[001 ☿] Normal Human Dreams

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

It's a lovely day at the local park. People are nibbling at ice cream, children are running and laughing, it could be any park anywhere though the people, the kana on a few signs, and the cityscape suggest Japan; specifically, Tokyo.

The smooth lake with its water lilies is the current escape of many couples drifting along in small boats, typically rowed by the men while the women enjoy the pleasant ride. One such boat holds a blue-haired girl in a short-skirted uniform and tall boots. The man with her just doesn't seem distinct right now; a glint of gold perhaps, maybe a hint of clothes that could belong to a businessman. They smile and take pleasure in the simple outing, but it seems forced, like neither is truly involved in the moment.

It all changes in an instant when someone screams. Dark shadows invade everywhere. The man and Mercury exchange a look, and he teleports to the shore, revealing a sword sheathed at his hip and a stiff uniform of his own. She runs across the surface of the water. Both head towards the creatures rapidly making the populace fall to the ground. They fight the clouds of black shadows.

This, this way of spending time together seems much improved as they turn and step, their swords - his a sturdy metal, hers as translucent as ice - making a brief and pitiless end for many of the lemures, the manifestations of the dead and nightmares. They fight back to back briefly, and they both seem to thrill to it. Ami's so-called normal afternoon is over, but Mercury seems far more engaged and almost relieved. This suits her better. This suits them better.

(ooc: help out, play a victim, play a hero, anything!)

Comments

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

There is a young woman by the side of the lake, preoccupied by the water lilies floating at the edge. Her hand reaches out to touch them as she admires; a pink parasol with yellow flowers blocks her from the sky. As pleasant as the park is with so many enjoying themselves, she seems lost in her own world...

Until the screaming starts. She rushes to her feet, nearly stumbles, and pulls her parasol shut as two of the dark figures approach her. In her hands, convenient shade becomes convenient defense as she lashes out with the rod. But lack of experience and confidence make her yell, "Please, someone help!"

She's not sure she can do this alone.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Before long, there's a sword lashing out along with Aerith's rod. Mercury is, to say the least, surprised someone has decided to stand and fight - but it's the same sort of surprise she'd feel over a particularly thrilling accomplishment. It's good that humans (as she assumes for now) should learn to be able to defend themselves as well.

"You're pretty bold!" she calls out to her new ally when she has a moment to take a breath. "I like that."

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

In the context of a dream, Mercury's appearance goes unquestioned; she's help, and that's exactly what Aerith wants. The compliment elicits a smile from the flower girl despite the surrounding danger.

"I wouldn't be anything else," she calls back. She holds herself carefully, on guard for any more strikes. "They make us tough under the plate."

She can't help but think how strange it is. They aren't under the plate. They aren't on it, either. This place isn't a place anywhere in Midgar.

I must be dreaming. Why is it disappointing to realize that? At least she's not in real peril.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Under the plate? At first she thinks it's a metaphor for armor, something like that. But this isn't really time to ask for sure. She gives a crisp nod, and works her way over so that she's roughly back to back with Aerith.

After all, it's only practical. Less space for enemy attacks.

She strikes a blow with her sword against the air; it releases a wave of energy that takes out a couple approaching shadows.

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

Facing away from each other, Mercury's attacks go unseen. Not for lack of hearing or feeling, though. Her power wasn't the kind of SOLDIER; it seemed more like a force of nature. In comparison the makeshift staff must have looked rather stiff in her hands, but that was a small thought as a shadow moved in from the side -- right away she jumped to get it before it could get her, smacking the parasol down on its shoulder before swinging again.

"What are these things?" she asked, the strange appearance finally registering bewilderment. Midgar had its own share of odd threats, including houses that moved to kill passersby, but these were something new.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

"They're lemures, the nightmares of the dead." She almost sounded to be reciting it. They were enemies her world knew all too well by the time of this scene. "They'll cover this world in darkness," she grinned boldly. "If we let them."

She had no intention of letting them.

"Over here!" She drew the attention of a few and sent another wave of energy at them from her sword.

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

This world. Another world? But it was so beautiful, and no people should live in darkness. "They can't do that!" she decided.

But her success in fighting was one part sheer luck, as she had a bit of experience but no formal training at all to speak. When she faced one only to be blindsided by another, even though she told herself it was only a dream, her heart lurched with fear -- and the parasol snapped in two.

This time when she cried out, it was high-pitched and wordless, the lemure already moving to pin her down.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, Mercury gets a chance to breathe just then and sees the approaching lemure. She strikes her sword against the air, sending a blast at it immediately.

"Your opponent is me!" she warned the creature. She hated being ignored, really.

[auncyenhalig.livejournal.com]

The blast sending it off-balance, Aerith shoved at what seemed like its chest before ducking out of the way. After an angry swipe at the passing flower girl, it responded to the sailor scout's taunt, approaching her.

"Be careful!" Aerith shouted. She looked around frantically. She wanted to help the girl, but weaponless she couldn't fight, and she had to keep herself safe from those creatures. What should she do?

[moonlit-voice.livejournal.com]

[Now, this was interesting. At first Sin had just been relaxing watching the boats drift aimlessly across the lake. He hovered in the air, seated there almost as if some invisible chair floated there. Then suddenly the screams began and shadows began to attack...

He frowned at this. They reminded him too much of their own troubles back in the real world of Aether. They had their own run of dark creatures to compete with at the moment.

And well, he wasn't really suited to fighting. So should he just sit back and watch the battle unfold? Perhaps so, he was sure he would enjoy it. He drifted a little closer to the action, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Which was difficult for a Spirit such as himself.]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't fit with the people, that much is certain. But he doesn't resemble the lemures, either, which is the only reason Mercury's sword stays pointed at him briefly rather than striking.]

Who's there?

[It doesn't, she admits to herself, particularly rankle her that he's playing watcher; she's been known to do the same in her slightly younger days. But if he's with the enemy...]

[moonlit-voice.livejournal.com]

[When the sword appears before him he can't help but raise his hands defensively. She had almost caught him off guard! Almost. But though she was poised to strike, now Sin knew she was there it would be an easy task to avoid the blade. He gave a little wave.]

Nobody important. Shouldn't you be paying attention to those dark creatures right now?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[She asks it bluntly, because she'll have time for games later.]

Are you with them?

[moonlit-voice.livejournal.com]

[He shakes his head.] I'm afraid I don't even know what they are. But if I can lend a hand at all, do let me know.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

You can do what you want about that.

[He might be lying, of course; she never believed people easily even at her best and this was not a situation to inspire sudden trust. But at worst, he seemed content to sit back for now. She could deal with the lemures and then see the situation.

She tosses her head with a little smile that makes her words mean 'I don't need it, but if it'd be fun for you...']

[moonlit-voice.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of weapons... but I can pose a distraction if you so wish. [He smirks. And then he faded into the air. But he wasn't gone. No, she his voice still lingered, speaking as if he was right by her ear.] Or I could be your own personal coach if you like?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[She stiffened. He was playing with her.]

Worry about your own battle instead of mine.

[It was too distractingly intimate, that voice right beside her; uncomfortable. She focused on the lemures instead.]

[guiltapalooza]

The scream was Willow, because she's having a nightmare.

For her, being helpless as a monster attacks is a definite nightmare. She's on her knees on the shore of the lake, skirt spread out around her, distressed and hands shaking as a knife slips from her fingers. It thumps uselessly on the ground.

"No, no, why isn't my magic working? My magic has to be working! I can't do this, not again! I have to help! Someone--" She hates calling to ask someone to save her, is angry as much as she is scared, but the desperation of the moment overcomes her rational sense.

you are a cruel, cruel mun. i like it. XD

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

This is what she was born and bred to do, over thousands of years ago, no matter what's changed or what she's forgotten or forsaken of it. She was meant to answer those calls for help, she was meant to protect.

There's a body between Willow and the nearest shadows, a body clothed in an odd shirt-skirted uniform, a body connected to a sword. Mercury looks down the length of her sword.

"Your opponent is me!" she tells the creatures.

LOL it's her canon point, man. it had to happen.

[guiltapalooza]

Willow scuttles across the grass to a safer vantage point behind a large rock, trying to take control of her breathing. She's fought beside - or rather behind - Buffy enough to know to get out of the way.

Her lips press together in frustration. "This isn't happening," she mutters to herself, then calls out more loudly, "Do you know what this thing is? What's it weak against?"

<33

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

The answer is not reassuring.

"They're lemures; the nightmares of the dead." Willow may recognize the term from myth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemures); though as always, myths change slightly from reality.

She didn't answer their weaknesses; one method was a good as another, with them. They were beatable, by various forms of magic and elemental attacks or even sheer physical strength and weapons. But she was already busy with the next few.

The lemures were not, it turned out, exceedingly strong. The problem was their numbers. They came in groups, waves, swarms.

"Dark Rhapsody (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeU6r4DWwJw)!" An ethereal harp shimmered into her hands; she strummed it and the lemures shrieked and howled as the nearest wave dissipated.

lol wow this is tl;dr. sorry XD

[guiltapalooza]

She does actually recognize the term lemures, though it takes her a second to click that it doesn't refer to the monkeys. Willow mentally races through a few options for spells, determined to try one last time, but ultimately comes up blank. Even on her best days, she isn't a good front lines combatant without some preparation. She had to be majorly peeved to do damage to numbers like this, and with her mojo going wonky, it wasn't looking good anyway.

Willow peaked around the rock just in time to see Mercury take out a group with what looked like a water spell. It sparked an idea in her, and she took a deep, steadying breath. Alright, she would try this once more. She wasn't going to sit here, helpless. She had to take care of things now that Buffy was dead, take care of everyone; she couldn't back down.

Her fingers threaded through the grass as she remained hidden and concentrated. Very faintly, her eyes started to glow. "Jupiter," she whispered, "king of gods, you know these dead are from your realm and a blight upon it..." Willow's chant continued, still quiet but gaining momentum.

When in doubt, call upon the thing that hated your enemy the most, and let it do the work for you.

Re: lol wow this is tl;dr. sorry XD

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

She heard it. She heard it. Why was this girl calling on Jupiter?! Why couldn't Jupiter stay gone?! She could practically hear the other senshi's voice: Guardian Jupiter, brew up a storm! Call the clouds! Bring down lightning!

For a moment she half expected the skies to darken, as they would have before Jupiter's Supreme Thunder attack.

But she fights. This isn't time to be distracted or let her guard down. She can demand her answers after the battle. If it takes out some of the enemy... all the better.

Some have gotten too close to her now, and Mercury cuts these with her sword.

[guiltapalooza]

This isn't a specific spell that she's practiced - there's no rote Latin to recite - there's no guarantee that it'll work. There's just Willow, her knowledge of Roman mythology, and her power. But she has a lot of power.

"Juppiter Tonans," she calls, louder, "bringer of cosmic justice, right the wrongs here, purge this plane of the pollution of the dead!" It was Jupiter she'd called on after all, though in the aspect of the deity and not the planet, so Mercury wasn't wrong in expecting lightning. It cracked down from the sky and took out a good portion of the attacking shades, flickering across the lake and the flattened grass in stark contrast of white and black. Not the total destruction she was going for, but it would work. It was a lot to expect from an unpracticed spell when her magic was already funked.

Which, why had this spell even worked, exactly? The others hadn't. Willow let that thought drift to the back of her mind to be worked at later and climbed to her feet, one hand on the rock for balance. "I don't think I can do anything else," she called to her impromptu ally. "Can you get the rest or are we running?"

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

The senshi did not take their names solely for the planets. They were once worshiped as goddesses, the immortal beings of the Silver Millenium who watched over Earth's evolution.

"I never run!" Mercury calls out to Willow, deciding to forget the ever-increasing number of questions for now. "Let's take them out."

She crossed her hands in front of herself, and suddenly ice and hail filled the skies along with Jupiter's lightning, forcing Mercury to confess to herself that the combined attacks had always been much more powerful, more even than the sum of their parts.

Well, better Willow than Jupiter, at least.