One For All, All for Some [Job]

They lead them a little beyond the kitchen, nearly running into one of the wandering guards and ducking around a corner in order to avoid the fellow as they entered one of the many rooms. Unwilling to take chances after that they made it that far, noting that the man from earlier was still there, lying on the floor, tied to the chair, and wished the trio luck as the family vanished through the door. Before leaving themselves they stashed the guy in a broom closet, figuring he might like a dark room for a nap seeing as he wouldn’t be going anywhere any time soon, though Portha felt it necessary to place a mop head like a wig for the man and drew a smiley face on the duct tape gag.

Making haste through the hallways, they felt it a second too late as a presence appeared between them.

”Sorry to disappoint you,” the new figure all but purred, ”but I’m not so easily tricked my darlings.”

The tall, voluptuous person then leaned towards Portha as the equally busty red-head had been leading the pair towards Townsend’s office, and whispered seductively, ”Would you like to come away with me?”

Drawing her sword, the musketeer managed to extract it but a few inches before the silver-haired woman hugged her from behind and they both disappeared in the blink of an eye. Fists clenched, Mao cursed internally. ’Wave magic, manifestations of fear, and even a world class crystal-make user…now a teleportation user.’ The woman’s overall experience fighting other mage felt very lacking right now, admitting that one of her toughest opponents had also been an ethereal being, and the crystal user had been rendered harshly by an ally. ’Then again I helped beat the tar out of the wave user…the main issue will be keeping them in place long enough.’

---

HP: 85%
MP: 90%

Weak: 2/4
Normal: 7/8
Strong: 2/2
Boss: 0/1

Sapphire: 2/5

Experience aside, Mao gave up any further pretenses of sneakiness as she full-on sprinted towards the general direction of the office. Worry for Portha continued to float about her mind even as she needed to reach the primary target and help get him out of there. If she could just reach him…but a part of her knew it’d be a vain hope to get there before their main adversary, the woman’s teleportation magic ensuring she could get anywhere before them. However if the musketeer she’d been traveling with all this time could manage it, maybe, just maybe she’d occupy by the woman long enough for Mao to get there and set the man free.

Now though she could see why the takeover of this place might’ve gone rather easily and quickly without anyone’s initial notice. It wouldn’t have been until people started patrolling the streets unchecked that the citizens might realize something was wrong, the local enforcement probably forced out of the area to regroup and plan this daring rescue.

A small plan began to form in the back of her mind as she rushed towards the end of the overly ostentatious hallway and threw open the most ornate door she’d come across in this mansion. There he sat, bound and gagged to his plush looking chair, shock replacing the boredom mixed with fear and panic only moments before. One quick scan and it would appear Mao’s hopes had been answered by her partner as she raced over to Townsend and set to cutting the ropes.

”Bad choice darling.”

Alas, but a moment was all she could spare.

---

HP: 85%
MP: 90%

Weak: 2/4
Normal: 7/8
Strong: 2/2
Boss: 0/1

Sapphire: 3/5

The woman’s focus stayed on Mao as she knocked the woman aside, the bunny-eared girl granted only enough time to slip Townsend the small knife before her hands pulled away. She’d only been shoved aside and managed to keep her feet, getting one of the gauntlets on in time to deflect a potted plant from above. ’Really? All the tricks open and she tries to use begonias?’ It struck the mage as a little petty even as a letter opener nearly plunged through a forearm, the smooth side gliding harmlessly along her skin instead.

And like a flash the woman vamoosed, vanishing in the blink of an eye much to Mao’s vexation and worry. This woman could strike from any angle at any moment and predicting her movements would be hard at the beginning stages. A thought struck her in that moment, inspiring Mao to dive for the lord of the manor just as he freed himself from his bindings. Down they went just as a sword slashed the air where his neck had been mere moments ago.

”Well played my cute toy,” the voice echoed around them as the woman disappeared too quickly to keep up with, ”But how long do you think you can spare him for before you forfeit your life I wonder…’

A roll saved Mao from being stabbed in the back, taking the poor man with her before she ended up on top again and hauled the confused fellow to his feet. They needed out of this room where too many objects posed a threat and the enclosed space would only get in her way.

---

HP: 85%
MP: 90%

Weak: 2/4
Normal: 7/8
Strong: 2/2
Boss: 0/1

Sapphire: 4/5

Back through the incredibly long hallways she dashed, pulling the poor man along for the ride. It was all he could do to keep up with offering directions so they could avoid dead ends and slowing down too much. Periodically she pulled him aside into an open room or down to the ground, trying to protect him while taking as little damage as possible. Knicks and scratches appeared here and there on her body unavoidably as the woman tried time and again to predict each attack. As they finally breached the outside world Mao determined one factor: there was a set time the woman could teleport. It was hard to figure out quite what the distance limitations might be or anything else, but there appeared to be some sort of rest period between each spell usage wherein she had to wait. ’That’s assuming she’s using it as quickly as possible.’[/i]

Even such a minor spell though could become draining if the woman insisted on utilizing it repeatedly and without end, or if it was a higher end type then it would eventually run its course before the woman had to take a longer rest. Once outside Mao pulled them away from the house, eager to avoid anything falling from the roof. An orb popped into her hand, the pink sphere of diamond alluring in its gentle and unassuming gleaming brilliance. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, eyes narrowing as the mental countdown continued from mere seconds ago when they dove out the door to narrowly escape a downward strike that’d grazed Mao’s thigh.

”Darling-“

The woman’s words ended on a high pitched scream as shards swirled around the pair, knocking the cutlass from her hand even as they whizzed past. It wouldn’t be long before her body started to resemble Mao’s slightly abused one.

”I’m not your darling.”

---

HP: 74%
MP: 80%

Weak: 2/4
Normal: 7/8
Strong: 2/2
Boss: 0/1

Sapphire: 5/5 - off cool down

Spoiler:

Red didn’t fully color her world, but damned if Mao didn’t want to harm this woman now. Volatile emotions were uncommon in the normally placid woman, extremes particularly abnormal. Violence was not a friend to someone who normally spent her time enjoying the lives of fictional characters or even the throes of nature. Naps beneath the shade accompanied by a certain, overly large beast were more her thing as well as conversing with others and attempting to steer clear of “overly interviewing” people in the hopes of not scaring them off from simple conversations. Understanding was more her thing, not punching people in the face and asking questions later.

Except right now.

Right now it felt good.

Blood Diamonds were feud diamonds. They were gems of conflict and pain, stained often with the blood of innocence for the sake of greed. That pretty pink hue of her gemstone represented the tears of the earth intermixed with the very essence of pain that demanded retribution. Each shard demanded tribute in the form of blood as they swiped at the woman’s body, jerking her perfect concentration out of alignment. It became a game of playing with her, the swarm dancing around in the sky and coming close to latching back on only to let the woman vanish to safety for a second. Except she could only manage a few feet with the multitude of sings decorating her body.

But they hadn’t touched her since that initial, distressing storm. Into supple flesh the gauntlets scraped, tearing further at the woman and her essence to draw forth a stronger hunger until she couldn’t stand it anymore and finally let the gems have their course. As soon as she landed again, fighting to catch her breath and a speck of calm they swarmed like bees upon an invader. Mao’s fingers clenched into a fist as they crushed the woman’s dominant arm, her scream alighting the sky with a flock of startled birds.

---

HP: 74%
MP: 80%

Weak: 2/4
Normal: 7/8
Strong: 2/2
Boss: 0/1

Blood Diamond: 2/3 posts

She would not be mocked like this, a fiery gleam returning to once panicked blue eyes as the silver-haired woman stood on shaky legs. Fury boiled within as she stared at the almost smirking, animal before her. How dare this thing believe it could harm her so and get away unpunished! How dare it think it could simply play with her! She would show this heathen exactly why people feared her damn it, why they caved and gave the demanded ransoms willingly because there was no winning against her!

A furious cry ripped from the woman’s lungs, though the wild life long since ran from their vicinity, even Lord Townsend slipping away unnoticed. Any recollection of the man fled from the captor as the woman’s arms flew to the air, a silvery magical circle blossoming like an oversized crown. Bricks rained down, some of the flying shards pinned to the ground beneath the deluge as others chipped away at the defenses to further slash and dig their way into her skin. They wanted their thirst quenched, demanding the drink they’d long been denied.

When had she last used this spell?

No memories were forthcoming even though the grip of the spell didn’t come across as something new. No, it struck her as a common issue, one she’d definitely faced before even if the Sabertooth mage couldn’t fathom any recollections of the past. It was with great focus she allowed the rest of the shards to disappear from the attack, letting the woman believe she’d bested Mao in this maneuver rather than helped free her from the momentary bloodlust. The overall magic normally protected the woman from such extremes, but even the crystals could be tainted once in a while and she’d accepted this interpretation at some point…

Again a blue mist erupted, this time with Mao as the epicenter. What her plans were, the opponent couldn’t fathom, but she’d bite the bullet and charge in while the girl looked distracted, eyes closed as the cloud expanded. Teleporting behind the distracted woman, in that instance she didn’t realize another crystal had been invoked as she lashed out with a dagger in her uncrushed hand and it met a brilliantly glittering tail…and she hadn’t quite made it to her intended destination.

---

HP: 70%
MP: 75%

Weak: 2/4
Normal: 7/8
Strong: 2/2
Boss: 0/1

Blood Diamond on CD

Spoiler:

”Ah!” the woman yelled as the large limb whipped her away, the sharp protrusions slashing at already abused skin. She jolted as a large, diamond-covered fist slammed into the ground next to her head, Mao kneeling over her.

Staring with unwavering eyes the crystal user demanded, ”Give up.” Her tone held no room for negotiation on the matter, though she’d definitely lost the momentary blood thirsty edge she’d had a few minutes ago. That almost gentle yet steel-clad tone irked the woman though, pearly whites gritting visible as fierce winter eyes glared back.

”SCREW YOU!” she shouted, filled with a white hot fury as another potted plant fell from above.

Another one of Lady Townsend’s prized flowers, though this time clay merely scraped against diamond as the tail curled above and caught the innocent plant. That defiance only further infuriated her as she again attempted teleportation, only for it to fall quite short of her intended distance.  She barely managed to squeak out a confused, ”Wha-?” before pain exploded in her back. A shoulder blade greatly protested the treatment even as a lung momentarily gave up on life, letting air rush out in a wave and refused admittance of new tenants. She wheezed even another quick port away fizzled out partway, her concentration completely shot in the face of another grazing shot to her side.

Things started feeling a bit warm there, and hazily the dark mage realized the skin on that side burned terrible. ’Damn, I might scar,’ she thought with some regret, the usually perfect body likely to be marred after this, ’I can’t let her get away with this…’

But first she needed to make her escape and get revenge later. Yes, revenge later. It sounded spectacular so she’d accept a temporary failure in favor of a victory later. The woman avoided another strike with a smaller spell that helped get the beaten woman to her feet, hiding behind a nearby tree. Now if she could just muster up enough energy to get to the other side of the fence she’d be home scot free…

---

HP: 70%
MP: 75%

Weak: 2/4
Normal: 7/8
Strong: 2/2
Boss: 0/1

Sapphire n' Diamond still in effect

’Yes, just a bit more…’

A voice rang out too close, speaking in a sickly sweet normal volume, ”Not so fast babycakes~” The statement was punctuated with a web-like shot that pinned the woman to the tree, the thick strings glowing blue and gold. She’d been hit from both sides, slightly roughed up musketeers standing there. The blond of the two stood there grinning oh-so very irksomely while the brunette just nodded in approval, a slightly pleased look to her eye that just barely reached her mouth with a small hint of an upturned corner.

’Fools, I can easily get out of this.’ The “captured” woman refrained from smiling, instead sighing theatrically, ”I suppose you’ve caught me. Oh woe is me…”

The tall brunette snorted, ”Don’t bother with your magic. The spell’s specially engineered to use your energy against you: the only way you’re getting free is when you’ve run out of magical energy.” When their captive just stared in questioning shock Atma offered her a nod that sent the foreign woman into an infuriated fit as she struggled against the bonds. It’d be to no avail though, the substance already hardening over so now they’d merely have to wait until she hit empty.

”Mao!”

The voice gave very little warning before something struck her, the diamonds shattering as she released their hold and structure as the other two revealed themselves. It was all she could do to stay standing though, eventually pulled backwards into Portha’s abundant bosom, supported by her body. ”I was so worried when she separated us, and I tried to stall her. When she got away though I had to go find the others since Atha’s best at locating people, but I’m so glad you’re okay!” If her hold tightened anymore however she might not be okay, Mao’s face shoved so far into the other woman’s skin breathing was becoming an issue – never mind the potential for her neck to snap under pressure.

---

HP: 67%
MP: 75%

Weak: 2/4
Normal: 7/8
Strong: 2/2
Boss: 1/1

Air was finally her’s! Once Mao’s arms started waving about Portha seemed to realize that the girl might be losing oxygen and she gasped deeply once the hold let up enough. ”Eh heh…sorry about that,” she apologized, patting the shorter mage’s back as Mao bent over and continued taking deep breath after deep breath. The world ceased it’s spinning soon after, and she stood up, about to thank the woman when the red head beat her to it, ”Thank you, for all that you’ve done.” She grinned widely before doing something that completely threw the animal woman off.

Portha pulled Mao in for a kiss.

It was a curious sensation, one that felt completely and wholly alien to the mage as their soft lips met. They didn’t part after a second, it wasn’t a quick and peck kiss she’d seen people offer one another – though half the time those were done upon one’s cheeks rather than lips. As the foreign lips moved against her’s, eventually pulling away with a light bite to her lower one, all thoughts flew from Mao’s mind in a way far different from the earlier blood lust. In fact, it could be compared to an incident at a past photoshoot.

Eyes wiped of any discernible emotion and her body started going limp, concerning the musketeer as her arms tightened around her, ”Mao…err…Mao are you okay? Mao?!” Becoming concerned she helped the woman to a sitting position, kneeling with the shorter mage more or less in her lap as she started fretting and noting the vacant expression. Concern transformed more into bemusement, ”Err…Mao? Oh…Mao…you adorable thing you.” She started chuckling, slowly realizing that the girl blanked out due to the kiss rather than from injury, muttering, ”You’re a bit innocent aren’t you?” She hugged the girl, wiping away a slight bit of foam from the corner of her mouth as the girl’s bluescreened brain continued rebooting.

It was a strange journey home. She’d spent a few days resting and being…heavily catered to by Portha, who joked about being her personal nurse or along such lines. The woman went so far as to personally bandage Mao, shooing away any of the proper medics after they’d applied treatments under the guise of it being a “good will gesture towards Fiore from Minstrel.” Not that it ended there and for the first time in her life Mao had a slight inkling of what it felt like to be “pampered” by someone. The only issue was discerning the reason why as Portha would only giggle and Atha would wink while Atma shook her head and demanded the girl “figure it out for herself.”

They all seemed to be in on some joke Mao couldn’t decipher.

Sir Townsend took the damage to his home well considering his family escaped without injury and he only suffered some minor bruises and scratches from their escape. That was the largest relief of all, though most of the damage hadn’t been their fault anyhow, done mostly by the dark mage and her crew, the woman discovered to be Lamira Kasmeer – notorious for making hostage demands upon the rich, usually only slightly famous. However her deeds hadn’t gone unnoticed in Fiore, and with things becoming a little dangerous on home turf she’d crossed the borders in hopes of finding new and just as easy targets.

If only she knew how incredible the musketeers could be, let alone the Townsend family’s personal friends.

It’d been a fun experience, one she wouldn’t forget any time soon…especially as Portha all but stuffed Mao’s pockets full of her phone number. The woman demanded they become pen pals too and should send letters as often as possible. ’She’s very friendly…scarily more so than Aiyana,’ Mao thought as a hand unconsciously touched her lips. She bowed to Frederik, Checker of Passports on her way back to Fiore, remembering to show the oddly titled man said object to again prove who she was.