⇨ INVASION!

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone! But especially HARBINGERS!
When: S2:D16-22
Where: All over Wismuth!
What: As the Harbingers reveal themselves, those among the carnival that Creation has chosen will start to discover new powers within themselves. It's because they're magical girls, yo.
Warnings: Harbingers being assholes.

HARBINGERS OF VOID↴ On Day 16, the Harbingers begin revealing their new selves... in the form of wreaking havoc on the city! CY-Ren isn't looking for mass panic or serious structural damage - instead she wants constant annoyances and distractions, of the sort that will keep those that might be on her tail distracted from her true plans. However, when Creation is faced with the threat of twelve new Harbingers, it will have to fight in kind... ► HARBINGERS: Your job is to use your powers to create messes for other people to clean up! CY-Ren gives no specific instructions outside of a general framework... flex your powers! See what you can do. Don't destroy the city or anything, but give Creation a run for its money. She needs these civilians alive for her later plans. ► STAR GUARDIANS: Twelve members of the carnival have been chosen by Creation to fight in its name, even if they don't realize it yet. When confronted by the Harbinger's chaos, their Sparks will make themselves known in whatever form is appropriate to the character - and they will be asked if they are willing to use the power of their soul to fight the darkness. How this scene plays out can be flexible, but essentially they will find themselves faced with the question: are they willing to fight for the preservation of life? If they say yes, their Spark will emerge, and they will be able to trigger a magical girl transformation, as you do. ► CHARITY CONCERT: While everyone else is busy with the sudden rise of the Harbingers, CY-Ren's PR team is releasing a statement -- they will say that new information has revealed that there had been bomb threats made against the canceled concert, which are now being blamed for the damages. CY-Ren will make a personal statement, saying that in order to apologize for the failure of her previous performances, a new free to attend event is being planned for the near future - people who had tickets to the previous event and had to go home early get top priority!

Comments

[dressedtothe]

At the mention of Rita, 9S tenses. "...Where are you going with this?"

Because there has to be a reason Cole's saying these things. And their last conversation hadn't been great.

It's true that if he hadn't met Rita, he'd be an entirely different person. He'd felt so lost when he learned what the truth behind who 2B was, and what would happen to 2B and the rest of YoRHa. His memories of being with Rita, swapping data, are some of the most precious memories since his arrival to the Carnival. Her concern for his life... it's as if it means something to her.

But he struggled to act on his feelings for 2B because she always seemed to want to keep her distance. And his feelings for Rita... is it right? She's a human.

Besides, he feels especially stupid for feeling this way after he denied that he was confessing to her during the ball.

[hurtcomfort]

"It doesn't matter that she's human. It doesn't matter to her either. Your feelings for Rita are the same as yours for 2B." Concern, trust, love. That feeling where you know you can't imagine a world without them.

"Tell her," Cole insists. Because Cole has a feeling Rita feels the same about 9S and he does for her. And honestly, the carnival is chaotic enough as is. If two people can find happiness here, then Cole is going to find a way to make him happy.

[dressedtothe]

"What?"

9S feels the heat rising to his cheeks, colouring them the same shade of red as his skirt.

He'd been content to keep his feelings to himself. Hearing them called out like this is embarrassing! His feelings about her are supposed to be private and stay in his head, Cole! The only saving grace is that it's just him and Cole and a bunch of strangers who wouldn't care about this conversation at all. No Rita to overhear this, which is a relief.

"No way. I can't."

She said that she doesn't view him as below her. But... equals with a human? It feels like he's treading forbidden territory. Androids may mimic humanity, but they do it imperfectly because they are not worthy of being the same as a human.

[hurtcomfort]

"If she doesn't mind it, you shouldn't either."

How to stop 9S from thinking things were inadequate...how could Cole stop him from thinking he was unworthy? He doesn't know how except to just keep reassuring him.

"You like her. And she likes you. And she wouldn't like you if she thought you were unequal." It's said as if it's the most obvious thing ever. Because isn't that obvious about Rita? She likes people who can keep up with her on magic, intelligence, personality.

[dressedtothe]

"...She does?" Like him the same way?

Then why did she hit him with the spell when Strange and Lambert were saying stupid things? He had suspected, admittedly, but... He finds it hard to really believe.

Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he wonders what will happen as she eventually grows older while he stays the same.

"Why are you so interested in this, anyway?"

[hurtcomfort]

"Because I want you to be happy," Cole says, as if it's the most obvious answer on earth. Did he need a reason? Cole wasn't so sure about that. 9S should be happy, Rita makes him happy, so he should be with Rita. It makes sense, especially since she makes him happy as well.

"Besides, you deserve to be happy." And so, Cole is going to try and find a way to make that so and make that happen.

[dressedtothe]

9S' expression softens, his chest filled with an emotion he can't quite place. Gratitude, maybe, a pleasant swelling in his non-existent heart.

"Cole..."

But hold on, Cole said she liked him. Has he been talking to Rita, too? It feels awkward to have her private feelings being revealed to him this way. What if Cole's been revealing his feelings, too? Has Cole been telling his feelings to her, too?

Oh no.

"Wait, have you spoken to her about all this?" He better not have!

[hurtcomfort]

"I haven't," Cole responds, with a shake of his head. "I just know how she feels. Like I do with you!"

So no, he hasn't really spoken to Rita, he's just been a creepy mind-reading spirit instead of doing things like 'addressing the problem' and 'trying to match-make.' Still, Cole doesn't seem to have a problem with this!

But hey, maybe he should speak to Rita. After all, this is as much her as it is 9S.

[dressedtothe]

9S lets out a quiet sigh. "That's a relief."

Things would be even more awkward if Cole had gone and told her. Good thing he hasn't! And that him asking about it very definitely has not put the idea into Cole's head that he should.

"Look, Cole, I..." 9S' lasers circle around him as he thinks.

Is he a little worried? Yeah. Logically, he shouldn't have anything to worry about. They've always gotten along well and they've had some serious talks about things that hit close to home. And if what Cole says is true, that the feelings are mutual, then he extra doesn't have anything to worry about.

But he doesn't know how talking about his -- their -- feelings will change things.

"I'll talk to her." Try to, anyway.

[hurtcomfort]

And Cole just feels so relieved. Good. This is good to hear. He wants 9S to be happy, and this thing is just going to gnaw and chew at him forever unless he steps up and tells Rita how he feels. Because he's got a good feeling this is going to work out. Rita's stubborn, but she likes him as well.

"That's good," Cole says, absolutely relieved. 9S is (hopefully) going to be happy. And that's what matters to him most of all. "I hope everything works out!" he cheerfully offers. Because hey, Cole does. He wants 9S and Rita to hold each other's hands and do smooches and stuff like that which they obviously both want.

[dressedtothe]

9S looks away, rubbing the back of his head, cheeks warm. It's kind of weird being encouraged like this. Somehow, it's even weirder coming from Cole. "...Thanks."

He almost doesn't dare to hope -- things have a way of collapsing around him -- but he knows from the very depths of his being that when Rita offered him a place with her for a while in her world, he wants nothing more to accept it.

There's nothing more to be said about this segue, so 9S refocuses on the main quest issue at hand. "You couldn't do that memory stuff before, right? Did you have a run in with one of the missing people?"

[hurtcomfort]

The reward for this sidequest is self-confidence.

At 9S's question, Cole nods. "I could forget, but not show others." There's a pause, before he continues. "I found Lavellan."

Which still tears him up a bit inside. Someone so strong and so caring shouldn't be forced and changed to act like this. The Void had hurt her and made her so unlike herself, and Cole doesn't know how to get her back.

[dressedtothe]

9S winces in sympathy. Cole and Lavellan are friends, aren't they? Apparently friendship doesn't mean much in the face of CY-Ren and the Void's influence. "You as well, huh?"

He had to run, well, fly? Tripping over his own damn heels.

"What do you mean, you could forget?"

[hurtcomfort]

"I can make people forget things." Just said in the most casual tone of voice, as if it's a thing that everybody can do. What do you mean it's kind of creepy, Cole doesn't think it's kind of creepy.

"Sometimes it's better that way."

[dressedtothe]

9S pauses. Well. It's not like that's terribly unusual for androids -- he can make people forget things, too -- but...

"You better not touch my memories," 9S says sharply. How many times was his memory wiped? The worst part is not knowing. "If I really wanted to forget something, I can do that myself."

[hurtcomfort]

"I won't!" Cole responds, with a little shake of his head. "It's different here. I need you to remember me."

Partly because how the heck is he going to work for the Ringmaster if nobody remembers he exists. But also partly because Cole likes people here. He's made friends, 9S included, and he wants them to remember him.

[dressedtothe]

Uhhh...

Okay then. Well, as long as Cole doesn't touch his memories, then it's fine; he's had enough of people tooling around in there.

But more importantly... "Can you make the Harbingers forget their loyalty to CY-Ren and the Void?"

Look. It's only a problem if Cole is tooling around in his head.

[hurtcomfort]

Cole pauses for a moment, frowning as he thinks things over. Can he? The loyalty to CY-Ren and the Void doesn't really hurt the Carnival workers, but it makes them hurt everything else. If he could just reach in and make them forget that, things would be so much easier.

"It hurts. So I can try."