[ Bei Fong School: ]
Toph: *Nods silently*
*She coils the metal around herself, extending and hardening it*
*Abruptly, two huge chunks of ore are pulled deep out of the walls, and amalgamated into her armor*
*It takes on a glossy black hue with a bronze-silver sheen*
*Soon, she's formed an intricate, samurai or Chinese general-resemblent armor*
Toph: *Finishes with a helmet masked sans eyeholes*
*Stance assumed, she waits*
~ ~ ~
[ Klak's Location: ]
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gallowsCalibrator has begun trolling Klak
GC: H3LLO TH3R3, M4KUT4 KL4K
GC: 1 M4Y B3 R3P34T1NG OLD N3WS FOR YOU
GC: BUT WH4T 1F 1 TOLD YOU TH3R3 W4S 4N 1MM3NS3 THR34T TO YOUR 3NT1R3 PL4N3 OF 3X1ST3NC3
GC: 4ND TH4T 1 W1SH3D TO L3ND MY 4SS1ST4NCE?
GC: BY TH3 W4Y
GC: PL34S3 US3 SOM3TH1NG OTH3R TH4N GR4Y
GC: 1T 1S BOR1NG 4ND L4CKS FL4VOR
GC: OTH3R TH4N 4SH3S
GC: >:C~ ~ ~
[ Jurai, Records Chamber: ]
---
grimAuxillatrix has begun trolling Representative Ulkesh
GA: Hello
GA: Is The One Called Ulkesh There
GA: I Apologize For Disturbing Your Diplomatic Affairs
GA: And I Know I Will Regret Meddling In Your Session For Many Years To Come
GA: (That Is, If We Do Indeed Survive This Disaster)
GA: But This Query Is Absolutely Necessary
GA: And With Either Confirmation Or Not
GA: I Would Never Forgive Myself If I Did Not Help You And Azusa
GA: As Azusa Helped Me In Another Time
GA: Apologies, I Am Very Bad About Rambling
GA: I Will Get Straight To The Point:
GA: Do You Know Of Jack Noir?~ ~ ~
[ ???, Cave: ]
*All over, pictures are painted in a myriad of hues*
*On the floor is a messy paintset and brush, while the wall bears a number of boxes and symbols*
*From the floor rises Nepeta, laying atop a stiff animal pelt for a nap*
*Stretching as she rises up, Nepeta inspects her cave idly*
*For a moment, she contemplates a small, worn spot in the corner*
*She can't help but think of what seems to be her lusus - A medium-sized cat with two smiling mouths*
*Forcing the memory down, she watches with some regret as the image fades*
Nepeta:
:33 < Pounce de Leon...You were pawsitively the best kitty efur. *Sniffs dangerously, transparent, forest green shimmering in the corners of her eyes*
*Rubbing the celadon tears away before they can fall, she forces herself to be strong*
Nepeta:
:33 < Can't cry. Equius would be so worried fur me, and I don't want to s33 him fret anymore than he already does...Right. Right. Not gonna cry. It's all in the past. All in the past.*Eventually, her calming breaths do manage to prevent any further crying from starting*
*Hurriedly accessing her computer-device, Nepeta begins to look for someone to talk to*
Nepeta:
:33 < Ah! Purrfect! I never get to RP with him!---
arsenicCatnip began trolling adiosToreador
AC: :33 < *with the utmost grace, ac purrowls around an interloper to her domain*
AC: :33 < *licking her chops, she purrs* "Where have you come furrom?", she asks.
AT: oHHH, uHHH, hEY, nEPETA!
AT: oH, uM, rIGHT,,,rP TIME, oKAY,,,
AT: *sNORTING, aT TOSSES HIS HEAD, pROUDLY DISPLAYING HIS HORNS*
AT: "i HAVE NO OBLIGATIO TO TELL YOU THAT!", hE RUMBLES
AT: "lET ME HAVE MY PEACE TO GRAZE, aND I'LL LEAVE TO ROAM SOON!"
AT: (uHHH, hOW WAS THAT?)
AC: :33 < (you're really good, h33 h33!)
AC: :33 < (i'm a little bit surprised, but i figured you'd be no spring cluckbeast!)
AT: (hAHA! tHAT, uH, mEANS A LOT, cOMING FROM YOU!)
AT: (lET'S, uHH, kEEP GOING, iF THAT'S OKAY?
AC: :33 < (right, sure, h33 h33 h33!)
AC: :33 < *ac's tongue darts out, running over a velvety paw*
AC: :33 < "that's hardly purrlite," she says with an aloof tone
AC: :33 < "may i at least know this beast who's entered my domain?"
AT:"i CAN OBLIGE THAT MUCH," aT CONCEDES EVENTUALLY
AT: "i AM A MIGHTY HORNBEAST OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS, a NAMELESS NOMAD"
AT: "mY HERD HAS BEEN SCATTERED BY THE SMALL-HORNED HUNTERS"
AT: "tHE ONES WHO CARRY TEETH, aND SHARPENED BRANCHES, fOR WHATEVER REASON"
AT: *sAID ALL HE'S COMFORTABLE WITH, tHE HORNBEAST GOES BACK TO GRAZING*
AT: *hE KEEPS ONE EYE ON AC AT ALL TIMES*
AC: :33 < (wow!)
AC: :33 < (i didn't know you were this good, tavros!)
AT: uMMM, uHHH
AT: oH
AT: (wOW, tHANKS! i, uHH, dON'T GET TO, uHHH, dO THIS MUCH)
AT: (i MOSTLY AVOIDED, uHHH, eVEN THIS KIND OF RPING)
AT: (aFTER, uHH, uMM, yOU KNOW,,,)
AC: :33 < h33 h33 h33!
AC: :33 < you're fun!~ ~ ~
[ ???, Equius's Workshop: ]
Equius: *Stands a ways behind Tavros*
*He watches as the younger "lowblood" continues to RP with Nepeta*
Equius:
... *Makes an odd, undignified noise in throat*
*When he notices, relieved, that Tavros didn't hear, he strolls away*
Equius: *Idly picks up tools and begins to work*
*He's not really sure what he plans to do*
~ ~ ~
[ Datrio, Cove, Pier: ]
Gamzee: *Has long since finished the sandwiches*
*As Heen lays on his back, squeaking and wiggling frenetically, Gamzee pats his stomach*
Gamzee:
lItTlE MaN, yOu'rE LiKe...aLl uP iN BeIn' A LiTtLe mIrAcLe. I LiKe yOu. *Smiles, not a zoned-out kind of smile, but a content, compassionate smile*
*He idly looks up as a huge shape begins to rise out of the water*
Gamzee:
...GeT BeHiNd mE, lItTlE MaN. *Scoots Heen away with the back of hand*
*Eyes clearing up briefly, he takes out a simple joker card - Solid black, with with an indigo, cartoonish harlequin face on the front and little objects depicted in the corners; from upper-left clockwise, a hammer, a sword, a four-point star, and a simple ring*
*The huge, serpentine shape reveals a visage of crocodillian jaws, five oddly-placed, bulging eyes, fangs poking out of its dessicated lips, and a long mane of drenched hair*
Nightmare?:
I see it is my fortune to meet the idiotic little stoner of the group. Tell me, could you bring out those foolish little clubs? I'd like you to put up a fight before I slay you.*He notices the card in Gamzee's hand, chuckles, then flicks one eye to Heen*
Heen: *Cowering behind Gamzee, squeaks pitifully and tries to tug on his pantleg and get him to run*
Nightmare:
Well then, I think I know what will get you to fight. *Lunges for Heen*
*With a screech, he flails back to find his nose dented and his front teeth busted out - Ochre blood spraying all over Gamzee*
Gamzee:
... *Now holds a massive battle hammer in hand, topped by a warped carving of a ghost's face and with a rippling, ghostly white armor, periodically opening and closing eyes that consist of black voids with glowing green orbs within*
Nightmare:
Impossible!! That's the Bogeyman Sledge!! It was lost when - !!Gamzee:
sHuT Up.Nightmare:
WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME, YOU - !?Gamzee:
I SaId sHuT ThE MoThErF### uP YoU NoN-BeLoNgInG MoThErF###Er. YoU Do nOt hAvE AnY RiGhT To cOmE AlL Up iN HeRe aNd sTrIkE OuT At mY PaLs.Nightmare:
CAN YOU EVEN CONCEIVE OF MY MAJESTY!? I AM MY LORD'S MOST -Gamzee:
CaN YoU EvEn cOnCeIvE Of wHaT I JuSt sAiD To yOu, MoThErF###Er? I'Ll rEpEaT It sLoWlY, sInCe yOu sEeM To bE Of sUcH StUpIdItY ThAt yOu cAnNoT UnDeRsTaNd wOrDs sEnT AlL Up iNtO YoUr wHiSpEr cAvItIeS.*Raising his hammer up, he causes it to extend and grow until it roughly matches the Nightmare in mass*
*However, he is easily able to hold the monstrous weapon with one hand*
Gamzee:
sHuT. tHe mOtHeRf###. uP.Nightmare: *Attempts to lunge again, still bleeding profusely*
Gamzee: *Expression remains unchanging as the hammer begins to drop*
hOnK.Heen: *Unlike before, eyes narrow and gain a soft glow*
*For a dog, his eyes are almost analytical*
---
[ Cove, Shack: ]
Master Big Star: ... *Inclines head to one side* ...This may seem random, but what can you tell me of Gamzee Makara?
*He artfully keeps his thoughts hidden, but this does not stop the knowing and evermore disturbing grin on Feferi's face to grow into a condescending smirk*
Feferi:
)(-E-E)(---E---E! Looks like you've gotten finally wit)( t)(e glubbin' program about Gamzee, )(U)(? Did it take t)(at walloping outside just now to realize somefin's NOT QUIT---E T)(-E SAM-E WIT)( )(IM? *Shakes head oddly*
Master Big Star: *No longer afraid of such behavior, levels a cold glare on Feferi* ...Care to indulge me with your wisdom? My mission is to research the previous Sessions that lead to Jack Noir's entrance. I get a feeling that Makara is not the only one hiding a more deadly side, as well. Would that be correct? Or should I wait for you to consult the Horrorterrors, or perhaps Gl'bgolyb's Shadow?
Feferi: *Grin falls into a frown, as she wipes a cold sweat off forehead
Sorry. T)(e grimdarkness )(as never appreciated Great Beings, especially not in my Session. It wasn't until Jack Noir went ballistic t)(at t)(ey began to w)(isper directly to me w)(ile I was awake. If I don't let t)(em say t)(eir piece in little glubs of anger like t)(at, t)(ey begin to tell me more violent t)(ings to do.Feferi:
ANYWAYS. You want to know about Gamzee. Well, )(e's better t)(an w)(en )(e did an epic pirouette flip off the deep-end a w)(ile back. Now, )(e's become even better at supressing )(is indigoblood impulses t)(an I am at fending off the grimdarkness. T)(at, quite frankly, does not put me at ease, glub glub. )(e's reely dangerous, even wit)( just t)(e clubs.Master Big Star: *Eyes narrow*
Just the clubs? I thought he was a juggling clubs specialist. The Clubs Deuce didn't have to be upgraded once in the course of the game, am I correct? *Finally turns to look out window, towards the pier*
*He can vaguely see the silouhette of a massive hammer battering a spasming, serpentine shape*
Master: ...I see. I suppose that it's only reasonable he would have other weapons, or perhaps find a more fitting type of instrument for his fighting style. Tell me, is that a size-changing hammer?
Feferi:
It is, but first appearances can be deceiving, I'm s)(ore I don't )(ave to tell you, glub glub. Somehow, he found the Joker Array during )(is...Episode, and began using it against enemies that are more dangerous than usual. That would have been useful against the Black King, but Gamzee didn't let us down then, either.Master Big Star: ... *Turns to look at her curiously* ...How do you mean?
Feferi:
W)(AL---E, it's a bit )(ard to explain. We were all fig)(ting the Black King, and barely making a dent. Gamzee )(adn't been doing anyt)(ing AT ALL to )(elp, until the Black King broke Karkat's arm and leg, and I guess t)(at made somefin snap.Feferi:
I was busy )(ealing Karkat, I'm the Witc)( of Life, it was kinda my t)(ing, but we all looked up just in time to see t)(e results of w)(at Gamzee )(ad done. T)(e Black King almost fell flat on )(is @$$, and almost )(alf of )(is )(P was just c)(ipped rig)(t off. We were all almost too s)(ocked to keep fig)(ting, I t)(ink even t)(e Black King couldn't believe w)(at )(ad just )(appened or )(ow exactly Gamzee did it, but t)(en Gamzee just cracked open a Faygo and slouc)(ed off again.Feferi:
Vriska was t)(e only one of us w)(o could )(ave possibly done more damage. We'll never know for s)(ore, because s)(e was t)(e one to land t)(e finis)(er, and t)(e Black King was just low enoug)( t)(at none of us could make up our minds on w)(ic)( did more damage. W)(en we asked, Gamzee )(ad no idea )(ow )(e'd done it eit)(er and just wandered off soon after, but I know t)(at if it )(adn't been for )(im, we'd never )(ave netted that victory!*Once she's done, Feferi scampers over and leans against the window sill to watch the battle with abject glee*
*By now, the Nightmare's silhouette visibly leaks blood, and he's clearly in his death throes*
*As the hammer falls one last time, a faint sound floats over to the shack*
hOnK.Master Big Star: ...I'm terrified to ask...But what was Makara's game title again?
Feferi:
)(ee)(ee. T)(e Bard of Rage!Master Big Star: ... *Stomach sinks* ...
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