005 ♃ If we've met before but you were possessed at the time, is this really our first meeting?

[seekinganswers]

Characters: Sheba and Allen; Sheba and characters that ... aren't Allen, if you wish!
Setting: Floor 03, the library. Sheba and Allen will be exploring other parts of the Tower as well, but that part isn't open, sooooo...
Format: I'll follow you, but I'm starting with brackets.
Summary: Backdated! The day after this exchange, Sheba goes to the third floor library to meet Allen, as agreed. But she's there early, so perhaps it won't be just Allen she runs into that day?
Warnings: Nothing except the potential for some rather slow replies on my end over the next few days, but they should come with more regularity on Thursday or Friday!

[FLOOR 03, MORNING]
[She was at least a few hours early, but she supposed there were worse things to do with her time than spend it reading. Anyone who happens to be on the third floor on the morning of the 27th will most likely see Sheba darting among the bookshelves, pausing to scan over the titles for a few moments before she moves on to another set of books.

It was all well and good to say, "I'm going to read," but when it came down to it deciding what to read was a lot easier said than done. There didn't seem to be any books on the subjects she was most interested in, which was a shame.]

There has to be something useful...

[FLOOR 03, NOON-ISH]
[Finally, noontime rolls around. By now Sheba has found somewhere to sit and is curled up in her chair, completely absorbed in her book. It's probably a good thing that Allen knows what she looks like, because even though she'd started with every intention of keeping an eye on the entryway, that just wasn't how things were working out.]

Comments

Orcs (wanted to do the uruk'hai but hey ONLY AVAILABLE AT NIGHT *grumble grumble*)

[whiteblackknight]

[At their quickened reactions, this riled the monster nearby before showing itself--a brute of a creature, but the most humanoid Allen has ever seen yet.]

That's no Cerberi...

[Standing at a good 8' feet, the ogre of a monster was heaving a long sword that ended in a weird double ended blade. A rather crudely made mask prevented them from seeing what it's face was like.]

I've fought these things before. *turns around to see another* Alright, there's the other one. We'll have to face the ones near the exit. Too close to go all out here. [He can't heave his giant sword around, he means.]

screams if you'd sent Uruk'hai Sheba would be pretty much dead lmfao thank god it's daytime

[seekinganswers]

What in the world...?

[Sheba swallows hard when the orc comes into view. She eyes its sword warily - that'll definitely hurt if it hits, she thinks. So she makes a mental note to not get hurt, because while apparently they won't stay dead here, she... really doesn't want to die at all.]

You've fought these before? Okay then... [She'll listen to what Allen says for this fight - but, as she gets into place to get ready, she does reach out with her Psynergy to try and read the first orc's mind. She doesn't know what she'll find there, if anything, but if it starts thinking about who it's going to attack, she'll at least know to dodge.] You're in charge - just tell me what to do!

original backup was the big daddy but OH WAIT also night only

[whiteblackknight]

[Crowned Clown invokes and the white cloak billows forth again. Stairs were thadda way, but were there more of the enemy there?]

I'm no military commander, but if the stairs are that way--*he points*--then that's our best bet. Much as I'd like to just get rid of them, there might be more inwards. But it's still a ways to go from here.

Stay near me and you won't get hurt, alright? [Him, on the other hand...]

...the big daddy FFFF - hey Sheba's short, do you think she's short enough to count as a small child

[seekinganswers]

[She glances in the direction of the stairs, then nods. If there were more orcs down that way, they'd find out when they got there.]

...I can fight too, you know! [She huffs a little.] We're both in trouble here, so we're both going to help out.

[And that being said, she's just going to start off by casting Spark Plasma at the orc blocking their way. Sorry, Allen.]

sorry this took a bit, doing stuff

[whiteblackknight]

[His face faults a little.] ...I never doubted you could. Nice fireworks.

[A strap from the Crowned Clown grips the same orc that was fried by the neck--still alive, it was!--and launched it behind them, certain the obstacle was cleared.] I hope you can run fast, too! [And man, does Allen bolt for it!]

[More Orcses are in the way. Allen's left arm is ready for combat himself, but he looks to Sheba meaningfully.]

oh my god I am so sorry, I thought I submitted this already OTL

[seekinganswers]

I've been told, "Stand aside, I'll protect you" enough times in my life to be a little skeptical when someone says "Stand by me and you won't get hurt!"

[It's especially galling now that she's already been on a journey and improved so much, but she supposes Allen has no way of knowing that, so she can't really hold it against him. When he bolts, she takes off running, right after him.

The orcs in their way cause her to make an aggravated sound in the back of her throat.]

How many of these things are there? It's supposed to be safer at night!

[And when Allen looks at her, she raises her staff and casts a different spell - Tempest. Unlike Spark Plasma, this wasn't a barrage of bolts - no, it pretty much a windstorm. She mostly just wanted to knock the orcs out of their way so they could get to the stairs.]

[whiteblackknight]

Let me tell ya--it's way worse at night. And it isn't even three! [He stands his ground well enough to the wind--not that it was really directed at him.]

[Arrows normally fired at them were wound up in the winds, unable to pierce. Not that Allen wouldn't have tried catching them...]

Heh heh heh! You make this look easy! *yelling over the wind*

[Several orcs have a much larger--and rather horrid looking--creature in chains. Despite their best efforts, the mangled and imprisoned beast is easily stronger than them. Even though its arms are bound.] Big one...

[It happens to be just before their exit out, too...]

[seekinganswers]

You have GOT to be kidding me.

[Up until she saw the chained monster, she was in good enough spirits - yeah, orcs were creepy-looking, but they seemed easy enough to handle. But that thing...]

Maybe we can sneak past it somehow?

[If she called on some of the Jupiter Djinn within her, maybe... but the problem with that was Haze would only render one of them invisible. Not both.]

...or maybe we should just go the other way... [Whether they went up or down the stairs this would probably be difficult, but if they could avoid that chained monster, so much the better. Chances were it was really aggravated, after having been locked up. That was something she could understand - but she certainly didn't want to be on the receiving end of its ire!]

[whiteblackknight]

[The ogre of a monster looked at them both with beady eyes, devoid of anything but rage. Those miniature peepers of its didn't seem to register anything else in the room, if at all. The thing could be blind for all they knew. It's a completely thoughtless creature of magic or bad evolution.]

Don't think so. *grits teeth*

[With one mighty roar, it tosses its "captors" away and pulls its arms free, revealing them to have had blades shoved into them to act as makeshift, arm mounted weapons. The wounds haved healed long ago, apparently.]

Let's see how strong it really is...[Allen's cloak billows to a nonexistant wind--no, a mind of its own.] And I have to say: It's been more fun fighting 'with' you, not 'against' you, Sheba.

[seekinganswers]

This is really going to hurt.

[She mutters when she sees the blades embedded into the creature's arms. Clearly, this was going to be a tough fight - chances were this monster had a high tolerance for pain. It would definitely take some doing before they could fell it.

With two of them, though, it should be okay. The orcs should be easy enough to fend off, as long as they didn't let themselves get snuck up on or overwhelmed...]

It's been more fun fighting with you, too! [She flashes him a quick, confident smile.] We can handle this. [She was definitely acting more confident than she felt, though.]

...I've got something that might help us out, but it'll take some time to prepare. [She couldn't summon with all her Djinn set; she needed to move them onto standby...] Cover me for a bit, okay?

[The Jupiter Djinni "Ether" is standing by for summoning!]

[whiteblackknight]

I will. If it works, I'll do it. [He grabs his left arm with his other hand.] And I won't take any chances.

[In a quick movement, his right arm suddenly pulls out a very large, silver sword adorned with a black cross. He twirls it once in the air and then sticks a bit of it into the ground. The lack of his left arm means...]

No chances at all.

[The monster accepts the challenge...the chains are wielded like they were weapons itself!]

[seekinganswers]

Just be careful..!

[As Allen moves to engage the beast, Sheba falls back, holding her staff defensively and keeping an eye out for anything that might try rushing at her, or rushing at Allen while he's occupied.]

I'm almost done - just one more Djinn to go...

[The Jupiter Djinni "Blitz" is standing by for summoning!]

[whiteblackknight]

[Allen swings first, catching his rather large blade on one of the monster's arms. It was strong. Sure, Allen was only using one arm but he has a particularly strong arm.]

..!!!

[And to stop his sword at all was a great feat. Where'd they find it, anyway? Monsters just appear at random...] ...not strong enough.

[Slipping his sword away, the monster's back off and roared angrily.] Whenever you're ready--[Arrows fling past him, one of them hitting his good arm.] ..!!!

[seekinganswers]

[The Jupiter Djinni "Waft" is standing by for summoning!]

Here goes..!

[She winces when Allen's arm is hit by arrows. Just in time, it seems - she darts forward and raises her staff, which begins to glow with a faint purple light as she calls out the words to invoke a summoning.]

Goddess of the skies who lives free as a bird, I call upon your powers! Procne, lend me your aid..!!

[The light at the end of her staff brightens until it's almost blinding. Despite the fact that they're indoors, there's a faint stirring of wind, which is the only warning they get before a whirlwind whips into existence with a loud roar, just in front of her. She seems mostly unaffected, save for the wind that whips at her hair and clothing - certainly not in the same way as the monsters who are unfortunate enough to get sucked into it. She turns, pointing with her staff, and the storm shifts to catch the behemoth of a monster as well as a few more orcs.

That's when it happens - a gigantic bird with white and gold feathers (or maybe just the projection of it; who could say, really, in this place? - appears, and it opens its beak wide, letting out a cry. Moments later, a beam of lightning shoots out from it. Then another, and another, and another.

And as suddenly as it began, it stops. The bird vanishes, the winds die down, and the monsters go crashing down onto the floor.

Sheba jumps back, away from them. She didn't know yet if she'd managed to finish them off or not, but she didn't want to be right in the middle of them to find out! She looks to Allen, concerned.]

Your arm - is it okay?

[whiteblackknight]

[A bleeding hump of a monster, the formerly imprisoned one still roars, pulling towards them with its still functioning arm. Truly, it was only driven by mind cleansing rage.]

I'm ok...[Allen manages to pull it out with enough flexibility in his right arm.] As long as I'm alive, I'm fine.

[The monster still howls in anger as it attempts to humble its way over to Allen and Sheba, a roar that reverberates throughout the area...and is answered by similar calls. Allen's sword changes back into his arm as he straps his would closed with one of the bits of cloth from his cloak.] Let's hurry.

[Another arrow whizzes by his head]

[seekinganswers]

Yes, hurrying would be--

[She's cut off as the arrow that whizzed by Allen's head finds its mark in her upper arm. She yelps, then grits her teeth.]

These things are really making me mad..! Let's get out of here!

[whiteblackknight]

[Several more arrows approach Allen from behind, but they *dink!* harmlessly from the shroud produced by Crowned Clown. Despite it's light shade, it was as strong as steel.]

Yeah. But that trick's not working on 'me' twice. [He takes hold of the notched arrow in her arm.] Sorry. [And yanks it out without another word.}

Least it wasn't your leg. I'll get our back. *smile*

[seekinganswers]

...!

[Ow. Sheba knows it was necessary, though, so she does her best to ignore the pain and continues on, raising her staff and putting on what she hoped was an expression taht said, "We can do this."]

I'll cover the front. If anything tries to get in our way, I'll blow them all the way out of the Tower!

[whiteblackknight]

[So that happened. On their escape...]

Say, Sheba...what was that thing you did back there? That summon. I haven't seen anything like that before. And this time, no word through the grapevine, either! That bird just came out of nowhere...

[seekinganswers]

It was pure elemental energy.

[As they walk, she keeps an eye out - and also scans the surrounding area for any stray thoughts. No way is anyone sneaking up on them. If there's a mind for her to read, she'll know about it before they even gets close.

So she sounds a little distracted when she talks, but all things considered, it's not that strange.]

There are creatures called Djinn where I'm from... they're made of elemental energy. A lot of them joined my friends and I while we were traveling. Adepts - people like myself - use elemental energy every day, so it's really beneficial for a Djinni to join with an Adept. [A faint, glowing ball of light emerges from Sheba's chest, then circles around her a few times before landing on her shoulder and solidifying into the form of a Jupiter Djinni.] They sort of become a part of us once they join us. Their power makes our magic stronger, and we can use their elemental energy to unleash really powerful summons like you saw before.

[whiteblackknight]

That's more than a little handy. No doubt.

[His power shortens his life span. Go figure.]

[Djinn? As in, genies? Maybe not. Must be a coincidence because otherwise, he'd want his three wishes. And none of them involve staying in the tower.]

So there's more than one? How many do you have?

[seekinganswers]

It really is. It's helped to keep me alive more times than I can count.

[At his next question, she nods.]

That's right. There are a whole lot of them, and I've got nine. They're all Jupiter Djinn, meaning their powers are wind-based, like mine. The people I traveled with before coming here had some, too.

[Her expression falters at that - it's not like she'll be seeing them ever again, she thinks... the Djinn within her are really her only connection to home. That's actually a really depressing thought. But after a moment, she manages a smile.]

What about you? Anything like that where you're from?

[whiteblackknight]

Nope. Can't say there are any. Now that I think of it....[Allen scratches his face with his finger a little.] Now that I think about it, you know all there needs to know about me. Really!

[His left arm crinkles as he stretches it.]

Nothing really special about me. Other than what I do and what I am, my past is no different than any normal person's.

[seekinganswers]

Really?

[She doesn't look like she believes him. Past experience has taught her that there's usually much more than meets the eye to most people.]

But what about your present? Your past may be typical enough, but what we're all going through now isn't. It takes a special type of person to be able to stand up to all this, I think.

[In other words, Allen - you're special!]

Anyway... [He doesn't seem too inclined to tell her more, though, so she allows a thoughtful expression to come over her face.] It's good that we were able to confirm what was on that floor. It might be useful. But we should try and keep an eye out for other alternatives, too. Just in case.

Is there anything you want to check out while we're here? Or was that run-in with the monsters enough excitement for the day?

[whiteblackknight]

Not that I know of. Now that I think about it, we might need to check in to see if those arrows weren't poisoned or something! *smile*

[He neglects to answer a certain statement...]

I'm not one who enjoys picking fights--not that I'm condescending to people who do--so what kind of book were you so into at the library, anyway? I couldn't even read the cover.