this is a robbery [closed]

[atouts]

Who: Childermass, Lambert, Cole, & Yuya.
When: Sometime later during the Harbinger invasion.
Where: The Wishmuth Museum of Art
What: The Harbinger of Fortune has his eyes set on ruining an exhibit opening for the museum's more lucrative patrons...
Warnings: Lambert's ass, Cole's TMI memory theater, and Yuya possibly wishing he'd chosen to team up with two completely different Guardians at that point in time tbh.


What would have otherwise been a quiet gathering of Wismuth's elite, to ooh and aah over the Wismuth Museum's newest additions, has ended up going a more poorly than anyone could have ever planned for. It all started with requesting to see the invitation of one man, having strolled into the reception in an indolent, uncaring manner. No one recognized him. No one was surprised when he told them he did not have one.

Surprise only came when the shadows all around them sprang to life before anyone could try and eject him.

Now the museum is surrounded by the flashing lights of cop cars and news vans, the radio and TV all announcing a strange hostage situation to add to the rest of the bizarre and dangerous events taking place in Wismuth these past few days. Not that the police can get in contact with the hostage-takers. Not that they can go into the building itself, either! The few who have vanishing just like everyone else who'd been in there before, considering their sole contact having been a short-lived emergency call from a security guard and then... nothing.

Overall, it's a mess all around the locked-down streets bordering the Wismuth Museum of Art.

Comments

[hippocarnival]

Unfortunately, the shield isn't even up when Childermass bursts through the shadows. Yuya drops it as soon as the wind dies down to regain his mobility. He doesn't expect Childermass to come for him, and he moves a little too late. The card strikes across his face as he dives downward. It stings, and his face feels wet, but Yuya doesn't even think about the pain. He needs to move, so he does, launching himself nimbly around Childermass's side and then he's just running.

Light, light, he can do light. He doesn't stop running but he does hold the bubble wand up, and the bubbles that roll out from behind him are bright like little suns. They're just as delicate as normal bubbles, but at least he can keep making more and more of them.

[hurtcomfort]

Stabbing elementals and rage demons works in Dragon Age. As such, Cole's going to try and take that elemental out. Besides, his daggers are a little bit magic thanks to that 'made from his familiar' thing, maybe magic stab damage could help against fire.

Besides, Yuya and Lambert are focusing on Childermass. If nobody pays attention to this thing, it'll set everyone on fire. He lunges forward, daggers in hand, as he attempts to stab and slash at any gaps among the molten rock coating of that fire elemental.

[atouts]

Lucky for Cole, stabbing elementals will work here, too. He won't make short work of it, but magical stabbing does pass through rock and flame and leave the creature leaking quickly cooling dribbles of lava. There'll be a mess on the floor but, well, it was a mess already. It roars (more like fumes, really) and swings its big ol' fiery arms after the spirit.

Meanwhile, Yuya manages to put space between himself and Childermass, the bright bubbles of light forcing him to stagger back and throw an arm up over his eyes. Those are bright and one ended being shot close enough to call it in his face. With the extra light, the layout of the shadows in the room changes dramatically, so he's left briefly without a way to escape quickly like before.

Overall? That makes it pretty damn easy to hit him with that bike this time around.

[whattaprick]

And hit him solidly that bike will, but rather than aiming to ram into him physically again she'll jump, suspended far too high in the air for half a heartbeat Lambert kicks her into a forward spin.

"Freedom Barrage," Pig intones, solemn as ever even as she recites ridiculous attack names. In front of her, a cluster of four-pointed stars that resemble Lambert's costume decorations forms out of glowing light ... and with a twist of the handlebars, they'll slam right into Childermass in all their sharp, pointy glory, aiming to hit hard enough to knock him down. If some of them can pin him to the ground by that stupid costume and keep him from drawing another card, so much the better.

In the meantime, Cole (and Yuya, if he decides to help him) are left to deal with the fire elemental on their own, for the moment.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya turns to look over his shoulder as he hears the engine, cringing a bit. He has to have some faith that Lambert won't hurt Childermass badly. He obviously cared a lot about him.

He whips his attention around the room, assuming the biggest threats are Childermass and the elemental. Lambert seems to have things covered, but Cole is fighting fire with a knife. So Yuya rushes for them, throwing forward very large bubbles that float up and up, trying to go over the elemental's head--where they burst, exploding in a heavier, soapy sprinkle in an attempt to dampen it.

[hurtcomfort]

For someone who's plan is 'stab fire', Cole's actually doing a fairly decent job at it. It's obvious his forte is hand to hand combat: his daggers are doing a number on the elemental, darting in and out of it's 'skin'. He dodges most of the firey swings, though one does occasionally smack him in the shoulder or leg. Whenever something makes contact, Cole grimaces. He's not a sturdy spirit and it shows.

Because of that, any sort of help is appreciated. Cole backs up as Yuya calls the soapy bubbles towards the elemental. After all, he doesn't want to get wet either. Still, this might be a chance.

"Freedom did it, you've got to say the attack also!" Nigella chirps seemingly from nowhere, as Cole backs up to ready the dagger. Slightly grumpy, he calls out, "Memory For You!"

As Cole says the attack name, his daggers start to glow bright green. And Cole just straight up flings the dagger at the elemental, aiming for a spot in the thing's head.

[atouts]

Cole's managing to whittle away at the elemental, though the merry dance he's leading it on is only helping to further trash the room. It takes out displayers and even more exhibits with every swing, trying to smash him, all up until bubbles start bursting over its head.

That? That stings and, of course, it roars in pain and whirls around -- slowly but surely -- to search out the cause. Sure, the bubbles are doing it, but where are they coming from? It's not the most intelligent construct around but it can figure out that much. It hunkers down and roars a second time, gearing up to charge and--

Then a knife sprouts out of its damn molten head. It never gets started in its charge, managing one step, two, as the heat begins to escape it in gouts of steam. Its molten armor begins to stiffen, become stone...

Back in the Childermass's face versus a horse that is literally a motorcycle fight, Childermass draws back abruptly, startled by how close the wheel of the bike comes to him, and it's instinct to reach for a card. He isn't quick enough this time, though, the stars from such a ridiculous-sounding attack knocking him over. At least one pins an arm down, point deep enough in the floor that he's stuck for the moment. The black and silver tarot cards scatter when he hits the ground like that, landing all over and across the floor.

"No!" He sounds pained, seeing them fall like that. It doesn't stop him from trying to reach for a card, however! Stretching as far as he can for the nearest one! "Not... like this!"

Because this would be a stupid way to lose. What would CY-Ren think? That he's useless? Weak? He can't have that, he won't have that!

[whattaprick]

Too bad, because he's absolutely about to have that.

Pig lands right on top of the cards Childermass is struggling to reach for, scattering them further with a shockwave as she comes to a halt, Lambert peering down at him. At the angle Childermass is at, he won't see much more of the witcher than red combat boot, plenty of muscled leg, and the edge of golden shorts digging into his thigh.

"Just stay down," Lambert advises pleasantly, "Before I break your face." He glances up to see how the fight's going, the elemental apparently no longer active. Huh. So much the better.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya stalls for a moment, but when its clear the elemental is stalled he lets out a breath of relief and his shoulders slump. He looks to Cole to make sure he's fine, and since he doesn't look injured Yuya turns back around to Lambert and Childermass.

He heads their way, shuffling around the side so he can see Childermass without getting in Lambert's way. He has his wand ready, hands gripping it tightly.

[hurtcomfort]

The knife flies back to Cole's hand as the spirit effortlessly catches it. He's beat up and his forehead's bleeding thanks to a stray piece of debris but Cole's still standing in one piece. Which really, considering how he normally gets beat up to hell and back in a fight, he'll take this.

Cole walks over towards Childermass and Lambert, though he's looking at Childermass with an expression like he can see right through him.

"Even now he thinks of her," Cole sadly murmurs. "I failed, I've lost, I can't let her see me like this."

Childermass is the enemy. But Childermass is still hurting. Cole wants to help, but he doesn't know if he should. He looks up at Lambert with a confused and slightly pleading expression. Come on, tell him what to do!

[atouts]

Damn Cole and his abilities, as if Childermass wanted to hear everything already on his mind rambled to the damn wind. He raises his lip in a snarl at the spirit then turns his attention back to Lambert, the closest of the three Star Guardians.

"You look ridiculous in that," he rattles off the insult before reaching for something completely different than one of his tarot cards. He reaches for the sash of his costume, under which he's kept a very particular belt even with all the other changes. As it turns out, the witcher isn't the only one bringing extra knives to a magical girl fight.

There's the quiet snk of metal leaving a sheath and anyone touched deeply enough by faerie magic will know exactly what the little blade Childermass draws in, in a heartbeat, or more like they'll feel the uncomfortableness iron causes, on some level. Lambert's made the mistake of setting his boot down within shanking range and that's exactly what he'll try to do -- one little blade of pig iron straight into his leg. Not the worst iron in the universe by any means, but still.

[whattaprick]

Lambert doesn't know what to do, so he's got no idea what to tell Cole to do -- though there's one forming at the back of his mind, another half-baked plan same as all the rest of this has been.

Whatever CY-Ren or the Void did to him to make him like this, Lambert doesn't know. But Cole can see what's happened in a way Lambert can't. Maybe they could turn him back if--

Before he can open his mouth to articulate it, though, there's a sharp jab and then an explosion of agony in his leg as the iron sinks in, because Creation apparently doesn't believe in armor. It isn't the worst he could be stabbed with by far, no, but it still burns, nothing like the time he tested the edge on his own arm, and he jerks back. Except he's straddling a bike, so that goes as well for him as you'd expect. He tries to yank it out of Childermass's grasp before he can twist it for more damage, and get in a good kick to his face if he can too.

"Bastard!" he snarls. Pig holds steady, but maybe her rider's distraction is all Childermass needs to rip free of the floor long enough to get them off him.

[hippocarnival]

Something about the knives unsettles Yuya in a way he can't describe, but he doesn't really get the time to think about it on account of Lambert getting stabbed. Which, honestly, is bad enough even with normal knives.

"Lambert!" Yuya lunges forward, free hand reaching out for him. His gaze goes down immediately to the wound, and instinctively he raises the wand to try and smack it down on Childermass's arm. He'll feel bad about being rough later, but right now it's all impulse to stop Childermass from irreparably hurting Lambert.

[hurtcomfort]

As the least fae-changed of the lot, the most Cole feels from the iron is mild discomfort. However, Lambert's pain is like a beacon in his brain and Cole just lunges forward, knives still clutched in his hand, ready to just straight up fuckin stab Childermass should the situation call for it. He still doesn't know what to do. But he just can't let anybody else get hurt.

Throughout all this he remains quiet. Still, Cole is tense as hell and ready to spring if the situation calls for it.

[atouts]

It's kind of a team effort in the end. Well, a two-person team effort with Cole hanging out in case they need to tag him in. It all happens so fast. Lambert rips his leg out of reach, twisting the little knife out of Childermass's grip as he does so. He won't dwell on the loss, using the momentary distraction to rip himself free of the stars pinning him instead and roll out of the way, just before the witcher brings his boot stomping down where his face used to be.

Childermass makes one more desperate reach for the nearest card of his deck, this time willing it to fly to his hand rather than relying on physically grabbing it at a close range. He rolls back around just in time to raise it like a shield to meet Yuya's wand.

"Devil Trap!"

Oh god, now he's doing that, too. No. No, that's fine. That's a thing. He's just going to pretend this is totally normal. Right. The card is, in fact, The Devil, and shadowy chains immediately explode from the tarot card as soon as the words leave his lips. If nothing else, maybe he can take out just one of them. Isn't that better? Turning his failure into even the tiniest victory?

In any case, Yuya is about to experience what trapped so many other people here at the museum. If the chains catch ahold of him, if they don't break, he's going to find himself dragged into the card. Into darkness.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's so worried about Lambert that he doesn't even realize he's the target until it's too late. Yuya's eyes widen and he stares in growing horror as the chains manage to wrap around him, and although he jerks against the hold his feet end up sliding forward as they drag him to the card.

"No--!" He's thrown off balance, twisting and reaching out desperately for help. But it's a little too fast and too late, and Yuya's dragged into the card with a terrified scream.

[whattaprick]

That card can't be a good thing. Lambert lunges to intervene -- push Yuya out of the way or shove Childermass or something -- but his own injury and the fact that, again, it's hard to move around when you're straddling a bike makes him too slow, and Yuya's gone.

So Yuya disappears into the card just as Lambert stumbles off his bike, blood soaking into the white, spiritually generated stockings that came with his costume. He's pissed the hell off now, and Pig hums with energy. Lambert doesn't even have to think about holding out a hand.

Of course, it's Pig who starts saying it, not him. "The flash that cuts through the darkness--"

"-- the light that breaks the night. Morning Star!" In a burst of light, the seemingly superfluous decoration plating Pig's sides cracks apart and flies around, then coalesces into a sword in Lambert's hand.

[hurtcomfort]

The problem with hanging out when you're going to be tagged in is that you can't really do much unless you're tagged in. As such, Cole is too far away to be any help to Yuya and can only watch in horror as Yuya's pulled in the card.

Well, he's certainly going to fight now. Cole wants to help Childermass but Childermass has hurt two people now and honestly, that won't stand.

"Fade Finesse!" he calls out, not even waiting for Nigella to fuss at him or encourage him this time. Shorter incantation, he's getting the first slash in. His daggers glow green with magic as Cole rushes forward at a faster than normal speed, attempting to slash at Childermass's arms.

[atouts]

Well, Childermass's triumph is short-lived. The burst of light distracts him and then Cole is swooping in to slice his arm. He makes a pained noise, jerking his arm back, but the pain has done its job. He's been startled into dropping the card, its image of the Devil now replaced by a stylized Yuya in his Star Guadian costume. Leaving that behind, he throws himself out of the way of the second blade, rolling up to his feet and spreading the wings of his own costume out.

He flies back a somewhat safe distance and waves his injured arm towards the cards. They all flicker with blue light and snap back into the air, zooming over to join him now that he's back up and on his feet.

"Did you really think it would be that easy?! I refuse to lose to the likes of you!"

[whattaprick]

With Pig around and capable of driving herself, this is still a three versus one, even with Yuya a card on the ground. Lambert forces himself to straighten, while Pig circles around to flank Childermass from the other side, her engine revving and Lambert beginning to glow with gold light. Being pissy isn't a good look on a magical girl, but he channels that anger into the energy of creation, the furious will to survive.

"Then you're out of luck," Lambert snarls back. "Life finds a way. Cole!"

He sure as hell hopes that creepy ghost power is marginally useful for coordinating attacks, because he's bringing his sword down and sending a cutting arc of light at Childermass (that weirdly trails sparkles) at the same time Pig somersaults forward to do the same, coming at Childermass from either side.

[hurtcomfort]

Cole bends down to pick up the Yuya card. And again, he doesn't really have any pockets, so after a brief moment of deliberation, he sticks the card behind the brown ring of fabric on his hat.

The creepy ghost power is kind of useful for coordinating attacks. Cole quickly understands what Lambert's doing and darts in between Lambert and Pig. His daggers are still glowing green as he tosses one at Childermass. Despite the fact that he's throwing a goddamn dagger at Childermass, it'll do more magic damage if it hits and less pointy damage to various organs.

[atouts]

Someone definitely should have invested in a shield spell because Childermass is about to get wrecked.

Not by all three, hopefully, because he will draw one last card to throw at Pig — a teleport spell that, if it hits her, will dump her in some far off, random location. Then he's catching a magical dagger in the shoulder and being hit by a waaaay too glittery energy slash. Combined, they throw him against the wall of the exhibit hall, hard, knocking the wind right out of him.

[whattaprick]

Childermass's last-ditch effort to minimize damage works, but not quite in the way intended -- as the card sails towards her, Pig's limited mobility as a bike means she can't dodge, but it does mean she transforms back into her familiar form to drop solidly on the ground, interrupting her attack before she can get it off.

Not that it matters. Almost soon as Childermass is winded, Lambert's right on top of him, storming over as fast as his injured leg will allow to try to grab the magician by the front of his idiot coat.

"Cole," he pants, pained, teeth gritted. "Make him forget."

CY-Ren, the Void -- whatever will shake him out of this.

[hurtcomfort]

He'll try. Cole lets go of the daggers, which turn into green light and turn back into Nigella. As he physically reaches out towards Childermass, Cole mentally reaches out into his mind. The Void...there's a lot in there. It's woven deep, changing his being as well as his mind. But CY-Ren's influence, that devotion to her, that's something he can take care of.

Besides, at least that way Lambert won't have to listen to Childermass fawn over CY-Ren anymore.

"Forget," Cole murmurs, as he keeps his outstretched hand a few feet away from Childermass. There's a bright light and that's it. Childermass has forgotten just what exactly CY-Ren meant to him, how she manipulated and implanted that desire.

[atouts]

He struggles, he fights. It's only natural, trying to wrench Lambert's hands off of him and push him away. Maybe if the other man weren't a Star Guardian, but that's not the case. Childermass doesn't have anything over the witcher when it comes to outright strength. His command to Cole, well, that only makes him fight even harder.

Terror wins out over anger at the thought of it. Forget? Forget what? Who? It's obvious, isn't it?

"No!" He twists in Lambert's grip. "You can't!"

And the fear tinging his voice is too real, attention snapping over to Cole even though he knows any plea that leaves his lips won't be listened to. He doesn't want to forget! Don't make him forget her! But the light goes off and he'll go limp for a moment, cards following suit as they fall to the floor a second time around. This suddenly gives Lambert dead weight to grapple with. He isn't out, just dazed, and the despair from before is already giving way to confusion.

"What was I..."

What had he been upset about just seconds before? Something about CY-Ren, but what?