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 Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 9:35 pm
Griffin sighed heavily and leaned her face on her hand. Where was this book? She sighed again, but tried to make it hushed. She was in the Destiny City library, after all. Ugghh. Why couldn't she just do this online? Oh, because her teacher was really just that old-fashioned. The girl looked at the slip of paper with the title and some numbers jotted down but she couldn't make any sense of Dewy or his decimal system! Although she hated to ask for help with such little things, she looked around the bookshelf for the help desk. Not seeing one, she began to worry that she'd have to ask where that was too! This wasn't the library she grew up with, but what could be so bad or hard about finding a desk?
A few minutes of sheepish wandering, and she finally found the desk. She tried not to breath a heavy sigh of relief, but she walked towards the librarian working and brushed some hair behind her ear and put on a shy smile. "Uhm, excuse me. Can you help me find this book?" The subtext was 'I don't know why I'm here, why can't I just do this online help help help.'
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 9:37 pm
Tony was sitting at the front desk, one of his usual positions around the library of course. His mind was wandering, and he was using the computer to look up books about knights and Camelot, even though he was more than familiar with the selection available at the library. He was not really thinking about it, though, his eyes slightly glazed over as he mindlessly scanned the on screen display.
Dogby was sitting on the desk, where he had put her, leaning against his arm as he, in turn, supported his chin on his palm. His elbow was on the counter and he was slouching a bit, looking completely distracted.
He looked up when he heard the voice, though, snapping out of his daydream and right back into helpful mode. Offering her a welcoming smile, he shifted to sit up. Dogby trotted over to her, looking at her eagerly for pats on the head, or ear scratches.
“What kind of a book are you looking for? We have quite a few,” he chuckled. “Oh, don’t mind her. She’s harmless, save if you’re allergic to dog kisses.”
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 10:01 pm
Griffin was thankful for his helpful attitude, and her shoulders slumped as she relaxed. But her eyes quickly darted to the dog. Griffin. Loves. Dogs. She bent down to pet and scratch the friendly dog, but quickly turned her attention back to the librarian and stood, fixing her clothes and laughing to cover up how she'd just lost focus when faced with a dog.
"Oh, uhm, it's something for a school assignment." She looked at the page, confused with what she had written. "Something about Medieval England. Like feudalism and stuff... I have the title and author and some other information, but I can't really find it, haha." Griffin liked history, sure, but writing a research paper about the dark ages just wasn't her style. Now the Renaissance... That's where it was at.
Opinion aside, she also remembered something. "Oh, and if you could point me in the astrology section, I'd really appreciate it." If asked why she had interest in that area, Griffin was prepared to give some ditzy response about liking horoscopes and such. But she was more interested in learning about something now more personal. Senshi. She didn't think there was that much she could learn about the faction itself from the books, but she would try to get as much information possible about a specific constellation, Mons Maenalus.
Giving him a chance to look over her paper and hopefully make sense of her 'nonsensical' chicken scratch, she fiddled with the contents of her pocket.
But something was missing...
HER HENSHIN PEN.
Griffin's face fell and she tried to keep her jaw off the floor. She tried to play it cool. She'd just run back to her dorm as soon as she checked out her books. It had been a short walk to the library, and it'd be a shorter run, right?
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:01 am
The corgi puppy was small, with a big looking head for her stumpy body, and her ears definitely large. She had a dopey looking puppy smile and a bump of a tail on her bottom that wagged so hard sometimes that her whole body shook.
And she loved attention. When she was pet just once she decided Griffin was another member of her Favorite People club, and she nuzzled against her hand eagerly, licking and yipping, her back legs sliding around the table as she shook her tail excitedly.
"Ah, well, let me look it up for you, then, if you give me the title? Or author. Both, might be best," Tony chuckled, watching his dog and shaking his head. Dogby was very exuberant about how much she loved everyone. It was cute.
Though it was uncomfortable for some people.
"Astrology? Certainly," he said, smiling. He gave her the general call numbers for astrology books, fairly familiar with the section now. It was surprisingly popular, along with astronomy. But classic literature and the arts sections were also popular, so it meant little in context of a library.
With the paper in hand, he typed in a search for the book, then wrote down on a seperate piece of paper the call numbers for that book, along with the astrology section.
"I think that should be the one you're looking for?" he said, offering her both of the papers.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 3:10 pm
Griffin did her best to resist 'baawwww'ing over the little puppy. It made her miss her dog back at home, Duke, though the corgi was quite the far cry from the young greyhound. She made a mental note to go home soon to visit him. Oh, and her parents too.
Taking both of the papers, she looked at the numbers and then at the nearest bookshelf. They had numbers too. Okay, maybe she could do this! To be such an avid explorer of the outdoors was one thing, but even so, getting lost inside a building was embarrassing. Griffin tried not to think about it, instead, she said "Thanks, I think I've got it now, haha." And she did.
Griffin gave the puppy one last pet on the head, for probably a minute or so, before she tore herself away to go find her books. She made it to the section surprisingly easy now, and felt it had been one of those instances where if you ask someone where something is, that's the instant you see it. Of course the librarian had been a great help. Boring school book aside, she then lingered in the astrology section and passed into astronomy. She didn't really know what she was looking for, so she grabbed a few about consolations and one or two about mythology and checked out.
Her arms were full of books and she regretted only bringing a small messenger bag instead of a backpack. She sighed and tired to fit a couple in her purse, but most were gonna have to be lugged home the old fashioned way. It wouldn't be that far of a walk back to her dorm, especially not by Griffin's standards. The sun was beginning to go down, and Griffin then remembered how bad of an idea being out when the sun set was.
But at least she could defend hersel- …
Oh yeah. She forgot her henshin pen. What a terrible senshi. Absolutely terrible. Her face fell and she quickly descended the steps of the library. She'd run home if she had to!
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 2:01 pm
Dogby was very used to people bawwing at her, and giving her pats and hugs because she was adorable. Tony was convinced she used her cuteness against them, for her wants and needs, but then... what else was she supposed to use? She, for her part in it, was not aware of being up to anything devious.
She wagged her tail and watching Griffin with large, dark eyes and her tongue hanging out.
Tony watched as the young girl spent some time petting Dogby, shaking his head. She had it easy, that dog, making friends with no effort whatsoever. Tony wished it was that easy for him, though he doubted he would like people petting him all that much.
He was ready to help her check the books out, and didn't think anything of her leaving. People came and went all day, after all, and were never attacked by a monster waiting just outside the doors. Except that one time. And today.
There was a youma lurking in the bushes that lined the library entrance, growling and watching the building with keen, dark eyes.
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 6:50 pm
Griffin flinched and turned around quickly, as though she had heard something, but with her face contorted in a look of unease and uncertainty she dismissed it as some sort of small animal in the bushes and she continued walking a few more steps.
Then she heard the growl.
Her head snapped around and her blue eyes widened in fear. No, no, no no no no, not again! She knew a dog's growl. She knew a wolf growl or a coyote. She knew plenty of natural noises and this was not one of them. She also by now knew the sound of youma.
From the bushes slunk a low, dark creature. Its form looked like something between a cat and a lizard with the way it moved and its actual appearance. A long tongue licked around jagged teeth and then its eyes, keeping the dark orbs moist in lieu of eyelids. It growled and hissed, but it came out in short breaths, as though it was laughing and found itself pleased with the prey it had come across.
Griffin's eyes darted back to the library as though its walls could offer her respite, but the youma blocked her way to the door. It continued its advance, claws extended and tail whipping about wildly, spikes at the end of it tore leaves from the bushes. The girl whimpered and retreated slowly, fearing the worst, and expecting it too. Worried that it would attack at a sudden movement, Griffin clutched at one of the heavier books in her arms so she could beat it back if it decided to attack.
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:27 pm
Tony was crossing the main foyer with a cart to go pick up books left off of shelves when he saw a shadow in the doorway. Since the two main doors were made of glass, it was easy to see straight outside. He glanced over on instinct, the same one any person might have if they saw something move in the corner of their eyes, and almost looked away just as fast until it registered that what he saw was not a person walking by.
It seemed to be a youma.
Glancing around, he wondered how he could slip away without anyone seeing him. Then he remembered he was in a library on a slow day, and there was no one who could really see him.
Still, he moved as close to the door as he could, ducking behind the wall and the desk until he powered up. The knight then slipped outside as casually as he could. Hopefully no one would question why a knight was coming out of the library. Or notice, since there was a monster to worry about.
Right?
"Stay calm, miss!" He called to her, moving over to the two.
The youma did not look too nice, and Camelot held his shield in front of him. He drew closer, wanting to get the youma's attention away from Griffin. "Hello! Over here, you big ugly... thing. Lizard. Thing." He wasn't great at name calling, but it didn't matter. It wasn't like the youma could understand him anyway.
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 10:37 pm
When the door to the library opened, Griffin couldn't help but tear her eyes away from the monster to see who was foolish enough to come outside and so she could yell at them to stay inside. Even powered down, it was her duty to protect, right? But when she saw a man dressed in the strangest outfit she didn't know what to say. Glancing at the book cover in her hand, then back to him, she made the connection. He was dressed like a knight! Of course! And for anyone in this city to be dressed so strangely, he must be part of the fight between good and evil!
Making a leap to another conclusion, she figured he must be on the side of good if he was coming to protect her. And he wasn't wearing black or grey. That was an immense relief. She could breathe a little bit easier now, but they were both in danger. She nodded at the knight and just continued with her slow backing away.
The youma flicked its long tongue at Griffin's ankles, but at the sound of a voice, turned its head and tilted it in the direction of the new person. Ah, another starseed! This one looked particularly appetizing as it had quite the large energy signature, at least compared to its other prey item. Its tail flicked, pleased with the events, and the spikes whipped around the knight's legs. But which to devour first? The simple-minded youma couldn't strategize a full plan, but it made sense to any predator to try to wound both so they couldn't escape then finish them off one at a time.
For now, it seemed the weaker target would go first. It continued its approach towards the girl and clawed at her ankles, its nails seeming to extend with its swipe.
Griffin tried to leap away but she was too slow, and the monster caught her around her heel and she fell to the ground, books lying scattered around her, one even in a puddle. She'd worry about the charge later. For now, she was on her butt, one ankle bleeding, and tears beginning to well in her eyes. "Help me," she called weekly to the knight. She felt like such a failure. Here she was, a Senshi and protector of all that was good and unable to protect itself. But because she'd left her dumb pen at home, she was making someone else risk their life to save hers.
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Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 7:10 pm
Camelot was still very new to being powered up, but not to the feeling that came with wanting to help someone in trouble. He wanted to save her, and wouldn't let himself run away. At least those instincts remained, despite everything like his physical strength and appearance changing.
Would have been weird if he suddenly had power and an overwhelming urge to run away from everything.
When the youma continued its advance on Griffin, Camelot tensed and hurried over. He had his arm forward, the shield attached in its usual place of his lower arm, between wrist and elbow but closer to the wrist. It was a convenient location, though he could move it from his arm if he wanted to.
Like to bash in a youma's head if he needed to, for example.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you," he said as he moved to answer her plea for help. How could he not? He was a knight, even if his armor was more chain mail and padding than shining metal. He knew she had been hurt but he was not going to let it happen again. Swinging his leg, he slammed his foot into its front leg as he moved to get in front of the youma.
Stay between it and the civilian. That was the goal.
"That's the last blood you'll be able to draw from anyone," he said to the youma. He knew it was like talking to the wall, but he would have felt even more weird not saying anything.
He moved to attack the youma, back it up and get it to focus on him. It would give the girl, though wounded, a chance to scoot to safety. Not that he wanted to get clawed, but if he had to take some injuries, he would do it. He swung his shield at the thing's face, driving it back.
"Find cover, miss!" He called.
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Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 12:44 am
Griffin just wanted to start blubbering like a little kid. But breaking down in the midst of a fight probably wouldn't be the best while she was being attacked and while she was trying not to hinder her rescuer. She scrambled to her feet and hobbled back towards the library. She didn't want to draw the fight inside, but it was the closest thing to cover that she could think to go to.
The youma cried out in pain and surprise as it was attacked. Maybe it'd picked the wrong target before, but now its attention was solely on the page. It hissed and snarled and flicked its tongue in his direction before then slapping it on its eyeballs to wet them. Slowly it backed away from him, as though it was building up distance for a charge, but with Camelot's advancing and shield-waving, it didn't look possible. The shield landed a blow on the youma's face and it snapped at the wood, catching it for a fleeting second in its fangs before it was pulled back. It lashed out with its claws at the page's legs but it was growing less and less confident with the attack. If only it could get the weaker one...
Griffin watched the fight nervously and seemed to forget entirely about her ankle for the time being, though she'd left quite the trail of blood up the library stairs. Silently she cheered for her rescuer as he landed a few blows on the youma and began to drive it back. Her heart stopped when it looked back in her direction, though.
The youma flicked its tail in frustration and began trying to get past the page, weaving side to side, but gaining little to no ground towards the girl. It lashed out again towards Camelot, hoping not to kill him, but to at least get him out of the way.
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Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 10:11 am
Camelot forgot himself for a moment when the creature licked its own eye. Gross.
The shield didn't much like being bitten, the wood splintering sadly as Camelot pulled his arm back. It was not the strongest of things, but it at least hadn't shattered this time. In a fight before it had broken completely, but even then he had been lucky. It broke at the same time the youma did. He hoped he might be able to swing that again this time.
Or not have it break at all. That would be nice. In a way, he was kind of surprised to see it.
At least he knew it came back.
He stepped back as the youma lashed out at him, but the claws managed to get one leg. He grimaced and pulled his shield down his arm, gripping the strap in his fist so the shirld was broad and flat over his knuckles. With it like that, he punched at the youma's head.
Maybe he could squish it.
He often found himself killing these things by any means necessary, but feeling vaguely bad about it. In a way, they were like animals, but he had to remind himself that animals did not burst into dust when they died. They also did not feed on human energy and starseeds. These were not animals, and sometimes didn't even look like them. It helped more when they were completely strange.
"You're not going anywhere!" He said in surprise, knowing it was trying to get to Griffin. That was one thing he could not, and would not, allow. When it lashed out at him he tried to punch it again, the same as before, feeling its claws hitting his already cut leg. He was going to be smarting after this one.
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Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 7:07 pm
The creature cried out in a guttural squeal when the shield hit its head. It was hurting, yes, but it was also making it quite mad. It didn't know how much longer it could take these hits but its sense of self-preservation was growing. It'd have to flee or kill this page. Its tongue flicked out at Camelot's cut legs. Hmm. It looked like the youma wouldn't be able to get past him to the girl. It'd have to risk everything on one final attack. The monster hissed and lunged at the page, claws extended and aimed at his face or neck. One of them was going down.
Griffin couldn't help but shriek when she saw the creature leap towards the page. She closed her eyes and covered her ears, unable to watch or listen. Either she was safe or she was next.
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Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 5:06 pm
Camelot saw the youma attack and knew he had to get the thing dusted. Before he got badly injured or, worse, let it slip by him and get to the already injured young woman he was meant to protect. At least the thing wasn't too bright.
The Knight gripped his shield and made to smash it into the youma. Repeatedly. It wasn't the most graceful or Knightly way to kill something, but hey, he was still new. He was still figuring these things out.
But before long the youma did exactly what he wanted it to do: burst into dust. He was immensely relieved, letting out a sigh of relief and then taking a breath to steady himself.
And coughing on the dust.
Straightening himself, he looked at Griffin, trying to look like a put together hero who totally did this stuff all the time. And was good at it. He smiled at her, moving to kneel next to her.
"Are you alright, Miss?" he asked, his voice only cracking once because of a suppressed cough. The rest of it sounded pretty put together.
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Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 11:02 pm
Griffin held her breath as the page struck at the beast time and time again. When it became dust, she exhaled one long, deep sigh. She felt like she could faint from relief! Or maybe it was just because she held her breath too long. Either way, she relaxed and slumped against the building.
When her rescuer asked if she was alright, she looked up at him with her big blue eyes. She managed to stammer out "Oh, uh... yeah, I think I'm okay." Oops, look like she forgot her cut leg. She gathered her feet under her and that's when she remembered. Some blood smeared on the ground and a new throb of pain went up her body.
The girl made a pathetic squeak and winced, and with her voice noticeably higher, she said "Oop, it got me. Yeah, I'm cut." She managed to stand, one hand on the wall and all weight on one foot. She glared at her leg, which was red and bloody, but had for the most part stopped with any new bleeding.
She sighed heavily and looked on the scene. Blood from the both of them, some youma dust and library books and papers.
Oh nooooo. Griffin sighed in exasperation. A book laid in a puddle and it seemed another had caught a bit of blood. She'd never be able to show her face at the library again!
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