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

[commentboxtroll]

[ And then he's shoved away, which actually wasn't expected so soon! That leaves Caesar to stumble back a step or two before losing his balance entirely and landing on his butt, down on the wet ground.

How many times is he going to end up down here tonight?! ]

He's gone.

[ He'll repeat himself, though, for Gilbert's sake. For all he knows, Break is just going to keep on yelling at the poor guy. ]

[maddeninghatter]

You were supposed to be--

[ He is about to launch into another vindictive invective, when Caesar's simple, awful words stop his tongue. The UE getting its hands on B. Rabbit is awful enough, but the person who will be most devastated by this news is...

He lets his cane drop. He leans on it. ]

Gilbert.

[retraced]

[If it hadn't been for Break's reaction, giving up the fight with just two simple words, he might have thought that he'd heard wrong. That maybe Caesar had been mistaken, and Break would correct him. Don't get to far out of my sight, was what Gilbert had instructed of Oz earlier. It had been a promise between both of them.

Gilbert freezes with his arms still up defensively, but slowly, as though an invisible weight is growing on top of his back, he slumps forward and his breath catches anxiously.]

What a - what are you talking about?! He can't just be - no, he has to be somewhere close by! Break, we have to find him, we -

[commentboxtroll]

[ The struggle to deny it is tiring to watch and Caesar just shakes his head. ]

If he were still here, one of us three would have seen him by now.

[ And since he doubts Oz would have left him laying unconscious in a hallway for very long had he gotten away, well... ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ The rain is picking up, from dull mist to spittle; he can feel water running down the side of his face. He lost his hat in the melee. His Venetian finery is in tatters and his skin is still smarting from the acid burns. He imagines Gilbert can't be faring much better. ]

I would say to look for him in the castle, it's dark and full of secret places. But - haha! - you know as well as I do, Oz isn't the type to hide. Nor Collette.

[ His instinct is to draw his sword and give chase, all the way to the coastline (which is surely where the United Earth is taking their captives), killing everything in his way. Impulsively. Carelessly. Stupidly. But he likes to think he has learned something, since that awful night at Yura's party. ]

They have been taken by the United Earth. Which means getting them back is a military operation.

[retraced]

['Nor Collette.' Gilbert gasps softly, the noise hidden under the sound of the rain. No, Oz would never hide. For the sake of his friends, he would have tried to fight. And if it was for Collette...

The last time that Oz had been stolen away from him like this, he'd been able to pinpoint exactly where he'd been taken. Isla Yura's estate was only so large. But the entire world exists outside of the confines of this city, and if this really is the UE's doing, there's no telling where he's been taken. The idea that Oz could truly be gone and so far out of his sight that he's unreachable rips at his chest and squeezes the air from his lungs.

If Break and Caesar are paying attention, they might start to notice large black feathers materializing and falling out of the sky to the wet ground below.]

Military operation...?

[His voice trembles with anger.]

We can't sit here and wait for them to organize something like that - we'd be wasting too much time! If they've been taken, then we need to follow them before they can get away!

[commentboxtroll]

[ Feathers?

Feathers materializing. So Gilbert has one of those summons, like Oz does. He has to wonder if it's the kind that won't kill him, as aforementioned, but now's not the time to ask (and honestly, Caesar doesn't care that much). So, instead, he ignores them and works on climbing back to his feet once again. ]

Oh, that should go brilliantly for you. Do you intend for us to become prisoners as well or is your plan of attack to die as suddenly and violently as possible?

[ When he's up, he'll brush some mud off his shirt (Oz's shirt, as it would be, which seems awfully awkward to be stuck wearing right now) and continue on, having returned to sounding obnoxiously calm about this entire mess. ]

The second would be preferable, actually, so could you aim for that? Since it would at least land everyone back right where they started in time for a real rescue.

[maddeninghatter]

[ Well obviously, he can sense Raven, even if the distinctive smell of wet feathers didn't give it away. ]

Put your bird away, Gilbert. Honestlyyy. Don't be a spoiled brat.

[ Break's arm swings out, on purpose to grab Caesar's shirt (Oz's shirt, apparently) and shove him down again. ]

Shut up! Nobody asked you!

[ You may be right, kid, but you're a useless little whelp and you're right (goddammit) and you sound way too calm and -- ]

Just - shut up!

[ --and Break is sounding rather less calm, himself. ]

[retraced]

[The feathers remain, some floating down to the ground while others dance on the wind, but Caesar's words to freeze him up a little. If he runs in after them, under the wrong circumstances, he'll definitely be outnumbered. Getting himself killed won't help Oz. But standing here waiting for something else to happen isn't an option either.

Gilbert steps forward as Break reaches out for Caesar and, hopefully before he can get shoved to the ground, he grabs for Break's wrist, and if he's successful he'll bend the arm down to keep him out from trying to reach out for Caesar a second time.]

Stop messing around! There are more important things to worry about right now! We have to figure out where they went!

[commentboxtroll]

[ Caesar takes a step back, trying to find firmer ground to take a stand on when Break grabs for him, but, in the end, it doesn't matter. Gilbert intervenes and he's saved, for the moment. ]

Finally, some sense... [ He hopes, anyway. Choosing to address Gilbert for the most part now, he adds: ] We'll be better equipped to do that from the Hold. Chances are they'll already have an idea.

[maddeninghatter]

[ Okay, that? That? That is the last straw, getting unceremoniously grabbed by his useless subordinate! He yanks his arm forward to pull Gilbert off-balance, and then follows with a savage kick--sending Gilbert flying forwards on a collision course with Caesar. ]

I said shut up!

[retraced]

[Sorry Caesar, you're about to greet the ground once more, maybe. On a good day, Gilbert might have been able to evade, to simply double over but keep his feet on his ground, but perception is still shaky and calling on his Chain, as usual, weakens him. Raven's presence immediately vanishes, however, as soon as that foot collides and he stumbles backwards towards Caesar.]

Oof!

[commentboxtroll]

Hey!

[ As close together as they already are, on top of how Gilbert towers over Caesar in size, the outcome is as expected. Gilbert stumbles into Caesar, Caesar also stumbles backwards, uncertain footing on the muddy ground leads to both, well, on the ground.

Okay, that's enough.

Now Caesar's a little angry. ]

What is your problem?! [ He'll yell while trying to shove Gilbert off and out of the way! ] Stop taking your own uselessness out on other people!

[maddeninghatter]

[ The Raven is gone, which is good. Gilbert and Caesar are on the ground, which is even better. However, there is still one problem: ]

My dear Mister Caesar:

Given that you displayed such excellent, well-practiced self-preservation skills, while Oz and Collette were being abducted, I find myself at a loss to explain why you are still talking!

[retraced]

[He's caught off guard, so as soon as Caesar shoves him away he goes down onto his rear in the mud. No, he thinks, it isn't Break who is useless here. It's him. It's his fault. He should have paid closer attention, not let his guard down, not agreed to let Oz go to this ridiculous gathering to begin with. This is his fault, for being the useless idiot that he always is.

He raises a hand to rub at his face. He needs a moment to wallow in self pity before he can actually do anything about any of this.]

[commentboxtroll]

[ The surge of anger at Break fades as quickly as it arrived and Caesar shakes his head. No use, no use in yelling back. ]

I'm still talking because I know what happened, where you appear to be making a bunch of assumptions. [ And honestly, this has gotten old fast, so he won't stick around to explain what really did go on. With Gilbert off, he gets back up one more time. ] Though I will thank you for making it known that I shouldn't with you for next time.

[ To Gilbert, he spares another glance down at. ]

If you want to know what's going to be done about this, I suggest heading back the Hold as well. That's where I'll be heading.

[ Translation: if you want someone not totally insane to walk back there with. Seriously. ]