{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

[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.

[al_truism]

[Good god. He's silent for a moment. Then, he takes a deep breath.]

Home base is Ms. Unohana's clinic. Our first priority is to escort those in crisis to safety and to secure an area free of the fires.

Break open any emergency kits you see. There will be flame-retardant blankets. We will use these to move from place to place when possible.

Find a partner, dunk yourself in water and move quickly.

[dogtagcollar.livejournal.com]

Yes sir.

[He cuts the feed.]

[Private]

[al_truism]

Al sends out a mass filter within the next few minutes -- one that contains the coordinates of at least one secure safehouse in each quadrant. Courtesy of Urahara.]

[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.]

[al_truism]

Pleased to meet you, Miss Jo.

What are the coordinates of your shelter? [He sounds relieved to hear it.]

[knifetotheface.livejournal.com]

[Jo sends the coordinates privately.]

We've obviously got limited space, but we'll make do with what we've got.

[al_truism]

Right now we need escorts more than people guarding the safehouses. If you have a partner or a way to secure the area, do it, but we need to guide the people that are in danger right now.

[He privately sends her the locations of a safehouse in each quadrant, courtesy of Urahara.]

Here are additional places to go, if it's too far.

[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?

[al_truism]

Negi, do you think you could erect a magical barrier to keep flames out for any length of time?

[exarmatio]

I'll keep it up as long as I can. Where do we need it the most?

[al_truism]

We need escorts. Find people who can't get to safety on their own and get them to a safehouse.

[He privately sends him the coordinates of at least one safehouse in each quadrant. Again, thank Urahara.]

We have only a limited window before everyone's who's trapped, dies.

[exarmatio]

Right. I'm on it.

[A quick nod.]

... make sure you stay safe, too.

[al_truism]

You too, sweetheart.

[exarmatio]

[He takes in a quick little breath.]

I love you. And I don't want that to be the last time I get to tell you that, either. So both of us have to make it out of this alive.

If you need anything, anything, call me.

[al_truism]

It won't be the last time.

[And he always keeps his promises.]

I love you too.

[Right here, in full view of the public. He doesn't even care.]

That goes for you too. Take it as an order.

[amethyst-gaze.livejournal.com]

Where do you need me?

[He's done what he could for his own home, and any light may or may not be flames. It's hard to tell where the fuck this man is in Adstring right now.

His tone is far from what is usually is, completely serious and down to business.]

[al_truism]

We need an escort for those who can't travel through the fire alone. If you can get safely through the flames, get to anyone who needs help and escort them to a safehouse.

Central is Ms. Unohana's clinic, but if you can't get them there, I have options.

[Again, he privately sends the coordinates one safehouse in each quadrant.]

[amethyst-gaze.livejournal.com]

I've a sheilding spells that might be able to hold up long enough to help escort people. [Might.

The only fire he's ever encountered this dangerous belonged to one of his own shikigami- he doesn't know how long any of his spells could hold up against this.]

I'll do what I can.

[al_truism]

Do what you can. If you have someone to go with you, take them. We can always use backup.

If it's something you cannot handle, pull back. That's an order.

[amethyst-gaze.livejournal.com]

Yes sir.

[al_truism]

Be safe, Tsuzuki.

[amethyst-gaze.livejournal.com]

You too, Al, you too.

[Video//Private//Unhackable]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

Al. I need to talk to her... Aelia.

But if you need me, just call. I'm a unit leader of the protection squad and I fully intend to act like one.