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General Aquamarine | Roll 5

An almost unnatural darkness descended upon them. Aquamarine could see nothing. Not the creature. Not the forest. Not Jet right in front of him. Not even Jet’s cape around his shoulders. Silence followed. All he heard was the sound of his own breathing, rapid and shallow as the fear and dread finally began to break through the detachment that previously kept it at bay. Jet’s hands remained in his, clasping tightly. Aquamarine adjusted his grip, tangling their fingers together in an effort to keep Jet near.

He gasped and flinched away from the claws that tore over his skin. Were they even real? His skin did not split, and his clothes were not saturated with fresh blood, but it felt real, like the creature had him trapped, ready to rip him to shreds and devour him.

For the second time since they’d been transported here, Aquamarine felt like crying — with good reason, he thought. The first time in the cellar had been beyond his control, the product of shock and pain and delirium, and it existed in his mind now as something less than memory. This time, he was more conscious of it; he fought against the pressure behind his eyes and the rapid tightening of his throat. Aquamarine wasn’t the type for tears. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d given in. Years ago when Jet was captured, maybe. Or after, when his oldest brother came to take him back and Aquamarine left his family behind instead.

Tears were for other people — softer people who didn’t use anger and annoyance to cover sadness. Between the two of them, Jet was the one to cry more often. Aquamarine stood by to pick up the pieces.

The situation changed before Aquamarine could give in now. He was pushed to the ground again, struggling to remain upright against a pressure that wanted him helpless and prone. Aquamarine clutched Jet’s hands even tighter, using the touch as an anchor to remind himself that he wasn’t alone.

A light flickered, small and glowing in the darkness. Jet’s hands left him, leaving the lit object in their place, and though the sound of Jet’s voice cut through the silence, it was not as reassuring as he likely intended it to be. He was there and then he was gone again. It didn’t take a genius to realize he intended to fight again.

“Jet!” Aquamarine shouted after him. “You stupid—”

But he didn’t finish. Jet was a lot of things. An idiot. A moron. A reckless piece of s**t.

And the only person Aquamarine gave a damn about anymore.

He summoned his rapier to him again, forcing himself up onto his knees, then to his feet, swaying unsteadily as he fought through a wave of dizziness. Stubbornly, Aquamarine followed, in no shape to confront the creature again but unwilling to let Jet face it alone. He lashed out with his blade, striking whatever part of the creature he could reach first, only to be knocked back, stumbling on a pair of uncoordinated legs that barely had the strength to hold him upright.

A body tripped him up. Aquamarine went crashing back to the ground. The impact aggravated his injuries, pulling an anguished groan out of his throat. He felt around to determine whether or not the body was dead or alive and ended up with a fistful of long hair.

“You…” he wheezed, recognizing the figure of the Corrupt Senshi in the light of the glowing talisman. “What are you doing just lying here? Get up and fight!”

It occurred to him then that, even after several encounters and long days spent in a cellar together, he still did not know the Senshi’s name.

[Aimee Lacroix, Civilian || Prompt 5 + 5 Bonus]

Aimee wanted to huddle up on herself and hide, but she was pretty sure it wouldn't do anything against the blackness.

Was this it? Was this how she died? Would she simply disappear, here, killed by a strange beast, yet another person in Destiny City who was gone in a blink? Stanti and Desi would be devastated. She couldn't even imagine what would happen to the bookstore.

Dark hands clawed at her, and she cringed away, and then.

There was light.

She opened her eyes, and blinked.

She'd forgotten about the talismans she'd grabbed off the trees, that first day in the woods. But here they were, in her pockets where she'd left them, and they were glowing. A bright, unstoppable light, and a light that encouraged her to push back on her feet.

Aimee would not die here.

[Elsa, Dark Mirror Super Senshi || Prompt 5 + 5 Bonus]


When he felt a hand pushing him back and down, he squared his shoulders and dug in his heels, and brought up his arms to push back.

And that was when the light started.

He'd wrapped the talismans around his arms and tied them in with his sash, and it was the glow on his arms he saw first. As it grew, brighter and brighter, challenging the shadows, Elsa grinned wildly. "You see that, you b*****d? We're not just gonna lay down and die!"

Shaowei - Dark Mirror of Entreaty (6+5=11)

Shadows couldn't be cast without at least a sliver of light, wasn't that how these things went?

With Namielle to comfort her, Shaowei had managed to brace herself against the worst of her fears, yet even as she sat in silence with the cat firmly in her embrace, she had prayed that at least something or someone would come to their aid. She wouldn't take credit for answered prayers by any means but if someone had heard her in those moments then she was grateful.

It had been a gentle tug at first, then a slightly harder one, and then soon enough it had been so insistent that she had been forced to release the Mauvian and quickly unwind the talisman from her hair. She couldn't recall why she kept it, a memento perhaps? Either way, it had quickly become a hair accessory and a reminder of the dangerous of the wood after she'd found it. Now though it stood as a single light in the dark, hovering briefly in front of her before it shot towards the beast to join what she could only describe as a 'mass' of twinkling stars.

They swirled around it, gathering in a manner that seemed to alarm their keeper. She didn't know how they could have such an impact (surely they could have just set fires if it was afraid of the light?) but she knew better than to question it.

No, she took note of Athalia as he plunged forward and realised that there were much bigger priorities. When she got out of here, not if, she would ponder it when she was feeling ready to relive her experiences but for now... Well, she'd best follow the example of others and make use of the opening she'd been provided with.

"You have it in you for one last blast?" she asked as she gave Namielle a pat on the head. "Because at this stage I'm about ready to go home," she uttered gently and pulled the single mirror-like shard that she'd found from her sleeve. She didn't know what it did, but given both Athalia and Metis had fashioned theirs into a weapon she considered that an appropriate use of hers as well.

A slight step back, a taken aim, and she threw her shard in much the same fashion as one might throw a knife. An aim that was to stay true as it flew threw the air and slammed straight into the creature's leg...

Cinta Mahsa - Civilian | 1 + 3 + 3 + 4 + 7 (+5 bonus talisman)

"S-Safiya?! Is that you! Oh goodness, it IS you... uhwaaaa..." Cinta sniffled and sobbed as she readily approached Safiya and swiftly held her hands into hers. "I-I was soo worried that I wouldn't fiiind you...."

Never had she felt so grateful to be alive until now, and her unbridled relief washed over her upon reuniting with her long sought for cousin. And yet, their reunion was short-lived for their surroundings were swallowed by the inky blackness and were wantonly separated again. Cinta wailed for Safiya to stay close to her, but she couldn't tell if Safiya heard her. Besides, a new immediate concern overtook her.

Cinta was readily thrown onto the ground by some unknown force, likely the machination of the terrible beast, and was being pressed against. Cinta attempted to claw and thrust the strange pressure away, but it was unrelenting. This upset her, and in the back of her mind, for once, it was in utmost clarity.

'Is this what it feels like to be consumed by the darkness? What will happen next? Is Safiya okay? Am I going to let it end like this? I absolutely don't like this at all. I disapprove! Please oh please make it stop...'

Before she knew it, a soft and comforting light radiated from her coat's pocket. It was the talisman that she had procured earlier. The accompanying gust of wind was unwelcome at the time as it caused her to drop nearly all of the food she had gathered then, but that was quickly forgotten and somewhat forgiven. Instead, she immediately was grateful that it happened.

The talisman's light soon brightened to such an intensity that all she could see henceforth was a shimmery white. Doubtless, the beast remained perilous, but mayhaps this was a turning point in which the tide shifted positively towards the betrodden.

X Silistra Page of Saturn: Dam 4 + 7 + 8 + 3 + 5 / talisman bonus +5

Roll 5

Silistra was so afraid when the darkness surrounded her she tried to scream but the sound was swallowed by the darkness and she was pushed to the ground and it seemed like all hope was lost and they were all doomed. She didn't hear a sound and thought for a moment that they had all been killed. Then she saw a light coming from the pocket of her dress she blinked the light felt so bright after the darkness. She got to her knees now that she was able to see again. She pulled the talisman out of her pocket and held it up watching its glow grow brighter.

(Open for interaction)

X Hendone, Civ. : Dam 8 + 3 + 6 + 6 + 1 / talisman bonus +5

Roll 5

Hendone was already sitting on the ground when the darkness came and she was stuck in a place with no sound she frowned she couldn't see her hand in front of her face till she saw a light glowing on the ground in front of her. She picked it up and got to her feet holding the talisman and watching the glow grow brighter. She looked around to see other lights glowing in other hands. She wasn't sure what was going on. She blinked as the light grew brighter, she wondered if this was their ticket home finally. She hoped it was she was ready to go home.

(Open for interaction)