Description: A great force is on the rise, and rapidly building influence all over the world -- particularly in Southtown, and particularly near the illustrious YFCC. To seek out the source of this rapidly growing cult - to find their leader, the psychic Rose enlists the help of one of their primary targets, the reserved Miu Kurosaki, in order to discover the truth behind their recent activities. At the beating heart of the cult's Southtown chapel, Rose and Miu may find exactly what they desire -- but if they will manage to escape the forces of the cult and their leader is another matter entirely.
Say what you will about the Cult of Gaia, it's leaders know all about the value of location. Other cults, lacking resources or acting out of a desire to hide from society, might pick out of the way places, cheap and remote and where they're unlikely to be disturbed. They are /fools/.
Vladimir has made certain that the cult maintains a healthy, open attitude toward new recruits from their location square in the middle of downtown Southtown, in fact only a few blocks away from the famed Young Fighters Community Center. In many ways, it appears to be a stereotypical church; a couple of stained glass windows, a small, mostly empty parking lot, a sign with Church of Gaia written on it. Underneath is a regularly changed message like you always see, which currently reads 'IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO FIND FAITH'.
The Rururussian also likes to maintain a solid open door policy, making sure no opportunities are wasted. After all, if recruitment doesn't quite pan out (and he's very good at making it work), it's hardly any trouble to quietly and quickly dispose of pests here, in the heart of his power.
Ladies' Team may be out of the King of Fighters tournament, but that in no way means that Rose isn't still investigating the situation behind it. Unfortunately, her investigations have not borne much fruit--Miu's been more successful in finding and confronting these Cultists. But while Rose has the 'public' knowledge... she is seeking deeper truths. So now the time has come to venture into the lion's den, so to speak. The Cult of Gaia... and their shrine.
Rose isn't going in alone--she's confident, but not stupid. And, in any case, Miu Kurosaki has -earned- the right to be here--has fought hard both in and out of the ring, been noticed and personally chosen by Rose herself. Miu is her protege, in all but official name. So she's asked the young psychic to accompany her--meeting at the YFCC and, well, walking over.
"Miu," says Rose, as she walks with the girl in purple, "thank you for coming with me, today. This may be a rare chance to truly understand the depths of what is going on..." A moment's pause, and she continues, "... and, I'm sorry that we were unable to secure entry to the second round of the tournament." It wasn't her first or even second concern, really, but she knows that Miu wanted to go further... and she'll admit to having wanted to go a little further herself.
Miu has been quiet. Indeed, even for Miu, she's been quiet for a long time now. More withdrawn. More insular. Because the defeat had caused her to reflect on some things. Truth be told, she was surprised at how good it felt to finally have the weight lifted from her shoulders. There are dark things moving in the world, and the tournament itself had become... a distraction. Much like she had allowed the Neo League to weigh heavy on her during her struggles there, to be able to focus on the 'real' world rather than the glitzy world of professional fighting has been a welcome change.
And that worries her. Should defeat taste sweet? Or should she be upset?
Either way, the girl's expression doesn't change at all at Rose's apology. "There will be other tournaments." She replies, "But. I want to know what these people wanted." Which, is probably reasonable. It isn't every day that people try to cut her throat.
At least, not now that the aforementioned fighting circuit has eased up a little.
"Agreed. And you're right. There will be other tournaments." The walk isn't a long one, and so it doesn't take too long to get there--it would be a perfectly pleasant, if somehat quiet, stroll, otherwise. But Rose is a master psychic, and Miu is no slouch in that area. Just approaching the shrine, Rose begins to feel the wrongness. She masters her apprehension easily, though she flicks her eyes down and across at Miu, wondering if she feels it too. She should. It's almost unmistakable.
"Here we are," she murmurs, regarding the door to the shrine for a moment before lifting her hand, gripping the door handle, and hauling it open. "Be on your guard, Miu. I don't want a fight, here, but I've no illusions about what is going to happen here." She is, after all, poking around in their business and that is going to be something they may not want.
And she can feel a vague number of presences... if they're all cultists, then that will be a problem, if they're all as zealous as she's heard. It's almost theatrical, how the door opens into a maw of almost-darkness, the world outside seeming brighter and more vibrant somehow...
But then she squares her shoulders... and strides right in.
Miu's lips press into a thin, colorless line as they near their destination. The Crow Girl of Seijyun High is not known for her dramatic emotional displays, but this energy. It is the same energy that she had felt the cultists wield. It is a dark, evil force. She feels it instinctively, in her marrow, in her blood, in her heart. Every inch of her screams that this is *wrong*. That this is unnatural and must be purged from the face of the Earth. It is a testament to her self control, therefore, that it is only her lips which betray this emotion.
And does she say anything? ... No. Because Miu doesn't trust herself right now. Rose says she doesn't want a fight, but Miu wants one. She wants to rip this building down brick by brick with her bare hands and undo whatever evil has dared to stain the city she sleeps in.
Her posture is tense. Ready for anything as she follows, side by side with her Sensei. Into the very jaws of Hell.
Inside is a small, sparse waiting room, apparently used mostly for the breeding of arguably informative pamphlets, with helpful titles like 'GAIA AND YOU' and 'SO YOU WANT TO BE A CULTIST'.
Just beyond lies the real impressive part; a large, high-ceilinged room, full of pews and stained glass and a robed figure industriously scrubbing the floor and also an obligatory pipe organ. Occasionally, it lets out a short burst of music, as the man sitting at its keys idly taps out a tune.
That man, notable because his cowl is down (clearly identifying him as important), appears to be using it as a sort of makeshift desk. He has a little pencil and is scribbling notes on a piece of scrap paper in heavy, scratchy handwriting. Scowling, he taps first the paper, then a couple of the organ's keys, and then prepares to write something--and stops, finally becoming aware that he is no longer alone here.
No shut up the guy cleaning doesn't count he's not people.
Rising from his seat, Vladimir turns and spreads his arms in welcome to his mystery visitors, who he can't quite recognize in their backlit position in the doorway. "Welcome, welcome, to the Church of Gaia. If you have any questions, please!" He smiles, though it does little to lighten his imposing, serious visage. His slight Russian accent, at least, usually helps to put people at ease. "Do not hesitate."
"Bold," murmurs Rose, to Miu, indicating the pamphlets. But as bold as they are, perhaps they're just a smokescreen--something silly to hide the truth. Going through the waiting room into the cathedral proper, Rose casts a mild glance about, reminded of some buildings in her home of Italy, by the way the place is built. Did they really build this, or was this converted...? Things to wonder about later.
Confronted with this man, Rose lifts an eyebrow; her own Italian accent comes out a little, in response. How to play this? She could be indirect... or she could be a blunt object. But if she can avoid a fight... then she'd probably best be not like Vanessa, who might just come in and brazen things out, play the tough girl.
"Mmm, I suppose we do have some questions... this is the..." She psychic pauses for a moment, as if recalling information, "The Cult of Gaia, yes? Can you tell me what the Cult of Gaia is about?" There is, in addition to the question, a sort of subtle pressure--nothing overt, nothing like mindreading... but a slight pressure wave of psionic... influence. Perhaps to underline that she's looking for the truth about this Cult, and not what the marketing slicks would say.
Miu's eyes take everything in. The girl is doing her very best to stay calm, and inspecting each element can only help that. Nevertheless, she offers no comment as the pair walk into the presence of Vladimir. Her expression is stony, her features locked, and her eyes hard as rock. Normally, Miu's expression is blank and could, perhaps, be mistaken for tiredness. But her eyes now are challenging. Alive with indignation, fury, even, at the... 'boldness' of these people, as Rose had put it.
She is silent as Rose speaks, but her own power is rising in response to the *evil* here. She can't help it. Dark feathers, and only the black ones, begin to drift from her sleeves. She doesn't say a word. Her expression is as blank as she can make it. But she is looking at Vladamir with a sheer, hatred in her eyes. A hatred she can't explain. And it wouldn't help if she did give in and hurt him, she tells herself, because she needs to know answers, not inflict violence...
But it would still be *satisfying*, wouldn't it? At least a little.
"Of course." Vladimir's voice is deep, rich, and resonant in this space. It seems to fill the air, marking it as a place that he controls. You can practically feel it. He slowly walks down from the pipe organ, hands neatly folded away in his robes. He pauses, just for a moment, and the smile gradually vanishes. The dark gleam in his eye indicates that he is no less eager.
"I am always ready to explain our faith to those in need..." He trails off, then adds, with a nod to each, "Rose. Miu Kurosaki." A quick gesture, and the cleaning man stands up, brush held threateningly in hand, to join his master in the slow advance.
"There are no secrets here." By now, even a non-psychic could perhaps feel the violent intent radiating off the tall Russian man, though he has yet to make a hostile move. "I find honesty to be a deeply satisfying change of pace in this corrupted, dishonest world, don't you?"
And just to dispel any further doubts, the door slams shut behind the two psychics. Vladimir himself lunges forward at Rose, fist balled up loosely, slamming it at the side of her head. The Cleaner, as he prefers to be known (as he finds it to be wholesome and rewarding work), follows suit, dashing up by the side of his glorious leader, only to circle around that he might deliver an unpleasant faceful of sud-filled brushing action to Miu. Brush her /to death/.
COMBATSYS: Rose has started a fight here.
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Rose 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Vladimir has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Rose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Vladimir
COMBATSYS: The Cleaner has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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Rose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Vladimir 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Miu has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Miu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Vladimir
COMBATSYS: Vladimir successfully hits Rose with Strong Punch.
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Miu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Vladimir
Vladimir's attack actually takes Rose by surprise. Given that she is one of the most powerful psychics on the planet, this is an unusual circumstance. But Vladimir's transition from from semi-urbane cultist and outings director to violently urbane zealot is so instantaneous as to barely register before he's coming at her with that balled fist.
Rose's head snaps to the side, and she stumbles backwards, a half-step, as much from surprise and pain not reacting for just a moment--and then she snaps, wholly unnecessarily, "Miu, defend yourself!" as she goes to revisit this idea of Vladimir. That is, revisit him with a lashing of her... scarf?
Yes, her beautiful, lemon-custard-yellow silk scarf.. which suddenly turns bright whitish-blue as her Soul Power fills the cloth, turning it from fashion accessory to dangerously crackling whip-like object, flaring with that impressive, immense power. Normally she'd hold back... but not this time.
COMBATSYS: The Cleaner successfully hit Miu with Quick Punch.
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Miu 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Vladimir
Miu is hit in the face with a brush.
/With a brush/.
/A brush/.
/brush/
Ordinarily, Miu would probably take this in her stride. She may step back, try to compose herself, consider her options and the surroundings, what is at stake, what the most viable strategy is. But, in the circumstances, Miu does none of these things. Because Miu is already fairly enraged, and she has just been hit in the face. She stumbles back several steps, and then dark light flares around her fist.
She's moving even before Rose tells her to. Her fist gripping tight around a dark black feather which may as well be a knife, for the way she is wielding it. This is brought around in a wide slash, trailing darkness against the already menacing backdrop, as Miu leaps, and does her very best to stab this man in the *eye* with the damned thing. If she succeeds, it will explode in a shower of black sparks. Miu does not seem to find the suds coating one side of her face very funny.
COMBATSYS: Vladimir blocks Rose's Aura Scarf.
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Miu 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Vladimir
COMBATSYS: Miu successfully hits The Cleaner with Shubatsu.
- Power hit! -
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Miu 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Vladimir
As Rose begins to whip him with her magic mind scarf, Vladimir responds by hunching down, lifting her arms up, and taking it as best he can where it will hurt the least. He has the expertise to make it work; nobody gets to his position in any church without a little bit of self-flagellation.
"No answer? Very well." As the famed psychic's attack recedes, the moody-looking Ruskie steps forwards and swings his arm around in a wide arc, itself long and lithe like a whip. Indeed, if Rose does not react in time, he will introduce her to the back of his hand; /the hard way/.
"Perish in silence in this holy place."
At the same time, the Cleaner does not seem to think that anything is very funny, either. He is completely stonefaced, holding his brush up defensively, getting ready to intercept Miu's attack.
He doesn't really expect a little girl like her to go STRAIGHT FOR THE EYE, SWEET OROCHI WHY. It jams right in there, exploding and knocking him right on his ass. It is a testament to his determination that the Cleaner does not let this stand in the way of his duty.
There is so much /filth/ to /dispose of/.
The cultist gets right back in Miu's face, having produced a second sopping wet, sudsy brush out of seemingly nowhere. Both sweep back and forth in wide, dangerous arcs as he continues to try to erase the young psychic.
COMBATSYS: Rose blocks Vladimir's Vodyanoy.
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Miu 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Vladimir
Not this time. Vladimir's fist meets Rose's right forearm, stopped cold by a limb coursing with Soul Power internally. Rose's lips twist into a small smile. "Honesty is a trait to be admired... but total honesty is not always the best path." In one smooth motion she twists towards that backhand, pushing it out of the way, as she almost pirouettes through a turn. It's sleek, graceful--
--and might end with Rose's perfectly-manicured left hand gripping Vladimir by the back of the neck. And for all that Rose is a delicate-looking woman (in most respects) and her movements are full of an almost sensuous freedom, should she manage to throw Vladimir forward into a slide along the SHrine flooring, aided by that ever-present Soul Power that touches like cold lighning, well...
There won't be much grace in his skid or his stop...
COMBATSYS: The Cleaner successfully hit Miu with Righteous Blow.
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Miu 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Vladimir
Miu does her best to evade the sweeping brushes, but winds up taking a pair of them straight to the head again. Rolling across the floor for a moment before she can pick herself back up, the girl takes a deep breath, and focuses that rage. She is... deeply frustrated that this man is still moving, let alone is fast enough to hit her twice. She is going to get rid of him, and assist her Sensei.
The first step, is to focus her power internally and ease some of the damage she has taken. Her pain fades, and the feathers which continuously flow from the girl's sleeves, stop. At least for a moment.
The second step, is to strike him down. Or, more accurately, throw him down. Coming in as swiftly as she can, skating on rows of blackness, the girl aims to snare The Cleaner by the shoulder. If she can manage this, she will squeeze, and her numbing power will flow into the Cleaner's body.
Before she twists, spins, and throws him across the room. She's hoping that he will wind up slamming into that organ that the apparent leader had been playing. Because she is a vengeful and capricious deity, and will strike down the instruments of the unworthy.
COMBATSYS: Vladimir fails to interrupt Medium Throw from Rose with Topielec.
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Miu 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Vladimir
COMBATSYS: The Cleaner interrupts Medium Throw from Miu with Smite.
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Miu 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Vladimir
Though Vladimir's strikes are turned away by Rose's expertise, he remains undaunted. She is light, a dancer as she fights; even he has to admit there is a certain beauty to it. It is admirable. It almost makes it a shame that she has to die.
"Could it be that even you have secrets you do not wish to come to light?" Vladimir takes a step back, fist bunching up behind him as Rose comes forward, aglow with psychic energy to toss him helluva far. Though he tries to resist, the priest cannot keep his feet, and goes flying, undignified, through the air.
He crashes into a pew, breaking it clean in half in a shower of splinters. Rising to his feet afterward as though nothing happened, despite how much that had to have hurt, his gaze is steady on the psychic.
"How silly of me. Of course you do."
At the same time, the Cleaner is biding his time, rubbing his brushes together to work up a fine lather. Miu skates in, grabbing at his shoulder; and he immediately swings them downward, powerful dual strokes that...that miss completely.
Or so it seems, until a phantom deluge of soapy water crushes down out of thin air, blasting downward with the force of /five fire hoses/. Five. That's right. He bellows out in a sort of squeaky, high-pitched voice.
"BE CLEANSED!"
Rose lifts an eyebrow. "Of course I have secrets. I wouldn't be a good fortuneteller if I didn't." There are secrets and there are secrets, of course. "But tell me," she says, conversationally, as she moves into action, striding forward, her scarf settled around her shoulders and arms, floating in place, following her movements as she strides, "don't you have secrets as well?"
"For instance... what is the purpose of the Cult of Gaia? None I've asked seem to truly know..." Her smile is cold, thin, and inhospitable, "But I suspect that is due to the damage their minds have endured..." Because few people join something like this willingly...
As she closes in on the man, she continues, "and the -feel- of this area... is entirely wrong." Closing in, she grips her scarf at one end--and lashes it out at Vladimir's face, the scarf glowing again. But it's a feint of sorts, to hold his attention against the swift, savate-style kick that she employs as a true strike--her left heel stabbing out and down, aimed to snap right into Vladimir's kneecap as she leans back slightly, the limb crackling with that power that suffuses nearly everything she's done.
Miu ducks, instinctively, and whilst this would have saved her from the physical blow... she winds up being lifted off her feet by the force of the deluge of water. Her focus is rather definitely taken up by The Cleaner. This man has proven remarkably capable. Far more menacing than the cultists who had been dispatched to kill her before. It, is worrying. She has made a mistake in underestimating him.
Getting back up, drenched though she is, Miu narrows her eyes at the man. Her arms stretch out to the side, and the feathers flow again. A long stream, dozens of them, all black as pitch and soon, floating up all around her. The girl's clothes and hair flutter in a breeze which nobody else feels, being dried in the process. There is only one way she can think of to respond to the demand. A whisper; one which Rose and Vladimir probably do not hear, in their conversation.
"No."
And then the entire room is a swirling mass of psycho power. Miu's feathers burst out of her, swirling and slashing at the two evil men. They, whose power almost SINGS out to her own, demanding to be silenced! Rose... is spared the tempest of fluttering feathers. The flow of them passing around her as though recognizing her as friend, for the short space of time in which Miu simply... lets it all out.
COMBATSYS: Vladimir endures Rose's Light Kick.
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Miu 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Vladimir
COMBATSYS: Miu successfully hits Vladimir with Chou Hissatsu Amagakeri.
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Miu 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Vladimir
COMBATSYS: The Cleaner fails to slow Chou Hissatsu Amagakeri from Miu with Gospel Wave EX.
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Miu 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Vladimir
Unfortunately, Vladimir has a tried and true method for dealing with feints, misdirections, and sneak attacks of all kinds. He does not react, he does not flinch, when Rose swats him with the scarf again. More impressive is when his kneecap loudly cracks without him budging a muscle, without so much as a grunt of pain. Finally, a wave of feathers sweep over him, cutting in and biting without eliciting anything in way of a response.
"Is that so?" His arms go swinging out to the side, another long arc that culminates in twin hammerblows attempting to reunite somewhere in the middle of Rose's torso; right around the intestines, perhaps.
"My loyal acolytes are all here of their own free will; I had but to persuade them with my honest, straightforward demeanor." Something about his tone indicates that it's not quite so simple as that. "I can be quite convincing."
At the same time, the Cleaner prepares himself; the surge of Miu's power is obvious, her refusal to be erased clear. If that is the case, then he will use every power granted him to--
Well, if we're being honest, to get completely overcome by the featherswarm, faring far more poorly than his spiritual leader over there. When the cloud of psychic energy clears, he's just.../gone/.
Oh wait, no, there he is, he just got knocked under a table. He's already getting back up to his feet; however, it is a slow and arduous process, and it sort of takes him a couple of tries since Miu has beaten the knowledge of 'how tables work' straight out of his head.
COMBATSYS: Rose dodges Vladimir's Bukavac.
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Miu 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 The Cleaner
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Rose 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Vladimir
The twin hammerblows crash on nothing except each other; it's as if Rose was there one moment, and then not there the next, displaced a mere three feet backwards. "I'm sure," she replies, to Vladimir's statement that he can be persuasive, that they're here of their own free will. She doubts that, of course, as should be evident, but she's willing to humor him in his battle of words. She takes a moment to glance back at Miu's situation, the storm of feathers being one that she is familiar with--and one that Miu has control over, thank god, for she wouldn't want to have to deal with it herself. The cleaner doesn't look to be in great shape, willing though he is...
"Well, perhaps you will forgive me for doubting the claim of free will." In fact she thinks they've paid quite dearly. Snapping her scarf around her, she darts forward, her hands grasping for Vladimir's head. Should she catch him there, what he will experience might be the reverse of a Vulcan mind meld--pure psionic power surging through him as Rose performs a neat and entirely impractical floating handstand--and as she would finish it, she'd plant her heels in his back and shove him forward and away from her.
Using her Soul Power this way would be distasteful in the extreme... it -is- distasteful... but doing it may mean a swifter end to the cult's shenanigans, and so she's okay with that.
Miu is mildly surprised to see that The Cleaner is still standing. She felt his power flare, and die under the onslaught of her own. Which is how it should be. But he gets back up, and that is frustrating. Rose... is asking questions, doing the investigative thing, and, really, Miu *is* glad she is doing that. But she's not got the presence of mind to do it herself. Frankly, right now, she doesn't care why these people are here. She just knows that she wants to erase that power. It scares her, on a deep and fundamental level, and she just doesn't know why.
So as The Cleaner struggles to get back up to his feet, Miu skates forward on her energy again, her hand stretching forwards. Her intent is pretty simple. He wants to get up? She doesn't want him to. Her hand aims to grab the poor guy by the hair, surging with psycho power, and, for such a diminutive girl, she'll do a surprisingly good job of simply throwing him up into the air.
He even leaves a trail of dark sparks after him if he goes flying. It is very pretty.
COMBATSYS: Rose successfully hits Vladimir with Soul Drain.
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Miu 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1 The Cleaner
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Rose 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Vladimir
COMBATSYS: Miu successfully hits The Cleaner with Quick Throw.
- Power hit! -
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Miu 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 The Cleaner
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Rose 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Vladimir
"I will forgive you your lack of faith in us and our holy works, unbeliever." She's so gracious about it, so polite, after all. How could he do anything but respond in kind, even as they battle? "It is by their decision that they join us."
And again, Rose darts forward, this time grabbing Vladimir's head and shooting it full of one million volts of psychic electricity. He tries to shrug it off, as he so often does, but it is too difficult when he cannot even think.
After a moment, he collapses down to one knee with a groan. Still, it is not long before he rises again, ever implacable in the face of harm.
"And if the atmosphere is carefully crafted to be in our favor, then that is no crime." He smiles again, eyes locked onto Rose, completely devoid of cheer or humor. "After that, honesty is all I need."
At the same time, Miu takes advantage of the Cleaner's weakness; he does not know what fear drives her, but he does know that he must defend himself, he must--
Must get completely hurled away again, sailing through the air in a shower of beautiful dark sparkles. Darkles? Whatever they are, they are abhorrent.
"...sweep them away..." He mumbles from the ground, this time recovering far more quickly, pushing himself up on his brushes. He pulls one back, as if for a mighty punch, but this is a /lie/. Instead, he hops forward a half step and slams a heavy boot down, to viciously pin Miu's foot down and grind it into the ground.
COMBATSYS: Vladimir focuses on his next action.
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Miu 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 The Cleaner
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Rose 1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1 Vladimir
"Mmm. If that's so, then why were you so quick to attack?" Rose's demeanor remains calm, as she drops lightly to the floor, gripping her scarf in her hand. "That is an act of fear... fear that we would so boldly enter your haven, is it not? Or do you truly think that you will subdue us?"
Rose knows what -her- answer to that would be.
Rose's scarf cracks like a whip again, but it won't quite reach Vladimir. It ripples in the air and a pulse of that power flares down her hand into the scarf, a bright glow that snaps off the end and towards the cultist leader, a spheroid of Soul Power that promises the sweet darkness of obliteration.
Can she subdue him? He's been remarkably resistant--taking the damage and barely showing it. Is it the touch of their 'Gaia'? Surely whatever power they are channeling is -not- the power of the Mother Earth. Rose is sure that she would know the feel of that--is certain that it wouldn't feel the way the atmosphere here feels, sick with the impregnation of foul darkness.
She doesn't expect answers from Vladimir himself. It's clear that, whatever it is that's empowering him, it's strong. It's only reinforcing her belief--that she needs to talk to Chizuru.
COMBATSYS: Miu dodges The Cleaner's Light Kick.
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Miu 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 The Cleaner
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Rose 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Vladimir
Miu nimbly slides backwards from the oncoming boot, and wouldn't you know? This time, she manages it. The boot slams into the ground where she had been moments before, and the girl completes a graceful twirl and spin, coming to a rest a short distance away.
When she has come to a rest, she raises her hand, and three dark feathers come shooting out. from her sleeve in the motion. A diagonal slash which aims to catch The Cleaner directly in the middle of it. She doesn't know how much more this man can take, either, but she is not going to let that ignorance stop her trying, and giving him everything she has for as long as she can throw it out.
COMBATSYS: Vladimir endures Rose's Soul Spark.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Miu 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 The Cleaner
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > // ]
Rose 1/-----==/=======|=======\======-\1 Vladimir
COMBATSYS: The Cleaner interrupts Kakure Amagakeri from Miu with Holy Genocider.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ///// ]
Miu 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 The Cleaner
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > // ]
Rose 1/-----==/=======|=======\======-\1 Vladimir
"Do you truly think you are not a special case, Rose?" Vladimir steps forward as Rose whips out a ball of pure psychic energy, sending it hurtling toward him. Instead of doing anything remotely sane, he charges ahead into it, barreling through it full on and continuing out the other side.
"Unique, even in a world of the unique!" He SLAMS forward abruptly, leading with one heavy fist. There is a preganant pause, and then he proceeds to try to use Rose's torso like a speed bag, getting in low and punching over and over, left, right, left, right. The strikes blur together, and then stop, suddenly.
"For the sake of our humble congregation, neither you nor your young friend can be allowed to survive." With a final, surging effort, Vladimir swings a vicious right hook at Rose's jaw, and then collapses to one knee once more, exhaused by his exertions and the punishments inflicted upon him.
Perhaps motivated by Vladimir's mad charge, the Cleaner decides that this it; he will put everything he has on the line, even his life should it come to that, to defeat this little goth girl.
"Hrrrrrrragh!" With a great cry, he bulls into Miu's feather flinging, ignoring any pain inflicted so that he may brush her. Brush her like she has /never been brushed before/. His hands are a blur, a coat of suds growing and expanding over the younger psychic's body, cocooning her as he works, as he scrubs and scrubs and scrubs.
And then he dashes through her, brushes held outward, and all is still.
"You...are cleansed." Calmly, the Cleaner sheathes his brushes with a click. The suds explode wildly in every direction.
COMBATSYS: Vladimir has reached second wind!
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Miu 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 The Cleaner
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Rose 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Vladimir
COMBATSYS: Vladimir successfully hits Rose with Veles.
-+- CALCULATED HIT -+-
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Miu 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 The Cleaner
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Rose 1/--=====/=======|====---\-------\0 Vladimir
Once again, Vladimir manages to catch Rose off-guard. The blows blur together, and then that final hook snaps her head around, forces her into a half-turn, her right hand landing on the corner of a pew to hold her up. An impressive series of blows, surely--and yet, despite the purpling bruises on her jaw, and others hidden by her clothing... she looks calmer than ever.
"I do not believe in killing except as a last resort, Vladimir." Finally she uses his name, acknowledging him on an individual level... She turns to face Vladimir again, those eyes of her alight with something strange. "Your threats to me fall empty. But if you--or yours--should make a serious attempt on Miu's life...?" She doesn't need to say what will happen, does she? She'll burn his mind out, create a charred psychic cinderbowl she can use to hold guacamole or meringues.
As it is, at the moment... she simply lunges, aiming a palm-heel strike crackling with yet more of that power--she exudes it naturally, the way fire emits light--for Vladimir's throat, a shot meant to choke him and shut him down...
Miu finds herself being, literally, scrubbed out of existence. It ... is incredibly painful. Trying to remain conscious, despite the fairly ridiculous look of the attack, is... hard. However. For all that, she is not afraid. She has looked into the face of death, and the ass of Raiden. She does not know fear at the hands of soap bubbles.
When the explosion passes. Miu slumps to her knees. But it does not last long. She FORCES herself to get back up. Her eyes blazing with a fierce inner light. The girl is literally smoking, burning away water, the power of her soul bared. When she speaks, it is quiet, but her voice cuts like a knife. Impossible to ignore.
"You. Can not clean me away, filth."
A deep breath.
"I."
"Am stronger."
"Than YOU."
COMBATSYS: Miu gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Miu 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 The Cleaner
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////// ]
Rose 1/--=====/=======|====---\-------\0 Vladimir
COMBATSYS: Vladimir blocks Rose's Aggressive Strike.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Miu 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 The Cleaner
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////// ]
Rose 1/--=====/=======|====---\-------\0 Vladimir
"Then it is there that our differences lie." Eyes closed, bent and hunched, Vladimir straightens, beaten and battered but still moving against all odds. "Death is not a thing to be feared. Even so, know that were it up to me, I would not seek yours." This, at least, is true, if only because he is so clearly outmatched.
"However, know also in this, my hands are tied." Metaphorically, of course, because his actual hands are pretty clearly doing fine as they absorb the shock of Rose's assault. It pushes him back, but is far from debilitating.
"It is mandated by..." He pauses, thoughtfully, while reaching forward for Rose's shoulder, using brute force to lift her slight frame off the ground and cast it to the side. "...A higher power."
MEANWHILE
The Cleaner is calm. Collected. There is still no sign of his brushes. Then he does something unexpected.
"You are correct." He agrees with Miu. Slowly turning, the man is serenity itself. "You have been cleansed. Purified. Made more than what you were. My holy duty is fulfilled." He takes a step forward and raises his hands, now brushless. "I have no regrets. Let us now finish." Lunging forward, he thrusts a palm out toward Miu's midsection; a simple, easy to read strike. Perhaps even more surprisingly, that's all there is to it.
COMBATSYS: Miu interrupts Strong Punch from The Cleaner with Psi-Launcher.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Miu 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 The Cleaner
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Rose 1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Vladimir
The cultist walks towards Miu, all serenity and light. He tries to hit her in the stomach. She moves, but not enough to dodge completely; the blow glancing off her side.
What happens next is, vicious.
Miu's hand snaps out, and snares The Cleaner by the head. She twists, harshly, backwards, and his neck is put at a... very odd angle. For a moment, she holds him like that.
And then, her other hand slashes around, and she slams one of those damned feathers directly into the weak point in his skull. A shocking amount of force. She... is not holding back. She wants this guy down, and down hard, because she is NOT going to let herself be brought low at this crucial juncture.
The blow delivered, she lets him drop. Not a word is said. Though she does look at him with dark, judgmental eyes. Is he going to try and get up?
COMBATSYS: Rose blocks Vladimir's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Miu 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 The Cleaner
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////// ]
Rose 1/-======/=======|=====--\-------\0 Vladimir
He reaches out--and attempts to move Rose. With words... and with muscle. He fails in both aspects. "A higher power... a convienient excuse. The words of a weak man who cannot take responsibility..." Vladimir gets his grip--but shoving Rose to the side? That's not easily done, and before he can really get anything started, Rose backs away, twisting her shoulder out of his grasp.
A brief explosion of power, from Miu, is felt by Rose, and she smiles slightly. Just like that, in a snap, suddenly Rose is on the floor. But it's of her own volition, as she goes sliding forward, propelled by psychic energies, looking to cut Vladimir's legs out from underneath him. The slide would take her straight through Vladimir's position, for her to pop up right behind him.
Maybe this will be enough to take him out of the fight... perhaps not. But she's not going to go overkill on him without a good reason--that's just her way. Vladimir isn't enough of a threat for it, yet.
COMBATSYS: Vladimir endures Rose's Sliding.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Miu 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 The Cleaner
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //// ]
Rose 1/=======/=======|=======\-------\0 Vladimir
"In some respects, we are all weak." Vladimir nods, accepting the insult calmly. "Is this not a central tenet of those who fight? That there is always one stronger?" Though nothing he does seems to penetrate, Vladimir does not seem to be perturbed.
"It is simply the way of nature, impossible to resist." Rose slides in, smacking into his ankle, and sending him toppling to the ground; however, he twists, controlling his fall so that he is heading toward her even as she whizzes by, fist-first. Should it connect, he'll reach for her head, lift the both of them up, and then slam it viciously back down into the ground.
"Not all are so merciful as you. A small fish can easily find himself devoured in the sea."
And then over there, the Cleaner dies. His neck snaps. A psychic lance penetrates into his brain. He goes slack. Jaw hangs open loosely, eyes gaze blankly into nothingness. But then, he convulses. He foams at the mouth. Or rather...suds?
Tiny bubbles begin to rise out of his flesh, covering himself head to toe in a second skin. It explodes, and when the suds clear--
Well, there's no corpse, not even a drop of blood to suggest he was ever there.
COMBATSYS: The Cleaner can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Miu 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Vladimir
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rose 1/=======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Rose blocks Vladimir's Bolotnyi.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Miu 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Vladimir
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rose 1/=======/=======|
Vladimir has been an impressively resourceful man; when he twists, Rose -is- still sliding. The impact slams into her forearms, and she twists them, denying him his grip, pushing off of the contact to give herself enough room to stand up once more. "Indeed, we do all have weaknesses..." And she leaves it at that. She waits, a fraction of a moment, for Vladimir to begin rising--and then she drives forward again.
As she drives her body forward, shec cocks her right arm back, her scarf flaring to life and wrapping around the arm, surrounding it in a literal nimbus of silk and Soul. That spiral is delivered in a forward-thrusting punch, Rose's feet sliding along the ground as if she were floating, the residual momentum of her lunge giving her motive power.
"I would not have asked for this, Vladimir. I hold you no ill will." In other words, she doesn't believe that Vladimir is necessarily acting of his own free will as it is, originally.
COMBATSYS: Miu blocks The Cleaner's Gospel Blast EX.
[ \\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Miu 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1 Vladimir
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rose 1/-======/=======|
Miu crosses her arms across herself, and feathers fly up around her. The blast is cushioned, somewhat, and she is still sent skidding back a couple of steps by it. Unlike Rose, Miu does not look very good. She is still lightly smoking, her hair is a mess, she's tired, and injured. But she is very, very clean!
Her eyes seek out Vladimir's, however. Hoping that he will stay conscious long enough for her to say the seven words that she came here to say, after Rose's attack. Now that she has enough presence of mind to ask without trying to break his face, or having to dodge suds being splattered all over hers. Breathing hard, and letting feathers flow all around her.
"You people tried to kill me. Why?"
COMBATSYS: Miu gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /// ]
Miu 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Vladimir
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rose 1/-======/=======|
COMBATSYS: Rose successfully hits Vladimir with Soul Spiral.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ]
Miu 0/-------/-----==|=======\====---\1 Vladimir
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Rose 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|
"Ill will or no, it does not matter here. We clash, because we are given no choice." As he begins to stand, Vladimir is caught off-guard; a last minute jerk is insufficient to remove him from Rose's path, the soul power drilling into his torso to great effect. Shreds of robe go flying, skin is scraped and torn away, and yet still Vladimir stands, his condition only betrayed by a slight swaying, the gradual lack of focus in his eyes; still unerringly locked onto Rose.
"You can feel it, surely." And then Miu speaks up, and Vladimir decides to give her the answer she seeks. "It is impossible for you not to." For the first time all fight long, the swell of energy begins to grow about Vladimir; far more strongly than anything the Cleaner ever exhibited. He takes an uneasy step toward Miu, forcing his body into order, and then rushes her, fists blurring as he flings them at her again and again.
"We are, by our very natures, opposed, poison to one another!" He pauses, and draws a fist back, a navy blue aura surrounding it. He drives it forward, the last punch, the illusory shape of a claymore appearing in the air, bursting brightly and exploded in unison with the strike.
And then, whatever happens, Vladimir sinks down to his knees again, struggling to force his body to respond as he wishes.
"Coexistence is impossible."
COMBATSYS: Vladimir can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Miu 0/-------/-----==|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Rose
COMBATSYS: Vladimir successfully hits Miu with Zirnitra.
Grazing Hit
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Miu 0/-------/-======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Rose
Miu dives to the side as fast as she can, but he is just a little too swift for her to completely evade the strike. The punch catches her side, and the explosion sends her tumbling through the air. Thankfully, the evasive dodge is enough that she didn't take the full thing head on. Instead, she is merely hurt some more, rather than maimed or killed.
She stumbles up to her feet, and looks down at the man. It would be the easiest thing in the world to kill him right now. Okay. Maybe not that easy. She's hurting badly. But she could DO it.
"..."
She got her answer. It was one she already knew. It only raises more questions. It frustrates her. And she reins in her anger. She is not... a murderer. She will not do this. Turning her back on him, and on Rose, without a further word, Miu starts to walk out towards those closed doors. Fully intending to just /leave/. She needs to think, and rest. What could she say, right now?
COMBATSYS: Miu takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Miu 0/-------/-======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Rose
Rose can see what Miu is thinking, -almost- in a literal sense. She prepares herself for some sharp words--
--but it turns out to not be necessary... right now. But Rose felt what Miu did to the cleaner. She gives Vladimir a last look, then says, "Were I you, I would close up shop here. Just two of us came in here... can you imagine if more of us dropped by?"
Then she, too, turns to leave, her steps calm and precise, heels clicking against the floor. Inwardly...
Inwardly, thoughts seethe through her head. She just witnessed Miu kill a man who may not, strictly speaking, have to have been killed. The girl has a... depth... that Rose may have missed. Is that a problem? Rose knows that sometimes, death is the only way--as she hinted at to Vladimir.
It bears thinking about--and she'll have to have a talk with Miu later.
Log created on 12:47:10 04/03/2011 by Miu, and last modified on 15:39:29 04/04/2011.