Nightshift 37: Soccer/Recreational Field

[pleading-ngri.livejournal.com]

[from here.]

Since the recreational field was quiet tonight, Phoenix found himself pausing briefly between doors, glancing up at the sky. It was what the sky looked like on television, pitch blackness interrupted by bright points of starlight, which was what really made him stop in the first place, really. He'd spent his entire life in Los Angeles. He didn't expect anything from the night sky but a dark, dusky rose, dotted with perhaps five valiant stars, assorted satellites, and the blinking slow-motion of airplanes coming and going from LAX. Seeing the sky the way he'd always known it was supposed to look pulled at him strangely. There wasn't supposed to be a single thing about this place that was beautiful, but there were the stars, cold and twinkling and completely unfamiliar.

He turned away abruptly, walking quickly for the next door before he could stare any longer. This wasn't the time to get caught up in things like that.

[to here.]

Comments

[hailmegatron.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/518543.html?view=42521487#t42521487)]

Some kind of small, grassy field, enclosed by a wall shorter than his natural body.

Lugnut marched straight across the field towards the wall, sparing a thought for Blitzwing-- perhaps he should find and bring his wingmate here? After seeing what was on the other side of that wall, of course, if it was escape or more of this facility.

Unfortunately, as Lugnut quickly discovered upon trying to scale the wall, his human body didn't support its own weight very well on its arms alone-- and neither did the woody vines twisting over the wall that he'd been clinging to.

He also found that the human body was very, very sensitive to pain, especially when it fell backwards and hit the ground hard.

Growling unhappily at the pain and its associated reflexive increase of lubricating moisture in his optics, Lugnut slowly climbed to his feet, staring at the wall in a blank-faced sort of anger.

[damned-monsters.livejournal.com]

The night was still rather young, but on the roof one of the dark-feathered avians was already perched and waiting, driven from sleep by ravenous hunger. And now it appeared that the early bird would get the worm, as it were.

There was pure flesh below, and so very much of it - too much to easily carry off in one sweep, perhaps, but it was still too tempting a target to resist. The aquila launched from the roof with a stroke of its great wings and dove toward the foolish mortal, claws poised to strike and razor-edged beak agape, ready to rend and tear.

Even if it could just get a piece, it would be pleased. And if it could disable and thus feast at its leisure? All the better.

[tiassa]

(I'm sorry, Luggers!)

[scalyfishman.livejournal.com]

Stepping into the night air, Depth Charge felt a sudden jolting chill run through his entire body, like he'd set his sensitivity sensors to full power. Stupid, stupid human body! Always malfunctioning!

Trying to ignore the creeping cold scuttling through his body, he scanned the area carefully. It was a small field, boxed in by four walls and with two sets of posts at either end- though what they could possibly be for he couldn't even begin to process. Humans did crazy things for what seemed like no reason. What more did he need to explain it?

All of a sudden, a dark flurry of activity caught his attention and he jerked his head towards the source. At the foot of the wall ahead of him lay the Decepticon from earlier, Lugnut- and heading straight for him was the biggest slagging bird Depth Charge had ever seen. For a moment he was stunned- a mixture of witnessing a 'monster' first hand and trying to work out what to do.

He settled on staying the Pit out of it. At any rate, he could see the activities shed in the far corner, and that presented far more of an interest to him. It was every 'bot for themselves here, and the 'con was big enough to take care of himself.

Depth Charge made his way across the grass as quickly and quietly as he could, determined not to attract any more attention then was perfectly necessary.

Re: (I'm sorry, Luggers!)

[scalyfishman.livejournal.com]

[toxicspiderman]

[from here]
S.T. got one step into the field when motion above him made him look up.

What the fuck. What the fucking fuck. It was big, it had wings. Like an unholy genetic cross between a crow and a military helicopter. Dolmacher could probably identify the goddamned make, model, and serial number. Like an eagle from Middle-Earth. Except this one wasn't here to rescue anything but dinner. Dinner that walked right up to it and then stood there gibbering. I.e. him, if he didn't get out of here pronto. Hell if his last thoughts on this Earth were going to be of that loser. He could work out the dubious interbreeding of man and machine -- in a place where he'd met at least one giant alien robot who looked perfectly capable of interbreeding with humanity -- later.

The path back to the door was clear, and once he got one muscle to snap out of fear-induced paralysis, he practically leapt back through.

[back to here]

[repelling.livejournal.com]

[ from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html?thread=42519452#t42519452) ]

The air that greeted him, brisk and shocking, was cold. It lifted the hairs on his neck and ankles, and even as Uryuu felt glad of the sweatshirt, he resented the flimsy make of the slippers.

As the door swung shut behind him, Uryuu squinted across the dark field, swinging his light. Grass, still remarkably green for this time of year. The color of the outside encouraged the reality of this world as human - if in a dream, must be, had to be, redundant repetition failing to be as convincing as he would hope.

The walls failed to be promising, and the shed looked ghastly. If this was a game-dream, not that Uryuu ever had game-dreams, there would be items in the shed. A minute passed as he stood there in front of the door, inhaling cold air, thinking with a distinct lack of enthusiasm that the air felt much, much, oh much too cold.

"...but," as if resuming a conversation, "It doesn't-- it doesn't make any sense."

Though not a question, in the next few seconds, the boy seemed to expect the night to answer. Stars blinked overhead in a way they never did in Tokyo. Pushing at his glasses with an arm, his hand otherwise occupied, Uryuu swallowed his frustration and turned back to the door. He was losing his interest in quests; best to try and plow into the meat of it.

Turning, he moved back into the hall, toward the other door.

[ annnnd going right back (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html) 8) ]

[broken-exorcist.livejournal.com]

[[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html?thread=42766748#t42766748)]]

The shortest way was to cut through the field and in the other door outside. So he hurried, focused on where he was going and tried to tell himself that the people around him were going to be alright.

[broken-exorcist.livejournal.com]

[[to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/518543.html?thread=42888335#t42888335)]]

[scalyfishman.livejournal.com]

This time, the field Depth Charge walked out onto was quiet- that bird-thing was nowhere in sight. A whistle of wind caught his bare, bruised arms and made him draw in a sharp breath. Primus! Maybe if he was lucky the cold would take the edge off of the pain in his legs. Taking a few cautious steps, he looked back to Lugnut. "See anything?"

[hailmegatron.livejournal.com]

So Depth Charge was on the same data file as Lugnut. Good.

Lugnut shook his head at the question, face grown tense as his wounds were exposed to the biting air. Still... "It was on the roof of the shed when I entered," he said, quietly. "We should try to get to cover before it notices us. Stay close to the wall." That said, he took off across the field, taking his own advice and moving at a quick jog-- what he wouldn't give for at least the ability for flight-- and staying close to the barrier.

If the Maximal was too stupid to follow, that wasn't his problem.

[for-marian.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/518543.html?thread=42947471#t42947471)]

As soon as Leon stepped outside, he suspected he had made a mistake. One of those damned birds was here, though it seemed occupied with two people sheltering themselves against the wall.

But on the other hand, there were monsters everywhere within the Institute's walls--and outside them, judging by new tales on the message board--so running from the bird here could result in Leon encountering something else wherever he went. He'd just have to be very careful.

[damned-monsters.livejournal.com]

[jumping down a thread from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/522796.html?thread=42923308#t42923308), and still tiassa]

There were two very large and tempting potential meals nearby, and the aquila had already tasted a tiny bit of one's flesh. They were, however, being rather irritatingly difficult to obtain. When another appeared in the open, the creature realized that it, despite the fact that it was a bit smaller, would be far easier to catch.

And so the avian turned away from the wall and plunged toward Leon, claws at the ready and beak gaping in a silent cry. Perhaps this one it could actually carry away to feast in private, where none of its brethren could potentially interfere.

[tsunagari.livejournal.com]

The ninja could hear the sounds of attacking creatures before he'd even opened the door, and he pressed flat against the wall to the side the moment he did, watching for Usopp to appear as well.

He hadn't seen the giant bird-creatures before, having been taken for Special Counseling the night the buses had been left stranded outside at nightfall. They would have to move quickly. Thankfully, they'd come out the doorway closest to the wall leading into the courtyard.

"Stay very close to me," Sai advised as he moved.

[usoppsenchou.livejournal.com]

At the sight of the awful giant birds that had attacked outside the buses weeks ago, Usopp swallowed hard, but didn't scream. Instead, he followed Sai's lead, keeping as close to the ninja as he could without falling over the other boy or losing his attention on the flying figures.

He'd said that they would run if there was too bad a threat, but they were still moving. Was he getting too used to this place? If there was an even worse threat over the walls, assuming the birds didn't catch notice of them and just follow, where would they run to?

Blindingly grasping, since his eyes were half on the birds and half on Sai's back, he reached in his bag for his slingshot, just in case.

[no-chan-allowed.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html?thread=42942108#t42942108)]

It was physically impossible but Yahiko seemed to follow from a step ahead, walking quickly and taking cues from Kenshin and Sano's movements when uncertain. When they moved through the doorway at the end of the hall he was startled by the icy air, remembering a temperate autumn when he'd last left the Akabeko. After a quick glance around, he hesitated long enough to speak. "Which wall are we going over?"

[damnrudecock.livejournal.com]

Unlike Yahiko, Sanosuke didn't so much as pause at the chill. Of course, that was due more to the fact that he'd made this venture before, even if it had only been that one time. But they could stand around and look confused later on. Right now, they needed to hurry while they still had time left. He definitely wanted to get something done tonight.

"Straight ahead!" Sanosuke pointed to the wall at the far end of the field, and kept an eye out for randomly appearing guys trying to stop them in the meantime. Last time they didn't make it so far because of that, but Sano hoped things would be different now. Maybe it was Yahiko's eagerness or something, but Sanosuke was definitely ready to go.

He almost took a leap at the wall when they got close enough, but decided at the last minute to stop instead, opting to grin back at his friends. "Pretty tall wall." Mostly he was teasing, but really, Sanosuke did want to see a bit more of what the kid could do now. Kenshin he already knew could make it over just fine. "Think you're not so short that you need a boost, Yahiko?"

[high-prosecutor.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html?view=43058332#t43058332)]

The area seemed clear, and while the night was chilly, it wasn't too chilly to continue with their plan. Edgeworth nodded to Kunzite, taking a few steps back. "I'll leave this to you."

[vessavana.livejournal.com]

Kunzite bowed, taking the sword from Edgeworth and inspecting it in the moonlight. As he expected, it was far lighter than what he was used to, but nevertheless the practice he had with such a weapon quickly returned to him. He smiled as he made a few gentle swipes in front of him, marveling at the near-perfect hum from the blade's cutting through the air. After a few poignant thrusts, the swordsman finished with a brief flourish, bringing the rapier upright in front of his body before returning it respectfully to its owner.

"The rapier is, in many respects, a gentleman's weapon," Kunzite finally spoke. "Unlike the blade with which I am accustomed to fighting, this weapon is best suited for civilians, but even amongst soldiers it is known for its prominence in duels. Luckily for you and your injury, wielding this blade will not strain your shoulder to disastrous degrees, but you must nevertheless be willing to accept that some aggravation may occur."

[promisedawhale.livejournal.com]

Upon arriving outside, Brook contemplated stopping by the shed again, just in case he or another needed some additional metal. One bat was enough for him, but there were others to think about too. Archer most of all!

But there seemed to be dangers on the field, and there were always the threats of the terrible spiders in the shed, so Brook decided to forgo it for tonight. Archer had probably already stopped by there anyway, so he shouldn't worry too much over it.

He didn't think he should, anyway.

Staying along the wall of the Institute, he headed for the fence that would take him over into the Courtyard where that foul tree was waiting he could find the entrance to the Cafeteria.

[vladville.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html?thread=43162780#t43162780)]

Looking around, it appeared that the evening was active already, although Vlad couldn't make out much detail beyond large bird-like creatures and flailing humans beneath them in the distance. No one he knew, he trusted, and if they were, well, no one he couldn't live without.

Even more peculiar, someone he did know was playing with swords nearby. Vlad could hardly wave over and call out a hello in this shape, the downside of his decision to change for the evening, but he'd counted on finding someone new and preferably a bit dim to travel with. If he was going to test his abilities, best to have some bait around in case he'd been even more limited than he realized. The only other test he'd had, against Daniel, had hardly been a fair way to judge. Something a bit more gradual than fighting a ghost boy, for the evening...

As though in the nick of time, another individual came out of the Institute, some fellow with outrageously large hair that Vlad was almost positive he hadn't met before. Mindful that someone who knew Masters was nearby, he adjusted his voice just a bit as he waved and smiled, with fangs, at the newcomer in the dark. "Excuse me. Excuse me, my good man!" That'd probably get a bit of a jump, but as long as he kept up the friendly attitude and was wearing the Institute's clothes, hopefully whoever this was would pause instead of screaming and running or attacking.

Not that an attack wouldn't also be a good way to test himself out...

[fuyunohanabi.livejournal.com]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html?view=43189660#t43189660)]</smal She swore softly when she saw the bird creatures circling overhead and turned back to her group. "Stay close to the wall." Hopefully the shadows would hide them and the angle of the wall would make it difficult for the birds to attack. She edged around the field, more slowly than she'd have liked, heading for the back wall.

[hajike-tobiume.livejournal.com]

The vice captain tracked the birds as best as she could with her reduced vision and nodded. There were already people in combat with the birds and a group of shinigami, more worried about the fate of Artemis and Hitsugaya than the ones being attacked by the birds, would not help as much as they could have. Onc ehte funeral was done, if the birds were still an issue, then they'd help.

[uruz-vii.livejournal.com]

[From here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/532444.html?thread=43166428#t43166428)]

Birds. Virgin-eating birds. He and Miku were targets, most certainly. He would have to move quickly. Jumping off the wall and stabilizing Miku at the knees, he hit the ground running for the door.

[uruz-vii.livejournal.com]

[Skipping hallways to here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/516353.html?thread=43198977#t43198977)]

[not-rly-fai.livejournal.com]

[[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/532444.html?thread=43136220#t43136220)]]

Once he landed, he held out his hands for the little girl, ready to help her down if she needed it. This location held no fond memories for him and he was in a hurry to leave, though he kept his composure, not wishing to panic Ururu.

[bewarethecute.livejournal.com]

It was nice of Fai-san to offer his help, but Ururu didn't need it. Despite the height of the wall, the little girl jumped down easily, landing with a practiced balance that showed she was used to making such leaps. It only took a moment for her to realize that this wasn't the best place to be, however. She could hear the birds, and that was bad.

"Um, maybe we should hurry, Fai-san." Ururu wasn't panicked, but she didn't want Fai-san to be hurt. Maybe if they went quickly, they'd make it through without being attacked. But even if they had to, Ururu would fight as hard as she could. She looked up at Fai-san, waiting for the man to take the lead.

[mitase.livejournal.com]

[following Rangiku from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/520180.html?thread=43101172#t43101172) and splitting into a new thread to avoid doom-ness]

By the time the group emerged into the open, Hanatarou was feeling a tiny spark of pride that he'd actually managed to keep up without any mishaps or anything. Of course, with a crowd that large he supposed they couldn't go too terribly fast, so that made it easier and all. But still!

Naturally, though, that didn't last very long. At the vice-captain's warning he glanced up and spotted the large bird-creatures and immediately froze in place with eyes wide. Oh, dear. People really hadn't been lying when they talked about monsters, were they?

He made a sound halfway between a squeak and a yelp and moved to follow the others toward the wall. They seemed to know what they were doing.

[lighthearted]

They had finally made it to the outside. Sora let out a relieved breath when he felt the fresh, cold air sting his face. It hurt a little, but it was also a nice change.

Even though the outside area usually brought monsters as well. He tilted his head up and watched the killer birds circle and divebomb other groups of patients, biting at his lip as he fought back his hero instinct. He had already let one thing almost distract him from Renji's funeral. If it looked like this patients were in serious danger, then he would step in.

Right now he needed to worry a little more about Hanatarou, who looked even more pale than usual. Sora followed along with the boy after the others, frowning at him. "Is this your first time seeing them?" These particular birds weren't as bad as the ones that conducted lightning, in Sora's opinion, but he thought it might be better to keep that thought to himself.

[chocomancer.livejournal.com]

[ from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/518543.html?thread=43252367#t43252367) ]

The night was cold outside - colder than was comfortable in the loose-fitting Institute uniform - but Wonka tried not to let it bother him. He even tried to ignore what looked like a fight with a huge vulture off to his left; as much as he wanted to help, he simply didn't have the equipment to do anything useful. No, he just kept running - flat out, pedal-to-pavement, trying as hard as he could to reach the other door before some other crazy bird hit him.

[ mun is way behind schedule for a meeting; I'd really rather Wonka gets through here without having to thread a monster fight (but feel free to start one anyway if you decide it best) ]

[chocomancer.livejournal.com]

Soon, Wonka spotted the door, and soon after that he was through it, throwing open the door, leaping through it and slamming it behind him.

[ to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html?thread=43285148#t43285148) ]

[akarusa.livejournal.com]

[[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/520180.html?thread=42979316#t43191540).]]

Hokuto sucked in her breath when she saw the scene; at least they wouldn't be taken entirely by surprise. Shifting her shovel off her back and into her hands, she wondered how to do this--the birds wouldn't target her anymore, at least, but she wasn't about to guess at her companions'... status.

"Great, these again," she muttered. Louder, "Uh--do you two know if those things... target you?" Awkward...

[windstwilight.livejournal.com]

Senna had froze when the Shinigami walked up to them, didn't move until she thankfully walked away. She stayed near Alita's girlfriend, in the back until they came out into the open.

She had been watching the two female Shinigami near the front when suddenly Hokuto spoke, drawing her attention. Senna hadn't seen any monsters in her stay at Landel's so far, and she definitely hadn't seen big ass birds either. In a voice an octave lower than normal, she said, "What the hell are those?!"

[hajike-tobiume.livejournal.com]

[from here] (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/532994.html?thread=43291394#t43291394)

For a brief second, Momo appeared on the top of the wall before her flash step took her to the door. It was almost like a ghostly image left behind and the three girls closest could feel a sudden rush of air as the shinigami passed by.

[to here] (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html?view=43189660#t43189660)

[fuyunohanabi.livejournal.com]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/522796.html?thread=43370284#t43370284)]


Rangiku took up position a few metres away from the group, standing alone, her sword drawn and held tightly in a white knuckled grip as she surveyed the field. If she could save even one person then she'd happily die doing that.

[mrmewmaker.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/522796.html?thread=43388972#t43388972)]

"Rangiku-san?" Shiki approached her friend nervously. "You don't look so good. What happened?"

She crossed her arms to try and hide the wounds she'd gotten. "Can I help?"

[intoindra.livejournal.com]

((From here.)) (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/521884.html?view=43421340#t43421340)

Despite his haste, Roland was careful as he walked along the wall, from one door to the next. He knew that there tended to be monsters here, and if his comrades weren't in the thick of it, then they weren't out here. He couldn't afford to remain slowed down, so he just moved on, on alert for the first time since he'd left his room. A pity, too... one of the birds had been killed, which meant that there were likely more wounded ones around. Eating carrion was a bit stomach-turning (save when a certain pink-haired demon offered it to him) but something he'd hunted himself? Oh yes, he could feed quite well. ...except he couldn't, because of his comrades running around. Where could they be!?

[intoindra.livejournal.com]

((To here.)) (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/518543.html?view=43422607#t43422607)

[devourthem.livejournal.com]

The red-haired cannibal followed his "comrade" slowly, heavy steps leaving behind a reluctant growl in his wake. What the hell was the point in leaving a weakened, bleeding boy for a corpse? They may be demons - or monsters, or whatever-the-fuck - and provide something similar to Atma, but it was still a cold lump of meat, far from the beating heart he'd been very close to stopping.

He wasn't exactly sure what had him following the blond man like he was the Embryon leader, but it was the same that had kept him from snapping Argilla's neck when she approached his meal.

It was a scene he felt he'd lived before; now garbed in his Embryon-slashed uniform and orange-slashed cape, it seemed even more familiar. As blood-stained as it was now, it was one more piece of his own world; a place he hadn't been close to in... god, who the hell cared? He was fucking hungry, why was he thinking about this?

"How old are they?"

[intoindra.livejournal.com]

What Roland didn't know, and he really wanted to find out, was why Heat was following him. As soon as he'd turned his back, he'd expected to be attacked, to have to defend himself. Yet there was nothing, nothing more than Heat following in his usual surly style. Was this a breakthrough? Perhaps... though a fragile one, one that would break in the face of demon hunger.

Roland made his way over to the bird corpse, narrowing his eyes. Not 'cold' yet, but certainly far from fresh. "I saw it killed while I came out, so no more than a few minutes. There were plenty of them flying around, though." He had to find a way to keep Heat from being yanked around. Clearly, there were far too many temptations in the Institute for someone with as little self-control as Heat.

...damn, he was turning into a chaperon, wasn't he? Why did he keep bothering picking up the messes that his comrades left behind? He didn't know, but he did know that he wasn't going to turn his back on another comrade. Never, ever again.