Scene #2851: Dishonor Among Thieves

Owner	Pose
Charlotte Mercier	On the outskirts of Mitakihara, before the highrises overtake the city, a sprawling, three-story house stands. To have such an estate in Tokyo requires a lot of money for sure - and it's the same sort of money that enabled the owners to buy a painting at auction overseas. Unfortunantly for them, the painting was also part of the artworks that the Princess of Sarek sought - and perhaps even more unfortunantly, Sarek is no longer the only one seeking them. While Sarek's calling card should have put the guards on alert and at least made the act of stealing the painting somewhat more amusing than not... by the time Sarek and anyone she chooses to invite are here, it's clear something is already amiss. The off-duty Tokyo Police and private security that should be standing near the door are... collapsed, and the door is open. Each would-be guard has a single glowing red spar of some sort of gem visible in their bodies. Though it looks like they haven't peirced very deep at all, they give off an ominous red glow.
Veronica Perenna	This was the first time one of her relics had taken the form of a painting. That did leave Veronica with a giggle, and the imagination of making it recursive by putting this painting inside the other one. That wasn't how putting the relics back worked, but who cares, really? Certainly not her own thoughts. As per her usual, she had first slipped inside to leave her own calling card, watching with a smile the alarms and hubbub her name started, and left promptly to make the usual preparations for the big day. It hadn't taken long for the name of the Princess of Sarek to have ended on the newspaper this time either, giving all the details about the time and place the Phantom Thief would be striking, as she herself had shared. The same questions filled the page, wondering where she would be taking the painting now, and where do her stolen art pieces all end up. Not very original, are they? Some may have picked up on it through the news, but for her friends, Veronica had indeed left a message in the Shed, telling others that the calling card on the news was indeed hers, and they could come with her if they wanted at that place and time. Leaping between buildings, she comes to a stop in front of the Estate, tilting her head at the unconscious guards. This is... unusual and wrong. Silently stepping between them, she reaches the door, and gently pushes it open. Not closed at all. Suffice to say the unusual situation is making her tail move in flicks. When the first of her friends start coming over, she turns her head back with a finger on her mouth, and motioning them closer with her other hand.
Laisa Samuiko	If it's important to Veronica, then it's important to Laisa. So it's only natural that Snow Angel Mou Fubuki would follow her beloved into what she expects will be another heist. What Mou does not expect is that there might be competition involved. When the snow angel notices that the security guards are already incapacitated, her response is immediate concern. She glances at the Princess to see if she did this, but that doesn't seem right. Why the red gems? That's not her method, and her body language seems to reflect concern also. Something is wrong here. Mou walks up to one of the fallen guards, squats next to him, and looks him over. Forming an icicle in her hand, she pokes at the red gem to see if it responds, or if it tries to harm her in some way. How concerning... Looking up to see her girlfriend moving to open the door, Mou notices the 'shush' motion and decides to stay quiet.
Hinote Kagari	The news wasn't implicit, just that a robbery was a foot, and he hadn't gotten the memo in the Shed because he was too busy fussing over a picture board with red string, something about the true cause of magic being a magical koala in Australia. Look these Tracy induced madness benders have no limits. "I know what you are." said Tracy as he looked at the tiny picture of a koala he'd cut from an encyclopedia, as Hinote rolls his eyes and transforms moments later with Tracy, into Pulp Noir and with some deft movements and being sneaky he---oh the front door is. Wide open. There's Mou Fubuki squatting over one of the guards, and he frowns a moment. "Well." he says as he adjusts his fedora. "Seems I was late to the dance. What's happened here?" he asks, looking over to Sarek. He falls quiet when he notices the motion to her lips.
Chrono Harlaown	Chrono Harlaown had agreed to join in this caper as well, picking up the news from the shed. And, of course, he had come prepared. However... None would know who this mysterious Chrono was. Because Chrono was not coming today. Today, instead... There was just... The mysterious masked vigilante... The Masked Enforcer. ... It was obviously Chrono, with a white masquerade mask he picked up at a halloween store. However, he had a new device. It was white, and well... shiny. It Durandal. However, when he glided in to join them... He frowned, reaching up and resting a hand on his forehead, looking mildly... concerned... The Masked Enforcer was not sure about this being the best time to be playing around with new identities, after all. He did, in fact, still have the shoulder spikes.
Amy Faust	Oh boy, another painting visit! Those are always ''interesting.'' But as she makes her way in, spotting the guards down.... that's not Veronica's style! Who else is here? Rocket Girl Red sneaks on a bit more warily until she finds Veronica. "Who knocked out the guards? Should we try removing those gems?"
Veronica Perenna	Veronica gives a smile at Laisa's arrival, and while she would absolutely hug her snowsweet in normal circumstances, these are anything but. Her gaze peers inside, and she whispers her Uncloaking Shimmers, sending the twinkling mist forward in reconnaissance for now. The cat thief smiles at the others with their approach, slipping inside after making sure no adverse effects seem to be present. Smiling at the others, she makes sure the door is staying open and starts to find her way to the painting. That at least shouldn't have changed. The appearance of Chrono as the Masked Enforcer translates into a grin for the Princess of Sarek, and she slightly tips her hat at him, then motions him, Mou Fubuki, Red and Pulp Noir here still, and shaking her head at Amy's question. "Let's leave them there for now", she gestures at the Puella Magi with a shake of her head to emphasize or message, and heading where she left the painting.
Charlotte Mercier	The red gem doesn't harm Mou, but it does make a soft, almost melodic pinging noise when it's touched. The movement through the building, and the mists, don't reveal the immediate presence of anyone but more unconscious guards. At least, until people get close to the location painting. Then there's something different; a small group of four youma. But none of these youma in any way are like what Veronica might come to exepct from the ward that gave her powers, nor are they likely akin to anything people have seen before. Standing tall and with strange, stained glass faces, stand a group of four... constructs, perhaps, with shoulder capes and jagged swords that seem to be made of the same material as parts of their bodies. And just beyond them, is an unfamiliar woman in a strange, very foreign looking red dress, standing on a stool (she's ''quite'' short) as she tries to manouver the painting off it's display case.) Standing tall on her high heels the unfamiliar young woman looks over her shoulder. "Oh dear, I thought I'd have more time and just leave my servants to entertain you." she says, her voice carrying a rather intense sort of noblewoman's disdain. "And you've brought friends, too. I didn't know we were going to have a full party, should I have brought some too?" she asks, tapping her finger against her chin. "If you can wait just a moment for me to dislodge this... rather recalcitrant illustration... we can dance for a bit - assuming any of you can keep up."
Laisa Samuiko	Mou hms to herself as she hears the melodic sound. Whatever it is, it's keeping security asleep, and they probably don't want to wake the guards up. At her kitten's advice, she decides not to mess with them further and walks briskly up to the front door to follow the Princess in. Of course, what she sees inside is not reassuring. Clearly someone else has been here. Someone magical. Possibly even someone who saw the news. When they get further in, she sees the youma, and... well... Mou doesn't take long to do the math here. She creates a tower shield out of ice and holds it in front of her, and a halberd forms in her other hand. "I haven't seen any minions quite like your friends before. Are you from out of town?" Mou knows she's likely understanding the distance, but who knows? People cosplay as all kinds of things, really.
Amy Faust	FOUR youma?! Amy stumbles to an abrupt stop and backpedals back around the corner when she sees them. Are they just like kindabads? They look like they might be stronger than that. Amy hisses to Veronica -- or whoever else is near, "She's touching the painting! How is that possible?! Or did she already get them to give up the relic inside?" Mou steps out into the open, though, so Amy steps out next to her for solidarity. "Who are you, who are they, and why are you here? What do you want with some cursed item???"
Chrono Harlaown	Chrono Harlaown gave a small, polite bow to the princess. Though... well... Why... Why cat thief? Why cat girls? Alas... still... at least she was using her powers for good. Unlike some people. His eyes narrowed on the damsel making the caper in question. "I see," he said. "Friend of yours?" he asked Veronica. He held up his device, and from it six little blue and white bits soared out, spreading through the air and repositioning themselves around the room. "Now then, then, Princess, as I believe this is your dance, I'll follow your lead, I'll focus assisting you all on the dance floor." <<Bind!!>> As he spoke, the little bits around the area began to shoot out little binds across the ground, forming little circular points on the ground! If they touched them... nothing would happen. But if the youma touched them, they'd find themselves entangled and wrapped in binding mana threads. As the spell went out, they might notice the almost song-like casting of the spell, and the rainbow-like, familiar chimes emitting from the bits....
Veronica Perenna	Veronica didn't really expect a whole youma entourage to lie in wait for them, and her ears perk up at the sight of the girl fighting with the painting's support. "My dear friend, you seem to be doing just fine with your companions here. I really do not find you lacking in any aspect." The Princess of Sarek flashes a smiles with a small bow, finding calm in the the other thief's currently unsuccessful retrieval. The Phantom Thief grimaces at the Puella Magi's question, and with a shine of moonlight produces a calling card, bearing the reply for her. "Red, this painting ''is'' the relic, and definitely a part of the Ward. Nobody is going to get sucked inside anything today." "Well, thinking on it, maybe you are indeed lacking in a way. After all, you seem to know all about me, and used my invitation as a way to sneak out of the party." Her hand slides closer to the bottom, preparing for a fight much like Mou Fubuki. For a second, Veronica stares with interest at the almost-rainbow musical bind that Chrono creates. That is certainly new from him. Where did it come from? "No, not someone I know", she clarifies. She did just ironically call this girl a friend, so she understands the confusion. "Why do we not start over? I am the Princess of Sarek, and specialize in keeping cursed objects safe. I am afraid I cannot let you go away with that painting. Here, have my credentials", she tells Verre Reine, producing another calling card and tossing it at her. Unlike Amy's, this one has no message, and simply features a chibi style drawing of herself, but picking it up would cause magic to flow from it, trying to give the unknown magical girl a bout of confusion.
Charlotte Mercier	"Rather far out of town, yes." the girl in red replies without so much as stopping herself. "Ah, this is pointless. Never do for yourself what you should get help to do for you. At least, now that they can touch the painting, anyways." she says, slowly stepping down the ladder. "Besides, being up there is rather unladylike." She gestures with her hand and one of the youma steps away from the defensive line, while she slowly walks towards it, her heels clicking on the floor with each step. "Ah, the 'curse' yes, it's a shame about what happened to such wonderful artworks, to be admired by those with the means to see them - but perhaps, it's not a curse at all, more like... an opprotunity, if you know how to look at it." she suggests. "Ah, who am I? You can call me Verre Reine, I suppose that will do." she says. The stained-glass youma is having obvious trouble, and Verre sighs. "It's so hard to make good help sometimes." she says. "Perhaps, you'd like to leave before things get ugly? Nobody will fault you, certainly not me. You are, after all, terribly outclassed." she notes. She catches the card and looks at it - the magic that flows from it does cause her eyes to widen for just a moment before she maintains her composure. But it's not the card specifically that interests her, but the nature of the magic. "Ah, I see. You're... well, I suppose that makes sense." she says, tapping her chin. "In any case, I'm afraid this painting will be coming with me. It's best if you all return home to your respective hovels." she says. She's actually not moving in, which means Chrono's binds have a moment to lie in wait. They haven't attacked her yet, either. "Because if you interfere, you might not be able to return under your own power, you see." There's a sound as the youma starts to move the painting off the wall, with more success than the small Verre had.
Charlotte Mercier	"Rather far out of town, yes." the girl in red replies without so much as stopping herself. "Ah, this is pointless. Never do for yourself what you should get help to do for you. At least, now that they can touch the painting, anyways." she says, slowly stepping down the ladder. "Besides, being up there is rather unladylike." She gestures with her hand and one of the youma steps away from the defensive line, while she slowly walks towards it, her heels clicking on the floor with each step. "Ah, the 'curse' yes, it's a shame about what happened to such wonderful artworks, to be admired by those with the means to see them - but perhaps, it's not a curse at all, more like... an opprotunity, if you know how to look at it." she suggests. "Ah, who am I? You can call me Verre Reine, I suppose that will do." she says. The stained-glass youma is having obvious trouble, and Verre sighs. "It's so hard to make good help sometimes." she says. "Perhaps, you'd like to leave before things get ugly? Nobody will fault you, certainly not me. You are, after all, terribly outclassed." she notes. She catches the card and looks at it - the magic that flows from it does cause her eyes to widen, bringing her hand to her head and shaking it, the world spinning for just a moment, before she regains her composure. But it's not the card specifically that interests her, but the nature of the magic. "Ah, I see. Trickery and subterfuge instead of politeness... and this magic... You're... well, I suppose that makes sense." she says, tapping her chin. "In any case, I'm afraid this painting will be coming with me. It's best if you all return home to your respective hovels." she says. She's actually not moving in, which means Chrono's binds have a moment to lie in wait. They haven't attacked her yet, either. "Because if you interfere, you might not be able to return under your own power, you see." There's a sound as the youma starts to move the painting off the wall, with more success than the small Verre had..
Laisa Samuiko	"I resent that," says Mou Fubuki, in relation to being called 'outclassed'. "Our princess is ''very'' classy!" Laisa is still for a few moments as she waits for The Mysterious Masked Enforcer's traps to be set, holding her shield in front of her as she waits for the youma to make the first move. Under normal conditions she could wait all day, but right now the unknown enemy is closer to the painting. The youma is even managing to get it off the wall! That can't be allowed. The stained glass youma are a nice touch, though also a bit offputting. It almost reminds Mou Fubuki of a horror game or something, but well... they are youma. That's nothing new. The instant Mou sees Verre's momentary confusion, she clicks her tongue and leans forward, pushing off the ground. A patch of Ice forms beneath her, and skating blades appear on the soles of her feet. As she skates towards the youma she leaves a thin trail of ice behind her, and once she gets into the middle of them she attacks the nearest one with her halberd. "Let's see what you've got then, if you're so confident."
Chrono Harlaown	Chrono Harlaown cocked an eye, enfolding his rod beind his back. He then established the comms network, once again focusing on support this mission. And tried not to imagine what his mother would think if she knew he was performing a magical heist of a museum for a lost log--... Tried not to think about the higher ups of the TSAB would think. ... His mother would likely approve and cheer him on. Sigh... << Comms network established. >> Chrono's voice came over the network. He was, admittedly... so used to Rashmi doing it and working with her... and admittedly... she did it so much smoother than he did. "It would be bereft of me to not mention that this lost logia most be taken under the jurisdiction, per Time Space Administration Bureau Enforcer..." Chrono started before sighing and just... "Does anyone even listen when I say this?" he asked, scritching his cheek.
Amy Faust	Terribly outclassed. "''Reeeally'' doubt that." Amy mutters. Verre Raine introduces herself. "Magical Rocket Girl Red. Not exactly pleased to meet you." At the threat of not being able to return under their own power, Amy glances at Veronica for whether she wants to fight, but Mou steps forward and starts skating... Amy conjures a pistol and cycles the bolt with a dramatic CHA-CHAK before opening fire on the youmas with homing (non-explosive) rocket-bullets while slowly circle-strafing around the group.
Veronica Perenna	Verre Reine... A fitting name if nothing else. The 'Reine' part fits her extremely well. Such haughtiness, such pompousness. Who knows, maybe her parents hired someone for an unusual period piece. She wouldn't have put it past them if it wasn't for the Veil. When Verre Reine has her bout of dizziness, she too goes for the attack, pointing the top of her cane at her. "Transient Lunar Flare!" The white-silver beams reach the youmas, and it takes but a second for her beam to become a rainbow when it strikes in prettiness. "I do make a lot of sense, I agree", she winks at the Verre Reine.
Charlotte Mercier	"Ah, yes, I can see that, throwing business cards as tricks when someone is merely curious who you are. Such a terribly classy move from your 'Princess' of Sarek indeed." She says the word Princess with the energy of someone spitting out an unwanted bone from a meal. Mou Fubiki's halberd is parried at the last moment by one of the youma - well, partially parried. The blade moves quickly, and does somewhat throw the attack off, but it still gashes through an arm, and inside... it looks like a kalidoscope, a geological cavern of gems - but also, very hollow. It staggers back, lines up its glass sword, and moves in for a thrusting strike back. "I'm sorry darling, I am listening, but you must realize there's a point where protocol must stand aside in the face of raw power, which is what I have, Enforcer." she says. But hey, she did LISTEN. "Ah, it's a shame, you should be pleased to meet me, I'm so very important." she says, without a hint of irony. But when Rocket Girl Red's... Rockets... fire towards her and the youma, Verre sees a chance to show off. She manifest strange distinctly not-functional-looking artistic glass pistols in each hand and begins to artfully fire back, her rounds catching Amy's rockets and causing most of the bullets to veer wildly off course (and likely, gloriously into random terrain.) A round does strike one of the youma, but Verre doesn't comment on that moment of imperfection. "Rocketry, it's like a... most barbaric take on the concept of marksmanship, sacrificing elegance for power." she notes. But since she's busy showing off to the other projectile enthusiast in the room, she fails to be able to catch Sarek's blasts, the moonlight becoming rainbow colored torrents, staggering one of the youma. When the youma her round injured draws its blade and begins to move towards Amy, it's caught in the binds Chrono laid out before. "Now, how are we going to fight with you making a mess of the place, boy?" She asks, demanifesting her pistols before manifesting a similarly impractical, and therefore obviously magic glass rifle instead and quick-as-you-like taking a shot at Chrono, with a thick red gem flying through the air at him in a blink. "I'll admit, the moonlight has elegance, but then it became those grotesque rainbows. Too many colors, pick just a few, darling." She says before she turns the rifle to Sarek and fires a crystal round at her, as well.
Chrono Harlaown	"Well, I figured a dancer as talented as yourself wouldn't have any trouble with a little extra footwork. Would you like me to make it easier for you?" Chrono asked, just a hint of playful snark in his tone before holding up his left hand. Right, Amy. Barrier went up as, speaking of kalidoscopes, there was a glow as everyone was shunted one dimension to the left and hopefully he could avoid destroying (too much) property. Unfortunately, his barriers really just... weren't as durable as Rashmi's. And as the shot went off, he leaned back, and-- To his surprise, the bullet actually triggered one of the binds. Threads reached up, catching and slowing down the bullet in the air for a moment... just enough for him to have that extra split second needed to seemingly effortlessly slide to the left, the bullet striking the wall behind him and glassing it, as it were. Huh. There must have been a lot more force behind them than he thought. Or the binds needed more calibrating, still. He still needed to adjust the spells on the device. That was the biggest issue with a new device, it took time to break in and these little moments mattered a lot more than he cared to admit. "And here I thought moonlight capers were all about being light on one's feet~" he said as he moved along the hall himself, to lure the youma out as well.
Laisa Samuiko	The stained glass sword pierces through Mou Fubuki's shield, with the sharp tip stopping just barely short of her face. Have you ever seen a snow woman sweat? Well, you have now. Her deflected halberd shatters upon impact, but the nice thing about a magical girl with cold powers is that there's always more ice to go around. Mou pulls back away from the blade that penetrated her now cracking shield, and she breaks her defense by trying to slam it into the youma. With both hands and arms now free, and also with her in the thick of the melee, Mou Fubuki whispers into the air, and the rest of her allies hear it on the wind. "Careful where you step. Don't slip." The temperature suddenly drops as a pair of icy wings grow out of Mou Fubuki's back. Her shoulder's slump at the extra weight, and she has to spread her feet apart in order to brace for it. As the wind picks up, snow flurries cover the floor at the youmas' feet, and Mou is close enough that it affects her footing as well. The snow turns into ice, covering the floor. Mou Fubuki isn't that worried about it, because she's wearing skates. She hopes that the monsters, however, will have a hard time moving without slipping. It's a good thing that Chrono set up a barrier, because water damage is a pain to deal with.
Amy Faust	Amy actually makes a disgusted 'eyuch' sound when the new enemy claims to be important. She does look annoyed at the shots being deflected though. They hit walls too fast for her to unsummon them -- well, that's why she didn't use explosives this time. And it's a barrier now. << Thanks, Officer Harlaown! >> She does quirk an eyebrow at Verre recognizing gyrojets, though. "You say that, but you knew enough to tell I wasn't just using a regular gun with magic homing bullets. What did you just use there, though..." The youma's stepped into a bind -- Amy moves to where the bound youma is between her and Reine, and switches (the pistol poofs into a little shower of fading pink sparkles, and there's a similar pink sparkling effect as something in a longarm format appears in her hands, double-tapping a couple of higher-caliber gyrojets at the trapped youma. "Aww, you don't like colors?" Amy asks with a grin, replacing her cloak with a rainbow cape. "Wait wait no, I got something even ''more'' eye-searing." She mimes snapping her fingers and then is in one of her cosplay outfits, the one with the fingerless armgloves and sleeveless duster, only this time instead of black over a navy schoolgirl uniform... white shirt, black skirt, white boots, sky-blue gloves, sky-blue-with-white-stripes duster (solid pink on the inside), pink-and-white-striped stockings. Possibly hoping that is too garish for Verre to look at, she charges the youmas with a rocket-propelled bat and tries to smash one! ...Oh wait shit there's ice there now uh... Amy starts to slide, but manages not to fall over and to propel herself towards the edge of the ice without totally beefing it, at least!
Veronica Perenna	"My deepest apologies for thinking you wanted an introduction you didn't ask for. Next time, I will get past your youmas and actually hurt you since you prefer that", she comments lightly, but a bit irked at her repeated tries to undermine Nou Fubuki's words. "Rather inelegant of you not to understand how your own glass works. I suppose that's why you go around with them. Your attitude is all smokes and mirrors, right?", she casually quips back. She does seem to be trying a lot to diminish them, so hopefully she can take it too. "Speaking of rainbows, Prismatic Wall!" she shouts, drawing a trail of moonlight into the air that solidifies into a white-silver wall with all the hues one could ask for whisking in and out of sight. The crystal bullet lands harshly into it, creating a huge crack that almost breaks it in two. It does provides the prism's hues with a direction. "Transient Lunar Flare!", she tries again, aiming at one of her youmas yet again, and obtaining the same rainbow effect. "See? Do you understand how it works now?", the Princess of Sarek insists. << Thank you, Officer. And if I will slip, it will be in your arms, Mou. >> she immediately makes use of the channel.
Charlotte Mercier	The monsters are... well... as much as you'd never get Verre to claim they were anything other than masterpeices, she was still learning how to make youma. This means among aother things, they're not exactly the most agile. But that's of little concern to the youma that's bound up by Chrono, anyways, as Amy's bat slams into it and makes it dissolve in a shower of glass... well, between the sliding and everything, hopefully Amy doesn't get much of it on her, as Dark Energy Glass Shards can't be great for a Puella, even if they evaporate soon. The barrier goes up, Verre's shot passes by Chrono, and she lets his displeasure be known with his dodge and his reaction with a single quirked eyebrow. The youma seem to pick up on her distaste (well, the two remaining not occupied with the painting) and one of them goes after Chrono... but did we mentiopn they're not terribly agile? The sword comes at Chrono with more force than grace, and the thing's face might register surprise... if it had one. "Oh, are we skating now?" Charlotte says, her teeth a bit gritted and her eyebrow twitching. "I would have outfitted them differently..." she says. She does, in fact, partly avert her gaze from Amy, but more out of disgust than anything else. She is, however, much more agile than the youma, hands behind her back, skating like a professional, as she moves to her remaining unegaged teammate, and waves her hand outwards, creating what seems to be a stained glass line in the air, parrying the Moonlight Blast away from her youma - deflecting it, in fact, upwards. "Well, if we're just going to repeat the same acts, it's going to get rather boring, don't you think?" she asks, as she suddenly launches herself, in a backflipping motion, creating those two glass pistol-like weapons and trying to catch Sarek offguard with the acrobatics - and the repeated hail of crystalline projectiles. The remaining youma, having taken the wound from Mou Fubuki, moves to attack her again - and starts to dissolve on its own. Ah. It seems as though... the constructs are fragile... or perhaps the act of a backflipping dual pistol attack has somewhat diverted their master's attention. Only two youma remain now - one of which is clumsily going after chrono - and the other is... trying to walk out of the room with the painting. That'll prove a challenge given the Barrier.
Amy Faust	Skating on ice -- without skates, she doesn't have enough time to think about conjuring some -- ''and'' dodging glass exploding is a bit much -- Amy tries, and somehow gets mostly grazes rather than any embedding in her. Glass-edge-thin cuts in her armgloves, sides, and stockings start to bleed red, and there are a lot of holes and tears in the duster. Amy slides to the edge of the frozen area, starts to fall, brings the bat down to the floor and with a grunt transfers the momentum to flip into sort of a... bat-stand? And then a split second later she collapses to the floor as she takes a hand off the bat to stop the skirt from flipping. Not the most elegant moment... ...but ''somehow'', she then uses the rocket bat to smoothly pull herself straight from 'on the floor' to 'running at a youma', and the garish outfit is pristine and bloodless again to boot! << Don't suppose there's any way to shield me just as I smash it? >> Amy runs past Mou to pick up an ice shield and then straight for the youma trying to escape. "Hee-YAH!" The bat's thruster flares as it rocket-swings for the glass youma while Amy raises the shield in her other hand, trying to block the glass from getting most of the rest of her body besides the arm she's swinging with! "Oh, I dunno, shattering youma with a bat is kinda fun, I might be able to do that a few times without getting bored! But are you even ''able'' to be anything but stuck-up?"
Laisa Samuiko	As Mou gets attacked again, or almost attacked, she tries to slide back out of its range, but her wings are heavy and immobile. They don't move, they only weigh her down, and with the added mass her movement is slow like a glacier. She forms a new buckler to protect herself, but the thing is dissolving before it can really get a solid hit in. "Well. ''I'm'' skating. I like it cold. If you intend to continue your course of action, you'll need to dress warm," she taunts, because of course she'll support Sarek's mission. At the telepathic message from Veronica, Mou Fubuki smiles softly. She whispers through the wind, "As always, you're welcome to them, my dear." Amy is asking for a shield, and Mou starts creating one. By the time the Puella passes her, she has another tower shield to hand off to her. It's made of ice and will break easily after one or two strikes, but better it than her. Mou Fubuki does a head count. Verre Reine is shooting stained glass bullets. One youma is attacking, and the other is trying to get away with the painting. Even though she knows they're in a barrier, that simply cannot be allowed! She raises her hand, her wings get heavier, rooting her right where she stands. Snow and ice coalesce into horizontally-floating icicles around her, and once they are complete they launch one by one at the painting thieving youma, aiming for its legs and knees. Out loud, she says, "Don't think for one second you're getting away!"
Chrono Harlaown	Chrono Harlaown had the advantage here. The best advantage in the world. Namely... He could cheat. And Riventon would likely call utter BS on this, but he was a TSAB enforcer. If someone could point at the TSAB field manual that said he had to skate by actually skating on the ice, he would follow the said rules. However, as there was no such rule, he instead... pretended to skate. Hovering just a centimeter above the ice, like the majestic phantom thief/troll that he was, even doing a little spin, leaping into the air as the youma came flailing erratically at him... And landing behind it, he brought his hand crashing into its back, as his device called out. <<Break Impulse!>> Now, normally the delay on this spell would be more of a hinderance. However, as he pulled his hand back, it allowed him to then quickly erect a shield in front of himself between himself and the glass-like creature, to make sure the shards do not explode anywhere but away. More importantly, it allows him to make sure and steer the shards away from everyone else. "Oh, don't be such a bother, miss elegance... the cold never bothered me, anyway~"
Veronica Perenna	The rain of bullets easily pierces through what is left of the Prismatic Wall, and Verre Reine's acrobatics makes it hard for the Princess of Sarek to tell where exactly they are going to land. She would guess her opponent puts a lot of pride in her agility. Many of those bullets reach her, producing several scrapes all over her arms, and almost dropping her cane once by the impact. She couldn't have known, but she had to give it to her: making it last long was a better idea, and ensuring her ethereal magic couldn't have avoided them all. She winces and readjusts the grip on her cane once the rain ends, trying to ignore the little burns the bullets have caused and looks towards Verre Reine with a smile at the end of it all. "Your wish is my command. I will make sure you will appreciate the beauty of the seven colours." "Her ruby ring glows bright when Veronica's cane shines with moonlight, and the temperature around her starts rising quickly, briefly keeping her away from the coolness Mou Fubuki is bring out. "Seven-Hued Flame!", she announces, and from her cane, rainbow fire lights up, consuming the distance between her and Verre Reine." << Doesn't It go well with your Bind, Officer?>> she jokingly points out.
Charlotte Mercier	The youma, mid probably-unsucessful-escape with the panting, is not particularly in a good state of mind to do anything about Amy's thruster-bat, resulting in the impact slamming into it and causing hairline cracks all through the creature's artificial body - perhaps some are made better than the others (the mark of an artist-in-training, perhaps) and it staggers and spirals but it remains up. That lasts about long enough for Laisa's shards to slam into its legs and knees, percing through it, and THEN the youma detonates into stained-glass shards, but with plenty of time for Amy to interpose her shields. The painting lands face down on the floor, but at least that means any of the glass shards are scraping the back and not the front. Chrono's Break Impulse does as it's intended to do - the clumsy youma is obliterated and it's also likewise removed from the field in a hail of directed-away glass shards. Verre Reine sighs for a moment at the destruction of your youma, just in time for the seven huged flame to come rushing out at her. There's a brief moment of time where the girl's opal-like eyes are open wide, before practice kicks in and she creates a wall of Dark Energy and her stained glass - not to block the attack, but merely to slow it down and delay it, as she twizzles away from the area of impact on her heels, dress flaring out as she does, though some of her dangling fabric is caught by the Phantom Thief's attack, the girl herself manages to scoot out of the way, and make it look elegant, but inside she's aware of how close it is. "My my, it's so hard to find good help these days." she says, as she looks around. Barrier. No youma. Four opponents. One injured. "What shall we do about this, I wonder." she continues, tapping her chin. "Surely, my honor wouldn't be tarnished if I choose to retreat in such disagreeable circumstances, but I simply can't seem to bring myself to do it." she says, shrugging. "There's someone I don't want to prove right by making a retreat, you see." she continues. r"So I suppose I have no choice. This would have been a much more effective solution if not for your barrier, I do believe, but it doesn't really carry the same threat, here. So I think it's best used to open the dance floor. This room is a little bit tight, you see. It's not a grand enough stage for me. I do apologize for the mess I'm about to make." And she flips her hair, and suddenly several red lights around the room glow, furious and angry red coming from shards of condensed energy left around the room, maybe during the fight or even before, all before detonating in furious surges of both Dark and Kinetic energy around them, ripping the walls away and opening the 'arena' as it were, covering the area in smoke and debris - smoke through which, each of them recieve gem-pistol fire through. The painting is miraculously (or perhaps meticulously) unharmed by these detonations, as the smoke clears and Verre Reine is skating above them, backwards, gem-construct pistols in hand on a thin line of glass that's supporting her in the third dimension of molvement, as she skates towards the painting.
Laisa Samuiko	Youma down. Now this is usually the part when the leader retreats, right? Right? ... right? Oh shoot. She's not retreating. She's not backing down. She's making words like she intends to level the area. She is now leveling the area. No no no no no! Mou Fubuki's first thought is to throw up an ice wall... but that's not really acceptable. She can't protect only herself and ignore her girlfriend. She also doesn't have a chance to see if Veronica's own defenses can hold from whatever sudden assault is about to come out. So Laisa starts channeling as much magic as she can, as much of her ''curse'' as she can, and as her hands raise into the air her frozen wings become like branches of a tree, and a thickening layer of ice creeps along her hands, then her arms, then her body and legs. Within moments, she's frozen in a block of ice, as if she's in some kind of cryogenic stasis. All around the hallway, walls of ice grow into place, providing cover for the other mahoujin. Veronica gets an ice wall first, but the rest of them aren't far behind. The walls are haphazardly placed and don't always fully cover the intended target, but they're close enough to be ducked behind. When the pistol fire comes for Mou Fubuki, the first impacts crack the ice, and those cracks spread until larges chunks are falling off and leaving parts of Mou's arms and shoulder exposed. Underneath the ice, Mou struggles against the encasing. A chuck in front of her face cracks and falls off, and the moment the airway is clear she is gasping for breath. "What the fresh frozen heck? Are you nuts?" she calls out.
Veronica Perenna	"She is so uncouth, really. Not at all like you, Mou Fubuki", Veronica shakes her head from behind the protection granted to her by Laisa's shield, counting the seconds for her escape move. When she is sure it will last, with a snap of the fingers, she disappears, and the explosions catch where she should be, protected by her current ethereal state. For how long it lasts anyway, but hopefully enough while she is making her move towards her painting. She tries her best to use the time allotted to her to get away from the explosions, and it's only because she is unseen that she allows herself a grimace. Even if she isn't actually being harmed, she can still feel them heating up the place. Luckily enough for her, she flickers back into view just as the explosions have ended, she stares at Verre Reine with a catlike grin on her face. Laisa's shield really came through for her, with that extra time. "You got to learn better, you know? If you want to get on a stage, you have to make it yours no matter what's like. Consider it a suggestion from a senpai." She is not skating like her enemy, but she is hiding behind the rubble Verre Reine has left after her attack and watching the shots break it like rubble. What was the saying like? Better them than her. Not something she like thinking of, but this is a fitting time. Her hand closes around the painting at the same time Verre Reine's does, and the phantom thief looks at her with a nod. "Gotta tip my hat at you. Have you ever tried a carreer as a professional skater. Suits you better than being a thief, anyway", she says, readying herself for a shield while trying to get the painting out of her grasp.
Amy Faust	Amy is a ''little'' uneasy when Verre Reine says she's going to ''do'' something that will make a mess. This girl is full of herself; it will ''probably'' be manageable; but there is also the possibility that when she escalates she escalates ''hard'', or is messing with power she doesn't fully understand. When the ''shards'' littering the battlefield glow and become a power source, she's reminded of Seriss's tricks and ''groans.'' "I ''hate'' techniques like that! Why don't ''we'' have them?!" One of the shards comes for her and she lets the shield -- already cracked and scored from the youma exploding into shards -- take the hit; it cracks and huge chunks of it fall away. Gem bullets fly in and she tries to dodge and block, a bullet knocking what's left of the shield from her hand as it breaks apart. "Oh so ''rockets'' aren't elegant but explosions ''are''? I don't think you wanna challenge ''me'' to an explosion contest." Amy dismisses the bat and hefts her shoulder-launcher as she speaks, but hesitates. Reine will ''probably'' dodge it, but that doesn't mean she can't use it as a feint... she fires. --But instead of a cannonball or shell, all that fires is... glitter? It disappears after a few seconds, but in the meantime, Amy uses her position near the painting to re-conjure her rocket-bat, and go into a spinning, crouching swing low over the painting timed to hit Reine's arm when Reine passes by and reaches for it. And the bat is suddenly replaced by a bigger, longer rocket-''sword'' to extend the reach of that swing at the last split-second in case Reine has a way to reach extra-far. "You're just using magic propulsion the same way I use rockets, anyway! Which are also ultimately magic! There is ''no'' difference save that you need an excuse to tell yourself you're better!"
Chrono Harlaown	Chrono Harlaown gave a small nod as if he understood. Truly, good help was hard to hire. But allies? Allies were forever and THEY were a delight. He, for one, loved them. This act was being quite amusing, all things concidered... ... Until she decided to blow the roof off. A long list of expletives ran through his mind as the the red lights filled the room and he lifted a hand. A shield formed around him juuuuuuust in time to protect him and-- When the dust cleared.... A soot-covered Chrono-shaped blob hovered where Chrono had stood. Two eyes opened, protected by the 'thief' mask he had dawned today... And he coughed out some smoke. Oh. He did not like this at all. He landed and did a spin, sending a little soot cloud out, before coughing some more. Ugh. He felt so dirty. ... Welp. <<Stinger Snipe!>> A small, blue ball formed over his device and... then rocketed out. Nyoom. And it would do a single, simple thing... It would smack into Verre's back left heel, intending to throw her entirely off balance.
Charlotte Mercier	"I take exception to being called nuts, dear, I'm merely doing what I must because ruffians have interrupted me." she says as she moves towards the painting, very quickly. "If you had simply stayed away none of this would be happening, now would it?" "Well, when you use explosions it's the only tool in your box, for me it's one of many. Don't act like it's the same thing." Verre says to Amy. Then, Amy proves she has more tools in her kit - There's a storm of glitter that Verre tries to shield, the feint working, but when she reaches for the painting, her speed means the extra reach of the sword comes in handy - and it actually cuts Verre, causing her to bleed red and grimace, sucking air in through her teeth, but to her credit, she's no porcelian doll herself - still, she reaches for the painting and grips it, glass shard shield pushing the blade away before it can inflict further damage. Now engaged in a tug-of-war over the painting, Verre looks at Sarek closely, clicking her tongue for a moment as she considers her counterpart. "I have no 'sempai'. I need none..." she says directly. "That's the whole point of coming here myself. But figure skating? Ah, I've already won several competitions in it, though. It's boring now." she notes. "On the other hand, I've also won marksmanship competitions - and that's still interesting." she says as she lets go of the painting with one hand, creating another pistol-like weapon and pointing it at Sarek. Stinger Snipe hits, though, slamming into her heel and throws her off balance - the shot towards Sarek missing her head, by just a bit, and then the painting leaving her grip, the girl rather undiginfiedly hitting the floor with her butt, and some of the facade breaking at that moment as she scampers back and holds her wounded arm. "Sauvages!" she hisses, in French, tears finally starting to collect at the edges of her eyes. "Des paysans sales, grossiers, sauvages et sans valeur!" (Dirty, rude, savage, and worthless peasants.) she spits furiously, shifting from French back to Japanese. "It does look like that boy was right - I can't do anything without you showing up like a pack of feral wolves." she says. "You even cut me. And you attacked my ''footwear''... How ''dare'' you." she says, creating a glass replacement for her damaged heel to stand up again. "Fine..." she says, dusting off her skirt with her uninjured hand. "I see I will need some connections of my own, very well, I wouldn't be much of a noble if I couldn't make them. I'll let you keep this painting, ''for now''... but don't think I won't get vengeance for this indignite you have foolishly dealt to me. I will remember each of your faces, and vous souffrirez!" (you will suffer). Then she makes a HMPH sound, turns on her replaced heel, and walks into the Dusk Zone.
Laisa Samuiko	Mou Fubuki is still mostly frozen, ice encasing completely her legs and one of her shoulders. Bit by bit, she cracks the ice around her, trying to force herself free. It's not so much a feat of strength as much as it is a measure of her awareness, for her curse allows her to sense the points of weakness in ice. To know where they'll facture and break, and thereby know how to properly and precisely apply pressure that frees her bit by bit. There's also just the fact that her magic ice doesn't last as long as non-magical ice. By the time she is free from the waist up and brushing herself off, the fight is already just about over. Mou snaps back, "I take exception to ''you''. Your arrogance is ungraceful." Then her girlfriend gets ''shot at'' and all Mou can manage to do in this state is throw a snowball at Verre in protest. To small to provide enough purifying power to do much of anything, but still potentially messy enough to annoy someone concerned about getting their clothes wet. After she leaves for the Dusk Zone, Mou is left scowling. Her arms are crossed, and her legs are still covered in ice. Then she looks over at the painting and asks, "Did we manage to keep it? Is it alright?" After a moment or two she forms a hammer out of ice and starts chipping away at the encasement that's imprisoning her. It'll take her a bit to get herself free, but she's working on it.
Veronica Perenna	Moonlight already shimmers and glistens in the air, a second away from away gathering in front of her when Verre Reine raises her pistol. Her eyes widen for a second when Stinger Snipe hits and the other magical girl's aim is thrown off. "Merci beaucoup, officier", she tells Chrono with a tip of her hat. They had a... theme going, she wouldn't really want to interrupt it. She then repeats herself in Japanese, though. "Thank you very much, officer." Meanwhile her grip is still solid on her painting. The Princess of Sarek's giggle chimes in the air when Verre Reine announces her qualifications. "Well, maybe you should have stuck to your guns. Tu comprends?", she says, tugging at painting yet again. Veronica is about to consider sniping at her leg when she gives up out of nowhere, and the cat thief slides back, turning it into a pirouette. "Aww, really, you sure? Well, that's fine too. Don't forget, my calling cards always get into place ahead, so you are free to try again next time", she cheekily announces, bowing slightly. The phantom thief then flips the painting around, up and down, left and right, and gives a please nod. "Looks like we have nothing to worry about", she tells Mou Fubuki, and flips over to her position. "Let me help you, my snowsweet", she says, and starts hitting the mass of ice with her cane, filling the air with rhythmic thuds.
Amy Faust	"Gnnh!" Amanda grunts as the shield stops her sword, jarring her arms -- she dismisses the weapon and shakes her arms. But then Reine makes an ominous comment about marksmanship, and as the pistol comes out she detonates a flashbang next to her to try and throw off Sarek's aim. The wannabe-noble rants in French, and Amy stands, hefting the rocket-sword again. Her eyes glow slightly as she regenerates any damage to them from the flash. "[That's right,]" she grins, "[The peasants are revolting.]" Amy says in English, unless the pun also works in Japanese. She steps forward, ready to attack again when Verre Reine reaches for the painting... only, she doesn't. "...Huh." Amy blinks, and rests the sword against her back. She turns and looks at the others, "Everybody alright?"
Chrono Harlaown	Chrono Harlaown may have felt... just the teeniest, tiniest bit... bad.... after seeing the girl start crying. Though he doubted she'd ever actually fully admit to crying, fully. But she most definitely was crying. He definitely felt bad. He felt a lot bad. But he buried those feelings and instead focused on the task at hand, in this case... Eying the others. << Everyone okay? >> Chrono asked. And then... << Also, this may come as quite the shock to you all... for you see... under this mask... I am in fact...>> He took off the mask. << Time Space Administrative Bureau Enforcer Chrono Harlaown. >> .... GASP! ... Surprising, likely, nobody. << Tell nobody of my dark, dirty secret. >> As he put the mask back on. << When everyone is good, I'll take the barrier down. >>