public channel | d17

[anti_nonsense]

[ With the Ringmaster cutting off the kidnappee’s radios, it seems as good a time as any to use them again -- particularly since some particularly concerning developments have come to light. ]

As you’ve probably heard, some of our people got kidnapped at CY-Ren’s concert. [ If Lambert sounds incredibly reluctant to talk about this, it’s because he is. ] She’s also apparently managed to turn some -- maybe all of them -- into Harbingers like her.

[ Rita, on the other hand, shows no hesitation as she barrels ahead into an explanation. ]

For those not aware, Guardians and Harbingers both draw power from something called a 'Spark'... a physical manifestation of one's greatest passion or desire. For Harbingers, that passion has been inverted and twisted to serve the purpose of the Void... to destroy all living things. In other words, they've been brainwashed, and with their Sparks awakened, they're also incredibly powerful.

And now they’re using those powers to… [ Lambert pauses again. This is the part that sounds really stupid to him: ] … cause trouble around the city. Funny thing is, can’t say we’ve seen CY-Ren around at all. Can’t be a coincidence.

...Right. I don't know what their goal is, but maybe they can tell us, if we manage to recapture them. There has to be a way to get them back to normal, too.

As they are now, they're too strong to take down with normal means, but we have one new tool at our disposal. Through some sort of awakening, some among us are now able to manifest our own Sparks and fight back using the power of Creation. This should give us the edge we need to beat the Harbingers... and CY-Ren.

[ ‘Some sort’ of awakening is one way to put it. To wrap it up before this goes on too long, Lambert finishes: ]

But first we need to know how many of us there actually are. So speak up. That goes for anyone who’s run into the Harbingers too -- if we can figure out their movements or catch one of them, maybe we can figure out what this next ‘concert’ of hers is going to do this time.

Comments

[anti_nonsense]

[The runes on the page give off a soft glow, and upon touching them, Yuya's mind will be flooded with information about blastia.

This page tells of Hermes blastia, newly developed blastia made using a formula created by a researcher named Hermes. Such blastia have exceptionally high output, but also consume massive amounts of aer. There are accompanying mathematical formulas, ones far too complex for a layman to understand, but the book shows them to Yuya anyway.

The information isn't entirely impartial; there are some hints of Rita's feelings in there, too. The Hermes formula hurts blastia. It hurts the world. If she can't fix those blastia, they have to be destroyed.

This only takes a second or two, though it might feel like longer to Yuya. At the end of it, Rita's still sitting in the same place, giving him a curious look.]

[hippocarnival]

Whoa! [Yuya almost jumps as the sudden wave of information, but he doesn't release the book.

He blinks rapidly, stunned for a moment as he tries to process it, slowly removing his hand as he looks up at Rita. It 'hurts' blastia, huh...

He lets out a sheepish laugh, holding the book up to offer it back to her.] So it has everything you know, too? Did you decide to show me that, or was it just the page I picked?

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita hops down from the platform, spreading her wings and using them to glide smoothly to the ground before folding them behind herself. She walks over and takes the book, looking to see which page he was looking at.]

I guess it's just the page you chose? Hm... Hermes, huh...

[Francis offers some clarification:] Touching it isn't the only requirement. For another person to freely view the knowledge in that book, you must have opened your heart to him in some way.

[...to which Rita scrunches her face.] Could you not say it like that?

[hippocarnival]

Really? [Yuya perks up, smiling brightly at that confirmation and completely unbothered by Francis' description. Actually, he's pretty pleased to hear that.] I guess Rita wouldn't share all of that with just anyone, right?

[If it is all her knowledge, that's a precious thing for her. And awfully fitting for her soul book, though it has him wondering just what his spark says about him.]

[anti_nonsense]

Wh-who knows? Maybe I would. Knowledge is meant to be shared, you know. [Rita's looking pretty red right now.]

... Anyway, what did you end up getting from Creation?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya laughs more wholly this time, but he doesn't argue. The way she says it, though, he wonders if these are really from Creation, or if it just opened something up in them?

... Maybe he should be the one asking more questions, but he hasn't felt like he can't trust any of it. Yuya takes a step back, giving them some space before he puts a hand to his chest.] Let me show you.

[Because actually saying it's a giant bubble wand is, he realizes, kind of silly. So he taps into that power again, letting the light surround him and change him into his Guardian attire, a sword-sized, star-shaped bubble wand now present in his right hand.

He waves it for emphasis.] It's this!

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita, of course, has no concept of what a bubble wand is. She tilts her head at the weapon curiously.]

It's... a wand? [That's as far as she can tell at a glance.] What can you use it for?

[hippocarnival]

This. [Yuya waves the wand to make a big, green bubble between them. It explodes into sparkles.] I can make them have different effects if I think about it. I got Steven's fruit animals to calm down this way.

[To say nothing of how Steven himself proceeded to thoroughly with the one-sided fight.]

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita steps back cautiously when it bursts, but the sparkles just leave her looking confused.]

It can calm things down...? [She looks uncertain. For a superpower, it doesn't seem very powerful.] What other effects can you make?

[hippocarnival]

I can make light with it, and... uh, I'm still figuring out what else. [It's a work in progress.] Maybe it'll come easier if we're both coming up with ideas?

[anti_nonsense]

Mm... yeah. There must be something useful you can do.

[Sorry Yuya, your powers sound lame so far.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya deflates immediately, looking genuinely hurt at the way she says it. So much for her confidence in him--even if he knows he should be confident in himself, the lack of validation after his rocky start leaves him sore.] I... if it picked me, there has to be something I can do!

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita, unbothered by his reaction, cracks a small smirk.]

Care to test that?

Of the techniques I've discovered, most of them came to me because they were needed... either to fight, or to solve some kind of problem. Maybe a little sparring will give you the inspiration you need.

[hippocarnival]

Are you going to throw more fireballs at me? [He's not sure if he's totally down for that this time.]

[anti_nonsense]

Hmm... [Rita cups her chin with one hand while holding the book in the other. For its large size, she doesn't seem to have any trouble with its weight.]

I wouldn't rule it out. But doing the same thing again and again would be boring, wouldn't it?

[hippocarnival]

Yeah... [Spontaneity and being able to wow your audience are key to performances, of course! But this isn't a performance, this is Yuya getting his butt beat for a third time.

But really, does he has any better ideas?] I guess if you think that's the best way, I'm ready?

[anti_nonsense]

All right, here we go!

[There's a lively glint in Rita's eyes as she allows the book to hover and holds a hand above it, willing it to flip to the desired page. A simple attack, not too powerful, not too hard to block... There must be one.

The pages stop turning, and intuitively, Rita knows she's found what she's looking for.]

Take this! Feral Strike!

[The name of the attack, too, just seems to come to her. As she calls it out, the book turns around to show Yuya its pages, but this time, there's an otherworldly ripple in the paper's surface, and as if reaching out of a vortex, an enormous cat paw reaches out and swipes at him, claws outstretched. Whether or not its first strike connects, it'll pull back and attempt a second one immediately after.]

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya holds the wand up, ready. At least, he thinks he's ready, but when the paw bursts out from the book all he manages to do is yelp and block it with the actual wand.

He takes a step back, watching the paw warily as it pulls back and trying to think of a solution as quickly as possible. The problem of course being that Yuya's not a physical fighter, and he's blatantly out of his element. But the pressure's on and he has to go with the first possible idea that comes to him.]

Uh, uh--[He waves the wand to produce a larger green bubble that bursts into a gooey substance all over the cat paw when it connects.]

[anti_nonsense]

[The paw, covered in the strange substance, makes a few sharp flicking motions, as if trying to shake the goo off.

Rita walks around to squint at the mystery goo.]

What the hell is that?

[hippocarnival]

I don't know. [He creeps a little closer to get a look himself. The goo isn't coming off at all woth the flicking, sticking firm. The consistency is almost gum like, if more loose ands melty in consistency.] I tried to make something that would stop it from scratching anything.

[Namely, himself.]

[anti_nonsense]

Hmm...

Did it work?

[That question ought to serve as a warning, though her casual tone may make it unclear.

Whether Yuya anticipates it or not, the paw reaches out for another swipe at him.]

[hippocarnival]

I think--[Yuya raises his wand to block it again, because if it didn't he's still not interested in getting scratched. Some of the goo ends up sticking to it.] I think so? It can't get it off, right?

[anti_nonsense]

Hmm... I guess not.

[The cat paw pulls back into the book, disappearing. The page returns to normal.]

I suppose that technique could have its uses... even if it looks kind of lame. [That's about as close as she'll get to complimenting the goo-splatter technique. Maybe he'll show her something more interesting if she ups the ante with a stronger attack spell...] Ready for more?

[hippocarnival]

[Yuya's expression sours immediately.] I don't see how it's any worse than a book that produces cat paws.

[Whine whine, it's all ridiculous. He's not ashamed of being silly, but she won't let him own it. He takes a few steps back and waves his wand in emphasis.] Throw whatever you want at me, I can take it!

[anti_nonsense]

[There's the slightest frown when that criticism gets turned back around at her, but Rita lights up at the invitation to throw another attack at him. She takes a jump back too, her book floating along beside her, always staying within arm's reach.]

Whatever I want, huh? [Rita can't help but smirk at that. She looks almost gleeful as she holds out a hand and silently commands her book to seek out a new page.] I hope you know what that means.

Arise! Entwining Inferno!

[Again, the book tilts to face Yuya, but this time, three streams of fire burst forth from the open pages, twisting around in a braid-like pattern as they shoot toward Yuya.]