497/Vanity Jotunn

Vanity Jotunn
Date of Scene:	28 October 2015
Location:	Pikarigaoka - Old Church
Synopsis:	A strange kind of youma attacks.
Cast of Characters:	Tadase Hotori, Ikuto Tsukiyomi, Saki Yamayuki, 114

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Eirin Wakahisa (114) has posed:
    A night so cloudy not a star can be seen in the skies. Mist fills the area around the church, making it harder to see more than twenty feet in front of you.

    The door to the old church bursts open, and a grey chain beam shoots out of it, attaching to a statue. After a moment, a small girl wearing a dull steel helmet with an open face and a decorative tiara-like thing over head, a rune front and center, with her grey uniform slides out of the church as the chain beam shortens, surfing on a giant shield, a older girl lying on the shield beside her, her leg askew at an awkwards angle. She's wearing the same uniform, although she's wearing a shining silver helmet that covers her face entirely, a straight vertical line in the place the other girl's rune is.

    The uniform may vary a bit from person to person, but it basically takes the form of some sort of metal headwear, metal bracers and pauldrons, a grey jacket over a white blouse, grey skirts inlaid with the same steel steel, steel greaves, and dark grey boots with steel buckles. All the grey helps them blend in with their surroundings fairly well.

    A boy with a steel cap, complete with it's own rune on the forehead, a bit poorly fitted for his messy hair rushes out of the building, tapping the communicator on the side of his cheek. "Tomomi's down! This thing is too much for us! We need Hope!"

    The older girl on the shield - Tomomi? - slowly pushes herself up into a sitting position, sketching out silver force with her hand which solidifies into a bow and arrow. "You two retreat. I can hold this thing off." You can almost hear the smirk under her helmet, despite the obvious pain she's in.

    The younger girl furrows her eyebrows, and glances over to the boy.

    The faint sound of rock grating against rock comes from the open church doors.

    "THAT'S AN ORDER! There's no way you two newbies are strong enough to take on something that's injured me. And it's coming." The younger girl bites her lip and turns, starts running, tears forming in her eyes. The boy hesitates.

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Cloudy nights are good for outings. Mainly because no one can see him. Or maybe it's just that nobody bothers to look up when they can't see the stars. Then again, they can't really be seen that well in the city on a perfectly clear night. So maybe he just likes the feeling of cloudy nights, who knows?

Well, either way, Ikuto's out and about. He's sitting on the roof of a nearby building, one leg dangling over the side. The other leg is bent at the knee, the foot propped up on the edge of the roof. Yoru is on the roof behind him, playing with a yellow ball, rolling it one way and then the other. It's a quiet moment-- well, as quiet as Yoru gets, he's murmuring in an almost hypnotized voice, "Forward... and back..." as he rolls the ball on the roof.

Ikuto pauses when he notices the fog gathering around the church. That's odd. And then the ruckus starts! People are coming out of the church with injuries. Well, one seems to be. What's going on? "...Yoru."

The call of his name breaks the Guardian Character out of his ball-induced trance, and he comes over to the edge of the roof to see the ruckus. "...What's goin' on down there-nya?"

"Don't know. Let's find out." Cat ears and a tail sprout with a pop, and he leaps from the roof, onto another building.

He makes it into hearing range as the injured girl is telling her subordinates to retreat. And it just so happens he lands near the hesitating boy as he finally makes it to the ground.

"...Better listen to her." This is to the boy. "She's trying to save you. And she's probably going to die either way. Do you want it to be for nothing?"

See this is why no one likes Ikuto. He's a jerk.

Tadase Hotori has posed:
Ikuto isn't the only chara-bearer out this evening - Tadase is out too, with even less of an excuse than the catboy has - he just didn't feel like going home. Sometimes home reminds him of what it used to be - that idyllic life with a loyal pet dog and a loving but strong grandmother. And siblings he cared for, even if they weren't related by blood.

So sometimes, when it's quiet, he slips out. If anyone asked, he'd just say he was on a walk (or on patrol, depending on how much of the magical world the asker knew of.)

There's a crash at the church, and Tadase (and Kiseki!) are over there in relatively short order, arriving just after Ikuto, crown on head and scepter in hand. Tadase walks over to the girl giving the 'orders' - and turns to glare at Ikuto. "Nobody is going to die, because I'm here." then he turns to her.

"Do you want to give us the short version, or are we just gonna beat up whatever inevitably big, ugly thing is in there?" Kiseki asks before Tadase can say anything more formal or appropriate. Tadase just shrugs.

Sometimes Kiseki is a jerk, too.

Saki Yamayuki has posed:
    Saki was in her dorm room at Verone doing homework when her phones rang. Phones, plural; both her cell phone and the archaic landline that had been installed ringing at the same time. This alone was enough to catch her attention, as the only numbers set to auto-forward from the landline were all related to Valhalla. The specific ring tone on her cell phone told her how important it was. She picks up her phone with one hand while getting the bright pink crystal next to her homework with the other.

    "Where?" comes the single word, not even giving the person on the other end of the line a chance to explain. "I'm on my way. Tell them to hold on just a few minutes longer and not to take any risks! As soon as she hangs up the room floods with pink light and before long she's leaping from rooftop to rooftop, racing from Umimari to Pikarigaoka as quickly as she can.

    A few minutes later there's a sudden streak of pink light in the sky, lighting up at the apex of a jump's parabolic arc, dimly visible despite the mist. The light only grows as it descends, ending with a brief flash that briefly burns off the mist around it as it lands between the injured girl and the church's entrance.

    When the flash of light ends there's a tall girl standing there, bright blonde hair loose and flowing behind her with a golden tiara sitting above her bangs. She's wearing a fancy bright pink and gold dress with a knee length skirt and matching calf-high boots, and bright pink crystal set inside a golden heart amulet in the center of her chest.

    She looks back over her shoulder and smiles brightly, "He's right; nobody dies today. Isa! Thurisaz! Dagaz!" She looks to each of the three gray clad magical heroes, in turn, "You've all done wonderfully, but you can rest easy now. Hope-chan has arrived!"

    She turns the rest of the way around and smiles to the two magical boys she's never seen before, "My name is Aesir Hope-chan. Inside that church is a type of magical monster called a Jotunn; they're very dangerous and you can't hear them very well when they're shrouded in their mist. If you want to help I'd appreciate that very much!" Another bright smile and she dashes inside, a wand materializing in her hand.

Eirin Wakahisa (114) has posed:
    The boy narrows his eyes at Ikuto, taking a few steps back away from him, but between him and Tomomi. "You think you can p-push me around?" It's meant to sound like a challenge, but it doesn't come out that way. His eyes flicker over to Tadase, then Kiseki, with increasing confusion, and a few more steps back.

    The younger girl is half-hiding, peering around a shrub a bit.

    "Get out of here, Thurisaz." Before I kill you myself, Tomomi's voice seems to imply. She hasn't removed her eyes or her aimed arrow from the open church door - whatever these rude magical boys are, she figures they're far less likely to try to kill her than a Jotunn. Thurisaz slowly backs away from the group, his body trembling.

    Then, a flash of light, and Hope-chan!? Tomomi shifts as she tries to sit up in a more dignified way, then gasps as she moves her leg a bit, the aim of her bow shaking slightly. When she speaks, her words do not sound friendly.

    "It's the Vanity Jotunn: A ball of flesh with eyes and giant hands who lashes out indiscriminately with chains."

    Thurisaz and the younger girl, however, brighten visibly upon seeing the light clear, Aesir arrive, the girl smiling so brightly it almost might create just a glint of it's own light.

    "Aesir Hope-chan! We're saved!" She walks out of hiding, relaxing and completely dropping any kind of defensive stance.

    Thurisaz forms a two-handed greatsword with the silver energy, his hands gripping onto it tightly, but his body is no longer shaking, something almost resembling a smile forming on his lips.

    ...

    Which is when a giant wooden pew hurtles through the air towards Hope-chan, Ikuto, Kiseki, Tomomi, and Thurisaz, then, after half a second, another heads straight towards the younger girl.

    Tomomi releases her arrow, aiming into the darkness where the pew came from, an educated guess as to where it might be, not flinching as the benches fly towards her - girl either has a deathwish, or is absolutely confident in their ability to protect her.

    The younger girl raises her arm, firing a chain beam at the pew as it hurtles towards her - however, this does nothing to stop it.

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Tadase's appearance gets a smirk from Ikuto. "Noble sentiment, and completely expected from you, little king. But I think whatever's in there might have other ideas," he replies, tilting his head up to indicate the church and it's blown-open door. Somebody's gonna have to pay for that at some point.

Ikuto leans against a nearby wall and crosses his arms. The pink streak is actually seen by Yoru first, and the Guardian Character calls out, "Ikuto, look!" The catboy looks up, seeing the pink streak appear and... turn into a person. Someone that looks very much like the grey-clad people but somehow not. Hope-chan... They did say they needed 'Hope'. This must be her.

But it does look like no one's going to listen to anybody's orders to leave. So this is going to be one of THOSE times, it seems. But then suddenly there's a pew hurtling at them, and Ikuto leaps back agilely. It does nothing to stop the second one, though.

If Tadase wants to protect people, here's his opportunity!

The description of the thing, coupled with how violent it's being, is enough for Ikuto to decide that he's not going to play around. Thing needs to be taught a lesson. This will be what his excuse for helping out will be later-- it ticked him off when it threw furniture at him. In the meantime, though, he lets his ears and tail disappear, just for a moment. Just long enough to...

"Ore no kokoro... UNLOCK!"

Yoru disappears within his black-and-white egg, and seems to sink into Ikuto's chest as his body begins to glow. The ears and tail reappear, though more slowly this time, and then the glow resolves into a very different outfit-- cropped top with tails like a tuxedo and a high, loose neckline; pants with a long strap tied between the knees, a viciously-sharp claw on his right wrist, and a large silver cross on his chest.

CHARA NARI: BLACK LYNX

Ikuto's heading inside as soon as his feet hit the ground, moving too fast (he hopes) to be a good target. Though he expects the thing will try.

Tadase Hotori has posed:
The second flying pew is, in fact, a problem. Tadase doesn't need to shield the first one - but the second one gets him to announce his iconic protective field - "HOLY CROWN!" and that bright, golden energy bursts into existence from his scepter, forming a wall between Tadase and the rest of the heroes.

Ikuto can take care of himself.

"Okay, Jotun. Sorry, doesn't ring a bell..." he says, as Hope-chan comes in. "Let me try asking a different question. Is it like... a human transformed? Or do we just smack it around until it learns its lesson. What's the score here." he says, trying to take command of the situation, but at the same time clearly confused, off his ground, and 11.

"Well, whatever it is, there's a lot more of us than there are of it, and if I've learned anything, it's that teamwork can take down the largest threats!"

Kiseki, meanwhile, looks more concerned. He's got all of the lack of braveness that Tadase's hiding. He doesn't like situations in which he doesn't have all of the information, and he's buzzing around just behind Tadase, looking at each of the new fighters in turn - and also, keeping a firm idea on a particular catboy who he does not trust.

Saki Yamayuki has posed:
    "Vanity Jotunn with chains?" Hope-chan repeats, eyebrows raising a little. "I can see why it would be so difficult. Thanks for the scouting information, "Isa!" Her headlong charge into the church seems ill advised when the pews start flying through the door, and before she even makes it inside she sees the first of them coming. She looks back to the others behind her, catching sight of Ikuto's transformation and the fact that the Einherjar seemed to have let their guards down. She'll have to choose her words more carefully, next time.

    "Thurisaz, Dagaz- shields up now!" she shouts in a commanding tone. Even a metal shield isn't enough to stop the kind of force she knows is behind that pew, however. She could follow the catboy's example and duck out of the way, but it would leave those behind her to bear the full brunt of something they're not equipped to handle.

    On instinct she plants her feet and crosses her arms in front of herself, the heavy wooden pew slamming into her and eliciting a sudden gasp of pain. Even as it throws her violently to the ground it shatters against her defense, showering those behind her with splinters that would hurt if they didn't follow her directions- or would have if Tadase's Holy Crown hadn't interposed itself.

    A brief moment after getting knocked down she pushes herself back up to her feet, a bit worse for the wear but otherwise fine considering such a direct hit might have killed an Einherjar. She sends a smile partially muted by a wince of pain towards the youngest girl, "I appreciate your faith in me, Daguz, but I need you to remember to always be ready to defend yourself in a combat zone. Can you do that for me?"

    Then she turns to Tadase, "Thank you for protecting them; they're all very important to me." Then a nod, "That's exactly right; they're transformed humans, corrupted by Evil. If we weaken it I can save them, but not if the Jotunn is destroyed or bound before I get the chance. Don't let your guard down though; they're very powerful and won't hesitate to kill you if they see an opening."

    No longer taking anything to chance she looks to the Einherjar, "You three are relieved of duty for the rest of this encounter. Thurisaz, Dagaz, get Isa to a safe location and observe from a distance. Isa, please relay my arrival to command and have them put the recovery team on standby."

    One more smile to Tadase, "Shall we go?" It's a legitimate question- she isn't sure if he wants to follow her into the battlezone or not, "I'm not comfortable leaving that man alone in there too long, not if he doesn't know what he's up against." She jogs over to where her wand had fallen and picks it up before heading inside.