destinystrings | It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Entry tags:

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Who: Misery, Atsuro. Also: Now Open.
Where: The streets of Libra.
Summary: Okay, maybe this nigh apocalyptic people going crazy thing IS kind of Misery's business. To be fair, scorpions.
Warnings: SCORPIONS.
And this is why you shouldn't trust other people to resolve these sorts of situations.

Misery blasts a few more scorpions as she makes her way out of the apartment. She's not exactly sure when they started to show up, but they were here now, and being most troublesome to boot. Upon exiting, however, the full breadth of the situation begins to kick in; the little beasts are everywhere, and that's not even regarding the folks who are getting attacked by other folks. Or the ones running in fear from everything.

It's like the whole world has gone mad.

A few of the creatures skitter towards her, tails poised to strike. A few summoned blocks puts the fight out of them quickly. Still, she's forced to admit she can't work in this environment. She moves on, blasting any creatures -- or anybody -- that gets in her way. She's not trying for fatal force on the human ones... but she can't be blamed for her actions if they try too hard, can she?

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Misery probably should've stayed at home today. The situation is hardly conducive to walking peacefully, let alone working on any projects of substance, and despite appearing to be less than threatening alone, the scorpions are rather hardy. ...Or perhaps there's just so many of them that they replace each other immediately and fluidly without missing a beat.

Wherever Misery is heading, she'll be interrupted partway there by the sudden appearance of Atsuro and his raven demon out of thin air. He isn't paying the least bit of attention to where he's going, keeping his head fixated behind him instead, towards an extremely substantial swarm of the shadow creatures. Somehow, they are capable of tracking him down even with his excessive abuse of teleportation - they race towards him at top speed, without the smallest misstep.

"Dammit...! These things just aren't letting up!"

Okay, so the part of Misery that just wants to be left alone knows she should just point, laugh, and watch him struggle. Another part, however, realizes that if she doesn't help out at least a little here, there won't be enough to point and laugh at again LATER. Dilemmas.

"You seem to be having trouble. If I may..."

She casts something, and a large truck is moved from nearby to land right on the mess of little creatures. Another spell, and Atsuro and his demon may be floating in a small bubble above the ground.

She floats up to him. "Now then, perhaps that will give us a little breathing room, hmm? I can't do this for long, I'm afraid, so we'll have to be quick. What exactly did you decide to stash in your pockets that's got those things so interested in you, hmm?"

"Nifty."

Atsuro blinks and leans back a bit, lounging in his mid-air bubble.

"Thanks! You should just levitate us all onto the roof or something."

He pauses to take a breather, glancing towards the truck. He is entirely unsurprised to see that the scorpions have already begun to claw their way out. Persistent little buggers.

"I wish I knew! I thought they were going after everyone, but it's like they're drawn to me like a magnet. They stop chasing everyone else just to come after me! ...Better me than anyone else, I guess. At least I've always got help nearby."

She scowls. Persistent indeed. She lifts the bubble up high, taking herself and him up to the roof of the apartments before setting them both down. "I can't guarantee this will be safe for long. Blasted things seem to be rather resourceful." She crosses her arms. "So! Let's troubleshoot, hmm? Let's consider a few things. Did you get that lovely little message a while back?"

"Can't do the whole town, huh?" Atsuro lands lightly on the ground and walks over to the edge. Even if the scorpions could somehow climb up the sheer face of the building, it would be easy enough to pick them off from the top.

"Which message? The one about the end of the world or the one about the end of the world?

"I'm afraid my powers DO have their limits. As does my capacity to care." She looks around. "Still, it does seem to be quite problematic, doesn't it?"

She looks back at him. "The one connected to the astrology signs. The shift to Scorpio. I never bothered with that astrology rot, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's a connection here as well. What sign are you again, pray tell?"

Atsuro's brows furrow together. Though laid-back and lackadaisical most of the time, he could muster up a strong intellect when that type of thing was necessary. Of course, the horde of scorpions being related to Scorpio wasn't exactly a cognitive stroke of genius (he shuddered to think what might happen with the Leos), but the Western zodiac wasn't exactly his strong suit. Still, he knew that there were supposedly certain relationships between the astrological signs...

"I was born in January. So... Capricorn, I think."

A brief pause.

"It might be that our signs are opposed, so... the Scorpios are going for the Capricorns. I don't know anything about astrology, though."

She nods. "I see. Well, I suppose assuming we all live through this day, I shall have to investigate this interesting little development, shan't I?" She looks down, then quickly sends a spark down the side of the building; the sound of something getting hit and falling all the way back to the ground can be heard. "In the meantime, I suppose I can deign to babysit you for a while. Can't have you go getting yourself killed, you're far too useful."

That's probably the closest you're going to get to a compliment right now, Atsuro.

"Ah, you've got me figured out...!" Atsuro shakes his head ruefully as he backs away from the edge of the building with a wan smile. "Always be as useful as you can. It makes you less of a red shirt. Making sure people know your last name helps, too."

He pauses for a moment.

"If you've got somewhere else you want to be, though... Don't let me keep you. There's more to worry about in this city than one person."

She hems. "I want to get to the bottom of this mess. I'm sure you do too." She looks over at him. "You might as well come with me, hmm? Everybody wins! I suppose." She smirks. "Unless you want to stay up here until this entire mess is resolved cowering from bugs."

"No cowering will be involved! Just a lot of screaming." Atsuro can admit his own shortcomings. "Probably like a little girl. ...Unless I'm calling out my attacks." It was best for Misery to know what she was agreeing to bring along with her.

"Alright, then. What's the plan? Teleport around and try to find where these things are coming from? I'm placing bets now on a giant scorpion that shoots these things out from its butt."

"My, aren't we honest about our inadequacies! It's almost refreshing." She looks. "Well, there's bound to be a source to all of this. I can support you with my magic for short periods of time. Perhaps if we gain even more height, we can visualize a distinct source of this nonsense." She looks out. "The sooner this is fixed, the better. I can't have madmen breaking into my apartment, and I can only make so many antidotes."

"Maybe if we gain enough height, we'll reach the moon and we won't have to deal with this mess." Atsuro's strength is thinking outside the box. "I have to admit, I was beginning to doubt that there was any real problem in the last few weeks - but if this is the kind of thing that happens on a regular basis, I can see why they're dragging us into it."

"Tempting. Quite tempting. I'm afraid I don't think I could travel so far with the pair of us, however." She looks out. "Certainly, though, between those obnoxious twits in the Anoli and these monsters, this place certainly is a mess. How irritating."

She casts a spell, and again Atsuro is in the bubble. "Well, time's a-wasting. Let's get searching, shall we? The sooner we find the cause of all this, the sooner I can stop worrying about investing in bug spray. Oh ho ho ho!"

"I'll have to leave the driving to you. Whenever you're ready!"

[And then suddenly... scorpion with fifteen breasts.]

There's some weirdo in a blue uniform walking through Libra, merrily crisping scorpions with what appears to be a two-handed sword that is on fire. Upon seeing you, he gives a little wave before switching directions to head towards you.

"Hiii!"

...is he skipping over to you?

What the flaming flippity flying deuce. "How can you POSSIBLY be so jovial in a situation like this?! Are you already quite mad?" she barks. She squints. Actually, hasn't she seen this kid before? "Hmm... aren't you the one who was asking about healing potions a while back?"

"Nope! Never seen you before, young miss!"

He shifts his grip on the sword to hold it with one hand. The tip of the sword falls to the street, burning a hole in it in short order. He casually brushes his hand clean on his pants and offers it to you.

"I'm the Universe! Nice to meetcha."

Y-young?! Why do people keep thinking she looks like a teenager or something?! She stares at the hand coldly, not reaching to shake. "The Universe? My word, and I thought I'd seen it all when it comes to egos." She looks down at his sword. "I will not be paying for the damage there, incidentally."

He blinks a couple of times and tilts his head to the side.

"Eh? You don't look like a teenager, you look like a charming young lady in her twenties."

And then he glances down at the sword.

"Huh. Better lift that up, I guess."

What. "At least YOUR eyes are open. Or is it your mind? I'm fairly certain I never stated such things out loud." She looks him over. "Then again, maybe your mind opened itself a little TOO much."

She's still slightly bothered by the similarity to the other boy. Is this another situation like with those two irritating elves? What a bother. "Anyway, how on Earth can you be so happy in this situation? It's utter chaos!" As if to punctuate, she whips her staff behind her, sending another block down on an approaching group of scorpions.

Shruuuug.

"Sounds about right, yeah."

He stabs the sword through another scorpion to free his hands somewhat before drawing out an Evoker and putting it to his head. With the sound of shattering glass, he fires, his head jerking to one side as blue light spirals up to form a slender winged form.

"High Pixie, Mazio!"

He briefly clicks his tongue at the resulting sheet of lightning - apparently it wasn't as large as he really wanted - before lifting up his sword again and smiling at you.

"New experiences are a treasure beyond price, you know! 'Specially when you're a creaky old timer like me."

"Hmph. Old timer? I'd be surprised if you have hair on your chin." He's making her uncomfortable. She's been around enough madmen to tell when someone is completely off their nut. There's an odd congeniality to his madness, but it's still madness nonetheless, and you never know when you can set off these types. Especially one who thinks he's as powerful as the universe.

"Anyway, if I wanted new experiences, I'd go traveling, not get embroiled in a nearly apocalyptic conflict."

He seems quite taken with something you said, stroking his chin in contemplation.

"Ooo. I wonder what I'd look like with a beard!"

A quick shrug as he swings the sword through another group of scorpions, leaving a trail of ash behind the blade's passage.

"Anyway, I'm almost at seventeen hundred years old! I just need another decade or so."

He concentrates briefly to summon his Persona again, sending out another sheet of lightning, before continuing his rambling.

"It'd be pretty cool to be able to travel! I couldn't, of course, but it'd be neat."

She narrows her eyes a bit. Is he serious? She honestly can't tell whether he speaks truth, or simply insanity. Best to play it safe. "Well, don't you look good for your age? You probably still get carded in bars."

She swings around, launching a few dark orbs at oncoming scorpions that send them scattering then turns back to him. "I'd ask why you can't, but I don't particularly care. Still, I suppose if you wish to explain, I can't hold you back." She has kind of a bad feeling about his answer, though.

"High Pixie, Swift Strike!"

As he summons his Persona again, a visible wave of force spreads out from it, crushing scorpions it passes over.

"Oh, I didn't have free will is all. You know any Garu spells?"

On the first sentence, his tone is perfectly matter-of-fact, while as he switches gears and asks about the Garu spells a faint trace of excitement creeps into his voice.

Okay, that? Strikes a little too close to home for her comfort. No free will, and he ends up like this... would she have gone similarly insane in a few hundred more years? The thought frightens her more than anything else. And here he is, so nonchalant about it! If she wasn't slightly fearful of this boy, she'd be annoyed.

She tsks. "Afraid not. And none of my regular spells are equivalent, so don't bother asking. Do I want to know why you ask?"

He lifts the sword a little and rotates his wrists, causing the tip to move in small circles.

"Y'know, one of those fuel-air bomb thingies."

A slight shrug at this.

"Ah well. You ever had a taco, Miss Misery?"

She's not honestly sure what's more jarring: the fact he seems to know her name already, or the sudden change in subject.

"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with them, Mr. 'Universe,' and this hardly seems the time to be discussing them."

"I can just barely remember them myself!"

All smiles, this guy.

"Anyway, I'm just trying to figure out what I should bring for tomorrow's victory feast."

It's said with utter confidence, as if he is unable to conceive of either the possibility of losing or the unlikeliness of a feast.

She blasts another one. "My, aren't we confident? You're assuming this is ours to win." Not that she had particularly entertained the idea of losing herself -- but only because to do so would result in something undoubtedly unimaginable, and she was enjoying her freedom in relative anonymity in this place.

A nod and a smile that is much too wide as he sends out another Mazio.

"Well, they just got everything started, after all! No point starting an event like this if we can't handle it, right?"

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It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

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Well, it wasn't originally open, but sod it.

I honestly had no idea! Sorry.

S'cool. : )

Oh good.

Re: Oh good.

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