2017-07-20: Lululu Wait v. Hiro

From Dream Chasers
Jump to navigation Jump to search 
=========================<* Lacour - Arms Coliseum *>=========================

Situated immediately adjacent to Lacour Castle, the Arms Coliseum is a temple to the pursuit of perfection in physical prowess. Built more than three centuries ago by King Etienne I, the Coliseum is laid over with ancient Symbols that blunt weapons and protect combatants on the brink of death, allowing competitors to fight to the best of their ability without fear of killing their opponents.

The Coliseum is the site of the annual Lacour Tournament of Arms, a competition that fuels the spirit of martial artists and weapons merchants both. The Tournament is a spectacle that draws visitors and competitors from across Filgaia, and is the major event on the continent while it is running. A series of smaller tournaments are organized throughout the year; entering as a combatant is free of charge, but spectators pay a nominal fee that nonetheless provides a significant boost to Lacour's coffers.


<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata's pacing through the rooms and hallways of the Coliseum with a bit of short breath, her cube somewhat faithfully following behind her. She'd heard of who her next opponent was, but she hadn't met him before -- but it felt just... right to warn him, if nothing else. Warn him of the potential dangers that Ge Ramda possesses. Warn him of everything that could happen. Warn him of everything that she doesn't yet know.

Fortunately, she's sort of glimpsed him before -- and she knows that there's a curious pink dragonet that follows him, so hopefully that should make him a little easier to spot?

The waitress with the white hair and pale white skin -- even paler than she'd normally been seen before -- has been going around a while, panting as she tries to do her duty before their scheduled match. Please be there please be there please be there... 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


And then suddenly. "BOO!"

And there's a fluffy pink dragonet right in Lunata's face. Ruby has this teasing grin. "Foundddd her!"

"Good work Ruby. Though uh, did you have to do that?" "Of course I did! She looked like she was wound up tigher than a coiled spring! How could I waste an opportunity like this one!"

That's Hiro coming down the side hall looking hale and hearty again after all this rest and his equipment being replaced from his match with Tethelle. "So. We've got this match coming up but-" He gives her face a long look then points with a thumb over his shoulder, "-wanna go talk first over a meal Miss Croze? My treat, your pick?"

It's not like he was unaware of the strangeness surrounding Lunata even if he doesn't know the particular brand of strangeness. He just knows that its a cube? Making her do things? Like fight in the tournament? "I never really ascribed to the idea that it's bad to do anything on an full stomach. Like swimming- or having a serious talk?"

He kind of grins and rubs the back of his neck, "So what do you say?" 


<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina, having a nap in her room before the next time there's a tournament match to shitpost at, wakes up in a cold sweat.

"HIRO NO! YOU CAN'T DIGEST AND RUN AT THE SAME TIME!" she shouts, before cashing out again immediately. 

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata lets out a little shriek as Ruby surprises her from behind! She's just about flailed as she -- turns back with a quiet little sigh and places her hands to her chest. "... a-ah, Mister... Mister Hiro?" She hesitates, before twiddling her thumbs, biting her lip. Well, there was time before the match, and she had skipped breakfast... and it was a bad idea to eat on an empty stomach... "O-okay..."

As fate would have it, though, Lunata is responsible in part for the Saucery Globe Tournament edition, and they're at a particular stall not too far from the coliseum itself; Lunata's gone to her aunt, Hilda, an Ellurian woman with impossibly huge muscles and power who's simply cooking at an unassuming stand that nonetheless has managed to draw in quite a crowd. There's Ellurian curries, sweets, desserts, tandoor meats, kebabs and all other specialty goods... and of course, the Saucery Globe. Now coming in MRE versions too.

"I-- I wanted to..." she swallows, as she nibbles on a vegetarian halloumi wrap from Aunt Hilda. "I wanted to warn you, mister Hiro."

She hesitates. She looks nothing like how a fighter should be -- indeed, she looks far more comfortable in a waitress setting as she did when she greeted some of Aunt Hilda's customers. "N-not because-- um--" she hesitates with worry. "... I... I'm not sure about my-- my powers." She gestures to the cube. "About Ge Ramda. In my last match, I feel like I... was on the verge of doing something I might regret." Other than pointing a katana to your throat?

"... so if... if you're not certain yourself... and to avoid risk..."

Lunata pauses as she hesitates further. "I could... withdraw if it'd be... safer...?" She has no idea what she's saying, she's still babbling a little. 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Hiro's eye twitches at a distant feeling. Like someone issued a challenge.

Hiro purchases a Saucery Globe MRE. "Mwee Hee Hee look at how tiny it is... People make eating contests out of this!?"

Oh Ruby how little you know.

Whereas Hiro greets Hilda, "Nice to meet you Ma'am. Your niece is a wonderful girl."

But he also purchases a curry, and is soon red faced and flushed from the spicy goodness combined with the Umami flavor. He's taking alternative sips of milk. Ruby too has a plate, but she's handling spice way better. He's in the middle of a bite when Lunata mentions the warning, he looks up from his plate.

He's giving her a long and serious look. He's holding his expression as he listens. He's not even chewing.

And then suddenly his face is just steaming. And he hurriedly takes a pull from his milk, wheezing afterwards as he tries to get cool air across his tongue. "Oof- huff... okay. Okay sorry. Your Aunt Hilda makes some great Curry. These spices. I don't think I've ever tasted anything like it back on Lunar..."

He keeps breathing for a while and then he looks thoughtful. "What do you want to do Miss Croze? Whatever's going on with you... do you want to fight me? Do you want to be protected from it-"

He looks at the cube, "-whatever Ge Ramda is? Like... I remember you from Port Timney and I'd say you've come a long way. A real long way..."

Putting down his utensils, one forearm rubs at the opposite, "Except... I got the impression you didn't want to go where you've gone at all. And I don't think anyone should fight who doesn't want to. Maybe it's a long way but it's a long way you've been... dragged." He takes a breath then gives her a serious look, "So again - what do you want, Miss Croze? It's not whether I'm safe or not that's the important thing-" Ruby sounds uneasy, "Hiro maybe you shouldn't just... I mean if she says it's... that bad..."

Hiro sort of shrugs his shoulders at Ruby, "Look tournaments aren't safe. Even as safe as they say it is- things can still be dangerous. Jean is in a wheelchair right now. And Fargo the Drifter Hunter- they had to stop the match because an attack bypassed the wards somehow. I can accept that risk- but it depends on what she wants." 


<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata looks just a bit bashful and happy as Hilda has a very firm nod to say, "... she can be a handful. But she means very well."

She's seated on one of the stools near the stand as Hilda rather pointedly starts to focus and just -- shape a piece of dough into a flatbread by rolling her shoulder with a 'hoaa--!' roar and slamming it onto her shoulder, Tetsuzanko-style. The rippling force generated kind of just reverbs through the cart.

Wuxia cuisine is -intense-.

Lunata blinks just for a moment as she says, "I--I was so wrapped up in it I forgot we did meet before, I'm sorry..." she sighs very faintly. "... I..." she hesitates. "To be honest... even if I backed away here--" and the cube starts to kind of agitatedly bob up and down, but Lunata lets out a little 'shh' from it.

"... do you know Rujm el-Hiri? It's the Singing Ruins at the top of the knife-edged mountains... a ruin of death. For a long time now, I've been able to hear... death. Malevolence, the Seraphim... that seems to just have been part of why I could sense them," Lunata explains, a little more calmed by feta and halloumi. "And this... was a Key of some sort, from some ancient relic... and I have a feeling that my mother's obsession, my being there... my deal with Ge Ramda..."

She lowers her head.

"... I don't think it's coincidence at all. Even if I run from the tournament... I don't think I can run from this-- fate, so to speak..." she sounds just a bit bashful saying it. It sounds too important. "... and I know, timid as I am, that if I don't learn more about it... it'll consume me."

She bites her lip. "I want to learn... I can't look away from this responsibility." She lowers her head. "But I've already nearly hurt someone, and I know you've got a great duty as well, Mister Hiro..."

There's a moment of concentration. She focuses, and a low wail starts to echo around the area -- and a large, spectral lich bursts from out of her back and emerges out to loom over. Hiro would likely be able to see it clearly, given how sensitive he is to Malevolence. A rotting being, a skeletal corpse, with massive claws at the end of each of its arms... yet with a tranquil beauty, owing to its ancient regalia and cherry blossom-patterned bridal kimono...

"... this is Ge Ramda ..." 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Hiro grins at Hilda before he's then surprised by the rippling force that reverberates through the cart. "W-Whoa..."

But then, "Hey don't worry about it-" He holds up a hand, waving it, "It was kind of chaotic." But then he falls silent. Shaking his head only to show he's never heard of it. He stops eating for a while just to focus on what she says. He notes her resonance is high. Which makes sense given all the weird things going on for him, but- hearing death?

His expression seems kind of uncertain at the idea. Death was a foreign concept to him before he came to Filgaia. Then everything changed when the Hyadeans at- No that's silly. Everything changed when he saw death in an Otherworldly Hollow. That's what he thinks of when he thinks of seeing death.

A breath huffs out as he thinks of that experience. He doesn't say anything, he just let's Lunata keep speaking. Nodding when she says she can't run from this fate. That it's too important. That it might consume her. And then he scoots back in his chair as soon as he hears the wail and a spectral lich bursts into being- while Ruby shrieks and nearly spills her plate, toppling out of her spot.

Hiro stares at Ge Ramda- open mouthed, goosepimples all over. For a few moments he looks like a child who just saw the Boogeyman crawl out from under his bed. And then slowly he closes his eyes. He takes a deep breath. And then he looks again. He tries not to look away. And this time he notes the beauty rather than the horror in it's regalia. It's kimono.

"It's... he's?" Like he's unsure on the pronoun. "Terrible. But... beautiful too." He swallows once. While a quivering Ruby puts a paw on the edge of the table and draws herself up and just keeps gaping like a fish while tremors run through her like a cat as she stares at it.

He closes his eyes again for a moment as if considering the matter. "You've got quite a burden... responsibility on your shoulders. Feels kind of unfair."

Lots of things are unfair though. He knows this firsthand. He's quiet again for a while, "Well. I'm in this tournament to learn more about myself too." He opens his eyes, "If I can't look death in the face- if I can't face the possibility of it, what does it say about me and how I'll hold up down the line?" He still looks a touch frightened, but then he gives Lunata a determined look, "If you want to fight me- Miss Croze. If you think that fighting me will let you learn something about this power. About yourself. Then I'll fight you with all that I have."

He gives her a weak smile, "And it feels like it's the best thing I can do to protect you. To make sure you're not consumed by... it... him... win or lose. You'll still learn something. Maybe it won't be what you need to do- but hopefully in time it might lead to that, before it's too late." Ruby starts babbling from fright, "SWEETALTHENAHIRODONTDOTHIS!" Hiro suddenly picks her up in his arms and starts rubbing her side comfortingly. "It's gonna be okay Ruby. It'll be okay. Things are gonna work out." "HIRODONTBESTUPIDITISALITERALDEATHGOD!" 


<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata isn't quite sure of the pronoun either. The kimono ... almost suggests femininity, but she isn't sure. It isn't like she can peek under the hood like Ge Ramda's a stray she picked off the street, after all. No, Ge Ramda's a stray she picked off an ancient ruin and it went 'can I keep her, please?' to her, if anything.

Ge Ramda lets out a very soft wail, which is surprisingly... forlorn, and she reaches up towards it for a moment -- as if to stroke at its chin.

"... I'll promise too, then. I won't let this power consume me, and..."

She has the lich turn to face her, which is kind of... hard given that it's kind of coming out of her back.

"... I won't be afraid of it. That's what happened last time when things got out of control."

She smiles jut a bit more warmly as she munches on her little wrap. "Um-- thank you... I know your friend is-- is scared, but, um, I feel a bit less scared now. Let's... let's give it our all, okay?" 

DC: Lunata Croze switches forms to Spirit Initiate Lunata!

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


"That's all I could want. That you get the chance to live a happy and full life." Hiro's shoulders rise and fall as if . "Alright. We'll both give it our all." Ruby's teeth chatter. "After we finish our meal." "I've... lost... my... appetite." "Uh. Then I'll clean your plate too. Wouldn't want to insult her Aunt's cooking."

-=-=-

"AND IN THIS CORNER- THE SHIRTLESS OUTLAW FROM THE MOON WHO IS DECIDEDLY LESS TOPLESS THAN WE REMEMBER! HIRO!" The announcer calls over the swell of the crowd. Hiro sighs at that memory as he pats his full belly, "I wish they'd just drop that already."

Hiro waits for Lunata to be announced in, and- he faces her across the gap. There's a buckler strapped onto his arm. "It's embarrassing." He slides his longsword out of his sheath. It's been hammered out, polished, and fully refurbished after his battle from Fargo which nearly melted it. He keeps it at a low guard before his stance shifts and he remembers, "Oh right! And I'm sponsored by Bob and Weaver's! Uh- sorry almost forgot."

The mom and pop armorer sponsoring him is likely face palming right now.

He takes a deep breath, steeling himself once again against the idea that he's literally fighting death. Or- something like death. "Ready Miss Croze? I'm not sure if I am but-" The announcer calls- "BEGIN!" "-I'll still give you everything I've got!" Hiro makes certain she's armed herself with her blade that manifests- before he darts in warily. He doesn't come straight from the front, he moves to her flanks- remembering Riesenlied and Noeline's words.

Don't just do what you always do when faced with overwhelming power. Or in this case the unknown. At least the katana is a sword. It's an unfamiliar sword but it carries a comfortable familiarity.

He moves as fast in this circular dance around her, every so often swinging- a high feint. A slash from the middle, which he doubles back, before a low thrust. All the while he keeps moving. His orange cape streaming behind him as some whirling distraction.

He tries to mind Ge Ramda if he's hovering about. He doesn't want to touch the thing unnecessarily... 


GS: Hiro has attacked Lunata Croze with Basic Attack Command!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.

DC: MISS! Lunata Croze completely evades Basic Attack Command from Hiro!

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

"A happy and full life... ..."

Lunata places her hands to her chest and looks up towards the skies, even as Ge Ramda rescinds back into her form.

She just wanted that for herself, but now she knows that that isn't so simple. And what her mother was after... what she's been devoting herself to all this time... she doesn't understand anything about what might have been going on. She could've just lived a sheltered life all this time, so simply espousing that she's happy to remain a waitress, but...

... it's time for her to hear the bell's toll, too.

~*~

Lunata's weapon is particularly -- odd, so to speak.

Hiro watches it transform just in front of her -- the cube that's accompanied her just... breaks the conservation of mass and other physical laws as it elongates, transforming to an ornate katana with a pitch-black sheath of the same matte colour, with a hexagonal, mechanical guard and a white hilt.

"I--I'm ready--" Lunata nods in turn, and breaths in as she watches Hiro circle around her. She's not the same as Hiro's other opponents -- she's distracted, her footwork is clumsy as she tries to keep in balance. She's not lying when she says she isn't a fighter -- her reactions in Timney attest to that.

And yet--

When that blade comes through with the thrust, she's suddenly moved at rapid pace, stooping into an astonishingly low stance as Hiro's weapon pierces a swirl of her hair and cuts loose several errant strands of white... and she's reared herself to an iai stance.

"Orochi-Agito, howl...!"

The blade is drawn in one clean stroke -- and for a moment he can see butterflies ephemerally floating in the air, accompanying the spiritual strike. 

GS: Lunata Croze has attacked Hiro with Cherry Ronde!
GS: Lunata Croze has completed her action.
GS: Hiro guards a hit from Lunata Croze's Cherry Ronde for 63 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

In the stands, leant over the railing to call out a 'Good luck, Luni~ie...' is a familiar mess of colour, waving both her arms; Shalune is certainly wearing a newly dyed shirt after the fun she's had with Lunata recently, but you wouldn't know it given there's a sweater and a cost on top, not to mention the archetypal bobble hat and the enormous mess of pink hair that threatens to cover it all.

With an uncertain sigh, Shalune bobs back down to her seat, unthinkingly accepting the bag handed over to her by an odd... 'figure'... in a twelve-foot trenchcoat and similarly-scaled bobble hat. "Mm... I hope this'll be okay..." whines Shalune as she drowns her woes in donut holes, drawing her legs up to curl up onto her seat and bonk against the side of what is plainly and obviously the form of Big Shal, snuck into the arena. "I mean, last time was pretty scary..."

She only squints a little as a giant spherical hand pat-pats her on the head, kind of used to it. 

<Pose Tracker> Linvidia Diargento has posed.

Linvidia Diargento says, legs crossed and a fresh glass of something with mango pulp, ice, and hard liquor in her hand, "FINALLY." The ice clinks as she takes a merry swig and she lets out a hearty laugh at Hiro's fumbling over his sponsorship.

"Fool," she says - she's in her box seat near the ring, with a flunky flanking her and keeping people out of her immediate seating area - "to think that he wouldn't remember the REAL heroes of this conflict...!"

"Are you sure you're going to be OK, miss? There might be blood," says the flunky, who is already wheeling over the little service cart.

"First of all, that's a disgusting way to mispronounce Mistress," Linvidia says.

Her eyes then narrow. "And secondly, obviously. Did you have some kind of an impression that I'm a weak and simpering coward?!"

The flunky wisely says, "No ma'am."

"Oooooo," Linvidia says then, as she sees a low, wide stance. 

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

"Aaaaaa AAAAAAAAA I'M LATE!" Lemina shouts, skidding into the arena. She nearly loses her grip on her hamburger, but snaps her head straight down like a piranha to catch it on her mouth. She practically slides down the steps, and stops inches from Big Shal, which she somehow didn't notice despite, you know.

Big Shal.

Looking to Shalune, she asks, "Mmemi sif fher?" She brings her hand to her mouth, gets in control of her hamburger, and asks, a little more clearly, "Can I sit here?"

Her gaze is on Hiro, for the most part, though. Despite the giant robot to her immediate side. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"You can do it, Lunata!" Jacqueline calls out. She's in the stands, of course, and sitting right next to Shalune...and, as it would happen, Big Shal. She glances over to her friend, and offers her a smile.

"...It'll be fine. I...I'm sure of it." She says, trying to reassure Shalune just a giant hand comes down to do the same.

Of course, deep down, Jacqueline isn't quite so sure, herself. She wants to believe fully in Lunata...of course she does. But...Ge Ramda was still, in many ways, an unknown entity. That had been proven horrifically in the last fight. They had a talk about it, of course, and it seemed to understand...but when it came down to it, would the same thing happen again? Jacqueline's expression darken somewhat, but she shakes it off at the sight of Lemina approaching them.

"Ah, Lemina, hello!" She says, greeting her with a wave. She'd undoubtedly be cheering for Hiro, but Jacqueline wasn't the type to turn away someone just because they were standing behind their friend. 

<Pose Tracker> Linvidia Diargento has posed.

Linvidia hasn't noticed Big Shal yet either, but that's because it is, by a matter of inches, perfectly situated for her to be unable to see it without moving from her extremely comfortable seat. It may, in fact, be leaning against the structure of her fancy-pants sky box. 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


He never would have guessed THE CUBE would turn into a sword like that.

It's so hard to imagine to line up the image of that timid girl from Port Timney with the warrior holding this blade in front of him. Part of him is afraid for her- but part of him is proud of her. That someone who hadn't spent their whole life learning to fight was growing accustomed to it so quick.

That rapid pace takes him off guard as his blade pierces through her hair. His eyes grow wide, and for a moment it's like in slow motion his head is turning. And she's right there in that iai stance while he's still moving forward at where she once was. The blade cleaves the air, butterflies swirl. And he barely gets his shield arm up in time.

There's no sound that rings across the arena. Butterflies float through the air in a great mass and there's a cut alongside his arm just off the edge of his shield. The blue fabric has parted revealing the mail beneath- a spattering of blood. "Your technique." He takes a deep breath. Then does his best to put on a smile for her, "It's beautiful. Deadly too. I could feel the power behind it."

Maybe death is beautiful in it's own way? He can't quite make that leap yet. He just can't.

Tethelle cut apart his boomerang in the last match, but it's been made anew since then. Tossing his blade to his now hurt arm, he catches it, while his swordarm takes the angled piece of metal out of its sheath. He cocks his arm back, and the flings at the wrist, setting it into spinning arc towards her.

And yet it seems wide. Deceptively so. She'd realize why perhaps in a moment. There's a murmured word from his lips and the wind shifts- and now it's circling back, right towards her spine, just between her shoulder blades. 


GS: Hiro has attacked Lunata Croze with Boomerang Throw!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.
GS: Lunata Croze takes a solid hit from Hiro's Boomerang Throw for 82 hit points!
GS: Hiro takes Cover! He gains 50 temporary hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

Perking up, the pink-haired girl looks wide-eyed and surprised at the concept of being talked to with Big Shal around; it's a little unusual, because people are kind of giving the twelve-foot golem a bit of a wide berth, and when Lunata's around there's the sensation of Ge Ramda's pressure to also provide her with some space.

"A-ah, sure!" she blurts, while the fist just above her head slowly and creakingly rotates around to offer a slow, stoic sort of thumbs up in the direction of the newcomer magician. The way her legs are curled up under her, it kind of takes an effort to untangle herself, but she manages it after a moment, somehow not looking hot despite the multiple layers she's got on.

"I-- yeah," she mutters in Jay's direction, before her expression firms and she puffs her cheeks up and out, willing herself up to a more eager position as she drapes over the railing of the stands. "Yeah. I caught her earlier and she really did seem better, so-- so I'll believe in that much." Absently, she passes the bag over towards the alchemist, having demolished a relatively large chunk of its weight. 

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata lets out a little trembling breath, and it's rather clear to see -- it's not just Lunata. There's no way it can all be Lunata. The moment she comes out of that seemingly clean, perfectly executed strike -- she stumbles again, switching back to that inexpert initiate as her eyes widen. She holds onto her sword to try to deflect it, but Hiro gets one over her and she topples over her front. Then she roundly sweeps back up in one deft movement, like an acrobat.

There's... skilled movements, here. Movements of expert warriors, interspersed with her seemingly lucid thoughts, like she's using someone else's moves. But it's clear that she can't immerse herself in that fully, and within the gaps, there is weakness.

"I--I think so too... I don't know where it's from..." she explains, as she stumbles to get herself back on track. There's a faint breath... and--

--Ge Ramda soars into existence once more. Her eyes widen as it descends upon her... but unlike last time, there is a low howl once more from its nonexistent lips... it lifts a little bell, echoing an eerie ring throughout the arena, and an oscillating barrier forms around her. All without the expense of a fragment of her soul.

"... Ge Ramda...?" her eyes widen. There's a pause. "You're saying I've paid my price... ... okay." 

GS: Lunata Croze has attacked Lunata Croze with Reviva!
GS: Lunata Croze has completed her action.
GS: Lunata Croze heals Lunata Croze! She gains 200 temporary hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina gets herself settled in and gives a small wave to Jay. "Hey," she says, before taking a big bite of burger. She watches carefully, still grappling with surprisingly mixed feelings regarding Leo's earlier result; these arena matches have been getting more and more dire with each passing day, and to be honest, she's started to find the whole thing a little nerve-wracking! Top 8 is a much different place from pools.

"Hiro! Show them what a student of an Ausa can do!" Lemina shouts at Hiro from the stands, before glancing to her present company with an awkward look. After a second, she adds, "It's okay if you lose but that just means you have to study extra hard!!" 

<Pose Tracker> Linvidia Diargento has posed.

"Will no one spare me from this troublesome shouting woman," Linvidia moans as she takes a belt of her toted-along tropical drink. Her eyes stay on the battle and she feels her toe curl from the distant howl of Ge Ramda... 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Hiro winces when she gets struck. "Hey are you-" When suddenly she's up in a swift movement. "Whoa!" And suddenly he's backpeddling, a look of total surprise on his face. He totally spoils his catch of his boomerang as Ge Ramda manifests again. For a moment he looks a little shaken by its return, his boomerang flying freely in a circle. He gulps as a bell rings and the oscillating barrier takes form around Lunata.

And then suddenly he hears Lemina's shout. "Right. Right. Don't panic. Don't panic. It's only... death." His Grandpa said he faced it every time he went into Old Ruins or got into a fight. And yet this feels different. So different.

"Don't just do what you always do." Suddenly he puts his sword back into his sheath. And he claps his hands together. "Alright here we go."


The winds swirl suddenly, catching his boomerang before it would hit the ground in an updraft, which buoys it back in the air. It spins end over end and back in his hand for an easy catch. And with a grin, "In your face Dantear, saying a member of the Magic Guild of Vane only has reckless power to draw upon."

Suddenly his hands unratchet the boomerang apart, revealing that his single boomerang was truly two all along. Drawing one arm back, he flings one, then the other. Then he keeps both arms thrust out. The twin boomerangs move in chaotic arcs now as the wind causes them to pass over each other once- twice- thrice. And ultimately they fly to try to converge on the same spot of Lunata's barrier- trying to at least weaken it. 


GS: Hiro has attacked Lunata Croze with Cross Boomerang!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.
GS: Lunata Croze takes a glancing hit from Hiro's Cross Boomerang for 68 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline nods toward Shalune. In a way, her renewed confidence helps assuage some of Jacqueline's own fears, as well. She accepts the bag from Shalune, and plucks a few of the treats out before returning it to her. Jacqueline knew that if she held onto it, she wouldn't be able to help herself.

It was a known factor that Jacqueline had a ravenous sweet tooth.

She chuckles slightly at Lemina's cheer, but in a good-natured fashion.

Her attention soon turns back to the fight, though - it looked like things were starting to pick up. 

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata looks for a moment to the stands where she can see Jay, Shalune and -- and Big Shal, but she realise she can't get distracted -- in just the span of that moment, the winds suddenly change again as she watches Hiro deftly catch his boomerang. "W-whoa!"

The wind... it isn't a coincidence...

She has a look on her face that says that she's starting to figure it out. "Dantear...? You mean the other contestant-- whah!" She looks towards the arc of the boomerangs and-- darts to one side in a rather reckless-looking roll, but the buffer of the barrier -and- the impact of the boomerang pinging off against with a solid howl propels her forward and towards one of those low iai stances once more.

"... draw out the spirit of the blade.

As crimson spreads... as summer fades to fall..."

Incandescent, spectral flowers begin to fall around the area where Hiro is. It's beautiful, but harmless -- and yet, as she darts forward once more, everything blossoms into the unfurling form of a petal as she executes a diagonally rising clash that once more howls with an unearthly spirit. A trailing shamisen note accents the finish of the strike along with her lunge past him, the characters for 'Blossoms' carving itself into the very air where she passes.

"Strike forth, Senbonzakura!" 

GS: Lunata Croze has attacked Hiro with Tres Flores!
GS: Lunata Croze has completed her action.
GS: CRITICAL! Hiro guards a hit from Lunata Croze's Tres Flores for 122 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Ah-- um, it's okay," the pink-haired mechanic automatically replies to Lemina's faintly guilty look, putting her hands up in placation; she's obviously a pretty innocent sort, which perhaps doesn't gel with the way she's been throwing bombs around the arena, crashing airborne scooters, and generally causing a big ol' ruckus. "I mean, we understand rooting for your own team, y'know," she adds as she sheepishly tugs at the back of her hair.

Behind her, Big Shal seems to notice something, the bulk of the golem hefting slowly up to its feet in a series of loud creaks - not least from the stands as a whole, whose wood groans and complains under the Golem's weight. Ever so slowly, as if in a comedy routine... it peers over the lip of the private box, as if to study the grumpy woman within.

Shalune barely notices, though, because when Ge Ramda looms down over Lunata she's suddenly up on her feet, having twitched up in an instant to clamp her hands down on the rail. But... nothing happens, or at least nothing that she's expecting, and she lets out a tiny breath of relief as she glances towards the alchemist still sat on her seat. "... Ge-Ge feels... kind of different today, maybe?" She pauses, and adds hopefully: "... a little lighter?"

Shalune doesn't know anything worth a damn about the Guardians, but she does know her gut feeling, and that's enough for her. "--Luni~ie! Ge-Ge! You can do it!" 

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

"Well, I can't get... toooooooo attached," Lemina points out to Shalune with an easy grin. "If I'm gonna win, I have to beat Hiro now -- either I'll fight him after my next match, or two after that, or the one after that. It's gonna happen so I can't just cheer him forever."

She opens her mouth to speak again -- but wood and stone creak under Big Shal's weight, and she startles a little. "... Wooowwww," she says, as it peeks over the lip of the booth. "It's -- curious?" That's pretty neat. 

<Pose Tracker> Linvidia Diargento has posed.

Linvidia turns her head slowly as she feels as if she's being watched. In the meantime she had managed to light a cigarette because of course she did. Staring dead ahead at a rusted-out figure wearing a heavy cloaking coat, Linvidia blows smoke at it before saying, flatly, "What are YOU looking at."

She finishes her drink. "... Hmf," she continues, shifting in her seat and moving to pointedly ignore the giant mechanical entity, even as she mutters to the flunky, "is that someone's property or can we claim it" 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


"Someone who was looking down on a friend of mine." He sort of chuckles as best as he can in the face of all of this. "Not directed at you!"

But his boomerang strikes only seem to cause this unsettling howl. And suddenly Lunata is coming at him in that Iai stance...

He's only barely drawing his sword back out from his sheath, his hand upon the hilt as she chants. Again, it's ominous and beautiful. Spectral flowers fly as his blade sings out of his sheath, and Lunata is there. The blossoms are unfurling, and the tip of his sword is revealed.

She's already slashing, and in a panic he barks out a word.

Again the winds shift. There's a graceful swirling of petals now that fly by, making Lunata's strike even more beautiful as the character appears in the air.

And yet at the same time-

If one were to look at it in slow motion, they'd see how it spoiled her lunge into a strike which struck his flank instead of head on.

The force of it spins him turning around, a hand gripping his side as a flow of red drips down upon scattered blossoms as he stumbles sideways in the wake of the petal shower. The young man is breathing hard, sweat beading upon his forehead. "You're sure you haven't been training since you were a kid or something?!"

He gapes, moaning once in agony- Lunata had barely fought and it felt like she was an experienced Swordsmaster. Not in her personality or demeanor, but in the resolve in her blade. How could some- instinct given to her by some higher being do that?

Hissing again to try to contain the pain, he juts out his offhand, and begins a longer incantation. The winds which had picked before now spiral and twist at his command. He then puts his sword arm up, before slashing low with a shout of- "FEROCIOUS WINDS!"

The newly formed cyclonic vortex descends upon the Waitress from Port Timney- or Spirit Initiate of Ge Ramda- trying to batter her barrier again and again and again, the winds moving so fast that each moment against it feels like being cut by hundreds of tiny swords. If she's not careful- they might even lift her off the ground and carry her aloft... but that's not always a bad thing, as some of his opponents have displayed. 


GS: Hiro has attacked Lunata Croze with Cyclone!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.

DC: MISS! Lunata Croze completely evades Cyclone from Hiro!

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"Hmm...you might be right..." Jacqueline agrees with a nod toward Shalune. "Perhaps Ge Ramda is trying to make up for its behavior before...trying to prove that it can be trusted..."

That was just a guess, of course. She couldn't really understand the spirit's mind.

She doesn't join in with Shalune's cheer - at least, not with her voice. She punctuates each syllable of her cheer with a clap.

She glances toward Lemina then nods.

"Well, good luck...he's pretty talented, from what I've seen...though, I suppose I don't need to tell you of all people that." Jacqueline replies, acknowledging that of the people here Lemina knew Hiro the best, then chuckles again as Lemina marvels at Big Shal.

"She's quite impressive, isn't she?" She comments. She sounds a bit proud, even though she didn't really have anything to do with it. 

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Oh? O~oh-- um, sorry, I didn't realize you were a competitor!" the pink-haired girl beams, again scratching at the back of her hair underneath the line of her bobble hat. It's so messy, the motion doesn't really seem to do anything to it that it hasn't already done to itself, with bits and pieces of it sticking out every which way despite the ponytail she's tried to tug some of it into. "Ehehe... I guess I'm only just catching up to things now that I've dropped out."

She blinks as Big Shal starts to move, peering upwards and just about realizing there might be someone up there; she cups her hands to her mouth, calling upwards. "A-ah, sorry! She just likes meeting new people! It's okay, I promise! Big Shal~l, sit down!" she adds as she raps gently on its ankle. "People are tryin' to see! --ah, Big Shal just sorta-- does what Big Shal does," she admits to Lemina with a bright grin, as the golem gives the woman in the box another of those slow, grinding, but apparently earnestly-meant thumbs ups.

In a flash of insight, though, she frowns as she looks back towards the arena. "Mmmaybe it's 'cause Lunie's been getting more serious about it?" she wonders aloud, and sinks her chin onto her hands. 

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

"That's horrible..." Lunata frowns, clinging just a little tighter towards her sword. She can feel her barrier starting to falter and fade -- she had a choice now. Ge Ramda was telling her to make a choice. Push the advantage now, or double up on her defenses while she was ahead?

The decision is immediately made on her as her eyes widen, and her hair and her clothes are whipping with a remarkable force as he shouts the word and calls for the winds to come batter her. She has some time before she's completely engulfed by this whirlwind -- the barrier rattles and begins to emanate further, as if futilely trying to push against this gale force!

"A-aah--" she winces, and is eventually flung backwards in a rather remarkable motion in one fell swoop --

"COULD THIS BE THE END OF LITTLE LULULU, FOLKS?" shouts the announcer. "Oh, I don't know, Jim, our little firestarter seems able to pull strange things out of her hat! I feel chills just watching this match, and I don't know whether it's from the winds or from something eerie!"

-- but she lands in a remarkably flat surface at the edge of the arena, enough for a burst of force to launch her back the other way, up to the very peak of the arena. She's adopted that stance once more, even in mid-air. It's a practiced move, to sheath and ready her sword... and yet this time, she's suddenly split into five as a mandala of energy erupts behind her into a cross. Her eyes widen into that flash of insight...

..."No... no more... you were-- my beloved child, how could you--" wheezes a soft voice.

A hand holds out, a bloodied rosary dangling by her wrist.

The templar that stands in front of them is motionless, cross helmet bloodied as he raises his mace fora final strike...

...and she's drawn her blade out as she reaches the apex of her jump.

"Divine effulgence, draw forth the essence of the blade...

Let prayer and worship alike be kindled alight!

Engrave this emotion into thy heart!

Spirit Arte -- Rosario... Impaaale!"

She descends -- it's a five-pronged trap, cascading images of Lunata crashing down as a feint, accompanied by the real one in the centre in an impaling manuever that, shall we say, tends to end poorly for flower girls praying for powerful white magicks that protect the world against evil meteors.

But Hiro isn't a flower girl, and he isn't praying, so he should be okay. 

GS: Lunata Croze has attacked Hiro with Rosario Impale!
GS: Lunata Croze has completed her action.
GS: Hiro critically Guards a hit from Lunata Croze's Rosario Impale for 32 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

"She's super cool! She's about the same size as my Magic Tester -- if I can get one up and running here on Filgaia, I wonder if they could..." At first Lemina wants to suggest a fight, but honestly, Big Shal is kind of weirdly adorable and that seems wrong. "... well, they'd look mega-cool next to each other, anyway."

Turning her attention back to the fight, Lemina gives Jay a nod without looking. "I think -- honestly, I figure I've got the best shot in top eight of anyone!" Her voice hitches at one point in a clear indication that she's about eight hundred percent sure she's out of her depth.

Back to Shalune, "Yeah, uh -- honestly you did pretty good! I thought that Dark Hero guy was gonna put me out just like he did you. And, hey, 13th isn't bad. That's the top half! You only had to win like two fights to get there, but it's like you beat sixteen other guys! I'm impressed." 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Hiro winces as the announcer says that- "I wouldn't count her out yet at all." He whispers even as the announcer banter says the same thing, as he then watches as Lunata is carried over one way. But she's already landing- and he's running her way, around the edge of his own spell. The stance she's adopting, he's trying to learn how to counter it. He thinks he's got an idea of what to do now. But then she splits into five? HOW DO YOU COUNTER FIVE OF HER?

He cannot feel her flash of insight- but he sees the widening of her eyes. And he stands with a grim resolve all his own. He promised her he'd give her his all.

He promised.

BGM Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kj4wW3Hkj8

It doesn't matter if he wins or loses. Right now it just matters that he delivers on his promise to this girl trying to find out who she is. What this power is.

It's a five pronged trap- her words promising pain unto him and as he pivots in a swirl of fabric of his orange cloak catching sight of all of them.

He sees a flash of light in each of their eyes- "THAT ONE!" And his blade rings out in a two handed stroke against impaling thrust of the real Lunata. Four other Lunata's pass through him- looking like he's been impaled from four sides. Trusting that those eyes were the same even among five pairs which were the same.

His feet crack into the arena floor, and his knees buckle against the strength that causes him to only just keep her blade at bay. His spell dissipates in the wake of it and the winds calm. "Wow." His expression splits into a grin as his sword wobbles. "I like the eyes of the real you. I wish I could do something like that."

And then in a sudden motion he ducks his head under her blade, into a shoulder roll along the arena floor. He has to trust that his reflexes will be up to the task, because the moment his feet touch the ground again, he springs up to his feet and whirls around straight back at her- dragging his blade along the arena floor as he charges. "Now-" he cuts it in a powerful cleaving stroke from low to high- "-DODGE THIS!" 


GS: Hiro has attacked Lunata Croze with Poe Sword!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.
GS: Lunata Croze used Mystic on Lunata Croze! 100 Temporary HP gained! All statuses cleared!
GS: Lunata Croze has activated a Force Action!
GS: Lunata Croze takes a glancing hit from Hiro's Poe Sword for 59 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline had learned long ago that there was no point fussing over Shalune's hair - it was a like a wild beast all its own, and even its master could barely tame it.

Shalune's suggestion is worth thinking about, though. Jacqueline 'hm's slightly and glances back to the fight at hand.

"...You know, you might be right." She agrees with a nod.

Lemina says something that gets her attention.

"'Magic Tester'?" Jacqueline repeats, curious. Judging from the sound of it...it had to be some kind of golem like Big Shal. But Lemina was from Lunar, right? Did they really have that kind of technology?

Lemina speaks confidently, but the wavering doesn't go unnoticed. Jacqueline offers her a smile.

"Just keep in mind why you're doing this. Even if it's just to prove yourself." She says, then turns her attention back to the fight.

All this talk of how well people did...Jacqueline has to wonder how far she would've gotten if she had entered.

Seeing Lunata's impressive techniques, and Hiro's just as impressive parry and counter...

Jacqueline knew she wasn't capable of things like that. 

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata's eyes widen as Hiro's resolve and confidence cuts through her technique -- and the illusionary Lunatas all pass through without a single trace of harm, the deception exposed for what it is. Their blades clash with a splendorous strike that rings throughout the arena, with that selfsame spiritual howl echoing once more in the reverb of both their blades.

Lunata's gasping with a kind of soreness as she trembles in the wake of attack, buckling as well. "... the ones whose memories I'm borrowing ... are a lot stronger ... I'm already-- really sore..." she-- almost blushes a little as Hiro comments on liking her eyes, but -- focus, Lunie, focus!

As Miss Lily said: Don't get distracted by boys!!

That barrier has whirled up again by the time Lunata's ready, though -- she can sense his intent, but she can't see his technique. She's not fast enough, not on her own...

...which is why Ge Ramda's suddenly, at the last moment, raised its claw in a parry to catch Hiro's blade. Once more, there's a tremendous clash -- and the lich howls as the Poe Sword hisses and snaps through its fingers with a fissure and a crack, sending Lunata low as well with a gasp.

It's clear that they share the pain each other feel.

"To me, Ge Ramda... let's-- let us share feast and famine, weal and woe together!" her eyes shine with a vibrance that is uniquely hers, not enflamed by the ensconced memory of anyone else. She extends her hand, with a soft chant as that shielding surrounds her lich entity.

She won't just let it protect her. She'll protect it as well.

"Let the splendour of our souls shield us -- Reviva...!" 

GS: Lunata Croze has attacked Lunata Croze with Reviva!
GS: Lunata Croze has completed her action.
GS: Lunata Croze heals Lunata Croze! She gains 200 temporary hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Ah, well, really-- I was mostly just flailing around, y'know?" Shalune admits, her hand in her hair all over again. "I mean, he took me down pretty easily. I've got a long way to go 'til I can stand up to something like that - but, y'know, I'm gonna be happy enough just making sure I can look out for people?" she adds, flicking her back glance towards Jacqueline as her instincts again pick up on something tiny but significant, as they so often have.

"I mean, there's more ways to look out for someone than to fight for them, ri~ight?" I-is she-- teasing Jacqueline?! Can this be? Her easy grin certainly suggests it as she beams at the alchemist, sympathetic as she pats the woman's arm. "It's not like fighting's everything. I'm super jealous of the way you've got everyone in the CaraKin together, and you're always looking out for us. It's important! And I'm pretty sure that seein' the world is gonna do the both of us pretty good, y'know?" 

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

"Yeah! The Magic Tester LX1!" Lemina beams proudly. "It's -- well, you really have to see it to believe it but it's mega-cool and I built it all on my own! It... took... a while, but..." She reaches up to push her hair back and fluff it out a little, saying, "Someday I'll show you!" Not ominous. Really.

Shalune is adorable. Lemina is utterly, completely certain of this. "Ways to look out for someone..." She pauses, closing her eyes a moment and thinking. For some reason, that particular line of thought gets her contemplative. "... Hey, Jay," Lemina says, suddenly. "I know you've got a lot of weird odds and ends instead of just potions and adventuring stuff... do you have any children's books? Or, like, early readers?" 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Hiro honestly wasn't flirting with her. But one wouldn't know it by the comment would they? "You'll get used to it before you know it." The soreness that is.

If Hiro had been told at the start of today that he'd be slapping a lich's fingers like he were an Ethos nun with a ruler- he would not have believed someone.

But then he sees what happens with Lunata. And as he barrels past the Lich- he turns to give her this long look. "You two are really that tied together..." He says in wonder as her chant seems to confirm it.

"Splendor of your souls. Heh. You almost sound like Zed there." He's teasing, but he doesn't sound like he thinks that's a bad thing, far from it. "Well- let me show you the splendor of mine!"

Honestly- he'd seen that oscillating barrier diminish with time. The smart play here would to be back off and keep his distance. Or would it? He's seen how fast she is. Faster than him- in both sword drawing and footwork. And he's in this to learn about himself.

And that's why he holds his blade up high. And it feels like the winds are swirling- gathering- no this is different. It feels like they're being sucked into the blade itself. The air currents are visible from the dust around the arena that is being picked up.

And then he begins a flourishing dance, switching his blade erratically from one side to the other as he advances on Lunata rather than backing off. The air around his blade seems to grow more dense as it sways with a sort of entropy only the wind can find.

The dance ends with him drawing the blade up and over his head in a two handed stroke- the heavy air around the blade launching from the tip in a pressurized mass. If Lunata isn't fast enough this time- it'll strike against her barrier before erupting outwards in an explosive detonation of air. 


GS: Hiro has attacked Lunata Croze with Sybillium Sword!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.
GS: Lunata Croze takes a glancing hit from Hiro's Sybillium Sword for 126 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

"I know... but I have to train harder, to get used to it," Lunata scratches her cheek -- "It's even more intense than lunch service. And let me tell you, that gets my arms really sore."

She does look juuuust a bit embarrassed as she stammers, "T-that Dark Hero? H-humph, but he eliminated Lunie..." but-- gasps just for a moment as she readies herself as he announces the power of his splendor. She's got to keep her attention and focus primed, or else he'd easily slip a strike past her guard...!

They're darted again -- the winds swirl and gather around the both of them, and it's like they're both moving as if alight upon the currents of the arena...!

She's caught out -- and she has to abandon that stance of hers as she barely holds her sheathed weapon to block, smashed back against the first, and then caught on a tailspin the other way with a yelp as Ge Ramda seizes outwards with a barriered claw to prevent her from being slashed on the rebound...

...she's struggling, but in the dawn of that overhead strike, she sees it.

"With me, Ge Ramda!"

There's an explosive burst that whips all the way past the sorcerous bounds and sends a flurry of energy and excitement to the stands and the audience alike. She's held Orochi-Agito with shaking, trembling arms... and Ge Ramda's claws have both held outward to barely block the strike, which is more than they can say for the island of brick they're on -- everything else's been blown to the ends of the arena itself.

"Your mastery over winds, Mister Hiro..."

She breathes aloud, just a little dazzled at that display that the best she can do is regain herself -- Orochi-Agito is nicked, but she can still regain her form as a whistling ebb and flow flows in her strike. "B-but don't count me out just yet!"

She strikes -- and a trail of cherry blossoms rains with her latest attack. 

GS: Lunata Croze has attacked Hiro with Papillon Reel!
GS: Lunata Croze has completed her action.
GS: CRITICAL! Hiro critically Guards a hit from Lunata Croze's Papillon Reel for 24 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Shalune...really was strong. Jacqueline couldn't help but notice it, though she wondered if Shalune had realized it yet, herself. Jacqueline can't really meet her eyes when Shalune goes to pat her on the arm, but she chuckles sheepishly at the same time.

"Well, honestly...except for Catenna and Kourin, everyone else practically invited themselves along... I'm still not sure how things ended up like this...though I don't at all regret it." Jacqueline admits with a shrug. "I'm just...doing what I can. And...yes, I imagine it will. I've been wanting to start traveling again for a while..."

Jacqueline frowns slightly, recalling a conversation from a few days ago. The sort of situation they would be driving into...

She would definitely have to be ready to look out for all of them.

Lemina's prideful response shakes her out of these thoughts, and she returns her attention to her.

"Oh, you created it yourself? That's impressive! Well, I'm looking forward to it, then." She says with a nod. It...might have been a little ominous, but the good kind. And then Lemina hits her with a question that takes her off-guard.

"Children's books?" She repeats, then ponders this.

"Hm...well, since losing the store I haven't really been keeping up on supplying my wares, but I could probably get a hold of some...and...as long as you don't mind damaged goods, I have some books I salvaged from the store you can sort through." 

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Jay's biggest problem is bein' too modest," puffs up Shalune towards Lemina, as if they haven't only just met; her cheeks are puffed out like a hamster, planting her hands behind her head as she leans back against the bulk of Big Shal, who's since sat back down to watch the match. "Pretty sure there's no-one else who could lead us. I mean, it's Lunie's first trip out, an' I'm-- well, I'm not exactly the sort to remember all the little things, y'know?" she admits, scratching at her cheek with another of those sheepish grins.

Herst least there's some awareness in there somewhere.

"Aah, but it's kinda a shame I didn't get far enough to do stuff like this, huh? All I did was crash the Little Dipper a few times, and make some improvements to my broom... it'd be cool to be all 'taste the bristles on my cleaning implement of the ages', babam, baboom," she adds, her arms waving in the air.

She's a little quiet as she watches the match, though, biting her lip - and perhaps genuinely awed by the certainty Lunata seems to be getting in the midst of it. Not to mention-- "W-wah, check that out! That's super cool! It didn't seem like sorcery or anything, right? It kinda gives me an idea for the CaraKin, if I can get enough airflow goin'--..."

don't blow it up, shal 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


"I can imagine! I've seen some of those Filgaian saloons and boy..." He stops for a moment and then is like- "You know- when I think of it like that the life of a Swordswoman that's linked to an incarnation of death doesn't sound so dangerous to me anymore..."

But after the explosion. Lunata is still standing, and he looks impressed as he takes a long, ragged breath and turns to face her. "Wouldn't-" He's getting more used to the motifs surrounding her strikes. This time when Lunata comes at him- he notices that in the ebb and flow of her technique, like the tides, or the winds.

He turns his blade into an overhand parry, blade pointed downward driving her strike off center, "-DREAM OF IT!" The effect of him shouting at that moment is almost like a Kiai shout, except in defense rather than aggression. And yet- the point of her blade is stuck in his shoulder when the attack ends.

His eyes twitch and spasm as he tries not to call out further. Cherry blossoms swirl past him.

It's so beautiful- fighting her.

BGM Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ8yAEkUUgI

"Can I do it again?" He whispers as her jerks his shoulder back and off her katana, spilling a spatter of crimson on the arena floor. "Just once more."

Backpeddling to gain more distance between them- this time he raises it high and whirls his blade overhead like some great rotor. It's similar to just moments ago- but also subtly different. "Don't count me out either." The winds swirl and fan inward before he stops the spinning motion and lowers it down, behind himself. And cuts it forward with both hands. This time it feels like a savage vacuum wave that tries to rip through all barriers.

"We've only just started finding out what we can do!" 


GS: Hiro has attacked Lunata Croze with Sybillium Sword!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.
GS: Lunata Croze takes a solid hit from Hiro's Sybillium Sword for 250 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

"G-good! Then come at me again-- as-- as many times as you need to...!" Lunata exclaims, fortunately far too innocent to ever think about the innuendous alternate meaning behind their words. She's rattled, but she's still got that shielding around her --

-- which is for naught, as the winds come once more in a piercing motion that thrushes straight past Ge Ramda's claws and sends the lich knocked backward with a reeling motion. She winces, and barely holds Orochi-Agito up in time and is sent crashing backwards in a whirlsand of dust that seems to herald the end of the battle. There's a death-defying 'thoom' and a loud sound that's more at home with the apex of a tornado shredding through the neighborhood.

There's silence.

"Did that-- Jim, is that--"

"No, Bob! Look, listen!"

A taiko drum beats against the background. A shakuhachi flute wails with a low whistle.

Though its scent lingers everlong

The form of a flower shall inevitably fade away...

An eerie blue spectre alights with the character for 'Snow', for the harsh and wintry chill of nature that takes us all is akin to the palm of a Reaper that sees fit to take where it has once sown.

The banging of the wooden drum reaches a crescendo. From out of nowhere, a male voice enunciates lowly, 'Iyooooooooo-h!'

For whom shall the glory of this world

remain unspoiled and unchanged?

An enigmatic yellow spectre alights with the character for 'Moon', for the forlorn beauty of Lunar, looming high in the sky, implores us to ever higher reaches.

Arrive ye today at the yonder side

Of a mountain evanescent in existence...

An eerie floral spectre alights with the character for 'Blossom', for the reblooming of spring that shall shine beautifully, the evident power of life once more repeating the cycle...

Lunata emerges from within that dust, her blade finally out in this one moment -- emanating with the heralding powers of seasons come, and seasons go, as providenced by the passing of the moon. Dancing mystical flame licks at the very naked, bared blade of Orochi-Agito as she holds it aloft before her.

"Here I come, Mister Hiro...!"

Her eyes close.

"The soul and sword is one...

Against earthly desires we remain ever vigilant...

This sword of mine that pierces the realm of perception and non-perception!

True Spirit Arte!"

An eradicating slash looms over the entire battlefield, barely controlled swirls of beautiful energy awash as she brings her blade down.

"Midare... Setsugekka!!" 

GS: Lunata Croze has activated a Force Action!
GS: Lunata Croze has attacked Hiro with Midare Setsugekka!
GS: Lunata Croze has completed her action.
GS: Hiro has activated a Force Action!
GS: Hiro takes a solid hit from Lunata Croze's Midare Setsugekka for 181 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

"Thanks! I need them for someone else, so..." Lemina shrugs a little. "Thanks!" Her attention turns back to the match once she's got that squared away. "Wow," she notes. "These two are really going all out -- I've never seen a match quite like this before! It's not the same as the other matches I've watched at all... they're so deliberate."

Tapping her chin thoughtfully, Lemina elects to elaborate. "Most of the time, people just rush the other guy down, or try to keep separation -- these two aren't really doing either..."

Is this... the neutral game?

Lemina folds her hands and watches -- though she does turn to Shalune again and note, "It's super cool. Lunata... really knows how to fight, I guess?" 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

"I'm just...I'm just being realistic, is all..." Jacqueline comments. No use, Jacqueline - you'll have to accept the praise whether you like it or not.

She nods toward Lemina then with a smile.

"You can come by to take a look at them whenever you like, or I can have them sent over to wherever you're staying right now." She offers.

Her attention is turned back to the fight and it leaves her...dumbfounded, to say the least. Such power...! It was a little difficult to follow it all, at times.

"It's...it's incredible...they both are..." Jacqueline agrees breathlessly. 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Silence. Silence in the wake of that. Just silence and slowlyf alling dust.

Hiro just stands there with his sword at the ready. His breath rasping within his chest. He doesn't believe Lunata is down at all in the wake of-

"Is that a drum?" Hiro's eyes blink twice. And then the whistle of a flute. He turns his head, looking so confused right now. Expect the unexpected but this was really unexpected. A blue spectre floats in the air and he doesn't know what the character means but he feels the power in it. The chill which feels as icy as Lemina's ice- and yet different.

A male voice enunciates and he's focusing on what's ahead of him but- "Is that? Coming from the audience?" He wonders if she has a spectral cheer section though.

And then Moon. He doesn't know what this character means- but it reminds him of home. It puts this homesick pang right in his chest even looking at it.

And that finally a character which reminds him of life and rebirth and all of those things.

He doesn't know what it means. He only knows how he feels. Lunata emerges- blade bared eyes closed. And he holds his shield at the ready, blade at the ready.

It doesn't feel like enough. He says a word of his own- and an updraft rises up around him in a column- Lunata and him clash.

Silhouette shot. His world becomes awash in red energy, and he becomes a black cameo against the assault of her blade.

The world comes back into color. Hiro is still standing- Lunata is past him.

There's this sound like a ripping, a tinkling of mail.

And that's when his tunic falls off in shreds of fabric. His mail follows in pathetic ringlets of scrap metal. There's a slash across his bare chest, energy leaking out of it like a crimson shower of blood.

And then he gags from the pain- swooning to his knees- sword point down in the ground as he uses it to keep himself propped up. The young boy pants- and the announcers shout- "HO BOY FOLKS! IT LOOKS LIKE WE SPOKE TOO SOON ON HIM BEING FULLY CLOTHED!" "I'll say Jim! Looks like our little Lululu decided the will of the people would NOT be denied! That Looney Moonie is now topless!"

Hiro's chin raises, he can't even hear the announcers right now because he's just in too much pain for a moment or three. It takes him a few moments to gather the strength to rise. There's a sense of desperation about him now as he sputters out a quick incantation- trying to hold on just a little longer- "F-Ferocious winds!"

Rapidly, a small tornado forms overhead- but instead of touching down it twists sideways and spirals horizontally at Lululu in another pressing advance of air currents. An inexorable march of it. The narrow end attempting to drive into her again and again and again and again. While the young man just tries to take a quick breather on trembling legs. 


GS: Hiro has attacked Hiro with Cyclone!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.
GS: Hiro has canceled their attack on Hiro.
GS: Hiro has attacked Lunata Croze with Cyclone!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.
GS: Lunata Croze takes a glancing hit from Hiro's Cyclone for 69 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

This time, there is no panic in Lunata's eyes. For as vibrant and expressive as hers is typically, it isn't Lunata alone that is housed within that vessel at present. The emanation harkens well deep around the air, heralding the spirits of those that have been slaked the thirst of Orochi-Agito in ages past. She doesn't dodge, she doesn't step aside, she doesn't try to run from the incoming tornado.

Her hair ripples with inexorable presence, her clothes seeming like it could be torn off at any moment too. They don't. (This is fortunate.)

"True Spirit Arte," she intones. "Second Verse."

The shamisen is accompanied by backup drums once more, the heat of battle truly welling up with classical motif.

Look well upon the impermanence of reality.

The intertwining play between creation and destruction.

She's struck head-on with an inexorable motion that Ge Ramda can't seem to match, the lich struggling further as its etheric essence begins to fade away -- shreds of its kimono and regalia begin to crumble. Cuts are formed along Lunata's body, pinpricked and slashed with a thousand blades of wind. In the apex of the wind, the lich actually breaks -- crumbling apart around her with a sorrowful wail. She is alone.

But she continues onward.

"My friend."

It sounds like a different voice speaking. An ancient accent, a deep and graceful, refined tone belonging to one of the royal courts. Is this even Lunata anymore?

"I have deep enjoyeth our battle.

The sweet song of thy winds is as music to mine ears.

The blade that so flourishes to ever greater heights...

It is as a third eye opening, when we both revel in our battledance..."

Yet when even those have been nigh extinguished,

We shall find true bliss within that entropic stillness.

"Receive thee then mine graceful art anew.

For all seasons and life must ultimately submit..."

Nary a spectre of snow nor moon nor tide shall remain.

Drink deep the spiritual ebb of this blade, one last time.

She sheaths that sword, where it must return to. It is in darkness that Orochi-Agito dwells, and so with that the energy seeps all into the scabbard of the sword, no less important than its edge. All is cold, unfettered, unfeeling.

Her voice is cold, yet sorrowful. Like a mote of snow touched upon nothingness.

"Reverse Spirit Arte..."

She cuts. The cold, clattering sound of steel is heard in darkness.

"... Midare Setsugekka -Yomotsu-..." 

GS: Lunata Croze has attacked Hiro with Midare Setsugekka!
GS: Lunata Croze has completed her action.

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

"Well, yeah. That's the point," the mechanic fires back casually, snagging back her bag to stuff her cheeks for the winter. Don't talk with your mouth full-- well, fortunately, she doesn't, having had that much drilled into her by Aunt Hilda. "I mean, my head's pretty up in the clouds sometimes, an' I think Lunie's is gonna be as well. Realistic sounds like a pretty good thing to have to hand, y'know?"

--but then Shalune perks up in her seat, and immediately two floppy-sleeved hands are covering her mouth; above her, the grinding of gears indicates Big Shal reaching up to cover her eyes with its big spherical hands, somehow managing to look scandalized despite the complete lack of features. "E~ehh... is-- was that on purpose?" she blurts suspiciously, kind of drawing her knees up to her chest as she curls up in her chair, giving Hiro a bit of an eyeball. She sounds rather kind of sulky when she continues: "I donno if that's good enough for me to approve, for Lunie's sake..." 

GS: Hiro has activated a Force Action!
GS: Hiro guards a hit from Lunata Croze's Midare Setsugekka for 112 hit points!

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

It was true, a dose of realism would definitely be helpful on their travels...particularly if they intended to run a business at the same time. Someone had to manage everything, after all.

Whatever she might've come up with in response, though, is lost when Hiro suddenly loses some clothing.

"Isn't this the second time this has happened...? You'd think he'd invest in some more durable clothing...or may he just secretly likes it..." Jacqueline murmurs. She glances over toward Shalune, who has kind of curled up...and at Big Shal, who was actually covering her own eyes!?

Who knew golems could be shy?

"Well, I don't think she was trying to do that..." Jacqueline comments, though she goes silent as she watches Lunata walk right into Hiro's tornado unflinchingly.

Somehow, she felt like interrupting what happened next with speech would be insulting. 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


There's a second verse? The knowledge causes Hiro's eyes to open wide, he raises his sword, and his arms feel like they can't even hold it up.

The drums beat. His spell strikes her again and again and yet he knows. He knows what this girl has stood up to already. There's no doubt in his mind she'd stand up to that. She continues- and all he can think about is the pain. But then she starts to speak about the battle. He inhales and exhales sharply. Her words give him something to focus upon them.

"I- I've enjoyed this battle a lot too..."

There's a sharp gasp of pain and he nearly buckles anew. His hair swirling against the currents of his own winds.

"...Lunata." It's the first time he's called her that, rather than Miss Croze.

Ultimately submit? The sides of his lips twitch upwards- "Nuh-nothing can escape death in the end huh?"

He closes his eyes for a moment. He doesn't feel like he's going to die here, but he senses the danger nevertheless. The gravity. That he already feels like collapsing. There's a touch of coldness in her voice- "I've never fought anyone like you..."

His eyes open... and then he staggers forward. Stumbling right into her Iaijutsu as her energy leaks inward. Does he want to lose!? His eyes are upon her sword. There's a clattering sound of steel in the darkness. And yet there's no steel he's holding except his sword right now.

Arms quivering, he holds her blade, nearly wretching from the effort against the inevitability of death. Her reverse art- the second verse. She's cutting a notch into it that's half the blade width already.

And then the top half of his sword falls off- his blade submitting to death as the tip of it is flung outwards to embed just outside the ring and his body jerking back as her blade energy cuts a long swath across him.

But even a corpse can do damage- even as a pale shadow of what it once was. He makes this strangled noise, trying to find his voice in the overwhelming haze of pain. "...and I'm not s-sure I'll ever get to again." Still that shaky smile. "So forgive me this selfishness-" Quickly he brings his sword overhead, and at point blank brings it downward upon her in an overhand strike with his shortened corpse of a blade- all of what little might he has left behind it, "-of hanging on a little longer!" 


GS: Hiro has activated a Force Action!
GS: Hiro has attacked Lunata Croze with Poe Sword!
GS: Hiro has completed his action.
GS: Lunata Croze used Mystic on Lunata Croze! 100 Temporary HP gained! All statuses cleared!
GS: Lunata Croze has activated a Force Action!

DC: MISS! Lunata Croze completely evades Poe Sword from Hiro!

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

Shalune, for all she might be curled up and hugging her knees - can't help but freeze up as she watches, holding her breath as the climactic strikes clash. "... Lunie?" she murmurs, her eyes wide as she senses the air around the waitress change and shift - and it doesn't take a great deal of history with the Croze family to realize what must have happened, nor a great deal of knowledge of the Guardians to recognize what must be a--

--well, Shalune doesn't know the word 'channeling', exactly, but she could give it a solid guess right at this moment. Dimly, she wonders if she should be more alarmed, given Ge Ramda's history in the arena, but she can't find it in herself to break the almost peaceful, silent air of the battle.

She can't help but pump her fists, either, as Hiro makes his dramatic comeback - kind of rooting for both halves of the battle right now, her eyes lit up with astonishment and surprise. "Wah-- wah-- amazing!" she blurts in sheer astonishment, watching the pair clash. 

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

The person behind the veil of existence that is Lunata Croze... who might it be?

It is at the same time Lunata, and yet not. To become conduit for all that has been absorbed.. is this the true, tragic tapestry of the Key, as it was, all as it ever has been? It's too early to say, and so many mysteries await, within the Ruins, within the art of the sword, and within the selfsame reflection of the soul...

"The dance shall not end until all participants have been extinguished.

It is the same for I, as it is for you, dear Hiro."

There's a hint of a curling little smile as she sheaths her blade effortlessly -- despite the fact that little Lunata is rather evidently beleaguered beyond the point of exertion, the way her body trembles, the way her legs wobble, the way she wants to just collapse...

...and yet, the spirit burns strong.

Hiro swings that half-broken sword again, a symbol of his everlasting spirit, one of radiant defiance and the spirit of unrelenting progess forward.

There's a clash.

Orochi-Agito's hilt is thrust forward -- and Hiro's blade cleaves against its ornate cap. Slowly, it cracks, and the intricate cloth weave of its hilt unravels to reveal the naked blade underneath. He glimpses a name underneath, engraved into the most personal and hidden segment of the katana.

It is engraved in a script he shouldn't understand, ancient by any standards, yet it speaks true at some corner of his mind.

'The Impure Princess...'

"... ah... but a lady must keep a secret still," she suddenly interrupts, lowering that blade. She leans in close. "You have done well, my most vibrant adversary. Rest your spirit, and reap well the benefits of our battle, as I no doubt shall."

What comes next isn't a blade strike, nor an act of iaijutsu as she's done so many times before, but--

--a firm, yet merciful hand chop. 

GS: Lunata Croze has attacked Hiro with Not-Lunie-Chop!!!
GS: Lunata Croze has completed her action.
GS: Hiro takes a solid hit from Lunata Croze's Not-Lunie-Chop!! for 98 hit points!
GS: Hiro has Fallen! He is no longer able to fight!

<Pose Tracker> Shalune Amira has posed.

Of course, as per Lunie Tradition, Shalune is already up and moving before the final strike even hits home, having bolted up from her seat to let herself run on impulse as she races down the familiar path to the combatant's quarters. If you asked her, she wouldn't exactly be able to pin down the reason for her haste...

... but half of her expects to have to call Lunata back from some sort of brink, while the other half longs for the chance to actually talk to the creature now sharing Lunata's fate. Either way, it seems important - so when she clatters up against the arena gates, waiting for any news, it's with her heart in her mouth. 

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


So different and yet the same. Hiro can't really comprehend the kind of person Lunata is behind that veil. Does she become a different person when she fights? It's so strange- how she started complaining about how her arms are sore and now she's like someone else.

He can't think- but he can see that smile.

His sword clashes against the cloth capped hilt of her blade.

The fabric gives way- just as his strength starts to. He doesn't understand the words- he doesn't-

"The Im-im-pure-" His eyes are half-lidded, but there's shock in his raspy voice as his mind turns over the words. Especially the final one...

What did it mean? How did he even grasp it? He can't think?

Lunata's hand descends in merciful chop. He tries to move- his legs feel like gelatin. It snaps against the side of his neck and he collapses to the ground on his chest. Is he out?

He starts to whisper, "Your sword- you have a story..." He mumbles like a child on the edge of sleep- having been read some wonderful bedtime story- "-wish I co-" -with the ending unrevealed in some cliffhanger. "-hear the res..."

And then he's out. This is merciful indeed as he hurts in places he didn't know existed. The Colisseum. crowd goes wild for Lululu.


Meanwhile- Ruby finally makes it past Colisseum security again.

Flapping over the crowd in a blur of pink she grips the side of the railing, "HOLY-"

She'd be white knuckled except she's more pink pawed at the sight of Hiro on the ground. A shiver runs through her- "She's terrifying..." 


<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

And, of course, Jacqueline's following right after Shalune. She sends a wave and a nod towards Lemina before she leaves, but right now her focus is on Lunata.

This...went better than she had expected. Hiro was on the ground, but he didn't look like he had been horribly maimed or killed or anything like that. But how was Lunata handling everything...? Well, she supposed that's what they were going to find out. 

<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Elseplace in the near future, Lunata would have the same questions. She can't quite understand herself, what she's feeling, what she's experiencing -- it is like being in a trance, like being underwater and yet breathing liquid and gazing through the filmy haze of the ocean's veil all at the same time.

But as she hears Hiro's whisper, she feels whatever tether binding her to the regal woman start to fade.

"... thank... you..."

Her eyes close, and she drops at the same time Hiro does, albeit in the opposite direction. It's quite the sight indeed.

The perceptive can see a spirit rising out of Lunata's form, before it lets out an honouring little wail... and then it seeps back within the katana -- swiftly turning back into a cube.

Final Verdict*: Lunata - 0, Hiro - 0, Cube - 1 ?!?


(* Not actually a real verdict)

Retrieved from "https://dreamchasers.space/index.php?title=2017-07-20:_Lululu_Wait_v._Hiro&oldid=3315"