Hiryuu Ideal World {Session 2}

[idolpro]

WELCOME TO IDEAL WORLDS: ANCIENT PSEUDO-KOREAN DRAGON GODS EDITION.

Your character's primary goal will be to convince Hiryuu to leave her ideal world. This is ICly known.

For the bulk of your character's journey (perhaps, even, the entire journey, depending on what they do along the way) your character will not have access to their unit's powerset. Please see the START for more IC information. Depending on how you go about your quest you may or may not encounter dangers or traumas.

Any items that your character had on their person before entering the game will remain with them for the duration of the game! However, all technological items will cease functioning before they leave the start area. Please see the START for more IC information.

In order to provide some guidance, key components / places are bolded, but just because something isn't in bold doesn't mean you can't interact with it. Go wild!

Your channel and ping for the duration of this game are both #/@dragonworld; please join your runner in the chan by typing .iam dragonworld in the roles-assignment channel. If you have any questions, or whenever your character is making an action/moving or otherwise needs gamerunner attention, you can ping me there.

Comments

[wonderlandgirl]

Hiryuu-chan...?

[She's been trying not to.

[She didn't know why. It was just - she didn't know. Something about this place, the intimacies they'd shared, everything seemed to demand the real name, the secret one, the one Hiryuu had given her when she was at her lowest ebb...

[And yet - that was her name, wasn't it? It was the name Wednesday would call in greeting, in danger. It just slipped out.

[Hiryuu.]

[backstory]

[ This locket... is it a representation of her heart in some way? A place where she has stored the truth of this world so that she doesn't have to face it. It's been strange this entire time. But upon seeing her hair and the light...

He reaches down to grasp it in his claw. ]

Master. Even you cannot deny what is right in front of you.

[ Drawing it to his heart. ]

I am sorry. I know it is painful, but please do not avert your eyes. You are the princess, my master. You were chased from the palace and found the four dragon warriors, and together we have traveled to numerous locations, facing both happiness and sadness along the way.

[ Both in Imeeji and outside of it. ]

My memories of travel with you and the things we have experienced together at home and in Tokyo-F are my most treasured memories. Please face them head-on, and do not allow the producers to pull a mask over your head. Do not turn away.

[ Careful with the locket, he moves to open it up completely. ]

/3

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Hiryuu. To Wednesday: ]

That--it was just a codename, not--

[ she--seems to lose her place, thoughts scattered, memories--disjointed. she looks to Kija ]

No, that's not....





It was just a nightmare.

[ wasn't it? ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ The locket is, unfortunately, a very delicate, brittle thing. In spite of his best care, once he opens it--the hinge cracks and breaks, and the two halves of the shell fall apart, crumbling in his hand, turning to dust.

not uncoincidentally, her hair--is just as red now as it always was, and her hair, her horns, her scales--

and the memories and horrors that accompanied them

all come flooding back. ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

That... can’t be true, because—if it is, then... then that means....

[ There’s a sudden

And terrible sound coming from basically all around you. Four of the men are suddenly, clearly, in the throes of some terrible agony, falling from their seats and writhing in pain as old wounds from battles fought long before--suddenly reappear, opening up as though someone on SensitIV decided to pick them apart. Only Kija--whose simulacrum has disappeared--does not bleed.

Yoon frantically goes from one to the next, trying to help them each—blood is pouring from their mouths and noses and wounds that seem to be opening up all over their skin from nowhere. Hiryuu stands perfectly still and quiet, taking in the horror in front of her helplessly. ]

[wonderlandgirl]

[Wednesday screams, briefly--

[Claps a hand over her mouth.

[And it's true, isn't it? It has to be true. Because no matter how horrified she might be? This girl isn't quite horrified enough. She's learned to catch herself, to hold herself together: to think, no, this isn't so bad as such-a-time and such-a-time and such-a-time-- she's learned that sometimes you have to force fear down, keep a lid on it, and carry on.

[Because Wednesday's pep!, and she's used to this: to seeing people break, then fixing them.

[Because she looks, right now, like someone who still thinks there's something she can do.]

1/2

[backstory]

[ Kija can barely stand the sight of this himself.

Eyes growing wide in horror, he watches as the shadows of his friend bleed and tear apart before his very eyes, claw lifting to his mouth as his stomach turns sickeningly.

It takes a great deal to stand there and watch it all happen without reaching out to them. But he knows... they aren't real. They are simply dreams... illusions of the people he loves and cares about so deeply. ]

2/2

[backstory]

[ Clenching his jaw tightly and blinking back the emotion that stings his eyes, and swallowing the bile in the back of his throat, he moves to tightly and carefully clasp one of her hands in his. ]

It's okay. It's okay. You, myself, and Wednesday... we will face everything together.

Re: 2/2

[wonderlandgirl]

[Quietly, Wednesday comes to take her other hand.]

We'll get through this, Hiryuu-chan.

We love you.

/2

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ The good news is that—your phone is going off. It seems like it’s working again? If you bother to check it--there's a notification that says

Congratulations! You've unlocked the Reward:
Unit Skills

The bad news is that things are getting progressively worse. While Shuten and Hak continue to bleed out horribly, Abi and Yellow have stopped moving. What's more... something strange is happening to the fire in the middle of the campsite. It seems to be growing in size--in a way completely unnatural for a fire... ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Yona isn't paying attention to that, though. ]

It's not okay! They're dying! What do I do?! I--can't lose them, too!

[wonderlandgirl]

[Ah, her phone--!!

[Yes, Wednesday went for that immediately and oh thank God. Unit Skills are just what they need right now.]

Levi-kun...! Can you pick them all up?

[The first thing that goes on is Cloud Nine. In a situation like this, she needs all the clarity she can get. Then she squeezes Hiryuu's hand, to pass on a speed boost, then reaches over to tag Levi.]

Don't worry. We can help them. We just have to get everyone away from that fire. You'll be able to run twice as fast now, Hiryuu-chan. Do you think you could pick up Yu--Yoon-kun? I might be able to take your blonde friend.

[backstory]

[ Is it right to save them...? They aren't the real them. And actively they've been trying to prove this to her. But things are getting bad, and leaving them... doesn't seem right either. ]

I can--

[ In the end, he moves forward to pick them up and apply heals as soon as he does. Hand growing to its max capabilities, he heals Ryokuryuu, yeeting tossing him out of the way, before reaching for Hak. He tosses him over his shoulder if able while reaching for Abi. ]

/3

[dragonheartedgirl]

I--

[ Hiryuu stifles a sob and wipes at her eyes. It seems like... she's rallying a little, thanks to their efforts. ]

Yes. I can do this!

[ And sure enough, she runs twice as fast as usually possible to grab Yoon and usher him away from the fire. ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Shuten is CRUDELY tossed aside, bumping his nose as he lands--resulting in a nose bleed. ... He doesn't seem to mind it too much, though, as he gets back to his feet....




"Hey, White Snake, I'm not a sack of potatoes," Hak grouches at him as he's tossed over the other man's shoulder. --For someone who's not real he certainly is insulting like him. "Are we under attack? Get me my spear." ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Meanwhile--the fire--has not just grown out of control, it's come to life, twisting up like an awful tornado. But--it's worse than a tornado, honestly, as it writhes in a way that can... honestly... only be described as serpentine. The column twists down on itself and--you can see that the top of itself has formed a head with a large, gaping mouth. ]

[wonderlandgirl]

[Thank God for Cloud Nine, really - she'd definitely be screaming if not.

[Healers to the back, probably? Wednesday doesn't know what's wrong with the blonde boy she's holding, but on the offchance it's something that can be fixed with a shot in the arm, she presses a hand to his chest and feels the familiar prickle of electricity surging from her fingertips and into him.

[And she thinks back to - it was only days ago, wasn't it? - the grocery store, the creature there, Moxie. Does anyone have anything metal she can use to aim with?]

Levi-kun...! Can we lure it to the water?

[backstory]

[ As soon as everyone is to their side, Kija makes sure to reach out to them, healing their injuries and numbing their pain.

. . . It's. Jarring to have them react to him so normally. Painful a little, even. These people are important. And he misses them terribly.

If Hak's weapon is nearby, he'll make a grab for it. ]

Am I supposed to be your errand boy?

[ But he looks to Wednesday and nods. Standing defensively in front of the others, claw at the ready. ]

Only one way to find out.

[ And to Yona- ]

Master...! You remember how to use your abilities, don't you?

/3

[dragonheartedgirl]

Some of that pain, that sensation of--loneliness, of missing them--is not just Kija's. Or rather--there is a sympathetic echo.

"Naw. But you're my ally, right?"

He grins at Kija.

"And allies help each other. Abi, Shuten and I--we'll act as bait to help you lure this thing to the water."

Abi draws--a rather frightening looking broad sword off his back, and Shuten pulls a series of throwing knives--one for every space between his fingers--from the inside of his coat. With a simultaneous nod, they spring into action, each taking a spot at the other cardinal directions, dividing the creature's attention to give the other three more time and trying to steer it toward the water.

It seems like it's working; the "dragon"--it has in fact taken the shape of a dragon, albeit one made of fire--isn't exactly smart.

[dragonheartedgirl]

With the others gone, Yoon speaks up. "If you can't get the creature to go to the water, you might be able to get the water to come to it--between Hakuryuu's growing hand, and this." He offers to Wednesday... a bucket. "It might not seem like a lot, but try throwing it at the base."

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Hiryuu takes a deep breath. ]

Yes, I... remember how that works.

[ She summons up her Heart Weapon and stares at it for a moment. ]

I don't know what will happen if we kill that thing, but... promise me... no matter what happens... we'll go back home together.

[wonderlandgirl]

I won't leave your side, Hiryuu-chan. I won't.

[She nods at Yoon. Takes the bucket from his hands.

[She runs to the river; scoops as much water as she can into the bucket. It's heavy, and the water slops down her front as she runs it back, but it's there.]

Levi-kun - you can throw this at the base, can't you?

1/2

[backstory]

. . . Of course as allies.

[ Always allies. The Happy Hungry Bunch is his home and family. He turns to Yona, and nods, giving her a pained smile. ]

Neither Wednesday nor I will leave this world without you. I promise you that, Master.

2/2

[backstory]

[ But if they want to leave, they are going to have to get rid of this demon first. He rushes to the water's edge, calling back to Wednesday. ]

I can...! Incoming-!

[ Dipping his claw into the water he scoops up a sizable amount, and with all his strength aims it for the creature and its base.

And he'll reach for another scoop, and a third, and another in as quick and rapid succession as he's able-- ]

/2

[dragonheartedgirl]

The bucket flies; Levi's aim--is true. It crashes into the base of the fiery monster, and the fire and water mixing results in a chain reaction. The creature lets out a deep-bellied scream as steam rises off it; when the clouds clear, its body has changed, at least partially: the bottom half of it, instead of being the strange, molten fire from before, has hardened into rock, like cooled lava floe.

The creature crashes to the ground so hard the whole forest seems to shake. Its mobility seems to be greatly reduced, but it's not quite done yet. Snarling, it takes a swipe at Shuten with its front leg--who doesn't merely dodge with a plain jump but one that takes him sailing into the sky, almost as if he was flying--he lands right in front of Wednesday.

"I don't suppose you'd mind riding on my shoulders and doing that again, pretty miss?"