demon to stir from his sleep. Though what Hotaka wasn't sure. He was almost mentally pleading with him to just-- like-- roll back over. There was nothing here!

The teenager then places the fantasy book he was reading into his bag along side him. His brows were furrowed for a moment before he looks at them both, then over to Kinzo, "..Hopefully your mouse and keyboard are ok."

Hotaka then looks over to Sakura, "..and sounds about right. What your dad talks about. Corporations I heard can get pretty political and nasty when you get in the ranks. Not an industry I want to be in. That is for sure." He then hrms. "..and.. yeah.. figuring out where to go in life is hard, though I imagine if its chosen for you--" he doesn't continue down that line of thought as he hears a verbal 'ahem' in his head.

Yep. Alastor was awake.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura blinks suddenly when Kinzo drops his stuff. She is about to get up and help, but... he seems to have it, so she does an awkward almost-stand and then sits down again.

The conversation moved away from her for a minute, and that was fine. But Hotaka said something about having destiny chosen for him. She ponders that herself for other reasons. She doesn't want to pry, but it seems like he clammed up suddenly. Maybe asking about the tattoo was a sore point. "I promise not to tell anyone. Did it... hurt to get a tattoo?"

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki nods, it seems kind of a weird secret, but Kinzo can't really see a reason to /not/ keep it a secret--- he figures, as long as some sort of adult knew already it's fine. "Yeah it'll be fine...I just bring my own along with this little Microcomputer I have in my pocket." he smiles. "It helps when I need to troubleshoot, at least for people! Computers, I mean, trouble shoot computers." he nods a bit.

He looks on. "and yeah I won't tell anyone." he shrugs. He looks to Sakura. "Don't you know how they give tattoos!?" he asks. "They use these big, scary needles!" he says with an uck. "I could never do it!"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Sakura asks about the Tattoo and he looks off to the side. "..It.. did yeah." Hotaka says softly seeming to not really want to talk about it much. How strange, most people you would think love to talk about their markings they haven given themselves and the reasons behind it. Not Hotaka it seems though!

"Not something I probably want to experience again." He decides to add with a more calm sound in his voice then the nervous one earlier. Then it seems Kinzo explains the reason /why/ it is painful. That works. No harm done.

'Making friends are we, Hotaka? ..Hopefully you haven't been to.. informative while I was asleep..'

Hotaka then rubs the bridge of his nose gently. He can't really respond to Alastor, as much has he wants to tell him to just go back to sleep and nothing was said. The Juuban teen then lowers his hand back down. "..a Micro computer huh?" He says softly looking over to Kinzo. "That is pretty neat. Bet it is pretty handy."

'That one you are speaking too. They had something.. at least I thought I picked up something.. Perhaps I was mistaken.'

That is when Hotaka kinda closes his eyes and he has an oddly annoyed look on his face, before he goes to stand up, however he just sits back down. Alastor was interested-- even if Hotaka wanted to just get out of here. Crap. He rubs his face a bit then, before making a gesture to rub his eyes. "Man.. I think something rolled in with the wind there.. allergies trying to flare up a bit." He says with a bit of a nervous laugh and a rub of the back of his neck.

"You guys mind if I stand and just pace around a bit?" Hotaka asks still giving a sheepish grin. "..been sitting here for awhile and all. Could be the tree itself for all I know."

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
If you're allergic to cherry blossoms, Sakura thinks, then, I don't think we can be friends. She smiles a little to herself, but, she decides not to actually make that joke. Especially since he does seem to be really worried by something.

She doesn't think that it's the tree. "No. I don't mind. I'm sorry if it was a rude question to ask." She didn't notice Kinzo's cologne coming out during the bag falling. "It sounds very scary. I guess I could find a less allergic place to read, but, ah. I like this tree."

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki pulls it out of his pocket! It's a black box with hook up jacks. "Yeah!" he says. It's pretty much a Raspberry Pi in a black case.

He nods. "Sure?" he asks to Hotaka. "Are you alright?" he asks in a concerned tone.

Kinzo hasn't bothered giving Hotaka the scent test like Sakura did. He's not as concerned with that at the moment.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 

Left alone with the fantasy book that he had, Sakura looks at it again, paging a bit through it while Hotaka paces. She never thought about it before, but it's hard to say how much of this is true.

She looks at the dragon illustration on the front and is lost thinking about it for a moment. She thinks Mist is still at Hisae's house. She thinks.

She looks up. "Going well." Though Kinzo missed class for a while because of his arm, she realizes. She decided not to skip class after the fight on the street, but many people noticed she's been tired the past couple of days and was even less enthusiastic about sports than she would be normally. "I'm glad sports festival's over though."

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki says. "Oh, this isn't expensive! It's actually kinda cheap! I mean...you gotta buy a case for it and all, but.." he shrugs. He nods. and frowns. "Yeah, mostly. I mean, I hurt my arm in..uh...."

.....

.....

Dammit! What did he say he hurt it in? "A...Bicycling...accident...yeah." that's it. He thinks. And not at all fighting a big ball of psychic anxiety in a maze of it's making.

"But that was just a bad sprain, it's all better now, which is why my parents made me partcipate in yesterdays events." he ughs. "I don't like sports." he insists. "But, gotta make the parents happy....."

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 

"I'm actually glad I missed that." Hotaka states with his arms crossing over his chest. "I'm never any good at sports and tends to be my worst class." He looks at his backpack. "..probably because I am to much of a book worm for my own good really."

"Bike accident?" Hotaka looks over to Kinzo. "Man. That sucks. Glad its better though." And sounds like he isn't alone on the not liking sports thing. Good. "And I guess its important to make the parents proud. I am-- not really all to worried about mine though."

"Though I do take care of my mom, kinda why I am hard to find." He explains with a shrug of his shoulders as he places his hands into his jean pockets. "She isn't very-- well." He then looks off to the distance. "..so.. have to keep an eye on her when I am not at school and thankfully for now, one of my cousins is seeing to her." Not really, but they don't need to know the fine details.

"So how did the sports event go anyways? Anything exciting happen?" He asks looking at them both.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
"Not to me," Sakura says, laughing; her participation was non-notable. "It's... my worst class too." She thinks she might have a lot in common with both of these guys... well, except for Hotaka seeming weird. But the mom thing kind of explains it, so she frowns. "I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. I hope that she gets better." She doesn't know her, or anything, but generally it's just good to wish someone's mom gets better. "I guess I could, uh, hang out at computer club next time there's a sports event like this," she says to Kinzo. "I'm glad you're healed up."

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki nods. "Providing my parents don't make me do it again..." he ughs. "Just....been hard to keep up with life and something else." he says, being vauge.

"But me and some other Computer Club members totally took out the Drama Club in the Calvary event so there's that!" he says.

"Drama club.....they're so...self righetous because they think art is high culture or something." he says with an 'ugh!' XP face.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
"I would join a club, but--" He gives a sheepish grin. "-- busy life and all. I got a feeling I'd probably miss a club more then I actually do any good in it really. I'm just glad I can keep going to school." He then looks over to Sakura. "Thanks. I am sure she would appreciate the thought."

He walks around a bit more. Mostly just scuffing his feet a few times against the grass as he walks. His mind starting to wonder on to some things really. Maybe Alastor was right, it was a bad idea to have friends or even the idea of allowing people to get this close. After all, he shunned away his childhood friends, so why is he trying to make friends with these guys again?

Right. The same way he never truly got rid of his old childhood friends, because though it is dangerous for them, he doesn't like the idea of being alone either.

For now it seems Hotaka has fallen into silence, just listening to the conversation and the wind. At least Alastor has gone quiet. That was a good thing right?

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
Madobe is happy to totally ignore the sports events especially since Sakura, the only person in the multiverse who could have probably drawn her out to them, has also elected to not participate. She isn't too hurt to participate, just too uninterested. More to the point, she doubts any team would actually WANT to have her. Madobe takes to self esteem like oil to water.

But even so, she was hardly expecting to actually run into Sakura (et al) at the park. She is--as one might expect, glued to a 3DS which she is poking at repeatedly with her stylus. She nearly walks right on past before she walks backwards a bit and spots her friend (and others).

She waves a bit to Sakura with the stylus.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura is poking around in the book, but when she glances up, Madobe is over there. "Hi Madobe-chan!"

She peeks over, but of course the 3DS is too small to see. "...Sailor V?" she asks, regarding the game.

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki listens to hotaka..."Yeah...I know how that feels....I may be forced to quit Computer Club at this rate." he says in a sad tone. "I can't bring people in as fast as the others want and I've missed the last two recent meetings." he laments, you can almos thear an audible whine. Almost.

"I don't want to, but things have just gotten a little hectic for me." his ears perk as Sakura calls out to someone, he glances over....".....oh! Oh Oh Oh!" he waves. "Hey.... did you ever decide on if you want into the Computer Club?" he asks over at her enthusiastically.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Hotaka was pretty much still being quiet and then there is a Madobe. A girl he once called a 'sister' in order to keep her from being picked to much on by Sei. Someone he kinda befriended and yet at the same time, wasn't sure if she knew what he was. Though in truth, she did know about Alastor-- or at least the fact he turned into a demon.

Yeah. This could be a problem if things get brought up wrong. That and unlike many times where Madobe has run into Hotaka. There in sight was the odd coil of a tattoo on his arm, almost skin color that ran from his right upper arm almost down to the very black cuff bracelet he wore with its strange markings on it in gray.

Hotaka notes that Sakura knows her and then looks over to Kinzo and hrms a bit. "Hopefully you can find people. You seem really invested into it." He then shifts his weight a bit to his other leg. "How many members do you need? Maybe you can find someone with some artist skills and make an awesome flyer for it."

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura smiles a little bit at Kinzo. "Well, um, I guess I could join if Madobe was going to..." It's not her best subject but she's not stupid at it either, and hanging out with friends is always fun. "I'm still trying to figure out careers so maybe it'll be good to try something new."

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
"Hey...No, this is...um..." She holds it up and it's one of the Shantae games. "A platformer. There haven't been any new V games for a while." Yeah Madobe basically played through them all to her satisfaction and is waiting for a new one. She's had this particular game for a while but hasn't really gotten around to actually playing it due to GAMER BACKLOG. Did you know that going to school AND doing homework cuts out the time you have to screw around playing video games?

"oh, um, sure. Yeah. I was gonna." She tells Kinzo. "I've been meaning to."

She glances over to Hotaka and it takes her a moment before her eyes widen suddenly--

--it's that guy! THAT GUY.

"...Sorry." She adds awkwardly.

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki looks absoultely overjoyed..."R..really!? Two!?" he says. "Yesssss, this'll make the others happy at least!" he insists. "Why that makes.....!...."

"Two..." he ughs. "Two in like 2 months , that's actually horrible." he ughs and leans his head back. "Well....better than nothing!" he insists, trying to perk himself back up.

He blinks. "Uh...is everything okay?" he asks looking between Hotaka and Madobe.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Hotaka sweat drops a bit at poor Kinzo's trouble. "Well. I am sure you can get more people, I mean. Look on the bright side! You got two for your club and that is better then none!" He says with a positive smile on his face.

That is when he notices how Madobe is staring at him and he blinks a few times, then frowns a little. Yeah. It seems for whatever the reason, Madobe has become skittish of him since that one time. He still has no idea and may never know she actually knows his secret. "Its ok." He tells her with a soft smile. He then looks between Kinzo and Sakura. "..and nothing really. Just I had to once call her my sister in front of another school's student in order to keep her from maybe getting into some hot water."

He then shrugs softly. "Wasn't really needed in the end." He then picks up his backpack. "I probably should get going anyways. Its getting later in the day and I need to head home before I get a call." He has spaced that book that Sakura stills holds.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura notices how uncomfortable Madobe is. She makes eye contact with her, gives a sympathetic nod, and then figures they can talk about it better in private.

Sakura still has his book though, so she waves it. "Hey, don't forget about your book!" she says, a little louder than her normal voice. "It was nice meeting you...!"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Sadly by the time Sakura tries to remind him of his book, Hotaka was already out of there. He moved at a pretty good clip actually. Thankfully since they went to the same school. Most likely Sakura can track him down there to return to book back to him.

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
Madobe gets a little nervous here. Two in two months? Maybe...maybe she shouldn't join this club? ACtually her player thought she did already but that's besides the point. She tries not to worry about Satan even if, perhaps, she's not sure he is also a McHitlerpants. Maybe he's not. Maybe he's just a Satan.

She bobs her head to Sakura and adds, to Hotaka, "Uh--sure---see you." She watches after him for a moment before adding, "Skipping the event too?"

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki watches as Hotaka takes off...."Be well!" he calls out.

He's about to yell 'and I'll keep those tattoos a secret!', but then realizes that isn't very secretive at all.

He looks back to Sakura and Madobe. He smiles.

"You can at least come check it out!" he says to Sakura. "At the very least you can use it as an excuse to goof off on a computer for a bit on school time, like a few people do." he says in a silent tone.

He nods. "I had to do the first part." he ughs. "My parents insisted." he says as he crosses his arms.

Also, the player didn't know! Opps. But still, yay! More people in the club! "The next meeting will be soon!" he says. He glances at Sakura. "Did Hotaka seem a little off to you?" he asks scratching his head. "Something seems wrong with him. I mean. I'm kinda concerned." he says.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
His bracelet is evil, Sakura thinks. But she doesn't want to say that aloud. Madobe seemed to sense something off too. So...

"He seems to be having some problems at home. I guess if my mom was sick, I'd be anxious too." That seems like a reasonable comment to make; Sakura makes it without much hedging or hesitation, but gives a meaningful look to Madobe.

She stands up, still holding his book. "I guess I'll have to give this back to him."

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
Madobe isn't sure she really wants to join any more clubs after this though. AT least not without leaving one first. She really has no plans so it's easy for her to join a club and then leave it, except for the crippling social anxiety but a lot of that is in her room as she stares at the wall rather than out in the open where she tries not to come across as someone suffering from crippling social anxiety.

She doesn't have any comment on bracelets.

"Y..yeah. Me too." SHe admits. It's actually been a fair while since the last fight with her mom.

"--Oh, he left it?"

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki looks at his watch...."Huh.....it's still early?" he looks at for a long moment....

Wait...the second hand isn't moving....His eyes widen hard.

"Oh...oh no. What time is it!?" he asks as he looks across the park at a nearby steeple with a clocktower. "Oh no!" he says as he laments. "My parents are going to killllll me." he almost whines.

"I'm late for a family get together." he says as he rubs his face a bit.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
"Well, good luck, Kinzo. We'll ... see you at club, okay?" Sakura asks. She sits back down on the bench for a moment.

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
Madobe waves after Kinzo awkwardly. That was kind of weird. Maybe he needs to get a cellphone that tells the time for him instead of using a watch. Those things are so out of date anyway, aren't they? She doesn't vocalize this judgement call and just says, "See you later." Person without a smartphone? SO WEIRD.

"H-hey Sakura-Chan. Um..." She glances around to see if anybody's around. PERHAPS MINAKO WILL BE AROUND?

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Kinzo definitely had a smartphone - he was showing it off earlier! But he apparently has a watch, too.

Sakura gets her phone out, and looks at it for a second. If she gets interrupted she might just text Madobe. But... the coast SEEMS clear...

She gestures for Madobe to sit and scooches a bit closer to the middle of the bench, moving her bag to make room. "You noticed?"

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino is not just 'perhaps' around but definitely around! Dancing around the park, petting a dog, being loud, smiling at Madobe, making her social rounds!

This time, she's brought a puppy. Everybody loves puppies, and she was reminded that dogs equal popularity due to an earlier conversation she might have not quite listened to.

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
"Noticed? You mean Hotak--" Madobe's ears prick. She senses trouble and she quickly sits down next to Sakura. She looks around a bit before spotting Minako--trouble indeed! And...trouble's dog?! "O-oh hey Minako." She says, looking over to the puppy, then back to Minako. If she knew that Minako was buying a puppy to get more popular she would have immediately demanded to get a puppy herself and so maybe it's for the best that she's unaware. Madobe probably is not ready for taking care of puppies in her life.

"Did you always have a dog?" She asks.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura can't answer, because, suddenly Minako. Darn. She nods to Madobe, and says... "Yeah, um, that. Hello, again!" she says to Minako now that she's interrupted.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino sets the friendiliest, lickiest dashchund in the world at Madobe and Sakura for friend-making duties. He's a barker and a wriggler.

"Well, I haven't ALWAYS had a dog. A girl from Ohtori was giving away puppies and sent me to a room full of puppies to pick one out. I thought it was silly and wasn't gonna do it, but look at this guy! Look! Isn't he wonderful!"

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
Madobe has seen things (tm) about Hotaka but she can't just go up and tell Sakura about it right now because Minako is there and Minako is, obviously, totally uninducted to the magical realm and is totally not Sailor V. She just plays Sailor V on TV which is why they look similar. But they don't look the same because Sailor V has a mask!

Madobe looks at the dog.

"...I..." She begins. Wait, IS he wonderful? She looks up to try and read Minako's expression to get the right answer.

"Yes?" She guesses.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura looks at the dog. It's cute, but... she shares similar indifference to it after all.

She looks at Minako...

"Ah! I know where I have seen you before!" She's... "You are a singer, aren't you?"

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino loves her dog her dog apparently loves everybody, as he performs a combination of wriggles, ankle nuzzling, and attempted face licks (which may be aided by Minako if height is a concern) repeatedly and without remorse. "This is Choppin'. He's named after musicians. And yaa! I'm a singer, a dancer, a model, a super-star, and more! You mighta' seen me on CDs lately or heard some of my new songs," she admits.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 

"Oh, wow." All those things. Sakura laughs. She accepts a lick or two from the happy dog, though she kind of wants to wipe her face afterward. "Is it... ah, difficult, being famous?"

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
"He's named after Chopin?" Madobe says, actually pronouncing it right. Choppin' sounds like he's named more after uh, well, being a bitey dog. She can't really say it's an inappropriate name for a dog.

"W--well it is a cute dog." She adds, neglecting to comment on music because--well--she's always a bit shy with sharing such details. Though she does mumble, "She was giving out free CDs. Dunno if she still is." to Sakura, though.

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki comes back, he comes trodding back as he looks absouletly dejected. he wasn't gone all that long, but seems to be rubbing his temples a bit.

"Well...." he says. "The bus broke down." he says under his breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "So I'm late in any event..." he grumbles....

"and my cellphone battery died....."

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino helps an agreeable dog make friends with the girls. "Yes, Alexandrea-chan helped me name him. Feel free to hug and carry him off, Madoobs. It'll make you more popular with the boys for sure! Maaaybe you can use him as an ice-breaker on your date!"

"And yeah, I'm all out of free CDs. The rest got stolen, but a few are available on special order. You can grab it through my website. Madoobs knows all about it!"

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino helps an agreeable dog make friends with the girls. "Yes, Alexandrea-chan helped me name him. Feel free to hug and carry him off, Madoobs. It'll make you more popular with the boys for sure! Maaaybe you can use him as an ice-breaker on your date!"

"And yeah, I'm all out of free CDs. The rest got stolen, but a few are available on special order. You can grab it through my website. Madoobs knows all about it!"
::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 

An ice-breaker when? "....You - you're going on a date?" Sakura asks Madobe. Madobe has ... a crush? That doesn't seem very like her at all. But she'd be happy for her if it were true! "...Oh, I'm sorry to hear, Kinzo."

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki ughs..."Any of you wouldn't happen to have a cellphone I could borrow, could you?" he asks.

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
Wow, MAdobe thinks. Kinzo's really unlucky. She gives him a sympathetic look but doesn't speak up. This has gotten to be a 'crowd' again so she's a little hesitant all the same. She does pet the dog though, nodding briefly to indicate she remembers the name, and smiles faintly at the creature. Kinzo asks for phone. Madobe always has phone. She puts away her DS and draws out her smartphone instead, offering it to Kinzo.

The wallpaper is of five well-chiseled men, two with their shirts off, grinning forward and some obscure game title name underneath. She must have forgotten about that.

She leans in to SAkura to murmur, "Minako apparently set me up on a date with someone but I don't know who it is."

She turns bright red though. She probably didn't decline for two reasons. One, THIS MIGHT BE HER ONLY SHOT. And two, it's embarrassing!

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 

"What, really?" Sakura asks Madobe, equally quietly. She hopes it's not some jerk.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino hopes that the game is a V-game!

"I'll tell Madoobs more about her blinding dates later on in private. But she's sorta' gettin' popular. You should check what she writes on the site. Madoobs, talk about the site. People love to hear about it," she announces, throwing herself on the ground and getting the dog suitably worked up due to activity!

"Anyways, if you got any of my work, I'll happily sign it. And I do got 11 extra CDs left over. Technically, they're for Ohtori students, but Juuban or Infinity also get some dibs on them!"

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki accepts the phone... "Thank you!" he says as he inputs his home phone number, he talks quietly.... sometimes using the 'I'm trying really hard to explain this isn't my fault' tone.

He'll be a moment ir seems.

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
Madobe Kuroi nods numbly to SAkura. Hopefully it ISN'T a jerk--sadly her game is NOT a V game this time, it's one of the Shantae's, She is probably awaiting a NEW V-Game (or V-Fangame) to come out before geting back to those. Maybe she'll try some strange foreign Sailor V Knock Off game at some point, but she's hoping for a new official(?) release.

"I am?" She asks, bewildered. She doesn't want Sakura thinking she's getting popular because, well, for starters she doesn't feel popular and for another she doesn't really believe Minako.

She glances nervously over to Kinzo as he deals with the phone.

"C--could you make an exception for Sakura-Chan?" She mumbles, figuring she's doing her a favor?

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino only gives Sakura one. It's pre-signed and it's the same one as on the table from earlier that was causing so much drama!

"here you go. And yeah, the site. I got a combination Minako super-fan-page and a Sailor V fan club, since I dress up as Sailor V on it and do lots of songs, videos, and so on. It's linked to my YouTube account too! Madoobs is one of the biggest forum posters!" she says, just oozing with pride.

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
Madobe may have missed that development too. She seems relieved, for some reason, when Sakura also gets a CD.

"W...well..." She mumbles. Posting online is easy to do, because people can't see you, and that always makes things easier. And it's also easy to post a lot when you're not doing anything all day but posting messages on a forum. It's not exactly comfortable knowing Minako knows about her internet life and her real life simultaneously.

"Sakura-Chan and I have known each other since we were kids." She says.

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura takes the CD, and looks at it. Hm. She will listen to it just because she's interested in what Madobe is interested in. But she also promised to do computer club, and, all this reading to do! There won't be time for it all, she mentally frets. "...Madobe-chan...?" she looks over at her friend, but then at Minako; the upcoming question is obviously for her also, in a way, "Do you think that Sailor V is really a superhero?"

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino agreeably encourages Sakura to listen to music, regardless of how much other stuff she must do. Her answer to the question is an emphatic yes.

"Of course she's a super-hero. You can do lots of independent research or... you can read about it on the forum. Madoobs can probably help you with that stuff. She's a regular scholar!

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki finishes, he doesn't look happy about it. He gives Madobe back her phone. "Thanks." he says politely.

"Not as much trouble as I thought...but....ugh." he says.

He looks at the group as they talk about CDs and music. "Oh...! That's right, that's where I know you from!" he says with a smile. "I was wondering when you ran off earlier!"

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
Madobe Kuroi Takes the phone back. "Don't worry about it," She--snoopily--checks the call history. She's curious! And apparently has no good notion of privacy. It's not immediately obvious she's doing this. She might just be fiddling with it to make sure settings are proper and whatnot.

"I wouldn't say that." She says. "I don't know the real V or anything."

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 

"Sure, Madobe. You can show me to the forum," says Sakura. "I'd be interested to know more about all this. I don't think that... well, I don't know." She would like to say, she thinks it's wrong to try to use super-hero powers to become a celebrity. But on the other hand... wouldn't it be easier than studying and still trying to be a super-hero? She's not sure at all.

She ends up petting the puppy again, just to keep her hand busy.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino totally thinks it's OK and she encourages this right now.

"She's so awesome at pop-starring and crime-fighting. I mean, that's exactly what a hero is! And she's good for the environment and helps orphans and contributes to charity. She should run for prime minister!"

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki blinks. "Wah...how is she good for the enviroment!?" he asks a little.

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
"--What?" Madobe says. "She contributes to charity? I didn't know that." She also didn't know she specifically went out of her way to help orphans, she just assumed she was a crime fighting superhero. "I'm not sure you can have a secret identity and be prime minister at the same time."

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino gives everybody a grin that's filled with pride, just dripping from each side of her mouth. "Oh yeah. You gotta do your research, but it's all out there. She's contributed more blood to the blood bank than a rhinoceros. And... if that wrestler can be the secret president of Mexico, then so can the prime minister be a Sailor V!"

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura looks a little distant. Well, she wanted to think about her own stuff, but... it's gotten a little noisy to do that now, and this is new information that she needs to process.

She smiles at Minako anyway, and puts Hotaka's book into her bag. She looks at Madobe for a moment. "Tell me more about your date later, okay? I think I really do need to get some studying done."

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
"Rhinos give blood to the blood bank?" Madobe sounds dubious but, well, who knows really. World is weird sometimes. "But either way, you shouldn't give too much blood." She smiles at Minako. Even if she gets carried away like that, it's endearing in its own way.

"Y--yeah okay. I guess." If it actually is a thing that exists. Madobe knows precisely as much about it as Sakura does.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino shrugs her shoulders at Madobe and just pets a dog instead. "Right. I don't give too much blood. I give just enough. That's about the same amount everybody else should."

"BTW, anybody wanna give blood sometime? You get rewarded for it, you know!"

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
"Well I mean, V shouldn't--" Madobe says. "--Er," She's scared of needles. "I'll...think about it."

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
"Well, if Sailor V does it," Sakura says with a little smile. "I think I can too."

::'''[[Kinzo Hiroyuki]] has posed''': 
Kinzo Hiroyuki nods. "I already give blood when I can." he says matter of factly. "Erm...mainly because my dad makes me." he says rubbing the back of his head. "For no reward." he sticks his tounge out at that a little. "Ugh."

::'''[[Madobe Kuroi]] has posed''': 
"Wow." Madobe says, sympathetically. "Nobody should be forced to do that. It defeats the purpose."

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino encourages Kinzo to keep it up. "Also, go somewhere else for it. There's definitely lots of rewards to be given out!"

::'''[[Sakura Akagi]] has posed''': 
Sakura bows again. "I'm going to head home and get this studying done. And... listen to your CD, okay?" she says to Minako. "See you soon, Madobe-chan."

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino makes extravagant kissy faces towards Sakura. She tries to get her dog to do the same (mostly, it barks and its ears flop around).

BARK! BARK!

2013-10-09 - Strength Of Friendship

2014-03-19T08:59:30Z

Lainzilla:

[[Category: Logs]]
{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Strength Of Friendship'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Some of the Sailor Scouts come to the aid of the civilians in the Industrial District. What they find is a very hungry demon who doesn't take kindly to being interrupted.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Hotaka Domen]], [[Michiru Kaioh]], Minako Aino, [[Vita]], [[Sailor Sagittarius]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Keiyou Industrial District
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
10/9/13 - 10/1/13
|-
|}

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Keiyou Industrial Zone is a city onto itself. Many crews work here among the warehouses and different business that line the area. Cranes hang high. Cargo is hauled and moved. Pipes pump out smoke. Its a very dirty area, but without it. The industry could suffer.

People jog along the catwalks. People move along the bay area, which is far more clean looking. There is just a general bustle right now as people are leaving for work and some getting off to head home. However there is a yell off in the distance as a young worker suddenly starts to run for his life. Almost running right into a man carrying some stuff.

The man was about to yell to watch it before suddenly he notices a shadow that moves right overhead and his old eyes look up at the figure swooping down from the sky, "D-De-DEMON!!" the man shouts and then makes his own run. The people scatter and the demonic six foot figure descends right down on the youth like a hawk snatching his pray. However instead of lifting the young adult to the air, the demon simply slams him to the ground, before lifting him right back to his feet as the clawed gauntlet snatches around the young man's neck.

Those gold demonic eyes piercing right into the young man's own as he snarls his fanged teeth. It isn't long till security comes and takes aim with their weapons. The horned young man stares at the security force that has arrived and smiles softly, before giving a chuckle. A chuckle that echoes of one of youth, but some far darker behind it. The index clawed finger squeezing tighter against the neck, causing a little bit of blood to drip down. "Is this honestly the best you can offer. Bring your guns upon me?" His voice even carries the echo. "You are all foolish hairless monkies."

His left hand extends out. "This young lad is mine and the very energy he possess. You are nothing but pests!" A magic rune encircles around his arm as blue fames appear at the center of his palm. Then it explodes outward blasting the vehicles the security was hiding behind causing the armed men and women to flee for cover.

His eyes then drift back to the one he holds, "..now where were we...?"

::'''[[Michiru Kaioh]] has posed''': 
This wasn't quite the sort of area that someone like Michiru Kaioh often visited. There simply was very little need. It was not that Michiru looked down on the sorts of people that would work here; in fact, she rather appreciated the work they did to keep the rest of the country running.

Michiru had an extremely close friend in the area, though, shopping for car parts, and while they did that, Michiru had decided to walk along the catwalk, seeing what she could of this portion of the city - her eyes flickering over the view that the catwalk provided.

It would be impossible, however, for her to ignore what was going on. A flicker in the back of her mind, her eyes snapping in the direction that the youma was rampaging, her eyes narrowing tightly. Bringing up her cell phone, she taps a quick text message off, and, in the midst of all the chaos going now, it was easy enough to find a quiet little corner, in an alleyway.

And soon enough, Sailor Neptune appears!

In just a handful of moments more, she was approaching the demon and his prey - and, in true Tuner fashion - she decides to make her presence known by firing a bolt - the bolt shimmering and flowing like ocean water, but it would certainly pack a bit of a punch if it would strike true!

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako is out stalking for demons again, hoping to catch one by surprise. Unfortunately, it's the sounds of running and screaming that catch her attention and cause her to rush away from the wharf and bay and towards the the warehouses and other buildings, right towards trouble.

She arrives late and probably isn't as appreciative for the work going on. From behind her own live private alleyway or corner comes Sailor V, exploding the darkness with bright beams of light as she transforms and jumps out onto the open street, alighting gently on top of a damaged vehicle.

::'''[[Vita]] has posed''': 
Hotaka, or Alastor as the case may be, clearly does not care about attracting attention. If he did, he wouldn't be rampaging around a populated part of the city, blowing up vans and such. This is why it is particularly easy for someone /else/ who is patrolling the area, coincidentally for remarkably similar reasons, to sense the outpouring of magic currently coming from the industrial sector.

<<Kapitan, Ich spure ein grosses Magie.>> The crip-sounding German voice emenates from Graf Eisen, gripped tightly in Vita's gloved hand as she flies between the buildings, fast enough to leave little contrails in the air as she passes. "Where?" She asks. <<Es ist hier.>> A ping shows the direction, and Vita alters her flight, increasing speed so that windows rattle as she passes by outside, causing a few office workers to look up in surprise and mutter about airplane pilots thinking they are stunt fliers.

Arriving on the scene, she alights upon the roof of a factory, one booted foot placed on the edge of the roof as she looks down at the battle in progress (or just beginning, really). "Hey, its that jerk from the restaurant!" She exclaims.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
The dark armored Demon, with his dark brown skin and black hair seems very content with his catch as he left hand comes around. The runes start to change, before suddenly there is water coming right in his direction, "What?"

His hand switches the magic cast and then sends off a fire ball right for Sailor Neptune, only to have her own attack get in just in time for his attack to go slightly stray and hers to knock him right over. The three clawed fingers that the gauntlet covers over, with the ring and pinky being normal (beyond having just natural nail claws) loses hold on the young man as the demon is kicked back by the impact.

The claws, sure scratch his neck and the young man stumbles over, but he is quick to get to his feet and make for his escape. The Demon however gets back up his feet and snarls at Neptune, "You know how hard it is to find a decent--"

Then that is when Sailor V shows up and he looks over in her direction. Not even finishing his statement. Only narrowing his eyes then. "Hmph. Hope you both have more reinforcements then this. You're going to need it."

He doesn't notice the Vita has arrived. That could actually be bad, because right now his full attention is on the two sailor scouts before him. He places out his Gauntlet hand and summons the demonic blade from the blue flames and takes hold of it with ease. Then pushing off the ground he races right at Neptune first, moving to slash outward quick to not only strike, but to send her up in the air.

Then with a hair kick off he heads right for V and goes to impact her right toward Neptune if he hits, only to fly straight up into the air and bring his sword down on them both as he swoops right down to catch them in the air; That is, if he hit.

If He did or even as he landed back on the ground, he quickly flips himself back into the air flapping those black demonic wings.

::'''[[Sailor Neptune]] has posed''': 
Water beat fire, apparently. Sailor Neptune stands straight and tall as the remains of the fireball that manage to flicker through the attack blast a rush of heat in her face, her hair flowing backwards. Setting her hand on her hip then, she twists a bit, right hand on her hip, left hand hanging free. "Invited by a new age - Sailor Neptune acts with elegance!" she enthuses, her voice just a bit deeper than those who have heard Michiru would probably expect.

But there was little elegant in how she had to respond to the demon's attack.

Eyes widening as the man approaches, Neptune - while not able to avoid the attack outright, does manage to see what he was doing with it. Twisting in place, she lets one of her knees go limp, so that when he strikes her like that - she falls backwards, ruining the complicated attack he was setting up. But she still had been slashed by a sword. You had to take what you can get.

And while she could feel the sting of wounds that the blade left upon her, Neptune twists - leaping back - putting more distance between herself and the demon as her eyes flicker to... "You?!" she exclaims, eyes widening on V. And then to that armored-clad young woman, Neptune's jaw clenching. Closing her eyes, she lifts her hand high - hands glowing blue again - before she twists, and shoots another bolt of water towards the demon, still keeping as much distance as possible.

This bolt, however, had a bit of a twist to it. It emerged from her - and then split off into a hundred smaller bolts, leaving the scent of the ocean lingering in the air. And perhaps even the sound of violins.

::'''[[Vita]] has posed''': 
Vita peers down from her rooftop perch, watching the battle as blows are exchanged. "What do you think, Eisen?" She asks her Device, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Is there a profit in this for us?"
<<Ja, ich glaube so.>> Comes the reply in those crip, even tones.
"You're right, I think." She says, shifting her grip slightly on the hammer's haft. "But if I'm going to go in there, it needs to be hard. Those two," a gesture with her free hand indicates the Sailors, "Are no friends of ours, either."
<<Dass stimmt, Kapitan.>> The Device replies, acknowledging its Mistress' wisdom.

Vita then nods her head. "Alright then." She holds the hammer up in the air over her head, its steel glinting in the sun. "Loado Cartridgey!" She declares, and as she does the perforated part of the staff below the hammer's head pumps up and down once, twice, slotting the cartridges into position to be used.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
The Demon holds steady in the air, only to see suddenly a water ball coming his way. The demon attempts the then to slash the water ball with his sword, only to be to slow and impact back by it, flipping in the air correcting himself.

That is when he sees her. He See's Vita. Those gold eyes look in her direction and he snarls at her. Oh yes. /They/ remember. One though more eager to finish what was started more then the other which was causing a minor desync in what to do. Thought that quickly regathers when Sailor V decides to take advantage of the situation.

The Bright attack comes racing in and though his gauntlet arm was able to deflect some of the attack, the brightness of it blinds him for a moment causing him to shake his head and narrow his eyes as he was having trouble making out details for the moment. Everything was double imaging and for a flying individual, that made his life ever so much harder.

He lands down and growls shaking his head in aggravation, trying to get his vision to clear up. He then changes his stance. His sword coming to bare, but in a defensive way. He shifted from aggressive to defensive.

His teeth sneer before he glares at the three before him. Then decides to address each one with a snarl and his teeth clenched. The deeper voice was much more in control here then the more youthful one. "Come! Challenge me if you dare! Show me your strength! Your might!" His eyes look over to V from Neptune, "Your courage and your will!" Then his eyes go to Veta before that smile only grew dark. "Because I will break every single ONE of you before the sun full sets!"

"NOW COME YOU WORTHLESS MONKIES AND FIGHT ME! FOR I AM ALASTOR AND I WILL CLAIM YOUR SOULS!"

::'''[[Sailor Neptune]] has posed''': 
This time, Neptune takes a different tack, the young woman standing straight and tall as she glances from the demon - letting him speak, sparing just a moment's glance to her fighting allies of the moment. Especially Vita. "Do you know him?" asks Neptune of Vita, her eyes hard as she turns her gaze back to the demon, narrowing as she bends her knees, assuming a bit of a fighting stance.

There was a bit of a pause, as Neptune turns her eyes from Vita to Sailor V, a bit of a frown dancing across her lips. Neptune narrows her eyes, and gives V a nod of her head. "V!" exclaims Neptune.

"Let's go!" Dashing forward then, towards the demon, Michiru - perhaps foolishly, leaps to one side - just to dash forward towards him and try to strike him with a kick - one that was designed less to hurt, and more to put him off balance and leave him vulnerable for the other two.

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V gives Neptune a V sign with her fingers, then watches her jump in and attack. Motivated by the action, she decides to follow suit, running behind Neptune and introducing the demon to another beam (even though it hasn't worked too well so far).

"Yeah, let's go!" she shouts. "But I'll... stay way back here!" She concludes with another finger-pointing and another beam.

::'''[[Vita]] has posed''': 
Vita meets the gaze of the demon as it is directed up towards her and, though she would never admit it, she does quail a bit inside.. it's a fierce gaze, and she has to wonder, even if momentarily, whether this opponent is too much for her. But then she shakes her head. No.. she is Vita, the Iron Hammer! She will break all barriers! None can stand before her might! The fierceness returns to her eyes, and she snarls at Neptune, "I know him. I owe him a beating! Eisen!" She holds the hammer up high. "Raketenform!"
<Jawohl, Kapitan!> Graf Eisen enthuses. <Raketenform!>
The hammer rotates, a spike sliding out of the front, the read blossoming into three jets which release a hiss of steam as they lock into position. Vita grits her teeth, then launches herself off of the building. The rockets roar to life with a shuddering shockwave that shatters nearby windows as they propel the small mage downwards at dizzying speeds, made all the more dizzying as she throws herself into a rotation, her body beginning to spin wildly, driven by the rockets on the end of her hammer, as she builds up incredible centrifugal force! "RAKETENNNN..." She aims to make Alastor the end destination of that spiked, rotating hammer! "HAMMMAAAAA!"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Sailor Neptune comes racing in and Alastor was having some trouble seeing which one was which. This didn't help the demon any when he swings his sword out to try and counter attack the kick while stepping back. His sword swings wide and her kick scathes his chest armor.

It was just enough force though, enough force by him trying to counter and her kick to send him off balance. Being off balance was never good thing. "..crap.." he mutters out.

'CENTER YOURSELF NOW!' The voice barks in the mind of the true owner of this body transformed. The true voice of Alastor trying to quickly correct Hotaka's mistake and his own for under-estimating what Neptune was going to do.

The demon rapidly attempts to correct himself, almost turning on his heel to find his center once more. It almost came in to late as V is coming right at him; At least her beam is. The beam clips across his face, streaking against his dark brown skin and clipping some of his black hair right off as he nearly staggers right over and has to quickly scamper back up to his feet.

There was actually now a streak of 'black' blood that gentle ran down that side of his face. The beam had indeed made a mark on the demon. Which he reaches up with his left hand to wipe away, his gold eyes glaring at V about then.

'New plan. We defeat them and then we take their artifacts. ..don't worry about the negative effects.. they deserve whatever comes for them.'

Alastor's eyes then narrow before he snarls and bares his teeth right at V for a moment, before his attention quickly goes to find where Vita has gone off too. She was the only one who hasn't been-- Oh. There she is.

The Hammer comes spinning down and Alastor quickly raises up his left hand as his voice intones with power behind it. "Armored Wall Barrier!" With a snap of bright blue flames a magical armored wall forms. The Hammer comes slamming down upon it, but by sheer force the wall doesn't stand a chance.

This causes Alastor's gold eyes to wide with some surprise. Vita shatters the magical armored wall, breaking it into wisps of demonic light that dance in the sky like stars flicking, with him only whispering, "..how.."

The mighty hammer slams down into Alastor's chest, the spike impacting dead on into the chest. The sheer force of it drives not only the spike through part of the heavy armor, but also sends him sailing back across the ground and flipped right over one of the cargo boxes and directly into the water.

There was nothing for a time. Till suddenly the water rises straight up and the demonic form could be seen flying straight out of the water in a twirl of his body. His wings then spread open wide and a fire ball was raised up in his left hand. He let out a roar in frustration really, before twirling his body and throwing the demonic fire ball.

The Fire ball broke apart and started to blast around the area at the three girls, trying to catch them in the barrage of blue fire explosion right behind the other.

::'''[[Sailor Neptune]] has posed''': 
After the demon falls into the water, Sailor Neptune manages a grim smile. If he should stay down there...

Sailor Neptune rises up, stepping to the edge of the water, her eyes searching the surface. Lifting a foot, as if she were going to step forward and off of the dock, to dive into the ocean herself...

When the demon chooses that moment to burst from the waves. Neptune was caught entirely off guard, and while she tries to affect a dodge - stepping to one side, and pushing off of the ground to leap - that comes too late, and the fire strikes her, causing her to cry out and hit the ground, rolling end over end. She didn't expect it to split like that!

Jumping up, to one side - Neptune lands atop one of the cargo boxes, her eyes flicking to the demon, to the other young women. A beat, though, and Sailor Neptune brings a hand up to brush her hair over her shoulder, unleashing a heady sigh as she centers herself. What was it she always said? Act with elegance? Perhaps she should start doing that.

Neptune smiles a secret little smile, and opens her eyes again.

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V is equally caught off guard by something leaving the water via flight, both hands raised up to ward off little bits of fire. The brunt of the attack passes right around her and a few little swats of her gloves hand leaves nothing but little singed white fingertips as a result of the attack.

Seeing Sailor Neptune taking a quick breather, she does the same, letting the girl up overhead with the hammer do the heavy lifting for now.

"Give up! Surrender! You're outnumbered at least 3 to 1!" she states, opening up her crescent compact and basking in the glow, immediately feeling refreshed.

::'''[[Vita]] has posed''': 
Vita lands on the roof of a car after sending the demon spiralling away into the water. Breathing hard, she holds Graf Eisen out to the side. Superheated steam hisses from his vents, making a small cloud around her, and two spent cartridge shells spring outwards, clattering to the ground with a metallic ringing. She warily watches the water.. and so it should be, as fireballs erupt from its depths and head towards all three targets, her included!
Scowling, Vita holds her hammer before her, and a triangular red shield blossoms into being. The fireball hits it, spreading fire around and singing her hair, but most of the force is dissipated.. and when it clears, Vita is /glaring/ at the source of the attack. "Nice try. But not good enough!"
Her hand snaps up. With little *pings*, three metallic balls, like ball bearings but the size of ping pong balls, appear between her fingers. She tosses them up, as if going for a tennis serve, and brings Eisen around in an arc.. hitting all three of them. As they are hit, they turn into flashes of red light, hurtling off towards the source of the fireball. "Schwalbefliegen!"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Neptune and V seems to be trying to recompose themselves after the Fire Barrage and Alastor takes a moment to inhale deeply as he glares at all three of them. When V tells him to stand down he can only bark a laugh at that. "Really? You want me to stand down? Your full of it!" He then barks out another laugh.

"I'm only getting warmed up!" That part may not be true, as they were doing a number on him bit by bit and he could feel how tired he was starting to become, but now was /NOT/ the time to give into the bodies woes. His will was strong and together-- together they could do this. They had to do this. To prove themselves!

The beams from the hammer impacted Alastor as he dove down from the sky right for Vita, he spun around and unleashed a fire ball in her direction as he continued down his decent, before flipping around and bring his sword down upon her. Then he kicked off, before racing right for Neptune to swing the blade around with a pacing strike.

Yet his full focus came right around on V who told him to stand down. His eyes locked right onto hers and then he raced right in, before his hand reaching to take a hold of her throat. Those clawed fingers reaching right at to take a hold and stare her down as he snarls out as he comes in. "Now tell that to my face.. I dare you.."

::'''[[Sailor Neptune]] has posed''': 
It was a close thing.

The pacing strike arcs in, and Neptune twists her body to take it against her arms as opposed to her torso, the various cuts and bleeds the man was inflicting upon her starting to take its toll, itself. Breathing heavily, Sailor Neptune twists her eyes towards V as he attacks her.

Neptune frowns then. Breathing in deeply, she takes a step back - casting aside all doubts in her head, and allowing herself to fill with confidence - body swelling with a deep breath - as her eyes open up, and fix upon the man once more, a fierceness in them. "Unrelenting...!" she calls out, and water seems to crash around her, the nearby ocean turbulent. "...TIDE!" With that call, Neptune jabs her hand forward towards him, palm open and out - then she closes her fist. Waters seem to lift in twisting torrents to batter into the demon, Neptune's gaze just as unrelenting as the waters.

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V makes her opinion known that there is entirely too much hot stuff flying around, staring down the flighty demon as he charges at her. She waits until the last second and counters the claw-for-her-neck with a single kick upwards at his face to ward him away, then follows it up with a few extra kicks, trying to take advantage of any openings she may have made.

"Hyaaaahhhh! Get away fro--" she starts to say, but suddenly jumps away, not happy to be too close to her allies' attacks.

::'''[[Vita]] has posed''': 
Vita stands firm upon the car as the demon dives at her, even as he launches a fireball before him, raising Graf Eisen to meet his downward sword swing. The fire washes over her, and then the sword impacts the haft of her hammer, sliding along it. It nicks her arm as he rockets away to attack the others, but its a minor wound and she shrugs it off, most of the attack deflected by Graf Eisen's might. Turning, she leaps up into the air again, denting the roof of the car in the with the force of her takeoff. Circling around in a wide arc, she brings herself back towards the rampaging enemy.

"You can't escape!" She screams at him as she homes in, pouring on the speed again. She's fighting against the same enemy as two others, but really is fighting entirely on her own, the Sailors more pieces of the scenery than anything else as far as she is concerned. She rockets past Hotaka, turning at just the right moment to bring her hammer swinging down against the back of his leg, attempting to crush his knee and hinder his movement.

::'''[[Sailor Sagittarius]] has posed''': 
Watching the combat quietly is a third senshi. Standing on the side of a building. She is just standing there, watching. Watching Sailor V's combat. She is not participating yet. Just standing perpendicular to the wall like it's just the floor. She walks forward/down, waiting to see if she has to intercede.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
There was a kick to Alastor's face that actually knocked him back a few times. Then soon followed by more high end kicks. The final one hard enough to spend him around to suddenly see the tidal wave coming in and his one eye twitches. His wings flap hard as he goes to kick off from the ground into the air to avoid Neptune's ocean call, however he was a bit to slow and the tidal wave catches his lower half of his body and slams him into one of the warehouses with a hard slam; denting the metal wall behind him.

Alastor grunts as he slides down a bit and shakes his head once more. Only the voice in his head, the true voice of Alastor telling him to keep it together.

That is when Vita suddenly charges in and tries to come behind him and the wall. His gold eyes go wide then they narrow sharply. He swings his blade around and as she goes to strike with the hammer he slams the blade against the hammer to hold it away. His gold eyes looking right at the smaller girl as the blade's demonic metal screeches against the hammer it holds back.

"I still need to repay you for out last little fight, hairless child monkey." He says with coldness in his voice. Before breaking away from the attack and flipping backwards landing on top of one of the cargo boxes.

He then slams his sword into the box, before he places out both of his hands. Magic runes dance around his hands as two flaming orbs come into his palms and he grips them, before suddenly blasting them into the ground. At first this may seem harmless, but what comes next though is the trouble.

Demonic black chains with fire blast out of the ground and go to wrap around each of the three girls, attempting to hold them in place. His gold eyes addresses each of them unaware of his new guest. "You will all now surrender to me or prepare to face the price that shall come."

::'''[[Sailor Neptune]] has posed''': 
Those demonic dark chains do lash out, wrapping around Neptune - and holding her fast - at least for the moment.

Fierceness in her eyes, Neptune struggles - a bit of her hair falling into her face, as she narrows her eyes carefully upon the man. "Pay the price? You're hurt. Outnumbered, and this will hardly hold us for long. As Sailor V said..." says Michiru, casting her eyes towards the blonde a moment, a little smile touching the corner of her lips.

"You should give up now. Or it will end poorly for you."

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V repeats after Michiru, although she shouts at the top of her lungs. "I DID say that, I agree, but I said it better and I said it LOUDER," she announces, angling her compact in the air to send the occasional small little crescent beam towards Hotaka's face.

"We'll never give up. Never surrender. You should do the exact opposite!" she says, as if it were a real quote.

::'''[[Vita]] has posed''': 
Vita shouts in dismay as her attack is countered, thrown backwards by the clash of sword against hammer, and before she can right herself in the air, those firey chains leap up from the earth, coiling about her and momentarily holding her captive. "Rrgh.." She struggles against them in vain for long moments.. beginning to fear that maybe she has gotten in over her head. But that very fear only makes the ferocious determination within her grow stronger..

::'''[[Sailor Sagittarius]] has posed''': 
Sailor Sagittarius stares at V, as she quotes Galaxy Quest. She giggles a bit, and suddenly kicks off, flying to be above the battlefield, floating thirty feet above. She grins widely as she looks around. "Hold it right there! You are chaining up my friends and companions, and you are even more pathetic than the foe I helped defeat yesterday! I am Sailor SAgittarius, Soldier of Freedom and... Flight! Yeah, Flight. And in the name of Sagittarius, I will flatten you!" She looks around, seeing a forklift nearby. Shrugging, it shimmers with a dark aura like Sagittarius' aura as the forklift raises up a few inches... then is flung towards the youma. "Sagittarius Shooter!" she calls out.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Alastor stands on his box, eyes narrowing as Neptune address him. His eyes narrow sharply at her words and the chains around her tighten their grasp. He may seem like he has a cool composure right now, but those words did hit Hotaka a bit. What-- were they doing? Why did they have too--

'Hotaka. Focus! Now is not the time to let your guard down or your mind wonder!' Sometimes Alastor swore, working with humans was a difficult thing. Even more so when their heart started to ponder over just what they were doing. Though he be the first admit, there was times he enjoyed silently watching Hotaka suffer in some realizations of what he was doing, but now was not that time.

Sadly when the youth does wonder just what he /has/ been doing that is when V makes her own comment and the beam shines right in his eyes and he howls slightly in pain, the light causing a bit of smoke around his face. He then snags the sword from the crate and yanks it free about then as he looks away to rub at his face. "Tsk.."

That is then when another shows up and announces they are 'worse' then someone else they face. He spins around to remark right back to only see a fork lift come right at him. His eyes narrow and sure enough it slams into him and crashes right through the building. For a moment there was nothing, but thankfully the chains lose their hold with the very forklift impact.

Though what does come next is suddenly another mass of fire ball barrage from the hole the forklift created heading for each one of them. Moving to slam into, each and everyone as Alastor then walks out on top of the Forklift. His sword dragging across the metal. His body was battered, there was cuts across the exposed parts of his skin, even his wings look a little torn. "I don't think any of you get it. I am not going /anywhere/." He snarls out. "Nor will I surrender to the likes of any of you!"

::'''[[Sailor Neptune]] has posed''': 
Neptune didn't have to get herself entirely free. Pulling her way through the chains, Neptune gets most of her body free - although the chains were wrapped around her legs a fair bit. Bringing up her arms, she dashes a hand in front of herself - an ephermal shield of water placed inbetween the fire and herself, causing hot steam to billow over her, Neptune closing her eyes as she steps forward, the chains clattering around her ankles.

Lowering her chin, and closing her eyes, she thinks of the ocean. She thinks of the memories of a life long lost, of a ruined castle hanging in the clouds above an empty planet.

Why did she have such visions? Why did they fill her with such strength? The wind was not rustling here, but she could hear violins. And the crash of the ocean. Waves seem to spring out of the catwalk on both sides of her, a tide washing over her as if to carry Neptune away, Neptune lifting her hands up and catching a ball of the water. Salty ocean water, infusing it with the emotion she carried from her memories.

Neptune opens her eyes again, and fixes her gaze on the demon, the blue ball of water - so similar to the ones before - yet this one carried with it a presence that would not be denied - floating in her hands. "DEEP!" she calls. "SUBMERGE!" she says, tossing the ball towards Hotaka.

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Three-way triple counter! Sailor V casually throws out one of her own little glowing balls of light to intercept the demonfire balls, using those beams of light from her fingertip to stop any of them from hitting her.

She follows it up with... running away to hide behind a damaged car and take another breather!

::'''[[Vita]] has posed''': 
Vita is afraid she might lose. She's like a wild animal, twisting inside the chains, snarling and spitting. Unlike most, her fear is not displayed through despair - it is the fear of a cornered animal, the fear of a desperate beast. It gives her strength. With a shout, she throws her arms outwards, shattering the chains that were binding her into pieces, rocketing herself skyward in the same motion. Her eyes shine a bright blue as she turns her twisted snarl down upon the demon.
"I.. refuse.. to lose!" She screams at the top of her lungs, raising her arm. A single metallic ping-pong ball appears between her fingers, just like before.

Then, with a resounding *boom* that shakes the buildings, it grows. Its huge. Its the size of a hot air balloon, dwarfing Vita beneath it.

She rears back, Graf Eisen swinging over her head in a circle. "I'll CRUSH YOU!" She screams, before slamming her hammer into the giant metal ball. Despite how small the hammer is in comparison, the strike causes the huge sphere to lurch into motion, hurtling down towards Alastor, fire blooming along its entire surface until it transforms into a huge, firey ball of doom screaming straight downwards. This may not only be bad for him, this might be bad for the industrial sector in general. "KOMETFLIEGEN!"

::'''[[Sailor Sagittarius]] has posed''': 
Sailor Sagittarius squeaks as she tries to dodge the fireball - but it follows her and singes her. Growling, she shakes her head, hissing sharply. "Alright. That's enough of that!" she calls out, as a glowing purple orb forms around her. "If youw ant to fling energy balls, I'll play. Sagittarius Crush!" she calls out as the shimmering orb fires towards Hotaka, seeking to crush him wtih intense gravity power.

::'''[[Vita]] has posed''': 
Vita hovers in the air, panting, as her giant comet of a metal ball crushes everything beneath. Collatoral damage! But at least the demon is dead!

Well, not really. But suddenly, a little ping goes off in Vita's ear, reminding her that its Hayate's bedtime. She sniffs. "I'll absorb you next time." She promises the empty air, and turns to fly off.. already gone by the time the demon re-emerges to attack again.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Hotaka was /pissed/ now actually. He was called weak. A scrag really and it was seething in his mind. Alastor within can only start to laugh as he was picking up Hotaka's growing anger toward the whole situation now. It was amusing to the demon how fast the youth could go from 'what am I doing?!' to 'oh its on now'.

The demon that stood on the forklift watched as the tide rolled in, the water started to wrap around Neptune and become a sphere in her hand. His eyes narrowed dangerous as he growled lowly. The sudden massive attack comes from the Sailor Scout and he raises up his left hand and his eyes glow bright gold as he yells out loudly, "DEMONIC WALL INTERVENTION!" He throws out his left hand with rune symbols that fly out before creating a massive demonic wall in front of him.

Neptune's powerful attack slams into the demonic wall, the water races around it, cracking the magical barrier surface. Alastor's feet are sliding as he attempts to hold against the attack and just as the attack goes to finish Sagittarius gravity field then snaps in when he isn't paying attention and sends him flying forcefully into one of the buildings and as he goes to be pulled into the ground that is when Vita suddenly fires off her meteor of a ping pong ball.

Alastor impacts the ground and then is seem to be utterly crushed by the massive fire ball of doom which shakes the very foundation around him and breaks the ground under its massive force. Pipes can be heard shattering and water suddenly gushes straight out of the ground where Alastor was sent into.

There was a long silence, before the demon once more flies straight into the air once more with a howlish roar in anger. His wings spread wide, his armor was heavily cracked. His body was bleeding down black blood, but he holds the sword with both hands. His arms only shook for a moment as his body was wanting to surrender. Yet he stood firm.

Soon the demonic sword was engulfed by blue flames as he held it there with his eyes glowing blue and his hair started to be played with by invisible wind. He roars out with a demonic cry, before coming to crash right down on all those he can find. Swing is blade like an angry animal really. Cleaving, swiping, the only one who escapes from this is V cause she is hiding.

::'''[[Sailor Neptune]] has posed''': 
Each of his swipes of the sword - Neptune dodges left and right, catching just the edge of each - the chains around her ankles clinking and clanking as she goes. But she does not quite attack in return just yet - her eyes narrowing on the man as she attempts to keep as much space between herself and the demon as much as possible.

::'''[[Sailor Sagittarius]] has posed''': 
Sailor Sagittarius hisses as she dodges and weaves around in the air, but unused to people slashing at her, she got scored on a few times. Shaken, she retreats out of reach, and calls out, "Is that... is that the best you can do?" Sagittarius looks a bit pale, looking stunned that she got hurt. "You haev to do a LOT harder to keep me on the ground! You're ugly, and pathehic!"

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V spends some more time hiding, popping her head out to look around. She's really tired and makes that obvious with a set of hand signals to her allies. It's not very clear what she's trying to say.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Those glowing gold eyes turn away from Neptune as Sagittarius speaks up. Taunting Alastor really. "Pathetic am I?" He asks with a snarl, before he kicks back and flaps his wings a few times. Hovering there in the air. "You want me best!?" He then flies straight into the air. "Do you really want it!?"

It seems Sagittarius may have pissed the demon off.

'Hotaka-- we don't have the energy for this.. if we do this we will leave ourselves..'

"You said the plan was to take their souls.." The demon whispers to no one but himself high in their air. "..to take their artifacts.. haha.. your right.. it doesn't matter.. so long as they BURN!" They may indeed hear the burn part.

'...hm...' Now this is when the inner demon wonders if this was such a great idea after all. ...humans..

Soon the demonic sword was engulfed by blue flames as he held it there with his eyes glowing blue and his hair started to be played with by invisible wind. "I will show you just how pathetic and worthless I am you pathetic excuse of a hero!!" He says with great deal of anger in his voice as he takes even higher into the skies. The flames on the blade extend out at great lengths before he yells out loudly. "Now FALL!!" He then swings himself around sharply, before his voice enchants those words, "BURNING HELL FIRE!!" Then as he comes around for his final spin he swings out the blade with a mighty slash, "UNLEEAASSHH!!" The flames break from the sword and start to sail down for the very area like a massive blade wave of fire. It yanks part one of the water towers, crashes through one of the taller buildings, and is heading right for the very heroes below.

::'''[[Sailor Neptune]] has posed''': 
The hellfire rakes over her, and Neptune tries her hardest to repel it, bursts of water turning instantly into steam as the powerful attack just rakes through it. The edges of her fuku singed - her skin pinkened from the heat when it finally finishes raking over her. A step back - Neptune falls to one knee, glancing up at the demon, the blue eyes of the woman filled with... something akin to determination as she stands up again, her hair falling out of place, her hand coming to kinda wrap over her belly.

"No."

It was a simple word that she breathes out. "V! Sagittarius!" calls Neptune, clenching her fist before herself. She was drained - empty - felt weak. But she staggers forward - that stagger turning to a jog, turning to a run - she was hoping to strike the boss with a foot, and stagger him towards V and Sagittarius - who were hopefully behind her.

::'''[[Sailor V]] has posed''': 
Sailor V eventually comes out from behind her car-cover and looks up into the air, immediately and totally regretting her decision. She stops, drops, and (pre-emptively) starts to roll as fire, flames, winds, and assorted degree come crashing down on her.

Immediately after, the insides of the water tower spills on her and she -almost- shouts something accusatory at Neptune, but the fact that it helps put out the little bits of fire on her silence her quickly.

V is also staggering, but she manages to get enough speed to jump forward and put her all into one more hit.

::'''[[Sailor Sagittarius]] has posed''': 
Sailor Sagittarius whimpers as there was no avoiding that effect, as immense fire erupts throughout the battlefield. She moves over the bay and falls like a stone, diving into the water to extinguish herself. She raises up, dripping wet, as she growls. She moves close to V and extensd her hands together, fingertips glowing. Purple orbs form all around the demon. "Enough of this! I will TEAR YOU APART!" she shrieks as she pulls her hands apart, as all those orbs tear open into tiny black holes, each having immense gravitational pull on the monster, trying to tear the thing apart into many different ways. "SAGGITARIUS SCISSION!" she shrieks with a hoarse voice.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Neptune comes right up and the inner demon did warn Hotaka. This would be a /bad/ idea to pull such a stunt so late in the game and it seems to be echo now truth. Just truth to late. The Sailor scout slams the demon in the back and rockets him right for the other two scouts, which are fully charging up with their own heavy attacks.

The Demon attempts to correct himself to brace for the attack, attempting to create a shield for protecting, but V's attack breaks the shield as it tries to form by magic and then Sagittarius gets a hold of him and throws him down hard through the roof of one of the warehouses and his back slams then into one of the cranes before his eyes go wide from the impact and then he crashes right down onto the ground into several boxes.

The demon doesn't rise from there, he doesn't take flight. Nothing comes out from the warehouse. No fire balls. No yells of anger. Nothing. It was dead silence in the trashed warehouse surrounded by the now trash distract.

'Hotaka!' Alastor roars in the youth's mind. 'Hotaka Domen! WAKE UP!' Yet the boy does not move. So the demon tries to reign control, but the body will not move. They went to far. They pushed to hard. '..I tried to warn you.. I tried to tell you.. and this is now what we get ourselves into..'

By The time anyone comes down to check up, several people are coughing in the warehouse. Many who went in to actually hide here. Some helping others get out from under fallen boxes. As for the demon, he wasn't in sight for he had already reverted back to a young boy who only stood five foot seven, with a light tan, short, messy brown hair, and was completely knocked out hidden under a few boxes beyond what someone may find if they went searching.

::'''[[Sailor Neptune]] has posed''': 
And it was done. Neptune, after doing her part in the combo - does fall down to her knees again, bringing up a hand to touch her forehead - fighting off the wave of dizziness that struck her at the exertion. For a moment, she just falls quiet, listening to the sound of the waves as they lap against the shore.

Finally, she rises up to a stand again, pursing her lips as she lowers her head, glancing about herself. She wasn't attacked. The plan must have worked.

::'''[[Sailor Sagittarius]] has posed''': 
Sailor Sagittarius whimpers as she finally sinks down to the ground, her everpresent shimmering black aura winking out as she sinks to her knees, wheezing softly. "Not... as exciting... when one gets... hurt..." she whimpers, brushing soot off of her fuku, coughing softly.

2013-09-24 - Just A Little Game

2014-03-19T08:59:06Z

Lainzilla:

[[Category: Logs]]
{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Title: Just A Little Game'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Minako Aino decides to walk on the bad side of town and runs into possible trouble.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
Minako Aino, [[Hotaka Domen]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Tokyo Bay
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
9/24/2013 - 9/24/2013
|-
|}

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
It was Tuesday the twenty forth and the great sun had yet to rise on the horizon. It was just now starting to peek over the edge, glowing upon the water like fire. It was here in the quiet bay that a creature had been seen, three times now in the very early morning.

It was actually causing many to want to stay away from here at these hours because they didn't know what the creature was and one reported an attack from it. So for those willing to investigate as the sun barely peaked over. They would indeed find the demonic creature here.

For he was crouched, balancing on a light pole, staring off toward the slow rising sun. Those gold eyes against the dark skin and the black armor seeming to barely flicker against the clip of the sun's rays. The black hair though was gently being played with by the soft breeze as the long pony tail barely was moved.

Was this really the monster that small rumors were being spoken about?

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino is out and about with the excuse of 'getting to school early' and 'taking the scenery route' but is -really- actually taking the incredibly dirty, wet, ugly route through the wharfs and loading docks while they're mostly empty. Early morning monster-hunting missions! In her school outfit, she might stand out a little bit, but certainly wouldn't draw attention as anybody to be wary of.

It's worth finding youma just to be able to stop them, but Minako knows where there's trouble, there are sometimes senshi and other suspicious folks who'll come following, so she's not doing anything intimidating for monsters just yet!

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
The demonic creature continues to stay crouched, until the sound of movement catches to his elf like ears. Soon he looks in that direction, before he raises a brow gently. 'There is something about this...

"..about what..?" The demon human spoke, his words echoed like two. One who was much younger, to someone who was a bit older, with a bit of a deeper voice. "..What are you.."

'Not sure. Go look.

The creature tsks softly, before his wings fully open and then he takes into the air with a hard push off of the lamp. The armored figure flies into the air before he spots the school girl. 'Her. That is it.

"...do we have.."

'No. Not yet. Just take caution.'

Minako may see a shadow pass over her from above, before hearing something gently touch down several feet away from her. If she was to look she would see the dark demonic figure has landed and then he slowly stands up. It seems this individual stands somewhere close to six feet. His gold, demonic like eyes, looking directly at her.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino continues about on her way, not really paying as much attention as she might have before. Lots of random out-of-the-way walks end up being pretty boring and taking her to dirty, unpleasant places that just don't emphasize anything fun nor glamorous. So when she glances about her and sees somebody who looks more than a little unusual, just standing around staring, she's a little taken aback as her stride breaks unevenly and she almost stumbles over.

"Uhhhhhhhhh, hi," she says after an uncomfortably long pause, followed by an automatic smile and a little wave at you after establishing eye contact.

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
The demonic figure carefully walks toward her. His eyes narrow slightly, when she waves at him. He looks at her hand, then at her. What was he picking up? Did she possess... He could sense it now that he was closer. Something about her was different.

At least the dark figure speaks up. "Who are you?" He wasn't so bad, now was he? Yeah. You just wait.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino straightens up, flicking her hair back. "I'm... not supposed to be here. The dockworkers would be so mad," she says, seemingly worried about that for some reason.

"And I'm Minako-chan! I am on my way to school!" she says, as if it were both obvious and natural. "What are youuuuu doing here?"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
"Enjoying my peace." The demonic figure says as his eyes flicker with a bit of light. "..and you could have bigger concerns to worry about then helpless dock workers." He takes another step forward. His clawed gauntlet hand flexing a bit, as his left hand stays rather calm by his side.

'Don't. Harm. Her.' The voice in Hotaka's head tells him, the true voice of Alastor. His words sharp in Hotaka's mind, which causes a minor external twitch of his left eye. 'Though she perhaps someone of interest.. we have no outstanding orders to continue hunting. There is no need for this just yet.'

How Hotaka would love to tell Alastor to make up his mind right now. First they go chasing after people, but now he wants to be /nice/ demon. Augh. Such a lazy demon. "You are not afraid of me, Minako?" He tilts his head. "..because most would have ran by now and though this is making you an easy prey, it isn't any fun when they don't run."

Insert chibi Alastor demon face-palm.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino shakes her head to you and shrugs. "Naaaaaah. I know lots of delinquents and stuff like that. Can't judge a book by its author, after all. Mebbe you're just having a bad hair day and... uh, wing day," she says, now preparing to dash away (or perform face-punches, although the former seems the better idea at the moment).

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Hotaka-Alastor smirks before he then laughs softly and then just breaks into a full out laugh. With that echo, it could be a little freaky. He laughs a bit more, before he looks at her. Now he was having a minor hard time not smirking. Man-- if they met when he wasn't like. She could actually make a rather decent fri--

Slowly the face goes into one of a minor sorrow at a passing thought. No. They couldn't be friends. Not when he has this contract and not so long as..

He then looks toward the rising sun, now a bit higher in the horizon. "You should go, before I change my mind.." He then slowly looks at her. "..though.. ..one more..." Suddenly those gold eyes narrow dangerous, as he goes to latch out for her very arm.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino goes to smack away any reaching arms, making all sorts of indignant expressions. "Oh no you didn't! You're worse than the Juuban boys," she crows, a little haughtily, swinging her arm out in a wide arc. "I can't go with you playing with my uniform!"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
Minako starts to flail when he takes a hold of her, which was enough to break his grasp really, since he wasn't out to actually harm her. Yet when in her flail, he quickly went to defend himself when her finger came up just high enough to actually make a soft impact with his face. It wasn't a hard hit, but it was enough to cause him to halt in his tracks.

That and what she had to say. Juuban-- was not a bad school. His eyes blinked a few times before he lowered his head. His teeth then sneered a bit.

'...Well. I guess now that you startled her. We should finish the job, shouldn' we?'

He then exposed just enough of his own eyes that they were glowing in the shadows of his bangs. Glowing brightly at that. "..you shouldn't have done that, Minako. I had no plans to really hurt you.. but now.."

Suddenly he bolted to the side with a hard push, before coming at her once again. This time to tackle her and try to embrace her in a hold. Almost enough to maybe start to squeeze, not to really kill, but to try cause her to pass out.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino immediately ducks down in response to outstretched arms and practically leaps to the side, swinging her hips into your side as she passes. "Uggggh, you keep saying one thing and doing another," she complains as she moves away.

"And that's exactly what I was -just- talking about. Touchiness!"

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
The student slams her hips into Alastor when he almost has her. Just a hair breaths away it seems. It was pretty effective actually; surprisingly enough. He goes to try and reach out from her, but because of her sheer force she used to get away from him, well, it kinda knocked him back a few steps.

He growled lowly, before letting out a fierce howling roar into the air with his wings outstretched. Then sun was only getting higher by this point and crews would be here soon. He could either continue this chase or..

'If I have to be the voice of reason, Hotaka. I will be, as much has her actually winning this is mildly amusing me, but you are forgetting something important..'

The demon leaps into the air takes flight, quickly out pacing her up in the air. That was easy to see by the shadow really.

'...you have school soon, like she does. Do you /really/ want to explain to the teachers why you are late?'

This is one of the rare times when Hotaka and Alastor were actually /not/ agreeing on something while in this form. Typically, they would act almost as one, but honestly. The demon is rather tired and how Hotaka could have so much energy is beyond Alastor really. So it was almost like for the demon just eating some popcorn and not helping guide the youth at all.

If Minako was paying attention to her surroundings that shadows was getting in rather close and that is because he was now coming down fast and plan to drop her straight to the ground if he impacted with her.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino looks back just in time to see something in the air rather than just behind her, as originally assumed. She instinctively jumps up and forward evasively, but it's not nearly fast enough for something -flying- at her and she's slammed down into the ground despite her best efforts otherwise.

She raises a foot up and starts to get that angry kicking motion ready, but seems to think better of it and instead kicks the ground to roll... towards the dock's edge!

::'''[[Hotaka Domen]] has posed''': 
After the impact. The demon seems to want to chase, but his foot stops as she rolls away. His brows furrow. "..she.." The sun light plays against his black hair for a moment and his eyes seem to have sudden realization that comes over him. What went from a game, then went to serious, suddenly snapped Hotaka back to reality of what he was doing with out Alastor's full fledge support; or perhaps Alastor snapped him out of it about then.

"...I could have.." He blinks a few times, before placing his hand to his head. "..tsk.."

'Yes. That is enough Hotaka. She got the point. We should go now.'

"..this is all your fault.." He mutters softly. "..I.." No. It was his own fault. Alastor wasn't even guiding. He wasn't even aiding in the lead. This cursed power...

He lost control somewhere in there.

He growled softly, before he then leaps straight up into the air and looks down at young school girl. His voice then far more stern now, the young voice was not as obvious as the other was as he calls down to her. "You should be more careful when judging your books, Minako. They may come back to haunt you." He then smirks, before giving her a mild wave. "We will meet again and next time-- I wont be playing games."

Then seems the demonic figure takes his leave through the air. Just as workers start to make there way in. Most likely, if Minako makes herself known. They will probably help her out and if she has any cuts, probably even give her some first aid attention.

::'''Minako Aino has posed''': 
Minako Aino gets all checked up and gets lots of attention. And thankfully, didn't have to jump into the bay to escape. That's a win in Minako's book!

2013-10-06 - Does This Mean We're Monster Hunters Now? Let's Do Our Best!

2014-03-19T08:56:28Z

Lainzilla:

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Does This Mean We're Monster Hunters Now? Let's Do Our Best!'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''In Episode Four of Perfume Splash! the mysterious Unknown Enemy Appears! Later, Perfume Warriors also fight a Star Lion while others take down a yogurt monster... (See also the [[10-05-2013_-_Unknown_Enemy_II|second Unknown Enemy log]] for more Perfume Splash!)''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Sakura Akagi]], [[Madobe Kuroi]], [[Erika Inagawa]], [[Tokiko Amagawa]], [[Yoshirou Kurotsuki]], [[Lera Camry]], [[Ren Aizawa]], Minako Aino, [[Alyce Ducati]], [[Nanoha Takamachi]], (second log includes) [[Queen Beryl]], [[Tomomi Shizuka]], [[Suzu Hamasaki]], [[Usagi Tsukino]], [[Rei Fushigiyo]], [[Matoko Kino]], [[Rei Hino]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Tama Outer City - Infinity Institute / Yamanote High City - Shibuya Shopping Ward
|-
| '''OOC Date:''' 
10/6/2013 - 10/7/2013
|-
|}
(Battle Fantasia 2 - Sunday, October 06, 2013)

It's an ordinary day at the Infinity Institute, as far as such a thing actually exists. Infinity being what it is, it looms impressively into the sky, and the main sign of after-school activity visible from the outside are the various athletics teams going out on their long training jogs, the Strolling Club going for their after-school walk around the district, and the Going Home Club, or at least what of it doesn't go home straight into the tower's dorm levels, and what other clubs might happen to have off-site business today.

As the Beat Poetry Research Society gathers around a shady tree near the corner of the campus, something else also gathers. Or, rather, arrives - shooting down from the sky, arcing across the horizon in a blur of silver, and then CRASHING into the courtyard, kicking up dust and debris.

As the dust clears, what lies in the courtyard appears to be a wobbling, roiling mass of silver goo, formed tightly into a tremendous ball. It sits there unimpressively for a few moments, and then - low, rumbling, a voice that rattles the bones, it growls: "I SENSE....POWER..."

Tokiko Amagawa is a proud member of the Infinity Institute's Track and Field Club: BE THE BEST FOREVER, as it says on the sigil on her athletic uniform. Sometimes her schedule conflicts, but today, she's running track practice with the rest of the track club, and making good time: she's just getting warmed up out there, but she's well ahead of some of the other girls, out with the prodigies in the front of the pack.

The ring on her finger tingles faintly, shortly before a big gooey ball of silver goops across the sky and into the courtyard at the center of the wide shared track. And Tokiko... keeps running, failing to follow the track curve and going straight for a big memorial statue of Mudo, the loyal dog who stayed around the Infinity Institute construction site all its years. It's nice and big enough to transform behind, for instance. "What the heck is that thing," she murmurs to herself, shortly before stock footage plays of her forming the white military uniform and golden aiguilettes of the Soldier Angel.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa transforms into Soldier Angel!

Sakura and her friends are visiting from Juuban to watch Tokiko at her track practice. It's almost over, though, so they're planning to take off and do something fun...

When there's the sudden crash of the unknown enemy.

Sakura stands up in the bleachers. She looks over at the field, and then side to side at her friends. "I... did you sense something strange? We should, uh..."

She's fingering a little pocket on her belt, but still new at this 'leading a team of magical girls thing.'

She looks at Madobe for a moment for confirmation, but it looks like Tokiko is already on the case, so she thinks she should too. She drops down behind the bleachers for a quick transformation, pulling out her perfume.

"Henshin! Cherry Blossom Splash!"

In a swirl of flowers and light, she transforms!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi transforms into Japanese Cherry Blossom!

Drama and Survival Club are both not meeting today, so Yoshirou Kurotsuki is, instead, hanging out near the main entrance, waiting for the Track Club to finish. He is reading. (Today, it's Guys And Dolls.) When something slams into the ground, he looks up, startled. "What the-?" He looks around.

"/Dammit/. I was a t a good part." He should probably run and hide. He looks down ath is hand, at the black pearl ring...no. No, that would raise far too many questions. Still, he's not completely helpless, right? He's been to the 13th Floor. He has /ideas/.

Admittedly, most of those ideas revolve around using magic for stage special effects, since without the power of the black ring his magic just isn't really up to snuff, but still. Yoshirou goes to find a nice tree to hide in while he thinks.

Erika Inagawa is still getting used to having found new contacts of a social nature. She did not particularly object; it isn't like she was putting all her work into studying. She'd been sitting in the stands, watching the running with some curiosity, and then her head tilts towards the giant silver glob of arriving stuff.

"That wasn't what we were here to say, is it, Kuroi?" she asks rhetorically, before ducking down and rolling into the empty space behind the bleachers, reaching into her own pocket to pull out her vial. A few generous spritzes later, and:

"Forever Sunshine Splash!" The light gets, if anything, even more flowery.

Forever Sunshine hoists herself up from BEHIND the bleachers, balancing on one hand purely for the pleasure of it before hoisting herself to her feet. Shading her eyes, she reports downwards, "It said something about power, Cherry Blossom! Is that normal??"

The Infinity Institute!

Madobe still feels bad for missing the first survival club meeting and has dropped by to provide support. it's time for some fun soon when...

Crash! An unknown enemy! a re-unknown enemy!

"We better check it out." Sweet Pea says, providing dialogue anybody else could provide. She gives a firm nod to sakura and ducks behind her so she can hide while she transforms, behind the bleachers as well.

"Henshin! Sweet Pea! Splash!"

In a swirl of (sweet pea) flowers and light, she transforms! it's ...really pretty similar.

She rushes over towards the mighty Soldier Angel once she's done, drawing both pistols.

Lera Camry is at school, of course, and walking between classes. She isn't in the poetry society, though she considered it. However, she does not have that creative spirit that powers poetry. Part of her mission -- to make friends among the Earthlings -- made her consider it regardless. She stops, though, as she sees the blur of silver. Her head tracks it down slowly, and then her eyes widen sharply. She raises an arm to cover her face from the dust.

"Oh, no..." she says. Her other hand tightens around a laser pointer/pen combination.

IT APPEARS THE UNCULTURED BRUTES HAVE A PROBLEM.>

The male, computerized voice crackles, as she looks around the tree. Lera glances down at the pen, then up at the ball of silvery goop. "It is our problem too, Soaring Sky. Remember, we are also normal Earth--"

I AM NOT NORMAL EARTH TECHNOLOGY. THAT IS INSULTING. I AM INSULTED.>

"Let's just get ready!"

She sees the others rushing forward, then she leaps around the tree -- and points a finger at the silvery orb. "Soaring fire, burning spirit!" she yells. "Soaring Sky, SET UP!"

A flash of crimson light shoots up around her; the plum colored jacket vanishes, quickly replaced by a crimson and black jacket with a high neck but short waist, and metal plates on the shoulders. She punches a fingerless gloved hand forward, clutching the pen, which grows out into a long black staff with a red-bronze segment in the middle. It splits in half, one half flipping into the air, then comes down. She catches it in the other hand and points it at the thing.

A blade of fiery energy shoots out from both halves, forming energy swords. Lera grins and winks.

Ren hasn't gone home quite yet. Slowly making her way through the front lobby area of the school the tenth grader is looking a bit disappointed. Gasp! Why is this?! "I wonder where Amagawa-san is?" Ahh. Yes. She's spent most of the afterschool hours trying to track down Tokiko! ...With no success. Aww. Though to be fair it's her own fault for not getting the girl's contact information. So forgetful! And to think she was all ready to make a serious pledge to join the Survival Club. Now she's had enough time to second-guess her earlier confidence. Did she really have what it takes to be a member? That mock battle she participated in was probably just a fluke. There was no way she was that goo-

<YOUR MAJESTY! SOMETHING APPROACHES!> Souverain Heraut cuts off Ren's little mental pity party just as she reaches the front doors of the school. "W-What?!" And then she feels /it/.... right before /it/ makes impact with the courtyard. Well, so much for quietly making her way home! Narrowing her eyes Ren dashes forward through the doors, stopping behind one of the nearby pillars.

"A royal duty to defend against tyranny... To strike down chaos where it lurks... To become a shining beacon that beats back the darkness... SOUVERAIN HERAUT, SORTIE!"

The silver ring that is the standby form of her device erupts into a golden glow. Ren sweeps her leg out and takes on an elegant pose as an array of jewels wink into existence and encircle her. Clothes melting away in several white flashes, her body is then pelted by the gems, which stretch and twist to form her barrier jacket. Finally, the ring rolls itself out and morphs into her scepter. Grabbing it, her transformation is complete!

"Alright Souverain Heraut. Let's do our best!"

Though Alyce Ducati has been operating in Tama for awhile, she has not yet had cause to go to the local school. On top of that, she's been recovering from being on the wrong end of the unknown blonde girl with sad eyes. The Sergeant is, however, a resourceful young woman-- and in the midst of one of her "regular patrols," searching for the elusive Jewel Seeds, she recieves a simple warning issued from her Intelligent Device.

<ANOMALY DETECTED.>

It leads the Mid-childian woman to look off to the near distance-- and toward Infinity Institute. Running like hell toward the streak falling through the sky, she issues a single command to the pendant hanging around her neck.

"Silver Wind... set up!"

The gemstone set in the ornate pendant flares. <STERLING COAT.>

Alyce may arrive a few minutes late, but by god she arrives mid-change. A black turtleneck, fine blue jacket, black leather shorts and stockings, tall boots, gloves... and then with a flare and flap of silvery-white fabric, the sleeveless coat.

Staff in hand, she stops a short distance through the courtyard without getting too close.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati transforms into Barrier Jacket - Sterling Coat!

Believe it or not, Nanoha Takamachi is not on campus for classes or clubs right this moment. The third grader had been busy running errands most of the day, and as it turns out one of them brought her back to her classroom at Infinity to pick something up. And that's the reason why the distracted-seeming girl was on her way out and heading on home.

Now the big issue in simply just heading back to probably spend her sunday helping out at Midori-ya would be the sudden chime from the gleaming red bauble on her necklace.

<DISTURBANCE DETECTED. HIGH THREAT LEVEL POSSIBILITY.> Raising Heart informs her wielder with a mental nudge, leaving Nanoha looking torn for a moment. It doesn't exactly seem like something she can just... Leave be. Not when a big blobby silver-thing comes slamming down into the school courtyard. "... Raising Heart?"

I DO NOT SUGGEST ENGAGING ALONE. YOU ARE STILL LEARNING.>

"Yeah..."

It is true. But it's an issue rectified when the third grader spots other first responders.

Soldier Angel, Sweet Pea, and Ren being the most recognizeable to her. And Nanoha quickly ducks out of sight to make her decision.

"We can still help, though. Raising Heart?"

<ALRIGHT.> The Device replies. <BARRIER JACKET SET UP.>

A flash of pink light, and Nanoha's clothes are replaced with the armored white, blue, and gold colors of her Barrier Jacket, Raising Heart piecing together in a series of mechanical hums and lathcing clanks, before the staff settles into her left hand. And in a quick leap, powered by the pink wings of light that appear at her ankles, she touches down by Tokiko. "To-- ah, Soldier Angel, what's going on?"

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi transforms into Barrier Jacket!

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa transforms into Imperial Chancellor Ren!

Minako Aino is hanging around in Infinity during the after school hours, 'gifting' her presence and time to different clubs much to the delight of many (and annoyance of a few). Different activities stop for a moment as student's rush to windows after the sound of a loud crashing down below in the courtyard, but only the people on the correct side of the building who can recognize the impact point actually stop to talk about it.

Minako, on the other hand, takes the time to slip out of class to an outside stairwell, giving herself the privacy to peer down and spy without being interrupted. Specifically, she's trying to avoid a rather loud argument concerning whether meteorites or cars backfiring are the more likely culprit for the sound.

She's just spying from about a dozen floors up, quite suspicious of the shiny ball in the ground!

The silver sphere looms, roiling visibly inside its own skin - and slowly, bubbling in the surface, there emerge faces. It's difficult to really make them out - monstrous, iconic faces forged out of muck for a moment, then molding into another. Occasionally, an alien face appears, mouthless, eyes like slits, glaring outward.
"Magical girls...this feeling is...the power of...MAGIC..."

It surges forward, lurching out of the crater it formed. It pools, like a mercury goop.

Bystanders sort of gawk, because what the actual hell. "You will give me your POWER!" it rasps, loudly, and then goo EXPLODES outward - the surface roiling and then crashing outward in a sea of lashing tendrils, crashing into the pavement, kicking up dust, and homing in on any magical girl it can find!

As it does not have eyes to be blinded, that is all of them.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has fully healed itself. It is now ready to take on 9 opponents!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used Horrible Monster Wave on Minako Aino.
Nanoha Takamachi.
Alyce Ducati.
Ren Aizawa.
Lera Camry.
Madobe Kuroi.
Erika Inagawa.
Sakura Akagi,
Tokiko Amagawa.
COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa fails to dodge Love Guitar Rod's Horrible Monster Wave, taking 12 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Lera Camry perfectly dodges Love Guitar Rod's Horrible Monster Wave, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Lera Camry's Fade ability activates! Lera Camry's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa fails to dodge Love Guitar Rod's Horrible Monster Wave, taking 10 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa narrowly dodges Love Guitar Rod's Horrible Monster Wave, taking 5 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati narrowly dodges Love Guitar Rod's Horrible Monster Wave, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Alyce Ducati's Fade ability activates! Alyce Ducati's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi narrowly counters Love Guitar Rod's Horrible Monster Wave, taking 8 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi's counterattack, Bonk Bonk Bonk, partially gets through, doing 2 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi narrowly braces Love Guitar Rod's Horrible Monster Wave, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Nanoha Takamachi's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used Horrible Monster Wave on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi perfectly dodges Love Guitar Rod's Horrible Monster Wave, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Dodge!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has finished attacking.

<WE HAVE INCOMING.>

"I see it, Soaring Sky! It will take more than this--" Lera sees the lashing tendrils come soaring in. She moves forward, into them at first, and her blade chops out with her left hand. The energy sword cuts along one of the goo's tentacles, before she leaps up off it, and twists around. She dives expertly through the tendrils, before hitting the ground and landing.

She runs along the ground, and lunges in, closer to the goop. "Leave this peaceful school alone! As a normal Earth soldier of justice, I--"

She leaps, and then stabs the right sword out, slashing into the tendrils as she gets closer to it. Her lips set into a determined look. "--insist!"

COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Slash Rusher on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Minako Aino transforms into Sailor V!

"That," Soldier Angel says to Nanoha, leaning from around the statue of Mudo, "is an excellent question. Sweet Pea!" she calls from across the field. "Can you get a bead on this thing? What is it?" She can do that, right? Didn't she do that to the monster at the water park?

After that conferring, Soldier Angel leaps to the top of the statue, pointing a finger at the mass of silver goo. "Entering the situation zone, Starry Soldier Angel reporting! You're in violation of... ewww, are those faces?!" The moment of distraction is enough to make the horrible monster wave an issue for her. She leaps into the air, soon enough to make sure the wave doesn't crash over the statue of Mudo, but she's caught in the tendrils, and let me tell you, it does not feel spring-fresh. Soldier Angel is knocked to the dirt, scuffed and bruised. "Ugh... gross." Still lying on the ground, she clutches her fist around a forming shape and tosses a white and golden canister at the creature, which erupts into a crack of starlight. "Clear the blast zone! Starry Flashbang!"

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has used Starry Flashbang on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has finished attacking.

"That guy from the Star Wars movie with the two lightsabers showed up, Cherry Blossom! Except it's a girl!" Forever Sunshine updates, even as she watches Sweet Pea toodle off towards the side.

Then more of them show up. "It's OK!! Jedi just showed up!!"

As the creature declares it is hungry for power, Forever Sunshine tsks loudly. She puts her hands on her hips and says, "If you're going to ask for something, use please and thGUHH!!" The GUHH part is of course because she was just slapped upside the head by a sparkling tendril, sending her toppling off the back of the bleachers. She bounces, once, and lands in a crouch afterwards, scuffed and incredulous.

"I... You can... Of course you can," she mutters to herself, before dusting off her spangled slacks and running back around the bleacher. As someone slashes towards the silvery thing, she has to close the distance towards it.

In the mean time, therefore: Be a jerk. "Hey!! Blob thing!! I'll show you ultimate power, beyond your understanding. But you have to hold still!! Sprout some legs or something, too!"

At every step, her posture is shockingly dynamic.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Forever Perfect Poise on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has finished attacking.

Sheome kind of horrible goo is coming out of that crater! Japanese Cherry Blossom is inbound, but she's still a bit out of its immediate range, and when a tentacle of ooze smashes toward her, she takes a big leap back.

She looks around. "We'll need to form a plan of attack! Circle around and see if it has any weak spots!"

She looks at Sweet Pea and gives her good friend a nod and smile. "You can do it. Okay?"

As she's getting prepared, Forever Sunshine calls the monster out. "Sunshine, be careful! I'll have your back!"

Some kind of horrible goo is coming out of that crater! Japanese Cherry Blossom is inbound, but she's still a bit out of its immediate range, and when a tentacle of ooze smashes toward her, she takes a big leap back.

She looks around. "We'll need to form a plan of attack! Circle around and see if it has any weak spots!"

She looks at Sweet Pea and gives her good friend a nod and smile. "You can do it. Okay?"

As she's getting prepared, Forever Sunshine calls the monster out. "Sunshine, be careful! I'll have your back!"

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Battle Strategy on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi accepts Sakura Akagi's Battle Strategy, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Cheered!

INCOMING.>

The young woman's weight shifts as the tendrils start swinging her way. Leaping to one side, the length of the goo slamming across her abdomen. Sent off-trajectory, the ground-bound mage tumbles across the courtyard with a heavy roll-- but not so heavy that it prevents her from getting up to her feet nigh-instantly.

Nanoha's here. The Sergeant gives the young trainee mage something of a telepathic nudge for communication purposes, a simple sort of 'I'm here' to keep her in the loop.

One foot shifts ahead, and her hands hold her staff vertical as she starts to channel her magic.

"Lockdown!"

<SILVER BIND.>

Thick silvery bands of energy appear-- not at the tentacles, but at where the core of the creature seems to be-- and it attempts to suddenly clamp down on the many-faced goo to bind it in place!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has used Silver Bind on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has finished attacking.

"Oh! It's Nanoha!" Sweet Pea says. She is oblivious to Minako's presence at the moment. She's really confused by how this device is so chatty. Maybe it's a robot, like that talking ferret. Infinity really has such incredible tech. The monster...attacks! Sweet Pea swings up her pistol, partially deflecting the tentacle with her pistol, though it still scratches her along her side. She reaches up with her magical cellphone and snaps a picture of the silver ball before jumping back and taking a look!

Hmm!!

"Alright!" She says to her comrades, "This is what I've found!" She points to the monster. "That monster...it's stats and skills are all question marks...and for what it is... It's called an UNKNOWN ENEMY!"

She punches forward with a big thumbs up. "Does that remind you of anything??"

A small tumbleweed passes between herself and the monster.

Ren steps out from behind the pillar to see... other magical girls assembled around the impact point of the silver blob monster. Well, at least the response time is exceptional! She notices Soldier Angel and Nanoha as familiar faces. "Hey!" And she stats to run towards them, because obviously they need to form a plan!

Though the monster also takes this moment to attack! How nefarious! And those faces? Really freaky!

<EVASION!> Souverain Heraut cries, and in a burst of magic Ren launches into the air. Though not fast enough to avoid being hit by a few tendrils. "Ugh!"

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Go Hero Protaganist on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

Yoshirou, up in his tree, watches over the scene. "Now, that's a crowd..." He considers. How can he help? His magic is no good for direct attack, and he'd die. That would be very bad indeed. He can't transform here without risk...but! But.

Yoshirou knows the value of morale and image. He doesn't yet know if the goo cares about image...give that a moment. But the girls certainly should. He takes a breath, focusing. A magic circle appears beneath the tree, though it's dim and hard to notice.

"You sulphurous and thought-executing fires, vaunt-couriers to oak-cleaving thunderbolts, singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking thunder, strike flat the thick rotundity o' the world!"

Some mages like dog Latin. Some mages like ancient Greek. Yoshirou, when he can manage it, can do Latin - but he /prefers/ soliloquies. As he speaks, the magic flows out to Lera, whose fiery energy is easiest for Yoshirou to figure out how to enhance. Now, while each blow and each blast is no more powerful than before, the pyrotechnics are /significantly/ more spectacular.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used King Lear on Lera Camry.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Lera Camry accepts Yoshirou Kurotsuki's King Lear, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry is Cheered!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi accepts Madobe Kuroi's Go Hero Protaganist, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod perfectly dodges Erika Inagawa's Forever Perfect Poise, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod accepts Alyce Ducati's Silver Bind, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stun and Trap applied to Love Guitar Rod!

One minute she's going home, the next minute the school is under attack, and now there are Magical Girls /everywhere/. This is increasingly becoming a normal and routine occurrance.

Silver blobs on school grounds, however, are NOT routine.

"Hi!" Nanoha fires off a quick greeting towards Madobe. It's the best she can do while that thing... Hungers. And for a moment, the tiny redhead's attention is locked on the the sight of those faces. Monstrous and terrible, demanding power. And there are /bystanders/ all around. Inwardly, the young mage finds herself wishing Yuuno were around. The completely not-animatronic ferret would at least be able to render bystanders a non-issue with a barrier.

But she has little time to ruefully mourn her lack of mustelid companions.

INCOMING! LOOK OUT!> Raising Heart warns, and the girl's left hand is up in a flash, an almost entirely snap reflex as she spreads her fingers, a wall of pink light appearing in front of her as the wave of silver muck goes flying her way.

<PROTECTION.> Her Device pings as the child grits her teeth, the magical shield serving to buffet the impact to the best of her ability, gauntlet rattling from the strain and glove fraying.

Alyce is here. The telepathic ping is met with a quick reply of acknowledgement, and another one is briefly sent to Ren as well.

. o (Alyce, Ren, can either of you set up a Barrier?)

May as well ask the question. With a flutter, the little pink wings on her booths bring the little mage skyward, just a few feet off the ground to facilitate ease of movement as she gives her Device a wave, several small orbs of pink light manifesting in a slow orbiting hover around her.

"Lyrical, magical..."

<DIVINE SHOOTER!>

"Shooooot!"

A snap gesture of her Device's head towards the blobby mass sends the four orbs launching on a vaguely guided course towards it.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has used Divine Shooter on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has finished attacking.

Somewhere between the loud crash and the genesis of dozens of tendrils snaking out towards various different individuals surrounding the crater, Minako realizes that something is not just unusual in the courtyard but also very very wrong. As she climbs onto the railing, flipping her hair back over her shoulders neatly, she decides it's time to make her entrance while simultaneously realizing she's just a little higher up than she remembers being.

With a quick glance behind her to make sure nobody is nearby, she jumps - somewhere between the railing and the ground, Minako is gone and Sailor V has replaced her!

She lands, bracing herself on a knee and her hands as she practically slams into the ground in a crouching position, a little bit of dirt and dust puffing up. The moment of her impact is specifically timed with an explosion of blinding golden light all around her. She remains as she is, motionless, wordless, as if undaunted or not even noticing the the monstrous thing near her.

Privately, she thinks, '...ow, ow, owww, owwww, my knees.'

COMBAT: Minako Aino has used Moonlight Shower on Minako Aino.

COMBAT: Minako Aino has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod narrowly braces Nanoha
Takamachi's Divine Shooter, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Love Guitar Rod's Block ability activates! Love Guitar Rod's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Sailor V accepts Sailor V's Moonlight Shower, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower and Withstand applied to Sailor V!

The creature doesn't have any particular eyes to be blinded with (see above), but Tokiko does her best with that flashbang. It seems to bother it, at least, inasmuch as a blob of malevolent ooze can be bothered.

Lera, for her part, makes a bombastic entrance in the form of slashing at those tendrils! Her energy blades cleave the silver goop easily - it comes apart immediately, falling to the ground in ugly mercurial splats that seep into the groun, too fast to be natural.

Its posture is almost impossible to read, but the main body seems to half-turn toward Erika, that alien face barely visible in its mass, considering, and...apparently deciding not to listen. Somewhere in the distance, there is the sound of a balloon deflating.

And then Alyce cuts in to try and restrain the beast. It...bizarrely, seems to work, wrapping the silver creature in silver light, just in time for Nanoha to blast it to bits with Divine Shooter! Good work, team, everyone go--

"Power...yessssss...!"

It appears to be growing /around/ the binding bands, and when the Divine Shooter blasts impact it, they worm their way into its silver flesh and erupt into pink light, and the creature reacts by growing in a grotesque fashion, chunks of ooze simply bursting outward.

And then it re-contracts, crushing the bindings inside of itself, shrinking downward into a more manageable form, smaller, smaller, and smaller yet--

A head emerges, and arms and hands - and legs! See, Forever Sunshine, it didn't ignore you at all. Lodged in the center of its body there appears, glimmering, a small rhomboid shape, glimmering with what appears to be red lettering...

And then it erupts into bright red-white light, too bright to be looked at directly.

When the light clears, what's there is...definitely not a silver blob, but instead a creature - huge for a person, of exaggerated proportions - composed of a strange mixture of petrified wood and roiling darkness, hunched half-forward under the weight of its own strength. It clenches one fist, and the wood creaks. It clenches the other and motes of anti-light fall, like negative stardust.

Red eyes peer out like slits between the knotted wooden mask of its face. "You will give me," it commands, raspy, "MORE POWER!!"

It surges, suddenly, long, loping strides forward, and SMASHES directly into Erika, shoulder checking her, snapping out with its arm to catch her neck while she's still flying, and then driving her face-first into the ground. It moves onward, a deadly rush to bull directly into Lera, limbs like horns searching out her belly. Then it whips around, snapping out its black hand, and a wave of darkness races away, a crescent shape of waste blasting into Japanese Cherry Blossom and Sweet Pea, and then raking it over toward Soldier Angel!

Then it reaches its tree hand over, finding one of the trees very carefully groomed and sculpted along the walk to Infinity Institute, and...fuses with it, wood growing from the hand and into the tree. And then it picks up the tree.

And then it leaps into the air to bludgeon Alyce and Nanoha with it, roaring.

When it crashes back down, it peers around with those slitted eyes - a silent challenge to those who keep their distance.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used Giant Tree Beating on Nanoha Takamachi.
Alyce Ducati.
Ren Aizawa.
Lera Camry.
Madobe Kuroi.
Erika Inagawa.
Sakura Akagi.
Tokiko Amagawa.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used Give Me Your POWER on Sailor V.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa narrowly braces Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Tokiko Amagawa's Block ability activates! Tokiko Amagawa's Parry ability activates! Stagger applied to Tokiko Amagawa!
COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi fails to brace Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Madobe Kuroi!

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa fails to brace Love Guitar Rod's Give Me Your POWER, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Ren Aizawa is Quipped!

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa fails to counter Love Guitar Rod's Silverbodied Kickpunching, taking 31 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa's counterattack, Freeman Family Secret Technique, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod!

[OOC] Erika Inagawa says, "Dammit sweet pea give me back my combat luck"

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati narrowly braces Love Guitar Rod's Giant Tree Beating, taking 21 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly braces Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stagger and Stun applied to Sakura Akagi!

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi narrowly dodges Love Guitar Rod's Giant Tree Beating, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Lera Camry narrowly counters Love Guitar Rod's Goo Charge, taking 5 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Lera Camry's counterattack, Sentinel Cross, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Sailor V narrowly braces Love Guitar Rod's Give Me Your POWER, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor V is Quipped! Sailor V's Parry ability activates!

There is a flash of surprise when the pyrotechnic display surges around Lera. She turns her head, looking up at the tree; then, she smiles, nods, and points one of the two energy swords up at the boy. "Thank you!" she calls out. "I will not forget this assistance!"

She realizes that there are other Intelligent Device users here. Her eyes shoot from the silver bands forming to Alyce Ducati, then to Nanoha and Ren briefly, before she looks forward. The bust of light from Nanoha's spell makes her blink. So powerful! She frowns momentarily, as she considers this. This is the most magical girls that she has ever been around before. "Soaring Sky," she says, "do you know who any of them are?"

<NO, THESE ARE NOT DEVICES THAT I AM FAMILIAR WITH.>

She watches the monster transform and frowns; it somehow moves past the beam, and then it surges forward in a more humanoid form. She sees the limbs outstretched and brings up both blades, crossing them and catching the limbs. It pushes her backward, slamming her back across the ground, coughing up dirt in her wake.

<SENTINEL CROSS.

She breaks from it, watching it shoot past. "Hold on, everyone--it's doing something with the tree! Get clear!" She uncrosses the energy blades; a magic cicle shoots out underneath her, flashing red, and then Lera leaps high into the air, and brings her right blade around, stabbing it down.

<RAPID SKYFALL.>

She comes crashing down, stabbing with the right sword, before she lands on the ground, and slashes around with the left in a circular pattern. Then, she slashes straight upward with the right blade.

COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Rapid Skyfall on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.

"Forever Sunshine, look out!" Cherry Blossom doesn't miss a beat in calling out to her friends by their correct names, but, well, the shout doesn't do her too much good as Erika is assaulted by the powerful check.

Well... now Cherry Blossom is mad. She braces herself against the waste attack, holding out her hands, but it soaks her sleeves and makes a mess of her for a moment. She feels she's going to be a little weighed down by all this ooze. She looks sympathetic at Madobe as it seems she was similarly affected. But Cherry Blossom steels herself, taking a big breath. "I won't let you hurt all of my friends! So whatever kind of Unknown Enemy you are... if you want power...."

She lowers her hands to the ground, bowing her body partially. Pink light builds beneath her sleeves, in the area between her and the ground. She stands up again, and a tower of light, smelling like fresh blossoms, rises up between her hands and the ground. She moves her hands in a slow circle, gathering energy, and then, opening both hands finally out with palms open, throws her hands toward the enemy.

"CHERRY BLOSSOM-- PETAL SPIRAL!"

A wind full of pink petals surges toward the strange being. The petals are razor sharp on the edges, despite their softness, and spinning like throwing stars.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Cherry Blossom Petal Spiral on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

Floating in the air above, Ren has a good view of the action taking place below. Others were unlucky enough to get hit harder than she did, but no one seemed to be too gravely hurt yet. Phew!

And then comes the voice of Nanoha ringing out in her head, asking about the possibility of her or Alyce throwing up a barrier.

. o (Ah! I'm not versed in that kind of magic yet...) She replies, feeling a bit dejected.

Thankfully, Alyce binds it! And Nanoha blasts it! And... /wait/, what's this?! Ren watches in horror as it grows around the bindings. The pink attack its hit with does... something. The creature shrinks and reforms. "What is it doing?" Ren queries cautiously. Well, she gets her answer soon enough when is springs into action, laying some hurt on several magical girls in the vacinity. "N-no! Souverain Hearaut!" She cries out, holding the scepter up in the air. It's not going to get any power! It's just... It's just not!

<ENGAGEMENT FORM.> The device glitters, then twists into its rapier mode.

<HEROIC LANCER.> Ren is wrapped up into a ball of golden energy, the rapier thrust in front of her, down towards the creature. "LET'S GO!" And she launches off, streaking down towards the beast like a brilliant meteorite of magical might!

All of these people firing their passionate light into the creature. Forever Sunshine is faintly jealous. It passes, of course: after all, she reasons, they're just - To herself she frowns again. "How many people like us /are/ there...? Sheesh!!"

But the thing's coming towards her. Sinking into a crouch, Forever Sunshine prepares some sort of a shocking move, which does not come to pass as the silvery creature is several things at once.

1. Bigger than her

2. About as fast as her

3. Bigger than her

Grasped by the neck, Forever Sunshine feels her spine produce a relaxing, refreshing 'pop!' Then she hits the ground, rebounding again. She goes limp at the opportune moment, rising up in the air. She lands again, wobbling slightly, arms spread out for balance. She then sweeps herself around, swinging out one leg in a 150 degree arc, slapping the sole of her foot down and snapping her fingers, once.

"Just because you're bigger, stronger, and faster than me doesn't mean you'll win!" she says, heedless of the irony in this case. She takes a deep breath, exhales, and declares more sonorously, "Tangerine... STORM!"

Orange light crackles as she swings her other leg around and stomps the ground. It ripples through the ground, throwing up a smell like an orchard in full bloom as it aims to erupt in a windy storm around the creature's lower quarters. "Ha!" she declares, with premature triumph.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Storm on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has finished attacking.

"Okay," Soldier Angel says, while she throws out her hands to either side, forming her twin white and gold handguns in a flash of light. "That's not supposed to happen. That's really not supposed to happen." She digs her heels into the ground and crosses her arms before her, pushed back by the force of the wave of darkness.

"Hi, Nanoha's friend-san," she says to the arriving Ren, but it seems she's distracted, trying to figure this one out. "Sweet Pea! We'll buy some time - priority one is to contain the monster and prevent casualties. Cherry Blossom's idea is good - I think it's a good time to try out plan alpha!" Plan alpha is a name she just came up with on the fly for it, but she's floated some ideas with Madobe-chan in the interim. She locks elbows with Sweet Pea in a show of determination. We Can Do It!

From there, she breaks, strafing around the monster clockwise, rapid-firing her handguns, and knocking new cartridges into them with her knees as they run out. Her ring of fire is calculated to lock the creature down and constrain its movement as much as it is to strike and damage it when it tries to move or defend itself. Each pull of the trigger fires a ray of golden starlight, but as the attack progresses and the circle closes, her fire acquires a pink nimbus around it.

"Sweet Angel Suppressive Fire!"

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has started a combo targeting Love Guitar Rod!

Floating in the air above, Ren has a good view of the action taking place below. Others were unlucky enough to get hit harder than she did, but no one seemed to be too gravely hurt yet. Phew!

And then comes the voice of Nanoha ringing out in her head, asking about the possibility of her or Alyce throwing up a barrier.

. o (Ah! I'm not versed in that kind of magic yet...) She replies, feeling a bit dejected.

Thankfully, Alyce binds it! And Nanoha blasts it! And... /wait/, what's this?! Ren watches in horror as it grows around the bindings. The pink attack its hit with does... something. The creature shrinks and reforms. "What is it doing?" Ren queries cautiously. Well, she gets her answer soon enough when is springs into action, laying some hurt on several magical girls in the vacinity. "N-no! Souverain Hearaut!" She cries out, holding the scepter up in the air. It's not going to get any power! It's just... It's just not!

<REGAL CRASHER> The device glitters, then spawns forth several superheated gems that swirl about.

"LET'S GO! REGAL.... CRASHER!" The gems coalesce into one before they fire off as a huge beam of intense magical heat! Take that you jerk!

Woah, Madobe thinks, what's with that mask? "Woah...it's...wood now!..." Was that really a good idea, she wonders, now it could be like set on fire right? Maybe it'd just escape from the wood if it became a problem.

"To--I mean Soldier Angel--it seems tougher, but maybe it's defense weakened too! Like in video games! We just need to be careful the tree won't explode when it--"

The wave of EVIL ENERGY crashes into her, it sends her flying back across the field, she bounces a couple times, clouds of sweet pea perfume appearing below her to try and cushion her fall.

She rolls up to her feet--bruised, but not beaten!

It occurs to her now that she forgot to actually answer Erika's question about this being what they came to see and as she tries to think up an attack, she thinks--gosh, it'd be too awkward to actually answer now. She is so ashamed. But she is not too ashamed to not notice the Jedi pointed out.

"Thanks for the help!" She says. "May the force be with you!" She notices the barrier jacket. "Oh...it's not actually a jedi..."

She is so dissapointed that she almost gives up on the fight right there--but thankfully Sailor V is on the case! She jumps down and Sweet Pea's eyes widen--with joy! "It's Sailor V!! Oh my gosh this is the /second time/...! I'm the luckiest fan in the world~!"

But if she's going to be the luckiest fan, she better show Sailor V what she can do. She gives a firm nod to Soldier Angel. "We might not have power, but we've got tactics cribbed from one of your otaku magazines!"

With burning spirit, she shouts, "SWEET PEA SUPPRESSIVE FIRE!" firing pink bursts from her pistols, the pink blasts erupt into sweet smelling flowers upon impact!

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has used Regal Crasher on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has joined the combo started by Tokiko Amagawa!

COMBAT: COMBO! Tokiko Amagawa and Madobe Kuroi have used Angel Arms and Sweet Pea Strike on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

The spell works, but it's ... growing around the bindings? Swallowing them, almost. Alyce's thoughts start to run a mile a minute, running down all the way her spell could have failed her. Her mind is filled with what-ifs, buts, and worries: 'But it couldn't do that unless it was actually-- but then the--'

.o( I won't be able to cast a barrier large enough to cover the school while--)

<ERROR,> the device croons helpfully. Then, it leaps to bludgeon Nanoha and catches Alyce on the way down.

<PROTECTION.>

The magic circle forms just in time; the weight of /a tree/ comes down on her. Her circle does not break, but it cannot cease the total inertia, either. With a cloud of dust and smoke, Alyce virtually bounces out from under the makeshift club before tumbling across the courtyard.

Sitting up, pushing herself onto her side before quickly getting back up to her feet, the Sergeant /does/ keep her distance. Her left hand lifts up over her head as her eyes close; calculations flood through her mind as she envisions the spell and channels the energy from within. Six silvery spheres form to flank her low on either side.

"Shoot him down."

<SILVER STAR.>

As Alyce swings her arm out wide to one side, the staff slides down her grip to nearly the end of it's length. With another flare of light, the spheres break and fly in jagged, high-speed ways, juking and altering trajectory before they come plunging straight down with a great deal of impacting force!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has used Silver Starfall on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has finished attacking.

"Agh!"

Yoshirou watches as the giant tree demon thing goes...right for the tree he's in. "Shitshitshitshit-" He dives out of the tree as it grabs for it, landing in a heap. "/Ow/!" Good news: no longer in a tree being wielded by a monster. Bad news: still right near the monster. He turns to look at the thing, then back at the fight around him, then for a new hiding spot. This isn't very helpful.

Yosirou ends up charging towards another, nearby tree, huddling near the roots. Hopefully it won't start heading this way again. He begins muttering under his breath. The thing is humanoid. It should care about how it looks, right?

"I here abjure; and when I have requir'd some heavenly music - which even now I do, - to work mine end upon their senses that this airy charm is for, I'll break my staff, bury it in certain fathoms in the earth, and, deeper than did ever plummet sound, I'll drown my book."

Just as pyrotechnics and illusion can enhance how something looks, they can detract. The darkness around the three fades out some, as the lights seem brighter and more cheery. The pastels grow stronger in the area, the dark colors weaker. It always sucks for a horrible monster to not be taken very seriously, right?

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used Prospero on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod narrowly braces Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Storm, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Love Guitar Rod's Block ability activates! Love Guitar Rod's Parry ability activates! Trap applied to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod fails to counter Tokiko Amagawa and Madobe Kuroi's Combo: Angel Arms, taking 34 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Tokiko Amagawa and Madobe Kuroi are Psyched!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod's counterattack, Absorption, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Tokiko Amagawa!

All of Nanoha's early morning practice is already starting to pay off. At least in the fact that her fire is growing more accurate- even following the directed courses she sets them on. The only issue in all of this is that... Not only does this... THING not seem bothered in the least but it... Changes. Growing, exulting in its apparent success. Blue eyes widen, and for a beat Nanoha seems uncertain.

A few seconds is all it takes.

<WARNING!> Raising Heart bleats, snapping the child back to attention.

That is a tree.

<THAT IS A TREE!>

Well, yes, the Device announces the obvious but-

/That is a tree/.

In her attempt to whip aside, Nanoha is too slow in response, and the dull THUMP and shrill HYELP of pain that follow the impact do not bode well.

The child is launched by the impact, a streak of white and blue sent flying into a nearby wall- smashing into it with enough impact to leave a tiny, Nanoha-shaped crater before she bounces off into a tumbled heap, sprawled on the ground.

"Unh..."

That was more than a little dizzying, and it takes her a second to wobble back to her feet, clutching a pounding skull and bleeding down her forehead.

<ARE YOU OKAY?>

"Y-... Yeah." Mumbled to her Device dizzily. She'd be concerned for a lack of Barrier still if the world wasn't spinning so much.

ITS PHYSICAL POWER IS OVERWHELMING. THE BARRIER JACKET WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN MULTIPLE HITS OF THAT MAGNITUDE.>

"Did it... Did it do that because we used magic on it, though?"

I'M SORRY. I CAN NOT CONFIRM THAT WITH THE CURRENT DATA AVAILABLE.>

"M-mh..."

She'll... She'll just have to make something up. Improvise. Blinking the blur out of her eyes, Nanoha surveys her surroundings. There are chunks of wall and concrete tumbled all around her from her happy fun time adventure in smashing into the wall, and she stomps her foot. A magic circle forms under her, pink glowing runes etching onto the Mid-Childan sigil, and hoists Raising Heart overhead. The rocks and rubble glow suffused with pink light... They lift. And with a huff she directs them at her target, thinking on the fly in using her magic to hurl the rocks in an accelerated pitch at... The THING.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has used Stardust Fall on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod narrowly dodges Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Prospero, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

Sailor V gives Sweet Pea and Nanoha a little peek as they fade back into the distance behind her. Minako, somehow, seems to have warded off the worst of the creature's dirty energy-sucking from within her little glowing dome of moonlight and -finally- stands up (even though her knees still hurt). She gives another glance about her and sees everybody keeping their distance, projecting all sorts of terrible (and occasionally flowery) goodness or random pieces of the school's grounds at the weird creature to great effect.

At that point, Sailor V decides she has to be a unique snowflake and gives a little salute just for Soldier Angel, then begins to sprint towards the creature and 'walks between the raindrops' of pistol fire and dangerous magic.

She gets in close, ignoring the desire to take cover over behind other trees or just diving to the ground underneath all the friendly fire around her. Then, at what seems to her the most dramatic moment, she jumps vertically with the intent to put her heel in the creature's face, an eye kept open for errant trees swung in her direction.

"Stop ruining the school's beautiful setting," she shouts, mostly directed at her target but really to anybody in the general vicinity who might do something destructive. "It takes hours to maintain the grounds!"

COMBAT: Sailor V has used Sailor V Kick! on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Sailor V has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod fails to brace Sailor V's Sailor V Kick!, taking 16 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod fails to counter Alyce Ducati's Silver Starfall, taking 29 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stun applied to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod's counterattack, Absorption, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Alyce Ducati!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod narrowly braces Nanoha Takamachi's Stardust Fall, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Love Guitar Rod's Block ability activates! Love Guitar Rod's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod fails to brace Sakura Akagi's Cherry Blossom Petal Spiral, taking 35 Fatigue damage! Blind and Stun applied to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod perfectly braces Ren Aizawa's Regal Crasher, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Brace! Love Guitar Rod's Block ability activates! Love Guitar Rod's Parry ability activates!

Its new form is rather quickly brutal!! The transformed creature releases its bludgeon, apparently content with the damage it's caused. It creaks, like a seething readiness for the next volley. It receives it, beginning with Erika's Tangerine Storm, which rattles into it. It begins to turn silver, the last few hits sinking into its body before erupting - and then Sweet Pea and Soldier Angel go nuts on it, and the whole metamorphosis wobbles as it tries to engulf energy from two directions at once. The absorption attempt doesn't seem to work especially well, and yet--

"More POWER! More!!"

It snaps back into formation as soon as the barrage slows, its body back to that inky darkness wrapped in an armored tree. It snaps one inky arm up to swat Sailor V aside, but it misses the catch and she hits its shoulder - it responds by wrapping a large hand around her thigh and proceeding to smash her into the pavement like a club!

Yoshirou attempts to ensorcel it, belittling it with what power he can manage, but it - moves, suddenly surging across the distance; its legs galloping with great haste across the range. He is apparently unbothered, instead closing rapidly in on Japanese Cherry Blossom - but Alyce makes her shot first! Again, it opens its belly wide, accepting those blasts into it - it's tough to say what that achieved, because its main reaction is to explode outward a bit, like a cartoon character that ate dynamite.

But it does keep it in place long enough for Nanoha, Japanese Cherry Blossom, and Ren Aizawa to blast it with more of their attacks, each of which sinks into its transformed body and then erupts. With Ren, it actually snaps out, catching the blast with its energy hand, and lets it sink in slowly - absorbing it through its own palm. This appears to work better than absorbing things with its face. ...probably?

It's tough to tell, because the next thing that happens is Lera attacks it across its belly, and it turns a wooden, crooked mask down on her.

And then opens its mouth, and releases a horrifying torrent of evil energy right into her face, a scent like rotten cherry blossoms and rancid tangerines. Then it lunges past her - lopes over her, really - to come down hard on Japanese Cherry Blossom with an overhand smash, flipping over her to snap around to a roundhouse kick on Forever Sunshine which stretches across the courtyard like some One Piece sight gag. It'd be funny if it weren't made of evil energy, and attempting to eat you! It lunges even further, whipping out an arm to grab Sweet Pea, and HURL her downrange toward Soldier Angel!

Then it snaps up its energy arm, blasting toward Nanoha, Alyce, and Ren with bolts of silver and tarnished pink!

"MORE POWER! MORE!! MORE!!!"
COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used Energy Redistribution on Nanoha Takamachi.
Alyce Ducati.
Ren Aizawa.
Lera Camry.
Madobe Kuroi.
COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used Silverbodied Kickpunching on Erika Inagawa.
Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used Throw Person on Tokiko Amagawa.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used Mean Things To Do To People on Sailor V.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati narrowly counters Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Alyce Ducati's Reverse ability activates! Stun applied to Alyce Ducati!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati's counterattack, Arcana Defender, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly dodges Love Guitar Rod's Silverbodied Kickpunching, taking 33 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Trap applied to Sakura Akagi!

COMBAT: Lera Camry fails to dodge Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Lera Camry!

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa narrowly counters Love Guitar Rod's Silverbodied Kickpunching, taking 26 Fatigue damage! Trap applied to Erika Inagawa!

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa's counterattack, Sunshine Intensity, partially gets through, doing 6 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod! Critical Counterhit!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi narrowly counters Love Guitar Rod's Throw Person, taking 10 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi's counterattack, Sweet Pea Shooters, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa fails to brace Love Guitar Rod's Throw Person, taking 27 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Sailor V narrowly counters Love Guitar Rod's Mean Things To Do To People, taking 16 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Sailor V's counterattack, Sailor V Kick!, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi fails to brace Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Stagger and Stun applied to Nanoha Takamachi!

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa narrowly counters Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Ren Aizawa!

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa's counterattack, Joyaux de la Couronne, partially gets through, doing 7 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod! Tangle applied to Love Guitar Rod!

Japanese Cherry Blossom now wonders if this is a bad strategy. Its screams seem to imply it... wants, is EATING the power from their magics somehow. What if all of these attacks are just making it stronger?! But with Sweet Pea's scan coming up a bit empty, there was no way to tell!

Her uncertainty unfortunately makes her hesitate. The attack smashes toward her, crushing her toward the ground...

Cherry Blossom cries out, as her legs buckle, and she ends up falling to her side. She then catches the smell of the evil energy - the scent of corrupted perfume. Maybe it means her suspicions are correct. But... she can't allow the monster to hurt her friends no matter what it might be trying to do!

So she has to do something risky... and try to get its attention. Hopefully she can also send a message to the others too.

She rises to her feet. Her knees wobble, but she stands her ground.

"You! I guess you want to take all of our powers and use them for your own! So show me what you've learned! And then... I'll teach you, a thing or two!"

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Hey Big Ugly on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

".....It worked! That was great! Hooray for us!" Sweet Pea reaches out to give Tokiko a hifive but unlike the ooc chattery in which they jump into the air and give each other a hifive, Sweet Pea finds herself giving the MONSTER a hifive instead. "...Huh?"

It then grabs her arm and swings her around in the air comically for like five seconds before throwing herself at Soldier Angel!

CRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAASH!!

"...Oof..." Sweet Pea manages. "W..well that could've gone better..." She sits herself up and dusts herself off. "Eheh...heh... Soldier Angel? Where'd you go?"

She picks up her fallen sweet pea shooters and opens fire again. "SOLDIER ANGEL!!" She shouts. "IF YOU CAN HEAR ME-- LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN!"

More pink blasts! She doesn't have a lot of varieties. "You want power?!" She shouts, as the pink blasts erupt into sweet pea flowerbuds!

"TRY FLOWER POWER!"
COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Viewtiful Pea on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

"Nanoha!" Ouch. That was quite a hit. /With a tree./ But the little mage seems to be alright. Alyce looks quite banged up to. But more importantly both of them aren't out of the fight just yet! /And/ they manage to attack back at the creature! Go team go!

Though Ren's attack? Not successful. "Ehhh?" She deflates a bit.

IT WAS STILL A GOOD ATTACK, YOUR MAJESTY. WE WILL JUST HAVE TO HIT IT HARDER!>

"You're right, Souverain Heraut!" Her chest puffs out again! And it's a good thing she's feeling so confident again because Mr. Monster is launching an attack right at her!

INCOMING THREAT!>

"GOT IT!" Ren twirls her scepter in front of her, causing more gems to spit forth. <JOYAUX DE LA COURONNE> Although these immediately shoot off multiple little tendrils of golden magic that attempt to wrap around the incoming torrent. And they do! Although it's not enough to completely stop her from taking a hit.

"Ooof!" Ren lets out in response, going tumbling backwards through the air. She doesn't regain her balance in time however, and slams into the ground.

"I'm ok..." She mumbles, getting up slowly.

That oppressive, rotting fruit smell makes Forever Sunshine wince backwards, her eyes visibly flattening even as Sweet Pea's guns continue to speak and fire upon the creature, like Panzer 1C cannons... of love.

The foot comes up towards her and she raises her own leg to block. This does not work as well as she had hoped; she is still knocked over, for the third time, although both shoulders do not quite hit the dusty grounds of Infinity Institute - preventing, of course, Diva Heart's immediate victory!!

The blow, though, came with something else; another of those ripplingly fragrant bursts of light. Laying on her side on the ground, Forever Sunshine twitches for a couple of moments, pushing herself upwards - and then flopping on her belly again.

"I'm fine," she says to the mat, before raising up her hand and twirling the air with her fingertip. "Tangerine... /Breeze/!"

And this time, the scented aroma fills the air with a much fresher sort of citrusy smell, which twirls around to focus upon Madobe, Sakura, and the mysterious Soldier Angel -- largely, of course, since they're who Erika recognizes the best.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Breeze on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Breeze on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Breeze on Tokiko Amagawa.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa accepts Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Tokiko Amagawa!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi accepts Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Sakura Akagi!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi accepts Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Madobe Kuroi!

"Nice one," Soldier Angel grins and congratulates empty air.

Wait, what

CRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAASH!!

Soldier Angel groans, climbing back to her feet after Sweet Pea gets up off her. "Sweet Pea, no, wait--" TRY FLOWER POWER! She glances across the battlefield, sharing a knowing glance with Japanese Cherry Blossom - and a couple military hand signals that are, likely, completely incomprehensible. She waits for a response, and failing to get one, tries something else.

"Fine! You want power?!" Tokiko holds her right hand up in the air, and her white pearl ring radiates a blinding light, firing up into the sky. There is a sudden roar of backblast, tinted with a citrusy smell, as Tokiko harnesses the borrowed power from Forever Sunshine to call a concentrated magical force in the form of a great white-and-golden Harrier Jump Jet, descending from the skies. The Harrier lowers a ripcord, which Tokiko leaps onto and catches, hanging from it as she yells over the din of its engines, down at the monster.

"You can have it - if you can catch it!! Get us out of range!" The Harrier obeys, hovering over the field just out of the monster's reach, and preparing to lead it on a wild goose chase.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has used Carrot on a Stick on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has finished attacking.

Lera throws up an arm; the wooden mask emits a horrifying energy into her face. She takes a deep gasping breath and stumbles backward, her feet trying to catch up with the momentum, and then she stops herself. She shakes her head quickly, sharply, and she catches Nanoha being thrown. Her gold-brown eyes widen and she shakes her head quickly. "Be careful!" she says. "It'll hit hard if it gets close!"

She looks back and takes a breath; then, she nods, holding both of the energy swords in front of her. A magical circle appears under her feet, and flashes upward.

<MIRAGE CHARGE.>

It flashes and glows, and then fades into her, giving her a brief charge.

COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Mirage Charge on Lera Camry.

COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Lera Camry accepts Lera Camry's Mirage Charge, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Accelerate and Empower applied to Lera Camry!

Well, good news: monster is not going for squishy wizard. Bad news: monsters does not despise pastels, and also the magic seems to have done absolutely nothing except tire Yoshirou out.

Well, that could have been worse, at least. He lets out a long breath as the huge creature passes his tree without trying to stomp him. He looks over at Tokiko - er, Soldier Angel - but she seems to have things under control. Also, he's not entirely sure how to improve on her special effects in the first place.

He glances around again, and his eyes fall on Alyce. Her magic circle and the shiming spheres are easier. They need more sparkle. They need more light. He nods to himself. "All right..."

"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou her maid art far more fair than she: be not her maid, since she is envious: her vestal livery is but sick and green and none but fools do wear it, cast it off."

And the light of Alyce's blasts now burns like the sun, glowing bright white. Moonlit shadows seem to follow her, tinting her Barrier Jacket and highlighting her every move. Very dramatic.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used Romeo on Alyce Ducati.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati accepts Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Romeo, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

It's still-- grrgh. It's still eating her spells...!

The distorted energy is returned to Nanoha, Ren, and herself with explosive force. This time, Alyce is ready: Her arm extends, palm turned outward and fingers fanned out.

"STOP IT!"

<DEFENDER.>

The brunt of the energy has already made it through. The spell ultimately impacts with the large magic circle-- of an obvious Mid-Childian design-- but Alyce is knocked straight backward. A translucent tether connects her staff and the defense field; the Sergeant's hands clutch tightly around the length of the Device and her heels dig in to keep her upright against the shot. Breathing a little harder than before, her eyes drift up. She catches sight of Lera. ... Interesting.

Running back from the creature, getting a bit more distance, it may seem at first she's about to run away, but...

.O( Nanoha, Ren. I'm gonna try to -- I'll see if I can blast him, but you need to buy me some time. )

"Silver Wind!!"

<CALCULATING.>

Stopping, turning around, Alyce closes her eyes and extends her left arm, her staff swept down and braced along her arm. A silvery-white light erupts beneath her, swelling into the first layer of a Mid-Childian spell.

I can do this, she reaffirms herself. I can do this.

The golden light swells on her coat, highlighting segments of her spell, as well...

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has used Mid-Childian Manacharge on Alyce Ducati.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati accepts Alyce Ducati's Mid-Childian Manacharge, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Alyce Ducati is Psyched!

Not particularly according to plan. Even flinging rocks didn't seem to fare any better. And as a result it nets Nanoha a nasty slamming. Hand outstretching again, erecting that pink wall of shielding light, but this time the impact causes her shield to start... Fracturing. Thin cracks forming on the bright pink glow as if it were glass.

And then it shatters.

Again, the girl yelps out in pain, battered aside easily as her Barrier Jacket has to soak the brunt of the blow, which sends her toppling groundwards. It would be a slamming thump into the ground if not for Lera catching her just before impact.

"Muh... Um... Thanks." She's not out just yet, but the world is a blur of pain and blood thumping in her ears. And the shaken child has to take a second to breathe and make her head stop swimming. "Raising Heart..."

I UNDERSTAND. CANNON MODE.> The Device replies, circular golden inset and crimson gem forming into a spear-like head, wings of pink light spreading from behind the gem. <PLEASE BRACE FOR IMPACT. BE WARY OF BACKDBLAST.> She warns both her wielder and Lera due to proximity as Nanoha plants her feet on the pink spell circle that forms beneath her. A rifle grip snaps into place from the middle of the staff... A trigger clicks into firing position, and Nanoha sets her finger on it.

"Raising Heart... Please...!"

<ALRIGHT. DIVINE BUSTER!> It pipes, a small orb of pink forming in front of the tip, bands of light forming a guidance and targetting array in a line directly on a firing path intended for one target alone as that pink sphere grows. Slowly at first, then quirer, filling with mana, channelleing into a much larger projectile. And with a pull of the trigger, the recoil FLINGS the tiny girl off her feet. Backwards with a grunt, as if /this time/ she anticipated it entirely. Which results in a much safer landing on her ass as the massive pink pillar of energy is released in a torrent of fire.

Giant lasers make for good distractions right?

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has used Divine Buster: Shoot on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod fails to dodge Sakura Akagi's Hey Big Ugly, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Love Guitar Rod is Quipped!

Sailor V's body makes an arc through the air as she's aimed straight for the pavement. Her limbs are momentarily stretched straight out due to the centrifugal force of being treated like a club while trapped in the meaty (woody?) fist of the tree-monster as something "very mean" is about to be done to her. With one hand, she wrenches at the thumb and hand, trying to pull them open so can slip out. Failing that, she tries to curl her body up and not have her head way out there for convenient pavement-swatting. Meanwhile, her other hand calmly clutches at her skirt to keep it in place.

She doesn't -seem- to be exerting much effort while enacting this plan, not so much to show off or because she's really capable, but because she doesn't have much room at all to move and absolutely no leverage on her new monster friend. Yet somehow, she manages to make this plan work as she remains within the unfriendly creature's grip, but is no longer helpless.

"Inappropriate touching and holding of hands or other body parts are actions strictly against our school's code of conduct! You must control yourself in the presence of the beautiful Sailor V, whether you feel compelled to pick her up and swing her everywhere or even recite LoveLove Shakespeare poems at her!" she announces, pushing her fingertip into the 'skin' of the creature and making a little gunshot motion with it before trying to set it alight with crescent beams.

Also, less heroic and under her breath as she subtly tries to shift her body behind the monster's arm and interpose it between herself and her allies: 'Don't shoot me!'

COMBAT: Sailor V has used Crescent Beam on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Sailor V has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod perfectly counters Madobe Kuroi's Viewtiful Pea, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Counter!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod's counterattack, Absorption, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Madobe Kuroi!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod fails to dodge Tokiko Amagawa's Carrot on a Stick, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Love Guitar Rod is Quipped!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod perfectly counters Sailor V's Crescent Beam, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod's counterattack, Absorption, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Sailor V!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod fails to counter Nanoha Takamachi's Divine Buster: Shoot, taking 56 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod's counterattack, Absorption, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Nanoha Takamachi!

Alyce's mental instructions come in loud and clear. Ren nods slowly, adjusting her grip on Souverain Heraut.

.O( Alright! But... do you know who that other mage who caught Nanoha is? ) A curious glance is cast in Lera's direction. Maybe they'll be able to solve that puzzle after the battle.

Twirling the scepter like a baton (each your hearts out cheer squad!) Ren then throws the rod into the air above her.

<FLASH MAELSTROM.> Several bursts of light pulse outward from the head of the scepter, each one ending in a cacophony of exploding fireworks when they reach the rampaging creature. And they're, of course, pretty to look at!

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has used Flash Maelstrom on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod narrowly counters Ren Aizawa's Flash Maelstrom, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod's counterattack, Absorption, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Ren Aizawa!

The creature's howling gives Japanese Cherry Blossom a terrible insight, but...could it possibly be true?! The silver creature turns to glare at her, its eyes gleaming. She wants to see, does she...?

And the other one in the sky taunts it just the same, and it...just sorta sits there, considering this turn of events for a long few seconds. "You tempt me to flee, do you?" it asks, suddenly.

...oh, shit, it's evolved beyond being Tim Taylor!?

"But all the power I need...IS IN FRONT OF ME!!"

Most people spend this moment charging themselves up - and so it just stand there and /takes/ it when Madobe starts blasting it with flower power. But this time, it doesn't explode - the whole monster turns silver again, reverting partially to its true form, and its belly implodes inward, simply /taking/ her blast's power. Sailor V fires her Crescent Beam directly into its gut, and it takes that, too, the whole monster roiling hungrily. Ren's blast likewise is devoured, the whole form shaking and growing with every blast absorbed! It's devouring all that strength, a tremendous cacophany of power, and--

And then Nanoha goes bonkers on it.

She aims her blast directly into its distended gut, and it roars in glorious triumph - and then...turns...pink.

For a second it just sort of sits there - like biting off more than you can swallow, an awkward moment of uncertainty hanging in the air.

And then that alien face forms in the ooze, eyes gleaming ominously. "I've tasted...a wonderful power...! If you want to see it...HAVE IT!!"

And then it yawns the image of a mouth open - and that terrifying blast wave from Nanoha suddenly RAKES outward, blasting a horrible ray across the battle field. And when it hits someone, the mouth closes. The face relocates.

And then it does it again, another wave of pink and silver and flowers. For a finale, it shoots straight upward - a blast into the sky, trying to tear Tokiko out of the heavens!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used Energy Redistribution on Nanoha Takamachi.
Sakura Akagi.
Tokiko Amagawa. Ren Aizawa.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used SUCH POWER... on Alyce Ducati.
Lera Camry.
Madobe Kuroi.
Erika Inagawa.
Sailor V.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi fails to brace Love Guitar Rod's SUCH POWER..., taking 30 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Love Guitar Rod is Psyched!

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa fails to dodge Love Guitar Rod's SUCH POWER..., taking 22 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi fails to dodge Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 22 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Nanoha Takamachi!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati fails to dodge Love Guitar Rod's SUCH POWER..., taking 22 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa narrowly counters Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Tokiko Amagawa's Tactician ability activates! Stagger and Stun applied to Tokiko Amagawa!

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa's counterattack, Heavenly Air Raid, partially gets through, doing 35 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Lera Camry narrowly dodges Love Guitar Rod's SUCH POWER..., taking 13 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry's Fade ability activates! Lera Camry's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Sailor V fails to brace Love Guitar Rod's SUCH POWER..., taking 30 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa fails to dodge Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 25 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stagger applied to Ren Aizawa!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly counters Love Guitar Rod's Energy Redistribution, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Stagger and Stun applied to Sakura Akagi!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi's counterattack, Blossom Burst, partially gets through, doing 13 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod! Critical Counterhit!

"You're not going to get that power out of us! We're not going to let you do this!" Lera says. She raises both of her swords up, then she lunges forward, and the blast of energy shoots out, ripping through the surroundings. She dives around it, though some of it brushes close enough by to send her hair flapping out behind her. She takes a deep breath, and she lands, then she runs forward. She extends her energy swords to each side.

"Soaring Sky!" she says. "We have to bring this thing down! Let's show it what someone from Mid-Chi--"

<EARTH.>

"Riiiight, /Earth/," Lera corrects with a nervous laugh, then resumes her determined tone, "--can do!"

<UNDERSTOOD. COMBINATION CRUSADE.

Another magical circle appears on the ground under her. Lera runs right through it and it flashes; she back flips into the air, trailing red light after her rapidly, and then comes crashing down at the Unknown Enemy. She chops both swords down simultaneously, then lands in front of it. She slashes them at once, crossing them together, and pivots on her left foot, combat boot cutting into the dirt. She kicks her right foot at it.

"Soar!" she yells, "Higher! HIGHER!"

She swings the left sword in a diagonal slash, then stabs the right at it. The blades parted halves punch at it, the energy blade between them stabbing -- and the bronze halves split open, and fire a final energy spike that extends out some twelve feet past her.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Lera Camry has used Combination Crusade on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.

Panic time. "GET US CLEAR!" Soldier Angel yells, climbing up the ripcord and disappearing into the magical VTOL. The VTOL roars in the sky, swinging heavily and taking heavy damage from the mighty redirected lovebeam. "Payload release!" comes the Soldier Angel's voice from within the rocking, burning craft, and a bomb bay opens on its underside as it swings violently over the unidentified enemy. A number of golden warheads rain down upon the creature, exploding in quick succession with a shower of white starlight.

And Soldier Angel? She is straddling the final warhead, gripping a white minigun torn from its bipod, screaming bloody murder as she fires a gatling barrage down at the monster. "HEAVENLY AIR RAID!!" She leaps free at the last moment, tossing the magical minigun aside and flipping in midair as she flies free of the final explosion.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has used Angel Heavy Arms on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has finished attacking.

Not more beams!! Forever Sunshine is blasted into the air again, pinwheeling like a ragdoll, one of her 'mouse ears' showing signs of critical damage. In fact, as she lands, it breaks off, fluttering off tragically and evanesceing as she looks up again. She's shaking, but --

Back on her feet!!

And as the horrible creature's head inclines upwards, she sees, in a critical moment, an opening. She does not think to invoke her newly practiced magic, save on a reflex that makes her approaching dash trail fragrant hints of sandalwood smoke (FROM BURNING UP THE HIGHWAY).

"If Miss Maul's gonna mess it up with her swords," she breathes to herself, trying to ignore the bruises and that feeling like her shoulder's a little out of its socket, "it's gonna focus on her. And if she's pulling out the double saber technique--"

"It's got to go down!!"

The final blow comes without sorcerous invocation. Skidding to a halt and throwing up another plume of sandalwood-scented dust, Forever Sunshine sinks downwards, low enough to practically put her butt on the heel of one foot. The other leg kicks forwards, like a lumberjack's picaroon, to hit the thing's lower quarter leg equivalents and pull them outwards. And hopefully, like a lumberjack's waltz, it will satisfy completely.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has used Freeman Family Secret Technique on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa has finished attacking.

Chargin' her lazar.

"I'm almost ready--"

Then, an amazing blast. Alyce shifts her weight, bringing her staff up in an attempt to protect herself. She attempts to move, but the POWER is too great; the blast impacts square to her chest and sends her right off her feet with a pained gasp. Hitting flat on her back, the coat scuffs, the shock of the impact rings through her chest.

Still, she gets back up.

Her arm extends, palm turned out. Eyes close, and a crackling swirl of arcane energy forms beneath her. It hisses, burns, and then blazes toward the creature on arcs and turns before a crushing impact!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has used Silver Bullet on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has finished attacking.

Cherry Blossom uses a little stored up energy to return the attack aimed in her direction. A wave of pink cherry blossoms and wind strike against the monster's return attack.

In fact, both get through, the energy redistribution slowing Cherry Blossom down as she stands in its wake. Knowing now that her own powers seem to be feeding the monster's hunger... she feels uncertain she can continue to attack in confidence.

She lowers her head and braces herself. What is about to happen next after all, will not be pretty either way.

She inhales sharply. Maybe there is some nostalgic scent that can give her insight. She can't really be sure. "Secrets of the past, please... let us learn more about this unknown evil," she says, almost in prayer. Her aura builds around her.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Cherry Charge on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

Sweet Pea thinks: It's talking now! She steps backwards. Can flower power be turned against her?! That could be terrible! But wait--SHE shoots with pink energy and flowers--maybe that means she's resitant to it--she lowers her guard for a moment and

FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH! Sweet Pea goes flying through the air, crashing against the wall of the Infinity Institute. Pink flowers sprout out of her all over. Her eyes have taken a decidedly SWIRLY mentality--

Maybe she shouldn't shoot it at all, she thinks, but then what can she d--

--oh wait, Tokiko is shooting it now, Madobe thinks, that means it's okay to shoot now!

Sweet Pea stands herself up, coughing a few times into her fist, and then straightens, rolling her shoulders back. "Hahh.... Okay!!" She says, pointing both pistols towards the UNKNOWN ENEMY. And then she says, "IF you're so tough... then give us a name!" She points a finger at the monster. "Nobody in the history of manga or video games have lost to some no name monster that can't even be bothered to be anything but unknown! And that's you!!"

She swings both pistols forward and fires them simultaneously towards the beast, a huge pink swath of energy erupts forward, threatening to encompass the monster--and cover it in--YES!--more flowers!

"--It was okay to do that now right??" She adds as an afterthought.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Madobe Kuroi has used Sweet Pea Shotgun Sojourn on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

It's... It's pink now.

And after that mass expenditure of mana, Nanoha picks up to her feet, only for wobbly legs to drop ber back down. Twin exhaust vents pop open as Raising Heart bleeds off the accumulated heat in a flushing hiss of steam. "Do you think if we keep feeding it, it'll get indigestion..."

Murmured as blurry vision focuses on that one, uncertain, moment of seeming hesitation.

Before a Divine Buster is flung right back in her face.

"Ah..."

<THAT IS CHEATING!>

It's not pleasant. Not very pleasant at all as a smoldering little redhead is launched tumbling, Barrier Jacket in tatters, golden chestplate dented and battered. Nanoha has to brace on Raising Heart to prop herself up, cracks showing on the Device's shaft and head.

<CAN YOU CONTINUE?>

"Yeah..."

She stays right where she is, though, taking a moment to just collect herself and recover.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has used Catch Breath on Nanoha Takamachi.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi accepts Nanoha Takamachi's Catch Breath, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

Yoshirou has done a lot of magic in a very short period. And now, well, now it sems like things are heating up to a point at which he can't really do anything useful. He begins to sneak away from the battle. So far, the creature has ignored him. That's good. He can work out why the shadow creature form it took was so oddly striking later. Right now, his only thought is 'get away before something explodes.

Uh oh. What's that it says about tasting a wonderful power? "...This is not good." Ren says, having summoned the scepter back to her hands, holding in front of her defensively. And of course she's right in assuming how not good this is going to turn out. The monster shoots a blast from its wide open mouth. But not just any blast -- it's the one Nanoha fired just now! Gasp! And it repeats this, targeting everyone it can.

Ren tries to evade like earlier, but to no avail. She takes a critical hit! Letting out a scream of pain and surprise, her body is sent skidding back along the concrete. The only thing that stops her? A WALL. CRASH! Much like Nanoha she leaves a nifty body-shaped imprint. Except it's not really all that nifty.

"Ugh..." Ren pulls herself from the wall, stumbling forward a bit. Her barrier jacket is looking significantly rumpled, and there are bruises here and there that it wasn't able to totally protect her from acquiring. "I'm not tired... No..." She cltuches her side slightly, managing to hobble forward. "Everyone is giving it their best... And so will I!"

I AM WITH YOU, YOUR MAJESTY. SEEKER BARRAGE> Souverain Heraut conjures up more gems, each one zipping off to pummel at the treacherous opponent before them. "GO BERSERK!"

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has used Seeker Barrage on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod fails to brace Lera Camry's Finisher, Combination Crusade, taking 113 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod narrowly braces Madobe Kuroi's Finisher, Sweet Pea Shotgun Sojourn, taking 32 Fatigue damage! Love Guitar Rod's Block ability activates! Love Guitar Rod's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod narrowly braces Sakura Akagi's Cherry Charge, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sakura Akagi is Psyched! Love Guitar Rod's Block ability activates! Love Guitar Rod's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod narrowly dodges Tokiko Amagawa's Angel Heavy Arms, taking 29 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod fails to dodge Alyce Ducati's Silver Bullet, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod perfectly counters Ren Aizawa's Seeker Barrage, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Counter!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod's counterattack, Absorption, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Ren Aizawa!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod narrowly braces Erika Inagawa's Freeman Family Secret Technique, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Erika Inagawa is Psyched! Love Guitar Rod's Block ability activates! Love Guitar Rod's Parry ability activates!

Sailor V spends a moment watching strange surfacing faces appear and blast her other combatants. It looks uncomfortably like vomiting, especially from her angle. For her part, she tries to tug and jerk and kick the creature about to mess with its aim, with mediocre results. A moment later, apparently displeased with her actions, a little face appears in front of Minako's face and makes an uncomfortable sound as well as an equally unpleasant attack, turning her costume an unfashionable shade of 'singed'.

Unfortunately for Minako, she's at ground zero for any unpleasant attacks coming her way. She jerks her body to one side, then the other, then she just jumps across the monster and grabs it by the shoulder, at one moment trying to keep it from swinging its arms around and the next moment jamming her little compact into it like a knife.

"Stop resisting being defeated!"

COMBAT: Sailor V has used Uneven (Arm)-Bar on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Sailor V has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod fails to dodge Sailor V's Uneven (Arm)-Bar, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to Love Guitar Rod!

Its yawning hunger is met with everyone going sort of bonkers on it! When Soldier Angel blasts it with her heavenly air raid, the still-silver monster tries to absorb those blasts of starlight, but it's not quite able to feed properly before others are on it - Forever Sunshine just pummels the transforming creature enough to lay it out, and Alyce blasts it again - again, it just /takes/ that power, hungrily devouring. "You have such wonderful power!" it laughs. As it gains more strength, every assault it absorbs, its words become less deranged, less ravenous; like a dying man taking in nourishment, it becomes more able to speak and be heard.

Sweet Pea lays into it with her blasters one more time, and it again does its best to devour all of that energy. It's not even attempting to hide it, now. But it's also getting greedy - hungrily remaining. Could this be its undoing--!?

It yawns open, and Ren's blasts simply vanish into its depth; it grows, shooting outward, and then that power is contracted back into the main mass. At about this point, Minako goes bonkers on it, and it merrily engages in rapid fisticuffs with her as its form slowly resumes its monstrous origin.

And then Lera lays into it. It burbles and roars, trying to lash out in response, but she's got it dead to rights - and a final horrible spike juts out of its belly.

It hangs there for a second. Did...did that do it...?

"Such a marvelous power...I WANT MORE!!"

And then its entire body deforms into the silver monster and it just CHOMPS down on Lera.

It mostly is attempting to eat her Device, but it'll take her, while it's at it.

And while it's doing that, it lashes out - blasts of negative starlight and corrupted perfumes, tainted pink and tarnished silver - and then, as Yoshirou attempts to flee...its face appears in the silver.

"You...I want your power, as well!!"

And then a huge horrible tendril of silver goop leaps across the distance from the silver sphere chewing on Lera's arms, and attempts to slam down on Yoshirou.

Apparently it has decided that eating energy beams is no longer enough to satisfy it, so it's just going to start eating people, instead.
COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used This Is My POWER on Sailor V.
Nanoha Takamachi.
Alyce Ducati.
Ren Aizawa.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Love Guitar Rod has used Ultimate Consumption on Lera Camry.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used This Is My POWER on Madobe Kuroi.
Erika Inagawa.
Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has used Devour on Yoshirou Kurotsuki.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Lera Camry narrowly dodges Love Guitar Rod's Finisher, Ultimate Consumption, taking 9 Mana damage! Lera Camry's Fade ability activates! Lera Camry's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa covers Yoshirou Kurotsuki for Love Guitar Rod's attack, Devour, taking it upon themselves instead!

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa fails to dodge Love Guitar Rod's Devour, taking 36 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Erika Inagawa fails to dodge Love Guitar Rod's This Is My POWER, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Erika Inagawa is unable to keep fighting!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi narrowly dodges Love Guitar Rod's This Is My POWER, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Sailor V perfectly dodges Love Guitar Rod's This Is My POWER, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Dodge! Sailor V's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa narrowly dodges Love Guitar Rod's This Is My POWER, taking 9 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly dodges Love Guitar Rod's This Is My POWER, taking 10 Fatigue damage!

The silvery monster leans in and tries to take a bite of Lera. Its jaws clamp down, but find no purchase, as she pulls her sword back, leaps, and does a quick backflip. Her feet pass underneath the chomp of its teeth, the wind of the blow blasting by her, and she comes up landing in a crouch. She takes a deep breath, making another magical circle appear underneath her feet.

MIRAGE CHARGE.

It blass upward, infusing her again with a red glow.

COMBAT: Lera Camry has used Mirage Charge on Lera Camry.

COMBAT: Lera Camry has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Lera Camry accepts Lera Camry's Mirage Charge, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Accelerate and Empower applied to Lera Camry!

The Soldier Angel hits the ground tumbling, as the VTOL dissolves into the air in mid-crash, thankfully doing no damage to the campus before it disappears. She turns around, and a look of horror crosses across her face.

"Yokkun!!"

There's only one person who calls Yoshirou Kurotsuki that, and she goes to school at Infinity. The Soldier Angel breaks directly for Yoshirou as the tendril reaches out for him, tackling him out of the way. Yoshirou gets clear - Tokiko doesn't, and the tendril sends her tumbling across the hard campus cobblestone, eliciting blood from her forehead and the palms of her hands.

"Not over," she says, staggering punch-drunk back to her feet. She breaks into a run again, leaping upon the back of the silver monster, and a golden combat knife forms in her hand to attempt to drive into what only might be called the flesh of the beast, and hopefully drag it jagged across its length. "You come to my school and attack my friend? Not over!!" She's swaying pretty heavily as she does this.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has used Close Quarters Miracle on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has finished attacking.

It's possible that too much power could cause the creature to destroy itself with its gluttony. That prayer gives Sakura sudden hope.

Japanese Cherry Blossom opens her eyes, and opens her hands outward to look at the being. The power that it's consumed must still be inside it, but it may also be what ends up tearing it apart. She has to try, for if she doesn't, this horrible being might lay waste to her friends, their school, and everything else.

The pink color around her body, which was growing with her earlier meditation, intensifies. The air begins to fill with flowers, suspended around her. They shine with pink and white light, spreading out like little stars as they begin to form a shape like one gigantic blossom. The wave swirls around her once, and she turns a circle, her sleeves billowing.

"Cherry Blossom--"

The petals and blossoms fly toward the monster, whipping a beautiful-scented wind-

"Elimination!"

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sakura Akagi has used Cherry Blossom Elimination on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi narrowly counters Love Guitar Rod's This Is My POWER, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Nanoha Takamachi's Tactician ability activates!

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi's counterattack, Round Shield, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi tries to cover Alyce Ducati for Love Guitar Rod's attack, This Is My POWER, but cannot get there in time!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati narrowly braces Love Guitar Rod's This Is My POWER, taking 5 Fatigue damage!

Sweet Pea bounces around, avoiding pink and tarnished silver blasts, but it's clear she's getting tired here!

"Sailor V... I'm running out of flowers and pinkness... it's up to you and Neechan okay?" She waggles her arms encouragingly. She is so low on power right now she's actually turned /chibi/.

Waggle waggle arm arm.

She doesn't have a video game to have Sailor V sign--but perhaps...this will be enough!

"You are super creepy!! What are you even trying to do here?! It's like you're taking our magic - or Force, or, whatever, and you're just pooping it out!!" Forever Sunshine says, heatedly. And having revealed, perhaps, a piece of the puzzle --

SHE DIES.

Well, not really. The beam comes towards her at close quarters; she is leaping away when it hits the ground, which spares her severe injury. It does, however, mean that she is launched upwards, clearing the Infinity bleachers. She kicks in the air, which at least reveals that she has not died forever.

She looks at her hand, where she had gathered a swirling of pink power again. "Well, poopie," she says.

She lands in a decorative water feature. *KSPLOOSH*

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Go Hero Protaganist on Sailor V.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

"Damn you!" Ren cries out in frustration as she watches the greedy foe eat her attack -- and others, to boot. "It's just going to keep doing this..." Souverain Heraut is being held in a death grip right about now. But there's a bit of hope when Lera's powerful hit makes contact. Ren leans forward, eyes widening. Could it... NO! Just like the monster's been doing all this time it vomits everything magical right back at them. Ren jumps aside, but gets partially caught by a stray blast in her side, which seriously screws up her trajectory and almost leads to her faceplanting to the ground. But luckily she just lands unsteadily on her feet, panting heavily, looking like hell.

<YOUR MAJESTY!> Awww. Concern from the stately device makes Ren grin despite the pain she's in. "It's ok Souverain Heraut. It barely got me." The blood trickling down her side where her barrier jacket has been ripped says otherwise, however.

Ren raises an unsteady hand, pointing it directly at the awful magic-guzzling fiend. "I'm not losing to that... Because I'm the Bearer of the royal mantle... Inheritor of the one throne... Empress of the battlefield... Imperial Chancellor Ren!" That? Was a role call. FEEL HER FURY!

Sweet Pea also rushes over to help Erika so she doesn't, like, drown or something :(.

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has used Sovereign's Declaration on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Ren Aizawa has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Sailor V accepts Madobe Kuroi's Go Hero Protaganist, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

Forever Sunshine had flopped partway out of the fountain. She'll be OK! She can't die until at least the third-

-er-

anyway-

Yoshirou flees, but he can feel the power welling up behind him. (Also, hear the horrible silver creature.) "What-" He turns, bracing for an imapct that never comes. "No! Tocchan!" Hopefully no one will remember that in the morning. He winces, but...she's still up. That's good. Even if he can't do anything to help her...

Yoshirou turns that over in his head. He has a few last dregs of power. And there's enough magic flying around right now...and if there's one thing that he's learned to do as the Star Lion, it's tap into power. Sometimes even too much of it.

Yoshirou closes his eyes. He takes a deep breath, summoning up a magic circle around him. There's only so much he can do...but every little bit helps, right? Even this.

"Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd. Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined. Harpier cries 'Tis time, 'tis time.' Round about the cauldron go: in the poison'd entrails throw. Toad, that under cold stone days and nights has thirty-one swelter'd venom sleeping got, boil thou first i' the charmed pot. Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble."

Yoshirou raises his hands to the sky, calling up as much power as he can.

Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, witches' mummy, maw and gulf of the ravin'd salt-sea shark, root of hemlock digg'd i the dark, live of blaspheming Jew, gall of goat, and slips of yew sliver'd in the moon's eclipse, nose of Turk and Tartar's lips, finger of birth-strangled babe ditch-deliver'd by a drab, make the gruel thick and slab. Add thereto a tiger's chaudron, for the ingredients of our cauldron. Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble."

Shadows rise around Yoshirou. It's the magic he's best at, and he's calling up as much as he cna.

"Cool it with a babooon's blood, then the charm is firm and good. O well done! I commend your pains; and every one shall share i' the gain; and now about the cauldren sing, live elves and fairies in a ring enchanting all that you put in...by the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes!"
5rThe darkness explodes forth from Yoshirou towards the strange monster. Compared to the blasts that have just been unleashed, it is nearly nothing. But for a wizard without the power of the girls here today...well, it's very impressive indeed. Impressive enough to send Yoshirou to the ground, gasping and shaking from the effort.

Nanoha's legs are failing her. Try as she might to stand, it's not happening, no matter how much weight she tries to support on her Device. Getting out of the way is simply not a viable option as the twisted array of multiple power sets are turned back on their very own wielders. Nanoha doesn't even try getting out of the way. The inbound miasma of sickly colored lights and warped perfume scents will tear her apart if she doesn't stop it. And that's why she holds out her left hand.

The bright pink light of a spell rune forms in the air in front of her, a perfect circle, inscribed with sigils and star, hovering in front of her. It buffets each impact, cracking under the strain as Nanoha's gauntlet buckles. That armored metal wrist-giard cracking as well as her glove shreds, blood flowing between her fingers as...

The shield holds.

"Nnnh...!" And she manages to stand. She takes... One tottering step towards Alyce before she can just simply keep up no longer and is back on her knees.

"Raising Heart..."

<FIRE WHEN YOU ARE READY.> is all her Device says as she pulls the trigger. She can't sustain another Divine Buster. But she still has enough for one last shot.

Hint: It's still a big beam.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has used Heavy Laser on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has finished attacking.

Sailor V jumps away from stomach spikes and lands on her feet, stepping back and forth in a tight little dance to avoid being skewered by dirty beams of light. It's actually pretty impressive. She hears some more Shakespeare and shouts at people to stop quoting love poetry at her while she's trying to work. Then, taking her cue from cheering and fangirling, she realizes now is the moment makes sure her follow-up attack is unnecessarily extravagant, trying to hit when something explosive blows up on her on the monster.

This might be somewhat less impressive.

Her intent is to create the illusion that her knuckles occasionally cause things to explode. Luckily, here comes a laser.

COMBAT: Sailor V has used Flashy Sailor-V Explosion Punch on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Sailor V has finished attacking.

More magic is turned back on them; the corrupted energy and the dark auras that are wielded by the creature are proving to be quite dangerous. The trainee mage takes a rather harsh blow; the elder Time-Space Administration Bureau representative turns her attention away for just a moment. "Ghh--"

Nanoha...!!

The energy returned impacts with another quick mana shield, the circle of magic deflecting the blow away from a dead-on impact. Her Barrier Jacket has seen better days, too, from the tears in the shoulder to the ragged hole in the main jacket that leaves a frayed black turtleneck underneath quite visible.

Hefting the staff, determined as ever, the mage brings Silver Wind straight up over her head. The butt end of the staff morphs slightly; a pale white light forms over one end to form a pressure-activated device.

IMPACT.>

Then, she slams it down on the ground. Magic ripples through the ground in the form of sparks and motes of light that seem to shine through the courtyard itself... until it reaches the morphic monstrocity, erupting up from the ground in sharp, angry spires!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has used Silver Spiker on Love Guitar Rod.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod accepts Nanoha Takamachi's Heavy Laser, taking 22 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod accepts Sailor V's Flashy Sailor-V Explosion Punch, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Sailor V is Psyched!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod accepts Tokiko Amagawa's Close Quarters Miracle, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Tokiko Amagawa is Psyched!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod accepts Ren Aizawa's Sovereign's Declaration, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Love Guitar Rod is Taunted! Cripple and Diversion applied to Love Guitar Rod!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod accepts Alyce Ducati's Silver Spiker, taking 25 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Alyce Ducati is Psyched!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod accepts Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Weird Sisters, taking 19 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Love Guitar Rod accepts Sakura Akagi's Finisher, Cherry Blossom Elimination, taking 60 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Love Guitar Rod is unable to keep fighting!

It attempts to eat Lera, and also Yoshirou. Lera effortlressly evades - and Soldier Angel leaps in the way of its attempt to devour that tasty magus, resulting in her deciding to beat the crap out of it instead. Shanking!? It can't absorb shankings!!

Ren yells at it. It glares at her.

Yoshirou, though, Yoshirou releases his own fury - ancient, powerful magic, shadows deep and roiling. A wave of buffeting darkness - not Darkness, necessarily, but dark just the same, evil power rioting over the silver creature. It does not, quite, manage to devour that strength - perhaps because Nanoha is currently blasting it in the face again. It roars, wordless, trying to swallow it whole - just in time for Alyce to release her wave of stabbing spikes into its gut. It can't absorb shankings, we just established this!! It's abandoned all pretense of its assumed form, attempting to retake it only to be shot again, stabbed anew.

Japanese Cherry Blossom figured out its secret, though - and is desperately attempting to defy the odds. Can it absorb the full extremity of her power? Can anything be done about this ...!?

It digs into the silver horror - blasting into its mass. It caves inward, that pink wave shooting into its center of mass. It's trying to eat it, like it's tried with all the others. The interior turns an elegant, delicate pink--

And then there is a terrible light, color shooting out of its mass, erupting from its mouth. A wave of stolen lights erupts from inside it, spraying out in every direction, dazzling the eyes--!

"I've tasted such marvelous...power..."

When the light fades, the creature has vanished. But did it escape...or was it destroyed?

Japanese Cherry Blossom sighs deeply, falling to her knees. Stray petals scatter around her in the dying winds of her magic.

She shuts her eyes to the light, then opens them again when the creature is gone. "My friends... thank you. We'll... talk about this, but please, everyone take care of yourselves now."

"W...whew..." Madobe says, breathing out. "......I guess it's over..." She seems ready to fall over--and tries to pull Erika off somewhere private so they can dehenshin and also maybe like help her recover and whatnot.

It's late that's the best pose I can do! AHHH!

It's gone? It certainly looks that way. Ren's knees buckle and she falls over onto all fours, Souverain Heraut clattering to the ground next to her. "Thank... goodness." She's already pondering her actions during the battle, however. Beating herself up! As if she hasn't gotten beaten up enough already!

===================================================

(Battle Fantasia - Monday, October 07, 2013)

Yamanote High City - Shibuya Shopping Ward

If Shinjuku is the business and administrative center of Tokyo, Shibuya is
the center for shopping and fashion. The busy Shibuya Station is surrounded
by shoe stores, boutiques, and high-end department stores, and the areas
reputation for producing hip new styles has only improved in recent years.
Highlights of the area include the expensively elegant Osa-P jewelry store,
the trendy Shibuya 109 department store, the Fairy Drop ladies' fashion
shop, and the charming Hanasaki Flower Shop. Clover Street, to the east,
focuses on more traditional Japanese clothing.

To the north, the Harajuku Station serves as a nexus for even more daring,
experimental styles, including frilly gothic lolita, glam-rock visual kei,
and Western styles such as punk rock. Sundays in Harajuku are a sort of
unofficial fashion show, where young people gather to show off their cutting
edge fashionable attire.

Even as Shibuya helps design the latest styles of today, however, it does
not forget yesterday. The Meiji Shrine, consisting of 175 acres of forest
and gardens set aside to honor the spirits of the Meiji Emperor and Empress
from the turn of the 19th century, helps to bring a measure of peace to a
fast-paced district. This same park includes the Yoyogi National Gymnasium,
with its swooping suspension roof, pool facilities, and basketball courts,
built for the 1964 Olympics, and several smaller buildings for other
athletic events. The National Noh Theatre is in the district as well, as is
the New National Theatre, which focuses more on Western performance arts
like ballet and opera.

Black Sea Yogurt is having a marketing day here on a sunny late-September afternoon. Positioned cunningly to attract foot traffic, the event has been advertised widely through handbills and radio.

Some kitschy Central Asian cloth banners carrying the name of the delicious and filling low-calorie treat help section off the parking lot that has become the center of this fiesta. To one side, several women with colorful hair are selling six-packs, twelve-packs, and even forty-eight packs of the yogurt for passing shoppers at a steep discount; to another, there are free samples made available for all and sundry in all of Black Sea's characteristic flavors. Nummy!

Another stage has had various performers - just now, an Authentic Dancer (with Authentic Cultural Music) is finishing her act, climbing down the stairs with her tasseled outfit jingling merrily. Up next is 'The Amazing Umbrali' - a stage magician, it would seem. (The hand-painted sign is in English letters, and has been corrected several times.)

But the REAL action is on the main stage. A man in an impressive-looking Mongolian outfit announces, "We'll be introducing our prospective Black Sea Spokesmodels in JUUUUST a moment, folks. Cheer for your favorites! Get excited! Your energy is what will choose our winner!!"

Get hype.

- - -

(OOC note: Feel free to mill about. Candidates for Spokesmodel, please give your speeches and talent performances all in one go, so that we can choose a winner and quickly move to the most magical part of things: the runoff process.)

[OOC] Global: Queen Beryl has set the Scene Pose.
Sakura Kinomoto is out doing some shopping, picking up some things for her papa. Such a good girl! But now she's done with that and she has some of her own money left over, and now there's some fancy-looking ladies selling yogurt. Curious, she skates on up and has a look. "Ooh, this looks delicious!"
The Amazing Umbrali is a slim young man, though give his outfit it's kind of hard to tell his age. He's gone for a black suit with a huge black cape, black top hat and black half-mask that makes it very hard to tell anything other than 'this dude really likes the color black.' He has white gloves on, though! He has no lovely assistant, so he is setting his own stuff up.

Which seems to mostly involve boxes.

Tomomi Shizuka has no interest in yogurt. She has trouble with lactose. She does like stage magic, and is here to watch the Amazing Umbrali with idle curiosity.

Tomomi fishes out her iPhone once in a while to Tweet. (The case is yellow and black and decorated with images of cartoony bees.)

Suzu Hamasaki is not a prospective Black Sea Spokesmodel.

For any number of reasons, Suzu didn't think that was a very good idea (number one was that she is not very good at speeches and has few talents suitable for demonstration like this other than singing). Plus, she isn't sure how you tell if you are a sporty young woman. Are there guidelines? Is this how all idols get picked?

But she does like Black Sea Yogurt, and Suzu needs a break. Between youma and Survival Club, she's been pretty tired the last couple days, and /not/ going to do homework right after class sounded like an okay idea to her.

Suzu is hanging around near the stage. She is not in her Juuban uniform, but she apparently dresses not that differently even without it; white shirt, blue skirt, though the skirt is a little shorter than Juuban standard. She has a free sample in one hand (dark chocolate) and a twelve-pack in her backpack to bring home, seeing as she eats the stuff for breakfast anyway.

She appears particularly curious about the dancer, who she watched with interest, and now the Amazing Umbrali. What could one man need so many boxes for?

Kyouko Sakura is in her civilian clothing, which is to say a light green hoodie half-zipped over a black tank top, and cutoff shorts. She's eating a thing of this 'Black Sea Yogurt' right now since it has been on special ever since the initial announcement, and it's kinda tasty. On the scale of junk food that Kyouko normally eats anyway.

She pauses around the edges of the forming crowd, eventually moving to boost herself onto the step of a closed storefront so she can see the dancer a little better, spoon hanging out of her mouth as she tosses one empty yogurt container vaguely in the direction of a trashcan, and digs a suspicious bulge out of the pocket of her sweatshirt--it proves to be a second, entirely different flavor of Black Sea Yogurst. Apparently marketing, or at least shoplifting, works.

Sakura Akagi is much too shy to participate in such an activity, and if she is, then of course Madobe likely is as well. But she does want to see what all the spectacle is about. Maybe some day she'll really get brave enough to do something like this... well, Japanese Cherry Blossom is much braver than she is normally, she thinks. For now however she's rather quiet, adding to the general confusion of people who have similar names here and trying to blend into the crowd.

Despite a request by Rei Fushigiyo for one or both of her parents to be here, the realities of work schedules means that she's here alone.

Bummer.

She is here, though, milling about in the spokesperson waiting area, huge anime waterfall tears running down her face, which she is morosely shovelng Black Sea yogurt into. "I dinn' know theh wah go'a be a 'alen' 'on'es'," she moans, through mouthfuls of yogurt.

She's also, at least as far as she's concerned now, very underdressed, wearing only a knee-length skirt and a bright green, baggy shirt, the front of which bears in huge English letters 'NEVER GIVE UP', over which is plastered an illustration of some totally ripped white dude in khaki shorts. The back of the shirt equally helpfully sports a letter 'U', a letter 'C' with a red circle-and-line through it, and the word 'ME.'

The farther the Amazing Umbrali gets into his performance, the more anxious Rei becomes; before long, she's out of yogurt to stress-eat, and is reduced to nervously chewing on her plastic spoon and continuing to cry waterfall tears.

HALF AN HOUR AGO

Usagi Tsukino looks at herself in the mirror, concerned with what she's about to do. Even Tokiko, whom she wasn't involved with on any sort of magical girl level, told her that the yogurt had some evil magic draining properties. She had eaten /so much/ of it not too long ago, and act of gluttony that she now felt very stupid for.

With a sigh, she asked, "Usagi... what are you getting yourself into?" She walked over to her bed and flops onto it, giving a whine. "It's going to be dangerous... I don't wanna go...!" For a moment, she lies there, tempted to just go to sleep. Somehow, she just couldn't... She just couldn't leave it alone, no matter how dangerous it might turn out to be.

At least she had her trusty disguise pen. It'd keep her at least somewhat safe, if things went south...

NOW

A tall, mature, lovely woman who is totally not Usagi walks onto the stage. Apparently her name is Sona Masinko, and she is totally not Usagi. She had more than the requisite number of proofs of purchases, by... quite a bit, and she is totally not Usagi. She strides onto the stage gracefully and takes the mic in hand, and she is totally not Usagi.

Okay maybe she's actually Usagi using the disguise pen, but shhh! That's a secret!

She takes the mic and jumps up and down, almost too childlike for such a mature-looking woman, and she gives the crowd a big wave. "Hello~ everyone! My name is Sona Masinko and I'd like to be the spokesperson for Black Sea Yogurt! I'm a big fan of it and I eat it all the time!" Well she used to, anyways, "I even ate it instead of breakfast a couple times! Especially when I woke up too late and had to leave the house in a hurry..." She laughs awkwardly.

Now convinced that she's blowing it, she looks over the crowd and doesn't show a hint of her nervousness. Instead she gives the crowd a V-sign and shouts, "Pick ME as your spokesperson, and I'll give Black Sea Yogurt the image it deserves!"

She may actually try to make good on that last line, but she doesn't betray her true intentions just yet. She secretly hopes that Rei is here, somewhere in the background.

Sakura Kinomoto makes appreciative noises as the ladies start coming out. They look so sophisticated! She applauds politely for 'Sona' and looks around. She has time to stick around and watch this, she thinks.

One of the women at the stand leans forwards, glamorously. "Ohhh, aren't you adorable?" she says to Sakura K. "Here, have a free sample!": And so one is extended to her. The other looks towards the small stack and notes a missing twelve pack.

The two of them share a meaningful glance.

Then they slip off, as if they're on break. The spangled dancer lady goes in the same direction of them. Probably this means nothing. They vanish behind some curtains.

Kyouko may feel a gurgle in her stomach. Probably just the usual all-consuming void.

COMBAT: Rei Hino transforms into Sailor Mars!

Sakura Kinomoto smiles! "Why thank you! It looks delicious!" She opens it up and has a taste, then starts eating.
Suzu Hamasaki wasn't going to count up her proofs of purchase. She's probably happier not knowing the total.

Usagi might be surprised to see someone in the audience who she might recognize: Suzu, from her class, who is absolutely not a magical girl in any way. Suzu is currently looking for a place to ditch her own empty sample container and managed to wander most of the way to the proper stage to see it. The disguise pen definitely works on her, though, given she doesn't see anything weird about Sona being on stage.

Well, that was easier than she expected, Suzu thinks. Maybe she /should/ have given a speech. She eats it for breakfast too and if that's the only requirement...

The Amazing Umbrali finally gets his boxes set up, then steps forward silently, holding his hands up. It appears he is the kind of magician that doesn't really do 'patter' so much as just the show. He makes a show of displaying his sleeves as empty, then takes off his hat and shows that to be empty, too. He holds up one finger, then holds his other hand out, palm up.

Then, the Great Umbrali (whose sign certainly does not have the world 'umbrella' crossed out a few times, or misspelled at least once, nope, nope, nope) tap his open palm with the finger. Smoke explodes from his palm, briefly obscuring his hand and upper body. When it clears, he's holding a bouquet of flowers, held together by a ribbon that has on the end a coupon for free yogurt. He holds the bouquet up, then throws it grandly into the crowd.
Rei Hino, as Usagi wondered, is not in the audience. No, in her stead, its the Senshi of Fire is hiding nearby. The purple eyes scan the audience warrily, considering hte situation. Usagi is putting herself in the line of fire after all, and quite knowingly. Despite the squabbling they have, she's not about to let her friend in danger alone either.

But she's anticipating what's going to happen to, by hiding there, already transformed. This definitely smells like a trap, and there's nothing to do for it until its sprung either. At least Usagi is showing ONE of her (few) talents there, which is what she outlined before. Being disguised makes her roughly 90% less clumsy it seems. Something about confidence when she's disguised. Its not a bad thing either. It can be used here at least.

And that's why its Mars that is hiding in the shadows, instead of being on the stage. Well Usagi has the disguise pen too. Its a plus.

Kyouko watches as the performers start coming out, and peels off the top of her new yogurt, inhaling its creamy scent as the music and presentations begin. She is about to dip her spoon into the unbroken surface when her stomach starts to rumble a little. She makes a face, and dips the spoon into the yogurt cup as she presses a hand over her stomach for a moment. Surely this will pass. She's eaten far worse.

She holds off on eating for a moment to simply observe, trying to fix her face back into its usual cynical detachment. Why would anyone want to be a spokesperson for stupid yogurt anyway? Is that what they want to remember in twenty years?

Her sour-grapes musing is interrupted as The Great Umbrali holds up a coupon for free yogurt, and her attention is at least partially diverted from gastronomical woes. She can't really scramble into the masses to chase it though, alas.

COMBAT: Makoto Kino transforms into Sailor Jupiter!

Tomomi looks up as she sees 'Sona' starting to bounce around and act the fool. She does not seem impressed. She lifts up her iPhone and sends a smart-aleck tweet. That'll show her. This is how you achieve victory in life, through smart-aleck social media commentary!

Tomomi goes back to watching the magic show afterward. That guy is setting up boxes. Okay? She starts imagining the scene from 'The Prestige' with the dove.

Tomomi puts up her best glittery smile. That dove /did/ disappear in a Platonic sense. Alternately, she very much enjoys magic shows. She does not go for the bouquet -- the colors clash with her top.

Madobe actually doesn't have any special interest in yogurt herself. That's not why she sent in her yogurt slips and was told to go on stage and make a pitch and all that. No, she just thought 'hey maybe people will like me if I'm a yogurt spokesperson'. She did not, notably, actually think about what to say when she got on stage or what to do when she got there. She also has not actually eaten any of the yogurt because she was too nervous to eat it and by the time she worked up the courage, the yogurt 'vanished'. Her brother says he didn't eat it himself, but she knows better! Her brother is SO WEIRD.

So she's backstage, trying to hype herself up. She has managed to make it this far by communicating through nods and nervous swallows. She watches the various acts that go before her, most notably the amazing umbrali, and starts sweating nervously as her time to go up. Maybe she can cheat by using her perfume so she doesn't get nervous and DIE.

She gets called for her turn and walks out onto the stage.

She stares ahead. The audience politely waits.

She continues to stare ahead. Some members in the audience cough awkwardly.

She stares ahead. The audience starts whispering, wondering what's going on.

Eventually she stammers out, "I..."

.... .... ....

"I got lost on the way to the bathroom, sorry!"

And she runs back off stage. THIS IS ALL HER BROTHER'S FAULT, she thinks, IF SHE HAD EATEN THAT YOGURT SHE WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO DO!

Makoto is also not in the audience. The Senshi of Lightning is currently hiding with Rei, watching the stage as Usagi speaks. She sighs to herself, feeling the sweatdrop roll down her face. "I don't think anyone is buying it..." She whispers to Rei, sighing to punctuate her point.

Still, Usagi was the on brave enough to put herself in danger for this so that counts for something. Still, she hopes nothing bad happens to Usagi because she wandered into a trap.

Currently transformed, Sailor Jupiter waits from an undisclosed hiding spot, crossing her arms. This was no doubt going to be ending bad.

Sakura Akagi on the other hand is entirely impressed with the potential spokesmodel. It would really be something to be so brave as to get up on that stage! Maybe someday she'll really have the nerve. She looks a little entranced by the proceedings.

She's really surprised that Madobe volunteered. Didn't she hate this kind of thing? Was it really perfume power that gave her the nerve? Despite her... bombing, so to speak... Sakura claps politely for her friend.

And then suddenly Usagi- I MEAN Sona remembers that she needs a talent. Oh wow, this is awkward. She completely forgot to prepare anything! Her mind races as she tries to think of something. "As for my talent... um..."

She twirls around, displaying her outfit. It's a cute outfit: a skirt and a shirt, pink and white. Somehow, miraculously, she is walking on high-heels and she has cute ribbons in her hair. "As for my talent, I designed this outfit! I hope you all like it!"

Well technically that's true. In a way. It was the best she could come up with at the moment.

Tomomi writes another sassy tweet.

Usagi Tsukino is oblivious to tweeting! For now. To the surprise of no one.

Sakura Kinomoto applauds some more, having finished her yogurt. It was good!

Rei Fushigiyo /was/ supposed to go second; each time she's told to go on, though, she responds by going totally limp, and they push her back again.

Eventually, though, everyone but her is gone, and she's told in no uncertain terms that she needs to either go out on stage or forfeit and leave.

And so, entire body trembling with anxiety, Rei stumbles out onto the stage and up to the microphone stand; she has to adjust it to her height, which she totally fails to figure out how to do until a stagehand hustles out, crouched low, and helps her change the height.

It doesn't stop being awkward there, thouh!

Now both trembling, sweating, /and/ bright red, Rei busies her hands pulling at and twisting one of her long pink twintails as she speaks into the microphone. "I-I'm, um, Rei Fushigiyo-chan," she introduces herself, voice uncharacteristically meek. "I eat Black Sea yogurt every day with lunch; it's really helpful 'cuz my mom can't make my lunches anymore ever since her shift got changed, so I have to make them by myself, but my parents don't really like me to use the stove anymore ever since that time I tried to make an instant cup noodle on one and it caught on fire and--"

Rei realizes she's both rambling and oversharing, catches herself, and waves a hand dismissively, stammering, "J-just kidding, just kidding!" There's a brief stretch of awkward silence, and then she continues, "Um, I want to be the Black Sea spokesperson 'cuz Black Sea yogurt is perfect for people who lead active lifestyles and aren't allowed to use the stove anymore. ... I think. So... pick me, please!"

She bows, abruptly and too deeply, and almost knocks over the microphone stand, which she has to grab to keep from toppling over. She starts to back away, and then stops and looks off to stage left for a second. What's that persont trying t--OH GOD A TALENT RIGHT.

Sheepishly, Rei returns to the microphone, and begins, "Well, um... I didn't know there was going to be a talent part, so I didn't really prepare anything..." She glances back to stage left, desperate for some sort of lifeline, and then looks to stage right, and then finally down at herself. ... well... maybe if...

Voice shaky, Rei leans in closer to the microphone, clears her throat, and begins to...

... clumsily... rap...? In... broken English???

o/` In case you forgot or feru ofu I'm stiru hot; knock yoru sheru off o/`
o/` My money stack fat prus I can't turn the sweru off... o/`

IT'S NOT GREAT.

The man in the Mongol suit claps energetically for Sona. "What a beauty!" he declares.

Madobe comes up. The man in the Mongol suit says nothing, although those who can see his face from the front row might see his lips form a single, growling, two syllable word under his breath. That word... may be 'Moe.'

He looks towards the opposing stage, then, making an arcane hand gesture. The Amazing Umbrali, hopefully, sees it coming. He then says warmly, "Let's give her a big hand -"

The air is briefly filled by several people of no importance, and then Rei Fushigiyo. The man in the Mongol suit looks visibly pained at her story, especially the part about the stove. He makes another high sign towards the Amazing Umbrali and starts stepping away as Rei Fushigiyo unleashes her unduly dope rhymes.

By the time she's in the second line, he is gone from sight. A horrible thing occurs.

The stack of yogurt cups starts to jiggle around. The singles pop around, dancing about for no clear reason, in approximate rhythm with Rei's beats. Then one by one, they start to pop - their foil tops rising upwards, then rupturing, as several ounces of yogurt each erupt into the air. THey land on the ground, bouncing around and forming several different streaks of goop, swirling around the area and brushing slimily against legs, evoking screams and outcries of shock and surprise.

They flow together, growing denser. One of them swirls past the high perch which contains, all concealed, the form of Sailor Mars - and starts it tottering violently. Several more knock over those stylish dividers, providing a network of temporarily hidden spots as they flow into four steady rivers. Something forms behind Rei, growing upwards - rising, indeed, to a size comparable to a certain Mr. The Giant, all the shades of blue and violet swirling together. A wide-hipped shape, a shape with black goo for eyes and lips, a disklike flare at the waist!

The creature steps forwards, snatching the mike away from Rei and hip-checking her out of the camera's frame. She extends a pinky finger as the mike is raised to her lips. "Hwaaaaa-- Hello, everyone!~ This is Kefirin-tama, and I am the real Black Sea Yogurt spokesmodel. Because unlike everyone else, I'm MADE of-"

She pauses, and looks at her free hand. It wiggles. "Huuuh... Is some of it -"

There is a horrible squelching noise from the immediate area of Kyouko Sakura. Approximately 3kg of mixed flavors of yogurt fly through the air, glopping onto the extended hand and fractionally increasing the creature's bulk.

"THERE it is!! AHEM: This is my BIG DEBUT! Now everyone just hold still - while I show you all my talent!"

The creature breaks out into a surprisingly credible enka song.

It may be time to change.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl transforms into Youma Form Kefirin!

As the rap begins, the magic show comes to a creaking halt. The Amazing Umbrali just kind of turns to stare at that. He does, however, notice the hand gesture. He raises his hand once more, after noticing it. A purple circle appears beneath him - great special effects there! Black flame explodes from the circle, and a deep, booming voice speaks from the fire, which has utterly obscured the Amazing Umbrali.

"From the darkness of the void, behold!"

The black flame explodes upwards, revealing a man (well, probably) in a massive suit of armor - easily eight feet tall. One claw-pointed gauntlet is held aloft, dramatically. "STAR LION!"

The Star Lion sweeps his cape back dramatically, striding off the magician's stage and soaking in the sudden shift in attitudes.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki transforms into Seafoam Suzu!

Suzu Hamasaki feels vaguely bad for Rei. Suzu knows who /she/ is, too - they're in the same class, and unlike Usagi, she's not in disguise. Pen. Disguise pen. Maybe she should share lunch with Rei sometime or something.

The goodwill vanishes when she starts to rap, though. Suzu cannot, in all good concience, class that as 'music'. Ow.

Suzu shifts her backpack anxiously as Rei raps. And then she shifts it again as something moves inside - because the twelve-pack of yogurt she bought is leaking, oozing out and through the zipper, joining the trail that leads to the giant yogurt thing claiming to be the real spokesperson.

Which is singing. Suzu throws herself under a currently unused stage, squeezing in through the fabric that tends to be placed in front of the temporary raised platform. Thus hiding, she removes her star-shaped hairclip, trying to pass it over her body despite the limited room to maneuver. It seems to be enough; her clothes turn into ribbons of light, reshaping themselves, forming the decidedly different outfit of Seafoam Suzu!

Who squeezes out from under the stage. Clearly there's no similarities there. Plus, she's probably not the only person trying to hide. "Stop right there!" she says, vaulting up onto her stage - before immediately taking a single huge breath and beginning to sing herself, trying to drown out the enka with sheer volume, a pleasant melody that doesn't have any words but nonetheless carries cheerfully, glitter like pleasant mist forming around her.

For most people, anyway. The youma might find it downright unpleasant, and almost exhausting to listen to!

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki has used Siren Song on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl narrowly braces Suzu Hamasaki's Siren Song, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Queen Beryl's Parry ability activates!

Tomomi tries to ignore the 'talent show', but it's getting increasingly difficult to tune out all of the awkwardness and failure. She turns and stares at Rei for a long moment. The rap is the last straw. She wordlessly opens her browser, does a quick YouTube search, and embeds Colonel Kurtz' monologue into whatever she's tweeting. The horror. The /horror/.

By comparison, the exploding yogurt is much more pleasant. As the evil yogurt starts to slime people, Tomomi does what comes naturally.

Tomomi lifts up her camera and starts taking pictures of the forming youma as she backpedals. She works into a clattering trot as the sinister Star Lion appears. This is not /her/ energy gathering scheme, but perhaps she can gather some intelligence along the way. She runs for cover, looking for a shady spot to hide.

And here it is. The moment that 'Sona' was waiting for. The appearance of the yogurt youma surprises her, and she starts to slowly back away. Her eyes finally locate Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter, and the knowledge that her friends are nearby fills her with a confidence that she wouldn't already have.

'Sona' hides behind the stage, producing a transformation brooch and holding it up to the sky. She loudly yells, "MOON PRISM POWER... MAKE UP!" as her hand passes over the brooch.

Her sillouette becomes a chaotic gathering of light and sparkles, and red ribbons magically appear to wrap around her. Boots, skirt, gloves, bows and all sorts of adornments form on her, and it isn't long at all before this 'Sona' has transformed into Sailor Moon!

"Stop right there!" Sailor Moon exclaims, pointing her finger at the Yogurt youma. "Taking advantage of busy people who just want a quick snack? Unforgivable!"

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino transforms into Sailor Moon!

Yeaaaghhh. Not only did all the piles of yogurt on promotional display come to life, it /escaped/. From her. Kyouko. Food is not supposed to escape. Or resist. This is in fact a violation of like dozens of international treaties, it has to be. But then, what else should she expect from a hostile world? Even food is out to get her now.

All of that time spent philosophizing is roughly as long as it takes her get up from where she fell to her hands and knees, pulling her Soul Gem out of her other pocket as she does. Now, her anger is rising, and she gives a fangy grimace and an angry growl as ribbons flash and light strobes, largely unnoticed among the assorted other stampeding and monsters. The transformation is largely cosmetic, but now Kyouko has a spear and public deniability.

She leaps with casual agility onto the top of a bus stop near the stage and begins hurling spears at the yogurt beast. "That was super-gross! You're wasting food! You are wasted food! I'll destroy you!" Each sentence is accompanied by another hurled weapon, additional projectiles sliding from the long sleeves of battle outfit as she shouts her rage youma-wards.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used A Healthy Diet of Javelins on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl narrowly braces Kyouko Sakura's A Healthy Diet of Javelins, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Queen Beryl's Parry ability activates!

Uh-oh, this... is clearly bad. Sakura Akagi didn't smell this particular thing about to happen, since... this youma clearly was different from the sort she usually fights.

She takes a breath. The fight with the Unknown Enemy wasn't too long ago, and it had taken a lot of magic power to stop it. But this situation looks rough too. At least once again a team will be here - in addition to Sweet Pea there's other Magical Girls in the area.

...And Star Lion here too?

There's no way she can hold out longer, even though she's not yet aware of Tomomi here. Time for her to join in and transform.

She runs first to a secluded spot in the backstage area, hopping up over people as if she's merely desperate to get away. When the coast is clear, she pulls out her henshin perfume.

"Henshin! Cherry Blossom! Splash!"

There is a short form of her henshin sequence - perfume spraying toward her in a downward angle, forming a dress, then spraying toward her hair where it changes from dark, to pink. Teardrop earrings appear, followed at last by the flower clip that holds her hair in place.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi transforms into Japanese Cherry Blossom!

Sailor Mars had the feeling something wrong was going to happen. That's the thing about being a fortune teller of some sort anyway, even if you can't tell precisely what it will be, you can still sense it before it shows up. But that still makes it hard to plan on the 'how' all part.

And in this case, its a yogurt man.

Don't think anyone would have been able to predict that one.

And before it attempts to make a meal out of Usagi, she needs to give her enough time to move away and change as well. Yeah, they kinda need Sailor Moon's power after all. Suddenly, its like a spotlight appears right on cue, pointed at Mars standing on the stage, as if appearing out of nowhere "Stop right there! The true stars will shine by their talents and presence! You are unfit to be anything else than a sidedish for a lunch break! Leave the stage to the ones that really shine!"

She's trying to divert the attention of it for Usagi to scurry off. She turns slightly to the side, whispering yet too loud to be really discreet, obviously on purpose here "And you're singing sucks too."

Moe?! Madobe doesn't hear, but she'd be deeply ashamed. OR WOULD SHE? People like moe, yeah?

Madobe is hiding in the bathroom. She hears screaming and stuff but finds it hard to care. She thought she saw Sakura out there. She wants to die.

She sniffs a few times, detecting the scent--of Cherry Blossoms?

Oh no, she thinks, they're not just screaming because they were terrified of her horribleness, there may be actual danger.

She takes her perfume bottle out and says, "Never again... will I try the stage! But Sweet Pea can do it!"

She has an amazing bathroom henshin sequence.

And then she busts out, trailing some toilet paper stuck to her foot. "Yogurt monster--" she begins, trails off, and then say, "Your days are numbered...!"

She points towards Usagi. "Sailor V's understudy is here to stop you! You can do it!!"

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Go Hero Protaganist on Usagi Tsukino.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino accepts Madobe Kuroi's Go Hero Protaganist, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Usagi Tsukino is Cheered!
Suzu Hamasaki

It's the magical girl, Seafoam Suzu!

Seafoam Suzu doesn't look all that much different than Suzu, really, at least in general. She's about five foot four, give or take a half inch that appears to be mostly hair, and looks to be about fourteen or fifteen years old. Suzu's hair is a sandy blonde, and rather expansive; it's almost waist-length on her, in rather voluminous layers, and sort of artfully unstyled around her face. It has been pinned back with what looks like a red stone hairpin shaped like a pair of stars just over her left temple.

There are some differences, though. Suzu doesn't appear to have ears anymore. Instead she has blue-violet frills, or fins; they poke out of her hair, long enough to be seen without much effort. Sometimes she also has a faint glittery iridescence near her waist or hips, as if just barely-invisible scales were present.

Seafoam Suzu is wearing a decidedly aquatic-themed outfit. Her chest is covered by a mermaid-traditional 'shell bra'; hers are abalone shell-styled cups, highly iridescent and shimmering in the light. Over this she wears a vaguely translucent open, sleeveless vest in an aqua blue, edged with white seafoam-styled puffs around the shoulders. Though the vest itself is sleeveless, she has sleeves anyway; a red coral ring goes around each bicep and they start there, reaching to her wrists, where they end in another puff of seafoam white. Her lower body is covered by something that looks more sarong-like than anything else, about mid-thigh on her left but stretching past her knee on the right. It starts a rich blue, almost blue-purple, near her waist, but changes colour further down, shading to aqua blue by her right knee.

Seafoam Suzu does not wear shoes. Her footprints are always damp.

o/` The furanchisu doin' bigu bidunesu I live this ... o/`
Rei's fat rhymes gradually slow, as the God damn yogurt comes to God damn life and starts coalescing.

o/` It's automatic I win... this... oh you hear... those... horns... o/`

By the end, Rei is wide-eyed, her face a ridiculous anime mask of horror, slowly turning to face the giant yogurt monster. "M-m-mon-m-mo-m-mon-mon-m-" Rei stammers--

-- and then she gets hipchecked and goes flying off the stage, landing in a pile of speakers with a crash.

Within the pile, Rei shakes her head vigorously to clear the shock of a yogurt monster - and the embarrassment and anxiety of her performance - and then hardens her expression and her heart and...

... pulls up her shirt???

Luckily, it isn't to earn beads, but rather to expose the belt she's wearing in her skirt, and the large, golden oval belt buckle, emblazoned with an image of the Earth, she wears on it.

Rei takes a deep breath, grips the buckle, and rips it off to lift it overhead, and OH SHIT SON TRANSFORMATION SEQUEEEENCE

"DIVAAA FAAACE TUUUUURN!!"

o/` Kaware! o/`
o/` Kami ni nare~e~ o/`

The yogurt monster gets to sing about four lines before deafening music suddenly overrides it, erupting from every surface on and around the stage like they were giant speakers. As the chorus of singers drag out the final syllable, and the music busts out a wicked drum breakdown, an enormous pillar of red sparks erupts out of the ground in front of the stage; a heartbeat later, two more spark pillars erupt a bit farther out, these ones orange. Two more follow, then two more, et cetera, et cetera. By the time the fireworks display has concluded, in rapid succession, it looks a lot like this when viewed from above:

* *

*

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*

Meanwhile, in the pile of actual speakers, Rei Fushigiyo's shirt tears in half, the center of the chest bursting open and the tear spreading up and down until the garment is destroyed. Underneath, her body has transformed into a brilliant shine of rainbow light, as she lifts into the air(???) or spins around in sparkle space(???) or something(???), who even knows what's going on here.

With a distinct pop of motion, the rainbow light covering Rei's body coalesces into her two-piece wrestling leotard; at the same time, the belt buckle held above her head flashes with rainbow light and swells in size, growing into the full-fledged, gold-and-leather Earth Championship.

And then the speaker pile erupts outwards as Diva Heart bursts from it, Earth Championship held high above her head. "DIVA HEART," she cries, pounding her free fist agaist her chest. "RRREADY TO RRRUMMMMMBLEEEEE~!!"

She doesn't miss a beat, however; as soon as the words have left her mouth, she tosses her belt to the side and charges back across the stage. As she runs, she thrusts her left arm out; she hooks it around the yogurt youma's waist and spins around it to wrap both of her arms around the monster from behind, as if embracing it. Aww, how sweet, she's going to defeat it with hugs and love!

And then, with a guttural shriek, Diva Heart lifts the monster off of the stage and over her head, falling backwards to slam the thing's head and shoulders into the ground behind her.

COMBAT: Rei Fushigiyo transforms into Diva Heart!

COMBAT: Rei Fushigiyo has used German Suplex on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Rei Fushigiyo has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl fails to brace Rei Fushigiyo's German Suplex, taking 20 Fatigue damage!

Kefirin glares at Suzu as she takes the stage, but instead of immediately administering a counterattack, attempts to overwhelm her by singing louder, more passionately. This, of course, is not exactly in perfect accord with the spirit of Enka music, but by gad she tries. A speaker blows out, painfully.

Then another.

The youma drops the mike with great force. "You ruined my big debut, you stage hog! Why don't you go hurt someone else's -" A javelin is thrown through the creature's face at this point, with a huge 'splurp'. "Someone else's -" splurp.

"QUIT IT!!" Kefirin squeals at Kyouko, before stomping the stage - hard enough to make everything and everyone on it jump. "I'm not going t-" And then, Sailor Moon.

The Youma's face scowls as it looks at her, before it raises one hand to her mouth. "Busy people who want a quick snack? Kefififififi, you're just glad to put your time and your money into low effort, low reward things! It's fine by me, if all of you MUFFIN TOPS-" Her arms swing out, as if to encompass the enemy. This probably includes Sailor Mars. "want to try and hem in your waistlines. It just means more for meeeee~~!"

Kefirin raises her hands up, her bodyshaming words having near palpable force! In the mean time she pries the javelins loose from her head and shoulders, whipping one arm outwards as the improvised fork is held. Her goal is to scoop up one magical girl. "Wahhh--" Her mouth suddenly gapes, like some sort of deep-sea fish, as the ranged bescooping begins.

The youma seems to be able to speak, even with its mouth occupied - and that's horrible. "Oii, Lion-kuuuun, hit them while they're looking at Kefirin!" she calls out, "helpfully," to the towering man. "We can get 'em from both siiides!"

At this point Diva Heart stages her run-in, hoisting a truly outrageous quantity of yogurt up and slamming it into the stage. The youma splatters everywhere, in a sour-fragrant spray of many (dark) colors! Well, that was quick.

No it wasn't. Kefirin begins reconstituting, towards the bus-stop perch of Kyouko. "Kefifififi! Your submission techniques can't work on me, Wrestle Girl!"

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Absorbing Your Body Image Issues on Usagi Tsukino.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Absorbing Your Body Image Issues on Sailor Mars.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Absorbing Your Body Image Issues on Suzu Hamasaki.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used This Attack Represents An Ironic Demise For Kyouko Sakura on Kyouko Sakura.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Yogurt Just Getting Everywhere Eww on Rei Fushigiyo.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki fails to dodge Queen Beryl's Absorbing Your Body Image Issues, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Queen Beryl is Psyched!

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino fails to dodge Queen Beryl's Absorbing Your Body Image Issues, taking 10 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Rei Fushigiyo narrowly dodges Queen Beryl's Yogurt Just Getting Everywhere Eww, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Tangle applied to Rei Fushigiyo!

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura narrowly counters Queen Beryl's This Attack Represents An Ironic Demise For Kyouko Sakura, taking 3 Mana damage! Queen Beryl drains 2 mana from Kyouko Sakura!

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura's counterattack, Chain Barrier, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Queen Beryl!

"U-understudy?!" exclaims Sailor Moon. "W-well. I mean... not that I /wouldn't/ but I mean I don't really know h-... oh never mind!" The thought of being Sailor V's understudy makes her happy, but she doesn't really have time to dwell on it that much!

Especially since Kefirin is trying to absorb her! Moon tries to move out of the way of the Youma's long, large yogurty arms, but she's caught in them! As the gooey tasty substance draws her closer to the enemy youma, she shouts, "Y-you can't do this! I'm the-- ew--- Sailor Soilder of Love and Justice, Sailor Moon! And in the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino has used In The Name Of The Moon on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino has finished attacking.

[OOC] Usagi Tsukino sorry for shortpose but I have to idle a bit.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl accepts Usagi Tsukino's In The Name Of The Moon, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple and Diversion applied to Queen Beryl!

The Star Lion gazes on as most of the girls present go after the yogurt monster. He turns away, his cape spreading dramatically as he does. "Very well..." He raises a fist. "While they face off against the mighty Kefirin, /I/ will take on the greater foes! For I have sworn upon my honor to support the warrior Kefirin and the might of the Black Sea's magic!" This is complete bullshit, but quite a lot of what the Star Lion rants about is.

He spreads his hands, laughing. "Now then! Sweet Pea! Cherry Blossom! I will be your foe today! You stand no chance at defeating me, even with your power!" He stands there laughing, then points at Cherry Blossom. "You! I have seen the strength of the Sweet Pea, and it is considerable! But you - can you match her? SHOW ME YOUR POWER!"

He draws his sword, planting the tip in the ground and beckoning, then posing dramatically.

COMBAT: Sailor Mars perfectly dodges Queen Beryl's Absorbing Your Body Image Issues, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Sailor Mars's Fade ability activates! Sailor Mars's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used I'm Calling You Out on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used Lion's Roar on Yoshirou Kurotsuki.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki accepts Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Lion's Roar, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Empower and Withstand applied to Yoshirou Kurotsuki!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi narrowly braces Yoshirou Kurotsuki's I'm Calling You Out, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

Magical girl transformation sequences explode all around Tomomi. She drops out of sight of them, covering her head like any other civilian. The overwhelming scent of sorcerous power makes her heart race. This is a magnificent display of power. All of it is amazing. What luck to have stumbled onto this!

Tomomi switches from her iPhone to her Moleskine via her little, improbable purse. She starts writing down notes, studying the sorcerous threads of power moving through the battle. The individual girls are irrelevant -- this is about scouting the competition.

Well, somewhat. Tomomi's eyes narrow at Japanese Cherry Blossom and Sweet Pea. Were the odds not so terrible... if she had only prepared a youma... she clenches her fist in impotent fury before returning to her note-taking. Pay no mind to the woman hiding in the background.

Kyouko yells angrily as she tries to dodge the sudden fork-lifting towards the yogurt-monster's mouth. She is catapaulted towards a squelchy and unpleasant doom, but throws up her hands at the last moment--a webwork of chains appear in the air, blocking the creature's mouth for just long enough. She rebounds off them like a particularly angry raquetball and falls to the ground, rolling back to her feet.

She comes upright and shakes herself a bit, shrugging off the jibblies of near-devouring by her recently-favorite snack food, now /betrayer/. Her spear is in her hands again, having found its way back from wherever it goes, and she rushes forward, the spear growing and lengthening, sharp edge glinting as she charges the beast on the ground. "I won't let you eat anyone! This is not how food works!" She's aware that there's a dark-armored lion-man lurking about too, and in fact the roaring got a moment of her attention, but he hasn't personally offended her today.
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Piker on Queen Beryl.
COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

Japanese Cherry Blossom hears the callout from Sailor Moon! She looks over toward her, and... hopefully is not too distracting. "Ah! Sailor Moon! I saw your message! It's good to--"

Oh, right, she hadn't forgotten about Star Lion, either.

She turns her head around as he yells her name... yes, responding to 'Cherry Blossom' has already become second nature. It was what they used to call her...

She gives Sailor Moon a quick bow. "Sorry - I guess I must go. Good luck..."

She turns and dashes toward Star Lion, pulled away to fight alongside Sweet Pea.

She looks at her friend. "Now, shall we? Let's give it our all. You take left, I'll take right."

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Battle Strategy on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl perfectly dodges Kyouko Sakura's Piker, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge!

Suzu Hamasaki's song comes to a pretty quick end, apparently, because she didn't have one planned for an extended performance, and she needs to catch her breath. It only takes a moment, but the monster uses that time -

To make fun of her?

Suzu looks down. Her stomach is actually bare in this form and she's not entirely sure why the youma, Kefirin, is making fun of her waistline; it feels fine to her, though it's not like she's looking in a mirror. She sucks it in anyway, a pretty much completely unnecessary gesture. You can't be too careful!

Suzu shoots a glance sideways, at Star Lion, but she has a yogurt monster to defeat! The impression of water around her gets stronger as she focuses, forming something in her hand, before throwing a cluster of foamy bubbles at the monster's legs, each with a tiny drop of glittering starlight trapped inside! Until they pop, anyway.

Fun fact: It's hard to talk much when you're sucking in your gut, even when it doesn't need it.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki has used Bubble Mist on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl fails to dodge Suzu Hamasaki's Bubble Mist, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Queen Beryl!

Sailor Moon wears a skirt, Sailor V wears a skirt! They're both blonde! IT IS AN UNDERSTANDABLE MISTAKE. Either way, Sweet Pea pays no mind to the woman hiding in the background. When there's yogurt monsters and super necromancers around, 'person with a cellphone' tends to escape notice. Madobe has used this to great effect before herself!

"B...but last time you kicked my patooty!" She stammers. Why is this guy so nice for someone who shoots her with lasers?!

"Arggh... This day was horrible...so I accept your challenge!"

Sniffle.

She nods towards Sakura. "Got it!" And she throws herself to the--left! YES! SHE DIDN'T GET HER RIGHT AND LEFT CONFUSED! YEAAAAH!

She jogs, firing pink lasers. "Wait... Why are you here? Do yogurts grant wishes?! And don't insult our friends in that kind of roundabout way even if it's kind of flattering!" This guy is so confusing.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi accepts Sakura Akagi's Battle Strategy, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Cheered!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Sweet Pea Strike on Yoshirou Kurotsuki.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki narrowly braces Madobe Kuroi's Sweet Pea Strike, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Psyched! Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Parry ability activates!

The yogurt monster explodes. Diva Heart isn't crazy about this, because it means she's covered in yogurt, and that's gross. I mean, kind of delicious, but gross.

The diva rolls onto her front and scrambles to her feet, turning to watch the yogurt reconstitute in Kyoko's direction. That makes it even /less/ okay. She grimaces to herself, and while she considers what to do, absent-mindedly lifts her hand and the splotch of yogurt on it and licks it off.

After a beat, she realizes what she just did and spits the remnants out of her mouth, with a cry of, "Ah, gross!!"

Another beat, and she licks her hand again.

She never gets around to being grossed out about it this time, though; instead, she turns to glance over her shoulder, looks back at the reconstituting yogurt monster once more, and then turns and charges towards the back of the stage.

After about four steps, she turns in mid-step, and in her path appears a trio of taut ring ropes made out of rainbow light that stretch in either direction for a few feet and then vanish into a haze of softer light.

The Diva hits them back-first, the already taut ropes stretching backwards and then snapping Diva Heart back forwards, slingshotting her back towards the front of the stage at a full sprint.

She sprints, in fact, all the way to the edge of the stage, and then plants her foot and leaps, soaring through the air towards Kefirin like a human torpedo.

There appears to be no second part to this attack, judging by how at no point does Diva Heart adjust to do anything but slam into the yogurt monster upper-body first.

COMBAT: Rei Fushigiyo has used Suicide Dive on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Rei Fushigiyo has finished attacking.

"I felt the strength within you! While I won, of course, I always acknowledge power!" The Star Lion raises his gauntlet, batting the lasers aside with a quick thrust. Well, mostly. Partially, anyway. He grunts. "Even with your tactical might, I cannot lose! For I am the Star Lion! There may be no wishes here, but I swore to support my ally! The Star Lion never breaks an oath!"

He gestures grandly, and darkness flares in the palms of his gauntlets. "Now - behold! The power of the void! Two directions do not matter! Two foes do not matter, no matter how strong! For nothing can escape the void! See this truth!" The dark power flares, and two blasts of darkness fly out - one for Sweet Pea, the other for Cherry Blossom!

"BLACK HOLE!"

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used Black Hole on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used Black Hole on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl narrowly braces Rei Fushigiyo's Suicide Dive, taking 17 Fatigue damage! Queen Beryl's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi fails to dodge Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Black Hole, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Sakura Akagi!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi fails to counter Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Black Hole, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Madobe Kuroi!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi's counterattack, Flower Shot, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Yoshirou Kurotsuki!

Sailor Mars puts her hand on her hips, taking in the insults she's throwing her way "I'm not about to get riled up because a pile of sludge either! You should attempt to be solid before you can talk about any kind of beauty!"

And then, the aforementionned sludge tries to swallow her up. She has a 'erk' sound and a failing of the arms as she scurries out of the way >_< It narrowly misses her. Her body image is safe for another day!

As she moves to the side, she stumbles upon one of the microphones on its stand. Not really thinking about it, she grabs it in one hand, while the other one reaches into her suit and fetches out a set of ofudas, tossing them at the youma. While they are airborne, they catch on fire, turning into firey bullets. She's not sure how well she can take fire, but heat should affect it, she thinks "Let's see how long it takes for you to go spoiled!"

COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Evil, Begone! on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl narrowly dodges Sailor Mars's Evil, Begone!, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stun applied to Queen Beryl!

Japanese Cherry Blossom runs exactly as she said she would, but she ends up running toward a black hole! There's no way to dodge it in time, and she gets a little slowed down as the forces strike into her. She absorbs them, but... it seems that Madobe was struck as well.

Oh, well, she's... still getting used to this leader thing. "Okay. Next time, I'll go left and you right? Ahem."

She pulls a chopstick out of her hair, and it starts to glow with a golden light immediately as it's charged with magic. She dashes forward, and -- this is probably pretty weird, but, is she -- yes, she is going to stab the huge Star Lion with a chopstick.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Cherry Wood Chopstick on Yoshirou Kurotsuki.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

As she reconstitutes, Kefirin says, dropping any yogurty attempts to extract Sailor Moon's discomfort regarding her trunk junk, "Sailor Moon...!? And Sailor V's understudy?! Kwahhhh, this is worse than I thought!!"

The youma clasps its hands over its mouth, wiggling energetically for a few moments. Then it says, brightly, "Oh!! If you're Sailor V's sidekicks -"

Its face contorts into a mask of sheer cruelty and abnormality for a moment. "Then finding you SUCKED DRY, like a MELON, will punish her for what she's done to oppose--" The still-inbound Kyouko is able to chain-bounce off, temporarily stifling the Youma's chatty Cathy nature. She shakes her head violently - violently enough that it appears that she's sprouted a sporty haircut (of blueberry flavor).

A spear sprouts in its abdomen. It passes through the yogurt without significant harm. Maybe there's a core or something. This may vex Kyouko, but the squeal of "STOP STABBING ME!" shows it is, at least, also vexing Kefirin. "I AM TALKING HERE! That is how it works, you DUMMY! You take TURNS!"

The youma gesticulates violently, even as a bubbling mist starts to appear, soapily, around its legs. "You let OTHER people go on the stage, and you STOP RAPPING! You ate the yogurt - now it's time for the yogurt to eat" POP

THUMP

Kefirin seems to have lost about two feet of height at once. Her face squishes up into an expression of anger and impending tears. Her head is struck by the Diva's suicide dive, splattering that face for a moment - wiping that petulant expression right off her face. As before, it does not shut the thing up.

"None of this matters!! You're all going to go down!!" Both of the youma's arms snap upwards, and the black cherry yogurt drains partially out of its body - forming tendrils that seem to rest in its hands. This is of course rather distressing, but fortunately it seems content to just whip them around and try to penalize Kyouko in such a horrorble fashion. Another lashes out to try and whip Suzu into a frothy mess, even as -

As--

The bullets of fire smash into the youma, producing an aromatic set of smokes and an offering most pleasant to Lord Shiva. Perhaps he approves, but the youma screeches, "Sailor V's cranky sidekick, you're a BIG DUMB BUTT if you think you can do this. Yogurt is formed from the curdling of milk -- I'm already spoiled, kefififififi!"

That waist hoop-disk-flare reforms, just in time to erupt outwards in an area effect of Dark Jasmine-flavored force. It even goes 'foom', although Kefirin seems to be struggling a bit to get back up, what with... the everything.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Black Cherry Whip on Kyouko Sakura.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Black Cherry Whip on Suzu Hamasaki.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Kefirin Wave on Usagi Tsukino.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Kefirin Wave on Sailor Mars.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Kefirin Wave on Rei Fushigiyo.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura fails to brace Queen Beryl's Black Cherry Whip, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Kyouko Sakura!

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki narrowly braces Queen Beryl's Black Cherry Whip, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Suzu Hamasaki's Block ability activates! Suzu Hamasaki's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Rei Fushigiyo fails to brace Queen Beryl's Kefirin Wave, taking 19 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Sailor Mars fails to brace Queen Beryl's Kefirin Wave, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino fails to brace Queen Beryl's Kefirin Wave, taking 18 Fatigue damage!

In the background, Tomomi takes notes. No one appreciates the artistry of a good monologue, she mentally laments.

Kyouko tries to raise her spear to intercept the roiling black cherry darkness and evade but it swirls around her polearm and lashes her sharply across the body. She goes flying, spinning to the ground and coming to a stop by denting a nearby car door, setting off its alarm. This doesn't seem to upset her too much, though she makes a frustrated noise and shows her fang again as she comes back to her feet.

"I will not stop stabbing you! You're not even a witch, you're not worth my time, but you will pay for your waste!" And assaults upon her person and pride. "You ruined the contest! And my lunch!" Yogurt for lunch?

True to her word, Kyouko starts stabbing again at the reduced monstrosity, waiting until after the wrestler is clear and the bullets have fully struck, then lashes out repeatedly from closer range, her spear seeming to almost split into multiples of itself as she strikes over and over at the Kefirin's body, swiping and stabbing--using the spearhead almost like a spade to knock its substance away.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Dozen Lance on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

Suzu Hamasaki forgets to keep sucking it in after a while, mostly because she cannot really move fast like that.

And she's moving. Seafoam Suzu hops off the stage. If this was a /normal/ youma she might try to hit it, but somehow she doesn't think that punching it is going to work very well... that and she doesn't really want to touch it. Which gives her an idea, actually.

Suzu raises a bubble around her like a forcefield - and it actually seems to work like one, the whip bouncing on it and causing it to wobble along with the image of Suzu through it (thanks, light refraction!). Suzu begins to run toward the yogurt monster, the bubble surrounding her rolling like a solid object, catching the light interestingly, like a soap bubble.

"Sorry, yogurt! I'm not going to let you mess with anybody's diet! DREAM BUBBLE!" Suzu picks up speed. She actually looks slightly surprised as the bubble starts to get away from her; she has to run faster and faster to keep up as it begins to roll, and she's not actually that good at running. "Get out of the way!" she yells at the other magical girls, as she barrels toward Kefirin like some kind of out of control hamster ball.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki has used Dream Bubble Roller on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki has finished attacking.

Sweet Pea says, "The...the yogurt monster is your ally?! Then I can't forgive you! Yogurt shouldn't be used for evil purposes! It should be used to promote healthy eating habits by providing a sweet, but less fattening, alternative to ice cream and gellato!"

She points her pistol at Star Lion, perhaps intending to say how the snack industry may forgive him but she will not (and thus steal another person's lines) but instead she gets a black hole! She yelps, firing at the black hole in a panic--but IT DOES NOTHINK.

"Yaahh!!" The Black Hole, contrary to how black holes work, ends up punching her back somehow with darkness.

"Urghh..." Sweet Pea says, rubbing her back with a hand. "Wait..." She says. "My left--or your left?" She snaps out her pistol and fires another shot for Star Lion, hoping to pecker him with flowers!

COMBAT: Queen Beryl accepts Kyouko Sakura's Dozen Lance, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Queen Beryl is Quipped! Cripple and Stagger applied to Queen Beryl!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Flower Shot on Yoshirou Kurotsuki.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki fails to dodge Madobe Kuroi's Flower Shot, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Diversion applied to Yoshirou Kurotsuki!

Sailor Moon looks over at Japanese Cherry Blossom, and gives her a bright wave. "Cherry Blossom! You're he-" She's suddenly interrupted by the wave of Dark Jasmine flavored power. She tries to hold up her arms to brace for it, but she ends up flying backwards and tumbling into an empty Black Sea Yogurt display.

Dizzy and disoriented, Moon picks herself up out of the wreckage and points at the Yogurt monster again. With Sailor Mars also fighting by her side, Moon can't afford to get scared or fail here! Not yet, anyways!

She reaches up to her forehead, daintily holding the gem of her tiara between her thumb and index finger. She shouts, "Moon Twilight Flash!" and suddenly a flash of light fires from the gem. Powerful purifying Moonlight radiates from her tiara, and much of it focuses directly on Kefirin!

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino has used Moon Twilight Flash on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl fails to brace Usagi Tsukino's Moon Twilight Flash, taking 42 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki narrowly counters Sakura Akagi's Cherry Wood Chopstick, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Sakura Akagi is Psyched! Cripple applied to Yoshirou Kurotsuki!

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki's counterattack, Swordplay, partially gets through, doing 5 Fatigue damage to Sakura Akagi!

COMBAT: Queen Beryl fails to brace Suzu Hamasaki's Dream Bubble Roller, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

Diva Heart doesn't emerge from the suicide dive too hot herself; she hits the ground front-first with a heavy ~*THWACK~*~ after tackling off Kefirin's head and shoulders and just lies there for a moment, rocking back and forth with her arms clutching at her midsection. She slowly works her way up onto one knee, and then onto her feet, turning to face the youma again--

-- just in time to be hit with the eruption of magic from Kefirin, which hits her with such force that she's lifted into the air and folded in half, landing heavily on her shoulders and then rolling backwards to lie on her stomach, thrashing in pain.

She stays down for a good fifteen or twenty seconds, and it isn't until the next wave of attacks has crashed against Kefirin, and the youma is preparing for its counterassault, when Diva Heart comes running in out of nowhere, plants one hand on Kefirin's shoulder, and leapfrogs into the air, swinging her legs up over the youma's head.

Rather than leapfrogging all the way over her (it?), however, she hooks her right leg across the back of the youma's neck and then lets herself drop straight down, aiming to force the monster to fall face-first into the ground to sandwich it in between the earth and Diva Heart's leg.

COMBAT: Diva Heart has used Is Diva Heart Billy Gunn? on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Diva Heart has finished attacking.

Sailor Mars doesn't get to dodge that one. With the width of the attack, she brings her arms in front of herself to protect her chest and head as much as she can. But to little avail, as the wave sends her flying back, crashing into the background of the small stage, which makes even more noise considering she was still holding on to the microphone. While pushing some of the random stage props that fell on top of her, you can even hear her muttering about being tossed around by a snack, and force feedding it to Sailor Moon to see if it can be digested too. Sailor Cranky, not too far off the truth there.

She finally gets up from the pile, looking just a little battered, with her uniform riddled with small rips. Amazingly it still holds though, despite the rips its sturdier than it looks. She looks at the microphone still in her hand, and that the pile of goo is standing in front of one of those giant speakers. Time to blast away. She takes a big air intake, and simply SCREAMS with the highest pitched voice she can muster right into the microphone, which is sure to be painful to the sludge... if it has ears of course.

COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Sailor Wail on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl fails to brace Sailor Mars's Sailor Wail, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

Suzu Hamasaki does not have ears.

She has frills, though. They vibrate in sync with Sailor Mars' screaming. Ow, she thinks to herself, but is too busy trying not to pinball-ricochet to do much else. Like yell at her. That comes later.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl fails to brace Diva Heart's Is Diva Heart Billy Gunn?, taking 20 Fatigue damage!

"The Star Lion does not abandon a promise!" He whirls, bringing his sword up at the chopstick. One is tiny, the other is /immense/. And yet, it cannot be fully parried. Cherry Blossom stabs the thing into a joint in Star Lion's armor, though he manages a good shove after that. Still, it keeps him distracted enough that he cannot even begin to avoid the flower shots, which pepper his back and distract him at a key moment!

"Rrgh...I knew you were powerful, but I will not fail! You face the most powerful necromancer that has ever lived, a man that has survived between the stars! Do you know what lies in the void, in the area between the stars?" He lunges for Cherry Blossom, doing his best to fight despite the distractions and the joint jab. His blade comes down, slicing...not for her, but for the ground beneath them. Magical power wells up from the blow, exploding upwards at Cherry Blossom. "NOTHING! Nothing lies between the stars! The void is dead and empty! All that can be found are those few bits of power..."

He whirls on Sweet Pea, casting a hand forth. From the sky, a black flame blazes, slamming down towards her. "SHOOTING STAR!"

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used The Nothing on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used Shooting Star on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has finished attacking.

This new thing of repeated stabbing seems to be working out for Kyouko, or at least it makes the yogurtbeast complain, "THE CONTEST WAS DUUUMB! We were just going to extract the energy from the winnerrrrrr but instead we're getting all of youuuu!" Globs of yogurt fly through the air, and some of them don't immediately ooze back, either.

NOTE: Those are edible.

The rolling bubble accelerating towards her makes Kefirin squat down low, squinting at Suzu as she spreads her arms out like a sumo. Preparing for this, perhaps - and then ending up bowled into that stand wherein the yogurt was being vended. Thousands of little plastic cuppies go flying into the air, clattering around as the creature squawks again in dismay. Rising upwards, it humpfs out, cheeks puffing, "Your dreams are dumb!! You're all DUMB! You're -"

sparkle

The moonlight strikes it in the chest. The ray goes right through it; Kefirin blinks twice, before looking down, and then wailing in dismay, "Whyyyy!? Shot through the hearttttt, and you're -"

A brief harmonizing with Sailor Mars' diva wail. "TO"

A speaker catches fire. "BLAME!!"

"You give Love and Justice a bad-" BAH GAWD, the head of the youma is shoved down by Diva Heart's leg drop - once again she splatters the creature, face first, into the ground. Curiously enough, the cylindrical hole that Sailor Moon's twinkling ray lanced through it is sealing very slowly, compared to other attacks; this may give Diva Heart a critical piece of information.

Kefirin's headbits are too splattered around to do more than gurgle incoherently, although they do splash around. One particularly unsavory tendril of black cherry lashes upwards to try and backhand Sailor Mars over the face. However, her true humiliation is when the two arms of the youma gurgle, reverse themselves, and then reach up -- to try and pinch at her love handles.

It needs to say no more.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Absorbing Your Body Image Issues on Diva Heart.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Black Cherry Whip on Sailor Mars.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi perfectly dodges Yoshirou Kurotsuki's The Nothing, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge!

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Yogurt Just Getting Everywhere Eww on Kyouko Sakura.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Yogurt Just Getting Everywhere Eww on Usagi Tsukino.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used Yogurt Just Getting Everywhere Eww on Suzu Hamasaki.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki perfectly braces Queen Beryl's Yogurt Just Getting Everywhere Eww, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Brace! Suzu Hamasaki's Block ability activates! Suzu Hamasaki's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino narrowly braces Queen Beryl's Yogurt Just Getting Everywhere Eww, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Usagi Tsukino!

COMBAT: Sailor Mars narrowly braces Queen Beryl's Black Cherry Whip, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Sailor Mars!

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura narrowly dodges Queen Beryl's Yogurt Just Getting Everywhere Eww, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Tangle applied to Kyouko Sakura!

COMBAT: Diva Heart fails to dodge Queen Beryl's Absorbing Your Body Image Issues, taking 10 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi narrowly dodges Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Shooting Star, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Quipped! Madobe Kuroi's Flash ability activates! Blind applied to Madobe Kuroi!

Cherry Blossom pulls her chopstick backward, and -- flip -- she does a backflip, legs over head, tucking and rolling to avoid the returning well that exploded beneath her feet. She lands gracefully on both feet, a meter or so away from where she leapt from.

There's a quick moment of vertigo as she realizes that her reflexes served her so well. ...Did I really do that? she asks herself.

She straightens up instead of lingering on it. While she's still close enough to Star Lion, she raises her hands and summons magic from the ground under him. "As long as life exists... I don't fear the void. Cherry trees - hear my call!"

Branches, covered in blossoms, bloom up all around Star Lion, some of them threatening to pierce him, and others to pin him down.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Cherry Tree Magic on Yoshirou Kurotsuki.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

Suzu Hamasaki ricochets. She is entirely at a loss to stop her rolling at this point; she's more being carried along by the bubble than steering it, and she's dizzy enough that she can't actually see where she's going. She orients mostly on Mars' yelling into the microphone.

And then yogurt hits the bubble. The first few spats just stick to it, or slide down, but then a particularly big glob hits it with enough force and mass to cover the entire top half of the bubble in what appears to be dark chocolate.

It pops. The yogurt, now moving much more slowly since it only fell a few inches, falls. It mostly misses Suzu, splatting behind her (she didn't stop moving when the bubble vanished) but some of it spatters her back and her hair.

"I like yogurt, but this is too much!" An incensed Seafoam Suzu has completely forgotten about the prior insults to her weight; normally somewhat cool and composed, she's upset with the mess this monster is making and the threat it poses. "Come on, all of you! Let's stop this thing!"

Suzu reaches up to her hair. She yanks free her star-shaped hairclip, causing the hair on that side to tumble artfully down and half hide her earfrill. Winding up, Suzu throws it like a particularly small frisbee. "Stardust... SPRAY!"

In flight, the red coral clip turns into shimmering silvery energy and grows twice its normal size; trailing starlight sparkles and a fine mist that leaves a visible rainbow behind, the magically imbued light drives straight for Kefirin before (hopefully) the light hits it and the coral clip rebounds for Suzu's waiting hand!

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki has used Shining Stardust Spray on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki has finished attacking.

Sailor Moon makes an "euck!" noise as EVIL YOGURT sprays all over the place. She tries to brace for the hit again, but that just ends with the goopy stuff getting all over her arms instead of her, though some of it manages to get on her boots. Her movements are being slowed due to the stickiness, and it shows as she tries to stumble around the stage with her boots sticking to everything. Eugh...

Tired of getting splattered all of the time, Moon tries to trudge forward, shaking some of the goop from her boot and rushing towards the Youma. When she closes the distance, she lunges forward, bringing her knee up in order to send it into the Youma's gut. During her rush, she yells, "Sailor Moon KICK!"

Kyouko may dress like it's perpetual laundry day but that doesn't mean she likes getting stains on her clothes...even if these are kind of virtual clothes created by a supertech machine. She also doesn't want this particular food /back/ for all that she is angry at its waste, and so she clutches her spear against her body and leaps straight up, flipping backwards to land some feet further away, one hand braced upon the ground. Wads of yogurt pass beneath her to splatter cars and buildings behind like some kind of health food warzone.

"Kch," She mutters, and then rushes forward again, this time driving her spear point into the ground to propel herself at the yogurt-beast's remaining head with a double-kick, going for blunt damage and ignoring her earlier stain-wariness.

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino has used Sailor Moon Kick on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has used Spear-Vault Kick on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Kyouko Sakura has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl fails to brace Suzu Hamasaki's Shining Stardust Spray, taking 17 Fatigue damage! Suzu Hamasaki is Psyched! Stagger applied to Queen Beryl!

COMBAT: Queen Beryl narrowly braces Usagi Tsukino's Sailor Moon Kick, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Usagi Tsukino is Psyched! Queen Beryl's Parry ability activates!

Sailor Mars doesn't think that the sonic attack had muche ffect. In fact, she even used it in her song. And then she gets covered in yogurt. Ewww. Well, not compeltly, but enough for her to stop and try to kick it off her leg, finding it all gooey and sticky. >_< "That's enough of you!" In her hand, she forms a fireball, about the size of a baseball, that she throws with an underhand motion right toward the yogurt youma. Should it miss, its likely to hit the giant speaker, and hopefully shut up that infernal racket too. "Your singing is terrible! Rattling coins in an empty can is more melodious than you!"

COMBAT: Sailor Mars has used Fireball on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Sailor Mars has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl narrowly braces Sailor Mars's Fireball, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Queen Beryl's Parry ability activates! Stagger applied to Queen Beryl!

COMBAT: Queen Beryl narrowly braces Kyouko Sakura's Spear-Vault Kick, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Queen Beryl's Parry ability activates!

Diva Heart is... ... actually in really good shape, and doesn't really have any love handles to speak of. In the course of attempting to grab them, however, and in its hunt for body image issues, Kefirin does manage to grab two yogurty palmfuls of undeveloped teenage boob.

Diva Heart turns bright red and lets out a high-pitched squeal, rolling backwards off of the youma's smashed head and away from its weird yogurt grabby tendrils. She scrambles to her feet, turning around and surveying the area in an attempt to determine who saw her humiliation, and exactl how bad she should feel.

She hasn't forgotten the real issue at hand, and turns around once Kefirin's head has finished reforming, and she's risen to her feet, so that she can...

... just straight up slap the shit out of the youma.

COMBAT: Diva Heart has used Slap on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Diva Heart has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl narrowly counters Diva Heart's Slap, taking 5 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Queen Beryl's counterattack, The Yogurt Eats You, partially gets through, doing 16 Fatigue damage to Diva Heart! Queen Beryl drains 2 fatigue from Diva Heart!

"That's not true!" Sweet Pea cries--but it's too late! Yoshirou unleashes a wave of black fire--Sweet Pea leaps out of the way, but the blaze still grazes her side before she drops down to the ground once more. "Between the stars there's stuff like dark matter, astral debris, gas, comets, asteroids, radiation, satellites, moons, planets, solar winds--"

"And other things!"

She dives to the right, opening fire with both pistols! "I won't let Soldier Angel or neechan down!"

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Viewtiful Pea on Yoshirou Kurotsuki.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki narrowly braces Sakura Akagi's Cherry Tree Magic, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki narrowly braces Madobe Kuroi's Viewtiful Pea, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Psyched! Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Parry ability activates!

Stardust rains down onto the creature as it attempts to reconstitute itself. "Ooogh... Kefirin's going to win this one!" the youma declares. "You're all going to get sucked dry for the sake of the Dark Kingdom! Your energy - your energyy--"

Her face reforms... in time to receive a Sailor Moon Kick, which splatters it.

The youma begins making a noise of high pitched frustration. "STOP HITTING ME IN THE FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!" Another kick, a Kyoukick in fact: this time actually knocking the reforming head off where it gubbles in protest, the fireball wrecking it, the youma sagging underneath this attack - the head reforming once more.

It's kind of a cariacture now. And then Diva Heart comes in and takes her swing. The slap connects... and the side of the yogurty face ripples, turning into a mouth, and grabbing onto her arm. "MMffh!!"

Kefirin's eyes narrow. "Mmfmfffff mfff fmfffff mffff Mfff Mfngfmm, mffhgh fmfhgghfhhfh mffhfhghgh." She gesticulates, as if making a telling point. "Mmfghghghfm mmffff, mmfffghhh, mmff! Mff, MFFF MFFF!" The arms come together, producing a hand gesture that's most unladylike. One finger goes up to tug down a relative eyelidlike structure. "Mffhg fmmfggh, MFFFGH MFFGH, mff mffgh MFFGH MFF MGHF MF MG!!"

She starts energetically attempting to chew up Diva Heart's arm. This is a mixed effort. On the one hand, being composed entirely out of a gelatinous dairy dessert treat and meal substitute, Kefirin does not have what we'd call a lot in the way of teeth. What she does have, however, is jaw force. This is a rather brutal gumming. Can Diva Heart resist the pain? Can she hold out? For in her focus on the possible world champion contender --

Kefirin is ignoring everyone else!? At least for this moment.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has used This Attack Represents An Ironic Demise For Kyouko Sakura on Diva Heart.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has finished attacking.

A-ha, Tomomi thinks. The Dark Kingdom! That's helpful. She makes more notes in her Moleskine for her eventual report on this matter. Dark Kiss will be interested to hear of these activities. Perhaps this yogurt method could be modified into cold cream.

"Ha! Your 'science' means nothing to the magic of the void! You may not fear it - but it does not fear you, eithjer!" The cherry branches come up around the Star Lion, who grabs wrestles with them, tearing them apart as they pierce through some of his armor. "You cannot contain me!" The pistol blasts come down at him, but the Star Lion whirls and meets them with his crossed arms, skidding slightly.

"The darkness devours, consumes! If you would stop it, show me your will! If your will can defeat mine, then I will pull back, honor satisfied! But if you cannot..." Yoshirou takes a moment to pause and try to think of an appropriately ridiculous and impressive threat. One that will make them think he's powerful and impressive. It needn't be /real/. "If you do not, then by the contract of the Void, the wishes of those who ate that yogurt will be MINE!" He laughs loudly. "NOW! Let me show you MY WILL! AND YOU WILL SHOW ME YOURS!"

He raises a fist. "COME TO ME, O STARLIT DARKNESS!" The black power rises around Cherry Blossom, trying to drain her power to feed into the Star Lion armor. "STRIKE DOWN MY FOES! BLACK PULSAR!" And another wave of darkness explodes out of the Star Lion, blasting for Madobe!

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used Starlit Darkness on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used Black Pulsar on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi narrowly braces Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Black Pulsar, taking 11 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Diva Heart narrowly dodges Queen Beryl's This Attack Represents An Ironic Demise For Kyouko Sakura, taking 4 Mana damage! Queen Beryl drains 3 mana from Diva Heart!

'The wishes of those who ate the yogurt' is probably not as impressive as Star Lion thinks it is. At least, Cherry Blossom has that thought, just for a moment. But... his power is a lot more convincing. The darkness grips into her, and she can feel the pull, the coldness of space. She lets out a scream as she tries to brace against it. This will IS powerful.

She has to fight it off. She stands her ground, and stays focused. Her eyes look somewhere far away... but the smell of perfume, around her, brings her back to reality.

It starts to intensify as she begins a new spell. "You want to taste power, then... it's time for perfume power! Sweet Pea! Get ready!"

The nostalgic smell of cherry blossom mist begins to build around her... a light wave of pink flowing out toward Star Lion with its building scent. But it's just the beginning. "Cherry Blossom mists, I summon you!"

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Blossom Mist on Yoshirou Kurotsuki.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

Madobe brings up her arms. The wave of darkness slams into Sweet Pea, but her sweet perfumey aura repels the worst of Yoshirou's blow! She lets out a low breath and then frowns, deeply--now, NOW Sweet Pea is determined to get serious! All that talk about how terrible science is--just makes her upset! "Science isn't about what is and isn't there, it's a process to find the truth! Since magic is obviously real--then science and magic coexist!"

She reaches down and draws out her cellphone--raising it suddenly...and snapping a picture of him.

"I'm going to report you to the scientific community...and ask them...who is cooler, you or Soldier Angel!"

She taps rapidly at her cellphone before snapping up her phone once again to show Star Lion the results.

The predominant question seems to be: What are you talking about? Who is Star Lion? What is Soldier Angel? This is a serious blog for serious people!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Flamewar on Yoshirou Kurotsuki.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

Well. Diva Heart... probably should have seen that coming. The girl's eyes widen, and she wrenches her arm backwards, trying to yank it out of Kefirin's mouth to no avail. After a few tugs, her legs buckle and she collapses to one knee, swinging her free hand up to grab at her elbow and use it to help pull. She still makes no progress, however.

With a snarl of pain, the Diva rotates on her knees, turning to stretch her free arm into the empty air. A few feet away, the trio of rainbow ring ropes shimmer into existence again, and Diva Heart flops onto her back, straining her left arm in a reach for the ropes. Try as she might, however, and despite a fair bit of writhing, she can't quite reach them, and after about ten seconds of trying she lets out another squeal of pain and rolls back onto her side, stretching her left arm over the ground; she's balling it into and out of a fist rhythmically, in obvious pain, and a few times motions as if about to tap out, lifting her open palm and swinging it down towards the ground before checking it at the last second.

Eventually, she takes a deep, gasping breath... and then rolls onto her knees again and darts quickly around the youma, placing the length of her arm across its yogurty throat. Its an awkward maneuever, what with her hand being embedded in the thing's mouth, but Diva Heart circles around behind it and then springs into the air, digging her knees into the thing's back and hooking her other arm across its yogurty throat, tightening her grip in an attempt to...

... choke out... the yogurt monster? She might not have thought this through.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki fails to dodge Madobe Kuroi's Flamewar, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Yoshirou Kurotsuki is Quipped!

COMBAT: Diva Heart has used Sleeper Hold on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Diva Heart has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki fails to brace Sakura Akagi's Blossom Mist, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Queen Beryl accepts Diva Heart's Sleeper Hold, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Queen Beryl is Quipped!

Oh no, Suzu thinks, is it going to /eat/ that poor girl?

"Hello! You!" Seafoam Suzu points at Kefirin. "We're not going to let you get away with that! Or at least I'm not! I'm going to wash the evil right out of that yogurt!"

Suzu's banter needs work. What needs less work is her actual powers. Suzu spreads her arms wide, and a star-shaped glow forms directly under Kefirin. This is in and of itself completely harmless, if a little worrying when it just decides to put itself there. But that's when Suzu speaks again.

"SEAFOAM LUMINOUS STAR!"

The star-shaped pattern pulses - and then explodes upwards, a geyser of starlight and water. Star Lion may (if he's watching) be a little confused by the presence of star power over there without Soldier Angel anywhere nearby, but the magic light combined with the purifying water has a different source this time; the star-shaped clip on Suzu's forehead is glowing the same pure silver as the fountain. "By the power of the stars, I purify you!" she says, pointing dramatically at Kefirin, the sarong billowing as much as it can fit the way it is.

Does this count, she wonders, as cleaning up? Because it totally should.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Suzu Hamasaki has used Seafoam Luminous Star on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki has finished attacking.

As the mist rises, Star Lion prepares to consume it with dark power...until Madobe speaks. He turns, the fire in his helmet flaring. The magic tears into him, draining some of his power, but this is important. Image is /vital/. "You /dare/? The Soldier Angel is powerful, I admit...but I am the Star Lion! There is no one who can compare to me!" He raises one gauntleted fist to the sky. "It was I who consumed the power of the Leonids!"

Star Lion gestures widely. "It was I who discovered the dark powers of immortality! It was I who cast aside the weakness of the human shell to assume the might of the void! I am a knight of the darkness, a wizard of the void! The Soldier Angel is just that - a soldier! I am so much more!"

Yeah he might keep going for a while.

Tomomi takes note of the Star Lion. His fixation on power has piqued her interest. Perhaps he will be...

useful.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used Self-Motivating Rant on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has used Self-Motivating Rant on Sakura Akagi.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki has finished attacking.

Kyouko draws back a bit as the yogurt monster starts trying to chew up along Diva Heart's arm with kind of an 'eww' expression crossing her face. "That's just...that's just--" She was going to say wrong, but then Diva Heart counterattacks and she just finishes with a 'wrong' aimed kind of generally at both of them.

"THAT'S JUST WRONG!" She finally concludes, yelling at the top of her lungs. "ALL OF IT!" Her anger has managed to climb back over the disgust and come roaring forth as energy rises behind her. She holds up her spear for a moment in triumph or challenge, perhaps both, then thrusts it into the ground before herself. Cracks split along the stage, the pavement, all around and more spears emerge in profusion, one after another, a brief forest emerging and striking upwards at Kefirin from all angles--and somehow missing Diva Heart, Usagi, and all other non-aggressors in its range.

With most of the aggro being on Diva Heart, Sailor Moon has a moment to recover. She looks around at her friend, Sailor Mars, and the other magical girls fighting. They all seem to have their own reasons, but at the least they have one common enemy. When Kefirin tries to attack Diva, she gets even more riled up.

"Inexcusable!" shouts Sailor Moon. "I won't let people be eaten by treats! Especially not a magical girl!"

She backpedals away, still covered in delicious yogurt, as she starts reaching for her tiara. The tiara's gem glows for a second, right before she takes it off. The tiara begins to glow brightly in Usagi's hands, light flying upwards.

Sailor Moon twirls around, as the tiara transforms into an energy disk. At the end of her twirl, it's now not unlike a frisbee made of magical power.

"Moon... Tiara... ACTION!" she yells, as she reels her hand back and then launches it forward, throwing the magical disk at the evil youma!

The energy disk flies towards the yogurt monster, as Moon tries to aim exactly where the Kefirin seems to hate it...

Right in the Face.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Usagi Tsukino has used Moon Tiara Action on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl fails to brace Kyouko Sakura's Forest for the Trees, taking 25 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Queen Beryl accepts Usagi Tsukino's Finisher, Moon Tiara Action, taking 117 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi narrowly dodges Yoshirou Kurotsuki's Self-Motivating Rant, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Yoshirou Kurotsuki is Psyched! Madobe Kuroi's Flash ability activates!

Japanese Cherry Blossom takes a big breath, mostly through her nose. It's very soothing, and helps her to focus her energies. And it really looks like Star Lion is going to... keep going on like that.

She looks over at Sweet Pea. "Listen. I'm not sure exactly even what he's talking about, but I think it's time we shut it down. Are you ready to lay down some heavy fire?"

She clasps her hands together in front of her chest. Pink winds start to build around her. "Star Lion. You may believe that power comes from the void. But even in the darkness, there is light. And as long as there is air to breathe... we will fill it with our hopeful magic. Now..."

There is another burst of light, erupting from below her and billowing her skirts and sleeves. Pink flowers form, suspended in the air around her. She combines her magic with Sweet Pea's this time: two powerful pink flower scents merging together. Cherry Blossom twirls around in her signature way before unleashing the spell. "CHERRY BLOSSOM ELIMINATION--"

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has started a combo targeting Yoshirou Kurotsuki!

The Star Lion starts talking. Sweet Pea listens at first but gradually stops paying attention. A butterfly lands on her nose, she goes crosseyed trying to look at it. A nice breeze rustles through her hair. She checks her instant messages and her webcomics. Eventually she looks up, catching something about Tokiko.

She lowers her cellphone and pockets it.

"Soldier Angel isn't just a soldier, she's an inspiration!" She nods to Cherry Blossom, her own perfume spinning around and DOCKING together (really more swirly).

"SWEET PEA! SHOTGUN! SOJOURN!" She unleashes her own spell--in conjunction with Cherry Blossom's!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has joined the combo started by Sakura Akagi!

COMBAT: COMBO! FINISHER! Sakura Akagi and Madobe Kuroi have used Cherry Blossom Elimination and Sweet Pea Shotgun Sojourn on Yoshirou Kurotsuki.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki fails to counter Sakura Akagi and Madobe Kuroi's Finisher, Combo: Cherry Blossom Elimination, taking 120 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Yoshirou Kurotsuki's counterattack, Black Star Rising, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Sakura Akagi!

The sleeper hold snakes around the neck of the creature. And by gadfree, that grasp...

Well. It's an open question if Kefirin is being choked, but having to regrow her head about ten times- as well as being perforated by profound purity - has left her, shall we say, less flexible than she might be. The arm throws around her and the youma produces a noise best rendered as 'gurk!,' a huge blueberry tongue lolling out. Can she endure? Will she tap?!

The ground itself produces spears, smashing into the youma's gelatinous form! Cracks are starting to form, like when you make a goopy cornstarch bowl to perform some highly symbolic experiments, then slap it a lot. The star shaped pulse of water washes over her, making sizzling, fragrant smoke fill the air. "Kyahhh - w, won't Kefirin's handsome PRINCE come and... save her, from all of the...?!" the youma squeals, incoherently.

What kind of a fragrance? For the benefit of our perfumers, it's a sort of smoked-Gouda and blueberry preserves smell - a little atypical, yes, but definitely pleasant on the nose. It has a good bouquet.

"Fuwaaahhhh... gnnhhh... I'm not a typical... don't take me li... gwannnghhh!!" Kefirin squeals in dismay as the Moon Tiara is revealed, the searing light lashing outwards towards her face. Her mouth hangs open - open so widely, in fact, that the Moon Tiara flies INTO her mouth, and out the back of her neck, and past Diva Heart, rebounding off the sound board and back towards Sailor Moon. Black cherry yogurt sprays everywhere, though harmlessly. Twinkling white seems to spread out from the injury, the youma thrashing weakly.

It goes limp in Diva Heart's arms. Its right arm, raised up in defiance, slaps down, palm first, on the ground. It starts oozing down all those spikes that Kyouko produced. Victory, right...? It's slowly dissolving into approximately a quarter-ton of fruit flavored yogurt! Dissolving in... A single direction...

Kefirin's burbling voice warbles out, as it becomes a semi-shapeless mound, lacking any of its early elegant lines, "I WON'T - LEAVE - WITHOUT THE ENERGY...!!" It surges upwards, a shapeless and humanoid mass of dark hues, and spreads its arms out, shedding yogurt as it goes, aiming to sweep the left arm around Sailor Moon, the right around Seafoam Suzu --

And then pull both into its center mass. For the engulfening.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Queen Beryl has used Lactocalypse on Usagi Tsukino.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Queen Beryl has used Lactocalypse on Suzu Hamasaki.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Suzu Hamasaki fails to brace Queen Beryl's Finisher, Lactocalypse, taking 101 Fatigue damage! Suzu Hamasaki is unable to keep fighting!

COMBAT: Usagi Tsukino narrowly dodges Queen Beryl's Finisher, Lactocalypse, taking 70 Fatigue damage! Usagi Tsukino is unable to keep fighting! Usagi Tsukino's Fade ability activates! Usagi Tsukino's Flash ability activates!

The Star Lion pauses his ranting when he notices that neither of his foes is really listening any more. He waits politely for their speeches, his eyes flaring. "Yes...show me your hope! Show me your power! AND I WILL UNLEASH MINE!" As the scents fill his nose, behind the black helmet, Star Lion focuses. The sky darkens, as he calls on the power of the Leonids. "LET US SEE WHOSE WILL IS STRONGER!"

He raises his blade to the sky. "BLACK STAR RISING!" The dark power explodes outwards, slamming into the spells of Sweet Pea and Cherry Blossom. For a moment, it seems to hold, as the world goes monochrome...

And then the dark power is annihilated by perfume and pastels. The magic slams into the Star Lion surrounding him utterly. The blue flames in his helmet's eyes gutter as he is forced to his knees. "You..." He tries to force himself to stand, shaking. Only part of it is an act. "Your will...I never believed that mere mortals could...could possess such willpower...such hope..." He slams his sword into the ground, using it as a cane to stand. From there, he stands more solidly, lifting the blade in salute.

"I gave my word. Your will has surpassed mine. If I fought on...no. There is no hope for my victory today. Next time...next time, Scented Warriors, things will be different." He turns, nearly collapsing again until he uses the sword as a cane.

"Next time, I will defeat you."

Sailor Moon's attack hit home... but it wasn't enough? Geeze, what is this youma /made/ of?!

Well. Aside from yogurt, that is.

Sailor Moon, vulnerable for a moment, retrieves her moon tiara and puts it back on... but then the yogurtyouma's counter attack comes. The big yogurty limb wraps around Moon, crushing her as they pull her in. She struggles to stay up, but... the yougurty wrath is too much.

She starts getting engulfed in yogurt, her energy starting to drain. If only she had eaten better food, maybe she wouldn't have to suffer such a terrible fate! Alas, this seems to be the end for our klutzy moon senshi.

Unless, you know, someone comes along and saves her. That'd be cool, too.

Suzu Hamasaki still has her arms spread wide. She expects the thing to be falling apart now.

And it does! Sort of. Kefirin begins to fall apart, and Suzu thinks it's defeated; she starts to lower them, apparently confident in victory. She's relatively inexperienced with youma.

And that means she is a relatively easy target when it surges back upward. Suzu spins, resummoning a bubble around her and yelling in surprise - but the huge rush of yogurt surrounds her bubble, squeezing it with far more strength and weight than Suzu was expecting.

The bubble pops. Suzu's yell turns into a muffled gurgle as yogurt rushes into her mouth, and she vanishes inside the monster. She squirms - but she's not getting out of /that/ on her own, unable to really move through the squeezing mass. There are occasional bubbly yelling sounds from inside as Suzu tries to free herself, or at least her head, without success - but the vice grip the yogurt has on her (from the inside of her mouth even) isn't letting her go.

The single advantage is that, not being water, the yogurt monster does not also turn her back into a mermaid. Small victories, apparently.

Kyouko is breathing heavily at this point, though she doesn't look too terribly injured by the punishment levied by the Kefirin's lashings. Well, aside from ruptured dignity. When the monster is impaled upon her various spears, when it seems about ready to die, she reaches up to touch the jewel at her throat, swallowing slightly, hoping this is all she will have to do. But it may not be so.

She takes in another deep breath, anger still burning in her eyes. "It's just a youma," she spits out, in Diva Heart's general direction. "You finish it off." She leans on her spear, one fist cocked against her hip, half an eye on the Star Lion--but she heard him voice an end to hostilities.

Cherry Blossom lowers her hands, and stands straight up, for a moment. She thought they might not succeed, but... Star Lion is retreating now. "I don't think you will. But we'll see. Next time."

She looks over toward where the others are fighting.... yogurt. But she needs a moment to catch her breath, too. "Nice work, Sweet Pea," she adds to her lil' sis.

Sweet Pea is starting to think maybe she's getting the hang of it. She says, "Thanks, Cherry Blossom!" She beams--

--then remembers what she did earlier today.

"...I better go uh... ... ... check facebook!"

She bows several times and, face red, runs off.

Oh wow, it /did/ work.

When Kefirin disincorporates, Diva Heart releases the hold on the melting yogurt pile and rolls away, pulling her arm entirely free and clutching at it in obvious pain. She remains down and out of sight, while the reconstituting yogurt goes and... ... murders Suzu and Sailor Moon.

Hmmm. Well, that's not great. Kyouko calls to the recovering Diva to fix her shit, and the girl snaps back, "I was going to! Who even /are/ you?!"

As the two other girls are dragged towards their dark yogurty hell, Diva Heart suddenly springs into the air behind the yogurt monster, leapfrogging (and this time entirely) over it and turning in midair to land on her feet facing the monster, to--

-- once again draw her hand back and slap the hell out of the monster. Before the thing can suck up her hand, she whips it back and slaps it again, and again, and again; she keeps slapping, in fact, until the monster releases its prey. When it does, Diva Heart's hands snap out to grab the thing's right arm, and she plants her feet and wrenches the entire limb, whipping the yogurt youma across the ground to send it sliding across the ground... towards the girls? How's that supposed to--

--a steel post appears in front of the sliding Kefirin, complete with three rainbow-padded turnbuckles and two sets of rainbow ring ropes stretching off into nothingness. Before it even impacts, Diva Heart is sprinting after it, and a second after the monster does the diva leaps, sliding her body between the second and third ropes to slam her rigid right arm into the goop's midsection; it rebounds off of the turnbuckle, staggering ('staggering') a good two meters forwards and then collapsing into a puddle.

Diva Heart, meanwhile, slips the rest of her body between the ropes, from where she was sitting on the second one, and grabs ahold of the top rope, turning to look at the fallen Sailor Moon and Suzu. With a grimace, she tosses her twintails back out of her face, and then tightens her grip on the rope, pulling it back towards her body and then releasing her grip on the ground to slingshot up and land precariously balanced on it.

Rather than stand on it, however, she uses it like a trampoline, springing off again, her arms held out to her side and her hair streaming behind her, to diving headbutt the giant pile of yogurt.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Diva Heart has used Five Moves of Doom on Queen Beryl.

COMBAT: Diva Heart has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Queen Beryl accepts Diva Heart's Finisher, Five Moves of Doom, taking 134 Fatigue damage! Queen Beryl is unable to keep fighting!

The ground gives way slightly beneath Diva Heart on impact, and she springs upwards onto her feet, turning to pace back towards the still-extant rainbow corner. "COME ON, BABY!" she screams at the top of her lungs, grabbing the top rope and shaking it, ripples spreading outwards through the rope like it was a radio wave.

After a few seconds of this, she turns and drops heavily onto all fours, her hands balled into fists, pounding them into the ground in a slowly building rhythm as the yogurt blob pulls itself together and regains its senses, pulling itself back together into something vaguely humanoid.

Just as it's about to finish rising, Diva Heart lunges like a runner off the block, sliding underneath the rising youma, planting her shoulders into its midsection, and hoisting the entire thing off of the ground with a roar of exertion, hooking one arm around (into) its neck and the other around (into) one of its le-- bottom bits.

Her chest puffing in and out as she gulps in a few deep breaths, Diva Heart turns in a slow circle, takes two steps, and then springs into the air.

As she goes up, she bounces Kefirin upwards and over her head, turning the youma so that its 'head' - as much as an ooze can really have one - points towards the ground, and then drops heavily onto her knees with the head between them, both of her hands plunged into the yogurt monster to hold it in place, with its shoulders down. Normally it would require keeping her foe's head between her legs... but in this case, she'll settle for exploding the head, instead.
The Star Lion just raises one hand as he stalks off, leaning on his sword. "Remember my name, warriors. For I will remember yours!"

And then there is a dark flash, as Yoshirou uses the last of his power to teleport several blocks away, to a nice empty lot he can turn back in.

Yoshirou Kurotsuki lets out a long, low breath. "/Ow/. Note to self: Real fights really hurt, stick to the show fights when possible."

As the two heroines of dreams and light are gathered up into yogurty hell, it feels cold and enervating. Kefirin squeals in triumph, "I've done iiiit!! These two pure hearts - no, pure energies - will bring us victory AND -"

"AND -"

She's already getting coherent again. By the time Diva Heart comes upon her, she's already regained her original form. That was a mistake. For you see, as a certain magical princess has learned, even the invincible have joints.

Kefirin looks over her shoulder. "Eh?" Her head tracks around to look at Diva Heart, lip curling back in a sneer. "You want s-"

SLAP!! The ringing blows hit its face. With multiple blows from both direction, Kefirin is unable to lose cohesion quickly enough to splatter - Diva Heart leaves her confined, absorbing damage and screeching in wordless indignation at this facial domination! Then she raises her right arm to strike the arrant mite down.

This gets her grabbed and whipped, smashing towards the others, until she strikes against the Turnbuckle. Her entire body quivers violently - Usagi's head briefly bobbles out of her shoulder - and she says in dismay, "What?! No! BLAAARGH!!" This is where Seafoam Suzu is violently smashed out of her. (Usagi remains stuck.) The diving headbutt drives Sailor Moon back into the belly of the beast, but any coldness is starting to fade away in the face of such intense heat.

Staggering, Kefirin puts a hand to her head, staring in disbelief at Diva Heart and finally saying outwards, towards her, "This doesn't matter!! None of this matters!! You're never going to win W-"

"Wah -"

Hoisted upwards, Sailor Moon finally breaks free, splattering out in a blueberry puddle out of the creature as it's spun around. "This can't be happeniiiiiing!!" Kefirin wails, before smashing downwards. "GWAAAHH!!"

The head resists for a fraction of a second beneath Diva Heart.

Then it gives way. A few instants later, the remainder of Kefirin does as well, erupting upwards in four distinct streams of yogurt, launched upwards at intense speeds! They rise upwards so quickly, in fact, that some parts of them freeze solid in the cooling evening air - falling down as fruity snowflakes.

Other portions remain largely intact and will descend with greater effect, some time later. But Kefirin itself...

IS OUT.

Madobe is never going to eat yogurt again.

"Hnh." Kyouko answers to Diva Heart's question. "Not important for you to know." Of course, she says that in her best high-handed contemptuous tone after the other girl just totally beat a yogurt monster's head into the ground among many other complex maneuvers which may have saved some other girls' lives. "This was all a huge waste." She looks over the scattered yogurt remains, the shattered stage, the /gallons and gallons of ruined food/ and just makes a frustrated noises, clenching her fist at her side. "Call me if you have something actually dangerous to fight." She grumbles and stalks off, her shoulders rigid with an anger that has as much to do with herself as with anything that happened today.

Tomomi sneaks away once the youma is defeated. She has something to tell the Apothecary now! It is very exciting. Maybe she will make a Prezi.

As Sailor Moon uncerimoniously slumps out of the yogurt monster, she lies on the ground unconcious. After a moment, she stirs, mumbling as she wakes back up again. A few more moments, and she emits a soft, long whine.

"I'm so ti-ired!"

She slowly gets back up to her feet, and looks at the two girls who /didn't/ get eaten by yogurt. "Y-you... you saved me? Thanks..."

Sailor Moon looks around. She is so totally going to make a PSA against food poisoning or yogurt or something like that! That'll show 'em.

Suzu Hamasaki hits the ground, rolls, and vanishes under a stage with a /thump/... where she untransforms back into regular old Suzu with a trail of sparkles. She spits out half a mouthful of yogurt and lets out a highly unladylike belch, saved from public humiliation by the fact that she's hiding again. Her stomach is already highly uncomfortable, not being meant for that much dairy.

Don't judge. It was the only way she could think of to not choke.

A moment later, and Suzu - not Seafoam Suzu's! - blonde head sticks back out from under the stage, as if checking to see if it's safe for civilians. Maybe she'll just stay here for a few minutes. Yes. That sounds like a good idea, she thinks, pulling her head back in. She'll let the magical girls clear out first. She needs a moment to recover her energy anyway... she's exhausted!

o/` Furikazashita! Sono yaiba de~ o/`
o/` Uchiharae! Kono akumu wo~ o/`

Diva Heart's music once again blares from every surface in the area as the ooze monster finishes dissolving. Rather than rush to check on Suzu and Sailor Moon, however, Diva Heart lets out a triumphant scream and leaps to her feet, rushing into her corner and springing up onto the second rope, lifting her hands into the air in victory.

Once Kyouko's sassiness sinks in, however, the diva's arms drop to her side, and she glares daggers after the girl. A few seconds later, the music fades away, and Diva Heart lifts her hand, a gaudily colored microphone appearing in it with a flash of light. "I'll be with you in one second," she calls over her shoulder, to the fallen Sailor Moon.

Then she turns her attention back to the leaving Kyouko, and she shouts into the microphone, her voice amplified to carry throughout the entire area. "Hey, you weirdo! Why do you have to be such a-- a b-word?!" she calls. "If you really want to fight something tough, why don't you fight me?!"

[[Category: Logs]]

2013-09-25 - Battle in the Arcade! What Is Our Secret Past Together?

2014-03-19T08:56:10Z

Lainzilla:

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Battle in the Arcade! What Is Our Secret Past Together?'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''In Episode Two of the Perfume Splash! anime the Magical Girls fight Dark Amber in the arcade!''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Sakura Akagi]], [[Madobe Kuroi]], [[Tokiko Amagawa]], [[Kinzo Hiroyuki]], [[Fuu Hououji]], [[Midori Sugiura]], [[Nanoha Takamachi]], Minako Aino, [[Alyce Ducati]], [[Nadeshiko Fujisaki]], [[Raikari Shinkyou]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Shitimachi Low City - Game Center Crown
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
9/25/2013 / 9/29/2013
|-
|}

(Battle Fantasia - Thursday, September 26, 2013)

It was a totally ordinary day at school today.

Totally Ordinary Day!

Sakura waved to Madobe like normal. They both went to their seperate classes. They sat in the backs like they do.

At lunchtime, Sakura usually has a very cute lunch. She's taking it outside to sit under a tree to sit. She thinks though it's very likely Madobe will seek her out.

Totally. Ordinary. Day!

Madobe waved to Sakura alike normal. They went to their classes. They sat in the backs. Why, it's like nothing even happened! And really, seeking Sakura out at lunch isn't very unusual for her either. So when Madobe shows up at the tree, carrying her own boxed lunch (she put a little too much rice in there), it's not really a surprise persay.

"H...hey Sakura-Chan." Madobe says, smiling at her. "Um. Can I join you?" She glances aside a bit.

"Mm-hm," says Sakura. She looks serious for a moment... but when she looks up, her eyes beam.

She has little slices of pepper cut into the shapes of flowers in her lunch, and strawberry hearts, along with pickles and rice balls. "How are you feeling today, is everything going all right now?"

This is actually the first time in a while where Madobe has been having a private chat with Sakura. The other times Sakura was around, sure, but there was always at least a couple other people present. Or monsters. "Um. The bite didn't seem poisonous after all. I'm okay." There is a small pause after. "Ah!--That is...You're...Japanese Cherry Blossom, right? And I'm...I'm 'Sweet Pea'? And magic is real? Actual magic is actually real?" She can't help but sound a bit excited. The idea of the Apothecary hasn't really settled. She hasn't recovered much of her memory as of yet.

Sakura blushes.

She glances at her lunch and at Madobe, but smiles again, a bit more weakly. "I don't think we can talk about this in public too much. The magic is a big secret. But yes. When you mentioned the magical play that you saw, that's why I was so embarassed. I've been fighting... those creatures, but that was the first time one of them was so bold. It must have smelled your perfume too."

"It was pretty scary.." Madobe admits. Though of course it might be strange she only says 'pretty' scary, Madobe doesn't find 'being killed' or 'assaulted by snakes' to be the most frightening things that could happen. She could be ostracized by her class! Now /that's/ scary.

"Oh--oh about that. The 'Soldier Angel'..? I met her again. She mentioned um--'The Tuners'...? She says she can help new--"

It hits her. "...How long have you been doing this?" She frowns, worried. This secret life of hers--has Sakura really been that amazing all the while?

Sakura says, "Since late spring. During the festival. When the trees were in bloom. I found the perfume..." She swallows, looking down and picking at her food. "It was bought for me, actually. I couldn't believe it really happened, so I've kept it a secret. I hope you don't think that I was lying to you about something. I just didn't want my friends to be in danger from this."

Sakura's words, in a way, shame Madobe. She's thinking about how cool it is to have magic. Especially perfume magic which, notably, now people say she smells nice. Or they do when she's Sweet Pea anyway. And even if that's like not saying Madobe smells nice, it's almost as good. Sakura is just worrying about her safety. And yeah, okay, she actually was feeling like SAkura was keeping this amazing life away from her but thinking it over, really, she was just trying to keep her safe. And she did come to help her and told her to watch out and--

"I wasn't thinking anything like that." She lies. "W..well... I mean, um..." She looks down at her hands. "...Um... well, maybe a little." She can't lie too easily to Sakura. And after thinking over it, she'd rather be a lot more like the nice, understanding Sweet Pea than, well, what she is. Maybe she can take a small step in that direction right now. "T-that is okay though. It was a lie to protect me right? Eheh.... I mean, that's the worst it could be, so it's not bad. Um. Maybe it's why I can talk to you so easily." Yep! This is the easy talking Madobe.

"So...we can do this together, now, right? I'm okay with being in danger." But not okay with being left behind, is unspoken.

Sakura nods. "Okay! I believe in you, little sis. If you were chosen by the perfume it must be our destiny to fight. So we'll do .... our best."

She pauses. "There will be others though. Other monsters and other girls too. Who is the Solider Angel that you met?"

Madobe hadn't mentioned the 'sister' part. Maybe she didn't remember it yet. Or, more likely, she didn't know if /Sakura/ remembered it and didn't want to make things awkward. Unsurprisingly, she doesn't go in for a squoz either way, though she does scooch a little closer when it's mentioned. It might even be a bit unconscious (definitely kind of adorable though).

"Um, she's like--a member of the military, I guess? She had a howitzer. She was looking for a star that was locked in a crate." Madobe makes a face as if this is rather a strange idea to her.

Not as straightforward and easy to comprehend as a Perfume Kingdom.

"She seems...nice... And experienced. I have her cellphone number. Do you want it?" It's cool her magical cellphone is her normal cellphone just magicked up so it still has the numbers. The producers thought ahead about this!

"Okay. That... might be good. I guess... Japanese Cherry Blossom should be the one who calls her." Sakura lowers her voice a little.

Madobe nods a bit. "She doesn't know who I am either. She didn't recognize me. She..."

She takes in a sharp breath and leans in, very quietly.

"She mentioned wanting to set up a 'snack time'..."

"Oh, she saw you in your changed form. Okay. Snack time." Sakura stabs a piece of pepper in her lunch, grabbing it almost forcefully with the chopsticks, then chewing thoughtfully as she eats it.

"Snack...time..." Madobe whispers. "And she said there wouldn't be too many people." Well not precisely, she said she 'tried' to get people to come and Madobe inferred there wouldn't be too many people. Some tuners are /above/ snack time but Madobe is not above snack time.

There are levels of irony in Madobe /trying/ to go to a social event but it's probably because she can go as Sweet Pea and not as, say, Madobe.

Sakura nods. "Okay. Cherry Blossom will give her a call. We'll see what they have to say-- and ... if they're good cooks. Let's not be afraid --"

Sakura says this because it's obviously scary.

Madobe presumes Sakura means the snack meeting might be scary. She swallows nervously and then says, "Right, Um. I won't. Um." She says. "Big...sister?"

It really isn't so much the snack meeting, as the-- fighting horrible creatures thing.

But that makes her smile. She nods.

She then gives Madobe a small hug - one arm. The slightly rarer Sakura hug.

Then she realizes that it's almost time for class again!

And so the day...was kept cute.

Thanks to...THE PERFUME SPLASH GIRLS!

============================================================

(Battle Fantasia - Sunday, September 29, 2013)

It's sunday, late in the day. the Game Center Crown is bustling with Activity, as kids try to get those last arcade games and vs. battles in before the horribleness of school tommrow, looming like some sort of shadow beast in the future, rawr!

There's some Street Fighter-styled Toruney going on, some folks trying to beat each other in a DDR match, and some kids playing some sort of skeeball styled game. There's quite a few people in the wings, eating sweety, sticky desserts and drinks from the attached 'Fruits Parlor Crown'.

Kinzo knows that this is the busiest time of the week, a bunch of young peoples, little adult supervision, it's perfect, he considers, as a 'test' of sorts. What bad memories he may aquire aren't important, just that it works. He can perfect it later.

He arrives, initally, into the back alley, away from prying eyes. He pulls out a bottle of dark brown colonge from his pocket and looks at it for a good few moments as he considers.... No regrets! This is important.

"Henshin! Dark Amber Spritz!" he exlciams as there's a large, flowerly cloud of deep, heady scent, and then a wind blowing it all out as 'Dark Amber' takes Kinzo's place. He looks up a moment as he jumps up, and into the air and opens an upper window.

He walks along the upper rafters of the Arcade, he can se below--- hidden by various toys and hangings in the air and the lack of lighting above. He takes a deep breath as he jumps down from the rafters onto the top of some older arcade machine. This may turn the heads of a few folks who are not immediatly buried into a video game.

"DARK AMBER DREAM!" he exclaims out as two billowing clouds flow from his hands, filling the room. Time begins to slow down. Considerably for a lot of the NPCS in the room, and outright stops. For the magically inclinded, or otherwise powered PCs, things just seem to slow down a lot for a bit before returning to normal....besides the layer of brown haze that's filled the room giving everything around it a deep sepia tone.

This is probably not the act of someone intending to help anyone.

Madobe Kuroi goes to the arcade, like, all the time. It's not really unexpected for her to be there for no reason related to Kinzo's NEFARIOUS scheme. In fact, she's lining up to go do a DDR match, naturally avoiding looking at anybody in particular. She has used up a lot of her conversation slots for today.

She sniffs faintly. That scent--that's familiar. It's...Dark Amber!

She draws out her cellphone quickly. She sends a quick pair of texts to Sakura and Tokiko.

MADOBE KUROI: Possible danger at the arcade!

And of course once the dark clouds fill out the room she ducks behind an arcade machine to add the following message: 'It's an attack!'.

She puts her cellphone away quickly, though, to draw out her own perfume bottle--a bright multicolored bottle of Sweet Pea Perfume!

"Henshin! Sweet Pea! Splash!" She's only shouting because it's part of her transformation sequence. She was actually trying to be quiet.

One stock footage later, Madobe is pinked up and ready for battle, her own perfume protecting her from the brown haze.

She stands herself up and points a finger at Dark Amber.

"Dark Amber! What are you doing here?"

She's making demands in an attempt to stall.

TOKIKO AMAGAWA (@yamato1gou): i'm on my way! hold on

Tokiko Amagawa does not, in fact, go to the arcade often at all. She does, however, happen to live relatively close by, and the power she is able to call upon does the rest. She leaps out of her bedroom window, shimmering with golden light as she falls. "Fall in!" she calls out, and the Soldier Angel is on the march.

Sweet Pea is stalling - she'll need that. Hopefully this Dark Amber fellow responds with a good, long declaration of intention, because that's about as much time as it will take before a golden rifle-butt smashes in the window of the entrance door, and a middle-school girl in a white military officer's uniform sweeps in over the broken glass, levelling her battle rifle at whoever Sweet Pea seems to be staring down. "Entering the situation zone, Starry Soldier Angel! Abort this operation or I /will/ open fire!"

Midori Sugiura did like game she loved video games and did come here once and a while to play, she'd even drag some of her friends from university with her. Today she'd come alone just come to relax after a busy week and have some fun right? That's what the games were about. This was not to be and she actually gets this look on her face it's not discounting the danger it's more of a, Im never going to get a break look. SO here she goes again she looks normal enough just an adult here for some gaming perhaps. She wonders why things had slow down for a moment then get back to normal. then the strange haze gets her attention she stares for a moment holds out her hand and a ball of light bursts out of the ground and forms into her Labrys forms in her hand.

"I am the HiME of Wind, state your intent!"

Nanoha Takamachi isn't exactly an 'arcade' kind of girl. But it's a Sunday, there's no school, and after some fun time spent with friends, the little redhead was about to call it a day and head home, deal with chores and homework- and then get in some magic practice.
All in all a good day, and she was actually on her way OUT of the arcade when something started to seem amiss. It might have been the odd way everything slowed down, just then, motions left hanging and eventually set on pause entirely, as everything turns the amber-white tones of Old Time photos.
"H-huh?"
<WARNING. MAGICAL DISTURBANCE.> the red gem on her necklace suddenly chimes.
Well that has her attention instantly. Glancing about quickly, and-- spots Tokiko. Or Soldier Angel, that is, smashing in through the door Nanoha was just about to leave from. "Awuh..."
<DON'T FORGET TO PUT ON THE BARRIER JACKET.>
"--Oh right! Um. Set up!"
<BARRIER JACKET: SETUP.>
A flash of pink and Nanoha is clad in the white-blue and gold of her armored dress, Raising Heart clasped in hand. Looks like she's gonna help! "Aheheh... Hi again."
Awkward.
Well. May as well try and make sense of all this. "Excuuuuuse meeeee!" Nanoha calls up to 'Dark Amber', to whom the others are directing their attention- ans threats.
"You're kind of causing a disturbance... Is there a reason you're doing this?"
She may as well start by asking nicely.

Minako Aino is having a rough day in her opinion. She's trying to recover from it while slouched down in a booth upstairs in the snack parlor. She's been playing games and drinking strawberry cheesecake shakes ('cheeseshakes') pretty much non-stop on her day off and is now paying the consequences.

Eventually, she hears the commotion downstairs and ignores it as the few other patrons do, occasionally commenting sardonically about how the silly tournament boys can't behave once she hears what she thinks is glass breaking, she does stomp to the top of the stairs and shouts something down (mostly so she has a presence amongst the popular kids down there) but only now realizes something funny is going down when she takes a sniff and realizes it's not the semi-pleasant smell of snacks, sweets, and electricity.

The concept of an arcade-- a game center-- is nothing new to Alyce, even if she's quite literally from another planet. What does boggle her is how the games seem to be so... manual. Direct. And of course, as much as she would never outright admit it, she ... likes them. Or, at least, the games that fetch rewards and prizes, such as crane games and the like. Hands in her pockets as she looks up at the sky, she thinks about what would happen if anyone she knew caught her holding a fuzzy toy prize from a catcher.

If anyone asks, she can just say she won them for Nanoha.

The Master Sergeant has yet to make it to the entrance before she hears the familiar voice of her Intelligent Device, the crystal shining brightly.

<SITUATION.>

Not even aware that the baker's daughter and trainee mage is at the gaming center, she makes quick time to the arcade as someone with a rifle goes busting inside and as it becomes clear that there are a /lot/ of people here with magical ability.

"Silver Wind, set up!"

<STERLING COAT.>

Alyce's body is surrounded by a rippling silver-blue pattern that runs down over her body from head to toe. Clad in her Barrier Jacket in a matter of seconds, her hand extends to her side with a stout mechanical wand extending to the full shape of a staff. Lunging around the corner and into the entrance, she catches sight of the scene, of the perpetrator, and of--

"-- Nanoha?!"

Nadeshiko Fujisaki is not...actually, a regular here, despite the fact that she's been here twice in a week. The reasons are somewhat complicated and mostly come down to 'Yaya Yuiki.' Nadeshiko was actually a few shops down, looking over some flower arrangements for an upcoming Ohtori event, when...Temari whispered into her ear that something was Amiss. Something was wrong nearby, and it felt a few stores down. X-Egg? No, nothing like that...probably worse?

Another demon...? Also probably not. Hopefully.

That important exchange established, Nadeshiko offered a smile to the shopkeeper, excused herself quickly ("I have to go fetch something, I just remembered; I'll be back!") and then jogs down the street. Already, there's people showing up; magical girls, she reasons. She doesn't /have/ to act on this, and yet...

It would be unbecoming of a Guardian to shy away from evil!

"Temari!" she hisses. "Chara Change!"

"Of course!" Temari chimes back, and produces her elegant little fan, waving it delicately over Nadeshiko's head. "Chin~! Ton~! Shan~!"

And that's why an 11 year old girl in a fancy plaid cloak, black hair up in a long ponytail and wielding a naginata, suddenly smashes down one of the few surviving windows, and stomps in with her teeth grit and her eyes wide, slamming the heel of her naginata into the tile enough to crack it.

"A'right what the heck is this about!? You mugs better not be hurtin' nobody! And where'd all the color go!? You aren't stealing color, are ya?! We're usin' that, put it back where ya found it 'fore I slice ya real fine!!"

Reminders: This person is a delicate-looking 11 year old girl, other than the slightly terrifying grin.

Dark Amber was expecting to be taking out a few magical, memory stealing colonge bottles and start stealing memories.

INSTEAD, a few of these people are not affected, and not running away scared. This is a problem. It's a major problem. Sweet Pea directly addresses him. He frowns as he looks down upon his Arcade unit perch. Then a few others start making demands. He says pointedly to the Soilder Angel. "I will not." it's very curt sounding.

He looks back down to Sweet Pea and Nanoha. "Bad memories should not be allowed to thrive. I will take them. By force. You would wish to stop this?" he asks. He listens to Nadeshiko ranting. He ignores it.

"Very well." he says as he brings his arms up, translucent Amber blades slide out of thier wrist mounts as he swings them downwards...they seek around the frozen children in the arcade and they hone in on Sweet Pea, attempting to strike her with the blades. Those chains the blades at attached to seem extraordinarly long!

"I'm afraid I can't allow that either," declares the Magic Knight of Wind as Fuu slides back out from the corner she concealed herself in to transform. "Good or bad, memories are part of us, shaping who we were yesterday into who we are today. A traumatic memory can spur someone on to do greater good in the future, so nobody suffers the same harm that someone who endured it did." She glances around briefly; confined spaces like the interior of the arcade aren't good for her methods of combat.

But then, she's also a very versatile fighter when it comes to her wind magic, and if mobility is going to be the problem ...

"Imashime no Kaze!!" (Winds of Admonishment)

A swirling gust of wind leaves Fuu's outstretched hands, flying at Dark Amber and trying to wrap around him - to severely impede his movements. Ideally it would immobilize him completely ... but as long as it at least slows him down, Fuu won't complain.

And here comes the calvary. It didn't take long for other people to show up now did it? Raikari grips the Virtualizer tightly as she pushes herself back to her feet, thumbs the main button and holds it over her head. Everyone is either slowed to a stop or already moving in on the monster, so no one is going to see this as long as she stays in the corner, right?"POWER ON!"

A flash of the same code energy briefly illuminates in the dark fog, but thankfully obscuring the actual transformation. Then Reflective Sentry Kagami jumps out into the open, leveling her polearm at the ready in front of her. "Okay, where's the monster trying to ruin the day of relaxing at the arcade?!" Her visor pulses a few times with a faint glow, trying to accomidate for the obscuring smokiness.

Under normal conditions, Soldier Angel might say something about how memories are precious things, or maybe something about galactic law. But that side of thing seems to be pretty well covered, and besides, she notices - Nanoha Takamachi is here, she just passed by her! Soldier Angel reaches back and pulls an arm around the younger girl's shoulder, and leads her forward in a defensive strafe, her right hand on the trigger of her battle rifle. A wide spray of golden fire erupts from the rifle's barrel, and fortunately enough, it doesn't seem to hurt any of the patrons or damage any of the machines it passes through - though some of the latter do glitch out a bit. Good time for a high score?

Soldier Angel leads Nanoha behind a wide driving game booth, dropping to a crouch and loading a new clip into her rifle. "Hi again," she whispers back with a smile. "Always claim a strong defensive position. Do you want me to call you something besides your name here, did you decide to use a magical girl name?"

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has used Angel Arms on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to dodge Tokiko Amagawa's Angel Arms, taking 17 Fatigue damage!

Sakura Akagi is on her way home when she hears her phone buzz.

She sees a message, from Madobe. It looks like this probably isn't a job for Sakura, though. It's probably a job for...

She goes to a secluded alley, reaches into her little pocketbook, and pulls out a red vial of perfume. Sakura takes a big breath.

"Henshin! Cherry Blossom! Splash!"

The cap flies off the vial, spinning away. Her hand grips around the perfume bottle, and she sprays it toward herself as her body begins to glow in white and gold. First she sprays downward, in a diagonal stroke from shoulder to hip; the spray becomes the collar of a dress. Then she sprays across her waist, which creates an obi sash in brilliant gold. The sash ties itself around her back, in a perfect bow. A short skirt appears under the sash, silk and decorated with cherry blossoms. The dress sprouts sleeves, long and elegant. Then shoes appear on her feet: sandals, with long socks underneath that ride up her legs and stop below the knee.

She spritzes the perfume toward her hair, and her hair changes from dark to light pink. Teardrop earrings appear on her ears, and, finally, the cap of the perfume reappears, spinning into place, returning now as a flower clip that holds her hairstyle.

She slips the perfume into a pocket on her sash, and races toward the Game Center.

She just hopes she can make it in time!

Sweet Pea stares Dark Amber dead on! Okay her knees are shaking a little, but she is actually looking at him which is about 1,000 times more confidence than Madobe usually exhibits. "Bad memories--" She does some posing. "--Make us who we are! All memories are precious!"

Off to the side naginata girl shows up, talking like a virtuous mobster.

Sweet Pea looks at her for a few moments, distracted--and--that girl!? That's that other girl who was with--

Before she can say anything to Nanoha, Dark Amber is attacking! She steps forward, thinking Dark Amber is attacking teh chilluns before they suddenly swerve to slam into her. She fires off a quick pistol shot at Dark Amber in retaliation, a flower erupting where the pink blast hits!

She stumbles back, though, having taken a hit from the exchange. She breathes out, noticing that Tokiko has arrived! She breathes a sigh of relief. With Tokiko here, this might not be too tough! Of course, she hadn't really thought about the possibility of her howitzer hurting the arcade games. She'll--worr about that when it happens, it seems. Hopefully Cherry Blossom will be here soon. It is always a little tough going into battle without the Cherry Blossom Sorceress!

"I won't make it easy on you!" She shouts back, swinging both pistols forward and firing a quick barrage of shots for Kinzo!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Sweet Pea Strike on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki perfectly counters Madobe Kuroi's Sweet Pea Strike, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter!

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki's counterattack, Amber Blade Toss, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Madobe Kuroi!

Oh.

He ignored her.

Most people who have seen Temari would expect the little shoulder fairy to, at this point, offer delicate advice, like perhaps how to properly not break windows with your sword on a stick please.

What actually happens is Temari, eyes narrowed threateningly, looms over Nadeshiko's shoulder, and rolls up her sleeves. "That guy's not even listening! You gonna take that!? Of course you're not gonna! YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!"

Temari then makes herself scarce while the fighting happens because she is a delicate flower who abhors violence.

Nadeshiko, then, steps back with one leg and sets her naginata, and...

"People need their memories, fool!" she declares, and adds, "OOOORRYAAAAA!" and--are Naginata supposed to be throwing weapons? Because she pitches it so hard there's a visible shockwave of air around its passing, blade gleaming maliciously.

If it does not actually hit Dark Amber what it is going to do is crater the far wall inward, and stick out comically. If it does hit him it will probably hurt a whole lot, but not eviscerate him, because sharp objects are very blunt around here.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi transforms into Japanese Cherry Blossom!

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Throw on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.

Midori Sugiura should not call her Child in a place like this, there would be too much risk for somthing to go wrong, so here she goes. She frowns a bit at his reply to her and she shakes her ehad.

"If this how you wish to do it then I will not hold back."

Midori is now already moving in ziping in and about the frozen arcade goers. Even as she does so she notices Rakari's transformed form again.

"So we meet again, and no we can't seem to get a day off can we?"

Away she goes trying to get in close to the one who cause this? What was his deal? She had no idea but she had a feeling she might find out sooner or later. She makes a quick strike with her element as she attemps to dash by him.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki narrowly dodges Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Throw, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Kinzo Hiroyuki is Quipped! Kinzo Hiroyuki's Fade ability activates!

COMBAT: Midori Sugiura has used Element Swipe on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Midori Sugiura has finished attacking.

Yet again, Nanoha finds herself in a situation that is completely over her head. Clutching her Device in both hands, her attention is nabbed by the call of her name and. "--Ah. Eheh heeeh...~ Um! Hi again!"

Well yes, hello Alyce, Nanoha is here. But the child's lips purse. The clink of gauntlets against the metal haft of her Device sounds off lightly as she grips Raising Heart tighter. He's... Doing what?

"But... You can't just take away people's memories. Even the bad ones, without them th- awawawawa!"

That is the sound of Soldier Angel nabbing Nanoha along. "Uwah!"

Finding herself scootched behind a game for cover, she's left with her hands on her kneess, puffing a quick breath or two as the more experienced Magical Girl imparts a tidbit of wisdom and tactics. "Hi! Um! I haven't thought of one yet!"

She most certainly has been doing her homework. But the staff in her hand chimes, the red gem glowing with a pink light as it speaks up.

<HE IS HOSTILE. MAY I SUGGEST A COURSE OF ACTION?>

"Sure?"

<SHOOT HIM.>

"..."

<IN STUN SETTING.>

"-Oh right! Uh... Magical... Lyrical... ..." ... "Umm." How did tha incantation g-

<SHOOT THE BULLET!>

It would seem that the Device is fine with eschewing an incantation in favor of summoning a pink sphere of light, swerving itself out from behind cover and launching at Dark Amber
.
COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has used Shoot Barret on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki narrowly dodges Midori Sugiura's Element Swipe, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Kinzo Hiroyuki's Fade ability activates!

COMBAT: Minako Aino transforms into Sailor V!

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to counter Nanoha Takamachi's Shoot Barret, taking 12 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki's counterattack, Binding Amber Chain, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Nanoha Takamachi!

Tokiko swings an arm around Nanoha. Before she can say much or do much, the girl is off to one side while others start the bombardment on Dark Amber. Blasts, chains, and gunfire seem a little excessive to her within an enclosed space, but... ghh. If only she had more jurisdiction in this town, more say-so without having to go through the Association!

And Nadeshiko proves herself to be the most insane girl she has met in Japan, so far.

Hefting her staff and giving it a quick whirl, lettering that resembles English scrawls across the surface of the crystal. "Lock him down!" Alyce cries by the time the Device is held in a ready position, the length in both arms.

The Device's voice, deep, male, and with a thick accent resembling English, replies, <SILVER BIND.>

Motes of light shimmer into being to either side of Dark Amber-- high and low-- before they flicker and attempt to strike the villain along the arms and legs. Should they strike, they form arcane shackles that attempt to slow him down with each movement he makes!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has used Silver Bind on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki perfectly dodges Alyce Ducati's Silver Bind, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Kinzo Hiroyuki's Fade ability activates!

Sailor V has spent a good minute or two just spying from up the stairs, trying to figure out what all the racket is. While the usual arcade activities involve a sort of dull excitement spread about everybody, the current situation has a bunch of passive, almost motionless patrons lazing about with a few overly excited individuals duking it out - definitely not your usual night out.

Minako's rush upstairs to henshin is interrupted by patrons unaware of the nonsense downstairs, which she is careful not to give away so as to not draw anybody down there. She then dashes outside. Still too many people. Then around back.

Perfect!

A quick henshin later and she's inside (courteous Sailor V-chan always uses pre-broken windows, even if it's awkward climbing in while holding a drink).

"How dare you....... do whatever it is you're doing!" she announces, guessing and praying that Dark Amber is the one causing the trouble (or it's some weird magical girl gang beatdown, which seems unlikely) and chucking her drink in his general direction.

COMBAT: Minako Aino has used a strawberry cheeseshake on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Minako Aino has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki narrowly dodges Minako Aino's a strawberry cheeseshake, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Kinzo Hiroyuki's Fade ability activates!

Kinzo Hiroyuki eyes light up as someone spouts some magical speech---he's no magician, but he knows 'a spell' when he hears it and he attempts to lean up and fling a chain in it's caster's direction, but is heavily way too impaired at the moment now...

Which opens him easily for the Solider Angel to open fire with her rifle. shots impacting Dark Amber's impecable suit. It seems to act as some sort of weird armor of sorts. As Sweet Pea fires, he raises his blades to ward off the shots, they ricochet off the blades, before he throws them from thier mounts at Sweet Pea!--- they probably imbed into Arcade machines behind her. Nothing happens, yet, due to the effects of that weird sepia mist.

He attempts to move out of the way of Nadehiko's Kunai, but all the ...slowdown on him is making him less speedy than he normally is and those blades sort of force themselves into his suit. That hurts. /a lot/.

Which sets him up for Nanhona's blasts easily, and managing to roll to the right, to....get covered in Cheesecake Milkshake?

He hrmphs as he blasts off towards the ceiling. He hangs there for a moment, on his two feet, looking down at the crowd. He speaks directly to Nadeshiko, Nanoha and Madobe. "Bad memories make so much pain in this world." he says motioning to two kids, who are frozen in the middle of an argument. "That friendship will not last...over a simple game." he asides. He motions to a sad girl sitting with a melting milkshake looking bad. "Her father is sick. She's withdrawn from her friends.." he says.

He can smell JCB coming---he knows Sweet Pea can too. He launches down at the Mage. "That will be enough of that, Wizard." he snaps. Before throwing an array of blades in the Soilder Angel's direction.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has used Forget The Darkness! on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has used Forget The Darkness! on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has used Forget The Darkness! on Nanoha Takamachi.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has used Amber Slice on Fuu Hououji.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has used Amber Blade Toss on Tokiko Amagawa.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Raikari Shinkyou transforms into Sentry Kagami!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi fails to dodge Kinzo Hiroyuki's Forget The Darkness!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Madobe Kuroi is Quipped!

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji narrowly braces Kinzo Hiroyuki's Amber Slice, taking 8 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki narrowly dodges Kinzo Hiroyuki's Forget The Darkness!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki is Quipped! Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Flash ability activates!

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa narrowly braces Kinzo Hiroyuki's Amber Blade Toss, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Tokiko Amagawa's Block ability activates! Tokiko Amagawa's Parry ability activates!

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa covers Nanoha Takamachi for Kinzo Hiroyuki's attack, Forget The Darkness!, taking it upon themselves instead!

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa fails to counter Kinzo Hiroyuki's Forget The Darkness!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Tokiko Amagawa is Quipped!

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa's counterattack, Remember the Light, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Kinzo Hiroyuki!

Tracking.. tracking... Ahah, there he is! Finally her visor manages to pierce the weirdness enough to lock onto the guy everyone else is bearing down on. Including a few familiar faces.

Now she just needs to not screw up like she did last night, and everything will be ace.

"Reflective Sentry Kagami, here to lend a hand!" At least for someone like her a mistake like that is just more motivation to try harder, because she's not really the sort to give up easily. "We cross paths again," she adds as she darts past Midori, then plants her feet and spreads her virtual wings to launch herself off the ground, in order to clear the rest of the fighters on the ground and try to come down on top of the monster with her reinforced boots, much like a certain famous plumber would do.

Swords, is it? Fuu's blade materializes in a flash and she brings it up to parry Dark Amber's slash at her, straining a little against the slash - but managing, with some effort, to repel the attack. "Yes, they do make pain for people," she agrees. "But humans are strong enough to overcome that pain, recover from it, and grow past it. Those two may be angry with each other, but they'll remember how well they got along and they'll forgive each other. The girl who's sad will continue to cherish her father, and when he gets better, she'll be all the happier - and the friends she's withdrawn from will reach out to her."

Fuu advances after Dark Amber, launching a slash of her own. "And I'm not a wizard ... the correct term, in my case, is Magic Knight!"

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Sword Strike on Kinzo Hiroyuki.
COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

Yipes! Sweet Pea ducks, the amber slicers crashing into the machine behind her. She takes in a sharp breath--those poor arcade machines! Sob sob.The lecture, well, she listens to it, and she stalls for a moment. Maybe...he has...a...

WAIT IS THAT SAILOR V?!

Sweet Pea turns her back on Kinzo, eyes wide. "Wh--wh--It's Sailor V!" She points at her. "Oh my god!!" She says oh my god in english because the voice actors thought that would be funnier.

Rather than counter Kinzo's lecture, she jogs on over to Sailor V, eyes wide.

"Oh my gosh..." She says to her. "Are you really Sailor V? The /real/ Sailor V?" A blush ripples across Sweet Pea's features as she fishes into her pocket and withdraws...

A nintendo 3ds?

She flicks it open and holds it up so Minako can see. "I'm a big fan! I've gotten all your games! This is Sailor V-Valentine, it's a dating sim fangame... It took a really long time...but I managed to get the SECRET Perfect Ending which is different from the Decoy Perfect Ending the game tries to trick you into picking up and being satisfied with..."

She pushes a few buttons hastily and then shows Sailor V the screen again.

On it there is a picture from the CG GALLERY of the SECRET PERFECT ENDING. It has Sailor V sitting in a heart shaped chair surrounded by a reverse harem. There's the nerdy pretty guy, the SUAVE pretty boy with a flower in his school uniform, the BAD BOY Youma Pretty boy who doesn't--notably--have a shirt on, a childhood friend on the other side, and of course a nice girl sitting up out in front.

"Eheheh.....I never thought I'd actually meet you... And oh my gosh, I get to team up with you too..."

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

COMBAT: Raikari Shinkyou has used Goomba Stomp on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Raikari Shinkyou has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used PERFECT SCORE SAILOR V HAREM ENDING on Sailor V.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Sailor V accepts Madobe Kuroi's PERFECT SCORE SAILOR V HAREM ENDING, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor V is Cheered!

Another magical girl appears at the entrance to the arcade. As the door is staying open for her, streetlights silhouette her in a dramatic way.

She points directly at Dark Amber, her sleeves billowing in a sweet-smelling breeze.

"Dark Amber! If you're here to steal people's memories, then you know that I can't stand for it! To harm these thoughts, good or bad, is still unthinkable! You'll leave us no choice but to stop you... with the power of sweet memories!"

Japanese Cherry Blossom sometimes wonders where all this stuff comes from. It sounded okay, though, at least a little bit. Maybe.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used For Sweet Memories on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

The Soldier Angel nods her head, patting Nanoha on the shoulder with approval. She rises back to her feet, still training her battle rifle on Dark Amber; when his amber blades come inward, she pushes the rifle forward sideways, deflecting the force of the weapons, though they push her backward. She waves a dismissive hand to the side before Nanoha. "They all talk a big game," she says. "Memories are what build us and make us strong. The hard times push us to keep walking forward..." Though she says these words to keep Nanoha's spirits up, she herself drifts off in her mind to the hardships that her own friend has faced. When she thinks about it, she can't think of anything good that's really come of Yoshirou's loss...

She furrows her brow, scowling at the villain who's indirectly attacked her friend in this way. Gloves are off. She throws her arm out to the side, and when she draws it back, she's carrying a long white weapon with a golden warhead sticking out the end. "Sometimes," she begins quietly, "we're all weak. Sometimes I'm weak too." She raises her voice now, as she raises the weapon towards the ceiling where Dark Amber hovers. "That's life! That's what it means to live. Weakness is no reason to back away from life. Weakness is precious too!"

"Angel Heavy Arms!" she shouts, discharging the rocket-propelled warhead up into the ceiling of the arcade. The ensuing explosion of golden starlight is indiscriminate, blowing a hole clean through the roof of the arcade.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has used Angel Heavy Arms on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to dodge Sakura Akagi's For Sweet Memories, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Kinzo Hiroyuki is Quipped!

Kunai would be so much less murderous. It was, in fact, a naginata, which is a few feet of sword on top of a few more feet of stick, which is currently stuck into an arcade machine after having ripped into Kinzo.

It isn't bloody because again, this is a child-friendly environment.

Nadeshiko, meanwhile, has to charge across open ground ("ARARARARA--") and then action-movie slide over a bank of arcade machines to retrieve her spear, then whips it up into attack position...though, her eyes do track to the people he's pointing out, eyes dimming. Of course, he's not...wrong, that memories make us who we are, but...hmph!!

"You'd just have 'em run away, then!? No! You won't even let them be their own coward! AAARYAAAAAAA!"

That would be the sound of running at Dark Amber and leaping up at him with a powerful sweep of her naginata!

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Flourish on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to dodge Tokiko Amagawa's Angel Heavy Arms, taking 39 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to dodge Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Flourish, taking 8 Fatigue damage!

Alyce frowns. He's moving... faster than she had thought. He's also more resistant than she had anticipated to her magic!

Fortunate enough to not yet earn the ire of Kinzo, she stands her ground-- even when the well-known Sailor V makes her appearance! Alyce's eyes tic toward the girl, trying to take in details to memorize later; images are snapped and tagged quickly by Silver Wind of as much of the game center as possible.

"Track him!"

<SILVER BULLET.>

Shifting her stance and holding the staff lower, a swell of light forms at the tip of the Device before it lets loose with a brisque popping noise not unlike the sound of a small hold-out pistol going off. Hooking between machines and jetting about at odd angles, the bolt of magical force comes in and attempts to strike him from high and behind!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has used Silver Bullet on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki narrowly counters Alyce Ducati's Silver Bullet, taking 12 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki's counterattack, Amber Seeker, partially gets through, doing 3 Fatigue damage to Alyce Ducati!

Sailor V claps her hands and turns her eyes away from the action to Sweet Pea, suddenly all smiles. "The secretest ending is the kissiest ending. I get to be, uh, special friends with everybody I should be friends with and even the people I -shouldn't- be, heee," she says, grinning cheesily. "It's really a positive message for today's youth in an increasingly multi-cultural world!"

"The friendship, not the kissing. Pay attention to the ratings! Anyways, did you want me to sign that your game for you? I mean, not now, but in a little bit? I mean, too much risk of friendly fire for the eminent Sailor V-chan to jump into the middle of things right now-- oh gawwd, rocket! Take cover!"

COMBAT: Sailor V has used AUTOGRAPHS! on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Sailor V has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi accepts Sailor V's AUTOGRAPHS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Cheered!

Midori Sugiura makes notes of the name Reflective Sentry Kagami. She's been running into her lately from the looks of it, as they seem quite focused on stopping evil be it something they gained their powers to fight or not. Also wait did she totally Mario stomp? She totally did! Midori smiles inwardly at that. "That's the way to do it!" Sentry! Nanoha, we keep running into each other at this rate we may want to team up!"

Midori avoids using Nanoha's family name at least, she may have to drop the suggestion later she needs to get an alias. Also wait holy cow it's Sailor V? Really? She wasn't just a rumour she's really here. Then she frowns.

"You can not have the good without the bad, without knowing bad times how can you tell the good from the bad and how much to value such! To take away part of someone's life like that is something I will not forgive!"

She's not in a good spot to attack so she does not but clearly Midori is quite passionate about stopping this guy.

COMBAT: Midori Sugiura has used Fires of Passion on Nanoha Takamachi.

COMBAT: Midori Sugiura has used Fires of Passion on Raikari Shinkyou.

COMBAT: Midori Sugiura has used Fires of Passion on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.

COMBAT: Midori Sugiura has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki accepts Midori Sugiura's Fires of Passion, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Nadeshiko Fujisaki is Cheered!

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi accepts Midori Sugiura's Fires of Passion, taking 0 Fatigue damage!

For a moment. Blue eyes follow the guidance towards the arguing friends. Then towards the sad girl. Nanoha is halted, brow knotting as her grip in Raising Heart loosens. Those are some pretty sad sights. And they sort of strike home with the girl, leaving her halted as thoughts stream through her head in a blur. But... It's true. She finds herself glancing up- at Soldier Angel as the other girl snaps back her retort. And memories flood the girl.

A hard slap. A stinging palm. A hair pulling arguement and the apology afterward. The friendship that bloomed as a result.

Bandages and gauze. The disinfectant smell of a hospital room. A tiny girl alone at home. ... A bakery opening. A family reunited.

"Mm... I'm sorry but... There isn't any good without bad. For every bad memory, there are always going to be so many good ones that came from it. If they're really friends, then they'll make up. Maybe her father will get bett-"

<JUST SHOOT HIM ALREADY.>

Well that IS one way of solving it.

"Oh- right yeah."

See? She totally agrees with both Soldier Angel and Midori. And that spurs her decision.

"Something a little more powerful, please?"

<ALRIGHT! CANNON MODE!>

That's when the sphere and semi-circular golden setting shift to a more spear-likg point, pink wings of light fanning out from behind the Device's head.

This is when Nanoha climbs on top of an arcade game. Small fingers grasp the rifle-grip that snaps into place on the Device's shaft and depress the trigger. "Shoooot!"

<FIRING>

The recoil flings her clean off the game case with a squeak as a bright pink beam lances from her Device. "Eeep!"

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has used Heavy Laser on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki narrowly dodges Nanoha Takamachi's Heavy Laser, taking 19 Fatigue damage! Kinzo Hiroyuki's Fade ability activates!

Kinzo Hiroyuki doesn't seem to care the differintating of what Fuu is, just that it's now striking him with a sword, he lifts up one of his blades to ward off the sword as it strikes, while his other comes in for a lower blow, trying to strike across Fuu's midsection......

Then he's stomped on like some minor enemy. He attempts to throw Raikari off him, rolling out , regardless, from that attack. Cherry Blossom shows up. he fails his will check, so all he can spout off is..."No! You're wrong!". He'd probably had something better to say otherwise.

AHe takes a hit to his upper back, and he seems frustrated---he expected maybe one or two possible contacts here, if he was unlucky. This...this is something else.

He flicks his Amber blade into the direction of where the bullet hit him and follows the trail of the bullet, as if following it's scent-----ending up right at it's origin point, probably striking into Alyce for a moment.

Before he gets blased by Nanoha. He picks himself up from the Arcade machine he just got blasted into.

"Ha....!" he says as he looks. "Some memories are good....but the bad ones----they drive people to kill....seek revenge....all the bad things in this world." he says. He watches Sailor V and Sweet Pea exchange pleastries...he goes ahead and attempts to jump into the area and slam down into Sweet Pea, and Sailor V with a series of sweeping strikes with wide, desperate eyes!

He showers a flurry of blades into Naeshiko's, Nanoha's, Tokiko's Sakura's, and Fuu's directions, everyone else gets a pass this turn.

Kinzo Hiroyuki doesn't seem to care the differintating of what Fuu is, just that it's now striking him with a sword, he lifts up one of his blades to ward off the sword as it strikes, while his other comes in for a lower blow, trying to strike across Fuu's midsection......

Then he's stomped on like some minor enemy. He attempts to throw Raikari off him, rolling out , regardless, from that attack. Cherry Blossom shows up. he fails his will check, so all he can spout off is..."No! You're wrong!". He'd probably had something better to say otherwise.

He takes a hit to his upper back, and he seems frustrated---he expected maybe one or two possible contacts here, if he was unlucky. This...this is something else.

He flicks his Amber blade into the direction of where the bullet hit him and follows the trail of the bullet, as if following it's scent-----ending up right at it's origin point, probably striking into Alyce for a moment.

MEANWILE, There's a big hole in the ceiling--oddly, that Amber mist doesn't go anywhere. and the Sepia tone remains the same. That entire attack made Dark Amber's eyes light up, and get blaseted into the ground, with a follow up by Nanoha. He picks himself up from the Arcade machine he just got blasted into.

"Ha....!" he says as he looks. "Some memories are good....but the bad ones----they drive people to kill....seek revenge....all the bad things in this world." he says. He watches Sailor V and Sweet Pea exchange pleastries...he goes ahead and attempts to jump into the area and slam down into Sweet Pea, and Sailor V with a series of sweeping strikes with wide, desperate eyes!

He showers a flurry of blades into Naeshiko's, Nanoha's, Tokiko's Sakura's, and Fuu's directions, everyone else gets a pass this turn.

Oddly, the Amber Mist and the Sepia tone remains the same in the room despite the big hole. Magic. Deal with it.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has used Blade Swipes on Madobe Kuroi.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has used Blade Swipes on Sailor V.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has used Bladestorm on Nadeshiko Fujisaki.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has used Bladestorm on Nanoha Takamachi.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has used Bladestorm on Tokiko Amagawa.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi fails to counter Kinzo Hiroyuki's Blade Swipes, taking 8 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi's counterattack, Flower Shot, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Kinzo Hiroyuki!

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi fails to brace Kinzo Hiroyuki's Bladestorm, taking 9 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki narrowly braces Kinzo Hiroyuki's Bladestorm, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa fails to dodge Kinzo Hiroyuki's Bladestorm, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

COMBAT: Sailor V narrowly counters Kinzo Hiroyuki's Blade Swipes, taking 5 Fatigue damage!

COMBAT: Sailor V's counterattack, Crescent Beam, partially gets through, doing 9 Fatigue damage to Kinzo Hiroyuki! Trap applied to Kinzo Hiroyuki!

Raikari Shinkyou gets tossed off, but she lands in a roll and comes to a stop in a crouch, taking stock of the situation -- Wait was that Sailor V? She's real?! Yes, that's a bit of a surprise, even for someone that's become a magical girl themselves. All that publicity and merchandizing really was larger than life! Coooool.

But there will be time to worry about that, later. First they need to beat this punk and his weird attempt at justifying being a jerk. And trying to chop up some of the other fighters. With a grunt she braces herself in a three-point stance, lifting one arm to dismiss her polearm and clench her hand into a fist. As she does so the gloves trace lines light up, encasing her fist in a corona of code energy. "You want bad memories?"

She pushes herself into a dash, aiming to bumrush Amber while he's trying to ginsu the others and catch him off-guard, and slam the now glowing fist into his back "Let me give you some of your own!"

COMBAT: Raikari Shinkyou has used Gaming The System on Kinzo Hiroyuki.
COMBAT: Raikari Shinkyou has finished attacking.

The secretest ending is the kissiest ending. Sailor V's a pro, Madobe thinks happily. She's even offering to sign her game! Eeee. The roof explodes in the background. Madobe's face remains frozen in :D format. Sailor V will have no trouble moving her into cover, but she might have to pull her a bit. She's so happy~~. "Y...yeah..." She manages on cloud nine.

Speaking of clouds, that amber mist is sticking around here. She is so happy happy happy.

But Dark Amber is determined to ruin this happy memory by slamming down into her and V with sweeping strikes!

It doesn't work though because even getting stabbed while in Sailor V's proximity is a happy memory. She doesn't have a lot of self esteem. She is thrown back into an arcade machine and she sighs happily.

She shakes her head back into the game after a moment's thought. "Ah...right. Well... even if that's so...it's not really your place to seal them away. You didn't even ask them first!"

She dives out dynamically from out behind her cover, firing both pistols as she rolls.
COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has used Viewtiful Pea on Kinzo Hiroyuki.
COMBAT: Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking.

Japanese Cherry Blossom takes a breath through the sepia-toned mist, but she's not in any danger from it apparently.

She'll have to help Sweet Pea out, but... one thing at a time.

Amber's last comment makes her wonder about his crusade. If she could remember what he was talking about... maybe there's a way to talk him through this. But it isn't something that she can immediately recall. She wonders why.

She shuts her eyes, and summons up a memory of her own. She puts her hands together in front of her. Pink petals start to appear in front of her, turning into larger flowers, then forming into a wave of pink light and flowers. The wind turns into a gust as it streaks its floral payload toward Dark Amber. "Cherry Blossom Breeze!"

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has used Cherry Blossom Breeze on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Sakura Akagi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki perfectly counters Raikari Shinkyou's Gaming The System, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Counter!

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki's counterattack, The System Games Back, bursts all the way through, doing 21 Fatigue damage to Raikari Shinkyou!

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki narrowly counters Madobe Kuroi's Viewtiful Pea, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Psyched!

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki's counterattack, Cross Counter, partially gets through, doing 3 Fatigue damage to Madobe Kuroi!

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki narrowly counters Sakura Akagi's Cherry Blossom Breeze, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Tangle applied to Kinzo Hiroyuki!

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki's counterattack, Cross Counter, partially gets through, doing 10 Fatigue damage to Sakura Akagi! Critical Counterhit!

It's the first time Fuu has had occasion to really test Clef's 'armor,' but it seems to pay off; while her visible chest armor is just a band across her upper chest, about where a two-piece swimsuit would need to cover, the cloth below it is somewhat more durable than the typical school uniform that it seems to have been derived from, and Fuu gets off with little more than a shallow cut on her belly - easy enough to heal with Iyashi no Kaze, when she has a chance.

For now, she can endure it - and as the fight is shifting away from her for the moment, she takes stock of the situation. This really *is* a difficult fight for her, in such close quarters ... and Imashime no Kaze wasn't as effective as she'd hoped it would be; she'll need to work on that. What else can she do ...

She picks her way around and over the game machines, and tries to stab into Dark Amber's shoulder while he's focused on another opponent.

Chivalrous? Absolutely not.

Sneaky? Yep. Well, maybe.

Pragmatic? ... yeah, let's go with that.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has used Sword Strike on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to counter Fuu Hououji's Sword Strike, taking 8 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki's counterattack, I Remember, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Fuu Hououji!

"Yes," Soldier Angel says, with a pump of her fist. "Direct hit on hostile!" She gets all excited about rocket launchers. So excited, in fact, that she's caught flatfooted in Dark Amber's counterattack, pinned against the wall by amber blades! She attempts to pull an arm out from the wall, but the blades are embedded deeply, and she's going to need a little help getting down. Drew a little blood, too.

"Good shot," she mutters grudgingly to Dark Amber. "But is that what you really believe? Seriously?? Are you that dumb? Bad memories drive people to kill? Can you imagine what you're saying about people, good people who've suffered through much? What do you say to the boy who's lost everything and decided to keep on walking and pursue his dream? Would you take those bittersweet memories away from him, remove the reminder he has of that past he loved, because you're afraid he's going to snap? You're the one who's snapped!"

"Can somebody help me down from here, these are wedged in pretty tight," she adds.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has used I Believe in Yoshirou on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to dodge Tokiko Amagawa's I Believe in Yoshirou, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Tokiko Amagawa is Psyched!

Dark Amber...this guy, who even is he!? Also, who carries a giant bazooka around!? Honestly! These lower districts are so much more chaotic than Ohtori. She'll need to talk to Tadase about taming them when they take over the world.

Ther's a harsh exchange of blows; Nadeshiko escapes without serious injury, although she can feel how close some of those strokes came before she battered them aside with her naginata's weight. She isn't the type of highly-acrobatic magical girl who does a thousand backflips between every exchange; she jerks back, re-establishing her guard and trying to sense where Kinzo's going, but...that mist isn't receding! These people are in danger...!

So his plan is to take all their bad memories...that's crazy!? And yet...! She stares up, eyes wild. He's bigger, stronger, but she has - more heart!! She doesn't actually say anything, just sort of, well.

Emits a horrible animal roar and starts flailing her naginata at him with rapid, punishing stroke! "C'MERE, I'LL GUT YOUR GIZZARD 'FORE I EVEN LOOK UP ONE OF THOSE IS!! HAAAA!"

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has used Naginata Flurry on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Nadeshiko Fujisaki has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki perfectly dodges Nadeshiko Fujisaki's Naginata Flurry, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Kinzo Hiroyuki's Fade ability activates!

Midori Sugiura :has to admit that Nanoha's got quite a bit of power there, that's one heck of a magical laser staff she's got there. Though the recoil makes her cringe a bit. Hopefully Nanoha is all right.

"She totally real Sentry, as much as i want to get her autograph myself let's focus on the matter at hand."

Midori has controlled her inner fan girl today, somehow. After all and she looks at Kinzo for a moment.

"That may be true but they are a part of what we are. Bad memories can also drive someone to prevent such from happening to others, motivate someone to stop something horrible."

Midori's moving in with her element and makes a far more forceful strike at Kinzo before flipping away again. Seriously things are coming out of the wood work this week, Midori might end up having to miss a shift at this rate from being tired out.

COMBAT: Midori Sugiura has used Element Slice and Dice on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Midori Sugiura has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki perfectly dodges Midori Sugiura's Element Slice and Dice, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Kinzo Hiroyuki's Fade ability activates!

Sailor V was originally content to stay in the background and talk to her newest fan but quickly found that agenda interrupted by jumping Dark Amber's significantly less friendly blades. All of her effort to drag her new friend into cover away from fights and blades and RPGs and now he's got to come over here and ruin it.

She raises a single hand like a knife and creates a single yellow beam of light that glances off of Amber's weapon; it works so well, Sailor V does it again. And again. And again. She retreats a step or two with each exchange but considering new-friend isn't skewered and she's barely touched, it's a fair exchange.

Then, she waves her hands about as a distraction and shines her compact (also as a distraction) which flashes all brightly around her! Less impressively, she jumps away, creating an opening from D.A. (maybe) and landing on Soldier Angel (definitely), intending to try and dislodge the poor girl from a wall.

"Don't just hang around! Come on down!"

COMBAT: Sailor V has used Moonlight Shower on Sailor V.

COMBAT: Sailor V has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Sailor V accepts Sailor V's Moonlight Shower, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Empower and Withstand applied to Sailor V!

COMBAT: Miyu Oyanagi has fully healed herself.

H-huff.

Okay Nanoha is really going to have to get a hang on keeping her balance and bracing for that ridiculous recoil. Because she's only now just picking herself up from where she's left a tiny Nanoha-shaped hole in a nearby video game. "Ah... Ow, geeze."

<NICE SHOT.> Raising Heart compliments, at least. Before calling out the warning. <LOOK OUT.>

"Huh?" Blue eyes glance up. And they shoot wide open when Nanoha sees the flurry of blades streaking right for her. At least she's up on her feet now, just in time to hold up her staff.

<PROTECTION.> Raising Heart proclaims, erecting a shimmering wall of pink light in front of the child. The blades dig into the barrier spell, and for a moment it seems like it might hold. Before thin cracks and fractures begin to form- and then it shatters like glass. And the girl's yelp of pain is followed by a backwards slump as several of the sharp implements embed themselves in the girl's Barrier Jacket- and then into the girl beneath, soaking the white fabric a slick red.

"Nnh..." She's staggering to her feet a few beats later, going so far as to pull one blade out of her shoulder with a gasp.

<ARE YOU ALRIGHT?>

"I'm... I'm okay."

<GOOD. BIND HIM SO THAT THE OTHERS CAN HIT HIM HARDER.>

"Right."

Swapping the staff to her left hand she gives it a wave, text begins to flow across the gem of her staff in a flowing white font as the Device calls out: <RESTRICT LOCK!>

Bands of pink light bear down, attempting to wrap Dark Amber's wrists and legs and slow him.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has used Restrict Lock on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Nanoha Takamachi has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to dodge Nanoha Takamachi's Restrict Lock, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Nanoha Takamachi is Psyched! Tangle and Trap applied to Kinzo Hiroyuki!

"Tch!"

Alyce shifts her staff into a defensive position; the blade deflects along the edge of the mage's weapon before a glancing blow to her shoulder. The magical fabrics withstand the blow quite well, but it still leaves a slice through the blue accents of the silvery-white coat.

Ducking low, running between cabinets and crane games, the TSAB Sergeant's legs swing out low and she slides behind a classic dual-seat racing game-- she's circling, trying to get a bit closer to Nanoha before she steps out alongside the girl in the midst of her spell.

"Good job! Now, to shoot him down!"

<STARFALL!>

Six orbs of silvery-white light, small spheres of mana, form in a flanking formation behind Alyce. One hand held forward, staff extended, her eyes close with a degree of concentration.

<FIRE.>

Much like the single shot before, the six orbs blast ahead like high speed projectiles... but curve outward to odd angles, homing in and attempting to collide on Dark Amber all at once with impressive force!

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has used Silver Starfall on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Alyce Ducati has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to brace Alyce Ducati's Silver Starfall, taking 35 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Stun applied to Kinzo Hiroyuki!

Kinzo Hiroyuki listens to Raikai.... the rage on his eyes in /incomprehensible/ as Raikari insists he's going to give him more bad memories, he responds with this with such a strong, overpowering attack that it just outright cuts through that fist with those blades, slicing both out. "You cannot possibly comprehend a thing!" he says.

He listens to Tokkio but does so only as he leaps onto a series of Arcade units. He continues to run----fast. You can't see him do it as other attacks chime in and he stops, to slice through the air with a series of cross shaped armber energy slices, into Madobe and Sakura's attacks. He then gets to running again, to avoid Element slices coming in.

Though that strong binding strike comes in strong., which more or less paves the way for Alyce's attack to hit him head on, quite strongly.

This causes him to slide into the wall, and shake that specfiic wall a bit. He gets up, he's panting now.....

"I can't...." he jumps onto the Arcade machine, he's making a run for the upper levels---he's gonna try to escape out that hole in the roof.

Cherry Blossom raises her own hands to block Dark Amber's counter, but this distraction allows him to try to slip away.

She isn't casting another spell, but she does try to follow up, leaping onto one of the machines and then up to the stairs. Maybe she can catch up, but, he's pretty fast!

She would rather talk to him about this than finish him off, but some girls probably have other ideas.

Truth be told, visibly pissing the guy off was almost as good as hitting him. Because pissed off enemies tend to get careless in their anger. That or the other people fighting are really good, as Sentry Kagami got intercepted and tossed off again, but everyone else piled in on Amber bad enough to make him retreat after she got her verbal barb in.

The unicorn-girl smacks into the side of a game cabinent, groaning and shaking her head a bit to try and clear it. Hfff. Well at least she didn't get blasted entirely out of the battle this time.

Looks like Amber is trying to make a run for it. "Not so fast, not after causing that much trouble are you gonna just hit and run!" She springs to her feet fully, the trace lines marking her horn starting to glow in the same manner as her gauntlet did a few moments ago. "Purging... Unicorn..." The energy aura spikes, crackles, and then blasts a bolt of it hissing with purifying energy after the fleeing feind. "Pulse!"

COMBAT: Raikari Shinkyou has used Purging Unicorn Pulse on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Raikari Shinkyou has finished attacking.

Okay, Nanoha's caught her breath again but... "Ah...?" He's trying to get away? Glancing up just in time to see Kinzo start leaping for higher levels, Nanoha is left frowning. "He's getting away..."
And then Alyce says to shoot him down.

"Raising Heart?"

<YES?>

"Can you make it go even farther?"

<IF THAT IS WHAT YOU DESIRE.> The Device replies.

If he gets away, he could try doing this to more people. That would be pretty bad. And this time, Nanoha braces herself. Propping against a nearby wall, she plants her feet and takes aim. A magic circle forms beneath her in pink light. Wings of pink spread from the neck of her Device as the trigger clicks into place again. <FIRE WHEN TARGET LOCK IS ACHIEVED.>

She aims. "Maybe we can try talking to him?"

<IF HE IS SHOT DOWN.>

She aims. And... Click.

She pulls the trigger.

<DIVINE BUSTER... EXTENSION.>

The resultant pillar of pink light that fires off from the staff is... Pretty huge.
Also with a squeak, Nanoha is flun back again. ... Smashing a tiny Nanoha-shaped hole through the wall and flinging her clean through it.
She'll... ... She'll get it, eventually.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to dodge Raikari Shinkyou's Purging Unicorn Pulse, taking 48 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cripple applied to Kinzo Hiroyuki!

"Whumph!!" Soldier Angel is knocked down from the wall by Sailor V's graceful landing. She tumbles onto the floor and recovers, looking up at her co-Tuner with mixed gratitude. "Thanks, I guess..." she says. Could you make it a little lighter next time?? She narrows her eyes, though, as from her floor vantage point she sees Dark Amber trying to escape. "He's getting away," she calls out, and reaches over her back, drawing out a white canister which she hurls into the air. Drawing a magical handgun to level upon the canister, she waits until its arc passes over where Dark Amber is, and fires, igniting the canister in a disorienting shower of light. "NOW!" she barks out.

COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has used Starry Flashbang on Kinzo Hiroyuki.
COMBAT: Tokiko Amagawa has finished attacking.
Sweet Pea whews faintly faintly, seeing her shots take purchase on Kinzo. She's hurt back, but not majorly. This is honestly the best fight she's had so far in terms of capability.

She turns to go help Tokiko but as expected, Sailor V already has it handled.

She turns, seeing Sakura rushing after Kinzo. "I'll be right back!" She yells at Sailor V, intending to rush after Sakura. She doesn't open fire, intent on following the team leader's lead. So to speak. Even if that's a team of 'two'.

Aheh...heh. "Blossom-Chan! Wait up!"
COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to brace Tokiko Amagawa's Starry Flashbang, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Stagger applied to Kinzo Hiroyuki!

Fuu rises to her feet, perching semi-precariously across the tops of two arcade machines, and lets her sword disappear back into her glove-jewel as she looks at Dark Amber trying to escape. And there's a nice big hole up there in the ceiling/roof ...

The wind kicks up around Fuu, tugging at her clothes and hair as she gathers her magic. "Dark Amber-san, wasn't it?" Fuu asks with a relatively friendly smile - considering she's revving up to send him flying. "Keep this in mind ... we won't let you do as you please to anyone's memories, not here, not in this city - not in this *world* if we catch you at it! Think about that on your trip home ... Midori no Shippuu!"

She unleashes the Emerald Typhoon, and the gusting winds reach out to grab hold of Dark Amber, buffet him with gale force ...

And maneuver him under that hole he was trying to get to before launching him out into the open sky.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Fuu Hououji has used Midori no Shippu: Full on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Fuu Hououji has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Finisher, Midori no Shippu: Full, taking 42 Fatigue damage!

Nadeshiko's rampage of naginata swordings doesn't really work. He just kind of moves! She keeps screaming and slicing because that's really all she's actually good at during a Chara Change, honestly.

If we're being legit, her chara change is a little less 'yakuza thug' than it is 'axe murderer'.

"OH YEAH!? WHERE YOU GOIN', SPARKY!?" Nadeshiko yells after the retreating Dark Amber, waving her naginata around one-handed in total defiance of all safety concerns. "YOU THINK I'M LETTIN' YOU GO!? I HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED TO CUT YOU YET!"

And then Alyce does some magical bomb thing.

And then Nanoha sends herself flying through a wall with a magnificent pink blast.

She looks down at her naginata, then at the hole Nanoha left, and then...laughs like an insane pirate. "THAT'S THE SPIRIT! AAHAHAHA! TAKE ONE O' THESE WITH YA!!"

And then she hurls her naginata up through the hole in the roof again.

She has a hell of an arm on her, it leaps like a bullet. Look she only actually has this one ranged option, ok...

Her spell strikes home; Kinzo hits the wall and slides. And then, with a few deft moves, he's attempting to make his escape. Her eyes opening, Alyce makes a few quick steps as though she intended to follow him, but then...

<WATCH YOUR HEAD.>

Turning a bit, she sees Nanoha, Raising Heart, and... well, a /really big blast/. Given, others are throwing their own assaults, but the small girl is then quickly thrown by the recoil of the mana release and the explosive power behind the Divine Buster. Wait. Nanoha's just a kid. She has /that/ kind of power?

The Sergeant looks briefly chilled by that notion before she snaps her wrist. "Standby mode!" By the end of the motion, the staff collapses into a length more equal to the length of her forearm and hand, the complex paneling made much more simplistic. Hurrying to the hole, she sticks her head through.

"Nanoha? Nanoha!"

Midori Sugiura agrees with Raikari's thoughts on bad memories but she also sees the young man is running. She's not intending to kill him. No she wants to bring him down and prehaps AHEM have a rather stern talking to him. She won't let someone like this just run around sucking out people's memories after all. She has bad memories but the events had lead to good things. She'd not have awoken a HiME otherwise.

She readies her element and line up to throw it like a boomerang even as the other heroes of the day attempt to keep Kinzo from fleeing.

Nanoha was a good kid, and wait what the heck a death laser? Her staff has a death laser, she's also noticed the woman who has a staff much like Nanoha's and Fate's odd that's becoming something of a trend it seems. She'll have to ask about it later, right now she's concerned for Nanoha but the other woman with the staff is going to help her. She'll follow it up soon as the villain is handled. Hit or miss her element would return to her and Midori would catch it. Then banish the weapon from which it came.

COMBAT: Midori Sugiura has used Element Toss on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Midori Sugiura has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to brace Midori Sugiura's Element Toss, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
Sailor V gives Soldier Angel a thumbs-up in celebration of being the ever-helpful sisterly soldier, her other thumb and hand in the air to brace herself against all the bright lights. She goes to tisk at Soldier but just shrugs and points a finger to the sky at the fleeing enemy. "Well, if you can't beat them, warn them," she mutters, contributing to the flash and the bang and the general mayhem with her own bright, all-encompassing flash of light centered... somewhere vaguely 'above the building'.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Sailor V has used Love Crescent Shower on Kinzo Hiroyuki.

COMBAT: Sailor V has finished attacking.

COMBAT: Kinzo Hiroyuki fails to dodge Sailor V's Finisher, Love Crescent Shower, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!

After unleashing her final attack at Dark Amber, Fuu hears a name which catches her attention - and while she's trying to keep an eye out for signs that the villain isn't as fleeing as he seemed to be, she does go over to help the woman (Soldier Angel?) who's calling Nanoha's name. "Excuse me, miss - I have healing magic, so I may be able to help ... in fact, should we gather inside for a little bit? My Healing Wind might also purge the miasma that individual saturated the area with ... but I'm more interested in making sure everyone's wounds are healed before we go our separate ways."

She'd also sort of like to start *networking* properly with her fellow magical girls, and that's kind of hard when everyone splits up and heads home without revealing their identities.

Kinzo Hiroyuki is frantically jumping up and out...he makes it to the hole as everyone unleashes powerful attacks, impacting his form, the structure, among other things----but what really blasts him away, is that one girl with the staff that fires a 'Death Beam' at him, his eyes only go wide as his forms engulfed in the blast----completely enompassed, there's some sort of yell---

In the newspapers, there's a Gazebo in a nearby park that some crazy guy swears was obliterated by a guy coming down from the sky! Who ran off in a hurry into the east....but the actual reason will be blamed on some nearby piece of rubble.

For now, that Sepia hue, and mist is begining to ligten up, times begining to slowly return to normal.....

Soldier Angel climbs back to her feet, hearing a name called out in the confusion. "N-chan, are you okay?" she calls out - Nanoha didn't seem like she'd decided yet on whether she wants folks to know who she really is. She holsters her weapon (which dissolves into the air, so what's the point anyway), and while time is still wonky, calls out, "Area is returning to green zone! Report to the rooftops for medical attention." With that said, she draws out and fires a grappling hook, sweeping herself up through the hole in the roof to touch base with any magical girls who want to stay. Better up here than down in front of the gamers who are returning to normal.

===================================================================

[[Category: Logs]]

2013-10-14 - Known Enemy 2 - Heart of Fusion

2014-03-19T08:55:20Z

Lainzilla:

[[Category:Logs]]
{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Known Enemy II – Heart Of Fusion'''
|-
|'''Summary''': ''So It Seems This Monster JUST WON'T DIE! >.<''
|-
| '''Who:''' [[Sakura Akagi]], [[Madobe Kuroi]], [[Rei Fushigiyo]], [[Erika Inagawa]], [[Hisae Misumi]], [[Aimi Saionji]], [[Midori Sugiura]], [[Syaoran Li]], [[Lera Camry]], [[Fuu Hououji]], [[Michiru Kaioh]], [[Suzu Hamasaki]], [[Eri Shimanouchi]], [[Homura Akemi]], [[Sakuyo Izumi]], Minako Aino, [[Minoke Sato]] with [[Love Guitar Rod]] as Fusion and [[Pink Moon Rod]] as Heart of Fusion!
|-
| '''Where:''' Tama Outer City - Nishitama Park District
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 10/14/2013 - 10/02/2013
|-
|}

 

::'''Love Guitar Rod [Admin (S)] has posed:'''
Over the last week or so, a silver creature has appeared at all three of the major schools across the district; changing its form with each attack received, assaulting people with a violent power...and their own strength turned against them! Always, it whispered, power, more power, more power-- 
 
It's after school. Most students are at their clubs or other duties around town; far away from Nishitama Park District. 
 
Then, the sky parts, and a great silver orb SHOOTS out of the heavens, smashing into the park district's center. People scramble for cover. The news is slow to react, but Dark Twitter and Standardbook immediately light up with reports of a meteor. 
 
The mass in the center slowly, centimeter by centimeter, contracts into itself. And five seconds into this process, the ground around it RIPS upward, torn asunder by the emergence of youma! They stomp away from the sphere, sending bystanders scattering. 
 
And then the sphere rumbles, a deep, resonant roar, "Join with me...become one...IN FUSION!!" 
 
There is a sudden wash of terrible light, a tremendous shockwave ripping away from the sphere, kicking up dirt, debris, sending people flying and trees toppling. And in its wake, a wave of inky darkness seeps away from the ball - a thick, molasses-like soup that still travels at alarmingly good speed. Anything caught in it, be it a food cart, a car, or a person, slowly vanishes beneath it, like an ancient dinosaur sinking into tar. 
 
...That was about two and a half hours ago. Our heroes and heroines have battered their way through the tide of monsters, scattering them like petals before the storm, to the center of Nishitama Park District, where the...CREATURE, waits. The central ground is no longer lush and green; cracked, broken, barren earth is all that waits here. The buildings tilt at odd angles. No sign of life whatsoever...the citizens, either fled or taken. 
 
And then, thundering across the sky, there comes...a girl's voice, from a side street off to one side. 
 
"Now listen here, you weird monster darkness meteor," she calls, her voice echoing through the street and, indeed, all of the streets, as she draws closer to the impact site and the expanding shadow hell. "I don't know what you are, and I don't know where you came from, but if you can hear me, I want you to come out here the hell right now, because you and I are gonna have a little Heart to Heart!!" 
 
Diva Heart's defiant challenge echoes through empty streets. Come out. Face me. Face us. "I would like that. Your heart." 
 
The silver orb compresses, a man-sized skin of tightly-packed silver goop. And then from amid the mass, a slender arm erupts, fist clenching with a powerful creak of muscles that don't exist. A second hand, the fingers flexing. Bones that aren't present pop loudly. 
 
A leg, and then another, each eerily slender as it emerges, stomping into the ground. The central mass compresses again, forming a defined shape - a torso, bulky and with the vague shapes of powerful muscles at its center. A thin neck rising up to a slender head, with bulges to suggest the location of ears. A sharp nose, a harsh mouth; eyes like slits, exposing nothing but red. 
 
The figure rises easily to its feet, and then bounds into the air, slamming down on the grass before its crater. It rumbles, stretching out its fist and clenching it tightly in silent threat. Its voice thunders in the heart as much as in the air, a deep, masculine resonance. The sky above roils - long ago overtaken by an unnatural overcast, a thick purple haze over the sky. 
 
"I am Fusion. I have enjoyed learning your powers, and your hearts. Now it is time to end it. Your power, your self, and your world: They will all become one in me." 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fusion transforms into Fusion! 

 

::'''Syaoran Li [Juuban (4)] has posed:''' 
Syaoran Li...got jumped on by a magical girl! 
 
Syaoran Li...is super mature and not going to light her hair on fire later! 
 
Syaoran Li...has spent the last hour getting healspammed by white mages! 
 
Syaoran Li...is bandaged and back in the fight! 
 
Syaoran Li...reacts to the emergence of the source of all this darkness and destruction with the wit and charm that mark the bloodline of the greatest wizard in history! 
 
>:| 

 

::'''Sakura Akagi [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Japanese Cherry Blossom is exhausted from the ordeal of the battles before. But... with her friends around, and luck on her side, she's had a moment to take a breath, and regain some of her magical strength. Meeting new friends... and fighting alongside old ones, has already given her the power to press on and continue. 
 
She takes a breath, looking down the park at the new creatures that are calling for their blood - no, for their hearts. She stands tall. "We will not allow you--" 
 
"To take away people's hopes. To take away their selves. And to swallow their hearts. For all people have their own paths to walk, and their own memories, which are not for you to devour!" 
 
"You'll face..." as pink light builds at her feet, and her hands - "all of us!" 

 

::'''Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
Lera Camry was on patrol again, when the sky split open, and a silve orb burst forth from the heavens and struck the ground. In the distance, she stared, seeing the shockwave send things and people flying, and brought a hand up; dust bursted past, while she got a good look at the inky light that resulted. She started running, then. 
 
Now, she pulls back one half of Soaring Sky, the energy blade tearing away from a monster. She takes a deep breath, trying to ignore the devastation so she can focus on stopping more of it from happening. She pauses when the girl speaks, and then she snaps her head to the side. She sees the silver man approaching. Her eyes narrow. 
 
She fights back a sickened feeling as she raises up both energy blades and stares at the silvery figure; at Fusion. "How strong is it, Soaring Sky?" 
 
<INCALCULABLE. BE CAREFUL.> 
 
Lera points up one of the bronze and black swords; the fiery energy blade between the two crackles with light orange lightning, and she grits her teeth. "We aren't going to let you do this to this world! You... you don't have any right to the dreams, hopes, and lives of the people here!" 

 

::'''Suzu Hamasaki [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Despite having fought the silver monster in the past - when it made its arrival at Juuban, on its very first day - Seafoam Suzu was not present earlier. Or at least not present anywhere anyone spotted her; she was not anywhere near Nishitama when it started, but she felt the surge of power in the distance anyway, a terrible thing that felt like broken dreams and bad desires. 
 
So it may be a slight surprise when, late into the fight, a figure appears. 
 
Seafoam Suzu is already 'armoured up', such as it is (there is no actual armour there). Her hair is badly mussed - maybe she ran into some of the youma on the way here, or maybe she just had some /real/ trouble getting here. But she appears in the distance, running flat-out toward the battle at her top speed, arms pumping as she pushes herself. 
 
"I'm sorry - I'm late!" Suzu gasps, slowing down once she gets closer, able to see whatever it is. She doesn't know its name, of course, but she doesn't need to identify it by name to know it's a danger. "But to protect the dreams of everyone here - I will help you!" 

 

::'''Winterberry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
With this... 
 
Suddenly everything makes about two-hundred and fifty more percent than it did before. Winterberry applies one palm to her forehead, gritting her teeth as she looks at the figure before them. "Fu...sion. Heh." 
 
"Yeah, that figures." 
 
"Fusion... by definition, the result of two or more things coming together to form a single entity. The result of all of our magics coming together to form .. this." 
 
Winterberry does not say 'we're boned', but she might be thinking it. "Splash, gather up. This is going to..." Pause. "Be a bit rough, I think." 

 

::'''Erika Inagawa [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Forever Sunshine had found herself a delicious fruit to eat to restore her energy levels and get ready to go home, this problem presumably being nearly solved. 
 
She answers this resulting challenge thus: 
 
"Mfph." *crunch* 
 
Holding the half eaten apple in her mouth, she bounds up to stand to Cherry Blossom's side, crunching loose the piece of nature's candy and declaring towards the creature, this Fusion, "There's only one thing your plan overlooks, dummy!" 

 

::'''Aimi Saionji [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Warm Vanilla Sugar was ready to go home and relax. The roar of the monster however says otherwise though. This is like one of those animes where everyone thinks its the last episode and all is going well, and then the final enemy returns for one last round! She didn't really like when that happened. It would NEVER happen like that in real life. And yet... 
 
So gathering her strength up along with her friends, she follows after the rest of the Perfume Splash Warriors, nodding. "Yeah, but we can do it. There's nothing that we can't overcome as long as we work together. For love, friendship, and justice!" 

 

::'''Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed:''' 
The weather forecast, so far as Fuu was aware, didn't call for meteors today. But then, it didn't call for them when that big blob of silver landed outside Juuban Public School, or on the days that similar objects reportedly landed at Infinity and Ohtori. So that's not much of a guide to go on. 
 
Still, once the archery club has finished up, Fuu headed out towards the park district, wondering what exactly could have happened and what might be going on right now... 
 
Between archery and travel time, it takes her a while, and as soon as Fuu sees the transformed nightmare sky over the park and its surrounding environs, she pulls on her glove-jewel, letting her school bag disappear into it as she starts sprinting. 
 
"Belief becomes power ... ! WINDS! GUIDE ME!!" She actually winds up running *through* the whirlwind that transforms her school uniform into her Magic Knight armor, plum color replaced by green, actual pieces of apparent *armor* materializing across her chest, over her left shoulder, and around her right forearm, and boots replacing her shoes and (apparently) her socks. Finally, the Escudo sword which Presea crafted for her appears in Fuu's hands, and she charges. "I'm sorry I'm late, everyone - and as for you, Fusion-san, I don't intend to become any part of you! Engulf me at your own peril!" 

 

::'''Diva Heart [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Diva Heart glowers in disgust at the giant, totally ripped goo man as she draws ever closer to him, swinging her microphone lazily in her hand. She casually lifts it to her face again when Fusion is finished speaking, and declares, "I already made your little jobber pal partner tap, so don't think I'm going to put you over just because--" 
 
She stops when other magical girls start catching up to her, and turns to scowl at them, stamping a foot in frustration. "Guys, come on! I was here first! It--" Okay they're not stopping. So, with a heavy sigh, Diva Heart tosses aside her microphone (which disappears in a flash of rainbow sparkles) and finishes her advance on Fusion in four bounding steps. She slows to halt a few steps away from the monster, and hunches forwards, extending her left hand forwards and above her head, fingers splayed, in a challenge of a ~*~TEST OF STRENGTH~*~. 

 

::'''Eri Shimanouchi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed:''' 
Two and a half hours ago, Eri Shimanouchi left a very strange conversation on roses with a very strange girl. Such was her life now.. and then a tremendous shockwave from Tama interrupted her out of her thoughts. "You know there was a time in my life when I would just leave this sort of thing to the authorities." She gives a lopsided smile, chuckling dryly before ducking into an alleyway. Invoking her soul gem, her thorned vine whip appeared within her hands, coiling around her in circular motions as she pirouetted.. and stumbled against a dumpster, nearly falling inside, as she changed from the feet up to the crown of her head. Closing her eyes in embarassment she states, "Well, I don't think that was quite what Tomoe-sempai meant when she said you need to have a sense of style." She looked chagrined, just before she headed to the park district as quickly as she can. 
 
Now, after teaching a few of monsters what it feels like to get punched by a tree(Hint: It smarts.) she'd mostly been conserving her magic on the way here. Doing what she'd been taught. The less used dealing with the small fry the better. The challenge sounds, and Eri Shimanouchi listens to Fusion's reply, "Despicable." 
 
She watches it change into two vaguely man sized figures, giving each an analytical look, as if speculating upon the best avenue of attack. She remembered how the spheres had absorbed her magic from the previous battles, and puts the duo of trees with her back into dormancy, as they root themselves both within a patch of soil away from the battlefield. 
 
She listened to speculation from the other magical girls, before stating, "It might be still within the early stages of its growth. If it can use our magic, then it probably can't use it effectively yet, or will be forced to do so piecemeal, one type at a time. Try to look for openings..." Her voice was mostly cold and analytical, but then it softens, as she states in a worried tone, "...let's all be careful out here. Noone gets left behind!" Inwardly she wished Homura was here. Because.. she probably would know what to do. 

 

::'''Madobe Kuroi [Juuban (7)] has posed:''' 
"Fusion!!" Sweet Pea shouts. "You made a mistake by giving us your name, because now you're no longer an unknown enemy, you're a known unknown enemy!" 
 
She nods once--and then admits, "Uh...so...how do we beat it...? Ahh whatever... we'll find a way!" 
 
Her eyes sparkle. Oneechan is so good at these speeches. She applauds for it politely, spinning her pistols around her hand a moment after. "You'll pay for using adorable egg fairies for your evil schemes!" 

 

::'''Homura Akemi [Ohtori Academy (8)] has posed:''' 
When the massive silvery orb comes crashing from the heavens it sends the conspiracy theorists, the paranormal enthusiasts, and fans of the supernatural up into a furor. Shakey, blurry footage. Hastily produced and typo-ridden reports in 140 characters or less. Pictures of quality almost as bad as the video, and all of this will give the debunkers of the world plenty to work on in the coming weeks. 
 
There were many first responders on the scene. Brave boys and girls, men and women, who put forth the full force of their fighting spirits to force their through the monsters and to the center of the Nishitama Park District. All the while there was one person who was absent: The one who during the battle at Ohtori Academy against the strange creature advised against attacking it. Who, in fact, seemed to know more about the creature than most. Who predicted that it would consume their powers in order to increase its own. 
 
The figure of Homura Akemi stands atop a building overlooking the Park District. Her long dark allowed to blow freely in the breeze. She stands alone... 
 
... though to her eyes there are several figures present around her. One in particular carries some sort of elegant stave or rod in hand and is looking at the sphere off in the distance. "There won't be any need for that." Homura says to herself. For who else could she be talking to? "I will fight it in your stead." 
 
And then in a blink, Homura is gone. She will appear again before long. But where? 
 
Wherever her 'statistics' has determined she is needed most. 

 

::'''Michiru Kaioh [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed:''' 
Michiru Kaioh suspected nearly everyone would be on route to this place. 
 
Michiru was traveling to her afterschool volunteer work when the sky parted, and an orb descended, the tide of monsters spilling from it. Michiru needed a short amount of time to respond to a different threat, before she could make her way here, to the park. 
 
Sailor Neptune arrives. If there straggling monsters, Neptune would deal with them as she sees fit, the young woman stepping up towards the center of the park in her shapely heels, admist the gathering of her fellow soldiers. 
 
Late? Never. Sailor Neptune always arrived exactly when she was needed, the woman narrowing her eyes on Fusion as she approaches the fringes of the group. 

 

::'''Sakuyo Izumi [Ohtori Academy (9)] has posed:''' 
Sakuyo Izumi has waited. 
 
She has waited too long, it seems; this monster is much more powerful than she anticipated, stirring a great storm over Nishitama. She has proceeded through the crowd of lesser monsters, shifting and blurring in quick steps around their attacks, ignoring them as if they were flies. Her blinkering approach permits her to step forward seemingly from nowhere, placing a hand on Eri's shoulder from behind. Who...? 
 
"This time," Sakuyo says quietly, "together. Alright?" 
 
The girl's not a Tuner anyway, Sakuyo tells herself. She's no competition for the bounty... she'll go with that. She regards Fusion with an impassive glance, her coat billowing in the stormy winds. 

 

::'''Minako Aino [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed:''' 
Sailor V may have been one of the first to arrive, but she intentionally hangs back at a distance for others to catch up and get as comfortable with the situation as a dangerous crashing meteorite alien threatening everybody let you be. She eventually reveals herself by enjoying a languid stroll through the recently ugly-fied remains of the park and positioning herself distantly from the crater, so she can hear (but not really listen to) the silvery enemy. She's more concerned with addressing those others around the periphery of the impact crater who intend to fight. 
 
"Evening, all," she says, adjusting her mask and flicking her hair in an extra-cocky gesture. "Sailor V is here to take charge of the situation! Somebody competent come over here and help me get us organized~" she sings out, raising her voice so it carries over the general din and shouting and background noise of the place. 

 

::'''Midori Sugiura [Ohtori Academy (S)] has posed:''' 
Things had been pretty crazy, and it seems that hings re far from over. She's beeen presed hard but she's still ging however it seems that something else is going on. She looks up at Fusion. 
 
"So that's your game. I have no intention of allowing you to have your way. I am the HiME of the Wind and I will stop your mad plan. If not me many of the others who stand here. 
 
She summons her element again, it bursts out of ground and he takes hold of it. 
 
"So shall we get to it then." 

 

::'''Sailor Sagittarius [Juuban (9)] has posed:''' 
Descending from the sky is everyone's favorite gravity senshi Sailor Sagittarius. She performs a slow descent, upside-down as usual (and as usual, her skirt doesn't flip up or her hair, it's like down is up and up is down for her.) She watches the situation, frowning. "Become one with you? No way in hell. I'll squish you like a grape first," she calls out, as she prepares herself for hopefully a better time in combat. 

 

::'''Heart of Fusion [Admin (S)] has posed:''' 
"Magical girls..." muses Fusion, his blood red eyes somehow flicking across the landscape without seeming to move at all, as they have no obvious pupils, no irises, to track. He seems indifferent to all speeches, or gestures. Power rises off of him like steam, and it's familiar; pink and blue and yellow and every other color between, energy absorbed from countless girls who thought they could stand up against him, and fed him instead. He is more than he ever would have been, because of those... donations. 
 
"I never knew you would come here so quickly... I can save time!" Flexing his immense, rippling chrome muscles, an aura appears behind him -- composed of most every type of youma that has been defeated in Tokyo in the last few weeks, since the Long Dark Night. Since the extradimensional forces of Dark Fall converged en masse. 
 
Is this what was left behind after every such defeat? 
 
"All your power will become mine... you will be one inside of me. Everything becomes one! All the pain that comes from misunderstanding... all your worthless, different personalities... as one, people won't attack you, and you won't have to be hurt! As you hurt now... from each and every small failure in your lives." 
 
He is evidently still fluid in form -- for in an eyeblink, he splits apart into dozens of smaller pieces, then reforms behind and above the group! With a snap of his fingers, purple lightning courses across the assembled warriors, cleaving them in half... and the half closes to him has a second bolt thrown, creating an orb. An orb of darkness. 
 
When the spots of brightness fade from even beyond eyelids, it is clear: they have vanished. They ones trapped within the orb are gone. 
 
But, gone where? 

 

'''Scene Change Go!''' 

 

::'''Heart of Fusion [Admin (S)] has posed:''' 
It is not quite black here... it is more purple, a rich, dark color that is thoroughly associated with Trouble, capital T, in so much of the multiverse. There is a great energy trapped in the color, but it is such a vast landscape that it feels more like a great emptiness -- there are no walls, there is no ceiling, just misty violet as far as the eye can see. Endless shadow. 
 
Except below. The ground is truly without color, black as night, black as pitch, ebon darkness. Fusion is here, too, the same deep-voiced being that looks like an off-color Oscar. 
 
"Now... lose yourselves to eternity!" 
 
This time, there's no fingersnap of warning. The ground simply loses its solidity, becoming thick, viscious, sticky... rather like quicksand, albeit without the gritty aftertaste. It clings and tears at all it touches, and those least sure of themselves, it starts to drag down the fastest, for it is the abyss of despair. 
 
Fusion's dark, baritone laughter fills this netherworld as he crosses his arms, arrogantly, to observe what happens next... 

 

::'''Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed:''' 
Getting engulfed like that does surprise Fuu - really, how would it *not* surprise her? - but she recovers quickly, her normally-friendly expression hardening as she raises her sword. "Don't say I didn't warn you, Fusion-san .. and don't assume you can dispose of us that easily! I gained my magic in a world where belief is power, and the strength of one's will determines what is to be ..." 
 
Her sword disappears, replaced by her bow, and she reaches back for an arrow from the quiver that just materialized. 
 
"... and we wouldn't have been chosen for our quest if our wills were weak!" she finishes, drawing the arrow back and loosening it in a shot straight at Fusion's face. No magic (yet), just an arrow full of Fuu's belief and willpower. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has used Basic Archery on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
<UNKNOWN REACTION! BE CAREFUL! IT IS--> 
 
Soaring Sky's warning comes too late for Lera. Purple lightning shoots past her and she yelps, raising a hand, and then the orb of darkness forms and sucks her into it. The red-haired young woman appears inside, standing on the pitch black ground, and looks up at Fusion. Her eyes narrow, angrily, and then she feels the ground beginning to sag under her, threatening to pull her in. 
 
"Our personalities are not meaningless! What right do you have to come to this world--to say and do such things!" she yells up at Fusion. "Fuu's right! We'll show you what we can do! Soar! And shine!" 
 
<MIRAGE CHARGE.> 
 
A red-orange magical circle appears underneath her, tracing a triangular pattern out. It fires into the air, and a bright red glow appears around her for a moment. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry has used Mirage Charge on Lera Camry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry accepts Lera Camry's Mirage Charge, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Accelerate and Empower applied to Lera Camry! 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Basic Archery, taking 7 Fatigue damage! 

 

::'''Sakura Akagi [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Trapped in the orb, Japanese Cherry Blossom has found herself with her team and friends in this strange, new place. 
 
This is unlike anything in her experience before. She searches her heart to find something similar in her memories but she can't. For a moment, she feels fear. 
 
And then, there is no time for it. The ground beneath her begins to tremble, falling away and becoming tearing sand. 
 
Cherry Blossom leaps into the air. She has to keep jumping, just to keep her feet on something solid, until she casts a quick spell. "Cherry trees - aid me!" A long branch, white, and covered with pink blossoms, appears beneath her feet, stabilizing her. She lands solidly on it, and then looks to her teammates. "Now ... let's make this one count! For everyone's memories!" 
 
She points at the form of Fusion, and creates another cherry branch, reaching up to entangle him! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi has used Cherry Branch Bramble on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion narrowly dodges Sakura Akagi's Cherry Branch Bramble, taking 14 Fatigue damage! Heart of Fusion's Fade ability activates!

 

::'''Michiru Kaioh [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed:''' 
A moment ago, Neptune was in a park, slowly coming up upon the group that surrounded the attacking creature. And then that display. As that aura was displayed, Neptune takes a step away, curling one hand into a fist as her eyes widen - and then fall to slits, her fist squeezing so tightly her arm quivers. 
 
Her meandering through the group had brought her too close. Neptune, like many others, was trapped by that orb, and drawn... down? No. Neptune glances towards the ground, lifting up a foot - the ground could cling, could grab, could drag at her -the goo lashing around her ankles and legs, even if her descent into it was slow. 
 
"Beauty would not exist without differences - beauty of heart, of mind, or even of form - to destroy our differences would be to destroy what gives us that," says Neptune, eyeing the Heart of Fusion warily. "I am Sailor Neptune! And I fight with elegance!" she says, pointing towards the being. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Michiru Kaioh has used Act With Elegance on Michiru Kaioh. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Michiru Kaioh has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Aimi Saionji [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
The Orb of Darkness engulfs Warm Vanilla Sugar, among many others. This is, to say the least, disconcerting to her. She frowns and looks around for the Fusion beast in the darkness. 
 
"Lose ourselves to eternity? That doesn't sound very fun, nor nice. Are you sure you want that from us now?" Warm Vanilla Sugar steadies herself, not letting herself feel the fear. Why should she? She's with her friends. Sure, it isn't exactly a nice place to be at, but she can make do. 
 
"Right Cherry! For everyone's memories! For what this thing plans to do with all of them and everything!" 
 
Warm Vanilla Sugar decides that its time to put her Judo to use beyond just defensive moves. She rushes up at the Fusion beast, trying to slam her right knee into the monster as she adapts what she knows with what she's dealing with. Its tricky now really. The goo certainly doesn't help her in moving around and all either. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has used Mae-ate on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune accepts Sailor Neptune's Act With Elegance, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Empower and Surge applied to Sailor Neptune! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion narrowly braces Aimi Saionji's Mae-ate, taking 1 Fatigue damage! Heart of Fusion's Block ability activates! 

 

::'''Erika Inagawa [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Forever Sunshine pauses, mid-apple bite. 
 
The group is surrounded then, by that dark force, and she feels a cold finger running up her spine. The ground is getting tacky, like slowly melting taffy, threatening to crawl up her sandals. Where would she go from there? 
 
Nowhere good. 
 
FORTUNATELY FOR OUR HEROINES, a recovered memory provides the key. Forever Sunshine raises her hand with its half-eaten apple -- and crushes it! The glucose-rich juice runs down her hand, glittering in the purplish light as it falls. Before it hits the ground, Forever Sunshine blurts out, "perfectpralineprana!!" 
 
There is a scent much like baking apples -- and the converted droplets of molten candy land in the goo, providing enough footspace for her to perch on. Precariously. Fortunately -- 
 
"Sweet Pea, can you shoot that thing!? Vanilla, can you like - throw sugar everywhere?! It's super important that you just PUT SUGAR ALL OVER THE PLACE, RIGHT NOW!!" She leans precariously backwards, knees bending. "And as for you, buddy--!" 
 
She points, vigorously, towards the creature, talking fast to hide up uncertainty that threatens to bloom. "You need to stop talking so much trash!!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Breeze on Erika Inagawa. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Breeze on Madobe Kuroi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Breeze on Aimi Saionji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa accepts Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Erika Inagawa! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji accepts Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Surge applied to Aimi Saionji! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi accepts Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Breeze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Surge applied to Madobe Kuroi! 

 

::'''Syaoran Li [Juuban (4)] has posed:''' 
Syaoran Li lifts his left arm, covering nose and mouth with his sleeve as the world around him is swallowed by purple shadow. He blinks as the surroundings change, giving the shadows a nervous glance as the baritone chuckle echoes out. The young magus draws in a steadying breath...and then gives the green-clad girl with the bow a capital-L Look. He knows Japanese are formal, but...calling a monstrous dark demon -san? 
 
>:| 
 
And then the ground begins to dissolve into goo, and the young man springs into motion. One of the main advantages of the Eastern School of magic have over their Western counterparts is that they have the ability to weave mana into a wider range of applications than just blasts of elemental force. The flexibility gives them an edge over their more raw-powered rivals...provided the magus in question can prepare the materials needed to do so. 
 
Syaoran saw this trick hours ago. This time, he is ready. 
 
"Ponderati lucem, peregrinatione," he intones, reversing his sword and gripping the hilt in both hands. The blade glows with a brilliant white energy that pushes against the shadows, beating them back with luminescent light. "Ultra ostium, et signa abierunt!" The goo rises up to the young man's ankles, his fingers tightening on the hilt of his great-grandfather's sword, driving it downward as he calls out the final words. 
 
"/Eieci te/!" 
 
The sword stabs into the ooze and discharges the sealing spell down and outward, pushing outward as far as Syaoran's mana can drive it, reverting as much of the goo to solid ground as he can manage. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li has used Sword of Jinglin Li on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion perfectly counters Syaoran Li's Sword of Jinglin Li, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Critical Counter! Heart of Fusion's Reverse ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion's counterattack, Hyper Absorption, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Syaoran Li! 

 

::'''Madobe Kuroi [Juuban (7)] has posed:''' 
Sweet Pea stirs herself, getting herself up and taking a quick look around. "Ah..? What happened?" She looks to the left, then to the rihgt. "Ah--Cherry Blossom, are yo okay?" She asks as the ground suddenly loses solidity. "Ahh!!" She has to jump ,she thinks, like Mario! She jumps into the air. "Ahhh!" She lands. "Jump!!" She jumps again. "Ahhh!!" And she lands again, this time she manages to not sink in terribly much. Spinning around she swings both guns for the Heart. "Hhnn--here you go!! Sweet Pea... STRIKE!" 
 
She fires two quick blasts. "The power of flowers...are many! You can't eat them all! Our memories are what make all of us different...and that's not bad!" 
 
She pauses for a moment as Erika gives advice. "Yeah!" She shouts. "I can shoot it!" 
 
She spots Li. "Oh!" She adds. "You didn't like kill the little ninja guy! Good job!" She gives Erika a thumbs up. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi has used Sweet Pea Strike on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion narrowly dodges Madobe Kuroi's Sweet Pea Strike, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Madobe Kuroi is Psyched! Heart of Fusion's Fade ability activates! 

 

::'''Midori Sugiura [Ohtori Academy (S)] has posed:''' 
Midori Sugiura just got devoured by the goop? She struggled she tried to get out but well it was like a bad monster movie. She was dragged in she doesn't go quietly and Midori has always been a willful woman perhaps this is why she's able to hang on. She's not instantly consumed as she keep trying to move, she knows it may be time to summon her partner soon. This is not the simple Orphan busting leagues at all for her. 
 
She groups the weapon ass she's moving along. 
 
"I saw this in a movie once, but I'm sure your not one for movies are you?" 
 
Midori idly notes as she keeps trying to move froward. 
 
"Do not give in to this thing, we are the only ones who can keep it from consuming everyone and everything we care about!" 
 
Midori seems to mean it too from the sounds it and perhaps she might inspire a few others? Who knows! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has used Fires of Passion on Fuu Hououji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has used Fires of Passion on Syaoran Li. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has used Fires of Passion on Erika Inagawa. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa accepts Midori Sugiura's Fires of Passion, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Erika Inagawa is Cheered! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji accepts Midori Sugiura's Fires of Passion, taking 0 Fatigue damage! 

 

::'''Winterberry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
Winterberry lands on her feet, her heels clicking on the 'floor' of whatever this world, this place, is. She gives all of the other Splash! girls a thoughtful look, her eyes narrowing as she looks around. "Something isn't right here." She says softly. 

 

::'''Heart of Fusion [Admin (S)] has posed:''' 
Between the idea 
 
Fusion is, evidently, surprised by the temerity of the magical girls; because he moves to contemptuously teleport out of the path of the Magic Knight of Wind's arrow, and when he rematerializes a few feet away, has it sticking straight out of the middle of his forehead. Gooey tendrils, like the eyelashes of an especially disgusting third eye, form and push the arrow further into himself. 
 
And the reality 
 
That mistake doesn't happen twice; Japanese Cherry Blossom's branches are far too slow to envelop his metallic, faux form. Worse, the branches that she summons to stand upon are quickly disintegrated back into the goo, as does Forever Sunshine's candy splatters and Lera Camry's magical circle -- despair cannot be so easily ignored. There are no tricks to avoid what must be confronted. Even Syaoran Li's sealing spell momentarily creates ground... which instantly is consumed by the infinite morass, gone, gone, gone. 
 
Despair is, apparently, really sticky and gross. 
 
Between the motion 
 
So too does Warm Vanilla Sugar's attempt to leverage him off balance fail to do more than merely connect; Fusion glances down at his assailant, then simply flicks her away, fading back into the darkness just in time for Sweet Pea's grapeshot to fly right through the space he had once occupied. 
 
His voice seems to come from everywhere and nowhere -- inside minds, or perhaps more accurately, from inside every heart. 
 
And the act 
 
"You value beauty above the happiness of those around you?" he asks derisively, of those who would act with elegance. "You are a child. You are all children, if you think it is your differences that make the world strong. Look at the suffering those differences have caused!" 
 
With a wave of his hand, ghostly images appear in the purple mist. Some are the same for everyone -- inquisitions and burnings, firebombings and a very specific shape of cloud. There are other, smaller cruelties as well, and these are more personalized; dredging up memories of the times each individual warrior might have been shunned or hurt, or worse, chosen to hurt others, for being different. Large or small, all sins are brought before each heart to be weighed and measured by the harshest judge of all: oneself. 
 
"Within me, there will be no more difference -- no more anger, no more hatred, no more pain. No more suffering." 
 
Falls the Shadow 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Winterberry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Fuu Hououji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Lera Camry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Sakura Akagi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Sailor Neptune. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Aimi Saionji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Erika Inagawa. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Syaoran Li. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Madobe Kuroi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Midori Sugiura. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji narrowly braces Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Fuu Hououji is Quipped! Fuu Hououji is Taunted! Blind applied to Fuu Hououji! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry narrowly dodges Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry is Quipped! Lera Camry's Fade ability activates! Lera Camry's Flash ability activates! Lera Camry is Taunted! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi fails to brace Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sakura Akagi is Quipped! Sakura Akagi is Taunted! Blind applied to Sakura Akagi! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry narrowly dodges Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Winterberry is Quipped! Winterberry's Fade ability activates! Winterberry's Flash ability activates! Winterberry is Taunted! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura narrowly dodges Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Midori Sugiura is Quipped! Midori Sugiura's Fade ability activates! Midori Sugiura's Flash ability activates! Midori Sugiura is Taunted! Blind applied to Midori Sugiura! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune narrowly braces Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Neptune is Quipped! Sailor Neptune is Taunted! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa narrowly dodges Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Erika Inagawa is Quipped! Erika Inagawa's Fade ability activates! Erika Inagawa's Flash ability activates! Erika Inagawa is Taunted! Blind applied to Erika Inagawa! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji narrowly counters Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Aimi Saionji is Quipped! Aimi Saionji's Reverse ability activates! Aimi Saionji's Tactician ability activates! Aimi Saionji is Taunted! Blind applied to Aimi Saionji! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji's counterattack, Sugary Punch, partially gets through, doing 2 Fatigue damage to Heart of Fusion! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li narrowly counters Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Syaoran Li is Quipped! Syaoran Li's Reverse ability activates! Syaoran Li's Tactician ability activates! Blind applied to Syaoran Li! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li's counterattack, Getting Beat Up By A Little Kid, partially gets through, doing 4 Fatigue damage to Heart of Fusion! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi narrowly dodges Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Quipped! Madobe Kuroi's Flash ability activates! Madobe Kuroi is Taunted! Blind applied to Madobe Kuroi! 

 

::'''Sakura Akagi [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Japanese Cherry Blossom thought her magic could save her, but, the goo swallows it quickly. It grabs onto her foot, and drags her down... she's now ankle-deep in the muck, and lowering ever slower. 
 
She has a small moment of panic. It's possible after all, that the creature is right... they are, really, just kids. Kids in cosplay, she thinks, suddenly remembering that she has homework to do, that she has tests and school, that none of that will matter if she gets sunk under despair in a boggy otherworld. 
 
For some reason her eyes drift over to Aimi, to Vanilla Sugar. She thinks about her in the classroom, and chatting together. "We can do this," she says, to her friend. "Just... don't let it get to you." They can't fight alone. They must fight together, and, in encouraging her friend, maybe she can also remember her true self, and keep fighting. "Grab for my hand." 
 
She reaches for Vanilla. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi has used Team Encouragement on Aimi Saionji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji accepts Sakura Akagi's Team Encouragement, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Aimi Saionji is Cheered! 

 

::'''Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed:''' 
A sharp gasp escapes Fuu as though dragged straight out of her lungs and heart, and her legs wobble beneath her as the mist and its images envelope her. But she grits her teeth, drawing another arrow even though the illusions (or, perhaps more aptly, a *very* selective reality) block her view of the Heart of Fusion. 
 
"Perhaps it is our differences which cause suffering," she concedes the point. "But for all people to become one being would also eliminate the goodness that can come from the gaps between us! Because we are different people, we can know the joy of making friends, the greater triumph of cooperating with each other - and our differences let us approach a problem from different perspectives, bringing our unique knowledge, skills, and talents to bear on solving it!" She nocks the arrow, pulling it back as she raises her bow - 
 
With her eyes closed. If she can't trust her vision, she'll depend upon her heart and will. 
 
"That which creates suffering can also create greater joy ... if Hikaru-san and Umi-san and I were all the same being, our friendship wouldn't be so precious to me!!" she shouts, and lets the arrow fly. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has used Basic Archery on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Aimi Saionji [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
"Right..." Vanilla says as she hears Forever Sunshine, doing her best right now to deal with the goo, even as it starts to drag her even further. She launches a sugar infused punch into the goo, trying to see what happens there. Not a whole lot it seems, but enough, right? It's doing something, right? 
 
They can't let it though. She is better than this. She knows she is. She has memories... but nothing like this. Its tough, its hard. She's got so much riding on her here. She's got to keep things going. THey're trusting her to be there. 
 
She's being dragged down, but she's not going to let it stop her. She reaches out for Cherry, remembering that they have to fight together, that they MUST do this together. "We can't let it get to us. We can defeat it. We are stronger than this. Especially together." She says, reaching out for Sweet Pea, letting her words flow out towards Winterberry as well. 
 
Come one girls, together. We have to stick together. Our power will combine and keep us in this. Our warmth... our friendship... it will never be beat!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has used Warm Encouraging Love on Sakura Akagi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has used Warm Encouraging Love on Madobe Kuroi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has used Warm Encouraging Love on Winterberry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi accepts Aimi Saionji's Warm Encouraging Love, taking 0 Fatigue damage! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi accepts Aimi Saionji's Warm Encouraging Love, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Cheered! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry accepts Aimi Saionji's Warm Encouraging Love, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! 

 

::'''Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
Lera's eyes glance about. Sweet Pea and Fuu both get quick nods, and then she moves to run in -- noticing that Li is, with his sword, and realizing that he must be one of Earth's mages that doesn't use a Device. She decides to not let an eight year-old look more courageous than her; she takes a look at his traditional outfit, then brings up the left sword first, orange-red magical light trailing after her. 
 
"You, there!" she calls out. "Boy from..." She has no idea where that outfit is from. Lera searches her soul. "...Australia! Let's put him on the barbie and show him what's Australian for justice! I'll go right, you go left!" 
 
As she runs in close, though, she gets a flash of memoies and images. She closes her eyes, gritting her teeth; an argument with her mother comes to mind, the older woman slamming the door in her face, leaving her there staring; quiet, but shaking. Her running falters for a moment. 
 
"Shut up," she snaps at Fusion. "What do you know? Just because people suffer, it doesn't mean..." 
 
She runs in, feet sucking into the dark, goopy ground. She picks up in speed, though, and runs forward in a blur of red light. The left sword trails out to her left; the right extends out, and as she rounds in close to Fusion, she slashes it at his leg. "It doesn't mean we don't know what we want, or that those things don't count!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry has used Strike Soar on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Sailor Neptune [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed:''' 
Sailor Neptune - no, Michiru Kaioh - had had some things she was not as proud of as others. They dance in front of her eyes - between the horrors that mankind in general has inflicted on others, there was the time where she shunned someone as a child - another where she turned her back on someone in order to defeat a youma before it could escape - and the person had paid the price for her action. 
 
"No," whispers Neptune - but what was she denying? Fusion, or her own actions? 
 
A glance to the side, towards the pack of Perfumers finding strength in each other, and Michiru - no, Neptune - breathes out, bringing a hand up to her forehead. "Beauty can bring happiness - beauty can bring purpose to /life/," she says through gritted teeth, clinging to her own thoughts on the matter. 
 
Bringing a foot forward out of the muck, she swipes a hand - and as if to accent her point, a bolt of water leaves her hand, arcing towards the Heart of Fusion - and as it arces towards them, it splits - splits into a hundred different, smaller bolts, those bolts leaving the smell of ocean and sparkles no doubt temporarily in the air. 
 
Neptune could hear violins, in the back of her mind. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune has used Current Crossing on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Syaoran Li [Juuban (4)] has posed:''' 
"Tch," Syaoran Li spits, knees quivering as the magical discharge is apparently swallowed by the void. He grits his teeth and pulls his sword from the ground, the blade's glow draining away into shadow. The young magus breathes heavily - he has been fighting for hours already, first to clear the district of civilians and then against the giant youma summoned by the sphere. His brief (unwilling) nap did little to take the edge off his fatigue. It would be so easy just to lie down. To give up. And then the shadows comes, dancing around him, showing him his flaws, his weaknesses. 
 
It is Fusion's second mistake. Because Syaoran Li, heir to Clow Reed, does not have any. 
 
>:| 
 
Pride pushes the young magus to his feet. He grits his teeth and grips the blade of the First Sword of China in his hands, letting the affront of Camry's words stoke his spirit even higher. "I don't take orders from you," he growls, and then darts left anyway. He hops our of the swirling morass, trailing bits of goop as he goes, leaping up for whatever elevation he can manage. His arms work left and right with every second step, sending a V-shaped beam forged of pure mana ripping across the space toward Fusion with every slash. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li has used Link Is At Full Health on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Erika Inagawa [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
"What?! He came in here too!?" Forever Sunshine says, mid-shockingly-dynamic-pose. "That poor little guy!! He's gonna be in danger!!" 
 
womp womp 
 
Then comes the words of dire portent. Images, visions - 
 
Forever Sunshine's expression empties out. She breathes in as she sees where she pushed other people, where others pushed her, and darker crimes; strange fruit and the bitter subtext of old men's words. Her eyes close. 
 
She forces them open again as she steps forwards, moving along her scattered droplets of fused praline. "Suffering comes out of desire. That's what I got taught. I don't know if you're an alien invader or something but this is gross!!" 
 
She glances for a moment at JCB, Vanilla, and others. Then back at the creature. 
 
"And if you were a boddhisatva you wouldn't be busting up a public park! Humanity ill needs a buddha such as you!!" She's closer now, but, she thinks, there isn't a way to close the last few yards. Poopie. Oh wait, she remembers a moment later: 
 
I'm magic. 
 
She slaps her foot down with a ringing 'thwap' on the goo. There is a vivid tangerine-orange ripple that radiates from the struck point towards, hopefully, the 'Fusion' creature itself - maybe the goo will absorb the scented emanation of purest memory, maybe not. Either way, the tangerine scent erupts with citrusy sweetness towards the thing's lower body. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has used Tangerine Storm on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion narrowly counters Sailor Neptune's Current Crossing, taking 3 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Sailor Neptune is Psyched! Heart of Fusion's Reverse ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion's counterattack, Your Power Is My Power, partially gets through, doing 39 Fatigue damage to Sailor Neptune! Critical Counterhit! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion narrowly braces Syaoran Li's Link Is At Full Health, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Heart of Fusion's Block ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion perfectly dodges Fuu Hououji's Basic Archery, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Heart of Fusion's Fade ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion narrowly counters Erika Inagawa's Tangerine Storm, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Heart of Fusion's Reverse ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion's counterattack, Hyper Absorption, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Erika Inagawa! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion narrowly dodges Lera Camry's Strike Soar, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry is Psyched! Heart of Fusion's Fade ability activates! 

 

::'''Winterberry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
Sins of the father... 
Sins of the flesh. 
 
Everyone has their own little flaws, their own little faults, their own little issues, and Winterberry knows /exactly/ what her own are, and then she finds out some more of the ones that she has. She grits her teeth lightly, looking up at .. whatever in the world this is. 
 
She shakes her head again. 
 
"I don’t approve." She says, her voice soft, before she flicks her hand into the air, and then she tosses out a very large snowball, one more ice than snow at whatever is.. attacking. 
 
What is it? She's curious. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry has used Icy Blast on Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion narrowly counters Winterberry's Icy Blast, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Heart of Fusion's Reverse ability activates! Diversion applied to Heart of Fusion! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Heart of Fusion's counterattack, Your Power Is My Power, partially gets through, doing 22 Fatigue damage to Winterberry! 

 

::'''Midori Sugiura [Ohtori Academy (S)] has posed:''' 
Midori Sugiura is not feeling so good she's not feeling good at all it's hard to keep Midori down, but sometimes one is certainly able to do so. She listens to him as he say what he does it claws at her it's actually slowing her down but Midori hangs on somehow she looks at them. 
 
"No more life...and you speak of children? You should meet my Child..." 
 
She staggers there and slams her pole arm down. 
 
"GAKUTENOU!!!" 
 
There's a strange whistling noise like a warped train whistle and then behind Midori a Tornado forms. One might be able to make out that there is something...there...in the winds as it fade a hulking machine?! Could it be a machine? Or is a monster it's hard to tell but the four legged creature looks at Fusion with a pair of optics. Midori rasps. 
 
"...I never stood alone." 
 
The Creature does not seem happy with what's going on and makes a look to Midori for a moment before looking back. to Fusion. Midori then throws her Labrys like a boomerang as she prepare for her next move. Still can she hang on against the power of this despair? 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has used Element Toss on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Madobe Kuroi [Juuban (7)] has posed:''' 
"Tch..." Sweet Pea says as horrible visions are revealed. Pain, suffering, nuclear clouds--plenty of periods when she herself as Madobe suffered, usually through her own insecurities. She sinks into the muck, staring down. Hasn't she ever felt like she could just be like everybody else? Sure, she's felt like that constantly....can she even really fight this kind of belief, this kind of notion? 
 
She takes in a long, slow breath Aimi shouts words of encouragement. She shakes her head quickly, smacks her face twice with her palms, and says, "Stop it with the glass half empty talk!" 
 
She swings both pistols forward, jumping up to get away from more of the muck. "Those things...aren't caused because of the differences between us--they're caused because we can't accept the differences between us! All you're doing is the same thing! A world where we can accept our differences from one another is way way way better than a world in which everyone's the same!" 
 
She is about to fire when she notices Akagi. 
 
She takes in a quick breath as she notices Akagi. "Blossom! Don't give up! You're great as both your selves! And they're different, aren't they?!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi has used Go Hero Protaganist on Sakura Akagi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi accepts Madobe Kuroi's Go Hero Protaganist, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion narrowly braces Midori Sugiura's Element Toss, taking 2 Fatigue damage! Pink Heart of Fusion's Block ability activates! 

 

::'''Pink Heart of Fusion [Admin (S)] has posed:''' 
Between the conception 
 
Even as the cloying smog of self-doubt begins to seep its way past the defenses of some of those arrayed against him, Fusion himself is countered with unceasing words of love and support. 
 
His eyes narrow to bloody slits. 
 
And the creation 
 
Teleporting precisely behind Fuu Hououji, her second arrow goes flying off into the misty darkness, and Fusion goes untouched. In turn, he slams a foot down onto her head, trying to bury her ever deeper into the pit. A Midchildan in disguise as an Earthling slashes at his leg, and he can only laugh, spinning around to attempt a roundhouse kick to the head in retaliation. 
 
Midswing, Syaoran Li's mana assault knocks him back, and he frowns, gazing down at the improbably perfect expanse of his chrome pectorals. His eyes widen, now, in recognition of an unexpected truth -- he cannot always absorb the bounty of energy being offered unto him. What went wrong this time? Frustrated, he lets his somewhat disrupted momentum drag him into the boy's path, elbow-dropping even as he passes. Midori's Element bounces off of him, and he hardly slows. 
 
Between the emotion 
 
Forever Sunshine, Neptune and Winterberry, though, are victims to the most terrifying power of all: he simply holds out his hands to embrace the strength of the ocean, the chill of the Holidays, and the warmth of summer memories, and then, slamming them together, returns that energy whence it came, magnified into a crackling violet lightning that torments the latter two even as it burns, then spreads, crackling, to engulf the rest. 
 
It seems he's out of verbal repartee to all of this love-love business. That, or he's incapable of further speech. 
 
And the response 
 
Screaming as the violet lightning rises from his hands to cover not them, but /him/, he creates a sort of infinite feedback loop... and grows. 
 
And grows. 
 
And grows. 
 
Now the size of the Mitakihara General Hospital (think 'godzilla', for those who don't get the reference), Fusion glares down at those beneath him, literally as well as figuratively. He raises his leg, his now ocean liner-sized foot rising up, and up, and up -- but there's still time to strike first --! 
 
Falls the Shadow 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Argent Fury on Fuu Hououji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Argent Fury on Syaoran Li. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Argent Fury on Lera Camry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good on Madobe Kuroi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good on Midori Sugiura. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good on Winterberry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good on Erika Inagawa. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good on Sailor Neptune. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good on Aimi Saionji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good on Sakura Akagi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry fails to brace Pink Heart of Fusion's Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Winterberry! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa fails to dodge Pink Heart of Fusion's Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Erika Inagawa! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune narrowly dodges Pink Heart of Fusion's Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good, taking 4 Fatigue damage! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry narrowly counters Pink Heart of Fusion's Argent Fury, taking 5 Fatigue damage! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry's counterattack, Sentinel Cross, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Pink Heart of Fusion! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji narrowly dodges Pink Heart of Fusion's Argent Fury, taking 17 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji's Fade ability activates! Fuu Hououji's Flash ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li narrowly braces Pink Heart of Fusion's Argent Fury, taking 8 Fatigue damage! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi fails to counter Pink Heart of Fusion's Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good, taking 19 Fatigue damage! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi's counterattack, Blossom Mist, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Pink Heart of Fusion! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji fails to counter Pink Heart of Fusion's Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good, taking 22 Fatigue damage! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji's counterattack, Counterburst, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Pink Heart of Fusion! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi perfectly counters Pink Heart of Fusion's Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi's counterattack, Madobe Magic, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Pink Heart of Fusion! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura narrowly braces Pink Heart of Fusion's Palpatine Wishes He Had It This Good, taking 10 Fatigue damage! 

 

::'''Sakura Akagi [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Japanese Cherry Blossom hears words of encouragement from her friends. She tries to take them to heart. She tries to concentrate on being a good person and accepting that love. But it's... very difficult. Maybe she has spent too much time being unsure of herself to lead a team like this now. She sees the leg raise up, and, in spite of the encroaching despair, she TRIES... summoning a little wind and blast of blossoms... 
 
That's immediately crushed beneath the stomping foot. She feels herself gasping for air. She pulls up, clawing through the goo and trying to stand, but she's submerged almost to the waist now. She feels a tear bead in her eyes. 
 
She clasps her hands together and tries to concentrate. A wind of pink light surges around her, and spirals out, trying to balance her against the darkness. Pink petals form, striking in a wave against the goo. It's a start, but it may not be enough. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi has used Cherry Desperation on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
<DO NOT TAKE LIP FROM HIM. THIS WORLD BARELY HAS TOILETS. YOU SHOULD TELL HIM TO--> 
 
"Sky, /not/ the time," Lera grumps, but there is a hint of real irritation in her voice. She glances sideways at Li, and is pleased to see him shoot left anyways. Maybe they can still do teamwork; teamwork that he may complain about, but if it works... 
 
Her slash lands home, but she has Fusion bareling down on her. The way he spins around seems much too quick; the leg is oversized, especially compared to her fifteen year-old frame, and threatens to do a good deal more damage with that kick than she would care to take. Lera's gold-brown eyes go wide open. "Soaring Sky, we--" 
 
<SENTINEL CROSS.> 
 
She crosses the two energy swords and catches the foot on them, straining her muscles. She is pushed back, feet skidding through the dark ground. Lera looks up, turns, and goes running forward again. Both swords extend to either side as she does, her eyes glance at Fuu. "Hououji!" she calls out, too stressed by battle to remember her suffixes. "Be careful!" 
 
She leaps, then. As she jumps, a circle of crimson light appears on the ground and flashes. She turns around in midair, rotating her body to stab the right sword out. When she gets in close, it flares with a brilliant red light. 
 
<INFERNO SLASHER.> 
 
She slashes the blade across Fusion, hard, shouting with anger and frustration -- and the light explodes in a fiery blast behind her, leaving a line of flame cut through the air. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry has used Inferno Slasher on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Madobe Kuroi [Juuban (7)] has posed:''' 
"A..ah.... It's Fuzezilla!!" Sweet Pea looks up and gasps and shrieks. She runs away, jumping away from the monster--pausing to glance at Lera's Device. "...Actually, I was always wondering--AHh! OKAY OKAY LATER!" 
 
She hits down and looks up at the EVIL SOUL right there. "Man... That's so big. I...I don't think I fought anything this size before. It'd take..." 
 
She whips out a SOUL CALCULATOR and starts tapping at it. "A lot of Sweet Peas to cover it in flowers! That's for sure!!" 
 
She swings both pistols forward. "W--well try this then!!" 
 
She opens fire with several quick bursts of pink light that will make Fusion, a PERFUME Fusion! Smellzilla! A breath of fresh delights! 
 
"There's hundreds of different perfumes in this world, each a unique and beautiful scent!" 
 
And you can get them all at Bed Bath and Beyond! Bug your parents to buy some for you and if they don't--call them Fusion!! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi has used Viewtiful Pea on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Aimi Saionji [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Warm Vanilla Sugar tries to throw a burst of counter magic herself at the lightning coming down, but its too little and a bit too late as she gets blasted, her own vanilla scented magic doing nothing to stop it. 
 
"Okay... that wasn't good..." She said. Its really bad. She's not giving up or going out of it any time soon here, but she can't take too many more blows like that or she might not be able to stay standing. And if she falls... 
 
Vanilla shakes her head. No, she won't fall. Her friends need her. She needs them. The people here... everyone... 
 
"We can't give up... not like this. Not at all. You want us to be one with you... well..." Vanilla says, closing her eyes softly and gathering her magic up. She doesn't wait too long, improving on her quick bursts to try and give this one more of a kick, firing it off towards the Heart of Fusion's... face. "Don't expect it to happen!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has used Vanilla Burst on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed:''' 
As Fuu trusted her instincts to guide her aim, so too does she trust them when they scream a warning not to stay standing where she is; she flings herself forward, and while she's able to dodge a direct hit from Fusion's foot, the monster still stomps down her back, very nearly giving her a literal kick in the butt, and sending her sprawling forward onto the gooey ground, almost - *ALMOST* losing her bow into the tarlike surface. That also threatens to pull more of her body under as well ... but the pain lets her focus, too. 
 
"IYASHI NO KAZE!!!" 
 
Fuu's left fist clenches, the jewel on the back of her glove glows bright green, and the Healing Winds gust forth - trying to blow away the illusions which cloud her vision, and then blowing further to aid a couple of her allies. She knows she heard Midori's voice, so part of the Healing Wind blows towards her; Japanese Cherry Blossom will be the beneificiary of some of the restorative spell as well. "Thank you," she manages to answer Lera as she gets back to her feet and tries to re-orient herself. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Fuu Hououji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Midori Sugiura. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Sakura Akagi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Fuu Hououji's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Sakura Akagi's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Midori Sugiura's debuffs are cleared! 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to dodge Madobe Kuroi's Viewtiful Pea, taking 17 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Psyched! 

 

::'''Winterberry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
Scents above, those fusion attacks of energy combined /suck/! 
 
Winterberry takes the hit full on as she tries to brace herself for it, ending up tumbling across whatever this floor is, pulling herself back up to her feet painfully. Hugging herself, she smiles as her friends speak. 
 
What happens is music - but the best kind, acapella, a song, as Winterberry advances forward, her voice taunting and bright as she fights through the extinguishing sparks and bits of pain. 
 
The words she paints are the lack of understanding Fusion has towards their powers, towards what he is doing. In combining them, yes, he makes himself strong, but by virtue of that, the girls and boys each understand their own powers better than he - and that all he will be is an attempted mockery of their powers, a wanna-be, a wish; 
 
He doesn't have the heart for this. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry has used Song of Ice on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion narrowly braces Lera Camry's Inferno Slasher, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Pink Heart of Fusion's Block ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion narrowly dodges Aimi Saionji's Vanilla Burst, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Pink Heart of Fusion's Fade ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to brace Sakura Akagi's Cherry Desperation, taking 17 Fatigue damage! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to dodge Winterberry's Song of Ice, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Pink Heart of Fusion is Quipped! 

 

::'''Sailor Neptune [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed:''' 
Neptune's eyes widen as the creature just seems to... absorb the energy entirely, taking a few moments to try to wade out of the muck and mire - at least, try to gain a little more headway in her sinking. But she certainly wasn't expecting the counterbolts. 
 
That purple lightning plays over her, causing her to scream out as her muscles contract painfully, Neptune just trying - trying to keep the presence of mind from falling forward into the muck that made up this world. Sadly, she didn't have much of a choice. Landing shoulder-first in it, she twists onto her side, keeping her face clear of the ooze. Trying not to let her hands sink into it, Neptune attempts to use the muscles in her thighs alone to right herself again - and does manage to pry her torso from the muck and mire, even if she was kneeling in it still. 
 
A quick glance to the side, as she hears Fuu's voice, before Neptune's eyes face forward again. Just in time, as well. That giant foot starts to fall down, and Neptune gets ahold of herself long enough, finding a certain solidness in the muck - eyes narrowing as she aims to try to get towards the inner part of the sole. Where it was, perhaps, not as low. 
 
And as she moves, she swipes her hand again, sending more of those ocean powered fueled bolts up towards the foot of the creature. It would be difficult to miss at this range, but to strike something important? Probably less so. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune has used Harsh Harsh Neptune on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to brace Sailor Neptune's Harsh Harsh Neptune, taking 30 Fatigue damage! 

 

::'''Erika Inagawa [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Arcing lightning strikes against Forever Sunshine, the reflexive contraction of her magically hyped-up musculature sending her jackfishing up into the air. "Kyahhh!!" she squeals, tumbling end over end before spreading her arms out in a desperate reflex. 
 
In a burst of sandalwood smoke, she comes to a halt in midair. 
 
The thing is huge. She looks up towards herself, but something occurs to her after most of her conscious mind is terrified beyond the capacity of rational thought. Yes: the training of her time in the dojo agrees with the memories of the long-gone princess Sun-on-sails. 
 
That thing is taking way too long to move its foot. 
 
"Stupid creature...!! If you're so perfect, your stance should be better!!" Forever Sunshine cries, realizing her 'air jump' trick is starting to fade. Another jerking leap and puff of sandalwood, and she's twisting around. What is she planning to do? She's pivoting around to draw back her right leg, rising it upwards. 
 
"WAHHHH---" 
 
Tangerine and peony light ripple around her as she flies against the titanic creature. Her target is simple, and she slams her heel down against that single point: the place, it seems, where the knee joint of the creature intersects. 
 
Time seems to halt as Forever Sunshine explains aloud, "When the enemy presents an overbalanced point... you've got to take their leg out from under 'em!" 
 
The magically infused, if essentially conventional, attack continues then. CAN SHE SWEEP A LEG SO HUGE?? 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has used Freeman Family Secret Technique on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion narrowly braces Erika Inagawa's Freeman Family Secret Technique, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Erika Inagawa is Psyched! Pink Heart of Fusion's Block ability activates! Stun applied to Pink Heart of Fusion! 

 

::'''Syaoran Li [Juuban (4)] has posed:''' 
Syaoran Li gets his great-grandfather's sword in between the chrome titan's elbow and his tender flesh, grunting as the impact still drives him backward. He plants the blade into the morphous stone, dragging it to slow his backward momentum, looking up at... 
 
...at... 
 
>:| 
 
"I am very glad the forces of darkness do not prize anatomical correctness in their abilities," the young magus deadpans as he draws a long paper slip from his pocket. He is nearly out of charms, and at this rate...the paper crunches in Syaoran's grip, nostrils flaring as he exhales forcefully. No use worrying about it, he chides himself - deal with it when it comes. And besides, he thinks as he casts it into the air, it's not like there's reason to hold anything back. 
 
"Kasshin - SHOURAI!" the heir of Clow Reed screams as he attempts to give Fusion a fireball suppository. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li has used Invitation of the Fire God on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Midori Sugiura [Ohtori Academy (S)] has posed:''' 
Midori Sugiura is not going down and she's summoned her chold which is moving into action while Midori is bring pulled down she's sinking lower and lower. Midori's moral is hard to sap and this being is doing it. The Iron Fang on the other hand has an idea of what to do here, and it's head blad snaps back and t moves into take a swipe before it's too late. 
 
Midori on the other hand is not doign as wlel as her child but then wait is that Fuu with her magic has made things at least a little bit better for Midori and with the Iron Fang already going after Fusion she might just have a chance, not that she feels like such right now. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has used Blade Swipe on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to brace Midori Sugiura's Blade Swipe, taking 19 Fatigue damage! 

 

::'''Pink Heart of Fusion [Admin (S)] has posed:''' 
Between the desire 
 
There's real momentum now! Size, it seems, is no indicator of power, as the now-gigantic Fusion staggers back against the combined assault of the joint hearts of nearly a dozen magical girls (and Syaoran). 
 
And the spasm 
 
Japanese Cherry Blossom's wave of energy catalyzes sparkles all the way up his gigantic leg -- sparkles that Forever Sunshine dances across even as she moves in for a leg sweep of epic scope! Sure enough, his knee buckles, though, immense arms windmilling through the air, he refuses to fall completely, instead planting that knee in the goo, hard, and creating a Despair Tsunami all around him. 
 
Between the potency 
 
In this moment of motion, unfortunately, his face passes under where that Warm Vanilla Burst might have taken him right in the kisser -- but right into Sweet Pea's bursts of pink light, which explode in glitter against his inhumanly fabulous cheekbones. Midori follows up with a swipe from Gakutenou, which explodes open a rent in the chrome chin. It starts dripping rather caustic-looking silver slime. 
 
And the existence 
 
And he has no time to defend against Sailor Neptune's torrential fury this time, a cascade of oceanic power opening welts along his chest -- followed immediately by a swordslash inferno, as Lera Camry's brave, soaring gambit strikes true! They aren't taking orders from each other, but Syaoran's fireball strikes at precisely the same time on the opposite side, and the pyrotechnicks are explosive, to say the least. 
 
Between the essence 
 
Yet, the one person who gets a response from him is Winterberry, whose song pierces right towards his lack of a heart. What could he be feeling, he who is composed of naught but leftover youma energy, reinforced by the attacks of the magical community of Tokyo? 
 
And the descent 
 
"RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" 
 
Well, it /is/ a response. 
 
And, at last, the foot does come down; he uses it as leverage for good measure, separating himself from the goop with a monumental, titanic 'plop!', and launching into the air! The pressure in that moment is enormous, but then it lifts, once he's up, up and away... 
 
Falls the Shadow 
 
--- 
 
MEANWHILE, FIVE MILES AWAY: 
 
A crowd has gathered on a highway, witnessing the tremendous explosions of power in the heart of the district. They panic; they fret. 
 
"Hurry, hurry, subjects!!" shouts a little fairy king, approaching, raising his staff high, emitting light to guide them from a little fob on the end of it. "We must hurry and distribute these Light to those who witness this mighty battle!!" 
 
"We have to hurry-coco!" a tiny fairy... ...squirrel...maybe... agrees. "Fusion's power is incredible! The Miracle Lights may be their only hope!" 
 
A fairy roughly the size and demeanor of a bear doesn't so much approach as he /appears behind/ a mother and daguther, and he twists one hand open, revealing a pair of tiny trinkets the size of keychains, glimmering with rainbow light. Beady eyes stare at them, asking them to take them. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Foot Comes Down on Midori Sugiura. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Foot Comes Down on Syaoran Li. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Foot Comes Down on Erika Inagawa. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Foot Comes Down on Sailor Neptune. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Foot Comes Down on Winterberry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Foot Comes Down on Fuu Hououji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Foot Comes Down on Aimi Saionji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Foot Comes Down on Madobe Kuroi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Foot Comes Down on Lera Camry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Foot Comes Down on Sakura Akagi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry fails to dodge Pink Heart of Fusion's The Foot Comes Down, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Cripple, Stun, and Trap applied to Winterberry! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji fails to brace Pink Heart of Fusion's The Foot Comes Down, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cripple and Stun applied to Aimi Saionji! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li fails to dodge Pink Heart of Fusion's The Foot Comes Down, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Trap applied to Syaoran Li! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa narrowly counters Pink Heart of Fusion's The Foot Comes Down, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Cripple, Stun, and Trap applied to Erika Inagawa! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa's counterattack, Sunshine Intensity, partially gets through, doing 9 Fatigue damage to Pink Heart of Fusion! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji fails to counter Pink Heart of Fusion's The Foot Comes Down, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Cripple applied to Fuu Hououji! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji's counterattack, Sword Strike, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Pink Heart of Fusion! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi narrowly braces Pink Heart of Fusion's The Foot Comes Down, taking 8 Fatigue damage! Cripple and Stun applied to Sakura Akagi! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune fails to brace Pink Heart of Fusion's The Foot Comes Down, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Stun and Trap applied to Sailor Neptune! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi fails to dodge Pink Heart of Fusion's The Foot Comes Down, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Stun and Trap applied to Madobe Kuroi! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry narrowly dodges Pink Heart of Fusion's The Foot Comes Down, taking 12 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry's Fade ability activates! Lera Camry's Flash ability activates! Cripple and Trap applied to Lera Camry! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura narrowly dodges Pink Heart of Fusion's The Foot Comes Down, taking 13 Fatigue damage! Midori Sugiura's Fade ability activates! Midori Sugiura's Flash ability activates! Stun and Trap applied to Midori Sugiura! 

 

::'''Aimi Saionji [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Warm Vanilla Sugar braces herself as the foot comes down doing her best to do so. It doesn't help her as she ends up taking it full force, pain going through her body, and knowing that she would feel that in the morning for certain. 
 
Warm Vanilla Sugar isn't going to bother with saying anythign now. This beast was really beating down on them, and they had to do something. At this rate, they were going to end up losing, and she did NOT want that. She wasn't going to let it happen. She would not fall here and now. 
 
Warm Vanilla Sugar gathered up her courage, her strength, weakness, all of it into her magic, glad she wouldn't have to go too far now. She'd just have to throw the punch and let the magic do its thing. She would not let it beat her down, let her take her down here and now. No... she and her friends... they will win! All of them! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has used Can't Keep Her Down on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Sakura Akagi [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Japanese Cherry Blossom gasps as an unfamiliar-scented wind streaks by her. It's enough, though, to give her a fresh breath to cling to. She inhales sharply, and remembers she has a job to do. She can't allow herself to sink entirely into despair and suffering. 
 
"Cherry Tree Magic," she whispers, and hopes it will help, somehow. The branches she summoned before start to twine up from the darkness. They keep stretching to expand. They're searching out for something to hold on to. And with it, perhaps, infuse the monster with that much more of her magic. But she knows her friends will keep at it, even if she's losing hope. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi has used Cherry Tree Magic on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to counter Aimi Saionji's Can't Keep Her Down, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Aimi Saionji is Psyched! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion's counterattack, Semi-Sized Silver Slam, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Aimi Saionji! 

 

::'''Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
"After the battle!" Lera answers Sweet Pea. 
 
Fusion brings his foot down, striking into the goop. Lera manages to leap away from it, but not enough. She goes flying into the air from the sockwave, hits the gound, and rolls a few times. She looks up and pulls heself with a yank out of the gloop. She takes a deep breath, the black ooze running down her, and she stares up at Fusion. She wipes at her lip with the fingerless gloves that are part of her barrier jacket, smearing a thin trail of blood on the back of it. 
 
"It's strong," she mutters. "Can we really do this?" 
 
<WE HAVE TO. LOCKING ONTO THE TARGET.> 
 
"I got it, Sky," she answers. She raises the left sword up; the energy blade vanishes, and a magical circle appears between the two bronze prongs, before red lightning leaps between them. Then, a beam of energy fires, shooting through the circle, and up at Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry has used Jet Burst on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion narrowly dodges Lera Camry's Jet Burst, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Pink Heart of Fusion's Fade ability activates! 

 

::'''Erika Inagawa [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Forever Sunshine slides downwards, throwing her hand down and crying out "PRALINE!" to create a happy platform to land on from where Warm Vanilla Sugar had left streaks of... ... warm... vanilla... you get the idea. 
 
Landing there, she raises her arms up into a defensive poise, looking upwards. 
 
The camera pulls out four different times before the entirety of the creature is brought in frame. As the foot comes downwards, she crouches and throws up both her hands. The foot descends - 
 
And the toe hits an intense glowing plane of prismatic sunlight. "Hwaahhhh.... you... can't... overcome...!!" 
 
The praline beneath her cracks and Forever Sunshine is plowed into the ground, the fractured sugar sweetness around her, at least, keeping her from immediate absorption. The foot pushes downwards further, hiding her completely from view. The shimmering ray of sunlight is shrunken... hidden... turning to one last forlorn gorgeous fiery burst - 
 
Then the creature's leaping up, clear of her. 
 
From her praline-lined hole in the ground, Forever Sunshine calls upwards, "That's right, you better run!!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has used What's Gooooood?! on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion perfectly counters Erika Inagawa's What's Gooooood?!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Pink Heart of Fusion's Reverse ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion's counterattack, Your Power Is My Power, bursts all the way through, doing 35 Fatigue damage to Erika Inagawa! 

 

::'''Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed:''' 
Fuu scrambles to her feet again after casting the healing spell - just in time to see a giant metal foot coming down on her. Her bow and quiver disappear in favor of her sword, and she brings it up in a quick attempt to parry - 
 
"Itai - !!" 
 
- only to be smacked back down to the ground, her feet being driven in hard enough that falling backwards hurts *worse*; her ankle is probably sprained at best, and she hopes it's not worse. And panic is starting to sink in - but she grits her teeth, digs her emotional heels in against the despair that's tightening its grip on her, and focuses her will. 
 
Even if this enemy is too strong for her to make a significant mark on, there are other magical girls here - warriors whose powers, as she said, differ from her own; some of them may well be stronger than Fuu herself is. But even if Fuu's combat abilities aren't helping to turn the tide so far, there's something she can do that nobody else here can ... at least that she knows of. 
 
"Iyashi no Kaze!!" Fuu calls out again, focusing her magic and her willpower, and concentrating on three known allies - the young woman who called out to her earlier, the Sailor Senshi of the Oceans, and Warm Vanilla Sugar. 
 
It may not be much, but even a slight advantage - or the removal of a disadvantage - can make a big difference. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Erika Inagawa. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Sailor Neptune. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has used Iyashi no Kaze on Lera Camry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Erika Inagawa's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Lera Camry's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune accepts Fuu Hououji's Iyashi no Kaze, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Sailor Neptune's debuffs are cleared! 

 

::'''Madobe Kuroi [Juuban (7)] has posed:''' 
"W...Waaaaaahh!!" Sweet Pea turns and tries to run off. She yelps and jumps and bounces but really it's too slow, the is flung from the cascading goop and flies through the air. "Ahhh!!!" She looks down, "AHHHH!" She looks up. "AHHHHH!" She looks forward and sees some goo in front of her. "AHHHH!!!" 
 
She crashes down and goes under! 
 
And then---pushes up again. "RAAAAAAAAAAHH! ENOUGH WITH THE SHOWING OFF I AM GETTING MAD!" Sweet Pea flails her arms up and down. "Taste flower power!! You'll pay for hurting neechan!! RRRGGH!!" 
 
She pops off flowers, rapidly. Her friends seem to be in dire straits, her aim is a bit to be desired--but she is shooting at a giant monster, that means it's easier to hit! "You'll wish you didn't grow up...!...wards!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi has used Flower Shot on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Winterberry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
Winterberry smiles sharply. 
 
She jerks her fist up into the air. "Yes, okay-- got /it/--" 
 
Except then there's ANOTHER GIANT FOOT. 
 
Hisae is momentarily smushed itno the ground, going @___@ as she tries to concentrate again. She gives a low groan. 
 
"Okay, that's annoying!" 
 
She presses her hands together. "Winter, bless my friends and allies..." She whispers to herself. Snow wraps around Sweet Pea, Vanilla, and Cherry Blossom - it is surprisingly gentle, more of a reassuring warmth than anything else. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry has used Winter's Blessing on Madobe Kuroi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry has used Winter's Blessing on Sakura Akagi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry has used Winter's Blessing on Aimi Saionji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi accepts Winterberry's Winter's Blessing, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Madobe Kuroi's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji accepts Winterberry's Winter's Blessing, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Aimi Saionji's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi accepts Winterberry's Winter's Blessing, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cleanse! All of Sakura Akagi's debuffs are cleared! 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion narrowly dodges Madobe Kuroi's Flower Shot, taking 2 Fatigue damage! Pink Heart of Fusion's Fade ability activates! Diversion and Stun applied to Pink Heart of Fusion! 

 

::'''Sailor Neptune [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed:''' 
Between all of the young women here - Sailor Neptune knew very very few of them. 
 
That certainly did not help the ever-encroaching despair dancing at the back of her heart any. 
 
The wind blows - and it wasn't the sort of wind that normally put Michiru's guard up - it was a gentle, healing wind - and Michiru casts a look over towards Fuu once more, a little smile dancing at the edges of her lips. 
 
She may not know many of the people here, and indeed, her values may put her at odds with many of the others here - but there was something that was universal between them all. Neptune bobs her head in a nod to Fuu, breathing in a deeper, stronger breath - she wasn't altogether certain how they were going to win. 
 
She just knew they must. To punch something so large was silly, but Neptune was starting to feel that the size really didn't matter here. They were in a place of the unreal, a place where this fusion held power over despair. 
 
So she must not do that. What hope she had remaining, she allows to flourish within herself, and leaps forward, striking at the underside of the foot before it takes off, hoping to rattle the creature - if nothing else. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune has used Ocean's Flowing Strike on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion narrowly braces Sailor Neptune's Ocean's Flowing Strike, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Pink Heart of Fusion's Block ability activates! Exhausted applied to Pink Heart of Fusion! 

 

::'''Midori Sugiura [Ohtori Academy (S)] has posed:''' 
Gakutenou whines again and prepare for another attack it's back legs turn into wheels and leave a spot where Midori can manage ot barely get aboard. She's now in place. She's feeling worse and worse, it's hard to keep going but she's putting one foot infront of theo ther somehow but she enures it. 
 
"Gakutenou! NOW!" 
 
The creature moves and angles it's right wheel as it starts to rapidly spin up. Why? She's trying to form a minature tonrande to cause issues for Fusion which hopefully might...set things up for her allies, but with how she's feeling she's not sure how much it will do. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has used Tornado on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion narrowly dodges Midori Sugiura's Tornado, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Pink Heart of Fusion's Fade ability activates! Trap applied to Pink Heart of Fusion! 

 

::'''Syaoran Li [Juuban (4)] has posed:''' 
Syaoran Li's legs shake as mana pours out of his body, and he sucks in a steadying breath. That was his last good shot, and he's down to his blade and a single, solitary wind charm...and the monster shows no signs of ceasing its assault. He digs in his pocket for his final talisman, then does so more rapidly as the foot thunders down. "Fuuka--" 
 
::::::::::::::::::::::: *100* 
 
The young man lies face-down on the stone, surrounded by a slowly-growing morass of roiling ennui. That's it, then, he thinks sadly. He walked into this district with dozens of the charms his family uses to call upon their powers, but in the hours since he has used them all. A ghost of a smile haunts the magus's face. Syaoran Li is nothing if not proud of his own abilities, but even he is impressed that he has managed to last this long. It's up to the magical girls not, as much as it hurts him to think. He's done all he can. 
 
Except...he hasn't. 
 
Syaoran's lips tighten. He can feel the power of his bloodline stirring in his veins, however languidly. He has long since surpassed the limits of most mortal mages, but the heir of Clow Reed has energy yet to give. He simply does not have the means with which to deliver it. 
 
Except...he does. 
 
The young man's lips peel back from his feet, hints of crimson tinting the white of his teeth. His arms shake as he pushes himself to his knees, then slowly, wearily to his feet. His body sways as he straightens, blinking owlishly at the blade of his great-grandfather. Eastern Mages often use talismans such as this to invoke their magic and summon or activate constructs and spirits. The jian of Jinglin Li, the man once known as China's First Sword, is a particularly powerful artifact. But without the charms, it is useless to him. He sheathes it carefully across his back. He then reaches into his pocket and pulls out what appears to be...a small stick with a yellow star taped to the end of it. Syaoran pants as he regards it, then gathers his will. 
 
And forgets everything he knows about magic. 
 
The divisions between Eastern and Western magician are more than simple choice of tools. The two schools are diametrically opposed to each other - the East channels mana into external objects, drawing the immaterial into the material. The West uses incantations to unlock the body's mana circuits, use them to amplify and channel local elemental sources and direct them using the mage's own body as a medium. They are different as night and day, black and white, and in the history of the magical world only a few have managed to practice both. Only one has managed to fuse them, and in so doing created levels of mastery previously unknown. The man's name was Clow Reed. 
 
Syaoran Li's greatest regret is that none of the idiot girls around him have any idea how awesome he is right now. 
 
"/Tel ma amoris ta!/" 
 
The young man snarls, pain evident on his face as he forces his mana down less efficient paths, tearing new channels within himself as he does so. "Coèuntes, sagittent inimicum meam!" he calls out, lifting his right hand upward, blue-white energy beginning to gather in his palm. "Vinculum facti, inimicum capient. Sagitta Magica," he shouts, then thrusts the hand forward. "AERIS CAPTURAE!" 
 
A single magic arrow flies at Fusion's face, where it explodes in a burst of wind. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li transforms into Western Mage! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li has used Sagitta Magica Aeris Capturae on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to brace Syaoran Li's Sagitta Magica Aeris Capturae, taking 0 Fatigue damage! 

 

::'''Pink Heart of Fusion [Admin (S)] has posed:''' 
For Thine is 
 
A FEW MOMENTS AGO 
 
Forever Sunshine tries to defend herself with a shimmery burst of sunlit magic. It gets sucked dry into Fusion's big toe like so much anti-toejam cream, but all things considered that may be better than nothing. Sailor Neptune's parting shot does somewhat more damage, scouring against his heel -- it isn't achilles, per se, but it certainly does leave roughness in its wake. 
 
Life is 
 
THEN 
 
Fusion is high above the group, but not high enough to avoid Warm Vanilla Sugar leaping up to punch him -- he tries to block with a punch of his own, and the cracking sound as she seems to simply punch through his fist, ending up on his shoulder, is stunning to behold. 
 
"WHAT?!" he yells, infuriated. Leaning back, he narrowly avoids Lera Camry's enormous beam of energy, then has to veritably dance to get out of the way of still more of Sweet Pea's flowers. These seem to distract him, as he sneezes when they get too close. Allergic to flower power? Seems likely. Midori's Child tosses him furhter into the air, in a dizzying tornado, into which Syaoran Li's wind arrow penetrates and explodes! 
 
In that moment of diversion, Japanese Cherry Blossom's trees start to find purchase on his limbs, grasping and gnarling their way around his ankles, binding him to the earth. With a distasteful howl he rips free, but not before they've pumped still more of her energy into him. What had been an insatiable hunger is now more of an infection. 
 
For Thine is the 
 
NOW 
 
Pink light starting to bleed from his eyes, Fusion bellows, "ENOUGH!!" 
 
And it is. 
 
As he begins to despair, the infinite cauldron of black goo responds... boiling and thrashing, seeking to drown the girls within its depths! But so does it rise to embrace Fusion... wiping away the impurity of purity, steam rising off of his every curve and camber. His dark perfection has yet to emerge, but it is sure to be greater and more terrible before when it does. 
 
ALSO 
 
Meanwhile, on that far-off highway, the fairy mass meets up with panicking, fretting humans, and are met with the bemused acceptance of someone who is watching an evil god fighting seven magical girls so far away that most of what's visible is the light of their power. 
 
"Don't cry-kuru!" a cute little fluffball assures a small child, and plucks two Miracle Lights from nowhere. "Those girls are fighting for you, too-kuru! Smile-kuru!" She offers it to the weeping little boy, who seals his lips shut despite the flow of fearful tears. 
 
"Everyone take one-mepo!" shouts a pot-bellied little fairy with odd marks on its face, waving a wicker basket full of tiny lights. "Hold it close to your heart-mepo!" "And feel the light inside you-mipo!" 
 
A bawling baby soon comes face-to-face with the merry smile of what appears to be a flying teddy bear, waving its fob and its little light. The baby sniffles loudly, and reaches out for the baby teddy bear's light. There is a brief tug-of-war, before a ferret is lifted up to the mother's shoulder by the invincible, and also invisible, duo of a THIRD baby, and also an athlete. The ferret drops a light into the human child's hands, and says to his mother, "Don't you worry none, lady. Those girls, they don't give up easily!" 
 
He clenches a ferret fist, which is a thing that does not ordinarily exist. "Believe in them...we have to believe in them!" 
 
All across the city, fairies -- and hopeful citizens, led by them, start to scream and shout: 
 
"GIVE THE MAGICAL GIRLS POWER! GIVE THE MAGICAL GIRLS POWER!" 
 
And the little lights in their hands, tiny pink sticks with goofy lights on the end, explode into a rainbow so tremendous that it even enters Fusion's heart, surrounding and suffusing everyone with the feeling of a miracle. 
 
When tiny puffballs wish for hope, it's among the greatest powers in any world. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Despair Falling on Aimi Saionji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Despair Rising on Midori Sugiura. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Despair Rising on Erika Inagawa. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Despair Rising on Sakura Akagi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Fuu Hououji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Lera Camry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Despair Falling on Syaoran Li. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used The Black Abyss of Despair on Sailor Neptune. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Despair Falling on Winterberry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used Despair Falling on Madobe Kuroi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura fails to brace Pink Heart of Fusion's Despair Rising, taking 20 Fatigue damage! Midori Sugiura is Quipped! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry narrowly dodges Pink Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Lera Camry is Quipped! Lera Camry's Fade ability activates! Lera Camry's Flash ability activates! Lera Camry is Taunted! Blind applied to Lera Camry! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji narrowly braces Pink Heart of Fusion's Despair Falling, taking 7 Fatigue damage! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa narrowly dodges Pink Heart of Fusion's Despair Rising, taking 7 Fatigue damage! Erika Inagawa is Quipped! Erika Inagawa's Fade ability activates! Erika Inagawa's Flash ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi narrowly dodges Pink Heart of Fusion's Despair Falling, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi's Flash ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li narrowly counters Pink Heart of Fusion's Despair Falling, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Syaoran Li's Reverse ability activates! Syaoran Li's Tactician ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li's counterattack, Not In The Face, partially gets through, doing 2 Fatigue damage to Pink Heart of Fusion! Critical Counterhit! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi narrowly braces Pink Heart of Fusion's Despair Rising, taking 10 Fatigue damage! Sakura Akagi is Quipped! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune narrowly dodges Pink Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Sailor Neptune is Quipped! Blind applied to Sailor Neptune! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry fails to dodge Pink Heart of Fusion's Despair Falling, taking 21 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's The Black Abyss of Despair, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Fuu Hououji is Quipped! Blind applied to Fuu Hououji! 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used MIRACLE LIGHTS! on Syaoran Li. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used MIRACLE LIGHTS! on Midori Sugiura. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used MIRACLE LIGHTS! on Sailor Neptune. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used MIRACLE LIGHTS! on Winterberry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used MIRACLE LIGHTS! on Madobe Kuroi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used MIRACLE LIGHTS! on Erika Inagawa. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used MIRACLE LIGHTS! on Lera Camry. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used MIRACLE LIGHTS! on Sakura Akagi. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used MIRACLE LIGHTS! on Aimi Saionji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has used MIRACLE LIGHTS! on Fuu Hououji. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's MIRACLE LIGHTS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Accelerate, Empower, Surge, and Withstand applied to Winterberry! Cleanse! All of Winterberry's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's MIRACLE LIGHTS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Aimi Saionji is Cheered! Accelerate, Empower, Surge, and Withstand applied to Aimi Saionji! Cleanse! All of Aimi Saionji's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's MIRACLE LIGHTS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Accelerate, Empower, Surge, and Withstand applied to Erika Inagawa! Cleanse! All of Erika Inagawa's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's MIRACLE LIGHTS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Madobe Kuroi is Cheered! Accelerate, Empower, Surge, and Withstand applied to Madobe Kuroi! Cleanse! All of Madobe Kuroi's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's MIRACLE LIGHTS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Syaoran Li is Cheered! Accelerate, Empower, Surge, and Withstand applied to Syaoran Li! Cleanse! All of Syaoran Li's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's MIRACLE LIGHTS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Accelerate, Empower, Surge, and Withstand applied to Sailor Neptune! Cleanse! All of Sailor Neptune's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's MIRACLE LIGHTS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Accelerate, Empower, Surge, and Withstand applied to Sakura Akagi! Cleanse! All of Sakura Akagi's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's MIRACLE LIGHTS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Lera Camry is Cheered! Accelerate, Empower, Surge, and Withstand applied to Lera Camry! Cleanse! All of Lera Camry's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's MIRACLE LIGHTS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Accelerate, Empower, Surge, and Withstand applied to Midori Sugiura! Cleanse! All of Midori Sugiura's debuffs are cleared! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji accepts Pink Heart of Fusion's MIRACLE LIGHTS!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Accelerate, Empower, Surge, and Withstand applied to Fuu Hououji! Cleanse! All of Fuu Hououji's debuffs are cleared! 

 

::'''Syaoran Li [Juuban (4)] has posed:''' 
Syaoran Li...blinks. And then lifts his hands to the heavens and screams. 
 
"I AM NOT A MAGICAL GIRL!" 
 
>:( 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li has used >:( on Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Syaoran Li has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Sakura Akagi [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
For Sakura Akagi, the bottom is about to drop out. She feels a wash of despair take over her once again. There is... just the slightest bit of hope, from Winterberry's strangely comforting, cool breeze... that keeps her awake. It keeps her from falling down entirely. It gives her just enough hope, just enough to breathe, to soak in the smell of perfume in the air. Throughout all of the despair... 
 
It comes. The blackness washes into her. She embraces it because she has no choice. Tears flow freely from her eyes now. She feels sick, tired, near death, near hopelessness. For a moment that lasts forever she sinks into it. She feels all of her memories begin to wash away. 
 
And yet there is still that light. Someone out there is praying. She can almost hear the voices now, the echo from so far away, of strangers with bright souls giving her their strength. The voices... 
 
She will not be forgotten. 
 
Her eyes open, and light begins to glow from her heart. Her mouth speaks words outside of this world. Words from the past. 
 
"Your power carries a dark scent with it. We will ... join together, and heal this tainted heart. This world... My friends...." 
 
"Will not fall to despair!" 
 
Japanese Cherry Blossom pulls herself up into the air, away from the muck and darkness. She's not sure how she is doing it, but the words are coming. She brings her hands to her chest. She presses her palms together, fingers up. A wave of pink petals builds around her. The light starts at her feet, whips her skirts, and then, billows her sleeves with wind. The scent of springtime courses through the pink-white glow, as petals form floating in the air. 
 
"NOW, TOGETHER." 
 
"CHERRY BLOSSOM--" 
 
"FRAGRANCE FUSION!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi has started a combo targeting Pink Heart of Fusion! 

 

::'''Aimi Saionji [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
The Fusion Monster tries so hard. It tries to throw Warm Vanilla Sugar into further despair. It won't work. She's too far now. She knows what she has to do now. Warm Vanilla Sugar lands and joins back up with the rest of Perfume Splash. The time has come. She only knows vaguely of what is to come. Its there, in her memories. She knows what she has to do. She pulls out her bottle of perfume, holding it her left hand. 
 
"We'll heal the dark scent of your heart... WARM VANILLA SUGAR..." She calls out, joining in with the rest of the Perfume Splash as they unleash their teamwork, their friendship, their love, their power. It all gathers on one point as the girls prepare to unleash the biggest lovebeam they can make, powered even further by the folks cheering and wishing them on from outside. 
 
"FRAGRANCE FUSION!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has joined the combo started by Sakura Akagi! 

 

::'''Madobe Kuroi [Juuban (7)] has posed:''' 
Sweet Pea flips away from the bubbling blew, bouncing up and down like she was having a Tigger Moment. It's really tiring, but she manages to keep herself from drowning in despair--both the liquid kind and the psychological. Panting for breath, she points her pistols towards Fusion. "You can't just experience all our memories, our powers, and hope to be everything! And if you think you can just chow down on it and understand us, you're quite mistaken! We'll shatter your illusion here and now!" 
 
Sweet Pea drops down, landing near her sister--even as the hopes and cheers of tiny little puffballs enters her heart. She has never been so sure of anything in this moment. Even after this moment, the clarity will fade. But in this moment... 
 
"Right!" Sweet Pea nods to Sakura, drawing up her perfume bottle and holding it into the air. "TOGETHER!" 
 
"SWEET PEA..." 
 
A sweet smell of sweet peas ripples around her body, whisping her skirt and vest--her hair bobbing as a hot pink light ripples around her, coalescing and swarming with the others to a new, unique and powerful scent. Sweet Pea petals ripple around her in a flurry. 
 
"FRAGRANCE FUSION!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi has joined the combo started by Sakura Akagi! 

 

::'''Sailor Neptune [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed:''' 
It was a struggle enough to just stay... above water, to stay above the black goo without it starting to boil and thrash as it does. Blackness stains her, stains her fuku, drawing her deeper into the morass of ooze. And she could feel her spirits sink further. But Michiru wasn't quite done yet. 
 
A grimace passes across her features - the things in her life she found beautiful - art, love, relationships - their beauty seemed less distinct in these moments. But some part of her was gritting its teeth, and fighting on. And it was that part of her that seemed to be emboldened by the lights of miracle wishes. 
 
It was as if someone erected an emotional bulwark in her heart. Michiru stands admist the thrashing of the monster's despair, and lifts her hands, calling the tide. To wash her mind free with the sound of the ocean, and to hammer the creature alongside the other attacks that were happening. 
 
There was hope again, even if just a little. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune has used Unrelenting Tide on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sailor Neptune has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Erika Inagawa [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
Nothing works. Forever Sunshine gazes upwards, towards the titanic thing, her lips parting as the goop around her is blown aside by the force of the thing's counterattack. She is laying on the ground; she can't remember where she got there. Everything's - 
 
Is this - 
 
Words ring out, and a scent of springtime. 
 
Her memories know what to do. Forever Sunshine raises a hand upwards, curled into a loose fist - one of salute more than anger: "We'll heal the misguided ways in your heart! Forever Sunshine!" 
 
The hand opens, forming an open palm. Divine fragrance radiates out from it - tangerine, praline, peony, sandalwood all joining the splendor. "Fragrance Fusion!!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has joined the combo started by Sakura Akagi! 

 

::'''Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
Lera looks up at Fuu, surprised when the light washes over her. She looks at Fuu and nods, quickly, before she looks back at Fusion. It makes her feel better, stronger, and gives her a moment of courage. 
 
It gets shout of her a moment later; the black liquid rises up above her, quite literally drowning her in despair. She gasps and clutches at the air, and then she begins to sink into it. She gasps desperately until, finally, there is a bright light in the distance. She blinks her eyes -- grits her teeth -- and then she launches forward, tearing out of the shadow and rising back up towards Fusion. Both swords glow brightly, their red light trailing after. 
 
"You have a lot of nerve! Thinking you can absorb us, without knowing what we can do!" she yells. "Soaring Sky! NOW!" 
 
A red magical cicle traces through the air in front of her; the complex array of triangles finishes tracing out just as she shoots through it. 
 
<COMBINATION CRUSADE.> 
 
She swings her left sword out in front of her, and pivots in midair, striking it across Fusion's waist; then, she turns and stabs the right in at it, before she swings both up, simultaneously, in an X pattern in front of her. She twists around, kicking at Fusion's stomach, and then leaps off /nothing/ to stab the right sword at Fusion. 
 
The sword comes in close -- and explodes with a fiery beam that shoots at Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> FINISHER! Lera Camry has used Combination Crusade on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Lera Camry has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed:''' 
The despair rises. Literally, it rises up to engulf and swallow the Magic Knight of Wind - and given that she'd been taken off her feet and couldn't get back to a standing position at that point, she disappears under the dark mire faster than most of the others. 
 
But then .... a miracle, in the truest sense, as the fairies and the inspired citizenry counter Despair with Hope, driving it away physically and spiritually. As Fuu manages to stand up - even though she has to use her sword to support herself; she still doesn't trust her ankle - she feels her will burning anew; how can she answer such brilliant Hope but to try and fulfill the other half of the miracle that's been called forth? 
 
"Even the darkest storm must be blown away to reveal the clear, bright sky, and there's no stench of evil or corruption that can't be dispersed by a strong, pure wind!" Fuu calls out, gathering her power and using her right hand on her sword's hilt to support herself, her left hand coming up as the glove-jewel shines with magic and power. "MIDORI NO SHIPPUU!!!" 
 
She gestures with her left arm, calling up the tempest itself and unleashing the full wrath of her Emerald Typhoon at the monstrous form of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> FINISHER! Fuu Hououji has used Midori no Shippu: Full on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Fuu Hououji has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Midori Sugiura [Ohtori Academy (S)] has posed:''' 
Midori Sugiura is nearly at the edge of despair, she's been pressed so hard she wonders just what she can do. The iron Fang makes that noise again. 
 
"Your right..." 
 
She intones to her partner then sh feels something, as if she heard the sound Mepo. She shakes head head a little bit. She feels something, she feels something and she looks up and then she smirks. 
 
"You ready, Gakutenou?" 
 
It nods it's head once and levels it's spear like forehead at Fusion. 
 
Midori calls out. 
 
"So long as you’re alive there as hope, and we are the ones who can protect others from beings like you. You want a world with no joy, no happiness no life! I will not let you do that. I will not let you hurt those who mean the most to me!" 
 
The Child's thrusters, yes it had thrusters power up and flare up with a good deal of power. As the blue fire start to burst from the thrusters, as it drives towards fusion 
 
"SPIRAL....DASH!!!" 
 
An energy field envelops the Iron Fang and Midori as she charges on right at fusion. Midori is not going to stop, nay she's going to go right on through it. If she manages to pull this oft the Iron Fang will try to either run over or go right through fusion and keep on going. 
 
"This is where your insanity ENDS! WHEN EVIL RISES WE WILL WILL APPEAR TO STOP IT!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> FINISHER! Midori Sugiura has used Spiral Dash Attack on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Midori Sugiura has finished attacking. 

 

::'''Winterberry [Infinity Institute (9)] has posed:''' 
Ah-- what is this? 
 
Winterberry smiles as everyone else seems to be coming together. She makes a mental note to hit the magical history books at school at a later point, after homework later. She pushes a hand to her heart, one that is followed by her second one, wide open. 
 
"Winterberry..." 
 
She realizes the irony of the second half of this phrase, nad can't help but smile wider. It's practically perfect. A soft scent of the winter berries - black alder holly, evergreen, and the like, and she gets wrapped around in her own snow storm, a light, playful one. 
 
"FRAGRANCE FUSION!" 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry has joined the combo started by Sakura Akagi! 

 

::'''Sakura Akagi [Juuban (8)] has posed:''' 
The perfume scents all combine, as the Perfume Splash! girls bring every bit of their abilities to bear against the Heart. The scents mingle and twist into one form now as the powers grow. 
 
All of them seem to know what to do. It's an instinct, a memory. They shout at once to finish the attack: 
 
"GOLDEN SUGAR -- SCRUB!" 
 
The power of fragrance becomes a blazing light. The light then splinters into a million shards, glowing, golden sugar. Every shard is a gem of mighty power. They spiral, stream, and pour themselves forward, into the Heart of the beast. 
:''<<COMBAT>> COMBO! FINISHER! Sakura Akagi, Madobe Kuroi, Aimi Saionji, Erika Inagawa, and Winterberry have used Fragrance Fusion Golden Sugar Scrub on Pink Heart of Fusion. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Sakura Akagi has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Madobe Kuroi has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Aimi Saionji has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Erika Inagawa has finished attacking. 
:''<<COMBAT>> Winterberry has finished attacking. 

 

:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to dodge Sailor Neptune's Unrelenting Tide, taking 28 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Pink Heart of Fusion! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to dodge Fuu Hououji's Finisher, Midori no Shippu: Full, taking 50 Fatigue damage! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to brace Midori Sugiura's Finisher, Spiral Dash Attack, taking 172 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion narrowly dodges Lera Camry's Finisher, Combination Crusade, taking 69 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Pink Heart of Fusion's Fade ability activates! 
:''<<COMBAT>> Pink Heart of Fusion fails to brace Sakura Akagi, Madobe Kuroi, Aimi Saionji, Erika Inagawa, and Winterberry's Finisher, Combo: Fragrance Fusion Golden Sugar Scrub, taking 639 Fatigue damage! Pink Heart of Fusion is unable to keep fighting! 

 

::'''Pink Heart of Fusion [Admin (S)] has posed:''' 
Alas for Syaoran Li, not one of the club; even so, his glare of defiance joins the general vibe as the magical girls unite, one and all, refusing to be drowned in despair or sunk by impossible odds. 
 
Sailor Neptune calls the tide, and with it comes tremendous power -- the sea can be slowed, it can be dragged at, it can be chopped apart by rocky teeth, but it cannot be stopped, and it plows against Fusion, knocking him off balance. 
 
As he falls back, Lera Camry is there, there with her energy swords, united in determination with her Device to show the world what Midchildans are made of. And so she carves a grand X, marking the spot before detonating with a beam wider than she is tall, and it punches straight through the chrome mass, leaving fire and brimstone to pour out the other side... 
 
Just in time for Midori, riding the grand Child Gakutenou, to plow through Fusion from the opposite direction! There is an enormous roar as the spiral of red and yellow energies drills from shoulder towards the base of where his spine would be, if he had real musculature, and she emerges goopiless and triumphant! 
 
Fuu can scarcely stand, but that does not stop her from adding her heart's hope to the fight -- the winds erupt, crashing against Sailor Neptune's tsunami. Combined, they are a freezing typhoon, one that scratches and cuts with a million diamond-like shards of stormtossed sea ice. 
 
And from the five cardinal points of a star, beams of light rise, buoyed by the strength of the Miracle Lights. Petal pink, warm yellow, citrus orange, berry blue, sweet rose... pillars channeling the energy of love and life, the power of good memories. Memories that arise only when different people from all walks of life come together, with their hearts as one. 
 
'Beam' is inadequate to describe the cosmically vast golden explosion that follows; the backblast is enough to bowl everyone off their feet, and onto... the grass? Yes, for everything that the combined radiance touches -- the Perfume Splash warriors' golden light finding itself enhanced further by sea blue, fiery red, bold yellow, and two different shades of windy green -- glows, and becomes whole once again. The city itself, rent asunder by portions of earlier fights, finds itself healed. 
 
A rainbow crosses Tokyo from side to side, and at one end emerge the magical girls (and Syaoran), triumphant, unmarred, luminescent with the strength of hope that cannot hope to be matched by mere despair. 
 
It is not, however, the side of the city they were on before; but beneath that same blue sky, they can feel, in the bottom of their hearts, that their friends have been victorious as well -- Fusion is simply gone, apparently annihilated, inside and out. 

 

::'''Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (8)] has posed:''' 
Fuu lets out a breath, leaning a bit harder on her sword, and noting with relief that it's digging into solid ground now. Deeper than she'd like, but it's not that troublesome mucky mire any more. She does, however, have one more thing to do, as usual at these big fights. 
 
"Iyashi no Kaze!!" Fuu calls out, able now to focus on putting her full power and will behind the Winds of Healing ... and with that, she puts her magic to work mending all of the injuries that have been incurred during the battle. She can't help those who were still at the park - but she can do her utmost for her allies *here*. And she does so. 
 
(The fact that this also heals her sprained ankle is totally beside the point.)

2013-10-01 - Ohtori Classical Dance

2014-03-19T08:54:47Z

Lainzilla:

{|class="toccolours" cellspacing="2"
|-
! style="background:#CC6699; border: 2px #CC0033 solid; font-size: 110%;" align="center" colspan="2" | '''Ohtori Classical Dance'''
|-
|'''Summary''': 
''Ohtori is a big school, and it has a lot of clubs, activities, and classes. One of these is Classical Dance. It's an after-school class, not actually a club, but an optional activity done once a month or so where an expert comes in from the city to teach the students who sign up various forms of dance from around the world.''
|-
| '''Who:''' 
[[Sei Itazura]], [[Madobe Kuroi]], [[Madoka Kaname]], [[Michiru Kaioh]], Minako Aino, [[Erythrite]], [[Eri Shimanouchi]], [[Nadeshiko Fujisaki]], [[Homura Akemi]], [[Daiki Asuka Jr]], [[Meimi Haneoka]]
|-
| '''Where:''' 
Ohtori Academy, Classrooms
|-
| '''OOC - IC Date:''' 
10/1/2013 - 9/27/2013
|-
|}

Ah, afternoon at Ohtori. Classes have ended for the day, but the school is still abuzz with activity. One such activity is Classical Dance Class. This is not, in truth, an Ohtori class. It is more of an extra-curricular activity, a class run by a dance instructor from in the city who has simply been offered Ohtori's facilities to run his class, and students have been given a discount to the normal price if they wish to attend.

The class is held in the gymnasium, which as you might guess, is large and opulent. This is not the first of these classes -they have been going on for some time now, once a week. Whether or not this is the first class for you, however, is entirely up to you: new students come and go to classes such as these all the time.

The class is informal- there may be recitals and such associated with it, but for the actual class, street or gym clothes are much in evidence. The instructor himself is a tall, skinny German man in all black. A black turtleneck and black stretchy pants, and bare feet. He has short grey hair, and looks as though he might be in his 50s, though he is very fit. He stands stiffly by the door, almost at attention, watching his charges file in, and smiling. "Ahhh, ze little birds, zey have returned! Velcome, velcome! Please, sit over zere and we will begin shortly!"

Sei Itazura is among those entering the gym. She has been attending this class all semester, much to her dismay. She's wearing her gym clothes - a white t-shirt with red neckline and sleeve-hems, and red shorts, knee-length, with a white stripe down the sides. She is also scowling. She usually is. She actually enjoys the class itself, at least to a degree - she is very pretty and very graceful and is good at dancing, so it gives her a chance to show off, which she always likes. But the /reason/ she is here is different, and that makes her grumpy.

"Stupid Father," She mutters under her breath as she moves to sit on the gym floor amongst the other students. "Sou doesn't have to go to dance class, she's refined enough, he says. Sei, you need further refining. Bite me." She sighs though, sitting cross-legged, and turns her pale eyes up to the instructor, who is still sheparding young 'uns in. All-told, the class consists of about twenty students, mostly girls.

Madobe went back to Ohtori largely not to go to the dance class but instead in hopes of running into Amu again and maybe asking her questions about dreams, eggs, and so on. She also seemed cool (and spicy) and could have helped her become more popular! HOWEVER.

She has the misfortune of bumping into Richazawa and Moneyko during her lurkings.

"Oh ho ho! How quaint! A little urchin girl has stumbled into Ohtori!" Moneyko says. "Wouldn't it be oh so adorable if we took her to the dance class? Imagine what a lark it would be if she stumbled and fell over her own two feet! Oh ho ho ho!" Richazawa adds.

Madobe turns to run but is seized up by her arms as the two stereotypes drag her to the dance class, setting her down uncomfortably near Sei--no doubt to keep the 'uncouth' people together.

Madobe is pale, staring straight ahead like a corpse. The only sign that she has not somehow died on the way over is a faint nervous giggle gurgling out of her throat.

Madoka steps tentatively into the room, her little brown street shoes making equally tiny clicks on the hardwood floor. She jumps at the noise, a little self-conscious; she always finds it strange to be out of slippers inside, even as dubious an inside as a gym. Her eyes sweep the chamber, looking frantically for familiar faces, but alas; she couldn't get Sayaka to commit to such a venture, and Hitomi had prior arrangements with her eternally demanding private tutors. Still, this is an opportunity to make new friends, and she perks up from the tips of her toes to the tops of her puffy pink twintails at the thought, her smile still trembling a little bit with shyness, but excitement -- both to learn how to dance like a Great Lady, and for the former prospect -- lights her eyes up like twin beacons, radiant with hope. It's not brave enough a gaze to lock directly on anyone, but where it lacks in courage it certainly makes up for with friendly cheer.

She slides her bookbag under the mostly-folded bleachers, well out of the way of the imminent chaos; the strap comes undone just after she's let momentum take its course, a notebook page covered in ladies awash in classical ball gowns tumbling out onto the floor. Ignorance is bliss; Madoka's already turned her back, and moved to join the group, kneeling uneasily on the periphery with her teal Ohtori skirt tracing tiny arcs in a (small) puddle around her. She might totally accidentally and obliviously put a toe upon Sei Itazura's lengthy, lucious locks on her way over.

Madobe, on the other hand, she definitely smiles at deliberately, that giggle infectious, perhaps the only sound that could make Madoka's own giggle seem confident in comparison. "Um, h-hi! It's my first time too!" she whispers welcomingly, in between ze instructiunz of ze profezzor.

Classical dance lessons - this sort of thing was quite relevant to Michiru Kaioh's interests. And although Michiru was quite happy to be a student at Infinity, the campus at Ohtori was absolutely beautiful, and she was rather fond of every moment she got to visit.

That fondness did show in her demeanor, the subtle little smile that Michiru wore never quite having a chance to leave her face. If only she could get Haruka to commit to attending with her, but previous engagements on her end had made this a solo affair.

Alas.

Likewise, Michiru - older than most here, enters the gymnasium, wearing a pair of dark practice dance shoes, especially - and a light, airy sort of blue-white dress that defied the advent of fall, dark shorts worn beneath the past-knee-length skirt. There were few familiar faces here, Michiru had attended a class or two in the past, so perhaps she had been seen about, but she manages to make her way to the gathering of students without bumping into or harrassing anyone, her attention - concerned attention, certainly - mostly lingering on Madobe Kuroi, tilting her head to the side should the other young woman look at her as Michiru takes a position just a little bit away from most of the younger women there.

Minako Aino puts a little more flit-in-her-step after being addressed ze little bird. "Welcome, welcome, sturm und drang!" she announces in greeting. She makes her way to the group to join and mingle, but she doesn't sit down as she's dressed up in distinctly not-gym clothes and doesn't want to be on a floor.

She gives Michiru a smile and a quiet secret greeting of 'Infinity represent' before slinking off to the assembled dancers. Luckily, her two biggest fans are right next to each, which makes her choice of where to be immediate and easy - between Madobe and Sei! "Hiiii, girls. And my biggest fan! Be sure to encourage everybody to pick up some of my.... or should I say OUR.... CDs when they leave!"

A few days ago, a girl from Ohtori passed on a dance class invitation to a boy from Juuban by the name of Kazuo Isobe. In fact she'd hoped for a dance. But Kazuo Isobe is a jerk and profoundly anti-social and he promptly gave the invitation away to his best pal.

The best pal wasn't going to take it either.

And then he thought about it.

It is hard to tell Takumi Chiji's school because he dressed down. It involves a pair of exceptionally well-fitted jeans and a similarly well-fitted T-shirt, lime green with not so much as a smidge of writing, under a neat brown blazer-style coat which he is in the process of sliding off and laying to the side along with his duffel bag. He taps a heel against the flooring, having switched from his usual brown loafers to a pair of lighter dancing shoes he unbelievably had lying around.

He had them around because he's danced before. One might say he has thousands of skills but just doesn't use them.

Something catches Takumi's eye - it's a flash of teal hair.

(So,) part of him thinks. (It's her again.)

He gives his head a toss - throwing up a few sparkles to those who are into brooding prettyboys with nice figures - before stepping slowly forward towards the gathering. His eyes linger on Michiru.

"So you're a dancer too, Kaioh-san," he muses as he nears her, tone quiet.

Eri Shimanouchi had been out from Ohtori Academy for a few weeks. Family emergency, to those that actually cared enough to inquire. Few did, she was someone who went through the walks of life around the Academy mostly keeping to herself, and went relatively unnoticed. She was not the most social of individuals, and had no friends outside of the Academy swim team. Which is why it might seem passing strange to anyone who actually recognized her that she was attending the Classical Dance as an extracurricular. In truth her motive for being here wasn't much different from Sei's. Her Father wanted her to be here. She didn't understand how learning to dance was going to make her suddenly more sociable

And so she gritted her teeth for just a few seconds upon exitting from the locker room, where she'd changed into a grey T-shirt and teal gym shorts. It seems she had yet to escape the imposed colors upon the middle schoolers at Ohtori. But once she enters the gym proper, her demeanor just changes. She appears to have hunched in a little unto herself, her eyes slightly downcast with an abstracted expression. Misa wasn't here, having prior commitments, and thus Eri had no safety in numbers to fall back upon. She knew noone here, except maybe having caught a glimpse of some of them in passing.

Having been a mostly asocial, middle-class individual, she seems to understand the implicit context of where she's supposed to sit. Which puts her right on the other side of Madobe, Michiru and Madoka, away from Sei. She nods to each in passing, managing a faint smile, before mumbling, "Good afternoon."

She didn't imagine they'd follow up, so she puts down her book bag and looks upon the skinny German instructor, trying to follow along with his thick accent. In her head, she imagined Kyubey crawling all over him, before coming to rest on his head, without him even noticing. The enigmatic creature she knew as her boss and benefactor was nowhere to be seen though, leaving her with a lopsided smirk framed behind her shy features, as she tried to continue imagining this in order to ward off her anxiety.

Nadeshiko Fujisaki is partly to blame for this class even happening; she is, after all, both a student body officer and known for her deep and abiding love of dance. Normally, she's just content to let others discover the magic of dance (even if it isn't the Japanese kind which is /definitely the best/) while she attends to Guardian business, and/or do the Japanese dance lessons she does at home, all the time, constantly, forever.

But every so often she's able to show up. Nadeshiko appears in the girl's sports uniform for the elementary school - red shorts and a white shirt with red trim, and more athletic shoes than her favored boots. This is just about the only time outside gym class itself she wears the outfit; unlike the Jack's Chair, she hasn't made time for clubs beyond the Guardians.

She smiles at the instructor as she allows her way in; "Sensei," she offers, and steps in with carefully-measured steps. And then, a low voice chirps at her, "Nadeshiko-san~" and she looks down to where her softball-sized fairy has located someone's fallen notebook/sketchbook. Oh, that's cute... "Take good care of it, Temari," she instructs her kimono-clad Guardian Character, and then steps inside while the small, cartoonish little fairy emits a chirpy acknowledgement. And doesn't do much, because if she picked it up it would look to most students like it was levitating and then this would be a much different scene.

She takes up a natural position, a little ahead of the youngest students so that she can provide help and leadership; she is, after all, a Guardian. This ends up putting the long-haired girl near the cluster of older students, kneeling seiza automatically.

Once everyone has been seated/assembled and the mumbling of conversations have more or less died down to a constant buzz, the instructor strides to the center of the gymnasium, in front of the small group. He claps his hands, holding them up by his face as he does so. As he talks, his accented voice occasionally crescendos to a passionate shout for no real reason other than that he really likes dance. "Velcome back, velcome back little birds! And to all ze new little birds we have not seen before, it is GLORIOUS TO SEE YOU!" He smiles broadly. "Ve are all equals here.. dedicated and unified by unser love of ze magical ART OF DANCING!" He twirls a small, perfecy pirhouette on the spot, before continuing. "I am Herr Tanzenpartei, and I vill be your instruktor. Do not fret, do not fret little birds if you are new to ze GLORY OF DANCE! Ve vill start schlowly, ja? Please, find a partner from zose sitting near to you! Ve have more girlz zan boyz but zis is not to worry! I am sure ze gender of ze partner does not matter, it is only practice!"

Meanwhile, Sei has been sitting there, sulking, since she walked in. She hasn't even noticed Madobe, sitting nearby, her eyes locked on the middle distance. Her teeth grind audibly from time to time. Of course, this is until Minako prances up, declaring loudly that Sei is not only her biggest fan, but her benefactor. Sei's eyes fix like lasers on the other girl, and her scowl suddenly has more direction. "You!" She hisses, keeping her tone low so the teacher doesn't hear. "What's the big idea with the sign out in the courtyard? I lost that bet because Varrus is a treacherous dog, I didn't want everyone to suddenly think I'm a patron of the arts!"

This is about when the teacher says to find a partner, so Sei stands up, rather abruptly, and glares around her. "Who wants to be my partner?!" She demands in a tone which sends all of the little NPC girls scurrying in every direction but towards her.

Madobe's head creeks towards Madoka who has pink hair and gets a relationship modifier check of at least +1 because of it. Also she's not too much older than Madobe to the point that she actually can mistake her for being in the same year. Combine this with not actually going to Juuban, Madobe manages to form coherent words as a result and even calms down a bit. She resolves that she shouldn't tell Madoka that 'she shouldn't be here' or anything because it would make a good impression. Instead she smiles back and says, "R-really? I thought everybody from Ohtori would be good at it." She starts to muck with her phone a bit, even sending off a message before realizing this is Ohtori and she quickly shoves it in her bag and sits on it. This isn't public school, Madobe!

She glances around a bit. She spots Michiru but doesn't recognize her though she does think pleasant (and jealous) things about her hair. Madobe's phone buzzes as it gets more messages and Madobe baps her bag a few times until it stops. "Eheh..." She smiles at Madoka awkwarldy.

Minako helps her out of a jam. "Ah--h..hello!" She says a bit too loudly. "Um--this is..." She looks to Madoka. "This is Minako-Chan and...ah... Minako-Chan this is..."

she realizes she skipped the important part of asking Madoka's name. "Um, I'm sorry." She admits sheepishly. "I forgot to ask." She also forgets to give her own name because she was too busy worrying about asking Madoka to give hers. This distracts her from running away from Sei like everybody else. Her habit of not listening to the teacher may have backfired until a few moments after Sei starts shouting for a partner.

...

...

Madobe slooowly turns towards Madoka. "Ah...would you like to...since we're both new?" Fighting retreat, Madobe thinks, fighting retreat! That's what this is!
I can't tell which one you mean.

Madoka giggles again, a little bit embarrassed at Madobe's idea that everyone at Ohtori is a graceful dancer. "I-I hope that isn't true, or else I'm in trouble..." She is a sufficiently unserious student as to not even bat an eye at the cell phone buzzing, then leans back to people watch for a while.

As they arrive in turn, she smiles brightly at Minako's silly greeting, briefly gapes at Takumi's big boy sparkles, Nadeshiko's tinier but no less classy Queen's Chair sparkles, then about twenty times more, a blush rising to her cheeks, as she is struck dumb by the glamorous spectacle that is Michiru Kaioh. The advent of Eri Shimanouchi, though, snaps her out of it; she did actually inquire of the staff as to her missing classmate's well-being, out of a mix of curiosity, worry, and possible duties as class nurse for post-emergency watchfulness.

"Good afternoon, Shimanouchi-san!" she returns brightly, and with mild but genuine relief to see the missing girl in, at least to her untrained eyes, one piece. "And, u-um, w-welcome back?" There's nothing like a nervous quaver in one's tone to put someone at ease... right? Alas, Madoka is never sure of her words when she means them the most. "I, um, watered your plot." Of flowers; they are both Gardening Club members. "...Imighthavedrownedthepansy," she adds in a rush, her earlier overwhelmed blush deepening to the crimson of humiliation as she remembers this sad fact. "It was drying out, but now it's sinking in the mud even when I try to prop it up... I'm sorry!"

She's getting a little bit loud in her state of panicked remorse, and ducks her head in pre-emptive acknowledgment of, and apology in return for, the instructor's reprimand. "I'm really sorry," she repeats, in a barely audible whisper, before properly bending her ear to the teacher's instructions, with a final silent and mournfully apologetic glance at her clubmate.

It's PARTNER TIME, apparently, and in typical self-destructive willingness to reach out to anyone, no matter how unlikely, she rises and gives Sei a tiny, wobbly curtsey and an even tinier, wobblier smile-- that get diverted, at the last minute, by Madobe instead. That's probably all to the good. She extends her hand in friendship, doomed dance partnership, and definitely not marriage as Sayaka or Hitomi might try to content. "Oh! I'm Madoka Kaname... nice to meet you! What's your name?"

Of course, Michiru was going to spot Minako, the woman returning a smile to her and offering a nod of her head. "Aino-san, I see you made it," says Michiru to her, before Minako starts being - well, Minako again. Laughing a delighted little sound, Michiru takes the time to spy Eri's smile and hear her mumble, before she returns, "Good afternoon to yourself as well." Unaware of anyone finding her a ~spectacle~, perhaps - she nonetheless favours Kaname with a subtle little smile.

So many of the others seemed nervous, or not particularly wanting to be here. Michiru seemed to be completely at ease.

But what sparks a strong smile once more upon her lips is the arrival of Takumi Chiji. "It is a hobby of mine," she responds to him, the smile immeadiately sliding back to something more subtle as she looks upon him. "And of your own, as well," she says.

And there it was again - the queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, the sound of the wind rustling at the back of her brain.

Michiru steps forward - just a half step towards him, a certain watchfulness hidden in her eyes. "...do you require a dance partner, Chiji-san?"

Minako Aino introduces herself to Madoka for Madobe, being Minako again as she stands up straight and prim and lady-like (all the while mentally forcing herself to think of some convenient way to not accidentally confuse Madoka and Madobe when she talks to them - a nickname should do the trick). "It's always to meet Maddooby-chan's friends," she says, trying to interject herself in between any one of Madobe's awkward pauses. Then, she gives Sei a reassuring pat on her back, spinning back and forth between new friends. "I'm sure your boy didn't become all treacherous. He just spoke with his HEART instead of his ears. It's how you judge music," she says, trying to sound reassuring. "And don't worry, I'll keep you art-patronizing secret," she whispers, too loudly to truly remain secret.

"Anyways, Herr Tarzan-Party says we need dance partners, so my biggest fan gets dibs, unless you got someone you wanna get dancey with."

That is a lot of V's. Takumi tilts his head to one side and listens to the dance party man's extremely Germanic instructions, lowering his hands to hook his thumbs into the space between his belt and his jeans in a stance that leaves his shoulders angled shallowly forward. He can't help but realize he's the only guy and most of the other dance students are at least three years younger than he is.

It is a slightly awkward feeling.

"I tried it before," he admits with a nod for Michiru, his voice remaining quiet as it usually is. "I thought it would be worth another go-around."

She approaches with that half-step, and his eyes settle on her, steady. His body language is relaxed and cool but behind the deep amaranth of those eyes, something is very, very alert.

(What is it about you, Kaioh Michiru...?)

Straightening, Takumi gives his head a little toss, hair flicked out of his eyes neatly, before he holds out a hand to her, shoulders straight and stance rising from that hint of slouch to something that could pass for princely were this some magical silver kingdom and were he some handsome knight of an age gone by. "I do, as it happens," he says simply, eyebrows curving upward. "Shall we, Kaioh-san?"

Eri wanted to say, /It's presumptuous of you to make that assumption./ to Herr Tanzenpartei After all, she had no love of dance, and she certainly didn't feel like she was unified with anyone here. But she learned long ago that calling people on the assumptions they made was a fruitless endeavour. They only considered her even more standoffish and eccentric. The truth is, that she just didn't understand why people did the things they do, and how to define the implicit social rules of a situation by the context. And so she often observed, picked up what she could and still had no idea /why/ people interacted with others as they did.

It surprised her when she snapped out of her abstracted thoughts to realize that was indeed a voice she actually recognized. She offers an actually warm smile to Madoka, at her comment of watering her plot, though her voice is still a little shy in tone. "Thank you Kaname-San. I very much appreciate that you looked after them in my absence. And.." Drowned the pansy, her smile wavers somewhat, "I'm.. certain, it will be well. Pansies are resilient." Even so, by the sudden anxious twitch in her eyes it was obvious she wanted to run out of the gym right away to check on the plot. One of her hands clenches the bleachers in order to steady herself from doing just that. She closes her eyes, taking in a deep steadying breath, "Sinking in the..." She tightens her grip, before offering a smile to the younger girl. "....mud. There's, no need for apologies, I'll check on it once the lessons are..." A glance towards the clock, she suddenly appears even more anxious. "...through." Twitch, twitch. Relax, she told herself.
And Madoka Kaname meant well. "..thanks again, Kaname-san." Her tone is much softer though, and her voice is slightly clipped.

She had to wrench her gaze away from Madoka at that point, as Madobe had already offered to be her partner. Sei had... a reputation. So it came as no surprise to her when she hissed at someone she didn't recognize. But then Sei asked for a partner. And everyone had skittered away, leaving her to her own devices. At that point, she takes a deep breath, before rising. Normally she wouldn't approach an upperclassman, who was also from an Upper class family, but she had /asked/ who was going to be her partner, and noone was offering. "I'll..."

But then Minako surprises her by offering to be Sei's dancing partner. She had no idea why, the way Sei spoke, she'd swear that Sei didn't like the other girl one bit. But.. now that didn't seem to be the case? She truly didn't understand people at all. At that point, she looks around the gym, suddenly seeming, unsure on what to do. Takumi had chosen Michiru. And so she approaches Nadeshiko eventually with slow and measured steps, she didn't appear to have a partner yet. Despite the girl being younger, she was a guardian, and so Eri states in a shy voice, "Hello. Do you still require a partner? I'm.. in need of one." She fumbles around to try and remembers her name, since she was the Queen's Guardian coming up short, so she finally introduces herself in an even softer voice, "My name is Eri Shimanouchi."

Nadeshiko sparkles mercilessly. She is, after all, the Queen.

Sensing Madoka fretfully looking around, she glanced over with a delicate smile, but Kaname-san is quickly snatched up by Madobe. Has she seen that girl? ...right! The day she met Li. Madobe doesn't really seem like the type for dance, but it's good to see people spreading their wings.

Nadeshiko, in the self-sacrificing way of a true Queen, is getting herself ready to volunteer as Sei's partner, when the excitable older girl - Aino, she thought she heard - bounds in and does it for her. Well, it means Nadeshiko doesn't have to dance with someone that much taller than her, at least.

But someone dares approach, saving Nadeshiko from having to take pity on anyone. She smiles, angling up from her kneel to stand. She offers a bow, accepting. "Of course, Shimanouchi-sempai. I am Nadeshiko Fujisaki. I'll be placing myself in your care." She seemed nervous, Nadeshiko noticed, thoughtfully. Just uneasy? Or something else? It's her job to worry about what's making people fret, after all. Anything could create an X-Egg, in the right heart. Still, she masks it with her warm smile.

Herr Dance Instruktor smiles again as the various students pair up with each other. "Zat is right, little birds! Ve shall begin zis evening with a very simple Waltz! It is slow! Put your arm around your partner, hold hands, and sway with ze musik! Let it move you! Do not worry about steps.. it is all about ze RHYTHEM! Feel in in your souuuuul!" He walks over to a small but powerful CD player set on the floor and presses the play button. A classic waltz fills the room.

Sei is still glaring about her with those eyes. The eyes of a mad dog! In this case, a mad, rich, spoiled little princess. It seems everyone there who is not an NPC is willing to hurl themselves on their own swords and be her partner, but luckily, none of them are actually forced to do so.. for Minako is right there, leaping into the pit of despair with no parachute and a big smile on her face. Madobe, for the record, is finally noticed.. and Sei might have even said something to her, if Minako had not been so very effective at capturing her attention. "I am not your biggest fan! It was just a bet. My honor says that if I make a bet I have to be true to it, even if.." She looks around then, realizing everyone else is already partnered up. "Ah.. dammit." She sighs, then holds her hand out, limply, to Minako. "Fine. But cool it with the 'biggest fan' schtick, will ya? And don't step on my toes. I just got a pedicure."

..................Madooby. NO! Not Madooby. Madooby/Chan/. Madooby-Chan. Why Madooby? She could have don't Madooky. Isn't that cute too? It is totally cute. Actually she shouldn't think that, she reminds herself, this Madoka seems like a nice girl. She shouldn't will Madooky upon her. She'll just have to suffer Madooby in silence. Sorry, Madoka, for trying to escape fate. You are kind and deserve to remain Madoka. Madobe looks to the skies for a moment and pleads with God, silently, to kill her now. Better now then to have to kill herself after dancing. She doesn't know Nadeshiko too well, but recalls her from the arcade. If she had gotten pitydanced she'd probably be even worse off, as is she manages to shake Madoka's hand and smile at her. "I'm Madobe Kuroi, n-nice to meet you!" She stands up at the instruction but--well--she seems hesitant to make the first move despite arguably offering to Madoka. She keeps glancing back at the instructor and trying to hold a position that seems similar and isn't quite getting it. But hey, she did say she's new at this. She just has to survive. She has not realized dance partners could /change/.

Minako Aino winks at Sei as she takes her hand, lightly pinching her fingers and trying to stretch them out into a more lady-like gesture, all the while encouraging her to cheer up and be more energetic. "Don't be so modest, Sei-chan. You've done a lot for me. I'm gonna use all my power to make sure the whole school knows what you did. Good news is good news, after all," she explains, taking Sei's hand and holding it properly for a dance (but doing the little secretive pinky-tickle on her palm).

Now, she legitimately lowers her voice to real secret levels. "So, I won't step on your toes if you walk me through this. Which one is the waltz again? Is that the step-step-step one or the other one?" she asks, opposite hand hovering from Sei's chin to her hip.

The waltz. Kaioh Michiru smiles a bit to herself, her eyes turning down and away from Takumi for a long moment, as if a memory strikes her. But that memory passes, and she lifts her eyes back up to him. "If you were to play an instrument as well, I would be triply impressed, Chiji-san," says Michiru, her eyes flickering to one side as she notes everyone beginning to pair up.

Michiru did not show it - she would rarely show it, but there was an edge to her gaze now. Especially after that bow stirs the whisper of memories from times long gone.

Lifting up a hand, Michiru offers it to him, offering him the lead, should Takumi wish to take it. "We shall, Chiji-san," says she.

Madoka's twin pink lamps widen with shock at 'madooby' -- and even when it comes to light that that nickname isn't directed at her, she's still dismayed, entirely independently (but fed by) Madobe's own reaction. "Ummm, Minako-chan," she stutters a little bit over the familiar suffix, but it /is/ how they were introduced, "Madobe's such a nice name. M-maybe we can think of a nicer nickname to match it." She bends her own mind to the task, quizzically; her skills of concentration are not very large, when it comes to that instructor. "How about ... '98? S-since, Windows, and I-I bet you play with your phone a lot..." (Madobe is Japanese for 'by the window', among other meanings.)

Madoka wilts visibly at the understandably clipped tone behind Eri's gracious words, but tries to accept them at face value anyway. 'Sorry sorry', she mouths, AGAIN, over Madobe's shoulder, as she faces her new partner and finally, firmly, gives her her full attention. "Would you like me to be the boy?" she squeaks, the offer from the heart and without regret. "My, um, my mama promised that when my little brother is big enough, we can take lessons together. So I'll get my turn eventually!"

(Tatsuya Kaname is like maybe three. She'll be waiting a while. That may be why she's here, now; lack of patience.)

There are lots of strangers giving her subtle or otherwise delicate smiles, and beneath their relative maturity she seems to calm a little, spreading her arms with exactly one ounce, no more, no less, of grace, to put her hand behind Madobe's back, if her new partner consents.

"Oh my god." Sei mutters under her breath as Minako continues to COMPLETELY NOT GET IT. She pauses, mentally, then, wondering if perhaps the girl entirely gets it and is just a lot crueler than she acts. This gives Sei newfound respect for her new dance partner.. even if that explanation might be as faulty as Minako's dance experience. She'll cling to it like a drowning sailor, because it's a lot less frustrating than the alternative. She can respect someone being an ass. Someone being that cheerfully dense, on the other hand, hurts her head.

Minako tickles her palm with her finger, and Sei jerks her hand slightly and frowns at her. "Stop that, this isn't a date." She whispers, below her breath. Herr Tanzenpartei is quite strict about talking during dances, even just in practice. When Minako admits that she doesn't quite know how to begin, Sei sighs. "I thought you wanted to be an idol. Isn't dancing part of the regime?" She grabs Minako's hovering hand and places it squarely on her hip, then places her own on the other girl's shoulder. Then, perhaps a bit more forcefully than necessary, she begins to STEP, TURN, STEP in precise graceful motions that might make Minako stumble a bit at first trying to keep up.

Vaguely aware of Minako being vivacious at someone, Takumi keeps his attention otherwise on Michiru. Slim artist's fingers slide naturally into the spaces between hers, taking her hand in a loose, guiding clasp. His other hand rises to come tastefully to rest at her side as he steps forward to draw her in. Eyes vibrant as amaranth hold on hers, but though his expression is unchanged, something behind that gaze seems to drift across his awareness like a phantom, shapeless.

He can hear the sound of the waltz. He hasn't heard it before. And yet, it's familiar. A ballroom dance.

A woman's face.

"I'll leave you at doubly until I can pick up the clarinet," murmurs Takumi, before beginning to move. His dance lessons were brief, but the steps seem to flow from him as though he's danced them before, like a memory he doesn't have.

His eyes cloud slightly. This feels....

...What does it feel?

:::like that dream...
::::...the one that always comes

She bowed her head slightly at Nadeshiko given her response before there's a notable pause, her eyes still slightly downcast. Though every so often she makes eye contact. She appears to be considering her words carefully, "I thank you for your trust, Fujisaki-san. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She still appears quite uneasy, as if trying to discern whether there were any implicit social rules when it came to dealing with the younger girl, any expectations she might have. She wished she could just ask her, but most people considered it rude for her to just /ask/.

A furtive glance is given Madoka Kaname's way as she mouthes sorry, sorry, and for a moment her expression warms just a bit, as she offers her a smile. She was trying so hard, but she'd have to let her know later that she didn't need to apologize so much. Once had been more than enough to her.

The instructor outlines the dance, and she looks at Nadeshiko, offering in a soft tone, "You should probably lead. I am.. a novice." Whatever Nadeshiko's response response is, she still puts her arm around her, and puts her hand within hers, not seeming embarassed at the prospect of someone younger leading. She would then await her response, not moving at first, as she waits to see if she'll take her up on that. She appears abstracted again in her expression, as if not focused on the dance, but.. something else that is troubling her.

There's probably a simple reason why Kyubey isn't climbing all over the German dance instructor at present. Or anyone else, for that matter. While the adorable fluffy white fairy is often a guide and companion to the many Puella Magi in the city, there are times when he just can't be around due to ... unfortunate circumstances.

Like, oh I don't know... an aberrant Puella Magi who seems to have made it her mission to disrupt him in his efforts to make the city a safer place by recruiting new magical girls and guiding them in their battle against the Witches that lurk in the dark places.

... but who would be such a horrible heartless monster that would both endanger such an ADORABLE fairy while simultaneously allowing Witches to run amok?

Homura Akemi is still a recent transfer student to Ohtori. Though you certainly wouldn't know it by how she behaves. Despite the sprawl of the Ohtori campus she seems to know where everything is already and is comfortable traveling by herself. Today as well she is alone.

While the girls (and boy(s?)) inside are pairing up at the recommendation of the dance instructor, the door leading into the room slides open suddenly. Eyes who turn to the doorway will happen upon a gloomy looking Middle School girl: Pale of skin, with long dark hair that falls to around her hips. Homura enters the room without a word as the waltz continues to play, and she takes up a position next to one wall.

Hm, well every dance requires a wallflower or two.

The room at large receives only a cursory glance at best from Homura. Meeting her eyes would require a great deal of luck or skill. That is, of course, unless your name happens to be Madoka Kaname. Should she turn her gaze to look upon the newcomer, Homura will meet her gaze with her typically neutral expression.

Minako Aino giggles under her breath. "O.M.G., I know, dancing with your idol is just so spiritual or something," she says, being as vivacious as possible at Sei. "And you and Varrus-san must have some weird dates if that's what makes you think of dating," she says, giggling continually.

Being forcefully led about is probably for the best, since it prevents Minako from being TERRIBLE at dancing with her or accidentally kicking at her new toes. "Dancing is part of the regime, but walktzing has never been part of it. Not yet. Not once. Mebbe if I do a Renewaiisance movie or something."

She also highly agrees with Madobe's new nickname. "Better yet, just make it 100 and she can be top marks! "

Michiru was keeping her full attention on Takumi for the moment. Half because it was polite, half because she was curious - and half due to that lingering sense of memory, of dream from forever ago. Questions bubbling in her chest that she could not give words to, or even form into a coherent thought.

Michiru clasps her fingers - fragile and delicate, perhaps a little less so due to callouses from violin playing - around Takumi's own hand.

"Then doubly impressed, I will be, until you learn that instrument," murmurs Michiru, as to not invoke the wrath of the instructor. There was a note of distraction in her tone, even if her own blue eyes were focused upon his features, lines a bit tight around eyes and lips, her smile a mask.

Michiru had come to these lessons before, and she was naturally a bit light upon her feet. But she would let him lead entirely, and make certain that her steps did not overshadow his own.

It seemed as though she hadn't much to fear from that.

Madobe thinks: She's the messiah! She won't let me have Madooby! Thank you God! She is of course unaware of the irony in that she had just asked for God to kill her but really it's for the best. How likely would it be for someone to suddenly die around a nice girl like that anyway?

Homura drops in. There are levels of irony all incredibly above Madobe's head. She relaxes further and says, "Um...sure."

Come to think of it...this is something they could actually talk about? She consents, aside from a small twitch at being touched that is an instinctive reaction. She's a lot shyer than Madoka even, it seems, or maybe a bit less into self-sacrifice.

"Uh...sure..." Madobe isn't so sure about 98 but anything is better than Madooby. "You have a brother? I have one too. He's older, though."

Sei twirls in a slight circle, spinning Minako about so that her hair whirls out. This is not quite part of the approved dance routine but Sei is an 'advanced' student so the teacher doesn't chastise her even if the move has more of the air of her trying to get enough momentum to hurl her partner away from her. Alas, if such was her intent, it fails. "For the last time, Varrus is not my boyfriend!" She protests, below her breath. "He's my /chauffer/. The dude is like 30, gross!"

She turns again, her moves almost unconsciously in time with the music, even if she has to drag Minako with her like a dead weight (it isn't actually that bad, at least the other girl moves under her own power). "You don't do movies, do you?" She asks, sounding slightly exasperated. "I auditioned for a part once but the director told me I had 'too much personality'. Whatever, see if he ever works in this town again." Found dead in the river, concrete shoes, nothing could be proven.

Minako Aino just gives Sei a little wink as her hair flies all about her. "Older guys are cool, don't be shy. The young ones can't appreciate me for my full glory! If you wanna date 30 year olds, you DO it!" she sings, making a half-hearted attempt not to hit anybody with her hair as she leans back for maximum rotational speed, since that's what Sei seems to want her to do.

Then, quieter: "I do movies, but, uh, 'too much personality' is a euphemerialism for 'loud princessy attitude'. You gotta remember to treat being in movies like a job. That's how I succeed!"

All irony is also above Madoka's head -- not that that's very hard when you're more than an inch below five feet. She jumps a little, mid-step, when the door opens and Homura's shadow falls across her, and, with inexorable inevitability, her eyes do lock for a long moment of Neutral Gaze Meets Shy Obliviousness.

She squirms a little internally, discomfited by Homura's intensity -- a feeling made infinitely more intimidating by the fact that she saw this girl in a profoundly weird dream the night before Akemi-san transferred to Ohtori at all -- and breaks the contact to the comparable refuge that is her new friend '98. "Or 100!" she agrees, as their inadequate waltzing takes them in and out of conversation range with Minako. "Top marks." She smiles softly, gently, a candlelit warmth no less intense, in its way, than Homura's nonexpression. "And yes. Tatsuya-chan is such a handful, now that he's walking! I'm lucky that papa watches him in the afternoons, or I would never have any free time." On safe topics, Madoka is prone to babble a little. And to her, brothers are very safe. "What about your brother? Do you attend Juuban together?" There isn't even the slightest twinge of judgement in 'Juuban'; frankly, my dear, she obviously doesn't give a damn what school you go to. It's just not important to her. Being nice and cool is, and in her eyes, Madobe is both. "I'll never get to go to school with Tatsuya, unless I never graduate..."

The instructor calls the beat, and she corrects her steps with a slight stumble, then tries a minor turn, slowly, carefully.

When Takumi does speak, he's keeping his voice very quiet. He doesn't want the instructor badgering him - and he's a little distracted, both by the girl in his arms and by the sense that he's been here before but can't remember when. Some corner of his mind tries to put this together and find some kind of answer as to why this seems like something he should understand, but it's like trying to capture air or nail down the sea. The tide rolls out -

The memory washes away, and he breathes out, eyes holding the deep blue of Michiru's as he moves with that peculiar kind of elegant grace that makes him seem as though he's moving in slow motion through a field of shimmering starlight sparkles, even though he's not. His footsteps are similarly light, avoiding Michiru's feet with ease as he guides her into a stately twirl before stepping in once more.

The way his eyes linger on hers, one could get the wrong idea.

"The brush, the steps and the scales," he whispers, lashes lowering just a shade without his realizing it. "I feel bad making you wait at doubly when I'm already at triply."

Nadeshiko is exceptional at political nothings. It is an important part of being a proper Japanese young lady.

"Of course," Nadeshiko replies. "I have some training of my own, so, it's no problem." She's actually rather tall, for her age and particularly gender, so it's not too hard to manage leading. The waltz was easy enough, and had a similar mind to it to the the performance dances she was more accustomed to.

So she easily puts her hands rightly and steps in to the music, keeping her movements slow and easy. Teaching is done best like a lot of things Nadeshiko is good at; cautiously, and with careful consideration.

But she does, after a few moments, dare to broach the obvious. She can tell they are, if not in synch, at least not wildly out of it. So it's probably not the dance... "Is something the matter?" she asks, eyes tipping upward to the older student.

Meanwhile, Temari flitters away from the notebook of sketches Madoka dropped earlier, attention flighty as always for a Shugo Chara. Hovering near the periphery, she won't get in Nadeshiko's way, so she hangs around the side. Nobody notices the softball-sized fairy; Shugo Chara are invisible to the ungifted, and difficult to spot for even some magically-inclined. The kimono-clad fairy ends up in the vicinity of Homura, peeking at her with child-like curiosity in her cartoonish eyes.

"I bet they can't," Sei says, sarcastically, to Minako's statement about younger boys not being able to appreciate her. "I don't /want/ to date 30 years olds. I don't want to date anybody!" Not strictly true, but she qualifies that a moment later by adding, "I haven't met anyone up to my standards yet. Y'know.. good enough." She suddenly blushes, the color very noticable against her pale skin and dark hair. "Awgh, why am I telling you that?! I can't stand you!" She says, more to herself than Minako.

She twirls again, perhaps a little bit /too/ forcefully, bumping slightly into Madoka and Madobe as the smaller girls whirl by. "Watch it," She hisses at them, even though it was completely her fault. Nothing is Sei's fault. Ever. She then frowns at Minako. "'Loud princessy attitude'? What the eff does that mean? Are you tryin' to say I'm some kinda prima donna?!" She's whispering, but her accent is getting more Yakuza by the second.

Eri seems to be appreciative enough of her willingness to take the lead, gracing her with a warm smile, though she doesn't seem to focus on the dance. For someone untrained, she moves with a rather easy grace, which implies she'd likely be a natural if she put her mind to it, catching onto the steps easily enough, and sparing Nadeshiko some wince-worthy moments of pain. Being only a couple inches taller than her, it doesn't make the dance all that awkward, even with her leading.

Her movements remain rhythmic, and in time with the music, every so often she snaps out of her distant state to give her a look of consternation, then chagrin as she tries to pay attention to her teaching by example.

And then she asks the question bluntly, Eri seems, surprised. Most people she knew would have figuratively danced around the issue for the entirety of the lesson, without asking outright, "Yes. I'm.. troubled by several matters of import, but I can't speak on many of them. As for what I can discuss..." A frown touches her features, "...I'm worried about the state of my pansies in the campus garden." Thank you for your concern, I appreciate it." She speaks on it so fluidly, that one would think this is a normal thing that everyone ought to be concerned about.

The tide may roll out, but there was always the sensation - or the scent - of the ocean around Michiru. That lingering sense of danger was lessening to a dangerous little thrum in the back of her mind, clearing somewhat. What it was, what it could be, what it is - if it was anything at all - these were mysteries that would have to wait for a different time to puzzle out.

For now, she waltzed.

Her dance partner of the moment moved with a grace that would sing as familiar to Michiru, and he might find that she was effortlessly matching it. With each step, with each motion, she followed - and challenged him to more with a gentle push - an added grace to her own step, just a bit above his own.

Clack, click clack - heels of her shoes against the gymnasium floor.

"Thank you for the compliment," comes Michiru's whisper. "I am certain you have the ability to catch up - careful that you do not find more things to be impressed with until you do," gently says Michiru.

Asuka Junior has not been here the entire time. In fact, he is /late/. He is just getting here /now/. This is mostly because he has very little interest in dancing. His interests tend to be focused on other things, like detective work, Saint Tail, rock and roll, Saint Tail, baseball, Saint Tail and snacks.

He also hasn't dressed up /at all/, but that's significantly harder to notice than his lateness, because he just rocks a suit at all times. As he walks in, he is checking his phone for messages. Nope, none so far.

Oh well, maybe she'll send a note in the middle of the dance.

Madobe is enough in her own head that it takes her a moment (or three) to realize that Madoka has looked over towards someone else and had a LOCKED GAZE moment. She cranes her head once and might accidentally step on Madoka's foot in the attempt (illiciting a quick panicked apology) but she doesn't actually get to see Homura until they waltz about a bit and her gaze naturally catches Homura. Why does she suddenly feel like someone walked over her grave? She doesn't get 'top marks' in her classes because while she might be smart she's also missed a lot of classes, but the comment makes her redden all the same.

"Oh...yeah. We do. Though we don't see each other much there since he's a few grades higher." Madobe notices there isn't even a little judgement on her school 'choice'. She finds that unusual. She does go to Ohtori right? Well, not even Madobe thinks EVERYONE who goes to Ohtori is elitist. She's thought about it a lot.

"W-well you'll have a lot of time with him at home." Madobe's one saving grace is that when she senses unease or trouble in someone she has the tendency to try and reassure them. "You're lucky to have a good relationship with him. And then he'll be able to surprise you with some stories. That could be pretty fun too, r-right?"

Sei bonks into her, and she stumbles again, having trouble regaining the proper beat. SEEEEEEIII!!

Minako Aino is upset at Sei's confession, but misunderstands. "Don't worry about it, Sei-chan. You'll find someone you like with -all- your heart someday. I got the same problem. High standards."

"But you gotta keep calm and carry on. You might be the prime donna or the second one, but a donna no matter how you look at it. 'Loud princessy attitude' is sorta' slang for girls who ask for too much without giving anything in return. You see it a lot out of failed actors," she says, lowering her voice to keep her words secret between just her and Sei (and Madoke and Madobe).

"Sorry, sorry, she's just really getting into the walktz of things!" she says as means of apology before turning all her attention back to Sei.

She also steps harder and crack-clack-clacks the floor with her own footwear, trying to imitate Michiru!

Meimi Haneoka has in fact been here the whole time, but at the moment, she's not dancing. She's standing aside the middle of the dance in a very-cute little pink dress, clutching onto her purse. She's gossiping with her friend Seira, who is not hard to recognize because she usually covers her hair as appropriate for her studies as a nun.

Meimi seems to be watching the dancers right now, but when Asuka Junior walks in, she notably looks over in that direction and rolls her eyes. Like he wears that suit, like, EVERYWHERE.

For a time, Homura's gaze locks with Madoka. While Homura shows no change in expression it's clear that the pink haired girl is uncomfortable, and soon she breaks the gaze to bring her focus back on dancing with Madobe. Externally the quiet transfer student does not react to this. She is as calm and cold as a mountain brook.

Her gaze remains steady on the dancing Mado pair. And while Homura's attention is focused elsewhere, it seems that someone's attention has become focused on her. Temari, the tiny Shugo Chara, hovers its way over to where Homura is standing on the wall. The nigh invisible fairy seems to be in no danger of being noticed even as it draws closer to the girl and stares in the rudest way imaginable. Homura's gaze is locked on. She even watches as Sei and Minako twirl a little too forcefully and nearly run straight into Madoka and Madobe. Homura's lips draw back into a slightly thinner line at that.

Though with a sigh she allows her gaze to drop from Homura and instead she raises her hand, making as if to examine her fingernails disinterestedly. It wouldn't be a particularly special gesture of note for a Middle School girl were it not for the fact that she has raised her hand right in front of where Temari is staring at her.

The left hand possesses a gray metal ring with a purple gem stone and odd runes inlaid upon its surface. She has a bit of nail art as well: A diamond shaped outline in purple drawn upon her middle fingernail, and nothing else. Temari might find both interesting.

And then there is the fact that at one point, instead of looking at her nails, she seems to be staring directly at the area Temari is inhabiting. It's brief. Only lasting a couple seconds at most. Did she zone out? Who knows, but soon Homura lifts her gaze back up and out over the dance floor. Daiki Asuka Jr strolls by her on the way in, and earns a passing glance from the dark haired girl. Madobe's gaze also catches Homura, and she receives a similar neutral glance from Homura. She almost looks bored.

Meimi also gets a glance because Homura is pretty much acting like a wallflower door guard right now.

"Will you make it difficult for me to find such things?" comes Takumi's answer, just a whisper, a hint of a distant ache creeping into his tone. "Being left behind doesn't suit me... I'll have to walk a little more quickly."

Some corner of his mind is still alert, but it's more of a nagging voice now, tuned out along with the instructor, the school surroundings, the chatter of students, leaving him in what seems like a nebulous, glittering fog of memory with this beautiful, mysterious girl who may be something more but could only be something he could never have. He doesn't know why he could never have her, only that it would never happen.

That's simply the order of things... that someone like her must always be just a mystery. Anything beyond that is pain.

(So you see, Kaioh Michiru... that's why this feeling could never be falling in love with you. Because love is a lie. I don't have feelings like that. Only the darkness.)

(Only Queen Beryl.)

His eyes close, and he breathes out slowly between parted lips, his head bowing a shade as he slows his steps, the dance drawing to a slow, almost reluctant halt.

"...You're good at that, Kaioh-san," Takumi says, eyes flitting open.

Actually Meimi has been here the whole time so Homura /doesn't/ glance at her when she enters. But maybe she glanced at her incidentally anyway.

Nadeshiko is, after all, in charge of peoples' healthy hearts! Delicate handling of situations is all well and good, but there's times for the direct approach, as well.

Nadeshiko hems at the response, a low hum and a nod. "Ah, of course," she says. "Forgive the intrusion." Without knowing what they are, she can't do much, but she can certainly respect a certain want for privacy. Sort of. She may, after all, get the dirt on it later; the Guardians are tasked with protecting students' private information...which of course requires that they have access to it.

It's OK, they're ten year olds, they can totally handle that kind of responsibility. It's at least a less absolute thing past the elementary school, where the higher-level student councils rein supreme.

"Then, we'll dance and try to forget about pansies for a moment," Nadeshiko offers with a titter. "Are you in the gardening club? Or is this a class project?"

Meanwhile, Temari stares back at Homura. Was that...

She waves at her, briefly, tentatively, and then Homura looks away. Sensed her? Maybe even saw her? Or just distracted by a sunbeam? Odd.

Madoka cringes at a wisp of conversation across her ears -- 'concerned at the state of my pansies' -- but the back of her befabulousribboned head is to Eri at that moment, happily. She tries desperately to mimic Michiru and Takumi as they whirl around, without much success; ah, for that unattainable grace and style-- "Ah!" she cries as her foot is stepped on; more an exclamation of surprise than pain. "It's okay, don't worry, don't worry!" About three seconds later, the situation may well be reversed: "S-sorry!"

Madobe and Madoka are probably pretty rapidly forming an event horizon of bumbling dance floor incompetence. Madoka, at least, is at this point so hyperfocused on her failed attempts to provide a useful dance partner for Madobe that Homura really might as well be a wall. Or a flower, though that might get more attention from her.

"Yes... he's very naughty, but I love him a lot." The sentiment is expressed with breathless sincerity; heart on her sleeve, this one. "Do..." she isn't totally blind to subtext, here, "Do you get any good stories from your brother?"

When they get bumped into, she blinks and apologizes immediately. "P-pardon us!" she says immediately, bobbing a curtsey, remembering she's supposed to be a boy, wobbling mightily mid-bobble into a little bow instead. Minako's relative friendliness does much to dispel Sei's intimidation attempt and her worries about the direction her conversation with Madobe is leading, and she's smiling a little bit more shortly thereafter. Innocently. Quizzically. Surely Minako means 'giving performances', right?

Asuka Junior makes suspicious sweep of the room. Or possibly he's just looking around. It can be hard to tell with Asuka Junior. He nods to himself, then heads over towards the snack table - and, because she is in the way, Meimi. "I hope that we're going to get more than just classical music at dances this year." It's not entirely clear who he's talking to. Probably anyone in earshot who's willing to listen.

"I mean, really. I have to show up in case someone tries to steal something, but it might as well be music I like listening to."

"What's wrong with classical music? You don't think it's elegant?" Meimi asks, with a toss of her hair. Of course the most important thing is that she does not agree with whatever Asuka Junior agrees with.

Then she laughs. "Are you really only here in case someone steals something?"

Asuka stops, turning to Meimi. He snorts. "Elegant? More like boring, Haneoka. It's all slow!" He far prefers music that has guitars, riffs and combinations of the two. "Of course I'm here to keep an eye out for thieves! Do you know how dangerous crowded events can be? Why else would I be here? I'm not here to dance!"

(SOME TIME AGO: "Hey, Yasuhiro?" "Yeah, Chiba?" "Check this signup sheet out, I find out on Asuka's desk." "Huh. Dance lessons." "...are you thinking what I'm thinking?" "Yeah, just let me fill his name in here.")

Meimi is just about to turn and yell at Asuka when he says that... when another student approaches her and hands her a dance card.

She looks at it in disbelief. She frowns.

She waves it in his face, as if it were a Notice. "Well, looks like someone signed you up to dance anyway."

Of course they are listed as dance partners for the next round. It's right there on the card. Meimi doesn't outwardly mention that, but: he can read.

"There's no need to apologize." She stares at the younger girl over the rims of her glasses, her frown disappearing. "It is no intrusion. If it were, I would tell you."

She doesn't look quite as uncomfortable any longer, perhaps relaxing just a little as the younger girl continues to lead her through the dance steps. "Yes, yes I am." This subject matter actually causes her voice to become more warm, "Botany is my passion. Gardening is simply an expression of that."

After a time, once she realizes that she has the steps down, she clears her throat and asks in a polite tone, "Would you mind if I attempted to lead for a time? Thank you for tolerating my clumsiness."

She must be being modest as she hadn't actually been clumsy up until that point... when she suddenly became so engrossed in the conversation, that she took a step backwards, knocking her heel up against Sei's feet, and stumbling with a choked gasp. She recovers quickly enough at the faux pas, mumbling a quick apology her way.

"If I can. But there are mysteries that linger in the hearts of everyone, Chiji-san," says Michiru, her tone of voice as pleasant as it had always been - but there was a little deepening - a little darkening of her tone that hinted that she perhaps knew that she was not the only keeper of secrets here.

(Love is, perhaps, the single only truth, Takumi Chiji. There will be a time that you, and your Queen, will discover this. But I hope that you will come to that realization sooner.)

"As are you, Chiji-san," says Michiru, giving his hands one final squeeze, before she parts from him, realizing the growing intensity of the discomfit she felt so near him only when she steps away.

"I will see you at the gallery, perhaps," says Michiru, letting her eyes linger before she turns away, her eyes going towards the instructor and inclining her head towards him. The next round will be soon, no doubt.

It has been several minutes, as the swirling (or in some cases, stumbling) goes on in the room, accompanied by pretty classical music. Herr Tanzenpartei has been walking about, demonstrating moves and correcting a step here or there where he sees mistakes, though by and large it is a losing battle. But he fights it regardless, his heart larger than the mightiest magical girl when it comes to the art of dancing! Suddenly clapping, he announces loudly over the music, "Alright! Now, one two zthree, and switch partners! One pair to your left!" Quite suddenly, without really having time to plan it, everyone is expected to move away from their partner and re-partner up with whomever is directly to their left at the time.

Sei, meanwhile, has moved from exasperated to seething as Minako continues to boldly outline her failures and the reasons for them to her own face. "Listen, just because you have the personality of a puppy on barbituates doesn't mean that I'm some kind of inelegant brat!" She says, and just then the teacher calls for them to switch. Ugh, Sei can't get away from Minako fast enough, and passes the other girl off to the right like the hot potato.

She reaches to her left.. and suddenly finds a much smaller, and pink-haired girl in her clutches. Madoka, for her part, has the misfortune of finding herself face-to-face with a Sei who is very obviously still seething from her previous discussion. It is likely a very different sensation from dancing with Madobe, as Sei very much knows what she is doing, even when annoyed, and is larger and significantly more forceful than Madobe.. beginning to whirl Madoka about perhaps a bit too enthusiastically for the smaller girl's tastes. But to an observer it suddenly looks as though Madoka learned how to dance (unless she actually trips and falls while trying to keep up, anyway).

Minako Aino reassures Sei that she can go over any amount of inelegance and brattiness with work and effort and a little help from Minako-chan, which she promises to help her work on! "And watch your language, Sei-tan, there are children about," she says before slouching herself over to Madobe.

"Madooby-chan!"

"...what."

Asuka Junior stares at the card right up until someone behind him bumps into him, causing him to stumble towards Meimi and grab her shoulders. "Gah! Uh - well..." Well, it's the Rules. Asuka mentally hunts for a way out, scowling slightly, but /it's the Rules/. Got to follow the Rules. "...well, I hope /you/ have some idea what you're doing, Haneoka." Asuka's idea of how to dance to classical music is 'vague memories of seeing a waltz in a cartoon some time ago.'

His tone is probably more annoyed than it really needs to be.

Some part of Takumi misses what it must be like to love. That part is deeply, deeply buried behind layers of brainwashing and ancient memory that is not memory, only foggy breaths of a life drifting through a crack in a door locked fast.

Slender fingers slide away from Michiru's as Takumi releases the woman, the peculiarly haunted look in his expression beginning to melt away. "I'll look forward to it, Kaioh-san," is his only answer, before he inclines his head and gives the hem of his shirt a quick straightening. The memories recede bit by bit, carrying mystery back through the crack in the door, sealing it and vanishing, leaving him once again sinking back into brooding, serious Takumi Chiji again.

He gives his head a toss before turning to the instructor, one hand resting at his hip with his thumb tucked between his belt and his waistband. "Oi, sensei" he says quietly. "There's another round for each of us, ne?"

Madobe is her own worst enemy while dancing. Once she's out of a 'groove' she just gets worse. She gives Madoka a smile when she's stepped on back, aside from a small cringe she doesn't complain. She stepped on her foot first, after all, and she's honestly happy it wasn't just her stumbling about. It puts her more at ease to know it's struggling together.

Madobe thinks to her own relationship with her brother which, honestly, is probably a bit strange. It's not that she wants to lie, persay, it's just that she wants to put Madoka at ease. She's pretty sure Madoka's brother would be happy to talk to her all the time.

"Sometimes." She says. "But...eheh..it's usually me going to him. It's the perogative of me being the younger, eheh...heh..." She thinks to her own memories of her own brother. Hearing Madoka talk about her own brother like that well--

"Thanks to you..." She says a bit too dramatically. "I can forgive my brother for eating my yogurt." She bows her head once. "Thank you." Then she realizes she's supposed to curtsey and performs the worst least practiced curtsey in the history of space-time (Homura can confirm).

Time to change partners? She turns to Minako, smiling at her and--

MAdooby-chan!

".ghkk......ggh..." She starts shaking, her face going as pale as a ghost's. "M...Minako...Chan."

With that, Meimi and Asuka Junior are kind of subsumed into the dance. They go along with the wave. Of course Meimi isn't really so keen on this 'having to touch Asuka Junior' kind of thing, and her hands on his shoulders are really stiff and awkward. But her footsteps are quite graceful really. She would be a pretty good dancer, if it were not for her obvious and all-consuming loathing of Asuka Junior.

Of course as a result of his relative stiffness, she steps on his toe.

Nadeshiko is the very master of the benign but not /empty/ smile, and she fixes Eri with it merrily. Oh, a dream...she wonders if she'll be seeing any Guardian Eggs from this one, with a clear dream like that. "That's lovely! I'll remember that. We have a lot of need for people with a green thumb, around here." The smile turns a little more pointed. On a campus like Ohtori's, sometimes keeping the flowers from turning into space monsters is a serious question that requires serious botanical science, after all. Particularly since half the time it's an Infinity Institute prank...

Meanwhile, Temari has buzzed off from Homura's side to attend to some taller redhead guy hanging outside the door (it's Kukai). Nadeshiko titters al ittle at the slip, giving Eri a wry little look. "Don't worry about it. You're a fine leader. We all have to practice to become great, after all."

Hopefully she won't immediately get thrown out a window by Sei and proven a liar.

She looks over Eri's shoulder, where Temari has snuck up and is silently motioning her toward the door; she looks over, where Kukai jerks his head outside. Some Guardian business, then. Just in time for a set to end, at least. As the switch is called, Nadeshiko pulls back, bowing properly. "Thank you very much, Shimanouchi-sempai. I'll see you again~ Unfortunately, I have business to attend to." She glances at the instructor, throwing up a high sign to signal her imminent departure, and then quietly shuffling outside. As she does, Temari murmurs near her ear, and Nadeshiko stops long enough near Homura to advice, "Ah, Akemi-san, isn't it?" Again: Guardians get dossiers on most students, especially the ones who are /supposed/ to be sick and fragile. Knowing her name is nothing, to the terrible power of the Queen's Chair. "If you'd like, I doubt I'll be back; you can probably take my place." Smile~ Maybe that'll be good for her heart. Though, didn't they say she was doing well in PE? --no time to think about it, Kukai's getting restless, which probably means Yaya's boxing a kangaroo again.

Temari takes the invitation a step further, winking openly at the girl and motioning with her hands to join the crowd. Homura may not actually be able to see it, but perhaps the spirit of the dance will fall upon her, or something.

And thus Nadeshiko sweeps out the door, fetching her bag on the way out.

Asuka Junior isn't exactly a good dancer himself, but he definitely does not appreciate toe-stepping. "Hey! I told you I wasn't any good at this, aren't /you/ the one who likes this stuff?" Yeah, these two clearly are not going to get along well. Especially not with Asuka Junior's annoyance making an already stiff dance worse, as he unconsciously starts stomping around as he moves.

"Are you doing that on purpose? I didn't even /do/ anything!"

Madoka is used to high drama about small, daily matters; she doesn't miss a beat, or a step, getting more comfortable by the moment even as Madobe gets less. "You're welcome! Wow, that's pretty impressive... I should try to do so well, and forgive /my/ brother for trying to eat my new plushy." And then getting sick on it. They tried to put it in the washing machine, but it just wouldn't turn on, as though energy couldn't flow from 'on' switch to mechanics without some kind of disruption.

As their well-conceived but ill-executed attempt at the World's Clumsiest Waltz comes to an end, Madoka bows again -- much more gracefully, as though caught momentarily by the spirit of a prince, with even a sweeping gesture with one arm that evokes a nonexistent cloak -- and meets Madobe's eyes fully and clearly, without any hesitation, now. "Thanks for the dance," she exclaims, blushing a little. "Before you leave, later, let me give you my number, Madobe-chan! It's not as cool as your One Hundred, but it's something!"

And then it's time to make a new friend. YOINK'D!

Sei may have rather fundamentally misunderstood Madoka's intentions early if she felt she was 'falling on her sword' to dance with her. This is an easy mistake to make; even now, in the second round, she is as nervous and bumbling as can be. Mercifully, her palms aren't very sweaty, though the back of her neck, revealed by her hairstyle, is adrip. But her nerves have entirely to do with her own self-consciousness, because Sei, in her mind, is this very cool figure who surely has a good, probably complicated reason for her attitude.

Madoka is categorically incapable of bad first impressions. Or fifth impressions. This is not actually a good thing, much of the time. On the other hand, sometimes it turns out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

So her smile, shaky as it is, is quite real.

There is some early confusion as Madoka realizes they're both trying to be the boy. She gasps as she's flung about, stumbling over her own feet to, yes, pratfall. Face, meet floor. "I'm sorry!" she immediately squeaks. To her credit (or perhaps to her lack of ability to learn when to give up), she hops right back up and tries to get back into the beat, wrinkling her nose frantically to try to bring feeling other than 'pain' back into it.

After a few more moments of awkward silence, she repeats, "I'm sorry I can't match you... you deserve a better partner." She nods firmly, twintails bouncing, eyes widening as she is coming to fully appreciate what a good job Sei is doing with her /anyway/. "Because, um, you're really, really good! B-but... do you, um... doyounotlikedancingverymuch?"

"You have to actually MOVE with the music, not just stomp around at random!" Meimi yells back. "Like this! ONE two three--" She is stomping her feet too hard too, but at least she's on the beat.

"And you don't put your hand THERE. You put it HERE--"

She grabs his right hand, pulls it down, and puts it around her waist.

Her face suddenly turns bright red.

To a casual observer, maybe, it looks like Madoka has suddenly learned how to dance. To Homura's eyes however the truth is much more evident. After all, skill is something that tends to grow gradually with practice and decline smoothly with disuse. It's not something that can just appear and disappear in an instant.

Then there is Sei's seemingly abrasive attitude. No doubt at this moment Madoka Kaname is little more than a puppet in the more skilled dancer's hands. And while a kinder and more patient individual would perhaps slow down to allow their partner to catch up as need be, it's unknown if Sei would be willing to extend the same courtesy. Still ... what does this all matter to the mysterious transfer student? Probably nothing at all. She's too cool and aloof to be friends with an adorable spaz like Madoka. Certainly.

'Ah, Akemi-san, isn't it?'

Homura's gaze is pulled away from Madoka and Sei to happen upon an elementary student. "Nadeshiko Fujisaki." She returns in her quiet, even tone of voice. Of course it's no surprise that Homura would know the name of one of the Guardians, is it? Then the offer is made. It's no surprise that someone like Nadeshiko would offer to help the lone wallflower in the room a chance to dance with a partner. It helps that it seems like Nadeshiko has other business to attend to. Of course, the question is ... does Homura even want to dance?

She glances at Madoka and Sei once more, watching the smaller pink haired girl struggle in the arms of the more skilled dancer. Without looking back at Nadeshiko she says softly, "Very well. Thank you."

Poor Temari doesn't get any further acknowledgement either. But at least it does seem like some sort of spirit has fallen upon the gloomy loner.

Homura moves out across the dance floor to where Nadeshiko's next dance partner, now hers, is waiting. Michiru Kaioh. Homura arrives within a few steps of the upperclassman from the Infinity Institute and she performs a graceful, almost flawless curtsey. "My name is Homura Akemi. I will lead." She says with no hint of reluctance. Has she waltzed before? She holds out a hand to Michiru, and waits for her to take it.

"I /told/ you I wasn't good at this!" Asuka is, at least, good at following instructions. "Anyway, you're stomping, too! Stop blaming everything on me!"

Asuka gets his hand moved, and he grumbles to himself. As Meimi turns red, he blinks. "...what, I didn't do anything! Are you feeling sick or something, Haneoka? Do you need some air?"

He turns a bit, trying to steer the dance towards a clearer area so Meimi can get a breath and cool down, since clearly this is the problem.

There was a little nod from Michiru as she nods to the instructor, a gentle little twirl of her skirts as she spins around - looking to divorce herself fully from Takumi's 'zone', moving to flow freely into Nadeshiko's zone - only to find that empty, the other young woman leaving - if not left already, leaving Michiru's smile a bit shaken seeming.

At least, until Homura approaches, Michiru's eyes taking in the appearance of the other, younger, woman, an approving little smile touching her lips at the curtsey. "Homura Akemi, it is nice to meet you," says Michiru, dipping her hand down to pluck up the hems of her skirts, matching that flawless curtsey with one of her own. "I am Michiru Kaioh, from the Infinity Institute. I would be honored if you would lead," says she, rising up once more.

Stepping forward, a question dies unspoken on her lips - has Homura waltzed before? There was a confidence in the young woman's demeanor that would suggest so. Michiru was curious to find out. Reaching out her hand - Michiru wraps the slender fingers of an artist around Homura's own hand, readily sliding forward. Waiting for Homura's cue to begin the waltz. Michiru would prove an apt follower, at least at first - not quite attempting to challenge or overshadow Homura's own steps, but effortlessly following along.

Irony. If only Nadeshiko knew about how she would deal with botanical science pranks. Either way Eri answers with customary candor. "If ever you have need of my services, you need only ask. It would be my pleasure to assist." She gives the younger girl a chagrined look at the sudden slip and comment on becoming great but that vanishes into a grateful expression, "Thank you again for your instruction."

However, her hesitation to wish the departing girl well costs her, as she suddenly looks to her left, finding herself without a partner. All the NPC girls had customarily skittered off, leaving her alone on the dance floor, and feeling vaguely embarassed. Instead of dwelling on it, she flees the dance floor suddenly with her gaze slightly downcast, nearly running into Minako on the way out, and momentarily having to backpeddle, mumbling another apology, before leaving the dance floor.

Instead she takes up a position she's more familiar with. That of the wallflower, which was a title she found to be a remarkably terrible misnomer. After all, she was far too plain to be compared to any precious flowers. She wanted to leave, to check on the garden, but she felt obligated to stay for a while, after all her Father wanted her to be here, and was paying.

Instead her gaze falls upon Homura as she takes to the dance floor, vaguely recognizing her as the refined girl with heart problems who nevertheless acted as cool as a cucumber and had only returned to school recently. She doesn't dwell on her for long, as a moment later she's looking at Madoka again and wondering once again what the well-meaning girl had done to her poor flowers.

At this point Takumi has circled away from Michiru. His eyes linger on her only for a second before he pulls them away and exhales, head bowing shallowly. She's interesting. She's also dangerous, the way she makes him remember things he's sure are just lies and deceptions. There has to be something more to her.

With a slow step he starts across the dance floor, weaving his way expertly past a pair of dancers - only to find Eri fleeing the dance floor before he can get there.

Takumi slows, stops. He breathes out and pushes his hands through his hair before breaking into a small scowl, looking off to one side. He's not /that/ frightening. Maybe he should be flattered that he apparently is, though.

Sei, for all her generally bad attitude, might normally have tried to give Madoka a bit more of a chance to keep up with her- she's not into charity, but she also generally needs to be annoyed before she's outright cruel. The problem, for poor Madoka, is that Minako did the annoying and then managed to escape, through the winds of fate, leaving Madoka to reap the results. The results are forceful dancing which, while technically exactly correct in every way on Sei's part, sends Madoka tumbling to the floor within moments. "Oh, get up." Sei grumbles, hauling the girl back to her feet even as she tries to scramble up herself, and barely missing a beat in the process. If its any consolation, though it is clear that Sei is grumpy, the way the girl's pale blue eyes keep darting back to Minako dancing nearby every time her sneer grows, its clear Madoka is not the target of that grumpiness.. merely its unfortunate sufferer.

However, at some point amidst the flowing steps (which do actually slow down a bit after that first fall, allowing the pink-haired girl to keep up more ), Sei seems to come out of her brooding plotting of Minako's doom enough to realize she is being spoken to. Her eyes focus on her partner, perhaps for the first time actually seeing her. Her expression softens, not to anything particularly nice, but rather to skeptical inquisitiveness, which is by all accounts a bit better than outright hostility. "You're right. I do, and I am." Sei says, but she already feels her mood improving, because Madoka is flattering her and she loves to be flattered. "What's your name, kid?" She asks, feeling suddenly a bit generous, because Madoka is really laying on the praise. "Is this your first time?" The whole time she continues her graceful movements, utterly effortless, managing to make Madoka look decent by association. "You suck." Then, she adds, "But I've seen worse. You're picking it up."

That is obviously NOT the problem, but Meimi will helpfully correct Asuka Junior (because he's so good at being wrong). "I'm fine! Just watch your hand and don't get any grabby ideas," she says to him, stubbornly.

For a moment, she is allowing him to take the lead, and they aren't doing half-badly, if not particularly elegantly. But then Meimi realizes that she's allowing that, and tries to take the lead again herself. Of course moving at-odds, they get off step again.

Minako Aino totally tickles Sei's palm before she goes. And tickles Madobe's too! It's a new 'thing'.

"Hi, Madobe-chan. You gotta have more confidence, even when dancing with your idol-of-idols," she says, lightly chastizing but entirely supportive. She tries to drag Madobe towards Sei and Madoka, and tries to give a playful bump to Eri as she flees, before she hangs out in a little dance partner-ball in the middle of the room. "Be nice to Madoke-chan, Sei-taaaan," she says, wagging a finger and letting Madobe drift for the moment. "You'll break her. Cheer up!"

Then she starts gabbing about games and internetty stuff, carefully trying to avoid any downed dancers or stumblers. "Play any good games lately, Madobe-chan?"

"Grabby...?" Asuka Junior looks shocked for a moment. "...why would I get grabby with /you/, Haneoka?" Sure, she vaguely reminds him of someone else, but she argues with him all the time. "Anyway, you were all red, what am I /supposed/ to think?"

Asuka resists as Meimi tries to take control, and ends up stepping on her toe this time. "Now you're the one messing it up!"

Of the two Michiru is older, and taller perhaps by a couple of inches. So it's perhaps an odd choice that Homura should be the one to lead. After all, Michiru appears to be a refined woman (and an artist) in her own right. Though it seems that neither party has hesitation in the matter. Michiru takes Homura's hand, and in turn Homura draws her into the dance.

As it turns out, if Michiru was worried about potentially overshadowing her dance partner, then that is a concern that will die soon after her waltz with Homura begins. The gloomy looking girl and the beautiful artist from Infinity smoothly sweep together across the dance floor. One pale hand grips Michiru's own, while another rests at the small of her back.

In truth, Herr Tanzenpartei may soon suspect that a couple of professionals have found their way to the floor. Homura leads Michiru with both skill and mindfulness, making sure always keep pace with the flow of the music as well as her partner. Michiru has no need to fear having one of her feet stepped upon by Homura's brown loafers.

If there was a fault in Homura's ability as a dance partner though it would seem to be her lack of focus and passion. While everything Homura does is mechanically correct, and she seems to be mindful of her partner's movements as she leads her across the dance floor, Homura seems distracted. Her eyes regularly leave Michiru to glance at something else as they swirl together.

It is for that reason as well that if Michiru is expecting any sort of conversation out of the gloomy Ohtori student she will probably have to be the one to initiate it.

"R..right." Madobe bobs her head at Madoka quickly, face still flushed, but she seems--a lot more at ease with herself after talking with Madoka. Maybe it's because she actually had a mostly normal conversation with a stranger for once. And might get a phone number? Okay maybe the 'number 98' thing is weird but compared to Madooby...

Speaking of!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NdVPTQkRaY is the sort of song that is playing in her head when she sees Minako, and she has an expression not unlike a certain cat at this point too.

"Ah...yeah..." She manages, though somehow even conversation about games isn't alleviating her sudden feeling of dread. She doubts Minako would care to hear about how many Sailor V inspired games she played!

"S-s-s-s-so Sei is selling your CDs?" @_X

"Th-thanks," Madoka stammers, when she's helped up. She gives Sei's hand a tiny, grateful squeeze that has nothing to do with possibly being on a date. It is as chaste as such physical expressions come.

She, typically enough, isn't holding Sei's attitude, or the immediate consequences to her flattened face, against her. Granted, that may be in part because it's impossible to convince her that any mistakes aren't her fault, and hers alone, but still. She isn't so uncouth as to follow Sei's gaze to Minako, instead trying to relax into the beat of the dance, and slowly, one muscle at a time, starting to succeed.

Starting to enjoy herself, even, though the idea that Sei can be this good at something, and dislike it, brings a cloud of sadness across her face. It's pretty clear that isn't a line to be persued further at this time, though, so instead, ribbons bouncing with each turn, she replies, "I'm Madoka Kaname, second-year junior high!" 'You suck' barely penetrates the YOUSUCKYOUSUCKYOUSUCK inner monologue that is her constant companion, really, the shattered self-esteem that forms an equally fractured foundation of her personality. 'You're picking it up,' though, does. "Thanks!" she says again, an entirely different, unabashed blush rising over her cheeks. A painter could make an entire roseate palette out of the number of hues she's displayed in the last hour's time. "It is my first time... but I really appreciate the lesson. You're a good teacher... Itazura-senpai?" Sei's reputation proceeds her (but is ignored), or else she heard someone else call her that in here. Maybe both.

As they waltz around, she passes Eri and casts the girl another look; this time it isn't apology, but some kind of silent, firm promise, communicated by the seriousness of her brows, the level angle of her gaze. To go with her to witness the gravesite of the pansies, perhaps. To stand by her actions, and accept her punishment.

Sayaka and Madobe aren't the only ones who occasionally indulge in being a little bit over the top.

Michiru and Homura, on the other hand, draw open-mouthed admiration when they sweep by, as freely given as it was to Sei. She seems to have an bottomless supply.

As gracefully as he entered the dance floor, Takumi's departing it is somwhat less conspicuous. Thumbs tucked into his belt, he steps off towards the nearest wall and rests his back against it, looking on at the little crowd of dancers in silence. His brows furrow into a little V as he begins to drift off into his own thoughts.

Girls dancing should have more of an effect on him, honestly. It doesn't because most of them are a bit young for him and because he basically has no ability to feel anything remotely like that.

He simply watches some of the dancers, namely how Madoka seems to turn every shade of pink short of Mountbatten. In spite of himself he smiles faintly.

As odd as it may be for Michiru to allow the younger woman to lead - that confidence draws a quirk of her lips, and she finds herself drawn into the waltz once more. Michiru was quite used to allowing others to take the lead in terms of dances, so it was easily enough for the same to happen here. And as it turns out, as Michiru was drawn into the dance...

Those fears she had were unfounded. Michiru rests a hand lightly upon Homura's upper arm, and as Homura leads - she may find that mindfulness of Michiru's position could be at a minimum. As she has no need of fear of having toes trodden upon, Homura would find the similar.

But as the dance carries on, with each spin, with each motion, concern instead of enjoyment was on Michiru's features. As a dance partner, Homura was certainly challenging her - but the gloomy young woman, well...

"You dance very well - you must have been trained at some point," asks Michiru, a gentle curiousity in her hushed voice - to keep the dancemeister's attentions elsewhere. "Or do you just enjoy it so?"

"Sei is so certainly selling CDs!!" Minako exclaims, now less dancing and more bouncing around with Madobe, then spinning around and trying to make the bottoms of her ridiculous outfit spin around her.

"She's my biggest fan! She has like a thousand CDs. What a trooper!" she declares, totally distracted now!

It wasn't that Sei didn't enjoy dancing.. in truth, she had just been too wrapped up in letting Madoka's completely deserved praise soak in and undo a little of the rage-tension that Minako had managed to wind up in her to fully respond to the younger girl's statements. She does so now though, saying, "I don't mind dancing. But I don't need /classes/. But my Father thinks I do, so here I am." Just saying those few words has raised her anger level again a little bit - Madoka can tell by the way Sei's hands suddenly squeeze a bit /too/ tightly. But it only lasts a moment. Sei forces herself to relax, and takes a deep breath, letting it out like she's at an anger management course. "I'm not teaching you a lesson, that's Herr Jackboots over there's job. I'm just dancing. If you're keeping up its all on your own." That's praise ,from Sei, even if its not actually a direct compliment.

Of course, then she faintly hears Madobe's voice drifting to her over the music.. 'Sei is selling your CDs..?' followed moments later by 'She's my biggest fan..' and Sei is gritting her teeth again. Like, Madoka can practically hear a new percussion section in the music. "Fortheloveof.." Sei suddenly whirls about, and whirls Madoka too.. forcefully enough that the younger girl's feet actually leave the floor. In a show of what is nearly acrobatics yet somehow manages to look like a professional stunt performance, Sei takes them both across the floor in a series of whirls and twirls that probably leaves Madoka's eyes spinning in her head, but Sei at least keeps the other girl on her feet. This leaves them right next to Madobe and Minako, so that Sei can lean over and hiss, "It was a BET! I lost a BET to her and bought a bunch of her CDs! I don't like her music! I'm not selling them for her! Oh my god!"

Meimi turns red again, but this time it's clearly out of irritation. She pushes away from Asuka Junior. "Forget it. I refuse to dance with this clumsy clod. Is it time for a partner switch yet?!"

In defiance of the otherwise-elegance of the lesson, she stands still and crosses her arms, obstructing dancers until she is momentarily removed by the providence of a student-nun.

Takumi's departure from the dance floor to fellow wallflower doesn't go unnoticed by her, and she realizes with some chagrin that he must have been her intended dance partner. Perhaps to belie his impression that she's frightened of him, she actually stares his way, with a bland expression. She was nearly hopeless at deciphering the context behind how one should react around strangers, about understanding the implicit rules. The rules behind interacting with boys were even more impenetrable to her.

Misa frequently gave her a laundry list of things she should do, and things she shouldn't do around the opposite gender, especially upperclassmen. Just 'talking to them' without some pretext was at the top of the rules of what not to do. Rules she didn't understand.

In the end, she decides to just disregard the rules, speaking to him from her current position against the wall. "I don't believe we've met, I'm Eri Shimanouchi. Might I have the pleasure of your acquaintance?" And then in a slightly impish tone, "I don't much care for dancing, I've found. Do you enjoy it?"

Madobe thinks Sei doesn't do anything halfway, not even dancing! Of course she doesn't have much room to think that because she bounces up and down in tune with Minako's geturing. She's a /ton/ more passive than Minako, content to sort of basically hold Minako's hands as she does crazy moves and maybe wiggle awkwardly instead of anything that's a dance. She looks towards Meimi as she refuses to dance. It's not your choice, she thinks, believe me if it was--

Actually, she thinks, she thought it was only one person to dance with! "A...a thousand??"

She looks towards Sei, briefly, utterly in awe.

Asuka glares at Meimi, hands on his hips. "Hey! I didn't do anything! You're always like this, Haneoka!" He turns away, crossing his arms. "I don't even know why I try! What did I do /this/ time?" Not that any of the ways Meimi reacts make any sense to Asuka Junior. He just minds his own business and speaks his thoughts and then BAM, getting yelled at out of nowhere.

"Besides, how was /I/ clumsy? You were messing it up just as much as I was."

Madoka is in easy agreement with Sei's statement of mastery. "I don't think you do either!" she pipes easily, as her steps seem to become lighter, as though walking 'pon air. Feathers twirl beneath her slippers, and stars sparkle in her eyes. A dancing princess within the land of Fuuka, she allows herself to drift away on the music and in the movement. Sei's anger penetrates her reverie, though. "I'm sorry," she murmurs, unable to properly or fully express why or how because it's something she has almost no empathic basis for. Her own family life is almost absurdly idyllic -- though it has its nuances. So instead she's sorry, honestly, that Sei's clearly is not. It sounds unimaginably painful, at best.

"And, um, thanks," she adds sweetly for about the fifth time in the last minute, albeit totally disbelivingly. Madoka's a sucker, but complimenting her is not the way to go about it; those, genuine or not, she has trouble swallowing with pride, much less grace. "Anyway, this is really fu--!"

TWIRL! WHIRL! DASH! SPIN!

They are perhaps the most dramatic, most fabulous, most breathless, most scary, most graceful, most invigorating, most terrifying, most transcendent twenty seconds of Madoka's life.

By the time they're adjacent to Minako and Madobe, she's much too overwhelmed to attempt to peacemake, beyond a weak, "Wowwww, amazing, senpai..."

Boys are just strangers you haven't met yet, Eri.

The smile Takumi wears fades away, and he returns to his quiet watching - though it's interrupted as she catches the girl first staring at him, then sauntering in his general direction. Aha - the girl he was supposed to dance with next. Apparently she's not so terrified of him after all. He is not sure if he should be disappointed about that.

He clears his throat, nodding back to the dark-haired girl. "Oi... you didn't seem very interested in dancing and I didn't see much point in pushing it," he says simply, one shoulder rising in a slow shrug. "I don't do it much either."

A quick toss of his head follows; his hair is momentarily flipped back from his face, though his bangs soon begin to drift back across his right eye anyway. He is not particularly impish; his mannerisms are quiet and controlled, even brooding. "Chiji Takumi. Nice to meet you, Shimanouchi."

Minako Aino makes a smile to Madoka in response to her saying something about 'amazing senpais'! Then she quietly informs Madobe that even the biggest fans can be shy and not to put her on the spot. "Even the biggest of fans can be shy sometimes. And you're making her uncomfortable, Dooby-chan. You can tell 'cuz of how excited and loud she's getting. Sorry, Sei-chan," she says, raising her hand (and Madobe's) to her face and making a secretive shhhhhh gesture to her lips.

"Your secret is safe with me. And Ninety-Eight. And Madooky-chan. She's got a really trustable face, so I'm sure she'll be quiet... if you show her one of the display tables!" she says with a wink.

Were someone to watch the dancers from above they might notice an amusing pattern: Homura is leading them in such a way that they're always near where Sei and Madoka are dancing. Should Sei and Madoka take off in a direction, Homura leads Michiru to follow. Are they not moving much at all? Then Homura and Michiru will sweep across the dance floor together in their general vicinity. With each spin the gloomy girl is able to keep an eye on Sei and Madoka. Unfortunately at the cost of the potential enjoyment of the dance.

Michiru is, as expected, an extremely competent partner. Homura couldn't ask for better. The two move together with grace and beauty. You can almost see the sparkles forming around the pair!!

But Homura doesn't see any sparkles. Michiru hardly even sees her partner at all it seems. Not, at least, until Michiru speaks up to her. The Ohtori student's violet colored eyes meet Michiru's gaze for the first significant period of time since the dance began.

"I have attended a large number of classes like this one before." Homura states in a soft whisper. "It seems you seem to be quite experienced as well." A respectful statement. She seems pleasant enough. Perhaps Michiru could try to reach the girl through her hard, cold exterior?

... Sei suddenly takes Madoka rapidly spinning across the dance floor in a seemingly haphazard fashion. Immediately Homura's eyes leave Michiru and stare after the dancing pair. The Ohtori student's gaze narrows and soon the pair are spinning their way after them! Is this some sort of contest perhaps? Acrobatic whirls and twirls are met with graceful spins and sweeps! Dueling dance couples?

That would just be another day at Ohtori, actually.

Meimi is stomping off. Augh, so embarassing. The older girls are so very elegant and Asuka is just a goofball. "Just... go back to watching for theives, mister Junior Detective!!" she says, turning to yell back at him.

Brooding is something she understood at least. She does not seem particularly afraid, certainly not terrified. Perhaps a little shy and unsure of herself at first. Though the fact that he didn't blow her off appears to assuage some of the anxiety. "A pleasure, Takumi-senpai. No, I'm not interested enough to remain on the dance floor."

She gives him a quiet look of consternation, before stating, "That isn't what I asked. How often you do it. I asked if you enjoy it." But then she has a look of chagrin, as if realizing just a bit too late she may have broken some implicit social rule by calling his attention and pressing him on this, and she looks away, mumbling an apology.

Michiru was an insightful sort. But it was hard to tell if they were /purposefully/ kinda swinging by the dancing pair of Madoka and Sei... Sei?! Her? Michiru's eyes widen as she looks towards the young woman, the smile that had been ever-present on her lips dashing away. If some strange and infernal design was just kinda pushing them that way, Michiru then starts suggesting... Homura was leading, so the suggesting was terribly subtle - them away from the pair.

"I can tell," says Michiru, gently, "You dance very well, but if I may say - your heart does not seem to be in it," says she. Or, perhaps - her heart was elsewhere but the dance. Michiru was watching the eyes of the younger woman carefully. Michiru always might seem the gentle sort on the surface, but there could be said to be an edge in her gaze. And when she spies Homura's eyes, Michiru glances back towards Sei - and the resistance to drawing away from the part stops.

And her voice lowers, "...are you worried about Sei..." What is a gentle way to put it. "...with that young woman?"

"Hmph. I think I will! I didn't even want to dance anyway!" Asuka grits his teeth, heading over to the snack table to get something to eat. "Just you wait, Haneoka! You'll thank me when I stop some jerk from trying to steal your stuff!"

Daiki Asuka Jr. also pulls out his cell phone, /furiously/ updating his status.

Sei is like, totally about to hulk out. If she wasn't more scared of her father than her anger could overcome, she would likely summon her Child in the middle of this dance class and have it try to bite Minako's head off. Unfortunately, or perhaps forunately for everyone, she is under strict orders not to abuse her magical powers, and finds it likely that murdering a classmate over CDs would probably fall under 'abuse' in the eyes of her Family, the only court which matters to her. She doesn't even notice Homura (and Michiru, by extension) spinning after her and Madoka. But it's a good thing they did, because as Minako continues to speak, Sei basically jettisons the still-stunned Madoka.. sending her spinning away and coincidentally, right at Homura and Michiru. In the same movement, she hip-checks Madobe out of the way, sending the girl stumbling the opposite direction, and forcefully takes over Minako's partnerage. Perhaps wanting to avoid a bad report card, she links hands with the target of her ire in the normal dance posture.. but her movements are quite a bit more forceful than they need to be. "FOR.. THE. .LAST.. TIME.. I.. AM.. NOT.. YOUR.. BIGGEST.. FAN!" She growls under her breath each time she jarringly swings Minako around like an out-of-balance washing machine.

Takumi fixes Eri with a flat look, a touch of annoyance leaving the corners of his mouth quirking downward. "If I liked it I would do it often, wouldn't I?"

He lets the irritation pass, though, just letting out a short huff of breath through his nose. His shoulders tense a bit and relax, head canted forward a couple of inches; his Adam's apple juts a little as clears his throat at the mutterings of apology from the younger girl. "'s fine," he says in a somewhat more conciliatory tone, voice lowering. When he looks back to the dance floor it's with a shrug. "Sometimes it can be interesting, when you find someone you're interested in dancing with. It's harder to dance with someone you don't know or don't have that chemistry with. It's all about the way you move as a unit and know where each other's feet are going without having to look. If you can't have that, dancing is just a farce and you end up falling."

Minako Aino is starting to laugh a bit nervously, holding Sei by the hand and waist (and tickling her palm with a pinky again) while glancing about, just a little embarrassed and apologetic-looking. "Calm down, Sei-chan. Don't butt in line, either. Wait your turn or Herr Tarzan-Party'll get mad," she says, trying to placate the wild girl as she gives an mirthful smile towards Madobe and Madoke.

"Come on, you're gonna upset the Ma'doos," she murmurs to Sei, traipsing around her with no sort of grace now, always one to look out for the youngers. "I promise I'll hang with you later or even dance another round with you but taking turns is important," she reiterates. "This is sorta' what I meant by what I said earlier."

"And calm dooown, dancing with too much force will just end up with us falling!"

Madoka isn't seeing smiles of agreement, people waltzing in hot pursuit, nervous new friends, or anything else -- all she can see right now is the ceiling and the floor, spinning as wildly and quickly as her little teal skirt, and with about as many bends and folds. Her shoes are slick against the smooth gym floor; they were never designed for sports traction, and right now she is careening in an infinite, high-speed, probably rather dangerous spin across the dance floor at top speed.

Directly, yes, towards Homura and Michiru.

Collision alert. Collision alert. Catastrophic collision is imminent.

Eri looks back up at him, she actually looks mildly bemused, even though she still seems quite chagrined. She lets his irritation roll off of her, falling straight down a well. "That would be making an assumption. I try not to make assumptions." She states with a strange sort of candor, before pointing out, "For example, it could be something you enjoy and just don't have the oppurtunity to do often, but that would be another assumption. When I want to know something, I ask." Her expression looks slightly impish, her tone becoming bemused, "How would I know the answer, otherwise?"

She listens to his explanation, finally nodding appreciatively, "You speak as if you prefer your dancing to have an almost military precision. I can appreciate that, if that is indeed what you are implying. My father is a soldier." She settles a few feet off from him, giving him his personal space but leaning against the wall, with her hands clasped in front of her.

"Ah...r...I will...try not to make her uncomfortable?" Madobe says very uncomfortably. Last time Sei was upset she yelled to the world about her choice in porn, so she's not eager to get in the middle of a fight here.

She is promptly hipchecked so hard her art style changes and she chibifies, comically faling over. She makes a @_@ face and waddles her hands up and down upsettedly, faint teary remnants in her eyes. It's adorable.

"Aheh...hah...hrr..hrr..."

Wait, she thinks, this means she doesn't have to dance? Right? She whistles fainlty and slinks towards the back--

--but wait, if she slinks out...she won't be able to exchange numbers with Madoka!!

God--god does hate her! She looks around for Madoka to see if Sei threw her into the stratosphere or something. "Ah--ah...watch...out? Watch out..??"

"I don't care about the Ma'doos, and I don't care about your CDs, and I don't care about taking turns!" Sei hisses at Minako, while continuing to spin her around like an olympic hammerthrower who has been drinking a bit too heavily. Some other random pairs are forced to dive out of the way. "And I wouldn't be doing this if you weren't so.. freaking.. annoying"

Even Herr Tanzenparteri has taken notice of his disruption, and is heading over with his hands raised. "Now now, little birds, zis is not graceful!" He protests, but before he can get much further, Sei has let go of Minako.. likely sending her stumbling, but if the girl is in any way coordinated she won't fall. Unless she trips over Madobe, of course.

Sei then throws her hands up in the air. "To hell with this. To hell with all of you!" She includes Madobe and Madoka in this, not because she really is angry with them but just because they are convinient targets of opportunity. Then, ignoring the protests of the dance instructor, she turns, long dark hair flipping behind her in a move that totally uses up the budget that was saved by Madobe's chibification, and stalks, stiff-legged and with her hands clenched at her side, out of the gym. The door slams shut behind her with a BANG.

Strange and infernal designs are a common feature of a Puella Magi's life. Though it's doubtful, at least in this case, that there's anything particularly diabolical about this particular development. At least no more diabolical than Sei's desire to explain to Minako, once and for all, that she is not her biggest fan.

As the two move toward the proximity of where Sei and Madoka are dancing Michiru speaks up again in gentle tones. She notes the obvious fact (at least obvious to Michiru) that while she dances very well her heart is not into it. A dance without any sort of passion is a sad thing after all: Hardly a dance at all. Just connected movements without a purpose other than motion.

And while Homura leads, Michiru is trying to gently suggest them away from Sei. It seems she has no desire to interact with her. Unfortunately Homura seems insistent in her desired path, the hand on Michiru's lower back firm.

It is then when the resistance to her leading drops that Michiru says something deserving of reaction. 'Are you worried about Sei... with that young woman?'

Immediately Homura's eyes snap back to Michiru's face. There is a flicker of some sort of emotion... is it anger? Is it frustration? Or is it pain? It's hard to say. Regardless, it's like Michiru pulled the 'stop waltz' chord for the two come to a halt in a final swirl of skirts and of Homura's lengthy dark hair.

"I..."

COLLISION IMMINENT!!

As it turns out the last few moments in which Homura's attention was taken away from Madoka and Sei were the worst few moments to do so. Madoka comes spinning like a pink top across the floor! Madobe's attempt to warn, 'Watch out..??' are not enough.

Homura is shorter than Michiru, and Madoka is shorter than Homura. That said, the solid impact of the smaller Ohtori student knocks Homura out of the dancing form with Michiru and nearly knocks her from her feet!

Taking a few steps to recover her balance, Homura then turns swiftly around to look across the dance floor with widened eyes at where Madoka is now. And then those eyes begin to narrow...

"Military?" Takumi repeats with a blink and a cant of his head.

Behind the lie that is Takumi Chiji, a captain of the Dark Kingdom reflects that Eri has /no/ idea.

"It's the opposite, really," the older boy explains as he shakes his head, eyes closing for a moment. "I don't like to go through the motions like some kind of automatic machine. To want to dance with someone is important. Sometimes you have to do things, but with something like dancing, what's the point if you dislike the person you're with? Once you do that, it just happens." He looks over to the younger girl with a slight straightening of his posture. "That's a pretty dangerous job, being a soldier. I hear soldiers' kids are supposed to be the toughest kids, too."

And then Madoka becomes a projectile. Takumi looks over with a blink.

Then he realizes the pink girl hit Homura and not Michiru and it becomes less 'uh-oh' and more a blink. "...Oi, middle school," he murmurs to himself with a shake of his head.

Eri nods her head at Takumi, thinking nothing of it. "I see. I think I understand then. Thank you for a straight answer. I actually agree. That makes perfect sense. My father believes I should learn to dance to be more sociable to break the ice with people." She lifts up a hand, adjusting her glasses, "To me it makes more sense, and has more meaning when you are already well acquainted with the person, and is no substitute for conversation when it comes to introducing one's self."

He mentions military children being the toughest kids, and there is a brief look of pain behind her eyes, "It is a very dangerous profession. And supposed to be? I've never much cared for what people are supposed act like."

She was so engrossed that she almost missed the hip checking dance war with the Madoka-Hadouken. When he calls attention to their behavior, she looks out onto the dance floor, at Madoka in particular. By her now preternaturally cold expression she doesn't seem to much care for the treatment of the girl. "Do you think we ought to intervene?"

Minako Aino is usually swift enough on her feet to be the graceful one, but she still half-steps, half-hops over Madobe and recovers herself near the last human-projectile incident, standing right in the middle of the Ma'doos.

"Sorry about that," she says a little sheepishly, reaching down to check on lazy Madobe (and try to distract people from thinking she stepped on her). "Sei-tan can be so emotional sometimes, but you gotta forgive her. She just needs a moment to cool down! Impatience and all that~!"

Michiru could not help but notice how Homura was resisting her guidance. When Homura insists, Michiru doesn't quite fight against the younger woman, although her jaw squares a bit with tension as she glances to Sei. Michiru didn't quite expect the reaction to that question, doing a half-motion more when Homura stops, her eyes flicking stright to her.

That was when the world ended.

Well, not quite that dramatic, but Michiru gasps as a Madoka-missile spins into their little arrangment. She certainly wasn't expecting /that/, either. Michiru had an excellent sense of balance on her own. Clinging to Homura, however?

That certainly changed things. Wobbling forward towards the younger woman, Michiru's feet scrabble beneath her - the heels on the dancing shoes working against her as she tries to find her way.

If she had to fall, it had to be as graceful as possible. And as Homura finds her balance again, it throws Michiru off of her own, the woman falling forward, onto her knees. A bit hard, overall, and Michiru winces.

Winces, but her eyes flicker towards Madoka - to see if the young lady was alright, before her eyes lift to Homura again.

WHAMM!!

Madoka's eyes rattle in her skull, her head rolls back on her neck, and she's quite incapable of keeping her feet, much less catching her breath. In a heartbeat, she's tumbled into a ball of teal skirts, fluffy pink hair, and cute red ribbons. "...dizzy..." she gasps, momentarily stunned.

The moment passes, though, with the SLAM of the door, and also with the awareness that she hurts in more places than where she hit the floor. She ran into Homura hard enough to bruise.

"...I-I..."

It's still impossible to string two words together, much less 'wait, Itazura-senpai!' She's barely aware that said senior, who gave her a few moments of total joy, has stormed out, the cacophany of the dance lesson ringing in her ears, threatening to drown out her memories of the other girl's shouts and rather disastrous course of action. It doesn't succeed, entirely, but just at the moment she lacks the fortitude to stand, much less to chase. To confront, or at least to comfort. That will come later; once someone demonstrates distress at that level, it's like a siren call. She can't stay away.

From her pile of skirts, she forces her eyes to settle on a single target, the vertigo of the still-spinning room causing her to see not one Homura but, five, ten, all with the same striking hair and even more striking expression as the girl in her dream. Seascape halos of the nearby Michiru's hair follow closely behind, tracking each afterimage as the moon might try to chase the sun.

"..."

She opens her mouth, then firmly closes it again, until finally her rose-eyed gaze is steady enough to really see who she's talking to, to grasp what just happened. She takes a deep breath, releases it, and finally regains sufficient mental capacity to remember what's actually important here: the tall, dark, mysterious girl she just slammed into at full force, and the older girl, also on the floor.

"A-are you all right?!" For once, today, 'I'm sorry' can wait; this isn't about her.

"No," Takumi muses with a shake of his head. "No, they're kids. They don't look all that hurt, so it's basically fine."

He changes his tune as Michiru goes down, though. He scowls a bit and takes a step forward, hands rising from his belt as he watches the classy girl in the nice dress react - but she looks up towards others first, and he stops himself before taking the next step.

A couple of things promptly click in his kind. First off, she's tougher than she looks. A normal classy art girl would have cried out at least if she landed hard on her knees after a bump like that. Second, the pink-haired girl's awkwardness is just /palpable./ No way she's as wariness-inducing as Michiru. Certainly someone that bumbling and clumsy could never be any kind of threat. He crosses Madoka off his mental 'could be a magical girl' list.

"Kaioh-san, you hurt?" he calls out with a frown.

Madobe bites at her lip, watching the happenings with distress. She watches after Sei for a moment, and then takes Minako's hand up. She breathes out for a moment. "...I can forgive anything she did to me," She mumbles. "But Madoka didn't deserve that at all." She crosses her arms lightly, looking down at the floor. She doesn't know the other two but she doubts they deserved it either!

"Sorry." She adds reflexively, eyes widening suddenly. "Ah--Sorry. Just...Nevermind." She settles. "I'm going to check on her. If that's okay. Aheh."

She approaches awkwardly (as usual).

The mysterious transfer student was the only one who managed to keep her feet. As such she is in an ideal position to loom over both Madoka and the normally taller Michiru. She doesn't move to help either of them up, and instead stands still as Madoka recovers down from seeing ten Homuras (such a horrible thought!) down to finally seeing only one.

'A-are you all right?!'

Those words seem to have the opposite effect as they were intended. Though it would be an obvious thing for anyone to say, especially after they had rammed into them on the middle of a dance floor, Homura doesn't seem to see it that way. Homura's eyes grow increasingly narrow as she looks down at Madoka and Michiru. If you listen closely, over the lovely waltzing music, you might even be able to hear the sound of her clenched jaw grinding her teeth together.

"I'm fine." Homura finally responds tersely. Her eyes then move from Madoka to meet Michiru's gaze. "Thank you for the dance, Michiru Kaioh." With that Homura reaches behind her head and runs her fingers through her long luxurious hair. As she turns toward the door that hand sweeps backwards, sending up the tresses in a majestic flip!

And with that, she begins to walk toward the exit. It seems that Homura has lost the desire to waltz any more this day.

Michiru Kaioh pauses a moment at Madoka's question - as far as she could tell, she was a normal young woman, and as hard as her knees had hit the gymnasium floor, she was certain Madoka had the worst of it, being used as, essentially, a missile. And Madoka had asked if they were alright.

"We're fine, we're fine... are you alright? That looked like quite a tumble," says Michiru, wincing a bit more as she was reminded of the blow her knees had taken. She was a bit shaky on her feet as she starts gathering herself up - it still /hurt/, even if she wasn't quite screeching about it. "I'm doing well, Chiji-san - but I'm worried about her - would you be so kind?" asks she of Takumi, even as she starts rising to her feet.

Michiru's estimation of Homura, though? Michiru's brow furrows at the terse response, not even getting a chance, really, to respond, before Homura starts to flee the scene, a frown dancing on her lips. What an unusual - if athletic - young woman. A mystery, on top of mysteries.

But Michiru smiles to herself. Wasn't everyone, here?

Takumi leaves her side to intervene when Michiru goes down, that's good enough for her. Madoka appears to be just fine, albeit flustered. Homura departs. Everything seems to have worked out on its own. Which is just fine by her standards, she didn't want to have to intervene at all.

Eri looks abstracted for a while, before finally using this oppurtunity to sidle over to her book bag, hoist it up to her shoulder and leave out the door at a rather rapid pace. Possibly with a hair flip of her own, because, why not?

Where she's going isn't really in question...

Later, if Madoka does indeed follow up to visit the grave of her pansies, she might be surprised to see them to be most decidedly hale and in full bloom. This would be strange enough, but they give anyone who look at them a decidedly eerie feeling, like the flowers are in fact, staring back at them. Watching them. But that's just silly, isn't it?

Madoka watches Homura confirm her well-being and then leave, and unconsciously reaches out a hand after her. Everyone's just turning and departing, today. With a faint grimace of pain, quickly disguised behind her usual sunny smile, she turns the gesture into a fluffy scratch of the back of her head, pretending to bemusement and not having to pretend embarrassment.

"I-I'm glad!" she stammers after The Transfer Student, and in response to The Glamorous Infinity Student, as well, the same response serving for both young women. "And I'm okay, don't worry, it doesn't hurt..." She sees the thunderous scowl of the dancing master, whose class she has now really thoroughly disrupted, and her humiliation feels complete. Now that everyone has been established to be in one piece, she can sink back into her comfort zone of self-recrimination.

Gingerly she gets to her feet, and discovers that she is not completely okay; but it's a limp she can disguise, mostly, with skillful grinning and bearing it. Her own teeth almost grind at the thought of how much she's going to be teased by her best friends for injuring herself at her FIRST DANCE LESSON.

She bows to the room, with about as much grace as she had at the beginning of the day, which is to say, none; any fluidity brought on by proximity to skillful Sei, or even her own temporary boost of confidence as she made new friends, is entirely gone. "I interrupted the lesson. Please excuse my rudeness!!" Especially you, new friends Madobe and Minako! She ducks her head even more fiercely at them, eyes closing entirely for a moment; how awful to have interrupted their visit and lesson in such a way! She hasn't forgotten her promise to Madobe, though, and softly murmurs a string of numbers at the other girl as she passes.

And without further ado, she beats a hasty, slightly painful retreat to the corner with the bleachers and, beneath them, her bookbag. She grabs it by the strap, that fallen page of her sketchbook not given even a passing glance, as forgotten as any glass slipper after a ball.

Everyone? Takumi doesn't think so. The dark-haired girl Michiru was dancing with certainly qualifies as worth watching, but the awkward pink one? Pshaw. No way she could be the least bit magical.

"Yeah... yeah, I've got her," the older boy agrees before setting off towards the pink bundle of pigtails and awkwardness.

She's off before he can really help her out, though. With a sigh Takumi pushes his hand through his hair and makes a face. Leave it to this city to turn a dancing outing into a bumbling mess. No wonder he's glad to be out of junior high. His hand falls back to his belt after a moment, and he gives his head a shake.

"You look like a thundercloud when you scowl that way, danceparty-sama," he offers the dance instructor drily.

Minako Aino is more than willing to run after Sei with Madobe and give her a courtesy lesson, but only after everybody is up and brushed off. Plus, she needs a moment to make a quick speech.

"Thanks for the invite, Ohtori Academy! I'll be sure to invite your students to Infinity! Be sure to grab some CDs outside!"

Madobe sighs. She can understand what Madoka must feel like. It isn't fair at all.

She doesn't look at Madoka with pity because she knows that if it were her, there's nothing that would distress and upset her more. She just murmurs her numbers back and says, "Talk to you later." That's about all she has time to do.

Huff!

Michiru Kaioh makes it to her feet, and by the time she does, many of the students were scattering after the collision. "Well, it appears dancing lessons are over. I will see you next time, professor?" says Michiru, ignoring the fact that her knees were still a bit tender feeling, and drawing into a bow to the man.

Then, she follows Minako in fleeing the scene, although with far more decorum. "Thank you again! It was nice to meet you all!" she shouts to those within earshot.

[[Category:Logs]]