[BitPR2] Renewed Revolution: Mortal World II [Archive]

strawberryman

2013-06-13, 10:41 AM

[Mortal World]

The High School was just that - a High School. It had no name, so to speak of. It had no origins that any could recall.

They called it "The School". Naming it anything specific would be meaningless, for in the minds of all who had ever attended it was "The School". The School was big and looming, a massive beast of a building that overlooked everything in the area - the tall cliffs leading up to it barely holding it afloat - waves crashed against them every day, lulling unsuspecting students to rest with their whispers far below.

The town was a simple place. People went about their day to day lives there, in this simple town of Ikari. It was urban, and yet it was not. Most of the buildings were industrial, for the entire town was man-made, but there were a few that looked simplistic and elegant, the look of old dojos or palaces.

That is where the rich reside.

This is not about the rich.

The School was a dangerous place to attend, but it was the only place to attend. The cliffs threatened to take whoever dared to try them, and everyone dared. It was a game to the students. Test The Waters, they called it.

A small plank of wood would be extended towards the end of the cliffs, with someone standing on top of it. Everyone would chant - "Fly, Fly, Fly!", and the person would slowly edge their way to the end of the board. If they reached the end without slipping, they would jump on the board, once, twice, three times, before returning to solid ground, slowly but carefully.

Many died this way, trying to prove themselves to their fellow peers.

It is a Monday. A good day, by any means - but the worst day to awaken, and be introduced to reality...

--

Beneath the city stretches a labyrinth of catacombs, ever expanding outward, and unexplored in entirety until very recently. This would be the setting for a new group to arrive to the town, the Cult of the First Hollow King. Pledged to an ancient Hollow and his court, they will, and have attempted to release him and his kind for nearly 50 years.

But aside from that, the town of Ikari has become a hotbed of spiritual activity, piquing the interest of many other interested parties. Quincies from all over have come to congregate in the town, one from the Americas, the Winchester Clan, one from Australia, the Anderson Family, one from Europe, the Belanus Clan. And almost fatefully simultaneously, others have come to live in the town as well.

What will the mortals, the shinigami, and the arrancar make of this town? There is no way to truly tell...

KnightDisciple

2013-06-13, 11:07 AM

[Mortal World]
(City Streets)

Tamaki looks over the new arrivals without dropping out of his Red Joker form. A lone eye wanders over Alice before Tamaki's cybernetic growl of a voice replies, "If you mean was the Hollow defeated in a way that would allow it to pass on then no. If you mean did the Hollow itself cause casualties then that would be a no as well. We managed to save the family it was harassing."
Chuck gives a careless shrug at the comment.

"There was a threat. I ended the threat. Don't really care about the Hollow. The family's safe, that's what's important."

He reached into his leather pouch and pulled out a large pack of cinnamon chewing gum, quickly extracting a piece and tossing it in. As he chewed, he held it out for the others.

"Gum?"

Alice looks at the ghostly family, momentarily lost in thought. Nodding, she puts something in her mouth, stepping out of the gigai yet again. Brushing a wayward white hair aside, the British Shinigami replies sadly.

"I can send you on, but your mortal deeds will determine if that is to Soul Society or Hell. Shinigami are but the messengers"

She smiles at the family as she steps forward, calmly raising her sword to press the end of the hilt against the speaker's forehead. If nothing prevents it, Konso would be performed and the Plus be engulfed in light and send on.

(I don't think having chains means Konso won't work, but I'll change the post if it is. ^_^')
Charles hid the frown when the apparent Shinigami made a comment about Hell. Bad enough Soul Society wasn't going to be all it was hyped up to be, no need to freak them out over Hell, too.

Instead, he just gave the family a smile and a tip of the hat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Cathedral of the Tri-Fold Eye)

Vincenzo makes the handshake even firmer.

"Well now, family! That is a different story. A band, a tribe, a merry gathering of friends. That's something I can get behind."

"And if you think the same, you will make a fine member of our merry court once you are free of that icky mass of kishi bogging you down."

Thomas releases his grip, tucking his hands in his pockets.

"It's amazing what a common purpose can do for people. As for my body, well, it's more accurate to say my goal for myself and those in my care is to make ourselves the ultimate hybrid life-form. An Arrancar like you, but also still a living being.

The best of both worlds, you might say. That it would cement our ability to defend ourselves from foes both mortal and immortal, well. Everything's got a bonus, yes?"

Draken

2013-06-13, 11:22 AM

Vincenzo lets it go as well.

"Eh, don't know, that's what those Gigai are for, I suppose. Can't really see no benefit to that thing and all its needs that you have to supply within the constraints of your mortal societies."

"No, no, being dead, that's where it is at. Being arrancar and free of mad hunger, even more so. Only advantage I can see to being alive is getting a second shot if you curse your last."

"Or, second last, at any rate."

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-13, 11:25 AM

[Mortal World]

LAST TIME ON BITP: RENEWED REVOLUTION:

An enigmatic being working from behind the scenes has set customized hollows on the town in a series of "experiments." The mortal students displaying various powers, the ones he initially considered to be obstacles, he has instead decided to use to further the tests of his experiments. Currently only his subordinates have any further clues as to his true identity. For now, the enigma seems content to watch and observe, but how will this enigma react to the many new forces encroaching upon his research area...?

Sazaki Miko, a disturbed young girl hiding a terrible secret inside her, nearly started to open herself up to others in her classroom before learning that they have made it their mission to eliminate hollows, like her beloved Cutie Pie living inside her. After witnessing some of them take down a much bigger hollow, Sazaki Miko is attempting to escape and ponder her next course of action. Perhaps she will happen upon another stranger in her wanderings...

Charlotte Winchester, a Quincy representative from the North American branch family, has only just arrived in the city, whether to simply hunt hollows or contact fellow Quincies is anyone's guess at this point. Having a bit of culture shock, the lively young woman has just taken up an invitation to lunch with a polite, though admittedly overly flirtatious, French gentleman, whom she does not know yet is also a Quincy. How will they react to each other's true identities?

Tsukimoto Miya, a student, has recently come back into contact with her long-lost mother, who died years ago but has seemingly come back from the grave. How is this possible? What terrible secret could Tsukimoto Hikari possibly be hiding, and could this be putting her daughter in danger?

Meanwhile, the teenager Hakuto Kenzan, bearing secrets not even he knows about, in his quest to make his life interesting and worth fulfilling, has recently come in contact with a group of fellow mortals with the ability to see spirits as well as other powers. Kenzan doesn't believe he himself has powers, that he's fought his battles with hollows with nothing but brute force. And now he's found another strange person to pique his interest...

(City Streets)

[Mortal World]
Unspecified part of Great Tokyo Area

One step at a time, Kenzan and Mikael walk closer to the designated meeting spot. In response to Kenzan's question, Mikael shakes his head. "I don't think that's an apt description. Rather, I think they are just what they are called: gods of death."

"It is their job to ensure death happens. While undoubtedly vital for nature to function as we know it, no moral judgment can be made of that fact. Forgive me if I'm putting my foot in my mouth, but in Shinto belief, Kami are considered to be much likd men, no? They live, they die, they take a dump."

"And in buddhist belief, gods are irrelevant. They may exist, but no enlightment can be gained from elevating them above men. Ultimately, they are just another part of the circle of life. Man, beast or kami, we're all in the same mess, trying to get out."

"Well, if hollows are soul-eating monsters, and the job of the Shinigami is to purify hollows and souls and prevent souls from being eaten by hollows, doesn't that make the Shinigami the 'good guys' by default? I mean they're probably not perfect. The only one I've ever met was kind of a jerk. I don't think it's a matter of whether they behave divinely or not. They could be more like Christian angels, Nordic valkyries, Greek furies, or even just stereotypical Grim Reapers for all I really know."

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-13, 12:55 PM

strawberryman

2013-06-13, 01:15 PM

(City Streets)

The family looks somewhat apprehensive at the unnecessary mention of Hell. But what other option did they have? As the pommel goes to each of their foreheads, fortunately, they all pass on, and the gates of Hell do not in fact appear.

Katsuo looks upon the spectacle with some disbelief. He's not sure what he just saw. But on second consideration, it was slightly less odd than "Alice" ditching her body. And the giant bull monster.

(Cathedral of the Trifold Eye)

Alexandra silently slips away in the midst of the conversation, making to the basement. There, she makes her way back to her "map room", and, with a clatter, she pulls out several large bottles of various liquids from her bag, as well as a few smaller empty vials. For a while, she fiddles with the liquids, using her communion with them to shift colors and then pour them into the vials. She mixes some liquids together into frothing elixirs, and leaves some alone. All told, she winds up with a few orange-colored elixirs, red-colored potions, and a couple dark blue droughts. With that covered... she makes her way to a cot in the back of the room, and collapses into sleep.

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-13, 01:38 PM

"What is a soul? Why does eating it carry any more moral weight than eating flesh?" Mikael's sole visible eye rolls to look at Kenzan. "Is a hunter who kills a wolf to prevent it from eating a rabbit a "good guy"? Or is he just killing a competing predator so he can one day have one extra meal?"

Mikael resumes looking forward. "These Hollows are dangerous. They also eat people. But those are true of hosts of other creatures too. Creatures that have been irrationally persecuted by mankind for ages, like wolves or snakes. You can only assume the hunter is a good guy, if you assume humanity is "good" or more "worthy" by default. It is not always so."

"That's why I don't think it is wise to make moral judgment based on such rationale. Hollows hunt people, like wolves hunt rabbits. Shinigami hunts Hollows, like hunters hunt wolves. That's just something that happens."

"Of the two Hollows I've met, one tried to kill me, while the second lent me a helping hand without asking for anything in return. The first, I think we can agree is bad, but no-one who acts like the second can be a completely rotten person. Your Shinigami sounds like he falls somewhere in between. I'd like to meet him, if possible."

Kenzan stops walking, folding his arms and raising an eyebrow. "Are you seriously equating eating people to eating a cheeseburger? If you want to say the hollows aren't evil but wolves who eat souls to survive, I guess there's some merit to that. But we're not talking about rabbits here. We're talking about people. Men, women, children, brother, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends, family, lovers, you, me, everyone, people. If something's trying to kill us or eat us or whatever, they're the bad guys. And anyone who's going to help us fight them off are the good guys.

"Besides, from what I've heard, the Shinigami don't kill the hollows. They purify their souls or something so they aren't monsters anymore." Kenzan isn't suspicious or cautious about Mikael's words (at least not yet), he's just trying to wrap his head around the viewpoint.

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-13, 02:11 PM

"You clearly ascribe much more value to human life than mere animals. But that is a moral statement. And like I said, you can't make moral arguments out of facts. Your whole argument is based on feelings, not any natural law. You love the people around you, and would hate to see them go. Because of that, you consider protecting them "good", and threatening them "evil"." Mikael's tone is conversing, maybe a slight bit excited. It appears he enjoys dissecting Kenzan's words.

"I don't have friends, family, offspring or lovers", Mikael states as they march past another block of office buildings. "I haven't really considered myself a human being either for four years now. Humans don't survive being shot with artillery. I'm not part of the people you speak of. "

"Besides, do you even know what this purification entails? Jehoel made it sound like the Hollow is just exorcised. Nothing really remains of it. You say it frees their soul, but it just runs into the same question: why does the soul matter? Why is a man more valuable than a monster? According to some traditions, a soul is just a blob of karma; an ever-changing stream of consciousness. Ego, the self, is erased between each new reincarnation."

Mikael looks at the sky. "Those traditions hold men are worth something only because men can reach enlightment; but men are not the only creatures that can do that. Tigers can, too. And dolphins. And some other animals I really don't remember right now. So why couldn't a monster do the same? Men are not saints - they are wretched creatures in their own right. Yet, some good can exist in them. From what Jehoel told me, these monsters, Hollows, are made of men. He claimed to have risen above base instincts of a Hollow by ripping off his mask. Humanity evolved capacity for ethics only by happenstance. There's nothing really that denies that possibility from other creatures. Or at least, I'm not aware of any such thing."

5a Violista

2013-06-13, 05:03 PM

<Charlotte Winchester, in the Restaurant>

[Mortal World: City]
Restaurant

"Enchanté." Does he recognize that family name? Who knows. If he did, would he have said something by now? Probably not. Besides, everyone knows that all American names sound exactly alike.

"You would be right to think that. I'm from Paris," he says; something she could have easily guessed by his accent when he spoke English. "I've come here to do some acting in a film we're making," says the actor, "as well as some family history." What exactly that means, only he knows. He also came here to avoid politics between the various Quincy families in his clan, but filming movies is much cooler.

Museum
Miya, taking a detour on her way back from kendo practice, walks by in front of the Museum (?).
((I can't find any posts whatsoever about this, so please someone else post and stop waiting for me.))

strawberryman

2013-06-14, 10:41 AM

(City Streets)

...Finally, something breaks after all the things Katsuo had seen. With a somewhat breaking, vaguely amused but subtly frightened tone, he speaks up.

"...Does someone care to... tell me how in the world this is happening?" He's grinning, fighting off giggles from the absolute absurdity of all this. "You explained what you think this is all about... but that can't possibly be real. Hollows? Lost souls? This just... it can't be real. No way."

"There's no way I flipped some sort of bull monster, no way that people can just hop out of their bodies, no way that people can just ferry souls to heaven or hell or wherever..." He's more talking to himself at this point, going over the various reasons this couldn't possibly be real. If someone has an eye for psychology, it's likely he's been holding this kind of breakdown in for a while, and not even in the "today" sense, in the "for several years" sense.

KnightDisciple

2013-06-14, 11:05 AM

(Cathedral of the Trifold Eye)

Vincenzo lets it go as well.

"Eh, don't know, that's what those Gigai are for, I suppose. Can't really see no benefit to that thing and all its needs that you have to supply within the constraints of your mortal societies."

"No, no, being dead, that's where it is at. Being arrancar and free of mad hunger, even more so. Only advantage I can see to being alive is getting a second shot if you curse your last."

"Or, second last, at any rate."

"The idea is to be dead but not dead. The best of both! And the ability to get something of a "second shot" might apply. At any rate, you could just think of this as us wanting to keep the Gigai we're already used to, instead of having to go fetch some new ones. From studying that Sora boy, who's both alive and an Arrancar, I'd say that the differences are pretty slim. Ultimately it's more about skipping some of the troublesome middle steps.

So, with that said, the tour! And then food and drink, if you'd like."

Indeed, Thomas gives the 10-minute tour, giving Vincenzo a bit of a look if he gets too ornery around the Cult members (all of whom can, by this point, see spirits).
It's clear that, while the warehouse as a whole needs a lot of work, there's definite potential, and there's been some solid progress made.

"With Isabelle here, and you Knights here on occasion, I might devote a single day to trying to do some major rennovations with my abilities. Just stack the raw materials up and spend an hour or two concentrating. We'd still need a painter and whatnot, I'm not that good or precise, but I figure that while hard work is good for you and all that, it'd be nice to have more and better spaces. Probably going to need electricians and plumbers to swing by as well...Either way, this'll go faster than you might think over the next couple of weeks."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(City Streets)

...Finally, something breaks after all the things Katsuo had seen. With a somewhat breaking, vaguely amused but subtly frightened tone, he speaks up.

"...Does someone care to... tell me how in the world this is happening?" He's grinning, fighting off giggles from the absolute absurdity of all this. "You explained what you think this is all about... but that can't possibly be real. Hollows? Lost souls? This just... it can't be real. No way."

"There's no way I flipped some sort of bull monster, no way that people can just hop out of their bodies, no way that people can just ferry souls to heaven or hell or wherever..." He's more talking to himself at this point, going over the various reasons this couldn't possibly be real. If someone has an eye for psychology, it's likely he's been holding this kind of breakdown in for a while, and not even in the "today" sense, in the "for several years" sense.
"It's bloody well freaky, mate. Want a stick?"

Charles is standing next to Katsuo, holding up the pack of gum, his glasses tucked into a pocket so that the other teen could see the genuine sympathy in his eyes.

"Try to think of it this way. Most everyone in the world figures there's something more to life, yeah? Nobody really agrees on it, but keeps poppin' up no matter who ya talk to.

What really blows the mind is how everyone and no one ended up bein' right, ya know?

Angels, demons....seems like that's what them Psychopomps an' Hollows end up seemin' like.

Ya seem to accept you're not quite like a lot of other people, what with that strength. Welcome to the club, mate. Biggest lie anyone ever put out was that there's such a thing as "normal". Ain't none of us "normal", not even the ones who can't see spirits."

He gave a wry chuckle and tapped his chest with his free hand.

"I've been huntin' soul-eating monsters since I was 12, mate. That sound 'normal' to you? I left normal behind when I was popped out of my ma. Never known 'normal'. Well, except for our normal. See, us Andersons figure we don't fit that general picture of 'normal', so we stick with what we like for 'normal'. It's pretty weird. Even for Quincy folk. But it works.

Way I see it, if we were a couple years older I'd take you out for a pint, but as it is, we could go get a burger and think this over. Or you go take some time yourself, process it.

Things won't go back way they were before. But! I think you're the sort who'll think this over for a bit, then decide things are what things are, and you'll get up and face it. Won't face it like I do, 'cause you're not me. You're you. You gotta figure out your new normal, Katsuo. Ain't no one else going to be able to define that for you, really. But hey, I'm willing to bend an ear or two for ya. Bet some of these nice folks are too, if you need it. Just take your time."

Mina Kobold

2013-06-14, 12:22 PM

(City Streets)

Alice turns slightly in Charles' direction as she finishes sending the family off, breathing a sigh of relief when all of them seem to go off to Soul Society.

"Another Quincy? How fascinating, so many, so young, so near. Do you-nevermind."

Shaking her head, the Shinigami turns to face Katsuo, attempting a reassuring smile and a calming tone.

"Mr. Anderson is right, Yamada-san. It necessitates a long time and much befuddlement, but it will make sense. It will be overwhelming and incomprehensible at first, but you don't have to make it all fit right now. Take your time, let the shock dissipate and look at the new field of study you have discovered when you are ready. There is no hurry, you are still alive and safe among others well-versed in our world."

Alice gestures at the collected group of Quincies and other Mortals, deliberately not indicating herself or the Modsoul in her gigai.

strawberryman

2013-06-14, 04:47 PM

(City Streets)

Katsuo declines the gum, but listens to the comments from Chuck and Alice in silence. He looks lost in thought for a few moments, sighs... then approaches Chuck's bike. With one hand, he lifts it up as effortlessly as someone lifting a 5 pound weight, with only slight resistance. Holding it above his head, he remarks; "...I guess this... isn't very 'normal'." He puts it back down carefully, and takes a few breaths.

"...I think I'll be okay, but... I might need another explanation. Now that I'm actually listening, instead of freaking out..." He gives a nervous smile.

horngeek

2013-06-14, 08:41 PM

[City Streets]

Both twins watch Katsuo's reaction carefully, Hinata also keeping an eye on Alice. Natsuki speaks up. "Where do you want to start with the explanation?"

strawberryman

2013-06-14, 09:16 PM

(City Streets)

Katsuo looks around, given the fact they are in the middle of the city streets. "...Um, maybe we should start with moving somewhere private?" The common sense power is strong in Katsuo. It's almost absurdly overpowering. "...Sorry, I didn't mean to assume that wasn't your plan as well." He smiles nervously. Actually that is pretty much his permanent expression.

((Fast Travel: >>Private Place?))

Dorizzit

2013-06-14, 09:20 PM

[Mortal World]
The Streets

At Katsuo's prompting of going to a private location, Naito shoves a thumb over his shoulder.

"We aren't that far from the studio, if people want somewhere private."

strawberryman

2013-06-14, 09:31 PM

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-14, 09:36 PM

[Kenzan]

Kenzan scowls. "How are you not a person? Because you don't have people close to you? Because you're strong? How does that make any difference? The people I've met are plenty strong and have strange powers that I doubt anyone else in the world has. They're still people. Having strength or powers doesn't change that."

"And I don't have anyone close to me either. Not really. The people I met, the ones with powers, I've only just met them a few days ago. I've barely talked to them more than I've talked to you just now. Does that make me 'not a person?'" Kenzan's tone betrays him at being at least a little insulted at that implication.

"There are good guys and there are bad guys. There's no reason to try to complicate the concept. There's Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty. King Arthur and Mordred. Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. Superman and Lex Luthor. Batman and Joker. James Bond and Spectre. You can try to pick them apart and say that the good guys are somehow evil or the bad guys are somehow good, but at the end of the day, one is trying to save the world, and the other is somehow trying to destroy it."

"The people I've met. And the Shinigami. They're trying to protect. The hollows are trying to destroy. I can't speak for this Jehoel guy you met, as all the hollows I've ever met were grotesque masked monsters trying to eat me and others. There's no way I can just stand by when someone's about to get eaten by a monster. I can't debate whether a hollow is evil or just hungry when someone else's life is in danger, or whether or not that hollow may somehow repent its ways after one more snack."

"We're the good guys. And that's not going to change."

"What about you? From the way you talk you almost sound like you're on the hollows' side, that you want them to just keep eating people."

===========

[Tsukimoto Miya]

Miya may get the distinct impression she's being followed along her detour, even when she goes to the museum. But if she turns to look around, she won't find anyone following her. Probably just nerves from a few days ago.

===========

[Charlotte Winchester]

"Family, huh? I guess we're in the same rodeo! I came to Japan tryin' to get in touch with some distant cousins of mine too. Well, that, and the usual family business, but I haven't had much time for that yet." She completely ignores the comment about her dinner partner being an actor, something that he probably isn't used to. After all, she's more of a family gal anyway.

Edge

2013-06-15, 05:46 AM

Mortal World
Cathedral of the Trifold Eye

Sora blinked, staring at Isabelle uncomprehendingly. Then his eyes widened. "Oh! A'course! 'Ere ya go."

Summoning his zanpakuto, he hands it off to Isabelle, winking roguishly at the girl in return. "Yer right a'course. Wouldn't be fair if ah could attack back afterwards, eh? 'Ere 'old my arms down so that ah don't punch 'er on reflex." He locks his hands behinds his back and grins wildly at the girl with the mask again. "Alrigh', now that thas all o'er with, ya still got ter punch me, ya know!"
Cathedral of the Trifold Eye
"Le Roi donne moi patience," Isabelle mutters, massaging a temple. "Sora, I am not going to hold you or your weapon, because neither you nor our guest are going to hit each other. Comprenez-vous?"

Her free hand grips one of her charms tightly, the silver digging into her skin. Was that her eye twitching?

Terry576

2013-06-15, 05:55 AM

Cathedral of the Trifold Eye

Sora blinked, then rolled his eyes and with a wave of his hand, his Zanpakuto vanished.

"Alrigh' then le chevalier de fun. Ah'm sure tha' sum'un out there is real glad that ya don' want no punchin' in yer church, but ah still think that it'd be tha bes' way ta determine if she's on yer side er not."

Sticking his tongue out her childishly, he turns to the girl, and offers her his hand. "Alrigh' then! Ah'm Shiki Sora, bastard, hollow, and all-round stan'-up guy! Don' worry 'bout tha knight o'er there, ah'm sure later ya can slug me a good one! But see, yer in sorta a secret place, an' ya seemed like ya were in trouble! Ya sure ya don' need no help or nuthin', or is there somethin' out thar that ah can crush for ya?"

The entire time he's speaking, he's grinning wildly, his eyes dancing with flames and promises that would not be broken, and pure, pure unbridled trust.

And his hand stays out, waiting for her to accept the implied offer - friends. Promises don't come lightly from the boy standing before her, or at least it doesn't seem like they do - the way he spoke to the knight seemed like she wanted politeness and all he had to offer was brashness and hostility.

"C'mon love! E'en if los knight de nobility o'er 'ere thinks that yer evil, ah sure don'! Ya seem... Fun. Innerestin'. An' I wouldn' 'ave joined up with this 'ole outfit if it wasn' innerestin'! So how 'bout it? Friends, a place ta stay, and more adventure than ya can fit in one realm! One time only offer, ya better pick quick!"

Mina Kobold

2013-06-15, 06:29 AM

(City Strees > Dance Studio)

Alice smiles at Hinata as she notices the Substitute-Shinigami looking. Returning to the gigai and again pocketing the Soul Candy somewhere beneath her hooded shirt.

Following along, the long-dead centenarian begins to absently hum a tune, skipping alongside the Mortals and apparently enjoying the buildings along the way. Occasionally, Alice looks at Katsuo, studying the super-strong Mortal's well-being, almost as if expecting something.

5a Violista

2013-06-15, 02:02 PM

Mortal World: City

Yes, it's definitely just her nerves. Reality shattering apart isn't good on one's nerves.
<Miya refrains from actually doing anything until someone else posts>

Restaurant
That is indeed weird. Caeyrn finds it extraordinarily odd that Charlotte didn't even bat her eyes at him being an actor. Then she starts talking about family, instead. Creepy.

Some eating happens, as Caeyrn listens and thinks and pauses. It appears he's been trained in the art of dining out.

Caeyrn, though he likes his family, doesn't want to talk about them because that might let slip that he (and his family) secretly hunt supernatural beasts while simultaneously changing the course of Europe's history through their petty rivalries.

So, he ironically goes back to talking about business, 'though he keeps a 'family' bent to it because that's what this woman appears to like talking about: "You've made me curious; what is your family business? What do you do?"

Edge

2013-06-15, 03:42 PM

AnimeKid

2013-06-15, 04:04 PM

City Streets>Dance Studio

Tamaki had been listening to Charles' speech and had took some mental notes of it. While he could tell you all the answers to the homework Tamaki could not make a good speech. Well, that was a lie. He could make a good speech but he could not make an inspiring one. At least, not yet he couldn't. He still had things to figure out.

After everyone starts moving Tamaki follows. But before hand he closes his lone eye as he is covered in a soft red glow. As the glow disappears his scarf animates wildly and after swirling around his body at high speed for moment returns to it's place, wrapped tightly around his neck.

Dorizzit

2013-06-15, 04:12 PM

Mortal World
City Streets -> Dance Studio

Naito leads the way. As promised, the studio is only a few blocks away; a simple one-story building with the words "Rising Snow Dance Studio" on the door. Naito ushers everyone inside, waving to the receptionist before taking the group through two hallways and through a door. The room on the other side is moderately large, its most notable feature a floor length mirror that takes up one wall. The mirror has been shattered, with large sections missing and spiderweb cracks going through the rest. A large sheet of plastic covers it, making it only barely visible. Naito spreads his arms.

"Make yourselves at home. Don't touch the mirror."

strawberryman

2013-06-15, 04:54 PM

(Dance Studio)

Katsuo looks around, piquing a bit in concern at the broken mirror, but doesn't comment, simply bowing slightly to Naito and then taking a seat on the floor, offloading his bag.

"...So... um. I guess we could start from the beginning? ...If there is a beginning. Sorry." He thinks. "...You said those monsters were called Hollows? What are they?"

((We can largely do a short timeskip over all this since you already did the exposition dump and Katsuo was just late to the party. :smalltongue:))

Mina Kobold

2013-06-15, 06:04 PM

(Dance Studio)

Alice gives the mirror a curious look, but seemingly loses interest and follows Katsuo's example. Letting the hood fall and taking of the shades, Alice replies to Katsuo. An oddly cold and bitter tone creeping in behind the otherwise casual explanation.

"A Hollow forms from a Plus, a deceased Mortal still in this world. Lingering for too extended a time or experiencing a despair too great are the prime causes for the formation of a Hollow. They will devour Pluses, consuming their souls, caring nothing for the Plus that they formed from."

Pausing, the Shinigami shakes her head and smiles, returning to a cheerful and polite tone.

"No need to worry, however, as both Shinigami and Quincies can terminate them. Though Quincies utterly annihilate the soul and affects the balance... but no definite theory on the lasting effects exist. Fascinating field of study."

Alice finishes, a slight hint of morbid fascination barely noticeable at the mention of the balance. Unnoticeable unless the kids pay close attention, but there.

((Sorry, wanted to convey that Alice may not be entirely unbiased about Hollows. Feel free to skip over the rest and treat Alice's explanation as just a small part of it. ^_^'))

Lady Serpentine

2013-06-15, 06:57 PM

Taking a visibly startled step backwards, Rin stares in the direction of the Hollow. As she speaks, Rin looks around, seeing only one visitor in the room, quiet and ignorant of the voice.

"Who's saying that? Hallucin-no, maybe not"

Recalling something, the quite spiritually noticeable security guard raises a hand to remove her eye-patch. Despite evidently not quite seeing the Hollow yet, Rin still continues absently backing up.

"Not seeing things that aren't there, no (go!)," Hothead answers, chuckling wheezily, as though she's been inhaling smoke recently, and scuttling up the wall, though Rin may be able to try to stop her if she gets the eyepatch off in time. "Not even seeing things that are (you won't get far)!"

[Mortal World]
Cathedral of the Trifold Eye

Sora chuckles, grinning at the dry wit of the newcomer. "Ah'm sure Isabelle can relax fer a bit! The gen'ral atmosphere right now seems a biiiit tense fer a group 'a newfound friends! 'ere, ah've always been a good sport!"

Standing with his arms wide open and a mad mad grin, Sora speaks, his eyes glinting with some unfathomable emotion, "C'mon! Gimme yer best shot!"

"Non! Arrêtez! Sora, la famille does not start unnecessary conflicts. Mademoiselle, I am not asking you to wear chains. I am asking that you leave your weapon with us as a goodwill gesture for your visit."

Isabelle crosses her arms, a frown on her face.

"I will be happy to personally return it to you when you decide to leave."

Mortal World
Cathedral of the Trifold Eye

Sora blinked, staring at Isabelle uncomprehendingly. Then his eyes widened. "Oh! A'course! 'Ere ya go."

Summoning his zanpakuto, he hands it off to Isabelle, winking roguishly at the girl in return. "Yer right a'course. Wouldn't be fair if ah could attack back afterwards, eh? 'Ere 'old my arms down so that ah don't punch 'er on reflex." He locks his hands behinds his back and grins wildly at the girl with the mask again. "Alrigh', now that thas all o'er with, ya still got ter punch me, ya know!"

Cathedral of the Trifold Eye
"Le Roi donne moi patience," Isabelle mutters, massaging a temple. "Sora, I am not going to hold you or your weapon, because neither you nor our guest are going to hit each other. Comprenez-vous?"

Her free hand grips one of her charms tightly, the silver digging into her skin. Was that her eye twitching?

Cathedral of the Trifold Eye

Sora blinked, then rolled his eyes and with a wave of his hand, his Zanpakuto vanished.

"Alrigh' then le chevalier de fun. Ah'm sure tha' sum'un out there is real glad that ya don' want no punchin' in yer church, but ah still think that it'd be tha bes' way ta determine if she's on yer side er not."

Sticking his tongue out her childishly, he turns to the girl, and offers her his hand. "Alrigh' then! Ah'm Shiki Sora, bastard, hollow, and all-round stan'-up guy! Don' worry 'bout tha knight o'er there, ah'm sure later ya can slug me a good one! But see, yer in sorta a secret place, an' ya seemed like ya were in trouble! Ya sure ya don' need no help or nuthin', or is there somethin' out thar that ah can crush for ya?"

The entire time he's speaking, he's grinning wildly, his eyes dancing with flames and promises that would not be broken, and pure, pure unbridled trust.

And his hand stays out, waiting for her to accept the implied offer - friends. Promises don't come lightly from the boy standing before her, or at least it doesn't seem like they do - the way he spoke to the knight seemed like she wanted politeness and all he had to offer was brashness and hostility.

"C'mon love! E'en if los knight de nobility o'er 'ere thinks that yer evil, ah sure don'! Ya seem... Fun. Innerestin'. An' I wouldn' 'ave joined up with this 'ole outfit if it wasn' innerestin'! So how 'bout it? Friends, a place ta stay, and more adventure than ya can fit in one realm! One time only offer, ya better pick quick!"

Cathedral of the Trifold Eye
"I do not think our visitor is evil, monsieur Sora, merely an unknown quantity. Until I know she means notre famille no harm, I simply ask her to go unarmed."

Isabelle narrows her gaze at Sora.

"Aussi, my beau-papa has put great effort into renovating the cathedral to this standard, and done much to smooth things over with the local authorities. Anything that could undermine that, comme un combat spirituel is something I will not permit."

"Alyssa would not take kindly to such a thing, and I would not scare her more than she already is... Though if I might have permission to bring her out of herself, I would find that perfectly acceptable?", Lucy offers quietly, smiling faintly at Isabelle. "I would prefer some guarantee that her shell be unaltered as well, of course, but... I am hardly in a position to negotiate."

Turning her gaze back to Sora, though Alyssa's stays on Isabelle, who the blade is less than fond of, if the distorted reflection in her hilt is any indication, Lucy hesitantly takes his hand, though her grip is firm, if perhaps not as strong as might be expected from an Arrancar.

"I do not know if you can make such an offer for the whole group, but... As you can certainly make one for yourself, I accept. As for things you can crush for me, well... Nothing for the nonce, but I can certainly find something, if you wish!"

KnightDisciple

2013-06-16, 01:42 AM

(City Streets > Dance Studio)

Katsuo nods at that. "That sounds fine." Assuming Naito takes the lead, Katsuo follows along timid and quietly. His head was still swimming, but at the very least he was resolved to the fact that this was, in fact, real.

...To say he was completely quiet would be untrue, however, as he looks to Chuck with a slightly wider smile. "T-thanks. And sorry for not asking to pick up your bike, I didn't know if you'd mind, but I... figured I would show you what I've had to deal with in my life... uh. No, sorry, I shouldn't get into my life story." He bows with his face to the ground for a moment. "Thank you. Again."

Then, he follows silently!
Chuck shrugged as he hopped on the bike and gently revved it up. Not knowing where the studio was, he kept it just barely running, keeping pace with the other kids as they went. It was apparently a highly-tuned machine, as it made little noise on the trip.

"Eh. Bike's fine. No big. And hey, not everyone has a great life. Stuff happens, man."

Charles tips his hat at Katsuo before rolling forward a bit to casually flirt with Hinata and Natsuki a bit more.

He did cut something of a "rebel without a cause" figure on that bike of his.

Naito leads the way. As promised, the studio is only a few blocks away; a simple one-story building with the words "Rising Snow Dance Studio" on the door. Naito ushers everyone inside, waving to the receptionist before taking the group through two hallways and through a door. The room on the other side is moderately large, its most notable feature a floor length mirror that takes up one wall. The mirror has been shattered, with large sections missing and spiderweb cracks going through the rest. A large sheet of plastic covers it, making it only barely visible. Naito spreads his arms.

"Make yourselves at home. Don't touch the mirror."

Charles had parked and locked the bike outside, joining the others after only a moment, his rifle stowed back in the bike, and his messenger bag holding the knife and pistol (holster/sheath included). He probably still cut an odd figure, but he didn't look like a paramilitary reject, which was the important part.

He gave the room a good look, setting his bag down in a corner.

"Hm. Not bad. Could use some TLC, but not bad at all."

Alice gives the mirror a curious look, but seemingly loses interest and follows Katsuo's example. Letting the hood fall and taking of the shades, Alice replies to Katsuo. An oddly cold and bitter tone creeping in behind the otherwise casual explanation.

"A Hollow forms from a Plus, a deceased Mortal still in this world. Lingering for too extended a time or experiencing a despair too great are the prime causes for the formation of a Hollow. They will devour Pluses, consuming their souls, caring nothing for the Plus that they formed from."

Pausing, the Shinigami shakes her head and smiles, returning to a cheerful and polite tone.

"No need to worry, however, as both Shinigami and Quincies can terminate them. Though Quincies utterly annihilate the soul and affects the balance... but no definite theory on the lasting effects exist. Fascinating field of study."

Alice finishes, a slight hint of morbid fascination barely noticeable at the mention of the balance. Unnoticeable unless the kids pay close attention, but there.

"Nothin's blown up yet. Not like there's enough of us to make a big dent these days anyways. Maybe if there were more of you Death Gods we'd be out of a job."

Chuck's tone was conversational, and there was no real animosity in his words...but it was clear he wasn't really impressed with talk of "balance".

"Anyways, unless you've seen what it's like back home, I wouldn't be frettin' too much about "balance" anyways. I figure we're better than havin' a continent of Hollows always growing in number."

Terry576

2013-06-16, 08:28 PM

"Alyssa would not take kindly to such a thing, and I would not scare her more than she already is... Though if I might have permission to bring her out of herself, I would find that perfectly acceptable?", Lucy offers quietly, smiling faintly at Isabelle. "I would prefer some guarantee that her shell be unaltered as well, of course, but... I am hardly in a position to negotiate."

Turning her gaze back to Sora, though Alyssa's stays on Isabelle, who the blade is less than fond of, if the distorted reflection in her hilt is any indication, Lucy hesitantly takes his hand, though her grip is firm, if perhaps not as strong as might be expected from an Arrancar.

"I do not know if you can make such an offer for the whole group, but... As you can certainly make one for yourself, I accept. As for things you can crush for me, well... Nothing for the nonce, but I can certainly find something, if you wish!"

Cathedral of the Trifold Eye

Sora's grin nearly splits his face, and pointed teeth shine so white with a smile so bright he looks like the sun for but a moment.

"Are you sure
Lord

king

if i die for you is it true death
girl do not
faces in the sky and in the night

monsters don't have feelings

Words, half-forgotten dreams flash through his mind as he holds the girl's hand. "Hah! I like ya already, darlin'! Yer more fun'n Isabelle o'er there ta boot!"

He shakes her hand firmly, before dropping it, his eyes like fire. "Well then, I s'pose yer part'a Isabelle's li'l family now!" He gives the chivalrous girl a stern look. "Tha' means none a this newfangled impris'nment, or any a' th' other stuff, Isabelle! She's one'a us now! So, how 'bout cha give 'er a tour!"

He walks for the door with a deep, mocking bow. "Ah've got s'me business a me own ta take care of! Ah'll see ya later, love!" With a roguish wink directed at the girl who he had tried to kill, he whips around on his heel, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket, and breathing a circle of smoke that drifted over his head like a halo.

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-17, 01:48 AM

[Streets of the City]

Kenzan scowls. "How are you not a person? Because you don't have people close to you? Because you're strong? How does that make any difference? The people I've met are plenty strong and have strange powers that I doubt anyone else in the world has. They're still people. Having strength or powers doesn't change that."

"And I don't have anyone close to me either. Not really. The people I met, the ones with powers, I've only just met them a few days ago. I've barely talked to them more than I've talked to you just now. Does that make me 'not a person?'" Kenzan's tone betrays him at being at least a little insulted at that implication.

"There are good guys and there are bad guys. There's no reason to try to complicate the concept. There's Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty. King Arthur and Mordred. Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham. Superman and Lex Luthor. Batman and Joker. James Bond and Spectre. You can try to pick them apart and say that the good guys are somehow evil or the bad guys are somehow good, but at the end of the day, one is trying to save the world, and the other is somehow trying to destroy it."

"The people I've met. And the Shinigami. They're trying to protect. The hollows are trying to destroy. I can't speak for this Jehoel guy you met, as all the hollows I've ever met were grotesque masked monsters trying to eat me and others. There's no way I can just stand by when someone's about to get eaten by a monster. I can't debate whether a hollow is evil or just hungry when someone else's life is in danger, or whether or not that hollow may somehow repent its ways after one more snack."

"We're the good guys. And that's not going to change."

"What about you? From the way you talk you almost sound like you're on the hollows' side, that you want them to just keep eating people."

Mikael is completely baffled by Kenzan's reply at first. By the time the teenager reaches his halfway point, the foreigner can't hold back a chuckle, and when he finishes, Mikael bursts out in laughter. It takes him a while to collect himself.

"And what about you? You sound like a young man going to the army. Did they already send you a drafting letter?", Mikael jests back. "You misinterprete me so badly it is hilarious. I'm sorry if I misphrased something, but you are funny when riled up."

Mikael returns to a more solemn tone of voice. "I wasn't saying I'm not a person - I was saying I am not human. And even if I was, I would still not be of the same people as you. In the abstract sense, even Hollows are people, at least Hollows like Jehoel - but that doesn't comfort you one bit, does it now? You can't judge a creature's worth by looking at the group it belongs to."

"Speaking of groups, you asking whether I'm on the Hollows "side" is hilarious. Do the rabbits of this world form a cohesive side? Do the wolves? Or men, for that matter? No, they do not. You said things don't need to be complex, but your core argument is the simplest there is - us versus them. But all you base that argument on is the word of one Shinigami, by your own admittance. A Shinigami who is not, as far as I can tell, of the same people as you either."

"I'm not saying you need to let Hollows eat you. You have a right to defend yourself. But that right is the right of all sensing things to fight for their own survival. A Hollow is exercising that very same right when it tries to eat you. Trying to claim moral high ground in such situation is needless."

"Your point about construction and destruction is also futile. If Jehoel is to be believed, Hollows have a city somewhere. They can construct too. How do you think they feel when Shinigami go around destroying them?"

Mikael shrugs. "I still retain that trying to pass moral judgment on either side is useless. Life is not a comic book story - it is largely pointless and amoral existence. Hollows eat people; Shinigami kill Hollows; and that's it. It's just something that happens. Why should I feel more strongly about it? Like I said, I have no stake in that conflict."

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-17, 08:51 AM

[Kenzan]

"No, I base that argument on the fact that every hollow I've seen or met was trying to kill me or someone else or someone else's spirit. I don't care about some moral high ground as you put it. Does Superman worry about the morality or rights of some monster or space-alien or does he stop it from eating people? All the Shinigami did was give those things a name, something that was confirmed by others later.

"But if you don't care one way or the other, why are you even here?"

[Charlotte]

"Ghostbustin'" Charlotte casually replies as if it were any other profession in the world.

horngeek

2013-06-17, 02:45 PM

[Dance Studio]

Hinata blinks. "Um... Chuck-san, from what I've read, the Hollows in Australia are mostly from animal souls, and don't have as large an effect on the spiritual balance if destroyed rather than purified."

strawberryman

2013-06-17, 03:29 PM

(Dance Studio)

"...Shinigami? Quincy?" Katsuo looks a little lost here. "...Maybe I should just stick to the things that hurt people. ...souls. This is all a bit much..."

5a Violista

2013-06-17, 06:13 PM

Town of Ikari
Museum Entrance
Something seems to be drawing Miya towards the museum. It could be the odd spiritual presence there, or it could be the nervous feeling she's having, or any other number of things. Whatever the case, it is definitely not normal; Miya never once thought going to a museum would be a fun way to pass the time.

Before entering the museum, she looks over her shoulder for whatever unseen feeling was following her...not seeing anything, she enters the museum.

Luckily for her, she hasn't noticed the four-armed humanoid (or, rather, she assumed it was part of the museum decoration and glanced over it); because, as everyone knows, what you don't notice can't hurt you.

Downtown Restaurant
"Oh," responds Caeyrn between eating. There is a little bit of surprise in his voice, but he uses the food to effectively mask it and give him time to control his voice better.

"How interesting."

He puzzles over Charlotte's statement. That could mean one of two things, he deduces. Either Charlotte's family are, indeed, spiritually aware, likely Quincies, or they're normal Americans who probably own a TV series. However, if that were true, she would probably have said "Oh, I'm an actress, too." Which she didn't...

Caeyrn actually wouldn't personally know if Charlotte's family were Quincies or not. Roughly a century and a half ago, when the Weisweide clad was detroyed, they lost contact with most of the other clans and Quincies. Mostly kept to themselves, in the aftermath of revolutionary Europe.

So, he formulates a question that could give him his answer: "So, does your family prefer hunting those masked ghosts, or the usual normal ghosts, like everyone else?"

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-18, 03:37 AM

[Street of the City]

[Kenzan]
"No, I base that argument on the fact that every hollow I've seen or met was trying to kill me or someone else or someone else's spirit. I don't care about some moral high ground as you put it. Does Superman worry about the morality or rights of some monster or space-alien or does he stop it from eating people? All the Shinigami did was give those things a name, something that was confirmed by others later.

"But if you don't care one way or the other, why are you even here?"

"But I've met a different kind of Hollow. Like I said, I owe my life to this Jehoel person. He even expressed distaste for the kind of Hollows you describe. I won't claim he is a good person - I saw him kill his own kind with no remorse. But anyone who stops to help an alien person in need, without asking for anything in return, can't be completely evil either."

At Kenzan's remark about Superman, Mikael smirks. Or well, would smirk, if he had the necessary facial muscles to do that. "As far as the Man of Steel goes, there's actually fair few of stories where he stops to do just that. It's actually pretty common in superhero stories for the heroes to never kill even the most depraved of persons. For example, it would be trivial for Man of Steel to kill Lex Luthor, but he never does that. It is fortunate, then, that Shinigami are not superheroes."

"But as far as I go, I already said it. I'm here to look for other people like me. That doesn't really have anything to do with conflict between Shinigami or Hollows. Though I'd like to visit this city Jehoel told me of once I've recovered. You are free to accompany if you wish."

horngeek

2013-06-18, 03:42 AM

[Dance Studio]

Hinata nods. "That's fair enough, Katsuo-san. Um... Hollows are souls that have stayed in the world of the living for too long after they died, and turned into... well, creatures like that thing you stopped in the park. They generally hunt and try to devour other souls- they generally go after souls of the dead, but if a soul has spiritual power, they can go after it even if the person's still alive."

Mina Kobold

2013-06-18, 09:34 AM

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-18, 10:15 AM

[Kenzan]

"But you just said you don't identify yourself as human. If that's the case, what are you then? The people I met are all humans trying to fight off hollows in any way they can. So if you're not human, then you're not like them. So what would someone like you want with someones like them?"

============

[Charlotte]

Charlotte grins. "I see someone knows their ectoplasmic entities. Me an' my family, we go around huntin' the big nasty masked ones. We leave the lil' chained ones alone 'cause they're still pretty human an' haven't done anything yet."

strawberryman

2013-06-18, 10:45 AM

(Dance Studio)

Katsuo nods. "I understood that much, from what Ruggles-san said. It's just... all these other things you're mentioning. Quincy. Shinigami."

"...I mean... Death Gods? That sounds intimidating. So I was just saying, maybe I should stick to what I... kind of know for now."

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-18, 03:17 PM

Streets of the City

Mikael chuckles. "What makes you think they are humans? What makes you think you are human?"

Mikael places his hands behind his back and assumes an official sort of tone, the kind one might expect from a biology professor. "In the strictest sense, none of the people with abilities should be classified as humans - or at least, not H. Sapiens. Someone like Jehoel is disqualified just because he's, you know, dead. Even forgetting other things, his, uh, body must be made from completely different materials than a human's. I mean, I'm not an expert on physics of these things, but he's supposedly invisible to humans. Think of the implications!"

Mikael starts waving his hands in nervous excitement. "I mean, I look human enough now, but what if I could turn into a snake? I mean, I can't do that, but I have a reason to believe such metamorphosis is not impossible. If I were here as a snake, you would likely find my argument far less confusing."

Mikael shrugs. "As of now, I don't know what I am. I know I'm not human, because like I said, humans don't survive being hit by an artillery strike. But I know a bit of what I can do. I can talk to everything, for example. Not just humans, but trees and rocks too. Jehoel implied I'm not the only one of my kind. Does your group have anyone like that?"

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-18, 03:24 PM

[Kenzan]

"No, we're all humans here. Just having powers alone doesn't change that. You could argue that hollows are human too, but you could say the same thing about vampires or zombies, but they're dead and eat people. If you could turn into a snake, you'd still be a human. You'd just be a human who could turn into a snake. Last I checked plenty of humans could survive getting hit by an artillery squad if they're lucky (granted just very badly hurt), and last I checked, anyone with a voice could talk to things. Unless you're saying they somehow talk back to you." Kenzan is seriously starting to doubt whether taking this guy to see the others is a good idea or not. With every word he's seeming less like a kindred spirit and more like a psychopath.

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-18, 04:11 PM

Mikael shakes his head. "That is a very naive way of looking at things. Every species is defined by a range of qualities, abilities and inabilities - what they are and aren't, what they can and can't do. Pretending things are the same despite observable differences is stupid. When I say we're not humans, it's not an insult - it's an observation, a statement of fact. Still remember what I said about those? Should a weasel get upset if it is told it is not a mongoose?"

"And yes, they do talk back" Mikael continues, mildly amused by Kenzan's doubt. "What, you find that harder to swallow than existence of Hungry Ghosts and Grim Reapers? Makes me wonder what makes me less convincing than that Shinigami."

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-18, 04:19 PM

[Kenzan]

Kenzan is quiet for a moment. "Do they not teach biology where you come from? Of course you're human. Humans have different abilities. Just because some of those abilities are more fantastic than others doesn't make them inhuman. Weasels and mongeese are different species. And no, I'm not doubting your abilities. Just your sanity. Then again you look like you've been through stuff that would drive anyone insane."

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-18, 04:43 PM

Mikael groans. "It's you who's been sleeping during class. Let me be blunt: humanity has limits. Go far enough past those limits and you cease to be human. 'Super' or 'transhuman' are just fancy ways of saying 'inhuman'. You said you have no abilities, yet you talk about going around fighting Hollows. Did it never occur to you that you yourself defy what it is to be human?"

"I brought up weasels and mongooses for a reason, you know. They look the same, they live the same, they hunt the same kind of prey. If you put two of them side to side, it is very easy to mistake one for the other."

"For all I know, I was born with my abilities, and it just took an extreme situation for me to realize them. What about you? When you say you are human, what do you actually base that argument on? The way you look or act? What proof do you have that you're not just a weasel among mongooses? Or, since you like Man of Steel so much, a kryptonian among humans?"

Tebryn

2013-06-19, 02:05 AM

[Dance Studio]

Alice gestures at Hinata as the Substitute Shinigami speaks, directing a comment at Chuck.

"That is a significant factor in your job security, Mr. Anderson. The souls with Shinigami potential are few, the probability of as many as you in just Japan being quite low, and we are easily detected by the average Hollow. Contrariwise, any soul has potential for Hollowfication and enlarge the threat of Hueco Mundo."

Despite the admission of the odds, Alice keeps the positive tone thorough. Refocusing on another part of Chuck's commentary, Alice leans back in thought.

"I do not have first-hand experience with the Australian continent, as it is not my field. I have read the data and recall faint memories of an uncle migrating there, but indeed no visits."

Alice shrugs, giving Katsuo a curious glance. The Shinigami refrains from interrupting Hinata, instead letting another Mortal explain things to Katsuo.

A small butterfly slowly flies through the wall before settling on Alice's shoulder, it's striking white color making it quite distinct from the traditional black and red Hell Butterfly. It gives it's message directly into Alice's mind before fading away in a puff of smoke.

If you have received this message there is only one possibility. I, Sawada Yasunobu, have passed back into the cycle of reincarnation. Alice Ruggles, your task will remain as issued. Aid the Mortals in any way you are able. Provide them with resources. Train them to fight against the Hollows that claw at their world and ours. Bring them to Soul Society if you must. No matter the consequences. No matter the method. They are our hope, our future and our past. The Order of Eibon must be fufiled. You have been tasked with this duty from the start. Do not fail or there will b no Soul Society to return to.

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-19, 12:28 PM

[Mortal World]

"What are you, a scientologist or something? You clearly need to stop talking to things. They're not giving you very good advice. A human who is born a human is still a human. It doesn't matter if they fight monsters or protect people or are geniuses or become fighters or get superpowers, they're still human. That doesn't change anything." Someone else might have noticed that they've gone WAY off track from the original conversation point, whatever that might be. But this is Kenzan.

Mina Kobold

2013-06-19, 12:39 PM

[Dance Studio]

Alice looks askance at the butterfly as it lands, curious eyes looking at the seemingly silent insect. Then, for just a moment, Alice's eyes become uncharacteristically wide in shock before just as quickly turning to a look of seeming curiosity. As the messenger fades away, the Shinigami turns back to the kids, making no open remark about the news.

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-19, 01:09 PM

[Streets of the City]

Mikael rolls his eyes. Well, eye. "And you need to stop skipping your philosophy classes. No offense, but it's rather obvious you're not used to this kind of discussion."

"For example, you questioning my sanity is a classic ad hominem argument", Mikael explains, returning to a more jovial tone of voice. "You can do that all you like, but it is irrelevant to what I am saying. Even a broken clock shows the right time twice a day, or like the old joke goes, it's not paranoia if they're really out to get you. I mean, if you're saying the sky is, I dunno, neon-green, and the craziest Hollow is saying it's blue, the Hollow is still more right than you."

"Attacking the person instead of their argument goes against the principle of generosity, and is usually considered very rude. In a debate, it is good courtesy to try and understand your opponent's position in its strongest and most complete form - even filling in the blanks yourself if your opponent misses an obvious detail. It's easy to bully someone who can't find the right words, or is shy, into silence, but that doesn't make you right. It just makes you a jerk. As far as philosophy goes, you can't replace logic with fervor or stubborness."

"For example, you assuming my philosophy stems from my trauma is rather inconsiderate, is it not? To be honest, I held an outlook like this ten years ago already, way before anything bad happened to me. Now I'm just applying it to a new situation. If your usual reaction when you disagree with someone is 'oh, that person must be CRAZY', you're not going to make many friends. Seriously, two people can talk for hours and not agree on a single thing, yet if they both keep basic courtesy in mind, they can easily leave as friends and catch a beer afterwards."

"It's not like I'm going to murder you because of a taxonomical dispute. Oh, how far is that meeting place, by the way?"

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-19, 01:16 PM

[Kenzan]

Kenzan blinks a few times. "Since when were we arguing philosophy? I was still on biology. Most philosophy I've read has mostly been people trying to find existential crises where there weren't any. I was never impressed.

"Wait, wait, wait. I think I get it now. We're still on that whole slight mistranslation due to the whole second language thing, aren't we?"

"Oh, how far is that meeting place, by the way?"

"Oh that? No idea. I've been going in the wrong direction around the time you mentioned weasels and mongeese," Kenzan answers casually.

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-19, 01:41 PM

"Errr...." Kenzan's reply is dumbfounding. Not because he didn't comprehend what Mikael was talking about, that was given already. But Mikael, at least, expected him to stay on trail to where they're going. Maybe the teenager is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

"Okay. Do you know where we are now?", the bandaged foreigner asks, glancing at the skyline. "Can you sense your friends from here? Because we're going to be really late from that meeting otherwise..."

((OOC: Mikael and Kenzan can arrive at the other kids at your leisure, DoB.))

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-19, 01:57 PM

[Kenzan]

"Ah, see, there's that language barrier again. What I mean is that I've been purposefully going in the wrong direction since a while back.

"You might be right. We might just have two very different viewpoints that are really just that. Different viewpoints. But I realized I should at least be wondering if you could be dangerous to others. It's one thing to gather a bunch of kids from the same class to talk about fighting hollows, but I can't even tell how old you are. You could be an old man for all I know. Heck, with all these Shinigami and Hollows running around you could be centuries old for all I know. And you're talking about making friends with hollows and not being human and all these things that honestly make you sound like a grade-A supervillain.

"Now this could just be me and my naive, uneducated outlook. You could very well be only as you say, just an abnormal guy with a perspective on humanity looking for other abnormal people, but I still barely know you. And maybe I shouldn't be bringing a strange middle-aged man to a students' parents' house. For all I know you could be a danger. For all I know you could be the one orchestrating the hollow attacks. As you said, it's not paranoia if someone's really out to get you.

"If you like I can tell them about you and let them decide whether you're someone who should be trusted." All the while Kenzan's tone is perfectly casual. Not snide or accusing or fearful. Just that he realized his mistake and caused something of an inconvenience.

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-19, 02:27 PM

Mikael stops dead on his tracks and just stares at Kenzan for a moment, his heart sinking through the pavement. Here he was, thinking he was having a rational discussion with another extraordinary person for the first time of his life, and now his hopes of meeting a whole score of people potentially like him are washed down a drain. Sadly he shakes his head.

"There's no language barrier there. You have just been extremely rude to me. If you wanted to excuse yourself or rescind your offer, you could've said it straight the first time", he says bitterly. Then he continues walking. "Ah well, at least I got you thinking. But grade-A supervillain? Seriously? Life is not a black-and-white comic book story. Here's something to ponder for you: if you had met me first, and the Shinigami second, would you have assumed my outlook, and then doubted his? Because that's how it seems to me. Your trust is largely arbitrary - forget about agreeing with me, do you even know if you agree with these other kids you've met with? Have you ever discussed with them deeply enough?"

"Besides, I'm not middle-aged. I'm 28."

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-19, 02:37 PM

"Sorry about that," Kenzan shrugs and bows apologetically. "I didn't realize what I was doing might be a bad idea until only just now. If it helps, I promise I'll let them know about you and then they can decide. Er, you never gave me your name.

"Also, pretty sure my outlook had nothing to do with the Shinigami. I was busting hollows before I met anyone else who could see them or even knew what they were called. The Shinigami just provided names to stuff I already knew."

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-19, 02:48 PM

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-19, 03:08 PM

Mikael shrugs. "My name doesn't really matter. If they want to know, they can come and ask me themselves. Tell them they will find me the same way as you found me." But there's still something that bugs the bandaged man.

"Wait just a second - why are you fighting Hollows? I don't mean your motive, that is clear enough, I mean - why are there so many?" Mikael raises a hand to rub his temple, then stops when touching his bandages turns out painful. "It took me four years to meet the first one. Even taking different population dynamics into account, there should not be enough to pose a threat to your community..."

"... are you sure the Shinigami are doing their job properly around here? Because it might be they're purposefully leaving this area on its own. Heck, it might be they consider you a Shinigami and just expect you to deal with it? Did the one you met say anything about this?"

Kenzan shrugs. "I only started seeing them a few months ago, and at first it was only one I found every few weeks. Then over the past week they've been appearing all over town. Some of them even seemed to have a motif. As far as the Shinigami are concerned, hell if I know. I've only met the one." He smiles at the later comment, grinning like the kid he is at the idea. It seems Mikael's words conjure a very different image in his mind. "Heh. Think I can ask them for backpay?"

Of course now that Kenzan's no longer restricted to walking, he scampers up the nearest building parkour-style with (ironically) inhuman agility before waving back. "See you later, bandage-Ojiisan! I'll tell the others about you. Sorry for being such an a**hole!"

He then quite literally scampers off.

Provided Mikael doesn't immediately pursue him, once Kenzan is well out of range, he'll hear a soft disembodied voice. "For what it's worth, I agree that his behavior was unacceptable. But then again I wouldn't select that boy to welcome any strangers anywhere."

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-19, 03:17 PM

The disembodied voice catches Mikael off-guard and makes him wary. Though he does not realize it, something darker than blood is once again flowing into his eyes and tainting their color. "And who might you be?" Mikael asks as he turns around. Something is off when even his hearing can't pin-point the location of this speaker.

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-19, 03:25 PM

"Someone who is interested in hearing your tale, and possibly an ally. But we can go through formal introductions later. If you like, I can provide you with directions to where the students are meeting if you would like to make an appearance regardless of Kenzan's opinion," the enigma offers.

KnightDisciple

2013-06-19, 03:48 PM

[Dance Studio]

Chuck is currently leaning against a bare wall, tossing one of his Seele Schneider Bullets into the air and catching it, over and over again. He smirks at a couple of the comments.

"Not like there's really enough of us to hurt this supposed balance that much anyways, darlin'. We're not in this for revenge or whatever, though. Just survival. We hunt the Hollows out in the wilderness so they don't go after the folks in the cities. The Reapers take care of the cities, for the most part."

A slightly calculating look slides over to Alice.

"Though I hear tell you're a bit short on the ground even there. Sounds like you folks need to tighten up your recruitment drives."

He lapses quiet for a bit as the others explain things a bit more to Katsuo. Before he can get a word in on the subject, the strange butterfly lands and catches Alice's attention for a few moments. She's clearly paying close attention...

"Late-day gossip time?"

He smirks again as he continues to toss and catch the metallic rectangle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Cathedral of the TriFold Eye]

The ten-cent tour ends and Thomas settles down to tea again, inviting the two Knights to either join him, or go off and relax on their own.

After extracting a promise to not mess with the other Cult members who lack abilities; he doesn't expect violence, but a couple of them are older and Thomas would rather not have to heal their hearts from an attack.

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-19, 03:51 PM

[Streets of the City]

"I'll see about that offer if none of them get curious by the end of the month", Mikael replies, though his mind is really in trying to find the source of this voice. His left eye scans every shadow, alleyway and rooftop as he walks around in a widening spiral, but the voice always remains just at the edge of his hearing. What sort of trick is this? "Kenzan has right to doubt me. But what I'd like to know is, how long you've been eavesdropping? You know that's not exactly polite either."

"And neither is staying hidden when you're talking to someone. Get your ass here!"

strawberryman

2013-06-19, 03:59 PM

(Dance Studio)

Katsuo... well, if this were an anime (which it isn't) would likely be trying not to sweatdrop at all this. "...Um. I think I'm going to step out and get some air, and wrap my head around this, if you'd like to keep talking without having to explain it all to me. I think maybe it'll be better for me to figure it out myself." With that, he makes for the door, carefully closing it to prevent any incidents. Outside, he stands just away from the entryway, looking into the steadily darkening (?) late-afternoon-to-evening sky.

Hollows? Shinigami? Quincy? ...I guess, it might be linked to me someway... so maybe, it wouldn't hurt to help.

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-19, 04:00 PM

[???]

The voice hesitates for a moment. "You are correct. My sincerest apologies. My 'eavesdropping' was only meant for young Kenzan, but I have other ears where he is headed. Your conversation piqued my interest however." Nearby, the door to a small corner diner, closed for the day, opens, thanks to a frightened young child, no older than 8, on the inside. "But the open streets are no place to hold such a private conversation." The voice clearly doesn't belong to him. "I apologize if this all seems a bit theatrical, but I am legitimately interested in your story, and I greatly value my privacy."

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-19, 04:19 PM

[???]

Mikael's eye swivels to look at the child. He's looking for certain signs - whether there's a chain on his chest, whether his feet are touching the ground, and whether he's ever so slightly transparent to normal light. It should be easy to discern whether the boy is alive or dead.

"You know what sets you aside from this Kenzan boy? He was dumb as a brick, but at least he was brave enough to come and talk to me out in the open. Maybe it was dim to be so trusting when there are people like you around, but that's how people talk to each other: face to face."

"Even the Devil who tried to kill me was less suspicious. You want me to get through that door, you better make a more compelling offer than just listening to my 'story'."

Draken

2013-06-19, 04:28 PM

[Cathedral of the TriFold Eye]

The ten-cent tour ends and Thomas settles down to tea again, inviting the two Knights to either join him, or go off and relax on their own.

After extracting a promise to not mess with the other Cult members who lack abilities; he doesn't expect violence, but a couple of them are older and Thomas would rather not have to heal their hearts from an attack.

Oscar and Vincenzo follow Thomas, they have been out and about for a day and a few minutes, respectively, and know that they are out of the loop. It will take some time for them to be back in with the times.

Alley

A group of delinquents lurches in the shadow of a building, cigarette stubs and beer cans on the ground around them, looking towards the sunset.

Small white things lurk in the trash and masonry holes near the group.

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-19, 06:19 PM

[???]

The child appears to be completely mortal. Fully opaque. No chain. Feet on the ground. Even a vague spiritual sensor will ping as a completely normal boy.

There is an audible sigh from the voice before continuing calmly, "I would like to speak to you face to face, or as close as is possible for me, but I'm afraid face to face contact is quite impossible for me. Not even my subordinates have directly met me in a "face to face" sort of way. Attribute it to cowardice if you prefer. I will openly admit my paranoia as far as the consequences of my exposure to others. The fact of the matter is I'm taking a considerable risk on my part contacting you directly like this, but after your conversation with Kenzan, I thought you would be more understanding of those in... extenuating circumstances."

"I wish I could make you an offer. I truly do. But I do not know you well enough to know of what you desire or what I have to offer you in return. I am open to suggestions, though. If it helps I can guarantee that no harm will come to you as I have no intention of doing so, but given your demeanor I doubt this will satisfy you. I could arrange some modest accomodations for you since you're new in town, and promise that neither I or my subordinates would bother you there, but I'm not sure you would believe me."

"If you truly do not desire my conversation or my company, by all means walk away. I won't even have any of my scouts follow you. This is my attempt to be diplomatic and attempt a rational discussion, but if you are not interested then consider the matter dropped and you can go about your merry way unhindered as before."

Terry576

2013-06-19, 07:33 PM

[The Streets, Near Dance Studio]

If Katsuo were listening, he would hear a whistle. One of those annoying tunes that sticks in your head no matter what, has one of those jagged endings and then it repeats. And from the streets, a boy emerged.

With his, to be frank, fairly nice clothing - a collared white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, black suit pants and what looked like loafers, he looked like some sort of up and coming businessman. The only thing that set him apart from the upper class was the fact that he had what looked like a perpetual grin on his face, and had a jacket from the School slung over his shoulder. He stopped by a wall near Katsuo, pulling out a cigarette, and inhaling deeply, before turning with a wicked grin, his eyes dancing with mirth as he found Katsuo.

"Eh? Ya seem lost mate, need a hand?"

Casually waltzing over to the shorter boy, the black haired boy with the dancing eyes and open smile stopped in front of him, twirling his cigarette in his hand. "Ya need directions or summin? Naw, can't be that. Ya seem like the type who knows whatcha like and where ya wanna go, so I guess yer jest waitin' 'round?"

Leaning against the wall next to Katsuo, he inhales on his cigarette, blowing out a smoke circle, watching it evaporate in the air for a moment before turning to him. "Ah've got nuffin better ta do either, so maybe you an' me could wait tagether? Ya seem like a stand up guy, an' havin' a few more decent guys in ma' life couldn' really hurt, y'know?"

With a wide, wide grin, he bows his head slightly, his eyes flickering in the burning embers of his cigarette. "M'name's Shiki Sora, bu' ah'll always prefer Sora. What's yer name, mate?"

Dorizzit

2013-06-19, 08:57 PM

[The City]
Dance Studio

Naito looks at Katsuo as he leaves the room, then shrugs nonchalantly.

"In that case, I believe this begins the first meeting of the Ghost Busters club. Does anyone have anything they want to share?"

KnightDisciple

2013-06-19, 09:02 PM

Naito looks at Katsuo as he leaves the room, then shrugs nonchalantly.

"In that case, I believe this begins the first meeting of the Ghost Busters club. Does anyone have anything they want to share?"
[The City]
Dance Studio

Chuck catches the SSB and tucks it away, stepping forward.

"My name is Charles Leonard Anderson of the Anderson Family. And bustin' makes me feel good."

He steps back to his original spot and returns to his little diversion.

He figured just cleaning his guns or picking his nails with the kukri would unnerve the others too much.

strawberryman

2013-06-19, 10:48 PM

(City Streets)

Katsuo... just blinks rapidly. In fact, Sora's whole casual demeanor just keeps him silent and off-guard to the point where, as the fellow teenager finishes, he is stunned into silence for a good few moments, before out of pure manneristic habit, he blurts out something, anything to establish that he was at least listening.

"...Um. What?" Never said it was particularly poetic. Then, realizing he didn't actually say anything of note, he blurts out, "Um. Yamada. Katsuo."

Terry576

2013-06-19, 11:00 PM

[City Streets]

Sora grins widely, and the cigarette dies at last, the ashes falling to the ground, the fire gone. "Ehhh? Katsuo, huh? Yer new in town, aren'tcha? So, waddaya think of this 'ere city a mine? Ah've always thought it was pretty fantastic, but ah've never gotten any outside perspectives, y'know?"

He looks around at the falling sun, and the lights slowly flickering into the white-blueness of the city, the hum of cars on the highway that runs in a figure eight above everyone in Ikari's Downtown, and the spires of the School sticking out above it.

The School was an elegant building, with spires and twinkling lights. It looked less like a school of humans and more like a school of magic. With shining spires and sharp, wicked angles, the School was a gothic mansion looming imperiously over the town, visible even at night, so long as the moon and stars were out.

Sora grins at Katsuo, flicking his lighter on and off.

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-20, 01:14 AM

[???]

Face-to-face contact is impossible? How is this voice speaking to him, then? Is it some form of a microphone or far-speaking ability? Mikael warily walks closer to the small child. "If what you say is true, then it's reasonable to presume you are not in that building. If that's the case, I really don't see why it makes a difference if you talk to me here or there." Mikael glances around. It seems Kenzan, accidentally or intentionally, led him to a less busy part of the city. Buildings are much lower here, and there aren't a lot of people around. Mikael turns to look through the door, trying to see what's behind it.

"You could as well pretend to be this boy here. If he keeps his mouth shut, I don't think anyone will notice there's something odd about our discussion."

strawberryman

2013-06-20, 01:57 AM

AnimeKid

2013-06-20, 01:58 AM

Dance Studio

Tamaki looks at where Katsuo had left and let out a bit of a sigh. He had been letting the more experienced people of the subject speak since they probably had more information. However it seems that it may have just alienated Katsuo. He would wait a little bit so he could clear his head like he said and then try to go after him. Looking at the rest of the group he said, "Haroda Tamaki. As for sharing, last time we came to a probable conclusion that with the new hollows that are popping up having some kind of theme that there may be someone working behind the scenes. Does anyone have any further thoughts on this?"

Terry576

2013-06-20, 03:05 AM

(City Streets)

Katsuo... just kind of keeps blinking. He isn't sure how to react to this. And this isn't even the weirdest thing he'd seen today. "...Um. It's nice. I guess. I lived a bit closer to Tokyo... but it's quieter. I like that, I guess..." He smiles nervously, not exactly being used to strangers just... coming up and talking to him off the street.

City Streets

Sora grins at Katsuo, and offers him a hand. "Awwww you ain't seen the real city then! C'mon mate, we're gonna paint tha town red tanight!"

He pauses, momentarily, withdrawing his hand. "Well, that par'a town is already red, so ah guess we can paint it uh... green? Nah, thas borin'. How about... hrmm.... blue! Yeah, there's a nice color, crisp, clean, elegant!"

He puts his hand out again, his eyes shining with mischief. "Alrigh' Katsuo, ya wanna come with me an' paint the town blue?"

Mina Kobold

2013-06-20, 10:02 AM

[Dance Studio]

Alice looks up as Tamaki speaks, seemingly ignoring Chuck's comment. Continuing the polite tone despite the interruption of the Hell Butterfly, Alice speaks as well.

"Alice Ruggles, friends called me Rabbits pre-mortem, most call me Alice post-mortem. We suspect a similar cause for the anomalous Hollow behaviour as Haroda-san does, but evidence and autopsy of the Hollows are necessary to test it."

Smiling, the Shinigami adds:

"As for sharing; I have been assigned to do whatever is in my power to assist you, train you if necessary, and make sure that you can face the Hollows and the situation to come at all costs, as well as attempt to recreate diplomatic relations between the Quincies and Shinigami."

strawberryman

2013-06-20, 12:20 PM

(City Streets)

Katsuo just blinks more rapidly at this. "...What?" He is utterly mystified by Sora's behavior, and one might even be able to detect a hint of pink in his cheeks. "...Um. I'd like to, but I'm just getting some air, I'm already with some... friends."

"...B-but, uh, I guess if you want to... tomorrow..." He didn't want to entirely turn the offer down, after all, it would be rude.

Edge

2013-06-20, 02:00 PM

Mina Kobold

2013-06-20, 03:19 PM

[Museum]

Rin takes off the eye-patch too slowly to stop the Hollow's scuttling, but does almost immediately glance upwards upon removing it. The security guard being aware of the human habit to never look at the ceiling despite hearing sounds.

"... Well, that raises a few questions. Haven't smoked a single time an' I don't think I've heard you talk 'fore. Either Yui's aura-brouhaha was right, or I'm further in the loony-bin than I thought."

Rin says, keeping a remarkably calm and deadpan tone for someone staring at a semi-invisible being seemingly out of a nightmare. Face portraying mild surprise that reveals little about which option Rin is going with, the guard merely shifts and glances at the last museum guest leaving the room for another exhibit.

Terry576

2013-06-20, 04:35 PM

City Streets

Sora pouts, glaring at Katsuo. "Awwww c'mon Katsuooooooo~" His voice was reminiscent of just about every anime Katsuo had seen with a child character, the grating tones and whine set to a perfectly aggravating pitch. "It'll be fuuuuuuuun~"

Suddenly he pauses, musing. "Wait, ya say yer with friends, righ'? Well we can invite'm too! Sure, I'd really have liked ta show ya 'round town by yerself, get yer opinion of the Red Set, but hey maybe yer friends 'ave ne'er been down there too!" He grins widely, and leans against the wall again.

"Alrigh', I'll wait 'ere cause it would be weird if ah jus' barged inta someone's 'ouse without their permission, an' you can go an' ask 'em if they wanna go to the Red Set!"

Cracking his neck a few times, he continues to speak. "E'en if they don' wanna go, ah doubt they won' be yer friends anymore jus' cause you wen' ta have some fun! If they're not yer friends jus' because a that, then they're not really good friends inna first place, eh?"

Dorizzit

2013-06-20, 09:35 PM

[The City]
Dance Studio

Naito speaks up again next.

"Well, if we're just doing introductions, my name is Naito. First name Tetsuhiko."

Man of few words, it would seem.

strawberryman

2013-06-21, 12:54 PM

(City Streets)

...Does he realize he's coming on strong?

Blinking that thought out of his head, Katsuo looks to the studio, then back to Sora. "...Uh. I guess? I really don't know if I should just run off, though, they could be discussing something important. To our club. That I just joined today." He doesn't mention the soul-eating monsters or ghosts, that'd be silly. But for now, with a nod and nervous smile, he slips back into the studio, looking for a point where he won't interrupt.

"...Um... does anyone know a Shiki Sora?"

Dorizzit

2013-06-22, 08:40 AM

[Mortal World]
Dance Studio

Naito looks over at Katsuo when the latter enters the room. Then, hearing the question, he nods, a slightly pained expression on his face.

"Yes, much to my chagrin. He doesn't attend school very consistently, and he has an...odd sense of humor, which wouldn't be as much of a problem if he wasn't an aggressively rude individual."

AnimeKid

2013-06-22, 07:10 PM

Dance Studio

Tamaki looks at Katsuo as he pushes up his glasses as he says, "Naito-san is pretty much on the money. He rarely attends school, and he tends to not be the most pleasant person around. However there could be a reason for it that we don't know of. People can react differently to the same stimuli even if raised in a near identical manner. If you are asking for personal opinions, then he is not the first person I would choose to hang out with. He tends to not know when he needs to back off. However opinions shouldn't have any bearing on yours."

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-23, 09:28 PM

[???]

"I can't quite place your accent, so I'm not sure where exactly you're from, but here it is quite unusual and very noticeable for an older, oddly-dressed foreigner to be speaking with a lone 8-year old child in the middle of the street. As for what the building has that the open street does not, inside has comfortable chairs, a pleasant decorum, privacy, and a relaxing cup of tea which after whatever journey you might have made could do you some good.

"It would be hypocritical of me to make judgments of paranoia, after my own precautions, but really I imagined the ordeal of inviting someone to tea to be far less frustrating than the reality.

"I suppose I can't blame you for being suspicious. My usual clientele have far less room to be so selective. Regardless I don't have time to negotiate all night. The door remains open for now. Walk in, sit down, and relax if you wish. If these terms are not satisfactory than you can of course just walk away, and I apologize for wasting both of our time." The child walks further into the building, vanishing from sight but turning a light on. The sign on the diner still says 'CLOSED' and the windows are drawn to avoid any peeking, but the door remains open for the time being.

------------

[Kenzan]

Anyone outside the dance studio, or happening to look out the window of the dance studio, would get a good view of Kenzan leaping from a building several stories tall and landing near the entrance, then acting like there was nothing unusual going on. "I'm late aren't I? Aw, crap. I hope I at least have the right address." Looking around he doesn't see anyone else outside the studio besides Sora. "Excuse me, you wouldn't happen to know if this is where the G.A. club is meeting?"

Terry576

2013-06-23, 11:10 PM

[City Streets]

"The what club? Tha seems a li'l bit silly there, mate. Ain't no clubs 'round 'ere, yer in the Yellow Set."

The Sets of Ikari. Red - Entertainment, Blue - Industrial, Yellow - Residential. While people did run businesses in other areas, the three were basically set in stone; if you wanted to have fun, you went to Red, if you were working you went to Blue, and if you were going home, it was Yellow. There were other Sets too, but those were the ones with the most commuting going on.

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-24, 06:03 AM

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-24, 09:51 AM

[???]

Neither seeing or hearing anything suspicuous inside the diner (save for the disembodied voice itself), Mikael steps in and closes the door behind himself. "I don't think you get it", the foreigner speaks. "There isn't much more to my story than what you should be able to infer yourself. I was assaulted by a Hollow and taken to afterlife. Another Hollow helped me get back here. Now I'm trying to find others like me, since I haven't been able to before."

"The one with a story to tell is you. For some reason, you see it fit to trail this Kenzan boy, but are reluctant to reveal yourself in his presence. And you implied you're tracking his friends as well. The only reason why you would do that is if you know your actions are less than savory in their eyes."

"Even more, this Kenzan alluded to some strangely thematic Hollow attacks. If you would show yourself, it would be easy to tell if you're Hollow or something else. But since you opt to not do so, it seems like a rather safe bet to say you're the one behind those attacks."

"It is reasonable to see how you would come to those conclusions. And there is far more to your story that I am personally interested in. Hollows that have removed their mask. That have formed organizations more structured than simply a mindless horde. That answer to titles and ranks.

"And then there's you. Someone who has been to the realm of hollows and has returned still alive. Someone with quite the impressive aura and, if your claims are true, even more impressive abilities."

Mikael doesn't move from the door, eyeing the insides of the diner while also listening to the heartbeat and footsteps of the boy, trying to keep track of his location every second. He also listens to other voices that might be out of place - even that of the building itself, should it wish to tell him something.

"Let me tell you, then, that the man who saved me was Jehoel Yurius, Espada of the Hollow King. I don't know if you're a Hollow, or if you would bow to such king even if you were - but you should know that man will come to look for me. I can't say for sure he'd avenge me, should something happen to me - but the possibility exists."

"So how lucky are you feeling today?"

Inside the cafe looks like a perfectly normal cafe, albeit one without any people. There are tables, chairs, and booths. From this vantage point, Mikael should be able to see a vague shadow around the corner, sitting at one of the tables. But any spiritual sense would turn up nothing. The child on the other hand appears to be setting the table and brewing some tea.

"Jehoel Yurius. Espada. Hollow King. Your experiences have far more interest and detail than you give yourself credit for. Your discussion with young Kenzan about the nature of hollows alone proves that. And please, let's stop these pointless threats and acts of aggression. If I have done anything to make you feel uncomfortable or vulnerable I apologize. I have no intention of doing you any harm."

-------------

[Kenzan]

Kenzan tries to piece through the boy's thick accent and literally colorful jargon, but has difficulty translating anything. "Um... hmm... You know what? I'll just go in and find someone that speaks Japanese." Kenzan excuses himself and enters the building. Fortunately, everyone is already inside, plus some new faces. "Hey guys. Sorry I'm late."

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-24, 11:18 AM

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-24, 11:33 AM

[???]

Mikael's left eyes fixes on the shadow, but he doesn't move towards it. "Sadly, there isn't anything more to tell about that society. I intend to go and see it myself when the month is over and am looking for company - but a disembodied voice doesn't make for much company."

"But don't go changing the subject - what is your problem with Kenzan and his lot? You certainly aren't in friendly terms with them, otherwise there would have been no reason whatosever to not join our discussion openly. You may not have intentions of harming me, but what about them?"

"There is much information you can provide, and there is information I can provide in return. I have no problem with Kenzan or his band of friends, and they likely only have the faintest of impressions of my existence, and likely do not know anything as to my motivations. They would likely view my existence as a threat and treat me as they do other such threats, thus I have reason to keep myself hidden.

"Regardless, I think I've revealed enough to someone who intends to stand in the doorway and treat me as a combatant when I attempt to extend an olive branch. I see that my risk in contacting you directly has not resulted favorably. I can see this is not going to progress either. I bid you welcome to Japan, stranger. Enjoy the tea." The shadow begins to move and the child quietly exits out of view towards the back. It hesitates just long enough to give Mikael one last chance to accept his invitation.

Frozen_Feet

2013-06-24, 12:10 PM

"I've told more than enough to someone who can't be bother to explain themselves", Mikael retorts. "But a combatant? Seriously? You ought to re-evaluate where you stand in comparison to Kenzan. Because from what I hear..."

Mikael, not letting his eye go from the shadow, presses down the doorhandle and then pushes the door open. "... you're both as stupid." The bandaged man steps back to bright daylight, turns his back to the shadow and slams the door shut behind him. He resumes walking along the street to no direction in particular, thinking bitter thoughts as he goes.

Presence of this disembodied voice is worrying. Kenzan ought to know of this suspicious person. But Mikael has no idea where he went. All he can really do is stick to his plan and hope that Kenzan, or someone else from his group, will come to him eventually.

After a good five minutes of walking, Mikael stops and glances over his shoulder, listening intently to every possible sound. He doesn't trust the strange voice's promise to leave him alone in the slightest. He should come up with some way to pin-point its origin. There has to be some kind of medium for it, something to transmit the sound. Hmmm. If it works like a microphone, then the user would be, at least, required to mouth the words. Maybe to an ordinary human, hearing such a whisper would be impossible from far away - but Mikael is confident that compared to hearing rocks talk, it's a piece of cake. But without knowing the range of this device (or whatever it is), finding the speaker is still relegated to pure happenstance.

Damn it. If Kenzan had been more specific of those Hollow attacks, then maybe Mikael could roughly outline the area to search on a map... oh well. Right now he can't do much else than wait.

Turning his head back forward, Mikael resumes walking.

strawberryman

2013-06-24, 12:24 PM

(Dance Studio)

Katsuo pauses in thought as the others respond to his query. Formulating his thoughts, he nods without a word and heads back outside, giving momentary pause for Kenzan. Approaching Sora with a nervous smile, he bows slightly, and speaks in an apologetic tone.

"Sorry, Shiki-san... erm... Sora. I really shouldn't today, I already made arrangements with the others. But if you'd like to tomorrow, that is fine."

5a Violista

2013-06-24, 02:49 PM

Ikari
Museum

[Museum]

Rin takes off the eye-patch too slowly to stop the Hollow's scuttling, but does almost immediately glance upwards upon removing it. The security guard being aware of the human habit to never look at the ceiling despite hearing sounds.

"... Well, that raises a few questions. Haven't smoked a single time an' I don't think I've heard you talk 'fore. Either Yui's aura-brouhaha was right, or I'm further in the loony-bin than I thought."

Rin says, keeping a remarkably calm and deadpan tone for someone staring at a semi-invisible being seemingly out of a nightmare. Face portraying mild surprise that reveals little about which option Rin is going with, the guard merely shifts and glances at the last museum guest leaving the room for another exhibit.

Tsukamoto Miya, hanging out in the entrance of the museum, now fully enters the museum. She stays in that first entrance room, and moves a little off to the left. Something doesn't seem right.

First of all, that guard's talking to one of the exhibits. Second, the air feels off again, just like that one day at school. Now that she thinks about it, the park was sort-of like this, as well.
Miya gasps in realization. There must've been one of those ghost-monsters at the school, too. That's why everyone left at the same time. And if...then...

Miya finally notices that the exhibit isn't really an exhibit. It's one of those monsters...what were they called again? Something to do with emptiness. Empties? Lacks? No, that makes no sense. It's called an Empty, for now.

((Was everyone waiting for me? Sorry.))

Downtown Restaurant

[Charlotte]

Charlotte grins. "I see someone knows their ectoplasmic entities. Me an' my family, we go around huntin' the big nasty masked ones. We leave the lil' chained ones alone 'cause they're still pretty human an' haven't done anything yet."

Caeyrn drinks something at a regular interval, in order to appear more sophisticated and intrigued. "They do? What a coincidence, my family does that, too. Here in Japan, I heard there's another group here that does the same. Would they happen to be the ones that you're looking for?"

Terry576

2013-06-24, 02:52 PM

Dance Studio

Sora grins widely, winking jovially and giving what looks like a terrible thumbs up to Katsuo. "S'no trouble mate! I'll meet up with ya affer school, an' we can tour 'round tha Red Set! You go 'ave fun with yer other friends, alrigh'?"

Whistling another annoying tune, he spins on his heel, beginning to walk off.

Draken

2013-06-24, 03:56 PM

Dance Studio

Across the street from Sora, a number of delinquents are assembled, looking at him, he's seen these fools before, beaten them all to a pulp.

He hasn't seen the businessman with them, or the fat lady, however.

Wait, where did the short, old, bald guy come from? Something is fishy here.

From the wall of the building behind Sora, a white, sinuous thing with too many legs that just happen to be too long and perhaps too thin, leaps down towards the back of his head.

strawberryman

2013-06-24, 05:07 PM

(Outside the Dance Studio)

Katsuo sighs as Sora walks off... and spies the group of delinquents. With a frown, he looks back to the studio, then Sora, and with not much more thought than that, he takes after the fellow teen.

"H-hey, Shiki-san..." Then, the thing crawls out from between the buildings. With widened eyes and a spring, he vaults forward to grab at the thing and throw it out of the way. "Watch out!"

Unfortunately, his trajectory also probably means he's about to hit Sora with all the force of a small truck.

Terry576

2013-06-25, 01:45 AM

Outside the Dance Studio

Sora cracks his neck as he looks at the group of delinquents with a vicious, wicked grin. "Ah, so yer all out an' about again? Maaaaah, I wasn' really lookin' fer a fight, buuuuuut, since ya asked so ni-"

Turning sharply at Katsuo's voice, he arches an eyebrow before grunting as the smaller boy slams into him, and he staggers back a few steps, cracking his jaw.

"Yikes there, mate." He whirled back to face the group, pulling off his jacket, the white shirt underneath crisp and clean, and dropping the elegant black thing to the ground. "Yanno, if I wasn' such a power'ouse, tha' mighta 'urt!"

And in his hand, energy swirled, elongated, as midnight black burst into existence and chains wrapped themselves around his right arm, covering the bottom half of his sleeve up to the elbow. Hefting up an enormous club as it swirled into reality, spikes and long gashes and energy inside of it, Sora grinned at Katsuo.

And still, he emitted no spiritual pressure. "Sorry fer makin' ya leave yer friends like tha', though s'nice ta be worried about. Ah'm sure ah'll be fine though."

And then he moved, and it was like a whirlwind of sound and noise as he appeared in the center of the group, his club swirling in an enormous circle, ready to crush bones and Break Heads with utmost impunity.

strawberryman

2013-06-25, 03:01 AM

(City Streets)

Katsuo, assuming he grabs hold of the white thing, whatever it is, throws it to the ground and stomps on it. ...However, he is somewhat surprised by Sora summoning a weapon from nowhere then exhibiting super-human abilities of his own.

...Is Sora like me? The distraction and force of his stomp probably results in a good-sized crater under the boy's feet, eliciting a wince and sigh from him.

AnimeKid

2013-06-25, 03:18 AM

Dance Studio

Tamaki starts as he hears a large cracking sound from outside the dance studio. Getting up he heads over to the door and opens it to see what is going on. He then sees Shiki Sora and he, is wielding a giant club? He then also spies the source of the cracking sound. Katsuo had his foot in a good sized crater, likely crated by the boy's immense strength.

Tamaki pulls his watch up to face as he cautiously heads across the street trying to see if the people Sora is currently assaulting have any sort of power or if they are just normal people. At the same time quasi-yelling, "Katsuo?! What's going on?!

Draken

2013-06-25, 09:32 AM

Dance Studio

The mob is scattered brutally by Sora's assault, the men and women sent flying in all directions, towards walls, walks and streets.

The businessman is sent flying towards a wall, but midflight he corrects his stance and latches to the side of the structure by his hands and feet, screeching as a distinctive white substance erupts from his mouth, nostrils and eyes, wrapping around his body in a faceless bone carapace with a large mouth featuring needle-like teeth, claws adorn his fingers and spines grow from his back, while a sinuous, whipping tail erupts from between his legs.

They have the reiatsu of hollows, but lack visible holes.

Around him, the other individuals slowly rise to their feet, despite bruises that should be all means tell of cracked bones, and with echoing screams undergo the same transformation. Ten of these pale monstrosities assemble around Sora, Katsuo and Tamaki.

Four of these things turn to the two near the door, assuming a threatening stance and approaching cautiously. The remaining six leap at Sora with fangs and claws bared.

The creature that katsuo smashed against the ground breaks apart under the might of his fists, its torso caves in and its legs are sent flying to the sides. The thing does not bleed, not even the usual black ichor of hollows, all that oozes from its wounds is an argent dust, which soon begins to dissipate into reishi, whereas the body remains.

Keen ears will hear minor clicks, however, as a pair of the creatures crawling on the building move and launch themselves at Katsuo and Tamaki.

Over the sides of the building, six inhuman figures dash up the walls and into windows, followed by the slithering critters.

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-25, 10:45 AM

[Mortal World]
(Dance Studio)

One of the drones tries to skitter in through the window where the remainder of the mortal world students are meeting, only to be smashed back out by the force of what appears to be a heavy blade. Only there is no blade present, just Kenzan who guards the window. "Is there anyone else in the building who might be in danger?" He quickly asks Naito or anyone else in the room who might know.

Meanwhile, some distance away, a figure remains hidden from the whole battle and studies the performance of the students and the zombie-like creatures. Interesting...

(Restaurant)

"Ah figured as much. Yer a Quincy, ain't ya?" she guesses with a wide grin.

KnightDisciple

2013-06-25, 10:48 AM

Dance Studio

Chuck frowns as some not-quite-conscious part of himself twigs to the fact that something is starting to go down.

Then he hears the shouts, senses faint-but-growing Hollow presences, and sees a couple of beasts start trying to climb into the windows.

In the blink of an eye he's got his pistol in one hand and kukri in the other, and is already blazing away at the nearest Drone.

"Natsuki! Help me hold them off! Hinata, you and the others make sure anyone else in the building is safe! I'm going outside!"

Charles opened up the proverbial gates a bit more, letting both his body and his weapons draw in even more spiritual energy. Whereas a Shinigami or Hollow could just "flare" their Spiritual Pressure to try and attract attention, a Quincy had to do things in a slightly more roundabout manner.

So he did so, even as he dashed for the outside, not wishing to be trapped in a room with multiple agile opponents.

"Come on you ugly critters! Come get your tasty treat from Down Under!"

Granted the boy's probably a little insane, but so it goes.

Draken

2013-06-25, 11:08 AM

Why even refer to this as the mortal world anymore.

I mean, thread splits.

Ikari
Dance Studio

Kenzan smashes a drone out of the window, sending the thing barreling down into a dumpster. But in its wake, a larval critter jumps towards his head, finger-like legs spread and tail stretching behind it like the body of a viper.

A drone with half of its body through the window looks up at Chuck and screeches, before being shot full of spiritual lead. The creature slumps down as the echo of its tainted soul, still chained to the body, is ejected from the body, leaving behind an unconscious woman with short black hair.

The writhing hollowed spirit begins to dissolve, exposing the human soul underneath, before that too begins dissolving as quincy attacks tend to do to their victims. Soon enough there is nothing left and the chain breaks and vanishes.

Terry576

2013-06-25, 11:08 AM

Dance Studio

"Awwwww, wazza matter? Y'all too busy bein' 'fraid 'a li'l ol' me?"

He laughed, the enormous club bursting across the air in front of him towards the six that jumped, a huge grin on his face.

"Y'all're bein' rather rude! Ah would've 'oped that ya would 'ave learned somethin' from the first move."

His arm twitched, and then slid, stone and iron covering it entirely, and his grin grew even wider as he stared at it, and it expanded from a simple arm into a shield.

And then it leaked: pressure, Hollow scent, all those names and phrases for what he was and could do broke free, and he didn't smell human anymore, didn't feel human. He was a Hollow, and he grinned widely as he called.

"C'mon then if ya think yer 'ard enough!"

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-25, 11:17 AM

Kenzan smashes a drone out of the window, sending the thing barreling down into a dumpster. But in its wake, a larval critter jumps towards his head, finger-like legs spread and tail stretching behind it like the body of a viper.

((Force of habit))

[Kenzan]

Kenzan initially panics as the larvae thing leaps at his head, being taken completely by surprise. Fortunately, and strangely, just when the larvae is about to give Kenzan a faceful of alien hollow wing-wong, it seems to slice apart as if it had jumped head first into the sharp end of a Zanpakuto where Kenzan's face is. Of course to anyone who looked on it just looked as if some kind of invisible forcefield had sliced the creature in half.

Mina Kobold

2013-06-25, 02:13 PM

[Dance Studio]

As several of the inhuman creatures move up the side of the building, a red-clad figure leaps out of the studio's window, head jerking unnaturally quickly to stare at them before it leaps. Moving quite fast for a human-looking body, the being climbs and close in on them, eyes staring coldly from the gigai's hood.

Alice herself, the Shinigami having left the artificial body to the Mod Soul, is investigating the unconscious woman left behind from Chuck's kill. A look of morbid, perhaps even gleeful, fascination in the naturally red eyes.

However, as Sora's Hollow nature broke free, the death god's head turns. Staring at Sora, Alice's eyes change. Scientific interest intermingling with a deeper hatred as the Shinigami feels the Hollow pressure. Standing, Alice almost reflexively draws Cheshire, the transparent blade almost shimmering.

strawberryman

2013-06-25, 03:36 PM

(City Streets)

Katsuo turns in shock, gritting his teeth as he jumps right into the pair of creatures leaping at him and Tamaki, aiming to crush them into the ground with the force of the tackle and the strength of his fists.

Dorizzit

2013-06-25, 04:39 PM

The City
Dance Studio

As soon as the attack becomes obvious, Naito's eyes snap to the drones entering the window. As they are dispatched before he can do anything, he turns his attention to Kenzan.

"Not at the moment. Mikiri and Junpei are the only people who work here today, and they should have left by now."

He cracks his neck, his expression turning dark.

"That said, I am very interested in finding out who's causing this. Can anyone tell where they're coming from?"

Draken

2013-06-25, 05:20 PM

Street

The mere moment when Katsuo impacts the things their midsections cave in under the strength, they fall limp and offer no further resistance then.

Once Sora reveals his hollow powers, the four drones that had focused Tamaki and Katsuo turn back, and the entire horde rushes at Sora from all sides, a maelstrom of hands, mouths and grasping tails.

From the dumpster in a side alley leaps an eleventh creature, tail lashing against the cables of an electricity pole, snapping them. The whole street goes dark. It goes straight for Sora as well.

Katsuo and Tamaki might notice that at least eight of the larval creatures circle Sora, while another four lurk near the two of them, waiting for a chance to strike. A fifth jumps down on Katsuo from behind as he finishes his maneuver.

Dance Studio

The lights go out.

As Kenzan's axe-nose bisects the larva, the argent dust inside it spills all over his face. Dry on the skin like a pile of salt, and terribly glitterous as well. I wouldn't show my face covered in that stuff outside of a Mardi Gras festivity.

Alice finds the woman dead, breathless, pulseless, soulless. She's a goner.

The remaining four drones enter the studio, followed by the quick shades of their larval siblings. Two are humanoid and of average size, one is large and rotund, and the last one is a large dog-like horror on all fours.

Claws and fangs bared, visible only because of the stark contrast of white in front of the dim light coming from windows, the two similar creatures leap towards the ceiling vanishing in the darkness. The rotund and canine siblings wheezing and growling as they approach, tails lashing behind them. The only thing that can be seen of the larva is the sound of their scuttling on the walls.

And then the drone dog leaps at Naito, trying to pin him to the ground.

AnimeKid

2013-06-25, 05:26 PM

Dance Studio

When the Larvae jumped towards them Tamaki grabbed his scarf as he said, "Yare yare, daze." in what he thought was a cool voice but didn't really work with that refined tone of voice he had as the scarf came to life. The scarf started swirling around at high speeds creating a miniature whirlwind around Tamaki to hopefully repel the critters.

As the scarf swirled around and passed over various parts of Tamaki's body glowed crimson red until the entirety of his body below his head was covered in red light. The light seemed to break into pieces revealing the Red Joker armor. Finally a crimson glow appeared around Tamaki's head as the scarf started to tie itself back around his neck. When it fully did so the light would break apart and reveal his helmet.

"Transformation Complete", he said sounding truly exasperated this time. Thankfully the transformation while appearing lengthy only took a few seconds.

Taking aim at the hopefully airborne Larvae Tamaki takes aim with his Plasma Vulcans and shoots at as many as he can.

Then the lights go out. At the very least Tamaki can still see thanks to his armors HUD. Thus he sees the Larvae behind Sora and with his Plasma Vulcans fires at them. Then his HUD notices one going for Katsuo as Tamaki grits his teeth and points his left hand Vulcans at the ones going for Sora while trying to use his right hand to shoot the one going for Katsuo.

(OOC: Yeah, Tamaki has a transformation sequence. I thought it made sense as he power is based off wanting to be like his childhood heroes. Luckily it doesn't take nearly as long as it seems it does.)

Terry576

2013-06-25, 05:57 PM

Outside Dance Studio

With a roll of his eyes and a yawn, Sora waits patiently as they all claw and bite at him, feeling their teeth bounce off his skin.

"Awww c'mon! Thas all y'all can do?"

His arm was normal once more, but his entire body was steelgray, his eyes a killing, glinting green. Sora grinned wickedly, and his mouth was nothing but teeth and sharp, as he hefted his club once more.

"We've been through this already! Y'all're jes too goddamn slow!"

his club whirled over his head in a wicked helicopter, smashing and bashing all that was in its path as his grin grew wider and wider, as words flew through his head.

mortals

_____soulgrab

hatehatehatehate
strong too STRONG

Dorizzit

2013-06-25, 06:00 PM

The City
Dance Studio

As soon as the lights go out, Naito closes his eyes. Instead of relying on sight, now less useful, he instead relies on his other, keenly honed senses. As the drone dog leaps at him, he lunges forwards rather than attempting to dodge, and with a shouted kiai, plunges his fist directly through its chest.

Quincies in the room can feel him gathering up reishi just as they are.

Draken

2013-06-25, 07:56 PM

Outside the Dance Studio

Katsuo is likely saved from a lifetime of service to the inscrutable lords and ladies from whence these unsightly beings came by Tamaki's deeds.

Similarly a number of the larva surrounding Sora are scorched down to a charred husk, their burning insides rise in an argent cloud of likely noxious vapours. Or perhaps hallucinogenic. Well, at the very least they ought to smell really terribly.

This achievement surely pales in comparison to Sora sending the horde flying with a swing of his overcompensatory weapon. It is also not quite as likely to result in embarrassment, as the whipping tails of the creatures lash out at Sora's legs to use the momentum of his own strength to drag him to the ground.

But at least two of the beings are perhaps crushed thoroughly by the weapon's impact, as their spirits are drawn out of the mortal shells and crack to shards, revealing the host soul underneath, the chain attached, both body and soul lying down unconscious, but fortuitously alive.

The drone essences, however are drawn in by the gravity of Sora's hollow reiatsu. He has fed on hollows before, he will feed on hollows again.

And those essences carry with them a voice.

Sora's... Inner World, perhaps?
Sora Only:A dry wind blows, carrying imperious words.

"Defend your brothers. Help them take the bodies of hollows. Follow them back."

Inside the Studio

Naito's strike lands true, but the hound has more than enough time to bite at his shoulder and sweep at his feet with its whip-like tail.

But then it is shoved aside by the blow, the soul exiting the dog's body, which returns to normal. The dog pants weakly, it was just punched in the chest after all, and had its soul expelled too.

The soul does not quite return to normal, however. And still chained to its body, the pale monster rises to its feet, growling at Naito for another go. It lunges again, fangs bared.

Silently, however, a larva prepares to launch itself against him from behind as soon as Naito is busy with the hound once again.

KnightDisciple

2013-06-25, 08:07 PM

The larva will never make it toward Naito, because it is suddenly bisected by a glowing kukri blade.

It appears that the holographic eyepiece that Charles wears is useful for more than just seeing things far away. It also lets him see in the dark. His gaze turns to the other skittering creatures, a frown on his face.

He'd apparently come back in when the scope of the danger inside was evident. His voice was tight as he spoke.

"Since we've got no civilians inside this building, new plan. Natsuki and I take care of the little ones. Someone who doesn't wipe souls out takes care of the big ones before I have to."

Looks like the Australian's pretty good with a knife and a gun. Who knew!

strawberryman

2013-06-25, 08:26 PM

(City Streets)

Katsuo looks up as the larvae around him are obliterated. Looking back to Sora some distance away, he picks himself up (only slightly remarking at the small crater created by his tackle) to dart after him. He throws an eye to Tamaki on the way.

"I... can't fight those little things, they're too small. I'm gonna help Shiki-san!"

With that, he crunches against the sidewalk to start a sprint... but simply succeeds in launching himself a couple dozen meters into the air.

Fortunately, he lands somewhere near Sora, diving towards a crowd of three drones surrounding him. But for all his strength, he simply didn't have the training or discipline.

Mina Kobold

2013-06-26, 03:05 AM

[Dance Studio]

As Charles speaks, something moves above them. Having followed the drones from outside the building, the Mod Soul inhabiting Alice's gigai aims a hit at some of the remaining larvae, seemingly unhindered by the darkness. While nowhere near Katsuo's strength, the Mod Soul's hit is still stronger than even a much larger and muscled human would be, quite probably able to break bones if the larvae had any. Assuming they are hit, the Mod Soul drops silently next to Charles and Naito, staring indifferently at them.

"..."

Meanwhile, Alice, having left the dead body, is walking towards Sora with Cheshire drawn. An uncharacteristic hateful glare aimed at the living Arrancar. However, at the sounds of the fighting inside, the Shinigami turns. Snapping back to normal at the sight of the kids inside fighting the drones, Alice sighs and shakes her head.

Doubling back, the Shinigami leaps toward the larger, rotund, Hollow. Aiming a slash with Cheshire to maim and separate it from its body. Not quite trying to cleanse it yet, scientific curiosity returning.

DiscipleofBob

2013-06-26, 09:00 AM

[Dance Studio]

The strange dust particles that spray onto Kenzan's face are either shredded into nothingness at the strange invisible field around Kenzan or fall to the floor. "What...?" Before Kenzan can truly give an appropriate WTF reaction, the lights go out and other things start flooding the room. "Well that's just great. Everyone out!" Arms crossed in front of him, Kenzan barrels through the door and tries to charge through the hallway outside. He can't see, but he at least remembers enough about the building layout and has enough light from outside that he should be able to find his way throughout the building. He knows there's probably a few drones in his way. His goal is to try and tackle through them to clear a path. The reality he doesn't realize is that his arms will just bludgeon the regular mortal bodies but be as sharp as razor blades to the spiritual entities.

Terry576

2013-06-26, 04:08 PM

[Outside Dance Studio]

Sora sent a vicious glare towards the tails at his legs, before grinning widely as he jumped up in the air, his feet transforming into a massive block of stone that slammed into the ground, aiming to crush and destroy the tails that were underneath him before morphing back into actual legs. He frowned as he looked at his clothes, now covered in gashes and rips.

"Maaaah, sure am glad ah took off ma jacket 'forehand now."

He winked as Katsuo started flailing at some of the things nearby, letting out a boisterous laugh. "Awwww c'mon Katsuo, y'all can do better than that! Ya gotta aim, mate! None of that wailin' 'round hopin' fer a hit! 'ere, lemme show ya..."

His monstrous weapon vanished, and he slammed his hands together, his grin becoming enormous as his arms grew in size and length, covering themselves in stone and iron and spikes, midnight blue and black rippling down their forms, before settling into a pair of arms that would have looked better on a behemoth then on Sora's lithe frame.

"This is 'ow ya do it!"

With a wind up and a punch, Sora's arm aims for the drones in front of him, before he turns into a low sweeping twirl to get rid of the circle surrounding him.

Sora's Inner World(?)

Draken Only

"Wha'? Ah'm not a big fan of being bossed 'round, darlin'. Tell ya what, ah'll tell a couple'f ma friends 'bout yer predicament, and then we'll see 'ow that'll work, alrigh'? Definitely not helpin' yer bizarre abominations out, though."

Draken

2013-06-26, 04:31 PM

Inside the Studio

Argent dust sprays out of the pieces of the larva onto Naito and Chuck. It is pretty much harmless.

Kenzan's face cuts the dust into... Finer dust? Whatever. It falls to the ground. There are no drones in Kenzan's way.

Alice forces the drone spirit out of the mortal body, which reverts to the form of a very overweight man in a suit.

The drone is unfazed, however, and brings its balled fists down on her, even as its tail slithers around to try and get her by the legs.

The creatures on the ceiling lash down at Chuck with their tails, aiming to wrap him by the arms and neck and pull him up, where a larva is waiting.

Just to call horngeek to action, a group of six larvae leaps at the Akyama twins from pretty much every direction.

Outside

Katsuo's powerful fists send the drones flying across the street, after which they land with a thud and the hollowed spirits crawl out of the bodies, which return to their human forms. The spirits growl, their chains rattling as they move, and they leap back at the boy, claws bared.

Sora's attacks don't send the mortal bodies flying, but force the hollowed souls out and vanquish the taint, draining its essence into him once again. Three more drones fall, three remain around him.

They growl and unleash a trio of balas against Sora, one is shot at the ground, raising a dust cloud.

The dust cloud is the perfect distraction for the remaining four larvae to leap at him at once from behind.

Sora's Inner World
Are you Terry?
Sora gets no response.

Until he kills more drones, then the message is repeated.

Terry576

2013-06-26, 04:53 PM

[Outside the Dance Studio]

"HahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G33_vhURjH8)!"

There was no need for words, as his eyes burned yellow, and the arms vanished for his enormous weapon once more, And he smashed it into the ground, the energy from the balas striking his body, grinning widely; blood falling from his mouth as he spoke, his throat contorting in ways human physiology was not meant too, and his reiatsu roared, Hollow scent and power crashing over the area, and then rising, higher and higher as winds and chains whirled around his body.

"Rise from the center, Bezalel!"

All Arrancar have a Resurreccion. It's part of them, something that they are made with. If you cannot achieve it, you may as well not be an Arrancar.

And Bezalel was a monster, not a Resurreccion. Fifteen feet tall, covered in chains, rock and iron, midnight black and blue with spires of stone bursting from the ends, Bezalel was a Hollow through and through, Sora's face and appearance not even showing, it was only a mass of power, a behemoth emerging into reality.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAARHHHHH

The thing roared its fury, as its fists slammed into the things around it, daring to attack, the hulking monstrosity's power and ironclad strength washing over those around it. Spears of rock broke out of its back, aimed to pierce the larvae behind it, and Bezalel's cries pierced the sky.

And still its Reiatsu ROSE, breaking limits and incomprehensible pressure, crashing over the mortals nearby as the thing cried its rage and defiance.

AnimeKid

2013-06-26, 06:33 PM

Outside the Dance Studio

Tamaki's eyes widened as he turned from shooting down the larvae like monsters, his HUD ready to warn him of sneak attacks. No what he was looking at was Sora, and the amount of reiatsu he was putting out and more importantly what kind of reiatsu.

"Nani?! Is this?! No, it's fouler than that signiture before was, but it's not as strong. Still, it is strong enough that if he decides that we would go well with ketchup that it would take a good number of us to put him down. Kuso! What a way for a day to go from bad to worse."

Keeping as close an eye on Sora as possible Tamaki goes back to shooting any enemies in the area. He also tries to keep an eye out for Katsuo who may not know anything is wrong and may just Sora has a transformation ability.

strawberryman

2013-06-26, 06:42 PM

(City Streets)

Katsuo instinctively leaps to the side as the liberated drones leap at him, lifting up a leg in an undisciplined kick that, nonetheless, has all the force of a furious uppercut from Thor.

However, before he can attack the other one, Sora transforms, leaving Katsuo looking up to the titanic teen in shock. "...Uh... Shiki-san, are you all r-right?"

The moment of distraction is probably enough to get Katsuo in trouble.

5a Violista

2013-06-26, 08:35 PM

Ikari
Restaurant, downtown

Caeyrn nods in response. Yes, he is.

Suddenly...

The French Actor feels massive Hollow Energy wash over the town, originating from Sora.

He turns towards the American. "Did you feel that?" he asks, standing up and motioning for a waiter to come immediately. (So he can pay for the meal. He's not going to stay sitting around with this thing in town!)

Draken

2013-06-27, 12:25 AM

Cathedral of the Trifold Eye

Oscar and Vincenzo look out the window as a sound and a reiatsu reach them.

Oscar grunts, he recognizes Sora's spiritual power and leaves the warehouse, leaving Vincenzo to show playing with fire while the children of the cult watch from afar.

Outside the Dance Studio

Katsuo's kick shatters the plating of one of the drone souls, releasing the host from its taint. The other two are sent flying to the sides, landing on their claws.

Sora impales the four larvae, their essences spiral down his spines towards his body and are absorbed.

At this potent display, the five remaining drones step back with a low hissing.

Sora's Inner World?
Sora.
The feminine voice comes again, matronly, imperious, commanding.

"Take over the bodies of hollows. Return to these accursed shinigami lands!"

Terry576

2013-06-27, 12:48 AM

[Outside Dance Studio]

The hulking monster turned towards the drones with a bestial roar, fists whirling and flailing, striking at the air for all that mattered. No human consciousness told it what to do, it was BEZALEL, and it was a GOD!

Sora's Inner World(?)

Voice.

"Ehehehe, little bit busy 'ere love. Yer wunnerful creations don't seem to partake kindly with me at all, an' goin' this far was a bad plan."

Sweat trickles down Sora's forehead and form, and he gasps for air, gritting his teeth, struggling to reign in the behemoth that has control of his body.

Mina Kobold

2013-06-27, 02:37 AM

[Inside Dance Studio]

Alice neatly leaps out of the way of the drone, taking a defensive stance in order to study her opponent. However, at that moment Sora Bezalel roars. Sighing, Alice narrows her eyes and attacks, aiming to cleanse the Hollowness from the drone. If it succeeds, Alice will turn, eyes narrowing, and dash towards the outsides.

"Hearts, protect the kids in the dwelling, warzone permissions."

The Shinigami shouts at the Mod Soul, evidently named Hearts, before leaving. Hearts nods in reply, barely losing half a second before turning. Leaping, the Mod Soul attempts to grab hold of the tails of the drones above Chuck, pulling on them with near-superhuman strength and trying to toss them against the nearest window.

[Outside Dance Studio]

Alice runs outside, aiming for Katsuo as the scene becomes apparent. Aiming a cut at the nearest drone, Alice takes up a defensive stance before the super-strong Mortal.

"I suggest moving inside, probability of you surviving encounters with Hollows of its magnitude are next to nill."

Gesturing at what had been Sora, Alice speaks while attempting to keep an eye on both drones and Arrancar. Katsuo may notice that the Shinigami, who had been calm and even light-hearted when the bull Hollow had attacked in the park, is now looking very very serious.

strawberryman

2013-06-27, 01:27 PM

(City Streets)

Katsuo looks to Alice, gritting his teeth. "It's not just a hollow. It was Shiki-san. I've got to make sure he's all right!" ...One could wonder about the boy's quick vows to the protection of his peers, but though mildly heroic, he is still unskilled. Wrenching a nearby chain link fence post out of the anchor, he dives at the retreating drones to the side of Sora, swiping with it wildly, to at least get the monsters running.

Mina Kobold

2013-06-27, 02:06 PM

[Outside Dance Studio]

Alice immediately leaps after Katsuo, landing next to the youngster while slicing at the drones.

"So were all of these. Every Hollow was Mortal, souls corrupted to eat even their old families. If this one was an associate of yours, the proper course of action is to ensure his soul is cleansed and freed without letting him consume you."

Turning and methodically slashing through a drone's neck, a cut that would cleanse a normal Hollow, Alice looks at Katsuo. Eyes narrow, the red irises almost glowing in the heat of danger and battle.

"Just a friend's death is traumatic, do you wish to make him suffer more knowing it was him who killed you?"

Draken

2013-06-27, 08:44 PM

Intermezzo

Alice cuts down the huge drone and runs off to hold a conversation with Katsuo in the span of a the time it takes for the hollow dog to jump at Naito.

Well, not really, this is one of those time warps. But let's try to not rush things that way in the near future.

Hearts grabs onto the tails, with a vicious tug the creatures come crashing down to the ground, the spirits rising from the unconscious bodies.

But they look strange, afraid even. But the chain prevents them from fleeing.

Dorizzit

2013-06-27, 08:54 PM

[The City]
Dance Studio

Naito shifts his stance as the dog's tail sweeps at him, allowing it to gain purchase on only one leg. This proves useless without leverage. With the arm he doesn't use to punch, he elbows the hound in the throat to prevent it from biting him, snapping it back as the dog is thrown to the ground and its soul ejected.

Naito eyes it warily, failing to notice the incoming drone until it is too late; or it would have been, had Chuck not shot it out of its descent. Providing no acknowledgement of the action, Naito remains focused on the dog, then stabs his hand forward at it as it lunges. Out of this, a wedge-shaped bolt similar to a Quincy arrow launches at the dog's face.

Draken

2013-06-27, 09:26 PM

Inside the Studio

The arrow goes straight through, and the drone begins to dissipate.

Inertia causes the creature to keep falling towards Naito, but every part of it is dispelled just before it touches him, soon enough, the chain vanishes.

Terry576

2013-06-28, 01:09 AM

Outside Dance Studio

Bezalel turned, a hulking monster of iron and rock, taking one slow step towards Katsuo, his hands raising over his head to smash down, breaking air and endless power in his wrists, in his body, in his ironclad fists.

But then he turned, and opened his mouth, energy swirling inside of it, pointed at the drones cowering from the behemoth that faced them.

And it grew and grew, from a nearly invisible sphere to a glowing white circle of power and energy, and Bezalel roared, as the energy was released, the concrete and sky fleeing in the wake of the sheer energy it emitted.

Sora's Inner World(?)

Draken-oniichan~

Sweat dripped off of Sora's face as words he didn't know tumbled from his mouth, as phrases that dwelt deep in his mind appeared on his tongue.

"V'entro loth ak'ar tenai'kel MUSTH'RA VO ASHTAN"

And the golem of moving, unshakable rock held still for a moment, the most quiet moment of Sora's life.

strawberryman

2013-06-29, 02:26 PM

(City Streets)

"He didn't die. I'm..." Katsuo stops, gritting his teeth. He wasn't actually sure Sora didn't die. At the burst of energy, however, he drops to the ground immediately, shaking.

"...what... was that?"

KnightDisciple

2013-06-30, 02:03 PM

[Dance Studio]

Chuck snarled a curse in English as the tails grasped for him. Even as the Modsoul swatted some away, his kukri slashed at them. Not a lethal wound, but it should remove some of their combat capability.

Of course, the larger issue was the swarm of critters trying to embrace the heads of the twins.

"Ladies! Duck!"

And then there was a flurry of glowing bullets that slashed at the larvae-insect-alien-things, creatures Chuck felt less hesitation about destroying (seeing as they seemed to be the catalyst for some of these other strange creatures).

Draken

2013-06-30, 02:15 PM

Dance Studio

The drones have the tips of their tails slashed off. The body of the limbs still in Heart's grip.

But the things don't look like they want to fight, they appear to be cringing against their own chains, because there is something truly horrible outside.

Chuck blasts holes through the larva, which fall back leaving trails of silver dust in the air.

Outside

The drones are vanquished by Belazel's roar, the hollow taint fleeing to his maw, the mortal souls freed of it, but unconscious and defenseless.

Alice is poised to strike at it, and Katsuo knows not what to do.

And then a hulking man in a conspicuous black suit drops with the might of a hammer on top of Belazel's head.

"Ask him when he is back to normal."

Mina Kobold

2013-06-30, 03:08 PM

[Inside Dance Studio]

Hearts, seemingly unmoved by the sound of bullets and the behaviour of the Drones, attempts to drag those caught towards the nearest window or door, seeking to throw them outside the building.

[Outside Dance Studio]

Alice stops, dully surprised at the hulking stranger's entrance. However, at the mention of Sora going back to normal, the Shinigami shifts ponderously, leaning on Cheshire.

"Back to normal? A possibility from what little data-but quite the dilemma. Allowing continuation of a significant risk factor, or sacrifice scientific curiosity..."

[Museum]

Rin looks askance at Miya as the latter enters the room, but still keeps an eye on the Hollow, not quite knowing what to think yet.

((I think we're Waiting on C'nor, actually. Rin just reacted to the Hollow, so doing much with Rin before she moves would be jumping C'nor. ^_^'))

Terry576

2013-06-30, 07:37 PM

[Outside Dance Studio]

Belazel staggered as the man slammed into its head, lifting an enormous fist to slam it into him, roars of indignation bursting through his mouth.

And in his World, Sora Falls Asleep and Wakes Up in an endless loop, an unfathomable recursion of impossible times.

demon magic, devil's child

a king has been crowned and he will never die
and now i sleep forever perhaps

someday i can

WAKE UP

Draken

2013-06-30, 08:02 PM

Outside the Dance Studio

Oscar punches the fist.

"Dirt Yields to Stone."

A fault line appears where the fists meet, most certainly not on Oscar's hand. The fault line grows, becoming a crack, and quickly spreads all over Belazel.

A second later, the creature's layer of stone explodes into a cloud of dust, revealing the iron layer underneath.

Terry576

2013-06-30, 08:14 PM

Outside Dance Studio

With a scream that breached the sky, Belazel roared in pain and agony, and it split the heavens themselves and cried its indignant fury.

And then Sora Woke Up.

Belasora opened his eyes as his body sunk into the ground, diminishing rapidly in size and form, staring with a film of tears at the man who had ripped off his skin like it was nothing.

And Sora gasped in pain as he fell to his knees, blood pouring from every part of his body, as he screamed in agony as his skin burned with the force of a thousand suns, growing back as rapidly as it had been ripped off.

With a shirt stained the darkest red and wicked, blood filled smile, Sora grinned at the man in front of him, the Knight he had freed. "'Lo there Oscar, 'ows yer wife? Ah'm... Gah... Ah'm doin' jes fine!"

And then he fell down to the floor, unable to move. "Think ah might take a quick nap, mate."

strawberryman

2013-06-30, 11:44 PM

(City Streets)

Katsuo just stares. Though, at the least, it was proven Sora would be okay. Though he doesn't really have the presence of mind to point this out to Alice. Just enough to stare.

"...Shiki-san? Are you all right?"

Draken

2013-06-30, 11:54 PM

Outside the Dance Studio

Oscar stands on the air as Sora stops being a suitable pedestal for him to stand on, taking slow steps down as if on an invisible staircase.

"I am not married, kid."

Soon as his feet touch the ground, a small tremor brings the shattered remains of larva from all around to his feet, and he glares at the things.

Mina Kobold

2013-07-01, 04:26 AM

[Outside Dance Studio]

Alice watches Sora's progress with interest, slightly wincing at the screams, before closing her eyes. Seemingly lost in thought for a few seconds, the Shinigami opens them again, expression more open than angry now.

"Scientific curiosity wins out, it seems, even with t-the risks. This intrigues us."

Alice says, looking at the transparent blade of Cheshire while speaking. Changing stance again to prepare in case the drones decide to attack again, Alice looks at Oscar. Observing the stranger's actions.

Draken

2013-07-01, 05:53 PM

Outside the Dance Studio

No drones left outside, only unconscious mortals with their souls out of their bodies.

With a stomp to the ground, Oscar encapsulates the remains of the larva in a stone chest, and makes way towards the Studio.

"You bring that sword near the kid while I'm gone and I will curse your sorry ass to crap basalt for the rest of your days, shinigami."

His voice drips with contempt.

Dorizzit

2013-07-01, 11:54 PM

[The City]
Dance Studio

As things calm down inside the building, Naito slowly lets himself move out of combat-mode.

"I think that was everything. Come on, let's go see what's happening outside."

He heads for the door, leading anyone interested in following out to the streets in front of the studio.

Draken

2013-07-02, 12:36 AM

Dance Studio

There is a man at the door.

A huge man.

His balled fists may very well be the size of Naito's head.

Mina Kobold

2013-07-02, 12:45 AM

[Outside Dance Studio]

Alice smiles at Oscar, shaking her head.

"An intriguing, but unwise threat. If that one transform yet again and endanger the children here, it may have to be terminated, as I presume Kido would be temporary at best. If I stay Cheshire's blade, then the probability of the kid's soul being destroyed by Quincy means will be significantly increased."

Shrugging, Alice sheaths the zanpakutou, turning to Katsuo to see if the young Mortal is harmed. Smiling, the shinigami continues, more to Katsuo than the stranger.

"I'll leave the choice to Yamada-san and the others, however. Am I correct that you consider that one your friend?"

[Inside Dance Studio > Outside Dance Studio]

Hearts follows Naito, moving quickly ahead and raising a hand to signal for the Mortals to stop, despite likely having hurried too much for them to need to. Whether they notice or not, the Mod Soul exits the building and swiftly scans the area, nodding and gesturing for the Mortals to continue when no ambush is (presumably) detected.

All the while, it remains silent and seemingly emotionless.

KnightDisciple

2013-07-02, 12:45 AM

Dance Studio

Charles, already wired pretty tight between all the crazy Hollow beasts and the short period of terrible oppressive reiatsu roaring in from outside, almost immediately points his pistol right at the big man's face.

He didn't fire, of course. That would be poor discipline. But despite the man feeling....well, not normal, but at least maybe-sort-of human, his aim didn't waver. His eyes narrowed a bit.

"Who're you?"

Dorizzit

2013-07-02, 12:50 AM

Dance Studio

There is a man at the door.

A huge man.

His balled fists may very well be the size of Naito's head.

[The City]
Dance Studio

Naito looks up at the towering figure.

"We're closed. Ballet lessons will be held tomorrow, you can come back then."

Deadpan.

Draken

2013-07-02, 01:10 AM

strawberryman

2013-07-02, 01:11 AM

(City Streets)

Katsuo continues to look on all of this in shock. But as Alice addresses him, he just levels a slight nod. Maybe the guy just sort of popped up and started being friendly out of nowhere, but he certainly didn't wish ill will on him.

AnimeKid

2013-07-02, 02:52 AM

Dance Studio

Tamaki continues to observe the situation silently. He had picked off the last of his group of larvae and Alice was probably more qualified to handle this situation. Still, there was something off about this Oscar person. He seemed to know something about Sora who a few minutes ago was giving off large amounts of Hollow reiatsu. Indeed from the few seconds of interaction they had, he would even say that they knew each other. He was a little put off by Alice's fascination with studying the situation like it was a science fair project but decided not to vocalize that fact.

His eyes travel over to Sora for a minute before coming back to rest on Oscar. Like Chuck his vulcans were aimed at him, but not firing in case he tried something. Tamaki didn't say this kind of thing often, but something didn't feel right about the man.

KnightDisciple

2013-07-05, 01:02 AM

Dance Studio

Oscar does not give much thought to Chuck's gun. Just as he does not give much thought to Alice's words.

"I am Oscar Meyers, if you feel the need to know. I'm here to collect the essences of the two creatures you left in there."

Chuck stands still for a moment...before lowering the gun.

His stance and expression scream "I'm watching you", but he stands aside to let Oscar pass.

He's a big guy, even for a Fullbringer, but it's been one of those days, after all.

Dorizzit

2013-07-05, 07:11 AM

[The City]
Dance Studio

Unlike Chuck, Naito refuses to budge from Oscar's path.

Draken

2013-07-05, 08:47 AM

Dance Studio

That is not really a problem for him.

Oscar taps his hands on the walls by the door, and a distinctive rumble courses through the building. And then he walks off towards a window.

And stomps the ground.

A stronger shockwave shakes the area, and the two drone souls come flying through the wall - crossing it as if it were a liquid - right into Oscar's hands. A violet light erupts between his fingers and explodes, and quickly the pale things dissolve away, leaving the host souls behind to fall off the man's grip.

The dust of the dissolved hollows is sucked towards Oscar's mouth by a deep breath.

"Hmm..."

And with that, he turns back and walks over to Sora.

"I can't feel no more of these little ones nearby. Time to go home, I suppose."

Terry576

2013-07-05, 01:45 PM

Dance Studio

Sora's eyes open slowly, and he grins a bloodsplattered grin. "Oh? It is? Well, should ah go back with you er should ah go tell my lovely mother where ah plan to be?"

Standing up and following Oscar, he whistled. "Ya didn' 'ave ta follow me over yanno. Ah had it unner control."

Dorizzit

2013-07-05, 04:25 PM

Draken

2013-07-05, 04:44 PM

Outside the Dance Studio

Oscar chuckles, apparently in a good mood.

"You were in control of everything besides yourself, that is for sure. And go wherever you prefer. But first, I want to know what you heard from those drones and larva."

Terry576

2013-07-05, 05:00 PM

Dance Studio

Sora hums a little tune before he says anything. "Ol' Bez doesn't really like it when ah call 'im out fer anything less'n a nuclear strike. Says 'e gives me too much power as is. Ol' bastard."

With a wide grin, he attempts to sling an arm over the eight, almost nine foot man. "Ahhhh, nothin' impor'ant! Yanno, "Come on down and rescue me" "Stop killin' yer brothers", usual womanly talk!"

Draken

2013-07-05, 05:10 PM

Outside the studio

Oscar clocks Sora over the head.

"Specific wording. This is important."

Terry576

2013-07-05, 11:35 PM

Outside The Studio

"Fiiiiine. Woman, said tha' ah should return ta th' soul society an' free 'er. That accurate enough for ya?"

Draken

2013-07-05, 11:47 PM

Outside the Studio

Oscar smiles, or bares his teeth in an attempt to do so, hard to tell.

"Very much so, my boy. You have just discovered where on the planes our Lady Reene Lucaster is."

Terry576

2013-07-06, 12:30 PM

Outside the Studio

Sora rolls his tongue around in his mouth, before a wild, crazed grin blooms onto his face.

"Well then, I s'pose we shan't keep 'er waiting, eh? Come friend! We 'ave men to gather, a maiden to rescue, an' a village to pillage!"

With a twist of his heel, Sora begins walking off into the distance, towards the Cathedral of the Trifold Eye.

Draken

2013-07-06, 01:18 PM

On the way to the Cathedral

Oscar growls.

"Anger me through it may, we must leave her waiting further. Invading Soul Society with only me, Vincenzo, Clovis and you mortals is foolish, specially when we don't even know where her highness will be."

"No, we will free the other knights first. And then we will smash open some more chambers in the catacombs, round some larva and take a host of drones with us. Once there, her highness will have control of them and we will be able to find her, and fight our way through anything the shinigami send."

And then he chuckles.

"How does storming 'heaven' with a host of these critters in tow sound to you, kid?"

strawberryman

2013-07-06, 01:44 PM

(City Streets)

Katsuo watches everything going on around him like it's in slow motion. Without speaking, barely breathing, he isn't sure how to interact with things going so far out of control, as far as his knowledge is concerned. But eventually, as Sora departs, he picks himself up, looking past the world. He returns to the others, putting on one of his token nervous smiles as he approaches Naito.

"Um... t-thanks for all the... help. I think I'm going to go home and lay down." He presses past to grab his things, and begins his departure.

KnightDisciple

2013-07-06, 04:21 PM

[The City]
Dance Studio

Naito blinks at Oscar's circumvention of his opposition.

"Yeah, okay, that works. So, um, yeah."

Naito turns to the other students.

"Alright, so, next on the agenda for the meeting?"

There is a hint of sarcasm in his voice, but the question seems to be legitimate.

Chuck sighs, spins the pistol around on his finger once, and holsters it.

He glances at the half-dead people scattered around the building and the street, his face tightening when he sees the woman who he...killed. He clamps down on his reaction before speaking, though.

"Someone with a...finer...touch than myself should help the victims back into their bodies."

He neutrally glances at Alice.

"Maybe instead of scientific observation, our resident Soul Reaper can, you know, help set things right."

(City Streets)

Katsuo watches everything going on around him like it's in slow motion. Without speaking, barely breathing, he isn't sure how to interact with things going so far out of control, as far as his knowledge is concerned. But eventually, as Sora departs, he picks himself up, looking past the world. He returns to the others, putting on one of his token nervous smiles as he approaches Naito.

"Um... t-thanks for all the... help. I think I'm going to go home and lay down." He presses past to grab his things, and begins his departure.
Chuck holds a hand out to stop Katsuo for a moment, his expression sympathetic (but not pitying).

"It's a lot to take in. Take your time. But...make sure you have the phone number for a couple of us. Keep your eyes open, and don't be afraid to call someone if you need help. Nothing wrong admitting a situation's too big for just yourself. Stay safe out there."

Once Katsuo confirms he's got a couple phone numbers, Chuck lets him past.

Dorizzit

2013-07-06, 04:28 PM

[The City]
Dance Studio

As Katsuo is leaving, Naito points at him.

"You. I am going to train you in martial arts. You need to learn how to control your strength. This will help."

strawberryman

2013-07-06, 05:32 PM

(Dance Studio)

Katsuo blinks as he's addressed, but trades phone numbers. Notably, he has a rather old but sturdy-looking cellphone that looks like it's seen its share of tough times. When addressed by Naito, however...

"...Um. T-thank you, but someone actually offered... so I think I'll call her... though... maybe, if it's too much for her, I can take that offer. I'm sorry, I d-don't mean to be rude..." He continues smiling nervously, giving a slight bow as he continues leaving.

"Erm... I hope we can talk again t-tomorrow." Once again, the boy's nervous politeness, his composure melts away as he lets through a sincere smile, even a grin, observing his new friends in this new odd world.

Assuming no further commentary, he makes for home and quickly makes for bed, collapsing and falling asleep almost immediately.

Terry576

2013-07-06, 06:57 PM

Streets

Sora nods absentmindedly, before shuddering a little bit. "Not a big fan 'a them, mahself. Wouldn't really wish those damn voices in mah 'ead on nobody, sorry 'bout that. Ah'm sure they'll be terrified though."

Dorizzit

2013-07-06, 09:07 PM

Draken

2013-07-06, 09:18 PM

On the Way

Oscar shrugs.

"Joining the royal family that way isn't among my goals either, truth be told."

And thus they arrive at the cathedral and, give the day some closure.

strawberryman

2013-07-06, 10:41 PM

[Next Day]
(Cathedral of the Trifold Eye)

The sun rises on the Cathedral. Alexandra has long since been awake in the basement, brewing with odd-colored liquids that every so often change color in vials in her hands. Eying the antiquated watch on the table, she jots down a few notes on a blank page in one of her notebooks, and rips them out. Communing with them for a few moments, the shreds of paper take flight, speeding through the halls for their intended targets.

Oscar, Vicente, Sora, Thomas:
Gather in the conference room in half an hour. Prepare for cold weather.

Mina Kobold

2013-07-07, 10:04 AM

[Outside Dance Studio]

Alice looks after Oscar and Sora, eyes curious and ears straining to listen. As Chuck speaks, the Shinigami turns and smiles at the Quincy.

"Oh, just a moment."

Stepping up to the Mod Soul, Alice whispers something to Hearts before turning back to Chuck.

"My apologies if my demeanour seems clinical. Approximately a century of scientific work has peculiar effects on one's approach."

Stepping towards the nearest of the disembodied victims, Alice will attempt to "set things right" if this would be possible for a Shinigami.

Draken

2013-07-07, 10:13 AM

Strictly speaking, anyone who can see spirits can place displaced souls back into their proper bodies as long as the chain of fate is intact.

This is not an issue, since all but two of said chains of fate are intact! The two damaged ones are irrelevant because the souls are gone. Finito. No more. Unraveled. Unmade. Unnamed. Anihilated. Obliviated. Nullified. They are ex-souls. They have suffered soul suicide. They have been victim of the soul murders.

If you catch my drift.

So yeah. Souls, back in bodies. Still unconscious. Should be back up in a few minutes. Better whip out the memory eraser.

Mina Kobold

2013-07-07, 10:31 AM

[Outside Dance Studio]

Alice's expression again becomes curious.

"How remarkably expected. Predict they will awaken within five. I can prolong the unconsciousness and relocate them or let them awaken here."

Turning, the Shinigami looks expectantly at the kids, clearly leaving it to them what to do. Hearts, meanwhile, is collecting the soulless corpses silently, moving them carefully, but showing no acknowledgement of their former status as living beings.

Draken

2013-07-07, 11:11 AM

Day Three
Cathedral of the Trifold Eye

Morning is a time for discipline. Mortals wake, wash and eat in preparation for their day. Oscar at the very least does not need to do the third item, so he meditates instead, a relaxing practice he has not been able to undergo in a while.

His private time is ended by Alexandra's message. Donning his suit, he moves to the conference room in a zoom of sonido.

---

Morning is a time for discipline. Some mortals wake, wash and eat in preparation for their day. But others just sleep past the right time. Vincenzo is like those later types, snoozing on his bed and drooling on the pillow.

His lazy time is ended by Alexandra's message. He groggily dons his suits and stumbles half-asleep into the conference room.

Frozen_Feet

2013-07-07, 11:37 AM

[Somewhere in Great Tokyo Area]
The day after Mikael Rautiainen and Hakuto Kenzan met

Morning is a time for discipline. Mortals wake, wash and eat in preparation for their day. Some, wake up only to realize there are no really compelling reasons to be up so early, and drift back to sleep only to be harassed by sleep paralysis and auditory hallucinations before sinking deep into actual nightmares.

Such as is the fate of certain bandaged man, sleeping under a stolen blanket on the roof of some old apartment building...

KnightDisciple

2013-07-07, 03:41 PM

Day Two
Dance Studio
Chuck watched Katsou go, before turning to face the others. He watched Alice arrange the unconscious and dead bodies.

"Keep them out for a while. Better not to have questions we can't easily answer. We're lucky the cops aren't already here. Give them memories of...I don't know, some thugs beating them up, and as for the lady over there..."

The one whose soul he destroyed, of course.

"Just....a heart attack, I guess. That's...yeah. Let's go with that. Those happen sometimes."

He turned and rustled through his pouch on his belt before pulling out a couple of...business cards?

"Here. My number. In case someone needs to get a hold of me. I need some air."

He tosses them carelessly on the ground and turns away. In a blur of motion he's on his motorbike, not even donning his helmet as he revs up and drives off alone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Three
Cathedral of the Trifold Eye

Thomas had risen a bit before the sunrise, preparing himself for the day much like he always did. He tended not to eat much, if anything, early in the morning.

When he saw the note from his adoptive mother, he quickly downed a couple of pieces of toast. After all, being cold tended to leave one low on calories.

Precisely 29 minutes after receiving the message, he strode into the conference room, wearing his typical clothing, but with heavy boots on his feet, and a heavy leather coat with a thick lining draped over one arm, gloves peaking out of its pockets, as well as a thick scarf and knit cap resting on top of the coat. Out of one of his own pockets gleamed a pair of snow goggles.

Where he'd gotten some of these things, who know, but, such was the way of things.

Frozen_Feet

2013-07-07, 04:12 PM

[Somewhere in Great Tokyo Area]

Morning is a time for discipline. Mortals wake, wash and eat in preparation for their day. So does everyone's least favorite Office Lady as well, drinking her morning coffee in a hurry so she'll be in time for the right subway.

It looks it's going to be another boring day at work for Shiba Yui.

Mina Kobold

2013-07-08, 05:23 AM

Day Two
[Dance Studio]

Alice looks after Chuck, head tilted curiously as the Quincy speeds away. Motioning for Hearts to look at the information on the cards, Alice returns to the unconscious bodies, checking for ID.

"Curious specimen, probable need for psychiatric assistance, but that is conjecture on my part."

Looking up, the Shinigami smiles casually at the rest of the kids.

"Any difference in opinion? I should mention that I cannot make an autopsy show a new cause of death for that one, but it is possible to make it appear more peaceful."

Alice gestures at the dead human, smile fading a bit.

DiscipleofBob

2013-07-08, 11:01 AM

[Kenzan]

Kenzan had spent most of the encounter clearing out drones from inside the Studio despite limited light. Although when the powerful presence from outside pinged off his senses, he really wanted to go outside and fight whatever horror lay in wait, but his priority was to make sure the other people inside, like the twins, were all right and would not be attacked themselves. As such when the commotion dies down, Kenzan is still inside dance studio with one thing on his mind. "So... what just happened?"

[Charlotte]

"Feel what? Oh wait, there it is..." She immediately bolts upright as she feels the hollow pressure, but it quickly subsides. Suddenly she's relaxed again. "And there it goes. Well, we've got cousins around here, that's just part of the reason I'm here anyway. Feels like they've got things covered for the most part." For a soul-eradicating hollow hunter she sure is relaxed about the whole ordeal.

[???]

Making contact and attempting to make an ally proved to be a bust. Silently watching the whole ordeal at the dance studio proved that there were just that many more opposing forces in this town now. A shame. Why couldn't they just go elsewhere? But regardless he would need more recruits soon... And his normal 'supply' probably wouldn't cut it. Tonight he would acquire fresh recruits. Tomorrow he would take a more active role in researching the various opposing forces.

Terry576

2013-07-08, 03:27 PM

Day Three
Cathedral of the Trifold Eye

Pain and hate and rage.

That is Shiki Sora's Zanpakuto. That is the Resurreccion that he can manifest. It has no control, no understanding, just pain and anger (endless anger), and none of it matters. It's all just mist and ash and dust, and none of it makes sense.

There are words

in his head

That he doesn't recognize. but he does

Phrases that mean somethingnothing.

And they never leave. They are always there, asking DEMANDING and they take and take and take.

What next, will it be that is lost?

Life? vita

Death? mortem

And none of it makes sense and so he moves and runs and never stops, because if he does then it means nothing, nothing in the end and all he has now are legs to run with, legs that don't look like he remembers, forms that don't remind him of him, but of someone else.

All he has are swords and blood and death and he can only hold one of those in his power before he loses the rest. So he enters the conference room with a grin on his face and a twinkle in his eyes and his entire body saying that he was ready to go.

i dont want to go

5a Violista

2013-07-08, 04:27 PM

Ikari
Downtown

When Caeyrn notices that it's gone, he doesn't seem very rushed, either. He's still alert, but no longer rushed. He stops trying to call the waiter. "Besides you, I haven't met any Quincies yet, but there's definitely a large number of...interesting people around here." Just looking around for spiritual pressures confirm this often. "There's also a large number hollows who have shown up recently."

AnimeKid

2013-07-08, 09:24 PM

Dance Studio

Tamaki kept an eye on the two anomalies known as Sora and Oscar. His lone eye constantly stayed on the two as he made sure to keep them within is sights at all times. He heard some of the conversation from them, it wasn't much but it was enough to deduce that the two had some sort of goal. That and the fact that they knew more than they let on. Especially since the larvae and drones did not speak.

Eventually the two left to who knows where. Tamaki was personally just glad to see them gone. The two put him on edge. Walking back into the dance studio, just in time to see Katsuo and Chuck off, Tamaki de-transformed in a flash of red light and becoming the form the rest of the group knew more familiarly. Picking up one of the cards Chuck left on the floor Tamaki says to Kenzan, "That's what I want to know. As for the body Alice-san, a more peaceful looking cause of death could cause less panic."

strawberryman

2013-07-09, 02:20 AM

[Day Three]
(Cathedral of the Trifold Eye)

Alexandra taps in almost immediately after everyone has gathered, materializing almost like a ghost. She is wrapped in thick furs, however not so thick as one would expect for an arctic expedition. There is a quiet sloshing sound coming from her shoulder bag, and it looks to be filled with bottles.

The hag looks around with half-milky eyes, then speaks. "Good. No need for ceremony, we may speak on the way. It will be a bit of a 'hike', given the distance." She holds her staff out, ripping it against the fabric of reality to open a garganta. Naturally, she pushes through first without so much as a moment of hesitation, setting the pace into the void between worlds.

"After this... we will have but one minor hurdle within the mortal realm before we may begin our quest in earnest. Does anyone have anything to say, with regards to new information?" Oscar and Sora almost feel like this is directed at them, though the hag does not look back to them. How the crone seems to divine these things is a true mystery.

(City Streets)
On the way to school

Katsuo walks to school early, taking his time. He had some distance to traverse, anyway, and he preferred the solitude of a walk as compared to the cramped space of a bus. Taking out Shiba Yui's card, he looks at it for a moment before dialing (carefully) her number. Though he continues walking, his pace forward is slow and deliberate, such that he not run into anyone while he waits for an answer.

Draken

2013-07-10, 12:01 AM

Not the Cathedral, Not the Prison, But between these places

Oscar hums in deep thought.

"Lady Lucaster left her children with standing orders, their simple memories easily absorbed by a hollow that ended consuming them. She gave us a valuable clue to her location in this manner."

"But it was a fair guess to make, given the information in the archives of the catacomb. If Soul Society was shipping her eggs to multiple facilities, she would have to be there for easy access."

KnightDisciple

2013-07-10, 12:32 AM

[Day Three]
(Cathedral of the Trifold Eye, then Not the Cathedral, Not the Prison, But between these places)

Alexandra taps in almost immediately after everyone has gathered, materializing almost like a ghost. She is wrapped in thick furs, however not so thick as one would expect for an arctic expedition. There is a quiet sloshing sound coming from her shoulder bag, and it looks to be filled with bottles.

The hag looks around with half-milky eyes, then speaks. "Good. No need for ceremony, we may speak on the way. It will be a bit of a 'hike', given the distance." She holds her staff out, ripping it against the fabric of reality to open a garganta. Naturally, she pushes through first without so much as a moment of hesitation, setting the pace into the void between worlds.

"After this... we will have but one minor hurdle within the mortal realm before we may begin our quest in earnest. Does anyone have anything to say, with regards to new information?" Oscar and Sora almost feel like this is directed at them, though the hag does not look back to them. How the crone seems to divine these things is a true mystery.

Oscar hums in deep thought.

"Lady Lucaster left her children with standing orders, their simple memories easily absorbed by a hollow that ended consuming them. She gave us a valuable clue to her location in this manner."

"But it was a fair guess to make, given the information in the archives of the catacomb. If Soul Society was shipping her eggs to multiple facilities, she would have to be there for easy access."
With but a twitch, Thomas had clothed himself in the extra gear. The scarf hunched down around his neck, and the knit cap was rolled up a bit, but otherwise he was prepared, his hands clad in supply but sturdy leather gloves, while the thick black leather (with modern cold-weather-protective lining) Inverness coat was fastened securely around his body, the added hood left down for the moment. His goggles were perched on his forehead as he walked.

"I must admit curiosity as to what they hoped to gain from studying the eggs and their spawn. It seems like, separate from the Queen, they are...tempermental. Shinigami being who and what they are, I would have expected a few of their Hado to be the response."

He shrugged, a gesture exaggerated by his clothing.

"Still and all, it gives us information, and an advantage. Nothing to complain about, yes?

At any rate, which Knight do we seek on this journey, and which one will be left to seek out?"

Frozen_Feet

2013-07-10, 02:44 AM

(City Streets)
On the way to school

Katsuo walks to school early, taking his time. He had some distance to traverse, anyway, and he preferred the solitude of a walk as compared to the cramped space of a bus. Taking out Shiba Yui's card, he looks at it for a moment before dialing (carefully) her number. Though he continues walking, his pace forward is slow and deliberate, such that he not run into anyone while he waits for an answer.

After just a second of waiting, a familiar voice answers: "Ikari Construction and Renovation services, Shiba Yui talking. How may I serve you?"

Draken

2013-07-10, 03:38 PM

[Day Three]
[Void Trip]

Vincenzo responds.

"You are thinking of younglings bred in ignorance and digested wisdom, Thomas. We faced innovators. We did battle with pioneers."

"As hard as we struck, they learned to strike back. When we shook the land, they tried to shake it as well. They called themselves gods because they chained us. And we, we were TITANS!"

"Shinigami are not born to their powers. They learn them. Where then, did the first mage learn his demon arts, would you wonder? But they never took all our secrets. They could not wrap their feeble dead minds around the glory of our royal sovereigns. Clearly not because they did not try!"

Then again, Vincenzo is working on outdated info and conjecture, who knows.

"And from the descriptions of the place. This will be Imhotep. Hehehehe. I doubt his prison was supposed to freeze. He must have drowned his wardens and gone to sleep in the ice. It is most certainly not Vanessa, the silhouette doesn't match."

KnightDisciple

2013-07-11, 01:28 AM

Draken

2013-07-11, 08:59 AM

[Day Three]
[Void Trip]

Thomas inclines his head in understanding.

"My mistake, Sir Vincenzo. I suppose from that perspective it makes more sense. And those do sound like interesting times. In every meaning of the word."

He raised an eyebrow at the statement regarding the prisoners.

"I see. Hm. Stone. Fire. And now water and ice. Would I be mistaken in associating Knight Vanessa with Air, then?"

"Yes. She is more about lightning."

KnightDisciple

2013-07-12, 10:44 AM

[Day Three]
[Void Trip]

"Yes. She is more about lightning."

Thomas nodded, a smile leaking onto his face. He was apparently using this trip to learn more.

"I see. Interesting. Still, there's definitely an elemental theme from what I'm gathering. Was that intentional on the part of His Majesty, or a happy accident?"

He waited for the answer before his next question.

"I know our quest encompasses two more knights, Her Majesty, and His Majesty. But...once upon a day, was the Court larger? Perhaps it is the student in me, but I find myself curious about how things were, lacking the more...long-lived perspective that beings such as yourself bear at this time.
When we go to Soul Society, perhaps we can raid a library, hm? I'm sure I could convince a few of the books to go running off with us."

Considering he was a Fullbringer, he probably could do that literally.

Draken

2013-07-12, 11:27 AM

[Day Three]
[Void Trip]

Oscar hums.

"Two knights died in the battles. Other than these, there were the drones, infantes and the princess. All in all, we were hundreds."

Vincenzo interjects.

"Just to put it to perspective. Drones were various souls, hollow or not, taken over by the queen's brood. Infantes were similar, but born of larva changed by His Majesty, faster, stronger, and sapient."

"The princess was... Different. One of the dead knights was her guardian. We lost them shortly before we fell."

"As for our elemental powers. Many of them were innate. Vincenzo was always aflame. I could always sense the earth. Imhotep always had the ability to generate water. Our innate powers served as a starting point for His Majesty's genemantic endeavours."

"Besides, it is not like there are that many different themes for the powers of the adjuchas class. We either do elements... Not necessarily the greek ones, animals or exotic humanoid shapes with the tools to go with them. Or mixes of those. Mixes are pretty much the norm. Shinigami swords weren't much different in their limitations."

strawberryman

2013-07-12, 02:09 PM

[Day Three]
(The Void)

Alexandra listens to the banter silently. It's not like she had any comments, much of this she likely already knew. Tapping along and creating the path in front of them, eventually, a yawning tear opens in front of them, expelling freezing air into the endless void.

Alexandra steps out onto the vast glacial plateaus of Antarctica without much ceremony. There is.... little in landmark to suggest anything was there, except for the fact that the void opens up immediately next to a sheer wall of ice. She looks upon the wall, then to Vicente as he exits, obviously expecting something. Idly, she takes a swig of a reddish vial from her bag, and with that her entire being subtly glows red, and the cold winds seem to be absorbed by the aura.

"Here we are."

After just a second of waiting, a familiar voice answers: "Ikari Construction and Renovation services, Shiba Yui talking. How may I serve you?"

"Erm, hello Shiba-san. It's Yamada Katsuo. I called because... well, I wanted to take you up on your offer for lessons. If you're still comfortable with that."

KnightDisciple

2013-07-12, 06:10 PM

[Day Three]
(The Void, then Antarctica)

Alexandra listens to the banter silently. It's not like she had any comments, much of this she likely already knew. Tapping along and creating the path in front of them, eventually, a yawning tear opens in front of them, expelling freezing air into the endless void.

Alexandra steps out onto the vast glacial plateaus of Antarctica without much ceremony. There is.... little in landmark to suggest anything was there, except for the fact that the void opens up immediately next to a sheer wall of ice. She looks upon the wall, then to Vicente as he exits, obviously expecting something. Idly, she takes a swig of a reddish vial from her bag, and with that her entire being subtly glows red, and the cold winds seem to be absorbed by the aura.

"Here we are."
Thomas had pulled the goggles down and scarf up as the portal opened, and as he was stepping into the snow, his hood was pulled up. He took in the sight for a moment.

"Do we have any idea of where to begin? I'm not sure we want to simply melt or smash the ice at random; there's enough the structure might become compromised, which might prolong the search."

They could all stand on air, but a pile of rubble wasn't any easier to sort through than a solid glacier, really.

Draken

2013-07-12, 08:41 PM

Terry576

2013-07-13, 04:11 AM

Antarctica

"S'cold, innit? Freezin', ah'd think. Kinda awful weather."

He grins, and its wide and bright and white as the snow surrounding him, his jacket idly flipping in the wind, black on black and wild hair and eyes viewing his surroundings with mirth as they flash yellow.

"Considerin' wha' 'appened las' time, ah think mebbe y'all better prepare fer a fight - e'en if it won' be no good!"

He laughs long and loudly as a wicked grin blooms on his mouth and he stares with eyes that flash from yellow to green like lightning in the grass as he speaks.

Frozen_Feet

2013-07-14, 03:29 PM

[City streets]
Shiba Yui answering to Katsuo's phone

"Erm, hello Shiba-san. It's Yamada Katsuo. I called because... well, I wanted to take you up on your offer for lessons. If you're still comfortable with that."

"Ah, hello Yamada-san. I'm glad you decided", a voice chimes, "I'm free after 4 afternoon. We can meet meet at a gym... do you have pen and paper...? Oh, nevermind, I can just send you the address after you hang up. You don't need anything special, just put on good clothes for exercising and maybe take a bottle of water with you."

KnightDisciple

2013-07-15, 01:05 AM

[Day Three]
[Antarctica]

"Gentlemen, please."

Vincenzo cracks his knuckles and makes his hands into spades, which shimmer with intense head before he drives them into the ice wall.

"It's all a matter of restraining convection to keep the heat in a focused area and melt just those bits... Or rather."

A cylinder of ice two meters deep and of similar diameter vanishes in a cloud of fog.

"Evaporate! Gonna be a bit cramped Oscar, hope you don't mind."

Vincenzo walks into the hole and keeps boring through the ice until they arrive at the steel door. A door very similar to the Tomb of Stone's, but much smaller. No more than six meters tall, all in all.
Thomas was calmly walking behind Vincenzo, tapping his goggles a couple of times to give himself a bit better vision through the steam...and then the same "magic vision" he'd used at the Tomb of Stone. The ability to see and at least partially analyze Shinigami magics.

When the door was revealed, Thomas smiled under the scarf and spoke up.

"If I may, Sir Vincenzo. I think I can open this with a minimum of fuss."

He drew out The Utterances of the King once more, and the pocket-sized book was again a floating tome of notable size. Almost immediately sigils glowed and floated out, sliding over to the warded door.

Thomas himself, his coat and scarf floating in invisible wind, stood there chanting in a couple of nigh-dead languages (Latin and Hollow), for a couple of minutes. Finally, he gave a great cry in the tongue of the soul eaters.

@OPEN!@

Which should open the door without blowing them all up.

Draken

2013-07-15, 10:22 AM

Day Three
Tomb of Frost

Nobody is blown up, that's pretty great.

Oscar takes the lead and pushes the doors open, revealing... A wall of ice.

Well, a good punch deals with that.

Beyond the ice wall, a corridor fitting the gate can be seen. The floor is covered in a sheet of ice, so are the walls, so is the ceiling, the last of which also bears countless stalactites - some broken, their remains littering the floor.

Vincenzo and Oscar lead the way. At the end of the corridor are three doors covered in sheets of ice, two to the sides, one forward. A muted hollow reiatsu roils forth from the front door.

Once again, Oscar punches the ice sheet and wrenches the door open. Cold water rushes forth from the room at ankle level.

Beyond is a much larger room, and the gargantuan ice block within, with the shadow of a great monster locked in the depths. Four spots of the block are holes releasing potent streams of water. Stronger than the many sinkholes around the chamber are capable of draining.

"Imhotep."

Vincenzo raises his arms and fills the room with a spiraling, hot wind. The ice begins to melt.

KnightDisciple

2013-07-15, 11:09 AM

Day Three
Tomb of Frost

Thomas wordlessly steps up to assist, his Fullbring still blazing with power. He continues muttering a bit, and symbols begin flying off of the book and slamming into the ice.

Where each of them hits, the ice begins melting in a radius of about 1 foot around it. Not as thoroughly as Vincenzo's efforts, but it does not slow them down, either. Each will go for about 30 seconds before sputtering out, but Thomas is keeping up a pretty steady stream of them.

The man himself is calmly standing on air above the ice and slush and water, still perfectly dry.

strawberryman

2013-07-15, 01:56 PM

[Day Three]
(Tomb of Frost)

Alexandra, in comparison, doesn't even bother with that air-walking nonsense. However the water does flow around her like it's afraid to touch her (likely just fullbring). She is silent as the group proceeds.

(City Streets - Phone Call)

"Erm, okay, Shiba-san. Thanks for the help." Assuming no further words were traded, Katsuo hangs up, receiving the address and sincerely hoping this would work without harming Yui.

Draken

2013-07-15, 07:18 PM

Day Three
Tomb of Frost

Oscar has his back turned from the defrosting effort. The pallid visage of Imhotep's crocodilian skull-mask is visible beneath the ice, the gaping black sockets unlit.

On the western room, still closed off from the rest of the facility, a distinctive gate opens in a specially prepared dais. The senkaimon opens to allow passage to four shinigami.

The room they arrive in covered in ice, walls, ceiling, floor. All but the blast door to next room is frozen solid. Asauchi stuck to the ice, surrounded by frozen bloodstains tell of the fate the guards of the facility, frozen where they stood, just out of safety's reach.

Beyond the door, a reiatsu seethes with the anger of a demonic sun. Almost drowning out five other spiritual presences, three very weak. Two very mortal. All hollow.

On the other side of the door, Oscar turns his face towards the frozen wall covering the door to the western room.

"We've got company. Four shinigami."

KnightDisciple

2013-07-15, 07:36 PM

Day Three
Tomb of Frost, Senkaimon Room

Masaru noted the spiritual pressures without comment. Almost immediately, his own signature shrank to the point of not existing, at least not with that fiery torrent of power flowing around them. With a soundless leap, he was on the ceiling, moving like a spider, until he reached the door. He frowned, before resigning himself to having to risk visibility, he dropped to the ground in a crouch, before sidling over to the control panel for the blast door.

Which he had no idea how to operate. He shook his head for a moment, and silently looked over to Castus, pointing at the SSI member before pointing at the controls. The meaning was fairly obvious even as Masaru was back on the ceiling and barely visible in a shadowed corner of ice and rock. He was prepared if something tried to come in through the door to attack them. They'd get a nasty surprise.
----------------------------------------------
Tomb of Frost, Prison Room

Thomas, for the moment, didn't look from where he was aiding Vincenzo. However, several pages spawned from his tome and flew toward the door, soon forming a ring around it, even as more symbols helped burrow into the ice.

"That should slow them, and I can jump into action if needed. That said, I think you and Sora can likely handle them, at least long enough, Sir Oscar. Alexandra can get us out as soon as Imhotep is freed."

Spacewolf

2013-07-15, 08:03 PM

Day Three
Tomb of Frost, Senkaimon Room

Moving over to the controls Castus tries to operate the door so that he can open it into the main chamber trying some old SSI codes along with some codes he came up with that seemed to fit the control scheme.

If it opens he shuts it down after it opens to about two abreast not wanting to let in the possible horde of hollows that could be on the other side.

Draken

2013-07-15, 08:15 PM

Day Three
Tomb of Frost

The door to the senkaimon chamber slides into the wall slightly, and then halts, revealing...

An ice sheet.

The heat has began melting the ice sheet, which has made it somewhat transparent, but blurry. Through it, the silhouette of a tall (overly tall) man in black vests is visible, he appears to be looking at the door, but not making any particular movements.

No, wait, he moved. He's just drawn what appears to be a massive sword, and stabbed it on the ground.

AnimeKid

2013-07-15, 09:10 PM

Day Three-Tomb of Frost
Senkaimon Room

Naijeru's eyes narrow at the figure that stabbed it's sword into the ground. . Figuring that it was a set up for some sort of ability Naijeru readied himself preparing for whatever may happen. "Looking like their rolling out the red carpet" he says in a quite voice. If it really turned out to be nothing his eyes flicked over to Marcus. He would give hand signals to ask Marcus if he should take point. With the ice sheet they shouldn't be able to make anything significant out.

strawberryman

2013-07-16, 01:26 AM

(Tomb of Frost)

Alexandra looks to the frozen door with a sneer of contempt. "Hmph. It appears the so-called death gods are not completely incompetent." Utilizing her staff, she tears a hole in reality... through which a few masses of white plop without much ceremony. The gap closes quickly afterward, while the masses of white form... into mock hollows, horrific things with tentacles, multiple eyes and mouths.

"I will save the Gillians for when we have more space."

Demidos

2013-07-16, 02:49 AM

Tomb of Frost

Kakari hops onto the air.

"Not that I know anything about this Hollow's abilities, but I would probably suggest not standing on the ground for this one. Anything that starts with stabbing into the ground generally means you don't want to be touching the ground." he says wryly.

"Still, perhaps we should engage quickly, while we retain any semblance of an element of surprise. Everyone ready?" He asks. Assuming everyone assents, he blasts a hole in the ice with a fiery blast of Kido. "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Shakkaho!"

While every Shinigami could cast Shakkaho without the incantation, he was very much hoping that the full power would blast away the ominous figure behind the ice wall.

Terry576

2013-07-16, 03:19 AM

Tomb of Frost

"Yanno," said a voice with a drawl, "S'rude ta attack wiffout acknowledgin' yer opponent."

A boy pokes his head out behind the large man with a wide grin, his scruffy hair falling over his eyes as his black shoes dancing across the ice. He sighs and cracks his neck, pulling off his black jacket - a school jacket, and placing it carefully on a perch, the white collared shirt he wears underneath shining in the whiteness of the arctic tundra. His tie is loose, barely even a tie, at that, and he grins widely as he raises a hand.

"Sides, 'nouncin' yerself like tha', wif a incantation an' errything, s'ne'er a good idear."

He watches complacently as the spell is cast, calling out in a mocking tone,

"Ah see a liar, a thief, a murderer, a bastard - oh wait! No ah don't! All ah see is a Shinigami!"

Spacewolf

2013-07-16, 07:13 AM

Tomb of Frost

Hmm Arrancars I guess? That means they broke their masks since being released, isn't that delightful I might be able to give a report on the method hollows are using to break their masks after all.

Castus steps to the side of the Controls before moving forward a few paces getting slightly further off the floor with each step. After this he draws his sword and smiles.

"Don't suppose we can just have a nice exchange of scientific information before you leave without the prisoner, after all it's not nice to break into another persons buildings and take their specimens...

Probably not eh, Riposte Hiso."

With the last word his sword narrows until it reaches its rapier state, there was something relaxing about having his sword released. What with this being his first fight against such presumably powerful foes.

Draken

2013-07-16, 09:14 AM

Tomb of Frost

Hmm... Shakkaho explodes in contact with the first thing it, hits, so it detonates on the ice wall. Shards go flying towards Oscar.

He doesn't really pay them any heed, the mostly mundane ice bouncing off of his hierro.

Oscar brings a hand to his chin.

"You have a point. They at least used to have the decency to properly introduce themselves back then. No point in addressing those who will not present themselves. Send in the minions, serfs are good enough to deal with ruffians."

KnightDisciple

2013-07-16, 11:56 AM

Tomb of Frost

Masaru gives a quick hand signal from his vantage point. He will follow once they begin the assault, trying to flank their opponents.

Meanwhile, Thomas continues pouring symbols onto the ice to assist in the melting, but the water sloshing under his feet also begins receiving glowing symbols, as well as a faint general green glow. Its more natural flow begins to alter, and it begins trickling toward the room with the Shinigami. But one must wonder what he's attempting there....

Spacewolf

2013-07-16, 01:04 PM

Tomb of Frost

Castus dips his sword into the green water starting to swirl below his feet and using the same method he would use to break down the bricks of the Soul Society starts to drain the spiritual energy from it. Pulling the energy in though his sword arm to supplement his own Reiryoku before placing his other hand just above the the water and wordlessly casting a boosted Hado 11: Tsuzuri Raiden. The current quickly spreads throughout the water towards the Hollows who where still on the ground.

Hopefully the others would be able to use this as a distraction to move in.

If the water isn't in the Reapers room then he will have had to move forward to its closest edge, not sure if that would take him over the threshold of the doorway where the mines are. Also not sure if the Symbols in the ice would be linked to the ones in the water and be drained the same way, i would guess not to be honest but i don't know how that power works.

strawberryman

2013-07-16, 01:52 PM

(Tomb of Frost)

Alexandra flicks her hand forward, and the cadre of faux-hollows rushes in, accosting the shinigami with powerful tentacles and biting ferally. She doesn't deign to answer the "polite" one. In fact, her only response is to throw a vial into the room, which disperses a caustic mist that rips at their bodies.

Frozen_Feet

2013-07-16, 02:44 PM

[City streets; Yamada Katsuo]

"Erm, okay, Shiba-san. Thanks for the help." Assuming no further words were traded, Katsuo hangs up, receiving the address and sincerely hoping this would work without harming Yui.

At the end of the line, Shiba Yui resumes her work, secretly happy that the call did not take up much of her working time; the boss would've not like that.

The address given to Katsuo is for a small gym in the basement of a student apartment house. Way in is easy to find, as a white paper with "Gym" inscribed on it is glued to the door. The whole house is pretty old, and the door leading downstairs is unlocked - no-one seems to be around and there's no sort of check-in.

All the equipment inside seems pretty aged. There aren't many machines; just a leg press and a rowing machine with a stack of weights. Besides that, there is a punching bag that's definitely seen better days, a bar for doing pull-ups, a bench and a barbell, and loads and loads of free weights in form of rusty dumbbells and circular blocks of iron to put on aforementioned barbell. The walls are concrete covered in white paint and the floor is full of bumps and rust stains due to people carelessly dropping weights on it.

The whole place could use some cleaning.

KnightDisciple

2013-07-16, 03:03 PM

[Tomb of Frost]

For a moment, the energy does seem to drain out of the water, though it doesn't just reverse flow; the floor is uneven enough it creates pools as it sits there.

The sigils melting the ice are completely unaffected, since they aren't "connected" in any way.

Thomas still isn't looking at the doorway, but just before Alexandra summons her minions, he points his right hand at the doorway...

And a half-circle of explosions go off and funnel the heat and concussive force right into the room the Shinigami arrived in, with the Hollow-beasts riding in directly behind it.

Masaru's eyes widen as the explosion began, and he barely managed to avoid injury as he Flash-Stepped to the opposite far corner of the room, still sticking up in the shadows.

Meanwhile, Thomas's right hand was gesturing at the water beneath his floating feet, drawing more of it in a wave that washed toward the Shinigami, conveniently moving around his compatriots (leaving them dry as a bone) as it rushed in.

His attention was still mostly on the ice prison, but it was clear he was starting to multi-task.

Demidos

2013-07-16, 03:22 PM

Tomb of Frost

"Yanno," said a voice with a drawl, "S'rude ta attack wiffout acknowledgin' yer opponent."

"Sides, 'nouncin' yerself like tha', wif a incantation an' errything, s'ne'er a good idear."

Tomb of Frost
"You have a point. They at least used to have the decency to properly introduce themselves back then. No point in addressing those who will not present themselves. Send in the minions, serfs are good enough to deal with ruffians."

The small man looks rather flustered. "Well. But. You see..."

After a moment he seems to find his voice and regain his composure. "Well I do say. First yo say I didn't announce myself, and then complain about myself announcing myself with Shakkaho. We couldn't very well introduce ourselves through an ice wall, now could we.

Besides..."

Here he is interrupted by Alexandra's attack, and is forced to hop back as hollows begin to stream into the room.

"Besides..."

Suddenly the land mines go off, and the explosive force knocks him head over heels into the corner, his sword clattering to the ground next to him.

"Confound it! Wheras we simply made an entryway, you attacked us outright, without even the hint of proper decorum. I see no reason to introduce myself to such wretches. Hmph. Confound it all."

He barely manages to grab his blade and bring it up in time to block the first Hollow's attack.

"Ruffians indeed. Hmph." He mutters under his breath.

Spacewolf

2013-07-16, 03:39 PM

Tomb of Frost

Giving up on trying to zap the hollows due to the lack of apparent effects, Castus is then blown back by the explosion, a quick Seki stopping most of the damage. Unfortunately several ice shards cause small cuts across his exposed hands and face.

Getting back to his feet as the faux-hollows, poison gas and wave begin to close in on him he lets go of his blade at which point it begins turning on its own.

"Hurricane winds whip and cut the sky Hadō #58. Tenran"

The Hado blows a hole through the various obstacles infront of him, probably taking several of the basic hollows out of the fight and dispersing the mist. Grabbing his blade out of the air he jumps though the newly created safe path and attempts to stab the enemy with the book.

Yea basic incantation since their isn't a official one.

Draken

2013-07-16, 05:59 PM

Tomb of Frost

The melting ice reveals the feathered underside of one of Imhotep's wings, as well as some of his front talons. Shouldn't be long now.

"Fair enough! Know that you stand before Oscar Meyers. Knight of the Hollow King!"

And then he puts a hand on the hilt of his blade and swings a great arc to break the spell in half around him.

"Fight off these creatures and perhaps you will be deemed fit to face me in battle!"

A stalactite falls from the ceiling next to Oscar.

5a Violista

2013-07-16, 09:22 PM

Unrelated to the current happenings,
Ikari City
Downtown

A Plus can be seen running frantically down the street. By the looks of the chain on her chest, she died very recently. Probably it was caused by that car crash up the street, as she was on her way to school. In fact, it was. A bystander is trying to do first aid, but it's already too late.

The 16-year old girl, Orino, was a shy character who kept mostly to herself. As she runs, her chain drags on the ground, but she probably hasn't noticed it yet.

As she runs, she shouts, "Ikumi! Ikumi? Where are you?" over and over again.

Meanwhile, in the shadier part of town,
A man with no ID is sulking around. In the prison he escaped from, he was only known as the Puppeteer, found guilty six years ago in the disappearances of two young girls and an old man, and suspected of a few more.

As is the custom with escaped convicts, he is more or less muscular.

AnimeKid

2013-07-16, 10:13 PM

Tomb of Frost

Naijeru's eyes widen at the paper mines as he crosses his arms in front of him to brace against the blast. He is pushed back further into the room, but not by much as he was in the back of the formation. With the explosion dying down Naijeru lowered his arms that had singe marks on them, thanking the heavens for his dense reiatsu. Seeing the hollow minions coming in Naijeru narrowed his eyes before jumping into action.

He rushed forward drawing his Odachi as well as it's sheath. He slashed furiously at the hollows though they were not his main target. The group in front of them had to be controlling them somehow. So while taking out the small fry his main goal was to get to the group. Seeing Cestus go after the man with the book he ran towards Oscar. This was a feint as after closing in he would attempt to Shunpo towards the old woman who was staying back from the fight and slash at her with his sword.

Draken

2013-07-17, 12:14 AM

Tomb of Frost

There is kind of an L-shaped turn next to Oscar, leading to Alexandra. Naijeru would need to stop in front of the arrancar to make a turn.

And about when that stop happens, Oscar has his open palm pointed forward, and lightly thrusts.

"Range-Humbling Hand."

A shockwave of reiatsu spreads forth from his open palm like a wall. It's pressure could shove aside a mountain.

Well, not literally. That is more a figure of speech.

KnightDisciple

2013-07-17, 12:52 AM

[Tomb of Frost]

Giving up on trying to zap the hollows due to the lack of apparent effects, Castus is then blown back by the explosion, a quick Seki stopping most of the damage. Unfortunately several ice shards cause small cuts across his exposed hands and face.

Getting back to his feet as the faux-hollows, poison gas and wave begin to close in on him he lets go of his blade at which point it begins turning on its own.

"Hurricane winds whip and cut the sky Hadō #58. Tenran"

The Hado blows a hole through the various obstacles infront of him, probably taking several of the basic hollows out of the fight and dispersing the mist. Grabbing his blade out of the air he jumps though the newly created safe path and attempts to stab the enemy with the book.

Yea basic incantation since their isn't a official one.

Thomas sighed and appeared several feet away from the attempted stab, now facing Castus with a frown.

"So rude. And we weren't even hurting anyone, Soul Reaper. Just retrieving a friend of ours. Is that so wrong?"

He tilts his head to the side, taps his book, mutters a few words, and is surrounded in a swirling tornado of paper.

And then a white limb, shaped much like an insects, with a razor-sharp tip, slashed out from the tornado directly at Castus, followed by another attack.

The tornado of paper cleared to reveal Thomas with a strange paper "backpack" strapped on, with 4 limbs made of paper curling out. They were each almost 10 feet long.

A gesture of his left hand sends a few sigils onto the ice, though not nearly as many as before. His right hand gestures and a couple of paper airplanes, of all things, fly toward Castus lazily. If they get close enough, they explode like grenades.

Also, there's more stabbing attempts.

There is kind of an L-shaped turn next to Oscar, leading to Alexandra. Naijeru would need to stop in front of the arrancar to make a turn.

And about when that stop happens, Oscar has his open palm pointed forward, and lightly thrusts.

"Range-Humbling Hand."

A shockwave of reiatsu spreads forth from his open palm like a wall. It's pressure could shove aside a mountain.

Well, not literally. That is more a figure of speech.

Of course, once battle had been joined, Masaru had quietly slipped out of the room, scuttling along the ceiling, not invisible but certainly not sticking out.

At least until he suddenly drops toward Oscar from above without a word, katana held in both hands in a downward stroke clearly intended to bisect the Arrancar.

Terry576

2013-07-17, 02:22 AM

[Tomb of Frost]

With a sigh, the schoolboy twirls his hand, grinning widely. "Alrigh' then! What say ya, Oscar? Ah do like the idear of matchin' weapons wit' one o' them tha' don' listen, but ah'll let you 'ave firs' pick! S'much as ah'd enjoy breaking th' one who seems ta think tha' introductin' himself begins wi' a fireball, ah'll let you decide!"

With a burst, iron and chain crashes through reality, smashing the ice below it with a heavy boom and sounds of thunder. Chains wrapping themselves up Sora's right arm grow spikes, and the club of midnight black and metal and stone sits there, so defiant and unrealistic that it might as well not exist.

"Also, all them accusations of me bein' a Hollow? Veeery offensive. Y'all didn' e'en 'ave proof, an' were ready ta kill me? 'Ow can you e'en think yer tha good guys?"

AnimeKid

2013-07-17, 05:02 AM

Tomb of Frost

Naijeru's eyes widen at incoming attack realizing he can't get out of the way in time he heavily plants his feet into the ground. The blast hits him and forces him back, making him grit his teeth from the pain. Luckily Marsaru was going to keep him distracted for a bit. However with that Sora kid there it was unlikely that Naijeru would be able to make the turn to the old woman.

While he would have liked to have cut off their more support oriented units first he would have to work his way back to her. With Oscar preoccupied Naijeru re-collected his reiatsu close to his body, forming his pseudo-armor again after it was dispelled by that strong strike. He reaches Sora and lashes out with his sheath, trying to get Sora to block to so that he was free to hit him cleaning with the followup strike from his odachi.

Terry576

2013-07-17, 06:30 AM

[Tomb of Frost]

Sora does not move (he never moves) holding up his hand with a mad mad grin and burning eyes and so much fire its like he's an inferno, a cataclysm bursting outwards even when he isn't moving, and energy crackles around his arm, so fast and so rapid and so strong, so infinitely powerful and massive for a schoolboy (so, so, so young) and its like an abyss gazing up, waiting to snap closed.

Cero. Zero. A word, a phrase, a number, a sentence with no end and no beginning.

Sora does not block, he never blocks. He's no immovable wall, he's human, so infinitely and impossibly human that it hurts to look at, with mad grins and dancing eyes and laughter and such human characteristics that its a wonder the Shinigami was even willing to attack him, someone so bursting with life but so impossibly broken (his soul is like patchwork, frayed and broken and never going to work again)

And the energy pours out of his hand, blasting forward, a torrent of power and impossible things all wrapped up in this schoolboy with the messy black hair and eyes that glow so bright that its like the sun is shining in them, yellow (not Hollow yellow, never Hollow yellow, a real, true yellow) and he grins so wide and bright that he is not just a mortal a boy-not-man - he is the SUN in all its glory and power and strength, in all of its greatness and it's so bright and enormous and grand, it dazzles, and he just laughs and laughs and laughs.

And just as quickly as it came, the energy condenses, and he's not the Sun, he's Shiki goddamn Sora, and all he has is a slab of metal and stone and so much power that he barely feels human, and he cackles as Naijeru approaches and he braces himself as he says with a drawl of thunder and lightning,

"Cero."

And the bolt flies like lightning.

Spacewolf

2013-07-17, 07:07 AM

[Tomb of Frost]

Thomas sighed and appeared several feet away from the attempted stab, now facing Castus with a frown.

"So rude. And we weren't even hurting anyone, Soul Reaper. Just retrieving a friend of ours. Is that so wrong?"

He tilts his head to the side, taps his book, mutters a few words, and is surrounded in a swirling tornado of paper.

And then a white limb, shaped much like an insects, with a razor-sharp tip, slashed out from the tornado directly at Castus, followed by another attack.

The tornado of paper cleared to reveal Thomas with a strange paper "backpack" strapped on, with 4 limbs made of paper curling out. They were each almost 10 feet long.

A gesture of his left hand sends a few sigils onto the ice, though not nearly as many as before. His right hand gestures and a couple of paper airplanes, of all things, fly toward Castus lazily. If they get close enough, they explode like grenades.

Also, there's more stabbing attempts.

Keeping his distance from the planes even before they started exploding Castus dodges around them a great deal more once he finds out what they do, clearly he was going to have to get in close.

Holding his free hand palm first towards Thomas an electric yellow rope shoots out, shortly followed by another. Each of them wrapping around two of the paper limbs before coiling around the book readers torso, using the opening Castus comes in from above and aims a slash towards the book. Although his free hand did seem to be trailing slightly.

Bakudō # 4. Hainawa incase you where wondering which rope spell it was.

AnimeKid

2013-07-17, 08:03 AM

Tomb of Frost

Naijeru feels as well as sees Sora building up a large amount of reaitsu. He keeps charging forward as Sora charges it. His face is impassive as he goes into battle and when he feels that Sora is about to complete his technique he moves. He brings the hand holding his sheath forward two fingers uncurling from it, index and middle. His lips are moving before Sora's as he funnels his reaitsu into his spell, "Sai."

While Kido was not his specialty the number 1 spell was so simple it was impossible to fail at. However at the same time if you had the reaitsu and the element of surprise it was shockingly effective. Sora should feel his arms trying to lock themselves behind his back, the force fueled by Naijeru's immense reiatsu.

Draken

2013-07-17, 08:19 AM

Tomb of Frost

Masaru's sudden strike is surprising, but Oscar knew he had to have gone somewhere. His hand grasps for his sword, and pulls it free.

Nothing so big should move so fast.

A diagonal swing upwards deflects Masaru's strike towards the left - away from the inner gate, obviously - and is followed by a punch with his right hand, aimed at the shinigami's face.

KnightDisciple

2013-07-17, 10:19 AM

[Tomb of Frost]

Keeping his distance from the planes even before they started exploding Castus dodges around them a great deal more once he finds out what they do, clearly he was going to have to get in close.

Holding his free hand palm first towards Thomas an electric yellow rope shoots out, shortly followed by another. Each of them wrapping around two of the paper limbs before coiling around the book readers torso, using the opening Castus comes in from above and aims a slash towards the book. Although his free hand did seem to be trailing slightly.

Bakudō # 4. Hainawa incase you where wondering which rope spell it was.
Any slashes at the book should be awkward, since it's not floating in front of Thomas any more. In fact, it's not immediately visible!

Which is a secondary issue to the fact that the extra limbs just collapse into paper for several moments when the chain tries to wrap around them, paper which forms a cylinder around Thomas just as the chains come for him.

Meaning he just hops up and over, the paper trailing behind him, reattaching to the backpack and reforming the limbs. Very dramatic looking what with his layered garments flapping about and all.

Oh, hey, a couple paper grenades from above, a couple just above the water.

This weird guy who sorta looks like a priest sure does like explosions.

Masaru's sudden strike is surprising, but Oscar knew he had to have gone somewhere. His hand grasps for his sword, and pulls it free.

Nothing so big should move so fast.

A diagonal swing upwards deflects Masaru's strike towards the left - away from the inner gate, obviously - and is followed by a punch with his right hand, aimed at the shinigami's face.

The deflection was expected, though perhaps not that kind of sheer speed. Masaru's face betrays no surprise at that, though.

The punch is blocked on a forearm...which promptly shoves Masaru into a nearby wall. He shakes his head to clear the cobwebs in the slight Masaru-shaped indention...

Before giving Oscar a savage grin and charging in again, his advanced footwork making his path a bit unpredictable. He's also drawn his second blade in a classic grip, and is keeping it close to his body.

When he's next to Oscar, he'll start making a series of short, quick stabs to test the large man's defenses.

Oscar's a smart cookie, so he can tell Masaru's respect for his abilities ratcheted up a lot with the punch. The Soul Reaper is clearly treating this seriously, but also seemingly enjoying the fight.

Draken

2013-07-17, 10:49 AM

Spacewolf

2013-07-17, 11:14 AM

[Tomb of Frost]
Any slashes at the book should be awkward, since it's not floating in front of Thomas any more. In fact, it's not immediately visible!

Which is a secondary issue to the fact that the extra limbs just collapse into paper for several moments when the chain tries to wrap around them, paper which forms a cylinder around Thomas just as the chains come for him.

Meaning he just hops up and over, the paper trailing behind him, reattaching to the backpack and reforming the limbs. Very dramatic looking what with his layered garments flapping about and all.

Oh, hey, a couple paper grenades from above, a couple just above the water.

This weird guy who sorta looks like a priest sure does like explosions.

Castus had basically expected the extra limbs to collapse when he had begun his assault so when Thomas jumps back Castus pushes off the air and stays with him. Before bringing his free hand up and firing off a Narrow blue beam aimed towards the center mass on his enemy, this time he keeps his sword arm ready to react to any counter attack.

Hopefully by staying close he could avoid the explosions, at least unless Thomas wanted to blow himself up. Now Castus just had to think of a way to deal with the backpack and extra limbs, at least that was all at the moment.

Guess he would have gone for the face then if the book wasn't visible. Byakurai this time.

strawberryman

2013-07-17, 02:18 PM

(Tomb of Frost)

Alexandra, with deceptive speed, dodges out of the way of the Tenran with but a step. However, her faux hollows are buffeted against a wall with a crack, sliding to the ground, dissolving into reishi.

Alexandra fishes out another bottle, and smashes it near her, hiding her location in mist that spreads outward. Who knows what she was up to, now.

KnightDisciple

2013-07-17, 06:08 PM

Tomb of Frost

A practiced movement brings Oscar's sword to protect his vitals from the test swings. His impressive hierro brought to bear against the weaker blows in the set.

The arrancar raises his balled fist and opens it, revealing a glowing ball of violet energy, which flies downwards towards Masaru at the speed of a bullet, followed in quick succession by another four such blasts.
Masaru's eyes widen at the presence of the ball of energy, and even as he dodges, his wakizashi is slashing at the incoming attack.

This mostly just blunts its effects, but that's sufficient for him. His sleeve is singed but he's otherwise fine.

Two more attacks are dodged entirely, while the final one is slashed by both swords as Masaru charges in. This time, he seems to lead with his short sword, keeping the longer one in reserve.

If Oscar goes for a significant block with his own sword against the wakizashi, Masaru will send his katana blurring in for a heavy strike.

Castus had basically expected the extra limbs to collapse when he had begun his assault so when Thomas jumps back Castus pushes off the air and stays with him. Before bringing his free hand up and firing off a Narrow blue beam aimed towards the center mass on his enemy, this time he keeps his sword arm ready to react to any counter attack.

Hopefully by staying close he could avoid the explosions, at least unless Thomas wanted to blow himself up. Now Castus just had to think of a way to deal with the backpack and extra limbs, at least that was all at the moment.

Guess he would have gone for the face then if the book wasn't visible. Byakurai this time.
Thomas narrowed his eyes at the wordless spell from the Reaper. He knew of their brand of magic, though he hadn't had much first-hand experience.

Still and all, his own powers are instinctive and entirely mental. A set of 7 papers forms a flimsy shield infused with sigils in the way of the blast even as the insectile limbs collapsed...

In favor of a half-suit of plate armor (made from paper!) and a European longsword (also paper), that seemed both flexible and sturdy. Have to love magic mental paper control.

Thomas took up a guard position, his hooded and scarf-clad face further buried under the paper helmet, giving him an unnatural look. After a moment, he gave Castus a "come hither" gesture, his smirk hidden beneath the scarf.

Spacewolf

2013-07-17, 07:05 PM

Thomas narrowed his eyes at the wordless spell from the Reaper. He knew of their brand of magic, though he hadn't had much first-hand experience.

Still and all, his own powers are instinctive and entirely mental. A set of 7 papers forms a flimsy shield infused with sigils in the way of the blast even as the insectile limbs collapsed...

In favor of a half-suit of plate armor (made from paper!) and a European longsword (also paper), that seemed both flexible and sturdy. Have to love magic mental paper control.

Thomas took up a guard position, his hooded and scarf-clad face further buried under the paper helmet, giving him an unnatural look. After a moment, he gave Castus a "come hither" gesture, his smirk hidden beneath the scarf.

Reacting to the gesture by jumping to a more advantageous position Castus drags his arm back like he was about to throw a javelin, as he brings it forward and begins the full incantation he seems to be enjoying the fight.

"Fence that traps the gods show yourself to us now and perform your duty, Bakudō #62. Hyapporankan"

As his arm comes forward a blueish beam of light forms in his hand and as soon as it has been released spreads into hundreds of rods. Rather than being spread out they seemed to be in about three tightly packed waves and following closely after the third wave was Castus with his blade poised to stab his opponent if the Bakudo presented an opportunity.

At this point Thomas would definatly have noted that he was currently between Castus and Vincenzo so dodging out of the way would leave Vincenzo open to the Bakudo.

Alot in one post so simply Castus jumps so that Thomas was directly between him and Vincenzo, used 62 and is currently following after the last wave of rods ready to exploit any openings they present.

Draken

2013-07-17, 10:45 PM

Tomb of Frost

Oscar doesn't have a short sword.

Nonetheless, he blocks the wakizashi with his fist, the blade apparently piercing his hand with ease...

Until he twists it, revealing the hollow hole on his palm. Still, for his trouble, Oscar earns a slash of Masaru's katana against his shoulder. He takes it with a large smile, flexing a powerful muscle to lock the blade in.

His sword hand is raised high above Masaru, before crashing down in a vertical swing with the claymore, spiritual energy crackling around the blade.

Terry576

2013-07-17, 11:58 PM

Tomb of Frost
While Kido was not his specialty the number 1 spell was so simple it was impossible to fail at. However at the same time if you had the reaitsu and the element of surprise it was shockingly effective. Sora should feel his arms trying to lock themselves behind his back, the force fueled by Naijeru's immense reiatsu.

Tomb of Frost

Sora's arms twitch and shackle, breaking bones and he grins wild and mad and all those things that go bump in the night, his eyes shining like the sun, and the kido shatters in an instant, his arms back out as he laughs and laughs and laughs.

"C'mon then Shin-i-gam-i~" He drawls the word out slowly, slowly, like molasses dripping over waffles, and his face is mad and wild and so so so very frighteningly human, not a monster, not a demon, just a schoolboy with broken bits that can never be whole, and his club lifts onto his shoulder, a block, a slab, a mass of metal that cannot be swung and should not be swung, but the chains that wind and bind are visible against his pale (human) flesh, and he's a sun in the middle of the darkness of the cave, his reiatsu an overwhelming, roaring, cascade of shining yellow as he faces Naijeru, and he twirls his hand once, then twice.

"Soooo, thas all there is ta yer fancy magic? Maaaaah, that's pathetic."

you are better

faster
stronger

magicismightmagicismightmagicismight
showhimshowhimshowhim

nothingheisNOTHINGtoyoubreakhimtakehimmakehimnotma nnotdeathgodnothollowdoit
he has no right

none
make

him

PAY

Sora's hand twirls in a motion he does not know, and his finger snaps and his eyes burn with all the brightness and fire of the sun, and he speaks and the words are words that he doesn't know, that Naijeru knows and its terrifying, so so terrifying, because he is not Death God, he is not, there is no academy for him, he just knows.

"The light from the heavens is the light in my hands, bind him; Bakudo #1: Sai,"

The light from the spell rushes towards Naijeru with all the speed that it can muster, just as fast as Naijeru's, maybe even faster, rushing with all the power Sora can muster.

And the world(s) shifts on its axis for the Death Gods, for Naijeru and for Masaru and for Castus and all of them at once, because the notdead notalive notdeathgod can cast and with such ease and practice and he knows chants, chants that they didn't use or didn't need, chants that were half-forgotten because the spell is Sai, so simplistic and easy that even a child with the barest training can do it with an hour or two of practice, and this notboy is notdeathgod and he can do it, and its so easy and his grin is so wide and big and bright he's like a cadet bursting with energy, and they can only wish they found him first.

strawberryman

2013-07-18, 12:14 AM

(Tomb of Frost)

A note sticks to the arms of each of the cult members as the mist funnels towards the chamber holding Imhotep.

Cult Members Only:
Move to the entrance of the holding chamber and prepare to leave.

Alexandra appears next to Vicenzo through the mist. "How much longer." Her tone is even, but hurried.

KnightDisciple

2013-07-18, 12:36 AM

Reacting to the gesture by jumping to a more advantageous position Castus drags his arm back like he was about to throw a javelin, as he brings it forward and begins the full incantation he seems to be enjoying the fight.

"Fence that traps the gods show yourself to us now and perform your duty, Bakudō #62. Hyapporankan"

As his arm comes forward a blueish beam of light forms in his hand and as soon as it has been released spreads into hundreds of rods. Rather than being spread out they seemed to be in about three tightly packed waves and following closely after the third wave was Castus with his blade poised to stab his opponent if the Bakudo presented an opportunity.

At this point Thomas would definatly have noted that he was currently between Castus and Vincenzo so dodging out of the way would leave Vincenzo open to the Bakudo.

Alot in one post so simply Castus jumps so that Thomas was directly between him and Vincenzo, used 62 and is currently following after the last wave of rods ready to exploit any openings they present.Thomas is not a stupid man. The positioning is not so subtle he cannot tell there is a plan afoot.

So it shouldn't be shocking that he reforms his sword into a circular barrier of paper that all but glows with symbols...and simply hangs there in the air as he blurs away to another spot, the rods stopped, his own person preserved, and Vincenzo undisturbed.

The flurry of razor-sharp sheets of paper that followed was like the flow of a water hose.

Tomb of Frost

Oscar doesn't have a short sword.

Nonetheless, he blocks the wakizashi with his fist, the blade apparently piercing his hand with ease...

Until he twists it, revealing the hollow hole on his palm. Still, for his trouble, Oscar earns a slash of Masaru's katana against his shoulder. He takes it with a large smile, flexing a powerful muscle to lock the blade in.

His sword hand is raised high above Masaru, before crashing down in a vertical swing with the claymore, spiritual energy crackling around the blade.
Masaru's expression is that of a man who is less than pleased with his lot in life.

Still and all, he's an experience man. Despite the awkward angle, he manages to slide his wakizashi free just in the nick of time to only lose the front of his hat's brim to Oscar's sword. A frown mars his features at the loss, as well as the slight damage to his haori.

Of course, now he's got a chance to try pulling his longsword free, a chance that he takes, hoping to perhaps deal a bit of damage in the process.

(Tomb of Frost)

A note sticks to the arms of each of the cult members as the mist funnels towards the chamber holding Imhotep.

Cult Members Only:
Move to the entrance of the holding chamber and prepare to leave.

Alexandra appears next to Vicenzo through the mist. "How much longer." Her tone is even, but hurried.
Thomas sees the note as he's sending his torrent of paper at Castus.

A moment later there's mist all around, and the barrage of sheets slows....but the last 5 seconds of paper thrown at Castus start to glow before exploding in a mix of regular "grenades" and a fair number of "flashbangs", all of them focusing their energy square on Castus.

Thomas himself is nowhere nearby, though....

Draken

2013-07-18, 12:42 AM

Tomb of Frost

Stop the sword's impact Masaru may, but once it strikes, the energy is liberated outwards in a shockwave not unlike his previous open-handed technique, a crushing wall of reiatsu.

But then Oscar receives Alexandra's message, his shoulder muscles slack, and he vanishes from Masaru's range in a distinctive blur of sonido.

Vincenzo looks up at Imhotep, whose teeth and nostrils are free of the ice, and whose eyes begin to light themselves once more.

"He is almost awake."

Demidos

2013-07-18, 02:26 AM

[Tomb of Frost]

And then there was a second presence, behind Naijeru, the short pudgy man, moving up, faux Hollow blood dripping from the blade of a halberd, a Zanpakuto that must have been released when the others had been distracted with their own fights. A couple limp corpses of faux hollows slowly disintegrated as he moved up, halberd firmly in hand.

"I do not know what you are, oh Hollow with the club, but I will be your opponent." He calls out, high-pitched but calm.

He moves surprisingly fast, a Shunpo to the side while casting a stream of Bakudos.

"Seki!

Hainawa!

Geki!"

A force pulls back on Sora's arms, even as a glowing rope shoots towards him and a red haze appears, shimmering, about his body.

None of the Bakudos carries overmuch raw power, but they are very well constructed, and together they stand a chance of holding the boy-hollow for a few precious seconds. And behind the Bakudos flashes a metal spike, sharp and glittery in the light provided by Vincenzo's flames, elongating to pierce Sora's heart.

Terry576

2013-07-18, 03:02 AM

Tomb of Frost

And Sora laughs and laughs as he is speared and his eyes glow with all the fires he can muster and he spits out a word, a phrase and his skin RISES, great and terrible and so so so glorious, and he GROWS and the chains break and the world shatters and he is THERE always THERE and so powerful so strong, so massive in his weight.

And it all came from a phrase.

And he's there and imposing and so so so STRONG, with skin like iron and eyes that glow the brightest green the pudgy man has ever seen, and then its all all gone and the phrase is forgotten and it was just words, he doesn't need words he never needed words and he grins widely as his hands twist and his club vanishes (was it ever even there?) and he's standing next to him, spitting blood into the pudgy man's eyes as a fist of iron roars towards his face - not to kill; never to kill, he is SHIKI SORA, he is not a Death God, he would not take life unneeded because he is lazy or bored. He is nothuman notdeathgod and so, so, so very human all at the same time and it makes you want to laugh and cry and hold him and let him go because he's so amazing and so terrifying all at once and there are words that you hear when he's near, and they're never the same, they always change, and he should not exist.

With a whistle he vanishes with a crack, lightly tapping down by the entrance, and blood drips from his teeth and he is nothuman, how could you have ever thought he was? He is nothuman and he is notHollow, because no Hollow is so human, but no Human is so Hollow, he is something in between and something that shouldn't exist and all that the Death Gods and the Hollows stand for is in him, intermixed and intertwined in his very being, in his sword, in his blood, in his bones.

Spacewolf

2013-07-18, 08:42 AM

Thomas is not a stupid man. The positioning is not so subtle he cannot tell there is a plan afoot.

So it shouldn't be shocking that he reforms his sword into a circular barrier of paper that all but glows with symbols...and simply hangs there in the air as he blurs away to another spot, the rods stopped, his own person preserved, and Vincenzo undisturbed.

The flurry of razor-sharp sheets of paper that followed was like the flow of a water hose.

--
Thomas sees the note as he's sending his torrent of paper at Castus.

A moment later there's mist all around, and the barrage of sheets slows....but the last 5 seconds of paper thrown at Castus start to glow before exploding in a mix of regular "grenades" and a fair number of "flashbangs", all of them focusing their energy square on Castus.

Thomas himself is nowhere nearby, though....

Tomb of Frost

Hmm this opponent was going to be trouble I'd expected the Rods to be able to pierce his defenses, although that does give me an idea.

Turning as he senses Thomas arriveing at his next spot Castus swears as he sees the papers coming towards him.

Bakudō # 39. Enkōsen

The shield managed to stop the explosions unfortunately it didn't cover his legs totally or stop the vocal effects of the flashbang grenades. So once the smoke clears Castus is left with ringing ears, most of his uniform burnt away below the knee and some reasonable burns on his legs. On top of the delightful situation he'd lost track of his opponent.

Hado #12. Fushibi

Rather than waste time trying to find Thomas in Castus' disorientated state he decides to use Fushibi to try and flush him out. If Thomas was still around it would wrap around him before exploding even if Castus couldn't see him and if he wasn't it would latch onto that big laughing Monstrosity.

KnightDisciple

2013-07-18, 11:23 AM

Tomb of Frost

Hmm this opponent was going to be trouble I'd expected the Rods to be able to pierce his defenses, although that does give me an idea.

Turning as he senses Thomas arriveing at his next spot Castus swears as he sees the papers coming towards him.

Bakudō # 39. Enkōsen

The shield managed to stop the explosions unfortunately it didn't cover his legs totally or stop the vocal effects of the flashbang grenades. So once the smoke clears Castus is left with ringing ears, most of his uniform burnt away below the knee and some reasonable burns on his legs. On top of the delightful situation he'd lost track of his opponent.

Hado #12. Fushibi

Rather than waste time trying to find Thomas in Castus' disorientated state he decides to use Fushibi to try and flush him out. If Thomas was still around it would wrap around him before exploding even if Castus couldn't see him and if he wasn't it would latch onto that big laughing Monstrosity.
Thomas is not near enough to be snared by the Kido.

Where could that crazy priest-guy be?

Probably the same place Oscar and Sora are, not that that's easy to figure out in this confusing mess.

Tomb of Frost

Stop the sword's impact Masaru may, but once it strikes, the energy is liberated outwards in a shockwave not unlike his previous open-handed technique, a crushing wall of reiatsu.

But then Oscar receives Alexandra's message, his shoulder muscles slack, and he vanishes from Masaru's range in a distinctive blur of sonido.
Masaru is battered by the shockwave, only just barely hanging onto his now-free katana as he is sent flying over to strike one of the walls.

His poor hat floats to the ground in tatters in his wake, and his haori is pretty well wrecked at this point. Not that he's quite coherent enough just this moment to know one way or another...

Spacewolf

2013-07-18, 10:17 PM

Tomb of Frost

Glad to know he wasn't about to be stabbed in the back Castus once again Shunpos to get a clear shot at Vincenzo holding his free hand and arm straight infront of him when he lands. Then braces himself as he begins to channel almost all of his Reiryoku into his palm, this fight was nearing its end so he holds just enough back to be able to protect himself if worst came to worst and this attack also had no effect.

"Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle! Hadō #63. Raikōhō"

As soon as he is finished a horizontal arc of lightning blasts out from Castus' hand towards Vincenzo hopefully causing some damage and at least stopping him from melting anymore ice for a time.

However rather than leave it at that Castus stays in his braced position.

"Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle! Hadō #63. Raikōhō"

"Sprinkled on the bones of the beast! Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm. The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle! Hadō #63. Raikōhō"

After firing two more arcs in quick succession towards Vincenzo, Castus' spirit energy is down to about 1/6th of his original and he's panting quite heavily as he moves into a defensive posture.

Note he also moved so that there is no chance of hitting Imhoteps prison by accident. Also if you read his before yes he did use Haien but then i realized that was obviously stupid. What with there even being a possibility of Vincenzo being able to absorb it with his apparently heat based powers.

Draken

2013-07-18, 11:05 PM

Tomb of Frost

Vincenzo feels something in the air, and turns around, losing focus and allowing the blazing waves of heat to abate considerably.

In a blur of sonido, he is out of the way of the three blasts, which careen towards the frozen Imhotep.

"I thank you for your contribution, shinigami!"

The lightning strikes true against the frozen leviathan, coursing through his body and letting billowing clouds of steam fly free of his body, spiritual lightning sinks into his flesh, arcs between limbs, lights his skeletal carapace.

Sheets of ice evaporate and black wings stretch for the first time in eons, as cobalt eyes come alight from a long sleep. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxsUKjGirKc)

Longer than the lives of most who are present.

Imhotep takes the first sluggish step out of his dais, the surging waters coming from his body halting. A flick of his tail sends the remaining bits of ice stubbornly attached to his body into an aqueous orbit around him.

He stares at the assembled arrancar, shinigami and mortals before him, and has but one thing to say.

". . ."

strawberryman

2013-07-19, 12:35 AM

(Tomb of Frost)

Though it was hard to notice in the chaos of battle, with no one seeking Alexandra out, distorting shimmers were hidden in the mist. Stepping aside as the lightning flies at her and Vicenzo and her robe catching fire, she gives a vicious grin as Imhotep is freed. Looking to the entrance to the chamber, she puts the flame out with a splash of water, revealing slightly charred flesh with naught a flinch.

"Time to leave." With a flourish of her cane, she taps the ground, and the distortions at each corner of the room grow, the entire room quivering... as, by all means, it apparently grows in size to all within.

And through wide, black holes in this new, vast chamber, twisted, tri-limbed creatures of a gillian's size advance, three in total, with tentacles draping from within their maws and multiple eyes looking down on the shinigami... and releasing the ceros they were charging.

Alexandra, meanwhile, tears a relatively normal hole in space, not bothering to hold up as she sets off... into a burst of bringer light, immediately retreating to the hole. It holds open hopefully long enough for the rest of the cult to follow through, but it would not wait long.

(Private Gym)
AFTER SCHOOL

(:smalltongue:)

Katsuo looks around. Today's classes were mostly uneventful, having kept his head down again. But for now, all there was to do was wait for Yui.

Terry576

2013-07-19, 12:39 AM

[Tomb of Frost]

Sora whistles a tune as he follows Alexandra through the portal, chuckling to himself.

"Did'ya 'ear wha' Imhotep said? Man, wha' a card! 'E's naht tha' bad, actually, not bad at all..."

He looks at the gray and formless void and frowns, as half remembered dreams and voices run through his head.

AnimeKid

2013-07-19, 01:00 AM

Tomb of Frost

Naijeru's eyes widen in shock as his spell is cast back at him after it is spoken. His shock allows the spell to hit him and bind his arms. It doesn't take him long to break it but it did give Sora an opening. Luckily Kakari distracted him. He decided to try to change the tide as well as he let out a chant. "Drag them to Davy Jones Locker! Gurētokurāken!

With that Naijeru's reiatsu exploded as his Odachi shifted into a large anchor will a great length of chain wrapped around his body. Then hearing the old biddy say her piece he notices the Cero's charging towards them. He grits his teeth as he also notices the flash from Bringer Light. Seeing how the situation was going to hell Naijeru stood his ground against the onslaught condensing his Reiatsu close to his skin to defend himself. As he endured the attack he pointed his hand at the portal being used for the exit. He couldn't stop the woman, but others would find it hard to get to the portal with the localized field surrounding it. Gravity worked differently in the field Naijeru had changed it to where gravity was pushing away from the portal with all the force he could muster, a total of 10 G's. Hopefully this would by his comrades sometime to stop the rest of the enemy group.