☆TRACK XIII: HIT THE BOTTOM PT 2

[interdimanagers]

It’s almost the very end of the Tokyo tour when it happens. There was no way for anyone to be sure when exactly Gold would strike, but at least with the information gained from Silver and their dreams, the rebels have been able to prepare and lay in wait. Despite some effort, contact with Gold has been impossible. It isn’t until Lesedi has presented herself on stage that Gold comes out of hiding. It’s a special occasion, presumably. Maybe our of arrogance, or maybe as some key feature of her plan, one of the final performances is Lesedi Santiago herself singing. The crowd loves it, irrationally so – it’s clear to anyone that knows what’s going on that by this point Lesedi could be making fart sounds into a microphone and the audience would swoon. The magic is thick, and the civilians are all but zombies in its wake. So much, so, that they don’t even seem to notice when Gold drops the entire metal lighting structure right onto the stage, on top of Santiago, mid performance. Gold rides the structure down, and metal bends and grinds, screeching as lights explode and sparks fly. It’s so brazen that even Lesedi doesn’t seem to be expecting it. That becomes all too obvious when the nebulae emerges from the wreckage, furious and literally glowing with astral energy. Her song and its momentum has been cut like a rope, and the stage has fallen down like the figurative piano. “What is this?!” she screeches, indignant beyond words but ostensibly not actually hurt. Metal shrapnel bursts into the air as Gold emerges as well, a powerful aura surging around their masked form as well. The remaining musicians that were dosed with Gold’s powder some months ago will feel a strange pull against their spirits. “You.” The word is cold, in contrast to Lesedi’s fury only a moment before. Gold only offers a theatrical shrug as they tight rope walk across twisted metal scaffolding. The crowd roars in appreciate for a performance that only they seem to understand. “This is where you swear you’re going to destroy me, right?” Gold says, with antagonizing ambivalence. “Well, here’s your chance, princess.” Yet, in this moment, Silver is nowhere to be seen. [This is mostly going to be one, big free for all log, though you can make separate top levels if they aren’t going to be related to the main fight. Remember, your actions here matter! What players characters do or don’t do will heavily affect the outcome.]

Comments

Garnet | OTA

[twoscompany]

"What the--"

D--did that robot person just do that? The entire stage? And--what the heck. Why does she feel...so pulled?

From her place behind the curtains, she starts awkwardly walking towards the stage, in spite of her insides screaming to turn back, this is her boss--but though she struggles, though she does stop after several moments, she feels the pull, nevertheless. She can't explain it, but it doesn't feel right, somehow. Not to her, at least. And nothing she "sees" is helping - all she sees is flashes of light, obscure colors and starscapes, no matter how she tries to go beyond this moment, so thick the energies are.

"What...what's happening...?!"

[tigermillionaire]

With them both still in Pride, Garnet is one of the few people Steven can see react to all of this. He feels the same weird feeling in his gut, but all he can focus on is the eruption of sparks as the whole main stage seems to crash to the ground.

Some part of him wants to act, to do something, in this moment of opportunity. Yet, the rest feel totally dwarfed by the gravity of what's going on around him.

"Garnet..." he says quietly from behind her, peeking around a corner and trying to avoid looking like he's thinking about doing anything as he knows their managers are nearby.

[twoscompany]

"Steven...!" Garnet turns to see Steven. She takes a deep breath as she bends down. "Do you feel it too, then?"

[tigermillionaire]

"Yeah," he says, nodding and looking sort of dazed. He stares at the confusion for a few moment, before looking helplessly to Garnet. "That's them. It's...It's the person that helped me get my gem back! One of the guys that warned me about what Blanche was going to do!"

And they're fighting Lesedi. Oh geez.

[twoscompany]

"...And one of the men who took us from the party in December." Garnet stares. "What are they doing? Why are they doing this? What can they hope to accomplish against her!?"

[mildwildchild]

"That - that guy's trying to fight her, or something." Jamie comes to stand next to Garnet, fidgety and anxious. "And he's using our energy to do it, he's - pulling it out of us to make himself stronger."

Jamie is scared out of his mind and all but writhing out of his own skin with the sheer amount of musical power that's flying around right now, but he's feeling the same pull as Garnet, and he can't help but be drawn toward the confrontation playing out on stage.

Terry || OTA

[traumatizing]

Well fuck.

It feels like somebody's reaching right into his head and turning it toward the stage, and it just... It feels too soon. He's never had the pleasure of meeting Gold, but right now he knows they have a hold on his magic and. Fuck, if this is what it takes to take Lesedi down then he's just gonna have to let them, isn't he?

But he can't just stand here gaping either.

Too much time, a lot of singing, and every last dollar in his wallet later, he's got a little stage here. The sound isn't enough to stand up to the main stage, but it's enough to get the attention of some people at least. Terry's kinda just hoping it'll have some cumulative affect. One that builds up fast while he's at it.

The drums aren't as heavy as he'd like, but that's what happens when you're sequencing on the fly. The guitar comes in loud and clear and at odds with the feelings in the crowd.

Everybody pay attention to me, I've got the answer--
I've got the answ~er!
Street walking cheetah with a capital "G", so get your hands up
Now get your hands up

No one in the booth is lighting him, but there's a spot on Terry regardless, heads at the back of the room turning curiously toward him. It's hard, fighting against this much energy for control of the room, but he has to now. Now he's started. Pouring everything he's got into the music-- he's gonna Pied Piper this shit if it kills him.

Hide your eyes. we're gonna shine tonight
Sub-atomic never got the best of me
Ain't a DJ gonna save my soul
I sold it long ago for rock'n'roll
Drop the needle when the tape deck blows
I gotta shout! This! Out! So everybody knows!

[mildwildchild]

Between the light rigging falling on Santiago and the helmet person (he's pretty sure) siphoning off his musical energy, there is kind of a lot going on here that Jamie's struggling to deal with.

He's just gonna ignore all that right now, though, because he could definitely feel Terry around here somewhere and that is definitely him on stage over there right now, and Jamie's as eager to see him again as he is to contribute to whatever the hell he's trying to accomplish. It's kind of a struggle, because seeing Terry makes him feel all emotional and shit, but Jamie takes the stage next to him and grabs an extra mic, adding his power to the performance.

This ain't a party - get off the dance floor!
You want the get down, here comes the gang war
You're doin' all right, I got the answer
'Cause all the good times, they give you cancer -

[traumatizing]

If he didn't have a guitar in his hands, Terry would be turning to Jamie to pull him into such a tight hug he'd never get away. So it's probably for the best that his hands are occupied, it keeps his mind fully on the music and he gives Jamie little more than a nod and a smile as he feels the added energy rush out, people in the crowd starting to peel away from the Lesedi Santiago show.

If we were all like you in the end
Oh, we'd be killing ourselves by sleeping in
So, hit the lights, I'll do it again
And keep your cars, and your dogs, and your famous friends
Well alright

Now to start getting them to leave.

[mildwildchild]

Jamie all but glows at even that slight gesture from Terry, and there's a surge of warmth and affection that he can't entirely rein in and ends up rippling through the crowd, reflecting in their increasingly enthusiastic response to Terry's performance.

Slide up the faders when the cabinet slams
And get your hands up, now get your hands u-up!
Light up the stage and watch me kick out the jams
So throw your fist up, now throw your fist u-up!

The mob screams and flails wildly, pulsing with excitement, energy surging through them and into the two mages. Jamie forces every ounce of his ability into exerting his will over the people in the crowd, drawing them and their energy away from Lesedi, keeping them firmly on him and Terry. Everyone whose attention they've gained now is focused raptly on the older musician, open to whatever he has planned - what exactly that is, beyond keeping them from fueling Lesedi's power, Jamie has no clue.

[traumatizing]

Ain't nobody gonna take my life
Ain't nobody gonna get the best of me-
Ain't a preacher gonna save me now
Grab a seat I'm gonna show you how
Everybody hit the pyro cue
We're gonna blow! This! Off!
And show you what we do!

Honestly he almost laughs, part of him feeling this swell of fondness in response to Jamie and the crowd-- even if the audience's is largely fake. He's never performed with Jamie before, not unless obnoxiously singing over him in the Flashstep kitchen counts, but this is amazing. It feels powerful.

Agent 3 | One squidkid turf war go! OTA

[woomy]

3 arrives to the concert fully decked out in her Hero Outfit. She's not attempting to hide that she's not human. The time to act is now. And secrecy isn't as important anymore. The bad guys need to be stopped.

"I'm chargin' in and creatin' some distractions! C'mon!" 3 yells as she starts shooting ink everywhere and at various people. She's unable to do any damage, but she's blinding people and giving her more movement as the ink lands on the ground. She uses the ink to her advantage, zipping from place to place and lobbing Burst Bombs from different directions.

"If you want me to focus on something, let me know!" Otherwise, she'll be trying to cause mass chaos and build up enough special to land a Burst Bomb Rush on Lesedi herself.

[candothismuch]

"Okay!"

Eiji isn't that far behind 3 when she starts to fire off her ink shots. He doesn't take long in transforming into OOO Tatoba mode and running into the fray. This was it; if winning this fight was what would help then he was going to fight with all he had.

[woomy]

She smiles with Eiji at her side and then leaving to fight. This isn't the first time they've fought alongside each other. It probably wouldn't be the last either as all the bad guys aren't being dealt with right now.

"I'm no Charger user, but I've got range enough!" She targets a few of the bodyguards near Eiji's path, and soon their faces are covered in a layer of bright green ink. "Take that!"

[candothismuch]

No, it was not. But having fought alongside each other once before, it isn't hard to fall into a rhythm of working together with 3. The bodyguards that she blinds, Eiji will knock down with a few punches and kicks.

"Hah!" He blocks a hit from another bodyguard before retaliating with his own blows. There were only a few now but there was no telling if and when more may show up.

Doc vs. gadgetry | OTA

[4thdimensional]

There's been a lot weighing on Doc's mind in the lead up. To this point, he's entirely been a failure. A few half-cocked plans turn to dust and Marty's still there in the enemy's clutches. If this ritual succeeds, he has a feeling that he'll never get the chance to apologize, but that overwhelming terror has blunted the will to act, as counterproductive as that sounds.

He'd tried to call out to his friend in that strange dream from a short while ago, but it wasn't enough. It would never be, not until this ends. And at times like this, desperation can become inspiration.

Doc's odd toolbox jingles at his side, an odd item for a concert---but he's glued some out of place speakers on the side. It looks like a boombox from a distance, and that's marginally less suspicious, right? If it buys him some time, that should be enough.

The falling metal is his cue to move. This is it, this is the end, and that desperate half-baked plan in the box needs to pop out of the oven now. He slips further into the crowd's chaos, ducking behind a pillar to get some space---and here's as good a time as any to announce his intentions to the other rescuers.

I believe our mechanical friends could benefit from a signal jam. Can anyone cover me? And if you've found any falling scrap parts, that would also be excellent---it's entirely untested and I need to set up the shot---

And add a finishing touch for stability, but he sees no need to start a panic just yet. What's important is that they have something to fight for, and he reminds himself of that with a silent wish. This has to work.

[snapcrackleburn]

Roy had heard the crash on stage from a room down the hall. He tossed on his street clothes to avoid getting recognized by the audience and hurried down the hallway and through one of the theater side doors. It took a shocked minute to take in what was happening on stage but the sight of one of the mysterious rescuers had him smiling nervously and looking around for any sight of other rescuers. This is it hm? Well he wasn't just going to sit around. He slipped on his alchemy gloves and started searching the crowd.

He catches the tail end of Doc's announcement and rushes over to the man. "Let me help you!" he shouts over the noise from the crowd, only just then getting a better view of who he's dealing with. Was this... the old man he had met on the streets in Vista? What do you know? Roy smirks. "Tell me what to do."

[4thdimensional]

Doc knows this man. He flashes a grin and opens the box slightly.

"This is an electromagnetic pulse---intended to disrupt any efforts to subdue us. It's got a kick to it, so I'll need some help pulling it together."

That...sure is one big boom box. He sets it down, then removes a few items that he'd awkwardly concealed---his beer belly is actually a barrel under his shirt, there are rods up his sleeves, and he's soon wedging some sort of cannon together.

"See the big cannister at your feet? We need to securely drop it on this base portion."

He kneels to guide it more precisely, but he pauses in his task a moment to assess his ally. "But are you alright, Mr. Mustang?"

[snapcrackleburn]

"I'm fine. I'm getting a strange sensation from the fellow with the helmet onstage but it's nothing harmful." He certainly won't complain if someone has the power to stand up to Santiago finally. Hopefully that's really the case.

"I'll get that for you," he says, kneeling down to grab the canister Doc had pointed out. Roy tries not to rush to quickly, lifting the canister steadily with both hands up and over the base Doc had readied. Someone in the crowd bumps him in the back and he freezes in place for a second just to be sure before nestling the canister in its place.

☆LESEDI FIGHT MEGA THREAD

[interstellarnpcs]

It doesn't take Lesedi long to realize that more than just Gold is disrupting her party. Musical auras are starting to pop up all over the place - places they shouldn't be. Anger lurches in her gut as she recognizes Jamie of all people joining in... she makes a note to make him pay for his treachery once this is dealt with.

As it is, though, Gold is the only one she considers to be a true threat, so that is where her attention stays. Though she does take a moment to lift her phone and speak into it sternly.

"Take them out."

The android body guards begin to flood in, provided opposition to the people attempting to interfere. In the meantime, Lesedi attempts to give Gold the good old hand teleport through the chest treatment.

Except, this time, it doesn't work.

Lesedi appears right where Gold had been a few moments before, but when she arrives, they have already spun away out of reach, to the rhythm of a song she can't quite pin down. Neither of them seems fully capable of seizing reality's tune while the other is present, and Lesedi finds that infuriating.

"Who are you?!" she yells, lashing out wildly with her magical power, streams of lightning setting fire to pieces of fallen wreckage. Gold ignore her question, and instead focuses on working their tune, slowly building the beat into something unstoppable.

"I am going to kill all of you!" Lesedi yells, attempting to teleport and finding reality somehow unbending, only staggering a few feet ahead.

#yolo

[woomy]

Agent 3 has been causing as much chaos and distraction as she can. Bright green ink covers the ground and a number of people. This gives 3 incredible movement opportunities, including a way to charge at the stage, jump out a small distance away, and yell, "Woomy! Bomb Rush!"

She starts throwing ink filled balloons (Burst Bombs) at Lesedi, one after another for a few seconds. After about 8-10 Burst Bombs, the Bomb Rush is over. 3 returns to firing her Hero Shot and is left to see what she accomplished with her Bomb Rush.

#smol child must protect

[snapcrackleburn]

Roy stops breathing for a moment when he sees what 3 is doing. There's no way Santiago wouldn't be able to figure out who just threw that attack her way. Too late to tell the young one to "be careful."

He holds out a gloved hand, ready to use his own techniques if need be, staring without blinking and waiting to see the woman's reaction.

[faithfulflame]

From far back in the stands, way, way up on the edge of the stadium in what would probably be called the nosebleed section, Mars is waiting for her chance, and it's then that she'll take it. with Lesedi being bombarded with ink...

Thanks squidkid.

A burning arrow streaks across the sky, aimed straight for Lesedi's stupid hair. Followed by another, and another, each one hurled through the chaos and going for the CEO's legs while the sniper moves from spot to spot, using the turmoil, chaos, and distance to hide where the shots are coming from. It's better than nothing, though Mars doesn't plan to stick around long. After the trio of shots she'll take some cover to figure out what comes next. Let Gold sort this one out, she's just taking an opportunity.

Ivan | Playing music to boost Gold

[sponsorigami]

Ages ago, Ivan had been given a dose of powder by the rescuers, and he has been unknowingly supplying Gold with musical energy. He feels the pull to participate in the music through Gold's influence. Even if Ivan doesn't approve of what Gold did, Ivan would rather support Gold's fight than Santiago's.

His shamisen is in his hands, and he starts to play. A few concert goers turn in shock. Isn't Ivan Karelin from Flowers Over Bones supposed to be dead?! And that's not the only thing that draws their attention. With each strum of his shamisen, origami paper appears and folds into various origami bases. The power is too new for him to do more complex origami, but by playing the shamisen, Ivan can now manipulate origami.

[trustme]

"Done warming up?" Doctor ignores the flashes of cameras and gasps coming from the crowd as he walks into the concert room with his instrument case on his back and some volume equipment. They'll play and they'll play loudly. Greg already has a great effort going to take away from Lesedi's music source; Doctor figures he'll steal that idea and turn around and give that power to Gold. Goodness knows he and Greg can't stand up that easily to Santiago even with the power they've gained. At least that's the plan for the moment.

A few rushed minutes later and a little spell to speed up the job, their instruments can be heard blasting over speakers. "Welcome to the strangest concert you've ever been to!" Doctor announces to the crowd. He nods at Ivan and begins playing his cello, feeling for the power of the music and glancing up at the stage to check on the fight.