⇨ WISMUTH ENDGAME

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Evening Day 27
Where: The Wismuth Super Dome, Round 2
What: On the verge of creating a world ending army of Harbingers, CY-Ren and her followers are challenged by the carnival and the Star Guardian team. It's time to stop.
Warnings: Singing

THE LAST REQUIEM↴ CY-Ren's planning of a charity concert has been well received - news of bomb threats and harassment from fans have painted her as a victim in the media spotlight, and her generous attempt to make amends is getting plenty of attention. She's been busy spinning things for as much focus as possible, and the threat of potential danger has the news focusing in on the proceedings. The date is set for Day 27 in carnival time. You won't want to miss it! ► BUILD UP: In the last couple days before the concert, CY-Ren will be reaching out to all of her Harbingers, regardless of where they might be at the time - yes, this means that even if you ran off, she'll come to find you! (Unless you're in the carnival like Taako, then you're fucked.) She'll tell you that her plans are coming to head, and that if you help her with one last task then the planet will be on its way to destruction. There are multiple ways you can aid her: you can help amp up her performance as evil backup singers/musicians, or you can set yourself up around the perimeter at specified locations, using your sparks as a beacon to her magic. She's certain that she's perfected her musical formula, this time - when the concert gets underway, all those present with the capacity to be a Harbinger will awaken, and the end of days will begin. ► THE CONCERT: By the time the concert arrives, the Star Guardians will have the idea that there's something unnatural about the way the new Harbingers were made - this isn't how it usually happens, and that sets them apart from someone like CY-Ren. Maybe that means that they can be pulled away with less drastic measures as well, given that the Void didn't have the full right to their souls in the first place. Anyone coming to help (and those who aren't Star Guardians will be encouraged to come as well, given that if they are making attempts at friendship, super powers aren't required) will gather in the area early, determined to stomp this one out before it can get too far. ► HARBINGERS: This is when they will be encountered by Harbingers guarding the perimeter, as well as a small army of void creatures defending CY-Ren's last performance. Star Guardians will become aware through the power of Creation that the Harbingers on the perimeter must be neutralized in order to disrupt the concert - CY-Ren is feeding on their negative energies, and it will make it too dangerous to attack her directly. Confrontations with any Harbingers can be worked out on an individual basis via plotting - just make up a location around the concert and have your Harbinger providing a beacon of their own design. As the concert ramps up, however, the excess of Void energy will cause the newly made Harbingers to destabilize - mentally or magically, their powers will be harder to control, and their negative emotions will be running wild. However, with that instability, there is also room for a breakthrough - for someone to blast the darkness from their Sparks with friendship and light. Now is the time to reach out. ► STAR GUARDIANS: If a Harbinger is successfully turned away from the darkness, they will briefly regain control of their Sparks, and be able to manifest as a Star Guardian for the first time. This will allow the Guardians to outnumber CY-Ren's forces. Their look and powers will still be based around the same Spark, but purified by Creation and aimed towards positive things. Time to win. ► DANCE OFF: Given that the Spark of Music and the Spark of Dance are colliding, it is perhaps not a surprise that this all manifests as a big ass musical number. As CY-Ren and Noa have a music battle, everyone present (even if you aren't a Star Guardian) will find themselves magically inspired to join in. You can dance, sing, or anything in between - the more people who support Noa's side, the stronger she will be. There will be a megathread for this part of the conflict, and at this point any unturned Harbingers will awaken and be able to turn their Sparks towards the light. As CY-Ren begins to lose power, what the players do with her will be up to you.

Comments

Tyki Mikk | OTA - Prose or otherwise I'll match

[prazerbutterfly]

Before the Concert

Despite looking aggressively worn and still dressed in a more classy yet casual appearance of Wismuth's modern world, Tyki is in exceptionally high spirits. Either they were going to succeed with every one of their own coming back to the carnival or the end of the world would begin and he could set up a front row seat. It's not how he would've planned it or the Earl's goal to begin with. Without his family existing at home there was no war to go back to and nothing to fight for. It would become boring, dull, and uninviting to stay any longer unless someone physically dragged him back. Besides, if it all came to an end abruptly or there was no way to escape at least he wouldn't have to feel every one of his family members die at home.

Even with the complacent expression on his face, it's the waiting that starts to eat at him. Tyki was never one to wait or stand around unless he was in the mood to nap, be lazy, or contend himself to a good book. There are others gathering around him and without asking, he'll draw a cigarette and match from his pocket to light it. Breathing in deep, he'll exhale and reach his hand up to push his hair back and undo the black ribbon enough to retie it closer towards the back of his neck.

There's a dry and dull tone as if he's asked this question a few times already, "When does it start again?" He might already know the answer but conversation is welcoming at the moment.

During the Concert

Tyki could dance if he put his mind to it but knowing only dances from Victorian times likely wasn't going to help Noa in the long run. He could sing somewhat, even if it wasn't the best or pop star worthy, but his tone would carry enough to assist when the moment came down to it. Right now all that was necessary was assisting others in clearing the excessive amount of Void creatures lurking about. There were carnival members that could help better than he could in terms of friendship and more than half of the Harbingers he didn't really give a damn about. Still, driving off the void creatures could help those that couldn't fight reach the Harbinger of their choice.

It's why if he sees anyone within harm's reach, unable to help themselves or fight on their own, he'll fire off a blast of Dark Matter to shove a creature back or lurch in front of them with one of his Tease transformed into a white pointed shield with a wide grin. Don't take it personally. He's likely not helping anyone as much as he's helping himself. Not to mention with all that's been going on he was itching for a proper fight.

Wild card

Other than eventually running into Herbert, Tyki will be lurking nearby to assist those that need it if only to help his own self interests and for Noa's cue. PM me on Discord or Plurk if you want something else~

Pre-concert

[dressedtothe]

9S is fully dressed in his Star Guardian outfit -- if one could call that dressed -- albeit with a lovely set of chicken feathers poking out of his hair, courtesy of Strange. The heels that had given him so many issues earlier are now as natural to him as hacking into computer systems.

He's already hacked into a lot of the nearby systems in preparation for the concert. Noa's concert.

"Tyki!" Well, he's got time for some chit chat while he works. No Operator to tell him to put a sock in it, too. "We have about an hour. What are you going to be doing?"

[prazerbutterfly]

He nurses the cigarette while he waits for someone to do anything. Thankfully, 9S is a welcomed distraction despite the way he usually antagonized the poor boy in some way. He does raise a brow at what he's wearing and for a moment he considers taking out his camera and taking a shot or two. It's just, those chicken feathers are awfully distracting and he steps forward to bend his back and lean closer to examine them. That's right, he's really up close and personal all of a sudden.

He wants to poke them.

"Hello, Mister Nines," replies with excessive cheer. "I haven't really put any thought into that. There aren't a lot of Harbingers I know. I can stave off any dangers on the other hand."

[dressedtothe]

Whoa whoa whoa! Personal space! Even 9S' rather small personal bubble feels infringed on, so while he doesn't step away, he does lean back. Tyki, what...?

"They're still coworkers, aren't they?"

Well, if Tyki will at least lend a hand defending, then that's alright, he supposes. Though he doesn't know what exactly Tyki can do, other than make things pass through him.

"Um... is there a reason you're so close?"

Sorry c_c I got very sick

[prazerbutterfly]

He reads that body language but doesn't immediately straighten up. He's very interested in those feathers and the quality of them while they are stuck to 9S's person. It makes it rather difficult to pull away right now.

"Yes, but emotions and feelings are the basis of most human beings and if anyone else can better gain their hearts it is likely someone else that knows them." Though he's sure of at least two harbingers that were new and he might look for them later.

"I'm curious," he says vaguely with his hand slipping upwards to idly pinch one of the chicken feathers between thumb and forefinger.

no rush! get well :>

[dressedtothe]

That's true.

But Tykii is also being very distracting. Though 9S leans a little further back, he doesn't step away from Tyki, allowing him to rub one of the chicken feathers between his fingers. Unlike the rest of him, the chicken feathers are fully organic and slightly rough to the touch.

"They're not made of metal like the rest of me, if that's what you're wondering. They appear to be organic."

Which raises a number of questions that the answer is likely going to be 'because fae magic'.

Thaaaanks

[prazerbutterfly]

This must look awkward to anyone looking their way. He hasn't necessarily leaned forward even with him leaning back. His thumb strokes that feather gently with the pad of his finger and when he gives it a tiny pull it plucks free easily. Oops, he hadn't meant to yank it just yet. Now he's curious if 9S will start molting at some point.

He stands up straight after that with a twirl of the chicken feather in hand and pokes at it with his other hand, "I was wondering that. The rest of you looks rather real to begin with and I wondered if the feathers were a touch or ingrained within you." He hasn't really seen what 9S is on the inside nor is he going to ask to reach inside of him and poke around. That's kind of rude.

[dressedtothe]

"Ow!"

The exclamation is one more of surprise than pain. Still, he claps a hand to where Tyki had yanked out the feather.

"Did you have to yank it out?" 9S grumbles. "They're still a part of me, you know."

He doesn't want the feather back though.

[prazerbutterfly]

That's something that always interests him. Pain... does something like 9S feel it. He hears that 'ow' and as he twirls that feather his eyes narrow in that frightful interest. There is a lot he would love to beat out of him but so far 9S has been kind enough to answer his questions.

"Sorry," comes the automatic response even if it isn't as genuine as it should be but then he can't help himself. With a lower more devious tone he speaks again, "Tell me. Did that hurt?"

Before the concert

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya, meanwhile, hasn't even bothered to disguise his clothing for the concert. He's expecting a fight, so having robes that offer some protection is more valuable than avoiding weird stares. His sword is strapped to his hip, but in the interest of not stabbing brainwashed carnival members, he did being his staff with intent to prioritize using it.

He's absently curling his fingers around it when Tyki prompts his question, and Syrlya glances sideways with a him. "Soon, I expect. Did you attend the first one?"

I'm sorry x_x I got very sick.

[prazerbutterfly]

It was more along the lines that Tyki was too lazy to change. With Childermass being a Harbinger, the rest of Acquisitions either a Star Guardian or a Harbinger, Zangetsu staying at the carnival, and Joker walking right into enemy territory to take care of a kid, he's been working a little overtime by choice to keep busy. Of course, later on he might end in something a little more battle comfortable whenever he runs into Herbert.

"Yes, it was a little chaotic. I imagine this one will be worse," he says with a half excited, half reserved tone. He's not afraid of getting his hands a little dirty. "We're you?"

[chronosynthesis]

"I wasn't." He's still not sure if he should have been or not. Maybe it wouldn't have made any difference, and he didn't exactly get the power to make an easy difference in the fight. Still, he's fought things stronger than him before and come out on top--at the very least, he's here to do something.

"But you're right. Whatever it was, this one surely will be worse. There's more of them." And CY-Ren's had her testing stage, so her spell is probably much more refined now.

[prazerbutterfly]

If it was up to Tyki, he would've had no one there because he didn't want to help Noa in the first place. Now there were carnival members here that were helping even if they didn't want to because they knew people the best. He didn't really care for their well being and was here for only one or two people. This was a waste of his time and he didn't enjoy doing work he didn't have to. Yet Tyki wasn't just going to stand around waiting for the end of the world. If it was going to happen, he wanted to be there.

"It's do or die now so she might take this one more seriously," to which it is not clear if he's talking about CY-Ren or Noa.

[chronosynthesis]

It is completely unclear who hes's talking about, but Syrlya wouldn't say either of them weren't taking this seriously.

"What about you? Are you here to appeal to any of the Harbingers?" How that's supposed to work, he still isn't sure. He hasn't heard any details about a ritual of purification or anything, and if words alone were enough then he's sure brainwashing would be a significantly smaller problem.

Unless it's, like, magic words, but who has the power of magic morality speeches here?

[prazerbutterfly]

It's the reason why 'might' is the key word there. She certainly didn't take things seriously the first time when asking for all of their help. It's kind of pathetic.

"No, I don't know anyone well enough to tactically assist in any way. The best I can do is crowd control," and keep himself busy. "Or there are others best suited to bring back the ones I know." Childermass had more than enough caring about him. Mari was going to take a violent need but he didn't know anything about her. Carly had a passion or two under her belt he didn't know about.

Besides, he doesn't want any staring role in this group of heroes and friendship speeches. He's not here for Creation or any of its kind.

[chronosynthesis]

"I think we are in much the same position, then." If it were a spell, of course, Syrlya would find himself far more capable with that. But it doesn't seem like that's the method being taken, here, so he's going to let leading the charge be left to the actual experts of this situation.

"Best of luck to us, then," he smiles wryly.

[prazerbutterfly]

"That's not unexpected," he responds almost too quick. Syrlya fit that type to weight the advantages when necessary. He snorts at his other response. Luck? It was almost ridiculous but things are different now.

"A few months ago I might've scoffed at your notion of luck but it is with a reluctant agreement that we could use all we can get right now." He raises his hand in a light gesture, "Best of luck indeed."

before the concert

[exaomori]

It's the kind of feeling Shura can sympathize. Nothing like a big fight that was running on its own schedule to amp up the frustration. Geared up for battle and little else to do but wait--it was the kind of thing that could drive someone crazy.

"Waitin' like this is a pain, ain't it?" And though it's been a while since she last smoked, the sight of a cigarette in his hand is enough to make her fingers itch. Better to do something with her hands tan to just twiddle her thumbs. She motions to the cigarette he has, gives her best smile. "Mm, but do ya got one I could have?"

[prazerbutterfly]

It's a lot of heavy tension and he was going to do his best to assist as much as possible but even Tyki had his limits. There would be a point where he would retire below the stage without even a bit of hesitation. When it came down to it he was useless in the whole Creation deal. For a man bent on world ending eventually, it just wasn't his drive to follow Creation forever.

People that look like Shura catch his eye immediately. He might look her over briefly for his own personal view but his mannerisms do return to that of a gentleman. He fishes out his pack and knocks one out before offering it to her, "I just want to get started."

His tone is smooth yet lazy as he strikes match to box and holds it out with both hands as well, "Mmhmm~ may as well get something pleasurable in before this all ends."

[exaomori]

She's used to the look over--he isn't the first man to do so, nor would he be the last. Maybe she could get a different reaction if she put on some pants and a shirt, but it's never really been a bother. It's a small price to pay for a free cigarette. She takes it from him when offered, giving him a wink in return.

"Heh, I can't remember the last time I did this~" Living a high school campus did limit her ability to sin, though that was a weak excuse. She holds the cigarette between her index and middle finger as she raises it to her lips. But why should she light her own cigarette when he's such a gentleman? Flirting was just as good of a way to kill time as anything else, so there's no shame in her as she leans in closer, glancing up at him through her lashes. "Help me out a little bit more, mister~"

[prazerbutterfly]

Tyki didn't appreciate beauty as much as his brother did but a good looking woman was hard to pass up. She certainly lifts his mood higher with good looks and charm. If anything, he could get behind a little more of this attention but already he's pegged her as carnival and he's not going to immediately jump for it, certainly not right now.

"Well, if you change your mind I'll just take it back," he says jokingly. He takes another slow draw of that match across it to ignite another and tucks the small box back into his pants. From there he leans forward with his hand underneath the other and his fingers almost touch her chin as he lights that cigarette for her. Mmm, she's definitely tempting, "With Pleasure."

[exaomori]

"Take it back, huh? I don't think that'll be much of a problem ♥." Even if it was a cheap cigarette, Shura wasn't about to complain about a free cigarette, especially not when she was being indulged enough to have someone light it for her.

With the match lit, she'll put the cigarette between her lips and inhale, feeling the smoke fill her lungs, warming her chest. It feels good, and she can almost forget why she hasn't done this in so long.

"Mm~," she hums as she pulls away, exhaling through her nose. "This hits the spot in a time like this. I owe ya."

[prazerbutterfly]

Oh, she'll be able to taste that quality in the cigarette the minute she invokes its sweet pleasure into her lungs. He made sure to by well this time, selecting a new brand that suited him. He had money to burn and he was going to make good choices. They were nothing like the cheap ones he started out with.

His eyes narrow lightly at both the way she enjoys herself and her words. "As long as you enjoy it, I can't really complain nor ask you for anything in return. Just remember me should I run out. It's Tyki Mikk." And it was possible. Yet the edge of his teeth catch the corner of his lip as he watches her, "Got a name, beautiful lady?"

[exaomori]

"Tyki Mikk," Shura echoes before taking another long drag. Another name for another face. Eventually, she'd figure out most of the people here, but for now while she doesn't have to be a responsible adult, she'll take her time learning the details. Maybe she should have watched herself a bit when she said she owed him... Well, that was something she'd worry about later.

"You're a charmer, aintcha? I don't mind if ya call me beautiful, but if ya insist, my name's Shura Kirigakure." She winks at him, enjoying the flow of their flirting as a distraction. But really, call her beautiful some more. It couldn't hurt.

[prazerbutterfly]

Oh, he likes how she says his name. He does little to step back or give her any space now that they are this close together and now that he's not watching her enjoy herself he's allowing his fingers to tuck the matches back into his pocket. He'll breathe deep of his own nicotine and no in confirmation at his name.

There's a subtle grin making its way onto his lips at her sincerity and that gathers an amused sound from his throat, "I do try, Miss Kirigakure. An equally beautiful name for a beautiful woman."