[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/0198a2f0-3f56-7228-aea5-54ec744ad853.webp[/img]

[color=00ff00]"How negotiations go are 10% what you say, and 90% what you do and who’s around to see it."[/color]

[color=888888]— Dazzling Diamond[/color][/center]

[center][i][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWUg5Z6P5vQ][ ♫ ][/url][/i][/center]

Diamond scoffed. [color=00ff00]"Those who play with the emotions of others, or defile a resort for their own personal gain, are undeserving of chivalry. No rest for the wicked as they say."[/color] As Hizuki built up power, Diamond settled lower into her stance. Now she looked like a samurai, with her bat resting on her hip. She tightened her grip as her gloves filled with sweat. [color=00ff00]"I’m not opposed to settling this without violence. But your people would need to be willing-"[/color] But there was a shift in the stoic batter’s features. Her eyes went wide, her mouth curled in horror, and she might have shouted Hizuki’s name if she knew it. Instead, the next thing Hizuki heard was a shriek that vaguely sounded like Oros the Joyful.

[color=ff6347]"She’s suffered [i]ENOUGH![/i]"[/color] 

In the time it took Hizuki to blink, several red tendrils coiled around her calves and feet. She caught a glimpse of the figure that had taken hold of her. Their body was not visible, as every square inch of them was covered in blood, and that blood was taking on a shape of its own. The creature, as it wasn’t a person anymore, looked like the skeletal remains of a dinosaur. Perhaps  a Velociraptor or a Deinonychus. At least the mask sort of had the elongated face and rows of teeth one would associate with those creatures. A human torso was housed inside its rib cage, and its arms and legs were made up of tendrils of blood, stretching like muscle fibers. It didn’t have a tail, but it’s back was covered in tiny red flowers. It was difficult to notice with just a glimpse, perhaps the sudden rush of adrenaline had affected Hizuki’s perception of time. Though there was little time to do anything else, even detonate her armor, before she was swung into the street like a medieval flail. The asphalt cracked beneath her, and a plume of stone and dirt rose up from the impact. Then she was flung back over its shoulder as it charged forth.

[color=00ff00]"Tch!"[/color] 

Diamond raised her bat just as a tendril threatened to impale her head. She was able to dig her feet into the concession stand enough that blocking the blow gave them some more momentum. But it seemed to realize this, as her tendrils coiled around the concession stand she stood on. Between the approaching eye and whatever that thing was, it seemed like it would be a good time to flee. With a grunt, the batter picked up Tsubomi again and hopped back onto the road, picking up speed as she did so. Meanwhile, the creature’s razor-like tendrils raced around the concession stand like a chain saw, and showered the ground with sparks. Before long, the contraption was bisected and trampled underfoot. 

…

Topaz floated down to Kaeru’s side, still watching the chaos unfold. [color=fab35f]"Hot damn, looks like that one needs some lovin’ somethin’ fierce! Not that the big ol' eye is any better."[/color] She drew an arrow and pulled it tight. [color=fab35f]"Last chance to take shelter, but if yer here, I think we could team up for a little bit, hmmm?"[/color]