The Hour of Fell Light (Persona/DtbB/CC)

[Meryck]

Just as Ran paled horribly at Chrono's reveal on how to release a Persona, Reggie dropped one of the Evokers, wheeled around, grabbed Chrono's ear and yanked.

"I WAS AVOIDING TELLING THEM THAT FOR A REASON!! They were terrified as it was, dammit!! You could've AT LEAST waited until we're SURE we're safe and calm before spitting that crap out!!"

Getting a little violent with your other self, are we?

You, get the hell out of my head and let me chew Chrono out in peace.

[Elf]

"GAH--OW!!" Chrono stumbled sideways, completely disarmed. Sure he'd felt the surge of rage filtering through their bond, but the last thing he expected was Reggie grabbing his ear. He'd have to watch that from now on; his pointed ears actually made quite convenient handholds, being that they were nearly as long as his horns. "L-let go, Reg! They HAD to know sooner or later! Better sooner than later; they'll be safer!" Yank! "OW! QUITTIT, WILL YOU?!" he howled, halfway to a roar.

Rosette stared. Blinked. Stared. The hilarity of the sight before her, of her best friend yanking on a huge demon's ear like he was a child, and him stumbling and spluttering, was completely lost on her. All she could think of were Chrono's words, tumbling around and around in her head on spin-cycle.

Of course. The answer was so simple. Kill the Conscious to release the Subconscious. It was brilliant--poetic, even.

Her baby-blue eyes drifted to the discarded Evoker, half-glazed as if she were staring through it. It was death. It was survival. It was the way out of this nightmare. It was...

Go on. What are you waiting for?

It was the path before her. It was the way to run.

She sank to her knees, smoothing out the skirt of her nightgown on automatic impulse. She reached for it slowly, like a woman entranced. Her fingers closed around the handle, and she marked that it didn't feel different from the way she'd imagine any other gun to feel--cool, deadly metal.

Rosette stood. Closed her eyes. Raised the gun to her temple. Let out a sigh.

Chrono froze, still halfway bent over from Reg's continual yanking. His eyes fixed on Rosette, enthralled. She was going to do it. He'd get to see it--to meet another like himself--

That's it. Let her fly free.

Smiled.

Bang.

[Meryck]

Reggie would have kept yanking, oblivious to Rosette until the gun went off, if Ran hadn't gasped and started to try and stop the blonde. "Rosette, wait--!"

Bang.

Reg let go of Chrono's ear in alarm, whirling to look at her friend, wide-eyed, nearly dropping the other gun. But as the blue mist sprayed, Reggie couldn't help but smirk both at Rosette's immediate reaction to the new information. Typical Rosette; always moving forward.

Still, she couldn't help agree with Ran's shock and awe at the Summoning. Wow, that's what it looks like from the outside? It's...kinda-pretty. Painful, I know. But pretty.

[Elf]

At first, only one thought filled her head—God, that HURTS!

But that thought soon gave way to wonder as instead of blood, a blue mist sprayed from the ‘wound.’ Rosette forced her way past the pain, opening her eyes all the way, transfixed as the whirling blue mist coalesced…

Blue became green and gold, the flowing folds of a silken dress, a royal and freeing garment. Delicate feet, pale legs, and a small lavender charm dancing around an ankle formed out of the mist; then feminine arms, delicate hands, a long, elegant neck; then, a pair of brilliantly blue eyes set like jewels in a pale, pointed, regal face; and finally, a head of golden hair that spilled over her shoulders and down her back, like light and wind captured into threads of silk.

Gossamer wings sprouted from her back as she rose into the air, arms crossed over her chest with fingers resting on her collarbone, expression serene.

“In thy soul have I slept, and now I wake.
Thou art I, and I am thee.
I am Titania, Queen of the Fey.”

She unfolded her arms and spread them outward, palms up, in a gesture of greeting. A gracious smile enveloped her face.

Slowly, the Fairy Queen drifted back down to earth, her feet gently alighting on the ground.

And Rosette boggled.

Titania raised an imperious eyebrow, waiting for the girl to speak.

And still Rosette boggled.

[Meryck]

Ran blinked. "Um." He looked over at Reg. She looked back with a face in stunned agreement.

"Yeah, I know. Odd and cool at the same time." The white-haired boy gulped and bobbed his head, slightly. Green fire flickered over at Rosette. "Hey Rosette! I'd close that mouth of yer's before you start catching flies." Ran sighed and shook his head.

This was a weird, screwed up day.

[Elf]

The more Rosette boggled, the more frigid Titania's imperious look became.

"Um...wow. Er...Nice to meet you." Rosette scratched the back of her head, giving the Fairy Queen a bemused smile.

The ice melted from Titania's face straight away, once more replaced with that gracious smile.

Chrono's baritone interjected the moment. "It's a pleasure to meet you, M'Lady." He stepped over and took up one of Titania's hands, landing a polite kiss on it.

The Fairy Queen smiled at him--half studying, half knowing. She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again as a realization dawned on her. The Persona turned to her Channeler and nodded, wordlessly.

Rosette nodded back, a little confused. She wondered why the look on Titania's face was one of farewell.

And then, Titania vanished into motes of blue light.

"Huh." Rosette lowered the Evoker. The flabbergasted look finally left her face, comprehension paying her a visit. "I guess they just vanish if there's nothing to fight."

Slowly, her gaze trailed over towards Chrono.

The demonic Persona blinked. He took up the relay baton of Rosette's questioning look and passed it over to Reg. So...why am I still here then?

[Meryck]

The raven-haired Channeler grimaced as her Persona kissed her best friend's Persona. Even if it was on the hand, all the horrible connotations buzzed in her brain.

And then Titania vanished.

Reg and Ran blinked and looked at eachother, surprised. Is that what's supposed to happen normally? Then why...

Reg's eyes turned to Chrono at the same time his turned to her's, paralleling his thoughts. Why are you still here....? There was a pause, and then, she shrugged, helplessly.

I guess yer just a weird one, Chrono.

[Elf]

"Huh." From the look on Rosette's face, her thoughts seemed to mirror the others in the room. "Yeah, I get the feeling you're supposed to have vanished by now, Chrono. You must just be a funky Persona or something." She shot a snarky grin up at the demon; after all, if Chrono was an extension of Reg, then why shouldn't she snark at him like they'd known each other all their lives? In a sense, they had.

So why didn't she find it at all disconcerting that Chrono had kissed Titania's hand? Whatever. He was probably just being polite.

A huff-sigh from the blonde. "Alright!" She marched over to Ran, held out the gun, and fixed the white-haired boy with a deadly serious look. "Your turn! There's no way in hell me n' Reg are gonna go through this craziness without you joining in, Ran. Chrono said all of us can do this Persona thing. So let's see what you've got!"

[Meryck]

Ran grimaced. "Must I?"

"Yes", Reg responded flatly, rolling her eyes. "Quit being a chicken."

The boy sighed, stuck his rapier back in the floor, took the gun, and stepped back so as not to get anyone hit by flying light-debris. He stuck his free hand in his pocket as he lifted the gun to his temple, sighing, "With God as my witness, I hate guns."

Bang.

The blue mist sprayed out accordingly, soon swirling in a double-helix around the boy. But unlike the others, it did not turn into a color, but rather faded out into a deep, ebony vortex, without the sense of earthliness of Rosette's or the crimson that had earlier splashed Reggie's. It rose, and stretched, and lengthened, loosely coiling in the air around the boy, causing him to blink past the bullet-migraine in curiosity and surprise. Fell wings appeared just behind a serpentine head and in the middle of the snake-back. A deep, hissing voice rumbled through the room.

"I am thou, and Thou art I.
From the Shadows of the Soul do I fly."

The black suddenly gave way to ruby, as if the dragonoid figure had been drenched in blood. A pair of sulfur eyes was the only break in the color pattern, bitting through the sickly-green air with their own, demon light.

"I am Samael, the Poison of God."

The winged serpent slunk his head down to look at Ran curiously, yellow orbs still glowing dimly. The boy blinked as her gathered his wits together, then bowed his head in a respectful hello. The sulfur eyes gained a twinkle of amusement, serpent head bowing back just as cordially.

Reg blinked rapidly. Damn. Where the hell has Ran been hiding THAT?

[Elf]

Red eyes widened as Chrono beheld Samael's first summoning. He never would have expected the demure fencer to possess such a fierce spirit, muchless a spirit of the Death Arcana...

Rosette seemed to be thinking along the same lines, judging by the way she boggled at the draconic creature, jaw unhinged and hanging to the floor. "Wh-wh--Ran?" She threw out a pointing finger towards Samael. "You had THAT inside of you?! MAN! Whod've thought."

[Meryck]

Ran rolled his eyes skyward. "Hey, no need to rub it in." Samael, however, merely hissed a chuckle and bowed cordially to both the girl and the other Persona.

Then his sulfur eyes turned to Reggae.

The ends of the serpentine mouth twitched, as if smiling. He bowed, grandly, like the raven-haired girl was royalty. She blinked, confused, and managed a quick head-bow back, frazzled by the show of respect. Another snake-smile

Then, Samael faded away into blue and black mist.

Reg blinked at Ran. Ran blinked at Reg. Both stared at each other for a moment.

Then they looked away, blushing, Reg with a slightly-sour look on her face, and Ran with a demure, awkward expression.

[Elf]

"Ohh, hohohoho." Rosette's chuckle carried a decidedly evil edge. "What's THAT all about now, Reggie? Ran? Kah kah kah." Her knowing smirk and the devilish glint in her eye oozed the words that didn't need to be said--You two!

Chrono raised an eyebrow at the strawberry-blonde and her evil laughter. Alright then...

But he didn't have time to speak. The moment he opened his mouth, an earth-shaking cacophony rumbled through the room. The Persona grimaced, his blood racing. That was a roar--a very nasty, pissed off roar of one very humongous Shadow.

"What the..." Rosette's cerulean eyes widened, her mirth vanishing as her fears rushed back to her. But rather than run away from the danger, she ran towards it, dashing out into the hall to see if she could spot the source of the commotion.

Chrono cursed silently. The girl didn't have her Persona summoned to protect her--what if something got to her in the hall before she could summon it? He dashed into the hall after her.

GRRRROOOOOAAAAAAARR!!

[Meryck]

Reg and Ran both jumped the moment the roar sounded.

GRRRROOOOOAAAAAAARR!!

However, before Reg could spit out a start of a curse stream, before even a cell of blood could leave Ran's face, both Rosette and Chrono were out door. "Beh- HEY, GUYS, WAIT!!" Too late. By the time she had gotten to the door, the two had vanished into the darkness. "Goddammit." The sound of Ran pulling his rapier out of the floor.

"Let me guess....they're gone?"

"Yes. We have been totally horror-story split-up." Goddammit Chrono.

[Elf]

"Rosette, wait!"

The girl paid the Persona no heed. This was a nightmare full of monsters and distorted colors, madness and violence. She had a solution, now. The walnut handle of the Evoker in her hand seemed warm to the touch, as if silently singing of its power.

Her power. The power to end the nightmare. She dashed on ahead.

He couldn't spread his wings in the narrow dormitory corridor, but half a second more and Chrono's long legs would have brought him within grabbing distance of Rosette. Except--

A flash of shadow; a blurred movement of something's limb. Rosette let out a scream and tumbled to the floor.

"ROSETTE--?!"

She was skidding away, dragged rapidly up the corridor by the shadow tentacle wrapped around her legs.

"GYEEEE!" she shrieked. "Getitoffameeee!!"

Chrono reached for her in vain; it yanked her up the hall and out of sight. His claws grasped on empty air. He bit down a curse and put on a burst of speed, anxiety chewing at his guts.

[Meryck]

As the other duo ran through the halls, the two shouts- one from the Persona, and one of their best friend- hit their eardrums. That, to Reg, coupled with the empathetic screech of unbridled dismay, anxiety, and rage....

Green eyes narrowed as the girl put her own speed on. Without much trouble, Ran caught up to her, worry painting his own face. "You know, at this rate, we'll never catch up to them in time to help." Damn his logic. But he had a point. Chrono was apparently DAMN FAST, and Rosette had always been a bit of a sprinter. If only they had an idea of where---

The empathic buzz gave her the ghost feeling of charging across a yard, toward the-- the--

The flood plain. For once, she was glad that voice was in the back of her head- whatever it was. Her thoughts whirled, she snapped her fingers, turned as the corridors crossed, and dashed in a different direction. Blinking, Ran scrambled to catch up to her again.

"Wha-- hey, where are you going?!"

"Shortcut."