vatheon | (no subject)

(no subject)

Who: Pascal and any would-be rescuers
Where: Around the city
When: Backdated to Wednesday
What: Pascal fell under Renge's control and is causing trouble! Someone stop her and snap her out of it!

Tuesday evening, Pascal disappeared off the network as far as anyone who might try and contact her could tell - no responses to messages or anything.

Wednesday, however, would give them a chance to see why - possibly at one of a couple of banks or pawn shops around town, suddenly losing walls to precisely-placed explosive charges, a single figure dressed in the most stereotypical robber's outfit possible, complete with a bag of loot, charging in and raiding safe deposit boxes, cash reserves, and - especially - game collections. Each time, she has been in and out before the police could arrive.

Who will try to stop Pascal, and figure out why she's acting so strangely?!

(OOC: Hubert has dibs on actually stopping Pascal, but others can encounter her then try to save her.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He didn't want to hurt her either, which led to his shots missing more than they normally would. And, at the same time, not dodging as quickly either.

He was yanked down with a grunt, but as he went, a pistol fell from his hand and that hand snagged the end of her scarf.

The grab worked, stopping Pascal before she could get back to running away.

"Get off of me!", she shouted, even as she tripped to the ground.

Hubert may have appeared thin and wiry, but that body hid a lot of muscle, especially in his arms. He held her tight, practically laying on her legs once she was on the ground.

"I refuse! Not until you agree to end this life of crime!"

"... You still haven't figured it out, have you, Hu? You're never going to stop the Otaku Queen like this."

And then, Pascal tripped another device - a noise bomb, to try and get Hubert to cover his ears (and free her to get away.

"I can't just agree to stop being under her power, you know."

"Then at least let me hold you in custody until-- AUGH!"

Her plan worked, the noise going off and forcing him to let go and throw his hands over his ears.

"You'll have to do better than that, Hu!"

And she was off again, of course.

Hubert groaned and rolled on his side, shaking his head clear of the ringing in his ears.

"Damn... !"

She was getting away, and he was too far behind to try and get a leg up on her.

... And then, as she attempted a roof-jump to lock in her getaway, Pascal tripped, tumbling down onto an outside stairwell with a few unintelligible noises.

Hubert's luck wasn't out yet, it seemed...

Whoa. Was... not expecting that.

Hubert got up and crawled to the edge of the roof, looking down.

"... Pascal?"

".... Ow...?"

It seemed that between Hubert forcing her to flee and where she'd ended up, Pascal had managed to wear out her ability to flee for now.

Or she was trying to trap him again. Stupid unnatural personality changes.

It could be a trap, but he knows his guilt won't let him leave her down there.

He finds a ladder and slides down, landing with a thunk next to her.

"Can you get up?"

As Hubert approached, Pascal more or less flailed, swinging her shotstaff in his direction.

"D-don't! Let me..."

But she wasn't getting up. Her leg didn't look broken, but she definitely had pulled or damaged her thigh something serious.

"I... I need to escape..."

Hubert let out a sigh, dodging the swung shot staff easily. He shook his head, approaching another foot in and kneeling to examine her leg.

"You're not going anywhere, I'm afraid."

"... 'Twas my own vanity that bested me..."

"I'm afraid so."

The faintest of smiles appeared on Hubert's face, but only long enough for him to scoop an arm under Pascal and heft her up.

"You did make for a surprising villain if nothing else."

"Heh... It's always the escape that fails, isn't it? Even back home..."

"Indeed it is. But don't beat yourself up too badly; it really could have been worse."

"From whose standpoint? I can't just..."

Pascal knew she couldn't get away now, but she still felt a need to try. She wasn't even sure it was just The Otaku Queen's influence talking, though that certainly was a factor.

"You could have wound up seriously injured. Or worse - killed. You're lucky that I have enough mercy for not only my former allies, but my enemies as well."

Even if she tried, he had a pretty good hold on her, and wasn't planning on letting her go any time soon.

"And instead, I probably get locked up or put through some crazy super-shrink for a week."

Even that sounded rather glum.

"I have a better idea. If you promise to behave, I'll take you to an inn, and we can wait until this silly nonsense with this girl is over and done with."

Because as much as she probably deserved it, even a little, Hubert couldn't bring himself to leave her in some prison or mental asylum.

"Can't. Hypnothingy, remember?"

"I didn't say I was going to leave you there alone."

"Fooey."

"Trust me, it's for the best."

"Right, right..."

"Well then, that's settled."

Yes, he's just going to carry her there.

Pascal still feels wrong just letting this happen, but... Somehow, it also feels kind of right?

She really had to work on this whole emotions-towards-Hu thing.

Sad to say, that's just how it works. Curse or not the feelings are obviously still there.

But it does make him more compassionate to a would-be villain, so there's a plus side to it at least.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only