merry merry christmas, and I want you to know

[mansionstaff]

Who: YOU
What: KISSLETOES
When: December 14th - January 1st
Where: Everywhere
Warnings: Sloppy makeouts.

SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING...



The entire school has become covered in mistletoe overnight. It grows out of the walls! The ceilings! Everywhere you least expect it? HOW CAN THIS BE??

It's probably best not to think about it. Attempts to uproot the plants or burn them away only makes the plants grow back faster. For the time being, it seems the school must live with it.

[OOC INSTRUCTIONS:
+ Post dudes, get kisses!
+ Some (NOT ALL) plants are cursed. If you manage to step under a cursed plant, you will exchange a memory when or if you exchange a kiss. The memories will be first-person and very vivid, and characters will feel like they are experiencing the memory in real time, though in reality the transfer is instantaneous. Memories can be as short, long, happy, sad, or traumatic as you like.
+ If you'd like to participate, we highly suggest making a list of a few memories (with accompanying links/descriptions) that are up for grabs, and linking or posting the list in your top-level comment. Memory exchange is COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. When in doubt, OOC communication!
+ PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAG YOUR CHARACTERS
+ That's it, we love you.]

Comments

[inspirethefire]

In contrast to Eggman's complete disregard, the visions couldn't possibly mortify Hajime any further. There were a lot of terrible people in this school, and he'd witnessed a fair few injustices, but nothing came quite so close to this level of heinousness.

His heart slammed at his throat, pounding in his ears. To reduce a living thing like this... a living soul into a, a battery--

"How... how dare you--!"

Hajime grabbed at one of the Egg Prawns, pulling away from their master, their enslaver. It was too heavy to really move, but he had to put himself between them and that, that thing disguised as a man.

"How could you--why..."

The hatch, where was the hatch?

[iamtheeggman]

"What's gotten into you?!" Eggman demanded, grabbing on to Hajime's collar and pulling at it. The remaining Egg Pawn looked on in confusion, both robots just watching with their pasted on grins.

"Hands off my robots!!"

[inspirethefire]

"Let--hrk--let go!"

The yank choked at him, and he twisted around to try and pull loose. Face contorted by disgust and rage, he shoved at the excessive mass of man.

"Don't you touch me! Don't touch them! They're not yours!"

[iamtheeggman]

"I don't know if you noticed the big Eggman Empire logos plastered on their chassis?" Eggman asked, refusing to let go.

"My logo, ergo MY ROBOTS." As if to make his point, he used his free hand to smack one of them upside its head. The Egg Pawn barely even flinched, although it lifted its hand to rub its metallic head. "See?"

[inspirethefire]

"Not this fake... hollow, meaningless...!" He clawed at his buttons, squirming himself out of his jacket and out of Eggman's grip. Arguing with this man, this living filth, wasn't his priority. Again, he rushed the Egg Prawn, desperately searching for some sort of gap or lock he could pry at. "Can you here me in there?! I'm going to get you out! I promise!!"

[iamtheeggman]

This time, the Egg Pawn stared up at Hajime in confusion. If the unchanging look on its face could so be called. But it didn't stare for long.

Instead, it drew a laser gun, aiming it at Hajime.

All it could recognize was a threat. The second Egg Pawn also drew a weapon, both trained on the cheerleader as a signal to back off.

[inspirethefire]

Well, that cleared things up about how much control they had. Hajime stopped pawing at the steel, his breath catching behind clenched teeth. They were trapped in there, slaves to programming, completely cut off from their own hearts. All he could detect under the cold, unfeeling shell before him was the distinct sense of wrongness.

Fury and fear set him shaking, as he looked at the thing before him. What was he supposed to do? Back off, so easily? Every second contained in there had to be hell. On the other hand, he couldn't do much if he was shot up.

"You can't do this." He spoke to the robot as much as Eggman, not taking his eyes off the lenses of the Prawn. "The soul isn't a tool. It can't be used like this."

[iamtheeggman]

"I think I've established that it CAN," Eggman remarked, no hint of shame on his voice. He had a pretty good idea of what Hajime had figured out, but he still didn't care. It wasn't exactly a secret of what powered his machines.

"I've invented a way to turn living beings into robots," Eggman gloated, stepping forward to poke Hajime in the chest. "These are just a small sample of what I'm capable of. And I'm going to KEEP doing it. I'm going to create a world FILLED with robots. Robots that do MY bidding, and MINE ALONE. And you." Poke. "Can't." Poke. "Stop me."

"Now... Run along. Maybe you can generate another laser made of willpower or something, for all I care."

[inspirethefire]

Had that been what Eggman had seen? Hajime's teeth ground. If anyone could disregard such a sight so easily, of course, it would be someone like this. The man gloated, and his spirit burned with his ill-gotten confidence, flaunting it in front of those who he'd stolen it away from, no understanding or interest in what it represented.

Hajime grabbed Eggman's wrist, squeezing it hard. "Maybe I can't. That's your way of thinking, isn't it?" His voice quavered with anger. This wasn't someone to waste questions of why or how on. Someone so selfish, so short sighted could hardly count as a real human. "You assume everything is done by one person, alone."

Eggman was a good half foot taller than Hajime, but he still leaned in, snarling in the man's face. "Maybe I can't stop you, but we can."

[awakeningwill]

The shouting had drawn Zero's attention from all the way down the hall, but it was the Egg Pawns with their guns pointed at Hajime that caused the security guard to intervene. The cheerleader was no fighter, not by any stretch, but he was still stubborn as hell - and with Eggman involved... well, he couldn't let this just slide. Dash boots activating, the reploid crossed the distance in a second with a huge leap.

As if on cue, a red blur landed at Hajime's side with a heavy, metallic THUD! Gold hair billowed behind him, and he glowed with an energy charge as bright as his sword.

Though he spoke to student, the hatred of Zero's glare was focused on Eggman. "Hajime. Do you need assistance?"

[iamtheeggman]

"Rrrgh... YOU again," Eggman grumbled angrily. "We're having an entirely pleasant conversation, so SCRAM!" he demanded, pointing down the hall.

[inspirethefire]

Hopefully, Zero could excuse Hajime for flinching a little; given the situation, he hardly expected any robots flying at him to be lending aid. Still, after the moment's surprise, the timing was awfully appreciated.

"Zero. Thank you for the offer." He, too, only had eyes for Eggman. His grip squeezed once more. "Were you aware of this man's methods for powering his creations, perchance?"

[awakeningwill]

His eyes narrowed. "You're in no position to give me orders, Eggman." Not anymore.

Zero had discovered what powered Eggman's robots when he first crash landed in FDC, and again when war broke out in the city - much to his disgust. "I'm familiar with his methods." For a reploid whose tone normally had little fluctuation between neutral and dry deadpan, he was downright snarling now.

[iamtheeggman]

"Not YET anyway," Eggman grumbled at Zero, arms crossed. But he did raise a hand first to get the Egg Pawns to stand down. He wasn't here to pick a fight. Yet.

"It's not like I've made a big SECRET of my methods," he added. "And if I had my robotisizer online, then you'd REALLY get a taste of what I'm capable of. But thanks to YOU punks, that's not the case!"

"Now, unless you intend to do something about it, I'm LEAVING," he said.

[inspirethefire]

Of course he made no secret of it. This wasn't the sort of man to worry about things like decency or image. "Then you readily invite the retaliation that will come."

His gaze flickered to the Egg Prawns as they put their weapons away. He didn't want to end this here. Not another second should pass with those things functioning, but even with Zero here, he didn't have the advantage to figure out how. His fingernails dug into his palms.

"Make no mistake. I will free them. You can suppress lives, but not Life."

[awakeningwill]

So what, they were just going to let him go? That didn't sit right with Zero. That man's actions were tantamount to war crimes, and he had no intention of giving up on his monstrous plans for the world.

For a split second, Zero scanned the two robots at Eggman's side. Likely they were just lackeys, with limited combat specs - not much of a threat. Hajime had been intent on freeing the animals within, and he hadn't been wrong to do so, he'd simply lacked the strength. But if he thought that Zero wouldn't be able to take on such minor enemies, then he was severely underestimating the reploid.

Not just the two Egg Pawns, either. He could easily eliminate the doctor, here and now... end his reign permanently.

Judge, jury and executioner. Even if he didn't have the authority, he did have the strength. It made him feel powerful - but in all the wrong ways. For all his good intentions, being able to pass such decisive judgment on people made him uncomfortably similar to X's copy. The school had to be protected from Eggman, but not like this. Not right now.

Still, that didn't mean he was just going to let him walk away.

"I'm not done with you."

Zero cracked the knuckles in his left hand, revealing a faint glow between the seams. "I intend to protect the innocent. That includes protecting the creatures enslaved in your machines - from you."

His grip tightened on his sword hilt, tense with the anticipation of battle as he ordered, "Give up your Pawns. Now."

[iamtheeggman]

"EXCUSE ME?" Eggman demanded, crossing his arms and giving the two a death glare. "If that's a joke, I am NOT LAUGHING. YOU do not get to give ME orders, robot!"

[awakeningwill]

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Nope, Zero was deadly serious. Eggman may have taken the reploid out once, but he had been close to death to begin with, and even then it took a small army to capture him. What was he going to do with just two?

[inspirethefire]

Hajime said nothing; he was no longer able to take precedence in this conversation. He'd certainly hoped Zero would help, but he hadn't dared assume. Now, as he'd been about to back down due to his inability to fight, an overwhelming wave of gratitude for the reploid came over Hajime.

He merely kept his eyes on the Pawns. Could they feel hope, in there?

1/2

[iamtheeggman]

Eggman was silent for a moment. He stared down the shorter robot and the obnoxious cheerleader, until finally relenting. "Fine. You win."

He snapped his fingers. The two Egg Pawns holstered their guns, stepping up to join Hajime and Zero...

2/2

[iamtheeggman]

The Egg Pawns both looked up at their would-be saviors.

...And then with both arms each, they shoved Zero and Hajime back. Right underneath a sprig of mistletoe.

[inspirethefire]

Oh, for--it was a petty, dirty trick, but hardly the worst. There was no time to lose on waffling. Hajime regained his balance, cursed, and gave Zero a quick kiss on the cheek--

"Is it in Japan?" No, it's very far away. "Is it in America?" No, it's not really anywhere. "Do you have to take a plane? Are you going on a plane by yourself?" Kind of. It's hard to explain. "Why do you get to go?"

He looks up from packing to his youngest brother, glowering at the suitcase. Taizo isn't told "no" too often. He sighs and resumes folding his shirts.

It's not somewhere you want to be. "Then why do YOU want it?" People are in a lot of trouble. They need someone to help them. "Is your whole big dumb team going too?" No. They're staying here, to help you. "They're stupid." They are not.

A pause, before Taizo flops onto the bed. He ignores him and keeps packing.

"When are you coming home?"

The question sounds different, not only from being mumbled into the sheets. Even in a whine, the words are weighed down. Twelve is a hard age.

He can come back when things are better, there.

[awakeningwill]

Of all the stupid, cheap moves...

"HALT. YOU ARE UNDER ARREST BY ORDER OF THE EGGMAN EMPIRE. DROP YOUR WEAPON AND SURRENDER."

Damn. A small patrol had found him. Some kind of mechaniloid, but not of Neo Arcadia's design. Likely no stronger than any of their grunts either, but Zero's body is already failing. Every passing second is a strain to stay functional despite the destroyed armour, shattered joints, burned circuitry. Reroute all remaining energy, squeeze as much power from his struggling processors as possible. Override emergency shut down. He could not fall here.

Not before he made it back. They... she was waiting for him.

Surrender not an option. Zero didn't recognize the name of this regime, but if it had such a force patrolling civilian streets, he had to assume they didn't employ peaceful arrest. A dozen hostiles.

No time to charge. Shoot, run. Mechanical precision, sharp like a blade despite his ruined body. Their bodies burst, cheap metal, shrapnel - from the core of each one, a bird escapes...?

Contemplate absurd logistics later. Survive. Focus only on the fight. Reinforcements pour in, surrounding Zero by land and air, everywhere. Shield Boomerang up and charging, but shots still pelted him from all around. Warnings flash in his head, almost too overwhelming to drown out anymore. Leg gives out completely. Throw the weapon before collapsing onto knees - like a buzzsaw, it cuts through a wide berth of enemies (more animals flee from their prisons), but they're still unending.

Systems critical. Warning. The mechaniloids throw themselves at Zero, pinning him down in a dogpile. The rest of his limbs are knocked offline, he feels the circuitry dislodge and die. Burning out, his systems power off.

Not like this. It couldn't end like this.

Zero had to hand it to Hajime, he really wasted no time freeing him from the mistletoe. It was thanks to that quick thinking and pragmatism that had him back on his feet in an instant.

He lunged forward with one clean slash of his sword and cut through both the Egg Pawn's legs with a single stroke. If they couldn't stand, then they couldn't escape. And no doubt Eggman would be all too willing to leave them behind if they were of no more use to him.

[iamtheeggman]

And where was Eggman in all this?

He had already taken off, leaving his minions behind to take their beating. He had plenty more where they came from.

[inspirethefire]

Eggman could run as far as he liked; he wasn't what mattered, right now. With the Pawns incapacitated and their captor out of the scene, he again started prying at the unyielding metal. Finaly, he could take the time to find the gap in their armor. Or... well, or he could be efficient about it.

"Zero... could you please...?"

Pragmatism beat out heroic metal bending attempts.