.oo4 // ACTION (backdated to the 28th)

[mindgooshed]

[ .. so anyone nearish to the barrier on the north side of town (and, honestly, anyone within probably a mile radius), please don't be alarmed by the very loud crashing sounds, and spikes of bright blue light flashing against the trees.

that's just barnaby going crazy.

his hundred power is activated, limning his body in a bright blue blaze, and man this kid is seriously tearing out all of the stops on this, all but slamming himself against the impenetrable force field again and again and again. he's kicking out wildly, launching himself into it with the full strength of his hundred power, and of course the barrier stands, unshaken and unmoved. and he knows that there's no point to this, that the barrier will hold and there's nothing that he can do to break it down, but dammit that won't keep him from taking out his frustrations on it. ]

Dammit!

[ he leaps high and slams his shoulder into it again, bouncing back and flipping backward, landing on his feet and sliding back with enough force to kick up the earth and grass beneath the snow -- but then he's at it again, churning up the ground, bouncing back and forth and shouting, low and guttural, through clenched teeth. he's tousled and bruised, scuffed and in a general state of disarray but man he is way too pissed to even care. ]

[ ooc; yeah backdated to .. basically right after this! ]

Comments

[geniustheveil]

[She's been known to do this type of thing herself, this futile effort because there's nothing else too do and letting up is unthinkable. So Sailor Mercury, transformed and in-uniform, sympathizes immediately. Her expression is concerned as she hurries towards the barrier. She comes to a stop several feet away from Barnaby, and speaks softly.]

I think... it's better to stop for now. [He could hurt himself at this rate.]

[mindgooshed]

[ barnaby skids to a stop, his boots leaving deep, raking scoremarks in the earth, and when he snaps his gaze toward her his eyes are a bright blue blaze, and there's fury there, and determination, and helplessness. but within moments it dissipates, and barnaby stiffens, his features flattening to neutrality. ]

.. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you.

[geniustheveil]

It's alright; I came unexpectedly. [Patrols, after all.]

Are you injured? [He was certainly going at it hard enough to be.] Please let me see it if you are; I know first-aid, and healing magic from Nala.

[mindgooshed]

[ after a moment of silence barnaby shakes his head. it's difficult to relax, but he's trying. ]

No, I'm not. I'm only .. [ pause. ] Angry.

[geniustheveil]

Angry... Because it seems like it might be useless? [She can definitely understand. All she has to make her of use or importance to anyone is her brain; when she hasn't been able to find solutions here, isn't she letting everyone down?]

[mindgooshed]

[ after another moment of silence, the bright blue glow around him fades, and barnaby's tense shoulders drop just a hair. ]

Yes.

[geniustheveil]

[Mercury's transformation doesn't fade, a large clue that this power is different.]

I can understand that. [Her voice is soft, sympathetic.]

But I don't think it's useless. Even though this barrier will hold, that power and your determination will be needed when we all make other plans, too. And one day, we'll definitely win.

[mindgooshed]

[ even though he doesn't reply straightaway, her words aren't lost on him. barnaby's eyes rove over the barrier, searching, watching. ]

.. You're right. We will.

[geniustheveil]

Actually, I almost wonder if you have the right idea after all. Even though I can look at this barrier, and say hitting it won't do any good and will hurt me, am I really looking for another way, or am I becoming used to being trapped?

[mindgooshed]

.. I think almost everyone here is growing accustomed to it.

[ not him, though. he hasn't forgotten. and he never will. ]

[geniustheveil]

I refuse to. To be able to go back to our world is very important. I'm going to keep working towards making sure of it.

[More truthfully, Usagi getting back to their world so it can be saved is the most important; but she can't say that in this form.]

[mindgooshed]

Good.

[ barnaby takes a few steps back from the barrier, and finally turns to face her fully. ]

I think more people here need to be reminded of exactly what this place is.

[geniustheveil]

[Her face relaxes into a small, relieved smile as Barnaby also seems to relax.]

I think you're right. And I'm willing to help you, if you want.

[mindgooshed]

[ a crisp nod. he offers his hand. ]

Barnaby Brooks Jr.

[geniustheveil]

[She maintains the senshi identity in this form.]

I'm Sailor Mercury. [Despite a slight stiffness born of shyness, she takes his hand.]

[mindgooshed]

[ barnaby isn't shy, but he really doesn't enjoy prolonged physical contact so don't worry, after a crisp shake he releases her.

.. and is that seriously her name. this place gets weirder and weirder. better to just accept it (though he does pull a face). ]

I'll remember. And if anything comes of this I will .. contact you.

[geniustheveil]

[She takes a certain amount of pride in that name, Bunny.]

Thank you. I think it will be best if we're able to combine our forces and work together. We'll have more resources at our disposal that way.

[mindgooshed]

[ SORRY IT JUST SOUNDS WEIRD TO HIM OKAY NO OFFENSE. ]

Agreed. Do you have .. specialties?

[geniustheveil]

My powers are water-based. [She's also the tactical strategist of the group, but that feels like boasting somehow.]

I also use the sword.

[mindgooshed]

[ another abbreviated nod. ]

Right. I'll keep it in mind.

[geniustheveil]

If it's alright to ask, what about you? The suit you wear certainly seems remarkable by any technology current in my world.

[mindgooshed]

[ .. well he doesn't really like to give away too much about himself, but since he'd asked her, it's only fair that he respond in kind. ]

Hundred power. I can enhance my physical attributes by one hundred - speed, stamina, strength.

[ etcetera. ]

[geniustheveil]

Amazing! [The look of surprise suits Mercury well.] Could I see it again sometime? Could I study it?

[mindgooshed]

.. Study it?

[ well he knows that NEXTs are freaks and all, but he's never actually .. had anyone interested in studying him. he's not really sure whether he's flattered or offended, and he doesn't really know how to respond. ]

I suppose I'd be wiling to answer your questions, if that's what you mean.

[geniustheveil]

[She can get tunnel vision sometimes. And it's definitely scientifically interesting.]

What sort of system is it? How does it increase the body's capabilities?

[mindgooshed]

I can't really answer that. Hundred power is an ability I was born with, so i suppose it's simply .. written into my DNA. Most NEXTs have unique abilities, and I'm not sure that anyone has done any extensive research on any particular ability.

[geniustheveil]

[Guess who's already having visions of tissue samples to research? At least she seems to realize that'd be going a bit too far; she doesn't ask.]

I see. What are some other abilities you've seen manifest, in other people?

[mindgooshed]

[ oh god askjdsalkdf scary lady. ]

All kinds. Almost anything you can think of. Some can produce fire or lightning, some can fly, or increase their stamina, or attract metal objects.

[geniustheveil]

I wonder what determines how it manifests in each person...

[She can be scary, yes. Luckily, she has compassion to temper it.]

[mindgooshed]

It's hard to say. NEXTs haven't been around for very long.

[geniustheveil]

Is the potential passed on to your children genetically?

[mindgooshed]

There's no conclusive evidence. It's possible, and common, but it doesn't always occur that way.

[geniustheveil]

I see. It makes me wonder whether my own powers will be passed down, to be honest. But there's no decisive way to test that, either.

[mindgooshed]

Are you a NEXT as well?

[geniustheveil]

No; you could say I'm not precisely human to start. My race lived on Earth's moon.

[mindgooshed]

Earth's moon..? Honestly?

[ well, he's certainly seen stranger things, here in this place. but this one hits a little closer to home. ]

[geniustheveil]

Honestly. [She understands it can be difficult to believe; in fact, it's only true for Sailor Mercury. If she were here in her civilian form, she couldn't say the same.]

I understand being surprised, though. [She'd been beyond surprised herself, when she first learned about it.]

[mindgooshed]

I'd imagine it'd be surprising to anyone who's lived on Earth. The Moon is .. uninhabitable, as far as we know.

[geniustheveil]

[Not... with the proper technology, which the immortal beings of the Moon Kingdom had possessed.]

Very few humans are aware of it in my world. The place we lived is now in ruins.

[mindgooshed]

I see. It's an interesting story.

[geniustheveil]

Every world probably has its own secrets. There are things from mine that I wasn't aware of, either, until a friend who came here later than I did told me about them.