destinystrings | Like Bulls in a China Shop: Taurus Log

▼ 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...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...

[That was a really startling reaction, and Kazuya's amused expression instantly dips into brief hurt]

That's kinda harsh... [The smile's quickly back though, an easy laugh leaving him] What, did I ruin your high score or summin?

[He glances at the telly briefly before back at Atsuro. He steps over to him again]

C'mon, you shouldn't be holed up like this. It's a nice day outside and I think you need your daily dose of Vitamin D!

No!

[The outburst comes immediately. Atsuro takes a breath to steady himself before staggering back to his lumpy quilt throne without meeting Kazuya's eyes.]

It's my turn this time, Kazuya. Just gotta... wait it out.

...It's the first day and I can't even breathe. It kinda sucks.

Uh, you mean for going crazy with the Zodiac?

[Kazuya suddenly felt a bit useless, and he scowled, tossing his head like an agitated horse]

Fuh! C'mon, sulking in your room's not going to help. Just, get up and use that endless hope and shit you have! Atsuro!

[he even stomped his foot a little, mostly because this was worrying Kazuya, and since there was no clear solution... he had gotten used to solving problems by beating something to a pulp, so having something intangible like this was... scary. Especially when it involved the sanity of his friend]

[Sadly this was not one of those times when encouraging Atsuro to be less of a shut-in was the best plan even if it usually was. Atsuro sinks back down into a puddle of blankety despair.]

Just... let me do this, 'k?

The only reason I'm not screaming my head off right now is because it's you. ...I've gotta keep my mind on something else.

[The sounds of gaming resume.]

Atsuro...

[Kazuya stood there and stared at his friend helplessly, his expression tight. This wasn't fair. He felt like a child for thinking it, but he didn't care. It totally wasn't fair. What was the point in being King of Bel if he couldn't use this power to protect his friend from something that messed with his mind?]

...Fine.

[Without warning Kazuya sat down beside Atsuro, knees up to his chest and glowering at the television]

I'll keep you company then. I won't say anything. Just. You know.

[The quilt lump slowly shifts around so Atsuro can stare at Kazuya. ...His face has somehow gotten even more pale in the last five seconds, and his expression is easy to read, if not a bit complicated to parse out the individual emotions. Something caught between terror, anxiety, despair... Even still, the edges of the lips will curl minutely in something resembling a smile.

The quilt lump shifts to the side to make room for Kazuya.]

...
...
...

Other controller's over there.

[Kazuya smiled back weakly, and he leaned over to pick up the other controller. Just like old times, really - well, except for the whole Atsuro wigging out thing, but...]

...so what're we playing?

[The answer comes after a small period of thought wherein Atsuro stares at the screen for a few moments.]

...
...

I have no idea.

...geeze, Atsuro, I knew you were bad, but...

[After some deductive reasoning, he figured out that they were playing a racing game of some kind. Not really Kazuya's cup of tea, but there you go. He could deal.]

I just thought you played RPGs only with the occasional fighting game.

[Quiltlump shifts uncomfortably in place for a few moments as his car careens off the side of the screen and explodes.]

...I thought I'd practice driving for when the bull-pocalypse comes.

What, wildly driving cars into shit? Heh, I didn't know you knew how to drive a car without a joystick.

Hand-eye coordination is important.

[His voice is either growing softer or the volume on the explosions is increasing.]

[Kazuya did have to tilt his head a bit closer to hear that]

You got a sore throat?

[The look Atsuro shoots Kazuya now has an edge of irritation to it.]

...

Every time I open my mouth I have to hold back the hyperventilation, OK?

A-Ah! Right, sorry, sorry!

[Kazuya quickly shrank back onto 'his' side, ducking his head slightly in shame as he quietly tapped the buttons on his game controller. Well he gauged that wrong - then again, they both knew being empathetic and emotionally savvy were not his strong points. He straightened back up after a pause.

Right. Quiet. He can do that.]

[They play in silence for a few minutes longer, bearing witness to the fact that awkward silence can be present even while watching cars explode over and over. Atsuro isn't exactly on top of his game at the present...

As the clock ticks on, he will speak again, just a single breath, almost as if he half-hopes Kazuya doesn't hear him.]

Hey.

[Alas, that's what demon hearing is for. Kazuya twitches a bit, and turns his head slightly to regard Atsuro]

...yeah?

[Shoot. He always forgot about the demonic power stuff when it counted. Another car explodes in front of them.]

If something weird happens... make sure I don't do anything dumb, OK?

...sure thing. That's what friends are for, right?

[Quiltlump will shift towards Kazuya and finally offer an expression that wasn't some variation of fearful, disturbed, or on-the-verge-of-hyperventilation. The pale smile is gone a few moments later, though the next time Atsuro speaks, his voice is a little more audible.]

.........You don't have to stay here though. I'm gonna be here a while.

I don't mind staying here. Being alone sucks a lot, so just leaving you to vegetate here seems mean.

[He tapped at the game console mindlessly, but after a pause he lowered it to the floor and propped his chin on his knees]

But if you want me to go away, I will, I guess.

...

[Atsuro will make a noncommittal noise with no particular meaning behind it.]

I'd rather not have you see me like this, but... If you want to stay...

[A shrug.]

Like Bulls in a China Shop: Taurus Log

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