Destructed World Cacophony IC

"Didn't come after all?"


"Yeah. He left a gift though."


"Boo, guess we need to give it our all next time!"


"You know, we can't exactly do this EVERY day, right?"


"Are the preparations complete?"
​

"Of course they are. Who do you think tuned it on Friday?"
​

"I can list of seven of us who were involved in that."
​

"Oh can it, you ungrateful ragamuffin."​


"Then it's a deal?"
​

"For now."
​

"So cold. You should be happy I didn't just Dominate you, dear!"
​

"All powers have limits. Yours do too."
​

"...We're really not gonna get along, are we?"
​

Slowly, the evening winded down, the witching hour befalling the Offshore Academy City once more. The fervor of the sabbatical winded down into worries about the oncoming morning, and the classes that were going to start once more. Some prepared notes. Others regretted drinking so much. Still more rushed to complete assignments that hadn't been touched since Friday. But most found it in themselves to simply lay down in bed and sleep.

The moon arced across the sky, unseen over the obscuring clouds.

The clouds began to shift in color, from dark shades to lighter grays.

The birds began to twitter and tweet, a sweet song for the earliest of risers.

But the day never broke.

<World Degeneration Initialize>
Destructed ✧ World ✧ Cacophony
The Fourth Toll
Wonderland
​
The clouded sky was criss crossed with black wires and concrete poles.

All around were debris, chunks of architecture crudely torn apart by an unknown force.

The earth was flat, covered with stone and dust that had been left undisturbed.

Above, the shadows of crows flitted about, formless and silent, hoppin from one black wire to another.

Silver light bathed the world, drenching the ten golden eyed individuals in its sickly illumination.

Caelan sat, cross legged, on top of the broken remains of a church tower.

Madelon waited, wide-eyed, at the bottom of those broken remains.

Xi Feng glared, instinctually reaching for a sword that was not there, back against a concrete pole.

Heidemarie stood, holding a large briefcase, one eye closed still.

Marionette smiled, both hands open, showing no aggression.

"Well, this is new."

Before them all stood the grand obelisk that dominated the landscape still, black wires intersecting it.

<Offer the Rabbit's Heart Within the Time Limit>
<Prove Your Love Is True>

Tick.
Tick.
Tick.​
 
"Hold it."

A command rushed forward to bar the way, directed in equal measure towards enemies and allies.

"None of you say another word."

Quiet sounds of dry scraping and rattling sounded from on high.
A near-silent knock.
"Ow. Dammit."

The source of the voice was not quite visible at first.
A few would have seen movement in the corner of their eyes, easily mistaken for another vague bird.
After a few seconds of deliberation, it was possible to discern that neither crows nor shadows were paper-white.

"Anyone open your mouths and I'll land on you."

Alina was gracelessly clambering down from the remains of a shattered tower, taking a few seconds to find her footing for each step down.
"I'm not kidding! I will!" she called. "From up here! Onyx, Terminate anyone who tries using a magic word, got it?"

It took her an awkward minute or two to get to the bottom, but she dusted her baggy pyjamas down and turned to face the other nine, stepping into the middle of the group as if she had always been there.
"Nobody raise a hand to anyone else," she half-ordered, as much to the "enemies" as the "allies". "We're all in the same place for a reason. This is no different to the last two times."
She gave everyone a level gaze, but settled on Marionette.
"You know what I'm getting at, right?"
She looked around at the others, taking mental note of a roster: who she knew, who she didn't.
"Don't try anything funny if you want to live. Any of you. That's not a threat, it's advice."
 
Performing her maintenance that night, Alice stretches briefly, to loosen up her shoulders, while tightening the gears in the clipper hand she had worn earlier that day. Flexing the connectors to make sure it was still operational, she was down to her under garments and her white shirt, having taken off the outer vest and skirt, plus her boots and hat naturally. Typically doing her work and studies in the late evenings Alice it could be said had a light case of insomnia, preferring to sleep in most mornings.

Yawning a bit, it was time to take this hand off and do repairs on the right one, then she finally could sleep, somewhat thankful that Alina girl was wrong about them going to the other world this afternoon. Maybe who, or what was done with them finally. That would be wonderful.. Though the golden eye in the mirror told her otherwise. Having walked around and done far more than she typically would have, the Machine Girls falls asleep during her maintenance work

Fortunately or perhaps not, she was in a slightly better position than most when the other world happened again. Slightly annoyed that she had no means to tell what time it was, it likely didn't matter all that much. Gazing up it was yet another unnatural world she has woken up to, standing on her feet none the less. Black wires crossed the sky crossed with concrete poles, yet another unnatural sky and sun, or maybe moonlight casting a silver sheen. With crows, or illusions of them flying about, Alice next notices those around her, turning a beet red for a moments notice, they all were in the clothing and with the items they slept with it seemed.

Some faces from before, others she met today, some unseen yet still. If they had anything in common minus the shameful state they all were in, it was that each had the golden eye. At least this area wasn't the chaotic mess of the first, and with her metallic legs, running or walking across the mostly flat surface with small rocks scattered to and fro, would not be so painful for her at all, so much as most of her mostly barefooted companions.


Before she can speak up or thing too much on the fact she was in just panties, bra and top shirt herself a strange voice came to her, likely everyone else as well. The devilish tower was here yet again, yet another game of some sort, but at least this one had some sort of reasoning to it.

<Offer the Rabbit's Heart Within the Time Limit>
< Prove Your Love Is True>​


Offer the Rabbit's Heart... Prove your love?​

Thinking on it, paradoxically it could be fairly morbid and simplistic in it's meaning, it wanted to be told I Heart You like a child's drawing. Though in this case quite literally.. Maybe the meaning wasn't so simple and in any case, just who was the Rabbit, baring a rabbit was actually here, which she rather doubted... One or maybe all of them were the rabbits, if so she could escape the punishment of that side by killing one of them.. right?

More than a bit fearful of the situation Alice gazes at the rest, keeping an eye on what they would do. While outwardly calm, her thoughts raced, though a brief and creepy smile like from the circus crosses her face before vanishing.

I won't die here again, I won't, I won't, I won't! I don't want to see that horrible room again!​

Filled with a desperation born of survival, her clawed hand flexes with gears whirling, curling into a shape suited for cutting, until she forces herself to calm down, straightening it in place... She couldn't just with no answers start a crazy fit cutting the others, or attempting to, could she? Remembering the powers some of the others possessed she would have to bide her time and observe.

Watching the Marionette girl, her enjoyment of the situation creeped Alice out more than a bit. Turning to eye over the girl, Alice abruptly stops, considering her own previous intentions, just who really was the Monster here? With that sobering thought, she still somewhat knew what this place wanted of her, no matter how horrible it was.

Catching sight of the Briefcase, Alive was very curious what might be in that..

​
Of course before she could do anything else, Alina had came down in a rather... Ungraceful manner for a person talking as big as she was. If everyone here remained silent or didn't attack her, she would be highly surprised. Either way following Alina's instructions suited her just fine, she intended to observe after all. With a slight mechanical twirl and clicks caused by the movement of gears, she more or less closes her clipper hand, or at least as closed as one could make the huge monstrosity.

Though her calling to Onyx made some sense, provided he didn't turn on her as well, or no one like her self just didn't physically attack her at a moments notice. Remembering the girl from the far east, she was more than sure that one would have struck and still just might..
​
 
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The world warped. The spark of a dream ignited. And atop a broad chunk of shattered concrete - origin unknown - Yohan Rye stood. Fully clothed, as he had been on the night of the carnival. His signature hat still atop his head. His pockets seeming to contain a few simple objects. It seemed that Yohan Rye had been preparing for such an event.

He briefly, slowly, and calmly examined the smashed and scattered world of grey and black. The obelisk that had - at first - seemed ominous and intimidating, was a presence Yohan now accepted. This feeling of being fully awake yet in a dream, it was all something he wasn't scared of - not even in the slightest - anymore. He didn't even flinch as a voice - distant and smooth - echoed words into the back of his mind.

The rabbit's heart. The true meaning behind such a metaphor wasn't something he would bother trying to decipher. It was beyond him, and Yohan knew it. He accepted it. Questioning it wasn't within his capabilities. All he could do was watch and wait for it to unfold and be understood later, as he glanced inbetween a sea of familiar and unfamiliar faces, scattered around the ruined lands like abstract flowers, each with their own beacon of gold.

Almost no silence occurred before he heard a voice; distant in the back of his mind. Except this one was familiar, and projecting ideas that could be percieved in countless ways. They were orders. The orders of Alina.

Glancing at her for a moment as she descended, the golden eye of Yohan glimmered with worry as he shook her head slightly at her in a warning manner, as if she was doing something wrong. He wanted to speak up to her; perhaps make her reconsider. But, not wanting to break that 'rule' that she'd enforced, all he could do was think.
Alina... trying to take command of the situation here is a dangerous game. As powerful as Onyx's 'Terminate' is, will it truly quell the aggression of a whole group? His thoughts wavered a little. Death threats couldn't be the answer here: that much he knew, as powerful as they could be.

...

Please, don't let her be attacked.

But who was he praying to?

There has to be another way, other than dream-infused bloodshed. We don't need to be tense. We don't need to be... afraid.

But why was he praying for something that - from his past experiences - seemed impossible?

He could only pray his simple equipment; his simple ability; his simple mind would be enough to give the student aid if she needed it. There were many people here he wanted to 'protect' - even if he couldn't understand why for some - but he could only stretch his capabilities so far.

Broke out of his thoughts, his mind instead focused on what sounded like... footsteps, coming slowly and shakily nearby him. Taking a brief glance, he was quick to recognise the short, blonde figure. It was Eva. The girl he'd lent his coat to. And - bought here against her will once more - it almost seemed like she was about to break.

He knew little of her... but, the chances were, she didn't deserve any of this. Nobody but him - even if he'd forgot why - probably did. That was why he was so accommodating. He offered a slight smile, welcoming her presence with a warm look, allowing the blonde-haired girl that was 'new' to these worlds to stand behind him, his body blocking her from the view of most.

Terror was clearly manifesting itself in her... as it would, to any sane individual at this point. Tracing where her glances seemed to go the most, it didn't take Yohan long to figure out who she was afraid of, in this broken; desolate; fake place.

The hair of a blackbird. The eye of crimson - ruby gold - that had flickered and scorned his simple, naive idea of 'redemption'.
She got you too. Yohan thought idly, giving the disciplinary committee a brief glance over the wasteland of the world.

However, despite what that girl had done to him, the glance quickly faded away. Yohan simply ignored her presence, the thought of her not even lingering in his mind. Perhaps... in a way, he believed the girl was 'done' with them. If she wished true harm, little had been stopping her from ending his life - a final cut - on his very own bed that strange night.

Looking behind him, a small smile was given to Eva as he tried to wordlessly communicate with the fellow student.
Don't worry. his look said, I'll try my best to keep you safe.

Staying true to himself. Taking the path that he wouldn't regret. No matter how comparatively 'weak' he was to some, that was all that really mattered to him; whether it resulted in failure or not, at least he could say he tried. This place and nearly all of these people were indecipherable. So these thoughts were the only dim yet bright torch guiding his way.

Alina's words came to a close, and with it, came a moment of gusty silence. Silence and waiting. Waiting for the next words to be spoke. Waiting for the first metaphorical sword to be drawn. Battle; bloodshed, it seemed inevitable. But perhaps, even in this grayed wasteland, emotions other than anguish, pain, and aggression could be formed.

The words rang, like chimes in the wind, in the back of Yohan Rye's mind.

' Prove your love is true. '

​
 
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"Offer the Rabbit's Heart Within the Time Limit"
"Prove Your Love Is True"
​
Not even given a chance for a much deserved good night's sleep, the Morceban girl was pulled into the 'otherworld' once more, against her will much like the previous case of course. The ominous voice and clock ticks echoing in her head jolted her awake. "Nnngh?!" Blue-golden eyes shot up in panic as cold sweat instantly ran down her forehead and neck. For the first few seconds, her head whipped left and right, taking in the ruined world around her with all its desolate grey and debris. Just to make sure it was a horrible nightmare, Eva pinched herself... oh wait, yes, it was the nightmare, the vivid dream in which she wouldn't wake up except by dying through some horrible means.

The girl panted then gulped audibly, shakily using a ruined pillar behind her to stand up, avoiding to put weight on her bandaged foot. Her heart beat so fast, it was threatening to leap out of her chest. She knew it was a dream, Yohan confirmed it. However, she didn't want to relive all that pain and suffering, no one in their right mind would want to experience death over and over again. Even if her body would be fine, Eva wasn't sure she'd stay sane if this kept happening to her. Maybe, maybe there was a way so stay alive. If she stayed alive long enough... surely she'd wake up without going through the pain.

These people... all of them, they were fellow 'chosen ones', pawns in the sick game of playing who was the best murderer, most of them pulled in their nightwear, what cruel joke was this? Eva's first assumption was the ones not in nightwear were the culprits, the puppeteers, or they somehow knew it was coming and 'prepared' themselves beforehand, however that worked since this was a dream. She couldn't recall any of them.... "...!?" then her eyes fell upon the sharp red eyes and raven locks of her murderer. "A-ah...!" Her body went rigid in an instant, pupils dilated, adrenaline coursing through her veins. No no no, not again! She didn't want to die!

The declaration of one white-haired girl went over Eva's head as the blonde succumbed into panic. In her bouts of fearful gasps, her eyes darted around the place, trying to find something - anything - to keep her safe, shelter her from the desolate world and its murderous inhabitants. Then, her heterochromic eyes fell upon a familiar figure, Yohan Rye, the only other person she knew among the lot. With hitched gasps, Eva didn't think twice to shuffle towards him, her teeth clattering too much to form comprehensible words. Like a lost child, she went behind him, taking refuge under his shadow. He didn't need to say anything, his presence was enough, he was her only anchor of sanity in a world gone mad.
 
"Motherfucker." Naturally more crude and vulgar than the rest, the simple utterance was enough to announce that Onyx had been drawn to the Far-Side as well. Staggering on his feet, he had been pretty lucky he allowed his paranoia to get the best of him. After the magic show, when they all went their separate ways, Onyx had been lost in his own thoughts. So in an attempt to think, to try and sort things out, he went back to the shop and started working on clocks. It was a peaceful and soothing experience, even if he did inevitably fall asleep. So when he was brought over, he was still fully dressed with the exception of his jacket, and he had a broken stopwatch and a screwdriver in each hand.

He had so much to worry about, though. It wasn't just Marionette and her capabilities that troubled him. Onyx was worried by just how far this 'tournament' or whatever it was would go.

How many chances were they afforded to die? Alina had killed Yohan, but he understood how it happened. He blamed himself, in part though. If I had stayed. It echoed through his mind, a constant reminder of his cowardice. While he knew how his apparent apprehension of Yohan could easily be misconstrued, it wasn't because he was afraid of him. It was because he was afraid for him. How many more times would he be allowed to die before the price became too high?

"Offer the Rabbit's Heart Within the Time Limit"
"Prove Your Love Is True"
​
'Fuck off with your bullshit.' He thought back to the voice that had declared the rules. 'Offer the Rabbit's Heart... Which one of us... Aw, shit.' Onyx's eyes glanced between everyone present and he slowly began to develop his own theory. It was clear the other 5 were grouped together, much like Onyx's group. Five versus five. Onyx could only wonder who each group's rabbit was. He knew it was a possibility it was him, probably due to his frequent displays of cowardice and penchant for running away. Not this time.

But who could it have been on the other side? Madelon, perhaps? 'Ugh, what a bitch. She would have been lucky to date me, but now she's over there with Marionette probably being all evil and bitching it up.' His eyes settled on Caelan. There was no way he was their rabbit, right? Every survival instinct he picked up from living on the streets screamed at him to be cautious of the guy who was just... Sitting. It was like there were just alarms going off in his head that demanded he be wary of Caelan more than anyone else.

"Onyx, Terminate anyone who tries using a magic word, got it?"

Onyx sighed at Alina's order as she clambered down to the ground. He noted the girl standing beside Yohan? Was she their rabbit? Ugh, he hated thinking.

Whatever.

Onyx stepped forward, placing a hand on Alina's shoulder as he looked to the other group. His eyes settled on Marionette.

This was all such bullshit. Onyx doubted this was something that would be 'talked out'. Alina's posturing was useless. Onyx had no doubt his group were the ones that were most ignorant - he wouldn't have even been surprised if the other five already knew the exact 'win condition'. Did they know who the rabbit was? Onyx wouldn't have been surprised if the other group already knew their abilities.

'We don't know shit...' Aside from Marionette's Dominate, they were in the dark in terms of the capabilities of the other four. Onyx couldn't remember, but he was fairly certain Alice didn't even have an ability. 'Fuck.'

"How about we just get this over with? I highly doubt any of you are going to be forthcoming with an actual explanation. Especially you, Marionette." Onyx remarked with such a carefree tone that it conveyed his lack of fear. He was fine with dying, in all honesty. But he wanted to win. If he could just keep the others - Yohan specifically - from dying once more, from losing more of themselves, he'd willingly die if it ensured their victory.

He didn't know how many of them he'd be able to Terminate at once, but he was certain he'd be finding out very soon.
 
Caelan shifted slightly as Alina made her own declaration, his dark eyes smouldering violently as a threat of power was used. Half-naked with only a loose pair of beige drawers on, his muscled body glistened in the silver light as he sat, above the rest of them, looking down. There was power there, a lazy strength of someone who had the utmost confidence in his abilities, but who had no intention on acting. Not now, at least.

Madelon shrunk, backing away a little closer to the bonfire that had sacrificed himself for her before. Her own golden eye glimmered with the same radiance as Onyx's, but still, she pressed herself against a wall, eyes leery of the shadows that were constantly present. One fist remained clenched, her strawberry blonde hair clinging loosely against her face. A dark blue bathrobe was wrapped around her model-esque figure. It was clear that she had recently showered, a sweet scent drifting through the cold wind. But she too, did not act, waiting for someone else's lead. Waiting for the world to turn on them.

Heidemarie watched on, unconcerned by the posturing of her enemies, still holding onto her suitcase with two hands. Dressed dashingly, in a dark brown gentleman's suit, she cut an imposing figure despite her slight frame, as if she were an adult amongst children. Her wavy hair was tied in a practical bun, one blue eye crisp as she regarded everyone else, impassive. Unbothered by provocations, only a small smile surfaced as a pitiful girl sought to use another man as her shield.

And, amidst it all, Marionette's own smile widened at the presence of Alina and Onyx. "My my," the puppeteer said, dressed in the same fanciful, impractical garments she had worn on the first broken world they had encountered, "It's almost like a reunion now, isn't it? A real shame that the other girl isn't here though. What was her name again? Dora? Oh, and that other gun girl too! I must thank her for all she's done for us, hm?"

Her head cocked to the side, white strands sliding to obscure her amethyst eye.

"Well, not that it matters. Alina, you're a smart girl, so you do realize that Onyx reacting with his Terminate would be an inadequate threat, yes? After all, in the flow of conversation, it's much to slip in a 'magic word'. And, in truth…"

Her eyes slid over from one person to the other.

"…only I get to dominate."

Caelan tensed, dark eyes flaring up with the threat of violence. Madelon's hands raised defensively. Heidemarie sighed. Who was it that had been effected? Who's body had been taken? Questions rang through the minds of eight individuals, while a single one seethed in hatred.

Her body frozen moments before she could pull a length of rebar from the ground, Xi Feng's golden eye, the most radiant of them all, glared viciously at the puppeteer girl, who only smiled in response.

"Sit, girl."

And Xi Feng did, flopping almost robotically onto the ground.

"Now then, 'offer the rabbit's heart' is a little bit different from just killing everyone here, right?" Marionette shrugged, a bit of tension leaving her shoulders. "I hope that little demonstration of mine was enough to make it clear that I'm not here for a fight, so let's puzzle this out, shall we?"

"The Rabbit's Heart," she repeated, "What do you think it is?"
 
Onyx spun the screwdriver in his hand. Marionette had made her move, but it was clearly little more than even further posturing. Onyx could have made an attempt to match it - just Terminate a random person or even Marionette herself... But he wouldn't do that.

It would, ultimately, be wholly unnecessary now wouldn't it? He was certain they were on the same team, or at least had similiar interests on some level. That was more than enough reason to make him distrustful of them. Also, he just really wanted Marionette to shut her bitch mouth.

"Alright, assuming you're not going to act like a complete cunt, we can try and talk this out I suppose." Onyx was blunt and crude, a true staple of his personality. But only because he really didn't like Marionette. "My assumption is that one of us was marked as a rabbit and it's pretty blatant - cut someone's heart out and toss it at the obelisk. Or it could be some sort of love-related bullshit. Who knows?" Onyx shrugged, tossing out random ideas. He didn't feel comfortable voicing his assumption that it may have been some sort of 'team' activity, with each group having their own 'rabbit'.

He really didn't want to be the one to spark the bloodbath he was expecting.
 
Dominate.

That terrifying, hierarchy-breaking, unstoppable power was invoked.

Alina saw Xi Feng drop, but still felt as though she had been somehow "marked". Her mind was racing immediately, desperately searching for a hole, a crack, a get-out clause.
It was force of habit.
In truth, she was relieved.
The one she knew would see through the deterrent had simply established her own; a threat that she could actually follow through.
Through the means of another, Alina had actually gained traction.

"I think it's a ten man job," she suggested. "We usually materialise here broadly in groups, usually of people we've encountered here before. And, in hindsight, it was always just enough to do whatever when you sacrificed all but one team member. At least, with our poor capacity to deduce what was going on. The Rabbit's Heart... Whatever it is, it's likely here. I don't know about everyone else, but at least I, Yohan, and Onyx have all encountered sentient forces indigenous to this Far Side before. I suspect that something is running from us, and we need to catch it and kill it. Since we have to offer it... I suspect we'll need to bring it to the obelisk. This is a hunt. We're foxes. But of course, I doubt a fox hunt will be without any hounds."
She slipped her hands into her pockets.
Once again, that scheming smile crossed her lips.
"So to my understanding, it looks like we're going to have to work together."
 
Watching the display of power, it seemed this Marionette was worth the concern and warning before. A power like that was a truly terrifying thing, but where in the realm of this mad world did it limit it's self? Watching as the girl with eyes more shinny is made to sit down regardless of her martial skill and will, the spectacle would be funny if it weren't so worthy of pity.. Alice was at odds with herself over the display.

A strong Lion broken to being a sideshow performance, while it seemed that girl had killed many and would many more, or maybe had died and would many more, she was one of the first people Alice had met here.. Who did attempt helping others. Had that changed about her?

Pondering to confess the fact she had considered gutting some of them to save herself, she wasn't sure that would be the best cause of action, after her massive failures with Namie, she decided to measure her response. Onyx was next to speak then Alina, having much the same thought in mind as her own in case of the former. And maybe something correct in the later, speaking up as she stares at the group, the Machine girl twists her head, giving a shrug.


"I had considered much the same thought.. The Riddle is pretty clear... But is it? From how it is said it seems only one of us can win, but the line on love throws my thoughts off. It is possible an actual rabbit or someone else is here. Unless some of us died or this world selectively snatches others, we are not all there can be here. So there may be a runner...like a nobleman's hunt.. If this is a collaborative hunt, then the team is collective in the win."

And we would be the hounds in this game If that is correct...

"Or a whole other team.. Why us ten here when we know there are more than ten? But if it is just us ten then that fills up the gears of this world even more.."

Finishing her own thoughts, Alice didn't add the obvious, they could kill one of them to test the theory, the problem was if only one could win and if they were wrong. Love could also be taken to showing mercy, that damn voice only left them with paranoia and flimsy logic and the truth be told she was rather wary of staying here with all of them when the most obvious answer was known to them all.

But was it the correct one?
 
When he heard the utterance of a power word - the one that his friends in particular feared to the point of having planned discussion about it - Yohan closed his eyes in acceptance, ready to be forced to run naked off a bridge or something if that was how it was going to be. Unsurprisingly, though, he hadn't been the target of the word. The cluttering of a rebar and taut knees against concrete quickly unfolded the apparent victim.
So... that's 'Dominate', in action. Yohan thought to himself, gulping as he averted his gaze from a now furious combination of amber and blood-red. The ability - like Onyx's - essentially made it easy to end someone's life.

...

He just wasn't sure what to think of the whole situation, in honesty. In his eyes... he couldn't really call anybody his 'enemy'. Not even the raven-haired girl that had slain him was his enemy; she could've had good reasons for doing so, and he didn't blame her if it was personal. He hadn't done great things in the past. That much he could remember, even if the details were faded.

In truth, a part of him just wanted for this whole thing to pass over, so he could get on with his 'real life'. A cup of warm tea. A friendly chat. He wouldn't lose the enjoyment of simple things like that by mentally breaking himself with murder and bloodshed here. As well as that, a whole new path of opportunity could be waiting for him in the morning, with the Order of the Golden Dawn. Now wasn't a great time to go mental.

As people began to talk after the eyepatch-donning student, Yohan leaned over, whispering in Eva's ear. He imagined she was relieved that the red-eye had been pacified - for now - but she still likely had little idea what was happening. The least he could do was help her out in that regard.
"...Those there," he pointed out Onyx and Alina, "...are people I wholeheartedly trust; you don't need to worry about them, alright? Stick with him - 'Onyx' - if something happens to me; he's a good guy." He paused, before pointing out Alice, as well. "I only met her recently... but she seems like a nice girl, too. Not everyone here is bad. Everyone's just... tense," Yohan explained. "I think your two experiences of this world were just... 'unlucky'. Try and keep a calm head, and don't let fear overtake your actions. I'll try and keep you safe if things go wrong, but... I - both physically and mentally - am not too capable a fighter. And... hey," he gave an encouraging smile, "It looks like there's a chance we might not even need to worry about fighting - or getting killed - in this world."

Whilst everybody stated their own opinions on what they thought that curious 'metaphor' truly meant, the faded hazel eyes of the inventor seemed... distracted, with something. That girl, with the mane of strawberry blonde hair... he knew her, didn't he? His mind scrunched up in confusion, trying to piece together the chain of events that caused him to recognize her face, but he could only remember brief 'snippets'. Crumbling rubble... a clear sea... and... what else?

And furthermore, why did he feel this sensation of 'guilt' when he looked at her? Why was he having trouble looking away?

Not wanting to stare, the student quickly averted his eyes, before phasing his attention back into the conversation. Onyx, vulgar and displeased to see Marionette as always, seemed to be thinking of a literal heart - which was a grisly and gruesome thought - but could be correct. Alina and Alice seemed to be thinking there was something to be found - retreating - in this lands of shattered concrete and bent rebar. All potentially correct.

What did he think? Well... like he was sure everyone here did, he had countless theories, but no answers. Following the connotations of the word 'rabbit'... thinking of symbolism, and possible objects that identified with that word... it bought up ideas, but all were too feeble to consider the definite path of action. To save himself looking like an idiot to anybody who did already know the answer, he kept his mouth shut.

Once everyone was finished up speaking, Yohan adjusted the top button of his shirt and straightened his hat, before taking the moment of silence that arose as his turn to talk.
"Well - hello by the way, I'm Yohan -" The hat-bearing student added quietly to those he hadn't met yet with a brief wave, even if his introduction was met with nothing but blank stares.

"-Unless somebody already here knows the definitive answer, I suppose we won't gain a whole lot by mingling around here, will we?" He said, a quiet, joking laugh surfacing as he gave a brief shrug. "Perhaps there are more clues scattered about in this world that'll help us find the 'goal'. If the solution is above just a mindless slaughter, then the best we can do is fan out and start looking. If this world is anything like the rest, there will be plenty of 'hazards', so make sure you be careful if you do go sleuthing."

Pausing, he tilted his hat upwards, glancing at the magenta-eyed girl he hadn't actually met before. Of all the things he'd heard about her... she didn't seem as bad as he was expecting. Her word had the power to essentially kill anyone, and from what he could tell - unless she and the disciplinary committee had some sort of act going - she'd used her power to harmlessly diffuse a situation of violence.
"Or, Marionette - good to meet you, by the way - were you asking because you already knew the answer? And..." he paused, giving a glance to the girl who'd supposedly been forced onto her knees. "Before we decide on anything. I don't know what you had planned to do with her, but... I have a feeling she might know quite a bit more about these 'broken worlds' than most of us. It may be dangerous, but... I think we should still let her speak. She's just like us, after all. Right?"

He knew making a case for the raven-haired girl wasn't something everyone would want to hear after she'd proved what she was capable of, but from what Yohan had seen... the way she'd supposedly 'dragged him in' to a world by breaking into his room... that displayed a level of knowledge about these 'broken worlds' that was far beyond most's.

Even if there could only be 'one victor'... winning whatever game this was didn't matter to Yohan at all. All that mattered was uncovering as much information as possible that'd help everyone get on with their 'real lives'. It all depended on how long the true 'powerhouses' within this broken world could be contained from resorting to violence.
 
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The display of power shown by the albino girl flinched the blonde, it was just as Yohan said, everyone in this world possessed some kind of power, each person different than the other. So that woman, judging by the inflected word she uttered, had the power to control a person's movements as if they were puppets and she the puppeteer. "Dominate..." What a terrifying power to behold. However, if Eva had to find a string of hope in this desolate place, she was pleased that the girl made the swordswoman bitch flopped like a fish. This made one thing clear, it was every man for himself here... except Yohan, she could trust him... there was no way he'd betray her.The one named 'Onyx' had a power called 'Terminate', as shouted by the rather chatty girl, wonder what he could do?

All of these people and their theories, the rabbit's heart, was it a literal heart of a rabbit? An object? or something else entirely? Nothing was clear here and the situation was too tense for any sort of 'negotiation'. Eva wouldn't believe for a moment that these people could work together, someone would die the moment they took their eyes off each other. The blonde kept herself close to Yohan even as the half-machine girl spoke. At this point, Eva wasn't surprised at all the strange things happening around her, the 'clockwork girl' didn't look out of place considering everything that had transpired.

"Eh...?" Eva flinched a little as Yohan bent down to her, whispering words of comfort. "Ah..." So was she supposed to trust those two white-haired people? She didn't know them! She couldn't just... trust them, even Yohan was someone she met a few hours ago in the real world. However, compared to everyone else here, he was the one she could trust most. "Er... I... okay..." 'Unlucky' was a major understatement really, she was killed! First by a bullet through her skull, second by a sword through her heart! ...Then again, he likely experienced similar horrors. "Thank you..."

The blonde had zero intentions to introduce herself or make herself known to these people, she hid behind a broken wall as Yohan took the stage. "Tch..." She was getting tired of this, everything! If only... if only she could eviscerate them all! Eviscerate everyone except Yohan and then they could figure out the way out of here, they wouldn't die anyway, this was merely a dream, yes... she could kill them, kill them so she could be safe. Ha... haha! It made perfect sense! She had been on the receiving end of their murderous sprees but no more, from now on, she would be the wolf. Her power was tailored to slashing things in half anyway, what purpose could it have other than murder?
 
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"Eh?" Marionette smirked at Onyx's statement about how clear it was that they should just kill each other. "And here I was, thinking that you were on the side of 'let's not kill each other'. Honestly, do we even have a cutting tool? Or are you planning on using that screwdriver of yours, Onyx?"

Verbal jousting aside, however, the rest of the golden-eyed youths paid heed to the theories exchanged though. The fury residing in Xi Feng's eyes didn't cool at all during the exchange of words, but, unable to work around the overpowering might of Dominate, it was clear that she too was thinking now. Caelan's own eyes glimmered with recognition as Alina mentioned the presence of other sentient forces within this world, while Madelon remained cautious, her own expressions betraying nothing but wariness. Through it all, Heidemarie was unfazed, a professional veneer despite the chaotic situation.

Continuing to take the lead in these discussions, Marionette returned Alina's smile with her own. "It would be great, however, if we did manage to work together to solve this particular riddle. There must be a reason why we were all placed in the same position, as opposed to being separated into chunks like the first world. Perhaps that's so we won't stumble across the 'rabbit' so easily?"


"It's because the rabbit is too much for any of you to handle alone," Caelan spoke up, eyes meeting Alina's. "The last world I was called in sent a horde of monsters after me. The world before then featured both an incredibly hostile environment as well as that strange gunslinger. There may not be hunters at all. Not if the rabbit is the predator here."


"Wow," Marionette clapped, heterochromatic eyes sparkling. "You're so cool, Caelan! Tell me, how did you survive that world then?"

A glare reciprocated her girlish attitude. "I didn't."

"Eh? That's a shame. Thought that someone as big and strong as you w-"

Heidemarie coughed twice in her hand.

"…well, getting back onto topic," Marionette said, her tone slightly serious once again, "I think that the plan of fanning out to grab as many clues as possible would definitely aid us in our quest, Yohan. Good suggestion! Incidentally, though, did you find any clues in the world you were before? What about the first one? Or are we just treating this as a special incident because we can hear some weird voice in our head?"

At the mention of letting Xi Feng speak, however, Marionette wagged her finger from side to side. "Didn't I already point it out before? It's super easy to slip in a word without us knowing. If I were to simply give Xi Feng the ability to talk once more, what if she pulls out her ability without us knowing? What if it were 'Exterminate'? Or 'Decimate'? Or 'Eradicate'? Honestly, it's definitely too much of a risk. And in this world, it's totally suspicious that the first thing she does is reach for a weapon, right?"

Her golden gaze found itself on Eva, next, the girl that cowered behind Yohan's back.

"My power doesn't last forever, after all. Maybe we should just cut her heart out and offer it to the obelisk? If Onyx's theory holds some weight, maybe we'll get lucky!"

At those morbid words, Madelon started, her mouth opening as if to say something, before they closed once more, the model-esque girl biting her lower lip in contemplation. Noticing this, Caelan stood up instead, gaze fixed upon the puppeteer girl. "No," he stated, shoulders rolling, "This is a situation that requires everyone here. Killing each other will just result in everyone's deaths in the long run."


"But," Heidemarie countered, setting down her suitcase, "Killing each other until one remains is also a solution to this problem."


"How would you know?" The blue-haired man asked sharply.

"I know because I won where you failed," The Eirchenstadt girl replied.

Marionette's lips twitched in bemusement, before she stepped in once more. "Now now, no need to argue about any of this. It was just a joke, after all! Let's go with Yohan's idea, alright? Fan out and figure out and see if there's any clues! That's the best way to do this for now! I'm thinking duos or trios. Are we all in agreement?"


"That was a joke in bad taste," Caelan said, before sighing. "Aye."


"It was a reasonable option," Heidemarie replied, "But I'll play along with this."

Madelon nodded slightly.

And, despite all this, Xi Feng's gaze did not waver, her entire body taut as she unhesitatingly struggled against a force she could not oppose.
 
"If this dubbed 'rabbit' is something dangerous, try your best to let the others know," Yohan added to the blue-haired stranger's valid point, "To help us do that, we'll set out in strict directions - so everyone's aware of which direction others are going; that'll also help us get as much coverage of this 'land' as possible. If you run into trouble, try and do your best to let the closest other group know. I'm aware there are many flaws with that idea, but when most of us have little other than our wildly varied powers, it's the best we can do."

Listening to Marionette with a neutral yet friendly expression set on his face, Yohan seemed to have a temporary brainfart when she asked him about something. ...Clues? Wracking his brains, he tried his best to remember all the details of the first and second world, not counting the third as there was little there other than an arena.
"I... erm..." Yohan scratched his head slightly. "I can't really remember," He admitted. "The only strange thing I can remember... is with that girl, there," he said, pointing to the Dominated student, "When she broke into my room and somehow 'pulled me in' to a world, she fought me. Naturally, I wasn't able to win," he paused, wondering what he'd been thinking and wishing he hadn't fought her at all. "We had a break in our fight, and... she asked me 'what I love'. I thought it was a strange question to ask, especially considering what that 'voice in our head' asked of us. Clue or not, that's... all I can really think of. Sorry."

Looking frustrated and flustered for a moment at his lack of memory, Marionette pointed out the flaw with letting the mysterious girl talk.
"...I suppose you're right. But... still... even if she went for a weapon, surely... it... doesn't necessarily mean... she..." Yohan trailed off, knowing this wasn't really a valid argument. The chances were, if she was making a move to grab an improvised weapon, she wasn't planning to do nice things with it. She could've just picked it up for self defence purposes, but this was a girl who'd abused her profession to break into his room and murder him in his dreams. She'd likely done a similar thing to Eva, too.

Even still, surely her 'automatic' response wasn't just to... kill everyone, was it? That seemed deluded beyond the point of human intelligence. As he thought about this, Yohan absent-mindedly corrected Marionette on the raven-haired girl's 'power word'.
"Oh... her word. It's 'Assassinate'. Despite the word's connotations, it's a defensive power. It makes one's body 'ignore' weaponry and objects, from what I could tell. So... if you're planning to keep her there, you might want to be careful..." Yohan paused, shooting a look. "It may have the ability to make her immune to power words, as well. So... if you really think she's a danger as soon as 'Dominate' wears off, then you'd better make a decision whether you're going to keep her around or not. Fast. Maybe you could all do a vote or something. I personally abstain."

With that, the student tipped his hat downwards, before looking behind him to say something to Eva.
"E-" almost instantly cutting off, he realized she wasn't there. Furrowing his brow and looking about for a moment, it didn't take too long to follow some hurried footprint marks on the dusty concrete, and find her cowering behind a wall. "Oh. There you are..." he murmured with a whisper, looking a little concerned at her attitude for a moment. Sure, there was fear in her eyes... but, he could've sworn there was something else. Something darker. "...Look, I know this is all really weird, but... try your best to relax, okay? We've got some detective work to do."

Turning back to face the others, Yohan jerked a thumb behind him; a makeshift 'southward' relative to his starting position.
"We'll head this way, then. Be careful, all of you." Giving a pause for others to decide their directions, he shot a look to Alina and Onyx. "...I'm guessing you two are going together, right? I'll go with that 'Eva' girl I was telling you about... because, I don't think she'll really go with anyone other than me." he admitted. "But... anyway. You two. Do me a favor, and go a direction close to mine; if you guys get in trouble, I want to be able to get there as fast as possible."

For a moment, as he held a firm look, it was almost as if Yohan had forgotten he was no fighter. Perhaps in terms of 'power words', he was the weakest here. But even if that was true, he knew he could utilize his ability to look out for people he considered 'friends'. Or be there for them as soon as possible, at the least.

With that, he returned to Eva's position, looking as bright as ever. By his tone, it was almost as if they were going for a picnic - rather than wandering through an unexplored - potentially dangerous - nonexistent world.
"Ready to go? I was sort of expecting to get dragged in tonight, so I bought something cool that might help us." He asked, before pulling out some sort of metallic cylinder in his back pocket; his wrench firmly sitting in the other. At first, one could confuse it with some sort of 'Yohan-y' contraption, but as he screwed the top off the cylinder and poured a gently steaming liquid into the top, it became apparent it was just... a flask.

"Want some hot chocolate?"
 
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Alina gave a semi-resigned sigh.
Of all the people here, she didn't expect this Caelan guy to be the one to back her up. That said, given how much he seemed to know about battle against the Far Side, she was reasonably convinced that she didn't want to get on his bad side. His good side, on the other hand...
Actually, putting aside the thoughts of competition for a moment, everyone here was worth the effort of getting into a favourable place with. Assassinate and Dominate seemed hideously strong, and even the reliable Caelan was likely bested in skill by the girl next to him.
"Well, some of us don't have abilities to abuse, so we're going to have to be careful in terms of the setup of our groups," she pointed out. "Ideally, we're also going to want a person in each that can send up some kind of signal if something goes wrong or we find something, or else it'll be all too easy to start chasing our own tails."
She looked to Onyx. "I'm perfectly happy to work with you if you have an idea in terms of communicating, but otherwise, it might be better for both of us if you went with someone who can instantly create bonfires or something. Or Alice, if she has a flare in that chassis of hers somewhere."

She clapped her hands together and turned to the group.
She had already gotten to work.
"For those of you who haven't done this before, we're looking for anything that moves, any kind of writing, a symbol, a statue, anything that stands out with substantially more precision about it than its environment. Anything that, once you have considered this city as 'natural', cannot come about accidentally. Don't call for every last thing. There are more than one of you for a reason. Don't try and respond to a signal at the opposite end of the city or anything unless it keeps coming. If you don't find anything at all within two hours, which I severely doubt given our time limit, meet back here. If this spot is destroyed, which can happen, by the way, then just meet up with the closest group to you," she instructed, looking pointedly in Eva's direction more than once.

She looked the other nine up and down ponderously.
"And if it's a matter of survival, then we ought to pair people up based on whose powers cover whose weaknesses."
 
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Interestingly enough, the white-haired girls were the ones in charge of the two groups, Yohan's and... the other one. They were the ones who kept talking the most and spouting orders. Coincidentally, rabbits in stories were often depicted as having white fur. "..." Could it possibly...? Ah, of course not, her mind was just trying to make sense of the confounding situation. They were talking about solving a puzzle, a riddle, a mystery but still, Eva couldn't believe any of it, certainly not after what she experienced in the previous two instances.

The brunette with wavy hair was speaking the truth, sooner or later, these people would devolve into nothing but murderers out for blood. She said it herself, she 'won' the game by being the only one left alive. If that's what Eva must do to escape experiencing death, then she'd do it, she had enough. She wouldn't be killing anyone, this was all just one horrible nightmare.

That bitch... Xi Feng, the faker of a committee student. It didn't surprise her to hear Yohan was subjected to her murderous spree, if there was a person who must die first, it'd be her, no exceptions. So that's what she did, that's why she could suddenly disappear from across the street, it was her power word. Eva screwed up last time, she wasn't so keen on repeating it. "I vote to just end her!" The blonde screamed in her head, panting in and out with barely controlled rage. It was only due to the arrival of Yohan that she managed to calm down somewhat.

"Uh..." The girl blinked, she really wasn't interested in playing Sherlock right now but... if he'd insist even if she refused anyway. "F... fine..." Eva sighed heavily, her eyes shifting about. She furrowed her brows when the fellow blonde pulled out something quite unexpected. Here she was, clad only in her black nightie and bandaged foot while he was still fully clothed and somehow, prepared some sort of bottle filled with hot chocolate. "..." She gulped, feeling awful for thinking he might poison her. Shaking off the suspicion, her shaky hands reached forward, grabbing the makeshift cup with both hands.

"Thank you..." The girl drank it slowly, enjoying the sweetness on her tongue and warmth traveling down her throat. She only finished half of it before giving it back to Yohan. "So... uh... let's go, I presume..." For just a moment, her gaze lingered on Xi Feng's frozen form. If she had her chance... if only she could sneak up on her...!
 
Listening back and forth Alice decided it was best to not interject with the fact technically she had a knife that could remove a heart.. Well a claw hand that could literally rip and cut it out, she didn't think that to be a very wise course of action, more so when it was pretty obvious just by looking at her.

Plus you had the weirdos who were fully clothed in the middle of the night, plus the unsolved mystery of the suitcase. Either way with the mention on some lacking powers, the Machine Girl frowns, speaking up to draw attention to herself at the remark on lacking powers she smiles thinly to the group.

"I'm one of those, I guess I should go with someone that has powers." Watching her supposed allies going there own ways she didn't much care who she went with, depending. Starting at Xi Feng she wondered how much the girl had changed or if they would just try killing her outright.. She wasn't all that bad, least the previous times they met.. And in this crazy world, even she was plotting to kill...

Before she can make further comments Alina made one that was fairly insulting in a manner. "Hmph.." Crossing her arms with a pouty face in a regards she glares briefly. "I have some human parts left you know.. And I'm afraid that wasn't in the design when this happened. I would need someone to do a few upgrades to this for a flare gun.."

Listening to the rest of the instructions Alice gives a head nod showing she had been paying attention at least, on the plus side of her legs being what they were she could comfortably walk on this terrain unlike a few of them at least. Waiting to see what the rest decided to do she had little else to add in herself. Watching Yohan moving off to this new girl, something about her slightly unnerved Alice, but for now that wasn't important, she wanted to avoid death.. And if possible gain a power of her own so she wasn't so helpless in these situations.
 
"I'll jam this up your skull any time, bitch," Onyx spat, glaring darkly at Marionette, "And Alina, more than just splitting up to try and make sure our abilities work together, we need to learn what everyone has, right?"

"Reasonable enough," Caelan said, nodding, "I set things on fire with enough intensity to burn to crisp whatever I faced in my last world."

"Wow, attractive and powerful, aren't you?" Marionette winked, unperturbed with this sudden exchange of vital information. Doing a little twirl in her gothic outfit before bowing, the white-haired girl said, "You've already seen my power at work, right? The ability to turn people into puppets is mine! Heide?"

The brunette looked back at the white-haired girl, before saying, flatly, "The power to open locks and remove chains."


"Not a very useful one here, eh?" Marionette grinned.

Madelon looked at her hands, eyes narrowing slightly, struggling once more. "I don't have one," she said, after some deliberation, before those eyes settled on the others once more. "That's a problem, isn't it?"

The blue-haired man nodded, jumping off from his perch and landing onto the same level as everyone else. "Ten people here, but there are two that have already paired up," he said, a pointed glance in the direction of Yohan and Eva, both who were obscured at the moment. "Three individuals here do not have a power, and…"


"If we're splitting up and no one wants to kill this young lady," Marionette said, bemused by this situation, "I will have to stay here as the 'center' then, to keep her restrained."

"So the other three pairs will have one powerless individual in each," he concluded.

Onyx clicked his tongue. "Was going to offer to go with you, but..."

Caelan nodded, before making a couple arbitrary decisions, pointing at each person. "You two, you two, and I'll go with Madelon. We separate at ninety degree angles, using this place as the center. Does that work?"

A pause.

"Doesn't matter if it's not the best anyways. The clock's ticking after all."

Marionette brushed the dust off a piece of rubble. "Well, I'll be leaving you peeps to get to work then. Good luck!"

"Fuck off, Mari-shit," Onyx said, before storming off.

"Love you too, Onny-boy!" Marionette blew a kiss towards his back.


@Jageroux @RedArmyShogun
Heading off north, Onyx and Alice soon found themselves in an increasingly thick part of the concrete jungle. The remnants of buildings practically leaned against each other for support, while more and more of those tall poles clustered nearby. The black cables fell further and further down, until they were practically vines, turning everything into a clustered, tangled mess. It was definitely possible to climb to the top of this 'canopy' of unnatural materials, if not slightly dangerous.

In this direction, at least, the uncanny shadow-crows that were common elsewhere weren't present, and perhaps a higher perspective would change things.

@Jakers @Izurich
Heading westward, Yohan and Eva, enjoying cups of hot chocolate, did not come across any particularly frustrating obstacles. Against their feet, the smooth pavement was fairly comfortable, albeit for occasional shards of stone. These minor inconveniences were especially painful for Eva. Though the cuts on her feet were disinfected and bandaged up, each step still caused a pang of pain to run up her legs. It was clear that constantly walking about wasn't doing any favours for recovery from those injuries. But they had a time limit, innocuously ticking in the back of their head.

And, though it may just be paranoia, it appeared as if the shadow-crows that bounced up and down on the dark wires overhead were slowly increasing in number, more flying in from all other directions of the alien land.

@Random
Heading southward, Alina and Heidemarie travelled quietly, the suitcase carried by the brunette still not opened. For the time being, it seemed that whatever contents the suitcase contained were not necessary. The landscape around them opened up gradually, rubble and poles and wires giving away to a more open, orderly space. If not for the lack of a blue sky or water slowly drowning the surface, the orderly buildings were reiminiscent of the first world, tall and smooth, standing upright or at angles, all leaning towards the area that the duo had just walked away from. It was peaceful, quiet outside of their breathing.

And yet, there was still discomfort in the back of Alina's mind, that someone, something was watching.
 
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"Uh-huh. I have no idea what we'll find, if we find anything. But whatever we see, pay close attention." Yohan replied as the two walk, taking back the half-full cup back from Eva. Bringing such a simple thing could be a huge morale-booster in an otherwise broken world; he didn't regret bringing along the bulky flask with him at all. Holding the gently steaming cup above his mouth for a moment, Yohan looked into the distance as he walked at her pace. Brown eyes seemed to be wandering in thought; almost somewhat sadly as he scanned a grey horizon. "...I... I don't like to admit it, but... I think my memory's becoming faded, in some way. I want to piece together clues, but I can barely remember anything from my 'first world'. The same with the 'second'. I wish I could remember it all and... somehow... despite the absurdity of all of this... piece it together," Yohan mumbled as he bought the cup to his lip. "Thankfully, though, it only seems to be me who's struggling to remember things. ...Maybe I'm just forgetful, haha."

Being sure not drink on the same side of the cup as she did, Yohan took a gulp from the hot flask himself. Almost instantly as he did so, however, the young man's body flinched unnaturally. A red eye, out of nowhere, seemed to flash in his vision. The sounds of blood dripping off slender metal, and landing onto a soft floor. These strange, almost 'impulsive' visions were only in his mind, and he knew it. ...But why had they suddenly pried their way into his brain like that?

In this sudden moment, Yohan felt oddly conflicted. Like some sort of strange, invisible part of him was almost screaming at him to go back. But, not only was it too late to go back now, but his mind brightened as the student told himself he was sure nothing would come of it. Xi Feng was subdued, and Marionette would surely stick true to her word of keeping the disciplinary committee 'contained'. Regardless if she had somewhat of a provoking attitude to some of her allies, she seemed reliable and diplomatic at the least.

Things would be fine. The only thing they had to worry about was their environment, and even that seemed relatively tame so far. More moments and minutes of walking ocurred, before Yohan only just noticed that Eva wasn't just walking slowly and somewhatt strangely out of fear. She was actually limping. Trailing down to her feet, the student's eyes widened a little as he only just noticed the tightly-wrapped bandages around the blonde girl's soles.

"...Your feet. Did that happen after I met you in the real world? Tch... sorry, that's my mistake. I shouldn't have made you walk if you're injured." Yohan murmured, clearly concerned. He knew running about barefoot certainly didn't do one any favours, but he never would've expected the cobblestone flooring of Ringrange to cause such injuries. "If it helps you get around better, you can have my shoes and socks. There might be a point where we need to run, and... well... it shouldn't be a problem for me to go barefoot. After all," he smiled as he looked faintly into the distance. "I can Translocate."

His body disappeared instantaneously, appearing once more a few meters ahead of where he was standing. Walking back to Eva after the very brief demonstration, he shrugged.
"That's my 'power word', see. I can appear somewhere else within my vision, about twenty or thirty feet away if need be. Simple as that," he paused in thought, before adding, "...Sometimes simple is best, though, right?"

He didn't want to think too hard about the whole 'power words' thing, as it was far too surreal for him to even begin to decipher. But if he was entrusted with a terrifying power such as 'Dominate', he'd be reluctant to use it against other living beings, and it wouldn't do well for his conscience. Because 'Translocate' didn't harm anyone, and wasn't too over-the-top in what it did, in a way, it was a perfect power for him to use in the dream world. A guilt-free power, that wouldn't make him go 'power crazy' or anything of the like.

Whether Eva took the offer of the shoes and socks or not, a cluster of fluttering darkness became animated in the corner of Yohan's vision. Silhouettes, gathering one by one on the wires above, that almost seemed in the shape of birds. He'd seen these before, but they'd been infrequent enough for him to think they were just 'part of the scene'. But an uncanny amount were starting to gather up now; enough for him to raise more concern about the shadowy beings. Squinting as he quickly jerked his head up to confirm whether it was 'just an illusion' or not, the things certainly seemed to be there.

"Hrm..." Yohan paused for a moment, keeping calm in the presence of the phenomenon to the point of looking complete unbothered, but his posture still remained somewhat cautious. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing, Eva?"

Was this trouble, or just an eerie 'decoration'; further ambience in this strange, empty - yet somewhat built up and familiar world? Were other people experiencing this in different directions? No way to be sure. Yohan wasn't sure what power Eva had to work with, but if this was shaping up to be some sort of combat-based scenario...

Slowly bending over, Yohan scrounged up a shard of rock as the birds seemed to multiply, further and further, though they never seemed real enough for him to be sure. Keeping his voice hushed, he raised the rock fragment as if he was about to throw it.
"I could try throwing this near them to see what reaction comes from those... 'things'. Real birds would flee from the sudden noise. I don't know what the reaction of these avian-esque things would be, if they're anything more than 'visions'." Yohan commented quietly, "...Or, we could play it safe and leave now; perhaps try a different direction, in case this is some sort of hazard starting to form. Up to you."
 
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Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on one's perspective, Eva didn't quite catch Marionette's offer to end Xi Feng's misery. Alas, she would grab the chance in a heartbeat, then again, it might be a trap, an attempt to fish out any murderous individuals among the group. The white-haired girl could just easily get back on her offer, accusing Eva as the rogue element, knowing she had no clear allies here except Yohan, she'd be dead quicker than a lost young girl in the Dropout District. As such, perhaps it was for the better that her hands stayed unbloodied for the time being.

Walking together with her fellow blond, Eva finished another cup of hot chocolate, deeming it was enough to keep her warm for the time being. She was at a loss on what to do here and her injured foot didn't make things better, evident by her limping walk as she tried to keep up with the taller man. "Uh... so you too, huh?" The girl looked up at him, a mixed expression on her face. On one hand, she was disturbed that her fuzzy memories weren't just her own delusion, on the other hand, she wasn't the only one suffering the curse.

"Me too, Yohan, I... I can't exactly remember what happened the first time I experienced this... I only knew agony as someone shot me in the head. The second, it was all a blur, except her... the girl with the sword, I remember her, she was the one who killed me, stabbed me through the heart." One thing was mutually shared by the incidents, her memory was most vivid around the moment of her death. "Don't worry, you're not the only one..." She murmured, not sure whether it'd make him feel better or worse.

"Nnngh..." Stumbling on a small rock, Eva couldn't hold back a small pained groan, her cheeks gaining a rosy tint as she sighed. Now he'd find out. "..." She knew it, he'd stop and be all concerned about her foot. While she would appreciate the gesture in the real world, even she knew they had some sort of time limit. The damned loud ticks were obvious enough signs. "It's alright, Yohan, come on. We need to keep moving." She didn't need him to blaming himself, not now of all times. "Uh... ah... fine." Not wanting to argue, she accepted his offer, accepting the shoes and socks.

"I hope it's not too oversiz-..." Her blue-gold eyes widened as Yohan's form simply vanished from the spot and at the same time, spawning in another location. "W-... wha-...? Of course, there was only a single explanation of it, it was his power, the ability to bend the laws of space and time. It reminded her of the mythical stories of the Shinobi. "I see, alright, it's definitely a useful one." Certainly more versatile than hers. Knowing this, she had no qualms about taking his shoes now. "Alright, all set." With a small smile, the girl got up then continued walking. While the footwear was rather oversized, she could make do.


The uplifted mood didn't last long however as a growing murder of 'crows' gathered above their heads, darker than any raven, the winged beings were more akin to living shadows than birds. "Uh..." Eva didn't like it, crows were a bad omen in itself, let alone one made out of shadows, peering at them from above. "Of course." No, Yohan, you weren't hallucinating, "Crows or at least, they look like one." She quirked an eyebrow when he grabbed a small stone as more and more shadowy crows converged overhead.

"I don't think that's a good idea..." She went to him and grabbed his hand, "Let's just move." The slight stutter in her voice spoke of fear, her shifting eyes were terrified. The girl pulled at his hand then moved her feet, "Let's just go!" True to her fears, the moment she hastened her pace, the murder opened their wings, soaring through the desolate sky, following the pair in a swarm of black cloud. "Ha... haa...!" Eva ran, ran, and ran, gritting her teeth, her new shoes and pumping adrenaline helped her to ignore the pain from her feet.
 
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