⇨ 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]

This is good. "Great!"

The smile doesn't strike him as particularly strange, though the good mood is in contrast to the last time they really got to talk. Maybe Lavellan is having a good time in Wismuth? He certainly is.

Except, there's something bugging him at the back of his mind. Every one of the Nightrunners was supposed to report in daily, and Lavellan had been reported missing. Surely she hadn't been shirking her duties all this time...?

"Sooo, where have you been all this time? People have been worried about you."

[dirthena]

If he had asked why she hadn't, he'd have at least gotten a far more honest answer than she'd admit to -- she doesn't like the idea of answering to anyone. She was First in her clan, and then Herald and Inquisitor. Her own boss, in charge of no small number of people; having to have a boss rankled at her.

As is, she simply shrugs. "I didn't think I was with the Carnival enough to be worried over," a true statement, beyond Cole and Solas. And only Cole would dare attempt something close to worry, or admit to it. But as for his question, well. That's harder to answer. "Around. In Wismuth, actually." Well, partly.

[dressedtothe]

He supposes he can understand that; he'd been taken aback by the care he was shown by some of the humans at the Carnival despite being new and not having spent that much time with them.

His expression softens, voice gentle, as if he was speaking to the little sister machine again.

"I know Wismuth is full of interesting things," it's a living relic of the Old World to him and it's incredible, "but we can't get so distracted that we don't report in. Some people from the Carnival went missing, so we thought you were, too."

[dirthena]

Lavellan snorts at that, because it's true that Wismuth is unlike anything she's seen, but she doesn't deserve to be talked down to, as if she's younger than him. "I have seen things comparably strange for me, as I assume you will. When you're older." The Crossroads. Vir Dirthara. Still, she waves her hand in dismissal of his concern.

"Childermass and others, yes. I've seen them -- they are fine as well, 9S." And therefore he doesn't need to concern himself with them and what they're doing. Although she suspects that will not be enough for him.

[dressedtothe]

9S bristles at the use of his age as an excuse to dismiss his words. But before he can say anything about it -- he would like to file a complaint! -- Lavellan cuts him off with surprising news.

"Wait, what? Where are they?" His eyes narrow as he frowns. No, hold on... If she hasn't been around, then, "How do you know Childermass was one of the missing people?"

And given the seriousness of Childermass, 9S has a hard time imagining he was distracted. Rita has said he was behaving strangely...

[dirthena]

File it with Lambert, 9S, and get Lavellan justifiably written up.

But his question simply makes her shrug -- she doesn't lie, but she's not very upfront about the truth either. "Around, I would imagine." As if that should answer his question all on its own. "Because he and I had a conversation about his cards, of all things. Nothing like them exists in Thedas."

Existed, even. For their words wouldn't survive as they were for long.

[dressedtothe]

Oh come on! That's not a real answer!

There's just something really wrong about this entire conversation. He can't quite put his finger on it. She's avoided answering his location. That's reasonable enough; Childermass is a free roaming adult. But she's also said nothing about how she knew Childermass was mising.

Frowning, 9S says, "Well, since you're here, you should come with me so we can look for Childermass together."

[dirthena]

It's a decent enough answer, alright?

Lavellan pauses at that, and looks around them both before shaking her head. She has thinks to do, after all, and she won't waste it by running off and chasing after someone who is tasked with the same thing she is. "I'm sure he's fine, 9S. And around."

And therefore she will not be coming with him.

[dressedtothe]

9S shakes his head before he folds his arms.

"The last we heard, he was behaving strangely. I'll believe he's fine when I see it."

[dirthena]

"Then you'd best look for him by yourself, shouldn't you?" A tilt of her head, and a small sliver of a grin. He doesn't need to interrupt her work out of a concern for Childermass. "I've still got work to do here."

So go along, 9S. Leave her alone to do Questionably Evil Actions.

[dressedtothe]

No, he won't leave her alone!

"What work? You haven't reported in for days!"

None of this is adding up.

"Are you going to tell me what's really going on or what?"

[dirthena]

Lavellan sighs, turning to face 9S with something approaching an annoyed frown. "Other work. More important work, 9S." Which he clearly cannot respect.

"You do not need to know. But I do not answer to Lambert anymore -- is that enough?"

[dressedtothe]

His voice pitches up, incredulous. Lavellan's no human, so he has no problem questioning all this.

"What could possibly be more important than answering to Lambert? Have you forgotten you work for the Ringmaster?" Which means doing as Lambert says?

He's tired of people telling him he doesn't need to know things.

[dirthena]

"Any number of things that I choose to do, irregardless of my work for the Ringmaster." In other words: she hates having a boss. Any boss. CY-Ren is different, however, and that is one person she does not mind working for. "I have not forgotten, no. But I answer to someone else now, and do a work that is needed more than anything Lambert could want."

And she'd like to get back to doing that, please and thank you.

[dressedtothe]

"You answer to someone else? Are you joking?"

No, she's clearly not joking. The hell is going on?

"Who the heck are you working for now? You realise this sounds a lot like you breaking your contract with the Ringmaster, right?"

[dirthena]

Is that a headache coming on? Lavellan thought she was done with headaches -- they're ending this world and every other, why would she have to deal with headaches. She sighs, and levels 9S with a look.

"It won't matter in time," she offers, although a slightly adoring look steels over her face as he asks who she's working for now. It doesn't fit on her face, not really. "Why, CY-Ren, of course."

Who else? Honestly.

[dressedtothe]

God. Damn it.

"Oh come on! Her?"

Have some better taste, Lavellan! Have you seen her outfit? It's, like, all black and everything! ...Wait, shit, he wears black.

"Why?" It doesn't make any sense???

[dirthena]

As if the clothes Lavellan wears when left to her own devices are better. They might not be black, but they're certainly a very specific brand of fantasy ridiculous. At his outburst her expression sours -- how dare he. But the question causes her mind to twist -- why? She knew why she wanted to end the world -- all of them -- but why follow her?

It doesn't bear thinking about, and so Lavellan ignores it and gives 9S a non-answer. "Because she deserves my loyalty."

There. Perfect. Totally not questionable in the slightest.

[dressedtothe]

"I don't understsand!"

It's absolutely questionable. Just as questionable as Childermass wandering off. If Rita is to be believed -- and honestly her word is about as close to the word of a god as far as he's concerned -- then he hadn't been behaving normally either.

9S frowns. "You're acting weird, Lavellan." Looking at her directly, he continues, "You need to come back with me. Get some rest at the Carnival. You're looking," like you need maintenance, "worn out."

[dirthena]

"I never asked you to understand," she says, snapping back. She never asked anyone to, and why would he? He's just a child -- he could never understand what motivated her, her loss. At the accusation that she's acting weird, Lavellan waves a hand, attempting to wave him off.

"I will not be returning." As for the fact that she's worn out, well. That she cannot deny. She is tired, so very tired, but it will be over soon. Lavellan can find some comfort in that.

[dressedtothe]

Lavellan's not a human, so he has absolutely no problem with putting his foot down. Maybe if she was better at explaining her reasons, he would've sympathised with her and let her go. But right now, she's like a deserter and one without a reason he can accept.

"If you're going to work for CY-Ren, you'll need to officially end your contract with the Ringmaster." But he doubts that's gonna go down smooth. "So you better come with me."

[dirthena]

Is he really trying to make her go with him? Lavellan narrows her eyes, and turns to face him fully, eyes narrowed. "If that is what you want to do, you will have to make me." And does he understand what that means when it comes to her? She will not go without a fight, no one has ever dared make her do something she does not wish to do when she put her foot down, and she certainly isn't about to now.

Even if he does look like a child.

[dressedtothe]

9S' narrows his eyes, too. Is this how it's gonna be? Well then... He might not be an android designed for fighting, but his sparring with Syrlya taught him that he's stronger than some people in the Carnival.

"Fine." The word is short and sharp. "If that's how you want to do it."

He makes the first move, closing the distance and reaching out to grab her.

[dirthena]

The moment he reaches to grab her, Lavellan twists to slam the glaive into his arm -- not the blade, but the shaft of the thing. She's not aiming to break his arm but to keep his hand away from her. "Try it again, 9S, and I will make you regret it. Leave me alone."

Shadows start to form as well, shifting into shapes that make it hard to catch what they are, but they're certainly coming for 9S.

[dressedtothe]

9S's hand is pushed away from her, but if she truly wants to stop him, she'll have to try harder than that; he's made of metal with a high pain tolerance, after all.

"You'll have to make me."

It's a damn shame he's neither armed, nor is Pod 153 with him. But she's not a human and that means at least he can raise a hand against her. Hand to hand has never been his strong point, but he's quick on his feet, springing forward to get inside her weapon's ideal range and tackle her.