tabularasa_rp | Bad times at the beach (and other areas)

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Bad times at the beach (and other areas)

Who: Legion, Raihan, Akechi, Ahsoka, Bakugou, Rinoa (Part 1) and anyone else who wants to join in (part 2)
What: STUBBY ATTACK
Where: Beach (part 1), eventually other areas (part2)
When: Early September I guess??? What is time.
Content Warnings: Fighting, violence, horrible little robot plant monsters trying to eat everyone and everything.

Part One:

All in all, it starts out as a nice day at the beach. Well, not day, precisely, because there is no day or night in this nameless and half formed realm, but it was nice enough.

Legion could not speak to the reasons that their allies had joined them on this excursion, but their own motive was the acquisition of useful objects and materials – they still weren’t convinced that cleaning the beach was an appropriate course of action.

The reason for that? Well, they were currently all over the beach causing trouble. Piranha Stubbies, bane of beachgoers everywhere, dozens of them, maybe more. It’d started with a few trailing behind Legion, hoping for food. And then there’d been a group that were well into devouring what had been a particularly nice couch. More had been attracted by the sound that they made as they worked. And they’d become increasingly hostile once Raihan and Duraludon joined the party, snapping at them, and then everyone else, despite concentrated efforts to avoid them. The attacks became more coordinated, progressing from random bouts of hostility to guerrilla warfare style ambushes and hit and runs, to active destruction of things before anyone is able to take them.

“This level of coordination is unexpected.” Legion comments at some point, after the Stubbies run them off from a leather armchair. They hadn’t yet become aware of the little machines new networking capability, and they still haven’t quite realized what’s going on.

It’s not long after that it happens. Maybe someone kicks a stubby, or rips away an object that one is trying to eat. Maybe someone got a little rough with one that tried to bite them. Either way, the stubbies as a whole retreat, and it almost seems like things might be Pirahna Stubby free for the rest of the day…

Wait, is that?

It seems like the Stubbies are back again. And there are a lot of them. And they look distinctly angry.

The way they’re gathering, it almost looks kind of like they’re forming an army...

Part Two:

That sure is a Stubby army!

They rush in from the beach, following wherever the people go, attacking and devouring. There’s the main horde, but there are also smaller groups, even the occasional individual, splitting off to harass basically any creature they come across. Pidgey cats, chicken nugs, even the occasional geth zumyu creature are now being harassed and bit by the horrible little things, and they’re almost certainly attacking people and property too.

So you know, you might just find a stubby wandering into your apartment to eat your bed, or a group of them might attack you during a stroll around Mortis Lake...

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"You've gotta be kidding me! I've got a trash can trying to eat me!" On the upside, it was only one, and Parsee was not a terrible runner when it came down to it. She'd be able to handle this one rather persistent Stubby who was impeding her ability to get supplies for her own home, given enough time. But being proven right about the other shoe dropping and attacks being inevitable was far less fun at the moment than she'd originally assumed it'd be.

Don't worry!

[He might not look much like a knight or a prince these days, but it's an easy disguise to fall into as Akechi sprints past her, flicking his jagged sword once to neatly slice the smallest biting mouth right out of the Stubby's grasping maw, and then slice back, rending the metal can in two. He holds an arm out straight as if to prevent her from running forward -- which he doubts she'll do, it just doubles as looking like a cool, heroic pose -- and glances back over his shoulder.]

Are you alright? It's not safe here, we should pull back to more defensible ground.

Edited 2020-09-04 23:56 (UTC)

Shoooow off. [She panted and grunted hands on knees.] Thanks, though...

[She looked down at the thing on the ground, shaking her head and grunted. For now, she was waiting next to him, not running further, looking back.]

Stupid plants got hungry it looks like. Is there really anywhere safe around here, really?

Of course, Mizuhashi-san. Though I have to say, if you think I'm a showoff, you should see Ren in action.

[And that, at least, is genuine. It benefits him not at all to let one of the few people he actually enjoys talking to get hurt. For one thing, Ren would probably insist that Akechi use the scant medical supplies he has on her, and he'd really rather not. Prevention is the best medicine, especially when medicine is impossible to come by.

The quirk of a smile to his lips at the mention of how much of a show-off Ren can be fades into something more serious as he nods, moving back to offer her his free hand if she needs the support.]

Somewhere inside, for now. They move in an organized hoard, so we'll have to bottleneck them somewhere where numbers won't give them an advantage. It's like they've somehow gotten smarter...

Yeah, yeah, I believe it. Call him a protagonist sometime. You should see how much it winds that boy up to call him the hero he is. [She snickers.] You're still a showoff, heh.

[She took the hand, but only long enough to be stable on her feet. A grunt as he mentioned that, and she considered their options. There weren't good bottlenecks.]

The caverns might work, but they're too wide... any thoughts?

(Ren is at a point that he doesn't quite expect something to happen in the void, but cannot write off the possibility of disaster in the face of the unknown. His dagger rests comfortably under the bar whenever he's behind it, ready to be picked up at a moment's notice should there be a reason to use it.

Seems like reason came in the form of a horde of the tiny tincans heading towards the establishment and with how they're leaving a trail of severily injured animals and overall chaos on the way, there's no arguing they'd mean to do anything different to the café-bar or to the people in the close surroundings.

There is no way Ren would simply watch. The apron remained on him as removing it would take too much time, but the glasses are left on the bar as he grabbed the knife, not a speck of second-guessing or further consideration when he dashes through the door.

They're many. Ren's overconfident smile is one that hardly shows up in the Void, but there it is proudly as he makes his way towards the machines. He might not be able to take down an entire horde by himself, but he surely can slow them down or direct them towards a different path... He thinks, anyways.)

[There's always something going on, isn't there? It's just not...ususally so violent of a something as this. The fact that Izuku had to follow a trail of blood and various levels of injured wildlife to get here...that was saying something. He decides to leave Toshi back at Mt. Silver, where he'd been staying. The Thunderbird seemed to prefer the mountain to any other place in this world, since it reminded him so much of his roosts he lived in before. Probably a wise choice, considering what Izuku comes up on when he reaches Heavenly Blanc.]

Amamiya-san!!

[Izuku stops short as he sees the veritable horde of stubbies trying to crowd up around the building, as well as Ren himself as he approaches them head-on. Well, Izuku isn't about to let him do that alone.

He jumps into the fray shortly after that, kicking one of the robots away from him as it makes to take a bite out of his ankle.]

What's going on? How did they all get here?!

[Usually they stay on the beach...are they on the move, now?]

(By the time Ren heard Izuku's voice, he had already engaged with the horde. The strategy he found most useful was to always be on the move, taking advantage of his speed and acrobacy skills to deny any chance of being bit or scratched - his gymnastic skills come in handy here. With a backflip, Ren's hands hit the ground first and he uses the momentum to propel himself backwards (showoff!), creating more space between him and the creatures so he can address Izuku.

Izuku would definitely be a good addition to fight by his side - after all, he is a hero in training.)

I don't know, they just appeared.

(No point of thinking about the whys and hows now, he thinks. It's much more important to keep them from coming into Heavenly Blanc, later he can get the details or even go and figure it out himself. Right now, he is much busy with his amused smile and slashing of tincans... It's thrilling and he hasn't had that here yet. Let him live.)

Edited 2020-09-05 14:12 (UTC)

[At least some things you can still do even outside of the metaverse, huh?

Izuku seems impressed, if it weren't for the fact of all of these creatures being such an aggressive distraction...one that commands his complete attention as he quickly moves so he's back-to-back with Ren so they have all sides covered as Izuku punts another one across the yard with a well-timed kick.]

Think we can lead them away from here?

(Too busy to check for the impression, but there's some of his own...! It was a nice kick and while Ren himself doesn't use any of the martial arts he has learned from Tifa, he's doing what he can with his dagger.)

I see no other option.

[That settles that, then. Izuku doesn't want to hurt them, but what else can they do? If they get into the bar...they might destroy it completely.]

I've got your back, then. Don't let your guard down!

Part One

[Oh, someone kicked a Stubby and pissed it off? Couldn't be Akechi. Like, no one saw him do it, he made very sure of that. But oh, was it satisfying to punt it across the sand and watch it roll toward the ocean.

It isn't even that he truly cares about what's on the beach. It's that he felt he should be seen making an effort to help the others with what they're looking for. Oh, don't mind the sword at his waist. This is a perfectly normal thing for a perfectly normal high schooler to carry around.

Any doubt as to whether or not he knows how to use it is banished immediately as he draws it with his left hand when the Stubbies start charging en-masse.]

Get behind me! [he orders, the very picture of a knight ready to defend his friends.] I'll hold them off while we retreat to better ground!

[No, really. It'll be his pleasure.]

Part Two

Look out!

[Maybe you were peacefully going about your day. Maybe you were about to fight off the small group of Stubbies yourself. Either way, suddenly Akechi is there, jagged red-glowing sword in hand as with a deft flick of his wrist, he cuts one of the biting mouths straight off its tin can body, then uses the flat of the blade on the backswing to smash the body away in the opposite direction of its head.]

They're organized. Be careful.

[In spite of the words of warning, there's a smirk tugging at his lips. It almost looks like he's enjoying himself.]

[ ahsoka is, not as discreetly, being fairly rude to the stubbies that cross her way. fighting droids was a very average part of her day for years, and she doesn't hesitate to give them some swift kicks when they get too close for comfort. they aren't being too aggressive, so she's content to let them be.

but when the army starts charging, all bets are off. she sees akechi pull out a sword and though she appreciates the offer- ]

No way! There's too many of them, we have to run.

[God, Akechi wishes he could be that genuine about anything in front of other people. He respects the way she can just be herself and be openly rude when other people are watching. Good for her! Good for her!!

His lips twist as if he's biting back a curse, but he nods.]

We need to get somewhere more defensible. This beach is too open, we'll be surrounded.

[He backs up to where she is, casting about for somewhere to retreat to.]

The rocks near the cliffside, perhaps?

[ she turns her head quick to where he looks, seeing the rocks and giving a quick nod. there are a few stubbies who are ahead of the pack coming in fast. ]

If we clear the first few, we should be able to outrun the rest. [ then she smirks. ] You up for it?

[ judging by how he's holding that sword, she has a good hunch he is. ]

It'll be my pleasure.

[Ahsoka gets a wicked grin and a nod. She already knows he can fight, and considering that he'd already told her once before he was practiced with this weapon, there's no reason not to show off.

So he does, charging forward with his sword held against his chest, back of the blade braced by one hand and jagged edge outward so he can put his entire body behind the initial swing. The jagged blade is for ripping and tearing, not for clean slices, so that's what it does, catching the biting smaller mouth of a Stubby between two edges and ripping it apart.

Still, he's keeping himself restrained, no giant sweeps or cackling laughter. Just methodical, quick and sure with little wasted movement.]

[ she lets him go ahead first, perfectly content with covering him, and races for the leftover stubby. her dash accelerates before she pivots into a forward cartwheel, landing and then jumping over the stubby to get behind as it makes it own jump to chomp.

she gets behind the machine and swiftly begins a combo of kicks to get it to fall face first to the ground. once that's done she jumps on its small body and delivers a strong stomp to the head - slamming it further to the sand and disabling it.

by the time she looks back at him he's already ripped apart his with the sword. no clean cuts, unsurprising with his blade, but something else strikes her - he knows what he's doing. despite his posh looks, he's no novice with the blade.

but now the other two stubbies are going for him in combination. ]

Akechi, they're on you!

[While the Stubby nation was preparing its attack, Cole had been busy spending some quality time feeding and chilling with a few chicken nugs. He'd since said his goodbyes and gone back to wandering by the time he spots the group of stubbies lumbering his way. Normally he'd just go the other way when he spots one of the metal creatures, but something is different. They're not defending territory, they're rushing his way in a group, almost as if-]

[In the time it takes him to pull out his daggers Akechi is there, already a step ahead of him. This is good. Akechi likes to fight. Cole can provide support.]

Thank you. I will try.

[As the rest come rushing, one tries to flank Akechi and he's there in a flash, knocking it away with a swing of his dagger and cutting a deep gash through it in the process. He's not sure of the best way to fight these creatures, but if he lets them continue on this path, they'll run straight into the chicken nugs he left behind. He's not about to allow that.]

Excellent work, Cole-san.

[Cole is one of the few Akechi currently trusts to fight alongside him, so the other boy gets a grateful nod as he -- strange as it seems -- trusts his back to him and focuses on the other Stubbies. Akechi doesn't particularly care for the chicken nugs, but whatever works.]

We need to draw them away from the buildings, and ensure they don't enter the caves.

[ It feels like every time she runs into him in the various places around the Void, Akechi has yet another side of himself to show her. Between the fake smiles on their first meeting, the more genuine smiles and gentleness offered to the Moomba-like painters, and now a knight's fierceness... Even in their current situation, Rinoa almost can't help but wonder which of them, if any, is the real him. Or perhaps there are still more sides of him to uncover?

Still, there's time to think about that later. For now, Rinoa shakes her head, refusing his order as she steps up beside him instead, lifting her left arm and showing him the weapon strapped to it. At first glance, the feathers on it might not seem like much, but they're as much blade as his sword. Not to mention the dog and the catbunnybird thing that flank her, both ready to take the aptly-named Stubbies on. ]

We'll do it together.

[The whole time they'd been walking together, Akechi had been casting surreptitious glances toward Angelo. He wants to pet that dog so badly.

Unfortunately, before he can figure out a good way to ask that doesn't make him sound like a child, they're under attack. He gives Rinoa a measuring gaze, lingering on the feathers for a moment with a raised eyebrow. But with Stubbies charging,there isn't time for debate, and he clicks his tongue with impatience and nods.]

Very well. You take right, and we'll flank them to give the others time to escape.

[He has no idea what she's capable of, but if need be, he'll protect her. The only threat these things pose is sheer numbers, really.]

[ She's noticed the glances. Anyone else might have offered to let him pet Angelo, too. But she's curious about this one, and if ever something is going to make Rinoa difficult...

No, Akechi is just going to have to ask, if he wants to pet.

(Later, of course. Not when they're under attack.)

Rinoa offers him a nod of her own in response to his... suggestion? command? before she does exactly what he said, moving to the right and immediately firing her bladed weapon from her arm. It slices through one of the creatures' metal bodies as it leaps, and then slots right back onto her arm as the pieces fall onto the sand.

She's not sure it'll stay that way; after all, things in this place have a weird habit of surviving injuries that would surely kill them back at home, but...

Rinoa shakes her head as she fires again, gaze shifting to Akechi. ]

[ Instead of being thankful for the help or worried about the incoming fight, Turing had an altogether different reaction.

They looked horrified.

The fact that Akechi could so easily cut down other mechanical beings that didn't look that much different from Turing, and with a smirk to boot, sent a figurative chill down their spine. Sure, the stubbies were hostile, but was it necessary to hurt them in such a way? What if they could become sapient someday too? Turing had already been thoughtless toward other ROMs before The Awakening, and they weren't about to make that mistake twice. Not only that, but...

What if everyone saw fit to cut them down in the same way someday? ]

Please, stop! I can flee to safety, so don't hurt any more of them!

[Well, that's certainly not the reaction Akechi expected. Immediately he's forced to shift from thinking of himself as a heroic savior to acting like a regretful combatant, and while he doesn't particularly like this lie, it comes as easily to him as any other.]

I'll do what I can, but I can't allow them to threaten what little we have here. No you, nor anyone or anything else we have.

I understand, but...

[ Turing looked at the stubbies in the distance and desperately tried to communicate with them. They still couldn't connect to the mesh. Even if they could, the likelihood of the stubbies also being able to connect to the mesh or receive any sort of message from Turing at all didn't seem terribly likely. However, it was still better than doing nothing.

You have to run away! Please!

There was no answer. ]

It's not necessary to destroy them, is it?

part a.
[ Raihan honestly hadn't come here to make trouble. he, like the others, was here to check out some of the new furniture that had washed up on the beach and potentially bring it home to give his apartment more of a personal touch. getting comfortable here for the long-term might not be optimal, but at the moment it seems like the only choice.

one stubby isn't a problem; Duraludon can take one easily enough, with the upper hand. two makes things more complicated, but still doable... but any more than that and things will start to get hairy. Duraludon had been able to scare off the first couple that were trailing Legion, but after noticing them and apparently communicating with each other about how the Pokemon had devoured their fallen comrade not long ago, it seems like conflict is becoming unavoidable. ]

Yeah. I'm getting a bad feeling about this...

[ he looks into the beach's distance with a furrowed brow. it's difficult to ascertain what he's thinking, but asking certainly wouldn't hurt. ]

part 2.

[ that stubby army sure is a problem, isn't it? the horde can't be taken care of by Duraludon and Raihan alone, but maybe you can help them fight off the hoard together. if one strays from the pack and starts harassing you, Duraludon may come to the rescue to body it and make sure it stops moving. closer to the forest, Raihan might be seen with a poor Pidgey cat in his arms, trembling from a near-assault. it's chaos, but something needs to be done! ]

Bowser is near Mortis Lake when they attack. It is there that he fights the horde. Using his improvised pipe weapon, he fights them off, and keeps them away. He knows he's severely outnumbered, however, and though a few Stubbies aren't a threat to him, he's not sure he can win against this many.

"Stop fighting me, you idiots! I'm your KING!" he shouts, though it does nothing to stop the Piranha Stubbies' attack.

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Bad times at the beach (and other areas)

Part 2 - OTA

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heavenly blanc surroundings - open to max. 4-way-thread

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will tag until a 3rd/4th comes! then we can arrange the sequence?

im so sorry I tagged this and then dropped off the face of the earth

IT'S ABSOLUTELY FINE

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part one

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Part Two

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Part 1!

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part two

akechi does not care but i am SO SAD poor turing 😭

I'm here to possibly make it worse!

part 1 & 2, ota

Part 2 - open