0011000100111000

[want_a_vacation]

*The first sound the phone picks up is a gunshot and the sharp sound of metal hitting something hard. Then there's a spinning view of the sky before it finally settles to record a tense Allen, clutching his crossbow with Hadranial flying behind him staring down a small boy, a mixture of fear, determination and hurt anger on his face as the child points one of his guns at him.*

So much for calling for help. What're you going to do now? Run and hide? Hah, what else can you do? You're just a pathetic scientist, you're useless on the battlefield.

Just...just shut up! I'm not helpless!

Yeah right. What're you going to do, shoot me with your crossbow? I'm shaking in my boots.

*Allen's hands tighten on his crossbow, holding the weapon surprisingly naturally for a "pathetic scientist" despite the small amount of blood dripping from his right hand.*

Of course you would say that. You're another one of this place's nightmares, trying to get to me.

*The boy smirks, far too cruelly for that young face.*

And what if I am? That doesn't mean I'm not telling the truth. Admit it, you're just dead weight. Though I guess now you're just about to be dead.

( Cut for length and violence. )

(Offlines are encouraged, but he will answer messages after someone rescues him.)

Chapter 4: Even Avatars have their Fears [Action, forward date to 9/25]

[avatardealwithit]

 [Well her visit to the Velvet Room earlier proved to be a bust. Great, now she was stuck with finding a way to change her Persona so a certain troll wouldn't be out to get her again. She was attempting to contact her past life Aang about this. Sadly, it's another dead end.]

Ugh...Nothing. Seriously, I'm starting to think air bending is easier than this.

[Of course while she's pondering, she doesn't take notice of the transition to the Dark Hour.]

Lovely night,  isn't it, Avatar Korra?

[Korra whips around to see who it is and the color drains from her face. It's a masked man.]

AMON! What are you doing here!?

What else? Putting a stop to you and the rest of the benders. Or maybe I should say you persona users here.

[Korra gets herself into a fighting stance and circles Amon.]

Why don't you try then? I'm not afraid of you.

Are you?

[She snarls and tries to land a few punches and even sends out Undine for some water magic but none of them even connect. Amon dodges and suddenly is behind Korra, forcing her on her knees. One hand holds onto her shoulder while he places his other thumb on her forehead. Eventually he does let go.]

Hah! That did nothing. There's no bending here so that did nothing! Undine, let's finish this!

[There's a dead silence.]

Wh-what?!

[No, no, it can't be. Did he just...? Korra didn't have time to think as Amon attacks and she's thrown against a wall. Seeing she was unconscious, he walks away.]

Why end it now when I can make you suffer?

38: Can't save everyone [Video]

[needsteaplz]

[The feed starts with Saori in the upstairs base in her shop just at the end of the Dark Hour. She's sitting on the floor and her eyes are bloodshot but not from a battle. Her voice is hoarse. ]

I'm sorry.

I-I didn't get to Issei in time. I know saying apologizing like this isn't going to change things and he will come back but...

He died last night from his wounds. My healing spells weren't enough. I couldn't save him...

The shop is going to be closed today. I'm sorry for the sudden decision. And for now I want everyone to have someone with them if they do want to go to the Dark Hour. We can't afford to lose any more people.

... I'm sorry.

⚓ 013; [video]

[hellburner]

[Rider was angry. Very, very angry.]

Mͣ̈́̐́̌͏̡̘̜͙̘̥͜ͅa̽̾̾ͬͮ̑͗̏͡͏̵͚͖̬͕̺̦h̸̡͓̘̖̬̘͓̻̤ͤ̃̓́̑̃͑̆͌ͅa̹͈͎̪̦̪͉͉ͨͣ͌͑̒̀͞͝ ̥̣͈͐ͭ͛̾ͭ͗̓͜A͈͖̮͇̳̬̹̼̐ͪ̌ͨ̍̄́̚͜q͆̉҉̭̜̗̮͞u͖̠̪̲̳̘̹̼ͣ͆̍ͧͨà̶̖͖̰͚͔̣̲͓̏ͫ̈͂͟!̴̧̮͉̆̆ͩ͐

 

[It was kind of easy to tell, as she was out in the Dark Hour summoning her Persona in eldritch tongues and letting it devastate any unfortunate Shadows crossing her path with water and flame. The dissipating corpses of the black creatures were practically a trail of death leading straight to where the pirate stood. She'd either dropped or discarded her phone at some point, the video broadcasting from an odd angle.]

Do you really think lashing out like a child will solve anything?

[She turned on her heel at the voice, tenatacled horror of a Persona evaporating into the night. That voice, that accent of their home country...it couldn't be.]

[But standing before her was a man similar in appearance to herself; flaming red hair, the same coat and shoes, and the same sharp look to his eyes. There was only one person that could have been, one individual seared and burned into the woman's memory. Yet she said nothing, facing him head on without a word.]

My dragon. England's finest privateer, throwing a tantrum because she couldn't save one child? How far will you fall before you hit the bottom? You've gone soft, turned into a lazy wretch that does nothing but play childish tricks.

[Still Rider said nothing. She watched the red-haired figure before her with a blank and unreadable stare, not countering or objecting to a word he said.]

Hm? Are you so far gone that you even acknowledge how pathetic you have become? What a sad sight indeed--perhaps the throne truly was too much responsibility for y--

[BANG.]

[The pistol was in her hand at the speed of thought, lightning and thunder at once lashing out in a single shot. The figure before her jerked backwards from the force of the bullet that struck him in the head, body falling lifeless to the ground...then dissipating into nothing as any other Shadow did.]

You talk too much.

Sixth Duel

[misplacedxsheath]

*Margulis must have dropped his phone at some point during his last fight with a group of Shadows, because it's on the ground, looking up at him. He seems as calm as ever, sword in one hand and Persona standing in front of him, but he abruptly turns when an even, relaxed voice sounds behind him.*

Hello, colonel.

Uzuki-?!

*Margulis' eyes go wide as a black haired man walks into view.*

I guess it's too much to hope for you to be glad to see me. You really are stubborn, aren't you?

*Margulis' eyes narrow and he turns the rest of the way around, gripping his weapon tightly.*

What reason would I have to be glad to see you?

How long are you going to keep up this charade? Why don't you admit how you really feel?

What kind of nonsense are you spouting this time?

*The dark haired man gives a soft smile that still manages to come across as somewhat patronizing and shakes his head.*

You really are a sad man, colonel. Is admitting that you care really so terrifying?

Maybe I am a sad excuse for a man, but it's not for that reason.

Is that so? Then can I assume that Pelligri's death didn't bother you?

*That's the last straw. With an angry shout, Margulis charges the other man, swinging his saber harshly down to meet with a swiftly drawn katana. Chips of ice fly when the blades meet and Margulis' eyes widen in realization.*

You-I should have known. Even Uzuki wouldn't be shameless enough to talk about her so easily after killing her himself.

*Margulis dodges a counter slash from the katana, evidently even angrier for realizing the deception.*

Your point?

It would be an insult to a worthy opponent to allow an imposter like yourself to live.

*Margulis charges in again, and this time the pair exchanges blows without stopping. The Shadow obviously has a distinct upper hand in terms of both speed and strength, occasionally moving in a blur and once slicing a lamp post in two when Margulis dodges a swing. Paschar manages to even the odds somewhat, but the Shadow is wearing him down fast. Fortunately for him, the combat kicks the phone around enough to give a good idea of where they are, before it finally shuts off.*

(If nobody rescues him, odds are he's going to die during this. Either way, he'll be incredibly grumpy when it's all over.)