The Caves (5) : To any explorers visiting the new Reservoir, they may find that just a bit away from the sandy water are a set of caves. Some of these connect back to the lake, but others rapidly plunge into darkness. It wouldn't be hard to get lost in here, but thankfully there are some very odd lights to help guide you out. If you turn off your light down some of these dark paths, you may find yourself surrounded by glowing pastel lights. A closer inspection reveals that you seem to be looking at some sort of glowing caterpillars. An internet search will reveal that Destiny City scientists have been researching the strange, unnamed creatures, but the articles are very limited. If you take them out of the cave they seem to shrivel up almost immediately. They’re neat, but clearly meant to be stay in their natural habitat.
The newly minted super senshi of Bobcats stared at the darkness that yawned before her as she peered into the unknown territory that lay before her. She had never really been out this far before but there were had been stories about a creature in the water of the reservoir so if that was the case, were these caves the creature's home? Or was it limited to staying in the water?While she herself had never really been interested in anything that remotely spoke of being paranormal in nature the caves also promised a change of pace for the senshi. Normally, since her returning to the duties that would make her a better fighter of chaos, Meissa had stuck to a familiar route of scouring the downtown core of the city before calling it a night. So this was going to be a change and a challenge to the teen.
Peering once more into the darkness that lay ahead did Meissa bring out her senshi phone to activate the flashlight feature before taking a deep breath and marching into the darkness with her shoulders erect. She'd figure out whatever it was going on before heading home. It was lucky for her that her parents were out of the city this week so she was allowed to be her own "police" when it came to when she needed to be home. But she was a trustworthy child and she just wanted to keep her mother and father thinking that way of her. It wouldn't do to ruin the image they had of their only child.
"Maybe I should just keep to exploring a few of these caves. And I have to make sure to mark my path so I can return back to this entrance," even as she spoke this aloud did the senshi take out a pocket knife in order to scratch a little sign indicating that she was going to look for on the way out. It'd make no sense to travel in here and then get lost.
xSweenys_Revenge
Guess this would help if I used the correct spelling of your name on Gaia. :: face palm ::
Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 8:58 pm
Noctua had heard of the strange glowing worms, returned from last year for some reason, and had decided that she would take a look at them for herself. They seemed fairly harmless, and she had even heard that they were fodder for the lanterns that everyone was mooning over. That she had, admittedly, been mooning over, even if she was loathe to admit it. Rested and healthy, Noctua was beginning to notice... other... things... about herself that she wasn't exactly happy with. Beginning to feel certain things for... one specific person...
Which was dumb, and stupid, and wrong because Meridiana was so far out of her league and pretty and smart and nice and...
Noctua shook her head, trying to dislodge the conflict in her mind before it had a chance to take root. She was here for a reason. She wanted to investigate the glowing worms because... because...
Because it sounded fun. And easy. And like a break that she needed and was taking now because she could feel tired and do something about it. She could relax. She didn't need a reason to do things anymore because she had a choice now. She wasn't running on fumes and she wasn't in survival mode anymore and so she could afford to just do things because she liked them. And that was nice. Really nice. It had her smiling despite herself.
Until, of course, she heard the mutterings of a voice in front of her and came to awareness of a white moon aura in the same spot. An unfortunate drawback of her current health. o longer hyper aware of her surroundings, she often let things... slip.
But that poor dear didn't need to know. And it she had yet to test out her new-found centered self on any real opponent.
"The trouble with signposts, dear," she almost purred as she closed in on her prey. "anyone can follow them."
At first Meissa hadn't really been too aware that she was being tailed as she moved further down the newest tunnel that she had thought to explore next. Although when the realization came that she'd attracted attention to herself she stiffened imperceptibly before rolling her eyes, both at her naivete in believing that she could enjoy an outing as her powered self without drawing chaos' attention to herself ... and perhaps that no one else would have bothered with the markers she had been leaving as signposts. Meissa's first instinct was to simply freeze up as the owner of the chaos aura that she felt neared her position but that wasn't the right tactic to take. When she had finally settled down after her upgrade to a super senshi she'd been surprised at just how much more improved it seemed that she was. Although she'd not been able to test her newfound strength against a live opponent maybe it was time to change that.
Although - somewhere in the back of her mind Meissa recalled that alleyway encounter with another senshi that felt similar to this individual that was trailing her and she shuddered in remembrance. That fight had not gone at all well in her favor. Hopefully this would be different? Steeling herself for the appearance of the corrupt senshi did Meissa at least take comfort that the ambient lighting from the worms was providing just enough light that one could see without having to resort to fighting in pitch darkness.
There was a bit of forced bravado in her words as they passed through pressed lips, "but is it wise to follow when you don't know who or what made them?"
Sweenys_Revenge
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 11:44 am
Oh. This one was brave. It made Noctua smile, always preferring a fight over easy prey. The smile, however, was all teeth. It was a threat. It didn't meet her eyes. Her steps were careful and measured, taken so that the clinking of her boots echoed off of the walls around them. Upon those walls, bioluminescent worms writhed and squirmed, unaware of the carnage Noctua craved and intended to enact. She stopped arms length from the other senshi and reached out to ran her fingertips along her jaw.
"Aww," she cooed with no tenderness in her voice. "So sweet of you to be concerned about me. Sweetness from such a sweet thing." She let the mockery drip from her lips. Let malice edge her smile. Let her fingers curl around the other girl's chin and hold it there.
"Such pretty eyes on you, too." And there was almost wonder in her voice. They were pretty eyes. Big and blue. A shade darker than Noctua's.
She wanted them
"Noctua Sleepless Nights," she purred, still admiring the eyes in front of her.
Noctua closes her eyes and calls the name of her attack. Upon opening them, she will lock eyes with one person for five seconds and they will be subject to the attack. For the next ten seconds the victim will feel like they haven't slept at all for the past few nights. They will be victim to the more physical symptoms of insomnia, like tension headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Noctua can preform this attack twice or once with enough energy left Noctua Feverish Nights.
The way this senshi moved, the way that she felt to Meissa would have had the same effect on the teen as it would on a feline sensing that they were outmatched. Was it a leftover remnant from that time before when she had been outmanoeuvred that caused the sensation of having all the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as a results. Even as fingertips ran down the side of her jaw did Meissa realize that perhaps she should have put more space between them. But the words being cooed at her had her rooted in place.
Before when she had fought against a senshi like this the magic that she had been hit with had made her feel as if she was the subject of rumors. It was probably mostly the magics fault that she hadn't fought the best but it was probably also her lack of experience going up against the enemy. Her voice, echoing softly as well as the jerking of her head away from those fingers that aimed to restrict movement had no discernible intended result of breaking free from the grip that was slowly becoming more uncomfortable by the moment. Even as the other senshi closed her eyes did Meissa's own travel along the walls beyond them before being drawn back to the senshi whose grip on her chin was starting to hurt. Even as the other drew upon her own magic did Meissa attempt to pry the grip off her chin so that she could at least put some distance between the enemy. Words that rose unbidden from within were on the tip of her tongue, ready to be spoken when all of a sudden she was struck by the gaze of the other woman.
Almost suddenly did Meissa feel as if she was almost on the verge of collapsing. It wasn't really her fault though. There was an alarming tiredness that wracked her willowy frame and the fact that the scenery around her spun like she'd just finish whirling around quickly before coming to a stop was disconcerting. Her head pounded like it was being squeezed in a vise, but maybe that was just the effect of the grip that she still couldn't break free from. Was this all connected? Was she having a panic attack? Should she try and speak the words that were echoing from deep within? Meissa tried to force her gaze away from the corrupt's own before she forced up her own magic. But would the magic come when it felt like she was beyond exhaustion, she guessed there was only one way to find out.
"Meissa's Dual Stalker mode," was whispered into the glowing ambience of the cave before not one, but two apparitions materialized.
Sweenys_Revenge
Quote:
Super Sailor Scout Attack: Meissa's Dual Stalker Mode Meissa will create the illusion of two bobcats that circles her chosen target(s) for thiry seconds. During the duration of the illusion the target(s) of the attack will feel like cornered prey being stalked by a predator. They could experience fear, anxiety and maybe even the need to flee. It takes attention away from Meissa and could maybe leave the target open to being attacked. It's a distraction technique at the most. The enemy has to be inside a nine foot radius for the feeling of prey to be most effective. If Meissa is struck during the duration of the attack the illusion will end abruptly.
Meissa can use this attack three times per battle
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 9:16 pm
Noctua had begun to laugh when Meissa spoke her attack. What damage could this little senshi possibly do to Noctua, new in her glowing health and focused power? Even if they ere evenly matched in rank, Noctua was more than confident in her abilities and her prowess as a fighter. Perhaps... too confidence. Hubris was not something that Noctua was used to dealing with, so used to working around glaring weaknesses as opposed to working with a full hand of cards.
However, it would turn out that a little senshi could do... a fair amount of damage.
As the senshi spoke the name of her attack, two bobcats prowled from the shadows and began circling her. At first, Noctua was unsure what the attack was supposed to accomplish, and even let a self-assured smile spread across her face. That was, until, the little hairs on the back of her neck began to stand on end, a feeling that she had thought she'd left behind months ago. She tried to shake it off, but instead the feeling only intensified, setting her teeth on edge and making her bones itch. Her muscles twitched and coiled, and yet she remained rooted in place. Paranoia that she had not known since before her General healed her.
Paranoia that set her on edge and made fury bubble deep and hot in her gut. Fear transmuted to rage because it felt more productive than anything else, even if all Noctua could do was stand, shaking and furious, watching the little senshi in front of her.
"Run," she finally bit out, voice shaking, "Run, little kitty, and pray that I don't catch you when then magic wears off."
The amount of fury that laced the other's voice as her magical attack continued left Meissa breathless. That wasn't a side effect of her attack, was it? Instead of remaining and observing what would happen next the super senshi followed the advice given to her and took off at a dead sprint. Even as she ran full out did Meissa glance occasionally to the glowing walls before remembering why it was she was trying to put as much distance between herself and that chaos-touched individual.
Even as she ran though Meissa swore that some of what she had felt earlier under the onslaught of being hit with enemy magic was returning and she slowed her pace to a more comfortable race-walking speed. There should be enough distance between herself and the angered senshi by now but Meissa was completely turned around from her headlong sprint into the darker recesses of the cave.
She'd come prepared to spend time exploring, it was true. But if that other senshi came looking for her, or decided to out wait her near the entrance then what other choice would she have besides continuing further in, and further down ... because even as she took another step did Meissa realize that she was heading further down into this cave system. How much further would she have to travel in order to be safe? Clutching her midriff at one point did the super senshi hunch over before trying to breath a bit more easier. Was that a battle that could have been lost once more? How was it that all her opponents always seemed stronger? How could she change that?
"Maybe I have to train more, become more efficient ... join up with others. And maybe then I can hold my own ground instead of always relying on my magic. It just seems to piss people off."
