hadriel_logs | Event Log: Null Attack

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Event Log: Null Attack

Who: Everyone!
What: The event log for the Null Attack event
Where: All over the city
When: May 29th- ?
Warnings: None

What starts as a normal day will begin to herald in the beginning of the end. On May 29th, you might see something in the sky out of the corner of your eye- blink and you miss it, but there's definitely something there, something that's not any kind of animal you've ever seen. Now that you know to look, you may be paying closer attention to the sky in order to catch the next one that flies past- a ship. A ship that that seems to be designed in a way that might remind you of the Null themselves.

As the days pass, it becomes unmistakable- the Null are here and are scouting out the area. It's time to prepare for an immediate attack and start putting all those contingency plans to good use. Will you gear up for a fight and fall into formation? Will you close and lock your doors and stay inside? Or perhaps there's some other plan that you want to enact?

You'll have time to discuss that on the network later, but now you need to start reacting to the Null's actions- which are apparently to start building smaller encampments around the city as they try to find the way inside. Confusion is holding them at bay for now but it might be time to start building some defensive measures and fortifications, because she won't be able to keep them at bay forever.

When they break in, they do so in a big way- with a massive explosion at Confusion's temple that rattles throughout the entire city. It's obvious that something has happened- and what exactly that something is reveals itself shortly when Null begin to flood the city, having broken through Confusion's protection.

This is when the fight escalates to an all-out war. Nobody is spared, and they're watching everyone from above. What will you do? How will you keep the ones you love safe? How can anyone survive this? All you can do is fight back, all we can do is wait. Good luck, Hadriel.

► This log covers the entirety of the Null attack
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you are killed by the Null, please let us know here.

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[Thankfully, Alphys isn't left waiting too long for backup to arrive.]

Atta girl! Kick their ass, Alphy!

[With her new abilities, Lup's been all over the jungle fighting back the Null, using the full extent of her powers to keep these people she's come to care for safe. There's been talks of detailed plans for weeks, more tactful strategies to pull out last minute and take the Null by surprise, but Lup's been in a fury since they'd set foot in Hadriel, and now she's choosing to go all in at full power instead of anything more cautious and careful.

She just needs to end this. To keep everyone safe. To get back to Barry. That's all that's important.

By the time she appears at Alphys' side, hands wreathed in flame and looking manic, Lup's already been roughed up, blood dripping heavily from a cut on her brow. Her hair comes undone from her braid as she whips her head around to face down the Null.]

That's new. [A flick of her gaze down to Alphys' new weapon before she's staring down their enemy again, lips curling into a too-confident grin.]

It suits you.

[Lup this is assault, this is gay assault, how is she supposed to exist when you're just out here doing this shit.

Thankfully, Alphys is much too full of adrenaline and fear to totally shut down, but not enough to not say something.]

I, uh, t-thank you-- are you okay you look hurt??

[Oh fuck the Null are still here. Part of Alphys has been treating this as something unreal, like a video game in her hands she'll always win. But there's real consequences if she falls, no more quarters lined up on the lip of the cabinet to let her roll again and again. Hope's blessing is a last resort, and she needs to keep thinking of it that way.

She holds up her blade, giving Lup a wobbly smile.]

Here, uh-- I can keep them off you! For a bit! Or I can try!

[Lup doesn't think she needs the breather. But that doesn't mean she's gonna miss the chance to see her main babe kick some serious ass.]

Thanks - Might take you up on that.

[The flames dancing around in Lup's control suddenly extinguish, the elf tipping forward, palms on her bent knees, just to give her body a moment to catch up with her, to feel the magic that's been thrumming through her the last hour fall to a slow, familiar tingle across her skin. As a wizard, she's always pushed right up to the very limit of her magic, only able to use up to a certain amount of spell power a day before her body demanded rest. As a lich, that boundary was pushed to new limits that went beyond bodily exhaustion, her magic more powerful and plentiful than any living being could withstand. And now as a servant of the Raven Queen, it's even more, blessed by Her touch, Lup's natural skills with the arcane increased tenfold from what she'd been stuck to before.

But even with all of her new power, this fight is still draining on all fronts, still a strategic battle to the end. She needs the rest, even if she'd never admit it.]

I wanna see what you've got. [Even in all of this, she grins, finally straightening enough to throw the other woman a double thumbs up.] Got your back either way.

[Alphys thinks you need a breather always, Lup, please--

At least there's something she can do this time. There's a real thing she can do to protect Lup when she's being hurt, when she could be killed. Alphys has always tried to take her words to heart and believe that there's more skills than just fighting, but that doesn't mean this isn't a moment for her. Doesn't mean this means any less for the experience she's hoping to gain.

She swallows, giving her a too-frantic nod.]

I uh, just k-keep in mind I only got this like a week ago so I'm still kind of learning but--

[Thankfully there isn't time for her to continue to protest, because there are Null here and there isn't room for error. Her words cut into a shriek as she sees one step just too close, and swings without aiming very well. Thankfully for her, a blunt force object requires little finesse as it clunks into the Null's leg, sending it spiraling to regain it's balance. Lup can probably see Alphys' entire body shaking, but she still steps in between her and the Null, weapon drawn.]

I'll do my best!

[Would the Alphys of two years ago, even one year ago, be able to take a stance between Lup and a whole damn army, courageous enough to stare down the Null attacking them?

Lup would wager a big, ol' no to either. But here the woman goes, with just the softest tremble in her voice, ready to take on the whole damn world.

Now that's character growth.]

Hold on a sec, lemme just -

[While Alphys goes for her first blow, Lup casts fire shield, wreathing the shorter woman in thin, wispy flames, her whole body glowing with a beautiful, bright light. It's not a true shield, it will only help to protect against with any heat coming her way, but it will also cause anyone who attacks Alphys to catch on fire.]

There. Look at you, you big damn hero.

[Not even a little. Alphys was barely able to do anything during the last Null attack; even getting up the courage to transmit garbage data to the Null to scramble them took days from the safety of the Lab. She's run away from everything over her life, never really seen a single thing through to completion.

But she's a magical girl now. She has a duty. A mission. And she'll never give that up, the dream she never thought she'd find.

Alphys pauses as Lup says hold on, and thinks for a moment the other woman did in fact set her on fire, but the Null is coming too fast for her to be properly stunned. She swings the keyblade out, catching it's weapon as it came down and knocking it off to the side, giving her a moment to smile at Lup.]

I-- I think I still have a lot to learn but this is really cool right??

[Is this what Lup feels like all the time she's gonna blow up. One smack isn't gonna get a Null though, and she squeaks as it starts to come back in, bringing up the blade to parry the blow. She's obviously inexperienced, but damn is she trying.]

[Alphys has got it in one. This is exactly why Lup just throws herself into battle without hesitation, why she excites in fighting, in the way her magic tingles in waves up her arms. Lup delights in the adrenaline that rushes through her, in the thrill that takes over her every thought. Her every breath.

It's incredible. And Lup loves that her dearest friend is finally getting a taste of it.]

Dope aye-eff, babe! You're out here lookin' fire, Alphy.

[And honestly, she's putting on a good show, but there's still inexperience in her movements, unbalance in some of those swings. If they aren't careful, it's going to be a Taako situation all over again. Lup straightens back up then to her full height, ready to leap in and back her sister up.]

How's it feel? You're def makin' it look real easy.

[Alphys isn't sure if this is adrenaline, pure fear, or that none of this has set in that it's real yet. It feels so insanely crazy that this could be happening to her that maybe this is just a dream or some kind of god hallucination, so who cares if she doesn't just try that shit, right?

But she does need to uh, live, just in case. It's hard to remember that sometimes.

She's panting a little as the Null presses down on her, but digs her feet into the ground and shoves with all her might-- enough to get it off her, at least, though it's no huge knockback.]

I don't think this is that easy!

[No, no, Alphys needs to remind herself, Lup is complimenting her. This is about enjoying that, or something.]

But I mean! It's not impossible like I thought it would be!

[Oh god that Null is coming back time to swing another time just to keep it away from her.]

[Alphys may have it things on lock, but this is where Lup steps in either way, leaping to action with a perfectly precise lightning bolt strike, right to the Null's chest. It hits it's delicate processor and immediately overloads it, leaving the hulking creature to teeter unsteadily on it's feet before it falls forward, lifeless to the ground.

It's not over yet tho. There's still more coming.]

Can't believe you'd think anything's impossible after all that we've seen in this place. Trust me. With a little practice, you'll be a total pro in a fight.

[And with the new wave of Null coming, she's gonna get it.]

You got this, Alphys. Take point, I'll back ya up!

[Alphys knows she's already doing something near impossible, but it's impossible not to feel some kind of pang of jealousy for Lup's form. She moves so fluidly, like a dance through the field. Meanwhile, she just feels... clunky. Tired. A million half step corrections instead of one confident foot forward. It's to be expected, of course, but Alphys has never thought about herself as any of those things- she can't even dance without the prompting. How is she supposed to lead this??

That's the one good thing about adrenaline and the pressing issue- there's no time to stand and worry while the force is pressing down on her. Alphys' teeth are clenched, her grip tight, but her SOUL still thrums in her chest. She has to get up. She needs to FIGHT. She's a magical girl now-- that means something. It means everything.

So Alphys looks between Lup and the Null and nods, turning to face the hoard with her keyblade in one hand, like a real jrpg character. Lup might even see her bouncing back and forth between her feet as she sizes them up-- man, she has to pick a good idle animation too, there's so much to this hero stuff.]

In the name of, uh... m-my heart, and love everywhere, I will defeat you!!

[One charges ahead and Alphys yelps before stabbing forward into it's chest, shattering the processor inside before heaving it sideways. It's pretty impressive until she's now struggling to get her blade out of there with more advancing. Oops. At least she got a speech??]

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Event Log: Null Attack

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