Junna Hoshimi ⭐ 星見 純那 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thestarknows) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
yumemigaoka2025-02-18 05:17 pm
thestarknows) wrote in yumemigaoka2025-02-18 05:17 pm
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EVENT #10: AND MERELY PLAYERS
- By now, entering a Disturbance is familiar. That isn't a good thing -- the way that it takes that extra effort, like pushing your hand through molasses; like a wavering mirage that almost pushes back against your gaze. It's a sign of someone in distress.
But after entering the Slumbering City, the Dreamers have made their way into this newest Disturbance. And then, they've pushed onward... and everyone finds themselves on a long path through darkness, lit only by stage lights.
Welcome to Junna Hoshimi's Disturbance event! To recap from previous events and the monthly post, Disturbances are surreal and dangerous dreamscapes that draw directly on the struggles, fears and emotions of a single character, similar to the TV world dungeons in Persona 4 or the Heartscapes in Blue Reflection Second Light. They're unique among Outlying Locations in that they vanish once resolved and incubate extremely powerful enemies at their core who must be defeated to save the person at its heart – in this instance, Junna Hoshimi.
Using the descriptions in the log below, you may freely top level and have characters explore and investigate as you please! The descriptions given in this log are to give direction and progression to the events but please feel free to play around within the bounds of what's established as much as you like. Characters wishing to investigate and uncover additional hints and lore nuggets at the heart of the dungeon should indicate they are investigating in the comment header of their top level. Pinging Tex on Discord may also help in case his emails and notifications act up.
To clear the event and prevent a negative outcome on the plot that will effect both the Dream Sphere and Yumemigaoka, characters must clear both the Mid-Tier and Boss Combat Encounters by the OOC deadline of March 3rd.
SUNSET BOULEVARD
- Upon entering the dream, all Dreamers will first find themselves walking down a long path through darkness, lit only by stoplights. In the way of a dream, though, at its end, it turns into the front of Promised Morning Academy at sunset.
The building is lit up by sunset, with weather that suggests it is spring. It seems almost pleasant... but there is a buzz of tension in the air. It should be the time that people have left for the day, but there are lights on inside the school. There are murmurs, stressed and worried, but wordless. Sunset -- the time people should have left and gone home, but are still working -- never seems to end.
In that light, it isn't such a pleasant image. Still, this is a place where Dreamers can return to, to rest, coordinate, and take a breather before exploring further.
The way forward is the double doors, leading into the school. They are larger than they should be, more imposing that the ones in real life, and heavier to push open.
!SCHOOL DAZE
Upon entering, the Dreamers find themselves in a warped, endless version of Promised Morning's first floor. The hallway stretches out east-to-west, but there is a subtle curve to it. And if someone walks the full length of the hallway, it loops back around, leaving them trapped.
The Dreamers aren't alone here. There are shadowy figures, like silhouettes, wearing the uniforms of Promised Morning. Each are carrying large stacks of paper.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: If someone touches them, they seem to fuzz and not quite feel real. But each of them will put stacks of paper that are quite real into an unwitting Dreamer's hands. So many papers, in fact, that a Dreamer could be literally weighed down by them.
After escaping the shadowy students, Dreamers can pass countless class rooms and clubrooms. Each of them has a locked door. It might feel hopeless, until a freight elevator is found at the end. There is a large, blinking red light and one button. The only way to progress is to go down.
The Dreamers aren't alone here. There are shadowy figures, like silhouettes, wearing the uniforms of Promised Morning. Each are carrying large stacks of paper.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: If someone touches them, they seem to fuzz and not quite feel real. But each of them will put stacks of paper that are quite real into an unwitting Dreamer's hands. So many papers, in fact, that a Dreamer could be literally weighed down by them.
After escaping the shadowy students, Dreamers can pass countless class rooms and clubrooms. Each of them has a locked door. It might feel hopeless, until a freight elevator is found at the end. There is a large, blinking red light and one button. The only way to progress is to go down.
!THE ONLY WAY DOWN
The freight elevator is not a comfortable ride down. The floor is made of steel, patterned to give some grip. There are no buttons to control it. Once the down button is pressed, all a Dreamer can do is ride it down to the bottom. And the railing on each side is woefully inadequate from a safety perspective: it's only a three foot high steel bar.
Which means, from the darkness, something can jump onto it.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: Torments begin to leap from the shadows, onto the 12 by 12 foot elevator platform. The Torments, initially, are only a Shadowy outline... but they respond to the Dreamers on the platform. A Dreamer with an idol theme finds them looking like crazed fans; a Dreamer with a sword finds ones carrying axes; a Dreamer with a ninja motif finds their foes include ones carrying katanas. The Torments are easily dispatched, but they keep coming in waves -- until the elevator reaches the bottom.
When it does, there is a ding. The door opens... revealing a hallway.
Which means, from the darkness, something can jump onto it.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: Torments begin to leap from the shadows, onto the 12 by 12 foot elevator platform. The Torments, initially, are only a Shadowy outline... but they respond to the Dreamers on the platform. A Dreamer with an idol theme finds them looking like crazed fans; a Dreamer with a sword finds ones carrying axes; a Dreamer with a ninja motif finds their foes include ones carrying katanas. The Torments are easily dispatched, but they keep coming in waves -- until the elevator reaches the bottom.
When it does, there is a ding. The door opens... revealing a hallway.
!BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURETTE
The elevator lets out in a darkly lit hallway. Just a short distance away is a large set of double doors, underneath a sign that declares it to be the "MAIN STAGE." And yet, try as someone might, that door will not open. It seems that the only way to get onto the main stage is through hard work.
The hallway connects to many others. There are more hallways in this backstage area than any real theater could ever have. And there are doorways here, too, and each has a poster next to it, depicting a play or a movie. There isn't another door that clearly leads to the main stage... which means Dreamers will need to search the rooms.
The poster outside of each room gives an idea of its contents. Inside, there are people hard at work. Like before, in the school level, they are shadowy silhouettes of students. The shadowy students are engaged in some work based on the movie or play poster outside.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT #1: In this room, four silhouettes are hurriedly building props and backgrounds for a play. Wooden cut-outs of trees and houses that need to be built; organizing a closet full of costumes; painting details onto paper backdrops of a sky and a town. The work isn't done, and the silhouettes are in a panic about this. Dreamers who enter the room have tools pushed into their hands to help -- until the work is finished. If the Dreamers try to leave, they begin to screech and scream, and eventually attack with shadowed claws. The work will never stop, though. The props need to be put out of their sight or the silhouettes defeated.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT #2: Only one silhouette is inside here. A high school student, by the look of her. She cannot speak, but she mimics going through a play by herself. When Dreamers enter, she thrusts a script to them. Then, she tries to get them to act out Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The silhouette wants to play the part of Caesar. If they act it out, the silhouette will want to do it again. She can either be defeated in a fight, or made to play another role, which will stop the performance.
Once the Dreamers have time to thoroughly search the room with the silhouette that wishes to portray Caesar. There is a poster of Yonezawa's Last Paycheck, a movie that came out in April, on the wall. The other materials in here strictly apply to Julius Caesar, with posters of past performances and props related to it.
Pulling down the poster of Yonezawa's Last Paycheck reveals a door. Opening it leads to a hallway, dark, but with the bright lights of a main stage up ahead.
The hallway connects to many others. There are more hallways in this backstage area than any real theater could ever have. And there are doorways here, too, and each has a poster next to it, depicting a play or a movie. There isn't another door that clearly leads to the main stage... which means Dreamers will need to search the rooms.
The poster outside of each room gives an idea of its contents. Inside, there are people hard at work. Like before, in the school level, they are shadowy silhouettes of students. The shadowy students are engaged in some work based on the movie or play poster outside.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT #1: In this room, four silhouettes are hurriedly building props and backgrounds for a play. Wooden cut-outs of trees and houses that need to be built; organizing a closet full of costumes; painting details onto paper backdrops of a sky and a town. The work isn't done, and the silhouettes are in a panic about this. Dreamers who enter the room have tools pushed into their hands to help -- until the work is finished. If the Dreamers try to leave, they begin to screech and scream, and eventually attack with shadowed claws. The work will never stop, though. The props need to be put out of their sight or the silhouettes defeated.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT #2: Only one silhouette is inside here. A high school student, by the look of her. She cannot speak, but she mimics going through a play by herself. When Dreamers enter, she thrusts a script to them. Then, she tries to get them to act out Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The silhouette wants to play the part of Caesar. If they act it out, the silhouette will want to do it again. She can either be defeated in a fight, or made to play another role, which will stop the performance.
Once the Dreamers have time to thoroughly search the room with the silhouette that wishes to portray Caesar. There is a poster of Yonezawa's Last Paycheck, a movie that came out in April, on the wall. The other materials in here strictly apply to Julius Caesar, with posters of past performances and props related to it.
Pulling down the poster of Yonezawa's Last Paycheck reveals a door. Opening it leads to a hallway, dark, but with the bright lights of a main stage up ahead.
!TO SHINE ON THE MAIN STAGE
The doorway leads onward, until the Dreamers emerge onto the main stage. It is a massive, circular stage, but there is a raised circular platform at the center. Rich red curtains have fallen entirely across the elevated platform and hide whatever is behind. One set of steep stairs leads up to it.
But, it couldn't be as simple as approaching the stairs.
First, a bright stage light shines down, and falls into the audience. The chairs there are empty. There is only one living thing there, though it is not a person. It is a massive giraffe, with brilliant green eyes, a pink ribbon, and and a disaffected expression.
The giraffe bellows in a baritone, masculine voice: "To be a Dreamer is to be a performer! To struggle endlessly! To be a light that shines upon the people! I... UNDERSTAND!"
All around the stage, props and stage equipment rises up. Wooden walls, stairwells, and platforms create a maze. Each Dreamer is locked within them, separated from their fellows by a maze of different theater settings: from cut-outs of castle walls, Western towns, modern cities, cut-outs of trees, and backdrops of stars and nebulae.
Up high, though, a four point golden star lowers. The stage light vanishes from the giraffe. The golden star shines brilliantly -- and then at its center, a giant eye blinks, and opens to look down. This is a powerful Nightmare, though it is far out of reach.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: Navigating the maze -- whether while fighting the Star Nightmare or not -- is a complex matter. First, a powerful orchestral soundtrack fires up (accompanying vocals optional). Stairs and platforms rise up, to provide backdrops ranging from historical dramas to science fiction. These include pyrotechnics and water effects -- which can dazzle, though they can't hurt. Stage lights shine down and blind, sometimes at inopportune moments. Getting to the center of the stage requires navigating through these rising and lowering themed platforms.
But, additionally, the Star Nightmare causes illusions. Sometimes, Dreamers who encounter each other will see one another as powerful Torment, illusions altering their perceptions of each other and their attacks. They can fight each in the midst of the maze, but if they realize that they're fighting a friend, it will stop.
If you need a visual, this fight from Revue Starlight gives an idea of the shenanigans at work:
Dreamers caught here are also able to battle against the Star Nightmare as a Mid-Boss Encounter.
At the end of the maze are stairs, which lead up to the central platform. The stairs are long and steep, and the curtains have yet to rise. But now, the only way to go is up.
But, it couldn't be as simple as approaching the stairs.
First, a bright stage light shines down, and falls into the audience. The chairs there are empty. There is only one living thing there, though it is not a person. It is a massive giraffe, with brilliant green eyes, a pink ribbon, and and a disaffected expression.
The giraffe bellows in a baritone, masculine voice: "To be a Dreamer is to be a performer! To struggle endlessly! To be a light that shines upon the people! I... UNDERSTAND!"
All around the stage, props and stage equipment rises up. Wooden walls, stairwells, and platforms create a maze. Each Dreamer is locked within them, separated from their fellows by a maze of different theater settings: from cut-outs of castle walls, Western towns, modern cities, cut-outs of trees, and backdrops of stars and nebulae.
Up high, though, a four point golden star lowers. The stage light vanishes from the giraffe. The golden star shines brilliantly -- and then at its center, a giant eye blinks, and opens to look down. This is a powerful Nightmare, though it is far out of reach.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: Navigating the maze -- whether while fighting the Star Nightmare or not -- is a complex matter. First, a powerful orchestral soundtrack fires up (accompanying vocals optional). Stairs and platforms rise up, to provide backdrops ranging from historical dramas to science fiction. These include pyrotechnics and water effects -- which can dazzle, though they can't hurt. Stage lights shine down and blind, sometimes at inopportune moments. Getting to the center of the stage requires navigating through these rising and lowering themed platforms.
But, additionally, the Star Nightmare causes illusions. Sometimes, Dreamers who encounter each other will see one another as powerful Torment, illusions altering their perceptions of each other and their attacks. They can fight each in the midst of the maze, but if they realize that they're fighting a friend, it will stop.
If you need a visual, this fight from Revue Starlight gives an idea of the shenanigans at work:
Dreamers caught here are also able to battle against the Star Nightmare as a Mid-Boss Encounter.
At the end of the maze are stairs, which lead up to the central platform. The stairs are long and steep, and the curtains have yet to rise. But now, the only way to go is up.
!POSITION ZERO
Those who find their way through the maze and make their way up to the stairs come to where the red curtains are. Once the first Dreamers reach them, the left up. The circular platform has Junna standing at the center, raising a hand up to shield her eyes.
Because every stage light here is shining directly onto her, which blinds her from seeing them. From up here, those stage lights can almost be reached.
They keep shining on Junna, as an elevator platform begins to lower her downward -- as an elevator. The stage lights all turn away, and shine down onto the Dreamers. They threaten to blind them.
Not everyone can go down after Junna. But it might be best to say some final remarks -- especially as Torments are beginning to move up the stairs. Those who descend will need to be protected.
And those who jump down after Junna hear a deep baritone voice bellow up, from below: "I UNDERSTAND."
Because every stage light here is shining directly onto her, which blinds her from seeing them. From up here, those stage lights can almost be reached.
They keep shining on Junna, as an elevator platform begins to lower her downward -- as an elevator. The stage lights all turn away, and shine down onto the Dreamers. They threaten to blind them.
Not everyone can go down after Junna. But it might be best to say some final remarks -- especially as Torments are beginning to move up the stairs. Those who descend will need to be protected.
And those who jump down after Junna hear a deep baritone voice bellow up, from below: "I UNDERSTAND."
MID-TIER COMBAT ENCOUNTER: STAR NIGHTMARE
NIGHTMARE ENCOUNTER
The maze of theater stages and props has a large tower at the center, with crimson curtains that have fallen around it. At the edges, high in the air, is a golden four point star... and in the center, an eye blinks and opens. It flies high above the battlefield, and only the most long-ranged of attacks have a prayer of reaching it. But, unfortunately, it can reach you.
First, it has stage lights. Those, also mounted high up, can swivel down and blind a Dreamer who looks at them directly. Wherever a stage light shines, swarms of shadowy Torments will come rushing in. Those have to be fended off. Second, the Star can sometimes cause a prop to manifest: a grand piano, large steel beams, a falling boulder, or any number of falling objects can sometimes crash down from above.
The best way to strike it is to use the stage itself. Scattered at the edge of the stage are different props that Dreamers can use: things like a ballista from a play about Roman legions, a cannon on a pirate ship, a glowing crystal in a castle tower that launches bolts of fire, or a World War II-style anti-aircraft cannon, or whatever else you can dream up. These can fire and damage the Star Nightmare... but the spotlights will converge, sending Torments rushing in -- and they will be destroyed. It will be necessary to hurry to the next one and the one after that.
But each strike can damage the Star... and, eventually, bring it down.
no subject
Hey!! Little help?!
no subject
But it's no good. Gungnir can only stay in the air for a certain amount of time before her wings need to recharge, and so she's ultimately forced to retreat before she can get close enough. Fortunately for Soleil, at least... ]
ORYAH!!
[ It means that Gungnir is here to swoop in, wings still shining with enough light to let her deliver a massive sweeping kick that knocks away a good section of the Torments. Alas, just as she does, her wings flicker weakly and dissipate, dropping her to the ground. ]
Hah... hah... Soleil-chan...! Are you alright!?
no subject
[Rhodonite looks severely worse for wear right now. There's a big hole in the right side of her costume and a gnarly wound revealed through it, apparently healing somehow but not well; she doesn't seem to be moving quite right, either, and she just seems overall tired, a strange set of glasses over her eyes in the same shade as the rest of her magic. But as she fires off a volley of dull-red bolts to take some more of the pressure off Soleil, it's clear she's not going to let any of that stop her.]
I don't know how much help I'll be taking that thing out- guh. [She staggers, having put weight on something wrong in her hurry to group up.] But I'll be able to help cover you while you try to figure something out.
[She knows, instinctively, her attacks can't reach from here - it's too high up. But there's too much stuff here - too many props, too much scenery, too little sense - for them not to find a way to hit it. And if she can keep a shield in front of Soleil and Hanako, it'll all be fine and they can handle it. Because Lisa sure as hell isn't, she's running on fumes and spite.]
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Senpai! You're hurt... [That wound on Rhodonite looks bad. Come on, Soleil, think! She notes Sonic and Hanako getting some thanks to some props, when a few cannons in a row catch her eye.]
I think if I get close enough to make those go off...Rhodonite-senpai, Gungnir-chan, do you have enough juice left to cover me?
[Regardless, Soleil is going to take off running towards them regardless of the Torments in hot pursuit, because it's the best chance they've got!]
no subject
Mm, I'll do it...! And even if I don't, then I'll make it work anyway...!!
[ And it's a good thing too, since right off the bat debris starts to fall in the direction of Soleil... and promptly destroyed as Hibiki leaps to intercept and smash them with her fists, wings briefly flickering back to existence to give Hibiki a bit more air time before vanishing again. ]
no subject
We've got you. Light it up!
[And suiting actions to words, the same power chords she's been playing for a little bit produce another spiral of bolts that intercept a couple of Torments trying to get a swipe at Soleil's unprotected back as she runs. Her face is set with determination, the occasional wince of pain replacing it for only brief moments. She'll let Gungnir take care of herself for a bit.]
no subject
[Soleil takes off as fast as her legs can carry her, throwing caution to the wind. If Gungnir and Rhodonite have her, there's nothing to worry about! She can make it!
In the last stretch, Soleil throws the lash of her whip forward, causing a spark that triggers the cannons to fire towards the Star. The noise draws the Torments' ire, however, and as they swarm towards the cannons, Soleil changes course, hopping back and looking for the next available prop.]
The stuff on the stage! That's what we've gotta focus on, right?
no subject
He knows that not everyone could get to a person's Night Terror, despite their best efforts, but it still frustrated him nonetheless. What sort of Mentor was he if he couldn't help his trainee during a crisis? Especially when said trainee had helped him through his own only a year before...
But if there was anything he could do to help, it was to take down this headache of a Nightmare. Bad enough that these stupid spotlights made things impossible to see, but he was pretty sure this asshole monster was the one that dropped the chandelier on him right before he could get to Junna, and that? That made things personal.
He ducks behind one of the plywood trams on display in the town, hoping to avoid the glare of spotlight, before directing his Orby Bois to go and strike the star. Unfortunately, they can only go so far, straining to reach the Nightmare before they drop away mere feet from the monster.]
Tch--! How are we supposed to even hit this thing?
[Did anyone have an attack that could reach that far, even? He knew Hibiki could fly, but it doesn't look like she's having much luck hitting it either...]
no subject
fastadaptable. So now it's a matter of figuring out the trick to this Nightmare.Hanako's going to suddenly have a familiar blue Dreamer drop down next to him- Wait, how??
And as a gold ring drifts down next to Sonic, the reason becomes clear. He must have been trying to use the props that the Star drops plus his own Dash Ring to make the distance...]
Man... That guy's so rude; he'll drop stuff on people trying to get up to him but what about me? Zip, zilch, NADA! What a pain...
[he looks at Hanako for a moment, at the Hakujoudai, then back at Hanako]
Which one of us do you think can throw the other farther?
[... Sonic, don't yeet children]
no subject
At the sight of the other boy, however, he eases just a smidgen-- though he can't help but shoot him a cool look at his complaints. Sonic bugged him on a good day, but he was feeling particularly on edge with everything else going on... and his remarks after what Hanako had been through didn't help things either.]
Yeah, yeah, too bad for you.
[Said as deadpan as possible as he straightens up, shifting his gaze back to the star patrolling above them. Hanako's personality wasn't exactly the best, but this whole situation just brought out the sharpness in his edges even more.
Still, wasn't an excuse to be a dick on his end!!He's just about to slip out and leave when Sonic goes and asks him that, and he pauses, eyes wide and absolutely befuddled.]... what?
[Was this really the time for rhetorical questions??? But, perhaps out of sheer luck, his brain starts to click everything into place, and the gears begin to whirr. With his floating and Sonic's rings, they might be onto something here, as much as he hates to admit it...]
... you can, probably. You're bigger, so it'd be harder for me to chuck you very far, anyway. [Granted, they were really only a couple of inches apart in height, but it still makes a difference, alright!!!] You think you can use that ring of yours to teleport us halfway there?
[Not that he's really paid that much attention to how Sonic's abilities worked aside from Fast, but that's how his ring seemed to work to him, anyway.]
no subject
Can you believe this? It's like he's calling me 'fat' again.
[Seems he's enjoying the obvious stage metaphor at least. His attention goes back up to the Star above them once he's made his little quip]
Never tried to use it on other people, so your guess is as good as mine. No time like the present though. Wanna give it a try? [grins] If we use the props as a launch point, we can get some extra height.
[this plan will probably not work, but Sonic is always willing to try. Who knows? Maybe they just need a change in perspective!]
no subject
but when better than a Disturbance set on an actual stage, though??He gives an apprehensive hum at the plan, though, his eyes going back towards the current position of the Star. The uncertainty of it all wasn't exactly filling him with confidence, but then... what other choice did they have? Better to give this a shot and know they tried something than to sit and do nothing at all. Finally, with a begrudging nod:]
... fine. It's not like we got a lot of options here, anyway.
[Aside from like... all the stage projectile weapons scattered around this place but. SHHH!!!
He starts to sneak out from behind the stage tram, eyes still trained on the Star, keeping himself coiled and ready for their next move. And as if on cue, a taxi manifests high above them, hanging precariously in the air for just a moment before rocketing down like some sort of yellow, vehicle shaped-meteor. Welp-- looks like that was their own cue to get moving!!]
Let's go!!
[At that, he dashes forward, heading dead on towards the car careening towards them before leaping up to try to get a foothold upon it. This had better work...!!]
no subject
[Sonic dashes up from behind Hanako with a quick 'Alley-oop', grabbing Hanako's arm as they jump off the back of the taxi. Mid-jump, Sonic's weapon appears suddenly, a bright glass ring that the Dreamer jumps through easily...]
Huh?
[But because it is his own magic, he can tell that something's off almost immediately. First; they aren't going to the usual heights one of his Dash Rings propels him. Second; it's a lot slower than his usual dashes. They're already losing momentum and they haven't even gone the full length of his regular jump! Sonic adjusts his grip on Hanako's arm, pulling on it to get the other boy's attention]
Change of plans, toilet boy, we need an emergency landing ASAP.
[Sonic's face isn't exactly worried, but his delivery lacks its usual laissez-faire attitude. Any other instance, he'd be joking around... And a part of him still wants to! Except they're mid-air and last Sonic looked, neither of them could actually fly.
...
Well, technically, Sonic could, but using Super now would be a waste if he still couldn't reach the target–]
Geronimo!
[... He kept the serious mood for all of one paragraph. We're not sure he tried at all. Now excuse him while he drops out of the sky to superhero land onto a raised platform and props combo below]
no subject
Just who're you calling Toire Boi--?
[Look, he knows he's kinda asking for it, being named after a toilet ghost and all, but c'mon!! But now wasn't the time to be arguing, and if Sonic's tone was anything to go by, this was the time they needed to lock in and try to course correct things.
... or it would be, if this blue bastard didn't just up and decide to pull them both down instead!!!]
GAAAH!!
[He scrambles to get a better hold on Nikki, brain racing on what to do next. Neither of them could fly, that much was true-- but Hanako had the next best thing, which could hopefully spare them from any further injuries. Gritting his teeth, he activates his floating ability (an odd thing for him to do deliberately, much like manual breathing), hoping that it'll help cushion their fall.
And... well, it does something, at least. Sonic manages to land with his usual obnoxiously cool flair
the asshole, while Hanako flaps uselessly in the air attached to his arm, like some boy-shaped flag. But that was better than accidentally smashing himself out of the Dream Sphere, anyway!!He lets himself float there for a moment, catching his breath from that sudden spike in adrenaline, before finally:]
Ugh... so now what're we gonna do?
[You better have another idea, Experienced Dreamer!!!]
no subject
Hmmm...
[he suddenly looks up as another prop - a bathroom sink - manifests near where they're standing, hovering for a moment before dropping down. It's not close enough to hit them, but it's definitely a reminder that staying still too long while still in line of sight of the target]
Good thing that guy doesn't have very good depth perception. [because it's just one eye?!] First, we should probably keep moving.
[Sonic zips off to drop down onto a lowered portion of the stage, gesturing for Hanako to follow him. Sonic keeps chattering even as they navigate the area, seemingly looking for something]
An acquaintance of mom's came by recently; couldn't stop talking about his trip to Hawai'i and about how he dreamed he was a pirate there. It was definitely a dream because he said they were doing boat battles with lasers. Lasers! My dude couldn't even stay on theme!
[he grins widely]
But what I'm trying to get at is, what if we used it's own props against it? [he snaps his fingers] You know how it goes... When in Rome, do as the Romans do!
no subject
[Pessimistic much, Hanako? But maybe he's just still salty about the chandelier that had been dropped on him...
He begins to follow along behind Sonic at his prompting, eyes warily sneaking up to the Star as Sonic chatters away. That sink was too much of a close call for his comfort, even if it missed, so it was probably a good idea to keep tabs on it for the time being. That said... he sends the other boy a clearly exasperated glance as he finishes up his seemingly random story, the look on his face practically screaming "what's your point??" Had this been another time, perhaps he would have gotten some sort of amusement out of it, but he really was in no mood to goof around-- not with both of his trainees' lives on the line.]
... I dunno what romance has to do with all of that, but okay, I guess.
[Hanako, he said "Romans" not "Romansu", you dingus]
Are you saying we should go and throw the stuff it sends at us right back at it...? 'Cos I don't think either of us have a batting arm that strong.
[Never mind the fact that Amane's hardly played any sports in school, let alone baseball, but even as a Dreamer he doesn't think he can hit a home run with a car!!]
no subject
Aha!
[a gust of wind is the only warning Hanako gets before Sonic is suddenly yanking a cloth off of... a cannon? He grins and pats it a couple of times]
This should work! Wonder what play was going to use this bad boy as a prop~
[he looks at Hanako... Then looks at the cannon... Then at the star... He's... He's not thinking about sending one of them directly at the thing, right?]
Exactly! Yeah, that's a good idea, don't you think? Give it a taste of it's own medicine by using it's strengths against it. [grins] I'll even give you the first shot. I think you deserve it!
[with a quick 'whoosh' and a bright display of distorted blue and pink light, Sonic sweeps up one of the nearby cannonballs to load into the cannon in question. Then he points at the fuse at the back for Hanako. Does he know about the chandelier? Is he letting Hanako take the first shot to sus out how dangerous this thing is? Or is he letting Hanako take the shot because Junna's the other boy's (former?) mentee and it only seems fair?
Who knows! Sonic for sure isn't going to say anything about it!]
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you'll never make it in the space field with those English skills, Amane!But, well... that wasn't important at the moment!! What was important was the cannon Sonic just uncovered, looking somewhat out of place in a setting full of stage props such as this. If Hanako was as familiar with the theater as Junna was, he could probably pinpoint where it might have come from (maybe a play about French revolutionaries???), but alas.. he could only just accept it as it was and not question the matter. He does stare dubiously at the other boy as he studies the prop, however, and it only intensifies as he proposes his plan. Not that he normally had any qualms about attacking first, but--]
Do I look like I have anything to light this with--
[Sure, he could maybe try to pull out some matches from the weird pocket space he's recently had access to, but the reliability of it was shoddy and time wasn't on their side at the moment--
But then his eyes fall upon his Hakujoudai, and something seems to click into place. He'd mostly been using them as blunt ranged weapons ever since he'd gotten the ability, but... they were based on ghostly fire, weren't they...?]
... hm.
[With a wave of his hand, he sends one of them towards the fuse, letting it graze over the end and engulfing it in it's ghostly flame. For a moment, it doesn't seem as if it will work-- but then, suddenly, the fuse begins to crackle and spit with a cool blue light, rapidly consuming the string at an alarming rate. At the same time, the Star begins to manifest yet another object to hurl their way, prompting Hanako to tug Sonic's bow tail sharply in warning.]
DUCK!
[With a colossal BOOM, the cannon finally fires it's ammo, shooting straight towards the prop currently hurtling their way. Hopefully the cannonball can block it, if not send it rocketing back at the Star itself...!]
no subject
Whoops!
[His eyes light up when he spots the spark and jumps back quickly as the cannon goes off, sending the cannon ball forward and into the prop that had been sent their way. It's pretty explosive, though the soft pastel sparkles doesn't match the crashing sound that it caused. The attack doesn't quite hit the Star in question, but the debris is enough to show that-]
This can work- Oh, probably can't stay here though!
[Speaking of debris, between the initial forward momentum and gravity, it looks like some of the larger pieces where still on a trajectory heading towards the two Dreamers. Sonic reaches over to grab Hanako's wrist before dashing over to the other side of the platform they were on.
Hanako probably(?) would have been fine - what with this intangibility and all - but Sonic seems to have been acting completely on reflexes. Nyooooom]