{Animus?}

[adstring_npc]

[At the same moment, everyone's PCD switches on and begins to play- though instead of the usual mixture of ghostly voices, a woman's face appears. She nods at the screen, smiling faintly- blond hair separated into two braids, an orchid ever-tucked behind one ear. The area around her is hazy, flickering.]

Everyone. As has been tradition, it's time for us- you name us 'Animus'- to announce the start of a new event. And as today's organizer, I wanted to invite you all personally to participate, as this will be the last time our city shall suffer.

My name is Aelia, and the event is called 'Ekpyrosis.'

[Behind her- through the holes in the wall, in the air for anyone who cares to notice- the sky begins to turn a dark, unhappy orange. The temperature starts to rise.]

'The final fire that expires the mandate of the world'... for those who would ask. You could call it bad fortune that it was pulled here along with you- worse, that I discovered its nature, and sought to restore it. For those of you who were looking for a way out- this might not've been what you had in mind, but please accept my substitution. But to be fair-

I could not have done so alone. My co-sponsors--

[The view drops; two ruined bodies lie before her. One is barely recognizable as John Mandrake, limbs twisted and blackened by flame, broken spears still pinning him to the floor. The other is Sailor Mars- less singed, but with the dozens of swords and lances piercing her body, rendering it to pieces- no more simply identified.]

--the Summoner, the Archer, were invaluable. I couldn't have named Ekpyrosis on my own. But I have one more request-

[The view pans up, past a serpentine body carved out of dark rock, past human legs merging into it, to see all of Aelia herself; a nude woman seated on a coil of a stone dragon, her own body. From her ear, she pulls the orchid, holds it out.]

Now, my magicians: please mature.

[At three points in the city, despair rises. A girl dies to birth a witch; Walpurgisnacht to match the Ekpyrosis day.

Aelia just nods again, as the feed dies.]




((OOC: Witch information and plotting post here.

Additionally, Ekpyrosis now covers the city, decorating the sky with constantly shifting sigils. As of this entry, the sky bursts, and the fire-flood starts. Like a thunderstorm overhead- just replace "rain" with "fire". :x Staying in the open without protection is quickly deadly.

Aelia will also be around if anyone wants to find her; she won't respond to this post, but offlines are welcome. Warning: she's stronger than Ekpyrosis.))

Comments

[Video]

[buntails.livejournal.com]

[It's Sailor Moon on the video immediately. Her voice breaks as she shouts out one word, the name.]

Rei-chan!!

[No no no no no. This can't be! It can't be happening. It's an illusion, a trick. Why else Rei?]

Why?!

[aquaticbeauty.livejournal.com]

REI-CHAN!

[Ami's tone and expression echos Usagi's. But there is no time for tears. Not before, and certainly not now.]

Usagi-chan! [It's time to transform! If anyone can heal Rei, it's Eternal Sailor Moon.]

[lcied]

[video]

[ He just stands there, frozen, too shocked to respond. The last time? After all this, were they all going to-- ]

[Offline?]

[makemehrrr.livejournal.com]

[He may not be able to see the destruction as many will, but the glow and warmth of those fires are telling enough.

Laughter, perhaps insane, rings out as Undertaker has found himself a place. Searching? Who knows, he might be.

This was delightful, in a way. A sort of destruction that was a thing of beauty in an off itself.]

Oh, Aelia. Crafty thing aren't you. [.. Welp.]

[adstring-npc.livejournal.com]

[Offline!]

Not much of a craft for long, if it's burning.

[Her laughter has the echo of a flute, as she pauses in her slow march, turning backwards to glance at him.]

Enjoying the stroll?

[al_truism]

Mr. Mandrake -- REI!

[There are tears in his eyes, but there's no time to grieve. Something is happening now, and he needs to come up with a plan. Of all things, he's Mandrake's second.]

[dogtagcollar.livejournal.com]

Sir.

[He knows the hierarchy well enough to know that Al should be organizing things now.]

I will assemble my team and await your orders.

[knifetotheface.livejournal.com]

You don't know me, I don't know you, nice to meet you, I'm Jo.

[Brisk and to the point, not rattled.]

I've got an angel ready to kill a flower girl because she decided to go Ed Gein on us all, so I'm going to make this quick. Send anyone that can't defend themselves my way. I've got a shelter that can hold them until this bitch is put in her place.

[Jo is loading a shotgun as she speaks.]

Hope the votes were worth it, sir.

[It's meant to be encouraging. It comes off more rushed.]

[exarmatio]

[There's panic in his eyes, clear on his face, but Negi is bracing himself. After all they've been through, it's easy to subdue that initial rush of panic enough to where it doesn't cause problems. Lose his cool here, and things could seriously turn for the worst.]

Al... what do you want me to do?

[Video]

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

Ekpyrosis doesn't mean the end, or the final act. It means the end, and then rebirth.



You've made a grave error in judgement, Aelia. And it will be the end for you.

[Video // Private // Unhackable]

[knifetotheface.livejournal.com]

Cas.

[Quietly, but urgently.]

We've got work to do.

[dogtagcollar.livejournal.com]

Murder is a crime.

[Pointed.]

If you plan on endangering others, you will suffer serious consequences.

[genkireaper]

[!]

Rei! Mandrake-san, too...

Wait, Co-sponsors? Did Mandrake-san bring you out from the Inner City? How this is able to happen... Watanuki's vision makes even more sense, now.

[Oh, someone's in so much trouble when they're alive again.]

[video]

[kill-joo-ded.livejournal.com]

[After all of that exposition, Killua has only one question.]

...That body solid?

[video]

[exarmatio]

Don't do anything stupid.

[soothing_flame]

[video]

[Ai's lips tremble as she stares at the bodies. In her time at Adstringendum, nothing that terrified her as much as this woman does.]

Wh...why? I don't understand.

[sadistsword.livejournal.com]

I guess there is no time to try and understand this.

[hits-then-heals.livejournal.com]

[She knows those two, especially John Mandrake from her time so far in the Protection Squad. Whatever is going on, especially resulting in two brutal deaths, can't be good for the rest of the city.]

Whatever this is, whatever you got planned...we will put an end to you. I can promise you that.

[iceandivory.livejournal.com]

[Hino Rei. That is Hino Rei. That is an animus name he's yet to hear. That is a humanoid body. That is a huge rise in malevolent energy. That is Hino fucking Rei.

There is no point in replying to the message. He's already out the door.]

[saucey]

[Hey, you know he's with you without a second thought.]

[supermistfrog.livejournal.com]

....


.......

Why do we keep getting surprised by these things?

[Excuse him while he runs the fuck out.]

[bcuzofmiasma.livejournal.com]

[Accidental Video]

[ Guess who is incredibly amused by all of this lovely, lovely chaos? ]

[books-n-battle.livejournal.com]

Bitch!

*Yup, that's all he has to say. He's beyond words that aren't profanity at this point.*

[ Video ]

[dreamdecoder.livejournal.com]

[ Watanuki is just staring in horror at the PCD. That girl... he just spoke with her yesterday! ]

N-no...! [ It was coming true! What did he--what did he do?! ]

[video]

[imakefootnotes.livejournal.com]

[Bartimaeus looks upon the scene with horror, but it only shows in his eyes as fury. They burn with a flame and he looks murderous at the body of Nathaniel.]

You will not touch him again. [He sees the body of Rei and he actually shows more emotion] Or her.

[Video -> Offline]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

Aelia...? What did you...?

[Her eyes widen in horror. She had thought the Orchid was different and indeed... she was. Just not the way she had thought. And it hurts her to realize that. And that she didn't see that one coming.

She's furious at John and Rei too, but that's another matter entirely. They let the Animus fool them. Just like Raven let Malchior or Terra fool her back home. Yet Raven won't be able to trap Ekpyrosis into a book like she trapped that damn dragon sorcerer. And John and Rei are dead.

Raven ends the feed and takes off. She has to find Aelia.]

[Offline] Sorry for the edits... I'm tired =.=

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

[She lands softly at a reasonable distance from the blond haired woman. She looks at her warily. And she keeps silent for the longest time.]

...Aelia.

Why are you hoping to achieve by destroying the city and making us all suffer? [Again.]

[eightshoutpoles.livejournal.com]

... So you are going to destroy this place? Fuck you; some of us like it here!

[hyuugahime]

HINO-SAN!

[Offline]

[argentimperator.livejournal.com]

[Sephiroth isn't going to waste his time trying to talk over the PCD. He spends some time casting Walls and Blizzagas around his (thankfully mostly stone) house, but as soon as Ulquiorra brings him his Curaga back, he sets off through the flames to seek out Aelia.]



Why? What is your reason for this?

[Offline]

[adstring-npc.livejournal.com]

Ah... what would a reason give you? Satisfaction? Would you nod understandingly, and leave?

[She glances back at him, apparently not minding his presence; her stance- as much as a three-legged snake woman can have a stance- is unaggressive.]

Though- perhaps your mother would.