JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part [BET]: Colors Must Go On.
Chapter 3. Singer of Sixpence: Arthur.
A coin skids off my mask, no doubt bruising my forehead before it rockets into the wall behind me. It is soon joined by a barrage of others, shooting from the other Stand User's hands like fucking bullets. None of them really hit me, at least not until after they have bounced off something else first, but the point is that he is forcing me away from Johan!
I try to look around for something, anything, as I am pushed further into the alley, but I keep getting coins in my face when I try and he is staying out of the range of my shockwave! The fucker plays with me as his bombardment chases me further into the alley, the clinging chimes of the coins impacting the brick and concrete around us doing nothing to drown out the sounds of gunfire from where we left Johan with the hooded boy.
Gritting my teeth, I take note of the corner just a few short steps away before I throw my arms over my face and turn around. A few coins nick and smack into me as I face towards the coin-flipper, but that is a side issue at the moment: He might be out of range, but the coins are a different story!
"Isolated!"
My Stand lunges forward from her position of sticking out of my back, her bound forearms slamming into my back as she drives her head onto my shoulder. The shockwave that follows swats the coins flying towards me out of the air, leaving me alone in this space where only I can/should exist. And Isolated of course. But Isolated is me so really it is still just me-
The metallic chime of coins skidding across the walls shakes me out of it as the coin-flipper launches another handful at me. I blast them away with my shockwave, taking the opportunity to get closer. If I can get into range then I can…I don't know! Segregate his coins away or something! My shockwave deflects a third spray of coins, then a fourth after I take another few steps towards him.
He doesn't try to move away from me. He just stands there with his palms upturned as a pair of golden pincers click-clack above them, filling them up with more coins. He fires the first handful, which gets intercepted by my shockwave just as the first coin in about to hit me after bouncing off the- "Ah!"
I let out an involuntary cry of pain as I am pelted by the second handful of coins just as my shockwave fades. I try to let loose with another, but by then it is too late and all that happens is that- "Ow!" Is that I become a sitting duck for another cloud of coins. My arms are reflexively covering my face again, I definitively do not want it to catch one or more coins. Stumble-skipping towards the corner, and safety, is bad enough.
A coin, fired much, much faster than the ones before it, streaks across my coat, prompting a yelp as it buzzsaws a rift into the right sleeve while leaving everything underneath untouched. The impact still spins me around a little, giving me a clear view of the gleaming coin that bounces off the side of the alley before ricocheting towards a point between my eyes. On reflex I feel Isolated moving from her spot on my back, flowing through my body to interpose herself in the coin's way. If I wasn't fucking paralyzed I would have screamed at her: I feel whatever pain she feels. Johan had Century Color punch her in her in her padding covered face and it felt like being kicked in the jaw and I am really notcomfortablewiththethoughtofgoingthroughthatagain-
The coin bounces harmlessly away as Isolated headbutts it away from us. What.
Isolated foiling the attack on my face seems to have stunned the English coin-flipper. His surprise is my gain however, and I quickly force myself to regain my balance and shakily stumble around a corner before I begin to process what the hell just happened. The coin he fired bounced off isolated. Bounced off. That means-that means-
That the coins aren't a Stand power. They are just summoned and fired by one! The coins cannot harm Isolated!
My elation over this discovery is interrupted by a voice from the mouth of the alley: "So…you've figured out that my coins are just normal pieces of metal." That's what I think he is saying at least, his British accent is kinda thick. I move Isolated so that her eyes just barely peek around the corner. The coin flipper grins, obviously seeing my Stand's face, but he keeps going: "As you have realized, my Loadsamoney does not have the power to outright create coins. It can only summon them from someplace else and fire them away from me."
He trails off, giving me time to relax a bit and take stock of the situation. I'm too far away to make use of Isolated's powers against him, but now that I am around the corner he can't really hit me with his coinshots, especially now that I know that I can use Isolated as a shield.
"Of course, that is not its only ability. You will not be able to defend yourself against every coin…"
His Stand is a golden humanoid. Mechanical-looking with arms that end in shining pincers and a limbless golden crab with four eyes for a head. On top of the shell of the crab head is a widely grinning smiley face with dollar signs for eyes. It is about the same size as Century Color, but where Johan's Stand is slender the golden Crab Stand (Loadsamoney was it?) is very well built-wait did he just say something?
I bring my focus back onto the master of the Crab Stand just as he finishes speaking, a single shiny coin pinched in between thumb and index finger.
"Y'know…prob'ly!"
Huh?
It all happens at once: Noises, a line of light, something sliding across my forehead-!
I was breathing in at the time I realized I've been hit, making me choke as my lungs expel the air in them thanks to the shock while my heart beats like a jackhammer in my chest. Time stops making sense it just happened so fast what do I d I-
I'm not sure how long I laid there gaping like a fish, but eventually I manage to force my right hand up to my forehead. I gently dab my fingers on the area I felt I was hit, a piece of my mask was torn off by what the hell just happened, but I'm not bleeding. Okay, what the fuck just happened? Think, Taylor, think!
…
Of course! The line of light was the coin he was holding before he shouted! The noises were the coin ricocheting off the walls! It just went so fast that neither Isolated nor I had time to register it!
I risk another peek, ready to wrap Isolated around me and fire off another shockwave if it looks like he'll fire another coin like that. How did he get it to hit me around the corn…er…?
He is holding four coins in each hand by keeping them in the gaps between his fingers. His Stand holds a coin in each pincer. All of them ready to fly at me.
It happens almost too fast to see. Even now that I am expecting it the streaks of light, coins catching the light of the winter sun as they leap from wall to wall before tearing into me. I try to use Isolated and the shockwave, but the coins all have different paths. Only some are deflected, and most of those that aren't come from so many directions that Isolated cannot shield me from them all. One hits the same spot as the first one, tearing a small gash in my forehead. There are others, but they don't hurt as much.
And then it is over. Panic holds me still for a second, but when I regain control over myself I quickly make Isolated take another look. Another storm of the super-fast coins erupt from around the corner before she makes it-"Gah!" One of them is spinning from ricocheting off some piping and hits me in the jaw with the flat side. I-I think the tooth is cracked.
I-I-I need to get out of HERE!
His name is Arthur, master of the Stand Loadsamoney. He smiled awkwardly underneath his mask as the girl around the corner started to wail. Was he going too far? He was only supposed to hold her off while Blumenkranz dealt with Century Color…
Well, he could put a little less power into the coins. If one of them bounced off her Stand at a wrong angle and hit her in the eye he might as well have shot her.
Summoning another eight coins, he swiftly took aim and-stopped himself. He blinked at the absurdity of what just happened around the corner. Had he fired like he planned not a single coin would have even grazed the girl, what gives? Could she fucking teleport?
The sound of distant gunfire, one-two-three-four-five before silence, shook him out of it. Taking a deep breath to center himself, he held out the coins and focused. If he fired this one like that and this one like that and this one like that and this one like that and this one-
The fifth coin would ricochet in a way that would hit her! The force about to launch the other seven in his hands instantly reoriented itself so that the coins would reach and drive her further away, though one thing still bothered him: How did she get that far down the alley without him noticing?
…
…How did I get here? I-I was like right by the corner and now I'm hallway down the alley and-fuck it. I can look the gift horse in the mouth later. I shakily get back onto my feet as a series of gunshots echo through the air and move towards the mouth of the alley, picking up speed as my legs get their strength back. I only get a few steps forward before I hear coins ricocheting behind me. They're far enough away now that I have time to react, Isolated's shockwave dealing with the really hard-hitting ones while I just let the others nick me.
A metallic tearing noise comes from several streets behind me just as I exit the alley and step into the street, must be Johan and the guy who ki-killed those homeless people. Speaking of people, there's a lot of them just standing around staring at the obvious cape shambling out of an alley in a ragged coat and a torn mask who is bleeding all over her face.
Now, he probably isn't going to fire into the-stop right there fuck that. "Get away! Run! Cape fight!"
Brockton Bay is a city with a lot of capes (and Stand Users. Sorry Johan), which in turn means that everyone is used to getting the hell away when people with powers are duking it out. The roar of heavy automatic fire in the distance behind me probably helps too.
As does the sound of another spray of coins that come screaming out of the alley. The shockwave and Isolated's body protect me a little, but one of the coins exploit the cooldown between shockwaves and the limited coverage Isolated offers and hits me on the inside of the knee, dropping me to the ground again as I turn to run in another direction than the crowd.
I'm getting really tired of this shit! There is a lull in the gunfire as I force myself back onto my feet. I ignore the possible reasons for the murderer fighting Johan to stop firing his guns, I have to deal with this guy first. But how?
A fire escape back in the alley I just emerged from catches my eye. That'll do.
I segregate the lock on the lower stairs away from the rest of it, letting it fall to the ground before charging up it. The gunfire starts up again, so Johan probably isn't dead.
A few coins hit me there and there, but between the cover of Isolated and the metal plus the shockwave they don't impair me as much as they could have. Though the last couple only bounced once or twice…I risk a glance behind me. Yup, there he is. Coming closer.
What is she doing? Arthur thought as he warily approached the fire escape while firing the occasional coin. Was she thinking of taking cover on the roof? It would make her harder to hit if he stayed down here, true, but the point wasn't to defeat her, just to keep her away…
He kept walking forward, firing the odd coin as encouragement for the girl to keep climbing upwards when it hit him: What if she was planning to enter the building? Or if there was a fire escape on the other side as well? If that was the case…
Another set of coins appeared in the hands of him and his Stand, ten in all and ready to fly at the slightest provocation. Provocation like climbing towards possible escape. Now, he was not a cruel person: When the girl's leg, the one he had hit with a coin minutes before, gave out under her he decided to hold fire. Not that he weakened the force with which he would launch the coins. He was not an idiot.
The girl was still trying to climb upwards with her arms and good leg, making a little progress before exhaustion and pain seemed to catch up with her. Panting and groaning she made no moves beyond making her Stand peek out of her back to stare at him as he took a few steps closer-
She leapt up to the next level of the fire escape in an explosion of movement, lunging up the last few steps to cling tightly to the railing. Her Stand began to twitch, and then it started to rain…screws?
The fire escape beneath the girl sagged, and Arthur knew he'd been had. As the small tower of metal loomed over him before coming crashing down he gritted his teeth, grabbed the lensless monocle necklace with his left hand while pointing straight at the avalanche of metal bearing down upon him with his right. If he hadn't been otherwise occupied, he might have noticed that the distant gunfire had ceased once again.
"Loadsamoney!"
His Stand, having sent the coins in its pincers back where it summoned them from, manifested in front of him. It batted the first chunk of metal away from its master as he forced his traitorous legs to take him away, then a second, then a third, speeding up as the moments went on and the metal kept coming until a piece of rusted railing glanced of Loadsamoney's armored forearm. It spun right into Arthur's shoulder, eliciting a crunching noise and a cry of pain. The loss of concentration in turn affected Loadsamoney, and the rest was noise.
Is-is he dead?
I crawl to the edge of the remains of the fire escape, careful not to throw my weight around too much now that it has lost pretty much everything underneath. The coin-flipper is partially buried under the metal, and at least unconscious. But I can't tell if he is breathing or not.
Oh God I hope he isn't dead, or, if he is alive, that he didn't hit his head too hard. If-if I can get him to Panacea quickly he can be healed but she doesn't do brains and if he is dead then-
Parts of what is left of the fire escape around me explode, sending it and myself crashing down into the alley. The impact throws me out of the metal basket, slams the air out of my lungs and sends me rolling along the ground. I-I think I broke some my riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiibs! The thought doesn't stop, too much pain from my elbow breaking to think straight after using it to stop my roll. Sparks dance across my vision, even Isolated's as I use her eyes to look around. It is the coin-flipper! And he looks pissed.
His eyes are unfocused (I think. Hard to tell with that mask), his free arm is shaking, but that is definitively a coin that his Stand is pointing right at me. Through the haze of pain it hits me that this time there will be no trick shot, no nicking of my clothes, just a straight line that ends with me getting a new hole in my head.
So. This is it then. Hole in the head not even a month after getting my powers.
…
Fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that fuck that I'M NOT GONNA DIE!
The coin is fired. Isolated twitches. And all goes white.
Johan leapt out of the PRT truck, wobbling but being kept from falling on his face by Century Color. Wilhelm, who was still technically a prisoner, was right behind him. "Jesus." He breathed as he stepped past Armsmaster, who had gotten there before any others. "This place looks like it was hit by fucking artillery."
A closer look would have told Johan a story beyond the mess. Like the way the asphalt of the alley clearly showed where the explosions epicenter was, the cracked walls that still stood as a testament to the explosion's force, and the way a nearby fire escape have been tossed around like the toys of an angry toddler. But none of those were important to the two Stand Users. "T-Isolated!" "Loadsamoney!"
It didn't take long to find the two who had not even fifteen minutes before been fighting here, Armsmaster had taken the effort to drag them out of their respective heaps and to perform some basic checkups and first aid. The leader of the Brockton Bay Protectorate had other plans for the two Stand Users still standing. "Century Color."
Johan ignored him as he looked over Taylor. She was unconscious, definitively some broken bones in her arm, but she seemed to be stable. He allowed himself to relax. Stand Users are tough, even without Panacea she would probably make a full recovery. He glanced over at Wilhelm's associate. 'Loadsamoney', was it? "Blumenkranz."
Wilhelm finished checking his partner before answering. "Yes?"
"How is he?" It was easy, Johan found, to fall back on old habits with his old friend.
"Going to be fine, though I still want to have his head checked by an actual doctor." Worse, but not too bad.
An irritated cough sounded behind him, and he realized that he had been ignoring someone. "Er. Yes Armsmaster?"
"I received a call from the Director on the way here. She wants to speak with you."
Johan blinked with the slow realization that his plan of finding Isolated and going to bed had been completely derailed. "If this is about the damage claims then I would be happy to take them to my superiors-"
"It is about your assailants." Armsmaster interrupted in a tone that suggested that his next words would include 'Master/Stranger Protocols'.
"Open Mic business." Johan spat out while keeping himself from screaming. Or snarling. "The issue has been dealt with and now is the time to clean up and figure out where we go from here." Armsmaster looked like he was going to say something, but Johan kept going. "As for your 'conscription' comment: You do realize that it would be a giant fucking violation of our treaty right? Sorry if you don't like it, but neither of us are high up enough to even suggest renegotiating it."
He took several deep breaths as everything that had happened today began to catch up with the Norwegian boy. "Look, just-" Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by as round of wheezing, the anger having taken a lot of what strength Johan had left. "Let's just go to the hospital and drop off Isolated and the other one. Then I'll hear what the Director has to say."
Wilhelm walked up to his associate, manifesting Blumenkranz. "Excuse me, Armsmaster?"
The parahuman turned to look at the German Stand User. "Yes?" He gruffly answered.
"My Stand can transform living things into equipment. While this does not heal them, it does keep them in a kind of stasis. When I release my ability they will be exactly as when I first used my powers on them."
"Meaning that you can prevent them from getting worse." Armsmaster finished. "Century Color?"
Johan didn't need to ask him what he wanted to know. "He's telling the truth. The procedure is completely safe to go through." He hesitated for a second before adding that he would take full responsibility should Wilhelm try to escape or take hostages. Armsmaster eventually relented.
Ninety minutes later Johan gritted his teeth as his time in the PRT waiting room surpassed an hour. 'Ten minutes' Director Piggot said. 'We will discuss today's incident shortly' she said! But God forbid if he made them wait if a Stand User got on their nerves. 'Century Color! Century Color! Ultra/Pharoah Sanders/Drowning Pool did Bad Thing! Why weren't you in here apologizing five minutes before Bad Thing happened?! Wharglebargleglah!'. Bitch. If he hadn't brought his pens and his drawing book with him he would have gone insane.
As the one-hour delay became a two-hour one Johan decided he was sick of Piggot's shit. Still…he couldn't really just get up and walk away. Quicksilver said that it was important that he cooperate with the PRT in their territory, especially if he wanted to keep his job as Open Mic's representative in Brockton Bay. And if he started to just walk away from these meetings, then he would have to explain himself to her superiors…
The way his pen had crossed the paper had gained a sharp undertone of frustration, rapidly scratching across the art paper as he silently grumbled over the situation. It quickly changed, slowing to a halt as the thought of disappointing Quicksilver's superior. Johan had begged him for this job, and to ruin his chance because the PRT Director here decided to be a bitch? Never. However…
Johan allowed himself a grin. That did not mean he couldn't have some fun with the second biggest pain in the neck this city had to offer. Oh, the joy of having a Stand that functioned just fine hundreds of meters away from you.
Century Color had invisibly stalked the building for the better part of an hour before it found the right room. Johan had exerted the effort to shrink his Stand down so it could fit through the vents, but it returned to its default size after slipping into the target's room. Beyond Johan's expectations, the target was fast asleep at their desk. Something must have tired the ass out.
With a grin that matched that of its master, who was happily drawing whatever came to mind several floors away, Century Color lent its eyes to find something appropriate.
Bingo.
The Stand floated into the connected bathroom, exiting back out seconds later. Imperceptible to non-Stand users, it brought the wickedly sharp razor blade to the target's face.
After an extremely careful application of shaving cream.
Mission complete.
Floors below, Johan shook with barely restrained laughter. Eat it Armsmaster!
All in all, Johan had mixed feelings on this day. He and Taylor had taken (and dished out) a beating because of him being an asshole several years back and Director Piggot had really let him hear it, but on the other he got a friend back and got the opportunity to fight back a little against the PRT's bullshit.
Ugh. Decisions, decisions. Did he really have to choose how to feel about things?
He glanced over at his phone. Quicksilver had also had some pointed things to say, but at least she was on Open Mic's side. Like hell they would let the PRT lay their dirty hands on Wilhelm and Loadsamoney.
As for tomorrow…
He swallowed. That would be up to Quicksilver.
I woke up in a hospital bed a few hours ago.
…
I really hope this isn't going to become a habit, but after a few minutes of trying to remember how I got there Johan came in and filled in the blanks.
Then he drops the bombshell that the two of us, the coin-flipper and Mr. Meltygloves are going to the PRT today with one of Johan's superiors.
"Why isn't he getting Birdcaged?"
Johan blinks at me from behind his mask. "Why isn't who being Birdcaged?"
Is he being deliberately dense? "The guy with the gloves! Why isn't he being Birdcaged?"
"Why would he be Birdcaged? T-Isolated, what are you talking about?"
"He killed those homeless people! You did see how they melted, right?"
"They're not dead." What?
The question must be written on my face, 'cause he keeps going. "Blumenkranz doesn't harm those it transforms. Once they were released they returned to their proper forms no worse for wear. Scared as fuck, yes, but otherwise unharmed."
Fine. But I still don't like it.
A PRT van is waiting for us outside the hospital. Johan is already in costume and the hospital let me keep my mask on. He also brought my spare coat, so that's nice.
Johan stops me when we get there much to the confusion of the PRT agents escorting us. "What's up?"
"We're not going in until Quicksilver gets-" His mouth shuts with a click as the sound of a distant engine fills the air. The sound seems to unnerve the PRT guys, who begin fingering their weapons as they try to figure out where it comes from. Come to think of it, it doesn't seem to be coming from anywhere in particular-
A bus, a big one painted bright red, just fucking appears at full speed from around a corner and stops on a dime in front of us. The PRT guys have drawn their guns, some of them already have their hands at their radios when Johan speaks up. "Calm down! He's just being a jerk about it."
The officer looks pissed, but the rear door of the bus opens before he can say something back. Behind the door stands a tall woman in a nice-looking blouse, a leather jacket and a skirt that reaches her ankles. She also has one of those Middle-Eastern hoods that women wear, but the veil has been replaced with a generic mask. She also has a small cannon strapped to her arm. It looks like it is made out of silver with blue decorations.
Johan is the first to react as she steps out of the bus. "Ma'am."
She, obviously Johan's superior, nods at him in acknowledgement. "Century Color." She glances over at me. "You must be Isolated."
I just nod nervously, making her chuckle kindly.
"I am Quicksilver. Century Color is my subordinate." Introductions done with, she addresses the PRT agents. "I trust the other two are inside?"
"Yes ma'am."
Quicksilver nods curtly. "Good. Shall we go in?"
"What, you're friends now?" I didn't mean to say it! Really! It-it…It just came out when Johan hugged Meltygloves!
"Er…" At least he doesn't seem angry, neither does the German guy. "Yes?"
"Is she new?" Asks the coin-flipper.
Johan shrugs. "Yup."
"Century Color." Quicksilver sighs exasperatedly, as if he has seriously disappointed her.
"Hey, I wanted to ease her into how we do things alright?" Johan replies defensively. "But somebody had to come and mess things up!"
Meltygloves refuses to take the bait. "Can we talk about this later? We're here."
Everyone except he and Quicksilver freeze before we turn our gaze towards whatever's in front of us. Which turns out to be Battery and Miss Militia standing in front of a door. Huh, I guess we are.
Director Piggot, the woman in charge of the Brockton Bay PRT, is kinda scary. She also really doesn't like us. Stand Users I mean. Still, after some discussion with Quicksilver it looks like she isn't going to drop the hammer on us.
Speaking of Quicksilver, she begins listing out fates: "Blumenkranz and Loadsamoney will come with me for disciplinary action, most likely punishment assignments. Century Color will report to Rome tomorrow for our own hearing about this incident, with the possibility of being stripped of his position here." She stops for a second when it is my turn. "Isolated is not a member of Open Mic, and we agree that her involvement in yesterday's events were against her will?"
Director Piggot forces a nod, though Quicksilver accepts it without comment.
"Good. Isolated?" I start, surprised at being addressed directly.
"Y-yes ma'am?"
"You are not a member of Open Mic, but your time as the partner of an Open Mic member is not yet done. We are however willing to consider it done if you want nothing to do with us after what has happened."
"Er…"
I don't get to finish. "Should you accept you will not be forced into Open Mic. You will just remain Johan's partner should he retain his position here in Brockton Bay, or become the partner of his replacement should he not."
I look over at Director Piggot. Those are my options aren't they? Open Mic, Piggot or just going around on my own.
"I…" I call on Isolated, who flows out of my chest so I can hug her. "I think I will stick with you. At least until my time is…up."
Johan (I think. Too scared to look.) lets loose the breath he was holding and Quicksilver seems pleased. Director Piggot is just as stone-faced as before however.
"That settles that." Quicksilver says. "As Century Color no doubt has told you Open Mic will accept and cover all damage claims. Will that be satisfactory?"
"No." Well fuck you too Piggy. She said it like she didn't even need to think about it! She glances in my direction, making me struggle to keep myself from letting an 'Eep' slip from my lips. She can't read minds, can she? "It is not 'satisfactory', but my hands are tied."
She lets loose a disgusted noise. "Was there anything else?"
There isn't, and the four of us file out after Quicksilver as Battery shows us the way out. Blumenkranz and Loadsamoney go with Quicksilver after she summons the bus she came here with. Johan and I just take the boat back to the city before going our separate ways.
Gonna have to remember to catch him tomorrow before he leaves. Might be the last time we see each other.
"You didn't have to come." Johan mumbles as we walk around looking for somewhere secluded to summon the bus. "But…thanks."
"You're welcome." I mumble back. We're both in costume, even on an early Sunday morning.
We eventually find a mostly deserted street with no traffic around that a big red bus popping out of nowhere can disrupt.
Johan eventually coughs and steps forward before he begins to chant. "Boys of Summer! This is Century Color!"
I want to…say something I guess. He's been, not bad to be around and we might never meet again…
"Official Open Mic stuff! I need a ride to Rome!"
The roar of an engine sounds in the distance. Not from any particular direction, just…in the distance. I swallow before taking the leap. "Johan?"
He starts a little, though whether from my voice or from the big red bus that erupts from behind a streetlight I cannot tell, before he turns to me. "Yes?" Century Color, manifested as always, lazily orbits him so that it can get a good look at me.
I try to smile at him, though it is kind of a waste with the mask and all. "Good luck."
We're both wearing masks, but I can sorta guess his expression by looking at Century Color. He is a little surprised at first, but then his Stand starts to smile. It is nothing like the vapid grins or silent laughing I usually see from it. It is something…more. I guess.
"Thanks…Taylor."
The bus stops right beside us and Johan steps on board. We wave at each other as it begins to drive away, and then it turns around a traffic light and they are gone.
That's that then. Let's hope for the best.
Fuck I want to beat someone up right now.
I end up just heading home. Finding an asshole and beating them up just isn't the same when you are alone. Dad isn't home yet, some Union thing that keeps him away on a Sunday. God, this sucks.
After fumbling for the remote I turn on the TV. Dad must have left it on the news, for the face of the same old host with a picture of some guy in a robe behind him greets me.
"And in other news: Cardinal Enrico Pucci released a statement earlier today-"
To Be Continued
AN
Stand Name: Loadsamoney
Master: Arthur Edward-Harry English
Stats
Destructive Power B
Speed B
Range C
Durability A
Precision A
Developmental Potential C
Abilities:
…Prob'ly: Loadsamoney gives its master the power of precognition regarding their money. This ability does not take Stands or their powers into consideration.
Wop It Out: Loadsamoney's master can teleport any amount of their own money into their hands from any distance. Money teleported in this fashion will be automatically exchanged into the appropriate currency.
Song of Sixpence: Valuables in Loadsamoney's pincers or the hands of its master may be fired from them at great speeds. While Arthur prefers coins, any kind of valuable will do, whether his own or those that belong to somebody else.
Named after the song of the same name by the comedian Harry Enfield
/*
Stand Name: Quicksilver.
Master: Qadira Bint Hol
Stats
Destructive Power A
Speed E
Range A
Durability C
Precision C
Developmental Potential B
Abilities:
Object Stand: Quicksilver is a cannon that manifests on the User's arm. It has no mind or personality of its own and is completely desynchronized with its master, sharing no damage or sensory data with them.
Quicksilver: Quicksilver can use its ammunition to fire several kinds of beams, blasts, shockwaves, kinetics and more esoteric projectiles. The power of a shot varies, but more powerful projectiles consume more ammunition.
Solid Silver: Quicksilver requires ammunition to use its abilities. The cannon is reloaded by muzzle-feeding it metal. Ammunition does not disappear should Quicksilver demanifest. It can also consume minerals from living beings to use as ammunition, though this requires the Stand to be used as a close combat weapon and can cause fatal injuries on the victim.
Named after the band Quicksilver Messenger Service. It is also a Stand that can be gained by the Player Character in the free fangame The 7th Stand User.
/*
Stand Name: Boys of Summer.
Master: Ralph Rifle
Stats
Destructive Power C-A
Speed B
Range A
Durability C-A
Precision C
Developmental Potential E
Abilities:
Empty Streets: Boys of Summer can teleport to and fro places that no one is currently observing. Gradual teleportation is possible as well.
Radio on: If Boys of Summer is manifested and its master is driving it the radio will signal the master if a Stand User wants to hitch a ride with him.
Mode Change: Boys of Summer can transform into any non-tinkertech vehicle.
Object Stand: Boys of Summer is always a vehicle and has no mind or personality of its own. As such it shares no damage or sensory data with its master.
Physical Stand: Boys of Summer is visible and tangible to non-stand users when manifested.
Named after the song of the same name by Don Henley
Next up is the first interlude.