Don’t worry about the future.

[mansionstaff]

Who: EV ERY ONE
What: Graduation. Prom.
When: The evening of May 31st.
Where: The Stadium.
Warnings: WHO KNOWS

It's a beautiful spring evening at Smash Academy, the barest hints of summer just beginning to touch the stadium floor, which had been rearranged into a platform overlooking neat rows of chairs meant to seat the gathered crowd of faculty and students. Towards the other end of the complex was the arrangement for the prom that was to follow. Food and drink, chairs and tables, each with a floral centerpiece, and, of course, a dance floor.



Before everyone could get their party on, however, there was the main event of the evening. From his place at the podium, Master Hand watched students and staff alike find their way into the stadium. With the recent shadow bug invasion, there seemed to be tensions in need of dispelling. If the Headmaster knew one thing, however, it was that some silly antics were not going to ruin this esteemed event. Not tonight. Not if he could help it.

-------

HEY DUDES! Here's how stuff is going to work. We kick off the log with GRADUATION. This part of the log will be divided into separate threads. I'll post them all at once, so feel free to hop around, mingle, post whenever, wherever.

HOWEVER, once the PROM starts, it will be up to you guys to post your own threads. Please check out last year's log if you'd like an idea of how this works. Everything after the thread titled "DISMISSAL" (I will post that in a bit, so don't post prom threads until I have that up!) will be considered prom, though don't let that stop you from continuing to post in the graduation section.

Please label all your threads appropriately! (Examples: "SHENANIGANS AT THE FOOD TABLE", "DANCE-OFF", "THE PUNCH IS SPIKED", "BOTHER X" In general, a location + what is going on in the thread is the way to go. Obviously, more than one thread can take place at the same location. 

Linking back and forth when and if you thread hop is very much appreciated. If things start to look a bit laggy, we'll bump to the next page. Most importantly, TAG YOUR DUDES, HAVE FUN, and let a mod know about any problems or concerns you might have!

Comments

this guy is definitely not supposed to be here

[galleom]

Did you think those shadow bugs were gone? You were wrong.

As the end of the night approaches, astute observers might notice their increased presence, which is weird, because they were supposed to be taken care of, right? Obviously, it's not the case, and a low rumble signals the arrival of a much larger problem. All at once, the shadow bugs increase in number and coalescing into a hulking form that grows...and grows...and grows...



...before finally taking on a solid shape, looming above the unsuspecting dance party. Smaller clusters of shadow bugs take on shapes of their own. The tank-thing surveys the floor and pounds a massive metal fist into the ground, shaking the whole stadium.

Someone

is filing a noise complaint.

((This is dated to the VERY END OF THE NIGHT to leave room for everyone's plans! Please keep an eye out for the mod post to follow, but tl;dr: fight this guy if you are so inclined. The mods will do some NPCing but you're free to assume its actions based on this and this and this. Primids are yours to NPC and fight as you see fit, and of course, contact a mod if you have any questions not answered in the OOC post!))

[megabuster]

Rock remembered from talking to Ike. He remembered that prom wasn't supposed to be a brawl. These things obviously didn't get the message. Rock wasn't around in time for the initial invasion, but all he knew was that these things were dangerous and threatening everyone at the party. That was enough for him to jump into action.

His suit transformed into blue armour, and his helmet materialized on his head. His left arm opened up and transformed into a cannon, which he began to charge with a low hum and a glow. A quick call to Rush to let him know that yes, he could come to the party after all, and Mega Man was on the scene.

[galleom]

Galleom was, by nature, really really big. As such, it didn't quite acknowledge tiny things in its general vicinity unless they were trying to kill it, which wasn't quite happening yet.

It took a big step, not particularly caring where its foot was going to land.

I.e., on top of Rock.

[megabuster]

Mega Man wished he could say he hadn't been stepped on by giant robots before. Sadly, he couldn't. And so the foot landed on the charging blue bomber.

But the thing about fighting giant robots was that he knew how to handle things like that. And in this case, he did have some hope. He accessed his weapons database...

DLN-004 GUTS MAN: SUPER ARM

Mega Man's armour changed colour from blue to brown and white. And the foot that stomped down on him began to be lifted as the little robot boy summoned up the strength of his much stronger brobot.

Joel was told to chaperone so chaperone he shall.

[golonghorns]

There was gun fire.

Why was there gun fire?

What crazy bastard had bought a loaded gun to prom?

This crazy bastard. This crazy, paranoid, constantly armed bastard.

His revolver had been hidden under his suit jacket in back of his pants the whole night. Now, he was unloading rounds at the creature's hilariously small head. Hopefully it would go down quickly. His other plan was to get to his dorm and pull out some big guns. Because frankly, this thing was bigger than any Bloater he'd ever seen and his revolver didn't seem to be doing much of anything...

[galleom]

WOW RUDE

That got the giant robot-tank's attention, though all it really seemed to do was make it angry. How'd you like some STOMPING AND FIST-SMASHING, HUH

HUH?!

[golonghorns]

"Ohhhhh shit!"

Joel squeezed out a couple more rounds and remembered with dismay how long this thing took to reload. And then realized with even more dismay that his pockets were out of additional ammo.

As a huge purple fist made short work of scenery mere inches from his position, he would have given pretty much anything for his backpack full of premade Molotov cocktails and nail bombs and the El Diablo. None of that might do anything to this huge... whatever it was. But at least he'd go out fighting. One stomp or slap from this thing and his back was as good as broken.

Well, at least it's attention is off the kids while he's tryin' to pound on me. he thought as he aimed his last bullet right at the thing's face.

BLAM!

[trustycrowbar]

Yeah, what crazy paranoid bastard brings a loaded gun to prom?

Wait, where were the other shots coming from?

IT'S GORDON, and he's drawn a pistol from under his own jacket from his position halfway across the room, firing and yelling something that sounds suspiciously like "Where's an rpg when you fucking need one?!"

Looks like you have a kindred spirit, ya paranoid bastard.

[golonghorns]

Paranoid bastards of the world unite!

Joel had been given precious time to run back to his dorm and pick up a few extras. No RPGs unfortunately. However, he did have extra clips and some guns that Gordon might find useful.

"What're you usin'?" he yelled from a table he'd overturned to give himself some cover. He'd put away his revolver for now and was pumping rounds out of a 9mm pistol, mostly to draw the creature's attention from other combatants.

[mohawk_tomahawk]

The moment he saw the thing and heard shots fired, Connor went into action. Many would have seen him try to fend him off and fend him off fast. No matter where he went, he almost always had his blades, and his tomahawk.

He was a chaperone, and someone who had these blades for good reason. He never left home without them.

Connor had no idea where it came from, or why. Really though, none of that matter. Protect the students, protect the staff, and protect Eirik...though she would kill him if he told that to her face.

He couldn't help it, he wanted to see everyone safe.

When he wasn't full on attacking the thing, he was trying to escort others to safety.

[galleom]

What's that, Connor? Did you say you wanted the giant robot tank to start thrashing around and stomping in your general vicinity? Because

that is what is happening.

[golonghorns]

Howdy, neighbor. Did you say you needed to borrow a cup of sugar? No? Did you need to borrow some home made bombs? Probably.

"Hey, Connor!" Joel called. He'd gone back to his dorm and geared up with about as many guns and other weapons as he could feasibly carry on his person without bringing out his backpack.

"What do you have to take this sonnovabitch down?" he asked the other man whenever he could get close enough safely. "I can lend you a piece."

[welikeike]

Ike learned that prom wasn't a brawl, but he wasn't the type to go anywhere without a weapon. It was times like these that this proved to be good foresight. He drew his silver sword and got ready to deal some heavy damage, while taking down some of the Primids along the way.

While he seemed to be quite capable on his own, he certainly wouldn't object to any teaming up.

[galleom]

Teaming up would probably be a good idea. Mostly because Galleom was firing rockets.

[welikeike]

Teaming up would also be a good idea because in the moment that Galleom aimed fire at Ike, he was busy fending off a crowd of Primids. He had no idea what was coming his way thanks to this irritating preoccupation in the form of what had to be at least fifteen Primids swarming him.

Assistance? It would be great.

drunken fist shooting gun

[icequeen_aran]

Samus was undoubtedly some kind of drunk by now but fortunately not too uncoordinated for something like this. Normally she would have slinked out of the party long ago, but the sweet siren call of battle was hard to ignore... especially one like this that could easily prove threat to innocents.

Even thought she was in naught but a dress and pistol, that wasn't going to stop her from giving a slew of approaching Primids a good asskicking. They clearly had a death wish. Pew pew pew!

[raced_god]

Samus was not, perhaps unsurprisingly, the only faculty member packing heat, though Falcon did not necessarily keep his firearm strapped to his leg. He was quick to settle into a standard back-to-back badass pose, covering her blind spots with the knowledge that she'd do the same for him. Maybe it would have been a little easier if they weren't Under The Influence, but it was kind of too late for that now.

Luckily, the Primids were not necessarily difficult to kill. Unluckily, there were a lot of them.

"You've got three at ten 'o clock," he advised, picking one off.

[icequeen_aran]

Too late for that, but certainly not too late to assume that standard back-to-back badass pose with him--one of the few people she comfortably would.

BLAM BLAM BLAM--her gun responded in essence, followed by three corresponding soft whumps of smoldering Primids. "Three more than you." The playful smirk probably carried in her voice.

She rolled half-way across his shoulder, smoothly transforming her gun into a whip and cracking it at two bumbling Primids. Both went flying (or more accurately, flailing), just as she planned, into his field of view.

"Heads up."

Re: this guy is definitely not supposed to be here

[will_be_god]

This was a distinct threat to order. This was exactly the sort of thing Cyrus attended to prevent.

Well that and people spiking the punch. But any sort of disorder and aberrant behavior. And a rampaging shadow bug certainly fell under that umbrella.

Before acting, he assessed the situation. They were in the stadium, after all, an arena known for its high technology. But there was usually a give, some way to tell that something was a simulation.

This had no such factor. This was disturbingly real.

"Gyarados! Aqua Tail!" In a flash, the sea serpent materialized and struck, jets of water guiding its tail against the creature.

If that didn't work, he would have to use Earthquake. Amidst all the attendees, there was bound to be collateral damage, but that was the price to pay for order.

"Honchkrow, Embargo!" An identical flash, and the crow summoned a massive X carved in midair. If there were any items this creature had, it would be unable to use them.

[galleom]

The attacks slammed into the giant tank-thing, causing it to stagger backward. It also seemed to have the added effect of making it angrier, only exacerbated when it attempted to fire its missiles and found it could not.

Galleom settled for the next best thing--swinging its massive hand in a wide arc, aiming to slam it down.

[will_be_god]

Honchkrow swooped in, grabbing Cyrus by the shoulder--only one, in its rush--and moving him out of the way of the attack, though the shock wave from the fist slamming into the ground was enough to knock him over even at a safe distance. He scrambled to his feet, preparing for any further onslaught.

Aqua Tail had seemed to do the trick, so he ordered it again, and called out Houndoom to join the fray. "Flamethrower," he said simply, his initial fury reduced to an icy calm.

Still Not Megaman

[voltecpower]

A chill went up Pulse's spine the first moment a shadow bug crawled across his foot. He was atop one of the tables in an instant (a quick apology to the owners of any drinks he kicked off), eyes darting across the floor at the swarm of glowing purple blobs flooding in from every direction. He had hoped he would never again be in a situation like this, helpless against an army of electrophages, but yet... they seemed to be ignoring him completely. Noticing this, he relaxed somewhat, watching them to see what they were going to do.

The sight of the growing mass of bugs did nothing to assuage his fears. For all he knew, they were just organizing themselves in a more practical form with which to engulf him completely. His attention focused on that, he failed to notice the Primids, until one of them grabbed hold of his leg in an attempt to yank him down off the table.

"Aah!"

He slashed down with his arm in a reflex, sending a good bit of his self-generated voltage into his assailant. The Primid went flying backward, releasing its grip on him, and a moment later blinked out of existence in a short glimmer of light. Pulse checked his surroundings to see if there were any more such creatures, and found a literal army of them coalescing from some of the shadow bugs that weren't joining together into the giant mass...

...which had taken on the form of some massive monstrosity in the span of time which his attention had strayed from it. Large head, two great big hands, looming over everyone, it was all too familiar. He allowed himself to slip into hyperfocus, his irises taking on a crimson glow.

The room was full of people. There was too much movement for him to tell exactly who was fleeing and who was engaging the creature. Either way, he didn't want any of them to get hurt. And despite the creature's size, it moved alarmingly quickly... time was of the essence.

Forming a plan on the fly, he dashed off his platform, throwing his electric slashes at any Primids that strayed near, making his way toward the giant simian cyborg as fast as his feet would allow him.

[galleom]

Giant tank guy was apparently very angry, and it had just overturned the punch table, sending a shower of fruity red liquid across the stadium floor. Alas, fair punch, we hardly knew ye.

It seemed to be increasingly annoyed that tiny things were shooting at it, and dropped down on all fours, lumbering straight towards Pulse.

[princessninja]

At some point (perhaps in conjunction with the reappearance of the shadow bugs), Zelda had excused herself from Soryk's side, citing that she had to use the ladies' facilities.

She did not have to use the ladies' facilities.

No sooner had Galleom made its appearance than a mysterious ninja boy sprung into action, unleashing a barrage of needles upon the groups of primids, swinging his chain whip with deadly accuracy, and generally trying to keep the unarmed or those unable to defend themselves away from the flailing limbs of this giant tank thing.

Zelda, of course, was nowhere to be found.

[insanecharisma]

He couldn't find Zelda. He knew better than to think she couldn't hold her own, but something sat poorly with him. Maybe it was the idea she might think he left her intentionally and of all things she could think of him, that wasn't one of the things he wanted. But it made him realise that he did want her to think of him.

So... did she? She must have to some degree.

In the midst of the newly-found chaos, Soryk had woven himself around bodies, between pairs of bodies, and moved as fluidly, quickly, and quietly as he ever had in Azeroth. Finding the familiar silhouette of the man he'd been contracted to do away with made him stop in pause.

Seth was no longer around and the contract didn't need to be fulfilled, but Soryk had developed something of a rivalry with the individual who called himself Sheik. Disliked him rather a lot, actually. Sheik had a composure that made Soryk think too much of the man he'd once been. As if Sheik represented all he was when he wasn't clamouring for some kind of grasp upon sanity.

No... Soryk abhorred Sheik. And liked letting him know it.

"You," he hissed with a clear disdain. He kept his distance of the other man, but made sure they both were aware of the other. For him being deemed an enemy, Soryk couldn't say his life was any safer next to Sheik than it was next to Galleom.