paradisa | FINALE

FINALE

[The Gentlemen have claimed their fourth victim. Thus far they have paced themselves rather slowly, but they're starting to notice the residents beginning to rally together. They no longer have the leisure of being so choosy. If they want to collect their seven hearts, they'll need to be quicker about it or they will continue to lose their henchmen. And good help is so hard to find.

But first, they must deliver this heart to their hideout. They would hate for anything to happen to it.

The Gentlemen can be seen gliding along the path from the castle and heading toward town. What remaining minions they have with them hobble behind them. They pay no mind to anyone around them. The heart takes priority until it is safe and secure in the clock tower they have claimed for themselves.

Residents may attempt to trail them... if they dare.]

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[Honestly, this is what Cass had been hoping for. When she's grabbed she grabs back, hands on the minions arms as she yanks it back and away from where all that clanking is.

Her plan is to knock it out without it alerting the others, so she jerks her head toward the group indicating to Steph to go on, she's got this one.]

[The benefits of a long history of teamwork: trust. Steph trusts Cass to handle herself, and continues on. Freaks with jars of blood and--whatever. There's an objective, and that's all that matters.]

[It clearly had not expected to be grabbed, but that doesn't deter it any. It's yanked with her force, but once it manages to steady itself, the minion uses its own strength to try and throw her against the nearest wall. It's strong, but clearly not as agile as the batlady.

Meanwhile, the Gentlemen are mostly unaware of the scuffle, though one does turn his head momentarily. Suspecting nothing, he gives his attention to his peers as they silently communicate with one another.

The closer Steph comes to the table, the more clear the scene is. The jars hold the hearts of the victims from the past several days, with three jars still empty and sitting beside the filled jars on the table. Three more victims before their work is complete.

Behind the jars is a leather medical bag, a small, wooden box, and various medical tools.]

[There isn't much she can do to muffle the sound of her body hitting the wall, so Cass just has to hope it wasn't too loud, that their cover isn't blown. She knows Steph will find the box, though. For now she'll just focus on their weirdo in the straight jacket.

Pushing off the wall, she puts that momentum behind a solid punch to the side of the minion's head, aimed directly at it's temple.]

[Living in Gotham (and Paradisa, Steph supposes) means you see some fucked up shit, but this is a special brand.

And of course they'd be right by that table with what looks to be a box. The box. Wonderful. Four to one is a piece of cake most days, but Steph's not exactly wanting to deliver a heart into their hands, either.

When all else fails, it's back to the basics. She flings her batarang over to the other side of the room. Distraction! What's that sound over there?

pleasepleaseplease be dumb.]

[While the Batladies have taken the initial assault, Katniss was right behind them until of course, the first minions appeared. She hesitated, not wanting to leave Cass alone, but she gestured them on.

She kept behind Steph, and kept completely silent while they surveyed the scene. She was about to tap Steph, to point to the rafters of the tower, when the woman threw the bat-a-rang.]

[Well, distraction worked! On ... deer and idiots ... did it work on demons?]

Edited (deer is a plural of deer. morning is not my friend.) 2013-09-28 12:25 (UTC)

[Dairine had snuck in behind the rest, her invisiblity firmly in place. Anne was right. Someone of the magicial inclination should be here in case things go south.

She was less willing to put her bets on distraction alone. So when Batgirl throws the batarang, Dairine quickly sets up two general-purpose invisiblity spells, the type she can whip up in a hurry, and silently sets them in place over Steph and Katniss. (That way they can both still see each other, since they are under the same kind of spell.)

She holds her breath. Will it work on the Gentlemen? Will they be quiet enough not to be noticed despite invisiblity?]

[Meg has snuck in as well, positioning herself in a hidden corner with a good vantage point for throwing minions around. Her powers don't work on the Gentlemen, but she'll be able to keep the straight-jacket douches out of the way for the most part.

And just in case any of them get too close, she's got her dagger in hand as well.]

[Sneaking around in a dark environment certainly brought back memories. Django was barely thirteen when he started doing it, and he's grown much since then. When one of the Batgirls and Katniss disappeared, he knew what part they'd take.

He stays behind, but close enough to buy them some time in case the Gentlemen do notice.]

[Cass's punch connects! It's enough to disorient the minion, and he lets go of his grip on her as he stumbles away. He won't stay disoriented for long, but it should be enough for Cass to gain the upperhand.

When Steph's batarang sails across the room, it happens to knock over one of the empty jars, sending it to the floor where it shatters. This definitely catches the Gentlemen's attention, who turn simultaneously toward the direction it came from.

Fortunately for Steph, Dairine's spell successfully cloaks her and Katniss from their sights. They send one of their minions to investigate while they hurriedly finish their plans.

Another minion appears, but he seems to hurry past Cass. That's because he happens to notice someone lingering behind. A Django-shaped shadow, if you will, and the minion rushes directly toward him.

While the box is still guarded by the Gentlemen, the fact that an invisibility spell is in play may turn the tides yet.]

[Meg aims to clear a path for the others by waving her hands in the direction of both of the pursuing minions. If it works, it will slam them up against the wall, completely immobilized.]

Danny calls up his ice powers and throws a broad wave of chilly blue energy at the enemies. Right now he didn't care if it did turn the whole area into an iceberg.

Edited 2013-09-28 18:34 (UTC)

[Equius was never really one for stealth, but he was really trying.

When he got to the clock tower he was doing anything possible to stay quiet. He was failing mostly, but he still tried.

Noticing the others, he stays back, but close enough in case the Gentlemen try something.]

[The minions' pursuit is cut short as they are flung against the wall, and then quickly secured in place by a blast of ice that pins them to it.

The Gentlemen definitely take notice of this, as well as the sound of a good number of heartbeats. They do need three more. How eagerly the sheep come to the slaughterhouse. They turn toward the group and begin coming toward them.]

[With a path cleared to the real threat now and a group of invisible people on their side, the next move seems pretty obvious to Cass. It's time to be a distraction now, buy the others time to run in and grab the box.

There's a small part of her that's not at all fond of Stephanie just disappearing like that, but she'll just have to hope everything will end up okay. No time to dwell on suddenly missing bffs.

She runs in ahead and doesn't waste time, intent on disrupting whatever it is the tall floaty guys are doing. Hopefully a kick to the back of the head will do the trick?

Go stealth guys go!]

[The kick connects, but the effect is the same as kicking a wall; the Gentleman is unmoved and unharmed. Only now he is agitated.

Does she wish to give up her heart? He turns toward her to find out.]

[Thanks to Danny's ice blast, Meg is freed up to help elsewhere. When the Gentlemen turn on them and begin to advance, she instinctively jumps out from her hiding place, in front of the others. Her mojo might not work on them, but she can still take more of a beating than the others and doesn't mind throwing a few punches if she has to.

She glares defiantly at them and silently hopes that this will be worth it.]

[If this one is willing to be the next sacrifice, then so be it. One will move out in front of the others and reach for her shoulders.]

[Not so fast, Gentleman. Her meatsuit's probably been dead for years, with all she's put it through. You really want this old thing? Probably doesn't even count.

Besides, she's not going down without a fight. Meg ducks out of the way and sends a hard kick flying in the direction of its gut.]

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[Dairine allows herself the slightly smirk when the Gentlemen overlook them. Success.

Of course, that success will mean nothing unless they can get that box. While the rest of the group starts becoming more aggressive in their attacks, she sends Batigirl and Katniss the quietest of thoughts.]

I've given you invisiblity. Use it wisely.

[Perfect. While the bald freaks are busy trying to do their freaky, nasty thing, it's time to get that damn box. There's no time to waste.

She really hope this girl's magic or whatever really works, because she's making a mad dash to grab the box, and--

Shit. What are they supposed to do with it again?

Steph's a genius and figures that opening it is probably a good start.]

[The moment the box is opened, all four Gentlemen stop in their tracks and turn to face the box, eyes wide and for once, filled with horror.

From the box, like hundreds of tiny gusts of wind, the voices all begin to pour out, rising into the air and seeking out their owners. They rush past in a blur, reentering through the person's mouth. One may feel as if they have just inhaled a large breath. That is the feeling of their voice returning to them.

The Gentlemen's faces grow paler than even before. Screams are their one weakness, after all.]

[Katniss notched an arrow to her bow as Steph ran for the box - just incase something tried to grab her. Being invisible something she is just going to have to hug Dairine for -- if they get out of this in one piece.]

[She sucks in a breath as the box is opened, grey eyes wide with awe as the swoosh comes, hits her in the throat, and ...]

[Well, Katniss saw the picture. She turned towards the Gentlemen, and the Mockingjay screamed at the top of her newly returned voice.] DIE YOU BASTARDS!

[Together they bring their hands up to their ears, but shielding them does nothing. The scream is loud and piercing and heard by all.

They cringe, their faces twisting in pain, and they begin to shake. They can't take it. That sound. THAT SOUND. The Gentlemen cannot handle THAT SOUND.

Their heads explode, sending bits of flesh, tissue and blood across the room inside the clock tower. It coats the walls and the unfortunate souls standing near them. Their bodies sink to the floor, lifeless and defeated.

There will be no more deaths. No more Gentlemen.]

[Well, that was gory. But at least the whole body didn't explode, like the first alien Dairine killed had.

Dairine laughs out loud, elation and relief flooding over her. They did it. They won! She then cuts the invisibility spells on Batgirl, Katniss, and herself. The young wizard appears in the middle of the room, grinning from ear to ear.]

That was quite a scream, Princess Katniss!