2nd Screw [Action]

[all_wound_up]

[Nano picked a bad time to show up in Hinoto-Ri.  She's a Leo, and the fear inflicted upon her by the event has reached the point of complete unhinged terror.  At the beginning of the day, she thought to take a walk to clear her head, but as things got worse and worse, she's found herself utterly unable to deal with the world around her.  And to make matters worse, those horrible scorpion creatures are crawling all over the city - and now, perhaps smelling her fear, they're also crawling all over Nano.  She can be found running all over the city at various points throughout the day, trying desperately to shake them off and get to safety.]

Noooooooooo!  Stop it!  Get off, get off!

[She's really too afraid to do much of anything about it.  In fact, she's even too afraid to notice that in her panic, she's managed to manifest her Persona, Pinocchio, for the first time, floating protectively above her as the scorpions continue to sting at her.  Ironically, the robotic nature that Nano normally tries so hard to hide is currently her only saving grace, as her Persona reflects physical damage and the scorpions' venom can't affect someone without a genuine circulatory or nervous system.  The scorpions will eventually mindlessly sting themselves to death, but there are quite a few of them and Nano's not much for fighting, so it seems she's going to need some help here.]

Comments

[otakuro]

[Atsuro, of course, has no intention of simply standing there to be used as scorpion bait. Once he's sure that she has a clear path, Atsuro turns back and issues another order to his Persona.]

Give it all you've got, Enki! Help us survive this -- all of us!

[The moment his Persona appears, Atsuro, too, is running, taking off after Nano. Though his Persona was merely an extension of his soul, it seems to be able to act with some autonomy. Enki hovers in place, keeping its powers at bay, awaiting the right time...

When Atsuro is a good fifty meters away, a deafening roar strikes his ears as the floodtides are unleashed. Malaques, boosted with the passive Water Amp and further powered by the Tarukaja, tears through the scorpions and surges down the street, catching a good majority within its wake. Of course, some escape the flood. The battle wouldn't be nearly so easily won. But it has bought them some time, and Atsuro pumps his legs all the harder.]

[all_wound_up]

[Nano runs as fast as her robot legs can take her, which is actually at a pretty decent clip, all things considered. Unneeded for the time being, Pinocchio has disappeared back into the depths of her mind. Once she's reached the relative safety of the apartment entrance, she turns around to see how Atsuro is faring, waving a hand in the air.]

Hurry! Get inside!

[otakuro]

[He really needed more exercise. For all his high Strength, Atsuro remained a skinny little tech geek who spent the vast majority of his time glued in front of a flickering screen. ...Not that the skills he had honed there didn't come in handy, but every now and then, his inability to run more than a half mile without feeling faint had its drawbacks.

Then again, the week of hell had honed his legs pretty well. He could be a decent sprinter if he tried.

Atsuro doesn't lose speed even as he bolts through the door into the relative safety of the building. Rookie mistake - slow down when you think you're safe and the monsters would just grab ahold of your ankle or something equally unfortunate. He nearly runs into a wall.]

I'm good, I'm good! Close the door!

[all_wound_up]

Okay!

[Nano pushes with both hands from behind the door, slamming it rather loudly and impressively into the oncoming horde of scorpion monsters and other assorted nasties. Immediately afterward, she slides down and to her knees, hands still resting on the door as she quivers and shakes.]

That was really close...

[otakuro]

Phew...

[Atsuro stumbles away from the wall and exhales a sigh of relief. His legs slightly shaky, he slowly makes his way towards Nano.]

Are you OK? ...You should probably get a little bit away from the door. Let's see if the elevator's working.

[all_wound_up]

I-I'm fine, I think. But what are we going to do? Those things are overrunning the whole city! What's going to happen?

[Still panicking because of the event, unfortunately. Nano starts pacing around in a worried little circle, her key turning in a slow grind that reflects her current state of mind.]

[otakuro]

I... don't know.

[Fear didn't need to be supernaturally induced to be felt. Atsuro ignores the sinking feeling in his stomach as he shakes his head.]

Let's get some altitude. I bet scorpions can't climb up buildings.

[He glances towards Nano and finds himself blinking in surprise.]

.........Is that a key in your back?

[all_wound_up]

Right, yes, that makes sense!

[She starts heading for the elevator, WHEN--]

Oh, this...? Um... it's... it's a cosplay prop!

[otakuro]

Huh.

[Atsuro squints at her in obvious disbelief. Seriously who would fall for an explanation like that -- ]

Sheesh. Twice in two disasters! I guess statistically speaking, whether it's fire, flood, or demon invasion, there's always going to be at least one person in costume.

[...Atsuro heads for the elevator and presses the button without further comment.]

[all_wound_up]

[Nano blinks, letting out a relieved sigh. She can't believe that worked either.]

[otakuro]

[...The elevator takes far too long to get there. Atsuro shifts backwards uneasily from foot to foot as he tries to ignore the dull thudding that sounds against the front door every so often. After a half-eternity, the doors finally open to reveal...]

.......Phew. It would've been like a horror movie if this thing opened and more scorpions poured out.

[Thank you for that, Atsuro. He steps in.]

[all_wound_up]

[Nano, for her part, bounces uneasily on her heels, fidgeting in place while she watches the numbers tick down. When the door finally opens, she squeals a bit and covers her eyes.]

I-is it all right...?

[And then, hearing Atsuro's relief, she lets out a breath she didn't even know she was holding before following him inside.]

Thank goodness...

[otakuro]

[Atsuro leans back against the far wall and allows his tightly wound muscles to relax slightly as the elevator ascends.]

...Hey, you want me to try something? Someone told me it wouldn't work, but... my Persona can cure Fear. It can't hurt to give it a shot.

[all_wound_up]

O-okay... if you think it will work...

[otakuro]

"Alright."

Though the summoning of his Persona had initially required a dangerous situation, he had done it so many times now that it was almost second nature. Atsuro concentrates for a moment as he draws out the power...

A brief sound as of cracking glass announces the appearance of the Persona once more. Enki lowers its rod towards Nano for a moment before a flash of light envelops her.

((Sadly, it won't work.))

[all_wound_up]

[Nano shakes nervously throughout the entire process, and is still shaking when Enki disappears again.]

I... I don't think it worked...

[otakuro]

...Shoot.

[The elevator dings as they safely reach the... random floor button Atsuro had pressed when they entered. ...He doesn't get off.]

Ah - hey, what floor do you live in? I can see you back to your room.

[all_wound_up]

Th-the top floor...

[otakuro]

OK.

[Atsuro presses the correct button this time and the doors slide shut again. The silence is almost stifling after what they'd just escaped from.]

...I live over in the other building. I'll have to see if the the teleporters are still working.

[all_wound_up]

Teleporters? They have those here?

[otakuro]

I know, right? No one seemed to even bat an eye! I guess you get used to crazy stuff around here...

The two buildings are connected, but they might've taken it down for safety reasons. ...I would've taken it down for safety, but, eh.

[all_wound_up]

Well, it sounds very convenient, at least.

[otakuro]

Yeah.

[Atsuro nods.]

Then again, I could just get Badb Catha to warp me - takes a few warps, but it beats walking through this mess, still.

[all_wound_up]

I thought your Persona's name was Babel...

[otakuro]

((I'll assume you meant Enki there!))

Oh -- Yeah, Enki's my Persona. Badb Catha is, er, one of the demons I can summon.

[He looks faintly embarrassed.]