Action - Locke City | Text much later OTA

[oncedevil]

Action:

He thought he was just going to take a break. A nice open spot among the rubble of a leveled building was suitable enough. The ceiling was gone crushed a year ago when the worst of the invasion had hit Locke. Most of the city had been rebuilt, but a few remnants of that fateful day remained. Idly Tony kicked at some debris as he hunkered down for a rest, but suddenly he wasn't in the ruins anymore.

He was in side some really gaudy building, a theater maybe? A church? He couldn't tell, but there was... a spotlight. The events that followed were nothing short of bizarre.

Quickly he found himself a passenger in his own- no, his other's body. This wasn't him, he knew as soon as he realized that no matter how hard he strained he had no command over what was happening. He was simply a witness, riding along while the whole world went completely bonkers around him. As it turns out, his other was quite the actor, as was this strange monocle wearing guy who turned into a beetle or something. What is even happening he just doesn't know.

Meanwhile anyone outside would be witness to quite a show- a one-sided play. Followed by an even more impressive one-sided battle. Much of the already destroyed terrain only got more destroyed as Tony hopped around completely against his will. Bullets flying, Rebellion crushing easily through fallen concrete like it was dry and brittle wood. On his own side he was overwhelmed. The power of this man he was riding along as was immense, almost unfathomable. But the echo held him firmly in its grip, there just wasn't enough time to really think about any of it.

At the end when he was standing still, arm still raised after his final curtain-call bullet shot straight into the air, the echo released him. He let out an alarmed sound and collapsed, thoroughly exhausted. Even during the invasion he'd not fought like that, and it truly did feel like he'd just fought an epic battle against a foe of ridiculous power.

What in the hell?

Tony's just going to stay there for a while trying to sort out his brain and catch his breath, because wow.



Text:

That's it. I want off this ride. I don't give a damn about saving the world or whatever. I've had enough. Shit's gone stupid. I didn't sign up for fucking bullshit mothmen or whatever the fuck all of that was, I'm out. Canceling my subscription. Someone take these goddamned numbers I've had enough.

Comments

[meteormercenary]

[Jacob saw the text on the Network and curiously tilted his head. He responds to Tony in a private Network text.]

Tony, what's wrong? What are you talking about?

Private text

[oncedevil]

I can handle god snakes and fucking alien invasions but i am not putting up with bizzaro world reenactments that's too much.

Re: Private text

[meteormercenary]

Reenactments? I still don't understand. Are you okay? What happened?

Private text

[oncedevil]

I don't know and I don't want to know.
I feel like I should be drunk.
I wish I was right now.

Text

[mangata]

I doubt you wish to take the only way out that I can think of.

Text

[oncedevil]

Morbid. But I'm not even sure how well that'd work anymore.

No no I just want the numbers gone they've gone too far.

Text

[mangata]

If you figure it out be sure to keep track of how you get there if at all possible.

Private Text

[solvethepuzzle]

Tony. What happened?

Private Text

[oncedevil]

You know how you freaked out in the middle of a field?

My turn!

Private Text

[solvethepuzzle]

That bad?

[action]

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Jasmine still didn't feel comfortable being in Locke, but... at the same time, she also knew that she had to be here, for her family's sake and for the greater good. And, though she was nervous about using her powers openly in the city, she thought keeping regular patrol was a good idea.

And she and Lily were on it together when she heard the commotion.

Jasmine gave Lily a look, before she shifted into her Precure form, hurrying to see... Tony. She didn't know the guy well, but she certainly recognized him, and now she was watching the ridiculous theatrical display give way to an intense battle... with nothing. And yet, it looked like something she didn't want to get into.

When it finally stopped, and Tony seemed to come out of it, she looked at Lily nervously, before hovering, hesitantly towards the other Numbered. "Uhm, hey, are you alright?" she said, looking nervous.

[Lily will be coming next!]

sorry, took forever

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Jasmine can, of course, move a lot faster than Lily. At least, before she transforms - still, as her sister's outfit flashes into place, Lily follows. Cure Moonlight leaps after her, and--

Ah. Well. That's sure as hell... awkward. She lands and as she watches, sort of... scoots back up to her sister, tilting her head to one side and frowning.

"...Tony? Are you, ah. Are you there?"

no worries!

[oncedevil]

In hindsight, at least this happened in an area relatively devoid of people. What with the destruction and flying bullets during that rather heated battle.

At first he didn't notice his audience, but when they spoke up he instinctively snapped up, aiming one of his pistols at the source of the voice. It took a few solid seconds for recognition to dawn and he promptly withdrew it, looking vaguely sheepish as he struggled to get back to his feet.

"Ah, hey," He puffed, holstering Ivory while he drug himself up by his sword with his other hand. Hopefully they hadn't seen too much? "Didn't see you there." Please say they didn't see any of that.

Text

[switch_over]

Mothmen?

Sounds like you remembered some really crappy B movie shit.

Text

[oncedevil]

Yeah. Yeah! That's it exactly. Bunch of B movie bullshit.

Text

[switch_over]

Oh my god, for real?

Now you have to tell me what else you remembered.

[brotimaeus]

Wanna fill me in, kiddo?

[oncedevil]

This just in! Echoes have gone stupid and I'm going home.

I don't know where that is but it's wherever I don't have to deal with this bullshit anymore.

[brotimaeus]

Whoa, hold your horses there.

How about you start from the beginning and tell me what's going on before you go running off.

[Video]

[witnessme]

H-hey. Stop it, I know you don't mean that! Numbers are an important part of all of us.

What happened Tony?

[Text]

[oncedevil]

Oh no. I mean it. If this is how it's gonna be from now on I'm done I don't give a shit this is too goddamned far.

I will not live his fucking life okay it's bad enough remembering it.

[Text]

[witnessme]

Wait, who's asking you to live his life? Live your own life, Tony. We all just want that for you, but we want to be a part of it.

[Video]

[billkiller]

Hey, kid? Are you OK? What do you mean "mothmen?"

Text

[oncedevil]

No, this is decidedly not okay. Exactly what it sounds like guy turned into a mothman then we put on a play it was really fucking bizarre and I'm done.

Text

[billkiller]

What? Did that happen in Locke City? Or was it a memory you had that you sort of relived, like my gunshot?