15123/Maximum Carnage - Bloody Monday Morning

Maximum Carnage - Bloody Monday Morning
Date of Scene:	17 June 2023
Location:	Hell's Kitchen
Synopsis:	Carnage breaks out. Of jail, and of Hell thanks to Spawn. It's up to a rag tag group of heroes to band together to stop what will be a dead time on the ole town this morn!
Cast of Characters:	Mary Jane Watson, Ree, River Banks, Remy LeBeau, Andi Benton, Al Simmons
Cast of NPCs:	Cletus Kasady

---

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
It's nine am over on a Monday morning. Due to traffic, a heavily reinforced armored car that's taking infamous serial killer and possessor of an alien symbiote Cletus Kassady, aka Carnage towards the new prison he's going to be incarcerated in is slowly moving it's way through a funnel of people passing by.
    Cletus mocks the guards, "C'mon fatties, get out there and push. You might go a bit faster." One of the guards, wearing heavily reinforced body armor with a shock baton sneers. "And you sit still. We'll get there when we get there." Ketlus is being constantly bombarded over with high end sound waves.
    "Well,t aht's the thing." Ketlus goes on.. "You're going to get there first. You see.. This stuff you're hitting me with.." He goes to giggle.
    "Doesn't work." The guard can only swing his baton over to hit Kletus, even as the red, demonic-like form of the symbiote runs over him. Spikes fly out of Carnage, skewering the guard and everyone else in the armored car as the front end of it smashes into the crowd! Out of it bursts Carnage in a form of dozens of blades. "Hello sweet screams! It's been too long!"

Ree has posed:
"What do you mean it's not a real kitchen? I literally know a real hell's kitchen, in real hell. You could at least have the decency to serve food."

She's been here talking about how no, it's not a cosplay, and no, she's not here to apply for a job, for ten minutes already. The drug lab that's pretending to be a coffee shop is already a place that people are nervous over, so having a literal devil show up at the front door had them on the defensive anyway.

And then there's all the screeching and crying from outside.

Putting one finger in her ear, Ree says, "Just a second. I need to take this." She turns, looking out the door, and yells back at Carnage. "DO YOU MIND? I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING HERE!"

That's when the shop-owner takes the opportunity to shut the door on her ass and close her out of the store. Which she blinks at, then frowns. And sighs, walking toward the guy who ruined her faux-dinner, stomping all the way.

River Banks has posed:
    "Can we get ice cream?"

    "Maybe later."

    "Can I get a SUNDAE?"

    "You're pushing it, Squirt."

    Two figures walk along the streets, the younger a gradeschooler and high energy, practically jogging circles around the tired, college-age looking girl with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail wearing a tired 'CALL UPON THE SEA PONIES' shirt. and a pair of ripped jeans. The kid is rocking NINJA WOLF -- a Wolf that is also a NINJA -- on his sleeveless shirt and a variety of mismatched temporary lick-and-stick tattoos, and River just reaches over to give her kid brother a ruffle on the head when suddenly -- the armored transport bursts into shards and pieces, and River's eyes go wide, turning and grabbing her brother to pin him to the wall as one of those chunks o' truck hit the bricks right next to them.

    "She grits her teeth, and takes her backpack and puts it in Rio's hands.

    "Go back to the apartment. /Run/. Don't stop for no one, you hear me Rio?" she hisses, reaching to cover a laceration that's risen up on her already bruised arms. "You Run. You do not stop, you get home an' you lock that door."

    Rio is shaking a moment, holding onto the pack, but he turns and bolts, following the crowd of people booking it away from Carnage.

    And the screeming Ree as she pulls a scarf about her face to try and hide some of her identity.

    "Yeah. Well. We were all in th' middle a' somethin', sister." she states to Ree, braces herself, and from the storm drain she pulls five or six 'bubbles' of water!

Remy LeBeau has posed:
Remy LeBeau may or may not be asleep astride his parked motorcycle in an alleyway, slightly hidden behind the dumpster. The buildings have the best angle to block out the sun so tha tit doesn't heard his eyes. If his eyes could get any redder, they would be.

He'd just gotten back into New York after dealing with a few, uh, legal complications he'd gone through a few months back. Just a short period as a fugitive, like it never happened. Only ran for his life maximum of three times. That's not even a top ten adventure in his life. Water under the bridge.

Still hadn't had the guts to go by the Mansion yet. He'd be in for a spanking, likely, and not the fun kind. Not that he had to take it, of course, but he always did, a little bit. They liked bein' schoolmarms, them. Didn't hurt to humor 'em, especially when ya been missin' 'em.

But first, maybe a couple of bars...

And now he's yawning and shaking off the cobwebs, cracking his neck and muttering to himself in patois French. None of it repeatable in polite company.

"Merde."

Andi Benton has posed:
It's been a long night for a symbiote and its bond. Mania did most of her/their (pronouns are hard when it's something like this, okay?) work in the dark of night, where scumbags and ne'er-do-wells often come out to play in greater numbers. That isn't to say no crimes take place during the day, but opportunists will be what they are.

Besides, it's easier for someone like Mania to blend in with the night, and the fact she's yet to get back home for sleep is not to be understated.

<<Mania>> Even we are getting tired, Andi. They did not stop tonight.
<<Andi>> I know. Let's just get something to eat before we go. I could do with some chocolate.
<<Mania>> Yes. Usually it is us demanding chocolate. We have finally got through to you.
<<Andi>> Whatever. Just need some quick energy, and...oh, shit. What's that?>>

A commotion starts up from a few blocks away, a crash or explosion or something, along with cries and screams.

"Patrol..not over yet," Mania says to herself, slinging out lines of webbing to close the distance from above.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
As Mania goes through her swing, talkign to Andi.. She may or may not pick up what exactly Carnage is. The symbiote goes to elt out a cry over of glee as others in the crowd go to scatter. "Come on, let's have some fun. Let's go ahead and play darts. Here's how it goes." his arm goes to whip up, turning over into a large scythe. "Well, it's more like catch, but you're the dart board!" His hand then twirls through the air, going to launch a wide array of spikes through everyone!
    Preusming that none of the heroes are able to go intercept in time, what's going ot happen is everyone over in a cone of the throw being skewered. And through one of them Carnage goes to snap two blades forwards from his hands as they would morph, splitting down the middle of them and ripping them in half!
    "Come on, tasty, tasty." High pitched, shrieking cackling.

Ree has posed:
That could hurt.

Ree looks at the lady who's talking to her (taking it one thing at a time, here) and gives a shrug. She does not know River yet, but that's no reason to ignore someone. "I got a ...what are you doin?" She sees the bubbles appear, then grins. "Fun. Knew a kid who could do that once."

And you have to know that that's when the spikes come a-flying. She is not ready, not braced or prepared at all, but she's also a super-paranoid who survived in literal hell.

You learn do duck. Fast. Ree hits the ground with a suicidal alacrity, spiking her chin on the concrete and leaving blood on the pavement. Her own. But if it means that she doesn't get hit, all to the good.

Then she looks around to see the.. pardon the pun.. carnage.

"Now that....is new."

River Banks has posed:
    "... what the *HELL* is *THAT*?!" River questions, shifting her feet a moment and has half a mind to book it. What's a bank robber and con artist got to lose by running away?

    She brings her water bubbles forward, soaking the damage from the spikes with the water shield, brown eyes going wide as she winces, taking a couple steps back.

    "I know this guy --" she whispers, and watches as the whole-ass man breaks in half. Eeeeew.

    "... this is bad." she mutters, and then she drops the spikes, turns her shield inot a whip, and planting her feet solidly she tries to take hold of one of Carnage's now FOUR legs to trip him up!

    "Man, ain't you got somethin' better ta do than harass these fine folks? Makes it real hard on a pickpocket!"

Remy LeBeau has posed:
Remy LeBeau yawns and scratches his chin. Noise. Violence. Explosions.

Oui, he was back in New York.

He should probably run to the rescue and make sure nobody gets hurt, but the first wave of violence was always the worst. Just total carnage.

He needs a cigarette first. That's at least humane, within his rights, oui? To just get his senses proper about him before leaping into action. If he's sloppy and groggy, he's likely to make mistakes and then things just get worse. No no no. Better to wait.

Plus, he has to secure his bike, you see.

He finally finishes rolling his cigarette, putting it between his lips and lighting it. Eyebrow raised. That -was- the tobacco pouch. Right? Oui, oui, do not spook yourself mon ami.Another sound, this of tearing metal and screams.

"Merde."

Andi Benton has posed:
Soon as Mania swings around into view, evasive actions become necessary as spikes flying in all directions fan out. "Whoa!"

Immediately, there's a high DANGER sense from Mania, perhaps stronger than any Andi's felt up to this point. The expressive, yet solid white eyes widen upon the sight below, blood already spreading from those unfortunate to have been within Kasady's range of attack. "Shit, shit, shit.." the more Andi side of the bond mutters.

Then the creature lands within view, Mania's own spiky protrusions bristling as a more threatening posture and appearance is made, for whatever good it may do. "Carnage!" the more symbiote side of the bond all but hisses, fingers elongating into blades of their own, a full ten of them.

<<Andi>> Wait, we need to think about--
<<Mania>> No time! We attack! We must!

Without pausing, Mania leaps to slash at the one responsible for all of this.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Ree is able to evade anything which hits her way - the freakish gestalt seems to not have noticed her amongst everyone. Most people are running, ducking for cover, or helping one another. A couple are trying to drag away those injured that are still alive - or those that are pleading for some of those dead to wakeup. There's safety for just a few seconds - to figure out what's going on and to get a plan. Or anything!
    As River goes to whip up and over into the air, she latches onto one of Carnage's limbs. "Oooh, what do we have here? I've always wanted to try this with a pillbug." From his body would pop out a long scythe, appearing over on his back like a tentacle. He's braced very solidly - he's got stupidly enhanced strength. "Off with her head!" Followed by heavy cackling as the scythe swings towards her!
    Gambit is for now not under fire - he has cover, even as some civilians are ducking down into an alley. One is muttering, "Come here from Gotham. It'll be safe they said. There won't be any crazies they said. No one in stupid costumes tehy said. You had to listen, Lenny. You had to listen." The man goes to duck behind a dumpster. "It's almost as bad as Crime Alley and I've been here a grand total of twenty minutes." Oof.
    Mania goes to charge in on the attack, even as Carnage is going to try and skewer River! And then Carnage goes to snap out with an arm to catch the slash midway through the air as he stops her cold! "Oooh. One of us. I've always wondered.. What we would taste like. So I'll just rip that spawn out of your little meat puppet and eat it!"

Ree has posed:
Ree stays low, her survival instinct almost perfectly evolved. She's not the type to give an easy target. She scuttles further away from the attacker, getting herself behind something heavy. And metal. She's behind a truck. It's not enough for her tastes, but she's fully willing to let Remy or River take the brunt of the attack. "Good luck," she says as she gets her back to something armoured and protective.

Coward? Perhaps. But she's going to live through this unless the writer decides to make an example of her.

Still, she peeks up over the rim and looks to see what's happening...

River Banks has posed:
    Ka-WHACK!

    The water comes back, forming an additional shield above her head, the scythe caught in her watery shield, but she's already beginning to lose her cool.

    "Figures you're the type a' person who's gonna randomly hurt bugs!" she growls.

    Where the HELL are the Good Guys? A bank robber shouldn't be doing this much lifting -- and she looks up to Mania, taking an attack of opportunity, and as Carnage turns his attention on the other Symbiote, River has to push herself, reaching over and with one hand, forms a trio of ice spikes, clearly straining a moment before she launches them at Carnage's mid-section!

    "Eat this, jackass!"

Al Simmons has posed:
    Screams. Splashing red. Blades. Laughter. Pain. Death.

    All of these are familiar to Al Simmons. When he was alive, he was cause or wielder of many of them. But not the laughter. That was someone else, who he just... Can't remember. But he can remember the laughter of the demon he made his deal with. The deal struck, and the reward that followed, have been been empty suffering for him.

    As he walks the filthy alleyways of New York City, defending his claimed territory in 'Rat City', he is dwelling on the betrayal as he often does. The betrayal of Chapel, who killed him. The betrayal of Mephisto, who brought him back. The betrayal of Terry Fitzgerald, who...

    Before Al can keep going down that familiar route in his mind, the screams penetrate his awareness, and the signals his living costume have been sending him for a while now are finally paid attention to. The Hellspawn has wandered beyond his usual stomping grounds this fine Monday morning, and as he raises his scarred, burned, decaying head, he looks around in alarm and falls into a defensive position. Is he under attack? No. Or at least not yet. But people are rushing to take cover in the same alley he is lurking in, Al realizes these are civilians, for the most part. His rage boils and his blood-red cape swells around him in response.

    Impulse paired with training guide him to his next action. A red blur passes over the heads of those huddled behind cover, the air pressure as of something very large swooping past the only other indication of his presence.

    "Oooh. One of us. I've always wondered.. What we would taste like. So I'll just rip that spawn out of your little meat puppet and eat it!"

    Those words are rather portentious. Moments later chains whip out of nowhere to attempt to wrap around Carnage and restrain him, right before over 450 pounds of necroplasm in humanoid form accompanies it with red-armored, spiked fist extended towards Carnage's jaw. "Get away from her!" comes the deep, growling voice of Spawn, his mask having been slipped on at some point during his leap into the fray. Odd he doesn't remember putting it on.

Andi Benton has posed:
<<Andi>> I saw he was in the news. What are we doing?
<<Mania>> We are trying to kill them before they kill us! His host is insane!
<<Andi>> But how much of that is Carnage?

Silence from Mania follows, conveniently timed with a need to focus on not being killed. "We are nothing like you. You will find us harder to open up than others." As her slash is interrupted, the spikes along Mania's arms spread out and extend, with the purpose of piercing through that which is trying to contain her. Already, one of those hands is morphing into a curved blade not unlike Carnage's own.

Troubling to Andi is not just that Mania feels anger and rage, but palpable fear as well. This is not just some purse-snatcher to deal with.

And then Spawn is leaping into the fray with chains and..himself, or itself, or whatever that is. Unable to afford much in the way of distractions right now, those solid white eyes still widen again before they narrow once more on Carnage.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
The slash from Carnage that's going over at River's shield doesn't penetrate - thankfully Carnage has other things with those chains of Spawn snapping out and around him. Ree goes to peek up over, and sees two aliens - symbiotes bonded to human hosts, one ectoplastic quasi-demon entity in the form of Spawn, and a girl throwing up water shields. And a lot of bodies. But fewer than there could have been. But it's just the start of the day.
    River's spikes go to pepper along Carnage's body without too much notice, but they embed themselves in deep - he'll have to actually pay attention to get them out with them stuck in him and being swarmed!
    Spawn's magical chains go to snap over and ensnare Carnage, lashing out over his torso. "Or what? You're not one of us. That means that we have a playmate. Good." Carnage's jaw takes the punch hard, even as his body goes to erupt with spikes hedgehog style, throwing off the chains as Spawn will have to work quickly to not get slashed himself - but the chains give him some level of control over it and means he has an extra bit of room to maneuver against them!
    Mania goes to charge in at Carnage, having a free shot over at him while he's busy dealing with Spawn. There's a precious half second to get a solid strike on while she's forming her own blade, to look for an opening..

Ree has posed:
Is it wrong that Ree is reasonably certain that she's seen Spawn before? That's just weird, but spend enough time in Hell, you see a lot of stuff. He's definitely got the theme down. She pauses, waving to Remy, and stays fully where she's unlikely to get into this at all...hiding.

Which begs the question: why is she staying? She's clearly not planning to jump up and be heroic. Little demon girl, sitting and watching from afar. She's more of a distraction than a help.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
Remy will be there in a minute.

So. Not the tobacco pouch. Not a problem. He had operated in violent conflicts in a compromised condition on many an occasion. It was ill advised, but when had Remy Lebeau ever done the smart thing before?

All he has to do is get back on his feet. He does have a regular cigarette this time, and what in the holy mother of christ are they doing out there? What a commotion. He should really try to help. Dammit, Remy, you always do this.

He pulls his staff out of his coat and extends it, using it as a lever to get up on his feet. He gets out his trademark cards, flashing five into his fingers with a flick of his wrist. Full house.

His red eyes shine. he's ready to get into this fight. Just needed to catch his breath. Not a problem.

Oops.

Fell down again.

"Merde."

River Banks has posed:
    River looks up at the chains coming, flying, and she gives a small string of curses followed by 'Shoulda Stayed in GOTHAM!' to herself.

    The water-weilder shifts around as the spikes melt out of Carnage's body, dripping down to the street and she takes up a different position to take a deep breath, and look to her phone.

    Get home safe, little brother, this is nothing meant for man nor beast.

    And she looks over to the stumbling Remy, and she tilts her head a moment.

    "Y'all right there Nawlans or d'ya need a hand gettin' ta safety?"

Al Simmons has posed:
    Spawn is very large and heavy. This helps a lot with hitting really hard, especially backed by supernatural strength, but dodging spikes that are shooting at him from melee range while he is entangled with his opponent isn't really a thing he can do in this situation. Instead, the symbiote blades strike Al's own living costume, drilling into his flesh (or what looks like flesh. Let's not get into Hell Physics right now), and drawing blood.

    This is Spawn's first time facing someone with similar powers to himself. A living costume that sometimes acts without his say so, and that he can deliberately control in ways that he is still learning about is about his understanding of what he has on his side. Carnage, and Mania, both seem to have much more direct control over their own forms.

    Spawn tries to remove Carnage's spurs from his skin even as his costume shifts automatically around his injuries, and adds more spikes and armor to itself as a counter measure against further intrusion. 'Or else what?' Carnage asked.

    "Or else you'll burn." Spawn responds, anger in his tone rather than pain from his injuries. Wanton killers like this... It's familiar. Maybe Ree is too, who's to say. But there's something in Al Simmons' fractured memories. Does he know this mad-man? No, things to sort out another time. Right now, he pulls himself off of Carnage's spikes as best as he's able to, leaving behind red 'blood' on the protrusions, and spends some of his magic to cause the chains that are increasingly woven into Carnage's own costume to erupt into blazing flames!

Andi Benton has posed:
As if to emphasize the serious nature of this fight, a line forms across Mania's more smooth 'face,' opening up into a very Venom-like maw complete with needle-sharp teeth and a long, wet tongue. "You should have gone peacefully." With that opening given, the axe-like 'hand' cuts across Carnage, but at the last moment something causes her to pull the strike just enough that, rather than going for the neck and decapitation, it cuts across toward his red, tendril-laden chest.

<<Mania>> What are you doing, Andi?! We must kill him!
<<Andi>> We don't kill! What's got into you?
<<Mania>> If we do not kill him, he will kill us!
<<Andi>> There has to be another way!

Right about that moment, with the other things going on with the variety of attacks being made on Carnage, it's Spawn's flaming chains that leads to Mania recoiling away. Whether the chains are actually as hot as they look or not, the symbiote side of the bond does not want to take any chances. Whether or not Carnage can land any counter attack, Mania makes an effort to put some room between themselves and the closer quarters of this fight. Fire is bad!

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Ree is probably the smart one of everyone that's ducking for cover and realizing that she might be in over her head. Maybe Spawn is familiar. Maybe he isn't. But figuring that sort of relationship out is probably not the best time! There are a few people by her that are playing hopscotch through cover - in the sense that they're scrambling from one bit of coverage to another to block line of sight and shrapnel. They've been through the ringer in the city of screams. They're dragging along someone that's injured and has a piece of shrapnel in their sotmach. The type that definitely should /not/ be moving. But when the choice is staying out in the middle of things..
    Gambit is seemingly taking a few moments to rev himself up, even as the guy that's speaking to himself goes to see Remy's eyes glowing read.. "Monaghan!? What the hell you doing out here!?" Then going to look over at Carnage.. "Never mind, don't wanna know." Then 'Lenny' goes to bury himself back in the garbage and pulls the lid over on top of him just to be extra safe.
    River has a few moments to disengage and reevaluate. The heroes dogpiling Carnage are keeping the body count from increasing beyond the initial barrage - she could also find a way to weaponize a lot of the things around her with some ingenuity.
    Spawn on Carnage is a close range clash of blades as Spawn goes to pull his way free over of the spikes an din turn goes to blast Carnage at close range with his blazing fires! Carnage shrieks, and in turn goes to snap out an extra set of limbs! His arms go to turn into a set of huge axes which go to try and chop off the shoulders of Spawn over and then with another swish to try and go for his head! Somehow his body seeming to regenerate even as the heat blasts into him - or at least not immediately be burn to a crisp! "Well, how about send you back to Hell?" Carnage would speak, twisted teeth grinning macabrely.
    And as Spawn attacks Carnage and skewers into him, beyond her own fear Mania (or Andi) is noticing something. Carnage is in pain.. But he should be burning up and screaming in pain and perhpas terror, unable to mvoe beyond trying to desperately slither away. Not engaging in melee combat when being burnt to a crisp.

Ree has posed:
As for Ree? She is watching. Carefully watching, keeping her eyes on the situation. Why? Well, that's about to be answered. She takes a deep breath, then huffs it out as if she's finally come to a decision. Which is accompanied by her slipping beneath the truck, and creeping into range.

This is stupid, this is stupid, damn fuck this is so stupid.

She gets to cover, staying low. The chaos is insane, nobody's dumb enough to try and get -closer- right now. Which is why this will work.

This is insane. It won't work. Someone is going to kill me.

Ree slips behind a knocked-over mail box, then behind a garbage bag. Ever closer.

Expletives, many many expletives.

She gets within a few feet of the combat, with people dodging back and forth, flames all over. She's actually on fire, a little bit. But she's been on fire before. I mean, Hell. You get used to it.

One more second...

Her little red hand reaches out, and she manages to touch Carnage on the ankle. Just that, a tiny grip. Nothing. Useless.

Ree extends her heart out, and binds Carnage to the concrete. On a molecular level, the feet of the maniac become one with the pavement. They aren't 'glued'. They ARE part of the pavement.

So long as she can hold on.

'I'm gonna get killed...'

River Banks has posed:
    No one's going to kill anyone else.

    Today, anyway.

    Well, not if the bank robber-turned-accidental-good-guy can do anything with it.

    And River hears Ree's comment, and she grits her teeth, rolls around the back of the van and uses her water shield to 'Bubble' Ree.

    "Not today y'all!" she comments, gritting her teeth. She is rapidly losing her cool,and the shield is sort of dripping and beginning to steam at the same time.

    "You keep doin' fancy shit and I'll watch your back, you got that?"

Al Simmons has posed:
    The extreme durability, regeneration, and pain tolerance that the red and black monster has demonstrated so far did not lead Spawn to believe that fire would be more effective than any of the other attacks so far. The gruesome shift in Mania's costume to expose all those sharp teeth so similar to Carnage's own, paired with BOTH symbiote-bearers reacting VERY poorly to fire is surprising.

    Spawn's chains tear free as Carnage's costume regenerates around them, expelling them and allowing Spawn to back up, but also ending the application of flames. Then double axes come swinging down at him, one catching him in the shoulder and chopping deep into flesh -- though stopping at bone -- and the other encountering Spawn's voluminous red cape as it swirls around him, concealing him from view.

    The sound of people crying, screaming, the moans of the injured and dying, filter through to Spawn now that he has some distance, one clawed hand holding onto his hacked limb and the blood that trickles from it. Spawn, perhaps unwisely, takes his glittering green gaze off of Carnage while he is obscured by chains and rustling cloth that are both just as lethal whether the Hellspawn they are bonded to is directing them or not, and searches for some way to fix this situation.

    He can't use his magic to heal everyone here. Or rather, he's not willing to. Searching for anyone who isn't actively helping but looks like they could, the Hellspawn yells out, perhaps at Gambit and/or Ree, "HELP GET THESE PEOPLE TO SAFETY! CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE!" Maybe dragging an ambulance into the middle of this massacre while Carnage is still on the loose isn't the best idea, but Spawn as another one.

    If the killer doesn't like fire, then he's >really< going to hate Spawn's plan. River's words and Ree's efforts to lock Carnage down are appreciated. He needs time. As his cape continues to expand and swirl around, until those at the center may feel like they have been swallowed up by it -- as though the whole world has become nothing but hissing red fabric and clattering chains -- Spawn spends more of his magic. More of his soul burnt away. Damn it.

Andi Benton has posed:
As long as the flames of hell are burning so hot, Mania isn't getting anywhere close to that. The eyes are a mixture of downcast and frustrated, combined with a smoldering anger and intensity, but with the mouth in place it can be seen there's a deep, wary frown.

<<Mania>> Still too hot!
<<Andi>> I know! I can feel it too! But at least we're not in the middle of it!

All the same, it renders the other symbiote and host somewhat less effective, but also safer. Lines of webbing are used to start cordoning off the area to keep foolish onlookers out, looking like a haphazard mix-and-match spider's web. "Put him down!" is called out to Spawn, the voice that strange mix of female and something alien, rougher and somewhat feral. Whatever Spawn's doing now with that cape, it isn't something Mania wants to be in the middle of. Leave that for Carnage.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
What Ree does is anchor Carnage's 'ankle' (or at least the limb with it) onto the ground and holds it there. So when Carnage goes to move to yank it up to try and slam it over into the frame of Spawn.. It's stuck in there- but it's ripped up with a block of concrete the size of a basketblall over it. That's enough time to let Spawn get in a rather good slam while Carnage is caught by surprise. Ree and River are able to get to cover - Carnage has bigger fish to fillet after all. He's going to whoot and holler now as his pain buuilds up.. And then Spawn is going to pull away from him over as Carnage goes to curl away as he's freed. He goes tos nap up and over as the nasty blow from Spawn aided by Ree has left a gaping hole in his side that's starting to fill up as he goes to shift mass away from the rest of him to seal it. Going to try and keep Spawn away over as he fires dozens and dozens of blades through the air!
    It burns! It burns! Spawn goes to get another attempted cleave from Carnaeg even as the Symbiote is warning it's host! But thier paired psychoticness means that rather than fall back, they're going on the attack!
    Spawn is charging /through/ the flames now or whatever it is that Spawn is doing, arms forming a massive double bladed axe over his head to try and bring it down through Spawn's torso!

Ree has posed:
And that is when Ree turns tail and runs away. I mean, seriously, that's all she's got and she is not bulletproof OR resistant. She's wearing a 'snap my choker' t-shirt and short shorts, and none of that will do more than make her being on fire a little less fun.

So, yeah. She scurries, she hurries, and she gets out of the way.

Imps are not known for bringing much to the table. But if anyone sees a little red girl, she'll be in a corner. Shivering and hoping not to be noticed, her arms wrapped around her knees and eyes...

Terrified.

River Banks has posed:
    "... or you could turn tail that's OK too -- " the water bender whispers, and River -- AKA RIPTIDE -- grits her teeth, forms her water into a whip, feeling her heartbeat kick up into high gear as her water takes on additional weight -- the bubbles bigger, icing over, and she begins to sling gallons of cannon-ball sized water bubbles at Carnage at high speed -- aiming for his lower torso, trying to trip him up. That big guy with the chains?

    He looks like he can handle himself.

Al Simmons has posed:
    Carnage's screams of pain, rage, and blood-thirst, despite the fact he should be cringing away from the Hellish flames that Spawn had conjured and which have since abated, means just one thing. There >isn't enough fire<. As Mania webs off the area to create a boundary that will be hard to escape for Carnage and protective for those outside of it, Riptide tries to freeze Carnage in place by engulfing his lower body in water and then Waterbendering it into a solid block, Ree flees, Gambit staggers off into the background possibly with injured people on his back, it seems that the fight with Carnage is unending. Even if no more are dying, this isn't going anywhere.

    "You mentioned Hell," Spawn's voice seems to come from everywhere around Cletus as symbiote blades slash through living fabric, clash with chains, and puncture concrete like it's cardboard. But none of those blades strike the dead man himself.

    "Been there. Done that. Now it's your turn." he growls out. The enormous cape suddenly withdraws, after basically obscuring Carnage from sight in a wall of shifting, moving barriers.

    Green sparkles of magic trail the movements of the retracting cloak, as Spawn's work is revealed.

    A pentragram of Hell fire erupts around the serial killer, and the ground seems to get sucked into itself as it warps and distorts, swallowing up Carnage, Spawn, and anyone else too close.

    Right into Hell itself.

    Rivers of flaming blood rage across the desolate landscape, blades of ground and ceiling reaching out to clash and merge with each other before turning into their opposite. Stairs to nowhere end precipitously over yawning gulfs of darkness, Hellfire geysers up out of holes sporadically, and the souls of the Damned begin to crowd around as they stand naked and burning in their torment, eyes eager for an escape back to Earth or at least a target for their fury, yet not willing to get any closer to one of Hell's own generals.

    "This is where monsters like you belong." Spawn says ominously as his costume reforms around him, tattered but healing.

Andi Benton has posed:
The webbing isn't impenetrable. With Carnage's ability to turn himself into all manner of sharp things, cutting through that would not be very difficult. Alternately, he could probably elevate beyond it one way or another.

That is, if not for the..portal to hell Spawn is opening up, taking Carnage with him. "What the fuck..?" both sides of the bond utter, that mouth gaping before it seals back over and disappears, leaving the spiky-headed visage and eyes behind. Hands have reformed into normal, though claw-tipped, and Andi's thinking this might be about over. Spawn is going to Handle Business and then some.

Mania, on the other hand, apparently has other plans, Hellscape or not. At the worst possible time, the symbiote exerts a level of influence it had not normally done, leaping back into the fray, and into that opening.

<<Andi>> What are you..no!
<<Mania>> Carnage must be destroyed! We cannot let any part of him survive!

As such, once again the black and white vigilante leads with those claws, trying to strike out at Carnage's chest to dig in!

It must be serious if the setting itself isn't deterring the symbiote.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Riptide goes to contribute as she throws out the icing (on the ground, not the cake) as the water bubbles go to erupt around Carnage's feet even as Mania's going to throw up a wall! What this happens is a large Carnage-sized ball is going into the bowels of damnation itself over along with Spawn. Mania? Mania can hear the other symbiote crying in fear. Not panic, but fear. Cletus? Cletus is grinning. "So going home tten?" He moves to even as the duo were spat into hell and he's joined over by Mania as the two go to pile onto him! Carnage, the symbimote goes to let out a cry of pain as that blade goes to dig into him and scythes him across the chest - the first clean hit. This one isn't closing itself so slowly.
    "So you wanted to come and get to say bye bye? I guess I"ll have to eat you later! So much deviantness!" Carnage the Symbiote and Cletus Kassady, the Host are chaotic as they are both united here in a love of inflicting pain and misery even as chunks of the symbiote are burnt up on the hell that they should be stuck in.
    Carnage goes to snap out with a tendril, going to try to stake Mania along the chest as she would stab him and slash through, trying to then crush her to the ground! Another tendril going out to slash over around at Spawn to slash to him, presuming that he was making the portal..
    Carnage is then trying to take one powerful -leap- up and out before it closes, hopefully leaving the two in the dust of the damned!

River Banks has posed:
    There is a looooong string of obscentiies as Riptide realizes that it's not quite the End of things. She breathes out. She takes a shaking breath in, and gets the alert that her doorbell cam registered RIo making it home, and the door locking behind him.

    He's safe.

    People are dying around them.

    And she's just a bank robber and con artist, the hell was she going to do against a goopy thing being drawn into the very bowels of hHell?

    ... she's going to make sure he stays there, that's what.

    Which is why she hijacked a delivery van and drove it in after them to make sure.

Al Simmons has posed:
    Carnage does not stay put, obviously. Al did not expect him to. However, as he rushes to keep the killer contained, chains and blades clashing in blinding sparks as two living costumes war with each other, and their wearers move to pummel each other -- one trying to escape, and the other trying to prevent that -- the onlookers are watching on with hungry, covetous eyes. The portal is there, the way back to the land of the living. The escape that Al Simmons was granted, and that these burning souls still yearn for.

    They begin to move closer, even as blood and shreds of symbiote flesh litter the ground all around. The stench of sulphur and brimstone is gagging, the heat smothering and >heavy< in a way that Earthly heat isn't, and bat-like creatures are beginning to fly up out of the abyss drawn by the sounds of fighting and the presence of one of Hell's very own.

    Green flames and red blur trace the pace of Spawn's movements, and black-and-red flesh squirms and reshapes itself in much the same manner for Carnage, as the two killers clash over and over. Spawn has been carved into repeatedly, but he'll heal. And what he won't heal, he'll survive until he can heal it later.

    Then Mania joins the fray, and Spawn turns his head just slightly to look over his shoulder when he senses the movement. That opening allows Carnage to slice across Spawn's face with that tendril, cutting deep. It's a potentially fatal or at least heavily disfiguring wound for a human. Spawn isn't, but his face was still cleaved down the middle. In pain and blinded by his own blood, his attention lapses and Carnage slips by him.

    Even as cape and chains reach out in response to Spawn yelling out, "NO!" and extending his arm towards the portal, using even more of his magic to close the portal, he is too late. The portal is closing, but Carnage is on the other side of it.

    The souls are rushing now, clamoring and climbing over each other to desperately attempt to make their escape. One of the larger souls, a pot-bellied balding man almost as tall as Spawn, beats and bashes his way to the front of the line, trampling others wantonly to save himself eternal torment.

    If Mania isn't quick, it will be that guy, a soul damned for his deeds in life, that will make it back, and she'll be left here with Spawn.

    Also, there's a van flying through the closing portal. Carnage's escape attempt might not go so smoothly after all if he gets run over by that. But that's one more person who has sacrificed themself to keep the mass-murderer where he belongs. The gateway is closing fast.

Andi Benton has posed:
<<Andi>> Stop! We have to leave! Do you know what this is?
<<Mania>> Carnage must die! Even if it kills us!
<<Andi>> I didn't agree to that! This is Hell! Where the bad people go when they die!

It's not getting through. What is? Carnage's tendril-spike attack. Even as Mania sees it coming and tries to shift around - literally in a sense - to avoid it, it still pierces through, causing a pained look to the eyes along with a grunt.

Whether actually pinned or not, retaliation follows in the form of a trio of tendrils of Mania's own lashing out, forming sharp points, and driving back at Carnage! "Die!" she hisses, while demonic witnesses no doubt wait with expectations of what they can take away from this.

Blood seeps out around the wound Mania's taken, though the combination of adrenaline and the symbiote's own abilities serve to harden Andi to the best extent possible. There will be healing later, if there is a later.

"Got to..get out of here.." Mania gasps, making an effort to get back to her feet. The symbiote's all-around senses do ping on the damned man rushing to get his way out, and a line of webbing is sent off to tangle up his legs and feet. Not so fast. But what of those who don't belong here? And can she get separated from Carnage?

An effort is also made to keep tabs on Spawn, who no doubt did not expect others to follow.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Carnage Goes to Hell Pt 1 - we know that it can't end that simply now, can it? Carnage goes toe xchange brutal blows with Spawn even as hell itself starts to tear inot him. Carnage /sends/ souls there. He's definitely going to end up there. Both of them. But now's not the time to be stuck there when they just got out and started on a murder spree! Carnage is one of the most twisted symbiotes for a reason. Even as River thinks for just a few moments that there's safety..
    Carnage engages in a series of brutal blows with Spawn, but Spawn in Hell is winning the fight rather handily as Carnage isn't healing as fast. Spawn is about to overpower him.. Then when Mania goes in to flank him Carnage is able to use the moment to RIP himself free! His tendril goes to smack out of the portal in a sort of psuedo webbing that literally is an extension of himself. He goes to snap out over the other side of the portal, symbiote flesh seemingly melted over around him. Hurt, already starting to regenerate.
    River sees Carnage flip up and out, landing hard then as he would go to drive in a series of metal stakes to the ground to anchor him. "Hello New YOrk! It's time to remember what dyin' time is like!" Even as the portal likely flickers and closes behind him, Mania is ignored.. Carnage has just come out of hell.
    Time for the sequel. Letting out a series of high pitched, insane shrieks, Carnage goe sot leap up and over into the air, slinging away!

Ree has posed:
Yeah. Okay. That's fine, they can go to Hell. Big H. The whole thing. They're so screwed, they have no idea. But Ree knows. She hasn't just seen it, she's been the bottom of the barrel there. The wisp, the fallen soul.

She's moving before she even knows what she's doing. Images fill her mind, and she's trying to help. When Carnage reaches out, she's reaching in. She's reaching into the portal, ignoring all of her survival instincts. To give them a point to grab on to.

Even Carnage, yes. But she'd rather get the other ones, if possible.

"GRAB IT!"

Any lifeline in a storm.

River Banks has posed:
    River looks up as Carnage escapes, and she falls to her knees, breathing hard.

    "THis... is why I'm not meant for hero shit." she whispers out, turning and looking over her shoulder -- and naturally, FLEEING LIKE HECK.

    She doesn't wanna be around when whoever polices the creepy stuff makes their appearance

Al Simmons has posed:
    Ree extends a hand to help. Carnage has sling-shot himself up and out already thanks to his living webbing, but Mania is still on this side. She has done a good deed by trapping that soul here. He didn't get sent here without reason, and finding out what he did if he got to go back isn't something anyone wants. However, River's highjacked van has landed in Hell, and winds up running over the entangled soul, and a few others too slow to get out of the way. It's okay, they're fine probably. The opportunity to escape is vanishing quickly as the view of the blue sky of Earth rapidly approaches a pinpoint.

    Spawn has spent too much of his energy in too short a period of time. He is drained, and even his costume droops around him. River runs back out, the escape attempt by the locals is stalled, and Spawn isn't close enough to his own gateway to get out in time. But there's no reason why Mania should have to get trapped too.

    Al Simmons reaches out and attempts to grab Mania by the shoulder. He mutters, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring you here too." Then he uses what strength he has left to try to hurl the symbiote-user up towards Ree, to be pulled out right before the street seals up, closing off the two dimensions once again.

Andi Benton has posed:
There's still pain, but also a lot going on around Mania. The symbiote is starting to figure out this might have been a bad idea, pushing a sudden bloodlust or whatever it was. The intensity of the place is..bothersome to say the least, and there are a few ripples and moments where it seems the symbiote itself might bubble off of Andi or retreat to some deeper place.

A hand clasps over the wound as she struggles to her feet, looking up at that diminishing way out, but it's Spawn who comes to her aid. Fortunately that hand doesn't come into contact with the injured side, and the shorter one looks up for a moment in confusion. "We..but..he..." Carnage has already escaped, meaning this is ultimately a failed effort.

Already, strength and energy is being redirected to start with the healing in ways normal people can't do on their own, and there's a tenseness to her body language before she nods once. "We came..on our own." Not much of a farewell is able to be had, no time for it, and the hand takes hold of Ree's for an extra bit of help, Mania looking back in time to see the portal shut just behind.

Only then does she get a good enough look that those white eyes enlarge again, spiky-haired head tilting in confusion and curiosity. Carnage is long gone already.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
For those that were here, there's likely a sense that htis is only thes tart of what's going to be a day from hell (metaphorically). Because the killer is back.
    And up on a rooftop nearby, as the sun rises, Carnage heals. "It's gonna be a scream. So many people, so much time to make up for. We're gonna have a great time together." That haunting, sadistic laughter as host and symbiote united for the same goal.
    To make the streets bleed red.
    Stay tuned for MAXIMUM CARNAGE.