| Aint Got Time to Bleed; [Chika, Aleph, Yuka, Akio] | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 12 2013, 06:31 PM (2,220 Views) | |
| TheGameFreak | Nov 6 2013, 04:53 PM Post #51 |
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Upupupupu~!
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Aleph sheathed his saber, and he and Yuka followed Chika as they now began to search for their missing police officer friend person thing, Maki. For one thing, they had absolutely no idea where the fedora man spirited her away too. For another thing, they would probably be set upon by more Shadows, which would just further deter their efforts. "Maki-san! Where are you?" Aleph called out. "Officer-san!" Yuka called out as well. |
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| GKG | Nov 6 2013, 05:28 PM Post #52 |
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when ur team wipes but ur ult is at 15%
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Akio followed the others as they started to call for Officer Yamada, letting his bokken rest on his shoulder and wiping away what remained of the blood on his face - he, however, didn't join in the chorus of calls for the policewoman. What he did was listen - the boy cast a Sukukaja on himself, sharpening his senses, highlighting every single information his brain received to make it stand out amongst the others. It also made him the notice the lingering pain in his forehead from the cut, but that was a low price to pay for the extra bit of quality it gave to his hearing - now, if Officer Yamada replied, he'd be able to pick the answer up from the chaos of sounds from further away. It might not be useful in the end, but it could also make them win precious time - especially if the Shadow that had taken her away had means to silence her. If any of his companion looked at him, they'd notice him ducking his head slightly, eyes closed to concentrate more on sounds. |
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| Nonsequitur | Nov 6 2013, 05:40 PM Post #53 |
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Yellow Bubblegum
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The questioning took an abrupt change. When the question that was as pointless as her answers was cut off, she noticed a sudden change in the Shadow's demeanor, as well as the nature of the questions it demanded. Her eyes reflexively watered as her hair was snatched. As sure as she started back at the yellow lenses did she know that Mad Libs with Agent Smith was over. She mulled over just what to say, in the end, the truth seemed like something she could safely share. Tell her nothing! "…I don't know. I know nothing about that subject." What did Maki know? She was captured by this Shadow, that was currently being remotely controlled by another. Her intuition tells her that other is Miss Yellow. And if that's the case? Nothing good could have come of her interest in Monster Form. She also knew that Miss Yellow or whatever third party was controlling the Agent likely rendered her plan to escape by using Marin Karin to get the Shadow to help her escape was out. Another method would simply have to be thought up. And while she was bound up and at its mercy, brute force was also off the table. Instinctively she tugged at the webbing as if to be sure. But they still held her fast. Damn. The tension was certainly growing. This could very well be where she could have died if she made one misstep. And like an angelic choir from above, she heard Chika's voice. It rang out clean, and clearly. They were directly below where they were before, was it? She…knew enough about the layout to find the nearest set of stairs leading up and back to the relative safety of the first floor, she was on the second at the moment if they were just one floor above. Calling out would have been useless, because the controlled Shadow would have reacted very violently if she tried. She glared back up at it instead, her expression stoic, waiting for the next demand and trying to balance in her mind just what the interest in Monster Forms meant, along with plotting her possible means of getting out of immediate danger so she could call back… |
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| The One True Nobody | Nov 6 2013, 06:31 PM Post #54 |
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
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"Are you so sure of that?" the Agent asked in an almost knowing voice. "You don't know anything about any of them that might... set them off? But you seemed to at least know which of them to trust to take charge with you gone..." The Shadow looked up, trailing off as it seemed to consider the calls drifting down through the ceiling. After a moment, it looked down sharply again. Wheedling for such information might take time, more time than it had, so-- "I suppose that is a bit much to ask," it said in a greasier voice. "But if you're trusting each other with your lives, you must know what each others' capabilities are, surely? Tell me what you know about that subject, 'Officer.'" The Agent leaned in a bit closer, then, and added in a mockingly confidential-sounding whisper: "The sooner you tell me, the sooner I get on my merry way... so you can make your grand escape, yes? They won't know you ratted them out, so what's the harm?" --- With no answer forthcoming, the only choice was to move. They had precious little time to work with, and their calls wouldn't just reach Maki's ears... other Shadows in the area would hear them as well. Chika began at a fast walk, wondering how to start, where to begin trying to get her bearings, where in the ruins was this? She had never paid much attention to the layout, but she thought this part looked familiar... possibly near the stairs, it was hard to tell, so much of the ruins just looked the same... Chika bit her lower lip as she ran, a reflexive action she immediately regretted for the stinging pain and tang of blood in her mouth it brought with it. She reached up with her hand, and injected a small dose of Dark magic into her mouth to mend the wound. If this was the area near the stairs--if she were a Shadow that wanted to whisk someone away, it would be deeper in, not further out. And Maki would have a better chance of getting out on her own if that thing had just taken her somewhere else on the first level, so of the choices they had, the most pressing one was right next to them... "The stairs are this way!" Chika called back. "She might be on the second floor by herself, if she is she's in trouble, I've seen the Shadows down there, hurry!" There was a very obvious note of panic in Chika's voice as she said this. An image of Hanako Ito with an angel statue's arm through her chest flashed across her mind, the clearest association she had with the second floor, that injury (my fault) that her friend had taken because she'd seen fit to escort Chika into the ruins, the injury Akio had taken and the danger Maki was in now (my fault) because of Chika's stubborn decision to press onward instead of leaving the ruins while they were ahead, and Alan's eye, the eye Alan had lost (my fault my fault my fault) all because she couldn't keep her head on straight and resist that damned need to hurt things. And her own pathetic Persona, her need for this damned ring that required she drag other people into these ruins to make sure she didn't die, all of it was because she couldn't fix herself, couldn't get her own fucking head screwed on right, because she was sick, mad in the head, because there was nothing left to salvage why was she even trying, what was the point if all she could do was get other people hurt and drag them down to where she was-- Chika ignored the pain in her finger as she ran, but with the limiter ring biting down on her flesh, she couldn't call out Maki's name along with the others anymore. Her steps slowed a fraction; she also couldn't use Kizuna's enchantment in this state, either... --- Its footsteps were quiet, almost silent. It stepped along the hall on the second floor, and it came to an arrow drawn on the ground in chalk, pausing for a moment. A pale visage, female, adult, stared down at this marking, narrowing its pitch-black eyes as if the sight of that arrow offended its sensibilities in some fundamental way. The hairless humanoid shifted the object it held--a simple wakizashi, or rather, a mass of congealed black stuff shaped and sharpened like one--and it bent down, placing a palm flat against the chalk marking. It began to rub, furiously, oblivious to the feeling of white powder rubbing all over its exposed skin. That feeling was irrelevant. Discomfort was irrelevant. Even the feeling of these ill-fitting, mis-gendered clothes it had scavenged from that rotting body in the dormitory gymnasium was irrelevant, the tightness around its chest and hips was irrelevant, the odd feeling of pants that ended too far above the ankle was irrelevant, the tear it had ripped in the undershirt's left shoulder trying to squeeze the garment on was irrelevant. What was that strange lump in the inside pocket of the jacket it had found? Irrelevant. It was compelled to cover itself and that was relevant. This arrow was a thing that should be gone and that was relevant. ...There were voices calling from the direction of the stairs. That was also relevant. More relevant than this marking on the ground. The Vile Handmaiden stood up, and began to walk in the direction of the stairs. It paused outside of an open door, looking in. The creature inside turned to face it, answering to its will, and the Handmaiden continued its walk, knowing that the other Shadow would follow. It collected one more thrall on the way, and then it reached the foot of the stairs, and began to climb. |
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| TheGameFreak | Nov 7 2013, 06:37 PM Post #55 |
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Upupupupu~!
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Aleph and Yuka both scanned the hallways as they continued to search for Maki. Just when they thought they weren't getting anywhere, Chika suddenly calls out to everyone. She found some stairs! Gripping the hilts of their blades, the two Serizawas followed Chika towards the stairs. "Hold on, Officer-san!" "We're coming for ya!" |
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| GKG | Nov 9 2013, 10:15 AM Post #56 |
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when ur team wipes but ur ult is at 15%
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"Understood." Akio replied calmly, following behind Chika as she made her way towards the stairs - he still kept an ear open for anything Officer Yamada might have responded to their calls. It felt a bit tiring, trying to concentrate on what happened below and in front of him at the same time while staying on his toes to react fast enough if anything tried to jump them - but it was something he felt was necessary. From the floor below, a sound came - footsteps. The boy paused, focusing on that particular sound - yes, indeed, someone or something was coming in their direction. He doubted that it was Officer Yamada - if it had been her, she'd have responded to their calls already. "...Something's coming our way. Stay sharp." he said out loud. |
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| Nonsequitur | Nov 9 2013, 07:43 PM Post #57 |
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Yellow Bubblegum
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Officer? This third party referred to her by that title. She didn't recall exactly when if any of them referred to her as that. She had her suspicions if they did, it was overhearing even then. Compliance was of course unacceptable she recognized a devil's bargain when she saw it. And if anything else, her self-respect wouldn't allow her to sell the others out so easily. To say nothing to how it conflicted with everything she stood for. Still, she was trapped, and what did she have to work with? Well, the Sukukaja she cast on herself was still effective. And she was sure she had a bit more slack on the arm that was bound. She'd have one chance at this, it would remain incredibly risky, but she had no other recourse as far as she knew. If they came down after her? They'd be exposed to an even greater risk. "I-I don't know…unless…" She glanced away, as if contemplating something in thought. If she wasn't a good enough actress, her next move would have likely been her last. With one quick fluid motion She jerked her head to one side, and reached out to pull the barrel of the Agent's gun away. At the same moment, Maki cast a Garu spell, intended to damage some of the webbing to allow her motion to not be so restricted, and perhaps even startle or distract her captor. She jerked quickly with all her strength, and her other hand was freed, if mostly covered in web. If she could just get herself out of a completely helpless position then maybe… just maybe she could have gotten them all out of this okay. |
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| The One True Nobody | Nov 9 2013, 09:07 PM Post #58 |
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
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Chika stopped dead as they approached the stairs, and felt her heart starting to hammer. Something was coming up? Something had heard their shouting. Damn it... she thought, looking quickly back to her companions. All she had to rely on right now were... Aleph, infamously incompetent; Yuka, Aleph's sister, probably not much better; and Akio, who was hindered by the same innate frailty she was. This was not good. The redhead readied her sword, holding it in a two-handed, defensive grip, channeling magic into the blade to activate the Sukukaja enhancement. She needed to be able to react, react to whatever came their way. Its footsteps sounded human, almost... that could have been good, or it could have been very, very bad... And then, it appeared: every bit as pale and hairless as the Agent had been. An adult female, with a very familiar face. Chika sucked in a breath, her eyes widening in recognition. When she had first come to Nagashima, her foster parents had tried putting her through therapy. Chika had been unresponsive, and after a time, and simply refused to keep going. They had pressed the point, but after some time, Dr. Yamaoka had proposed a break from therapy: Chika would take some time to adjust to her new life in Nagashima, and if it seemed she wasn't acclimating, their sessions would continue. It had been part of the reason Chika had decided to take piano lessons--to make it look like she was "acclimating." But during the time she was there, one of the other doctors had--disappeared. "Dr. Mizushima..." Chika breathed. And so it was: the face, she remembered the face. She was one of those really closed-off looking psychiatrists, the kind who kept their emotions and their work far, far apart from each other and couldn't pretend otherwise. One of the kind that Chika hated. But now she was a monster. Black-eyed. Transformed. Dressed in ill-fitting clothing that looked like it might have been stolen from a corpse. How long had she been down here? How long...? That had been months ago, now, when she'd vanished... Something was following it up the stairs, floating up noiselessly. It looked like a bird cage surrounded by rope and chain, swimming toward them in a jellyfish-like way. Inside the cage was what appeared to be a living woodpecker on a perch. It looked harmless, but... Thump, thump, thump... There was another Shadow following the other two up the stairs. Heavy footfalls, one after another. Chika tensed still further. It sounded big, big and strong, as in physically. Not something she wanted to face head-on. But it was stuck climbing the stairs. Maybe... ...M-Maybe... The Handmaiden's black eyes focused on Yuka, and narrowed. Then, it rushed forward, its solid black wakizashi slashing through the air in a deadly, precise horizontal motion, charged with Black Spot, aiming to cut the girl's knees out from under her. As it ran, the Dancing Lure, that bird-cage-jellyfish-thing, came to a halt beside the stairs, extended its rope-chain body outward, casting a Tarukaja spell on the Handmaiden. Chika yelled out an indistinct warning cry--then she saw it coming up the steps. Large, muscular, masculine. It was a Shadow that could easily bowl any of them over and when it stopped at the top of the stairs, at the very top, it turned its masked face directly toward Akio. --Akio-- The cut across his forehead, for a moment she thought she could feel it herself. An injury that could very well have caused permanent damage, which he'd taken because of her decision to keep going, and Maki was down there because of her decision to keep going, and-- BANG! A gunshot echoed from below, up the steps like a starter pistol. Chika, not even registering what it could mean--whether it meant that Maki had gotten away or been shot or what--let out an incoherent shriek of denial, running forward as fast as her legs would carry her. That horrid mask appeared over her face, the Sukukaja enchantment died as Tisiphone appeared behind her in all its sickly glory. It extended its hand and cast a single spell, barely visible in the air, upon the Beastly Gigas as Chika, sword in hand, charged the monster with abandon. The Gigas turned, swung its fist for her head. She ducked underneath it, just barely avoiding being batted aside, and then leapt upon the Gigas. The Rakunda spell her Persona had cast softened its skin a great deal... ...With the full weight of her body, her sword impaled the monster's right lung without much trouble. Naoya had done his work well. Fingers splayed as if in surprise, the Gigas unbalanced, falling backward-- --and both it and Chika fell right back down the steps into the abyss from whence it had come. --- The Agent was taken in. It leaned in closer as Maki trailed off, just a little bit closer, eager... and then... Her head jerked to one side, its gun was yanked to the other. The Agent snarled in anger, its finger pulled the trigger, but too slow: there was a deafening bang, an explosion of linoleum over Maki's shoulder. Wind magic ripped and tore at the webbing holding Maki down, didn't break it completely, but loosened it, particularly around her other arm--she might be able to break at least that free, but more importantly, she had the Agent's gun in hand, tightly within her grip. The Agent tried to wrestle it away, back, upward, to just... wrench if from Maki's grip with both hands. Then it remembered it had magic at its command, let go with its left, and held its palm out toward Maki's face... a purple haze of smoke seeped out of its sleeve, surrounding her face, seeping through her flesh and bone and into her brain: a Dormina spell, calling her, calling her to sleep... "Big mistake, officer..." said the Agent in a quiet, hissing voice. "Sweet dreams." --- Just outside the door in which Maki Yamada struggled with the Agent of NONE, another figure crept up. Weaponless, clad in torn, mis-gendered clothing, bloodied near the abdomen, which had been torn clear off of the shirt beneath the jacket it wore, revealing a feminine--but toned--stomach. The fabric that had once comprised the lower half of its shirt was wrapped around this female figure's head, concealing its hair completely, and all of its face, except for two distinct, faintly-glowing red eyes. This Shadow opened the door, just a bit further than it was already, and peeked in. Oh. So, that was what Chika and those others were shouting about. Looked like good old Officer Yamada was in quite the pickle! Kyo Charinko's Shadow quietly withdrew away from the door, leaned back against the wall, and thought for a moment. Should it intervene, it wondered? On the one hand, this was really none of its business, but on the other hand, Maki Yamada had played into its little game on Bedlam so wonderfully, and could surely cause more chaos alive than dead. Hm. Or! She could just let Maki Yamada die, wait for the other Shadow to depart, and creep in, take her gun. Yeah, that was a good Plan B. Karma! She'd taken Kyo's gun, so Kyo would take hers. Sort of. Which was more alluring, though...? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm... |
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| TheGameFreak | Nov 10 2013, 07:14 AM Post #59 |
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Upupupupu~!
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Aleph and Yuka followed Chika until they finally reached the stairs. It seemed like they would be getting at least a little bit closer to finding and rescuing Maki. Unfortunately, they were soon confronted by what looked like a zombified version of a woman with a sword. Was that what Vile Larvae looked like? It was also accompanied by a floating bird cage. And then, the shit storm happened. Yuka nearly jumped when the zombie woman attacked her with a Physical skill. She quickly pulled out her katana and parried the strike with it, but she was also nearly knocked over from the force of the strike. With that, Yuka responded by aiming a methodical slash across the zombie woman's torso and chest. Meanwhile, Aleph was on his toes, and he pulled out his saber. Yuka seemed occupied with the zombie Shadow thing. So, Aleph summoned his Persona and threw an Agi at the bird cage Shadow. He also noticed a rather large and muscular Shadow charging right after Akio, only for Chika to come and hold it off....and then fall into the stairs with said Shadow. "Chika-san!" He called out. |
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| GKG | Nov 10 2013, 12:58 PM Post #60 |
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when ur team wipes but ur ult is at 15%
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Akio heard the Shadows coming - but he wasn't well-acquainted enough with the eldricht depths of the Ruins to guess which Shadows they were. The knowledge that enemies were coming - perhaps ones they wouldn't be able to deal with properly - filled him with a sense of anticipation and dread: he readied himself to snap into the action as soon as an opportunity would present itself- -Did Chika recognize that Shadow ? Curses, it had the potential to make things significantly harder - you couldn't strike down something you recognized as easily as another faceless monster, and this hesitation could lead to one's demise. But this particular Shadow wasn't alone, and he took in their presence as they appeared - there was a bird cage one, as well as another one that he knew he had to avoid like the plague instinctively - one punch from that thing could probably tear a hole right through his chest, and through Chika's as well. Suddenly, things got awry. "Don't-" he started as he saw Chika jolting in the Gigas' direction with complete absence of consideration for her own safety - he still had that Sukukaja on, he could probably avoid whatever attack the creature threw at him. He bounced after the girl, casting a Garu on the bird cage Shadow as he tried to reach the girl and the Gigas in time - Chika would not win a fistfight with this creature alone. |
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