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 Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 1:06 pm
It had been years since the Librarian had last been a bar more than once a month. Twice in nearly a week? That was a bit much for him, these days. Yet here he was again, sitting at the counter, nursing a strong drink and wondering how things had gotten so bad as of late.
The destroyed front desk at the library was particularly heavy on his mind.
Sighing, he finished his drink. Lightheaded enough to know he was done, he paid his tab and wandered out of the dive bar, appearing from the hole in the wall door and starting on his way home. He wasn't drunk, not like the last time he had gone out and met Suri at the bar. The hangover from that had been terrible enough to teach him to better monitor his alcohol intake.
Particularly on week nights.
Still, he was a bit stumbly, and the walk home would be a slow one. Unfortunately, a growl cut him off. His heart sank, knowing immediately that he did not want to look behind him. Turning his head, he saw a monster, indistinguishable for a moment in the darkness and shadows save for its eyes and the general structure of its body. It certainly wasn't human, which was enough of a reason to brand it a monster. Youma.
Stumbling backwards, he tried to turn and start running, but his knees protested and instead gave out on him. He hit the ground hard which, as it turned out, was fortuitous because the monster went sailing just above him. It would have tackled him had he still been on his feet. Scrabbling the other way, he struggled to gain his feet under him so he could really run this time.
Why did this keep happening to him?!
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 12:53 pm
Patrols were never this interesting when she was playing by the rules, were they? Ah, well, what would she do? Ignore the the poor man? Certainly not!
Bouncing down from a nearby rooftop, Sailor Libra landed right next to the fallen citizen. She glanced over her shoulder briefly, giving Tony a once over as the youma took a moment to get itself off the ground as well. The blond shifted her scales, trying to watch two targets at once. "Are you alright?" she asked the stranger, inclining her head in his general direction. "Did it-"
Her question was cut short by an infuriated yowl, the large youma incredibly unpleased its prey had escaped by the narrowest of fractions. The shadowy monster was bulky, large, perhaps the size of a small horse. However, it looked anything but omnivorous, a gaping mouth with rows upon rows of teeth, enormous talons on its...six legs? Libra raised an eyebrow, barely reacting fast enough as the monster bellowed and leapt again, limbs grabbing as the blond hit the deck, reaching out to drag the civilian down as well.
"Where did you find this!?" As though, perhaps, the youma was Tony's fault.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 2:17 pm
Tony, mid scramble, looked at the form that fell down near him in shock. He thought it was Virgo at first, since she had a very good habit of dropping in when he needed her, but this wasn't her usual patrol area. Or that was what he had imagined, but maybe she covered more ground than just the area between the library and his house.
It was likely.
"I-I'm fi-"
He hit the ground before he could finish, since she had grabbed his ankle and tugged him down. His head bounced a bit, because he was a bit too disoriented to control his body very well. Falling down the first time had been an accident, after all, and this one was no different.
He got a good look at the monster now, and wished he hadn't. All the legs and teeth were highly discouraging, and he groaned in misery. This one was the worst one yet!
"It found ME!" he said defensively, looking at the girl, who was clearly not Virgo, in shock, "I didn't ask it to come!"
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Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 5:54 am
"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to wander dark streets alone at night?" Libra quipped, her short response clearly implying she did think she invited the monster after him. After all, he was proving to be an easy target. If she hadn't shown up- Well, there was no use thinking of what could have been.
The monster was hauling itself to its feet again; for all that power and strength that seemed to come with six limbs, it certainly wasn't very graceful. Quickly scrambling upright, Libra was up and readying her scales as the youma organized its feet. "I suggest you get to safer ground," she told the older man curtly, "you might sustain brain damage if I am forced to drop you to the pavement every time this monster charges."
As thought it knew it was being spoken of, the youma let out another yowl and turned itself around, baring those rows of teeth again. Libra might have swallowed, just barely, and the creature charged. The senshi stepped to the side, swinging her scales as the monster bellowed by. It hit the breaks as soon as it realized it'd blown by its targets, turning radius not good enough to spin on a dime. Libra took a few steps back, looking around for Tony.
"This is going to be much more difficult if I am forced to watch out for you, as well."
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Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 9:25 am
Tony frowned, wondering if his mother ever had told him that. He couldn't remember much of anything from her, however, since she died young. He didn't like to talk about it. Tipsy as he was, however, he actually paused to consider it before he realized she was being sarcastically.
"I would very much rather avoid that, thank you," he replied in his own curt tone, rubbing his head sorely, when she told him he might suffer brain damage. He imagined she could change her tactics, but doubted she would. "You- you are really rather rude."
That was a good plan. Insult the person there to save him. It might not have been Virgo, but clearly this senshi was strong and capable. Tony had no right to feel defensive that he was being attacked and she was there to help him. Even if she had made him bump his head.
The monster was barreling around, dragging its large bulk around. It charged at the librarian once it spotted him, thinking him the east target. Of course, it was right, because he had no fighting abilities. He hit the ground on instinct, since that had worked twice before, covering his head and hoping for the best.
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 8:42 am
"Rude!?" Libra was every bit scandalized. "Do not confuse honesty and rudeness," she hissed, temporarily distracted by the insults. "Would you prefer I left you to this beast of a-" The blond stopped mid-threat, speaking of the youma having brought the battle back to the forefront of her thoughts. It was snorting and there it went again! With a leap and a bound, the large creature was charging at them again, and what did Tony do? Stop, drop, and just shy of roll.
Without enough time to pull Tony out of the way, Libra did the only thing she could think of. "Libra Power Equilibrium!" she yelled, and the youma suddenly found itself slower, weaker. Trying to kick the librarian up to his feet, she abandoned that tactic quickly and swung her scales at the monster's head. Her scales thudded against the side of its jaw and temple, forcing it to shy left, just so. Lucky break.
"Get up, get up, get up!" Libra urged, nudging Tony again with her heel instead of offering a hand. She had already turned to watch the monster lumber and turn, ready to head at them again. "It doesn't turn well! If you're on the ground, you are like a sitting duck!"
Swinging her scales again, the Zodiac braced herself as the monster made another another run. She wasn't quite sure if the civilian had managed to toddle to his feet yet, and she very well couldn't abandon him.
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Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:59 am
Tony did not budge, covering his head with his hands and not moving for anything. If he didn't move, the monster couldn't get him. Not sure why he was struck with the ostrich mentality of 'if I can't see you, you can't see me', he refused to look at the youma. Or, for that matter, Libra.
Hearing the fight above him, he peeked, just in time to see the monster careening to the side. Gaping drunkenly, he didn't hear her yelling at him until the third 'get up', and he looked at her in surprise.
"Don't kick me!" he protested angrily, his mind working in short bursts to compensate for his fear and the alcohol in his system. He noticed one thing and focused on it. In that moment, it was her foot trying to nudge him to his feet. He scrambled up, wobbling precariously.
Seeing the monster coming at them again, he decided to listen to her and not jump to the floor. She said that was bad, right? So he did the next best thing.
Try and offer some help. Tony had a bit of a hero problem. Most of the time he could control it, or at least enter into situations with a clear head and understanding of consequences. At the moment, that wasn't so true. He growled, fists up like he was going to box the thing.
"Be careful," he advised, like she was the one that needed the warning. The monster charged at them, bringing one of its massive paws up to swing at them. At Libra. Tony dove, tackling her out of the way even if she had things well in hand, the broadside of the paw slamming into him and sending him sprawling. Luckily, it hadn't slashed him open with claws, so it was mostly like getting smacked with a piece of wood. Or concrete. A large, broad bat made out of concrete.
That certainly sobered him up in a hurry.
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Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 5:43 am
Libra had about three seconds between the time she realized the civilian had gotten to his feet and his warning. About to loudly inform him that she had it under control, the words never left her mouth. Instead it was a startled yelp, Tony's weight pushing her down to the side and out of the way. Strangely, the librarian did not land on top of her, and for a very brief moment, the Zodiac soldier had absolutely no idea what was going on.
Quickly pulling herself to her feet, ego bruised but no more injured than that, Libra spotted first the monster slowly turning its lumbering body. And then there was Tony, sprawled across the pavement only a few feet away. Attack was the only logical explanation (or blazing stupidity, and that was definitely a notion the Senshi of Balance was willing to entertain) and the soldier hustled over, swinging one of her scales at the large beast's back legs, knocking it in the joint.
Having bought them only a few extra moments while the youma recuperated, Libra bent down and shook the man's shoulder. "Are you alright? Are you injured?" Just because he wasn't bleeding did not mean he didn't sustain some sort of internal injury. (It probably wasn't doing him any good shaking him, a small voice reminded her.) The creature roared again and Libra was forced to stand, well aware her power had worn off by now, the youma back to full strength as it began its charge, infuriated now that she had managed to injure it.
"If you can stand, I would suggest moving. Now."
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Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 9:40 am
Tony was laying on his back, thinking about things. He was sobering up rather quickly, or so it felt, and he looked at Libra when she popped up into his line of sight. He nodded dimly, groaning as he rolled and got his hands and feet under him. He got to his feet, shaking his head to clear it.
"I c-can stand," he said, wobbling. He heard the beast growling furiously, and he looked back. It was swinging its arms and struggling toward them, compensating for its injury by using its other legs to move. Tony, looking mortified, stood his ground with Libra near.
She needed to kill that thing, but he would stay nearby in case she needed a hand.
Because that was just the chivalrous thing to do. Now that she had protected him, he needed to return the favor: if he left her and she got hurt he would not forgive himself. Bravery came in all forms, and though he did not consider himself to be a brave man, not like the legends he liked to read, he still thought he had some manner of honor in him. A moral system. Something.
It boiled down to not leaving someone when they were in trouble. Even if it was his trouble.
"It's charging again!" He yelped as it lumbered toward them.
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 7:55 am
At least he could stand. Libra was beginning to believe everything was turned against her in this battle. But Tony still wasn't listening to her instructions, standing by her side instead of making for safer ground. The blond growled in frustration, wrapping delicate fingers around the librarian's wrist firmly as she jerked him out of the way.
Or that's what she would have done, had it been the youma wasn't beginning to figure out her battle plan. It still couldn't turn well; both size and its injured leg saw to that, but it didn't stop the monster from swiping at the Zodiac as it lumbered by. Libra yelped, barely raising her arm up to take the majority of the blow. She stumbled backwards, clutching at the claw marks. This was getting more difficult instead of easier.
Glancing at Tony briefly, she inclined her head. "We need to trip it. I suspect it will be slow to get back to it's feet. Are you able to move quickly?"
Perhaps if they tag-teamed as opposed to attacking separately, they might actually accomplish something and escape this encounter with no more injuries than they'd already acquired.
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:03 pm
Tony, off kilter already, stumbled when she tugged his wrist, looking at her in bewildered wonder. He was very concerned for her, however, when the youma attacked her, ready to lunge right back in there and help her somehow as she reacted to the attack. Instead, however, she remained on her feet and looked at him again. He blinked and nodded slowly.
"I can," he said, hoping he wasn't lying. He was certainly feeling sobered up, and he would do whatever she needed him to do, in order to keep them both safe. Her, mostly, even though it was her job to do that for him. He had never been good with those kind of rules.
Standing firmly, he watched her, eyes darting to the youma as it rallied for another attack.
"What do you need me to do?" he asked, stalwart, his green eyes flashing as he watched her dutifully, a knight ready to serve as it were. All he needed were the instructions, and he would carry them out.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 6:17 pm
They only had a few moments as the beast stuttered to a stop, hobbling in a circle before it would come charging back at the pair again. Libra eyed her scales speculatively before tossing Tony one of the golden scales.
"Take that. When the youma charges us, we will run at it as well and, hopefully, take it's legs out from underneath." The blond sucked in a quick breath, blue eyes darting rapidly between the woozy librarian and the injured monster. "As soon as we trip it, return my weapon and I will do my best to finish the beast once and for all." She opened her mouth to make further comment, but there was no time. The six-legged youma had already jumped to its feet, roaring and shaking its head before bounding forward.
"Go!" the Zodiac shouted, a slightly hysterical edge to her voice as she bolted forward, hoping Tony would comply with her wild plan.
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:10 pm
Tony listened to the instructions as best he could, looking a bit baffled and way out of his depth. What was he doing?! She had powers, just like Virgo did, so clearly she could handle a youma. But Tony? Tony had nearly been eaten by quite a few of them.
This was not going to be fun.
He caught the scale and looked at it, then nodded at her plan. At least he could understand what she wanted him to do, and thus not be completely useless when the time came to do it. Which was, actually, rather soon. The monster turned on them and he had to move, the senshi a step ahead of him already. He did his best, pushing himself forward and managing not to topple over.
So far so good.
The demon tripped on the trap, just as planned, though Tony had to hang on to the scale with all his might. It felt like his arms were being torn off, and he imagined things, life, would be so much easier if he had super strength. He threw her the scale as ordered, toppling over at last because his balance was in no way allowing him to do such random things while drunk.
He watched from the floor, sitting on his butt, hoping the Zodiac wouldn't be hurt because of him.
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