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Signs of the Affliction
A boy with sleek black hair would be staring at what seemed to be an old hospital. It was currently closed with plans to renovate soon posted on the front.
His eyes seemed empty but for some reason he seemed to stare at the building with longing.
He began to look tired as he entered into the area the hospital was in. Suddenly, the hospital would seem to disappear. The area around it becoming a void of space. People would still walk by it as if nothing was wrong, even walking through the void and coming out the other side but to anyone attuned to the supernatural they'd see a large gate right outside the void, chains extending around the gate from several sides, as if locking the place away.
A pair of girls walk down the streets, ice cream cones in each of their hands as the taller of the pair with black hair tied in a ponytail suddenly stops and stares at what to her pink-haired companion appears to be empty space.
M: "Um, are you okay over there? It looks empty Homura unless you can see things I can't, which wouldn't be shocking at all..."
H: "Yeah, I can in this case. I wanna take a look at whatever it is, might be worth dealing with. See ya later~"
Homura would finish off the last of her ice cream and stare at the chains curiously for a moment longer. Madoka simply walks off with a sigh and mutters something about helping. Either way, she's gone and the Persona-user attempts to find a way inside of the chained off building. Walking around it and warily trying to enter if she can find any kind of gap.
on a rooftop a couple blocks away our favorite blue-haired, Sword-wielding, Magical Girl would take more of the hospital’s disappearance. She briefly asks the other being on the rooftop, a small, cat-like creature with beast red eyes
Sayaka:While I have you here, ever seen a witch take a whole building before?
Kyubey:It would be highly unlikely, but not impossible.
Sayaka: Kinda what I thought.
Without another word the girl jumps off the roof, jumping from rooftop to rooftop until she lands on the sidewalk right outside of the gates. She puts one hand to the gate as she nods to Homura
“Do you saw this too?”
more a statement than a question, as it confirms what she was already thinking about the place. Sayaka tries simply pushing the gate open
“Well, you know how this goes then. I’ll take point while you watch my back, alright?”
(edited by Sayaka_Miki)
The gate would open easily because nobody ever said it was locked. It would openly slowly, creaking as it did. A mist seems to flow out from within the area in front of the hospital, it was cold and icy as if the temperature within the void like space was several degrees colder.
The sky within the area was also a distinctive dark green as if something was lingering in the air above, blocking out the sun. The door to the front of the hospital would be...open as if someone had recently entered.
Homura stares at the girl and shurgs, she doesn't see any real reason to argue with Sayaka over it at the moment. Homulilly moves fast enough to make up for it if she's gotta.
"Cool by me Sayaka, at least I can actually trust you not to do anything utterly immoral. So, already better than some allies I've had recently. Any idea what it is? Doubtful of a Witch given the fact I can find it myself."
As the gate opens, Homura would mutter a curse under her breath. So simple, but she didn't even think that something so simple would work. She follows Saya into the place and stares over at the open door, a black assault rifle taking form in the girl's hands as she holds it up to her shoulder and advances. She'd speak in a low quiet voice.
"Open door, no telling who we're dealing with though. Guess there's only one way to find out though."
“That was my first guess too, but now I’m leaning more towards your Shadow... Thing.”
Sayaka keeps her sword out, not that it really matters since she can make them at any time, she’d briefly nod back to Homura as she passes through the gate and into the hospital itself
“Never thought you were the kind to let some jerk bother you. If they end up being a problem we can deal with it. For now let’s try to focus, cool?”
unlike Homura Sayaka doesn’t think to keep her voice low, given her fighting style sneaking around ultimately wouldn’t accomplish that much for her
Through the open hospital door they'd find a desolate building. There was no sound to be heard of except vague whispers that seemed to be coming from the walls themselves. The whispers seemed to be that of students no older than Sayaka or Homura. It was hard to make out what they were saying exactly without listening more closely to the walls but they seemed to laugh occasionally as well.
Ahead was a hall with 2 rooms on each side followed by what looked to be a directory and staircase at the end. Despite how cold it was and the whispers, nothing seemed to off yet about the building.[/i]
HEY!
From behind, a familiar face waves as she walks towards the duo with shield on her back
Looks like trouble?
You guys mind if I join?
She breaks into a jog to catch up before slowing down again when she reaches the two.
Looks like lots of people don't even notice this place huh?
..........
She stops and thinks for a second.
Ah.. this isn't you two's personal hunt, right?
I'm not interrupting something?
"That's possible, you'd need to ask someone like Narukami-senpai or Tatsuya though to find out more. I'm not an expert on Shadows or Personas."
Homura just sighs a bit, guess that surprise is out from the getgo so no sense worrying with it. As for the girl's other word, that's a fair point but...
"Yeah, I'm generally not. But it just... I tried to quit for a while, thought it'd be fine. But here I am again, kind of reminded me that it's better to be ready even if I really just want to not need being ready. Besides, sitting around so much has gone and made her all restless too. I feel better when she's not."
The girl's eyes go a bit wide as they walk into this room... This, almost feels like the TV did? Maybe not the same, but it wouldn't be out of place in her limited experience.
"Hmm, maybe the Shadow thing isn't far off though Sayaka. Kinda reminds me of when I met my Shadow actually... But I could be projecting at the moment."
She'd look back at Kotori for a moment and shake her head.
"More the merrier I say. And yeah most people didn't, if I had to guess, something to do with their lack of supernatural power or knowledge. But I'm just shooting blind there frankly."
Sayaka would wave back to Kotori as she presses forward, the air feels eerie in its own way, but there’s not much obviously wrong with the place yet
“It’s cool if ya wanna tag along. Just gotta be careful since we’re not sure what’s happening.”
As they find the path branching off into two different rooms, Sayaka peeks into the room on the right to see if there’s anything interesting inside of it as she responds to Homura.
“Not the kinda thing you like thinking about I take it? Well if ya ever need someone to talk to I think I’m a pretty good listener. You could always ask Madoka.”
Homura shrugs a bit, she's never really talked to anyone about it that much. Not even the people who helped her get through it, that's maybe not super healthy.
"I could ask her... Maybe I will soon, this isn't the place though."
Shadows flicker around the girl a bit as she glances over the area. After a moment, she'd decide to enter the other side's room with her gun aimed forward.
Cool!
Thanks, it's been way too long since I've been on the hunt with you guys.
I'm really looking forward to this!
Seeing the two take the rooms on the sides, Kotori heads forward, checking out the Directory and looking to see if she can see anything down the staircase.
She also makes a note to keep her noise to a minimum, listening in on the subtle voices to see if she can understand them.
The doors would be impossible to actually open as there wasn't even a door handle to twist but both door would actually have windows that allowed them to be looked into. The one Sayaka had looked into would look like a sort of cafeteria. There seemed to be a large screen in the place a window might be on the far end of the cafeteria. Sayaka would also be able to fully hear whatever was being played on the screen as it replaced the nearby whispers coming from the halls.
The image that was displayed on the screen was that of a kid in a cafeteria. The kid in question looked to be a boy in middle school with neat black hair and vibrant dark green eyes.
At first, he was eating on his own with a youthful smile on his face. Quickly though, a group of kids seemed to come up to where he was, holding pieces of paper.
Students: "Hey, H̶̨̡̻̗̣̻̭̺̱͛́̈́̈̈́̒̎̎̍̀͘̕̕͝a̸̢̧̡̯͔͇͇̲̹̯̋͊͒̈̄̈́̉̚̕͜͝͠r̸̢̛͎̼͔̗͕̳̩̘͎̓͗̀̏̀̓́͆͘̕ͅͅu̷̡̡̖̮̥̜̜͚̟̜̩̬͌̂̈̌̀͗͋̆̇̂̕͜ͅk̴̬̫̖͔͉̝͛́́͝ḁ̴͂̒͆̉̅͐̑̊͌̔͆̾͒̕, could you help us with our homework? You always get the top score in class so I was hoping you'd already have it figured out."
The boy would seem to just keep smiling before replying.
Youthful Boy: "Sure, I'd be happy to help. It's actually pretty easy once you figure it out."
The screen would go dark as the scene seemed to have ended.
Homura would as well not be able to actually enter the room instead seeing what seemed to be a classroom one might see at an ordinary middle school. In the place of the board was another screen, fully in Homura's view. It would begin playing out a similar scene to the classroom.
A group of obscured students would be sitting around the boy from the vision Sayaka had witnessed before.
Student: "Hey, H̶̨̡̻̗̣̻̭̺̱͛́̈́̈̈́̒̎̎̍̀͘̕̕͝a̸̢̧̡̯͔͇͇̲̹̯̋͊͒̈̄̈́̉̚̕͜͝͠r̸̢̛͎̼͔̗͕̳̩̘͎̓͗̀̏̀̓́͆͘̕ͅͅu̷̡̡̖̮̥̜̜͚̟̜̩̬͌̂̈̌̀͗͋̆̇̂̕͜ͅk̴̬̫̖͔͉̝͛́́͝ḁ̴͂̒͆̉̅͐̑̊͌̔͆̾͒̕, did you get number 15 right? I don't think there's anyone else who did."
Youthful Boy: "Yeah, I can see how that one tripped most up but all you have to do is..."
Student: "Wow, really, I guess it was easy, well, at least for you, H̶̨̡̻̗̣̻̭̺̱͛́̈́̈̈́̒̎̎̍̀͘̕̕͝a̸̢̧̡̯͔͇͇̲̹̯̋͊͒̈̄̈́̉̚̕͜͝͠r̸̢̛͎̼͔̗͕̳̩̘͎̓͗̀̏̀̓́͆͘̕ͅͅu̷̡̡̖̮̥̜̜͚̟̜̩̬͌̂̈̌̀͗͋̆̇̂̕͜ͅk̴̬̫̖͔͉̝͛́́͝ḁ̴͂̒͆̉̅͐̑̊͌̔͆̾͒̕. You must be a genius."
The boy seemed to blush while rubbing the back of his head as the scene ended leaving the screen blank.
Kotori would read the directory as follows:
Floor 4 - Future Rooftop
Floor 3 - Special Plague Treatment
Floor 2 - Family Pharmaceuticals
Floor 1 - School Diagnosis
The staircase was also noticeably going up, not down.
.............
Well that's not ominous at all?
Hey guys!?
Who wants to take a trip to "Special Plague Treatment", or "Future Rooftop"?
She shakes her head chuckling to herself and upon seeing the two unable to open their respective doors, looks up the stairwell.
Only way to go is up then, yeah?
She looks back at the others, a foot on the staircase.
Up to the Future... huh...
(edited by Kotori_K)
Homura just stares at the scene before her for a moment, she was expecting Shadows to leap out but instead... Memories on a screen, that's weird as hell. And why is it that whenever they say his name it seems so strange?
"Hmm, this is a bit more... Invasive of memory than what I faced myself. But the similarity is there to be sure, I think that whatever we're dealing with has gotta be related to Shadows somehow. Anyways, whoever they are they're almost surely in danger."
She'd look over towards Kotori, eyes blankly focused as shadows twist and twirl around her gun.
"As for that Kotori, can't say I like it much I like leaving someone to get killed even less so sure let's go for it."
She steps upwards alongside Kotori, eyes darting around as she keeps her gun firmly aimed ahead.
(edited by Homura-Akemi)
Sayaka would watch the vision with interest, though she is taken aback by the... Static where the student’s name should be. The interruption is a different level of weird than she’s used to, but otherwise it seems pretty normal. When the scene ends she’d wait a moment before stepping back and scratching the back of her head
“That was.... Different. Still guessing Shadow then Homura?”
she wouldn’t really feel the need to elaborate on what she saw, rather seeing if Homura had gotten anything particularly valuable from hers before she walks over to join Kotori.
“You know what they say, start from the bottom.”
Sayaka would sheathe her weapon again, since it seemed it would be a while before something needed to be stabbed and she could always make on right quick, she’d go ahead and make the best of the situation bounding up the stairs
“Come on you two, I’ll race ya!”
The stairs would seem to be littered with black feathers the higher they got. The feathers would start off small, only 1 or 2 every step but soon began to flood the staircase leading up to another door at the top.
Through this door would be...what looked like a hallway that could be found in any home. There were also several bodies on the floor sitting against the wall motionless like dolls. They had the same black hair as the boy before and were wearing masks that were all smiling widely. They were almost like masks one would associate with a theater, completely white save for the eyes and mouth which were black and empty. The bodies also seemed to all be connected by a cord that let into a room on the left, this room had no door blocking it off but rather seemed to have a wide arch-like entrance. Another notable thing was what looked to be a piece of red tape separating this room from the hall.
Further down the hall was another door, this one with an actual handle but it was rather far compared to the hall a floor down, almost unrealistically far away for how big the hospital was on the outside.
(edited by Haruka_Senzo)
Sayaka would wait a bit to let the others catch up to her, careful not to slip on the now numerous feathers before opening the door at the top. She steps into the hall, gesturing for the others that it’s fine, before she starts walking along it.
“Getting kinda creepy now don’t ya think? Hopefully it won’t get worse.”
being fairly nosy Sayaka would of course take note of the strings leading into another, arched room to their left. Since it’s already open she’d go ahead and look inside while bringing out her sword to nudge the red tape with the flat of
Homura looks at the scene before them with a wary face, her gun aimed at the seemingly dead bodies lining the ground as she advances behind the rushing Sayaka. It's like the set up of a bad horror movie from where she's standing, except she's in it rather than curled up on her couch making it far more worrying.
"Swear to god if those things come alive and attack us, that'd just be the most annoying stuff that could happen. Not to mention a cliche. Anyways yes my guess is still on Shadow, it seems fairly fitting."
She steps a bit behind the blue haired girl as Saya begins to poke at the red tape, gun aimed right past the magical girl.
Movie.. that's one of those TV box things.. right?
She shrugs, used to not understanding technology.
While you guys are doing that I'll check ahead.
Shout if anything happens, ok?...
Kotori walks up ahead, but upon noticing how far the knobbed door is, She begins dashing towards it, Opening it cautiously as she peeks inside, assuming she can.
Sayaka and Homura would find that within the room is a standard kitchen and dining room. Nobody would be present within the room and it would eerily be quiet, aside from dripping. The kitchen sink was slightly on causing water to drip every few second.
Over on the dining table was also what looked like a opened envelope with some paper sticking out from inside.
Kotori would try to walk over towards the door but as she got closer it seemed to get farther away.Where they were before and the door seemed to grow in distance the farther she walked. Eventually, she found that she could no longer go back at all as she just kept walking forward trying to reach the door. The hall seemed to loop in the same spot over and over as the bodies on the floor began to multiply. They were all staring at her with their empty eyes and smiles. More and more the bodies increased in size, infusing with the wall as their eyes and smiles became more and more fixated on her. The walls were melting, the floor was turning to ash as the world was flooded away in a sea of their smiles...
Kotori would find herself back near the entrance to the place where Sayaka and Homura had been investigating. Nothing happened.
“Alright... Not as dramatic as I was expecting. Anyways, if these doll things do come around they’re probably not much stronger than familiars, so we’ll be fine.”
With the coast seemingly clear, Sayaka twists her sword to cut through the ribbon, letting it fall on the ground out of their way as she walks towards the envelope. It’s already open so she’d simply pull out the paper and start reading it
“You should probably stay out here and tell me if you see something. You’re... Not as resilient now after all.”
The girl shrugs a bit, she isn't quite that tough anymore but. She's a lot tougher than she looks, something that she isn't in any hurry to show off too much.
"You aren't wrong, and yeah that seemed... Less than I'd expect. I don't like it at all. Through this entire place so far, pretty much nothing has happened. Homulilly's just waiting now, kinda hates this quiet."
She just waits for now, gun held at the ready as Sayaka advances and Homura's Persona stirs inside her head.
..........................
Woah!
She slaps her face a couple times and gets her bearings.
That felt like I chugged a gallon of Melodia tea.....
Yikes....
She peeks in the door, looking for the other two.
Hey? Uhh...
You two find anything?
I just sorta found... uhh... drugs?
Sayaka would read the following:
To the Parents of H̶̨̡̻̗̣̻̭̺̱͛́̈́̈̈́̒̎̎̍̀͘̕̕͝a̸̢̧̡̯͔͇͇̲̹̯̋͊͒̈̄̈́̉̚̕͜͝͠r̸̢̛͎̼͔̗͕̳̩̘͎̓͗̀̏̀̓́͆͘̕ͅͅu̷̡̡̖̮̥̜̜͚̟̜̩̬͌̂̈̌̀͗͋̆̇̂̕͜ͅk̴̬̫̖͔͉̝͛́́͝ḁ̴͂̒͆̉̅͐̑̊͌̔͆̾͒̕,
We're happy to inform you that after looking over your child's file we'd be happy to accept them for an internship at Sakado General Medicine. On top of that, I'm happy to announce as well that they'll also be granted a small sum in order to help get them through a medical school of their choosing provided they can pass our general course over the Summer.
We're very happy that the prodigy child of Sefer Academy is considering a career in the medical field and look forward to the progress they make within the upcoming years.
Upon completing the note shadowy images would appear around the dining table as muffled voices spoke.
The Mother: "We're...proud...H̶̨̡̻̗̣̻̭̺̱͛́̈́̈̈́̒̎̎̍̀͘̕̕͝a̸̢̧̡̯͔͇͇̲̹̯̋͊͒̈̄̈́̉̚̕͜͝͠r̸̢̛͎̼͔̗͕̳̩̘͎̓͗̀̏̀̓́͆͘̕ͅͅu̷̡̡̖̮̥̜̜͚̟̜̩̬͌̂̈̌̀͗͋̆̇̂̕͜ͅk̴̬̫̖͔͉̝͛́́͝ḁ̴͂̒͆̉̅͐̑̊͌̔͆̾͒̕..."
The Father: "Keep...genius...better than...brother..."
The smaller shadowy figure sitting across the table from the two others would remain silent. A smile seemed to be painted over their face in what looked like blood. The room would begin to shake as the sink dripping stopped for a moment.
Suddenly, a dark transparent sludge would begin crawling out of the faucet and into the sink. Inky hands began reaching out as the faucet began to pour the liquid out faster and faster. Soon a quarter of the room had filled with several shadowy blobs with ink back hands reaching out. They'd begin reaching for anything they could and pulling it in. Anything they pulled in seemed to rot away at a accelerated pace.
The crawled along the floor as their numbers increased, slowly decaying the contents of the room as they approached Sayaka and Homura.
Kotori might notice that the bodies on the ground seemed to be laughing now. Their forms beginning to twitch slightly.
Hey guys!
Kotori giggles, as if absolutely nothing is wrong.
Remember what you said about the dolls coming to life?
She draws her shield, and from behind it spawns a blue, crystalline longsword which she draws.
Well they're a twitchin!
We should probably run!
(edited by Kotori_K)
Homura just stares blankly at the scene before her, that's... Worrying to say the least, but at this point she has other issues to deal with. The hands rushing from the sink are concering, but they are the kind of issue she knows how to handle by now. A black card takes shape in front of her and a cackling Persona forms.
"Winds of rage, blow my foes down!"
A howling windstorm takes shape as the Persona twirls around her bladed metal rod, rushing forth into the room filled with black hands as the summoner begins moving away, Homulilly stands at the door to cover the attempted retreat by her master.
"Amazing Kotori, simply amazing. Days like this make me wish I could still stop time, but oh well right, the cost of freedom's worth every penny!"
Bullets would begin rushing from her gun towards the dolls, coated in an inky black substance that quickly explodes into small bursts of curse magic which burn away at whatever they hit.
“Huh? What is...”
Sayaka would turn back to the sink, finding a wave of sludge quickly emerging from it. It most certainly didn’t seem like the kind of thing she’d want to touch, so, while making sure to keep hold of the letter, the girl would head for the door, slicing through any hands that reached out for her only to discard that sword seconds later and bring out another. Homura’s gust would hit her unexpectedly, causing Sayaka to stumble a bit
“Hey, wait a second!!”
but the girl simply has to get closer to the ground and push through it before bursting out into the hall. Though she would have several scratches they would simply heal before everyone’s eyes
“Could have waited for me to get out first. Oh and uh, do either of you have pockets? This outfit wasn’t really made for convenience.”
thinking it important, Sayaka would present the letter in her off-hand, seeing if anyone was able to keep it more easily
(edited by Sayaka_Miki)
Several of the blobs seemed to be blown apart by the wind but more would soon take their place as the poured out of the sink. They'd have nearly filled half the room by now and were fast aproaching the entry way.
As Homura shot at the dolls they'd seem to combust almost immediatly, exploding into a dark green gas that immediatly filled the area they would all be standing in. The gas would instantly cause everyone's vision to begin to falter as they'd begin seeing double of everything.
Sayaka would bring her cape over her mouth to minimize the effect of the fumes, and with her natural resistance would likely be able to keep her head straight as she looked around at the other two.
“Think you’ll be fine. If you’re having trouble moving just tell me.”
After confirming with the others, Sayaka would shake her head before heading down the hallway towards the distant door, dragging the others along if she had to, all the while keeping the letter out and in hand.
“We need to keep moving.”
As she glances back at Sayaka, Homura's eyes seem to be full of inky black akin to her Persona's darkness for a moment.
"Oh right, crap. I forget about that. Sorry, Sayaka I'll try to be more careful. And yeah give that thing here."
Her eyes return to normal as the girl would groan a bit, clearly annoyed by... Herself if anything.
"Apologies, I've been attempting to control her directly less but that's clearly not a great idea entirely. Effectiveness rises, but she's got no damn idea what friendly fire is."
Homulilly would vaguely shrug a bit as she rushes forward into the now clear of allies room,
four shifting black hands bursting out of her back and aiming to crush anything in her path with quick rushing strikes. She'd hold her rod in one hand, or what passes for her hands given they're hand ish shadows. The other would if she's able to reach it in her charge, attempt to shut off the faucet with a bursting solid shadow that reaches across.
When the gas takes shape, she'd sigh heavily and cover her mouth with one hand. The gas is doing little for the girl's vision, and she mentally notes off to begin carrying gas masks from this point forward. For now, she just does her best not to breath in more of it and keeps moving.
Who needs pockets?
Kotori grabs the letter and shoves it under her breastplate.
Now that Homura and Sayaka were out, she'd see if there's a door for her to close between them and the sink blob.
Ok, so when I went down that hall, I had this super weird trip out where everything turned to ash and melted and stuff, so I think we should..!
Ack!
She covers her eyes and takes a second to orient herself, once she does, she rushes to the dolls and swings her blade in a wide arc (making sure to stay behind the other to as to not hit them), not at the dolls themselves, but at the red string connecting them as she follows Sayaka down the hall.
Shouldn't we have turned off the evil hand water!?
And did we have to blow up the dolls?
(edited by Kotori_K)
Sayaka and any with her would seem to begin making progress towards the door but it felt like it was moving away at the same time, as if running away from them.
The crushing shadows would suceed in lowerin the number of blobs in the room, slowing them down. Burst of solid shadows and the charge toward the faucet would secure it tightly...before breaking the faucet because it was just a metal faucet that was barely on. The handle would break off completely causing the shadowy blobs to spill out faster than before. The room would be filled in an instant as the blobs began leaking out. Homuliliy would be trapped somewhere between the mass faster then they could get away. If they weren't recalled they might be decayed by the blobs effect.
Kotori would sucessfully break the cord...which causes any dolla in front of them, since they were moving away from the kitchen where the cord was connected, to explode into more of the green gas, only applifying it's effects.
(edited by Haruka_Senzo)
Aww come on!
Stupid wack places!
And the Hall's doing the weird trippy crap again!
Ugh!
After running past the gas, She enchants her shield with wind magic, stopping and slamming it on the ground as she spun around.
The shield would let off a burst of wind, not strong enough to damage anything, but strong enough to push the gas away before their vision got any worse.
She'd look back, towards the two running, and assuming that the gas was successfully pushed, and the ooze hadn't escaped the room yet, would try walking in the opposite direction of her goal.
“You can apologize later Homura, let’s just get out of here. Oh, and can we please stop attacking the harmless shadow familiar things?”
this more recent burst would cause Sayaka’s vision to dizzy a bit, but she’s still able to keep her head up and in the right direction.
Looking down the hallway she considers throwing a sword, but decides it’s not worth risking the damage to any more of the dolls. Instead she looks around at the other two.... Only to find Kotori going the wrong way
“Hey, stop it, that’s where all the slime is.”
Sayaka would turn around to try catching up with Kotori to keep her from doing anything stupid
(edited by Sayaka_Miki)
Homulilly just vanishes, though not before a terrible blast of shadows errupts all around it and moreover, a solid pillar of the things attempts to land upon the hole from which the blobs are coming. It might seal it, might not, but the Persona can't afford to stay around to find out. She's back within her master's soul once again.
Homura just complains inwardly to the being formed from... She's not entirely sure what all forms her, but she's more than a bit annoyed. Despite that though, she'd mutter through her raised arm to the rest of the group.
"Well, something was attempted to stem the tide. I can't say if it worked or not though, so that's a thing. Beyond that, I think we need to keep trying to get away from here. Maybe."
Her vision's blurry at the moment, but she can still see enough to keep moving at least for this moment. She can't help but agree with Sayaka at the moment, though on the other hand perhaps Kotori's idea has merit... Who knows? She does follow after Sayaka for now though, stopping Kotori seems best. She hopes.
"That might be best Sayaka, we surely do need to stop making more of this gas. The directions, I'm not really sure on but let's not try anything too insane yet."
Sayaka and Homura would find themselves slowly making progress towards the door. It seemed to be almost in arms reach but their disoriented vision might make grabbing the knob of it difficult.
Kotori having moved the other direction might find a swarm of the blobs from before rushing towards her at an equally impressive paste. One of the blobs seemed to open up its black inky hands as if to invite her to give it a hug as it aproached.
“Alright, lets get out of here.”
with the door seemingly in reach, Sayaka would behind rapidly swiping for the door handle, though it’s getting kinda hard to see it in detail, resulting in her first few attempts missing.
“Oh come on, of all the things!”
it would only be a matter of seconds before she was able to actually hit it and swing the door open for her and Homura to get through
Homura just sighs a bit and... For a moment she considers summoning the Persona, but no. Sayaka's opening of the door would send her quickly moving through it. Though, she does have to ponder for a moment where the hell Kotori is.
"Yeah, that'd be best. But we can't exactly leave her here either, can we... HEY KOTORI, PLEASE GET OVER HERE!"
The girl shouts over to their other ally, hoping that she will in fact listen. And not bring too many problems along with her.
NOPE!
Kotori immediately turns tail and dashes towards the other two. Naturally, with both the panic and the double vision she'll misjudge her position and ram herself headfirst into the doorframe.
OOOOUCH!
She stands up, holding her acheing head, and enters the room.
As Homura and Sayaka are already in, she'll slam the door shut behind her.
The room they entered would lead to what seemed to be a dead end. There was nothing in the room to speak of. Just the same type of walls as the rest of the floor and a slightly dirty wooden floor.
The door would close from behind them but they would be able to hear as the monsters began to ram into it, trying to get in. The gas from before also didn't seem to relent as it was thicker in the room than it had been anywhere else before.
The gas would cause the same distortion of vision but it would only get worse as more was breathed in. However, through the distortions there'd be a flash of something in the middle of the room, something that could only be seen through swayed vision. There'd be the vague image of a pedestal with a button set on top.
With the danger past for now, Sayaka would take a moment to catch her breath, checking on the other two’s condition, she’d do her best to look over Kotori and Homura herself before asking
“You two alright? Looks like we’ve got a minute.”
The has wouldn’t bother her too much, or at least she’d be able to mostly function through it, so her main concern is for the two who don’t have magic healing powers
Gah!
They don't quit!
Kotori enchants her body with Earth magic, increasing her strength, poise, and weight, and stands at the doorway. Hands on her shield which is pressed up against the door, using herself and her shield as a barricade. To open the door, the monsters would need to move her, which would not be an easy task.
Homura sighs a bit and stares at Sayaka, both Sayakas that are in her vision at this point.
"Not the best right now... I'm seeing two of you currently Sayaka, and I can only assume that you aren't able to clone yourself yes? God this place is terrible."
She'd lean back against the wall for a moment, trying to take a moment to focus. Though given what's in here, it's unlikely that'll do any good at all really, maybe healing will help but she isn't betting on that either.
The monsters would continue pushing against the door, like a liquid pushing in. Some of the black sludge would begin leaking out from under the door frame. It wasn't too much as it seemed the thickness of the substance caused it's progress to slow but eventually it seemed as though they'd find a way in, one way or another.
The gas would seem to thicken more and more throughout the area. The air itself seemed to take on a smoky green color leaving most things impossible to see. However, as everything began to disorient more and more. The pedestal in the center of the room became more clear.
"Not yet, though that is actually a pretty good question. Like what if I... Nevermind, we have to get out of here pretty soon"
Sayaka shakes her head, no trying to use heaing like that was a really, really dumb idea. Instead the girl simply tries to focus. She looks around the room once more, catching sight of the bbutton in the middle. Strange how she missed it before. Stumbling slightly and with few other options she moves forward to press it
"Hope this works."
Homura sighs a bit upon hearing Sayaka say that, it's a terrible idea that'd likely corrupt the gem far too quickly and thus shouldn't be done. But it seems the magical girl figured that out so she shrugs and begins trying to follow Saya instead, deep solid shadows forming into hands that seem to keep her upright, and feel out the ground in front of her to boot.
"Yeah me too, it's our best shot from where I'm standing right now. Hopefully, we can keep whoever's in here from getting too hurt..."
Mind hurrying up!?
I can't hold this door closed forever!
And it's leaking through!
Kotori keeps herself pushing against the door, making sure to keep her feet away from the approaching liquid.
As soon as Sayaka pushed the button the world seemed to grow silent. They could no longer hear anything as if they were actually there but rather as if they were listening from somewhere distant. They'd all notice their vision clear as well but they could no longer move their own bodies.
Their was a disconnect between their physical forms and their minds as they began to see themselves from a third person view. Watching themselves as the stopped moving or reacting.
The door, broke down, decaying in the same manner everything had before. It would only take a moment for the sludge to flood the room, trapping them all inside with nowhere to run. There bodies would begin to decay, their flesh melting until nothing but bone remained but even then the bones would eventually melt into nothing too.
...
They'd watch all this happen from a waiting room where they'd all be seated on a clean white couch. The screen would break out into static before turning off.
The room was well lit and clean compared to what they'd seen before. There were several plants to add some life to the room and several magazines resting on a table in front of them. However, all the magazines would be blank upon close inspection.
A nurse suddenly would walk up behind a counter that was part of the wall opposite from where they are. Her face was oddly obscured in a dark haze but the rest of her seemed normal.
Nurse: "Homura, Sayaka, and Kotori. The doctor will see you now. If you'd just step through this door."
There was a door next to the counter that the nurse would be pointing to.
Sayaka would blink for a moment as they watched, it was weird and disturbing in a way she didn’t usually deal with, and it sent a shiver down her spine. Fortunately she was here, and not there. And that was pretty good.
She’d be in her school uniform again, though she didn’t remember changing, knowing she definitely could was somewhat of a relief. Sayaka acts as if nothing was wrong, waving to the nurse before walking towards the door.
“Thanks miss, see ya soon!”
Sayaka would reach out for the door handle, motioning for Kotori and Homura to follow her
“Come on you two, this is what we’re here for.”
Ugh...
Kotori blinks a couple of times and rubs her skin.
This place really messes with the head...
Reminds me of that old horror house I got stuck in my first week here...
She stands up, following Sayaka.
Let's get out of here as soon as we can...
I kinda just wanna forget everything...
Homura looks very confused for a moment, she doesn't like the nurse's face at all nor the fact that her gun seems to be gone. Her clothing is still the same though, and she'd check it for her magical bottle while nodding to the woman calmly.
"Of course, good to know miss."
Outwardly she's perfectly calm and normal. Inwardly, she's trying to make shadows flicker to life and turn solid around her foot for a moment, not that she can tell if it'll work. And conversing with her Persona.
Homura: What the hell just happened, you are still here right?
Homulilly: Sadly for both us I'm not gone yet, yeah. Don't know if I can do anything though right now so, don't count on things getting torn open.
She sighs while following after the pair of other girls into this door, she doesn't like it at all, but the only way out seems to be forward.
Upon entering the door, things changed rapidly. It was as if they exited the strange shadow world and entered reality once more. The room was dirty with broken equipment lying around. A subtle light could be seen coming through a broken window next to a hospital bed.
A familiar boy would be sitting on the bed, looking out the window. If any of them tried to look back the door would be gone now, as if they simply entered the room from nowhere.
There was an unpleasant presence lingering in the air as the boy began to speak.
Haruka: "Once I wanted to be a doctor...I think.
I can't remember anymore if that's what I really wanted or if that was a goal my parents pushed on me.
Doctors are good people who want to help people. Doctors make a lot of money and contribute to society. Doctors are successful. Yet, I never really stopped to think about what I wanted.
Now it's too late for that...I can't even tell what I really want anymore."
“You’re... Hom.. No, I know I’ve seen you before....”
Sayaka puts a finger on her chin, thinking on the kid for a moment before snapping her fingers
“Haruka, right? It’s never too late to find yourself.”
Sayaka would walk towards Haruka, hoping to put a hand on his shoulder.
“Think it’s about time to get out of here?”
Homura would stare over at the boy curiously, she's seen him before of course... This time though, she isn't about to turn her back on him if she can figure out something anyway. She smiles softly and listens to his words patiently for the moment. As he finishes up, she'd walk closer to him and offer a shrug.
"Once huh... Heh, if you don't mind my saying? That doesn't really matter that much. You talk like it's too late somehow? I don't buy it, you are still alive aren't you, so it isn't too late."
She pauses for a few seconds, nodding to Sayaka's own statement.
"She's right, and even though I can't claim to know my own self perfectly all the time... If you want help, lemme know."
Uhh...
Kotori leans against a wall.
I mean. If you don't know what you wanna do, then you go out and find it right?
Ain't it simple?
Just do what you wanna do.
If someone else tells ya what to do, ignore them.
And if you dunno what you wanna do, then why not start with what you CAN do and work from there?
Kotori looks at the walls, in thought.
Stupid people will always try to force their wants on you.
"This is what's right for you" "Live up to your name" "This is what's good for you".
If you do what they say, you'll lose yourself, trying too hard to be something you aren't.
Something you can't be.
So stop.
Just do whatever. Start with what you can do. Move on to what you realize you want to do.
"If only it were as simple as that..."
Sayaka would be stopped from approaching Haruka by what felt like solid air. A chain suddenly would burst through the wall and wrap around the air Sayaka had tried to walk through. It would be coming fast, threatening to even do them harm if they stood there too long.
"I can't...feel a thing anymore."
Haruka would get up, the transparent gray sludge from before seemed to be clinging to his body. He'd turn around to face them, his eyes looked empty as if they had been speaking to a corpse. He'd walk over to some of the medical equipment and pick up an old scalpel.
"I could stab one of you with this and feel no remorse over it. Isn't that terrifying? Doesn't that scare you?
I don't know if I can even feel fear anymore but I still don't want to be someone that feels nothing from harming others. A life like this is beyond just meaningless, it's empty..."
He'd put the scalpel down before his pupils began to crack with red light.
"...My wounds will never heal. I've accepted that nothing I do will cure this illness. If I'm going to be like this forever then I'd rather die."
Finally, his pupils would break as shadows seemed to gather around him. The walls showed signs of cracking as a second, darker layer of the sludge surrounding him seemed to form out of the first. Dark, inky hands began to grow out of every space of the sludge, similar to the monsters they'd seen before.
They'd begin reaching out and grabbing the chains before pulling them closer. The chains would secure themselves around Haruka before more of the hands stretched out and attempted to grab onto anything they could.
“Woah!”
Sayaka would stumble back as the chain breaks through the air right in front of her, while the shadows move around him Sayaka takes the chance for her own transformation sequence, bringing up the ring on her right hand before turning back into a Magical Girl in a flash of light. She keeps in front of Kotori and Homura, Raising one hand between her and Haruka and conjuring a barrier of blue music notes to block the hand reaching out directly for the group
“Ok Homura, I think this is the shadow part, so What happens now?”
Kotori summons her sword and shield to herself, just for protection.
Well doesn't the fact that you don't want something mean that you can feel?
I think you're just stuck because you're convinced you are.
You said it yourself, you've accepted that you'll never heal.
But did you even try.. REALLY try, in the first place?
Or are you just FEELING sorry for yourself.
She holds her sword out, pointing it to the transforming Haruka.
No, You aren't scary, you're sad, and maybe you should actually try feeling again before throwing in the towel.
Wounds will never heal... That doesn't sound right at all to her, but Homura can't exactly be too sure on how to deal with it. Maybe though, just maybe... The form of the woman with shadows where a head should be takes shape behind her, black blades rising up as she raises her hand to try and halt the intercept the hands. The summoner would look over towards Kotori.
"Hey, you've still got that letter right? I can't be sure, but I think it might be relevant right now."
She'd then draw her katana once again, blade pointed towards the black and ready to try and defend herself from anything that might get past Homulilly's magic. Along with looking over to the chained boy and shouting at him.
"You say your wounds won't heal, but I don't think that's really true Haruka... Even if it seems impossible, haven't people recovered from things that everyone thought couldn't be gotten over before?"
She just shrugs at Sayaka a bit, not entirely sure on the exact details.
"Well, when I met mine I had to accept her but... I don't think this is the same thing. So I'm kinda guessing."
The hands would latch onto Sayaka's barrier, stopping there. The decaying effect that the earlier monsters showed seemed to also be in effect with these arms, possibly even more so. They'd begin trying to break down the barrier by decaying it away in whatever way they could.
Kotori's words would reach Haruka but seem to just go ignored. Despite this he'd reply to her with a calm but cold voice.
Haruka: "And what exactly would you know about how much I tried? Again and again, I saught anything I could. I tried to scare myself only to find that I had no fear, I tried to cry only to find my tears were dry, and I tried to laugh despite nothing being funny. Nothing worked so go ahead and tell me, how exactly does one feel? You make it sound easy so you must have that answer, right?"
Some of the shadowy hands that tried to reach out and help decay Sayaka's barrier would be struck in mid air by the shadowy blades, simply dispersing into the air. Homura's words seemed to get Haruka's attention much more though they didn't really seem to convince him.
Haruka: "Yes, but what if...that's not me. I don't even know where to begin with a cure to this."
Another voice seemed to begin speaking from somewhere unknown. It seemed to come from Haruka but his mouth wasn't moving and the voice wasn't his.
???: "A wound that cannot heal will eventually cause the afflicted to bleed out and die. Soon, even your body shall decay until it is nothing. That is the fate of those afflicted by this new form of Apathy sickness."
You want the letter?
Here.
I can barely read anyway.
Something about college or something.
Kotori hands the letter to Homura.
She then turns to Haruka.
Obviously not hard enough.
I know what it's like to be inadequate in some way.
To be missing something that everyone else has.
And I know it's hard when you try and try and try and nothing works.
But you KEEP trying, until either it works or you die from trying.
Anything less isn't enough, anything less is just sad.
Anything else, is just you wanting an easy solution.
She crosses her arms, looking at Haruka.
There's no such thing as a wound that CAN'T heal.
That's just quitter talk for someone who doesn't want to try anymore.
And of course I can't tell you how to feel.
I'm not you. I don't know what's wrong with you.
But you do. If the answer's out there, you have it.
And the answer IS out there.
You just gotta look harder.
Homura's eyes go narrow as she hears the other voice speaking. That isn't...
"Yeah, I understand that Haruka. I don't know where to begin either I'm not gonna lie to you, but just giving up is... Well, it is your choice but I'm not sure it's the best one. I won't try and force you to do anything though."
She'd take a moment to respond not to Haruka, but to the strange voice that had begun speaking to him.
"Sure, and those who'd forge a contract to become a magical girl will either die in a fight or become witches. Unavoidable fates are only so unavoidable in truth, even if the way out isn't clear... There's always another path!"
The shadows lash forward a bit more as Homulilly pushes her hand outward, Homura's voice full of fire as she'd look over at the boy again.
"You say that isn't you, you don't believe in yourself, right? I get that honestly, for the longest time I didn't either... But isn't there anyone who does? Well, regardless of if it means much to you or not, I guess I do now."
She's gamblng here, to be sure. But it's really all she can think to say as of right now, for good or ill she's got an idea, and she'll run with it... As she takes and begins to read the letter though, Kotori would hear the girl whispering to her sharply.
"Stop, now. You aren't helping matters like that."
“Who said you were sick anyways? Aside from this weird shadow mess you looked fine to me.”
As Sayaka’s first barrier is torn apart, she steps back to form a second one with her left. Their space isn’t infinite but at least the hands don’t seem to be a real threat for now.
“And if you’re looking for what makes you happy, why would....
Sayaka pauses hearing something Homura said, she blinks for a moment as her barrier falters, before reforming it again
“Wait were you serious on that Witch part? I kinda thought you were messing with me.”
(edited by Sayaka_Miki)
Haruka would begin zoning out Kotori's voice as nothing she said was of use to him.
Haruka: "Like I thought, you can't answer..."
Homura's point might've stood out to him but he still seemed reluctant to listen after Kotori had spoken. It was only when Homura addressed the other voice that his attention perked up again.
Haruka: "Say that isn't me? Who isn't me...? I...People used to believe in me but...I threw that away..."
Haruka would seem to be growing more and more confused as the color in their eyes seemed to try and break through the gray stillness.
Haruka: "Shadow mess? What are...?"
As Homura went to read the letter more chains seemed to form around Haruka, trying to keep him retrained. A flood of inky hands would begin to spill out and onto Sayaka's barrier, trying to decay it faster than she could bring another up.
....
Sorry Homura-san.
Enchanting her sword with wind, Kotori swings it four times, shooting a cutting burst of wind towards the hands assaulting Sayaka's shield each swing in order to help reduce the strain on it.
Sayaka-chan! Don't use too much magic!
I can defend too if you need to restock!
She smiles.
Barrier magic's kinda my specialty.
“Restock? That’s not how my magic works. I can’t just take a breather and..”
Sayaka takes a few steps back, forming a third barrier, then a fourth, before deciding that holding up on the barriers was more important than arguing the specifics of how her magic works before she lets out a sigh
“Alright fine, when this next one goes down we switch and I’ll try to help Homura.”
Homulilly would rush in front of the hands, her own shadowy black hands taking shape as the Persona goes a bit less restrainted with her magic.
"Stand back, I'm sure you planned to but really, she's getting serious here."
The Persona's magic would turn an almost red color as raw curses flow through the shadow, aiming to put themselves in place of the incoming attack with a wild flurry of blows that'd try to meet each and every one of the strikes aimed towards them. Homura smiles gently at the boy as she takes in the last of the letter.
"Threw it away huh, that might be the case Haruka but so what...?"
She'd pause for a second, that seems almost rude in hindsight but she can only go forward.
"What I mean to say is, a lot of us have left things behind is all. There's still more to find though, you're in a very strange place to say the least, that has ups and downs but... It means there's always someone and something more to discover. Maybe something that can help you, maybe not. But whatever the case is?"
She'd grin and walk a bit closer, still behind both the other two girls and of course her persona, but closer.
"I think you can find something, and if you want I'd even kinda like to try and help. For whatever that's worth."
The stream of hand would seem to let up as the combined attacks seemed to lower their assualt on the barriers. Haruka himself seemed confused as he tried to listen to what Homura was saying.
Haruka: "Help? I...think I wanted something like that before. To help other people and I think now I might be able to understand something I couldn't before but...
I'm still unsure...I'm afraid to open these wounds back up even if it allows them to heal..."
The shadowy hands wouldn't quite stop coming but it seemed as though they weren't pouring out quite as quickly anymore. It almost seemed as if they too were being restrained by the chains binding Haruka.
Homura grins a bit wider and walks forward more at this turn of events, at this point she is, in fact, going up past the Persona and past the other two girls. At this point, she's decided that showing fear at the thought of being near someone she's trying to help might not be best.
"Helping other people... I'm glad you got something out of this then at least, but if you're unsure..."
She'd hold a hand out to him, Homulilly only vaguely hovering behind the young woman as she steps up and looks at the chains more closely.
"That's fine honestly, didn't I just I won't force you to do anything? Getting better takes time, believe me, I know all about that. If you want to try and do that now, then I'll offer whatever I can for you. And if you wanna do it later... I'll still be there if you want me, I'm not sure how things were, but you don't have to be alone. Whatever you decide on, just don't think you can't get any better alright?"
She is in part channeling a certain girl with pink hair at the moment, but she isn't saying anything she doesn't actually believe herself as her Persona vanishes from the air above her and the katana vanishes back into its bottle. For the moment, she's just Homura Akemi, teenage girl, trying her best to help. Not Homura Akemi, persona user and gunslinger, trying to win a battle.
(edited by Homura-Akemi)
Sayaka initially panics when she sees Homura just step by her, momentarily dropping her barrier to reach out to the other girl
“Hey what’re you doing it’s not....”
Sayaka stops herself from finishing that sentence. Safety wasn’t really a concern for her when it came to doing the right thing right? So why would it be any different for Homura. Why was it different now? It was a little shameful to think about honestly. Rather than putting up another wall, Sayaka follows in her friend’s footsteps
“Nevermind, I’m not going to run from you either. I’ll be there every step of the way, whenever you need me.”
Though Sayaka doesn’t get close enough to extend a hand, she does give Haruka a grin, letting out a little laugh as she jokes
“Besides, healing’s kinda my thing.”
Seeing the other two, Kotori lessens on her attacks, but doesn't let her guard down.
Any dark hands that stretched towards her friends would be cut down mercilessly, but Kotori herself keeps a calm demeanor.
She at first thinks to say something herself, but remembering Homura's chastisement beforehand, she opts to silently protect the two.
The chains seemed to begin to try and hold Haruka back but he pushed against them, reaching out to give his hand to Homura.
Haruka: "Maybe...I was trying too hard. I wonder if, the answer was just to let things come back naturally.
Alright, I won't fear my wound anymore. I'll let it heal, even if it takes time."
The chains would release Haruka as the shadows seemed to lift off him. An elevator would appear near where they had all entered as the shadows and chains seemed to flow out the window, breaking the rest of the glass along the way.
Haruka: "Guess I should apologize. You all went through this trouble because I kept running from my own limits."
Kotori looks out the window as the shadows go.
.....
So...
I don't wanna rain on anyone's parade..
But I don't think this is over yet...
There were four floors, right?
Floor 1 told us what he used to be like..
Floor 2 told us what the problem was...
Floor 3 was about treating the problem...
But what about the fourth?
Uhh..
"School Diagnosis"
"Family Pharmaceuticals"
"Special Plague Treatment"
And.. uhh..
Floor 4 was "Future Rooftop"?
Shouldn't we check that out before we go?
Homura laughs a little bit, trying too hard, hah. Sorry for the trouble, oh god. She'd take his hand for a moment and help the boy to his feet if needed, or with walking out for that matter.
"Sorry? No, you don't need to be sorry about it... Actually, I should apologize for what I said the other day. I was stressed, but that's no excuse to say I wouldn't have helped. So, if you'll let that go then we can call it even I think."
Still though... There's a way out, the shadows aren't here any longer. But one thing does bother her a bit, where's the blue flame, where's 'I am Thou, Thou Art I'? It's curious, but she hasn't done this kind of thing that much. Still, to hear S- Tatsu tell it when someone gets over their shadow that happens... She'd walk up to the elevator with a curious look on her face and try to go down.
"In truth Haruka, I don't mind helping people out where I can. And like I said if you need me then just ask from now on. Still, though, there is something I'm a bit surprised not to have seen, but it's no big deal. In fact..."
She'd slap her forehead upon hearing Kotori's words, that makes sense yes.
"Wanna check it out, everyone?"
Assuming she got a positive answer, Homura would attempt to use the elevator to head there, if she could. Otherwise, it's stairs again.
(edited by Homura-Akemi)
Though Haruka seemed to be safe, Sayaka’s eyes followed the chains back out the window. She’d grin before waving to the others with a smile
“You guys can go ahead, I’m just checking something out right quick.”
With that Sayaka would head to the windowsill to see if she could still see the chains, if she’s lucky even catching sight of the source. If there’s nothing of interest though she’d simply run back after the others
The elevator would slide open in anticipation of people approaching it. There'd be no issue for anyone who wanted to get inside and there seemed to be a button for each floor.
Sayaka wouldn't be able to see the chain any longer but she'd still hear a rattle along with what seemed to be...the sound of feathers ruffling.
Haruka would walk over to the elevator, taking a moment to look over the room.
Suddenly, the ceiling to the room would broke over Haruka's head and a large bony talon would grab a hold of him before pulling him up through the ceiling. The elevator door would quickly close on anyone who had already climbed inside. The button for the roof seemed to light up as if it wanted to take it's occupants to that location.
BIRD!
Kotori enchants herself with wind magic and kicks off the ground, launching herself up and through the hole after the bird, using the walls and anywhere she can get a foot on to propel herself up with the wind.
“That’s not a good sign.”
Sayaka says to herself mere seconds before hearing a loud crash from behind her. She quickly turns around to find Haruka being dragged through a hole in the roof, with Kotori jumping after him. Not to be outdone, Sayaka gets a running start before making her own leap onto the rooftops.
“Here we go again. Now it’s my turn.”
Homura just mutters a curse to herself, now this bullshit is more in line with what she expected. But there's one small flaw. She doesn't think that just saying "We're the same" is gonna take care of this monster. She slams the button for the roof, a black card taking shape in her way as the girl's fist glides to it.
"Masukukaja!"
Homulliy appears behind the girl for a moment, and the three people in their group would find themselves moving faster and with greater agility as a large caliber sniper rifle takes form in Homura's hands. Assuming that she could see the target by now, she'd take aim with the weapon and attempt to fire off a large powerful bullet towards it, shooting as far away from Haruka as possible while still hitting something that looks vital to the beast.
"I'll just be down here for now everyone, please try to stay away from my bullets by the way these things are dangerous!"
The thing that would be flying over the hospital was a giant skeletal raven with the strange inky arms from before in the place of it's tail. It let out an ear piecing screech as it fluttered it's wings, dropping black feather that seemed to be sticking to the skeletal wing all over the rooftop.
As soon as the elevator opened up to a feather covered hospital roof Homura's shot would strike out at the bird. Upon the shot making impact it would drop Haruka, throwing him against the top of the roof. The distance wasn't so great that it would be fatal but it'd no doubt hurt nonetheless. It flapped its wings in place, opening its mouth as the same voice from before could be heard.
Plague of Apathy: "Why do you resist? This is the price that must be paid before one's wound can be healed. I said once before the wounds that are left open will eventually kill you due to blood loss.
So, I ask you, do you believe that opening those wounds once more is anything but foolish? You'll only end up bleeding out faster and dying.
The Plague of Apathy can not be easily cured. This plague was specifically designed to be stronger than ever before."
Haruka would attempt to stand up and glare at the shadow. He seemed...different, almost as if fed up with the thing before him.
Haruka: "A plague? What a stupid thing to say. Now that I know it's a disease there's no choice but to draw it out..."
The color would return to one of his eyes but the other seemed to be cracking once more, only now there was a blue light behind those cracks.
The sky would still take on a dark green but the haze seemed to be clearing revealing a full moon shining in the sky.
The raven would let out another screech as it wildly flapped its wings. The black feathers would seem to sharpen before flying around like a vortex of blades flying about.
Haruka would grab at the eye that was cracking as it began to throb with pain.
Kotori, upon arriving at the roof, would immediately rush to Haruka and use her shield to cover him, protecting him from the feathers as he sees copper scales pierce her skin and over take her flesh.
Enchanting her blade with lightning, she'd strike back, pointing her blade at the bird and thrusting, sending a bolt straight at it.
Finally! A HUNT!
Anyone paying attention would notice Kotori's breathing quicken, almost like an animals, and here face burst into a wide smile.
(edited by Kotori_K)
Homura shouts out a bit as she keeps trying to zero in on her target.
"Hey Sayaka can you take care of Harkua please, you're a lot better at that than I am!"
Homulilly places one of her arms upon Homura's gun, black shadows flowing all over the weapon as she channels magic through it.
"I don't really have a name for this honestly, it's kinda just a thing I've been meaning to try..."
She doesn't care to think about it any more. Instead, two more bullets fly straight through the sky, larger and covered in crackling dark energy that if it hit would begin to tear and rip at the bird's bones. As for the feathers... Well, from her current distance a few do come close, most of them evaded thanks to her magic, but several are blocked by Homulilly, and a couple even fly into the girl's left knee as she winces.
“I don’t really get this plague crap you’re going on about. But if you expect anyone here to just give up.”
Sayaka catches a pair of blades that drop from the space beneath her cape as the cloth flutters in the wind
“You’re sorely mistaken.”
With Kotori already taking the role of meatshield Sayaka instead moves on the offensive, weaving through the featherstorm as best she can while letting her healing factor take care of the rest, she makes sure to go at an angle so as to avoid direct fire as she jumps up and gets close enough to throw a pair of swords at the bird, aiming for its ribs
The lightning would crackle against the raven's bones. It seemed effective but a strange green mist would pour out of its mouth and begin swirling around it. The lightnings effects seemed to begin fading as if decaying away.
By the time Homura's attack reached the bird the bullets would seem to have been converted to dust, making the curse energy within them that much less effective.
The only thing that seemed to not suffer from the decaying effect as heavily would be the swords which cut into its ribs, cracking them.
Plague of Apathy: "You think it matters if I fall? You all shall fall with me and soon...the rest of this world. This is only the beginning of apathy's return. Soon it will infect this world as a plague and take the lives of millions once more.
It's out of any of your hands, only one can stop it and that's the one who caused it to begin with. Not that it matters, as I said before, you will all fall soon."
The inky arms on its tail would stretch out, reaching for the roof itself. They didn't seem to intend to grab onto any of the group but rather just the rooftop itself. The green gas would trail down them and begin spreading on the roof at a fast pace.
Plague of Apathy: "Have a taste of the true plague. Let your insides slowly rot..."
If any of the gas was breathed in, they'd instantly feel a weakening effect from it. It would be as if they're bodies became twice as heavy.
Haruka's glare would stop even if he only had one eye to do it.
Haruka: "I get it now...I know what you are."
Suddenly, he'd pull out the knife from before, the one given to him by the girl during the witch hunt.
Haruka: "I was confused where you came from but you're what's hiding in my wound aren't you. A manifestation of the sickness. If there's one thing I learned why studying for medical school, it's that the fastest way to remove an infection is to cut it out."
He'd hold the knife up to the cracking eye. There was no fear fear in his empty eyes. All that was left was determination.
Haruka: "I knew I said I'd let things happen naturally but if a wound heals incorrectly than sometimes it has to reopened the hard way. I'm not afraid of it anymore and I'll prove it right here and now."
Without anymore hesitation he'd jam the knife directly into his eye. At first it seemed as though a trail of blood might flow out but instead was the sound of glass breaking followed by a blue light shining out of Haruka's eye.
She holds her breath for a moment, leaping upwards with inhuman grace and speed thanks to her magic, she sits atop Homulilly's shoulder as the Persona floats even higher. Soon enough, they'd likely be out of the gas's range but for how long she can't really say. Instead of wasting time on trying to refute the point, the persona and summoner slam their hands forward in unison and cause a large fist of inky black shadows to burst forward. It'd aim to blast straight forward and attempt to grab hold of their foe, a gleam forming in Homura's eyes as she looks over towards Haruka and the blue light.
"You've come this far Haruka, and I know you can do this... Can't say I understand what this sickness is all about either, but I'm positive that you'll be able to handle it now!"
(edited by Homura-Akemi)
Gah!
What is with you and gas!
Copper dragon wings burst out from Kotori's back and heave against the air, not lifting Kotori, but along with the wind enchantment would cause a heavy burst of air, in an attempt to push the gas away from the members.
Hey! You know how to use a shield?
Meanwhile, as she asks Haruka this, she enchants her blade with more wind, slashing, and sending cutting waves of air towards the arms, hoping to slash them and sever them from the roof
“So you’re saying all we have to do is find Patient Zero? Thanks for the tip.”
Sayaka conjures a platform beneath her, leaving her about halfway up the roof in the air, once settled she grasped an oversized hilt from beneath her cape.
“Kotori, Haruka, Homura, Tatsuya, Kazuya, Haruko, Risako, and no doubt a lot of other people have one thing in common. We don’t know when to quit.”
Sayaka jumps through the air, spinning around and pulling out a giant sword, shaped like a katana like her usual ones, easily twice her size as she is launched towards the bird’s tail. Though she tries to cover her mouth with her cape, she undoubtedly breathes in a rather large dose of the gas. Though it may hurt, it wouldn’t be enough to stop her momentum
“So come on, let’s show him what we’re made of!”
As she passes by the bird’s tail, Sayaka swings her sword upwards, and if Homura manages to hold it in place, aims to slice the tail off completely at its base.
The shadow would be held down by the shadowy hand, trying to make it's own react in order to pry the larger one off but this attempt would be quickly interrupted by a giant sword.
The sword would cleave the bird's tail as the shadowy hands finally began to fall. The remained of them would be torn apart by Kotori's wind as the gas was swept away.
The shadowy remains of the hands would fall to the rooftop before melting into puddles, almost falling like rain as the moon's light reflected off them.
Haruka would drop the knife at his side. His eyes had broken into several blue fragments that seemed to float around his face yet their wasn't an ounce of blood to be seen. He'd seem to begin focusing, trying to bring the pieces back together but they'd move sluggishly as if something was still keeping them from coming together.
???: "Well, will you allow the affliction to take everything it can from you? And if it does then what will you be left with? Sorrow? Grief? Or nothing? They can rip of your arms but all you need do is learn to write without them. They can take away your legs but you can still walk. Even if everyone you love is gone is that any excuse to let others loved ones die?"
Haruka: "No, I've known from the beginning what path I want to take. Even if there was nothing left I won't let that stop me from following what I believe is right! If I've lost everything...than all I have to do is get it back!"
???: Then call out my true name and let us gaze into this future you speak of. I already can forsee it, a world with no plague. A world that we shall cure together."
Haruka's eye would reform from the blue fragments now with color restored to it one more. The blue cracks would seem to float out and take their place directly in front of him. Haruka would reach out with one hand and grasp the cracks in mid-air.
Haruka: "I don't care how deep this sickness flows. No matter what, I'm gonna cure it right now.
...
Persona! Nostradamus!"
Haruka would tear out the cracks as if tearing at the scar of reality itself. A flash of light would seem to shine outward from the space as a gentle white mist passed over the rooftop. Those who had been touched by the mist could feel all the effects of the gas from before fade away and their pain begin to fade.
In front of Haruka would be a large humanoid figure wearing a white coat with black leather robes underneath. Their head was similar to the ravens but it seemed to be a mask of some sort. Through the eyes on the mask stars could be seen as if they contained the cosmos themselves.
In their hand was a scepter with angelic wings on the end. Haruka would stare up at his shadow, his eyes were no longer empty and his voice sounded alive for the first time in a long time.
Haruka: "No more playing around. I'll bring an end to this plague right now! Nostradamus! Shine down upon them, Kougaon!"
Nostradamus would raise the rod in their hand towards the shadow as light began to gather around it, focusing itself towards the front. The rod would seem to form a spear of light around it that grew larger and larger.
The light surrounding the rod would fly off on it's own, starlight trailing behind it as it rose into the air above the raven before striking down onto it from above. The light seemed to just linger on the shadow for a moment as it's body convulsed.
Nostradamus would finally wave the rod once more as it turned away. With the stoke of the rod another beam of light would piece through the shadow horizontally, forming a cross over it.
The parts of the shadow's body that were consumed in light began to crumble apart before disintegrating. The rest of it's body fell to the ground, beginning to slowly break apart as well.
Plague of Apathy: "So...you've managed to cure your own sickness but do you really think you can cure everyone of this plague? If that's the future you predict than...I hope...you're right..."
The shadow would finally disappear leaving behind not trace of it's existence. Outside of the shadow world they were in the chains around the void would begin crumbling apart as well as the barrier locked around the shadow world began to fall. The blue sky would return once more, along with the sun that would take the place of the moon.
With the fight over Sayaka lands lightly back on the rooftop, her oversized sword dissolving into the air. Though the air is mostly clear now, the girl still looks around rapidly
“Anyone need a healer? No, we good? Good.”
With everyone mostly fine, Sayaka breathes out a sigh of relief, at the very least it was over for now. Sayaka would look over to where the shadow once was before saying
“I guess that wasn’t really it though. Think you can call on me whenever this plague stuff shows up again?”
finally, Sayaka turns back to Haruka, lumping one arm in the air with a childish grin stretched across her face
.......
Guess you didn't need it.
Kotori's scales and wings retract back into her body, leaving the girl as she was before.
...........
She sighs, and walks over to Homura, pulling out a capsule and opening it.
Here, lemme take care of that.
Kotori bends down and begins rubbing a paste on her wound, numbing any pain and helping accelerate the healing process.
You got hurt.
Homura would blush a bit as Kotori moves towards her, she wasn't really expecting anyone to notice the wound. Not that she's complaining, it does feel a bit better now.
"I... Yeah I did, it happens sometimes. Uh, thanks for trying to take care of it though Kotori."
She'd rub the back of her head for a moment, looking over at Haruka, now with both her Persona and weapon gone. The fact that it's over is really great comfort to her, and she seems both far less focused and much more friendly at this point with an almost goofy smile.
"Hehe, that was really something wasn't it. I've only seen one thing like this before, but it wasn't quite the same honestly. And uh, what Sayaka said too I guess... I've been trying to stay out for a while, but I don't really think I can make myself do that any longer. It isn't right."
The girl pauses for a moment and begins looking over the elevator to see if it still looks workable.
"Anyway, glad you seem to have gotten somewhere Haruka. An-"
As she steps into the elevator, Homura would hear a slight rumbling sound from her stomach and sigh.
"... Strange time to say this, but is anyone else hungry. Uh, my treat if so. And Sayaka?"
She'd look at the girl sharply for a moment, the cheer briefly gone.
"If you actually thought I was joking about that Witch thing. I... I quit for a reason, Madoka did too. All I'm saying now."
With that said and done, she'd smile again and assuming everyone had gotten in try to hit the bottom floor.
Haruka would have trouble putting what just happened in words. His newly formed Persona seemed to vanish as the cracks formed back over it, concealing it from the world.
Haruka: "I'm starting to feel tired. I...I don't think I understand what I just did myself but it felt good."
With that out of the way he'd return to the elevator as well. When everyone had entered the elevator, it'd once again begin its descent back to the first floor.
...
A man seemed to step on the roof after making sure everyone had left. He'd be older looking and his clothes would suggest he was perhaps some kind of teacher or principle. There was also a scar across his face that seemed to hint towards past trauma. He'd smile at the results of what had taken place.
???: "Well, well, well. Seem troublemakers are good for something afterall. Thanks to them I didn't have to do anything to resolve this little breakout. Though of course, the boss will want to hear about this. Seems shadows born from that plague get a little too mouthy.
No problem, if need be I can still dish out a little extra discipline here and there, though I'd rather avoid the need for that."
With that the man seemed to jump away from the roof again, disappearing into thin air.
Sayaka would continue on to the elevator with the rest of the group, a cheerful grin on her face and satisfied for yet another job well done.
"You sure you want to make an offer like that Homura? Magical Girls have quite the appetite."
Sayaka lets her magical girl outfit fade away before putting her arm around Homura with a smile. Upon hearing the last sentence Sayaka's smile drops a bit as she scratches the back of her head in embarassment
"Uh.... Yeah, I guess that kinda makes sense. Good for you two. I guess. Anyways, about eating out...."
once the levator bottoms out Sayaka would be one of the first out the door, and perfectly glad to try changing the subject
Homura chuckles a bit and grins at Sayaka.
"Eh, don't worry about it. Business has been better than usual lately so I can afford some extra expenses! I should call Madoka too, not like I'm gonna feel up to cooking after all that anyways."
Her cheer would falter for a moment as Sayaka hears those last words... And she's a bit surprised for someone to be that touchy feely too, one obvious exception existing. The girl's face is slightly red as she replies.
"Um... Yeah I do think it's likely for the best, and if you wanna know more about... Stuff, then I'll tell ya."
She shrugs a bit and sighs as they leave the place, pulling her phone out and checking the signal.
"Can't say I know this part of town that well, besides an ice cream place but that's no meal. So if you've got ideas, I'm all ears."
Kotori, who's been leaning against the wall of the elevator, stays silent and stares at the floor, waiting for it to reach the bottom.
She looks angry, she looks upset, and she stares at the floor as if it had eaten her goldfish.