#frangibleairedale

JADESPRITE: -She drifts -- or rather nyooms down toward the lakehouse encampment, green glowy gooing her way through one of the walls and looking around for just about anyone that's in sight.-

DIRK: -HE'S HERE. just sitting around the living area with his leg bouncing restlessly. he glances in jadesprite's direction when she oozes in.-

JADESPRITE: dirk!!

JADESPRITE: everyone

JADESPRITE: we need to go

DIRK: -OH GOOD. AN EXCUSE TO STAND UP. he does that.-

DIRK: What's up?

JADESPRITE: somethings happening at the hq

JADESPRITE: terezis there

JADESPRITE: i think this might be our chance

JOHN: -stands up- 👀

ROSE: -She's fiddling with her needles. The creepy ivory quills she got from deep down on LOMAT. She's going to be using them pretty soon, it seems, might as well be ready.-

ROSE: You mean already?

JADESPRITE: -she nods- we should head there now

JADESPRITE: im sure shes going to need our help

JOHN: -isn't terezi supposed to be dead??? but now is no time for questions he has BEEN ready for action.-

JADESPRITE: where is everyone else? we should get everyone

URSAIS: -SHE'S HERE TOO. Bear rumble.- should i rally th' troops? they're on standby.

ROSE: Some injured, but I suppose most of us are... around the area.

ROSE: Do you have a large bell we could ring to summon them? Communicators would probably tip them off.

JOHN: i have an airhorn.

JOHN: :D

DISCIPLE: -her eyes peek from atop a shelf-

JOHN: -he really wants to use the airhorn.-

DIRK: Use the airhorn.

JOHN: yesssssssss.

JOHN: -....-

JOHN: -dramatic pause-

JOHN: -HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK.-

DISCIPLE: -YOWLS!!!-

DIRK: -🙏-

JOEY: 8D

JOEY: should we come up with a battle cry?

MITUNA: WH47 7H3 FUCK

LATULA: -well shit an airhorn wakes her up-

MEULIN: -YOWLS FROM SOMEWHERE-

LATULA: SH1T DUD3.

LIFERA: -FUCKING POWER LEAPS DOWNSTAIRS- W)(AT'S )(APP-ENING??

JOHN: (ehehehehhehhehehe.)

JOHN: put up your dukes! it's time to fight!

LIFERA: GLUB???

PENNY: -GROGGY AS SHIT. Walks in.- ugh????

ULFURA: -She's currently outside, just feeding and petting this GIANT ASS DRAGONFLY. Her precious...-

HEITOR: -probably fiddling with the electricity or something-

URSAIS: -texts her and everyone.-

ULFURA: !!

URSAIS: -i really need to think of a cool name for this little abnd of rebels but for now you're just URSAIS'S CREW.-

ULFURA: -SHE IS OKAY WITH THAT NAME!!!-

ULFURA: -At this message, she runs to the lakehouse door and all but KICKS it open.-

ULFURA: WE'RE GOIN'???

PENNY: -squints at everyone...-

HESONY: =He's just been looming in a corner this entire time but was currently ourside on self-appointed guard duty. Since they arrived, he has been uncharacteristically quiet. Best not draw any unnecessary attention to himself and all that.=

URSAIS: we'rRe goin'. and we'rRe gon bring the pain. t' wherRe the fightin is thickest. -glances at dirk.-

ERIDAN: -was watching Sunny this whole time from his brooding place in the ice cream truck. Yeah he knows that color and name bruh. He knows it.-

MICEXA: -She's already paying attention to all this... and heading out to tell Sunny what's up. ANOTHER FACE ERIDAN CAN RECOGNIZE, INCIDENTALLY.-

MICEXA: Hey.

ULFURA: YEAAAHHH!!! LET'S DO IT!!! -jumps and PUNCHES THE AIR.-

ULFURA: SHE'S ALL READY TO GO!!!

ERIDAN: -He's reading all about it on the Alternia newsfeeds, don't worry.-

ERIDAN: -taking this time to change back into his combat gear. Good thing he's outside.-

HESONY: Hey. =he replies, his expression softening a fraction.= Are we moving again?

MICEXA: Yeah.

MICEXA: To the HQ.

JOHN: are we gonna go grab jake? my dad? -IF THEY WERE BRIEFED ON A PLAN...john might've just forgotten it.-

HESONY: =stares like she just grew an extra head= What.

JOHN: -forgive him-

JADESPRITE: it seems like terezi is going to try to get them out

JADESPRITE: but of course if they need help we will help them

JADESPRITE: right?

ROSE: Death really doesn't take the way it used to, does it?

JADESPRITE: no, it doesnt

JADESPRITE: theres definitely something different about her, though

JOHN: lucky for us! -laughs nervously-

JADESPRITE: ... -glances around like maybe she shouldn't have said that-

JADESPRITE: either way, we need to get moving

JADESPRITE: -floats toward the wall-

DIRK: -just grunts about that and tries to raise his voice over everyone's excitement- Ok, I need some of you to stay here and watch the injured. The rest of you follow Jadesprite.

DIRK: ... Like, through the door.

MICEXA: Yeah.

MICEXA: ... This is it.

REDGLARE: -STARTING TO STAND TO LEAVE ANYWAYS-

JOHN: -just starts shuffling towards the door even though he's a doctor....-

JADESPRITE: -schlorps through the wall on that note!-

PENNY: .... so whos stayin?

JOHN: -NOTHING TO SEE HERE.-

DIRK: -points at rose's white board of THE INJURED.- If you're on this list, you're not going.

DIRK: That means you, Redglare.

HESONY: =he laughs, shaking his head= We're going towards the people who want to kill us...

HESONY: =he patted her shoulder and squeezed it.= Okay. We don't stop.

REDGLARE: -STOPS AND STARES DAGGERS AT THE WHITEBOARD-

ROSE: -...one dagger-

MICEXA: -she reaches up to cover his hand with hers, her grip a little tighter.-

MICEXA: You don't leave my side.

REDGLARE: >;|

DAELOS: -Also not too happy about this arrangement because he's on that list.-

REDGLARE: -SITS LOUDLY-

PENNY: what about Riley?? shes sure as fuck not going.

DIRK: Of course she's not.

DIRK: -LOOKS AROUND SUSPICIOUSLY... is she trying to sneak away...-

HESONY: Wouldn't dream of it.

PENNY: -SHE BETTER NOT BE-

DEREK: -walks in- Dont worry I locked her in the bathroom.

HESONY: =also dropping eaves on the people behind them=

PENNY: ... -sNORTS-

PENNY: good deal.

ROXANNE: Good call. -At Derek, yes shes totally been here.-

PENNY: I uh.

PENNY: (God damn it.)

PENNY: I can stay and watch her.

PENNY: and the rest of you folks. nobody get any crazy ideas.

JOHN: -where's kankri? john wants to make sure he stays behind with his tiny knife and otherwise complete lack of being able to defend himself, but also one more hug would't be bad...-

PENNY: -LOOKS ESPECIALLY AT REDGLARE-

KANKRI: -Hes certainly staying behind to take care of people, he knows he and his little knife would be useless on this type of mission.-

MICEXA: .... -sighs a tightly held breath before glancing at the dragonfly.- \|/e should start boarding up.

REDGLARE: 3xcus3 m3?

REDGLARE: Who 1s th1s wom4n. D1d w3 just... coll3ct h3r.

REDGLARE: -GLARES AT PENNY WOW-

JOHN: -SQUEEZES HIM FOR STRENGTH.-

PENNY: ;)

PENNY: from the dump specifically.

KANKRI: -John so help him dont you be reckless.-

PENNY: hi. Im your new nanny.

JOHN: -He's going to be as nonreckless as you can be while you smash people with a hammer and use magic wind powers.-

KANKRI: -J o hn.-

HESONY: =he nodded giving her shoulder one more squeeze. No more promises of living through this. That only ever brought back luck.=

REDGLARE: >;I

URSAIS: -MOUNTS THIS DRAGON FLY like it's no big deal.-

MICEXA: -Well, she's going to do her best to make sure it's true, even if unspoken. She heads for the dragonfly.-

MINDFANG: -Also she is ready to brawl, she even did some maintenance on her arm even without your help Hesony. Now it probably wont fall off while she fights.-

ULFURA: ALRIGHT COME ON GET YOUR FANNIES ON BOARD!!! -gestures aggressively at the many rows of carrying seats on this dragonfly's butt.-

RUFIOH: -Waiting outside for people to gather... he's anxious as he shuffles his wings but. Didn't come here to sit on his ass. As much as he would like to. Shit's scary...-

ROXANNE: -Climbing on board with no time to waste, shes got important people to save.-

HESONY: =yeah, but i bet that piston still sticks, Wolfchow=

JOHN: -While he's huging people, Dirk and Rose also get a squeeze b4 they board. Wait? Is that Rufioh? Also hugged? Meulin? Hugged.- be safe you guys!!!  

LATULA: -HUP. She's climbing on-- she got used to the dragonfly a while ago, slinging out her rifle as she takes a seat.-

LATULA: 41ght!!!!

JOHN: -he's very liberal with these warm hugs.-

MEULIN: -HEY SHE IS HERE, peering out from around the lakehouse.- AH--

MEULIN: EVERYONE'S GOING?

MEULIN: -snugs JOHN!!-

MICEXA: -climbs RIGHT ON BOARD. It's possible she's ridden something similar before at some point as well... but either way, she's not hesitating to get a move on.-

URSAIS: -sitted near the front.-

JOHN: -after he's done spreading his love around, he hover into one of the farthest seats cuz tha back of the rollercoaster is always the most fun.-(

LIFERA: -She runs out and climbs on board, too, also toward the back. She figures they're going to need people watching the butt.-

JOHN: B)

HESONY: =clambers on=

SOLLUX: -And he, meanwhile, finally drags himself out of the lakehouse. His appearances have been infrequent, but he's here now, quiet as he navigates awkwardly toward the dragonfly and then floats himself into a seat.-

SOLLUX: -MAY HAVE SAT ON SOMEONE??? We just don't know.-

URSAIS: o//o -SUDDENLY HAS SOLLUX IN HER LAP. jk. or not???-

SOLLUX: -hello-

SOLLUX: -is this what seats are supposed to feel like???????-

URSAIS: -....clears her throat. casually picks him up and places him into the seat next to her instead.-

SOLLUX: .... 0h.

URSAIS: safety first 'n all.

SOLLUX: ...

ROSE + DISCIPLE ALSO: -OH IF EVERYONES CLIMBING ON THEN THEY ALL GET ON THERE-

SOLLUX: -slowly rests face in hands.-

SOLLUX: -there's no other choice. he's going to have to die today.-

DIRK: -you son of a fuck-

HESONY: =pondering how this crew has survived for so long=

SOLLUX: -LOOK BITCH-

DIRK: -no fuck you-

DIRK: -ANYWAY HES ALSO HERE. AND THE REST OF THE ONES OF MINE GOING.-

JOHN: -WAVES AT THE REST OF THE GROUP!!!-

JOHN: -the ones staying behind, i mean.-

[[ WHAT AN EXPEDIENT PROCESS. Once everyone going is on, Ulfura eyeballs the whole troupe. ]]

KARKAT: =is here=

ERIDAN: -Hi everyone. This fish is here. Most people probably don't know who he is??? He's just a guy sitting here with a big gun in his lap, half his face wrapped up in scarf.-

ERIDAN: - >> -

KARKAT: =SOME DOUCHE=

ERIDAN: -Yeah, true.-

ULFURA: -climbs the dragonfly and gets on the upper part of its back, grabbing reins and settling in up there.-

ULFURA: WE READY??? GIMME THE WORD!!!

ROSE: As ready as I can possibly find myself, yes.

JOHN: heck yes!!!

JOHN: let's try our best everyone. -anime voice on purpose-

JOHN: -the only way to respond to this horrifying situation is to be INCESSANTLY CHEERFUL.-

SOLLUX: (i swear t0 g0d egbert.)

JOHN: (ehehehhe. get fucked.)

RUFIOH: }:o

RUFIOH: -gonna be flying with the gang off to the side... Gives the dragonfly a pat though. Wishing it the best of luck and a safe flight.-

URSAIS: go ahea' and kick off, pupper.

URSAIS: we got a lot a shit to do an little time t' do it in.

ARANEA: -does rufioh mind if she joins him? her wings are getting strength back but she figures she needs them for the battle... so she's giving them a stretch!-

[[ The dragonfly flickers its wings in buggy acknowledgement. It feels so FRESH and reassured now. ]]

RUFIOH: -He does not mind at all. Side eyes Aranea.-

DAELOS: -stares through the window in the rain at her. he wants to slay their enemies alongside her again. :(-

ARANEA: -reaches dramatically for daelos with her heart...-

ULFURA: YEAH!!!

ULFURA: LET'S DO THIS!!! COME ON FLAP FLAPS!!! -tugs the reins gently and nudges the dragonfly with her communing powers-

ARANEA: ::::) -at rufioh-

DAELOS: -just be as ruthless as possible for him-

ARANEA: -SHE WILL-

ULFURA: HOLD ONTO YOUR BUTTS!!!

[[ The dragonfly suddenly lurches, kicking off from the ground, and its wings start flapping wildly to take them up into the sky. Takeoff and landing is the hardest part. ]]

RUFIOH: -pchooooooooooo time to fly!-

URSAIS: -This part always makes her a little queasy. She doesn't like being off the ground. ʕ灬￫ᴥ￩灬ʔ-

ERIDAN: -scrunches up his face at the wind buffeting his hair. He thinks he smells rain on the horizon...-

JOHN: -basically uneffected-

[[ They rise into the sky quickly, if not weaving side to side a few times between the wind and the dragonfly adjusting to its new weight. It soars above the treetops, higher into chillier air. The pressure and wind aren't super comfortable, but Ulfura keeps it from going too high. They're on the way, headed straight for Golden Valley. ]]

ROSE: -Twirling those needles in her hands, thinking. Working off nerves. This... really is happening. The flying doesn't bother her-- it's everything else. It's the fact that she can't even fathom seeing something useful with her powers, or the fact that she can hardly conjure a spark. She just focuses on breathing. Deep breaths. Think. Don't get impaled by a fork.-

ROXANNE: -Is probably sitting next to Rose, because its unlikely she would let anyone else take the seat next to her daughter right now.-

ROXANNE: -And she also glances at her with a touch of concern, but unfortunately most of her expression is just determined sternness for what is to come.-

JOHN: -YELLING to be heard above the wing flaps and buffeting air.- SO! I DON'T THINK. I KNOW THE NAMES OF LIKE ...75 PERCENT OF YOU. YOU WANNA LIKE...TELL ME THEM? -he has his own ways of working out his nervousness.-

HEITOR: NO

JOHN: WELL I MEAN. OKAY. THAT'S VALID. IF YOU WANNA BE A DICK ABOUT IT. ANYBODY ELSE?

ERIDAN: -No. Giving John the cold shoulder. Don't look at him, motherfucker...-

JOHN: -He has his eyeballs on you Eridan. All over you.-

MICEXA: ... -does she even want to yell above this wind...-

HESONY: .... =well he sure isn't going to be an ass! He glanced up to see a flying human. Okay. He will accept this.= ....Hesony. =He says, in his regular voice.=

MICEXA: -side eyes Sunny like pls-

JOHN: -HE IS FLYING WITH EVERYONE ELSE CURRENTLY. ON THE BIG BUG.- HEY...SUNNY? SUNNY? OKAY. NICE TO MEET YOU! I AM JOHN.

HESONY: =EXCUSE only FRIENDS call him that. Whatever=

HESONY: Greetings, John.

MICEXA: -gosh.... she loves this grumpy doofus-

MICEXA: MICEXA NESHEN. PURSUANT SEAKRAIT.

JOHN: COOL. EXCELLENT. THANKS FOR HELPING. -

MINDFANG: -John do not thank them for anything.-

MICEXA: -just sort of softly grunts at that.-

JOHN: - He doesn't know these are the peeps that fucked up his friends otherwise he might be less friendly. -

HESONY: =Anything for Terezi's friends, no matter how ungrateful they are.=

HESONY: No problem. =he says instead=

ERIDAN: -gazing at these legislacerators. Saying nothing. Sipping tea with just the look in his eyes.-

[[ Below them, they'll being to see signs of smoke and fire, and the vague sounds of explosions and weaponry through the buffetting wind. In patches where they can see, it looks like there are scattered Alternian troops fighting little scads of rebels. The further they go, the more fire there is. Looks like quite a few things blew up down there. ]]

MICEXA: -why's this bitch got an in flight beverage...-

LATULA: -SHARP INTAKE-

LATULA: sh1t dud3 th4t lookz pr3tty n4sty.

URSAIS: - EL SQUINTO-

LATULA: no off3ns3 but 4r3 your p33poz gonn4 b3 4bl3 to hold out?

JOHN: - promptly shuts up at this point. he's totally stoked and not sick/scared-

[[ The dragonfly sways here and there to try to avoid the plumes of smoke. It's likely Ulfura is guiding it around them; bugs tend to react badly to signs of fire. ]]

URSAIS: - bracing herself- worRy bout yerRselves.. we'rRe used t' this. shit.

URSAIS: an' stay brRave.

SOLLUX: -he doesn't seem to react much there next to Ursais... just tilted his face out toward the outside of the seat, almost like he would be looking down at the ground if he could see.-

[[ They fly over lakes and green landscape -- it would be beautiful in just about any other circumstance, but today, the serenity of the landscape only seems to be feel cold and empty for the reality of what's happening below. ]]

JOHN: -equips Zillyhoo. It makes him feel better, even if it does put chanting voices in the back of his head.-

JOHN: -zi-hi-hi-hilly hoo~-

URSAIS: -ʕง•ᴥ•ʔง-

HESONY: =Same, Sparky Jr. Cept he has eyes. You dont. Neener neener neener.=

SOLLUX: -LET HIM BROOD IN PEACE, TEREZI'S OLD FRIEND GUY. JEEZ.-

ARADIA: -by sollux cuz you don't get to brood alone-

DIRK: -ha, that gives him an opportunity to brood alone too. YOU CAN'T STOP HIM HE'S IN CHARGE.-

SOLLUX: -oh so now YOU'RE in ursais' lap???-

SOLLUX: -CUT IT OUT GOD-

DIRK: -he might as well straight up be doin the thinker pose he's so contemplative right now-

ARADIA: -where am I...I am everywhere...-

SOLLUX: -just hoping she's flying alongside him tbh-

SOLLUX: -just out there smiling and being a creep-

[[ As they fly along, they'll finally start to see it breaching the line of the trees. The headquarters turned into something almost fortresslike, and empty expanse instead of trees -- water surrounds the building on all sides, centering it in a huge lake. Sticking out of the water nearby is a giant silhouette-style statue, but instead of the businessman it used to be, it's in the shape of )(er Imperious Condescension. ]]

[[ The building has been rebranded, of course. Instead of the original spoon, there's a bright red trident. ]]

ROSE: -eyes that silouette. plz...-

JOHN: :/

DIRK: -squints at all this. that's where they're being held... they're so close he thinks his heart is about to jump right out of his chest. he's never not anxious, of course, but the possibility of him or anyone dying here has never felt more real.-

QIRIN: How charming. ^_^

DAVENFORTH: Qirin please

QIRIN: =SHE'S KIDDING=

ARADIA: 😊

JOHN: okay if we win or finish early can we all mutually agree that needs to be heavily vandalized or blown the fuck up.

LIFERA: -just staring at this statue. It's ridiculous, but also... it's so huge. It looks like the way the Condesce feels -- larger than life, the figure that's loomed over her since she hatched. And now...-

DAVENFORTH: -Puts a hand on Lifera's thigh-

LIFERA: -She sort of jumps -- but only just barely, and looks over at Davenforth. She doesn't smile this time, but she acknowledges him.-

ERIDAN: -He more or less feels the same as Lifera about seeing these real actual headquarters. But with knowing NO ONE, he refuses to voice it. He fixes his eyes on the building, determined. Hopeless.-

QIRIN: =You stop that=

DAVENFORTH: -Squeezes gently. It's all cake baybe, we got this.-

QIRIN: =Get your pessimism out of the optimist club=

MICEXA: -yeah they're probs gonna die-

QIRIN: =what the fuck did i just say?=

ROXANNE: -Why do all you new people always assume we're going to die.-

MICEXA: -LOOK MAN-

HESONY: =because it HAPPENS that's why=

ROXANNE: -Nuh uh. No one is dying this time either, nope.-

HESONY: =thats what he said last time then terezi bit it=

[[ From closer they can also begin to see ships on the lake -- most of which appear to be Alternian in nature, but also some that aren't. There's a lot of pirate-style fighting going on down there. Boy howdy. ]]

MINDFANG: -Nice.-

JOHN: -HE JUST WANTS TO GET OFF THIS DRAGON FLY AND START FIGHTING. It's like ripping off a band aid.-

JOHN: -Hhhhhh-

QIRIN: =Patience, my padawan=

ULFURA: I'M BRINGIN' US IN CAP!!!

ULFURA: -she's starting to weave this dragonfly even more now, to avoid any lines of fire they may ultimately end up in. They're beginning to do a slow circle around the headquarters building.-

URSAIS: ya did grReat now, pupperR.

ULFURA: -SHIMMERS... but quietly.OF COURSE SHE DID GREAT.-

[[ The dragonfly SWOOPS, knocking at the mainsail of one of the Alternian ships on its way around with some of its legs. It rattles everybody a little. ]]

DIRK: -(mccree voice) whoa there- =swears under his breath=

[[ The dragonfly finally swoops down to the platform entrance of the building -- it's almost a tight fit for such a big fucking bug with wide wings, but it manages. ]]  

[[ It lands with an even bigger rattle. ]]

JANE: -She's standing on the rooftop, alone save for the incredibly shitty anime sword that's been lodged in the ground. Where did that even come from...-

DAVENFORTH: -rihannawink.gif-

ARANEA: -ARRIVES. she sets rose down on the roof, and definitely isn't hiding behind her while doing so.-

ROSE: -She pulls out her needles again and untangles a few scraps of yarn from them.-

ROSE: ...Thanks.

ROSE: Hello.

DAVESPRITE: -spins up to the battlegrounds, up in arms.- hey DAVESPRITE: oh you werent talking to me scratch that DAVESPRITE: but also hey

ROSE: Hi, also, yes.

JANE: -She just watches this little group arrive as it is for now, all in red and looking fairly intimidating. She just sort of glances at Davesprite.- JADE: -PCHOOOOO. She falls onto the roof and rolls for a second before pushing herself up with a growl!!!-

JANE: . JANE: You should really get your acts together. This is unacceptable behavior.

JADESPRITE: -floats up with Mindfang... and gently rests her on the rooftop-

MINDFANG: -Thank you for the gentle landing flying dog girl.- MINDFANG: (The ride was appreci8ted.)

MINDFANG: -Anyways, side eyeing Rose and Aranea too, okay... this might work.-

ROSE: Establishing yourself as an authority figure isn't going to pacify me, you know. ROSE: I wouldn't even need a reason to act out if you're going to wag your fingers.

JADESPRITE: -nods just once and... PUTS UP HER DUKES.-

JANE: -She says nothing to this. Only shifts her stance and raises her fork.-

ROSE: -STRIDING FORWARD-

 ROSE: Is this the plan, by the way?

ROSE: It doesn't really strike as... you.

JADE: -stands up straight- 

JADE: GROWL!!!!

JADE: how dare you!! 

JADE: -snaps her head toward Rose- where do you think youre going???

DAVESPRITE: -attention's trained on Jade.- hey 

DAVESPRITE: tweet -whistles- over here

JADE: SHUT UP DAVE!!!

DAVESPRITE: make me????

JADE: none of you are getting out of this!!!!

MINDFANG: Oh, looks like you agit8ted her. -Also puts up her fists like Jadesprite. Its all she got.-

ROSE: -She's going up towards JANE, in fact. More or less like she planned to. Heart kinda... pounding, but whatever. This is to be expected.-

JADE: -snarls and lunges toward Rose with a flash!!-

JANE: -look... she's got a guard dog...-

JADE: -Looks like she's clearly intended to zap Rose elsewhere again. She's pretty fed up with these shenanigans at this point. It's not being very fun anymore.-

DAVESPRITE: -and now swipes his sword to get at Jade's attention.- over HERE

JADE: -YOU WANNA GO TOO?? FINE. YOU CAN BOTH GO TO SPACE.-

JADE: -Grabs Rose and infuses her with just enough of a zap of green and then FLINGS HER at Davesprite. By the time they collide, they'll both be IN SPACE.-

ROSE: -She's making dead on eye contact with Jane. It's definitely a challenge. She's sweating a little bit-- because if this does go wrong she's not sure she CAN survive in space, or wherever else Jade might want to throw her, she really just wants to get her DANDER UP-

DAVESPRITE: -Rose will be protected in a bubble of sprite energy in the second it takes Davesprite to zap back to Earth.-

JANE: -NARROWS HER EYES... And she isn't missing Rose in her line of sight for very long, it seems.- 

JANE: . 

JANE: . 

JANE: Jade.

JADE: IM TRYING!!!!

ROSE: -THANK GOODNESS. She's incredibly ill informed about this whole endeavor.-

JADE: its the stupid SPRITE MAGIC!!

ROSE: -But she's alive and back there again.-

MINDFANG: -Wow, who knew these sprites could be so incredibly helpful.-

ROSE: Oh, yes.

ROSE: Definitely. 

ROSE: Not like you at all. 

ROSE: Roll up your sleeves and look for the answer to the problem, right? ROSE: Surviving assassination attempts. 

ROSE: I'm not even trying to kill you, and you're still going to try to make her do all the work. 

ROSE: An easy, unchallenging solution for someone lacking any trace of the fearful personal ambition she once showed.

ROSE: Come on now, Jane.

MINDFANG: -Anyways is it too soon to start using mind control? Because if no one has any arguments, first order of business is knocking out the guard dog and shes going to attempt to do just that.-

JANE: You've miscalculated.

JADE: -Mindfang will be able to feel the tension in Jade... but her attempts aren't quite enough to actually knock Jade out. She's still pretty riled up, and her robotic programming is STRONG. And it's even louder with someone messing with the human portion of her head.- 

JADE: BARK!!!!!

JANE: -With that, she flicks her gaze away from Rose and in that same moment, she lunges toward Mindfang, fork poised to pierce.-

MINDFANG: -Grits her teeth and squints from the rebound of her efforts not quite being enough.- (God d8mmit!)

MINDFANG: -AH EVEN WORSE.-

MINDFANG: -Well shes going to do all she can do, lunge forward as well and aim to punch miss red and forks right in the face.-

ROSE: -Well, if she'll do that, she's going to get tackled. She is in convenient lunging distance, and with a good angle on her broad side, where she's not likely to get herself accidentally stabbed.-

JANE: -GOD SHE FUCKING LOVES CALCULATIONS.- 

JANE: -No but really, any attempt to try to punch her head-on is more than likely to result in a good forking considering the length of her weapon. Rose, however, manages to nail her in the side and throw her off. A timely reaction, and Jane hits the ground-

MINDFANG: -Then she would have died the way she wanted, going down fighting. But yeah thank god for Rose, really.-

MINDFANG: -Tries her luck on mind controlling Jane next.-

JADE: -BARK. BARK. BARK.- 

JADE: DONT YOU KNOW WHO I AM????? 

JADE: YOU CANT MESS WITH ME!!!!!!!! JADE: -The rooftop is starting to glow green from Jade, sparking almost dangerously.-

JANE: -She's even harder to get into her head. She's pretty level-headed still. Mindfang is going to hear a lot of SUBMIT. OBEY. CONSUME.-

MINDFANG: -Mmm that does not bode well for them, and also shes quickly backing out of Jane's head and covering her own ears.-

MINDFANG: FFFFuck!!

ROSE: that goes with a full on bare knuckled punch to the face, even, as she tries to force the trident against her with her full weight.-

ROSE: You know, judging by what I've witnessed thus far, I believe your position in this company can perhaps best be described as 'lackey.'

ROSE: Or 'thug.' 

ROSE: -it's beena a LONG time since she's thrown a punch...- 

ROSE: Please. Forgive me for assuming that there was more to it that you wanted.

JANE: -This heiress is pretty limber, it seems, as she HUPS to roll both her and Rose over...- 

JANE: -But holding the trident's handle against Rose, looking down at her this way suddenly makes her hesitate. Is she...blushing?-

ROSE: ...

MINDFANG: -Ladies, please this is serious.-

ROSE: I...

DAVESPRITE: -fucking incredible.......................-

ROSE: Had more at some point.

ROSE: -please don't do this to her nOW-

JADE: -She reaches upward, and then there's another flash of green as she summons a sword and then points it out in front of her.- 

JADE: while you were being stupid in the woods, i was studying the blade!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MINDFANG: -USE THIS MOMENT, HUMAN.- Rose!--

MINDFANG: -Owl turns at Jade.-

DAVESPRITE: holy shit 

DAVESPRITE: did you just...

MINDFANG: ....That sounds idiotic.

DAVESPRITE: -he's S O.-

JADE: FIGHT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DAVESPRITE: youre gonna poke someones eye out harley -who she talking to? Cuz Davesprite is here and sword ready.-

JADE: well see whos stronger

ROSE: JUST FIGHT HER. PLEASE, GOD.

JADE: -She's mostly talking to pretty much anyone.-

JANE: .

JANE: .

MINDFANG: -She assumes its you Davesprite you have the other sword.-

JANE: ... -ABRUPTLY REELS BACK WITH HER FORK.-

ROSE: -oh fuck.-

DAVE: -pulls himself up to the top of the roof. HE MADE IT.-

DAVESPRITE: -alright fair enough.- nobody fucking touch her is2fuck -also talking to EVERYONE.- 

DAVESPRITE: -and then lunges at her.-

MINDFANG: !!! -Also shit uh, quick shes jumping again to try and slam her shoulder into Jane before she can use that fork.-

JANE: -DOOF. Thankfully she wasn't aiming it at anyone, and she does get rightly slammed and scurries to keep her footing, a good couple yards away now-

JANE: This.

JANE: Is stupid.

JADE: GRRROOOWWWLLL!!!!

ROSE: I am not in disagreement with you.

ROSE: -Scrambling a little to get back up, grabbing her needles.-

MINDFANG: -Well shes not going to let up, if she knocked her back then Mindfang quickly rushes her again for another shot at punching her.- It certainly is.

JADE: -throws her sword up to block Davesprite, the sound of metal clashing-

DAVE: -finally standing to join everyone else, sword in hand more for Jane than anything else and joining the others.-

DAVE: -he is going to flash step behind Jane to attempt to distract her. And to the side. And to the front. And repeat-

DAVESPRITE: -sparring with Jade, fierce and fast. Nullifying her every move with well-trained blocks. She's not hurting anyone today.-

JANE: -Oh, damn it all. She's able to calculate well enough that the fast boy is mostly just trying to distract her, and that allows her to focus enough to hold up her fork in Mindfang's direction to ward her off, but she still isn't sure what to do about Dave.- 

JADE: -She's fast and strong -- it might be sort of impressive how they manage to keep up with one another. The sound of ringing metal goes on and on, until- 

JADE: -She switches directions suddenly. She lunges in the direction of the others, seeming to head for Mindfang's back while she's busy trying to attack Jane.-

DAVESPRITE: ! 

DAVESPRITE: -changes directions in order to flashstep all in hopes of preventing her from landing the blow. BAD DOG.-

DAVE: -YEAH WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH ME IM HERE NO IM THERE NO IM OVER HERE NO IM IN YOUR FACE-

MINDFANG: -FUCK!! Tries to skid to a stop to avoid running into that fork.-

JADE: -And that's exactly what she wanted. She stops, switching her motions and swinging her sword just in time to bring it down on Davesprite.-

ROSE: -aw fuck.-

DAVE: -OH FUCK-

JANE: .

ROSE: -dead daves were the enemy-

DAVESPRITE: -Slash... The swing of her sword cuts through his form with a gross amount of gold blood surging. The hilt of the sword cutting into his shoulder, but most importantly, the mutilated half of a wing. Still hanging onto him in a few pathetic threads of flesh.- hk

MINDFANG: -Well fuck...-

JADE: ... HA! 

JADE: HAHAHAHA!!!

DAVESPRITE: -blood gushing but he still raises his hand. Kinetically flinging the sword off.-

JANE: . 

JANE: . 

JANE: -She's taking this opportunity to try to shove her fork as hard as she can at Mindfang. BY HER CALCULATIONS, SHE MIGHT ACTUALLY HIT HER.-

JADE: -Oop. There goes her sword.-

DAVE: -suddenly very concerned about bird him, speeds up around Jane before flash stepping alongside davesprite. That's a lot of Sprite blood....- you sure you wanna go for orange flavor dave

JADE: -It didn't take much effort, honestly. It seemed like she was hardly holding onto it anymore.-

DAVESPRITE: -Well his arm is useless but he still levitates. The blood dribbles in bright shiny globs.- (cant... wont fucking hurt you) 

DAVESPRITE: -low enough for her doggy ears to hear.-

JADE: -She looks suddenly at Dave, and there's a strange sort of mirth in her face.

She won.

And yet.-

MINDFANG: -Shes occupied with Davesprites maiming when oh fuck thats a feeling inside of her.- ................... 

MINDFANG: -Looks down at the fork.-

JADE: -She looks between Dave and Davesprite. And all the blood.-

ROSE: -God damn it NO- 

ROSE: -This really isn't going as she hoped. The weapon in her hand is a scarf and she's mostly just trying to throw it over Jane's head and get it around her shoulders and yank BACK, breathlessly staring at the others.- 

ROSE: -it's probably too late, but fuck.-

DAVE: -his expression softens- jade come on 

DAVE: i know youre in there

JANE: -HRK. It's enough to get her to pull back and struggle, but the trident pulls back with her, her grip on the shaft still tight.-

JADE: shut up 

JADE: dave

JADE: -Why... is she tearing up?-

MINDFANG: -Hgrk, oh fuck, well its out now at least.- 

MINDFANG: -Except no, you are one hundred percent supposed to leave whatever it is impaling you in to minimize blood loss. Shes frantically moving her hands to cover the holes while she mentally tries to fight off shock but she only has two hands and they are not very helpful right now.-

DAVESPRITE: -Somebody put jade to sleep for fuck's sake...-

MINDFANG: -ALREADY TRIED ONCE.-

JADE: shut... UP!!! RAAARUGGGHH!!!!! 

JADE: -tilts her head back and HOWLS.-

ARANEA: -she's been floating around avoiding being seen, like rose suggested, BUT AS IT WOULD APPEAR... NO ONE IS SAFE.-

DAVE: thats the thing us daves dont shut up 

DAVE: we never shut the fuck up 

DAVE: for good reason 

DAVE: come on babe 

DAVE: please

DAVESPRITE: -davesprite's blood soaked wing is flickering and fading... He's gonna get this useless, dangling shit removed.-

MINDFANG: -But here, she knows shes got maybe one or two more good shots in her.- 

MINDFANG: -Whirls around to lock her sight on Jade and puts all the energy she has in one good mental assault on that dog.-

ROSE: -She eyes the blood on the trident, and then she eyes Jade and Dave and Davesprite.- 

ROSE: -She takes a deep breath.- I believe that you are a good person. 

ROSE: And you know that what you are doing is wrong. 

ROSE: But I am not going to risk this happening twice.

ROSE: -And then, dropping the scarf, she pulls out both needles and jabs them into Jane's stomach. Accompanying is a shock-- not a strong one, but a current of electricity running through her body, like a tazer at half strength.-

JANE: -she finally lets go of her trident to try to struggle with Rose, the weapon clattering to the ground, and she finally manages to get a good grip on the scarf -- but when she does, Rose has let go. She throws the scarf aside and whips around to face Rose...- 

JANE: -And goes wide-eyed, freezing at the shock.-

ARANEA: -panicking in the sky, she takes that as an opportunity to try to get into jane's head. assuming that shock didn't just knock jane out to begin with... either way, SLEEP, DAMN YOU!-

JADE: -This time, Mindfang feels Jade's mental walls buckling -- the conflict is absolute, and there's little in the programming that can force her to resist now. Her howling dissipates entirely.- 

JADE: -She crumples to the floor of the rooftop.-  

JANE: -She blinks rapidly -- she isn't knocked out by the shock, but she's still staring at Rose, reeling. It throws off the signals of her mind control just enough to give Aranea a window of opportunity.- 

JANE: -Her eyes flutter closed, finally, and she, too, falls to the ground.-

MINDFANG: -She actually looks surprised when she feels and sees Jade go down, but then she is smiling.- ...H-heh. -Wheezes and gobbets of blood drip from her lips. And then quite quickly she is also falling to the ground in her own sizable puddle of blue.-

DAVE: jade? 

DAVE: -he has a brief look of fear in his eyes while not being entirely sure what's going on, so he drops to his knees to check her out. Make sure she's breathing. Something- what just 

DAVE: whats

JADESPRITE: -floats closer, hovering above the scene- shes asleep 

JADESPRITE: finally...

JADESPRITE: -reaches for Rose's scarf quickly and tries to start tying it around Mindfang-

DAVE: asleep 

DAVE: how the fuck do you fall asleep like that

JADESPRITE: ill explain later

JADESPRITE: we need to move them now

ROSE: -Her expression is stony until she finally goes down. It hurts-- that shooting pain in her skull that tells her when she's pushing too hard, without the cybernetics to protect her, and her vision briefly goes double as she looks at the brightly colored blood spilling on the ground from Davesprite's wound.-

ROSE: What about him?

DAVESPRITE: -gazing off, not being able to bring himself to watch Jade crumble. The pain searing into his split shoulder is nothing compared to... other things. The blood continues to fall in massive amounts much like a geyser. All liquid sunlight.- ...still here

DAVESPRITE: (fffuck) -drags himself to Mindfang, raising a hand with the intent of healing the worst of her wounds. To at least stop her from bleeding out.-

DAVE: -takes a deep breath and just...attempts to carefully scoop Jade up-

MINDFANG: -That is greatly appreciated, please heal what remains of her lungs and other vital organs because yeah she is a cerulean but this level of blood loss is a bit ridiculous.-

JADESPRITE: davesprite

JADESPRITE: we can fix this

JADESPRITE: cant we?

JADESPRITE: -looks up at him, uncertain... but if nothing else, she's ready to try now.-

MINDFANG: -Shes already unconscious, barely breathing, and thank goodness for that because that uncertain look would make her hells of nervous.-

DAVESPRITE: .... -he doesn't know. And he doesn't have the strength to answer her, judging by his expression and the splatter of gold blood on his feathers, hair, face, side. The remainder of his energy is drained out to staunch Mindfang's wounds. She won't die of bleeding out at least...-

ROSE: -She's gonna slowly attempt to lift up Jane, since everyone's got their arms full now, and ignoring the throbbing pain in her head.-

ROSE: ...Our mission, right? We have to get them... somewhere.

JADESPRITE: ... 

JADESPRITE: -No. She won't let him fade. She can't. Not while she's still here.- 

JADESPRITE: -She reaches for him in a motion all too quickly, and she feels his energy mingle with hers, the softest thrum of it. She knows what they have to do.-

DAVESPRITE: -He doesn't fight her, and doesn't try to. Jadesprite's energy becomes his own and vice versa. Half his form sinks in with her until they're... them again.- 

JADEVESPRITE^2: -the black feathered sprite friend is here! But significantly more subdued and injured than they've ever been. But, deep down. They know it's not the worst they've faced. They can make it through this. The half that is Davesprite clings to this hope and lets Jadesprite take the reigns. She's always been stronger than him.-

JADEVESPRITE^2: -So he might think, but she wouldn't be here without him. She wouldn't know so much of what she knows and be able to fight the way she is without him. They're doing this together. They can do this together.- 

JADEVESPRITE^2: you got it rose 

JADEVESPRITE^2: -They hover down, scooping up Mindfang's unconscious form, and then they gaze into the chaos all around them.- easier said than done but 

JADEVESPRITE^2: i think i got enough juice to get us over the lake 

JADEVESPRITE^2: hows an overhead view of disneys classic pirates of the carribean sound??

ROSE: -Deep breath.- 

ROSE: -PRESUMABLY SHE'S BEING HOVERED TOO-

JADEVESPRITE^2: -This confidence in Jadesprite is all Davesprite can give to the fusion.-

DAVE: -still holding Jade bridal style and watching her-

JADEVESPRITE^2: -WELL SHE CERTAINLY IS NOW, and so is Dave and his bundle as well.- 

JADEVESPRITE^2: alright everybody here we go!! -Nyooms them The Fuck over the lake, pretty fast. The goal is to move quickly enough to dodge attacks but not so quickly they can't see them coming. Thankfully for a sprite, and especially for a combined sprite, this is a lot easier to judge.-

ROSE: -It's a little bit uneasy being flown around not under her own power. Maybe that's how everyone else always feels...-

DAVE: -looks over at rose while they float-

ROSE: -She's trying not to look back. She knows exactly what she'll see.-