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 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??

In the moment, Sailor Mercury assessed the situation: A pack of plant wolf creatures were between her and the door. Celty was still downstairs, now with another new weapon but at the mercy of any new vines. The motorcycle was still outside and she wasn't leaving that behind. And something else... oh yes, the hedges had no interest in the rider, and the grass was rustling rather noticeably again.

Now with all that, what was the next move?

As plans flashed through her mind, something tugged at the back of it. As if a distant memory, a dream, words dancing at the fringes of her memory. Something she knew once upon a time. Something more powerful than the Mercury Aqua Mist...

The guardian began to spin in place, lashes of water suddenly swirling about her, controlled by her fingertips. For a brief moment, she disappeared behind an aqua tornado, only to appear again with a sweep of her hand towards the hedges.

"Shine! Aqua! Illusion!"

All the liquid lashes now formed into one massive one that cannoned straight down the stairs. The rustling leaves almost whined as they were struck and shot straight out of the front door, sweeping up all the vines with them - living and dead, and straight around the unharmed Celty.

It's probably more than obvious that a sword isn't Celty's first choice of weapon. Still, she swings it, perhaps not as gracefully as Anri wielded Saika, but no less effective. But she's still being kept too busy by new shoots to take the time to cut herself loose. She can't even shout at the girl up the steps.

It doesn't look like she has to worry about her too much, however. Water once again appears, and this time it's more obvious as to the source. Celty pauses in her sword-flailing, unable to help but stare as Mercury summons a vortex of water and sends it forth. She brings up her sword arm to shield herself as the water surges around her.

Pale skin is already mending beneath the shredded parts of her suit, which begin to mend in turn. Celty's sword grows and stretches once again into a more familiar scythe as she turns to look towards the door and then back towards the blue-haired, tiara-wearing girl.

There's a momentary worried glance at her companion's own torn up legs, but that's not important now if she can still stand. There are other priorities first. Already there's the faint whisper of soggy rustling outside. This would be the point where Sailor Moon would know what to do, but there's no Sailor Moon. Not that she's lacking in teammates tonight. Dashing down the stairs, Mercury calls over, "Celty! Use your scythe and finish them! I've got you covered!"

Edited 2022-09-15 02:27 (UTC)

She doesn't need to be told twice.

Celty turns about, grasping the scythe in both hands as she prepares herself. She has no doubts as to Sailor Mercury's ability to cover her, not after what she's seen. Questions as she has, the dullahan knows they'll have to wait.

Come on then.

She's moving forward even before the first of the strange plant creatures rushes back in. She knows she's not the target but she won't let them get past her this time. When she swings her scythe it grows impossibly long, crossing the distance that had yet been between her and the thorntooth things, slashing clean through several of them as they try to fan out from the entrance, catching another as it comes through shortly after.

With one swing, Celty has cleared the hotel's steps of the hedges. So why was there more rustling from the overgrowth beyond? There was a rather startled gasp from the guardian as another pack emerged from behind the remains of the previous one, all their flower-like heads aimed directly at Mercury. With still more rustling behind them. It didn't take her long at all to assess the situation. "There will be packs all across the route back."

With that in mind, it was time for a new plan. "We'll have to barricade ourselves inside for now! I can buy us some time, head back inside!" Water re-appeared at her finger-tips swirling about her as once again Mercury performed her dance, only this time with a different command:

"Mercury Aqua Mist!"

With that, the water evaporates and suddenly the entire area is covered in an incredibly thick fog. Mercury doesn't wait, she's already racing back to the inside of the hotel.

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tsundullahan - 2022-09-17 05:44 (UTC) - Expand

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