The Man in Black
1330 Hours, Southwestway Park, Indianapolis
That was all she could do. Just keep running. Her lungs burned—how many miles had she been running now? She couldn't remember. Her thighs hurt, and she was pretty sure she'd pulled a muscle or three. Her shoes were almost worn through, and her feet were probably covered in blisters. The t-shirt and running pants she wore were torn, and red lines traced the cuts she'd accumulated. It hurt so much. But she couldn't stop.
Run.
Human shadows moved through the foliage behind her, rolling through the undergrowth as if it were not there. Voices behind the shadows warned of the armed men who pursued her. The crunch and crackle of forest detritus told her exactly how much space was between her and recapture.
A shadow on the ground warned her of a sudden slope, and she leapt over it as she ran. Her exhausted legs hit the ground on the other side and gave way. She tumbled to the ground in pain and scrabbled for purchase. She was still for less than a second, pushing herself to her feet again and limping into a running pace once more. She had to keep running. There was no other choice.
She mounted a hill, her pace slowing as gravity fought her ascent, but she kept pushing, desperate to find some way to safety. She had to keep going. Running. Moving forward. Anywhere except the advancing line of body armor and guns that followed behind her.
A shout went up from somewhere behind her—someone had found the scuff marks in the grass left from her fall. As she reached the top of the hill, a man spotted her for a split second before she careened down the other side as fast as she could, breaking line of sight.
Breath short and panicked, her lungs burning, she did the only thing she could think of: she channelled her will, packed with fear and desperation, through the glove on her right hand, reaching up to the sky. Help.
Lightning crackled in the clouds above, and a bolt descended from the sky to strike the ridgetop. Maybe that would give her enough time to get away. And maybe someone would sense her cry for help.
Run.
edited 12th Apr '15 1:27:39 PM by Wysp
"Your mission is not to nuke the squid god." —Faramir
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Indiana, Lucas Oil Stadium, 2:30 pm 4/11/15
In which Daydre cannot think of a better way to introduce her character
Rhea sat amidst a crowd of loud preteen girls. Though she'd rather liked the song up till now, the cloud of screaming fangirls was starting to get on her nerves. She hadn't expected people this loud to be here, but maybe that's because she didn't have much contact with Lilianna's body of work before. Aside from maybe hearing a couple of her songs on the radio, Rhea hadn't heard of her before a couple weeks ago.
So why was she at Lilianna's concert?
Approximately two weeks ago, Rhea recieved a ticket to the concert in the mail for winning a contest. That she didn't remember entering. Not wanting the tickets to go to waste, she decided to go (though she probably could've gotten a good price for them online).
Rhea wondered about the wings Lilianna had summoned. Hah. If I didn't know any better I'd say that kind of looks like magic. Oh wait- She froze. Hm. Maybe she's a... She didn't complete her thought, trying to concentrate on the music instead.
edited 11th Apr '15 5:30:42 PM by Daydre
off the shits
Death Scientist
2:30PM Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. Apr 11, 2015
Alessandra was in a spot as near to an exit as she could get. She'd mysteriously received tickets in the mail the previous week. This, of course, meant that it was almost no mystery at all who sent it.
That little fox. Wonder what he's planning?
The stadium had been mercifully close to the airport, with several hotels in between that gave her some reprieve from the jet lag. She wasn't particularly a fan of the Angel Princess, but knew some of her repertoire. Music was one of the few things she liked to indulge in, and she found Liliana's songs to be pleasantly stirring.
There was also something intriguing about her. Alessandra couldn't quite figure out if she was a magical girl hiding in plain sight or just your regular themed idol. Her 'powers' were easily visually imitable by technology, but her lyrics had a ring of truth to them.
As if she knows exactly what she's singing about.
Her zealous fanbase could be caused by either magical manipulation or simply her talent and charisma. Burattino had also chosen here of all places to send Alessandra, though it could just be that she wouldn't completely stick out if she'd been transformed. There were several people in Angel Princess costume, with some even in customized versions.
For now, though she settled in to listen, trying not to think to much about whether she'd jumped to conclusions and this turned out to be a trap after all.
edited 12th Apr '15 3:26:58 AM by Thanatologist
This is my siggy. It says: This is my siggy. It says: This i—*crash**bang**smash*—*silence*—
2:30 PM, On the road towards Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. Apr 11, 2015
Lilith's eyes gazed with a steely determination from behind her helmet, her custom bike purring beneath her as she cruised along the road, weaving through traffic. It had only be a few days ago since she received a mysterious letter from someone, saying that they wanted to meet her at this Stadium in America. The letter had sounded pretty urgent, and since she had nothing else to do, Lilith had decided to make the trip from the airport in Joburg. This had better be worth it...
A few minutes later, at Lucas Oil Stadium parking lot...
"Wow, this place is packed. Kinda like a rugby stadium back home on a Saturday."
She swung her leg over, getting off the bike. Her hair flew free as she removed the helmet, relishing the fresh air and the sudden breeze.
Now, was I supposed to go inside, or just wait out here?
She instinctively gave her pockets a pat, making sure all her things were with her, a matter of habit from over the years.
Keys, of course, ID, check, wallet, there...bracelet...bracelet...Ah, there.
She walked towards the entrance, hanging around outside.
The Man in Black
1330 Hours, Southwestway Park
It seemed like hours that she ran through the forest, trees casting dappled shadows on the ground and plantlife oblivious to the hunt that occurred among their boughs. The fauna fled from the hunters, scuttling into hiding places too small for the woman to follow or off into the woodland somewhere.
Salvation came unexpectedly. A mountain bike with a flat tire sat chained to a sapling on the side of a bike trail, undoubtedly left there by someone planning to come back and replace the tire. She didn't question it. Only the slightest twinge of guilt went through her mind as she quickly knelt by the chain. Electricity arced between her fingers, the plasma sparking at a few thousand degrees. She didn't focus on the heat, but instead brought the improved arc cutter to the chain and severed it in a moment. The metal links melted and the chain fell, leaving the crippled bike loose. She swung one leg over the seat and kicked off, rolling down the bike trail at a speed that was far faster than her exhausted legs could carry her.
One of the soldiers spotted her rolling away and came to a halt. He touched the radio on his shoulder. "Black six this is Black three. We lost her. Tell HQ she's probably en route to the site."
"Your mission is not to nuke the squid god." —Faramir
Show an affirming flame
2:30 PM local time, near the stadium
Tina wasn't sure just why a Japanese pop star would draw so many attendees out here in the middle of the prairie, but it seemed aye exciting. At the least, there'd be huge, cheering crowds there, and that was her type of scene.
Since her train had pulled into the station a day or two ago, Tina had been bored. Boston had been in the midst of celebrating a victory in some incomprehensible American sport the day she'd landed at Logan International Airport and she'd happily joined in there, but the excitement had worn off long since. Even Chicago hadn't quite lived up to expectation—where were the gangsters? The bootleggers? The Thompson gun massacres? The Blues Brothers, at least?
And now Indianapolis. This place promised to be more staid than Edinburgh. Her term at the conservatory wasn't set to begin until June, meaning she had two months to bum around. She didn't know just why someone had taken the effort to send her the concert tickets, but, well, why not? Maybe the music'd actually be enjoyable, and she was close.
Granted, not as close as she would have liked. Bluidy taxicabs and flat tires; she'd left the apologizing driver and the crippled cab and was now trudging through the streets, converging on the crowds with a kit bag under one arm and her flask on her hip.
"It's o'an an 'arf-mile, no kiddin'," she said, seemingly to nobody in particular. "Aye, reet. Bluidy American miles, mebbe." She took a quick nip from her hip flask and continued on. "Least this 'bourbon' ain't 'arf bad, but."
Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.
The Man in Black
1430 Hours, Lucas Oil Stadium
She practically fell off the bike in the parking lot. She couldn't feel her legs anymore, only a vaguely jelly-like sensation below her torso. The only thing that kept her going was the knowledge that her objective wasn't far off.
Liliana...' The face fixed in her mind. She knew without a doubt that this girl was some kind of magical girl. Maybe she could help. After all, she was brazenly public and the government didn't seem to touch her, so she had to have some way of keeping them at bay. Her legs wobbled beneath her and a fe seconds later she collapsed right outside the gate.
Either of the two girls who are outside the stadium proper right now, that's your cue.
"Your mission is not to nuke the squid god." —Faramir
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Rhea got up to go to the bathroom, triggering a chorus of complaints from the others in her row. Hopefully she wouldn't end up outside the stadium in some sort of bizarre turn of events and meet another magical girl. wink wink
off the shits
Show an affirming flame
Tina was not a hundred meters away when Ace collapsed off her bike. That was just embarrassing; it wasn't even close to gin o'clock yet. She angled towards the collapsed cycle.
"Dinnae ye rush, ye wee bawbag, yon concert's just startit," she informed the girl on the ground helpfully. "That's a right tumble ye've had, but. Ye're nae ful' already, are ye?"
Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.
The Man in Black
"Wha...?" Ace mumbled. "Mmgh, hurts..." She said, trying to stand up. "Who're...?"
edited 12th Apr '15 6:42:58 PM by Wysp
"Your mission is not to nuke the squid god." —Faramir
The Prince of Foolish Relevations
Taking note of the fox creature's reaction, Faith nervously rubs the back of her head alongside some awkward laughter. "Sorry, its just, I just found this right now and I clearly interrupted you before you could explain more. So how does a... Mana Bracelet? Though yeah, how does one of these work then?"
Expelling his annoyance through his nostrils, Burattino takes a seat on a nearby box. "Each Mana Bracelet expresses its powers in an unique way. Yours, the Pawn Magician, expresses itself by examining your mind for information regarding the four classical elements. Each Magical Girl possesses four distinct powers, shooting fire is clearly your Attack and teleportation would fall under-"
Suddenly teleporting five feet forward, Faith starts teleporting around to get the hang of it, stopping right next to Burattino with a little smile on her face. "-Mobility... I must admit, you're figuring this out very quickly for a new Magical Girl. Your mother must of been a previous one, who was it again? Ah yes, was your mother Fiona Mulier? You would be her direct successor as the Pawn Magician, so I assume..."
Curiosity sparkling in her eyes, Faith suddenly restrains herself as she thinks carefully. Taking a more serious stance and looking down at the creature, Faith replies casually. "Nah, never knew mother so can't help you there. I'm rather used to fantasy works and superpower media, so figured I would test if teleportation was one of my powers. Though what's the other two distinct powers?"
Giving her a somewhat annoyed look, Burattino audibly sighs before speaking in a slightly harsh tone. You really don't need to be cautious, I'm more like a messenger that tells you things. Anyways, since you're such an expert, I'll just skip to the part where I explain the Kache-" Suddenly stopping himself and getting an indignant "Hey!" from Faith, Burattino stands up on all four legs as if trying to better hear something.
His eyes going wide, his stance afraid, Burattino speaks in a panicky voice. "Something horrible is about to attack the Lucas Oil Stadium, and there's another Magical Girl there. She can't handle this, you need to go there." Opening her mouth to make an objection, Burattino shouts before Faith can even utter a syllable " Now! "
With that Burattino darts through the basement wall, leaving Faith alone as her brother calls down. "Faith, you better not be roleplaying down there, Gerald should be back in about half an hour and he wanted that done by then." Standing for a moment confused, Faith thinks to herself as she looks down at the bracelet.
"Well crap, if this is real then people's lives are endangered. Though sure, rookie heroes manage to win their first fight, but he was rude. Then again, I literally know nothing about him... He certainly sounded sincere there, and I really need some more answers anyways. Alright, I'll go help my comrade!"
Clenching her fist, Faith shouts out towards upstairs "Sorry, dad really should of known I'll just be bored, so I'll just leave then!" Hearing her brother mutter "Wait what", Faith proceeds to teleport onto the outside of the house, lingering around to hear his panicked scream and just shrugging him off as she starts teleporting towards Lucas Oil.
Dancing in her little spot, Sarah suddenly stops as she hear her phone vibrate. Seeing the message "~Liliana T-Shirts outside, buy them before the others do~", Sarah's facial expressions suddenly become a lot more serious before pocketing her phone. Working her way through the cheering crowd, she slightly shakes her head before thinking. "IMPD, you're really not prepared for the Magi. If only we could openly operate..."
Slipping outside, Sarah only briefly notices what seems to be the rogue before seeing the first police cars pulling in. Like that, Sarah proceeds to vanish from sight. Armored figures starting to move out of the cars while others operate microphones, things quickly become clearer as people begin to hurriedly leave the stadium. Inside, Liliana looks onto her evacuating crowd afraid of what's going on. Clutching her staff and nervously looking around, Liliana notices the air before her start to ripple- Before suddenly erupting into flakes of gold and black, with a strange figure
rapidly forming in front of her.
The evacuation slowing down upon noticing this new arrival, phones start coming out to take pictures of it with a few comments "Is this part of the show?" "She's a Madoka fan isn't she!?" "That really doesn't go with her theme" going into the air. Suddenly, soft singing comes out from the nun-like figure, almost sounding... like a lullaby... The normal humans listening to it feeling much more comfortable, not even reacting as shadowy humanoids suddenly appear around the being which raises the cross on its secondary right arm into the air.
"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."
Show an affirming flame
"An' if I had a Euro fuir each time I heartit that," muttered Tina. It was hard to tell just what the girl's condition was; she settled for an experiment and yanked Ace to her feet with one hearty heave and seeing if she swayed. "Reet! Up ye cam', an' wi' nae muir sense of fashion than a teuchter...sure ye're nae ful'? An' are those...sirens?"
edited 12th Apr '15 6:58:36 PM by SabresEdge
Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Returning from her trip to the bathroom, Rhea noticed the giant figure that had formed in the stadium. "Hm. I don't think this is part of the show," She said, while noting the odd expressions on everyone in the vicinity.
off the shits
The Man in Black
Ace groaned. "Cops. I gotta—" She attempted to stand, bracing herself against a nearby car. Tina could see cuts and bruises across her body, her clothes practically rags. It was a miracle that they were still relatively intact.
Then, over the sound of sirens came some unearthly dulcet tone, almost like a solo choir. Ace seemed to stiffen and look toward the stadium.
"Do you hear that?" She asked. Lightning crackled across her gloved hand.
"Your mission is not to nuke the squid god." —Faramir
Show an affirming flame
Tina drew back her hand as if she'd been shocked. "Jeez, ye bampot!" Then the full implications hit her, and she rocked back on her heels, brow furrowed in thought; she turned to look at the stadium.
"So-o-o," she muttered, one hand reaching into her kitbag, which wriggled slightly in response. "All sober an' correct? Guid, now, ye ken what's g'wan oan?"
Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.
The Man in Black
"It's a...I don't remember the word. I know I'm supposed to fight it." She said, still bracing herself on the car. "I hope that Liliana girl is magic like they said she was. I don't think I'll be able to fight that thing."
"Your mission is not to nuke the squid god." —Faramir
Show an affirming flame
Now Tina smiled, an expression that suggested jagged bottlenecks. "Way-ull," she said, reaching around in her bag until she found what she was looking. "An' if it's magic ye'll be wantin', ye're in luck, but."
When she withdrew her hand from the bag, there was a new bracelet gleaming around her wrist; meanwhile the bag thrashed and wriggled disturbingly beneath her arm. Something cylindrical, more than a meter long and looking a bit like a bassoon, popped up from the bag like a periscope and settled into place with a click. It was followed by a few more, smaller pipes, jutting out like the spines of a porcupine. "Knew it wisnae a waste o' effort to bring ye," she murmured. "Noo...tell me, an' this is important, mind ye, so gi' it a moment an' ye answer." With her free hand, she lifted her flask. "Will ye be needin' a drink, or are ye aye up for the fechtin'?"
Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.
Death Scientist
Do these people have no sense of self-preservation? There's a limit to what technology can do!
The rapidly forming creature was probably a Kachemetc. They had to at least get the people out of here. She held her bracelet to her mouth and whispered.
"Armat-"
As more of the creature became whole, she was filled with a sense of dread. She had seen this one before. That's why she immediately knew what it was. In the back of her mind, she could hear echoes of the screams - both of fear and joy - of her village. The lullaby began, just like it did back then. The people started spacing out. The slaughter would soon follow.
So, This will be my first test? To see if I can avenge my family?
"Armatura mysterii!"
She was ready for this. She realized that this was the reason she became a magical girl in the first place, a secret desire to rid herself of survivor's guilt. Her prisms materialized, one after another. She spread them out on both sides behind her, unconsciously mimicking Liliana's wings. In her battle dress, she felt like a vengeful valkyrie.
edited 12th Apr '15 8:56:32 PM by Thanatologist
This is my siggy. It says: This is my siggy. It says: This i—*crash**bang**smash*—*silence*—
That's just how it is on this bitch of an earth
Better transform, I suppose.... Guess that's one of those Kache-somethings that Burattino guy told me I had to kill.... She focused on the plain grey bracelet she wore on her wrist. Rhea was surrounded by green light, and one could hear the rustling of leaves if they listened close enough as she stepped forth as a magical girl.
off the shits
The Man in Black
"I'm not sure I can fight." Ace said. "I've been running for...I don't even know. Since yesterday, I think. But let's go see what this thing is." With those words, she limped toward the stadium entrance, against the flow of people in the evacuation.
"Your mission is not to nuke the squid god." —Faramir
Lilith heard the sudden sirens, and turned suddenly, now on full alert. She quickly pushed through the crowds, not all the difficult considering the look she had. Biker jacket, jeans, sunglasses. People tend not to feel like messing with you then.
"Excuse me, pardon me, coming through! Out of the way!"
She stopped, frozen, when she saw the figure in front of Liliana.
"What in the HELL is that thing?! Look, I understand the pop stars want to be different and all, but this is just too much!"
She didn't smile at her own quip though, and rushed to a nearby bathroom, easily pulling out the bracelet.
The sound of gears and the revving of an engine could be heard from the bathroom, before Lilith-now in Magical Girl outfit- rushed out to go and face the strange figure on stage.
"Time to kick it up a notch!""
Show an affirming flame
"Suit yersel', then," said Tina. She took a quick nip from the flask. "Phwoar, ra Yankee bourbon is acrid. Dunno 'ow they stand it. Noo...whaur were we?"
There were massive crowds around the entrances and exits—enough to block ingress and egress, and judging from the view of things they were hideously close to mass casualties from trampling or stampeding.
Ah, well. She needed warming up, anyway.
"'Ere's ra plan," she said grimly, the effect slightly spoiled by the grin that played across her lips. "Yon mob needs dispersin', or some daftie is gonna step on ra kids. Then we kin go an' shank a bastard...or shock 'em, dependin', ye Railgun, ye." This last was to Ace. "An' for gettin' 'em hame an' awa'..."
One moment Tina was in street clothes; the next she was in trews and tartans, bonnet pulled down, slippers off for the charge, kit bag stashed and a huge set of great pipes under her arm. Without breaking stride she inflated them and cut loose with a screeching, keening wail, slicing across the background noise.
"Noo," she muttered, teeth still clenched around the pipes, "Whaur'll be appropriate? Ra Amurrican circus march, for when they lit a tent afire, aye..."
Stately and purposeful at just over 120 beats per minute, Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever blasted out from Tina's bagpipes, much louder than it any right to be, dragging unearthly resonances of brass and woodwind into existence. The stately pace was intentional: step this quickly, and no quicker. So too were the subtle illusions and suggestions for the crowd to quell their panic, step carefully, and (this was vital) not notice the source of the music, but just to avoid the one-Scotswoman marching band and stay out of its way.
Steadily as a frigate coursing against the current, Tina marches into the stadium, followed by the illusory strains of an entire band in trail.
edited 13th Apr '15 1:20:47 PM by SabresEdge
Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.
The Man in Black
Ace watched with confusion, limping after the Scottish girl who seemed to be playing her nation's cliches to the kilt. Her legs didn't want to move, but she couldn't help but feel that she had to at least be there if she was needed.
The bizarre keening of the bagpipes grated at her ears, and the song, whatever it was, obviously had not been written for the highland's unique instrument. And the way it seemed to move on its own...she shivered. The ethereal accompaniment that came from everywhere and nowhere at once was almost as disturbing, almost a symphony of bone woodwind and sinew strings, as it seemed.
However this girl had gained her powers, it was by nothing holy.
"Your mission is not to nuke the squid god." —Faramir
The Prince of Foolish Relevations
Stopping its arm upon hearing the song, the creature turns its attention towards Tina. Its torso opening to reveal a sideways eye, it stares intently before looking down to see the approaching figure of Lilith. Blinking twice, it readies the wicked sword attached to its left to strike Lilith, when suddenly "Don't give in to its lies / Struggle on and run away / This is no monster you were meant to see"
Turning around slightly to see Liliana intensely holding her staff, the remaining normal people start to regain their bearings and several immediately begin to run away from the monster. "It makes you believe you're at peace / When all its doing is planning your graves / So run away, don't look back, this monster holds no mercy for you"
The creature's eye angrily shaking, it brings down its blade on Liliana- Only to strike empty air as Liliana gets dropped off on the other side of it. Standing next to her is a redhead masked figure of red and gold, with a suit on underneath the thin overcoat. One angelic scythe-shotgun forming in their right hand, the figure speaks up in a subdued yet female voice.
"I'm the Magus Justice Rook, and I take it the rest of you are my comrades? If so, we need to formulate a plan first before attacking this Kachemetc. Do any of you have ranged abilities?"
"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."
Episode 1, The Twelve Have Risen
Backstage, a five foot eight light-skinned blonde teenager stood nervously with a silver staff clenched in her hands. Pacing around a bit, a soft cat-like voice gets her attention. "Hey, calm down Liliana, you've done this plenty of times. The people love you, so why are you acting like a shy bunny huh?"
Turning to her left to see a cat-sized black furred fox creature lazily outstretched on a spare sound system, the swishing of its tail and the twitching of its ear-like wings gives off a casual air about it. Looking at the creature with her golden eyes, Liliana gives a little smile before curtsying for the fox.
"I'm terribly sorry if I worried you Burattino, but it isn't stage fright I assure you. I just can't help thinking about this vigilante killer. What witnesses there were get dismissed as crazy by the police, saying things that make me think... That make me think the killer is a Magus. Oh Burattino, you wouldn't let such a dreadful person have a Mana Bracelet would you?"
Burattino's crimson eyes perking up, he stretches out his body before sitting on his hindlegs. "Come on, I thought we were friends. Implying I would give such a 'person' powers, you wound my heart ever so much..." Briefly flustered and waving her hands quickly to try dismissing the idea, Liliana speaks in an apologetic voice.
"No no no, I didn't mean it like that Burattino! I'm really really sorry!" Snickering as he brings up a paw to cover his mouth, Burattino lies back down. "You take things a bit too seriously sweetie. I couldn't hate you, and its time for you to go out on stage." Look of realization on her face, Liliana resummons her angel-winged staff and waves back to Burattino as she walks onto stage. "Right, and I hope you like the song Tino!"
Swishing his tail as he watches Liliana go out, Burattino's ears suddenly spasm. Looking around in confusion, Burattino focuses for a bit. "The twelfth Magical Girl has finally arrived... But why does she seem familiar? That warrants my attention, but... Sorry Iris, I have to go for now. I'll be back soon, promise." With that Burattino starts floating in the air, and silently phases through the roof.
Stepping out onto the darkened stage, Liliana takes a few deep breathes as she straightens her staff. ~Welcome everyone, to today's concert, a performance held by the new hit singer... Angel Princess Liliana''!~" Smiling as she hears the cheers and clapping, the lights go on and Liliana seamlessly begins to sweetly with the background music being rather calmly.
I've known only normality for most of my life/ content to stay in the shadows to avoid conflict / There were days gone to me I wished for something more/ a wish to be something more / I always believed I would just be a shadow casted on the wall/ with the lights of others blinding me / There were so many desires I wanted to make real / but never thought them a reality...
Wings of light sprouting from behind her back as the music starts to pick up, Liliana's voice becomes more vibrant as she begins to dance a bit with her movements. Knowing where this is going, the crowd becomes even more excited as the lights start to flash around.
Then, one day, I found a most peculiar thing / It whispered to me when I wore it for the first time / and suddenly I felt myself changing / From that moment I knew, I knew, that now all my wishes could come true / No longer will I just be a shadow, no longer will I just be a girl, now I have something no one else does / Now I'm a magical girl, weaving a spell over you! / The lights don't burn me anymore, I don't know what normality is anymore, cause I'm a magical girl now! / I will be there to light the darkness, to pull others like me out of that sorrow / no longer will I let the world decide!
Scattered throughout the crowd are seven distinct individuals, watching the performance and having took extra notice when the singer manifested wings of light behind herself. The one to be noted however puts small headphones into her ears as she pulls out a phone, a brown haired young woman speaking sweetly into it.
"Daddy, you really should of came here. I tried telling you Princess Liliana is awesome, she even has a green screen or something with her to project those cool angel wings of hers! Her singing is just divine daddy, like a hypnotic trance at how beautiful it is! Ooh, wouldn't it just be adorable if she had a little angel fox or something?"
Hearing a bit of rustling in the phone's background, a confident male voice breaks out in response ~"Honey, I have important work to do. So unless my missing papers are there I don't want to be bothered right now."~ The brown haired seventeen year old beginning to whimper, the voice speaks up again.
~"Fine... Yes, an angel fox sounds like an adorable thing for your musical idol. Does it fly perhaps? Maybe your sister Kristen could knit it a floppy outfit. Isn't her boyfriend Howard suppose to be creative though? Bet you could get him to make up all kinds of plans for it."~
Waving her right hand somewhat dismissively, the brown haired young woman speaks cheerfully. "Come on, Howard isn't that creative, he's more likely to hide behind a dumpster trying to steal people's trash. But I really got to go, Lily's in her third or fourth verse now, and I don't want to keep you away from your missing papers. Bye daddy, love you!" Hearing a brief "hmm..." from him, the call ends. Removing her headphones, she notices a dyed redhead next to her isn't being very emotive aside from a little swaying.
"Hey, what's the matter miss? Don't you like Princess Lily's song?" Getting a dull glare from the redhead's green eyes, she speaks up with slight disdain. "We're not friends, so don't act like it. All I want to do is listen to her, and you're just annoying me." Stepping slightly to the left, the brown haired woman quietly replies "All right, I just wanted to make sure you liked the singing..."
Opening up messages on her phone, the brown haired woman begins texting her sister Kristen. "~There's this totally weird girl next to me, some fake redhead who isn't cheering! :( ~" Getting a response, a purple colored text block shows up. "~Sry, she's here to watch our Goddess and isn't even enjoying herself? Total loser, bet daddy never bought her a pony. Gasp! She's not a punk is she!? Does punk girl have knuckles on her!? She has to be violent if Goddess Lily doesn't make her happy! >:( ~" Looking over the redhead's covered up arms to see a slight bulge on her right wrist, the brunette responds back.
"~She totes does! I feel so unsafe now Kristy! What should I do?~" "~Stay calm Sarah, punky probably won't do anything unless she feels scared. Just ignore her and she'll ignore you.~" Looking once more at the redhead to see her not even looking back, Sarah responds. "~Okay, hope there's no punks near you and your boy, bye!~"
Approaching slowly but dangerously, with a cleaver brandished, the woman who is but isn't me readies the strike and- "Wake up Faith, you moron." Hitting her face on the patted floor next to her bed, the redhead sits with her legs crossed as she rubs her face. Looking up to see her older white-blonde brother Samson, Faith flashes a little smile.
"Come on, you couldn't just wait for me to wake up? I wasn't gonna be asleep forever ya know... Just most of ever. Hey! Want to know what my dream was about? I need to tell you while I still remember!" Rubbing his eardrums a little in response to Faith's excessive volume, Samson Long sighs.
"No Faith, Gerald wants you to clear out the basement while he's at work. I already set up the pieces of carpet, and since he wants this done I-" "Had to push me off my bed, duh. Seriously, you don't need to explain, the floor's all padded if your eyes deceive you not. Kind of weird dad asked for me to clean the basement though... Hey, if I find any of your old baby photos can I keep them big brother?"
Slightly disturbed by her sudden teasing tone for that last sentence, Samson pats down his clothes before straightening his spine. "Just clear out the basement, I'll sort the actual stuff once you bring them down." Turning his back on her and heading out into the kitchen, Faith hears him mutter something about... Mother. Her face dropping a little, Faith jumps up a bit and walks into the hallway still wearing her Disgaea pajamas.
Looking towards the breezeway and seeing Samson grabbing a box of lucky charms, as Faith approaches she stops upon hearing what she thought was a voice. Seeing that Samson is still busy preparing his cereal, Faith just scratches her head a bit. "Weird, that voice was different from the normal ones... Was it trying to say something? Didn't sound like my name..." Regardless of whatever it was, Faith casually walks by Samson and looks down the stairs, seeing the carpet pieces laid out on the concrete floor.
Looking around for the first box to bring up, this time a rogue thought suddenly shoots through Faith's head. Falling to one knee as she rubs her forehead, the brief pain is already gone as she stands over a small box. Noticing a label reading My Most Precious Memento, Faith doesn't even think as she tears the tape off of and start going through the packaging. Her hand gripping something metallic and small, she pulls out a plain grey bracelet.
Turning it over in her right hand, Faith raises an eyebrow in confusion. "Why is a bracelet important? Wait... Was this mom's bracelet? Sheesh, did dad buy this at the two dollar store because he didn't have a better idea? Guess I could try it on, might explain something." Slipping the bracelet onto her right hand, fire suddenly envelops her body. Before she can even scream in panic, the fire is already gone and replaced with a Victorian-like black & fire dress. Looking down at her elongated sleeves, Faith's expression is simply one of confusion- Before a smile breaks out.
"Yes yes yes my first lucid dream! Oh man, what to do what to do... Wonder if I could burn things here? That would be sweet..." "I imagine it would Pawn Magician, but this isn't a dream. You are the twelfth and final Magical Girl, which makes this a special occasion for me." Suddenly seeing a small black furred fox-like creature phase through the basement, Faith fires a blast of fire at it due to the startling random appearance.
Leaping out of the way of the flame gout, Burattino looks behind him and then at Faith. "What was that about!? I'm just a magical animal mascot, not a monster! Never seen foxes before or something!?" Pulling her head back a bit as she tries to figure out a response, Burattino shouts again "I swear, if you actually think I'm some sociopathic fuzzball I'll just take that Mana Bracelet away from you right now!"
Fiercely clenching onto the bracelet absentmindedly with her left hand, Faith leans forward some. "Wow, wow, okay okay let's not get too hasty. If this isn't a dream, then I now have magical superpowers right? Is this bracelet like a genie, where it gives me whatever I wish for? Cause I kind of want teleportation now."
Enveloping its face with one ear-wing, Burattino sighs. "This is going to take a bit..."
edited 11th Apr '15 4:04:55 PM by Kkutwar
"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."