Date: 2024-04-22 09:20 pm (UTC)
hophophopper: Hopper1 Card in a field of flowers (Default)
From: [personal profile] hophophopper
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.

Date: 2024-04-23 02:13 pm (UTC)
hophophopper: Hopper1 Card in a field of flowers (Default)
From: [personal profile] hophophopper
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.

uhhh cw: mention of suicidal intent??

Date: 2024-04-23 03:03 pm (UTC)
hophophopper: Hopper1 being stuffed in Hotarou's backpack. Or hiding there! (Hidden)
From: [personal profile] hophophopper
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.

Date: 2024-04-24 12:44 am (UTC)
hophophopper: Hopper1 is upset. (Pleading)
From: [personal profile] hophophopper
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!"

Ah, Houtaro. Always bringing it back to Gotcha.
hophophopper: Hopper1 Card in a field of flowers (Default)
From: [personal profile] hophophopper
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!"