The youma had come out of no where that Ida could see. She would wonder later if someone had called it and then fled as it spread its mayhem, because there was no sense of any chaos signatures when the transcended senshi ran towards the hysterical screaming. It was dark this late in the evening, further confusing things as people rushed about into the cold, churning up the snow that had gathered along the sidewalk and in corners. It was sloppy footing, but Ida had been at this long enough she could at least navigate it without twisting an ankle in her white and gold boots.
It was taller than most people, almost double her own height, and from a somewhat humanoid body sprouted six spindly legs. It had an equally spindly set of arms with rudimentary hands that it used to snatch at the fleeing crowd outside the coffee shop in downtown, and when it caught one, it sucked the energy from them with a greedy fervor. The bodies strewn about had worried her, till she saw chests rise and fall. It wasn't a pleasant monster, but at least it didn't seem intent on ripping its prey apart like some.
The glow of her magic lit up the small square as she released an arrow at the youma and it shrieked when it collided, exploding with enough force to knock the beast over. It recovered with frightening speed, gathering its legs under it as she took the opportunity to rush forward and interpose herself between it and the rest of the civilians.
Nasty thing... Ida kept her fists up, guarding herself as the youma lunged towards her. It was going to be tough without help... but she had never been one to back down.
Infinities
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 12:53 am
It had been a long day. Jada leaned back in her chair in the growing dark, listening to the sounds of the people moving around her, all hustle and bustle as she peered down at the resumes that had been faxed over to her. Re-staffing the mansion was going to be no easy task, with so many of the people who had been there before having moved on to new positions. They needed gardeners, for certain, a butler, a chef, an actual housekeeper on staff who could help with filling all the other positions...
Why her father had sent her the resumes was clear, but still inconvenient. There was the added factor of the live-in staff potentially being powered, too, which was part of why she had moved out before, and... she groaned, letting her head fall to her red-coated arms, dark hair spilling across the table. So many considerations she should have finished looking through before she moved back. Or, perhaps, they should have moved into a home in the city for a bit before opening back up the mansion.
The screams startled her, and she jerked her head up, seat shoving back. Oh, of course. Because this evening couldn't get any more fun- it had to be a youma. She shoved the papers in her satchel, grabbing it and hauling it close, and then shoved herself up and out of her chair. "Excuse me," she told someone as she bumped past them, "Pardon me," she told another.
It was, in short order, Scylla who pushed herself out of the coffee shop's public restroom, via the window. When she made it back around, there was already another there, fists up and getting ready to punch the youma in the face. "Yoo-hoo!" she called to it cheerfully; "Hey, ugly! I've got something for you. Do you like calamari?"
Ida had felt the flare up of an order signature nearby, but beyond a feeling of relief because it was clearly help on the way, she hadn't paid it much more mind than that. The youma took most of it, slippery as an eel and lightning quick. Throwing punches, more often than not, skidding off one of it's arms or legs. It was frustrating, because it seemed thin and weak enough a good hit should have done decent damage.
It was just landing that hit that was the problem.
The senshi that arrive was lovely in ultramarine and gold, gauzy sleeves draping from her arms. Ida wasn't sure right off what her sphere was, but maybe that opening shot was a clue?
She took advantage of the youma's sudden distraction as it rounded on it's new attacker to step back a bit and sweep a hand up in front of her. Another glowing bow appeared, and when she pulled back the string, a glowing arrow appeared in her hands.
"Heavenly Orchid Arrows!" She shouted as she shot dead center of it's back, the arrow roaring as it cut through the air towards it's target. The moment it struck, air rushed away from the impact as it exploded, throwing the youma to the ground as the bow in Ida's hands disappeared in a shower of sparks.
Only one attack left and then she was tapped out... Hopefully her new friend had something to contribute, or they'd be having a rough time of it.
Eternal Sailor Attack: Heavenly Orchid Arrows! [What it does] An out-flung hand casts a trail of petals that form a bow-like shape. She takes it up and uses it to fire arrows of light with hardened petals as arrow heads. The arrows have an 'aura' of power to them and explode on contact. The explosion is more concussive, causing a pressure that can push a target backwards a foot or two, but doesn't do much in the way of actual damage. Unbalanced enemies could be knocked over, if they were caught unaware. Particularly heavy opponents may not be moved by the attack, but could be distracted or slowed by the pressure of it. Each arrow takes a lot of power to cast and her limit is three, which exhausts her and can force her to retire until she's rested.
Infinities
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 9:55 pm
Well. s**t. Her taunt had apparently been super-effective, because the youma turned its attention away from the other person- a woman, it looked like- and was showing her its ugly mug. And, uhh... it was the angriest mug she'd had the misfortune of seeing in a while. "You're not quite the date I'd had in mind when I said I wanted to meet someone new," she told the monster as it turned her way; the noise it made in response had her trying desperately to remember how her powers worked.
Being a senshi was not like riding a bike; oh, she could feel the power there and knew the words, but she wasn't sure if she would blow a hole in something, or slap it with a codfish. It would be like letting a horse have its head after holding it back half the track.
Luckily, she didn't have to worry about it immediately. what with that ugly mug aiming at her, she couldn't see what the other senshi did, but she could hear the name of the attack- and she could see the damage, as the distracted creature was knocked to the ground. "Please die or something. Turn to youma sludge?" but no; no such luck. She hissed, brow furrowing, and shook her hands, flopping them about uselessly. "So, uh, hi," she called to the other senshi.
"How long do you think I have to remember how my powers work before he starts to get back up?"
For a moment, Ida blinked blankly at the other senshi.
The youma was down at this woman, who was clearly an eternal... didn't remember how her magic worked? How....? But really, the how of it didn't matter right at the moment, not with the beasty trying to get back up and shake off the daze of being struck.
"Not long, I think!" She called back, her voice chipper despite her confusion. "Might as well take a crack at it... youma are the best thing to practice on, I think, if you're a bit rusty. We're trying to blow it up anyway, so."
If the other senshi was going to get her magic off, then she needed time to do it and there was really only one thing Ida could think of to give her that time... and that was offering up a distraction. Since there were no fireworks or rampaging animals handy, herself would have to do. She likely made an all-too-appealing target anyway with her sweet energy. Youma had always been particularly attracted to it. Might as well put that to use.
"Don't forget about me, ugly!" She sing-songed as she darted around the side of it, giving it a sharp kick to the side in an effort to keep it off balance. "Yoo hoo!"
She might feel a little dumb about it, but at least it seemed to be working as the youma snarled and snapped at her.
Infinities
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 10:50 pm
Not long. Of course. Scylla closed her eyes for a moment, sucking in a deep breath. We're trying to blow it anyway, so...
The creature was getting back up, and the other senshi was kicking it in the side. Not something Scylla disagreed with- you always kicked an enemy when they were down, okay- but this time... "You might want to step back. For safety reasons." Under her skin she could feel the power moving and unfurling, eager.
Hungry.
She breathed out, huffing, and focused. Unnecessary. "Scylla's Hunger!" she called, and her arms reached out for their prey, mouths and teeth and needle-sharp primal need. She focused, but she had forgotten her power sometimes seemed to have an awareness of its own, springing to her call like an eager pup. her own arms rose with them, but it wasn't her who grasped at the youma, even though it was her fists that clenched.
Two arms was all she needed, but it wasn't all that came. Grasp. Hold. Subdue.
Destroy.
Snarling, snapping, grasping, rending, seeking to tear; seeking to feed, even as it could do no such thing.
Attack #2: Super Sailor Ability NAME: Scylla's Hunger What it does: Sailor Scylla is able to create what looks like tentacles, but instead of suckers on them they appear to have tiny teeth. These tentacles can either grab and hold the opponent, the small mouths tearing at the enemy's flesh, or strike the opponent. Scylla can create up to 12 of these tentacles at once, an absolute maximum. One tentacle can be maintained for up to a full 120 seconds, each subsequent tentacle draining time off of this maximum. The full 12 tentacles averages 30 seconds and leaves her able to walk- they could last for longer, but the effort of maintaining them would leave her severely drained from their use and therefore completely helpless when they wore off. Maintaining them longer would therefore be a last-ditch resort, only if she knew help was on the way
Ida wondered, but she didn't hesitate as she jumped immediately, landing a good ten feet back. Some attacks affected a certain area, that was no doubt the case here. At least there was no one really in the way... but her eyes widened when long, sinuous... monsters erupted from the newcomer and matched themselves onto the youma.
Wow... It was a truly impressive display, and not a little bit unnerving. The purple senshi was glad she wasn't the recipient of it.
This wasn't the time to sit and tape though. The youma still thrashed and shrieked, even if it couldn't escape, but like all magic, this one had to have a time limit.
Only one arrow left... make it count. It was going to be fists and feet after this, otherwise. Ida swept her arm up again and the petal bow appeared again. The arrow sprang to life between her hands and when she aimed, she did so dead center of what passed for a forehead on this thing. The arrow streaked like a tiny comet, shedding light, before it connected and exploded with a roar of sound.
Ida's arms dropped, suddenly heavy and the youma shrieked again before it's form began to wobble and disintegrate. It crumbled away into the dust all youma seemed to be made off and she sighed heavily, glad to get the breather. It was good to have a partner to fight with... she needed to make more of an effort to connect with her team these days.
Turning on her heel, Ida waved to the new-comer, a wide smile appearing on her face.
"Hey! Thanks for the help!" She called as she dropped her arm again. "I'm Ida."
Infinities
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 8:51 pm
Seeing the other senshi mostly out of the danger zone was.... freeing. She didn't have to worry about the tentacles that erupted under the monster grabbing at her ally, or accidentally blocking her exit. She was able to let the power run rampant through her, sinking into the safety and security of her magic. It had yet to betray her, even if it did, occasionally, have some issues getting started. "I can give you about half a minute," she called to the other senshi, but the purple-clad Transcendent was already on it.
The arrow fired, and Scylla watched with a scientific curiosity. She'd never seen another senshi with an almost weapon-like attack before, only knights and negaversers. To be able to summon a bow had to be incredibly convenient, even if it was made of what looked, vaguely, like flowers.
The arrow wasn't a flower though- the beam of energy smashed into the youma's trapped forehead, and the tentacles struggled with their prey, hungry mouths ripping at shards of its magic, even as the other senshi's deadly shot began to disintegrate the beast from the forehead. And as the creature fadesd to dust, so too did her limbs, sinking back into the ground from whence they had come as Scylla flattened her hands at her side.
"You're welcome," she told Ida with a smile of her own. "Sorry for the rough start- I haven't done this in a while. I'm Scylla."
It was satisfying, watching the youma turn to dust. It was only one of many she had killed, and that was only a portion of what she knew was out there, but every one that was destroyed was a handful of civilians saved, at least for now.
Sometimes you had to be glad for the small things.
Like meeting a new senshi she'd never seen before, who already had wings. It didn't happen often, there weren't that many of them that she knew, and it was a welcome thing. It showed in her face when she closed the distance between them, moving to something that was far more comfortable and casual than shouting across the square. Well... as casual and comfortable as could be when people were peering at them from down the street and around corners, the sound of sirens starting up in the distance.
"We should maybe move." Ida said as she glanced up the road and then back to her new acquaintance. "Would you like to go somewhere and talk for a bit? I'm surprised I haven't met you before and I'd like to know you a little better, if that's okay. I can follow you somewhere quiet?"
Infinities
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 10:20 am
"We should definitely move," Scylla said with a wry smile, turning her head to the sound of the siren. But first- she did a quick look around, checking to see if anyone was hurt, and leaning over to pick up one of the heavy tables that had been knocked over in the attack, grateful her senshi strength would at least let her do that much to help with cleanup. No one seemed trapped or wounded that she could see- looked like most of the civilians had been able to run away or get to safety.
Fixing the table was the least she could do in order to try and make it look like they weren't completely reckless in defense of other people- she had seen that one superhero movie, okay, and she didn't want to have people starting a superhero registry unless they planned one for the super-villains too, thanks. Then she'd be even more illegal, and putting her in an underwater pokey just wouldn't be good for anybody.
Wishing she had slightly better night vision, Scylla brushed a dark curl off her shoulder, and looked back to Ida. "Sure." Most of the items she had been reviewing were safe in a briefcase behind the building; the briefcase wasn't one that was particularly distinct and identifiable, and so she could easily swing by and grab it as they made their way distant. "Probably someplace with a roof. I wasn't prepared for a late-night power-up, and I'm already getting kind of cold." Low cleavage, no back, short skirt- yet it still wasn't the least revealing outfit she'd seen, so she would try not to complain too much.
She jumped, flinging herself to the roof of the short building next to them with ease, doing one last check to see if anyone had been damaged. It didn't look it, though, so she moved to grab her hidden briefcase before leading Ida away. "I'm a fairly open book. Ask away."
The other senshi was so elegant and lovely… it took a moment for Ida to realize what she was doing when she bent to right a table. When she did, the young woman started and blushed, hurrying to help and scolding herself for forgetting they had made a mess out here.
They might be saving lives, but these poor people never asked for this… they didn’t deserve to clean up after it. It was awkward though… she could feel eyes on her the whole time they were doing it, and the sirens made her nervous. Not that they had anything to fear from them, but still. She’d never been in trouble with the law as a civilian, she didn’t want to be as a senshi, anonymous or not.
She was all too grateful to leave the court to take to the roofs, pausing at the lip to look down at the police cars arriving with lights bouncing off the surrounding buildings. They’d make sure everyone was okay, which meant their duty was done. Ida turned from the view with a scrape of her heels and trotted to join up with Scylla, hands reaching to straighten the hood scarf that kept her short hair out of the wind. It was another chance to study the ‘new’ woman, and it was a study in contrasts between them. Dark blue, versus purple, gold and brown. Whisping, curling shapes versus flowers. She wondered again about her sphere.
“We can head over to DCBC, if that’s okay with you? The ballet company has their roof made into a social area, and even if we don’t stay, I think its not a bad location to shoot for. I think they have a heater… A couple of the ballerinas and dancers are senshi, one of them is a friend of mine, so I’ve been up there before.” She waved a hand in the right direction before she started walking, her hands clasped lightly behind her back as she paced. It felt good to be out… good to be moving, and doing things.
“How long have you been a senshi? Have you been out of town, that I haven’t run into you before?” Ida said as she half turned towards Scylla. “That seems to be the case for a few people I didn’t meet till I was third stage. Its interesting, to see how everyone who’s made it this far is working things for themselves.”
Jobs, families, friends… life. It was a hard act to juggle and stay sane at the same time.
Infinities
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:42 pm
Scylla didn't notice the other senshi observing her, or she may have been a bit more self-conscious in her actions, been in some way more economical with her movement and motion. Her ignorance allowed her to be more comfortable and revealing, easily taking up space, and inviting it to be shared. The other senshi trotting to her side made Scylla look to her with a smile, swinging her briefcase.
"DCBC it is," she said easily, "I'll let you lead the way. The heater would certainly come in handy, since I don't have my coat." already Jada could feel her bare skin prickling with chill, and while the magic that came with being powered up might keep her warm for a little while, she had none of her usual protections against the winter cold. "A few of the dancers are senshi, hmm?" she didn't ask for any details- chances that she knew any of them were slim. It amused her, however- she'd been running into a lot of dancery-sorts of late.
The other senshi wasn't much taller than Scylla herself, but she appeared much more warmly garbed. Scylla fell into step near her, gesturing for her to lead the way. "Seven years? Give or take." She wished she could say she didn't remember the day she was awakened, but she did. Lisa had died, Vivian... had never woken up. And Jada herself had been irrevocably changed. "I'm out of town a lot. Work. Family."
It was amusing to Scylla, that Ida thought she was working anything out, but the senshi didn't laugh. "It seemd like I always seen to come home right as the explosions start."
Ida smiled, but it was a hard edged affair with no humor.
“The explosions never stop, honestly.” She said, turning her focus to the path she was taking across the roofs rather than let Scylla see the mass of emotion behind that statement. You could be gone as long as you liked, and things would still be blowing up when you got back. They’d been happening the whole time she’d been a senshi.
“You’ve been part of this far longer than I have. Its only been about three years for me, I think. Started back in highschool and continued through college. Most of that’s been as an eternal… I woke in June? And made eternal in roughly October.” It hardly seemed real, how short a time it had been. It felt like.. Years and years. A decade or more, and like she’d aged all of it. She paused to make a small running jump, landing easily on the other side of the gap between buildings. She let her momentum as she touched down spin her around, filmy bow tails swirling around her hips. Her smile was back now with more warmth, moving on from the heavier topic. Scylla had probably seen.. Twice as much of the trials of the war as she had. There was no reason she needed to drag the both of them back down into it. It was hard enough staying afloat this long as it was.
“What’s your sphere? Mmm… Octopus? Squid? Is your homeworld very… ocean-y? If you’ve been there… not everyone goes as often as I do, or ever, I guess.” Walking backwards let her keep her eyes on her fellow senshi, at least for a bit. “I’ve heard theories that our spheres are something that was really important to our worlds, in our past lives, and its why it became the sphere of the guardian. I’ve not gotten to really talk much history… there aren’t many who know it these days. There is a knight, Hvergelmir, who knows as much as anyone I’ve ever talked to, but most of what she knows relates to knights.”
Infinities
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2017 7:23 pm
Jada was a professional at fake smiles. she took it in the spirit it was meant, moving on.
"Unfortunately, that is something that hasn't changed. The explosions are what keeps us spinning." her red lips curved in a mirthless smile. "Right round like a record." It was what had driven her away- explosions in her day to day life were easier to deal with than constant hospital bills.
Shaking her head, Scylla followed Ida over the gap, ribbons and tentacled wings shivering with the cold wind and the shuddering bounce. "January 31st, 2010. Three girls in a tragic accident. One comatose, one killed, and one survivor. Less than a year later I was spouting wings. Or whatever they are." her lips remained quirked, a model's smile. "I was in high school as well. It certainly didn't help my social life any, either."
The weird socialite who kept getting in accidents. Set on fire. Stabbed in the gut. So many black eyes they probably thought she'd started trying to learn to fight. Which... she had.
"You aren't that far off about my sphere," Scylla said playfully, drawing it out. "It is both, and neither." her voice took on a teasing note. "Quite... oceany. Yes. I go every week, have since we discovered the ability. As for your theory..." Ida wasn't wrong. "My sphere was their creation myth. Kind of beautiful, if I do think so." she drew it out another moment, wondering if Ida would think it before she could say it. "The Kraken."
Eyes peered down at the streets below, considering. "What kind of history are you looking for? I can try and share such as I know."
2010? That was six years, twice as many as she'd seen. It didn't sound like much, but when you considered everything that happened in just her time... Scylla was lucky to still be among them, apparently still fighting. Ida has always assumed she wouldn't last five more years, but... seeing Scylla, remembering Ganymede... maybe it was possible, to life with this responsibility. Not well, maybe. But even their lives still held small moments of peace and joy. People to care about and be cared for.
Her head tilted as Scylla teased her and her dark eyes widened as she pursed her lips in thought. Both and neither? Hmm... tentacles? She was honestly at a loss. She brightened at the mention of going so often, something she herself had done before transcendence let her go twice as much, and then she laughed as Scylla finally ended her teasing to share.
The Kraken. A monstrously huge beast of the ocean depths known for destroying ships. Her name even made more sense now, as she remembered it from... the Odyssey maybe? A sea monster of some kind, which fit with a sphere of Kraken.
"That is lovely! Orchids are just power collectors on Ida, but you could argue without them, none of the technology they had would have been possible." Her voice edged on wistful, her hands threading fingers together behind her hips. "I'd love to see it sometime, if you ever decide you'd like to show me. Homeworlds are so amazing. In the mean time though, as far as history..."
It took a little bit of thinking. She knew the gist of it... Hver had spent a lot of time gathering that information. What she didn't know though... was more recent history.
"You don't know... how it all started here, do you? I mean, in D.C. I know something about our past lives and the war in the Silver Milenium, but... no one ever really talks about how it all started here, or why it started again. I mean... there was a thousand years between then and now, so why now?"
