Houtaro frowns, pulling out his ready-pack of cards, sensing for the Chemy she's asked for to respond...
But before they can get much further along, the winged figure stirs - and, it becomes clear, it's another Malgam!
Eyes widening, Houtaro scrambles to pull out Sasukemaru - plus one more, in his hurry - and hands them to Rinne.
"Just let... me... go! Wait, when did I get wings?"
The Anchor Malgam (for lack of a better name) is taken aback, or perhaps struck with relief; the other Malgam is able to untangle itself with little struggle. The second Malgam's wings are the most easily observable part around it - not least because its chest isn't facing them. But, Houtaro belatedly notes, its hands look more like paws instead of a bird's claws.
She quickly puts Sasukemaru in the chemy riser, activating it and making the three of them invisible. She begins to lead the trio as she sneaks forwards.
Slowly and carefully, they make their way over to the wall. Peeking over to get an even closer look at the situation at hand between the two Malgams. Thankfully there is no other commonfolk nearby to potentially get hurt.
The one Malgam keeps on talking to the other, it's hard to gauge what is exactly going on without context. But observing the body language it, looks relieved over something. Presumably about the condition of the tangled one.
Interesting... She hasn't seen a situation like this before between to Malgams. What could possibly be going on? Pondering, she is determined to try and figure this out.
Piecing this together can help them figure out how to go about this next.
Admittedly, there does seem to be a fire brigade on their way... but they look hesitant towards entering the building.
The Malgams are almost entirely focused on each other, by this point. The conversation is starting to turn heated; something about this building needing to stand, and that they don't need to give up or move away?
"And you don't look like you either, 'San. What's happened?"
"It's - it's not important! You're important, to me! W-we can work this out! I-"
The anchor-limbs are trembling; the - bird-lion? - takes a ready stance, not looking convinced in the slightest.
"Hopper1! Get back here!"
Houtaro really should have picked a better moment - but also, that is definitely the grasshopper in question, having somehow crawled to the other side of the two Malgams from where Houtaro and Rinne stand.
Both Malgams look around, the tension of their argument suspended for a moment.
Well, there goes their cover. But if it wasn't Ichinose yelling out for the chemy, it would have no doubt been caused by the curious little creature itself.
There appears to be a personal quarrel of some sort between the two Malgams. And she notices how the roof begins to tremble beneath her feet as those limbs tremble themselves. Which is quite troublesome...
But there's time to worry about that in a moment, Hopper1 needs to get back here before it gets into trouble!
With a wave of her hand she says what has become the all too familiar alchemist incantation to Ichinose:
"As from the One all things are born!"
Rinne reaches out her hand, a small gust of wind suddenly manifesting and breezes it's way back to Hopper, then carrying it across the roof and plopping it right into Ichinose's arms.
Despite the Chemy's emphatic complaining, Houtaro catches the critter with ease - and the resulting sight has both Malgams staring at them in bafflement.
Then the griffin Malgam tries to take off, only to be intercepted by the anchor Malgam.
Houtaro glances at Rinne. "I think we'll have to fight them to calm them down?"
These two didn't seem to be thinking straight anyway. Maybe that related to why they'd become Malgams in the first place, though?
At least he has Hopper1 back; he didn't want to go charging into a fight without his best friend beside him!
(That that was true of more than one person was beside the point.)
It was good to see Hopper1 back with Ichinose. The little critter always ended up getting itself into trouble. The last thing this situation needed was for it to get hurt.
Observing the Malgams once more as she readies her ring, they looked already looked to be in a state without the ability to reason right now. Subduing them in combat is probably the only way to figure things out.
Rinne glances back to Hotaro and nods. "Looks like that's our only option right now, I don't think they're in the mood to talk."
She slides her ring onto her middle finger, it transmutes itself into Majade's ring. Sprouting wings as her belt manifests onto her waist.
"Get ready, Ichinose!" Moving her arms around, doing her transformation pose, she reaches out her arms. Creating the alchemists symbol as she yells:
Houtaro isn't far behind; "Henshin!" echoes across the rooftop.
... It's a good thing Steamliner didn't spontaneously decide to get into shenanigans today, because these Malgams don't look too hard to beat so long as they don't coordinate.
"Wait!""I can take care of myself!""By throwing yourself off the roof? And now with these guys!"
"Go for the griffin guy!" Houtaro points out, loading two other cards (both Object Chemies) on his Chemy Riser to help him distract the Anchor Malgam.
"I've got your back!"
One thing they have over these two Malgams: teamwork.
She can always count on Ichinose to have her back in combat. (Which looks to be something these Malgams are definetly struggling with.) The bond between the pair at this point couldn't be easily described with words.
Rinne can't help but wonder just what is the story between those two Malgams. But right now it's time to fight!
"Right! Same here!"
Dashing over to the griffin Malgam, she grabs it by the wrists and pulls them behind. Promptly hitting them with her knee, then kicking them across the rooftop. She prepares her alchemy for the next move.
The griffin Malgam puts up some resistance - though it's clear most of its animosity is directed at the Anchor Malgam, in addition to being unsteady on its back feet.
The Anchor Malgam, in contrast, isn't specifically trying to fight. However, it is very upset, and the two junior alchemists interrupting their Moment has put it even more on-edge.
It only has so many 'anchors' to throw around - and the building shakes when it pulls back one of those that had been inside the whole thing.
Kaiserbee and Saboneedle both set in on the remaining 'anchors', using various attacks to render the appendages either useless or at least much less effective.
And SteamHopper? Already in on an attack run - one that should keep the Anchor Malgam from going near the roof's edge.
Rinne continues to restrain the Griffin Malgam, able to decently counter it's resistance. But it's putting up one hell of a fight and she does struggle to keep it fully restrained. It's a 50/50 chance right now.
Thinking quick before the Griffin Malgam might escape, she waves one arm to send out blasts of alchemy that help add further restraints to those anchors. There should be no way those are moving now.
Now that those anchors have been made to stay put, she'd figured it's worth trying to ask what was happening.
"Just what's going on between you two? This building was nearly on the verge of collapse!" She yelled out, continuing to try and restrain the Malgam.
The Malgam looks surprised at being questioned - but this, at least, has an answer.
"It's... this was where we first met. His-"
Its head jerks in the direction of the other struggling Malgam.
"-family owns this place, or did, but now they have to give it up. Mortgage rates or something. And I..."
It strains its wings, not particularly keen on talking about its troubles. But dangit, these guys have all sorts of weird tricks! Some fights aren't worth having!
"I was going to jump, okay? I have troubles of my own, and I'd had enough. But then something just flew at me, and now I have wings?! I'm not going to do it now, I swear."
Life has gotten Too Weird, as far as this guy's concerned.
Houtaro, meanwhile, is grappling with the Anchor Malgam's main body.
"-and if I can't be there for him, what good am I?!"
Clearly these two have both been Going Through It.
Rinne's heart sinks a little to hear their story. Losing something (or someone) related to your family... it can be rough. Even though it's different than her circumstances in ways, she feels for these people.
She does her best to pick her words carefully, the goal now shifting to de-escalation. That could potentially help with the malice inside of them. Freeing them from this state.
As well as maybe try to ease their woes, even just a little bit.
It's what Ichinose would try to do too. She could tell, this building was their "Gotcha!" if she had to put it into his words.
"I'm sure there can be another way!" She yells out. "A way to make sure you can keep it! Right, Ichinose?"
Even with Malgams being what they are, the misshapen head of the griffin Malgam manages to grimace.
"I wouldn't know, I'm not a money guy. And we sure didn't plan this."
Profiting off of the destruction caused by Malgams wasn't something humanity had had much chance to master. But-
"I think, I just need a break, you know?" Maybe not one so final, but...
On the other half of the rooftop, Saboneedle flew over to the flailing Anchor Malgam, a sympathetic look on its cactus face.
The morphed man stared, truly baffled. Houtaro looked baffled as well, but only for a moment. Then his look became one of determination, even as he held the Malgam in a headlock.
"It's - you can just admit you're upset, when something isn't working out how you thought it should, right? You have that right."
He thought of Saboneedle and Riku, Wrestler G and Asahi - people who couldn't hang out together because of the current unfairness of the world. This situation, for these men - it wasn't like with Malgams they'd fought in the past. Their current state, it wasn't because they wanted to hurt anyone: they were just hurting, themselves.
Had two Chemies wanted to help them?
"But if you give yourselves a chance to calm down, you can make a new solution together!"
Without letting go, Houtaro did his best to let his sympathies shine through.
"And some things, if you're able to relax a little, they come to you more easily. Not all Gotchas work the same way!"
Ichinose was always one to wax poetics, bringing everything back to the concept of "one's Gotcha". When they first met it was something she found rather annoying about him... But this isn't when they first met. Over time it has become something she's come to deeply respect.
He knew how to reach to others on an emotional level. Either they be chemy, human, or malgam. She could tell that about him back then back when they first met.
"Ichinose is right." She nods in agreement.
"Surely there can be a way to figure this out. Taking a moment to clear your mind can help you further achieve this goal."
She looks down, remembering the time in the ant hill labyrinth Lachesis made. When hearing her father was dead, she wanted to give up everything right then and there.
But thanks to Ichinose reaching out to her, she remembered how her father smiled... How much she missed that. And how Ichinose's voice reached her. Giving her newfound hope that her father is alive, and that they will meet again.
And look at her now. In due time they did meet once more. Twice in fact. He gave her the power to become Majade. And he's still out there, waiting for them to meet again.
Looking towards both of the Malgams, "Believe in his words to you."
My brain is winding down on this thread, sob. Thank you for playing along with this, though!
It was a sort of domino effect; first the Griffin Malgam relaxed, then it... dissolved, into both a very wiped-out looking human with dark hair and prominent cheekbones, and Gingriffon the Chemy. The latter bumped him on the shoulder with an encouraging chirrup, much to the man's surprise.
Then, a couple seconds later, reacting to the proven-alive status of his partner, the Anchor malgam reverted; this man was shorter, with slightly darker skin, strain in his posture but now no longer so much in his eyes.
Blinking back tears, the second man braced himself against Houtaro's grip - only for the boy to smile cheeringly at him.
"You're both going to be alright, okay? You'll see."
Though he still had to whip out a blank Chemy card for Ojilacanth. "Gotcha!"
Rinne smiled at the two as well as she walked over to Ichinose's side. She was glad to see that things had resolved, and rather quickly at that. As well as that both people were still alive, and that they had been filled with some more hope from their words as well as the kindness of the chemies.
"Ichinose is right. Things will turn out for the both of you. I promise."
She took out a blank card of her own, Gingriffon moving promptly towards the inside of it to be sealed. "It's nice to meet you, Gingriffon." Rinne said softly.
It was especially good to see, since this situation did tug at her heart a little once she heard their story. Again, she could sympathize with their plight. Rinne was glad their words were able to reach them. She wished nothing but the best going forward for the two.
Who knew what chemies would show themselves next, and how they would involve themselves in the lives of the common-folk. But as time continued to pass, Rinne wanted to see Ichinose's dream come true more and more.
After talking with them some more and saying their goodbyes, Ichinose, Rinne, and Hopper1 began making their way back to the academy. Ready to bring in the new chemies they had found.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Houtaro frowns, pulling out his ready-pack of cards, sensing for the Chemy she's asked for to respond...
But before they can get much further along, the winged figure stirs - and, it becomes clear, it's another Malgam!
Eyes widening, Houtaro scrambles to pull out Sasukemaru - plus one more, in his hurry - and hands them to Rinne.
"Just let... me... go! Wait, when did I get wings?"
The Anchor Malgam (for lack of a better name) is taken aback, or perhaps struck with relief; the other Malgam is able to untangle itself with little struggle. The second Malgam's wings are the most easily observable part around it - not least because its chest isn't facing them. But, Houtaro belatedly notes, its hands look more like paws instead of a bird's claws.
no subject
Slowly and carefully, they make their way over to the wall. Peeking over to get an even closer look at the situation at hand between the two Malgams. Thankfully there is no other commonfolk nearby to potentially get hurt.
The one Malgam keeps on talking to the other, it's hard to gauge what is exactly going on without context. But observing the body language it, looks relieved over something. Presumably about the condition of the tangled one.
Interesting... She hasn't seen a situation like this before between to Malgams. What could possibly be going on? Pondering, she is determined to try and figure this out.
Piecing this together can help them figure out how to go about this next.
no subject
The Malgams are almost entirely focused on each other, by this point. The conversation is starting to turn heated; something about this building needing to stand, and that they don't need to give up or move away?
"And you don't look like you either, 'San. What's happened?"
"It's - it's not important! You're important, to me! W-we can work this out! I-"
The anchor-limbs are trembling; the - bird-lion? - takes a ready stance, not looking convinced in the slightest.
"Hopper1! Get back here!"
Houtaro really should have picked a better moment - but also, that is definitely the grasshopper in question, having somehow crawled to the other side of the two Malgams from where Houtaro and Rinne stand.
Both Malgams look around, the tension of their argument suspended for a moment.
no subject
There appears to be a personal quarrel of some sort between the two Malgams. And she notices how the roof begins to tremble beneath her feet as those limbs tremble themselves. Which is quite troublesome...
But there's time to worry about that in a moment, Hopper1 needs to get back here before it gets into trouble!
With a wave of her hand she says what has become the all too familiar alchemist incantation to Ichinose:
"As from the One all things are born!"
Rinne reaches out her hand, a small gust of wind suddenly manifesting and breezes it's way back to Hopper, then carrying it across the roof and plopping it right into Ichinose's arms.
no subject
Despite the Chemy's emphatic complaining, Houtaro catches the critter with ease - and the resulting sight has both Malgams staring at them in bafflement.
Then the griffin Malgam tries to take off, only to be intercepted by the anchor Malgam.
Houtaro glances at Rinne. "I think we'll have to fight them to calm them down?"
These two didn't seem to be thinking straight anyway. Maybe that related to why they'd become Malgams in the first place, though?
At least he has Hopper1 back; he didn't want to go charging into a fight without his best friend beside him!
(That that was true of more than one person was beside the point.)
no subject
Observing the Malgams once more as she readies her ring, they looked already looked to be in a state without the ability to reason right now. Subduing them in combat is probably the only way to figure things out.
Rinne glances back to Hotaro and nods. "Looks like that's our only option right now, I don't think they're in the mood to talk."
She slides her ring onto her middle finger, it transmutes itself into Majade's ring. Sprouting wings as her belt manifests onto her waist.
"Get ready, Ichinose!" Moving her arms around, doing her transformation pose, she reaches out her arms. Creating the alchemists symbol as she yells:
"Henshin!"
She's ready to battle alongside her friends.
no subject
... It's a good thing Steamliner didn't spontaneously decide to get into shenanigans today, because these Malgams don't look too hard to beat so long as they don't coordinate.
"Wait!" "I can take care of myself!" "By throwing yourself off the roof? And now with these guys!"
"Go for the griffin guy!" Houtaro points out, loading two other cards (both Object Chemies) on his Chemy Riser to help him distract the Anchor Malgam.
"I've got your back!"
One thing they have over these two Malgams: teamwork.
no subject
Rinne can't help but wonder just what is the story between those two Malgams. But right now it's time to fight!
"Right! Same here!"
Dashing over to the griffin Malgam, she grabs it by the wrists and pulls them behind. Promptly hitting them with her knee, then kicking them across the rooftop. She prepares her alchemy for the next move.
no subject
The Anchor Malgam, in contrast, isn't specifically trying to fight. However, it is very upset, and the two junior alchemists interrupting their Moment has put it even more on-edge.
It only has so many 'anchors' to throw around - and the building shakes when it pulls back one of those that had been inside the whole thing.
Kaiserbee and Saboneedle both set in on the remaining 'anchors', using various attacks to render the appendages either useless or at least much less effective.
And SteamHopper? Already in on an attack run - one that should keep the Anchor Malgam from going near the roof's edge.
no subject
Thinking quick before the Griffin Malgam might escape, she waves one arm to send out blasts of alchemy that help add further restraints to those anchors. There should be no way those are moving now.
Now that those anchors have been made to stay put, she'd figured it's worth trying to ask what was happening.
"Just what's going on between you two? This building was nearly on the verge of collapse!" She yelled out, continuing to try and restrain the Malgam.
uhhh cw: mention of suicidal intent??
"It's... this was where we first met. His-"
Its head jerks in the direction of the other struggling Malgam.
"-family owns this place, or did, but now they have to give it up. Mortgage rates or something. And I..."
It strains its wings, not particularly keen on talking about its troubles. But dangit, these guys have all sorts of weird tricks! Some fights aren't worth having!
"I was going to jump, okay? I have troubles of my own, and I'd had enough. But then something just flew at me, and now I have wings?! I'm not going to do it now, I swear."
Life has gotten Too Weird, as far as this guy's concerned.
Houtaro, meanwhile, is grappling with the Anchor Malgam's main body.
"-and if I can't be there for him, what good am I?!"
Clearly these two have both been Going Through It.
no subject
She does her best to pick her words carefully, the goal now shifting to de-escalation. That could potentially help with the malice inside of them. Freeing them from this state.
As well as maybe try to ease their woes, even just a little bit.
It's what Ichinose would try to do too. She could tell, this building was their "Gotcha!" if she had to put it into his words.
"I'm sure there can be another way!" She yells out. "A way to make sure you can keep it! Right, Ichinose?"
no subject
"I wouldn't know, I'm not a money guy. And we sure didn't plan this."
Profiting off of the destruction caused by Malgams wasn't something humanity had had much chance to master. But-
"I think, I just need a break, you know?" Maybe not one so final, but...
On the other half of the rooftop, Saboneedle flew over to the flailing Anchor Malgam, a sympathetic look on its cactus face.
The morphed man stared, truly baffled. Houtaro looked baffled as well, but only for a moment. Then his look became one of determination, even as he held the Malgam in a headlock.
"It's - you can just admit you're upset, when something isn't working out how you thought it should, right? You have that right."
He thought of Saboneedle and Riku, Wrestler G and Asahi - people who couldn't hang out together because of the current unfairness of the world. This situation, for these men - it wasn't like with Malgams they'd fought in the past. Their current state, it wasn't because they wanted to hurt anyone: they were just hurting, themselves.
Had two Chemies wanted to help them?
"But if you give yourselves a chance to calm down, you can make a new solution together!"
Without letting go, Houtaro did his best to let his sympathies shine through.
"And some things, if you're able to relax a little, they come to you more easily. Not all Gotchas work the same way!"
Ah, Houtaro. Always bringing it back to Gotcha.
no subject
He knew how to reach to others on an emotional level. Either they be chemy, human, or malgam. She could tell that about him back then back when they first met.
"Ichinose is right." She nods in agreement.
"Surely there can be a way to figure this out. Taking a moment to clear your mind can help you further achieve this goal."
She looks down, remembering the time in the ant hill labyrinth Lachesis made. When hearing her father was dead, she wanted to give up everything right then and there.
But thanks to Ichinose reaching out to her, she remembered how her father smiled... How much she missed that. And how Ichinose's voice reached her. Giving her newfound hope that her father is alive, and that they will meet again.
And look at her now. In due time they did meet once more. Twice in fact. He gave her the power to become Majade. And he's still out there, waiting for them to meet again.
Looking towards both of the Malgams, "Believe in his words to you."
My brain is winding down on this thread, sob. Thank you for playing along with this, though!
Then, a couple seconds later, reacting to the proven-alive status of his partner, the Anchor malgam reverted; this man was shorter, with slightly darker skin, strain in his posture but now no longer so much in his eyes.
Blinking back tears, the second man braced himself against Houtaro's grip - only for the boy to smile cheeringly at him.
"You're both going to be alright, okay? You'll see."
Though he still had to whip out a blank Chemy card for Ojilacanth. "Gotcha!"
Of course! I had fun doing this psl with you :D
"Ichinose is right. Things will turn out for the both of you. I promise."
She took out a blank card of her own, Gingriffon moving promptly towards the inside of it to be sealed. "It's nice to meet you, Gingriffon." Rinne said softly.
It was especially good to see, since this situation did tug at her heart a little once she heard their story. Again, she could sympathize with their plight. Rinne was glad their words were able to reach them. She wished nothing but the best going forward for the two.
Who knew what chemies would show themselves next, and how they would involve themselves in the lives of the common-folk. But as time continued to pass, Rinne wanted to see Ichinose's dream come true more and more.
After talking with them some more and saying their goodbyes, Ichinose, Rinne, and Hopper1 began making their way back to the academy. Ready to bring in the new chemies they had found.