revivalproject | [Event] Act 1

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[Event] Act 1 - Into The Woods

WHO: Ami, Celty, Gladio, and anyone else interested!
WHERE: From the hangar to the hotel
WHAT: Ami has to return to her hotel room to fetch something incredibly important to her. Unfortunately, there's a whole lot of plant matter between here and there.
WHEN: August 11
WARNINGS: Potential blood, definite adventure

As entertaining and full of life as Eorzea had been, Ami had some regrets for her sudden departure. The thought of returning to Agri 10, however, did come with the relief that she could simply resume her attempts at studies and making more friends on the alien planet. And, of course, have her one remaining link to her own home world back. She spent the journey back watching out the window as one planet receded into the distance, and another did the reverse.

Seeing the state of Temba upon arrival, however, did give her pause and she had to adjust in her seat to make sure she wasn't seeing things. "There weren't that many plants visible from the surface when we left, were there?" Ga Re's warning, the state of the hangar, watching the vines actually growing over the hangar roof? Yes, she definitely needed to get back to her hotel room. This was going to require a kind of gardening that was beyond the abilities of the young schoolgirl. There was one complication: That said schoolgirl was going to have to return to her hotel room first.

So it was that a rather anxious Ami dashed out of the Twin Roses, her wide-eyed pleading look going from one He Row to the next. "I- I need to return to my hotel room. Now, before dark. There's something important I need in there. I can't do it alone, it's dangerous out there. Can someone help me?"

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This wasn't exactly how Celty expected their return to go. Once the ship was landed, she was quick to move for the exit as well.

At least Shooter was more or less where she'd left him, the motorcycle poking out just slightly from the draping of canvas she's covered it in beside a stack of crates. Celty gave Ami a light tap on the shoulder before motioning for her to follow. It was probably strange to be patting a motorcycle like some beloved creature but the helmeted woman did so once she'd pulled the canvas from it. She picked up her tablet from where she'd stowed it, thankful to have a means to speak again.

[I can get you there.]

Celty has a cool bike. That would explain why she also has the cool helmet, but there's just the slightest twinge of jealousy that Ami didn't get at least a bicycle! "Thank you!" That the roads are also overgrown had to have been known as well, but there was something in the rider's silent confidence that has her starting to smile. Celty also obviously has a plan, and never let it be said that Ami was one to turn down something awesome.

Well, a rough plan, anyway. Celty starts to walk her bike towards the hangar entrance. From what they'd seen of the city upon their landing, things had looked so different out there. There's a moment that she begins to have some doubts about things, but staying here isn't really much of an option.

Celty glances back at Ami, holding a hand out to form...a helmet? out of the same mysterious shadows she'd previously used to speak to the girl through. Safety first?

There's a surprised blink at that, "Is the bike part of your powers as well?" Crafting shadows and helmets out of thin air, Celty is winning more cool points from the impressed teenager. Ami flashes a very appreciative and impressed grin before fitting the helmet snugly and joining aboard the bike. There's a moment's hesitation before holding on to her jungle cruise captain. "Is... is this okay?"

Ami's first question gets a bit of a hand wiggle. Kind of? Celty's not even sure how to explain it. Well, depending on how things go, perhaps she'd get a better idea. The woman types out a quick response as Ami looks for a proper place to hold on.

[That's fine. Just hang on as well as you can. We probably won't be going fast given how much plants there are, but it might not be a smooth ride.]

Once Ami's gotten herself settled, Celty pushes off, spurring the motorcycle forward. Funny, there's no sound of an engine roar, but an eerie echo as the wheels peel out and they move away from the hangar. It almost sounds...like the whinnying of a horse?

This is the strangest motorcycle ride ever, and Ami is here for all of it. Eyes widen inside her helmet at the whinny, but they're off and rolling before she can get her bearings on just where that horse was. Maybe its one of those new electro-bikes? "I wasn't expecting a smooth one," she answered back while hanging on to Celty as they take off.

Clearly they won't be getting too far even with wheels. Almost immediately, the pair are met with an opposition of brambles that has Celty pull her bike up short. She brings her hand out again, although this time it isn't to fashion a helmet.

The shadows elongate, forming a staff and finally a curving blade- a black scythe. She grasps it tightly and swings, the blade proving very much tangible as it cuts through the offending plants with ease. Two sweeps clears their path, and again they move forth, Celty holding the blade out at the side in preparation for future roadblocks.

The roadblock brought a gasp from behind Celty, Ami was momentarily apprehensive at the overgrowth now coming with thorns. This was a lot more dangerous than she had originally thought, more so since they didn't have any way of cutting through-

... Oh.

There's an even more louder gasp this time, and they speed past the cleared brambles. "You- What can't you make out of shadows," she tried asking over the sound of Shooter and the rushing wind. There's a timid pause after, a thought through Ami's mind. If she's unafraid of showing her power, then... A shake of her head, and she held on tighter. She'll have to decide on that should the time come.

Celty isn't sure what her limits are, but she hasn't done too extensive a research other than when she'd humored Dustin. She has to wonder if the kid's okay, but he seems pretty enterprising, if less inclined to ask for assistance.

Her scythe makes short work of other overgrown barriers that come up before them. But they're making progress faster than on foot even with the extra greenery being mowed beneath Shooter's wheels.

Ami continued to hold on tight, nervously flipping her gaze from side to side as the overgrowth flew past them. Fortunately, Celty was making short work of it, but for how long? There's a gasp and she frantically tapped at the rider's shoulder. There were thorned vines suddenly noticing their arrival and chasing after them!

What? Celty glances over her shoulder at Ami's touch, having a feeling the girl wouldn't try to get her attention without good reason. She stiffens when she sees just what it is that Ami's seen.

Really???

Plants shouldn't be able to do that! Or is that a thing for alien plants? She's sure she'd seen something in a movie or a manga like this, not that it makes her feel any better. Speeding ahead isn't doing much more for them, not with the overgrowth getting thicker.

Unfortunately she can't tell Ami to hold on, but she relinquishes her scythe briefly to close a hand over the girl's around her waist, a silent signal before she turned her bike, skidding to a halt. The scythe blade and handle stretched impossibly long as she summoned it back into her hands, swinging it in a broad arc at the thorned vines.

Good thing Ami's wearing a helmet, no one can see her blush as she's held in place! The scythe makes short work of the vines, the dismembered ends wriggling momentarily before stilling. The girl's thoughts of all this coming straight out of a bad anime are politely stifled and she nods to Celty, "It may get worse on our trip, I'll keep a lookout!"

Celty gives Ami a nod at that. Having another pair of eyes will certainly help, even if her perceptions are a little broader than an average human's. With the current threat neutralized, she spurs her motorcycle around and forward once more.

The city square isn't too far ahead. She can vaguely make out the roads, plants torn up more easily beneath her bike's treads for lack of deeper growth. The familiar structures come into closer view, including that of the hotel.

Almost there.

The vines appear to be oddly, and perhaps frighteningly, hesitant to chase after the motorcycle now. Ami clings on tight to the rider as they speed along, desperately keeping an eye out for any other signs of trouble as they approach the hotel. Any remnants of optimism, however, are dashed as it becomes increasingly clear that even the tower had been overrun by plant life. Ivy-like stalks up alongside the outside walls all the way to the roof, with other branches and leaves sticking out of windows.

Even worse, however, was that twilight was now falling across Temba.

The lack of pursuit is both relief and concern. Celty would think it ridiculous to even be so concerned about such a thing if it hadn't proved an actual possibility just a while ago.

With the hotel coming up, it's clear their journey by vehicle is at an end. Celty would ride right in if she could, but everything was clogged by plants. They'd have to go on foot. She pulls the motorcycle to a halt, helmeted head lifting as she looked up and up. Pulling out her tablet, she tapped out her words, showing it to Ami as she glances back.

[Looks like we'll have to walk the rest of the way. You ready?]

Taking off her helmet, Ami gave her hair a very quick shake before surveying the area. The hotel's entrance was, of course, clogged with overgrowth but not enough that slicing through should be a concern. The concern was, of course, how fast it would grow back. The girl swiftly nodded with a "Yes", her nerves apparent but also her steadfastness to what was to come. They couldn't quit now.

Not even as the grass started to rustle about them. That was new. "Let's hurry!", said as she all but pulled Celty towards the entrance.

Celty looks slightly alarmed as her head turns towards this new sound, but she finds herself being dragged by Ami and can only follow after. She gives a concerned look after her motorcycle but hurries, knowing she can't really bring him along when these plants are everywhere.

I'll come back for you, Shooter. Shadows are already materializing in her hand as they reach the almost hidden entrance of the hotel. She keeps it at a more manageable length since she doesn't need to be showy here, just effective.

There's a nervousness to the girl as Celty prepares to scythe their way upstairs, arms folded about her with a distressed gaze towards the distant rustling. She does, however, note the rider's look to her motorcycle. Which is only broken by whatever is in the tall grass coming closer.

Ami closes her eyes, and a decision is made. Celty can't fight all of this alone. "Don't worry, everything will be alright," said oddly confidently and warmly all things considered.

Edited 2022-09-11 23:27 (UTC)

There's something to the schoolgirl's tone that makes Celty pause. She's reminded of another young girl she knows back home. Anri had a quiet shyness to her too, but she was also strong.

...of course the student also had a demon sword in her possession but that was besides the point.

The Black Rider nods, choosing to trust Ami and whatever faith she was holding onto. For now, she has a job to do. She slices through the vines that block the doorway, moving inside. The plants within aren't too thick, thankfully, but she still scythes through some of the sneaking vines as they get to the stairs. Here she pauses, looking to Ami. She has no idea how far she's expected to go, after all.

She's right behind Celty, still keeping vigil for any surprises coming from behind. Of course, Ami is the only one to know where her room is and she nods upwards. "The next flight of stairs and into the hallwayyyyyyeeeeee!" The end is punctuated with a thump as one of the vines has wrapped itself about her leg and pulled the teen to the ground!

Ami!

Celty turns, leaping immediately to the girl's rescue. She brings the curved black blade down on the offending vine, taking up a defensive position beside Ami, silently daring any more to come.

She looks down at the girl, giving a sharp jerk of her helmet in the direction of the stairs, suggestion clear: Go!

She'd do her best to hold things off. They're just vines at least! ...?

Nononono...

Ami's face clenches in utter horror as she clings to a railing, desperately trying to shake loose the vine wrapped around her leg. There are trails of scarlet from where the brambles have dug in above her socks, and her struggling was only making them worse. Until there's a sudden swish of shadow, and the vine splits apart - blood splattering across the stairs.

A hard swallow follows, but Celty didn't have to tell her twice to get going. Wincing as she stood back up on her feet, the girl didn't even bother with getting rid of the remaining vine about her leg before scrambling up the stairs and down the hallway. Her room should be over... there. Fortunately, the overgrowth had rather broken open her door enough to allow the smaller teen to squeeze inside. Unfortunately, there's overgrowth everywhere inside as well, and Ami's features pale. "Oh no," she cried, hurriedly digging through at a certain spot...

Meanwhile, downstairs, there's more blood vines where the first had come from and are now lashing at their new target. Though that may not be the worst of it for Celty, as the doors suddenly break open as plant-wolf hybrids come crashing through with their leafy heads already aimed up the stairs - and past the dullahan. Thorntooth hedges!

The blood is a shock to see, and for a moment Celty wonders if her aim had been off, an anxious look cast after Ami. But the girl's moving- and on two legs, though one looks injured and it's clear as to what from as that she spies that bit of vine still hanging off. Ami's out of harm's way- so she hopes, and Celty turns to face the vines that have shown their...faces? This is a strange day.

Her scythe is good for long, broad sweeps, but while she can slice through many at once, it still leaves her open before she can bring it around again on a backswing. Some of the vines get past her guard, curling around her leg. The shadow making up her suit is sturdy enough for taking any spills but she's never anticipated having to worry about blood-sucking vines. Pain lances through her leg- and strangely she does bleed, though her body's regeneration is near instantaneous. Not that it makes it any less painful. She swings out again, but the sound of something else's entrance distracts her.

What-?! The strange creatures surge past her and instantly she knows what they're after. No! she thinks, turning with a desperate swing, finding herself unable to follow through as another vine wraps about her arm.

Ami..!

Edited 2022-09-13 04:42 (UTC)

The hedges race past Celty, following the trail of body heat leading up the stairs. They make it to the landing when, suddenly:

"MERCURY STAR POWER, MAKE-UP!"

There's an explosion of brilliant light from the hallway, splashes of water flying out across the stairwell. Wait, water? When the blinding light fades, there's a figure now facing down the plant-wolves at the top of the stairs. Vibrant blue hair and eyes, a sleeveless sailor fuku with matching skirt of deep sky blue along with arm-length gloves and knee-high boots, fluffy aqua bows, and a gleaming golden tiara. She almost looks like Ami, but there's a gleam to this girl's appearance. Her posture is all wrong as well, she's standing far too tall and confident to have been the nerdy schoolgirl. It couldn't be her, right? Right?

The girl - the princess - strikes a pose with a palm aimed directly at the now stunned hedges. "I am the Pretty Guardian, who fights for Love and Intelligence, I am Sailor Mercury! Douse yourself in water and repent!"

Straining visibly against the blood vines, Celty banishes her scythe and attempts to reform a weapon in her free hand. She's not quite used to a sword but the slender blade of her shadowy katana still does the trick of cutting other vines as they snake towards her. That's about all she can do at the moment when she hears the shout from upstairs and sees the light flaring from the stairwell.

What was that? She pauses, baffled as water splashes from somewhere, but that's not nearly as baffling as the young woman facing down the thorntooth hedges.

...eh??

[Event] Act 1 - Into The Woods

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