forty-five sins

[endthem]

[...it is time.

This is the moment--this one--that he has been waiting for. Waiting, planning, sweating, bleeding to make happen. It is time to show this little world just what it is trying to keep captive. Fight the chains until they break, wrap them around the throat of their captor and pull until the air runs out.

Opening the door to the house,

Comments

BATTLE

[endthem]

[both monsters are revealed now, and the combatants are closing in. The monotonous sound of marching mobbing townspeople has broken up into explosive sounds of battle, little pockets of chaos erupting and beginning to break apart the steady progression of the crowd.

Shit is getting serious now.]

((ooc: battle threads--mental, physical, and otherwise--will go up here as things progress))

ROUND ONE — Joshua Christopher

[fastest]

[ After nearly throwing Booth to his doom and knocking poor Amelia clean over, Joshua's going to land hard on the ground in a crouch, between Legato and the ones who have already tried attacking him.

The demon horns are unmistakable now as Joshua slowly stands, the glint of a blade flashing in the setting sun's light. There are still countless city residents surrounding him, though they give him a wide berth as he brandishes the sword in front of him.

His voice is off-kilter; calm, but with an eerie edge to it. ]

So many are here so quickly. I'm impressed. How did you quiet the 'noise'?

It puts me in a good mood. You can walk away if you want.

[ ooc; This is where the official battle starts! Beware that Joshua will attack you if you attack either him or Legato. Legato will not be fighting in this round! Anyone is welcome to join this fight.

If your character simply wants to communicate with Legato for now, the 'Greetings' thread is still open for that. ]

[thedicearecast]

[Amelia has no time to react when Joshua swoops down into her; she barely even sees anything more than a blur before she's sprawled on the ground. What's worse is that her gun is gone from her fingers, right when she needs it most.

She tries to get back on her feet, but that effort ionly sends a sharp bolt of pain through her chest. The impact has done more than just knocked her over, damaging her ribs. Amelia knows she has to fight through it, however; she's as good as dead if she stays on the ground. So with one hand wrapped around her midsection, she forces herself up to finally face whatever took her down like it had been nothing.]

After working so hard to get here? No way.

[Although looking at the horns and the sword, Amelia has to admit that walking away is probably the smart idea.]

[kyasdaughter]

[Katara isn't really sure how she found herself here, how she managed to fight through the crowd, but her breath catches when she sees Amelia go down. She drops back, digging her heels into the ground and settling into a defensive stance, eyes ticking between Amelia and Joshua.

She is panicking, struggling not to show it on her face as she does.]

We're not leaving. Sorry.

[And then, back to Amelia --]

Are you alright? Get behind me.

[beltbucklerebel]

[meanwhile, Booth heads for the top of the clocktower. Sakura's healing did wonders, leaving only an ache and stiffness behind, and he ignores that now. Taking the stairs two at a time, he's determined to get that shot that had been stolen.

Once there, however, he has a dilemma. Legato....or Joshua.

He liked the kid, or had, before whatever had changed him. But he was obviously a danger, and a look through the scope shows that he's moved to act as a guard for the blue haired man.

Jaw clenched, he sets the sight on Joshua, but his finger hesitates on the trigger.]

[haruno]

[ YEAH STALKING BOOTH

OR SOMETHING

Sakura's mostly using this as an excuse to get a good view on the field and all the people involved because that is something she can do. Keeping pace with Booth was fairly... easy... and if he got taken out of here once, it's possible he could be again.

Well.

Maybe she can help. Maybe not. But either way, this shows her where to look. ]

[azure_guardian]

[and Kite's on the ground close by, his weapons drawn and calming watching Joshua.

he doesn't say anything but the AI is ready for any movement that could be a sign of an attack.]

[fastest]

[ Joshua just smiles at the few that respond, before suddenly shifting and glancing to the side. If Booth is paying attention, Joshua is waving directly at him, despite the distance.

Or he was waving, before that hand suddenly halts and reaches out in their direction. To anyone near Joshua this probably looks strange, out of the blue, but they won't have much time to stare, as there's suddenly a crackling ball of light being flung towards the top of the clocktower, right for both Sakura and Booth.

The explosion that results is no small feat, a large chunk out of the top being blown right off. Even attacking Joshua directly now isn't going to be much help for the poor mass of 'innocent' civilians now standing in the way of falling rubble, hm? ]

No need for so many players.

[thedicearecast]

[Amelia is both surprised and relieved to have more people suddenly there, although she shakes her head at the order to move behind the other girl. Even hurt, Amelia can do something--maybe take advantage of some opening to get her gun back, or go after Legato

[beltbucklerebel]

[that wave catches his attention. It's just enough warning, that bit of motion before the light begins to head for them, for Booth to turn and dive away from the rifle. As he moves, he reaches for Sakura, intending to drag her to the floor with him]

Get-

[but there's no chance to finish the command as the upper section of the clocktower is suddenly immersed in explosions and light]

[haruno]

[ Sakura sees the flash of light ans assumes the worst, moving toward Booth as he makes an attempt to drag her to the floor with them and propelling them backward with a roll that -- leaves her hitting her head against the tower floor something wicked as the explosions and light are suddenly right there in their faces.

Canon strikes again! ]

[kyasdaughter]

[It's probably not a smart move, whipping away from Joshua to stare at the falling rubble, and immediately she begins to run toward it. There's water nearby; she can feel it, and she throws her arms up, creating a wide structure of ice that, while not incredibly stable, manages to at least deflect the debris crashing from the tower away from most of the innocent residents of the city.

She doesn't move far, however, still aware of Amelia's need to retreat.]

[honorinflames]

[it's taken a while for Zuko to punch and blast his way through the crowd, and for a second he's pretty sure that he's disoriented and going the wrong way-- but then there is an explosion, followed by a familiar arc of ice. That would be a pretty good indicator of where to go.

Soon, he's stumbling into the small clearing in the crowd, and abruptly finding himself staring at... wait.]

--Joshua??

[kyasdaughter]

Zuko? What are you doing here? Get back!

[She's panting, out of breath and worried, before the look is completely shattered and she gives him an honestly baffled look.]

Wait.

That's Joshua?

--but he seemed so sweet!

[fastest]

[ And Joshua is watching Katara as she actually does something competent. Saving the civilians? Well, that was helping out Legato, so maybe he should thank her.

Pointing his sword in Katara and Zuko's direction, he calls out towards them, voice taking on a much lighter tone all of the sudden. Really, the lack of challenge is annoying...but just how blissfully quiet everybody is puts him in such a good mood. ]

Is that 'waterbending'? Zuko, aren't you a 'firebender'? This is so boring. Show me what you can do!

[honorinflames]

[this is difficult to process. And it really takes him a second to get the fact that Joshua was indeed the antagonist here. His face twists up in anger, but he can't completely hide the fact that he's pretty horrified]

What happened to you??