04 - A vacancy for a meatshield is open~

[drakenguard]

Who: Yamato and YOU
Where: Taurus Ward
Summary: Yamato feels like he is The Only Sane Man and he is so sick of scorpions. So sick of them.
Warnings: Er, fight scenes, maybe some cussing.

Somehow in the span of a few days the entire population of Hinoto-Ri had gone insane

It left Yamato feeling a bit wrong-footed really, because everything was devolving as quickly as it had back home. Although there was no void devouring the entirety of world, or aliens invading, there was still the raw panic of people mindlessly reacting to a dangerous situation. Some were screaming in hysterics, some were downright psychotic and violent - and now, on top of all that, strange scorpion like creatures had morphed out of nothingness, vicious and deadly with snapping claws and poisonous stings.

Also Yamato's demon, Arioch, was being difficult with him, enough so that he simply didn't bother summoning him any more. It was just him and Remiel now.

Perhaps it had been a mistake to go out when all of this chaos was unfolding, but Yamato was no the kind to cower or hide when shit went down. So he had strolled out into this insanity, determined to get to the bottom of it...

And somehow ended up getting in skirmishes, retreating and fighting, all the way to the Taurus Ward. Hiding back in his room was sounding more and more appealing with each passing second, especially as he and Remiel were both low on energy - both physical and spiritual. Remiel could only use their physical energy to replenish their spiritual for so long before it began to be more of a liability than anything of use.

So now, to put this tl;dr log to an end, have a somewhat exhausted Yamato and Remiel resting under a protruding eave of what could be a strip club for all he cared. The entrance was closed, and the interior quiet - it was still the middle of the day, after all, despite the nightmarish insanity going on.

Comments

[greatseal]

Minako is in a somewhat similar situation. After making sure someone was looking after Shinji, on hearing the reports of scorpions swarming people she'd grabbed her naginata, evoker, and SEES armband and gone out to see what she could do to help. After a while, though, she'd wound up in this less-savory part of the city, in an area she'd never walked before.

That's when she spots a familiar face sitting to the side of the road. The black coat and silver hair is hard to forget. "Yamato-kun?"

Sorry Yamato, you look her age so you're not getting any extra special formality from her.

[drakenguard]

Yamato almost made a face at the suffix, but refrained from commenting on it. He's pretty lax when it came to titles and such from those outside of JP's, but he still liked to be regarded as an adult, or a superior.

He rose to his feet when - what was her name, ah, right, Miss Arisato - approached him, looking just as scuffled up as he was. He brushed down his coat, straightening up to his full height as he tilted his head in greeting.

"Arisato," he murmured, scrutinising her closely. She didn't seem hysterical, and neither was she sporting the strange eyes of those who have gone violently insane. He relaxed a fraction. "It seems you are one of the few sane ones left."

[greatseal]

She smiles, a little forced because the topic obviously isn't funny. "It sort of seems that way, doesn't it? You haven't been affected either, then?"

[drakenguard]

"I haven't," Yamato replied. A distant shriek that echoed down the street made him tense briefly, and he turned his gaze cautiously on their surroundings. This wasn't exactly a safe place to have a discussion, was it?

"Where have you come from? Is everywhere like this?" It would be troubling if the entirety of the city was overrun...

[greatseal]

No it wasn't, and that's why she's looking around as well. The lack of visible enemies wasn't likely to last much longer. "I was in Libra and Virgo, but ended up pushed this way. There's scorpions everywhere that I could see. Some people are having more trouble with it than others."

[drakenguard]

"Irritating..." Yamato muttered harshly, tapping his gloved fingers against the casing of his phone. "In any case, we should try to secure some place reasonably safe."

The apartment wards should be the best bet, but there was the matter of the non-natives who had become violent. Would the wards around the apartment buildings repel those infected? If not, then any of the infected could invade private rooms...

What he would give for his JP's headquarters again.

"...maybe safety in numbers..." he murmured to himself.

[greatseal]

"It's probably best to head back to the apartments. I wanted to help out but it doesn't seem like being out here is doing anybody much good..." She looked him over. He seemed tired, but not injured or unable to fight. "Do you want to team up to go back? You're right, it'd be safest."

[drakenguard]

Yamato was prideful, but he wasn't stupid. With himself and Remiel with such low spiritual energy left, the would be easy pickings for the Scorpions. Not that they were powerful foes but, well, a Zerg Rush does eventually wear out even the strongest of fighters.

"Yes," Yamato evaluated her for a moment. She must be competent if she could last this long by herself. "That would be wise. Which apartment complex shall we go to?"

Yamato is from Libra, but that place was in complete chaos when he left it. He wasn't particularly eager to return.

[greatseal]

That was the question. Pisces wasn't any better though; she knew for certain there was trouble on the floor where Minato lived. "I live in Libra, but it doesn't really matter which one. I can use the teleporter if Pisces is closer to where we are right now."

[meaningdies]

There was the sound of skittering, and suddenly loud cackling as a golden-eyed Naoya walked out of an alleyway, the front of his shirt stained with blood. Scorpions followed behind him, as did Behemoth.

He stopped as he spotted Yamato - and Remiel.

Remiel.

The one who turned his brother away from him, the one who he had to pretend to not acknowledge while he was in that girl's body, the one who condemned mankind to rule by force.

Naoya summoned Cleopatra, aiming for Yamato. If he took the summoner out, the demon would fall as well - so he let a Hama fly towards the other summoner, a furious expression on his face under the mask. The scorpions swarmed towards the boy as well, pincers clicking menacingly.

[poweryetunknown]

Is that someone approaching them? It's someone approaching them. One of the weird masked people looks like he's getting closer - and then is abruptly set on fire, along with four of the scorpions near them. Neku walks closer, Narasimha in front of him, cracking his knuckles.

"Hey, asshole! Pick on someone else!"

[travelingtheworlds]

From somewhere in the distance, a scream can be heard. "Why isn't it working?! It should be working!"

In runs Sasha, looking positively terrified, a horde of scorpions on her tail. She turns around and launches a long flame with a dragon's head towards the mob, and it knocks some of the scorpions out of the way... only for them to get right back up. "Why isn't my magic working?!" These things were most likely not strong against fire, so something else had to be wrong... she's in big trouble, and the scorpions are pushing her closer and closer to where Yamato is.

[drakenguard]

Yamato nodded, and started off at a brisk pace without looking back at Minako. Remiel was silently flanking him closely, one wing stretched out around Yamato like a shield. The angel could take physical hits very well - it absorbed the energy behind the blow - and knew that Yamato...couldn't.

[drakenguard]

Yamato had developed a keen sense of instincts in his years as JP's Director, but one didn't have to be a veteran to know that nothing good would come from random maniacal laughter.

He pushed away from the wall, his phone held out and Remiel moving to shield him, just as - Naoya?

Yamato cursed and quickly threw himself to the side in a roll as the spell shot out at him, Remiel moving to take it. The bright light of the spell was voided against the angel, but Yamato had more pressing issues - like the scorpions surging upon him.

This would be when Arioch would have been useful. But nooooo, the demon had to throw a fucking bitchfit-

Yamato managed to get to his feet in time to kick out at one of the scorpions that tried to pierce him with its stinger, frantically casting Judgement upon the horde. A bright light split from the heavens, screaming as it crashed down on all opponents on the battlefield.

[drakenguard]

Ahh, when the masked man began to approach them, Yamato had prepared to lob out the last of his spiritual energy in an attempt to create a diversion and get the hell out of dodge - but instead...

Oh, finally, someone who isn't insane.

As the masked man and his group of scorpions flailed about, Remiel launched a barrage of Holy Dance against the group, sending them flying across the street - and near obliterating some of the scorpions.

While that distraction happened, Yamato made his way over to the newcomer, although he was openly cautious.

"Ah...you're the one I messaged on the network..."

[drakenguard]

Yamato normally didn't save those who were too weak to fend for themselves, but the woman's shrieking was becoming painful (he could practically feel it boring into his brain), and if she was overrun well, Yamato would have to deal with the scorpions anyway...

So you're lucky missy. The horde of scorpions were suddenly besieged by a burst of bright light that screamed down from the heavens, making them scatter with pained screeches. Judgement is such a useful spell.

[travelingtheworlds]

Sasha watched the scorpions be blown away with a "Whoa!" She stared at the blank space left by the scorpions for a moment, then turned to Yamato. "Hey, thanks!" she called out before approaching. "I'm sorry about that. For some reason, my magic wasn't working... maybe it's an energy incompatibility here. This must be why my Persona has fire skills on top of my natural magic."

[greatseal]

Minako followed alongside them, naginata in a ready position even as she glanced sideways at Yamato and Remiel.

"That's a demon you summoned, right?" Or well, an angel, but same difference. Its presence is different from that of a Persona. Unlike some of the demons she had encountered so far, though, she didn't recognize the appearance as a Persona she'd been able to fuse.

[drakenguard]

Yamato regarded the strange woman with a contemptuous stare. "Persona are still effective against them," he said coldly. "Why didn't you use it?"

[drakenguard]

"Yes," Yamato replied shortly, glancing at Minako from the corner of his eye. "He is Remiel. You can use only Persona, correct?"

[travelingtheworlds]

Sasha could feel the contempt in that stare. Ouch. Being caught messing up by someone who clearly did not tolerate mess-ups did not feel good. "My natural magic is quicker and easier for me to use... but apparently it's not effective on enemies in this world. Must be due to different Mana levels, or something." She paused to huff out a sigh. "I thought it was weird that my Persona had fire skills when my natural element was fire... I guess this is why. Maybe Persona magic is more in line with the energy here than my normal magic is?" Oh, as if she hadn't already goofed enough, she was starting to go on about world mechanics now too. Open mouth, intend to insert foot, kick self in face instead.

[greatseal]

She nodded. "I've met a few demon users here, though... Do you know Daichi-kun or Atsuro-kun?" Although Yamato wasn't carrying around a game system like Atsuro had. ...Actually, that was a cell phone, wasn't it?

[drakenguard]

"Shijima comes from my world," Yamato smiled a little at that, letting out a low chuckle. "You've met him, have you? A bit of a strange one, isn't he? But yes, I know Kihara as well."

[drakenguard]

Yamato's cold stare didn't thaw any, and instead he actually let out a quiet harrumph. "At the first sign of ineffectiveness, you should have resorted to use of your Persona, instead of repeatedly using your useless magic."

He turned away from the woman then, flipping open his phone to check on Remiel's stats. The angel was severely flagging at this point. Yamato had enough every to cast prayer, maybe use Angel's Stigma to top up their spiritual energy a bit more...

[greatseal]

"He reminds me a little bit of a friend..." Although Ryoji had far more self-confidence... at least before he remembered things. But Daichi had the scarf and the tendency towards ridiculous. "It must be convenient being able to summon demons here as well, though."