Jake and Kazuma are Introduced to Duela and Her Parents.

[wind_contractor]

Who: Duela, Jokester, Harlequin, Jake Berenson, Mari Broderick, and Kazuma Yagami

What: As it reads on the tin. Mari arrives with the new allies as they'll come up with a plan on what to do about the Copycat Joker.

When: Just after this scene!

Where: Kazuma's old home in the world he originally grew up in.


Kazuma pocketed his phone after staring at it a moment. A part of him wanted to contact his family; his cousin Ayano and younger brother Ren--but then he had second thoughts.

Since Kazuma's lived a life with Jake and his other friends in another world for over a few years, he figured it would be very awkward, with a lot of drama involved. Also, he sure as hell didn't want Ren near Vertigo. The vile and cruel lizard sorceress had a very different way of using magic. In a fight against Mari's boyfriend, from what he heard, she had dodged and blocked his fire attacks. Ayano was more than capable of taking care of herself, while Ren wasn't close to being powerful as their cousin.

He frowned, pondering about that sadistic, murderous clown. Ayano and her friends from school went to the city often, for their school was over there. And there were places in which they'd hang out at on the weekends or after school. Kazuma squeezed his jaws together. He could picture a crazy fight scene in his mind of Ayano and the Joker... Maybe she is somewhere far away from him.

Oh, who was he trying to kid? He then shook his head, before he could let himself get worked up over that.

As he stood in the foyer, he noticed the knob of the front door being turned. He noticed a red haired lady with pale make up on coming in. In remembering what Mari's texts had described, he figured this had to be one of their new allies who decided to help them track the murdering criminal down. In seeing this woman, that had to mean Mari and the other two were close behind. Wearing a relaxed smile, he said, "Well, that was quick.”

Comments

[beyondthenorms]

Mari hadn’t heard the conversation, but she did pick up on the tension in Duela’s and Kazuma’s voices moments ago. In coming down the stairs, she noticed how quiet Jake was.

She could read people well enough to tell that there was something they’d rather not openly say much about – even with how calm and focused Kaz was – yet she decided not to say anything about that for now. Staying on task and forming a good, solid plan to put that endurable killer clown for good was important.

Mari still didn’t like being targeted by two Big Bads. All those she was close with in her assorted family and their Nexus herself wouldn’t want that either.

“I think it’d be a good idea to keep them separate anyways. I’ve noticed how light these things are, so it’s no wonder...” She put the tote bag down on the floor, and looked to Jokester pacing, thinking very hard. He's really determined to take down that chaotic counterpart. In knowing this, she wasn't nervous or uncomfortable at all around him at this point.

“I may not like the current circumstances, but I’ll do what it takes to keep my home turf safe,” Kazuma said. She noticed him looking thoughtful. “Sort of like old times. It’s been mostly other magic users, using their powers to harm.”

“Still don’t get is why he never stayed down, after I dealt him the serious heavy hitters.” Mari shrugged, and moved to stand next to Jake. “If it’s nothing magic related, then what?”

[no_sanity_clause]

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Jokester says, "but I wish we had a Bat to throw at him. That's about the only thing that could distract him from trying to make as big of a disaster as possible."

"It'll be ok, Daddy," Duela says. "If we can't keep him from picking where things go down, we'll just have to make sure everyone gets away safe."

Harlequin shrugs. "I've got no idea why the guy's so hard to knock down... not that any of us are easy. It reminds me a little of a present Ivy gave me, but... I dunno. It could be anything."

[wind_contractor]

"What present?" Mari was a second faster than Kazuma when it came to asking that question. "A little bit of anything's better than nothing, such as no running into Batman anytime soon." She frowned in thought, probably wondering if there was a Batman in Kazuma's world to begin with.

But we're not screwed. We're far from it, Mari. You and Nexus could find him if we really needed him. Right?

"We know he seems to be out on his own. The number of us should favor against him."

"Overpowering him may be a challenge though," Mari said.

[reality_warper]

"I think I said something about this back in the Nexus," Harlequin says, "But when I first met Red... Ivy," she makes the correction in case they don't know her usual nickname for Pamela Isley, "she dosed me with something she was working on... half to help, and half 'cause I was a convenient guinea pig. One of the bigger effects was it made me mostly immune to most toxins, including hers. I'm also stronger and faster than most people, and I heal fast... Though not as fast as the guy we're going up against, from what you've said."

"Mom beat Waylon in a fight once," Duela says with a proud smile.

"Killer Croc," Harlequin says, in case they don't recognize Waylon Jones by his other name. Though, they might not know that one either. "And it was more of a draw..."

"I inherited the poison immunity, but no such luck on the other stuff that I've noticed," Duela says.

[wind_contractor]

He looked to Mari, since she clearly knew more about this Batman, Joker, and the others when he knew next to nothing about it. Jake seemed to as well, and he was glad for that. Kazuma never had the time to get into comic books as a boy. There were a lot of normal things he didn’t experience as a kid—but he’d never complain, or look back on the past.

His childhood throughout adolescence; it had been too painful.

“It’d suck if this Joker was immune to all poison. It’s bad enough that he’s immune to all the heavy physical damage I can do to him.”

“We’ll figure out his weakness,” Jake said, “There has to be one.” With determination, he added, “At least there’s only one of him to deal with. And now Harlequin may be one more who can move faster than he can.”

“He won’t get far,” Kazuma added. “A little heavy wind might slow him down. I’ve got to try.”