AWAKENING

[cordibus]

Who: Everyone
When: Midnight, June 6th
Where: Green Valley Orchids
What: It is time.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

The subway stop near the orchards was not the type of place that most people liked to be when darkness fell. The orchards near the school were set up almost like a public park, which wasn’t so bad in and of itself, but it’s also the area where over half of the murders happened before the curfew was first put in place. It was a place people didn't go unless absolutely necessary and most had started taking alternate routes to avoid the stop. As one of the first subway stations built in the city, its architecture didn't really mesh with those that came after it. It had jagged corners where the smell of wet earth lingered, making it unpleasant even for those brave enough to continue to use it, and there had even been talk of closing it permanently once routes and nearby stations had been revamped to be better able to take care of the traffic.

Due to this, it only has the bare-bones of a shelter, fallen into disrepair as the curfew was enforced city-wide, and a couple of night guards, (probably already asleep due to the lack of activity they’re expecting), so characters arriving there will be mostly unnoticed. For a place that had such a bad history, most people rightfully avoid it.

For most of them it will be their first meeting with each other. There will be a bit of time to talk before their phones display a zero. Plenty of time to talk about what they suspect and what might just happen...and that horrible vision they had shared. Then there’s that countdown on their phones...ticking away the last few minutes.

ZERO UNTIL MIDNIGHT

The lights go out when the countdown ends. The lack of sound is, for lack of better word, worrying. Very soon, only the light of the phones serves as makeshift flashlights for the small group. But soon, even as words get displayed, a deep male voice echoes, which could be much more worrying.

FINALLY! Ahahahahah! Ahhh, damn does it feel nice to be able to speak and not
just write. Hey lambs, are you all ready?

Considering the choice of words, that might be Luci.

It's time. Can you feel your heartbeats increasing? Your mind about to explode? Questions swirling in your mind? Just make sure you don't go alone. Groups are
best, go all together and you'll never find the answers.

The voice laughs again.

Not that you have much of a choice at this point! Have fun, give them hell, and tell
them I sent you! I'll be taking care of that pesky guard problem for you.
...Let's go for a night stroll."

Communication ends just as abruptly as it started. No time to back down now, as the door where the guards are staying is quickly locked on its own before the subway system itself appears to be taken over by a virus that flashes on every available screen. With a click, the locked doors to the outside are swung open.

A voice in your mind warns you this might be the biggest mistake you'll be making in your entire life...and yet your heart feels like it's going to burst from your body from the joy you feel...

AWAKENING

It begins with a scream nearby. The same noise that they heard during the vision. The trees begin to turn grey as the sounds of hundred of creatures moving can be heard from all sides. The application opens, displaying them all in real time.

The group is surrounded.

By all logic, they should be running, but their legs feel bolted to the ground. They can't move.

The creatures begin to get closer. The trees start to rot nearby.

Breathing begins to increase. The sound of voices and memories quickly flashing before their eyes that might cause some to clutch at their head...exactly the same thing that the man had been doing back in the vision. If they look down at their hands, they will see them fading, see-through.

Yet for them, something is different. Just as the creatures are about to attack, they stop. A vision of the Velvet Room flashes before the eyes of those gathered as the two attendants silently nod. Then a return to reality as a light of color pierces the night from their hearts. A single voice can be heard, drowning out anything they might be hearing.

The time is now. I am thou, thou art I! Your mind is trapped, but I can set your soul free! My other self, will you die, or fight back?

Accept me for who I am! Forge this contract by letting go of your fears! Revolt against this world, and TEAR OUT YOUR HEART!

It laughs and fades, as time quickly returns to this world. There's only a few seconds to react before it all goes to hell. A faded hand to reach into your chest.

The choice is yours. Death...or Awakening.

THE BATTLE IN APPLE GROVE

It’s a feeling unlike they have ever felt. Never have their bodies been so alive. Their minds fill with lost memories, their bodies adapting into tools to defeat the creatures before them.

Defeat...destroy...unlock the skills of your heart and show them what it means
to cross you."

The voice is encouraging, almost. To those with navigator skills, the voice speaks up once more as well.

Lead them into battle. Hone their skills into true annihilation!"

It’s time to reclaim the night.

[OOC: For the purpose of this battle, the shadows all have 1HP and are strong against nothing. That means any attack will be able to kill them, weapons and guns included. For this log only, CHARACTERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMBINE SPELLS, as knowledge of this will be unlocked later on. There are about a HUNDRED shadows to be defeated, so there are as many needed for your characters to enjoy killing off. You are free to NPC them and to create situations and close calls.

An OOC PLANNING POST can be used to ask questions or to form teams.]

Comments

[sociallyarcward]

Jaune doesn't remember feeling this strong before -- either as John or Jaune. He thinks that has something to do with his persona. The speed boost though, that has to be Mako. It's crazy, but he remembers Weiss being able to cast glyphs with similar effects on team RWBY. He wonders if that's what this feels like. He's able to rush another enemy with a quicker reaction time.

"Sort of...it's boosting the attack of my sword," he explains, he hadn't tried anything as flashy as Mako's fire attack had been yet. He...could feel that he could do something like that...but it wasn't fire. He hadn't tried it yet because he'd always been more of a physical type anyway.

[torching]

The speed boost was probably necessary, because there's another hoard of shadows coming their way. They're easy enough to defeat, but it's just the sheer number of them that's sort of wearing him out. Mako from his other life is used to fighting, and it shows in how he moves, too--dodging and swinging with ease--but the current Mako's body isn't as conditioned to do these sorts of things.

"Probably a good idea to start using it more, because they're coming now!"

A group of shadows rushes towards them at their left. "Your ten o'clock, John! Use your Persona!"

[sociallyarcward]

Jaune turns again, but he hasn't had the time to even think about his Persona. Instead he executed a dodge, rolling out of the way as a shadow comes down on the spot where he was. He pops back up a few feet away, swinging his shield around to block an attack. There's a loud CLANG from the impact and Jaune's persona is at his side. Somehow he knows how to use this magic, though back home he couldn't even figure out his semblance.

"Kouha," he shouts, and a blast of light slams into the shadow before him. It disintegrates and Jaune pulls his sword again, adjusting his grip. Even he is starting to feel the effects of this now, the initial adrenaline rush wearing as he must now rely on his own stamina--which John doesn't really possess. If they make it through this, it's something he's going to have to address.

He cleaves a shadow in half and forces his way back to Mako.

[torching]

Mako finds himself continually impressed with how Jaune's moving: dodging, swinging, getting back onto his feet like an experienced fighter. Looks like the Awakening's triggered just more than past memories, after all.

Though when Jaune uses Kouha, Mako's starting to have second thoughts. It looks like he's running low on stamina, so Mako will try and lend a hand. "Dia," he commands, holding a hand out towards Jaune. "Does that help?"

Damn. He didn't think that using one's Persona would draw out so much energy, but after looking at Jaune? Maybe he should rethink asking others to use it so recklessly.

[sociallyarcward]

Jaune draws in a breath, feeling strangely refreshed now. He offers a smile to Mako, "Thanks. Yeah, I think that's my second wind." There are shadows in the distance, but it looks like they get a brief pause in battle. Jaune gives Mako a once over, he still seems to be okay--at least for the moment.

He grips his sword and returns his gaze back to the battle--more shadows are approaching. So much for a break, "There really is just no end to these things. Are you still good to go?"

[torching]

"Good." Mako's more of a combatant himself, but he's very resourceful and he's slowly learning how to use his newfound powers. He realizes he's more of a utility guy now, in contrast to his other self as a firebender; but if this is how he can help, then so be it.

Though with the onslaught of shadows...he'll have to do more than just heal and provide boosts. He'll have to fight, too. "Yeah. I got your back."

Literally. Mako's guarding Jaune's backside now, getting ready to use Agi on any shadow that decides to leap at him. "I'll give you another boost when I have an opening."

[sociallyarcward]

Jaune smiles, even if he doesn't completely understand everything that's happening, he still feels like he can trust his friends. He's relieved to know that Mako will still have his back, just like old times. Of course, they'd never had problems quite like this before. "It's good to know that not everything has gotten turned on its head," he finally said.

He focuses on the approaching shadows--they'll be back into a fight soon. "Just don't waste all your energy. I don't know about you...but I don't think these abilities are limitless," he knew it might not be accurate to compare them to semblances back home--but that was as close as he had. He'd seen some pretty powerful ones, but each one had their limits. He recalled nights, reading up on them and talking to Pyrrha...only to get frustrated because he couldn't figure his out. Now he regrets the wasted time...and a lot of other things too.

He didn't need Mako sacrificing his own stamina and health just to keep him going. That wasn't how teams were supposed to work.

[torching]

Even though they've all regained their past memories, Mako still sees Jaune as one of his best friends. That hasn't changed. Sure, Team Avatar's sort of in the picture now, but they don't erase any of the friendships he has in this life, either. "'Course not," he says, reassessing his own energy levels as the shadows approach.

"They're not. I've been too reckless." It's an honest admission and he's quite frankly a little frustrated with how little time he has to plan things out now. He's got to allocate his energy between fending off the shadows, healing the injured, giving boosts when needed... He's equipped with so many responsibilities, so he's got to choose carefully.

For now, fending off the shadows seems like the best option.

"Let's just get rid of them as soon as possible."

[sociallyarcward]

Jaune tries not to let his worry show, but he does appreciate that Mako's being honest at least. "Well...can't change that now. Try to be more careful though," he looks down at his sword, sighing. "To be honest, I have a feeling we're all kind of being reckless right now--it's a bit of a rush and easy to get carried away. Thankfully, these things seem to go down pretty easily all things considered." He'd had tougher fights, against stronger opponents. His concern now, however, was the sheer number might prove to be more of a problem than anything.

He nods when Mako says to get rid of them swiftly. They won't have much more time to converse--as the next batch of Shadows is now closing on on them. Jaune slid back into a fighting stance, holding his sword ready. "Round 2."

[torching]

"Yeah, I got it." It...sort of feels weird, that Jaune's the one lecturing him when it's normally the other way around. It makes Mako a little pouty, but he gets over it real quickly--no time to be petty in a situation like this. "I mean, I'm pretty sure none of us have ever had a Persona before. This is gonna take some getting used to."

Like Jaune, Mako's been in tougher fights as well. But he's never had to fight an overwhelming number of opponents at once. Granted, the shadows themselves were weak, but how long are they going to have to keep this up? Hopefully not much longer. He can sense that people are starting to get tired, himself included. But they can't give up.

They won't die here.

As he covers Jaune's backside, he gives each shadow a glance. Most of these are targeting him, but there are a handful to his left that are looking over at Jaune. "Careful on your right! Take those out first!" Mako would be more than happy to help, but there's one leaping straight at him that he's got to take care of first.

[sociallyarcward]

Jaune didn't really see it as a lecture, so much as wanting to make sure Mako kept himself in fighting shape. However, that would be arguing semantics at this point and neither of them had the time for that. "Yeah," Jaune replied because what else could he say? This was new to both of them, but if they kept this up maybe they'd learn the ropes fairly quickly.

Just as Mako picks up on the fact that he seems to be more of a target than Jaune, he notices it as well--the numbers are more concentrated on that side of their back to back duel. He wonders what it means, but regardless he has to keep them off Mako. His eyes flick to the right and his sword is in motion once again to wipe them out. Those that don't meet the end of his blade are quickly batted back by his shield, trying to make room and keep them off of Mako.

"At this rate we're going to get surrounded. We need a better position," he calls over his shoulder. That or to find more people to join their little match-up here. Back to back fighting is great--but their numbers are too big for it to be as effective as it could be if there were just a few more. If they had a wall or a big tree to use and made sure they couldn't circle around them that would be great.

[torching]

Not good. Mako's hitting them as much as he can, but there's just so many that it's becoming unmanageable with the amount of stamina they both have. Mako mentally asks his Persona for help, but he's on his own this time. He was chosen for this role for a reason, whatever that may be.

Mako backs up, turning to face Jaune. "Let's get to a wall and fight them that way." He gestures towards one of the walls in the subway. "When we get tired, we call for help. Pretty sure everyone else has their hands full, too." From what he can tell, everyone's fighting their own battles. Mako and Jaune may just have to be on their own for this one. No more buffs. Just combat.

[sociallyarcward]

Mako's on a similar wave length then. That's good. Jaune nods, confirming that heading for a better vantage point, in this case the subway, might be their best move. "Let's go," he says, adjusting his grip on the sword. He slices it across another Shadow and starts cutting a path for them to make their way to a better fighting point.

When they make it out of this battle, he really is going to have to concentrate on increasing his stamina. This sort of fight isn't good for small pairs--they should have been more coordinated, but in the heat of battle it's hard to remember stuff like that unless you're trained for it. Jaune knew he was, but he doubted others had that much experience. Granted, even his experience was limited because he was certainly not used to enemey numbers like this.

He focused on his sword and what was in front of him, though also he kept an ear out for Mako. He had to make sure that his friend didn't get cut off or fall behind. They had to move together more or less or it would be easy for the shadows to come between them.