Like Bulls in a China Shop: Taurus Log

[stringmods]

▼ The Darkening Days

 

Who: Everyone. This is a general catch-all Taurus Event log. If you would like to do your own separate logs either due to pacing or easier loading, by all means, please do so!
Where: The Entire City
Summary: The last days of the Taurus event as things start to sour dramatically. During the 13th hour, Mutation Skills are unlocked for certain people (see the info post here) and now people have a chance against the swarming mechanized bulls. Unfortunately, for some, this means the paranoia hit a new low....if you want, you can get together and join each other's posts to try to hold the city down and protect everyone!
Warnings: Strange Attitudes, NPCs, Attacking, Battles.
Note: Please mark your post with what date they are happening. We are allowing anywhere from the 23th to future-dating to the 26th itself. Go on and have fun!

▼ The nights grow weary and a pattern seems to be forming...(days until the 26th)

 

Most of the Taurus civilians had willingly put themselves in confinement. As their symptoms began to rise, at the very least, there was little chance for them to cause problems. It looked like, hopefully, that they could hold back a lot of the damage and deaths to the city.

How completely wrong they would end up being...

▼ The day of reckoning...(April 26th, before the 13th Hour)

 

In retrospect, they should have realized something was wrong. While the Scorpio civilians were screaming about doom much like it had been predicted, Aquarius and Leo were not.

More research was needed...but there was no time now.

Somehow, everyone that had gone to the holding facilities were being freed from their confinement areas. No one knew who or got in, or how they got out, but many guards were injured in the process-- or worse.

The city turned into an all too (unfortunately) familiar sight. The Taurus civilians were causing havoc in the city, joined by others that the city had not predicted. Observers and Researchers quickly realized that these were all the earth signs, and a signal was given out; but too little, too late.

The city needed to fight back, lest it lose even more of its members. The situation was dire, but they had the Visitors on their side.

...For better or for worse.

▼ The Hour at Hand...(April 26th, 13th Hour)

 

13th Hour.

By now, the city was in chaos. For those who had witnessed the Scorpio outbreak it was an unfortunate similarity they might want to forget, but for others, this horror was brand new.

Giant mechanical bulls patrolled the city and continued to swarm, the police force trying to contain them and help as many as they could.

As time went on, mechanical parts and rocks fell to the floor from the bulls. Once the 13th hour hit...the remaining ones mutated, standing on two legs. And that wouldn't even be the worst of it...

And yet even in this Hour, there is hope. Power surges in a select few, and with a new skill at their tips, the battle may be won yet. But remember your mission: you came to protect this city. That includes the people living here. With so much chaos, you'll also need to help them and reduce the number of deaths as much as possible...and try not too look too closely at a looming figure in the Taurus Ward...

Comments

KAIRI'S SUPER AWESOME FUNGEON OF FRIENDSHIP

[princessofheart]

[Whether you know exactly how you got here or not, here you are. You may vaguely recall a feminine voice, possibly a familiar one, assuring you that you'd finally be safe and telling you how much she cared for you on the edge of your memory, but otherwise... what in the world was going on, and where are you?

Observing the room the walls seem to be completely seamless, though in the middle of one of the walls is a cloth that has been hastily attached. Moving the cloth aside, there is a frame where you would expect a door to be, but no actual door or any sort of defining features present, save for what appears to be a sealed over keyhole off in the general area you'd expect a doorknob to be. Upon closer inspection, you'll find several other people apparently in the same pickle as you, looking equally as confused and alarmed at the situation at hand. Furthermore, there's a table set up with party hats, streamers, party favors, and some drinks and snacks you'd expect at a party, with a rather large banner hanging across the wall reading 'WELCOME HOME!'. That... was rather disconcerting, wasn't it?

With no exits in sight, perhaps it would be best to talk to some of your fellow captives and figure out just what to do with this situation, or perhaps ponder over what exactly that weird keyhole was...]

((for the most part, kairi will have grabbed characters from behind and knocked them out before sealing them in the room. a few will have specifically threaded out situations, and they'll be icly given a teeny bit more information so that characters'll be able to figure out exactly what's going on! a couple'll characters will be icly added to the room at a slightly later time, specifically those that have keyblades that would be able to undo kairi locking down the door, so that everyone who wants the chance to participate in this can without immediately undoing everything.))

MEET AND GREET

[princessofheart]

[General mingle area for the 'OH GOD WHAT IS GOING ON' fun times.]

[shibuyasmusic]

[So there was a rather disconcerting gap in Joshua's memory... one moment he was alone at home feeding his cat and avoiding all human contact-- scratch that, all contact with any sentient beings in the entire city-- and the next...

He has now woken up to a five year old's birthday party. A cheap one, in a room that apparently had no door and several other people that either he didn't know or he really didn't want to see. Including his... other self. Standing across the room. This felt like some extremely generic nightmare cropping up from childhood trauma or something else equally pretentious....

Joshua stands before the not-door and pushes the cloth aside, staring at the keyhole with a heated glare, hoping to somehow blow the thing apart with his mind. If only he had just a fraction of his powers...]

Would anybody in here happen to be a demolitions expert by any chance?

[componere]

[ Non-jacked up Joshua chuckles to himself darkly at his counterpart's question, inspecting the decor. He was annoyed, separated from at least half of his responsibilities, and somehow, in between trying to get at the bottom of this mess, he hadn't had the presence of mind to actually notice the gentlest girl in his experience coming up behind him and...? Actually, he didn't quite remember what happened after that. It was all a bit of a blur... which was even more frightening than knowing how she did it, if he were to be very honest with himself. ]

Demolitions expert, in the party room, with the key out of here. [ Two of three would be nice. ] I'd appreciate some competence too, but I think we may have to aim our expectations a little lower.

[shibuyasmusic]

[It only figures that his first face-to-face interaction with the other Joshua would be in a locked room...]

I think I'll settle for an explanation for the time being... Sad to say, I have no idea how I arrived here. There is a rather unfortunate gap in my memory right now...

[Ironic, and mildly disconcerting.]

You're clever... you wouldn't happen to know how we ended up in this predicament, would you?

[charmedbymemories]

It was Kairi.

[Naminé sits up in her corner, finally awake after being knocked out by her sister. Her expression seems conflicted, and it only twists with even more concern after she tries reaching out to the air in front of her.]

She took my Keyblade somehow. Otherwise I'd unlock the door and let us out.

[shibuyasmusic]

[Joshua looks in Namine's direction and rubs the back of his head a little, thinking about that...]

... I had forgotten how strong she was... What on earth has gotten into her?? [He looks back to the door, touching the filled-in keyhole with frustration.

And he makes a bit of a tactless offhand comment, because he's not exactly in his right mind either right now.]

Perhaps it's because you're a nobody that she overpowered you?

[all_wound_up]

[The last thing Nano remembers was what she originally thought was a surprise hug from behind and a slightly familiar voice reassuring her, and then everything just sort of went black. Slowly waking up, she rubs at her head - it must have been hit pretty hard to jar her enough to knock her out like that, given her construction.]

W-where am I...?

[Sitting up with her legs folded under her, Nano begins to look around the room, taking note of all of the party decorations. Normally she'd enjoy this sort of thing, but right now it's only serving to worry her more. Most surprise parties don't start by knocking your guests unconscious, after all.]

Hello? Is anyone here?

[And the details are slowly coming back to her now, as she stands and starts making her way around the room to have a closer look at everything.]

K-Kairi...?

[shibuyasmusic]

[Well, this girl seemed extremely interesting... and another victim to Kairi's crazy rampage. Really, Kairi? She seemed like just a helpless innocent girl... At least he assumed so. He's very confused by the strange windup key in her back.]

With that windup key on your back, I nearly mistook you for one of the party favors.

[all_wound_up]

[Nano isn't exactly sure how to feel about that remark.]

Ah... oh, no, I'm sorry. My name is Nano.

[shibuyasmusic]

[Joshua just gives a slight eyeroll.]

I'm going to guess you were well acquainted with Kairi as well~?

[all_wound_up]

Um... yes, that's right. We didn't know each other very well yet, but I think we were starting to become friends.

[deathboss]

[When Eikichi wakes up the very first thing out of his mouth is a gigantic scream that could probably wake up half the dead.

...and then it lasts for a good, long ten seconds. huh, his vocal cords are much better than people give him credit for.]

[all_wound_up]

[And Nano, hearing Eikichi's scream and being rather panicked and jittery herself, also screams.]

[deathboss]

[This goes on for a while. It's like cacophony of screams, to be honest.]

BEEP BEEP THREADJACK i hope that's ok

[hetried]

[Well, Daichi had his own jumpy scream at first when Eikichi was screaming.

...Then they both just

kind of kept

going

ok come on guys--]

Augh, will you two SHUT UP ALREADY?!

[jesus christ guys]

[all_wound_up]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA--

[And then Daichi yells, surprising her enough to stop the screaming.]

THE GREAT ESCAPE (RIGHT BEFORE THE 13TH HOUR)

[princessofheart]

[Eikichi and friends crash through the wall just in time for Riku to unlock the door.]

The breakout 1/2

[deathboss]

[A few minutes before the 13th hour hit, Eikichi got a phonecall.

It was Miyabi. She sounded hysterical.

If Eikichi's own emotions were out of control, by having the same sign, Miyabi's was just as worse. The result was speaking of doom and death and that she was going to get killed.

...That didn't sit well with him. He still had that fear. That uncontrollable fear inside him, and he figured that once the 13th hour hit, he would be stuck, unable to move.

So, which was the strongest of emotions inside him? His love for Miyabi and his desire to protect her, or knowing that this place was all doomed already?]

[deathboss]

[No! All the work he had done over the years, that talk they had after he beat his own shadow, the fact she was here at all and he could remember her. Her smile, her eyes, her heart...he he..he loved her and...]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[A scream, just like he had done when he had arrived here, only this time with a much more primitive ring to it. He was desperately trying to push fear away, but simply couldn't. It wasn't courage, but it was already way better than he should have been in this situation.

Love was triumphant. But that didn't do a world of good when he couldn't do jack shit in here. If he was going to die anyway, better it be clasping his babe's hands while he watched the world burn. So what happened next was worthy of his favorite animes. Screaming as the bluish energy from the called Persona came forth, he concentrated on the only logical way he could think of escaping while his brain ]

H-HADES! LET'S DO IT! WE'RE GONNA WRECK IT!

[Vanellope would be proud.

Eikichi knew he was strong, but with his persona alongside him, both throwing their bodies at the wall, it had to give away. Glorious light from the other side poured through giving him an objective, as still screaming and being fearful, he continued to slam at the wall until he was able to walk out with a final push.

He took a few seconds to catch his breath...then raised his arms gloriously in the air, still screaming.

His right elbow would hurt tomorrow morning.]

[hetried]

[Daichi would be ashamed to admit that usually-- he was basically a coward. He'd done his best to get over it during the Invasion, but that was when he actually could do something to help. Add on to that that this wasn't the first time he had been kidnapped and he had mostly been having a heart attack in the corner of the room. How long were they gonna be stuck here...?

And when that guy-- Eikichi? --started yelling and doing something with his Persona-- well OK, he might have actually had a heart attack that time, let's be real. He definitely let out a scream in reaction.]

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOI-- ?!

[He promptly cut himself off when he realized

Oh

He busted the wall open.

Daichi stepped forward, standing next to Eikichi now as he examined the rubble.

This-- this could work.

Was it because this guy had just busted the room open, and the impending fear of dread ad claustrophobia was suddenly alleviated? Maybe, but suddenly, Daichi felt.. a lot better. And a lot more confident. His pale expression suddenly turned into the grin of someone with a plan.]

Alright--! We're busting out of here!

[hasleveledup]

Alright! Now that's what I'm talking about!

[Junpei is ecstatic to be free. Ever since the talk of this Taurus disease thing, he's been itching...to help people. Save the day. In times of crisis, the people need their hero. And that's him! He's going to do what he was brought here to do!]

See Daichi-kun? I knew someone would come! We need to ditch this place before that crazy girl comes back.

Oh! Can't forget the little dudes!

[Junpei retrieves a box of orange and white kittens before hopping through the hole.]

We owe you one, man!

[He grins at Eikichi.]

[dreamprotector]

[Riku was just about to shout for everybody to just calm down, he has a way of undoing Kairi's lock after all, but before he can even raise his voice, he's cut off by someone elses scream, then shout and turns just in time to see Eikichi indeed wreck that wall.

His heart skips a beat at the sight, even as he reassures himself, any of the residence still inside the castle are in the same room as him, as they all; though reckless nobody has gotten hurt. Nobody has... but they could have. And he couldn't have done anything to protect them.

He keeps staring at Eikichi's victory shout, hands trembling as they keep clenching slightly - that, along with the flash in his eyes are the only signs of the sheer fury rising within him.

It's not visible in the way he's walking up to the other, calm, collected, his face drawn into a frown... until he pulls his right fist back to punch Eikichi right into the jaw.]

[deathboss]

[And lo, the punch did hit Eikichi's jaw, stopping all this thoughts as he knelt down floor in a daze, the Persona disappearing. Surprisingly, he was holding pretty well for a guy who just got decked in the face, apart from the small amount of blood leaking from the right side of his mouth. In fact, his assailant might have found it a little hard to punch him at all.]



[The way he shook his head to rub it off made it sadly look like he was used to this type of thing...

...but strangely enough the fear inside him was gone. HE WAS CURED BY THE PUNCH!!!--wait no, it was the 13th hour by now, wasn't it? So why wasn't he afraid anymore? That didn't make any sense.]

The hell d'you do that for, babe? I just got everyone out of here!

[dreamprotector]

[Riku keeps his hand clenched, his knuckles feeling numb - soon enough he'll feel them hurting but for now he is too angry, too utterly pissed off to even consider caring about that.

Or about the fact that this guy seems used to being punched like this.

...In fact, if anything, Eikichi's words just make things worse. Riku narrows his eyes as he takes the last of steps over, reaching down to grab the other's collar with both hands and lift him to his eye-level.

Though despite the very, very angry glint in his eyes, Riku's voice is dangerously calm and cold - down to a hiss at parts.]

Two seconds. If you had waited just two seconds with your utterly idiotic and dangerous charge, I would have let us all out of this room. Without destroying my home and endangering the people living within it.

[Because what if someone had been just behind that wall, just that moment? What if it had been Xion or Sora or Xehanort? There hadn't been, but what if? Riku doesn't even want to think about it.

This place isn't Promenade after all. There is no coming back from the dead here.]