View source for 2449/Five Nightmares: Are You Bad Enough Mahou To Rescue Hinoiri

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/04/05
|Location=Plot Room 1
|Synopsis=Hinoiri has been kidnapped by the Salarymen. Are they bad enough Mahou to rescue Hinoiri?
|Cast of Characters=176,131,52,32,86,90,102
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>As the gates outside into the Tokyo dreamscape swing wide, Emi turns back to face everyone with a swirl of skirts. <br><br>"Okay. I know you've all seen some weird things, but I'm not going to take any chances." She begins to weave pink, gossamer webbing with her hands, generating and spooling together strands of it until its thick as cable. She begins feeding it out to each of them as she goes, expecting them to pass it amongst themselves until everyone is holding on. "I don't want any of you to get separated until its time. So hold on. Tightly. I'll be guiding us through the dreamscape, but you all need to do your best to keep up and hang on. Things are likely to get ... dizzying from time to time."<br><br>Finally, once everyone is ready, she turns and stretches her arms out over her head. A rather large spider has appeared to nestle on her shoulder, itself colorfully vibrant and alive. And talking.<br><br>"Are you ready, KenKen?" Emi asks the spider.<br><br>"Ready as ever!"<br><br>"Remember, everyone. Don't stop for anything. No matter how weird or alluring."<br><br>"OKAY GO," says Emi, quoting about a million early English translations of Japanese video games. <br><br>And then its out into the streets of Tokyo. Dream Tokyo.<br><br>The transition is immediately jarring. Within the space of a breath, they are in a cityscape no longer bound by the logic of zoning laws or thepedestrian demands of civic life. Skyscrapers stack on one another, tilt at impossible angles, piercing a moonless sky full of vibrant colors and shimmering, almost holographic cherry blossoms that swirl and form shapes, almost as if they were what passed for cloud cover. <br><br>And Emi runs. She runs down twisting sidewalks that reach a crosswalk that stretches into a looping moebius strip, passing by vending machines stacked one top another, all screaming endlessly. A commuter train passes by on the right and above, moving on rails that only becomes visible just ahead of it, coming from no place and going nowhere. In the flash of sodium lights brought about by twisting street lamps, they can see dark figures with their faces pressed against the windows staring at them, mouths opening and closing like fish. <br><br>They pass amongst pedestrians, crowds and thongs of people that Emi weaves through -- not real, of course, or at least not seemingly. Put together from *ideas* of people, concepts of a person and uncanny and unreal as one might expect. It starts to rain, forming puddles that must be navigated, which reflect entirely different skylines. Visions of a Tokyo that could be, was, and never will be again. Utopian visions meshed with dismal realities. People sitting at a ramen stand, floating on a tatami-like mat. It's cook is an old man that you swear can see right through you.<br><br>Living manga characters race through the streets, pointed at by gaping tourist-like visitors. Buildings made of water colors, flowing and alive. Forgotten dialects of Japanese ring in their ears, somehow understandable and yet never known, maybe never even real. An arch made of bowls, clattering like wind chimes, a trans station with turnstiles where a train who, rather than have wheels, is moved by the power of the many human legs that ungainly twist and writhe out of its sides like a horrible centipede. Twisting down off a street, Emi leads them to a flowing river which she darts across, using the great many lanterns that flow down it as stepping stones. As they follow, they hear the wishes of others made during the Nebuta Matsuri, the summer festival. Finally, they're reaching downtown, where the skyscrapes climb even higher, some seeming stacked on each other like a child's house of cards. A red bricked building on their left, seeming normal for the moment it takes to notice that its walls are rising and falling like its breathing, followed by its facade of brick and glass shifting with collage like precision, eyes mouths and noses forming brief faces of masonry before vanishing again. It whispered names none of them knew... and their own.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>And then there it is, looming in the distance. A corporate tower, like something out of one of the dismal visions from earlier, an austere facade as faceless -- quite lierally faceless -- men in matching office wear of white shirts, black ties and slacks and dress shoes, walk in and and walk out of it an endless cycle that never ends, as they promptly turn right around and go back inside.<br><br>The overtime never stops coming.<br><br>Emi steps finally, pasting herself against a wall of one of the nearby buildings that rise up into the sky beside it.<br><br>"This is it. It doesn't look like much, does it? Not even out of place in Tokyo proper. Mundane, soul killing, a null space of creativity. That's the Salrymen." She points to the workers. "I'm going to take some of us up this building, the rest of you hit the front door as soon as you're ready. Be careful. They're nasty pieces of work that can synchronize *very* well. Team building, you know?"<br><br>She'll give them a moment to catch their breath before she bursts through the door of her building of choice. Seems she already knows where she wants to go.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara has been... waiting. She didn't know how long. Waiting.<br><br>It wasn't enough to have so many things she had to get done. It was the fact she had to wait on OTHERS to do parts of them. She'd filed the five reports. Now she needed them to be finished so she could turn them in.<br><br>A rare, momentary break. She used those moments to push some of her korma into her mouth before reaching out to lightly pet the litte glass bunny of hers. Staring at her. Judging her. How dare she take a second to relax.<br><br>She pushed the korma aside and started to work once again, picking up her little rose pen and--<br><br>"Ow!" she snapped, looking down at her hand. The crimson on the fingertip made her pause, staring at it. Bright. When....<br><br>... Why did her rose pen have thorns? When did she get a rose pen?<br><br>She sighed and then there was a light ding from her computer... more. Get it done. Another task. Rush. Finish it. Now. Already behind. Faster faster faster.<br><br>It felt like she was one hoof in the grave sometimes... She pinched the bridge of her nose, rubbing the dark spots under her eyes.<br><br>... This was important. If she ever wanted to make partner next to... S... something? Who did she want to be partner for? Or...<br><br>Another ding from her computer reminded her. Work to do. Best get to it. These files weren't going to do themselves...<br><br>The bunny trinket faded away, much like the pink, yellow and blue mermaid in their small pool toy had disappeared before...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Ikiko nods to Emi as she takes the thread cable, loops it around her waist for good measure, then hands it off to the next person. A firm grip is good, but better to have some backup in terms of staying attached to the rest of the rescue party, right?<br><br>She waves to KenKen when the dreamspider appears, then takes a firm hold of the web-cable, just in time to go careening through Dream Tokyo. Ikiko occasionally glances towards the odd sights, but most of her focus is on holding on and sticking with the rescue party.<br><br>When they arrive, Ikiko loosens the loop around her waist, her wolf ears flickering into more visibility as she listens for trouble. "Pack tactics; got it," she says in a loud whisper in response to Emi's warning about the teamwork of the Salarymen.<br><br>Emi's sudden rush into the building is quickly followed by Ikiko, following the dream expert's lead while the wolf-ear'd girl pays wary attention to the side routes they go past. After all, if you're going to surprise someone, it helps if ''they'' don't surprise ''you'' in the process.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:32|Sayaka Miki (32)}} has posed:'''<br>They really are about to do this then, Sayaka smiles readily to Emi, a trio of PreCard components in one hand as usual and her Pretty Change Mirror all set to take them in her hand. "Ok, let's get this started then", the Pretty Cure finally puts them in and presses the button.<br><br>The same trio of yellow, green and blue lights shines from the small mirror, who talks on its own.<br><br>"Nin-nin-ninja. <span style="color:#FFFF00">Time</span> <span style="color:#8EE3BA">to</span> <span style="color:#87CDF6">change.</span>" In a shine of lights, Cure Sharpsong is now wearing different clothes, a short sleeveless blue shirt with teal shorts and a pale blue belt accompanied by blueish-grey boots, and an azure scarf at her neck.<br><br>"Ready to go now", she tells her friends, still recognisable as her same Pretty Cure regardless of having transformed in front of them. She moves nimbly and silently with the power of the Ninja Precard, keeping Emi's warnings well in mind, her focus only on rescuing Hinoiri, and ignoring all of the weird sights along the way.<br><br>"They really look lifeless", Sayaka agrees disapprovingly at the appearance of the salarymen. Good for them that they know teamwork, but theirs isn't any lesser, and she has no doubt to whose will succeed today.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Smokes and mirrors, the ethereal existence of every dream. Such was what his peripheral witnessed as he flew by with the rest of the group. The weightlessness felt so pronounced, free, as neither of his feet touched soil but chose to remain in the air, tethered by the ruby colored thread offer by Emi. Zoisite chose not to dwindle on the shadows and murky colors that surrounded him--dreams were made of flashing memories that bled like watercolors on paper, shapeless yet existing.<br><br>Soon it would all be nothing but a puff of instance long forgotten. But what he felt would not be. The closer they approached the grey slab of towering bricks and concrete, the sharper his green eyes became. Smirk spreading, excitement and crude giddiness, looking forward to what would eventually wash over them within the establishment itself--his curiosity knew no bounds, like a child with a toy.<br><br>Zoisite stood primly near Emi, green gaze turning to his prince who did not stay for long. His Highness departing with his princess betrothed, leaving himself and the Star Seer behind. "Hm, looks like our lord decided to be part of the loud ones. What about you, Nephrite? What will you pick?" He held no reservations on what he felt in that moment.<br><br>"Lead the way, Miss Emi. The poor girl inside must be dreadfully frightened. We should get to her, the faster, the better."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Nephrite (90)}} has posed:'''<br>The more that he saw of the Dreamscape Tokyo, the more Nephrite understood. Taken along by the thread that bound him to Emi, the Knight's mind was ticking. The time he'd spent in California was supposed to have been spent reconnecting with his father, but he had hardly seen the man, in truth. He had gotten to know the man's new family, but it seemed very little had change in his father's attitude. <br><br>He wasn't present. Work took priority over everything else, and all of his focus and time. Everything else became periphery, years slipped by. Memories, too. <br><br>It bothered Nephrite more than he'd thought, that this Hinoiri girl was stuck in this situation. <br><br>He glanced over the building, and at Zoisite's prompting, he sighed. "The faster the better, indeed. And whoever else might be there with her, trapped as deeply."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>Stepping through these doors like this is like transitioning to a different space. Immediately, the air feels 'different'. <br><br> This tower, apparently a dream representation of a Tokyo apartment building, is filled with endless hallways full of doors, and behind each door is a dream. One can see fragments of them bleeding out into the this shared space. Every moment they spend in this interstitial space, the more oppressive it feels in its own way. One door is illuminated by the color of cotton candy, along with the potency of its smell. Another one can manic laughter bleeding out into the apartment building. Other doors are like the surface of water, rippling with ghostly afterimages of things that transpired, giving off airs of love and intimacy, or anxiety and depression alike. However brief, these phantom images speak volumes of the dreamers within them, who stretch out and long for connection in each isolated space.<br><br> And there's the stairs. So many stairs, twisting in all directions up and up, a spiral, upside down and around like MC Escher would be proud. Finally, they're high enough, and Emi definitely distinclty ignored the elevators. No way, she seems to stay. Nothing good comes from an elevator in a horror movie, let alone a dream. She reaches a landing and a hallway with windows that face the building, where they can see featureless office workers milling about and then freezing in place like they're awaiting instructions as the explosions down below begin to become more pornounced. Using her webs, Emi seamlessly carves a hole in the window with the sharp end of them -- and they do have sharp ends it seems when she wants them to -- and shatters the rest of it with a thicker cable wrapped around her fist.<br><br> And then she jumps, leavingh a trail of webs behind for the others to run along, all cabled again, as she crashes through the window onto a middle floor of the office tower. <br><br> "Whassup," she says to the Salarymen before immediately punching the firtt one straight out of the way. This is her idea of 'stealth', it seems. <br><br> All across the floor, more of these faceless individuals in matching white shirts and ties, office wear really, rise to their feet, peeking over the walls of their cubicles, staring at Emi in unison. The sound of keyboards and their clicking become resoundingly loud.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Definitely a trippy journey, especially that bit on the stairs where they passed each other on the same steps in different axes. But Ikiko keeps following Emi, trusting the older girl to lead them where they need to go.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And then there's the actual infiltration, leading '''directly''' into an outright brawl.<br><br>''*blink*'' "Ah, ''that'' kind of stealth," Ikiko remarks -- the stealth of slugging someone in the back of the head after your buddy tapped them on the shoulder in the other direction. A fang-y grin crosses the wolf(-ish)girl's face as she charges in, stomping on cubicle walls and featureless faces alike as she tries looking across the corporate sea for signs of Hinoiri.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara blinked and glanced up when she heard... was that an explosion? She started to turn... just in time to hear someone grumble about 'kids with firecrackers'.<br><br>Ugh, she needed to get this report filed... Work. She couldn't get distracted by something like fireworks.<br><br>'Go on, take a little break,' a little Madoka in a red devil costume said from her shoulder, twirling her tail in her hand. 'It might be fun. You can slap that Asahi girl's stupid statue over on the way down...'<br><br>'No, you can't,' a tiny gretchen... dressed entirely normally for how she had once looked, but with a white angel costume just... spray painted over her. Somehow. 'You should do it on the company's dime, don't take a break for it. Also, get us some cupcakes.'<br><br>"Shoo, shoo," Hinoiri muttered, waving her hand and making the two disappear. Totally normal to have shoulder dokas.<br><br>She started typing again. They were going to be so proud of her, when she sent the file in. Good, br--<br><br>... Three more 'IMMEDIATELY REQUIRED!' alerts popped up. Of. Bucking. Course. She sighed, the color seeming to drain from her hair...<br><br>"OW!" And there it was, again. When did she get this rose pen?!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Nephrite (90)}} has posed:'''<br>There were several elevators that they passed, nad Nephrite noted Emi's aversion to them. Given the state of everything else and the doors they passed, it was understandable. Gods only knew what would happen if they opened an elevator. It would probably unleash a wave of water and the kraken into the hallway. <br><br>Such was the sort of nightmare he himself might have. <br><br>He caught Zoisite's gaze as their egress into the office building became apparent, however. A slight jut of his chin, and then he bounded forward to run across the distance. As he did, he held a hand low, gathering force. Easy to focus and imagine the whip of winds high up between these buildings, just as a spell may have called them to hand in waking, and Nephrite put his focus into accumulating a tight swirl of it around his fist to be unleashed. <br><br>It was a simple enough spell, but as leapt into the building, he would attempt to unleash it with and upwards gesture of his hand-- the target being anything flimsy, like paper, that could easily get caught up and scatter in this pervasive gust. He planned to cause confusion amongst the cubicles, and send workers running to grab reports and notes.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:32|Sayaka Miki (32)}} has posed:'''<br>"Rather than frightened, I'd expect more tired and frustrated. If the nightmare knew who it was holding, ''it'' would be scared then", the bluenette replies on their way there, sticking close to the group and out of the way of unwanted attention.<br><br>The Ninja PreCard is giving out incredibile work in fulfilling the expectations of her namesake, dodging gase after gaze, either fluidly sliding behind an object, or sticking behind wall paper to conceal herself with, the same grey as the building.<br><br>A smirk to herself is given when Emi tries to look like she is not out of place there, following the rules she had laid out later. She can't see any of them being particularly good conversation partners even if they decided to stop for it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>How disappointing it was that his more logical side knew better than to open the doors. He would have loved to take a gander and see what would pop out. Ah well, maybe next time, if there would ever be a next time he's ever invited to a sleepover.<br><br>Flying behind the group, he took in the sea of cubicles and the smell of hot toner and paper. Graphite, inks, the murmuring and tackling of keys that many would consider soothing in the waking world. Here, there was an a droning edge, just waiting to wake up.<br><br>Then he noted Nephrite's gaze connecting with his before the older Shitennou ran ahead, summoning the winds to jumble up a small cyclone in the middle. Many documents and delicate parchments were now scattering into the air--jut of chin from the Star Seer punctuating what seemed so obvious now.<br><br>Distractions. They were the distractions of the group. And what would catch everyone's attention more than paper caught on fire in the middle of a sea of busy drones? Nothing really. Perhaps the sprinklers, which would be just as useful.<br><br>Nephirte, such a cheeky bastard. Setting up something so well thought out. Flying further upwards, feeling the stir of gusts around him, cherry blossoms bloomed form his hand and began to follow the breeze. And Zoisite leaned his lips close to the palm of his hand, whispering--<br><br>"<span style="color:#FF3D3D">R</span><span style="color:#FF4F36">o</span><span style="color:#FF612F">s</span><span style="color:#FF7328">e</span> <span style="color:#FF971A">o</span><span style="color:#FFA913">f</span> <span style="color:#FFC43D">A</span><span style="color:#FFD152">s</span><span style="color:#FFDF67">h</span><span style="color:#FFED7C">e</span><span style="color:#FFFA90">s</span>"<br><br>To light the petals of fire. Oxygen to flames, embers becoming small wildfires in their own right and spreading fast.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>They're just ..staring for a moment, and then as one they surge towards the interlopers. It would appear they know karate, and its about to descend into a martial arts battle royale with faceless office drones.<br><br> As for Emi's part in this, two things become terribly clear quite quickly: she has no idea how to fight in a team. Not one. She's doing her level best to not be in the way of the others, but she's ... not great at it.<br><br>The second thing is that there is a terribly violent efficiency to how she engages with her enemies. There's no hesitation as she flips over a desk to land in front of a salaryman, knees crashing into his chest and bringing him to the ground before swiftly looping razor-sharp spider-webs around his head to decapitate him.<br><br>"They get better," says Emi, swiftly, "and we don't have time to put them down for good! Just push through."<br><br> And she does, dancing amongst them acrobatically, as they swarm forward and rely on numbers to try to over power them, but she blends her use of her webs together with displays of athletic and marital prowess. A limb glued to a desk and then kicking said desk hard enough to splinter it while sending it crashing into more of the Salarymen through a cubicle wall. She is clearly very used to fighting an enemy in numbers she does not have.<br><br>"She's near! Maybe a floor below."<br><br> The sounds of printers have started up in the distance, grinding and loud.<br><br>As the sprinklers start, Emi stares up for a moment and silently mouths 'not again!' as it showers down on her. Dreaming in wet clothes is no fun. She's clocked in the face as two Salarymen grab onto her arms while a third starts throwing fists. <br><br>... but it won't be long before she has help, this time.<br><br>She's not alone, no matter how much she still fights like she is.<br><br>"This way!" she yells, vaulting over cubicle walls and powering through others, even as the cubicles seem to have become a maze that threatens to stretch on forever.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Why he did not see this one coming was beyond his comprehension, but the ''moment'' the sprinkler system started, Zoisite was finally hit by the cold drench of his decisions. While still in the air, he felt every drop of water starting to weigh him down along with his--<br><br>''No.''<br><br>''Gods-!''<br><br>A shriek left him as he realized his hair was going to get completely mangled now! ''"Nephrite you bastard boar! You did this on purpose, didn't you?!"'' Furious, he glides down quickly after the Star Seer, smacking the other right behind the head--not strong enough to do significant harm, but steady enough to warrant some attention and a sting.<br><br>"Give me one idea only to have that explode in my face! I was having a good time and willing to assist you, do you know that?!" Teeth in his words, "GODS!" and fully drenched.<br><br>He witnesses Emi now sprinting over cubicles swiftly, and he snarls. "Get in the air, no point in running if flying will get us there faster!" And Zoisite speeds off after Emi's directions.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>"Roger!" Ikiko calls to Emi, only ''slightly'' annoyed at the sudden downpour. The wolf-accented girl keeps to the tops of the cubicle walls (and Salaryman 'faces') as she hurries along Emi's trail, deviating only to execute diving kicks on any Salarymen that try to grab Emi, then leaping back up to her high path to maintain her speed and overwatch position.<br><br>Zoi's self-inflicted woe ''does'' bring an impishly satisfied smirk to her face, though -- "Perhaps he's been punished enough for this incident," she murmurs to no-one in particular.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara blinked as the sprinklers came on. AGAIN! It was always SOMETHING here. UGH! WHATEVER! She'd protected her computer this time, and everyone else was working, she could too. And why was there such a racket?! She saw more of them running and...<br><br>Shook her head, filing more reports. Sora, she was never going to get these done if they sent her two more every time she finished one. She didn't remember working this hard since she'd been banished from--<br><br>... What? Banished? She wasn't banished from anywhere. She was...<br><br>She glanced back at a... calender.<br><br>... Huh. It had her in it. With a bunch of people. A lot of people. People who... were there... for her birthday? When was it... a year ago... why had they....<br><br>No, she'd never had a birthday, had sh--<br><br>Another beep. Ugh. Stupid... She turned to the computer, only to growl when she picked up the rose pen AGAIN! Hadn't she thrown this in the trash?! It--<br><br>She stared at it. A little cut in her palm. That wasn't...<br><br>... There was fighting. Why were people fighting? She got to her feet and started to make her way towards the fighting... It was...<br><br>"Hinoiri, we need the--"<br><br>"Nobody cares, Ted," Hinoiri snapped back at him and kept walking.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Nephrite (90)}} has posed:'''<br>Rose of Ashes never failed to be an intimidating show, their combined attack both versatile and flashy, whipping heat and flame into a form-- either concentrated or spread. Zoisite couldn't have resisted. The wet hair was just a fun bonus. The sprinklers did activate, after all, and that was usually disasterous for the inner workings of an office building, hopefully including the ominous keyboards and printer sounds that seemed to have become cacophonous. <br><br>Nephrite did not hestitate to start running forward through an aisle, following after the sound of Emi's voice. The rows and rows of cubicles offered up bodies to intervene, and after a push of blows, Nephrite would spin one into the next with force, knocking into a cubicle wall to topple it. "Just because we can fly, doesn't mean the others can, Zoisite!" He frowned, he'd almost lashed out on instinct for the smack, thinking it was another worker. <br><br>But, a maze couldn't stand in anyone's way if the walls came down. This place was so dull and orderly, perhaps that logical expectation would work. What better metaphor for the corporate state of it, knocking down the barriers that kept workers isolated? <br><br>With a release of the swirling winds, Nephrite would thrust his hand forth to direct them, dissipating their attack into a great forwards gust. He intended to flatten down quite a number of cubicles and faceless workers, before taking off into the air above it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:32|Sayaka Miki (32)}} has posed:'''<br>Emi just straight up starting a fight gets Sayaka to stop. While she didn't particularly find weird being stealthy by trying to pass off as them, but to suddenly abandon all that in favour of just getting into a fight first makes her give a weird look to Emi. Did they really have to call themselves team stealth?<br><br>With a sigh, she still keeps into ninja form even though she doesn't have access to the full array of her powers right here, but the combination of strength and being hard to catch and see is more than enough for this occasion.<br><br>Salarymen start tripping when they least expect it, a leg to hinder them where previously was nothing, and various objects from around these offices will find themselves flung at enemies, with well placed punches to really deliver when everything else doesn't.<br><br>Just one floor away? They really did progress then, and Ninja Sharpsong smiles widely at the news. Hang in there, Hinoiri. Just a bit more.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:102|Catra (102)}} has posed:'''<br>The people on this mission, might have been wondering just where Catra has been all this time. She came with this group, but not much of her has been seen this whole time. <br> <br> That changes when, abruptly, the feline crashes straight back into view, with her sword (Well, Mamoru's sword but whatever, it's a dream sword anyway) run through a salaryman. As he lands on the floor and she lands on top of him she just keeps going, rolls, pulls the sword out in the process and bounces back to her feet, sword in one hand and an (as yet unfired) pistol in the other. <br> <br> One thoroughly enraged cat, then, turns on the rest of the group. "Who," she hisses, "Let off... the damn... SPRINKLER SYSTEM?!" With her hair clinging to the back of her head and her fur looking absolutely drenched, the cat is quivering -- and not with cold. <br> <br> "Whatever, let's just get this done, where's Hinoiri so we can get her out?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>Emi Hoshino will probably need to have a talk with Sayaka about that later. Maybe. At the moment, more Salarymen are showing up from ... some place. It's not clear, but the level seems to go on forever, doesn't it? Seeing the results of the trouble so far, they move with eerie synchronicity. These faceless things that pretend to be men of some kind stand up from yet more desks and raise their hands to their faces where a singular, milky, pale orb can be sseen now staring through their finges, all the same. That eye begins to light up and now blasts of searing light flash across the cubicles as they fire it at the mahou. Emi is winged, smoke erupting from her dress as she stumbles forward. There's more firing in quick, rapid bursts from different angles, making it hard to thoroughly avoid being hit. These blasts of concentrated *taste* like stress when they hit, feels like the bitter taste of coffee brewed too long in an office kitchen, like the fatigue of a long day hunched over a computer desk. and that's before one talks about the pain of the heat and light.<br><br> Emi stumbles once and hits the ground, but with a little help from the team, she'll be back on her feet in no time, webbing a bandage onto her wounded arm just in case. Does she need to in a dream?<br><br>It seems she thinks so.<br><br> Finally, the blasts knocking over cucible walls and more allows them to cleave their way through the numbers to a set of stairs, which Emi vaults down in a mix of flips and running, platform smacking against the concrete in all too loud echoes before she slams into a locked door which she proceeds to kick open.<br><br>"You can't keep me from going anywhere I want to go!" yells Emi, and then she skids to a halt.<br><br> As the others catch up with her, leaving behind more of the crowd of these nightmares, they'll notice ones they previously injured are already seeming to regenerate. Here, in their place of power, this is perhaps not surprising, but its still a testament to forces that gave birth to them, isn't it?<br><br>And as for why Emi stopped, well, she's staring in the open door of an office, where rows of televisions are playing flickering video, beneath each TV is an array of what must surely be that most ancient of technology: VCRs. Nightmare VCRs.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>On one of the televisions, one video had just looped back, rewinding, and now playing...<br><br>The video in question is of a few dozen salarymen going into somewhere bright and colorful... Descending on what looks like a bunch of tiny little ponies. Pegasi? They were bright and colorful and cute. Frightened, too.<br><br>Then there's a cut. And the ponies are gone. Where once there were dozens, now there are only five salarymen. As the video continues, they seem to be running from something... Each time there is a scream, a blur, and one of their number disappears from said blur.<br><br>Finally, the last one trips and falls, the camera panned up...<br><br>And what looks at first like a small, blue... pegasus? No, an alicorn. It lands in front of the salaryman. Then... it seems to grow, eyes glowing white, the night, shadows and stars swirling around as its form grew into something far, far more terrifying. The symbol of the moon emblazoned across her flank.<br><br>"THOU ART NOT--" And whatever else was said wasn't heard. As it was then the camera shattered... and the video stopped, and looped back to the beginning.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara stormed through the halls, only to have... someone block her way. "Where's my report?" her boss asked.<br><br>"Huh?" Hinoiri asked, looking up at him.<br><br>"Hinoiri Kirara, where is the report?"<br><br>"It's... It..." Hinoiri said. No, she had to get back to work. Right. Work.<br><br>She turned, only to stop and gasp when the rose cut her hand. AGAIN! Stupid... Huh?<br><br>She looked down at the rose. Was the building shaking?<br><br>"Violence..." the tiny devi-doka whispered into her right ear.<br><br>"Violence..." The tiny gretchgel whispered into her leg.<br><br>"The rainbow wind blows at a far off coast..." A song started on one of the mermaids, going over the speakers for a moment before it cut off. "Huh?" Hinoiri asked...<br><br>Then there was piano music. Someone was playing piano music? Why did she... she'd heard that...<br><br>She took another step towards her desk...<br><br>Then stopped. All of the little trinkets she'd had before... all of them were back. She glanced at the calender. She stared. She gripped the rose so tight her hand bled...<br><br>And then she turned. And she yelled so loud, so furious, so ANGRY that the tower itself might have shaken.<br><br><span style="color:#c10900">"You buckers made me forget my birthday! HOW! DARE! YOU!"</span><br><br>The rose flew through the air, piercing her bosses hand and, a moment later, a VERY angry looking unicorn ran by him as he screamed. Towards the disturbance. Towards the yelling. Towards the absolute DISASTER that was EVERYTHING she ever wanted!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Ikiko yelps as the Salarymen start using ranged attacks, and her path quickly turns from an elevated run to a duck-and-weave zigzag through the office terrain, using obstacles as cover to her advantage.<br><br>One of her doublebacks brings her near Catra, and the wolfgirl winces sympathetically at the soggy catgirl. "Maybe we should shake ourselves dry in stereo?" Ikiko suggests in a low, mischievous voice, tilting her head towards the two Ites in indication of the potential targets.<br><br>When the group gets down to the next floor, Ikiko pauses with Emi at the sight of all of the VCRs. "Ummm... I don't suppose anyone has a comedically-large magnet?" the younger girl asks rhetorically...<br><br>And then her wolf-ears perk up, going fully opaque as they hear the semi-distant sound of a familiar voice. "It's Hinoiri!" Ikiko calls to the others. "I think she snapped out of it, and she's coming this way!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:102|Catra (102)}} has posed:'''<br>Oh, so now things are blasting at them? While Catra is in the middle of complaining about ''SOMEBODY'' setting off the sprinkler system who had probably best remain anonymous for at least another minute or two until she's calmed down about the whole issue? ''Well then''. <br> <br> "EXCUSE ME I WAS TALKING," Catra snaps after ducking and umping forwards to avoid one of the blasts, and then she raises her borrowed pistol and unloads several rounds right back at the Salarymen that's firing all these blasts. She pauses, glancing sideways at Ikiko, and shrugs her shoulders. "Yeah in a minute when we're not fighting," she concedes. Speaking of -- you know what? I'm ''annoyed'' now." <br> <br> Catra stuffs her pistol in a holster and pulls out one of the grenades from the bandoleer that Amy gave her. "Nobody look at this," is the warning she gives before pulling the pin out with her teeth, and as she turns to walk away from the Salarymen she lobs the flashbang over her shoulder at them, to land in their midst. Because nobody cool looks over their shoulder at the explosion so she should be perfectly safe from this, right? <br> <br> She may hve forgotten about the 'bang' part but that's a problem for two seconds from now. <br> <br> "Hinoiri?" Her own ears perk up, and she changes direction, ducking low to run that way with some cover at least.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Fuck this. Fuck that. And fuck ''that'' as well--dodging the blasts from the faceless men to a point that he landed on wet debris and with a flick of mental intention, had a loose cubicle wall lifted into the air and used as a temporary shield and human sized swatter before shoving a couple of salarymen with it, promptly discarding it.<br><br>Back into the air as he saw Emi vault down the stairs. She had already stumbled and fell quite a few times, perhaps it would be better if their ''leader'' didn't go through so much hardships--especially when she ''was'' the one they were following. It only took a moment for him to catch up, diving down the stairs through the air and catching Miss Hoshino, bridal style.<br><br>"This might be simpler for you." He was soaking, visibly frustrated, but very much focused now on finishing what they came here to do. "Guide me where you need to go and I'll get you there."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Nephrite (90)}} has posed:'''<br>As Nephrite flew over the downed cubicles and towards the stairwell, he weaved in and out of the fired beams. Even the near misses seemed to seep into him like the chill from an opened window, tension and fatigue emanating from their draining force. He was sensitive to it. <br><br>He had to dodge one as a swoop took him under it, but another beam followed him, grazing his left thigh and piercing the cape behind him. He could feel the burn of it, but more than that the deep wave of tiredness that weighed him down like lead-- literally bringing him down until he was forced to land and run. Fortunately he was quick down the stairs, though they made his burned leg ache. As he marched forwards into the aisle of tellevisions, a large stripe of injury exposed by burnt trouser, he took note of the playback. <br><br>"Hinoiri!" He called out as well, a loud militaristic shout. He could feel the wash of anger as he started forwards again, following Zoisite and Emi.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>As more of them fall beneath the attacks on the way down, Emi seems pleased with the results, even if she's a LITTLE indignant about being carried as such, she'll do her best to direct, following the sense of where Hinoiri is. It's chaotic, but she frankly has *no* idea how to lead something like this. She just throws herself into things and makes the best of it. Hard to make plans like that, sometimes, but it's sort of what she's had to do a lot of the time. Working in dreams requires a sort of rolling flexibility, say. As she observes the video, having been set down, Emi says, "Is that...? ...no fucking way. I do not believe it," but then, before she has a chance to complete her thought, there's a voice. One distinctly recognizable as Hinoiri. Seems like rattling the bars of the cage did in fact have some of the impact she'd hoped for in the first place. <br><br>'That's her! Let's go!" <br><br>She's springing back into action, like she doesn't know how to stop moving and while she's taken some hits it doesn't seem like its slowing her down anyway. She's fairly tough, or maybe she's just used to it?<br><br> The grounds here seem abandoned, but the sounds of machinery in the background, of ringing phones and typewriters and keyboards and shuffling papers, only again grows louder as they chase after the sound of Hinoiri's voice.<br><br> At last. She's *there*, coming into view, and Emi doesn't slow down. She dives straight for Hinoiri and throws her arms around her in a rare, actual, Emi-given hug.<br><br>"YOU. I'm so sorry! It's all my fault. We'll get you out of here." Does it matter that she's a unicorn? Not right now. Not for the second it takes for Emi to realize that she's hugging a unicorn.<br><br>"... I mean. Hey. Good to see you."<br><br> ... but things aren't over yet -- not even close to it. While they may have gotten to their target, there's now a raft of these faceless men emerging seemingly the walls, forming up behind one particular, muscular, business suit clad figure. He steeples his fingers together and speaks. His voice rasps like shuffling paper.<br><br>"Employee Kirara. Return to your desk immediately. Security, please handle these ruffians." <br><br> Security? Clearly he means the figures behind him, right? <br><br> ..except not. Instead, the room seems to change around them. Alter. Were they that close to the printers before? Does it matter?<br><br> The answer is apparently yes, as the ancient inkjets shudder to life, drawing together into vaguely humanoid forms. Two of them. <br><br> Two. Printer. Nightmares. Flashes of light swirl along their surface as the scanners trigger and whir loudly -- and they go straight at them.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:102|Catra (102)}} has posed:'''<br>The flashbang goes off behind Catra, and now she remembers the 'bang' part. So, with her ears ringing (and flattened against her head) she just... runs after everyone else, since they said they found Hinoiri and she's gotta go save her friend. <br> <br> And honestly, that's weird. Catra's going to go save someone. Granted, she's done it before (Rashmi, Chibiusa -- well sort of -- but doing something that doesn't fall in line with being a nasty monstrous villain hasn't really sunk in yet). And then... they get there. <br> <br> And there's Hinoiri. <br> <br> "HI HINOIRI IT'S ME I CAME TO RESCUE YOU," she says in a totally normal voice, definitely not raising her voice at all after throwing that extremely loud explosive. Yes, her ears are still ringing. She has absolutely no idea what anyone's saying, actually, either her allies or the Salarymen, but... Just the same, she knows an enemy captain when she sees one. She has a look around, over each shoulder; and there's a bunch of the rank and file coming as well. <br> <br> So she tugs another cylinder off Amy's bandoleer and lobs a Fragmentation Grenade into the middle of them. <br> <br> "THERE HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?!" she asks, again in a totally normal tone of voice as the weapon goes off; she drops Mamoru's Zweihander off her shoulder, wielding it one-handed as she turns to square off against the big Salaryman, and points it at him. <br> <br> "HEY UGLY YOU'RE NEXT."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>After warding her eyes (and ears!) to Catra's flashbang, Ikiko charges along behind Emi, slowing down a bit as she weaves back and forth to stomp any noisy machinery along the way. This has the side effect of giving her some range to watch Emi glomp a unicorn -- okay, yeah, with that mane/hair and the attitude, yup, that's '''definitely''' Hinoiri --<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-- and y'know? Emi definitely has the right idea...<br><br>"GROUP HUG!" cheers Ikiko as she barrels into the hug, glomping both Hinoiri and Emi with a huge grin. She glances at the others, and invites them into the hug with a tilt of her head.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Not that she expects Neph and Zoi to be casual enough for this, nor does she figure that Catra won't be aloof -- but the invitation ''is'' offered, in case it might be accepted.)<br><br>The 'managerial' (?) Salaryman's orders are met with a silent 'blah blah blah' eyerolled-mouthing from the wolfgirl, but the conglomeration of printers into a pair of mechanical threats cause Ikiko to cautiously detach from the group hug and face the two 'security' monstrosities, growling in defiance as she sizes them up.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:32|Sayaka Miki (32)}} has posed:'''<br>It's a whole salad of emotions for Sayaka once they have finally finished going through all those endless Salarymen that just kept showing up again and again and again. But no matter what, the end was in sight. And then...<br><br>"Hinoiri?", Sayaka stares with surprise at her close friend in her natural form. She should have thought of that, by the power of the dreams. And concern and relief and happiness and disdain to the Salarymen for how tired the angry unicorn looks accompany that feeling.<br><br>She drops out of her ninja form in a second, her actual magical girl form and aspiration and dream and power returned to her, gritting her teeth at the injustice on her dear friend. "I am so glad so you are all right", Sayaka approaches her rapidly. But there are those printer guards trying to hinder them.<br><br>"<span style="color:#00C5FF">Sharpsong Legato!</span>", she shouts, the water tendrils showing up with but a spin of the dial on the Love PreBrace and they will go for the security units, twisting around them and trying to constrict them together, so they leave them time. Do you mind? They are having a reunion.<br><br>And then she throws her arms around Hinoiri's neck, hugging her. "Can't take my eyes off of you for a second", Sayaka smiles, comforted by Hinoiri's wellbeing. "I am glad to see you. Got everything in order?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Once she leapt from his arms, he slowed down until he was back on the ground, running slow enough so Nephrite can catch up to him. Glancing over once they were shoulder to shoulder, he notices the injury on the Shitennou's thigh and ''despite'' the absolute travesty that happened in the floor above them and still feeling the disgusting squelch of wet boots and uniform and his hair sticking to his face and neck--Zoisite reaches over to gently tug at his companion's shoulder.<br><br>"You got hit?" Frown deepened, taking stock of it. Why he stopped the two of them from running, he didn't entirely understand yet, but there was a quiet questioning glimmer in his green eyes that was not particularly common unless one was of his knightly brethren.<br><br>If only he could reach out and ''heal'' the wound. Burns were not a mystery to him, and it was clearly not the worst kind of injury they could've gotten. But the muted worry was there all the same. "Hopefully that won't follow you into the waking world."<br><br>An explosion caught his attention then, turning his head to look at the strange scene he was witnessing, of hugs and spiraling water tentacles and grenades being thrown. As well as a unicorn of some kind. Oh, no... That was Hinoiri. Not the strangest visage to behold, considering the mutant like Salaryman that lingered further along with a rather aggressive stance.<br><br>At that moment, there was nothing for him to truly say to Hinoiri besides acknowledging her. She had been there for him when his Heart Crystal was pulled from his body, and now he was here as a knight, returning a favor with ''some'' aspect of honor.<br><br>Not as much as a knight should have but he ''was still there.''<br><br>And now the final hurdle was ahead of them. A side glance to Nephrite. "So, Nephrite, how would you like to lead the charge? Might as well make sure these fiends don't get another chance to drag another one back into their ''corporate'' cage."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Nephrite (90)}} has posed:'''<br>"Grazed." He glanced down at it as Zoisite inspected him. "It looks nastier than it is, but... It did ground me." <br><br>Looking up though, he saw Hinoiri-- albiet in equine form. She was here and seemed to be largely unharmed. Cognizant and present, even. That was a good thing, although her appearance was a surprise. Still, he'd known such forms before, and it was undoubtedly that girl who had been laying in those blankets, beset by troubled slumber. <br><br>Of course, as expected, he would not have dreamed of rushing into the hugging and such. But he did feel a wash of relief abate some of the stresses taken on by that beam attack. They just needed to extract her now, and she would be well again. A clearing of his throat and a slight nod would return Ikiko's invitation, instead. An acknowledgment of all of them, in their own relief, at least. <br><br>They weren't out of the woods yet, though. His attention turned upon their surrounds, and rightfully so, given the emergence of the new threat. <br><br>Printers, of all things. He didn't fancy the type of papercut those things might give, shooting out reams at speed. Nevermind the blinding flashes of scanners. "You take me up and we'll see how well these things handle some shooting stars."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Hinoiri Kirara blinked a few times when her intentions to blow her way out of this were waylaid by... Emi? "Huh?" she asked. And then yelped as she was hugged. "What? How... oh. Huh. Eh. It's fine. I'm more just annoyed I got captured *again*. Like, I thought I was *done* with this. Like... don't these people have anything better to do than capture me?" Still, she was grinning and she gasped. And gave... Catra. The unicorn eyes. Oh my gosh how did they go that wide and precious. "Oh my gosh. Catra, YOU actually came to save me?" I mean, sure, she expected Emi to come and save her... But CATRA? They were friiiiiiiiends.<br><br>She then grinned to Emi, snickering, even as she got pulled into a group hug. "It's totally good to see you, too, lil miss delinquint."<br><br>And then she saw Cure Sharpsong! Giving her the biggest hug! Of course, her best friend would come as well, when would she ever leave her behind? Her flank may have wiggled a little bit. "Well, you know me. Apparently I'm just such the hot commodity they couldn't leave me for a second. I've got it all handled now that my friends are here. I should have known that chaos was you guys! But... seriously. I am *so tired* of getting kidnapped and stuff. It needs to be someone else's turn. You should get kidnapped next time, I can save you then," she said in a teasing, playful voice.<br><br>Then she glanced to Zoisite and Nephrite, snickering a little. "Oh, wow, even two of the butler five? I'm guessing that means Moonbeam and the most dapper of gardeners is around here somewhere? Good to--"<br><br>And then... then she was called 'Employee Kirara'. Her eye twitched. And she let out a sound that would be more expected from an angry, rabit wolf than a unicorn. "Oh. Oh no. I am *noponies* employee. I'm not sure how one sends in their resignation but I'm hoping that BURNING THE BUILDING TO THE GROUND COUNTS!" she yelled. "You made me FILL OUT SPREADSHEETS detailing which SPREADSHEETS needed to be FILLED OUT!" she yelled. "I don't DO busywork!"<br><br>Flame erupted from her horn and, hey, it looked like she had the exact same idea Zoisite did. Then...<br><br>"Oh, right. This... is weird, huh? Uhhhhh... how does this work... YAH!" And then her horn flashed. And she was in the air. As Cure La Licorne!<br><br>... Upside down. She flailed for a minute before crashing down. "O-ow... why..." Dream teleporting suuuuuucked.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>Everyone hates a printer. Every student, every office worker, every person in the world *hates printers*. For decades, they have been a source of immeasurable frustration, always going wrong when you need them to go right, and that's before one gets into the terrible nature of ink pricing!<br><br> What this means is that they're horribly strong nightmares... but friendship is stronger -- isn't that right, Hinoiri?<br><br> The printer's march forward with steady crunches of their meshed together bodies, animated by the sound of scanning and spitting out blasts of paper.<br><br>"PCLOADLETTER," says one, seeking to bury the mahou in fresh papercuts.<br><br>"PROBLEM WITH PRINTER INK SYSTEM, TURN OFF OR ON,"% as a blast of ink spews forth from it, sticking to their bodies like thick oil that the paper can stick to.<br><br>"BURIED IN PAPERWORK," chime the Salarymen in unison.<br><br> Emi is covered in paper quuickly herself, uniform torn here and there with blood oozing from the quick wounds. She doesn't care, or at least she doesn't seem to. Instead, she leaps forward and, hands interlacing and weaving webs, not just to defend herself, but to defend the others behindh er in turn, to buy them time to mount an attack. She may not be good at fighting in a team, but she can at least do that, but it's up to the others to beat them back.<br><br>All the while, the other Salarymen are observing. Plotting. One can feel their eyes on them -- a neat trick given that they don't typically have them. Were there always surveillance cameras on those walls, come to think of it?<br><br>"You were so close to promotion, employee Kirara," says the suit-clad businessman, "now you'll have to start all over at the bottom rung of the ladder *again*. We here at *UNINTELLIGIBLE* will always have a place for you..." But the salarymen behind him are coalescing, shifting... merging?<br><br>Uh oh.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:102|Catra (102)}} has posed:'''<br>"OF COURSE I CAME DID YOU THINK I WASN'T COMING?!" <br> <br> Catra gives Hinoiri a look that... just... softens immediately. <br> <br> Who can possibly resist those eyes? <br> <br> but there's Salarymen and printers and things. And the printers are just... ...Sigh. They're reminding Catra of Ted on a bad day. he never could figure out how to properly interact with a printer and was constantly complaining that they wouldn't work anymore after Catra had used them for sword practice. Honestly, the man was incompetent. <br> <br> Catra tugs another grenade out of Amy's bandoleer, and hooks a finger into the pin to pull it; and then she just stands there holding it for precisely a second and a half, letting the fuse burn down before she throws it, landing a high explosive in the midst of the printers (and not right near any of her ususally-enemies who aren't currnetly fighting her are because that would be rude). <br> <br> As the explosive goes off, she draws Homura's gun and empties the rest of the bullets into the printers. "WE SHOULD GET HINOIRI OUT," she declares, and then her eyes narrow. The ringing in her ears has stopped. Her ears flatten. Has she been talking that loud this whole time? Well damnit. Oh well whatever she meant to do that. Who's gonna call her on it anyway? She's still got grenades afterall. Really must get some more of these once she's awake. <br> <br> Printer paper is sticking to her, and causing little cuts, and even being as fast as she is she can only avoid so much of it. ...Sure would've been nice to have her Spirit Ember abilities under control by now, fire would be great here. "OW!! THE HELL." She meant to speak that loudly, this time. The gun goes back to its holster and the claws come out to shred as much of hte paper off her as she can, and she charges in at the printers, shifting to use Mamoru's Zweihander and basically just go to town on them. "Screw recycling," she snarls, "Send all these to the scrapheap!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Cure La Licorne looked to her friends... the people who came to save her... the ink. The paper. Emi, who was enduring for all of them... And took a slow, deeo breath. Calm. She was--<br><br>"OH BUCK YOUR PROMOTION AND BUCK YOU! You're lucky I don't come over and ram that inkjet right up your--" She managed to catch herself in time, but it was close.<br><br>"And honestly, I was so deep up my own flank that I couldn't even remember you people! Ugh! It was like before I came here, but minus the magic and add more paperwork! It was sheer Tartarus! Now then! Let's LIGHT THEM UP!" she yelled. Fire erupted from her hands. Right, human body, but dream powers. And best, she was a fire mage. Well, an everything mage, buuuuut...<br><br>"Oh, guess what! I RESONATE WITH MERMAIDS NOW! AND YOU MADE ME FORGET THAT!"<br><br>Fire erupted from her hands, to envelop some of the paper... turning it into flaming mermaids.<br><br>WHICH THEN SWAM AT THE ENEMY!<br><br>"Oceanic INFERNO!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Paperwork. Plastic. Metal and toner. That smell of freshly baked paper after a print. All fodder. But Zoisite did not know the fear of a salaryman. Did not comprehend the grind of middle class work. It was a muted thing that rang no bells. And schoolwork was almost militaristic, of graphic and notebooks and cursive writing in English, French, German, Italian, and Romansh. No... All he saw now was the potential to flick a light and see it burn to ash.<br><br>He did however nod towards Hinoiri as she recognized him, the hint of fire behind his eyes before taking up Nephrite's suggestion.<br><br>"Should I carry you as my bride?" Zoisite teased, a smug little smirk that only lasted until he was actually helping Nephrite into his arms and returning to the air--ever so careful as to not touch the burnt wound on the Shitennou's leg.<br><br>And as their bodies connected, it was a quiet thing, the sharing of energy. Discreet, perhaps intimate between his kind of senshi, but he began to give his energy over to his companion, wordlessly. All of it, enough whatever attacks would leave from Nephrite's fingertips would be more than a mere punch. More than mere stars.<br><br>It would carry both their frustrations, giving plastic monstrosities the taste of celestial fire. "Alright, Star Seer. ''Purge'' them."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Ikiko's growls quickly turn into yelps as she goes scrambling to get out of the way of the storm of paper and ink. Some of both still manages to get on her shoes, but at least it's better than getting stuck in her ''hair''.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or her furry ears and tail, for that matter.<br><br>The wolfgirl does her best to keep her distance, both from the attacks ''from'' the printers as well as Catra's and Hinoiri's furious ranged assault ''on'' the printers, but when the furious catgirl goes charging into melee, Ikiko takes the opportunity to dash in (stomping on the noisy suit's feet in the process) and start doing some well-placed kicks to the back of the ankles of the printer-monsters.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:32|Sayaka Miki (32)}} has posed:'''<br>"I am sure we can arrange that", Sharpsong laughs at Hinoiri's teasing, holding the hug for a second more before letting go. "Maybe we can get Riventon to make a grab for the rest of me, or I am sure we can make do with the Phantom Empire's disaster trio", she plays along, then takes a few steps back, giving Hinoiri enough space as she transforms as well.<br><br>Which, uh, leaves her standing all wrong. Dreams sure are weird, they definitely agree on that. Not only that, even meshed together, the printers are still trying to hit them, and the Salarymen are... fusing together? That is kind of gross.<br><br>Right, so, let's put an end to this nightmare already. "You trapped my friend in a dream for far too long. It's time we go", she raises her arm to spin the dial and gather enough energy for her special magic.<br><br>"<span style="color:#00C5FF">Symphony of Justice, turn into sacred power!</span>", she says, raising her right arm and with the left spinning the dial on her wrist. "<span style="color:#00C5FF">Love PreBrace!</span>" At the callout, 10 train wheels made of water spawn into existence floating in the air.<br><br>"<span style="color:#00C5FF">Pretty Cure Rondo con Toccata! Justice, return to the Heavens!</span>" Cure Sharpsong says, all the wheels converging and crashing into the mass of fused Salarymen all at the same time, exploding in a burst of purifying energy.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Nephrite (90)}} has posed:'''<br>"We both know you'd sooner be the one in a dress, out of the two of us." Even so, Nephrite smirked widely. <br><br>Gaining altitude is key. It takes them out of the way of much of the printer's directed targets, or any stray grenades, and gives the Knight an ample angle of aerial attack. Bullets, at the very least, would piercing plastic shell and fracturing scanner glass to weaken structural integrity. The Cat was right--it was time to go. <br><br>Emi's holding of the enemy was the opening, and wouldn't be wasted. The energising flow from Zoisite added and fed into Nephrites gathering power, coalescing down his arms as he held out his hands down towards the Nightmares below. The culmination of his close bond with Zoisite and the particular and ancient synergy that they shared-- for all their apparent bickering and chafe, their power united was fierce and full. Perfectly aligned, forming a burning blue flame in each levelled palm. Twin stars. <br><br>"<span style="color:#FF5926">C</span><span style="color:#EB5C39">a</span><span style="color:#D85F4D">p</span><span style="color:#C46361">t</span><span style="color:#B16674">i</span><span style="color:#9D6988">v</span><span style="color:#8A6D9C">a</span><span style="color:#7670B0">t</span><span style="color:#6373C3">i</span><span style="color:#4F77D7">n</span><span style="color:#3C7AEB">g</span> <span style="color:#3C74E9">S</span><span style="color:#4F6BD4">t</span><span style="color:#6361BF">a</span><span style="color:#7658AA">r</span><span style="color:#8A4F95">s</span><span style="color:#9D4580">t</span><span style="color:#B13C6B">r</span><span style="color:#C43356">i</span><span style="color:#D82941">k</span><span style="color:#EB202C">e</span><span style="color:#FF1616">!</span>!" <br><br>As they burst forth, a small barrage of charged light would fire, starlike cascades of flame down to explode violently against printers below. Heat and bright light upon impact.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>The paper shrieked like it was alive, ink splattering the ground and eating away at it like some kind of molecular acid out of a movie. It eats away at Emi's webs, and anyone else that happens to be splattered with it. Ikiko's kick makes a leg buckle, just in time for the Oceanic Inferno to strike, sending one of the printer's into the other in force. Ikiko is backhanded in the process, sending her crashing explosives and bullets do a number on the other./ It lunges towards her, now, bringing its arms together in a massive crash of printers on either side of her. While she'll be able to get out of the way, she's going to get clipped. They move *very* fast for their size -- but it too is swiftly burned away and severely damagfed by the twin attacks of Nephrite and Zoisite before it toppled towards her feet, breaking into several smaller printers once again that are loudly voicing their error codes.<br> <br> The remaining one rights itself from having its leg bashed in by Ikiko just in time for it be smashed by Oceanic Inferno, ignoring the paper within it and causing it to light up with sparks and embers flying off it in all directions. <br><br>Meanwhile, Sayaka's wheeling attack converges on the head of the department. He weathers the storm to some extent, though he is left smoking and hissing and his jacket has been shredded.<br><br> The Salarymen behind him are not so durable, however, several of those attempting to merge by climbing up onto each other like some horrific malleable man made of clay are broken back out, burning with purifiying force delivered by Sayaka. In fact, several of them dissipate all together from having been caught in a vulnerable moment to it. Still, for a blow that strong, it should've done *more*. Seems like purifying nightmare energy might be more difficult for someone not aligned with dreams.. but it *worked*. Those Salarymen won't be bothering anyone again.<br><br>Emi looks surprised by this, and pleased.<br><br> Unfortunately, the branch manager is *entirely* displeased and he begins to stride forward towards them, his hands raising to his face as he begins to prepare his own blast.<br><br>"DO YOU HAVE A MOMENT? WE NEED TO TALK," he declares, all too loudly. His words strike at the hearts of the mahou, like a stake of anxiety being driven right through them. <br><br>"YOUR PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN DISSAPOINTING. WE EXPECTED BETTER OF YOU."<br><br> Emi flinches away .. and then vanishes. <br><br> After that, each of them see the others start vanishing in turn. Each being yanked from the dream world by Emi's swift actions. She decided to bail and she's taking you with her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:102|Catra (102)}} has posed:'''<br>With the printers largely taken care of (With Ikiko's support on her end!), Catra slams th Zweihander into the floor so she'll have both hands free. Both hands free, so she can pull the grenade bandoleer off her shoulders, and look at the final foe for the night. One grenade she takes out and stuffs in a pocket; and then she holds the grenades, narrows her eyes, and breaks into a big grin. <br> <br> "Guess what." She loops her fingers through the pins -- all of them -- and yanks them out all at once, before lobbing the entire bandoleer. <br> <br> And a moment later, all of the grenades -- labelled Incendiary, Hellball, Thermite, and Dazzler (the heck...??) -- at the branch manager before them. Well,kind of behind it actually, soe when a combined explosion of fire and more fire and basically steel-melting fire and a disco-effect of LED lights all goes off, it's basically happening behind the enemy. <br> <br> Hotaru's pistol comes out next, and gets reloaded; it gets joined by Amy's in her other hand, and the feline unloads them into the monster, and then draws her sword to charge in and... <br> <br> Wakes up instead. <br> <br> The feline sits bolt upright, eyes wide, and swings her sword around at everything nearby. Except, she isn't holding it here, so she just kind of looks like a dork, and she stops, pretending she meant to do that. <br> <br> "...Ow," she comments, looking down at where the paper cut her. And she's bleeding. <br> <br> "...Thought this was all.." she trails off. "You know what nevermind." And with that, she gets up and walks off, to go in search of a washroom to clean up.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:131|Hinoiri Kirara (131)}} has posed:'''<br>Cure La Licorne was so ready to throw down, was so ready to...<br><br>And then she was awake. And... "Oh sweet Sora I feel like I just got stampeded by a horde of buffalo and then... ughhhhh... like my soul was leaked out of my ears... how can I be this tired after *just* waking up... how long have I been... trapped there? It feels like.... years...." Days.<br><br>"... I just... gonna..." She slowly got to her feet... wobbly...<br><br>And then gave ALL of them a hug. Well. Unless they were like 'Noooo, stop!' And then? "Next time one of YOU can get kidnapped. I'm tired of being in trouble! I wanna save someone else for a change," she said with a cheeky grin. Before heading to get cleaned up herself... And probably give a cat girl a hug.<br><br>... Also, she was so going to pass out soon and sleep a real, actual peaceful, non-exhausting sleep. She hoped.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Back in the waking world, there's a loud yelp and a bunch of blanket-entangled flailing as Ikiko contends with a combo of printer-inflicted bruises and realm-shifted sudden changes in velocity. "Ow," she finally says coherently, her form stabilizing back to mundane as her henshins sort out what's in which realm.<br><br>She disentangles herself in time to give Hinoiri a proper hug, then checks the extent of her own injuries. Bruised back, but nothing seems to be broken; also, while the actual oiliness of the printer ink appears to have been left behind, the icky sensation of it was ''still'' lingering.<br><br>"I could probably use a nice, warm bath to soak in," Ikiko sighs, carefully standing up with a wince as she joins the group heading for a waswhroom. "But for now, a quick wash-up will have to do, and I ''hope'' it'll work on this echo of the inky feeling."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:86|Izou Saitou (86)}} has posed:'''<br>Ah, there was the satisfaction he was looking for. The cacophony of paper and metal and the acrid smell of burning plastic and ember-ing silicone. From a smug smirk came a grin, all teeth and eye reaching, a twinkle in his green eyes until it was all halted by shouting of a staff member.<br><br>Blinks, frowning then, but only just so as though he were more annoyed by it than anything. And before he could mutter anything to Nephrite about his thoughts on the situation--<br><br>He vanished.<br><br>Into the waking world.<br><br>Words that were meant for Nephrite were nothing but a mumbling sleepy confusion as Izou if jostled awake involuntarily. No injuries, so to speak, but his bonnet was off and hair felt slightly damp, with the rest of him. Having turned over from back to his side, limbs entangled firmly around his roommate. Half his body laying on top of Masato's chest, one leg hooked around the other's, and a small pinprick of the rose's thorns against one of his hands.<br><br>Free hand lifted, rubbing away some of the sleep before he could remember where he was, why he was there and he was currently beneath him.<br><br>''Oh for fuck sake--''<br><br>''"Ugh..."'' Gaze lifted to see if his roommate was awake yet.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:90|Nephrite (90)}} has posed:'''<br>Barely registering the sensation of falling as Zoisite vanished, only a second or so passed before Nephrite followed. It felt like a seamless transition, slipping back into his body and being suddenly much more aware of the weight of it. Bone of lead, the fatigue taken on by that stressful beam clinging to him still. He felt a mild headache behind his eyes as they opened, aware of the throb of his outer thigh. <br><br>Thankfully not as bad as it could've been, but still with skin seared like a hot piece of metal had been pressed to it. It stung, radiating discomfort through muscle. <br><br>Little wonder, Izou's gods damned leg was on it. So was the rest of him. That explained the weighted feeling. He struggled to sit up with a groan, shoving Izou over as he did. <br><br>"Well, that's certainly is one way to resign--" The suddenness of Hinoiri's arms around his shoulders cut short whatever his thought was, though she was off again just as fast, leaving Masato a little bewildered. Ultimately, though, he just tugged at his pyjamas and attempted to straighten himself out some. <br><br>It was a good thing, after all, that Kirara was safe for now.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:176|Emi Hoshino (176)}} has posed:'''<br>Emi herself had gently shaken them awake, moving from person to person with a swiftness. She doesn't look anywhere near as battered as she should but it's clear that she's hurting, moving stiffly. That was a*lot* of effort, and more than that, she's exhausted. Hinoiri's hug isn't even fought this time, that's how tired she must be!<br><br> "... nobody push themselves too hard today," she tells them, before flopping over on the matress she was on and just 4... staring at a wall. <br><br>Her head hurts.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:32|Sayaka Miki (32)}} has posed:'''<br>Sayaka is considering trying out some weird mixup of her moves when she can see that the purification doesn't seem to work quite right? Maybe reinvigorating dance and purifying wheels so the two can prop them all back up top to form?<br><br>Before she can decide however, she can see that it ended up pulling through and there is the manager yelling about a disappointing performance, making Sayaka shrug. "What about it? We got Hinoiri back and you are never getting your hands on her again", she stares at him in the last few seconds before she starts waking up.<br><br>These dream demons are just as annoying as the waking ones.<br><br>Back in the real world, both Sayaka and Ula start stretching and blinking. "Well, one more thing you can cross out from the to do list you definitely have", Ula sighs, looking around the room.<br><br>Sayaka grins, ruffling the mermaid's hair. "Of course, I will go look for it. I must have it somewhere", she goes along with it, and looks at Hinoiri one last time.<br><br>She looks tired, but well. Nothing that an actual restful sleep won't fix.<br> <br>
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