And The Clocks Ticks Again

[strangerpeople]

[You feel as if your body has not moved for a long time. The ache is dull as you can feel your limbs creak and move, trying to shake off any potential rust that has seeped into your bones. And maybe actual rust if you're Proto, sorry buddy. With eyes blinking out any tiny crusties from your corners, you may remember that you were trying to escape.

Escape? But where to in this hellhole? There's no exits from this abyss...right?

You remember screaming from someone...one of the strangers who showed up in the car, yes? She was speaking to her friend about something-]

Did you hear me, Seven?! I said-what in the bloody hells happened here?! AND WHO STOLE MY TIME FREEZING POWER AND USED IT ON US?!

[Yotsuyu is livid, screeching to anyone who hears. Anyone might be confused as to what she means by 'time freezing power' but looking up at the sky, there is a reason for her to be concerned: There are blue streaks and the bright light of Logos, but they are starting to die like embers, absorbed into the black.

There had been a war; the Amaranthine Conjunction doesn't let go of its possessions easily, even beyond its borders. But this is too far for it; this is not its territory and it never will be. Its Law has faltered. It's light is useless. The power is retreating, forced back from the black thing that pervades the sky. Just what happened to make this happen? Who is powerful enough to freeze everyone including two strong Angels?

It matters not because the clock is still ticking against you all...and the storm is not letting up.]

Comments

[telecosmetic]

[Eliza groans as she stretches the cramp out of her muscles, rubbing her eyes with one palm as she takes in everything.]

Nnh...time freezing? [She does notice that they still seem to be in some peril, though.] We-we still have to get out of here somehow, right?

[bendwiththewind]

That is what we are trying to do!

[But will everyone be down for her idea?]

[7_0_7]

[Seven turns his head in every direction it is capable of moving looking for the culprit, but in the end he can only point in the direction of the blue streaks.]

Whoever it was, they left tracks... and they're trying to ruin a precious moment! The timing is off, but the Defender of Justice trusts you! I can act like an actual subordinate once in a while...

[so what the heck do u want him to do Yoyo]

[bendwiththewind]

[Ok, she can calm down as much as the situation asks for. Still angry about that little move someone else pulled but she needs to act like a boss. Leader. Whatever.

And then she points to the tornado still in the sky.]

We go through there.

[She is certainly suggesting that. Crazy, right?]

[zackthekiller]

WHAT?! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?!

[Zack sure understands how dangerous a tornado is.]

[bendwiththewind]

Do you have any other suggestions?!

[Bitch she will hurl her shoes at you.]

[zackthekiller]

[There's a chance that the shoes will just boomerang itself into the storm, but Zack doesn't take the shoes into consideration at all.]

I don't know, how about NOT RUNNING INTO THE GODDAMN STORM WE'RE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM?!

[bendwiththewind]

If you know of any other means of escape, speak up! Otherwise, we do not have many options in front of us!

[She's listening, Zack.]

[icanhearscreams]

Another tornado, huh? We might as well.

[bendwiththewind]

'Tis good that someone has some sense.

[That's not much to say but /shrug]

[zackthekiller]

[Zack curses under his breath. Everything aches. There's blue shit in the sky. 707 is arguing with the other lady.]

Hah...? What the hell?

X҉͜͜

[strangerpeople]

[The blue retreats. What does not retreat, or is unfortunate enough to be cut off from the Law of that other universe, where the Thrice-Renewed still somehow hopes for happiness, is extinguished.

Is it his imagination, or is the blackness screaming? It is high-pitched, shrill, and impossible. It is also triumphant. It has defeated a prince, a king, but when was its victory ever in doubt?

Not when it has such precious...cargo.]

[notthebreakman]

[As if Doctor Light would have built Proto using such poor material. And yet it's still taking him much longer than he would like to regain his mobility.]

This is... nothing I haven't felt before...

[Okay, so spending most of his life fighting off his inevitable breakdown may have made this old hat. Not that it's helping any.]

...Of course it's gotten worse. Right, then. What do we do now?

f̸o͠͝r̛͘e͞͞ve̷r͏ ̢ę̵̀X̸̛t̶̨i̢n̡g͘͡u̢̧i͠͏̵s̡͝hed͟

[strangerpeople]

[The screech becomes unbearable.

And then, they are in the tornado.

It is cold. Cold as when they were frozen. Was this the power that had overcome even Yotsuyu's? Was this the power that has been leading them to this? As they all fall into the storm, they can feel it.

It begins to tear them all apart. All of their faults, all of their fears, all of their fears, their guilt, seem to suddenly blossom with such ferocity that it might just unmake everyone.

And perhaps that is what it wanted this entire time. To unmake everything. To unmake them. Now it shall. Now their opposition shall-]

Not yet~!

[The sing-song voice of a little girl suddenly cuts through the nothing that everyone is becoming. Then, they see it.

A little girl in a black hood materializes before them. Massive stencil wings unfold as she smiles, her teeth white and sharp as a python's.]

I want to play a game with them.

[bendwiththewind]

[Just when she thought things were going to be easy. Yotsuyu growls while trying to steer and get pissy at the little girl who just had to show up.]

You-! Why am I not surprised to see you here!

[15unknowns]

[A child like giggle, as golden eyes stare back at Yotsuyu from the darkness.]

Ah, I see we've got some stowaways! How do you do, Viceroy goe Brutus?

[alwaysgonnatry]

[ This whole tornado and that feeling that had been essentially making her feel like she was being torn apart? Not something she enjoyed in the slightest.

Which meant maybe her mood was not so good, and why she turned her attention to the weird little girl with a huff. ]

HEY! Besides this weird tornado, what makes you think we'd even wanna play your game anyway?

[15unknowns]

Why do you think you have a choice, little Akko?

[alwaysgonnatry]

Because we--

[ She just realized the little girl actually addressed her by name here. ]

Wait a second! How do you already know who I am?!

[bendwiththewind]

Oh piss off you ungrateful little whelp!

[There's also a rude gesture involving a finger aimed at her but that's because she is driving and needs to focus on that!]

[15unknowns]

Oh, but I am grateful. I learned so much from your game, after all!

[The wings flare.]

Or perhaps you regret your own involvement in all of this?

[notthebreakman]

[It feels as though all of Proto Man's sins and regrets are going to crush him like an empty E Tank. Running away from home. Blaming Doctor Light for everything. Listening to a damn thing Doctor Wily ever said. His jealousy. His rage. Shooting Roll. Abducting Kalinka.

Never getting to properly say goodbye.

And then it all suddenly stops and there's a little girl before him and he recognizes those wings, if nothing else.]

And what gives you the right to decide that?

[15unknowns]

I'm stronger than you could ever hope to be.

[s m i l e]

And that's the most important thing, isn't it?

[zackthekiller]

[If it were not for the fact that he's in a tornado and almost getting torn to shreds, Zack would have probably leaped out and tried to grab at her.

But here's the problem with bringing Zack's faults to the surface. Although he has some strong regrets, much of his life has been dominated by violence and instinct. That horrible grin on the girl's face is just urging him to kill her. Her claims make the urges stronger. He can't ignore them, even if he actually wanted to right now.]

YOU THINK?! [The rage just seethes from his voice. Someone might want to hold him back before he throws away common sense.] AND WHAT KINDA GAME IS THIS, YOU LITTLE SHIT? "LET'S FUCK WITH THE DEAD?!"

[15unknowns]

[She smiles, as if daring him.]

Come on. You know you want to, Zack.

Just try to tear me apart!