[closed]

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Characters: Amaterasu and Psii
Location: near Mexico City
Rating: PG
Time: 8 August, backdated
Description: At the lake in Mexico City, La Llorona is rumoured to be drowning children. The forest paths around the lake is said to be filled with the sound of a weeping woman, crying for her lost drowned offspring. She is often attracted to children hoping they are those she lost with deadly consequences if they are not.


[Psii has only gone on one mission before. Is slightly nervous about many things, from Weapon abilities to getting etiquette of mission wrong. But Amaterasu is so soothing to resonate with, he thinks probability of things turning out well is high. Higher than would be with any other partner, anyway.

Thinks mission they have ended up with is good choice, too. Is no chance either of them will be mistaken for human grub. Psii prepares for trip through mirror, which has not stopped seeming very odd way to travel.]

Should transform now?

Comments

[motherofthesun]

[It had been a while since she had been on the field and she was both excited and ready to fight. She couldn't accept someone out there killing kids and would punish them suitably for it.]

[Psii's question had her turn toward him before the mirror and she closed her mouth. It was a sign she was thinking. After a minute, she nodded. It might be a good idea; the La Llorona didn't need to suspect too much.]

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii steps close enough to allow Amaterasu to catch goggles easily. Has transformed more in last few days than in months preceding, and only needs to concentrate for a moment to change to Weapon hardware now.

He picks up on some of her excitement. Has been so long since he went on mission that he forgot adrenaline high they can bring.]

Am ready!

[motherofthesun]

[Transformed, she brought him around her eyes and shifts a little until he's more secure. Everything in order, she grins, feeling his excitement go up.]

[With him ready, she takes a leap through the mirror. In a blink, they're deposited at their location. Letting herself calm, she heads down the street under a few confused eyes. Really, why would a wolf be wearing bi-colored goggles? Why was a wolf there at all? Still, she's on the hunt.]

[00110010_00110011]

[Feeling of settling into resonance is different from with HL--as expected, given how different he and Amaterasu are--but is something Psii has only experienced with the two of them, sense of resonance as a shielding warmth.]

Don't sense anything yet. But assume will have to get closer to lake.

[motherofthesun]

[It's still new resonating with Psiioniic, but not bad. She's getting use to it and it seems like her wavelength helps him. It always made her happy to help.]

Yes. Hopefully, no children are being lead to the lake this evening.

[00110010_00110011]

[Her wavelength does help. Psii feels less like thinkpan is buzzing, and slightly less glitchy, when they're resonating.]

Admit don't understand why humans seem so attached to their grubs.

[Won't most of them fail to make it out of brooding caverns? Human grubs seem even more defenseless than troll version.]

[motherofthesun]

Ah, well, I could explain. What is it like for your kind though?

[She thinks Disciple had explained some of it before, but mostly about Signless being raised. How was it for other trolls?]

[00110010_00110011]

Are hatched in brooding caverns, and must survive trials to make it out. After that, most trolls choose, and are chosen by, lusus. Human word is parent? But never had one of own. Was slave as far back as can remember.

[Audrey once explained human reproduction to him, leaving him with distinct idea it's disgusting.]

[motherofthesun]

[Interesting... and unfortunate.]

Well, for humans, it's the hospital. Most humans will have their children there. The child is birthed from the mother who then nurtures the infant with the father, or on her own. From there on, they raise them into adulthood like most creatures. However, between human and child, there is something unique. It could be because a baby is a part of them and literally was a part of them for a while. Though, it is in many animals' nature to try protecting those who are weak and babies do fall into that category.

[00110010_00110011]

Why hospital-- No, wait. Don't want to know.

Would be hard to find trolls on own version of Alternia who have instinct to protect weak. Think SS and Rosa are only ones who had it naturally.

[Psii has learned it, to a degree, but own instinct was always to keep head down and self out of trouble. Stepping forward to help weak in his universe ran directly counter to those.]

So creature are looking for preys on ingrained fear humans have. Will be useful don't share it.

[motherofthesun]

[Amaterasu's instincts for protecting those who couldn't - especially against demons - ran high.]

Yes. To lose a child can be incredibly devastating to the parents. This would spark fear and raise the Madness here.

[She glances at the lenses, but then raises her head. There was the lake. A few sniffs and she ducks behind the foliage, peeking through in a moment.] ...

[00110010_00110011]

Do understand concept of family. Most trolls don't.

[When Amaterasu slips into the bushes, Psii falls silent, listening for any sign of the kishin's presence. Thinks he can feel something coming, ripple in mental sense of surroundings.]

Do you see anything yet?

[motherofthesun]

That's a shame...

[At least, she thinks so. Ears rotating around and coming forward, her eyes widen as she sees... something.]

There's something in the water... and it's not a fish.

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii's focus shifts almost immediately, curiosity about human grubs and distant memories of own youth pushed aside so he can concentrate on coming fight. Feels strong, and as confident about abilities as ever has in this universe.]

Its energy feels like kishin egg...

[motherofthesun]

[Watching the shadows shift, she nods]

Looks like that's our target then... Wait... [There are two more forms. Three kishin eggs? Well, that wasn't on the report.]

[00110010_00110011]

[Three? Their resonance feels strong, but Psii doesn't know if is strong enough to handle that. But seems as though they'll have little choice.]

Think blasting them would be best bet, don't you?

[motherofthesun]

Blasting them now would, but we can't just knock them back into the water...

[No, no, this might require some herding into a more suitable location.]

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii picks up on thought easily. Amaterasu is right, of course. He tries to think of power as simmering, not ready to be released yet, but readying it.]

Would they give chase if fired a warning shot?

[motherofthesun]

They may and they may not. Their usual target are young children after all and we're an adult troll and wolf. There's a chance they might flee, but I'm sure I can herd them into a suitable area away from the water and town.

[Amaterasu usually isn't one to stop and think, but children are involved.]

[00110010_00110011]

Feel confident can get them to flee.

[There's a smile in his inward voice, and he lets power bubble higher, ready to unleash at her word.]

[motherofthesun]

Then lets scare them away from the water and go from their...

[Slowly, she began to creep around as the eggs left the water. One was obviously the La Llorona. However, the two flanking her were some part fish and another part blue human. She grumbled mentally, remembering the Dragonian people. This was very cruel to their image.]

[00110010_00110011]

[Isn't too flattering to seadwellers, either, though trolls would be not quite so blue. Psii focuses attention on La Llorona, expecting her to be most powerful of enemies, and sends energy for small blast, enough to startle. Feels easier to do than last time they resonated.]

Here. Have targeted main creature.

[motherofthesun]

[Startle it does. The eggs seem unsure where it has come from, but it hasn't sent them running back into the water. That was precisely what they needed.]

Alright... Let's have another small blast at them.

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii's ready for that as soon as she asks, and sends another small energy burst to Amaterasu. Should definitely have eggs scattering, and he prepares for bigger blast, in case one becomes immediate threat.]

[motherofthesun]

[It certainly does have them looking around now and wondering what's happening, paying little mind to how they're beginning to break apart to find the source. Good, they need them mad instead of turning tail. One of the fishier kishin eggs is approaching their hiding spot now.]

Almost...

[00110010_00110011]

One more blast between them should do trick, correct?

[He tones down power that was ready, and sends her enough energy for another small zap.]

[motherofthesun]

Yes...

[Feeling the energy reach her, she shot the final pulse just as the egg peeks through the leaves. It falls back and she springs out, facing the last two eggs as they turn around. They were at a point of rage they weren't about to run. Even if they did, Amaterasu placed herself before the lake.]

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii doesn't know if can hold off two at once. Tells self this will be excellent chance to find out. He tries to open mind to resonance more fully--easier this time, when he knows Amaterasu won't be frightened by what's in it.]

Should be possible to make energy fork. Could easily do it in own world.

[He has another blast ready for her to take as soon as she needs it.]

[motherofthesun]

A fork? How do I pull that off?

[Oh, but she moves around, lining the eggs up and sends out the blast. The third egg flies again, barreling over the first and second and results in a heap on the ground. Sleek skin is not helping them get off each other as soon as they would probably like.]

[00110010_00110011]

Just... see in mind what you want it to do.

[He pictures energy splitting into two prongs. Not relevant now that kishin have helpfully made pile. Psii focuses on larger blast to send out, mind's-eye vision going blue-red as used to in own world, and sends it out. Should be at least enough to give them nasty shock, he thinks.]

[motherofthesun]

Ah, I understand.

[Though, testing that will have to wait. Right now, it's easier using the power Psiioniic passes on to shock the Kishin eggs. They jolt, but they're not dead. Looking a little fried though as they manage to regroup.]

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii reaches into energy stores to maintain power at current level, and sends another blast as close to strength of first as can manage. Stamina seems to have improved since they fought clowns in Death City, but he's wary that La Llorona kishin may turn out to be challenge.]

[motherofthesun]

[More souls would do that. And no clowns sapping energy would do that too. The blast seems to be too much for the two lesser eggs, but the La Llorona wasn't giving in. She let out a shrill cry and Amaterasu drew her ears down, shaking her head.]

Ow ow ow...

[00110010_00110011]

[Hurting partner's ears is not acceptable. Psii draws strength from anger, and sends jolt of energy outward toward La Llorona.]

[motherofthesun]

[That earns another shriek, but not one attempting to cripple Amaterasu. Instead, it results in another soul being left behind as the La Llorona dissipates.]

[00110010_00110011]

Is that all of them?

[Psii's very impressed with Amaterasu and self if so.]

[motherofthesun]

[Taking a moment, she sniffed and searched around. Besides the three souls, there was nothing else present around them. She sat down besides the souls and nodded, tail wagging.]

Yes. Our mission is complete.

[00110010_00110011]

We're very efficient.

Need to transform to usual hardware to consume souls.

[motherofthesun]

[Sniffing around, she gave it a minute, but then nodded.]

You're safe to transform back.

[00110010_00110011]

[Is sure face would be bright yellow if had already changed back.]

You'll need to... take off.

[motherofthesun]

Hm? ... Oh, right, you would end up sitting on me.

[It took a few paw nudges, but eventually, she got Psii off.]

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii changes back to his default hardware, smiling over success of mission. But then he frowns as eyes what's left of the eggs.]

Have always disliked this part.

[But he picks one up and swallows it down.]

Doesn't taste bad, but feels very odd.

[motherofthesun]

[No longer resonating, Amaterasu can't say anything. Instead, she sits there, looking away at each soul consumption. She acted like she head something, but it was just being respectful. Some Weapons didn't like being watched as they collected.]

[With the souls down, she looks back, tail wagging.]

[00110010_00110011]

[Psii finishes meal of souls, and gives wavery smile. Is difficult to separate concept of what is consuming from act of doing so, even though taste is inoffensive, even slightly sweet.

Feels something different afterwards for first time.]

This is only second mission have gone on. Is it normal to feel... tingly?

[motherofthesun]

[Head rising and cocked slightly, Amaterasu gives what is - at best - a shrug. Since she doesn't eat the souls, she doesn't know. None of the other Weapons she worked with made a comment on it.]

[00110010_00110011]

Suppose will have to consult another Weapon.

Feel... [Has to consider, head tilting as he puzzles it out.] Stronger.

[motherofthesun]

[Pretty much unfortunately.]

Arf!

[That's good to hear. Well, shall they head back?]

[00110010_00110011]

[Has to smile ruefully at self for going on tangent.]

Am ready to go back.

[motherofthesun]

[She nods and turns, taking a few steps, but then waiting for Psii to join her. Home time, home time, and hopefully food time.]