023 [Event Action]

[vulcanblazer]

[Currently, the event is going on in full force, and Adell knows well and good he's affected by it.  But what he doesn't know is that thought bubbles can appear above your head even while you sleep.  Now, normally this would be a non-issue considering he normally doesn't nap and has his own room.  But a problem occurs; last night, he didn't get

Comments

[Action]

[luka_nightfever]

[Luka's sitting in the ground, her knees pulled up against her chest and eyes fixated on Adell's bubble thought. Yay free TV.]

[Action]

[vulcanblazer]

[Adell's unaware he's being watched by her. Currently airing in Adell's brain:

Adell is standing atop a cliff, looking out to the ocean glinting in a sunset. The waves are rolling along and crashing against the shore and cliff face below. He's just looking out to the horizon for the moment, until the sound of a motorcycle approaching snaps him out of his reverie.

Riding the motorcycle is Luka, dressed in a black leather riding outfit. She waves to him after she brings the vehicle to a stop. She dismounts and approaches him. Her voice and mannerisms reflect her standard personality, however.

"I knew you'd be all the way out here. You're not having second thoughts about what we agreed to, are you?"

Adell spins around and gives her a quick thumbs-up. "Of course not. I agreed to it, and I'm staying on until the end!"]

[Action]

[luka_nightfever]

[010101000110100001101001011100110010000001101001011100110010000001110011011011110010000001100011011011110110111101101100.]

[Waah, Luka looks so mature there. Luka wants the creators to make her grow up like that one day.]

[Still watching.]

[Action]

[vulcanblazer]

[Luka's dream counterpart smiles lightly in return.

"I'd expect nothing less of you. This tournament is extremely important."

"Of course. Whoever wins becomes the next Defender of Earth, after all."

"Kurtis recommended you for a reason. He was the last Defender, and he believes you have what it takes. You have to prove him right. You have to make sure that the title is not misused. Only you can bring the Soaring Helldam to victory."

Adell nods, then looks back out to the sea for a moment, seemingly lost in thought...]

[action]

[littlestdevil]

[La la la, on her way to the lib-

Koakuma stops. And stares.]

[Action]

[vulcanblazer]

Zzzz.

[For the moment, Adell can be seen in a laboratory talking to Patchouli, who's dressed more like a researcher rather than a magician, but still has her hat on. In the background is a giant robot that looks like a cross between a Gundam and Adell (Specifically the color scheme being more focused on red, white, and black, the ridiculous tie and seams along the face that resembles his scars). Eventually, they both look toward the giant robot and Patchouli speaks up. She sounds as dour as she ever does when she's lecturing someone.

"The Soaring Helldam isn't a toy! You can't keep fighting with it like it was indestructable. Not like your hard head."]

[action]

[littlestdevil]

[Well...this is interesting. She might end up a little late to her job, but then again, nobody actually gave her any specific times that she would have to be there. So...she'll watch a little more.]

[Action]

[vulcanblazer]

[Adell shrugs at first.

"Good to know you were so worried about me, Patchouli."

The wizard instead shoots him a withering glare, and keeps her tone chiding. "Those magical power cores are dangerous. As it is, Winry and Koakuma are going to be pulling two shifts to fix the damage you did with your showboating. And this is only the first round!"

In fact, Koakuma can be seen flying around with her demon wings carrying boxes of tools to the various opened compartments on the giant robot. Looks like there is some work to be done, definitely. She's dressed more appropriately for mechanical work, though.

Adell's tone turns dry. "Showboating? Patchy, did you even watch that fight? It's not like they were shooting blanks at me."

"Then maybe you should learn how to dodge better." She produces a spellcard from her coat pocket and waves it menacingly at him. "...Starting now."]

[esper_flight]

[Terra enters the barracks, checking to see if it's empty before she begins training. Normally, she wouldn't care, but lately, she's taken to being as reclusive as possible so as not to let people read her thoughts.

Upon seeing Adell snoozing, Terra backs away, intending to let him sleep. However, the images catch her attention and she...stares.]

(What...?)

[vulcanblazer]

[Terra is treated to a sequence of the Soaring Helldam staring down another giant robot, this one garishly decorated with tons of different colors and done up like a jester. Over the radio, loud shouting from Adell can be heard.

"You'll never get the power of the Overlord Helldam and you'll never hurt Terra either! Not while I still live and breathe!"

In response, there is the very familiar laugh of Kefka as he returns the barb.

"You hero types are so pathetic. The power of my Magister Helldam is far beyond your comprehension! And when it merges with the Overlord Helldam, nothing will stop me from becoming God of this World!

...No one ever said Adell was a good writer.]

[esper_flight]

[Terra doesn't understand most of the terms being thrown around, but she doesn't care. This is so interesting. And it's sweet of him to defend her from Kefka like that. Despite trying to be respectful of mind-reading, she figures another moment won't hurt and crouches near him, watching intently.]

[vulcanblazer]

["Never!"

And with that, the Soaring Helldam leaps forward, one of its mechanical fists glowing with red energy. It lashes out at the Magister Helldam, but deflects off an unseen barrier as it raises its hand.

A terse laugh is the answer. "Don't you see, boy? You have no hope. Being a Defender of Earth is little more than a farce. It's meaningless. Just like the very existance of this planet!" And then Kefka's voice turns from psychotic laughter to a very dark, menacing growl. "...And everyone on it."

And with that, the Magister Helldam's hand crackles with lightning and looks like it's about to unleash a torrent of lightning at Adell's mobile suit.]

[Action]

[tintobrat]

[Hello random tree. Hello Adell. Hello... what?

Lilly stops in her path to watch Adell's dreams.]

[Action]

[vulcanblazer]

[Lilly is treated to a sequence where the Soaring Helldam has just finished tearing a random mook mobile suit in half with one punch. It shifts around on its heels, making plenty of stereotypical anime mechanical noises. She's then treated to a camera shift into the inside of the cockpit, where Adell is standing in a matching position to his giant robot, and a female voice crackles to life over the radio.

"Adell, come in! The force at Paladrine was a diversion! The real attack is heading for the Emperess's palace! Lady Pendragon is on station to defend it, but the force is substantial! We need you back here now!"

Adell's face curls into a frown and a steeled look of determination crosses his face. "Dammit! I'm on my way now!"

And with that, the camera view shifts back outside to the Soaring Helldam leaping into the air and thrusters carrying it off at speeds Lilly might find unbelievable.]

[Action]

[tintobrat]

[Adell dreams about her!? At least she heard her name among all of that other nonsense. Her own curiosity causes her to stick around to see what creepy, horrible things Adell thinks about her in his sleep.]

[Action]

[vulcanblazer]

[She doesn't have to wait long. The scene cuts away from the Soaring Helldam as it takes off. Instead, it cuts to a shot of a massive, beautiful palace cut from many different styles of rock and marble. But standing in the courtyard are a set of five giant robots, four of which are generally unremarkable, but one that stands taller than the others and looks closer to a regal warrior. Its primary colors are deep royal blue and white. The camera slowly pans behind the five defenders, and from the distance a number of other giant robots are approaching.

Then, Lilly's voice rings out as the larger, regal mobile suit moves as though it is drawing a sword.

"Do not allow the enemy to get near the palace! Dragon Flight, engage the enemy now

[lunarianlegacy]

[After getting his ass handed to him the physical altercation with Kain at the house, and then all the embarrassment of thoughts showing up where everyone can see them, Ceodore's only got one option left: stay the heck away from the house until this goes away. By the Crystals, it really needs to go away!

He's realized that being around people is a bad idea too because it feels too much like playing voyeur to see their thoughts. So he comes up with the brilliant idea to head into the barracks. It's a better use of his time than panicking, and gives him a chance to improve so next time he might get the upper hand on the dragoon.

Except there is someone sleeping and OH NO! Thoughts show up from dreams too?! Suddenly a lot is making a strange sort of sense. Like why he got beat up. Still, these mechanical creatures fighting in the guy's dream are just so fascinating, Ceodore can't help but stand there and just... watch.]

What are those?

[vulcanblazer]

[Ceodore's question doesn't rouse Adell from his slumber.

[The Soaring Helldam wheels around and slugs a lesser, evil looking giant robot in the face, crumpling its facial armor and causing it to dramatically and violently explode. A panning in closeup zooms into the Soaring Helldam's cockpit, revealing Adell inside of it.

He frowns and shifts his weight to throw another punch at a nearby foe similar to the last. The camera shot reveals that the mobile suit is following Adell's physical actions almost precisely. This time, the enemy's arm is knocked clean off and the resulting force sends the mook careening over on his back.

A loud, hot-blooded roar can be heard in Adell's voice: "It's going to take a lot more than that to stop me and the Soaring Helldam!"]

[lunarianlegacy]

[Ceodore really just can't help himself. He's never seen a TV in his life and all these detailed and rapidly moving images are fascinating for him. He inches closer just to inspect the images.

He's just in awe. The explosions, the crumpled armor, the fighting machines.]

Astounding. I wonder if those are real.

[vulcanblazer]

[If Ceodore thought that was cool, wait until what he sees happens next. The Soaring Helldam leaps into the air, and is carried aloft into the sky by jets of blue flame from its thrusters on its back and in its feet. It rights itself and flies through the sky toward another giant robot, also flying in the sky.

This one is a larger suit, and more unique than the mooks formerly being trashed. This suit is painted in black, and is carrying a sword made of pink energy in one hand, and a beam rifle in the other. Its eyes pulse with an eerie green light...

And it's here the Soaring Helldam launches a shattering punch toward this other mobile suit... but it deftly evades and attempts to counterattack with its beam saber. Adell's suit manages to evade this strike, and there's a brief staredown...

"So you're the one responsible for this attack?!"]