Mosaic City, located along China's coast, is quite large city sometimes called the Crossroads Between Nations due to its diverse population. While it was once a large tourist spot, the city was placed under a blockade as the military appeared claiming there was a radiation leak. The true hazard, however, is much more sinister.
Post by Layla Amare on Jun 23, 2014 3:33:27 GMT -5
"I know that! So how do you think I..." Layla started to snap at Alisa, but trailed off halfway through her thought. The rest of what Alisa said hit her right after. "I...oh..." Her eyes went wide as she realized just what her thought process was, and how it had been ever since she collapsed in the park.
"When did this happen?" she said softly. True, she knew what had triggered it, but it was such a radical change in her mindset that she could hardly believe that it had happened so suddenly. Somehow, she'd gone from living every day like it could be her last to being overly worried about the fact that maybe it was her last, and that she hadn't done enough. And rather than accepting all the company she could get while gently keeping them from getting so close that her loss would devastate them, she'd been actively pushing them away. "Above all else, live a life without regrets. That's how I lived ever since I found out about this condition. But lately, I've just been letting regrets pile up and acting like there was nothing I could do about it. How did I get like this?"
She sighed. "As for other people, I didn't want them to worry about me. But I didn't want to hurt them when I did die either, so I kept my distance. Seems like I just made it all happen anyway. Hah, I'm an idiot."
Post by Ayakura Alisa on Jun 23, 2014 3:40:52 GMT -5
I continued staring down at the ground, letting Layla release her emotions as they must have no doubt bubbled up within her. She knew, but yet she snapped, and soon I had a feeling she now could understand the mistake she made... Well, personally, I didn't know if Layla was really sick or not, but the way she spoke to me gave it away. I thought back to Ringo for a moment. Yeah, he was a grade A shounen manga protagonist wannabe (and we all know how well that goes when someone wants to pretend to be the archetypal protagonist from a popular manga for kids) but I think that his behavior towards Layla should have set off some flags. "Not really your fault. If it all seemed so sudden - and note, I've not got too much of a clue about the circumstances of your situation - then I suppose it must have been impulsive behavior." I cleared my throat and ended up spitting a ball of phlegm on the ground right aways from me. It was a little bloody.
"Ringo kept your ailment a secret from me, for sure, but I could figure out that there was something wrong from the get-go. Don't feel bad, instead, work towards helping your friends cope with the fact you're not long for this world, or whatever. It'll help them come to terms with everything so things will be easier for everyone involved. 'Tis just my two cents." I sighed deeply again, recalling Chidori.
"Besides, at least you're not a failure like I am who failed to prevent the deaths of people I loved."
Post by Layla Amare on Jun 23, 2014 4:03:14 GMT -5
"I see...yeah, maybe you're right," Layla said. "I guess I should be more up front with people in the future, too. Hmmm..." She closed her eyes again, thinking of how she could put her life back on track. First, she'd have to get back to putting her happiness first. Could she still do reckless and dangerous things? Absolutely. It was the mindset behind them that she had to fix. As for other people, she would have to be a little bit more selfish with them too. After all, if she died alone because she kept trying to avoid hurting people, that would be a regret too. She didn't have to change too much. She just had to get back to how she was before collapsing in the park at the beginning of April.
And while she was at it, maybe she could go to the amusement park on the coast, or find another tank to fight. Something thrilling.
After a few seconds, Alisa continued, mentioning failing to prevent people's deaths. "You're assuming a lot," Layla said, recalling the grave marker just outside the Gap. It was for the girl she'd met at the Valentine's festival, Nisha. A strong, silent girl who Layla had come to a simple but pleasant understanding with but never got a chance to talk to again. And then, without warning, she'd died within a few days of the last time Layla had seen her. "I've lost people too. I didn't know them that well, but I still liked them, and there was nothing I could do to help them in the end."
Post by Ayakura Alisa on Jun 23, 2014 4:15:24 GMT -5
I shrugged. Sure. You didn't know them. But it is far more painful when you lose people you've loved. Because of your weakness. But you wouldn't understand that, would you? Tch. Whatever. It is what makes me stronger, and it is what drives me to fight. Sighing, I stood up and coughed. My head throbbed a little. I looked around and shoved my hands into my pockets, leaning against the wall. "Then, you obviously know how valuable and transient life is." I decided to refrain from exploding, I swallowed my tears and heaved a deep breath once more. I hoped she didn't notice my attempt at anything, but I don't believe I was making a massive effort to hide it, either. Chidori did mean a lot to me. She helped me... see life in a better lens. She stopped me from becoming a mindless drone, a servant for information. And... I think she... Ugh. All because I wasn't even there... And my parents threw their lives away. And I did not even know better...
...
"Well, I guess I am relieved to see you here. It makes me feel better knowing the truth."
Post by Layla Amare on Jun 23, 2014 4:34:40 GMT -5
"I..." Layla could tell from Alisa's reaction that she'd messed up. Maybe it was just how she'd been feeling lately, or maybe she just had too much on her mind at the moment. She was usually better than that. But now, since it was clear that she'd messed up, she wasn't going to let it go. That would just lead to more regrets. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply anything, or devalue anything you've been through." Layla stood up as well, and moved to pull Alisa into a hug. "I'm really sorry. I know my sympathies won't mean all that much now, but they're all that I have at the moment."
Post by Ayakura Alisa on Jun 23, 2014 4:53:37 GMT -5
Layla seemed to catch on my sudden display of emotion. Oh well. I couldn't help it. I guess I have to be honest, that did strike close to home. Layla said 'sorry,' and while I didn't feel it was necessary (though I'd be lying to myself if I said I didn't appreciate it), I guess it did make me feel a little bit better. She pulled me into a hug and I promptly responded in kind, giving her a gently hug back. "It's alright... It's not like you really knew, anyway. All we can really do is move on and do our best..." I sighed and after a moment pulled away from Layla after there was an audible rumbling sound. The floor shook and I soon quickly wondered if there was anything happening.
"Hey, did you hear that? Is it just me, or did the whole building just shake?"
Post by Layla Amare on Jun 23, 2014 6:56:19 GMT -5
Layla nodded, and smiled after Alisa pulled away. But they were quickly brought back to reality by a rumbling sound. Layla felt the building vibrate, just a little bit, but not enough to really be concerned about. Despite the barrier around the city, it still got precipitation as though there was nothing there. That included storms, sometimes big ones. And Layla had been using lightning-based skills long enough to be able to tell the sound of thunder from anything else.
And that had sounded exactly like thunder.
"Just a little bit. But it sounded like thunder to me. It's probably just a storm rolling in," she said with confidence. "I could go look to be sure, but I don't really want to risk letting anything else in by accident. I'm sure it'll be fine if we wait it out though." Sure enough, seconds later, another rumble sounded, followed by the dull, pattering roar of falling rain. Layla relaxed, content that she was right and hadn't just accidentally fallen into some horror movie cliche.
"By the way," she added, now that they weren't trying to sort through each other's troubles. "Just what are you wearing?"
Post by Ayakura Alisa on Jun 23, 2014 7:13:57 GMT -5
I nodded as Layla mentioned that it probably was just the sound of thunder, and the tell-tale signs of an oncoming storm. Her suspicions were soon confirmed as it began to rain, and I could easily hear the myriad droplets of rain fall on the corrugated roof of this building (I knew it was such, it was similar to a warehouse in structure, though not used for such purposes). Eventually, Layla ended up asking me what I was wearing, as if it wasn't already obvious that I was wearing a suit - white polo shirt coupled with a black blazer, both just accommodating my size (I was binded of course, so my breasts weren't visible at all) - accompanied by some flared dress pants.
"Oh, this? Well, it's a bit of a long story," I fidgeted as I took a deep breath. "About last week, I was invited to a masquerade party, so I was dressed up in costume with the accompanying masque. Apparently, I had enthralled a majority of the people there with my appearance, such that my presence disrupted the festivities, and so I was escorted out of premises with promise of compensation. Apparently, said compensation involved landing me a plethora of photoshoot gigs where I had to wear various outfits. Earlier, I had finished a photoshoot where I had to come in dressed in men's business wear. I got to keep the stuff as payment, so here I am wearing this."
The rain continued, and I heard the sound of more thunder.
Post by Layla Amare on Jun 23, 2014 9:04:00 GMT -5
"I see," Layla said. A masquerade party, huh? Layla had never even been to such a thing, much less been invited to one in Mosaic City. She wandered what one would be like. Still, to get asked to leave because she looked too good? That sounded like something out of a movie. Possibly accompanied by a gratuitous dance number.
"I'm not sure whether to call that good 'compensation' or not, but it sounds fun! That reminds me though, I brought a few saris with me from India and I never have gotten a good chance to wear them." It was an idle thought, brought up by the topic of conversation. But Layla had almost forgotten she'd brought them. Maybe in the near future she'd have to find an excuse.
That thought would have to wait, though. Soon after the latest rumble of thunder, a second, much louder crash rang out, and this time the building really did shake. The crash was soon followed by heavy stomping noises, as well as unpleasant crunching. Layla held her breath, stepping away from the wall of the building. Seconds later, the far corner of the building crumbled, brought down by something very large and very heavy. "Shit, we need to get out of here," Layla said, stating the obvious.
Post by Ayakura Alisa on Jun 23, 2014 9:12:46 GMT -5
I shrugged and eked out a soft chuckle at Layla's statement, but the reasonable peace just had to come to an end as after another roll of thunder came, I definitely now heard the sound of something stomping towards the area; crunch, crunch, I heard it, and I spotted the far corner of the building crumble down. Something definitely very large and heavy was the cause and-- Was that the foot of a robot? Well, shit. "Well said, Captain Obvious," I quickly heaved out as I opened the emergency door right by us, left it open for Layla to follow me out. "Whatever that thing is, is probably going to blow this building right open, so let's get out of here. I'll go out first and dispatch any Shadows that might be accompanying that thing, but in this rain, I don't think much will be out? I could be wrong though!" I stepped out into the torrential downpour and felt my brand-spanking business attire get all wet. Oh well.
I turned back around and saw the walls of the building across from us start to get punched in, it would eventually get pulverized and make a huge hole through it. We didn't have too much time.
Post by Layla Amare on Jun 24, 2014 10:22:13 GMT -5
"Here's hoping you're not. I can still fight just fine, but I don't think I'm up to facing down another entire horde," Layla said, following Alisa out into the rain. It painted an eerie picture over the already unpleasant landscape, with blood-red droplets falling in sheets from even darker and more ominous clouds than usual. And lower to the ground, red mist had began to gather, drifting around and...wait.
The clouds of mist had shadow masks?!
Layla spotted the masks as she reached the edge of the alley and peered out. She quietly indicated them to Alisa, then turned back towards the building they'd just left, watching the roof sink as another section of it on the other end was punched to the ground. Over the edge, she could see the silhouetted form of a gigantic shadow, humanoid but obviously artificial in appearance, like a super robot from some of the Japanese cartoons Layla had seen since moving to Mosaic. It looked unarmed at a glance, but it was clear from the state of the building they'd just escaped that that meant absolutely nothing.
Meanwhile, to the other end, the mist shadows seemed to be spread thin enough that they could blast through a few of them and not worry about the rest, but numerous enough that they couldn't afford dealing with them altogether.
"Looks like we're fighting our way out," Layla said, pulling her urumi from her waist again and bracing herself to move the moment the next crash came to drown out her own movements.