Multiverse Crisis MUSH - User contributions [en]

9271/One Crown visits another

2025-03-29T21:51:21Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025/03/28 |Location=The Sundew Kingdom |Synopsis=In an attempt to give one of the newest Concord members a (relatively) normal day, Sarracenia inv..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/03/28
|Location=The Sundew Kingdom
|Synopsis=In an attempt to give one of the newest Concord members a (relatively) normal day, Sarracenia invites Audrey on a tour of the Sundew Kingdom.
|Cast of Characters=446, 7662, 7518, 7573
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The Sundew Kingdom is quite the sight! Though depending on how you enter it that sight might be quite different. The local warpgate lets one out at a large crossroad that leads between the Mushroom, Sarasaland, Sundew, and the Koopa kingdoms. The road leading to the Sundew Kingdom immediately leads into a massive jungle. Trees are dozens of stories tall, with the tallest being close to 60 stories tall.      The road is about as wide as only one of those trees, which is plenty wide for a standard three lane road. It is paved with white stone bricks and patrolled constantly by piranha plant soldiers in steel breastplates and man-o-war helmets carrying axes.      They have to fend off wild creatures every so often, and when they are not doing that they are chopping vines and trees and other plants that are trying to grow over the road. Mantises bigger than humans watch them from the jungle trees, their eyes regarding the piranha plants and other travelers with intelligence behind their eyes. They are even decorated in a tribal sort of way, with primative and minimal raw plant clothing and similar level weapons such as spears, bows, and arrow.      From the air, it is a solid canopy of leaves as far as the eye can see except for a large lake that the castle town was built into and the odd mantis flying above. The water seems to be the only barrier that was capable of stopping the jungle. In contrast to the jungle, the walls of the city are about 5 stories tall, and the tallest castle tower is only about 10 stories. This means the jungle towers over the town and castle.      Close to the front gate is the airship dock. As tall as the castle itself, the dock is a spiraling staircase of platforms that vary in size between those made to hold a personal aircraft to those made to hold freighters that would rival Earth's commercial shipping vessels in size. A second spiral on the opposite side of the road from the civilian dock is the military dock, where a total of 13 wooden airships styled like Spanish galleons are docked. The Sundew Sovereign, the kingdom's flagship, is docked at the top of the spire, its polished wood and shimmering gold trim (including a figurehead of Sarra herself) gleaming in the evening sun.      Sarra has asked Audrey to meet her at the town gate, where a draw bridge is able to reach the shore of the lake. The walls are made of the same white stone as the road. The princess is trying to give the best impression she can, and as such she has on her fanciest black royal gown that is still suitable for walking around in. It is black velvet from neck to hem, with similar gloves covering her hands and arms. Silver embroidery shimmers in the sunlight, forming a flowing plant-inspired pattering that rolls from her left shoulder down the front to the right side of the skirt.      She has a squad of six piranha plants as her honor guard, their armor polished to a mirror shine. Gregory, her piranha plant butler, is also at her side holding welcome gifts for Audrey. A fox suit power-up in a collectable style box! "Welcome, Audrey!" Sarra says with a cheerful smile once the Nova Heliosanctus student has arrived. Of course...Sarra is only expecting Audrey. 

:'''{{#var:7662|Audrey Basque (7662)}} has posed:'''     EARLIER, AUDREY'S ROOM If you're hoping you cultivate a reputation for ladylike refinement, you're not.     A dozen party dresses are strewn about her bed, haphazardly as if thrown there without care. They pile up, abandoned, as Audrey takes the thirteenth, walks with it to the large mirror she rolled out of her closet... and then abandons it immediately, on account of being unlucky number thirteen. If you're hoping you cultivate a reputation for ladylike refinement, you're not.     Fourteen. No. Fifteen. Still no. If you're hoping you cultivate a reputation for ladylike refinement, you're not.     Audrey turns to the mirror, angry. It distorts, stretches more in one direction than the other, and then snaps back into its normal shape and size with a loud crack, which shatters the mirror. She creeps back into her closet, determined to find something to wear.     NOW     Audrey is not wearing a dress, but at least she isn't wearing her school or Library uniform, either. It's a nice, formal white blouse, and a long beige skirt, something you could wear to a shareholders' meeting with zero regrets but probably wouldn't wear to a high society gathering.     She had insisted to Petra she could find the way and they could just meet up there, and true enough the Second Star of Nova Heliosanctus has found her way to the Warpgate safe and sound. What she didn't expect was that they'd have to walk some distance to reach the their destination afterwards. Still, she waited for Petra to arrive, eyeing the road wearily.     If she showed up with a BRIGHT SMILE and her gold-and-blue starry eyes lit up, by the time she's reached the town gate, she looks a bit spooked by the fact she's seen more odd creatures in the last ten minutes than in the weeks prior. At least none of them tried to eat her, courtesy of the ones guarding the road.     Just before they reach it, she turns to Petra and drops her smile a tad, asking bluntly: "Am I really that brutish?"     But Sarracenia is waiting for them, and she doesn't give Petra enough time for a drawn out answer if there is one, making for the drawbridge.     "Hello, princess!" she still manages, giving a polite half-bow and accepting the giftbox (without opening it) gladly. Her smile is fully restored, mercifully! "This is... quite the assortment of peoples, you have here. Are the roads truly so unsafe that so many guards must patrol them?" 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:'''     Petra feels responsible for this somehow, even though it was Audrey who was specifically invited. Even worse-- that means not only is Petra voluntarily going to the Sundew Kingdom, but she's bringing Angela with her, and all for what? Just to accompany Audrey, right? Maybe as a small factor, she's making an effort to extend a hand to Sarracenia to hopefully drag her off of the path of bashing herself against Lilian until she ends up being killed by any number of people including herself for it, as a gift she's attempting to give to, ugh, a senior Partner. But mostly, she's tagging along with Audrey for the sake of tagging along with Audrey, both for Audrey's sake-- who knows what Sarracenia might do or say alone-- and just to hang out.     Really, Petra has not had particularly busy days ever since the war. Not consistently. She's vaguely ambled from task to task, sometimes dedicating entire waking days to something or another, but compared to how busy she was before she war, she feels completely useless and adrift. There's plenty she *could* do. She has a hundred projects she could get started on, relationships with Concord personnel to build, efforts to reconnect with Lilian, work in the Library or in the City, but... she just hasn't felt able to commit to anything at all lately. The plurality of her time is spent somewhere alone in a random world's wilderness outside some camp or another, absorbing the air in a mindstate midway between meditation and dissociation.     And so, Audrey. And Angela. And also, Sarracenia. Petra is wearing her baggy harem pants and a hoodie with the Eggpack on over it, but rapidly becomes ill at the jungle heat and humidity in that situation. She pulls off to the side of the road and deposits the Eggpack to start shucking her clothes off. More worried about the Sundew guards seeing than Audrey or Angela seeing, she wiggles out of her hoodie to briefly expose her sports bra (really, it's the kind of thing that would be perfectly fine to wear as a top in its own right in a gym. she's not a whore!!) and general scar-tattered body, before tossing on a loose t-shirt to better adapt to the weather.     "... I guess I knew theoretically that she was from, like, a jungle, but it's kind of hard to believe it with the kind of person she is." Petra says afterwards, tottering along the road. "Like. Something went wrong there, right? There's something fundamentally wrong with this situation."     She squints at the mantises in the trees as they pass by, and warily eyes the guards along the roads. "Something's definitely fucked up here. I don't know what, but it's fucked up."     "Also, Ange, you really... feel free to disconnect if she gets unbearable. Don't feel guilty about leaving me with her while you can escape. I'll be alright."     In addition to her outfit, Petra has bandages wrapped around her neck and wrists where she pulled out all those feathers. They've mostly healed over, but the skin is still raw and sore, and because everyone around her is *so* insistent on her taking care of herself, she decided to bandage up. Her boots are also terribly muddy even before getting to the Sundew Kingdom, and she has a silly little baseball hat on because it's sunny. 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "Am I really that brutish?"     "Huh?" Petra blinks at Audrey with wide eyes. "I... don't think so. It's not like Lilian's really, uh, seen you around much, besides... some... maybe bad moments."     Upon spotting the princess, but before they're within range to be called out to, Petra hastily says under her breath to Audrey, "If she says anything about kidnapping-- you have to say no. You can't let her get on talking about that." "Welcome, Audrey!"     Petra closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "... Hey princess. We figured it might be better to make this a group thing." 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' ''Am I really that brutish?'' "Noooo....!" Hod says. "You're not brutish at all...! I mean I didn't see you fight but..." Hod is no longer a boxbot. Instead, Hod looks like a young woman with brown hair and blue eyes, an hair antenna still sticking out of her head which must be where the robotic antenna go its vibe from. She IS in her Librarian uniform but otherwise.... it's your buddy Hod! Her uniform has a ribbon instead of a tie and she is wearing brown buckle sandles and white leggings. Her uniform is kind of beige-ish brown colored. "Hello Sarracenia. Um. We came along. I wanted to keep Audrey company. I hope that's alright." Well she's already here so it's kind of too late. Even less invited is Angela. She is NOT physically present. But she is on a screen and with the Eggpack as usual. "I wonder if she can swing around on vines." Angela asides to Petra. "The hammer she swings around looks quite heavy." She is judging this from one of Tennant's movie nights--the movie in question? George of the Jungle. Angela really didn't understand that movie but did recognize that using vines to swing results in possible arboreal collisions. ''Feel free to disconnect if she gets unbearable. Don't feel guilty about leaving me with her while you can escape.'' "Understood. But I am feeling magnaminous today." Maybe she feels like she should try to be more prosocial today now that people are saying she has a battledome. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia returns Audrey's half-bow with a proper courtly curtsey including a slight lifting of the sides of her dress's skirt. Then, Petra speaks. And has Angela with her. Sarra's one visible eye (she still has an eyepatch on, though today's is a more elegant broad strip of material) turns to her as the princess's expression goes to a very slight frown. "...ah. Hello Petra. Angela." she says, then hmms. "A group thing. Well...I suppose things are often better done in groups." She doesn't really imply that this group will make this thing better, but at least she isn't starting out with 'why are you even here' or something.      Sarra notices Petra's bandages, but doesn't comment on them. Instead...she focuses on Hod! It takes a moment, but between the hair antenna, the uniform, and the voice, Sarra makes the connection. "Oh my goodness! Hod?!" Hod was probably unaware, but the princess is fond of Hod. So, the cute young woman ends up getting a hug from the princess. A pretty firm one. "I am glad to see you are alright and able to take a proper form!" Sarra says after releasing the poor girl.      Sarra looks at the group, then hmms. "Well, as official guests of the crown, I will have to provide you gifts as well. They will have to wait for now, though."      Sarra coughs into a fist, then smiles once more. "Welcome to the Sundew Kingdom! I hope the journey was not to taxing! I know it can be quite harsh out there, so our first stop on the official Sundew tour is...my favorite ice cream shop!"      Sarra leads the way, somehow seeming fine in such a heavy velvet dress even in this weather. She finally addresses Audrey's question as they walk. "We try to be diverse! As far as we are concerned, being a person has nothing to do with being a human. In this town humans live alongside piranha plants, toads, and even some koopas and mantids that have grown tired of what would be normal life for them. There are plenty of other types of non-humans creatures you may see here, but those are the most plentiful peoples."      Sarra's hair flows behind her as she walks, giving her an elegant look that may not often be appreciated even if it is still silver instead of copper. "As for the danger on the road...it is quite necessary. We have found that if the patrols miss even one day of pruning duty the vines will cover much of the road. Not to mention the many dangerous creatures that call the jungle home. Wild piranha plants are probably the most dangerous, and can strike from most any sufficiently large hole or pipe. The mantids are not enemies per se, but one would be wise to be cautious around them. They have never really accepted our presence here."      The ice cream parlor is colored like it is made of cotton candy, and perhaps most importantly inside it is cooled by proper air conditioning! It is unclear if it is technical or magical, but it is comfortable either way.      "And now...for your first test." Sarra says in a teasing tone. "Which ice cream flavor would you like?" There are a couple dozen to choose from, covering most every typical flavor one might find in an ice cream shop...plus one you will not. Rainbow Bob-omb. A vanilla ice cream swirled with tangy fruit flavors in multiple colors with pop rocks candy swirled in with it.      Sarra hastily orders that last flavor. It is quite obviously her favorite. She gets it in an edible, chocolate-coated waffle bowl, then awaits eagerly to see the orders of the others.      "Oh, Angela. I suppose you cannot have any now. Would you like me to send a few gallons of some to your Library? Select a few flavors you would like." Sarra adds. 

:'''{{#var:7662|Audrey Basque (7662)}} has posed:'''     It should really go without saying but Audrey pointedly looked away when Petra changed. It was obvious and deliberate. But Hod's presence was definitely a high point of the adventure. It's nice to see the Sephirah get out, at least.     The idea of Sarracenia swinging on vines might almost be amusing if it wasn't hitting certain notes. Some days, the voices win, and it's one of those days. Likely, Audrey intends to sink back into her pile of star charts once she can, and forget this day ever happened - which is unlikely to have anything to do with Sarracenia's tour.     The proposal of ice cream does go quite a way towards improving the day though. Quite a way! If Petra had to change out of her baggy clothes, Audrey didn't have the luxury of layers she can peel off, and she is definitely, definitely not used to jungle travel. Or long walks in the humid heat of a foreign world, for that matter.     She does question Sarracenia's ability to wear the thick princess robes in the heat, but that's awkward to just bring up like that.     "I see. So this world is unusually hostile? Or is it just this particular kingdom's surroundings that are like this?" She had noticed the vastly different aesthetics at the crossroads, so it begged the question if it mattered.     Flavor...?     She looks at Petra, cracking a slightly wider smile. "Well, I doubt you have "sludge" as a flavor. So I should like to try that colorful one as well," she indicates the Rainbow Bob-omb flavor that Sarracenia just picked.     The idea of sending some to the Library makes Audrey perk up a bit. "I bet Roland is a chocolate man. I wonder what the other Sephirah would like, though." She knew none of them, so she trusted Angela, Hod and Petra to know. 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "I wonder if she can swing around on vines."}     "Hm. Maybe. But honestly, now that you say it--" Petra looks around at the stark difference between the Sundew construction and the jungle surrounding it. "I feel like she'd probably barely even been in the jungle. I feel like she wouldn't touch a vine without gloves on. Like, you know? She's *so* not in tune with the vibes here."     She also asides to Hod, since it's not the first time she's interacted with human form Hod but she still hasn't had that many chances, "By the way. What's with the hairstyle change? Malkuth had longer hair, so I know it can't be a limitation with the Light. Did you decide to chop it off?" "Well...I suppose things are often better done in groups."     "Yeah. I mean, if you're showing off your kingdom to new Partners, then...." Petra rolls her shoulders, a little snidely, but she doesn't needle Sarracenia any more at the moment. Thumbs hooked into the straps of the backpack, she quickly slides a half step away when Sarracenia rushes in to hug Hod like she's worried that she's about to have to defend against something, but then eases off when she's not attacked. She side-eyes Angela's screen leerily, but ultimately, if Hod doesn't object, then Petra doesn't either. "I am glad to see you are alright and able to take a proper form!"     "... By 'able to take', you mean that Angela worked hard on building her one." She does have to correct that part, though. "Well, as official guests of the crown, I will have to provide you gifts as well."     "I, uh--" Accepting gifts from Sarracenia is just a tiny bit too far, is what Petra's gut feeling insists. She squeezes the straps of the Eggpack, thinking about how bad it would look for her if she was, metaphorically and literally, stripped down to owning and being nothing again, and then one of the first objects she owned when rebuilding herself was a gift from Sarracenia Sundew. Being homeless and broke isn't an excuse to accept anything from anyone to get yourself back on your feet-- it just means that each item added into her pile needs to be that much more heavily considered.     "You-- you really don't need to give me a gift. I'm just here to pr--" She was about to blurt out protect, with her mind still on one particular dynamic, but she corrects herself. "Come along with Audrey." "I hope the journey was not to taxing!"     "It's not that bad. I'm surprised you don't even have, like, a weird bug carriage to pick people up, at least." And, thinking the same thing as Audrey but not having the dignity to hold it back, "How do you survive here wearing clothes that heavy?" "We try to be diverse!"     Surely she can't possibly mean it the way she said it. Petra winces and opens her mouth to blurt something out, and then barely restrains herself until she can gasp out a slightly more measured question. "T-try...? Is... I mean, you're... it's not really your choice whether there's nonhumans here, right? It's kind of out of your hands, isn't it?" "The mantids are not enemies per se, but one would be wise to be cautious around them. They have never really accepted our presence here."     Petra's squint gradually narrows further and further. "... And they were here, first, right?"     Then, in the ice cream parlor, Petra sighs and relaxes slightly. She might be relatively better adapted to the heat, but it was still a long, humid walk, and after positioning the Eggpack on a chair, she fluffs out her hair with her fingers to air out the sweat. "Whoof. It's fucking oppressive out there." 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:'''     Ice cream, though... for a visit to a foreign kingdom, it's... just a tiny bit pathetic. Petra can remember the Spiral Empire meeting being began with ice cream, but it's significantly different-feeling when the political leaders are the ones *serving* ice cream to a crowd of refugees, and incidentally also the Elites. That's a political statement. This is one too, but it's a political statement of... this magical jungle kingdom and its princess being essentially indistinguishable from a terminally lonely thirty year old suburban woman dragging people along to her lame hobbies.     Just, extremely wealthy. And with the military authority to force her subjects to die at her command, which is usually turned towards those goals primarily driven by that thirty year old woman's loneliness.     Petra is harrowed by this realization for a minute, and then after the others have ordered, she blinks back to awareness and says, "Ah, uh... I'll just have vanilla. I don't really do crazy flavors." "Well, I doubt you have "sludge" as a flavor."     Holding her ice cream cup up with one hand, she sticks her tongue out at Audrey. "Gimme thirty minutes and they will."     She sits down at the table beside the Eggpack, and mouths something at Audrey that makes her snicker. She'll absolutely dig into the ice cream, though. She's not too proud for that, even though each spoonful is habitually tiny.     "Well, speaking of the Library." Petra feels a crushing need to actually talk about literally anything in the entire universe rather than the numbingly pedestrian ice cream flavor talk on a trip as a foreign visitor and Concord partner. "We're trying to stock it with the literature of, like, as many worlds as possible. What's that like here? Do you..."     Petra comes to a terrible realization. "... Have, books? Is there writing here? Bookstores?" 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' Hod is hugged! She doesn't return it because she wasn't expecting it. She holds her arms out to the side going, "AHh? Wha?? Ahh??" with a vaguely panicked expression on her face. "What did I do what happen" She doesn't quite manage to put a punctuation mark at the end of that. Neither she or Angela seem to particularly care about Sarracenia's hair color. ''My favorite ice cream shop!'' Angela raises an eyebrow. She raises her other eyebrow once Sarracenia offers to send her gallons of ice cream back with her. She lets out a long exhale and rubs at her forehead with her thumb and index finger. "Sarracenia." Angela says. "...What are you plotting in order to offer me gallons of ice cream..?" She quirks her head to the left. "...Ah, I understand. By sending some ridiculous airship to the Library, you intend to draw even more attention to me, resulting in a Hana raid. ... I am sorry, but I will have to--" Angela's eyes slant towards Audrey who seems to be PERKED UP by ice cream. "--de...cline..." She frowns. "Audrey, were you looking forward to an ice cream delivery?" ansi)202,")I like orange ice cream." Hod supplies, still looking dizzied, flustered, and a bit uncomfortable and anxious. "...I will allow you, Miss Audrey, to bring back ice cream to the Libary but I'll ask that you be discreet. I do not need The City to know that we are receieving supplies from an Outsider Kingdom." ''I feel like she'd probably barely even been in the jungle. I feel like she wouldn't touch a vine without gloves on.'' "...It is strange that I do not really see Sarracenia as a plant person despite ruling a plant kingdom. That does feel strange... I am sure she has something of a green thumb, at least, but I expected her to be more in tune with nature." ''Angela worked hard on building her one.'' "Aha---yeah... Angela apparently had some trouble getting my hair right?... But I have a, uh, proper form now. A bug carriage would be super cute..." Angela doesn't realize she should be suspicious about the mantids until she sees Petra squint whereupon Angela mimics the squint herself AND crosses her arms disapprovingly. She'll figure out what Petra's getting at later. It's not really important for her to actually know the situation ehre. 5r"I will use the opportunity to hold a 'cone' with the Egpack though." She offers as compromise. "...That is a good question. Do you have books? Or do you write your history on mushrooms and giant flowers?" Angela is suddenly intrigued. "Or perhaps on giant blocks like ancient hieroglyphs?" 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "...I will allow you, Miss Audrey, to bring back ice cream to the Libary but I'll ask that you be discreet."     There are a lot of aspects to being trapped inside one location for your entire life that most people wouldn't think of at first. It's not as simple as being restless and frustrated and missing the world outside, but fundamentally, the perspective Angela has on the world is different than anyone else's. Or rather-- Petra does understand, because Petra specifically knows her exact perspective.     And that is, that Angela has never had to walk the distance from here to the warp gate, nor from the warp gate in District 12 to the Library. She hasn't felt the heat of the jungle, or the exhaustion of carrying several gallons of ice cream over a multiple mile walk. She also hasn't tasted ice cream that's been fully melted by hours of travel time.     "Ah... well..." Petra sighs. If it comes down to it, Petra will figure out how to bring the ice cream over. Maybe a vacuum seal created by the Silver, or something. "That does feel strange... I am sure she has something of a green thumb, at least, but I expected her to be more in tune with nature."     Petra looks over at the Eggpack with disbelief. In her shock, she tries to telepathically communicate at Angela's speed, but this just results in an incomprehensible blip of psychic impulse going through everyone else's minds, and being unable to reach Angela through the Eggpack. In all the long, long time of Angela and Petra being able to psychically communicate, the Eggpack has almost never been an obstacle.     Instead, she says, looking vaguely stressed at the implication Angela is making, "... You're sure about that? Why?" "Aha---yeah... Angela apparently had some trouble getting my hair right?"     "... Oh. She just fucked it up. But...?" Petra looks gradually more and more disappointed, and drops the conversational thread with Hod. "If it bothers you, ask Lilian for a hand regrowing it back to your own length. She'd be happy to."     Petra stares down at her ice cream, having lost some of her appetite for it. Is it her fault, somehow? Was she supposed to expect this? That being inducted into the inner circles of the Concord, placed around some of her closest friends, in the end, only put her in situations where they could act more like Sarracenia on their own terms? Maybe Sarracenia actually *did* belong in the Concord, if this is how it's apparently perfectly fine for a kingdom tour for a Partner to go. Maybe it's Petra who had something wrong in mind, when she thought the organization could push her to greater heights and force her to develop a sturdier relationship with herself and the world, and instead it's more about small talk on Sarracenia's level from Audrey and Angela.     This was what Petra was worried about when coming to visit. That 'belonging' would naturally center around Sarracenia, rather than anything Petra actually values, and her friends would be confused that she isn't cheerfully pattern matching along with them. She lowers her eyes, dull and unhappy looking, poking at her gradually melting vanilla ice cream with her spoon. All of a sudden, the environment feels numbing in a way that threatens to suffocate Petra, and the idea that she might be the only one feeling it makes her ill. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      'I see. So this world is unusually hostile? Or is it just this particular kingdom's surroundings that are like this?'      "As far as I am aware, our kingdom is one of the most naturally hostile areas, but I think it is somewhat dangerous outside any of the major cities or towns. There are plenty of deadly creatures that wander about. Even if one discounts typical wildlife that can be found on many worlds, our world has many dangerous creatures that one could encounter at any time. Wild Piranha plants are probably the most numerous threat, even outside of our kingdom. But, there are also things like giant caterpillars, giant birds...and then there are the remnants of Bowser's defeated armies. Random Bullet Bill cannons, roaming koopas and lakitus, goombas, cheep cheeps..."      Sarra ponders a moment. "I suppose if you are curious we could arrange a safari of sorts to see all the dangers out there. It certainly ensures the few heroes we have in this world are never lacking in things to defeat.      'How do you survive here wearing clothes that heavy?'      Sarra hmphs, smirking somewhat smugly. "It is a task, to be sure. But, conditioning, fitness, and a breathable underlayer do much to alleviate the problem."      'Well, I doubt you have "sludge" as a flavor. So I should like to try that colorful one as well,'      'Gimme thirty minutes and they will.'      Sarra can't help a slight smirk at the teasing aimed at Petra, though Petra's rather normal girl response draws a bit of a smile from Sarra. "I could have such a flavor custom made for you. I am picturing some sort of rather tangy sorbet in a vibrant, toxic green. Perhaps lime or sour apple infused with caramel to make it properly sticky and sludge-like."      'Ah, uh... I'll just have vanilla. I don't really do crazy flavors.'      Almost instantly, as if on instinct, Sarra says, "I am not cra-!" but catches herself before she finishes and coughs into a fist again, blushing a bit. "Ah...that is fine. There is nothing wrong with a classic like vanilla." she says, trying to cover up her outburst quickly.      'Do you... have, books?'      Sarra blinks. "Well, of course we do. I am told we have some of the best bookstores in our kingdom, and the castle's library is quite extensive." Her lack of education is completely willful, not because there is no knowledge to be found. "Perhaps the histories of the kingdoms would be to your liking? Or would you prefer our world's fables and classic fiction?"      'T-try...?'      '... And they were here, first, right?'      Petra is given the side-eye with Sarra's one good eye. She has obviously encountered this accusation before and does not appreciate it. "Do you think plants that are known to eat people are easily accepted in other kingdoms? Or mantises the size of humans or even horses? Of course you can choose whether there are non-humans in an area. Especially in a kingdom. But, that would be wrong. And even more than that you can encourage your populace to treat them all as equals, no less a person than anyone else." Sarra sighs softly. "And yes, they were here first. We negotiated with them as best we could, built in the lake for both our protection and theirs, and interact with them only when they ask us to. They trade with us freely when they have a mind to, and as I mentioned they are welcome within the city. So long as they follow the laws like everyone else." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      'What did I do what happen'      "You did nothing except be adorable and survive~" Sarra says cheerfully. Until Petra's correction of her phrasing makes Sarra's expression go flat. "...yes. That." is all the concession she makes.      'Sarracenia...What are you plotting in order to offer me gallons of ice cream..?'      Sarra's cheeks puff as she listens to Angela, much like a child hearing something they do not like. "Why would I do that? We are currently allies who do -not- want to destroy each other! I told you why I sided with you in the war! My 'terrible plot'" which is said with dripping sarcasm, "...is to try and be a good hostess and show proper consideration to an ally in a bad situation who cannot easily enjoy something as simple as ice cream!" Sarra's cheeks are red with anger by the time she finishes her small rant.      'I am sure she has something of a green thumb, at least, but I expected her to be more in tune with nature.'      Sarra hmphs, still a bit upset. "Nature and I do not get along well. At least, not the nature around here. As far as I am aware my ancestors chose this spot because there is a wealth of materials and power-ups to be found. But, nature and I have an agreement. I have a large courtyard maintained with manageable nature within, and the unmanageable nature stays happily outside our walls."      'I will use the opportunity to hold a 'cone' with the Egpack though.'      Sarra looks to Gregory. After being insulted about her very generous gift she is not about to hand Angela a cone herself. Gregory collects a waffle cone with a scoop of vanilla on top and takes it to Angela to hold. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Once ice cream and cooling has been had, it might be easier to appreciate the city. It is well made, but decidedly low tech. The roads in the town are paved much the same way as the road outside, and well built houses and shops line them with little to no space between buildings. In a walled city you have to make the best use of space you can. Most are only two or three stories, but some apartment buildings have reached the height of the town walls.      All the buildings are made of thick wood and stone in an old-world style. They range from things like Spanish villas to small towers modeled like the castle to...straight up giant trees or mushrooms that have been hollowed out to make a home or business. Though still not as giant as those outside the town.      There are few powered vehicles to be found in the city, and those that do exist are obviously multiversal imports. Even those are not large since other than the main road leading from the gate to the castle the city's roads could not really support that sort of traffic. There are wooden carts being pulled and pushed about instead. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Despite her annoyance at Angela's and Petra's accusations, Sarra does her best to continue the tour in proper spirits. "Well, next let us head to the castle. As what amounts to foreign dignitaries, a reception has been prepared."      Sarra takes them down the main street. It becomes clear somewhat quickly that this is a young kingdom. There is not a lot of historical significance yet to any of the buildings, and the kingdom has not been in any wars or anything like that which would require monuments.      The main thing of note as they go is a large fountain in an even larger plaza half way between the gate and the castle. It is a white marble fountain a few tiers tall, large enough to be a swimming pool at the base, and with what at first glance might be mistaken for a Sarracenia statue at its top. But, it isn't quite her. The features aren't quite right, and the hair is more curly compared to Sarra's fairly straight hair. Like Sarra though, she is tall, quite toned-looking, and has a smirk on her face instead of a neutral expression as one might expect from a statue.      Sarra actually seems somewhat proud of it, though. She stops there, and motions to a plaque at the base of the fountain. "This is our kingdom's founder. Queen Dionaea Sundew. She braved this land over 100 years ago, overcoming the dangers and tribulations of this land to create the magnificent Sundew Kingdom. She is the one that earned us a place here by fighting the most powerful warriors the mantids had to offer in honorable duels. Thus, she earned their begrudging respect and a place within their jungle."      Sarra obviously thinks there is some resemblance between them in more than just looks, because she non-challantly strikes a similar pose to the statue. "Unforunately, over just a few generations our family lost the pride in our royal women's battle prowess thanks to the influence of other kingdoms and certain...other princess's popularity." Apparently this is a sore spot for Sarra. 

:'''{{#var:7662|Audrey Basque (7662)}} has posed:'''     Audrey promises to make sludge, and Audrey giggles, before saying: "We have sludge at home. Let's not waste this one."     There's some on and off whispering between the two.     Surely nothing to worry about.     When Angela brings up the matter of the Association, Audrey raises a finger to make a point. "I will purchase a bag and enlarge it on the inside to hide the ice cream. It will be as if we are coming back empty-handed. So... vanilla for Petra, chocolate for Roland, orange for Hod, I will take some of this rainbow one... what do you suppose Malkuth would like?" Angela, she recalls, doesn't eat. Which sounds kind of sad, to not be able to even taste sweets.     She looks at Petra-- whose whispers have stopped, and who has stopped eating her ice cream. Is she... uncomfortable? Zoned out? Tired?     She reaches for her hand, to give it a light tug and poke. "Petra? Are you alright?" For the briefest moment, she recalls how the eversion felt-- the second time, not the first. The first was terrifying, and confusing, and-- but the second...     Sarracenia then snaps Audrey out of it by saying the word toxic in the same sentence as talking about food. "H-Huh? Toxic-- huh?!"     Right. They're here.     "O-Oh. N-No, it's quite alright! The sludge was not... particularly appetizing. But thank you." Cut it close there. She sighs and relaxes, giving Petra a side-glance from the corner of her vision.     "G... giant caterpillars?" Audrey seems extremely concerned. "Why do you not... establish your kingdom somewhere safer? I am sure the Concord's resources would allow your citizens a more peaceful life?"     With ice cream consumed, temperatures cooled, and as they discuss various topics while walking. Audrey looks to the sights-- the smaller buildings, the hollowed out trees, the way this place does in fact look "recent", but her frame of reference for FANTASY LAND is Aquleia, which hardly seems like a fair comparison. Though this place has a castle, so it's still pretty dreamy... if you can ignore the monsters.     Since Sarracenia mentions "other princesses", Audrey perks a brow up. "You seem rather fiery, so it is difficult to believe you lost your pride due to other princesses. Are they that impressive? Are there... is it common that the princesses need to fight?" 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' Angela doesn't even feel heat inside the facility though, at the very least, she didn't expect Audrey to bring back GALLONS of ice cream dear god, she just figured she'd bring back a small pint or something. She doesn't seem terribly invested in the ice cream at least, more interested in appeasing Audrey than anything. ''...You're sure about that? Why?'' "She accepted the cactus at the birthday party. She wouldn't have done that if she couldn't take care of a cactus." Then a thought occurs to her and she frowns. "/Right/?" She asks Sarracenia, quite concerned for the fate of that cactus. ''She just fucked it up.'' "O-oh um. I mean I cut it... Malkuth's ended up long after all and..." Her cheeks turn bright red. "I can do hair properly..." Angela complains. "I've had lessons--" Angela notices Petra is feeling off and at first she is confused. What could posisbly be the problem? All they're doing is engaging in dull banter that is essentially meaningless and---ahh. Her first thought is to just bash Sarracenia on the head to provide some excitement but it seems to be an extreme solution that would put the Eggpack in danger. No, she will have to figure out something besides violence here. On the other hand, it is perfectly reasonable to ask Sarracenia to take them to meet the mantises where maybe she'll get eaten by mantises and maybe they'll actually spark something. ''My terrible plot is to try and be a good hostess'' "I see. You should introduce us to the mantises. We can get ice cream literally anywhere. Perhaps introduce us to these mantises who sometimes trade with you. I would be interested in seeing what they have to trade. We can get ice cream literally anywhere, I'm learning very little about your kingdom." ''Nature and I do not get along well'' Angela frowns. "...Should I ask for my cactus back? I have known that cactus for over a million years." She crushes the cone with the Eggpack...!! Of course they seem to be heading to the castle next regardless and Angela clucks her tongue. Has she been foiled?? "I am sure we can visit the mantises first we have time--" 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "But, there are also things like giant caterpillars, giant birds...and then there are the remnants of Bowser's defeated armies."     Hmmm. That does actually sound pretty cool. Petra isn't unfamiliar with the general... emotional tenor of Bowser's armies-- she's heard plenty about them over Villain Grillin' nights, or just from checking in on how the Koopa Kingdom's latest conquest is doing, or otherwise-- but that doesn't make them feel 'silly' to her, really. Or rather, the silliness is a little endearing, when it's seeded throughout the jungle as ambient hazard relics. It's an environment that Petra could imagine being entertained by pretty easily, when Sarracenia describes it like that.     Definitely not as a safari, though. Petra makes a face at that. "I could have such a flavor custom made for you."     Before being afflicted with her momentary existential horror, Petra's response to Sarracenia is relatively casual and lighthearted. "Nah. It's a joke. I like vanilla." "Perhaps the histories of the kingdoms would be to your liking?"     Petra swirls her spoon around in a circle, propping up her cheek with a knuckle and her elbow leaned on the table. "History's Malkuth's domain, fiction is Hod's. History is where I'd start personally, but also, like-- besides the bookstores, are there printing offices? Newspapers? I'm kind of a fan of getting the vibe of a place by just grabbing a pile of the daily newspapers, and that's actually the floor I'm in charge of." "Do you think plants that are known to eat people are easily accepted in other kingdoms?"     Petra's eyes slide to the side, chewing on the side of her lip. She studies Gregory a bit, thoughtfully, since she's never had much of a chance to interact with the butler up close. "... Do the citizen piranha plants eat people still? I mean, no judgement, I'm just wondering how you'd manage something like that, or if not, what the actual difference between--..."     Belatedly, the topic of civilians with an obligate need for cannibalism brings Rita to mind, and now Petra's thinking about Rita. How, if Rita saw the path Petra's taken since the war, she'd probably feel even more justified in killing Petra, now that she's sitting here in an ice cream parlor with Sarracenia Fucking Sundew as a peer in the fucking Concord, talking about nothing and doing nothing and voluntarily subjecting herself to all of this instead of doing anything important for the City or Lilian or anyone. Petra makes a low groan in the back of her throat, and slowly lowers her head until she's squashed her cheek on the table, drained. "Petra? Are you alright?"     "'M alright," Petra mumbles. She isn't, really, but getting fussed over makes her push herself back up to 'slouched' rather than 'collapsed', dragging her eyes up to meet Audrey's. She stares for a second, and then comes to some conclusion, pushing her hand over her forehead and through her hair to clear her vision. "I'm fine. Just had a moment." 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:'''     Petra can't dispel the creeping sense of horror and alienation that staggered her a minute ago that easily. Rather, it's not like it's ever 'gone', not even with Lilian, though Lilian does usually suppress it down to nearly nothing, and so does Ash. Rather, it's held at bay by the insubstantial arcology of glass of Petra's mind, the bubble of psyche within the void, managed through rituals and avoidance as often as genuine purging. And thinking about it like that... Petra is still with two of the people who best add substance to that void. And it just is really nice spending time with Audrey, so the hand touch helps, as does brushing her hand against the Eggpack's. "Nature and I do not get along well. At least, not the nature around here."     Petra can't help but consider that 'nature' here includes the mantis tribe people who were displaced by the settling of the Sundew Kingdom. It's weird, right? Isn't it weird?     Getting up from the ice cream parlor helps too, because now the environment is actually distinct from a suburban strip mall. Somewhat, at least-- the architecture isn't particularly inspiring, but it's *something*, and frankly, living inside a big mushroom is pretty adorable. When Petra gets outside, she sucks in air and does a biiiiig stretch, swinging her arms way up and behind her head, then exhales and droops, slightly reenergized. She hooks her fingers through the Eggpack straps and adjusts her baseball cap, ready to go. "I see. You should introduce us to the mantises."     "That could be fun. I think that'd be fun." Petra nods along with Angela, encouraging. "And that's probably an important perspective for the history of the kingdom too, if we can get talking with them." "She is the one that earned us a place here by fighting the most powerful warriors the mantids had to offer in honorable duels."     Something about that still sounds off to Petra, but in the end, she can't form a coherent sociopolitical theory of imperialism on the spot, because she's generally very bad at doing such things. That seems like a pretty ethical way to establish a kingdom! Yay!     "That's because it's not useful anymore, princess," She eventually decides on theories of feminism instead, which she is very (informally) acquainted with. "They only wanted women working in the past on the world I was born on because they shipped all the men off to war. And then when the war was over, women were supposed to go back to being property of men. As a princess, you're the property of your family, and no one wants you to be anything but a little doll they can ship you off to other men." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      'Why do you not... establish your kingdom somewhere safer?'      "The area within this lake town is quite safe." Sarra replies. "The citizens are in little danger within these walls, and our military is second only to Bowser's. The main road is safe as well, and citizens are welcome to come and go as they please." Despite saying all of that, Sarra's demeanor seems to suggest she also thinks this is not the best place to live. "They stay because of that safety, and because there is plenty of prosperity to be had here thanks to our building materials and weapons sales."      'You seem rather fiery, so it is difficult to believe you lost your pride due to other princesses. Are they that impressive? Are there... is it common that the princesses need to fight?'      'That's because it's not useful anymore, princess,'      Sarra huffs softly. "Petra is r-..." The word dies on Sarra's lips the first time, but eventually she forces it out. "...right. It was and is considered unladylike to fight in such ways, and after the land was settled there was no desire among the royals or the populace for strong queens and princesses. And with princesses like Peach reaching such high popularity, other princesses are compared strongly to her. Since she is quite demure and...elegant...she captures the hearts of people easily. Not to mention her tendency to get kidnapped by Bowser. That raises her name back to the public consciousness and garners sympathy and attention. And she does no fighting of her own. She has a pair of super-powered plumbers that fight on her behalf. I did not lose my pride." A 'do not say anything' look is directed toward Petra for a moment. "My family decided we did not need proud women warrior princesses or queens."      '/Right/?'      '"...Should I ask for my cactus back? I have known that cactus for over a million years." She crushes the cone with the Eggpack...!!'      Sarra's mouth hangs open in shocked amazement for a few moments! Her hands clench into fists and she trembles a bit.      'I see. You should introduce us to the mantises. We can get ice cream literally anywhere....'      And then Angela goes on to badger Sarra to meet the mantises. And flat out -ignores- that Sarra -did- just give information about the kingdom. Sarra has to stand there a few moments, eyes closed, taking a few breaths.      'That could be fun. I think that'd be fun.'      Sarra's teeth clench and steam practically comes out of her ears. "...I told you...they live outside the city and we have an agreement with them that we do not go seeking them out." she says, fighting hard to keep her temper from exploding as she watches the vanilla ice cream melt around the cone pieces on the ground. "Those that live in the city live where they please, though I imagine those are not the mantises you mean. I can try to arrange a meeting with the ones from outside the city, but there is not an ambassador or something that lives in our city."      She opens her eye again, looking at Angela with arms crossed and head slightly raised to add a bit of gravity to the look. "Should I be worried that you are going to try and incite them against us the same way that you are worried I would sabotage you with ice cream? Even though we are not enemies and as far as I am aware have not become enemies anew?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarra turns, heading toward the castle once more. "...there are plenty of news stands and periodicals that you can peruse, Petra." she says eventually, and just as they are passing a stall run by...a mantis! How coincidental! He is smaller than some of the mantises they have seen, likely due to his being a male. And he is wearing fairly modern clothes - a white tunic - instead of tribal wear. Perhaps he could be asked about mantis culture. Or his stall could be purchased from to get some...well, there is not much exciting news around this place. It is mostly gossip pieces and some world news involving Peach and Daisy. Perhaps there is just nothing too interesting happening right now in the Sundew Kingdom.      Oh, and there is small...very small...section about Sarracenia and her exploits. Which looks like it has sold maybe one copy.      Sarra continues on toward the castle. Surely Audrey wants to see the castle, right? She answers Petra's question as she walks. "...whether a piranha plant eats people depends on the type. But, no. Our citizenry does not eat people. However, it is quite common knowledge that a wide variety of piranha plants -do- eat people." 

:'''{{#var:7662|Audrey Basque (7662)}} has posed:'''     Angela mentions hair lessons.     Audrey nods with a loud mhm.     "That's right! I showed Angela how to do curls!"     It's very important.     The matter of a mysterious cactus escapes Audrey's notice, because she's momentarily noticed by the multiple suggestions to go see the MANTIS PEOPLE, who seem extremely dangerous.     "P-Perhaps we could... find books on them?"     That seems safer.     Sarracenia must surely have books about them.     Petra seems... moderately better, at least, in that she's talking again. Even if it's to question the social and political aspects of Sarracenia's kingdom. It's keeping her focused though, that's better than slumping.     Audrey still looks concerned for her.     And then Sarracenia looks down, of all things.     There's information, important lore!!, about kingdoms, and princesses, and-- people are getting mad, and Audrey fidgets uncomfortably in the middle of what seems like an escalating conflict.     Really, she just... wanted to see the cool fantasy kingdom. It wasn't deeper than that, and even if the ice cream stop was mundane, it's hot out, and she appreciated cooling down. Her interest in the monstrous mantis people that live in the forest and may or may not start a war or eat them is really small compared to seeing a castle.     "I'm... really, quite certain we can find books on the cultures of the local tribes, without causing an incident, and perhaps those books will reveal how to approach them without causing an incident, for later?"     She is rapidly deflating, but trying her best to get this sort of back on track, or at least towards a less explosive conclusion. 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "Petra is r-..."     It's hardly even worth noticing, much less getting smug over. Petra being correct on matters of women and their societal treatment is, approximately, the single most consistent thing that Petra has had mostly good opinions about throughout her adult life. Her *application* of it has been bad sometimes, but 'women get treated poorly' is one that she's thoroughly learned.     "Yeah. I mean, that's how it is everywhere, you're not special for it. There's a higher percentage of women that are elites compared to women being soldiers, because elites always select for freaks in the first place, and only freak women end up fighting. Like I always say, you still have it way easier than practically anyone, because you're being fed the resources you need to follow through on it."     "Basically, your pride is still dependent on the trust fund of your parents. If you lose that, then you're not a warrior anymore. Did the previous Queen have that? Didn't she do duels? Did she have the entire military at her back to solve her problems with airships and bombs and stuff?"     Petra waves her hand, ending her own investment in the conversational topic. "It's whatever, though. I just don't really ascribe to the idea that you can have pride if you're still dependent on your family when you know they're not good for you." She doesn't go entirely unaware of the fact that this could catch Audrey in the crossfire, even though Audrey's avoided talking about them, but really, that'll be good for Audrey too, in the end. It's not like Petra would hesitate on this stance towards her either; she means it kindly. "...I told you...they live outside the city and we have an agreement with them that we do not go seeking them out."     "I'm not your 'we'," Petra points out. "I'm, honestly, pretty neutral in this whole situation. There's tons of people who've made contact with uncontacted tribes on Earth; I could totally do it. And I want to know, so, I'm not going to let the focus of historical record be, like, skewed specifically in your favor."     "I can defend myself, I can come back later, and I think it's important. Though, I still wanna pick up books from the city before leaving." "Should I be worried that you are going to try and incite them against us the same way that you are worried I would sabotage you with ice cream?"     Petra bristles a bit, even though it was directed to Angela. "I'm helping with a *Library*. I want to *record* stuff." "...there are plenty of news stands and periodicals that you can peruse, Petra."     News stands aren't exactly what Petra was looking for, but they're useful for something. Asking some random guy off the street about his racial lore is insane even to Petra, but she does beeline over to the news stand and lean her hand on it, immediately taking the stance of Talking Shop.     "Hey, dude. Where's your printing office? Or your boss, or whatever? I'm interested in getting a stack of old issues of the paper-- like, purchasing them. And I can give you a tip too. Wait--" Petra twists around to Sarracenia. "Your world accepts credits, right?" "P-Perhaps we could... find books on them?"     Not noticing Audrey's mood yet, Petra tilts her head. "That's a good idea too. I mean, cultural communication is sort of a two way street, so it's important to get stuff on how the Sundew Kingdom writes about the mantis people too. It's not complete, but it's good." "I'm... really, quite certain we can find books on the cultures of the local tribes, without causing an incident, and perhaps those books will reveal how to approach them without causing an incident, for later?"     And *now* she notices, and winces. "Well... I'll come back later for that information. We'll just hang out for today, I guess." 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' Angela would never IGNORE lore but she didn't have a comment on it because she is more concerned about Petra having a good time. She nods to Petra asking for bookstores and newspaper clippings. She isn't one who is ever satisfiedf with a bit of knowledge either. Angela is not trying to antagonize Sarracenia with her worries about the cactus. She is, seriously, concerned for the welfare of the cactus. It doesn't entirely make sense to her, because frankly she has complicated memories about the cactus because it kept resetting with the loop and she has destroyed that cactus herself a few loops but now she's worried that Sarracenia killed it because she has admitted she does NOT get along with plants. ''That we do not go seeking them out...'' "...I don't understand why you travel freely amongst the multiverse but barely travel your own home. ... Well I do not care to start an 'international incident', I suppose." She sighs. "I just thought it would be something besides the ... Is the cactus fine? Lie if you have to that the cactus is fine." She looks to Audrey. "Okay," She says dully on accepting books back. She can't get upset about that. It's how she expects to learn about the world. It was silly to think that she could go somewhere out. It's fine. ...She can't do anything for them anyway. She never could. Escape if she has to, Angela remembers, she rests her hand on the disconnect button but--- --then her eyes catch the mantis. She stares at the mantis. "Oh hello there..." Hod bows her head to the mantis at the stall. "We are travelers and are curious about this world--I don't suppose you could share a bit about your culture with us?" Hod asks. "We're... Librarians! So we can purchase texts if you have them...!" She's doing her best. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      'Audrey deflates.'      Sarra grows more annoyed.      'Well... I'll come back later for that information. We'll just hang out for today, I guess.'      Sarra grows less annoyed. "Yes. This tour is for Audrey, after all."      'I just thought it would be something besides the ... Is the cactus fine?'      Sarra sighs back, some of the tension leaving the air. "...Spiny is fine. Cacti are quite easy to care for, and I have an entire staff to help even if I could not care for it. It is sitting on a window in my room in the tallest tower. It gets plenty of sunlight and fresh air up there and gets to feel as tall as a tree."      Hod may be left behind if she stays to talk to the mantis, but the mantis seems willing enough to talk. And, just as Sarra had previously said, somehow being a bug with bug mouth parts doesn't stop him from speaking in her world's language. "Librarians, huh? Don't see many of those around here. They keep to themselves up in the castle. Honestly, I'm probably not the best one to ask about my culture. I kinda left it, you know? But, it is mostly about living in tune with nature. You probably wouldn't even be able to see our villages even if you were right on top of them. We shape the trees over time to form houses without harming the tree. Takes a long time. Too long if you ask me. We are predators though, so we do a lot of hunting. Us males aren't the leaders, though. That's up to the females. But, at least they stopped eating our heads after mating. That used to be a thing, I'm told."      'Petra asks about old articles and papers.'      "Sorry, we don't really keep those around. But, I do keep the original copy of each run. Might be able to work something out on getting copies or if you want to take pictures of them or something. My printing house is just over there." He points a sickle-like forelimb toward a simple looking mushroom house. "I wouldn't mind letting you look around, but obviously I can't right now. Gotta sell these things."      Finally, they reach the castle. It is a five-sided design, with a tower at each corner. The tallest tower is at the back closest to the outer wall, with each tower getting a few stories shorter. The middle-height tower is the entrance to the castle, with a grand gate and a short drawbridge connecting it to the main road. Above the gate is a very large stained glass window depicting what looks to be a Sarracenia portrait in an artful way, though it is a pose she would probably never take of holding her hands in front of her in a sort of praying posture. The castle seems to be made almost entirely of white marble, with green tiles forming the conic roof of each tower. Where the rest of the town was almost completely free of greenery in favor of roads and buildings, the castle has a large front lawn in the area between the drawbridge and the main gate.      Inside, the castle is decorated with lavish tapestries that reach from the top of the 20 foot ceiling to the floor. Each one is obviously crafted with care, and seem to depict stories or scenes of some kind, but without a curator it would be hard to deciver them. Red carpet runs down the middle of each hallway, but the largest red carpet leads right into the throne room from the main entrance. "Mom and dad are...I mean the king and queen are on a trip right now. They apparently thought I needed some space. For -some- reason." Sarra says. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The thrones are made of highly polished hardwood with jade inlaid into them. Apparently the king and queen prefer green to red. Guards can be seen periodically, some standing guard at specific spots and some patrolling. All regard the visitors with only minor attention before returning to their duties, though all salute Sarracenia and she salutes them in return.      Sarra gives some time to enjoy the castle interior, then leads the group around behind the thrones and through a massive dining hall to a back entrance. "And...while you all may find it hard to believe, this is my favorite place in the castle."      Sarra opens the door revealing it to be the five-sided courtyard. An area the size of a football field that is full of flowers of many types and every color of the rainbow, arranged in the colors of the rainbow. A simple path leads through to a small pond with a fountain where large and colorful fish can be seen. Along each wall is a different kind of fruit tree. Apples, oranges, cherries, pineapples, and star fruit!      Sarra does much what Petra did earlier when they reach this spot. She closes her eyes, takes a long and deep breath while raising her arms over her head, and lets it out slowly while stretching backward a bit. It is the well manicured and managed nature that Sarra said she liked earlier. Butterflies and hummingbirds flutter about, seeming unafraid. A few bunnies can be seen moving about, keeping a healthy distance but not running away. "So, what do you think?" 

:'''{{#var:7662|Audrey Basque (7662)}} has posed:'''     "R-Right, the books might contain crucial information on their culture, their traditions, mannerisms, laws... it might help approach this so that you can get a look at them, but also not..."     Mess over Sarracenia?     Or her kingdom?     Audrey is more concerned about the infighting.     Hod, thankfully, is the purest bean here.     And is already on it!     Audrey regains a bit of energy at the sight, especially when tempers cool. And the cactus is safe! ... she doesn't know why the cactus matters, but apparently it's something Angela treasures? It must be a special cactus.     She happily wait for Hod and Petra to be done with their business, before agreeing to continue the tour and finally see the castle. It's a traditional castle! Of course it's worth the trip. It's got towers, and a courtyard-- no, see, sure, there are some back home too, but this is... different. Don't question it.     Everything looks like it should. Well, okay, the guards are... monsters... but other than that, it looks like what you'd expect. She almost caves in and asks if she can sit on one of the thrones, but behaves herself and resists.     She's curious when they're taking back around the thrones though-- the dining hall is also nothing to scoff at, but it's not their destination? Audrey follows, mood restored, excited to see where they're being led-- and it's the courtyard.     And it's beautiful.     "Oh, I can see why you prefer this place," she agrees.     She also makes a pointed effort to grab Petra by the hand and try to drag her towards the center of the courtyard, where they can sit down and rest by the fountain.     "Come on Petra, Hod! We've been walking for so long, let's sit down by the fountain." She's dropped the formality pretty much entirely. 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "But, I do keep the original copy of each run." "Awesome." Petra nods, appreciative, and then hesitates. "Ack-- well, I don't have a scanner with me... but you're busy anyways, so maybe I'll stop by on a later visit to hit you up on that. We're trying to collect and preserve as much knowledge as possible across the multiverse, so...."     This is the first time literally ever that Petra's habit of using shitty older phones has caused problems for her. A new phone would have a scanner built in! But Petra's phone gets attacked and destroyed or lost or thrown into a portal so often that she doesn't bother, and she instead finds it a little charming how chunky a retro phone is. It's not like it matters that much for usability-- all she does is text on it and take pictures, and she can bypass the annoying keyboard issue if she wants by using the Silver.     As the castle comes into view, Petra starts idly chatting with Audrey beside her, and Angela on her back. She's seen the castle before, in fact, so it's not some revelation to her, and she's somewhat reaching the end of her rope on expressing earnest kindness towards Sarracenia.     "I should take you to visit my castle sometime, Audrey. It's not really a fantasy style one, given the robots and everything, but I think it's kind of cute. And you too Ange-- we can probably get you to visit it in person someday soon, and from up there you can see tons of worlds going by below the island-- and you could hang out with Love! Love's up there! That'd be a fun trip, I think."     Petra avoids Hydrochoeria a bit lately, but that's mostly because of how empty it feels, now that the agents and clerks aren't using it for their leisure spot outside the facility. It's a little heartbreaking, even; laid fallow by Petra's war like every other home she had, and even with some figures still hanging around, Petra prefers the solitude of sleeping in the woods to spending time there. But, that'd change with friends!     Then, the courtyard. Petra hangs back a bit during the rest of the castle tour, but the courtyard *is* more important, and thus more deserving of attention. She closes her eyes and breathes in the sweeter garden air, hearing the chirping of wildlife, and can forget for a moment how unnaturally colonialist the entire structure feels. Then without warning, while she's lingering by the entrance, Audrey grabs Petra's hand and hauls her further.     "Wah--?!" She makes an undignified noise of shock, and the lurching of the Eggpack from her sudden movement almost sends her tumbling off balance. Thankfully, Petra keeps her balance very well, albeit with a goofy little sideways skid-hop of her boot while stumbling to try and follow Audrey, and then acquiesces by sitting down at the fountain with her.     Petra kicks her feet, and then sighs out some of her tension. "... It is pretty nice." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarra didn't respond to Petra at the time because Audrey and Petra both seemed on board with getting the 'tour' back on track. But, she isn't about to just let that stuff go. Unfortunately for Sarra...she does not entirely disagree with what Petra said about pride. And also Audrey's enthusiasm takes the wind out of whatever Sarra was going to say. She just lets them enjoy the courtyard. It is nice to see someone other than her enjoy this place for once, even if they immediately rushed off without her.      Sarra makes her way over to the star fruit tree and gathers a few, then goes to join them and offers each a fresh star fruit. "I did have a bit more I wanted to show you, but it has taken us longer than I expected to reach the courtyard. I suppose the airship ride will have to wait."      The sky is fairly dark by this point, and so Sarra takes a seat and pulls out a flare gun. She fires it up into the sky, then just resumes sitting.      A few moments later, a series of sounds like things launching can be heard. A few more moments later and...fireworks! Dazzling explosions of light fill the evening sky. There are plenty of typical sparkling bursts and colorful rainbow blasts, but there are also shaped fireworks forming into power-ups like starmen, fire flowers, mushrooms, and of course Bob-ombs and Bullet Bills.      And while they are going off overhead, Sarra stretches out in the flowers on her back, arms resting on her belly. "...you are welcome to spend the night here in the castle if you wish. I can have the best guest rooms arranged for you both." 
}}

9037/The Princess and the Popular...Vampire

2024-09-06T04:26:37Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2025/09/05 |Location=Spring - Movie Theater |Synopsis=Sarracenia tries to make the saddest vampire less sad and possibly makes him moreso. |Cast of..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/09/05
|Location=Spring - Movie Theater
|Synopsis=Sarracenia tries to make the saddest vampire less sad and possibly makes him moreso.
|Cast of Characters=446, 459, 7373, 7620
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      After finding out that Alucard had never been to a movie, or perhaps any sort of theatrical production, Sarracenia set out immediately to find a proper movie theater and invited him along with a few of her close friend!      She texts the directions to them, but is prepared to pick Alucard up herself in the Dyna if he has trouble using the GPS. The directions take them to a large theater chain called 'Cinergy', a theater with everything from movies to an arcade to a climbing wall to an overhead obstacle course.      And of course proper movie food! Since they will be in fairly close quarters Sarra has opted for a less bulky dress. It is more of a standard sun dress (in red of course), though she retains her crown, her long black gloves, and has on black leggings and an undershirt to keep from showing an indecent amount of skin...or any really other than her face and just a bit of her arms.      It also shows that the princess actually wears heels! Red slippers with an inch or so of heel. She waits just inside the doors for the others to arrive. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:'''     She did invite friends so it shouldn't be too much of a shock that Alexis is one of those to arrive. Really the only reason she didn't just arrive with the Princess is that she had gone back to her ranch to check on things earlier in the day.     Though the first thing she does is sigh and rub her brow a bit upon seeing the main sigh. "I should groan at that name but it -is- clever, even if horribly dorky." But it's not important and pretty much put aside after that. "Hello Sarra."     There's a pause, a little movement, another pause as she doesn't quite raise her arms. Not entirely sure if it would be considered 'proper' to hug her friend in greeting in public or not. Ugh, why does things like this always have to get a little more complicated just because royalty is involved. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Okay, this isn't a date, right? She wouldn't invite him if it was a date with Alucard. He should look good, but less good than Sarracenia. Enough to show she hangs out with well dressed people, but not enough to upstage her. So, Aidan wears a pink button up shirt tucked into slacks that have been rolled up to be fashionable. No touch up to his eyes, a light saddle bag over one shoulder. A smile at Sarracenia and Alexis. "Hey there!" Aidan is already up to giving Sarra a shoulder side hug. Friendly, but brief, before he lets go and looks around the massive theater. "I usually listen to radio stories and books, this place is huge!" His tail is flicking back and forth at the tip as he surveys the area. The blinking lights of the arcade draw his eyes. As well as the climbing wall. Flick flick flick! 

:'''{{#var:7620|Alucard (7620)}} has posed:''' Alucard is, at least, getting used to navigating the multiverse. While he may not be an expert on using the camera of his device, he quickly learned how to use the maps app. After all, he does walk. A lot. It's a lot less noticable for a weird pale guy to be hoofing it than for a massive white wolf or a bat the size of a medium dog going around. Though, given the way the multiverse works, it's probably not that weird. Luckily for everyone, the dhampir doesn't arrive too long after everyone else. His long strides eat ground, and his boots thud on the concrete. He is pretty much dressed as always, save that his sword is nowhere to be seen, and his coat is draped over his forearm. The top of his massive, angry red scar is visible through the loosened laces of his shirt. When he arrives, he delivers a courtly, but shallow bow to Sarracenia. "Your Highness," he says in his usual soft-spoken rumble. Straightening, he inclines his head to Aidan. "Master Proudpick." Finally, he nods genteelly at Alexis. The one person he hasn't met. "Miss." He is, as always unfailingly polite. Emotionally muted, but polite. He looks up at the sign, golden eyes glittering in the light like old coins. "Is ... that a pun?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarra giggles when Alexis groans at the name. "Indeed!" she agrees. She blinks then cheekpuffs a bit when Alexis balks at hugging her in public, then with a huff she hugs Alexis full on and smirks. "I think I should be insulted~" she teases her friend.      Aidan appears...wearing pink. Sarra's most hated color. She looks at the shirt a moment with a slight mmph before she is side-hugged. She hugs back and smiles. "Hello Aidan! It is indeed a huge theater. They have most everything one could want in casual entertainment!" she says, then gestures to Alexis. "Aidan, this is Alexis! She has been my friend for many years, but keeps out of Multiversal affairs for the most part. Alexis, this is Aidan! I am sure you have heard plenty about him by now, for good or ill. He and I have come to be quite close! I am considering knighting him for his support."      Alucard arrives, and Sarra curtseys in return to his bow. "Alexis." she adds after the 'Miss'. She then looks up at the name of the theater and giggles. "Yes, it is." she says.      While it is definitely not a date since she invited friends, Sarra still wraps her arm around Alucard's so he can escort her. Which is more like her gently but firmly dragging him around. "So! I have lined up a movie to be played specifically for us. It is called the Frost Princess. It has rather high reviews!"      She guides the group toward the food line. "And this establishment will deliver our snacks right to our seats!" She says as she heads toward the ticket kiosk. There is not even a ticket person, just a machine. The princess swipes her card and starts selecting seats. She did not really ask if everyone was alright with that movie, though. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:'''     Well Sarra solves the matter herself and once that's that Alexis is all too happy to hug her back. "Look, I'm still getting use to the social quibbles of being the BFF Lady-In-Waiting," she replies with a laugh.     "Yeah, name's Alexis," she confirms Sarra answering for her. "And yeah, yeah it is." The guy can appreciate a good wordplay.     Not her typical type of movie, but she's here with Sarracenia so it's to be expected. She already prepared herself for that matter. "Frost Princess? Sounds like it will be a very... ice movie."     Of course Aidan also gets a nod and smile. "Good to see you again too squirrely." Always good knowing Sarra has managed to make more friends than the few she already knows of. Alexis can't be around all the time. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Master?! He flashes a bright smile, "Master Alucard, it's good to see you-" getting out of the castle? Socializing? Not drinking an entire bottle of wine at a time? "here!" He spies Sarra's look, then down at his shirt, "What? I'm not wearing a dress this time." He flashes her an easy smile, then looks over at Alexis, "Oh, we met when you were having ice cream. Hello!" "I am considering knighting him for his support." "Woah, woah. No knighting. I'm not going back on my word. Even if it was a promise to Lilian, I made that promise to Kale, too. I ain't going back on my word to him. But I appreciate it." He watches Sarracenia start DRAGGING Alucard forward and his grin brightens. That man is doomed. "I'll take one small popcorn. And... hurricanes, there is only sugar and meat here. Just the popcorn and a small drink. With fake butter!" "Ice movie." Aidan snorts as he is pressing soda from the machine into his glass. "What kinda movie is it?" 

:'''{{#var:7620|Alucard (7620)}} has posed:''' "Miss Alexis," the dhampir says, smiling slightly. The expression seems to soften the pall that seems to be over him most of the time. "I am Alucard of Wallachia," he says. "A pleasure." Aidan starts giving him a hard time, and Alucard looks at him, eyes narrowing slightly. In this moment, they resemble nothing so much as a hunting wolf. It doesn't last long, because Sarra decides that he is her escort, and he immediately, almost reflexively, goes into high society mode. He lets her lead, as he is entirely out of his element. He's still not used to how -loud- everything is. Ostia and the Isles are at least similar enough to his home. Horses and carts. Peaceful countryside. These modern cities are noisy and overwhelming. Being inside a building is almost worse. The crowd with the echo. He bears his discomfort with his usual stoicism, but he does briefly tense at a particularly loud shout of a child in the arcade. He draws a slow breath as he's drawn to the food line, and he just stares. His head tilts slightly, like a curious animal. "I have read about this 'corn'. A product of the New World. Fascinating." Remember, he's from a place where it is the Year Of Their Lord 1477. Europe doesn't even have POTATOES yet. He is, after all, just along for the ride. He does his best not to think that this whole event was, more or less, set up for his benefit. That's a path to spiralling. He does not need to do that here. Not today. "I am sure it will be ... enlightening." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarra laughs with Alexis and a little extra squeeze in the hug. "Well, get used to it. I do not require my friends to use proper titles or follow royal protocol." she says.      Aidan asks about her glance, and Sarra sighs. "It is just...pink is the color of choice of that Princess Peach." she says, clearly not a fan of that princess. Aidan denies even being considered for knighthood, which causes Sarra to huff. "You promised you would never become a knight? Even for legitimate reasons? That seems...overly punitive. You should not give up on your dreams just because you made a few mistakes. But, I suppose if you did actually promise that..."      It is not until Aidan snorts that Sarra realizes that Alexis made a pun. "Oh! An ice movie! I see!" Sarra giggles after that.      When it is Sarra's turn at the counter, she orders fried mushrooms and fried mozzarella sticks along with a large orange soda. And naturally she pays for everyone.      The event was set up for Alucard's benefit, but not because he is sad! "Not merely corn, but popcorn! I will get you some of that, and..." She pauses a moment, then looks at Aidan with a softly apologetic look, before turning back to the counter. "...a meat-lovers pizza. Medium. For the group."      With that done, Sarra is given a receipt, then she continues pulling Alucard along with a cheerful smile. "It will be very enlightening! And entertaining!" she says.      She gives enough time for Alexis to order of course before paying, then heads for the theater. Curiously no food is given out right away except the popcorn. She hands out tickets as they go with the seats planned out: Alucard, Sarra, Alexis, Aidan. Sarra has to be the center of attention, after all.      Which turns out not to matter much because the theater...is empty except for the four of them. Sarra apparently paid to have the entire thing reserved. Their seats are in the very middle of the theater where the sound and picture are both at their clearest. Sarra is practically vibrating with excitement, both at the movie and at sharing such a first time experience!      The lights soon dim, and pre-movie ads start playing. An action adventure about a loving husband who is secretly a spy, an irreverent zombie movie (which causes Sarra to cover her eyes at the more gruesome parts of the ad), and of course a tear jerking romance ad. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:'''     Soda, check. Popcorn, check. One of those large boxes of chocolate covered mint you can only ever find at theaters, check. Once she's got everything she'll need for snacks requested she follows the group into the theater proper. Accepting her ticket along the way. Though she raises a brow at how empty the theater is. Almost, almost makes a crack about the film's popularity... Then remembers that Sarra set this up, so this is probably intentional. Especially when they get to the actual sits. "Oh hell yeah, best row in the theater!" Eagerly she plunks down in her seat. "Close enough to see clearly, far enough back you don't have to crane your neck up for three hours." She must be including the pre-movie trailers in that time estimate. Maybe. You never know, some of those 'date' flicks run extra long for... reasons. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Alucard's eyes flash at him. It makes him lean back, holding up his hands, his smile sheepish. But he smiles through it. There is no real fear in those eyes in return. "But, I suppose if you did actually promise that..." "I wouldn't be much of a knight if I broke my vow, would I? Don't worry. The whole point of being a knight was being better than the Gale Empire. Better than Kale. And that dream was childish." His tone shifts to a quiet sadness, "I shoulda wanted to help him, not watch him fall in the dirt." He takes up his popcorn, "For now, I'm just Aidan Proudpick." A grin slides up at the order of meat pizza. "Don't worry about it, Sarra." He holds up his own popcorn. "I'm covered. And I brought walnuts if I get hungry." Aidan blinks twice as he enters the theater, eyes quickly adjusting to the dark. He looks up and down the aisles, "Huh, must be a slow day. I wonder where everyone is." He settles into the seat, having to take a bit of time to secure his tail in just the right position. "Ooh, a spy husband. Walking around on secret projects and then coming back home to a loving partner?" He runs that through his head, yes he would like to be the spy in that case, nodding to himself. "Wait, we just sit still here for three hours?" Aidan says, in agony. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Alucard (7620)}} has posed:''' "Fascinating," is all the half-vampire truly has to say about popcorn. He peers curiously at it as the princess leads him, and thereby the rest of the group, into the empty theater. He immediately understands how this place works on a physical level. Acoustics are acoustics. He pays close attention to the seat metrics. How to navigate the narrow walkway and operate the seat. When it's his turn, he moves smoothly down the aisle and into his seat. He does drape his coat on the empty seat next to him, so he picks up on 'This place is just for us' fairly quickly. The idle chatter about Lillian makes him frown. "Miss Rook is ... far too self-important. And her .... enabling of Miss Soraka is going to end in tragedy." He knows about ending in tragedy. He goes quiet, poking at his popcorn as the previews begin to roll. He squints at the zombie movie, saying in an incredulous whisper, "That is not how zombies work." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      'Best row in the theater!'      Sarra giggles and smirks haughtily. "Naturally~ It is me, after all." she says, then laughs as Alexis plunks down so comfortably. Which is understandable since the seats are just shy of being living room recliners.      'I wouldn't be much of a knight if I broke my vow, would I?'      Sarra hmphs. "...or a hero." she admits begrudgingly. When Aidan talks about how he should have wanted to help, Sarra is the one to look a bit contemplative. "...help him..." she says quietly. She did not want to help Kale either. She does not want to help Lilian or Angela. She huffs, but this time mostly at herself. She smiles though as Aidan says he is covered.      Then giggles as he says it is a slow day. "No, silly! I reserved it so we would have the best experience!"      The spy husband is shown to land in trouble when his wife learns he is living a secret double life, but she does not learn just what that life is and starts snooping. Surely that will not lead to dramatic danger!      Lilian's name is actually mentioned, and Sarra shushes the group. "That is enough talk about such dreary subjects!" she says seriously, then smiles. "We are here to enjoy ourselves~! If you have not enjoyed yourself by the end of the evening I will consider this a failure on my part!"      Alucard does not check on Sarra when she hides her face from the zombies. This will affect his hero score. Minus points! And she raises an eyebrow in curiousity when he says that is not how they work. "Really? In my experience that is not far off."      With the previews over the movie starts. It turns out not to be a heavily romantic dating movie, but a romantic adventure movie. It starts with a lonely crown princess who has lost her parents and is struggling to contain her anxiety...and her ice powers. Though she and her sister have fun with those powers, one day in an outburst the crown princess accidentally freezes her younger sister.      The crown princess closes herself and the castle off after that, not talking to her sister or much of anyone until the day of her coronation. At which point the movie turns out to be a musical as the younger sister is swept off her feet by a dashing prince! The older sister too encounters a prince who seeks to get to know her, but the stress of the coronation, the courting attempts, and her sister's innocent desire to see the world result in the new queen freezing her entire nation on accident before fleeing for fear of hurting more people. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' Alexis chuckles a little. "Usually not." She agrees with Alucard. She's been around, she's had to fight zombies on a few occassions. "But the Multiverse is full of weird shit, there's probably somewhere out there a world where it does work like that." She gives Sarra a light nudge after the trailer. "It's over now." So now they get to the actual movie. And it's actually not as all sappy as she was expecting. "Huh. Power incontinence. That's one literal cold shoulder." Popcorn munch. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan groans. He didn't want to start this argument about Lilian. But Sarra is quick to push it away, getting a smile from Aidan. He then blinks, "You can just reserve theaters?" The concept of how much money that would actually take flies over his head. He glances around him, then shrugs. What, it probably costs... a hundred bucks to do that? Too rich for Aidan, but Sarracenia has a little bit of money to throw around. "You didn't have to do that, part of the fun is being around other people, yanno?" An expert on romantic fake stories, Aidan leans over, "So the prince just has to warm the heart and earn the trust, teaching the prince- ess to be more open?" 

:'''{{#var:7620|Alucard (7620)}} has posed:''' Alucard did fail to check on Sarra in her moment of ... disgust? Fear? That costs him points. Half of the reason is that he didn't think it was that bad, but his threshold for gore is, at this point, immense. The other half is that this is his first time seeing moving pictures. It's like magic, but it's clearly not. It's almost transfixing, save for his jibe about the zombies. He'll make up the hero points later. Maybe. When the movie starts, he remains silent. His attention is fixated on the movie. The tale seems to get to him. He knows isolation, being different. Running away from everything after hurting someone you love. The story beats are different, but the themes hit home. They hit hard. He's holding himself together for the moment. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarra peeks out of her fingers when Alexis points out the gore is over, then lets out a sigh of relief. "I hit a zombie with my hammer once. It was..." She doesn't finish the though, instead just lets it hang in the air and shivers. "...I took a bath for an entire day."      Alexis agrees with Alucard about zombies, and Sarra huffs softly. "Well...I suppose a single bite might be unrealistic."      'That's one literal cold shoulder.' Sarra groans at Alexis's pun, then giggles.      'You can just reserve theaters? You didn't have to do that, part of the fun is being around other people, yanno?'      Sarra hmphs softly. "Perhaps, but for a first time ever watching a movie I would hate to have gotten a group of hecklers or someone on their phone the entire time or something."      The almost queen's prince, Eric, and the younger princess, Anya, both chase after the queen, Aurora. Anya's prince, Ashton, stays behind to keep an eye on the kingdom of Flowerdale for them. The two intrepid adventurers soon find themselves at the mercy of an arctic winter without proper clothing or equipment and are saved by a passing woodsman named Arlen with a large moose pulling his sled.      Arlen properly equips them and shelters them for the night after an evening filled with the younger princess and the woodsman getting on each others nerves in a manner that points fairly transparently toward them having chemistry while Prince Eric laments how Aurora seemed so lonely and how he hopes to bring some light into her life. In the morning the three of them set out to find Aurora again.      'So the prince just has to warm the heart and earn the trust, teaching the prince- ess to be more open?'      "SHHH!" Sarra hushes Aidan urgently. "No spoilers!" she adds, then goes back to watching with rapt attention. "...but there is usually more to it than just that."      Sarra notices how quiet Alucard is, and reaches a hand over to place it on his arm. She did not realize the movie's themes or that they would hit so close to home for Alucard. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The group eventually finds the lost older princess, who has apparently built herself a lovely ice castle prison. The group approaches, but once again the stress and fear proves to be too much and Aurora lashes out with her powers unintentionally. The younger princess is hit with magical frost, and the woodsman has to take her from the ice castle to find help. Prince Eric is left alone with Princess Aurora.      Aurora's powers conjure a large monster of snow and ice, which Eric fends off while delving deep into Aurora's issues at the same time. He learns just what has led to Aurora's fear, and manages to reach her. He takes her hand and holds it tight, and with earnest promises and a long gaze into her eyes he manages to calm her, kindling the slightest ember of hope in the otherwise despairing older princess.      It is at this moment that the food conveniently arrives. Pizza, fried mushrooms and mozzarella for all who want any. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' Alexis is watching the movie with a fair amount of interest. Nothing hitting so personal as Alucard... but she's had to deal with Pokemon having to learn to better control their abilities after nearly causing undue harm under some circumstances. It happens when you train and eventually purify a Shadow Pokemon. "Better than I expected," she murmurs. Oh, pizza, actual food. For as much as theater faire counts as 'actual' food. But even bad pizza is still pizza which is still good. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Alucard (7620)}} has posed:''' The movie continues, and Alucard just ... keeps feeling a resonance. The fear of being alone permeates the film. The war that feeling has with the desire to protect those you care about. He knows this. This is his life, more or less. He did not expect this to be ... like this. He didn't expect to be brought to a movie that made him feel like this. He merely expected fascination and wonder at the moving pictures on the screen, marveling at how real things look. Another feeling twists in his guts at the budding realization of romance on the screen. Envy. Thoughts of Trevor and Sypha flit through his mind. He forces them away. Thoughts of the two he was teaching, how nice that was, then-- Pizza. He shakes his head, banishing the dark thoughts. He peers at the unfamiliar food, distracted from the bleak prison of his thoughts. Elegant, almost dainty, fingers reach for a fried mushroom. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan watches as rapt as Sarracenia, tail twitching erratically. As the final moments of kindling warmth come across the screen, Aidan is devouring a full handful of popcorn, staring up at the screen. The smell of meat and cheese snaps him out of everything, making his head rock back. He seems almost... shameful, sheepish? Aidan sips at his soda loudly, "Oh, yea, sorry, you can always tell a romance plot ahead of time, sorry Sarra." His eye casts over to Sarra, grabbing an arm already. Then up at Alucard, noticing his shifting features, but just barely, and most certainly attributing them incorrectly. But they are things Aidan files away for later. Things take time. "Better than I expected," "Yea, it was very... good," though he doesn't sound entirely sure. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      'Better than I expected'      Sarra scoffs playfully. "You expected me to take you to a bad movie?" she says quietly, enraptured too much to actually look toward Alexis. Even as the food arrives Sarra does not look away.      Except when Alucard reaches for a fried mushroom. She happens to be reaching at the same time, and...their hands touch! Sarra meeps in surprise. Her hand wavers before she quickly takes one and stuffs it in her mouth, face red. Whether she has true feelings for Alucard or not, she is a princess, they are in a dark theater, and their hands touched during a romantic moment in the story!      The snow monster melts as Princess Aurora's heart is warmed, and she is able to leave her ice prison with Prince Eric. Trusting the woodsman to take care of Anya, they head directly back to the kingdom. But, without the woodsman's sled it is sure to take them a while. They are able to talk more during this time, and Prince Eric comes to truly appreciate this snow flower who is Princess Aurora and vows to himself to warm and heal her grief and fear damaged heart. At the same time Princess Aurora learns that Prince Eric also lost his parents at a young age and so understands at least some of her feelings and fears. His continued warmth and kindness through their journey further melts the ice she has built up around her heart to protect herself and others.      Meanwhile, Arlen has taken Anya to his adoptive family...who turn out to be cute fae-like creatures of various types ranging from traditional fairies to tree and rock people. They mistake Arlen's and Anya's relationship and go into a long, happy, and upbeat song about how the two are perfect to fix each others flaws and live happily ever after in a blissful marriage.      It is only after the fae are about to pronounce the couple married that Arlen is able to explain the situation. The fae priestess tells them that there is only one cure for a strike from such magical frost, and that is true love. Of course, Arlen and Anya are in complete denial and so Anya insists they go find Ashton who she thinks must be her true love. Arlen, accepting her decision, takes her back to the kingdom. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Anya and Arlen arrive in Flowerdale and Anya goes to Ashton in the belief that they have true love. They kiss while Arlen stands back, resigned. But, to Anya and Arlen's surprise...nothing happens. Anya's body continues to slowly chill. Ashton sees that he is found out and has them thrown in prison to protect his grand plan. He reveals...has usurped the throne! With both princesses seemingly abandoning their people and the crown princess apparently trying to destroy the kingdom, it was easy for him to convince the people to grant him the crown.      Aurora and Eric arrive shortly after, and are told by Ashton that Anya was found dead...frozen in ice. Supposedly Arlen returned to the kingdom to have her properly buried, then left. Aurora is grief-stricken, falling to her knees, her powers sparking and surging while Eric does his best to try and console her.      At which point Sarra cannot contain herself. "Are you serious?! And they just believe him?! No! He is a villain! You cannot trust him!!" she exclaims, as if those in the movie will hear her. Aidan's apology is acknowledged only with a quick nod and a flustered wave of a hand. "It is fine, it is fine!" 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' Alexis pauses in munching on pizza. "A bad movie? Nah. Wasn't expecting so much... introspective though." She did honestly expect more of a girly romance movie, so she's pleasantly surprised. Though it's a good thing Sarra reserved the entire theater for them, if she's going to start shouting at the movie like that. "Calm down, Sarra. Even the best people can miss painfully obvious hints when they're in emotional distress." Pause. Munchies down some more pizza. "Still an asshole for taking advantage of it." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Alucard (7620)}} has posed:''' Alucard's hand brushes Sarra's! His eyes glance over at her briefly, her reaction being the thing that fully shakes him free of the crushing weight for the moment. It's amusing and, yes, cute. He can appreciate it. The corner of his mouth turns up slightly, but it slips back to neutrality fairly quickly. He eats the fried mushroom, and an eyebrow raises at the sheer richness of it. The 'future' is a decadent place, it seems. Then Sarra outbursts, and he's taken aback for a moment, and then laughs. It's a rich sound, but still somehow soft. "Not all are as good a judge of character as you are, Your Highness. Flashes of bindings, blood and death flash in his mind for a moment, but he shakes them away. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      'Still an asshole for taking advantage of it.'      "Indeed! Such a huge a-..." Sarra almost says a bad word, but another meep escapes as she stifles it and covers her mouth. "Alexis!" she exclaims. Alucard laughs, and Sarra's face reddens even more. It is clear it is just her own embarrassment and not that she thinks he was laughing at her, though. "Or you, it seems." she says with a smile, albeit a flustered one.      Aurora, grief-stricken over thinking she has killed her sister, flies into a grief and self-loathing filled rage. A fierce snowstorm appears out of nowhere and huge spikes of ice erupt throughout the kingdom. Once of which happens to free Anya and Arlen, who rush out to try and show Aurora that Anya is alive.      But the ice and snow are nearly impenetrable. They only start making headway when Arlen's moose companion shows up and carries them forward valiantly.      Meanwhile, Ashton has pulled a sword and declared that for her crimes and for danger to the kingdom he will execute Aurora, which he thinks to himself would conveniently cement his claim to the throne! Eric draws his sword in her defense and holds Ashton off while trying to assure her that none of this is really her fault.      She does not believe him, of course.      Anya finally arrives just as Ashton uses a dirty snow in the eyes trick to best Eric. Ashton approaches Aurora, who makes no move to defend herself. She thinks she deserves death. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Just as the sword is falling for her neck, Anya rushes to protect her. Anya throws herself in the way of the sword, freezing to solid ice in the midst of the swing. The sword shatters...but Anya truly is dead now.      Aurora realizes what has happened, and weeps bitterly. Arlen takes Anya's frozen hand and holds it, also weeping as he realizes his love for her. Eric subdues and binds Ashton, then comes to wrap Aurora in a tight hug.      As they all mourn the loss of Anya, Aurora realizes how much she loves her sister and how she wishes she had Anya back. And she realizes she loves Eric. She manages to rise to her feet and gives her beloved sister a kiss on the cheek while all these feelings of love swirl within her.      There is a dramatic pause as the three characters mourn. Then...the spot Aurora kissed starts to regain color and defrost! Slowly color returns completely to Anya and the ice breaks! Anya and Aurora hug tightly, then Anya tells Aurora she can defrost the kingdom. Aurora is hesitant to try, but with the realization that love lets her control her ice properly and reassurance from her three companions, Aurora is able to restore Flowerdale to its proper summertime glory!      With the kingdom restored and with both princesses having found their heroes, even if one was not a prince, Aurora is crowned queen and they celebrate with a happy song and fireworks of ice.      The lights come back on in the theater...revealing Sarracenia is crying happy tears. "So...? What did you think?" she asks, looking at Alucard first then at Alexis and Aidan. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' "Very touching. Just goes to show life can work out even if not the way you expect it to... And the younger princess was kinda cute." Alexis wipes pizza off her hands, then picks up some of the other wrappers and such and gets out of the chair to go make sure it ends up in the trash where it belongs. "I'm gonna go over and check that arcade out before we leave." And maybe to give Sarra and Alucard a bit more of a moment to compose themselves. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Alucard (7620)}} has posed:''' The film proceeds, and Alucard watches in silence. The struggle, he knows it. Fighting through howling winds of doubt and pain, striving to do the necessary thing even if it hurts. Especially if it hurts. This film was not quite a mirror, but it made him feel things that he wasn't expecting to feel. Of course, it ends happily, and a bitter corner of his mind scoffs at it. Not everything ends in joy and summertime. He doesn't let that part out. That part is for the Castle when he is alone. "It was ... resonant," he finally says. "I ... the themes were something that I know. I believe that means I enjoyed it? It was well crafted visually." He pauses. "I do not think I wish to see it again." Alexis goes to be a good citizen, and the half-vampire goes quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts, or at the very least centering himself. "Thank you for inviting me, Your Highness. I appreciate you thinking of me and my well being." Somebody has to, and it sure isn't him! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      'And the younger princess was kinda cute.'      Sarra huffs softly. "The older princess was very pretty and just as cute!" she exclaims, definitely not projecting anything. She waves as Alexis heads to the arcade. "Have fun!"      Sarra listens to Alucard's reaction. She smiles uncertainly as he uncertainly says he enjoyed it, then that smile turns even more uncertain as he says he does not wish to see it again. "Ah...well, perhaps once you have found your happy ending you may change your mind." she says, ever the optimist when it comes to matters of love and happiness.      Sarra stands as Alucard thanks her. She gathers up the remaining pizza and fried snacks, then curtseys. "I was happy to offer! I just wanted to introduce you to a wonderful form of entertainment. Even if you do not wish to see this film again, there are thousands of others. Perhaps we should try a comedy if we ever do this again?"      She then has Alucard escort her out to join Alexis in the arcade before releasing him if he so wishes. For some reason the princess really enjoys a game called 'Whack-a-mole' and scores quite highly on it! 
}}

5745/A Stroll Through the Sundew Kingdom

2024-04-09T23:48:53Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2020/04/12 |Location=The Sundew Kingdom |Synopsis=A curious fawn stumbles upon the Sundew Kingdom and spends some time with its princess. |Cast of..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2020/04/12
|Location=The Sundew Kingdom
|Synopsis=A curious fawn stumbles upon the Sundew Kingdom and spends some time with its princess.
|Cast of Characters=446, 1160
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      A trip through the only actual road in the Sundew Kingdom is still quite a bit of excitement and danger. Travellers would see monstrous plants of all varieties, trees as tall and thick as skyscrapers, tribal bug-people who watch from the overgrown underbrush, and would hear many large and dangerous predator calls through the trees. Birds as large as small aircraft move between the trees and above the canopy, and plant people who have roots for feet, a single large leaf for each arm, and a large tulip-like head full of large shark-like teeth patrol the road in steel armor and armed with pole-swords that they are using to constantly cut back the jungle from retaking the road.      At the end of the road rises a thick wall made from huge blocks of alabaster stone. There is a gate large enough to accommodate something much larger than an elephant. Is there something that large or is it simply for the the majesty? The jungle grows right up to the wall, and again is only held back by patrols of those same plant people with their brightly colored heads and steel armor. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      A trip through the only actual road in the Sundew Kingdom is still quite a bit of excitement and danger. Travellers would see monstrous plants of all varieties, trees as tall and thick as skyscrapers, tribal bug-people who watch from the overgrown underbrush, and would hear many large and dangerous predator calls through the trees. Birds as large as small aircraft move between the trees and above the canopy, and plant people who have roots for feet, a single large leaf for each arm, and a large tulip-like head full of large shark-like teeth patrol the road in steel armor and armed with pole-swords that they are using to constantly cut back the jungle from retaking the road.      At the end of the road rises a thick wall made from huge blocks of alabaster stone. There is a gate large enough to accommodate something much larger than an elephant. Is there something that large or is it simply for the the majesty? The jungle grows right up to the wall, and again is only held back by patrols of those same plant people with their brightly colored heads and steel armor. 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:''' Blossom was once again in a new world, being the Multiversal tourist, with Maxwell, her bird friend perched on her head. As the duo head down the only road in town, Blossom is in awe of the Sundew Kingdom. "Wow, I've never seen trees this big, even the oldest parts of Silverdeep are nothing like this." She commented, getting a chirp of agreement from Maxwell. She was wary but not afraid of the predator calls, and positively fascinated by the tulip people. She stared at a couple of them for the moment as she continued down the road, then finally speaking. "Hi there! You guys are so... neat! I've never seen anything like you. My name is Blossom. What is this place?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The plant people seem surprised that a stranger spoke to them, and the one Blossom addressed seems to blush a bit and acts shy at being called neat. The leader of the small patrol she spoke to steps forward. "This is the Sundew Kingdom, miss. I'm Captain Caltrop. Nice to meet you. And that soft-stem is Lieutenant Lilly." he says, his voice rather gravelly. Lieutenant Lilly waves bashfully to Blossom as he is introduced. There is a slight mystery as to how they see, as the plants people don't seem to have eyes. "I guess you haven't been here before. Just follow the road to get to the castle. I don't suggest wandering off the road. Lots of dangerous things in this forest." 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:''' Blossom smiles as Captain Caltrop answers her and returns her greeting, nodding as he introduces Lieutenant Lilly. "Nice to meet you both also, and no, I haven't been here before, lots of places in this multiverse I haven't been. Thanks for the heads up too. I'm usually able to talk to animals, but I think I'd much rather see a castle than try to practice diplomacy on some creature on an alien world that wants to have me for dinner." She chuckles a little and continues skipping down the path, eventually nearing the castle where she can get a good view of it's grand entrance. "Wow.... If this place is as big on the inside as it looks on the outside, I think this is one building I won't mind being inside for a bit." She says out-loud before making her way toward the gate. "Can I go in?" She asks the tulip guards at the gate. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      There seems to be little restriction on traffic into the castle walls, and so the guards nod and then just resume watching the passing travellers. Not that there are a lot of them. What little traffic there is consists of large vehicles that are obviously meant for mass transportation of goods.      Once through the gate, Blossom would find that...it really was just the wall. Like a medieval town, the thick wall leads to an open area. And it is free of all the intrusive plants that are found outside. Inside the walls is a sprawling city of artful architecture and bustling business. Pirahna plants and humans alike wander the streets, along with a few turtle people. The buildings are not nearly as tall as the wall, which is still only half as tall as the trees. More of those plant people patrol the walls and streets, but overall it has a feeling of a very peaceful place.      And in the open air above Blossom can see huge wooden airships docking at floating platforms arranged in a spiral formation in the center of the large city. And behind all of this is the castle itself, with towers rivaling the trees for height and girth. It is obviously a castle of a very well-off royal family.      Just inside the gate is a statue of the kingdom's princess. Unlike the stereotypical princess, she is not waifish or of a charmingly short height. Although the statue is naturally larger than the actual princess, it shows that she is tall and strong and the expression carved into it is anything but demure. The statue has been carved out of a single gigantic piece of a red crystal, and displays her in an elegant pose and confident pose.      It is pretty obviously overdone. 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      As Blossom gets close enough to the gate to realize that the wall is not for a building but simply a barrier around a city, she's brought down to earth a bit, it was a bit disappointing, but for what little she knew about cities, it made sense. She stopped at the statue of Sarracenia, reading the plaque before looking up at the figure of the statue. "Princess Sarracenia... I've never met a princess before... I wonder if we'll get to meet her." She thinks out loud, with Maxwell adding a chirp. As she looked up, she also noticed the airships and for a moment wondered how they were kept aloft. "I'm really starting to like this place!" She commented as she continued skipping along into the town, perhaps drawing some attention from the townfolk, but on the other hand, she was likely just as, if not more curious of them. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Seems unlikely that one might see the princess of a kingdom when one is simply wandering about the town, but it is always possible. As for how the airships are kept afloat, it might be hard to see from below, but they have masts that sport helicopter-like propellers instead of sails. Why would they sport sails? Well, they have the appearance of old wooden sailing ships, ranging from fast corsairs to heavy galleons. Many of them carry the seal of the kingdom.      The townsfolk are somewhat curious about Blossom, but most have seen plenty of strangeness so they don't stare. But, the young children of the town are dazzled by her look and the fact that she has a bird on her head. Little pirahna plants the size of normal flowers seem to be particularly curious, perhaps sensing a sort of power in her. Human children are less drawn to her, but a few are following her around with that combination of curiousity and timidness, peeking around corners at her or running up to look at her before scampering away.      That is, until suddenly they all let out a squeal and run away, as do the little pirahna sprouts. The reason isn't obvious at first. The only thing that has changed is the fact that someone who looks very much like the statue from earlier is just coming out of a nearby shop. She looks around, giving her reddish-blonde hair a flip before huffing at the fleeing children. "Come back here and pay proper respect to your princess!!" she exclaims, her voice loud enough to echo off of the buildings. 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom wore a warm smile and gave a bubbly giggle as she watched the antics of the children, seeming to try and catch a peek at her without being seen. She decided to give them a little show and began to wave her staff a bit, using just a bit of her nature magic to cause small flowers in various colors to grow under-hoof where she walked. As she entered what appeared to be the market district of the Sundew Kingdom, she began curiously looking around at what the different shops were selling.      It wasn't long though before Sarracenia herself appeared from out of one of the shops and the children scattered like forest critters fleeing a fire. She blinks a bit and turns back toward Sarracenia as the princess exclaimed for them to pay their respects to her. She instantly recognized the woman by her likeness to the statue. "You really have a way with the children. Why are they afraid of you?" She asks, then blushes a bit as she realizes it could be taken as a rather rude question. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is still huffing with fists clenched as Blossom approaches. And when Blossom asks that question...she might get a glimpse of just why the children were afraid. "IT IS ALL BECAUSE OF PEACH!!" she screams. "Because of her, everyone thinks that princesses are supposed to be all soft-spoken and never angry and overly gentle! And because I am none of those things the children are scared of me!" Her rage gives way to plain anger at that point with a bit of moisture in her eyes. "I'll show them one day! I am just as good as any of those other princesses!" She coughs and tries to blink away the moisture. "B-besides, who are you to ask questions of another kingdom's princess?" 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom blinks a bit at Sarracenia's outburst. She had no idea who Peach was, and almost laughed, feeling it was a bit funny to be named after a fruit. Her first thought was that with the way she was acting, the children would probably be afraid of her even without the example of this Peach princess. Even she knew better than to blurt that out though, that would be like dumping napalm on a forest fire. "I'm sorry, it really isn't any of my business, but I asked without thinking. I'm sure you are a fine princess, this town is certainly nice, I love the tulip people, and the flying ships, and the big red and white spotted flowers. As for who I am, I'm just a faun from the Silverdeep Forest, my name is Blossom, and the bird perched on my head, that's Max. You are Sarracenia I assume by the statue I saw on the way in." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia sniffles a bit then straightens her hair and stands tall again. "Blossom. Yes. I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, crown princess of the Sundew Kingdom. I try to spend time among my subjects to foster trust between the peasants and the royalty, but..." she sighs heavily. "...it seems my beauty and illustrious presense is just too much for my subjects."      As she is saying this, the passing townsfolk also seem to be keeping a respectable distance from the princess, but don't seem actually afraid of her. Just...cautious. "So, what brings you to the Sundew Kingdom, Blossom? And did you like my statue? I had it hand carved by a master artisan. I had to pose for it for hours at a time each day until it was finished!" 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom gives Sarracenia an empathetic smile, feeling her frustration, and imagining how much work it must be to rule a kingdom, even if she has never done so herself. "You are very pretty, and yes, the statue is great, when I saw it I wondered if I would have the chance to meet you, since I've never met a princess before. But really, nothing specific brought me here, I just came to see a new place. So far I really like the place overall, even if cities are usually not my thing, the walking plants and more low-tech feel really helps. Do you think you could show me around? If you're not too busy to hang around with a silly faun and her bird." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks a bit as Blossom says she is pretty, as if she doesn't quite believe the fawn. She smiles just a bit as Blossom says she likes the town. "I used to think this was a stifling place, but...once I was in the Multiverse a while I realized that home really wasn't so bad. And that we princesses have responsibilities that we cannot simply ignore." she says, then looks around a moment before back at Blossom. "Well, Blossom. Your are quite fortunate this day. I have nothing on my schedule for quite a while, so I am free to show a silly fawn and her bird around. Is there any particular place that caught your eye?" 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom nods at the concept of appreciating home after seeing the Multiverse. "When I first left my home in the Silverdeep Forest, I learned that the outside world was full of wonder, but I also learned, and even more so with the multiverse, that it's also full of danger and horrible things. It makes me glad to know my home is quiet and peaceful, and I can return there when I need a break from all the excitement. Curiosity usually gets the better of me though and I end up coming back for more exploring before too long. But anyway, if you are happy to show me around, hmm, the airships looked really interesting, and... what's that? Looks like a small city in the city!" She asks as she points her staff at Sarracenia's castle. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia looks up at the mention of the airships and nods. "I love the airships as well." she says, then blinks as the staff is pointed toward her castle. "That..." She gives Blossom a look, like one might give someone who asked a rather silly question. "...that is a castle. My family's castle. Do...do they not have castles where you are from?" she asks, then giggles a bit. "Well, you are in for a wonderful treat, then! My castle is among the most lovely and extravagant in existence! We shall start toward it, but please enjoy the town as well. Even if..." She looks toward a passing group of townsfolk. "...they are ungrateful!" she says a bit more loudly, making them hurry a bit. 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom laughs along with Sarracenia after the look about her not understanding what a castle is. "Well, if we do, they're not like that, or I haven't seen one anyway. But I'm probably not the best to ask, since I live outside in a forest far from most civilization. But if your castle is really that wonderful then I wouldn't want to come here and miss the chance to see it up close." She comments as she follows Sarracenia, following her advise and soaking up the sights of the town as she goes. "I might have to come back through here and shop a bit. Anything you recommend?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      There are many shops in this area, and they seem to be high quality. Of course, one might expect that of an area where the princess herself was shopping. "Well, one of my favorites is the dress shop~ Obviously a princess has to have the very best in dresses. Like the one I am wearing now! It is made of the finest silks money can buy, and was hand-made by the best seamstress in Pipeland!" She gives a twirl to display her dress, which billows elegantly when she twirls. "And of course, there are the jewelry shops and the furniture stores. "And of course, I -love- to visit the shipyard!" 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      As Sarracenia talks of dresses and shows off the one she is wearing, Blossom looks at herself, and what little she is wearing. She was almost naked by comparison, and some might have been embarrassed at being so under-dressed compared to their company, but Blossom seemed unfazed, only feeling a little curious at what she would look like and what it would feel like to wear a dress like the one Sarracenia has on. "I've never worn a dress before. Yours looks really nice though. I think if I was wearing something like that though it would get in the way as I nimbly leap around. Though, maybe thinking about wearing a dress in battle is missing the point..." She shrugs. "Jewelry I like, though pretty much everything I'm wearing right now I made myself. I'll have to check it all out. I don't think I can afford a ship though." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      "That is just silly. I wear a dress in battle. All it takes is a bit of practice to learn how to flow with the dress." Sarracenia says, twirling again and continuing to twirl like a dancer. She moves fluidly and with finesse toward the next shop, seemingly not impeded at all by her dress. "See?" she says as she finishes up with a nimble leap that lands her right in front of a dress shop. "Would you care to try one on?" she asks with a smile. There are a few dresses in the window, ranging from breezy dresses made of light materials to dresses more like Sarra's elegant ballgown. "And you don't have to buy an airship to enjoy one. You can pay for a ride, or I could even give you a short ride on my personal aircraft, the Dyna." 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom watches as Sarracenia explains and shows how it is possible to move, seemingly effortlessly, even in a dress as extravagant as the one she is wearing. "You do make it look easy, and really what do I know without trying, I've never had much in the way of fancy clothes like that." She admits, turning to look at the dress shop and walks up toward the window. She is quickly drawn to a light and breezy pastel yellow dress with spaghetti straps and a colorful floral print adorning the skirt. She turns back to Sarracenia after a moment and asks for her opinion. "Do you think this would look good on me? As for an airship ride, that would be great!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks before turning and looking at the dress. "Hmm...well, it would certainly go with your overall motiff. But, I think a nice mint green would look better on you." she says as she looks it over. "Do you like yellow?" she asks before looking over at the other dress. It is more her own style, and so naturally draws her attention more. "I could probably use more dresses like this. Adventuring is incredibly hard on one's wardrobe. Although, I imagine your own wardrobe rarely suffers from such problems." she says, smirking lightly. It is hard to tell if she meant that there is little material in Blossom's wardrobe, or if she meant that Blossom looks a bit on the poor side. 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      "Hmm..." Blossom ponders Sarracenia's suggestion for a moment. "Mint could be nice too, yes. I like most brighter colors, but I don't really know much about which ones look better for clothes or why. As for adventuring, I guess I see your point, because fancy clothes cost more money right? As for me, I can usually fix minor damage to my... admittedly basic outfit on my own, and even if I have to replace it all, it doesn't set me back much. Is the expense of having to fix and replace fancy clothing hard for you?" She asks curiously as she moves to make her way into the shop. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia raises an eyebrow. "Are you always so hard on yourself? It isn't very becoming of a lady." she says, then nods. "Yes, these dresses are quite extravagant and quite expensive. But, it is only a minor cost to a princess." she says, following the doe into the dress shop. "Oh, are you thinking of purchasing a dress? Your outfit -is- quite flattering...if a bit..um..." She coughs. "...but I always suggest a dress. Elegance makes most anything better." 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom blushes a bit. "I'm not really trying to sound like I'm critical of myself, I just know there is a lot I still don't understand about other worlds. I thought the other parts of my home world were amazing, but this.. this is all a little overwhelming sometimes. But to answer your question, yes, I would like to try a dress to see how I like it... My outfit is great for life in the forest, but some people seem to stare at me strangely sometimes, and I'm not sure if it's because of what I am, or something else... Maybe a more traditional outfit will help me... blend better? As for money..." She opens her pouch and pulls out a few gold coins and mint green colored diamond shaped stones. "This is all I have, I don't know if this is... acceptable." She asks as she looks up at Sarracenia with a concerned expression 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia shrugs lightly. "I suppose that would be up to the shopkeeper. But, you should try on the dress before you think of paying for it." she says. She smiles a bit and heads over to talk with the shopkeeper. After a short discussion the eager shopkeeper, sure she is going to make a sale, heads back to get a breezy dress in the suggested green color. Then, Sarracenia carries both dresses over to Blossom. "If you like yellow better, then wear yellow. Of course, you would be foolish to ignore my fashion advice, but in the end you must wear what you like." 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom nods and smiles, putting her money away for now. "Well of course I'll take your advice. I like both but you are the expert." Maxwell chips in his agreement, spreading his wings and showing off his more vivid lime green and deep sky blue feathers. Blossom giggles a bit at him. "Sounds like he agrees too." She says with a grin, taking the mint green dress, but as this is a fair bit more complicated than her current outfit, she isn't really sure how to put it on. After a moment of confusion, she tries to slip it on over her head, with Maxwell fluttering up into the air to get out of the way. When it's obvious that it won't fit that way, she looks back at Sarracenia, perplexed. "How do you put one of these dresses on?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia giggles a bit as she watches. "Well, for the more simple dresses over the head can work, but for these dresses the proper way to put it on is to lower it down and step into it." she says. She takes the dress, then holds it down low and smiles to Blossom. "Here. I will hold it for you." Once Blossom steps into the dress, Sarra raises it up and slips the straps over Blossom's shoulders. "Usually, one should use a changing room to try on a dress. But, as your outfit is already rather...modest...this should be fine." 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom blushes at the mention of changing rooms, offering a quick apology. She nods as Sarracenia explains and follows her direction, stepping into it and going along as Sarracenia helps with pulling the dress up and getting the straps on. With a nod at Sarracenia, she quickly thanks her. She then takes a moment to look herself over and twirl around a bit as Sarracenia had done to show off her dress before. A big bright smile is beamed at Sarracenia while Maxwell returns to perching on her antlers. "This feels different, but... good. I like it, really I do. How do you think I look?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia smirks lightly at the blush and waves off the apology. When Blossom twirls Sarracenia claps for her and giggles a bit. "You look lovely, dear! As I always say, a good dress can make everything better!" she says, then smiles. "As you are a new guest to this town and have been quite respectful, I shall pay for this dress." she says. Without really waiting to see if Blossom actually wants to keep the dress, she goes and pays the shopkeeper. She then returns to Blossom. "Your new dress will look even better from the deck of an airship. If you are ready to venture to the port." 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom smiles warmly as Sarracenia compliments how she looks in the dress, a bit of blush returning to her cheeks. "Thank you, I feel pretty, like I'm wearing a small bit of a flowery meadow. I think this is not going to be my last dress. I will cherish it as your gift to me, but I will find a way to repay your kindness someday." She comments with a grin as she makes her way out of the dress shop. "I can't wait to be up there on an air ship, the wind in my hair, the amazing view. I've always wondered what it was like to fly. The birds always look so free as they glide up there, almost effortlessly. Always looked like amazing fun to me." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia giggles a bit at Blossom's reactions and words. It feels nice to have someone appreciate you! "And you look amazing! I told you that mint green would be your color." she says, then excitedly takes Blossom's hands. "Now, let us go to the airships!" She takes off at a jog, practically dragging Blossom along with her. Of course, she may not jog the entire way, as it is several blocks to the entrance of the shipyard and dock. But, it does give Blossom a chance to feel what it is like to move in a dress. 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom smiles and squeezes Sarracenia's hand gently in response to the princess taking her hand. She is taken by surprise however at the sudden change of pace, almost stumbling as she initially struggles to keep up, with being new at trying to run in a dress. She giggles however, sharing in Sarracenia's excitement as they quickly make their way to the shipyard dock. "Hey, you're right, maybe I'm just naturally nimble, but this really isn't as hard as it seemed to me in my head. On a different subject, I'm getting thirsty, will there be anything to drink on the airship?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia scoffs haughtily at the question about drinks. "Of course! ...I mean, not all of them offer drinks but the only ones I board have a full restaurant inside most of the time." she says. Her pace slows when they reach the street again, and she holds up a hand and waves lightly to seemingly no one. But, a few moments later a wooden car drives up, painted yellow and with one of those pirahna plants at the wheel. "Where to, princess?" the driver asks in a gravelly voice. "Take Blossom and me to the docks!" she declares before...standing there.      The driver sighs, then reaches a leaf back to open the back door for her. She steps inside, then motions for Blossom to follow. 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom smiles and her stomach growls a bit as if in anticipation of a meal. "Well, now that you mention it, food might be nice too." She says with a laugh as they continue along until finally reaching the street. She blinks as she watches Sarracenia wave her hand about, but before she can ask what the princess is doing, a car zooms up to the very spot. She watches as Sarracenia gets in, then tries to open door on the other side of the car. She struggles with the door mecanism for a moment but eventually manages to get it open and gets into the car, sitting beside Sarracenia and smoothing down her dress with her hands. "Never been in one of these before either... I don't know if I can handle all of this excitement." She says with a grin as Maxwell chirps and hops down into Blossom's lap so he won't get blown off when the car starts moving again. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The wind blows pleasantly over the two women as the car makes its way toward the docks. "I know, right?" Sarracenia says with a smile at Blossom's excitement. "I suppose it can lose some of its charm after a while, but I enjoy all of these things almost every day!" she says, smoothing out her own dress as well. "What do your people generally eat? I only ask because you bear a striking resemblance to a deer, and as far as I know such creatures do not partake of meat."      The car continues along, and the dock just seems to get bigger and bigger, a gigantic tower with sprawling platforms that support dozens of different airships at any given time. They can be seen taking off and landing even as the car moves toward the docks. Some are only as big as a typical private jet, and others are the size of aircraft carriers. 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom nods. "I could see even really fun and exciting things getting dull if you do them every day. This is why I find it so much fun to visit new places, it makes every new day an adventure. Do your responsibilities as a princess keep you from getting out and doing whatever you want?" She asks curiously, then thinks a moment about Sarracenia's question about what she eats.      "Hmm, I guess I do kinda look like a deer, never really thought about it. But yes, you would be right to think I don't usually eat meat. Where I come from, neither I or the dryads that watch over the forest ever kill any creature unless it is necessary to restore the balance of nature." She explains before falling silent at the sight of the airships, particularly the larger ones. "How do those massive ships stay up in the air? I can't even imagine how heavy they must be..." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia shakes her head at the first question. "They may one day, but for now I am free to do as I please so long as there are no foreign dignitaries visiting." she says before listening to the explanation about Blossom's dietary preferences. And the part about restoring balance catches her attention. "I see. And would you say this city is in balance with the nature just outside our walls?" she asks before looking up at the airships. "Well...do you see those propellers?" she asks, pointing toward one of the larger airships which has several large masts with equally large propellers spinning at their tops. "They are powered by a large engine. From what I have seen of other worlds, our world is unique in using this type of propulsion in very large aircraft. I am not sure why, though. I have seen the technology available on other worlds." 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom smiles and tries to be delicate as she answers Sarracenia's question about balance. "Well, I don't know if I'd call it balanced, more like cut off, but from what I've seen of the plantlife and other creatures around here, I can't really blame you for trying to keep it all from overtaking the city here... They're sure a lot more agressive than anything back home, well, except for the twisted ones... living trees that are twisted by magic into a evil, corrupting being that seeks only to spread it's corruption." She shudders at the end of her statement, wishing to change the subject.      Happily Sarracenia explains how the ships work, and though most technology goes over her head, she does understand on a basic level that the spinning blades push air and that somehow is enough to lift the ships into the sky. "Pretty incredible. I don't know how you all come up with this stuff." She comments with a tone of amazement. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia's eyes widen at the idea of such a twisted tree creature, and she imagines what it would be like if the enormous trees here started doing that. She shivers a bit as well.      As the topic of conversation turns toward the airships again, Sarracenia giggles and shrugs lightly. "I don't come up with any of it, so I have no idea how people came up with the idea that a rotating blade could lift things." she says with a smile. "But, I am glad they did. Otherwise, I might have to walk to other worlds!"      The taxi finally arrives at the docks, and Sarracenia tosses the driver a few coins then waits for him to open her door before she steps out. She smiles as she looks up at the docking tower. It must be 200 feet tall, and yet it still isn't as tall as the trees outside the walls. The huge airship they were looking at from afar is docked at the very top, but that isn't their destination. Instead, Sarra takes Blossom to a ship of only about 60 feet in length that looks very much like a Spanish galleon except the sails have been replaced by those propellers. It is likely Sarra's ship since the pirahna plants on board salute her as she passes. "This is the Sovereign, the flagship of the Sundew Royal Navy and the ship that often carries me where I need to go." she says with a grin. The ship is quite extravagant, especially for a wooden vessel. The woodwork is intricately carved, the decking is obviously very thick and sturdy. And the deck is engraved with the Sundew royal seal across most of the middle of the deck. Along with a much smaller Sarracenia character on the bow of the deck. 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom gets out of the taxi with Sarracenia and follows her towards the docking tower, more in awe of the ships now that she was even closer and their massive scale was even more overwelming. As they came to Sarracenia's ship, which was not as massive as the barge at the top of the tower, but still impressive, she looked it over a moment, and looked back at the land beyond the castle. "It seems all this ship and home building has not had much of an effect on the health of the forest around here. Does it all just grow back extremely swiftly, or was it all from what used to be where the kingdom now stands?" Or maybe it was both. "Really nice looking ship though, even if I guess I don't have much of a reference point..." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia actually huffs in annoyance at the question. "The jungle around here is very aggressive, whether it is plants or animals. The trees as you can see grow very tall, and everything grows very quickly. We haven't really had to do much logging since the kingdom was founded. Just one of these gigantic trees can make one of those cargo ships like the one docked at the top of the tower. We use stone as much as wood in our buildings, and our buildings last a long while. So, I suppose the short answer is...both. Just clearing this area left the kingdom with a huge surplus of wood and other materials when it was founded millenia ago, and our upkeep on the roads and city continue to supply us with more than we could ever use unless we simply started wasting it."      The appreciation of the ship makes Sarracenia smile proudly. "Our airships are second to none! And our navy is quite powerful as a result. Though we rarely have need of it. This kingdom does not suffer attacks like the Mushroom Kingdom." 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom frowns a bit at the percieved annoyance from Sarracenia about her question. "Sorry if I struck a nerve about the trees, that was not my intention. They certainly are among the tallest trees I have ever seen, and if nature is really that hostile here, I guess I can't really blame anyone for cutting down a few trees, particulary when structures to protect you and ships to get around are so important to you and your people. Where I come from, most of us live in the trees themselves, but I gather that trying that here would be hazardous to your health..." She makes an appology and further explains her feelings on the matter, then listens to Sarracenia speak about her fleet of ships, blinking at the mention of another kingdom, particulary the name. "The Mushroom Kingdom you say? What a strange name for a kingdom. Does it have forests of mushrooms instead of trees or something?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks at Blossom's apology. "Well, it was less about you and more about the trees and plants. I personally cannot figure out why my family settled here in the first place. I suppose it is beautiful in its way, but the hassle of living here and fighting the forest every day makes it hardly seem worth the trouble. I am quite certain that if the people left this kingdom there would be no sign of it within a year." she says. The question about the Mushroom Kingdom draws a shrug. "They do have forests of giant mushrooms, but it is not their primary landscape. It is simply the name they gave their kingdom. The family name is actually Toadstool." There is some annoyance in her voice again, but it seems directly at the Toadstool family more than Blossom. "Other than those isolated mushroom forests they have mostly grassland, I believe."      One of the pirahna plants approaches, this one wearing a metal helmet of a soldier. "Are we about to depart, Princess?" he asks. Sarra shakes her head. "No no. I am merely giving a tour to a new friend. Speaking of which.." She turns to Blossom again. "...would you like to see the dining area?" 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom nods, it appears she was taking Sarracenia's response too personally, but was glad her annoyance was not so much directed at her. She gives an empathetic smile. "I love nature, and even I have to admit, if it was that opressive, it would probably make me rather annoyed with it too..." She offers, then listens as Sarracenia speaks of the Mushroom Kingdom and it's royal family in more detail, seeming to get annoyed again. "I get the feeling you are not exactly allies with this kingdom..." She states flatly before her attention is drawn to the more heavily armored pirahna plant, listening as Sarracenia speaks with it. At the offer of seeing the dining area. "As long as we actually get to use the dining area, not just look at it, I would love to." She says with a giggle. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia giggles as well, then leads Blossom off toward a staircase. "Our kingdoms have no quarrel. In fact, we have very little contact. But, I cannot stand their princess." she explains as they walk, and huffs softly before continuing. "She is so loved by her subjects and despite being kidnapped on what must be a dozen occassions she has a noble hero who comes to her aid each time. I meanwhile am barely tolerated by my subjects and no villain has ever tried to kidnap me! How am I to find my hero?!" She gives a stomp at that last part. Does she really want to be kidnapped just so she can find her hero?      Most ships would have a modestly decorated mess hall, but this ship has a true dining hall. A pair of long tables take up most of the space in the center of the room, which spans almost the entire length of the boat. The tables are intricate and beautifully stained, and each has at least 20 chairs around it. There is a kitchen at the back of the room, though it isn't very busy at the moment. This is no restaurant, it is a private dining hall for the royalty and the sailors of this boat. Of course, Sarracenia doesn't let that bother her. She takes a seat at the head of one of the tables, then claps her hands. Another pirahna plant peeks its head into view from the serving window of the kitchen, then hurries through the door and over to the princess. This one is wearing a little tuxedo jacket one might expect of a server in a high class restaurant. "Is the kitchen prepared?" Sarracenia asks. The plant-man nods. "Always, princess." he replies. "Then, please take our orders. I will have shrimp and mushroom risotto, and bring a bottle of champaign." she says. The server then looks to Blossom. "And for you, madam?" 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom follows Sarracenia into the dining hall as they continue their conversation. "Well, if that isn't panning out, maybe you should go to places where heroes are doing heroic things, and try to meet someone that way? Maybe if you joined in the heroism it might work even better?" She offers her ideas as she takes a seat near Sarracenia. When the dressy pirahna plant comes to take their orders, she lets Sarracenia go first, and when the server's attention is directed to her, she ponders a moment before asking. "What would you recommend that doesn't have meat in it? Perhaps a fruit salad or something like that?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      "W-...without meat?" the pirahna plant asks, baffled. "Um...well, I am sure we can work something up for you. A fruit salad is quite within the kitchen's abilities." he says, then waddles off toward the kitchen. "Anything to drink?" he asks as he goes. Sarracenia nods lightly at Blossom's suggestions. "I have already started dabbling in heroism myself. It can be quite rewarding, but I am still getting used to the idea of rescuing rather than being rescued." she says, then pouts lightly. "But, I have had to accept that perhaps I will never find a hero of my own. It was...a bitter pill to swallow." 

:'''{{#var:1160|Blossom (1160)}} has posed:'''      Blossom blinks a bit at the request of what to drink. "Um, I don't know, I thought we could both drink the... champaign? That is a drink right?" She asks, having only assumed since it apparently came in a bottle. She blushes a little at her lack of knowledge of such things as she turns back to Sarracenia. "Being the hero is usually rewarding, and sometimes fun. But even if you don't meet another 'hero' maybe you can still find someone who is nice and likes the same things you do." She offers warmly. "As for me, I enjoy adventure to much to settle down with anyone right now. Maxwell is all the long term company I need for now." 
}}

Sarracenia

2024-03-18T17:01:59Z

TwilightSparkle:

{{CharacterRedux
|NameOnMUSH=Sarracenia
|Color=#0099FF
|Char_id=446
|FullName=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom
|Gender=Female
|Species=Human
|Theme=Mario
|Chartype=OC
|Active=Active
|Function=Spoiled Princess
|Faction=Watch
|Rank=0
|Ranktype=Member
|Quote="What does Peach have that I don't have?!"
|PAge=18
|AAge=27
|Aging=Very Slowly
|Height=6'
|Weight=How dare you?!
|Hair=Copper
|Eyes=Blue
|Song=Star Walkin': https://youtu.be/v7HAVTyvLqI
|Profile=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, the only child of Bark and Pansey Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom. She is very much the typical spoiled brat of a princess, so much so that when she was old enough she left her home, forsaking her dangerous, jungle-like home and going out into the Multiverse to find a kingdom worthy of a beauty like herself. She presents herself as a confident, arrogant princess, but on the inside she is fragile and slightly unstable. She is highly jealous of the famous princesses like Peach and Daisy. She will not rest until she has gained her own following of adoring servants and a hero who will clammer to her aid whenever she is in trouble. She even goes so far as to create situations where she must be saved so that she can find a hero. And if that doesn't work, she may even kidnap someone and force them into the position of hero. In the meantime, she plans on establishing a new kingdom, using her DK Hammer and her assortment of explosives to help her.
|Defining=Hammer Sister:

Attack List - Melee: Sarracenia's DK Hammer is so powerful it can smash through fortified walls, send heavy objects flying, and produce powerful shockwaves that can obliterate small buildings. She can even leap from massive heights and ride it down safely, creating an explosion upon impact that can leave a small crater. It is tuned specifically to her, and in the hands of someone else will jerk powerfully enough to drag someone along hammering wildly.

Weapon Mastery - Heavy Striking: Sarracenia has spent many an hour practicing with her enchanted hammer, and is a force to be reckoned with when she is wielding it or any other heavy melee weapon. Her style focuses on mixing grace with power, using leaps, twirls, and other dance-like movements.

Attack Redirection: With a mighty swing of her hammer, Sarracenia can deflect or even retarget ranged attacks. This works best on heavy one-shot attacks such as powerful beams, spells, and missiles.

Explosives Enthusiast:

Sarracenia has access to a plethora of dangerous items, most of which explode!

Share Powers: Sarracenia can give her items to or have her items taken by others.

Attack List - Ranged: Explosives are her main choice, ranging from bob-ombs that explode on impact to proximity mines to missiles called Bullet Bills that swiftly and ruthlessly follow their target.
|Significant=Power-Ups:

Sarracenia always has access to a plethora of power enhancing items. These items are good for one use and any lasting effects are lost once the person using it takes damage from an attack.

Attack List - Ranged: Many of Sarracenia's Power-Ups grant some sort of ranged attack. These attacks come in many different forms, but are always elemental bolts or thrown weapons.

Flight: Several of Sarracenia's Power-Ups can grant flight.

Water Functionality: At least one of Sarracenia's Power-Ups can give someone superior speed and agility in water in addition to the ability to breathe underwater.

Pipeland Princess:

Superhumanity: Sarracenia has strength, durability, and agility beyond that of a typical person.

Wealth: As a crown princess, Sarracenia has the wealth of an entire nation to back her activities.

Healing (Self): Through the use of green mushrooms, Sarracenia is able to heal a moderate amount of damage.

Sundew Army:

NPCs: A collection of creatures and airships native to her world. Their weapons are usually the same as Sarracenia's, but also include cannons and the massive Banzai Bill.

Vehicle Mastery - VTOL/Helicopter: Sarracenia has a personal aircraft called the Dyna that she is skilled at flying. It is functionally a VTOL, and she is just as skilled at flying other helicopters and VTOLs. The Dyna is equipped with explosive weaponry.

Field Shaping: In addition to her explosives, Sarracenia's airships often carry quick assembly buildings several stories tall.
|Minor=Sundew Accessories:

Hammerspace: Sarracenia's cute shoulder satchel holds a great deal more than any bag of that size should, producing a seemingly endless supply of her power-ups and explosives.

Conveniences: With wealth comes lots of fun toys! Sarracenia's shoulder pack is also filled with things like her magic cell phone (it gets reception even in mountains!), replacement clothes, and a steady supply of refreshing drinks and snack foods.
|Disadvantages=Proud Princess <Trouble> - Sarracenia is a proud, even arrogant and smug princess. But, beneath that arrogance is a desperate desire to prove herself. She is highly competitive, quick to leap into action, and often heedless of just how much danger she might be in. If someone challenges her or she perceives a challenge in some way that involves physical, mental, or social prowess, she will accept as long as it is not suicidal or unbecoming of a princess. But, even those times if she is baited consistently or insulted once or twice she will still accept. Also, she doesn't like to kill people. Monsters and things are fine, but if there is an option between killing someone and not, she will choose not.

W-what? <Significant> - Though she wants people to love her, Princess Sarracenia is so unused to being complimented or treated nicely that when it does happen, she can easily become flustered. It is bad enough that it can interfere with her duties or even combat if she happens to be fighting someone. A well worded compliment or a string of smaller compliments can reduce Princess Sarracenia to a fidgiting, stammering schoolgirl.

Hero Worship <Significant> - Sarracenia is obsessed with heroes and heroism. If someone saves her from injury or otherwise saves her from something bad, she is likely to become a bit obsessed with them. And if those heroes reject her, she takes her anger and frustration out on the hero that rebuffed her affection.

Childish <Minor> - Princess Sarracenia is an adult, but she often acts like a child. She is over enthusiastic, prone to temper tantrums, and has a fondness for cool, shiny, or pretty things. Riches also attract her attention. And of course, anything royalty related. All of this means she is short tempered, easy to distract with shiny things, and too exhuberant for her own good. It also means that when something really doesn't go her way, she tends to cry like a little kid.
}}
{{CharacterNew
|NameOnMUSH=Sarracenia
|Color=#0099FF
|Char_id=446
|Img=
|FullName=Princess Sarracenia Sundew of the Sundew Kingdom
|Gender=Female
|Species=Human
|Theme=Super Mario Bros-1
|Chartype=OC
|Function=Spoiled Princess
|Faction=Confederacy
|Rank=6
|Ranktype=Enlisted
|Groups=
|Quote="What does Peach have that I don't have?!"
|PAge=18
|AAge=18
|Aging=Slowly
|Height=6'
|Weight=149 lbs
|Hair=Reddish-blonde
|Eyes=Blue
|Voice=Jennifer Hale
|Song=
|Profile=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, the only child of Bark and Pansey Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom. She is very much the typical spoiled brat of a princess, so much so that when she was old enough she left her home, forsaking her dangerous, jungle-like home and going out into the Multiverse to find a kingdom worthy of a beauty like herself. She presents herself as a confident, arrogant princess, but on the inside she is fragile and slightly unstable. She is highly jealous of the famous princesses like Peach and Daisy. She will not rest until she has gained her own following of adoring servants and a hero who will clammer to her aid whenever she is in trouble. She even goes so far as to create situations where she must be saved so that she can find a hero. And if that doesn't work, she may even kidnap someone and force them into the position of hero. In the meantime, she plans on establishing a new kingdom, using her DK Hammer and her assortment of explosives to help her.
|Powers=Explosives Enthusiast: Sarracenia is fond of explosives, from fireworks to bombs to bob-ombs. Most of her powers revolve around explosives and other fiery weapons. She carries a special spacial purse that links to her personal armory, allowing her to pull out an
ything from Bob-ombs to rocket launchers. She can pull out specific things if she tries, but it is often random, which is part of the fun.

Hammer Sister: Although she loves explosives, they can be dangerous even to the user in close quarters, so Princess Sarracenia has chosen a large hammer as her primary weapon. The kind Mario used to use to smash DK barrels when they were at odds so long ago. Although it doesn't send her into a frenzy like it did Mario, the hammer head is as big around as a Bullet Bill, as long as Mario is tall, and weighs as much as Bowser. And, because of her enthusiasm over explosives, it is coated in a special strike powder that causes small explosions whenever it impacts something. Not large enough to damage anything the hammer itself could not, but enough to add a bit of extra Pow to her hits.

Power-ups: Although she hardly ever uses them, Princess Sarracenia is able to harness the power of power-up items such as fireflowers and mushrooms. She can gain many special powers this way, such as the ability to throw fireballs, fly, grow to twice her usual size and strength, or even become invinsible. There is one type of power-up she likes, and that is the suit power-up. Whether it is frog, tanuki, or hammer brother, she finds these suits cute, not to mention powerful. While they do not usually add any more power
to her attacks, the suits can give her special abilities such as water-breathing, hammer-throwing, and high-jumping. In addition to flight, the tanuki suit allows her to transform into a statue, incapable of attack but also invulnerable to damage. Others are able to use these power-ups as well, but the suits will only last until someone is hurt or until another power-up is used.
|Skills=
|Assets=Sundew Princess: Princess Sarracenia is the crowned ruler of the Sundew Kingdom. When her parents are no longer able to rule, Sarracenia will take over for them. As such, she has certain powers and responsibilities within the kingdom, and her parents are willing to fund her activities...to an extent.

Airships: Princess Sarracenia has her own fleet of airships, some as large as the monsters Bowser and his kids usually fly, and some as small and nimble as fighter craft. She has her own personal airship, too, which she calls the Dyna. It is basically an attack helicopter equipped with plenty of things that go boom, and is plenty fast to cruise the Princess to her destination or allow her have a little fun.

Sarracenia's Hammer: The DK Hammer that Sarracenia has had specially enchanted for her. It's magic would send most people into a rage, but in Sarra's hands it just endows her with the massive strength necessary to wield the hammer as if it weighed nothing.
|NPCs=Sundew Army: Along with the airships under her control, Sarracenia also commands a vast army of Sundew subjects. Most of these consist of plant creatures like pirahna plants, but she can hire mercenaries consisting of koopas, giant bugs, and many other creatures. (Max PL: 31)
|Disadvantages=Love Me!: Princess Sarracenia has money, power, and style, but Peach has the things she really wants: friends, heroic plumbers willing to risk their lives for her, subjects who love her, and a beautiful kingdom. Peach is good at sports, racing, and partying. She's cherished by everyone. Princess Sarracenia has hardly been outside her kingdom, has never been the target of a malicious attack, and has had no sutors at all. Princess Sarracenia is very jealous of the other princesses who are beloved by their subjects and just about anyone they meet. She can't understand why she is not as sought after, and as a result she gets rather upset when people treat her badly. She also has a tendency to try and force the issue. She may set up situations where she needs rescuing, or kidnap someone so she can have them play the part of 'hero'.

Proud Princess: Like most princesses, Sarracenia is a very proud person. Proud of herself, proud of her family, proud of her kingdom #despite her own rejection of it#, and proud of her accomplishments. And she takes it very personally when any of them are insulted. Despite that pride, she is not afraid to get her hands dirty, though she may complain about it the entire time.

W-what?: Though she wants people to love her, Princess Sarracenia is so unused to being complimented or treated nicely that when it does happen, she can easily become flustered. It is bad enough that it can interfere with her duties or even combat if she happens to be fighting someone. A well worded compliment can reduce Princess Sarracenia to a fidgiting, stammering schoolgirl.

Childish: Princess Sarracenia is an adult, but she often acts like a child. She is very enthusiastic, prone to temper tantrums, and has a fondness for cool, shiny, or pretty things. Riches also attract her attention. And of course, anything royalty related. It also means that when something really doesn't go her way, she tends to cry like a little kid.

Hammer Time: If Sarracenia is hit hard enough, she might drop her hammer. After that, anyone can pick it up. Despite the hammer's weight, the power of the hammer allows just about anyone to lift and wield it. However, if anyone other than Sarracenia picks up the hammer, it will send them into "hammer fever", meaning they can do nothing but swing the hammer, walk, and jump. Of course, the hammer is dangerous enough that the limitations are hardly ever a problem. The hammer fever lasts only a little while, and after the fever ends the hammer leaps out of the holder's grasp. #OOC consent required, the length of the hammer fever is up to the player, but it cannot last any longer than the current battle#
}}

Sarracenia

2024-03-18T17:00:34Z

TwilightSparkle:

{{CharacterRedux
|NameOnMUSH=Sarracenia
|Color=#0099FF
|Char_id=446
|FullName=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom
|Gender=Female
|Species=Human
|Theme=Mario
|Chartype=OC
|Active=Active
|Function=Spoiled Princess
|Faction=Watch
|Rank=0
|Ranktype=Member
|Quote="What does Peach have that I don't have?!"
|PAge=19
|AAge=20
|Aging=Very Slowly
|Height=6'
|Weight=How dare you?!
|Hair=Copper
|Eyes=Blue
|Song=Star Walkin': https://youtu.be/v7HAVTyvLqI
|Profile=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, the only child of Bark and Pansey Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom. She is very much the typical spoiled brat of a princess, so much so that when she was old enough she left her home, forsaking her dangerous, jungle-like home and going out into the Multiverse to find a kingdom worthy of a beauty like herself. She presents herself as a confident, arrogant princess, but on the inside she is fragile and slightly unstable. She is highly jealous of the famous princesses like Peach and Daisy. She will not rest until she has gained her own following of adoring servants and a hero who will clammer to her aid whenever she is in trouble. She even goes so far as to create situations where she must be saved so that she can find a hero. And if that doesn't work, she may even kidnap someone and force them into the position of hero. In the meantime, she plans on establishing a new kingdom, using her DK Hammer and her assortment of explosives to help her.
|Defining=Hammer Sister:

Attack List - Melee: Sarracenia's DK Hammer is so powerful it can smash through fortified walls, send heavy objects flying, and produce powerful shockwaves that can obliterate small buildings. She can even leap from massive heights and ride it down safely, creating an explosion upon impact that can leave a small crater. It is tuned specifically to her, and in the hands of someone else will jerk powerfully enough to drag someone along hammering wildly.

Weapon Mastery - Heavy Striking: Sarracenia has spent many an hour practicing with her enchanted hammer, and is a force to be reckoned with when she is wielding it or any other heavy melee weapon. Her style focuses on mixing grace with power, using leaps, twirls, and other dance-like movements.

Attack Redirection: With a mighty swing of her hammer, Sarracenia can deflect or even retarget ranged attacks. This works best on heavy one-shot attacks such as powerful beams, spells, and missiles.

Explosives Enthusiast:

Sarracenia has access to a plethora of dangerous items, most of which explode!

Share Powers: Sarracenia can give her items to or have her items taken by others.

Attack List - Ranged: Explosives are her main choice, ranging from bob-ombs that explode on impact to proximity mines to missiles called Bullet Bills that swiftly and ruthlessly follow their target.
|Significant=Power-Ups:

Sarracenia always has access to a plethora of power enhancing items. These items are good for one use and any lasting effects are lost once the person using it takes damage from an attack.

Attack List - Ranged: Many of Sarracenia's Power-Ups grant some sort of ranged attack. These attacks come in many different forms, but are always elemental bolts or thrown weapons.

Flight: Several of Sarracenia's Power-Ups can grant flight.

Water Functionality: At least one of Sarracenia's Power-Ups can give someone superior speed and agility in water in addition to the ability to breathe underwater.

Pipeland Princess:

Superhumanity: Sarracenia has strength, durability, and agility beyond that of a typical person.

Wealth: As a crown princess, Sarracenia has the wealth of an entire nation to back her activities.

Healing (Self): Through the use of green mushrooms, Sarracenia is able to heal a moderate amount of damage.

Sundew Army:

NPCs: A collection of creatures and airships native to her world. Their weapons are usually the same as Sarracenia's, but also include cannons and the massive Banzai Bill.

Vehicle Mastery - VTOL/Helicopter: Sarracenia has a personal aircraft called the Dyna that she is skilled at flying. It is functionally a VTOL, and she is just as skilled at flying other helicopters and VTOLs. The Dyna is equipped with explosive weaponry.

Field Shaping: In addition to her explosives, Sarracenia's airships often carry quick assembly buildings several stories tall.
|Minor=Sundew Accessories:

Hammerspace: Sarracenia's cute shoulder satchel holds a great deal more than any bag of that size should, producing a seemingly endless supply of her power-ups and explosives.

Conveniences: With wealth comes lots of fun toys! Sarracenia's shoulder pack is also filled with things like her magic cell phone (it gets reception even in mountains!), replacement clothes, and a steady supply of refreshing drinks and snack foods.
|Disadvantages=Proud Princess <Trouble> - Sarracenia is a proud, even arrogant and smug princess. But, beneath that arrogance is a desperate desire to prove herself. She is highly competitive, quick to leap into action, and often heedless of just how much danger she might be in. If someone challenges her or she perceives a challenge in some way that involves physical, mental, or social prowess, she will accept as long as it is not suicidal or unbecoming of a princess. But, even those times if she is baited consistently or insulted once or twice she will still accept. Also, she doesn't like to kill people. Monsters and things are fine, but if there is an option between killing someone and not, she will choose not.

W-what? <Significant> - Though she wants people to love her, Princess Sarracenia is so unused to being complimented or treated nicely that when it does happen, she can easily become flustered. It is bad enough that it can interfere with her duties or even combat if she happens to be fighting someone. A well worded compliment or a string of smaller compliments can reduce Princess Sarracenia to a fidgiting, stammering schoolgirl.

Hero Worship <Significant> - Sarracenia is obsessed with heroes and heroism. If someone saves her from injury or otherwise saves her from something bad, she is likely to become a bit obsessed with them. And if those heroes reject her, she takes her anger and frustration out on the hero that rebuffed her affection.

Childish <Minor> - Princess Sarracenia is an adult, but she often acts like a child. She is over enthusiastic, prone to temper tantrums, and has a fondness for cool, shiny, or pretty things. Riches also attract her attention. And of course, anything royalty related. All of this means she is short tempered, easy to distract with shiny things, and too exhuberant for her own good. It also means that when something really doesn't go her way, she tends to cry like a little kid.
}}
{{CharacterNew
|NameOnMUSH=Sarracenia
|Color=#0099FF
|Char_id=446
|Img=
|FullName=Princess Sarracenia Sundew of the Sundew Kingdom
|Gender=Female
|Species=Human
|Theme=Super Mario Bros-1
|Chartype=OC
|Function=Spoiled Princess
|Faction=Confederacy
|Rank=6
|Ranktype=Enlisted
|Groups=
|Quote="What does Peach have that I don't have?!"
|PAge=18
|AAge=18
|Aging=Slowly
|Height=6'
|Weight=149 lbs
|Hair=Reddish-blonde
|Eyes=Blue
|Voice=Jennifer Hale
|Song=
|Profile=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, the only child of Bark and Pansey Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom. She is very much the typical spoiled brat of a princess, so much so that when she was old enough she left her home, forsaking her dangerous, jungle-like home and going out into the Multiverse to find a kingdom worthy of a beauty like herself. She presents herself as a confident, arrogant princess, but on the inside she is fragile and slightly unstable. She is highly jealous of the famous princesses like Peach and Daisy. She will not rest until she has gained her own following of adoring servants and a hero who will clammer to her aid whenever she is in trouble. She even goes so far as to create situations where she must be saved so that she can find a hero. And if that doesn't work, she may even kidnap someone and force them into the position of hero. In the meantime, she plans on establishing a new kingdom, using her DK Hammer and her assortment of explosives to help her.
|Powers=Explosives Enthusiast: Sarracenia is fond of explosives, from fireworks to bombs to bob-ombs. Most of her powers revolve around explosives and other fiery weapons. She carries a special spacial purse that links to her personal armory, allowing her to pull out an
ything from Bob-ombs to rocket launchers. She can pull out specific things if she tries, but it is often random, which is part of the fun.

Hammer Sister: Although she loves explosives, they can be dangerous even to the user in close quarters, so Princess Sarracenia has chosen a large hammer as her primary weapon. The kind Mario used to use to smash DK barrels when they were at odds so long ago. Although it doesn't send her into a frenzy like it did Mario, the hammer head is as big around as a Bullet Bill, as long as Mario is tall, and weighs as much as Bowser. And, because of her enthusiasm over explosives, it is coated in a special strike powder that causes small explosions whenever it impacts something. Not large enough to damage anything the hammer itself could not, but enough to add a bit of extra Pow to her hits.

Power-ups: Although she hardly ever uses them, Princess Sarracenia is able to harness the power of power-up items such as fireflowers and mushrooms. She can gain many special powers this way, such as the ability to throw fireballs, fly, grow to twice her usual size and strength, or even become invinsible. There is one type of power-up she likes, and that is the suit power-up. Whether it is frog, tanuki, or hammer brother, she finds these suits cute, not to mention powerful. While they do not usually add any more power
to her attacks, the suits can give her special abilities such as water-breathing, hammer-throwing, and high-jumping. In addition to flight, the tanuki suit allows her to transform into a statue, incapable of attack but also invulnerable to damage. Others are able to use these power-ups as well, but the suits will only last until someone is hurt or until another power-up is used.
|Skills=
|Assets=Sundew Princess: Princess Sarracenia is the crowned ruler of the Sundew Kingdom. When her parents are no longer able to rule, Sarracenia will take over for them. As such, she has certain powers and responsibilities within the kingdom, and her parents are willing to fund her activities...to an extent.

Airships: Princess Sarracenia has her own fleet of airships, some as large as the monsters Bowser and his kids usually fly, and some as small and nimble as fighter craft. She has her own personal airship, too, which she calls the Dyna. It is basically an attack helicopter equipped with plenty of things that go boom, and is plenty fast to cruise the Princess to her destination or allow her have a little fun.

Sarracenia's Hammer: The DK Hammer that Sarracenia has had specially enchanted for her. It's magic would send most people into a rage, but in Sarra's hands it just endows her with the massive strength necessary to wield the hammer as if it weighed nothing.
|NPCs=Sundew Army: Along with the airships under her control, Sarracenia also commands a vast army of Sundew subjects. Most of these consist of plant creatures like pirahna plants, but she can hire mercenaries consisting of koopas, giant bugs, and many other creatures. (Max PL: 31)
|Disadvantages=Love Me!: Princess Sarracenia has money, power, and style, but Peach has the things she really wants: friends, heroic plumbers willing to risk their lives for her, subjects who love her, and a beautiful kingdom. Peach is good at sports, racing, and partying. She's cherished by everyone. Princess Sarracenia has hardly been outside her kingdom, has never been the target of a malicious attack, and has had no sutors at all. Princess Sarracenia is very jealous of the other princesses who are beloved by their subjects and just about anyone they meet. She can't understand why she is not as sought after, and as a result she gets rather upset when people treat her badly. She also has a tendency to try and force the issue. She may set up situations where she needs rescuing, or kidnap someone so she can have them play the part of 'hero'.

Proud Princess: Like most princesses, Sarracenia is a very proud person. Proud of herself, proud of her family, proud of her kingdom #despite her own rejection of it#, and proud of her accomplishments. And she takes it very personally when any of them are insulted. Despite that pride, she is not afraid to get her hands dirty, though she may complain about it the entire time.

W-what?: Though she wants people to love her, Princess Sarracenia is so unused to being complimented or treated nicely that when it does happen, she can easily become flustered. It is bad enough that it can interfere with her duties or even combat if she happens to be fighting someone. A well worded compliment can reduce Princess Sarracenia to a fidgiting, stammering schoolgirl.

Childish: Princess Sarracenia is an adult, but she often acts like a child. She is very enthusiastic, prone to temper tantrums, and has a fondness for cool, shiny, or pretty things. Riches also attract her attention. And of course, anything royalty related. It also means that when something really doesn't go her way, she tends to cry like a little kid.

Hammer Time: If Sarracenia is hit hard enough, she might drop her hammer. After that, anyone can pick it up. Despite the hammer's weight, the power of the hammer allows just about anyone to lift and wield it. However, if anyone other than Sarracenia picks up the hammer, it will send them into "hammer fever", meaning they can do nothing but swing the hammer, walk, and jump. Of course, the hammer is dangerous enough that the limitations are hardly ever a problem. The hammer fever lasts only a little while, and after the fever ends the hammer leaps out of the holder's grasp. #OOC consent required, the length of the hammer fever is up to the player, but it cannot last any longer than the current battle#
}}

Sarracenia

2024-03-18T17:00:01Z

TwilightSparkle:

{{CharacterRedux
|NameOnMUSH=Sarracenia
|Color=#0099FF
|Char_id=446
|FullName=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom
|Gender=Female
|Species=Human
|Theme=Mario
|Chartype=OC
|Active=Active
|Function=Spoiled Princess
|Faction=Watch
|Rank=0
|Ranktype=Member
|Quote="What does Peach have that I don't have?!"
|PAge=19
|AAge=20
|Aging=Very Slowly
|Height=6'
|Weight=How dare you?!
|Hair=Copper
|Eyes=Blue
|Song=https://youtu.be/v7HAVTyvLqI
|Profile=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, the only child of Bark and Pansey Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom. She is very much the typical spoiled brat of a princess, so much so that when she was old enough she left her home, forsaking her dangerous, jungle-like home and going out into the Multiverse to find a kingdom worthy of a beauty like herself. She presents herself as a confident, arrogant princess, but on the inside she is fragile and slightly unstable. She is highly jealous of the famous princesses like Peach and Daisy. She will not rest until she has gained her own following of adoring servants and a hero who will clammer to her aid whenever she is in trouble. She even goes so far as to create situations where she must be saved so that she can find a hero. And if that doesn't work, she may even kidnap someone and force them into the position of hero. In the meantime, she plans on establishing a new kingdom, using her DK Hammer and her assortment of explosives to help her.
|Defining=Hammer Sister:

Attack List - Melee: Sarracenia's DK Hammer is so powerful it can smash through fortified walls, send heavy objects flying, and produce powerful shockwaves that can obliterate small buildings. She can even leap from massive heights and ride it down safely, creating an explosion upon impact that can leave a small crater. It is tuned specifically to her, and in the hands of someone else will jerk powerfully enough to drag someone along hammering wildly.

Weapon Mastery - Heavy Striking: Sarracenia has spent many an hour practicing with her enchanted hammer, and is a force to be reckoned with when she is wielding it or any other heavy melee weapon. Her style focuses on mixing grace with power, using leaps, twirls, and other dance-like movements.

Attack Redirection: With a mighty swing of her hammer, Sarracenia can deflect or even retarget ranged attacks. This works best on heavy one-shot attacks such as powerful beams, spells, and missiles.

Explosives Enthusiast:

Sarracenia has access to a plethora of dangerous items, most of which explode!

Share Powers: Sarracenia can give her items to or have her items taken by others.

Attack List - Ranged: Explosives are her main choice, ranging from bob-ombs that explode on impact to proximity mines to missiles called Bullet Bills that swiftly and ruthlessly follow their target.
|Significant=Power-Ups:

Sarracenia always has access to a plethora of power enhancing items. These items are good for one use and any lasting effects are lost once the person using it takes damage from an attack.

Attack List - Ranged: Many of Sarracenia's Power-Ups grant some sort of ranged attack. These attacks come in many different forms, but are always elemental bolts or thrown weapons.

Flight: Several of Sarracenia's Power-Ups can grant flight.

Water Functionality: At least one of Sarracenia's Power-Ups can give someone superior speed and agility in water in addition to the ability to breathe underwater.

Pipeland Princess:

Superhumanity: Sarracenia has strength, durability, and agility beyond that of a typical person.

Wealth: As a crown princess, Sarracenia has the wealth of an entire nation to back her activities.

Healing (Self): Through the use of green mushrooms, Sarracenia is able to heal a moderate amount of damage.

Sundew Army:

NPCs: A collection of creatures and airships native to her world. Their weapons are usually the same as Sarracenia's, but also include cannons and the massive Banzai Bill.

Vehicle Mastery - VTOL/Helicopter: Sarracenia has a personal aircraft called the Dyna that she is skilled at flying. It is functionally a VTOL, and she is just as skilled at flying other helicopters and VTOLs. The Dyna is equipped with explosive weaponry.

Field Shaping: In addition to her explosives, Sarracenia's airships often carry quick assembly buildings several stories tall.
|Minor=Sundew Accessories:

Hammerspace: Sarracenia's cute shoulder satchel holds a great deal more than any bag of that size should, producing a seemingly endless supply of her power-ups and explosives.

Conveniences: With wealth comes lots of fun toys! Sarracenia's shoulder pack is also filled with things like her magic cell phone (it gets reception even in mountains!), replacement clothes, and a steady supply of refreshing drinks and snack foods.
|Disadvantages=Proud Princess <Trouble> - Sarracenia is a proud, even arrogant and smug princess. But, beneath that arrogance is a desperate desire to prove herself. She is highly competitive, quick to leap into action, and often heedless of just how much danger she might be in. If someone challenges her or she perceives a challenge in some way that involves physical, mental, or social prowess, she will accept as long as it is not suicidal or unbecoming of a princess. But, even those times if she is baited consistently or insulted once or twice she will still accept. Also, she doesn't like to kill people. Monsters and things are fine, but if there is an option between killing someone and not, she will choose not.

W-what? <Significant> - Though she wants people to love her, Princess Sarracenia is so unused to being complimented or treated nicely that when it does happen, she can easily become flustered. It is bad enough that it can interfere with her duties or even combat if she happens to be fighting someone. A well worded compliment or a string of smaller compliments can reduce Princess Sarracenia to a fidgiting, stammering schoolgirl.

Hero Worship <Significant> - Sarracenia is obsessed with heroes and heroism. If someone saves her from injury or otherwise saves her from something bad, she is likely to become a bit obsessed with them. And if those heroes reject her, she takes her anger and frustration out on the hero that rebuffed her affection.

Childish <Minor> - Princess Sarracenia is an adult, but she often acts like a child. She is over enthusiastic, prone to temper tantrums, and has a fondness for cool, shiny, or pretty things. Riches also attract her attention. And of course, anything royalty related. All of this means she is short tempered, easy to distract with shiny things, and too exhuberant for her own good. It also means that when something really doesn't go her way, she tends to cry like a little kid.
}}
{{CharacterNew
|NameOnMUSH=Sarracenia
|Color=#0099FF
|Char_id=446
|Img=
|FullName=Princess Sarracenia Sundew of the Sundew Kingdom
|Gender=Female
|Species=Human
|Theme=Super Mario Bros-1
|Chartype=OC
|Function=Spoiled Princess
|Faction=Confederacy
|Rank=6
|Ranktype=Enlisted
|Groups=
|Quote="What does Peach have that I don't have?!"
|PAge=18
|AAge=18
|Aging=Slowly
|Height=6'
|Weight=149 lbs
|Hair=Reddish-blonde
|Eyes=Blue
|Voice=Jennifer Hale
|Song=
|Profile=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, the only child of Bark and Pansey Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom. She is very much the typical spoiled brat of a princess, so much so that when she was old enough she left her home, forsaking her dangerous, jungle-like home and going out into the Multiverse to find a kingdom worthy of a beauty like herself. She presents herself as a confident, arrogant princess, but on the inside she is fragile and slightly unstable. She is highly jealous of the famous princesses like Peach and Daisy. She will not rest until she has gained her own following of adoring servants and a hero who will clammer to her aid whenever she is in trouble. She even goes so far as to create situations where she must be saved so that she can find a hero. And if that doesn't work, she may even kidnap someone and force them into the position of hero. In the meantime, she plans on establishing a new kingdom, using her DK Hammer and her assortment of explosives to help her.
|Powers=Explosives Enthusiast: Sarracenia is fond of explosives, from fireworks to bombs to bob-ombs. Most of her powers revolve around explosives and other fiery weapons. She carries a special spacial purse that links to her personal armory, allowing her to pull out an
ything from Bob-ombs to rocket launchers. She can pull out specific things if she tries, but it is often random, which is part of the fun.

Hammer Sister: Although she loves explosives, they can be dangerous even to the user in close quarters, so Princess Sarracenia has chosen a large hammer as her primary weapon. The kind Mario used to use to smash DK barrels when they were at odds so long ago. Although it doesn't send her into a frenzy like it did Mario, the hammer head is as big around as a Bullet Bill, as long as Mario is tall, and weighs as much as Bowser. And, because of her enthusiasm over explosives, it is coated in a special strike powder that causes small explosions whenever it impacts something. Not large enough to damage anything the hammer itself could not, but enough to add a bit of extra Pow to her hits.

Power-ups: Although she hardly ever uses them, Princess Sarracenia is able to harness the power of power-up items such as fireflowers and mushrooms. She can gain many special powers this way, such as the ability to throw fireballs, fly, grow to twice her usual size and strength, or even become invinsible. There is one type of power-up she likes, and that is the suit power-up. Whether it is frog, tanuki, or hammer brother, she finds these suits cute, not to mention powerful. While they do not usually add any more power
to her attacks, the suits can give her special abilities such as water-breathing, hammer-throwing, and high-jumping. In addition to flight, the tanuki suit allows her to transform into a statue, incapable of attack but also invulnerable to damage. Others are able to use these power-ups as well, but the suits will only last until someone is hurt or until another power-up is used.
|Skills=
|Assets=Sundew Princess: Princess Sarracenia is the crowned ruler of the Sundew Kingdom. When her parents are no longer able to rule, Sarracenia will take over for them. As such, she has certain powers and responsibilities within the kingdom, and her parents are willing to fund her activities...to an extent.

Airships: Princess Sarracenia has her own fleet of airships, some as large as the monsters Bowser and his kids usually fly, and some as small and nimble as fighter craft. She has her own personal airship, too, which she calls the Dyna. It is basically an attack helicopter equipped with plenty of things that go boom, and is plenty fast to cruise the Princess to her destination or allow her have a little fun.

Sarracenia's Hammer: The DK Hammer that Sarracenia has had specially enchanted for her. It's magic would send most people into a rage, but in Sarra's hands it just endows her with the massive strength necessary to wield the hammer as if it weighed nothing.
|NPCs=Sundew Army: Along with the airships under her control, Sarracenia also commands a vast army of Sundew subjects. Most of these consist of plant creatures like pirahna plants, but she can hire mercenaries consisting of koopas, giant bugs, and many other creatures. (Max PL: 31)
|Disadvantages=Love Me!: Princess Sarracenia has money, power, and style, but Peach has the things she really wants: friends, heroic plumbers willing to risk their lives for her, subjects who love her, and a beautiful kingdom. Peach is good at sports, racing, and partying. She's cherished by everyone. Princess Sarracenia has hardly been outside her kingdom, has never been the target of a malicious attack, and has had no sutors at all. Princess Sarracenia is very jealous of the other princesses who are beloved by their subjects and just about anyone they meet. She can't understand why she is not as sought after, and as a result she gets rather upset when people treat her badly. She also has a tendency to try and force the issue. She may set up situations where she needs rescuing, or kidnap someone so she can have them play the part of 'hero'.

Proud Princess: Like most princesses, Sarracenia is a very proud person. Proud of herself, proud of her family, proud of her kingdom #despite her own rejection of it#, and proud of her accomplishments. And she takes it very personally when any of them are insulted. Despite that pride, she is not afraid to get her hands dirty, though she may complain about it the entire time.

W-what?: Though she wants people to love her, Princess Sarracenia is so unused to being complimented or treated nicely that when it does happen, she can easily become flustered. It is bad enough that it can interfere with her duties or even combat if she happens to be fighting someone. A well worded compliment can reduce Princess Sarracenia to a fidgiting, stammering schoolgirl.

Childish: Princess Sarracenia is an adult, but she often acts like a child. She is very enthusiastic, prone to temper tantrums, and has a fondness for cool, shiny, or pretty things. Riches also attract her attention. And of course, anything royalty related. It also means that when something really doesn't go her way, she tends to cry like a little kid.

Hammer Time: If Sarracenia is hit hard enough, she might drop her hammer. After that, anyone can pick it up. Despite the hammer's weight, the power of the hammer allows just about anyone to lift and wield it. However, if anyone other than Sarracenia picks up the hammer, it will send them into "hammer fever", meaning they can do nothing but swing the hammer, walk, and jump. Of course, the hammer is dangerous enough that the limitations are hardly ever a problem. The hammer fever lasts only a little while, and after the fever ends the hammer leaps out of the holder's grasp. #OOC consent required, the length of the hammer fever is up to the player, but it cannot last any longer than the current battle#
}}

Sarracenia

2024-03-18T16:56:06Z

TwilightSparkle:

{{CharacterRedux
|NameOnMUSH=Sarracenia
|Color=#0099FF
|Char_id=446
|FullName=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom
|Gender=Female
|Species=Human
|Theme=Mario
|Chartype=OC
|Active=Active
|Function=Spoiled Princess
|Faction=Watch
|Rank=0
|Ranktype=Member
|Quote="What does Peach have that I don't have?!"
|PAge=19
|AAge=20
|Aging=Very Slowly
|Height=6'
|Weight=How dare you?!
|Hair=Copper
|Eyes=Blue
|Profile=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, the only child of Bark and Pansey Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom. She is very much the typical spoiled brat of a princess, so much so that when she was old enough she left her home, forsaking her dangerous, jungle-like home and going out into the Multiverse to find a kingdom worthy of a beauty like herself. She presents herself as a confident, arrogant princess, but on the inside she is fragile and slightly unstable. She is highly jealous of the famous princesses like Peach and Daisy. She will not rest until she has gained her own following of adoring servants and a hero who will clammer to her aid whenever she is in trouble. She even goes so far as to create situations where she must be saved so that she can find a hero. And if that doesn't work, she may even kidnap someone and force them into the position of hero. In the meantime, she plans on establishing a new kingdom, using her DK Hammer and her assortment of explosives to help her.
|Defining=Hammer Sister:

Attack List - Melee: Sarracenia's DK Hammer is so powerful it can smash through fortified walls, send heavy objects flying, and produce powerful shockwaves that can obliterate small buildings. She can even leap from massive heights and ride it down safely, creating an explosion upon impact that can leave a small crater. It is tuned specifically to her, and in the hands of someone else will jerk powerfully enough to drag someone along hammering wildly.

Weapon Mastery - Heavy Striking: Sarracenia has spent many an hour practicing with her enchanted hammer, and is a force to be reckoned with when she is wielding it or any other heavy melee weapon. Her style focuses on mixing grace with power, using leaps, twirls, and other dance-like movements.

Attack Redirection: With a mighty swing of her hammer, Sarracenia can deflect or even retarget ranged attacks. This works best on heavy one-shot attacks such as powerful beams, spells, and missiles.

Explosives Enthusiast:

Sarracenia has access to a plethora of dangerous items, most of which explode!

Share Powers: Sarracenia can give her items to or have her items taken by others.

Attack List - Ranged: Explosives are her main choice, ranging from bob-ombs that explode on impact to proximity mines to missiles called Bullet Bills that swiftly and ruthlessly follow their target.
|Significant=Power-Ups:

Sarracenia always has access to a plethora of power enhancing items. These items are good for one use and any lasting effects are lost once the person using it takes damage from an attack.

Attack List - Ranged: Many of Sarracenia's Power-Ups grant some sort of ranged attack. These attacks come in many different forms, but are always elemental bolts or thrown weapons.

Flight: Several of Sarracenia's Power-Ups can grant flight.

Water Functionality: At least one of Sarracenia's Power-Ups can give someone superior speed and agility in water in addition to the ability to breathe underwater.

Pipeland Princess:

Superhumanity: Sarracenia has strength, durability, and agility beyond that of a typical person.

Wealth: As a crown princess, Sarracenia has the wealth of an entire nation to back her activities.

Healing (Self): Through the use of green mushrooms, Sarracenia is able to heal a moderate amount of damage.

Sundew Army:

NPCs: A collection of creatures and airships native to her world. Their weapons are usually the same as Sarracenia's, but also include cannons and the massive Banzai Bill.

Vehicle Mastery - VTOL/Helicopter: Sarracenia has a personal aircraft called the Dyna that she is skilled at flying. It is functionally a VTOL, and she is just as skilled at flying other helicopters and VTOLs. The Dyna is equipped with explosive weaponry.

Field Shaping: In addition to her explosives, Sarracenia's airships often carry quick assembly buildings several stories tall.
|Minor=Sundew Accessories:

Hammerspace: Sarracenia's cute shoulder satchel holds a great deal more than any bag of that size should, producing a seemingly endless supply of her power-ups and explosives.

Conveniences: With wealth comes lots of fun toys! Sarracenia's shoulder pack is also filled with things like her magic cell phone (it gets reception even in mountains!), replacement clothes, and a steady supply of refreshing drinks and snack foods.
|Disadvantages=Proud Princess <Trouble> - Sarracenia is a proud, even arrogant and smug princess. But, beneath that arrogance is a desperate desire to prove herself. She is highly competitive, quick to leap into action, and often heedless of just how much danger she might be in. If someone challenges her or she perceives a challenge in some way that involves physical, mental, or social prowess, she will accept as long as it is not suicidal or unbecoming of a princess. But, even those times if she is baited consistently or insulted once or twice she will still accept. Also, she doesn't like to kill people. Monsters and things are fine, but if there is an option between killing someone and not, she will choose not.

W-what? <Significant> - Though she wants people to love her, Princess Sarracenia is so unused to being complimented or treated nicely that when it does happen, she can easily become flustered. It is bad enough that it can interfere with her duties or even combat if she happens to be fighting someone. A well worded compliment or a string of smaller compliments can reduce Princess Sarracenia to a fidgiting, stammering schoolgirl.

Hero Worship <Significant> - Sarracenia is obsessed with heroes and heroism. If someone saves her from injury or otherwise saves her from something bad, she is likely to become a bit obsessed with them. And if those heroes reject her, she takes her anger and frustration out on the hero that rebuffed her affection.

Childish <Minor> - Princess Sarracenia is an adult, but she often acts like a child. She is over enthusiastic, prone to temper tantrums, and has a fondness for cool, shiny, or pretty things. Riches also attract her attention. And of course, anything royalty related. All of this means she is short tempered, easy to distract with shiny things, and too exhuberant for her own good. It also means that when something really doesn't go her way, she tends to cry like a little kid.
}}
{{CharacterNew
|NameOnMUSH=Sarracenia
|Color=#0099FF
|Char_id=446
|Img=
|FullName=Princess Sarracenia Sundew of the Sundew Kingdom
|Gender=Female
|Species=Human
|Theme=Super Mario Bros-1
|Chartype=OC
|Function=Spoiled Princess
|Faction=Confederacy
|Rank=6
|Ranktype=Enlisted
|Groups=
|Quote="What does Peach have that I don't have?!"
|PAge=18
|AAge=18
|Aging=Slowly
|Height=6'
|Weight=149 lbs
|Hair=Reddish-blonde
|Eyes=Blue
|Voice=Jennifer Hale
|Song=
|Profile=Princess Sarracenia Sundew, the only child of Bark and Pansey Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom. She is very much the typical spoiled brat of a princess, so much so that when she was old enough she left her home, forsaking her dangerous, jungle-like home and going out into the Multiverse to find a kingdom worthy of a beauty like herself. She presents herself as a confident, arrogant princess, but on the inside she is fragile and slightly unstable. She is highly jealous of the famous princesses like Peach and Daisy. She will not rest until she has gained her own following of adoring servants and a hero who will clammer to her aid whenever she is in trouble. She even goes so far as to create situations where she must be saved so that she can find a hero. And if that doesn't work, she may even kidnap someone and force them into the position of hero. In the meantime, she plans on establishing a new kingdom, using her DK Hammer and her assortment of explosives to help her.
|Powers=Explosives Enthusiast: Sarracenia is fond of explosives, from fireworks to bombs to bob-ombs. Most of her powers revolve around explosives and other fiery weapons. She carries a special spacial purse that links to her personal armory, allowing her to pull out an
ything from Bob-ombs to rocket launchers. She can pull out specific things if she tries, but it is often random, which is part of the fun.

Hammer Sister: Although she loves explosives, they can be dangerous even to the user in close quarters, so Princess Sarracenia has chosen a large hammer as her primary weapon. The kind Mario used to use to smash DK barrels when they were at odds so long ago. Although it doesn't send her into a frenzy like it did Mario, the hammer head is as big around as a Bullet Bill, as long as Mario is tall, and weighs as much as Bowser. And, because of her enthusiasm over explosives, it is coated in a special strike powder that causes small explosions whenever it impacts something. Not large enough to damage anything the hammer itself could not, but enough to add a bit of extra Pow to her hits.

Power-ups: Although she hardly ever uses them, Princess Sarracenia is able to harness the power of power-up items such as fireflowers and mushrooms. She can gain many special powers this way, such as the ability to throw fireballs, fly, grow to twice her usual size and strength, or even become invinsible. There is one type of power-up she likes, and that is the suit power-up. Whether it is frog, tanuki, or hammer brother, she finds these suits cute, not to mention powerful. While they do not usually add any more power
to her attacks, the suits can give her special abilities such as water-breathing, hammer-throwing, and high-jumping. In addition to flight, the tanuki suit allows her to transform into a statue, incapable of attack but also invulnerable to damage. Others are able to use these power-ups as well, but the suits will only last until someone is hurt or until another power-up is used.
|Skills=
|Assets=Sundew Princess: Princess Sarracenia is the crowned ruler of the Sundew Kingdom. When her parents are no longer able to rule, Sarracenia will take over for them. As such, she has certain powers and responsibilities within the kingdom, and her parents are willing to fund her activities...to an extent.

Airships: Princess Sarracenia has her own fleet of airships, some as large as the monsters Bowser and his kids usually fly, and some as small and nimble as fighter craft. She has her own personal airship, too, which she calls the Dyna. It is basically an attack helicopter equipped with plenty of things that go boom, and is plenty fast to cruise the Princess to her destination or allow her have a little fun.

Sarracenia's Hammer: The DK Hammer that Sarracenia has had specially enchanted for her. It's magic would send most people into a rage, but in Sarra's hands it just endows her with the massive strength necessary to wield the hammer as if it weighed nothing.
|NPCs=Sundew Army: Along with the airships under her control, Sarracenia also commands a vast army of Sundew subjects. Most of these consist of plant creatures like pirahna plants, but she can hire mercenaries consisting of koopas, giant bugs, and many other creatures. (Max PL: 31)
|Disadvantages=Love Me!: Princess Sarracenia has money, power, and style, but Peach has the things she really wants: friends, heroic plumbers willing to risk their lives for her, subjects who love her, and a beautiful kingdom. Peach is good at sports, racing, and partying. She's cherished by everyone. Princess Sarracenia has hardly been outside her kingdom, has never been the target of a malicious attack, and has had no sutors at all. Princess Sarracenia is very jealous of the other princesses who are beloved by their subjects and just about anyone they meet. She can't understand why she is not as sought after, and as a result she gets rather upset when people treat her badly. She also has a tendency to try and force the issue. She may set up situations where she needs rescuing, or kidnap someone so she can have them play the part of 'hero'.

Proud Princess: Like most princesses, Sarracenia is a very proud person. Proud of herself, proud of her family, proud of her kingdom #despite her own rejection of it#, and proud of her accomplishments. And she takes it very personally when any of them are insulted. Despite that pride, she is not afraid to get her hands dirty, though she may complain about it the entire time.

W-what?: Though she wants people to love her, Princess Sarracenia is so unused to being complimented or treated nicely that when it does happen, she can easily become flustered. It is bad enough that it can interfere with her duties or even combat if she happens to be fighting someone. A well worded compliment can reduce Princess Sarracenia to a fidgiting, stammering schoolgirl.

Childish: Princess Sarracenia is an adult, but she often acts like a child. She is very enthusiastic, prone to temper tantrums, and has a fondness for cool, shiny, or pretty things. Riches also attract her attention. And of course, anything royalty related. It also means that when something really doesn't go her way, she tends to cry like a little kid.

Hammer Time: If Sarracenia is hit hard enough, she might drop her hammer. After that, anyone can pick it up. Despite the hammer's weight, the power of the hammer allows just about anyone to lift and wield it. However, if anyone other than Sarracenia picks up the hammer, it will send them into "hammer fever", meaning they can do nothing but swing the hammer, walk, and jump. Of course, the hammer is dangerous enough that the limitations are hardly ever a problem. The hammer fever lasts only a little while, and after the fever ends the hammer leaps out of the holder's grasp. #OOC consent required, the length of the hammer fever is up to the player, but it cannot last any longer than the current battle#
}}

8832/Fiery Princess Meets Blustery Bird

2024-03-17T04:42:36Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2024/03/16 |Location=The Shrine of Adversity |Synopsis=Kale challenges Sarracenia to a ship duel with Aidan watching, then proceeds to do Kale thin..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2024/03/16
|Location=The Shrine of Adversity
|Synopsis=Kale challenges Sarracenia to a ship duel with Aidan watching, then proceeds to do Kale things resulting in...some surprises!
|Cast of Characters=446, 7373, 7329
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      For reasons that Sarracenia isn't really sure about, Kale challenged the Sundew Navy to a battle. And, being the proud person she is, Sarracenia accepted the challenge after a bit of prodding.      So, she is here, aboard the Sundew Sovereign. The Spanish Galleon style warship hovers over a wide open sea dotted with islands within the Shrine of Adversity. The wooden airship is around 250 feet long, with dozens of cannon doors alongs its sides and a full complement of piranha plant crew members. The large propellers on its masts keep it floating in place as they prepare to face what promises to be a more advanced warship.      Sarracenia stands on the bow of the ship holding her hammer and dressed in her battle dress. A black dress with red metal armor plates over the chest and around her waist like a skirt. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' MINUTES BEFORE. Wearing the spanish style breastplate gifted to him by the Princess, Aidan can be seen standing with Sarracenia. "Weren't you supposed to bring the whole fleet?" He is dismayed and just a little bit alarmed. He opens his mouth to explain how this might be a bad idea, then closes it again. He refocuses, taking a different tactic. "Okay, Sarracenia. You need to go after him directly. Maybe he can only use his ship's wind energy when he's on it. Get him off his ship!" He smiles at her, "If you can distract him, your army will do the rest! He likes to talk. Just get him to talk." He holds his hand out to her for a warrior's grip. She is a warrior, right? NOW Aidan sits with several sour plum onigiri, trying not to think about how completely fucked she is. 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' In this corner is the East Wind, Paladins VTOL. It's around the size of a fighter jet, though bulkier with wings reminiscent of a bomber, and a rear hatch that would look less out of place on a cargo plane. It's held aloft by an array of downward facing airjets, including two jets near the bulky nosecone which also look like they'd serve as weapons - any other weapons the craft might have aren't immediately visible. At least, that's how it all looks from the outside, inside it's considerably bigger with a few more features, though what it looks like inside might not be relevant for this event. It's got a crew of 4 - Kale himself is included in that number, perched on top of the ship as it arrives and takes position. In the cockpit are Hazelthistle on weapons and systems, with Skye in the pilot seat, and at the back of the cockpit the newly recruited Piersson on comms and analysis. Immediately, he sees a problem. "Hey. Princess. I challenged your whole fleet. You sure you want to show up with just the one ship?" With that settled, one way or the other, Kale shifts his perch on the ship - his jet boots slot into grooves carved for that purpose, followed by locking mechanisms clicking into place. "Ready." "Ready for you to lose, I mean." 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' INTERIOR: "I do have a few misgivings about using a rescue craft as a dueling ship..." "... Bullshit. You're the one who packed it full of weapons." "Well... those are for, you know, self defense." EXTERIOR: As soon as the starting signal goes off, the East Wind moves in. "Sorry in advance to the audience - this is going to end quickly!" calls Kale. He points dramatically. "Fire!" The East Wind's aircannons point forward as it zooms by the Sundew Sovereign, and it attempts a passing barrage on its broadside, blasts of air flying through the... air. Blasts of wind flying through the air, let's go with that. INTERIOR: "Sorry, I thought we were setup for a protracted battle?" asks Piersson (who looks like three kobolds in a trenchcoat.) "What's all this talk about a quick victory?" "It's misdirection. Duh. Try to keep up." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      MINUTES BEFORE      Sarracenia just hmphs softly at Aidan as he reminds her about the challenge of the entire fleet. "He expects me to because he thinks our ships are weak. I will show him otherwise." she says. She blinks in surprise at the offered handshake. She is warrior-like, but she's a princess first. She isn't used to actual warrior customs or the like. So when the warrior's grip is offered she assumes it is a normal handshake. Aidan will likely have to correct the grip if he wants a proper warrior's grip.      NOW      Kale too mentions it was supposed to be the entire fleet, and Sarracenia huffs. "I am confident the Sundew Sovereign will be enough!" she says before the signal is given. The East Wind moves in. "It is smaller than I exp-"      The shots are fired, landing hard on the broadside of the ship. Wooden planks splinter and a few holes are formed. The ship rocks lightly, and Sarracenia growls lightly. "Fire a Bullet Bill salvo!" she calls out, and thick cannons run out from the gun ports. With a staccato of shots, a dozen or so Bullet Bills are fired from the first row. They are not the fastest of projectiles, but they doggedly seek their target with explosive payloads.      "Follow it up with a volley of Bob-ombs!" The second row of guns fires, and much faster but line of sight shots are loosed. The bob-ombs also explode on impact. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' MINUTES BEFORE Aidan totally does, beaming a great big smile at here. "You'll do great." NOW One clawed hand comes up to rake over Aidan's face, groaning at the radio. "Princess, whyyyyyyyyy." He looks at his rice ball and sighs, "Yea, that's probably what I woulda done." He pushes the last quarter of it into his mouth. 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' The bullet bills and bob-ombs barrage the East Wind. It's fast enough that it manages to evade most of the direct hits, but the proximity damage from the explosions rocks it. "Ugh - that does it!" calls Kale. "We're gonna end this all with the next attack!" "It is smaller than I exp-" "Shows what you know!" The East Wind swings back around. "This ship is the shining star of the Paladins fleet! What do you have that could match up to it? What does the whole *Concord* have that could match up to it?" Another simple strafing run - but the East Wind is building up steam. "You're outmatched, outclassed, and outmaneuvered, Princess! Maybe I should come take over the Sundew Kingdom and do you and it a favor!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia hears what Kale is saying, and frowns. "So, you challenged me for what? Just because I'm Concord? Because I dare to have an airship that I am proud of?" she exclaims, then her frown deepens. "Because -Lilian- prodded at you?!" She remembers the radio remarks that seemed to push things to an actual challenge.      Kale shouts about things already being over as another strafing run hits. More boards are splintered, and yells go out from the piranha plant crew. "Do you claim to be a hero, Hearthward?!" she calls out. "I do not hear many true heroes starting such a fight simply to satisfy their pride! Nor do they tolerate a villain setting up an outpost right in their back yard!"      One thing is true though. The wooden ship cannot weather too many more of these attacks, but for now it is still flying strong. "Do not underestimate the pride and power of me or the Sundew's flagship! If there is one thing I cannot stand, it is people acting like they are better than me or my kingdom!"      She runs toward the middle mast, and the ship goes into a spin. Not terribly fast, but hovering like that does give it one neat trick it can do.      Each time one of the broadsides ends up facing the East Wind, the guns fire. It happens several times in a row before the ship slows down. "Claiming victory before the final blow is struck is hubris of the highest order! Is that what the Paladins offer to those they protect?!" she says as bullets and bombs fill the air. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan calls Sarracenia. "You just gotta get one good hit on him, Sarracenia, you are gonna blow his smug ass up!" 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' More broadsides. The East Wind (and its topriding captain) weather the hits, but it's being worn down bit by bit. > "So, you challenged me for what? Just because I'm Concord? Because I dare to have an airship that I am proud of?" "Yes! And yes! Do you not get it?" "You have this armada that you put together out of some fear of being invaded, and then nothing happens - you can say it's to stop Bowser from invading, but has he ever actually invaded? I've got enough of that going on, and it's rubbed me the wrong way already. So then they're just your personal army after that - an untried, untested peacetime thug squad. Being held onto and propped up 'just in case'." > "Because -Lilian- prodded at you?!" "... You're going to pay for that." > "Do you claim to be a hero, Hearthward?! I do not hear many true heroes starting such a fight simply to satisfy their pride! Nor do they tolerate a villain setting up an outpost right in their back yard!" "I'm not a hero - and you're going to pay for *that* as well." Kale draws his left hand sword, and then slams it down point first in a slot on the roof of the VTOL. "Consider it a down payment on what Eggman's going to get. Center Stage, on!" "Breathlink established - center stage, on! Bootstrapping from auxiliary tanks in two!" "You see, Princess," says Kale as the nose of the ship shifts. "The problem is that I *am* better than you, and I *am* better than your kingdom." The front of the VTOL, which is now a giant drill, gets aimed at the other airship and attempts to run it through! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Apparently Sarracenia has a lot to pay for now! Of course, she's used to it. Or maybe more accurately she expects it. Seems everyone wants her to pay for things when she didn't really do anything in the first place. She hears Aidan cheering. She appreciates it, but she is locked on to Kale now.      His fighter closes in on the Sundew Sovereign again, and this time it drills right into them! The blow punches straight through one side of the wooden airship. There is plenty of crunching and drilling and frantic yells of piranha plant crewmen as it drills its way through. The other side starts to bulge, then in an explosion of wood the East Wind emerges from the other side in a shower of sundered wooden planks and deckboards.      It is only the size of the airship that keeps it flying. The engine that powers the front mast is destroyed, and smoke starts billowing from the Sundew Sovereign. It has two more masts to keep it afloat, but the bow of the ship is basically just a big hole now.      Sarracenia herself has been hanging on to the center mast to keep from getting thrown overboard. Her teeth are clenched as Kale declares he IS better, and finally she lets out one of thost growly frustrated 'uuuuuuh!' shrieks that she might be famous for by now.      She runs to the helm of her ship, and hits a large red button. "Better, huh? Why? Because you are louder? Feathery? More arrogant?!" she says as the underside of the ship opens and lowers a cannon that is big enough for Sarracenia to stand up in. It locks on to the East Wind, and there is a loud hydraulic sound as a bullet as big as a truck and with a shark face on it is slid into position.      "Hah! If you were -actually- better than me, you would be asking me to help you with Petra and Eggman! Because no one deserves to be trapped inside of some robot and turned into a battery! Now, take this you arrogant buzzard!!" she calls out as she hits the button again.      The Bonzai Bill fires. It tracks the East Wind doggedly while Sarracenia moves her ship away. When it gets close enough, the giant missile explodes. One to rain shrapnel about the area. Then, a series of steadily increasing explosions, then finally one more larger explosion that leaves a mushroom cloud in its wake.      And...there just might be a small amount of maniacal laughter coming from Sarra throughout the explosions. She REALLY likes her fireworks. 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' "I'm not asking anyone for help!" calls Kale. "If you want to help, you can go do it, but I've got it all handled without having to ask anyone for help!" "Oh - oh dear, that's a big cannon..." "Getting a lockon signal..." "Shit - taking evasive maneuvers..." Kale throws out his hand forward. "Full speed straight ahead!" "... Um, does - does the *captain* know what the plan is...?" "It's the plan you handed out, he got a copy, right?" "No - He shouldn't need to have a copy, he's the one who put it on the Paladins tacnet under his page." "Wait, the tacnet page? We haven't used that in months." "Yeah, he puts the newest plan on our local fileshare." "So that was-" "The old plan, yeah." "And he doesn't-" "Know what the plan is, no." The East Wind charges ahead - trying to go *through* the barrage of explosions instead of strictly evading it. The ship is only... somewhat successful, coming out the other end looking considerably beat up, with its top-riding captain looking a bit on the extra crispy side. But now the ship's closing in, drill first, aimed directly at that cannon... and Sarracenia herself, if she doesn't get clear...! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The East Wind charges right at the Bonzai Bill! Sarracenia's eyes widen a bit and her grin increases. Surely this will be enough!      They disappear in the explosions...and emerge on the other side. Bonzai Bill...that was the trump card. Sarracenia's expression steadily sinks to a hard frown. She could have brought the entire fleet, but the amount of pride damage she'd take from losing the whole fleet compared to the one ship...it was a measured gamble. She's no idiot, despite all the signs to the contrary. She knew they might be outmatched by some magitech ship.      Of course, she doesn't know Kale and realizes it is actually more of a personal attack than it seemed when that drill is aimed...at her! The hit on the cannon plows a furrow into it before the drill continues upward, and Sarracenia runs for the railing as that drill sound makes its way through the ship again.      She doesn't quite make it, and in an explosion of wood and fire as another engine is destroyed she is blasted upward and to the side, along with a number of piranha plant sailors. Getting hit with a ship hurts even in a place like this, and the princess falls through the air toward the water in obvious unconsciousness.      A minute or so later, there's a splash as she hits the water. Which finally resets the Shrine. The Sundew Sovereign is gone, having been just a simulation. The princess remains still for a little while. Whether because she is actually still out or because she is contemplating her defeat is unclear, but if someone approaches her it is clearly the latter.      She's just lying there on her belly, head to the side, very slight frown on her face, and her blue eyes just staring at nothing for now. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Fuck, he really DOES have the coolest toys. Hatred bubbles up in Aidan again. Only 10 percent for the cool toys. Gritted teeth, a furious fluid lash up and down of squirrel tail. Aidan walks up to Sarracenia, trying to keep some semblance of a smile on his face for her. "You okay?" He offers out a hand, "I thought you had em. I woulda loved to see the smug look on his face blown off by that cannon. If there was just a little more wind one way or the other. It's kinda fickle like that. Someone's going to take him down a peg eventually." 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' The East Wind lands, and Kale disembarks by simply hopping down from the top of the craft. "There. You still sure just one ship is enough to take me on?" Oh, she's resting. ... Oh, there's Aidan. "You think someone's gonna actually do that, Proudpick? You think someone's gonna actually pull that off?" Kale makes a shoving motion as he approaches - enough force to knock Aidan down to the ground, if he's not expecting it. "Anyway. I'd say good game, Princess, except it was far too boring." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia takes Aidan's hand and stands up. She dusts herself off quietly. "Yeah..." is all she says to his comments. She has no excuses to make, and even if she did making them would just be more fuel for Kale.      Kale approaches...and force shoves Aidan before just flat out insulting Sarra. The princess's teeth clench. She walks toward Kale, as close as he will allow and with her between Aidan and him.      "So, this is the best the Paladins have to offer? Bullies with power that they use merely to show off? You claim to be better than me while doing the exact thing you are accusing me of doing! I abuse the power of my single country's navy? You abuse the resources of an entire superfaction! For peacekeepers you certainly seem intent on starting as many wars as possible!"      Her fists are clenched, she is trembling with anger, and despite herself her eyes are tearing up in anger as well. "No wonder Petra has such a low opinion of heroes! Although, I suppose you don't pretend to be any such thing. You yourself are as much a thug as you pretend I am! One who feels the need to flex merely to stroke his own ego!" 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' He's trying to keep himself cool. "Maybe we should try that spa day sometime soon, right?" Aidan doesn't look up, still trying to help Sarracenia, "Yea. Someone is going to wipe that smirk off your face some day." And 'it's going to be me' doesn't get said. The hard shove. The anger. It all bubbles up in side of him. Aidan isn't a guy of aggression, and rarely looks quite so furious. Aidan, in the middle of trying to help Sarracenia, topples over. A hand goes out, grabbing the ground underneath him, then turning. The ONLY reason that his foot doesn't come out to kick at Kale's leg is that Sarracenia is suddenly between them. Talking. Saying things that are true, but will probably bounce off that damn face. But there is certainly a fire in the squirrel's orange eyes. "Suffocate the future! And suffocate you!" It's a completely wild shot. More like a similiar shove backwards, unfocused, quick, lips parted, then a quick 'HSSS' out between them, thrusting a blast of wind into Kale's chest. 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' "I have *one* ship. Most of which I put together with my own efforts." Kale looks down at Sarracenia. "What, going to cry? What a sore loser." "Maybe next time-" And then Aidan shoves him back. Kale's stumbles, but doesn't fall. He catches himself, checks himself over, and then turns his attention on Aidan. "You got a problem?" "It's sounding like you got a problem." Kale cracks his knuckles. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is definitely a sore loser. And basically a kid in an adult body. And this bird seems intent on driving the point home. Aidan pushes him back, and he just keeps coming. Sarracenia reaches into her purse and pulls out her DK Hammer. "It sounds like YOU have a problem! One that I am quite happy to remedy right now!"      And with no more warning than that, she swings that hammer with all the frustrated, rage-filled might she has. She doesn't care that the shrine is not currently active. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knows this is a bad idea, but...that is -way- back there somewhere. "When your kingdom is filled with robots powered by your people, I hope you regret this day and any others like it!!"      She just keeps swinging, even as a few tears flow down her cheeks. Kale is really only the catalyst. It's Sarra's feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness that are the real cause. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan pushes himself up to his feet, shaking. Adrenaline has him bad. "Just remembering why I never trusted the Paladins. Why I joined the Watch. I wasn't that much of an idiot. You are just the world's biggest asshole!" Unsaid 'You and Lilian.' "Laughing at Petra killing me while she talks about some kind of murder arena!" Bitter. Angry. Terrified. Hurt. Aidan strips his gloves off. He's been in a few bar fights. "STILL talking like you are some suffocating conquerer!" Sarracenia has the presence of mind to use an actual weapon. Aidan is mad enough to jump in right behind her more akin to a feral dog, claws out and teeth bared. 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' The bullying turns into an outright fight. On the ship, Kale's crew are wondering what's going on. On the ground, Kale's all in. "Hah - the Watch and the Concord's true colors! Ready to throw down with only a little bit of provocation!" Even so, he can't get his guard up quickly enough - the two get their hits in on him before he casts at short range, an air blast trying to push both away and give him some space. "Short tempered. Sore losers. Useless. Useless, the both of you! Do you think it's any real surprise why I *wouldn't* ask either of you for help! You'd just make things worse!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is hit squarely by the air blast, sending her tumbling backward. She rolls a few times before she manages to catch herself. She doesn't charge back in again, though. Instead, she reaches into her purse again and with three tosses three Bullet Bills go flying upward. As they come down she goes into a spin, and each one is hit on the flat.      They fire like proper cannon shots at Kale, each one exploding wherever it hits. And she seems to be taking things much more seriously now. Like she might actually be trying to hurt Kale. Something she does not typically do. "Why wouldn't you? Because you are an arrogant jerk who gets some sort of perverse delight out of torturing others?! So much so he's willing to overlook the suffering of innocents to do it?!" she says as she spins. "And don't pretend you are better than us! The day you lose is the day you will be making every excuse to say it was not a valid loss! I have no doubt your ego would not be able to take it!" 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan grabs his buckler off his arm and tosses it to the ground, letting Aegis fall to the wayside. "I don't know why I wasted a SECOND on the idea you might have changed!" Duck and roll, hitting the road with his shoulder, using his tail to spin himself over and duck down as the bullet bills travel over head, before bouncing back up. "Head up your ass bird! Caring more about a fight than anything else! Acting like the North Wind comes right out of your asshole! The storm's gift to the multiverse!" A breath, a sweep of the hand, putting a barrier up behind the hawk, trying to box him in. No practiced martial arts here, so it's just a running right hook, aimed for his face. Aidan is too mad to attempt the 'trick'. Besides, it would get in the way of the satisfaction of actually punching Kale. 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' In the back of his mind, Kale realizes Sarracenia's a lot more serious now. This has turned from bullying into something more serious. He brings his right hand sword out, activates it, and quickly slashes - leaving a blade trail in the air that gets the bullet bills to explode early when they run into it, providing him a small reprieve. "Excuses! You were the one who was complaining that she only brought one ship! And-" Aidan's right hook lands solidly. Kale stumbles backwards. There's the shock of the impact, but then there's also the shock of getting hit - by Aidan, of all people. It takes him a moment. "... You..." He rubs the spot where Aidan hit him. "... Both of you, are going to pay for that." Click click, go the heels of his boots together. With that, they lift up, mini jet engines firing. Kale's ship isn't the only piece of gear he has that lets him fly. "I'm the storm's gift to the multiverse? That's a stupid thing to ask. Of course I am. I'm Kale freaking Hearthward. Put some..." He jets forward, swinging his sword. Wherever he passes, sharp afterimages form, dividing up the battlefield. "... respect on my name, damn you!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      That sword slashes. Those after images form. Sarracenia continues to prove that she can't dodge the broad side of a barn. She goes stumbling back, and feels like she can't catch her breath for some reason. "G-grk!" she gasps, breathing hard and fast to try and get some breath back.      'Put some respect on my name, damn you!'      "D-do something worthy of respect! V-victory in battle only goes so far!!" she exclaims as best she can.      She reaches into her purse again, and this time pulls out an ice flower. She gives it a squeeze and in a poof her dress goes from red and black to icy blue colors. She charges, firing some ice bolts to try and slow Kale down so once she catches her breath a bit she can give him a good whack. "Right now you sound like...like..." She tries to think but there's only one insult that she can think of that might be effective. And it's rather doubled edged. "...like me on a bad day!" 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan turns his head back, looking at Sarra. He opens his mouth to shout at her to stop. Some of the hot blood rushes out of him. This was just supposed to be a fist fight. Physical tension too high NOT to throw a fist at Kale. Kale fixes that for Aidan. Pride soars back into Aidan. Pride and stubbornness. He doesn't reach for his own Breath Weapon, instead bringing up both his fists in a loose brawl stance. One ear flicks. A gust of air here. The fact that Kale IS probably one of the stronger knights in the Multiverse tries to scratch the surface of pent up aggression. Luck, mostly, keeps Aidan out of the path of the after images. He takes another Dark Souls roll backwards, narrowly avoiding being skewered by an after image. "For WHAT, Bird? Why did you even START a charity?" There is some true incredulity in that. "Or is that just for your image?!" Somewhere it's going past the punch Kale deserves. Pain to be able to lash out at something. DO something. As Sarracenia spreads the ice, Aidan moves in, letting out a harsh breath just as Kale stops his manuever. A push at his legs to change the path of his flight. Then a full on grab of the head and shoulder, both to push him to the ground and, in a single childish and hateful motion, try to pull out some feathers. "Maybe because Lilian just told you to do it!" 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' "Yeah? I'm running a search and rescue team. What are *you* doing, Miss Princess who sits in a castle?" And then Kale gets brought up short at Sarracenia's comment. It's enough of a distraction that she slams him right back down to the ground. And then Aidan comes in. And pulls feathers. Kale lets out a cartoonish SQUAWK. That... hurt. And those don't grow back quickly. "... I'm going..." He goes to push Aidan away. "... to *hurt* both of you." "All of this is because you can't recognize how much stronger I am. How much more capable I am. How much better it'll be if you just stay home. Let me handle Quicknest. Let me handle the rest of it." "So it's a lesson I'm going to have to beat into the both of you." He adjusts his grip on his sword. "For your own good." He dashes forward again - sword swinging. He's aiming for nonlethal hits at least, but not holding back besides. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      With her adrenaline pumping hard now, Sarracenia manages to use the head of her hammer to fend of several of those sword strikes. Of course, several cuts still appear in her dress and her otherwise pristine skin. "What am I doing? I am working to become a hero! Someone who is able to help in most any circumstance!"      His other words don't quite make sense to her, and her expression says as much. "Even the greatest of hero can't do everything by themselves! And you expect us to believe some thug can handle it alone just because he is strong? Or that you would even be -inclined- to handle it?!"      She stumbles back again after those hits, then grips her hammer tightly. "If you had -handled- it, then Quicknest would not need handling now!" she exclaims as the hammer head starts to glow with a prismatic aura. It flows down the handle and over the princess, causing her dress and hair to float slightly. Like gravity isn't quite right anymore for her. "Even if we are not the strongest, we can still be of help! And I will show you and everyone else that!!" she screams as that glow flows finally into her eyes.      And she just starts...hammering. Like she is demon possessed, her body swings that hammer up and down rapidly, almost a hammer a second and with enough power to cause small shockwaves. Relentlessly she tries to pound Kale into the ground like a giant tent spike. So fargone is she during the hammer fever that she doesn't even seem to register Aidan. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan staggers back from the push, swaying on his feet. The blow hits across his chest, the flat of the blade striking the layered cloth armor and knocking the wind out of him. He keeps pushing backwards, arms over his stomach. Kale's going to win. Kale's going to win and that's going to be it. All this for absolutely nothing. All this just to be spat on again. Pushed aside. Mocked. A ball of wind. Condense it down with both hands, forming it into a tight sphere. Then into his mouth. Wind coruscates from his arms, whisps of white fumes streaking up from under the fur. Aidan flexes his fingers, still not going for the shield. Sarracenia keeps leveling out words. He needs a moment to recover anyways, spitting the words out with a wind blast shaped into an arrow from behind her. "Does HaZEL" arrow "thistle not count as help?" 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' > "Does HaZEL" arrow "thistle not count as help?" "Hazel is... an employee! A subordinate, I mean! She's not-" Anything more is lost as Sarracenia comes in. Kale's put on the back foot. He's entirely focused on blocking and dodging now, trying to deal with the hammer blows - only managing to stop some of them. The end result is Kale looking... not too hot, after all of this. He's still got the upper hand - he *thinks* he still has the upper hand, at least, with more tricks yet to play and more momentum built up, but... he's not looking too hot. "I- I keep telling you..." "... I can handle Quicknest... on my own. I don't need... people who'll run off and do their own things. I don't need people who'll - who are so hot blooded that they'll start a fight over practically nothing." "I need-" He lashes out with his offhand. It's an unsubtle, practically entirely unshaped wave of wind, trying simply to push everyone away from himself once again. "- I only need *myself*." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess comes down from her hammer high, and has to take a moment to catch her breath. Which isn't easy with all this wind magic flying around!      And even easier when -she- is flying around thanks to wind magic! After her attack and with her energy waning, the princess is knocked completely off her feet and sent flying several meters before landing hard. She rolls a few times, then coughs. She tries to breathe, but her chest really hurts after that wind blast. She wonders if she might have actually broken something, which she hasn't done in a very long time. If ever.      She gets up slowly, unsteadly, somehow still able to move. But only just barely, and it is quite obvious. "I...I didn't even...start this fight..." Her culpability in starting this exact fight is questionable at best, but she probably means this entire encounter. "You...you just...had to prove...that you are sooooo great...!" she says, then weakly staggers toward Kale. "I-if you were actually great...you wouldn't need to prove it...!" she pants out before swinging her hammer weakly. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan sneers, vitrol pouring out now. Moving from a pure need to get his hands on Kale and press him into the dirt and into contempt. "Yea?! The reason I thought you changed was HER! I kept wanting to help you because of HER! And she's just a subordinate to you?!" Well, barring the whole... time thing, but Aidan may have forgotten completely about that in the current events. "You started the fight, BIRD! I'll take your storming insults, but I won't take being pushed around!" Both fists clench. The air pouring out of his body suddenly whirls into a solid plane around them, walls forming around them to form a 1997 JRPG fist. He can't drop. If he didn't fight Kale with everything he had, what would be the point? The wind knocks the wind out of him, pushing him further back and away from Kale. A breath of wind of his own keeps it from impacting him fully, but already the single blow is enough to buckle him down, gasping for breath. His armor heaves as he tries to suck in breath. "Get down, Sarracenia! This isn't worth it!" He shouts, knowing full well he's willing to fight Kale until he drops. He tries to get between her and Kale, driving his fist at Kale's stomach. The blow seems to have two stages, the initial hit, then a sudden pulse of air and pressure after it. 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' "I'm... hoping to not get involved in any of this, actually," says Hazelthistle weakly, still up in the ship, and at a volume that's not actually going to get overheard by anyone down on the ground. > "I-if you were actually great...you wouldn't need to prove it...!" Kale reaches up to grab the hammer as it's coming down - not *quite* managing to do so as smoothly as he'd planned on, resulting in him bruising his hand, but for Aidan he manages to actually block - first the hand, then countering the air pressure with his own. "Enough." "Just... enough. Fine. You want to help? You're going to insist on this that badly?" "Then fine. You can help. But we're doing this with my plan, and you're going to listen to my orders. Agreed? I don't have the time or patience otherwise." He's still holding onto Sarracenia's hammer, and Aidan's fist, as he finishes saying this. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The hammer is caught. Sarracenia gasps in surprise and a large portion of her anger seems to disappear. Only one other person has ever caught her hammer like that, and while Kale didn't weather it quite as effectively as the King of Heroes...it is enough to get Sarra to listen.      She doesn't like what she hears, but after being bested in both ship and personal combat...she can't really protest. "...you...have a plan?" she says, seeming somewhat surprised. "...fine...as long as it is better than my plan. And do not think that means I will just tolerate insults." she says, then lifts her hammer away slowly.      She coughs again, a bit of blood appearing on her palm. She mmmphs in annoyance, then looks down at herself and the slices in her dress and sides. "...do you think this counts as a duel?" she asks, rather randomly. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Hearing 1 works against Aidan at this point. Or at least enough to pick up Hazelthistle's tone. All of Aidan's fire has been doused at once, immediately replaced by shame. Shame and regret. <PHONE> Aidan says, "Sorry, I'm... Sorry." Another flash of anger appears in his eyes, "You pu- You st-" He sucks in a breath. He's already done enough harm again to someone else. And the extreme weight of having fucked up again prevents him from being able to get angry again. Instead, just a hollow feeling. He doesn't even get to bask in having finally punched that stupid smug smile off his face. "Fine." The wind disappears from Aidan's arms, from his lips, coming out as puffs of white that leave him just exhausted. "...do you think this counts as a duel?" Aidan turns slightly towards Sarracenia, eyes wide, incredulous. He turns away so she can't seem him cringe. 

:'''{{#var:7329|Kale Hearthward (7329)}} has posed:''' Kale lowers his hands. He picks up his dropped sword and sheathes it. "I have a plan. And no insults, fine." "We need to get the robotomized citizens out of the Gale Empire first. One way or another. Princess, I want you to reach out. Start putting pressure on the Empire diplomatically and financially. Proudpick, you're making sure there isn't going to be a riot in the streets when the Empire rolls out their shiny new robot work force. I know 'keeping the peace' is a novel idea for the Watch but things are going to get worse otherwise." He heads back towards his ship. "I'll be in touch." 
}}

8818/Super Sundew Gala

2024-03-11T15:56:56Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2024/03/09 |Location=Spring (The Sundew Kingdom) |Synopsis=Sarracenia hosts a ball after being teased about never having hosted a social event. |Ca..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2024/03/09
|Location=Spring (The Sundew Kingdom)
|Synopsis=Sarracenia hosts a ball after being teased about never having hosted a social event.
|Cast of Characters=446, 7615, 7518, 7373, 7573
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The Kingdom of Sundew is located in a gigantic, amazingly dense jungle. The trees grow as tall as skyscrapers, the underbrush grows as tall as houses, and both are so thick and virulent that only one road can be maintained through constant weeding patrols. The kingdom itself consists of one large city built within a lake to form a natural barrier against the forest and any who might attack from the ground. The best way in and out of the town is by airship. Above the city is a series of platforms for landing and launching airships.      The airport contains platforms for holding everything from fighter craft to ships as large as cruisers. Of course, all the local ships are built from wood.      The people of this land consist of humans and pirahna plants living together in the city, and small bands of native giant bugs that form tribal groups within the jungle. The bugs stay clear of the town, and the people stay clear of the forest unless absolutely necessary.      The soiree is being held within the castle, and there are plenty of piranha plant soldiers present for security. The short plant creatures are wearing man-o-war helmets and matching breast plates while wielding short spears.      The route from the town square to the castle is flanked by a full row of them on each side with about teen feet between each soldier. They stand at attention with their spears resting on the ground and the head pointed at the sky.      The castle has a small moat between itself and the rest of the city, but there is a permanent stone bridge leading to the main gate rather than a draw bridge. Outside the main castle a wooden building has been assembled which contains a wardrobe of clothing rentals for the occassion. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Those entering the castle are directed straight ahead to a massive dance hall. A full buffet has been catered set up along the left side when entering the room. Food of all types including plenty of deserts are available along with drinks ranging from sodas to champagne which are poured on demand into crystal wine glasses.      Many long tables are set up around the perimeter of the hall with the center area clear for dancers. At the far end from the entrance a staircase comes down from above and arcs to the side of a large set of doors that likely lead to the throne room.      There are three throne-like chairs set at the center of a table in front of those doors where the royal family will likely sit once they arrive. For now, guests are able to mingle amongst themselves. If asked, the collection of piranha plant and human waitstaff will say that the royals should arrive shortly. 

:'''{{#var:7615|Shinmyoumaru Sukuna (7615)}} has posed:''' In a technical sense, Shinmyoumaru wasn't invited to this gathering, because Sarracenia doesn't know who she is. But in an equally technical sense, just looking at it differently, she *was* invited to this party because she has an invitation. Sure, it doesn't have her name on it, she took it from a news stand, and the card specifically says she doesn't need an invitation, but since when does she let that stop her? Shinmyoumaru prefers that reading. And so she's decided to make an appearance. Such as it is. Shinmyoumaru Sukuna is... okay, at first glance she could pass for a kid who got into the party, somehow; she's about four feet tall, after all, with a round face and bright cheeks that make her look young and probably will continue to do so for literal decades. She does have a very nice kimono though. It bears some resemblance to her usual one in that it is red, primarily, but this one is layered with several other kinds and colours of bright fabrics; violet and green, with a bit of a ruffled lower hem. Though it covers her to the floor, when her legs are (rarely) visible she has a white hakama. Rather than a hat, she's pulled her hair up and back and held it with some decorated pins. It's not *traditional* but it is certainly *elegant*. (And though she doesn't normally wear shoes, when her feet peek out occasionally when she's walking, she is. Nobody can call her non-elegant!) Shinmyoumaru has never seen a pirahna plant before, and spent a few moments watching the guards, but is currently... mingling. Which, because she comes from a castle that doesn't contain anyone who doesn't already know her, is something she hasn't done a whole lot, and so she's been introducing herself with enthusiasm. She seems to be enjoying herself. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      There is also a small orchestra, about 20 strong, set up as well. The attendance is not exactly high considering how open and advertised the event was, but there are plenty of wealthy merchants from the city itself present, and at least one toad ambassador from the Mushroom kingdom. A few minutes after the official start time, the orchestra swells with the national anthem and the royal family makes its way down from above. Gregory, the piranha plant butler, announces them. "King Bark and Queen Pansy Sundew, and their daughter Princess Sarracenia Sundew!"      The king is a tall man in his late 40s with a strong bearing, light brown hair, and a stern face. He wears a green cloak over his royal clothes, which are a mixture of browns and greens. His wife, slightly shorter and of similar age, holds his arm on the way down the stairs. She has long reddish brown hair and a matching color scheme to her clothing, with a slightly longer cloak so that it drags behind her a bit.      Sarracenia walks behind them, wearing bright red as usual. But, rather than the poofy gown she usually wears she has on a long sleek red dress with a sparkling skirt and a silk upper half that shows off her figure a bit more. It still covers hearly every inch of skin though, with long black velvet gloves extending up to above her elbows and flower-like shoulder pads. Her long shining copper hair has been done up with braids on either side above her ears and a red rose has been place where the two braids meet in back.      They head down to their chairs and take a seat, and the orchestra returns to playing music one might expect of such an affair. 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:'''     "You know, first things first, princess. If you want to throw a half-decent high-class party, you have to keep it *exclusive*."     Petra's voice carries across the ballroom when she opens up the doors, intentionally announcing her presence. Out from behind her, framed by the open door, spreads a cluster of agents, suits accented with black-gold Lobotomy Corporation armbands on one arm, and her own Eggman-inspired rat insignia on the other. She takes advantage of the hush that falls over the room from the combination of her slamming open the doors and calling out to Sarracenia to start walking into the room, heavy bootsteps echoing off the walls, with her agents following.     She comes to a halt at the end of one of the tables, hand held out expectantly for one of the servants to place a wine glass into it, eyes locked on the thrones with a smug half-smile. "You never know what trouble might wander in."     Taking a slow sip from the glass (she was given champagne, by default. It's not what she wants, and she has to resist making a face at the alcohol, but it felt important to the tempo of her introduction.), Petra finally breaks her stare at Sarracenia and starts languidly walking around the perimeter of the ballroom, gaze sliding around the features of the party like she can criticize them without even saying anything. "If you wanted advice on how to be a good host, you could have just asked me, Sarracenia."     Obviously Petra didn't pull off that energy off the cuff. She's been around Lilian long enough to harness some of her demeanor, and workshopped what she'd want to say for maximum performative effect. She knows it's no coincidence that Sarracenia is so intent on hosting so soon after getting mocked for being inferior to Petra in that field, so it's a matter of not only presenting herself as a political and personal equal to the princess, but a contemptful superior.     Petra's aversion to dresses is somewhat of a hindrance to formal partywear, and her refusal to wear them is something she an Sarracenia have clashed over before. Today, however, she has an out: presenting herself as the threatening supervillain mob boss with suited underlings that she is, rather than the political leader of a foreign kingdom that she also is. No one's here in EGO gear, with her agents in default L-Corp suits instead, and Petra herself in a complimenting, and distinctive, if slightly strange, outfit.     The base of her outfit is similar enough to a suit without a jacket. A white dress shirt, tucked into black formal pants, with her black combat boots in place of more appropriate heels or flats. Over her shoulders, draped over her arms without actually having sleeves, is an article of clothing that can only really be described as a mantle, black with a pattern of sickly yellow hexagons on one side, and her kingdom's insignia in reflective black that only shows in the light on the other. It looks like something Binah might wear-- which Petra hadn't thought about before custom ordering it, since it's meant to echo Sting Silver's armor, as a quiet reminder that she's always armed.     The most notably uncomfortable part, though, is that in addition to the ever-present black-gold leather collar with its lily ornament, Petra is wearing a *second* piece of blatant bondage gear. A double leather harness belt, with straps going over her shoulders and around her waist, serves to accent both the shape of the dress shirt, and ties the near monochromaticy of the outfit together. 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:'''     Two of her four agents are fumblingly confused by the whole ordeal. New to HQ, the two women haven't stepped out into the multiverse a single time before, and on their first outing, they're being used as props in a supervillain monologue in an alien kingdom by their boss who they also only just met.     Noyo is a tall blonde woman with pointed ears she keeps fiddling with. She's the most embarrassed by the performance and attention, blushing pink until people go back to their dancing and meals, and once she gets a chance, she leans in to talk to Ceri, who's her (apparently) only non-insane coworker present. "Hey, um... is she always like that? I... hi, I'm Noyo, I'm new; this is... eheh, *all* new, really. To me."     Vincent is the other new Extraction agent, though she's less embarrassed and more bemused. She's got mauve and pink hair, tied back in a lazy ponytail, tidied up to the minimum standards for 'going outside' and only aesthetically appropriate for the formal event due to whatever the villainous goon version of the cheerleader effect is. Hands in her suit pockets, she steps up behind Petra while she's plating up some food and leans over her shoulder (Petra is also enormously grateful for the attention to fade away, because once the adrenaline wears off she starts feeling really shy).     "Didn't look like much of a terrorist. Didn't look like any Syndicate I know of, either." "Yeah, I, uh... I figured I'd have time to explain on the way, but my outfit kind of took... yeah, anyways, I'm only part-time at L-Corp, I'm also the apprentice of the greatest supervillain in the multiverse and I run a kingdom." "Is that so." "And... uh... a Kamen Rider." "Fantastic." "And certified to work with Immunes." "Glad that's cleared up." 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' As distant as Sarracenia might think Aidan is from her, he sounded pretty excited to come, and cheerful about the idea. Even when the connections are rough, Aidan tries to keep them. And maybe, there's another part to it. However, in third place, it's a place that he can't be hunted down for validharm. And, in fourth place... Aidan comes out from deeper within the castle, wearing a velvet blue woman's blouse top. The kind with puffy upper arms and shoulders, and flared sleeves. It tucks in with a green corset, then into a man's blue breeches. He tries to quickly take his place among the mingling, grabbing a flute of champagne. His eyes dart between each and everyone else to see if there is some sort of formal thing he is supposed to do. Bow? Clap? He tries to just follow in with whatever because waving enthusiatically over everyone towards Sarracenia. "Hey princess Sarracenia!" The doors fly open. Aidan's eyes drift over, ears suddenly flattening, a backward shift, a sudden instinct to flee and save himself from any amount of verbal pain. 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' Amongst the agents following Captain Petra in is Parker! Parker is not wearing EGO Gear but is wearing a lobcorp suit complete with the B Armband. She is the first Extraction Agent but because she is insane, could never really be the CAPTAIN. She has her hair pulled back into a ponytail and is, of course, wearing her face. Her face is the EGO Gift of Today's Shy Look which is a horrifying smiling skin mask affixed to whatever her face is like underneath. It is fundamentally impossible for her to not be wearing this. Yes, it does smell a little! But trying to get her to remove this will result in extreme violence since she IS following Petra in. She is wearing the datapad for Binah who will not miss this car crash for the world but she's being quiet for the time being in order to enjoy her tea. Additionally following Petra in is Cinder! Cinder doesn't really have strong feelings about Sarracenia but she does want to support her girlfriend's villainy and she's really missed her over the time she was gone so helping her by being vaguely threatening while standing with her, but slightly behind her because she's the ranking officer and has a castle. Suits ARE formal wear, but neither of them are wearing dresses. Dresses are actually pretty uncommon-wear amongst the Agents, Fixers, and working class of the City--frankly, they are still rare outside of this class. The Agents aren't particularly accustomed to Petra's mode of dress but figure it's a specialized battle armor of some sort. It isn't unheard of. Just look at the Regret EGO. And finally there's Ceri. Ceri is the fanciest person present (she always was a bit fancy). She IS wearing a suit but she is also wearing a bright shoulder cape like a matador might wear and a bright red tricorne hat. A decorative rapier is strapped to the back of her wheelchair since it'd be far too awkward to wear at her hip right now. She isn't really posing around with the others as part of Petra's villainous entrance only because she is too depressed to. Cinder is biting her lip as Petra in this outfit and acting like this is rocking her world. She doesn't say anything but she knows to move in lockstep with Parker, who kind of gives the impression she's done this sort of dramatic smug entrance many times before since she is quite good at it, even with the facemask, even going so far as to cross her arms and lifting up her head like she's looking down her nose or it would be if it wasn't for the facemask covering her nose completely. ''Hey, um... is she always like that?'' "Not always," Ceri asides to Noyo. "But she is our most capable Agent. You'd do well to follow her lead. Stay close when you're learning and you'll be in good shape." Parker manages to hold this position but seems to have a sixth sense for when Parker wants it to stop and spins around to make her way for the table, collecting cutlery and food. Cinder looks to Vincent and asides, "The kingdom is pretty new though. You'll probably end up visiting since you're on the same team. I know we've sent some clerks over before..." Ceri continues rolling forward, making her way towards Sarracenia. "Princess Sarracenia Sundew. Thank you for the invitation to your gala. I am Ceri, we have spoken on the band before." Ceri dips her head politely. She can't bow too deep. "That is quite the beautiful necklace." Ceri says to Sarracenia. "I unfortunately cannot stand. May i ask you to bend forward a little so I may better appreciate it?" 

:'''{{#var:7615|Shinmyoumaru Sukuna (7615)}} has posed:''' Shinmyoumaru had been surprised that it was such an *open* invitation, but she hasn't previously been able to hang out with humans very much, so maybe this is how they ordinarily have their banquets. Hey, that's a squirrel, she thinks to herself - and Shinmyoumaru has a poor relationship with squirrels. Normally she isn't so big, but then again normally *they* aren't so big and don't wear corsets. His fashion needs work, Shinmyoumaru decides, but also decides to avoid Aidan, because the last time she ran into a squirrel it chased her out of a tree and *once was enough*. She looks up from where she was chatting with a guard to see the royalty walk in, and then, in the other direction, the crew from Lobotomy Corporation. (Petra counts.) They're all one group, and Petra wants to make a point. Shinmyoumaru appreciates the sheer intensity required to try to pull that off, and she can tell there's history here but doesn't know what it is. She's pretty sure at least one of her friends would be cheering Petra on right now though. This makes Shinmyoumaru really want to see where this goes. She starts to wander over that way, though she has to dodge around people and loses sight of the 'conversation' between the Lobotomy Corporation crew and Sarracenia several times when she has a perfect view of someone's upper back. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The king and queen both look toward Sarracenia as trouble loudly arrives, and Sarracenia - while obviously annoyed at the trouble appearing- is not surprised by it and lightly waves them off under the table then addresses Petra.      "I did not want to throw a half-decent high-class party. I wanted it to be fully decent and non-exclusive since I don't hold myself above anyone merely on the grounds of them not being 'high-class'." she says, not even rising from her chair.      Aidan greets her, and Sarracenia looks somewhat surprised at the greeting. She smiles to him though and offers a friendly wave. "Hello Aidan! It is good to see you here." She obviously looks his outfit over, but doesn't comment on it. The squirrel seems to just dress whimsically (or haphazardly) after all. She rises from her seat for him, since he is at least in good standing with her.      Sarracenia and most of her guests fully get that mob boss entering feeling as the L-Corp crew arrives in all suits. At least they wore something formal-looking. Although Sarracenia doesn't seem to understand the leather harness, several of the other guests seem to know what it is and shuffle even further away from Petra and her entourage than they already were.      Sukuna is someone Sarracenia hasn't met, and so Sarra approaches her first. She smiles and curtseys to the short kid(?). "Welcome to the Sundew Kingdom! I hope you are enjoying your visit~" she says in a cheerful tone.      Then, Ceri approaches. Sarracenia regards her with obvious suspicion. Especially with that request. But, unfortunately, in such a setting refusing such a request would surely be considered bad form. "Ceri. It is good to meet you in person. I must say, while a bit unconventional your outfit is quite eye catching."      The necklace in question is a thin golden chain with a large gold pendant that holds a large ruby. It is pretty obvious that Sarra is hesitant to lean forward and give Ceri a closer look, but after a few moments she does. "Thank you. It is a family heirloom. The gem was discovered when this castle was being built. It was taken as a good sign and set in this necklace, which has been passed down over many generations."      Sarra's tone is amicable, but her eyes are locked on Ceri. Just what is this agent planning? 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "I wanted it to be fully decent and non-exclusive since I don't hold myself above anyone merely on the grounds of them not being 'high-class'."     "I was charitably assuming you'd only half-fail rather than fully." The words slip out of Petra automatically as a retort, and she winces in regret. The fact that there's an actual king and queen besides Sarracenia suddenly hits her and slows her momentum down, making her more hesitant and awkward. Sarracenia might just be another cringe Elite that Petra can bully with impunity, but making fun of Actual Adults (and more importantly, literal royalty in a way that Petra can't quite believe that Sarracenia is), in their own castle, is a bad look.     To pull back her hostility a bit, without diminishing her presence, Petra shrugs and continues, her mantle falling off her shoulders. "And you're wrong, anyways. You *are* high class, supposedly. Not just since you're a royal brat, but since you're an Elite too. Either you're stronger, richer, more responsible, *better* than the masses, or you're not."     "It's pathetic of you to want approval from both and get neither. Choose one or the other, not lukewarm both." She might have just burst into the gala with an introduction tailored to be disruptive and threatening, but that's probably the most sincere advice Petra's ever given Sarracenia. "You'd do well to follow her lead. Stay close when you're learning and you'll be in good shape."     Noyo's eyes follow Petra as she tries to steathily pretend to forget her glass somewhere so she could get a new one without wine in it, then has to shamefully pick it up again because the servants and guards won't stop looking at her. "I, uh... she's a Captain, so I've got no trouble believing she's strong, but isn't this all a bit... much?"     Noyo sticks by Ceri as one person she barely knows at all in a sea of people she definitely doesn't, which unfortunately leads her to hang around behind Ceri while she's talking with Sarracenia. To distract herself from the royal center of attention, she looks around the room and spots someone who seems very far away, but is actually very small and up close instead. Passively and nervously intercepting Shinmyoumaru for want of a conversational focus and assuming she's a child, Noyo bends down slightly to reduce the nearly two foot difference in their heights.     "Hey there, are you looking for someone? Did you get separated from your mom and dad?" "The kingdom is pretty new though."     "Well, I guess it happens." This laconic drawl is actually Vincent's version of being utterly overwhelmed, though to outside observers it just looks like she couldn't care less. "Who hasn't had a kingdom drop into their lap once or twice?"     With absolutely zero context for Petra and Aidan's hostility, Vincent slides her way in beside him when collecting some champagne. She's only got one hand, he notices now that she's holding the wine glass with just her right, and the stump's covered up with some kind of sewn-shut black undershirt sleeve to keep attention off of it. She takes a sip and asks Aidan, aside, "What's with the costume?" 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan is a tall squirrel. Possibly threatening. His tail twitches threateningly. He could own a tree. As Sarracenia looks closer, then says nothing, Aidan lets out a little puff of breath. "Maybe I should have gone for black pants? Or maybe a light green color for spring?" He looks down at himself. His smile is dimmer than it might be, with the addition of Petra, but he tries to soldier on, "But you look amazing! Really elegant." He realizes he should bow, or something at least, for the King and Queen, but it is arrested halfway as he doesn't really figure out what to do. Aidan's eyes cast warily to Vincent, flicking eyes up and down over her face, trying to read any sort of pettiness to the question he might get from someone else. His eyes only take in the sewn limb for only a second, with the clear eye of someone who has seen similar before and pays it no mind. "It's a royal gala, right? I figured I should dress up a little." He is on the defensive again, a common lean for the squirrel at the moment. Every social interaction has a razor blade hidden in it somewhere. "The Princess offered me some of the spare wardrobe." 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' "Mm." Ceri says. "She can be unorthodox, but I don't know of any Fixer agency that argues with results." She also looks towards Petra being awkward for a long moment before turning back to Noyo. "In the Cinq Association, we'd have duelists who'd look like absolute clown shoes but were terrifyingly competent at the job. And I don't just mean in terms of fighting. When motivated, Petra ''will'' get things done, whatever it takes. It's not good form to openly question your boss like this." Ceri stalls for a moment before adding, "Take some time, watch what she's doing and see what happens and--ah--" She doesn't get a chance to warn her against Noyo making that assumption but her distraction lets her approach Sarracenia without further ado. Meanwhile, Cinder is comfortable crossing her arms and giving a singular nod and a "Mmhmm." to support her girlfriend before following and kind of stealthily take Petra's wineglass away so she can grab a new glass at her leisure. 5r"Yeah," Cinder says. "Wait--I mean. It's a Dr. Eggman perk because he really hates animal folk and uh--" Vincent asks about the costume. Cinder swallows and says nothing. Parker is being quiet for the moment, happily humming as she moves across the table, collecting knive and forks as she moves through as they disappear amongst her person. She hasn't started clinking and clanking audibly yet and the thefts are only going to get more obvious with time. Sarracenia takes a moment to hold the pendant via her palm. She takes a long look at it. Then her gaz flits up to Sarracenia's. Sarracenia can see in her eyes that they have lost any luster for life that she might have one had. She is... not happy. Her words are calculatedly polite but there's no joy. This is someone who could leave the facility and has even been asked to leave the facility in order to recover in a place less dangerous for one confined to a chair--and hasn't. Because she has already lost everything she cared about. Almost everything. The hand on the ruby does not move. Nor does she reach for the rapier. Instead, Sarracenia will feel the SLAAAAAAAAP of a glove across her cheek--no hand inside. IT isn't an especially hard slap. If it stings, it'll only be brief. "I challenge you to a duel." Ceri says. "As you are of higher social class than myself you may pick the time and place. You may also choose a second as you'd like. In turn I will ask for a neutral arbiter to decide the match. Please respond with your desired time and place within a span of time of two weeks." She figures if they just execute her, that isn't exactly a loss. 

:'''{{#var:7615|Shinmyoumaru Sukuna (7615)}} has posed:''' "It's pretty nice," is Shinmyoumaru's response to Sarracenia. Which it is! She's curious of a few things about it, but now isn't the time to ask. She can find out just by walking around later, anyway. She remembers to do a complex-looking bow of her own, and manages to pull it off successfully. "I've never been to a hu - a kingdom like this. And with the plants!" Well, the whole place is named for plants, so maybe Shinmyoumaru shouldn't be surprised by that? But she really does want to see the Lobotomy Corp crew up close, and, well... here's Noyo. Noyo is a lot taller than Shinmyoumaru, which annoys her to begin with. Shinmyoumaru subtly rises to her tiptoes, which doesn't actually help enough to matter. It makes Noyo crouching down a little easier, and eventually Shinmyoumaru gives up balancing on tiptoes and drops back to a more comfortable standing position. "What? No! I came by myself. I'm not that young!" Shinmyoumaru huffs, puffing out her cheeks in a way that makes it look more like a lie. "I'm an adult! I'm just not human. I'm an inchling!" She pauses a moment, and then guesses, "You probably haven't seen one before. Or you just overlooked them..." She eyes Noyo a few moments later, and then sticks out her hand. "My name is Shinmyoumaru Sukuna! Princess of the Inchlings." Which is actually true, it's just that nobody cares because nobody knows who they are, which makes using it for social clout a little challenging. Still, Shinmyoumaru gives it a shot. "Who are your friends?" Shinmyoumaru peeks past Noyo at the others. She focuses on the slapping Ceri. "Oh! I can be a neutral arbiter! I don't know anyone here yet." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Aidan compliments her outfit, and Sarracenia smiles. "Thank you! You look...unconventional! But, I think it works for you. Though, black is rarely a bad choice when it comes to fashion."      'I was charitably assuming you'd only half-fail rather than fully.'      King Bark's eyes narrow as a few guests near Petra gasp softly, and Queen Pansy places a hand on his arm. "...this is her fight...she must win it on her own..." Pansy says to Bark, just barely above a whisper.      Sarracenia hmphs and smirks. "I have yet to see any points of failure." she says as more people (notably most of whom do not seem to be from this world) continue to slowly trickle in.      'It's pathetic of you to want approval from both and get neither. Choose one or the other, not lukewarm both.'      Sarra mmmphs in some annoyance, but the phrasing catches her attention. Petra didn't call her pathetic. She said it was pathetic to want both at once and get neither. Did Petra say it that way on purpose? Sarracenia raises an eyebrow. "My being high class does not mean I am going to treat the standard citizen as a lesser person. To do so would be to disrespect the contributions they make to the kingdom and the world. And if the famous plumber of the Mushroom Kingdom proves anything, it is that heroes can come from any station or class." she says, then after a pause and a look over Petra she adds, "...as can villains."      Sarracenia is...unnerved as she sees Ceri's eyes. Just what has happened to this person that they have such eyes? The concern and curiousity is visible in Sarracenia's expression, if only just. The actual grip on the necklace draws a bit of a frown, then...      Slap! 'I challenge you to a duel.'      Sarracenia straightens up instinctively, and the pendant comes with it. She cradles it protectively while the crowd gasps loudly at the challenge. The guards don't brandish their weapons, but they do definitely take notice and shift their positions to facing Ceri.      Sarracenia...well, as Meika has said many times, she is weird. Rather than be insulted her lips curl up into a grin. "A duel, hm? So, you are her." she says, then crosses her arms lightly over her chest. "Very well. I accept your challenge! I do appreciate a proper duel for honor, after all. And perhaps I can bring some emotion back into those eyes of yours." she says.      'Oh! I can be a neutral arbiter! I don't know anyone here yet.'      The child-like Sukuna calls out, and Sarra looks over. She starts to object. "Are you certain? A child shouldn't..." But, she realizes she's met many children since entering the Multiverse that were out and about. She hmms, then smirks. "Very well. If you are offering, it would be rude to refuse."      Sarracenia turns back to Ceri after that. "I will be in contact with the time and place soon." she says, then hees. "It is good to meet someone who truly seems to value honor." 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "It's a royal gala, right? I figured I should dress up a little."     Vincent carries a naturally hostile look, in the ambiently dangerous way of a gun sitting on a table that you can't help catching your eyes on. She matches Aidan's stare with one of her own instinctually even though she's a full half-foot shorter, pale pink eyes languidly squinting back at him. When he verbally gestures towards it, her eyes leave his face and slice down his outfit before returning up to respond.     "Wasn't gonna step up to you and question your fashion choices. I meant about the animal mask, fur and everything." She takes another sip of wine, casually patting one of the other attendees on the shoulder to get them to move aside so she can grab a little quiche off an hors d'oeuvres platter carried by a waiter. "Don't need to twist your whiskers, boyo. I don't know jack about royalty, and I bet you do. I'm just asking." "I'm an adult! I'm just not human. I'm an inchling!"     "Oh, dear! I'm sorry!" Noyo, already critically embarrassed by the two-hit combo of Petra's entrance and then being chastized by Ceri, trying to choose a safe option in this alien environment by talking to a child, takes a third hit from being told that Shinmyoumaru is a *princess* instead. She escalates one further step of deepening pink, then overflows into going pale, forgetting that she's wearing a suit instead of a dress and trying to do a curtsy.     "That's right, I'm new to all of this, I'm very sorry, Princess Sukuna. It's my first time leaving the City at all, much less meeting royalty. I *greatly* apologize if I caused you any offense." Maybe typically there isn't much clout in invoking the name of the Princess of the Inchlings, but Noyo hasn't heard of *anything*, so Shinmyoumaru gets the maximum amount of respect possible from a deflating Noyo. "My being high class does not mean I am going to treat the standard citizen as a lesser person."     This is where Petra actually stops and crosses her arms, temporarily forgetting that she's in the middle of a fairly sizable royal party and drawing considerable attention to herself. With Cinder by her side, and her other matching-suited agents scattered around the gala, as well as all her black and gold ornamentation representative of the power granted to her by various other relationships, when she settles into a serious expression, it feels like there's some gravity to it.     "But you're not treating them the same as yourself, right? You're not giving them your bombs and hammers and powerups so that they can fight on the same level as you. You're not giving them command of the fucking navy. Put out whatever half-baked 'magnanimous' invitations in the newspaper and internet that you want; you'd still be able to kill almost everyone in this room if you wanted to, and almost no one could stop you. Obviously, other than the Elites." 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:'''     The fact that this implicitly means *Petra* could also kill everyone in this room isn't directly addressed, but it's not like Petra would deny it if it was. She'd talked with Princess (full name Princess Delilah Morbucks) about this before, well enough to know the roles of supervillain and superhero in terms of the monopolization of violence. She taps her heel against the floor, getting antsy about having to talk so much at once, especially on such a meaningful topic to her.     "You are who you choose to be around. You're not enough of a person on your own to be anything else. So my *advice* to you, princess, not that you asked, is that you should maybe put more thought into it, or end up being nothing at all. Who's the target audience for an overly fancy party where any random person from the street can wander in, anyways? Thieves?"     She doesn't know that Parker is going around stealing silverware. After she finishes talking, Petra exhales heavily, then gives Cinder a shoulder bump for emotional support. Muttering to her while turning away from the thrones, Petra complains, "I should've just stuck to the evil schtick. I could've just wandered around threatening people, grabbed some food, and left. Stupid." 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Unconventional? Aidan will take that, smiling at Sarracenia. "Thanks, Princess!" "Wasn't gonna step up to you and question your fashion choices. I meant about the animal mask, fur and everything." There's a clear deflating of tension from Aidan. "Oh." An easy smile climbs back onto his face, less immediately guarded. Aidan goes for fruit, since fruit is the only thing that they usually have that fits in his diet. He goes easy on the champagne. "It's not a suit. I'm just a squirrel." He waves his tail around to show, as if flopping it back and forth might prove it's real. Seeing the champagne flute in one hand and Vincent deprived of another, Aidan gives a little bow, "I'm Aidan. And I don't actually know that much about royalty. But if I had to guess, this is just one of those fancy noble parties you hear about? Sometimes they just show off a little. I wouldn't be surprised if Sarracenia was just throwing a party just for her people's morale. She really wants to be seen as a people's princess." He looks over to Sarracenia, contemplating that thought. Trying to link together thoughts, piece what parts he might see in the mirror. At the SLAP, Aidan suddenly jerks his head back. "She also REALLY likes to fight. Kind of loves it, in fact. That's not usually a royalty thing." 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "I challenge you to a duel."     The fuss surrounding Ceri and Sarracenia pulls both Petra and Noyo's attention back to the pair. Vincent takes advantage of everyone being distracted by the duel by scooping up another palmful of mini-quiches. It's not that she doesn't care, it's that it doesn't even register as more insane than anything else that's going on right now. As far as she's concerned, her boss brought her in as a weird prop, and her role ended the moment Petra walked away from the doors, so she's just minimizing the confusion and stress inflicted on her by not engaging with royalty at all.     Petra blinks in confusion at Ceri, looking at her back over her shoulder. "... Huh? Why? Just because she doesn't know shit about duels? Ceri, you're..." '... not really capable of fighting anyone', would be how Petra finishes that sentence, but she just gets irritated instead. Ceri's moping *this* much about Petra saving her life, and honestly, Petra can barely muster up any reason why she did it in the first place. It's a fucking wheelchair, not a prison cell.     Petra calls out to Parker, who's the one with the tablet, without noticing she's not around anymore. "Hey, Binah? You're seeing-- huh? Parker? Where...? Jesus fucking Christ, Parker." 

:'''{{#var:7615|Shinmyoumaru Sukuna (7615)}} has posed:''' "I *just* said I wasn't a child!" Shinmyoumaru huffs again, raising her voice for that one. Even though she didn't say it to Sarracenia and Sarracenia was kind of busy at the time, anyway, so nobody could reasonably expect her to have heard it. That's not going to stop Shinmyoumaru for being annoyed about it! Fortunately, Noyo is being... more deferential than anyone has ever been to Shinmyoumaru in her life. Including other inchlings, as her title is more honorary than anything else because of her heritage; it's not like they're much of a kingdom. She can be mollified almost immediately by this. "Well, I'm not from here, so it's fine," Shinmyoumaru says, after a few moments. "I've actually never been to a place like this either... we mostly live in the Shining Needle Castle. It's dangerous for most inchlings to leave, but I'm powerful so it's all right." She puffs herself up slightly with pride. She glances over toward Petra again, lets that be (for now), but she's starting to form an opinion. This is probably fine. 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' ''Oh I can be a neutral arbiter! I don't know anyone here yet.'' Ceri has no idea who this is and says, "Sure. You've got the job." Ceri doesn't argue with Sarracenia about anything she particularly says. She doesn't see the point. If you're slapping someone with a glove you're past the argument anyway but she does seem confused by the words 'So, you are her,' briefly before realizing that she means she recognizes her from the Banter band. She doesn't seem especially troubled by Sarracenia getting into this. She wasn't so different in that regard when she was younger. Having what Ceri considers the 'Wrong Opinion' about duels would not normally escalate her behavior to that of a duel--people misunderstanding duels is as common as there are blades of grass. She accepts, that's all Cerisier really cares about. "Sounds good." Ceri says. ''It is good to meet someone who truly seems to value honor.'' "...Honor..." She murmurs to herself before wheeling herself towards the ''Princess Sukuna''. "Princess." She offers a card. "My information. Contact me and I'll give you the time and day. Thank you for stepping forward." She says robotically. Binah sips her tea from her datapad, but she's having a tough time getting a look of things while Parker is sliding a golden spoon up a sleeve. She sighs wistfully but she can at least hear what's going on, perking up as Petra starts to speak. She always admires Petra's ability to inflict pain whether it be on herself or others. Cinder almost adds 'Not to mention working legs' when Petra brings up the ways Ceri and Sarracenia will not be on equal ground but then sees Ceri's eyes and swallows the idea of saying that down her throat. She does say, a bit later, "Are you sure you know what she wants out of this fight?" She asks of the duel, softly like she's afraid she'll be overheard by Ceri. ''Who's the target audience ... Thieves?'' A fork tumbles out of Parker's pant leg. She crouches down nonchalantly, picks up the fork, and slides it into her other sleeve instead, awkwardly and quickly scootching towards Petra and Cinder. "We can go." Cinder murmurs, giving Petra a one armed hug. "It's not too late--we came, we talked shit, now we can go do something we actually enjoy." Parker adds in a whisper, "I really want to steal her necklace." "I don't think that'll be as easy to sneak away--" Cinder manages. "Let's try it later. I want her stuff." Parker adds. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      'you'd still be able to kill almost everyone in this room if you wanted to, and almost no one could stop you'      Sarracenia seems uncertain of the point here, and it flusters her a bit. "...but I wouldn't. I am their princess and protector. I do what I do and the navy does what it does so the citizens do not have to fight. That is the whole point of the royal family and our soldiers. To provide safety and security for the people living within our kingdom. I admit I did not always appreciate the responsibility, but recent years have shown me the truth about it. And if they do wish to fight, they can join the military or strike out on their own into the Multiverse.      'You are who you choose to be around. You're not enough of a person on your own to be anything else. So my *advice* to you, princess, not that you asked, is that you should maybe put more thought into it, or end up being nothing at all. Who's the target audience for an overly fancy party where any random person from the street can wander in, anyways? Thieves?'      Of all the people who might try to stop Parker, the most unexpected might be...Gregory. The fairly short piranha plant person in the butler suit who often accompanies Sarracenia on outings. But, it is he - with his leaves folded politely behind his back - who is suddenly beside Parker when the theiving becomes more and more obvious. He is accompanied by four guards, spears gripped but still not yet brandished. Though he has no actual eyes he is clearly regarding her with a serious expression. "Madam, while I can understand appreciating the royal cutlerly, I must ask that you hand them over in their entirety. Then, you shall be escorted out."      Sarracenia had not even considered that people might come here just to steal, whether because she mysteriously has faith in people or is simply that naive. When the suggestion is made, the princess blinks in surprise and looks around. She sees Gregory and her expression sinks a bit. She can't really argue the points, be it theives or being who she surrounds herself with.      Though, as Petra turns away Sarra takes a deep breath. "I will become enough! I aim high! I will not rest until I am on equal footing with -her-! Regardless of how long that might take!" Although she doesn't say the name, Petra likely knows just which 'her' Sarra means from the tone. And she seems quite serious about it, judging by the determined frown and clenched fists.      Although she hears Aidan and Sukuna, she isn't exactly in a position to reply to them at this time. She'll apologize later. 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "It's not a suit. I'm just a squirrel."     "That's fine." After that non-sequiter, Vincent pops a quiche in her mouth to give herself a little bit to think before needing to say anything else. She reflects on the barely thirty minute long explanation of their role in the multiverse that Petra gave her and Noyo, though she'd assured the pair that there'd be more in Training later. To paraphrase... most of what Petra said was... 'most of the things on most worlds are stupid; you probably don't need to care much about them'.     Vincent slowly blinks at Aidan, then tucks her wine glass into her left elbow and lazily extends a hand to shake. "Lots of people in my old gang said I'm like a raven. I'm Vincent." "She also REALLY likes to fight. Kind of loves it, in fact."     Vincent, muttering to herself, barely seems to realize she's still talking to Aidan as she watches the duel challenge go down. "At least *someone* here makes any fucking sense. Or maybe that means she makes even less sense than anyone else." "Well, I'm not from here, so it's fine,"     This comes as a visible massive relief to Noyo, and she slumps over to nearly become shorter than Shinmyoumaru with a big sigh. "Oh, me neither. I'm from District 18-- which might not even make any sense to you, huh? I'm Noyo, agent level three, Extraction team, it's an honor to meet you, Princess." "I aim high! I will not rest until I am on equal footing with -her-! Regardless of how long that might take!"     There's a moment where it seems like Petra might openly laugh at Sarracenia, but the energy drains from her all at once to leave her cold and distant. Her eyes narrow at Sarracenia, framed by her two wealthy, powerful, and *present* parents, and her arm that isn't wrapped around Cinder hangs loosely at her side, rather than gesticulating like she usually prefers to. When she turns to fully face Sarracenia, the golden lily hanging from her throat softly jingles.     "You're falling further behind every single day, princess. You're not even in the same solar system as Lilian. Could you imagine her putting out some half-assed generic invitation to anyone who could fucking stumble across it? Could you imagine her hiding behind her parents to make sure everything goes well like she's a little kid showing off a drawing? Could you imagine her putting so little attention into her own self-creation that she wouldn't even think about hosting a party until *I* made fun of her for it, like I did with you?"     "If you were trying to approach being like her, you'd be a lot more like me and a lot less like yourself. Try to catch up to me before even thinking about catching up to her; and even *I'm* so much less than her that it takes everything I have to even keep her in sight. Even if you had a million years, she and I would be further beyond you than you could even imagine, and you'd be the same incompetent, clueless, apathetic, *normal* brat you've always been." 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "Are you sure you know what she wants out of this fight?"     "I don't have a fucking clue." Petra murmurs to Cinder, weaving through the crowd to grab Parker by the back of her suit collar. "Wasn't talking about Ceri. She can do whatever the hell she wants; she's not my problem and I already saved her life once. Right, Binah?"     Gregory and his entourage gets a quick 'keep your hands off my minion' while she physically spins Parker around to get to the tablet with Binah. ""Ceri asked to come along when I'm not her Captain, and I didn't even do anything to encourage her this time. No way Gebura's going to get on my case for this one, right?" 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' Parker draws out a fork threateningly as guards approach. She probably could get away on her own power but Petra grabs her first and Parker has had it explained to her many times that she's supposed to listen to her Captain. She is turned away kind of perpendicular to Petra. "Mm?" Binah asks. "Which one--" Her eyes travel along for a bit and finds the Agent she doesn't recognize as being part of her team. "Ah, that one must be Ceri. She came on her own, anything problematic she does is just on her, isn't it? Besides, I do not really care. If the Princess wishes to be defeated in battle by someone who cannot even stand, I suppose that is her perogative. I am simply impressed she does not see how embarrassing this will look for her regardless of the outcome." Binah didn't get to say anything mean all day. Ceri is now wheeling away. "No, I don't think anything should get back to you though Gebura may have a thing or two to say to ''Ceri''." Cinder says, "Oh--" to Petra. "I mean I just don't think ''she'' really knows why Ceri's doing this either. And ... I doubt she could ever be like the Dame Commander. She' not even-yeah. I doubt she cares and is just gonna live in her own reality about it." 

:'''{{#var:7615|Shinmyoumaru Sukuna (7615)}} has posed:''' Shinmyoumaru accepts the card from Ceri. "I've got it!" she promises, tucking it up her sleeve. It stays there; presumably she has a pocket or something in it. Given how much flowing cloth her outfit has, it wouldn't be out of the question. She looks back up at Noyo. "No, I don't know where it is. I'm sure I'll find it sometime," Shinmyoumaru says, before adding, a few moments later, "...maybe? But it was nice to meet you too." Shinmyoumaru nods firmly, more to herself than anyone else. Twice. Then she looks past her again. "Do you need to go with the rest of them...?" They did all come in together, after all, but now half of them are either leaving, or being escorted out, or otherwise no longer here. It's fine, though; Shinmyoumaru just seems happy to have met someone pleasant. AND be chosen to do something important, even if she mostly just invited herself along. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' A sheepish grin spreads over Aidan's face as he shakes the hand. "At least *someone* here makes any fucking sense. Or maybe that means she makes even less sense than anyone else." Aidan sips at his own champagne flute as he mulls that over. "Sarracenia's pretty easy to get." He has to turn another thought over in his head. "She's probably one of the most normal people. She just wants everyone to look up to her. And that means she won't back down from a fight." There's an obvious consideration, Aidan looking like he wants to ask something. Deciding he's rather keep any discussion of Petra away, he goes back to an earlier point. "Ravens are pretty funny. They look really menacing, but most of the ones I've met just love to have fun. And are pretty smart." A simple shrug of one shoulder, his smile warming back up. He is also trying DESPERATELY not to look at Sarracenia now, as the mirror begins to reflect way WAY too close to home. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia mmphs softly at what Petra says, and her teeth clench. "No, I could not. But, everyone must start somewhere." she says, measuring her tone and volume since they are in a public party. "I have never hidden behind my parents! If anything I distance myself from them!" She motions with a hand, and indeed they are still seated in their chairs while Sarra is on the floor with Petra and the others. And her volume control is failing.      Sarra's parents have been watching attentively, but it is true they have not raised a hand or said a word to help her. They too think she is lacking and want her to raise herself up, after all. Still, her father is starting to look angry himself. And the refusal to hand over the stolen goods is the last straw. He finally rises, his figure strong and imposing.      He makes his way over, and as he does more guards follow. Sarracenia shoots him a glare as this is the worst moment for him to intervene, but his stern look back makes her shrink away. His cape billows behind him as he approaches, and the guards near the door close in around the agents as well. He stops just in front of Gregory and looks down at Petra and Parker.      "I will not argue with what you have said to my daughter, but openly stealing from me in my own home I cannot abide." he says, his voice strong and a bit gravelly. "Return the items and we can let this matter drop. Refuse, and we may have to put that theory about who can harm whom in this room to the test."      As he says this, spears are finally lowered into ready position, aimed at Parker. "There is no need for violence, but make no mistake. The Sundew Kingdom has not lasted this long in this hostile land because we are afraid of confrontation." His hand rests on a sword at his waist that had been hidden by his cloak while he eyes that fork that is being held by Parker.      Sarracenia stays nearby. And she looks worried. It is unclear how capable her father is, but it seems to her that Petra and the L-Corp agents seem to place little value on lives outside of their circle of friends. Her hand rests on her satchel in a similar manner. Gregory, even though he seems to be a non-combatant, stays at his king's flank. 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:''' "No, I don't think anything should get back to you though Gebura may have a thing or two to say to ''Ceri''."     "Thank god. No problem for me, then. Maybe Sarracenia's going to go around claiming that her best 'honor duel' was against a cripple, after this."     Petra frowns at Parker, shaking her around to get her to drop the cutlery. "Why are you like this? Why can't you be normal?" Petra's vague posturing and threats are retroactively backed up a little when a pair of her ratbots levitates down from where they were nearly-invisibly hidden in the rafters, having snuck in at some point earlier undetected. They each latch on to Parker's shoulders, engaging their antigravity generators and lifting her a few inches up into the air so she can't run away or move around on her own.     "I swear to god, Parker. You're so creepy. Your deal is incomprehensible to me." "Do you need to go with the rest of them...?"     Shinmyoumaru's question is the first time Noyo notices Parker's shenanigans. She straightens up, instantly able to see over the majority of the partygoers, and squints at the mild confrontation happening with Petra and Gregory. "Oh-- oh, gosh, are they being *escorted out*? Aaauuuu... I... thank you, I really ought to be leaving with them, yes. If you... if you ever happen to find your way to Lobotomy Corporation, and you're given a pass to enter, then I'd be happy to show you around. But... but for now, I guess I should go...." "She's probably one of the most normal people. She just wants everyone to look up to her. And that means she won't back down from a fight."     Vincent waves her hand in a circle, head tilted to the side to consider the princess. "That all stops being normal when you're royalty, though. I guess not so much 'wanting to be looked up to'. Most of us just don't have a whole ass District who we expect to admire us."     "Omens of death too, so they say." On ravens. Vincent nods her head in agreement at the qualities of ravens, and chooses not to ask about the qualities of squirrels. When King Bark starts storming his way over to the cluster of the other Extraction agents, Vincent slams back the rest of her wine and sighs.     "First day on the job and my team's already pissed off royalty. Doesn't feel all that far from home now, huh? The hospitality's been a real fucking charm, but I probably gotta stick with them if they get kicked out, or I'll be stranded." "I will not argue with what you have said to my daughter, but openly stealing from me in my own home I cannot abide." 

:'''{{#var:7518|Petra Soroka (7518)}} has posed:'''     "That's rough. Still, this is sort of what I mean." Whatever insane concoction of dismissal and arrogance possesses Petra in the moment to look past the towering king and talk to Sarracenia only grasps her for a few moments, and Parker's already been apprehended by her ratbots before she talks. "They won't stick up for you in a dumb catfight you started, but you're still hiding behind them if you're only able to do anything in *their* castle. Is there actually any problem you'd feel confident about solving if you didn't have them as backup, princess?"     Petra brings her attention back to the king, then immediately freezes up as multiple competing rules enter her brain. Should she defer and politely smooth this over, maintaining relationships for essentially no cost like Lilian would? Should she assert her control and capability so that she's not seen buckling to a mild threat? She did come in here under the role of a villain, after all, so looking weak might be a detriment. Petra blinks and stays silent for a few seconds, the thoughts of roles and networking interfering with each other and canceling out, leaving her with the sudden realization that she's a teenager from Texas who stole a gun and is now here.     "Uh...." Petra makes a noncommittal sound, finally, then has her ratbots shake Parker around in the air so all the silverware comes clattering out. With her brain shutting down, she defaults to vague, childish confusion and recitence, failing to project any particular persona at all. "It's just silverware, dude. And look at her. She's, like, fucking stupid. Are you really threatening to pull out a weapon just because some mentally ill weirdo picked up forks like she's goddamn Ariel?"     "Parker, you're grounded. The rest of you, we're heading out." 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' Clatter clatter clatter!! Most (not all) of Parker's silverware tumbles to the floor. "No...my crimes..." Parker laments. "I like stealing...!" To make matters worse, she's grounded. "Why do the vicious Winglings want to make my face sad? Plastic forks make my face sad. Crime makes my face happy." This is probably not a convincing argument but the Agents leave without further incident. 

:'''{{#var:7615|Shinmyoumaru Sukuna (7615)}} has posed:''' Lobotomy Corporation. Not knowing what a lobotomy is, Shinmyoumaru accepts this without comment. "Sure!" is what she actually says, and there's a mental fistpump that mercifully does not get an actual physical one to go with it. "Oh, there's all the forks. I guess they're good now." She also didn't see anything wrong with Ceri challenging Sarracenia in a wheelchair. *She* fights sitting down sometimes, after all. It's perfectly normal. Shinmyoumaru waves at the departing Lobotomy Corporation crew before wandering off. She has a buffet to examine, after all. She didn't even have anything yet! Most of it she didn't even recognize. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan watches Sarracenia on her rant about Lilian. "Well, some people go crazy and want to impress an entire kingdom," with a tone of voice that includes himself, "But at least she has a good reason to." "Omens of death too, so they say." A smile on his face again. He thinks about how to spin that into a good thing, a platitude, but then he just grins at his own lack of poetic ability, "Maybe they meant that." "First day on the job and my team's already pissed off royalty." "You probably see that a lot." A moment to think, "We all make them mad." He finishes up his flute of champagne. "Have a good night, Vincent! I'm going to go return these clothes before the whole kingdom walls up." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      As the silverware starts clattering out, the king raises his hand off his sword and the spears are likewise lifted. Petra and the agents are allowed to leave without further incident, and the guards return to their positions. "It may be just silverware, but there is a principle involved. I am sure you understand." he says to Petra as they turn to leave. He also turns and heads back to his seat.      Sarracenia is a bit baffled by the accusation that holding an event in the castle is hiding behind her parents. "...but...it is where I live..." she says quietly as the agents head out.      "I solve all my own problems!" Sarracenia calls out childishly as Petra leaves. Which causes the king to look her way with that look of his. Sarracenia flinches lightly and looks down. "You still have a long way to go." the king says, causing Sarra to shrink some more. "Y-yes, daddy..." she says quietly. The queen looks toward Sarracenia with quiet sympathy.      After that, the ball resumes. And despite everything Sarra remains here. She just lectured someone a few days ago about not running away in such a situation. She can't do so herself now. And she takes this time to approach Aidan and Sukuna to apologize for them having to see all that and to thank Sukuna again for agreeing to be the arbiter of the duel. 
}}

8776/Proudpick's Armor

2024-02-08T14:08:47Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2024/02/07 |Synopsis=Aidan wants to return the armor Sarracenia lended him during the attack on the Queen. But that is not all that is on their min..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2024/02/07
|Synopsis=Aidan wants to return the armor Sarracenia lended him during the attack on the Queen. But that is not all that is on their minds
|Cast of Characters=446, 459, 7608, 7373
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The Kingdom of Sundew. A gigantic, amazingly dense jungle. The trees grow as tall as skyscrapers, the underbrush grows as tall as houses, and both are so thick and virulent that only one road can be maintained through constant weeding patrols. The kingdom itself consists of one large city built within a lake to form a natural barrier against the forest and any who might attack from the ground. The best way in and out of the town is by airship. In fact, above the city is a series of platforms for landing and launching airships.      The airport contains platforms for holding everything from fighter craft to ships as large as cruisers. Of course, all the local ships are built from wood.      The people of this land consist of humans and pirahna plants living together in the city, and small bands of native giant bugs that form tribal groups within the jungle. The bugs stay clear of the town, and the humans and piranha plants stay clear of the forest unless absolutely necessary.      Today is a unique day in this kingdom. Sarra did something (marginally) nice, and the target of that niceness wants to return something! Sarracenia isn't entirely sure when Aidan will arrive, but since she is a very busy princess she is sitting at an outdoors ice cream parlor enjoying a double scoop of her favorite ice cream. Rainbow vanilla with pop rocks. This ice cream parlor might be the only one that carries the flavor.      This way the princess is visible to anyone who enters, and is not just waiting around bored. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' It being that one ice cream parlor that serves the one specific flavor does make it easy to find where Sarracenia went. So it's not long or much of a surprise when a certain pink haired anime pigtailed Pokemon Trainer ambles up, grabs the chair opposite Sarra and spins it around once fancifully before sitting down. "Well well, looks who had a sweet tooth craving." Alexis leans forward to rest on one elbow on the table between them. "Nice spot with a view though." The prolific Fire type Pokemon that tend to accompany her do make the locals a little uneasy, so instead it is just an Alolan ice version of Vulpix out of her ball and resting across a shoulder. 

:'''{{#var:7608|Madeleine Cadrasteia (7608)}} has posed:'''     Madeleine eyes the skyline of Sundew Kingdom as she approaches it by boat. She hadn't paid much attention to her surrounds on the way in, because there had been work to do. But now that the chupacabra infestation plaguing a local bug clan was rooted out for good, the huntress would finally have a chance to relax here and take in the atmosphere. The beetle gondolier, one of the few bold enough to face both cultures at once, waves her farewell as she steps onto the city's beach, and Madeleine offers him a polite nod.     It's not long before Madeleine looks for someplace to beat the heat; her legs are tired, and even though Drogrung, her spear, doesn't need to do any walking it's still eager for a chance to lie down. And so the huntress finds herself at a certain ice cream parlor, hurrying in past the outdoor seating without paying its occupants any mind. It's only when she emerges from the parlor, a paper bowl of mint chocolate chunk in hand, that she notices the Princess and the Pokemon trainer. "Ah," she says as she takes a seat and leans Drogrung against the table, "I'm glad I can find a familiar face or two even in such unusual places. You don't mind if I cut in?" She digs into her ice cream without awaiting an answer. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan has NEVER been to a kingdom before. He knows Kingdoms exist, he lives next to one. But he only knows stories about knights and what they would do. He doesn't have a herald. He doesn't really know how to use the mailing system, he's never thought about THAT before. Eventually, Sarracenia just gets a text that says 'Hey, I gotta bring something back, be there soon.' That said, Aidan is, at least, trying to wear something good. A suit is right out, he can't afford one of those. Instead, he is wearing a thrift store pink sports jacket, khaki pants, and a bright floral pink and green shirt underneath. It'll have to do. He is carefully lugging two pieces of steel with him. A pointed spanish helmet, and a breastplate, a simple affair each. Once well shaped and perfectly formed, the breastplate has seen better days. It is clear a blacksmith has attempted to curve out some dents. COnsidering the armor had been utterly crushed like a tin can by tentacles, it looks very good. A steel patch has been riveted by hand onto armor, on the opposite side of where the heart is, where a spike penetrated his chest. Aidan's tail flicks back and forth, curiosity brimming as he slooooowly tilts his head backwards, having to lean back. He looks up the enormous trees, eyebrows lifted. "Wow. I wonder what it would be like to climb THOSE." "Hey Miss Madeleine!" Aidan lifts his hand to wave, crossing just into the street to meet here. And seeing Sarracenia and Alexis. "Oh. Uh." He stands there, looking a little sheepish, but it breaks into a warm smile once more. "I didn't know we were just out eating ice cream, I was going to come up to your castle." Aidan, at least, isn't intimidated by the company, just smiling. He does, however, genuflect. A slight twist of the waist, enough to show respect again, but not enough to denote that he fully recognizes her title. "Princess! I bring back the armor you gave me, with my thanks. I'm afraid it got a little crushed, but I did my best to give it to you in the same condition you gave it to me." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia had been watching the gate, but when Alexis appears she smiles brightly and giggles. "I often have a sweet tooth. And I pay this parlor a bit extra to keep this flavor in stock for me~ Would you like a bowl?" she says before enjoying another spoonful. The popping can be heard easily as she savors the flavor.      The piranha plant guards don't seem to mind the bug person too much, but the humans who see it seem rather unnerved and keep their distance even with that bug person staying on their boat. Sarra looks surprised when Madeleine approaches, and she watches curiously with her spoon partially in her mouth as Madeleine passes...without saying anything. Which earns a deadpan look from the princess. But, the huntress speaks up when she re-emerges and Sarra smiles. "Not at all! Please, join us!" she says. She eyes that spear curiously as she takes another bite. "Did you have that last time we met?"      Aidan arrives, but it isn't his squirrelness that draws attention. It is his outfit. Many people look his way when passing him, both human and plant alike. When he spots the princess and speaks up, Sarracenia is also staring at that outfit. She almost misses what he says, but a few blinks to break herself out of staring and she coughs softly before standing. "Ah! So that is what you wished to return to me."      She eyes Aidan for a few moments, then that armor. She quite obviously takes its condition in, then looks at Aidan again. She frowns ever so slightly. "So, did you aquire new armor and are no longer in need of it?" she asks, standing as she does so...but still eating her ice cream. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' "Sure." "Vul." "Okay, make it large enough to share," Alexis replies as she reachs up a hand to pat the six tailed fox on the head. Of course an Ice type would want some ice cream. But letting her have an entire dish of her own is probably not a great idea. It doesn't take long for it to turn into more of a gathering than just the two of them, between Madeleine and her spear, and the squirrel bearing armor to return. To which Alexis chuckles a bit. "I see you've been out busy doing princess things and helping people, Sarra. Good for you." 

:'''{{#var:7608|Madeleine Cadrasteia (7608)}} has posed:'''     Madeleine is just taking another bite of ice cream when Sarracenia inquires about the spear, so the spear itself is the first to answer. It speaks despite lacking a visible mouth, in the deep, relaxed voice of something large and sleepy. Some kind of dragon, perhaps? "My name is Drogrung. I have been with my lady since well before she Unified, but she graciously permitted me to rest until quite recently." Madeleine chimes in, "That close call with the leviathan Queen - on Rita's world, you know - had me reconsider just how much danger the multiverse had to offer. So I decided to bring an old friend out of retirement, so to speak."     Madeleine takes a break from her ice cream to hold out her hand for the frosty vulpix to sniff, then gently pets the creature on its flank. As she does she glances over at Aidan, nodding as he arrives, and eyes the armor. "That's a nasty puncture," she says, indicating the patched hole with a wave of her spoon. "Is your lung doing any better? It'd be a shame to lose your wind magic." 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' People are looking at him. Aidan looks down, seeing his clothes. He looks at everyone else. Then down at his clothes. He isn't sure what is wrong with them, but it is warm, so he pulls the jacket off and sets it around the chair. Then he hesistates, looking at the armor. He opens his mouth, about to say 'well, I don't actually need it, it doesn't help that much' then clacks his teeth shut around that. Instead, he says, "I thought you might want it back. I thought it was a loan for the battle." He waves to Alexis, smiling at her. "Sorry! I'm Sir Aidan Proudpick. Knight of Quicknest. A pleasure to meet you." Then a turn back to Madeleine. "You've had that all this time?! Wow!" He is a tad starstruck with Madeleine, who, much like Captain Hook, is much like a story come to life. With the interest in his wound, there is no shame, actually another grin. He would LOVE to show off his battle scar. A couple buttons undone of his shirt and he pulls it aside to show a white patch of fur around a large pockmark. "My lungs are coming along. The medicine on the East Wind kept me from losing it. But it'll take time. It's good to see you are better off than me. A mighty hunter." He turns back to Sarracenia, carefully setting the armor and helmet next to him. "Thank you for the gift, Princess. It means a lot to me." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarra snaps her fingers when Alexis says she wants some. Alexis and Alolan Vulpix are two of her favorite things, so of course Sarra is going to take care of them! The snap gets the attention of the ice cream parlor owner, and she personally brings out another double scoop of the pop rocks ice cream for Alexis and Vulpix. And Sarra pets the vulpix as well as she awaits Aidan's reply.      The spear speaks up on its own behalf, causing Sarracenia to almost lose her spoon in surprise. "Oh my! A talking spear? It is an honor to meet you, Drogrung!" she says, giving a curtsey. "If my hammer could talk..." She giggles a bit devilishly considering the idea.      Aidan almost says something that would likely earn him a glare, but luckily he doesn't. "Want it back? I do not take back gifts! That would be quite the opposite of heroic!" the princess says. She looks the armor over again, then hmms as she hears Aidan's chosen title. And eyes that scar, then eyes Aidan. "...Sir Aidan Proudpick, Knight of Quicknest. Did someone knight you after all?" she asks almost idly. There is definitely something she is getting at, and is poking Aidan a bit to see what happens. "I hate to agree with...certain people, but you really should not use the title of knight without being properly knighted." She doesn't seem to be putting Aidan down or making fun of him, it is just a statement of fact. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' Alexis is unphased by the spear speaking up with a character of its own. And with no visible mouth to do so. She's been around the Multiverse for some time... and Pokemon like Ageislash exist. "Yeah, you're not wrong. There's some pretty crazy stuff out there. Doesn't hurt to take a few precautions, especially with someone you can trust at your side." Or six of them, in her cause. But that's a different story. Tiaga sniffs at the offered hand, then leans into the pets. Her coat is soft and cool to the touch, but not to the point of being uncomfortable. Think like putting your hand on an ice pack wrapped in a fluffy towel. She is thus distracted by a spoon of ice cream being offered up her. The other hand is raised in a short wave. "Alexis. Pokemon Trainer." "Vulpix," adds the fox after licking off her lips. "This is Tiaga." Then eats some ice cream herself, watching the exchange between Sarra and Aidan. "Maybe he's like a Knight Errant or something? They didn't always serve a specific court or noble house. I think." Pause. "I'm an ecologist, not a historian." Shrug. More ice cream shared between her and the fox. 

:'''{{#var:7608|Madeleine Cadrasteia (7608)}} has posed:'''     It is an honor to meet you, Drogrung!     "Your Majesty." The spear flicks its eye downward in imitation of a bow. "Indeed, tools such as I can have many stories to tell."     Madeleine nods at Aidan's question. "Yes, I have had Drogrung with me for a while. It was forged to slay gods. I was hesitant to bring it out of storage because showing up with such a weapon does carry a certain weight to it, doesn't it? People might assume I intended to use it for that purpose when, these days, I generally don't." Drogrung chimes in, "So long has it been since I tasted divine blood... almost long enough to make one nostalgic."     'It's good to see you are better off than me. A mighty hunter.'     "Why, thank you. It is rather convenient, for the flesh to be subordinate to the will. I'm sure you- well, I suppose you don't know how it is, actually. Being mortal. No offense meant, it's just-" she cuts herself off before she says anything stupid. 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' The smile doesn't fade from Aidan's face as Madeleine calls him mortal. He buttons up a button, but leaves two down. "I understand! I don't have anything special keeping me alive. Just luck and determination! Besides, you can't do this!" He puffs his cheeks and makes a little wall of air appear, grinning with full knowledge how unimpressive it is. Aidan's smile fades slowly as Sarracenia prods him, pokes him. "No. It's a word. If I put on a dress and started saying I'm a Princess, I wouldn't be a princess. If I put on a dress and start trying to make a country better, then maybe I'd be a princess." He taps his own chest, but selects his words carefully. "I'm a Knight because I aspire to be a knight. I dream of it. And I dream of helping people. I have a code. And I've fought in a war. Lilian can be as mad as she wants. I'm not wearing her collar. I'm not one of her Paladins, I'm not one of her fans." He nods to Alexis, "I'm just... me. I serve Quicknest. I do my best to protect them." He can see that streak in Sarracenia rising up and lifts his hands. "I didn't come here to talk about that. I wanted to hear what you are doing for your Kingdom. Making their lives better. I want... I want to do something more than just standing around." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      "True, but knight errants were still properly knighted by a lord or lady." Sarracenia says to Alexis. She smiles as Drogrung does its best to bow. She also smirks lightly at the divine blood comment. "Well, perhaps I could-..." Then she stops. Not only would that probably be weird to say, when she says things like that lately people really jump on her. She coughs lightly then returns her attention to Aidan.      Aidan gives his noble speech about being a knight. She nods lightly, and that slight smirk returns. Not a smirk of being mean to Aidan, but more one of 'I could really stick it to that certain someone and her nasty pet'. "And...what would you think of the title...Knight of the Sundew Kingdom, Defender of Quicknest?" she asks, then giggles a bit. "But, I suppose if you are not here to talk about that..." she says teasingly.      She continues on to the inquiry instead. "What am I doing to improve their lives and my kingdom? I am doing my best to be heroic, to become someone the kingdom can be proud of. That means going to those places where I am in danger, places where I can protect people. Even people who are not of my kingdom. For heroes do not protect only those they care about or those they are obligated to protect. And the same is true of knights, in my opinion. A knight should be knightly in all things and at all times."      She takes another bite of her ice cream, then just waits with a sort of devilish smile on her face. She is far too tall to have imp energy, but she definitely has some right now. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' Alexis huhs. "I stand corrected." Well she did say she wasn't a historian. When Aidan blows the little air barrier Tiaga fluffs up and tries to similar, huffing faint glimmers of frost in the air in front of her. Which makes Alexis shiver a little from proximity. "Easy there girl, you know Aurora Veil only works in combat." The fox is appeased with another spoonful of ice cream. "At least he's honest about it, counts for something." As factions are brought up she just shakes her head a little and focuses on the ice cream for the moment. She got out of that aspect of the Multiverse when the old orders collapsed, and kept out of their affairs for her own sanity. For the most part. Sometimes friends get her dragged into things, but she's for their support rather than politics, and goes on her way again afterwards. She just maintains her ranch, does her studies, and helps out her friends and others when they need it... Not unlike Aidan in some ways. "Now you see that?" Alexis speaks up again as she waggles her spoon a bit at Sarra. "Your gift got someone else interested in your Kingdom. That's good advertising." A pause. A frown. "Maybe advertising isn't a good word. Sounds too commercial. Too.. touristy." But seeing as Sarra was all too happy to make friends like her part of her own court, serious or not, she wouldn't be entirely surprised if Sarra tried with others. While she's occupied with the thought Tiaga bites an entire mouthful of ice cream from the bowl and sits down, content. Even with the occasional fizzle of the pop rocks. 

:'''{{#var:7608|Madeleine Cadrasteia (7608)}} has posed:'''     As the topic of knighthood comes up, Madeleine chimes in. "The way I see it, a title should be awarded for some act of service, rather than just to spite another's pride. But, if such a service were rendered in the name of the Sundew Kingdom, I could certainly find no objection even should I desire to." The vulpix puffs out a cloud of cold air and Madeleine is instantly distracted. "Oh, what a lovely trick! I could show you similar, you know, but, well. It might not be good for local business." She chuckles at her own remark. "Alexis, wherever do you find these most delightful creatures? I am led to understand they're native to your world?" 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' Aidan might normally miss that imp energy, that devilish smile. But he is looking for it. Sarracenia's face. That little smirk. Something in his heart sinks. Maybe coming here was a mistake. Did he misjudge again? "No, please. I don't want to be loyal to anyone but my home. I appreciate the armor very much!" He puts on his smile on his face, but this one isn't as bright. There's empathy instead. Looking across at someone just like himself. His eyes change. Pity? He breathes in slowly. How can he say that. Listen. Really listen. He looks around the plaza. "They don't seem to be getting attacked now. And you already took part in the War against The Queen. That has to be enough, right? Is this what he is like? Petty? Always looking for a way to dunk Kale. "Sometimes I think about what Quicknest NEEDS. What's a hero going to do for them? Yea, they need someone to cheer, someone to rally around but..." Aidan looks around at the city. "That's only so much. Who makes things safe? Who makes sure everyone is healthy?" He casts a warm smile at Alexis, but then looks once more at Sarracenia. What to say. Don't judge her. Just listen. "Protecting people is important. Being brave is important. But... there are so many elites that do that already." 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' Alexis lets the two have their chat, turning her attention to Madeleine at her inquiry. Though not before noticing the mouthful Tiaga is enjoying, and shakes her head a bit. Her fault for letting her guard down. Though now she does pick the bowl up to prevent future sneaky nommings. "But one example of a Pokemon, but yes, you're right. Creatures of elemental or mystical properties, raised as pets and companions, used for protection and competitive battling." She smirks a little. "Kind of like playing a wargame for sport, but your WMD is a small furball that spits fire or shoots electricity or so forth." A pause. Then a faint frown. "Of course there's those wanting to misuse such potential, too." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia mmphs softly at what Alexis says. "...and I suppose the fleet of airships that were on the front lines and helping with survivor recovery were nothing..." she mutters to herself. Then at a normal tone, "That was not why I gave it to him. I gave it to him because a knight should have at least a semblance of a knightly outfit when he is riding into the breach." she says, smiling lightly.      Madeleine chimes in, and Sarracenia nods in agreement. "Indeed! Services rendered or princesses rescued! Either would be worthy of knighthood!"      'I don't want to be loyal to anyone but my home.'      Sarracenia scoffs a bit, and seems slightly insulted and a bit hurt at how Aidan's smile fades then returns falsely. "Do I seem like the type to require loyalty in such a circumstance? I am not Lilian..." The princess is certainly petty, and certainly at one point she was petty enough to simply knight someone to spite someone else with no other thoughts given.      'That has to be enough, right?'      Sarracenia hmphs at this. "No. It is never enough. You could save the entire Multiverse and for some it would still not be enough." She is quiet a moment. "...especially when you have dug a pit as deeply as..." she murmurs. She shakes her head, then looks at Aidan again. "But, no. And even if it somehow was enough, new problems would arise. Heroes never stop."      "What do you mean who makes things safe and ensures their health? Heroes! Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and types, after all. Heroes such as warriors and officers of the law help make things safe. Heroes such as doctors and nurses help keep people healthy. Very few, if any, can keep an entire settlement safe from everything all at once. One person can only do so much, and faulting yourself for not being able to do everything, well that is just stilly."      She takes the last bite of her ice cream, then sighs softly. "If you want your home to be truly safe, then everyone there must work to keep it safe. And the hero who they can rally behind becomes the most powerful hero to that home. Would you mind being that kind of hero?"      She looks a bit sad after that. Has she driven another person to think she is just a petty, crazy princess? She holds her spoon half in her mouth again, then takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "I will not take back the armor. It was a gift, and neither a princess nor a hero takes back such a gift. Repair it and rewear it if you wish. Place it in your home as a trophy. Have it reforged into something that will be useful to someone. I do not care...so long as you do not return it to me." 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' It's like looking in a mirror. Aidan's mouth works slowly, dry. He wants to help. But how. Is there anything to say to her? His eyes search her face. "No." He wants people to... what. Love him? Yes. But why. Why do people love their heroes. Softly, Aidan responds, "The pit is never too deep. We both saved the Multiverse. But what did it do for the people?" Aidan struggles in his mind, trying to reach for the perfect statement. "What's more important. Being their hero that goes out and beats up monsters? Or being someone the city can rely on. Being someone they can turn to." Aidan might be speaking to himself at this point, looking off into the city. "I want people to see me as a Knight. I want them to be happy and safe." He frowns, "But if I'm just off fighting all the time. What then? It isn't about saving the world..." Aidan looks down at the table. "It's about the people. People need someone to care about them. Meika... Petra... I don't know, maybe even Hearthward. Not just them. Angela. Rita. It's not just about going out there and saving the world." He looks up at Sarracenia again. "It's about showing people you care. And being there for them. Other Elites. Your people. It's not enough to just show up when the chips are down. We have to give them more. We need to give them our hearts." 

:'''{{#var:7608|Madeleine Cadrasteia (7608)}} has posed:'''     Madeleine listens intently. "Would you still want to be a knight of someplace, Aidan," she interjects, "if you didn't already have a 'someplace' to call yours? A place with other people in it. I've been thinking, you know. About this tendency of Elites to only show up whenever and wherever there's trouble solvable through brute force. And if I'm one of those Elites, seeing as I barely have a world of my own to attend to. I only have 'when the chips are down'. If I wanted a quiet existence I could convalesce in my sanctuary until my curse rotted me from inside out. Hell, I'm only in town on business. Another clutch of monsters in the wrong place. If I'm dedicated to anything it's the Concord, and then only because they find me work." By the time she's finished speaking, the huntress is staring down at the last of her ice cream, idly pushing it around the bowl with her spoon. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia takes a seat again, considering what Aidan said. She looks a bit dark now. "Do you know what has happened to me when I tried to give my heart? Almost every time? It was stomped on. The only people I know who did -not- do that are quite possibly those around this table. Petra. Meika. They both did it. I do not really know Hearthward or Angela or Rita, so for those I cannot say. Lilian and I...have bad blood that started years ago now. Not that I particularly want her to like me, but having her hate me is rather inconvenient."      She tries to take a bite of her ice cream, but it is empty now. She huffs and tosses it into a nearby trash can. "But...yes, you are right. Showing up only when the chips are down is not enough. However, showing up when the chips are -not- down is unwelcome. How do we dig out of -that- hole?" she asks, still playing with her spoon at her lips.      She turns some of her attention back to Alexis and Madeleine. "Misusing these adorable creatures is a deed worthy of being hammered." she says, then slowly reaches to give Taiga some more pettings. The princess seems melancholy now, watching nothing in the distance. She listens to Madeleine and nods lightly. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' More pettings are not objected to. If anything Taiga senses Sarracenia's dip in mood and scoots closer across the table to her, leaning against her arm. Again not the warmest of contact, but the effort to calm is there. "You two almost make me feel bad for taking to the point that I only get involved in matters I have a personal interest in. Or friends needing help." Alexis shrugs, pausing a moment to finish off the end of the ice cream. "But I got tired of being thrown at someone else's problems. In a war that felt like it was only being fought because the powers that be at the time only knew fighting that war. So, no, that much I do not miss at all." 

:'''{{#var:7373|Aidan Proudpick (7373)}} has posed:''' A glance over at Madeleine, thinking. "Then... I don't know. Even Petra found a family. And she's a broken person, having to rely on everyone else. If you were in danger, I'd come help you." He shrugs, "I don't know who your people are, Madeleine." He flashes her a warm smile, "But I think when you do, you'd give them your heart." "Princess. Your problem is that you want three of the most broken hatefilled people to like you. You have to get over it." He shrugs his shoulders again. "Other people? Learn about them. Care about them." A genuine smile comes on his face. "Not that I've been very good at it. But I am going to learn. And listening to Lilian and Petra and Meika will NEVER help. You have to listen to what they aren't saying. They hate something." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia snorts at the assumption that she wants them to like her. "No I don't! Petra and Meika are trash that deserve everything they get, if you ask me. Lilian's lapdog and a Dark Magical Girl. Lilian is by all accounts a proper hero, but every time she speaks it is grating and unheroic. And the -most- infuriating thing is that Lilian is actually right sometimes." Aidan suggests learning and carring about people. -That- actually makes Sarra kind of mad, but not quite to her well known level of explosive temper. "You think I don't? Why do you think I even reached out to those three? Because they need care! And some self-respect! And I-..." She can't quite bring herself to finish that sentence, because finishing it would be admitting something that is very hard to admit.      Sarra smiles slightly at Alexis. "I also got tired of that war. It feels good to do some things that feel like they will make a difference. Or to just 'hang out' on a ranch full of cute magical creatures who do not mind me squeezing them~" She squeezes Taiga a bit to demonstrate, then motions for more ice cream. Which she gives to Taiga despite Alexis's attempts to keep the fox away from it.      Aidan makes a good point though. "Yes...they hate something. And I am fairly certain it is themselves." the princess says. She then looks to Madeleine. "I am sorry, Madeleine. I did not mean to bring gloom to this otherwise sunny day."      Speaking of day, the sun is starting to dip low. Piranha plants are walking the streets, using their fireballs to light street lamps. 

:'''{{#var:459|Alexis (459)}} has posed:''' "It's practically impossible to like or be liked by everyone." It's not a dig at anyone, just a stating of the fact. A soft snort as Alexis stands and discards the dish in the trash. "Especially the ones that feel like they can try to make whoever they decide they don't like feel less than themselves. Cuz yeah, they're not happy with themselves." She's not getting into naming names but there's certainly enough such people out there to go around. "Spite can be a bitter but powerful drug... And I wouldn't say unwelcomed Sarra, but you can't try to fix a problem that isn't there. Don't go chasing windmills calling them monsters." After a moment she sighs and rubs the back of her head with one hand, admitting "I am kind of terrible at this kind of conversation." She wasn't trying to keep it away, just keep the fox from eating all of it herself! If spoiling Tiaga a bit helps Sarra feel better she's not going to stop her. She reachs over to scruff the ice' fox's fluffy bangs. "You keep the princess company, I'm gonna go stretch my legs. The rest of you take care too." 

:'''{{#var:7608|Madeleine Cadrasteia (7608)}} has posed:'''     Madeleine looks genuinely embarrassed at the suggestion that she has a heart to give. Sarra's apology snaps her out of abashedly staring into her bowl. "Oh, er, I- it's no worry. Or, it's something I deal with every day anyways, it's no fault of yours that it came to mind." A pause. "Yes, I- I suppose it is getting late in the day. I mean, I do have the rest of the day off, so wouldn't mind paying a visit to the castle. But soon enough I imagine the staff here will be wanting to close up, and it'd be unkind to keep them waiting." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Alexis and Madeleine prepare to go, and Sarracenia looks up at them from her seat. "As guests of the princess, you are welcome to stay in the castle for the night. We have dozens of guest rooms and...zero guests." She looks toward Aidan and despite their apparent disagreement she adds, "And you as well, Sir Aidan."      The princess stands after that, bringing the vulpix and the ice cream with her. "Getting people to like me for something other than my fighting prowess...that has been a battle I have been waging for a while." she muses idly before heading toward the castle. 
}}

8745/Unwanted in the Undercity

2024-01-16T06:08:48Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2024/01/16 |Location=The Undercity |Synopsis=Solty Revant and Roy Revant take a few friends down to the Undercity to catch a bounty |Cast of Charac..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2024/01/16
|Location=The Undercity
|Synopsis=Solty Revant and Roy Revant take a few friends down to the Undercity to catch a bounty
|Cast of Characters=6704, 1143, 7573
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The City. That's all anyone's ever called it as far as anyone knows. It is a pretty large city, all things considered. The buildings are mostly typical of any city one might see on Earth, but there are some futuristic-looking buildings and a few more gothic looking buildings mixed in. The cars seem to be inspired by classic Earth car designs. More artistic or muscle car than sleek modern, and again with some futuristic types mixed in.      Solty let a few of her friends know what was happening. Roy, her adopted father and a bounty hunter in The City, was headed into the Undercity to chase a bounty. She was worried because Roy told her that they were expecting Multiversal trouble, and the Undercity isn't the most friendly of areas in the first place. Apparently goods from off-world were being smuggled in and some of the criminal element were starting to carve out a kingdom underground where the city's law enforcement doesn't bother going.      Add to that the fact that the Undercity receives no utility or other support from the City at all...and it probably sounds like a pretty desolate and dangerous place. Roy and Solty are at one of the entrances, a simple manhole with some inadequate locks on it that look like they have been broken for a long time. Roy is currently checking his weapon, a rather large handgun with a grenade launcher on the underside.      Solty is just standing near the street where she can be visible so that when her friends arrive they can find her and Roy. His red muscle car is also nearby. She send directions, but she doesn't want them to get lost. She is a bit curious if the same agents from last time will bring Angela.      Once everyone arrives Roy pulls the manhole cover off and they head down into what seem to be just sewers. But, after a bit of a walk down a long and very large pipe, they arrive...in a proper city. Sure, it is underground. Sure, there are a mix of dugout houses in the rock walls and flimsy metal shacks. But, there are lots of people. The Undercity itself is spread around a series of levels around a central pit that must be at least 20 stories deep. There are a few stalls around with some very basic food and drink on the various levels.      The people are somewhat dirty, as might be expected, and their clothes are threadbare. But, they don't seem particularly underfed or anything. They do seem suspicious and even a bit hostile toward some outsiders wandering in. Roy scans the area with a sort of dead expression.      "Hey! What are you topsiders doin' here?" a big burly man with a do-rag asks. Two more burly men join him, apparently what passes for security in this place.      "Easy. We're just here to catch some scum that trickled down here from up there." Roy says, not seeming like he is even going to stop. Solty looks uncertain, and the men look like they are going to forcefully stop Roy. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''     To say it's been a long time since Touta's been in Solty's world is no joke. The last time he was here it was back before he had made his return to the Multiverse after that two to three year hiatus. Even then, compared to the little outing that was done the last time the vibe that's given really is something completely different since that time.     "Solty, glad I made it, hopefully not running lat--Roy...That you?"     The one that'd call out to the two was hopefully a somewhat familiar face. Just a little aged up comparatively to what it was before. The person before him and Solty would have seemed as though he was in at least his twenties from the tone of voice and stature alone. Yet, that spikey and jet-black hair, the red and black color choice of his attire, and that small black katana were definitely all likely give-aways. Now that he thinks of it, did Roy even recall if he was immortal or not? Who was to say whether it came up or not? Needless to say the two end up receiving their greeting as he arrives. Albeit, seeing Roy in that equipment definitely throws him off for a moment.     "Feels like it's been forever. Glad you've been taking care of yourself. Still...Kinda wish it was under better circumstances."     Looking over at the manhole, and recalling the info that Solty explained beforehand and her concerns about the situation. From what he'd been told, if this was a more usual mission that he was tagging along on with some of the other factions the objective would be to assist with the bounty as it was. While that was certainly still going to be the case, this wasn't just a mission. It was a request from someone who cares about her parent and not wanting them to get hurt, so as far as his thinking went, the thoughts this time around were to make sure that Roy was okay.     Speaking of manholes and sewers though, there's a familiar group that ends up arriving when there's talks of such things. It brings back instant memories of a recent encounter with turtle-like cryptids, and a pleasant time snagging pizza even. That mood didn't seem to carry over so well though as Touta's gaze catches sight of a certain person within the display pad. That person who he's heard become rather close to Solty, and that alone does bring a smile to his face even when it's been hard for him to show it in the last few times his face has been on the screen.     "Looks like we have another collaboration in an underground. What are the odds? Still, glad to have some L Corp. Agents to work with too."     He won't try to force conversation much, even now it feels like he might have said too much to the one through the screen. Also, speaking too much while they're down in the sewers was kind of gross. Still, the differences between the last time they were in the sewers and this time are made apparent immediately. The time before, there were those living within the confines of the pipes but hidden away, but this...This was apparent. Blatant. The dugout houses aren't hidden, and if anything they nearly span out through. "Jeez, someone's trying to build a 'kingdom' here? They must really be trying to hide from top-side. I can't imagine anyone trying to build a 'kingdom' here without trying to make it a proper city first..." 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''     Touta's words trail off at the sight of the burly men appearing to impede Roy and with it sees an opportunity to get a gauge on the situation. He'd look from Roy, to the Agents as well for a moment seeing if they might let him step in first. "Oi..." Touta steps between Roy and the men, giving the Bounty Hunter more room to pull his firearm if needed, and to show off his blade to the thugs in case they need to get the message across.     "This is the deal. We heard someone's been screwing around from up top. Now, if that sounds like a familiar pain you're dealing with, then congratulations we're here free of charge to deal with it. All you gotta do is step aside, and if you're feeling generous point us in the right direction."     Touta stares the goon down, though at the same time he's trying to get an idea of the situation of how bad things have been here. Was this kingdom making a bad situation worse for those down here, or was their influence impactful enough that it had the regular denizens standing up on their behalf. 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' Angela can't actually visit .... Look, Angela's home is also called The City. This is a different The City, naturally, but Angela still can't go outside. And so that means she has to send someone OUT to the other The City in order to actually pay Solty a visit. Who does she elect to send? Which of her team members can she actually trust to not be weird about Solty Rei in her The City, the particularly racist against robots land she calls home? Ya Boy arrives with the Eggack on his back. The Eggpack has been chosen out of cuation in case she has to choke someone out but Ya Boy is chosen because Angela is pretty sure he doesn't actually give a shit. Neither are armed with EGO Gear, just a combat baton on Ya Boy's back and a suit. "Hot damn, hot damn hot damn. It's different for sure, way smaller, but definitely feels like a City for sure for sure." Ya Boy says. Ya Boy hesitates before heading down the sewers though. "It's fine." Angela says. "Go on.' Ya Boy heads down, carefully dodging grime the best he can. ''What are you topsiders doin' here?'' Ya Boy laughs because this is a hilarious thing to say to someone from L Corp. "My good man, I am here ... to visit our adorable robuddy!" Ya Boy winks. "We're guests--and not from around here. You'll be hospital, yeah?" When one of the men looks like they're going to forcefully stop Roy, Ya Boy immediately places the baton to the man's throat with the ease of someone so accustomed to violence they can treat it as a walk around the neighborhood. "Ey ey ey... Why are you bein' like that?" He asks. "We're gonna be pals." Angela meanwhile is wondering why they are coming down here if it has the type of people willing to manhandle Roy's father. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      When Touta arrives, Solty smiles brightly and gives him a big hug. "Touta! It's so good to see you! Oh wow! You look..." She pauses, then measures from her head to his. "...wow! Are you taller than me now?" she asks with a giggle. Ya Boy arrives, and Solty greets him with a cheerful smile and a bow. "Welcome! Thank you for coming, and for bringing Miss Angela!" she says, then waves to Angela through the Eggpack. "Hello Angela! I'm so glad you made it!" Although it has been a while for Touta, it looks like hardly any time has passed for Solty and Roy.      Roy hmphs when Touta talks about a kingdom. "This place has been here forever. We just didn't end up coming this way last time you were here. There's a lot of things underground." he says. When Touta speaks up to the goons, Roy doesn't say anything. The goons though, they see a kid with a sword. They all three laugh and grin. "You think we're scared of some runt with a blade?" the head goon says, and all three pull out weapons of their own. They aren't swords, sure. But, bats, pipes, and security batons are still pretty effective.      Ya Boy's deft movements give them pause though, especially with that baton suddenly at the leader's throat. "Pals, sure." That combined with the explanation makes them look between each other, then the leader grunts. "Not topsiders, huh?" he says, then looks between them. "Who's a robuddy?" Solty doesn't look like a robot even upon close inspection, after all. If not for the unusual ears she probably wouldn't seem strange at all. Solty doesn't seem eager to reveal that information about herself either, since she is slow to raise her hand. The goon raises an eyebrow, then grunts again. "Hospitable, huh? We don't need outside help here." he says, and all three are slowly trying to raise their weapons. It looks like a fight. That is until...      "Guys, guys. Relax." a voice behind them says. A young man with long pale red hair approaches, his outfit like that of a stereotypical dashing rogue. His voice is also what one might call edgy.      And Roy seems to recognize him. "Larry. About time you showed up. Do we seriously have to get hastled by these guys every time I come down?" the big hunter asks.      Larry just shrugs and chuckles. "Hey, it's practically their job." He looks over those gathered, then pats the lead goon on the shoulder. "Let 'em through. They're here to deal with that problem of ours." he says. The goon grunts and the three burly men step aside. Larry motions for the Multiversal party to follow him. "Come on."      Roy follows after, and Solty jogs to catch up with Larry. "Good to see you, Larry! Where are Rose and Andy?" she asks as they pass people who still look at them suspiciously.      Larry smiles. Or smirks. It's hard to tell with him. "They're further in. We'll join up with them later."      Larry leads the group through the area to another tunnel. As they enter, he lets out a sigh. "It's worse than you thought, Roy. That bounty you're after? He's been juicing with some powerful Multiversal stuff. With the Resemble enhancements and what seems to be magic...well, let's just say it's a good thing you brought backup. And to make it worse, he's hijacked that little gateway. The RUC thinks they have the planet locked down, but they don't know about this one."      That's all he says for now, and it's a bit of a walk to another section. A long corridor that - to someone who has a keen eye - might look like some kind of hanger. Rose is here, a young woman with blonde hair and a blue dress holding a small pistol. Andy is also here, his own dark spikey hair just a bit lighter than Touta's. He's typing away on a computer.      Beyond them, past a stack of crates they are using for cover...there's a Multiversal gate. And around it is what is clearly the start of a criminal syndicate. Several men, most with obvious combat augments, are hovering around crates of things like drugs, magical crystals, and high tech weapons. All clearly from outside of this world. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The biggest of them is a man even bigger than Roy, though that is mostly thanks to his mech-like arms and legs. He's clearly the leader, and Roy shows the others his data pad with the leader's picture on it. "That's him. Guess he's been busy." he says in his rough, deep voice. "Maybe Solty was right on this one..." he says, though seems unhappy to admit it. "So, any ideas on how to approach? That's a lot of firepower." he asks the group. 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' "Solty. It is not easy to obtain permission to send Agents outside of the facility." Angela says. "In order to justify this outing I will have to write a report on my observations of the City." Angela says. She does half-smile at Solty but this is in public and that's about as much as cheer she's comfortable releasing into the wild. Coincidentally, she hasn't been sure how to communicate with Touta since their last conversation. It was a rather bad day on her part but there were a lot of elements she just hadn't been paying attention to due to being so furious. "Yeah you gotta make it clear that you're actually willing to get handsy." Ya Boy says. Angela gives Ya Boy a bit of a glare for revealing the Robuddy part in the first place but--he clearly didn't think it was a secret. Why would he? The multiverse seems fine with AI and he knows absolutely nothing about this world. Neither does Angela, really. Maybe Solty feels bad for being an AI, Angela thinks. She is raised by a human who loves her after all. At least according to her. She actually isn't sure how Roy actually feels by watching him but he doesn't seem like the guy who emotes too heavily. Angela understands that kind of person. Ya Boy starts pressing that baton against the leader's throat when-- A young man with long red hair appears! Ya Boy bites at his lip and lowers his weapon maybe a moment too soon upon seeing him. "Well!! I guess we really are buddies!" Ya Boy says. "Glad you showed up before it actually got physical because I absolutely will break a neck to avoid getting hurt." He follows Larry with Angela. Ya Boy takes a long look around. "If it's Multiversal, it could be anything. There's some serious shit out there!" He seems less comfortable now that he's een a multiversal gate. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''     Doesn't have an issue at all with the hug, she quickly gets one back in return before there's a light pat on the head. "Hey, hey, I'm not that much shorter usually. If anything, I'm sure I'm still a little taller. We'll figure that out later though. Though yeah, it's a little magic trick I picked up."     "I figure, I meant more for the ones that started creeping in here. Solty said it was that someone's been trying to make themselves cozy from outside of your world. Though I didn't hear much more details than that."     When it comes to the matter of the goons well, the point of this aged appearance is meant to be seen as a more adult figure. Though perhaps a twenty-year appearance wasn't as convincing still. Or...These guys were simply just trying to be condescending. "Honestly, I'm not trying to be scary. But..."     Touta gets cut off as Ya Boy makes his move. He's not sure if he's familiar with this Agent, but there's one thing that Touta notices immediately. The use of a baton. It doesn't go unnoticed that there's a few implications as to what that could mean. For now though, he's just keen to see what he can do with it before another voice cuts through.     It's certainly not a face that Touta's familiar with, but from the way that Roy speaks up to him, it becomes apparent that at the very least he's supposed to be making things easier, which calming down these goons does. After all, they do step aside and Touta's just as quick to walk past'em. "Thanks for the warm welcome."     As they keep walking, Touta's making a point to keep pace with Larry and Solty, but making sure that Ya Boy and Angela are still close by. Though at this point, he figures he needs to ask.      "Don't think I got your name before. You a new Agent?" It's probably understandable why it's asked.     Leaving the question at that, he's just trying to make sure he's not missing any details as the three locals converse. A few words are already popping out, 'magic' and 'gateway'.     "So just to make sure I'm following. RUC is the local enforcement here, right? They thought they have most Warpgates mapped, but the one we're heading to below ground they don't have a clue on? Guess that'd make sense if they don't bother checking. As for magic...You sure it's magic or...?"     The doubt definitely lingers in his voice a little. He knows that magic can be a blanket term for the unfamiliar and with the Multiverse that was always something to be wary of. It's as he says that he stops to think of Angela's remarks from before they left.     "Not sure if it'll help your report, but they are using an unmarked Warpgate. Wouldn't be completely unbelievable to hear that while they were smuggling in there was a shipment of potential cryptids coming through that might have potential for Abnormality designation? Coming here to verify that would be justifiable I imagine right?"     Perhaps it's not the most creative lie, but he imagines it's enough of a viable excuse for the Manager to allow it from what he's heard of the guy.     A while longer brings them to the crates where the rest of Larry's group is hiding. There's definitely a look of the Warpgate and the group that's decided to monopolize it. Certainly there's a big one, and the augments they have look like they'll definitely be a problem if not on guard for it. Though, Touta doesn't seem too worried as of yet. "Depends. We can probably hop in there pretty easily. Just a matter of if there's anything in there that we have to worry about bringing the underground toppling down on us, or causing something worse to happen. Otherwise, we should just jump in. I'm less worried about what they're trying to smuggle in, as much as where they're getting all this and if something more troublesome ends up finding its way through instead." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty seems a bit confused by the conditions needed to send out an Agent, but she nods to Angela. "Once we are done here, we can take a tour of the city if you want." she says with a smile. And to be fair to the robuddy thing, the locals don't seem too bothered by Solty being a robot either. At least, the few that know about it.      Ya Boy talks about breaking necks, and Larry smirks. "That's understandable. Just, try to remember that most people here don't stand a chance against you Multiversals, so we'd appreciate any restraint you show against the populace at large."      Touta asks about the RUC, and Larry nods. "Yeah. The RUC controls pretty much every aspect of The City. Water, electric, law enforcement, medical...you name it. We pretty much have to steal or root through salvage every day to make sure we have enough basic necessities." he says. He also looks to Ya Boy and Angela. "If you need anything else for your report, let me know. We're happy to reveal all the dirt about the RUC you want." he adds.      Touta suggests a few things, and Andy looks up from his computer. "This section of the underground is pretty stable. We should be able to fight pretty easily. I think the harder part is keeping them from just going through the gate when we engage them. If they get away they can just come back with more firepower later. And from what I've been able to find out there's no way to shut down these gates or properly secure them without a lot of resources. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Rose huffs impatiently. "I say we just go in fast and hard. Take them out before they can escape or get all those weapons on us."      Roy pulls out a grenade shell and loads his launcher. "I'm all for that. Like you said before, Rose...the best defense is a good offense." he says as he clicks the launcher's cover into place. "So, let's get this party started. Just make sure to leave their bodies mostly intact so I can get my bounty."      Solty's ears lower at that. "Roy..." she says quietly. He hmphs grumpily. "Don't even say it. They wouldn't give it a second thought if they caught us by surprise." He looks the room over for a few more seconds, then takes aim at the crates of weapons with his grenade launcher. "I say we blow that, then mop them up in the chaos. One of you better be fast enough to cut them off from the gate. No telling what kind of reinforcements might be on the other side."      And with that, Roy starts things off. He isn't sure what will happen if he shoots the magical items, but guns he knows. So, he aims at those.      The explosion is more powerful than Roy expected, and it shakes the area as power cells and plasma cores explode. A few of the lesser henchmen are caught in the blast.      Solty blinks in surprise at the explosion, then closes her eyes and her ears vibrate. Then, she gets a horrified expresion and points to one of the larger crates. "Roy! I heard voices in that one! I...I think there are people in that one!"      Roy's expression, usually hard and cold, goes tense. "What the hell, you three?! You didn't tell us?!" he exclaims, looking at their three Undercity comrades. "We didn't know! We swear!" Andy exclaims. Larry looks as grim as Roy now, and Rose has an expression not far off from Solty's.      There's already some of the weaker henchmen headed for that big cargo container now. If they get there... 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''     "I can cut off the path from the gate, that shouldn't be an issue."     It's the first remark that Touta gives back as Andy starts bringing up the difficulty of keeping them out of the gate. Speaking of no issues though, there's definitely a consensus already coming together as Rose and Roy both seem keen on just jumping right in. To be fair, Touta wasn't outright against so long as they were all sure there was no risk of issue.     Seeing Solty's face on the matter does have him turn back to Roy's, who his response is... "Not wrong, but...Solty...Just means we gotta be quick to make sure that they don't have to be excessive. Means we have to be quick and efficient, right?"     It's here that Touta finds himself looking at Angela. Hard to say whether he's asking whether she agrees on the statement alone, or is just asking her to lie, but he asks all the same.     At least that's how he wanted to start things off till Roy began shooting into the weapons. The sounds of the explosion shaking the room for a moment, and worse than that...Solty's declaration. "Wait, you sure?" It complicates things immensely and with it Roy's looking to the other three. Which at this point Touta does something surprisingly...Call out someone else's misstep.     "Don't call them out on it, you shot first without knowing the full situation! Just provide cover fire for now!"     Touta's already standing up, a small bite into his thumb as black miasma begins to seep from the cut. Parts of the cargo area completely lost visibility. The first being the larger cargo container that ends up conceal within a black fog, and as it spreads out the, the luminous pathway that is the Warpgate is solely beginning to get concealed as well.     It's as this veil begins to encompass the area did Touta just vanish. His body for a moment looking as if it had gone like dust in the wind before they can see him off in the distance jumping out from the fog, starting to slam the back of his blade into the lowly grunts. Intending to knock them out with his blows, or just leave enough of a broken arm or leg that they hopefully wouldn't be intending to get back up again. 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' Angela doesn't expect Solty to understand this stuff. She doesn't seem inclined to fret about it. "If your guardian feels it is reasonably safe to do so." Angela says. Ya Boy blinks twice at Larry's words. He seems ... surprised to hear them, actually. "Multiversals, huh..." He says. He isn't really powered by other worlds himself, but it sort of feels like being called a high ranking Fixer--which he decidedly was not. He listens, but doesn't super pay much attention to the setting details coming out but Angela is listening intently. She still feels she is missing a lot of details but she does nod to Larry, "Perhaps later, when we have a moment free. This is not the best time to bog down the discussion." Roy does feel like a typical Fixer so far, Angela thinks. One looking after a robot is a little unusual, or even a child at all--but Solty does seem to be a bit of a strange situation. Stranger still, Angela thinks, is that she is just walking around and people know what she is and nobody tried to kill her yet. What a multiverse she lives in--but she supposes it is less unususal than what is going on with Dragonfly or those Combaticons. Explosions happen. "Ya Boy, assist Touya." Angela orders. Ya Boy nods and starts running towards those grunts. He ISN'T intending to just knock out the goons but he IS only armed with a combat baton so he can't really ensure fataliaties either. Still, getting clubbed in the head can be pretty deadly! It's true! 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy doesn't seem happy about being called out, but that's because Touta is kind of right. He doesn't say anything back, just grunts in annoyance. As Touta shows off his black mist though, it leaves pretty much all the natives a bit speechless. The darkness closes in, and those henchmen heading toward the hostage container are knocked out before they can reach it.      The leader though seems amused instead of afraid. "Is that the Anderson Brothers?" he calls out, and Larry, Andy, and Rose tense. Apparently that's them. "Didn't think you'd be brave enough to start something, but we got some hostages just in case. You didn't even know, I bet. Hehehehe...we've been snatching those brats you send up to try and steal food. RUC doesn't care, and you guys don't think much about it figuring RUC got 'em, right? Bet they were in there feeling pretty unwanted, hehehehe. Guess it's just lucky you bombed the guns and not that container, huh? Not that I'd have lost much sleep over it."      More goons go down thanks to Ya Boy, and it is just the leader and one other goon. A goon that reaches into the magical items box and pulls out a few crystals. Anyone with much experience in magic might recognize them. Single use spell crystals. "Let's see how you like this!" he yells, throwing them at Ya Boy. A lightning bolt hits first, followed by a frost explosion, and a fire blast.      The leader, a rugged and muscular man who doesn't bother with a shirt aims his arms, one at Touta and one at Roy and the others. And from each oversized arm a minigun pops up. And a thirt rises from his shoulder, aiming at where he's pretty sure the cargo container full of hostages is. "You guys should really get out now. Like I said...I won't lose any sleep over a bunch of brats." he says as all three gatlin guns spin up.      Streams of bullets almost as constant as a stream of water start flying. Solty is gone in a flash, and the sound of bullets clanging off her can be heard in the darkness while Roy and the others are forced to take cover from the heavy onslaught of gatlin fire. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''     There's a pretty disappointed look to Touta as he sees Roy's call out of the kids. Though there's not much time to linger on it as things begin to escalate. And it does begin to escalate.     One of the goons begin to reach for the magical items and taking note of the energy Touta does call out as he finishes with the Henchmen attempting to reach for the larger cargo container.     "Yo Boy! Get in the veil!"     It's not exactly 'assisting' to have him jump in to hide for a moment, but it's the demand Touta gives if the Agent isn't sure that he can handle the attack. Cause whether Ya Boy ends up lingering within it, or he's able to avoid it when the lightning bolt flies through the air, once it reaches the darkness of that fog the sound of static electricity is cut off all at once. In fact, the entirety of those magical crystals are quickly fading into the void as well. Attempting to find them within the fog quickly leading to people getting lost within it, or just outright letting out wails as something within it can be heard wrangling at them before spitting them back out from there.     At this point the leader makes his appearance and honestly everything he says is just grating. It's not even worth trying to chat with the guy, instead as he sees the guns starting to pull out, there's a moment that he calls out to the one's inside of the container.     "Oi, if you can get into the middle near the door line up where you can hear my voice!"     It seemed that this 'brat' was ready to use his body as a shield if that was the case, but, if those hostages were bound in a way that they couldn't...There's little time to think on the matter as the bullets go flying. For the most part Touta's not trying to dodge the bullets at all. He's attempting to deflect most of them with his blade and for the most part for those that are aimed his way it's a job well done. But with the rate of fire, a couple begin to pierce through him and into the black fog that houses the container behind him. Not to mention there are simply bullets out of the reach of his blade that he simply can't deflect.     By the time that all three guns begin to overheat or run out of ammunition, there's just the look of the young man wielding his blade in his hand with bullet holes in his body, blood running down his frame. It's definitely a moment that rather than losing sleep over, this boss could feel that he was certain that he dealt with the first of these intruders.     "So tell me...If both your arms are like that, how exactly are you supposed to reload?"     The standing corpse of the young man that was just littered with holes speaks so casually as he stares into the bosses eyes. The blood at the floor slowly begins to run back upwards into Touta's form before the bullet holes close entirely.     "Cause you're going to need to. It was one thing to take your potshots at me, but the container...That's off-limits."     The container should have been harmed, even if he couldn't see the container through the fog. The fact Touta was standing right there was clearly intending to defend it, and the fog itself can't stop bullets. Though something within it could perhaps? For as he stops talking, a shadow does start crawling out from the fog cloud.     An clasped fist of obscene proportion comes out. The look of it alone makes it appear demonic in appearance. A dark and unusual texture to the skin that seems almost reptilian at first, but much smoother. The fist that comes out, clearly the size that it could grasp at least three fully-grown men at once, arises over Touta's head. As it opens its palm, a rain of bullets come down. It should be clear that this 'brat' should be making him lose sleep, cause what's just come out from the mist is a nightmare. And yet...Just as quickly as it forms it begins to fade like ash on the wind. 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' Ya Boy isn't even using EGO Gear, he's using base Gear, so he could be in trouble if a goon gets the drop on him. Ya Boy doesn't have experience with spell crystals, but he does hesitate anyway because crystals are spooky shit. He gets clobbered by the lightning blast and then dives behind some crates to avoid the rest, his body shaking from the serious damage inflicted upon him. He cringes as a fire blast sails overhead. This isn't going to be great for his street cred but Angela didn't think that bringing EGO Gear here would be neccessary (she wasn't expecting violence) and she didn't want to encourage people tow onder about their multiversal weaponry when her only real stake here is Solty Rei herself. Still, Roy dying ignobly against a bunch of punks doesn't really seem like something that would be good for Solty. Angela narrows her eyes as Solty takes weaponsfire but she seems to be about as durable as Angela is. "It's Ya Boy!" Ya Boy shouts. Veil? He looks around and then he runs for it, rolling into the fog moments before he gets ZAAAAPPED again. "Whew" Ya Boy says in the darkness. He takes a breath. He's going to need this breath. ''I won't lose any sleep over a bunch of brats'' Ya Boy frowns but he isn't sure he can really...approach a gatling gun wielding dude without EGO Gear, let alone a guy with THREE gatling guns. Maybe ... he can just poke his head out? He pokes his head back out of the veil, then swoops back into it. Then, from within the veil, he rears back with his arm and CHYUUUCKS his combat baton for the leader's head. He doesn't shout because he's really hoping he doesn't get noticed. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      "Reload? I never need to reload. My victims don't last long enough." the leader says with a grin. Though, that grin fades as he realizes...Touta is talking despite being so perforated. That shadow hand comes up, and the leader actually looks a little worried.      The remaining goon...well, when he sees that shadow hand and how Touta's blood and body just flow back together he just drops everything and runs for the gate, even though it's glow isn't visible through the darkness now.      All those bullets come raining back at the leader, and he brings his arms up and crouches down. His oversized metal limbs shield his body, but they are steadily and badly chipped away at by the attack. When the rain of bullets finally stops, he peeks out between his arms just enough to see...and gets pelted right between the eyes by a thrown baton. That staggers him backward, and as he steps one of his arms just falls off, sparking and almost unreckognizable as an arm. The other shudders, then goes in operable as well, falling limply at his side.      "Pretty impressive, I gotta say. Wasn't expecting this much trouble..." the leader says, trying to make his way toward the gate. Rocket boosters pop out of his legs, and he blasts off. "See ya later, suckers! Hahahaha!"      He is almost there, about even with the last goon when...Solty is suddenly just there, a kick being delivered to the fleeing leader and...      ...one of her arms is...sticking through the goon's chest. "You...you're bad men..." she says, her voice cold and dark. A tone she has never used before. She pulls her arm free, and the goon just falls over.      She turns her now cold, deadly gaze toward the leader, who has landed in a heap in another pile of crates. "I HATE BAD MEN! HYAAAAAH!" She flies at him with lightning speed, her fists both glowing brightly with pure energy...ready to deliver another death blow. And if not stopped, she will deliver it.      "H-hey! Hey wait! You're supposed to be a hunter! Y-you can't just....GAAAAH!" The leader screams, unable to do much but wait for the end coming his way.      As she flies, there is another scream. This one from a few of the hostages who were able to escape thanks to the damage to the container. They seem unharmed, but they are kids...and they just watched Solty kill one person and she is in the process of killing another. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''     To say that there's never a need to reload probably makes sense. In most worlds, probably having several machine guns is enough to mow down someone. Though for the rest of the Multiverse, well...He imagines that's definitely a topic one might bring up on the viability of that later on the radio.     His punch comes in, and the baton catches the leader in due time and well that seems like that should have been enough till he starts talking again.     "You keep talking, and all I'm hearing is that I should have broken your jaw..."     That was the problem with holding back sometimes. Though, it seems that the bigger problem was that even after all that the leader was attempting to get away. Touta's not concerned though, for even now the goons trying to make their way to the Warpgate hidden in the blackfog might find that they're being quickly dealt with. If such a monstrosity of an arm was in there, there might have been other things lingering in as well. So it only made sense that Touta seemed unphased by the attempted escape. Though, something much worse was about to happen.     Solty's kick comes out of nowhere, and with it sends the leader flying. It actually has Touta giving a bit of a smirk to see her dish out the beating. "Nice one, Solty. Though you didn't have to--"     His jaw goes limp, incapable of continuing his words. For a moment, he's the one wondering if he's seeing a nightmare. Solty's hand runs its way through a man's chest.      "Solty...Did you just...?"     In all the years he's known Solty, he's never seen her like this. The girl that seemed so genuinely, innocently happy to be around people. Not to shy away from a hug, so casual as to run her /arm/ through a man as if it were a weapon. It's mortifying...It's...More painful to watch than taking the bullets that just happened.     "...Solty...No..."     The words barely trail from his lips, but no matter how much he wants to deny it, what he's seen...Can't be unseen. Not for him. It's at that time the container is starting to open, the hostages coming out. But they won't get to see what happened. No, they aren't allowed to. For that black veil of fog begins to cover the scene encircling the Elites and the smugglers. Not even Roy or his group get to see what's happening regardless of his position as her guardian. He wants to tell him to go help the hostages, but the words can't escape his lips. Cause all he can see is the look in her eyes. The look that just feels so distant yet so familiar. He's seen that look. The look of someone that he thinks is honest turn to rage, turn to disgust. To the kind that's completely fine with taking one's life and...     "Solty No....!!!!"     She comes in like lightning, but somehow he comes in faster. His one hand reaches around her waist to stop her travel while the other struggles at her holding back her wrist as she goes for the killing blow.     "Solty..."     His voice is nearly choked up as he speaks. If she can manage to tear her enraged gaze from the leader to look at Touta she can see he's nearly about to cry. "Look at your hand...Are you okay with that stain...? Are you okay seeing that...?"     He has to make her see it now. It's not just a hand covered in blood. It's...Something more descript. Something that shouldn't have to be described. Though, now Touta has to wonder if she can truly 'feel' the weight of her action. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''     "This guy's a piece of garbage...He deserves whatever comes to him...But...Will /you/ be able to sleep at night if you keep going further? You...You have to decide that..."     It's clear there's already a bias Touta has. And even as he tells her it's her choice, the way he's holding back her arm, gripping at her frame, there's clearly a reluctance. As if his body and his words are contrary to that last remark.     His eyes turn to Angela, as if there's some sort of plea to them. He's trying to stop this, but the look in his gaze already echoes some level of defeat. Even his arms look like they're about to give out at any moment. When they do, Solty could just go back to delivering the final blow. Touta's /tried/...But he wants there to be so much more than that... 

:'''{{#var:7573|Angela (7573)}} has posed:''' Ah, Angela thinks, maybe Solty and I have something in common after all. "Ya Boy--" "Ma'am, I am NOT equipped for that." Angela doesn't argue and instead says, "Throw me closer then." It IS the Eggpack, and Angela is leery of putting the Eggpack in harms way, but she has opinions about this and cares enough about Solty, and cares about her a little more upon seeing her hand through someone's chest. Ya-Boy quickly unshoulders the Eggpack and rather than throwing it--slides it across the floor towards Solty's legs. Angela extends one of her arms and reaches for Solty's arm, relying on the mechanical arm to-- --Touta is already holding the arm back. She just places the mechanical hand on the arm, not exactly tugging it away. "Solty, I could care less that you killed people trying to harm you." Angela says. "But my understanding of who you are tells me that you will regret this when you've had a moment to calm down." This isn't exactly too disimilar from what Touta is saying which makes her wrinkle her nose in annoyance. She considers changing her opinion just to be on the safe side but it would be wholly unprofessional. She isn't as fast as lightning or anything so it might be a relief to Touta that he got there first. Angela can't really stop her from punching physically, however. Not with the Eggpack. "Also, it would be difficult to enjoy a tour of your home this way." Angela says. "There is a social cost to being too open with your killing." Is she a little sad, that Solty is a bit like her after all? ... Yeah, she is a little sad about that. It's nice in some ways, but she knows it's nothing to be too happy about. "Scenes like this I can get back home." She adds. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty is grabbed by Touta. He can see her eyes. Something has clearly snapped inside her. Perhaps some sort of programming, but...her eyes definitely seem more dull and cold than usual. She blinks as he grabs her wrist, and that light he is used to seeing returns. "Touta? What do you mean? They are bad. They were going to kill children, and..."      Touta says her name with his voice choked up, and she blinks again. He tells her to look at her hand, and she does. Her arm is red up to her upper arm. She seems confused. "But...they..." She looks at Touta. She sees he's nearly about to cry. And...instantly her eyes are tearing up as well. "Touta, I..."      The Eggpack is tossed toward her and grips her arm similarly. Solty stops where she is. She listens to Angela.      'It would be difficult to enjoy a tour of your home this way'      Solty staggers back, looking completely confused and hurting. She looks around at the darkness. She suddenly feels very alone despite having her two closest friends outside of this world around her. And yet, after hearing the words of those friends she is glad that darkness is there.      Roy is the only one who ran through the darkness to see what happened. The Andersons are busying gathering up the children. Roy approaches Solty as tears well up in her eyes. "Wh-....R-roy...why are...I...I don't understand...why are they...?"      The tears just get bigger, and Solty's big fluffy green ears droop completely before she just starts sobbing like the young child she is at heart, so confused and broken hearted now over what happened. Over the look on Touta's face. Over hearing Angela's understanding of her perhaps being altered.      Roy stands there looking down at her for a few moments, seeming like he doesn't care at all.      Then, one of his big hands comes down to rest on her head. He rubs her head like any parent might, which quiets her sobs somewhat. "Let's go home." is all he says. No judgement, or scolding, or opinions. Just the assurance in those few words and actions that she is still his daughter and still welcome in his home.      Touta might be right. Solty might not be emotionally equipped at this time to fully realize what she did. Hopefully, if she ever does, it won't haunt her as Angela fears it might. But, as they head back to the surface, she looks to her friends and just barely above a whisper says, "...I'm sorry..." 
}}

7573/Hate at First Sight

2021-07-10T02:19:17Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2021/07/09 |Location=Shrine of Adversity |Synopsis=Sarracenia tries to help, Izou insults her, they beat each other up then go to dinner. |Cast of..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2021/07/09
|Location=Shrine of Adversity
|Synopsis=Sarracenia tries to help, Izou insults her, they beat each other up then go to dinner.
|Cast of Characters=446, 7383
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      After sending Okada instructions on how to reach the arena, Princess Sarracenia made her way here with haste. Now she waits in the middle of an open grassy field generated by the Shrine's holographic powers swinging her hammer about in warm-up maneuvers. She hardly looks like a combatant in her long and fancy red dress and her crown, but with her height and hammer it at least makes it obvious that she is Okada's opponent. And judging by her expression she is not a happy princess. 

:'''{{#var:7383|Okada Izou (7383)}} has posed:'''      If Sarracenia was expecting a fair fight, well...      Well, that went out the window pretty much the instant she got into a fight with Okada Izou.      Izou does not play fair. Izou has never played fair. Izou is not a swordsman in the sense of all the others in the Multiverse. He does not walk up and challenge people to honor duels. He does not walk onto the battlefield for all and sundry to see. There is no samurai movie with Okada Izou, no blowing hair in the moonlight, no walking through the reeds with a glistening crescent sword. There's no walking up and delivering a challenge letter. There's no arrow with fancy paper wrapped around it.      Okada Izou is a manslayer.      Okada Izou is a man who slays other men.      So it is that the only hint that Sarracenia gets of Izou's presence directly behind her is the sword drawn, flashing for her back.      Literally in the middle of the attack.      "Y'know, now that I've had a good look at you, you're a lot hotter'n I thought you'd be. Maybe it's a good thing we're in this playpen. Be a shame to kill such a pretty face." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is hardly a hardened, well trained combatant. She doesn't even realize Okada has arrived until a sudden pain in her back causes her to stumble forward with a startled yelp. A slash appears in her dress and a red mark appears on the flesh beneath.      Reacting purely on instinct she swings her hammer - which is easily as tall as herself with a head that is possibly even heavier than herself - in a wide spin to try and catch whoever just hit her. "I thought you said you aren't an assassin?! Only those honorless shadow sneaks attack someone from behind without even declaring themse-...wait, did you say I am hot?" For some reason this gives her pause and she just stares at Okada for a moment before huffing. "N-not that it matters! A rude and hotheaded heathen like yourself would never be good enough for me!" she adds. 

:'''{{#var:7383|Okada Izou (7383)}} has posed:'''      Now that she gets a clear look at Izou, he's...well, he's shaggy. He doesn't really look like an Assassin, that's for sure. Assassins should be decked out in black or white, guys with hidden weapons, seductive beauties hiding poison behind numerous veils, people in cloaks and face-masks. By contrast, Izou is...well, he's not.      He's basically wearing a hakama.      His face is completely unconcealed, aside from an orange scarf, which is definitely not for hiding his face so much as a thing he probably wears out of habit. His eyes are a bright yellow, almost buried beneath a mane of scruffy black hair.      "Yeah I said you were hot! Really hot! Like crazy hot! Why, you wanna fight abou-"      Pause.      The pause is enough time for her to just *nail* him with her hammer. He goes spinning, landing amidst the grass flat on his back.      He sits up. There's a big bruise across his face.      He points at the hammer. "What the hell?! How does a chick like you wave somethin' like that around?! Shit! That's crazy! That's cra-"      Beat.      Oh, right, they're fighting.      Izou hops to his feet. "I'm a Manslayer!" He points at himself. "Man!"      Point. "Slay!"      "Er!"      "I kill people! I kill targets! And then I kill their bodyguards an' shit! That's why I ain't an Assassin! I didn't mean I don't stab people in the back! Shit, that's how you *win* fights!"      He rubs his face irritably. "Shit...fightin' pretty girls ain't exactly my cup a' tea..."      "Still, I guess I picked it, an' it'd be rude of me not to-"      Pause.      "HEY! I AIN'T RUDE!"      Pause.      He tugs up his scarf to hide his blush. "Okay, well, maybe I'm a little rude. But that's, y'know, I'm earthy! Better an honest guy than some stuck-up liar, right?! I'm still a samurai, y'know! Just 'cause I'm rude don't mean I ain't nobility!"      Another long pause as he scratches the back of his head. "Although...honestly...that stuff..."      "Ah, fuck it."      And then he's gone.      This time it's not invisibility. It's pure speed. It's speed that flattens the grass behind him. It's speed that flattens the earth, that shapes a crater from his launch point. It's speed that takes him directly past her, skidding to a halt on the other side.      He tilts his head to the side and shoulders his blade with a grin.      And then the sword strike catches up to him, just cleaving straight through the air as if the sword forgot it was supposed to kill for a second. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia turns more red with each instance of hot that Izou uses until she is almost rosey red by the time she actually hits him. As he points at her hammer she smirks and shoulders it. "Perhaps I am simply that strong~" she says with a haughty air. She sees no reason to tell him the real reason she can swing such an absurd hammer.      She looks dubious as he explains about the supposed difference between himself and an assassin, and she mmphs and looks off to the side in an angry shy manner as he says she is pretty.      And she huffs when he says he's a samurai. "Nobility by birth is not what I seek. I seek a true hero to sweep me off my feet like that prissy princess Peach. If a job as lowly as plumber was good enough for her, then such lower classes are good enough for me as well!"      She blinks as he says those last things, then again when...he disappears and leaves a crater in his wake "What in-..?!" She starts to look around, but the hit catches her and with a cry she goes tumbling through the grass and lands on her back. It is only due to the Shrine that she wasn't dealt a mortal blow there!      The princess groans as she gets back up. "Wh-whatever you are, I do not abide losing to someone like you. You may have nobility of birth, but you lack nobility of heart! And you kill people for pay!"      She holds her hammer in a ready stance, then...it starts to glow and dazzling sparkles start to fall from it. The glow flows over the princess, causing her hair to start floating as if underwater. "And since you seem keen on ending this quickly, let me see if I can accomidate you!" she says.      Then, for the next 30 seconds or so, she becomes a hammering machine! She moves forward quickly, slamming that hammer up and down with rapid and almost robotic tempo. Each down swing smashes a small crater in the ground...and the princess proceeds to try pounding Izou into the ground like a giant fence post! 

:'''{{#var:7383|Okada Izou (7383)}} has posed:'''      Izou points at himself. "I'm literally a guy the whole universe said, 'that guy, he's a real hero!' I'm so hero I got *brought back to life*! I got a pedigree and everything!"      Izou don't say pedigree.      It's not a good word for you.      "How much more *hero* do you want? I got a straight up pat on the back from the world! 'Hey, that guy fought in a revolution for democracy, he's a hero! Bring that guy back from the dead, he's awesome!' Not my fault the only thing I'm good at is killin' people! An' a guy's gotta eat, y'know!"      Izou turns as she's standing up. He tilts his head to the side.      "-wow, that's a great ass."      He scratches his cheek. "Look, I, uh-"      She starts glowing.      "-wait, what the-"      "HOLY SHIT!"      Izou immediately starts running. "HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT! WHAT THE FUCK IS-"      WHAM      WHAM      WHAM      Izou finds himself face-down, ass-up, hakama flowing all over himself, face just directly planted in the grass. He pushes himself up, coughs, wipes his mouth, coughs again, then stands up and growls. "Fine!"      "You want a hero to *sweep you off your feet?*"      Oh that choice of words might be coming back to bite her in a second.      Izou disappears. It's not speed this time. He's literally invisible, inaudible. He's straight up vanished. Even the grass isn't any help - it doesn't seem like he's putting his feet down, like he's putting his feet anywhere. Normally someone invisible would have a tell, but Izou doesn't seem to. Is this really what an Assassin is like?      And then-      And then a sheath comes out of nowhere for her leg as lightning speed. If they weren't in the shrine it'd be a shot meant to break her legs. His knowledge of killing people is...absurd.      It is meant to knock her back into his arm.      His other arm spins up the katana in front of her. There's a wild grin on his face.      "You're fuckin' crazy."      "I like it."      "Let's go out for dinner, Princess."      And then he just moves to *ram* the sword into her throat. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia really isn't sure hot to feel about these flattering yet rather barbarian compliments. It makes her blush again, but she looks more annoyed than flattered. "So, you are one of those heroic spirits? I have heard that hero in that instance is more in the old-world sense of 'had a great impact on the world' rather than 'did good and saved people'. At least, that is what Gilgamesh said."      The princess hmphs arrogantly as Izou talks about sweeping her off her feet, but when he disappears it leaves her once again. She takes a few steps back as if it might help her somehow and keeps her hammer held up...      ...and ends up tripped and in the scruffy man's arms with a sword held at her throat. She winces and cries out from the bone-shattering hit. But it isn't the sword that gets the biggest reaction. It is the request for a date. "Wh-what?! Y-you are asking that now?! And I am not crazy! Just because a princess isn't all demure and soft-spoken does not mean she is cr-"      And then there's a sword through her throat. Even in here that gets a weird sort of gurgled yelp and the princess looks like she might pass out.      But she doesn't. She pulls free, clutching at her throat and staggering back. "If we are playing that seriously, allow me to show you one of my favorite toys~" she says in an oddly sensual tone that is both filled with violent intent and...somewhat raspy thanks to the injury.      She reaches into her satchel and pulls out a small box with a red button on it. She sets it down and hits the button, and the box unfolds...and unfolds...and unfolds until it is a cannon big enough for a person to stand up in.      The princess is now atop its barrel and grinning with a rather smug and somewhat sadistic expression. "May I introduce you to...the Bonzai Bill!"      She stomps on the top of the cannon and with a thunderous boom it fires! A bullet as big as a car comes flying out, aiming its shark-like face at Izou. It tries to catch him, but really it doesn't need to. When it gets close enough to him it just...explodes. A series of rapid explosions, each bigger than the last, seeking to engulf him until finally with a momentary pause an explosion large enough to leave a mushroom cloud. And as the boom dies down Sarracenia can be heard laughing in maniacal glee! 

:'''{{#var:7383|Okada Izou (7383)}} has posed:'''      "Yeah I'm a Heroic Spirit! Didn't you hear me? True Name, Okada Izou! Class, *Manslayer!* No matter what that asshole blacksmith says!"      There is a stab.      A moment later, he snaps his katana off to the side, the blood splattering on the ground in that really cool samurai way. It's the most Samurai Movie Izou has ever been. "Obviously I'm askin' you now, I just swept you off your feet! When else would I ask you?! You literally told me you wanted a hero to sweep you off your feet!"      He crosses his arms as she drops. "You told me nobody dies here! What am I supposed to do, *not* fight the way I fight? It's not like it was gonna kill you! I mean, if we were outside, it would, but it's not even gonna leave a scar, right?"      A beat.      "...that's what you guys said, right? 'cause if it leaves a scar I kinda feel bad about that." He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. "Like...it's probably a good thing this is just play-fightin', I guess..."      Then she just drops a full fucking cannon in front of him. Right in front of him. There's a moment where he holds up a finger thoughtfully, like he's about to say something clever, and then-      "-crazy in a really hot way."      Very clever, Izou.      At least he sounds honest about it.      And then she just kinda shoots him directly in the face with a flying explosive shark. He disappears in the literal mushroom cloud.      Like actually disappears, not like turns invisible.      When he hits the ground again he's still smouldering. There's a cough of smoke and unhappiness, like a dog that just got kicked, a low whine of a cough that takes him a minute to settle out of. When he does, he sits straight up.      He works his fingers. "Huh."      "Y'know, last time I died it was a *lot* less fire and a *lot* more...ah, never mind."      Izou stands up, brushing himself off, and looks up at her. "So..."      Beat.      He jerks a thumb over his shoulder as he coughs out some more smoke. "Dinner?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia's laugh finally trails off, but she is still grinning as the fire clears and Izou falls back from outer space. "Well, last time you did not have the honor of being killed by the one and only Princess Sarracenia, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom~" she says proudly.      And despite all of that, Izou still asks her about dinner again. Sarracenia just stares at him a little bit and starts just just outright reject him. But then...she just sighs in a resigned way. "...okay."      He did listen to her, he did try to do what she said, and he does seem to like her. And she really doesn't know. He could be an actual hero instead of just a heroic spirit. So, in proper desperate girl fashion she accepts the date with the crazy murderous man. 

:'''{{#var:7383|Okada Izou (7383)}} has posed:'''      'OK.'      Izou tugs at his scarf, pulling it up over his face slightly. Is...is he blushing?      For a guy who's apparently super famous for killing lots of people (but apparently not a serial killer, so he's got that going for him), he's kind of a huge dork. In fact now that he's not violently stabbing her he kinda resembles nothing so much as a huge scruffy puppy. 
}}

6837/Bunny Cop vs Warrior Robot

2019-09-16T07:00:28Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/09/15 |Location=The Shrine of Adversity |Synopsis=Just a quick training battle between Lory and S6. |Cast of Characters=7084, 7088 |pretty=yes..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/09/15
|Location=The Shrine of Adversity
|Synopsis=Just a quick training battle between Lory and S6.
|Cast of Characters=7084, 7088
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Since she put out the invitation, Lory Thumper is already in the arena. As usual she is dressed in her full riot gear including a shield and helmet. She has also set up the field as a large city intersection. Two four lane streets intersect to form a pretty large flat area, and various things litter the sidewalk such as street lights, parking meters, newspaper vending machines, and other such things.      Lory is standing at the far side of the intersection facing the entrance to the arena, doing some stretches and checking her weapons as she waits. 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     A seemingly ordinary white-haired woman arrives through the arena gate, clad in a black and scarlet uniform. A boxy drone floats beside her, robotic hands dangling beneath it. Of note, her eyes are obscured behind an opaque black visor that appears to be metal or ceramic. Her pace is steady, measured, and quite suddenly comes to a halt when the machine beside her speaks.     -COORDINATES REACHED.-     "Officer Thumper," S6 states.     -COMMENCING VRCS CALIBRATION.-     The vaguely at-attention stance shifts into a readied pose. She keeps her hands free. And yet her weapons move. The katana slides from its scabbard with a flourish, golden runes swirling about its hilt. Its mate, a much larger odachi, soon joins the blade floating just behind her.     -STATUS READY.-     "Good evening." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory blinks a bit at the sudden stop when the machine speaks up, but reminds herself that S6 herself is a machine. She watches those two weapons pull free of their sheathes without any apparent source of force. "Heh. Good evening." she says back, settling into a ready stance herself. "Glad to see that Lost Logia didn't do you any lasting harm." she says as she pulls her twin pistols from their holsters. "And hello to you as well." she says, looking toward the little drone that is floating around S6. She doesn't know just how sentient it is compared to S6, but didn't want to be rude.      The bunny looks at S6 again after that, then smirks lightly. "Hope you are ready for a good fight! Aaaand...go!" she says, taking off at a dead run. Her short legs are a blur of motion as she strafes around S6, and a couple of rounds from those gauss pistols lance like bolts of light through the air. "I was pretty impressed with how you handled that Logia! I wasn't sure about you after that stare when we first met." 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     "The damage was moderate, though localized," S6 responds when the matter of the Lost Logia comes up, "Repairs were straightforward enough." The Pod's response is cut enough to be a programmed one. A simple and straightforward:     -HELLO.-     And then the rabbit is off. Concealed behind her visor, S6's eyes track the motion while her body remains stock still. The Pod rotates, however, clearly tracking her movement.     The gauss pistols fire, and S6's weapons react. The first several rounds are missed, burying themselves into her body or grazing past her. The latter two, however, are deflected by the twin swords hovering around her. S6 lifts her hand, examining the dark red fluid marring her white glove with a thoughtful noise.     -HIGH SPEED PROJECTILE CALIBRATION COMPLETE.-     -ENGAGE VRCS OPERATIONS.-     "Right."     S6 crouches suddenly, her odachi sweeping out in a sudden slash. This sails wide of Lory, however, cleaving a lamppost instead. As it falls, the post's midsection becomes surrounded with a ring of golden runes, and it floats there.     The pavement cracks beneath S6's feet before she hurls herself into motion. The Odachi sweeps back to her, while she leads with the smaller katana, sweeping in broad arcs guided by gestures of either hand. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory's eyes widen a bit as those swords twirl to block a number of her bullets. It's pretty impressive to stop bullets with swords, no matter what the method of wielding! The first swing gives Lory a bit of confidence since it sails wide, but when the lamppost starts to hover while covered with gold runes that transforms the confidence to worry.      Lory is still moving when S6 charges in with the smaller sword. A quick spiraling leap lets her avoid getting hit directly by the blade, but it still catches her in the side. The armor keeps it from going too deep, just a shallow cut really. Lory races away once again after that, but in her wake she leaves a yellow disc of the kind kept on her belt.      The disc grenade explodes a moment later, and a fairly large amount of riot foam is released, threatening to coat and harden on S6 to hinder her movements. As that is happening, more of those gauss rounds lance through the air at near light speed. 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     -CAUTION-     S6 digs her heels in right when the riot mine is deployed. She springs back right as it explodes, splattering her uniform. By the time she touches down, it's already hardening, and the android bares her teeth as she struggles to break herself loose. Divided between two tasks, her sword's defense is a bit less focused, with more rounds sinking into her chassis. Breaking one arm free, she states, "Pod." while prying at the other.     The Pod's response is immediate. It swivels towards Lory, sides opening up to display several angled VCS ports. After a brief pause, a cluster of mini-missiles erupts from the machine, arcing skyward and then descending on the rabbit officer with multiple lightweight explosive payloads. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      "WOAH!" is all Lory manages before starting to zig and zag. She manages to avoid any direct hits, but it is pretty hard to dodge an entire explosion. When the missile rain ends she comes rolling out of a could of smoke, smoldering from the explosions and wincing from both the pain of her ringing ears and the pain of many bruises. "Nnng...okay, I really need to get me one of those." she says before she takes off again.      This time she pulls her shield from her back after holstering one of her pistols and charges right at s6. She tries to knock S6 over with a flying shield tackle to the midsection, then as she bounces back she fires a few more shots with her gauss pistol. "What'd you do with that lightpost anyway?" She looks over to see if it is still floating there after her attack. 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     Breaking free of the hardened foam while her Pod does some of the heavy lifting, S6 is soon ready to move again. Such that when Lory comes at her with a shield, the android braces herself. The impact is solid, causing her to step back and dig her heels in-- but she doesn't go down. Instead, with her hands free due to the VRCS, she curls her fingers around the edges of that shield.     Several rounds of Gauss pistol fire find their way into her once more. Flickers of gunfire light glisten off the visor hiding her eyes. When the question about the lamppost is asked, S6 shifts slightly.     Said lamppost swings in suddenly from the side, at an angle that even if it misses, it slams into the ground. A blow that mangles it beyond recognition, and causes the runes to fade. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      With her shield held, Lory is preoccupied trying to get it free as that street light comes in. She notices too late and can only let out a yelp as she is smashed into the ground. It takes her a few moments to stumble back to her feet, and she is obviously feeling it when she does. One eye stays closed against the pain and she looks like she is seeing stars. "Oh...ehehe. I see." she says dazedly. She shakes her head to try and clear it, then mmphs. This might have just gone from manageable to outclassed.      The bunny doesn't have a lot of options. All she has are her speed and her few police weapons. But, she does have a few tricks up her sleeves. She flicks a switch on her guns and a pair of needle-like prods extends from each one. She runs in close again and fires them at S6, and assuming they hit a pretty high voltage and a small number of amps are released into the android. 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     That's not a trick S6 was prepared for. Sucking up damage from small arms will eventually take her down, but it's relatively localized damage. She can work through some of that, barring something critical taking an unforseen hit. Electricity doesn't work so cleanly. For the first second or so, she endures, but when something pops, the android lets out a groan which quickly becomes a pained shout. Unlike many living targets, though, she doesn't keel over. Rather she staggers back, grabbing at the leads and prying them free of herself.     S6 visibly smokes. It's unclear where that's coming from.     She quickly assesses her situation, then settles on a course of action. With a gesture, her smaller sword darts ahead, spinning like a sawblade. With that to keep Lory moving, S6 reaches back and collects her Odachi in one hand. The blade is reversed, pulsing with magic along the edge, and when she finally swings it-- the light leaps from the weapon in a crescent-shaped energy wave directed at Lory's predicted evasion path. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      The predicted evasion path is pretty accurate! Even though she does a decent job ov avoiding the center of that energy wave, the tail end catches Lory and sends her sliding across the ground, sprawled out from the hit and looking pretty bad off now. Her visor is cracked, her shield too, and she has to wipe some red from her mouth and keep pressure on a wound in her side. "Nnn...gotta end this quick somehow..." she says to herself.      She gets back to her feet, then pulls a couple of those grenades from her belt again. She throws them like ninja stars, and the discs sail through the air just as well. But this time it is a combination of grenades. A few of those yellow ones, and then some black ones. The riot foam seeks to cover and slow S6 again, and the black ones...well those just explode. Then another set of black ones. And another. And another.      Several sets of those explosions happen, the compact but powerful HE grenades meant to take out a major opponent rather than non-lethally subdue a less dangerous one. 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     S6 plants her foot, making a yanking gesture. Her katana whips back from where it spins, in the same instant that the android hurls herself foward, meeting the weapon halfway and just keeping on the move. She charges right through bursting grenades, showered by foam and shrapnel. A smoldering, tattered android erupts from the smoke and flame, trailing embers from her singed uniform. A crack runs down her visor, emitting a bright blue-white glow.     Both swords spin to life, but S6 is also involved. She leads on Lory with her smaller sword, immediately chaining into the larger in a flurry of blows, accentuated only by sounds of effort.     It ends when the Odachi slams into the pavement and gets stuck. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory watches in a bit of awe as S6 just charges right through the explosions! The bunny starts to leap away, but just can't quite outspeed the hits. She doesn't take any one serious cut, but plenty of smaller cuts quickly add up, and after the attack Lory stumbles back before finally falling over.      The arena resets, and thankfully all the damage fades away. Lory mmphs softly as she gets back to her feet, then looks up at S6 and sighs before smirking lightly. "Well, I hate to lose but you won fair and square." She holds up a hand, and her smirk turns to a proper smile. "I'll get you next time, though!" 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     The rabbit is down. S6 remains hunched forward, panting. Only after the damage has reset does she rise to her full height once more. Lifting a hand in a gesture, her smaller katana flips up and spins around-- sliding into its scabbard. The odachi shudders, wrenching free and likewise returning to its home.     She pauses, looking at that same raised hand, she flexes her fingers. This is lifted more, touching the visor on her face as if she were adjusting a pair of glasses. She then lowers it to her side when her POD chimes.     -VRCS CALIBRATION COMPLETE.-     -COMBAT LOG STORED-     "It was enlightening," the android comments, "Your capabilities are impressive. Thank you for the experience, Officer Thumper." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory's offered hand seems either ignore or misinterpreted. She holds it there for a few more moments, then rolls her eyes lightly and smirks a bit. "Here." She moves forward and grips the hand that S6 lowered to her side, then gently shakes up and down with an exaggeration of the movements. "It's a handshake. A way to show appreciation and respect to someone else. I'm not sure if they have them where you come from or not, but just in case they didn't. I'd rather not think a comrade who just I just had a very productive sparring session with didn't respect me at least a little." 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     "Hm?" A noise escapes when Lory seizes her hand. The concerted effort to teach her the method and meaning of a handshake is accepted with an apparently impassive face. Mostly because the visor covering her eyes does a good job of hiding how they've widened in surprise. Her hand is slack for only a few moments, before she firms up her grip and returns the handshake more naturally.     "..I see," S6 eventually gets out, her voice soft, "It wasn't...a lack of respect." She lifts her hand again, staring at her palm, "...I do not regularly deal with humans-- Humanoids-- in a direct fashion. My kind are not equivalent to humans in Indus." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory nods at that, though her smile turns to a bit of a frown at the revelation. "I know you are just a machine, but I don't see how anyone can dismiss you as not a person. It's like that loud king guy says. It isn't really how you came to be that determines if you are a person. It's how you live, how you feel, what you do with your life...you know, the important stuff."      Lory watches S6 for a few moments as the android stares at her palm. "Better get used to dealing with them now, though! That's what most of the Paladins are, you know. I mean there's a few other robots like you, but we organics are a lot more common." She reaches to pull her helmet off, making it easier to see her face. "And just some advice? If that visor of yours is retractable or removeable, that'll probably help you connect. People like it when they can see someone's eyes. It's still an advantage in combat, though." 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     While Lory speaks, S6's gaze remains fixed on her palm, though her hand shifts slightly into a more uplift-like posture. Quoting the King of Heroes pulls a thoughtful noise from the android. Something she either hadn't heard or hadn't considered. Or had she known it and just refused to acknowledge it?     "Mmm..." Her hand raises, tapping the visor over the bridge of her nose. In a flicker of magic, the eyewear disappears, "I wear it out of habit. It contains the interface to my VRCS and relays scanner information from my Pod. But it is unnecessary for social interaction." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory blinks at that. "Huh. That's kind of unusual, isn't it? I mean...an android doesn't need a visor to see readouts, right?" She gives a slight shrug. "But, maybe someone thought it looked cool, or wanted the modular ability that gives you." She continues to watch the android studying her own hand. "Are you the kind of android that eats? Or do you just plug in and recharge? I'm always hungry after a good sparring session." 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     "It was initially designed for human use," S6 states, "Adapted for use by androids. An integrated interface would also be more difficult to repair. Many of my components are similarly modular." Silver eyes shift sidelong to her Pod, which chimes. Her gaze returns to Lory, "So long as I avoid particularly oily foods, it is fine." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory blinks at that, seeming a bit surprised. Not by the repurposing of technology for ease of repair, but the oily foods thing. "Wait, really? I thought oil was good for robots?" she says, then pauses. "Well...I guess that would be more for mechanical robots. And I have no idea just how intricate your design is. Anyway, I don't eat a lot of oily foods myself. Mostly vegetables. No meats for me. Although...salad dressing." she says, nearly conversing with herself.      She blinks again, then looks up at S6 again since her head drifted down as she pondered. "Does it matter what kind? I have an itch for some good stir fry." 

:'''{{#var:7088|S6 (7088)}} has posed:'''     "I am closer to electronic than mechanical," S6 states in that even tone. Her posture shifts, one hand resting near the other elbow. The dietary admission doesn't surprise her at all, but she sees no need to voice it. Instead, she nods once and steps past the rabbit cop, "Yes. That will be alright."     -POLLING DATABASE.-     -GRAND DORADO RESTAURANT INDEX LOCATED.-     "Mm." 
}}

6827/Aurora Shell Analysis

2019-09-13T06:27:37Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/09/12 |Location=Planet M15 |Synopsis=A group of scientists meet with Solty Revant to discuss what they have discovered about the Aurora Shell..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/09/12
|Location=Planet M15
|Synopsis=A group of scientists meet with Solty Revant to discuss what they have discovered about the Aurora Shell and the Blastfall before the local authorities attempt to arrest them and contain the information they discovered.
|Cast of Characters=6704, 934, 711, 42, 7116, 894
|Tinyplot=The Aurora Shell and The Blastfall
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Those attending (or spying on) the meeting about the Aurora Shell that covers the world simply known as 'The Planet' are given directions to an abandoned warehouse in the industrial district of the metropolis simply called 'The City'. Those who have not been here before are asked to register for an RUC ID if they want to access the city. Those who refuse are denied entry...through the main multiverse gate. But, a smaller gate is now open near where August, Corona, and Will performed their experiment and hasn't been sectioned off yet, allowing those who want to sneak into the City an access point...for now.      The meeting place is an abandoned warehouse that Roy identified as derelict enough to carry out the meeting in secret. There was no way he was going to have them meeting at his house. The big man who is Solty's legal guardian is keeping the green-haired girl close as they wait for others to arrive, and judging by the large frown on his face and his calm but alert demeanor he is not happy about this. "This is a mistake, Solty. There's no good reason for them to keep poking at the Aurora Shell, and one very good reason for them NOT to poke at it."      Solty blinks, then smiles. "But, if they figure out what it is we might be able to stop Blastfalls from ever happening again!" A projector has been set up for the presentation, and should be able to interface with just about any device with minimal effort. 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' You know what's awesome? Space. Space is awesome. Space is super-duper-gotta-go-get-there-and-land-on-the-moon awesome. What's even more awesome is discovering that there exists, on world not entirely unlike his own, a MYSTERIOUS SPACE BARRIER that occasionally turns into lightning and viciously smites anyone who dares to reach beyond the stifling limits of their home star. That's just, the most awesome. Almost as awesome as his awesome talking gun. And Will finally has the opportunity to talk about this weird plasma bolt generator that he's been studying for the past while. He's positively giddy! "Hello everyone!" Will chirps with all the good cheer of someone who isn't about to make August Kohler's life extremely difficult. "I'm here today to talk to you all about this particular planet's ionospheric force field and the plasma-based anti-orbital effect that's been keeping absolutely everyone on this world grounded for as far as people can remember." Will frowns sympathetically at Roy, then says maybe a little more gravely: "There's a really good reason for us /to/ poke at the Aurora Shell. I'm pretty sure this is extremely important for /everyone/ living on this planet. Life-or-death important. Let me explain." The scifi cowboy flips open a panel on his cybernetic wrist and pushes a button. The projector flips from a cheery introductory slide (featuring a smiling, thumbs-upping, cartoon Will) to a photo of the aurora shell's characteristic mulitcolored curtain hanging above the clouds, beyond a moderately-sized building. "As we all have seen, the Aurora Shell is a constant on this world. Whether you're in the city or far out in the wilderness--" Will pushes the button again, the picture transitions to a shot of the land outside city limits, the Aurora is still present. "You can't get away from it. It's always overhead, no matter what. That got me thinkin' that maybe it was some kind've anti-satellite defense system, but it made no sense that somethin' like that would be pointed at the surface. When I sent up another probe to find out, well. What I discovered was pretty disturbin'." He clicks the button again. A simplified diagram of what appears to be the planet's surface, its atmosphere, and the aurora shell surrounding it appears on-screen, along with information like average atmospheric density, apparently based on a host of sensory data. "This here is a snapshot of the planet's atmosphere. D'you notice something interesting?" 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' Will waits for a polite moment, before lifting a laser-pointer and waving it around at the space beyond the Aurora Shell. "Look here. The atmospheric density beyond the Shell is not even a fraction of what it is below. It's a step-change, essentially. You go from air below the shell to no air above the shell. Based on the high energy nature of the Aurora Shell, I'm pretty sure that the thing is acting as a barrier to hold the planet's atmosphere in place." "I've done a few measurements on the overall size of the world and checked the gravitational constant, and it makes sense," Will shrugs. "This world is too small and too light to sustain its own atmosphere within the heliosphere of its star. The Aurora Shell appears to be an artificial atmospheric control system, though I haven't been able to pinpoint its generator yet. That brings us to--" Click! The screen transitions to a fuzzy picture of a Thing beyond the Aurora Shell. He clicks again, and the powerpoint does a cheezy ZOOM AND ENHANCE sort of dealie-- it's probably not actually that, and Will's just being a dork and already cleaned up the image way ahead of time. It's... Something that's definitely not natural. It looks vaguely ship-shaped, actually. "This is what we found beyond the Aurora Sphere when we went looking. I traced back the Blastfall that hit our first attempt at peeking through and discovered that a large quantity of high-energy plasma at the epicenter. Or, higher than usual, I mean." Will scratches his chin and hits the button again, showing a pair of graphs. One is a 'normal' reading from the Aurora Shell, the other is labeled 'DOOM LIGHTNING' and is... much more energetic. "I'm no plasma physicist, but I did some reading, and this sort of thing doesn't normally happen without outside stimuli. I filtered back through our video and found evidence of an energy weapon discharge-- like a laser, sort of-- that impacted the upper end of the aurora shell a split-second before the Blastfall event." Will pauses and looks up at Everyone. "Any questions so far?" 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite at least tries to not draw too much attention to herself. She's even built a totally normal, unobtrusive looking motorcycle (you can bet it's not quite so normal 'under the hood' so to speak.) She parks it in the dingy alleyway behind the warehouse and ambles her way out and to where the locals are waiting, giving a polite greeting tip of her hat to Solty and her guardian. Then the vixen pulls an anachronistic looking data device out of her inventory and hands it to Solty. "Here." She glances towards the projector, then shrugs and does some more rummaging through her belt pouches before finding a cluster of various connector cables and clomping that down on the device. "One of those oughta int'face with yer display o'er yonder... and if not Ah got more to try." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Something about a dangerous weapon, and an 'aurora shell' that covers the planet. Staren hasn't been to Solty's world lately (Although the Concord still needs to raid that corrupt hospital official's house while he's in jail sometime,) and apparently he has a lot to catch up on.     For once he's not in armor -- this is a peaceful meeting after all. There's ALWAYS the risk of the door getting kicked in by ninjas, of course, but going to peaceful meetings decked out for a fight without a specific reason is kind of a faux pas, isn't it? Of course, SOME people don't need armor. Lucky them.     Staren walks in just at the tail end of that exchange. "What's a 'blastfall'? Good to see you again, Solty." He smiles, nodding to her and Roy, and offers a 'I-hope-we-can-work-together' look to Will. Even if they have disagreements about Will's world, they both want to do good, right?     The presentation starts and Staren listens attentively.     "So there's some kind of orbital installation that can zap the planet below? That's... troublesome. Whether it's out of control or in the hands of a malicious actor, we need to stop it from causing 'blastfalls' that hurt innocent civilians." 

:'''{{#var:7116|Phyllis Lancaster (7116)}} has posed:''' Whispers of a magical rainbow shell in some place called 'The Planet' have reached further than plausible. Although some people have dismissed the rumors as another urban legend, a certain stranger knows better than to ignore the possibilities, and a bit of snooping around has led her to the warehouse in The City after registering for an ID. Everything checks out, of course. Looking like a fairly normal civilian helps, and Phyllis soon finds herself in front of the abandoned warehouse staring at the projector from a distance. There's already several other people around, and she files into one of the spare seats like a good student! She promptly has no idea what's being talked about by the space cowboy. There's lots of strange space words being thrown about, pictures of the Aurora Shell in question, and more space stuff. She writes maybe an entire sentence about this before just focusing on listening, furrowing her brow when the spaceship thing shows up and DOOM LIGHTNING comes up. Also, lasers. And questions! Phyllis bites her lip as she slowly starts raising her hand, but stops when the man with the cat ears clarifies what the Blastfalls even are in slightly more understandable language. 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' "Oh! Right uh," Will clicks forward a few slides! To a picture of a GIANT PLASMA DISCHARGE (IE a column of lightning) lancing from atmosphere to surface. Seems like it was taken with some kind of high-speed camera! "This is a blastfall. Think of it as a lightning bolt of doom from the sky that wipes out anything it touches." Solty or Ray can elaborate if they like. He expects the big man especially would have quite a bit to say on the subject. "Kind of sort of," Will makes a hand-wiggly motion at Staren. "It seems like the installation only responds when anything gets too close to the Aurora Shell. I'd bet it's probably a security system that someone didn't calibrate right. How is anyone supposed to get to it and repair it if it won't let anyone through? Unless there's some kind of passcode system in place, and we just don't know the security protocols." Will shrugs! It's a mighty shrug. "I'm more concerned about the shell itself. High-energy emissions are killer on any force field, especially one that's on all the time already anyway. I don't know how long the Aurora Shell's been active, but unless it's being properly maintained, I'm also not sure how long it'll /remain/ active, not without lookin' at the projectors myself." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty greets each person who shows up with a cheerful smile, then listens to the presentation. Phyllis is someone she doesn't know, but the naive and trusting Solty doesn't question her being here. Even Roy raises an eyebrow at the information, then his teeth clench. "Wait, so there's a THING up there shooting at us if we go too high?! I lost my Rita because of-" His fists clench next, and he growls before turning toward the door. "...I need to take a walk." he says, then makes his way out. Apparently he thinks Solty is pretty safe in here.      Solty sighs softly as Roy leaves, then looks to Staren. "-The- Blastfall was something that happened about 10 years ago. It leveled about half the city and caused a lot of deaths. Almost every family in the city was affected in some way, and a large amount of families have children that they adopted after the children's parents couldn't be located. Kasha, my best friend, is one of those kids! And...Roy lost his daughter to it."      Solty looks to Will after that. "Didn't you find some kind of nano machines after that smaller Blast you guys created, Mr. William?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite is adopted after being a street rat orphaned by her parents' death, so she knows how most of the families here must feel. So she takes no insult at Roy's departure. She just leans against a wall, tail curling around her ankles as she muses. "Someone or something must be able to get up there. A system like that don't keep runnin' and doin' its thing without maintenance." She rolls her shoulders in a shrug. "Though even Ah admit it's hard to conjuncture more than theories without seein' the actual system like Will said, and Ah'm the engineer by profession." 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' Will looks on as Roy storms off. He honestly can't blame the guy. He's... lost family to this kind of thing too. But comforting a guy like that probably isn't what Roy wants... or needs. "That's a real good question, miss Solty. I think we're lucky in at least one regard--" Will clicks again. Click! The slide transitions to what looks like a shot of an otherwise unremarkable sky... that zooms in. And again. And again. Eventually Will just clicks the button and transitions to another slide that's obviously just an electron microscope image but he wanted to be fancy again and make it seem like he could see nanoscale features in the sky from the planet's surface. (He definitely cannot, and is instead just, as established, a giant dork). The electron microscope has revealed, in greyscale, what look to be tiny (burnt out) machines. Nanomachines in fact, if the scale in the corner is correct. "These are what we believe are responsible for maintaining and generating the Aurora Shell. Nanomachines, each with their own individual power generator. We've analyzed the Aurora Shell and found a multilayered mesh of these things." "Problem is," Will clicks again. The slide transitions to another graph, one with a line illustrating the average power output of a few hundred thousand of these tiny little machines... compared to the estimated power associated with a single Blastfall event. The latter is waaaaay larger than the former. "Even a large number of the nanites aren't enough to generate the power required for a plasma bolt. So that energy has to come from somewhere. Worse, we only know they're up there because one of the plasma bolts fried a significant quantity of the nanites. I've got no idea if they're able to self-replicate or if there's a factory somewhere pumping them out. In either case, they're probably not exactly infinite." 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' August Kohler learned about the meeting late. So, he arrived late. He did not bring donuts. He did, however, bring a gun holstered to his side and a deep grimace, wearing a thin coat. As he storms through the door, right as Will is presenting about nanomachines, August moves up to the stage, probably passing Roy on the way in, and comes up directly to his ear. His voice is muffled, but not enough that those actively trying to hear him can't hear what he's saying at least slightly, and his tone and mood is readable easily anyways. "What the fuck are you doing? Why are you telling these people, Staren, that girl- who the hell is that anyways- all our intel?" August turns over to look at the group again, briefly, narrowing his eyes, before turning back to Will, quieter. "Look, wrap this up, don't reveal anything else that isn't need-to-know, and 'the workings of what we know about the Aurora Shell' isn't need-to-know. You can't turn back time and undo this, but seriously, don't just tell people everything we know for free. That's not how we get ahead." And then, coughing into his fist, August turns to the group. "August Kohler, you know me. Well, Staren knows me. Yeah, the Aurora Shell sucks, that's all you really need to know." And then he moves to sit down, sucking in a breath. This is shit. Really, really shit. 

:'''{{#var:7116|Phyllis Lancaster (7116)}} has posed:''' "So the Aurora Shell is the cause of that Blastfall event and these other doom lightnings? But... Oh." Phyllis furrows her brow in thought as the implications of all that dawns on her, the naming of The City suddenly making more sense in context. "What about disabling it? If it's that bad, maybe taking away its power source could work." She suggests, flipping her notebook open once more to start jotting more things down. She straightens up a bit when one of the older people present steps out, looking from him to the green girl and connecting some dots there. "Or... Trying to break it? With explosions or missiles or aci-" She freezes up when another person shows up looking not happy in the slightest about all of this, keeping her jaw nice and tight as she tries not to make eye contact with him. She starts looking for an opening to get up and go nonchalantly, but she's stuck sitting there while waiting for... Something! Maybe someone else will get up first to make this less awkward. 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' Oh hey, that's August! Will didn't know August was gonna be here. "Hey August! What's goin' on?" He waves, seemingly oblivious to the waves of WILL KILL WILL currently radiating out of August's face. "Don't you worry," Will grins cheerfully, "I'm just tellin' folks what they need to know to help us make sure that everyone on this planet's as safe as can be!" Beat. "A-also, Solty asked me nicely to give a presentation. So." Oh no. It's Will's well-documented robogirl weakness. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "Not sure iffen it's to keep people out or keep folks -in-," Corona drawls. "Almost seems like bo--" And stops abruptly as someone else barges in, her ears twitching. Those long fennec ears aren't just for show, by the way her expression flattens she heard at least part of that whispering with her sensative hearing, and more likely reconized the voice if nothing else. But why is he all grumpy about it-- --Oh right, Staren's here. Different faction?-- --Oops? Though Solty probably didn't care about that. Will is at least trying to save face. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren just feels awkward and doesn't comment to Roy. If the guy isn't the sort to be out collecting the dragon balls to wish his daughter back to life, Staren doesn't have any advice to offer.     "So... the orbital device must be providing the power. Replenishing nanites, who can say -- maybe it was designed with repair in mind, or maybe blastfalls were never anticipated."     And then August comes in and says this is all a big secret. Staren just looks at him with earnest confusion. "You... you don't want to prevent the blastfalls? Why would you need this stuff to be secret? I mean... are you worried someone out there's gonna /use/ the blastfalls to blow up the city or something? Come on, you know /I/ wouldn't do that." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      August does indeed pass Roy, who rather rudely doesn't move out of the way when passing and shoulder checks August a bit. But, he does at least mutter, "Sorry." before walking off down the street, the late evening sun framing him.      When August reaches Will and starts speaking to him, Solty's ears perk before laying down as she hears what August is saying. "But, that isn't all we need to know Mr. August! Please don't be upset with Mr. William! I asked him, like he said. I didn't know you wouldn't want to share the information!" She hesitates a moment. "But...it is like Mr. Staren says. Why wouldn't you? Mr. Staren is a good man who helped Roy and me, and he could be really helpful with trying to figure out how to fix the Aurora Shell so it doesn't hurt anyone again!"      Solty looks to Phyllis after that. "The only problem with breaking it is we don't know where the energy is coming from, and we can't get up to the satellite or ship or whatever it is without causing another Blastfall. At least, that's what Mr. William said, I think." Solty then looks toward the door, then sighs. "Thank you for your hard work Mr. William, Mr. August, and Miss Corona. I should go find Roy." she says. She bows to the group, then takes off at a jog. "I'm Solty by the way!" she calls to Phyllis before she disappears through the door.      Corona brings up a point, but...that point might not get an answer. Suddenly, the power goes out in the warehouse! The projector goes dark, as do all the lights. The only illumination is coming from the evening sun filtering through the windows. Then, a voice speaks up. It's a voice that those from the science team would recognize. A female voice that speaks with calm authority.      "So, I guess your team found more than they let on. I'm afraid we are going to have to place all of you under arrest unless you erase all your data and allow an R.U.C. representative to verify that it has been removed from all other systems -and- sign a non-disclosure agreement. This information is classified. It represents a threat to the City and its people. You have 20 seconds to surrender. If you don't we will subdue you by force."      The voice goes quiet. It would be pretty difficult to tell where it came from unless one has enhanced hearing, and even harder to see who said it in the now fairly dark warehouse. 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' August responds to Staren, and the group at large, with a sigh. "Would you share everything your R&D or science team is up to before they're even done with anything beyond basic research?" That's all he says, because August doesn't want to outright say 'I have plans for the Shell.' But before he can say anything more or deflect, all the power goes out, and a female voice threatens them. August tugs on his gloves, pulls up a mirrored bracelet on his wrist, and speaks clearly as he glances into it. "Come out, Dietrich." The massive power-armored black knight manifests, holding his mechanical sword. August can't attack because he doesn't know where the threat is. So, he simply answers them. "Go fuck yourself." Will just needs to light up the room so he can fight. 

:'''{{#var:7116|Phyllis Lancaster (7116)}} has posed:''' A long range thing, then... Hmm. That's really tricky." Phyllis murmurs as she ponders what kinds of weird weapons could even take out something so far away. Before her imagination can run wild, though, she's brought back to reality by the talk of motives going into this presentation, and then the sudden power outage. Slipping her book into her messenger bag, Phyllis shifts around in her seat uncomfortably as she waits for the lights to come back. Instead, there's an ominous voice. When they talk of arresting everyone, she shuffles in her seat a bit before standing up and raising her hand. "H-hey! Why are you going to arrest anyone? They're just trying to help protect the-" And as Phyllis tries to make her plea, a massive black knight appears. She stares at it blankly for a good five seconds, and then there's a gleam in the lady's eyes as she points at Dietrich. "See? A knight like that is the type of person this.. Um. The City needs to save it from that weird space laser curtain!" Conveniently, she ignores August's more colorful language. She may not realize Dietrich has anything to do with him yet. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     The lights go out. As the voice speaks, Staren reaches into his bag and flings handfuls of LED lights around the room. The angle is weird, but it's something. In the light, it's clear his labcoat has closed itself, and he's holding a now-empty potion vial in his other hand as the translucent field of Armor of Ithan appears around his body.     "Look. It's too late -- You can't prove if I erased data, and the Concord will not abide by an NDA signed under duress. But let me offer you an alternative: Bring us in on this. You know we're capable people. We can protect the city together, instead of fighting eachother while your real enemies laugh themselves silly. What do you say?"     Staren is earnest, but also suspicious. He's had to deal with too many stupid people to strongly hope these goons will turn out to be smart. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite doesn't even flinch when the lights of the warehouse go out from the power being cut. Or it might be that she was focusing on that voice. Great, more conspiracy. Farther down the rabbit hole they go. "Iffen thare's one thing worse than a grumpy guest..." No offense August, but she needed a convenient set up. "It's a party crasher being all HIGH and mighty." Hopefully someone else will pick on the clue. Because her attention shifts to the side, a swiveling of her ear to hone in on the other scuffling sounds. And in the one smooth motion one would expect of a gunslinger she snaps up her arm to point the direction the other movement came from, head just tipping forward a bit to make it clear she didn't have to -look- to point the derringer pistol in her hand in their direction. "Now doncha think yer gonna be sneakin' round and jumpscare us over thare, either." 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' "Y-yeah! What she said! I couldn't possibly turn miss Solty down!" Will says, desperately trying to convince August that Cute is Justice and thus should not be resisted unless there's very good reason otherwise (like said cute thing being Also Totally Evil.*) But then suddenly, the lights go out. The lights go out, and Will suddenly feels somewhat upset that he didn't make a second go-around to double check the perimeter. "Oh, crackers. Ain't this just the worst." There are demands! Will huffs mightily as a pair of ominous white-blue eyes suddenly blaze in the darkness. Really they're goggles, but Will made them look like eyes because, as established, he's a dork. "This data's proprietary, AND primary-sourced! If y'all didn't want folk finding it, maybe you should've done a better job at stoppin' us from doin' the legwork!" Then, something ELSE lights up. It seems at first glance to be a small star igniting in the dark. In reality, it's Will's trusty firearm, blazing like the plasma torch that it so often is as he takes aim at one of the figures in the murk. "Y'all don't wanna know what Judgment here's capable of. Stand down and get the eff out of my presentation." (*This doesn't always apply. Will has and still does perform regular maintenance on Abyssal shipgirls in return for Services Rendered and a sweet, gothy smile now and then.) 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' Incidentally, Will conspicuously does absolutely nothing to stop August from doing August Things to these jerks. He actually joins in pretty quick once the violencing starts happening. Turns out Judgment is precisely the kind of terrifying plasma weapon that the Blastfall seems to be. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      "You first!" another voice exclaims as August says those incendiary words, and a muscular blonde that must be 6 feet tall and is wearing a black skin-tight suit with blue armor segments charges at August at blinding speed by smashing right through the thin sheet metal wall, aiming an obviously augmented punch at his middle.      "Sylvia wait!" comes the voice from overhead before there is a sigh. "These terms are nonegotiable. That information isn't new, so you have no claim to it." the voice overhead says, now proven to belong to a fairly tall woman with pale skin and jet black hair wearing a suit similar to the blonde's except with purple armor. She leaps off the girder she was standing on and points fists at Corona and Staren, and hidden machine guns start firing on them as she somersaults downward.      When Will brandishes his weapon and demonstrates its abilities, the small crater of a sniper round suddenly appears at his feet. "Are you really sure that's such a good idea? I wouldn't want to hurt such a cutie." comes another voice, this one belonging to a short girl with dark skin and dark brown hair, also wearing a skin-tight suit except with yellow armor this time. She is in the girders as well, but stretched out flat as any good sniper should be. But, she grins a moment later and aims at William. "But, you made your intentions clear. So...sorry~" She is pretty jovial about all this, seeming like the type who enjoys a good fight. She fires a shot at William, then at Phyllis as well. "Sorry girl. But that thing up there can't be stopped. And we have our orders." She certainly doesn't sound sorry. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Everything these people say just make Corona's subdued paranoia twitch more. Mostly because it creates more questions than actually answer anything. "Iffen it's such a 'risk' shouldn't the people know?" Her eyes narrow. "Or is this one of those things where if the 'common folk' knew more, y'all wouldn't be able to keep 'em cowed in believin' they need y'all to survive?" She springs into action as soon as the woman's arms come up, gunfire riddling holes in the wall where she had been standing as the vixen dives and rolls out of the way. She doesn't completely escape clean, but the materials fused into her gunslinger jacket minimalize the harm done. For the time being. She comes up on one knee, that comparitively small pistol out at arms length. But it doesn't need to be big. Not when she can snap off both of the pre-loaded rounds in the derringer with precision, aiming for one of the woman's arms in hopes of damaging it and/or her weapon. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The black-haired woman, apparently the leader, spares a breath to answer Staren as well. "This world isn't yours. We can take care of things just fine, and you people were told that investigating the Aurora Shell is forbidden. Surrender, let us erase your systems of relevant data, and sign the agreement. Otherwise, we have to take you in...or take you out." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Machine gun bullets bounce off Staren's forcefields, and for a moment, he wants to make an example of these girls. Kill them all as an example to others for what happens when you turn down an offer of diplomacy and mercy and help from Staren Wiremu of the Concord. Broadcast the fight so everyone can see...     But that gives him an even better idea.     If evil forces want to kill people to keep something a secret? Then there's a better way to strike at their organization than killing.     Staren just starts laughing as his wings appear and he blows through a warehouse window and starts flying away. "AAAAAH-ha ha ha ha ha haaaa! YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE! Ahhhahahahahahahahahahaaaa!"     Will's entire presentation, including the party crashers and their ultimatum, go up on Multiversal streaming sites. And on local ones if Staren senses a wireless access point and leaves a tablet near it. 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' At least, of all the things Will has gotten over, 'not shooting ladies' is one of the most useful ones. That doesn't exactly help matters much when there's bullets raining down from the girders near the ceiling. A chunk of concrete explodes near Will's ankles, dislodged by a slug of tungsten that sends shrapnel tearing upward right at his pretty-boy face. It leaves a thin red line on his cheek that may or may not turn into a shonen protagonist scar, because even in battle, Will is Anime As Balls. "H-hey, I remember you girls! You're just doing this to cover your own-- admittedly really cute if I'm gonna be honest-- butts! That ain't fair!" Will turns and fires with the skill of a practiced gunslinger, identifying his assailant's rough location by tracking the direction of her shot. The moment before he pulls the trigger, the brilliant plasma abruptly gives way to a rippling electrical chaos. A bolt of lightning surges into the metal girders overhead. Even if it doesn't hit her directly, that much electricity is going to make staying up there /really/ painful. Unfortunately, it's around then that Staren decides to do Staren Things and PUTS WILL'S ENTIRE PRESENTATION UP ON THE INTERNET WITHOUT TELLING HIM. "HEY," Will yells, "THAT'S /MY/ WORK, YOU JERK! Didn't your parents teach you not to plagiarize--" *PANG!* The sniper takes her opportunity, and a chunk of Will's reinforced arm-plating goes flying as it's torn away by the force of the impact. "D-damnit. Staren, when we're done with this, I'm /filing a copyright claim!/ No, wait! Judgment! You've got internet. Do that! FLAG ALL HIS VIDEOS FOR PLAGIARISM!" There's a pregnant pause. And then a sci-fi-y, robotic voice says: Normally I'd call this exercise an example of the futile organic impulse of property. But I think this could be amusing. Consider it done. And that's how Staren's Multiversal YouTube Account got Digital Multiverse Copyright Act-ed 

:'''{{#var:7116|Phyllis Lancaster (7116)}} has posed:''' And oh hell, the strange women are attacking everyone. Phyllis yelps as the first of the shots ring into the air and everything starts turning into flaming swords and lasers and ominous cackling in the sky, and it's only in her haste to get out of the line of fire that she manages to avoid getting a bullet right through the gut. Also, a skull popping out of nowhere to intercept the shot, taking the brunt of the force and leaving the rest to just leave a painful surface cut across Phyllis' arm. Looking up at the sniper in the girders, she furrows her brow as she holds her hand up, a determined glare cast upwards. "Even though they all look like tourists here, they sound like they want to protect this City's people more than you. Especially the laughing cat man!" Someone here believes in Staren, at least. "If you really cared about the people living here, then you should come down and meet them instead of hiding it!" She draws her hand back, then swings it forward dramatically as a bird rockets up at the girder, looking a little sickly and missing certain bird-like qualities like wings and flesh and also it's a skeletal bird. Said bird explodes into an acidic mess when it hits the girder, threatening to take the sniper's perch down from underneath her! 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' A blonde strikes at August's center. Something moves faster. Dietrich dashes in front of the blow, taking it to the side, tearing off armor but stopping her fist, as his massive sword swings down on her in response with rapid reflexes. August leaps on Dietrich's back, grabbing hold of hand rails, and makes a wide sweep, igniting the sword at the last moment in an attempt to burn her. And then, Staren leaks the data. August curses, but he talks to the blonde. "Your data's out there. You can't undo it. Give up...believe me, I'm as pissed as you, if for different reasons. We didn't want this." August has ulterior motives in the first place, even if he wants to protect the people...so Staren blowing the lid on that clearly pisses him off. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The information is streamed to sites all over the Multiverse. The leader of the group freezes as she gets the word over her comms, then lets out a frustrated sound. "I don't care, Accela! Get them all taken down! Whatever it takes! That information can't just be out there! It puts every person in The City at risk!" Even as she is trying to avoid bullets and only partially succeeding she keeps barking orders. "Fine...let the director know. The RUC will have to take legal action, it seems." she says, then ducks behind a pillar. "So, you think doing that was the -right- thing to do? Well guess what. It doesn't matter what you think. This isn't your world, that data doesn't belong to any of you, and your friends took up arms against the government with the clear intention of using them. Sylvia may have struck first, but that man with the robot and the presentation scientist declared their intentions outright. If you and that girl really didn't know the information was classified, then here is another chance to stand down, give up your data, sign the agreement, and leave."      She looks around at Corona, August, and Will. "But these three were already warned, and chose to ignore it. Who knows what they want to use the information for? Do you? It's easy to say you only want to use it to help, but the fact is that they were testing a method that causes the plasma strikes. Are we supposed to just take the word of someone who already lied to us once?"      Sylvia, the blonde attacking August, grunts as she strikes the metal figure rather than August, then barely avoids a direct hit by that massive sword. Sparks fly from her armor as she is knocked away, and she bounces a few times before landing on her feet. She smirks at August. "You'd think so, but Accela is amazing and the R.U.C. can prove that the information is proprietary to us. We'll get all of those postings removed soon enough." she says before charging at him again and aiming a stilleto heeled kick at him. "So you may as well surrender! You had your chance to walk away!"      Celica is caught in that lightning thanks to her steel perch, and she yelps and shudders as the current flows through her. But, she stays on her perch and just grins. "Drop your weapons and you'll live. Keep fighting back and...well, we can't really promise that." she says as she fires two more shots, this time at Will and Corona. But, she can't stay up there any longer thanks to Phyllis's acid attack, and so she is forced to leap to another girder. Staren and Phyllis are not attacked, an obvious test to see just how truthful the two are being. 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' A stiletto kick comes at Dietrich, who shifts not to allow it to hit August, breaking armor with raw strength and sending the Persona skittering back. The flaming sword burns brighter, and comes down overhead, trying to slice straight into Sylvia. He's not holding back - he hits like a truck, and he's not trying to be non-lethal at all. "I think you misunderstand something. My name is August Kohler. Either you give this up, or /you die/. Do you understand these words, lady?" 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren really thought they'd send people after him. Huh.     Now that he knows it really is the government he's pissed off, though, he races to get to a warpgate and get out. Just because he thinks he CAN fight through police doesn't mean he WANTS to.     He has no problem with acknowledging Will as the creator of the presentation, and cares not for ad revenue. The video will show what happens if you're a govenment covering up things and you refuse to work WITH Staren and let him weigh the pros and cons of public ignorance: As a matter of policy, he will always err on the side of destroying the Masquerade.     Perhaps the NEXT shady government agency will learn from this one's mistakes.     He is mystified about August's desire to keep this secret, though -- messing up this kind of government coverup seems right up The Watch's alley. The idea HAS occured to Staren that the technology involved in the Aurora Shell and the orbital facility could be put to other uses, and clearly August and Will plan to do SOMETHING with it, but he can't imagine what they'd want that would be more important than stopping a coverup like this.     Oh well. The cat's out of the bag, now the cat just needs to stay out of jail and get home. 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' "I'm really not sure why yer tryin' to tell me to surrender or die and ALSO SHOOTIN' AT ME AT THE SAME TIME," Will yells back at the woman in the rafter as yet another sniper round tears ricochets off... what appears to be an extendible shield built into his left arm. The metal dents and contorts, popping several loose rivets, but it holds for now. "Y'all are real cynical, you know that!? I dunno about anyone else, but I've got nothin' but good intentions here! This ain't the first time I've run into ancient nanotech, and I aim t' make sure this batch AIN'T the end of another civilization!" Judgment burns white-hot. Will fires again, this time sending a proper bolt of sizzling, coruscating plasma up into the rafters. "And for yer information, I don't /need/ a dang old sky-barrier to shoot what I need t' shoot!" "But hey, iff'n y'all are willin' to kill to defend yer secrets, then maybe--" Two more shots, these designed to hem in and intercept his quarry if she decides to leap off toward yet another steel perch. "--Maybe it ain't worth keeping in charge of how things're done here! If it weren't for these secrets, maybe mister Roy wouldn't be sufferin' the way he is!" 

:'''{{#var:7116|Phyllis Lancaster (7116)}} has posed:''' This is starting to get a little too heated for the seemingly normal girl with the bird skeleton projectile. There's lots of names going around, different groups' fingers in different pies that Phyllis is having trouble just trying to identify, something about a Mage's Association... If not for all that yelling about how they sucked moments earlier, she'd probably have considered finding them herself. Alas. Still watching the sniper as she hops to another perch, Phyllis catches a moment to breathe when Celica turns her fire on Will and Corona. Spotting her chance, Phyllis reaches into her messenger bag, fishes out a skull that looks a bit too large to have even fit in there, and... She turns, then hurls it as hard as she can in the general direction of the warp gate she had come in on. It doesn't even come close to hitting anyone the way she's aiming it, and there's no explosions or anything even when it finally lands. It's just a skull. Shortly afterwards, Phyllis turns and holds her hands up. "No more weapons! See?" Indeed, there's no weapons in her hands at all. "I just wanted to see what the presentation was about! So if that's alright, I'll... Um. I'll just be going now!" And then she just books it out of there with a brisk jog. Note to self: Be more prepared for confrontations the next time she comes here. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' While everyone else is busy blathering at each other over the comms, Corona darts through the escalating fight to grab her own device. If these people want to keep information about the forcefield and what not to themselves, there's a darn good reason to it. And that's all the more reason to keep hands on her own copy of things. The sniper must be less embroiled in the debate though as she's the one to catch the fox on the move, and almost as soon as she grabs her thing a well placed shot sends Corona reeling and skidding across the warehouse floor. Score one for precision sniping! ... At least until Corona rolls over on her back, storage device huddled close to her in one arm. While the other holds out what appears to be an elaborate revolver... Until you realize that the spinning chamber is actually some manner of generator, allowing her to shoot off several bolts of energy at her attacker with little effort. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The leader of this group of female warriors doesn't seem too surprised when Phyllis makes a run for it. She seemed sincere after all. She isn't followed. Staren is a bit of a surprise with how much rage he seemed to be showing, but when he makes his getaway he too isn't followed. Both would get a piece of mail, either electronic or paper depending on their needs, containing the NDA. And Staren in particular will get a warning that he send them verifiable evidence that he has scrubbed his storage of any data or alternately that he allow an RUC specialist to do it or else be labled an enemy of the state. They do know who he is and what he can do, especially after today.      Sylvia grins as she lands a good hit on Deitrich...but that grin is quickly erased when that sword comes for her again. This time she is hit pretty severely. She cries out as a gash actually appears in her armor this time, and a bit of her blood splashes onto the ground as she goes bouncing across the cement floor again. She is only barely able to get back to her feet, but looks like she wants to keep going. "We...nnng...c-can't let you get away with this!" she growls through clenched teeth. But, the leader looks over, then mmphs. "Sylvia! Pull back! One more hit like that and he just might carry out his threat!" Sylvia lets out a frustrated growl. "Integra! We can't just let them get away! They didn't even hesitate to pull their weapons on us, and ignored our warnings!" Integra, the leader who's name had been hidden until now, just mmphs again. "Now, Sylvia! It won't do anyone any good if you get killed here!"      Sylvia finally relents, but her burning glare never leaves August as she quickly limps her way out the door.      Celica draws heavy fire this time from both Will and Corona, and she is blasted right off her perch this time. She yelps as she is hit, but not as she is falling. She actually controls her fall to land on her feet, then takes off running in an attempt to strafe them. But, before she fires Integra holds up a hand and Celica blinks before just...stopping. Integra steps out from her cover and keeps her arm guns trained on the group. "The Blastfall that happened ten years ago...it was because of the R.U.C. They were trying to do the same thing as you three. Figure out what the Aurora Shell is and how to get past it. They did this even though a previous attempt many decades before had caused a similar but much smaller event. They thought they knew enough. They thought they had accounted for everything."      Integra takes a deep breath, then lets it out. "They didn't. And that is when the law was made to never attempt any sort of investigating or tampering with the Aurora Shell again. You three are going to cause something like that to happen again. Another Blastfall. And we -cannot- allow that, no matter how good your intentions might be. It looks like we can't stop you, but know this. If you keep this up...the number of Roys in this world will undoubtedly skyrocket. That will be on you, not on us. And even if we can't, we will have to try and stop you whenever we find you in The City or the areas around it. Even if it gets us killed one day. Because that is our job. Dealing with the threats that the police can't handle.      Integra looks to each in turn. August. Will. Corona. "So...what will it be? If you give up your data now, sign the agreement, and leave, we can still dismiss the charges. No one's been killed yet. And Sylvia started the fight." 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' August swipes into Sylvia, who has to limp away. August actually considers finishing her off, but Integra ends that. Her words...make sense. They're honest. They're courageous. Heroic. "That's touching. You have your heart in the right place, probably." August says, genuinely. "But it's not in my nature to capitulate. It's not in my nature to allow others to control me and tell me what to do." Unless he allows them to, of course, but that's a different story. "If I have to be a fugitive fighting against you, so be it. Just know that you're not alone in the world of good intentions. If another Blastfall happens, even so, I'm not going to give up on changing the world my way. But before this gets too sappy..." The sword rises again, and fire builds up at the tip. "Let me seal the deal!" A fire blast flies forward. It's dodgeable enough, and evne if hit, it probably won't do anything but provide nasty burns, but August uses it as cover to fire up Dietrich's thrusters and leap through that window, shattering glass and crumbling part of the wall. Dietrich moves on a superhuman burst for the warpgate, as August shouts out to the others. "Come on, Will, Corona! It's not like us to sign NDAs, is it?!" 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' "...So you're just going to leave it at that? 'There might be more Roys?'" Will looks genuinely angry, it's not an expression his face is particularly used to making. "There might be more Roys even if none of this gets out. The fact that the RUC knew and still went for it just means that they might still try again someday, and who knows what the consequences will be then? If it was so dangerous, then what is it that they're so desperate to risk so much to find beyond the Aurora Shell?" "Someday, someone else is going to get curious, get reckless and screw up. Especially now that Staren went and did that thing. I ain't gonna just sit around and let that happen. We'll solve this problem 'fore anyone else gets hurt. Even if I signed that agreement of yours, I ain't the type to just /stop./" Will lowers his weapon-- then raises it high and pulls the trigger. A flash of brilliant, blinding light flares from the barrel, "So I ain't gonna make myself into a liar! If you wanna stop us, then stop us! No amount of belly-aching or blame-laying is gonna stop us from doin' the right thing!" And with that, Will runs. It's... not the first time he's been made a fugitive. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "Iffen folks stopped tryin' after one failure, nuttin' would ever get done," Corona mutters as she gets to her feet and dusts herself off. Then straightens out her hat. "Do Ah really look like the sort that's gonna duck m'head to some Power That Be? The Frontier don't roll that way, pardner." True to gunslinger style she turns to leave, the tails of her duster giving a dramatic flutter in the air before being lost in the blinding flare of August's cover. And by the time that's clear, she's cleared out. The only thing missing is some low ominous guitar leimotiff for the departing frontier vigilante. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     The NDA goes up all over the Multiversal internet too, with the date highlighted showing that they sent it after all this. AND after he told them that they can't possibly verify he scrubbed his headcomputer, and the obvious fact that he could re-download the information from anywhere on the Multiversal internet. Staren comments thusly:     "If this government is too stupid to learn, how can it protect its citizens? No moral or ethical court in the Multiverse would recognize an NDA signed under threat of violence. Knowing this, I COULD have signed it and lied to you. Instead, I chose to be honest and got shot at for my trouble.     The R.U.C. has shown today what they think of honesty. What they think of diplomacy. That they value the opportunity for violence over the opportunity to protect their people. If you are in the position of working for this government, having been decieved by their veneer of legitimacy, I have nothing but mercy for you. Come to El Dorado and the Concord will find you a new home and new employment.     This offer is also open to any agents who find themselves under orders to attack me or other people of the multiverse who visit your world to help its people despite the efforts of their government. It is not too late until you fire upon us.     I am sorry that you had to find out the truth about your government this way, and my heart goes out to all of the innocent citizens who did not know how their government treats those who shine the light of scientific investigation upon their dark secrets and risk exposing that the protection of the citizenry are not its first priority. Stay safe out there -- hopefully they won't target YOU as long as you don't try to improve the situation on your world.     And to anyone else with evidence of the R.U.C.'s nefarious practices: The Multiverse is willing to listen."                                                                --Staren Wiremu,                                                                      Hand of the Concord 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      A response also goes up on any forum that gets the NDA posted.      "These are the angry words of a man well known for his heavy-handed methods and might makes right attitude. The simple truth is that he was found in the company of criminals, and when ordered by the local authorities to surrender he refused. Mistakes were made on both sides, it is true. But to claim from this one incident - an incident in which the R.U.C. was attempting to stop any future occurences of the highly destructive events which have come to be known as Blastfalls - that we prefer violence to peaceful resolution is huberis of the highest order. Those not from our world cannot understand the pain and loss suffered by the people of The City, and every one of our registered citizens would agree with our actions. Yes, our agent attacked first, but only after members of a rogue group of scientists declared their intentions to resist arrest and produced weapons with which to do so. How were we to know that people ignorant of both these scientists activities and our laws had stumbled upon the situation and had merely become caught in the crossfire?"      "Those who accept the help of this Staren Wiremu should be cautious, and those who would dare to refuse it should be in fear for their lives. The R.U.C. will continue to protect our citizens as we always have, regardless of any righteous terrorists, misguided scientists, or any other threat which we encounter. This is our world and our city, and we will protect it. Even from those who would risk destroying it on the slim chance that they might free it from a threat that is easily controlled by our laws. It is only when someone ignores those laws that there is any risk. These people have made it clear they will ignore our laws. That makes them a danger to the entire city.      And it should be noted that the NDA was offered under threat of arrest, not violence. Violence only erupted due to their resistance and the desire of our completely legitimate albeit covert peacekeepers to keep our city safe." Signed, Ashley Lynx R.U.C. Director 
}}

6779/Are We Even Old Enough to Drink

2019-08-09T06:14:16Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/09 |Location=The Bar and Grill at the Edge of the Multiverse |Synopsis=A random collection of loosely linked people accidentally meet up fo..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/09
|Location=The Bar and Grill at the Edge of the Multiverse
|Synopsis=A random collection of loosely linked people accidentally meet up for dinner.
|Cast of Characters=7084, 42, 6386
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Supposedly this Bar and Grill at the Edge of the Multiverse is a clean, safe, neutral area where people from any and all factions can mingle with no risks. Well...to a street cop with a suspicious mind that sounds a bit too good to be true. So, Lory Thumper has made her way here just to see if it lives up to its reputation. She is even wearing normal civilian clothes instead of her usual riot gear, although she does still have her belt just in case.      The short bunny anthro makes her way inside and picks a table near the center of the room so that she can listen in on the conversations around pretty much the entire room. And since she is here she does at least order something. A nice strawberry daquiri and some fried green beans. She does her best to make it look like she really is only here for food and drink, but her ears and eyes are constantly alert. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren is having breakfast. He may have lost track of what time it is. Pancakes with syrup, a bit of cheesy scrambled egg, and corned beef hash. Nice. He happens to glance up and see the bunny cop, recognizing her from the other day. He chews for a bit and swallows his current bite before waving from a table over. "Hey there. Settling into the Multiverse okay?" 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     Is it really any surprise that Note's found this place? Where she's getting the money to pay for food is anyone's guess, but.....     But she strolls on through the door, and is quite a sight. The shrimpy young woman's positively and QUITE LITERALLY AGLOW, covered in a thin film of warm and vibrant golden light. Hair that's normally smooth black is raised largely skyward into an arrangement of luminous golden spikes that slowly wave about. The energy that surrounds her makes a faint sizzly, whoosh noise. The display is far, far tamer than what Staren usually sees of this state, though. The young Saiyan-blooded girl's tail swishes about freely and she looks much more relaxed than usual.     "Wait a moment, that energy feels like..." Picking up on what's happening nearby, she simply hops into the air and gently soars over tables. That might be bad manners, but it leaves her hovering a good five feet over Staren's table. "You come here too?" 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory actually flinches in surprise when she hears Staren speak up. She wasn't expecting to meet anyone she knows! Especially since she knows almost no one so far! "Oh! Staren! I..uh..." She looks around to see just how much attention she might have just attracted, then sighs softly before smiling. "Yes and no. I mean, I haven't really had any trouble so far, but that space elevator situation reeeeally didn't go as I'd hoped." she says.      Since it will be harder to monitor the room if she is talking to another table she hops up to join Staren. Only to end up frozen in place and staring a bit at the at the glowing golden-haired girl who just floated up to Staren. "Uh...hi there." she offers with a tentative wave. "Friend of yours?" she asks Staren before cautiously taking a seat across from him. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren blinks at Note. "Of course I do." He can surmise that she's practicing holding Super form for a long time. He nods at the comment about the Space Elevator. "It didn't go as anyone hoped. Saving the guy turned him into an outcast." He looks between Lory and Note. "...Sort of? Not close, but we've worked together a fair bit, when bad guys need to be beat up." 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     "That's the best time to work together!" Note crows merrily enough, flashing a V sign with her fingers over at Lory, whose strange appearance doesn't seem to bother her at all. Then again, Note seems to have a fuzzy monkey tail to go along with everything else. She lands at the opposite end of Staren's table. "Glad I ran into someone here though... don't have a lotta people to talk to 'cept on the radio." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory can't help but smile a bit when Note gives the V sign. "Well, why don't you join us then?" Lory says to Note, then blinks at the monkey tail. "Huh. It hadn't occurred to me that there might be people who land between fully human and anthropomorphic animal." she says. When the waiter arrives with her order she waves him down to Staren's table. "It's kind of amazing isn't it? Dozens if not hundreds of worlds full of billions of people each...and it can still seem lonely out here."      She smirks a bit after that. "But, beating up badguys is always a good way to bring people together." she says before nomming on a fried green bean and sipping her daquiri. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren shrugs at the comment about blending human and animal features. A negative expression flickers across his face at the mention of loneliness. "It means that when you don't fit in, it feels even worse." Then he smiles. "But, with the new factions, it's easier to find someplace you belong, rather than feeling outcast if you want to help people but don't get along with the Union. Even people who don't join anyone" he inclines his head toward Note "can find plenty of work and make acquaintances."     He sips some iced tea. "So what's your world like, anyway?" 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     "Some people keep thinking I'm part space alien." Note splutters out in exasperated fashion in response to Lory's comment. Still, she self-consciously curls the tail 'round her waist a moment later. She cants her head though with a surge of curiosity, glancing at Staren whjen he opens up this line of questioning! Her eyes then swerve back at Lory. Seems she's listening. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory lets out a sardonic little laugh at the mention of fitting in. "Tell me about it. Try being a bunny who has pushed her way into a job that is dominated by big animals. I kind of think they let me join the Multiversal Task Force just to get me out of the precinct for long periods of time." She smiles as well as Staren mentions the factions. "My welcome with Multiversal people has been much more friendly than anything back home. Too much prejudice and not enough tolerance..."      She blinks at Note, then looks up as she ponders. "But...aren't we all basically space aliens out here? I mean, you're only -not- an alien if you are on your home world." she says, then shrugs lightly. "My world is just...normal. I mean, apparently it is unusual in that all the mammalian species have evolved into humanoids but other than that...it's just a normal world. No magic, not super science. Just normal people living normal lives. Back home, I'm an officer in the Mammalopolic Police Department. I thought that was exciting...until I met someone from TSAB who uses spells that seem like massive death rays and that runner up to the MECC who can decimate the landscape with just her fists. Not to mention all the stuff that I saw on my first Multiversal mission."      The bunny takes a deep breath after that, then smiles. "But, so far I've been able to keep up with just my training and a few typical riot control tools from my world. But, I need a lot more experience with opponents from all over the Multiverse if I want to be really effective out there." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren rolls his eyes at the space alien comment, then listens to Lory, both ears rotating towards her. His jaw tightens a bit at the mention of prejudice. "You'd think in the Multiverse people would know better, but there's a surprising amount of speciesism out there."     "What qualifies as 'super' science rather depends on what's 'not' super-science... given most of the Earths around are 20th or early 21st century in time, though, I suppose anything past the early 21st-century counts. Never mind that these 'baseline' earths are developing computer technology far faster than Earth did in the past of some 'futuristic' worlds..." Staren makes a lot of finger quotes.     "I believe the TSAB has policies against death rays and favors magic attack spells specifically because they can be set to stun."     She finishes, and Staren nods. "I see." He takes a bite of pancake. Chew, chew. Swallow. "I'm sure you'll get plenty of practice soon enough. There's the Shrine of Adversity, and simulators, and everything." 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     "Decimating the landscape with fists is REALLY easy. I'd show you but they'd get mad if I did it here." Note points out as if this somehow normalizes matters for Lory! It probably isn't so reassuring though, is it.     "I keep getting surprised by how many people don't know how to fly... so uh..."     She stares pretty hard at Staren here. "I'm starting to see just how much stuff I -don't- know outside of fighting thanks to talks like this! Hgh." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory nods lighto to Staren. "Multiversal people seem to mostly know better. I mean...this young lady didn't even blink at me being a rabbit. But, on my Earth there is pretty hard prejudices. Things that carried over from when we were all running on just instinct. Like foxes and weasels being untrustworthy." she says.      Then it is her turn to roll her eyes lightly and smirks just a bit as Staren gets technical about what counts as super-science. "Okay, I think that is a bit nitpicky when a giant robot or a nanobot suit or a giant space ship what can travel faster than light or technology that seems to be magic are pretty good indicators of super-science." she says.      Lory blinks before raising an eyebrow at Note. "E-easy, huh?" she says a bit uneasily. She coughs lightly into a paw-like hand, then smiles. "Well, I am trying to get more experience in fighting, myself. So if you want to meet up in the Shrine sometime I'm all for it." she says to Note, then looks to Staren. "You too, Mr. I Don't Think Mecha are Super Science." she adds with a smirk. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "My aunt is part fox. ...My parents did always act like she's kinda untrustworthy, though..." Before Staren can ruminate on this, though, other subjects come up. "Sure, but where's the /line/? I didn't say mecha don't count. And sure, you still need practice fighting a 'super-science' opponent and dealing with stuff like homing missiles, I imagine."     Staren takes a sip of his drink. "So... wait. You're discriminated against for being a rabbit. Foxes and weasels are too. So which species /rule/ the world?" 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     "Why would being a rabbit be weird? I'm just glad you're not with those Red Pants army weirdos." Note glances over her shoulder at Lory, giving her a very confused look. "You know the King of Earth's a Dog man, right? The line of King Furry's been at it for a long, long time." She totally doesn't see any issue with Lory's nature here at all! 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory's ears splay as she hears about Staren's aunt. "See, that's what I mean. Foxes and weasels are just people like any other species. It is just a stereotype with no real foundation." she says, shaking her head. At Staren's question about just where to put the line on super science she thinks a moment. "Well...it's kind of like super powers I guess? If a random citizen from an average world would consider it to be bordering on impossible, it's probably super science."      She addresses Note next, giggling a bit. "It shouldn't be weird, but on worlds where they don't even have animal people it is weird to them. It is kind of unfair to assume I know what your Earth is like, though. My Earth has many governments, and I live in a democratic republic." She looks to Staren again after that. "As for which species rule, typically it is the large prey animals like elephants, buffalo, hippos, horses...things like that. They have the presence to be imposing while still being able to draw in the votes of the majority small prey population." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren nods at the explanation. "So it's not human stereotypes carrying over. It's a larger non-carnivore population worried about a carnivore minority eating them. Hmm." Staren considers that. "Would they freak out at humans eating meat," he gestures to the corned beef hash with his fork, "or is it more because predators actually /did/ eat people in the past and it's never been forgotten?" 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     The situation just got far beyond what Note really understands! She keeps looking from one of the two to the other, rather clueless about all of the implications and the depth of this conversation. "Yeah... see what I mean? I've got no idea why you're asking questions like this." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory smiles to Note. "Well I'd say it is because knowledge is power. The more you know, the better decisions you can make." she says in a bit of a teacher kind of voice.      "I think it is mostly that the predators did eat people, and not even that long ago historically." Lory answers Staren, then taps her chin as she thinks. "I think it was...only about 200 years ago that the Predator Purges finally stopped. Before that, the predators really -were- still eating people. Prey animals were generally not as strong or fast or smart as the predators, and so even though they outnumbered predators by a lot, prey lived in fear all their lives. But, sometime around 200 years ago prey started finding old human weapons caches. Then...they quickly took up arms and started exterminating the predators. It wasn't until most sentient predators were on the verge of extinction that prey-controlled governments started offering them safe living areas in return for accepting laws that prohibited the killing of any species that displayed sentience."      Lory shifts a bit uneasily after that. "I...can't pretend that we herbivores are really okay with eating meat, but we understand that some animals literally can't eat only vegetables, and so laws were put into place protecting carnivores' rights to hunt and eat meat so long as it comes from a non-sentient species. Which on our world are fish, birds, lizards, and insects. So far it has worked fine for the last couple hundred years." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren nods to Lory's asssessment of why he's asking questions.     "Interesting. Well. I imagine most carnivores and small herbivores will refuse to leave their homes regardless, but those seeking new opportunity will find it in the Multiverse." 
}}

Lory Thumper

2019-08-06T21:55:15Z

TwilightSparkle:

{{CharacterRedux
|NameOnMUSH=Lory Thumper
|Color=#0099FF
|Char_id=7084
|Img=https://static1.e621.net/data/40/aa/40aa816a2c7d602c563779cc0d01d107.jpg
|FullName=Officer Lory Marie Thumper, MPD
|Gender=Female
|Species=Bunny
|Theme=Mammalopolis
|Chartype=OC
|Active=Active
|Function=Ambitious Rookie Cop
|Faction=Paladins
|Rank=4-Chevaliers
|Ranktype=Member
|Quote=Officer Lory Thumper, MPD! How can I help you?
|PAge=Early 20s
|AAge=24
|Aging=yes
|Height=4 ft
|Weight=70 lbs
|Hair=Grey
|Eyes=Violet
|Profile=Lory Thumper is an anthropomorphic rabbit and an officer in the MPD (Mammalopolis Police Department), the largest police force in the largest city on a planet ruled by anthropomorphic animals. Lory became an officer to fight injustice and inequality after a childhood of being bullied and discriminated against and witnessing the discrimination faced by others. She wages this fight with her sunny disposition, her kind heart, and her strong convictions. She is rigid in her beliefs and honest to a fault, and more than willing to risk her own life and an operation's success in order to save lives. She is also steadfast and stubborn in her search for the truth and tends to tug on the threads of inconsistency even when there are no indications of criminal activity. And on the many occassions that her patrols and investigations lead her to trouble, she uses her agility, mental acuity, and a healthy selection of tools to get herself out of it.
|Defining=Masterful Training: Lory attended any optional class she could, and is always looking for more and better training.
Weapon Mastery - Hand to Hand: Since she doesn't have the weight and strength of other animals, Lory became a master of martial arts that focus on fast, precise strikes and using the opponent's strength against them.
Weapon Mastery - Pistols: Lory also dedicated a large amount of time to training with pistols, especially dual-wielding. She is able to place her shots with amazing accuracy even while performing acrobatic feats and use them for defense.
Analysis: Lory has training in deductive reasoning, observation, and behavioral analysis. She can see what happened at a scene, what a person's intentions are, whether someone is being truthful, and to detect items or people that seem out of place.

Bunny Power:
Mobility: Lory is able to perform acrobatic maneuvers to get around obstacles, such as wallkicks and wallruns, jumping and balancing on poles and wires, and carefully calculated jumps through small openings. She also carries a grapple gun.
Superior - Speed: Lory is naturally swift enough to react almost faster than the eye can see, and with advanced training is able to avoid many attacks and control her movements to thread the needle between things like two incoming cars or flying debris.
Extraordinary Senses: Lory has superb hearing. She can hear things like silenced shots, specific sounds in a busy area, conversations through walls or at a distance, and whispers from across a room. She also has night vision and a good sense of smell.
|Significant=Additional Weapons Training:
Attack List - Ranged: Although her specialty is pistols, Lory is trained in the use of nearly all weapons that a typical police or military force might have access to, including grenades and the gauss rifles and pistols native to her world.

Riot Tools: As a law enforcement officer who is low on both the weight scale and the food chain, Lory keeps a set of tools with her at all times to help even the odds.
Damage Reduction: Lory almost always wears military-grade Kevlar clothing, a bullet proof vest, and a riot helmet and shield.
Incapacitation: Lory keeps many non-lethal tools with her. In addition to the typical tools of a riot officer (pepper spray, flashbangs, etc.) Lory also keeps tranq darts, instant restraint foam grenades, and bolas.
Remote Viewing: Lory can scout areas in advance through the use of fiber optic cameras and small remote controlled drones.

Breach Technician: Lory is trained in methods of gaining entry to buildings and computer systems.
Entry Methods: Lory is trained to open many locks of both keyed and electronic variety through either lock picking or shaped explosive charges, and thanks to her small size can fit through things like ducts to bypass barriers.
Hacking: Although she is not an expert, Lory knows enough about computers to bypass typical password locks and disable weapons, alarms, and other such automated systems as well as gather data.
Stealth: Thanks to her small size, quiet footsteps, some training and some natural talent, Lory is excellent at hiding her presence.
|Minor=Utility Belt:
Hammerspace: Thanks to compact technology, Lory is able to carry quite a large number of the tools, ammunition, and grenades she uses in her typical day.
Conveniences: Lory has a body camera that runs at all times, recording her activities and encounters. She also keeps a portable hard drive with her to secure data, and has a holographic interface that displays in front of her face.
|Disadvantages=Hotshot Rookie <Trouble>: Even though she is still a rookie, Lory knows she is more than capable and wants to prove it to others. She is also highly competitive. She is easily provoked into doing something if it is implied - or even seems to be implied - that she wouldn't be good at it or able to do it, and is quickly drawn into any kind of competition even if she knows she is no good at it...so long as it isn't illegal. In addition, if she sees an opportunity to show off her abilities she will take it. She is short sighted when she does this, which means she can just as easily cause as much if not more trouble than was solved and end up in danger herself without realizing it. She also has a weakness for things that are cute and quickly lowers her guard around such things, making her much easier to distract, deceive, and ambush.

Mind of a Detective <Significant>: Lory feels compelled to solve mysteries and reveal the truth to almost a compulsive degree. If she hears something that doesn't make sense, she tries to make sense out of it. If she finds an item that seems out of place she will try to find out how it ended up there. And if she hears someone say something that she knows to be incorrect she will do her best to correct that person. This tendency is bad enough that she can latch onto things that are completely unimportant, and can become quite flustered if she can't find a satisfactory answer to a mystery. This also makes her mildly suspicious of everyone around her, and she is always listening for signs that someone is trying to deceive her.

Cute and Fluffy <Fluff>: Because of her size, her species, and her gender, Lory is easily seen as cute, innocent, and non-threatening. This makes it difficult for her to be taken seriously by others. Also, as a Prey animal she has a powerful fight or flight response that is easily triggered by much larger or very dangerous-looking creatures, which can lead to her reacting in negative ways or using excessive force against such things before such force is actually needed.
}}

Lory Thumper

2019-08-06T21:22:29Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{CharacterRedux |NameOnMUSH=Lory Thumper |Color=#0099FF |Char_id=7084 |Img=https://imgur.com/fATHM7A |FullName=Officer Lory Marie Thumper, MPD |Gender=Female |Species=Bunny |..."

{{CharacterRedux
|NameOnMUSH=Lory Thumper
|Color=#0099FF
|Char_id=7084
|Img=https://imgur.com/fATHM7A
|FullName=Officer Lory Marie Thumper, MPD
|Gender=Female
|Species=Bunny
|Theme=Mammalopolis
|Chartype=OC
|Active=Active
|Function=Ambitious Rookie Cop
|Faction=Paladins
|Rank=4-Chevaliers
|Ranktype=Member
|Quote=Officer Lory Thumper, MPD! How can I help you?
|PAge=Early 20s
|AAge=24
|Aging=yes
|Height=4 ft
|Weight=70 lbs
|Hair=Grey
|Eyes=Violet
|Profile=Lory Thumper is an anthropomorphic rabbit and an officer in the MPD (Mammalopolis Police Department), the largest police force in the largest city on a planet ruled by anthropomorphic animals. Lory became an officer to fight injustice and inequality after a childhood of being bullied and discriminated against and witnessing the discrimination faced by others. She wages this fight with her sunny disposition, her kind heart, and her strong convictions. She is rigid in her beliefs and honest to a fault, and more than willing to risk her own life and an operation's success in order to save lives. She is also steadfast and stubborn in her search for the truth and tends to tug on the threads of inconsistency even when there are no indications of criminal activity. And on the many occassions that her patrols and investigations lead her to trouble, she uses her agility, mental acuity, and a healthy selection of tools to get herself out of it.
|Defining=Masterful Training: Lory attended any optional class she could, and is always looking for more and better training.
Weapon Mastery - Hand to Hand: Since she doesn't have the weight and strength of other animals, Lory became a master of martial arts that focus on fast, precise strikes and using the opponent's strength against them.
Weapon Mastery - Pistols: Lory also dedicated a large amount of time to training with pistols, especially dual-wielding. She is able to place her shots with amazing accuracy even while performing acrobatic feats and use them for defense.
Analysis: Lory has training in deductive reasoning, observation, and behavioral analysis. She can see what happened at a scene, what a person's intentions are, whether someone is being truthful, and to detect items or people that seem out of place.

Bunny Power:
Mobility: Lory is able to perform acrobatic maneuvers to get around obstacles, such as wallkicks and wallruns, jumping and balancing on poles and wires, and carefully calculated jumps through small openings. She also carries a grapple gun.
Superior - Speed: Lory is naturally swift enough to react almost faster than the eye can see, and with advanced training is able to avoid many attacks and control her movements to thread the needle between things like two incoming cars or flying debris.
Extraordinary Senses: Lory has superb hearing. She can hear things like silenced shots, specific sounds in a busy area, conversations through walls or at a distance, and whispers from across a room. She also has night vision and a good sense of smell.
|Significant=Additional Weapons Training:
Attack List - Ranged: Although her specialty is pistols, Lory is trained in the use of nearly all weapons that a typical police or military force might have access to, including grenades and the gauss rifles and pistols native to her world.

Riot Tools: As a law enforcement officer who is low on both the weight scale and the food chain, Lory keeps a set of tools with her at all times to help even the odds.
Damage Reduction: Lory almost always wears military-grade Kevlar clothing, a bullet proof vest, and a riot helmet and shield.
Incapacitation: Lory keeps many non-lethal tools with her. In addition to the typical tools of a riot officer (pepper spray, flashbangs, etc.) Lory also keeps tranq darts, instant restraint foam grenades, and bolas.
Remote Viewing: Lory can scout areas in advance through the use of fiber optic cameras and small remote controlled drones.

Breach Technician: Lory is trained in methods of gaining entry to buildings and computer systems.
Entry Methods: Lory is trained to open many locks of both keyed and electronic variety through either lock picking or shaped explosive charges, and thanks to her small size can fit through things like ducts to bypass barriers.
Hacking: Although she is not an expert, Lory knows enough about computers to bypass typical password locks and disable weapons, alarms, and other such automated systems as well as gather data.
Stealth: Thanks to her small size, quiet footsteps, some training and some natural talent, Lory is excellent at hiding her presence.
|Minor=Utility Belt:
Hammerspace: Thanks to compact technology, Lory is able to carry quite a large number of the tools, ammunition, and grenades she uses in her typical day.
Conveniences: Lory has a body camera that runs at all times, recording her activities and encounters. She also keeps a portable hard drive with her to secure data, and has a holographic interface that displays in front of her face.
|Disadvantages=Hotshot Rookie <Trouble>: Even though she is still a rookie, Lory knows she is more than capable and wants to prove it to others. She is also highly competitive. She is easily provoked into doing something if it is implied - or even seems to be implied - that she wouldn't be good at it or able to do it, and is quickly drawn into any kind of competition even if she knows she is no good at it...so long as it isn't illegal. In addition, if she sees an opportunity to show off her abilities she will take it. She is short sighted when she does this, which means she can just as easily cause as much if not more trouble than was solved and end up in danger herself without realizing it. She also has a weakness for things that are cute and quickly lowers her guard around such things, making her much easier to distract, deceive, and ambush.

Mind of a Detective <Significant>: Lory feels compelled to solve mysteries and reveal the truth to almost a compulsive degree. If she hears something that doesn't make sense, she tries to make sense out of it. If she finds an item that seems out of place she will try to find out how it ended up there. And if she hears someone say something that she knows to be incorrect she will do her best to correct that person. This tendency is bad enough that she can latch onto things that are completely unimportant, and can become quite flustered if she can't find a satisfactory answer to a mystery. This also makes her mildly suspicious of everyone around her, and she is always listening for signs that someone is trying to deceive her.

Cute and Fluffy <Fluff>: Because of her size, her species, and her gender, Lory is easily seen as cute, innocent, and non-threatening. This makes it difficult for her to be taken seriously by others. Also, as a Prey animal she has a powerful fight or flight response that is easily triggered by much larger or very dangerous-looking creatures, which can lead to her reacting in negative ways or using excessive force against such things before such force is actually needed.
}}

6775/Police Not So Brutality

2019-08-06T21:11:32Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/06 |Location=Shrine of Adversity |Synopsis=Lory Thumper and Nanoha Takamachi have a good sparring session, and Touta Konoe treats them to d..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/06
|Location=Shrine of Adversity
|Synopsis=Lory Thumper and Nanoha Takamachi have a good sparring session, and Touta Konoe treats them to dinner after.
|Cast of Characters=7084, 7075, 1143
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Although she is still sore after the whole falling space elevator incident, Lory Thumper is still training. She probably spends half of her free time training in one way or the other. Right now, having issued an open invitation to anyone nearby that she is looking for a training partner for a spar to help loosen up after the incident, Lory is in the middle of stretching.      The police bunny is in the middle of a large city intersection, her familiar choice for matches since she is a city cop back home. At each of the four corners is a very tall skyscraper, there are stop lights and many city signs around in the pavement, and the blacktop is four lanes wide. 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha had been looking forward to experiencing a fight against another elite. At least, one not from her own world. She had also been looking forward to testing out the Shrine of Adversity after seeing the extent of its capabilities in broadcasts of the MECC. Lory's invitation has thankfully given her the opportunity to do both at the same time!     Nanoha walks into this instance of the Shrine where Lory is waiting. She's just wearing her standard blue and white uniform at this point. Floating along beside her head is a small red gem with wings of pink light stretching out from either side.     Nanoha glances around at the cityscape that has been recreated, admiring its authenticity, "This is impressive. It seems even more realistic than some of the Bureau's holographic training grounds!" She turns her head to look at Raising Heart beside her, "Maybe we should organize an session here for the next class?"     The device chimes, <A slot has been scheduled. We will test them.>     Nanoha grins, "Exactly!" Nanoha finally stops near Lory and gives her a smile, "Lory Thumper, yes?" An anthropomorphic bunny is admittedly a little strange to Nanoha. But not greatly so. It's only a slightly more pronounced version of some of the animal familiars she's known in the past. Nanoha offers a hand out to the rabbit, "I'm Nanoha Takamachi. It's nice to meet you!" 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Those big ears perk when Raising Heart speaks up, and Lory turns to look at it and Nanoha with a smile. "That's me!" she replies, holding out a paw-like hand to shake Nanoha's hand. "Did you say you are a teacher somewhere?" she adds after the handshake. "You must be pretty accomplished! I'm not an expert on human age, but you look pretty young for a teacher." She then tilts her head slightly at Nanoha's hairstyle. "Wow. That is one thing I am kind of jealous of about humans. You guys have such long head fur and can make it look pretty amazing." she says, smiling up at Nanoha. When you are only four feet tall, you end up looking up at just about everyone. She turns around after that and heads over to where a riot helmet and a riot shield are laying on the sidewalk. She slips on the helmet and secures it, then slips the shield into place on her back. She then approaches Nanoha again. "Thanks for the help, by the way. I wasn't sure who would answer this time, but last time I got a Yakuza." She shakes her head a bit and giggles. "It is a bit awkward fighting an obvious criminal in a neutral arena."      Lory blinks, then looks down and opens a wrist cuff to reveal a silicon keyboard. "Oh, do you mind me putting on some music? Helps me focus when training, and it is hardly ever peacefully quiet when one is fighting, especially in the multiverse."      With that, Lory pushes a button and a small holoscreen pops up above that keyboard. She types and touches in some commands, and loads her personal playlist onto the arena's sound system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZXac7A4dFA&list=PLAGB5PWFZlY0jnSzhohbptKvhknWd9pHb&index=1 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha rubs the back of her head a little in embarrassment, "Ehehehe, yeah. I started out a little young." She then smiles at the compliment about her hair. Also head fur, that's cute! Nanoha nods a little, "It can also feel really nice to get our hair brushed. But fur is nice too! It's so soft and fluffy and nice to press against." Nanoha then quickly adds, "N-Not that I would do so without permission, or anything!" As much as she wants to.     As Lory proceeds to equip herself, Nanoha does something similiar as she asks of her partner, "Raising Heart?"     The device chimes in acknowledgment, Set up. A light surrounds Nanoha, obscuring her and growing out a little. Finally there's a flash of feathers and Nanoha reappears in the flowing dress form that is her Barrier Jacket. Likewise, Raising Heart has grown out into the long staff that Nanoha now clutches in her left hand.     Nanoha nods a little in understanding as Lory speaks about her previous opponent, "I'm in law enforcement myself. So I can understand how that would be a bit strange. But I think it'd also be a good opportunity to speak with them to try and understand why they do those kinds of things!"     At the question of music, Nanoha shakes her head, "That's fine! It could be nice to fight to some music." And then Lory starts playing it. Nanoha looks a little amused, "Hehe, that's an old one!"     Nanoha's turns around to walk away from Lory, to put a little distance between the two before starting. She then spins back around to face her opponent. She plants the bottom of Raising Heart into the ground beside her then asks Lory, "Ready?" Once the rabbit agrees, Nanoha turns her head to her device, "Raising Heart, if you would?"     Raising Heart chimes, <Ready. Three. Two. One. Start.>     Nanoha takes the initiative right off the bat, spinning her staff down to point towards Lory and firing off a simple beam of pink magic. It explodes on contact, whether that's Lory or the surroundings. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory smiles at the mention of brushing and nods in agreement, but ends up giving Nanoha a bit of a stare at the addition of that last part. She laughs after a moment and nods. "Yeah, it is." she agrees, smiling once more.      Nanoha changes form, and Lory is left staring again, but this time in awe. "...wow..." she says softly, her ears laying back just a bit. They perk up again when Nanoha says she is in law enforcement. "Oh, great! It's nice to meet a fellow law enforcement official!" she says cheerfully. "May I ask what organization you are with? I'm with the Mammalopolis Police Department." She pauses a moment, then shrugs lightly. "He...really didn't seem interested in talking, and when he did he seemed very..um...dense." She tries to say that last part a bit more quietly, like her last opponent might somehow hear her. The note on her music choice makes Lory giggle a bit. "Yeah. I mean, it's a remake but yeah."      When asked if she is ready, Lory lower her stance a bit. When that beam fires, Lory leaps to the side in the blink of an eye and rolls away, avoiding it entirely. When she rolls back upright in a kneeling position she has a pair of futuristic looking pistols in her hands. "Let me know if you get tired. That Yakuza guy got tired of chasing me around." she says as she raises them and there is a charging sound.      She fires, but the sound isn't gunpowder, and what seems like two bolts of light puch through the air. Then the bunny is up and running to make it harder to hit her. 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha nods, approving of Lory's maneuvers in order to avoid her beam. If she was as small and agile as the rabbit, she would likely do the same. Nanoha holds her ground as she tracks Lory's movements, taking the time to respond, "I'm a Captain in the aerial instructors corps of the Time-Space Administrative Bureau. The Bureau manages a number of planets, including taking care of larger scale crimes. Though my position is more about teaching."     As Lory raises pistols, Nanoha raises her own hand in response. The resulting bolts of light fried from them are surprisingly familiar to Nanoha. She doesn't take them lightly. <Round Shield.> The magic circle appears just beyond Nanoha's hand. One of the bolts impacts it directly, halted from causing any damage. But the second one manages to slip past the edge of the shield and hit one of the puffy shoulders of Nanoha's Barrier Jacket. A scorch mark is left behind.     Nanoha smiles at the offer, but happily replies, "Thank you, but I think I can manage. I do have a little experience fighting fast opponents." To that end, Nanoha turns her staff a little to aim at Lory once more. A ball of pink light begins to gather just beyond the tip.     This time Nanoha calls out, "Axel Shooter."     The ball of light bursts, forming several beams of light that arc out and begin to rain down on the bunny's location. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory nods at Nanoha's reply and smirks lightly. "Good." she says.      Those beams of light arc, and Lory hops back and forth on her feet as she runs to avoid the brunt of them. One manages to catch her in the shoulder just like Nanoha, and much like Nanoha Lory's meager armor keeps her from being injured too badly. She grunts and winces, but keeps running. "Is that technology or magic?" she asks as she runs...and while she is actually curious it is also a distraction from her pulling out a palm-sized disk. She hits a button in the center with her thumb, then throws it through the air like a throwing star. When it gets near Nanoha it explodes, but rather than high explosives it is filled with a very rapidly hardening foam! Riot foam. It is meant to keep someone in place for easier capture, but it is also quite useful for making a difficult opponent easier to hit! 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     "It's both. The Midchildan magic system is heavily based upon mathematic and scientific concepts. Our Devices help us process complex equations to produce our magic.     The gem in Nanoha's staff flashes and Raising Heart chimes, <Hello. I am Raising Heart.>     Nanoha isn't sure what the device Lory just threw at her is, so she doesn't stick around to find out. The Mage jumps away from her position in an attempt to avoid it. But the device explodes, unleashing a shower of riot foam.     Nanoha looks down as several blobs of the stuff lands on her legs. Nanoha winces a little as the stuff hardens and puts pressure on her legs. It does indeed slow her down a little.     Nanoha looks back up at Lory, "I take it your police force prefers to use non-lethal methods?" Nanoha clearly approves.     Nanoha swings her staff around to point at Lory once more. More magic gathers as Nanoha calls, "Sacred Cluster!" The gathered magic fires off in Lory's direction, streaking through the air. But as it gets close it explodes prematurely, launching a collection of small shrapnel-like-blasts of magic in all directions, hopefully catching Lory with some of it. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      "Well, we wouldn't be much of a police force if we just killed everyone who broke the law. We'd be execution squads. But, in addition to that, I always try to solve things non-lethally if possible." Lory replies even as she keeps running. She has been running and moving since they started, but doesn't seem to be showing any signs of getting tired yet.      When Nanoha's cluster bomb goes off, Lory...leaps right toward it! And in an amazing display of flexibility, acrobatics, and precision she spirals and twists through the air, lowering her already small profile to the smallest it can get and managing to perfectly slip between the gaps of the magic blasts.      She lands on her back on the other side of the wave of projectiles, sliding on her shield for a short distance before instinctively sticking out her arms and backflipping back to her feet. "H-hello Raising Heart!" she manages, looking surprised herself that she managed to avoid that wave of magic bolts and looking back at them before to Nanoha again. "That was awesome! Um..." She points. "Are those non-lethal? It's hard to tell with magic."      With that she flicks a switch on her pistols and aims them at Nanoha. Both fire a set of prongs that, if they manage to hook, send a very high voltage but ultimately harmless shock through and into the TSAB agent. 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha is... Surprised. The clustered nature of her last attack would make one think twice, thrice or even fource (not a word!) about trying to evade it. And yet Lory naturally pulls it off and looks like a pro while doing it! Nanoha can't help but smile as she says, "Nice!"     Nanoha nods in agreement with Lory's sentiments. She then nods again as she explains, "You haven't really felt it yet." Because you keep dodging. "But our magic can't kill anyone by default. It causes minor injuries, but also drains their physical and mental stamina. So it gets to a point where they just don't have the strength to continue fighting."     Lory proceeds to alter the mode of weapon. Nanoha isn't sure what to expect. Weapons with multiple modes can be tricky! Maybe it'll turn the guns into a dagger?     Nanoha naturally recognizes the prongs of a stun gun. Oh joy, electricity! Nanoha chooses to not actively defend against the stun guns, letting her Barrier Jacket take the shock head on. It helps to reduce the charge running into Nanoha herself, though the mage still winces as she feels the familiar pain running through her.     Finally Nanoha comes out of the shock, her clothes smoking a little. But she's still looking strong to go! And she thinks it's time to switch things up a bit. The two have been trading blows from a distance. But Nanoha suspects that's not all that Lory can do. The instructor decides to test Lory's close combat capabilities. Of course, the riot foam on her legs is making things a bit difficult... "Bind Break." The hardened foam begins to glow with light, before shattering into dust.     Nanoha suddenly launches forward towards Lory. She's not running, but flying along close to the ground at high speed. She quickly closes the distance to the rabbit, swinging her staff around as she reaches her target for some good ol' fashioned blunt force trauma. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      "Oh!" Lory seems impressed with this style of magic use, and seems like she is making a mental note on it. When Nanoha comes flying in toward her, Lory lowers her stance once again and holsters her guns quickly. In almost the same motion she pulls her shield off her back and in a quick motion that is part block part sidestep she knocks the staff away from her using the shield while she maneuvers around Nanoha and goes into a somersault to bring a kick down at Nanoha's back as she passes.      As might be expected, there is a lot of speed and a decent amount of force behind that kick. Hopefully enough to drive Nanoha into a crash with the ground! She lands again after her attack, then chases after Nanoha and attempts to shield slam her in a technique that seems meant to pin a suspect down for another officer to cuff. 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     At this stage Nanoha is pretty much expecting that Lory can evade her blows. So isn't too surprised that that's exactly what happens. And quite rightly, Lory tries to capitalize on that dodge. However, Nanoha proves that she can also be quite agile as she twists in mid-air, causing Lory's kick to just graze Nanoha's side. The heavy kick causes some obvious pain to Nanoha, but that partial force isn't enough to send the Mage crashing into the ground.     Instead Nanoha grounds herself, righting herself in flight, turning to face Lory and bringing her feet down on the street once more. She skids across the ground a short distance as she brings her staff around to meet Lory's shield.     As the two briefly struggle against each other, Nanoha smiles at Lory, "Good! You obviously have great reaction times. And a solid grasp of basic personal combat. Your police force has trained you well."     Nanoha suddenly twists her staff in an attempt to shift Lory's shield to the side and create an opening. At which point Nanoha releases one hand from her weapon, raising it up towards Lory. A sudden blast of pink is launched from her hand at point blank range. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory lets out a slightly concerned noise when Nanoha hooks her shield like that. She has no choice when Nanoha brings that hand up but to let go of her shield and kick off of it to try and avoid the attack. One of her legs takes a hit though, and she ends up crashing a bit rather than her usual graceful and skillful landing. But, she is back on her feet quickly enough.      The comment on her police force training her makes Lory smirk lightly. "Um...yeah. I actually did a lot of...extracurricular training." she says, rubbing at the spot on her leg. "If there are any other officers on the force that could give you as much trouble as me, I'd be surprised. I mean the SWAT teams are still pretty good, but I'm really the only small animal on the force. The rest are things like lions and bears and elephants, so they don't have to worry quite as much. But, I wanted to be the best, so I trained hard on my own to be able to take down even animals like those. A bunny like me cornered by a big criminal wouldn't stand much of a chance without it."      Lory seems pretty proud of her skills, and even crosses her arms over her chest and smirks lightly in a proud sort of way. "Now...I'll need that back if you don't mind." she says before rushing back in toward Nanoha. She cartwheels as she passes Nanoha, picking up her dropped shield and in the same motion swinging it with the edge aimed at Nanoha. "That's also why they didn't object when I volunteered for the Multiversal Task Force!" 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha spins her staff around to meet Lory's shield strike once more, though she's only partially able to block the blow. It strikes her had in her side and Nanoha jumps back a little afterwards to gain a little distance. As she lands she moves a hand to her side to feel the injury. That's probably going to leave a bruise, even through her defensive magics!     "I see. So you trained hard so that you could be better at your job. A good attitude!" But then the rest of Lory's words process in Nanoha's mind and her eyes go a little wide, "Your society is made up of lots of different creatures like you?" Familiars on Nanoha's world are rare. So for an entire community to be made up of animal people... Nanoha's eyes sparkle with excitement, "I'd really like to visit a place like that some time!"     But for now, "Well then, Raising Heart. Should be take this up a notch?"     The device chimes in response, <Yes. Hit her hard>     Nanoha exclaims, "Right!" Nanoha floats into the air, rising up as she gains some distance from Lory in order to have an opportunity to prepare for her next attack. Nanoha swings her staff around to point down towards Lory below. A large spell circle appears beneath Nanoha and she places her feet down on it. She lowers her stance in order to help absorb the coming recoil.     Several balls of light appear in the air around Nanoha. The Mage calls out, "Strike..." The orbs all fire beams. They aren't directed at Lory, but instead around her. They are also all continuous, creating a cage of sorts in order to limit the bunny's movements.     While the rabbit is cornered, Nanoha continues her preparations. The cartridge slide at the neck of the weapon pulls back three times.     CA-CHUNK. CA-CHUNK. CA-CHUNK.     Another spell circle appears just beyond the tip of Nanoha's staff and another, much larger, ball of magic appears. It begins to grow in size as the sound of charging energy can be easily heard. The air begins to whip up at the sheer amount of power flowing into the shot, rustling Nanoha's ponytail and clothes. Finally Nanoha is ready as she calls out, "...Stars!"     The ball of magic bursts, unleashing a huge blast of pink energy down through the center of the beam cage. It roars through the air towards Lory, threatening to not only smash into the bunny but also obliterate a good part of the street around her. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''     A young man had finished up his own match in the Shrine of Adversity with a carefree smile on his face as he walked about it's enormous halls.      "Man, it's real nice we've got free access to the Shrine now. Or was it just for a year?"      < You expect me to remember? >      "...Fair enough, well hey at least we won't have to worry about paying for a while either way. Good thing too. Not like we have Concord or Paladin funds to work with."      The boy makes a light hearted chuckle at his rather unfunny financial situation. As he keeps walking about he stops for a moment as he stares at one of the screens, "That's..."      < Touta? >      Without another word the boy starts dashing from the grand halls of the Shrine and into one of the arena spectator areas to get a better view. He arrives just in time to see a certain magician in white starts accumulating her magic that begins to encircle and try ensnaring her opponent and then...      "Woah..." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory can't help but giggle a bit at how cute the already cute Nanoha looks with sparly eyes. "Well, feel free! So far Multiversal traffic hasn't been limited beyond customs checks and proper registrations." she says, then her ears perk. Hit her hard is usually not a good thing when you are the her. Perhaps Lory's first mistake is not rushing Nanoha, but she has no idea what is coming and rushing in usually gets you into trouble.      By the time she realizes her mistake, Lory is -already- in trouble. That beam cage locks her down pretty well. Leaping through lasers seems like a bad idea. And Nanoha apparently is loading something really big by those loud ca-chunk sounds. Within the cage, the bunny can't do much but...wait.      Strike Stars seems like an appropriate name, although Lory might have left it as just Star considering that it is only one huge blast of pink energy coming down at her. With nowhere to go, all she can do is stare upward with splayed ears. Lory has never experienced an attack like this before, and she doesn't even think to bring up her shield. Like some doe in the headlights she just watches the blast come down.      When it is over, the bunny cop is left in the blast's crater, smoldering and curled up and definitely feeling the effects of Nanoha's magic finally. It takes her several long moments to get back up after that one, and she is actually looking sluggish when she finally does get up. "H-holy shitake mushrooms..." she groans. "If this were real, I'd feel very lucky that your magic isn't meant to be lethal. I am pretty sure I'd have just been incinerated there."      Lory takes a moment to check herself and make sure she isn't injured, since knowing that could affect her fighting style. But, she seems alright other than exhausted now. "Well...I definitely don't have anything like that, so...I'll just have to make due with what I have!"      She rushes in on Nanoha again, and when she gets close she leaps into a flying kick aimed at Nanoha's belly. Once the kick is delivered, she follows it up with a flurry of blindingly fast punches and kicks. Individually none of them are any more dangerous than a random joe's punch, but when coupled with dozens of similar hits all with the expert aim of a master martial artist behind them...they could add up quickly. 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Fshhhhhhhh.     The vents on the head of Nanoha's staff release a puff of cooling gases after that attack. Nanoha stands up straight once more on her magical platform, letting her guard down just a little as she waits to see the result of her attack.     As expected, Lory got hit hard by that attack. Though she then impressively proceeds to stand with only a little trouble. That's more than Nanoha can say for some of the aerial troops she's trained in the past.     Nanoha smiles at Lory, saying in response, "The Bureau has to fight some powerful foes sometimes. If we couldn't match them, we wouldn't be able to do a very good job. And lots of peoples lives would be in danger as a result."     It seems that Lory is still intent on continuing. So Nanoha shifts her stance once more as she prepares to defend against the bunny. But the super fast kick is a bit of a surprise. While Nanoha manages to bring the shaft of her weapon in between her and the kick, she wasn't able to brace herself properly. The result is Nanoha's weapon getting kicked into her own chest and launching Nanoha of her floating platform.     Nanoha hits the exterior wall of one of the corner skyscrapers, putting a dent in the building before she falls down to the ground. Nanoha lands on one knee and rises, but is barely able to do so before Lory rushes in for a follow-up flurry of strikes. Nanoha tries her best to intercept them with her staff, spinning it to meet some of the strikes, while others are able to impact against her body.     The final blow sends Nanoha skidding back a short distance, the Mage planting the end of her staff into the ground and dropping to one knee. Panting a little, Nanoha takes a moment to recover.     Nanoha stands straight once more. She's looking a little beaten, but otherwise doing alright. She gives Lory smile, "You remind me a lot of my daughter. Fast and quite a puncher." Nanoha relaxes a little as she says, "I think it's been a pretty good training session! Shall we finish it up here?" 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory is about to rush in to continue, but Nanoha calls for an end and Lory skids to a stop. She blinks, then nods and smiles as she relaxes and pulls off her helmet. "Sure. It's been a pretty good workout and...wow that magic of yours is-"      Lory blinks, then looks Nanoha over. "You...have a daughter? My estimation of human ages must be off..." she says, rubbing at her chin a moment. "I'd have estimated you were no older than 20. Certainly not old enough to have a daughter that could fight. Just how old are you? Are you one of those immortal types I've heard about?"      She looks over at Touta after that. "Hey, looks like we attracted a small crowd." she says, offering a friendly wave for no other reason than he was there watching them. She looks back to Nanoha and smiles. "When you decide on a day to visit Mammalopolis let me know. I'd be happy to show you around. And it might be worth my time to look into some of those magic devices of yours. Something that packs that kind of punch without actually harming the perp seems like something I could use."      There is a slight growling sound from somewhere and Lory blushes, just barely visible through the thin fur of her cheeks and ears. "Uh...ehehe. I don't suppose you are hungry?" 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''     The boy stays silent as Nanoha's blast sends her opponent blasting to the other side of the arena and cratered into the stage. Just watching so much power accumulate at once made him cringe.      "Ugggh, I can't imagine getting it by something like that, it'd probably blow me to pieces."      < Is that so? Than her opponent must be sturdier than you are. >      "Huh, what are you-"      The boy stays silent for a moment as he sees Lory get up. "What the, she's banged up but that attack...I've been hit with alot of stuff and that should have really got her! What's going on?!"      < You're asking me? For now it'd be best just to watch. >      "Ah, yeah. Whatever the reason was the one she's fighting looks like they still got some kick left in them."      Speaking of kick, he watches Nanoha get sent flying as she tries to brace herself for Lory's kick only to be overwhelmed by the attack. He sees that she's already getting up after having a crater of her own being forged from her impact.      "This is where we see what she's really made of I guess."      He says that as he watches Lory begin her onslaught of close combat strikes against Nanoha, and watches her tried to fend them off. He knows from his world that mages aren't the most physical of combatitives so to see Nanoha be able to deflect most of those strikes really spoke to the prowess of the person. Though just as he thinks he's gonna see Nanoha come back from her recovery for another hit...      "Finished already?"      < Mmm, there wasn't really a need to go further. It seemed more like the two were evaluating the other. >      "Really, it looked like the other one was just about t- Oh, think they noticed us."      The young man waves from the spectator area towards Lory, and then quickly to Nanoha. He makes a gesture to let the two he was planning to come into the arena real quick. So for a few moments he disappears from sight before arriving through the stadium entrance with a really cheerful smile on his face to greet the both of them. 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha is clearly happy to hear that she doens't look over twenty. But she does laugh a little and admit, "A little over twenty, actually. But my daughter is adopted."     Nanoha's attention is diverted as Lory mentions their audience. She looks for a moment, then says, "That looks like..." Sure enough Touta makes his way into the arena. Nanoha gives him a wave, "Hello, Touta!"     Looking back at Lory, Nanoha smiles at the offer of a tour, "Thanks! I'll probably take you up on that. I've been meaning to see other parts of the Multiverse, now that I can. And I'd be happy to show you some of our magic. Though whether you'll be able to implement it into your own tech I'm not sure. It does sort of rely on a person having an inherent magical ability. But there might be a workaround!"     Nanoha chuckles a little as Lory's stomach rumbles. At the question of being hungry, Nanoha admits, "After a fight like that? Quite." Nanoha glances at her staff, "Raising Heart?"     Raising Heart chimes, <Mode release.> Nanoha is surrounded with light, after which she has returned to wearing her uniform instead of her Barrier Jacket. And her device now hangs from a necklace around her neck.     Nanoha looks at Touta, "Come and join us!" 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      "Oh, I see." Lory says, nodding at Nanoha's explanations. "Adoption. Why didn't I think of that?" she chides herself lightly. She looks over as Nanoha greets Touta. "Ah. A friend of yours huh?" She watches with the same sparkly eyes Nanoha had earlier when Nanoha shifts clothing again through some kind of magic system. "I -really- need to get me something like that." she says with a bit of a giggle.      She holds out a paw-hand to Touta when he joins them. "Hi there. Lory Thumper, MPD! Nice to meet you, Touta. May I ask who you were talking with up there? I heard you but...I didn't see another person." She wiggles her ears a bit as if to demonstrate how she could have heard them up there through battle and music. Speaking of which, she clicks the music off now that the battle is over.      She then takes a moment to look Touta over. She tries not to make any snap judgements but...he is clearly a child. "Wait, is this another of your adopted children Nanoha?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      "Oh, you guys getting food? Sounds good to me. I actually just finished up a fight in the shrine too so I can eat." He looks back towards Lory for a second realizing even though he's being offered to join them, he hasn't really said anything to her yet. Though she beats him to the punch with her paw already extended out for him to shake. He firmly takes her hand and shakes that paw with a sturdy grip and a big smile. Part of that smile is totally not cause she's shorter than him...You can't prove it otherwise!     t "Nice meeting ya Lory. Also I'm not Nanoha's kid, I met her recently so when I saw her here I just decided I wanted to check out her match. But the both of you were really going at it. Especially that last magical attack, it seriously looked like it was gonna rip you to shreds, you must be one tough bunny. Hope you didn't mind me watching though."      He brings his other hand behind his head awkwardly smiling as he says that, but even that sort of smile just seems sort of endearing on the kid who looked no older than like... Twelve, maybe thirteen? Either way he doesn't look the kind of person who should be in the shrine. Even the way he rests his blade on his shoulder seems way too relaxed.      "Oh, you heard me? Right I was chatting with my trusty Sable Side-"      < Will you stop calling me that?! ... > A sound almost like clearing someone's throat can be heard from the blade resting on his shoulder,      < Greetings Lory Thumper, you may call me Kurobo. Also, it's good to see both of you as well, Nanoha Takamichi, Raising Heart. I hope you both have been well. >      "Ehehe, well looks like we got all the introductions out of the way. Anyway, if we're looking for food I know some really good stands to check out. It'll be my treat. Since the end of the MECC they're giving out all these benefits and stuff so might as well enjoy it with others." 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha blinks in surprise that the suggestion of Touta being her adopted child too, "Ehhh? Ehehehe, no." Touta explains and Nanoha nods along with it, "We just met a couple of days ago. My daughter is my only child." Pause. "But she does technically have a brother and sister." Pause. "It's complicated." Where's that relationship chart when you need it...     Anyway, Nanoha replies, "Hello, Kurobo."     Raising Heart likewise chimes, <Greetings. We are adapting.>     Nanoha nods in agreement, "It's been a little busy, organizing my new position with the Paladins. But it's coming along nicely, I think!"     And then Touta offers to pay for their food. Nanoha grins, "Lead the way!" Nanoha is happy to trust Touta to pick somewhere good, even though she barely knows him. Probably something to do about that suggestion he made, shortly after they met, about her trying to be a good cook. She already is. But anyone who thinks of something like that being important clearly knows food!     As they go, Nanoha asks Touta, "What else did you get for being in the tournament?" 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory has no experience with magic-influenced family trees, so gives Nanoha a rather puzzled look with one eyebrow raised. "Sounds like something with quite a story behind it." she says, smiling lightly. "I like stories." And she has an isatiable thirst for solving mysteries. When Nanoha greets the sword Lory does the same. "Nice to meet you, Kurobo." she says, even while looking a bit caught off guard to be talking to a sword. "What's wrong with Sable Sidekick?" she asks, figuring that the most likely continuation of what Touta said.      She follows after Nanoha and Touta as they head toward the restaurant. "Do you know if they have vegitarian options? I don't really do meat since you know..." She gestures at herself.      "The MECC. I wasn't around when it was being held, but it seems to have left quite an impression. Sounded like there used to be a similar tournament every year, but for some reason it stopped?" 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      Starts walking and talking along with the others, "Mmm, well since I was a semi-finalist winner I apparently got some prize money, a couple of things from the sponsors, and then I'm getting access to the Shrine without having to pay any fees. Which is good since unlike you I'm not in any of the factions, so I don't get any funding or discounts usually."      He starts walking them through the halls being pretty casual if anything. Occassionally waving to vendors and strangers as they go through the Shrine. Either this kid comes to the shrine a decent amount, or he's just gotten popular? Maybe both? Maybe he's just very outgoing?      Sadly Lory asks a question that would make Kurobo give a rather annoyed face if he had one. < Because I'm not some side-show horse, I'm a blade forged by one of the evilest mages of my world, forged under the pressure of a white dwarf and left to slu- >      "Right? I think it's an awesome name. He just doesn't get good naming sense!"      The blade doesn't talk up anymore after that...Though the walk over is still pretty lively as they make it to the restaurant. From the outside it looks like a barbeque place of some sort, but hearing Lory talk about her dietary restrictions he looks back with a smile, "Oh, don't sweat it. Despite the name this place has a lot of variety. It's sorta like a Japanese Barbeque restaurant. You go in order your food and cook it on a grill yourself. They've got really high quality meats here, but they got plenty of vegetable dishes you can cooked on the grill or order off the menu. I usually don't come here since it's expensive but since I'm with company I figure we should splurge!"      < Also because the meals are being accomodated for him and his guests as one of the semi-finalists. Rather extravagant for someone who didn't even make it to the finals. >      "Ehehe, well...Not wrong about that. But might as well take advantage right?" Without another word he takes them inside and gets them brought to their seats. A small grill in the middle of the table is turned on, and Touta starts ordering a few meats for the table, and leaves the vegetables to Lory to decide on. Though when the meats come out, one look at the marbling of the stuff makes it seem like this is some high quality...High priced food...      "Oh right, Nanoha, you said your daughter was watching the matches right?" 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha looks a little amused at Lory's curiosity. She does admit, "I do have a few stories. Perhaps you should come over for tea some time! I'm sure my daughter would love to meet you. She has a Device like mine, but hers is a plush bunny." Coincidence! "Plus she's also a magical martial artist. With high reaction times and physical speed. You two would match up perfectly!"     Nanoha nods approvingly of the choice of restaurant. As they proceed to sit, Nanoha admits, "It's been a while since I've been back to Japan. Midchilda certainly has some good restaurants. But sometimes I miss the style."     Nanoha nods at Touta's question, explaining while she organises her own food, "Like I said, Vivio likes to fight in official matches and the like. While we get as much tourism as other worlds, very little of it is elites as there haven't been any major incidents on our world in years. So Vivio has only fought other Mages. She's naturally excited about fighting from other worlds." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory frowns just a bit at Kurobo's comments to Touta. "Hey, semi-finals for a MULTIVERSAL fighting competition seems pretty noteworthy to me." she says, putting plenty of emphasis on the word multiversal. "Especially for someone as young as..." She trails off, then peers at Touta. "...actually, now that I think about it, you seem kind of mature for your age. Not to mention you have a sword and were a semi-finalist in a competition that must have included people like Nanoha here."      "Not to mention that Sable Sidekick is nice for a nickname. Would it be better if he introduced you as 'Kurobo, my Sable Sidekick'?" She adds as they near the table. Lory selects a few different vegetables. Carrots (of course), sweet potato, broccoli and cauliflower, and long green beans.      To Nanoha she replies, "Oh! That would be nice! I'd be happy to meet your daughter even though it is weird to think about worlds where a bunny is just a small four-legged creature." She doesn't realize the danger she would likely be in upon meeting someone who has a plush bunny. "Do you think she would want to spar like we did?" Lory asks Nanoha. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      Touta starts taking some of the prime rib and placing it on the grill. It only takes a few seconds each side but the meat's quality is so good it feels like it'd literally melt in your mouth as you eat it. Though in between bites, flipping meat over, and server out portions for him and Nanoha he starts speaking up.      "Huh, I guess that's pretty similar to my world. At the moment we only have a few Warp Gates and the ones that are near us are kinda in bad locations so we kinda don't advertise the Multiverse's existence that much. But it's not like we don't let people through. Also, I was gonna ask if you had a Japan on your world. Your name sounded Japanese but when I heard about Midchilda it really threw me off. Anyway, if Lory ends up going to meet your daughter I can tag along too. I'm probably not as popular as maybe Yang would be to her maybe since she's a really knuckle duster but I'm sure if she wanted to spar with a MECC contestant I'd always be happy to head over. Besides, I still owe ya for catching me when I fell.      When Lory asks about his age though he looks over with a big smirk on his face, "Heh, you think? I mean, I'm turning sixteen soon so...."      < Miss Thumper, I'd simply request that my name stay the same so that I don't get any strange nicknames... >      Touta gets cut off immediately, but he seems fine with it. "But uh...Yeah there were alot of incredible people in the tournament. It really makes you realize where you stand in the Multiverse, and you know the crazy thing? There were plenty of crazy tough people who didn't end up joining. Like on of the sponsors, King Gilgamesh. I got on that guy's bad side once and he nearly dropped a tower sized sword on me! Still..."      At this moment, if only for a brief moment Touta's face sombers. His eyes drift down to the food as he continually flips it.      "...It really makes you think how much farther you gotta go..."      Just as quick as that moment flashes by though, his attention returns to the bright-eyed cheerful kid from before. "Oh yeah! Hey, why don't all three of us take a picture for your daughter!"      Without another word he pulls out his phone and moves over to the other side of the table where the two are, squeezing himself between the two and pulls out his phone to take a picture of the three. "Everyone say cheese!" There's little time to argue it, but at least enough time to pose. Click, click, click. And when he turns the screen around to show them...      The picture only shows Lory and Nanoha, and a blank space in the middle of them. Oh right, he didn't mention a certain thing to them did he? 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha pauses mid-eating so she can get off a quick laugh. She then says to Lory, "I think it'd be harder to make her NOT want to spar with you!" Nanoha puts her food down as she happily explains, "One of her current friends. The first thing she did when they first met? Asked her to spar. Admittedly it didn't go too well. She felt like she had offended the other person by not taking it too seriously. So her solution? Ask for a rematch and fight even harder."     Nanoha then nods to Touta, "I am from Japan. Though before the Multiverse, my Earth didn't even know magic existed. Due to some events, I ended up working for the TSAB when I was younger and wound up moving to the Bureau's capital on the planet of Midchilda."     As Touta mentions how there are likely even more powerful people out there than those who fought in the tournament-who seemed powerful enough-Nanoha says a little solemnly, "I am a little concerned about that. I want to do the right thing and help people. But there are many people who would be sad if something happened to me..."     Nanoha is distracted from somber thoughts by picture time, "Oh, yes! I'm sure Vivio would be REALLY surprised to see her mama with a MECC fighter!" Nanoha smiles during the photo. But then when they take a look... Nanoha blinks, "Uhhhh... Huh?" 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory blinks a few times. "Sixteen? Haven't quite hit your growth spurt yet, I guess?" she says, not seeming like she is being insulting just trying to make sure she knows all the facts. Kurobo's comment makes Lory giggle a bit and shrug. She certainly isn't going to try and force a sword to be called by something other than its name. And she is boggling a bit as Touta talks about more craziness that leaves Lory wide-eyes. Touta probably doesn't know it, but her world has zero supernatural stuff. So, not only is a tower-sized sword kind of out there, but a sixteen-year old twelve-year old kid who could survive being nearly hit by one and could place so high in the MECC...      She kind of just nods silently as Touta suggests a picture and slides inbetween herself and Nanoha. At least she is actually in the picture, albeit with a very confused and surprised look on her face rather than a picture-taking smile. When Touta turns the screen around to show them though...it all makes sense. Lory's ears lay back and she gets a deadpan expression. "...ah. You're a vampire." she says flatly, as if that answers all her questions. "Wait, you're a vampire who eats regular food?" Okay, almost all.      After her mind has a chance to catch up, Lory considers what Touta said. "...yeah. After today and that incident on the space elevator I am not sure how I managed to stay alive even this far. I'm lucky my training is basically instinct now." she says.      Nanoha's story about Vivio brings a smile to Lory's face. "She sounds like a handful. I look forward to meeting her." Pause. "...she isn't like...older than you or something is she?" After all the age surprises today, she just wants to make sure.      Nanoha's mention of magic and the multiverse draws another nod from Lory. "Yeah, before that gate opened outside of Mammalopolis, the only magic we'd heard of was in books and movies and games. We might be in trouble the first time there's an actual multiverse-level incident on my world." 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      "Oh wow, you're quick on the update Lory." He pulls at his cheeks a bit to reveal his teeth and the fangs that are definitely present but not as protruding as you'd think they'd be from media representation. "Yeah, alot happened before arrived in the Multiverse where I almost got killed and I ended up becoming a vampire to stay alive. And yeah, I can eat regular food. Truthfully, I don't think I've ever even had blood before. I'm definitely the weirdest vampires you'll find in the Multiverse! It's also the reason I'm stuck looking like this. I won't die from old age but not gonna get any older looking either probably rich really blows. Just think of me as one of the oddballs in the Multiverse, you'll find a lot of them but don't sweat it too much Lory. Even if a few pop into your world the Paladins, Watch, and Concord are actually pretty good on clean up things like that."      After reassuring Lory though, his attention returns to Nanoha, whom after her letting her feelings out about her concerns with such strong people in the Multiverse and wanting to make sure she was safe for her family. This results in him giving her a headpat out of the blue.      "Hey, don't sweat it. That guy I was telling you about swinging that tower sword is a Paladin. He's a bit over the top, but as far as allies go he'll definitely watch your back. But as a heads up, don't be surprised when people call you out on how you do things. You can bet there's a lot of different mindsets in the Multiverse and they'll really try butting heads with you. Honestly I've seen the worst fights in the Multiverse be done with words more than with fists." He releases his hand from atop her head as he goes to prepare more of the meat, and starts speaking up again.      "Oh yeah, before I forget...Do you mind if I end up visiting if I bring a guest? Apparently she might be from your world originally. Does a magician by the name Rynith ring a bell to ya?" He asks his question so non-chalantly after stating something like that, and then brings up something as random as 'Oh hey, I think we have someone from your world with us.' like no big deal.... The Multiverse must really normalize the strange. 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha blinks again, "Vampire?" Oh right... Those things are real in the Multiverse... "Ehehe... Okay. This will probably take some getting used to."     Nanoha starts eating again, giving a light chuckle to Lory and saying, "No. Vivio's ten." Pause. "Though her transformation does turn her into an adult form." Pause. "It's complicated."     Nanoha is only a little surprised by a headpat. It's not that she minds. It's just been a while since someone last did that. But she does nod along with Touta's reassurances, "I'm sure I'll manage. I'm used to facing tough opposition and fighting for what I believe in." She goes back to eating.     And then Touta drops the next bomb. And Nanoha literally drops her fork, the utensil clattering down on the table.     That would be a yes.     Nanoha recovers her fork a little and nods, "Y-Yes. The name is familiar. Though I highly doubt she's from my world specifically. Probably one of the others I've heard are out there. As for bringing her along too... Well, I don't see why not?" That could be interesting. 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Lory smirks a bit when Touta compliments her. "It is fairly common knowledge that vampires' images aren't caught in reflective surfaces, and I don't know of any other creatures that don't appear in those things." she says. She listens to Touta explain about his diet and smiles at his reassurances about the Multiverse. "I hope you're right. Still, I'm not looking forward to it. From the accounts I've read, disasters in cities can easily end up with very high death tolls." Unlike Nanoha, she isn't really worried about herself. "It is scary, but it comes with the territory in law enforcement, as I'm sure you know if you've been an officer for a while. We just have to make sure we never disappoint our families by coming home in a box, right?" she says, trying to smile through that.      Nanoha's reaction to the name Rynith is a surprise, and Lory gives her an 'are you alright?' kind of look. She theorizes immediately about what it could be. Family member that is dead on her world? Person of great importance? Long lost hero? But, the best method is to ask. "So...who is Rylith?" she inquires, going through the motions of putting another veggie on the grill while looking at Nanoha. A small part of the bunny's mind notes the irony of the human being headpatted while Lory is right beside her. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      "A kid that has an adult form...?" That sounds oddly familiar to a certain other person he knows. Except the ten year-old he knows is actually waaaaay older than that. But the similarity makes him chuckle for a moment. He bets Yukihime and Kitty would both be surprised. He won't add onto that though, no point to for now. Though when he sees Nanoha drop her fork he's beaten to the punch by Lory to see what's going on. Now that it was said though, he wasn't really sure who Rynith was either besides her being a Magician from a world like Nanohas or an alternate version of it, and the fact she likely did something to make her be considered heroic in some way.      "Ah, you don't have to if you don't want to Nanoha. It's like you said, this person probably isn't even from the same world right? I just thought she might like returning close to home but it might be a bad idea!" 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha gets a look from Lory. She smiles reassuringly back at the rabbit, then answers both of them at the same time, "It's fine. I was just a little surprised. That's all."     Nanoha is silent for a few moments before starting, "Rynith was... Is..." Okay, that's a little confusing. "Well, assuming they're the same person... Rynith was not someone I ever had a chance to meet. However, she was quite close to someone who is very important to me. And as far as either of us knows... She died. Over a decade ago."     Nanoha quietly muses, "I never considered that there might be people out there who..." And then a thought crosses her mind, "-Ah. I wonder if she's..." Nanoha shakes her head. Best not to think about it.     Nanoha tries to return to her more normal happy mood as she says more firmly, "If she wishes to visit, then I'd be happy to have her. I will admit that I'm interested in meeting her too!" 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      Says nothing as she explains her relation to Rynith. It's nothing grandiose, and it doesn't really give much of an explanation to Rynith's history. It didn't divulge any sort of legend that she was. It didn't make her sound like she was some amazing hero. She was just, "A friend of a friend then?" As far as Heroic Spirits it didn't really feel too heroic but then again he still didn't know much about Rynith at all. He did know that she was dead, and technically...She was still dead. If anything Nanoha's statement might have only reconfirmed that this Rynith was from the same world.      "Well, if she's up for it I'll definitely bring her along. Would it be alright if I asked what that person's name is though? Might be easier to convince her if I have a familiar name for her to go off of." 

:'''{{#var:7084|Lory Thumper (7084)}} has posed:'''      Well, she was close in her internal guesses. Lory smiles as Nanoha does and nods lightly. She listens to the bits of story about Rynith and is left wanting more thanks to those fragments of thought that Nanoha expresses. "Different?" she offers as a suggestion of finishing that second unfinished thought before poking the carrot that is probably a carrot chip by now into her mouth. The bunny blinks at the overdone carrot, then giggles self-consciously. "Oops. Got too caught up in the conversation."      She smiles to the two of them after that. "Thanks for the warm welcome to the Multiverse, by the way. If I got this warm a welcome somewhere back home I might think something was wrong!" she says half-jokingly. 

:'''{{#var:7075|Nanoha Takamachi (7075)}} has posed:'''     Nanoha looks at Lory in confusion, "Different?" Apparently that's not the thought process that Nanoha was going through. But she doesn't expand on it any further. Especially as it seems Lory has to go, "Ah! Thanks for the training session, Lory. It was a lot of fun! We'll have to do it again, some time." She's not entirely sure why warm welcomes would be wrong anywhere, but doesn't want to keep Lory by asking.     Looking back at Touta, Nanoha nods along, "R-right. You can give her the name, Fate T. H-" Nanoha quickly corrects herself, "Fate Testarossa. Unless she's not the same person, she'll know the name." This is going to be weird. 
}}

6705/=Pool Party in The City

2019-06-30T06:12:27Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/06/29 |Location=The City - Planet M15 |Synopsis=A pool party for Solty and her friends is crashed by a jewel thief! |Cast of Characters=6704,..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/06/29
|Location=The City - Planet M15
|Synopsis=A pool party for Solty and her friends is crashed by a jewel thief!
|Cast of Characters=6704, 1143, 6994
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      It is a beautiful sunny day in The City! Does the city have an actual name? Not according to anyone who lives here, at least. It is apparently the only city on the entire planet, after all. Today Solty has invited people to join her in a pool party at a local pool. She, her adopted father Roy Revant, and their friends Miranda and Kasha Mavrick, are all already here.      The indoor pool is actually quite full on a day like this. And for good reason. It is a very large pool underneath a glass dome, so even though it is inside it gets all the benefits of being outside without actually being outside. Loungers and tables surround it, and many a beach body are stretched out in those loungers to tan. Solty and Kasha are in the pool already, and Solty is doing a terrible job of swimming. In fact, those arriving only just now would see her sink below the water while attempting to swim to Kasha, who is resting in a float ring and waiting for Solty.      Roy and Miranda are at a table with a young man, Roy in a lounger and reading a newspaper on something like a tablet except the screen is completely flat and stretched between two metal sides. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      SUMMER TIME SWIMMING!      Touta's more than ready for a pool day with how his home/work place is basically on an island. Unlike his usual black wardrobe this time around he's just has red swim trunks, a t-shirt with the word 'Salty' on it, and a hula-hoop. "Now that I think it...I don't I've ever been to Solty's world have I?"      It was definitely weird to arrive into a world with no-name, but thankfully since it was the only one he at least knew he was in the right place. That said...That does raise alot of other questions doesn't it? Though since everyone seems not too troubled with their indoor pool day, it's not really his business to butt in. Of course now that he was here the first person he'd end up recognizing is Solty, so that's obviously who he's gonna greet first right?      Naaaaw, instead he's just gonna sit on the edge of the pool and see how Solty does with her swimming practice...That raises another question, 'Can androids even swim?' 

:'''{{#var:6994|Rean Schwarzer (6994)}} has posed:''' Rean shows up to the pool, looking around. It's actually pretty nice, and  has a glass dome over it like the pool at Thors. Unlike the pool at Thors, though this one isn't being occupied by a local school club and just has regular people here chilling out. He's wearing a red t-shirt and black swim trunks, and carrying a towel over his shoulder. OH hey, Touta was here, and there were a bunch of other people he didn't know including a girl who apparently didn't know how to swim and just sank under the water. ...Wait,what? Rean throws off his t-shirt and jumps into the pool, diving into the water to go help the drowning girl. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The answer to 'can androids swim' is apparently no, because Solty has already sunk beneath the surface. Touta can probably hear the conversation between Roy, Miranda, and a young man named Yuto.      "...is she uh..." Roy asks Yuto, who just chuckles lightly and shakes his head. "No, she's completely fine. She can't really drown, and her technology is completely waterproof." Miranda shakes her head and smiles. "It is still hard to believe that she's a machi-"      SPLASH! Rean leaps in to save Solty, who is currently lying on the bottom of the pool with Kasha looking down at her with some concern. When Rean reaches Solty, he finds it is harder to get her out of the water than it might seem. Although she isn't actually heavy, she has no natural boyancy. But, she also looks up at him when he gets to her, seeming perfectly fine being underwater without breath. Kasha reaches down into the fairly shallow water to help, and together with the floatation ring they are able to get Solty to the surface. She looks embarrased and laughs self-consciously. "Um...thanks." she says to the two, then blinks as she sees Touta. "Hello Mr. Touta!" she calls out, waving enthusiastically. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      Touta gets a first seat view of Rean diving in to go after Solty, he leaps in so quickly that he can't even give the poor guy a heads up before he ends up trying to pull up the non-buoyant android. Though as the two start finding their way back up to the surface and Solty gives her usual warm welcome to him, he immediately waves back with that easy-going face of his. "Heya Solty, thanks for the invite. Looks like you've got a bit of a pool party going on huh?"      The moment Rean finds himself back-up, Touta also makes sure to offer the guy a hand if he needs it. "Hey Rean, good to see you too man. Hmmm...Have you met Solty before?" It's a reasonable question. He figured if you were invited to this pool you probably knew Solty, but if you knew Solty you probably knew she was a robot...Or maybe he just knew Solty but didn't know she was an android that was uh...Drowning-proof. Well he's not gonna push the topic too far.      Once Rean's out of the water, or decides to stay in Touta looks back at Roy and the others who seemed to be familiar with her and gives them a wave too.      "Heya, not sure if I've met you guys before but I'm a friend of Solty's from...Out of town. Name's Touta Konoe."      He's not sure how big of a secret the Multiverse is on this world so might as well be somewhat diligent. 

:'''{{#var:6994|Rean Schwarzer (6994)}} has posed:''' The drowning girl is...not /heavy/ but there's a lot more resistance than he'd expected as he's pulling her up to the surface In fact it doesn't seem like she's drowning so much as just lying on the bottom of the pool. Weird. Eventually though, he succeeds at getting her above the surface with some help from Kasha. "No problem." Rean says. Her voice was very, familiar though. Guess he'd just helped Solty out by accident! He also waves to Touta and then replies, "Not in person, no. We've talked on the radio a few times though."  He then turns to Solty's other friends. "Rean Schwarzer, also a friend of Solty's and from out of town. Nice to meet you!" 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Once Rean and Kasha have helped her to the side of the pool, Solty climbs out easily enough and seems to be fine. She really was just lying on the bottom in an anime sweatdrop kind of way. She moves to sit by Touta on the edge of the pool. "Oh! Mr. Rean! It's nice to finally meet you!" she calls out cheerfully. "And thank you for your help!"      A blond waitress with pale green eyes and a blue bikini approaches the table. "May I take your orders?" she asks, giving her hair a flip in a way that is much too showy for a waitress. Roy's eyebrow twitches as if he recognizes her, but rather than make an order he just continues reading. He doesn't seem worried about Solty, either. Miranda and Yuto order various fast food sort of dishes and drinks, and Kasha and Solty do the same before Solty looks to her two visiting friends again. "Thank you for coming! I wasn't sure anyone from outside of The City would come! If you want anything, Roy and I will pay for it!"      About this time, the waitress growls at Roy. "Don't ignore me! Are you seriously acting like we don't know each other! You know Solty, right? Right?!" Roy just grunts lightly at that and tries to keep ignoring the girl. Miranda looks at the waitress and blinks. "Wait..aren't you Rose Anderson, one of the Anderson Family of thieves?" For some reason, she doesn't actually seem concerned. More like she is asking about someone's profession. Rose smirks. "That's right, and you guys just might get to see my magnificence in action!"      Solty seems to perk up at this and hops up. "Rose? What are you doing here?"      Rose just smirks and shrugs. "A master thief has to keep busy, and..." She notices a group of young women coming toward them and she suddenly looks very worried. But, before anyone can say anything she turns and heads back to the kitchen. "I'll be right back with your orders!"      The passing group of three young women watches her go. "...did that look like..." a tall blond asks, and a shorder dark-skinned girl says, "...nope. Didn't see anything. It's our day off." 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      At first, Touta's not really paying the server any mind. She's messing with the people at the table and he's got nothing he really needs to order. Even if Solty says it's alright for him to take something on Roy's tab it feels kinda harsh to do since he just met the guy! "Ah, I'm good. Honestly, don't sweat it just glad to be able to come visit. Feels like we haven't hung out in in a while. Figured I'd make sure you were doing alright." He then proceeds to give obligatory headpats.      Then comes yelling which finally garners attention from the pool side. "Hey lady, just a tip but uh, if you yell at your guests like that you might get into trouble." He's never done it before but he's been informed plenty of times what would happen should he ever decide to get uppity with a guest back at Fairyland Hall.      The conversation continues on however and it seems like they know this person enough at least. He doesn't exactly get the whole family of thieves things but before he can even really question it the woman's out and about heading back towards the kitchen. It does make him raise an eyebrow enough to look towards Rean to see if he really understood any of what just happened. But after another minute or two, it probably won't even matter right???      "By the way, how's the water you two? I haven't gotten to go in yet so I'm looking forward to it."      As he says that he starts looking down into it. It's not sure how clear the water is or not, but if anyone was willing to pay attention to this kid at any time during that whole conversation...He doesn't have a reflection in the water when Solty, Rean and everyone else does...Is that an issue? 

:'''{{#var:6994|Rean Schwarzer (6994)}} has posed:''' Rean pulls himself out of the pool, and takes a seat next to Touta and Solty. The two might notice he has faint, jagged scar over his heart, now that he's out of the water, though. A blonde waitress comes by, and things kind of get weird. It seemed like she knew Roy, but Roy couldn't care less. She was part of some famous thief family, but everyone here didn't seem to be concerned about it at all. Rean returns Touta's glance with a shrug - he's got no idea what the heck just happened there either. "It's pretty nice." Rean says, looking down into the water. And then, a bit of surprise crosses his face. '...Huh.' He thinks, noticing Touta doesn't have a reflection. It's not like it's the strangest thing he's seen him do, or even heard him say. It's not really an issue to Rean. Touta seemed like a nice person, and it didn't matter what he was. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty blinks in a bit of surprise at Touta's lack of reflection, but doesn't seem alarmed. She knows about what he is, after all. "Excuse me! I'm gonna go talk with Rose." she says to Touta and Rean, then jogs off after the waitress. Roy seems to frown just a bit at this, but continues ignoring it mostly. "The water felt great though! You guys should definitely enjoy it!" Solty calls back to them before catching up with the waitress. The three young women also watch Solty go, and the others can hear the blonde comment, "...don't we know that girl, too?" The dark-skinned girl just yawns and stays in her lounger, and a pale girl with pinkish-red hair just shrugs.      Solty and Rose round a corner, still talking, and Roy sighs. Miranda giggles a bit. "She'll be fine, Roy. Solty's a good girl. She'd never let herself be talked her into anything bad, and I don't think that girl is that bad anyway." Roy just grunts.      Solty returns a minute or so later, but rather than return to her friends, she approaches the three young women. The blonde is trying to use a pepper grinder to put some pepper on her salad, but for some reason nothing has been coming out and it's starting to annoy her. "It's like it's blocked by something." she is saying as Solty reaches them. Solty bows to them politely, then says, "Excuse me, but I need that shaker thing! It's really important! Please give it to me now!" She holds out her hand, seeming quite insistent. The blonde looks at her incredulously. "Uh...if you take this, it's stealing you know. I'd have to arrest you, and it's supposed to be my day off." Solty mmphs. "But, it's really important! It could save lives, so please give it here!"      She tries to take it, but the blonde manages to move just enough that Solty hits her hand and the shaker goes flying. And as it does...a rather large emerald tumbles out! "There it is!" Solty exclaims. "Hey! That's the missing emerald!" the blonde exclaims, and both leap for it. Miranda blinks, then looks at Roy's paper. "The one that was stolen yesterday?!"      Solty and the blonde are now wrestling to try and get the emerald. "It could save a lot of people! Please give it to me!" "No way! Rose stole it, and it has to go back!" "Even if she could help a lot of people by letting them have it?" "Yes!"      Rose can be seen peeking around a corner, a hand over her face with an exasperated expression at Solty's actions. Solty mmphs, then looks to Touta and Rean. "Help me! We can help a lot of homeless people!" she exclaims. The blonde growls. "Don't you dare! You'd be aiding a criminal!" 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      With a recommendation of good water enjoyment ahead, Touta takes his first dip in as Solty goes the corner. Is he worried? Not really, no. He's butt heads with her before and she knows how to take a hit so he's not too concerned about it. So for the time being he just relaxes in the pool for like... A minute or so?      That's all he'll really get before Solty ends up finding that emerald from the pepper grinder. Next thing you know you have the both of them trying to yank the dang thing from one another. After a bit of listening in, Touta looks at Rean from the water. "Hey, Rean, you're a Paladin right? What do ya wanna do here?"      It's less of a question as if Touta's unsure of what he wants to do, in fact he seems pretty sure of what he'll need to do if things get to out of hand. If anything the way he asks makes it seem like he just wants Rean's opinion. Maybe it's a bit snarky for this kid, but it almost makes it sound like he's a Paladin asking his younger associate to try and get his feet wet in the situation. Regardless, Touta stays at the edge of the pool not doing anything as of yet, even as Solty yells out to both of them. 

:'''{{#var:6994|Rean Schwarzer (6994)}} has posed:''' Rean watches Solty go round the corner after Rose, and raised an eyebrow. She'd be fine right? He's about to go back into the water when the emerald comes flying out of the pepper shaker and Solty and the blonde woman get into a fight over it. And then Touta asks what he wanted to do here. Rean puts his hand to his chin, deep in thought. On the one hand she did say Solty wanted to use that emerald to help people. On the other, Rose still stole it. Eventually, he gets up and heads over to where Solty and the blonde woman were "...Solty, let her have the emerald." Rean says. "There should other ways for you to help those people that don't involve stealing. Right?" His decision was less because of any sense of duty he had as a Paladin, but more because it seemed like the right thing to do in this situation. What he did next depended on Solty's answer, really. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Miranda, Yuto, and Roy all seem frozen until Rean speaks up. Roy growls, then stands up. "Solty, stop that right now! I don't know about that emerald helping people, but there is no way I'm letting Rose pull you into a life of crime!" The blonde grins in a triumphant yet smug way. "You heard them, little brat. Let go, and R.U.C. Security won't press any charges. You seem like a nice girl, if a bit stupid to fall for one of Rose's lines."      Solty seems torn, but when her friends and father both agree, she reluctantly lets go of the emerald.      Just in time for Rose to somersault kick the hands of both her and the blonde woman who seems to be some kind of law enforcement. The emerald goes flying out toward the pool and Rose leaps off of both Solty's and the blonde's heads to go after it. "Don't get in my way! Those downtrodden that live in the Undercity must have relieve, and this is the only way we can get it!" she declares in an overly dramatic heroic tone. With an artful somersault and a show of agility she flips through the air and lands on the other side of the pool with the emerald in hand. "Thank you very much~ I'll be going now!"      There's a crash of glass shattering, and a motorcycle that looks like it was modelled after a sleek train engine comes driving in toward Rose, seemingly remote controlled. "Hey! Get back here!" the blonde officer yells, and with a single leap nearly clears the pool. With Solty right behind her. "Get out of here, Rose!" Solty exclaims as she grabs the blonde around the waist, slowing her down and threatening to dump them both into the water.      For some reason, the other two women (who are presumably officers themselves) are just watching. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      "Hehe, yeah, definitely was right about you guys." That's all he can really say when Rean convinces Solty to stop messing with the officer and she agrees to let go. It only reaffirms what he already thought of the two. Good people.      As for Rose, "...Oooooh, not bad." It's all Touta has to say when Rose does her gymnastic feats. She's clearly practiced this stuff and it seems like she does talk a big game. Though talking big and acting big are two really different things...      Touta ends up jumping right out of the water. Like, he's not even on the edge of the pool, he leaps from the center with enough force that the kid finds himself quite a few feet in the air before finally landing in between Rose's path and that of the incoming motorcycle. The landing isn't gentle either, the ground below his feet look like its started to crack where he landed. While this was definitely a small kid, in this very moment his presence probably seemed much more than he appeared. For the locals maybe this would be the equivalent to what Solty would be like if she actually seemed somewhat intimidating.      With a devious smile that looked like he was almost baring fangs at her, Touta takes a slow step forward towards Rose once again putting enough pressure on the foot to actually seem a bit threatening. His eyes beaming at her like an animal would its prey, "Seriously, I know hospitality is rough, but there's better ways to get a tip... How about you hand that to me and we'll pretend this never happened?"      He slowly extends out the palm of his hand as if expecting her to hand him the emerald. The choice was going to be hers. Return the gem and get away, or deal with whatever the hell this kid was... 

:'''{{#var:6994|Rean Schwarzer (6994)}} has posed:''' Well, that didn't work. Rose makes off with the emerald anyway, and Rean runs around the pool to chase after her. "Get back here!" He shouts. Unfortunately she's too fast, and Solty and the blonde woman are already ahead of him as it is. Rean stops at  the edge of the pool where Solty is trying to help by holding back the blonde woman. "Solty..." Rean says, watching her fight the blonde woman. And then Touta literally leaps out of the pool, landing in Rose's path and being /very/ intimidating. "No one has to get hurt, just hand it over." Rean says, following touta outside. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Rose barely manages not running into Touta as he leaps and lands like that, and she looks pretty intimidated when he looks up at her like that. "W-what's your deal, kid?!" she says shakily. She hesitates a moment, then takes a deep breath before sighing and giving her long hair a toss. "Fine, geeze! What is with you multiversals?! You take things way too seriously!"      She starts to hand over the emerald...then with a quick motion throws it upward. "Catch!" she exclaims, and her motorcycle races around Touta where she boards it on the move. She races to the broken window, then skids to a stop. Solty and the blonde officer have both made it out of the pool, and Rose smirks. "Don't worry Solty! I told you we are bad off down there, and we are. But, we aren't as bad off as I said. We'll be fine!" she calls out before she and her motorcycle take off through the broken window. "And it's all worth it if it brings the Undercity to the attention of the Multiversals!" she calls out as she races away.      With the thief gone, the officers don't seem that upset with Solty for interfering in a capture. The blonde just sighs and heads back to her table, the dark-skinned girl is actually laughing in amusement, and the red-head seems content to have just watched. "You're lucky kid." The blonde says to Solty. "If we were actually on duty, we'd take you in." she says, though she still doesn't sound that upset. She actually seems more like she enjoyed the little encounter. Are all law enforcement on this world so non-challant about things?      Solty waves bye to Rose as she departs, then looks to Touta and Rean sheepishly. "She...she said she could help a lot of people and that they might die without the emerald..." she says apologetically. Roy and the others have gotten out of their seats and are headed toward Touta, Rean, and Solty. "Is everyone alright?" Miranda calls out to them. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      Rose pulls a fast one on Touta as she throws the emerald into the air. Though as she finally gets on her motorcycle and heads off, the grin from before just turns into a bit of a laugh as he snatches the emerald. "Guess she's not just all talk. Well, not my job to police people around here."      He starts walking back towards the Solty and her friensd. "Yaaaah, sorry guys couldn't do much about it. But uh...I was kinda interested to see if she was gonna try to pull a fast one on me. Most thieves probably would have backed off if they thought a payday wasn't worth it, the way she was chatting you up at the end though Solty really does make it sound like she cares though...Guess I was a bit more scary than I was planning!" He can't help but scratch the back of his head. Though Solty's sheepish statement brings the laugh to a halt and he puts a hand on her shoulder.      "You know, we have a lot of slums that have started to pop up too. It's definitely rough for people but uh...It's like Rean said, there's right ways and wrong ways to handle things."      With that said he walks back over to the ...Officers, and places the gem on their table. "It's fine now though, right? No one got hurt and you guys get to say that you stopped that thief from stealing it. Sounds like a good off-day to me." 

:'''{{#var:6994|Rean Schwarzer (6994)}} has posed:''' Rean sighs as Rose takes off. They've got the emerald, though, and so he heads back to where the others are waiting. "Yeah, I'm fine." Rean says. "Though, the Undercity...Is there more to it than that? It being a slum, I mean." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty listens to Touta like a little kid being scolded by a grown-up, looking sorry for her actions. She nods lightly at the end of his little speech and quietly murmurs, "Okay, Mr. Touta." Roy approaches and puts his hand on Solty's head, gently headpatting her much like Touta had done earlier. "Bleeding heart like yours...people are going to take advantage of it." he says, then starts back toward his lounger. Miranda sighs softly at Rean's question. "The Undercity...it's wear all the unregistered citizens live. It's the best we can do with what we have. There just aren't enough resources for the city to support the entire population. It's unfortunate, but true." she explains. "Orphans often end up as unregistered citizens when their parentage can't be found or proved, and unregistered citizens can only become registered by either being adopted by a registered citizen or by paying a large fee and passing a battery of physical and mental exams."      Kasha comes up and hugs around her mother's arm, and Miranda smiles down at her. "Kasha was actually an unregistered until she met me. But, there are so many more after the Blast Fall."      The officers look over as Touta approaches, and the blonde takes the emerald. "Good work. I figured one of you would return it." she says, then holds it up and looks at it. "Rose was totally playing that girl. This thing might be worth a lot, but the Undercity does just fine. She was really just after a payday, if you ask me." The red-haired girl, who is typing on a laptop, lets out a thoughtful noise. "Oh hey, looks like they just posted a reward for whoever returns the emerald first."      There's a flash of movement, and the dark-skinned girl suddenly has the emerald. "Hellooooo bonus!" The blonde growls and tackles her. "Hands off, Celica!!" Celica wiggles free with a mischievious grin. "I wonder if I'll get the money before the mall closes?" The two are obviously friends, or at least friendly, so there isn't much to worry about as the blonde starts chasing the other girl about the pool. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      "Ah, don't be like that Solty. Your heart was definitely in the right place. Just uh...Gotta use your head too sometimes. Trust me, sometimes I forget to do it too so don't feel too bad." He really hadn't meant to make this a lecture or anything of the sort. He just was trying to make a point to a friend.      Touta gets to listen to the details about registered and unregistered civilians and just as he's about to ask a question the officers come up to him and take the jewel, well not like he was gonna hold onto it at least. Still the way the three act do make him feel a bit concerned about how serious they take their jobs. Well, at least they don't look like they'd take advantage of their positions. "Riiight, well, good news for you three is my services come cheap for stopping her~" He says that but he probably wasn't going to take the money. Besides...They were probably going to need it to fix all the cracks in the ground he caused...Whoops!      With the cops handled though, Touta brings his attention back to Miranda and Kasha. "Sorry bout that, but uh, what you were saying before about those unregistered there aren't any rules about going into that Undercity are there?" 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty perks up a bit as Touta explains more, and she just mostly looks embarrassed after that. "You're right Mr. Touta...I guess I just get carried away when it's something I care about. I just want everyone to be happy." she says to him, then blinks in surprise as he mentions a price for helping to stop Rose. "Oh, are you a Hunter too, Mr. Touta? I didn't know that." Solty says. The red-head approaches Touta since the blonde and dark-skinned girls are busy. "If there's a fee I'm sure we can arrange for it to be paid. You multiversals are surprisingly helpful. The R.U.C. was sure that only trouble would visit us from that gate."      When he asks about the Undercity, Miranda sighs. "It is technically illegal for unregistered citizens to come to the surface, but I don't think it is actually illegal for registered citizens or registered visitors to go down there. It is highly discouraged though, since a lot of the unregistered harbor a grudge against the surface. They can get pretty dangerous. And unfortunately, since authorities don't operate in the Undercity, there are a lot of criminals down there most of the time." 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      "Hunter?" He knows the word but wasn't really sure what they were implying in that context, but he's got a general idea what she probably means. Though before he can correct it, the red-head approaches him next with assurances of actually getting paid. "Ah, no I was just joking about the fee! Besides, back home we feel a bit worried about random people from the Multiverse popping in to. Never know what to expect, but uh, if you girls have someone extra cash from that payday..." He stops for a moment as he looks back towards Solty and then towards Kasha and Miranda. He then pulls the red-head back over to the rest of their group and brings them into a huddle for...Negotiations? That's probably the best way to describe it.      He does have an idea in mind but he'll need to hagger out an appropriate fee from amongst the popo. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The red-head looks a bit nervous as she is pulled over. "Uh...there's really no need for discussion. Whatever your standard hourly fee is, plus an appropriate portion of the reward money. That's all I'm really authorized to give you." she says quietly in the huddle, whispering like is expected in a huddle but looking confused about why they are huddling at all. Really everyone in the huddle seems confused other than Touta.      "GET BACK HERE, Celica!!" "Stuff it, Sylvia!!" The blonde and dark-skinned girls are still playing a pretty high stakes game of tag. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      "Oh, I just kinda wanted to figure out the price without them Solty and her friends knowing. You know, surprising them and what not. If that's the case though..."      Touta takes a moment to think of a good number for what he has in mind. Since he doesn't have a realistic hourly rate he figures he can hike up the price just a bit. So he writes out an number using his finger and palm. He figures what he writes down is a modest amount of credits. "I figure that plus the reward money should be enough for me to buy a lot of cheap food or something right?"      He asks not really sure how much the reward money would actually get him. If he had to give an estimation of how much he was getting, he figured maybe he'd be getting a week or two's worth of cheap food. How much in terms of food he could get here though...Well maybe the red-head with the computer might be able to give him a more realistic amount. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy seems to have no interest in the negotiation (if he was even in the huddle). He didn't help, and knows he has no say in the distribution. Yuto is in the same situation, and the other officers are still too distracted, so really it is just Touta and the red-head. She takes him over to her computer to run the numbers, but is told that government relief programs don't really exist for the unregistered. Resources are specifically restricted from being distributed to the Undercity. But, if he wants to bring in some multiversal supplies, he should be able to get quite a bit of low grade government or food stamps level of rations. Probably enough for a single family for a few months, actually. But, he is also told that the Undercity's population is fairly large. Every little bit helps, but overall his donation really won't make a dent in the needs of the unregistered citizens. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      "Huh, that's the case huh..." He was mostly huddled with the cops cause he didn't want to get any of Solty or her group excited for nothing. Still the news was definitely a bit on the rougher side. Seemed like with these restrictions, even if he ended up getting reward money of his own, he wouldn't be able to allocate the private funds to trying to make a dent in the situation. Sounds like this entire world needed some sort of governemental reform or something."Alright, well if that's the case I'll just take my cut."      It's probably not much but maybe even if somewhat indirectly that gem could be used to try and help those unregistered folk. If anything even a small dent was better than nothing. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The red-head nods lightly, sighing a bit. "It isn't that no one wants to help him. This planet is pretty delicate. There isn't a lot of fresh water or area to produce food, and you can't go too far outside the city or you risk entering the-...." She stops, then mmphs. "...anyway...it's for the survival of everyone that the basic necessities be carefully distributed. You'll probably have better luck buying some things offworld and bringing them back here." she says, then holds out a hand. "If you have your visitor registration card I can actually send you the credits right now."      Touta, if he looks back toward Solty, Miranda, and Kasha, might notice that Solty's long furry ears are twitching and she is looking right at them. And, if he does look their way, he gets a warm, thankful smile from Solty. Which Miranda and Kasha seem confused about. 
}}

6432/The Girl in Blue

2019-03-12T07:09:17Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/03/11 |Location=The City (Planet M15) |Synopsis=Guards are hired to protect an important medical shipment, but instead get tangled up in a sto..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/03/11
|Location=The City (Planet M15)
|Synopsis=Guards are hired to protect an important medical shipment, but instead get tangled up in a story of greed with modern day robin hoods.
|Cast of Characters=6704, 6941, 42, 7, 711
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Those accepting the contract for protection are asked to rendezvous in the alley behind the biggest hospital in The City. There seems to be no one waiting for them at first, but as they wait a young woman with brown hair and glasses who carries a PDA emerges from a side door near a large cargo delivery door. She smiles a practiced warm smile at those gathered. "Well hello to all of you. I am the secretary to Dr. Dewy R. Black, the hospital administrator. I have been sent to verify that you are properly registered with R.U.C. Security if you are from off-world or that you have your Hunter's license if you are from our city." She holds up a handheld card reader that is rather bulky considering the apparent technological level of the city. "Please hold up your cards now."      Roy Revant and Solty Revant are both here already, and Roy holds up his Hunter card as the secretary makes her way down the line. Those with sharp eyes might notice that his attention is on them. His tired expression disguises eagle eyes that scan every detail of the others gathered here. Solty is also watching them, but in a much more obvious way. The way a curious child watches people she hasn't met before.      The medical facility itself is the size of 3 or 4 conventional skyscrapers, and is constructed of some sort of white plastisized metal polished to a mirror shine. Its full size glass pane windows circle the building, giving it a striped look. Anyone who went inside before meeting out here would have discovered it was a research hospital conducting research on everything one might naturally link to the medical field. Pharmaceuticals, surgical and non-surgical treatments, sports medicine, and of course the Resemble that makes up Solty herself. 

:'''{{#var:6941|Sheriff Marti (6941)}} has posed:'''     Marti showed up by motorcycle, having parked it somewhere nearby so that he can use it to protect the target like usual. He's wearing his civvies today, a brown longcoat with a white undershirt and a pair of jeans. His hip holster is plainly visible, and he has a wide-brimmed hat on his head with a Seven of Hearts playing card pinned to the brim. His hands are adorned with brown work gloves, and he has black police boots on that shine like they've never been used.     As the inspection passes over him, the curly-haired man lifts the card for his RUC registration, smiling through his wild bangs. He holds it forward and around the rim so it's easy to read. He got registered, of course. He stuffs the card back in his shirt pocket after that, and glances aside with his dark eyes toward Roy Revant. Eyes flick from head to toes and back up, his smile lingering.     "You seem anxious," he points out to Roy. He lifts his hand and spreads his fingers to give a good-hearted wave to Solty Revant. For whatever reason, he doesn't seem worried. When he does this, he flinches, and rubs at a spot on his waist. "Got wounded on a mission," he explains, despite no one asking. "Dangerous work, this Multiverse business." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren shows up in power armor. Taking a break from being a robot after the last few missions. Perhaps there isn't really any reason /not/ to, but perhaps he's worried that going chrome full-time would push him further apart from people.     He rolls his eyes as they ask to check passports, and holds out whatever the RUC gave him. "So what's the package? Or if that's need-to-know, where are we taking it?"     Solty gets a warm smile and friendly nod, he's met her before. He eyes Marti as he hears that voice. "Ah... so you're that new voice on the radio. Pleased to meet you," he extends a hand to shake, "I'm Staren Wiremu, Hand of the Concord." It sounds much more impressive when he's not introducing himself right after Seifer "Fox Knight King of the Moon Hand of the Concord" Almasy.     He briefly eyes the spot that Marti indicates is injured. "Maybe they can help you with that here, while we're waiting around..." 

:'''{{#var:6941|Sheriff Marti (6941)}} has posed:'''     Marti waves off the offer of help from Staren, maintaining an easy-going demeanor. "I already got it looked at. It's just sore when I move wrong. It's still healing." He points to Staren. "Nice armor." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa paperwork, was good from the last time she stuck her noses in on Solty's world. She was able to get through things easily enough she'll hols up her card. If she's asked for anything else she'll happily comply and once she's able to catch up with Roy and Solty she'll wave. "Hey been a while." She's clad in her normally seen long coak and the rest, the cyborg seems to be in a good mood. "Starn, Sheriff." She looks "It might not be armour he swaps shells more than I do." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Something something arriving late is just arriving in style. Even with directions there's a lot of alleys to find the right one they're suppose to meet up in. But find it Corona does, ambling in like she had intended to show up right then and now the whole time. "Howdy pardners." She gives a tip of her hat to Marti when she sees him amongst the group. "Sheriff. How's the bike holding up?" She asks as she leans on Kotone's shoulder. "Tch. Reckon we somehow end up in the same messes a lot don't we now?" she asides to her friend with a wink. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "Thanks, I made it myself!" Staren smiles, then looks to Kotone. "Nah, this one's armor. The other set, the non-environmental armor that's designed to be anchored to cyborg bodies instead of worn? I painted it red, also it has these little dimples on the shoulder and knee plates. On this one they're smooth and round." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy's eyes narrow a bit at a few things. Staren's rolling of his eyes. Marti apraising him and commenting on his anxiousness. Corona being a fox, even though he's met her before. "Is that so." he says to Marti. "Maybe that's because this briefcase has already earned me one bullet hole, and it wasn't even on the move yet." Just where that injury is isn't clear thanks to that heavy longcoat.      Solty blinks as Marti waves to her, but smiles kindly and waves back a bit shyly, half-hiding behind Roy. "Hello. I'm Solty Revant!" she says to Marti. Staren, Kotone, and Corona all get a much more open and cheerful wave. "Hello everyone! It's nice to see all of you again!" she calls out, her green furry ears perking a bit.      A few more local Hunters join the group and get their cards scanned by the secretary. But, just as she's nearing the last one the heel on her shoe turns inward and she falls over! She scrambles back to her feet quickly and laughs in embarrassment. "S-sorry about that. As for what the item is and where it is going, those details are being witheld. Our administrator is very cautious." she says, pushing her glasses back into place in front of her blue eyes. "Your job is just to accompany the delivery truck and defend it from anyone who attacks it. I have been authorized to tell you that the cargo is quite valuable, so it is highly likely that at least one attempt will be made." She starts back toward the closed delivery bay and the door she used to exit the building. She has to glance back again at Corona, but soon she is at the door. "The cargo truck will emerge in a few moments, so please return to your vehicles and prepare to follow it. The administrator will also be following at a distance."      She then steps inside. Apparently no more questions will be answered. 

:'''{{#var:6941|Sheriff Marti (6941)}} has posed:'''     Marti smiles off toward Roy, but his smile briefly fades as he overhears that someone made attempt on the man's life. Roy would see the mirth fade for something more natural to a sheriff or soldier hearing someone got shot in the line of duty. "That sucks, man," he says, lifting his hand to rub at the edge of his forehead, eyes briefly closing.     "Marti," he introduces to the others that don't know. He points his thumb at himself.     Corona's question marks a return of his smile. He replies, "Got the old thing fixed up, good as new. Thanks for asking." He tips his hat to her in cowboy fashion.     With the mission parameters stated, he gives a lazy two-finger salute and silently turns to return to his vehicle. His boots click against the pavement, and his smile fades for professional neutrality. He moves at a brisk pace, more like a soldier than a sheriff. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "Hey Corona, long time no see."     Staren watches somewhat dispassionately as the secretary's poor choice in footwear distracts her. He wonders if it was forced on her by her employer. "Hey, you forgot to scan that guy." Staren points out. Although if she refuses to scan, he won't fight about it.     When asked to 'go to his vehicle', he pulls a broom out of his bag which is clearly too small for it, then sits on brush part and flies near the truck. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''     "Good t'here." No surprise Corona has a soft spot for most any sort of machine or vehicle, being an engineer.     "Y'too, kid," she replies to Staren, before turning her attention back to the secretary. "So somethin' so important they can't tell no one what kinda guffin it really is? Guess that's why t'job's payin good as it is." Sounds like they're going to be getting down to business soon so she fiddles with her goggles a bit before pulling them down over her eyes. "Well shoot. Reckon Ah shoulda parked closer." That might be a joke, or it might not. Corona scampers off from the alley before anyone can really ask.     And a few moments later rejoins the group with her own motorcycle. Except it's not really a motorcycle, it's just ridden like one would be. Something like 'steampunk speederbike' would be more accurate, riding on and propelled by various steam jets instead of any sort of wheels. She gives it an idle rev, watching the various guages and meters projected in her goggles flicker up and down as she does. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa has at Staren and grins at him and seems happy to see Corona as well. "It seems like that, you sure you don't want to just rent a room from me at this rate?" She notes back to her friend. She will look to Marti for a moment giving him a nod before looking back to Solty and listening to what she has to say. "So need to know only right? Make sure it gets to where it's going and then make sure it arrives? Got it." With that she'll look one last time to Solty and says "Good to see you maybe we can catch up after that." She returns a bit later on her own motorcycle and in a riding suit as well she'll get on board and move to jack into her bike she's ready to roll. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      "Oh! Hahaha! Um..." The secretary looks embarrassed even more as Staren points out she didn't get the last guy. She hurries back to scan his card before she disappears inside the building. But as soon as the door is closed another crash is heard, presumably the secretary falling down again.      About five minutes pass, and the huge cargo door of the hospital starts to open, revealing an full size cargo truck and trailer. It pulls out and moves toward the road. The radios of the protectors would buzz with a bit of static before a voice that even sounds like it belongs to a pompous, overweight man comes in. "Hello. I am Dr. Dewy R. Black, the administrator of this research hospital. Please keep this frequency open for communications, and for updates on nav points for the route. We have a total of seven guards or groups of guards for this convoy. I am designating those of you on one-seat vehicles to lead the truck if you have the ability to read the nav points. The rest of you follow behind or beside the truck. And for goodness sake, try not to be obvious about it. My car will be far to the rear. I am only coming along to monitor the situation and sign over the items when we reach the destination."      Roy waves dismissively at Marti's sentiment. "It was just a scratch really. Nothing to worry about." he says as he starts toward a cherried classic red muscle car. Solty follows after him, and once the truck has pulled onto the street Roy starts after it. Nav points come in roughly every block, updating as they go. It is just fast enough for the lead vehicles to follow the route ahead of the truck. The Hunters in those two cars seem quite a bit younger and inexperienced compared to Roy, and seem to think this will be an easy job. Who would attack an unknown medical supply truck? They can't really understand why so much security is needed, but like Corona they figure pay is pay.      The truck follows a fairly straightforward route to one of the major highways through the massive city. It's a skyway really, raised above the rest of the roads and even many of the buildings. For some reason Roy is following quite a distance behind the truck. All in all, it really does seem like this will be a walk in the park. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "Obvious about it? I'm on a flying broom, do you want me to lead or not?" Staren will or won't, as asked.     He's keeping an eye out for trouble, either way. They wouldn't ask extraversals to come in for a walk in the park. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      "...did you say a broom?" The doctor sounds baffled. "...well...whatever. As long as there are at least two in front I don't care. You are the ones being paid to protect the shipment, so I'd hope you can coordinate a proper formation yourselves." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''     As the radio buzzes Corona pulls down a mic piece attatched to the side of her goggles, and resumably the ear pieces are under her hat near the base of her ears. It's all synced into the control device strapped to her arm regardless, which is also tracking the nav points for her. "Copy that." She rolls her eyes slightly. Staren's arguably more conspicious than she is at the moment. "Staren, they said not t'fly too high and all, but why don't ya stay above the truck fer a better vantage point."     That said once the cargo truck is rolling she pulls to the front of it on her steampowered speeder. This is hardly her first rodeo when it comes to transport escorts, so she's got little problem with taking a lead point. At least this time she's not the one driving and can take part in the actual action. If there's any action to take part in.     She's assuming there's going to be. She's properly paranoid like that. 

:'''{{#var:6941|Sheriff Marti (6941)}} has posed:'''     Marti doesn't let his guard down. He keeps his eyes peeled for his surroundings, checking the windows of vehicles and buildings, checking the air for threats, and generally keeping his eyes on the road where he needs to. He's very good at driving his motorcycle, to the point where he can maintain a distance ahead of the truck. He keeps tabs on everything with his phone or with his radio, so that he can keep up with where they're going. He actually rides fairly far ahead of the truck, just so he isn't too obvious that he's leading it.     "Withholding the details... tch, treating us like dirt-cheap thugs, doin' that," he mutters to himself during his ride. "If this is something dangerous or illegal I'm gonna be pissed." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren decides that avoiding attention is off the table and just goes ahead flying ahead and up in the air to keep an eye out. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa gets herself onto the right comm band and will be listening to Dewy, he lays out some more information and she will move along with it. She gets the idea to just play the regular person out for a spin on her bike, she can manage that fairly well. She will gun her engine and will head out at the proper time when they do she'll make sure to keep tabs on it. With it seeming like it's going to be a walk in the park? That has Kotone on edge as it's never a milk run and she knows that much. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The other two groups of local Hunters take up positions behind the truck, following at a distance but not really far enough to not make it look like a convoy. They obviously aren't taking this seriously. Staren flies up and the radio crackles. <"What are you doing? This may not look like an ordinary shipment if we pass someone, but you are basically a red flag up there!">      The trip down the skyway is smooth, timed so that the traffic is at a lower level so the transport won't take as long. People in cars they pass or that pass them stare at the strange bikes and flying catboy, but otherwise it is uneventful. That is, until a purple Viper-like car catches up to them and skids into the space between the rear guard and the truck with obvious intent.      <"Guess it won't be a boring day after all! Light him up!"> says the foremost of the rear guard. The two cars full of local Hunters opens fire on the purple car, perforating the rear of the car with many rounds. But, the car seems to be at least somewhat armored. The driver doesn't flinch, and a slot opens before a strange looking vent extends. Silvery powder starts floating out and is sucked right into the intakes of the cars. <"What is-">      That is all the Hunters manage before their engines explode. It is minor, but their cars are done for and the two Hunter cars skid into the barriers. <"Keep going! We aren't far from the delivery point!"> the doctor's voice comes in. Roy's car is far enough back to avoid both the silvery powder and the car crashes, but he revs all his horses to catch up quickly.      From his vantage point, Staren would see something else approaching.      A very crab-like blue-green mech! Riding atop it is a young man with short, spikey brown hair. He looks pretty smug as he rises up just enough so that he is visible over the skyway's side walls right beside Marti "Sorry. Looks like your buddies are out of the game." he says with a smirk, then rises up in dramatic style to reveal to those on the actual roadway that he is riding a mech, its rocket boosters carrying it up and onto the skyway, where it drops right in front of the Marti and tries to smash his bike with a swing of one crab-like arm. Then, it quickly drops back while firing a few small missiles at the others while it tries to knock the truck into the barriers as the young man disappears inside the mech. But, the mech isn't that much bigger than the truck itself, and it seems sturdy enough to keep from being pushed around. The driver, panicked as he is, keeps going! 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     <"It's too late for that."> Staren replies, possibly proven right when someone sabotages most of the rear guard. Staren considers attacking them, but... they don't seem to be moving? So the convoy moves on.     And from his vantage point, he can see... <"Corona! With me, giant mecha crab up ahead!"> He dives down to just above traffic level and weaves between buildings or around the elevated roadway to try and avoid the missiles, while returning fire with his own salvo of a half-dozen miniaturized anti-tank missiles. 

:'''{{#var:6941|Sheriff Marti (6941)}} has posed:'''     Marti's vehicle thrums and putters as he drives along. He squints through his motorcyclist goggles, and reaches up to adjust his helmet while he rides. He puffs a sigh to himself as he thinks on his life choices. Mercenary work, huh? He grunts as he hears them talk over the radio, and then hears the explosions behind him. He doesn't turn his attention away from the road ahead for now... but then a Giant Enemy Crab appears alongside the skyway, and someone talks to him. The person is reflected briefly in his goggles as the crab lifts and lands on the road ahead of him.     "Oh shit."     He turns and grits his teeth and SLIDES his bike under the arm that swings at him, drifting along the road. It cracks him in the helmet and knocks it clean off. When the helmet shatters on the road, he turns his vehicle with preturnatural precision. He slows his bike and pulls his handgun from his belt, and points at one of the leg joints of the crab. His .44 revolver gleams in the street lights as they pass them, and his curly hair whips in the wind. A determined frown shows on his face as he tries to get a good shot.     BANG!!! A trail of smoke follows behind the bullet that fires from Marti's revolver. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''     Even at the front of the convoy the engineer's astute ears hears the engines bombing out behind them. But there's little Corona can do about that, not with the big bogie coming up right in their path, as Staren helpfully points out. "Yep. There's the trouble." With the warning and her own paranoid waiting Corona's ready to take evasive action, veering through most of the cascade of rockets. At least as far as direct hits go, the projectiles exploding against the pavement still rock her lighter vehicle back and forth some.     Corona actually lets go of the handlebars with both hands, instead putting one boot on them to steer with and allow herself to partially stand up from the seat. This frees both hands to pull both of her larger pistols from their holster as she makes a few quick vector and trajectory calculations, and opens fire with a pair of shots. That zing just past the crab-mech!     Instead the shots bore through two supports of a billboard, sending it toppling towards the mecha-crab in an attempt to help knock it out of the way of the vehicles. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa keeps to traffic laws for this world she doesn't seem to be doing anything out of the normal but then comes something it seems there is trouble here come a sports car and the order is given. The cars of the local hunters move in but it seems someone has sabotaged their rides and reduce the escort in the process there's not much she can do for now save call for aid for the down escorts and keep going. She'll come under attack and just deek out of the way it's clear she's got experience doing combat on a bike. She goes one-handed and pulls a pistol out firing shots at the mecha aiming for smaller vital systems like things that might be sensors and the like. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The purple car is in fact still moving! It is staying behind the cargo truck, but isn't actually attacking or anything. It apparently is the rear guard for the attackers, keeping Roy from getting closer. And Roy can't risk forcing the issue with that silver powder threatening to take out his engine as well. <"I'm going to help!"> comes in Solty's voice on the radio, and suddenly she is climbing out the window of the fast moving car to get on the roof.      Meanwhile, the crab mech is battered by missiles and...a hand-gun?! Roy would probably want to know just where Marti got his .44 since it actually destroys the joint on one of the legs of the mech and causes it to stumble. "What the hell?!" comes the young man's voice over a loud speaker. "We're after the case! No one has to get hurt here!"      With the truck proving too sturdy to just knock around, the mech leaps up and lands on the top of it. <"He's not stopping. Gotta admire his work ethic!"> the mech pilot says with an audible grin over the local radio. <"Guess it's time for the ol' smash and grab!"> His mech starts punching the top of the trailer with what look almost like giant pry bars. It takes only a few seconds to punch into the cargo section and peel it away, which reveals...most of the truck is empty. In fact, only a single briefcase is inside, secured to a heavy container to keep it from bouncing around.      The billboard lands atop the mech, nearly knocking it off the truck. The pilot growls, then reaches for the case again. Kotone's shots cause sparks to fly. Solty uses the distraction to leap forward and land on the truck, then hops down and grabs the case. "I won't let you have this! It is important medicine!" she says. The pilot of the mech growls. "Give it here, you little brat!"      Suddenly, a missile comes flying in from behind Roy, hitting the highway and blowing away a section of wall ahead of the truck and causing the driver to pull the truck hard to the left, but he still crashes sidelong into the rubble. The mech comes flying off the back, and Solty does as well. The mech reaches to swipe at her, and she drops the case as she defends herself.      

:'''{{#var:6941|Sheriff Marti (6941)}} has posed:'''     Marti lifts the handgun after the shot to focus on keeping his balance on his bike. Once things start getting really chaotic, he keeps out of the way. The shockwave from the explosions makes him nearly stumble in his driving, but he corrects and ignores the ache of a bruise from where the air buffeted him. He sniffs in a breath through his nose and lifts his head to watch the crab as it starts trying to rip open the truck and steal what's inside. He can't get a clear shot just yet, so slows so he can get behind the truck, keeping an eye on the chaos of swerving vehicles.     Then, as he spots his opening, he revs his bike, pops a wheelie, and jumps the divider. He launches up into the air just in time for the case to fly from Solty and the mech's grip, and his gloved hand whips out to grab it. "WOAH THERE!!" he cries out, and catches it, stuffing the case in his lap. Then he lands and quickly corrects himself as his bike's suspension tries to make him fly side to side. He unholsters his revolver again, and takes aim at the mech. He speaks over his radio, which can be seen on his shoulder under his coat.     <"Destruction of city property. Destruction of personal property. Assault with a deadly weapon."> He rattles off charges, a laundry list of them. He sounds coldly furious, like a man that has been pushed to the brink of murder. <"Cease and desist. Surrender will be less painful for you.">     Bang bang!! He fires for two more joints, trying to hit the weak points in the mech with his handgun. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     The shockwave is larger than Staren expects. He's not used to fighting /other/ people with missiles. He activates his forcefield, but the shockwave slams into him and sends him tumbling, shattering more of the forcefield. He hops off the broom and switches to using his wings, putting the broom back in the bag that's too small for it... and diving for the dropped case, firing only a couple of wild beam cannon shots at the crab mech or any other unknowns going for the case. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''     Corona quickly holsters the guns and drops back onto the seat of her bike properly. Only for a missile to come screaming from the far back and blow out a chunk of the road just as Solty is yoinking the case out of the truck before the mech can. The truck screechs sideways, bucking both Solty and the crab machine off. The case gets dislodged somewhere in the shuffle.     Corona instead of something more sensible kicks the throttle to the max and drives right into the resulting explosion. The blastwave rips chunks of metal off the sides of the speeder and something blows out the rear as it's blazing out the other side and off the upheaved wreckage of the missile to launch into the air even as it's starting to belch smoke and sparks.     But it's just far enough in the air for Corona to kick free of the seat and jump off, leaving the damaged speeder to go careening across the other side of the road in a sparking mess and a bellowing of smoke and fire.     But the wily vixen isn't on the bike anymore. She kippups off a street lamp with her parkour skills and launchs herself towards the crab-mech. At the same time reaching back to pull the larger hammer off her back, aura green-yellow sparks crackling around the head as it's power core charges up.     "Time for a little shell shock!" As she lands on the crab-mech Corona swings the breaker down with the additional momentum of her fall. The energy discharges at impact, sending a surge of electrified plasma blasting out in addition to the blunt force. This is the sort of big nasty machine it's made for breaking apart.     Wrench in the works? Screw that, I've got a big ****ing hammer to BREAK the works with! 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Never sit still is a rule Kotone learned a long time ago when it came to combat in the multiverse. She knows she's mostly a diversion for people with far more powerful weapons or other means of attack but that doesn't matter really so long as she keeps the mech a bit more off balance. She keeps moving and the shockwave is avoided by her pulling a jump over it and she comes down and it's clear now she's controlling the bike hands free as she's now got a grenade in hand and will loob the thin at the mecha it will beep several times before it explodes in a burst of plasma. "You want some of this you jackass?! Come get it!" 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      <"What are you doing?! That is fragile cargo!"> the doctor's voice comes in. <"Shut up! I'm not letting these punks get away!"> another voice says, apparently a personal body guard for the doctor. Another rocket is fired, but this one goes off course as the doctor pushes the Hunter, and the missile hits a huge billboard on the top of a building that rises above the skyway. The billboard wobbles unsteadily as Roy and the purple car both pull up. Roy steps out and takes cover behind the door of his car, and the man in the purple car finally steps out as well and does the same. He is a tall, lean man who can't be any older than his mid 20s with nice features and pale pink hair. "So, it's you guys again." Roy says, aiming at the purple car's driver but not firing yet. "You're pretty persistent, old man." the other man says in a suave, slightly gravelly voice. "Just get the case, Larry!" comes the mech pilot's voice. "And we didn't launch that missile!" he adds for Marti's sake. The mech takes quite a beating as well. Marti's shots disable another arm, Staren's shots burn deep into the body, Kotone's grenade weakens another, and Corona's hammer of an attack dents the top inward and starts melting the armor.      Solty runs up to Marti and smiles happily. "Good job, Mr. Marti! You saved the case!" she says. <"Hurry up and get us there!"> the doctor's voice comes in over the radio, followed by the screeching of tires that matches a dark colored sedan a good distance away coming to a stop. <"What!? You will be fired for this!"> the doctor bellows. <"You know..."> says a female voice matching the secretary. <"...I'm not sure how your real secretary puts up with you."> <"W-what...? Real secretary?"> There is a pop over the radio, then it is silent. A few moments later, a bike that looks like some kind of cross between a sleek locomotive and a motorcycle comes roaring up, swerving between all the cars that have stopped or been hit, then slides to a stop near Larry...and idling on that bike nearby is a slender blonde in an almost blindingly blue long coat with equally blue eyes. Her hair falls like a cascade of gold down her back, and one large lock of blonde hangs down over her face. She gives that long lock a toss and smirks. "Oppressers beware! Rose, the bright blue meteor of hope...is here!"      Roy sighs. "...I doubt her parents would approve of this." The mech pilot pops out of his mech, which is badly damaged. "Rose! You were supposed to be backup!" Rose hmphs. "The best -defense- is a good -offense-!" The mech pilot growls. "What's that supposed to mean?!" "Look, you and Larry obviously needed the backup, Andy!" "We had it completely under control"      "Quiet, both of you!" Larry says, then looks at Andy. "They're stronger than we expected. You know what to do."      Andy grins, then ducks back into the mech. "You got it, brother!" he yells dramatically, and another salvo of missiles fire. They seek out their targets and explode! But, rather than a dangerous explosion like the missile from the doctor's car, these are full of sticky gum that threatens to lock down everyone present before hardening quickly into something akin to cement. Decidely non-lethal, but definitely a problem. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren dives for the case, but Marti and Solty get there first, and... hey, as long as someone has it, that's good! "Hey! What's this about opressors?" Also, so much for their employer. Staren rolls his eyes again -- seems they're pretty terrible at opsec after all.     Missiles come. Staren puts up his forcefield and widens his stance, bracing for impact... and not only do the missiles shatter his field, but they surround him in foam! HIS OWN DAMN TRICK! Even if he did steal it from Rory. BUT HE FELL FOR THEIR TRAP. Completely!     And that... is embarassing. Staren's pretty mad! A small saving grace is that the gum hardened around the collapsing field, leaving him a LITTLE room to move inside. He starts trying to cut it away with both his beam cannons and the matter manipulator. Fortunately, the time it takes allows him to cool down enough to remember what was said BEFORE he fell for the trap. "Hey. What was that about opressors? Seriously, maybe we should stop and talk about this... since it seems like you just took out the guy who was gonna pay us, anyway." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa has long used that type of grenade and knows how big the blast is and thankfully it pays off for her she can't dodge harm forever however and this is where it catches up with her the fights over the case are going on the missiles catch her, and she's wiped out, but caught in something akin to her own freezer foam. The hell he did that, oh he did. Kotone is trapped and the impact does injure her. She's trapped for a moment but then will force her strength to break free it takes a moment as it cracks and creeks as she finally breaks free and she's switching weapons now, as she pulls a rail gun from her Matter Manipulator and it's nearly as big as she is, she has no issue in holding it as she move to jack into it and line up a shot aiming to disable the mech rather than aiming to core it and she fires a trio of shots. "So you do my tricks too how about this!?" 

:'''{{#var:6941|Sheriff Marti (6941)}} has posed:'''     Crack crack! Yeah! Marti grins as he sees his next shot do serious damage to the mech. He swerves his bike into place to make sure he doesn't get hit in the melee, and then he has to try and dodge the capture foam...! It hits him, and hammers his body and his coat. And then, with a sudden tear of his hand against his shoulder, he rips off his coat, pulling most of the foam off before it can fully adhere to him. It tears fabric in his shirt as well, and exposes tattoos under his shirt of swirling snakes and vultures. Buttons snap and crack. And a sheriff's badge dangles off his neck from a beaded chain.     He revs his bike and spins about, and holsters his gun. His hand goes up and grabs the badge, the metallic shield grasped tightly in his fingers. The case his held down to his lap while his bike putters beneath him.     "Persona."     A ten foot tall man in black leathers that conceal his body, and a colorful poncho that drapes his form appears, dual-wielding massive revolvers with long barrels. His face is utterly concealed in shadow, and his hat is dipped down. The figure glows with blue flames that cascade up and down his form, as if summoned entirely by magic. Which he was.     "Get on the ground."     He doesn't wait for them to do so. His Persona lifts and unleashes a barrage of precision (and strangely non-lethal) gunshots that hammer toward the assailants responsible for attacking the convoy. He has no reason to stop defending his charge, not even while his employer is dead. He is a man of principles. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''     Corona sees Solty running towards Marti and the case while trying to keep her footing on the battered crab-mech. "DON'T SHOW IT OFF!" But as she's shouting someone else comes blazing onto the scene. Sigh.     Corona stows the hammer and leaps off from the mech, firing her grappler to grab onto the railing of the highway and pull herself down... Except there's another barrage of projectiles as she does so. The eruption of quick hardening foam clinging to her adds more weight than the swing was intended for and Corona ends up hitting the pavement short of the mark, giving it all the more surface to stick to as she's down on her back. Plus come of it got on her head, though her goggles keep it out of her eye at least. "Of all the slaggin' fraggin' sassafrassin'..."     It takes a bit of squirming around but she manages to get a hand clenched enough to activate the cutter torch built into her glove. A bit of searing heat and a bit more jostling and she manages to get part of an arm free. No time to expend on breaking the rest of herself out. But one hand is all she really needs. That an her ears, which swivel a bit to pin down the other voices. Makes a face at hearing the 'secretary' but tries to not let that distract her. She can also hear that motorcycle running, and with one eye clear see some in the reflection off the crab mech. She flips out an emergency gun and, despite there being nothing to obviously shoot at from her awkward still mostly trapped position, fires.     There's a *whunk* as the capsule ricochetes off Corona's disabled speeder where it crashed.     Followed by a *twank* as the angle makes it hit the bottom of the crab-mech and rebound away.     Which results in it jabbing into the pavement right at the feet of the new arrival and her co-conspirators.     And that's when the flashbang explodes with a painful FLASH and a ear-splitting POW that should be one hell of a surprise! 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The radio crackles again, and it's the doctor? <"Do not listen to that woman! She was posing as my secretary! I do not know who she is, but apparently she fed these hooligans our information!"> The doctor's car is moving again. Apparently she didn't actually harm him. Or the man with the missile launcher, who is standing up through the sunroof as the car races to the scene. He looks like he is preparing another missile!      Suddenly, there is a metallic creaking from overhead and...the billboard that had been hit by the second missile falls right toward Roy and his car! "ROY!" Solty forgets completely about the case, the mech, and the Andersons, and leaps into the sky to intercept the falling billboard, which is almost as large as the truck they have been protecting. She rears back with one of her fists, and it starts to glow yellow and vibrate rapidly. When she delivers that punch, the energy disperses throughout the billboard...and it disintegrates. All except for one large piece that falls down to land on the doctor's car. The hunter manages to duck back in just in time, but his missile launcher is crushed and the car skids to a stop. The doctor jumps out. "Give me the case! I will continue on while you secure these criminals!"      The mech is finished. Beams sear into it. Bullets and projectiles of different varieties punch through it. The Andersons themselves are hit with those Persona bullets, and Rose blinks as something lands at her feet. "...is that-" She gets the full force of that flashbang shot, forcing her to cry out before being pummeled by non-lethal rounds. She manages to stay on her bike somehow, but this certainly isn't how the small gang thought the operation would go. She trembles a bit from the pain in her eyes and her body now. "Geeze! Ease up, would ya? If you are any kind of lawman, you have to open that case!" she declares firmly, even while unable to see.      Dr. Black's face goes pale. "N-no! You are not allowed to open it as part of your contract! If you break it, you do not get paid!" he says frantically. He obviously doesn't want that case to be opened. Larry, who fell back into his car after Marti's attack, grunts. "We were really just after the case, and not even to steal it. He's smuggling narcotics out of the hospital to sell on the black market, just to put a few more dollars in his pocket. Good, innocent, injured people are being deprived because of his selfishness."      Roy stands up now that the Andersons are subdued, and approaches Marti. "What do you think? I say we open it." he says, obviously regarding Marti as a fellow Hunter, who are really agents of the law themselves. "These kids worked hard not to kill anyone. I don't think they would have bothered if they didn't have good intentions at heart." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      "THIS IS NOT A VOTE!" the doctor yells. "I am paying all of you! You cannot open that case!"      The mech suddenly lurches, and part of the front pops out to reveal a military-looking escape vehicle. Andy, the brown-haired brother, is frowning deeply. "It's like he says. We just wanted to expose the doc! And no one would have believed anyone who brought charges against the administrator of the biggest and best facility of good will in The City! So, we had to take alternate measures! This would have been a clean job if you Multiversals hadn't stuck your noses in where they didn't belong!"      The door to Larry's car closes suddenly, and all three of the Anderson vehicles' tires screech as they try to escape in all directions. Rose is going to have the most trouble though. Her bike is fast, but she can hardly see. She bounces off several barriers as she tries to drive away. Roy doesn't move to stop them. He seems to believe them, which means that the doctor is the one most responsible for all the damage as far as he's concerned. But of course, that's only true if the case does indeed hold something it isn't supposed to.      Even as she bounces off of things, Rose radios to the group. <"I gotta say, we've never failed in one of our operations before. You guys are pretty good! Hope we see you again~"> <"If we do, you won't be so lucky next time."> Larry's calm voice joins in. <"We're the Anderson Brothers! Defenders of justice and the oppressed!"> Andy's voice adds at the end. 

:'''{{#var:6941|Sheriff Marti (6941)}} has posed:'''     Marti watches the dust clear, and his Persona lowers its guns. He knocks down the kickstand of his motorcycle and he looks down at the case on his lap, balanced there between the handlebars and his waist. He reaches down to pick it up and inspect it even as his Persona fades into blue sparkles and smoke. His eyes lift as the perps take off. "Anderson Brothers," he mouths. "They weren't so bad. Better than most criminals, I'd say..." He then reaches with a neutral gaze and simply...     Opens the case and looks inside. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''     "Noses where they don't belong is kinda part the job." That quip is all you're going to get out of Corona for the moment, as she discards the spent flashbang launcher and works on getting herself free from the rest of the hardened material. It's still a slow process, at least until she gets her other arm free, and has both cutters activated. After that it's easier, especially when not getting shot at as well. Eventually she stands up, gives a good shake to dislodge some of the dust, and brushes herself off.     Then glances at the remains of the machine that was used to attack them. "Ah wonder where they got that from." She's not even paying attention to the case now, she's distracted by something else technical. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     The case is argued about back and forth. Staren thinks. It DOES seem pretty suspicious... but then, meddling hero types are fairly likely to get the wrong idea about things and screw up plans to make the world better.     So, which is going on here?     Staren considers methods to perp sweat the doctor to see just how far he's willing to take this if it IS deception... but Marti holds the case, and makes the decision for them. Staren flits over to take a look. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa sees the other side is subdued the railgun is banished back to where it cames. She comes upon the ground dusting herself off. "I did notice the use of less lethal tactics. Still just what is going on here? The Doctor's behaviour is strange to Kotone and she looks at them. "I am with the Paladins You may still face...." She was going offer to stick up for them if it proved true so they got a lighter sentence. Whelp they ran off and this was going to be a pain however she'll look to the Doctor. "Requesting Paladin aid for illegal activity would be very serious indeed Doctor and we're some of the nicer ones, ones who get downright biblical in their enforcement of the law." She couldn't keep up with the fleeing suspects and there's a mess to clean up here which is a potential danger to bystanders. She'll follow up the Sheriff and will take a look at teh case. "I give them credit for trying to not stack on murder charges to their antics. So whats the verdic? Roy? You know anything about these." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      When opened, the case contains several layers of IV bags filled with green liquid. The lables say 'Enfarin'. Roy grunts. "Enfarin. It's a hard narcotic. Sells for a lot on the black market. I've never heard of it being transported this way. The only item in a large truck, no exterior lables, this is not a typical medical container, and as far as I know we've passed all the medical facilities that would have any sort of need for it." He looks toward the doctor, who is white as a ghost and sweating now. Guilt is written all over his face, even if at the moment nothing solid could be proven. "So, doctor...if we go and check the records at the hospital...is this shipment going to show up?" The doctor looks even more worried.      Solty walks up and peeks around from behind Roy. "So...they were right?" she asks uncertainly. Roy pats Solty on the head, then looks around at the others. "I can take it from here. There's no pay to be had, and by himself this doctor isn't dangerous. The investigation to actually prove all of this will be difficult like Andy said. But, it will be pretty hard for the good doctor to explain away why he had so much, or why he felt he needed to pay so many to protect it."      The mech definitely looks military. Too clean and well built to be mere civilian, unless it is someone very well off. It doesn't seem to have any deadly weapons, though. Just its mechanical strength and more riot foam and emp missiles. Roy notices Corona inspecting the mech and calls out, "I wouldn't touch that if I were you. That likely belongs to R.U.C. Security, and they don't take kindly to people who mess with their tech." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''     Corona glances over her shoulder. "Huh, so those kids were rawht." She almost feels bad for that flashbang now. Almost. They were still breaking plenty of other laws to make their point. Two wrongs don't necessarily make a right, even with good intentions.     She's about to ask something when Roy points out who likely owns the mech. Does that mean it was stolen as well? Bugger. Her ears droop a bit. That could of been some nice salvage. "Rawht. No messin' with it." More than she already did trying to stop it at least.     But no messing and no touching doesn't mean she isn't going to scan it with her analyzer. Just as a precaution in case they have to disable more such machines in the future. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa listen and will friown as Roy brings up what it is and she shoots a withing look at the Doctor. "You are very /damn/ lucky the local law is handling you." She will leve it to Roy and she will later offer her aid if Roy needes it but Kotone is more than willing to work with Local Law on things. "They were really aiming to deal with it and reduce the chance of killing anyone do you think someone in R.U.C may have slipped it to them to let them deal with the problem?" 

:'''{{#var:6941|Sheriff Marti (6941)}} has posed:'''     Marti examines the contents of the case. He breathes a deep sigh at the sight of what's inside of it. He isn't familiar with the term, but he is familiar with the word 'narcotic.' He clasps the case shut, and hands it off to Roy. Then he climbs off his motorcycle, and he walks up to the doctor where he's standing, and gives the man a lethally angry look down his nose. Hands reach out to grab him by the coat. "You're human filth. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you rot for this."     And straight-up tries to headbutt the doctor. It won't actually do any damage -- his incapacitation spell prevents that -- but it may knock the doctor unconscious in a single strike, the same way a sleep dart does. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     It's actually /labeled/ as horrible stuff, which Roy can identify. Convenient.     Staren walks over to the 'doctor', who he honestly didn't think was here WITH them in the truck. "Well. You're probably about to go away to jail for a long time. And in fact, you'd better HOPE you do, because if you weasel out of it--" Staren waves a hand at the assembled heroes, "--It looks like you've got a whole bunch of vigilantes ready to make /sure/ you're stopped one way or another. At least you're not going to have to pay us, because we broke the contract. That's what you're thinking, isn't it? And, I suppose that's fair. You deceived us, and tried to make us accessories to crime, but hey, the contract didn't stipulate that such behavior voided it, so you're in the clear, right?"     Staren makes an exagerated shrug. Then he puts a hand on the man's shoulder. "And you're a rich, powerful man, and the powerful get what they want. And here's the thing, if you're gonna live by that code... You just crossed a bunch of /more/ powerful people. So not only are you going to jail, you're going to pay us. If you don't... then your assets will be siezed and repurposed by people more powerful than you. And we'll spend some of them on very good lawyers to help the prosecution get you the harshest penalties possible. So! What's it gonna be?" And then Marti resorts to the physical violence that Staren is trying to hold back from. Satisfying! 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy chuckles lightly at Corona's reaction. "At least you didn't blow anything up needlessly this time." he says to the fox lady.      "It's possible." Roy says to Kotone. "R.U.C. is pretty dilligent about that kind of thing. So, they may have had help. Or, they may have found one in the Undercity somewhere and fixed it up. Or, maybe those three are just that good at foiling security. When I encountered them in the hospital, it was right in the middle of a plot to cut power so they could infiltrate the secure holding room and its laser defenses."      And then Marti headbutts the doctor into unconsciousness. Just as well, he looked like he was about to collapse from all the angry, powerful people around him combined with the realization that his life was basically over now. Roy blinks at Marti, then smirks. "Assaulting a prisoner. Could get you in trouble." he says, though his tone makes it clear he is perfectly fine with it. He doesn't know of course that it was a completely harmless blow.      Sirens can be heard in the distance now as the local police and highway cleanup crews come to take over the area. There's even a military mech not unlike the one that the group defeated, but has definite lethal weaponry visible. On the sides, against the polished black of the incoming mech, is R.U.C. in big white letters.      Roy looks to Staren after watching the authorities close in. "His assets will most likely be completely frozen. The R.U.C. is very strict about where resources end up, especially in an agency funded by the R.U.C., so this guy will probably face a few decades of jailtime and end up a fast food worker or something." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren scratches his head and turns to Roy. "Ah well. If the government's gonna confiscate his stuff and put it to better use, I guess that's fine too. Long as it's clear you don't cross elites like this and get off with a slap on the wrist." He'll wait around to give a statement to the police and such. 

:'''{{#var:6941|Sheriff Marti (6941)}} has posed:'''     "There won't even be a bruise. He won't be able to prove it in court. I'll just say he fainted, and imagined the whole thing."     Marti looks self-satisfied with his mistreatment of the criminal. He really is a vindictive soul, that smile says as much. He adjusts his tattered shirt and blows a sigh. "I'm gonna track those Andersons down and make them pay for my coat and helmet," he tells Roy, "... after I recover. I've got a huge headache. Do you need me to stick around to give a statement?" He thumbjerks toward the authorities as they approach. He goes back over to his bike to move it to the side either way. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa will remain to help out the local cops with anything they might need. Statement or otherwise. "Yes we need to have a word with those kids to put their skills to far better use before they end up somewhere bad like the Watch." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren looks at Kotone. "Aww, don't be mean. The Watch has its uses! Look at the work they did on Thorns and Kaladesh. August's way less crazy now." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy chuckles again, this time at Marti's plan for if the doctor complains about the assault, then nods at his question. "It would be helpful. More witnesses is stronger evidence. But, right now it is still really our word against his. They'll have to go through the hospital records to actually make the case. And as far as the Andersons..." Roy smirks lightly. "I've heard of them before. They are arrogant, but they are also slippery and smart. I doubt you'll find them unless they want to be found.      Roy raises an eyebrow at Staren, then shrugs. "He won't just get a slap on the wrist, but it won't be because he crossed elites. If your agencies want a go at him after the R.U.C. is done, I'm sure they won't mind. As long as you don't treat the R.U.C. like they have less authority in their own world than you do. Can't imagine that would go over too well." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     As long as you don't treat the RUC like they have less authority in their own world than you do.     Staren decides it's better to just not say anything and try to keep his face blank. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      As Staren and Kotone talk, Solty's ears perk. "The Watch? Isn't that who did that expriment on the Aurora Shell that ended up blowing a cliff up? Miss Corona helped them!" she says cheerfully. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa facepalms when she hears Corona was mixed up in that. "Oh for..." She looks to Staren. "Maybe." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The police arrive, and with the statements of everyone here and Staren's recordings it is pretty clear what happened and what the implications are for Dr. Dewy R. Black. The officers thank everyone, and offer an ambulance to take any injured to the hospital. Dr. Black has to go of course since he is apparently knocked out, but an RUC official promises that if there is any truth to what was said and recorded that Dr. Black will spend the rest of his life in a combination of jail and making restitutions.      Solty and Roy thank everyone as well, and before they leave Solty calls out, "If any of you want to stop by for dinner sometime, I'll make dinner for you!" 
}}

6426/Princess vs Pauper!

2019-03-09T05:32:48Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/03/08 |Location=Shrine of Adversity |Synopsis=In order to restore her damaged pride, Princess Sarracenia challenges Note to a match. |Cast of..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/03/08
|Location=Shrine of Adversity
|Synopsis=In order to restore her damaged pride, Princess Sarracenia challenges Note to a match.
|Cast of Characters=446, 6386, 6936, 6
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Ever since the events in the testing facility in Lilian Rook's world, Sarracenia has been trying to regain some of the pride and self-respect that was damaged there. That, along with simply her own 'secret' fondness for fighting led her to challenge Note to a fight in the Shrine!      The princess is spending her time before the battle starts with a little warm-up. She is currently elegantly dancing in ballroom style while swinging her hammer, her battle dress and long reddish-blonde hair flowing and billowing with her movements. She has a slight smirk of concentration on her face, apparently expecting a good fight with Note.      The arena she has chosen is an open grassland bordered by rocky cliffs and dotted with plenty of large boulders. For some reason it just felt like the proper place to have such a sure to be very destructive fight. 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     A gate rises from the ground into this arena, and Note comes flying out of it in the middle of a tightly-curled-up somersault. She spins through the air for a good ten feet before straightening out and landing in a deep stance for balance and traction... and only then does she look around at the surroundings.     "Huh..... it can't be this big! They're doing some weird magic here. But it's cool, however it works!"     The Saiyan-blooded female is garbed in her usual red-and-yellow attire, now augmented with the efforts of the Alchemiter. It won't tear nearly as easily now!     Cheerily, the youth aims an energetic wave over at Sarracenia... and then drops back into her combat stance, fingers extending into open knife-hands. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen you fight much. This'll be interesting! Thanks for the challenge!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks at the sudden gate, then turns to face Note. "When did you gain the ability to conjure gateways?" she asks, then shrugs and smirks. "The Shrine is a magical place, it is true. It has to be in order to survive the fights that take place within. The fields can be customized to a great extent, and as far as I have seen no injuries remain once a match is concluded. It is easy to overexert oneself and be left exhausted after, though." the princess explains.      Note moves to that ready stance and Sarra gives her hammer a twirl around herself before taking up a stance of her own, her hammer held out in front of her in what looks more like a sword stance than a hammer stance. "I am ready whenever you are. And despite what that ridiculous magical orb said, I am sure you will find me to be quite a challenge." 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     "HUh?" Note glances behind her, as the gate is receding back into the grass. She blinks a few times. "Oh, that's how entering these things works... huh." Seems she's just as surprised at that!     Whiehver the case, she focuses back on Sarracenia quickly, eyes locked on that hammer... and grins at Sarracenia's boast.     The very next instant, she begins a long, drawn out kiai, clenching those hands into fists. And the ground... begins... TO SHAKE.     More than just that, white energy gathers in a storm about her, coaelces into a thin film of glowing light from her skin and then ignites into a mixture of light and wind. The grass is stripped from the ground, torn up in chunks that rise slowly and are flung every which way after reaching over a few feet into the air. Dust and dirt explode outwards...     And from the cloud, Note's tiny body rockets straight at Sarracenia, aiming for a simple elbow blow to the gut! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia watches with wide eyes as Note powers up...and they widen even more when Note suddenly rockets toward her! Sarra barely has a chance to move, and the blow lands solidly on Sarra's perhaps surprisingly solid core. She isn't a princess who just sits around in a castle all day!      Still, the hit does knock the wind out of Sarra for a moment, but after a stumble back she uses her hammer as a counterweight and shifts the momentum of Note's hit into a swing of her own. That heavy hammer comes swinging back toward Note at a blinding speed, and whether the first hit connects or not Sarracenia continues forward in a spinning pirouette, aiming a few more blows at Note's side, legs, and head! 

:'''{{#var:6936|Cordelay Levail (6936)}} has posed:''' "Ah, that spinning maneuver. If that lands the young girl is going to be in trouble." Cordelay muses before looking to Tomoe. "You were both at the strategy meeting for the spirit war, weren't you? I don't think I properly introduced myself. Cordelay Levail, it's a pleasure." She turns back to watching the match, smiling softly as the action unfolds. 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     At first, Note's wondering if she overdid it. Sarracenia DID NOT do too well at the physical showing of the obstacle course, while Note sort of... destroyed it. Almost literally, at points. When she lands after the blow, once again in her fighting stance, she just watches. "Uhhhh---"     Note has absolutely no trouble matching Sarracenia's display of pure speed. Her arms come up, glowing faintly with white energy for a counter-strike against the hammer's flat! The intent is clear - just KNOCK HER BACK.     The outcome, though, isn't nearly what Note expected. A thunderous noise marks the impact of arm on hammer, and Note's KNOCKED BACK several feet, wringing her arm out. In moments she's set upon by the hammer again and again, forced to try and deflect the strikes while backing up... just unable to keep real FOOTING.     FINALLY a solid hit lands, sending her flying... and hitting the ground hard enough to dig a ten foot trench of DIRT.     "Nghufwh..." Note splutters, spits out dirt, and flips to her feet. "Ow ow ow... how's she hitting so hard...?!"     "How are you swinging it THAT HARD?!" It doesn't make SENSE... and now Note's wary. There's some fear in her eyes.     But then... her brow furrows. Determination takes over. She leans forward and TAKES OFF AGAIN, upping her speed to come in between the swings and try to catch Sarracenia into a rapid flurry of knifehand strikes and pummeling knees and kicks to the gut! 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe says "Both are pretty good at fighting though I have some experience with notes people, they tend to be very good fighters." She notes for a moment and nods to Cordelay for a moment. "I go by Tomoe or sometimes Tomoe the Iron Lily in the Multiverse, good to meet you as well. Pretty new to the multiverse I take it. Also, don't count the Princess out either she's pretty handy with explosives and enchanted items from her world." 

:'''{{#var:6936|Cordelay Levail (6936)}} has posed:''' Cordelay nods. "I'm aware, I've faced Her Highness before. She's quite formidable." She smiles brightly at Tomoe and extends a hand to her. "Glad to meet you, Miss Tomoe." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia really does seem to have little in either knowledge or natural talent when it comes to actually taking a hit. She seems to depend entirely on her dancing strikes to keep the enemy at bay while her hammer smashes them. Sometimes it works...and sometimes it doesn't. Sarra's belly is nailed once again. After the first few hits she manages to bring her hammer around in front of her and uses the ridiculously solid head to at least dull the attacks somewhat.      She is left panting after all those hits to her gut. "Nnng..." She stumbles to a knee, using the haft of her hammer to support herself. "I cannot take all the credit." she says, her pained expression turning to more of a smirk. "There is a reason this hammer is one of very few that are feared throughout Pipeland. And this one has been enchanted especially for me." she says, then...leaps back.      Rather than another hammer strike, Sarracenia reaches into her satchel and pulls out...a cute little Bob-omb! It's a solid black metal sphere with big cute black eyes, cute cartoonish yellow boots, and a white raised area on top of its head. Which Sarra pushes down before throwing it at Note. "Catch!"      Whether Note actually catches it or not, upon contact the seemingly living bomb disappears in a small but violent explosion! 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe says "I didn't know." She'll take Cordelay's hand and shakes it. "It's good to meet new people, strangers giving a damn is why I'm alive here and talking to you right now. Though I think my arrival here was a bit stranger than most people experiance." 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     "Oh... magic. Does that mean you'll be in trouble if you got disarmed? We'll have to work on that, Sarracenia!" Note's actually mystified by the way that Sarra can pull out things BIGGER THAN THE SACHEL, and this keeps her staring a bit longer than is healthy. When the Bob-Omb starts blinking red though... the fuse going even more frantically -- "AH!"     Note raises a hand and fires a quick Ki blast at the projectile... a bit too late.     KABOOOOOM!     The ground's cratered, Note's engulfed in smoke and debris... and starts coughing badly.     "O... kay... I think that's enough time spent... warming up... no more taking it easy!"     After another deep breath... the ground starts rumbling again. SO MUCH WORSE. A crack-whoosh of agitated Ki clears the smoke and dust, blowing it clear away in every direction to show a somewhat scorched and black-smudged Note standing in the crater, fists clenched at her side and oh... once again, she's screaming in a long, protracted kiai.     "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-----"     The air heats up ever so slightly and seems to sizzle with energy, a new wind kicking into gear. The girl standing at the center of this display's hair drifts upwards and shimmers with light as she fixes VERY enthusiastic eyes on Sarracenia. Eyes that slowly shift from black to a light green...     "--YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"     All at once the golden power explodes from the ground at Note's feet, engulfing her in a mad blaze of swirling energy that far eclipses the little burst of earlier. This aura's sustained, billowing like a bonfire stoked by a wind all its own. And within that stands Note, seemingly largely unchanged... except for her hair. No longer black and smooth, the ponytail's split into an array of spikey locks floating almost horizontally behind her, and the hair on her head's no different - the shorter strands have all bunched up into upraised spikes in a pattern Sarracenia's now seen a few times...     But this is the first time it's aimed straight at her.     "My turn!"     Note brings both hands forwards, palms stretched at Sarracenia, and...     FWOOOOOOOSH!     Very soon, the princess's vision will be filled with an onrush of blue-white energy coming STRAIGHT AT HER. A giant wall of pure brilliant Ki sent from Note's hands. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is once again wide-eyed at the display that Note puts on while powering up. And that hair! It suits Note much more than the black in Sarra's opinion. She is actually about to compliment Note when Note declares it is her turn and...fires a rather impressive beam of energy!      Sarra has a bit of time to react, and when she does it is with her hammer. She twirls twice, then brings her hammer around with obvious force. There is low pitch WHOOSH as it swings through the air, then a shockwave explodes outward as it impacts the front of that beam. Sarracenia grunts and is quickly pushed backward, but she remains unharmed so far as her heavy DK Hammer clashes with the power of that beam. "Nnnnnnnnng!!"      Sarracenia starts out with a long, drawn out grunt as she pushes against that beam even while getting pushed back. Her grunt becomes a growl and finally a scream as she puts all her effort into the strike...and the beam deflects! In a nice parabolic arc right back at Note! "This is yours!!" Sarracenia exclaims loudly as she keeps her hammer in place, deflecting the remainder of that beam and emerging miraculously unscathed. Even she seems surprised! And very smug about it! 

:'''{{#var:6936|Cordelay Levail (6936)}} has posed:''' The way Sarracenia deflects the beam causes surprise to spread across Cordelay's face. "Watching these two is incredible. I knew Her Highness was strong, but her opponent wields incredible power as well." She has an expression of wonder as her gaze is fixed firmly on the fight. "I need to improve myself further to keep up with them." 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe watches the fight fo on and nods a little bit. "The thing that might be of intrest? Note is no where near the apex of her people's poential." She pauses opening a strnge menu which hover before her and pulls out a two bags of popcorn from it, handing one to Cordelay. "Given all the god things running about? I know that feeling." 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     That hammer! "I knew she was going to do SOMETHING with that thing..." Note mutters to herself upon feeling out Sarracenia's movements. She can't SEE them, because her own energy blast is in the way. But she can feel them in her mind...     And they are mighty.     Note releases the beam and deepens her stance, feeling the danger of those movements... "...S-SERIOUSLY?!" How is that even possible?! Note briefly panics, flails her arms... and then braces them in the way of the compressed beam, now deformed into something more like a big ball of redirected energy. It tears up the ground in front of her the moment it hits, and the power it contains steadily pushes Note back along the ground. She just can't seem to get her footing for a good ten seconds!     Until, with arms trembling from the strain, she howls with effort and FLINGS the collection of power back and over her head, quite the worse for the wear.     Of course, that big blob of redirected energy flies off into the distance and smacks one of the distant rocky cliffs. it might well be a mile away, but...     ... But with a thunderous roar, the explosion of that blast tearing into the mountainside carves a gigantic hole through it and triggers a landslide. It would suck to be ANYWHERE NEAR that part of the battlefield right now. If a TOWN was near there... it would have been buried. An enormous dust cloud rises in the distance from the countless tons of dislodged rock smacking into the ground.     As that's going on, Note hisses in pain. Her hands are scorched from that and she's a bit wobbly from exhaustion. She's never been put on the spot like that before. "Wow... I didn't think she could do that!"     A few deep breaths later though, Note steels her will. Her stance shifts, fingers curling towards her palms but still open. If she had claws, that would be a nasty arrangement indeed.     "Guess raw power's not gonna do it. Good thing that was never my specialty to begin with!" ... WHAT?     Note leans forward in a dash and.. and her form wavers strangely. Then, what would look to be her - charging straight at Sarracenia - splits into TEN different Notes spread out horizontally. At first, they're moving in unison... all until they get about twenty feet away, then they all appear to be RUNNING AROUND SARRACENIA in a circle. All this motion's kicking up a furious wind of course...     "You're pretty tough with that thing! So I'd better stick to real technique instead of raw power... like THIS!"     The circle of Notes breaks as one of them - placed at Sarracenia's side, the one that logic says would take the longest amount of time to bring the hammer about towards - dives in with those claw-fists. A freakish aura kicks up through the golden energy surrounding her. It shapes outwards, taking on a strange... beastly flare...?!     "New Turtle Style... WOLF FANG FIST!!" The power around Note HOWLS as she swoops in, plants her feet, and sends her right claw-hand strike straight for Sarracenia's gut, following it up with a ferocious flurry of similar strikes that each channel a very visible swirl of shaped energy into the blows. It's flashy, as wolf heads of pure ki adorn the strikes, but each one hits like a wolf in frenzy, grinding and tearing as much as it delivers raw impacts. 

:'''{{#var:6936|Cordelay Levail (6936)}} has posed:''' "Her people must be born warriors if their potential is that high." Cordelay muses, accepting the bag of popcorn and absently munching on it. "I wonder if I could learn their techniques. Though if that blast from earlier is indicative of their destructive potential such techniques may cause too much collateral damage on a battlefield. Still, fascinating." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia once again seems pretty proud of herself after that deflection! Even moreso as Note redirects it as well and sends it flying off to explode against the cliffs. "Oh my! That might have rivaled one of my Bonzai Bills!" Sarracenia says, marvelling at Note's innate destructive power. After all, the little saiyan girl isn't using anything but her own energy and fists!      When Note surrounds Sarracenia with more Notes, the princess looks pretty uncertain. It is complete dumb luck that Sarra just happens to turn right as Note comes in to attack, and the first punch impacts the seemingly indestructible head of that DK Hammer. Probably like punching the material that broke the Z-sword, the first punch snaps Sarracenia's attention to Note and the princess displays her skill and grace as she pulls the head of the hammer in close, gripping it just below the head, then matches each punch with a short thrust of that hammer.      Deserving or not, Princess Sarracenia is grinning ear to ear after that. "Nice try! But I am not only about raw power either!" ...she really is, but luck has been on her side today. The princess leaps back quickly, leaving a Bob-omb in her wake to explode near Note and give Sarracenia a bit of space. She twirls in place and in a few quick motions throws three bullets nearly as big as herself up into the air, each one with a shark-like face and little white, cartoonish arms. "Alright! I think it is time to end this! You have fought valiantly, but I am going to prove that orb wrong by defeating you!" she declares as she starts to spin faster in place. Those three Bullet Bills start back down, and with amazing precision Sarracenia strikes each on the flat at the back of the bullet.      With the power of her hammer, each one is fired like a heavy cannon shot. A very heavy cannon, considering the size of those bullets and how they rocket through the air. Each grinning shark face would likely fill Note's vision before impacting like a freight train and then exploding like an artillery shell! Three powerful explosions that send up small mushroom clouds afterwords! 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe Says "They are. Depends on what and I know some of their strongest use techniques they learned from humans and other species." She grins a little bit and will chop down on some of the popcorn. "Generally they make great siege units or dealing with horrors from space and the like. So what kind of world are you from? I'm not exactly standard for my world. Then again it's radically changed a few years ago." 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     Note yelps loudly at finding her barrage striking the seemingly indestructible hammer. That STINGS SOMETHING FIERCE and leaves her staggering with her arms SCREAMING in pain lashing through her whole upper body. This leaves her completely open to the Bob-Omb at point blank range. All Note can do is raise her arms to shield her face and -- KABOOOOM.     She's utterly engulfed in the explosion. It tears at her body, scorches her skin, and nearly flings her straight off her feet... but Note stubbornly stays in place and focuses on her inner energies. Keeps the explosion from ripping her apart. Note staggers, coughing and dizzy from pain, but with a loud kiai uses her power to cast back the smoke and the dust and clear her vision. She never lost track of Sarracenia's position, but...     "... WHERE DID THOSE COME FROM?!" Note's tired out already, but DOWN comes the Bullet Bills... Note shrieks in panic and attempts to KICK one of the Bullet bills back into another--     But it explodes on contact.     Surrounded by all three, she's sent flying like a ragdoll and bounces along the ground, arms and legs bloodied and scorched. After the third bounce the aura vanishes and her hair's brilliant golden shade fades back to black.     She hits the ground hard, skidding slowly to a halt.     "The orb...?" Note coughs and splutters into the ground. Her whole body's ON FIRE with pain and exhaustion but her mind's, if anything, strangely clear. "Oh..." Struggling against the exhaustion, Note turns her head to look at the distant princess... and frowns. "You're... that upset... over the stupid... orb...?" Note doesn't get it. She clearly doesn't get it. But the frown intensifies. "You wanted a fight just 'cuz that bothered...?!" Or maybe she does get it. The little youth's face twists in childish anger. "Ah... magic hammer. All the money... all this stuff was just given to you, huh?" It shouldn't be possible, but Note gathers her strength and slides a foot forward and rises to kneel, panting for breath. "You're nice so I like you, but..."     She wobbles to her feet, though can't seem to gather the strength to raise her head yet. Blood drips slowly from her arms and legs as her body trembles and shivers weakly.     "You haven't EARNED anything you've got. You think being this Princess thing means you don't have to try? Don't gotta learn? Nuh-uh... if all this is to prove that orb wrong, then I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LET YOU WIN THIS. Or you'll never make it shine!" A bolt of lightning arcs across Note's body from seemingly nowhere. "You want that orb to shine for you? Then try taking hours and hours... days and days... weeks and weeks... and learn to do something like this!!" With a thunderous roar of crackling power, Note's once again engulfed in the familiar flare of Super Saiyan aura... but this time she's wreathed in a storm of errant bolts of lightning... and as she raises her head to Sarracenia and shifts her legs and bends knees into a deeper stance, the girl inhales deeply... and brings her hands to her side, palms facing each other, and fingers curled in. "Kaaaaaaaaaaaaa...... Meeeeee...."     Brilliant light like a newborn star gleams, then roils to life as a growing point between those palms. It rapidly grows to fill the space, struggling to escape her grip. But the ball cannot. The energy's compressed more and more even as more and more's poured into it. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Meeeeeeeeee......"     Note shifts her waist slightly forward, thrusts those hands out and opens her palms straight at Sarracenia. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"     The radiance is blinding. A flash of light that bleaches everything into stark light and deep shadow. The energy Note gathered flares... then is unleashed in a torrential outpouring, a beam that's many times bigger around than her body. Twenty feet across, easily. It vaporizes the ground in its path, and the roar of its approach is deafening! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia lets out a long, growly huff of frustration at what note says. "None of the other princesses did! They were simply handed their fame and fortune and adoration without any actual effort on their parts! At least I have gone out into the world and the Multiverse and done things! But, because I am not only sunshine and smiles like Daisy or that obnoxious Peach my own people!"      Sarracenia pauses in her speech each time Note lets out one of those long syllables. Kaaaa. "I am not content to simply sit in my castle!"      Meeeee. "I have made a name for myself on my own, for better or worse!"      Haaaa. "And still my own kingdom does not respect me!"      Meeee. "No suitors have come to call on me!"      That final syllable is let loose, along with that blinding beam. Sarracenia nnnngs and brings her hammer up. "And then that orb said I am not special!! ME!! So...I must prove it wroooonnnng!!" Her last word mingles with the sound of that beam impacting her hammer, and like the last beam she is pushed backward. But, this time her hammer is not making progress against the beam. It is steadily pushed back, and so is Sarracenia. Her expression tightens as she pushes harder, but the blue-white is steadily inching its way closer to her body.      Finally, her hammer is pushed back fully and Sarracenia's scream is easily heard even with that beam overtaking and engulfing her. The princess's form disappears in the beam and the explosion that follows, along with much of the cliffside behind her.      When the dust and smoke and energy finally clears...somehow, Sarracenia is still standing. She lost her crown in the blast, and her battle dress is tattered in many places, most notably over her toned belly. She is panting heavily and looks fairly bruised and battered herself. She even coughs up a bit of blood from the attack, then pulls a red handkerchief from her satchel and wipes her hands and face. "But...I still have to know how to use all this power that has been granted to me. Simply throwing it around haphazardly would get me nowhere. That much I have learned from you and others. I had to refine my style a bit, much to my chagrin."      She smirks a bit darkly. "And I think you would agree when I say it has paid off." she says as she reaches into her bag again and pulls out a pair of Bob-ombs. "I must admit though, you are quite impressive to have survived my Bullet Bill Barrage. I think only my Bonzai Bill has any more destructive power." She starts walking toward Note, then progresses into a jog, a run, and finally a sprint. "But my strength is the only thing I have which anyone other than a select few has admired! And so I cannot keep losing! I will prove my worth!"      She throws one Bob-omb, waits for it to travel a bit before throwing the next, trying to force Note to commit to a defensive action before having to deal with the next Bob-omb. And of course, both explode with quite a bit of force! 

:'''{{#var:6936|Cordelay Levail (6936)}} has posed:''' Cordelay tears her eyes away from the battle long enough to respond, "My world is in chaos. Long before I was born, the empire that ruled the continent I call home crumbled. Since then the land has been in constant conflict, with self-proclaimed kings, warlords and populist leaders seeking to take that lost imperial glory for themselves." She sighs softly. "We lack much of the technology I've witnessed throughout the Multiverse. Our weapons are those of wood and steel - swords, spears, bows and the like. Nothing like some of the more 'advanced' weapons I've seen since my journey began. But they have thus far served the needs of my home's warriors. I've begun to fear how vulnerable we may be to invaders from other worlds..." As the final blow is struck, Cordelay turns back to the combatants. "There is so much more that my people have yet to encounter." 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     "Haaaaaaaawhhhhhf...." After all of that oomph, Note's running on empty. She can barely stay standing. It's all she can do to grin. With a strange *zorsh* noise the aura of crackling power vanishes as she can no longer sustain the Super Saiyan form.     All she can do is stand and listen. And try to make sense of a number of topics and emotions that are significantly beyond her years and worldly experience.     At the last moment the girl just flails her arms up into a guard... and is blown backwards by the first Bob-omb, no need for a second. She's DOWN. Face down in the dirt. Her whole body trembles and shakes as she tries to get back up, but...     Too much pain. Too much exhaustion.     "... I don't get it.. I just don't get it... but... if you wanna... talk about this... when my head's not spinning... we can... owwwwwww...." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The zone resets when Note is unable to continue, and all the wounds they had suffered evaporate to leave only some residual fatigue and perhaps some soreness. Sarracenia pulls a large fancy brush out of her satchel and brushes her hair as she makes her way toward Note. "It is alright if you do not understand. Perhaps it is even good. It means you do not know the suffering that such things can bring." she says once she is closer.      Sarracenia reaches a hand out to help Note up and smiles lightly. "Thank you for accepting my challenge. I feel much better now. And it seems the clothing you received from Arthur are holding up as promised!" She hesitates a moment after that. "...if you really do wish to hear about me, I do not mind sharing. But, I am not sure one so young can truly grasp what the issues are." 

:'''{{#var:6386|Note (6386)}} has posed:'''     "Hahaha.." Note's impressed to survived the bombs? And look what Sarracenia just managed to withstand.     As soon as the simulation ends though, Note finds that... most of her wounds are nothing more than scratches and bruises now. She blinks a few times as the pain's gone... and then hops to her feet, glancing herself over. Her tail sways about behind her and she glances at that too. "W-whoah...."     This place is WEIRD indeed.     Stupefied, she just stares into space as her mind struggles to comprehend the implications of this crazy place...     Then, she rapidly shakes her head to clear it... and just sits down, overwhelmed.     "All I can really do is TRY..." 

:'''{{#var:6|Tomoe (6)}} has posed:''' Tomoe says "So born in the wake of a larger ruling body imploding. That can't be a good thing no matter one's level of technology. If It makes you feel better my world is fairly advanced in a lot of fields but the fear of the bigger fish crushing us is a very real one. As much as I'm loathed to say it the fusion of the Digital World to the material may be a good one it changed a lot of things including people like me. As for the digital thing that merge think waking dreams played for entertainment and many oddly would be about worlds like the one you hail from. We're also always in need of more help to keep the new monster problems under control too if you are looking for a fight. I also know ... one hell of a sword fighter to one named the Black Swordsman. The man who beat the Death Game." 

:'''{{#var:6936|Cordelay Levail (6936)}} has posed:''' "I still find the Multiverse baffling, to be honest. But if there are strong monsters in your world I may have to come test my strength there." Cordelay smiles at Tomoe and nods respectfully. "Thank you, Miss Tomoe." Cordelay approaches the combatants, declaring, "I've witnessed your strength once again, Your Highness. And you as well, Miss Note - that was an impressive battle. Your skills are both incredible." Her eyes glitter with joy at having witnessed such a match, the happiness written across her face. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks as she watches and listens to Note and ends up smiling gently. "That's really all anyone can do." she says, still holding a hand out to Note. "Come on. I believe it has become traditional to enjoy a meal after one of these shrine matches." she says, then giggles a bit. "We can go to a buffet. And afterwords, I can take you dress shopping!"      When Cordelay approaches Sarracenia smirks and twirls in place before giving her hair a flip. "I am amazing, it is true." she says, then grins a bit. "Perhaps you and Note should test each other next time?" 
}}

6133/Royal Rivalry!

2019-02-13T04:55:48Z

TwilightSparkle:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/01/12
|Location=Sundew Kingdom
|Synopsis=Gilgamesh visits the Sundew Kingdom and ends up fighting the princess!
|Cast of Characters=446, 1099
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The walk to the Sundew Kingdom (which may not even be found on a map) would be perilous for most normal people. The main warp gate opens into a massive field of gently waving grass, and luckily a four-way intersection with an old wooden signpost points the way to the various kingdoms of Pipeland. Sundew's sign looks like it was added after all the others, and certainly not by whoever originally made the signpost.      The first mile or so would be pleasant, sunny, grassy terrain. But, when one reaches the edge of the Sundew Jungle...it is quite a different story. Trees as large as skyscrapers with canopies blot out the sun, and cries of a multitude of creatures can be heard. Many of them sound dangerous. Once one has actually entered the jungle, the main road is the -only- road. There isn't even a hint of side roads, and it is obvious why as one walks. The vines and roots of the jungle are visibly creeping across the road as nature actively tries to reclaim the area, and if one gets close to the edge of the road one might even be snapped at by feral Piranha plants. They are large carnivorous plants with bulb-like heads and mouths full of great white shark teeth. Some even spit fireballs! Of course, none of these should be a threat to the King.      It is another several miles before the walls of the city can finally be seen, but still only down the road itself thanks to the abundant foliage. As he is walking Gilgamesh would encounter several more piranha plants, but these are obviously servants of the realm as they are armored, walk on root-like legs and carry weapons in their giant leaf arms. They are patrolling, steadily cutting back the plants that threaten to take over the roadway. When he reaches the main gate he finds a few more who are wielding large spears. They are obviously city guards, and when they see Gilgamesh they immediately stand at full attention and one motions toward a small aircraft made of wood and with large wooden propellers as its engines. Another piranha plant is awaiting him, ready to fly the wooden helicopter to the castle. Inside the gate he would be able to see more of those strange plant people, as well as plenty of humans, some turtle-people, and some very short humans with mushrooms for hats. The city looks fairly rich by most people's standards, and the thick walls of the city seem to be keeping the jungle at bay. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh is nothing like a normal person.      In fact the King of Heroes is quite at home in the vast jungle full of terrible monsters. More at home than he has been in some time. It's a familiar setting. Once upon a time, Mesopotamia was a vast greenery, and he ventured to distant realms to collect treasures, distant realms with vast trees and monsters. He hasn't felt this at home in some time, and ancient instincts to gather treasure and explore stir inside him as naturally as if he had taken a breath. Indeed, after a bit, he does roam afield, distracted and fascinated.      By the time he returns to the road and joins up with the escort, he's carrying a bouquet of dead piranha plants and jungle flowers over his shoulder, a gleaming sword in the other hand that shines like the full moon. He pays absolutely no attention to the guards' salutes; this is a given. He expects people to do that for him. He considers, after a bit, just going with the flyer, but he takes a few moments in the market with a wry smile.      Then he climbs into the wooden helicopter and sets himself down, leaning one arm against the side as he looks across the city. It's a new place. The toadstool hats are...new. New is always interesting. Novel is always worth his time. Even if nothing else comes of this, he's seen something novel. If *literally nothing else* comes of it, his time will still have been well-spent.      Then again, he is the King. All his time is well-spent. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The piranha plant patrol wasn't really sent to escort Gilgamesh, but after seeing him their patrol 'just happens' to take them his direction. They seem somewhere between impressed and unnerved at his bouquet of bounty, and one even rasps out that he wouldn't mind following such a king.      The market is much as one might expect of a low-tech society. Many small booths are mixed in amongst the storefronts, and both seem to do about as much business as the other. But of course, nearly every person that gets near enough to see Gilgamesh stops and stares, and the human women and girls amongst the crowd even try to get close to him. Many of them try to touch him, even if it is just a hem of his sleeve or coat. And a chorus of 'aaaawww!' goes up as he heads back to the helicopter.      Gilgamesh is taken directly from the gate to the castle. It is a sprawling castle with massive walls and towers. The building stones must have been imported from somewhere, as they are made of black marble and stand out quite starkly against the greenery of the jungle and the massive wooden walls. It heads to a landing pad on the top of one of the castle walls, allowing Gilgamesh to see that there is a vast airship dock constructed above the town, connected by an elevator to the center of town. Nearly all the airships are made of wood as well, except for the few multiversal ships.      Awaiting him at the landing pad is an armed escort in golden armor, again consisting of piranha plant troops. One of which is obviously a captain judging by his more intricate helmet, and they all salute Gilgamesh when he lands. The captain rasps out, "Welcome to the Sundew Kingdom, sir! If you will follow us, we will take you to the courtyard where the princess is waiting." 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      The King is used to this.      Again, there is the sense that he just /expects it/. That he just...*understands* that this is the way things Are. It isn't an idle claim that he is the King; it is an active part of his existence, a taste of glory that radiates out from him, the glory of a time long ago brought into a time that does not want or need it. He is golden; his /soul/ is golden, reaching outwards. Of course people wish to grab it. Of course people are fascinated by him. He allows it, because he is a man who does not mind that sort of thing. It is part and parcel of the common folk to admire the King. It was his lot in the world of Babylon, too. They were simply...less grabby about it.      The castle, the airship, the towers and walls, they get a brief glance from the King. It's a castle. It tells him a lot about the person he's coming to meet, in fact, though one would never expect that. It tells him what sort of education she's had. Tells him what sort of kingdom this is. The castle's structure is the structure of the kingdom. The black marble he lingers on thoughtfully until he concludes that, yes, it must be an import, or something magical.      When he lands, he disembarks with all dignity, shouldering the silvery blade. He nods at the captain.      "I like it," he says idly as he follows the captain, "I have a fondness for interesting things."      He quirks his lip. "I hope that your princess is similarly interesting." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      "She is...definitely unusual for a princess, sir." the captain responds with a bit of exasperation in his voice. "Very demanding, not very forgiving...a bit crazy, if you ask me." He flinches as he realizes what he said. "...but...please don't tell her I said that." he adds quietly.      Walking through the castle, the wealth of the royal family is on display. Suits of armor, grand tapestries, paintings of all kinds, and of course more of that marble. Each hallways has a red carpet down the center of it which the servants try to avoid stepping on whenever possible. There are even electrical lights, which were not apparent in the rest of the town.      It is several flights of stairs down to ground level, and the courtyard itself is vastly different from the jungle outside the walls. It is well manicured, full of fruit trees along the edges and lovely flowers cover the rest of the ground. Though Gilgamesh might notice none are pink. In the center of the courtyard is a large statue of a statuesque young woman in a flowing dress and with a crown upon her head. And standing in front of that statue (likely to both show off and to display that it is her) is Princess Sarracenia. Resting on her shoulder is a hammer as tall as herself and with a solid metal head that looks like it must weigh more than she does. She has a confident smirk on her face as the King approaches, but it wavers a bit as she sees him up close. "S-so..." She coughs into a gloved hand. "You are 'King' Gilgamesh?" Her emphasis on King makes it clear she does not hold his title in much regard. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh laughs. It's a musical laugh. Almost literally musical. "The King will show you mercy," he says, patting the captain on the shoulder as they walk. If he's paying attention to the wealth, he's not showing it. It's not an active contempt or a distant smirk, just...he's not particularly visibly taking in the scenery. Mostly, he's just walking. It's kind of odd. He's the sort one would imagine swaggers, or walks with his chest puffed-out, or some other obvious sign of his arrogance. He doesn't. No, instead, every movement is just sort of *accidentally* graceful. He's clearly superhuman, beyond just the glorious golden soul.      Sarra can immediately tell that he's perfect.      It's not a /claim/. It's not a /comment/. It's not an ego-trip. His body, his face, is flawlessly beautiful. It's...it's odd, seeing it in person. On the phone it was something attractive, but he could sort of still be passed off as a normal, if very pretty, person. But in person, it's apparent that it really /isn't/ the outfit making him look good. Anything he wears would look like formalwear. The outfit could be rags and he'd still look like royalty. He could be carrying a stick and a bottle of wine and have been on the street for three days and he'd still look like he was hewn by a god.      Because he was. By *multiple* gods.      Beautiful, like a raging bull.      The King inverts the blade on his shoulder and drops it. It vanishes into a ripple in space. His lips quirk upwards in a wry smile.      "I am Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, King of Uruk and of Babylon, King of Denmark, King of all that Is, Was, and Ever Shall Be."      "These are for you."      He hands off the bouquet. Tucked under it is a box of chocolates. Inside the box of chocolates is a necklace of rubies, framed in gold.      He may have asked someone what her favorite color was.      The King steps forward and smiles at her. This close, it's not just evident that he's superhuman, it's impossible *not* to notice. Even his *breathing* is graceful, without loss of motion, perfectly rhythmic and without any irregularities.      "I imagine that they'll suit your taste, my lady."      "Shall we begin?" His voice is breathy. Soft. Warm. He even smells fine, like something...*unearthly* beautiful.      Then he steps back, his hands in his pockets. "Feel free to attack me whenever you like." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The pirahna plant guards seem somewhat surprised that Gil says nothing of the royal wealth and hardly even looks at it either. Of course, they don't know much about Gilgamesh.      Princess Sarracenia is also visibly surprised by Gilgamesh. She looks skeptical a moment as she takes the gifts, then her eyes widen at the necklace. "For...for me?" she stammers, obviously surprised and pleased by the gift. She giggles like a school girl, then holds it out to Gilgamesh. "Place it around my neck." she says, her tone making it clear she expects her command to be followed. She then turns around and holds her long hair to the side. If Gilgamesh is not an honorable god-man, he could easily take advantage of this. The battle seems forgotten for the time being. "It is so nice for a visitor to show proper respect for a change! And how did you know rubies are my favorite precious stone?" 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      "Is it not customary to bring a beautiful woman a present when you call upon her in this degenerate age?" Gilgamesh inquires in a tone that's at least partially flirtatious and partially sincere, "Let alone a princess."      He steps forward.      He takes the necklace from her hands, and, slowly, drapes it around her neck. This is an art he's /practiced/ at. He doesn't even register it as a command (because if he did, he'd probably laugh at her) - this is *seduction*. This is pleasure. Gilgamesh has known pleasure for as long as he's been alive. He and pleasure are intimate friends, are lovers. So as he's putting the necklace around her neck, his breath is hot against her ear, and he leans forward to whisper intimately, "I am the King who is wise in the ways of the world. I do not call upon a woman without learning something as simple as that. It would be thoughtless, nevermind rude."      His lips get *very* close to her ear. "And I am the King. It would not do for me to set a poor example, would it?"      "Besides. A man who would not do this much is hardly a man at all. Especially if he is invited to..." He leaves it hanging for a moment, a quiet, subtle tease. "Teach her."      A subtle reminder. At that, he pulls away again, setting his hand back in his pocket. "But before I can teach you anything, you will have to show me what you know."      He puts on an affable smile. It reaches his eyes.      This is *indeed* very entertaining, for *so* many reasons. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia huffs softly at that first question. "Apparently not!" she answers, sounding quite disgusted by that fact. The rest of his words and actions leave her QUITE flustered, and when he finally steps back and she turns around once more her cheeks are almost as red as her dress. "And...you actually want to...um...teach me?" she asks, as if very few have even implied such before. Her fingertips run over the necklace, which no doubt looks as if it belongs around her neck given her clothes and crown, then she grips her hammer in both hands firmly.      But, that smile freezes her for a few more moments. She stares, then lets out an angry huff. "I may not know much about matters of love, but do not underestimate my battle prowess!" She charges forward at that, then goes into a twirl and brings her hammering around. The first swing is more a feint than an attack, which is meant to help the follow up swing connect more solidly. And if she does happen to hit, a small explosion engulfs the head of the hammer. It has apparently been coated in explosive powder. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      "It would be my pleasure," is all Gilgamesh says as she asks if he really wants to teach her, "And yours as well."      And then she's off. The hammer comes swinging around. Gilgamesh's hand comes around casually to stop it at the hilt, and Sarra might be shocked to find that he *does* - the hammer runs into him with all force, and a shockwave erupts, rippling his coat, her dress, the grass, the trees, and everything. But the explosion catches him off-guard. Fire and smoke consumes his face. His head tilts back.      When it comes forward, he's bleeding. There's burns on his face.      And he *still* looks perfect, like they're nothing but accents and makeup to his beauty. That's *just unfair*.      "Interesting."      The King purses those handsome lips.      And then the world opens.      Golden ripples emerge from the air behind him. There's only a few of them, but there's something...dangerous...about them. Gilgamesh closes down on his hammer and leans forward. "But rushing in if you don't know that you're a superior force is very dangerous."      "It may leave you..." He murmurs, like the word is sensuous, like even this fight is part of his dance, "/Exposed/."      Weapons begin to emerge from the ripples. They're...flawless. Staggering. Each of those weapons is probably worth a king's ransom. There are blades, maces, hammers, spears. There are greatswords, shortswords, katanas. There are morningstars, flails, clubs. There are glaives and halberds and mancatchers and more besides. And each and every one of them, even to Sarra's eyes, is magical. Each and every one of them is a powerful, dangerous magical artifact, with unknown powers and unknown abilities and unknown arts. His finger rises.      He snaps.      The Gate opens. It's a trickle of water, firing those weapons like a few machine-guns. And they don't /stop/, and they aren't /copies/ - every weapon in the flow is unique, every weapon is beautiful, every weapon is magical, every weapon is powerful. There are more weapons here than most peopl see in their lifetimes.      And there's the sense that he's not even *trying*. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is struck first by the shockwave of her own attack. It rips into her clothes a bit, mostly around the skirt of her dress. But then...her eyes widen as that golden ripple appears and all those weapons start firing at her like some kind of gun that shoots swords instead of bullets! She is amazed by both how Gilgamesh still looks so perfect and how amazing those weapons are...of course getting hit by them snaps her out of it somewhat.      She cries out in pain but refuses to let go of her hammer. It takes several hits before she finally loses her grip and goes bouncing back. She'd like to think she looks just as amazing as Gilgamesh when she stands, especially since somehow her face and neck were spared. But, her arms and legs are covered in bruises and cuts, and there is one slash in the side of her dress.      Once Gilgamesh is holding her hammer without her touching it, he would feel a surge of magical energy as the hammer starts swinging up and down almost of its own free will. He'd be able to feel that the hammer itself contains a generous amount of power itself, and it would make it clear that in all likelyhood the hammer itself is as dangerous as Sarracenia. Perhaps moreso.      Once she is standing straight again, Sarracenia lets out a high pitched squeal somewhere between an angry scream and a frustrated growl. "Give that back! The Sundew Hammer is mine and mine alone!!" Without hesitation she reaches into the small bag around her shoulder and starts pulling out explosives. First, the thing she had described on the radio. A smooth black orb with cute eyes and yellow shoes for feet/legs. It has a white square on top of its head and a turnkey in back. But, rather than wind it she just throws it! The explosion it releases is many times more powerful than the one the hammer unleashed, and it isn't the only explosive she throws.      Following after the bob-omb is a silvery mine that sticks either to Gilgamesh or the ground nearby before exploding, then an old fashioned fused bomb that bounces along the ground and burns down quickly before exploding, then some kind of missile that she just throws like a dart! 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh is *absurdly* strong. He is as strong as a star from Heaven; more than that, his ego is strong enough to bolster him against things that rob him of his sense of self. The hammer's motion takes him off guard once before he brings it down firmly into the ground. He plants his foot on it as she shrieks. He looks up, and his face takes on a smirk. *This* is probably more the face she expected from him.      "Beautiful," he says cheerfully at her rage.      His foot kicks the hammer up as the bob-omb comes down. The hammer hits the bob-omb, and the explosive little minion goes up, high into the air, exploding above them. Another shockwave ripples outwards, ruffling his hair and his coat. He moves to shoulder the hammer, and the silvery mine affixes to his coat. He taps it thoughtfully.      The fuel bomb convinces him otherwise.      There is an explosion. It is large - probably not as large as she would've liked, but large. The missile follows it up with another blast. There's a crater where he stood. Smoke coils. Pieces of the courtyard rain down in chunks. For a moment, she might even believe she killed him.      Then he emerges from the smoke.      He's shirtless, now, probably because the blast annihilated the upper part of his clothing. His body - which, again, is indeed literally flawless, muscled and strong and lean, perfectly-proportioned - is covered in well-accenting burns. There's pieces of shrapnel sticking from his shoulders like artisinal piercings. Fortunately for Sarra, his pants survived. The tattered remnants of his coat still trail behind him like a ruined cloak as he sweeps aside the smoke with a motion, like the smoke itself bends to his will.      He looks, in every way, like the King of Heroes he claims to be.      The hammer is still on his shoulder. It's twitching, like an angry dog being held by someone it doesn't like. It's trying to escape. He's not *resisting* it.      He's literally holding it down with superhuman strength.      The King moves forward, swinging the hammer to the side. "You appeal to me, Princess, in many ways. I have an appreciation for a beautiful woman who desires the world. You're inexperienced, but that, too, is something I enjoy."      The Gate opens. Unlike before, it's a single ripple. There's a menacing power that pours forth, a feeling of danger, a burning light. Gilgamesh smiles at her. "I think it is only fair that I reward you by showing you one of my toys up close."      The countless littered weapons begin to disintegrate into golden sparkles. Gilgamesh chuckles. "Well."      "That, and I enjoy showing off my treasures. Especially to a beautiful woman."      Gilgamesh grasps the hilt.      What emerges is a hammer. It's huge, and metal, and burning hot. Steam pours off it. The lines etched into it pulse with red light. Even being near it is like being near magma. Gilgamesh shoulders it like it doesn't bother him, shouldering hers on his other arm.      "I recovered it from an ancient giant's forge," Gilgamesh says fondly, "At the heart of a volcano, kept alight by his pet dragon. I slew the dragon, tore out its lungs, and used it to kill the blacksmith, then took the hammer for my own. It was the hammer that forged his works, and his home."      "What do you think? Isn't it beautiful? Fuhahahahaha! This is what it means to be King of Heroes!"      The King surges forward, unencumbered by the hammers. Her own mallet comes swinging in for the side. His massive forge hammer comes down on her other side, as if guiding her into it.      Because he is. When the forge hammer hits the ground, it explodes upwards, fire erupting from the courtyard as if a volcano had just erupted underground. He's not even trying to strike her - it's pure explosive force.      "Your second lesson! If you lose your temper in the middle of a battle, no matter how beautiful your honest face, you won't survive!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia's angry expression fades to more of a 'this is bad' expression as Gilgamesh not only -isn't- yanked around by her hammer...but actually shoulders it like she herself would. Then she blinks in surprise. Did...did he call her beautiful. Her anger melts away further, and while she still has the this is bad look it is more 'this is bad but somehow nice'. A sort of smile that only curls one side of her lips. He calls her beautiful once more and she is blushing even as she looks at his hammer in an awed and admiring way. Not to mention...he doesn't have a shirt. She hasn't seen many men without a shirt, much less perfect specimens.      But, despite her temper and her blushing and her admiring the sight, she reacts almost instinctively and leaps upward with all her might. When the two hammers impact, it isn't her they hit.      She is still lost in the combined blasts, engulfed by flame and burning rock, and Gilgamesh would justifiably think that the battle must be over this time.      Until a column of smoke and fire bursts forth from the upper curve of the explosion, and from that emerges the princess. She is blackened over much of her fair skin, and her dress burned into a short skirt that is likely much more flattering on her form. Her gloves have many holes in them where she used her arms to block as best she could, protecting her face and neck. Some of her hair is also smoldering, but her eyes are locked on Gilgamesh.      He called her beautiful, and even if he isn't all that heroic in her eyes he is strong, something someone like her can't help but respect. She places a hand on the necklace as she flies through the air, unable to arrest her momentum. She finally impacts hard against the castle wall and falls to the ground after a moment, coughing from ash in her lungs and having the air forced from them by the impact. She slowly gets back to her feet, then smirks smugly. "M-maybe not...but I am still standing. Anger is more of a fuel for me. All those other prissy princesses don't understand. They have admiration and kindness lavished upon them. They don't understand...having to fight for it."      A rope ladder suddenly appears at her side, dropped down from something above. That something above is a wooden airship much like a Spanish galeon. And beneath it is a cannon with a barrel as wide as Sarracenia is tall. "I am honored you felt compelled to show me one of your toys. Now, let me show you one of mine." she says as she boards the ladder, balancing with one foot on the bottom rung and one hand on the ropes. "I call it...a Bonzai Bill!!"      From the cannon above, a face emerges. A shark-like grinning face apparently painted on a HUGE black bullet. The rope ladder starts to ascend as the cannon lets out a thunderous shockwave from firing the gigantic shell. It emerges rather slowly considering, but with its size it probably wasn't meant for precision strikes.      "If this doesn't leave a mark, I will have to accept that you truly are a power beyond imagining, as you claim!" the princess calls out as she goes up and the Bonzai Bill comes down. The massive grinning shell starts to speed up, boosted by a rocket in back, and it actually seems to be laughing maniacally as it impacts the center of the courtyard. The explosion hits the castle walls and is contained, sending shockwaves back through the area as it fills with even more fire and debris.      As the sound of the explosion dies out, it is revealed that the laughing was actually Sarracenia, and she is now grinning like a maniac as well as she looks down at the devastation, waiting to see how the so called King of Heroes weathered this storm. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh never thinks a battle is over until he sees a corpse. This is, perhaps, one of his strongest senses. He's overconfident, arrogant, overwhelmingly powerful, and extraordinarily dangerous, but he's not so stupid as to think a fight is over until it's over.      She emerges in a short skirt.      Gilgamesh is...distracted. His eyes flick down, then up, as she stands. His own hammer vanishes into the ripple. And he comes to a decision.      The King of Heroes leans against her hammer and watches her. The sense that he's not really trying is still *enormously* potent, that he's just sort of...playing around. "Indeed. But there is a difference between anger and temper. Anger is something to harness. A temper is something that takes control of you."      He walks forward as she's setting up, slinging the hammer back over her shoulder. "Something that possesses you. Like desire. Like need."      He licks his lips. It's...suggestive, to say the least. "Like /lust/."      The Bonzai Bill comes down. Gilgamesh walks forward. He brings up her hammer to smash into the massive thing-      -and it erupts in his face. Both of them. The fire fills the room, shockwave bursting out, fire and debris raining down. The hammer spins upwards out of the explosion, then comes smashing down next to Sarra, landing with a *thump* next to its rightful owner. There's a huge crater where the King was standing.      The smoke clears.      He's alive. He's bloody, and it's only thanks to dumb luck that he's modest, wearing torn and burned shorts that had a moment ago been long pants. His body is covered in burns. And there's a look in his eyes like a wild animal, a primordial *power* welling up. Those eyes glow, a menacing, bloody color. Tattoos pulse along his skin, ancient, red, and dangerous, casting a grim pallor across the crater.      Then he runs his fingers through his hair, and takes a breath, as if seizing control of himself. He puts his hand on his hip and laughs.      "Fuhahahahaha! Very impressive!"      The King climbs out of the crater and lands in front of her. "And very entertaining!"      He snaps his fingers. A gold cloth emerges from the ripple as he walks towards her. It hovers around him, wiping away blood, wiping away burns. Another snap, and golden bandages emerge from several ripples, wrapping around his chest and the burned side of his face. The cloth vanishes a moment later.      "I like it!"      "It has style. Though it looks like a mere toy it packs an enormous power. Delightful."      Gilgamesh stops in front of her. The Gate of Babylon opens. From it he pulls what looks like a wicked black scythe. It's ominous, and unpleasant to look upon. But rather than hit her, he simply swings it at the debris.      It cuts. There's a gap. Sarra can see the world struggling to imagine itself properly before the debris vanishes and the courtyard - before their battle, untouched and undamaged - reasserts itself. The scythe vanishes into glittering gold as he turns back to her, a wry smile on his face.      "I've decided. You are worth my time, Princess."      "You are indeed quite beautiful."      And there's the sense that he doesn't mean /physical/ beauty, exactly, that he's referring to that willingness to fight for every scrap of affection, that he's referring to her strength, her /determination/, as much as her body. It's like he's looking right through her with those red eyes.      "And if you'd still like me to teach you..."      He chuckles.      "There are few better ways to recover from such entertainment than in the arms of a lover." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blushes as he emphasises the word lust like that. Once the explosion had cleared, Sarracenia lowers back down to the ground, feeling a bit of trepidation at seeing Gilgamesh with those glowing eyes and runes. Her hammer impacts beside her and she blinks before picking it up again and giving a graceful flourish with it before lowering it again with a bit of force, massive metal head sinking into the ground just a little.      Then Gilgamesh moves toward her and she lifts the hammer once more. She twirls it around herself, ready to continue if he wishes it. But instead, he's laughing jovially and giving her more compliments! She blinks, then smirks lightly and lowers her hammer once more. She's certainly no less bloody and burned than Gilgamesh, but as a princess she has to keep up her grace even in the face of pain. Her grin becomes a small, jealous pout when he is able to snap his fingers and just clean himself up like that. When he pulls out that scythe she takes a step back, ready to continue fighting. But...instead something wonderous happens! He restores the castle grounds! She hadn't thought about it yet, but as the many fruit trees and flowers are restored she realizes how sad she might have been later.      And then, words that make Sarracenia freeze with a look almost like a deer in the headlights. She is worth his time, and beautiful in ways beyond physical. She literally doesn't know what to say to this, and ends up looking off to the side shyly as she blushes hotly. She lifts her hammer, then slides it into her purse. The bag shows no outward signs beyond some intial stretching that quickly disappears. She then rubs her arm nervously and still without meeting Gilgamesh's gaze says, "...I..I told you. A princess cannot have such whirlwind romances. It would be improper and bring dishonor to my family and kingdom...even if it were with the King of Heroes." It doesn't sound like she is personally opposed to the idea, but she is dedicated to her honor as a princess.      She finally meets Gilgamesh's gaze again, and a small, almost shy smile forms. "However...after a proper courtship...who knows?" She holds her hands clasped together in front of her and sways lightly, in a classy but flirty manner.      Her eyes suddenly widen, as if she's only just realizing that Gilgamesh is basically in short shorts. "Oh dear. That isn't proper as well." She reaches into her purse again and pulls out what would be a princely outfit to match her princess look. "Here, King Gilgamesh. As repayment for gracing me with your presence and replacement for your clothes." It is a black outfit with gold trimming and red accents, as well as gold shoulders. "I hope it is to your liking?" 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh's eyes are not full of that needy disappointment of a man who just got turned down. Quite the contrary - there's a flicker of interest in his eyes. This isn't a man who needs someone else to satisfy his ego. This isn't a man who needs a person to tell him he's beautiful to make his fragile self feel better. An egomaniac, someone fragile, someone broken, someone who craves validation - they don't look the way Gilgamesh does. Gilgamesh is a man with a sense of self so profound that he simply expects the world to conform to his expectations.      And considering what he can /do/, and what he's /like/, is that really a surprise?      He stands there, considering her, as she talks. There's a sense of entertainment - not at /her/, but at...the situation? Something? Is he...does he view this as a /challenge/?      She gives him the clothes. He holds them up, examining them thoughtfully. "Very nice. Well-tailored. The trimming is excellent. Did you have this on hand already? I appreciate a prepared woman."      A moment later, they're falling into the Gate of Babylon, his hands are on her hips, and he's stealing a deep, /strong/ kiss, the kind of kiss you read about in romance novels, the kind of kiss that feeds hunger and need, the kind of kiss of a man who *most assuredly* is not joking about knowing passion and pleasure better than anyone alive. Unless she physically stops him from either the kiss or the action, he pulls her against him, like the cover of a romance novel - complete with the bare torso and the tattered pants.      Then he steps back, and snaps his fingers. There's a flash of brilliant gold, and then the outfit is on him.      It looks princely on its own.      On him...it looks kingly. Unsurprisingly. The gold of his bandages, the gold of his patch-job, glitters with the trimming. He'd look gaudy if it didn't seem so /right/.      He might still be a little gaudy.      "I enjoyed myself thoroughly, Princess." Gilgamesh's hands go into the pockets. "And it was an entertaining lesson. Perhaps I'll be able to give you another one." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia ends up smiling more as he takes her reply in stride and accepts the clothes. "I try to be prepared for most any situa-" she starts to say proudly, but then...she's caught in a kiss! She is indeed very surprised, judging by just how big her eyes get. As the feel of it overtakes her it causes her eyes to flutter and her knees to weaken. If he hadn't pulled her against him she'd likely have lost strength in her legs completely. As it is, her hands instinctively come up, bracing against his chest. Then a different instinct causes her fingers to curl against his perfect pecs.      As quickly as it happened, he steps back. Sarracenia's eyes flutter open again and she blinks a few times before her eyes focus once more. Her cheeks are definitely as red as her clothes now and she is speechless. She can only stare for a while, watching as he snaps the clothes into place and shines like the golden god he was made to be. Dazzled, dazed, and dumbstruck, she finally does end up on the ground, her legs beneath her. She giggles a bit drunkenly and smiles dumbly. "P-perhaps. I will look forward to it." she says in a dreamy tone, then she blinks and coughs. "I..I mean..I -might- look forward to it." she amends, looking off to the side in embarrassment. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh licks his lips.      "Delicious."      He places his hand on his chest and inclines his head politely. It's not a submissive bow - it's the bow of a King, a proper King. As much as he sounds like an asshole on the radio - as much as he *is* an asshole, and a brutal, dangerous, powerful, unpredictable creature - Kingship is indeed woven into every part of his existence. He squats to look at her giggling, embarassed face. When she looks away, he tilts her chin gently back towards him, and plants another, softer kiss on her lips. Still in the kiss, he speaks, moving her mouth with his.      "Something to tide you over."      Then he stands, hands in his pockets. "Enjoy your dreams, Princess."      With that, he starts walking back to the chopper. He can find his own way out. She's probably not in much of a state to help him anyway. 
}}

6201/Glass Cannon vs Berserker!

2019-02-13T04:54:52Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/01/19 |Location=Shrine of Adversity |Synopsis=Yang and Sarracenia face off in front of Gilgamesh! |Cast of Characters=446, 1099, 906 |pretty=y..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/01/19
|Location=Shrine of Adversity
|Synopsis=Yang and Sarracenia face off in front of Gilgamesh!
|Cast of Characters=446, 1099, 906
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      As happens to her often, Princess Sarracenia finds herself lacking in amusement. Then, an idea strikes her. Supposedly the great Gilgamesh has been beaten by only a handful of fighters, and one of those is in her own faction! So, the princess contacts the yellow haired hard-hitter known as Yang so they might test each other's strengths!      The princess waits in the middle of the room, her oversized hammer held upright beside her with the handle resting on the floor. She waits with barely contained excitement for the warrior with the golden hair of whom even Gilgamesh speaks highly. "This is going to be epic!" she exclaims in a whisper to herself before she bounces lightly in place, then blinks and quickly returns to her regal pose. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      The King of Heroes doesn't really /ask/ for permission to go places. Asking for permission is for people who are not the King. As Archer likes to remind people in his sarcastic tone, the King does as he pleases.      What the King currently pleases is sunning himself in the Shrine of Adversity to watch two women he is deeply interested in beat each other senseless.      He's topless, he's wearing gold swimtrunks, he's got silver shades on, and he's sitting in what looks like an ancient Babylonian massage recliner-throne, leaned back with his hands behind his head. There's a bottle of his divine alcohol sitting on the armrest. There's a golem with a video camera next to him, recording the fight.      The King waves at both girls. He winks over his sunglasses. Then he pushes them back up and resumes sunning his perfect body.      He's kind of an asshole. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     The sound of a motorcycle outside would likely signify the arrival of said golden haired brawler. Soon enough, Yang appears at the entrance, striding out confidently as she adjusts her braclets on her wrists. She's not wearing her 'usual' outfit, instead opting for a more 'refined' alternative in cream and black. Her boots click on the ground as she moves up to square off with the hammer-princess.     "Yo." is all she says in greeting, deploying her weapon along her forearms with a ratcheting set of clicks and whirrs, then throws both elbows back to rack the slides with a satisfying CLK-CHAK. "Ready when you are." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks. Was he here the whole time? When Gilgamesh waves and winks she can't quite contain the small, shy smile that appears on her face before she waggles her fingers in a return wave...only to remember that huff, she doesn't like Gilgamesh! She pauses mid-wave before letting out said huff and straightening up again before giving her hair a toss.      Yang enters, and Sarracenia's eyes widen. Yang almost looks like a princess herself! With that amazing hair and such elegant clothing, Sarracenia would probably believe it if Yang claimed to be one. The only part that might give Sarra pause is the lack of a dress. Yang prepares her weapon, and Sarracenia lifts then raps her hammer's haft on the floor to cause a resounding thud before she twirls it around herself with seemingly minimal effort. "Giving me the first move? How generous of you!"      She grins a bit. "You may come to regret it, though!" she exclaims before leaping forward, spinning upright through the air like a top with her hammer outstretched above her head to allow her to quicken her rotations. She doesn't actually extend it until she is just about to reach Yang, trying to channel the rotational energy into the attack! 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang grins, giving a wink back at Gilgamesh before she returns her attention to... oh man, that's not good. HAMMERTOP!     Shifting stance, Yang braces for the strike, putting most of her Aura into her arms to absorb the blow... but it just isn't enough and she gets sent flying, skidding and skipping along the ground from the force.     She goes a distance, then fires her weapon, using the recoil and kinetic force projections to slow her, before she slams a fist into the floor, kipping her up and over into a crouch, kicking up dust as she skids the last few feet to a half.     Yang grins, it's not a pleasant one, as her hair hides her eyes. "Nice hit." she calls out as she stands; then lifts her chin to show the burning red coals that have become her eyes. "My turn."     The ground cracks as the Golden Berserker crouches slightly, then dimples down into a crater as she kicks off, firing her gauntlets to propel her faster. It's a simple maneuver, a straight charging haymaker, but the speed of it is intense. "HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia grins back at Yang. "Naturally~ I am the great Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Pri-"      The speed of Yang's attack is such that Sarracenia can't even finish her title, much less defend against, and this time it is her turn to go bouncing across the ground almost all the way to the other side of the ring. She finally brings her hammer down like an anchor and slides to a stop, taking some of the ground with her.      She huffs after that. "You didn't even let me...finish!" she exclaims as she pulls something from her purse.      It's a bullet. A bullet as big as the Princess herself. She tosses it up into the air. "Here, try one of my favorites!" she says with a bit of a sadistic grin. The bullet comes back down as she twirls quickly, and with amazing precision and skill she hits the Bullet Bill on the flat side...firing it like a cannon shot at Yang. Whether it hits directly or not, the shark-faced shell explodes with quite a bit of force! 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang skids along from her own momentum, enough that when the Bullet Bill comes screaming back at her, she hardly has time to try and evade. She punches sideways, throwing herself out of the path of the attack, only to be caught in the ensuing explosion.     A bright flare of golden light blunts the damage, but goes out before Yang slams into the arena wall, leaving a Yang-shaped indent in the material. She pushes herself out, lands awkwardly then slams her fists together, causing her hair to burst into golden flames and a fiery aura to engulf her body.     She turns, leveling glowing gold eyes on Sarra now, but doesn't close in, instead she punches the air, each thrown punch sending an explosive bolt out at the Princess, each pull back racking the slide to chamber the next shell. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh snaps his fingers. Another golem just sort of comes out of nowhere, then trundles off to another side to get a second angle. It is also holding a camera. Two more golems do the same, trundling to other sides. The last golem stands with the camera pointed at Gilgamesh.      It's important.      He swirls his drink in his hand as he watches the girls violently smash into each other. He's fought them both before, he knows they're both capable.      Sip. Yang's already moved on to her golden form.      One of the golems zooms in a bit.      He likes gold. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Long distance punches?! Sarracenia is hit, then hit again, and again, each one accompanied by a rather high pitched squeak. She hits the wall behind her after a few, then gets pummelled deeper into the wall steadily by each consecutive hit. It isn't so much a princess-shaped hole as a tunnel by the time Yang finishes, and it takes a few moments for Sarracenia to drag herself out again. "Nnng...n-nice attack." she says as she flops her way back onto open ground, then slowly stands up. She's sure she can't take much more of this and quickly goes through options in her head.      She reaches into her purse and pulls out...some sort of perfectly polished silver crown? "I haven't used this one before. Took a while to find one. Let me see how you like it!"      She puts on the crown, and in a flash she seems to turn into a solid polished steel statue of herself. She grins, then charges toward Yang. "Here I come!" she shouts, her steps ringing with metallic sounds. As she is running she pulls out a small, cute little Bob-omb and throws it. The little creature explodes violently on impact, but doesn't seem like it was the main part of her attack.      The smoke shrouding things after the attack suddenly whips away violently as Sarracenia comes spiraling in. She twirls her hammer all the way around before bringing it down in a powerful overhead strike, and somehow even the hammer hitting the ground produces another explosion! 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang brings her arms up when the Bob-omb explodes, but too late realizes the real attack. She shifts stands to brace, but gets hurled back by the pure impact of that strike, sending her back into the arena wall, and several feet into it.     It seems to be over, the only movement is a bit of debris falling from the top of the hole drilled into the wall... but there's a strange golden light emitting from deep within the darkness.     Suddenly, the hole erupts, and flings debris in all directions.     From within, that light grows stronger, until it's like trying to look into the sun at midday.     That's when the strike comes.     It isn't flashy, it isn't elegant and it certainly isn't restrained. With a wordless warcry of pure, unbridled rage, Yang comes charging in and starts laying a flurry of blows into the metallic Princess, fists flying with enough speed that each movement causes a miniature sonic boom, her arms a blurr to those watching from the outside. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh claps politely from his chair, like he's at a golf match and doesn't want to make too much noise, then takes another sip.      Honestly you can't pay for this sort of thing.      Well, you can, but it's probably much less legal in most places. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is actually ever so slightly concerned when Yang digs that tunnel into the stands. She peeks into the hole cautiously. "...hello?" she says just before that light starts to grow. "You're still...?!" Even with the Metal Cap it wasn't enough?! The princess leaps back and holds her hammer in front of her to try and brace at least a little against the incoming attack, but when Yang finally explodes out of that hole...it does little good. The speed and power of those attacks is such that the first one causes the power of the Metal Cap to explode away from Sarracenia. That's supposed to protect her, or so she was told!      Sarracenia doesn't fully know what happens after that. Of course, Yang and Gilgamesh get to see her being smashed by all of those punches, but after the first few it is clear that the lights have gone out for the princess. It is only with the final punch that she finally goes flying back and plows a hole perhaps even deeper than Yang's previous crater.      And there are no building glows or sudden explosives this time. It is very good that they chose this location for the battle, since the princess shows no signs of consciousness. Even with all the safety measures and such, that one hurt. 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     And that is the power of a berserker. Yang holds the pose of that final punch, chest heaving with the exertion, before she just keels over onto a knee. The fire goes out of her eyes and hair, leaving a battered brawler in front of a big hole in the wall. She just kneels there, one arm resting on her knee, the other clenched into a fist against the ground as sweat beads on her forehead and trickles down her face. "I win." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Finally there are some sounds of movement from within the tunnel, yet still Sarracenia doesn't emerge for 30 seconds or so. Sore, exhausted, and somewhat embarrassed at losing, Sarra crawls her way out before flumping forward on the ground, panting heavily from exertion herself and wincing at a few noticeable bruises and cuts on her fair skin from crashing through walls multiple times.      She finally manages to push herself up a bit and looks at Yang with one eye still closed. She looks like she is going to say something, but what to say? As much as it chafes her to have lost, and in such a spectacular manner, she slowly gets back to her feet, then pulls her hammer out of the wall adjacent to the hole. "...you are quite strong." she says finally, trying really hard and only somewhat succeeding at hiding the fact that she is a pretty sore loser. She doesn't actually look at Yang as she says this, instead looking up into the stands toward Gilgamesh before letting out a sigh and starting toward the exit. "Thank you for accepting my challenge." 

:'''{{#var:906|Yang Xiao Long (906)}} has posed:'''     Yang grins, a happy, pleasant one this time, and thumbs up at Sarra. Her weapon packs away again into those bracelets, and the blonde brawler speaks. "Hey, don't feel too down about it. I nearly threw in the towel after that metal trick." she admits. "Anyway, lets go get some ice cream or somethin'. my treat." 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh stands up and snaps his fingers. The golems, the cameras, the chair, and the wine vanish.      He's probably going to just invite himself along.      On the other hand, he'll also probably pay for it. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarra blinks, pausing in her retreat as Yang speaks up. Her solemn expression softens somewhat and she waits for Yang to catch up. "Quite generous of you." she says, her tone a bit more pleasant. Gilgamesh inviting himself along draws a light 'hmph' from Sarra. "Did you enjoy the contest, King Gilgamesh?" she asks, trying to act like she doesn't really care whether he did or not. Of course, after losing right in front of Gilgamesh hearing it went as he expected or that it wasn't a good fight would be the last nail in the coffin of her self-confidence for the day. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh walks forward with a grin on his face. He moves to drape his arms around both girls' shoulders as his proper clothes materialize. He keeps the shades.      He likes the shades.      "I always enjoy contests between beautiful and powerful women," Gilgamesh says cheerfully as he walks, "This one was no exception. You both performed splendidly."      "I will treat you both. Just this once, buy to your heart's content! There is none who can deplete the treasury of the King! Fill your hearts and your stomachs until you're satisfied!"      "Consider it an early Christmas present. It's not very permanent, so we'll...slide it around the list for the moment." 
}}

6234/Just What the Neuroi Girl Ordered

2019-02-13T04:48:29Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/01/20 |Location=Mont-Saint Michaels |Synopsis=Dr. Strange visits the home of the Strike Witches and Evangeline. |Cast of Characters=457, 6764..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/01/20
|Location=Mont-Saint Michaels
|Synopsis=Dr. Strange visits the home of the Strike Witches and Evangeline.
|Cast of Characters=457, 6764
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      When the Doctor emerges from his portal he would find himself in front of the grand cathedral turned airbase that is Mont-Saint Michael's. An airstrip stretches out into the ocean, and high walls surround it on all other sides. It is fairly quiet for an airbase, though. No planes, few soldiers milling about, and no apparent exercises going on.      But, sharp ears might notice the buzzing of World War II era engines in the distance despite the lack of planes. And very sharp eyes might notice specks in the distance, flying around over the forest that surrounds the base outside of a roughly one mile perimeter that is clear of foliage. There is also the sound of gunfire.      Depending on whether Strange emerges at the front gate or within the compound, he finds himself greeted by either cautious but amicable guards or...an air raid siren. 

:'''{{#var:6764|Doctor Strange (6764)}} has posed:'''      Strange does indeed emerge within the compound. Why would he go to the front door? He's the Sorcerer Supreme, and this is simply the way he does things. The air raid siren is met with a frown of mild dismay. "Oh." Well, it'll probably be fine. It's probably not even because of him. He has no cupcakes with him, and he's dressed in his usual attire.      A subdued blue tunic, a pleated, high-collared cloak of vibrant red, and cloth bracers which guard his wrists. The tunic is held to his body with a few leather belts and cords of numerous mystic and mundane weaves. He spends a moment looking around, clicking his tongue, emerald eyes flicking conspicuously from spot to spot on the landscape.      This'll blow over if he can just find Evangeline and get indoors--so he makes an effort to do that, casting his sight into various buildings from a top-down perspective until he can find one that says 'front desk.' Of course, if anyone is laying down, reclining in a chair or just bored and looking at the ceiling, they'll spot an eye-shaped glyph of burning orange sparks peering down at them. 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      That eye will notices several interesting things. One, that there is a rather buxom young lady with long red hair lounging on the runway nearby. Two, that another much skinnier and younger girl is asleep in a tree. Three, that yet another young woman who is older than the others is rushing toward Strange's position with a kitana at her side. Four, armed men are headed toward him as well.      There are other interesting things, such as a white-haired girl asleep in a completely blacked out room, and that he doesn't see a single plane in the entire base. In the hanger there are instead what look like plane engines without the planes themselves, held in mounts with steps leading up the backs and handheld weapons racked beside them.      Perhaps the most interesting thing is that after a few moments there is a blur of blackness in front of Strange as Evangeline suddenly appears. Her feline tail gives a light swish. "...you should have come to the gate..." she says, her voice once again coming from the red watch around her right arm. She then rotates in place to face the base with herself between it and Strange, then her ears twitch. "...please...everyone stand down...it is a friend..."      If that eye is still watching, it would see that those heading toward Strange slow only slightly, but the siren does shut off. Evangeline then turns back toward Strange and tilts her head slightly. "...It is good to see you again...are you having the cupcakes delivered after all..?" 

:'''{{#var:6764|Doctor Strange (6764)}} has posed:'''      Stephen sighs, waving a scarred hand to dismiss his scrying spell. The entire time that people are approaching him, his fingers are bent into mystic mudras. To the untrained eye, it'd simply look like he's making some sort of strange gesture. There is no other attempt from Strange to defend himself, no sudden movements which might incriminate him. A visit for giving a co-worker some sweets isn't worth flexing the Wizard Muscles. The look of complete non-concern on his face despite being surrounded by armed guards is probably annoying to said guards, though.      When Evangeline arrives, it takes him a minute to recognize her, his emerald eyes momentarily hardening. He eases up when he realizes who that black blur is, and scoffs at her suggestion. "What," says the Doctor. "And walk? No thanks." He's only somewhat serious. "Besides. I knew even if it..." The sorcerer gives a pointed look towards the woman with the katana. "...raised eyebrows," he rumbles on, "You'd handle it before I had to." It's a big 'if.'      He clears his throat, lifts a hand, slowly. Palm out. Evangeline and the guards close enough can see it's just as much a patchwork of scars as the back. This place has a French-sounding name. So, he goes for an old-fashioned but nevertheless respectful formal bow, hand upon his chest. That might mitigate all the disrespect his Wizard Hubris has shown. Maybe.      "I've got the goods," he says as he rises. "Cupcakes," calls the sorcerer so everyone can hear. "For Evangeline. I'm going to appear them now. Everybody cool with that?" His eyes dart from face to face--those he can see from his position, anyway. With Evangeline bodyblocking, it shouldn't be too big an issue if people freak, but it's still a mess he doesn't want to clean up. There now Exists a brown paper bag, tall, cradled against his chest by one arm.      "Where you wanna eat these?" he asks in a more conversational, less 'don't have a cow' tone. 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      The older young woman of obvious Japanese descent and long black hair in a big pony tail comes to a stop a short distance from Evangeline, her hand still on her sword. She has an eye-patch on her right eye and looks like she might be the commanding officer for the base, or perhaps second in command. "...you...brought cupcakes..." she says, relaxing a bit but still with a hand on her sword. "...in the future, please enter through the front gate. This is a military base, not a public park."      Evangeline relaxes as well...maybe. It's hard to tell with her. "...forgive me, Major Sakamoto...I didn't realize he would appear so quickly...I invited him here after he offered to bring cupcakes..."      The Major sighs heavily and finally fully releases her grip on her sword, then signals to the armed guards that it is alright. Then she approaches the pair, and...suddenly laughs in a rather forceful way before giving Evangeline an overly firm pat on her back. "Ha ha ha! It is wonderful that you are still making new friends, Evangeline! I was beginning to think that your squadmates were your only friends!" She then looks up at Strange with a serious gaze that no 18 year old girl should have. One of a soldier who has seen a lot of action and who wouldn't hesitate to end someone who was threatening her squad. "Doctor Strange, is it? I believe I have heard mention of you on the radio and Evangeline has talked of you a bit. Please, behave yourself while you are here."      With that, she makes her way back inside. "False alarm everyone! Stand down!"      Evangeline's tail flicks lightly before she rotates in place again. "...sorry about that..." she says, then reaches out and her hand emerges from her sleeve to take the bag. "...the mess hall is this way..." But, rather than lead him...she teleports. He seems able to do the same, after all. 

:'''{{#var:6764|Doctor Strange (6764)}} has posed:'''      "Yeah..." Strange gives the Major a sedate shrug, slowly shaking his head. "...kinda my thing," he says, motioning with a nod towards Evangeline. He cants his head slightly, squinting. "Appearing quickly. Not cupcakes." He watches her sword arm. When she relaxes, she will notice that the fingers of his free hand also relax.      Strange can't even manage a weak smile when she forces her enthusiasm for his arrival. His expression is at least a relieved flavor of his usual dry, humorless frown. "Yeah... yeah. That's me. Doctor Stephen Strange, hi." A brief, half-hearted salute. "...I've heard about you, too." 'Major,' though? She's half his age. Either she's really skilled, or... she's been through a lot of shit. Possibly both. That's a very weathered look she has in her eye.      "Sure," he says in plainly evident faux-cheer. It's a wonder he even raises his eyebrows--but his eyes say 'I'll behave' even if his tone doesn't. With the Major on her way, Strange waits to be led as the red alert dies down. ...only for the little machine to just disappear on him. Well, that's fair. Strange shifts the bag to his other side, and traces a circle with the opposite.      Anyone watching will see his method--creating a burning ring of sparks, a literal hole in reality, and stepping through to the other side. It closes behind him, and at his destination, he looks around for a spot to put the treats down.      "That was fun." 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      "...yes...the Major is very fun..." Evangeline answers when Strange appears. With her lack of overall inflection it is pretty hard to tell if she is serious or sarcastic.      They are now in the mess hall, which...looks more like a large dining room of a well off family. There's a long, well-made wooden table surrounded by sensible but nice wood and metal chairs, and visible past the bar is the kitchen. It is also large, but not nearly as large as one might expect if it is supposed to be servicing the entire base.      Evangeline floats in front of the table for a moment, then turns to look at Strange. "...what kind of cupcakes did you bring...?" she asks, looking closer at the back in obvious eagerness despite the lack of emotion in her voice. 

:'''{{#var:6764|Doctor Strange (6764)}} has posed:'''      The Sorcerer Supreme reaches into the bag and produces a plastic tray with many little slots, each holding a cupcake and preventing it from being jostled by traffic, bumpy roads, or bending of the laws of space. "Nothing too special," says Strange, placing them upon that long table. "You have a favorite kind?" He approaches the table and takes a seat, pushing the container towards her.      He also takes a moment to look around. "Y'know," admits the doctor conversationally, "This place doesn't seem very... air-forcey. ...at all. I mean I heard the planes. And the air raid sirens. But." Strange taps his fingers on the table. "I feel like I'm in a Vincent Price movie. Is Dracula about to come out? Do I have to fight him?" A squint is leveled at Evangeline, and it doesn't look to be entirely in jest. "Because I don't want to." 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Evangeline 'sits' as well, hovering just barely above the seat of the chair beside Strange without actually touching it yet still in a seated posture with her long, stiff, airplane engine legs sticking out beneath the table. She opens the container and takes out a cupcake. "...favorite...I like...the ones with lots of that sugary pink frosting on top..." she says as she looks at the cupcake she is holding. She doesn't mention a flavor. The cupcake in her hands is surrounded by a rather sinister-looking red energy, and simply...disappears. "...mmm..."      The questions about the base cause her to tilt her head slightly. "...it...doesn't...?" she asks when he mentions the lack of airforce atmosphere. "...I guess it is because this is not a standard airbase...it is the base of the 501st Joint Fighter Wing...there are no planes...just the Strike Witches...the Neuroi...they cannot be defeated by conventional military might..." She looks around slowly, turning only her head, then out a window before back at Strange. "...what is your favorite cupcake..?" 

:'''{{#var:6764|Doctor Strange (6764)}} has posed:'''      "Sugary pink frosting, got it," says Strange. The moment Evangeline's finished with the one she takes, the rest of them are suddenly switched out, with nothing but a nod towards the container from Strange. In their place are cupcakes with hefty peaks of pink frosting, each capped with a small 'cherry' made of fondant. He figures she probably won't be able to eat a real one, since her tastes are so specific.      "I haven't heard of the Strike Witches," admits the sorcerer. It isn't often that he admits something like that. Thankfully, it's more because he's traveled and less because of his ego. But if there's no planes... that must mean the noise he heard just before the air raid siren was those same Witches. Maybe. He's not sure.      "My favorite..." Strange rests an elbow upon the table and strokes his chin, thumb scratching at the bristles of his goatee. "When I'm in a cupcake mood, I go with the classic." He nods towards the little container. "I know that's, like, heresy for a New Yorker to say, with all the bakeries in town, but..." He shrugs his shoulders. "Not a big cupcake guy. Gun to my head, fanciest I'll go is... red velvet, with cream cheese frosting, but I don't go out of my way to get it." 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Evangeline starts to reach for another cupcake when she notices...they are all her favorite cupcakes! The little Neuroi isn't sure how to process this and ends up freezing in place for several moments before finally resuming (albeit slowly) her reaching. "...they changed...that is neat..." she says as she picks one up carefully with both hands as many small children do with such things. "...red velvet...I am not sure I have tried that kind..." she says as this cupcake too is engulfed in that red light before disappearing, flowing into her as pure energy. "...thank you for bringing me cupcakes...I don't know of many that would do so on such short notice..." she says as she reaches for another.      "...Strike Witches..." she continues after a moment, "...are what the humans of this world call the young girls who serve in the military...and use the strikers to battle the Neuroi..." Her current cupcake vanishes and she reaches for another. "...they use magic to run their striker units and help power their guns to penetrate Neuroi defenses..." Another cupcake is disintegrated, and another claimed. "Major Sakamoto is our squad leader, and Commander Minna is our base commander..."      She looks out the window after that. "...Yoshika and a few of the others are on maneuvers right now...that is who you heard..." she says, then looks slowly toward Strange. "...what is a Dracula..?" 

:'''{{#var:6764|Doctor Strange (6764)}} has posed:'''      Strange shrugs. "Already got my Christmas shopping done," he admits. "Wasn't a big deal to stop by." He gives a humorless chuckle. One single chuckle, one single shake of his body as if the very act were an obligation. "Beats breaking up fights on the radio." Apparently, he thinks he's the one responsible for breaking the earlier discussion up, all from just coming in and being vaguely condescending. Evangeline may become disillusioned with wizards as she grows older.      Despite his passive arrogance, he actually listens quite intently to Evangeline's explanation of the Strike Witches, even sitting up straight when the topic turns to magic. It looks for a moment like he's about to remark on that, but he falls silent. Perhaps now isn't the best time to talk shop.      When Evangeline slowly turns to look at him after watching the window, there's a lot of things Strange expects. The question 'what is a Dracula' is not one of them. For a moment, the sorcerer peers /through/ Evangeline, or at least seems to. Searching the distant horizon for something. "He's--" Pause. "I mean..."      "That's a complicated answer," he says. "The short version is that he's a vampire, a... creature, that people have been afraid of for a very long time. A man named Bram Stoker wrote a book about him. In some worlds it's fiction, but in others, it's real. If you were around back then, he used to be... the boss of the Confederacy, or one of them."      "I... mostly said it as a joke. This place looks like a place he'd be in. It's... old-looking. And probably spooky. At night." 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Evangeline considers a moment, her cat tail wiggling lightly. "...oh yes...I never met him..." she says finally, and in the same moment the last cupcake in the container disappears in her red glow. "...a vampire..." she repeats. "...they are...creatures that feed on human blood...?" she says, her voice containing just enough inflection to make it clear it is a question. Her head lowers a bit after that. "...humans of this world...are much more afraid of Neuroi...we are in a war...the aggressive Neuroi wish to eradicate humans...if not for the Strike Witches and other squadrons like them the humans would likely be extinct now..."      She looks up at Strange again. "...I was sent by a splinter faction of Neuroi to try and find a diplomatic solution...and to assist the humans...since Neuroi like me would be destroyed by the other Neuroi simply for entertaining ideas of peaceful co-existence....the first Neuroi Girl they sent was destroyed by a Super Hive...and I was imprisoned in a device created by humans in the hopes that it could overpower the Neuroi...luckily my squadmates and friends from the Multiverse were able to free me..."      At the mention of this place being spooky at night, Evangeline's head lowers once again. "...I have...accidentally scared many of the men on base...and some of my squadmates...when they stumble upon me at night..." 

:'''{{#var:6764|Doctor Strange (6764)}} has posed:'''      "Wars are scary," agrees the sorcerer in an open, honest tone. "Uncertain. People don't know if there's gonna be a tomorrow." She may not express them in the same way, but Evangeline seems to have emotions as real as anyone else's. "I think that's why people are scared at night, too. They don't know what's out there. Then, all of a sudden, someone's there." Strange taps his fingers on the table in thought, emerald eyes peering at the grain of the wood.      Evangeline bears the brunt of his gaze for a moment. "That's why people are afraid of Dracula, too. In the original story, his castle is the only place for miles, and some travelers really need a place to stay the night. It's dark, it's scary, but Dracula, he's really nice. Welcoming, you know?"      "And he looks totally normal. So... some of the travelers don't realize it until it's too late, and the others..." Strange frowns slightly. "They realize this guy they thought was really nice is actually a monster, and they're trapped in his castle. They thought they were safe... but they weren't. I think fear, when you get right down to it... no matter the specifics, it's rooted in uncertainty."      He pauses, running a hand across a greying temple and exhaling. "I just told a kid a horror story and gave her a boatload of sweets. I'd better get the hell out of here before--" He abruptly stops himself. "Hey, what is it with authority figures and eyepatches? You know what, nevermind." He opens a portal to Greenwich Village, the mess hall momentarily host to a window into New York.      "I'll see you later. Don't tell the other girls that story." 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Evangeline looks up at Strange as he talks about fear and uncertainty and the links between them, then nods slightly. "...that makes sense...and I think it would be scary to be trapped in a big castle with a mean monster..." she says.      She tilts her head at the last few things Strange says. "...I am not a kid...Neuroi do not have children..." she says. Of course, it is obviously only technically true. Her manner, her lack of knowledge and understanding...it pretty much makes her a child just as she appears to be. She nods lightly when Strange warns her not to tell the others the story. "...I won't...thank you for the cupcakes..." she says.      Once Strange has disappeared into his swirling vortex of fiery sparks, the little Neuroi is left alone. She sits quietly in her chair, and for a moment it seems she is truly alone.      But, a few moments later voices of various young girls can be heard headed toward her. The loudest one is also the youngest-sounding one. "Evangeline! Major Sakamoto said you had a visitor! Are there any cupcakes left?" 
}}

6318/A Hunter Visits Spira

2019-02-13T04:46:25Z

TwilightSparkle:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/01/22
|Location=Aeon Spira
|Synopsis=Samus follows a Chozo signal to Spira and gains assistance from the local dragon in finding it.
|Cast of Characters=528, 6875
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      It is late in the day in Bevelle. The sun is heading toward the horizon and the sky has taken on an orange hue. Silhouettes of airships dot the sky above the city, many people are heading home, but tourist-focused businesses are still open and serving.      Many large platforms serve as landing pads for ships of various kinds, and there doesn't seem to be any sort of air traffic control. It probably isn't needed, since only a few ships are landing or leaving at any given time. The city seems built around a huge pyramid-like structure in the middle of the city, with tiers and roads leading outward from it. High walls form the lowest tier, keeping the coastal city safe from large waves. And atop those walls are well armed city guards, ready to respond at a moment's notice to any threat. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' There's something new - a vessel never before seen in Spira. Something coming down from above that loks like some kind of strange flat helmet. It hovers in the air above this metropolis, but after an attempt at communication with... anyone... that seems to be not heard, finds a landing pad a bit of a distance from the city. It lands and hovers ten feet off the ground, just waiting there for a while. It doesn't seem to be a threat but it is certainly weird. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Landing prompts a trio of port guards to approach the ship. They look pretty relaxed, the front one even carrying a sphere that looks much like swirling water. He approaches the front of the ship and raises a hand, then makes a few motions that must be intended as a sign to exit the vehicle. All three are well armored and carry large blade weapons, but they are all locked securely to the trios' backs. Their armor is steel with gold accents, and they wear badges depicting what looks like a dragon's head with glowing blue runic writing below it.      If and when the door opens the lead guard boredly says, "Please state your name and business here in Bevelle." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Something unlatches, and a platform descends from the middle of the vessel, carrying with it a figure in completely garbed in power armor from head to toe, revealing nothing of the person who's inside it. With a voice that sounds vaguely but indistintly masculine (compliments of vocal synthesis), she states, "My name is Samus Aran, bounty hunters, affiliated with the Paladins. I have heard of a problem with... I think the word was fiends though that doesn't seem very specific. Was hoping to perhaps take care of some 'fiends' for the right price." She then frowns, the figure's head focusing on that emblem. "That emblem you wear... what is it supposed to stand for?" The voice sounds suddenly much less pleasant and suspicious. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      The guards listen, then look down at their badges. "They represent the n-"      Before they can finish, there is a booming roar from somewhere not too far away, and rising from the water is a large, silvery dragon with colorful wings, a long tail...and talons so big and sharp they are visible even from what must be hundreds of feet away. It rises above the water steadily, then comes to a hover as a golden gyro on its back starts to spin. It sparks with white lightning and steadily glows more and more brightly, then that energy starts arcing around to its mouth. It builds steadily into a huge orb of swirling grey and white and blue before a beam as thick as the beast itself fires downward into the water.      The guards have turned to watch, but for some reason haven't yet drawn their weapons. The beam of blue-white hammers into the water for a few long seconds, then the beast banks away before a huge explosion of water and energy erupts upward. It roars again before flying toward the town! 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran immediately turns to face this seeming threat, arm-cannon raised and primed, and humming. Golden energy is slowly forming at the aperture of the cannon and even these guards could tell that that's some kind of weapon. "What _is_ that thing?" she growls as she gets ready to attack if necessary... then the being just.... attacks the water it came from then flies towards the town and toward where she is... then glances at the guards. "Ummmm... this... creature... is flying towards us... and... you aren't... even caring?" She seems puzzled. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      In fact, rather than drawing their weapons in preparation for the creature, the guards have drawn on Samus instead. "Lower your weapon, visitor!" the lead guard commands. "We won't ask you twice!" The two guards in back have their smaller weapons brandished while energy is building in their free hands, one obviously fire energy and the other ice energy.      The dragon, who had been headed merely in their general direction, is now definitely headed toward Samus and the dock. It may have been attracted by her weapon, or perhaps her unusual ship, but whatever the reason...the dangerous creature is bearing down on her and the guards. And they still don't seem worried. Nor does anyone else on the docks, though some of the citizens nearby are heading away from Samus and the guards. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran just frowns as the charged energy dissipates as she lowers her arm-cannon. "Fine. But what the hell is going on? From what I undrestand, creatures that look like that are not... to be welcomed with oepn arms..." She just blinks. "Perhaps I should just go. I can find a bounty somewhere else....?" She sounds very puzzled as she watches Bahamut approach. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      The guards lower their weapons as well and their spells dissapate as Samus stands down. The lead guard hmphs. "I guess you're brand new to Spira." he says. The guards actually turn and salute as Bahamut flies past, and the beast banks around before landing on the platform on all fours, causing a small shockwave. He lets out a deep rumble as he slowly stands. His wings spread and his arms cross over his chest, presenting a regal and powerful figure.      "Is there trouble?" the dragon asks the guards. They shake their heads. "No, Lord Bahamut. This visitor is simply unfamiliar with our world. I don't think he meant any harm. He actually said he's here to try and become a guardian."      The dragon stands some 15 feet in height, and up close is much more of a gunmetal blue with purple, gold, and red plumage and gold down the middle of his torso. He steps toward Samus, his intelligent, intense blue eyes focused on her. "What is your name, would-be guardian?" he rumbles in a deep, strong voice. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran blinks. "A guardian? No, I just came to hunt some of what is called 'fiends'. I'm a bounty hunter. I am Samus Aran. And forgive my... aggression. I have a long painful history with an entity that looks similar to you." She sighs softly. "Of course, you're not the one I care about. But... I find it hard to be... calm... around dragon-like creatures." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Since Samus seems peaceful, Bahamut waves the guards away. They take pictures of Samus and her ship using the sphere, then head back to their post. "Did you say...Samus?" he asks, apparently finding the name familiar. He chuckles after that. "This is not the first time that I have been mistaken for one homicidal creature or another. Indeed, this draconic form has been as troublesome as it has been a blessing." he says, then offers a regal bow, one arm over his chest and the other extending out to his side. "I am Bahamut, Aeon of Bevelle and King of Spiran Dragons. It is an honor to meet you, Samus Aran."      "As for your status as a guardian, a Guardian is the traditional name given to any who slay fiends as a profession. If you are here to hunt fiends, then you will be a guardian in time. If you wish to be paid for it, there is already a bounty program in place. I can escort you to the registration office. There you can obtain a proper permit and a sphere to record your kills." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran sighs as she awkwardly returns the bow. "I am Samus Aran... ummm.... The Hunter. The Legacy of the Chozo." She was trying to make a title for herself. "So... this was the _last_ thing I expected to meet coming here. Could you tell me more about this place? It is new to me. I'm... from somewhere far away and much different." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      "Of course." Bahamut says in answer to Samus's question before motioning toward the walkway. "This way." He starts walking, each step causing a small rumble. "This is the city of Bevelle. Some call it the jewel of Spira. Whoever told you there is money to be made killing fiends here was correct. There is no shortage of that sort of work. Fiends seem to appear as fast as we slay them. If you witnessed my attack, it was actually on a water fiend that was getting too close to Bevelle."      As they walk, they pass many people, and quite a number of those people are curious about the power-armored person walking through town with their guardian spirit. Bahamut acknowledges as many of them as he can. "As for me," he continues, "...the short version is I am an avatar of the Fayth, or guardian spirit, who used to protect this land. The story of the summoners and the Fayth is quite intriguing, and I encourage you to research it when you have time. Many heroes gave their lives protecting summoners and citizens over the many eons since Sin first appeared. The fiends you may encounter soon enough are actually the angry spirits of the dead given form to seek vengeance on the living simply because they are alive." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran nods. "I am quite adept at it," she states. "Been doing it for a while. This now-dead race gave me their last legacy - they enhanced me. Gave me this armor - I once joined the Federation Police. Had a bit of falling out and walked my own path. Now I slay monsters for profit. It is surprisingly lucrative." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      It isn't far to the registration office. Really it is more of a booth, easily accessible to the people and already has a few well armed people around it. It is apparently a party of guardians who have just returned from a hunt themselves and are boisterously talking about the creatures they have slain. Several names can be heard, including Basalisk, Coerl, and Zu. And judging by the numbers appearing on their sphere as it rests in the bounty redemption device it could be very luctrative to hunt on Spira.      The booth operator asks them if they hunted in the Omega Ruins, and they all stare before laughing. "Are you crazy? No one hunts those ruins! The fiends there are way too strong! The danger is way more than even those bounties would pay!"      The party takes their sphere, then heads off toward what looks like a hotel. Bahamut chuckles lightly. "As you can see, business is booming." He then motions to the operator in the booth. "Introduce yourself." The young lady with long black hair and blue eyes wearing alabaster robes with arms the same color and pattern as Bahamut's wings smiles to Samus and Bahamut. "Hello Lord Bahamut! And hello to you, visitor! I am Mari. How can I help you today?" she says, seeming quite the chipper sort. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran blinks. "What are those ball objects?" she finally asks. "A form of currency?" She looks around at the others. She then smiles as she looks over at Mari. "My name is Samus Aran. I am a professional bounty hunter, come to this land to hunt these 'fiends'." She looks down at the right arm (the one that ends with the arm cannon). "You'll forgive me for not offering a handshake." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      "We call them spheres." Bahamut answers. "They are...I believe the closest analog to most worlds would be a camera. They are able to record video and take pictures, and also contain information. As such, they are used in this new age to catalogue fiend kills and keep track of currency."      Mari just smiles and waves dismissively at Samus's lack of handshake. "That's alright." She then starts typing on a desk sized sphere with a seemingly holographic monitor. "Samus...Aran.." she says softly to herself. "...applying for guardian status..." There is a flash directed at Samus like a picture being taken, then Mari smiles and hands Samus a sphere. "Alright! You're ready to go! Just make sure you keep this with you and it will make a note of each fiend you vanquish. You don't even have to have it out! Fiend bounties are based on strength and rarity, and sometimes special bounties are submitted for particularly troublesome fiends. So check back every now and then to get your Gil and to see about special bounties." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran nods as she takes the sphere and touches it to her armor, and it attaches there unobstrusively. She nods slowly. "Well, off I go. I'll just get a lay of the land first..." She waves, never thought she'd meet a dragon that wasn't trying to kill her. 
}}

6322/Evangeline vs Orchid!

2019-02-13T04:45:11Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/01/23 |Location=Shrine of Adversity |Synopsis=Evangeline and Orchid have a training battle. |Cast of Characters=457, 6384 |pretty=yes }} {{Pos..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/01/23
|Location=Shrine of Adversity
|Synopsis=Evangeline and Orchid have a training battle.
|Cast of Characters=457, 6384
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      The little Neuroi known as Evangeline felt she needed some more multiversal combat experience, and as such sent out a signal requesting someone help her by being her opponent in this safe area.      The small metallic black girl now waits for her opponent to arrive, and while doing so warms up with some evasive maneuver drills and some target practice against a few of the small trees and rocks dotting the arena. Evangeline has apparently choses a fairly open but lightly forested area for their combat. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      The truth is that Orchid is terrified about combat. She'll do almost anything to avoid actually fighting someone, being the focus of their attacks... That fear is less there when it comes to training, but she still doesn't like it, and will put it off. But she'll get in her required sparring. Eventually. If she has to. I guess.      Still, Eva seemed like a good person to practice with, so when Orchid arrives into the arena it is with a cheerful "Hello!"      Of course, she's also dashing forward into the clearing, trying to catch Eva off guard with a spray of plasma pellets. 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Evangeline looks over and comes to a hover as Orchid greets her with both words and a spray of plasma. The little Neuroi spirals away, her shield flaring from a few impacts and a small chunk of one shoulder flaking away as a result.      "...Orchid...I thought you were a non-combat unit..?" she says even as she banks around and comes back in like a fighter jet attacking a target. The red panels on her little wings glow brightly before a half dozen of small, vectoring red beams lance out at Orchid. "...I will not hold back...even though we are friends and fleet mates..." Each beam explodes upon impact before Evangeline flies past Orchid and spirals away. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      "I try to be non-combat, but they still make me practice!" Orchid replies, suddenly jumping onto a tree and kicking away, evading two of the beams completely. "And here, we don't have to worry as much about holding back!" She catches two more of the beams on her energy shield, the last two impacting on her torso armor, instantly burning a hole.      Of course, Orchid never fights alone, and a number of her spiders attempt to jump on Eva, planning on webbing her to make her an easier target, while Orchid seeks cover deeper in the trees. 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Evangeline is surprised by the spiderbots on the trees and gets pounced right into a nearby boulder. She crashes through, now sticky with webbing. "...you seem skilled for someone who does not like to fight..." she says.      With her maneuverability reduced Eva can't fly as fast either, so she fires lighter shots at Orchid as she tries to free herself from the webbing. Another salvo of those vectoring red beams lance out, though not as many as before. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      "Just because I CAN doesn't mean I enjoy it!" Orchid notes, before falling into a set of Eva's beams; this time it came in without her seeing, and she takes it full force, blasting her into a tree. Still, she thinks she has the angle now and shoots... And clearly not at Eva.      No, Orchid just saw a particularly thick branch above the Neuroi that is in just the right spot to come crashing down. 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Must have been quite a branch! Evangeline is caught underneath it and crushed into the ground. Her shield flares but still her body is snapped in half below the waist. She floats slowly back up, now legs now, then raises both arms and takes aim. That sinister red glow engulfs both of the flat ends of her sleeve-like arms before a beam a few feet in diameter is fired at Orchid. Even if it doesn't hit her squarely, it carves a path into the ground and causes a powerful explosion of debris.      At the same time, Evangeline seems to get an infusion of energy from somewhere, and the legs that had by now disintegrated into pink dust quickly reform. "...good shot..." she says to Orchid. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      For a few moments, Orchid can be proud of the trick she just pulled off... And glad that they're fighting here, where her friend won't be permanently hurt... And where Orchid won't be killed either. Orchid takes the beam full on, even interposing her shield, but while she'll avoid total destruction, she is blasted backwards through a tree.      But the fight isn't over yet, and Orchid rises up again. She needs some breathing room, she needs some time, so she makes a lateral move, firing a few times in Eva's direction to keep the other from guessing what she's up to. 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Evangeline needs to get a bit of energy back herself after using so much at once, and so matches Orchid's movement, her shield flaring to dull the attacks from Orchid. This time Orchid finds a set of shotgun blasts not unlike her previous plasma pellets coming at her as Evangeline weaves her way between boulders and trees. "...if you ever do get forced into a fight...I think you will be able to win..." she says as she fires. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      Blasted again, Orchid goes head over heels. Fine, time to put everything she has into a truly massive attack, one that will either win things for her, or let the Neuroi Girl win. Her remaining drones converge on Eva, to jump on her and hold her down. This is only one part of it, as Orchid keeps her distance, charging up her blaster, reconfiguring her weapon systems on the fly like only an engineer can. 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Despite barrel rolls, loops and other evasive maneuvers Evangeline is soon covered in robo spiders. Weighed down as she is, Evangeline has trouble even staying aloft much less avoiding hits. But for some reason, rather than trying to destroy the spiders she instead goes still...and any spider still touching her is suddenly converted into more Neuroi. Metallic black covers them, and a red glow takes over wherever they had lights.      Spider Armor Evangeline then resumes her evasives. Of course now she looks...well...probably a bit unnerving with pointy spider robots stuck all over her. This time, it is the spiders' eyes that light up with that sinister red before beams fire out at Orchid. "...sorry about your spiders..." 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      "They'll return to my control," Orchid says, taking the hit as she moves into the right position to blast ... The roots of another tree. Slowly at first, the mighty oak topples over, but then falls faster and faster, tons of force released as it falls. Hopefully, Eva will be slowed enough to take the hit. 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Once again Orchid displays singular talent at both precision shooting and getting a tree to fall where she wants! Evangeline is caught beneath the mighty oak and crushed beneath it in a burst of the pink powder that usually results when she takes damage. Even with her shield flaring she disappears beneath it!      It is a few moments before a sound like a cutting beam can be heard. Several actually, and then the tree explodes upward. Evangeline floats up into the air again, the sinister red glow at the ends of her arms and on her wing panels visible through the dust and falling sticks. "...that was a big tree..." she says, much of her spider armor shattered after that hit. It is slowly rebuilding itself, but it could take a while at this rate.      Evangeline doesn't go for a skillful display of tactical ability...instead the various red glowing areas on her body glow more and more brightly. "...my turn..." she says in that soft, monotone voice of hers before she fires another Breaker Beam. This time it is nearly as tall as herself, and just like the last it causes a massive explosion and leaves a ditch in the ground that could easily be used for something like irrigating. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      Orchid had no intent to be inside the breaker beam any longer than she had to. Thus, she activated her dash jets, but a second too late, and is bisected across the torso, her arms blasted away as well. This.... REALLY hurts!      "I yield!" Orchid shouts, before sort of passing out. 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      The arena resets a moment later, and Evangeline floats over to Orchid quickly. "...are you alright..?" she asks, holding out an arm and eventually a hand. If Orchid remains passed out after the reset, Evangeline just floats there and waits for her to recover. No real damage should stick, after all. "...you fought good...especially for someone who doesn't like to fight..." she adds. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      Orchid finds herself restored, her spiders back with her, and Eva above her. She accepts the offered hand with a chuckle. "That's the thing. I like to get fights over with, and I like to survive them. Still doesn't mean I enjoy it, but thank you for the match." 

:'''{{#var:457|Evangeline (457)}} has posed:'''      Evangeline nods just enough to be visible. "...thank you, too..." she says, then gives Orchid a hug. "...hopefully you will not have to fight anyone for a while...even if we are helping Nagato against Abyssals..."      She just floats there after that, then looks toward the exit. "...I should return to base...night patrol will be starting soon..." 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      Orchid returns the hug warmly. "Thank you Eva," she says. "And good luck with the patrol." 
}}

6323/Samus and the Temple of the Dragon King

2019-02-13T04:44:14Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/01/27 |Location=Temple of Bahamut |Synopsis=Bahamut introduces Samus to his temple. |Cast of Characters=528, 6875 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Pose..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/01/27
|Location=Temple of Bahamut
|Synopsis=Bahamut introduces Samus to his temple.
|Cast of Characters=528, 6875
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Naturally, Bahamut offered Samus a place to stay within the temple after the encounter with the Frost Zu. Whether she stayed in the temple or not was up to her. He is now enjoying a robust breakfast consisting of several courses and one entire pig that is still on the roasting spit over his personal fire pit in the main room of the temple. He awaits either Samus emerging from the guest quarters, her arrival at the temple, or a message from her to meet somewhere.      In the meantime, he picks up the huge skewer that is the roasting spit and enjoys pig on a stick with plenty of almost cat-like rumbling. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' After returning her ship to its prior location on the Bevelle landing platform, and talking to the guard, Samus walks in, wearing full armor. "That is a LOT of food, "she finally notes, gesturing to the entire pig and everything. The arm-cannon is still glowing with blue pinstriping instead of the yellow it was there. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      "I am a lot of dragon." Bahamut says with a grin, seeming very relaxed atop his throne. Several priestesses mill about, and all greet Samus at least once when they pass her. "Feel free to help yourself, though. I doubt even I can eat all of this. My priestesses spoil me. Not that I complain." he says, winking to one who looks his way and causing her to giggle before continuing on to her duties.      The temple itself is quite spectacular. It is a vast hollow sphere filled with glowing hover paths and floating platforms, all eventually leading to the sphere in the center that serves as the actual temple. It is all dark blue metal along the interior wall of the hollow spherical cave and the exterior wall of the smaller sphere that serves as Bahamut's abode and the priestesses' quarters. Inside, it is all gold, royal purple, and gunmetal blue, and the entire interior is done in extravagant architecture and overly complicated inlays. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran glances around. "So these women just... live here to serve you? Why?" She frowns. "I don't undrstand." Samus is in full armor, knowing that only Bahamut here would really know the turth of what's under the armor. "And... this place is _far_ more technological than I would've expected when I first heard of this realm." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut shrugs at the questions. "Because it pleases them. Because they feel like they are making a difference here, or are former priestesses of Yevon and wished to serve a noble cause, or...well, there are many reasons why priestesses might join. I require nothing of them except that they wear the robes of the temple and that they remain pure of heart and honest, obey all laws of the land, and pursue their dreams."      He takes a bite of his pig on a stick, then continues after swallowing. "The priestesses pursue many things on their own time. Many are even guardians." He rumbles lightly after that. "And it is true, the technology within my temple is beyond most everything else in Spira. We have only recently come out of a dark age of sorts. Technology was forbidden because it was believed to be sacrilige, and as such was believed to summon a great evil known as Sin. That was never true, but...frightened people will accept many things if they believe it will spare them." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran just ponders as she looks around. "I'm not sure I can do that," she finally states, for one not wanting to reveal her true identity. "It is nice to meet you at least." She just ponders, sitting down in a chair (which groans a bit under the weight of Samus and armor). 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut nods once. "But, at least you have a good reason. Keeping both you and those around you safe. But, honesty does not necessarily mean revealing everything about yourself. Answering a question with 'I would rather not say' is as honest as any other answer." He raises an eyeridge. "Why does that matter anyway? Were you interested in serving Spira as more than just a bounty hunter?"      Once she is seated, a pleasant priestess approaches Samus and offers a warm smile. "What would you like?" she asks, gesturing at the long table and the many foods that adorn it. "If you want something not already here, I am sure we can get it for you." This particular priestess is about 5'4", and only her face is visible thanks to the robes and hood she wears. Kind, dark brown eyes regard Samus from above soft features. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran blinks. "Perhaps..." She sighs softly, looking down. "No thank you," she murmurs to the priestess. She takes a deep breath. "My... entire life has been wrapped in sadness and hatred. Sadness for the loss of my parents, hatred for the one who did it. I don't know what my fate would be had Ridley never come to my colony world. I would probably not be a warrior - would be a normal human. Probably a farmer..." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut considers that for a moment, letting out a long draconic rumble in the process. "Tell me...how many have been saved because you were driven down the path of the warrior? Would those people be alive if you were finding your nobility in the life of a farmer rather than a hunter? Do you serve only yourself or do you go where you are needed?" He takes a bite of his meal to let that sink in for a moment...and of course because he is hungry.      "Pain is part of life. But, those that shoulder more pain than others and perservere rather than give up keep that pain from falling upon others." he continues, a small smile upon his draconic features. "I myself know pain quite well. Before I became a dragon, I was part of a race known as the Al Bhed. We are a race that excels in engineering, and as such were persecuted by all who followed the teachings of the Chursh of Yu Yevon. Many of us have died at the hands of ignorant believers, and many more died when the Church sacked Home. But, if not for that, I may not have been selected by Bahamut to be his avatar. Pain gives strength so long as you do not let it overwhelm you, and can lead to greatness." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran nods. "So you understand," she states softly. "But... it'd be nice to release the burden for a while. Perhaps something selfless... like this. And... being with a dragon who isn't a murderous monster might be good for my psyche. I don't want to be a racist..." She just shakes her head. "I wouldn't know how to start - if word that I was here minus my armor got around - you could face orbital bombardment." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut nods as he listens, then chuckles at the last part. "So, stay in your armor. Remove it while at a local hotel. Remove it only here in the cloister. Whatever you choose, this place is well protected. I myself count as much as an orbital strike as any weapon that might be trained against me. But, even if you do not join the temple, you have proven yourself as far as I am concerned. You may visit anytime. And if you do ever need to get away from your life for a while, all the priestesses know not to press the matter when it comes to history. As I said, I require nothing of them except a pure heart and honesty. Many priestesses have never shared information about their previous lives. I do not ask, instead I allow them to cleanse themselves through service or simply start anew if that is what they wish, even assuming a new name to symbolize their new life. Many eventually share when they come to trust both me and the other priestesses, and it helps to soothe their troubled souls."      He chuckles. "As for your racism...I would say even if you are guilty of it, you do not let it show. A gut reaction is not the same as racism. If you were truly racist, you would not feel bad at all about thinking I was dangerous and I doubt you would be so willing to visit me in my own home." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran nods. "Maybe some spiritual healing is what I need. If you don't mind me taking an assumed alias... and wearing a garment under those robes... I'll try it out." She ponders. "As long as I use an alias, it should be fine." She sighs softly as she shakes her head. "My name is feared - my face... not so much." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut smirks at that. "Many a fearsome warrior has a face such as yours in this world. Those who are put at ease by your beauty are fools. Understandable fools, but fools nonetheless." He finishes off his porker, then lets out a satisfied rumble and pats his belly. "So, you wish to become an initiate?" he asks Samus. "Wearing things under the robe is quite acceptable. Not revealing your face would be a bit unusual, but even that is workable if you prefer it that way." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran smiles faintly. "No, you misunderstand. I keep my identity a closely-guarded secret. Nobody would associate my face with that of my identity." She smiles faintly. "I trusted you so I let you see. I don't mind if my face isvisible, as long as it's not associated with my name." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut lets out a rumble as he listens. "I am quite trustworthy. Still, it is a bit surprising that you would be so quick to trust if this creature called Ridley has tortured you so. That too shows strength, and I would be quite honored to have you join the ranks of the priestesses. It shouldn't be too hard to find you a robe. Of course, you have to be officially registered as an initiate. It would be quite easy for someone to join under false pretenses, but that is why a full priestess earns her title through hard work, displaying her trustworthiness and loyalty, and of course that she has goodness in her heart." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran nods. "I'm six foot three," she muses. "If you don't mind using an alias... I can give it a try. Some peace and quiet might do me some good." She ponders. "I don't want to join under false pretenses - just a false name. And are there any priests, or just priestesses?" 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      "Hmm. There are men who have joined the priesthood, but they rarely spend their days here. Cooking and cleaning for a figure such as myself is seen as woman's work by most, not to mention that few men can be trusted to remain pure of heart surrounded by so many lovely ladies. The men in my service are generally part of the Temple Guard or are guardians in the surrounding area. Some serve in other ways, such as smithing or farming."      Bahamut chucklesd and shakes his head at something. "And...I would be lying if I said I did not prefer it that way myself. Perhaps it is a bit selfish, but so many kind and lovely faces do wonders to reduce my stress." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran smiles faintly. "Don't most men like having a bunch of beautful women around them? Well... if you could provide robes that'd fit me - I'm rather tall - I could come out and sign up... with a fake name of course." She smiles faintly. "I think I'd use my mother's name, Virginia." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Bahamut laughs at Samus's candor and nods. "I suppose that is true. And you did mention your height already, not that it is not quite obvious. In fact, there is a sister already in the priesthood who is quite close to your height." He turns to a nearby priestess. "Would you be so kind as to have Alisa report here with one of her spare robes? And then gather the others to welcome a new initiate to the priesthood."      The priestess nod and heads off, then Bahamut looks at Samus again. "Virginia." he repeats with a bit of amusement, as if he recognizes the name. "As part of your induction, you must be as truthful as you can be. Introduce yourself as Virginia, but let them know that Virginia is not your real name and you would prefer they not ask about your real name or past." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran nods slowly. "That is fair. I'll just wait in the head. Oh, is it acceptable to be armed in here, or should I not be?" She slips into the lavatory. "Just have her bring the robe here," she calls as she waits in the stall - a bright glow flaring as Samus is now in her Zero Suit. She waits - wondering if she's making the right choice. She closes her eyes amd meditates on her recent decision. She can always walk out if it's not right. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      "The head?" Bahamut asks as Samus heads toward the nearby bathroom. He assumes she meant said bathroom, then puzzles over how such a thing came to be called a head on her world.      It isn't long before there is a knock on the door, and the priestess from earlier, the one who had nothing visible but her face, offers the robe by opening the door just enough to hold it out for Samus.      When Samus emerges and returns to the main room, there is a company of about a dozen priestesses, all lined up where the table and chairs had been mere minutes ago. Now instead of a grand dining hall it is a grand throne room, and the priestesses have formed two lines in front of it. Bahamut is standing in front of his throne in his best regal pose, arms crossed over his chest and wings spread wide as she stands tall and proud.      The priestess smiles to Samus and holds out a hand. "Come with me." she says, those kind brown eyes focused on Samus's eyes. If Samus agrees, the priestess leads Samus to the far end of the corridor created by the two lines of priestesses, all of whom are smiling and watching Samus. Bahamut too stays facing her the entire time. 
}}

6350/The City and the Undercity

2019-02-13T04:43:03Z

TwilightSparkle:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/02/05
|Location=Planet M-15: Undercity
|Synopsis=A young boy makes a radio call for help. Solty Revant and Silica respond.
|Cast of Characters=6704, 973
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      On one of the communications channels, a staticky signal comes in. "...um...h-hello? Is this working? My name is Jerry and...um...well some of us heard that people had been visiting from somewhere else. We're really hungry, and my sister is sick. Is anyone out there?" It sounds like a young boy, probably around 12, and he sounds like he thinks he might get in trouble if anyone catches him.      The signal, weak though it is, is easily tracked to the world known only as The Planet and The City that is the only settlement on the entire world. Solty heard the call as well, and is waiting for a friend who she hasn't seen since their dinner together. She is anxious, bouncing lightly on her feet as she waits just outside the RUC Containment Area. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko Ayano comes walking up, after exiting the local Warp Gate. She's chosen to not use her Avatar just yet, since this seems more of a humanitarian mission than anything. She's got a satchel over one shoulder, and a small dragonling perched on the other, like some strange kind of bird. She doesn't need to be transformed for her pets to be out, apparently!     On spotting Solty, she lifts her free arm and gives a wave, "Ooooooi! Solty-sa~n!" she chirps, picking up the pace and moving in to give the android a hug. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty gives Keiko a big hug and a happy smile before reaching up to give the little dragon a pat on the head. "Hello Silica! Er..wait, should I use Keiko instead right now?" Her eyes look upward as she considers, but shrugs lightly after a moment. "That's not important! Roy said that signal probably came from underground, but he wasn't willing to go check it out. He said something about the unregistered citizens living down there? I told him that it didn't matter though. We should still help if we can."      She takes Keiko's hand and starts running. "Come on! We should hurry! His sister could be really sick!" She leads Silica to a back alley, and what looks like a sewer cover. "Roy said it's down there." She lifts the cover easily and sets it aside, then peers hesitantly down into the darkness. It certainly doesn't smell fresh, but at least it doesn't actually seem to be a sewer. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "Either's fine, but I kinda prefer having a 'Hero Name' and my normal name, even if I don't exactly have a secret identity." replies Keiko, then nods as she's pulled along. "I brought my first aid kit and some extra food. Can't leave children to starve and die, it's just not right." she says, afixing her Augma over her eye as she follows after Solty. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty lets out an 'oooooh' of understanding and appreciation as Silica explains about her hero name. Solty nods quickly and smiles. "Right. So, Keiko..." She looks into the hole again, then swallows nervously. "Um...I guess I'll go first, just in case there is danger." she says, then just hops down. There's really no telling how far down the floor is, and there is a ladder, so Solty must not be too concerned about taking fall damage.      The access tunnel turns out to be about 20 feet deep before finally hitting the floor and leading off down another tunnel. Despite it being both underground and beneath a veritable metropolis, the tunnels seem...space age. Like something you might see in the bowels of a starship. The tunnels are dirty and grimey, but don't seem to actually be rusty. And rather than the dull brown one usually sees in this kind of big underground tunnel, it is still a polished metallic silvery-blue.      Solty's ears are twitching before they even start moving down the tunnels. "I...I hear people. Lots of people!" They have to walk a good distance through this tunnel, but eventually there are voices to be heard. Just people talking in normal tones about normal things like the weather above ground, how their family members are doing, and other typical conversational topics.      Finally, after about 200 feet, the tunnel opens up into a MASSIVE underground cavern that is clearly completely artificial. Buildings have been built into the walls of the rock using concrete and precision drilling. The cavern looks big enough to contain a passenger cruise ship if it were standing on its end, and there are walkways visible all the way down in floors, with other walkways crisscrossing the open area in the middle. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko follows Solty at a much more sane pace, by climbing down the ladder. Pina flutters off of her shoulder and follows the android girl down and perches between those ears, chirruping softly.     Once Keiko has alighted at the bottom of the shaft, she adjusts her satchel and starts walking after Solty, her brown eyes marvelling at the construction. "Mister Kirito would probably have a field day in here, this looks like some really advanced construction."     And then the giant underground cavern opens up and she boggles at the buildings and walkways. "This is... enormous... all this is below the city?" 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty blinks as she feels the little dragon perch on her head, then she lets out a little giggle of cuteness and excitement before waiting for Silica to get there. She seems just as amazed as Keiko when they reach the enormous cavern. "It...it seems so." she says, mouth hanging open a bit as she looks around.      Almost as soon as they arrive the people start giving them suspicious looks and give them a wide berth. There is even some disgruntled grumbling from some of the more downtrodden-looking people. Finally they are approached by a pretty big guy who looks none-to-happy to see them. "What are you /topsiders/ doing down here?" he asks, then blinks. "...and what the hell is that?" he adds, pointing to the little dragonling. Two more tough guys join him a moment later, and while they don't look violent just yet, they clearly don't care for the visitors. "If you two are down here to cause trouble, you can just head back to the surface right now." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "Oh, please, excuse our intrusion. We don't mean to cause harm." says Keiko as the big men come up to the pair. "My name is Keiko Ayano, this is my friend Solty Revant and the little dragon is my pet, Pina." she explains, bowing formally. "There was a radio transmission from a young sounding boy, his sister is sick? We came down to offer help."     As she says this, she very slowly and carefully picks up the satchel, holding it so it can be seen into easily and opens it without hiding where her hands are. Inside are some generic first-aid supplies. Bandages, antiseptic cream, cleaning spray and painkiller tablets. There's also some wrapped up food parcels in the other pocket, about enough for ten people to get at least a meager meal, or half that to get something at least decent. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty actually takes a few steps back when the three big men approach. "Um..." Keiko explains, and Solty nods in agreement. "We just want to help!"      The three men peer into the bag, then the leader hmphs. "We don't need help from topsiders. If someone down here is sick, we make sure they get what they need to get better. Especially kids." he says. It is obviously a matter of pride for them. "So, just take all that stuff and head back to the surface. Whatever these kids need, we'll make sure they get it. The City doesn't want to help us, and we're fine with-"      "Excuse me." The man's speech is interrupted by another tall man, only slightly less broad but with a definite strength about him, like a swimmer compared to a body builder. His clothing makes him look like the dashing rogue type. A black overcoat, black boots that come up almost to his knees, puffy white breeches, and a tight-fitting grey-blue shirt. This appearance is helped even more by his intense green eyes and his pale red hair, which is expertly groomed and cut short except for the long bangs that frame his handsome face.      The lead man looks over at him before raising an eyebrow. "What, Larry?" he asks, and the red-haired man smirks. "You aren't going to turn down aid from two lovely ladies just because they are topsiders, are you? That would be incredibly rude, especially since Miss Keiko here obviously comes from this Multiverse we've heard about and may have travelled vast distances to come here."      The three men grumble before backing off. "If you want to take responsibility for anything they do while they're here, fine. Just make sure they don't cause any trouble."      Larry just gives a slight roguish smirk, almost like he practices such expressions. "Don't worry." he says, then looks to Keiko and gives a small wink. "I'll take good care of them." The three men walk off, and Larry holds out a hand. "Larry Anderson, of the Anderson Brothers. Pleased to meet you." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko bows once again to Larry, then takes the hand to perform a handshake. She's met men like this before, so if he attempts to kiss her hand she politely retrieves it. "Thank you, Mister Anderson... do you know where the children are? The boy sounded very anxious and I would like to find them quickly. My medical knowledge is mostly to do with animals, but there is some cross compatability with my skills." She blushes a bit. "Also... what is this place?"     As she speaks, Pina flutters up from Solty's head to land on Keiko's shoulder again, giving Larry a bit of a stink-eye. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty seems relieved when the three men leave, but also regards Larry with some suspicion. She lets out a very quiet 'aw' as Pina returns to Keiko, but most of her attention is on Larry.      Larry does indeed try to kiss Keiko's hand in classic style, but she pulls it back before he can actually plant the kiss. He simply ignores the refusal and nods. "Of course. My brother and I make it our mission to know who needs what down here in the Undercity. I believe the child you are looking for is named Jerry? He lives a few levels down. He and his sister have no parents, so Andy and I try to keep tabs on them. This way."      It is once again quite a walk, but in a few minutes they reach Jerry's house. It is dug out of the rock itself, basically a door and a single window leading to a pretty small abode, no bigger than most living rooms. Jerry opens the door a few moments later and blinks. "Oh, hi Larry? What's up? And who are these two?" It seems the two kids actually live by themselves down here.      Larry introduces Solty and Keiko, and Jerry's eyes get as big as saucers. "Oh wow! It really worked! People from outside really came! I didn't think they would!"      Solty blinks. "Oh..um, I'm not actually from outside the City."      Jerry peers at her. "...then what's up with those ears."      Solty blushes a bit and laughs self-consciously. "They...they're just my ears." The boy looks skeptical, but shrugs and smiles. "Well, come on in! Kari's over here. Did you guys bring medicine and food?" 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "Hello Jerry." says Keiko, crouching down to talk to the boy with a soft smile. "I have some basic medicine, but I'm not really a doctor. Do you know what's wrong with Kari?" she asks, then stands to follow the boy inside. "I did bring some extra food with me, and I can try to arrange more if you want it."     Once led to Kari, Keiko settles onto her knees beside the girl, and unpacks things from her satchel, then goes about doing some diagnostics. Back of fingers against forehead to check for a raised temperature, feeling her pulse, and speaking to the girl if she's conscious, asking how she feels and if anywhere hurts, as well as if she has any injuries.     Pina settles down next to the girl as well, curling up near her hand, in case she wants to try petting it. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Jerry is distracted by Pina as Keiko speaks to him and asks about Kari. "Woah! Where'd you get a pet lizard that will ride on your shoulder?" he asks before blinking. "Oh, well..."      Kari is on a sleeping bag nearby. She looks to be about 6 years old, has red hair and blue eyes, and is curled up with a worn stuffed horse toy. She does seem to be having trouble breathing freely, and coughs pretty often. As Pina approaches she giggles a bit, but even that causes her to cough before she actually pets the little dragon. She looks a bit scared as Keiko approaches, but doesn't stop the diagnostics. Her eyes get pretty big when she sees the food that Keiko brought, though.      When asked how she feels, Kari coughs a bit before managing to speak. "My throat hurts...and my chest too. And my head." She has a noticable temperature, but her pulse is kind of fast. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem too serious yet.      "She's been coughing like that for at least a week now. Unfortunately, we can't take her to the hospital in the City. Unregistered citizens aren't allowed above ground, and don't have access to city services." Larry says as he watches. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "Pulse is fast...not too fast but we really need to get a professional to look her over. I can treat the symptoms, but the root cause, I can't identify." She smiles softly at Kira, pushing a bit of that red hair out of the girl's face, then unpacks one of the food parcels. It's simple fair, some bread, a bit of cheese, some meat, and a little box of fruit juice. "If we could get her to a Multiversal Hospital, they don't have such restrictions... but why would the government put such restrictions on health care, especially for children like this?"     She sounds a little bitter, which causes Pina to lift its head and chirrup softly. "It's fine, Pina..." a sigh, and Keiko looks at Jerry. "Pina's one of my oldest friends. I met her in another world, one I didn't really belong in. She helped protect me, and together we survived." then something seems to click... "Pina, Heal!"     The Dragon then perks, and turns to look at Kira, before opening its mouth wide. Green light seems to bubble up in the back of its throat, before a soft green mist sprays out over the girl, seeping into her skin on contact.     The effect, though minimal, is instantaneous, the pain subsides a little, and the tightness in the chest from coughing eases just a bit. "It won't last long.. but we can probably move her and I can make sure she gets treatment offworld." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Jerry takes a turn petting Pina as Silica talks, but seems more worried than before as she explains. He looks to Larry, who seems unsure. "People around here are kind of...xenophobic, I guess you could say. Anyone not from the Undercity is regarded as a possible danger, and they don't like people who have more than them or act superior. Like that guy said, we take care of our own and take pride in our ability to do so."      Kari takes the food and drink as soon as it is open, and starts to scarf it down but has to slow down with a wince when she swallows. Even that though is solved in a moment, and all three of the Undercity citizens stare wide-eyed at what Pina did. Kari's eyes widen even more when her throat doesn't hurt as bad and she can breathe more easily, and Solty's eyes are practically sparkling. "Ooooh. Magic! That's so neat! I've been trying to learn, but so far it hasn't been going well."      Larry's expression makes it clear that he's never even heard of actual magic before, much less seen it. "Wow...if we could learn things like that we really would be self-sufficient down here." he says as he watches Kari eat and breathe happily. He thinks for a moment. "Look, there'd be trouble if you tried to take her out of here, but if you can arrange for someone who can cure her to come down here we can swing that."      Jerry joins Kari in eating, and both children look pretty happy now. Though Kari does still cough every now and then. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "I'll have to pull in some favours I'm owed... unfortunately, the magic I know, and the abilities Pina has, are only stop-gaps at best. They suppress the symptoms and ease the pain, but don't actually cure the cause." Keiko sits back on her haunches in a traditional japanese style, hands folding in her lap as she watches the children eat. "I'll have to get back to you on that, but I'll see if anyone could come help out through my contacts in the Syndicate..." she looks up at Larry, and smiles sheepishly. "I can't really teach my magic to others not from my world... it's, complicated, but the short answer to 'why not', is that it's tied to this device." she gestures to her Augma. "Noone else can use this one but me... and getting one requires a very special kind of person on my world."     Pina settles down beside Kari, resting its head on the girl's lap and emitting soft trills of contentment. Pina does love children, after all. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Larry offers an actual genuine smile and nods to Keiko. "Thanks. I'm sure we could have taken care of her, but she'll get better much faster this way." he says as he too watches the kids from his spot leaning against the doorframe. "As for your question...well, it's like this. The RUC controls everything in the City, and supposedly there aren't enough resources to care for registered and unregistered citizens. But, registration itself is a broken system. If a kid is found and no one can find his or her parents or otherwise identify them, they get thrown down here. Kids born to unregistered parents are automatically unregistered citizens, and there isn't any sort of petition or class to get registered. The only way an unregistered can become a registered is if they are adopted by a registered citizen when they are a kid, and even that is only possible if the kid is orphaned. RUC may call us unregistered, but they still keep track of the family lines for enforcement purposes. And if you're a registered citizen somehow but it's discovered that your parents were unregistered, then they revoke your citizenship and you end up down here."      Larry frowns. "The RUC and a lot of the topsiders treat us like we are lesser people just because we got stuck down here. One day we're gonna fix that, though. Especially with this Multiverse place out there now. I think the hard part will be convincing the people down here to actually accept aid. As you've seen, we're pretty proud of the lives we've managed to build down here despite all the handicaps handed down by the RUC."      Kari and Jerry take turns petting Pina as they eat, and of course can't resist stretching and folding Pina's wings every now and then. "So, does that mean we could get a little dragon?" Jerry asks with his mouth mostly full. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "There's places in the Multiverse where you can adopt dragon whelps." replies Keiko to Jerry. Pina, meanwhile, tolerates the manhandling rather well, seeming pleased that it's brightening the children's day, even a little. "Do you have a council or some kind of leader?" she asks Larry, next, standing and dusting herself off out of habit. "I'd like to speak to them if they will hear me."     Keiko's face has taken on a much more serious cast now, a steely glint entering her eyes as she looks at the man. "Even the strongest warrior cannot win a war alone, nor can a city stand without aid... it is not a weakness to ask for, or accept help from others, the opposite, in fact." she places a hand on her chest. "I know this from my own experience.. I nearly lost Pina, because I was bullheaded and refused to accept help from anyone... Mister Kirito taught me a valuable lesson when he helped me get the item I needed to bring her back." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Larry chuckles at the question about a leader. "We don't have our own government or anything if that's what you mean, but there's a few people like myself that the entire community respects and listens to if they say something. His smirk fades to a more neutral expression as he sees that steely glint in Keiko's eyes. It returns a moment later, but with more of a respectful look to it. "Maybe, but when you're used to no one helping you then it becomes seen as a weakness to take help from outside."      Keiko's story makes everyone look over at her. Larry is the first to speak up. "There's more to you than it seems." he says. Jerry and Kari are quietly discussing if they could somehow adopt a dragon. Solty has just been quietly watching all of this, but is obviously sympathizing with the Undercity people if her expression is any indication. "Who's Kirito? And what happened to Pina?" she asks after a few moments. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "It was years ago, Solty... I was about Jerry's age..." begins Keiko. "I won't go into the details, but, I left the group I was traveling with in a dangerous area because I was too proud to admit I needed them... I went into the forest, and was ambushed by a group of monsters. They nearly killed me, but Pina intercepted the killing blow, holding them off long enough for Mister Kirito to kill them... she died in the process though."     Keiko's eyes look over at Pina, who chirps softly. "Mister Kirito is the leader of our Guild... the Gatecrasher's Union. We specialized in saving people from terrible situations. I'll ask him if we can do anything to help down here, even if it's not really appreciated." she chuckles softly. "Mister Kirito was always a loner, it's why this situation reminds me of him." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty gasps. "You were fighting monsters when you were that young?" she asks, a bit horrified. "I'm glad we don't have monsters here." she adds after a moment. Larry too seems surprised. "Much more to you than it seems." he says with a bit of a chuckle. "I wouldn't say we're in that bad of a situation down here. True we don't have the best healthcare, but we manage to keep everyone from going hungry and there's no epidemics or anything. It's as much the principle as the hardship, if that makes sense. There shouldn't be a lower class of citizens. Everyone should be equal. But if you and this Kirito want to try, I won't stop you.      The children's day seems considerably brighter thanks to Keiko's and Pina's visit. They've finished off the meal and are concentrating on Pina now. Kari has picked Pina up and is gently moving her up and down to a song she is obviously making up about cute dragons named Pina and healing breath. Jerry is pouting a bit though as Kari monopolizes Pina. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "I can't make any promises, of course, but I'll ask him if there's anything we can do." replies Keiko, then looks over to Solty. "I'll explain when there aren't children present... I wouldn't want to upset them." She adds, smiling over at Jerry and Kira. Pina is a very tolerant little dragon, especially since Kira seems much happier now.     She does see Jerry pouting, and taps her Augma, making the eyepiece begin to glow faintly with blue light. She then makes some gestures in the air, 'tapping' something then flicking her hand downwards, as if pulling something open. Tap, tap. Tap-sliiide. Taptap. It all looks very strange, until another creature materializes. It's a sinuous snake-like creature with feathery wings fluttering to keep it aloft. It hisses at Keiko, nuzzling her cheek before the Beast Mistress gestures toward Jerry. Nana, the Flying Serpent, slowly approaches the boy, being as non-threatening as possible. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty looks over at the children, then nods lightly. "Okay. I understand." she says.      Jerry blinks as a flying snake floats over to him. He seems uncertain at first. Snakes are a little more scary than tiny dragons. Still, it has wings, and was summoned by Keiko, so he hesitantly reaches out to try petting it. Kari, being a small child, sees the new creature and it draws her attention from Pina. She still hugs the little dragon like some kind of plushie, but is watching Jerry and Nana now.      Larry nods to Keiko and waves a hand dismissively. "Like I said, no one down here will really care if we don't get help. We want to change this city ourselves." He finally stands up from leaning against the wall. "Well, if you've done all you can you should get going. The longer you're here the more chance that someone might try something. There's no police down here, just us. So I'd rather we avoid trouble if we can." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko gestures to the satchel. "Keep that.. the medicine will help with the pain and coughing, at least for a while. There's also bandages and other supplies if you get hurt. The food is yours too." she smiles to the children, as Nana lightly coils around Jerry's forearm after being petted. It hisses softly and just seems to be a docile cuddle-noodle, with wings.     Pina, if its expression ever changed, would look rather nonplussed at being cuddled like a plushie, but lifts her head and boops her snoot against Kira's chin.     "We should get going, but I kind of need my pets back." she says, looking apologetic at the kids while the two pets start trying to return to their mistress. Nana gives Jerry a nuzzle on the cheek, and Pina attempts to ease herself out of Kira's grasp, turning and giving her another puff of Healing Mist once freed. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Both kids let out a syncronized 'awww!' as Keiko says she needs her pets back, but both let them go without much fuss. "Bye Pina." Kari says sadly, waving to the little dragon. Jerry waves too, then stands up and moves to give Keiko a hug. Kari follows soon after, feeling well enough to move around after two healing spells. "Will you come back and visit again, Miss Keiko?" Kari asks, looking up at her with big blue eyes. "I hope so. You're like a big sister now!" she says with a giggle.      Solty smiles as she watches, and Larry places a hand on Keiko's shoulder. "Come on. Let her go now, kids. I'm sure she'll come back if she can. But she has to leave now." he says, a gentle smile on his face. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko hugs the kids back, dropping to her knees to get closer to them. "I'll try to come back." she says, squeezing both fondly, before easing away and standing up. She looks to Solty and Larry, then nods. "Wouldn't want to cause any trouble." she says, then with a soft click of her tongue, calls her pets back to her. Pina lands on her shoulder, while Nana coils around the opposite upper arm, almost like they had their own designated roosting positions or something! 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Both kids wave as Keiko, Solty, and Larry head back toward the entrance tunnel, giggling a bit at how the two pets take up what are obviously special spots for them.      Larry bids them goodbye as Keiko and Solty start back down the tunnel, then chuckles. "Andy is never going to believe this." he says as they walk away.      "Thanks for coming, Keiko." Solty says with a happy smile as they walk down the tunnel once more. "It was nice to see you again. I'm sure Roy would let you stay the night if you wanted." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko pets Pina gently on the head, then looks at Solty. "I should head back to Haven... I need to talk to Tomoe and the others and get some feelers out in the Network. The sooner we can start getting people involved in this, the better. Especially for those kids." she says, moving to give Solty a one-arm hug as they walk down the tunnel. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty smiles happily at the hug and hugs back with both arms even as they walk. "You're right." She sighs softly. "I had heard about unregistered citizens, but...I didn't know they had to live underground and without any support from the RUC. I hope we can help them, and maybe even let them live up here one day." 
}}

6369/Princess vs Blaster!

2019-02-13T04:42:01Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/02/11 |Location=Shrine of Adversity |Synopsis=Just a friendly battle between a princess and a DCC. |Cast of Characters=446, 1103 |pretty=yes }..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/02/11
|Location=Shrine of Adversity
|Synopsis=Just a friendly battle between a princess and a DCC.
|Cast of Characters=446, 1103
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia waits in the middle of a grassy field that she has programmed the Shrine to create, hammer held like a staff beside her. She has put out a radio request for a challenger, and now awaits the DCC who responded. It has been a little while since she was in a proper battle, and she likes to keep herself prepared in case she has to respond to something without warning.      As usual for these matches, she is wearing her self-named and self-designed battle dress. It is smooth black leather with red armor pieces rivetted onto it, and the skirt consists of broad strips rather than a solid piece in order to allow her mobility, modesty, and protection at the same time. 

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''     Theurgus, The self titled Mad Magician, steps into the field, smoothing out her coat-dress with one hand while her other holds a long silver spike. Blue eyes trace across the landscape, then settle on the Princess before approaching. "Lady Sarracenia, I presume? Grimoire and my little sister told me that you helped them with a Poochooze outbreak while I was away from the Drive... so I am certain of your caliber." she says, offering a grin. "Anyone who opposes The Organization is a friend of Locus. This is why I have brought my Relay, you shall fight a Goddess at her full power."     At that, the DCC turns, and hurls the spike so it lodges into the grass a good distance away. There it unfolds like a flower, extending some kind of antenna that begins receiving a beam of sorts. The DCC turns back, and with a flourish, summons her transformation. "ACCESS!"     A pillar of light engulfs the bluenette, and after a moment, a woman of regal bearing, wearing a tight body suit with a half-skirt around her hips floats where the Mad Magician stood. Clockwork wings flare, a gemstone set into the various assemblies of clockworks and magic glowing a pale green, looking almost wisp-like. In her left hand appears a staff, its head a geodian knot that suports a marble that changes colours through a rainbow. "Now... shall we begin?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia smirks lightly at Theurgus's introduction. "I did, though I am not sure what this Organization you speak of is. Are they spawning those creatures?" She watches the deployment of the relay, then blinks at Theurgus's transformation before her eyes widen a bit. "Oh my. What an impressive outfit!" she says with a smile, taking time to appreciate all the elements. The gems in particular draw her attention of course, but then entire outfit is one that Sarracenia could see herself wearing.      She smirks as Theurgus suggests they start, then gives her huge hammer a fancy flourish of a twirl about her body, ending with it thrust toward Theurgus. "Whenever you are ready!" 

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''     Theurgus floats back a few feet, twirling her staff in a flourish. "The Organization's claws sink deep into many affairs. Outbreaks such as that one are but symptoms of their corruptive influences." she explains, then tilts her head at Sarra's remark. "A Goddess' garb is more than merely an outfit!" she states, before sweeping her staff, sending a barrage of flaming bolts at the Princess, the marble at the cap of the staff shifting to an orange-red as the energy flows into it, then lenses out at its target. She doesn't speak a spell name, this is some base level magick. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess is still admiring that outfit when she is hit. She yelps and hops back, then huffs. "That does not mean it is not impressive!" she exclaims before running in a strafe around Theurgus. "Fine! If that's how you want to play it!" She reaches into her satchel as she runs and pulls out a few of her cutest weapon. The Bob-omb! Three of the little black bombs with the big plushie-like eyes are produced, and then thrown at Theurgus one after another. "Can a goddess...not accept a compliment...without viewing it as an insult?!" she yells between explosions. 

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''     "I did not view it as such, merely correcting you!" remarks the DCC, lifting further off the ground and shifting to dart away on wing as those bombs explode. They shower her with shrapnel, scoring angry red cracks in her outer texture, looking like deep bloody gashes, but showing damaged codework within.     Theurgus wings over, and begins to chant briefly. "Burst and shatter, rend and sunder. OXYN MALUS!" as she passes over Sarracenia's head, the DCC unleashes a storm of cutting winds, a swirling vortex centered around the Princess' feet. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is picked up and shredded by the cutting winds, leaving many a tear in the leather of her dress and scratches all over the various metal plates while she is lifted up into the air. "H-hey!" She reaches down to try and hold her skirt down, fearing a dress over an air vent moment until one of those wind blade hits her cheek and leaves a rather noticable cut. "Mmph..."      She maneuvers until she is free of the whirlwind, then pulls out a large red leaf and presses it against her forehead. In a puff of smoke she has gained raccoon ears and a tail, and she takes off into the air after Theurgus. "So, what makes it more than an outfit, then?" she says back as she comes spiraling in, using the rotation to add some unpredictability to her swing. 

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''     Theurgus turns in the air, bringing her staff up defensively as Sarracenia bears down on her with that swinging hammerblow. Interlocking blue hexagons form in the path of that strike, but shatter after only an instant of holding back the blow, allowing it to slam into the DCC's side. A spiderweb of angry red code flares at the impact point, while the DCC spins and tries to correct herself in the air.     "It is a signal of my station, my armour and my burden." she replies, then swings her staff with a practiced precision, aiming to get within Sarracenia's optimal swinging distance for that heavy hammer. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      With Theurgus so close Sarracenia can do little to avoid the attack, but in the air the hit is strong enough to knock her away a short distance. And causing her ears and tail to disappear in a puff of smoke. She blinks, then falls like a rock. But, she rides the head of her hammer down and it serves to cushion her fall with a shockwave when it hits the ground, causing a small crater. "Burden? How can it be a burden to be a goddess? You must be doing it wrong." she says, wincing and holding her side where the staff hit.      She huffs softly, then considers a moment. "Alright, since you showed me enough respect to use your full power, I'll do the same!" She reaches into her satchel and pulls out...an intricate-looking black box with a big red button on it. "I hope you are ready! Well...actually I don't!" she says before hitting the button. She drops the box afterwords and runs back, and it starts unfolding. Steadily it forms into a very large cannon. Not long, but tall enough that someone could stand up inside the barrel. Once it is formed...something slides forward from within. Something with a shark-like face. The tip of a massive bullet pokes out of the cannon, then thunderous KABOOM it launches into the air after Theurgus. It is not particularly fast, but it is very large and actually follows her. "Behold! The Banzai Bill!!" Sarracenia exclaims with a bit of a crazy grin as the huge black missile rockets its way toward Theurgus. 

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''     Theurgus twirls her staff, and answers with a soft tone... one unsuited to a 'Goddess'. "It is my burden to care for my people. One I carry proudly... if you say that I am 'doing it wrong', then I am afraid you are a fool." she frowns. "I have lost some of my respect for you with your words." She brings her defenses back up as Sarracenia brings out that rocket launcher. She watches it approach in that inexorable fashion, and attempts to dodge, being surprised by the fact it's a homing weapon. Blue hexagons shatter in a buffering effort, but the DCC is scorched and blackened as she falls from the air, trailing smoke.     Diamond Soul stands, supporting herself with her staff before she gets her feet under her again. "An interesting weapon... I would like to study it." she remarks, covering her face with one hand before she begins to laugh. It's unhinged, crazed even, like the laugh of an Evil Genius... and then it's over. "Heed me. Darkness and Crimson, buried by time I summon the abyss. Passage of Memory and rite of Process, grant unto me thine power, grant us a boon to destroy all that stands before us! Conflagration Dust. HELLFIRE FURY!" The incantation causes a massive spell circle to draw into existence, and within, erupts a massive plume of flames, hurling a localized apocalypse at the Princess! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks as she hears Theurgus's words. "...w-...WHAT?!" She looks actually kind of hurt for a moment, then she growls in anger before blinking again as she realizes something. She just stands there contemplating, and even though her eyes widen when all of that hellfire and apocolypse she doesn't try to avoid it.      The fire engulfs her, and the princess's form seems to disappear in the flames. The shrine room resets even before all of the destruction has ended, and Sarracenia is standing there still, looking at Theurgus. "...I..." She hesitates, then rubs at her face. "...I am sorry. Apparently it is not only princesses that sometimes have troubles that someone of their station does not usually face." She pauses there. "...of course, I do not really know much about being a goddess, and even less about your particular world. I only know that goddesses of myth usually live posh, care-free lives."      She pauses again, then shakes her head and laughs at herself. "...yet both who I have met personally who claimed to be goddesses seem to be quite burdened. King Rhongomyniad, and now you." Theurgus may not really appreciate how rare it is for Sarracenia to be humble -and- admit it -and- apologize. The princess closes her eyes for a moment, then takes a very deep breath before letting it out slowly. "Thank you for your time, Lady Theurgus." she says, then curtseys politely. "I do not wish to trouble you any further, so I shall take my leave unless you object." 

:'''{{#var:1103|Theurgus (1103)}} has posed:'''     Theurgus breathes a sigh of relief as the system triggers and resets. She dismisses her staff, and releases her transformation, using a big of magic to pull the Relay out of the ground and return it to her grasp, where it joins her staff in inventory. "Apology accepted, Princess." says the Mad Magician, striding over to place a hand on Sarracenia's shoulder. "It takes a truly strong person to admit they are at fault... you have regained some respect." she confides, offering a sly smile. "Also, myths and legends, while holding a grain of truth at their core, are often fanciful and exaggerated. Do not take them as factual accounts of how those of divine nature truly existed." she adds, shifting to give Sarracenia a side-hug. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia stops when that hand is placed on her shoulder, and barely raises her head enough to look at Theurgus. There's a bit of moisture visible in her eyes, but she coughs lightly and looks away quickly. She gasps softly in surprise at the side-hug, and regains a bit of a smile. "Well, until one meets actual beings it is the only source of information one has available." she says, then wipes at her eyes and gives Theurgus a full hug. "Tell me...what do your people think of you?" she asks before pulling back from the hug. She looks off to the side, expression now distant as if she is reflecting on things. 
}}

5932/Mall Raid 1

2019-02-13T04:40:46Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/06/12 |Location=La-Mulana Mall |Synopsis=Shopping day at the mall! |Cast of Characters=6384, 446, 1143, 1100, 7 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Poses=..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/06/12
|Location=La-Mulana Mall
|Synopsis=Shopping day at the mall!
|Cast of Characters=6384, 446, 1143, 1100, 7
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      While it is in the same world as the maze of temple/ruins/etc. known as La-Mulana, this mall isn't near the Village of Departure. As a result, the area is more blatantly modern. Which is probably a good thing, as it means there might be enough resources to respond to the hoard descending on the mall. It's a relatively fancy mall, in a big city, with three stories of floors around a central atrium, food court on the first floor.      Among those descending on the mall is Orchid, the Reploid finding that her efforts to experience all the multiverse has in terms of fashion and technology has been too slow. She's also brought along Kotone, hauling the cyborg along for a much needed injection of style. "I'm telling you, this place will have something nice for you." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Fancy malls are sure to attract other fancy things, and so as Orchid and Kotone enter the mall they are very likely to notice a tall, statuesque woman who if her clothes are any indication is a princess. Whether it is the small crown, the billowing gown, or the haughty way she carries herself. Or perhaps the piranha plant servant wearing a little tuxedo who is pushing a cart around behind her. It looks like they haven't actually visited any stores yet since the cart is currently empty. The princess is currently looking at one of those 'YOU ARE HERE--->' maps to try and plan out her shopping route. "This is going to be amazing, Gregory!" she is saying in a high pitched, spoiled brat kind of voice. "Yes, princess..." Gregory the piranha plant says in a somewhat bored tone, although it might be hard to tell with the gravelly, raspy voice he has. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      Touta like Orchid is one who has expressed his desire time and time again to enjoy the sandbox to that which is the Multiverse. He's explored unaccessible towers. Gone to highschools where they train people to fight using robo exo-skeletons. He's learned about Servants and Masters along with the Holy Grail War. So it sorta begs the question...How does one who does adventures into the unknown end up lingering in a mall in some random part of the Multiverse. The answer is he wanted a break.     It's not all about fighting monsters and exploring dungeons. Sometimes you just want to go somewhere and grab a peace of pizza or something. So with that endeavor he hear about a certain mall that had been garnering popularity so he thought he should definitely check it out.     Sadly though, he did not take into consideration how many windows there were to window shop from, and how he has no reflection appearing compared to some of the others who have decided to enjoy this day at the mall. Someone should probably bring this to his attention before anyone notices that there might be something off with the teenager in the black and red attire. 

:'''{{#var:1100|Leyanne (1100)}} has posed:''' Leyanne, on the other hand, is here because one of her sponsors, a snowboard clothing manufacturer for unusually-sized people, is holding a launch event and Tiny's got to attend. By the time the others appear, she's finished signign snowboards - breaking one over her head on-camera as part of a stunt - and she's just wandering around the mall, looking at clothing. She's not finding much in her size, other than the extreme sports shop. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa thought her style was fine she didn't fall into the ahem somewhat trashy certain other full conversion cyborgs worse. She had some standards till in terms of what she wore on her off hours. There was no helping with thermoptic cameo gear though. she followed along after Orichid with a not so sure look on her face. "Really? I already own smart clothing, you know." She notes s follwos along her jacket swaying in time with her steps. "We'll see though, Orchid." She takes note Serra but doesn't say thing, Touta does get a notices as well and he gets awave at the very least. She also takes note of Tiny, it's hard to miss the Martian cyborg after all. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      The store Orchid is heading to does boast clothing to fit taller forms, and the route brings her and Kotone past Sarra and Touta. "Smart clothing is a good start, but there are limits," she comments, looking around the store. "Now, with your hair and complexion, a dark blue, maybe?" she hums to herself. "Besides, you need to go to places like this to find new ideas." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa tils hte head a bit. "My wardrobe is fine. If I'm out in the multiverse I'm not going to wear something that will not surive." She makes a face at Orchid but she does follow her for now. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia stares at the map for a few more moments, then huffs and throws her arms up. "This mall is simply too large to plan from this map. I need someone who knows this mall." she says, then gives her hair a flip as she turns to look around. Orchid seems to know where she is going so she and Kotone soon find themselves accompanied by the princess. "Pardon me, but I require assistance. I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, crown princess of the Sundew Kingdom. And I am looking for a guide through this magnificent mall. I intend to visit clothing stores, jewelry stores, and other stores that said guide might suggest. You seem to know where you are going, so if you are not too busy I would like to hire you as my guide for the day." she says. Her tone suggests she is certain that Orchid will accept.      Sarra is far too preoccupied to realize that Touta has no reflection as they pass him, but a big mouse person is certainly going to draw her attention. She blinks a few times. "My my. If I didn't know better I would think that Wart had sent one of his Mousers here." It isn't quite clear if that is some kind of insult or not. 

:'''{{#var:1100|Leyanne (1100)}} has posed:''' Leyanne eventually meanders to the same store as Orchid, her tail swishing behind her. She looks over the clothes present, specifically the work clothing - it's really hard to find good, hard-wearing workshop wear when you're eight and a half feet tall. She's not actually looking where she's going, and therefore it's quite easy for her to tumble over poor little Orchid, the pair of them ending up in a tangle of limbs. "I am so sorry!" Leyanne blushes, disentangling herself from Orchid, standing, and very carefully setting Orchid back on her feet. "I haven't... I'm so sorry I haven't tripped over anyone since 1988..." The mouse says, mortified. She stiffens when she hears Sarra behind her. "Uh? Only dude I know called Wart runs a bar in Marineris City." She says, looking down at the princess. She stays quiet, for the moment - waiting warily to see if that 'Mouser' comment was an insult or not. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      Touta picks up on the wave if ever so slightly, and happily waves back. He can't recall if the two have met before though. Though with just a wave it's hard to tell, especially if it was the case they had just talked over the comms once or twice. That being said he definitely has his interested sparked by a few things that he sees. One being Gregory, the Piranha plant that was pushing the cart beside Sarracia. Watching the little guy go he couldn't help but have a certain thought pop up.      <"Wonder if this is a relative of Bite Blade's or something...">      From there he begins sorta tailing the plant who tags along behind the princess. Which eventually brings him amongst the crowd that has surrounded the ever so popular Leyanne. At first he thought it might have possibly been the same one he's talked to on the radio recently. The mouse one that had to deal with Mitsu like he did, but that was making an assumption he we all know how that goes. But as he kept walking he notices snowboards and people talking about having their stuff signed by a certain mouse which sorta removes a bit more of the assuming aspect.      Just as he's about to approach her though, she and someone else look like they just had a crash!      "Hey, you guys alright?" Out of nowhere the young man pops into the store following the rest offerring a hand to the both of them. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      "The Sundew Kingdom? I'm afraid that doesn't ring any bells, but I'll be glad to help out. We're heading to one of the clothing stores now," Orchid replies to Sarra. Alas, turning to talk with the Princess means Orchid doesn't see Leyanne soon enough to avoid the encounter.      *CRASH*      She accepts Leyanne and Touta's help getting back up, turning to the store.      And what a store it is! The stores is distinctly ancient-themed, featuring a lineup of clothing distinctly reminiscent of the outfits worn by the residents of La-Mulana. Many of the outfits were simple white robes, with designs for both male and female body types, both with bands of solidly-colored fabric running from the shoulders to the bottom hem by the ankles.      On display further down the racks are an assortment of much more revealing women's outfits - the posted sign says "Mulana Fairy Clothes", and the clothing on display is an assortment of brightly-colored leotards and short sundresses, with a couple tops that are shaped to cover only what they must in order to remain tasteful. In the center of those racks, a mannequin features a multi-layer regal queen's dress done in bright pink and purple, much more formal and suitable for the cultured fairy of royalty. Or anyone willing to pay to have a custom version tailored, really.      Off in another section, labeled "Philosopher Vestments", are exactly that. Ornate priestly-looking robes sit on display, some racked, with four of them presented neatly on their own mannequins. They're close in style to the simple robes from earlier, but all are distinctly designed for men, and each has its unique embroidered pattern across the white portions. Further, each robe on mannequin display comes with a silver necklace, inlaid with a glowing jewel. Clearly, these are for the more discerning shoppers.      Huh, there's a swimwear section too. Interesting. And there's only one option: a sky-blue slingshot bikini, revealing quite a bit, and clearly designed for women instead of the male model showing off its seductive design. Not a mannequin, but an actual male employee, posing in a women's swimsuit for a paycheck. Why the manager didn't think to hire a woman for the job is anyone's guess. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      ...oh wow. Sarracenia bursts out laughing when Leyanne trips over Orchid and both end up in a tangle on the floor. She is still giggling when Leyanne speaks to her, but the stern look makes the princess pause. This mouse looks much bigger when she is looking down on you like this. But, Sarracenia is unaware she may have said something insulting, and so she stands tall and gives her hair a flip. "That is not surprising. Wart is hardly known in my own land, much less in other worlds. But, one of his burly Mousers made it out to Sundew kingdom once. Rather nasty creature. They are large rats who have a bit of an obsession with explosives. It liked them almost as much as me! We might have even gotten along if he didn't insist on using them on my buildings. But, with a toss of a Bob-omb I sent him flying back to the mountain from which he escaped." She seems quite proud of that.      The princess takes a step back after that and curtsies to Leyanne. "I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, crown princess of the Sundew Kingdom. Charmed, I'm sure." She stands up straight again and smiles to Orchid. "I am glad to see you are unharmed, and thank you for your assistance." she says. But...when she looks around the store Sarracenia hardly seems impressed. Robes? Who wears robes outside of temples? However, the women's clothing turns out to be quite acceptable! While most is much more revealing than Sarracenia would ever wear in public, the queen's dress catches her attention. A bit heavy for daily use, but it would be a nice addition to her wardrobe nonetheless. She steers clear of those swimsuits, in part because why is a man wearing the women's swimsuit.      Gregory continues following after Sarracenia, though he leaves the cart at the door of the shop, and keeps his large leaves that serve as his arms folded behind his back like any proper manservant. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa has been dragged into some sort of misadventure now, she can tell with Saracenita turning her attnetion to her and Orchid. "Princess Sundew." Kotone looks fo her for a moment "What do you need help with and really?? I'm just here shopping. Never been here before myself." She admits as she also takes note of Touta for a moment and then back to Orchid she moves to act but she';s already getting help to get back up she looks at what the store is carrying she notcies the various types of clothing here. With ORchid helepd for the moment she looks at the various sort of clothing for a moment. "This is getting a bit tribal..." the Swimwear section she does notice grins "Huh is this where Alexis got that gift for me from?" 

:'''{{#var:1100|Leyanne (1100)}} has posed:''' Leyanne tenses as the R-word is mentioned. In fact it looks like she's barely managing to keep herself from taking a swing at the poor princess; it's only the fact that she doesn't appear to be saying it with any malice that holds her back. "I'm a -muouse- not a rat." she says, in a very level tone. "Not a Mouse/r/ either. Please remember that, in the future." She says, taking a breath to try and calm herself down. She steps back a little, looking around. She looks at the store to distract herself, imagining how she might look in some of the clothing... though she double-takes at the dude in the swimsuit... and how much he appears to be /enjoying/ wearing it. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      After helping the two up, Touta takes notice of the store he's in. Robes all over the place, gowns, women's swimwear...      "Uhm...Did I end up in the women's deparment or something?"      That's the only immediate conclusion he can derive from this store. Is he even allowed to be here? People aren't giving him a dirty look right? That'd be awkward. Well it's not like he had been buying anything at least.      Once Leyanne starts talking about being compared to a rat though he know he's got the right one. "I thought you sounded familiar. You're Leyanne from the comms right? Not sure if you remember me but I was on there when that rabbit was trying to cause problems. So this is what you're like in person."      It's at this moment he can't help but look up at Leyanne's eight and a half foot stature with awe. He was pretty impressed.      "Wow you're so tall! I'm kinda jealous..."      Meanwhile, Touta's height was pretty much that of a middle-schooler. Not even 5'5" in height. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      So Orchid is the shortest one here. This is actually typical for her, unless one of the rodent-themed Hunters is around. Okay, to recap. In an interesting looking store with people that need better outfits. She looks around the store, taking things in. "Hmm, maybe you'd look good in one of those," she suggests to Touta with a grin. "And tribal can be good. I like those sundresses, they'd look good on you Kotone." As for the princess... "Hmm. I think you've got the figure for a leotard." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks at Kotone. "Not you, dear. Her." She motions to Orchid. "You seem even more lost than I." she adds before handwaving at Leyanne. "Yes yes, a mouse. It is not as though there are huge differences between mice and rats. Just size and tail fur, really. But, you are definitely not a Mouser. You have yet to destroy anything with explosives. That I have seen, at least."      Sarracenia giggles and handwaves at Orchid's suggestion. "Of course I do, sweetie. But, a princess would never wear such a garish outfit in public." Of course, if not for the frills and long skirt her dress is so tight it could almost pass as a leotard. "Perhaps if I were attending my ballet class or my gymnastics class." She is considering those leotards now, though. 

:'''{{#var:1100|Leyanne (1100)}} has posed:''' Leyanne blinks and smiles at Touta, nodding. "I am." She agrees. "And yes, I am... even for my species. Mars is low gravity, around a third of what most species seem to have in the 'verse." She chuckles. "Most folks call me Tiny, it's my callsign from the Freedom Fighters, it's kinda stuck with me, y' know?" And then Sarracenia digs the hole deeper. There's a growl from Leyanne, who looks to Touta. "One moment." She says, before turning to Sarracenia. The princess will suddenly find a plastic hand closing on the front of her clothing, before she's lifted up to eye level. Leyanne's eye level. Leyanne is being very careful not to actually /hurt/ her - just scare her. "There is a very big difference between mice and rats." she enunciates, very carefully, and very quietly through gritted teeth. "Skull shape, and as you mentioned, the fur on the tail. There are many other physiological and psychological differences. I advise you spend time learning them, is that clear?" And then the mouse sets her back down, considering the point made. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      "You're from Mars?! That's so cool! I mean, I know people from outer space but they don't seem to get that tall. Well, there is that one guy with the goat skull for a head but I don't know if that's the same!"      He was overjoyed to hear about her being some sort of martian mouse for some apparent reason. As for what that reason was mostly just some sort of association. Though the joy ceases the moment he realizes just how powerful an 8 and a half mouse can be. Thankfully it seems that she has much better self control than a certain rabbit acquaintence they were familiar with.      It's also at this moment Touta hears Orchid's suggestion. "Huh, I thought this was a girl's only store. Alright, yeah I'll give that try. Looks pretty weird though. Must be a speedo or something." And with that little tidbit the young man finds a pair in his size before walking into one of the changing rooms...      Is Orchid proud of what she's about to cause? 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa is yes towering over Orchid for a moment "Maybe on the trible bit and Sundresses?" She'll go to take a look at them and see if she cna find one she likes. Kotone smirk a bit at the metion of a Leotard sort of outfit, but hey she can't throw stones. After all if anyone's seen how the stealth armour from her world is.. She nods in undertand to the Princess as she now ges it wasn't to her. "Lets not get into trouble here? We're all here to shop right?" She also tkaes note to Touta for a moment. "...wait what?" 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      Muahahahaha.      Okay, so Orchid also enjoys the male form in skimpy attire. Now, she's a bit conflicted on what she should do here. Watch the possible fight? Intervene? Or try and get these two into outfits. "I dunno, I heard that there was a princess that ran around the multiverse wearing a leotard," she comments to Sarracenia, then adds to Leyanne. "And you, my dear, would look rather regal in some of those long flowing robes." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia might have forgiven the tone. She might even have forgiven the threatening command given. But...when she is picked up by the front of her dress, she flails. "What are you-?!" And then Leyanne gives her speech before setting the princess down. Those good-natured princesses would probably apologize to Leyanne and let the matter pass.      Sarracenia is not one of those. She lets out a growly 'nnnng?!' before despite her smaller stature she gets as much in Leyanne's face as she can. "How dare you lay a hand on me! You do realize who I am, right?! I am -Princess- -Sarracenia-!" She makes sure to clearly enunciate each of those two words just as Leyanne did mice and rats. "Perhaps you -are- a Mouser after all! Your manners and temperment seem the type! All you have to do is throw an explosive and it shall be confirmed! I do not know how royalty is treated where you come from, but where I come from you could be imprisoned for treating me in such a way!"      Gregory, her piranha plant servant, really doesn't seem at all upset about either Leyanne's treatment of Sarracenia or Sarracenia's reaction. He is just silent with that sort of look like he is tired of dealing with such things. He doesn't even look toward the pair. He just stares at the back wall of the store impassively. When Orchid mentions hearing that a princess supposedly goes about the multiverse in a leotard it distracts Sarra somewhat. "In -only- a leotard?" she asks skeptically. Unfortunately, Kotone's plea is not quite enough to keep Sarra from continuing to glare at the very rude mouse who manhandled her completely without provocation. "Yes. It would be quite unladylike to get in a fight during a shopping trip." she agrees, even though she never looks away from Leyanne. 

:'''{{#var:1100|Leyanne (1100)}} has posed:''' Leyanne growls "I don't care if you're the Queen of Sheba." She growls to Sarracenia. Her hand comes up for -just- a moment, but Kotone's words get through to her. "Imagine, just for a moment... someone mistook you for a commoner, eh? Didn't accord you /any/ of the courtesies you're being given... no bodyguards, none of that... biggest insult you could take, right? Then consider you've basically just done that to me by inferring I'm a rat. Last person who did that... well... it got ugly. Big argument, will probably come to blows one day. Princess, if we ever got into a real fight, I don't mean any offense but I would break you. Think of others a little, the sun doesn't shine out of your arse." 

:'''{{#var:1100|Leyanne (1100)}} has posed:''' Leyanne doesn't appear to have noticed Orchid's dress suggestions, unfortunately. She's too wrapped up in attempting to stay calm. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone will pick out one of the sundresses sure it might be useful to have one but it's not something she'd wear traveling off her home world. She picks one out well enough but she now looks to see the trouble that's brewing. "Hey I seen people wering battle thongs and bikinis like it was nothing out here." She notes for a moment she however looks back to the pair gauging if she needs to act, anyone with senor might pick up a power spike from Kotone's cyborg body for a moment, but then it powers down. 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      Orchid sliiiides over to Kotone. "I hope you have some way of bringing these two down without causing too much damage," she whispers to her friend. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia takes a step back and reaches for her purse when Leyanne raises a hand, but as it is lowered again she just huffs. "Oh, you mean like you just did? Just like everyone does almost EVERY DAY?! If I did not have this crown no one would even know I'm a princess! Do YOU know how it feels to be an obscure princess?! No one knows the Sundew Kingdom! No one knows me! I may as well be a commoner for all the good it does me! And I did not infer that you were a rat! You are obviously a mouse! Nor did I mean to imply you are a rat! If you are so sensitive about being compared to a rat then wear a hat that says 'Not a Rat!' or something!" She huffs after that and crosses her arms, a confident smirk appearing on her face. "If you think I am a pushover in a fight merely because I am a princess, then it is -you- who are inferring incorrectly about others. If you wish to compare abilities some day, I have one thing to say." She gives her hair a flip and grins. "Bring it on. I do not fear a ham-handed mouse who is overly sensitive about minor racial differences."      Gregory the piranha plant continues to stare tiredly at the wall. 

:'''{{#var:1143|Touta Konoe (1143)}} has posed:'''      "Hey what's all the commotion about?!"      And that's when it happened. This was all Orchid's fault by the way. The young man appears from out of the changing room for all to see. Taken from his usual attire the young man would be wearing what was female's attire. Though, whether by luck or compassion the sales clerk hadn't provided him with the top piece for the ensemble. Truthfully the middle-schooler looked like he had put on some sort of speedo. But apparently it was enough to draw the attention of many of those in the store. Whether he looked good in it or not though...Well, that was up for the viewer to decide.      At least Touta works out enough that he looks really...Toned in that swimsuit.      "Seriously, come on guys. This is a mall, you can't just start fights. People are staring at you..." 

:'''{{#var:1100|Leyanne (1100)}} has posed:''' Leyanne folds her arms. "If you weren't a princess, darling, I'd already have bent you into a pretzel." She says, calmly. Touta's words help. "Mainly the fact that you didn't keep on insisting I was one... has done you some favours. Look... it's a sensitive topic amongst my people. Bad blood, old wars... old hate that we as a species should probably try and learn to spit out and..." She trails off as she catches sight of Touta. "...I'm sorry, what was I saying? Oh! Yeah. Listen. Didn't mean to... get so touchy." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa replies very quitely. "Yes." She wtches now looking to see how this pans out. She keeps ready watching both for a moment she seem like she expect something to go bad and to go bad here. Still she's waiting she's watching. She relaxes a little bit but does keep primed for trouble. "Old blood causes people to hate the other side more than they love their children." 

:'''{{#var:6384|Orchid (6384)}} has posed:'''      Well, one side has backed down, now Orchid watches the princess, to see if she'll also deescalate. Then again, what does Orchid know about princesses. "Well, I'm glad we have a backup, and I'm glad the jumbo mouse backed down, but let's see how her highness acts." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia looks skeptical despite Leyanne's obvious strength and size when it comes to the pretzel comment, but the mouse's de-escalation combined with the comments from everyone else and...      Sarracenia blinks a few times as Touta emerges in that almost speedo. "Uh...sure. All is forgiven." Sarracenia says distractedly, flabbergasted by Touta's current appearance. Not only are young children not supposed to wear such things, but they also aren't supposed to be so buff. It's weird enough to make her forget the argument. She giggles a bit, but even she isn't so cruel as to make a kid feel self-conscious. "It..um..looks good!" she says to Touta, trying hard not to laugh and to look sincere. She is barely succeeding, if at all. "P-perhaps we should try another store now." she manages, her words broken by barely stifled giggles. "Perhaps a hat store!" she lightly teases Leyanne. "B-but first...Gregory, be sure to secure on of those queen's dresses in the proper colors. If it has pink..." She glares at him. He doesn't really have eyes so he can't roll them, but the small plant creature obviously would if he had them. He bows to the princess then waddles to the counter to put in the princess's custom order. "Miss..." She pauses, finger tapping to her lips. "Did you introduce yourself? Well, anyway, which store would you suggest next?" 

:'''{{#var:1100|Leyanne (1100)}} has posed:''' Leyanne gapes a few times at Touta and his current appearance, before nodding a little. "If you're still up for a sparring match, though, I know a great place for it." She suggests. "Wait..." SHe looks at Orchid. "Did you say something about robes? I've never tried robes..." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa is going to go buy hte dress and pay for it, while she leavs the others for the moment she does keep an eye on the princess for a moment maybe she should talk ot hte Grandmaster about this incident. Even though Greg can't see it, the plant thing gets a symathic look from Kotone as she goes to pay. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia smirks confidently at Leyanne's suggestion. "It would be fun, I think. Just name a time and place, and I will be happy to show you my magnificent fighting style." she says, full of arrogance but not malice. At the mention of robes Sarracenia giggles. "Sweetie, there are robes all around us. Half this store is robes. Perhaps more!"      Gregory finishes placing the order for the princess and returns to her side. 
}}

6350/The City and the Undercity

2019-02-04T23:40:01Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/02/01 |Location=The Undercity, Planet M15 |Synopsis=A young child calls for help, and elites respond. |Cast of Characters=6704, 973 |pretty=ye..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/02/01
|Location=The Undercity, Planet M15
|Synopsis=A young child calls for help, and elites respond.
|Cast of Characters=6704, 973
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      On one of the communications channels, a staticky signal comes in. "...um...h-hello? Is this working? My name is Jerry and...um...well some of us heard that people had been visiting from somewhere else. We're really hungry, and my sister is sick. Is anyone out there?" It sounds like a young boy, probably around 12, and he sounds like he thinks he might get in trouble if anyone catches him.      The signal, weak though it is, is easily tracked to the world known only as The Planet and The City that is the only settlement on the entire world. Solty heard the call as well, and is waiting for a friend who she hasn't seen since their dinner together. She is anxious, bouncing lightly on her feet as she waits just outside the RUC Containment Area. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko Ayano comes walking up, after exiting the local Warp Gate. She's chosen to not use her Avatar just yet, since this seems more of a humanitarian mission than anything. She's got a satchel over one shoulder, and a small dragonling perched on the other, like some strange kind of bird. She doesn't need to be transformed for her pets to be out, apparently!     On spotting Solty, she lifts her free arm and gives a wave, "Ooooooi! Solty-sa~n!" she chirps, picking up the pace and moving in to give the android a hug. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty gives Keiko a big hug and a happy smile before reaching up to give the little dragon a pat on the head. "Hello Silica! Er..wait, should I use Keiko instead right now?" Her eyes look upward as she considers, but shrugs lightly after a moment. "That's not important! Roy said that signal probably came from underground, but he wasn't willing to go check it out. He said something about the unregistered citizens living down there? I told him that it didn't matter though. We should still help if we can."      She takes Keiko's hand and starts running. "Come on! We should hurry! His sister could be really sick!" She leads Silica to a back alley, and what looks like a sewer cover. "Roy said it's down there." She lifts the cover easily and sets it aside, then peers hesitantly down into the darkness. It certainly doesn't smell fresh, but at least it doesn't actually seem to be a sewer. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "Either's fine, but I kinda prefer having a 'Hero Name' and my normal name, even if I don't exactly have a secret identity." replies Keiko, then nods as she's pulled along. "I brought my first aid kit and some extra food. Can't leave children to starve and die, it's just not right." she says, afixing her Augma over her eye as she follows after Solty. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty lets out an 'oooooh' of understanding and appreciation as Silica explains about her hero name. Solty nods quickly and smiles. "Right. So, Keiko..." She looks into the hole again, then swallows nervously. "Um...I guess I'll go first, just in case there is danger." she says, then just hops down. There's really no telling how far down the floor is, and there is a ladder, so Solty must not be too concerned about taking fall damage.      The access tunnel turns out to be about 20 feet deep before finally hitting the floor and leading off down another tunnel. Despite it being both underground and beneath a veritable metropolis, the tunnels seem...space age. Like something you might see in the bowels of a starship. The tunnels are dirty and grimey, but don't seem to actually be rusty. And rather than the dull brown one usually sees in this kind of big underground tunnel, it is still a polished metallic silvery-blue.      Solty's ears are twitching before they even start moving down the tunnels. "I...I hear people. Lots of people!" They have to walk a good distance through this tunnel, but eventually there are voices to be heard. Just people talking in normal tones about normal things like the weather above ground, how their family members are doing, and other typical conversational topics.      Finally, after about 200 feet, the tunnel opens up into a MASSIVE underground cavern that is clearly completely artificial. Buildings have been built into the walls of the rock using concrete and precision drilling. The cavern looks big enough to contain a passenger cruise ship if it were standing on its end, and there are walkways visible all the way down in floors, with other walkways crisscrossing the open area in the middle. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko follows Solty at a much more sane pace, by climbing down the ladder. Pina flutters off of her shoulder and follows the android girl down and perches between those ears, chirruping softly.     Once Keiko has alighted at the bottom of the shaft, she adjusts her satchel and starts walking after Solty, her brown eyes marvelling at the construction. "Mister Kirito would probably have a field day in here, this looks like some really advanced construction."     And then the giant underground cavern opens up and she boggles at the buildings and walkways. "This is... enormous... all this is below the city?" 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty blinks as she feels the little dragon perch on her head, then she lets out a little giggle of cuteness and excitement before waiting for Silica to get there. She seems just as amazed as Keiko when they reach the enormous cavern. "It...it seems so." she says, mouth hanging open a bit as she looks around.      Almost as soon as they arrive the people start giving them suspicious looks and give them a wide berth. There is even some disgruntled grumbling from some of the more downtrodden-looking people. Finally they are approached by a pretty big guy who looks none-to-happy to see them. "What are you /topsiders/ doing down here?" he asks, then blinks. "...and what the hell is that?" he adds, pointing to the little dragonling. Two more tough guys join him a moment later, and while they don't look violent just yet, they clearly don't care for the visitors. "If you two are down here to cause trouble, you can just head back to the surface right now." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "Oh, please, excuse our intrusion. We don't mean to cause harm." says Keiko as the big men come up to the pair. "My name is Keiko Ayano, this is my friend Solty Revant and the little dragon is my pet, Pina." she explains, bowing formally. "There was a radio transmission from a young sounding boy, his sister is sick? We came down to offer help."     As she says this, she very slowly and carefully picks up the satchel, holding it so it can be seen into easily and opens it without hiding where her hands are. Inside are some generic first-aid supplies. Bandages, antiseptic cream, cleaning spray and painkiller tablets. There's also some wrapped up food parcels in the other pocket, about enough for ten people to get at least a meager meal, or half that to get something at least decent. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty actually takes a few steps back when the three big men approach. "Um..." Keiko explains, and Solty nods in agreement. "We just want to help!"      The three men peer into the bag, then the leader hmphs. "We don't need help from topsiders. If someone down here is sick, we make sure they get what they need to get better. Especially kids." he says. It is obviously a matter of pride for them. "So, just take all that stuff and head back to the surface. Whatever these kids need, we'll make sure they get it. The City doesn't want to help us, and we're fine with-"      "Excuse me." The man's speech is interrupted by another tall man, only slightly less broad but with a definite strength about him, like a swimmer compared to a body builder. His clothing makes him look like the dashing rogue type. A black overcoat, black boots that come up almost to his knees, puffy white breeches, and a tight-fitting grey-blue shirt. This appearance is helped even more by his intense green eyes and his pale red hair, which is expertly groomed and cut short except for the long bangs that frame his handsome face.      The lead man looks over at him before raising an eyebrow. "What, Larry?" he asks, and the red-haired man smirks. "You aren't going to turn down aid from two lovely ladies just because they are topsiders, are you? That would be incredibly rude, especially since Miss Keiko here obviously comes from this Multiverse we've heard about and may have travelled vast distances to come here."      The three men grumble before backing off. "If you want to take responsibility for anything they do while they're here, fine. Just make sure they don't cause any trouble."      Larry just gives a slight roguish smirk, almost like he practices such expressions. "Don't worry." he says, then looks to Keiko and gives a small wink. "I'll take good care of them." The three men walk off, and Larry holds out a hand. "Larry Anderson, of the Anderson Brothers. Pleased to meet you." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko bows once again to Larry, then takes the hand to perform a handshake. She's met men like this before, so if he attempts to kiss her hand she politely retrieves it. "Thank you, Mister Anderson... do you know where the children are? The boy sounded very anxious and I would like to find them quickly. My medical knowledge is mostly to do with animals, but there is some cross compatability with my skills." She blushes a bit. "Also... what is this place?"     As she speaks, Pina flutters up from Solty's head to land on Keiko's shoulder again, giving Larry a bit of a stink-eye. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty seems relieved when the three men leave, but also regards Larry with some suspicion. She lets out a very quiet 'aw' as Pina returns to Keiko, but most of her attention is on Larry.      Larry does indeed try to kiss Keiko's hand in classic style, but she pulls it back before he can actually plant the kiss. He simply ignores the refusal and nods. "Of course. My brother and I make it our mission to know who needs what down here in the Undercity. I believe the child you are looking for is named Jerry? He lives a few levels down. He and his sister have no parents, so Andy and I try to keep tabs on them. This way."      It is once again quite a walk, but in a few minutes they reach Jerry's house. It is dug out of the rock itself, basically a door and a single window leading to a pretty small abode, no bigger than most living rooms. Jerry opens the door a few moments later and blinks. "Oh, hi Larry? What's up? And who are these two?" It seems the two kids actually live by themselves down here.      Larry introduces Solty and Keiko, and Jerry's eyes get as big as saucers. "Oh wow! It really worked! People from outside really came! I didn't think they would!"      Solty blinks. "Oh..um, I'm not actually from outside the City."      Jerry peers at her. "...then what's up with those ears."      Solty blushes a bit and laughs self-consciously. "They...they're just my ears." The boy looks skeptical, but shrugs and smiles. "Well, come on in! Kari's over here. Did you guys bring medicine and food?" 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "Hello Jerry." says Keiko, crouching down to talk to the boy with a soft smile. "I have some basic medicine, but I'm not really a doctor. Do you know what's wrong with Kari?" she asks, then stands to follow the boy inside. "I did bring some extra food with me, and I can try to arrange more if you want it."     Once led to Kari, Keiko settles onto her knees beside the girl, and unpacks things from her satchel, then goes about doing some diagnostics. Back of fingers against forehead to check for a raised temperature, feeling her pulse, and speaking to the girl if she's conscious, asking how she feels and if anywhere hurts, as well as if she has any injuries.     Pina settles down next to the girl as well, curling up near her hand, in case she wants to try petting it. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Jerry is distracted by Pina as Keiko speaks to him and asks about Kari. "Woah! Where'd you get a pet lizard that will ride on your shoulder?" he asks before blinking. "Oh, well..."      Kari is on a sleeping bag nearby. She looks to be about 6 years old, has red hair and blue eyes, and is curled up with a worn stuffed horse toy. She does seem to be having trouble breathing freely, and coughs pretty often. As Pina approaches she giggles a bit, but even that causes her to cough before she actually pets the little dragon. She looks a bit scared as Keiko approaches, but doesn't stop the diagnostics. Her eyes get pretty big when she sees the food that Keiko brought, though.      When asked how she feels, Kari coughs a bit before managing to speak. "My throat hurts...and my chest too. And my head." She has a noticable temperature, but her pulse is kind of fast. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem too serious yet.      "She's been coughing like that for at least a week now. Unfortunately, we can't take her to the hospital in the City. Unregistered citizens aren't allowed above ground, and don't have access to city services." Larry says as he watches. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "Pulse is fast...not too fast but we really need to get a professional to look her over. I can treat the symptoms, but the root cause, I can't identify." She smiles softly at Kira, pushing a bit of that red hair out of the girl's face, then unpacks one of the food parcels. It's simple fair, some bread, a bit of cheese, some meat, and a little box of fruit juice. "If we could get her to a Multiversal Hospital, they don't have such restrictions... but why would the government put such restrictions on health care, especially for children like this?"     She sounds a little bitter, which causes Pina to lift its head and chirrup softly. "It's fine, Pina..." a sigh, and Keiko looks at Jerry. "Pina's one of my oldest friends. I met her in another world, one I didn't really belong in. She helped protect me, and together we survived." then something seems to click... "Pina, Heal!"     The Dragon then perks, and turns to look at Kira, before opening its mouth wide. Green light seems to bubble up in the back of its throat, before a soft green mist sprays out over the girl, seeping into her skin on contact.     The effect, though minimal, is instantaneous, the pain subsides a little, and the tightness in the chest from coughing eases just a bit. "It won't last long.. but we can probably move her and I can make sure she gets treatment offworld." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Jerry takes a turn petting Pina as Silica talks, but seems more worried than before as she explains. He looks to Larry, who seems unsure. "People around here are kind of...xenophobic, I guess you could say. Anyone not from the Undercity is regarded as a possible danger, and they don't like people who have more than them or act superior. Like that guy said, we take care of our own and take pride in our ability to do so."      Kari takes the food and drink as soon as it is open, and starts to scarf it down but has to slow down with a wince when she swallows. Even that though is solved in a moment, and all three of the Undercity citizens stare wide-eyed at what Pina did. Kari's eyes widen even more when her throat doesn't hurt as bad and she can breathe more easily, and Solty's eyes are practically sparkling. "Ooooh. Magic! That's so neat! I've been trying to learn, but so far it hasn't been going well."      Larry's expression makes it clear that he's never even heard of actual magic before, much less seen it. "Wow...if we could learn things like that we really would be self-sufficient down here." he says as he watches Kari eat and breathe happily. He thinks for a moment. "Look, there'd be trouble if you tried to take her out of here, but if you can arrange for someone who can cure her to come down here we can swing that."      Jerry joins Kari in eating, and both children look pretty happy now. Though Kari does still cough every now and then. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "I'll have to pull in some favours I'm owed... unfortunately, the magic I know, and the abilities Pina has, are only stop-gaps at best. They suppress the symptoms and ease the pain, but don't actually cure the cause." Keiko sits back on her haunches in a traditional japanese style, hands folding in her lap as she watches the children eat. "I'll have to get back to you on that, but I'll see if anyone could come help out through my contacts in the Syndicate..." she looks up at Larry, and smiles sheepishly. "I can't really teach my magic to others not from my world... it's, complicated, but the short answer to 'why not', is that it's tied to this device." she gestures to her Augma. "Noone else can use this one but me... and getting one requires a very special kind of person on my world."     Pina settles down beside Kari, resting its head on the girl's lap and emitting soft trills of contentment. Pina does love children, after all. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Larry offers an actual genuine smile and nods to Keiko. "Thanks. I'm sure we could have taken care of her, but she'll get better much faster this way." he says as he too watches the kids from his spot leaning against the doorframe. "As for your question...well, it's like this. The RUC controls everything in the City, and supposedly there aren't enough resources to care for registered and unregistered citizens. But, registration itself is a broken system. If a kid is found and no one can find his or her parents or otherwise identify them, they get thrown down here. Kids born to unregistered parents are automatically unregistered citizens, and there isn't any sort of petition or class to get registered. The only way an unregistered can become a registered is if they are adopted by a registered citizen when they are a kid, and even that is only possible if the kid is orphaned. RUC may call us unregistered, but they still keep track of the family lines for enforcement purposes. And if you're a registered citizen somehow but it's discovered that your parents were unregistered, then they revoke your citizenship and you end up down here."      Larry frowns. "The RUC and a lot of the topsiders treat us like we are lesser people just because we got stuck down here. One day we're gonna fix that, though. Especially with this Multiverse place out there now. I think the hard part will be convincing the people down here to actually accept aid. As you've seen, we're pretty proud of the lives we've managed to build down here despite all the handicaps handed down by the RUC."      Kari and Jerry take turns petting Pina as they eat, and of course can't resist stretching and folding Pina's wings every now and then. "So, does that mean we could get a little dragon?" Jerry asks with his mouth mostly full. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "There's places in the Multiverse where you can adopt dragon whelps." replies Keiko to Jerry. Pina, meanwhile, tolerates the manhandling rather well, seeming pleased that it's brightening the children's day, even a little. "Do you have a council or some kind of leader?" she asks Larry, next, standing and dusting herself off out of habit. "I'd like to speak to them if they will hear me."     Keiko's face has taken on a much more serious cast now, a steely glint entering her eyes as she looks at the man. "Even the strongest warrior cannot win a war alone, nor can a city stand without aid... it is not a weakness to ask for, or accept help from others, the opposite, in fact." she places a hand on her chest. "I know this from my own experience.. I nearly lost Pina, because I was bullheaded and refused to accept help from anyone... Mister Kirito taught me a valuable lesson when he helped me get the item I needed to bring her back." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Larry chuckles at the question about a leader. "We don't have our own government or anything if that's what you mean, but there's a few people like myself that the entire community respects and listens to if they say something. His smirk fades to a more neutral expression as he sees that steely glint in Keiko's eyes. It returns a moment later, but with more of a respectful look to it. "Maybe, but when you're used to no one helping you then it becomes seen as a weakness to take help from outside."      Keiko's story makes everyone look over at her. Larry is the first to speak up. "There's more to you than it seems." he says. Jerry and Kari are quietly discussing if they could somehow adopt a dragon. Solty has just been quietly watching all of this, but is obviously sympathizing with the Undercity people if her expression is any indication. "Who's Kirito? And what happened to Pina?" she asks after a few moments. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "It was years ago, Solty... I was about Jerry's age..." begins Keiko. "I won't go into the details, but, I left the group I was traveling with in a dangerous area because I was too proud to admit I needed them... I went into the forest, and was ambushed by a group of monsters. They nearly killed me, but Pina intercepted the killing blow, holding them off long enough for Mister Kirito to kill them... she died in the process though."     Keiko's eyes look over at Pina, who chirps softly. "Mister Kirito is the leader of our Guild... the Gatecrasher's Union. We specialized in saving people from terrible situations. I'll ask him if we can do anything to help down here, even if it's not really appreciated." she chuckles softly. "Mister Kirito was always a loner, it's why this situation reminds me of him." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty gasps. "You were fighting monsters when you were that young?" she asks, a bit horrified. "I'm glad we don't have monsters here." she adds after a moment. Larry too seems surprised. "Much more to you than it seems." he says with a bit of a chuckle. "I wouldn't say we're in that bad of a situation down here. True we don't have the best healthcare, but we manage to keep everyone from going hungry and there's no epidemics or anything. It's as much the principle as the hardship, if that makes sense. There shouldn't be a lower class of citizens. Everyone should be equal. But if you and this Kirito want to try, I won't stop you.      The children's day seems considerably brighter thanks to Keiko's and Pina's visit. They've finished off the meal and are concentrating on Pina now. Kari has picked Pina up and is gently moving her up and down to a song she is obviously making up about cute dragons named Pina and healing breath. Jerry is pouting a bit though as Kari monopolizes Pina. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "I can't make any promises, of course, but I'll ask him if there's anything we can do." replies Keiko, then looks over to Solty. "I'll explain when there aren't children present... I wouldn't want to upset them." She adds, smiling over at Jerry and Kira. Pina is a very tolerant little dragon, especially since Kira seems much happier now.     She does see Jerry pouting, and taps her Augma, making the eyepiece begin to glow faintly with blue light. She then makes some gestures in the air, 'tapping' something then flicking her hand downwards, as if pulling something open. Tap, tap. Tap-sliiide. Taptap. It all looks very strange, until another creature materializes. It's a sinuous snake-like creature with feathery wings fluttering to keep it aloft. It hisses at Keiko, nuzzling her cheek before the Beast Mistress gestures toward Jerry. Nana, the Flying Serpent, slowly approaches the boy, being as non-threatening as possible. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty looks over at the children, then nods lightly. "Okay. I understand." she says.      Jerry blinks as a flying snake floats over to him. He seems uncertain at first. Snakes are a little more scary than tiny dragons. Still, it has wings, and was summoned by Keiko, so he hesitantly reaches out to try petting it. Kari, being a small child, sees the new creature and it draws her attention from Pina. She still hugs the little dragon like some kind of plushie, but is watching Jerry and Nana now.      Larry nods to Keiko and waves a hand dismissively. "Like I said, no one down here will really care if we don't get help. We want to change this city ourselves." He finally stands up from leaning against the wall. "Well, if you've done all you can you should get going. The longer you're here the more chance that someone might try something. There's no police down here, just us. So I'd rather we avoid trouble if we can." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko gestures to the satchel. "Keep that.. the medicine will help with the pain and coughing, at least for a while. There's also bandages and other supplies if you get hurt. The food is yours too." she smiles to the children, as Nana lightly coils around Jerry's forearm after being petted. It hisses softly and just seems to be a docile cuddle-noodle, with wings.     Pina, if its expression ever changed, would look rather nonplussed at being cuddled like a plushie, but lifts her head and boops her snoot against Kira's chin.     "We should get going, but I kind of need my pets back." she says, looking apologetic at the kids while the two pets start trying to return to their mistress. Nana gives Jerry a nuzzle on the cheek, and Pina attempts to ease herself out of Kira's grasp, turning and giving her another puff of Healing Mist once freed. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Both kids let out a syncronized 'awww!' as Keiko says she needs her pets back, but both let them go without much fuss. "Bye Pina." Kari says sadly, waving to the little dragon. Jerry waves too, then stands up and moves to give Keiko a hug. Kari follows soon after, feeling well enough to move around after two healing spells. "Will you come back and visit again, Miss Keiko?" Kari asks, looking up at her with big blue eyes. "I hope so. You're like a big sister now!" she says with a giggle.      Solty smiles as she watches, and Larry places a hand on Keiko's shoulder. "Come on. Let her go now, kids. I'm sure she'll come back if she can. But she has to leave now." he says, a gentle smile on his face. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko hugs the kids back, dropping to her knees to get closer to them. "I'll try to come back." she says, squeezing both fondly, before easing away and standing up. She looks to Solty and Larry, then nods. "Wouldn't want to cause any trouble." she says, then with a soft click of her tongue, calls her pets back to her. Pina lands on her shoulder, while Nana coils around the opposite upper arm, almost like they had their own designated roosting positions or something! 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Both kids wave as Keiko, Solty, and Larry head back toward the entrance tunnel, giggling a bit at how the two pets take up what are obviously special spots for them.      Larry bids them goodbye as Keiko and Solty start back down the tunnel, then chuckles. "Andy is never going to believe this." he says as they walk away.      "Thanks for coming, Keiko." Solty says with a happy smile as they walk down the tunnel once more. "It was nice to see you again. I'm sure Roy would let you stay the night if you wanted." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko pets Pina gently on the head, then looks at Solty. "I should head back to Haven... I need to talk to Tomoe and the others and get some feelers out in the Network. The sooner we can start getting people involved in this, the better. Especially for those kids." she says, moving to give Solty a one-arm hug as they walk down the tunnel. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty smiles happily at the hug and hugs back with both arms even as they walk. "You're right." She sighs softly. "I had heard about unregistered citizens, but...I didn't know they had to live underground and without any support from the RUC. I hope we can help them, and maybe even let them live up here one day." 
}}

6318/A Hunter Visits Spira

2019-01-15T09:04:18Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/01/15 |Location=Bevelle, Spira |Synopsis=Samus Aran follows rumors of plentiful hunting to a strange world with a friendly dragon. |Cast of Ch..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/01/15
|Location=Bevelle, Spira
|Synopsis=Samus Aran follows rumors of plentiful hunting to a strange world with a friendly dragon.
|Cast of Characters=528, 6875
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      It is late in the day in Bevelle. The sun is heading toward the horizon and the sky has taken on an orange hue. Silhouettes of airships dot the sky above the city, many people are heading home, but tourist-focused businesses are still open and serving.      Many large platforms serve as landing pads for ships of various kinds, and there doesn't seem to be any sort of air traffic control. It probably isn't needed, since only a few ships are landing or leaving at any given time. The city seems built around a huge pyramid-like structure in the middle of the city, with tiers and roads leading outward from it. High walls form the lowest tier, keeping the coastal city safe from large waves. And atop those walls are well armed city guards, ready to respond at a moment's notice to any threat. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' There's something new - a vessel never before seen in Spira. Something coming down from above that loks like some kind of strange flat helmet. It hovers in the air above this metropolis, but after an attempt at communication with... anyone... that seems to be not heard, finds a landing pad a bit of a distance from the city. It lands and hovers ten feet off the ground, just waiting there for a while. It doesn't seem to be a threat but it is certainly weird. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Landing prompts a trio of port guards to approach the ship. They look pretty relaxed, the front one even carrying a sphere that looks much like swirling water. He approaches the front of the ship and raises a hand, then makes a few motions that must be intended as a sign to exit the vehicle. All three are well armored and carry large blade weapons, but they are all locked securely to the trios' backs. Their armor is steel with gold accents, and they wear badges depicting what looks like a dragon's head with glowing blue runic writing below it.      If and when the door opens the lead guard boredly says, "Please state your name and business here in Bevelle." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Something unlatches, and a platform descends from the middle of the vessel, carrying with it a figure in completely garbed in power armor from head to toe, revealing nothing of the person who's inside it. With a voice that sounds vaguely but indistintly masculine (compliments of vocal synthesis), she states, "My name is Samus Aran, bounty hunters, affiliated with the Paladins. I have heard of a problem with... I think the word was fiends though that doesn't seem very specific. Was hoping to perhaps take care of some 'fiends' for the right price." She then frowns, the figure's head focusing on that emblem. "That emblem you wear... what is it supposed to stand for?" The voice sounds suddenly much less pleasant and suspicious. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      The guards listen, then look down at their badges. "They represent the n-"      Before they can finish, there is a booming roar from somewhere not too far away, and rising from the water is a large, silvery dragon with colorful wings, a long tail...and talons so big and sharp they are visible even from what must be hundreds of feet away. It rises above the water steadily, then comes to a hover as a golden gyro on its back starts to spin. It sparks with white lightning and steadily glows more and more brightly, then that energy starts arcing around to its mouth. It builds steadily into a huge orb of swirling grey and white and blue before a beam as thick as the beast itself fires downward into the water.      The guards have turned to watch, but for some reason haven't yet drawn their weapons. The beam of blue-white hammers into the water for a few long seconds, then the beast banks away before a huge explosion of water and energy erupts upward. It roars again before flying toward the town! 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran immediately turns to face this seeming threat, arm-cannon raised and primed, and humming. Golden energy is slowly forming at the aperture of the cannon and even these guards could tell that that's some kind of weapon. "What _is_ that thing?" she growls as she gets ready to attack if necessary... then the being just.... attacks the water it came from then flies towards the town and toward where she is... then glances at the guards. "Ummmm... this... creature... is flying towards us... and... you aren't... even caring?" She seems puzzled. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      In fact, rather than drawing their weapons in preparation for the creature, the guards have drawn on Samus instead. "Lower your weapon, visitor!" the lead guard commands. "We won't ask you twice!" The two guards in back have their smaller weapons brandished while energy is building in their free hands, one obviously fire energy and the other ice energy.      The dragon, who had been headed merely in their general direction, is now definitely headed toward Samus and the dock. It may have been attracted by her weapon, or perhaps her unusual ship, but whatever the reason...the dangerous creature is bearing down on her and the guards. And they still don't seem worried. Nor does anyone else on the docks, though some of the citizens nearby are heading away from Samus and the guards. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran just frowns as the charged energy dissipates as she lowers her arm-cannon. "Fine. But what the hell is going on? From what I undrestand, creatures that look like that are not... to be welcomed with oepn arms..." She just blinks. "Perhaps I should just go. I can find a bounty somewhere else....?" She sounds very puzzled as she watches Bahamut approach. 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      The guards lower their weapons as well and their spells dissapate as Samus stands down. The lead guard hmphs. "I guess you're brand new to Spira." he says. The guards actually turn and salute as Bahamut flies past, and the beast banks around before landing on the platform on all fours, causing a small shockwave. He lets out a deep rumble as he slowly stands. His wings spread and his arms cross over his chest, presenting a regal and powerful figure.      "Is there trouble?" the dragon asks the guards. They shake their heads. "No, Lord Bahamut. This visitor is simply unfamiliar with our world. I don't think he meant any harm. He actually said he's here to try and become a guardian."      The dragon stands some 15 feet in height, and up close is much more of a gunmetal blue with purple, gold, and red plumage and gold down the middle of his torso. He steps toward Samus, his intelligent, intense blue eyes focused on her. "What is your name, would-be guardian?" he rumbles in a deep, strong voice. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran blinks. "A guardian? No, I just came to hunt some of what is called 'fiends'. I'm a bounty hunter. I am Samus Aran. And forgive my... aggression. I have a long painful history with an entity that looks similar to you." She sighs softly. "Of course, you're not the one I care about. But... I find it hard to be... calm... around dragon-like creatures." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      Since Samus seems peaceful, Bahamut waves the guards away. They take pictures of Samus and her ship using the sphere, then head back to their post. "Did you say...Samus?" he asks, apparently finding the name familiar. He chuckles after that. "This is not the first time that I have been mistaken for one homicidal creature or another. Indeed, this draconic form has been as troublesome as it has been a blessing." he says, then offers a regal bow, one arm over his chest and the other extending out to his side. "I am Bahamut, Aeon of Bevelle and King of Spiran Dragons. It is an honor to meet you, Samus Aran."      "As for your status as a guardian, a Guardian is the traditional name given to any who slay fiends as a profession. If you are here to hunt fiends, then you will be a guardian in time. If you wish to be paid for it, there is already a bounty program in place. I can escort you to the registration office. There you can obtain a proper permit and a sphere to record your kills." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran sighs as she awkwardly returns the bow. "I am Samus Aran... ummm.... The Hunter. The Legacy of the Chozo." She was trying to make a title for herself. "So... this was the _last_ thing I expected to meet coming here. Could you tell me more about this place? It is new to me. I'm... from somewhere far away and much different." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      "Of course." Bahamut says in answer to Samus's question before motioning toward the walkway. "This way." He starts walking, each step causing a small rumble. "This is the city of Bevelle. Some call it the jewel of Spira. Whoever told you there is money to be made killing fiends here was correct. There is no shortage of that sort of work. Fiends seem to appear as fast as we slay them. If you witnessed my attack, it was actually on a water fiend that was getting too close to Bevelle."      As they walk, they pass many people, and quite a number of those people are curious about the power-armored person walking through town with their guardian spirit. Bahamut acknowledges as many of them as he can. "As for me," he continues, "...the short version is I am an avatar of the Fayth, or guardian spirit, who used to protect this land. The story of the summoners and the Fayth is quite intriguing, and I encourage you to research it when you have time. Many heroes gave their lives protecting summoners and citizens over the many eons since Sin first appeared. The fiends you may encounter soon enough are actually the angry spirits of the dead given form to seek vengeance on the living simply because they are alive." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran nods. "I am quite adept at it," she states. "Been doing it for a while. This now-dead race gave me their last legacy - they enhanced me. Gave me this armor - I once joined the Federation Police. Had a bit of falling out and walked my own path. Now I slay monsters for profit. It is surprisingly lucrative." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      It isn't far to the registration office. Really it is more of a booth, easily accessible to the people and already has a few well armed people around it. It is apparently a party of guardians who have just returned from a hunt themselves and are boisterously talking about the creatures they have slain. Several names can be heard, including Basalisk, Coerl, and Zu. And judging by the numbers appearing on their sphere as it rests in the bounty redemption device it could be very luctrative to hunt on Spira.      The booth operator asks them if they hunted in the Omega Ruins, and they all stare before laughing. "Are you crazy? No one hunts those ruins! The fiends there are way too strong! The danger is way more than even those bounties would pay!"      The party takes their sphere, then heads off toward what looks like a hotel. Bahamut chuckles lightly. "As you can see, business is booming." He then motions to the operator in the booth. "Introduce yourself." The young lady with long black hair and blue eyes wearing alabaster robes with arms the same color and pattern as Bahamut's wings smiles to Samus and Bahamut. "Hello Lord Bahamut! And hello to you, visitor! I am Mari. How can I help you today?" she says, seeming quite the chipper sort. 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran blinks. "What are those ball objects?" she finally asks. "A form of currency?" She looks around at the others. She then smiles as she looks over at Mari. "My name is Samus Aran. I am a professional bounty hunter, come to this land to hunt these 'fiends'." She looks down at the right arm (the one that ends with the arm cannon). "You'll forgive me for not offering a handshake." 

:'''{{#var:528|Bahamut (528)}} has posed:'''      "We call them spheres." Bahamut answers. "They are...I believe the closest analog to most worlds would be a camera. They are able to record video and take pictures, and also contain information. As such, they are used in this new age to catalogue fiend kills and keep track of currency."      Mari just smiles and waves dismissively at Samus's lack of handshake. "That's alright." She then starts typing on a desk sized sphere with a seemingly holographic monitor. "Samus...Aran.." she says softly to herself. "...applying for guardian status..." There is a flash directed at Samus like a picture being taken, then Mari smiles and hands Samus a sphere. "Alright! You're ready to go! Just make sure you keep this with you and it will make a note of each fiend you vanquish. You don't even have to have it out! Fiend bounties are based on strength and rarity, and sometimes special bounties are submitted for particularly troublesome fiends. So check back every now and then to get your Gil and to see about special bounties." 

:'''{{#var:6875|Samus Aran (6875)}} has posed:''' Samus Aran nods as she takes the sphere and touches it to her armor, and it attaches there unobstrusively. She nods slowly. "Well, off I go. I'll just get a lay of the land first..." She waves, never thought she'd meet a dragon that wasn't trying to kill her. 
}}

6278/The Aurora Shell and the Blast Fall

2018-12-31T08:48:47Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2018/12/30 |Location=Outside The City |Synopsis=A team of Watch scientists try to learn something about the Aurora Shell and the destructive lightn..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2018/12/30
|Location=Outside The City
|Synopsis=A team of Watch scientists try to learn something about the Aurora Shell and the destructive lightning that falls from it.
|Cast of Characters=6704, 934, 711, 894, 6655
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Those entering Solty's world - simply known as 'The Planet' - through typical means of the main warp gate would find themselves in a gigantic dome that encloses the gate. It is apparently for security purposes, but it certainly doesn't give the feel that it is meant merely for the safety of the City.      Assuming one does not cause any trouble, a day pass for the City is easy to obtain with only minor fees and some picture taking much as one might experience when getting a driver's license, and visitors receive an I.D. card very similar to one.      Once outside the containment area, taxis and busses are available to make travel through the sprawling metropolis easy. The target location of the proposed experiment is well outside the city limits, in an area that is very similar to the Grand Canyon area of the United States. There is no water to be found, only sand and dust and big rocks along the canyon's edge. Here, far from any populated areas, any mishaps will only kill those that are attending the experiment.      And naturally, the energetic android with the green hair has insisted on joining Will on his outing. She has been waiting for him outside the containment area. 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' There're experiments to run! Research to be done! Of course, Will will need all kinds of neat beepy and boopy tools to poke and prod at the enormous thunderdome that surrounds this mysterious planet. Once the general rigamarole at the city is finished and done with and everyone comes away with the necessary identification and registration and all that, Will takes a little bit to hire a transporter to carry a whole stack of interesting devices out to what seems at first glance to be an empty plot of land out in the middle of nowhere-- And that would be exactly accurate, in fact. This spot of wasteland out in the middle of nowhere is /exactly/ where Will wants to be. There's absolutely nothing out here that might end up obliterated by the fist of a wrathful upper-atmosphere-god, after all! Nothing except maybe Will and his friends and one peculiar android girl. Will himself comes rolling in on what looks like some kind of weird scifi motorcycle, chugging alongside what appears to be a semi truck from straight out of the 1970s. "Alright pardner," Will calls to the driver. "This is the spot! We'll unload and get a camp goin'. It's time... To do some sciencin'!" What did Will bring along, exactly? Well, a few tents of course. There's also a whole bunch of telescoping antennae, ostensibly to help redirect stray lightning bolts, and... a whole stack of sensing equipment, waveform printers, and big ol' satellite dish-looking things that get pointed up toward the sky. Of course, this is just the ground stuff. "We're gonna need some way of gettin' a sensor module into atmosphere to probe closer t' the barrier," Will says as the camp takes shape. "I've got a few ideas. Rockets, mostly. But that doesn't exactly make for the most controlled ascent..." And of course, he's brought along some people to help keep watch on things... Or even to help him with the science at hand...! 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:'''     Corona has come along a bit more loaded in gear than usual. She may not be specifically technically a scientist but that doesn't mean she's not got her fair share of equipment for analyzing weird things. That's a family trait, poking your nose in things that could be potentially dangerous for the sake of advancement.     Or just being too curious for your own good.     Most of the grumbling comes as mechanical clicks and rattles from Hopalong, because the robotic jackalope is the one that has to carry the extra weight like some sort of pack animal. "Oh quit yer whining. You're stronger." She stops and rubs her hands together, tail giving a few flicks behind her. "So, this is where the crazy stuff is happening, huh?" 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' August Kohler is on his best behavior. Travelling with one of his best friends, William Pauwel, he wants to find out what the Aurora Shell is...and if they can harness it for something else. Energy solutions, defense...weaponization. So, while he dislikes the fact that there's a border dome around the warp gate (though he knows it probably couldn't keep a team out if they really tried), he's not causing any problems, and accepts his ID. When they reach the canyon area, August, dressed in hiking clothes and with a large backpack of any necessary supplies, moves to help set up the tents. "Alright, if we get lightning fried, it's Will's fault." Hopefully they'll find something interesting doing this. And additionally, August understands mechanical engineering, so if Will needs any help setting up the machines, he'll give it a shot with some instructions. "Let's get to work." 

:'''{{#var:6655|Solomon Roget (6655)}} has posed:'''     Not all worlds allow free travel from one to another, it seems. Solomon had decided to pay a visit to Solty's world as a break from picking fights, but hadn't bargained on the checkpoint being as inspection-heavy as it was - he got questioned extensively on why he had multiple weapons on him - but he got his day pass at the end of it. Mental note: acquire a less threatening wardrobe than medieval-style armor.     Once past the security dome, Solomon has roughly no idea where to go first. The heavily-scienced metropolitan area looks nothing like the high-fantasy magic world of Gielinor he calls home, and he's hopelessly lost until he sees a familiar face. "Solty! Glad to see a face I recognize..." Then he trails off to take a big look around The Planet. "...what... IS all this?! I've never seen /anything/ like this before!"     Once arriving at the Big Empty Plain where the sciencing is to be done, Solomon has yet another moment of awe, marveling at even more stuff he doesn't understand. Well, only one question to ask in this situation... "Would it be alright if I watch whatever this is?" 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      "Hello Mister Solomon!" Solty calls out when he appears. "I didn't think you would be coming. Are you a warrior, magician, -and- a scientist?" she asks as they drive toward the test area. They may notice the small convoy being joined by an old but very well maintained muscle car driven by a tired but dangerous-looking man in his mid-40s.      As Will and the others get things set up, Solty smiles to Solomon. "Of course! I'm here to watch, too. And Roy is here to make sure no one gets hurt!" She waves to Roy, who is apparently the man in the muscle car. (https://goo.gl/images/QzpMKW). He walks up to stand beside Solty, who gives him a big hug around the waist. Very much around the waist, because Roy is not a small man by any means. "This is a mistake, Solty. There's a reason no one tries to study the Aurora Shell."      At the mention of something being sent into the sky, Roy's expression turns dangerous. "You will not send anything up! The moment it gets close to the Shell the lightning will strike, and it won't strike just the device you send up! You think these flimsy rods will deflect a blast like the one you are trying to cause?"      Solty just kind of hangs on to Roy, trying to keep him calm. "Roy! It's okay! These guys know what they're doing, and Mister Solomon wouldn't let anything happen to me either! Plus, if they find out what's causing it, we can keep any more Blast Falls from happening!" Roy lets out a resigned sigh as Solty pleads with him. "Fine...but we're getting to a safe distance the moment they launch something. They can stay here and die for all I care." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' "Maybe. But this ain't just whatever stuff the locals been using, either." Corona tugs her goggles down properly over her eyes, because safety first even in Mad Science. Hopalong drops the pack of stuff next to her and Corona rummages around inside for a moment before pulling out a highly greebled piece of equipment. It's got a lot of dials and levers on it, many which she's fussing with already. Need to make sure everything is being properly recorded after all. The vixen mutters to herself as she makes adjustments and checks frequencies. "Something that covers that much area has gotta have a really big source of power to it somewhere though," Corona muses, moreso to herself but it's easy to hear. She tends to talk to herself a lot while working. 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' "Hey miss Corona!" Will says with a cheery little wave. "Good of y'all to join us!" The more sensor packages, the better! After all, they're doing SERIOUS SCIENCE here. But Roy's warning isn't unmerited. Will grins and extends a hand to this man who has all the reason in the world to say no to whatever it is they're doing. "Hey there sir. Y'all must be Roy! Solty's talked about you a lot. Nice to meet you! Don't worry, we ain't going too far up. Only as far as is safe. I just need a sensor higher up than we are right now. What we can do is set up a remote controller and ride out a bit of a ways to do the thing. Though um, I'll admit that anything you could tell us to stay within safe margins would be useful. Though I know this is a... really delicate subject fer you." "August," Will calls. "I've got a balloon o'er in the truck. Could you get that and start settin' it up? I think we should be able to pull a controlled ascent long as we can set up a long enough winch to keep it tethered. If not, we'll just need to make do with what we've got." 

:'''{{#var:6655|Solomon Roget (6655)}} has posed:'''     So /this/ is the Roy that Solty had been talking about. Solomon's a bit apprehensive around Roy, despite being slightly taller and bulkier than him and /probably/ stronger. There's something to be said about Roy's demeanor. Solomon opts to leave Solty's guardian well enough alone and focus on this 'science' thing. But first, Solty's questions. "Ah--I'm completely new to this thing you call science. As far as I can tell it's just trying to do magic without actually casting spells, yet it's accomplished much more than anything done with runes. So I'm a bit fascinated." He takes a look at the goings-on, William and August setting up their experiment. "How strong is one of these lightning strikes, anyway?" 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' As Roy speaks up, August glances over to him as he unpacks his stuff. "With all due respect, sir, we've been doing incredibly dangerous things for years. We'll be fine." Despite August and Will looking like young adults at the most. There's a nod to Solomon, who isn't in a faction to August's knowledge so he's okay with him. "The lightning strikes were said to be enough to wipe out an entire building. Be prepared to bug out if it comes down on us." And then, August moves to grab the balloon from the truck, setting it up. He's decently quick at it, as he replies to Corona. "Hopefully, we'll find this source investigating." Once the balloon's set up, August moves over to Will. "All done. I'll set up defensive buffs with the Tin Soldier if it looks like we're going to get fried." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      "Actually, they can be much stronger. Strong enough that nearly half the city was destroyed in the Blast Fall." Roy says, answering several questions at once. He shakes Will's hand, his grip much stronger than it needs to be. "Well, it's good to hear she's making new friends, I guess. But like I said, at the first sign of trouble I'll take Solty and get out of here." He lets Will's hand go, then rubs his own forehead. "And just so you know, the altitude ceiling is about 5000 feet up. Any higher than that and you risk a strike." August's reassurance draws little more than a raised eyebrow from Roy. "You kids don't look like you're old enough to buy beer, let alone conduct this kind of experiment."      Solty gives Roy another hug, then stays nearby as she watches the experiment unfold. "It's so nice of you guys to volunteer to help, though!" she adds, trying to take some of the edge off of Roy's posturing and threats and general pessimism. Solomon's words cause Solty to blink in surprise. "Huh. I never thought about it that way. I guess magic and technology are a lot alike, huh?" Solomon would definitely feel Roy's eyes on him as Solty follows the big warrior around. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona laughs a bit at the comment on other people's ages. "Looks tend to be like a book 'round the Multiverse, pardner. What you see is only part of the story. An' sometimes misleadin'." She hmms softly as she reachs into the pack again, this time pulling out a pair of cables, tossing one end of clamps to the others. "Hook those to whatever we're groundin' things on." She takes the other end and clamps them onto the bases of her mecha-jackalope's antlers. "Hopalong's got an electrostatic disperser built into him, he can take some of the charge iffen it does get struck." Or might be more like when, with these people. 

:'''{{#var:6655|Solomon Roget (6655)}} has posed:'''     When August said that a lightning strike could destroy an entire building, Solomon got a little worried. When Roy corrected that to be half a city? Solomon instantly shot his hand into one of his waistpouches and pulled out a holy-looking coin, gripping it very, VERY tightly. "So, uhhhh... how durable is everyone here? Because risking something that can destory a city of THAT size is a lunatic's errand!" Solomon wildly gestures back toward the metropolis everyone had come from, visibly flustered and panicked, still gripping that divine coin of his.     Putting next to no effort to conceal his flusteredness, Solomon does his best to at least respond to Solty. "From what I've seen, technology is a lot more effort and way too much risk to maybe do better than magic. We've never had an /accident/ level cities before!" He takes a couple breaths to compose himself. "So... what information do we expect to get from our efforts here?" 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' "Ahahahaha, well I know it doesn't look like it," Will laughs, "But I'm a seasoned explorer. My homeworld ain't too different from yours, just... We have more than one city. So this kind of situation's somethin' real close to my heart. I'll do whatever I can t' make this work out right." Will nods to Corona and August and begins setting up the last of the equipment. He hooks a set of grounding cables to a strange black platform and lashes /that/ to the balloon. "Alright, plasma emitter's ready," Will mutters, "Power cable's set. Sensors are all online. "Corona, y'all wanna do me a favor and set up a second listenin' station out that way a bit?" Will gestures vaguely out into the wilderness, "Iff'n it's a 5-thousand feet, that's 'round one and a half kilos. We're going to need a second balloon t' keep watch on the first from a lower altitude. August, y'all'll neeed to go take /this/ balloon out a ways and make sure the connections are set. We're gonna set a few pitons in the ground to the launch site and run cable. Fortunately, I brought quite a bit." What's the plan, exactly? Apparently send the balloon up from a safe distance, then keep watch with a whole bunch of equipment. "I'll be mannin' the computers and sensors o'er here," he says, attaching a whole bundle of cables to... His... gun? Once set, he turns again to August. "Get clear when you've got the balloon set. Worst case we'll shoot 'er down. I don't want you gettin' caught up in a bolt that big." "Judgment," Will calls, "Let's get this show on the road. I'll rely on y'all fer data collection, pardner." Perhaps not to August's or Corona's surprise, but maybe to Solomon's and Roy's, the young man's strange, scifi-looking hardgun flashes blue once and then again, as a crystal-clear voice calls out. Roger. Beginning data collection and analysis protocols. I am ready, William Pauwel. 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' August starts to clear away from the balloon as Will sets out, and replies to Roy dryly. "I'm twenty." Probably not reassuring, but he seems confident, even if he does plan on not getting struck by lightning. To Solomon, August just sighs. "Relax. We're not going to piss off the lightning dome. And if we do, I'll interpose the Tin Soldier if necessary." He taps the mirrored bracelet on his wrist. Probably also not reassuring. "If you have a way of making this less dangerous for us, though, you're free to contribute. We're possibly able to make a groundbreaking discovery here, after all." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy just grumbles as all three of the scientists insist no one will get hurt even if the Aurora Shell does react. Solty looks facinated by all of this, trying to get a better look at each device that is deployed or hooked up or activated. Her ears twitch up and down at that voice responds to Will's commands. "What was that?" she asks.      Roy...actually smirks with some level of approval at Solomon. "Exactly. They're just asking to get vaporized by the Aurora Shell's lightning blast. That's why Solty and I are going to be over there." He grabs Solty by the wrist and tugs her toward his car. "Come on Solty. We'll come back if they don't get blown up." he says. Solty obviously doesn't want to go, but doesn't really fight. "But Roy, don't you want to see this? This is real science at work!" Roy just snorts. "Not a chance. I lost Rita to the Blast Fall. I'm not going to lose you to some pointless experiment. We don't even know what these guys are actually after." he says. A couple of cardoor slams later and Roy and Solty are rolling away to an even safer distance. Solty is pressed against the window even as Roy drives away, wanting to see what happens. She's been out in the Multiverse after all, and if Yang is any indication then four people should be able to weather even an Aurora lightning strike.      As the two balloons ascend...not much seems to happen. The wind continues to blow gently, the sun continues to shine down, and high overhead if one has very good eyes is the slight shimmer of the Aurora Shell. It's name is likely derived from the way the different colors flow through it in a steady wave-like pattern. It's rather pretty when one ignores the possibility of a cataclysmic event happening.      Nothing at all happens...until the balloon actually passes 5000 feet. As soon as it does, sensors all over would light up with warnings of a power buildup somewhere high overhead. The level of power would indicate a source likely generating terawatts of power! The buildup happens in less than a second, and second later the lightning strike happens. A bolt of pure white energy that definitely looks like lightning with its jagged path through the sky, and when it hits the first balloon is completely destroyed before the bolt continues downward, striking the ground directly below the balloon and only partially being drawn in by the various rods and other devices meant to draw the power of a lightning bolt away.      The powerful crack of thunder that follows makes it easily mistakeable as actual lightning, and one can easily see why people who never tried to study the phenomenon would believe it to be lightning. The flash is plenty bright to cause temporary blindness if one's vision wasn't protected, and just like lightning it lasts only a moment. But the power unleashed by it has shattered the rock beneath the balloon. If they were set up very close to the edge of the cliffs then the site might be at risk of actually toppling into the canyon!      Once it is all said and done, little lights like embers from a fire start falling from the sky. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite smirks, getting exactly at what Will is intending with scattering their sources of imput around the location. "Fine idea, that." But how's she going to get that far out so quickly, one might ask. Corona pulls another piece of gear out of inventory and drops it on the ground in front of her. It rattles and click-clacks a few times, then unfolds to ratchet a pair of wheels and steering bar into place. In the end it looks like some kind of brass fitted, clockwork driven segway. A good gadgeteer is never without a means of getting around. It sputters a few times as Corona steps on and revs it, then chugs off in the indicated direction to set up her own spot. Hopalong just sits there looking as grumpy as the construct can, being used for just an oversized electrical source. Even with all the elaborate sensory devices being carried around, its the tingle in her fur that Corona notices first. "Oh oh, we've got somethin' coming," she yips. "Hold on, this is gonna be a doozy--ACK!" Followed by a louder yelp as her device actually bursts apart in a plume of smoke and sparks as the output from the dome completely overloads it. "Damn! Good thing Ah got my goggles on." Hopalong doesn't get so lucky, since he's hooked right up to the grounding equipment. Part of the discharge surges through the construct, causing it to jerk and rattle around sporatically, like a robot being short circuited in an old cartoon, before finally clunking over. That's going to be a bitch to repair, but better it than her. That's what assistants are for! 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' As Roy and Solty leave, August shrugs, watching the readings with the others. When the power starts to build up...he glances into his mirror and shouts. "Persona!" The Tin Soldier manifests in a flash of blue energy, grabbing August and suddenly starting to dash away from the site. "Will, other guys, move!" And then the lightning impacts. It blasts the Tin Soldier off its foot-and-rifle, on top of August, burnt but not badly due to distance from the epicenter. August slowly moves the Persona off from on top of him after a few moments, looking at the cracks in the ground and the smouldering site. August actually cracks a smile. This is...that much power, it's dangerous. It needs to be removed. And they can use it. 

:'''{{#var:6655|Solomon Roget (6655)}} has posed:'''     Despite Roy's warning about the dangers thereof, and his and Solty's departure from the impending strike zone, Solomon sticks around to watch. He's stepping away a bit, but still very much close enough to get caught in the blast when it hits! The blast comes and goes before he can react with any more than throwing his hands up uselessly in the way, but... he's still standing. A good half a minute passes before this fact registers and he relaxes. "So... that's the threat then." It's clear he's still tense; he's methodically inhaling and exhaling in between statements. "It's... that wasn't that bad." Inhale, exhale. "Certainly not destructive enough to raze an entire city..." Inhale, exhale. "Unless it gets worse?" Inhale, exhale, glance toward William. "What did your tools learn? Anything our eyes didn't?" 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' Well. Maybe Roy was right about the whole 'this is a bad idea' thing. The first thing Will notices is the smell of ozone, then there's a pop of arcing electricity leaping across the metal of his artificial limbs. "That's weird," he mutters. "We're far enough away from the balloon, we should be o--"                               *KRAKOOOOOOOOOM*                               When the blast clears, Will is... coughing on a lungful of soot amidst a whole bunch of crackling equipment. Thank God they grounded the lot of it. And that Ancient technology uses a /lot/ of optics. "Hooooooo-leeee crap and a half, that was a bolt," Will wheezes, dusting off one of his computer terminals. "Judgment, did you catch /anything?/" Of course I did. A single bolt of that magnitude is insufficient to terminate my functions. The gun beeps twice more. Transferring. Will's expression turns from excited to thoughtful to pensive to completely and utterly baffled. "This... This can't be right. This much energy out of a lightning bolt...? No, hold on--" Will turns and moves to another terminal and starts fiddling around with what looks like a video recording. "Rolling back footage. What..." "What..." he presses a hand to his face. "...Is /this?/ Judgment, can you filter out some of the glare? I need to see..." His fingers play around on the screen, "This area. Frame range plus-minus ten. Filter to monochrome and screen out the visible spectrum." There. "That's..." Will breathes, "That doesn't look like a natural phenomenon." There, on the image, a column of energy, bright in monochrome white, streaking through the sky and into the aurora. "...What is going on here...?" 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy and Solty, now several hundred feet away...still get pelted with falling debris. Roy's car takes a few hits, causing a broken window and some deep dents. Will is likely going to receive a bill for that. Solty though leaps out of the car against Roy's objections and runs back even faster than Roy drove away. "Solomon! Will! Corona! August! Are you guys alright?!" she calls out, skidding to a stop in the blast zone as the dust is still clearing.      She blinks a few times as it seems that everyone is not only alright, but continuing on as if this is typical of their experiments. Which...is a little worrying. She makes her way to Solomon first to make sure he is alright, then gives him a hug before heading over toward Corona and August in turn before finally heading to Will. "What do you mean?" she asks, her sharp ears having caught what he was saying. She looks at the image, then tilts her head. "Did you catch a shooting star or something?"      Roy finally rolls up, and he does not look happy. "See?! It's just as I told you! Messing with the Aurora Shell is just too dangerous! It isn't worth the risk to the people of the City!" 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' "You're right, the Aurora Shell /is/ dangerous," Will says to Roy's outburst. "But not for the reason you think. Judgment, bring up the image, large screen projection." A nearby device flickers and, after a few sparks, displays a holographic screen with the relevant image in large-scale. "Here," he points at that strange column of light. "Look at that. That's not lightning. The bolt wasn't, either. More like a directed plasma discharge-- but that's not as important. That looks like something beyond the Aurora Shell is intentionally firing at targets that reach altitudes of exactly 5000 feet." The tinkerer shakes his head, then pauses and looks to the sky, eyes narrowing. "...Were those... sparkles there the last time, too? August, Corona, y'all mind doin' me a favor an' tryin' to capture samples of that stuff if you can?" 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite dusts herself off a few times. "Ah reckon that weren't just lightning." Then scoops up what remains of her own device. "Ah'm fine missy. Been through worse explosions than that!" She laughs, though at the end it cuts off into a bit of light coughing as she tries to clear her lungs out. "Com'n Hopalong, get up." The mecha-jackalope doesn't move, just hisses and clacks in annoyance at her for putting it through that. "Oh don't be a baby. At least ya didn't blow up this time." This time, she says. "Less, sample collector." She pats pockets a few times, before finally pulling out a gun-shaped contraption with several tubes on it. "Ah, here it is." She flicks a tube with her claws to make sure it's not busted, and then tries to suction up some of the glittery sparkles before they fade entirely. 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' August eventually approaches the others again, and wipes that smile off his face. As Will talks and handles Roy, August immediately grabs any surviving equipment and moves to start collecting samples of the sparkling energy. And then, he speaks up. "If this is an orbital weapon, your City's already in danger. Whoever designed it could fire it down at any point if they wanted, or it could malfunction and just start blasting the place. But we know for sure that something's trying to keep your people out of the sky, out of space. Are you not curious what's out there?" August certainly is. And if they can stop this thing from threatening people heading into the sky... Well, all the better. "My name's August, and I've spent four years dealing with Multiversal insanity. Me and my friends here are the best ones suited for the job." Despite not having the labs, or the ships, or the research teams...August is pretty confident about that. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy at least takes a look at the image Will presents for them, and Solty looks pretty intrigued. But, when August brings up the subject, Roy actually slams his fist down on one of the consoles. "No! I lost my daughter in the Blast Fall! As far as I'm concerned everyone in The City is better off not knowing! This thing, whatever it is, doesn't happen unless someone approaches the altitude ceiling! We are perfectly safe so long as we don't try to send anything up! If you are going to keep doing these tests, just make sure you stay far away from the city, and don't even THINK of inviting Solty to observe another one! I'm not losing another d-" He suddenly stops his rant and Solty looks toward him in surprise. He growls lightly, then lets out a heavy sigh and seems to lose all his fire. "...come on, Solty. Leave these lunatics to their experiments. It's got nothin' to do with us."      Solty hesitates a few moments, but eventually looks down sadly and follows after Roy. "Bye everyone." she says, holding her hands together in front of herself meekly.      Will doesn't get his answer about the falling embers, but it would be easy to find out from the local information net that there were indeed sparks like that falling from the sky after the Blast Fall, though their source was never determined. Most people figured it was embers from the building fires, but there is at least one article noting that they fell even in areas nowhere near a large fire. And if any of them try a detailed analysis on the samples they collected, they would find...that the tiny sparks are actually burned out nanomachines! 

:'''{{#var:6655|Solomon Roget (6655)}} has posed:'''     Solomon just sort of listens to everyone else, no idea what to make of any of this. Orbital weapon? Lightning that isn't actually lightning? And no magic involved (that he can discern)? It's not until Roy goes off on his rant that Solomon snaps out of it. He looks on as Roy collects Solty and makes to leave. "Don't suppose you'd be alright with me coming along? I'd like to know more about this Blast Fall you mentioned." Solomon finally gets around to asking Roy about this presumably cataclysmic event. "I'm interested in hearing how that sort of lightning has been such a threat."     As he makes to leave the mad scientists to their work, Solomon makes a request aimed at them: "After we're done here, mind showing me some of this 'science' you do? I wanna compare it to what magic can do." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' The brief rant gets a faint frown from Corona. She knows how it feels when it comes to losing family, so she can't really blame Roy for being testy over the matter. Or wanting to protect his surrogate daughter from it. But there was still science to be done! Maybe figure this out and the people won't have to worry at all about whatever is up there anymore. Or something like that. She pulls one of the vials she collected some of the 'sparkles' in and holds it towards Will. "Uh. My stuff overloaded, yer gonna have to scan any samples on your own pardner." 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' Will watches Roy take Solty and stomp off. He can't blame him. Really, he can't. "I'm not sure she's completely uninvolved. Mysteries have a way to chain to other mysteries, you know...? But for both yer sakes, I really hope y'all can live... relatively peacefully." He'll just have to slip Solty communications under the table later is all. It's fine! Totally fine. More importantly, there's still science to do. Will takes the little sparkle vial from Corona and shakes it a bit under the scrutiny of the naked eye. "...Yeah. I've got some gear back at the farm, should be able to analyze this, I'm bettin'. At the least, should give us an idea of what we're lookin' at. Thanks Corona, lemme know if there's anything I can do to help fix your equipment." He looks to Solomon then... Shrugs. "Dunno what you want to see, pardner. I'm no magic man, got no interest in the stuff myself. 'Sides, comparin' my tech to yer magic is the same as comparin' yer magic to another world's magic. Things're weird in the Multiverse." 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite laughs and pats Will on the shoulder. "Don't sweat it. Ah've got half dozen backups back in my shop. Go through equipment too fast in this line of work to not have spares handy." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy looks at Solomon, then shrugs lightly. "We're headed back to the city anyway. And at least you had the sense to object to this crazy experiment." he says before he gets into the car. Solty seems happy that Solomon is coming along and scoots across the back seat, apparently thinking he'll ride back there with her. There's a bit of a dangerous look from Roy, but it doesn't look like he'd actually stop Solomon. Once they are all in and the engine is going, Roy sits back and just stares out the windshield. "...it happened 12 years ago. The R.U.C. was working on a space program. the ship had been in the works for decades, but finally it was time to launch. Most of the people didn't see the point. Things in the City were fine. But, scientists...they just -have- to find out. So, they launched their ship. It went up...and then got hit by a bolt that must have been a hundred times bigger than the one that hit those guys' balloon. It destroyed the ship, destroyed the old R.U.C. building, and broke up the land beneath so much that a pretty big chunk of the city just...collapsed. Buildings turned to rubble all across the city in just a few moments. Thousands of people died. Crushed beneath rubble, or worse...trapped so long that they died of thirst. Took a few years for the R.U.C. to clear up the devastation and put the buildings back up. I was far from the only guy who lost his kid that day, and hundreds of kids were left as orphans. Maybe thousands. You can hardly throw a stone in the city without hitting a family with an adopted kid."      Roy's hands clench around the steering wheel. "...Rita...she was the only thing I cared about after my wife died...and I lost her that day to some stupid scientists thinking they just -had- to find out what was out there! As if it matters!" Roy has to take a few deep breaths, and he looks like he might have been tearing up, but he covers his eyes by pinching the bridge of his nose. "And it wasn't like that was the first time. Some 50 years before that, the R.U.C had tried before to get into space. It wasn't as bad, but the ship was still destroyed by a lightning bolt. So...they -knew-! But they still just haaaad to try!" Roy makes sure the scientists outside the car can hear that last part, though they could probably hear the whole thing thanks to the broken windows.      As Roy is talking with the car's engine idling, sirens can be heard in the distance steadily growing louder. Seems the local authorities are coming to investigate. One can't exactly have a giant lightning bolt strike and not have someone come to check it out. As the vehicles come into view, the lead truck has R.U.C. printed in big letters on the side, with lights that would indicate a private security force. Which is leading the police force. 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' Hey, look, you can definitely have a lightning bolt strike and not have to worry so much about that kind of nonsense but ON THE OTHER HAND there are definitely a bunch of PMC jackboots heading their way. Will clicks his tongue and glances back to his gear. "Alright folks, pack up everything you can get and beat feet! I've still got the semi, so let's get goin' and torch whatever else is left! I'm not sure I trust the local authorities enough /just/ yet...!" Time to go...! Fortunately Will can put his arms into temporary overdrive to move stuff a little more quickly. Still, he might be cutting this close...! "HEY ROY," Will calls, "I KNOW YOU KIND'VE HATE US SCIENCE GUYS, BUT IT'D BE GREAT IF Y'ALL KNEW A PLACE TO LAY LOW TILL THIS BLOWS OVER!" And so they can keep doing science. Science is good. 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' August swears as PMCs start coming, and moves to help Will move everything. The Tin Soldier sets anything they can't move that'd trace back to them on fire, before leaping into the semi. "Go, go, go! Let's get this gear somewhere and ditch. We..." August looks out to the PMCs. "May need to find a different warpgate to take? One where we don't need to be registered." And the fact that the RUC knew about this doesn't change August's mind. They can fight through this. Even if people lost lives...that's just a guarantee this needs to be dealt with, one way or another. 

:'''{{#var:6655|Solomon Roget (6655)}} has posed:'''     Solomon indeed takes the seat Solty offers, mainly to keep some sort of barrier between himself and Roy - for someone Solomon is sure he could totally beat in a fight, Roy's got that demon stare that just makes him not want to test that ever. Instead, he just listens to the story - space exploration being the first sciency thing he fully understands out of today's Excursion of Science. Roy's description of the magnitude of the blast, coupled with him recounting those that died, really drove home the seriousness of the situation.     "That explains a lot." He responds solemnly. "The scientists think there's someone beyond the dome who wants to keep you in." A pause. Then a deep breath. "I... kind of understand the curiosity, though, of what's in space. There's obvi--there's probably other planets, so what are they like? What else is there? Will the angry space god let them through this time?" Another pause, then pensive fidgeting. "I... might know from personal experience that interest can override practical safety considerations... I'm not trying to make excuses for them." With that last part, Solomon's awkwardness comes on full display. 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Corona Arclite takes a moment to make sure her hat is on straight. "Welp. Time to mosey on then." She picks up Hopalong as he refuses to move still, and tosses him into the vehicle. Then grabs the pack of her other stuff and hops onto the truck as they're getting ready to pull away. "Let's just get the hell outta here, we can worry about where to go from there afterwards!" 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy doesn't even dignify Will's shout with a response. He hears the sirens coming and revs the engine. "Yeah well...who cares what's out there if it gets everyone killed?" he says to Solomon before hitting the gas. The car's tires squeel before it takes off, but not down the road. Law enforcement is that direction, and Roy doesn't feel like being stopped and questioned. Instead he drives the car across the flat ground and hides behind a big pillar of rock until the trucks and cars have passed. Then he makes his way quietly back to the road and makes sure not to raise the engine above a certain number of RPMs until he is out of sight of the police. Seems Roy has at least some experience with avoiding the law.      The lead vehicle, a big van that is obviously some kind of SWAT vehicle stops near the blast site, the back door opens...and three women step out, dressed in black combat armor and kevlar with black trenchcoats. One is a tall blonde with tanned skin, one a short dark skinned girl with dark hair, and the one who seems to be the leader is of medium height with pale skin and black hair. They look pretty serious...except for the shorter one who has her arms crossed behind her head and seems pretty relaxed and jovial about all this. The police vehicles don't fan out like they are trying to stop the Multiversal visitors, either. And there seems to be an ambulance as the last vehicle in the convoy. Perhaps they didn't come just to throw whoever made so much noise in jail. But, it is still pretty likely that they would ask a lot of questions. Whether the science team wants to deal with those questions is up to them. The leader of the security team does at least raise her hands and call out, "Is anyone hurt?"      The concern in her voice might be overriden by the sight of a heavy sniper rifle in the hands of the shorter girl. Could just be the local authorities being careful...or could be a ruse to get the science team to drop their guard. 

:'''{{#var:6655|Solomon Roget (6655)}} has posed:'''     Solomon doesn't argue. The old man's right to object, and there's not much more that can be said on the subject anyway. So, he changes his focus. Awkwardly. "So... how... how long have you been.... taking care of Solty?" He notes that Roy performed an evasive maneuver just now, but decides against bringing it up. And, related, he's holding off on asking who the people were that Roy ducked. Could be a thing he asks August later, so no big loss. 

:'''{{#var:894|August Kohler (894)}} has posed:''' Well, they didn't get away in time. They can see the Tin Soldier, so August can't demanifest it...so he just has it help him carry things, acting like it's a helper robot. When the three women arrive, August puts on a face. It's not a face Will has really seen. It's shock and concern, not perfect but believable. "O-officers! I told you we shouldn't have ran, Will. They'll explain to us just what happened up there." August moves to draw his ID, cautiously. He seems pretty nervous about the officers. It reads August Kohler, from Albierchstadt, Germany. Hopefully they won't google him in the process to find that he's a known Multiversal number. "We're mostly fine, our helper robots...-is that a gun?" He glances to the sniper rifle girl, sweating. "Wait, wait, you're SWAT, right? Did we get caught up in something? Oh, god, is this going to go on any records? The university's going to kill us- we're from the meterological association, we just finally found somewhere with clear skies!" He seems really anxious. August does hope that his lie might be bought...but that will need the assistance of probably Will, as well as the gullibility of this SWAT team. He's literally doing this off the cuff, and isn't some master liar, just a young man who has gotten late homework passed without demerit before. 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' Will really didn't expect him to, Roy was preeeeeettttty pissed off, after all. But that just means they've gotta do the old man a solid and take the heat off him, right!? Right. After all, that is clearly a SWAT team made up entirely of... mysteriously cute special forces girls!? What the heck!?!? At least looking flustered PROBABLY matches what's on August's face. You know, the whole 'blood pumping from flight or fight' kind of thing that clearly comes with being near ground zero of a sky-splitting bolt out of the blue. "Y-yeah," Will stammers out as August SPINS A TERRIBLE LIE. That's not even really a lie. They WERE studying weather patterns. Kind of. "W-we're travellin' around, lookin' into multiversal weather patterns," Will provides his own ID and shifts a little in his seat. "This place was s'pecially interestin' so we thought we'd get some hands-on experience and... And there was just this big pillar o' light outta /nowhere!/ D-did we mess somethin' up? Oh man, we can't get arrested-- we're so dead August. We're gonna rot in a cell an' there'll be a scary guy in the showers named Big Jim and we're gonna get /expeeeelled./" H-huh. This might be a Will August has never really seen. A Will... who has previously snuck out to go digging in horribly dangerous ruins right under his Grandparents' noses...! 

:'''{{#var:711|Corona Arclite (711)}} has posed:''' Okay, so we're gonna do it this way. Corona pulls a random piece of equipment out that looks weird and complicated, fiddling with it a moment to make sure it won't actually do anything. But it looks the part of scientific device that no one will be able to actually tell what it does. Just needs to look the part. Then she waits for Agustus and Will to start spinning their not-entirely-lies before finally poking her head out of the vehicle. "Hey guys, Ah think I fi--" Stops to blink a couple of times. If anything adds credence to the 'offworlders not knowing what the hell they got into' it's hopefully that one of them is an anthropomorphic fox woman with a Southern drawl. "Oh. We got company huh?" She adjusts the collar of her jacket a little. "Don't mind us, just doin' a little meteological research." Windrose would be so proud she remembered the right term for 'weather science'. "Random lightnin' outta nowhere a normal occurance 'round here? Fried the gear somethin' fierce." Corona ducks inside a moment, then pushes out a random piece of equipment. It doesn't actually do anything, it just looks fancy and complicated enough that no one would be able to tell what it's suppose to do. Enough to look crazy and like they really just happened to accidently stumble onto something. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The three girls just kind of look at August and Will, and the short brown-haired girl just bursts out laughing. "Oh man, even if these guys were dangerous I doubt they'd be a problem!" The blonde just kind of frowns at the entire group. The leader stares with a flat expression, then pressed a hand to her face and sighs. "...just tell us what you did to trigger the Aurora Shell, give us a copy of your research data, and you can all proceed to the warp gate."      Then all three girls blink in surprise at the sight of Corona, but none of them lose their composure. "Woah! Is that a fox lady? That's kind of awesome!" ...okay, the jovial brown-haired girl didn't have much composure to begin with. She then brandishes her sniper rifle and grins. "This sure is a gun. A big one. So, just make sure you don't do anything while you're here that would force me to use it." She grins even more. "Because I like using it." 

:'''{{#var:934|William Pauwel (934)}} has posed:''' "Y-you like guns too, huh?" Will says sheepishly, "I'm a pretty good shot myself I--" WAIT NO STAY ON TASK WILLIAM. "W--we were usin' a weather balloon t' probe the atmosphere and all of a sudden there was this earthshatterin' kaboom and the balloon and most of our equipment fried," Will answers. "Everythin' else got caught up in the fire an'... I'm sorry ma'am, we won't even know what we've really got 'till we can go through it." Also technically true. After all, they do still have to process that data. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The brown-haired girl raises her sniper rifle with one arm, probably just to show off to Will. The leader eyes the trio for a few seconds. "Fine. We'd really prefer the raw data, but it's pretty late and I'm sure you people have been through enough with an Aurora Shell strike. Just make sure and send the R.U.C. a copy of the data as soon as possible. I suppose it was...lucky that you were performing your tests way out here."      She gives a hand signal and the other two girls turn and head back toward the van. "Aw man...didn't even get to shoot anything." says the brown-haired girl. The blonde growls a bit. "Can't you take anything seriously?" The leader follows after but stops a moment later. "Just a warning. Activities that interact with the Aurora Shell are forbidden. Keep that in mind if you visit again." she says, looking over her shoulder with a very serious expression. Then she continues on and the entire convoy heads back toward the City. Seems they got away with it! 
}}

6047/Dinnertime at the Apartment

2018-12-29T06:29:10Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2018/09/06 |Location=R.U.C. World |Synopsis=As thanks for saving Roy, Solty invites her new friends to dinner! |Cast of Characters=6704, 1099, 973,..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2018/09/06
|Location=R.U.C. World
|Synopsis=As thanks for saving Roy, Solty invites her new friends to dinner!
|Cast of Characters=6704, 1099, 973, 7
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The healthcare system in The City is quite efficient, and after less than a day Roy Revant was released and nearly at 100% again. The invitation that Solty had given to her new friends still stood, and so as she waited for people to arrive the green-haired android girl was busy in the kitchen with a fairly tall and well dressed brown-haired woman with a kind motherly aura about her. Roy is currently sitting on the couch drinking some sort of heavy liquor, and in a chair nearby was another young girl of about 12 with long bluish-black hair and a pair of pink goggles in place of a hairband.      The apartment itself is a corner penthouse with large windows that overlook the city, and moderately well furnished. Nothing overly fancy, but nothing cheap or worn down either. Apparently Hunting pays pretty well. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      The King of Heroes does not often make housecalls.      This is an exception. He's still in the area today, for...a couple reasons, and it is his duty to see that his treasures are well-taken-care-of, which also means seeing that a caretaker is well-taken-care-of.      Truly, the leaps of logic the King goes through to do nice things for people are the envy of all mortals.      He opens the door without knocking, because of course he does. He's dressed in clothes he bought on his date yesterday, distinctly modern clothes that *feel* out of place to him (but look perfectly fine; nothing looks *bad* on the King of Heroes), a heavy black coat and a white turtleneck and beige dress pants. With the air of visiting nobility dripping off him, he looks around the apartment, as if surveying it to see if it's up to whatever his high and lofty standards are. The imperiousness of the King doesn't fade even as he removes his coat, letting it vanish into the rippling ether.      "Rejoice; the King is here." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     A young woman, wearing a formal seeming dress suit approaches the door to the apartment. Roy would probably make some connection between the young looking catgirl with the monsters and this woman, but the age difference is pretty massive. She rings the bell and waits to be admitted, bowing formally and smiling warmly. "Hello. My name is Keiko Ayano. I assisted against the cyborg man." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy stares a bit when he answers the door, a somewhat skeptical look on his face when Keiko speaks up, and an undisguised face of tiredness when he sees and hears Gilgamesh. Roy isn't wearing his trenchcoat at the moment and hasn't dressed up at all himself. Just his jeans, a white undershirt, and black suspenders. "Right...come on in, you two." he says. As they are making their way back inside he asks, "So...who's Silica? And where are all your attack animals?"      When the three are in the living room, Solty comes out wearing her usual outfit along with a white apron. "Hello again!" she says happily to the pair and offers a polite bow in greeting. "Dinner is almost ready, so please have a seat! Do you all want anything to drink?"      Kasha peers at Gil from over the back of her armchair, just a pair of eyes and goggles visible. "King? King of what?" she says before hopping out of her chair and heading to the large dining table. Probably not large by Gil's standards, but it is an elegant table of polished oak that is long enough to seat 8 people if it has to. It looks brand new, so Solty might have insisted that they get it in preparation for dinner with her friends. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko blinks at Gilgamesh, giggling softly at the absurdity of it all. She then turns her attention back to Roy. "Oh, Silica is my avatar... my pets are in my inventory." she says, as if that was completely and totally normal. "It's a long story though." 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      "Your hospitality is unnecessary," Gilgamesh declares as he produces a jug. "I have brought drinks in accordance with old customs. Here. A jug of the finest of wines." He's not kidding. It smells /heavenly/. It /tastes/ heavenly. He sets it down on the table. "I, King of Heroes, am guest in your house, and as guest it is my duty to bring such as a gift. To the masters of the house."      Gilgamesh turns to look at Kasha. "I am Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, King of Uruk and of Babylon, King of all that is, was, or ever shall be, who knows all the countries of the world and is as strong as a star from Heaven." It's a matter-of-fact introduction, but, well, even from him, matter-of-fact /always/ sounds proud as hell. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy just goes along with it all, but his expression makes it clear he is just barely handling all of this strangeness. Avatars? Pets in an inventory? A haughty self-proclaimed king bringing a jug of amazing wine? In an actual jug? That last part is probably what helps smooth things over most with Roy. "Huh. Guess you do have some manners." he says to Gilgamesh as he takes the jug and sets it on the table before grabbing a few glasses.      Solty is preoccupied with Keiko, looking her over in curiousity. "You don't look much like your avatar." she says, then smiles. "I'd like to hear how it works, even if it is a long story!"      Kasha moves to take a seat at the table, still peering at Gilgamesh. When he says his entire title she lets out a mischievious 'hee'. "Is that so? Then maybe you can tell me what country you are in now, Mr. King?" She isn't being disrespectful so much as being a smart little kid. "And how you became king of it?" 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Keiko giggles at Solty. "It's probably easier if I show you." she says to Solty. A small device is taken from a pocket on her dress, fitted over her right ear and around her head so a small transluscent eyepiece covers one eye. She then steps back half a step and speaks imperiously. "LINK. START!"     The woman's body gains a wireframe, that begins to fill in with coloured light. The colour begins to resolve into detailed textures, and the woman's height shrinks down to that of the teenaged catgirl from the fight. The whole process takes a couple of seconds, and once it's complete, a second flash of light hails the appearance of a small silver dragonling that coils around Silica's shoulders.     "My world kinda got mixed with a bunch of VRMMO games because of reasons we don't understand... it lets certain people do this." even her voice sounds different. Obviously the same woman, but younger... like she got transported back in time. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa had bnneen happuy to come by today and catch up with Solty and the rest again. She was wearing the same outfit she did last time when she arrived the sleeveless long coat, the shirt, pants and boots. She seemed happy with it she even had a pair of shades on as she arrived. "Hello It's Kotone again and oh hello Keiko?" It was odd to use Silica actual name, heck she didn't know all the real names of the SAO crew when it got down to it. She looks to Gil smiling a bit. "Good to see you King of Heroes." She looks to Solty and Roy. "I think I owe you some answers about myself too I think." She notes to Roy. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      The wine is very literally divine. It is something from heaven. It is a once-in-a-lifetime taste in a golden jug, something as pure as silk, as pure as driven snow, and as sweet as honeyed nectar and ambrosia. This is something Roy may never in his life taste again. This is something he has never tasted before.      "Hmph, fool. Of course I have manners." The King crosses his arms imperiously and looks at the girl. "This is the City, domain of the R.U.C.." He moves to sit, and a throne just sort of *appears* out of a ripple in thin air behind him as he reclines. "I am Gilgamesh. I was made to be the King of all, by the gods who ruled Babylon. Asking 'how I became king' is foolish; I /am/ King. There is no Gilgamesh before Gilgamesh was King. I was not raised to some throne nor handed the crown. I was King from the moment I opened my eyes, complete and wise in the ways of the world."      He inclines his head at Kotone politely as he relaxes in the gorgeous (and comfortable-looking) throne, one elbow against the armrest. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty looks over as Kotone shows up and smiles cheerfully. "Good to see you again, Miss Kotone!" she says, giving a polite bow at the waist. Roy nods lightly at Kotone. "I'm not sure you owe us answers, but I'll take 'em anyway."      Solty's and Kasha's faces light up with child-like amazement as Keiko transforms into Silica right in front of them, and Solty claps in delight. "That's so cool!" the two girls say in unison before blinking and giggling at each other. "This world of yours must be pretty cool!" Kasha says before blinking as Solty isn't where she was a moment ago.      Instead, she is over near the kitchen door, where Miranda was so surprised by Silica's transformation that she dropped the dish she had been holding, and Solty instantaneously reacted to catch it before it hit the floor. Good thing too, since that dish appears to be full of a home made lasagna. Miranda is wearing gloves meant to hold very hot plates, but Solty doesn't seem to need them. "Oh dear! I'm so sorry, Solty! I was just...when that woman changed like that...who are these people?" She seems a bit worried and has moved over closer to Kasha, no doubt her motherly instincts kicking in. Kasha huffs a bit. "Mom! Come on, she's not going to hurt us! She helped Roy and Solty fight that guy yesterday!" The young girl speaks almost like she thinks she is the grown up here rather than her mom.      Then both are staring as Gilgamesh summons a throne right into the dining room. Roy seems on edge again at all the 'magic' being used in his house. He almost wishes he had his gun. It's nearby of course, but not actually on his person at the moment. Solty flails as she feels all the tension in the room. "Please! Everyone calm down! This is supposed to be a fun dinner with all my friends!" 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Silica's ears, usually perked straight up to listen for danger, pin down against her head, making her look almost human again as she starts picking up on all the tension. Her tail lashes about on its own accord, showing her trepidation. "M-Maybe this was a bad idea... I... I should probably just go, I mean..." she tugs at the hem of her skirt, looking all the world to be a gawky, awkward teenager, instead of the twenty-something woman.     She's used to magic, so none of that really triggers anything, but the sudden flash movement from Solty, and the fact she's holding an obviously hot pan makes her gawk a bit in awe. She's only seen two other people move that fast, maybe three... but even a Salamander wouldn't be able to hold something that hot with bare hands.     Pina seems to pick up on her mistress' distress, and trills gently, licking the Cait Sith's cheek. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa says "My worlfd was pretty much an unremarkable earth, no magic, nothing like that." She grins to Gilgamesh for a moment "Though your story exists there, which honestly seems to be a foundation of human story telling no matter the world." She looks to Solty for a mment "It all changed when I was very little a global war broke out, and weapons of all sort were deploy the most notable was the fusing of man and machine which in less than a generationk produced things like my current body. It's more common to find someone with basic implants or more than i t's not to where I'm from. I'd be a cripple in a bed at best without them." She looks to Gil and seems in a good mode. "So came into the world, ready to go from the get go? For most I'd think my leg was being pulled but given you? No I think your being honest." She looks to Silica for a moment. "Hey we're here for a dinner and to have an enjoyable evening right?" 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      If Gilgamesh feels any tension in the room, it's impossible to say. On the contrary, he looks completely relaxed by his standards. The King of Heroes is just leaning there, like he does this /all the damn time/, like he doesn't even register that somebody might have a problem with him dropping a shining golden throne in the middle of the room. Solty's speed receives an appreciative "hohhhh" from the King of Heroes and a light applause, which is probably more than anyone would've expected. He looks at Kotone a moment later.      "Of course I am being honest. The King does not lie."      He makes a motion with his hand at the mother. "I am Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, King of Uruk and of Babylon and of all that is, was, and ever shall be. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, as it is yours to make mine. You may refer to me as Your Highness, Your Majesty, or Gilgamesh, as you prefer."      If he even notices Roy's tension, it's...it's hard to tell. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty moves to set the lasagna down on the table, then looks at Miranda and Roy with a bit of a pouty face. "They did help us, even if they have strange powers. I have strange powers too, but you guys are okay with those, aren't you?" Between Solty's plea and Kasha's scolding both adults relax, though Roy is more begrudging about it than Miranda. The older woman sighs softly before smiling. "You two are right. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that friends of yours have these sorts of powers, Solty." she says, then bows in apology to Gilgamesh and Silica. "Forgive me. I'm a mother. We worry sometimes." she says. "Psh. If you worried when you were supposed to worry, that'd be more helpful. Like when the business is getting low on money, or when Hunters need updated equipment." Kasha scolds some more. Miranda laughs a bit. "Alright alright." she says in a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "I'll be right back with the rest of dinner. Please get the plates, Solty." Solty smiles as things seem to calm down, then quickly moves to set the table. Not nearly as quickly as she moved to save the food, though. This is normal human speed again.      Kasha hops down and goes over to Silica, taking her hand if allowed. "Come on and have a seat. Mom's just being silly. You are staying and that's that." she says in a forceful tone. Which probably sounds a bit silly in her high-pitched voice. She takes Kotone's hand too and leads them both to the table. "You guys helped Roy and Solty, so that's enough for me."      Roy has poured generous glasses of the wine by now, and is just about to take his first sip. When he does he lets out a 'grk!' as the taste hits him. But, after that he just non-challantly says, "Not bad." He isn't about to compliment Gilgamesh or anything of his. Kasha moves to sit down again. Roy is at the head of the table (presumably Gilgamesh seated himself at the other end), so she sits next to him with two more seats next to her for Silica and Kotone. She looks at Gilgamesh again. "So...you don't make sense. You can't just -be- king. You either have to be granted the title by the people or claim it and have people go along with it. It has no meaning if you aren't recognized as king by others. So, pretty sure you can't be king of everything. You can call yourself that, but..." She shrugs. "Just sayin'."      Roy and Solty were listing to Kotone, and Roy contemplates it. "This place is headed that way. No wars or anything but lots of people have Resemble now. Somehow I've gotten this far without it, but most hunters have been hurt and had to get it or just got it to get a leg up against the badguys." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Silica relaxes as the tension breaks. She giggles softly at Kasha's forwardness. Ah, the joys of the young. Kids are so blunt and to the point. it's kind of refreshing. It kinda reminds her of how you can't hide things in a VRMMO, there's no 'filter' on direct mind links.     She seats herself, summoning a little bag of peanuts to feed to Pina, who kwerls softly and munches appreciatively.     Listening to the conversations, she looks over to Roy curiously. "What is 'Resemble' exactly? Is that the robot parts that man had?" Her tail loops around the chair leg, and her ears prick forward, like a pair of large, fuzzy radar dishes. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa does not mind as her hand is taken and she's lead to the tbale she will move to sit down once she has a moment to do so. She looks to Roy and Solty nodding. "The war kickstrted things on the technology likely decades if not centuries faster than it would have happened otherwise. Plenty of people willing to sign up for the testing and the militaries of the world having their super soldiers in reach pressed onwards." She thinks for a moment about Roy's own job. "Still good training and knowing what to do counts for a lot. I had to learn to do everything over again pretty much, don't ask how many mugs I destroyed in the first month..." She'll sip at the wine for a moment as she htinks. "No you never do Lie, King Gilgamesh." 5R She looks to SIlica and gets some idea of her quetion but the details seem a bit different here than for back home. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      "Mortals can't just /be/ king," Gilgamesh says idly, "I am not mortal. I am two-thirds god and one third man, made for that purpose and that purpose alone. The instant I came into the world I knew all that I needed to know, full of power and blessed with every gift imaginable. All the eyes of the gods were upon me. All the lights of the heavens poured down to bless me, and the people cried out for their perfect King."      He doesn't...sound...braggy about it. For once, this doesn't feel like an ego trip. He /almost/, /almost/ sounds sour.      The King makes a motion with his hand, dismissing the bowing mother. "There is nothing to forgive. A mother has every right to worry over a child." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      "Yep. That'd be it." Roy answers Silica. "But his were industrial. You could tell they were robotic just by lookin' at 'im. Most Resemble is more like Solty's. Pretty hard to tell it's Resemble without some kind of scanner. I'm not sure who first came up with it. Someone in R.U.C., I guess. It can replicate the body's functions down to the finest detail and there doesn't seem to be any need for recharging. Maybe they run off of food like a real body, I dunno. But Solty is pretty unique. I've never seen Resemble with that kind of resilience or power before, and there's no records of any other 100% Resemble, either." Solty's ears twitch and she looks up from putting out the places and silverware before smiling at Roy. He doesn't actually smile back, but his features soften a bit before he sips of his wine. "You two are old enough, right? This wine isn't bad if you want some." Roy adds.      Solty's ears twitch again as she hears that Gilgamesh never lies. "That's good! Lying is bad. You should always tell the truth, even if it hurts a bit. But, you don't have to be mean about sharing the truth, either." She then starts serving the lasagna, making sure each person gets a good sized piece. "Please enjoy! I helped make it!"      Kasha listens to Gilgamesh, and at the end of it she says, "...so? That just means you were made to be king. That doesn't mean you ARE king of everything. Plus, unless those gods had dominion over actual everything you have no claim to it anyway. Just everything in the world you come from. It doesn't even mean you /have/ to be king unless you want to be or have some divine compulsion to be king I guess." She pauses here to take a bite of lasagna, then as one might expect of a kid somewhere between 10 and 12, she talks with her mouth full, her words a bit slurred by it. "So, either you gotta actually take control of areas outside your world to become king of those places, or you gotta accept that you are just king of Babylon and Urak or whatever. Otherwise it's mostly just words with nothing to back it up. And you just said you don't lie."      Miranda returns about this time with garlic bread sticks and salad. "Kasha. Don't talk with your mouth full." she says. Kasha blinks, then covers her mouth. "Er...sorry." 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     "Oh... That's interesting." Silica remarks, looking curiously at Solty. She never would have been able to tell. Her own ears twitch at the conversation between Gilgamesh and Kasha, suppressing a giggle at the sheer, brutal frankness of the young girl.     At the offer of wine, Silica shakes her head. "I don't even use the alcoholic buff items from the games." she says, politely declining before getting stuck into the lasagne, falling mostly silent, though her ears are on a swivel. Literally. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh laughs.      He stirs his wine in his hand, and he laughs. It's a musical, ringing, /beautiful/ laugh, infused with divinity and starlight and heavenly tones. It's also a mocking laugh, a cruel divinity, a god looking down from on high. He raises the wine to his lips and takes a sip.      "Child," he says calmly, "The degeneracy of modernity does not deprive me of my existence as King. It is not a crown. It is not a title. It is what I am. That you do not understand it is proof of the modern era's failure."      He takes another sip. "I am Gilgamesh. I am the King. There is nothing I am not King of. That you do not think that I am King because of foolish views that have risen in my wake does not make me less King. What others think of me does not make me less King. It is not a job I do. It is what I am. 'King' and 'Gilgamesh' are one and the same. There is no Gilgamesh without King, and there is no King without Gilgamesh."      He waves a hand dismissively as a golden fork and knife fall into his hands. He eats with *impeccable* table manners. At the end of it, a handkerchief falls out of the air and wipes his mouth for him, and he stands and presses his hand over his chest. "My thanks. A fine meal indeed."      "Now, the King has elsewhere to be." He waves his hand over his shoulder. "Feel free to keep the wine. It is from Babylon, and finer than any you will taste in this modern Multi-Vars." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa nods "There's always a few tells with people like me notbaly the eyes and the back of the neck, generally though I forget my body isn't flesh most days." She grins a bit about that it's been a long road for her not to be afraid of herself. She thinks a biot more about Gilgamesh, Divine right? Well at least in regard to his nation on his native world isn't a joke or an excuse with him. Kotone enjoys her food fdrom the looks of it as she seems to know her manners though why is someone who is more or less a robot physically eating? Who knows she does seem to be enjoying it though. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Kasha blinks at that reply. She isn't sure what to say. He didn't even argue back, he just flat out denied everything she said and declared herself and everyone else besides himself degenerates. Finally she lets out an exasperated sigh and shrugs at him. "Whatever. Call yourself king of everything all you want, just don't expect us to start doing what you say." she says before poutily putting another bit of lasagna in her mouth and chewing huffily.      Solty isn't sure what to make of all that either, so she just giggles a bit uncertainly. "Well, thank you for visiting, King Gilgamesh!" she says, regaining her usual cheerfulness in the process. "And thanks for the wine." Roy adds, though obviously more out of obligation than actual gratitude. "He's just leaving because I'm right." Kasha mumbles to herself. Miranda blinks as well. "Leaving already? Well, thank you again for helping Roy and Solty." She doesn't include hope to see you again because...well...she's not sure about that guy.      It isn't clear why Solty is eating, but she is, and quite happily at that. Her ears even wiggle up and down slightly as she chews. "You two are welcome to stay for the night." Miranda says to Silica and Kotone. "I'm sure it must be far to wherever you come from and besides Roy could use more feminine influence in his life."      Roy groans at that but doesn't forbid anything. Kasha's eyes widen. "A sleepover? I haven't had one of those in forever! But...aren't you two a little old for that?" she says. Solty's ears perk. "What's a sleepover?" 
}}

6045/Payback is a bleep!

2018-12-29T06:27:59Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2018/09/05 |Location=R.U.C. Earth |Synopsis=Solty Revant's intro scene! Roy is in trouble and needs help, and several Multiversals show up to help..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2018/09/05
|Location=R.U.C. Earth
|Synopsis=Solty Revant's intro scene! Roy is in trouble and needs help, and several Multiversals show up to help him!
|Cast of Characters=6704, 973, 42, 1099, 7
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy grunts in pain and leans back against the wall behind him after sending his radio call. He isn't sure who will answer, and normally he wouldn't call for help at all. But he is in bad shape. His left arm and leg are both bleeding badly despite his quick bandage and tourniquet job. He's currently hiding in the darkness of an abandoned building, though his signal wouldn't be hard to track. He's a tall man in his mid fourties who wears a brown trench coat over blue jeans, a white shirt, and black suspenders.      His enemy is a person who looks more machine than man. He is even bigger than Roy, though that is likely thanks to his cybernetic body. The only part of him that is still obviously human is half of his face, though both his red cybernetic eye and his black human eye burn with hatred. "Heeeere Roy my boy. Come on out. You don't have to be afraid. It'll only hurt for a minute." The cyborg's right arm has split open and deployed a plethora of weapons, a mixture of guns and missiles in all different shapes and sizes. "And then, you won't have to worry about it when I go after your friends at that pathetic Hunter's agency! Hahahaha! What's that pretty boss of your's name? Miranda? Hehehe...maybe I won't kill her."      Roy, despite his injuries and the man's words stays put. He has to wait for the right moment, and when he is hunting his face is always an impassive mask. He holds his heavy calibur handgun at the ready, but he is really hoping someone heard that call... 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Probaly the last thing either side is expecting comes fluttering over. A young looking girl, no older than fourteen or so flies overhead, throws her limbs forward to arrest her speed then comes to land almost delicately. She doesn't look human, with the large cat ears and expressive tail swaying behind her... or the yellow gossamer wings that fade after a moment of landing. She turns, drawing a dagger from a sheath on her back, as several creatures apparently 'res in' from her inventory. A little dragon, a snake with wings, a boar with ice tusks, a large bat-like creature, and an even larger Dracotiger. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she shouts, her young voice more like a piercing keen than anything else, though it spurs her pet swarm into action, the group launching needles of wind magic, causing the ground to ice up around the cyborg's feet, sonic pulses, bubbles that pop and cause static in cybernetic eyes, acting like a kind of stun. Silica is the Beast Mistress. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Is another cat-person, wearing environmentally-sealed armor but with the same wings, more or less expected? Staren lands next to her, aiming his right arm at the cyborg menacing the other man. "Alright, what's going on here? Drop your weapons and talk." He lowers his arm and fires a beam cannon into the ground, in case it wasn't clear they were weapons, then aims it at the cyborg again.     Aaand Silica's already attacking. "Do you know this man, Silica?" 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      The King of Heroes didn't hear the call.      The King of Heroes doesn't usually respond to pleas, prayers, or requests. When he shows up, it's of his own volition, and usually more out of boredom than some desire to /help people/. Indeed, helping modern people is about as far from the King's desires as one could get, but in the eternal search for something to entertain him, it so happens that he sometimes crosses into ongoing trouble. Usually, as in this case, this is by pure and happy accident - Gilgamesh often does not bother watching where he's going as he walks, and people rarely bother to stop him. Why would they? He is radiant, and beautiful, and glorious in all ways. There's something unnervingly glorious about him, in fact, something clearly inhuman about his perfect body, something more real than real about the aura around him. It's as if in his presence reality is fake and the King is all that truly is. As if his existence was at war with the rest of it, and was winning.      The King is just walking down the street. There's no urgency, no hurry, no special speed to his action. He's walking down the street in a robe made from stitched-together uniforms that nonetheless looks like fine silk while it adorns his form. The words VIGILO CONFIDO and HELLSING: WE ARE ON A MISSION FROM GOD seem like pacts writ in stone as the robe swirls around him with every step. He probably draws more than a few eyes; his powerful aura is something he doesn't bother to hide, and something people tend to /notice/. He's often compared humans who cluster around him to beggars grasping at his hem hoping for scraps of glory, and it's not an unfair comparison.      The King stops and looks up at the commotion above. It's not Roy, or anything like that, that draws his interest, but the loud shouting of Silica.      Interest may be a strong word. /Attention/ is perhaps more correct.      The bored young King doesn't bother with the elevator, or with stairs, or anything else. Instead the King goes right up the side of the building, running straight vertically until he reaches the conflict point. He stands on the edge of the windowsill with perfect balance, watching the conflict, before he decides that, you know, he's got nothing /better/ to do.      And then the window just sort of explodes around him.      Glass shatters in the wake of the King's demigod strength. Gilgamesh walks forward into the midst of the fray, heedless of the world around him.      "So, then," the King says, his voice like liquid gold, "Even in modernity there are still monsters with the faces of men. How pleasant. I had worried that even *that* entertainment was lost to me."      A ripple in the air gives way to a hilt. The young King reaches up and grabs it, and pulls free a long spear, red as blood and twisting like a DNA strand. The spear settles into his hand as if it was meant to be there, as he shoulders the weapon. The look in his beautiful red eyes is as if he's looking at bugs.      "Come, then. Your name. Your King commands it. He would know the beast he slays to properly honor himself in song." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone had been busy working on her ride for the upcoming race, and had been going to town with the budget Gil has given her. This broadcast had pulled her out of her strange moon and had caused her to head out to see if she can help. She'd come kitted out for trouble though she iddn't quite look it from how she was dressed a sleeveless long coat form fitting pant and top, and a mess of blue hair. OOC Ko https://i.imgur.com/Ok94l6k.jpg) She was quick to arrive a bit after Staren and Silica do and almost at hte same time Gil shows up. She'd got several less lethal weapons handy and she's already for troubl she does have a pistol ready though. As Silica makes her move she'll attempt to see if the cyborg has a wireless connection she can attempt to hack and get into his systems. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy blinks before staring for a few moments as Silica arrives, then he groans and facepalms. "...this one is even younger than Solty..." he mutters to himself as the pet swarm attacks his opponent. He can't leave a little girl to fight, even if she is super-powered and he is injured. He is just about to step out of hiding and fire when...      More people show up. A heavily armored catboy and...Roy isn't even sure what Gilgamesh is. He's seen a few weird things lately but these guys have put those things to shame in a matter of seconds. Roy is starting to wonder if he hit his head or something.      The cyborg has much less doubt, though. "What the hell is this?!" he growls as his feet freeze to the ground, then again as his cybernetic eye starts to glitch. "Alright! You all asked for it! I was just going to kill him, but I don't mind adding all of you to the list! My name is Sam Daston, but you can call me Overkill! And this beast will slay you, 'My King'!" He sneers that last part, obviously showing as much disrespect as he can to the (in his eyes) wimpy looking little kid. He aims at Gilgamesh with that plethora of weapons on his right arm, then raises his left and it deploys even more which are trained on Silica, Staren, and all those pets. "There's no way you can defeat me with this new body of mine!!"      The next moment is filled with explosions and gunfire as the maniacal cyborg tries in no uncertain terms to kill those three. He almost doesn't notice Kotone since she came in so quietly compared to the others, but when he does he grins. "You with them, sweet heart? You'd be much better off with a man like me." he says, leering openly even in the midst of all his attacking. Kotone's search would reveal he does seem to have a wireless access point, but it is heavily encrypted. It will take several minutes to break into.      When Overkill (is he really going with that?) opens fire, Roy's eyes widen. "Get out of there!!" he shouts, obviously directed at Silica. He tries to run toward her, but his leg sends him to the ground and he has no alternative but to open fire on the cyborg. His shots are deadly accurate, but his bullets just bounce off without leaving more than a bullet-sized dent. 

:'''{{#var:973|Silica (973)}} has posed:'''     Silica stands defiant in the face of incoming fire. She doesn't need to worry, as the giant Dracotiger, as big as a knight's charger, moves in between the incoming fire and its master, snarling annoyedly as bullets and explosions ripple across its body, leaving bright red damage decals, like patches of blood in their wake. "You're a bad man." says Silica, as she vaults over the Dracotiger in a lull between volleys, charging forwards with inhuman speed, the blade of her dagger glowing a bright, pale blue. "I WON'T LET YOU HURT ANYONE ANYMORE!" she cries, ducking under 'Overkill's guard, and jabbing her blade into his gut, causing ice to explode from the other side of the cyborg's back, blossoming like a great, icy flower. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren rolls his eyes as the cyborg talks about being invincible. He deploys his own forcefield, but the heavy weapons wear it down.     He doesn't /quite/ want to kill the guy, because he has questions -- like who's giving such power to jerks -- but he's not exactly going to stop someone else if they shoot a little too hard. For his part, he slowly circles while the others attack, looking for openings to fire the beam cannons. He was going to use missiles, but not with Silica in melee. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Ah.      "Such disrespect from such an ignorant beast."      The King steps forward. Perfect muscles ripple beneath the roiling robe as the weapons are trained on him. There's something horrifyingly /other/ about his eyes, still staring at Overkill as if he was nothing but a bug. The look on his face is downright /terrifying/.      Weapons.      Bullets and explosions fill the air. Some of them scrape past the King of Heroes, splattering glorious blood against the ground. Explosives throw shards of rock and building and glass around, drawing blood from the King's arms and legs.      But, as the teenager emerges from the storm of debris, it is abundantly clear that he is absolutely not dead.      "Come, now." Gilgamesh's fair voice rings clearly over the echoing destruction.      The King stops, his lance still shouldered, his eyes still hard and cruel as his lips spread into a grin. He's *enjoying* this. He's *enjoying* what's about to happen, and he's fully aware of it. "I won't even be able to remember your name if that's the best you're capable of, mongrel. I pity any woman foolish enough to bear your tainted pedigree." He spreads an arm in a pitying shrug. "If your blood is as weak as your bite, you're not even fit to be called a mongrel."      The King's bloody fingers go to his face as his grin and eyes widen. "What's lower than a mongrel? Come on, tell me. An insect? A worm? No, even worms provide something to the world. Even worms are good for something. What can I possibly call you that sums up how pathetic you are?"      The King snaps his fingers. There's a bloody handprint across his face; on him, it looks like the finest of makeup. Even his wounds are beautiful. "I know."      "The lowest creature I can possibly imagine." Gilgamesh points. "I'll call you Sam Daston."      "Truly," the King says as he steps over some of the rubble, "There's nothing more pathetic. Nothing sadder. Nothing more worthless in all the wide world of Multi-Vars. You are a uniquely meaningless creature. No other name could contain your pitifulness. You are not even glorious enough to dignify with song if the best that you can do is scratch my skin."      Silica surges forward, crying out for justice with her dagger.      Gilgamesh goes up. While the cyborg's eyes are on Silica, the King leaps into the air. The red lance comes down, hard, for the cyborg's head. There's no mussing about with salvation or arrest or anything like that - Gilgamesh couldn't care less about such things. No, no. Gilgamesh is aiming to land on the cyborg, pierce the head, and crush him under demigod strength while Silica, Staren, and the others distract him.      More or less *completely* out of boredom. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa hears the cyborg getting quite well creepy as hell he almost remind her of Doll collectots who have harassed her basck on her homre world. On top of evyerhting else the scurity is actually pretty good this wouldn't be the breakin she'd hope it would be and now the borg is firing. She calls out to Roy, "We're here to help!" She now keeps trying to crack the guy's security meanhwhile she's taking a few shots at him to keep his attention she's also making ready to use herself as a shield for Roy if it comes to it. She can take being shot better than he can, and a normal person being ripped apart by a crazy military borg hits far too clone to home for her. If she can get into the borg's systems she's going to try and take out his volunetary motor control. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      "I can see that, but women and kids shouldn't be fighting a guy like this!!" Roy shouts at Kotone.      As with most every would be villain who claims to be invincible, Sam Daston proves to be much less than invinvicble. He actually laughs as Silica charges at him. "What are you doing to do, little girl? You think a mere knife can-" SHINK!      Overkill looks down as he realizes Silica's sword did pierce through him, and when the ice explodes from it he lets out a pained roar! Staren's beam shots burn into the robotic components, some hits destroying weapons and others punching into his body. Still, he keeps firing. Kotone's shots and hacking still don't draw much attention.      Gilgamesh is doing much too good a job for the blue-nette to draw anny aggro at all. "When I'm through with you that girly face of yours will look like a Picasso!" he yells at Gilgamesh. "Then we'll see who's the worthless mongrel!" he threatens. But, when Gilgamesh leaps in with his spear like that the cyborg gets a fearful look and quickly aims his left arm at Roy. "You won't stop me from doing what I came here to do!" His hand flips upward, revealing what looks like a compact field artillery barrel. "DIE!!"      The explosion from the shell firing is deafening, and at this range there is no hope of stopping it in time. Roy's grim expression can be seen in the barrel flash before an even bigger explosion engulfs Roy.      "Hahahaha! That's what you get for-..." Overkill starts to gloat, but that spear to the head cuts off his words. It pierces straight through and pins Overkill to the floor like the insect he is, but despite that his human eye is still focused on where Roy was. He wants to see Roy dead.      The dust and smoke of the explosion slowly clears...and rather than revealing the corpse of the Hunter they came to save...it reveals a girl who looks only a few years older than Silica, with green hair and eyes and her arms crossed in front of her in a classic guard. The shell apparently impacted right at the intersection of those arms, but the only sign of damage is a bit of a scuff mark. Roy is apparently unharmed and staring upward in dismay. "...Solty...I told you to stay back." he says in that deep voice of his. Solty turns her head enough to look at Roy and smiles the brightest of smiles. "I couldn't. Not when you were in danger, Roy."      Roy sighs, then looks over at Sam Daston. "Give it up, Daston! You're outgunned now! You don't want to die here, do you?"      Overkill grins at this. "I don't care, as long as you die with me!" Everyone present would no doubt recognize the telltale beeping and steady charging sounds of a powerful energy source being set to self destruct. "HAHAHAHA! I'LL TAKE ALL OF YOU WITH ME!"      As the countdown starts, Kotone finds that...she managed to break through! But, the programming she meets seems far to advanced for the rather clumsy look of the cyborg's parts. Unlike herself or Solty he is obviously of a lesser design, but the security suggests very advanced technology. If she's fast, she might be able to deactivate the self destruct! 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh could not care less about Roy's safety.      That much is entirely clear. As he lands on Sam Daston's body, the spear goes driving down, and the King of Heroes *twists* it against his skull. It'd be an especially cruel motion if you were doing it to a human, but Gilgamesh's eyes make it clear - this isn't even a human being. Even his cruel grin has disappeared, replaced by a look of distant boredom. It's the cruelty of a human being stepping on an ant not out of desire to kill the ant but because the ant happens to be in their way, and it's a hundred times more frightening than the wild, blood-stained grin. It's a look that says, as Gilgamesh wrenches the spear out of Sam Daston, that he doesn't even consider the man an entity. That stepping on him is barely worth Gilgamesh's time.      His foot comes down. There's not a lot of effort behind it, but there is *enormous* physical strength. Gilgamesh is as strong as a star from Heaven, according to the myth. As strong as a star from Heaven, as distant, and about as unfeeling when it comes to an entity like Sam Daston. No kind, merciful King, this. An ancient King from an ancient time.      Not even a lecture as his foot presses down against Sam's head. He's literally stepping off him and away. He doesn't know what the beeping is, he doesn't know what the energy is, he doesn't know what any of it is. Instead, the King surveys the room as the lance disappears.      He's thinking about something, but what he's thinking about is impossible to determine behind those flawless red eyes. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa has had a lot of experiance hacking which all started with friend and compaions going hey Ko you can jack into things right? Well can you jack into this alien thing and risk frying your brain so we can get his door open? It's just kind of went from there and she's not stopped working on it. Gil never oes anything half way and he's darn close to the guy too. She works frantic trying to disarm the self destruct system given she has no idea how powerful it is and how many people are at risk she'll focus on shutting the damn thing down. She's also mutting all sorts of things rapid fire in a mix of Japanes, french and english... 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     "Don't be sexist." Staren retorts to Roy shouting that women shouldn't be fighting.     And then the cyborg, facing immenent death, decides to fire at Roy rather then defend himself. "No!" He tries to dive into the way of his shot with his forcefield... but it's too slow. And then, Solty's here! He can place her once he's heard her voice.     And then... a self-destruct? Seriously?! Staren considers actions. "Gilgamesh! Throw him far away from here or move US, he's going to explode!" He moves towards Kotone and Silica to try and get in the way of the blast with what's left of his forcefield. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa says "I'm trying to diarm it." She keeps at it as Staren moves to give her some addtional cover but at this point she may be moving to take a hit for Roy, because ya. so long as her braincase surives she'll be fine, right? 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The stomp to Sam's head is damaging, but he still seems to be alive somehow. That beeping continues and the charging sound grows louder and higher pitched. "Remember this, you arrogant brat!" he shouts to Gilgamesh. "What good are you if you can't even save a few people from me with all that power?! HUH?! USELESS! HAHAHAHA!" The beeping and charging build to a crescendo, and Solty dashes toward him, ready to do just as Staren suggested but...there is a pair of beeps like a command being accepted. Overkill blinks. "...what...what was that?" he asks, still unable to move thanks to the spear to the head and sword through the body.      Solty comes to a stop as well and her long green ears twitch. "It...stopped?" she asks uncertainly. Roy slowly gets back to his feet. "Huh. Lucky break." he says, then looks around at the others. "We're alive -and- I get to collect the bounty on this guy. Of course, I'll split it with all of you if you want."      Overkill is shaking as he tries to move his badly damaged cyborg body. "NO! You're all supposed to be dead! What happened?!"      Of course, Kotone knows what happened. She managed to find the correct path to the self destruct control just in time. Solty looks to Kotone and smiles. "You did that?" she asks. Roy raises an eyebrow. "...you didn't even touch him." 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh just gives Staren a look that could wither steel at being given orders.      The handsome King just stands there. Evidently, he either doesn't think Sam Daston's explosion can kill him, or he doesn't feel that Kotone is liable to fuck up enough that it's a concern. Sam's speech falls on deaf ears.      The spear vanishes into the Gate of Babylon. "Not even his screams are entertaining," the King sighs, running a bloody hand through his hair. The trail of red is like highlighting. "What a waste. To dirty my treasure on something as low as that, and without even enough of a fight to be worth my time."      Gilgamesh's hands go to his hips. "I shall need a reward to make this adventure more than a pointless waste."      "You." He points at Solty. "You will be a fine reward. Be grateful; Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, has chosen you as worthy of his treasury."      He turns, and steps on Sam again, though this time it's less intentional head-crushing and more just walking - admittedly, walking as if Sam wasn't even there, but just walking. He pauses, as if he's only *just* realizing Kotone is here, then crouches down on top of Sam's chest. "You stopped his cowardly trap, then," he says aloud.      "Good."      "Tell me where to crush in order to kill it. I am tired of listening to it. It is frankly embarassing that it has been allowed to live this long." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren knew that daring to order Gilgamesh might incite wrath, but you do what you have to when there are seconds left.     Apparently, Kotone hacked him, though. Staren glares at 'Sam'. "You left your wireless open when your controls aren't isolated from it? Are you a MORON?!" Of course, Gil has to keep making things worse. Staren stands next to Solty. Not that he thinks she NEEDS the help, but some things he just can't abide on principle. "She's a person. People are not treasure." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa does not seem to be moving, though if one pays attention her eyes are moving rapidly at some unseen thing. Finally as the timter ticks down and she's able to disable the bomb going off more or less and she then lets otu a sigh. "That was way too close." She then gets a sheepish almost school girl grin on her face. "Didn't need to, I hacked him and forced the self destruct systems off line.It should also stay darn well off line. Oh! Kotone Yamakawa." There's a pause and then she replices "Oh my body's mostly prosetic." She notes then pauses to Gilgamesh and she looks to Roy. "I'm with an group known as the Paladins and ..." She's about to say more when Gil askes her how to kill it. She will attempt to shut off Sam's vocal systems off. "King Gilgamesh, we need to respect the locals laws on this." She'll look to Sam. "Local police going to come for this asshole?" She hopes she cna talk Gil down and turn this shit head over to the cops he may have useful information on other issues here and she recalls when Gil wanted her as a treasure once...This was certainly becoming quite the day. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Overkill grunts as he is stepped on again. "That's right, King Kid. You wasted your time and dirtied your hands on-" His voice suddenly cuts out thanks to Kotone. His mouth keeps moving, but nothing comes out.      Solty scowls at Sam until Gilgamesh declares that she is a prize. She blinks a few times and points at herself. "You..want me as a treasure?" Roy frowns at this. "No way. It's like the kid says. Besides, she's under my protection. Taking her would be kidnapping." His hand tightens on his gun again. He gets the feeling that Gilgamesh may not take no for an answer. Solty however doesn't seem insulted or angry. She bows graciously at the waist. "I'm sorry, King Gilgamesh, but I can't go with you. I have to stay here with Roy. But, if you ever need help with anything, you can call on me!" she says cheerfully.      Roy looks to Kotone when she asks about what will happen to Sam. "Yeah. Once we notify them. They don't really come after guys like this. Too much risk to the public, not enough firepower or hazard pay for the officers. That's what we Hunters are for." Speaking of, he touches a communicator in his ear. "Hey, Miranda. Daston's been neutralized. Call the police, would ya? I might have to split the payment on this one." 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      The King of Heroes stares at Staren for a long moment. Then he waves his hand. "That I consider someone a treasure worthy of my time in this age of decadent modernity is in and of itself a compliment. That I consider someone a worthy reward for dirtying one of my precious things on /this/," he sort of gestures at Sam's body, "Is frankly remarkable."      'We need to respect the local laws on this.'      Gilgamesh rolls his eyes, but straightens. At Roy's statement, Gilgamesh says nothing. Solty gets a glance out of the corner of his eye, and then a look up at the sky. "Hmph."      His face is slightly red.      Is...is he embarassed by something?      The King mutters something under his breath, then steps off Sam's body - though he does take the moment to grind his heel into the frame. A parting gift. "I have no interest in your money. Keep it. A gracious gift from the King of Heroes." He waves his hand over his shoulder. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren's indifferent to local laws, but sure, that sounds reasonable enough. And... Gilgamesh /doesn't/ press claiming Solty as a treasure? Huh. So maybe the guy /can/ tell when he's going to far.     Or maybe he thinks he couldn't take on Solty and Staren together.     Staren's eyebrow quirks in any case -- it's interesting that Gilgamesh is possibly willing to back down at all. Staren waits to see where this all ends up going. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa nods to Roy for a moment and will move to secure the now muted cyborg she shakes her hed. "It's jackasses like this why I'm like this now." She looks at am for a moment and it's not a very kind look either before she turns away to the others. "Well now good to meet you both." She also turn to Gil for a moment looking to the King of Kings and she nods her head a bit. "Thank you for your aid." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy snorts at that last thing from the King. "Thanks." he says, though he doesn't sound all that sincere. Solty's long ears wiggle as Gilgamesh mutters, and she approaches him. "Mr. Gil-..er..King Gilgamesh! Please don't feel bad! It isn't like that! Roy adopted me. He needs me. So, I have to stay here. But...I'd be happy if you visited again!" She is blushing a bit now. It's obvious she hasn't even considered things that Gilgamesh hinted to in his mutterings before. Not just in this instance but perhaps ever before. But she pauses as she looks between Roy - who is giving Gilgamesh the cold eye of someone who fully expects him to be as much trouble as the villain they just defeated - and Gilgamesh. "Just...be nice to Roy, okay? He's just looking out for me." she says, her voice full of sincerity and kindness.      Roy sighs before looking at Kotone. "So, you're part Resemble too, huh? Maybe that explains how you guys were able to do all of this." he says, looking around at all the damage. Then he stumbles a bit as his injuries get to him. "Nnn...thanks for the help, all of you. Let's get this guy downstairs." Solty moves to help support Roy. "And get you some help." He looks a bit embarrassed about having to be helped, but makes a grunt that says 'alright'.      The look Staren gets from Sam when he mentions wireless suggests Sam doesn't know what he's talking about. But with Sam now muted it's hard to be sure. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     She's inviting Gilgamesh back? That girl's too nice, but he's not gonna tell her how to run her life.     He rolls his eyes /extra hard/ at Sam's ignorance, though.     Staren turns to Roy. "You know... if you have to face threats like this, you could become Resemble too. Or at least wear a suit of armor like mine. Is there a particular reason you haven't?" 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      "Hmph," the King of Heroes simply tilts his head away from Kotone, "I was simply passing by and thought it might be entertaining. That is nothing worth thanks."      "If anything, I wasted my time and ruined one of my precious treasures for nothing."      Solty approaches, and apologizes, and explains herself, and asks him to visit again. The young King's face turns a brighter shade of red, and now he doesn't look like the ancient god-king who steps on mortals. Now he looks like an embarassed teenager who just got turned around /completely/ and has no idea how to interact with people like they're /people/. He looks away, hiding his blush, and says, "I, I suppose I can leave one of my treasures in the hands of a fine caretaker, and show up and check on it every now and then."      He turns to face the rest, as his blush dies, and places his hand on his chest. "I am Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, King of Uruk and Babylon, who sits with Tigris at his right hand and Euphrates at his left, who owns all things worth owning in the world, who knows all the countries of the world." And the weird thing is that there's no /ego/ in this - no more than usual, anyway. He's not listing off titles he's proud of; he's stating them like they're a *fact*. Like they're just *part* of him, like...it's as normal as saying his name.      He watches Roy and Solty move to collect Sam. His face goes a bit red again, and he walks over and holds out his hand. "I will carry him."      "The, the caretaker of one of my treasures should not be allowed to exert himself so. And one of my treasures should not be fouled touching such a worthless thing. And I need no assistance, myself."      Indeed, if Roy lets him do so, Gilgamesh just shoulders Sam like he weighs nothing. The King *is* as strong as a star from Heaven, after all. 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa looks at Rory for a moment. "Yes is that a problem?" She sighs for a moment and will move to help Solty and Roy with the guy to make sure he gets dragged off. Then Gil offers to haul Sam to the cops and that would help a lot. She nods to Gil's comment for a moment and she also is taking a likeing to Solty as well from how earnes the girl seems to be. "I think I'd like to visit again too and Roy you got my respect for going after combat shells without many if any aguments yourself." Maybe she could help him out get some better kit? That would be for later. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy hmphs at Staren and Kotone. "He wasn't supposed to be augmented. Before this he was just an embezzler who made off with a lot of money before I caught him the first time. His transport was involved in a serious crash on the way to prison and he escaped, but I guess he sustained some bad injuries and figured why not go all out since he had the money. As far as why I'm not Resemble and have no armor...well that sort of thing just isn't available outside of R.U.C. security sectors, and Resemble isn't supposed to be used like this. He must have found some unscrupulous technician to do this. If I'd know he was augmented I'd have been prepared." Seems Roy just doesn't think he really needs that stuff despite all the reasons he gave. Then to Kotone he says, "Problem? Not at all, as long as you are using it for helping people or just living your life. Keep up the good work, kid."      Neither Roy nor Solty move to stop Gilgamesh as he picks up Sam, but the barely functioning cyborg seems pretty mad about it. He even tried to knee Gilgamesh, but with his systems compromised both physically and electronically he can't put any power behind it.      At the entrance to the abandoned building the police are waiting to take Sam into custody, and an ambulance is standing by for Roy. Seems this Miranda is good at her job as handler. Solty helps Roy to the ambulance, then looks to the others. "Thank you all so much for your help!" She then gives each of them a firm hug, even Gilgamesh. "And yes, you are all welcome to visit us at home! Miranda is a good cook, and I'm trying to learn!" 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh fairly intentionally bumps Sam against every wall and corner on the way down.      He's /petty/. And in a very quiet way.      Solty hugs him. The King sort of just...takes it. He seems like he's not sure what to do, or how to respond, to being hugged. After a bit, he decides to respond with a gentle pat on the head. He's...bad at intimacy. It's painfully obvious.      The King hesitates again at the invitation. The sense that he has no idea what to do is /palpable/. Finally, he says, "...the, the King does not make a habit of turning down such an invitation." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa seems to understand now "I see so it's not been militarized here. I see so sounds like we might need to find the ones who enabled this and shut them down." She grins at Roy and seem to take his reply very well. "That's what I'm intending to do with myself." She looks over to Solty for a moment and grins at the girl too. "So good to met you as well." She watches Gil pick up Sam and Solty just moves to Hug Gil that's something you don't see every day. 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren nods. He's not going to push people to get more power if they don't want it -- he just wants to make sure they know the offer is there, if someone feels they need more power to help people.     Although, one thing does stick out to him... "Not meant to be used like this? Look how tough and full of weapons he was. If Resemble isn't meant to be used for combat..." Staren shakes his head. "It's way overengineered." 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      "Can't argue with you there. But, it's meant to give people a fully functional replacement so it has to be overengineered." Roy says to Staren as he is loaded into the ambulance. He gives Kotone a small smile as he hears what she intends to do. "Good." he says. Solty smiles happily as Gil accepts the invitation. "Great! I'll see you all later, then!" she says before she starts to climb into the ambulance with Roy. But, before she can a group of four women in black outfits and tinted shades that scream government agent appear. One stops her, the other three flank the small group. "Ladies and gentlemen," the leader says, "I'm going to have to ask you all to come with me back to the R.U.C. Containment building. Please understand you are not under arrest, but we have some things we need to discuss." The leader has black hair and carries herself with calm confidence. To her right is a red haired girl who is in her late teens who looks considerably more nervous, opposite that girl is a carefree girl with brown spikey hair beneath a military barret, and opposite the leader is a very tall blonde who looks fiery in temperment.      Solty shrinks back from them. "Hey...you guys tried to arrest me last time for being unregistered..." The leader nods lightly. "It was nothing personal. Just doing our job." 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren's doing a lot of eye-rolling today. "No, it doesn't have to come with built-in armor and heavy weapons just to function as a replacement body. I /know/, my world has /both/ and I've repaired, examined, modified, and partially designed both types of bodies!"     And then the W.I.B. show up. "Oh COME ON!" Staren throws up his hands. "If you wanna discuss, start discussing! I came here to /help/, you know!" 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      The King of Heroes' face is one of impatience. He's been invited for food. He wants to /not be dealing with Sam/ anymore. Sam has already eaten a substantial portion more of his time than Sam is worth. Dealing with the /fallout/ from Sam? The /side/-material from the worthless creature? Yeah, that doesn't look like something the King particularly wants to do.      "I am Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, King of Uruk, who sits atop Babylon, with Tigris at his right hand and Euphrates at his left, who knows all the countries of the world," Gilgamesh says in a tone much more imperious than his last introduction. There's a snap of his fingers, and his makeshift robe vanishes in a sparkling gold light. In its place is his naked upper body, full of muscles, with red lines running across his form, and a golden-armored lower-body with streaming red cloth. Now he *looks* the part of the King of Heroes. Now the teenager looks /regal/, *dangerous*, even; now it's much more visible that he's not thin but *powerful*, as he walks forward. This is *his* Official Uniform, *his* way of saying This Is My Respectable Clothing For A Respectable Moment.      "I will by my mercy grant you the right to ask me three questions here and now. Rejoice; the King's kindness is without compare. But so too has the King been offered a meal in the house of his treasure, and that is far more compelling than you. Too long have I wasted on that insignificant speck already."      Solty shrinks back. Gilgamesh flexes his fingers. "Threaten her at your peril. She is a treasure of the King."      At least he's weirdly protective with his bizarre assertions? 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa looks to the women for a moment asne she looks at them for a moment she pauses for a moment nodding. "All right, I'll come along." She doesn't seem to be worried about it she has her own abilities right and she moves to banish her pistol with strange device at her hips. She looks to Soly for a momnt and moves to ge a bit in their way how3ver it seem to be over still there's W.I.B. "They want to talk Staren I'm willing to. I am Kotone Yamakawa I am an operative of the Paladins." She looks to Gil, ya know what she'll consider that he's being diplpomatic here. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Roy starts to explain what he meant to Staren, but that's before he is interrupted by the W.I.B., causing him to growl a bit. "Didn't cause enough trouble last time?" he asks them, but the leader just handwaves at both his and Gilgamesh's words. She seems unimpressed by Gilgamesh's many titles or change of attire. She just raises an eyebrow. "Like I said, we aren't here to cause any of you trouble. But, our agents noticed your powers on the way to investigate Roy's radio call. We watched the battle, and we know you are not from this world. These are not things that should be discussed in public. It could cause paranoia in the populace and perhaps even panic."      Sam has by now been loaded up into a police van and taken away, so no need to worry about him. Roy doesn't want to leave yet, but the medics insist and Solty isn't about to leave his side. The lead agent considers her options, then blinks as she notices the other three agents seem dazzled by Gilgamesh. The red-head is just staring with her mouth open a bit, the brown-haired girl is looking him over in obvious ways, and while the blonde is keeping her cool there is some obvious color in her cheeks.      Finally she sighs. "Alright. But, inside." She motions to the building then walks with the others into the empty, abandoned lobby. "Three questions..." She almost says 'huh' but that might qualify as a question. "Where do you all come from? Where do you all get your powers? And...can we expect all who come through that gate to be as amicable as you?"      Solty seems surprised and touched when Gilgamesh defends her, but it seems it is not needed this time. With Roy still in the ambulance, the tall blonde addresses Staren. "He means that they replicate the human body down to the finest detail and run off of independent and long-lasting power cells. It's very easy for someone who is so inclined to integrate weapons if they have an unsanctioned lab from which to work."      Then the leader blinks. "Oh, forgive me. I didn't introduce us. I'm Integra, this is Accela," She motions to the red-head, "Celica," the brown-haired girl, "and Sylvia." The blonde. "We are with R.U.C. Security. We are the ones who typically handle threats like this that pop up every now and then. Unfortunately, sometimes Hunters get first wind of these cases and we have to pick up the pieces. So, thank you at least for saving one of our citizens and keeping collateral damage to a minimum." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa say "I am from Earth, well an earth from The Canadian Part of the Amer-Russio Alliance, powers? My body was was replaced with prosethcis for medeical reason and I upgraded as I began to explore off my home world. Such tech is pretty comon. I am operative of a Law Enforcement group that operates and aids worlds willing to work with them enforces their laws. As for the last part? Sadly no, but things are not as bad as they used to be a few years ago." The old war was over so that was some serious good news. "So off world troublemakers and worse are still issue to be concerned about." 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh crosses his arms. "I am Gilgamesh, King of Babylon. Are you hard of hearing? I am from Babylon, made two-thirds god and one-third man to rule over all that is, was, and ever shall be. The countries of Multi-Vars are varied and many, and what may come through your gate is as varied as you can imagine and then some. Wonders and monsters alike."      The King of Heroes runs his fingers through his hair, as if he can't believe that someone would waste three questions asking him about something like /that/. "My 'powers'. You have seen nothing of my powers. You have seen one of the treasures of my Gate of Babylon, a fraction of my strength, and the glory of my existence pressed upon the fabric of the world." He means that aura of palpable glory that even now is shining around him like a halo, that aura of pure and raw divinity that ripples against the world like sun on water. "As though I would need to use my /power/ on something as worthless as that pitiful creature."      One hand goes to his hip. The other is outstretched, like he's beckoning. "Is that all? Have you nothing more interesting to ask? You stand before the King of Heroes, whose treasury contains all the wonders of Creation, and all you want to know is something as paltry as that?"      Then he shakes his head. He gives a distant, imperious, and knowing smirk to the three girls. He's got his game face on again; the dorky teenager given way to the god-king of Uruk once more, the human-seeming youth subsumed into the First of Heroes. The transformation, considering how he was like five minutes ago, is probably more than a little startling, especially since it's /abrupt/ and /seamless/.      "Hmph. Hardly a task. Hardly worth thanks. Though if you wish to thank me so badly I can think of pleasures that would more than make up for my wasted time."      The King tilts his head back to look at Solty. "Is this enough compliance for your satisfaction? Are you ready to lead the way?" 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren crosses his arms and frowns. "Oh, so other worlds need to be kept secret so you can uphold the status quo? This is an /opportunity/." He follows them, though. And nods at the blonde's explanation. "So combat Resembles are abnormal. Noted." He nods again at the thanks.     "We come from all manner of different worlds. The Multiverse's current configuration... Okay, I'm simplifying, but the local warpgate network covers what we call 'sector zero', a supercontinent the size of countless worlds surrounded by ocean, and the space above it, home to countless more solar systems and even a few galaxies. I specifically am from a version of Earth that... look, it's a long story, but my home city is one of tolerance for all intelligent species, and the use of technology and magic alike to get the best of both worlds."     Staren holds out his right arm, palm up, then curls the forearm up. His left hand taps an index finger on a beam cannon barrel. "My 'power' comes from being smart, and from found, donated, and bought technology. And of course you can't expect only nice things to come through the warpgate... if you want more information on the Multiverse's hazards, and maps and such, she and I" he nods towards Kotone, "are part of an organization that distributes such, we'd be happy to share."     Staren looks between them. "Nice to meet you. I'm Staren, Gifted of the Concord and sort of a... researcher of problems, though honestly I end up spending more time /shooting/ problems."     Staren gives Gilgamesh a look of 'Don't you get it'? "Come on... on this world they obviously don't have to deal with actual... two-thirds-gods showing up. How are they supposed to know of you?"     Staren looks back to the three agents. "There are... Factions, out in the Multiverse, that your government might consider joining, but you don't /have/ to. You may wish to get in touch with the Syndicate, though -- they can help you find multiversal help to supplement your hunters, as well as missions suited to your hunters that they might gain experience in the Multiverse. Anything else you want to ask?"     Although he was initially annoyed at being detained, he does like getting to make people more informed, so now he's happy to keep expositing as long as they have questions. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh gives Staren a look like the idea of people not knowing the King is so alien and foreign to him he literally cannot comprehend it. His red eyes just stare at Staren for a moment before he goes back to his prior stance. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      If Staren really knew what the status quo was, he'd surely be outraged.      Integra listens to Gilgamesh, but when he finishes she just shrugs. "In truth we didn't have to ask any questions at all. I was more curious what information you'd volunteer and how you'd present it. As Staren said, we could easily procure just about any information we wanted. My actual task concerning you and your friends was to alert you to the fact that powers such as yours are not something the public is familiar with. So, while you are here the R.U.C. must ask that you keep all power usages to a minimum. For all intents and purposes you should appear to be normal people. If any...monsters come through the gate we'll deal with them when it happens." She doesn't seem worried about it, really. "Also, I was instructed to provide you with these. Due to the laws of the City if any are found without proper identification they should be detained until their identity is confirmed. If those identies can't be confirmed then those people will be deported to the gate it appropriate. This is a matter of security for our city and as such we take it very seriously."      Integra hands each of the visitors a plastic card much like a driver's license or government ID card. Somehow they already have the names of the multiversal visitors along with their pictures. They must have been made very recently, as Gilgamesh's has his entire title on it, as does Staren's and Kotone's, and they have the name of their faction as well. "Keep these on your person at all times, and advise your organizations that any visitors will be required to register before they will be allowed into the city. The only exception is cases like today when you are responding to an emergency."      Solty hasn't really come inside so much as remained in the doorway where she can see Roy. Of the three girls who were gazing at Gilgamesh, only Celica is still looking at him. And she has what is best described as a predatory grin. "Could be fun." she replies to him after his offer. Integra shoots her a glare, but Celica just grins. "What? We aren't allowed to have lives outside of work?"      Integra sighs, then gestures to the others. "That's all we really needed to say. You're free to go." Solty smiles happily at that. "Then we can go home and get Miranda to help me cook some good food for you all as thanks!" 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      Solty blinks, then looks at Roy. "Oh...I guess that will have to wait until another day. Roy still has to go to the hospital and get all better." she adds. What sort of android forgets for a moment that they need to go to the hospital? 

:'''{{#var:42|Staren (42)}} has posed:'''     Staren crosses his arms. "If wearing armor to protect myself is a 'power', you really think I'm gonna go without it?" He opens his mouth when they talk about identification, but nods when they say they'll just show people to the gate. Reasonable enough. He puts the card in his bag.     When told they're free to go, he starts to turn away, then hesitates. "...So, we told you a bit about the Multiverse. But how can we learn more about this world?" 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh takes the card and examines it like, well, like one would expect a primitive man to examine an ID card. It's bizarre and he looks at it like it's something alien before tossing it over his shoulder. Someone not paying attention might think he just discarded it.      In fact it vanishes the second it passes over his shoulder - into that strange golden ripple. The haughty god-king shrugs and waves his hand dismissively. "I will leave that to you," he says to Kotone as he turns. The golden armor vanishes as his makeshift robe falls back into place. He's done being Official, now he's back to Relaxing.      Solty reminds everyone that she and Roy need to go to the hospital. There's a look of frustration that passes over the King's face before he sighs, runs his hands through his hair again, and nods. Even he can't in good conscience really tell someone not to take their parent to a medic. He's clearly not *heartless*. Cold, distant, aloof, with morals aligned to ancient times more closely than modern sensibilities, powerful enough not to view humans as /people/ if he doesn't feel like it, but...not heartless. Not a monster. Just...odd. And regal, in a way that really doesn't /mesh/ with modernity.      Instead he heads over to the three girls. "Since my plans have fallen through, I would have you show me around this land of yours, that I might take in the sights of your country in pleasant company. I am determined to wring *some* pleasure out of this time-consuming excursion of an evening." 

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:''' Kotone Yamakawa takes the card and nods making sure to pocket it safely. "Thank you." She pauses for a moment and will give the WIBs some details about the Syndicate and the local news network they they can more eaisly start gathering intel and have a means to get experts on issues tha tmight come up without getting entageld in any of the factions if it comes to that. "I admit I'm curious about things here myself." Things went wll all things considered she'll be having to do up a few reports in the end. 

:'''{{#var:6704|Solty Revant (6704)}} has posed:'''      The four agents turn to leave on Integra's signal. The red-head and blonde shake their heads when he approaches them, but the brown-haired Celica looks at him, then at Integra. "Might do some good for city relations with outside worlds~" she says with a grin. Integra and Sylvia roll their eyes while Accela looks on in shock. "Celica, I can't control what you do in your off time, but until that time you will stay with the team." Integra says. Celica tsks. "You really want a guy like this wandering around with no escort? He could start trouble at any time!" she says, that grin still on her face. Integra lets out a heavy sigh. "...fine. But, until your shift ends you are -only- to keep him out of trouble. No fraternization until then." she says, then taps her ear meaningfully which causes Celica to groan. "You're no fun." Celica says.      Then she slips over and takes Gilgamesh's arm. "So, if you ask me the best place to start a tour of this city is the public garden! Lots of...heehee...hidden paths." Celica says, which earns her another glare from Integra which is countered by an innocent look from Celica.      Staren's question causes Integra to pause. "Hmm...well, we have public libraries and online informational databases. I'm sure you can find out plenty from those." she says, then turns to leave again. In a few moments the team is gone.      Solty is soon to leave after that. "Thank you all again! I have to go with Roy now! See you later!" She runs quickly and hops into the ambulance. The medics close the doors and they roar off at full speed toward the hospital. 
}}

3987/Princess in 'Trouble'

2018-11-19T07:35:42Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/09/28 |Location=The Desert |Synopsis=Sarracenia sets up another one of her hero traps |Cast of Characters=446, 930 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |Pos..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/09/28
|Location=The Desert
|Synopsis=Sarracenia sets up another one of her hero traps
|Cast of Characters=446, 930
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      A curious call has gone out from the region of Summer. Apparently, a tower appeared overnight, and from the top of that tower residents have seen someone trapped behind bars. From the looks, a princess. And she called out for help from the people below. But, none of them approached thanks to the defenders of the three story tower.      Large plant creatures with roots for feet, large leaves for arms, and pitcherplant heads full of sharp teeth. To top all of that off, the creatures are armored in shining steel and armed with dangerous looking spears, and the tower walls are studded with what appear to be cannons. Anyone who gets close is fired upon, though the gigantic bullets are very slow moving. They move at roughly sprinting speed, making them easy enough to avoid.      So, the residents passed the news along, and anyone who happened to wander through the area or check local news shows would be made aware of the situation. Someone had kidnapped a princess and imprisoned her in a tower in some old-fashioned way. And she needed rescuing! 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' A princess!, this is hte kind of heroic stuff Alden read in stories! of course he was willing to help, even if he was still recovering from his last stunt with his friends. He arrives to the region of Summer as quickly as he would, hoping he was not too late to assist in the rescue!. The Gabumon is certainly an odd sight on most places, and not too impressive either!. He approaches the misterious tower, the digimon's attention fixed on the armored... plants?, most people might find them bizarre, but well... digimons are a weird bunch. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess at the top of the tower blinks as she sees the creature approaching. From her vantage point, Alden looks like a little toy. And hardly a rescuer. But, one thing she has learned in the multiverse is not to underestimate someone.      As soon as the plants spot the little Gabumon, one of them lets out a grating yell and points his spear. And Alden hears the report of several cannons. Clouds of smoke emerge from those cannons, and a moment later...bullets! Bullets likely bigger than he is! With shark-like faces! And they all spin through the air until they are coming right at him!      Alden won't have much time before those seven Bullet Bills converge on him! 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden is being shot at!... by incredibly slow bullets?. He decides not to test how truly dangerous they are, and instead he jumps out of the way, growling softly, "Release the princess!" he growls, trying to look more threatening, "Blue blaster!. He opens his jaws as a stream of blue flames comes flying from his muzzle, aimed at the closest of the armored plants!. He keeps the attack only a couple seconds, before cutting it off and getting ready for the next action. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The plant creature yelps and cries out as it is hit with blue flames, then runs off flailing wildly in an effort to put out the flames! His three comrades jump back, then growl at Alden. They don't really answer him other than growling, but they do charge with their spears and try to impale the little digimon. Dangerous looking sharp spears are thrust toward Alden, but like the bullets these plant people are not all that fast.      The bullets Alden jumped away from all try to veer toward him, but as they were all converging on Alden and all try to turn the same direction to follow him, they soon collide and in a spectacular display they all explode violently. Despite the obvious power of the explosions, they are harmless after a very short distance.      Unfortunately, as soon as those bullets explode, the cannons fire again and a new set of Bullet Bills fly. 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' The digimon lets out a squeak as he hears the violent explosion and grumbles softly, "Better be safe around this." he mumbles, reaching for his D-Arc, and sliding a card. "Digi Modift! Super evolution plugin-P!". He is glad the whole thing is quick, his form glowing brightly for a second, before exploding in light, revealing a rather tall (need to write a description, but about 7-8 foot tall) bipedal wolf wearing jeans and apparently wielding bronze knuckles.      He takes a rather high jump back, to make some distance form the charging plants, and decides to continue with the flames. "Fox fire!". He releases a blue stream of flames again, not unlike what he did as a gabumon, only hotter, and well, a larger stream. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The small squad of plant soldiers scatter quickly when faced with a giant wolfman who breathes fire! This leaves the gate to the tower wide open! Alden can be sure there are plenty of soldiers inside, but for now he has a clear shot.      Assuming he can avoid the volley of Bullet Bills that swing in low over the ground and head right for him. As those bullets barrel toward him, the large wooden doors into the tower open and more plant creatures emerge. This time, a team of five! But, they aren't holding spears. Instead, they line up in a V-formation in the doorway and take a deep breath in unison. Then...they breathe fire themselves! Fireballs as large as their heads are fired at Alden, and a few seconds later more are fired. And more! 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden is extremely agile, especially jumping wise, he thinks Mario might have nothing on him!. He wastes no time as the group scatter, charging at the door, at least until the fire breathing plants appear!. He snarls and jumps aside, noticing the bullets manage to turn around to avoid hitting the ground this time!. He tries circling around the tower to get out of the path of the fireballs. After he manages to get out of the path of the giant fireballs, he tries attacking the bullets. "Kaiser Nail!". His claws grow crimson as he slashes the air in front of him, the energy forming a large X shape, which is then sent flying forward!. It is basically a ranged impact (like a punch or such, rather than exploding, strong enough to push through a small wall of bricks), hoping it might detonate the darn tracking things!. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The firebreating plants give each other high fives as Alden runs around the tower, then stand there in preparation of facing him again. The Bullet Bills follow after Alden, a few crashing into each other or the tower. When they reach Alden, only two are left, and they are quickly dealt with by that Kaiser Nail attack. They explode harmlessly away from Alden.      And for a few moments, all is quiet. Until that dreaded sound of cannons firing is heard again, and a whole new set of Bills head Alden's way. If he wants to avoid them, he might want to find a way into the tower! There are balconies on each level, of course. And then there is that wide open front door, guarded only by firebreathing plants. If Alden is as jump-capable as he thinks he is, jumping up to a second story balcony should be pretty easy, right? 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden is getting tired of those cannons, andthose plants... he would do something more... drastic, but he fears causing damage to the odd tower, and potentially hurting people inside, so for now, he desists on it. The balcony seems like a very smart idea tho!. As soon as he hears the telltale noise of more bullets being fired, he grumbles loudly, runs, and jumps towards the second floor balcony, landing perfectly!. He rushes inside to get out of firing range. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The explosions that follow signal that the none-too-intelligent Bills have crashed into the tower. And, Alden might notice, that the walls of the tower are not damaged. It might be tougher than it looks! When Alden lands on the second-floor balcony, he finds that...there are plant people on lounge chairs, soaking up the sun. They stare in disbelief as Alden lands there, then their raspy cries fill the air as they try to run for it into the tower.      Inside the tower, similar cries can be heard, followed by the clanking of armored troops running down hallways. The room inside the balcony door is not huge. Only a circle about 20 feet across. But, it is surprisingly lavish inside. Alternating black and white tiles, like a checkerboard, cover the floor. The next floor is up a spiral staircase that runs along the perimeter of the room. It has no railing, so climbing it might be difficult with that group of plants coming down from the third floor. A few have spears, a few start spitting fireballs at Alden as soon as they can see him. And more can be heard approaching from the first floor. Alden might be surrounded soon! 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' The digimon is starting to get tired of all these plants!. The ones trying to climb from bellow are easily taken care off, using the same ranged attack he used on those bullets, sending them crashing back to the ground, before turning to face the ones descending. The room is not that big, but he manages to move aside some of the fireballs, rushing to the stairs, and basically shoving his way through. The fireballs hurt, that is certain if the whines each time one hits on him are a sign, but seems his pelt is not easily ignited, so unless there is a platoon of plants shooting fireballs at him, he likely pushes his way up to the third floor, tossing the armored guards aside on the way. He is not looking too great tho, scorch marks and bruises on his toned form. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The guards put up a fight, but those below never make it into threat range, and those above are easily knocked off the stairs. They wail as they fall to the floor below. Finally, the way to the third floor is clear! The princess awaits! The guards are trying to regroup below, but given their lack of aptitude so far Alden probably doesn't have much to worry about. 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden pats some lingering flames from his fur, and specially the small 'feather' like bits of fur on his back, before moving to explore the floor, and if he finds any door, he opens it!. "Princess? are you here?" he asks in a deep, rough voice. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The stairs leading to the third floor let out through a trap door onto a circular platform larger than the rooms below. In the center of the platform is a small room with bars on the windows and the door. The princess sticks a slender, gloved hand as Alden calls out. "I'm here! But, be careful! There's a-"      That is when Alden might notice the very large plant that is standing on the roof of the small tower top room. It is several times larger than the plants he faced below, at least 12 feet tall and much bulkier. The plant creature grins as it looks at Alden. "So, you think you can save the princess?" the giant plant asks in a deep, gravely voice. "Well, we'll just see about that!"      The giant plant leaps from the top, aiming to land on Alden. And given its bulk, that won't feel good! 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden was too confident about being at the end of the challenge!. Thankfully the giant plant talks, otherwise, he might have been easily squished under the giant, bulky thing!. "I know I can do it, you oversized weed." he says, jumping back, and growling to the large plant. He does have an ace in his sleeve, but decides to try other stuff first, "Fox fire!" he growls, blue flames shooting towards teh large, fang filled head. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Petey chuckles as Alden dodges. The first attack almost never hits, after all. It was mostly for show. "Hahahaha! You think an overgrown wolf cub can defeat me?!" he bellows in his gravelly voice before grimacing as those flames splash against his head. Petey staggers back, a huge leaf raised to shield his face with a lantern that keeps the flames from doing more damage. "I will roast you and serve you in a stew!"      Petey raises that lantern, which could likely hold Alden, then waves it back and forth in front of him. As he does, a series of large fireballs are launched at Alden. Each one threatens to surround the Weregarurumon with an explosion of fire! But, with his athleticism he might be able to dodge most of them. 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden earflats as he sees the huge lantern, it never works. Still, he tries to look confident, "I defeated salads more fierce than you." he taunts back, feeling a bit silly as he did. The fireballs look... extremely dangerous, and he tries his best to duck and jump weave through them!. He seems to be doing a decent job, and he approaches towards one side of the gigantic toothy plant, "Garuru kick!" hebarks, as he tries to roundhouse the chubby plant's side rather hard. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The giant plant laughs boisterously at Alden's retort, continuing to swing the lantern about. "I have patted puppies more fierce than you!" he says. Just before he gets roundhoused in the side! Petey stumbles to the side, and definitely felt that, but he doesn't look like he is out yet. He swings the lantern at Alden, fully expecting him to dodge away. But, either way, space should be created between them!      Petey takes a deep breath, then lets loose with another fireball. Except this one is as large as his head, and rolls around the platform, covering nearly from side to side on the platform. "Eat that!" 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' The digimon jumps back quickly, obviously not wanting to get macked by the lantern!. "Let's see if you still think I am a puppy after this." he says, getting bold, and quite hoping he can finish the fight soon!. He grins as he slides a new card, "Aero wings!". His form grows brighter for a moment,before a pair of glowing wings appear on his back!. He barely his the time to take to the air as the giant fireball rolls along the ground. He quickly charges at the big plant, preparing the knuckles. "Baldy Blow!" he exclaims, fists glowing as he tries to deliver a powerful punch right on the stomach of the oversized plant. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Petey keeps laughing right through Alden's new card use and his leap into the air. Petey seems quite certain that nothing could escape his giant fireball attack. Right up to the moment that the powerful flying, diving, brass-knuckled punch is delivered to his oversized belly. The big guy lets out a powerful 'oof!' as the air is knocked right out of him, then he goes stumbling back toward the short railing of the tower platform.      He manages to stabilize himself before he falls off the platform, then he laughs again. "You call that a hit?" he bellows, then lowers his head and charges Alden like a bull charging a matador. If a bull had a gigantic mouth full of just as gigantic shark-like teeth. As he charges, Petey bites his way along. If he catches Alden, the wolf might end up with some pretty deep teethmarks! 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden growls at Petey manages to shrug off the punch, "Guess you are too fat for punches." he says softly, trying to fly back, when the large piranha plant charges!. He begins moving aside quickly, when the wings apparently decide they did enough, and vanish into thin air, leaving the werewolf to fall down, and roll along the ground!. Still, he manages to get out of the way!, and punishes the blind charge with another burst of flame on his back. "Tell me, are you inmune to explosions or ice?" he asks softly. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Petey charges right on by as Alden dodges to the side. He slides to a stop at the other edge of the platform, then stands and chuckles. "What? Who is immune to such things?" she says before he twirls that lantern above his head. As he does, motes of fire start to form in the air above him. "You should worry more about yourself!"      With that, those fiery motes start firing at Alden like bullets. Not quite as fast, of course, but they pepper the area like fiery machine gun shots. "Give up now! I'll never give up the princess!"      Speaking of princess, she is glued to the bars of her prison, watching excitedly as Alden takes on Petey. "You can do it, hero!" 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden grins at that reply, "Good to know." he says, growling loudly as he uses what he hopes will be the final card. While the lantern begins to swing above, he slashes it!, "Digi modify Warp digivolve!". He seems to be trying to show off a bit as he does it!. He is quick to place the device back on his belt, even as his form glows brightly for an instant, hiding him from sight before the light fades, revealing an armored (or is it robotic?) quadrupedal wolf!.      The lantern is his biggest concern, and he tries to take care of the forming stone quickly!, the quadruped looking up and growling "Giga freezer!" while his chest opens, and a blue tipped missile (which amusingly, has a fanged grin and angry eyes not unlike the projectiles from earlier) comes shooting towards the source of the fire!.      It seems normal enough, until it hits, instead of a fiery explosion, Petey can feel a rather intense coldness from the blast, which leaves everything caught in it frozen solid!, that includes the lantern, and likely the tip of the leaf holding it at the very least. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      As fire bolts land all around and against Alden, that missile fires. It flies true and hits that lantern, causing it to freeze solid. Petey lets out a bellowing roar as his leaf-arm is frozen solid along with the lantern. Both are left held above his head, and he is left growling in pain. "M-my arm!" he groans, stumbling back. Until finally...      "Gwaaaaah!" Petey plummets off the tower and out of sight. And there is a resounding thud down below as he hits the ground. When he does, the bars covering the door to the princess's cell open. "Ah! I'm free!" the princess calls out happily, then emerges from the room before looking around. She smiles at Alden, then rushes toward him. "Hurry! We have to get out of here! Carry me!" she says, practically leaping into Alden's arms.      Getting out of here would be wise. It sounds like the many troops who are still inside the tower are headed up the stairs! 

:'''{{#var:930|Alden (930)}} has posed:''' Alden lacks arms, being a robotic quadruped lupine! btu he is large enough to carry an adult human or two on his back, "Of course your majesty." he offers politely, bowing a bit, "Please climb on my back." he says, tail twitching happily, the blade moving around. He looks for an open balcony, and once the princess is set, he runs, and jumps out!. This form is able to fly,so he makes a straight line towards teh nearest safe spot, trying to make sure he lands before he has to revert to his weaker form due to lack of energy. 
}}

3963/Nicky visits Sundew Castle

2018-11-19T07:34:21Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/09/27 |Location=Sundew Kingdom |Synopsis=A thief tries to make off with royal treasures! |Cast of Characters=446, 968 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses |..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/09/27
|Location=Sundew Kingdom
|Synopsis=A thief tries to make off with royal treasures!
|Cast of Characters=446, 968
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Another lovely day in the Sundew Kingdom. Although this kingdom is not that well known, if one was looking for valuable items they would very likely end up here. Stories of stores of gold, jewels, and power items would be tempting for any enterprising rogue. The sky above the city is full of wooden airships, the streets are full of human and pirahna plant people, and the castle itself is well guarded by scores of armored plant men.      And, any sort of intelligence gathering would reveal that this country has a rather hot-headed and slightly unstable princess. Most people would say to avoid her even on a good day. The castle containing the vast stores of goodies is tall even for a castle. Its walls are made of alabaster stones, the windows are nearly all stained glass murals, and the front gate and drawbridge are quite large.      Given the size of the trees, which tower over even the castle towers, the walls that protect the town are likely holding back all sorts of nasty creatures. But, getting into the city is relatively easy by the one road that leads in through the forest or by the much more popular airship docks. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky hasn't really planned her first steps into the Sundew kingdom, but as soon as she discovered an access point to it and had made a rough estimate that the castle might be worth a try, she had went to prepare a few things, returning with a backback with climbing gear as well as a small caliber gun she has 'relieved' from a park ranger, loaded with Ketamine injecting darts and about two dozen reserve shots. It hadn't been her first choice, but the world next door had much easier access to these than to other stuff. As she returned, she took her way along one of the roads. The backpack looked rather stuffed, and the gun was strapped to the side pretty obviously. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Nicky's weapon is very obvious in this town. While there are plenty of guards wandering around with spears, she has the only projectile weapon in the kingdom that isn't a ship-sized cannon. The pirahna plant soldiers eye her suspiciously, but don't try to detain her. They just mutter such things as 'don't cause trouble' and 'we're watching you'.      The human citizens seem pretty normal, though they are a minority in this town. There are also a few large bug-like people who are dressed in tribal gear, but they are mostly limited to shacks typical of voodoo shaman. The main road into town leads to the castle gates, and in this time of peace the drawbridge is down. The guards are minimal at the bridge and the castle gate, but they are present enough to mean that a careful approach will be necessary to get into the castle and anywhere near the valuables.      And, if she is looking around, Nicky would likely spot the princess of the land standing on the center balcony a few floors up, just watching the people in the town below. It is obvious that she is the princess. That shimmering red hair, that little gold crown, and that long, frilly red dress. She seems lost in thought. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky sighs a moment as she counts the guards and then turns into a side alley, looking for one of the larger trees, one that might hang over the wall so she could use it as an entry points. She moved quickly, the gun strapped to the backpack in a way that hinted it might take a minute or two to prepare it, especially as it was still unloaded. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The alley is much less watched. A few typical citizens mill about, and give Nicky a curious look when she passes them, but otherwise it is quiet. Inside the town the trees are much shorter than outside the city walls, but there are a few that grow tall enough to reach windows above ground level and a few balconies are within tree reach.      As the front gate is the only entrance into the castle, the rest of the castle perimeter is not guarded beyond one roaming patrol. It would be pretty easy to climb a tree or flagpole and get into the castle. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky quickly checks a corner next to one of these trees so she does not get seen as she scales it and then takes a position on one of the branches reaching over the wall. Preparing the rifle, she counted the time between two patrols passing under her. She couldn't tell two of those guards apart, but she did wait for one to almost leave her field of view before sending a green-featehred dart after it, hoping to send it sleeping. The next moment, she jumped off the tree, turning into a plushie mid fall, a pink bloblike thing, that reminded awefully of the classic pink Pacman ghost as she couldn't think of something better that moment. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The targeted guard flinches as he is struck by the dart, then almost comically fast he falls forward, audibly snoring. His partner, walking in front of him, continues on his merry way. So, the pink pacman plushie goes unnoticed. But, that's alright since no one is left to notice it. Nicky has a small window of opportunity to make her next move. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Even being hindered by being a 6 legged plushie without feet, Nicky tries her best to speed towards the closest access to the main building she remembers, rustling through the grass in all her pinkyness. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Being a plushie is sure to slow one down, and the only access other than the main gate is the servants' entrance. It had one guard stationed there, who stares a moment as he sees that 6 legged pink ghost, then raises the large leaves that are his arms so he can rub his lack of eyes before he looks again. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky attempts to just rush by in the guards confusion, though the lack of hands might turn the door into a rather sudden stopper - opening doors is obviously not what plushies are made for, not even two-foot diameter Pacman ghosts. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      But, by sheer luck, the door opens right as Nicky reaches it, and a pirahna plant carrying a large barrel steps out. He stops at the door as the guard makes raspy growl sounds that translate to him thinking he is going crazy. To which the worker plant agrees.      So, Nicky is inside! This is obviously the food store room connected to the royal kitchen. Not exactly the store she was looking for, but at least she isn't outside in the open anymore. Other than the plant still standing in the door, there is no one in the store room. But, growls from chef plants can be heard from the kitchen. It would be pretty easy to hide behind boxes and barrels in here, and to one side is another door that leads into the laundry room. There are surely more ways to go in there!      Whatever her choice, Nicky should move quickly. The plant people aren't likely to leave her in here alone long. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky dashing over towars the laundry room with its steam and hissing washing machines, Nicky changes back to her human shape, the gun and backpack returning with the clothes and a soft plopp as air gets pressed aside rapidly. Just through the door she ducks down again to look for a wagon of finished laundy. No matter if the Plantthings think they go crazy, she wants in more, and why not have them carry her in? Best in the shape of a cuddlepillow... 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Nicky just barely makes it to one of the large push baskets before a plant creature in an apron comes along and pushes the clean laundry out. It might be hard to see, but soon enough Nicky and the laundry are pushes into a lift. But, rather than pushing a button, the plant creature starts turning a wooden wheel and the lift starts to move.      It must be Nicky's lucky day, because after leaving the lift the plant pushes the laundry through a huge, intricate doorway that leads into a royal-looking suite. And it might be the princess's suite, judging by the frilly bedcovers, the collection of plushies, and the closet full of dresses that Nicky can see when the plant creature pushes the laundry toward it and opens the door. The closet itself is nearly half the size of the main room, which is very spacious itself. She might be able to slip out and hide among the dresses! Or, she could press her luck and try to flee when the pirahna plant maid isn't looking. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky takes the third option and turns herself into a white seal plushie as she rides the lift up, hiding inside one of the dresses. The benefit of being small and light is that you might go unnoticed, and if... they think you are a toy. Usually. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The third option is a good one! When the maid plant pulls out the dress to hang it up, she notices the lump and pulls out the seal plushie. Naturally, she assumes it is one of Sarracenia's plushies and so places it in on the bed with the rest of the plushies. Then, the maid goes about her business, hanging up the laundry and pretty much ignoring the main room. This could be a chance to slip into the main hall and look for the royal treasury. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky smiles to herself as she silently tries to get to the nightstand, checking it as a plushie for keys atop it first before she once more checks the room. Only then she turns back to human again, tying the rifle back to the side of the backpack in the cover of the bed. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      There are no keys in the nighstand or any other drawers about the room, except for a small music box key that likely goes to the music box on the vanity. However, there are some expensive-looking jewelry pieces in the nightstand, and equally expensive looking makeups on the vanity. As Nicky resets her her rifle, the plant continues about her business. It will probably take a decent amount of time to hang up and/or fold all of those clothes, and the creature does not seem all that alert. She is even whistling as she works. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky eyes the jewelry, then the door, then the jewelry again. First she settles the backpack on the ground, then she starts to gather jewelry that is easy to be taken apart or not too extravagant, because that stuff is sellable. Always when she has to pass the door to the dressing room she carefully peers in, but she doesn't watch for the balcony... 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      That could be a mistake. Because she might recall that the princess was on a balcony earlier. And just as Nicky is collecting the last of the easy to disassemble jewelry, there is a gasp from the the direction of the balcony. Then, a shrill, angry voice shrieks, "What are you doing, you miscreant?! Do you know where you are?!"      When Nicky looks over, the princess from earlier would be standing there, glaring angrily at her and pointing a finger accusingly. "I do not know who you are...but if you wish to leave here unharmed, you will return anything you have taken. If not..."      A rather sadistic grin appears on the princess's face, and she reaches over to pick up a nearby hammer. A hammer that might have been mistaken for some sort of decoration or lever given its size. "...I can pulverize you and send you to the prison on a stretcher." The princess waits, hammer raised, ready to strike. And she definitely looks as unstable as the rumors said. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Caught by surprise, Nicky looses her standing and vanishes in a tan cloud, which pulls together into a fennec plushie in a black shirt, falling the last meter to the floor. The pearls she had had in her had a moment ago seem to have vanished with her, but the backpack with the rope and loot was still standing next to the bed. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess is still pointing that finger when Nicky poofs into a fox plushie. Her sadistic expression is replaced by one of surprise, then she giggles. "How cute!" she says before rushing over and picking up the plushie Nicky. She sets the hammer down against the bed, then fuzzles the top of Nicky's plushie head. "You have been a bad widdle foxy, yes you have." she coos in a baby voice before huggling Nicky against her chest, arms wrapped under Nicky-plush's front legs.      The princess walks over to the backpack, and as she does the maid plant peeks out of the closet. "Are you alright, Princess?" the plant creature asks in a raspy, rustling voice. The princess nods. "Just fine, Florence. Would you be a dear and inspect that backpack? There could be stolen items within." Then, the princess takes a seat on the bed. "So, what should I do with you? Perhaps add you to my collection?" she says, her grin returning as she keeps Nicky-plush hugged to her chest. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky actually flails as she is squished into the chest of Sarracenia, the stubby arms hitting up and down on it. Though as she is mute as a plushie, Nicky can't really respond. The whole backpack is actualyl stolen, but the climbing harness and ropes in it are unmarked, just like the wall anchors, the icepick and the reserve ketamine cartridges in a side pocket of it. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia giggles at the cuteness of it as Nicky flails. "You hardly have room to complain. You were going to steal from me! A princess! And not just any princess. I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom! If you were one of my citizens, I would be well within my rights to imprison you for decades or even execute you! As it is, I will forgive your intrusion and your theft if you return everything and leave this kingdom."      Sarracenia sets Nicky down, but hangs on to her fennec tail. "Of course, you would no longer be welcome here. Quite unfortunate. Someone who can change into cute little plushies would normally be very welcome here!" She suddenly scoops up Nicky and hugs her tightly again. "...only my plushies understand me without judging..." she murmurs, a dark look crossing her face. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky tried to sit down as she was left to the ground but then flailed as she was held up at the tail again, helpless in the struggle against the princess. As she is once more tucked to the chest, the stubby arms again batter against the breasts. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia huffs as Nicky continues to flail and batters her with those soft paws. She holds Nicky out at arms length. "So, you think you can steal jewelry -and- a feel?!" She stands quickly, then moves over to the backpack. "Have you recovered everything that belongs to me, Florence?" she asks the pirahna plant. The plant person nods her big tulip-like head, and the princess grins. "Good. Then, it is about time you leave." she says to Nicky. She opens the backpack, then stuffs Nicky-plush inside.      Then, she picks up the backpack and heads for the balcony. It seems as though she intends to throw the backpack out with Nicky in it! 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Can't open the backpack fast enough to get out again before the princess picks her backpack up. As a result she might end on the ground in front of the palace if nothing else happened. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess certainly isn't going to stop! She walks to the edge of the balcony, then grins. "I hope you have a nice fliii-iiiight~" she singsongs, then in typical Mario-world style, she grabs the backpack by one end and starts to spin. She quickly gains speed, then raises the backpack, aiming for the nearby wall. Or, more precisely, over it. "If you return, little plushie creature, I hope you return with an apology! Or with an appetite for prison food!" she says as she spins faster and faster.      Finally, she lets go. "So long!" The backpack goes flying through the air in an impressive arc that carries it right over the city wall and into the jungle beyond. It is likely that Nicky and her backpack will smash against a tree and tumble to the ground. The trees are massive, after all. 

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:''' Nicky can't even scream as her backpack goes flying, but she manages to open the hatch in flight - with was not the most smart move, because it results in her getting entangled in the ropes she had brought. The gun goes missing somewhere in flight, but at least the plushie does not end flattened against a tree - if only hanging some twenty yards in the air, entangled like in a bad cartoon. 
}}

3933/Unexpected Adventure

2018-11-19T07:27:39Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/08/24 |Location=Techno Urbania |Synopsis=Two rogues leave Sarracenia high and dry with their stolen loot! |Cast of Characters=446, 943 |pretty..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/08/24
|Location=Techno Urbania
|Synopsis=Two rogues leave Sarracenia high and dry with their stolen loot!
|Cast of Characters=446, 943
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      After a rather boring day, Princess Sarracenia had departed in her airship. The ship is the size of an old Spanish galleon, but instead of sails it has huge propellers on its masts. And...someone forgot to refuel it! Sarracenia is standing on the bow of the ship looking quite annoyed as the ship makes its way down to land in Techno Urbania. Although land is a relative term, since it just comes to a stop above the appropriate docking area and lowers a rope ladder to allow the pirahna plant crew to disembark and refuel.      "And hurry up! We will never find adventure at this rate!" the princess exclaims loudly from the deck, leaning over the railing to yell at her crew as they frantically get to work. The princess hmphs, then looks out over the city. "Although, I suppose there are worse places to be grounded..." she says, a slight smile tickling at her mouth as the wind created by the tall buildings causes her hair to flow and her dress to ripple gently. 

:'''{{#var:943|Starlight Bandits (943)}} has posed:'''     The promise of adventure is like music to the princess' ears! But, because the wind is quite strong at this altitude, actual music is carried enough that she can hear it. It sounds like a full swing band is playing on one of the rooftops below!     However, should she peek over the railings, the only musicians she can see are a duet. And yet, they are clearly the source of the song. The instruments they play, consisting of a hi-tech saxophone and trumpet, seem to be able to produce music as if a whole suite was playing.     However, they are on a rooftop, with no one else listening to them play. None of the surrounding roofs seem to have an audience either. The two are just... playing.     Sometimes, adventure is less than some grand journey into far-off places. Sometimes, it's just going off the beaten path to talk to strange people you otherwise never would. The roof is high enough that Sarracenia could reach it by swinging from one of the airship's rope.. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks as she hears music. She looks around, then over the railing to see the...duet? But, it sounds like an entire band! Her curiousity piqued, she reaches into her purse and rummages around a bit before pulling out what looks like a teddy bear with a raccoon tail. She hugs it, and it disappears in a puff of smoke that envelopes her, leaving her wearing a fluffy tanuki suit! Her face sticks out, but otherwise it covers her entire body. It must have transformed her clothing, because her dress is nowhere to be found.      The princess walks away from the railing, then runs toward it and just leaps off the deck! Then, the long tail of the tanuki suit starts wagging and she flies right over to the pair. She lands on their roof, then approaches. "How are you doing that? The amount of music being produced could not possibly come from just those two instruments!" she says, obviously a bit baffled. 

:'''{{#var:943|Starlight Bandits (943)}} has posed:'''     The duet look to the descending princess as she lands! They consist of a man and a woman, the man wearing most of a suit with a gold tie, the woman wearing a frilly dress. However, both are wearing dark sunglasses. They take the instruments from their mouths and the woman says;     "Well shucks mama cat, it's the hip new thing~!" And then the man says;     "Honkers that make accompanying music to your smooth jams! Nuthin' like it baby!"     They walk over to Sarracenia, and offer their hands to shake! In fact, they move in synchrony so that the back of the man's right hand is against the woman's left hand. This way, Sarracenia could shake both their hands at once!     "How do you do?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia looks somewhere between intrigued and unnerved when those two approach her like that. They must have been playing together quite a while to be able to syncronize their behavior like that! She hesitates a moment before she shakes both hands at once. "I...am alright." she says uncertainly. "Why are you two standing on a roof playing music from such unusual instruments? And...how can they make such complicated sounds? Are you even actually playing, or are they just repeating a recorded song?"      The pirahna plants back on the ship are watching worriedly. They are supposed to protect the princess, and she just lept away without an escort! Frantic plantmen run about the deck of the ship, trying to figure a way over. 

:'''{{#var:943|Starlight Bandits (943)}} has posed:'''     Sarracenia's question... actually seems to stump the two for a moment. Again, in that oddly synchronized movement, they huddle with their heads lowered. However, they're still speaking loud enough to be heard.     "Hey Irvine, why are we up here playing music anyway?"     "Ahahah, well Molly my dear... we just got these instruments! We have to break them in, do we not?"     "Oooohhh... but why up here? It's kinda cold and windy..."     "Hmhmhm... well, it's so the soul of music can shine through us more easily!" "Eeeehhhh?! The soul of music?!"     "Yes! For you see Molly, music have become heavily commercialized these days. Everyone plays for their daily bread or for the attention, and not for the love of music. For that reason, we come up here, where no one could hear us, so that we may play for the sake of it!"     "Ooohhh, I get it now!"     And with that, they break up the huddle so they can give a proper answer. Molly gives Sarracenia a thumbs-up and a wink. "We stole these instruments for the soul of music!" Irvine just throws his head back and laughs. "While that's certainly true my dear, I can't help but feel we missed a step."     And then, they carry on as if they hadn't just admitted to a crime. "Recorded? Certainly not! We can play all manner of tunes! Let's show her Molly!" "You got in Irvine!" And once again, they break into song with those hi-tech wind instruments, a totally different tune this time! Totally ignoring the panicking plantmen above. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Surprisingly, the princess also doesn't seem to care that they just admitted to a crime. "Well, I suppose not everyone has the good fortune to be a princess who could afford many such musical instruments." she says, then listens as they start playing again. She is soon smiling lightly as she starts enjoying the spirited jazz. It still seems unlikely that it isn't recorded somehow, but she is willing to dismiss it for now.      She listens to the end of the song, the claps for them. "Well, whether recorded or not you two are quite the performers! Are you musicians by trade?" she asks, then blinks. "Oh, forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom." She speaks and acts with elegance and pride despite wearing a fluffy animal suit. She smiles after that, then claps her hands together again. "Do you know any other songs?" 

:'''{{#var:943|Starlight Bandits (943)}} has posed:'''     After the two finish the song, Irvine says, "Hahah! Certainly, the two of us are more pauper than princess. But Molly here truly has the regal bearing and grace of nobility!"     "Oh, Irvine~"     Molly swoons against Irvine's body, whereupon he catches her! Are these two lovers, or just overly affectionate friends? Either way, their lovey-dovey attitudes might make Sarracenia a bit jealous! However, they snap out of it when the princess properly introduces herself.     "A PRINCESS?!"     Her strange attire doesn't bother them in the slightest it seems. Immediately, Irvine does a formal bow while Molly dips into a dainty curtsey. "Thank you for gracing our humble performance!" "This is a marvellous honor for us both!" Wait, what happened to music being too commercialized or abused by attention-seekers?...     But, now the time has come to introduce themselves properly. Immediately, they go back to back with their arms crossed. "Liberating the goods from the hands of the unworthy..." "The two of us burn with the intensity of the stars themselves..." "Beholden to none but each other, we ride!" "Our tales shall be known to all!"     In a dramatic flourish, the two whip off those sunglasses and toss them off the rooftop!     "Molly Crescent!"     "Irvine Lune!"     "We are the... STARLIGHT BANDITS!"     And then immediately, either in response to Sarracenia's request, or simply to have a theme for themselves, they take up those instruments again and begin playing! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The lonely princess does indeed feel a pang of jealousy as she watches the overly-dramatic pair. In her mind, there is no question. They must be a couple! She smirks as they are appropriately surprised and dazzled by her status as princess. She listens to their introduction, then ooohs. "Bandits, hmm? Well, do not get any ideas such as kidnapping a beautiful princess like myself! I am sure you would only be able to get a small fortune in exchange for my safety!" ...is she crazy?      She listens to the new song, then claps again once it is over. "You two are quite talented, if indeed you are playing these instruments and they are not simply spouting pre-recorded music." she says, then hmms. "Where might one aquire one of these instruments? I have learned piano and violin, as is customary for proper ladies. Where did you two learn to play?" 

:'''{{#var:943|Starlight Bandits (943)}} has posed:'''     When Sarracenia mentions kidnapping her, the two look at her shrewdly. A-Are they actually considering it? Again, they huddle and speak in loud whispers.     "A small fortune is still a fortune..."     "Nono, don't you see Irvine? She's testing us!"     "You think so?"     "Look at her eyes... she's planning to use our kidnapping attempt as a chance to capture us for our bounty!"     "What a devious opponent! Perhaps another time, when we're prepared...""     And with that, they break up the huddle. As Sarracenia asks about where she can get such instruments, the two just wordlessly hand their ones to her, totally ignoring her question as to where they learned to play! "You can have ours!" "Indeed! Consider them souvenirs of our meeting, the proof of the bond we now have!"     Whether or not Sarracenia accepts the instruments, Irvine produces a short silvery staff and holds it out so Molly can also grip it. "It was wonderful to meet you Princess, but we have some more dastardly deeds to commit~" "Watch out for us in future! Our names shall be spread far and wide by our words and deeds!" And then...     bip     They're gone. But the rooftop access of this building suddenly bursts open, a couple of police officers walking through along with a harried-looking woman. "There! Those are my stolen instruments!"     Sarracenia should probably make herself scarce. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks in confusion as the two suddenly have a small conference. She taps her foot as she waits for them to finish, only to look confused again as they had her the instruments. "Ah! Than-" And then they are gone. And a moment later law enforcement appears on the roof, and she is holding stolen merchandise!      "What?! I have been framed!" she exclaims. She sets the instruments down quickly, then runs for the edge of the roof. To the police it probably looks like she intends to commit suicide! She leaps right off the roof, then...she's flying again! She flies back to her ship, which has finished refueling, and shouts for them to get underway as quickly as possible! They are away before the police can board the ship, but who knows what sort of aerial vehicles the police from an area like this might have!      "I cannot believe they did that to me!" Sarracenia fumes as her airship makes its getaway. "To think, framing an innocent princess for their crime! Was that their plan all along?!" 
}}

2985/Lloyd visits the Sundew Kingdom

2018-11-19T07:25:03Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/09/14 |Location=Sundew Kingdom |Synopsis=Lloyd Irving visits a princess he fought against |Cast of Characters=446, 373 |pretty=yes }} {{Poses..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/09/14
|Location=Sundew Kingdom
|Synopsis=Lloyd Irving visits a princess he fought against
|Cast of Characters=446, 373
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      After their fight over...what was it again? Caverns? Whatever it was, Sarracenia is now awaiting the arrival of Lloyd Irving. Since this kingdom has ties to the Confederacy, she has left him to his own method of arrival. However, she did tell Lloyd to meet her in the main room of the castle. She is there now in her usual attire consisting of an elegant red dress, her crown, and her little purse.      Lloyd may notice when he is moving through the city that it is a military state. The people live relatively normal lives, but there are pirahna plant soldiers patrolling the streets and armed airships patrolling overhead. One has to wonder if they are defending the people...or watching them. Given how thick the jungle is, it is just as likely the later as the former. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd is a high ranking Union official. So, to be invited into a Confederate held kingdom was a thing he had to be careful about. So, when he arrives, it is in his white, formal outfit, golden scarves flowing behind him as he flies through the warpgate leading to the Sundew Kingdom. As he flies overhead, he watches the ground below with interest. His features seem to pale as he realizes that the people are under martial law, the soldier Pirahna Plants setting his nerves on edge. He could tell the surrounding area was dangerous, hence why he was flying.     He's coming unarmed, or so it appears, in order to show he plans to take no hostile action. However, a small scarf pin with a yellow jewel glints on his neck. His Device in its normal form, it allowed him to be ready to defend himself or others if it became necessary, without the forboding appearance of his sword sheathes. He settles into a descent, landing in front of the castle and allowing his wings ot dissipate. He gives one glance more behind him, looking over the town, before he makes his way into the castle to meet with the Princess of these lands. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      As Lloyd flies overhead, he gains a lot of attention. Many of the people below look up at him, awed, and the pirahna plant guards watch him suspiciously. He also gains an escort from a pair of patrol ships. Not nearly as big as the large galleons used for shipping and seige, they are more the size of a speed boat. But, despite his nervousness, none of the guards act hostile toward him, and when he lands the escort ships fly away to resume their rounds.      Princess Sarracenia steps out once Lloyd has landed. She smiles warmly and curtseys politely, then approaches him. "Colonel Irving! I am so glad you could make it. I hope you had a pleasant trip?" She turns and heads inside, obviously expecting Lloyd to follow.      Once inside, they are joined by an armed pirahna plant escort. "My apologies, Colonel, but my parents insisted that I bring an escort even though I insisted you would cause no trouble here." She takes Lloyd through the main hall and up the main stairs to the second floor. There she stops in front of a huge glass window set in iron to look much like a cathedral window. From it, he can once again see the city. "What do you think of our kingdom?" the princess asks as she stops in front of the window and watches the people below, going about their lives. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd glances from side to side, watching the escort ships until he lands. That was odd to him, but he doesn't question it. As Sarracenia moves to welcome him, he sinks into a quick bow, even lowering briefly to one knee as a sign of respect. "It was pleasant enough, yes," he says, smiling softly, "Anytime I get to fly for a good while is a good trip in my book. You're looking lovely today." His smile widens slightly, then fades as he falls into step next to Sarracenia. The guards flanking them seems to set him on edge, but only for a moment. He shrugs, smiling again. "I can understand their prudence," he says, "I am an enemy, after all. It's only right that they'd want to make sure you're safe. I have no qualms about this, even though I know you fully capable of defending yourself." He chuckles, the memory of Sarracenia's fighting style coming back to him. He winces slightly at the memory.     He stops in front of the large window and stares out, seeming lost in thought. He doesn't immediately respond to the Princess, instead approaching the window a bit more closely. "It... feels a bit alien to me, in all honesty. I can't get a read on how things work at a glance. It seems normal, except for the soldiers everywhere. I mean, I understand the surrounding area is dangerous, but it doesn't feel... right." He turns back, looking at Sarracenia and her squadron of guards with a cautious air. "I don't pretend to understand what is truly going on, though." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia sighs softly as Lloyd mentions that it doesn't feel right. "Yes...the citizens in this kingdom do not cherish the royal family as the citizens of other kingdoms do. I suspect it is due to the guards that my parents insist must be visible to ensure the safety of ourselves and our people, as well as the kingdom's dependence on weapons for a steady stream of income. Since joining the Multiverse, our kingdom's profit lines have risen greatly, but our city's population has started to decline as people realize there is somewhere else to go. Here they are basically trapped within the walls thanks to the forest and the Koopa Kingdom not far away."      Sarracenia looks up at the sky after that. "I too left the kingdom when I first arrived in the Multiverse. I felt as trapped as the citizens. So, I fled the kingdom as soon as I was able and joined the faction which would offer me its support. The Confederacy seemed more tolerant of my...bold nature than did the Union, so I joined them and started using their resources in my quest to find my hero and people who would adore me." She sighs again and her gaze falls down to the streets again. "But, I have been unsuccessful so far. Every person I found who might be my hero has either been claimed by another or..."      The princess's fists clench at a particularly hurtful memory, as do her teeth. "...some actually fled from me!" she exclaims, exasperated. "A fellow named Connor, apparently an assassin of some kind. He actually fled when I showed affection for him!" 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd listens to the Princess, remaining silent as he does. They kept the military visible for protection of both ruling and general citizen classes, or so they claimed. And this has led to the royal family being viewed in a less than flattering light. He nods slightly as he comprehends, hands twitching into soft fists for a fraction of a moment. With the Multiverse before them, her citizens were moving on. If that continued, there would likely be no Sundew Kingdom in the future, or at least not a populated one. At one particular statement, he seems to stir, eyes lighting up for a brief moment. They were trapped by circumstance, and the royal family made it worse by stationing the military all over. But then the light dies out and he keeps quiet. The revelation is still turning in his head, after all.     He offers a small smirk at her description of a 'bold' nature, chuckling a little as he turns his attention fully to her. However, as her story continues, he can't help but feel a little sorry for her. No doubt she had heard stories of heroes saving princesses all her life, and to actually be a princess and not have anyone come for her, or even seem to care if her tale is correct, must weigh heavily on her. However, the last line causes him to visibly recoil. "Fled...?" he says, "What... exactly did you do? I know assassins can be a flighty bunch, but to run from a princess...?" He puzzles over the thought for a moment, then rolls his shoulders.     "I think you're trying too hard to live up to the hero saving the princess thing. Even standing here, with you in full royal regalia, I can tell you're not a standard princess. Maybe the story doesn't work for you because of that. Or maybe... the right sort of hero hasn't come along yet. Or maybe even, you've met him already and the right scenario hasn't come up." He shrugs, shaking his head a bit. "You'll find your hero, or whatever, someday. But you can't force it. It has to be organic, Sarracenia, otherwise you'll never be truly satisfied with what it is." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess pauses a moment as Lloyd asks what she did. She considers. What did she do? She...hugged him. And told him she was greatful. "I did nothing but show my gratitude and suggest that such a heroic figure would make a perfect hero for me!" she says, arms crossing over her chest and her expression turning to more of a pout.      As she listens to Lloyd, her expression softens, though her arms remain crossed. She continues watching the people below. "Yes...I have heard all of that before. I am not a typical princess, and I cannot force my hero to appear or to accept me as his princess...or her princess, as some others have suggested." She can't help but giggle a bit at the idea.      Then, she looks over at Lloyd. "I have...realized a few things since our last meeting. I may not be a typical princess, but...I do not belong in the Confederacy. The actions they are willing to take..." She shakes her head then looks at Lloyd more intently. "But, the Confederacy is not an organization which will simply let me go, especially if they think I am going to turn to the Union. I am not sure if I will, but I know now that I cannot find the things I want while under the thumb of the Confederate commanders."      She hesitates at this point, then looks at her guards before back at Lloyd. She moves in closer to him, then says just above a whisper. "You may know, as I am sure there have been defectors in the past. What is the best way to part with the Confederacy amicably, so that they will not believe me a traitor who shall give away their secrets. I do not wish to betray them, but...I cannot be associated with them anymore if I can avoid it."      The princess's gaze is strong, but pleading. She obviously feels she is stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd smiles softly. "Sometimes, being confronted with that sort of thing can turn on flight instincts in some people that aren't used to it," he says, "An assassin is normally a thankless job, and they embrace that, doing what needs to be done without ever being found out. Maybe it just spooked him a bit is all." He shrugs, then smirks at Sarracenia's pouty look. "Exactly," he continues, "When the right person comes along, you'll know. But until then, you just need to live as you can. Do what you feel is right and always move forward. And be ready." He smiles, then steps a bit closer to the princess. The look she gives him causes his smile to fade a bit, and he feels as though the gravity and tone are about to shift.     When she speaks again, he knows he's right.     He blinks a bit, stunned at what she was saying. She wanted to escape the Confederacy? He doesn't exactly know what to say to that, but as she lowers her voice to a whisper he knows she is serious about it. The look in her eyes confirms it further. It was a hard thing, he would imagine, but it's not something he hasn't heard of before.     "If you wish to leave the Confederacy," he says, his tone dropping to match hers, "I would think there are channels for it. If you wish to defect to the Union, however... that is far more complicated. Not only is there the Confederacy to contend with, but the Union as well, as they don't just accept betrayers with open arms. It isn't a small thing you seek to do, but if becoming a free agent, not bound to either side, is your goal, you might be able to retire and leave that way. I don't know how the Confederacy works, and I doubt it's that simple but..."     He pauses, then moves to rest a hand softly on the princess' shoulder. "If you want to leave, then I'll help you. I don't know what that help will need to be, but you have me at your back when you figure it out, okay?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia sighs softly as Lloyd admits he is unsure of how she should proceed. She isn't entirely surprised. He is after all a Union agent and not a former Confederate. She turns back to the window, watching the people go by. "I suppose simply resigning would be possible. I have little influence within the Confederacy, and have only rarely served their goals. But, I have heard that those who are not aligned with the factions can be destroyed when the war reaches them and they have no ties."      She lowers her head again, then hugs her arms around herself. "But...even more than that, I fear returning to the obscurity and constrictive environment that was the Sundew Kingdom before we joined the Confederacy. I deserve love and adoration just as any other princess!"      The princess calms down a bit after that, then looks toward Lloyd again and smiles gently. "You...have been one of the few outside of assassins and lecherous psychopaths that has been kind to me. I wish to thank you." She turns, then starts walking again. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd frowns a bit, shrugging his shoulders. "It's true, living as someone not tied to either faction is dangerous. But it also allows them to appeal to individuals of both factions without risk of seeming like a betrayer," he says, nodding, "It has its drawbacks, but it also has its perks. As for the kingdom as a whole, however... If the king and queen wish to stay with the Confederacy..." He doesn't complete the sentence, shaking his head instead. It was a complicated situation, but one he was determined to help see her through.     He sighs a bit, smiling sadly. "Your dedication to that mindset is admirable and endearing," he says, smiling softly, "There are many people in the Multiverse willing to be your friends, I'm sure, and that is one sort of love and adoration." He chuckles a bit, before lowering his hand back to his side. At her smile, he returns it in spades, beaming joyously at her. Then she starts walking, and he falls into step, inclining his head a bit to hide a pink tinge to his cheeks. "You don't need to thank me," he says, "That's what friends are for, right?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia smirks lightly at that first part. "Actually, my parents did not wish to join a faction. I joined despite their objections." she says, shaking her head. "Who would have thought that they would be right?"      She blinks in surprise as Lloyd says her mindset is admirable and endearing, and she comes to a stop. "...i-it is?" she says, blushing just a bit and fidgiting slightly. She doesn't seem used to others complimenting her in such a way. Then he causes her to think even more as he says that friends can count as loving and adoring her. She smiles softly before she continues walking.      "But, I do need to thank you. Other members of the Union whom I fought labled me as crazy, and one even dubbed me 'Hammerella'. Even among heroes, you stand out. So, in order to thank you for your kindness and consideration..." They near a large, intricate double door, which guards open as she approaches. "...I have arranged a small feast in your honor." The room is a grand dining hall with a table that must seat dozens at a time. But, right now, it is seating only the royalty and the captains of the guard. All in all, 10 people, including Sarracenia and Lloyd.      Sarracenia giggles softly as she sees the small number of attendees. "Well, perhaps feast is not a proper term." She curtseys to her father and mother, a pair of middle-aged humans. Her mother is just as lovely as Sarracenia, but with black hair, and her father is a hard-looking man with red hair. Both wear green garments that seem appropriate for a city in the middle of a huge jungle with lots of leafy or viney designs. Both nod as the pair enter, and servant girls pull the chairs back for Lloyd and Sarracenia, who will apparently be sitting opposite each other at the table. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd blinks. "So you took the initiative on joining the Confederacy?" he says, "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, given what I know about you." He offers a small chuckle, then shrugs his shoulders. "I joined as a matter of course. I have a protective instinct, so I naturally turned to the Union to explore and expand on that in the Multiverse," he adds after a moment, "My world is Union territory now, mostly because I am so visible that it was a matter of protecting it than anything else." He blinks as Sarracenia blushes a bit, smiling softly. "Sure! Even if it seems like you've gone at it a strange way, the desire for those things is incredibly noble. You're not driven by power or fame, just to surround yourself with loving people. I can understand that, and respect it!"     Lloyd shakes his head. "Some in the Union see the war as black and white rather than in shades of gray. Just because we oppose each other on paper doesn't mean we have to be disrespectful about it, you know?" He shakes his head again, but it seems that things were already in place. At this point, it would be rude to reject. "A feast? You're too kind!" he says, beaming at her as they enter the hall. Lloyd looks around, mesmerized by the size of it. It was massive, even larger than the Tethe'alla Castle grand hall. He falls back into step after a moment, taking time to bow to both the king and queen in turn. "I thank you for allowing me to visit your royal estate, Your Majesties," he says, before taking his seat. It's not his first time in a royal setting, even if he's not overly familiar with it. Even as a former Union General and savior of two worlds, Lloyd was a simple country boy at heart. Luckily he has been trained fairly well in etiquette over the years.     As he settles in, he watches Sarracenia on the other side of the table, his mind spinning.     He had to help her leave the Confederacy, if that's what she desired, and after that... well... he'd handle the after afterwards. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The thoughts of leaving the Confederacy are apparently in the back of Sarra's mind now. She takes her seat and is scooted forward, as is Lloyd, then she smiles to him. The king stands, then looks to Lloyd. "Colonel Irving. My daughter as told me about you. She seems rather impressed with you, and convinced me that having you visit our kingdom could open up relations with the Union, if only for trade. I understand that you are in a difficult position, given my daughter's alliance with the Confederacy, but know that this kingdom does not share her ambition or her thirst for destruction."      Sarracenia's smile fades to a frown as her father says that, and she looks away from him, arms crossed defensively. The king looks at her, then back at Lloyd. "I am Bark Sundew, King of the Sundew Kingdom. Authority within the kingdom for trade and diplomacy rests with my wife and me. I hope whatever trouble my daughter has caused you has not colored your view of our kingdom. We are a prosperous if secluded kingdom, and we wish to remain that way through non-aggression. My daughter's actions are her own." He sighs softly. "She has always been rather headstrong."      The queen stands at this point and puts a hand on her husband's arm. "Now now, he is here as an honored guest. Not as an ambassador. Let us simply enjoy this meal and exchange pleasantries."      The king raises an eyebrow but nods and sits down again. The queen sits as well, then looks to a nearby pirahna plant wearing a black bowtie. He claps his leaves together, which summons a veritable army of plants carrying foods of all sorts. Much like a buffet, except the food comes to you. They offer each item to each person at the table, and serve a portion to whoever wishes one. The captains of the guard are watching Lloyd, but do not seem overly on edge. The king looks like he is only doing this because his queen and daughter asked him to. The queen seems happy to see her daughter has a friend. And Sarracenia...is smiling at Lloyd. Perhaps a bit too brightly. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd blinks as the king stands and addresses him directly. He wasn't expecting this, nor does he think that he was brought here for this. He had to admire the devotion the king held to his people's prosperity, though. As he speaks, Lloyd listens politely, smiling softly as he does. As he finishes, and the queen gets her words in, he nods. "Your daughter, Sarracenia, is a strong and capable person who has shown me a great many things in the short time I've known her. Dedication, committment, compassion, and drive. I see now that she gets these traits from you, Your Highness. I will see what I can do in terms of trade negotiations with your illustrious kingdom when I return to Union headquarters. In exchange, I would like to ask to expand my personal ventures into your lands." He offers a sweep of his hand. "I am a blacksmith, looking to expand the quality and diversity of his goods. Should I be able to establish this trade you ask for, I would like to request permission to acquire raw materials from your kingdom. But, as Her Majesty the queen says, there will be time for these matters later."     He settles back down, wheels turning. That should be a simple enough thing, if the kingdom has desired goods, but the Confederacy might have something to say about it. There would be time to sort that out later, though. As the food is delivered, Lloyd is in awe at the staggering amount of dishes that are brought out. He takes a small sampling of dishes he is offered, then looks along the table. The king was clearly trying for something political, but the queen seemed different. He meets the gazes of the captains at the table, offering them smiles in return for their looks. He wouldn't cause trouble, but the thought that he might was keeping them and him on edge.     And then he turns back to Sarracenia, and her bright and cheery smile. He returns it, but can't seem to match her intensity despite his best effort. "Thank you," he adds after a long moment, "for the warm and inviting reception. Your kingdom is everything I expected after meeting Princess Sarracenia." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The king's expression sours a bit as he hears that Lloyd is a blacksmith, but he says nothing about that for now. "I have tried to tell her that if she applied herself to more appropriate avenues than hero chasing, she would make a wonderful ruler." the king says a bit grumpily. Sarracenia just rolls her eyes. "Why would I want to rule a kingdom where the people do not even like me or my parents? Where we cannot even enjoy the grounds of our kingdom because of the dense forest? What was your forefather thinking when he chose this forsaken forest as his kingdom? I bet it was because no one else wanted it!"      The king's eyes practically burst into flames and the queen quickly places her hand on his chest before he starts yelling. He takes a deep breathe, then lets it out. "I understand what you mean, Sarracenia. I truly do. But, this is the most secure kingdom on our world, with the best mines and most replenishable building materials. One day our people will see how strong and prosperous this kingdom is, and they will come to appreciate us."      Sarracenia just hmphs and nibbles on a fish fillet. She didn't even have to ask for it. The kitchen staff knew what she wanted and filled her plate without even asking her. "So, Colonel Irving." the queen says, smiling gently. "How did you meet our daughter?" 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd is nothing if not keen of sense. He sees the king's expression change at the mention of his chosen profession outside of Colonel and warrior, but like the king chooses not to say anything more about it for now. He keeps an eye on the royal for a long moment, though, before turning back to focus on his plate and nibbling on the spread of offerings. He glances over at Sarracenia as she speaks up, eyes widening as she speaks up about the kingdom's location. Clearly she was spirited about it, and Lloyd has no choice but to admire that passion. It was something to respect rather than attempt to stifle, and even the king seems to acknowledge that after a bit of urging from the queen. Lloyd smirks. He sees a bit of himself in the princess, that headstrong and fervent belief in an idea. It had been what had driven him to complete the reunification of his own worlds.     At the king's words, Lloyd merely nods. "Ah, so that is it. Very well. I didn't mean to offend you with my request of materials. Nor do I mean to stand as competition, I assure you."     He turns his focus on the queen, taking another bite of his sporadic spread of food. "On the battlefield," he says plainly, "We met in combat over a contested region, and she bested me. Quite handedly, I might add." He shrugs his shoulders, then takes another bite. Meeting people through combat wasn't strange for Lloyd. But how would Sarracenia's parents react to hearing that? 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The king doesn't seem to share Lloyd's admiration. He sees it as a spoiled girl rebelling against her parents and the life they have provided for her. Lloyd's apology brings his attention back, though. "Ah..forgive me. That is not what I meant." the king says to Lloyd. "We have plenty of materials, and I doubt a single blacksmith sampling them would cause any harm. However, we cannot provide free goods. Whatever raw materials you aquire from here must either be purchased, or taken from the forest."      Sarracenia smiles to Lloyd as he thanks them and explains where they met. However, both father and mother seem a bit disturbed to hear that they met on the battlefield. "Sarra, sweetie, you have been fighting?" the queen says, a gentle disapproving look leveled at her. "Such behavior is not befitting a princess. A princess should be proud, poised, and even-tempered. Fighting will bring shame upon you and our kingdom. Especially fighting with a noble blacksmith turned soldier." The king looks just as disapproving, if not moreso. Sarracenia blinks, then looks down. Her expression is easily recognizeable as the kind a child has when a parent is disappointed in them. "Please, mother and father. You must understand. I joined the confederacy. I cannot go against their wishes in some matters. And I had been having a bad week!" 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd shrugs. "That's fine. I have plenty of credits and other currencies to work with. I did not mean that you needed to hand them to me for free, only that I might access them. I appreciate the opportunity," he says, smiling at the king, "It will help me further my own skills, you see, to work with materials from other worlds. It's an opportunity I hope to explore to the fullest." He returns to his food for a moment, then looks up in confusion as he hears the queen speak up. Was that... disappointment? As she continues, the Colonel's gaze turns stony. He waits long enough for Sarracenia to offer up an explanation, before he clears his throat.     "Your daughter showed the utmost in courage and strength in defense of her ideals, Your Majesties," he starts, before glancing around the table, "She fought and won for a cause she believes in, just as any person who has a cause should. I fought, pit my ideals against hers, and I lost out. She displayed more heart and strength than I had believed possible in a noble, or a royal." He turns his gaze onto the royal couple, his gaze hard. "You should be proud. This is a lady who is willing and able to defend herself and her kingdom from outside threats. I have no doubt that she would take up arms in defense of her people rather than hiding away as a figurehead. And that should be a point of pride, not shame. In such a dangerous land, in such dangerous times, your daughter, the Princess, has taken it upon herself to ensure not only her own protection, but the safety of your kingdom as well. If she had not joined with the Confederacy, your lands would be in danger for the resources you seek to protect and sustain your livelihoods on. It would become a battleground, if not between the superfactions, then between outer forces seeking to turn a profit or worse." He smiles, turning his attention back to Sarracenia.     "I have no doubt that the warriors in your employ are strong," he adds, turning back to the queen and king, "But let me assure you of one thing. They are no match for those like us. I ask you to consider this before you pass judgement upon Sarracenia." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The king and queen both turn hard gazes upon Lloyd as he lectures them about how their daughter should act, and Sarracenia looks rather smug as Lloyd sticks up for her with some very good points. Of course, these are her parents, so she tries not to let them -see- that she looks smug. Lloyd might notice that the captains of the guard are looking disapprovingly toward Sarracenia.      "Perhaps." the king says finally. He looks at Sarracenia, who is busy poking at something on her plate with a fork and leaning her head down so her hair obscures her face. The king looks to Lloyd again. "But, her activities have brought negative opinions down on our kingdom, and her almost careless use of our navy and our soldiers has strained our resources. She may be brave, or she may simply be reckless and rebellious, chasing her own ambitions with no care for what happens to her people or her kingdom. She has said right here in front of you that she does not wish to rule a kingdom such as ours. Why should I take your word that our kingdom would have become a casualty without her involvement? Before she left, the Sundew Kingdom was virtually unknown. That anonymity worked to our advantage as a weapons and building materials supplier."      The queen shakes her head. "It is fine to be strong, and to defend one's ideals. But, Sarracenia set out with the idea that she would never return here, and that she would find a mythical hero to take care of her. I have heard reports that she even went so far as to stage her own imprisonment in isolated towers in the hopes to lure in a hero. Does that sound like something anyone, much less a noble princess, should be doing?"      After they are done speaking, Sarracenia is very quiet. And very red-faced. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd turns his attention fully upon the royal duo now, food left forgotten. As the king speaks, he remains quiet. He wants to let the royal get all of his points in before he speaks up again. He raises some good points, even Lloyd has to admit, but he thinks he might have a counterpoint for each of them as he listens. He slowly loses his smile as the queen chimes in as well. They had decent points, and one of them he couldn't even refute. But he rolls his shoulders before standing up. He turns himself to fully face the royals, before stepping away from his chair and allowing his wings to manifest and spread outward.     "Negative opinions, Your Highness? There's a saying I learned when I Unified. 'No publicity is bad publicity'. Has she tarred your kingdom's image, or established it as a place not to be trifled with? I would think the latter, as even Elite forces would hesitate to act on a Confederate's homeland. Or a Unionite's. It has established the fact that your kingdom is well defended, and I would think that works to bolster your weapons sales, since she can demonstrate their power in actual conflict. Am I wrong?" He steps away, holding up a hand. Palm to the ceiling, Lloyd quickly forms a fireball in his hand. "I have heard what she has said, but at the same time, there's more to it than that. Maybe she doesn't want to rule a kingdom like this, but one that the Sundew Kingdom CAN become. With the right steps, and the right goals and the right leadership. That's the way I hear it, anyway."     He allows the fire to dissipate, closing his hand. "Why should you take my word?" he says, smirking, "Because I have lived in the Multiverse for years. I have seen worlds taken and its people eradicated for less than you lay claim for. No world is left unknown forever, Your Majesties, and a weapons supplying world would put you quickly up the list of targets. Because we are in a war, and everyone wants an edge in that war." He shakes his head. "As for your point, Your Majesty, I have no counter for that. It is... a strange thing, to be sure, but her heart is yearning for something that she can't find in such a kingdom as yours, so isolated from the world. It would be unnatural for her to hear tales of princesses and heroes and NOT want that sort of life. Is it the correct way to do it? Maybe not, but it shows her headstrong nature. While this can be a bane, it is also something that should be cherished in a ruler. The desire for more for not only herself, but her people." He allows his wings to disappear, crossing his arms. "I think there's too much attachment to the idea of nobility and royalty," he says, "And to the desire for a secluded life. I can tell that you wish to expand and prosper further. Rather than turning away from a very open avenue to this, I urge you to instead embrace it. Yes, maybe she has used your resources improperly, but think of what she can gain for your kingdom. Think of what the future can hold in the Multiverse, and how much more there is outside of this world." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      As soon as Lloyd stands, the captains are on guard. When his wings flare, they leap from their seats and grab their spears. When that fireball forms, those spears are forming a wall of dangerous steel between Lloyd and the royals. Even Sarracenia looks a little worried! She didn't think Lloyd would do anything like this! She knew he would speak his mind, but a show of force?      As Lloyd speaks, she is up as well and has pulled her hammer from somewhere. She ends up standing right behind her soldiers, her hammer raised in defense of her parents. But, when Lloyd dismisses the fire and his wings, she lowers her hammer. The royal duo, for their credit, stayed seated the whole time. Once Lloyd has stood down, they stand and captain plants raise their spears. The king and queen regard Lloyd with a mixture of emotions, though none seem to be anger or disgust. They look at each other, then take each other's hand and start toward the door. "We will take your words under advisement." the king says as they walk, and the captains stay between them and Lloyd as much as possible until finally they follow the royals out of the room. The two guards who have been escorting the princess and Lloyd remain, their spears still pointed at Lloyd.      When everything is relaxed again, Sarracenia slips her hammer back into her purse, then slumps back in her chair again. "Lloyd! What were you thinking! My parents do not like threats, and that was pretty threatening!" 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd crosses his arms. The presense of the soldiers around him doesn't phase him, not now. He was in full rant mode, and nothing could slow him down. He points toward Sarracenia, noting the hammer in her grasp. "Before you go... look at your daughter. She knows I wouldn't harm you, and yet she raises arms to make sure of it. That's something that should tell you how much she really cares, about you and her people despite her words." As the king and queen leave and the main guard files out, Lloyd sighs, shoulders slumping forward. "That's all I ask. Thank you for your time," he manages after they leave. He rolls his shoulders, seeming undisturbed by the scene that had unfolded and the two guards still brandishing spears at him. Before Sarracenia is addressed, he glances over at the two warriors.     "You've trained with those for a long time, have you? If you'd like, I can try and improve them for you. I specialize in elemental weaponry, if you're interested. It would help you in defense against threats to your kingdom."     Then he turns to Sarracenia, smiling weakly. "Was it? I was merely demonstrating a point. And you rose to the cause quite valiantly, might I add! You know as well as I do I wasn't going to hurt them, and they knew it too. But it gives them something to think about, about the outside world and where they want to be in it. I think they'll come around, don't you?" He moves closer, leaning across the table. "I'm sorry," he says, "I have trouble dealing with royalty civilly for very long, especially when they're making one of my friends sad." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The two guards seem surprised to be addressed. The look between each other, then back at Lloyd, then they raise their spears and look at them before grumbling unintelligably between themselves involving the offered elemental upgrades. Sarracenia sighs softly then smirks lightly at Lloyd. "I know you, but I don't -know- you. I wasn't really sure what you would do. I didn't think you would go all fiery angel in the middle of the dining hall!"      She laughs a bit after that, then pokes at her dinner. "It was very noble of you to come to my defense. And it isn't like I have caused the kingdom any harm. We have lost only one ship to my activities, and no soldier has yet been killed." 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd smirks over at the guards, then just chuckles and turns back to the princess. "I'm not one to attack randomly," he says, smiling softly, "Especially not friends. Or relatives of friends. I was attempting to make a point, and I think I might have had an effect on them. And... well... I figured I'd show them the powers of an Elite. It speaks more than any of my words could possibly have done." He crosses his arms, smiling a bit more brightly.     "I'd do so every time," he says, "I think rather highly of you, and I can see your potential and skill. It bothers me that your parents can't, you know? You have the ability to lead this kingdom into a bright age if you choose to. If you choose to go another path, at least the thought is in their head to find a new path to prosperity." He dulls his smile a bit. "They do have a point, though. National supplies are a big deal. While nothing has been lost that costs too much, the potential is always there. That said, I think you're doing just fine. Aside from the event your mother mentioned. You locked yourself in a tower to be saved?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia smiles as her guards mumble to each other. "They know the power of an elite. I am one, after all, and the exploits of Mario and Bowser are well known on my world." she says. She smiles even more as Lloyd mentions how he feels about her and how he sees her.      But, that smile fades quickly when he asks about the tower incident. "I...um...I..." The princess stammers several times, and each time she looks more teary-eyed than the last. "I do not know what they are talking about! I only wanted to find my hero and my adoring subjects! I didn't lock myself in a tower!" She pushes her plate to the side, then flops forward against the table, her face buried in her arms. "No one was supposed to find out! How did -they- even find out?!" Sarracenia whines through emotion-filled sniffles. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd chuckles, then smirks again. "Yes, they know about this world's Elites, but not about those outside. I... have some powers that I didn't gain in my normal world, so I think it's fitting for me to showcase the power of those outside." He relaxes his stance, moving around the table toward Sarracenia. His steps are quicker as he notes the distress she's under at the mention of the tower. He's at her side quickly, kneeling down next to her as she buries her face in her arms. "Sarracenia..." he says, his voice gentle, "You really believe highly in all this, don't you?" He offers a sad smile, resting a hand on her shoulders. "You've gone to such dramatic lengths! It's admirable, but it's not going to fix what your heart is yearning for, you know. You have to go out and show people who you are. If they accept you, those are the people you want around anyway. If they don't, then you're better off without them. You'll see."     He rubs her shoulder gently, trying to console her. "What's done is done. You can't change the past, but there's always the unwritten future." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia sniffles a few times more, then turns her head just enough that an eye is visible, looking over at Lloyd. "I did that." she says muffledly. "That's where the whole 'crazy Hammerella' thing came from." She lifts her head, then wipes at her eyes. "...you...you don't think I am crazy?" she asks, her voice full of hopefulness, and her watery eyes pleading for the answer to be no. "Everyone else...even my parents...they think I am crazy. Lute likes me, which makes me wonder if I actually am crazy." She pulls out a handkerchief and blows her nose into it, then sniffles again before putting it away.      "If I am not crazy...and I am admirable and pretty...why has no hero come to me, then?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     The swordsman Colonel remains knelt next to Sarracenia, meeting her eye with his own as she looks over at him. "No, I don't think you're crazy," he says, his voice soft, "I think you're lonely and crying out for someone to answer that loneliness. People are social creatures, some more than others." He smiles softly. "I think that the isolation of your nation, then falling into the Confederacy and feeling like it's a bad fit, it's all compounded to make you feel even more alone. So you turn to what you know, heroes saving princesses and kingdoms rejoicing."     He closes his eyes for a moment, then opens them again. "Lute can be endearing when he wants to be, to be fair," he says, smirking. "But... I might have an answer. Your hero has to be up to the standards you've set for them. There... aren't many who can claim to be such a person, even in the Multiverse. It's like I said, you may know them already but the stars haven't aligned yet. When they do though..." He smiles. "Well, both of you will be very lucky for sure." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess wipes her eyes again, mostly calmed down now. She sniffles one more time, then sits up straight. "They...they do not seem like such high standards. Heroic, kind, caring, strong, and devoted to me." she says, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting a bit. As Lloyd continues to reassure her, the princess steadily relaxes, though doesn't quite smile. "I thought it so unfair when I met Lute. He treated me how I wanted to be treated, but...he was not the kind of hero I wanted. He cares almost exclusively for himself, with the exception of the many women he is constantly chasing."      She sighs softly, then leans back in her chair. "I have been very lonely." she says, then she looks over at Lloyd and meets his gaze. She smiles slowly. "You seem to understand me so well." she coos softly, then leans against the colonel. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd laughs a bit, not derisively but out of tickled amusement. "Of course they don't SEEM high, but honestly, how many have you met that hit every one of those criteria?" He smiles softly toward the conflicted princess, listening quietly to her speak. "Yeah... Lute is... Well, I have a friend named Zelos who was a lot like him, only a lot less unstable. He was annoying, and I didn't get what people saw in him, until the final battle. Lute has his redeeming qualities, I'm sure... but it's hard to see. I don't think, even if he did want to be with you, it would give you the satisfaction you crave. It's just in his nature."     As she speaks again and smiles, he smiles as well, blushing a little as she leans against him. "I have a friend who was left alone for 16 years, locked away inside her own mind from the loneliness. I... won't let anyone else end up like that, especially not you." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia pouts a bit when Lloyd asks who she has met that meet those qualities. Then, she blinks before looking at Lloyd. She stares at him a few moments, then opens her mouth, then apparently thinks better of it. She looks back toward the table and smiles just a bit. "...well, I have met at least one." she says before he speaks of Lute. She sighs softly. "I could possibly put up with the other things, but Lute is unwilling to court only me."      She shakes her head, then looks to Lloyd. "You, though. You are..." She blinks, then coughs softly. "Um..you are...um...going to...be late getting home! Yes. It is getting late." she says rather awkwardly, then stands quickly. "Do not be too forward..." she whispers softly to herself. That is why the kind and strong assassin ran away! The princess smooths out her dress, then makes sure her eyes are dry. Then, she turns back to Lloyd and smiles. "Thank you for visiting my kingdom. I am unsure if your words will have any effect on my parents, but I appreciate your considerations. And...your friendship." She smiles warmly. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd smiles happily. "Is that so? Then you need to let them know what's on your mind, Princess, or they might not ever know, ya know?" He beams, then straightens up as she seems to stammer and cough. He has a concerned look, but then glances outside. "Oh man, I guess it is getting a bit late! Time flies when you're having fun, or so they say." He seems... almost comically oblivious to Sarracenia's actions, smiling at the Princess as she stands up as well. When she turns to face him, he smiles even brighter. "There we go. Now you're looking a lot happier! I'm glad I could visit today, then," he says, "It's worth it to see you happy, even if I did kinda ruin the feast... Sorry bout that." He scratches the back of his head nervously, then nods. "Thanks for having me! I hope they don't give you too much grief on my behalf. I... have this tendency not to shut up when I probably should. Even though I meant everything I said, I hope they weren't too offended." At her last words, he beams. "You have it whenever you need it," he says, "And my personal band is always open if you need to talk, okay?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia waves a hand dismissively when Lloyd apologizes. "They will get over it. Sort of. Anyway, you should not worry about it." she says, then walks with Lloyd to the castle entrance. The guards finally leave them as they step out onto the front steps, and Sarracenia gives Lloyd a big hug. "Thank you again. Have a safe journey back to the Union." she says as the torchlight flickers gently against her cheek. "And...continue fighting for what you think is right. It seems to have served you well so far." 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd follows Sarracenia as she leads the way out of the castle, then moves to face her as they reach the door. He is about to say something, but then the princess hugs him and he smiles, hugging her back as she does. "Heh. You don't need to thank me," he says, "I'm just... yeah, doing that. Always doing what I feel is right. And helping you is definitely right." He smiles and waves at the princess, before he takes to the sky with his mana wings. "I look forward to hearing from you soon, Sarracenia!" he calls, before he picks up speed toward the warpgate. 
}}

1466/Recovering in Sundew

2018-11-19T07:21:32Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2016/04/17 |Location=Sundew Kingdom |Synopsis=Drift is taken in after a defeat by Princess Sarracenia. |Cast of Characters=446, 694 |pretty=yes }}..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/04/17
|Location=Sundew Kingdom
|Synopsis=Drift is taken in after a defeat by Princess Sarracenia.
|Cast of Characters=446, 694
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      It has been a few days after the battle in the Caverns of Prophecy. And Wally has been dozing peacefully in the Sundew hospital. After he healed, it was determined that he was suffering from some sort of malnutrition, so he has been being given nutrients through intraveinous solutions. And his outfit has been removed in favor of a hospital gown. But, not to fear, it is nearby and has been stitched back together where it was torn. The visor has been repaired as well with some sort of resin.      If he wakes up, Drift would find his clothing in the nearby closet, and a proper meal awaiting him beside his bed on one of those rolling trays. He would also notice that the hospital staff is a strange mixture of human nurses and pirahna plant doctors. Each nurse is dressed in an old-school white nurse's outfit complete with the hat, and the plant doctors wear white coats and a headband with a reflective metal disk on it. 

:'''{{#var:694|Wally West (694)}} has posed:''' Drift was out cold, which was-- not the best thing ever. He has been taken in by that crazy princess. Worse is that they actually removed his suit, visor, and thus-- seen his face. They know if they did a check that he was Wally West and Drift was just an alternate codename. Though if they couldn't look that up, cause most records would have that info wiped-- then he may be safe-- ish. So when he does wake up and spots a plant doctor looking at him. He about leaps out of bed, until he spins around and comes to face to face with one of the nurses. "...Why-- hello there nurse." Though this is also about the time he notices his suit is over /there/ and he-- he is in one of those medical gowns. This is also when he notices an IV attached to his arm and he gives it a funny look. "...ah hell.." is all he has to say now. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The plant doctor seems as surprise as Wally when he suddenly leaps out of bed. The nurse too is surprised, but when he greets her with that kind of predictable line, she just giggles. "You should not be up so fast. You have been out for days." the nurse says. The plant doctor grumbles, "Get back in bed! You will hurt yourself again leaping out like that with a needle in your arm!" The nurse smiles kindly, then gently urges Wally back toward the bed.      IF they know who he is, they aren't giving any hints. Or they just don't consider him anything special. Just another patient. "Is something wrong?" the nurse asks when Wally curses. 

:'''{{#var:694|Wally West (694)}} has posed:''' "Fast is.. kinda what I do." Wally admits, as he does at least go sit back down and smiles at the nurse, "And for you sweet heart-- I'll do whatever you ask." He then gives her a wink. As for why he cursed, Wally then hrms on how to explain this. "See that suit.. I need that back on soon as possible. You see-- people are not suppose to see my face. Its a.. Identity thing, you know?" He glances over at the plant doctor. Did that thing /really/ do stuff to him? His gaze goes back to the nurse. "But being you guys are medical staff, I can count on the whole confidential thing-- right?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The young nurse blushes just a bit as Wally speaks to her, then blinks before looking over at the suit. "Oh! Are you a super hero?" she asks as she goes to retrieve the visor. She smiles warmly then places it on Wally's head. "As far as we know, you are merely...um..." She looks upward with her eyes, as if trying to remember. It should be noted at this point that she is blonde-haired. "...well, I don't even know who you are." she says, smiling.      The Doctor just grumbles again then heads to a nearby phone and picks it up before dialing. After what seems like a few rings, he grumbles out, "He is awake, your highness. ...Yes, he seems fine. ...no, he did not ask about you." The following 'WHAT?!' can be heard even by Wally, and the doctor winces. "Perhaps he has not had a chance yet." the doctor grumbles calmly. "Or perhaps Nurse Talli is distracting him. I just know he is awake, and you asked to be notified." The doctor then hangs up before turning to Wally. "You had better hope the Princess is in a good mood. Which, judging by her demeanor, she is not." he says, then leaves the room. 

:'''{{#var:694|Wally West (694)}} has posed:''' Wally fixes the head piece and smiles at the nurse. "You could say that, sweet-heart." Her reflection caught in his visor. "..And the name is Drift." Though when the doctor talks with the Princess and she yells what, he winces softly. Then he can only smile softly as the doctor walks off grumbling, "I'm sure it will be fine. She'll probably get over it." He then gives the nurse a bit of a wave. "And you take care, sweet-heart. Don't ever lose those legs." Such a flirt. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      If the princess is headed here, which seems very likely, it will take at least a few minutes. Plenty of time to escape for the fastest man alive. But, hopefully he will put on the rest of his costume before racing out the door. The nurse just giggles again as Drift flirts. "That's silly. I am quite attatched to them." she says, smiling. She then walks toward the door herself. "I will give you some privacy so you can get dressed. Don't forget to eat your meal! I prepared it just for you." she says. Well, technically the kitchen staff prepared it, but she delivered it! It is pretty good looking food, too. For hospital food. A nice looking turkey sandwich with wedge fries and a milkshake, as well as the usual jello.      And that's it. They obviously have no idea who Drift is. 

:'''{{#var:694|Wally West (694)}} has posed:''' For one, Drift goes to make sure the IV is out. The next he does is actually put on his suit, which he does in a blur of speed. He then kicks back on the bed and starts to chow down. However-- not all things can be done fast.. like eating, he can eat pretty quick-- but not like super speed quick. That and he knows better then to slurp down a milkshake fast. That gets you brain freeze! Though he could eat and /run/, but he rather not take that chance either. This means that the Princess could catch him scarfing down the last of his food. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Naturally, right as Wally is getting near the end of his milkshake, the door to his room bursts open. And there is Princess Sarracenia. "Good, you are still here. I wanted to know..." She walks toward Wally. At least she seems to be without her hammer. "...how do you intend to repay me for my gracious kindness!" she demands! Nurse Talli comes in behind her, holding a long slip of paper. "Um...this is...your bill." she says, then hands it to Drift. With three days of bed use, nutrients, and the usual other charges, the total comes to several thousand credits. No doubt inflated a bit thanks to the princess.      "Aaand, for the repairs to my dress, and the items I had to use to defeat you!" Talli hands Drift another bill, totalling another few thousand credits. "So!" the princess says, smirking. "How do you intend to pay? You are a mercenary, right? So, I don't have to treat you like a prisoner of war." 

:'''{{#var:694|Wally West (694)}} has posed:''' Drift takes the bills and he keeps on drinking that milkshake. Princess goes on and on, he kind of drowns it out as he smiles at the nurse. Before he looks over to the Princess. He then gets up on his feet and stretches. "Yeah, I am a Mercenary, which means I don't work for free." He then crosses his arms over his chest. "So if you want me to work for /you/ to clear off this debt.. I could.. that be the /right/ thing to do-- now wouldn't it." Drift then leans in and looks at her face to face. His eyes were level with hers, even if she couldn't see it past her own reflection. "But tell me Princess-- is that what your champion hero would /want/ you to do? To hold up a merc and him pay in servitude, or be honestly thankful for your kindness. Showing to those around that the Confederacy are not all a bunch of super bad guys?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks as Drift brings up a valid point. She looks at her reflection in the visor, then hmphs. "It is my hero's job to be kind and forgiving and reasonable, not mine!" she says, then huffs in annoyance. "And, how is it bad to expect a bill to be paid!" But, the more she thinks about it, the more she thinks Drift might be right. Would a hero want to save someone who held a merc to servitude? The princess sighs heavily. "It...it isn't unreasonable to want a bill to be paid..."      She hmphs again and crosses her arms over her chest. "Well...fine. You don't have to work for me as a slave until your bill is paid, but I -do- expect payment. And as such, I will be requiring your signature on this document, unless you are able to pay right now." She reaches into her purse, and pulls out a legal promisory note with the amount owed, the monthly payment amount, and a spot for Drift to sign. "After all, we wouldn't want you being a merc who's word is no good, would we?" 

:'''{{#var:694|Wally West (694)}} has posed:''' Drift looks at the document she hands out and crosses his arms over his chest, "How about this babe-- cause my word is my bond... I do two jobs for you and the Confederacy. Those two jobs, we call it even.." "Mostly cause I don't like monthly payment and you get my service, free of charge.. and thus repaying you-- for what you done for me." He then places out his hand to her, "Deal?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess lets out an annoyed 'nnng' as the counterproposal is made. "I am supposed to take the word of an unknown merc that his word is his bond?" She clenches her fists until Talli places a hand on her should. "Um...Princess Sarracenia, it would show a great deal of good will on your part if you took this deal. It would raise your reputation, if only modestly, and prove to any would-be heroes that you are a princess worth saving." the nurse says. Sarracenia makes another annoyed sound. "I am already a princess worth saving! Why should I prove it?! And it is not free of charge! You would be working to pay off your debt!" She seems to be a sore loser. 

:'''{{#var:694|Wally West (694)}} has posed:''' Wally gives Talli a grin, but that grins stays on his face as he address the Princess, "Then I guess we got a deal? Two jobs which will pay off the debt and they can be whatever your highness likes." Though he does cross his arms over his chest. "Though I will not and do not kill. So if any of these assignments got to do with murdering..you can forget it." At least he is a mercenary with standards! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia blinks, seeming surprised to hear that they have a deal. Then, she realizes what she said and she whines before pouting. "Fine! I don't like killing either! If I did, you would be dead on that mountain!" she says, turning away with her arms crossed and her cheeks puffed out a bit from pouting. Talli seems happy to hear this as well, giving a wink to Wally before smiling to the princess. 

:'''{{#var:694|Wally West (694)}} has posed:''' Drift then slides over and places his hands around Talli's and the Princess' shoulders. "I knew we could work something out." He then slides away from them both and snaps his fingers like a gun point at them both. "Now if you ladies don't mind. I need to bolt out of here." He looks over to the Princess, "You know how to reach me when you need me, so you know--" he then points to Talli, "Call me." With that he is suddenly gone in a blur of motion and speed. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess tolerates the shoulder draping, and Talli giggles at Drift's antics. When Talli is pointed at for 'call me' and Sarra is not, though, it pokes at both her pride and jealousy. "If anyone calls you, it will be me! And why wouldn't you want me to call you?! I am a beautiful princess! She is just a nurse!"      Apparently Sarra's pride and temper are well known in her kingdom, because Talli just giggles softly and shakes her head. 
}}

1425/I activate my trap card...Crazy Princess!

2018-11-19T07:13:03Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/07/13 |Location=The Mall |Synopsis=Sarracenia ends up in a card shop and meets Joey Wheeler! |Cast of Characters=446, 698 |pretty=yes }} {{Pos..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/07/13
|Location=The Mall
|Synopsis=Sarracenia ends up in a card shop and meets Joey Wheeler!
|Cast of Characters=446, 698
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The Urbania mall. One of the most spectacular malls in all existence. Even a newcomer to the Multiverse would surely have heard of it. And where there are huge malls, there are usually...card stores!      But, today this card store has come to a halt. The usual nerds and other enthusiasts are staring because there is a -woman- in the store. Shopping! A tall woman in a long dress is investigating the hats and jackets that such a store often carries. Character jackets of things like pikachu and Sonic(TM). And judging by her crown, she is a princess of some kind.      And she is soaking up the attention. It might be half the reason she came to a place like this. The smirk on her face shows she is enjoying the stares and the way the boys fumble around her. Then...she spots the rare card case near the register. And there inside it is...a Dark Magician Girl! "Oh! How cute! I bet I would look great in an outfit like that." she says, looking at the card through the glass. 

:'''{{#var:698|Joey Wheeler (698)}} has posed:''' The Urbania mall is a great, big place and it's the first time that Joey Wheeler, MASTER OF GAMES, but- you know, not really, has come here to find a card shop. Surely this place has one. He arrived no less than three hours ago!-- then got immediatly lost somewhere in fishing equipment. Through a long and audorus journey of escalavors, stairs and infomation desks, he's finally found himself in the store and he raises his hand high. "Yes! It is I Joey Wheeler! DUEL MONST----why are you all ignoring me?" he asks as literarly no one pays attention to him. He sigghhhhhhs. -_-;. Whelp, can't win them all. Also, everyone seems to be paying attention to someone else. Woah!? A crown!? Is she-- a queen!? or a princess!? That's kind of intresting to him. Maybe he can--IMPRESSS A PRINCESS. Yes. He can picture the fantasy already. Galant Duelist Knight of--- some... kingdom or another. He approaches the case and places a hand in his pocket. He peeks into the case as Sarracenia makes her statement. "Oh, hey, Dark Magician Girl. I know someone who uses that Card. Nice Choice" he says, giving a thumbs up AND a wink. "Are you sure you could deal with that hat though!?" he asks, making a motion as if something was coming down in front of his face--- such as, a very large ridicolous hat. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess doesn't look up right away as Joey speaks up. "It is a rather large and silly hat. I suppose if I did aquire an outfit of that style, I would have to make a few design changes." she says, then stands up straight and looks over at Joey. She blinks as she looks the young man over, then her eyes focus on his hair. "That is a rather impressive hairstyle. How do you get it to form those...wings?" she asks, poking Joey's hair above his eyes.      She then looks back at the card. "I wonder if this mall has a costume shop...?" she muses to herself as she looks at the card. "Dark Magician Girl, hm? That seems a rather...obvious name. Perhaps that is too plain a costume for one such as myself after all." 

:'''{{#var:698|Joey Wheeler (698)}} has posed:''' Joey Wheeler looks at Sarracenia for a bit, when--she actually aknowledges him! Woah! Okay, play it cool Joey. "Well, uh. Champion's secret!" he insists. "I work just as hard on my hair everyday, as much as I do my game!" he says with a dramatic, overcompensated flourish. *smash cut to some brand of hel gair seventy five percent of all anime characters must use.* "I think I saw a costume shop? I was los---I mean, I was looking for three hours , and I saw all kinds of stores! There's gotta be a costume shop." he says, brushing a hand across his head a bit. "Eh-- right. My name's Joey Wheeler!--- are you a princess? or a queen?" he asks with wide eyes just for a moment. "Or... is. Is that just a costume too?" he asks, more to himself, tapping a finger to his chin in thought. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia raises an eyebrow as Joey corrects his statement, then smiles. "Yes, there must be." she agrees, then blinks at his question to her. "Me? I am the amazingly beautiful Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crowned Princess of the Sundew Kingdom!" she says, doing a little twirl in place before ending in a cute pose, leaning forward just a bit with her left hand on her waist and her right held out, palm down, as if expecting royal protocol. That is, a kiss to the back of her hand. "No doubt you are honored to meet me." she says, eyes closed and a snobby smirk on her face. "And I assure you, while this -is- technically a costume, it is not merely because I like to dress as a princess." 

:'''{{#var:698|Joey Wheeler (698)}} has posed:''' Joey Wheeler raises a brow. Amazingly beautiful? Well she said it first, he figures. So he gives a smug, self satifying smile. "Well I've never met a Princess before, so I dunno how I should be feelin'!" he says in a more matter of fact tone. "But honored works." he says in his brooklyn accent. He takes this chance to look up and down her dress. Indeed, it's not like what he's used to regularly seeing- but he's around less intresting places most of the time. "Well I kinda like it. I think it's......" he pauses tries to think of an uninsulting word. "Beautiful? Yea. Beautiful!" he says as he crosses his arms a bit. "I mean, I ain't exactly dressed to go to the ritz, here." he insists, pointing at his green jacket, undershirt and jeans that are all very boring comapred to say, an elaborate dress. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia looks Joey over again, then hmms. "Yes, your clothing is rather...common." she says, then twirls again to show off her dress again before she starts toward the door, her heels clicking on the tile flooring. "So, Joey, where is this costume shop? I am sure someone who was...not lost..." She smirks lightly, glancing over her shoulder at him, "...should be able to guide me." She gives her hair a flip with one gloved hand before turning her head back toward the door. 

:'''{{#var:698|Joey Wheeler (698)}} has posed:''' Joey Wheeler is asked to show her where the shop is. Oh crap! Where did he see it!? He's pretty sure it's on the upper levels. Yeah. He's sure of it. That's where it is. He thinks. He hopes so. "Uh... sure! Follow me." he says, placing a hand behind his head for a moment as he walks out of the store. He knows where it is now. He can come back later. "So the Sundew Kingdom, eh? That sounds like a place with lots of wet plants..." he asides as he thinks. "--is it?" he asks as he makes sure the princess is following. Or. Is there some sort of decorum he isn't following!? He's kind of worried about that! "Do you normally dress in costumes?" he asks. "I don't like 'em myself." he asides. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia allows Joey to walk ahead of her, but not actually in front of her. Whenever he tries to, either on purpose or accidentally, she lets out a soft annoyed noice. If he doesn't notice, she coughs. If that still doesn't work...she'd yell at him.      After that, she answers his questions. "It does have lots of plants, and they are often wet thanks to the heavy rains. The plant life is so thick and large that there is only one road that leads anywhere around my kingdom. In front the outside to the city gates, and that is it. Otherwise, we employ airships to move goods and people." she explains. Judging by her tone, she is not all that in love with her kingdom. "As for the costumes." She smiles. "It is a hobby of mine. I collect cute costumes so that one day, when I find my hero, I can show off my collection of cuteness and ensure he never leaves me!"      Her voice gets just a bit louder than necessary toward the end, and there is a slightly crazy look in her eyes as she pumps both her fists, eyes sparkling with imagined images of possible heroes. "Of course, if a heroine is my hero instead...that is something I would accept. One cannot chose one's hero, after all. That hero must choose the princess." 

:'''{{#var:698|Joey Wheeler (698)}} has posed:''' Joey Wheeler manages to SOMEHOW have enough smarts to not get directly in front of a princess. He tries to keep /beside/ her if he can accomplish this. He listens. Woah, Airships! and lots of plants, and leaves and--- Wet. He imagines a rainforest, and---- tribes that must live there. Eeeeeeeek! No thanks, he thinks. "Just one road? Yikes. Haven't you tried to.. cut anything down!?" he asks. ---and then she mentions a hero. Yessssss. "WELL, I happen to be among the TOP DUEL MONSTERS CHAMPIONS." he insists. This is a complete and utter lie. His name may not even show on whatever counts as a Google Search in the Multiverse. "-- and someday I'll be the King of Games!" he insists. "THE BEST OF THE BEST! NUMERO UNO!" he says with equal frevor as Sarracenia goes on about heroes. "Maybe then, I can come on by and try out. Yeah!?" he asks. "My deck is pretty strong!" he insists. He's probably getting the wrong entire impression here. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      "The effort it takes to maintain that road required the entire budget for road maitenance outside of the city walls. The forest regrows so fast that to maintain any other roads would be impossible. Besides, with airships, we don't really need more than one road." the princess says.      As Joey goes off about Duel Monsters, Sarracenia blinks. And as he asserts that he is going to be Numero Uno, she smirks. "Well, you will have to prove it. I cannot simply take your word that you are or will be a champion." she says, crossing her arms over her chest and fixing a skeptical look on Joey. "And what is Duel Monsters? Do you summon powerful creatures to fight in arena combat?" she asks, then hmms. "That might be useful for rescuing damsels in distress." she says, then blinks as she notices a nearby clock. "Oh dear. I must be going. A princess must get proper rest each night." she says, then turns toward the nearest exit. "Thank you for the escort, Joey, but I must take my leave of you now. I will have to visit that costume shop on my own time." 

:'''{{#var:698|Joey Wheeler (698)}} has posed:''' Joey Wheeler explains quickly. "Well yeah! I use my Duel Disk, here, see!" he says holding up the silver device on his wrist. It folds out, revealing a weird, blade-like playing field on it. "And I can summon monsters with my cards!" he insists. "But there's rules and stuff you gotta obey in a proper game, so...." And then he blinks. "Well... bye!" he says, waving. He huhs and scratches his head. "Well..that was odd!" he says to himself. 
}}

1399/Midair Mayhem!

2018-11-19T07:05:03Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/07/11 |Location=Planetary Plains |Synopsis=A Black Dragon Shipping vessel and a Sundew vessel collide! |Cast of Characters=319, 446 |pretty=ye..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/07/11
|Location=Planetary Plains
|Synopsis=A Black Dragon Shipping vessel and a Sundew vessel collide!
|Cast of Characters=319, 446
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:319|Fayt Ravus (319)}} has posed:''' The planetary plains... they're flat and full of cows. That's pretty much it, for most people this place isn't all that interesting.     For traders and merchents though? There's plenty of work in moving tolls and crops, and aside from the occasional crop duster, the skies are open and easy enough to fly through. That might explain the ship.     floating through the air way above the fields, it looks a freighter, the kind you'd find out in the void, a giant metal box with engines, not very interesting on it's own, save for the image painted on it's side: A Black Dragon, curled around a shipping crate.     The ship's not doing anything interesting at the moment, ust passing through it seems. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      As that Black Dragon ship passes through, another large airship is passing through the plains. This ship looks like an old world sailing ship, except with propellers where sails would be. It moves easily through the air, sailing in the general direction of the Black Dragon freighter. They are just about to pass each other when there is a powerful gust of wind. Being a true airship, the wooden craft is pushed off course toward the freighter.      CRASH!!      Pieces of wood go flying everywhere as the two ships collide nearly head on. The distressed cries of the crew on the airship can likely be heard by the pilot of the freighter, and if not, the sight of strange plant creatures with red bulb-like heads full of sharp teeth, large leaves for arms, and roots for feet falling through the air paints the picture for him or her.      Smoke errupts from the wooden ship as the two craft continue against each other, and it loses power. Several of the propellers stop spinning. 

:'''{{#var:319|Fayt Ravus (319)}} has posed:'''     The pilot does in fact notice, visible through hte front windshield, the pilot frantically can be seen frantically, working the controlls as the ship leans to the side, engines struggling to keep it a float, windows along the side show more of the crew frantically running about inside.     There's a rumbling sound as the cargo moves, then moments later the siren goes off.     finally, something pops up on hte roof of the black Dragon ship, looks to be a short, scrawny person with pale blue hair, and what appears to be blue and green wings. he careflly peeks over the roof at the other ship. it's Fayt, and apparently he's trying to get a look at what the hell just happened. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The engineers of the airship try to stabilize their ship, and as the freighter shifts there is a gut-wrenching cracking sound as wooden planks are torn asunder. As the short scrawn person emerges, he might notice that from the top hatch of the other ship a tall, elegant woman has emerged. Judging by her dress and crown, she could be some sort of royalty.      And judging by the hammer that is as tall as herself and looks twice as heavy, she is not the joking kind. She runs forward along the deck of her airship, stumbling every now and then as it shifts. She reaches the front rail and hangs on as she leans over to look at the other ship. Then...she sees the little man and suddenly points. "Hey! You! Shorty! You better have insurance on this big tub of yours! Do you realize the kinds of precious cargo this ship is carrying?!" she calls out, plenty loudly enough to be heard despite how far apart they are. And causing the plant creatures that are scurrying around behind her to cover where their ears would be if they had any. 

:'''{{#var:319|Fayt Ravus (319)}} has posed:'''     Fayt's head picks up as he hears Sarracenia yelling. He's quiet for a few moments... then Sarracenia might hear a voice pick up over the radio. "This is Fayt Ravus speaking, we are aware of the situation, Excuse me if this comes off as somewhat blunt, but it might be best to save the threats, legal troubles and potential armed conflict for after we've ensured that our respective ships are safe." There's a pause, then. "My crews report that our hull is deformed, but hasn't been breached yet. Can you're ship safely detach from us while airborn or do we need to coodnate a landing first?"     Fayt sounds somewhat hurried, but otherwise does a decent enough job of keeping his composure despite what just happened. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess blinks a few times, her finger still pointed at Fayt, as he speaks up. She looks down at a nearby plant man who grumbles a few things at her, then she looks back at Fayt. "Uh..." She lowers her finger slowly. "...we could detatch, but apparently my ship is no longer flight worthy. So...if you would not mind a coordinated landing, it would be safer for me and my crew."      Just as she finishes speaking a few more propellers fail. Her airship shudders and she flails as she is thrown off balance and lands on her rear. She quickly hops up, rubbing her backside. "Quickly!" she declares as her ship starts to lose altitude. 

:'''{{#var:319|Fayt Ravus (319)}} has posed:'''     Fayt's voice picks up over radio again. "Understood I-" he's cutt off as the propellers fall, Causing hte pale mage to duck out of site for a moment. "Start lowering your ship, our ship will match speed with yours." That said, Fayt suddenly jumps off the ship again, wings spreading out as he takes to the sky to observe things from above at the same time, Fayt's ship begins to move, slowly lowering itself with the the airship. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess's ship doesn't have much choice but to lower now, although it is still controlled thanks to the remaining propellers. "Got it." the princess replies, this time over the radio as she heads to the tiller for her airship. "As long as you hold steady, we should be fine over here." she says, holding her own ship as steady as she can.      There is some grumbling on her end, sounding like another of those plant creatures, then she shouts, "What?! My new dresses fell overboard?! None of this would have happened if you pilots could drive! I swear, I have to do everything myself!" Apparently she liked those dresses.      As the ships descend, there is creaking and shuddering that rolls through both ships, but especially the wooden ship. "...I really hope it holds together long enough to reach the ground. 

:'''{{#var:319|Fayt Ravus (319)}} has posed:'''     "Understood."     With that said, Fyt's ship carefully lowers itself, doing it's best o keep steady despite having antoher ship slammed into it. fayt himself, meanwhile, flays around to survey things from outside, occasionally relaying orders back to his crew through the radio. "engines holding... leaning a bit to the right there... don't worry about hte cargo, in fact stay out of the hold for now if you can... 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Once the ships reach the ground, the sailing ship deploys landing gear consisting of wooden struts. Once they touch down, Fayt's ship is free to disengage. "Good work! We didn't fall to our deaths! Of course, I would have been able to escape, but my faithful soldiers would have been out of luck." the princess says over the radio. Which is immediately followed by. "So, about your insurance. My pilot says this was entirely your pilot's fault. What company do you use?"      As she is saying this, the princess makes her way to the front of her ship again, then leaps right off the side and onto Fayt's ship, still carrying that hammer. "After all, the great Princess Sarracenia Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom, cannot have her favorite airship damaged without restitution." 

:'''{{#var:319|Fayt Ravus (319)}} has posed:'''     Fayt lands on his ship a short distence from Sarracenia, his wings disappearing in a blur of motion, to be replaced with a green scarf with blue trim. "Hmm... Sundew Kingdom, if I'm not mistaken, that puts you as Confederate." fayt sounds a tad worried by this. "we're opposite factions, any legal avenue we take here, while not impossible, is going to involve a staggering amount of red tape."     Fayt's quiet for several moments as he seems to think things over, then. "Alright, if you're willing to resolve this peacefully, I might be able to get my higher ups to approve handing over some supplies to repair your ship, enough to fly it home at the least. Though I'd need a moment to get someone's ear over radio." Fayt is again, while a tad unnerved, is keeping surprisingly calm, apparently he's not too interested in picking a fight if he can help it. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia blinks as Fayt mentions her faction. "Oh! You've heard of me! How wonderful!" she says happily. When Fayt brings up the difficulties between factional relations, she waves a hand dismissively. "Why involve the factions? Do you have insurance through the Union?" she asks, smirking lightly. She approaches Fayt, her hammer resting over her shoulder. "I am sure a little man like you, with his own ship, has proper insurance on it." she says, trying to look as cute and alluring as possible. "Surely you can handle the issue quickly?" she says, leaning forward just a bit at the waist to look more enticing. 

:'''{{#var:319|Fayt Ravus (319)}} has posed:'''     Fayt almost immeidatly backs up a step, going so far as to lean away from Sarracenia about as far as she leans towards him. "Erm... The ship is insured through the Union, yes." Weirdly, Fayt's rection to Sarracenia's attempts to be cute is less interst more... mild terror? Weird. "T-this will likely need to be reported on later, in my company's logs if not with the faction itself." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarra blinks at Fayt's reaction, then hmphs softly and pouts, crossing her arms over her chest and standing up straight again. "Fine fine. But, I want it noted that despite our superior strength, we did not attempt to hijack your ship or your cargo." she says. She looks over the top of Fayt's ship, then starts back toward her own. "Thank you for being so kind as to not hit and run. My soldiers would have been in quite a situation if you had."      As she walks away, she can be heard grumbling things. Most are to the effect that how could someone be repulsed by her beauty, and a few such as he must still be a child. 

:'''{{#var:319|Fayt Ravus (319)}} has posed:'''     Fayt nods, slowly. "R-right... I'll be sure to do that." As she walks away, Fayt lets out a quick sigh. "right, better get those supplies dealt with. this is gonna make for a weird report." 
}}

1296/Sarracenia is at it again!

2018-11-19T06:58:35Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/06/10 |Location=Middle-Earth |Synopsis=Sarracenia tries to put a tower in Thranduil's lands. |Cast of Characters=446, 592 |pretty=yes }} {{Pos..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/06/10
|Location=Middle-Earth
|Synopsis=Sarracenia tries to put a tower in Thranduil's lands.
|Cast of Characters=446, 592
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Birds are singing, beasts are going about their business. Orcs are no doubt causing trouble somewhere. Just a usual day in Middle-Earth.      Unfortunately, that serenity is fleeting at best. And today it flees in the wake of three large airships that suddenly appear through the warp gate. They look like wooden sailing ships, but they have propellers where the sails would usually be. Standing at the bow of the lead ship is a tall princess in a red dress holding a hammer as tall as she is. "Oooh, yes. This area should do nicely." she says as they approach Mirkwood.      She looks back along the deck of her ship, where a score of strange plant creatures are tending to the rigging. Pirahna plants, to be exact, with roots for feet and large leaves for arms/hands. These are decked out in sailor outfits, complete with the hat. "Ready the main cannons. We must clear an area if I am to set up a tower here." 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      The Silvan Elves that sit in the trees and patrol the ground are on high alert, starting to chatter amongst themselves when they see the ships approaching, wondering what is coming to torment them this time. They draw their bows and ready their arrows, uncertain.      What they do know, however, is that Thranduil is coming back from a trip to the North, and his entorage should be there any minute. All the more reason to ward off whatever danger is about to befall thm. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Even if the elves are unfamiliar with such things, the sight of cannons coming to bear should be obvious enough. The three ships turn with their broadsides facing the forest, then with a thunderous roar they start bombarding.      Fortunately it is only a single area, about 100 feet across, so the number of elves injured is likely to be zero. Unfortunately, it is still a bombardment that is meant to clear out the trees and foliage in that area. Within moments, assuming these are not magical trees, the circle is leveled, with the trees and plants reduced to splinters and ash.      The bombardment lasts only about 30 seconds before the ships float over the treetops to that area. A rope ladder is lowered from the side of each ship, long enough to reach the ground, and those plant people start decending. Despite the bombardment, these do not appear to be soldiers. More like workers, engineers, builders. The princess stays up on her ship. She would be easy to spot at the bow of her ship, her flowing red hair and billowing red dress fluttering in the wind. 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      Elves scatter for cover, making their displeasure known. When the dust settles, they begin to emerge from the brush, bows drawn and daggers at the ready. They don't come close to Sarracenia, but they don't have to with their accuracy. Animals are still scurrying around, looking for shelter. THey are tainted animals, however, and a few dark squirrels come running for the plant people, barking and chittering in agitation.      "Who are you?" One of the Elves asks, keeping his bow ready. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The plant people look surprised when elves come out of the woods. And at the sight of the bows and daggers...they panic! They run around in random directions that are generally away from elves and angry squirrels. As they run, more soldier-like plants slide down the ladders. They have long spears and armor similar to that of a conquistador. They form a quick perimeter around the builders before Sarracenia herself drops down from her spot on the bow of her boat. She stands on the head of her hammer as she falls, and when she impacts it is with considerable force. Enough to cause a small shockwave, but not really enough to hurt anyone. "Who am I? I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom." she says, a smug little smirk on her face as she uses the upturned shaft of her hammer as a pole and lazily swings around it a time or two before hopping off the head of it and lifting it with seemingly no effort to rest on her shoulder. "Is this...um..." she looks around, then back at the elf, "...beautiful place already claimed? I merely require a small piece of it for my project. This area that we have cleared is all I require." 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      The squirrels give chase after the plant people. It is never a good idea to piss off a squirrel. The Elves watch as Sarracenia drops from the ship and lands on the ground, causing them to stumble just a bit. They take a defensive posture, prepared to let loose their arrows.      "You have entered the woodland realm of Mirkwood. It is the kingdom of King Thranduil." The Elf that speaks is a young looking male with long brown hair and eyes.      A horn sounds, its deep tone resonating through the trees. The feeling that the woods are closing in ona person might be getting stronger, instilling panic in some. A large Elk comes down the path with a rider wearing an outfit so radiant that along with his haira= and pale complexion, he nearly glows. "What is happening to warrant such va sour rerlstiondz// 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Oooh! A king! That gets Sarracenia's attention. And as the elf on the elk emerges, Sarra can only assume this has to be the king. No normal person looks that radiant. The princess lowers her hammer and sets it on the ground, head first, then curtseys politely. "Greetings. King Thranduil, I presume? I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom. And, my apologies, sir. But, a forest like this is not usually populated by people. At least, not -civilized- people, which you and your elves obviously are." She then gestures toward the flattened area. "I would request permission to build a tower on this land. I occassionally run operations in order to find heroes, and this area seems like a perfect spot to attract such heroes. Once I am done, your people may take possession of the tower. It will be large and heavily fortified, a wonderful outpost for any strong people."      She looks around at the elves, then back at Thranduil. "Ah...does the queen not accompany you on your outings? Surely such a strong and radiant king must have an equally strong and radiant queen." she says, smiling. 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      Thranduil looks a bit suspicious and looks around the circle of devistation. "Our kingdom lies to the north. So long as you do not come near it, you may temporarily occupy this portion of the forest. I warn you, though, this forest is sick, tainted by evil magic. I will not risk the lives of my people to save you should you fall victim to misadventure." The tall, regal Elvenking folds his hands in front of him. "There is no longer a queen." Thranduil says a bit quietly. "Nor has there been for many centuries." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia curtseys again as permission is given. She turns to her plant people and says, "Begin construction." Then, she turns back to Thranduil. His words draw a light frown from her. Well, he may be a king, but he seems not to be the heroic type. Still, she bows her head. "I am sorry to hear that, King Thranduil." she says, even as smaller, fighter-sized ships deploy from the large ships, bringing building materials down. The worker plants quickly get to work building the base of the tower. "I doubt I will be here long enough to experience this evil magic. Still, thank you for the warning." She looks toward the north, then back to Thranduil. "If it is not too much of an inconvenience, I would be honored to see your kingdom. The kingdom of Sundew is always looking for new trade partners. As producers of weapons and defenses, we have much to offer a troubled kingdom." 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      Thranduil watches the ships with scrutiny, then turns his eerie blue eyes back to Sarracenia. "I will permit you and you alone to visit the entrance to the kingdom. I assume you are not afraid of heights." He begins walking, taking his Elk by the reins. He is rather short and straight to the point, so as he walks he assumes she has the sense to follow him. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarra blinks, then hmphs softly to herself. She picks her hammer up again and follows after. "He did not even offer me a ride..." she mutters to herself as she follows on foot. She looks around at the other elves as they walk, leaving behind the construction site. "And, what of trade negotiations? Is there nothing you might like that you cannot aquire here? Perhaps building materials? Weapons? We have special items called 'power-ups' that can offer extraordinary abilities so long as you avoid harm. What sort of trade goods does your kingdom produce?" 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      Thranduil can often come across as rude, but it is just the way of his people. "We produce weapons, armor and goods with special properties. We also produce wine, and crafted items such as furniture. It is difficult to say what would be worth trading. I am intrigued by these items called Power Ups, however. Our building materials are the finest in Middle Earth. We have several trade agreements with other lands to acquire regional specialties." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      "Oooh. Wine and furniture are good, and I would not mind trading a few weapons, even if it was just a minor transaction to see what you have to offer. Perhaps we could exchange sample goods. I have with me a few of those power ups I mentioned. I think my favorite is the frog suit~" She giggles, then smiles. "But, I suspect a radiant elf like yourself would have more interest in a power star or a fire flower. If you glow now, you will glow even more with the power of a star making you temporarily invicible!" the princess says before reaching into her purse and rummaging around before pulling out the afore mentioned star. Or, presumably. What she actually pulls out is a yellow and brown block with question marks scrolling over it. "Here, as a gesture of good will. If you wish to use the star, simply smash this block and it will emerge. But, be careful! It has a mind of its own, and will try to bounce away. They are such playful little things, these power stars."      She holds the question block out to Thranduil as she walks beside his elk. "Or, you may wish to save it for an important or dire situation. Either way, it will make you sparkle and glow like a star, and provide you with about 30 seconds of complete invincibility." 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      Thranduil looks down at the block and ponders. "It sounds like a valuable artifact. We have armor varying in quality. The best quality armor is reserved for those who have proven themselvs worthy of being called Elf-Friend. We do not give such a title lightly. I would be willing to give you a bottle of wine or a sample of lembas bread. With the war between the Union and the Confederacy, we do not want to be in the middle and give one group an advantage over others. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia waves a hand dismissively. "It is just as well. I have no need of armors at the moment. A good bottle of wine would be wonderful. What is lembas bread?" she asks, still holding up the block. She waggles it, as if trying to let Thranduil know he should take it. "Oh, and be warned, this artifact is one-use only." she adds. Then she sighs softly. "How far is it to the gates of your kingdom?" 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      Taking the block, Thranduil examines it closely. "Lembas bread is a bread that rejuvinates the body and refreshes the mind. It is invaluable on long journeys that can take months to complete, or during a gruelling battle in which having your strength back can mean the difference between winning and losing one's life." He looks forward. The part of the forest that is green in sections is visible from here. "Not much further." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      "Oooh! That does sound useful! Although, a princess like me hardly ever has to partake of month-long travel plans. But, being able to recharge mid-battle would be useful." Sarra says as they near the green section. She looks around, watching the terrain change. "This must be powerful magic if even elves can't drive it back. I thought elves were the most magical beings in most worlds?" she adds as they pass into the green section. "What is causing the forest to wither away?" 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      "There is a necromancer that took over Dol Guldur, the fortress that lies to the South. He was once forced out, but he has returned and has an army at his disposal that is able to overwhelm the Elves. We do not fare well against the undead when all hope seems lost. It is our greatest weakness." He gestures for the gates to be opened when they get to the narrow bridge crossing the river. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia makes an 'ew' face. "Necromancy? Who would want a bunch of dead guys as their servants?" she asks as they cross the bridge. "If this necromancer threatens your lands, why not hire some mercenaries to deal with him?" she says, then headtilts. "Wait, why does facing the undead automatically equal all hope is lost?" 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      "It is much more complicated than that. He is not a mere man. If you choose to travel to Dol Guldur, you do so at your own peril. The undead are...strange. When faced with many of them they instill an overwheming sense of dread. It affects Elves more than other races. I cannot explain it in a way that you would understand." THranduil seems to be giving away their weaknesses tonight, which is a bad idea. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Usually that is true. And it may prove true eventually, but today Sarra is just here as a tourist. Of course, Thranduil's comment can easily come off as being condescending. Which Sarra does not particularly like. "You could try. How do you know that I could not understand until you give me a chance?" she says, as they pass through the gates. "Oooh. These halls are very impressive." the princess says as they enter. "Do you get visitors often?" 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      "We do not care for visitors but since our world arrived in this Multiverse, we have had more visitors than we would like. We prefer our security. I could explain it to you, I suppose. When faced with the undead, they exude a feeling of dread and hopelessness. Elves are sensitive to emotions and such feelings will overwhelm an Elf, causing them to become unable to move. If not removed from the area, they will collapse." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia listens to the explanation, then giggles. "That is not so hard to understand. You underestimate your visitors, I think, King Thranduil." She smirks, feeling like she has triumphed. "I would not have guessed your people were suceptible to emotion, considering how disciplined you all seem." 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      "Elves feel emotions more strongly than the other races. We are quite disciplined, but we do enjoy celebrating. We have some of the finest parties here in Mirkwood under the stars. They give the Silvan Elves the opportunity to act freely." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      "I see. Well, I will have to try and procure an invitation to one of your parties sometime." the princess says, then smiles. "It has been an honor, King Thranduil, but I should return to the construction site. Now, where is that wine you promised?" She looks around before up at the king. "After all, a king should keep his word, should he not?" 

:'''{{#var:592|Thranduil (592)}} has posed:'''      Thranduil makes a small sweeping gesture with his hand, and one of the Elves goes down a path leading into the depths of the kingdom. "Of course. I gave you my word. " The Elf returns within a minute or so and Thranduil takes the bottle, offering it neatly to Sarracenia. "Do not drink too much at one time. It is sweet but it is strong." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia nods at the instructions, then curtseys. "Thank you again for the brief introduction to your kingdom. I hope you and your people are able to cleanse your lands." With that, she turns to head back out the gate. She seems unafraid of the creatures in the forest. Or unaware... 
}}

995/Sarracenia attempts taking Caverns again!

2018-11-19T06:57:17Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/08/02 |Location=Caverns of Prophecy |Synopsis=Sarracenia once again tries to find out the identity of her hero! |Cast of Characters=446, 172,..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/08/02
|Location=Caverns of Prophecy
|Synopsis=Sarracenia once again tries to find out the identity of her hero!
|Cast of Characters=446, 172, 628
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Another day, another cold icy storm atop the mountains. And...another attack by the Confederates! Alarms are sounded as three huge wooden airships fly in overhead. They look like old world sailing ships, but where sails would be there are huge spinning propellers. And like old world sailing ships, these cruisers are bristling with cannons. But, that is not the main threat. The real threat is the woman that leaps off the side of the lead ship and plummets down like a rocket toward the entrance at the top of the mountain. She is dressed in a thick winter dress, complete with fur-rimmed hood. Atop that hood rests a large tiara, and in her hands is a hammer that looks like some huge monkey should be carrying it. She is actually standing on the head as she plummets, and apparently the hammer protects her from the impact, which knocks the nearby Union personnel off their feet.      "Alright, you Union meddlers! Clear out! I have to find out if Flinty and I are meant to be!!" With that, the woman starts trying to force her way down into the cavern, swinging that huge hammer in a strangely elegant dance that will no doubt leave the regular troops flattened in no time.      Meanwhile, ropes are decending from the overhead ships, and sliding down those ropes are plant people of the pirahna plant variety. They carry long spears, and are just as bundled up as their princess, ready to defend her against attackers. They start massing at the entrance to prepare their defense. It is only a matter of time until the Union elites respond... 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura herself has been in the Caverns of Prophecy most of the day. She's been sat by the shore of the pool, her Cards arrayed out in front of her like tarot cards being used for divination. The images in the pool are gathering in front of her, but they seem indistinct. Keroberos, in small form, is currently trying to instruct her.     But then... an attack! Sakura jumps to her feet, waving her hand to gather up her cards - which float telekinetically to her hand. Sakura flips up her hood, and begins to race for the entrance, Kero hot on her heels.     Sakura is currently dressed in warm, comfortable clothes - including a vest with a lot of pockets, and a fur-trimmed version of her Hashshashin cloak. It's pink. She is likely to run into Sarracenia quite quickly! 

:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:''' Kamon, meanwhile, has /not/ been at the Caverns for any time at all. He's actually be in class all day, and was getting a late lunch when Sakura put out the call for help. He's got nothing else to do, and it sounds like a lot of the Union guys are wounded after fighting some berserker guy, so... hey, why not? This is a thing Kamon is suited for. What looks an awful lot like a big yellow bird is racing up the steps on one side of the mountain. The chocobo navigates the windy, icy steps without issue, leaping up bends in the cliff-hewn stairs when it's faster and leaning into the biting wind. On its back is Kamon, clinging to saddle and bird. His only concession to the cold is that his coat is actually zipped up; it looks like he's used to extreme climates. He is not sure what he's gonna do about those airships. Maybe if he had Kyra along, she could cast Float or something... 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sakura does indeed encounter Sarracenia quickly! The princess meets her about half-way between the pool and the entrance. She blinks in surprise, then smiles. "Aw. What a cutie! What are you doing down here, little one? Did you come to find out who your betrothed is as well?" she asks, clearly not thinking Sakura is the Union elite standing between her and victory. She even goes so far as to approach Sakura and give her a little pat on the head. "Try to stay out of the way. Wouldn't want you getting hurt." she says, resting her hammer over her shoulder and continuing down the cavern.      Meanwhile, Kamon and his charging mount find that there is a veritable army between them and the cavern. And each one has a long spear held at an angle in a tactic obviously designed to take out mounted troops. Will he stop? Or charge in? Either way, he is likely to get swarmed by pirahna plants. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura doesn't really react much as Sarracenia walks up and pats her on the hand. She half-forms the motion to draw her Hidden Blade, but decides against it. Instead, she lets Sarracenia walk on past her.     "Loop," the Magical Girl intones, as she drops one of her Cards to the floor and taps it with the tip of her wand. Suddenly, the air in front of Sarracenia shimmers - and she can see Sakura, facing her, from a long way off! If she turns, she'll still see the back of Sakura. How bizarre.     Sakura then turns to face Sarracenia, with a bright smile. "Awww. You don't remember me, princess? That's too bad." She fans her cards in her hand, like a card player. "...Let's see if I can make myself more memorable this time." 

:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:''' Kamon spots the spear-wielding piranha plants. His eyes widen at the spear wall, and the scenario immediately plays through his head: his chocobo, charging forward, slams into the wall. He's hit by a half-dozen spears, pulled from the saddle. If he doesn't die immediately, he'll be seriously wounded, and disadvantaged enough that the fight's outcome is certain. He can't fight those plant-monsters with his sword; it's a practice blade, dull and useless for this kind of battle. He'll have to improvise. Kamon and his chocobo stop. There is a long ledge between him, his chocobo and the piranha plant spearmen, a narrow crossing that he can make on the bird but that he wouldn't want to if he didn't have to. He's out of spear-reach, not making any moves to approach them. "Hey!" he calls. "Can you understand me? Would you clear out of here, please? I don't want to hurt you guys, and you're blocking the path!" How... considerate...? 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia seems pretty confused when she can see Sakura from both directions at once. "...what is going on?" she says, then blinks as Sakura insinuates that Sarra should know her. She tries to think...has she met this girl? Cards...a wand...it...does seem a bit familiar, but...nope. "You are my opponent? Aren't you a little young for combat?" The princess shakes her head, then hefts her hammer and points it at Sakura. "Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you are cute!" she says, then smirks. "Any who stand in the way of my dreams will be crushed."      But, the princess doesn't charge. She reaches into her purse and pulls out...a bob-omb! "Here, play with this!" Sarra says before throwing it right at Sakura. Even if it doesn't hit, the explosion on impact is sure to hurt a little.      Kamon's speech seems to confuse the pirahna plants. They tilt their heads in unison, then start to mumble amongst themselves. Then, one steps forward, wearing actual armor and what closely resembles a Spanish conquistador helmet. "We are Princess Sarracenia's personal guard. Stay clear, and we will not harm you." he says in a gravelly voice. The others keep their spears raised, ready to attack at a moment's notice. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Explosions! Sakura darts back, but she's still caught in the blast wave, getting knocked clean off her feet and bouncing across the ground - before scrambling back up... and dashing off away from the spoiled princess.     Which, thanks to the Loop, just means she's coming up from behind her. Sakura leaps up, spinning her wand around in one revolution, before shouting out a cry of "POWER!" and bringing the wand down like a hammer, aimed right at Sarracenia's head. The wand is surrounded by a pink glow that seems to multiply the impact several times over!     "Aren't you a little old to be entertaining rescue romance fantasies?" she retorts! 

:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:''' Progress! The plants are intelligent, which... actually, that's /more/ of a problem to Kamon. He winces a little bit. It might be the biting wind; it might be the situation. "Is the Princess the one attacking this mountain?" Kamon calls. "I don't want to hurt her, either, but I told someone I'd help them stop a raid. So if that's you guys..." Kamon looks around while he speaks. There's a twisted, bare tree branch sticking out of a crevice next to him. He takes hold of it with one hand, wrenching it free. It's an awkward kind of club, but it's a club nonetheless.     EQUIP: Branch "I just need to get by and help her out," he says, still speaking loudly enough to be heard. "I'm going to count to three, and then I'm going to go through!" The chocobo scrapes the ground with one foot. "I'd appreciate it if you moved by then!" Is he seriously doing this? Is he seriously telling the /spearmen/ that he's going to /ride them down/ on the count of three! "One!" Yes. "Two!" Yes he is. "Three!" The chocobo suddenly spreads its wings and rushes forward. It gets six strides before it jumps, leaping above the ice surface and the piranha plants. There's no way it can clear them and the spears; it's going to fall directly into them, and get impaled on the wall of weapons along with its rider. Except Kamon isn't on top of it anymore. When the chocobo goes up, Kamon rolls down. He rolls out of the saddle and snatches something off of it with his free hand, clutching the mana-lens in his free hand. The chocobo-shaped projection dissipates as it hits the spears and the line, vanishing in a fizz of green and blue shards and sparks. Kamon has reached the front line by that point, moving forward while the spears go up. The club is held in both hands, that old, frozen lump of wood clutched like a talisman. Kamon jumps forwards and upwards, thrusting the knobby end of the branch into the jaw of the lead piranha-legionnaire. The moment he feels it connect, he reaches out to grab the soldier by the vine-like 'neck' and drag it downwards, falling from his hop into a crouch with, presumably, the creature knocked senseless and fallen over him like entangling cover. He sweeps the club left and right, powerful swipes meant to knock them onto their butt-equivalents, where he can render them unconscious with a casual and practiced blow with the not-weapon. His battle-cry, incidentally, is, "Sorry about this!!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia laughs as Sakura is blown up, then she turns to head toward the pools again.      It is the only thing that saves her from getting her head split open. She blinks as she sees Sakura running up, and brings her hammer up just in time to parry the blow. It still shakes the princess pretty badly, but it isn't as bad as it could have been. "I am a princess! All the other princesses get to be rescued by people! What is wrong with wanting that?" she exclaims as she twirls, bringing her hammer in toward Sakura this time. "And little girls should be respectful to princesses! Do they not teach manners where you come from?"      As Kamon informs them of the situation, the pirahna men just chuckle. And as Kamon starts counting, they form back into their lines and spears come to the ready again. "You might as well give up! You can't beat the Sundew Army!" the leader says, spear raised to stop the chocobo.      Which...disappears? The captain and all his plant people look pretty startled by this, and it only gets worse when the captain is nailed with that branch and pulled down over Kamon. The other plants are quiet for a few moments, then...they attack! Some try to pull their captain free of Kamon, and the others try to skewer Kamon like a bug on a display board. Of course, only a few can get to him at a time, so there's only like...six or seven spears to avoid at once. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura just has time to quickly yell out "SHIELD!" as that hammer comes spinning for her. It impacts with the yellow-tinted force shield that erupt around Sakura at the precise moment it would have hit her and split her in half... and Sakura is still sent flying into the nearest wall.     The mage bounces off the wall and lands on her feet in a stagger. "O-okay. I need to stop trying to go toe-to-toe with people who wield weapons that huge..." she mumbles to herself. "...FIREY! Keep her occupied!" Sakura cries out as she activates yet another card.     A humanoid... creature, wreathed in flames, appears before her. Instead of legs, it just trails off into a burning tail of fire. It spreads its large, fiery wings, and charges at Sarracenia!     Meanwhile, Sakura pulls out another card. "CLOUD!" Suddenly, thick mist fills the cavern... 

:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:''' Kamon ends up practically underneath the plant peoples' front line, keeping low but moving fast. The spears that come down at him strike him at odd angles, glancing off his coat's upper body armor and leaving shallow cuts when they actually find flesh. One of them crosses his cheek, striking some kind of scar and glancing off with the sound of metal on metal. It does not slow him down enough to make a difference. Kamon rises, plowing into one of the spearmen near him and throwing all three-hundred-some-odd pounds of metal and flesh into its midsection. He kicks something on the ground as he goes, hooking the toe of his boot under an object near the fallen captain and flinging it into the air. When Kamon pulls back from basically body-slamming one, he catches the other object: the spear he was wielding.     EQUIP: Sundew Longspear Kamon takes to the spear like a fish to water. He ducks his head and swings the extremely long-hafted weapon in a wide loop, sweeping, spinning strikes lashing out at the piranha plants. When one stabs at him when his back is turned, Kamon abruptly adjusts his grip, holding it over his shoulder and flicking it backwards, point-down, shattering the haft of the incoming weapon before it can connect. He never stops moving forward. The space to either side of him is narrow; they have to either let him pass or back up, potentially pincering him either way. It is not a good place for people with longspears to stand. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Fire?! Not fire! Fire makes hair frizzy and ruins clothes! Not to mention the BURNING PAIN! In her thick winter gear, the fire is especially effective, because it is not easy to put out. Sarracenia has to quickly strip out of her burning outer layers to keep from going up like a match stick. This leaves her in a long, more elegant dress. Which is still smoldering a little. Sarra stomps on her burning winter dress until it stops flaming, then whines, "That was my favorite winter dress! Why can't people just fight with water or something?!"      She turns, intending to face Sakura again, but finds a cloud of fog blocking her vision. "This is no time for hide and seek, little girl." Sarra says as she steps into the fog. "You ruined my winter dress. You owe me a new one! Come out and take responsibility for it!" she says before she swings her hammer and spins around with it. And...just keeps spinning. Like a top. A top with a very heavy and dangerous hammer. If Sakura is anywhere nearby, she runs the risk of being nailed.      The onslaught of spears doesn't end even as Kamon starts pushing forward. But, when he closes in on them, Kamon finds there is a third option. Try to grab the crazy guy trying to take on an entire battalion. So, those pirahna plants close to Kamon, closer than their spear will allow them to strike, try to grab him so that other plants behind them can use Kamon as a pincushion for their spears. Despite his so far non-lethal attacks, they seem to have no problems with their attempts to actually harm him. And those plants that grab Kamon will try to bite him with those vicious teeth of theirs. All in all, it's a bad place to be if you are alone. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     "WATERY!" Sakura calls out, as a jet of water streams out of the cloud of... well. Out of the -cloud-. And then she gets nailed by the hammer, once again sent flying into a wall and bouncing off of it. She scrambles to her feet, and, with a gesture, calls the concealing mist to surround her body again - revealing the spirit of the Watery card, a fishlike humanoid. Who is currently glowering at Sarracenia.     The Firey is still around, too, arms crossed. This fight just gets more and more imbalanced. 

:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:''' Kamon is in a pickle. The plant people are willing to use natural weapons when he closes. How unfair is that? He goes to all this trouble... And he gets chomped. "Agh!" The plants start to pile in, going for exposed limbs wherever they can. Kamon can't keep them all at bay for long; one of them goes for a frontal attack, but he jabs it in the head and then practically jams the spear-haft into the jaws of another one like a dog would chew a bone. He gets hit in the back, one clamping onto his left arm and another getting his opposite leg. They draw blood. It tastes extra metallic. "You guys -- aren't making this --" He grunts, taking hold of the spear again. He raises one hand and chops at the haft where the plant's teeth have clamped into it, breaking it off. Kamon snatches the much-shorter weapon up in his right hand, using it to clobber the one affixed to his arm. "-- easy! BREATH OF IFRIT!" The spearpoint suddenly lights up, glowing cherry red. Heat rolls off of it. Kamon spins the shortened spear in a wide arc over his head, and then slashes it at a still-clinging plant-man. There's a sudden flare of extreme heat billowing out from him, the wave of it following his sweeping movement. The air shimmers, going from icy cold to broiling hot in an instant. And... it's strange. Friendlies might not look so friendly down here anymore. It confuses friend and foe. A mirage?! "SHIMMERING STRIKE!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is doused! The water attack only splashes her with her spinning around like a crazy folk dancer, and puts out whatever smolderings she was suffering from. "Ah! Thank you!" she says before noticing the glowering Watery creature. The princess is a bit wobbly after spinning so much, but she still sees that face. "What?! She chose to fight me! You cannot be mad at me for actually fighting her!" she protests.      With that cloud still around, and Sarracenia still a bit dizzy, she decides on an alternate attack than spinning wildly. She rummages in her purse and pulls out...something that shouldn't fit in such a small purse. A POW block. She giggles, then holds it up in the air, where it sticks without support. Then, she leaps up underneath it three times, and on the third time, the floor bucks upward powerfully, potentially hitting Watery, Fiery, and Sakura all at the same time.      Fire! Well, actually, these plants are only average afraid of fire. They spit it in most cases, so that isn't so bad. Sure,it burns, and a few of the plant-people go down, but that's not the worst part. The worst part is the confusion. Although they can keep it together enough not to just attack each other, they have trouble distinguishing a plant from a human at this point. But, in a crowd this big, there are going to be a few who are immune or unaffected, and those few close in on Kamon while the others sort out their confusion. The plant with the stick in his mouth chews on it very similarly to how a dog would chew now that he is confused, and practically forgets about Kamon. He probably thinks the stick is a limb of some sort.      So, again Kamon finds several spears being driven toward his head and body, threatening to pin him down. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Firey and Watery... are foating in the air, so the POW block does literally nothing to them! Darn Flying types and their immunity to Ground...     Sakura, meanwhile, -is- hit by the juddering ground, but mostly she just uses the newfound momentum to flip up into the air, with a cry of "Jump!" She flips through the air, arcing out of her cloud, and aiming to bring her heel down on the back of Sarracenia's head! "Oh, don't worry. She always looks like that," Sakura comments idly, while flipping over and landing on her feet, a few yards away. She's surrounded by a teal glow... 

:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:''' Kamon, in the midst of the heat haze... does not move. He takes a few precious seconds to reorient himself, to catch his breath. He's not used to fighting this many opponents all at once. Assess the field, see who is still a threat, and then move on. A few of the spear-wielding piranha plants are still trying to go after him -- Like those. They want to pincushion him, keep him from advancing. They nearly do. Kamon weaves between them, one spear going under his arm and the other over his shoulder. A third comes from a different direction, getting behind him and grazing him again, a sudden movement all that keeps him from getting his shoulder stuck to a ten-plus-foot length of wood. "Phoo... that was a close one!" He's kind of entangled in them. Kamon holds his improvised shortspear in one hand, the other free and clear. "So... what do you say we call it a draw?" He waits a beat. "No? Well... alright. Hey, you guys don't have bones or anything, right...?" Kamon inhales. He moves his left hand over his shoulder, grasping the hilt of the sword sticking up there.     EQUIP: Academy Practice Blade             ABILITY > ARTS OF WAR > WEAPON BREAK He moves in a blur. The katana comes free, and the blade pares through the wooden spear-hafts like they weren't there. It's not sharp, so it's messy -- they splinter and shatter instead of splitting into two neatly-cut pieces, sending shards of wood in every direction except towards him. He frees one arm and flings himself to the side, disentangling himself and striking out with heavy blows to remove the advantage of reach from the plant-men. Kamon ends up pressing his back to the cliffside, nearly surrounded. Then he crosses the sword and the spear. Kamon smiles slightly. "VOICE OF SYLPH!" Kamon uncrosses the blade and spear by swiping them in either direction. The end up stopping a fraction of an inch from the rock wall behind him, another blurring motion happening ahead of him. There's a flicker of green -- "WIND SLASH!" -- and a gale-force wind kicks up, a powerful breeze blowing /away/ from the side of the mountain, out, down and away from the precarious cliff-side stairs. Hope you like falling off-screen, guys! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The royal noggin is thoroughly rattled by that flying axe kick. Sarracenia lets out a pained cry as she is knocked forward, landing right on her face and seeing plenty of stars. It takes her a few moments to get back to her feet after that attack, and when she does she is staggering unsteadily. "...h-how does someone so small kick so hard...?" she stammers, eyeing Sakura.      But, even that isn't going to stop the fiesty princess. She charges right at Sakura, hammer swinging in wide arcs, hoping to catch the little girl with one of them since she can't really see straight right now.      Oh no! Our spears! Many of the piranha plants have no spears by now. Which...really doesn't bother them. What does get them is the sudden gust of wind that sends several stumbling away from the rock wall of the mountain and ends with a stereotypical falling cry. Those that remain dig their feet into the ground. Being plants, putting down roots is pretty natural to them. So, they plant themselves. Then, their mouths open, and there is a fiery glow from within their maws. A moment later, Kamon would find himself under assault by dozens of fireballs. Like a firing squad, wave after wave are shot at Kamon. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura concentrates. She brings up one hand, as one of Sarracenia's wild swings comes close to her. Time seems to slow as she moves her hand to - surprisingly gently - move the hammer aside so that the swing flies right over her head.     Unfortunately, the backswing catches her completely by surprise, so - BOOF! Into the wall again. Her Shield shatters into shards this time, which swiftly melt away into magical lights.     The Watery and the Firey move to protect their master, fire and water balls suddenly thrown in Sarracenia's direction as they move to the stunned Cardcaptor's side. 

:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:''' Ha! Now you don't have any spears! What're you going to d-oh you breath fire. Okay. That works. Kamon gets promptly cooked. He does not shrink to half-size and start leaping away; instead, he endures it, covering his face and using his weapons as a method of deflection. He moves along the cliff face, the rocks getting pelted with fireballs when they don't leave scorch marks on him instead. He stumbles, nearly falling, but catches himself. It's starting to get to him. He can endure a lot, but... He flings the busted spear in mid-strike, sending the now-burning weapon flying end over end at the fireball-spewing troops. Then, he ducks and rolls, springing to his feet on the far side of one fusillade of many... and, consequently, ending up much closer to the literal firing squad. "Shiva's embrace," he hisses, voice low, practically breathless. Kamon can't keep this up forever, but he sure can try to get close. He sweeps his sword low along the ground near the piranha plants, an icy-blue glow passing over the edge. He inhales, and then exhales a shout. "HOARFROST BLADE!" The temperature changes again. Ice erupts from the ground his sword touched, a sheet of it climbing forward and upward to engulf the rooted piranha plants and keep them in-place. It climbs the vines, threatening to solidify around them so they can't bend themselves over enough to burn their bodies free... or, you know, continue to use massed fireballs on him. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia would probably have been impressed with Sakura's skills. If she had been clear-headed and had not caught the girl with the backswing. "Haha! Kick -me- in the head, will you? That should teach you a lesson!" she says, slamming the end of her hammer into the ground triumphantly. Just before she is hit by water and fire, singing her clothes before putting them out and leaving her shivering. Getting drenched in water in a freezing cold area is not exactly ideal. At this rate, she will be denied the knowledge of who her true love is! Again! She isn't about to just let that happen!      Sarracenia reaches into her purse again, and tugs, then tugs again, and with a final grunt she pulls out...a large bundle of TNT. "Take this, you bad little girl!" she cries out before throwing it. It must be wired to explode on impact, because that is exactly what it does.      Being frozen in place when already rooted isn't all that big a deal. Of course, being frozen is. The number of able-bodied plant people is dwindling by now. There are only 10 or so left who can fight effectively. And those ten are firing fireballs for all they are worth. Some use fireballs to try and thaw their frozen bretheren, and others fire on Kamon to keep him busy. But one way or another, this battle won't last much longer... 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     "SHIELD!"     Sakura isn't blown back into a wall this time! Instead, she manages to erect a second Shield... which instantly shatters as it's hit by the explosion, the force shredding Sakura's cloak and the outer layers of her clothing. She seems to actually be injured now! Damn shield-mages, taking forever to show any sign of weakening... and then falling over practically immediately afterwards.     Sakura is holding onto her side. "...Okay, this is starting to drag on too long," she comments to... herself? It's hard to tell, really. "Time to end it." She produces two more cards. "Drain her. DARK!"     Sarracenia barely gets to see Sakura activate the cards, as everything turns black an instant later. Stillness and silence fills the cavern... Sarracenia can barely tell which way is up, let alone where her opponent - or her goal! - might be.     And then she feels it. The emptiness around her -gnaws- are her, trying to fill itself up on her energy. But there's no way she can fill it up all by herself! Her energy is draining away...     A moment later, however, the darkness vanishes, and light is restored, leaving the world slightly diminished in its wake. 

:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:''' Kamon dodges, ducks, dive, dips and... what was that last one again -- KER-FIREBALL'D The seemingly endless supply of firepower (ha) from the piranha plant troopers is testing Kamon's resistance to getting murdered. He's getting too injured to properly dodge, instead using the not-edge of the blunt katana to parry fireballs with expert skill. He cuts them in two like they were incoming baseballs, and the two halves turn into heat and sparks and do little more than singe him. He is not fast enough to get all of them. Kamon staggers, reeling back as the burns pile up. He's starting to feel like he's on fire from the inside. Given the amount of heat being poured into him and the actual iron in his body, that's not impossible. He labors to breathe properly, trying to find a way around this problem. "LIONWARD SPECIAL TECHNIQUE!" he suddenly announces. Kamon flips his sword around, holding it in a manner one might a dagger or a short sword in a reverse grip. He lowers himself into a crouch, practically abuzz with energy, tight as a coiled spring. It's his /other/ hand that whips out from under his coat and flings... something. They look like little yellow spheres. They light up, flashing and detonating the moment they get near the fire-spitting plants. The explosions look more like balloons bursting, but the ensuing lightning bolts that drop from the sky are a little more impressive.      ITEM > Spark Bomb "WHATEVER IT IS I JUST THREW ATTACK!!" It doesn't really have a ring to it... 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Ending it does sound good, but Sarracenia would prefer if it was not ended with her life. Not only is getting surrounded by complete darkness disorienting and scary, when you just start feeling weaker for no apparent reason other than the darkness slurping up your energy, that is downright terrifying. When the darkness lifts, Sarracenia is on her knees, panting with the effort of staying alert. "..wh-what kind of twisted little girl are you? Little girls are supposed to be sunny and sweet! Not dark and dreary and murderous!" she complains as she stumbles back to her feet, barely able to stand. Yet, still able to lift her hammer. "Since you are such a rude and improper little imp, I will just have to teach you some manners!"      Sarracenia releases the magic that holds her hammer's power in check, and there is a swirling of energy around her. The tattered parts of her clothing start to billow, as does her dress, and her hammer starts to glow with a sinister red light that slowly spreads over her body. And as it does, her eyes glaze, her mind being claimed by the desire...to SMASH!      What follows is a powerful series of hammer blows, done in a raging, barbarian way. Just swing after swing. Up, then down. Up, then down again. Except each swing takes about a second. And leaves the ground broken and cratered beneath each blow. Assuming it doesn't crater Sakura first.      Kamon, despite his difficulty in handling a big crowd of enemies, has driven them back! The piranha plants are scrambling back up the ropes, and to cover their escape...one of the ships moves in and opens fire on Kamon. "Princess Sarracenia! We have to get out of here!" the second in command cries out down the cavern before scrambling up a rope himself. Those plants that can't climb are retrieved by other plants who run down the mountain stairs to another ship waiting to pick them up. The way is clear for Kamon! Assuming he isn't blown away by cannon-fire. 

:'''{{#var:172|Sakura Kinomoto (172)}} has posed:'''     Sakura is... hit. A lot. It's not a pretty sight. Let's not go into too much detail here.     The Firey and Watery practically -burst- into sparkles. The air shimmers - and then Sarracenia can no longer see -herself- in the distance. Which is probably a good thing. That was getting weird.     Sakura doesn't move. She is thoroughly unconscious. 

:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:''' Kamon feels kind of accomplished. He actually didn't know if he could handle that many at once without getting burnt to a crisp. He straightens, breathing hard, looks up... "...are those ca--" His query is lost in the deafening KABOOM of cannonfire. The cliffside kind of disintegrates, clouds of dirt, dust and smoke thrown up as the narrow defile is practically ripped off the side of the mountain. Rocks start to tumble down the cliff. Kamon is, presumably, somewhere among them. It definitely makes evacuating easy. But... wait. The rockslide is split. It's like there's a bit that didn't get destroyed. Is that --      REACTION > STRIKE BACK The smoke suddenly parts. Time seems to stand still. There is Kamon, at the eye of the storm, body battered and burned but not yet broken, his muscles straining and his face contorted in a mix between a grimace and an expression of grim defiance. There is something in his hands, just now leaving his grip. It is round, black and smooth, much larger than a bomb and too regular to be a rock.      EQUIP: CANNONBALL Kamon catches a cannonball and promptly uses it to return fire. /That's/ what he'll do about these airships. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The hammer rage ends after about 10 seconds, and the magical seal on the hammer reforms. Sarracenia surveys her handiwork and...actually feels a bit bad. She didn't -want- to hurt a cute little girl. It was all this girl's fault! And, since she can barely stand, and the second in command of her attack force is calling that they need to retreat, Sarracenia huffs before turning to head toward the exit. "Stupid girl..." she says to herself as she stumbles and staggers toward the waiting airships.      When she sees Kamon, she motions down into the cavern. "You should assist your comrade. She cannot be in good shape." she says before she grabs a passing rope attached to a passing airship. One that was not just nearly destroyed by its own cannon ball. -That- one is slowly going down, its propellers having trouble spinning. Its crew is working frantically to keep it from crashing, and they only barely succeed. Sarracenia and her airships retreat, both the princess and the airships looking battered and bruised. Not to mention all the poor pirahna plants that Kamon beat. 

:'''{{#var:628|Kamon Lionward (628)}} has posed:''' Kamon stands there for a minute. He breathes heavily, struggling to keep air in his lungs while everything felt like it was either on fire or freezing off. He fishes around in his coat, pulling a potion and downing it immediately. The edge comes off. He can kind of keep mobile again. At least, he isn't dying or anything. So, he heads up the mountain. He gets to the top a minute or so later, finding Sakura in... really bad shape. Kamon goes thataway, fishing around for items. He uses a couple.      ITEM > PHOENIX DOWN > SAKURA      ITEM > HI-POTION > SAKURA     And then, in what might be a fit of irony, he 'princess carries' her back down the mountain towards the nearest friendly stop on it. (Sarracenia, eat your heart out...?) 
}}

558/Sarracenia attacks the CP!

2018-11-19T06:34:09Z

TwilightSparkle:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/07/12
|Location=Caverns of Prophecy
|Synopsis=Sarracenia tries to take the caverns in an effort to find her hero! Blurr and Marrik stand in her way!
|Cast of Characters=446, 541, 492
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      A nice, quiet, cold, dreary day on the mountain of Prophecy. About typical. But, Union soldiers no doubt know by now that a typical day usually involves a Confederate attack of some kind.      This is one of those days. In the distance, moving through the cloudy haze and freezing cold, is...what looks like an old-style wooden sailing ship, except where sails would be it has large propellers on long masts. In the snow and clouds it looks much like some kind of ghost ship moving toward the mountain's cavern entrance.      Standing on the long bow of the ship is...well, at a distance it looks like some kind of giant raccoon girl. Brown fur, fluffy, stripy tail, and a human face with pointed animal ears and long red hair. Holding a hammer that looks like it would be at home on a barbarian's shoulder. She is standing tall and confident, smirking as her ship closes in. She holds up a megaphone as they get close.      "Union personnel! If you do not leave this instant, you will face the wrath of Princess Sarracenia Sundew of the Sundew Kingdom! Evacuate, or get ready for a trip to the hospital!" she demands. Of course, it might be hard to take her seriously with her wearing that tanuki suit. Running around on the ship's deck are large plant people. They look sort of like pitcher plants, except the pitchers are their heads, they have large leaves for arms and roots for legs, and all are wearing thick winter gear. Oh, and their mouths are full of very sharp looking triangular teeth. "I have given my warning! You have 30 seconds to surrender or we will open fire!" the woman continues, then the ship turns so that its broadside is toward the cavern, and old-fashioned iron cannons emerge from ports along the side. Except the openings look large enough for a person to fit inside. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' Funny thing most people forgot about Necromancy, or never knew in the first place was it had it's roots in questioning the spirits for hints about what was or what may yet be. Spirits followed him, not because he coerced them, but because they were good traveling company. Plus he was getting constraint advice from a pair of climbers on how to move and even before he left what he needed to take. See? This Oracle stuff wasn't all phooy! No matter why he was here, or that he was expending hard gathered magic just to be up this high since he didn't have proper gear. Oh well. None of that mattered when a runner hustled through the caves to fetch him. This nonsense about a flying ship and giant raccoon and demands got his attention. Fine. Whatever. Marrik walked outside, apparently ignoring the harsh conditions in spite of wearing a thin coat more suited to grasslands. He looked over to one of the soldiers questioningly, as if unsure if he should give ground or not. The woman merely set her jaw and started speaking into her radio. So that was that. Marrik's jaw set as he made the simple weave to amplify his voice. "Unidentified Vessel. Stand down. I say again stand down. Aggression will be met in kind!" He didn't want to fight. Not least of all because he could feel those on all sides and allegiances that fought four this place and never left. Anyone or anything on the skyship magically sensitive might feel him gather power before sending fine threads out, not to the ship but into the ice and snow of the mountain. Somewhere, possibly everywhere, a drumbeat sounded. THROOM! THROOM! Again it sounded. THROOM! THROOM! The rhythm was slow, heartbeat like as the union soldiers took their positions. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     Blurr has been running some recon assignments in the area recently, checking on deployed surveillance probes every so often. This time around, one of them had picked up on an incoming Confederate vessel, and since the speedster had happened to be nearby he'd decided to respond to it.     At the moment he's lurking just inside an entrance to the caves, though the harsh conditions are hardly a concern for him--it's more for cover and stealth reasons. The enemy not knowing he's there until the last possible astrosecond almost always works to his advantage. Whatever they were after, he didn't intend to let the Feds get it.     So who else is here? Marrik, oh right, he'd met the guy briefly before, at Stark's estate. He opens a comm to the guy. <<Actually I'm pretty sure that rodent lady thing with plant minions just wasted an entire half a breem introducing herself. Are you having problems with your hearing?>> he teases. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The vessel comes to a stop, hovering about 20 meters beyond the entrance to the caverns, and the apparent raccoon girl runs down to the side facing the cave. "What vessel do you think this is?! I just -said- I'm Princess Sarracenia Sundew!! This is obviously the Sundew 1! What other vessel would a royal from the Sundew Kingdom use?!"      The princess is huffing like this should be obvious, but really, how are other people supposed to know what designation a foreign power uses for their royal vessels? Marrik did say the -vessel- was unidentified, after all. "Thirty seconds are up! So, as promised, we're opening fire!"      Sarracenia raises her hammer, then makes a downward swinging motion toward Marrik, and the half-dozen person-sized cannons fire. But, they don't fire cannonballs. They fire actual bullets. Bullets with eyes and malicious grins full of as many sharp teeth as the plant people. And...they aren't exactly fast, either. Probably about average running speed for an elite. AVERAGE running speed, Blurr!      But, this is slightly mitigated by the fact that they are also -seeking- projectiles. Once those eyes lock onto someone, the bullet follows that person until it either hits the person or something else, and when it does, it explodes in a rather spectacular fashion. Rocks and boulders go flying every whichway. "Hahahaha! Take that! That's what you get for standing in the way of a princess!"      She doesn't even know if she hit anyone. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' "You deaf man? Raccoon Lady said she was Sundew Kingdom." A voice hissed in Marrik's ear, "Also don't you think you should get your head down? Elite or no /I/ could fit in one of those guns." Marrik looked to the lady apparently in charge of the regular forces. "I've got nothing on who this lady is or anything other than a few scattered things about that looking like a Koopa ship. Mean anything to you?" "Ya," the lady said while strapping on her helmet. "Don't underestimate it." The web of magic Marrik spun moved from the dead of the mountain to rearrange itself into a wall of magic between the Sundew vessel and the ground based defenders. <<Other than something about Mushroom Kingdom and Koopa from the spook population? Nothing because of this bloody wind.>> Marrik managed to sound annoyed over the magic patching him into the local radio network, <<Stay out of sight, I want to see what I can do to her first folly before you go say hi, but if you see something I don't feel free to ignore and go for it.>> He was no soldier, and definitely not a commander of armies, so why was he trying to take charge? Oh right. The troops were looking to him for guidance in the face of weird things like giant grinning bulletsâ¦ That mostly disintegrated as they passed through Marrik's disintegration field. Trouble was the /debris/ from these bullets had momentum and sharpness and he was trying to cover a wide area. Troops fired at the ship with practiced motions and remained largely professional in spite of having debris rain down on them, or the occasional unfortunate having to run from a grinning, and potentially laughing, bullet. With a flourish a rune covered staff was in Marrik's right hand and the net of magic collapsed, grabbing debris that had yet to rain down before hurling it back towards the ship's deck. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     Blurr watches the weird bullets coming from the ship, and scoffs at them. What kind of projectile weapon had projectiles that moved -that- slowly? Oh right, not everyone can move like he can. Too bad. <<Understood.>> He says, complying with Marrik's request. Instead, he stays where he is, scanning the battlefield outside to take stock of what they're up against and uploading it to the Union datastreams for Marrik and whoever else might want to reinforce the defense to make use of. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The ship may be wooden, but it's state of the art in Sarra's world. Which means the flying debris and bullets mostly just bounce off the hull. They make a few holes, but nothing serious. Sarra laughs fiendishly at the meager damage to her flying flagship. "Is that all?" she asks before she gives a motion to her crew. The cannons pull back inside, then a few moments later extend again. "You will have to do much better than that to defeat me!" she declares, then gives the 'fire!' motion with her hammer again.      This time, bullets don't emerge. Instead, it looks like cannonballs this time. Except...they hare feet and eyes and wind-up keys. And even more strangely, they explode on impact. Violently. These explosions -could- likely kill someone if they were close. Or send them flying off into the distance to disappear in a sparkle in the sky. Or anywhere inbetween. With Blurr still hiding, all the Bob-ombs are aimed at Marrik and the Union troops. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' Marrik didn't need to do a common check to tell nobody had gotten killed, even the few that had gotten hit direct by these strange bullets. Hurt? Yes. Yet the first folly had been nonlethal. The next volley, especially without the aid of his defensive net, was not so kind. Marrik not only heard people screaming, but could feel Life bleeding away. The drumbeat sounded again. Life was gathered and cast out into the mountain as before. Now, unlike before, magic traced out to try causing the delicate machinery that kept the rotors working to fail. He wouldn't have been able to know where to strike because of the wind and storm without Blurr. With luck it would bring this ship in close enough for what he had in mind next. Deep breaths. Focus. He could do this. Except he was bleeding from one of those bombs and didn't even seem to notice the cuts along his face. Anyone looking would see his eyes unfocused as his hands spread wide. Drumbeats sounded loudly, ominously. THROOM THROOM! 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     Blurr soaks in the data from the scans, formulating a plan in his mind. <<Marrik, tell them to fall back toward the cavners. We need to trick that vessel into decreasing altitude. I've got an idea.>> He finally moves out from cover, darting out of the cave and firing upward at one of the rotors in an attempt to take it out and force the craft to drop a few hundred feet. A bright blue high-energy photon blast lances through the thin, cold air, headed for its intended target. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia laughs haughtily as people are blown about by bombs and showered with derbris. That is, until her ship shudders and she nearly falls off the railing she's standing on. "H-hey! Keep it steady!" she yells at the pilot. Just before a blue beam hits her ship's stern mast, blowing it right off of the ship. Sarracenia yelps as the ship rocks, and this time she does fall, letting out a very princess-like scream during her plummet toward the earth.      Then, she remembers she's in one of her favorite suits! Her raccoon tail starts to wag, and a moment later her downward acceleration is arrested. She floats down as daintily as a feather, her course taking her toward Blurr. His shot was the most visible after all. "You..." she says, her tone and expression so sweet and kind.      It quite suddenly turns fierce and angry. "...damaged my ship!!" she cries out, and with a swing of her hammer is plummeting again, this time standing on the head of her hammer, easily as big as one of the Bonzai Bills from earlier. She becomes a comet falling right toward Blurr, and when she lands atop her hammer it creates an explosion of debris and energy that flows outward from her impact point.      When the dust clears, she giggles happily and twirls around the large handle of the hammer before motioning toward Marrik and looking up at her ship. It fires again even as it descends into a more manageable range. More Bob-ombs fly at Marrik. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' "What do you want?" One of the spirits that still were on the mountain asked. Marrik didn't have time for this, "Please. I need your help," the young Necromancer had gotten the attention of dozens of spirits. "I can't do it alone. Lady up there's bonkers and they're looking to me to keep them safe." Even with the nonverbal communication between man and spirits his uncertainty was clear. "Then in a few days it'll be some other idiot," a long dead confederate grumbled, "Or it'll be you trying to take this hill if she wins. It don't stop mate." "Then why linger?" Marrik pleaded. "Do you just enjoy the spectacle that much?" His body shuddered as he tried pleading his case. "Do you just want people to die?" The confederate shrugged, "Unless you're gonna make me I'm fine right here." "Well we're not," Several other spirits stepped forward, and not all of them from union troops. "What do you want us to do?" On the decks of the Sundew-1 ghosts started materializing. These were not the chubby white blobs of boos. Instead they were wraithlike things translucent and flying here and there shrieking. Never mind they were insubstantial, having an angry person charging at you is going to put you off your game. It wasn't just above decks. Down below more spirits faded into view to try harassing the gunners and artillerymenâ¦ Plantsâ¦ Whatever it was the princess used as crew. Whether the non-union spirits helped out of some sense of preserving the living, or because they thought it would be fun, or even Marrik promising to help them cross over didn't matter since the end result was the same. The ominous drum beat continued and bodies, some newly gone from the bombs but most long gone and frozen to the point they shouldn't be able to move got to their feat and all turned at the same time towards the Sundew-1 and leaped towards it. These, unlike the spectres were very real, enchanted by magic, and animated by the spirits of those that had died defending this place. Marrik, battered as he was, clenched a fist pointed his right hand at Sarracenia. More of the dead rose and kept to bring her down. Each would try to punch, headbutt, bite, or simply shriek while attempting to immobilize the insane would be monarch. Through it all Marrik's body stayed upright no matter what happened. Unlike the last time he had called on the dead he couldn't afford to move and maintain focus. He was exposed, bleeding, hurt. Yet his magic still flowed. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     Blurr sees crazy raccoon lady coming from a long ways off. Thus, he darts out of the way, but misjudges the strength of the hammer's impact and is caught in the shockwave. It sends him flying backward, and he slams into the side of the mountain, causing it to shake a bit.     Cracks form on the armor covering his back, and purple-colored fluid leaks out, staining the snow. Despite this, he smirks and makes a snarky reply to the princess' little tantrum. "Excellent observation, you oversized rodent fleshbag." He taunts, and gets quickly gets to his feet. The Autobot is aware that Marrik is exposed and vulernable, so he's determined to keep the enemy occupied. But instead of attacking her directly, the speedster suddenly starts to run around the side of the mountain. It's a good thing rough terrain doesn't really bother the versatile 'Bot, nor slow him down.     Around and around he goes, faster and faster. So fast that the snow starts to whip and form a cyclone-shaped blizzard of sorts. It rises out of the mountain, becoming stronger as Blurr picks up speed, engulfing the Sundew-1. There, that should keep her from targeting his current human ally!     Er, hopefully it doesn't disrupt Marrik's concentration too much, or knock him off of the rock he's standing on... 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia hears the unworldly wails and turns to look. Then, she pails visibly. And her confident expression is quite suddenly gone. "Wh-what the-?! Are those...zombies?!" she shrieks in that higher octive women hit when particularly scared. She picks her hammer up, then makes a run for it! "Getawaygetawaygetaway-aaaaaaaaaaah!!"      But, it's no use. There's just too many, and they are too fast! The princess disappears beneath a pile of groaning, angry dead guys. And they are not nice to her. Grunts and cries of pain can be heard beneath the zombie pile, and the poof of her tanuki suit disappearing is probably lost in all of that.      The undead attacking her are bad enough, but her method of escape is probably ill-advised. From within the pile, there is suddenly a loud 'KABOOM!' and an orange flash that sends the bodies flying back and leaves a smoldering crater and a singed princess in the aftermath. She looks angry now. And not just because her pretty dress is all torn up from being bitten and clawed and such. "HOW DARE YOU SEND THE UNDEAD AFTER A BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS?!" she bellows before running toward Marrik, hammer raised over her head. That thing must weigh a ton. How is she able to carry it?      The answer will have to wait, because the hammer comes swinging down at Marrik, and the impact even if it misses is only slightly less powerful than the initial comet attack. The hammer even generates its own explosion upon impact.      Blurr's tactic works pretty well! Pieces start to flake off the airship. Boards and plating and railing. But, it keeps firing despite not even remotely being able to aim. Hopefully Blurr doesn't run right into a Bob-omb as it is flying through the air, or get clotheslined by some railing or something. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' With the help of the spirits Marrik was able to work around Blurr's Cyclone. Sarraceina's blow was powerful and sent the already wounded necromancer to the ground. Yet even as the shockwave sent the dead and living flying Marrik slowly rose to his feet again. He was pelted by snow, white as a sheet, and was steadily, if slowly, moving towards Sarraceina. As he advanced heedless of storm or shot his eyes seemed to glow like two lanterns. The runes on his staff flowed a pale green and the winds only touched him enough to blow his hair and cost about as he advanced. "PRINCESS SARRACEINA OF THE SUNDEW KINGDOM." Marrik's voice pierced the howling winds both natural and cybertronian. As he walked closer to the would-be Queen people might spot ghostly shapes carried in the wind, adding their shrieks and laughter to the natural howls of air ripping through the mountains. "Ye stand at the crossroads of Life little girl. Her ambition and selfishness has cut the fate of men short this day. I ask this one question and demand an answer true." The glow in his eyes intensified as the howling of both wind an the dead seemed to stop. It was as if Martin's question was the most important thing in the multiverse. "DO. YOU. FEAR. DEATH?!" The cries and wind resumed, only now there was more than just the banshees shrieks in the air. Martin's laughter, cruel and terrible, ripped through the air as he leveled the end of his staff at the princess. Its runes glowed brighter for a moment before a freight train of pure kinetic energy ripped through the storm towards the hammer wielding woman. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     Blurr keeps going, and going. Faster and faster... he's reaching the speed of sound itself. He gets smacked by a few bombs and pieces of railing, but for a mech his size, they don't exactly do a whole lot of damage, merely causing a few more scrapes on his armor. There's still that open wound on his back, but this time he's lucky enough that the debris doesn't manage to snag it.     The cyclonic blizzard continues to build in magnitude. How long can the ship hold up against the icy assault? Further, and this is something that Blurr himself hasn't thought about (though probably should have)--how long can the side of the mountain hold up, as soon as the sonic booms start? 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess does fear death, and actually seems a bit distraut to hear that she's actually killed people. That wasn't her intention! She looks every bit the little girl she's accused of being. Dress ragged and cold wind swirling around her, her eyes wide, she sinks to her knees. "Th-they shouldn't have been here! You guys are supposed to send them away, not have them fight!" she pleads before that freight train slams toward her.      It is only an instinctive reaction that saves her from being flattened. She raises her hammer, using the head of it as a barrier. The thick, heavy alloys that comprise the hammer deflect much of the energy, but not all of it. Both the hammer and the princess go tumbling back, and she actually loses her grip on her hammer. It goes skittering off through the snow, luckily getting caught by a large boulder so it doesn't go tumbling down the mountain.      Sarracenia stands up after a few moments, then looks toward Marrik. "But..." she says, continuing where she left off. "...nothing will get in the way of my search for true love! And those caverns may hold the key to finding out who my hero is!" she exclaims, looking determined and fiery with her red hair flowing and billowing about thanks to the wind. She reaches into her purse, rummages around, then pulls out...an entire TNT charge. About 20 sticks or something in that range. "Not even you." she says, then pulls the starter cord, and in a flash the fuses start to burn.      The slender princess then lifts the charge over her head and chucks it as hard as she can at Marrik. And given she carries that hammer around, that is pretty hard. Whether it hits him, or lands near him, the charge explodes only a split second after hitting.      Blurr's snowstorm is starting to tear the airship apart. More and more pieces are falling from it, and it is losing altitude. Cannons even start falling out the sides as wooden planks are torn from it. They are sure to make wonderful explosions on impact. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' Magic was a wonderful thing. It could help you get that thing off the top shelf, heal your hurts, and keep you going when you really shouldn't be. Marrik was getting a painful reminder that last application had costs all its own. His breathing was shallow and erratic while his body was cold to the touch. Even for a necromancer deep within a nexus of Life caused by little things like bomb showers and cybertronian induced tornadic winds did a fierce and terrible number on anyone still aboveground wouldn't hold up in a straight fight in his shape. What choice did he have though, let this spoiled brat crow about how she walked all over him? If she won then she would give no dignity due to the people that defended this place. They would be forgotten, humiliated, and Dishonored. That made Marrik angry. The bomb blew him face down into the snow. By rights he should be crawling in a home somewhere to hide, to ride this out and let others face this madwoman. His anger is what drove him on, to act reckless with his magic and use it to patch himself up. Several zombies fell, the den of shrieks less bombastic, but he continued to advance. The red glow of his eyes intensified as he neared his quarry again. She was the cause of this, and removing her from the board would end it. "This is not one of your daydreams or bedtime tales your Nana would read to you at night." There was a roughness to Marrik's voice as he hefted his staff as one would a club and swung at the princess. "People on both sides are dying because you wanted this place and because I will not give it up." Again he swung. There was no kinetic force or any other magic at play. Just a well muscled farmhand swinging a hickory stick at what he saw as a spoiled selfish child. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     Blurr looks up in satisfaction as he watches the ship crumble at the mercy of the whirling snow. It's coming down fast, and he'd better get out of the way before it comes crashing down onto the mountainside. He slows down, thankfully before he'd started causing sonic booms, because that would have knocked this section of the mountain down.     ...just in time to see those bombs go off right on top of Marrik. "Marrik! Slag it..." He hurries over to where the man is standing off against the crazy rodent princess. Catching sight of the hammer sitting against a boulder, he reaches down and flicks it at Sarracenia, given its size in comparison to him. It goes flying toward her. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarra is getting pretty tired herself. So as Marrik strides forward, she just stands her ground and starts rummaging in her purse again. "My ship's crew will be fine. Pirahna plants ar-" And then SMACK! She's hit right across the face by that stick. The blow brings a startled, pained cry from her lips and snaps her head to the side before it sends her stumbling in that same direction and down into the snow. There's actually tears in her eyes when she looks up this time, and a big red mark across her cheek. "Wh-what is wrong with you?!" she screams, obviously not used to this kind of treatment. Which is strange, because she -has- fought in battles like this before. She sniffles, then her expression hardens in anger. "You should have just left! This is your fault, not mine! What do you guys need this place for anyway?! Everyone knows it can't see far into the future enough to give a large tactical edge! I just wanted to ask it where my hero was!!"      The princess is actually crying a bit now. "And if I never find him, I'm coming back for you, you big meanie!" she says even as she pulls a Bob-omb out of her purse. "I'll find you, and then -you- will play the part of my hero until I finally find him!" she threatens even as she throws the Bob-omb. She quickly hops behind the boulder which is keeping her hammer safe so she can avoid the explosion herself.      Only for that boulder to explode when her hammer is thumped at her. It was against the boulder, so Blurr pretty much just smashed the boulder right into Sarracenia. Being at the epicenter of the destruction, the princess is battered heavily by boulder shards before getting smacked with her own hammer. That's the second time that's happened to her!      As she flies through the air a short distance, Sarra's ship is falling from the sky. It smashes into the mountainside and breaks apart, and pirahna plant people go sliding down the snowy mountain on unintended makeshift snowboards. Many of them crash into rocks or trees or snowbanks, but a few are apparently pretty good snowboarders, making the run down the mountain and seeming pretty smug about it when they reach the bottom.      Sarra is barely standing by this point. And now, she has to try and handle both a zombie-maker and a giant robot? On her own?! Well, that's fine by her! She never gives up! She picks up her hammer again, even though she is bruised and scratched and cut from all the attacks she's endured. Her beautiful skin and face are not so beautiful at the moment, but her eyes still hold the fire of determination. "Get. Out. Of. My. WAAAAY!!" she screams, then flings herself at them, spinning like a top and using her hammer to keep momentum going. She tries to just rush past them and into the cavern, but her spinning antics are sure to land a few blows before she is inside. If she even makes it inside. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' win or lose, success or fail this was Marrik's last throw against this woman that would be queen. Instinct both beaten into him by his teachers and by his body's desperate need to comply with his will screaming to keep moving sought out Life to draw on. The soldiers? Several weren't going to- NO! WILL NOT ALLOW! CANNOT! NO! If not them then what? Blurr had a soul and moved, but did not have the energy he needed. The closest was the source of his hurts and the misery brought to this place. All Marrik could manage was a slow walk that might yet seem ominous given what he had been subjected to should have by rights killed him several times over already. He reached out with his right hand to the princess, and as he did so his magic tried to latch onto her no matter if his physical hand could or not. He would not kill her. He. WILL NOT kill her. That is a decree etched into the very fabric of his being. Yet he would take from her because she owed a blood debt, and he was the collection agent. "Princess." His voice was soft, a whisper in her ear no matter the wind or noise. "You have a chance yet. Turn away from this selfish path. Live up to your title and put your kingdom before your selfishness." he was battered, barely able to stand, yet if he could just latch onto herâ¦ Kinetic magic was aimed to try pushing her into his grasp even as Marrik tried to rip life from her to keep from falling apart himself. The zombies lay still. The banshee had ceased howling. It was just him trying to grab a girl child by the scruff and pitch her down the mountain with her crew. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     What is this girl screeching about? A hero? Wanting to ask 'it' about something? What 'it'? "What the slag are you babbling about, fleshy?" Blurr demands. "There's nothing in that cave but a bunch of hallucinogens. You want to get high or something?" He's not going to let the Union lose more territory to the Confederates.     The relentless whirlwind attack hits him in the legs, causing him to stumble, as new cracks appear in his armor. But he's not about to give up just yet. Whatever she wants, it can't be up to any good. So as the princess flings herself at the cave entrance, and tries to get past a 30-foot-tall mechanoid, Blurr punches a boulder on located just above it, causing it to become dislodged and fall down toward the spinning girl and her hammer. Even if it doesn't hit her, it will at least keep her from getting inside. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The boulder doesn't hit her, but it does land perfectly so that as she moves toward the entrance in one of her swings she smacks right into it, flattening herself against it for a few moments before she stumbles back. "No! There aren't hallucinogens! There are magic pools that can see into the future! I want to ask who my hero is!" she whines plaintively. "And you meanies won't let me!"      Sarra huffs at Marrik. "You sound just like mom and dad!" she whines before...eep! Grabbed! "Hey! Get your filthy hands off me-EEEEEEE!!" And she is pitched down the mountain. Or at least a short distance back out of the cave. She lands on her rear with an 'oomph', then huffs again. "Stop that! Why won't you let me see who my hero is?!" she whines. All the destruction and life-ending explosions seem to mean nothing to her. Well, she -did- seem a bit upset to hear that she actually might have killed people, But, she sees that as Marrik's fault, not hers.      If this were another situation, she might just leave at this point. But, to her, this is a chance to get life-long happiness. Who cares if there is a necromancer and a giant robot and a huge boulder in your way? As she sits there in the snow, Sarra reaches to rummage in her purse again. And this time she pulls out...a flower? Yep. A cute little flower that is flashing with red and yellow color. She hees, then just holds it up, and it poofs into a set of magic sparkles that flow over her, changing her dress from solid red to red with flame-themed accents. Then, still sitting, she just starts hurling burning flames at both Marrik and Blurr. "You can't stop the fires of love!" she exclaims, her expression just a biiiit crazy/obsessed at this point. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' "Child," He leaned heavily on his staff as if it was the only thing holding him upright. "I am not keeping you from your delusions. I keep you safe." He tried to step forward, to reach out again but everything was all grainy around the edges. His magic wouldn't come, and with his next step he actually pitched forward. For him the fight was over. He wasn't getting back up til someone carries him off. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' "Child," Marrik leaned heavily on his staff as if it was the only thing holding him upright. "I am not keeping you from your delusions. I keep you safe." He tried to step forward, to reach out again but everything was all grainy around the edges. His magic wouldn't come, and with his next step he actually pitched forward. For him the fight was over. He wasn't getting back up til someone carries him off. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     "So, you want to ask a pool of liquid about the future." Blurr shakes his head. "Sorry fleshy, but that's not going to work out very well, trust me. I don't know if you've noticed, but inanimate objects don't talk." Wow, this girl has completely lost her bolts. Blurr twists and jumps, dodging some of the fireballs but he still gets singed by quite a few of them. It doesn't help that the crack in his back has been leaking for quite a while now, so he's lost quite a bit of energon.     And then Marrik is out, flopping down onto the snow. Okay, that does it. This little princess needed to get gone now. Taking advantage of his superior size, he crouches down and attempts to do the same thing Marrik just did--that is, pick her up and throw her down the mountainside. Only he's several times larger than Marrik. If this doesn't convince her to give up this delusional dream of hers, then he may have to take this to another level, which he's really hoping he -won't- have to do... 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Being gigantic has its advantages. Big ones. Like being able to just pick a relatively normal person up and chuck them down a mountain. "It's -magic-, you thick-headed bucket of scraps!" Sarra says as Blurr keeps calling her crazy. Not that she isn't, mind you, just not in this case. She is all ready to fire more fireballs when...grabbed again! What is it with these handsy guys?! "Take your hands off me, you ruffi-AAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"      The princess's sentence is cut off by her being thrown through the air. Without her tanuki suit, she looks more than little worried. And the screaming is another indicator of her fear of death and falling from a great height. And with her hammer down at the bottom of the mountain by now, her mind is reeling searching for options.      Luck intervenes in this case. In the form of Sarra crashing right into her already wrecked ship, smashing through one side, and then appearing through a hole already present in the other. And...she seems to have passed out on a large plank of wood. She flat on her face as the board starts down the mountain, yet somehow her arms and legs are inside the vehicle. Her dress is dragging, though, causing a small cloud of snow behind her as she unconsciously starts her run. Much like Professor Farnsworth, she zigs and zags between obstacles, avoiding collisions without even being conscious. Her board even ramps off a large snowbank, backflips through the air with her still on it, then lands with her still on it. When her plank finally reaches the bottom and comes to a stop...she is miraculously still alive and without any further scratches on her. And if one could see her face, she would look rather serene. Just a cute, innocent princess taking a nap on her snowboard.      With the day lost, the pirahna plant crew gather up what they can, including their princess, who they carry above their heads still on her plank, and head toward the nearest warp gate at a brisk march.      One can practically see the ZZZZZZzzzzz from Princess Sarracenia. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' Sparks, having managed to wriggle out of Marrik's coat just in time to watch the princess go skydiving right into a snowboarding black diamond run while unconscious dutifully holds up a '10' scorecard before dropping it and Landing on Marrik. "Hey farmboy!" She rapped a tiny fist on his skull. "Sleeping in the snow is bad for your health, go take a coma inside where it's warm!" She joked, but really she's only seen him magic himself to exhaustion once and that wasn't pretty either. While waiting for help she sat on his chest and gave am exasperated sigh. 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     Blurr watches Sarra go careening down the mountainside with satisfaction. She seems to have landed a great stroke of luck with that piece of wood, but in his mind there was enough snow out there to keep her from dying from the fall anyway. Besides, he hadn't chucked her that hard. Hopefully she'll have learned a lesson.     Now as for Marrik, his body starts to fold down on itself, and after a few seconds he's no longer standing but has transformed into a high-tech hover speeder. The doors open. "Get him inside if you can." he tells Sparks. If she can't, then he'll use his holomatter avatar to help out. 

:'''{{#var:541|Marrik (541)}} has posed:''' This is a six inch tall pixie giving an incredulous look at Blurr. "Carry him?" She gestured at Marrik and mimed foot tapping as she hovered just over his prone body. "He's a hundred times my size! That's like me asking him to pick /YOU/ up." 

:'''{{#var:492|Blurr (492)}} has posed:'''     "Okay, okay." Blurr chuckles. This is the Multiverse, after all. Sometimes there are people who are much stronger than they look! Anyway, a teen-aged looking human kid seems to materialize next to Marrik, and he hauls the prone necromancer into the seat, and waits for Sparks to get in as well if she'd care to. And then off they go.     Zoom zoom zoom! Faster than the speed of sound back toward Njorun. 
}}

305/Sarra's Desert Castle Adventure

2018-11-19T06:09:25Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/07/11 |Location=Unknown |Synopsis=Allyn and the crew of the Serenity rescue a princess from a monster-filled castle! |Cast of Characters=446,..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/07/11
|Location=Unknown
|Synopsis=Allyn and the crew of the Serenity rescue a princess from a monster-filled castle!
|Cast of Characters=446, 307, 273, 521
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Random Desert Planetoid-1934231...or whatever.      There have been reports coming in that a castle suddenly appeared in the deep desert, filled with plant creatures that won't let anyone near it. This naturally makes people wonder what's inside, and where the castle came from. And to make things more interesting, some of the locals got into a scrape with the defenders of the castle, so now the local authorities are offering a reward for information about the castle.      And rumor has it that a beautiful princess is trapped in the castle, being held hostage by those plant people. If any heroes were to respond to that rumor, they would find themselves deep in a scorching desert with the sands whipping at them thanks to the heavy winds. All the more incentive to get inside the castle. The walls are several stories tall, and strange plant creatures with large red tulip-like heads filled with sharp teeth patrol the walls, while cactus creatures comprised of five person-sized orbs of spikey greenery patrol the ground. While the cacti are unarmed, the piranha plants carry spears and most wear helmets that one might see on an old spanish soldier. There is one large wooden gate that leads into the castle, well guarded, and several smaller doors that have less guards. Usually one to a door. 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn arrives, not having really expected to end up in some desert in his wolf form, he shifts, changing into a cheetah instead, since he doesn't really have any other form that is very desert friendly. Well, he has a few bird forms, but still. He stalks curiously through the desert, at least until he spots those plant things that he'd heard wont let anyone near the castle. Well he's not really a 'person' right now anyway and wonders if they might just think of him as 'wildlife' it has worked in other situations anyway, but what to test that theory with? Ah well, the cactus things would probably be the best bet, they might be spiky, but at least they aren't carrying pointy sticks to jab into a curious cat. So, he takes a chance and prowls closer to one of the cactus creatures, though not too close, he knows better than to go pouncing spiky looking things, cactus are almost as bad as porcupines. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     Well, the crew of the Firefly-class transport has been to this Desert Planetoid 431986-something or other before. Had a pretty decent payoff last time they visited, too. And so, it's likely in search of some more work that the ragtag-looking ship is seen breaking atmosphere and heading towards one of the local landing ports not far from this mysterious castle, as fate would have it.     "Gorramit Wash!" shouts a familiar voice, as Serenity's captain darts into the ship's cockpit. "If I hear one more alarm from us passing that close to something again....." Mal sort of trails off there, realizing he doesn't actually have anything to finish the threat with.     As Serenity heads over and begins to hover down to the landing pad, Mal peers out of a porthole, looking back at the large structure that the ship very nearly just ran into. "What in the fay-fay duh pee-yen is that, anyway?" he asks, looking back at the castle. 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye pokes her head over Mal's shoulder. "All the yelling." She begins, but stops short upon seeing the castle. Her jaw drops as she stares at it. "I got no idea." She replies. "I mean it looks like a castle, don't it? But what's it doin all the way out here?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      When Allyn approaches, the cactus creature turns the top orb of its body, which has a rather happy looking face on it, then...tries to crash down right on the cat, promising plenty of prickling from needles should Allyn not be fast enough to get out of the way. Of course, it is a pretty slow cactus, and he is a fast cat. Once it his the sand, it takes the cactus a few moments to collect itself, giving him a chance to get by or enact some plan to hurt it.      As the ship flies by, many of the guards look up at it, and even on that quick pass they might have noticed a pair of bullets as large as a person have fired from cannons on the walls. Although slow...very slow...they track the movements of the Serenity, and once it lands it is only a matter of time before they reach it.      Upon closer inspection, it is indeed a castle. Made of large sandstone blocks, complete with turrets and parapets and all that stuff. And there are plenty of turrets, each sporting several of those cannons that already fired on the Serenity. Within the castle walls, the castle proper is really more like a tower. It has a large base, but after the first floor it extends up like a spindle, and at the top is a teardrop-shaped room with iron grates on the windows. And out of one of those windows, a lovely young woman with red hair is staring out forlornly. 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn nimbly dodges out of the way with all the grace and style a cat can muster. Ok, so the creatures will attack even something that'd be considered 'wildlife' the cat gives a sigh, he will just have to be careful of these things. He looks up a moment and blinks as something flies overhead, maybe this place has really large birds of prey? He spies the window as well when he looks up and ponders changing into a bird, but that'd be too easy and not quite as fun he doesn't think. Swatting at the cacti monster wouldn't be smart either, too many spiky bits to take a chance of. He does hiss at the creature though and then dashes off to look for another way to get inside the castle. Well, maybe there are people on that flying thing, so he dashes off in their direction, stopping to swat with his claws at some of not so spiky plants as he heads shipwards. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     The crew has just begun to step out from the ship's front-facing bay doors into the desert heat when Serenity's redheaded pilot shouts out from the inside of the ship.     "MAL! We've got incoming!"     "Bun tyen-shung duh ee-dway ro... Zoe! Get her back up in the air!" shouts the captain, hurriedly rushing the ship's Mule and its load of cargo out of the main doors, along with a few of the crew.     "Get her behind those mountains! I'll be on the radio for pickup!" Mal shouts, over the sound of the ship's engines winding up.     "Kaylee, Jayne, you're staying here!" 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye gives a short nod to the captain and dashes off to the engine room. She checks on the engine to over see the start up sequence, and turns away to run up to the cock pit to get a better view of the castle, and whatever is flying towards them. Turning to Zoe, she says "Where's the captain going? He ain't thinkin of goin to the castle is he?" Jayne looks up to Mal, hurt "Your takin' them not me?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Allyn's swat gains him a poke from a spear and an angry sounding growl, and then a few more of the piranha plant people start off into the desert after him, growling and grumbling unintelligibly.      The bullets that were fired on the Serenity sail right over Malcolm's and his crew's heads. Just two, but they are she size of boulders. They barely avoid the ground when the Serenity takes to the skies again, then they follow it toward its hiding spot. But, no more bullets are fired on the ship. 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn growls as he's poked by a spear, but he knows this form isn't the best for fighting, eyah he still can and these things probably wont be intimidated, but if they are going to poke at him, well he needs something with a bit more power. He shifts forms again, the cheetah form growing larger, until he's become a sabertooth cat. He tilts his head at the spear wielding plant and roars at it, baring his teeth, including those sharp, eighteen inch canines that don't fit in his mouth when it is closed. He stretches out his full length and stares at the plant. "Ah, poking me with sharp things? Well, lets see how you like being poked back with some real claws, darn weeds." With that he retailiates for the poke and swats hard at the plant's middle with his claws extended. "And here I was going to be nice." 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' Jayne looks skyward, and gawks, as the large Bullets with faces go flying over. Him, the ship's captain, and Zoe have been left on the planet with the Mule, and its cargo.     "Oh, I gotta get me one of those..." he says.     "Alright, Jayne. You an' Zoe get the goods off to our contact," says Serenity's captain. "And make sure they pay in full!" he instructs, emphasizing that point.     Serenity's favorite space cowboy then turns, and heads over in the direction of the castle, and towards the source of the shots. Got time to kill? Go find the source of big bullets. Yes, that will end well. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      When Allyn transforms, the plants skid to a stop. When he roars, they flail in panic. And when he swipes...well, the one he swiped at falls apart in slices like some kind of cartoon character, then the others flee back toward the castle, flailing and crying out in fear. They've never seen such a bit cat before, and even little cats are troublesome for plants.      Whenever the Serenity gets to where it is going, the bullets no doubt follow it. If it goes behind a mountain, though, they impact the mountain and explode spectacularly. Not exactly smart bombs.      The castle lies ahead, sand swirling around it and a captured maiden to be saved inside! 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye holds on to the wall for support as Serenity shakes from the shock wave of the nearby explosion.      Wash picks up the radio, and calls into it "Crisis averted. Anyone want to tell me what I was dodging?" 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn just blinks as the thing falls apart like that. What the? ok, that's almost too much for the simple shapeshifter. The big cat huffs in disbelief and confusion. Plants aren't tasty anyway, so he doesn't bother trying to eat the thing he just killed? He growls, but lets the others run off, no need to chase them and kill them all, right? they ran off anyway. He turns and heads back towards the castle as well, something is going on and he's curious. He runs into Malcolm on the way, "This place is weird and those plants like to poke you." the large cat tells him. "There's a window up there though, don't suppose you can fly can you?" 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     Serenity's safe behind a nearby mountain, at least for the moment. Wash sets the transport ship down in a low hover, presumably to wait further direction from the ship's captain, who by now, has made his way significantly on closer over to the castle itself, making his way over towards the outer wall.     "Well that's a curiosity..." he remarks, before reaching for his radio.     "Wash? Bring her back on over. Hug the ridgeline, see if you can't get her back over by this castle without getting shot at, dong ma?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      As the group nears the outer wall, the cactus creatures make their way toward them, swaying as they move along the sand without even taking steps. Once they get near, they try to greet Malcolm and Allyn in the same way Allyn was greeted earlier. These creatures don't seem to care that Allyn is a big cat.      Behind them, those spear-wielding plants gather in front of the main door. They bare their spears, practically daring anyone to try and get past them. 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn growls at the cactus and other plants. Well, the cacti don't seem to be afraid of him, but he knows those plants are. While he is bigger now, those spikes will still hurt, but he supposes there isn't much other choice. He lets out another roar at the plants, maybe it'll at least scare them off, well unless they are more courageous with those cacti around. "Guess I am going to be pulling thorns out of myself today." the large cat mumbles. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     Mal yelps, as the plant tries to abruptly dive-bomb him, and he ducks away to the side in time to avoid being smashed/eaten/glomped by the big angry plant. Serenity's captain dusts off his knees, then straightens, steps back out of plant-eating range in order to address the plants, whom he's hoping understand some kind of speech.     "Don't know who's in charge in there, but I'm real hopeful that it's not someone with leaves growing out of 'em!" shouts the Captain, addressing the plants on the wall.     "But whoever it is, ya'll've got no business firin' on my ship! Don't see no reason why we can't work some kind of agreement out, here... So how's about you and your leafy friends put your stems together, and bring out whoever's in charge there so he and I can have a proper sit-down?" 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Serenity comes flying around the corner of the mountain range, keeping its distance from the castle and it's guns. Upon spotting Mal and the others, the ship dives down, thrusters bared, as Wash attempts to land atop the group of cactus beings, burning them alive, and landing the ship in one fell swoop. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The cacti are successfully burned, but that pretty much negates any chance of Malcolm making a peaceful solution. The plant guards all let out little roars as their spikey bretheren are burned, then there is a *pow* as the cannons fire again. This time, there are plenty of bullets for all. Grinning missiles fly in toward each person, and several more toward the ship!      As those explosive bullets fly in, the guards close in, spears held out in front of them. "Heeeelp!" they can hear just barely over the swirling winds. 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn growls as bullets come flying at them, well that's not going to be too goo when they hit them. Well, he's just too large to move out of the way quickly, but those huge things are probably going to hurt when they do hit. He thinks for a few moments, growling a bit in frustration. Should he change intoa falcon and fly away, leaving the other person to fend for themselves? No, that's not his style at all. The large cat shifts again, it probably wont do too much good and will still hurt if those bullets hit, but he's not too worried about himself, protect others when he can, even if he doesn't know. He shifts into a huge tortoise with a thick shell and draws his head and limbs as far inside as he can, sitting there on the ground like a giant wall. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     "Damnit Wash!!" shouts Mal, into his radio.     The space captain is forced to make a hasty getaway from an oncoming Bullet. He pulls his sidearm from his hip, and takes aim at a few of the closer plants, squeezing off a round or two as they close in.     "So help me, Wash! If you crash my spaceship!" shouts Mal, again, before changing frequencies. "Jayne, drop the cargo, and get over here!" he calls, over the sound of Serenity's engine, and his own gunfire. "And please tell me you brought grenades..." 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' The hydraulic door to Serenity's cargo bay slowly begins to hiss open. Wash mutters "I think you mean to say 'Thank you for saving my life Wash." With his radio smartly off. The Engines hum as the ship prepares for take off as soon as possible.      A grin crosses Jayne's face as he tears a cylindrical explosive from his bandoleer. "Wouldn't leave home without em'" With his other hand, he draws his knife, cuts the lines holding down the various boxes on the mule, and gives them a quick kick, sending them tumbling towards whatever might be chasing them. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The bullets are not exactly fast, but as Kaylee found out earlier, they pack quite a punch. When Allyn transforms into a giant turtle, he is hammered hard by the explosive Bullet Bill, which no doubt sends him skittering across the sand several feet. When Malcolm dodges, the bullet hits the ground and explodes just as hard, sending sand flying everywhere.      And when the bullets impact the Serenity...well, there are lots of explosions, but nothing really happens except they rock the ship. Then, the plant guards push inward toward the heroes, trying to spear them. 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn grunts as he goes skittering across the sand as the bullet hits and explodes on him, probably chipping out a chunk of the shell. It also has him landing upside down on his shell, now that's kind of embarassing. Ah well, that's enough playing around with strange plant creatures and bullets or whatever they are. He shifts again, this time to a falcon and flies up to the window and perches on the edge of it. He tilts his head at the woman inside and peers at her, "Ok, just what is going on here? What are those weird things?" 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     "Gorramit!" shouts Mal, again rushing away from the advancing plant spearmen as he fires off a few more rounds. "If you brought that grenades, know would sure be as fine a time as any to use 'em, Jayne!" he adds, popping off to fire off another pair of shots as he makes his way towards Serenity's open bay doors.     "Jayne, get the Mule on here!" he shouts, readying himself by the hydraulic bay doors. 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye catches herself of the door as the ship rocks from the bullet blow. She runs down through the ship towards the engine room to assess the damage. Jayne pulls the pin on the grenade and tosses over hand at the cactus folk. He straps down his goggles, and tightens his grip on the mule's controls, steering it towards Serenity's doors, and possibly right past a certain turtle. He accelerates speeding towards the ship. "Go shi." Kaylee curses upon entering the engine room. She hits a few buttons, and reroutes a tube to disable the flashing alarm lights present in the engine room. As soon as she can, she turns around and bolts out of the engine room towards the cargo bay. Standing in the door to the common area and the bay, she shouts out to Mal "Captain, we got trouble!" She speeds up, talking in barely comprehensible technobabble "Port side locks got shot, the atmo coils in the engine's striped to pieces. I tried to reroute the power from starboard, but the starboard engine ain't got enough juice to get Serenity up for long, and she's gonna be shakey if she does fly." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The plant people laugh as Allyn goes sliding through the sand. Thinking an upside down turtle is no threat, the go after Mal! Who's shots poke holes in the plant people, sending a few falling to the ground, howling in agony. There are a few left outside, and those cannons are still there. Which fire another volley of shots at this point.      Of course, Allyn is a bird on a window, so when the bullet flies at him, it is right toward that window. So, the woman within, who appears to be a princess judging by her poofy gown and golden crown, yelps! "Get away! There's a Bullet Bill coming right at you!" She waves emphatically for Allyn to flee the bullet.      Another volley is also fired at the Serenity. While they might not have punctured the hull, how many hits can a ship take from explosives? Kaylee may find out! 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn blinks at the woman and then nods and he takes off and flies off and hmms, he wonders if those things will follow you? He flies towards the bullet bill and then to the elft of it, "Hey, do you follow things?" and then flies for the canon that it was shot from, only to pull up t the last moment. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     Mal's sprinting for the bay doors of Serenity, ahead of the plant people chasing after him, and aside of one very awkward sliding turtle. For a brief moment, the captain and the turtle are actually perfectly side-by-side, and he locks eyes with the sliding sea creature for a moment or two.     "Wuh duh ma huh tah duh fong kwon duh wai shung..." (Holy Mother of God and All Her Wacky Nephews)     "Wash! Get us in the air before the plant people get here!" he shouts.     Mal's just barely made it onto the ship, and he's trying to sprint quickly for the catwalk in order to avoid being accidentally (or purposefully) run over by Jayne when the Mule makes it way back into the bay at full speed.     "It never goes smooth..." he mutters, loudly. "Why doesn't it ever go smooth??"     And then Kaylee's shouting techno-babble over at him, while he checks himself for missing parts.     "Kaylee! Captain dummy-talk!" he shouts, taking the catwalk stairs two at a time. "We just need enough juice to dodge a bit, and limp over to a repair station. Can we fly?" he asks, stopping to peek his head down, and look towards where his mechanic has emerged from. 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye lowers her voice. "She's hurt cap'n. She'll fly but she ain't gonna fly far." She says as she follows the captain up the stairs. "It's gonna take some time to fix, and I don't know how she'll handle another-"      The mule comes screaming in, and with it Jayne. He manages to stop the machine before it crashes, but only just barely. He snaps his dust coated goggles off his eyes, and on to his forehead. "We got more of them things comin' for us!" He shouts as runs towards the control panel to close the door. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Coming indeed! At least six Bullet Bills are flying toward the Serenity at...well...a leisurely pace at best. But, if she can't move, she is going to get hammered hard. The sadistic grins on the bullets' faces say it all. They are looking forward to causing some destruction!      Allyn's method of turning the bullet back toward its cannon is successful! The Bullet Bill has a hard time turning, and so slams right back into its own cannon, exploding powerfully and knocking the cannon from its mount. But, it doesn't destroy the cannon. Fortunately, it takes time for it to reload.      As both bird and spaceship seem to be getting ready to leave, the princess's eyes widen. "H-hey! Please don't leave me!" she shouts out her window. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' "Sir?" says Zoe's voice, coming down the catwalk towards the figures of Mal and Kaylee and Jayne. "We've got a problem... Sensors picking up a heat signature up in that tower..." she sas, looking expectantly to Mal.     "Shion mao niao..."(Panda Piss) "Why can't things -ever- go smoothly?!" curses Mal, stopping where he is, and looking back towards Jayne as he rockets into the bay on the Mule. "Just once..."     "Wash!" shouts the captain, looking up the way leading to the cockpit. "Get us airborne and out of range of those big bullet things, will ya!" he calls, before looking back to Kaylee. "Just need enough juice to get us out of range," he says. "Can you get us there?" he asks.     "What the hell'm I supposed to do?" asks Jayne, peeling his goggles off and walking up the catwalk.     "You go get Vera.." replies the captain. 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Once the bullet thing has knocked out the canon for the moment, he's not leaving anyone behind afterall. That just wouldn't be right, no telling who the person might be and well, yeah someone needs help. So he flies back towards the window and tilts his head at it a moment, shifting once more, a large winged serpent now. He wraps his tail around the bars and pulls at them while flying forward Turning his head towards the window to look, "If you want out of here, though I don't usually offer rides, climb on and hold on tight, we'll try to get you somewhere safe." 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye nods to Mal. "I'll try. I'll try real hard." She turns and jogs back to the engine room. She rearranges some of the cables, wrapping wires to extend some, to jury rig the damaged parts of the ship into half way working order. Sparks fly as she plugs a thick bundle of wires into it's new home. The ship will be able to at least hobble faster than the bullets, but it's path will be shaky. She shouts down the hall "Try it now!" 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     "Now, Wash!" shouts Mal, as he hears Kaylee give the go-ahead.     The engines whine and the ship shudders in protest, but they're flying, albeit not very high off of the ground. Serenity's managing a stable hover a few dozen meters off the ground, but it doesn't seem like the ship is going to be capable of much more than that. Wash has enough manueverability in the transport's thrusters to get them mostly out of harm's way, hopefully, and guide them towards a spot nearer to the local village, hopefully out of the cannons' firing angle.     "Jayne! Get the Mule loaded back up!" shouts Mal, heading back down the catwalk, for the main bay once more.     "You're going -back-?!?" asks the large figure, as he re-emerges clutching his favored weapon (and a few others, as well). 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Because smoothly is no fun! That's why it can't go smoothly! But, Kaylee keeps them from getting blown out of the sky, and it would be an easy task to avoid the bullets and make their way to wherever they wanted to go.      The plant guards can't do much down on the ground except shake their spears and growl as the Serenity rises out of range. Even Allyn is safe from them on the outside of the tower. But, despite his pulling, the grating on the window just won't budge. Even with the princess pushing against them from the other side. "Nnng...I don't think this is going to work..." she grunts.      About that time, the huge gate of the castle opens, and out lumbers...another of the plant people, but this one is at least 20 feet tall! It's mouth is big enough that it could chomp onto the Serenity, and in its leaf-like arms it is carrying what appears to be some sort of ball and chain, except the ball has large eyes and an even larger mouth full of triangular teeth that look razor sharp. The plant creature lumbers forward on root-like feet thicker than most tree trunks, then looks up at Allyn.      It takes aim, then with a whirl of the chain, it sends the Chain Chomp flying upward, its teeth clamping up and down like some kind of novelty denture set on steroids. While the Chomp is flying, the giant piranha plant looks toward the Serenity, then with a loud coughing noise, a fireball as big as the creature's head is sent flying toward the ship. And those bullets are still in pursuit! 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn hisses in annoyance as the grate wont move, well it was worth a try, he hisses again hearing the commotion coming from down below and sees the toothy ball thing coming towards him and shakes his head, not sure what else to try. Well, he tries one thing anyway and swivels his head downards and opens his mouth, at least in this form he can do something, he spits a stream of venom at the chompy-bitey ball thing aiming for its eyes and mouth, maybe he can at least blind the thing if that'd help before it can latch onto him. Though he does ask the princess, "Think one of those thigns that hit me earlier can open this window?" 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' The ship rocks as one of the cables falls out of place raining sparks down all over the engine room, and starting a small fire. Kaylee pulls a fire extinguisher out of a nearby compartment and begins spraying the fire down, gritting her teeth as she does so. As soon as the fire has died down some, she slams the cable back into place, and ties it down with some space age duct tape. She tightens her grip on the extinguisher and goes back to putting out the fire. "Everything's shiny!" She calls out "No need to worry!"      Jayne grumbles as he moves to stack up the necessary adventuring gear onto the mule, stopping briefly to find a new strap to tie it down with. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     Mal hastens down to the Mule with Jayne and Zoe following closely behind. "Wash! Get her out of range, and sit tight 'till you hear from us, got it?"     He leaps on board the small landcraft, and waits for Jayne to hit the main bay door controls and hop on alongside Zoe and Mal.     "Kaylee? You coming?" shouts Mal, as Wash brings Serenity back down to a brief touchdown on the desert surface. 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye finally puts out the fire, leaving the engine room coated in a layer of foam. She whips her head around to call down the corridor "Just a minute Cap'n!" She again, tapes everything into place, making sure the engine doesn't catch fire again. She runs back down the hallway and into the loading bay, carrying her tool kit and brushing some foam off her jumpsuit. "Where we goin?" She asks, as she skids into the bay.      Jayne finishes with the mule, and opens the door only to see the bullets continuing their attack. His hand snaps around his back, as he pulls Vera up to his shoulder, preparing to fire. Taking aim, he sprays the sky with multiple short bursts, attempting to shoot the larger bullets out of the sky, with many smaller bullets. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      "They might!" the princess says to Allyn when he asks. The chain chomp doesn't seem affected by the venom, but it also isn't able to change course in mid-air, so if Allyn moves, it will simply fly past before falling back toward the ground.      The Serenity is still in danger from those bullets! If they stop for more than a few seconds, the Serenity is sure to take a hit! That is, until Jayne fires that anti-bullet fire. The larger bullets take a few hits before exploding in mid-air, removing the threat there. But, with the chain chomp now free to be thrown again, the giant plant creature switches targets. It throws the heavy metal chomper toward the Mule, and spits a large fireball up at Allyn. Meanwhile, more Bullet Bills fire at Allyn! 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn :hisses again as the venom doesn't seem to work and then thee is a fireball and bullets coming at him! darnit all! but he gets another idea, "Get back." he tells the princess, "find somewhere to hide, we'll get you out of here." he does move, but its tog et closer to the window and then he shifts again and changes into a small mouse. He stays there in the window frame until the bullets and fireball get close enough and then jumps into the room with the princess and finds a place well enough back from the window to hide from the blast when it comes. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     "Move it, Kaylee!" shouts the captain, the Mule already beginning to move just as Wash sets the ship down, briefly, the landing bay door slamming into the sandy ground. Zoe and Jayne are lighting up the Bullet Bills, trying to give the Mule some cover.     Of course, bullets are kinda useless against the chomper, so the only hope Serenity's crew has against that is to dodge it. Zoe floors the controls, pushing the Mule quickly up to speed in an attempt to avoid the oncoming chomper. 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye runs up and jumps on to the mule as it moves off. She climbs up, tool kit crashing as she does so. It is only when she see's the massive chain chomp that she regrets her decision. She sits in the back seat, paralyzed in fear, just watching the creature chase after them. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Allyn's plan is a good one! The Bullet Bills and the fireball all impact the window and the surrounding wall, and with a powerful explosion, the wall practically evaporates! It is only hiding behind a large dresser that saves the princess from being pelted by stones and metal. She's free! But, she's a bit annoyed. "That was dangerous!" she exclaims, then quickly walks over to the hiding mouse and scoops him up before walking to the opening. "Alright, let's get out of here!" she says.      The chain chomp is pretty easy to avoid, but a Mule is a Mule, and so the chomp slides along the side before being pulled back by the giant plant creature. When it sees the explosion up above, it roars, and then starts to climb the castle! It is determined not to let the princess escape! With the giant piranha plant otherwise engaged, the cannons take aim again, and the Mule along with its passengers come under fire again. And with them rushing forward, dodging the bullets might be a bit more difficult. 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn Squeaks a little when he's scooped up, but that's alright. Once they are next to the wall he leaps out of her hand and before falling he shifts back into that winged serpent form from before. He nods his head and then lowers it so she can get on, "Sorry, but it had to be done, since I couldn't pull those bars off of there. Now get on and hold on tight. There's no saddle since I don't let people ride me, but you should be safe once you're holding on." Once she is holding onto him, if she does, he begins to fly off towards a safe distance away from any creatures, or bullets and fireballs. Saving people can be dangerous it seems. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     Mal and Jayne are now popping off rounds at the approaching Bullets, while Zoe handles the stick. The Mule is relatively quick, all things considered, though it's built for durability, not manueverability, and Zoe's doing all she can just to keep the hovercraft on a steady course towards the side of the castle.     "Aim for that tower!" shouts Mal, over the noise of the gunfire, and the Mule's engine.     "On it, sir.." comes Zoe's calm-voiced reply. 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye continues to clutch the seat in white knuckled terror with one hand, and her tool box with the other. She closes her eyes tight as the dust swirls up into her eyes. "Captain?" she says through clenched teeth, trying to squint ahead of her.      Jayne runs out of ammo for Vera, and instead of reaching for another clip, he draws his smaller side arm and pops a few rounds at the bullets. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess blinks as Allyn transforms back into the winged snake. She seems...timid at best. Riding on a flying snake is scary! But, there's the piranha plant, climbing the tower, and as Allyn floats there waiting for the princess the pirahna spits another giant fireball and throws the chomp at the same time!      Allyn is fine, no doubt, but Sarra can't hold on with so much happening. "Eek! Aaah! Nooooooo!!" She falls right toward the plant, who catches her in one of its large leaf-like arms, then squeezes firmly to make sure she can't escape. "H-heeeelp!" the princess cries out, just her head visible above the edge of the leaf holding her.      With the princess in hand, the plant creature just...leaps down. It lands with an earth-shaking thud, then roars at the incoming Mule. Bullet Bills explode all around it, but none connect solidly thanks to the crew's efforts. Now, they just have to deal with the giant plant! Who seems to think they look tasty! 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     "Pull up!" shouts Mal, as it becomes clear that if they keep going, they'll run right into the roaring plant creature. Zoe yanks on the control stick hard, bringing the hovercraft to a stop; it would be a screech halt, save for the fact that it's hovering a few feet off the ground, and can't, well, screech.     "Just stick with the Mule, Kaylee..." says the captain, looking back to his mechanic as he hops down from the hovercraft along with the other two crewmembers, squaring off with the plant creature.     "Ain't no need to be making a mess of things here!" shouts Mal, unsure of whether or not the thing can actually understand him. "Just let our pretty little damsel go, and we'll be on our merry. You can go back to...whatever it is that a fellow of your particular constitution would be goin' back to." 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye nods to Mal. She sidles up to the front of the craft to get a better look at what's going on.      Jayne takes the time to reload both guns. He rests his hand on his bandoleer, right above his second and final grenade. "Why we savin' her?" He asks. "Don't seem very much like our problem." 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' The serpent hisses in frustration, seems like he's getting rather pissed off too. He stares down at the fireball and the chompy-bitey ball thing coming at him. He's getting tired of changing forms so much just to try to get things done. Well, these plants haven't seen anything yet, as usually happens when he gets angry he loses a bit of control over his shifting, The serpent shifts and begins to grow, thirty...fifty..eighty, no almsot a hundred feet long, wingspan growing in proportion. No, he can't fly very fast like this, but he turns so that he faces downwards and opens his mouth, he'll just swallow that fireball and the bitey-chompy thing, not worried about what doing that might do to him and the plant monster as well, well except for that arm that has the woman in it, he's not going to swallow the woman, because well, that just wouldn't be very nice. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The giant plant seems to have no plans for peaceful resolution. Just as he is about to attack again...he notices a large shadow. Then looks up. Only to get chomped by a gigantic snake thing! The plant arms flail before dropping the princess right toward Malcolm and his crew! Hopefully Allyn has an iron gut, because that piranha plant and chain chomp will be hard to stomach.      The princess blinks as she is released, then lets out a shrill shriek as she starts falling. It isn't really that far to the ground. Petey Piranha isn't -that- big. But still, it is at least a dozen feet off the ground, and that is a pretty long way to fall. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' Well, that marks the second time today that Mal's efforts at diplomacy are interrupted by a more..direct way of dealing with the plant people. Lesson learned: Don't bother trying next time.     "What in the black is that thing?" says Jayne, gawking as the massive snake-thing totally just appears out of nowhere, and swoops in to chomp down on the plant thing, and save the princess. Though, she's not exactly home free just yet.     There's nothing like a falling princes to spur Sereinty's captain into action, and he swiftly darts over, hoping to tryi and catch her and prevent her from just smacking into the ground after being dropped by Petey. 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Allyn doesn't plan on keeping them in his stomach for long! once the nasty things are swallowed he flies off a ways and regurgitates them somewhere far off from the castle, well, at least somewhere far enough it'll take the plant and his chompy friend a while to get back. He hisses and flies abck off towards the castle, back to normal size now. He doesn't want his insides torn up by those thigns after all, he mainly just wanted them out of the way. He flies over near the ship, "Thatw woman safe?" he asks. 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Kaylee Frye looks to Jayne "Don't look friendly, does it?" She sits up as the princess is dropped. She leans forwards and shouts "Cap'n get her!" as if that helps anything.      Zoe starts up the engine of the mule prepping it for departure. "Jayne, get ready."      Kaylee looks at Allyn disbelievingly. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess lands in Malcolm's strong arms, then blinks before looking up at him. Then...her eyes practically sparkle. "Ooh. My hero." she says in a dreamy voice before wrapping her arms around Malcolm's neck. With Petey handled and the princess safe, the castle's defenders that are still able to move all flee into the castle depths.      And that's when the ground starts to rumble. Then, the sand starts to push upward around the perimeter of the castle. The princess's eyes widen. "We should get out of here! And you should carry me!" she says, curling up in Malcolm's grasp.      When she hears Allyn, the princess giggles girlishly. "Just fine, thanks to you guys!" 

:'''{{#var:307|Allyn (307)}} has posed:''' Hey, winged serpents don't really look all that threatening, well at least when they aren't in giant proportions they aren't, but still even at his usual fifteen feet long, he might seem a bit imposing, but he doesn't look aggressive or anything at the moment. "Good, good, glad to see you're not injured." 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:'''     Mal's suddenly holding a rather newly-rescued princess in his arms. A swashbucking space pirate has managed to help save a foreign princess, and not only that, but also catch her from falling several meters. It's like something out of a fairy tale. And now, all they have to do it run off into the sunset, or to his spaceship, and it would be a perfect ending.     But this is Malcolm Reynolds, ladies and gents.     "Jayne, strap her in," says Serenity's captain, quickly hefting Sarracenia up onto the Mule, unceremoniously, and then hopping up in the shotgun seat, himself.     "Zoe, hit it." 

:'''{{#var:521|Kaylee Frye (521)}} has posed:''' Jayne smiles a lecherous grin. "Sure thing." He says, moving to gruffly buckle the princess down. Kaylee looks back to Sarracenia, happy to have the princess safe, and happy to get out of the range of the plant. "Don't you worry, everything'll be just shiny." she looks back to Mal, speaking as much to him as the princess. "The captain will treat you nice." Zoe puts the mule into gear and swings it around, speeding back to the ship. Before they get too far away, Kaylee waves to Allyn. "Thanks!" she says before literally leaving him in the dust. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The princess lets out a little 'eep!' as she is practically tossed up into a seat and strapped in. She blinks in surprise, then huffs softly. "That is no way to handle a princess! Especially the lovely Princess Sarracenia Sundew of the Sundew Kingdom!" she protests, crossing her arms over her chest. When Allyn approaches, the reaches out and pats him on the head. "You are a very helpful creature. And your manners are quite adequate." she says with a smile.      As the Mule pulls away, the sand keeps rising. Only, it isn't just the sand. The entire castle is rising, and beneath it, lifting it upward, is a very large wooden ship. Long masts poke up through the castle courtyard, then propellers deploy on the top, and the ship starts to fly away.      Princess Sarracenia doesn't seem to notice. She is too busy watching Malcolm be a captain. "Oooh...I'm sure he will." Sarra says to Kaylee. 
}}

145/Desert Dealings

2018-11-19T05:44:30Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2014/07/11 |Location=Void - Astroidia |Synopsis=Serenity and crew encounter Princess Sarracenia and Mako Mankanshoku while making a deal in the des..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/07/11
|Location=Void - Astroidia
|Synopsis=Serenity and crew encounter Princess Sarracenia and Mako Mankanshoku while making a deal in the desert.
|Cast of Characters=191, 273, 446
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' This section of the Void is an interesting one. Asteroids begin to populate the otherwise empty space, starting small, then gradually growing in average size as one travels further towards the cluster of space objects and other celestial bodies. Once the asteroid curtain passes, things start to become more and more interesting. There's small planets here, and large asteroids that have been terraformed and artificially fitted with atmospheres and normalized Earth-like gravity fields. Most of them are populated, a few more so than others. There's an oddly-shaped ship headed in the direction of a particularly arid looking subplanet, dotted with a few small cities every few hundred miles. The whole planets looks to be one large desert, really, and as the ship gets in closer to the surface, it becomes clearer that the Firefly-class transport is heading towards a smaller-looking settlement on the edge of a series of sand-covered mountains. "Put us down just shy of that ridge right there, will ya?" asks a voice that belongs to a man that's standing beside a figure seated in the pilot's chair inside the ship. "We're only setting down here for a few hours, people," says the same voice, reaching for a radio communicator that presumably is addressing the rest of the ship. "If you're not back in time, you're going to end up stuck here. Ain't figuring on sticking 'round this desert any more than we need to." 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' This section of the Void is an interesting one. Asteroids begin to populate the otherwise empty space, starting small, then gradually growing in average size as one travels further towards the cluster of space objects and other celestial bodies. Once the asteroid curtain passes, things start to become more and more interesting. There's small planets here, and large asteroids that have been terraformed and artificially fitted with atmospheres and normalized Earth-like gravity fields. Most of them are populated, a few more so than others. There's an oddly-shaped ship headed in the direction of a particularly arid looking subplanet, dotted with a few small cities every few hundred miles. The whole planets looks to be one large desert, really, and as the ship gets in closer to the surface, it becomes clearer that the Firefly-class transport is heading towards a smaller-looking settlement on the edge of a series of sand-covered mountains. "Put us down just shy of that ridge right there, will ya?" asks a voice that belongs to a man that's standing beside a figure seated in the pilot's chair inside the ship. "We're only setting down here for a few hours, people," says the same voice, reaching for a radio communicator that presumably is addressing the rest of the ship. "If you're not back in time, you're going to end up stuck here. Ain't figuring on sticking 'round this desert any more than we need to." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:''' As that super advanced spaceship flies down and lands, they might notice...is that a wooden sailing ship with propellers where sails should be? Looks that way. And there are plant creatures consisting of root-like legs, a short stalk, thick leaves, and a round red top with a mouth full of sharp teeth meandering about the ship. Some carry steel spears and wear armor, but most wear nothing. Not far from that ship is a sand sleigh. It's just like a regular sleigh except for sand. And it is covered by a fancy looking tent-like cabin. It is being pulled along by a couple of what look like more plant creatures, but bigger than the others. They are headed farther into the desert. 

:'''{{#var:191|Mako Mankanshoku (191)}} has posed:''' Also lurking around the edge of this arid boomtown is a group of what appear to be high school students in pale blue uniforms with large white four-pointed stars on the chest and all with matching bowl haircuts. There's like six of them, and they all stomp mercilessly on someone in the center of the group, obscured by a dustcloud. When they tire of it, or perhaps when they feel they've punished the offending party enough, the entire group except one storms back to a simple van and start piling in. The remaining student kicks their victim one last time, snapping, "And don't let us catch you stowing away again, slacker!" And then he, too, turns and jumps back into the van. The engine starts. The vehicle motors away. Sitting up, dirty but otherwise none the worse for wear, Mako Mankanshoku blinks at the retreating van. After a moment, she raises her hand and waves cheerfully after them, "Byyyye~! I'll see you back at school tomorrow!" beat "AHH!" Mako suddenly leaps to her feet, racing around in circles, "Wait! Wait! If you leave me here I'll be laaaa~te! What am I gonna do!?" 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' "Easy does it...." says the voice of the redhead man sitting in the pilot's chair, wrestling carefully with the ship's controls. The ship hovers closers and closer to the surface, kicking up a fairly large cloud of sand as it prepares to land. "Nice and steady...." Twenty meters. "Gently..." Ten meters. "I'm a le-" CRUNCH! "Wash! I ain't paying you to break my spaceship!" says the voice of the ship's captain, echoing upwards into the cockpit from a point somewhere down the fore passageway of Serenity. A pair of hydraulic lifts slowly lower a large loading ramp from the belly of the ship with a hiss, until the metal sets down heavily against the sand underoot. The first pair of boots out of the ship's bay belong to the suspenders-wearing figure of the captain, now leaning against one of the two hydraulic shafts. "Jayne, hurry up and get the Mule out here!" he calls back into the ship's cargo bay. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:''' The plant creatures look over as Malcolm exits the ship, but don't pay much mind. They are busy checking for any damage from their own landing and making sure their ship is ready when their own captain returns. And where is their captain? Well, her little sleigh was just passing Mako when the group of mean kids kicked her and left her for lateness. So, the sleigh stops, and out steps Sarracenia. Her long red hair billows in the desert wind, and her deep blue eyes lock onto the now running in circles schoolgirl. "Don't worry. You can have a ride on my ship when we leave." she says to Mako, giving a wink and a slightly arrogant smirk. She must be a princess or something, judging by the dress and the crown. And, she is carrying a cute pink parasol to keep the sun from damaging her pale skin. Of course, it is constantly trying to escape on the waves of wind and sand. As is her dress, which she is holding down with her free hand. 

:'''{{#var:191|Mako Mankanshoku (191)}} has posed:''' The brunette flails her arms while running in circles, "If I'm late again I'll be expelled--!" And then a sleigh, a real sleigh! pulls up. Immediately, Mako freezes, staring at it. Slowly, she lowers her upraised leg and both arms, looking at the sky. Bewildered, she looks at the sand at her feet and gives it a scuffy kick. After a moment of trying to think, the only thing that's missing is the smoke. She glances up to Sarracenia directly with a bright smile, "Okay! But it's a little hot for a sled, huh?" After a moment, she gives up with a shrug and the smile returns, "I'm Mako, nice to meet you!" Turning a bit, she points at the settlement where two ships now have landed, "And you don't have to go through all that trouble, I bet I could get a ride home over there if you'd give me a lift that way." 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' Serenity's crew doesn't seem to pay the sleigh too much concern, as they begin to offload a yellow-colord landspeeder of sorts that's got several large crates strapped to the back of it. The ship's captain peers over in Mako and Sarra's direction a few moments, probably not making out too much detail through the desert haze, then shrugs. He turns and jumps up into the driver's seat of the hovercraft, and slaps the side of the machine. "If you're coming, we're going!" he calls back, as a few other figures hurry out from the ship's belly to jump on board the speeder. There's a darker-skinned woman, a larger man with facial hair, a girl with pigtails, and a well-dressed lanky figure who join Mal on top of the Mule. The craft begins to make its way over towards the rustic-looking settlement. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:''' Sarracenia blinks at Mako, then smirks lightly. "A sleigh like this slides over sandy terrain quite well. So, it is only too hot if one is Santa. Which, I am not." She then steps back into her sleigh and has the large plants pulling it turn back toward the town. "Hop on the back if you want a ride." she says to Mako, and without waiting more than a few moments the sleigh starts moving. The large plant people pull it as quickly as any horse team, but with more slobbering and comical little snarls. 

:'''{{#var:191|Mako Mankanshoku (191)}} has posed:''' "A sleigh for the beach!" Mako seems enamored by this idea, leaning forward to investigate the vehicle itself with stars in her eyes, "It must be what Santa uses when he's on vacation!" The girl's ranting may call forth images of the Jolly Old Elf himself in swim trunks, sunglasses, and zinc on his nose. Or maybe that's just her twisted mind at work. When the sled starts moving, though, Mako's not actually on board. With a squawk, she runs after it, arms flailing, "Wait, I'm not on! I'm not on!" With a jump, she latches on to the back of the sleigh and clings, "I got on!" Clinging, Mako pulls her face up over the sleigh's back, "Are you a princess? Only a princess should have a dress that nice, so if you're not then you should give it back." And then, like a record skipping ahead several inches, Mako hauls herself up and leans forward, pointing excitedly while ENTIRLEY TOO FAR within Sarracenia's personal space, "Oh look! Space cowboys!" Mal and his crew get a wave, "Hiiiii~!" 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' Mal's too focused on steering the speeder, which is likely not nearly as fast as the Princess' sleigh, to notice Mako waving. At first, that is. The large, gruntish figure with the facial hair does, however, notice the odd-looking sleigh's occupant waving over in their direction. "Hey, Mal... Check this out.." he says, gesturing over at the sleigh. "Can I shoot 'em?" he asks, giving a toothy grin. "Now, now, Jayne. What sort of manner is that? Ought to be waving right back at em, you should," the captain replies, giving a wink to the darker-skinned woman seated shotgun. Jayne gives an audible sigh, and a cheesy wave back over at Mako. "There. Now can I shoot em?" Mal just rolls his eyes. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:''' Princess Sarracenia recoils just a bit when Mako gets all up in her personal space. "Um...yes. I am. I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, crowned princess of the Sundew Kingdom." she says, raising her nose just a bit and indicating herself with an open hand pressed lightly to her chest. "So, I shall keep my nice dress, thank you." she says before even looking in the indicated direction. "Space cowboys?" Sarracenia peers toward the hover vehicle. "What an amusing idea. Then, they must have laser pistols and energy shotguns and the like, correct?" she says to Mako before realizing...she doesn't even know this crazy person's name. "If you wish to travel with me, you must share your own name. I am sure it is not as grand as mine, but do not let that stop you." the prissy princess says. When Jayne waves back, Sarracenia offers her own wave, much more dignified than either Mako or Jayne. "They seem friendly enough." 

:'''{{#var:191|Mako Mankanshoku (191)}} has posed:''' "A real live princess!" Mako's excitement is palpable, "I can't wait to tell Ryuko I met a real princess right in person and everything! If only I had a phone I'd ask for a picture together!" More excited waving to Jayne and Mal and the crew on their Mule. The fact that SIR ANGRY OF ANGRYTON actually waved back just encourages her. Lowering her hand, she cups it to her mouth and shouts, "Hi! Are you space sheriffs or space outlaws?! I'm kinda lost and could use a riiiide~!" Pause. Mako glances back to Saracenia with a bewildered look, "Huh? Mako did introduce Mako." Eyes closing, she nods twice, "Mm~mm~. Mankanshoku Mako, president of the Honnouji Academy Fight Club, that's me." 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' "Think they're tryin' to say somethin', Mal..." Jayne says, lifting up one of the dangly ear-things of that wonderfully colored hat of his. Like that makes a bit of different, while moving on a rather loud, mechanical hovercraft. "WHAT?!?!" he shouts over, confusedly. The Mule continues to head in the direction of the fast-approaching settlement, eventually coming up to the outskirts of the town. It's styled in classic Western fashion, and is an odd mix of futuristic capabilities styled in antiqued manner. There's an old-styled wagon that's hovering a few feet off the ground in place of being pulled by horses. And there's a old-fashioned saloon with windows that display constantly changing graphics and advertisements. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:''' Princess Sarracenia smirks at Mako's excitement. "Well, if you would really like a picture with me, I am sure we can take care of that." she says as the plant people keep running along. After Mako shouts out to the Mule, Sarra giggles. "I doubt they can hear you from here, dear." she says. "Mankanshoku Mako?" Sarra says, to make sure she heard it correctly, then she smiles. "It is nice to meet you, Mankanshoku. Tell me, why did those students kick you then leave you in the desert? And...how did they drive a van here?" she says, looking curiously at Mako. 

:'''{{#var:191|Mako Mankanshoku (191)}} has posed:''' "Please just call me Mako," the student insists. Scrambling, she struggles the rest of the way over the back of the sleigh and then tips forward into the seat with an undignified "--Whoop!" and a hollow thunk when her head misses the seat proper and hits the floor. Kicking her feet, Mako eventually rights herself as if nothing happened, hands folded in her lap. "A picture would be great!" Mako beams, "But maybe we can get closer so the space cowboys can talk too?" Lifting a hand, she points idly towards the Mule and its occupants, "'cuz I can't hear them at all so they probably can't hear Mako either." What kind of miracle would that be. "Oh, those guys?" Mako glances over her shoulder at the distant tire tracks of the van, "I dunno how they got here, I fell asleep on the roof during lunch and woke up here. The Honnouji students, the One-stars, they rank way above Starless like me so they can punish me if I make a mistake." A shrug, "That's how it is!" 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' The Mule eventually pulls up and comes to a stop, hovering a foot or so off of the ground just to the edge of a small building of some sort. The figures begin to hop down, a few working on untying the cargo, and the others tying down the small transport craft. "Alright. Doctor, see if you can't use that nice shiny suit of yours and come off as decently reputable. You, Jayne and Zoe are going to drop the cargo off, and I'm going to get us paid for it," the captain says, patting the Mule as he hops down and dusts off his knees. "And Jayne...No grenades," he adds, as the larger of the three figures gives a disappointed sort of expression, tossing back a few metal explosives back into the Mule. Then a few more. Then a couple more after that... Mal starts to head in the direction of the saloon, presumably where he's expecting to be paid. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:''' Sarracenia seems to find this concept a bit...barbaric. "I...see." she says in an obviously disapproving tone. She pulls up beside the Mule, her piranha plant pullers skidding to a stop and causing the sleigh to buck, possibly sending Mako into the air. "Well, good luck finding a ride home. And, it was nice to meet you." she says to Mako before looking Malcolm and his crew over. She smirks lightly and gives a friendly fingerwaggle in greeting before she pulls on her reins and the piranha plants turn quickly. If Mako is not off the sleigh by this point, Sarra 'accidentally' shoves her off by rocking to the side with the turn of the sleigh. Then, they are off again, back out into the desert. 

:'''{{#var:191|Mako Mankanshoku (191)}} has posed:''' The sleigh suddenly stops! When it bucks upward, Mako's poor footing causes her to sail right off the seat and into the air, tumbling slowly. One can almost hear the serene violin music playing in the background of such a graceful flight. When Mako rolls in midair to face Sarracenia again, she raises a hand and waves, "Okay, bye, Princess!" She rolls slowly again on her downward arc until the girl suddenly slams right into one of the metal supply crates that had been loaded on the hovering cargo Mule. Head first. There's a dull thud, like an empty coconut striking a hollow log. Her motion arrested, Mako stands right there, straight upright, for a solid 3 seconds before her body tips forward. Miraculously, the schoolgirl comes out of it in a perfect seated position, hands in her lap, big smile on her face ready to greet the crew of the Serenity with a cheerful, "Hello~! My name is Mako and I'm lost. Can I get a ride back to Japan?" 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' Zoe and the others busy themselves with hauling the crates around to the rear of the building that the Mule is parked beside. When Sarracenia and her sleigh come pulling up relatively close by, the crew of Serenity get their first good look at the two other travelers. And then Sarracenia waves over in their direction, which draws Jayne's attention just a bit. The large, gruntish figure stands there, staring over with a cheesy sort of grin at the sleigh as the woman waves, and the sleigh starts to pull away. "Janye!" comes Mal's voice, calling back in the man's direction. "Less oogling, more working. Ain't payin' you to stand there and stare at skirts, and if those crates aren't to the back of this here building by the time our fancy buyer's folk are, we're not gettin' paid at all, fix?" Mal stops, then, a few meters shy of the saloon as Mako wanders on over, and asks about a ride to this planet that he's never heard of before. The ship's captain places his hands on his hips, looking over the schoolgirl briefly. "Well, hi," he replies, flashing that quick, roguish grin of his. "Can't say I'm too familiar with that planet... But if you're paying, and you've got directions, we might be able to drop you on our way..." he says. 

:'''{{#var:191|Mako Mankanshoku (191)}} has posed:''' Mako tilts her head to one side, "Oh, are you guys working?" She quickly scrabbles aside to get out of the way, "Don't mind me, I won't get in the way! In fact, maybe Mako can help!" What can this fifteen year old do when it comes to lifting heavy cargo crates, anyway? Perhaps this question can be answered by how she reaches up under her blouse and removes a suitcase, "I almost forgot this today, too!" The case is opened and, in a whirl of cloth and accessories, she's donned her Uniform. There's a twirl for dramatic effect and then she slams her sandal-clad foot down, kicking up a cloud of dust, "Fight Club President, Mako Mankanshoku!" FIGHT CLUB PRESIDENT MAKO MANKANSHOKU Once the posing is done, she pushes her newly donned hat up a bit to show more of her face, "Like this I can carry anything, mind if I help out?" 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' "Just making a delivery or two. Some medical supplies from a station out near the Deep Void," replies the spaceman, standing where he's at. "And I reckon we've got it handled mostly, at this point," he replies, flashing a quick sort of smile. "Appreciate the offer, though. I'll take that as a kindness." He arches a brow, watching as the young schoolgirl rather abruptly and spectacularly changes into her uniform. "Well....That's different," he remarks, lifting a shoulder. "Preferrin' to keep the job just to me and mine," he says. "Nothin' personal. Just my way of doing things," he explains. Of course, that probably has -nothing- to do with the perfectly legitimate and upstanding nature of the business deal that's going on. Naturally. "But if you're needin' passage, that might be a bit easier to accomodate, see. Got ourselves a few passenger quarters back on Serenity. Can get you where you're going, assumin' it's not too far from where we're headed. Least, could get you to a warpgate. There's one just by the system we're headed back to, see." 

:'''{{#var:191|Mako Mankanshoku (191)}} has posed:''' Yeah. That happened. But even with the dramatic shift into her Goku Uniform, Mako's still Mako. She just wanted to help out, and what better way to help move heavy things than to put on the ability to move heavy things? As they say, the clothes make the woman! Which in Honnouji Academy is a bit more literal than usual. "Oh, ok," Mako lowers her hands to her sides, arms sort of disappearing into her coat while she just kind of stands there, looking from side to side as the cargo is offloaded and handed to the buyers, "So you're not actually cowboys? I guess you must be the mailman. That's great, I bet being a mailman pays a lot better than being a cowboy!" Holding up a finger, she looks skyward, "And you probably get shot at less!" Man, she has no idea how stuff works on the Rim, huh. "Oh but yes!" Hand dropping, she leans forward, "The warp gate would be great! I memorized the address for Honnou Town, I can get home that way super easy." No. She didn't memorize it. There's a string of coordinates on the bottom of the bill of her hat, though. All she has to do is look up to see them. Which she just did. 

:'''{{#var:273|Malcolm Reynolds (273)}} has posed:''' "Something like that," Mal replies, something about Mako's description of his career path making the ship's captain give a bit of a chuckle, clearly finding this amusing. With his luck, Mal would probably end up getting shot from someone hiding in a mailbox, though. "We're headed back towards the station on the edge of Astroidia, here," says the captain, pointing up into the sky in the direction of a faintly visible collection of stars that show up like a trio of small suns in the blue sky above. "'Bout a two-days ride out that-a-ways," he says, lowering his hand. "We're fixin' to be headin' out in an hour or two, here, so if unless you've got baggage with ya, we'll load you up on the Mule with the rest of the goods, and head out on time." 

:'''{{#var:191|Mako Mankanshoku (191)}} has posed:''' "Two days?!" Mako suddenly flails, "But then I'll be late! I'm sorry but maybe I should just run home instead!" Swiftly, the girl bows once and then a second time, "But if you do need help and I'm not about to get expelled then I'll totes help you move stuff or fight stuff or whatever, my name is Mako and I'm from Honnou Town!" With no futher ado, the girl's feet dig into the sand beneath her and then she dashes off with explosive force. There's a literal small crater where she was standing--and more pounded into the sand with each step. How fast is that girl GOING? And yet somehow while she runs, she turns and waves an arm, "Good luck, mister postman! Have a good time with your deliveriiiies! I have to run home now!" 
}}

4375/Power-up Training

2018-11-19T05:41:17Z

TwilightSparkle:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/03/14
|Location=The Sundew Kingdom
|Synopsis=Traveling to Sarracenia's Sundew Kingdom, Ferham meets Sarracenia herself and gets a crash course in power ups!
|Cast of Characters=516, 446
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      Soaring overhead, Ferham had spied the sundew kingdom and let herself descend from high above. She had just finished some operations nearby and she knew one of the confederate operatives still active reigned here--well, it didn't exactly hurt to come say hello, now did it? She understood that she might be mistaken for an intruder or worse, but she wasn't going to let that stop her. Landing in the lakebound city, the femmebot's high heeled boots click-clacked as she approached the palace, smirking a little at some of the weird looks she'd no doubt get. It wasn't every day some of these people saw a robot with gams like these of course. If need be, she'd stop and declare she was on official confederate business, and ask to be taken to their 'leader', so to speak. Whom Ferham understood was a matriarch. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Really it wasn't often (or ever) that these people saw a robot. And Ferham likely doesn't see people like these very often. The humans are normal enough, though a bit short and many wearing large flowers on their heads. But that is only half the population. The other half are short plant creatures with roots for feet and a single large leaf for each arm. Their heads are somewhat bulb-like, but the big round oversized bulbs are full of piranha-like teeth. The plant creatures wear almost nothing except what might be required for their professions. And just about every citizen Ferham passes stares a moment at the shiny, well-built robot woman.      When she approaches the castle, armored plant creatures approach with spears raised. When told she is here on official Confederacy business, then escort Ferham inside. The castle is rather extravagant, and the front doors are large enough to fit a dragon through. Once inside, Ferham is asked to wait in the foyer while the guards fetch their leader.      Ferham might have been expecting the princess, but the people who approach look in their late 40s. One is clearly the king, the other the queen, and both are dressed in luxurious green fabrics with red and orange accents, reminding one of the plants around the castle. "Greetings. I am King Bark Sundew, and this is Queen Pansy Sundew. How can we help you?" the king says. He is the classic king archetype. Large crown, long staff-like sceptre, and a thick cloak. The queen is dressed similarly, and smiles gently to Ferham. "Are you afriend of our daughter?" 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      Ferham is mindful of the piranha plants, or Pakkun flowers, as they're affectionately called by the Japanese. She would keep her hands to herself mostly, except if one allowed her to scratch one under it's chin--Ferham could work her charms on humanoids as well as other creatures at times, she found. She's polite to the armored guards out front too, waiting patiently and offering each of them a smile as she's escorted inside.      Standing in the foyer, she's content to wait, a hand on her hip as she admires the interior of the castle. When hse is approached by the king and queen, Ferham is quick to give a courtly kneel before the two of them, waiting till she's allowed to stand.      "That's correct, I'm here to see Princess Sarracenia, is she available?" she hadn't expected this opportunistic visit to turn into a formal affair, but she's able to keep her wits and politeness about her, and she also probably has a morbid curiosity about how she relates to Peach, if any. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The king seems a bit put off by that, but the queen just gives him a pat on the shoulder. "We will send for her. If you will excuse us, there are duties to which we must attend." The king and queen walk back into the castle interior after that, though the king can be heard mumbling something about 'if she asked for the leaders, why does she wish to see Sarra?' The queen just giggles softly.      A few minutes later, the princess appears. She carries herself even taller and more regally than her parents do. That long red dress keeps her well covered and modest, with just a flutter near the bottom and a slight glimpse of pointed red shoes as she walks, while the heels create a tell-tale clacking with each step. "Yes? What business does the Confederacy have here today?" she says as she approaches and gives a polite curtsey to Ferham. 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      "My apologies if I offended, I merely wished to show respect," Ferham rose from her kneel and looked a little confused as the king seemed put off by her kneel, shrugging a little. "Of course," she bowed her head at the very least, looking up after they were gone.      "Hello--I was curious if you'd heard tell of King Bowser, who apparently re-emerged, or at least there is news of such--would they or the name Princess Peach mean anything to you?" Ferham is posing this messenger act into a bit of an investigation of her own, it seems. She'd curtsey back to Sarra, of course, smiling in the process. She was surprised--if she'd seen Sarra from far off she'd have been sure that /was/ Peach, though the hair was a little different. Peach also didn't wear red, especially not red heels like that. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The king seemed to approve of the kneel, it was actually the declaration that his daughter was the subject of the visit that got him. Ferham may not realize it, but the princess does not rule this kingdom, unlike Peach and her kingdom.      Sarracenia's cordial smile fades quickly at the mention of Bowser and Peach, then her arms cross over her chest and she hmphs softly before turning her head up and to the side. "King Bowser is always appearing and disappearing, planning his next attack on the Mushroom Kingdom or carrying out those plans. And as for Princess Peach, of course I know that name. She is the bane of my existence!"      Sarracenia's prim and proper poise soon dissolves as her anger and frustration come through. "It is all her fault that my own kingdom does not approve of me! The people care not for me or what I do for this kingdom! All they say is Princess Peach is so nice. Why can't our princess be like that?" Her voice turns mocking and overly sweet at that last part, then she huffs again. "I am perfectly nice! I am simply not a goody-goody pushover like that Princess Peach! And Bowser is no better! He has not once tried to kidnap me, despite this kingdom being here just as long as the Mushroom Kingdom! What is his problem? I am just as beautiful and desirable as that little blonde bimbo!" 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      "Indeed, I only heard some small mention of him the last week, supposedly he'd resurfaced again," Ferham is quick to keep up on those who might be looking to kidnap her acquaintances. "Oh, well then, wouldn't you be glad to hear her nemesis has returned?--But where are my manners--I'm Ferham--" she however pauses as Sarra has her little... well, tiff there. She stays silent until she's done.      "I can see by your gloves and your demeanor you are not as... soft, or gentle as she seems to be," she raises a brow when she mentions Bowser not even bothering to kidnap her, however.      "Is that something you would prefer?" Ferham isn't about to judge of course, she's seen stranger desires and stranger things in her time. "I mean if you were looking for someone to kidnap you, well..." she shrugs a little, muttering. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia blinks at Ferham's questions. "What? N-no, of course I do not /want/ to be kidnapped! That would be crazy!" she says, though her slight blush and hesitance to meet Ferham's gaze suggest otherwise. "It is simply that he has never even tried! It is insulting! As if I am not as good as Peach!" Yep, she obviously has some issues.      She peers a moment as Ferham mutters, then coughs softly. "Of course, being kidnapped does have its advantages. Such as heroic plumbers who come to one's rescue. Or, in this Multiverse, I have discovered that heroes come in many shapes and sizes and types, and are not always men." She says this as if it is a slight hint.      The princess folds her arms again after that. "Did you come here merely to gain intelligence on the other kingdoms? If so, I can offer a fair amount of information." she says, a slight smile returning to her face before she brushes some stray strands of her reddish-blonde hair out of her face. 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      Ferham just smiles as Sarra begins to blush and has to look away like that, nodding her head a little. "I can understand, actually--it's not like he'd go after a woman such as me, either--I'm not even a princess--I'm not even human, for that matter, I'm a Reploid," she shrugs a little again, not seeming to mind it.      "Well if it is something I can perhaps help arrange, I wouldn't mind, would you happen to have information on Peach and her dealings with Bowser then?" Ferham gestures as if it might be wise to talk about this in private.      "Mmm... partly, I was also curious curious if you were as beautiful as Princess Peach, for one, and if there was anything in the kingdom I could assist with, it never hurts to have contacts within our organization, after all," she bows her head again with a smile.      "Lovely shoes, by the way," she seems to mean it. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia nods lightly, then motions for Ferham to follow her. "Well, as mentioned, I have had only one dealing with Bowser, and only a few more with Peach." she says, then smirks lightly and gives her hair a swish at Ferham's mention of comparing her and Peach. "So? Who is the more lovely princess?" she asks, standing up a bit taller and trying to give the best display she can. And at the compliment to her shoes she smiles happily. "Thank you. I had them custom ordered."      She leads Ferham into a small meeting room, then motions to one of the chairs around the large, long table. It is a table carved out of one long piece of wood and intricately inlaid with gold and iridescent stones all lacquered and polised to a mirror shine. Sarracenia takes a seat at the head of the table. 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      Ferham follows along, nodding with a smile. "I like them," Ferham's own boots have a heel to them, but of course as they're part of her armor they're hardly meant for a black-tie or evening wear affair. She's quick to sit herself down as she's shown to the chairs, carefully angling herself down into it with her wings out of the way.      "Thank you, I also adore your gloves, they're much more... commanding and assured than other princesses I've seen," her green eyes pause on them for a moment, before leaning back in the chair. "Elegant castle interior, as well--so, yes, I am somewhat here to not only meet your lovely self, but also see if you've had any past experiences with King Koopa... ergo Bowser." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia starts blushing softly again as Ferham's compliments for her continue to flow. She looks her gloves over and giggles a bit. "Well, I did not want to appear weak like Princess Peach. Those soft white gloves of hers...it is no wonder she cannot look out for herself." she says a bit arrogantly.      The comment about meeting her lovely self brings back the soft blush and Princess Sarracenia gives her hair a swish with a hand to help calm herself and maintain her air of superiority. "I had only one experience with King Bowser. He and I faced each other in that combat training area within the Citadel. He ended up besting me with my own weapon. But, as princess of this kingdom, it is my responsibility to know about other kingdoms. Is there something specific you wish to know?" 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      "This is true, she does dress rather impractically," Ferham nods, apparently she's seen her before. She listens as Sarracenia recounts her previous encounters with the King of Koopas, her legs crossing and leaning forward with her palms folded over her knee, listening.      "He is said to be very powerful, this is why I wanted to investigate him, even if he does work for the same organization as us," she nods. "He is very strong, and he possesses magical powers, things I don't do very well against, so do his followers," she seems serious about that, as well.      "Well, does he have any weaknesses? aside from damseling Princesses, that is," she seems to think of that at first. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia considers that a moment. "Weaknesses...the only true weakness of his of which I am aware is his tail. He is a bit slow due to his size and weight, and supposedly if you grab his tail it throws him off balance and even a small plumber can swing him around and send him flying through the air. He breathes fire, but is surprisingly not really resistant to it. I think if one were to fight him the best tactic is to use his own force against him. Get him to attack and then move and counter-attack."      Sarra shakes her head after that. "But, he is quite strong, and his use of magic is something that I do not share. But, I do have ways to counter those powers. My kingdom is a primary manufacturer of single-use powerups. They grant temporary use of such things as fire and ice bolts, as well as flight abilities. But..." Sarra looks Ferham over. "...I doubt you would have much need for those things." she adds, smirking lightly. "However, I do have some utility items that you might find interesting. I personally favor the suit-type powerups. Tanuki, frog, hammer sibling...there are a few others, but those three are the most useful in my opinion. And they are quite cute when worn." 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      Ferham looked surprised when Sarra mentioned Bowser's tail, that was pertinant information, at least--and it made sense, many creatures with tails tended to try and protect them, since they lacked natural armor, especially like the kind Bowser possessed.      "So, his tail and fire, hmm..." Fer makes note of that, before looking back up at Sarracenia. "Probably not of the ice-granting things, but the others are interesting," she nodded with a grin in return to Sarra. Oh yes, she liked this princess.      "You do? Hmm... would you perhaps show me how they work? How to use them?" she asked, leaning forward and seeming to be looking to Sarra to help. Magical artifacts were likely not her strong suit, it seemed. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia grins almost impishly at that. "Of course. In fact, I have a room dedicated to their use and for practicing while using them." she says, then stands and motions to Ferham. "Please, come with me." Sarracenia then guides Ferham out of the meeting room and upstairs. It is quite a staircase, just as intricate and extravagant as the rest of the castle.      Sarra leads Ferham down a long hallway and to a certain door. When she opens it...it is a training room! A large training room made of thick black and white granite blocks that promise to withstand lots of abuse. Wooden test dummies holding mockups of swords and shields with targets on their chests and one for a head line the far wall. Next to the door is a large red and gold treasure chest locked with a heavy steel lock. Sarra closes the door once Ferham is inside, then moves to the chest. She reaches into her purse and pulls out a golden key, then unlocks the chest before grinning to Ferham. "Alright, which powerup would you like first? I suggest the hammer-sibling suit. You will understand once you put it on."      Sarracenia then throws Ferham...a doll? Yes, a small yellow doll wearing a thick black helmet and a thick black armored shell. "Just give it a hug~" Sarracenia giggles before she pulls out one for herself and demonstrates. She hugs the doll, and it explodes in smoke and magical sparkles. When the smoke clears a moment later, Sarracenia's dress is gone. In it's place is the black helmet, black shell, and a black bodysuit. And in her hand is a small but dangerous-looking maul. The head is as thick as a fist, and looks very heavy, with a thick steel grip. "And then...you practice throwing!"      Sarra throws her hammer with deadly accuracy, smashing the head off of one of the dummies. The hammer she threw disappears after impact and reappears in her hand with the same smoke puff of the suit transformation. 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      "I'd be delighted," Ferham would hold out a gloved hand for the regal girl, and if she took it, would walk hand in hand with her while letting Sarra lead the way, smiling. Her green eyes did wonder about the halls as they walked, the girl's heels clattering as they went, no doubt. She is rather surprised and taken in by the elaborate training area, so much so she jumps a bit when Sarra closes the door behind her, before regaining her composure.      "Oh, yes, of course... Hammer Sibling? I assume that's gender-neutral for Hammer 'Brother'?" she'd heard of them, apparently--they were specialized turtle troopers of Bowser's. "Just hug it?" Ferham had to react quickly to catch the 'doll' item that was thrown over to her, looking surprised when she managed to catch it in her arms loosely despite having not intended to use it just yet--it appeared she was going to try it on anyway!      BAMF      As the smoke cleared, Ferham was standing there--now out of her armor, but in something quite a bit bulky--she had the padded Hammer Bros helmet, and accompanying shell on her back, however her outfit had changed to a set of long red gloves, boots, along with a red harnessed bra and thong combo.      "What the--eek!" Ferham's reaction to the new outfit was priceless, course, but she did relent as she found herself able to move quite a bit quicker now. She practiced throwing a few hammers, having to get the hang of it as the first couple went high, but soon enough, she was getting the hang of it. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is visibly surprised with how Ferham ends up dressed. Sarra's suit is tight, but it covers nearly every inch of her skin! Ferham's outfit is at the least provocative, and Sarracenia blushes a bit before giggling. "Oh dear. It seems the powerup does customize a bit to its user." she says as she looks Ferham over. "I must say I am surprised. I was under the impression you were a Reploid, and that your armor was integrated." she says, then smiles. "So, give it a try? The dummies are automatically replaced once they are destroyed."      And, as if on que, the dummy that Sarracenia smashed is pulled back through a slot in the wall, and another is pushed forward. 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      "You're not so bad yourself there, Princess Sarracenia," Ferham huffed a little, before looking over at Sarra with a smile, despite having blushed a bit herself. "My armor is stored at the moment, I reason I can summon it back when this state ends, or is dispelled," she shakes her head. "It's not built into me, it's however fitted for my shape and systems, it won't work for anyone else," she practices lobbing a few of those hammers--hey, throwing hammers was no joke--if you've ever had one thrown at you.      She practices sending a few more at the new replaced dummy--the hail of wood and steel hammers clobbering the fresh one and impacting it in several places, crashing into it!      "Huh... I can see why you like this one, it's surprisingly satisfying," she put her hands on her hips, perhaps forgetting the outfit was baring a lot of midriff, before looking down and realizing this, before peering over at Sarra. Awkward~ 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia doesn't seem to mind. In fact, when Ferham looks over at her she gives a little wink. "Yes. These items magically store your other equipment and things until the suit is destroyed. Then it magically returns them to you unharmed. These powerups are only good until you take a damaging hit. One good smack and it disappears. So, they are good in a pinch, but one should not rely solely on them." she explains before she joins Ferham in some hammer sister fun.      Sarracenia must agree with Ferham on the satisfying comment, because she has a slightly sadistic grin as she smashes those dummies with thrown hammers. She even laughs out loud every now and then as a head goes flying or a dummy is smashed in half by a particularly vicious hammer hit. "It is very satisfying! I use this range to relieve my stress quite often!" 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      Ferham listens silently as Sarra explains this, before moving aside and letting Sarra join her throwing hammers. She doesn't seem to mind being 'Hammer Sisters' with the Princess, at least! She seems even surprised at the glee the princess goes through with this display of violence.      "Oohh, I like you, Princess Sarracenia," Ferham all but purrs, noting the wanton glee and capability she has in defending herself. It's surprising and quite a bit different from the other princess types she's seen.      "Stress relief is a go, I like this," she nodded, finally having taken out a few more of the training dummys, popping a few of her joints as she takes a moment to relax. "So you do this all the time? It's a lot of fun," she nods with a smile. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia smashes one last dummy, then giggles and grins at Ferham's comments. "Of course it is. I wouldn't do anything for relaxation that wasn't fun." she says, standing with one hand on her hip and her weight shifted to that side while she tosses a hammer casually up and down. "The frog suit lets you swim quickly underwater and hold your breath for a very long time. The tanuki suit offers the power of flight, as well as cold-weather endurance and the ability to transform into an indestructible statue. And they are both quite cute, if you ask me. But, the hammer sibling suit is the best for combat. The helmet and back shell are near impervious. However, I do have a few other items that rather than giving you a new outfit just alter the color pattern on your current outfit."      Sarracenia moves back to the chest and leans forward, then pulls out a cute little flower with eyes. It glows with fiery power. "Unfortunately you can't use a suit and another power item at the same time. Except a Power Star, but those can't be manufactured or really even gathered." 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      "Tanuki, I've heard that name before--mythical Japanese animal?" Ferham nodded a little, a hand raised to her chin as she took in that information. Now that she'd learned how to use the magical items she could utilize them whenever she needed to, which was handy. "Cold-weather endurance? I might save that for you--or my other human friends, they could be saved by that in a pinch--I myself am resistant to cold temperatures," she stood aside as Sarra bent down into the box, watching with interest as she came up with the fire flower.      "So if I were to use that one now it would simply... overwrite this one? important to know," she nodded, then blinked. "I'll keep that in mind," she nodded, smiling down at Sarra. She seemed to be having a great time. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks at that first question. "Is it? I really don't know why it is called that. It looks like a raccoon to me." she says, then pulls one out so Ferham can see it. It's another little doll, except this one has a black face with cute shiny black eyes surrounded by the fur and body of a raccoon plush. Sarracenia sets it on a small table by the chest. Then Sarra pulls out a little frog of similar design and sets it down beside the tanuki.      Sarracenia then turns back to Ferham and smiles. "I like the fireflower almost as the hammer sibling." she says, then gives the flower a hug. In another puff of smoke and sparkles her dress returns, but the coloration is different. Where is was all bright red, it is now a darker fire red with white accents and flame yellow gloves. Then, she gives a graceful twirl before flicking a finger at one of the dummies. And with a quick sound , a fireball about the size of a softball goes bouncing along the floor before hitting the dummy.      And exploding like a mini-firebomb. The dummy is both blown apart and caught on fire, and Sarracenia is again grinning. "Perhaps even better than the hammers." 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      "I must say, as much as the form-fitting Hammer Sis outfit is nice on you, that dress looks even better with the flame pattern," Ferham points out as Sarra transforms (mostly) back, though she jumps back as she notices the fireball being flicked. Likely Fer is mindful of the amount of skin the hammer outfit leaves open, embers on that wouldn't be pleasant.      "On second thought..." Ferham took up the almost beanie baby-sized raccoon suit plush and drew it closer--soon finding herself in a full body Tanuki Suit! Think 'Batman the animated series' Catwoman esque sort of full-body thing, only brown and raccoon-themed. Along with a big long bushy tail!      "There, now how do you--" she practiced turning to stone with it a few times--her entirety turning slate gray, and remaining that way. Whoops, did she not know how to change back?? 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blinks in surprise as Ferham picks up that tanuki plush, then giggles as Ferham transforms into a statue. She isn't sure if Ferham knows how to change back or not, but the suit usually imparts such knowledge. Still, Sarracenia can't help but smirk lightly. She idly wonders if Ferham is teasing her, given the Reploid's conduct so far. "Oh dear. I hope you can change back. Otherwise, I may have to put you in the royal courtyard as the centerpiece of a fountain." she says before...she flicks a fireball at Ferham. Likely just to give the reploid a better idea of the statue's advantages. It may be immobile, but it is quite heavy and the explosive fireball hits Ferham-statue and just explodes harmlessly.      Sarracenia giggles, then smiles. "It is gratifying to know that my Confederate allies like my kingdom's items so much. Once they have used them. I have had quite a lot of trouble exporting any to the Multiverse. But then, with so many powerful items already out there, these items must seem more like trinkets than useful items." she says. She apparently thinks Ferham can hear her despite being a statue. 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      As the fireball hits her square on, it is dispersed--and Ferham changes back from being a statue--becoming normal again, but also looking a bit surprised by that.      "Ahh! That was... something else," apparently she was confused at what happened. "I thought I understood how it worked, but... I guess I almost wound up a very attractive lawn ornament," she reached over and patted Sarra on the shoulder, apparently thankful she was there to help her.      "Well, I can somewhat understand, they do seem to require some training to use, and I suppose some people might be looking for weapons or armor that doesn't fade away getting struck once," she apologetically nods, but brightens a little. "On the plus side, I do have to thank you for showing me how to use these," she gives the princess a respectful bow of her head and upper body. "I had a lot of fun tonight, too," she looks back up at the woman with a smile. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia giggles as Ferham changes back in response to the fireball hit, then again at the comment. "Nonsense. If you had been stuck as a statue, I would have made you the focus of a beautiful fountain in order to honor your own beauty." she says with a teasing smile. She then nods at the comment about the items. "True. Perhaps they are only really useful here on this world, where it is much easier to avoid being hit, partially due to the creatures on encounters being quite incompetent."      Sarra smiles happily as Ferham says she had a good time. "I am glad! I have so few friend who are interested in my items and my kingdom." she says, then sighs. "...or even interested in me." 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      "You would...? I mean--uh, at least until I figured out how to use it to turn back, I suspect," she eyes Sarra a bit, before letting it go. For the moment. "Well, I wouldn't say that--being able to swim that well or fly could be a useful life-saving tool, as well as the resistance to the cold," Fer plucked at the fur covering of the tanuki suit, before blinking and slipping over to slip her arms around Sarracenia herself.      "Relax--whenever you're feeling low just give me a hail over the radio and I can come by, okay?" she gave the girl a snug hug before leaning back, though not fully releasing her yet.      "If you're okay with that anyway, I realize being a Princess comes with a lot of respect due to you," she winks. She rocked herself back and forth a bit on the heels that were integrated into the tanuki suit for her, likely sporty thick 3" ones. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia seems rather surprised when she is suddenly hugged. She goes stiff a moment, but slowly relaxes. She doesn't hug back, but doesn't push Ferham off either. "I suppose I could. If I have the time." she says to the radio comment, then smiles just a bit as Ferham pulls back. "I just wish my subjects felt the same way. They are respectful, but I would not say that they think I deserve respect." she says.      She runs her hands along Ferham's arms after that and giggles. "Tanuki looks so cute on you. Perhaps I should commission a non-magical suit for you." 

:'''{{#var:516|Ferham (516)}} has posed:'''      "Perhaps we need to work on your public image a little more, is all," Ferham says with a helpful tone, blinking a little with her brows raised, before she grins. "I'll wear what the Princess deems appropriate then, I suppose, while I'm in her kingdom," she doesn't seem to mind the idea of Sarra getting outfits for her made. "It's the least I could do, anyway," Ferham didn't seem to mind her arms being petted like that either. Tha tail of her tanuki outfit curls around the both of them.      "For now though, I should probably get back... as much fun as spending time here with you is," she pats Sarra on the shoulder. As Fer begins to untangle herself from Sarracenia though, her entire body begins to have that familiar slate-gray creeping across it again.      SHINK.      Ferham is again a statue. Well, on second thought, perhaps she ought to spend the night! 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia giggles a bit as that tail curls around, then smiles softly as Ferham pulls away. "Okay. Have a good ni-..." Her words trail off as Ferham turns into a statue again. Sarracenia rolls her eyes and giggles. "I am not building you that fountain tonight!" she says teasingly. She gives Ferham a pat on the head, then giggles again. "But, you are welcome to stay the night. Although, you might feel a bit stiff if you stay a statue all night."      Then, Sarracenia heads for the door after packing away her powerups and locking the chest again. "See you in the morning~" she sing-songs to Ferham before stepping out. 
}}

5001/Harmony Star

2018-11-19T05:29:21Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2015/05/08 |Location=Lloyd's home |Synopsis=Sarracenia comes to visit Lloyd at his home, where he provides her with two gifts, and they share anoth..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/05/08
|Location=Lloyd's home
|Synopsis=Sarracenia comes to visit Lloyd at his home, where he provides her with two gifts, and they share another.
|Cast of Characters=373, 446
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd was well-rested today, or at least as well rested as he could be. He didn't have dark circles under his eyes, and he wasn't hunched over at any rate. Dressed in a black t-shirt and his signature black pants and red boots, he stands outside his large forge and seems to be waiting for someone.     Because he was.     He had sent an invitation to Sarracenia to come and visit him at his home. He had been to the Sundew Kingdom before, and wished to offer the same courtesy to the Kingdom's princess. And so he had cleaned himself up, dressed in clean clothes, though he noted in the letter that it would be a casual affair, and has a rather large box next to him as he waits. The box is massive and wrapped in a festive paper, but on top of it is a significantly smalled box, seeming a little less overwhelming. He watches both the sky and the forest in front of him, unsure of how Sarracenia was planning on arriving. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Casual! The princess loves casual affairs, but the princess doesn't know how to dress casual. However, she does dress in something she wouldn't usually wear out. Just a bit of self-indulgence. she is wearing a beautiful blue dress that looks like it came from some anime. If Lloyd is familiar with such things, he may recognize the design as modelled after the clothes of the Dark Magician Girl from the Yu-Gi-Oh card game.      The princess arrives in her personal wooden helicopter, the Dyna. Landing a short distance from Lloyd's home, she emerges with the practiced elegance of a proper princess, the slowing blades of her helicopter causing her long hair and the dress's ruffles to flutter about. She smiles happily upon seeing Lloyd and makes her way toward him quickly. "Mr. Irving! It is wonderful to see you again!" she says once she is close enough and the noise of the helicopter has settled down. She gives her hair a flick with her hand as she stops in front of Lloyd, then holds her hands behind her back politely. "How are you?" 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd blinks as he hears something up above. He visors his eyes as he looks up, spotting the familiar design of one of Sarracenia's nation's ships. As the Dyna lands in the clearing, Lloyd smiles softly, waiting for the ship to shut down before making a move. However, before he can, Sarracenia jumps down from the ship in her... Well, that was different than her normal style.     Lloyd smiles a bit more widely, trying to keep a flush out of his cheeks. "Please, Princess, it's just Lloyd. Especially now that I don't have a military title anymore, ya know?" He scratches the back of his head nervously, chuckling. "Yeah, it's been way too long. I've been trying to get everything back on track after the Multiverse... well, reorganized itself like it did. I've been meaning to check and see if you were okay after that, but it seems you're just fine. I'm relieved to see you safe, and glad you accepted my invitation!"     He gestures to the boxes at his side, taking the smalled one and setting it aside. "I thought about sending these to you via dragon, but I thought I'd rather give them to you myself. Besides... I wanted to see you again. How is your kingdom?" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blushes a bit herself as she notices Lloyd's smile and the color in his cheeks. "Alright. Lloyd." she says, then blinks. "Oh, you haven't joined one of the new organizations? From what I have heard, your strength of character would be most welcome in the Paladins." she says, giving a little smirk and a light wink. The mention of the Multiversal shuffle draws a slight frown from the princess. "Yes...it was rather confusing at first. But luckily much of the warp gate system is still operational. It was not difficult to update our maps thanks to our navy. Although we did lose a few ships to the usual mishaps of exploration. But..." She smiles brightly here. "With the Confederacy and Union gone, the Sundew Kingdom is free to conduct our arms sales without having to worry much about accidentally drawing the ire of some super organization."      The boxes draw Sarracenia's curiousity when they are pointed out. "I think you made the right choice. Receiving gifts in person is always preferable to mailed gifts." she says, then giggles excitedly. "When do I get to open them? Oh, and I have to ask..." She twirls in place, the skirt of this dress much shorter than what she usually wears, reaching only to just above her knees rather than the long skirts she usually wears. It flares up nicely when she twirls, showing a bit more leg than she ever does. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd lowers his smile a bit, then nods. "I did join the Paladins, but just as a member. I'm not a high-ranking official like I'd grown accustomed to, is all. It's... kind of nice not having that heaviness on my shoulders, you know?" He listens, nodding a bit. He had to re-explore certain regions as well, but he didn't think to mention that. "Shame you lost ships, but I'm glad things didn't turn out worse. I was in Njorun when it was ripped apart, so I was... worried, ya know?" He smiles a bit more broadly, nodding vigorously. "That's good! It's been kind of liberating not being in a war anymore, and now we don't have to be on opposite sides! Have you wound up with one of the new groups coming around?" He hadn't heard, but he was certainly curious.     "They're yours, so whenever you want!" he says, "But you have to open the big one first. That's the only stipulation." He blinks as Sarracenia twirls, cheeks flushing brighter this time as he can't help it. "You look... beautiful," he says, offering a warm look and smile. "As always." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia giggles happily as Lloyd gives her the compliment she was fishing for, then smiles and nods. "Alright. Out here, or inside?" she asks, giving the big box a little poke to see if she can get some kind of indication what it is. "You were there when Njorun was torn asunder? I hardly ever went to the Citadel, so I have no real idea how it went, but...I have heard stories that it was rather horrific. It is amazing that both things were destroyed in the same event. It makes me wonder if some secret higher power was tired of all the fighting."      She then smiles again and heads toward the house. "I think inside is better. Would you be a dear and bring the gifts?" she says as she heads for the door. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd blinks, then chuckles himself. "We can go inside if you want," he says, "Either way is fine with me!" He frowns again, nodding slowly. "Yeah, it was terrible. It was ripped apart by some sort of strange time-space anomoly, and the spirit guarding Njorun saved us at the cost of its own existence. It was... hard, but good has come from it. I can not forget Njorun or the Union, even if some of us might end up enemies in the future, but it freed a lot of people from a war that had lost meaning." He shrugs. He hadn't thought about what or why the factions had been destroyed, instead trying to focus on the good that could come from it. "I don't know, maybe something beyond us did want the fighting to end. It's as good a theory as any."     Lloyd smirks, then nods and goes to pick up the packages. "Sure thing, Princess," he says teasingly, following her quickly. The package seemed heavy, if Sarracenia were to look back at him but not overly so. "You'll have to get the door, though!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia scoffs. "Me? Open the door for someone?" she says sarcastically, then giggles before opening it and holding it open for Lloyd. "So, are you cooking, or shall we order in?" she asks as Lloyd carries the boxes in. "As for me, I have not joined any of the organizations so far. I made a mistake in joining the Confederacy. I do not want to rush into another such relationship. For now, the freedom of having no obligations except those of my kingdom is best." she says.      Once inside, Sarracenia looks around for a good place to seat herself. "Besides, what organization would want a crazy princess like myself? No hero has so far, why would a group?" 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd frowns, then smirks and walks into the house. The single room on the bottom floor served as both kitchen and living room, with a couch and chairs set all about for guests. He moves over to the table in front of the couch and sets the gifts down there, then smiles and shrugs. "I could cook you something. What would you like? Something local, or did you have something specific you'd prefer?" He bustles over to the cabinets, pulling ingredients down in an almost random fashion. "I suppose that makes sense," he says, "It's an important decision. It was easy enough for me to make, but still vital. I can understand your position."     He starts heating up a rather crude-looking oven, pulling out cookware as well. At her last two comments, he shakes his head slowly. "You're not a crazy princess. And... well..." He blushes slightly. "I don't think your last statement is correct." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blushes a bit herself at the counter to her statement and smiles warmly to Lloyd. "I would love one of your local meals." she says, smiling brightly. She takes a seat on the couch, then reaches for the large box. She picks it up fairly easily, even if it is a bit heavy, then gives it a light shake and giggles. "I can hardly wait!" she says, then quickly unwraps it. Impatient as always, and with child-like fervor, the gift is soon devoid of wrapping and beneath the princess's excited gaze. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Inside the large box is something that Lloyd clearly has put a lot of work into. A hammer, smaller in scale than her DK Hammer, but nonetheless still rather large. The double head of the mallet is red and seems to pulse with fiery energy, while the extended hilt of the weapon is cast in White Silver. Etched into both flats of the head is his insignia, a stylized angel wing embossed in gold. The grip of the weapon is wrapped in leather that seems rather cool to the touch, but not unpleasantly so. The quality is on par with Lloyd's Material Blades, clearly a masterwork weapon.     "Ifrit's Guard," he says softly, smiling as she opens the gift. "I kind of have a one-track mind when it comes to gifts, but I want my friends to be protected, you know? The other gift... it's smaller, but it might be more fitting. I hope you like them both, regardless!" He starts combining items, a dull flush in his cheeks and neck. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      When Sarracenia sees what is in the box, her eyes widen. "Oh Lloyd...it is lovely!" she says, picking up the hammer in both hands and stands up, giving it a few test swings. "It seems warm. Is it enchanted? Does it engulf things in flames if I hit them?" She raises the hammer, about to bring it down on the couch...      And then she remembers there is another gift! She quickly sets the hammer back in its box before picking up the other box and sitting down again. She unwraps it quickly and with the same excitement as the first. "Heeheehee! Love getting gifts!" she squeals as she unwraps. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     "It does in fact possess a portion of Ifrit's fire. It is quite a potent flame, so I would advise caution," Lloyd says, turning away and not seeing Sarracenia swing toward the couch. He hums quietly to himself, busying himself with cooking. The smell of spices and cooking meat begins to fill the air as Sarracenia unwraps his other gift to her.     What sits in the smalled box is a large locket on a golden chain. Set into the front face is a meticulously cut gem, formed into an eight-pointed star. Each arm of the star is formed from a different gem, one for each Summon Spirit in Lloyd's world, and they seem to glitter and change color depending on where the light hits it. If she were to open the locket, she would see that it held two places to hold pictures, though both of the slots were empty. "I call that one the Harmony Star," he says, "It took me ages to fuse the gems together in such a way, but... I thought it would look really pretty around your neck, so I worked until I got it right. And I figured that, once you found the one who makes you feel complete, you could put your pictures inside it." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia goes still as she sees what is in the second box, and her eyes tear up as she pulls it out and looks at it. "...Lloyd, I..." She looks at the locket, and then at the gem set into it. "...and..you made this as well?" she asks. She swallows some tears, then giggles a bit before standing up. "You...you have to put it on me." she says, then makes her way into the kitchen and holds the locket out to Lloyd. "Please." she says, a small, vulnerable, warm smile on her face beneath her slightly watery eyes. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     The swordsman sets his cooking aside, pulling it off the stove so it didn't burn as he turns back toward Sarracenia. At the look in her eyes, he seems a bit distraught, then smiles softly as she does the same. "Oh, good," he says, "For a second there I thought I did something wrong." He nods, offering out a hand for the Harmony Star as she approaches him. "Of course," he says, "It would be my honor, Princess." He takes the locket into his hands, deft fingers undoing the clasp on the chain. After separating the chain, he reaches his hands around her shoulders, placing the thin golden chain around her neck and fastening it into place. His face is red still, possibly more so due to the close proximity. As he pulls his hands back, he smiles again.     "As I thought. It really does look beautiful on you." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      As Lloyd pulls back and tells her how it looks, Sarracenia's smile remains. It is almost a shy smile now, something very rarely seen in the headstrong, proud, stubborn princess. "I shall never take it off." she says, reaching to clasp the Harmony Star in her hand and then hug it against her chest. "I've...never received gifts as thoughtful as these before. I do not know what to say. Other than..." She smiles a bit more, then leans forward and gives Lloyd a kiss on the cheek. "...thank you." She is still clasping the Harmony Star, and doesn't let it go even as she steps back so Lloyd can resume cooking. "I guess it is a good thing that you and Lute never dueled for me. He tries, but he..." She sighs, clasping the locket a bit tighter. "...well...he and I would just never work." she says. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd smiles again, nodding. "I'm glad you like them. Like I said, I have sort of a predictable nature, but--" She kisses him on the cheek, and that seems to stun him for a moment, more than anything else. He touches his cheek softly, then seems to phase back into reality, listening to Sarracenia speak again even as he turns to finish cooking. His face is a beet red color now, and he's hoping she can't see too much of it. He stirs and moves with renewed vigor, stopping briefly as she mentions the duel. Oh wow, he had forgotten about that. As she mentions it, though, the radio conversation comes back to his mind. He... he had said something, and he was sure he meant it. When she mentions that Lute and her wouldn't work, he takes a breath, then turns back to her, face only slightly tinged pink.     "What... about you and I, then?" he asks, trying to keep his eyes on hers. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia's smile just slowly increases until she is beaming by the time he says that last thing. And then, she is crying for real. Tears roll down her cheeks gently and she sniffles a bit. "I...I don't know. My parents would surely never approve of me dating a blacksmith, even one who was a former high ranking military commander." she says, still holding that locket in her hands. She giggles after that, then leaps forward and hugs Lloyd tightly, trying to stifle the sobs that come from being alone for so long and finally finding someone who might actually love her. As she clings to Lloyd the sobs just increase. "A-are you s-sure...you can h-handle a...c-crazy princess like...like me?" she murmurs out between breathy sobs, her face buried against Lloyd's shoulder. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd blinks, his words clear of him before he seems to register that he had finally said them. He's not sure what to expect from Sarracenia, but it wasn't tears. The smile she wears tells him they're happy tears, but it still takes him off his guard for a long moment. As she mentions that her parents wouldn't approve, he shakes his head lightly. Of course, she was a royal. That was to be expected, and he knew it. However, in the next moment she's hugging him, and he wraps his arms around her as well, pulling her close. He rests his chin on her shoulder even as she sobs into his, smiling softly as he makes out her words. "I'm going to have to convince you that you're not crazy, aren't I?" he asks playfully, before he nods. "If you'll accept me, I'll do my best by you. That much I can promise." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia giggles through sobs as Lloyd says that, then hugs more tightly a few moments before just hugging gently against Lloyd again. "W-well...when I look back on some of the things I've done, and after so many people have told me so..." She giggles again, again broken by a sob or two. "...A-and...I will do my best by you." she promises as well, then just hangs on to Lloyd for a few more moments.      Finally, she blinks, then quickly pulls back. "Ah! I..am keeping you from cooking! Um...is there anything I can do to help?" she says, though she still has one hand around that locket. As if afraid that if she lets it go, this dream will end and she will be back in her normal life. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd holds Sarracenia as long as she continues to hug him, keeping his arms tightly around her. "You've lived a confusing life," he says, "And people don't understand that. You're an amazing person, Sarracenia, but you have to start seeing it in yourself. Like I have." As she pulls away from him, he lets her go, moving his hands up to rub the tears away from her eyes and cheeks. He smiles at her softly, feeling like a weight was lifting from his heart as he does. "We'll figure things out together, okay? But until then..." He chuckles a bit, turning away and brushing his own eye with the back of his hand.     "You can help me enjoy this tenderloin," he says, working over the food he had been cooking. He deals up two plates, two tenderloins on a bed of white rice, then moves to set them on the table. As he looks back over at her, he moves back and kisses her on the cheek as she had to him before. "The Harmony Star isn't going anywhere, Sarracenia. And neither am I. I promise." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia nods at Lloyd's reassurance and blushes lightly as he wipes her tears, then nods more as he says they will work it out. She smiles brightly at the plate that is served for her and follows him back to the couch table. When she is kissed on the cheek she smiles warmly again and blushes softly before blinking as Lloyd mentions her grip on the locket. She looks down, then giggles a bit and wipes at her eyes herself. "I...I cannot risk it. I..I never actually thought that this would happen. I still don't know if it is, or how long it will last." she says. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, then slowly loosens her grip on the Harmony Star. She lets it go finally, and then slowly opens one eye. She looks around before opening the other. She giggles a bit and smiles. "You...really didn't disappear." she says. 

:'''{{#var:373|Lloyd Irving (373)}} has posed:'''     Lloyd smiles softly, shaking his head. "I promise you, I won't vanish, and neither will it. You're really here, with me right now." As Sarracenia relaxes her grip and closes her eyes, he waits, watching her curiously. Then her eyes open again, and he offers her a warm smile and a reassuring arm around her shoulders. "See?" he says, rubbing her shoulder softly. "I know things have probably not been easy for you, even if I don't know everything about your past. But I want to make the effort to be what you've been looking for. It's not just honeyed words, either. I mean it, in my heart." He offers another smile, then gestures to the plate in front of her. "It's not super fancy, but it's pretty good!" he adds, smiling warmly at her. "I'm glad you decided to come out here today. I was hoping to get a chance to tell you this face to face." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is all smiles by this point, and giggles a bit after Lloyd says all of that. "I...had no idea all of this might happen today. I dared not even hope for it. After so many disappointments...a lifetime alone..." She leans toward Lloyd and gives him another kiss on the cheek. "...thank you, Lloyd Irving." she says, then turns to go about enjoying the homemade meal. Though, after just about every bite she looks at Lloyd again and smiles happily. She is already imagining the rest of their life together. Hopefully, Lloyd really is up to wrangling the crazy princess! 
}}

6133/Royal Rivalry!

2018-10-28T03:33:15Z

TwilightSparkle: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2018/09/10 |Location=The Sundew Kingdom |Synopsis=After a bit of verbal combat Sarracenia invites Gilgamesh for the more dangerous variety |Cast of..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2018/09/10
|Location=The Sundew Kingdom
|Synopsis=After a bit of verbal combat Sarracenia invites Gilgamesh for the more dangerous variety
|Cast of Characters=446, 1099
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The walk to the Sundew Kingdom (which may not even be found on a map) would be perilous for most normal people. The main warp gate opens into a massive field of gently waving grass, and luckily a four-way intersection with an old wooden signpost points the way to the various kingdoms of Pipeland. Sundew's sign looks like it was added after all the others, and certainly not by whoever originally made the signpost.      The first mile or so would be pleasant, sunny, grassy terrain. But, when one reaches the edge of the Sundew Jungle...it is quite a different story. Trees as large as skyscrapers with canopies blot out the sun, and cries of a multitude of creatures can be heard. Many of them sound dangerous. Once one has actually entered the jungle, the main road is the -only- road. There isn't even a hint of side roads, and it is obvious why as one walks. The vines and roots of the jungle are visibly creeping across the road as nature actively tries to reclaim the area, and if one gets close to the edge of the road one might even be snapped at by feral Piranha plants. They are large carnivorous plants with bulb-like heads and mouths full of great white shark teeth. Some even spit fireballs! Of course, none of these should be a threat to the King.      It is another several miles before the walls of the city can finally be seen, but still only down the road itself thanks to the abundant foliage. As he is walking Gilgamesh would encounter several more piranha plants, but these are obviously servants of the realm as they are armored, walk on root-like legs and carry weapons in their giant leaf arms. They are patrolling, steadily cutting back the plants that threaten to take over the roadway. When he reaches the main gate he finds a few more who are wielding large spears. They are obviously city guards, and when they see Gilgamesh they immediately stand at full attention and one motions toward a small aircraft made of wood and with large wooden propellers as its engines. Another piranha plant is awaiting him, ready to fly the wooden helicopter to the castle. Inside the gate he would be able to see more of those strange plant people, as well as plenty of humans, some turtle-people, and some very short humans with mushrooms for hats. The city looks fairly rich by most people's standards, and the thick walls of the city seem to be keeping the jungle at bay. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh is nothing like a normal person.      In fact the King of Heroes is quite at home in the vast jungle full of terrible monsters. More at home than he has been in some time. It's a familiar setting. Once upon a time, Mesopotamia was a vast greenery, and he ventured to distant realms to collect treasures, distant realms with vast trees and monsters. He hasn't felt this at home in some time, and ancient instincts to gather treasure and explore stir inside him as naturally as if he had taken a breath. Indeed, after a bit, he does roam afield, distracted and fascinated.      By the time he returns to the road and joins up with the escort, he's carrying a bouquet of dead piranha plants and jungle flowers over his shoulder, a gleaming sword in the other hand that shines like the full moon. He pays absolutely no attention to the guards' salutes; this is a given. He expects people to do that for him. He considers, after a bit, just going with the flyer, but he takes a few moments in the market with a wry smile.      Then he climbs into the wooden helicopter and sets himself down, leaning one arm against the side as he looks across the city. It's a new place. The toadstool hats are...new. New is always interesting. Novel is always worth his time. Even if nothing else comes of this, he's seen something novel. If *literally nothing else* comes of it, his time will still have been well-spent.      Then again, he is the King. All his time is well-spent. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The piranha plant patrol wasn't really sent to escort Gilgamesh, but after seeing him their patrol 'just happens' to take them his direction. They seem somewhere between impressed and unnerved at his bouquet of bounty, and one even rasps out that he wouldn't mind following such a king.      The market is much as one might expect of a low-tech society. Many small booths are mixed in amongst the storefronts, and both seem to do about as much business as the other. But of course, nearly every person that gets near enough to see Gilgamesh stops and stares, and the human women and girls amongst the crowd even try to get close to him. Many of them try to touch him, even if it is just a hem of his sleeve or coat. And a chorus of 'aaaawww!' goes up as he heads back to the helicopter.      Gilgamesh is taken directly from the gate to the castle. It is a sprawling castle with massive walls and towers. The building stones must have been imported from somewhere, as they are made of black marble and stand out quite starkly against the greenery of the jungle and the massive wooden walls. It heads to a landing pad on the top of one of the castle walls, allowing Gilgamesh to see that there is a vast airship dock constructed above the town, connected by an elevator to the center of town. Nearly all the airships are made of wood as well, except for the few multiversal ships.      Awaiting him at the landing pad is an armed escort in golden armor, again consisting of piranha plant troops. One of which is obviously a captain judging by his more intricate helmet, and they all salute Gilgamesh when he lands. The captain rasps out, "Welcome to the Sundew Kingdom, sir! If you will follow us, we will take you to the courtyard where the princess is waiting." 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      The King is used to this.      Again, there is the sense that he just /expects it/. That he just...*understands* that this is the way things Are. It isn't an idle claim that he is the King; it is an active part of his existence, a taste of glory that radiates out from him, the glory of a time long ago brought into a time that does not want or need it. He is golden; his /soul/ is golden, reaching outwards. Of course people wish to grab it. Of course people are fascinated by him. He allows it, because he is a man who does not mind that sort of thing. It is part and parcel of the common folk to admire the King. It was his lot in the world of Babylon, too. They were simply...less grabby about it.      The castle, the airship, the towers and walls, they get a brief glance from the King. It's a castle. It tells him a lot about the person he's coming to meet, in fact, though one would never expect that. It tells him what sort of education she's had. Tells him what sort of kingdom this is. The castle's structure is the structure of the kingdom. The black marble he lingers on thoughtfully until he concludes that, yes, it must be an import, or something magical.      When he lands, he disembarks with all dignity, shouldering the silvery blade. He nods at the captain.      "I like it," he says idly as he follows the captain, "I have a fondness for interesting things."      He quirks his lip. "I hope that your princess is similarly interesting." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      "She is...definitely unusual for a princess, sir." the captain responds with a bit of exasperation in his voice. "Very demanding, not very forgiving...a bit crazy, if you ask me." He flinches as he realizes what he said. "...but...please don't tell her I said that." he adds quietly.      Walking through the castle, the wealth of the royal family is on display. Suits of armor, grand tapestries, paintings of all kinds, and of course more of that marble. Each hallways has a red carpet down the center of it which the servants try to avoid stepping on whenever possible. There are even electrical lights, which were not apparent in the rest of the town.      It is several flights of stairs down to ground level, and the courtyard itself is vastly different from the jungle outside the walls. It is well manicured, full of fruit trees along the edges and lovely flowers cover the rest of the ground. Though Gilgamesh might notice none are pink. In the center of the courtyard is a large statue of a statuesque young woman in a flowing dress and with a crown upon her head. And standing in front of that statue (likely to both show off and to display that it is her) is Princess Sarracenia. Resting on her shoulder is a hammer as tall as herself and with a solid metal head that looks like it must weigh more than she does. She has a confident smirk on her face as the King approaches, but it wavers a bit as she sees him up close. "S-so..." She coughs into a gloved hand. "You are 'King' Gilgamesh?" Her emphasis on King makes it clear she does not hold his title in much regard. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh laughs. It's a musical laugh. Almost literally musical. "The King will show you mercy," he says, patting the captain on the shoulder as they walk. If he's paying attention to the wealth, he's not showing it. It's not an active contempt or a distant smirk, just...he's not particularly visibly taking in the scenery. Mostly, he's just walking. It's kind of odd. He's the sort one would imagine swaggers, or walks with his chest puffed-out, or some other obvious sign of his arrogance. He doesn't. No, instead, every movement is just sort of *accidentally* graceful. He's clearly superhuman, beyond just the glorious golden soul.      Sarra can immediately tell that he's perfect.      It's not a /claim/. It's not a /comment/. It's not an ego-trip. His body, his face, is flawlessly beautiful. It's...it's odd, seeing it in person. On the phone it was something attractive, but he could sort of still be passed off as a normal, if very pretty, person. But in person, it's apparent that it really /isn't/ the outfit making him look good. Anything he wears would look like formalwear. The outfit could be rags and he'd still look like royalty. He could be carrying a stick and a bottle of wine and have been on the street for three days and he'd still look like he was hewn by a god.      Because he was. By *multiple* gods.      Beautiful, like a raging bull.      The King inverts the blade on his shoulder and drops it. It vanishes into a ripple in space. His lips quirk upwards in a wry smile.      "I am Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, King of Uruk and of Babylon, King of Denmark, King of all that Is, Was, and Ever Shall Be."      "These are for you."      He hands off the bouquet. Tucked under it is a box of chocolates. Inside the box of chocolates is a necklace of rubies, framed in gold.      He may have asked someone what her favorite color was.      The King steps forward and smiles at her. This close, it's not just evident that he's superhuman, it's impossible *not* to notice. Even his *breathing* is graceful, without loss of motion, perfectly rhythmic and without any irregularities.      "I imagine that they'll suit your taste, my lady."      "Shall we begin?" His voice is breathy. Soft. Warm. He even smells fine, like something...*unearthly* beautiful.      Then he steps back, his hands in his pockets. "Feel free to attack me whenever you like." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      The pirahna plant guards seem somewhat surprised that Gil says nothing of the royal wealth and hardly even looks at it either. Of course, they don't know much about Gilgamesh.      Princess Sarracenia is also visibly surprised by Gilgamesh. She looks skeptical a moment as she takes the gifts, then her eyes widen at the necklace. "For...for me?" she stammers, obviously surprised and pleased by the gift. She giggles like a school girl, then holds it out to Gilgamesh. "Place it around my neck." she says, her tone making it clear she expects her command to be followed. She then turns around and holds her long hair to the side. If Gilgamesh is not an honorable god-man, he could easily take advantage of this. The battle seems forgotten for the time being. "It is so nice for a visitor to show proper respect for a change! And how did you know rubies are my favorite precious stone?" 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      "Is it not customary to bring a beautiful woman a present when you call upon her in this degenerate age?" Gilgamesh inquires in a tone that's at least partially flirtatious and partially sincere, "Let alone a princess."      He steps forward.      He takes the necklace from her hands, and, slowly, drapes it around her neck. This is an art he's /practiced/ at. He doesn't even register it as a command (because if he did, he'd probably laugh at her) - this is *seduction*. This is pleasure. Gilgamesh has known pleasure for as long as he's been alive. He and pleasure are intimate friends, are lovers. So as he's putting the necklace around her neck, his breath is hot against her ear, and he leans forward to whisper intimately, "I am the King who is wise in the ways of the world. I do not call upon a woman without learning something as simple as that. It would be thoughtless, nevermind rude."      His lips get *very* close to her ear. "And I am the King. It would not do for me to set a poor example, would it?"      "Besides. A man who would not do this much is hardly a man at all. Especially if he is invited to..." He leaves it hanging for a moment, a quiet, subtle tease. "Teach her."      A subtle reminder. At that, he pulls away again, setting his hand back in his pocket. "But before I can teach you anything, you will have to show me what you know."      He puts on an affable smile. It reaches his eyes.      This is *indeed* very entertaining, for *so* many reasons. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Princess Sarracenia huffs softly at that first question. "Apparently not!" she answers, sounding quite disgusted by that fact. The rest of his words and actions leave her QUITE flustered, and when he finally steps back and she turns around once more her cheeks are almost as red as her dress. "And...you actually want to...um...teach me?" she asks, as if very few have even implied such before. Her fingertips run over the necklace, which no doubt looks as if it belongs around her neck given her clothes and crown, then she grips her hammer in both hands firmly.      But, that smile freezes her for a few more moments. She stares, then lets out an angry huff. "I may not know much about matters of love, but do not underestimate my battle prowess!" She charges forward at that, then goes into a twirl and brings her hammering around. The first swing is more a feint than an attack, which is meant to help the follow up swing connect more solidly. And if she does happen to hit, a small explosion engulfs the head of the hammer. It has apparently been coated in explosive powder. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      "It would be my pleasure," is all Gilgamesh says as she asks if he really wants to teach her, "And yours as well."      And then she's off. The hammer comes swinging around. Gilgamesh's hand comes around casually to stop it at the hilt, and Sarra might be shocked to find that he *does* - the hammer runs into him with all force, and a shockwave erupts, rippling his coat, her dress, the grass, the trees, and everything. But the explosion catches him off-guard. Fire and smoke consumes his face. His head tilts back.      When it comes forward, he's bleeding. There's burns on his face.      And he *still* looks perfect, like they're nothing but accents and makeup to his beauty. That's *just unfair*.      "Interesting."      The King purses those handsome lips.      And then the world opens.      Golden ripples emerge from the air behind him. There's only a few of them, but there's something...dangerous...about them. Gilgamesh closes down on his hammer and leans forward. "But rushing in if you don't know that you're a superior force is very dangerous."      "It may leave you..." He murmurs, like the word is sensuous, like even this fight is part of his dance, "/Exposed/."      Weapons begin to emerge from the ripples. They're...flawless. Staggering. Each of those weapons is probably worth a king's ransom. There are blades, maces, hammers, spears. There are greatswords, shortswords, katanas. There are morningstars, flails, clubs. There are glaives and halberds and mancatchers and more besides. And each and every one of them, even to Sarra's eyes, is magical. Each and every one of them is a powerful, dangerous magical artifact, with unknown powers and unknown abilities and unknown arts. His finger rises.      He snaps.      The Gate opens. It's a trickle of water, firing those weapons like a few machine-guns. And they don't /stop/, and they aren't /copies/ - every weapon in the flow is unique, every weapon is beautiful, every weapon is magical, every weapon is powerful. There are more weapons here than most peopl see in their lifetimes.      And there's the sense that he's not even *trying*. 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia is struck first by the shockwave of her own attack. It rips into her clothes a bit, mostly around the skirt of her dress. But then...her eyes widen as that golden ripple appears and all those weapons start firing at her like some kind of gun that shoots swords instead of bullets! She is amazed by both how Gilgamesh still looks so perfect and how amazing those weapons are...of course getting hit by them snaps her out of it somewhat.      She cries out in pain but refuses to let go of her hammer. It takes several hits before she finally loses her grip and goes bouncing back. She'd like to think she looks just as amazing as Gilgamesh when she stands, especially since somehow her face and neck were spared. But, her arms and legs are covered in bruises and cuts, and there is one slash in the side of her dress.      Once Gilgamesh is holding her hammer without her touching it, he would feel a surge of magical energy as the hammer starts swinging up and down almost of its own free will. He'd be able to feel that the hammer itself contains a generous amount of power itself, and it would make it clear that in all likelyhood the hammer itself is as dangerous as Sarracenia. Perhaps moreso.      Once she is standing straight again, Sarracenia lets out a high pitched squeal somewhere between an angry scream and a frustrated growl. "Give that back! The Sundew Hammer is mine and mine alone!!" Without hesitation she reaches into the small bag around her shoulder and starts pulling out explosives. First, the thing she had described on the radio. A smooth black orb with cute eyes and yellow shoes for feet/legs. It has a white square on top of its head and a turnkey in back. But, rather than wind it she just throws it! The explosion it releases is many times more powerful than the one the hammer unleashed, and it isn't the only explosive she throws.      Following after the bob-omb is a silvery mine that sticks either to Gilgamesh or the ground nearby before exploding, then an old fashioned fused bomb that bounces along the ground and burns down quickly before exploding, then some kind of missile that she just throws like a dart! 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh is *absurdly* strong. He is as strong as a star from Heaven; more than that, his ego is strong enough to bolster him against things that rob him of his sense of self. The hammer's motion takes him off guard once before he brings it down firmly into the ground. He plants his foot on it as she shrieks. He looks up, and his face takes on a smirk. *This* is probably more the face she expected from him.      "Beautiful," he says cheerfully at her rage.      His foot kicks the hammer up as the bob-omb comes down. The hammer hits the bob-omb, and the explosive little minion goes up, high into the air, exploding above them. Another shockwave ripples outwards, ruffling his hair and his coat. He moves to shoulder the hammer, and the silvery mine affixes to his coat. He taps it thoughtfully.      The fuel bomb convinces him otherwise.      There is an explosion. It is large - probably not as large as she would've liked, but large. The missile follows it up with another blast. There's a crater where he stood. Smoke coils. Pieces of the courtyard rain down in chunks. For a moment, she might even believe she killed him.      Then he emerges from the smoke.      He's shirtless, now, probably because the blast annihilated the upper part of his clothing. His body - which, again, is indeed literally flawless, muscled and strong and lean, perfectly-proportioned - is covered in well-accenting burns. There's pieces of shrapnel sticking from his shoulders like artisinal piercings. Fortunately for Sarra, his pants survived. The tattered remnants of his coat still trail behind him like a ruined cloak as he sweeps aside the smoke with a motion, like the smoke itself bends to his will.      He looks, in every way, like the King of Heroes he claims to be.      The hammer is still on his shoulder. It's twitching, like an angry dog being held by someone it doesn't like. It's trying to escape. He's not *resisting* it.      He's literally holding it down with superhuman strength.      The King moves forward, swinging the hammer to the side. "You appeal to me, Princess, in many ways. I have an appreciation for a beautiful woman who desires the world. You're inexperienced, but that, too, is something I enjoy."      The Gate opens. Unlike before, it's a single ripple. There's a menacing power that pours forth, a feeling of danger, a burning light. Gilgamesh smiles at her. "I think it is only fair that I reward you by showing you one of my toys up close."      The countless littered weapons begin to disintegrate into golden sparkles. Gilgamesh chuckles. "Well."      "That, and I enjoy showing off my treasures. Especially to a beautiful woman."      Gilgamesh grasps the hilt.      What emerges is a hammer. It's huge, and metal, and burning hot. Steam pours off it. The lines etched into it pulse with red light. Even being near it is like being near magma. Gilgamesh shoulders it like it doesn't bother him, shouldering hers on his other arm.      "I recovered it from an ancient giant's forge," Gilgamesh says fondly, "At the heart of a volcano, kept alight by his pet dragon. I slew the dragon, tore out its lungs, and used it to kill the blacksmith, then took the hammer for my own. It was the hammer that forged his works, and his home."      "What do you think? Isn't it beautiful? Fuhahahahaha! This is what it means to be King of Heroes!"      The King surges forward, unencumbered by the hammers. Her own mallet comes swinging in for the side. His massive forge hammer comes down on her other side, as if guiding her into it.      Because he is. When the forge hammer hits the ground, it explodes upwards, fire erupting from the courtyard as if a volcano had just erupted underground. He's not even trying to strike her - it's pure explosive force.      "Your second lesson! If you lose your temper in the middle of a battle, no matter how beautiful your honest face, you won't survive!" 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia's angry expression fades to more of a 'this is bad' expression as Gilgamesh not only -isn't- yanked around by her hammer...but actually shoulders it like she herself would. Then she blinks in surprise. Did...did he call her beautiful. Her anger melts away further, and while she still has the this is bad look it is more 'this is bad but somehow nice'. A sort of smile that only curls one side of her lips. He calls her beautiful once more and she is blushing even as she looks at his hammer in an awed and admiring way. Not to mention...he doesn't have a shirt. She hasn't seen many men without a shirt, much less perfect specimens.      But, despite her temper and her blushing and her admiring the sight, she reacts almost instinctively and leaps upward with all her might. When the two hammers impact, it isn't her they hit.      She is still lost in the combined blasts, engulfed by flame and burning rock, and Gilgamesh would justifiably think that the battle must be over this time.      Until a column of smoke and fire bursts forth from the upper curve of the explosion, and from that emerges the princess. She is blackened over much of her fair skin, and her dress burned into a short skirt that is likely much more flattering on her form. Her gloves have many holes in them where she used her arms to block as best she could, protecting her face and neck. Some of her hair is also smoldering, but her eyes are locked on Gilgamesh.      He called her beautiful, and even if he isn't all that heroic in her eyes he is strong, something someone like her can't help but respect. She places a hand on the necklace as she flies through the air, unable to arrest her momentum. She finally impacts hard against the castle wall and falls to the ground after a moment, coughing from ash in her lungs and having the air forced from them by the impact. She slowly gets back to her feet, then smirks smugly. "M-maybe not...but I am still standing. Anger is more of a fuel for me. All those other prissy princesses don't understand. They have admiration and kindness lavished upon them. They don't understand...having to fight for it."      A rope ladder suddenly appears at her side, dropped down from something above. That something above is a wooden airship much like a Spanish galeon. And beneath it is a cannon with a barrel as wide as Sarracenia is tall. "I am honored you felt compelled to show me one of your toys. Now, let me show you one of mine." she says as she boards the ladder, balancing with one foot on the bottom rung and one hand on the ropes. "I call it...a Bonzai Bill!!"      From the cannon above, a face emerges. A shark-like grinning face apparently painted on a HUGE black bullet. The rope ladder starts to ascend as the cannon lets out a thunderous shockwave from firing the gigantic shell. It emerges rather slowly considering, but with its size it probably wasn't meant for precision strikes.      "If this doesn't leave a mark, I will have to accept that you truly are a power beyond imagining, as you claim!" the princess calls out as she goes up and the Bonzai Bill comes down. The massive grinning shell starts to speed up, boosted by a rocket in back, and it actually seems to be laughing maniacally as it impacts the center of the courtyard. The explosion hits the castle walls and is contained, sending shockwaves back through the area as it fills with even more fire and debris.      As the sound of the explosion dies out, it is revealed that the laughing was actually Sarracenia, and she is now grinning like a maniac as well as she looks down at the devastation, waiting to see how the so called King of Heroes weathered this storm. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh never thinks a battle is over until he sees a corpse. This is, perhaps, one of his strongest senses. He's overconfident, arrogant, overwhelmingly powerful, and extraordinarily dangerous, but he's not so stupid as to think a fight is over until it's over.      She emerges in a short skirt.      Gilgamesh is...distracted. His eyes flick down, then up, as she stands. His own hammer vanishes into the ripple. And he comes to a decision.      The King of Heroes leans against her hammer and watches her. The sense that he's not really trying is still *enormously* potent, that he's just sort of...playing around. "Indeed. But there is a difference between anger and temper. Anger is something to harness. A temper is something that takes control of you."      He walks forward as she's setting up, slinging the hammer back over her shoulder. "Something that possesses you. Like desire. Like need."      He licks his lips. It's...suggestive, to say the least. "Like /lust/."      The Bonzai Bill comes down. Gilgamesh walks forward. He brings up her hammer to smash into the massive thing-      -and it erupts in his face. Both of them. The fire fills the room, shockwave bursting out, fire and debris raining down. The hammer spins upwards out of the explosion, then comes smashing down next to Sarra, landing with a *thump* next to its rightful owner. There's a huge crater where the King was standing.      The smoke clears.      He's alive. He's bloody, and it's only thanks to dumb luck that he's modest, wearing torn and burned shorts that had a moment ago been long pants. His body is covered in burns. And there's a look in his eyes like a wild animal, a primordial *power* welling up. Those eyes glow, a menacing, bloody color. Tattoos pulse along his skin, ancient, red, and dangerous, casting a grim pallor across the crater.      Then he runs his fingers through his hair, and takes a breath, as if seizing control of himself. He puts his hand on his hip and laughs.      "Fuhahahahaha! Very impressive!"      The King climbs out of the crater and lands in front of her. "And very entertaining!"      He snaps his fingers. A gold cloth emerges from the ripple as he walks towards her. It hovers around him, wiping away blood, wiping away burns. Another snap, and golden bandages emerge from several ripples, wrapping around his chest and the burned side of his face. The cloth vanishes a moment later.      "I like it!"      "It has style. Though it looks like a mere toy it packs an enormous power. Delightful."      Gilgamesh stops in front of her. The Gate of Babylon opens. From it he pulls what looks like a wicked black scythe. It's ominous, and unpleasant to look upon. But rather than hit her, he simply swings it at the debris.      It cuts. There's a gap. Sarra can see the world struggling to imagine itself properly before the debris vanishes and the courtyard - before their battle, untouched and undamaged - reasserts itself. The scythe vanishes into glittering gold as he turns back to her, a wry smile on his face.      "I've decided. You are worth my time, Princess."      "You are indeed quite beautiful."      And there's the sense that he doesn't mean /physical/ beauty, exactly, that he's referring to that willingness to fight for every scrap of affection, that he's referring to her strength, her /determination/, as much as her body. It's like he's looking right through her with those red eyes.      "And if you'd still like me to teach you..."      He chuckles.      "There are few better ways to recover from such entertainment than in the arms of a lover." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia blushes as he emphasises the word lust like that. Once the explosion had cleared, Sarracenia lowers back down to the ground, feeling a bit of trepidation at seeing Gilgamesh with those glowing eyes and runes. Her hammer impacts beside her and she blinks before picking it up again and giving a graceful flourish with it before lowering it again with a bit of force, massive metal head sinking into the ground just a little.      Then Gilgamesh moves toward her and she lifts the hammer once more. She twirls it around herself, ready to continue if he wishes it. But instead, he's laughing jovially and giving her more compliments! She blinks, then smirks lightly and lowers her hammer once more. She's certainly no less bloody and burned than Gilgamesh, but as a princess she has to keep up her grace even in the face of pain. Her grin becomes a small, jealous pout when he is able to snap his fingers and just clean himself up like that. When he pulls out that scythe she takes a step back, ready to continue fighting. But...instead something wonderous happens! He restores the castle grounds! She hadn't thought about it yet, but as the many fruit trees and flowers are restored she realizes how sad she might have been later.      And then, words that make Sarracenia freeze with a look almost like a deer in the headlights. She is worth his time, and beautiful in ways beyond physical. She literally doesn't know what to say to this, and ends up looking off to the side shyly as she blushes hotly. She lifts her hammer, then slides it into her purse. The bag shows no outward signs beyond some intial stretching that quickly disappears. She then rubs her arm nervously and still without meeting Gilgamesh's gaze says, "...I..I told you. A princess cannot have such whirlwind romances. It would be improper and bring dishonor to my family and kingdom...even if it were with the King of Heroes." It doesn't sound like she is personally opposed to the idea, but she is dedicated to her honor as a princess.      She finally meets Gilgamesh's gaze again, and a small, almost shy smile forms. "However...after a proper courtship...who knows?" She holds her hands clasped together in front of her and sways lightly, in a classy but flirty manner.      Her eyes suddenly widen, as if she's only just realizing that Gilgamesh is basically in short shorts. "Oh dear. That isn't proper as well." She reaches into her purse again and pulls out what would be a princely outfit to match her princess look. "Here, King Gilgamesh. As repayment for gracing me with your presence and replacement for your clothes." It is a black outfit with gold trimming and red accents, as well as gold shoulders. "I hope it is to your liking?" 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh's eyes are not full of that needy disappointment of a man who just got turned down. Quite the contrary - there's a flicker of interest in his eyes. This isn't a man who needs someone else to satisfy his ego. This isn't a man who needs a person to tell him he's beautiful to make his fragile self feel better. An egomaniac, someone fragile, someone broken, someone who craves validation - they don't look the way Gilgamesh does. Gilgamesh is a man with a sense of self so profound that he simply expects the world to conform to his expectations.      And considering what he can /do/, and what he's /like/, is that really a surprise?      He stands there, considering her, as she talks. There's a sense of entertainment - not at /her/, but at...the situation? Something? Is he...does he view this as a /challenge/?      She gives him the clothes. He holds them up, examining them thoughtfully. "Very nice. Well-tailored. The trimming is excellent. Did you have this on hand already? I appreciate a prepared woman."      A moment later, they're falling into the Gate of Babylon, his hands are on her hips, and he's stealing a deep, /strong/ kiss, the kind of kiss you read about in romance novels, the kind of kiss that feeds hunger and need, the kind of kiss of a man who *most assuredly* is not joking about knowing passion and pleasure better than anyone alive. Unless she physically stops him from either the kiss or the action, he pulls her against him, like the cover of a romance novel - complete with the bare torso and the tattered pants.      Then he steps back, and snaps his fingers. There's a flash of brilliant gold, and then the outfit is on him.      It looks princely on its own.      On him...it looks kingly. Unsurprisingly. The gold of his bandages, the gold of his patch-job, glitters with the trimming. He'd look gaudy if it didn't seem so /right/.      He might still be a little gaudy.      "I enjoyed myself thoroughly, Princess." Gilgamesh's hands go into the pockets. "And it was an entertaining lesson. Perhaps I'll be able to give you another one." 

:'''{{#var:446|Sarracenia (446)}} has posed:'''      Sarracenia ends up smiling more as he takes her reply in stride and accepts the clothes. "I try to be prepared for most any situa-" she starts to say proudly, but then...she's caught in a kiss! She is indeed very surprised, judging by just how big her eyes get. As the feel of it overtakes her it causes her eyes to flutter and her knees to weaken. If he hadn't pulled her against him she'd likely have lost strength in her legs completely. As it is, her hands instinctively come up, bracing against his chest. Then a different instinct causes her fingers to curl against his perfect pecs.      As quickly as it happened, he steps back. Sarracenia's eyes flutter open again and she blinks a few times before her eyes focus once more. Her cheeks are definitely as red as her clothes now and she is speechless. She can only stare for a while, watching as he snaps the clothes into place and shines like the golden god he was made to be. Dazzled, dazed, and dumbstruck, she finally does end up on the ground, her legs beneath her. She giggles a bit drunkenly and smiles dumbly. "P-perhaps. I will look forward to it." she says in a dreamy tone, then she blinks and coughs. "I..I mean..I -might- look forward to it." she amends, looking off to the side in embarrassment. 

:'''{{#var:1099|Gilgamesh (1099)}} has posed:'''      Gilgamesh licks his lips.      "Delicious."      He places his hand on his chest and inclines his head politely. It's not a submissive bow - it's the bow of a King, a proper King. As much as he sounds like an asshole on the radio - as much as he *is* an asshole, and a brutal, dangerous, powerful, unpredictable creature - Kingship is indeed woven into every part of his existence. He squats to look at her giggling, embarassed face. When she looks away, he tilts her chin gently back towards him, and plants another, softer kiss on her lips. Still in the kiss, he speaks, moving her mouth with his.      "Something to tide you over."      Then he stands, hands in his pockets. "Enjoy your dreams, Princess."      With that, he starts walking back to the chopper. He can find his own way out. She's probably not in much of a state to help him anyway. 
}}

Multiverse Crisis MUSH - User contributions [en]

9271/One Crown visits another

9037/The Princess and the Popular...Vampire

5745/A Stroll Through the Sundew Kingdom

Sarracenia

Sarracenia

Sarracenia

Sarracenia

8832/Fiery Princess Meets Blustery Bird

8818/Super Sundew Gala

8776/Proudpick's Armor

8745/Unwanted in the Undercity

7573/Hate at First Sight

6837/Bunny Cop vs Warrior Robot

6827/Aurora Shell Analysis

6779/Are We Even Old Enough to Drink

Lory Thumper

Lory Thumper

6775/Police Not So Brutality

6705/=Pool Party in The City

6432/The Girl in Blue

6426/Princess vs Pauper!

6133/Royal Rivalry!

6201/Glass Cannon vs Berserker!

6234/Just What the Neuroi Girl Ordered

6318/A Hunter Visits Spira

6322/Evangeline vs Orchid!

6323/Samus and the Temple of the Dragon King

6350/The City and the Undercity

6369/Princess vs Blaster!

5932/Mall Raid 1

6350/The City and the Undercity

6318/A Hunter Visits Spira

6278/The Aurora Shell and the Blast Fall

6047/Dinnertime at the Apartment

6045/Payback is a *bleep*!

3987/Princess in 'Trouble'

3963/Nicky visits Sundew Castle

3933/Unexpected Adventure

2985/Lloyd visits the Sundew Kingdom

1466/Recovering in Sundew

1425/I activate my trap card...Crazy Princess!

1399/Midair Mayhem!

1296/Sarracenia is at it again!

995/Sarracenia attempts taking Caverns again!

558/Sarracenia attacks the CP!

305/Sarra's Desert Castle Adventure

145/Desert Dealings

4375/Power-up Training

5001/Harmony Star

6133/Royal Rivalry!

6045/Payback is a bleep!