"A Test of the Best; Ohohoho!" (Invite only)

[gantzgun74]

All was silent in Portal Park, very few people were around at this hour, given it was around 9:00 something... But did one person care? Nope.

Sitting atop one of the fountains a tiny creature was overlooking the park, a pen and paper in hand... though saying she was sitting on the fountain wouldn't be accurate.

"A test of time, and a test of beauty,
Portal Park is truely a place of bounty."

Shantotto continued prattling on to herself, as she continued to write notes, sitting herself on a barrier above the fountain. She grinned as she continued to write.

"The portal's are a thing of wonder and awe
It's truely a wonder, they make one drop their jaw."

She started to laugh at that.

"Ohohohoho! Not for me however you see,
For interdimensional travel is child's play to me!"

Her mind went back to the good old days in Vana'diel when she once cracked the necessary magical code needed to actually do such a feat. The only problem with that was, when she continued investigation of it, it sucked her through a portal she couldn't get back through. Truely a head scratcher, since Shantotto knew many ancient magics. That didn't deter Shantotto however, she was always open for a challenge.

However her elf like ears perked up mid-laugh when she heard an odd sound. She looked closer a moment.

"Hmm what's that? it's the middle of the night..."

She looked a moment more.

"Why what's this? A shakedown? A brawl? A fight?"

[nutcase17133]

In the park, Nutcase was seen surrounded by a bunch o street thugs. He knew it wasn't smart to tour the park at this late hour but his abilities were insurance. Still he would have preffered to keep out of trouble. Nutcase was calm knowing these pea-brained brutes were no trouble for him.

"You're awful calm ya punk." Said one thug.

"Yeah he must have ice in his veins, man." Said another.

"Actually..." Nutcase said, "I have nothing to fear from you at all. I'm a busy man so if you'll excuse me."

Before he could leave, the boss of the gang cut him off and punched him in the face, knoking his glasses off. Grabbing them before they could be broken, Nutcase got up calmly, dusting himself off, and said, "Of course you now realize, this means war."

What happened next was nothing short of a massacre fr those who saw it. The whole gang of fifteen got caught in a huge comical dust cloud as a brawl began. A few thugs broke away and tried to run, but Nutcase's arms stretched out of the cloud like rubber and pulled them back in each time.

[gantzgun74]

Shantotto watched the massacre continue, putting away the pencil and paper, and watching as it went on. She grinned greatly at it.

"Ohohohoho! A boy after my own heart!
Normally facing so many isn't very smart!
And yet there he is head to head with those brutes.
And me without any for my own horn to let out toots!"

She laughed some more at that.

"Perhaps a hand will be needed my own power is great,
And perhaps that young man will need help, such is fate."

She pulled out her rod having said that, charging up magic... A simple bind spell would do the trick...

[nutcase17133]

After the thugs disperssed, Nutcase dusted himself off and walked off. "Well, that's that."

Suddenly he was wrapped up in magic binds.

"Hey! What gives?! Who want's a beatdown now!? I am NOT in the mood for these games!!!"

[gantzgun74]

"My apologies but you were in the way,
It's impressive magic though wouldn't you say?"

That was when Nutcase noticed Shantotto sittin on of the bench's heads near where he was. The Tarutaru woman was grinning rather snidely.

"You were the one that handled those thugs and all too quickly.
I was just about to lend you a hand of magic most wonderfully!
You were the one that didn't move fast enough you see,
But I suppose in the end, you got the chance to meet me!"

She laughed her trademark laugh at this. After a moment, she lowered her rod, freeing Nutcase.

"Shantotto is my name.
And my lovely game?
Why it's brutality and violence of course!
And may I say you showed great force."

With a quick movement she jumped down from the bench.

"Not, you see, as great as I,
But still, nice... For the by and by."

[nutcase17133]

Feeling himself being freed, Nutcase looked at Shantotto closely.

"Well, you certainly are stronger than you look. But let me make myself clear, I really don't like to be that forceful at all. I wanted to avoid any conflict that was possible with my trip out here tonight, so if you wanna brawl I'm sorry but I can't. I got a lot of things on my mind right now and those punks really didn't help me at all other than vent out some frustration I've had for a few weeks now."

Nutcase was about to turn to leave when he said, "However..." Turning back to Shantotto, he said, "since you were kind enough to tell me who you were it's only polite I do the same. The name's Nutcase. Comedy is more my game as opposed to mass destruction. What you saw merely comes with the territory of my craft."

[gantzgun74]

Shantotto grinned, though it was unsure if she was pleased with the notion or not.

"As it is for most good abilities and such,
But obviously you do not use it too much."

A small laugh escaped, as she sat down on the bench's seat. She was quite confident in what she said, having magic helped with that.

"And you call yourself a name of which that makes you sound like your insane a tad,
How unique that is! Call me curious to say, Why haven't we met sooner, little lad?"

In the depths of her mind however, something appeared to be nagging at the back of her mind. Something about the name 'Nutcase' sounded familiar...

[nutcase17133]

"Well first thing's first; Nutcase isn't my real name. I changed it when I moved to what WAS my new home as a means of security. As for why we haven't met until now, I've been looking for a friend of mine" Nutcase said as he took his glasses off to clean them.

"I met up with several so far. And the one I was looking for also showed up but....well it's kinda hard to explain what happened... We've been looking for him ever since and now we're caught up in a mess which if not stopped, NO one who got trapped here will be going to their rightful homes..."

[gantzgun74]

"You don't say, you don't say!
Well that is quite the story if I may!"

Shantotto was telling the truth too, It was definately quite the story she had to admit. Such dangers brought back many memories of Vana'diel... Especially during that one incedent... Putting that thought out of mind though, she thought a moment.

"I assume, by these great threats you must confront,
That you pertain to to the Dark Insects... heh quite the hunt."

She waved him off...

Hold on...

Nutcase... OF COURSE!

A small surprised grin crossed the girl's face.

"Well well, I had thought that name sounded familiar,
After all there was once a youth who said something similar."

At Nutcase's confusion, she continued looking somewhat snobby.

"What was that lad's name? Gaz?
I have to say, he was such a spaz.
And the fight we had... peh, lacked pizzazz."

She chuckled to herself, before finishing with.

"He was a challenge make no mistake,
But the future is not for the spineless to take."

[nutcase17133]

"WHAT?!" Nutcase yelled. He became a blur and raced up in front of Shantotto. "That kid's name was Gantz, lady. You saw him?! Can you remember where you saw him!?"

[gantzgun74]

Shantotto's face was flat at this question.

"You ask me the wrong question, young man,
I believe the better one is 'where has he ran'?"

Oh yeah, she so TOTALLY said that just to annoy the man. Regardless she chuckled.

"Irregardless, I know not where Gaz has run, nor where he hides,
But his reasons for such have quite a lot of meaning besides."

With that said, she frowned slightly.

"But it would be better if you never found him,
Your future with such an ill-fated boy is bound to be grim."

And with that, she walked off...

Well started walking off anyways.

[nutcase17133]

"If we don't find him the future for everyone on this god-forsaken rock is in doubt! There's evil forces at work here wanting to make sure we either (A: Never return home, (B: Die just because we're human or happen to have human qualities, or (C: Because the creeps have nothing better to do than to fuck up people's lives!" That stops Shantotto in her tracks. "No one came to this island by choice...some have made a new life here having given up hope of returning home...but some of us know what home is and why it must be reclaimed..."

Nutcase looked to the ground. "Still..." He said more to himself rather than Shantotto. "Gantz's behavior has been odd ever since we found him the first time...there's nothing that would prompt such a change. What could have-" At that moment a light bulb appeared over his head.

"Thats it." Nutcase said in realization. "That's the answer!"

[gantzgun74]

Shantotto turned back to Nutcase, looking quite curious.

"If you believe you have the answer as to what Gaz is to be frightened,
Then tell me what you believe, perhaps it will help me to be enlightened."

In all honesty, Shantotto already knew the answer, she just put it in the back of her mind, since she had other things to do.

[nutcase17133]

"It's not WHAT made Gantz so timid! It's WHO!" Nutcase said with glee, finally having found the answer to what he had been looking for for almost two months. "Gantz has a girlfriend, see. One whom he loves very dearly. Rosaline also got separated from the group too, which means she's out there and likely in danger."

Nutcase thought some more and his eyes narrowed in anger. "Him....he's been after Gantz this whole time! Him must have Rosaline!"

[gantzgun74]

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"OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!!"

Shantotto choose this time to let out her trademark laugh, looking quite sure of herself.

"Bravo! Bravo! It is hard to imagine what took you so long!
Even when you were surrounded by that trumultous throng!"

She applauded to this, a snide look appearing in her eyes.

"Truely very impressive, you solved it with great haste...
Though I fear you are learning this truth too late."

That caused Nutcase to look at her confused. As the Tarutaru went on, she turned her back to the man.

"There is more then that however, you see.
And even still you have not learned the truth full degree,
Best keep learning if you don't wish for the truth..."

She turned to Nutcase, a knowing smile on her face.

"To sting like a bee."