"Fuck you, Lesedi Santiago, you giant bag of whores." - Oikawa Tooru, 2055

[sharktrash]

Who: A bunch of Priders and Rescuers!
What: THE GRAND PRIDE BREAKOUT
When: night of June 17th to early morning June 18th
Where: Moscow
Warnings: language, injuries, will add as needed


OUTCOME:
Escapes: Sariel, Terry, Mai, Tooru, Xanxus, Trucy, Squalo, Pinkie
Stays/Captured: Demyx, Artolo, Aramat

NOTES:
Particular details, badassery and touching conversations (also with characters not mentioned below, as long as they don’t try to escape) can be threaded out individually! This post is meant to serve as a general guideline for things that happen, but you are by no means limited to the events listed here. o/ Feel free to make prompts for the party, the concert, the running or whatever else you want!

We've tried to keep everything vague enough to allow more freedom, but if you want something changed, your character moved, etc, please contact us and we'll fix it ASAP.

~

After the final show in Moscow, as is usual for Pride, the semi-civilized afterparty gradually shifts into a massive sparkly clusterfuck (courtesy of Artolo) at a club on the ground floor. It lasts into the wee hours of 18th, and ends with an impromptu street show by some of the popular Pride performers; Terry Ward, and, later, Aramat Drawdes. There’s a hidden agenda to Music Wizards singing, of course; they’re making sure that those who aren’t fucking off don’t notice it too early, and possibly making obstacles for the security out of fans and guests.

As a mass of musicians, (lower-ranking) staff and fans gather to watch the spectacle, some of them slip away or excuse themselves to go “for a smoke” in a blind alley next to the club that’s commonly used for that, though isn’t directly visible from the show area aside from its entrance (but that’s fine, right? It’s a dead end, right?).

In the meantime, on a different street right behind the back alley, Rescuers have parked two vans and are advancing. Some of them had been contacted and filled in on the plan earlier (like, days/weeks earlier) and had tried to form a rescue team, however thanks to Blanche’s ritual it’s been more difficult than planned. There’s less of them than originally agreed, and some of them might not be in the best shape mentally.

The rescue team consists of Doc Brown, Ivan Karelin, Pao-Lin, Agent 3, Koushi Sugawara, Oscar, Mammon, Belphegor, Eiji Hino, Rarity and Yamamoto Takeshi.

Ivan, Pao-Lin, Oscar and Sugawara mingle into the crowd on the other side to direct the escapees, but Ivan and Pao-Lin ditch the plan and goes after Trucy in particular thanks to Virgo’s influence. Yamamoto helps make a hole in the wall separating the streets and anyone who’s been headed to the back alley can now trickle past the dead end and get into the vans. Mammon is further helping the effort by smuggling Xanxus and Squalo musicians through unnoticed. Rarity makes a grab for Pinkie and they attempt to go after Steven, however it fails and the ponies need fellow rescuers’ help to get back out, further thinning the number of rescuers in the field for the moment.

Unfortunately, there’s only so long Music Wizardry and illusions can cover people disappearing from the main event; security (accompanied by Eda) finally notice shit and give chase. A fight breaks out in the alley; Demyx, Agent 3, Squalo, Terry, Eiji, Rarity, Belphegor, Mai, Yamamoto and Xanxus fight back the guard allowing the rest to get in the vans.

Terry wants to go back for more musicians, so he's knocked out and tossed in the van while the escaping group continues to be pushed back. Sariel and Eiji get injured in the fight, most of the others will be roughed up. As it looks like they’re ready to flee, Squalo “deals” with Xanxus to prevent him from going after Carnies, and has Mammon and Belphegor secure him in one of the vans.

The group continues to fall back with the rescuer’s defences shielding them, managing to hold the guards back just enough to get in the vehicles. The pursuers break through and grab on the last fleeing musician, Demyx. There’s a momentary struggle as someone probably tries to pull him back in; Squalo sees it’ll give the rest of the security a chance to get in/on the van so he punts the poor kid the rest of the way out; it gives them a moment’s advantage and the car speeds off (while someone may, no doubt, be very unhappy with this direction of events.)

Aramat and Artolo stay behind. Artolo acts oblivious, implying that he was used against his will. Aramat may be confronted about her participation in the breakout.

Comments

Luci - SemiOpen

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Pre-Breakout]

[Another day, another Pride party. It should be routine by now, despite all of the standard Weird Shit that seems to happen around both Pride and Virgo especially during the tour. But this is the end of it, apparently, so she can rest her ragged voice and maybe get blackout drunk before being carted back to the hotel like a good Pride Asset.]

[The usual spark Luci holds went out long ago, but she smiles for the crowd, mugs for the camera, and drinks. Generally away from the crowd.]

[Just another day, just another Pride party.]


[Breakout - Closed to Squalo and Persephone]

[The party is boring, of course, and she's constantly looking around for people to chat up. Friends, mostly, because they wouldn't demand she smile and perform. She could have sworn she'd seen Tooru around. And Xanxus, and Squalo...]

[But now that she's looking around she can't see any of them.]

[Shit. Shit. Is this it? Is tonight the night they're escaping? In fucking Moscow?!]

[Luci stands up and looks around again, leaving her drink on a side table and pulling out her phone. She starts composing a text to Xanxus: 'Where'--]

[sharktrash]

[ Why not in fucking Moscow? Everyone would expect them to leg it in Rome, or maybe Tokyo, so it's an obvious choice. ]

[ And, of course, Squalo still plans to try and drag a certain Satan with him, despite those several times he's tried to talk to her about escape and had it rebutted. Even if she's not willing, they're getting her the fuck out. Consent was for pussies, after all. ]

[ He's on the lookout, a bit high-strung as things and people have already started moving but the guards don't seem to have caught on just yet, thanks to the show Terry and Aramat are putting on. He pretty much runs into her, nearly knocking the phone out of her hands. ]

Aw, shit. There you are. Come on, there's a pretty good show outside.

[ He reaches out to try to take her by the arm. ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Good catch Squalo-- Luci looks up before sending the message, relief setting into her shoulders when she realizes she's not by herself. She even manages a smile.]

Yeah? [She pockets her phone as Squalo takes her arm, message unsent.] Who's throwing down? And who's your money on?

[variaboss]

[ This might be the last time. This might be the last time he'll ever see Luci. He knows this and he knows he had made her a promise. He knows later tonight, he'll be breaking that promise. But he still can't let her go, not just yet. Not like this. He wants to take her with him. He wants to, but he knows she'd hate him if he did. No one makes Luci do anything she doesn't want. That means one thing and one thing only.

He moves towards her once he feels her alone. He does it from behind, sliding behind her and quietly going to wrap arms around her for a very short moment. It's a hug and then he's letting go and giving her his most rebellious smile. ]

Let the tabloids chew on that.

[traumatizing]

001 // DON'T OPEN YOUR EYES YOU WON'T LIKE WHAT YOU SEE // OTA

[Terry comes out on a dimly lit stage — all torn leather and spikes and dark make-up — and unusually for him, he's not stationed behind an instrument. Even his odd solo showing usually has him behind a synth or drums or a guitar, but not today. He stands behind the mic, a still, silent shadow while the drums. In fact, for those whole first minutes of music, everything is completely still except the rolling fog from the smoke machines.]

[Then the music abruptly changes.]

Slave screams! [At those first screamed words, the stage isn't so much lit as there's a brief explosion of light.] He thinks he knows what he wants.
Slave screams-- Thinks he has something to see.

[The session band are illuminated in bursts, like brief glimpses of some horrible secret, and the fog is thick up to Terry's knees. Anyone who can focus on the band instead of Terry for those brief moments might notice they're shackled to their instruments. (The shackles are purely cosmetic, don't you worry!) This really isn't even a metaphor anymore, so much a grandiose 'fuck you' to Santiago.]

[Maybe that'll get lost in the chorus though, and he won't get sent to the basement again...]

Slave screams-- He hears but doesn't wanna listen!
Slave screams-- He's being beaten to submission.

[He's not a natural frontman — there are some things even brainwashing and magic can't do — but Terry is faking it pretty well right now. He's been watching the other bands when he has the time, paying real attention to how they work the crowds; and a bit of gentle suggestion that they really get into it like this is the last show they'll ever see? That really helps. It's like a feedback loop, building and building. Flames erupt behind him as he stomps around, whips the crowd up into a frenzy.]

[He knows it's not what he's here for, but damn if it doesn't feel good.]

002 // THE DEVILS OF TRUTH STEAL THE SOULS OF THE FREE // OTA

[Once his set is over, Terry's a bundle of nervous energy. Tightly wound and anxious, he can't even manage smiles for the fans that approach him like usual. He chalks it up to tiredness when anyone asks, but he watches the crowd intently. Waiting for a sign, eyes tracking anyone who comes his way. He'd said he'd stay, but he has to help. He has to do at least that much.]

[He barely even touches his water, the poor dear. He's just so nervous, but it's probably just about how the set went down, right?]

003 // DON'T OPEN YOUR EYES, TAKE IT FROM ME // RESCUERS & ESCAPEES

[After a bit, Terry slips out under the guise of wanting a cigarette, and does exactly that. It's perfectly innocuous, and with his hood up he kinda blends in out here anyway. Just some guy having a smoke. In the back alley until everyone's out here.]

[He stays near the back most of the time, humming and singing lyrics softly while he tries to keep everyone as best hidden as they move, thinking maybe he can slip back in once these guys are away like nothing happened.]

004 // I HAVE FOUND, YOU CAN FIND, HAPPINESS IN SLAVERY // OTA

[Wildcard! Come at me, bro.]

2

[twoscompany]

[Well, here comes someone Terry probably doesn't want to talk to, right now. Not with everything happening.

Garnet's...aware of an escape attempt. However, she knows nothing of who's involved. After she stated her condition of leaving - Tiger has to be among them - she's heard nothing more. Perhaps Tooru's decided to abandon the attempt.

Its better that way. Lesedi would be...most displeased, and her eyes are everywhere.]

You were great, you know.

[Terry's set felt...oddly cathartic. Like he wasn't going to do that kind of performance again. But that's ridiculous. The World Tour's only really started, after all. They had plenty of dates and gigs together, before them.]

Mai - Open

[maipokerface]

[Pre Breakout]
Mai's one of those musicians who can make it out easily enough with the smoking excuse. Well, besides the fact that she's not taken up smoking just yet. Most of Crown of Thorns' fans know how reclusive and unfriendly the violinist can be so it's little wonder when she disappears not long into greeting them following the end of her set.

She paces in the alleyway, wishing now that she had taken the time to take up smoking in the end. She may be typically calm and assured but there is a lot riding on this moment. Mai is doing her best to forget her fears without saying as much to anyone else.

[Post Breakout]
[Adrenaline is still coursing through her. She lost a few blades in the rush of running and defending herself as much as others around her. It was only after she was settled into the van that Mai seemed to realize the tight grip she still had on the handle of the blade in her hand, left readied there as she had jumped into the van itself.

She almost slumped in place, her eyes slipping up to take note of who was in the vehicle with her. Aramat, Artolo... the two of them hadn't came, had they. She hadn't assumed Aramat would since she was acting as distraction but...]

post breakout

[woomy]

[ One of the people in the van is a bright green squid that slips through a crack in the window with ease. Once she plops onto the nearest seat, she changes back into her Inkling form. ]

You okay?

[ 3 doesn't consider that even though they have met before (and possibly multiple times during staff laser tag?), that doesn't mean an ink based squid suddenly turning into a kid could be startling. ]

Artolo Apemis - ota

[iitrebel]

A - Get This Party Started

[He has one job here. One job, and he needs to not fuck it up.]

[Funnily enough, that means acting like a fuck up, but hey, what else is new? With a few things set up, colored fog suddenly starts spewing into the party, and there's a neon-stick-covered monstrosity leaping onto the bar with a high pitched grating cackle. Oh look, it's Artolo 'trainwreck' Apemis.]

Come on, you boring vodka guzzling fucks! Our last night in Moscow, and this is the best afterparty!?

[Watch out- you might be getting beaned in the head with either glowsticks, or.... Is that a fireworks box of some sort? Welp.]

Come on! We're not coming around here again anytime soon, soOOOAH-

[Did he just slip off of the bar he was storming along? Yes. That sound you heard was his bony body smacking into the floor behind the bar. Someone make sure he hasn't died by accident.]

B - Fireworks and weed

[It takes a lot of work to get everyone out, to build up that hype with liberal amounts of booze and drugs encouraging the exodus into the street. With all that work and Artolo's public persona, you'd think he'd be in the thick of it tearing it up.]

[Actually, he's to the side away from the main stage where Terry and Aramat are performing. In his hands are simple sparklers. Well, one hand has sparklers that he's tracing lazy shapes in the air with. The other hand is holding a joint.]

[If he sees anyone staring for too long, he glances at them from behind his shades.]

Want one?

[Whether he's talking about weed or the sparklers is anyone's guess.]

C - Wildcard
[Harass him at any point in time]

B

[worthlesspride]

I'll take a sparkler.

[He pauses]

And a blunt for later.

Mammon - ota

[avidita]

Pre-Party, Rescuers

[From the vans, Mammon taps into the comm network.]

I shouldn't have to say this, but just in case, remember that this is a stealth mission and we're trying not to make a scene. If you need any help in managing that, let me know and I'll try to cover you with my illusions.

Are we clear?

Breakout

[The strangest feeling- like passing through something but there's nothing there. And, all of a sudden, a certain illusionist is there and tapping their foot anxiously. Or maybe that's aggravation? Possibly both.]

We can't waste any time, we might get caught!

Wildcard
[For whatever]

[variaboss]

[ Getting Xanxus out is probably like herding cats, lets be honest here. He keeps wanting to turn back around and get Luci. There's also the fact that he's going to be violent pretty soon. And he's not going to hold back. Things are going to get very flashy and very hot very quickly. But he at least is going to behave a little longer for his daughter. She's trying so hard to help him. ]

Pre-Party

[rainandswallows]

[Yamamoto salutes]

Gotcha.

[But he can tell in his gut that it's not going to be easy. Something is wrong. He looks around. Here's here for Squalo and the others, yes, but his... his sense of Duty is pulling him towards Virgo. Where Tsuna and Dino are.

He should have gone there. He should have gone there.

But Squalo.]

Koushi Sugawara | Open

[warmsetter]

[Mingling in the Crowd/Pre-Breakout/OTA]

Suga couldn't remember his nerves being so on end since his match with Shiratorizawa. He wouldn't let his nerves show though as he kept his smile while he mingled in the crowd looking for the musicians they had to help. He kept an eye out for his fellow rescuers when he saw Ivan and Pao-Lin leave the group out the corner of his eye. He fought the urge to go after them.

It was hard enough trying to keep his eye on the musicians they had to get out without worrying about his fellow rescuers. He couldn't worry too much about them now. He would just have to trust that Ivan and Pao-Lin knew what they were doing. He just hoped they would be able to get their friend out along with everyone else. Suga continued to mingle through the crowd with a friendly smile.

"Hey if you're looking for a place to smoke or get some air you can go outside over there."

[Post Breakout/OTA]

Suga slumped against the wall of the van as his hands shook a bit. The adrenaline from earlier still passed through his veins. He never felt his heart beat so fast before as he ran to the van while everyone fought around him. He closed his eyes to calm down. Did they manage to get everyone out? Did everyone make it back to the van safely? Once he calmed down he pushed off the wall and looked around. He hoped everyone made it back safely.

[Wildcard]

Anything you have in mind? Go for it!

Ivan Karelin, Pao-Lin Huang, Trucy Wright | LinLin Rescue!

[sponsorigami]

[ Ivan is determined to carry out this rescue mission to his full ability. There's no option for failure. He's shapeshifted into the Pride employee, moving swiftly and directing people to where they--the rescuers--need them to go.

Then, he feels a tug; duty and love light up within him. What is he doing here? There is somewhere else he needs to do, someone important to find.

He needs to get Trucy out of here. Now. He's not abandoning the plan. He did mention to Doc Brown that he could create a distraction by causing a breakout separate from the main effort. Ivan doesn't know if Trucy is on board with the group rescue, if Tooru got to talk to her, but it doesn't matter. Trucy will be freed from Pride. He'll be her Origami Cyclone.

Ivan taps Pao-Lin on the shoulder. ]

Pao-Lin, let's go. Let's rescue Trucy.

[magic_to_do]

[Trucy knows this this party isn't like all the others. She heard about the rescue plan that was in the works, and she knows it's going to be dangerous. For a lot of people. Her real concern isn't for herself, but rather the other people she knows. Will Pinkie be alright? Steven? Squalo? Trucy's not as worried about herself because she has a hero coming for her. She'll be just fine. But can anyone else say that?

It makes it a little tough to relax and pretend it's all normal, but she's nothing if not a showman. In a rather brave move, she decides to help in the only way she can. Distracting security. Which is why she's pestering all the guards with inane questions and random magic tricks. They're annoyed, of course, but she's not really breaking any rules. And Trucy has been very obedient to the label up to this point, so they're inclined to see her as less of a threat.]

Aaaannnd poof! Your watch was in this flower pot the whole time! Ta-da!

[He's... not impressed. But at least if he's looking at her shenanigans, that's one less guard watching the door.]

[wiresandknives]

[Pre-Breakout/OTA (TW: Both will have excess language.)]

If there was one thing Bel hated to do it was waiting, especially when he was so eager to go out there and do some damage. He huffed as he pulled out one of his knife and started to play with it. "How fucking long is this going to take?

While he may be bored, he wasn't dumb enough to run in there, then end up caught in the process. He wanted to get Boss and Captain, but he was smart about it. Still, he wanted something to happen.

[During the breakout/OTA]

Something was finally happening! Bel threw his knives at a couple of guards when things started to pick up in the alley. He wished he could use his storm ring or call out his mink then he could really have some fun, but he couldn't use either. Well, his knives and wires never let him down before and he was ready for a fight when it hit him. They were on a time limit so he could have the fun he wanted.

Shit.

Bel jumped on top of the van to look for an opening he could use to make a web to trapped some of guards in it while others made it to the van. He had a few people he didn't want to get caught up in it. Once they made it through he could care less about everyone else. Now if only he could find that fucking opening. Man, did he miss his mink right about now, but he would find it.

[Wildcard]

Whatever you want to do!

Doc - ota

[4thdimensional]

Breaking out

[Doc is serving this operation as one of their drivers. He waits in his assigned parking spot, watching the street with a sharp eye and listening for the signals of chaos. His allies will be coming soon, and when they do---

---They do. He jumps out and swings open the van doors, ushering them in the back. There they'll find water and a small snack for each person, though they might have to grab for it rolling across the floor as the van takes off.]

Hold on to your hats! And if you've got a weapon, have it at the window!

[He's flooring it. Look out, streets of Moscow.]

After

[When they finally stop, he hops out once more to let everyone out. He greets their new friends with a tired smile and a blanket each. They're not the comfiest or the cleanest, but it was about all he could scrounge up.]

Welcome to the team. Get some rest, I'm sure that took a lot out of you.

Tooru Oikawa | OTA

[worthlesspride]

I Pre-Breakout

Tooru Oikawa is feeling smug. And he's not afraid to show it. Most people would write it off as Crown of Thorns having a very good concert. Which they have. Music might not be his passion, and the skills might have been written into him, but he's grown fond of having a cello and knowing how to play it. He just might buy one to play for fun.

He's got a glass of wine in his hand and hanging around the bar as Artolo runs wild.

II Breakout

Something's wrong. He's not sure what. There's fewer of the rescuers than he thought there would be. There's something wrong with them too.

And then the fight breaks out. Tooru has no fighting experience unless Iwaizumi punching him counts, so he hangs by the vans, watching. "Watch your left!" he called out.

He might not be able to fight, but he can watch out for weaknesses in the enemies' defense.

III Post-Breakout [Squalo, but visible to everyone]

"WHAT THE FUCK!?" Tooru screamed at Squalo. "What the fuck was that for?" He's waving his arms in the direction of the hotel. "We were supposed to save them, not throw them to the sharks!"

IV Post Breakout [OTA]

Tooru's not happy. He wasn't happy that fewer people than he wanted came. He's especially not happy about leaving Demyx behind so he's sulking in a corner of the van.

III

[sharktrash]

"He fell behind," Squalo says dryly and leans against the wall of the van. The guards and Demyx look tinier and tinier and finally disappear from sight, but he's not even looking in that direction.

He's... maybe a little shaken up, though. It'd felt natural at the moment, and he still didn't particularly care, but... This new him wasn't quite used to being like this. Not yet.

Yamamoto Takeshi | OTA

[rainandswallows]

I Breakout- Wall Slicing

The sense of duty finally snaps in him. He NEEDS to help Squalo get out.

So he slices up some walls.

"Squalo!" he called out cheerfully. "I'm here to rescue you!"

II Breakout- Fighting

Many amongst the rescuers might have wondered why a fifteen year old kid might have joined up. Sure he wasn't the youngest amongst them, but he was down there.

Now that he was fighting, they could see why. He was a maelstrom.

II - Fighting

[woomy]

3 runs up beside Yamamoto, another youth in their ranks, but she doesn't give it a moment's thought. She keeps her Hero Shot at the ready. Many of the security staff will find ink in their eyes.

"Which direction are you heading? I'll give you support with my Burst Bombs!"

Aramat Drawdes | OTA

[scalpedsociety]

01: they don't know how I feel inside/through my smile, I cry

[She knows what she has to do soon, but it doesn't make it any less difficult. She means to stay here in Pride, not because she wants to but she has to. And even though Lesedi is awful and will use her and has used others she cared about as a battery.

Thing is, she doesn't care. It's a better option than being her old self. Aramat has already stabbed two people, lost Squalo through her own lust and greediness. She can't imagine being free and this way, murderous, gluttonous, and lustful. (Also Jecht needs companionship and support himself, staying behind.)

But she did promise the others that she would help them escape if they wanted it. At least her compassion hasn't faded any. Others can be free.

Before the performance she can be found alone somewhere in the castle with near a bottle of vodka.]

02: I know why the caged bird sings/only joy comes from song

[The song she decides to perform is an Opera piece from an old rock opera. It's about a bird named Chromaggia. She knows her voice is far from operatic, but she will sing as best as she can, the others need her to to absolutely be compelling. And she starts, standing by the harpsichord in a plain black dress as the opening notes begin...]

Tanto tempo fa
Un uccello fatale di nome
Chromaggia
Incrocio in volo la freccia di un
Arciere
Lungo le coste di lava
Per anni, pensando di essere
Inseguita,
Scappo dalla freccia

[Soon it begins to snow, the performance area turned into a dark and silent winter's night with her music power, her dress growing feathers and a headdress with those same dark wings. She relates to the story, the bird refusing to admit the arrow is inside and now must pull it out, possibly hurting others. Aramat is finally taking a side and she doesn't care. She's in this cage, let her sing whatever she wants.]

I

[sharktrash]

[ It's not a party in Moscow without guzzling at least three bottles of vodka, as far as Squalo's concerned. ]

[ He's not sure about this. He doesn't know if he can ever forgive her - either of them, really, but Xanxus just had a way to worm himself into his heart - and he doesn't particularly want to talk. It's just all awkward now, whenever he does try it. ]

[ But she's doing this for them, for him. The least he can do is let her know they appreciate her efforts. ]

[ He sits down next to her with his own bottle, just in case he needs help filling in the silence. Nothing like legging it while boozed up, right? ]

...hey.

[ He's looking somewhere at the table next to her, but it's a significant improvement from when he had her blocked on the phone, at least. ]

Eiji Hino | OTA

[candothismuch]

[Break out scuffle]

Everything had started out fine but the moment security caught on and came after them was when Eiji jumped into action. He dodged and pulled on his belt in the same ingrained motion, slotting the Medals for Tatoba in easily.

"Henshin!"

He doesn't wait any longer than he has to, jumping into the fray as soon as the armor finishes forming up. He kicks and punches, putting himself in between them and the musicians they had come to save.

"Go! Hurry!"

[Injury]

Eiji didn't even see it coming. A blow from the back sent him tumbling to the ground and rolled a few feet with a cry of pain. When he stopped the OOO armor dispersed into light, leaving him on the ground. There was a bloody scrape on his cheek and more injuries hidden beneath the clothes he had worn.

He struggles to get back up to his feet. Despite all of it, he looked like he was going to try and keep fighting and wouldn't stop until everyone was in the vans.