The following night, Julia had called a mortician, escorted her protege's Revenant to a nearby storage facility, and was told that, if she wished, she could choose one of her friends to re-host Baal. These assumptions in to her life stuck with her as she met up with Mia & Marisa to continue guarding the civilian prosecutor, and she refused to let Marisa cover her shift of watch. Nor did she sleep much.
Before they transferred the civilian prosecutor to the FBI's professional, they were told the city's police had received a anonymous tip -- that there was a man who needed to be tested for a Revenant.
Marisa glanced over at Julia as they came up to Luft's bar and noticed her hands shaking; whether it was from him or nicotine withdrawal she did not know. Whatever her reaction was going to be to Markus's death, so far she seemed to be submerging it.
A few patrons were already drinking inside, but the bartender came over to Marisa immediately. He looked a bit put-out when he noticed her Urasaria badge.
"That's right." she chimed. "Where's the owner of this place?" Her finger tensed.
"Should I go get him for you?" he said, and when he moved his arm Marisa pinned it to the bar.
"No. Where is he?"
"He's… in his office." He jerked his neck to point to a door behind the bar, and Marisa vaulted over it; Mia & Julia followed as she told the patrons that they needed to be out by the time she turned her head back, then muttered to the two that she already knew he had a Revenant.
Scarabs & metal rods readied, they came up to the door. Marisa knocked and Luft cracked it open.
"We're Urasaria students." she said. "Come with us."
He looked at Julia for a second. "What for?"
Marisa tried to yank the door open & all three knew he had a Revenant when it didn't budge. His right hand tucked behind his back as he spoke: "I don't know who the hell snitched to you little dykes, but I got one question before you go. Does this look familiar?
Sleight-of-Hand's mask formed; his right hand swept down like he was pulling a rope -
- but nothing happened, and Marisa held up a Boudoir-string carrying 3 other, barely-visible strands. "I was wondering what these were. I felt them as soon as we walked in."
Luft tried to slam the door in her face, but a Boudoir-spring kept it from shutting; a strand shot at him and he swept in to his office just in time for her to shove the door open. He staggered, but got his feet under him in a hurry; he ran in to a closet behind his desk, and as he slammed the door shut -
- a pillar of white fire swallowed the other door -
- just in time to blunt the two aces that were coming at then from behind; Mia & Julia swept forward but still got a few cuts on their backs, and as they heard the office door slam again -
" - you okay?" said Marisa, and Mia nodded quick as they rushed up to the office door. Julia laid a Manufacture rod down before they opened it, and as they swept out to the bar again -
- they saw him grinning at the entrance, patrons clear & their drinks left behind, Sleight-of-Hand's diamond-sharp cards drawn.
"I-It's the guy." grunted Julia. "I recognize the -- his mask."
Marisa nodded. "Mia, just focus on keeping yourself safe, okay?"
"Alright." said Mia as they vaulted back over the bar, and in the next instant -
- three empty glasses flew at them from the bar & shattered, sharp ends cutting their skin; more empty drinks came at them -
- but a white-hot breath melted the projectiles in to molten glass; Marisa held her Boudoir-strand up & they knew there were more microscopic threads lowering out of the
ceiling, 50ft separating them from their foe at the entrance. At her side, Mia heard Julia muttering to her: she was telling her to be cautious, too.
"You think I'd own a place like this without a little preparation?" said Luft, and in the next instant -
- the three hit the ground -
- just in time to avoid the three guillotine pendulums swinging over them from behind, and they stood up just in time -
- to sweep back from the next 3 coming from their right; as the first trio swung back towards them, Julia threw a Manufacture rod out -
- and the pendulum coming from the left nearly sliced her arm off when it hit her; she realized Mia & Marisa has swept back a second prior and stepped back with them, keeping a horizontal line as they backed away from the next set.
More guillotines were lowering out of the ceiling, microscopic threads hanging blades formed of royal flushes; ahead, Luft was throwing more aces in to a hole in the ceiling, microscopic thread pulling it deeper inside.
Inch by inch, the pressure of the pendulums forced them further back; Marisa lashed behind her back with a Boudoir-rope that kept any unwanted threads from dropping behind them, but only a dozen feet separated them from the back of the bar.
Edging the end of his range, Luft stepped forward & ahead of his bar's glass front; Julia threw a Manufacture rod at him -
- but he dodged underneath -
- but as it sparked, the next scene was instant. An electrical arc pulled its sister out of the office & towards itself; he shouted for Sleight-of-Hand as it came within range -
- and he reappeared on the other side of the glass, no damage gained but some space created, guillotines still swinging between them & he. Marisa ripped a whip out of her dress, and in the next instant -
" - Boudoir!" "Worldwide!"
- and she lashed out with a flaming Boudoir-whip that sliced through the threads keeping the guillotines hanging; they clattered as they fell to the floor, and as they rushed forward, they saw Luft's mouth moving outside -
- and he reappeared on the nearer side of the glass, throwing a three-of-a-kind at them as they passed by the bar -
- but the three ducked synchronized, and the cards caught nothing but the whiskey behind the counter -
- shattering the bottles & dousing the three in alcoholic liquid. Ahead, another royal flush flew towards Mia -
" - Worldwide." she winced, knowing what would happen as a pillar of flame swallowed the cards -
- and Marisa & Julia burst in to flames beside her; she looked over & a geyser of water claimed them both, keeping her eyes from seeing the next royal flush flying at her -
- but a familiar Boudoir-glove blocked it -
- taking four of Marisa's fingers with it; she stifled her scream as more strands formed to keep them attached, reassuringly patting Mia's shoulder as she muttered: "N-Not the first time."
"Y-You never get used t-to it." muttered Julia, relevantly.
Ahead, Mia saw Luft throwing more aces in to the ceiling. "Marisa, where are the strands?"
Marisa swung a Boudoir-rope out and Mia nodded as it wrapped around a hanging thread she couldn't see; she raised her sword's tip above it, shouting Worldwide as a jet of water erupted out of it -
- and a second later, the jet of water flooded over Luft from above; Julia threw Manufacture's 2 rods towards him -
" - Sleight!" he shouted, reappearing outside of the glass -
- but the next scene was instant. Manufacture's first rod popped as it slammed in to the glass, and it shattered like something out of a movie; #2 caught up and sparked as it hit the broken pieces -
- and blasted a sharp shard right through his left eye; they knew from the spray of blood that followed that he wouldn't be seeing through it. He staggered to the left & out of their left eyes, and as the three came up to the pile of glass, their backs swept against the wall as Marisa paused.
"Julia, can you check?" she said, and Julia nodded. She threw both rods around the 'corner', and when #1 blasted #2 away she said she hadn't felt anything. Revenants readied, they swept out to the sidewalk and looked left -
- and saw Luft standing in the doorway of a store two buildings down; he looked at them, and in the next instant -
- a strand erupted from Marisa's palm & hit the left wall; she yanked Julia & Mia up with her -
- just in time to avoid the straight (but not that kind) that'd been thrown at them from behind; they hit the ground again, and Marisa spoke quick as they turned. "He has illusions, it -- it still has a left eye."
Ahead, the true Luft was in the doorway of another building, and as he slammed the door shut on himself -
- Marisa threw her right glove behind her -
- and it expanded in to a Boudoir-shield that swallowed the next royal flush coming at them, swift strands keeping it attached to the wall; they heard a door slamming behind them and saw him appear ahead -
- then slam the door on himself again, and they heard a door slamming behind -
- and another door a few stores ahead slam -
- but no sound or sight after that. Cautiously, Marisa turned, making sure Mia was safe behind her as she peeled open her Boudoir-shield -
- to see Luft's illusion repeatedly slamming the door. Starting to rush forward, Mia pointed to the left wall: "There's cards embedded in them."
Marisa nodded and a strand brought the three to the roof, ducking underneath the royal flush coming from the next roof over & ahead. The true Luft was standing on another building on a sunroof of glass, 50ft separating them & he.
"I c-can find out where he is." muttered Julia. "Can't dodge if I attack him from below."
Marisa nodded and heard Julia leap back down, leaving her & Mia with 2 connected roofs separating them & their foe. No time to waste, they rushed on to the next roof, and 30ft was separating them when Luft threw a four-of-a-kind out -
- but the next scene was instant. Marisa threw her glove out and a Boudoir-shield formed, tiny holes forming as Worldwide's sword sprayed water in to it -
- and the pressurized jets of water sliced through every card & sent them flying apart; Boudoir's shield lowered as she sprayed another geyser of water at Luft, and as a swarm of electrical scarabs followed -
" - Sleight-of-Hand!" he shouted, reappearing under the sunroof -
- and immediately reappearing above it: someone had been waiting for him, no time to dodge the electrical volley -
- but Mia frowned as no electrocution came, her attack failing for reasons she didn't know.
"…fuck." muttered Marisa, realizing it. "Ugh. Magician. Escaping water."
Mia just sighed as Luft stepped back: the sunroof's glass cracked and a Manufacture blast underneath sent the shards sky-high, and both them & their foe spent a few seconds dodging the rain as he stepped back to another roof, the street below him.
More cards flew at them, but jets of water sliced them apart & sent their halves spinning behind -
- and Mia & Marisa hit the ground as they flew back -
- nearly amputating Julia when she came sweeping back out of the sunroof's hole, Manufacture's rods covering themselves in shards of glass as she caught up with Mia & Marisa.
"He can escape water." winced Marisa and Julia sighed.
"Oh, great."
Another volley of water sliced through the next deck of cards, but Mia felt her supply of scarabs starting to dwindle. A fire scarab threateningly nibbled on her thumb -- not of her mind's volition, but she calmed as she remembered her month with Matoi. Manufacture's glass-crusted rods sliced apart the next straight flush.
Ahead, Luft leaped off of the roof and down in to the street; Boudoir's glove reformed as Marisa rushed forward, angrier than usual. "God, I- you know what? Mia, let's just fucking shoot every car we see him go near."
Mia nodded as they reached the roof & leaped off in to the street, hitting the road running with Luft rushing away & ahead. He veered right to make towards the line of stores, but a volley of Boudoir-bullets made him think twice. A line of cars were parked in the left lane; he rushed up to one. broke the window open, unlocked it & readied to the open the door -
- but a volley of flaming-bullets hit the gas tank; the car burst in to flames, and him along with it; he screamed for a few seconds, but -
" - are you fucking kidding me?" groaned Mia -
- at the next instant scene.
Magician's wax oozed out of his pores as he staggered back -
- and catching the flame with it, keeping it away from its owner; frustrated, Marisa swept both of her globes out -
" - BOUDOIR!" she shouted; a volley of bullets erupted out, dousing the flames just in time to see Luft slit his own wrist -
- and they realized why a second later. Blood leaked out of his hands, covering his arms -
- and he reappeared a few feet back as he escaped the water. The three rushed as fast as they could towards him as he reappeared another few feet back -
- and another, and another; Julia muttered something to Marisa as they passed by a car -
- and the next scene was instant. Boudoir's strands shot under the vehicle, lifting it up & hurling it forward; Luft laughed as he threw his hand out, shouting Sleight-of-Hand as the driverside door opened in midair, and as he reappeared inside & grabbed the passengerside door -
- he realized Mia had burnt away of the insulation inside, and he was doomed & he knew it as Manufacture's rods flew over the car and sparked -
- and the immense electrical current coursing through the car knocked him unconscious, body falling out and scrapping against the street as the car kept rolling for another few dozen feet.
Julia stomped up to his body, and she knew he was only unconscious. Marisa quickly followed her behind. "Julia, are you going to -"
" - I-I've got a few f-fucking ideas." she grunted.
◆◆◆
Some time later, they heard Julia shouting they could come inside the bar now now. As Mia stepped towards the door, Marisa stopped her & tightly hugged her, and they stepped inside together. Luft was nailed to the floor, looking about how you'd expect. Clearly, Houdini had never escaped crucifixion.
"Thought y-you would wanna see this." muttered Julia, crouching over.
Luft coughed, blood running between his lips. "W-What are you gonna do next? You g-gonna gain some self-respect and-"
- Manufacture's two rods bashed his skull, and they knew he was dead before his electrocuted nerves twitched, but the next scene was instant. A hand grew out of the scorch mark on his right hand and shot in to his chest, ripping out his still-beating heart -
- and both limb & Revenant sank back in to the blood in the next, Julia stepping back with Manufacture's rods drawn but no new noise coming. "I- what the fuck?"
"What the hell was that?" said Marisa, and Mia frowned.
"…this wasn't their leader, was it?"
Julia stared at the corpse as it began rapidly rotting. For a moment, she worried that this would be the second of a string of failures: that her own self would begin rotting through life.
"Julia, did you ask him if there was anyone else?" said Marisa. "There's gotta be someone else, right?"
Mia muttered something to Marisa: Julia heard Markus's name and turned to them.
"I-I didn't torture him for this goddamn investigation, don't you realize anything by now? Or my protege! All of this bacteria swimming around on our hearts makes it so we -- we don't respond like normal people to things like murder, or rape, or Dory or anything e-else like that crap. Dead is dead. I- God, you know, I-I look around me and all I see is human suffering. The-the least I can do is dim some of mine."
Marisa watched her as she stepped outside, rifling through her pocket, and her face seeming to wear other guilts that could not be named.
◆◆◆
Walking through Urasaria's gate a day later, Marisa asked if she could speak to Julia off to the side, and Mia left.
"Hey." said Marisa. "How are you holding up?"
Julia half-smiled.
"…um." Marisa placed her hand on Julia's shoulder. "I know how you're feeling right now, but, it's gonna be okay? Right? It's gonna be okay."
These shallow cliches vaguely irritated Julia. "I know. It'll - yeah."
"You're really in to poetry, right?" she said. "Maybe you should… write a poem about it. Help you get some closure."
Julia remembered something she had told Markus; or, rather, whether she hadn't, was still generally true, that most people thought of life & death as profound matters no matter how they were expressed. She knew this was not true -- art was not truth or therapy, and a deep matter expressed tritely was trite. Her poetry was simultaneously an expression of the species & her disconnection from most of it.
"Do you want me to help you tell Aimee?" said Marisa.
"It'll … take me a few days."
"Okay." Marisa smiled. "But if you're not in class tomorrow, I'm gonna like, go over to your house and yank the front door out to check on you, okay?"
Julia nodded, and felt Marisa watching her on the way back to her house. She opened her front door, went over to her desk, and as she sat down, pulled the drawer open and her notebook out of it. Flipping through it, she pushed it further away so that her poetry would not become slightly damp.
"A bowl of opening roses made majestic by a slice of sun."
She looked down at it, and did not like her lips turning downward. Alone to herself, she let out a shout of frustration that she would have to speak with Aimee tomorrow. She contemplated that this would be the end of her time as a Urasaria student -- that she could not continue as former mentor or artist if these shards of emotion continued piercing her. She remembered what Dory had said of how she refused to detach herself from certain things, and that this would inevitably emerge in her work.
Faced with all of this, her sense of shame expanded until she, with some effort, attempted compressing it back to where it had been a month prior. In a way, she dealt with his death as she still did her neighbor's home seven years ago. A burgeoning would eventually come to her surface, but for now, her expression reset, and she finished her stanza, thinking of a slice of sun grown upon a slab where something dead may lay.
[END OF ARC: HELL OF AN ACT]