Junna Hoshimi ⭐ 星見 純那 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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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."
no subject
[God. This is going to be like a fricking Yu-Gi-Oh turn. Not the fun kind where they explain Pot of Greed, but the modern kind where you somehow have 76 actions to look for Exodia parts.]
[Passive activation: Unstoppable. A The vines twine around Zeke, seeking to lock him down, and... they kind of do? A little? For all that their grip looks firm, they just don't quite seem to be stripping him of all the free motion they should. Certainly, raising his hand only seems to take a little extra effort. Lose 1 Movement, swap one Durability to regain it.]
[Movement 1.]
Power Driver!
[This is its full strength, the strongest Chaosbringer can make it; a sudden rush of power like electric wind, sweeping from the others to coalesce around him. Four powers from four Dreamers, because it draws from each one near him -- and Junna, you still count, no matter that you're on the other side.]
[Movement 2.]
Weapon Driver -- Fusion!
[The Purple Lightning Dreamsmasher vanishes off his back in a flare of lightning as Chaosbringer closes his extended hand around the grip of a bow forged of vines and leaves and embedded crystal. Against the pull of the vines, he draws the string back, a flickering arrow of flame and electricity coalescing out of nowhere.]
And you forget, long-neck: I went looking for Crimson first! She isn't forgotten, and Sage never will be! Power Driver Art: Ball Lightning!
[And that's Movement 3, using the power granted by Torch -- a strike of incandescent plasma that leaps from the bow neither as a column nor a line, but rather a sphere that races forwards towards the Kirin with blazing heat and blinding purpose.]
[Turn end!]
no subject
[ For a second there she thought she was gonna become flattened Koi...! Well, actually she might've been fine because she's still a Dreamer and is sturdier than she realizes, but still! That was scary! Thank goodness Torch was here!
Wait, she can't afford to get distracted right now! Did Junna just shoot at her? Wait, no she didn't? Wait she did? She hit some kind of wall in front of her... agh! Whatever! Who cares!? As soon as Torch lands, she immediately scrambles out of his arms, pulls out her skull wand, and charges straight at Junna. ]
What are you talking about!? THERE'S TORMENTS EVERYWHERE HERE!!
[ Perhaps missing the point a little... but let's just say that Nene is pretty hopped up on adrenaline right now, so she's kind of just... letting loose? Saying whatever? Something like that. Either way, she's making a mad dash in a straight line right at Junna. While she runs, though, she pulls out... a single Mokke?
Where did she pull it out from—]EIY!!
[ Did she just huck a Mokke straight at Junna? If nothing else, Mokke are pretty distracting, so she's either trying to distract Junna from firing more arrows... or she's still on an adrenaline spike and threw the first thing that came to mind.
Either way, that's a killer throwing arm, Nene...]"Aaaaaaaaaaah—"
[ She really needs to stop using those guys as projectiles... they can't deal damage... they're too soft and squishy! Though maybe that's the point? ]
no subject
Don't just run ahead-!!
[The explosion prevents him from going after the young Dreamer, instead sending up a plume of flame to burn the fragments flying at him. From what he could see, La Pucelle's magic seemed to include barriers and so he has faith that she'll be able to defend herself for the time being. Either way, with a Novice like Koi and his own magic being geared towards support, it's clear that they'll be relying heavily on Chaosbringer to take the Night Terror down.
Speaking of, Torch looks at Dreamer Sage with a frown as he prepares another spell]
I told you; you can always ask other Dreamers for help too!
[and he presses his completed spell against the floor. He has no shield to speak of, but he can attack, sending pillars of flame on either side of Koi's path. He glares at the Giraffe, because these were feelings he once had, those insidious thoughts that plague every artst's thoughts whenever a creative block strikes or a long lapse in commissions appears or even for no reason at all]
But if it's flames you wish to see, then allow me to show you why I bear the name of 'Torch'.
no subject
[ God's name, she doesn't finish, swiping her sword in front of her to send doves of light intercepting as many of those shards as she can. The others here....They feel the same way as she does about Junna, and that is a great comfort. With hearts such as these, they will not fall.
And Junna....
Junna is saying things that do not make any sense. But that pain her. La Pucelle takes a deep breath. La Pucelle closes her eyes. Sends out a pulse of healing to anyone who needs it, preparing them for what comes next.
And when she opens her mouth again, it's to murmur: ]
Let those who prove themselves faithful servants of God have their sins pardoned, have their souls blessed - May this devout prayer reach Thee.
[ Raise her sword as if it can pierce the spotlight
and
well, uh. ]
Give us conviction
Give us sanctions
Give us clenched fists
And the light of our promised song, 'til the end....!
[ Spotlight. Stage. Theater. A commander must give the proper orders. This is Junna's battlefield, and if mere words do not reach her, then what about something that is closer to her heart....?
La Pucelle is singing, and as she does, her teammates will feel conviction growing inside of them. But that's not all. They'll feel stronger, faster, better able to take a hit! They are also glowing.
Dreamer La Pucelle is a proper buff unit now. ]
no subject
And it makes Junna's eyes widen. She's in a daze, really; that cuts through for just a moment. But only just a moment -- she didn't end up in this desperate state to be broken out too easily.
Zeke's ball of lightning slams into the Kirin, blowing it backward. And it lands on all four feet, wobbling. Black, inky smoke drifts from its body. That one hurt.
Junna looks back at Koi, as she charges.] I-- [She just manages to step aside, as Koi charges. But she throws that Mokke...
And two blasts of flame shoot out, which block her into place. That lets the Mokke slam into her face -- and she has to yank it free.]
Every time I ask... I'm a burden on someone else! [She cries that out, at Olruggio, but looks at Nene too.] On Hanako, on Lisa--on you, too, Koi! I tried, but I--
[Junna pulls back another arrow of light. It charges up -- then she fires, straight at Koi, before it explodes in a blast that strikes at Torch too.
And the Kirin keeps talking.]
SO BRILLIANT! SO ASTOUNDING! [It sounds... gleeful.] More... more!
[The floor under Zeke suddenly shoots him upward, threatening to catapult him ten feet into the air -- and drop back down. And, at the same time, a large, gilded cross comes dropping down from above... and comes crashing down for La Pucelle!
The Kirin has a sense of drama perhaps.
And speaking of... the spotlight shines, shifting between Junna, then Olruggio, then Nene, and Zeke, before settling on... Zeke! If Zeke sings this turn, he gets an extra action or can restore one endurance!]
no subject
[1.]
Power Driver: Sainted Chaos!
[Two massive angel wings unfold from Chaosbringer's back, catching him neatly in midair. With the spotlight on him, he descends slowly, one hand already slashing out in a dramatic motion.]
[2.]
Power Driver: Advanced Summon, Genbu Turters!
[Beneath him, behind him, and really calling into question which side is the dark one, a cloud of roiling back smoke erupts from the ground and the very air. In its depths, two pairs of eyes glitter brilliantly, the form that hosts them slowly resolving amidst the smoke into a black turtle with a snake for a tail. Chaosbringer lands lightly on its back, tossing his head to smirk at the Kirin. How about a song?]
In the dark of the night I was tossing and turning
And the dream that I had was as bad as can be
It scared me out of my wits
A friend falling to bits!
Then I opened my eyes
And this nightmare I see!
I must be the strongest Dreamer in all Japan
When the Torments see me they crumble in fear!
My power wracks them with pain
So now we do it again!
Sage's Nightmare, beware
Chaosbringer's awake!
[It isn't an array of insects and vermin, but Genbu Turters opens both its mouths wide and proud to join in the chorus.
In the dark of your heart, chaos will find you!
In the dark of your heart, when all is despair!
You'll feel such relief
When we work through your grief
In the dark of your heart
Know we care!
[Leaping off Genbu Turters' back, Zeke takes slow steps towards the Nightmare, one arm lifted as his hand very slowly and dramatically closes into a fist.]
You can see that my powers exceed yours
Smooth my skirt and try to ignore your smell!
As we smash the pain of this place
I'll see you crawl into place
Sayonara, Nightmare Butt-Face
Farewell!
[Rolling in on the chorus again, Genbu Turters pipes up, as electricity and flame begins to crackle around his fist.]
In the dark of your heart your friends will aid you!
Helping is the least I can do!
In the dark of your heart, we are here too!
Soon, with your eyes, you'll see this Nightmare' lies!
In the dark of your heart--
You'll pull through!
In the dark of your heart
Chaos will find her!
In the dark of your heart, sunlight comes through!
Giraffe, here's a sign
It's the end of the line
In the dark of your heart
In the dark of your heart...
[3. The radiance around Zeke's fist grows radiant white-gold, till he swipes his other hand down the back of his wrist to separate the gathering energy -- his own lightning on one hand, ball lightning from Torch on the other.]
Come my powers
Rise for your master
Let your chaos shine
Strike it down
Yes, surge ever faster!
[4.]
In the dark of your heart
In the dark of your heart
In the dark of your heart--
[5. Twin forms of lightning surge forward, twined around the beams of radiant energy erupting from Genbu Turters' mouths, straight for the giraffe with the sort of force that feels like ominous pressure on the skin.]
We're here for you!
no subject
Nn...!!
[ Arrows fly toward her, faster than she could have ever anticipated. She's seen Junna's arrows before, but never aimed at herself, they're so much faster when they're coming towards you... and Koi almost freezes up.
Almost. ]
Kh...!!
[ She can hardly believe it herself, but she does it in time... a giant fish scale manifests in front of her, and combined with the glowing electric barrier around her that activates on it's own... the two defensive abilities, weak as they might be, protects Koi from harm. ]
...GWAH!! I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE!! Wait, why is he singing!?
[ Wait, that's really not important right now!! She's seriously not sure she can block an arrow again!! Let alone one that EXPLODES!! In fact, that was almost definitely helped by La Pucelle's buffs, so maybe she could! But she has no idea!! Still, she's DEFINITELY bragging about this to Hanako-kun later!! But first!!
She starts running towards her again, even amongst all the flashy stuff that everyone is firing out. She has no idea where the rest of her Mokke are, but she has exactly one left on her person...!! She pulls it out and hurls it just like the first, unsure if it'll distract as well a second time around, but she just needs to reach her!! She'll figure out the rest once she gets up close!! ]
JUNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!
no subject
Take a look around yourself, do you not see what shouldering everything on your own has done to you? How can you hope to improve if you can't even see where your limits are?
Tch-
[kids...]
[Torch is forced to step back and take flight to try and maneuver around the explosion, a little too far away from Koi to do much more for her. Or anyone else for that matter, not that Chaosbringer needs assistance. For whether he is hit or not, Torch lands near the edge of the platform, spotting the attack heading for La Pucelle but without a spell available to him to use (is this a cooldown? Maybe)]
La Pucelle, look out!!
[this is worse than looking after the girls back home. It's like herding cats! Until he's gotten an idea of what everyone - especially that Giraffe - is capable of, Torch will stay where he is]
no subject
That is blasphemy!!
[ - but when she sees the aura around everyone flicker when she interrupts her song, she catches on and switches tunes, singing along with Turters's backup for Chaosbringer instead of her own song. She's still singing, though, so that preserves the buff.
They are not united! They are not united, and that will prove their downfall, unless - ]
Torch - Sage!
[ He has flame powers. Chaosbringer seems well-equipped to deal with the Giraffe, and the other Dreamer - Koi? - can distract with unpredictability. Sage's attacks are long-distance and plant-based. If they each take on the opponent against which they are best suited....
No, she has no official authority. But she hopes the other Dreamer will see her reasoning. ]
no subject
And that lightning BLASTS into it. Electricity arcs and explodes from it; showers of sparks, the smell of ozone, and black, inky smoke that erupts from it.]
A mighty blow! A stunning performance! I... UNDERSTAND!
[Junna, unfortunately, is ready for the Mokke this time. She ducks away -- and she she moves backward, making someone spend some movement to close with her.]
Stop it, Koi! You can't reach me!
[Then, she looks at Torch. She heard what La Pucelle cried out. So she shoots an arrow straight for him. Then, she looks between La Pucelle and Torch, her voice shaking.]
I--I can't stop! Don't you understand? Why... why can't you see? How many people will I let down!
[The Kirin interjects:] She understands! The fate of every Dreamer... to struggle, until they collapse!
[The Kirin rears up in front of Zeke -- and then slams his front end down. And, then, as if responding to
the time Junna's player fell off Tantal and skipped half the fast travel points but somehow landed at the bottomto the fire and spirit of Zeke......a huge blizzard is summoned. A storm of ice, sleet, and snow blasts into Zeke, with gale force winds and ice slashing at him!
And then, the Kirin turns his head towards La Pucelle.]
The fate of heretics... is to burn! [Which is when flame jets out from underneath Jeanette's feet!
And overhead, the spotlight turns -- and turns -- and turns! Between Olruggio, Nene, and Junna. And then it stops on Nene!
Nene gets an extra action or recovers one endurance, if she sings this turn!]
no subject
Again! You're telling Chaosbringer he's going to collapse?! Ha!
[He's tired, not gonna lie. He could use a break, and might actually take one. But collapse? Not gonna happen. Not ever. Because he knows the secret.]
[Drawing the Purple Lightning Dreamsmasher, now back in proper sword form, again, Zeke - 1. - crosses the distance between himself and the Kirin, then - 2. leaps upward, bringing the sword with him in a rising slash that carries him up and over the creature.]
Bringer of Chaos! Ultimate Lightning Fury Slash -- MAAAAAAAAAX!
[3. With incandescent electricity crackling around the blade, Chaosbringer plunges downwards, cleaving with his sword till both its edge and his feet hit the ground. The kanji for Ultimate (and a smaller one for Max) forms in electric lines on the ground around them -- 4. -- then detonates in a massive crescendo of crackling justice!]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYX9SZfDF8o&ab_channel=AkariKit%C5%8D-Topic
[ Perhaps Junna didn't uh, mean that as a challenge... but regardless, Nene seems to take it as one. Even as Junna retreats, Nene just keeps on chasing after her, even as ice and fire and lightning and oh my god now that she's thinking about it, isn't this super dangerous? holy shit this is crazy— ]
Ack...!
[ The impact from everything going on knocks Nene off her feet and she skids against the ground. Realization about everything going on hits her like a truck, pain from fighting that she still isn't used to...
But she grits her teeth, pushes up off the ground, and... ]
SHUT UP, GIRAFFE!! QUIT TALKING ABOUT MY FRIEND!!
[ The spotlight lands on her.
Undoubtedly, Nene will look back at this and wonder what came over her. Honestly, she's probably going to be all kinds of embarrassed, thank goodness Hanako-kun isn't here. But... ]
Touched by your kindness
What remains, never to disappear, is your warmth
If I could say that you are dear to me
Would my heart become lighter?
On the other side of a closed door
I can hear a faint voice
Unable to move forward, all I can do is
Wallow in loneliness
[ And she gets up. ]
My feelings simply live on in this heart
Just like a tiny light so dear that it hurts
So that the wind won’t reach, so that the rain won’t touch
I have held them close, always
[ And of course, she sprints. She dashes towards Junna and uses ALL of her movement, her entire action this turn—including her extra action from singing—to close the distance between her and Junna, and with any luck... uh... ]
But, the strength to look straight forward and wish with all my heart
And my fragile, crybaby self,
If not for you, I never would have known
Within a happenstance, I found my fate.
[ Uh... she's gonna try and tackle Junna to the ground. If anyone was expecting anything gentler, then they brought the wrong girl to this fight.
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-!!
[the spell he'd been penning for Chaosbringer is hastily changed, Torch crouches down, his cloak wrapped protectively around himself as a series of flame pillars erupting in front of Torch to try and block Sage's attack]
Look around you! What do you think this is? Is this what 'not letting people down' looks like to you!?
As for you...[he turns his attention to the Giraffe, because Olruggio understands. He had been a Novice just as anyone else had been. He had a great many spells from his youth, his creativity and willingness to experiment making it so that he could have chosen to be any Archetype he wanted. But that had been the problem, hadn't it? He'd noticed it in Junna, but not quickly enough...] I don't know what story you're trying to come up with, but we're juggling two full time jobs and, dare I say it, doing it quite well.
[Torch sweeps the heavy fabric of his cloak back, holding out his spell book as he creates a ball of flame, dropping it near the centre of the arena to heal Koi or Chaosbringer, should either of them enter it's small area of effect]
Pah, as if I'd want life advice from an imaginary animal.
[Before he can ready another spell, Torch spots the fire at La Pucelle feet and reacts automatically, shouting;]
Look out! Those aren't mine!!
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[ ....The warning didn't quite come in time, Torch.
Flames bite La Pucelle's limbs as she screams, and she nearly lets them; the more the Giraffe focuses on punishing her with the scenery, the less that same scenery can hurt her friends. She will gladly sacrifice herself for others; they would do the same for her, so it is only fair.
Yet it is NOT fair to Junna to have to bear the pain of hurting a friend! So La Pucelle bites down on her scream and stabs her sword into the stage, projecting a shield out across the ground as far as she can. She wants to smother the flames, and she has - she has to keep singing -
She picks up her backup vocals just as Koi tackles Junna, and resumes her buff too - except, this time, with one more target. Can she manage to only bestow one effect on someone....? La Pucelle doesn't know.
But even so.
Congratulations, Junna. You're a target for Courage Bataille this time as well, and if nothing else, you will feel your heart enveloped in a warm, gentle, reassuring embrace. It believes in you. It loves you. It tells you you're not alone.
Jeanne d'Arc's strongest magical girl ability is "insert effects of anime encouragement speech directly to the target" and she is making sure you know, DIRECTLY, that you are LOVED AND SUPPORTED, YOUNG LADY.
It is entirely possible she isn't thinking about how that might or might not interact with "taking Nene right to the face". But either way. GET LOVED, IDIOT. ]
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I... UNDERSTAND!
[Which is when the RMS Titanic (in miniature, which is still quite big) smashes out of the ground, and the Kirin uses the replica ship to parry Zeke's strike. The Titanic, of course, splits in half after that, but the two halves are lying on the battlefield.
He answers Nene, then:] I have only told you the truth of being a Dreamer!
[Junna, for her part, snaps her eyes back to Nene. And her expression hardens -- until Nene begins to sing. Her mouth hangs slack for second.]
Nene-san... [It's quiet. A crack in the mask.
And then she gets SLAMMED into the ground, tackled down.]
G-Get off me!
[She looks back at Olruggio, but she can't say anything more. And she feels her heart swelling with what La Pucelle does. It stuns her -- she's staring at Dreamer Koi, with wide eyes.
And there's tears forming in them. Because thanks to the emotions that La Pucelle sends throgh her -- and thanks to what Torch points out, the fact this isn't living up to peoples' expectations -- she can't manage a fight just now. Junna loses her actions for this turn!]
I... I couldn't have really helped you, Koi. Not... not like I really am.
[The Kirin feels the need to interrupt:] I understand. The stage must be set! Dreamers must remember... they are always drowning!
[The Kirin suddenly lifts up, on an iceberg forming at its feet. And then ice cold seawater begins to flood the chamber. It's already waist high, and currents could sweep someone away!
The spotlight had been shining on the Kirin. But then it swings around... and shines down on Olruggio! If he sings this turn, he gets an extra action or recovers one endurance!]
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You can't drown me, you can't freeze me, you can't burn me, you can't stop me! You want to know why? Because I am Dreamer Chaosbringer! BRINGER OF CHAOS! And I love who I am and what I do!
[Something that's missing, painfully and blatantly, in every Disturbance -- the joy, that excitement of not just Dreaming, but living. That core of confidence that carries you through the pain and hurt. Because it's all there, for Chaosbringer as well as everyone else. Broken families, hurting friends, feelings of powerlessness and anger...]
And if someone's drowning, they just need a rescue!
[The sword melts into the bow of wood and vines once more, and Chaosbringer draws it back to fire. 2. 3. 4. Not at the Kirin, but at his allies in this battle. Each arrow strikes the water near one of them, erupting into a tangle of vines and wood for them to brace against in the face of the surging seawater.]
Sage! Two things! First, I couldn't help my friends right now if not for you!
[Which is literally true. Torch's ball lightning, La Pucelle's wings, Koi's summoning -- nothing else he'd gotten from Power Driver could have given him a tool to help the others the way Sage's plant creation did. If Disturbances are all about literal and metaphorical isolation and loneliness, Power Driver is the middle finger proudly flipped to those concepts.]
And second! It's okay to be you!
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Junna’s friend, Nene. ]
No, I’m not letting go!! You made it really hard catching you, so I’m definitely not letting you go!
[ SHE DOESN’T WANNA CHASE YOU AGAIN!! IT WAS SCARY!! Wait, hold on that’s not the point, is it?
Despite Nene’s claim, though, that DAMN GIRAFFE just HAS to start FLOODING THE PLACE!? NOW!? Nene can turn into a fish, she’s actually kind of in zero danger from the water aside from the powerful current… but thanks to Chaosbringer, they don’t have to worry about that. Still, the water being waist deep uh, means she can’t exactly keep Junna pinned down.
Y’know, because she doesn’t wanna DROWN her friend. So instead, she’s going to yank Junna to her feet—still with an iron grip on her arms, both to keep her from escaping and… to keep her from getting washed away. ]
Junna…! Don’t listen to that stupid giraffe! I mean, just look at me…! I can barely do anything! My Mokke barely listen to me, my powers are super weak, I can turn into a fish for some reason…!
[ Which, speaking of, she’s not turning into a fish but she is starting to sprout fish scales on her skin. Still, she looks Junna dead in the eyes as the water batters against them… ]
But I still made it here!! It was hard!! It was scary!! I hate disturbances!! I never would’ve done it on my own, I never could’ve come here to help you on my own…! but I still made it here! Because…!
[ And the next bit comes with tears in her eyes… ]
We don’t have to be drowning!! Honestly, saying that we do is SUPER messed up…!! Not that I can drown anyways!!
[ Cuz, y’know, fish. ]
My point is…! If I can ask for help, then so can you…! Cuz you’re way cooler than me! You have way slimmer legs than me! I’m super jealous, actually!! And you can do so much, so…!
[ And suddenly, with eyes that are just a little crazed… ]
Come home with me or I’m stealing your glasses!!
[ The duality of Koi… and hey, the Mokke would LOVE Junna’s glasses. They seem to like picking up trinkets and the like. ]
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He jumps up using his Sylph spell to pull himself out of the water before flying over to also pull La Pucelle out of the water onto the platforms Chaosbringer made for them. Hopefully with this, she can maintain the buff she has up for everyone without worrying about getting swept away.
Then the spotlight is on him and Torch is forced to raise a hand to block out the light for a moment to get his bearings]
Oh, for crying out- If it's a song, you're expecting, I'm sorry to disappoint.
[he has no song on hand! But he's going to take advantage of the makeshift raft to recharge Sylph, sending a nod at Chaosbringer as thanks for the platform... A platform made using Sage's magic, if the other man's speech is anything to go by.
The water soaking through his clothes makes it difficult to draw spells at the moment and
because he used his actions on movementrenders Torch temporarily unable to cast anything else... Koi and Chaosbringer seems to have the encouraging speech well in hand anyway]I don't know what's happened to bring you to this point. But even if it's easier to listen to voice telling you that all hope is lost, know that it's not true. Just as there are people who will only care about what you can do, there are people who care about you for who you are.
Think about which of those matter more to you!
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Her reaching out to Junna seems to have done something. Given her pause, at least. Everyone else is adding to that with their words. But they are not the only ones speaking - that Giraffe keeps saying the most terrible things to Junna! Are those sad thoughts the way she feels sometimes? They are all wrong! Junna should listen to her friends, not to that Giraffe!
And thus it is with the hope of getting that animal to stay silent long enough for Junna to listen to the others' pleas that Jeannette raises her sword and fires a beam of light at the giraffe -
which, perhaps influenced by the water swirling all around them, transforms into a dolphin en route to smacking that Giraffe right in the heavily-eyelashed face.
Stop deceiving Junna!!!!! ]
cw: giraffe body horror
She blinks at Nene, as she shouts that she isn't letting her go -- and then she gets yanked up to her feet, water rushing around her.]
G-gh...
[She looks at Chaosbringer, blearily. Her eyes blink once. She registers what he's doing -- using a bow, using her abilities.
And it's okay to... to be herself.
Then she looks at Olruggio. She blinks at him, too; she only talked to him the once. But, he told her even then to not push herself too hard. To... to get help.
Then, at La Pucelle. Lisa's friend. Her friend,too. And she's setting down on one of those platforms.
Junna looks back at Nene, and she listens. She looks miserable -- in a few ways, with those cracked glasses, bags under her eyes, and exhaustion just showing through. She looks a little like a drowned rat, too, with the way she was soaked.]
Nene-chan... [That goes on, and -- and there's something about her legs. Junna blinks once. She looks down for a moment. Then, back up at her.
And those fish scales, keeping her safe. She swallows.
Then she stares more.] Please don't steal my glasses. [Her voice cracks.] Y-You're amazing, Koi. You shouldn't sell yourself short. I...
[There's people who want to see her again. Junna's voice cracks again.] ...Please, get me out of here.
[It's fortunate that Chaosbringer makes those platforms. It gives them all something to stand on, as the cold waters rush in. There's also debris lifting up; the pieces of stagecraft that the Kirin dropped down.
Those are much more precarious to leap on.
But thanks to Torch and Chaosbringer, La Pucelle has secure footing. And she shoots a beam of light -- shifting into a dolphin -- that smashes into it. The Kirin explodes into putrid black smoke, that rolls over all of them. And when it clears...
Its skin is gone. Underneath, it is a mass of rotting tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, and other fruit and vegetables. Its eyes, now red, twitch about.]
I... UNDER..STAAAAAAANNNDDDDD...
[It opens its mouth and vomits out a high-pressure blast of rotting tomato gunk, like a dragon breathing flame at them all. Then, the spotlight shifts around and falls on Junna...
And a massive, rotten tomato flies into her, smashing her away from Koi and against the wall. She sticks there, screaming as she hits the wall. The rotten tomato pulses...
...and Junna sags, as a patch of giraffe skin begins to grow over the left hind leg of the Kirin. The gigantic rotten tomato is draining Junna's life and funneling it to the Kirin.]
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[Well, this has certainly gone directions he hadn't expected from his knowledge of Junna. Maybe he should have, but somehow horrible rotten produce isn't something he'd associated with even the darker parts of her psyche.]
[1.]
Genbu Turters! Reveal yourself once more!
[The black turtle-snake surges out of the water by Junna, and begins... eating the rotten tomato off of her. Kids, don't feel your normal turtles rotten tomatoes, that's not wise! Only summoned turtles resembling a guardian spirit of Kyoto should attempt this!]
[As for Chaosbringer -- 2. -- he takes to the air once more on the wings from La Pucelle, a bit unsteady because of all the gunk and seawater, but still more Unstoppable than most. 3. He draws back a hand, gathers ball lightning around it, then hurls it directly towards the Kirin.]
Bringer of Chaos! [The bow in his hand melts back into the Purple Lightning Dreamsmasher, which he points towards their foe dramatically. 4.] OVERLORD THUNDERBEAAAAAAAAM!
[Lightning erupts in beam better suited to shonen than psychological horror, roaring ruthlessly towards the Kirin. In its path is also the ball lightning, which the beam punctures on its way -- causing it to explode with similarly devastating violence just inches away from the Kirin's form.]
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To reiterate.
What.
The.
FUCK.
Is THAT!? ]
EEEEEEEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
[ Yep. Nope. That’s it. No thanks. Goodbye. That is single-handedly the most TERRIFYING THING SHE HAS EVER SEEN!! Is she even going to be able to grow vegetables after this!? Junna, if she becomes too traumatized to grow veggies because of this, she really will steal your glasses as revenge!!
Fortunately for Junna, that thought doesn’t get to linger before Junna is promptly smacked away from her and trapped by a tomato… ]
JUNNA…!!
[ With surprisingly little hesitation considering the fact that there’s a giant giraffe made to haunt Nene’s nightmares, she shifts into a fish and NYOOMS through the water towards Junna… an impressive feat, really, considering both her small size and the current. ]
Junna…! Junna!! I’ll get you out…!
[ Upon reaching her, she turns back to normal and joins the Genbu Turters by trying to literally scoop off chunks of the rotting tomato with her bare hands. It’d be nice if her own familiars would help, but as a small makeshift raft containing four Mokke floats by on the current… ]
”Ew.”
“Not candy.”
“Bye-bye.”
“Avast, ye mateys.”
[ Ever helpful, ever reliable, that’s Nene’s Mokke for you. ]
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Questions that inevitably multiply with the appearance of a foodie's worst nightmare... Tempered, a little bit, because the artist in him has to admit that the bits and bobs coming together to form a metaphor about getting booed offstage by something that oversees them. The continuation of the veneer of beauty and grace hiding the ruined, rotten inner workings? It's a fun little thought exercise, though the presentation is a little hamfisted and could use some finessing--
... Right, the task at hand.
As much as he wants to heal Junna, doing so would put a damper on their task of eliminating the Night Terror as it siphons energy from her, but with the ground covered in water many of Torch's spells were rendered ineffective, his first Warmth spell lost under the waves nearly immediately. Then again...]
Ugh, I don't look forward to how this will smell...
Torch conjures up another Warmth spell to slowly heal La Pucelle. Then, he casts Firestorm once again, intending to boil the water at the Giraffe's feet. It may not be as effective as his regular flame, but they need to defeat this thing as soon as possible]
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Once Junna is safe. A flock of doves made of light join Dreamer Koi in pecking away bits of tomato. She's going...to protect her friend....! She promised Lisa....!
And through it all, she continues to sing, bolstering everyone but the Giraffe's spirits (and, in the case of her party, their stats). ]
Our sacred sword is the crystallization of
Angelic dreams that cannot be described in words
In a single swing that desired repose, it cut through
The clouds and became a sun of white light
Now, vanish… along with our pain...!
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But she's alive and that's what matters. She looks at the doves, then Turters, and finally at Nene. She nods, weakly.]
Th-thanks, Nene-chan... I, ah--
[The Kirin is having a time of it.
Zeke's thunder beam slams into it, lightning that surges throuh and causes some of its rotten fruit body to POP with grisly displays of exploding fluid and pulp. Then, Torch's flames rise up.
The iceberg begins to melt; the boiling water around the Kirin causes the fruit to begin to burst in places, and the Kirin shambles forward, as much a sloughing mass as a quadrupedal shape now. When the Kirin bellows, his voice is distorted.]
I... UNDER...STAAAAAND...
[Suddenly, all of the spotlights above swivel, countless beams hitting the Kirin. It begins to glow a deep, dark red, enhancing its next attack greatly! This also makes the rest of the chamber grow dark in comparison; it's dim, with all of the lights shining on the rotting mass of the Kirin.
And high above, upside down, a rusted and pitted version of Tokyo Tower is forming. It's hovering ahead, as beams of steel slam into place to form it. It's building up quickly, and the radio antenna is pointed straight down at the very center of the room, like some great spear meant to impale through the very room they're in.
Orchestral music, deep and foreboding, begins to swell.
Sage looks at it, then at the Kirin, before she cries out.]
We have to destroy it, now!
[
She's played enough games to know when her psyche is making the boss use its ultimate attack.](no subject)
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