Between the mysteries of last weekend, the increasing number of visions and unexplained phenomena, and the attack on Vakama yesterday, everyone is likely on edge. When Tails calls you into his lab around noon, you all are likely already aware of how this is going to go.
Once again, a surge of Chaos Energy in the city is what draws you in, though this time it is a much larger burst than before. Sonic and Knuckles are here with you as usual, with Tails remaining behind to look after Vakama and the base. Unlike before, you aren't met with robots or destruction. In fact, this city block looks remarkably peaceful, aside from where Eggman's chroma has overtaken most of the buildings.
"So good of you all to finally arrive."
The voice comes from up above. You recognize it as the one you heard last week, through that gemstone the Tails Doll had. Perched on one of the buildings is a... fox? No, he's larger than Tails, and wearing a large silver mask that obscures most of his features. In one hand he holds Vakama's missing mask; his other is extended with six gemstones floating around it, a soft teal glow from beneath his black glove marking the seventh. There's a different gemstone on the center of his chest as well, though it doesn't look like the fake Chaos Emeralds you've seen before.
"You all have the pleasure of fighting me, Infinite. I am the Doctor's trusted ally... and I have been watching you all. Your struggles with my nightmares and illusions were so... delicious. You have my thanks for the show."
He kicks off the building, floating towards you all and the ground, though stopping high enough up, still out of reach. And for those of you getting any bright ideas, a deep red begins to fill your vision, tinting the corners of it as the very world itself begins to warp around you - this isn't exactly Chicago anymore, you see. The buildings still exist, wrapped in white chroma, though they bend and twist in ways they shouldn't, making it hard to tell what's real and what isn't.
"I'll snuff out your lives here and now for the Doctor's ambitions! Let's see what you're made of!"
( she doesn't want to do this. she doesn't- she convinced herself she was just using kanade as a lifeline, that she'd abandon her with ease as soon as kanade failed to save her, but-
she has to. but summoning the pillar of ice to block (and maybe trap?) kanade in place hurts. )
I- ( love you, somehow? rely on you? will watch you burn beautifully. ) I won't let him use you. And I'll avenge us.
( mafuyu catches kanade's wrist, and pries the knife from her hands before plunging it into the illusion's heart.
it's not real.
its not real.
it's not real it's not real it's not real but it's warm---
and the air is cold.
the air and the ground and her blood is all cold, and ice rapidly forms all over, cracking and crackling as the temperature drops and reaches for anyone it can with the hunger of winter, all while mafuyu screams, clutching her head- though the brunt of the ice goes for infinite, those in mafuyu's vicinity may want to roll 1d20 for damage. also per redd, people can use this to break free of illusions as well! but not deal with the illusion battles. )
Edited (redd correct me if i misworded that) 2025-02-08 21:58 (UTC)
[Oh. Ok she's already mad. He understands but also. This isn't really constructive.]
Okay, great! But first, I think we need to get everyone else free of their illusions! Right now, all you're doing is hurting yourself and your teammates.
[And he pulls on something he'd been told before that... Only sometimes helped.]
[Okay... This is good! This is moving in a positive direction!!!
What the fuck does he do now. What do people do in this sort of situation. Shit. Fuck. This is why people don't like you, Fukuda. That and the serial killing. Think, Fukuda!!! What would happen on TV!!!]
Umm... I'm probably not the right person to offer, but do you need a hug?
[As he looks around frantically for someone to actually offer the hug. She won't want to hug him he's weird and also covered in blood.]
[ Wednesday finishes off one girl best friend to see her replacement(?) girl best friend uh. Struggling. Okay.
Fukuda mentions hugging. She is bad at hugging. Wednesday has hugged once - Enid, after a life and death situation. She has been assured that it was not the worst hug in the world.
So she's going to try to hug Mafuyu. Hopefully the cold makes the bleeding less intrusive than it otherwise would be? You must understand that this is the stiffest hug in the world from a girl who is all alternating gangles and sharp points, but. She has to try. ]
You'll have your time to kill him, if that's what you want. Don't rush in.
the ice stops, but mafuyu is- worn, unable to even stand- the way she collapses is. probably concerning, as is the buildup of frost on her again, and all mafuyu can do is cry into her hands. moving.... hurts. it hurts. it hurts, it all hurts, and she just wants to...
to disappear.
she tries saying something, but- nothing comes out. )
[Her lips pursing into a firm line, she reaches down to tug Mafuyu up and back onto her feet, doing her best to ignore the stinging cold of frost (10).]
Mafuyu. Mafuyu, you fought really well. But we can't stop here. It isn't safe.
Besides- look, look!
[She utilizes her lasers again, not for an attack, but... rather, tracing the shape of a pair of cat ears, floating above her head. With her free hand, she even mimics a cat's paw.]
I'm a lucky kitty, nya~! I'll guide you back safely! So please...
[Well, it was worth a shot. She'll let the lasers fade and instead pull with all her strength (which is a surprising amount for her size?) to get Mafuyu up.]
Upsie-daisy. Let's get you out of here.
[She'll tug her along, away from the ice and combat, getting a bit frosty but nothing unbearable for her (12).]
( oh, the ice has stopped! mostly. mafuyu has once again pushed her powers too hard and is in danger herself, but that's just... her. rio is completely safe.
[ Mm. Okay. Not helping. She can understand that. ]
Fukuda, we should get her out of here if we can. She's... I don't think she's made for this sort of thing.
[ she says, as if anyone is. as if she herself is. she imagines the bolt hitting enid, she will imagine it again and again for a long time-
No. Either way, she was right - she doesn't have it in her to help others like this. ]
I should... I should get back to fighting. Other people need assistance. But... I've found myself more invested in her continued well-being than I expected. Are you all right to take care of her?
I... I'll keep an eye on her, sure. But I don't think it'd be fair to take the decision to fight away from her.
[Glancing at Mafuyu, remembering what she said.]
Both her and I aren't cut out for this, but I think everyone needs to get a shot off on Infinite after what he put us all through. If it gets too dangerous I'll get her out of here, though.
[ he's right, probably. she doesn't know. for the first time in a long time, wednesday feels like she might be out of her depth. ]
All we can do is what we're able to do. But I... mm.
[ She shakes her head. ]
I have to do something. And I don't know how to make her feel better. So I'm going to make sure no one gets a chance to make her feel worse. That's what I know how to do.
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she has to. but summoning the pillar of ice to block (and maybe trap?) kanade in place hurts. )
Don't- not with her, not with Kanade-
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Infinite says nothing, simply watching from where he floats.]
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she must.
she tries to freeze kanade's feet in place. )
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UH OH!
I'm sorry.
I- ( love you, somehow? rely on you? will watch you burn beautifully. ) I won't let him use you. And I'll avenge us.
( mafuyu catches kanade's wrist, and pries the knife from her hands before plunging it into the illusion's heart.
it's not real.
its not real.
it's not real it's not real it's not real but it's warm---
and the air is cold.
the air and the ground and her blood is all cold, and ice rapidly forms all over, cracking and crackling as the temperature drops and reaches for anyone it can with the hunger of winter, all while mafuyu screams, clutching her head- though the brunt of the ice goes for infinite, those in mafuyu's vicinity may want to roll 1d20 for damage. also per redd, people can use this to break free of illusions as well! but not deal with the illusion battles. )
CLEAR
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He's getting pelted with ice as he approaches (8) but trying to call out to Mafuyu anyway.]
Miss Mafuyu! You have to calm down! You still want to pay that bastard back for what he's done to all of us, don't you?
[Sorry he's not here to offer comfort he's here to say "aren't you tired of being nice. Don't you just want to go ape shit"]
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( ...
her ice flares again, but infinite is behind his fucking barrier. )
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Okay, great! But first, I think we need to get everyone else free of their illusions! Right now, all you're doing is hurting yourself and your teammates.
[And he pulls on something he'd been told before that... Only sometimes helped.]
You have to breathe. Breathe deeply, okay?
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the ice seems to be receding a bit... but mafuyu's out of words, too. )
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What the fuck does he do now. What do people do in this sort of situation. Shit. Fuck. This is why people don't like you, Fukuda. That and the serial killing. Think, Fukuda!!! What would happen on TV!!!]
Umm... I'm probably not the right person to offer, but do you need a hug?
[As he looks around frantically for someone to actually offer the hug. She won't want to hug him he's weird and also covered in blood.]
roll: 3 (prev roll was 11-)
( the scent of blood hits and oh god. oh god. no no no- the ice worsens again and mafuyu just... sobs. )
I'm sorry! I can't- I can't!
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Fukuda mentions hugging. She is bad at hugging. Wednesday has hugged once - Enid, after a life and death situation. She has been assured that it was not the worst hug in the world.
So she's going to try to hug Mafuyu. Hopefully the cold makes the bleeding less intrusive than it otherwise would be? You must understand that this is the stiffest hug in the world from a girl who is all alternating gangles and sharp points, but. She has to try. ]
You'll have your time to kill him, if that's what you want. Don't rush in.
roll: 5
maybe she shouldn't have this ruthlessness in her encouraged too. that- she hates what she's done, what she's said- she can't- she can't- )
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Mafuyu!
[She holds out her hand - short though she may be, there's a certain strength and confidence behind her movements, her words.]
You've done enough. You've done well enough.
Let's retreat for now.
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...
...
...
the ice stops, but mafuyu is- worn, unable to even stand- the way she collapses is. probably concerning, as is the buildup of frost on her again, and all mafuyu can do is cry into her hands. moving.... hurts. it hurts. it hurts, it all hurts, and she just wants to...
to disappear.
she tries saying something, but- nothing comes out. )
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Mafuyu. Mafuyu, you fought really well. But we can't stop here. It isn't safe.
Besides- look, look!
[She utilizes her lasers again, not for an attack, but... rather, tracing the shape of a pair of cat ears, floating above her head. With her free hand, she even mimics a cat's paw.]
I'm a lucky kitty, nya~! I'll guide you back safely! So please...
[Please don't give up here.]
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( there's no answer, but she lets herself be tugged. )
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Upsie-daisy. Let's get you out of here.
[She'll tug her along, away from the ice and combat, getting a bit frosty but nothing unbearable for her (12).]
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...
her mind feels... staticy. )
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Good luck to everyone else, it's time to get this girl somewhere safe and warm.]
I've got you. ...It'll be okay.
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Thank god, Miss Wednesday! Is- is it helping?
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Fukuda, we should get her out of here if we can. She's... I don't think she's made for this sort of thing.
[ she says, as if anyone is. as if she herself is. she imagines the bolt hitting enid, she will imagine it again and again for a long time-
No. Either way, she was right - she doesn't have it in her to help others like this. ]
I should... I should get back to fighting. Other people need assistance. But... I've found myself more invested in her continued well-being than I expected. Are you all right to take care of her?
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I... I'll keep an eye on her, sure. But I don't think it'd be fair to take the decision to fight away from her.
[Glancing at Mafuyu, remembering what she said.]
Both her and I aren't cut out for this, but I think everyone needs to get a shot off on Infinite after what he put us all through. If it gets too dangerous I'll get her out of here, though.
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All we can do is what we're able to do. But I... mm.
[ She shakes her head. ]
I have to do something. And I don't know how to make her feel better. So I'm going to make sure no one gets a chance to make her feel worse. That's what I know how to do.
[ Time for crossbowing! ]