TheWendil

Street Punk Serenade: Delinquent Days

Bumping up the interest check for more people isn’t a bad idea so long as it’s easy to slide them into the IC.

Tower of Fable

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There was no use or point getting worked up about her card’s crocodile tears when Katie knew the fish was far too used to swimming in salt water. It made giving decisions off her conscience that much easier knowing this fact. “Less with the browsing into my friend list and more into looking around please,” she told Ciel, unsure if she should really call Ami her friend. They were more battle partners though as of recent history she wasn’t sure how much that was accurate.

In any case, what Ciel did have to report caught her interest near-immediately. “The Superior huh. You’re talking about a true Jester. If they feel familiar then….” Before she could really finish and before Ami could find their newcomer, the force revealed itself at last in the form of a shimmering demon, coming to Akiko’s aid just before Nephy struck her. Katie watched the exchange from their safe distance, at least now knowing who this presence was.

A potential ally…supposedly. “That won’t be needed anymore. Return back for later,” she told Ciel, more so to keep the Serei out of danger as a liability than anything else. Speaking of liabilities, it seemed one was sent straight towards her and Ami. Something was flying away from the battle, a person or object that flew with frightening speeds. Closer inspection revealed it to be the former to Katie and her feet left the ground before she knew.

A red blur streaked the air, feeling much softer than she thought as it landed straight in her arms and nearly sent the both of them crashing. But Katie kept her composure midair, arms wrapped under Riku’s legs and under her back to keep her propped like a bride before she landed back on solid ground. “A fall like that would have cracked your head,” she said bluntly and looked over at the battle with Nephy again. “That wolf has some strength to be throwing people like that.”

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Tower of Fable

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Was her cover that seriously blown? Was she that plain to see among the Lagoon’s spiring rocks and low-tided waters? Or were the other travelers among the Tower just that perceptive? Whatever the case, everyone was starting to notice Katie, who specifically made sure she was supposed to be observing the group from afar. So much for that. Seeing that it couldn’t be helped at this point, especially when Ami was walking towards her general vicinity, it was about time she revealed herself. Not that anyone was paying too much attention.

No sooner were the crabs all taken care of did a new abyssal threat emerge, one lupine and clearly mad; be it madness from the Abyss or her own fragile sanity, Katie paid little heed to. “The least you can do is give me an answer not riddled in riddles,” she told Ciel flatly, acknowledging her subtle glances at three of the travelers but ignoring that for now. After all, she already knew of Kanbaru’s alignment and made a mental note to keep distance from the hunter.

Thankfully she was already engaging Nephy in combat alongside Thomas and Akiko’s scheming. What truly caught Katie’s attention however were Ciel’s next words and she sharply looked around them. If the Stargazer could detect something then it was only a matter of time that it would be revealed; nor was Ciel one to talk lightly of things lurking in such a disgusting place. It was then that Ami reached her conversation and suddenly ideas sprang forward.

“My Serei Card,” Katie explained to the demon regarding Ciel. “She makes for a good map when it comes to navigating this Tower. Nevermind that though. The others can go handle the werewolf but there’s something else in these waters.” Indeed, even Akiko was noticing Runa’s presence, faint and distorted as it was, as if being juggled between several places at once. “Focus on what you felt,” Katie told Ciel, still scanning the area herself.

“Originally I was going to say ditch them. I’d have liked to not make an entrance at all but that’s out the way. Now though, there’s something else nearby,” Katie told Ami. “Sounds powerful if Ciel’s accurate in her senses. What kind of creature would willingly hide itself if it was that strong? Might be a coward, or it might be clever. Either way, fancy going on a hunt? Smoke it out? Could make an interesting fight,” she continued to Ami.

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Ark Riders, Race Across the Stars

The first race has concluded, @Martian. You're free to post whenever.

Ark Riders, Race Across the Stars

The gladiator racer’s tactics were daring and bold, reflective of the warrior lifestyle she so claimed to originate from. Only a madwoman would actually board herself atop the Skulldug though given the circumstances, it was more chance than choice. Either way, the Skull Rider watched as an angry Rema slowly climbed aboard the front of his car, weapon drawn and ready to spear him right through. A collective gasp passed through the audience watching. After all, there were no rules against the act and causalities were abundant in Space Races.

But the man who wore death on his figure like an emblem would see none of it today. The Skull Rider was quicker; he suddenly rose up to his full height in his moving vehicle before rearing back and slamming a fist into Rema’s face. Harsh-grooved and leather knuckle smashed into Rema’s cheek with enough force to swat her clear off the Skulldugg like an annoying bug. Where she would land, he didn’t know or care, but the brief struggle was enough for Aurora of all people to rocket past them both and take both the lead and the race.

“And we have a winner!” Wave announced once the Spike hit the finishing line. The Skulldugg was swift behind; by this point, Lydia’s attacks on the car’s tires were moot when the finishing line was so close. Despite being the most damaged vehicle and smoking tires, the Skull Rider came in second. Rema wouldn’t fall too far behind and no doubt her stallions would catch her ricocheting form. “It looks like that last stunt cost the gladiator the win, marking her in third place. Hate to see that happen~” Wave’s voice jeered through the intercoms.

Lydia came in next, though she wasn’t penalized too greatly for it. The crowd still cheered and applauded, always appreciating her underdog tactics and charm because in the end, that was the key to winning over the crowd. Sadly, for Claudia and the Dogma, no amount of rocketing could bring back the lead and distance between herself and the other racers. The result was the redhead coming in dead last, something Wave immediately pounced on. “Ooooh, and our newbie just ate the other racers’ dust. What a shame, what a shame, and I was really rooting for that cutie…oh well, she can take her penalty in private~ But first, a word from our sponsors, Mevalo’s very own Jack in-”

The Skulldugg inched to a closing crawl at the track’s end as the first tourney race was concluded. Despite his vehicle having tanked the most damage, the Skull Rider himself seemed no worse for wear. Climbing out his car, he could be seen idly reloading the revolver he used to execute Claudia’s drone, sitting in silent indifference to the crowd’s roars or the other racers. Second place was only second best after all.

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Ark Riders, Race Across the Stars

Welcome back. I’ll be ending the race in my next post.

Street Punk Serenade: Delinquent Days

“Yo.” Very rarely did a situation call for the walking devil to manifest and appear but sometimes people were really just that stupid. Frankly, there was no one stupider than those in power, especially when they had no idea how to have fun with it. And wasn’t having fun just an essential part of life? Ikue seemed to think so at least and maybe that’s why she ended up appearing in the flesh in who knew how long it was. Casual as she was, she strolled up to the Student Council Assembly Room with her usual cool expression. That expression raised an eye slightly as she noticed the other three.

“Eh? Whatcha doing now Akimichi? And why are you harassing my new club members?” Ikue gave the treasurer a confused look and a tilt of her head. Her school bag was casually slung over her shoulders while a few papers laid rifled in her free hand held at her hip. “Oh, guess you didn’t hear. Yeah, the Occult Club decided it needs to branch out for some new blood so I figured, why not do a little scoping out yeah?” She shrugged, barely giving Minato, Akina, or Ten-Ton a castaway glance in blatant lying; not like anyone else could tell.

The papers in her hand ended up coming in handy after all as she happily showed them off to Shino as well as the other students causing a roadblock for them. “See. Got it all right here. Weird that they’re not on the list though, cause I could have sworn I sent it over to the Vice Prez herself. We got ourselves a long history, you must know.” There was no need to hide or conceal and she plopped the papers down on the small table just in case they felt like double checking.

They’d find no fault in them, least of all any slip ups from someone of the Marada family. “But eh, accidents happen. We’re not perfect, only human, so I’ll look past the slip up. Now can we get going? Really bit of a drag I have to go to this meeting at all but hey, gotta represent my club and all,” Ikue said with her soft smirk. “If there’s still a problem, I can speak to the Vice Prez herself. She knows my number~” Ironically, the club she’d sign the three of them all up for was none other than her own elusive and gossiped one: Sarayashiki’s official Occult Club.

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Street Punk Serenade: Delinquent Days

I'll probably post on Friday.

Ark Riders, Race Across the Stars

As expected from these kinds of races, everyone was going after the leader; and that leader remained the Skull Rider. The Skulldugg belched out flame and smoke as it followed the Dogma’s patterns, zipping and drifting along the edges of the track to keep both momentum, speed, and control. If the Skull Rider heard Lydia’s remarks over the open-channel, he didn’t say so. Streaks of black stained the race track from the efforts of everyone with a physical machine, their vehicles jerking from one side to the other from the sheer turns alone.

The roads became more precarious as ever with the track bending upwards and around, massive loops in sight that would force every Ark Rider to either speed up or consider their options as the loops were harsh and without mercy. Clocking in at more than 180 degrees worth of gravity and looping, the roads would no doubt be a perilous drop if their vehicles had no magnetism or gravity stabilization. Rema was the first to experience the gravity-defying loops.

Unless she held any of the above, her only option was to speed up lest she lose momentum on the first loop and come crashing down with her enhanced horses. It was a method shared by the Skull Rider, who inched past her in a burst of speed. For a moment, it looked like the Skulldugg would challenge the loops on pure speed and inertia alone, fire still screeching out from its backside. Then, just as it reached the apex of the first loop, the car’s engines shut off with a sputtering hiss and gravity took its course.

The Skulldugg fell and flipped, twisting in the air with hard bucks, down, down, down. It landed at the very bottom of the track, the very end of the loops, with a slam. It immediately bursted forward in speed and left behind a gaping abyss behind it. A wave of applause followed in its wake. “Incredible! The Skulldugg’s closed the lead with a daring maneuver! Let’s replay that again folks!” came Wave’s voice, cutting through the crash of sound that was the audience.

“Not only did it save the Skull Rider time just dropping from the first loop to the bottom of the last, but the Skulldugg’s impact has totally demolished a good chunk of the road with its weight! Now there’s a big old valley the rest of the racers have to jump if they want that lead back!” The others could try and replicate the stunt if they dared. After all, the more time they did so in desperation meant the more distance between them and the Skull Rider; and the less between him and the finish line coming up.

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Tower of Fable

“What the hell is she doing.” Katie was half-tempted to put a hand to her head and sigh, or perhaps, throw them both to the open air above in dramatic exasperation. When she agreed to come to the next Floor accompanying Ami, this was not what she expected. She could still see it clearly now, the brief conversation she had with the self-acclaimed demon sometime after her roaming of the Dangeki’s bar. The girl was wafting power darker than before as if living negativity was leaking off her clothes. What happened in the short span they all saw Ami?

It was ultimately none of Katie’s concern but she found herself regretting making any sort of partnership with this reckless fuse of a cannon. All the same, she did take care of the crabs all too well. Pillars of flame scorching the Lagoon’s ceiling and the crabs stood little to no chance against Ami’s attack, especially when held in place by Akiko’s efforts. Those that weren’t burned alive were steamed just as well with Kanbaru’s power, causing more and more dead crabs to plop into the Lagoon pools and kick up waves of water everywhere.

And those that somehow survived the onslaught? Nature took its course as it always did. Their intent flashed away from the group and they scampered towards the dead and cooked shells of their brethren. Their shells boiled and soft by now from the flash flood flames and steam, the remaining crabs easily tore through their exteriors with mighty claws. Their mandibles feasted on their slain others in a hording display of hunger and feast and cannibalism. Typical sea creatures always turning on each other; such was the law of the food chain, let alone the Abyss.

It meant the group now had breathing time for once, the crabs entirely disinterested in their position now that they were feeding on each other. The smoldering steam continued to blanket the area however, covering everything and, more importantly, spreading so far as to come towards Runa and Nephy. Being near the shroud was hot enough to burn on contact no thanks to Ami and Kanbaru’s efforts. It wasn’t long before one of them was noticed anyway by the JSTR, the program turning Kanbaru’s head towards the nearest one even among the melting fog.

Of all this, Katie watched in her corner still sighing. She sighed both at Ami and the Ciel card blatantly pointing her in the group’s direction, lighting up when Akiko was in sight. Whatever was special about the bard was apparently enough to point Katie towards her. It was no doubt the Bastion card she possessed, of which all throughout the ordeal, remained silent and unwavering of Akiko’s commands to it.

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