GAME OVER (S██'s Palace)

[pointzeropercent]

Comments

FIGHT START!

[pointzeropercent]

I may not be the first, but I'll be the last. If you won't see reason, then I'll drag you down to hell!

[Suddenly the room warps. Desks, chairs, and papers go flying, and chains shoot right up out of the ground. Somehow the chains and the desks work together to make two single-desk platforms held up by the chains, balancing them in front of everyone. Teal's eyes go wide as he is snatched up by a chain and set on top of one of the platform-desks, where he has to sit on his knees because he is too wobbly to stand up. Magenta, meanwhile, is standing on top of his own desk.

The papers flying around rip to shreds and swarm in front of the two desks, making a floating paper 5 in front of each desk.

Battle: start]

[prozaic]

And in the end, it just comes down to this. [He was patient! He allowed everyone to talk them down, and yet...

They just end up fighting anyway. He usually opens a fight with a Rakukaja, but he's trying to limit the amount of magic he uses, so he's just waiting for either Sou to do something.]

[beathollow]

We won't see reason? Listen to yourself! You're the one believing your own lies!

( but, she's going to cast matarunda on magenta. enjoy your lowered attack! dick. )

[moodwrecker]

Come on, Shin! You don't need this jerk anymore!

[Which she will emphasize by casting Bufudyne on Magenta (17)]

[metagame]

Wait, Aubrey!

[No, that's not right--- they need each other...!]

[metagame]

[Atem refrains from attacking... He has a bad feeling about what will happen if they try. Magenta's still up to something.]

Odd I find myself in this situation again. One angry, yet seems strong... One afraid, yet seems weak... Well, my other self--- my partner who I once shared a name... I have to do this alone.

[He points at Magenta.]

When someone such as yourself becomes arrogant and twisted in a web of lies, he loses his heart! You think you're strong because you hurt others without a second thought... But every time you've acted, your plan fails time and time again!

[beathollow]

( mafuyu gives him a concerned glance, but... ... they have to focus. )

[pointzeropercent]

[The Bufudyne hits Magenta, but it doesn't seem to hurt as much as it would normally. Still, the number by Magenta's desk changes to 4.

Since all the others are buffs or debuffs, Magenta just laughs it off.]

I think we had this discussion about elements before, Aubrey.

[And he is casting Ice Break on the party. No more ice resistances for you!

At the same time, Teal manages to act and casts Diarama on Magenta. The number below Magenta goes back up to 5.]

[metagame]

Everyone! Before attacking further, look! The number changed after he got hit!

[What's that number have to do with it...

No good. There's still not enough information for him to figure out why... But he casts Marakukaja on Mafuyu, Joshua, and Shalem just in case. If he recalls, Shin's element is ice... and after Braphine's blessing, Shalem's element swapped to fire. He's at a disadvantage...

And though they aren't getting along... he still doesn't want him hurt.]

It reverted when Teal healed him...

[prozaic]

[Well. Sou is ice, isn't he?

And Shalem is fire, but he's trying not to use magic. This is going to be terrible.]

So you're saying that fire works. And it seems like you two need to be whittled down together, hm? [He needs to think about whether or not he wants to do this. Give him a moment to make this decision, he won't act this round.]

[moodwrecker]

What the- why did you heal him?!

[Ugh - she'll raise her own defense with a Rakukaja, then.]

[metagame]

Isn't it obvious?! They're both halves of the same whole! If one is without the other... You're dooming them to a half life!

[moodwrecker]

He was originally just nervous, meek Shin. Why would he need this lying jerk?!

[pointzeropercent]

It's not like I like having him around, but I can't erase everything we've gone through!

[This time Teal doesn't act, instead using his whole turn to stay balanced on the desk.

Magenta, however, casts Mabufula on Atem, Shalem, Audrey, and Joshua. (11-1 =10)]

[beathollow]

( mafuyu frowns. )

You need him just as much as he needs you.

... I'm sorry. But this is to remove you from one more person's possession.

( mafuyu casts mapsio (14), for medium psy damage to all enemies. )

[prozaic]

[Well, Shalem's decided that if he is to make an exception to his "no magic" preference, it would be this fight, as he's uniquely qualified for it... But hopefully he doesn't need to do it much. He'd rather conserve his life as much as possible. He inhales deeply and summons Orpheus.

Then he casts Maragion on both Magenta and Teal (17), before placing his hand over the crystals on his neck, expecting pain even if this is his first spell of the day. Nothing happens, which is a relief, but still.]

[moodwrecker]

...Tch. So you both have to go down together, then?

[That's what she's getting from this, anyway. And since her elemental spell's no good, she'll instead opt for Vicious Strike, dealing medium physical damage to both (20)]

[destage]

[Sayaka looks between the two Sous for a moment, and in truth, she...doesn't quite understand it, but she feels like there's a part of it that she does. A side that's meek and weak and frail that needed to be protected by a side that's strong, brutal, and decisive. Isn't that how she survived the idol industry? Well, survived is a generous word for it.]

Sou-kun. Shin-kun... [She's not sure if she should be calling them by the same or different names but she's. Trying. Sayaka's words are surprisingly gentle, despite everything. She's been a bit of a failure in this palace so far and she can acknowledge it, but...] ...I really am sorry that it's come to this; you both deserve better. But if a fight is what you really want, then...

[Sayaka will aim a Vicious Strike (17) at them.]

...We'll see it through, one way or another!

[finalmix]

[ hey so what happens if he aims a vicious strike not at sou and shin but at the desks that they're standing on instead (18) ]

[pointzeropercent]

[Interestingly, it's not the fire attack that hurts them the most, it's the vicious strikes. They both recoil from the attacks, with Teal screaming and Magenta hissing in pain. The numbers in front of both of them drop to 1. They're not done yet though. They still have some fight in them. The desks take no damage from the attack though, sorry Joshua.]

Ha...we're not as weak as you think. We survived hell on earth, a few attacks are nothing compared to that!

[He is now casting Tentarafoo on the whole party. Everyone has to beat a 15, or else they are confused for 2 turns.

Meanwhile, Teal casts Diarama on himself, bringing him back up to 4.]

[moodwrecker]

[Aubrey is hella not confused (18). Unfortunately this doesn't improve her chances of hitting the chains holding up the desks when she uses another Vicious Slice (5).]

So you're just gonna keep us at a stalemate? Is that your plan?

[beathollow]

( mafuyu is confused! but atem's already done a number on her resolve, so she is not taking an action. )

I...

[metagame]

Because no matter how that rat bastard denies it, he's Shin's courage! His ability to push forward despite all odds! If you take that away... Shin will never find it in himself to keep going! Fear will only consume him!

[beathollow]

They need to rebalance, and to heal. But they can't do that under the God of Conflict's influence.

[metagame]

And even you think fighting is the way to do it?

Fighting to live is how they ended up this way! Do you have such little faith in yourself and them that you think we have to come to blows! I've seen it before, Mafuyu. We can pull someone out of the God of Conflict's control without attacking!