Insidious Insects (18 ) : In the first week of July, the area around the tree is just buzzing. The call of the cicadas is loud and droning, and it’s constant. You start to hear it all over town, too. All sorts of insects seem attracted to the strange pods, and it’s not uncommon to find nearly any species curiously investigating. If you listen closely, you notice something else strange–it’s not just the bugs that you see making the familiar call of the cicada. It seems like it’s coming from inside the pods, too. Any pod that wasn’t leaking sap suddenly begins to snap open, and giant cicadas, crawl out. Their full wingspan can reach up to a foot and they’re hungry–and angry. It seems like the pods that were leaking sap were slowly rotting, but the ones that didn’t leak were being eaten from the inside out–and now that the cicadas have run out of food, they’re out for anything they can find. Though there are several notable differences between these insects and the common cicadas, their low, chirping wail makes them easy to find–as well as the fact that they spit acid. These bugs are incredibly hostile and will attack indiscriminately, powered or unpowered, human or alien, day or night. They have a protective shell that makes them easy to crush but they’re hardly the most menacing foe you’ve faced–but if they reproduce, you could be in some real trouble. Better to crush them now before they become Destiny City’s next invasive species… Note: These creatures are a violent alien species that are aggressive and eager to destroy. They will attack everyone and everything within sight. The insects can fly, spit acid, and will try to burrow into the ground to hide. They are very fast and difficult to see. This RP can be used as a battle requirement for a character, separate from your ‘one youma battle’ per stage if there are two powered characters involved; you cannot write a solo and count this as a battle, and your character must be powered and interacting with another player’s powered character for it to count. This can only be used as a battle requirement once per character, but there is no limitation for how many times a player can use this prompt.
Feeling a bit stronger, a bit faster, a bit more limber and able, Hybris decided to venture out more. Not really looking for fights (actually never looking for fights) but more to feel out his limits. Test the new increase in survivability.
So he didn't avoid the Order aura when he felt it and even got a little moment of happy surprise to feel that it was...weaker than him. Though likely stronger than me, he assured himself. He had no intention to ruin his perfectly good streak of being protected by the brave and kind people of...well, any and all factions. He wasn't picky about who might save him, just so long as they saved poor little him.
Oh...it's a girl. With a tail. She looked ready to play a little fae creature.
"Helloooo ~ !" he greeted the senshi with a friendly smile and wave. "Have you been enjoying the festival? I like your tail, the bow is very cute."
orangeish sherbert
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 2:02 pm
Powering up was becoming…a chore. And that…was something that was rather worrisome, since she was Ersa…first and foremost she was Sailor Ersa but…it was so uncomfortable to be herself and…
Honestly, that was exhausting.
When she felt the aura that was again…wrong, she tensed up all over and looked towards the voice, frowning slightly. “...Yes? Um. The festival is very nice, thank you…um. I like my tail and my bow too…thank you…I…”
She shouldn’t be rude. Ersa knew that she should just take the compliments and leave. Go home. Go away. Leave this…chaos ridden person alone.
“...I like the purple in your outfit…it’s nice.”
Lizbot
Orangeish Sherbert
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 2:24 pm
Watching her expressions and tone closely, Hybris smiled at her polite tones, the discomfort, the trying. It wasn't like with Angelica, torturously trying her best to be nice to him. But more...hmm...she definitely didn't feel aggressive toward him, but not scared either. Unsettled maybe?
"It is nice. I'm Hybris by the way, Dark Mirror Senshi of Eggplants," and he looked at her closely as he spoke, trying to gauge her reaction to Dark Mirror. "Are you lost?"
The words were nearly drowned out by the sudden buzzing moving toward them. A familiar bussing. Hybris froze from his smile down to his feet. No no no no no.....
orangeish sherbert
Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 8:15 pm
Dark…Mirror Senshi? She wasn’t sure what…that meant and…wasn’t sure…
“I…what is an Eggplant? I know what an egg is, I enjoy them for breakfast sometimes and I know what a plant is…I enjoy those for breakfast as well sometimes but…I believe you have made that word up, Hybris…”
There was obviously no such thing as an eggplant, and he must just be lying but.
“I’m not…lost I just…”
If Ersa hadn’t been watching him so closely, she might have missed the way that he froze, and with a frown she glanced back out towards the strange new noise. “...What is that?”
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Orangeish Sherbert
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Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2023 8:23 pm
What is an eggplant? A question to be considered and solemnly answered at a later point! It was very cute that she thought the existence of eggplants was the lie, though.
"Are you..." his voice took on a particular, hopeful lilt as he asked, body braced to run, fast. "Are you good at fighting?"
it was hard to tell which direction the buzzing was coming from, but at least time he knew there was a mirror close by, it was just a matter of how to get there.
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 6:28 pm
“Am…I good at fighting? No…not at all, honestly…why? Just what is going on?” There was panic beginning to seep into Ersa’s voice now, and she looked at Hybris with budding fear, wondering if this was a joke or if this was simply him trying to mess with her? Test her? Figure out how best to torture her?
“Why do you ask if I can fight? I am…I never got many combat lessons before everything happened…and my magic just…helps people to not want to hurt me…is…would that be useful?”
Maybe useful for her but him? He’d be on his own…and if there was something bad coming…she would feel at least a little guilty.
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Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 7:00 pm
She sounded a bit like him, fighting wise. Which was the worst possible answer.
"It's because-ah!" Hybris yelped, arms flying up to his chest in startlement as a huge, insect body zoomed past him. "Ah!" He wove past another, and then, pulling out an a actual ******** eggplant from his space, he threw it at the third insect.
And it, to his utter horror, hit the target, bug guts bursting in the air. "AHHH!" The momentary success was even more startling than the attacking bugs. "Nonononono.....ok RUNNING! WE'RE RUNNING!" Hybris announced moments after he was already sprinting away toward the hidden mirror. He wasn't sure where the girl was going to run to, but she had a tail. That meant animal instincts, right?
She'd be fine. Good luck little girl!
xOrangeish Sherbert
Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2023 4:07 pm
Animal instincts were not something that Ersa possessed, though she had no way of knowing that Hybris wanted her to possess them, but when there were suddenly giant bugs, the young Senshi felt a thrill of fear and froze, squeaking out her magic to try and keep herself protected. “P-purity!” Hopefully it would keep her safe from these creatures.
“W-wait! Don’t just leave me! Please!”
She broke into a run, hurrying after him and caught hold of his sleeve, unwilling to let the stronger Senshi leave...even if he wasn’t a real Senshi…he obviously had magic and could fight these things…if she could just remain with him…she would hopefully be safe…
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Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2023 10:18 pm
Running meant Hybris wasn't exactly able to heave a deep sigh at the tug of his sleeve or languish helplessly until any hope she had of him was lost. So instead he just took the hold of her wrist and pulled her along, trying not to grip too hard but hurrying her along with him nonetheless.
Glancing over his shoulder, he did a double take when he noticed her glowing? Was this a tail-related thing or her attack? The large bobbing and zipping bodies of the bugs still followed them. (Or, possibly, were just following him, now.) But the waiting mirror was close, closer, and there!
In a smooth move, one practiced on various stages, Hybris picked the girl up by the waist, stepping into the mirror with a small, dance-like spin. Setting her down in the mirror's cool darkness, he felt immediately tired and a little elated. Oh! He really could do that now!
For the moment, he forgot to sulk at her for making him do something tiring and useful.
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2023 6:55 pm
Ersa had absolutely no idea what had just happened. But suddenly there were still bugs, and then somehow they were…somewhere else, and she was in a panic. “...What…what is this? Where are we? What…what have you done?”
Her voice grew more and more shrill as she looked around, and her face grew paler as her magic faded. “...I do not wish to be here…wherever here is…can…I…appreciate you saving me but please, I wish to leave this place…”
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2023 8:05 pm
"It's Mirror Space," Hybris answered mildly, turning to face her in the vast emptiness. "It's not someplace bad...just different!" He took in her expression as the glow faded and her voice took on notes of panic and unease.
"I don't think you really do appreciate it," his voice stayed mild despite the words. He wouldn't leave her here to wander alone until it tossed her out, but if the girl was a little older, or a boy, it would've been fun to do so. But picking on a girl this scared and uncertain seemed a lot like kicking a puppy. Anyway, it was never too late for petty revenge, so it could wait two or three years!
Turning away, he relaxed the grip on her wrist and began leading her nowhere in particular just yet. "So what neighborhood would you like to be dropped off in?"
xOrangeish Sherbert
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2023 3:08 pm
Mirror…Space? Ersa wrinkled her nose and looked confused but finally nodded slowly. “I…I um. Don’t appreciate it…this…isn’t…anything that I’m useful…could…I please go back to where the…the Wishing Tree is?”
Ersa knew where that was…and more importantly, she knew how to get back to where she was staying. “If you could do that for me…I would very much appreciate it…and I appreciate your help with those…those things. Thank you for keeping me safe.”
Even if it ended up with her in this…strange place. She was still safe and…safe was better than dead.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2023 3:46 pm
Or he could...drop her off at the dump. Or the club district. Or one of the many scenic graveyards he'd hidden a mirror in. And yet, it was still the park near the Wishing Tree that he summoned up in his mind. He did feel a little sulky at the idea of doing nice things for someone without any further purpose than just...helping them. It was uncomfortable. A little gross even. He felt scammed!
But being the victim of some strange white order girl was still more natural for him than acting in outright malice toward someone who hadn't actually done something to offend him, who hadn't taken something he'd wanted, and who would probably not be very fun at all to watch break down, crying and unlucky. There was no pride to deflate in her, no challenge in the idea of breaking her down a little, and nothing delightful in the idea of annoying her.
She was just small, scared, and helpless.
"Okay," he answered, voice getting a bit softer and a little distant. "We'll be there in a moment." And then he was pulling her through, freeing her from the liquid darkness of mirrorspace for the clear night sky of Earth.
"You should be more careful at night," he decided to warn her. "Not everyone is as nice as me." As a rule, he wasn't very nice either.
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2023 7:22 pm
“Um…” Ersa nodded and looked around, pleased when she recognized where she was and even though it was in her mind to just break into a run, she hesitated and looked at Hybris and gave a little half bow. “...Thank you for your help…I do appreciate it…and I will take your warning to heart.”
…Honestly, she just might not go out at night any longer…she was a lousy Senshi, she was a lousy everything...so…
Perhaps the city would just be better if Ersa didn’t come out any longer.
Regardless, she broke into a run and vanished into the night, not wanting to linger in case he changed his mind…or in case more bugs decided to come out to play.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2023 7:25 pm
Behind her, she'd hear his voice call out, "And eggplants are real!"
