019 // action: verdant forest, streets of union, divine theater (closed)

[actsmagnificent]

[ a - verdant forest ]

Easy.

[ Haruka Tenoh, as per usual, is sitting astride a mighty, majestic Pokémon. It's not a Rhyhorn, however. It's Uranus the Salamence, now sporting an impressive set of battle scars and testing wings that are sore from disuse. All winter. She'd remained grounded all winter, afraid to try flying again even after she'd healed. But now, with the spring breezes stirring hope in her breast, she dares to imagine that they can support her weight again. She dreams once more...of flight.

Honestly, Haruka is mostly here for moral support, as the Salamence's wings flap once, twice - its feet leave the ground - and slowly, beat by beat of those massive wings, Uranus climbs into the air. They clear the treetops. They speed towards the clouds.

Uranus bellows in triumph and sets out to loop around the city spires. Anyone else in midflight right now may find themselves with a joyful companion. She doesn't want to be alone for this. She wants everyone to know.

She's flying!!! ]

[ b - streets of union ]

[ At the same time this is happening, however, an Amaura collapses onto the cobblestones, even her long neck stretched along the ground. Her tongue lolls out of her mouth, and she takes a heavy breath. She'd been looking...for a good place....to watch her friend fly....but Union gets so warm!

Help...and please...don't step on her...even though she's blocking foot traffic.... ]

[ c - closed to divine defense force ]

[ A successful voyage doesn't mean Haruka's own buoyant mood lasts. Instead, she's landed with even more purpose in her step than before, and a light in her eyes. One by one, she's tracking down the people she's responsible for, and asking them a single question: ]

Are you ready?

[ Just that. Because no matter what Union votes on the current crisis of conscience, for her, the way forward is clear. The Divine Defense Force saves gods from humans, and humanity at large from gods.

War is a small price to pay to stave off the apocalypse. And let the blame for that war fall on her shoulders. She's prepared. ]

Comments

C

[senpaidol]

Am I in any position not to be?

[Rise's answer, out in the theater's courtyard in the evening, is flippant, but she's making it as clear as she's willing to get with Haruka that something's bothering her.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Hm. Haruka steps closer in case Rise wants a bit more privacy, even within their group. She knows after Glacier that the other girl has been working hard - and if something's bugging the intel person, it should probably bug Haruka, too. That's what being the leader is about, right? ]

What's wrong?

[ Plain speech or metaphor both work. You might even give her one and have her respond in the other. She's that fluent. ]

[senpaidol]

[She takes a deep breath, and lets most of it out. She can talk to Haruka. Maybe even understand some of her responses this time.]

I know we're going to do this, but...I joined this outfit because I wanted to stop there from being another war. Now it looks like we're going to start one...

[actsmagnificent]

They'll be the first to fall if we don't.

[ If the gods attack in a sensible fashion, that is. Gigas, by nature of keeping gods imprisoned, has basically painted a gigantic "Begin Destroying Humanity Here" sign on their backs. That's how Haruka sees it, anyway.

It doesn't make the idea of humans vs. humans appealing. But the consequences of not starting this war, on a grander scale....

She can't tell Rise not to feel awful, though. Just, if the big picture helps assuage the suck, there it is. ] We'll be careful.

[ The least they can do is minimize the damage caused by their rescue. Michiru had a good to-do list. They should follow that. ]

[senpaidol]

Starting a war with them to protect them? All of a sudden I'm glad we're not doing this diplomatically. I'd hate to have to explain it.

[She sighs.]

If we can free the Gigases safely, though, it really will stop a lot of people from getting hurt on any side.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka nods. ] Michiru was thinking distractions before we head in.

[ That way they can minimize the people who get hurt in the act of freeing said gods. And/or in the wake of their freedom, in case said gods wake up angry. ]

[senpaidol]

If there's one thing we ought to be good at as a theater troupe...I'm not sure, though. The city's pretty big, and we really don't want anyone catching on. Still, even if we can move people away from where they're going to be waking up, that'll help...

B and C b/c I'm greedy

[incousinswithyou]

[a small shadow falls over Amara the Amaura] Osha?

[...yeah, no. Too bad it's not anybody useful.

Meanwhile, Michiru is holding onto the ledge of the pool and looking up at you. The baby Dratini swimming in circles next to her looks over at Trainer and then copies Michiru, trying to see what's so interesting about the other human.]

You'll have to be more specific than that. [this smile could mean any number of things]

if it's you, i'll tolerate liberties /suggestive grin

[actsmagnificent]

[ Shade. It's minimal, but Amara will take it. Her head flops sideways further into Allegro's shadow. Cool..er... ] Ama...

[ ...Haruka has interrupted something very cute. She sits down next to Michiru at poolside, her shoes already off (and one leg up, who do you think she is). Hi kiddo. The humans need to have a Serious Discussion.

Sort of. ] How's that pen write?

[ She could just say "no matter what Union decides, we are going to free some gods. Please be by my side", but who'd do that? ]

how generous~

[incousinswithyou]

Wott. [hey, maybe you shouldn't be lying here. Here's a nubby arm, reaching in to poke at Amara's cheek. Poke. Poke poke.]

Well, it doesn't look like they're more advanced than us in terms of writing instruments.

[probably because the answer would be obvious, or something like that.]

don't waste it

[actsmagnificent]

[ Amara is poke poke poked, but this achieves nothing except a sigh. She tries to generate some ice, but it immediately begins melting around her, so now she isn't just lying in a pile of dinosaur across the street, she's a puddly pile. She's...sorry....

Haruka certainly wouldn't want to do anything unnecessary, that's for sure. She blinks. ] Uranus can fly again. Above cloud cover.

[ Case you were wondering how they were gonna get there in a nice quick (stealthy) fashion. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[huuuh. Well, he doesn't have any Ice moves, so. Allegro looks around, trying to find somebody to pawn the ice dino off onto.]

Shaa... [how is this street so conveniently abandoned? Alright, fine! Let's go home. Gotta be somebody there who can help.

Michiru's smile disappears and she takes a moment to hoist herself out of the water, sitting on the ledge with you and wringing out her hair. Dratini seems a bit put out by this turn of events.]

Do we have a plan?

[actsmagnificent]

I'm consulting with everyone. [ Which is to say, she'll take stock of how ready everyone else is to start a war, and then act accordingly. The less willing they are, the more she has to do.

But, you know best, so... ] How would you do it?

[ Home...Amara likes home. She looks up at the sky, as if she might see Uranus there, and then tries, leg by leg, to stand. She keeps glancing up, though. It would be sad if she missed the flight. ] mmmm....Mmma....

C

[taudriver]

Yeah.

[actsmagnificent]

We'll split up to cover all the targets.

[ Read: you are being entrusted with a God. Don't screw this up. ]

[taudriver]

Roger. Which one am I taking?

[actsmagnificent]

Go with your typing.

[ In other words, with the whole Ground and Flying thing, she shouldn't be sent after Ice. But she doesn't want to admit that, so she's leaving it up to you. ]

[taudriver]

Well, I'm pretty good against Rock and Ice...

[Is he gonna go for it?]

Sanae is really good against Rock though. So I guess we're going for the Rock one.

[Nope!]

[actsmagnificent]

[ ....touché. Haruka bites back whatever kind of reaction she'd almost had. ] If you're sure.

[ Good thing there's plenty of options... ]

C, belatedly

[lunchleader]

For what? Rescuing those Gods?

[Well, Right's been rather busy lately, if the training outfit's any indication. He's just getting back from his usual lessons with Yuuna.]

Yeah, just about.

[actsmagnificent]

We might be working independently.

[ Divide and conquer. Multiple Gods, multiple bruisers in the DDF. What she can't guarantee, necessarily, is backup for said bruisers. They just...don't have enough people. Especially if Union votes "no" and they end up going in alone. ]

Are you up for it?

[ She flicks her gaze to Right for that last bit. Answer carefully, kohai. Can she trust you. ]

[lunchleader]

Definitely. I already got a couple of ideas in mind.

[Ideas that, thankfully, doesn't require him going at it totally alone. If nothing else, he'll sneak in as many of his Pokemon as he can.]

[actsmagnificent]

Coordinate with Rise and Michiru.

[ They have plans with actual details in them. It's astounding. Haruka knows that's not her strength, so she's letting them at it.

...still, he's very sure of himself. Haruka finds herself scrutinizing Right's expression. It feels like there's something she should know, but doesn't... ]

[lunchleader]

Oh, definitely! And with any luck, we might get some people to help us, too.

[At least, that's the general sentiment that's being felt on the streets of Union. That may be what Right's referring to.

Or is it?]

[actsmagnificent]

...what do you mean?

[ She knows Union is in talks about it. She's not sure she likes the fact that Right talks about this in terms of "luck", though. Or that sense of confidence.

What is this uneasy sensation? ]