- Location
- Rockford, USA
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Enough, you two. Like Lailo said -- take it to PM.
Dragon Ball: After the End
Compliant Omake: The Sleepover
- Location
- Somewhere I shouldn't be
Given the rich nature of Garenhuld's storytelling, and their deep resistance towards leaving the safety of their cities, I felt that their horror movies would be quite bland by our standards. Yet I wanted to see if I could truly frighten Kakara with a movie...
An Omake: The Sleepover
"Come on, please?" Sophie wheedled, fluttering her eyelashes. Maya rolled her eyes, but didn't speak up to agree or disagree.
"I...I don't think it's a good idea." Gemina said, clearly slightly uncomfortable. Still, the hesitant note in her voice did more to spur Sophie on than any agreement could have. As if she could sense weakness, she pressed on.
"Come on, it's not like it's rated A+ or anything," Sophie pressed.
"Yeah," Karen said, "But that's just because these independent movies don't get rated. If it were, would it be rated Adults Plus?"
"Who knows," Sophie said, "Could be." Then she continued, practically vibrating from excitement. "Come on, ladies! This is a slumber party, we're supposed to push against the rules as much as we can get away with! That's practically the rule!"
Before Gemina could speak up to point out the Sophie's questionable logic, Jennifer voiced her opinion. "Let's just get it over with, already. She's made up her mind, and it's going to happen. It's just a matter of how hard she has to pull." Despite her tone, she wore a smile on her face.
"...Sure," said Karen. Maya perked up a bit at that. So Karen hadn't been objecting before? Maya supposed that she wouldn't be scared of any movie, given her secret superpowers. Maya didn't really want to watch the movie either, but if Karen was willing, Maya could hardly object. It's practically my responsibility, as the strongest, she thought.
"I'm in," she voiced quietly.
Confident that the objections had been silenced, Sophie put the disc in the player attached to the TV.
"My friends, I present to you - freshly liberated from the secret cache of movies my Mom thinks I don't know about, Lost in the Woods." Sophie tried to mimic the over-the-top announcer voice and give the title a bit of menace.
Then the movie started, and the time for talking was done.
Maya watched with interest. Like most scary movies on Garenhuld, this one featured a group of people who were far too adventurous for their own good. In this case, it was a hiking trip that went wrong, with the group inadvertently straying from the poorly-maintained path. Exactly as Maya predicted, the inevitable monster - some big, hairy legendary beast - hunted them down and killed them one-by-one.
The preteens watched the movie with glee initially, but Maya noticed Karen's face go white as a sheet when the monster showed up.
She kept an eye on her friend and teacher as the movie played on, through the introduction of the woods-dwelling loner (in this case, a syrup farmer) who acted as an explainer. She was pretty sure she was the only one to notice Karen actually break into a sweat when he named the monster.
By the end of the movie (naturally, with the monster chasing the final girl to the very edge of the city, only to be driven off at the last moment by the bright lights and loud sounds), Karen seemed to be back to normal. Only a bit of tension at the corners of her eyes gave away the fact that something about the movie had truly frightened her.
Gemina, on the other hand, was terrified. "You can come out now," Sophie said.
"Yeah, don't worry," added Jenny, "It's not like a twelve-foot furry beast is going to really attack!"
"The special effects were really good, didn't you think?" asked Sophie, "Especially when it grabbed that one guy with its tail!"
At the reminder, Gemina pulled the blanket further over her.
"Aw, don't worry, Gemma!" Sophie said, "You live even further from the wilderness than I do. And my Dad has a rifle, so any vegeta who comes to this house is going to get chased off real quick!"
Once again, Maya was pretty sure she'd been the only one to catch Karen's flinch at the mention of the monster.
"Don't worry," she whispered to Karen while the others were mostly distracted by Sophie's attempts to get Gemma out from under the covers, "Even if vegetas were real, how much tougher than a bear could they be? Either of us could beat them up easy."
An Omake: The Sleepover
"Come on, please?" Sophie wheedled, fluttering her eyelashes. Maya rolled her eyes, but didn't speak up to agree or disagree.
"I...I don't think it's a good idea." Gemina said, clearly slightly uncomfortable. Still, the hesitant note in her voice did more to spur Sophie on than any agreement could have. As if she could sense weakness, she pressed on.
"Come on, it's not like it's rated A+ or anything," Sophie pressed.
"Yeah," Karen said, "But that's just because these independent movies don't get rated. If it were, would it be rated Adults Plus?"
"Who knows," Sophie said, "Could be." Then she continued, practically vibrating from excitement. "Come on, ladies! This is a slumber party, we're supposed to push against the rules as much as we can get away with! That's practically the rule!"
Before Gemina could speak up to point out the Sophie's questionable logic, Jennifer voiced her opinion. "Let's just get it over with, already. She's made up her mind, and it's going to happen. It's just a matter of how hard she has to pull." Despite her tone, she wore a smile on her face.
"...Sure," said Karen. Maya perked up a bit at that. So Karen hadn't been objecting before? Maya supposed that she wouldn't be scared of any movie, given her secret superpowers. Maya didn't really want to watch the movie either, but if Karen was willing, Maya could hardly object. It's practically my responsibility, as the strongest, she thought.
"I'm in," she voiced quietly.
Confident that the objections had been silenced, Sophie put the disc in the player attached to the TV.
"My friends, I present to you - freshly liberated from the secret cache of movies my Mom thinks I don't know about, Lost in the Woods." Sophie tried to mimic the over-the-top announcer voice and give the title a bit of menace.
Then the movie started, and the time for talking was done.
Maya watched with interest. Like most scary movies on Garenhuld, this one featured a group of people who were far too adventurous for their own good. In this case, it was a hiking trip that went wrong, with the group inadvertently straying from the poorly-maintained path. Exactly as Maya predicted, the inevitable monster - some big, hairy legendary beast - hunted them down and killed them one-by-one.
The preteens watched the movie with glee initially, but Maya noticed Karen's face go white as a sheet when the monster showed up.
She kept an eye on her friend and teacher as the movie played on, through the introduction of the woods-dwelling loner (in this case, a syrup farmer) who acted as an explainer. She was pretty sure she was the only one to notice Karen actually break into a sweat when he named the monster.
By the end of the movie (naturally, with the monster chasing the final girl to the very edge of the city, only to be driven off at the last moment by the bright lights and loud sounds), Karen seemed to be back to normal. Only a bit of tension at the corners of her eyes gave away the fact that something about the movie had truly frightened her.
Gemina, on the other hand, was terrified. "You can come out now," Sophie said.
"Yeah, don't worry," added Jenny, "It's not like a twelve-foot furry beast is going to really attack!"
"The special effects were really good, didn't you think?" asked Sophie, "Especially when it grabbed that one guy with its tail!"
At the reminder, Gemina pulled the blanket further over her.
"Aw, don't worry, Gemma!" Sophie said, "You live even further from the wilderness than I do. And my Dad has a rifle, so any vegeta who comes to this house is going to get chased off real quick!"
Once again, Maya was pretty sure she'd been the only one to catch Karen's flinch at the mention of the monster.
"Don't worry," she whispered to Karen while the others were mostly distracted by Sophie's attempts to get Gemma out from under the covers, "Even if vegetas were real, how much tougher than a bear could they be? Either of us could beat them up easy."
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The Fourth Monado
S U B A R A S H I I
- Location
- Away
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Well, everything but the word 'vegetas' could happen. Giant ape can fit into a scary movie easy.
Also with how clan Vegeta is falling apart the maskerade rules might be slipping.
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- Location
- Somewhere I shouldn't be
In my headcanon, which is not at all conversant with real Canon, it is either the work of an old Oozaru spotting (and an incomplete handling) or there's a Gokun masqued-filmmaker out there laughing his ass off (until he gets executed).
- Location
- Rockford, USA
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Alright! In order:
I have written and posted an update for Terminus Quest!
I have finished working with one of my TQ players in producing a galaxy map!
I am writing this quest's update right now!
Stay tuned!
Compliant! Bonus goes to covering up cracks in your personal execution of the Masquerade.
I have written and posted an update for Terminus Quest!
I have finished working with one of my TQ players in producing a galaxy map!
I am writing this quest's update right now!
Stay tuned!
- Location
- Somewhere I shouldn't be
I think that's my first compliant, outside of creating a style!
Yay!
- Location
- Rockford, USA
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Oh, huh, I never tallied.
Vote closed! Your winners:
[X] ...Jaffur? Explain?
[X] Chat(Regarding the conspiracy working to free him, give as much detail as you can so they know who to trust, get anything they know that might help.)
[X] UNLIMITED HUG WORKS!
Vote Tally : Sci-Fi - Dragon Ball: After the End | Page 695 | Sufficient Velocity [Posts: 17378-17454]
##### NetTally 1.9.8
[X] ...Jaffur? Explain?
No. of Votes: 14
[X] Chat(Regarding the conspiracy working to free him, give as much detail as you can so they know who to trust, get anything they know that might help.)
No. of Votes: 11
[X] UNLIMITED HUG WORKS!
No. of Votes: 10
[X] Try to talk to Jaron to cool him down. Jaffur could probably use a break from it, and the shock of seeing you might snap Jaron out
No. of Votes: 7
[X] Ask their permission and a free, unilateral hand to deal with Dandeer and dispense justice as we deem necessary to resolve this and free them, explicitly up to and including killing her in cold blood. Get it said explicitly in full in the highest formal Vegeta vow by both with their full authority as aggrieved, son, acting family patron, scion, and acting lord.
No. of Votes: 5
[X] Hug Jaron. Maybe it'll help him cool down and have a not-terrible night.
No. of Votes: 4
[X] Hug Jaffur. You've hit him with a lot.
No. of Votes: 2
[X] Chat(tell Jaron we are going to fix this. Explain conspiracy)
No. of Votes: 1
[X] Chat(Regarding the possibility of killing Dandeer, and why that can't happen anytime soon. Everyone wants her blood, but right now Jaffur's Dad is a risk that is best dealt with by Dandeer. If Dandeer dies the trouble that might cause... We have no idea what would happen. As a seer Kakara can scry for that possibility. Only that would be one possibility, and merely delay things. Either way to deal with Dandeer Jaron can't make that choice. Politics keep people safe.)
No. of Votes: 1
Total No. of Voters: 21
##### NetTally 1.9.8
[X] ...Jaffur? Explain?
No. of Votes: 14
[X] Chat(Regarding the conspiracy working to free him, give as much detail as you can so they know who to trust, get anything they know that might help.)
No. of Votes: 11
[X] UNLIMITED HUG WORKS!
No. of Votes: 10
[X] Try to talk to Jaron to cool him down. Jaffur could probably use a break from it, and the shock of seeing you might snap Jaron out
No. of Votes: 7
[X] Ask their permission and a free, unilateral hand to deal with Dandeer and dispense justice as we deem necessary to resolve this and free them, explicitly up to and including killing her in cold blood. Get it said explicitly in full in the highest formal Vegeta vow by both with their full authority as aggrieved, son, acting family patron, scion, and acting lord.
No. of Votes: 5
[X] Hug Jaron. Maybe it'll help him cool down and have a not-terrible night.
No. of Votes: 4
[X] Hug Jaffur. You've hit him with a lot.
No. of Votes: 2
[X] Chat(tell Jaron we are going to fix this. Explain conspiracy)
No. of Votes: 1
[X] Chat(Regarding the possibility of killing Dandeer, and why that can't happen anytime soon. Everyone wants her blood, but right now Jaffur's Dad is a risk that is best dealt with by Dandeer. If Dandeer dies the trouble that might cause... We have no idea what would happen. As a seer Kakara can scry for that possibility. Only that would be one possibility, and merely delay things. Either way to deal with Dandeer Jaron can't make that choice. Politics keep people safe.)
No. of Votes: 1
Total No. of Voters: 21
Vote closed! Your winners:
[X] ...Jaffur? Explain?
[X] Chat(Regarding the conspiracy working to free him, give as much detail as you can so they know who to trust, get anything they know that might help.)
[X] UNLIMITED HUG WORKS!
- Location
- Rockford, USA
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Alright, writing now. Your update's title:
Maelstrom
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
As usual the title is ominous, but not informative.
It's almost as if enraged, superpowered child abuse victims deeply trained in murder don't appreciate unsolicited physical contact from mere acquaintances.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Eh, even at 1/20 of our power he isn't going to hurt us.
Voikirium
SV's Estalia Guy
- Location
- Ruritania Illinois
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[Angry English Major Activates]
My guy, all real terror can only come from the unknown.
If anything, I'd imagine people who haven't poked the whole world with a stick would produce better horror.
[/Angry English Major Deactivates]
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Ya, but I expect that the Saiyans have in fact explored the whole world. They have nothing to fear and it would not take long.
- Location
- Somewhere I shouldn't be
But what is unknown to them would be commonplace for us...
But we passed the acquaintance stage!
See?
Voikirium
SV's Estalia Guy
- Location
- Ruritania Illinois
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Yes, but the terror they feel can be passed along through fiction-- the horrors of the dark forest, the black seas, the cold winters.
I dunno, it's late and I probably shouldn't be arguing this stuff right now.
We have absolutely no upper-bound of what he is capable of in this state. The most likely scenario is that he has a Saiyan growth rate combined with a human lack of caps, years of intense nightly training he now has full memory of, a moment of hulk-out rage that could birth a god, and literal magic. That's if silly little things like finite power levels even apply to him in what is ultimately just a mental construct inside his own head. There are very good reasons why Kakara's immensely more experienced teacher flatly refused to try this himself and told even her, "Never forget that this is Dangerous. At the very first sign of trouble, abort."
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- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
...Inside Jaffur's mind, Jaron might be able to share rather more of Jaffur's power than outside it. Say, Jaffur's metaphorical 'Masqued maximum.'
This is of course pure speculation and almost certainly wrong.
EDIT:
...Wow, I was more right-er than I thought I was!
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Inside his own mind, with the additional factor of actual magic, he might be able to do literally anything. There is no reason to expect that he can't solve a trillion-stop traveling salesman problem by punching it. If he wants to throw absolutely unblockable gravitational singularities around there is nothing stopping him. If he wants to just get angry and yell so loud that he rips a gaping hole through the very fabric of space and time he actually might. Jaffur certainly seems to be concerned that he's building up to something like that.
Maelstrom
- Location
- Rockford, USA
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] ...Jaffur? Explain?
[X] Chat(Regarding the conspiracy working to free him, give as much detail as you can so they know who to trust, get anything they know that might help.)
[X] UNLIMITED HUG WORKS!
[X] Chat(Regarding the conspiracy working to free him, give as much detail as you can so they know who to trust, get anything they know that might help.)
[X] UNLIMITED HUG WORKS!
Maelstrom
You stare down at Jaron as he howls again, kicking up dust into a swirling storm around him as the ground trembles. "...Jaffur? What do you mean? What does he want to do to her?"
Jaffur touches down a hundred yards away from his brother, staring at him. "When you're not living in it, it's easy to see what kind of mother our mother is. It's...not easy to watch. Jaron's already not sure what's real or not. It doesn't help that she tends to insist that he's wrong, or forgetting, or being a bad boy, if he disagrees with her." He grits his teeth. "He believes her, when he's awake. He just doesn't feel like he can trust what he sees. Thinks he's going crazy. And then he's here, and he knows that it's her fault. And..."
Jaron's aura flares. You blink. You...don't think he's meant to be that strong.
"Jaffur," you snap. "Jaron. Dandeer. What he wants to do. Answer me."
Jaffur glances at you. "In the end? He wants to do the same thing I do. He wants to kill her. But he's going to do it slowly. Take her apart with his bare hands. I'm just going to burn her heart out or something like that. He's going to crush her piece by piece. Stand back."
You look at him. "What?"
"I stopped being able to talk him down when he comes here a few months ago," says Jaffur, starting to power up. "He just needs to get it out, and you're weaker than normal right now."
"He's only human," you say, easing back a bit despite yourself. "He's improving fast, but-"
"Jaron is a Seal," says Jaffur, his power shooting into the millions as he speaks. "His nature is restricted power. But he's inside now. With me. He has as much power as I do." Jaffur's voice starts to thrum as he hits ten million, fifty, one hundred...
Your eyes widen.
Jaffur straightens. "And I've been PRACTICING."
A pulse of gold, and Jaffur transforms. It's not the wild storm that he displayed back at the Sealing. It's quiet. Controlled. Subdued. Easy with long practice.
Full-Power.
He pulls it back in, forming his customary aura. "Scion. Run."
You don't need to be told twice.
A hundred yards away, Jaron throws his head back. "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
BANG.
You ride out the shockwave as his power level snaps some restraint and screams past a billion, and tumble to a halt.
Jaron stands at the center of a storm of white ki, snarling and twitching in rage. It's a more complete reversal of his usual attitude than you ever thought you'd see.
Jaffur, compact and shining, strides into that storm, parting the diffuse waves with ease. "Jaron. Just tonight, let's not do this."
Your friend locks onto Jaffur and charges.
You are intellectually aware that at your power level, Garenhuld would be dust beneath your feet if you twitched the wrong way. Most of learning how to fight at your power level involves learning how to control that energy so that you don't destroy planets and stars wherever you go. You need to ensure that all of your energy is going into your target, and pull your shots if you miss.
You haven't reached that stage of Jaron's education yet.
Jaron punches with every ounce of his might. Jaffur doesn't move, catching it in his hand without any visible sign of strain. A shockwave emerges from the point of impact.
Every square inch of ground as far as the eye can see turns into dust.
You tumble, suddenly unable to focus your vision. Everything aches. You were far enough away that you're fine, but ow your head.
You slowly manage to refocus, correcting for the blur in your vision with difficulty. You look around.
It's...empty. While there was never much of anything in Jaffur's mindscape before, now there's just nothing. The ground is gone. The memory rocks are gone. If you squint, you can maybe see something off in the distance. But where you are, it's just empty, blank, white space, as far as the eye can see.
In fact, you're having a tough time picking up Jaron and Jaffur. You frown and pulse your aura.
PING
ping
You lock onto the return.
vip
You emerge what was, going by the ping, several hundred miles away. That shockwave really knocked you for a turn. But you're by the boys again.
They're hanging in the middle of the space, blank-eyed and limp.
You flinch back. "J- Jaffur? Jaron? Are you two okay?"
They don't respond, and after a moment you drift forward and tuck them under your arms. You look around in vain, hoping to see somewhere to set them down. Nothing catches your-
tak
You look down in shock, seeing a tiny stone platform just brushing your shoes. You're sure it wasn't there a moment before. After a moment of hesitation, you set down and lower the brothers to the ground. Then you examine the platform.
It's the same stone that once covered the whole area, but now that there are edges to it, you can see that it's thin -- only a foot or so thick.
It is also expanding.
You watch as, at the rate of about a foot per minute, the platform starts expanding its area in a perfect square. Once it hits ten feet to a side, the growth accelerates.
You zip up to the top side at that point. You don't want to be trapped underneath.
As you do, you see something else happening. The platform surges upward in a place before doubling sharply down. After a moment, you recognize it as one of the rocks that Jaffur said held his memories.
On cue, you hear twin gasps from the boys.
By the time you turn, they're already both on their feet and powered up, giving each other hostile glares. You see Jaffur draw his arm back-
"Wait, wait!" you cry, waving your arms. Both of them snap their gazes over to you, with not a trace of recognition.
"Who are you?!" snaps Jaron, scowling as he shifts his stance to take your presence into account. You see another rock forming behind him.
Jaffur frowns suddenly. "You...I was trying to protect you. But..." More rocks form as the platform's spread rate increases. The boys seize up, staring blankly into the distance for a minute. Once it passes, they both slump slightly before relaxing. They straighten, avoiding each other's gazes.
"...sorry," says Jaron, angling his body slightly towards his brother as he does.
"S'fine," mutters Jaffur, shrugging.
You stare for a moment before releasing a sharp sigh. They both flinch as if only just remembering your presence. You shake your head at them, hiding the relief you feel at the end of their catatonia. "You two are such boys," you say, folding your arms.
Jaffur flushes bright red. You actually laugh at that. He looks a lot like Jaron when he does that.
Jaron, though, just frowns at you, cocking his head. "...Karen?"
The smile slips off of your face. You sigh. "Well, no. Kakara." You shrug and give him a rueful look. "Sorry. Masquerade, y'know?"
He blinks, looking lost. "...right." He looks around. "I, um...sorry that you had to see that. I just..." Grief flickers across his expression. You can see him trying to shove it into rage.
You swallow and step forward. "Kais on high, stop being so dense." You grab the both of them and pull them in a group hug. "It's okay to be mad."
They...don't really take the hug well. The instant you touch them, they freeze, and they don't relax. A voice in your head starts yelling about how badly they might react.
Luckily for you, since either one of them could kill you on accident if they even flinched, they don't panic at the contact. They just stay stiff and still for a few seconds before gently stepping back out of your grip.
It's a very awkward moment. But on the plus side, it's not tense with subdued pain, grief, and rage. You suppose that that's a positive.
Jaron swallows, rubbing at the back of his scalp. "I...it's a little weird seeing you like this. I mean, I remember, but most of the time you're..." He shrugs. "You're just Karen."
You shrug. "I'm still me. Just...taller. Without a tail."
Jaffur snorts. "You're still short as a human."
Your eye twitches. "Oh, well excuse me, Prince Jaffur! Not all of us can have the growth spurt when we're thirteen like you!" And he is in the middle of a spurt; he towers over you, now, although he's obviously not a grown-up yet.
"Yeah, and what's your excuse under Masque?" he asks, folding his arms and leaning back.
You fumble for a second before coming up with a brilliant evasive strategy. "I'm taller than Jaron!"
Jaron chokes. "For a year, maybe!"
"You don't know," you say. "I could end up taller than you."
Both of them laugh at that.
"I could!" you say, scowling.
But on the inside, you smile at the shattered tension your argument has produced.
You snort, flick your tail, and sink down into a cross-legged sit, back straight. "Anyway. This visit isn't just to talk. I need to get the two of you in on our plan on getting you out."
"Our plan?" asks Jaron, sitting as well.
"She's working with the Senzus," says Jaffur, settling down himself. "She filled me in."
"More than just them, though," you say, grinning. "I managed to get the seers on board, my grandma and your grandpa-"
"We have two of those," says Jaron.
"Our relevant grandfather," says Jaffur. "The one who will last longer than a second against her father."
"As I was saying," you growl, scowling at Jaron until he subsides, "they're rallying support among the Clans. When the time comes, we're going to spirit you away and bring you to Senzu Hall. Once you're there, Dandelor is going to keep you safe, Jaron, while Jaffur burns down the Seal from the inside. I'm going to share lessons from Dandelor until Jaffur can contact his uncle on his own, and the Dandelor will teach him enough to destroy the Seal. Then we give my Dad and Lady Dandeer our ultimatum. Dad won't fight us. He'll know that he can't win that way. And you'll just have to show him that he doesn't need to do it another way."
"Mother will fight," murmurs Jaffur.
You blink. "What? It'd be suicide."
"Doesn't matter," says Jaron, shaking his head. "She'll still fight you. She'd rather die than let you take me away." His knuckles go white.
Jaffur looks at his brother. After a moment he reaches over and squeezes his shoulder. He looks at you. "Mother won't be swayed by the odds against her. You could bring our whole race against her and she'd still fight." He sounds...grudgingly admiring.
You decide not to poke at that. You sigh. "Well, I guess we'll just have to fight her."
"We were going to anyway," says Jaron, his eyes flint-hard. "She's going to die."
You shiver at his tone. Jaffur gives his brother a guarded glance.
Pick up to one of the following.
[ ] [DEATH] Dispute that.
[ ] [DEATH] This is not the time to have that argument.
[ ] [DEATH] (x0.25) Wholeheartedly agree.
[ ] [DEATH] Write-in (permitted as always, but please make sure it is a significant departure from one of the above votes if you do).
Pick any of the following. Top three win.
[ ][AFTER] Ask about that fight. Jaffur looked like he was barely straining when he blocked Jaron, but they were the same strength. What was that?
[ ][AFTER] Apologize for the hug.
[ ][AFTER] Ask why the hug was (so very clearly) not okay.
[ ][AFTER] Ask Jaffur why he was so obsessed with you when you first met.
[ ][AFTER] Enlist Jaffur's help and tease Jaron about Sophie. Unknowingly expose yourself to return fire by way of Maya.
[ ][AFTER] Clarify if Jaron is, in fact, a sorcerer as well.
[ ][AFTER] Write-in
THESE VOTES ARE NOW CLOSED.
Trying to pick up the pace here a little bit.
Kakara is, as previously mentioned, extremely socially intelligent, despite her massive blind spot as regards Maya. Thus, she is not going to try a hug again.
Meanwhile, decisions that are utterly banal and non-controversial in any way whatsoever. This promises to be quite a quiet and calm discussion.
Doesn't it, now?
See you next time, folks! Hope you enjoyed.
Jaffur touches down a hundred yards away from his brother, staring at him. "When you're not living in it, it's easy to see what kind of mother our mother is. It's...not easy to watch. Jaron's already not sure what's real or not. It doesn't help that she tends to insist that he's wrong, or forgetting, or being a bad boy, if he disagrees with her." He grits his teeth. "He believes her, when he's awake. He just doesn't feel like he can trust what he sees. Thinks he's going crazy. And then he's here, and he knows that it's her fault. And..."
Jaron's aura flares. You blink. You...don't think he's meant to be that strong.
"Jaffur," you snap. "Jaron. Dandeer. What he wants to do. Answer me."
Jaffur glances at you. "In the end? He wants to do the same thing I do. He wants to kill her. But he's going to do it slowly. Take her apart with his bare hands. I'm just going to burn her heart out or something like that. He's going to crush her piece by piece. Stand back."
You look at him. "What?"
"I stopped being able to talk him down when he comes here a few months ago," says Jaffur, starting to power up. "He just needs to get it out, and you're weaker than normal right now."
"He's only human," you say, easing back a bit despite yourself. "He's improving fast, but-"
"Jaron is a Seal," says Jaffur, his power shooting into the millions as he speaks. "His nature is restricted power. But he's inside now. With me. He has as much power as I do." Jaffur's voice starts to thrum as he hits ten million, fifty, one hundred...
Your eyes widen.
Jaffur straightens. "And I've been PRACTICING."
A pulse of gold, and Jaffur transforms. It's not the wild storm that he displayed back at the Sealing. It's quiet. Controlled. Subdued. Easy with long practice.
Full-Power.
He pulls it back in, forming his customary aura. "Scion. Run."
You don't need to be told twice.
A hundred yards away, Jaron throws his head back. "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
BANG.
You ride out the shockwave as his power level snaps some restraint and screams past a billion, and tumble to a halt.
Jaron stands at the center of a storm of white ki, snarling and twitching in rage. It's a more complete reversal of his usual attitude than you ever thought you'd see.
Jaffur, compact and shining, strides into that storm, parting the diffuse waves with ease. "Jaron. Just tonight, let's not do this."
Your friend locks onto Jaffur and charges.
You are intellectually aware that at your power level, Garenhuld would be dust beneath your feet if you twitched the wrong way. Most of learning how to fight at your power level involves learning how to control that energy so that you don't destroy planets and stars wherever you go. You need to ensure that all of your energy is going into your target, and pull your shots if you miss.
You haven't reached that stage of Jaron's education yet.
Jaron punches with every ounce of his might. Jaffur doesn't move, catching it in his hand without any visible sign of strain. A shockwave emerges from the point of impact.
Every square inch of ground as far as the eye can see turns into dust.
You tumble, suddenly unable to focus your vision. Everything aches. You were far enough away that you're fine, but ow your head.
You slowly manage to refocus, correcting for the blur in your vision with difficulty. You look around.
It's...empty. While there was never much of anything in Jaffur's mindscape before, now there's just nothing. The ground is gone. The memory rocks are gone. If you squint, you can maybe see something off in the distance. But where you are, it's just empty, blank, white space, as far as the eye can see.
In fact, you're having a tough time picking up Jaron and Jaffur. You frown and pulse your aura.
PING
ping
You lock onto the return.
vip
You emerge what was, going by the ping, several hundred miles away. That shockwave really knocked you for a turn. But you're by the boys again.
They're hanging in the middle of the space, blank-eyed and limp.
You flinch back. "J- Jaffur? Jaron? Are you two okay?"
They don't respond, and after a moment you drift forward and tuck them under your arms. You look around in vain, hoping to see somewhere to set them down. Nothing catches your-
tak
You look down in shock, seeing a tiny stone platform just brushing your shoes. You're sure it wasn't there a moment before. After a moment of hesitation, you set down and lower the brothers to the ground. Then you examine the platform.
It's the same stone that once covered the whole area, but now that there are edges to it, you can see that it's thin -- only a foot or so thick.
It is also expanding.
You watch as, at the rate of about a foot per minute, the platform starts expanding its area in a perfect square. Once it hits ten feet to a side, the growth accelerates.
You zip up to the top side at that point. You don't want to be trapped underneath.
As you do, you see something else happening. The platform surges upward in a place before doubling sharply down. After a moment, you recognize it as one of the rocks that Jaffur said held his memories.
On cue, you hear twin gasps from the boys.
By the time you turn, they're already both on their feet and powered up, giving each other hostile glares. You see Jaffur draw his arm back-
"Wait, wait!" you cry, waving your arms. Both of them snap their gazes over to you, with not a trace of recognition.
"Who are you?!" snaps Jaron, scowling as he shifts his stance to take your presence into account. You see another rock forming behind him.
Jaffur frowns suddenly. "You...I was trying to protect you. But..." More rocks form as the platform's spread rate increases. The boys seize up, staring blankly into the distance for a minute. Once it passes, they both slump slightly before relaxing. They straighten, avoiding each other's gazes.
"...sorry," says Jaron, angling his body slightly towards his brother as he does.
"S'fine," mutters Jaffur, shrugging.
You stare for a moment before releasing a sharp sigh. They both flinch as if only just remembering your presence. You shake your head at them, hiding the relief you feel at the end of their catatonia. "You two are such boys," you say, folding your arms.
Jaffur flushes bright red. You actually laugh at that. He looks a lot like Jaron when he does that.
Jaron, though, just frowns at you, cocking his head. "...Karen?"
The smile slips off of your face. You sigh. "Well, no. Kakara." You shrug and give him a rueful look. "Sorry. Masquerade, y'know?"
He blinks, looking lost. "...right." He looks around. "I, um...sorry that you had to see that. I just..." Grief flickers across his expression. You can see him trying to shove it into rage.
You swallow and step forward. "Kais on high, stop being so dense." You grab the both of them and pull them in a group hug. "It's okay to be mad."
They...don't really take the hug well. The instant you touch them, they freeze, and they don't relax. A voice in your head starts yelling about how badly they might react.
Luckily for you, since either one of them could kill you on accident if they even flinched, they don't panic at the contact. They just stay stiff and still for a few seconds before gently stepping back out of your grip.
It's a very awkward moment. But on the plus side, it's not tense with subdued pain, grief, and rage. You suppose that that's a positive.
Jaron swallows, rubbing at the back of his scalp. "I...it's a little weird seeing you like this. I mean, I remember, but most of the time you're..." He shrugs. "You're just Karen."
You shrug. "I'm still me. Just...taller. Without a tail."
Jaffur snorts. "You're still short as a human."
Your eye twitches. "Oh, well excuse me, Prince Jaffur! Not all of us can have the growth spurt when we're thirteen like you!" And he is in the middle of a spurt; he towers over you, now, although he's obviously not a grown-up yet.
"Yeah, and what's your excuse under Masque?" he asks, folding his arms and leaning back.
You fumble for a second before coming up with a brilliant evasive strategy. "I'm taller than Jaron!"
Jaron chokes. "For a year, maybe!"
"You don't know," you say. "I could end up taller than you."
Both of them laugh at that.
"I could!" you say, scowling.
But on the inside, you smile at the shattered tension your argument has produced.
You snort, flick your tail, and sink down into a cross-legged sit, back straight. "Anyway. This visit isn't just to talk. I need to get the two of you in on our plan on getting you out."
"Our plan?" asks Jaron, sitting as well.
"She's working with the Senzus," says Jaffur, settling down himself. "She filled me in."
"More than just them, though," you say, grinning. "I managed to get the seers on board, my grandma and your grandpa-"
"We have two of those," says Jaron.
"Our relevant grandfather," says Jaffur. "The one who will last longer than a second against her father."
"As I was saying," you growl, scowling at Jaron until he subsides, "they're rallying support among the Clans. When the time comes, we're going to spirit you away and bring you to Senzu Hall. Once you're there, Dandelor is going to keep you safe, Jaron, while Jaffur burns down the Seal from the inside. I'm going to share lessons from Dandelor until Jaffur can contact his uncle on his own, and the Dandelor will teach him enough to destroy the Seal. Then we give my Dad and Lady Dandeer our ultimatum. Dad won't fight us. He'll know that he can't win that way. And you'll just have to show him that he doesn't need to do it another way."
"Mother will fight," murmurs Jaffur.
You blink. "What? It'd be suicide."
"Doesn't matter," says Jaron, shaking his head. "She'll still fight you. She'd rather die than let you take me away." His knuckles go white.
Jaffur looks at his brother. After a moment he reaches over and squeezes his shoulder. He looks at you. "Mother won't be swayed by the odds against her. You could bring our whole race against her and she'd still fight." He sounds...grudgingly admiring.
You decide not to poke at that. You sigh. "Well, I guess we'll just have to fight her."
"We were going to anyway," says Jaron, his eyes flint-hard. "She's going to die."
You shiver at his tone. Jaffur gives his brother a guarded glance.
Pick up to one of the following.
[ ] [DEATH] Dispute that.
[ ] [DEATH] This is not the time to have that argument.
[ ] [DEATH] (x0.25) Wholeheartedly agree.
[ ] [DEATH] Write-in (permitted as always, but please make sure it is a significant departure from one of the above votes if you do).
Pick any of the following. Top three win.
[ ][AFTER] Ask about that fight. Jaffur looked like he was barely straining when he blocked Jaron, but they were the same strength. What was that?
[ ][AFTER] Apologize for the hug.
[ ][AFTER] Ask why the hug was (so very clearly) not okay.
[ ][AFTER] Ask Jaffur why he was so obsessed with you when you first met.
[ ][AFTER] Enlist Jaffur's help and tease Jaron about Sophie. Unknowingly expose yourself to return fire by way of Maya.
[ ][AFTER] Clarify if Jaron is, in fact, a sorcerer as well.
[ ][AFTER] Write-in
THESE VOTES ARE NOW CLOSED.
Trying to pick up the pace here a little bit.
Kakara is, as previously mentioned, extremely socially intelligent, despite her massive blind spot as regards Maya. Thus, she is not going to try a hug again.
Meanwhile, decisions that are utterly banal and non-controversial in any way whatsoever. This promises to be quite a quiet and calm discussion.
Doesn't it, now?
See you next time, folks!
Hope you enjoyed.
TWO HOURS, YOU KNOW THE DRILL
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fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
[]well I am going to ask you to act extra sane when you are unsealed. Need to combat the idea that you were sealed as a medical treatment.
Unfortunately I need to go to sleep now.
Unfortunately I need to go to sleep now.