Catchall Catchup (Various)

[notquitedracula]

Alchemical Aptitude (Trunks, maybe Bulma?)
[True to his word, Soma managed to show up at the Capsule Corp building in Nova the day after his conversation with Trunks. He's wearing his usual attire - long white coat, jeans, boots, and black turtleneck - but doesn't seem to be wearing a sword, for once. Not that that means anything, necessarily, but it's generally considered to be bad manners to go armed to a friendly meeting.

He's carrying a folder with a stack of what looks like loose printouts as well as a smaller pamphlet that looks to be handwritten.]

My Demons (Dante)
[Dante's invitation to demonstrate his capabilities put Soma in something of a tight spot. On the one hand, he was pretty sure the hunter would agree that he had all the control he needed to work with them on Attleton turf. On the other, his methods were... decidedly not normal, and might be a bit off-putting. Hopefully Dante won't object TOO violently when he finds out he's playing host to a soul eater.]

Uptown Downtime (Open)
[It's the weekend, and Soma has a whole entire day to goof off. What better way to do that than spend time shopping around, talking to friends, and generally trying to seize a few hours of normalcy from a world that's been dedicating itself to making his life as abnormal as possible? About the only place he won't be spotted is probably Attleton. Feel free to chat up the dhampir!]

Comments

[notquitedracula]

[He'll chuckle and squirm a bit, but he's not terribly ticklish.] Easy, you. Tentacles and I don't get on so well.

[He sets to work on bathing Sylveon, using a small bucket to scoop water and douse her fur before applying the shampoo.] Close your eyes, or this might sting a little.

[alwaysimpaled]

Kid, I've been hunting demons for most of my life. It takes a lot to surprise me.

[He shrugs, tossing the bottle into a bin behind him without even looking.]

Show me.

[notquitedracula]

[In the space between seconds, that bottle he threw is going to end up back on his desk.]

For the most part, I don't summon at all. I also hunt demons... and when I kill them, I take their souls. I've taken hundreds of abilities from them - and used some of them to forge weapons, as well, though I had some help with that part. Unless you want this place on fire, flooded, frozen, or just flat out wrecked, I suggest we step outside.

[lunarlegionnaire]

[Considering who he really is, would Soma even have a hard time? Marc gives the younger man a rare, almost invisible grin, leading them both through the door and onto the street.]

Then I hope you like phad Thai because---

[Across them, the door to a local deli suddenly bursts open. Four burly men in black jackets and bright red ski masks emerge, one of each their hands bearing burlap sacks. Their free hands keep pistols trained on the cowering clientele inside, shouting for them to 'stay on the ground or we'll blow your heads off!']

Soma, take cover!

[And right on cue, two of the robbers whirl and begin firing into the evening crowd, prompting them to scream and scatter. Their shots are purposefully high; after all, they're not really aiming to hurt anyone. Just discourage pursuit so they can reach their getaway sedan a few steps away. Marc peers around the bumper of the car he'd dropped behind, dialing the GCPD as he recognizes the gang's colors. They'd been heavier armed back then, but he'd stopped them almost two years ago. These four are most likely the leftovers.]

Not these guys again.

[He hasn't realized it's loud enough for Soma to hear, even above the gunfire.]

[notquitedracula]

[Your average human - or even your above average human - hears a gunshot and goes for cover, or at least goes prone. It's a reflex from the days when loud noises automatically meant mortal danger.

Soma, not being human, still went for cover, because Marc told him to, and he's spent the past several months learning to do what Marc told him. That does not, however, stop him from remaining calm and considering the situation. Or from hearing Marc's grumble.]

Friends of yours? I can't say I'm a fan. We need to do something about those guns before someone gets hurt. I'll distract them - I can block their shots and I'm more durable than I look. While they've got their attention on me, you come at them from behind and knock 'em cold. Sound good?

[Said, of course, only where Marc can hear him.]

[light_of_willpower]

[On the one hand, Trunks is definitely impressed; both with the pocket dimension and the hammer. On the other? He's seen plenty of strange things, both magical and technological and otherworldly besides.]

Is it a dimension only accessible to you, or are we in danger if someone steals your coat?

[The earnestness of Trunks tone hopefully dispels any potential sarcasm.]

[alwaysimpaled]

[He quirks an eyebrow at the bottle.]

Alright then, if that's the case, let's step outside and do this.

[With little pomp and circumstance he will stand, and in the blink of an eye vanish, reappearing at the door behind Soma. Never let it be said Dante isn't petty.]

You coming?

[lunarlegionnaire]

[Marc's breath hitches a moment, though any attempt at explaining is quickly forgotten. While he'd rather not put his friend and student in harm's way, he's come to know what he's capable of over the last few months. Soma can take it. And who's Marc to stop anyone from doing some good?]

Love it. See that lightpost? [He points a short way down the street, away from the car's rear end.] I'll cross over from there, so try to draw their fire till I'm right on them.

[Staying low and using other cars for cover, Marc scoots towards said lightpost. A single stray bullet shatters the window of another car and sends broken glass tinkling around his shoulders. The voice of a GCPD operator comes over his videophone right before he reaches his waypoint.]

Genessia City Police Department, please state the nature of your emergency.

Four armed men just robbed Ingrid's Deli at Aspen and 11th. No one's hurt but they're shooting into the crowd. Hurry.

[Despite the civilian urgency in his voice, the nod he gives Soma from beside the lightpost is decidedly collected and professional. He's ready.]

[priceofmagic]

You certainly work very hard, don't you? I wish there was more I could do to help you with that.

[She takes her seat and then stretches her arms over her head.]

It's such nice weather! It's probably not gonna last forever, huh?

[notquitedracula]

Work isn't the word I'd use. The guy's a living minefield, and his anger dial only has one setting. Genocide. Between the Scarlet sisters and I, we've just about got him penned up.

[He shakes his head. Best to leave that subject, for now.]

Nothing ever does. Not even immortality. Best to enjoy it while we can, I think.

[notquitedracula]

[Soma nods, then puts deeds to words. He stands from behind the car they've ducked behind and starts walking forward, hands raised.] For God's sake, stop shooting. Do you people not even think about your methods?

[There's a faint heat shimmer aura around him, which Marc might just be able to spot as he moves forward toward the goons. If they choose to shoot at him, their bullets aren't going to do much good.

Of course, if they decide to try good old blunt force trauma, that's a different story.]

I'm giving you a three count to put the guns down, or this gets painful. One...

[notquitedracula]

[Soma rises from his chair and gives the hunter a sarcastic little bow. Well played, Dante.

Once they're outside, Soma stretches for a few seconds to limber up.] I'm not going to unpack my whole toolbox here. There's too much stuff around that can be damaged.

[He makes a few selections, and then frowns.] I need a target. Something that can take a beating.

[notquitedracula]

My coat can take care of itself. The bear traps I put in there help, though. [Just a hint of smirk, there.] Really though, anyone can go digging around in there. Whether they find what they're looking for or not, though, is a different story - and you have to get it away from me first.

[He reaches into a pocket on the inside of the coat and pulls out a rather large sword. It appears to be glowing.] Anyone who can do that probably doesn't need a gun to break the city.

[light_of_willpower]

That's reassuring...

[There is a hint of smirk, and it's unclear whether Trunks is teasing or serious.]

I admit, magic isn't my forte. Even after training for a while with the kais on my world, I'm still not that familiar with it. So I'll take your word.

[notquitedracula]

Whereas I have no idea how you manage to operate at the level of spiritual energy I sense from you. Magic is all about focus and willpower - you're telling the universe that something is other than what it is, in essence.

[He holds out a hand - the one not holding the gigantic claymore - and conjures a ball of fire into being above it.] It still obeys certain laws - or, perhaps it's more accurate to say that we're taught that it does, because practicing it without those limits invites disaster. There are things outside our reality that can use an improperly performed ritual or spell to gain a foothold here. Have you ever heard of a man named H. P. Lovecraft?

[light_of_willpower]

[The smirk vanishes, and there's a blink of surprise and a small laugh. Then a resigned smile.]

That makes me wonder just how much you can read from me, considering I'm masking my ki. Most advanced tech where I'm from designed to read things like that peg me as lower because of that masking. It's a survival thing.

Never heard of H.P. Lovecraft either, but I wouldn't be surprised about things outside reality. I've seen enough monsters and things IN reality that were disasters.

[notquitedracula]

If I weren't what I am, I probably wouldn't be able to sense it at all. That kind of power is dangerous to vampires; it's the same sort of power wielded by exorcists, onmyouji, and demon hunters. [He lets the fireball go away, and gestures at the sword he's holding.] This also helps. It's a holy weapon, and it's all but singing at you. It's only done that for me a couple times, usually when I was fighting something really big and really ugly.

[He puts the blade away now, and folds his arms.] Lovecraft wrote about things he called elder gods and eldritch horrors. Abominations that exist in dimensions beyond our own, the mere sight of which is capable of destroying a person's mind.

[light_of_willpower]

[All but singing huh? Sometime, some other time--Trunks would ask to see it again. Last 'holy' sword of any kind he'd held was the Z sword before it got turned to stone by Dabura's spit. Unless his own broken blade which had been temporarily transformed into a spirit-bomb counted... Another time though, as he settles back into his lean against the counter. Arms crossed, looking up in thought for a bit.]

I suppose that makes sense, although ki on its own isn't wholly made up of 'spiritual' power. Or rather, it's not 'just' that, but it's...complicated. I think we understand enough between us, and I get what you're saying.

[There's a sigh, and his eyes go down, expression hardening.]

I don't know about it destroying the mind, but I'd definitely say I've met an abomination then. A mad god, who just kept getting more insane.

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante shrugs a bit, motioning to the rest of the gate.]

Whole place is deserted so don't worry about collateral. As for a target, I get impaled on swords bigger than most people on an alarming frequency. Hit me with your best shot.

[notquitedracula]

[Soma rolls his shoulders, nodding absently. He's been impaled a few times too, he doesn't find it so unbelievable that Dante has survived the experience.] Alright. But remember - you asked for this.

[And Soma proceeds to unleash... pretty much everything he has. Everything from Abaddon to Zombie, in both bullet and guardian forms. Form changes, familiars, tentacles, giant things sprouting from his back, everything. He caps it off with his transformations. All told, something like 400 unique abilities.]

I'd show you my armory too, but a guy's got to have some secrets, in this business.

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante doesn't seem to make any move to avoid or otherwise evade any of the attacks, nor does he seem any worse for wear after the onslaught. He wasn't expecting all of that. He just wanted a few examples to draw from, but he appreciated the thoroughness.]

Quite the repertoire you've got there. Wasn't expecting that, but you've more than demonstrated your control over all that. You pass. I don't have an actual license or anything, but if anyone questions ya just send 'em to me and I'll set things right.

[notquitedracula]

[The way he shrugged off petrification was especially noteworthy. Soma's making some serious mental notes about not fucking with this guy.]

Thanks. I think I'm covered in all the cities, now.

[He stretches, trying to wind down some from that display.] Pretty interesting blade you've got, there.

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante motions to Rebellion on his back.]

This? This is honestly the least interesting toy in my toy box.

[notquitedracula]

Must be a nice toy box. I've got a few interesting ones of my own - including this thing. [He pulls... a sword struck through a stone out of his coat.]

[alwaysimpaled]

It sure is. My collection from over twenty years of demon hunting.

[Dante chuckles a bit, deciding not to question the coat.]

I've heard of the Sword in the Stone but that's kinda ridiculous.