[center][h3]Filia – Mahora Grounds Outside[/h3][/center]

Trying to begin a movement toward the Chinese food place hadn't worked quite as well as Filia hoped.  Not only were there a couple of new people on the scene, including a tall and muscular lady in blue who carried herself with confidence, but also the ones here already almost entirely failed to get moving.  Only Kino, the motorcycle girl (or boy?  Filia was judging by voice, here) had gotten moving.  

Even Filia felt it necessary to pause, however, when a huge, wacky, and possibly insane behemoth of a robot rose from the very earth to declare itself both lost and 'Wreck-gar'.  Though she stood with mouth agape, Filia could tell she wasn't the only one struck dumb by the Transformer's arrival.  She watched Donkey Kong clamber over him, closing her mouth and swallowing nervously when she realized that she'd had it open, before raising a raven-hued eyebrow at Nobuo and his doll.  Everything...baffled her.  Only one thing was for certain: she needed to get away from this crowd of strangeness and get some air.

To that end, she took off at a brisk pace, tracing the trail that Kino had taken.  After following her toward the tram cars, Filia joined the traveler at her picnic table.  A moment passed before the amnesiac could discharge a deep breath.  “Wow,” she intoned slowly.  “So many strange people and personalities and...it's just kinda nuts.  I'm a little used to weird things happening, but this tops it all.  I'm just glad nobody's trying to kill me this time.  Poor Carol...”  Her red eyes looked out into the distance past the tram cars as if searching for answers, then alighted on Kino's face.  “Sorry if you wanted to be alone, and I'm, uh, intruding.  I...you just seem the most, y'know, normal.  And you haven't even broken a sweat!  How are you dealing with all this?”  Filia laid her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands.  Barely noticeable, her hat moved slightly.

[center][color=yellow][h3][b]DIO – Hotel California[/b][/h3][/color][/center]

Thirty minutes passed before the ding of the elevator announced DIO's return to the lobby.  At a very leisurely pace he sauntered forth to behold a scene quite satisfactory.  His vampire spawn had made quick work of the hotel.  With great haste they'd blocked the front door, pinned down any resistance, and begun closing off all windows.  Now, the great foyer loomed eerily in flickering candlelight, and in it the terrified faces of the captured humans, who'd all been assembled in the main lobby area to await DIO's judgment.  With his hand loosely at his sides, he paced before them, letting his presence flow over them like the rising tide.  [color=yellow]”Good evening.  I wish to offer each of you the chance to serve me.  You did not jump at the chance as the first bunch did, so the benefits might not be as plentiful, but I'm sure arrangements can be made.  Please do consider it while I'm out on my stroll around town.  If not, don't worry.  Simply tell my underlings that you want out, and they'll...take care of you.  Oh, and you're welcome to call the local constabulary, though I daresay it won't do you much good.  So long!”[/color]

With that, DIO pushed open the newly-reinforced front doors with ease, despite them being made many times heavier by his minions' work.  Outside Hotel California, the world seemed so...mundane.  Ordinary didn't quite fit given the odd scenery off in the distance, but these streets couldn't have seemed more usual.  He paused for a moment on the corner, arms crossed, surveying the local people.  Now that he wasn't really trying, his mere aura did not intoxicate the weak-minded as much as it once did.  After a couple of seconds, he began a steady walk down the street, back the way he came.  Perhaps it was time to take a second look at some of the crater-inhabitants he'd glimpsed before making his own way.

On the way, he found his path blocked by an individual whose attire, though scanty, marked her as a woman, though admittedly it was difficult to tell beneath the excessive makeup.  This woman took one look at DIO and strutted his way, attempting to walk alluringly despite the offending musk of smoke and booze milling about her.  “Hey there, hunkie.  Gimme a ride home?  Jusch got outta this wild party, don't know up from down...”  She reached up to put a hand on his face.

The next instant, she tripped and fell hard, banging her head on the sidewalk.  One of her knees had given way beneath her, and like a sack of bricks she had collapsed.  Without a word, DIO stepped over her and continued walking.  Though he hadn't seemingly moved a muscle, one of his fingertips was drenched in blood, and after a couple of moments he raised it to his face and took in a deep breath.  [color=yellow]”Only a worm,”[/color] he whispered, [color=yellow]”Could have such...filthy blood.  No worm may lay its hand on me, DIO.”[/color]  Anyone nearby could only see that the drunken woman had tumbled over and knocked herself out—after all, DIO hadn't moved an inch.

Leaving that street behind, he gradually grew closer to the impact site.