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Tristan Carter takes CONFUSE opening against Hikaru Yamanoue at a cost of 5% combat advantage, preventing her from taking openings for the rest of the battle!

Hikaru Yamanoue is unable to take DISABLE opening.

Interference (Corruption) by Rook Spellmeyer against Karma results in SUCCESS, +10% combat advantage

Interference (Illusion) by Tristan Carter against Hikaru Yamanoue results in SUCCESS, +10% combat advantage

Interference (Corruption) by Hikaru Yamanoue against Rook Spellmeyer results in SUCCESS, +10% combat advantage

Aggression (Disruption) by Karma against Tristan Carter results in FAILURE due to suppression by the equal-or-greater Interference (Corruption) Rook Spellmeyer used, +5% combat advantage

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Current conditions:

Tristan Carter cannot use his Aggression (Disruption) power

Hikaru Yamanoue cannot take openings

Current advantage:

Rook Spellmeyer and Tristan Carter have 60%
Hikaru Yamanoue and Karma have 35%

Current openings:

Rook Spellmeyer can DISABLE Karma at a cost of 10% combat advantage, preventing him from using the power he used this turn for the rest of the battle!

(Click here to send in your next round's actions! The next round's deadline is in 48 hours!)

Rook had enough time before the inflatable gorilla came at her to notice the person in the general vicinity of where the shadowmancer had been was not, in fact, the shadowmancer. A child screaming for help rather than the mage screaming for help was replacing one problem with another, bigger problem, but it meant he at least was probably fine. And she had probably been ditched.

Being left alone with two mages seemingly much more intent on actual fighting was something that could be left until after she had wrestled with the large helium filled mammal, an interaction that consisted of a yelp and useless swatting at cloth and ended with her on the floor.

She was glad though, as she pulled herself off the floor, that the woman did not seem intent on child murder. It was good to hear the academy and various universes were still instilling some morals in their demi-god civilians. With a stretch to get the gorilla body-slam out of her back, she paced towards the child, then crouching next to him. A little like a sports coach assuring a kid they’ll win the next game, she dropped a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, kid, we’ll get you away from this scary sun person and to a hospital bed pronto. Does anywhere else hurt? Can I see your face?”

Unfortunately, the child's attempts at clarification told her nothing. She couldn't blame him, he was clearly distressed and expecting a distressed child to be clear was expecting far too much, but it left her at a loss of what to do. Hikaru was, unfortunately, very familiar with how her power burned people. This child wasn't close enough, nor were there any other signs that her power did something. Did he just look at her? She was quite bright, to the point that looking at her for even the short period that her power was active could probably hurt. With any luck that was all it was and his eyes would feel better with time. Hopefully she didn't end up permanently blinding him.

Before she could try to move in and comfort him further, someone else beat her to it. Normally Hikaru wouldn't mind, but this person was clearly mentally unstable and she wasn't about to trust a person like that around small children. She lifted her head just enough to look the other woman in the eyes with a look much like a mother bear. To the point that it looked like she might have bitten her if the other woman did actually end up touching the child's shoulder.

She cast a glance at the newcomer before looking back at the other woman. Nothing anyone said was even worth acknowledging at this point.

"How do you contact a doctor here?" she said with a softness that completely betrayed the hard expression on her face. The last thing she wanted to do was agitate the child further, so she wasn't about to let him sense any amount of danger or uneasiness from her. "Do either of you know?"

Maybe it was bad form but she had been hoping the child in close proximity would mean she wouldn't get attacked by either of the two other mages. As another large amount of movement - a table, it seemed - showed, even the child shield was not enough. Rook flinched and raised an arm to protect her head, ready to try to dive out of the way as well. Before another object got between her and it. One of those shadow beings, meaning the shadowmancer hadn't ditched her after all? She'd have to buy him a drink after this as thanks and cheers for a new movie script.

This woman was looming over the kid like she’d snap the arm of anyone who came within five inches of him. Rook couldn’t help but feel like there was a giant, glowing bear here, and she had a nice long stick. It was interesting, given she had been the one to burn him in the first place, yet Rook was getting the feeling if someone broke this kid’s nail she’d snap their neck. Guilt, perhaps? It didn’t all the way seem like guilt.

The kid was saying something about Abs, and while she did agree he was weird like the other man, she wasn’t feeling inclined on taking orders from a child with a strange sense of command. It was adorable, but she had another temptation.

“Done and done, docter’s outside.” She explained to the woman, pointing over her shoulder to the flashing lights. To the child, she continued, “What’da say we get you out of here instead? Here, I’ll give you a lift to the friendly pharmamedics outside.”

Locking eyes with the woman, she attempted to take the child’s hand. Then getting to her feet, it was time to indeed walk to the medical authorities outside. She was already easily within half an arm’s reach so stopping her would be difficult, but she was interested if the woman would give it a try.

She saw the newcomer winding up on the table before he kicked it, and sent him a harsh glare because of it. Unfortunately, with a small child right by her and a very suspicious person approaching said small child, she couldn't react quickly enough to try to stop him. Hikaru did start standing up, maybe to try to intercept the table, but she was beaten by one of the shadows she didn't eliminate. Considering he could use those shadows to smother fire without an issue, she doubted a table impact would mean much to him. At least everything worked out.

The child's concerns about the newcomer went largely ignored. He was small, he didn't understand, and there was no reason to go after someone right now. As much as she was displeased with that man for attacking people randomly, attacking back was probably the wrong way to deal with this. Trying to force him out sounded like it would only result in a fight. For now, the best she could do was focus on getting the child to safety and getting him proper medical attention. As much as she wanted to intervene and stop the other woman from touching him, she felt like she couldn't once the child went along with it. It'd cause a fuss and that was the last thing he needed right now. That said, Hikaru wasn't going to take her eyes off of her.

The sound of sirens made her jump. She hadn't been expecting them, but it seemed like the other woman was. Was this also normal in this world? Hikaru was even more surprised to hear that it was a sign of doctors, given loud noises like that seemed like it'd be bad for the sick. Suspicious, she followed along, ready to act if she tried anything. As difficult as it was to watch the suspicious woman and the violent newcomer, she was managing.

Tristan needed an escape strategy, and he needed one now. Through one of the nearby constructs, he could see himself being led to the nearby sirens. Given the last time he'd been to a hospital was when he was put there by the Mage Maker Fever, and he's since turned into a shadow creature of one kind or another, he was tentative about having doctors poking at him. He knew he could pass a basic inspection - he did bleed, apparently gave off electrical signals in a brain (how else could Sparky read his mind, after all), and had what seemed to be a fully functional set of the other internal organs - but more than that would be a crapshoot. Given the special properties of his body...

"'Scuze me, miss?" the nearest construct called out as it started to jog towards Shades and the disguised Tristan Prime. "Allow me to take the child! There's no harm in me taking him, as the cops won't see my actual face, plus this construct can make a convenient distraction as paperwork finishes up. You, however, could possibly damage your budding career in acting if you go outside now! Plus, I - the guy in charge of the shadow people - could use your signature on a few things, I'm sure, if you're gonna be part of my movie." The shadowman turned towards Comet and waved. "You should come too. You wanna make sure I've not hurt the producer, yeah?" And be roped into being the villain, though he decided it was best to keep that a surprise for now.

It turned back to the fake kid and squatted down. "Here, c'mon, kiddo. I'll give you a piggyback ride, and we'll get you fixed right up." Tristan hesitated momentarily before slowly nodding to what was essentially himself and climbing onto what was essentially his own back, because interactions with a hive mind presence was really weird once one started to really think about it. Once the false child was safely secured, he mumbled suitably pitiful thanks and the construct started to calmly make his escape. Once out of sight, both Tristan and the construct would melt into their shadows, with Tristan reappearing in normal guise in the office.

Besides Frank getting the scare of his life, there wasn't much to do besides wait for the other mages to actually get to the paperwork. Still, Tristan couldn't help but smile. He may be making things needlessly complicated, but that was half the fun. And stupid, pointless fun was really the only benefit to having the magic powers he was forced to have. Why not roll with it?

"So, Billy. I think I've decided on the genre of the movie. We're going to make the single dumbest, most awesome movie to ever use any amount of practical effects. It'll be like a Micheal Bay movie, but, y'know. Good. And not stomping on the memories of beloved childhood series'. It'll be great."



Taking Option #3!