Cometh the Big Crying Wheel

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 15th
Location: A refurbished castle on the outskirts of Exsilium.
Characters: Anyone at the party!
Summary: Vanadi hosts a party that goes very poorly.
Warnings: Violence, probably! Let a mod know if we should update this.


It’s a lovely night for a party!

The venue at the outskirts of town is, unfortunately, a bit drafty — and actually rather sparsely furnished, as well. In fact, party goers are encouraged to mingle, drink, and enjoy themselves in the courtyard, as the castle itself wasn’t able to be renovated in time, and has proven to be a little bit architecturally unsound. Any explorative guests might find a small hail of dust and pebbles on their heads if they venture too far in — and who knows what else, if they continue on.

But the drinks and snacks both are plentiful and delicious, and the large canvas set up from castle wall to castle wall keeps off the sprinkling rain. The weather could even be described as warmish and pleasant, if one were feeling generous. A group of Exiles plays classic instruments in one corner of the courtyard, having been paid enough to even smile at any Transports that wander near.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a good night. Until about 10 PM, that is. Come 10 PM, the Misery rolls into town, tearing down the canvas, nullifying powers, and crying corrosive blood everywhere. That’s the cue for all hell to break loose, as the final wave of mind-controlled characters snag their victims and make for the hills — or at least for the UE. The mind-controlled characters will also have the backup of a squadron of 20 of the Masked, the UE's special ops force. The Masked's main goal is to grab those on their list and get away, but they're certainly not above shooting to kill at anyone that gets in their way. They're also highly trained in hand-to-hand combat and physically enhanced by their suits, so they're a good bunch to try to avoid.

But do have a wonderful time until then, won’t you?

Comments

[aequivoci]

[ There she goes~
There she goes agaaaain~
Being a stubborn braaat~
And he'll get to say "I told you so,"
When she falls from the sky a-booove~

(But seriously, stop trying to get closer when getting closer means plummeting from the sky again.)

A globe of clean air will surround her, giving her a reprieve from the smoky atmosphere as he listens to her findings, and he can't help but squint.

More disappearances, except this time they outright kidnapped people in the open. The one question going through his mind is "Why?" What did the transports have to offer besides powers and, depending on the transport, inside Initiative secrets?

Cross joins her in the air, standing on top of a familiar, abnormally large coffin as he looks in the direction her attention is focused. ]

We'll have to wait for the Initiative's call on this.

[anklets]

[ full stop ] Wait for-?

[aequivoci]

We're operating under a different set of rules, Lenalee. You don't need me to spell this out for you.

[anklets]

[She doesn't need any of this, quite honestly. Her teeth are set, her hands balled. It's never been such work to stay afloat, and her eyes want to return to the ground (she wants to return to the ground).]

We can't just let them go-! [ if she protests loudly enough-

her helplessness just feels more acute, actually ]

[aequivoci]

[ bluntly: ] Keep your emotions in check.

[ It is how akuma are created, no? One's emotions play into the wish to bring the deceased back, after all. ]

1/2

[anklets]

[anklets]

This isn't even close to the same kind of war!

[ it is. it is, it is, it is, it is ]

it's hard being mean to lenalee and no one understands ;;

[aequivoci]

You know that the objectives are the same, no matter the "kind of war" it is we're facing.

[ Certain human lives are put at risk, and some of them perish. Thus, a few suffer for the greater good.

A few have to make themselves the visible targets to protect the public at large.

War always makes its presence known; it's how it makes its presence known that will be the variable, the dynamic element in the storyline. ]

he's the only one who won't put up with her BS

[anklets]

[ flit, flit, she's hummingbirding in her anxiety, close but never too close ]

I don't care, the "objectives" don't matter to me— [ but her anger is choking out, smothered beneath conditioned helplessness ten years of being dragged away from dying comrades has put in her ] I. I...

he's not klaud okok (sorry klaud)

[aequivoci]

[ He watches her move back and forth, as if the nullifying effect from the mystery monster will disappear at any second, and then she can zip her way towards the fading shapes on the horizon.

(It's quite a smoky horizon— well, atmosphere in general.) ]

You can't do anything as of this moment. Even with your Boots activated, your ankle still requires medical attention. You would be incapacitated once more trying to follow them and hitting another nullifying field.

stupid generals...

[anklets]

[He knows her too well, maybe. There's nothing she can deny in what he's saying, but how badly she wants to burns her throat as the acid had burned him.]

Even so...!

/kanyeshrug

[aequivoci]

[ (Let it be known that his arm is tingling with pain. That acidic blood is no joke.)

He looks at the horizon for a moment before he speaks up once more. ]

Let's go.

[anklets]

[She hates those words, she hates them.] General...!

[aequivoci]

Staying here and watching them go is pointless. Circling the field when we're not sure where the null field is extending out will only put you at risk of making your injury worse, plus potential injury to the other ankle.

[anklets]

Tch...! [ her hands go up to clamp over her ears ] Fine, fine!