Jump to content
Existing user? Sign In

Sign In



Sign Up
  • entries
    12
  • comments
    10
  • views
    51,532

10 - Out of the Frying Pan


7,801 views

post-13972-0-58953000-1360954266_thumb.p

"Ha.... haaaaaah...." You did it.

You pulled the plan off, worked together perfectly, and somehow managed to defeat Eva Manhattan.

Now you were free to try and find a way to escape the library in peace.

Eva was still burning two floors above you, but she was tough, so you didn't doubt she'd manage to survive somehow--

post-13972-0-05637200-1360954268_thumb.p

Eva's severed head falls to the ground next to you.

post-13972-0-90698700-1360954269_thumb.p

post-13972-0-57042400-1360954271_thumb.p

"H-Huh...? Hang on, wait just a moment here..."

Eva's head. It wasn't attached to her body. You weren't an expert in biology, but you knew enough to figure out that if someone had their neck cut, it meant that due to the disconnection of the arteries, the heart wouldn't be able to pump oxygenated blood to the brain, which therefore wouldn't be able to sustain itself and slowly stop functioning -- basically, they'd be dead.

Your expert opinion was that if someone's head wasn't attached to their body, they were probably dead.

Did the force of the ignition somehow blow her apart? Did she have other explosives hidden in her clothes which you accidentally set off?

Well, no matter how it happened, that wasn't the most important thing, because at the moment,

her head

had fallen off.

Did that make you a murderer? Would you get sent to detention? Or be locked up by big burly prison guards? Would you have to go to court? No way, you'd definitely lose, you were never even that good at basketball---

"Lillica--!!" Felicity's urgent shout snaps you back to reality. "Something's wrong! The string... whatever's on the other end of the string is still moving!"

Still moving...?

Did that mean Eva had become a zombie?

But that didn't make any sense, zombies were weak to fire--

Calm down.

Think for a moment.

You notice something odd about the head that just fell next to you.

You take a closer look.

post-13972-0-53732400-1360954273_thumb.p

Aha.

Ahaaaa.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't actually a real head. It was just a wooden cutout that looked exactly like her.

That explains why it fell off - the burning body was actually a wooden substitute.

"Lillica, it's heading your way!!"

So you suppose that meant...

post-13972-0-93013800-1360954274_thumb.p

"Lillica Plumb..." A battered Eva, also soaked in gasoline and clearly injured from the blast, comes out of the bookshelves behind you. "This was never any of your business, so I let you off and just had a bit of fun playing around with you here and there... but now that you've gone and actually made yourself a threat, I'm not gonna be quite so delicate with you any more.

It was never something personal, Plumb... but you know what? It is now. You've caused me too much trouble for your own good. I'm gonna drive this hammer into your face, screw you into a plywood coffin, and drop you down the stairs into the deepest darkest cellar in the school!! Lillica Plumb, I'm out for your blood---!"

Fortunately, you haven't become a murderer.

Unfortunately, you might be about to become a victim.

>Scream

>Shoot more sparkles

>Throw something else

>Charge at her

>Other: _____________

========================

She's soaked in gasoline...hit her again with our rail gun.

post-13972-0-48122900-1361055110_thumb.p

Wasting no time, you spin around and throw another sparkle at Eva!

She survived the first one, so she can survive this somehow -- but she's definitely going to take some damage!

post-13972-0-05555800-1361055112_thumb.p

"Heh!" Eva pulls out a wooden plank and guards against it! Eva was sharp - even though your bullets travel at the speed of light, she figured out their weakness.

The bullets were so fast that even trying to think about how to avoid them once they were shot was a stupid idea.

However, before they were shot... that was a different story.

By carefully watching your arms, Eva could figure out you were about to throw a sparkle, and had a shield ready before your hand had even let go of the bullet!

As expected of someone from the carpentry society, she was full of practical ideas.

post-13972-0-65397900-1361055113_thumb.p

"Uuuuu..." You keep your distance and try to think of a way to finish this.

There had to be something...

post-13972-0-09976000-1361055115_thumb.p

But on the other hand, you felt you were probably forgetting something really kind of important.

post-13972-0-54739300-1361055119_thumb.p

post-13972-0-36822700-1361055123_thumb.p

post-13972-0-60514800-1361055126_thumb.p

post-13972-0-07597600-1361055129_thumb.p

post-13972-0-06630800-1361055131_thumb.p

post-13972-0-85991900-1361055132_thumb.p

post-13972-0-39741900-1361055507_thumb.p

post-13972-0-89529400-1361055508_thumb.p

post-13972-0-79659700-1361055510_thumb.p

post-13972-0-25679900-1361055512_thumb.p

post-13972-0-60563000-1361055513_thumb.p

post-13972-0-14993300-1361055515_thumb.p

post-13972-0-38740100-1361055517_thumb.p

post-13972-0-15234600-1361055519_thumb.p

post-13972-0-82820100-1361055520_thumb.p

post-13972-0-95816400-1361055521_thumb.p

========================

post-13972-0-46023700-1361786645_thumb.p

post-13972-0-48210000-1361786647_thumb.p

post-13972-0-34127500-1361786649_thumb.p

"A-Aaaa--Hyaaaaaahhh--?!"

A quivering squeak an octave higher than your usual voice escapes from you.

Something was wrong.

Something was very wrong.

You knew exactly what it was, but that didn't give you any extra time to think about it.

There was only one clear, overriding thought ringing out in your head.

The pressure of liquid inside you, related to something very personal, which was at a perfectly calm and manageable level for the last thirty minutes, had chosen that exact moment to stop holding itself back, and directly let you know exactly how full it was.

The Princess Curse had struck, and it was time to face the consequences.

The coffee you forced down for breakfast, the bottle of water you finished in the cupboard, the can of soda you gulped down after that, and probably some of the tea you had by now too--

You urgently, desperately, absolutely, really, really needed to let them out soon.

You needed the girls' room. You needed it a lot. Right now.

Or something precious was going to overflow.

post-13972-0-11179300-1361786651_thumb.p

"Hiiii---!! Hah, hah, hah---!" You were breathing heavily.

You bend over and jam your hands hard between your legs, scrunching up your skirt and pushing with all your strength, while you try to keep your legs from shaking so you can squeeze them in tighter.

You didn't know this yourself, but in terms of liquid alone, you were at about 86% capacity. Now, usually, that would already be pretty bad, but the effects of the Princess Curse sharpened the intensity even more: even if you weren't at your physical limit, you could feel the spasms in your lower body, the jolt-like twitches in your legs, and the unrelenting pressure, poised just before breaking point, pushing and trying to find any possible way to leak out.

Oh no. Oh nooooo...

There was no way. You weren't a girl with this kind of capacity.

If you moved even a bit, you'd definitely-

post-13972-0-16443400-1361786653_thumb.p

Something slipped out.

Your hands feel the fabric of your skirt turn slightly damp, and hot.

post-13972-0-81656100-1361786654_thumb.p

No, no, no, no, noooo!

You couldn't! Not here! In fact, not ever! You were Lillica Plumb, the spritelike free spirit of the school, star of the darts club, and someone who still had her dignity as a girl, you definitely couldn't leak!

You squeeze your legs even tighter and push hard with your hands. With a short gasp, the intensity cuts off, and you feel something close back up - for now, at least.

Right.

You got over the initial shock of the Princess Curse wearing off. You could hold it in for a few more minutes.

As long as you didn't make any sudden movements.

post-13972-0-26883000-1361786657_thumb.p

Crisis temporarily averted.

But on the other hand, you felt you were probably forgetting something really kind of important.

post-13972-0-35089900-1361786660_thumb.p

Oh, right.

Eva Manhattan.

>Scream: ________

>Surrender

>Fight back very carefully

>Fight back very, very carefully

>Ask Felicity or Mirie to do something: _________

>Other: _________

========================

Just go ahead and have Lillica piss her skirt. Eva's sadistic enough, that kind of thing should appease her.

That or scream to Felicity and/or Mirie for help. NOW.

post-13972-0-71465200-1362027736_thumb.p

The idea of relief is incredibly tempting.

Just taking a deep breath, letting go, and feeling everything slowly flow out of you....

You'd get your skirt wet, and the floor, but in return... it would feel really good...

You couldn't even begin to imagine the sense of release that would wash over you.

---But on the other hand, you also definitely didn't want to imagine just how embarrassing that would be.

You were definitely, absolutely too shy to do something like that!

"H-H-Heeeelllppp!" You cry out urgently, since you were in an emergency situation in more ways than one.

"Got it!" A voice quickly replies, and just as Eva swings her hammer down---

post-13972-0-17535900-1361941195_thumb.p

A shining magenta ribbon wraps around her weapon and snatches it out of her hand!

post-13972-0-41137900-1361941196_thumb.p

"I'm not sure what's wrong with Lillica right now, but I'm not going to let you lay a finger on her, you deranged carpen-terrorist!"

Felicity dashes into battle amongst the puddles of gasoline on the floor - it takes you a moment to realize she'd made a portmanteau of 'carpenter' and 'terrorist'.

She'd saved you in the nick on time - Felicity really was someone you could rely on when things got tough.

"...Hmph." Eva grits her teeth, but seems to calm down. "I was sent here as the only one to take care of you because they know I'm stronger, Gateau. Do you really think you're a match for me just because you've stolen one of my hammers?"

"Hah! If you think you can do better than that, why don't you just try and prove--"

post-13972-0-30287600-1361941198_thumb.p

WHAM

Felicity's speech was cut off as Eva shot a plank of wood into her stomach at deadly speed, hitting her with so much force that it knocked her off the floor and smashed her into the shelf behind her.

"Proof enough for you, Gateau?" Eva's expression didn't change.

"---Ggggkk....!"

(Looks like Felicity may have been able to stop Hammer Time, but she still wasn't fast enough to compete with...

.)

========================

post-13972-0-06159800-1362040632_thumb.p

"String Theory - Butterfly Mitt."

Felicity's quick thinking saved her from the brunt of the damage, but she was clearly shaken.

"Listen, Manhattan..." The light taps of her feet landing back on the floor were masked by the clattering of the plank as she tossed it aside. "Just because I don't go around showing off everything I can do every hour of the day, it doesn't mean that I'm not as capable as you! Jasmine trusts me to be her replacement for a reason!"

post-13972-0-75670900-1362040633_thumb.p

The both of them leap into battle without holding anything back. Strings and splinters and nails fly in every direction between them, but while the exchange of blows was intense, it didn't look like either of them had the upper hand.

No - if you looked closely, Felicity was slowly but surely losing ground.

Someone else needed to step in, quick.

>Call over to Mirie

>Shout advice to Felicity

>Shout distractions at Eva

>Join the battle

>Shoot Eva

>Shoot one of the puddles of gasoline

>Shoot Felicity

>Other: _______

========================

Open inventory again

post-13972-0-80327200-1362046506_thumb.p

Inventory: Three school textbooks, a pad of lined paper, bottle of water, empty bottle, hairbrush, pencil case, student ID, 16 pencils, 6 pens, a metal ruler, an eraser, toilet paper, poison bottle, baseball, six screws, screwdriver, doorknob, green thymeglass stalk (kept in tissue), newspaper, Watchmaker Draft, Perfect Cola (RT), Watchmaker Draft (empty), Perfect Cola (RT) (empty), can of sand, empty pill wrapper, two bricks, two bottles of soap, broken broom handle, jug of gasoline, shoe, fifty-two cent coin.

You also have $21.32 in cash.

.....You haven't gained or lost anything since last time.

It's reassuring to know there aren't any holes in your inventory.

========================

Let's follow the battle plan we've developed. Throw the poison bottle (followed by either sparkles or the shoe to knock the obstacles out of the way depending on the outcome of initial attack) to either knock Eva out or give Felicity an opening

post-13972-0-96117500-1362136037_thumb.p

Slowly, shakily, you get to your feet and try your best to look intimidating given the circumstances.

"Felicity... thank you. You bought me enough time to think of a plan. I'm going to beat Eva once and for all with this move!"

A wide, mocking grin grows across Eva's face.

"...Give me your best shot then, Plumb."

You breathe an inward sigh of relief. By triggering Eva's playful nature again, you've taken her attention off Felicity, and also made her let her guard down. You hoped Felicity would pick up on the right moment to act, but for now, it was time for you--

post-13972-0-49437100-1362136040_thumb.p

"Haaaa-!"

You swing your arm out and the poison bottle rockets across the library!

post-13972-0-15945500-1362136043_thumb.p

"Hah! Is throwing things all you can do?" The bottle shatters into a spray of crystal against another of Eva's planks.

post-13972-0-85445800-1362136044_thumb.p

But the moment she defends against the bottle, which you threw with your left hand, you leap forward and swing out your right hand, and shoot another sparkle at her before she realizes what's going on!

post-13972-0-29771700-1362136046_thumb.p

The sparkle tears towards Eva at roughly 300,000,000 metres per second-

..............

.......

...

post-13972-0-30008100-1362136048_thumb.p

And shoots past, completely missing her.

1) Quickly shine a dime or quarter in your inventory without standing up

2) throw it in the air above Eva

3) Reflect A sparkle Railgun of the coin and at Eva

post-13972-0-86909300-1362136049_thumb.p

Its actual target - the fifty-two cent coin you also threw above her while she was distracted with the bottle.

post-13972-0-53872900-1362136051_thumb.p

post-13972-0-14295700-1362136053_thumb.p

post-13972-0-86651700-1362136054_thumb.p

post-13972-0-36480200-1362136723_thumb.p

Ricocheting off the glass shards of the bottle, the beam of light zigzags across your field of vision, zips past the edge of her barrier plank, and with one last collision is sent directly towards her gasoline-soaked shirt!

Eva doesn't even have time to cry out - this time you got her for real. Her clothes burst into flame, and while she hasn't been instantly killed, she's taking severe damage. One more hit and she'll be out for sure.

post-13972-0-09433200-1362136725_thumb.p

**Eva has been inflicted with the burn status**

Eva is now on fire.

>Punch Eva

>Say a cool one-liner: ______

>Laugh

>Other: ___________

========================

>laugh

afterall were the victor! victors laugh at their opponents! its the right thing to do!

post-13972-0-68463200-1362219218_thumb.p

"Ohohohohoho~~!" You still really needed the bathroom, but you'd earned the right to gloat over your victory a bit.

"Eva Manhattan, it looks like your plans... have gone up in smoke."

post-13972-0-79045500-1362219219_thumb.p

"Well, I guess I can't let you die. Someone of your strength is rare. Or... from the look of you... medium well."

post-13972-0-08291300-1362219221_thumb.p

"Hey, Eva, have you got a fever? Because it looks to me like.... you're burning up."

"Lillica, I'm going to murder you." Felicity pulls a shining silver ribbon tight between her hands.

>Keep making one-liners

>Punch Eva

>Say you'll put the fire out if she lets you out of the library

>Say you'll let her out of the library if she puts the fire out

>Say the library will let her out if she sets you on fire

>Other: _________

(Bonus: "Better get Mirie to start writing up a cruel thesis... because it's time for the End of Eva.")

=========================

>Say you'll put the fire out if she lets you out of the library

>Say you'll let her out of the library if she puts the fire out

"A...Anyway. Enough of that." You quickly turn away to avoid Felicity's glare. "Eva Manhattan, I have a proposition for you. Let us out of the library and promise not to interfere with us again, and we'll help you put the fire out. How does that sound to-"

post-13972-0-53337700-1363421559_thumb.p

*Crackle crackle crackle*

The fire continues to burn and Eva rolls around on the floor in agony.

You don't really think she's in a state to negotiate terms.

post-13972-0-83722200-1363421173_thumb.p

"Umm, Lillica. She'll be pretty weak after this anyway, I think you should put the fire out or she might really die." Felicity shows her compassionate side.

"Ah, right... good idea."

You take a bottle of water from your inventory and unscrew the cap. Feeling the water sloshing around in the bottle, and the increasingly urgent pressure of the water sloshing around somewhere more private, you realize that watching a stream of water being poured on her is the last thing you want to see right now.

post-13972-0-28319100-1363421175_thumb.p

"Ha...Haaaa!"

But you were a kindhearted and caring girl, so you closed your eyes and emptied the bottle for Eva's benefit--

post-13972-0-23162400-1363421177_thumb.p

*FWOOOOM*

You feel the blast of heat as the fire grows even bigger.

With the state you were in, maybe it was understandable that you forgot some of your basic science knowledge, but using water to try and extinguish a gasoline fire wasn't quite the best of ideas.

Oil and water don't mix, so the burning fuel rises above the water without being put out, and the heat evaporates the water underneath it, the steam pressure propelling the fuel outwards and spreading the fire further. Good thing you learned this lesson now and not when it was an emergency with someone's life at stake, or anything like that.

post-13972-0-59868100-1363421178_thumb.p

"-------!!!"

Mirie jumps to the rescue with a damp towel which she uses to smother the flames.

"...B-Because you scored above 10% in the library quiz..." She mumbles, "You earned the right to use this towel..."

You wonder whether that meant if you hadn't taken the quiz, she wouldn't have saved Eva's life, but you decide not to ask.

post-13972-0-00860100-1363421180_thumb.p

You didn't kill Eva. That was what was important.

post-13972-0-24928600-1363421181_thumb.p

"......." Eva recovers and mutters under her breath.

"Fine, fine. Satisfying my curiosity isn't worth being almost burnt to death. I've probably delayed you for long enough anyway, so I'll let you out if you leave me alone."

post-13972-0-65640700-1363421183_thumb.p

post-13972-0-23604400-1363421185_thumb.p

With Eva's amazing rapid carpentry skills, the 2nd floor exit is unblocked in no time.

post-13972-0-73907500-1363421186_thumb.p

Two problems down...

post-13972-0-09741600-1363421561_thumb.p

"H-Hey Mirie, thanks for all your help with that. Really, we didn't know each other that well before this but now I think you're actually a really sweet and reliable girl, and we should definitely hang out in future. But, um, first of all, before Felicity and I go, it's okay if I borrow the library bathroom, right? Actually, for a while, I've kind of really had to go, and it's honestly getting a bit hard to hold it in, and with all the corridors blocked and everything it would be a real lifesaver if you just let me use the bathroom now..."

Mirie pauses for a moment.

"Actually, before we properly met, I thought you were just an irresponsible troublemaker, but... I agree. You're much more interesting and reliable than I expected, and I wouldn't mind seeing you come visit again. Let's be friends from now on, Lillica Plumb."

*Relationship Upgrade: You have befriended Mirie Gutenberg!*

post-13972-0-45927400-1363421562_thumb.p

"Mirie... thank you... I can use the bathroom now, right?"

post-13972-0-99343300-1363421563_thumb.p

"No."

"...H-Huh?"

"...You're an admirable person, but that's that and this is this." The Merciless Angel of the Library explains. "I can't let myself bend the rules for you just because you've done me a favor, or because I like you as a person. If I started doing that, the value of the everyone else's efforts in the quiz would lose their meaning. Students in the library should have a fair and equal chance at the bathroom regardless of whether I like them or hate them."

"E-Ehhh... is that so..."

Your legs keep trembling, your hand clutching desperately between them.

>Keep trying to convince Mirie

>Quickly leave with Felicity

>Ask Mirie for the cup

>Other: ___________

=========================

Quickly leave with Felicity!!

agreed, get out and take your chances. didn't you hear what eva said. she probably delayed us long enough already, that means something bad is gonna happen to jasmine. go save her!

post-13972-0-07854800-1363569392_thumb.p

"F-Felicity, let's hurry out of the library, quickly--!"

"I was thinking the same!" Felicity agrees but likely for a slightly different reason.

The both of you leap out of the library! The fresh air and natural sunlight are welcome sensations to return to, but that's not all that you see upon exit...

post-13972-0-22446500-1363569394_thumb.p

"W-What's this?" You and Felicity stop in your tracks.

Waiting outside the library was an eclectic crowd of students, all of whom had wanted to go inside but were barred entry by Eva's barricade! The two of you wanted out, and the others wanted in: you had no choice but to cross paths with them!

post-13972-0-52160400-1363569395_thumb.p

"I'm from the Art Society, and I'm here to deliver these fountains to the library."

He reveals a fully functional ensemble of stunning fountains in various styles, and the sound and sight of rushing water fills the corridor.

Even though they were the absolute last things you wanted to see right now, looking at the fountains fills you with a sense of envy.

post-13972-0-66737200-1363569396_thumb.p

"I'm from the Photography Club, and I was thinking of taking pictures of some hardworking students in here. The both of you are cute, do you mind if I take one? I've got good connections with the school magazine, so if you're lucky you could end up on the front page--"

post-13972-0-18799200-1363569398_thumb.p

"I'm from the Robotics Society, and I need to research more into programming to stop this tickle robot we made from rampaging around and tickling every girl it sees. P-Please try and keep your distance from it, or I don't know what will happen."

"...A-As usual, this school is filled with a really odd bunch of people..." Felicity mumbles. "Well, it's none of our business, so let's--"

post-13972-0-39782900-1363569399_thumb.p

"L-Lillica? What's wrong?"

>Tell Felicity what's wrong

>Run back into the library

>Carefully walk through the crowd

>Charge through the crowd

>Try to negotiate with the crowd

>Other: _______

==The continuing saga of Lillica Plumb==

1 Comment


Recommended Comments

Guest
Add a comment...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...