2022-10-20 - Scarf of Sorrow

Title: Scarf of Sorrow
Summary: It's a nice, if blustery, day by the river. Westar has a scarf.
Who: Westar, Cure Passion, Mikoto Minagi, Abiko Tsugaru, Kyouka Okazaki, Chat Noir
Where: Tama River
OOC - IC Date: 2022-10-20 - January 20th, 2016

<Pose Tracker> Hayato Nishi [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

It's a chilly, blustery day by the Tama River - but the sun is bright and there's good cheer in the air. The wind might be cold, but that makes it excellent for flying kites if you think ahead enough to bring gloves. The water might be unswimmable, but it's a peaceful scene for snacks and/or studying. In general, it is a nice day.

Snack carts are plentiful, of course. Anything hot is very welcome on a day like this - if you want coffee or soup or fresh-fried donuts, there's a place to get it. The crowds are cheerful and the day is beautiful.

Unfortunately, there is a horrible Executive.

He's in his civilian disguise, such as it is. A black shirt, a puffy orange vest, and a burnt-yellow scarf. He stands apart from the crowds, perched atop an unused equipment shed that has fewer kayaks than it really should. And, of course, he has a bag of donuts for snacking on, all to himself so he needs not share.

"The crowds today are filled with happiness..." He peers at them through the heart-shaped hole in the donut. "But what would turn that happiness to the greatest misery? Something about the cold? Making their delicious treats turn on them? Or the games thaspfhfph-"

His musings are cut off as the wind shifts, blowing his scarf straight into his face.

It takes a minute for him to untangle himself, and in the process his donut is lost in the river below. He glowers, folding his arms in a terrible fury. "...the weather. The weather will make people miserable, an- apffmblmb NOT AGAIN!"

Finally, he tears off the treacherous scarf, glaring at it. "You were meant to make me warm, not miserable! You know what? You do it!"

He claps his hands, Switching Over to the uniform of Westar - a billowing white cape to contrast against the black and yellow sleeveless outfit. In spite of the chill, he stands tall, hurling the scarf high into the air - and then throwing a yellow diamond to pin it immediately afterward. "Nakewameke! Obey my command!"

And then, to the crowds, it appears. A towering robot taller than a house, all sleek lines with yellow circuitry running up its arms and legs. Strangely, it doesn't have hands - instead, its wrists end in cloth, billowing scarves trailing behind it in the wind as it holds its arms out wide. Yellow diamonds jut from its face like angry bug's eyes, and a third much longer scarf billows from its neck. It slams into the shore of the river in a diving kick, striking a pose as Westar lands on a nearby tree, announcing his presence.

"I am Westar! Denizen of Labyrinth, and faithful servant of Lord Mobius! Your fear and misery will help us fill the Sorrow Gauge! Now, Nakewameke-"

And the wind picks up as the monster bellows. "DRAMATIC WIND!"

COMBAT: Hayato Nishi transforms into Nakewameke!

COMBAT: Westar has fully healed himself. He is now ready to take on 6 opponents!
COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi has fully healed herself.

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Mikoto Minagi... is eying the river with a dangerous glint in her eye. She's in her Ohtori uniform, after school, not her swimsuit -- but she's still so /tempted,/ to go in there and get a fish.

"Setsuna, can I bring fish to hospital?" She wonders, out of nowhere, and that might be the one thing stopping her from tragedy.

Instead, she gets a taiyaki fish snack from one of the carts, and nibbles it as she watches the sky. "Nice day..." She reflects, smiling. She thinks of how Mai would be, in a day like this.

Which, coincidentally, is when a giant scarf attacks.

"Nakewameke?!" Mikoto barks, as she springs back. In a smooth motion she unshoulders her sword-case from her back and draws Miroku, grasping it in her hands. She looks further afield, to the tree, and snaps: "Westar!"

It would be easy to say she's just angry, but she isn't. It's -- complicated, between those sharp edges.

"Rrrmm..." Mikoto growls, a shade uncertainly, shifting back on a heel and frowning. But she's never been one to hesitate, so inevitably that motion was just the beginning of a launch /forward,/ her blade swinging horizontal against the Nakewameke's legs.

(She is, at least, going for the /monster./)

COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has fully healed herself.

COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi transforms into HiME Mikoto!
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Devastation on Westar.
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

It's cold, yes. It's a little ridiculous. Setsuna Higashi, for one, is not /entirely/ certain that winter was a good decision. On the other hand, there's hot chocolate, and snow can be fun, and...

Well, Earth is just different, and not particularly climate-controlled, and it's best to take the bad with the good, right?

Right.

So Setsuna is out here with some donuts. And friends! She chomps down on one cheerfully, still in uniform. Once she's partway through chewing she answrs Mikoto, "Hno."

...Well, he still has some donut left. But it's an answer anyway. She is unaware of the guy on the shed, because she doesn't usually look up to shed roofs, even if it might be a good idea. But she recognizes a certain shout...

"?"

"Westar!" Setsna looks around--but people are running already, not paying attention to her. And Westar knows exactly who she is. So she pulls her Linkrun, and narrows her eyes. "Pretty Cure! Beat... Up!"

The next step takes her into a field of light, on which her clothes change to the red dress of her battle form, her head becomes adorned by the hearts and diamond and wings familiar to those who know her. Her hair becomes longer, pinker--and her boots form, as she leaps upward, somersaults, and falls into an endless ocean, before rising up onto real ground again to land, heels together, click-clack!

"Freshly ripened! Cure Passion!"

She throws out a hand. "Westar!" she says, pointing straight at him. She...

"...is that your scarf?" she says insead, tilting her head in confusion instead of heroism. "..."

She just goes with it. Passion charges forward into a dizzying flurry of strikes!

COMBAT: Setsuna Higashi transforms into Cure Passion!

COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Breaking Wave on Westar.
COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar braces 12 Fatigue damage from Cure Passion's Breaking Wave, taking 5 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Westar partially dodges 8 Fatigue damage from Mikoto Minagi's Obsidian Blade: Devastation, taking 30 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Mikoto Minagi is Psyched! Stagger and Stun applied to Westar!

<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Abiko Tsugaru "Hmmm... hm hm." Abiko muses to herself as she looks over the selection of warm snacks available, though judging from the crumbs she's had plenty already. She's in her school uniform, backpack flung haphazardly over her shoulder and half unzipped showing... another bag of snacks? That's not important though as she finally gets her fresh donuts -- This must be heaven.

Just as she is about to take that first wonderful bite there is a massive crash into the nearby river shore, the force causing her to stumble and drop her oh-so precious snacks, "Ah-!" she cries out as they spill onto the ground. She doesn't know who the weirdo in the cape is or his scarf-mecha friend, just that she was robbed of her precious snacks.

She pulls her phone out, joking aside this seems bad and it's her job to help stop the bad things, right? A few quick taps later her outfit begins to glow, building in intensity as the light shifts and moves over her body before bursting briefly to finally reveal her Hero transformation.

A quick glance down and gripping of her fist, "This is feeling less weird.." she trails off and looks as Setsuna and Mikoto dive headlong at the monster, "I'll help!" she calls out to them, joining in the initial assault. She quickly picks up speed before launching herself towards the center of Nakewameke, her right arm snapping out

COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru transforms into Yuusha Abiko!

COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has used Forceful Palm on Westar.
COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Kyouka likes the Tama area, for several reasons. She heads out here into the wilderness to train with Fate, but she also just likes te outdoors. It's not the warmest of days (though she /did/ remember to bring her gloves--and is bundled up with a nice warm jacket), and today in particular she just wanted to take some time to get some fresh air and to clear her head of what happened at Sanbu, what's going on with Yumi, and... oh yeah, apparently /literally saving the world/ the night before.

"... When did this become my life?" she muses to herself, not for the first time.

It's actually working a bit. There's a nice atmosphere with the people around and the snack carts set up... and there's even a few of her friends here!

She wanders over towards the others, hailing them with a wave. "Hey, guys! ... I don't think the hospital would appreciate that, Mikoto... Might be best to save it for when Yumi gets back to her dorm." She starts looking over the selection in the cart, trying to choose between snacks, when...

A giant scarf monster attacks.

"Aww, c'mon," she mutters to herself. "That's like... the third or fourth one this week."

Nake/what/? No, not important. Get the details later. Kyouka brings her wrist up to across her body besides her face, letting the sleeve pull back to reveal Strike Wolf's standby form. "Strike Wolf, set up!" In a surge of wild purple energy her school outfit vanishes, replaced with her barrier jacket: visor, tank top, vest, shorts, and armored gauntlets and boots.

It's a good thing most people run from a monster. That way they don't get to see them running towards it.

She takes off after the others. A brifest of crouches, long enough for a small magical circle to appear under her feet, and then she's propelling herself forward, right at the monster's chest with her foot extended and a kiai yell.

COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki transforms into Barrier Jacket Wolf Fighter!

COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has used Fang Breaker Strike on Westar.
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Adrien Agreste [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

It was a windy blustery day and if Adrien was honest he was thankful for it. They were suppose to be having a photoshoot for his fall collection. However, they the photographer ending up delaying it for a few hours. He kept trying to take photos of Adrien walking among the leaves, but the winds and leaves were not co-operating and ruining the shot he was going for.

After the fifth time of leaves blocking his viewing he sighed as he rubbed his fingers for warmth and depite they needed the wind to die down. Adrien did not mind this at all. He got time to himself to enjoy the crowd around him, sample a donut and just watch some leaves fall.

"This is awesome," Adrien says aloud.

A grunt came from his jacket pocket. "It's too cold for this, unless we did a nice warm fondue."

"I don't think we can pull that off here," Adrien whispered back as he used his cellphone to take a selfie in front of the river. His fingers lingers over his contacts. He toyed with the idea of calling Marientte. It would be late notice, but maybe she might be able to come up and join in-

He heard a shout.

Adrien turned and spotted Westar.

"So much for it being a quiet day," Plagg grumbled.

"No, but fighting should warm you up," Adrien said as he raced behind a tree and held out his ring.

"Claws out, Plagg!"

The transformation was quick as always and within second Chat Noir appeared on the scene as he jumped onto a tree branch and waved to the others joining the fight. "Time to get this nakewameke shaking like a leaf!"

COMBAT: Adrien Agreste transforms into Chat Noir!

COMBAT: Westar has adjusted his boss levels. He is now ready to take on 5 opponents!
COMBAT: Chat Noir has used Cat's Got Your Tongue on Westar.
COMBAT: Chat Noir has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar braces 12 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Fang Breaker Strike, taking 5 Fatigue damage! Kyouka Okazaki is Psyched! Cripple applied to Westar!
COMBAT: Westar partially dodges 2 Fatigue damage from Chat Noir's Cat's Got Your Tongue, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Westar is Quipped! Cripple applied to Westar!
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Abiko Tsugaru's Forceful Palm, taking 16 Fatigue damage! Abiko Tsugaru is Psyched!

<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

For a moment, Westar can stand triumphant on his tree branch. His Nakewameke looks impressive, and is hard to ignore. Already, the day is being ruined - crowds scattering from the posing titan, screams of fear and panic, drinks and snacks being abandoned instead of enjoyed - everything is going just as planned.

As much as he had planned. Which was very little. And there was very little point in planning, because-

Opposition arrives. Five of them, two familiar, three less so. Mikoto comes in with her sword right out of the gate, and only a warning shout from Westar has the Nakewameke leap into the air to evade the blade instead of trying to endure it. Even so, it tears a rent in the leg-

And then Cure Passion starts punching it in the air, Wolf Fighter's kick lands squarely on a guarding arm, and Yuusha Abiko's palm strike sends it crashing back to the mud below.

And to add insult to injury, Chat Noir steals Westar's idea for a perch, making - admittedly a good joke.

"As terrifying as ever, Minagi..." Westar calls out, arms folded ominously as the commander he is. An image he soon ruins by snapping back at Cure Passion. "So what if it is? It blew in my face, Cure Passion! And now it's going to do - something like that to all of you!"

He looks between the new arrivals, fuming, and addresses Chat's joke. "Don't think we're scared just yet! We'll see who's shaking in the end - Nakewameke! Buy yourself some space!"

It is, in the end, still a towering metal monstrosity - even if it is shaking a bit from the impacts. It digs in, briefly, before springing forward in a leap. One arm lashes out at Mikoto, the lengthy scarf whipping out to try to ensnare the sword-wielder; the other whips in the air, sending a mighty gust of wind and debris to billow at Chat Noir, Wolf Fighter, and Yuusha Abiko. And, at last, it goes to meet Cure Passion directly with a pointed kick of its own.

COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Mikoto Minagi.

COMBAT: Westar has used Winds of Misery on Abiko Tsugaru.
COMBAT: Westar has used Winds of Misery on Chat Noir.
COMBAT: Westar has used Winds of Misery on Kyouka Okazaki.
COMBAT: Westar has used Anti-Cure Kick on Cure Passion.
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Passion dodges 14 Fatigue damage from Westar's Anti-Cure Kick, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Westar is Psyched! Cure Passion's Fade and Flash abilities activate!
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi counters 10 Fatigue damage from Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 31 Fatigue damage! Mikoto Minagi's Reverse and Tactician abilities activate!
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi's counterattack, Obsidian Blade: Dynamo, partially gets through, doing 12 Fatigue damage to Westar!
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki perfectly dodges 22 Fatigue damage from Westar's Winds of Misery, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Kyouka Okazaki's Fade and Flash abilities activate!
COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru counters 9 Fatigue damage from Westar's Winds of Misery, taking 9 Fatigue damage! Abiko Tsugaru's Tactician ability activates!
COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru's counterattack, Rain of Cherry Blossoms, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar!
COMBAT: Chat Noir dodges 7 Fatigue damage from Westar's Winds of Misery, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Chat Noir!

<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

The creature leapt into the air, and only a last second adjustment on Strike Wolf's part kept her heading in at least the close enough direction to land some kind of a blow, even if it wasn't where she'd originally intended. She rebounds backwards off of the guarding arm and somersaults backwards to land back on solid ground.

The villain addresses Mikoto by name, as well as Cure Passion, and the latter made that comment... "... Do you two know this guy?" she asks aloud as she lands from her first attack. "Anything we should know about this thing?"

Then it unleashes gusts of winds and she charges right towards it--only to slide neatly underneath the gust and to gracefully pick herself back up into a run without losing any of her momentum. Another superpowered leap rushing up--then a kick off of midair to divert her direction right for the creature's head instead of completing the arc.

<Piercing Fang,> announces her device, as she drives her fist into its face.

COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has used Piercing Fang Strike on Westar.

COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

It's nice to see Kyouka, too! But Setsuna doesn't get much time for pleasantries. And Abiko will help! Passion remembers her from another recent fight, and then a nice time around the amusement park. So of course she'll accept. "They're stronger than they look!" she warns by way of welcome.

Kyouka, too, is here, and that yell of hers gets a fierce nod from Passion. And Chat Noir's quip gets--

Okay, Passion doesn't get it. "...Do leaves shake a lot?" she wonders of him.

But Westar answers her as she hits the ground from where she was striking, and the red Cure narrows her eyes at him. "That doesn't make sense," she tells him. "Do you want to try that line again?"

She'll let him!

That kick straight at Passion misses her--but only barely, as Passion whirls out of the way and uses her momentum to continue a whirling assault of kicks as she seems entirely willing to ladder-kick her way up into the sky off this scarf.

"Yes," Passion says in the air to Kyouka, "I know him. ...He's from Labyrinth. The same world I came from. I used to work with him to gather misery energy for Mobius-sama."

"But not anymore!" Kick!!

COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Rising Passion on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Abiko Tsugaru grins as her attack knocks the giant robot back, "Ha! Now... Why are you even -doing- this?" she demands, pointing at Westar accusingly with narrowed eyes -- 5ft of snack-deprived fury staring at the man. Her hubris gets the better of her, though, as the robot begins lashing out with the scarfs and sends slashing wind and debris her way. Her vambraces pulse with a magical light that spreads then bursts forth, delicate pink shards that resemble cherry blossoms streaking forward to intercept and attempt to overpower the onslaught but only partially succeeds.

There's a flash of a magical barrier around Abiko as the attack impacts, her purple scaled, black shelled turtle-fairy manifesting to protect their Hero but it's not perfect and she's sent sliding back with her arms in front of her face as a shield. She takes a couple of quick breaths before she grits her teeth, motes of light gently floating off of her body body while narrow rays of light seem to be concentrating back into her core accompanied by a burst of air that blows around her hair for a few seconds leaving her looking focused.

COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has used Radiant Cloak on Abiko Tsugaru.

COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru accepts Abiko Tsugaru's Radiant Cloak, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit! Accelerate and Empower applied to Abiko Tsugaru!

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Kyouka and Setsuna dash Mikoto's hopes and dreams, and she sighs. "'Kay," her acceptance is immediate, and her smile comes back a moment later. "Kyouka, there's taiyaki!" They're little pastry fishies filled with deliciousness. They're not as good offerings for Tama, but they're good offerings for /Mikoto./

When Kyouka bemoans /another/ monster, though, Mikoto assures her -- deliberately, grasping the words and placing them together -- "Busier than normal. Sometimes it's quiet a long time."

She perks up from her sharpness, though, to call -- "Chat Noir! Yeah!" She remembers the boy with catlike powers! She doesn't understand all his jokes, but she's enthusiastic, anyway.

Mikoto scowls to Westar, a moment later. "No, I..." But she pauses, and trails off, glancing away. Can she really say she's not like that any more, given how she's been acting?

The Nakewameke, as it happens, is more dangerous than it looks -- because it strikes in her unsteadiness, and Mikoto's gaze snaps to the scarf as it whips into her field of vision. Without thinking she launches herself towards it, and slices -- but even though she attacks so quickly, the scarf still manages to whip about her, in that uniquely irritating way.

"I worked with Westar," Mikoto explains, when she's at least cleared enough space to think again. "In Dark Fall. I wasn't with Labyrinth, but I had to gather suffering, so he had stuff to teach me anyway."

She insists: "Westar's stronger than he looks."

With a growl, Mikoto charges the Nakewameke again. She spins, once, twice, three times, and with a holler, she brings her sword around in a diagonal slash upwards.

COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Dauntlessness on Westar.

COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Chat Noir [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Chat Noir could see some new faces he hadn't met before but there was no time for greetings.

"Watch out!" he called out as the gust of wind attacked.

Chat Noir did his best to dodge, but his foot got caught on a branch and he was knocked out of the tree. He did manage to land on his feet, but that didn't mean it did hurt.

"Ow," he muttered and looked around. "Everyone, alright?" he called out.

He quickly gathered himself and went to go for another attack.

COMBAT: Chat Noir has used Introduction To The Staff on Westar.

COMBAT: Chat Noir has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar dodges 9 Fatigue damage from Chat Noir's Introduction To The Staff, taking 6 Fatigue damage! Chat Noir is Psyched!
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Rising Passion, taking 11 Fatigue damage! Cure Passion is Psyched!
COMBAT: Westar dodges 6 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Piercing Fang Strike, taking 4 Fatigue damage! Kyouka Okazaki is Psyched! Stun applied to Westar!
COMBAT: Westar braces 12 Fatigue damage from Mikoto Minagi's Obsidian Blade: Dauntlessness, taking 18 Fatigue damage! Mikoto Minagi is Psyched! Diversion applied to Westar!

<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

It would be rude to bring it up - but Westar nods solemnly when Cure Passion and Mikoto Minagi bring up their shared pasts. "That's right. We were once-" He hesitates on the word he'd like to say, and goes with one that can't be denied. "-allies. These two know everything about causing misery and sorrow!"

He says this like it's something to be proud of.

But one of the new people asks directly, and Westar elects to answer with the official line. "For Mobius. Everything is for Mobius - to bring the greatness of Labyrinth to other worlds."

But the attacks keep coming. Chat Noir has a long staff swinging in one direction, and the Wolf Fighter is attacking from another angle - so it leaps again, catching a few glancing blows. Mikoto tears free of one scarf, and comes in with another dangerous swing - one that the monster catches on one arm with a clang.

This leaves it open to getting kicked in the face by Cure Passion, sending it reeling.

"Not so fast!" Westar darts in, and somehow catches the weight of the toppling Nakewameke, shoving it upright again as he points at Cure Passion and Mikoto Minagi. "You both know full well how quickly my Nakewameke and I are willing to give up! So cry and wail - because you're in for the long haul! Get them!"

In the middle of his taunt, Westar's Nakewameke is already moving. It stomps fiercely at Kyouka, aiming to flatten the Wolf Fighter - whips its remaining fully-intact scarf at the Yuusha Abiko - and whips the ribbons of sword-rent scarf in a flurry of swipes at Chat Noir!

COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Mikoto Minagi.

COMBAT: Westar has used Cry More! Wail More! on Cure Passion.
COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Kyouka Okazaki.
COMBAT: Player not found.
COMBAT: Westar has used Hands Full Of Misery on Abiko Tsugaru.
COMBAT: Westar has used Dangerous Cat Toy on Chat Noir.
COMBAT: Westar has used Westar's Lending A Hand! on Westar.
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar accepts Westar's Westar's Lending A Hand!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Withstand applied to Westar! Cleanse! All of Westar's debuffs are cleared!
COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru perfectly counters 35 Fatigue damage from Westar's Hands Full Of Misery, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Abiko Tsugaru's Tactician ability activates!
COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru's counterattack, Rain of Cherry Blossoms, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar!
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi cleanly braces 0 Fatigue damage from Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Diversion and Exhausted applied to Mikoto Minagi!
COMBAT: Cure Passion counters 0 Fatigue damage from Westar's Cry More! Wail More!, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Cripple and Exhausted applied to Cure Passion!
COMBAT: Cure Passion's counterattack, Crimson Counter, partially gets through, doing 17 Fatigue damage to Westar!
COMBAT: Chat Noir perfectly counters 28 Fatigue damage from Westar's Dangerous Cat Toy, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Counter! Chat Noir's Reverse and Tactician abilities activate!
COMBAT: Chat Noir's counterattack, Nine Lives, interrupts, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Westar!
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki decisively counters 21 Fatigue damage from Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 7 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki's counterattack, Fang Breaker Strike, partially gets through, doing 17 Fatigue damage to Westar!

<Pose Tracker> Chat Noir [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Chat Noir finished swinging his staff at the Nakewameke and smirks as he at least managed to strike it's foot as it jumped.

"Soon, you shall feel the wind of defeat," Chat quips.

It doesn't take long for the Nakewameke to strike with strips of fabric.

"A cat toy for me? You shouldn't have," Chat Noir remarks and he spins his staff. Swiftly, he gets the fabric wrapped around his staff. "Too bad I have a habit of breaking my toys."

With a hard pull, Chat Noir tugs at the fabric hoping it would at least cause the Nakewameke to lose it's balance.

COMBAT: Chat Noir has used Cat's Cradle on Westar.

COMBAT: Chat Noir has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar braces 7 Fatigue damage from Chat Noir's Cat's Cradle, taking 10 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"West arrr? Ehh... Labyrinth? Moobius?" Abiko cocks her head to the side as Westar speaks, blinking a few times before shaking her head, "If you say so." she concedes with a shrug, not her job to figure out crazytalk... But Cure Passions did say he was more dangerous than he seemed... and he -did- summon a giant robot with questionable fashion-sense.

No more time to sit and think about it, the intact scarf whips and snakes towards her but instead of backing up she rushes towards it, the pink shards swirling around her body again only this time they don't falter -- whipping and spinning around her body and forcing the scarf back. Just as they begin to fade there is a burst of energy from the little hero and they flare back to life as she tries to weave close to the robot, the shards streaking around her violently.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Kyouka remembers what Setsuna told her--the very first night they'd met (well, /really/ met, when identities had been revealed)--about being a former enemy. She'd tucked that away, made one attempt to ask, but, well, the timing wasn't right.

Westar's arrival might've forced the issue.

"Misery energy," she muses softly. File /that/ away for later, too.

Passion's declaration of 'But not anymore!' does get a smile from her, though, if a brief one.

She spares a glance for Abiko, "You hangin' in there okay?"

"I saw!" she shouts to Mikoto. And then Mikoto assures her--and she shapres a sharp nod. Just busier than usual. So it's not like this all the time. "Gotcha. Thanks, Mikoto."

Then she explains, about gathering /suffering/... and there's that name Dark Fall, again. Hrm. More questions--and it seems like Mikoto's got a similar history to Setsuna.

More questions for later.

And--a new magical friend! She winces a little as he gets knocked out of a tree. "Are /you/ okay?"

"Looks like they've found a better calling!" she retorts to Westar.

Then that monster comes stomping for her--And she stands her ground. A band inscribed with runes appears around her gauntlet as violet energy charges up, then she slames her fist upwards, meeting fist with foot with a shockwave release of energy.

<Fang Breaker.> Fangs, feet. Close enough.

She grits her teeth as she's pushed into the ground--but she can tell that the Nakawhatever got the worse end of the deal.

Once she's done shoving the beast away she leaps back and focuses. A spell circle appears under her feet, as energy charges, flowing upwards into her body, giving her a briefly shimmering aura. It surges--and then she's flickering out of sight.

<Fang Fury Barrage.>

In a moment she's on the creature, unleashing a swift kick--then she flickers away, lands briefly in a different spot, and then appears at the monster again with a kick--unleashing a flurry of blows that aren't all that strong individually, but together might hopefully overwhelm her foe.

COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has used Fang Fury Barrage on Westar.

COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has used Rain of Cherry Blossoms on Westar.
COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Passion, to be fair, is /often/ rude to Westar. Somewhat less after a certain time... But even then she can't really stop herself. She knows the word he was going to use, and she is quiet while he doesn't use it. Instead, he says 'allies', and--

"That's right." It's much less fraught. She doesn't have to argue with that one.

But Westar steps in to help his Nakewameke. Passion doesn't argue that he's strong--when Mikoto says that, she actually nds, even if she's not about to say it out loud. "We'll just have to beat it into submision!"

Passion /leaps/ towards the Nakewameke as she reacts with a yell, already feeling the Misery Energy leaching into her arms and weakening her even as she punches the scarf right in the--scarf!

Chat Noir... tangles up the fabric!! Passion jumps back to regroup, and decides to take advantage of that. "Right! We'll break this one too!"

With that, Passion launches forward, somersautling into the air and bringing down her heel in a devastating axe kick for the Nakewameke's center, moving right in time with Abiko's strikes!! "Hah!"

But someone asked, so...

"Lord Mobius--Mobius-sama--he wants to conquer all the worlds, to bring his idea of 'order' to them like Labyrinth lives in. To remove all choice."

"...And I won't let that happen! Earth's happiness is worth preserving!"

COMBAT: Cure Passion has used Passionate Kick! on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar decisively counters 15 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Fang Fury Barrage, taking 5 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Fists of Injustice, partially gets through, doing 35 Fatigue damage to Kyouka Okazaki! Critical Counterhit!
COMBAT: Westar fails to counter Abiko Tsugaru's Rain of Cherry Blossoms, taking 24 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Westar's counterattack, Fists of Injustice, fails to get through, doing 0 Fatigue damage to Abiko Tsugaru!
COMBAT: Westar braces 10 Fatigue damage from Cure Passion's Passionate Kick!, taking 8 Fatigue damage!

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Westar says it's for Lord Mobius, and Mikoto hears, in her mind, the way she always used to explain her actions:

It's an order.

"Westar's working hard," she says, and it's exactly the sort of comment one makes in the office, to remark on the efforts of a coworker which have left them exhausted. "Sorry for leaving before you." /Osakini shitsureshimasu,/ the universal expression of regret for leaving others with so much more to handle.

Mikoto did warn everyone that he was stronger than he looked -- so she doesn't at all seem surprised by him physically supporting his Nakewameke. She does look briefly baffled by what he /says/ -- she knows what he /means,/ but she doesn't /expect/ the sentence to work that way.

"There's crepes here too," Mikoto says, as she looks back to -- a food cart all toppled on its side in the violence. "Ahh!" She yelps, devastated at the realisation that WESTAR has RUINED their SNACKS, and she berates him: "Westarrrr!!!"

Mikoto springs upwards, and brings her sword overhead, onto the Nakewameke, in a vertical downwards swing. It's only at the last moment that she manages to divert her assault to not chop it right down the /middle,/ targeting its scarf, instead. Thank Fate for those little de-escalations, really.

COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Disequilibrium on Westar.

COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar fails to dodge Mikoto Minagi's Obsidian Blade: Disequilibrium, taking 46 Fatigue damage! Exhausted applied to Westar!

<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

The Nakewameke is a towering figure of misery - but it is being met and matched.

Swirling cherry blossoms block one scarf, and renew themselves for a second assault. A mighty punch blocks one stomping foot ferociously, and a staff tangled in thread pulls it to an awkward hop. And then the proper counterattack begins.

Abiko's shards of light attack from one side, Kyouka's blitz assault from the other. The Nakewameke tries to answer each with a flurry of punches - but while punch can counter punch, the shards of light tear into its arm. Cure Passion darts in with a punch and a kick, and metal rings loudly in answer. It bellows - "DRAMATIC-"

And then Mikoto slices its main scarf clean off.

"Wh- My scarf!" Westar has backed off because there is a lot of reason to not be in the middle of that fray, but from atop a fallen crepe stand he points in outrage. "That- you're not - you're not the only one who's lost snacks today, Minagi! But I'm ready to make sure things get done!"

Abiko gets a stern reprimand. "Mobius! It's Mobius - and I'm Westar, whatever certain people might say!"

Kyouka - gets a furious glare, and Cure Passion's words strike a pang. "Your personal happiness - you might have found that, but there's a price to pay! And eventually - eventually..."

He shakes his head, and turns at last to Chat Noir. "My comrades might break, sure - but we'll serve Lord Mobius to the end! Nakewameke - time to really cut loose!"

The towering monster turns to him in silence.

"...I know you've been working hard. Seriously, though, they're looking dangerous! Really don't hold back!"

It crouches - and leaps into the air once more. It crosses its arm, wind billowing behind it, and then ejects the scarves attached to its arms to whip out anew at Mikoto and Kyouka. Then it descends, diving in another kick at Cure Passion, finally aiming to just stomp Chat Noir and Abiko flat.

COMBAT: Westar has used Flying Scarf on Mikoto Minagi.

COMBAT: Westar has used Flying Scarf on Kyouka Okazaki.
COMBAT: Westar has used Anti-Cure Kick on Cure Passion.
COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Chat Noir.
COMBAT: Westar has used Sorrowful Stomp on Abiko Tsugaru.
COMBAT: Westar has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Cure Passion partially dodges 6 Fatigue damage from Westar's Anti-Cure Kick, taking 23 Fatigue damage! Westar is Psyched! Cure Passion's Fade and Flash abilities activate!
COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki fails to dodge Westar's Flying Scarf, taking 29 Fatigue damage! Blind applied to Kyouka Okazaki!
COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru fails to dodge Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 29 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Abiko Tsugaru!
COMBAT: Chat Noir dodges 22 Fatigue damage from Westar's Sorrowful Stomp, taking 15 Fatigue damage! Stun applied to Chat Noir!
COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi perfectly dodges 24 Fatigue damage from Westar's Flying Scarf, taking 0 Fatigue damage! Critical Dodge! Mikoto Minagi's Fade and Flash abilities activate!

<Pose Tracker> Chat Noir [Juuban Public School (9)] has posed.

Chat Noir rolls to one side to avoid being stepped on by a Nakewameke. "That was close - I nearly lost one of my lives!" He quips as he springs up to his feet.

He calls out to Westar, laughing briefly. "Have you considered giving your monsters vacation days? It might have earned one after all this!"

He takes his staff up, spinning it a few times as he looks over the towering monster. "You'd better watch out, though - I'm about to move with a little feline-ous intent." With a confident grin, he sprints in - swinging wildly at one leg, using the momentum to swing around, and keeping up a barrage of strikes that launch him into the air.

"Bye-bye, little robot~" He laughs, and then his staff extends rapidly straight into the Nakewameke's face!

COMBAT: FINISHER! Chat Noir has used Feline-ous Intent on Westar.

COMBAT: Chat Noir has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"Got it, Westy-chan" Abiko calls out, the display of skill and power from the other Magical People leaving her a little bit in awe, even as the giant Robot launches into the air and begins it's renewed assault. As it closes in on her, she stumbles on some loose debris and if not for her turtle-fairy friend would indeed be a pancake.

The crash and flash of light sends her bouncing back a couple of times with some chunks of earth and stone, that one looked like it hurt. She stands up and relaxes her hands for a moment before kicking up two large chunnks of stone and launching them at the robot with quick strikes from her palm, "It sounds like you just want this world to be as boring and gloomy as that other place! And you hurt my snacks!"

COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has used Rock kicker on Westar.

COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Passion actually twitches a little too at the talk of 'Moobius.' She can't help it. But it's true... Westar is working hard. Passion doesn't apologize, though. Nor does she seem focused on the snacks...

Perhaps because, if one looks back at where she was seated, /her/ snacks were secured next to the shed. Betrayal!?

A food cart! That's a problem all the same. But Passion notices Mikoto trying hard...

"Right. You're Westar. And I'm..."

Personal happiness, he says. Passion shakes her head. "It's not just that," she says. "Even if I hadn't, it would still be worth protecting. There are so many people and things on this world--and this is only one world! It's all important!"

His comrades...

The monster cuts loose; it hits Passion with another kick, and this time it hits a lot harder, knocking her backward into another cart. "Gh--"

And there she hears Chat NOir, and... "...Feline-ous...?" she wonders. It takes her a moment to stand--and when she does, she lifts her hand to the sky. "...Sing! Rhapsody of Happiness!"

She calls out the beginning of her chant, and a heart-shaped harp bursts into being in a mass of sparkling light, in her hand. She takes its topper in her other hand, and combines the two before her. "Passion Harp!"

"...Westar," she says. "...You just don't understand."

She breathes in, and focuses, before calling, "Roar! O Storm of happiness!"

Passion lifts the Harp to the air, and kicks off, beginning to twirl in place. "Pretty Cure--"

She whirls, and whirls, and whirls, until the air around her blurs and red begins to cover everything. Hearts bubble from the air like fog.

"Happiness... Hurricane!"

They are everywhere, pink and purple and red, and suddenly they rush towards the Nakewameke, bursting all around it like countless red bubbles.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Cure Passion has used Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane on Westar.

COMBAT: Cure Passion has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

"The price we pay to live... is worth it, Westar!" Mikoto yells, even though Westar wasn't talking to /her./ "Passion's not alone! Me neither! And, and we'll help --" him, Mikoto wants to say, except he's commanding his Nakewameke, and they're in trouble.

She still remembers what Kintoleski told her, when she was all alone. She still remembers his certainty that he would die; her certainty she would not. The difference between them...

Why was her opinion so unique, in Dark Fall?

She is afraid for Westar.

Mikoto leaps, before her mind catches up, from the ejected scarf -- bullet-train-quick, she blurs, from one part of the shore to another. She growls, all frustration bubbling through her throat. "Even if I say lots of really good words, Westar won't listen!" She snaps, annoyed. "I get it! I get it!"

She frowns, and adds, more sullen, more quiet: "... I couldn't listen, neither."

There's something that makes her more miserable, here, than the snacks -- though, being clear, she is still DEEPLY upset about the snacks.

"I'm gonna break it!" She yells, in warning. Or maybe it's a threat: "You know what's next, Westar!"

Mikoto doesn't want to destroy him, of course, but -- if she has to scare him off, she can at least give him a good reason. He needs a good reason, she thinks.

A good reason like Mikoto Minagi charging down his Nakewameke, blade spinning in revelation about her as she moves. Once, twice, three times, and the sparks fly as she plants her foot, CRASHING that blade into the Nakewameke, horizontal, right into its middle.

COMBAT: FINISHER! Mikoto Minagi has used Obsidian Blade: Deontology on Westar.

COMBAT: Mikoto Minagi has finished attacking.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Kyouka already knew she liked Setsuna. But hearing her so strongly state that she wants to protect the Earth? Definitely having the opposite effect on her than the one Westar is trying to induce, that's for sure.

She's unleashed her attack--and the robotic scarf thing fends off her blows and catches her /just/ right as she slams into an oncoming fist in her haste. She goes flying, rumbling roughly as she bounces along the ground until she comes to a stop--slamming into an upturned donut cart. "I'm okay!" she wheezes out as she staggers to her feet. "Thanks, buddy," she says quietly to Strike Wolf.

<You're welcome.>

She catches that glare--and just smirks in response. She'll take it.

Unfortunately, she's still getting her footing as the monster launches its next volley. She tries to dodge--but instead is lashed by the scarf, sending her tumbling over the donut cart. "Augh." /Again/ she picks herself up. "I'm still okay!" she shouts.

Though the second time she sounds a bit more pained than the last.

"You want dangerous?" she spits out. "Fine. I'll /show/ you dangerous."

She holds out her right hand. A violet circle appears beneath her feet, inscribed with runes and symbols. She holds out her hand, a bright, shimmering ball of light appearing in front of it. It grows brighter and brighter as power flows into it. Winds pick up around her as the cart is slowly pushed away, with the much lighter snacks themselves slowly whipping around her. "I don't care who you serve, if you're collecting misery or suffering or /whatever/. You ruined a perfectly nice day and I've just about had it up to /here/ with weird crap threatening people lately." The snacks are whipped into a frenzy now as she snatches that shimmering ball of energy in her fist.

The cart, just about to lift off, suddenly settles. All of the snacks suck towards Kyouka as the vacuum left by the winds stilling draws them in... and then the power flows through her, whipping them away from her once more. Her body is encased in a bright, shimmering white aura, little motes of white energy circling around in the flurry with the knocked-over pastries. Her fist is a blazing white light as Kyouka draws back into a crouching attack stance, left hand in front, right hand drawn back and held high.

"So do us /all/ a favor and /get off my damn planet./" The light in her gauntlet flares brightly.

<Shining Moonlight Strike.>

She jumps--and surgets right at the monster, flickering to complete the distance in an instant as she winds back, and then slugs the monster for all she's worth, slamming her first home and releasing all of that bright white light up close and personal..

COMBAT: FINISHER! Kyouka Okazaki has used Shining Moonlight Strike on Westar.

COMBAT: Kyouka Okazaki has finished attacking.
COMBAT: Westar partially dodges 4 Fatigue damage from Abiko Tsugaru's Rock kicker, taking 17 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Chat Noir's Finisher, Feline-ous Intent, taking 90 Fatigue damage! Critical Hit!
COMBAT: Westar braces 52 Fatigue damage from Kyouka Okazaki's Finisher, Shining Moonlight Strike, taking 35 Fatigue damage!
COMBAT: Westar braces 66 Fatigue damage from Mikoto Minagi's Finisher, Obsidian Blade: Deontology, taking 44 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting!
COMBAT: Westar fails to brace Cure Passion's Finisher, Pretty Cure Happiness Hurricane, taking 100 Fatigue damage! Westar is unable to keep fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Westar [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.

Here they are, the five of them, on this chilly January day. All with fury to fling, all with words to say.

Yuusha Abiko has joined a not-that-exclusive list of people Westar will probably just yell at a lot in future. "Westar! Westar of Labyrinth, it isn't that hard to understand! And-" Well she's not wrong. But he has a plan for that. "-good! Cry over those snacks, it really helps us out!"

Chat Noir is full of quips and commentary, and Westar fumes. "My Nakewameke get just as many holidays as I do!" Which might be none. "We stand together- wait are you going to steal my Nakewameke?!"

The Wolf Fighter - Kyouka - is angry. Actually angry, and that puts her on an entirely different list in Westar's head. He laughs, in response, because at least that anger counts for something. "It won't be your planet forever! I might not know who you are either - but just know that I'm the worst of the Executives of Labyrinth at creating misery!" He laughs, like that's something to be proud of - or maybe it's a warning.

Mikoto knows how this works. How this ends. She lived it, somehow survived leaving it - and he yells back at her certainty. "Don't think it'll be easy all the time, Minagi! You know what's waiting!"

And Cure Passion is - Passion. Or Setsuna. Not Eas. Not any more, he's learned that lesson at least, and to her his fury abates a bit. "That's how you think now, isn't it? It's all important - but Mobius would take care of it all, wouldn't he?" He sounds uncertain - and maybe, in the end, he can't understand.

But they're coming.

A rock flies at the Nakewameke from one side, and it tries to lean neatly out of the way. That step puts it in Chat Noir's path, and the barrage of blows pin it in place. The followup strike to the face cracks something vital as Kyouka and Mikoto rush in from opposite sides.

The Nakewameke is loyal. It tries to block the devastating strikes. One arm meets Mikoto's blade, and shatters to fragments as a sacrifice. The other arm meets Kyouka's fist, and crumples like a tin can underfoot to desperately blunt the blow. It fought hard, but it's already falling apart -

And then the melody of happiness rings out, engulfing what remains in joy and pink bubbles. From within the storm, there's a faint "fizzzzz....."...

And when the light fades, the Nakewameke is no more, the Data Diamond having dissolved entirely, the light of happiness having set some of the wrongs to right. Purified of evil, that yellow scarf drifts on the breeze.

There's a clunk as Westar sets his perch - the fallen crepe cart - upright again. "Fine. You and your friends have won this day, Cure Passion - but you know this isn't the end. APHBLARGL-"

Whatever else he had to say was cut off as that drifting scarf found its place once more in his face. Westar rips it free, looks around, and just says-

"It's cold. I'm going home." A leap to the shed, a leap to a tree, and he's quickly out of sight.

<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

It's a flurry of coordinated efforts, and--Passion finishes the deal with...

Well, you see something new every day in this gig, now don't you?

Kyouka delivers her blow and rebounds, letting Setsuna's attack finish off the robotic scarf thing. She watches it disintegrate, and then turns her attention towards Westar. She's spent, but... she's still got some fight left in her. She takes up her stance again. "There's /way/ more of /us/ than there are of /you/, so if you think you're taking this planet, /think again/."

And then Westar... just leaves.

Kyouka blinks.

"Uh, I know I'm new to this, but... shouldn't we... go after him? I know we used a lot of magic, but we still outnumber him..." She looks to her fellow magical girls--well, Setsuna and Mikoto, anyway, who seem to have connections to this villain and have been doing this longer than she has.

<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

"What a strange man..." Abiko says, trailing off a bit and exhaling with a bit of relief and likely fatigue, "I bet he'd make another weirder, bigger robot... He looked like that kind of guy." she says, sitting down as her Hero Transformation fades away but this time, the turtle stays out (Even if only the magical type could see them) and floats around Abiko and even head-boops her, "Fine Fine, I'll share." eh mumbles, fishing out the bag of chips from her backpack and opening them up, grabbing one for herself before she looks back at Kyouka and then Setsuna.

Staaaare

"So... That was Westy-chan, and there is a Moobius and they have a vendeta against people enjoying snacks.." she says outloud, tapping her chin like she's actually thinking about it.

COMBAT: Abiko Tsugaru transforms into Abiko Tsugaru!

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Westar tells Mikoto she knows what's waiting, and she /does/ flinch, just for a moment.

It won't stop her, but... she knows.

She knows the score when Westar's scarf is purified, too -- when he declares he's done. "Okay," she nods, straightening up. She walks over to her sword case, and sheathes it, without a single care for her identity.

Mikoto shrugs Miroku's sword-case back onto her shoulder, and shakes her head, to Kyouka. "Westar gave up for now. If we hunt him now, it's not defending. It's attacking. I don't want to be someone who gives people no choice but to fight any more." She shakes her head, looking over to Setsuna. "We can choose to stop and say that's enough," she says, thinking of someone who knows very well Mikoto couldn't always do that. "That's important."

She pauses, and, a moment later: "Lord Mobius," she corrects Abiko's pronounciation, offhand. She keeps the 'Lord'. It feels correct to honour that -- just don't ask her why.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Mobius...

"No, Westar," Passion says, shaking her head. "He wouldn't."

But it isn't the end. He's going home. Cure Passion looks after Westar where he goes for a few moments. They've won, but.. "I know," she says. "It's not over."

Then she looks over to Kyouka at her question, and shakes her head. "...If we back him into a corner, he'll get /really/ dangerous. That was him fighting just to make people unhappy--not wanting to kill anyone. If he fought at his full strength, instead of using a Nakewameke..."

"We might not come home. He's a /lot/ stronger than he sounds."

She regards Chat Noir, with a smile, and then ooks to Abiko, with a frown.

"His name is Westar," Cure Passion corrects. "...And there's a Mobius-sama. If you take either of them lightly, you're likely to die."

"Because you're new, I won't hold it against you this time."

Then she nods to Mikoto. "It's what she says, too. We wouldn't be defending--we'd be attacking. And it does make a difference."

<Pose Tracker> Kyouka Okazaki [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Kyouka looks to Mikoto curiously as she explains. And there's a contemplative look as she considers...

'But... when I'm fighting... sometimes I can't really control myself.'

There's just a little bit of a... not quite smile as she listens to Mikoto's reasoning, standing up from her stance and dropping her guard. And then she looks to Passion as she clarifies about backing Wester into a corner and nods, her expression growing a bit more somber. "... Right, okay then."

She takes in a deep breath, and through some unspoken signal between her and Strike Wolf, her barrier jacket releases, leaving her in her school uniform with a purple parka on top. Then she releases the breath as she calms herself. "Yeah, I'm not much for attacking people, either. Fighting /back/, on the other hand... But I guess that part's done, now."

"Well, that was probably the least disturbing thing I've fought in the last week, at least..." she mutters to herself.

She looks over to Abiko, gently shaking her head at the offered chips. "Hey, how you holdin' up. Oh, and Mikoto, come meet the new girl! Abiko Tsugaru, Mikoto Minagi. Mikoto Minagi, Abiko Tsugaru. She just transferred into our--" A nod of the head to indicate herself and Setsuna "--class."

<Pose Tracker> Abiko Tsugaru [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Fighting seems to take it out of Abiko, but with the introduction she smiles at Mikoto and gives a slight head-bow to her, "It's nice to meet you, even if this is all still new and strange... I mean seriously, what even was that thing?" she rambles and grumbles a bit before offering more chips to the Turtle-fairy who happily crunches them down.

<Pose Tracker> Mikoto Minagi [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.

Mikoto makes a querying sound in her throat, as Kyouka turns her attention from ethical lessons to --

"Hi!" She bounds up, and the shift in her demeanour is /palpable./ Her sharp eyes grow round with eagerness, and the smile across her face is nothing like the severity she wore in the battle. "I'm Mikoto! I'm from Ohtori! Eleventh grade!" She's awfully short for someone that far into highschool, but never mind that.

She will also stare at Abiko's snacks until she gets some.

Mikoto is, apparently, Like That.

<Pose Tracker> Cure Passion [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.

Passion--soon, Setsuna Higashi again, in a flash of red light--stares after Westar a little longer. "It was..."

She trails off, and shakes her head. "...I think I'm going to head back," she says instead. "I'm not... feeling very hungry, at the moment. Take care, everyone."

Putting her hands in her coat pockets, Setsuna starts to walk away.