Scenario:Hallessena and Illnott - Night of the Crazies

Night of the Crazies

Hallessena befriends a little orphan girl whose precious blanket accidentally ends up on the Grandcypher. When Hallessena goes to return the blanket, she discovers the girl has been kidnapped by gangsters. Working with Illnott, they save the girl and purge the slums of the gangsters. In the morning, the slum residents are delighted to see artwork of the King of the Night adorning their town.

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Today's mission sees (Captain) and company delivering food and necessities to a less fortunate town on a certain island.

The locals are welcoming. Hallessena, who had joined the effort, ends up befriending a little orphan girl.

Little Girl: Thanks for coming to play, Hallie! I had tons of fun today!

Little Girl: Here! I'll letcha hold my treasure for being such a good friend!

Hallessena: Really? Let's see it.

The girl grins as she hands Hallessena the faded blanket that she'd been wearing as a cloak.

Little Girl: Mama gave this to me before she passed away.

Little Girl: Heehee, it keeps the cold wind out, so I stay nice and warm! Even though it's just me now, it helps me fall fast asleep!

Hallessena: Ooh, no kidding. This really is soft and cozy. It's very, very lovely!

Hallessena: Hehe, thanks for showing me your precious treasure! I think it's only fair to show you mine!

Hallessena: Yeeeehaw! Get a load of my Divine Death Saw of Death! It's crazy to the max!

Little Girl: Whoa! Betcha could cut steel with that! Gee, wish I had a death saw too. Then those people wouldn't come around anymore...

Hallessena: Oh? What people?

Little Girl: They're... Actually, never mind! Don't worry about it!

Little Girl: Say, all these empty boxes of food and water still need to be cleaned up, right? C'mon, I'll help ya!

The girl seems troubled by something, but she puts on a brave face and begins loading the empty boxes onto a cart.

That night, the crew retires to the ship with the intention of leaving the island in the morning.

Hallessena stays up late performing maintenance on her death saw. She heads into the ship's cargo hold in search of parts.

Hallessena: Hm... This piece of scrap might do the trick... Maybe (Captain)'ll let me have it if I ask nicely tomorrow.

Hallessena: Huh? Hey, isn't this...

Hallessena spots a familiar object mixed in amid a pile of wooden boxes.

Hallessena: Uh-oh, this is that girl's blanket, isn't it? She must've forgotten it while helping out.

Little Girl: Heehee, it keeps the cold wind out, so I stay nice and warm! Even though it's just me now, it helps me fall fast asleep!

Hallessena: Oh, man. She must be losing her mind trying to find it. I'd better hurry and bring this back to her!

Hallessena disembarks and rushes back to the little girl's ramshackle dwelling.

But instead of finding anyone home, she finds signs of a struggle.

Hallessena: Oh no... W-was she kidnapped by scary people?

???: Sniiiiff... Hehehe...

Hallessena: Ulp... Wh-who's there?

???: Hahahaha! Love the smell of dust and ink... Give it to me... Sniiiifff...
Ah. Dope.

???: Let's kick up the wickedness another notch... Yes! There it is! Now that's a face I can get behind. Cool.

???: Still need a bit more though... Double and triple more! Show me what I want to see.

???: Sniiiiff... Hehehe!

Hallessena: (Yikes... Some weirdo's here. What are they up to? Sounds like they're talking to someone?)

Hallessena: (Gasp! C-could it be the kidnapper?)

Hallessena: (I-I-I've got to do something!)

Hallessena: Heeehaw! Step away from the kid, or it's sayonara-bye-bye, sucker!

Illnott: Huh?

Illnott: Uh, what's up, little dude? Why are you pointing fingers at me?

Illnott: It's just me and my cute doodle over here.

Illnott steps to the side, revealing a picture sprayed painted onto the wall of a narrow, empty alleyway.

Hallessena: Wha? So all that talk about wanting more and such was about this picture?

Hallessena: Hey, wait a minute! I've seen this art before when I was growing up in the slums! That was your stuff?

Illnott: Ah, so you were born in the Erste Empire? No wonder you're so precious. Put it there, homey.

Illnott: By the way, your name's Hallessena, right? Part of (Captain)'s posse? Buzzing chainsaw's kind of a dead giveaway.

Hallessena: Huh? Does that make you a member of the crew too?

Illnott: Bingo! 'Course, I wouldn't be caught dead rising with the sun like an early bird.

Hallessena: Gotcha. So as a fellow crew member, I guess you're pretty safey-safe too then?

Illnott: Pfft, hell no. I'm as nefarious as it gets—a real troublemaker and head case.

Illnott's lips mimic the crescent moon in the night sky. She reaches out a hand toward Hallessena's cheek.

The Draph shrinks back just a bit, but she accepts the hand. Despite their menacing aura, Illnott's fingers feel warm and comforting.

Illnott: But here's the thing, bae. If you're tight with (Captain), then yeah; I am safey-safe.

Hallessena: Ehehe... Phew...

Hallessena: Oops! I almost forgot! This girl I met... She's my friend! I could really use your help!

Now trusting of the graffiti artist, Hallessena explains the situation.

She'd returned to the slums to give the girl her blanket back only to find her missing.

Illnott: Aw, shizz... That definitely sucks.

Illnott: I was screwing around town while you guys were handing stuff out, but I do know gangsters have a safe house around here.

Illnott: Noticed some lamewads skulking about. Could be the same punks who nabbed your kid.

Hallessena: Sniff... I knew it... I have to save her!

Hallessena: Sh-should I go call (Captain)?

Hallessena: But by that time, they might have hurt her... Sob...

Illnott: Damn, get a grip, little dude. Beautiful moonlit night like this is spoiled by tears.

Illnott: All right, I'm in. Can the waterworks. Time to mess some fools up.

Illnott: What do you say, little dude? Be my partner in crime! At least while the night's still young.

Hallessena: P-partner in crime?

With a cheeky grin, the graffiti artist whispers her grand scheme into Hallessena's ear.

Gangster 1: What, ya think cryin's gonna help? It's not our fault ya didn't wanna hand over yer valuables like a good girl.

Little Girl: Sniff... I'm sorry. Please just let me go home...

Gangster 2: Sigh. She's obviously got nothing worth stealin'. Maybe we can put her to work.

Gangster 1: Bwahaha. That's cold, man!

Little Girl: No! Not that! Help! Anybody—

???: Rrraarw! Nrrrrgh-nrgh! Hyaahah!

Gangster 1: The frick? What's with the racket! Who's out there!

The screeching cry of a heavy motor engine startles the gangsters. When they turn around, they see a spinning blade pierce through the stone wall behind them.

Sparks fly as metal teeth chew through the rock, cracking open the gangster hideout like a squirrel cracks a nut.

Hallessena: Kyahaha! Oh, scary bad guys! Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Gangster 2: What the hell! That thing cut through the wall like a hot knife through butter!

Gangster 1: Tch, who do we have here? Some brat tryin' to play hero of the slums? C'mon, fellows! Let's stomp that urchin into the ground!

Hallessena: Pfft! As if you could keep up with me! Later, losers!

Gangster 2: Damn you! Come back here!

Gangster 1: Huff... Huff... Pretty sure she came this way... Where's she hiding?

Illnott: Drop the bomb!

Gangster 1: Wha? Words are poppin' up on the wall!

Illnott: Good night, dummies! Think you're so gangster? Can't even catch a little girl!

Gangster 2: Ergh... Screw you! We'll see who has the last laugh! She went this way!

Illnott: Ahaha! This is turning out great! Hallessena's got a flair for playing bait!

Hallessena: Gulp... They're getting closer... I'm scared, but I've gotta keep leading them on!

Hallessena: Kekeke... Heeeheehee! Over here, boyos! You'll never catch me!

Gangster 2: Tch! I didn't come here to play tag! Quit runnin'!

Hallessena: (Hehe, I know these alleyways like the back of my hand. Popping in and out is a piece of cake!)

Hallessena uses Illnott's signs and the labyrinthian alleyways to her advantage as she flanks and needles the gangsters.

However, after leading her pursuers on a wild goose chase, she finds herself cornered in a cul-de-sac used for storing garbage bags.

Gangster 1: Huff... Puff...

Hallessena: ...!

Gangster 2: Gahaha! Good goin', li'l idiot! Ran yourself right into a dead end!

Gangster 1: Hahaha! Not so tough now, huh? You're gonna wish you never crawled out of your hidey-hole.

Hallessena: Keehyahaha! Joke's on you!

Illnott: Heh... Bunch of stooges. Even a toddler would've noticed it was a trap. Oh, well.

Illnott: Bombs away, baby!

With a clap of her hands, the empty walls of the dead end come alive with colorful graffiti.

Gangster 2: Holy! There's weird pictures everywhere!

Hallessena: Heh... Hehehe!

Even Hallessena's body becomes saturated with gnarly art, which spreads to the walls behind her in the form of a gigantic optical illusion.

The paint from Hallessena's body merges with the illusion to create a visage of pure malevolence.

Gangster 2: Gyaaah! It's a monster!

Hallessena: Vrrm, vrrm, vrrm! I'm gonna enjoy chopping you up into teensy-weensy pieces!

Hallessena: Say hello to my big friend! Sayonara-bye-bye!

Gangster 1: Noooo! W-we're sorry! We'll never even think about doing a bad thing again!

Gangster 2: Help! I don't wanna diiiie!

The gangsters want no part of what the colossal, chainsaw-wielding Hallessena is serving and flee into the night.

Illnott: Buff!

Hallessena: Whoa... The paint on my body disappeared.

Illnott: Ahaha, great performance, Sis. Safe to say we won't be seeing the likes of them ever again.

Illnott: Think I'm gonna keep this graffito of your death saw up as a memento of this wicked night.

Hallessena: Wow! Very nice! Super lovely! I hope the rain doesn't wash it away!

Little Girl: Hallie?

Hallessena: Oh, good. You hid with the artist lady. I'm glad you're safe.

Little Girl: Yeah! Thanks for saving me, Hallie! And the black-haired lady too!

Hallessena: Nah, I didn't really do anything to scare those guys away. It was all—

Illnott: Oh, puh-leeze. Trolling scrubs is a pastime. Getting a pat on the back for that feels bad, man.

Illnott: Damn, my heart just melts whenever nice kids give me those goo-goo eyes. Look, I was just doing what I had to do.

Illnott: Think about it. If those guys had stuck around, they'd keep my art for themselves.

Illnott: Hehe, which would've meant no one else could've savored my brand of chaos and excitement.

Illnott: So let me be the one to thank you. Plus I had a sick time lurking in the shadows!

Hallessena: Ehehe... I'll admit I was scared, but getting painted on and playing bait wasn't that bad after all.

Hallessena: Haha, thank you so much, lady!

Illnott: Call me Illnott, Sis.

Hallessena: You got it! Thanks, Illnott!

Illnott: By the way, tonight'll be our little secret, got it? And that goes triple for the little dude with the furry ears.

Illnott: You're still too young for the night scene. Save the foul play till you're a bit older. Tonight's a special exception.

Little Girl: Got it! I won't tell a soul! Promise!

Illnott: Sniff... Obedient kids are the best.

Illnott: Damn, hate it when the nasty sun catches up to me. Can I squeeze out a few more seconds of darkness?

Illnott: Nnngh... Nope, I'm out! The sun burns! Good night, little dudes!

Hallessena: Hey, wa—ah, she's already gone. Oh yeah, there was something else I had to do!

Hallessena hands the little girl her blanket. Grateful, the girl's face lights up, and she squeezes the keepsake to her cheek.

Little Girl: Gosh! I woulda been a wreck without my blankie! You're the greatest, Hallie!

Hallessena: Hahaha! No problem at all! So, are we ready to head back home?

In the morning, the Grandcypher rises into the sky along with the sun, with those aboard none the wiser of what took place while the moon was out.

As the slum awakens, cries of joy erupt from the residents when they realize the gangsters have fled, not to mention their town has been graced with artwork by the King of the Night.

All the while the little girl smiles to herself as she listens quietly to people argue over who the King of the Night really is.