ripped | 01 ☣ video/action for NBT

[ The audio turns on with the hiss of static, it lasts about half a second before— ]

Stuck? Stuck?! Bullshit!

[ Whoever's speaking, they're clearly angry. There's the sound of paper getting pushed aside and metal hitting the floor, followed swiftly thereafter by glass breaking and plastic getting crushed. The horrified gasps of a few scientists fill in the ensuing silence. ]

Kyrie...she's in danger, I have to...

[ The yelling voice seems to have slowed and quieted to a low growl. The thudding of boots marks heavy, erratic pacing; the crunch of plastic indicates the violence isn't quite over.

It's here the video turns on; a big blue snout blocks the view, before the head pans out to reveal a Bagon, looking upset. The small creature turns the 'gear around, capturing the scene:

Elm's lab is trashed.

Papers litter the floor, broken glass and torn plastic casings strewn in the wake of whole workstations being knocked down. Chairs are on their sides, tables half-emptied of their contents, shattered vials releasing fluids onto the linoleum. A group of scientists—strangely, none of them hurt—are watching with wide, frightened eyes as a young man paces. 'Young man' is perhaps generous: half-man, half-snarl, flashing teeth that feel as though they should be pointed. He can't seem to contain himself, his eyes stare ahead emptily, focused on something that isn't there; every other movement he's whirling, stopping, starting again, hands raised, hands down, flexing and touching his right hand over and over. There's blood on that fist; it's easy to connect the dots to the hole in one of the computer monitors. Finally, after about a minute, he spins deftly on his heel and grabs Elm by the collar of his labcoat. Tiny flowers of blood bloom on the white fabric. ]

I have to get back!

[ He shakes Elm for good measure, as the poor harried researcher can only hang on and blubber apologies. Nero snarls. ]

Answer me!

[ The Bagon puts down the gear and leans over it worriedly, making a soft keening noise. Come calm his trainer down, please, somebody! Anybody? ]

[[OOC: all characters who signed up and any who didn't are welcome to come crash the party and help Elm get away from the rampaging teenager. Video/audio responses will come chronologically after he calms down. ]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Nero lets go of Elm, who goes staggering back into the crowd of petrified aides. He turns, squaring his shoulders, teeth and fists clenched. The Narnia reference goes flying high over Nero's head, but the tone does nothing to calm him. ]

Someone brought me here, now someone's gonna get me out. If it's not him-- [ meaning Elm ] --then I'll find the one responsible.

[ And it won't be pretty! ]

Yes, I'm sure the person with the power to anonymously and instantly pluck people from across the multiverse and plop them down in Little Japan, Toontown is gonna just CRUMPLE from a single punch.

[Mouthing off probably isn't the best idea right now, but Harry doesn't want to be here any more than Nero. Besides, Nero was just about to beat a (probably) innocent bystander.]

[Plus, Harry can be kind of an idiot sometimes.]

Seriously, this isn't a problem you can punch just punch out of the way, Rocky.

[Lara, meanwhile, sidles over to the distressed Bagon.]

I crushed a god's face in, once. I can do it again.

[ HE IS DEAD SERIOUS, TOO. Ahahaha, what are Capcom protags. He cracks the knuckles on his uninjured hand. ]

You gonna get in my way?

[ Meanwhile, no-name the Bagon gives Lara a relieved croon. Translation: "Thank goodness, because mine can give one really well! With that injured hand, though..." ]

Yuh-huh. I once rode a Tyrannosaur skeleton down the streets of Chicago. And neither of those mean diddly here.

[This is Harry's believing face. The kid probably did tangle with some sort of powerful being, but in Harry's experience, actual gods of any kind tend to smush humans with a glance.]

If you're gonna keep trashing bystanders, you're damn skippy I will.

[ To be honest, he's kind of curious--or at least the 19-year-old part of his brain is--because that sounds fuckawesome. But he remembers that Kyrie is probably getting mauled by demons back home and that train of thought comes to a screeching halt. ]

I'm not trashing anyone. [ Anyone, not anything. There are enough trashed computers around to testify to that, while the group of scientists are scared...but unhurt. ]

And I don't like your tone, pal.

The guy you had by the collar might disagree.

"That's a Pokemon egg! Does this mean that-"

If he could talk right he might disagree.

[Arms folded, body language saying he's not particularly impressed or intimidated.]

Yet another badass with a chip on his shoulder doesn't like Harry Dresden's tone. What EVER will I do?

The guy I had by the collar is fine.

[ Nero stalks forward. His injured hand trickles blood on the floor as he goes. He doesn't seem to notice it. ] Keep that up though, and I might not say the same about you.

Yeah, and how long would that've lasted, you think?

[Harry's standing his ground, glaring down at Nero. Not out of a particular personal dislike, he's just really tall.]

Kid, I've tangled with stuff that'd give Freddy nightmares.

[And usually gotten his ass kicked in the process, but Nero doesn't need to know that.]

You wanna turn this into a fight that's fine, but I'm don't respond well to threats.

Well then.

[ Nero thumbs the bridge of his nose thoughtfully, giving Harry a once-over. Buster turns to Lara: this is gonna get good! ]

Let's tangle.

[ Here is a fist--the good one--heading for your face, Harry. Have fun with that. ]

Well 'tangle' just sounds kind of-

Baaaaaaggh.

[ 'I ain't betting a berry I'm gonna lose.' ]

[ For his part, Nero is more than happy to step back to avoid the incoming knee; it gives him momentum to spring back in and attempt to sweep Harry's remaining leg out from under him. ]

[Harry's had some hand-to-hand training and experience, and manages to see where Nero's going. Unfortunately, Nero ~~is from a fighting-based franchise~~ has a lot MORE experience, and attacks before Harry can successfully react.]

[He falls hard, and rolls away from whatever Nero's next attack is, springing to his feet and getting into a basic stance.]

[ Nero's fist smacks against the linoleum in the space Harry's face used to occupy. The young man swiftly rights himself, shaking off what's likely to be a blossoming bruise in his fist. ]

All right, so you're less of a pushover than I gave you credit for.

[ Which means he's gonna have to get creative. The obvious answer to this is to hook a foot in a nearby chair and swiveling it into his grasp so he can chuck it at Harry's face. ]

[Chairs to the face are not good. Harry's staff would be really nice right about now. And while he's wishing for things, he'd also like his magic back, a couple million dollars in the bank, and one of those hoverboards 'Back to the Future' promised.]

Talking too much is MY thing, man.

[Rather than try to play dodgeball with a heavy wooden object, Harry's gonna try to close whatever distance he's managed to gain and plant a couple quick right-jabs to Nero's ribs. This is Harry getting a bit desperate, tactically speaking. Close-range fighting's really not his thing.]

[For one thing, close range means most of his usual opponents could just crush him one-fisted, like an empty beer can.]

01 ☣ video/action for NBT

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[Action] lmao Harry

[Action] I was unable to find any of Elm's actual dialogue from the games

[Action] s'all good<3 sorry for late tag!

Re: [Action] sa'right

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Re: [Action] late tag, blargh