1881/B-Point: Rats

B-Point: Rats
Date of Scene:	15 July 2024
Location:	Paris Catacombs/Dusk Zone/Dark Kingdom
Synopsis:	Mamoru and the Shitennou battle rats.
Thanks to:	KeyLimePie
Cast of Characters:	Mamoru Chiba, Jadeite, Chiyo Sakai, Kazuo Saitou, Zoisite, Beryl

---

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
It hasn't been long at all since Mamoru, at least, got separated from the remaining people he was with-- after staggering losses in the form of friends Chiyo and Bow-- and it's quite possible it's the first time some of these boys has found anyone else in the neverending tunnels.

After all, the group teleport had been disturbed and the mahous involved all scattered to the catacombs instead of landing in that nice park.

There have been dark energy rats, there have been animate skeletons, there have been plant youmas, there have been DG Girls-- and now they're half in the catacombs and half in the actual Dark Kingdom itself, the place none of them ever wanted to see, or see again.

Mamoru's walking along barehanded and bare-faced, his cape gone somewhere and his hat where it usually is: not on his head. Instead of carrying his flashlight on, he's carrying it turned off and he's trailing one of those bare hands against the wall, navigating by increasingly-uncomfortable (Dark Kingdom-corrupted) geo-senses.

He's being as quiet as he can, but he's grimy and salty and bloody and muddy and he's still trying to get his face to stop leaking because there's nothing like getting caught terrified and grieving in the pitch dark to absolutely murder your self-image.

Jadeite has posed:
Tamaki has been dipping in and out of different groups of mahou, helping to ice-bomb rats and freeze skeletons and give encouragement where he can as they go deep, deep, deeper into the catacombs. Down where the darkness is becoming physical. Down where the smell of old dirt has a frission of magic to it.

He's looking for Mamoru. A bodyguard has one job; he left Usagi with several of her girls, so now he has to make sure his prince is safe. Even if he is covered with blood and icy mud. Even if his hair is smeared tight to his face with grime.

Footsteps. Quiet footsteps, but he can hear them. How does he announce his presence without getting them targetted by enemies?

He takes the hilt of his sword and taps the wall. Shave-and-a-haircut-

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Being encased in darkness that had no points of light for reference or guide was Nephrite's worst-case-scenario. The fact that the catacombs had given way to that border between real-world underground horrors and the Dark Kingdom added to the fact that the tall man with curly hair was having a Very Bad Time.

He'd lost track of the others almost immediately and though he had heard fighting at one point by the time he found his way there through the twisting tunnels, the group had moved on.

Rats. One skeleton that had shuffled off from it's group as much as it had shuffled off it's mortal coil. No stars to guide the way. Nephrite was itching to fight at this point to vent his annoyances on something---

The shuffle of something moving in the dark stirs his own awareness as he'd paused with light off to try and feel a path. He knew his Prince was alive and that was always a reassurance. Now all he needed to do was decide which of the branching paths he'd paused in front of to take. But first, he would deal with whatever was approaching as he tenses preparing for battle.

"... Two bits?" Comes blurted out instead in confusion.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"Don't do that," says a familiar voice from behind Tamaki.

Because of course Kunzite does.

And of course he is out of range of a reflexive lunge, because even when he is intentionally poking the bunny, he's not completely stupid.

And of course. Of course. Whatever else is going on - and the ichor staining his sleeve and pant legs suggests that he has not been left alone either - his hair is pristine.

Zoisite has posed:
It's difficult to tell how much action Zoisite has seen down here in the depths, as he's somehow managed to remain relatively clean. Maybe he's been relying on stealth to get around, or he's just been phenomenally lucky. Either way, being alone for as long as he has is something of a blessing and a curse in that regard. It's certainly helped him remain undiscovered, but even Zoisite has found himself lost in the dark, his mind filling it with visions of death and despair.

He doesn't immediately advance when he hears voices up ahead. It could be a trap, or just another trick of the mind, caught wishing for something that isn't there.

But then he recognizes the voices. And he steps forward, appearing out of the dark as if a ghost, silent and pale.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Then there's Mamoru's voice in the dark, a rushing exhale: "Everyone," he says, "you guys," he says, and then there's a prince crashing into all of them if possible. "You're all okay. I mean I knew you were but you're here, you're okay-- don't die, Bow and Chiyo just died and I don't like that--"

His voice is shakier than it should be, but maybe that's just because the Shitennou are all here and it's briefly marginally safer to be scared than otherwise in these damned tunnels.

"They took out one of the DG Girls. Zwei. With the plants. I'm going to turn on a flashlight I need to see you--"

And there it is, pointed at the floor, on its lowest setting to spare the dark-adapted eye as much as possible, and they can see the strange-shaped skulls embedded in the walls around them, bones that look almost human but aren't, an ossuary of the unlikely. And they can see each other, and Mamoru, and Mamoru has at least a little laughter in his voice, disbelieving, as he says, "Kunzite, your hair-- how??"

He's making noise, he's gravitated toward their center, he's holding a light, he's making them all a target. He just wants hugs. Hematite always wanted hugs too but never asked for them, because you don't do that in the Dark Kingdom. You share drinks, you talk on rooftops, you lean a little maybe if you're alone and it's okay to...

Jadeite has posed:
Jadeite spins around, epee first, when Kunzite speaks behind him. It's pure instinct, though the irritation on his face is lit up as soon as Mamoru turns on the flashlight - and it's a good thing Kunzite knew to give him room,with how jumpty they all are.

Breathe in. Breathe out. His Prince, that brat Kunzite, and then Zoisite and Nephrite floating in... He nods to the latter two before making a very rude gesture to Kunzite, then turns to Mamoru.

"We're here. We're ok," he says as he sheathes his sword. "I'm a little scraped up but I'm fine. Usagi and her girls were all safe and uninjured when I was seperated from them."

He will react to the deaths in a moment, when they sink in. Right now?He's already hugging Mamoru.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Nephrite shifts from confused to relieved when he recognizes Kunzite's voice chastising Tamaki. Followed soon after by an even more recognizable voice.

"If this is a trick," he warns in a grave tone, "I am going to destroy whoever is foolish enough to try it." Even as he gives that warning to any youma that might be dumb enough to try tricking him with the voices of his friend and prince there's a hint of amusement because he's already realized it's them. Who else would be knocking out 'shave and a haircut' on the rock--Skulls. More skulls. Of course it is.

The light comes on causing him to squint in a way that makes it seem he's glowering. It doesn't stop him from stepping forward to reach for Mamoru to bodily drag him into a bear hug.

A mixture of anger, relief, and protectiveness surges in him as he does. Anger for those that had upset Mamoru, of course, anger at himself for not having been there, but mostly relief. Mostly sheer abject relief that he was here.

"We've got you now," he utters tryring to reassure him while maybe squeezing him a bit too hard in the process.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Jadeite's reflexes are good, and he's still in control of his reactions. Good. Nephrite is ... Nephrite. Also good. Mamoru is less good -- oh. Oh, Chiyo. Oh, Bow, too, but Chiyo.

Later. Kunzite draws a breath and steps forward, risking Jadeite's vengeance in order to close in around their Mamoru-center, to offer his unstained hand and arm in silent welcome to Zoisite. It's a risk, bunching up, but he's watching, listening, always. If something tries to take advantage, they'll at least have a chance at a warning. Shoring up Mamoru's sanity is more important, right now.

Zoisite has posed:
The nod from Jadeite is returned, tersely. Zoisite isn't immediately in the circle of contact, still edging on the outskirts of it, but Kunzite lifts an arm and Zoisite steps forward to take the silent invitation. His side presses briefly up against Kunzite's before he lifts a hand to drop it on the nearest shoulder of.... someone, anyone.

Just seeking contact, that brief moment of human touch and comfort.

"I haven't seen anyone since we arrived," he says, in-between the press of bodies. Like Kunzite, Zoisite is still on edge, still on the lookout for danger. However many minutes, hours, however long he's been down here has made him jumpy, sensitive to even the slightest change in air pressure or the quietest of noises.

Beryl has posed:
In the noise and distraction of this reunion, with sympathies and comfort shared around with words and touch and eyes focused on each other, rather than their surroundings, it might take a moment for the sounds to filter through.

They're such minor, quiet sounds after all - the skittering of claws over stone, the whisper of tails sliding over the ground, the chatter of teeth ready to rip and tear and gnaw -

But once they notice, it will be hard to stop noticing - there are so many of them, after all, hundreds of rats creeping closer, moving as a mob of bodies, in sync, ready to swarm.

There are hundreds more, in the walls. Peeking out of the empty eye sockets, scampering up and down and all around.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Hours in the dark -- Mamoru is hugged tightly by Jadeite, by Nephrite; he wheezes a little at Nephrite's hug, and for that brief moment where they're all touching because Kunzite's got Zoisite and Zoisite's hand is on Mamoru while Jadeite and Nephrite are hugging-- for that brief moment, they're all in contact, and Mamoru gives them all energy.

He's efficient with it, there's almost no external glow, just a welling of additional power, or maybe respite, or maybe healing. A taste of the place that's locked away, the place the Rainbow Crystals make a key to, the place that the prince calls home--

In their little circuit, it's like there's fresh air where before it was stale and untouched.

It's a damned good thing too. Mamoru has not noticed the myriad beady eyes or the soft skitterings of claws on bone and rock. They're not properly alive for him to even sense, and the whole place is awash with dark energy anyway...

Jadeite has posed:
A taste of power. A moment to rest. Curled up with Mamoru and and the others, tangled together like a pack of kittens in the kitchen sink. It's warm, and it's good, just bieng able to *rest* for a moment before -

Before. Hmm.

"Should each of us take a wall?" he murmurs to the other Shittennou as he looks around, trying to gauge just HOW surrounded they are by rats. (Very!)

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
As the group comes together to hug it is a situation that is accepted and adapted to by Nephrite. An arm is loosened from his too-tight hug to loop in as many of the others has he can reach. Zoisite always was just the right height to grab around the back of the neck instead of ending up around his shoulders. If he were a bit sillier (and less inclined to keep his fingers) he could noogie the blonde. Instead it's just more of a 'get in here' tug to group hug them all with his longer wingspan.

At Jadeite's question he can only let out a long beleagured sigh. "Wagon wheel?" He suggests indicating Mamoru is of course the center spoke of that wheel. If his own emotions are shared through the link with their Prince at all it's easy to guess he means to let the poor man rest just a bit while they deal with the rats.

His grasp releases, and Nephrite turns to face outward in a protective manner. A quick lift of his hand presses at a strange fixture he'd slung around his neck to turn the hands-free flashlight back on. Of course he wasn't going to waste a hand holding a light.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Warmth. Fresh air. Healing for Jadeite's scrapes, Kunzite trusts, and for any harm Nephrite's taken. Contact for Zoisite. Reassurance for Mamoru. Just a moment to reaffirm connections. Even if sometimes they connect by being jerks to each other.

"If we do that, we'll miss the ceiling," Kunzite says. "Jadeite, give us something we can put our backs to." Ice to block the eye sockets. If he's got time left over, there's more he can do - but he's the one of them that makes physical shields. Best against rats.

Even with Zoisite's arc of fire, it'll be easier to defend a half-circle than a full one. Half a wagon wheel. Close enough.

Zoisite has posed:
Against Kunzite's side, his hand on Mamoru, and with Nephrite's arm around the back of his neck, Zoisite is momentarily struck still (don't worry, Jadeite's in there somwhere too). He breathes in silently, eyes closed, and maybe it's that momentary lack of one of his senses that helps to amplify the others. In particular, bringing that skittering sound to his ears.

His head lifts up, and he steps away from the circle, hands extended in front of him. A gout of flame arcs away from him, burning sakura petals fading away in the claustrophobic air of the tunnels.

Beryl has posed:
Normal rats would skitter away from the flames, running fearfully.

These are not normal rats, as exemplified by the fact that there are hundreds of them swarmed together, an eerie, terrible wave of flesh and fur that - attacks.

Some of them are burned, resulting in little puffs of ash and dark energy, filling the air, shortening tempers and deepening despair, but most of them start scampering, trying to climb onto boots and up pants and they're biting, they're biting as soon as they make it over boots, climbing over each other and biting you, biting you, biting you -

If that ice wall goes up, it will be a good thing, because otherwise they're going to start falling on them from above, leaping from eye sockets.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Wh--" starts Mamoru at the 'each of us take a wall' and then he's stiffening, clicking back on through both exhaustion and relief. "Trying to keep all the wanton destruction and youma-popping for just you guys, Neph? No princes?" he teases. He knows that's not it.

That moment's respite, the reconnections, they're definitely air for Mamoru; he can breathe without it juddering at all for the first time since Amy's saltwater splashback hit him in the face.

In the light from Zoisite's flame, Mamoru rapidly pulls his gloves on, hurriedly-like-hell tucks his pant legs into his socks, and drops his flashlight, lit, on the floor against the wall to shine away from them, giving them a headlight down another tunnel and part of the intersection.

He doesn't wait until the shield is up to pull out his cane and start whacking and kicking at rats with incredible force: a hit hard enough, a slam against a wall, and they puff away and release dark energy. They can't -- yet -- bite through his henshin armor, but that's very much a 'yet'.

"Zoi past you on your left-- Tuxedo la Smoking Bomber!" Mamoru calls out, flinging a lowball attack at the towering swarm that Zoi just hit in the hopes of winnowing it down a little more before the wave crests and breaks on them.

He's really counting on that ice umbrella wall.

Jadeite has posed:
"Glory of the Snow!"

The ice walls are up instantly, slamming against the rat-filled skulls and pitted ceiling to keep the rats pinned and cornered. He's not quite fast enough to smack all the rats away, but he has most of them trapped -

"I'll keep the top and back covered. Let me know if I need to lob something down a hallway," Jadeite says aas he spins so that he's back to back with Mamoru, his hands splayed to keep the walls FIRMLY in place.

"Just like old times, huh?" he says with a grin. "We can't have shit in Paris."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Nephrite gives more of a mental shrug than an actual one when the flaw in the plan is pointed out. It's rolled with easily. Mamoru's remark earns a grin in turn along with a simple, "It seemed like your clothes could use a break before they fall apart."

As the others start to blockade, and send sweeps of fire around to attack, he narrows his eyes in thought. Constellation Congergence would be a bit difficult to do in a tunnel, but...

"SHOOTING STAR!"

A sworl of starlight emerges in the darkness fragmenting off into lances of light that flash into the holes and crevaces the rats were emerging from trying to block off further numbers.

Zoisite has posed:
When the ice wall goes up, Zoisite immediately swivels on his heels away from it, to face down the waves of rats trying to overwhelm them. Only to yelp, in a rather undignified manner, when he finds himself lifted up in the air. Kunzite is lucky not to get swatted at in surprise, but Zoisite adapts quickly.

Trusting Kunzite to support his weight, Zoisite only lays a single hand on his arm, the other extending out to toss a cloud of sakura petals into the stale air. They begin to glow as they sway towards the rats as if the non-existent wind down here was directing them right towards the swarm.

"Sakura Conflagration!"

Beryl has posed:
The ice wall goes up and traps even more hundreds of rats. They dig and chew and don't even hope to scrape through the ice that Jadeite has called up - but they try anyway.

Meanwhile, beams and blasts and bolts fly, puffing the rats into dark energy, leaving swaths dead, and the path is full of dark energy now, floating up from the ground as hovered gas, trying to infect, infest, to break down and rebuild from the inside out -

And then the conflagaration comes down, burning away the swarm, a rising shriek of awful noise and the burning of flesh and fur and -

Gone.

There's nothing left (for the moment) but the skittering and scraping of rats trapped behind ice.

Down the tunnels, they can hear footsteps though. Heavy ones. And in the ground, there's an odd... rumble.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Oh good," says the prince, exhaling and sagging a little once the rats are gone. Even if there's dark energy--

Mamoru puts away his cane for the moment in order to rapidly and shudderingly brush his hands through his salty hair and brush his hands over his suit, dismissing the sensation of crawling rats-- there's all the chittering from behind the ice walls but they can just... stay there.

He hates dark energy. He has to fail to actively hate it lest it gain a foothold, or something. But no-- no! The important thing is, he rips a glove back off at the floor shaking, rumbling; he crouches down and puts his hand flat against the dirt-and-stone floor and lets his senses flood outward to find...

"Oh my god there's a really big rat coming," the prince says, and it's a toss-up whether he sounds like he's excited or being excitable about this. Is that worry or is that relief that they can just kill something huge with no guilt? There's *something* in his voice. "Keep the wall and ceiling iced over -- can you do that and fight, Jade?" Something breathless. "You guys can we explode it?"

Jadeite has posed:
Being down here sucks. But being here with the four of them, magic clicking together like clockwork? Exhileration beyond compare. Fighting is hard and terrible; fighting is a thrill that Jadeite has yet to find a match for in any part of his life.

"I can start with Snow Thimble," he tells Mamoru. "I don't know fi it'd do as much damage as Shooting Star or Sakura Conflagration to one large creature, but the shattered ice on the floor should slow it down for everyone else to get a good knock in.

He shifts, putting the magical pressure for both shields on one hand as he grows a foxglove made of ice, the bell shaped flowers growing razor edges, and -

FLING!!! The bells go flying into the rat and it's path, scattering hundreds of icy blades around it.

"Let's explode it!"