⇨ 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

[starseedling]

He struggles as she hauls him up, but even if he wouldn't have been outclassed in strength before, with her Guardian powers he definitely is. He's still reeling from the pain in his arm, which has now shattered off completely, and he's left with only one limb to work with.

Still dazed, he pours his efforts into a last minute scramble to summon his shield, trying to put it between her and his body, clumsily shoving the spikey part towards her face.

[stompadour]

She leans her head back from the shield, lip curling in a sneer. She wants to destroy him. She wants to crush his gem in her hand. With Creation's power, it would be so easy...

... but that thought is an unavoidable reminder of what she promised when she accepted it. She went into this fight to defend Peridot, and by now Peridot ought to be safe. Not to mention the fact that Peridot, who is technically her superior, told her just to hold him off and then come back to the Carnival...

Glowering at Steven through the shining pink translucence of his shield, Jasper hisses out a frustrated breath through her gritted teeth.

"I told you you couldn't beat me," she rasps. Then she lets him drop to the ground and turns to march away.

[starseedling]

Steven drops onto his head and rolls over onto his front, totally thrown by this experience. In reality, though, he's been fighting people all day, and Jasper only just came into her powers... there are a lot of factors that turned this one against him, and if he was thinking rationally he'd know that.

He's not thinking rationally, though. So when Jasper turns to march away, he compulsively turns this into a test of her patience as he throws his shield at the back of her knees.

"No," he still tries to insist. "I... I can win."

[stompadour]

It hits, and Jasper stumbles -- but she catches her balance and wheels around angrily, numerous identical rectangular teeth bared.

"Don't make me destroy you."

[starseedling]

"Go ahead!" he yells at her, slumping down to the ground, armless and exhausted. His voice is ragged with emotion. "Do it!"

He rolls onto his side, folding his wings around his body as he quietly sobs.

"It doesn't matter."

[stompadour]

Wow,

gross?

Jasper's lip, split in multiple places thanks to the crystal shrapnel from just before, curls in a disgusted sneer.

Even if it wasn't for everything else -- the promise she's made to Creation, her obligation to follow Peridot's instructions -- this wouldn't be an appealing opportunity. Sure, she's wanted to be able to exact revenge, fulfil her purpose, by destroying this gem, for thousands of years. But seeing Steven like this... small and snivelling and telling her it doesn't matter if she goes ahead and does it...

"... You really aren't Rose Quartz. Are you." Her fists tighten, almost trembling -- but she doesn't wait for a response. She turns on her heel and leaves without looking back.