[CA 3-1] Sloppy Seconds

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

One moment she was napping in the laps of some rather attractive women. The next, she was uh, standing in a growing crowd of people. Capsule blinked several times and rubbed her eyes. Dafuq? She recalled being teleported back to the Purple Mirror Mansion after defeating the swarm of hornets. And of course, indulging in the lovely lap nap. Bosco was presumably back in the mansion. "I know, I know, you were tired and needed to rest up. But the people wanted to meet ya, Cap! So I took the liberty of sending you back to the timeline, right after you defeated the great Praesepe."

Capsule wanted to tell him that he was full of shit, but there were more pressing issues at hand. Like that approaching group of guards. They were still far enough for her to make a getaway… "So… what in blazes was that back there?" The voice chipped in from her right, lightly tickling her eardrum. The Enchanter stiffened. She had forgotten all about Guinevere. The older woman was holding her back with a strong hand. If Capsule tried to flee, she would only bring more attention to herself.

The wary, albeit grateful citizens around them were starting to talk all at once. The one that projected their voice the loudest over the others was a stout, older gent with a pencil thin mustache. "I say! Old girl, tell us what went down and what you are all about, hmm? Go on, no time for boondoggling, eh wot wot!"

Capsule could only stare at the man for a few moments. Brits and Landers were freaking weird, man. "Uuuh. Yeah, about that…" Guinevere was staring at her too, though she was not as clueless as the Landers ogling them. She had experienced the power of the Pebble as well, so she could attest to its powers. Unfortunately, she carried that same hint of doubt and confusion as the others. "Well, uh. I do not know why it was summoned here, but I was sent back in time to fight and stop it from wiping out the city-"

There was a gasp from the crowd. The hold on her arm loosened, and then tightened, with more intensity than before. "Traveled… through time? What a load of rubbish!" Her nails were starting to dig in. The rest of the Landers were talking excitedly amongst themselves, and the guards were hurrying over with a great sense of urgency.

"Y-yeah, you know how I just… came in out of nowhere? Well--" Guinevere was clinging to her with both hands, one secured around her waist, the other holding firm onto her arm. Capsule suddenly had a bad feeling about this. The curiously mumbling Landers, the Assassin holding her in place, and the guards… Would Guinevere betray her to her people?

The leading guard gently pushed his way through the crowd, and stopped. His eyes were not on Capsule, however, but the woman beside her. "What in blazes are you doing out here, Guinevere of the Black District?" Something about his tone made Capsule uneasy. It was riddled with condescension. And what was this about districts?

"Hello, Cassius. I see that all of that time spent on your knees has finally paid off."

His eyes darkened, and his lips pulled back into a sneer. The man stalked closer, stopping just inches away from either woman. His voice lowered to a whisper. "Unlike you, Guin, I do not need to vigorously clean the arses of my superiors with my tongue." Woah. What was the history between these two?

And then the hold on her shoulder eased up altogether. Guinevere was throwing a punch at the guardsman.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 612
♫: Sloppy Seconds
✏: Nuuup
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

All hell broke loose the second Guin's fist collided with Cassius' face. The citizens were practically scattered in all directions as the rest of the guardsmen charged in to break up the fight. Capsule threw her arms up as a sign of submission. Guinevere, on the other hand, was taking advantage of the power bestowed upon her by the Pebble. She slashed fiercely at Cassius, and injured the guard that jumped in to aid him. To Capsule, it was clear that the guards stood no chance against the Assassin. The lot of them were fortunate that Guin could not land a lethal blow.

"Jeeze, Guin! I was only fooling around. No need to get so serious." The guard was standing a good distance away from Guin, rubbing at his swiftly darkening eye. Guinevere was standing in a tight circle composed of impressive looking guards. They all had their weapons drawn and trained upon her. Capsule had been forgotten for the moment, having surrendered before the chaos ensued. "Put away the knives, sweetheart." Sweetheart? His familiarity made Capsule wonder if there was something more to their past…

"What do you want, Cass?"

The man produced a scroll from his satchel, and opened it to show something to Guin. "As you can see here, we, the Imperial Knights of the Blue District--" His eyes shifted over to Capsule, who would not have known otherwise. "Were sent here to guide the mysterious stranger to the Azure Palace. For questioning." Capsule gulped.

"Take me, too, if you must have her. I fought by her side, and witnessed the arrival of the monster beforehand."

The Knight grunted. "Fine. I am sure he will want to question you, himself." The Knights placed them in a formation, with two in the rear, two flanking the sides, and Cassius back in the lead. As much as she wanted to question Guin, it was difficult with the Knights around. Thank goodness for telepathy, am I right?

Psst. Guin. What is the deal with you and Cassius?

To her credit, Guinevere did not scream or make any signs of unease to their captors. We were lovers years ago, back when we were foolish and hopeful of dismantling the archaic district system. It matters not now.

O-oh, um… Capsule fell silent, unsure of what else to ask or say. It would not be right to pry Guin for more information. So she casted her eyes to the front of the formation, occasionally peering around to get her bearings. Nothing about this place looked familiar to her, especially not the grandiose palace that loomed into view.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 434
♫: Swiggity Swole
✏: ---
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

Capsule could not resist nudging Guinevere in the side as they entered the magnificent palace. Landers were more impressive than she gave them credit for. "Hey. What about the wedding?" She had forgotten all about until now. This seemed like the kind of place a wealthy couple would get married at. Guin, though… The way Cassius said it, the Assassin was lower down on the food chain.

Guinevere shrugged. "This is more urgent than a wedding." Capsule did not know if she could agree with that. In her experience, instances like these were more of political bullshit. Weddings were equally as boring and obnoxious, but at least there was food and an open bar afterwards. Care, and do not let them push you around. She fixed her steely gaze on Cap for a few moments, until the weight of the telepathic message sank in.

Roger.

The two women were separated into different rooms for questioning. Capsule could feel the comfortable light prodding from Guin, but neither could spare a moment to send a proper message. The Knights were firing questions off in rapid succession, very few of which Capsule could actually answer. The Enchanter was graced by the presence of Cassius, who she had little respect for, having seen his treatment of Guin. The questioning soon spiraled into catty conversation, which was sure to make the other woman smile.

"Is it true what Guin said? Did you sleep your way to the top?" In response, Cassius shattered a perfectly good chair against the wall. Talk about anger issues.

"ANSWER ME! How did that monster appear?! I know you know more than you are not letting on! It is too convenient for you to just come on in and kill it. Who are you working with, huh?!" Capsule found herself being shaken like a rag doll. She actually had an answer to that first question, but it would not be wise to say so. The grimoire left behind to her as a quest reward held some pretty incriminating evidence.

"Cassius! That is enough. Let her go this instant." Over his shoulder, Capsule spied an impressive gentleman, and the Assassin. The man was visibly disgusted by the interrogation methods. The Assassin's face was marred by a fresh bruise and a cut on her upper lip. Despite the obvious beating the woman had taken, she bore a smug little smile.

Cassius zero, Guinevere two.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 401
♫: A Promise
✏: ---
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

The man introduced himself as Magistrate Zaffre, and went on to explain that they were being especially careful for an upcoming event. Capsule wondered if another Genius, like the Red, would be attending or hosting it. It was not a very reassuring thought. There were a lot of questions she had, too, mostly on how this city functioned, and why color seemed so important. But she was the one being interrogated here, not the other way around. Maybe she could ask Guin later.

Capsule and Guinevere took turns explaining their sides of the story. Somehow, Capsule felt she could trust the Magistrate. He was more receptive to her tale, even with the bizarre time travel claim. Guinevere's eyes widened as Capsule explained how she had witnessed the other woman fall to the Praesepe in a vision, and then entered the world to prevent her untimely death. "I know it may be hard to believe, but I am telling the truth. I have to stop the Geniuses, thus rewriting history."

Magistrate Zaffre was at an utter loss for words. "Well, I… ahem. I am skeptical, but there were many witnesses to this event, and you have been cooperative so far… I will let you go about your way, but I insist that you have a guide accompany you, if you intend to remain in the city." He looked over to Cassius, then Guin. "I would feel better about this if a Knight, such as Cassius, were to aid you. Hm." His gaze lingered on Guinevere, who was trembling.

"Because the Black District is full of murderers and cut purses, is that what you mean to say?" She was barely biting back her venom laced words. "You know what Cassius and his lot are capable of. I insist that I be her guide. We fought side by side, and I am indebted to her for saving my life."

From the other side of the room, Cassius sneered in contempt. "It seems that the foreigner is after my sloppy seconds. Talk about poor taste!"

"F**k you!"

"I did, and I was pissing blood for a week--"

"ENOUGH!" All three jumped as the Magistrate brought his fists down onto the table, hard. "Cassius and Guinevere will both assist Capsule. That is final."

Capsule timidly waved a hand from her corner. "I would prefer Guin, but this works just as well." Her voice trailed off as the Magistrate glared down at her. "But uh… I should really go now."

Cassius and Guinevere glared daggers at each other. Oh boy, she was not looking forward to coming back to this.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 434
♫: A Promise
✏: Bluh bluh notes.
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

Guess who was having a good time? Go ahead, guess! Capsule? Bzzzzt! Going back in time was horrible, and this time it had nothing to do with the Trickster or swarms of hornets. Guinevere and Cassius were getting on her damn nerves. The two of them had not stopped sniping at each other since she got back, and the severity of their insults made her wonder if it were even possible for them to all work together. And to think it had all started with determining which district to investigate first…

Poor Guin could not offer up a suggestion without Cassius tossing in a callous remark, and then it was all downhill from there. Capsule did her best to tune them out, but it was difficult. She was starting to feel… off. The sensation was all too familiar to the Enchanter. Clutched tightly in one hand, a brilliant light shone from the Pebble of Philosophy.

There was no fighting it.

She barely had time to grab onto a wall for stability. Darkening. Her eyes were glazing over and starting to focus on a colorful scene. Somewhere behind her, she could hear Guin telling Cassius to shut up, to grab her, calling Capsule, Capsule! Her cries, punctuated by dull inquiries from Cassius, were washed away with the pleasant murmur of song and festival goers.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 223
♫: A Promise
✏: Step 3
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

In her vision, Capsule was viewing the world from the confines of a booth. In front of her, small children walked by with their parents. Some people stopped by to peer down at her wares, but most had their sights set on other things. It seemed like she was living the lonely life of a poor… cabbage salesman? There were heads of the stuff piled up before her. Some were separated into leafs, and wrapped around some sort of filling she could not see. The shop keeper was too preoccupied with something else.

Oh! Over by another cluster of stands, surrounded by guards, was Magistrate Zaffre. She had no idea what could be so fascinating about the fruit stand that the Magistrate was stopping at now, though --. The person she was currently possessing jumped and narrowed their eyes. There, from the fruit stand, was a monster. It leaped out and onto the Magistrate, raking the man with his claws. Screams rent the air, including those from the person she was observing from. But just as quickly as the attack began, the people around her, including herself, were slumping over into an enchanted sleep.

"New Leaf Market" engraved itself into her mind as her eyes slipped shut.

Moments later, she could feel the stinging blows of slaps upon her face. The vision was still fresh in her mind, however. In her eyes, she only saw a monster. It was pinning her down and clawing at her face… Capsule sat up and slammed her palms into the creature. She pulled one hand back, curling it into a fist, and found it caught in the grasp of a secondary monster. "Get away from me!"

Strong arms seized her around the shoulders, and pulled her in close to a soft but firm body. "Shh…" A voice she recognized softly spoke to her. The hand clinging to her back, and the fingers brushing her hair were not claws. She was not in danger of being mauled. The wild look in her eyes died down. This was not the semi-future, but the middle of a square in the Blue district. And she was tripping balls. "Come on, Capsule. What did you see?"

Slowly, she disentangled herself from the other woman. "I… the festival!" She stumbled onto her feet, waving at the other two to follow.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 390
♫: A Promise
✏: Step 3 end
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

At some point, Capsule had to stop and inform Cassius and Guinevere of her vision. Cassius was skeptical, as to be expected. Guinevere was hesitant to accept it, but came around eventually. She had witnessed firsthand the power of a Genius, and was more than willing to assist. Cassius would be the biggest issue, but he would come around eventually. He had to. Men could be so painfully thickheaded, though… And Cassius had a horrible case of it. If Bosco was here and not keeping the Sages company, he might have bitten him already.

From Guin, Capsule got a brief rundown on what the districts were and what they stood for. It was actually a rather fascinating lesson, though she found it hard to believe that the Assassin was from a district overrun with criminals. She did strike Capsule as the sort that would stab her in the back and leave her to die, as Cassius implied. Plus, she must have some redeeming qualities, if a knight would dare to get involved with her.

The trio traversed the city, Capsule tucked in the middle. Cassius was under the impression that the Enchanter would bolt at the first chance that she got. Guinevere was less uptight. The Assassin stared down the Blue citizens, some of whom went out of their way to avoid her. They went from having quite a lively conservation about the Moon and the festival, to whispering among each other and tossing the older woman dirty looks. It made Capsule wonder if they were unjustified, or if Guin really was shadier than she let on.

The snobby citizens taught her a few things, at least. The Harvest Moon Festival was drawing closer, and was a week long celebration. There was something about princesses, too, and a Topaz Champion and Amber Scholar. These were only bits and pieces, however, so it was really not much to go on without some clarification. She considered asking Cassius and Guin for help, but the two of them could not agree on anything. But they were also citizens, so they should know just as much as anyone else who lived here… It could not hurt to try, right?

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 365
♫: A Promise
✏: Part 4 bluh
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

Capsule decided to break the ice with a simple question. "Cassius… what can you tell me about Magistrate Zaffre?"

The man cocked an eyebrow at her in stunned curiosity. "Eh? Magistrate is a highly esteemed and good willed individual. He holds a lot of sway, and answers to no one but the Blue princess herself." He finished up with a hint of pride. Great. She was in the presence of a brownnoser. "Is that all?" Time to make him feel important.

"Am I right to assume that he attends the Harvest Moon Festival, too?" She could feel Guin sizing her up. This woman was no fool.

Cassius snorted in derision. "What a foolish question! Of course he does. Do you have any idea how important this week is? It is graced by the six princesses near the end, in whichever city is hosting the affair. It is the Cerulean Era, so the finishing festivities will be held at the Azure Palace! Magistrate Zaffre would not miss it for anything. He has roughly a week to go before that. The festival does not begin until tomorrow." Tomorrow!

She whipped her head around to lock eyes with Guin. That was the same day of the attack. "Are the opening festivities going to be in the Blue district, as well?"

"No. It takes place in the Green district, at Verdant Park. The name suits it: New Leaf Market." He squinted at the two women, who were sharing conspiratorial glances. "…What?"

"It was the place in my vision. The people there are going to be in danger, including Magistrate Zaffre. You two have to tell me all you know, so that I have an idea of what I might be up against tomorrow."

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 289
♫: A Promise
✏: Bluh bluh notes.
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

Cassius huffed and puffed, while Guinevere took over the answering segment. From her, Capsule learned the importance of the moon, and that the Harvest Moon Festival was not unique. The rest of the months carried the Moon suffix, though the Harvest Moon seemed to encompass the lot of them. Capsule was not sure how or if it would help, but she jotted them all down, anyway. "And the princesses? I know it may be self-explanatory, but six seems excessive for a single city."

"The princesses are the daughters of the most established merchant families in Lune Seaport. The amount of power they wield depends on the district. Some are mere figureheads, while the rest are the true shot callers." Guinevere did not sound as thrilled as Cassius was prior. "As for the Champion and Scholar… The former hails from the Yellow district, and is considered their Guest of Honor. Seasoned challengers battle every year for the honor. The Amber Scholar, on the other hand, relies on high exam scores. The Orange district values intelligence more than brawn."

Capsule wrote all of this down, as well. She still had some time until tomorrow, so she should be able to figure out something before then. There was no other way around it.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 210
♫: A Promise
✏: Step 4 end
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

The Enchanter looked up from her notes, eyebrows furrowed at the entranceway of an alley. Was it her imagination, or had someone been staring at her? The sensation was too familiar to ignore or brush off as mere happenstance. Someone was spying on them, probably had been spying on them this entire time. Or maybe they were just curious onlookers? It would be of no surprise to her if word had gotten out from the knights or the witnesses of the Praesepe fight. So now some kid or adult was trying to get a better look at the woman they would either label a hero or a threat.

She did her best to look undisturbed, lest she tip off the spy and force them to fight. Nothing was said to Cassius, and even though Guin was reliable, Capsule refrained from alerting her, either. The less they knew, the better… right? Or was she only dooming them all?

Capsule closed her notebook and turned away, only to lock eyes with Guin. The Assassin narrowed her eyes at her, gaze scrutinizing Capsule like a prized turnip. The Enchanter gave her an uneasy smile, one she knew would not convince Guinevere. What did you see, little Dove? Telepathy again. Guinevere knew better than to make a scene or get Cassius involved in this. And don’t look at me so intensely! Act normal.

Yeah, yeah. Capsule turned back to face the alley, except now she was stuffing her notebook and quill into her magic bag. Act natural… Someone was watching us, from the alley there. Behind her, she could hear Guin vocally teasing Cassius, who jumped on the bait. Clever Guin. She knew just how to press his buttons.

I noticed them a while back. They have been shadowing us for quite some time now.

Why not say anything before, then?

I did not want to worry you. There was dull clang as Guin bumped into his armor. Hopefully her knee did not go to his groin. "Oh, blow it out your ass, Cass."

There was a deep throated guffaw from Cassius. "But you are much better at it than me, darling."

"Aw, you miss me, Cassie?" There was an unsettling lack of malice in her voice. Were they really... Out here, and now of all places? She was almost afraid to turn around, afraid of what she might find.

Much to Capsule's horror, the two Landers were almost starting to get along. They continued to tease each other, sometimes playfully, other times harsh. But overall, there was something between the two of them that reminded her of a couple. If they were kinder, the two of them would have be quite cute together. Wait, no. What on Earth was she thinking?!

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 458
♫: A Promise
✏: Step 5
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

Was this real life, or was it some dwarfs fantasy? Why were Guinevere and Cassius being so chummy all of a sudden? Was this a normal thing for them? Switching from hot to cold? Were they on again and off again, or however the saying went? While it was very clear that the two of them had dated in the past, Capsule could not imagine why they would try and mend a bad relationship. They just... did not seem like they would be good for each other, in the long run. And now they had gone and left her to do heaven knows what while she went on to find an inn for the night. She was lucky that gold remained a valuable currency here.

It was dark out, so Capsule did not notice them until it was almost too late. From the darkness, several masked and cloaked individuals approached her, blocking off her path to the inn. Inside the building, she could hear raucous laughter and bad music. She considered calling out for Cassius or Guinevere, but those chuckleheads were likely far gone and too busy getting their uh… swerve on.

"What do you want from me?" An attempt to sound tough made her come off as desperate, instead. "I know you have been following me this whole time. My friends are waiting for me in the inn. They will come out in five minutes, if I am not in there--" A laugh. One of them was laughing at her.

"You misunderstand, my dear. We wish you no harm. We are here to offer our assistance. " Their assistance? Yeah right. They were just another squirrel looking for a nut. "We watched you defeat the Genius. The two of you looked like you could use a hand, and Guinevere… Guinevere was ill suited for the task--"

How did they know Guin? "Who are you people?"

"They are the Crownless Kings… an assassins guild from the Black District." Guinevere emerged from the shadows, clad in a cotton shirt and leggings. Her hair was messy, like one would expect of someone who had just woken up or… had a roll in the hay. Care, Capsule. They never do anything without conditions. She had a feeling that would be the case.

"Fine. I will hear you out." To Guin, she mentally prompted with Where is Cassius?

The responding purr sent a shiver down her spine. Sleeping like a baby.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 407
♫: A Promise
✏: ---
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

A hush followed as the Crownless Kings began to explain themselves. They were brisk people, and did not wish to draw further attention to their group. Their first demand was her intent with the city and festivities. Capsule answered honestly -- she was here to prevent the city from falling, by eliminating the Genius threat. It was impossible to tell how they felt about that latter revelation. None of them removed their masks or cut to express disdain.

The man she assumed to be the leader offered the assistance of the guild, however. They had connections, and could even get her in as a Guest of Honor, should she choose. Capsule was not inclined to turn them away. She, Cassius and Guinevere… they needed a healer. Cassius could tank while Capsule supported the rest of the party. "Yes… I request a healer, preferably a Cleric, and a few diversions during the fight." In the dark, she could feel the disapproval gaze from Guin. She did not like it? Tough titty, said the kitty.

The Crownless Kings bowed their heads in unison, and dispersed just as suddenly as they came. Guinevere grunted. "I hope this does not come back to bite you on the ass later."

"Yeah. Me too." She stepped around the Lander, eyes wearily drawn to the inn door. Her body was so tired. She was guaranteed to pass out the second her head hit the pillow.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 238
♫: A Promise
✏: Step 5 end
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

It was the big day, and Capsule was rightfully nervous. She had no idea what type of Genius they would be fighting now, or how Cassius and the Cleric from the Crownless Kings would get along. Guinevere said that she would tell him, and Capsule had not seen her nor Cass again until early that morning. She presumed they would meet up with the Cleric when it was time to lie in wait at the New Leaf Market, or some time before that. Capsule was hoping that the lot of them could group up early enough to scope out the area beforehand. They still did not know when exactly the assailant would strike, but the Enchanter had a few guesses.

Said guesses relied on tracking down the cabbage merchant, whom she had already told he Crownless Kings and her group about. As for the time in her vision.. She had a very good idea. They could rely on Magistrate Zaffre to tip them off in the right direction, whether he knew it or not. Before he was attacked, the Magistrate was browsing a selection of fruit. Find the fruit and cabbage vendors, and they were good to go~. It was just one less favor she owed the Assassins guild.

Capsule was seated at a small inn table when Cassius and Guinevere finally came down. Cassius had a faraway look in his eyes, and one hand propped up on his hip, chest plate neglected and showing off his muscular arms and diamond hard abs. His helmet was tucked under one arm, giving Capsule a first look at his crop of short blond curls. Guinevere wore a smug look of content. She was fully decked out in black armor, two daggers resting at her sides. "Did you sleep well, Enchanter?" Guin, serious and tense Guin, was cooing like a pigeon.

"I hope one of us did~."

Bile rose in the back of her throat as Cassius and Guin turned to peck each other on the lips. No. Please no. She regretted thinking they were cute or anything of the sort. Something was horribly wrong with the universe. They should be biting each other's heads off, not being all lovey dovey. She finished off the rest of her juice, and slammed the empty glass on the table. "Okay, you two! No time for dilly dallying. You can eat on the go." Perhaps they would go back to hating each other once they killed the Genius.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 412
♫: A Promise
✏: Step 6.
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

Capsule wondered what Guin could have possibly slipped Cassius to make him so complacent. Where was his hostility and superiority to those not of the Blue district? He seemed so relaxed, too. Did they… did they do "it"? And all night, at that? Is that what Cassius meant earlier? Internally she was screaming, and externally it may have shown. Guinevere gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder. "Are you feeling all right, hon?" No, she was not all right. She was traumatized, as though she had walked in on her own parents making whoopee. Ugh.

The Cleric remained silent through all of this. She had learned from Guinevere that the Crownless King was a mute, but not to be underestimated. "Yeah uh… we should be keeping an eye on Magistrate Zaffre, remember?" They were in the Market, the four of them pretending they were all one big happy family, out enjoying themselves.

No one was buying it.

No one was coming out and saying so, though. She, Guin and Cassius were going through the trouble of making small purchases, all with the pretense of not sticking out like a bunch of clowns in a law firm. At least the Cleric and Guin were doing a good job of not drawing too much attention to themselves. Capsule almost squealed when she sampled a candy chestnut. She then proceeded to buy several pounds of the stuff.

The Enchanter almost lost one bag of the candied goodness when someone bumped into her. There was a scream, and the clash of metal. Cassius abandoned his meat on a stick to intercept the snarling beast targeting Zaffre. Capsule and the Cleric ran after Guin. Somewhere to their far right, there was the sound of an explosion. Was that the diversion? She had no time to glance behind her to check. The pebble was glowing, as were she and her companions.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 316
♫: It's a Golden Show
✏: Step 6.
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

Oh boy, this was going to be annoying. Not only did they have to worry about Zaffre, but his guards as well. They were only level fifty, and against not one but two level ninety Geniuses, this would be quite the doozy. One of the geniuses was a Sylph, like what you would expect to see tagging along with a Summoner. But as far as she could tell, the humanoid was not one. While they were still stuck in the very early stages of the fight, Cassius drawing aggro with a Guardian skill, Capsule took out her Messier Order Divining Rod. The wand hummed softly in her hands as she activated Evaluate. She pointed it over at the large and muscular appearing man, who had shaggy and unkempt hair that resembled a lions mane, and was clad only in a loincloth made from animal hide.

She furrowed her brow at the results. This man was no Summoner. In fact, his skill set placed him as a Monk Berserker. A Monk who could shapeshift at ninety percent health… He was also scripted to flee when his health was reduced to fifty, not that it mattered. The passive from the Sylph meant that he would not lose anymore health beyond fifty percent. So were they destined to lose this fight? Or could they at least kill the Sylph? Furthermore, there was something about these naming schemes… Orion was a constellation. It reminded her of a certain Adventurer, a woman by the name of Elkeid. It was the name of a star. Capsule had a suspicion that all of this was tied to constellations somehow, but there was very little time to spare. She could conjecture after they dealt with the threat.

The wand was tucked into her back pocket, and that strange grimoire, Torn Dossier, equipped. Capsule buffed the party with Keen Edge, and used the grimoire to summon forth four hornets. The hornets targeted the bestial looking man. If they had no hope of beating both of them at once, they could at least force his passive and get him to split earlier. The butterfly woman should be much easier to tackle on her own.

Next, Capsule employed Thorn Bind Hostage to prevent the very mobile man from assaulting Cassius too much. The Cleric was doing their part to keep their main damage dealer and tank at full health, and Guinevere was weaving around Orion, doing as much high damage as possible to the man. The guards were… doing guard things. Magistrate Zaffre was positioned behind a row of the Guardians, eyes wide with disbelief. If anyone had ever doubted her before now…

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 442
♫: A Promise
✏: aaaaaaaaah
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

Capsule groaned as poison lent itself to the air. That damn Sylph had a lot of debuffs, and Capsule had very few means of countering them. The one thing she could do to ease the pain on the party was to hurriedly speed craft a few Anti-Poison Poultices. This was going to be a truly arduous fight, so they could not afford to be bunkered down with debuffs. Thankfully, the system worked very fast, albeit without the benefits of her Therapeutic Index.

She slapped a poultice onto herself and the Cleric, threw one to Guin in-between blows, and the last she slapped onto the back of Cassius' neck. It was a very risky move, what with Orion being so near and all. Capsule winched as a clawed fist slammed into the Guardian, though Cassius showed no signs of being too badly harmed. If the tank could bend so easily, he could hardly be called a tank, correct?

«Yo playa, you gonna have to do better than that.» Capsule blinked in surprise at the Sylph, uncertain if that remark was for Orion or Cassius. It was then that she realized she had Tongue of Nature toggled on. So maybe it was for Orion? It had to be Orion. «Uh… can I help you, home girl?»

Rhopalocera was glaring down at her. Capsule stared back. Rhopalocera fluttered her wings in annoyance. Capsule raised her hands in the air, and waved them like she just did not care. Rhopalocera took flight. Capsule hooped in place. Rhopalocera used Wind Cutter. Aw shit. No amount of twisting or twirling could help her evade the attack. Damn it, Cassius! Do your job and take the aggro from all of the monsters!

«Ooooooh y'all in trouble now,» the Sylph called out in that annoyingly high pitched voice of hers. For some reason, it reminded her of that fairy character from a dating sim / puzzle game -- wait a minute. She even had pink hair. Son of a… «Orion is about to get serious!»

Orion was on all fours, and covered in a thick layer of fur. That fur looked deadly though, as if you would cut yourself from just petting it. He was sporting an alicorn too, and his claws were sharper and larger. This was the beast that attacked Zaffre in her vision, and he had less than ninety percent health. Ooooh boy.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 398
♫: Huniepop theme
✏: Rhopalocera headcanon
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

As much as she wanted to try and tame the untamable fairy, she had bigger fish to fry. She attempted to use Astral Bind on the charging Orion, which he easily broke through, and quickly activated Metaconscious Meteor. It would not slow him down, but the AOE would also target the fairy, and help demolish her MP. Of course, it pissed off Rhopalocera, who decided this was a great time to use Silencing Dust. Capsule and the others darted around for the next ten minutes, attacking the beast man and the sylph when they could, and taking damage in return. Cassius could shrug off most of his injuries, but Wind Cutter cut through Guinevere and Capsule like a knife, and Guin found herself trapped beneath Orion at one point.

Once they were able to use actives again, Capsule pulled out her Empathion of Fortitude and Empathion of Integrity gemstones. One she used to summon Brachyura and utilize his Four Arms skill against the fairy, taking out a chunk of her health. The other, she used Hivemind and Sky Dive to have Praesepe attack Orion. The pierce damage hit the beast man a little harder. With a snarl, he was sent rolling over onto his side, away from Cassius and the badly injured Guin.

Before the wolf man could lunge for the woman once more, a sudden beam of light cut through them and into the downed wolf. Pained yelps filled the air as impressively high damage was dealt. This was the power of Judgement Ray, a skill best reserved for dealing the final blow in a battle. It ate up a looot of mana, though somehow the Cleric had more than enough to use Soothing Pyre on Guin, and not be in the red. Their mana pool was below the midpoint, however.

Guinevere snarled softly as she leapt onto the battered and bruised wolf, a familiar skill activating. «No!» It was too late. With Assassinate and Perfect Autopsy, Guin was able to get the drop on Orion, and knocked his health down to exactly fifty percent. «Run, homie! Run!» The party stumbled, and fell into a collective sleep as Kyu Rhopalocera used Sleeping Dust.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 364
♫: A Promise
✏: It jsut keeps happening.
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

Capsule groaned as something sharp pierced her side. Above her, an armored man was screaming for her to wake up, and give chase. Around her, she could hear similar orders. Looks like Zaffre and his boys were unaffected by the Sleeping Dust, being stationed out of range. As of now, the fairy and Orion were attempting to flee. Not if Capsule had something to say about that. Pushing the man aside, she rolled over onto her hands and knees, and summoned her Crystal Reindeer, Kasper. Guin and the others were already ahead. No one had apparently thought that it would be wise to rouse the Enchanter, who could bind enemies in place. Gee thanks, guys.

She was barely on the reindeer's back when she ordered him to run. Kasper activated Sugar Rush to increase his speed by fifty percent. The reindeer crashed through stalls and overturned carts, head lowered. There they were! Guin and the Cleric led the way, while Cassius stumbled behind, weighed down by his armor. Orion could not be killed while his assistant lived. But how could she get her attention and force her to stay and fight…? And then inspiration struck. If the fairy was based on what she thought she was…

«YO! Rhopalocera! You got a fat ass!»

«Wow» The fairy turned, eyes lit with outrage. «Excuse you?! Puh-lease, girl.» She paused, one hand raised, eyes rolled. Thank you, vanity, for causing the fairy to defend herself. «Some guys like a little junk in the trunk, but I doubt you would know something like that. I bet you are still a loveless vir-» The Enchanter stuck her tongue out at the fairy, who was suddenly encased by Thorn Bind Hostage. «Oh, you think you slick, huh? Well I wanted to be captured, so NEH!» Rhopalocera blew a big, wet raspberry.

The only problem with that plan was that there was no other fate but death for the fairy. Was she that loyal to Orion, or did she think she could knock them out with more dust and escape? There was no way in hell she would be able to defeat them on her own. Kasper slammed into the trapped fairy, stunning her in the process. He then enabled Festive Shotgun, which at this level, was particularly potent.

The reindeer jumped back to allow Cassius to draw aggro, though Guin was dishing out a lot of damage on the struggling fairy. Butterfly Nebula was a bitch, though, as it stopped Guin from doing too much, but also ensured that Cassius could reclaim aggro. It was a good thing that fairies were squishy, at least.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 438
♫: A Promise
✏: aaaaaaaaaaah
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

So close… to finishing this battle. Capsule shivered under the Paralyzing Dust. She had swapped out Kasper for her polar bear Aleksei, who was now taking a whack at the fairy. Butterfly Nebula was being used interchangeably, singling out the main threats. Whenever Guin was free, she sliced and diced at the fairy. Cassius drew aggro when he was out of the Nebula, and would do some damage to her while she could. Capsule and the Cleric were free from entanglements, so they could focus on attacking, though it was not much.

«Ugh! You should just give up already!»

«Sorry, but we cannot afford to let you go.»

That denial increased the rage contained within the fairy. She sprinkled more of that Sleeping Dust onto them, but the Guardians standing back with Zaffre only peppered the group with arrows. Rhopalocera barely had enough time to blow a raspberry before Guin was on her, cutting deeper and deeper into her pale flesh. There was no way the fairy would be getting out of here alive. She was practically dead on her feet.

«You guys… are truly… the worst…» Her wings beat pitifully against the empty air. Taking flight now would do her no good, either.
«I did my best, Orion. It was all I had to give…» Capsule watched on in silence. It was sad. No one else appeared to understand her last dying words… wait! Her last dying words.

Guinevere was closing in for the kill, giving Capsule very little time to prepare. Having glanced at their skills earlier, she knew what was coming, and feared for the life of her bear. Aleksei groaned in reluctance as he was summoned back to his slot, and not a moment too soon. Guinevere launched a series of devastating attacks onto Rhopalocera, who slumped to the ground. Rather than burst into bubbles, her body released a wave of wind damage.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 317
♫: A Promise
✏: ---
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]

[Capsule]

[attr="class","solcap"]

Whelp, they did it. The had taken quite a beating, and Zaffre and his lot were not far enough to avoid being hit by the final wind attack, but they did it. Capsule sighed as she sat down on the remains of a table. The former splendor of the New Leaf Market was left in shambles, but at least no one was dead or too badly injured. Just Orion and his fair sidekick. The Cleric, who Capsule was still unsure was a man or a woman, healed up the party, and performed aid on the other Guardians and Zaffre. The Magistrate was fine, albeit a bit shaken up.

Capsule swiped an orange from an abandoned stall. There was no one to defend it, and she thought she deserved a free snack after protecting the citizens. Speaking of… she saw no one other than those who had participated in the affair. It seems the Crownless Kings had played their part well. There were no witnesses that she could see, at least. The absconding Orion concerned her a lot more than a few witnesses, but it was too late to chase after him now. Unless he was an idiot, he would be long gone.

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

[newclass=.babar]background-color:#050505; border: 2px solid #050505; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; width: 175px; height:6px;[/newclass]

[attr="class","babar"]

∝: 202
♫: A Promise
✏: CA-3 fin
@: Capsule

[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar]height:5px;width:10px;background-color:#2c2c2c;[/newclass]
[newclass=.solcap ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background-color:#211f20;border-left:1px solid #211f20;border-top:1px solid #211f20;border-bottom:1px solid #211f20;[/newclass]