[center][h3]Filia – Mahora Grounds[/h3]
[@Flamelord][@Grey Star][@VitavitaAR][@Dblade26][/center]

Just as she set her foot on the train's steely threshold, a random crick in Filia's neck tantalized her into quickly turning her head left to null the sensation.  When she did so, she happened to spy an unusual sight just a few feet away.  Well, compared to flying singers, gun-wielding psychopaths, dubiously edible monstrosities, and who knew what else, this particular sight did not compare, but for Filia it doubtlessly struck her because of its unique brand of strangeness.  

Somewhere between mundane and ridiculous, and somewhere between the train and Chao's restaurant, sat a small bird.  It appeared to be wearing a crafty little jacket, with white feathers arrayed neatly on its chest with sleeves, shoulders, and a coat of blue.  Though its eyes and beak were a slick, ungracious sort of black, the jaunt flair of the feathers atop its head totally ruined any seriousness it might have otherwise had.  Never before had Filia seen this type of bird.  The only flying creatures that nested in New Meridian were the ones that withstood the squalor and chaos of the big city and thrived in it: the pigeons, the crows, and the bats.  Moving with an instinctive caution, for fear that she might disturb the blue jay, the schoolgirl sidled away from the train's entrance.  Tentatively she reached a delicate hand close to the animal, and Samson, having seen by now what his host was up to, sighed lightly and let her have her fun.  

Filia didn't remember much from her earlier life, but just now she recalled the image of some graceful, beautiful lady in blue, who held a finger up for a bird to perch on.  As well as she could, the schoolgirl imitated the gesture, and for a moment the jay, who studied the incoming human hand, seemed keen.  A second later Filia's finger pierced whatever bubble it perceived to be its personal space, and in a flutter the handsome bird took off, shooting like an azure arrow to the roof of the eatery.  There, it perched on the eaves and looked imperiously at the girl who wanted to feel the softness of its plumage.  Only the slight downturn of Filia's eyebrows and lips marked her disappointment as she turned back to board the train, resigned to action instead of connection.

[center][h3][b][color=yellow]DIO – Positively 4th Street[/color][/b][/h3]
[@Luciansmentor][@Invisible Man][@Gamegurugg][/center]

A smirk escaped DIO when he witnessed that both the fearsome attacks of himself and Overlord met their mark.  Standing up straight, he waited for his ally to draw even with him, arms crossed, and watched Forneus drift toward the pavement on a cushion of bubbles.  Though his eyes acknowledged the existence of the bloodthirsty blade Venge, his muscles offered no response.  An instant before the tip of the demon's sentient weapon would have pierced his arm, it caught suddenly in midair.  The wrathful metal twisted and shuddered like an insect caught in a spider's web, but the hand of the World would not relinquish its hold.  The vampire muttered something, and Venge plunged into the road, embedded there for the time being until its master could yank it out.  Seeing Forneus working another spell, DIO shrugged and allowed him to do so.  Moments later, he suppressed a laugh to see that after all, the abyssal lord just needed healing.  Though on the outside DIO reeked over indifference and overconfidence, his mind sped to catalog the observance.  After taking a dire blow, Forneus appeared to need time to cast a spell to restore himself, during which time he unknowingly delivered himself into his foes' hands.

Another moment ticked by, the quiet and heavily-damaged street evocative of the ominous peace of the warzone, before Forneus resumed his blather.  The vampire presumed to speak for the Overlord after the metal behemoth received a compliment.  [color=yellow]”Think nothing of it, chum.  Save your admiration for feats that require effort.”[/color]  He tilted his head, and his long, blonde hair waved like yellow flame through the slight city breeze.  Not many of the people whom DIO faced could boast this kind of impudence and self-importance, and it amused him—but then again, seldom did any being unfortunate enough to fall afoul of the World's user last more than a second against him.  Once Forneus ceased talking, turning his focus to another magical art, DIO sighed, [color=yellow]”You're far too hammy for me to take you seriously, you know.”[/color]  A dome of bubbles surrounded him, and the world appeared a viridian green.  Still DIO spoke.  [color=yellow]“A technique tempered over time?  What kind of ultimatum is that?”[/color]

The afterimages of Forneus came forth, filling DIO's eyes with the mildly irritating likeness of his enemy.  Still DIO spoke.  [color=yellow]”Allow me to give you an example.  Forneus!  I've grown bored, and intend to finish you now.  If you survive this, I invite you to think again about the nature of power.  Until then, goodbye!”[/color]  It was as if God pressed the 'pause' button.  With time stopped, the look of the abyssal lord's face struck DIO as somewhat comical, but more importantly, that look belonged to the real Forneus.  The vampire had dealt with afterimages before thanks to his former servant Polnareff, user of the Stand Silver Chariot.  They were tricks of light and motion that relied on speed, and in the absence of speed -or any motion at all- the illusion failed.  DIO grinned and allowed time to continue as normal.

The world sprang into motion again.  The real Forneus was lost amid the insane flurry of afterimages, but DIO remembered where he was.  His body flashed and the World surged forward toward Forneus, to grab him by the collar, and to hurl him with enough force to send him flying for a couple of blocks.  While this move did no damage, it would most certainly get the demon lord out of DIO's luscious hair, and permit his affairs to progress forward once more.