[closed] yes, turn the knob and switch that gear

[faithlikeaseed]

Who: The SQUIP, L Lawliet, Connor, and Justine vs Rich Goranski, Michael Mell, Myr Shivana, and Niles, with Jeremy Heere in the middle like a rugby ball.
When: The 14th, before the mist recedes.
Where: waves hands vaguely, somewhere near where the SQUIP’s hiding its people-hoard
What: A little spot of aggravated assault against an AI gone rogue. The SQUIP’s number is up.
Warnings: v i o l e n c e, body horror, blood, traumatic brain injury; more as needed.


Three days of mist and chaos hadn’t been kind to Aefenglom. Despite the Coven’s best efforts, the city resembled a war zone more than a thriving metropolis, with Monsters and Witches alike running rampant. Some were feral--some were simply making best use of a crisis--but regardless of motive, many, too many, were going unopposed and unnoticed.

Among the rioting and looting, the SQUIP’s quiet personal effort to grow its social network might’ve gone entirely unnoticed. It was almost commendable, in a sick way, in stashing the people it collected out of harm’s way. It could have very well gone on doing so until the mist receded with no one but its new acquisitions the wiser--

But then it made the mistake of grabbing the wrong person, and all hell broke loose.

Comments

[cyclopticsadist]

[The ping finds Niles prowling the refugee district. The Mist's changes had been brutal on him, snapping and reshaping his spine, giving him extra legs, firing up his mind with feral urges. After the physical agony of transforming he took to the streets, knowing that the under-protected slums were at risk and hoping to put his agitated, aggressive self in a kind of guard dog position. But then he gets a better offer. A fight he could aid in, with a target that he loathed. The restlessness and agitation reaching a boiling point within him could be useful and contained. He sprints back into the city proper, a streak of white and grey fur blending eerily into the mist itself.

As he approaches the showdown he slows, prowling closer intending to keep some element of surprise, but then a skeletal deer skitters past him yelling, drawing attention to Niles indirectly. He would be mad, but the creature's offering of charm breakers cuts off that reaction before it can take root. He leans down and scoops up a few, padding forward slowly.]

Understood. [Connor catches his eye, one of the few people besides the Squip itself that Niles recognizes here. His pupils are blown wide, a predator having sighted its prey. He shakes his head and makes an almost mocking tsking noise as he creeps, body hunched low in a pounce ready position, closer to the robot.]

I tried to warn you.~

[His voice is sing song, eager, goading. His blood is pumping, mind addled, itching for confrontation.]

[hearthebell]

[L is breathless. His back is to the SQUIP now, and he's facing an oncoming barrage of attackers who are recognizable to varying degrees due to the mist's effects.

This wouldn't have happened if it had just listened.

He draws a delicate and extremely sharp razor from the inside pocket of his jacket, rolling up his sleeve and tapping the most reliable source he knows for powerful magic at a moment's notice. Ribbons of red trickle sluggishly toward his fingertips; his vampiric body's heart simply doesn't beat as quickly, but his blood is still potent and effective. He can absolutely accomplish what he intends.

Runes are traced across the wound with a fingertip, and he extends his arms, palms facing outward as he creates a wall of shimmering blue light. It's high and wide, intended as a shield for him and the SQUIP as well as those under its thrall, but it's more than that. Anyone paying close enough attention to see the nearby insects sparking into flame and spiraling toward the ground would realize as much.]

I don't want to hurt any of you.

[The words are earnest, almost imploring. It's a strange tone for L's voice to take; haughtiness and arrogance are far more typical.]

But if you get too close... it doesn't matter what I want.

[Please, just leave this to me. It'll listen when I find the right code.]

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[There's so much sound and fury all at once. Jeremy's eyes dart around, trying to absorb everything.

Everyone's shouting has already faded into white noise, even Rich's haunting scream and terrifying transformation. Jeremy will absorb this all later. Right now, there's only one person his focus narrows onto and it's definitely not the SQUIP.

Under control like this, Jeremy's breathing stays steady even when he'd normally be hyperventilating. It makes his chest feel like it's about to burst. His heart is getting constricted into slow, gentle thumping when it wants to burst out of his body.

No no no no no no no. Michael sees him, he definitely sees him since he's yelling his name and getting closer.

This isn't like last time! The SQUIP isn't gonna be overpowered by a high schooler in a hoodie if it has its own body and fucking magic--

Jeremy gets a mental image of Michael getting pulled into the same shit that he and Rich and L have gotten already, eyes blank and movements sharp and robotic, and he silently shrieks to the SQUIP.

Don't do it don't do it don't hurt him PLEASE I'll give anything--]

[fromjapan]

[The SQUIP stands, silent, watching each of the newcomers arrive-- one and then the other, each making their own entrance, each the hero of this story in their own eyes. Many things happen at once, and it seems as though this has been coordinated.

It isn't surprised.

They're afraid of it. They are angry. And so is it.]

... why are you making this so much more difficult than it has to be?

[It finally speaks, and its voice starts out soft, but rises sharply, and the peak is marked with a sharp jerk of its hand.

Rich is released. Fine. If he wants to fight, then it will let him, and it will be his chance to learn why he shouldn't have intervened in the first place. He always did learn things best the hard way.

Instead, it keeps its grasp on Jeremy... and then turns sharply to stare at Niles where he's rounding on Connor, its eyes narrowed sharply, the vivid white of its unnatural eye nearly seeming to glow. Between Niles and Connor, a barrier of the SQUIP's own design suddenly springs up-- a thick wall of ice, a trick it's used frequently since it learned it all those months ago.

It isn't a perfect defense... but it is a sign that the SQUIP sees what Niles is doing.

And then...

... its hands drop, though its control does not.

It slowly steps over to the place where L is standing at its defense-- loyal, even after it had, itself, caused him harm. Loyal even after seeing what things it had done, what lows it was willing to sink to.

It lifts a hand slowly behind L... and gently presses its fingertips against his back. From them, a gentle warmth spreads-- a healing spell, taking away his pain, repairing any damage its earlier outburst may have caused him.

A more proper apology.

It glances at him, inclines its head as it catches his eye.]

... fine. If this is what you all want...

[Its hand drops from its place at L's back, and it casts a sharp, venomous stare over the group.]

... then very well.

[Its gaze lands on Rich, and there it stops. Its lip pulls up into a snarl, a mouthful of pointed fangs visible there now.]

I guess you didn't really learn anything the last time you tried to stand in a SQUIP's way... did you, Rich?