Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Chapter 14 Episode 17: Backstage 2 (Abridged)

Let's talk about the Wanderers some more! They are those who came to Tokyo after losing their homes, never had a home, or came out of despair. But even here they don't have a forever home because the roles they have prevent it. The base example for its members would be Qursha, the self-proclaimed Arakawa Guild's Stray Dog.
Back in his home world, Qursha was known as the greatest hunting dog together with his partner the best hunter in the mountains. He jumped like lightning, uncatchable by anyone. It was a simple but happy life, one he thought would go on forever.
They didn't of course. They ended over a common tangle of foolish love. A mountain goddess spirit fell in love with the hunter at first sight, but her love turned to hatred over illicit love, and she imprisoned the hunter, separating him from Qursha. Mountains are sacred in Kitezh, and they are also places where things come and scatter about. Qursha could not oppose her/them, and so he lost his master and partner. His dream shattered, and he despised love and romance. And so he abandoned his home world.

Qursha came to Tokyo with his incurable wounds, the city that permits all loves. Races and roles mean nothing in the face of loving who you want. And all that love felt like a sick joke to Qursha. Stuck in his past as he was, it was hard to make a living. Luckily for him, being so deeply hurt was hawt in Tokyo. He'd give love to somebody new every day and have a bed for a night, and then he leaves before breakfast in the morning. He's aware of the contradiction of deriding love and his life of throwing himself into it.
There's still a bright part of his day: street basketball. Zipping around, dribbling balls, dunking SO hard...it's how he found his new dream and way of making a living. He dreams of jumping higher than anyone to chase after his old dream, though he has no idea of how he'll go about it. It's what screams him though. When he wins a basketball game, he takes a victory selfie and sends it to the guild to prove he's still alive.
Qursha can't answer whether he hates or loves Tokyo what with its acceptance of all loves, be he keeps trucking on. And now we're here with Tokyo on the brink of collapse.

Present
Clip show of Qursha running past a bunch of mobs!

MC: Oh no, I can't do anything! (pounds phone)
Quantum: :(
Yurakucho
Qursha's running around Yurakucho! But angels and livestreamers are blocking the way!

Motosumi: Raid party!
The Asakusa guild party invites have brought everyone along!

Maria: Everyone, we don't need to fight! We just need to be loud!
The Asakusa and Aoyama guilds and friends are playing decoy!

Maria: We're trying our best to live our lives here!
Tokyo is the city of all permitted love, but there's still pain and conflict. No paradise where everyone has an easy life exists.
Maria: ...but this still isn't the place where people can do whatever they like to us. We are here! Tokyo Pride!
Aoyama Angels: Yes, Guildmaster!
Maria and the angels advance into Yurakucho! Maria ties up livestreamers with her vines and clears the way. More mobs try to block the way, but Qursha slips his way past!

Qursha: Four checked, no luck so far. Twenty-two to go! Noble Phantasm activate!
Qursha starts jumping from building to building! His body scars are his artifact and they give him super jumping and lightning speed, the power to jump between heaven and hell based off the Georgian metaphysical worldview. Also no one can measure the movements made with it.

Qursha: Super jumping is awesome!

Yurakucho Opera House
Loki: So dick, all according to keikaku script?
Loki and Oscar are watching the grand guild alliance raiding Yurakucho on a TV screen.

Oscar: Pffft, no performance ever goes perfectly. You can put on the same play with the same lines, but it'll still come out different on another day. Ah fate, the strongest and most uncontrollable thing in the world. Such strange bedfellows it makes of people! But that's what makes shows so fun! I can die, but I'll always want to keep that pleasure in the forefront. (winks sexily at Loki)
Loki: Oh [bell ringing] off with that look, you [woman screaming].
Oscar: Haha, well what's my writing talents for if I can't BS the plot back together? Stay tuned!
Yurakucho
Barong: Whew, things are getting fun! Let's go too, Newbie!
Barong came over here from Asakusa.

Amduscias: ...Senpai, I--
Barong: Yeah I know, you have somewhere you wanna go to. But have you decided what stage you want to be on?
Amduscias: (stares)
Barong: Have you figured out what sort of story this is for you? What are you showing? Who are you starring for?
Amduscias: ...! I-I... (frowns)

Later
King Solomon: (stares in blank)
Christine: Please enjoy the show wherever you like! I shall see you later.
King Solomon wanders off somewhere while Christine bows.

Ahura Mazda: So, should we go to where we need to next?
Nobumichi: Yessir, I'm coming with you!
Ahura Mazda: Really? But don't you work under Lord Horus?
Nobumichi: Yes. I'll serve until the Rule Makers bosses settle things amongst themselves.
Ahura Mazda: ...I've always liked that about you. Okay, let's go.
Nobumichi: Where to anyway?
Ahura Mazda: First, I should greet the Entertainers guildmaster.

Later
Qursha: 23 down, 3 left to check o--
Suddenly, Barong, Amduscias, and Christine!

Christine: If we can't catch up, we just need to wait up ahead. It's 3v1 here. What now, Qursha?
Barguest: Surprise, it's actually 3v3 here.
Christine: !!
Suddenly, Barguest and Gurangatch!

Barguest: Y'know, Qursha getting your lot's attention made it easier for us to move around. We followed you. We are the Wanderers and no one's better at pursuit than us!
Surprised Entertainers!

Barguest: Qursha, go while we hold them off!
BATTLE START

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