Chapter 1 logs - (LOVERS) Shadow of Mika

[VySaika]

> ----------------------------------------------
> Saturday. It's been a full week, or more, since those dreams. Yet...they haven't lost thier vividness in the least, almost as if there were waking memories.(more)
> Today is a bit of a special event. A local band named "Steel Beowulf" is playing a benefit concert here. Two of it's three members are actually students at this college, but rumor has it there's another reason they're being allowed to play. Something about the Dean's wife having the very disease that the benefit is to fund the research of.(more)
> It's 10AM, and as sunny as you could want on an October morning. The concert is slated to start in one hour, though the grounds are already full.(more)
> In seperate areas, three newly awakened Persona users are preparing to face what they think is going to be just a day like any other....
> V: Akamatsu laughs as he reads the flyer, "Valeriya, Gia, Tabi. Go have fun at the concert, hmm? You're all still young, and it's for a charity anyway. Don't worry abotu the club, I doubt many people will be here. I can handle things myself."
<Valeriya> "I can do that.  The music doesn't sound like anything I'm too interested in, but I'll enjoy it nonetheless.  Have fun without your top girls!"
> Gia laughs, "Well, and Tabi." Prompting the youngest one of you to stick her tounge out at Gia, "I've only been here a month! Just wait, I'll be the top here one of these days."
> H: Neimi laughs as she looks up the band in question on the internet. "Oh you have to be kidding me."
> H: "Hikari, come over here and look at this!"
<Hikari> "Hm?" Hikari asks, brushing her hair. "What is it we've got to look forward to this time, some visual kei band?"
> H: "Even better" Neimi laughs, pointing to a line on the screen, "It says here they specialize in 'Heavy Techno' covers of popular songs from anime and video games."
<Hikari> An "Oh my" is all Hikari can manage. "I'll try to contain my enthusiasm."
> M: Kyo, who had dragged Mike along to the Gym with him in the morning, shoots one last basket and then recovers the ball to put up, "So what the hell is 'Heavy Techno' anyway? That big in America, man?"
> H: Neimi giggles, "Come on, this is bound to be an entertaining trainwreck. Let me get dressed, then we can head down. Our class got canceled this morning for it, so we might as well." She goes to do just that.
* Mykasi shrugs lazily. "I wouldn't know, never got into Techno much; if it's actually got subgenres I've not heard of them. Might just be some people jumping on their electronic instruments. Interested in checking it out?"
> M: "Why not? Got nothing better to do this morning." Kyo grabs his water bottle and shrugs, "All the trouble I get into on Saturdays is after the sun goes down."
* Hikari doesn't feel it necessary to dress differently than usual; she's not much of a dancer even when she does like the music. The usual sort of conservative blouse+skirt combo will work here. "'Entertaining trainwreck.' I've never properly understood how those words have any business being associated with one another."
<Mykasi> "Ditto." Mike grins, picking up his own bottle. "Hell, worst comes to worst we can laugh at the entire thing."
> H: Neimi dresses like she ususaly does as well, which involves jeans and a heavy sweatshirt. In this case, one proclaiming itself in English to be a '+3 Sweatshirt'. She laughs, "You know, when something is just so horrible that you HAVE to watch it?"
* Hikari considers this for a moment. "Well. I know *of* this concept, yes."
> V: The three of you set off for Hokuriku, jogging the distance at a steady clip. Gia spends most of the jog teasing TAbi, which the younger girl holds up under admirably. Before long, you arrive.
> From three seperate directions, Mykasi, Hikari and Valeryia make thier way to the school grounds, where a makeshift stage has been set up for the band. The band can be seen setting up thier equipment on the stage, and there's a small...very small..."crowd" of what look like they might vaguely qualify as groupies hanging out in front of the stage.
* Mykasi jabs Kyo in the ribs. "Now -that- is a common sight at American concerts. The people who just can't leave the band well enough alone."
<Hikari> "Should we join them?" Hikari wonders aloud to Neimi, eyeing the small crowd. "I confess to being moved somewhat by pity on seeing the tunrout."
* Valeriya glances over to Gia. "No, this doesn't look like a school with a makeshift stage set up. Not at all. The crowd looks very...well, small. What disease are they raising money for again?"
> There are others who are starting to mill about the grounds about the same time you three arrive. Most of them are hanging back and letting the handfull of people who are right up on the stage just keep thier "prime seats" though.
> H: Neimi chuckles. She does appear in high spirits this morning, "Maybe we're just early? I'm sure more people will show up. And...I'm not sure I want to be that close to the speakers. I'm betting whatever Heavy Techno is, it's loud."
> M: Kyo shakes his head, "Seriously? I actually haven't been to any concerts before, so dunno if its the same out here. You'd think they'd want to just let the band do thier thing though, if they like the music. Not get in the way and all that."
> V: Gia snorts, "So this is the other place you work? Don't get enough of getting hit on by the boys at the Club, huh?"
<Hikari> "...Right, let's keep our distance, then. I admit to having no experience with rock concerts, but I they do have a reputation for being *loud*." If there's any difference between rock and techno, Hikari seems unknowing or unconcerned.
<Mykasi> "It's almost an obsession on the part of some people. You even..." Mike pauses, before switching to English,  "get the people who practically have an orgasm over the sweat of the third-string drummer splashing on them, to say it in a language that won't get me foul looks from anyone but you."
* Valeriya bats her eyes and tosses her hair. "Well, I have to shoot some people down, after all. Watching their puppy dog eyes is cute. It's a bit depressing they all think they have a chance to jump me in the sack, though. Must be the Russian look"
> M: Kyo responds in English...which is actually as good as your Japaneese if not a bit better, "Don't underestimate the amount of people who speak some English around here. Probably, uh, not enough to really get what you just said though. And that's creepy, guy. Just creepy."
> V: Tabi eyes you, "If by Russian look you mean huge boobs, then sure."
> Conversation goes on for a bit, as the band puts on a recording of one of thier songs as a warmup. It's...uh...loud. And sounds angry.
<Mykasi> "Yeah, I know. Still more likely to go under the radar. And yeah, it's creepy as all fuck. I've never undestood it myself." Mike replies, before swapping back to Japanese. "Wanna head to the back area over there? If this is anything like American concerts, one thing will be valued. Volume."
* Mykasi then grimaces. "Yep. Loud as hell."
<Valeriya> "I can't help my God-given natural talents.  Besides, jealously looks bad on you - the green colour doesn't go well with your clothes"
> V: Gia chides you, "Be fair. That's hardly a talent. A god given gift, sure. But hardly a talent."
> H: Neimi winces at the volume, "Owowowowowwww. Yeah, backing up a bit. Come on." She starts to move away from the stage a bit more.
* Hikari listens to the music for a few seconds before catching on to a few obvious traits: "They seem very upset about something. Shall we ponder this from the back rows?" She follows her roommate. No need to tell her twice!
* Valeriya ignores the comment. "So, shall we explore the area a bit more, or do you have any ideas? Wanna' listen to this...noise?"
> H: As you back up...you start to hear another pair of students arguing. They're beginning to attract a small crowd.
<Hikari> Ah, impromptu street theater. Hikari pushes her way through the ring of gawkers to see what's going on, because there should be *someone* around that doesn't see other peoples' problems as merely a source of entertainment.
> H: Another student you know, a girl named Mika, is arguing with...who you could swear is her best freind from the fact that they're ALWAYS seen together. "How could you do this to me? How!?"(more)
> H: The other girl seems somewhat poleaxed by this attack, "What...what do you mean? What did I do?"
> H: Neimi blinks, "Uh...is that Mika? Is she actually...angry? I've never seen her so much as forget to say thank you, much less get angry..."
<Hikari> "Yeah...it's not really our business, but I feel like I should point out that this isn't the best place to air her dirty laundry..."
> M/V: As you start to move away from the noise, you begin to see a circle of students. One woman there looks like she's yelling at another.
<Mykasi> "What the hell?" Mike rubs his head while looking over. "This is... what, the third time I've actually seen a fight out in full public in Japan? What the hell's going on to merit this at a concert?"
<Mykasi> OOC: strike comment.
> H: Mika almost growls, "You forgot about me! We always go out on Friday, but you went to go with your new boyfreind instead! Didn't we promise that we'd never put boys before our freinds?"(more)
> H: "He's stealing her from you. You can't let him do that..." Hikari hears a voice, breathy and soft, but otherwise exactly like Mika's.
> H: "She was your freind first. She belongs to you. You have to make her realize that. Go on...tell her...tell her everything..."
<Hikari> Hrm? This sounds...not like something Mika would, should, or even could be saying in public, even if it is in her voice. There's a nagging, insistent tone to the voice which sounds all too familiar to Hikari...She moves in to step between the two girls. "This is a benefit, you two. Unless you *really* want to turn your personal lives into a sordid little sideshow for the crowd here, maybe you should take this somewhere quiet?"
> H: As Hikari steps between the two...she can see something else. Another woman...another Mika, standing behind the real one. Pressed up against her...well, suggestively would be putting it lightly. "Ignore her. She can't make you do anything. Tell her...tell Mistia what you feel."
> M/V: The two of you draw closer to the crowd in the back, in your move to escape the wretched noise. You can see...three..no, four women arguing. Except two of them are the same woman. And one of the 2...clones? Twins? whatever, is pressed up against the other in a way that should not be done in public.
> M: You recognize the...twins? As Mika, a girl from your Japaneese class. She, uh, never argues. With anyone. About anything. No matter how much she gets picked on or hassled.
<Hikari> This is already far too similar to the past week's dreams for comfort. Whether Hikari's going crazy or not, Mika acting like a neurotic wreck in public is a *fact*. "Hey, Mika? Listen to *me*, alright? This isn't the time or place for this."
> H: Mika blinks, as if she's suddenly confused. The Other Mika starts glaring at you, "Smack her. Hit her, something. Get her out of our way!"
<Valeriya> (Odd.  Can't hurt to check it out)  "Hey, you girls wanna take a closer look?  It's the most interesting thing going on now"
<Mykasi> "What the hell?" Mike mutters to Kyo. "I know that girl... but she's really not the type to get into an argument, and I wasn't aware..." A slight pause, before shaking his head. "This is weird. I want to hear what this is about..." With that he moves in, gesturing to Kyo to follow.
* Hikari ignores Other Mika. "Don't listen to her," she says to Real Mika. "There's no need to start a fight here."
> V: Gia laughs, "Ah, schoolgirl drama. They try to tell you High School is the end of it. Ooooooh no." She goes with you.
> M: Kyo nods, "Yeah, I've seen her around. Doesn't she get picked on alot? Man, guess too much was enough or something." He moves along with you.
<Valeriya> "Seriously, this stuff could get entertaining"  (And I'm curious)
* Valeriya and crew edge up to the border of the circle of people and listen in, and look in
> H: The Other Mika's eyes go wide, "Don't listen to...no. You can...you can see? HIT HER MIKA! SHE'S TRYING TO TAKE HER AWAY FROM YOU TOO! DO IT!"
> M/V: You two edge closer, from opposite sides. There seems to be a surprising lack of...well, anyone talking about the...clone/twin/whatever acting naughty like that. Just a few murmers of either "man, why's Hikari have to get involved" or "Thank goodness she's here, at least Hikari has some sense."
> M/V: Heck, no one is even talking about her screaming like that.
<Valeriya> "Don't recognize that kid from the library...does she have a twin or something?  Why are there two of them..."
<Hikari> "Hey, Mika?" Hikari says softly. "Picking a fight's not really your way, is it? If you really care about your friend, this isn't the way to show it. Let's just all go sit down and talk this out, alright?"
> V: Tabi looks up at you, "Two of who?"
> Mika shakes her head, "I..I..what am I...?"
<Valeriya> "The...oh, nevermind, must be the light getting in my eyes"  (Or I'm going crazy again...like with that Alice girl...)
<Valeriya> "Anyway, it seems like that girl might hit the other, but she seems so confused.  Wonder what's up.  Lover's quarrel?"
> The Other Mika screams, a bloodcurdling sound...and runs. Dodging in and around the crowd, she starts fleeing away from the concert. (more)
> As soon as the Other Mika breaks contact, Mika's eyes roll up in her head and she collapses to the ground.
<Hikari> "I'm guessing you've had a rough week, the stress is getting to you, and a noisy rock concert isn't the best place to--oh my..." Well, there's nothing else to say, is there?
<Valeriya> "..."  (What.  The.  Hell?)
* Mykasi frowns - so Mika just never mentioned her twin in class? - but moves up with Hikari, stopping a few feet away, before darting in to try and catch Mika and barely failing. "Damnit! What the hell - someone call an ambulance!"
<Valeriya> "Call for medical assistance!"
> Mika's freind drops down to her knees next to her, "Mika! Mika! Are you okay!"
* Hikari kneels down by the fallen girl. "Someone cal--right, what they said," Hikari mumbles.
* Valeriya dials for an ambulance on her cell phone
> Several someones are doing the exact same thing.
> No one seems to notice the Other Mika running away from the scene.
> At least no one is commenting on her. Usually a girl running through a crowd like that will garner some attention at least.
<Valeriya> (Alright, where did that girl run off too...)
> H/M: Mika seems to be unconcious, though still breathing.
<Valeriya> "You guys stay here, I'm going to go to the campus police"  
* Hikari stands up and turns to watch the Other, not wanting to let it get out of sight. There are plenty of people phoning for help here, and Hikari's presence isn't of much use in a first aid situation. Best to leave the girl with her friend, for now.
<Mykasi> "What the hell..." Looking up at where this other Mika seems to be going, Mike tries to follow as fast as he can! "Excuse me, pardon me, clear the way, ambulance will be coming shortly, please stay calm!" he yells while cutting through.
> Gia and Tabi nod, "Sure."
<Valeriya> (Ok, time to trace her...she ran...that way...)
> V/H: That american exchange student starts pushing his way trhough the crowd...in the same direction that the Other Mika went.
* Valeriya continues running in the direction of Other Mika
<Hikari> Coincidence, surely! Hikari follows along anyway, leaving Neimi with some bland remark about going to find someone on the campus staff or security.
> M: Mykasi is fast. Damn fast. Pushing your way through the crowd, you're the first one to reach the open street, and see the Other Mika dash right across the street...right THROUGH a moving car...into an alleyway behind a local bookstore.
<Valeriya> (Wonder if this is a shadow like Pinnochio was telling me about)
* Mykasi blinks at this angrily, pausing to see if there's a break in the traffic so he can follow.
> M: There is. Not overly much traffic, actually. The Other Mika just seemed to have bad...well, would have been bad timing if she was made of meat at least.
* Mykasi nods and quickly jets across at the safest opportunity in pursuit of... what the fuck is this girl? Is he just hallucinating everything?
> H: You reach the street...about the same time as that woman who works in the library, the one with the horrible scar. You are just in time to see that 'first American' exchange student dash across the street and into an alleyway behind the bookstore.(more)
> V: You reach the street...about the same time as the girl who was trying to mediate that argument earlier. You recognize her from your work in the library. As you arrive, you see that First American boy dissapear into an alleyway.
* Hikari spares a glance for the other girl, but that's about it. If she slows down to talk, she might lose the trail! Barrel across the street as soon as it's safe to do so, the time for questions is later!
<Valeriya> (Ok, alleyway it is)  
> M: You get into the alley! The Other Mika is right ahead of you. She bolts down the alley and throws a door open, dissapearing through it. ...behind that door is an endless expanse of swirling purple and black. And it begins to swing shut behind her...
<Mykasi> "For the love of- wait, Mika!" Mike bellows, before attempting to stop the door from shutting. A slight pause and a catch of breath, before he actually looks at the door. "What... what the hell?!"
> Mike reaches the door, and forces it back open!
> Behind him, Hikari and Valeriya charge into the alley.
> The two ladies can see Mike holding open a door...a door that leads to an endless expanse of swirling purple and black.
<Valeriya> "Well, I guess that answers my question of whether or not I'm the only crazy person here"
* Hikari pauses in the alley, looks from the other people to the way and then back again. "Well, this is turning out to be an exciting morning for quite a lot of people, isn't it?"
* Mykasi opens the door wide and looks in. "Fuck, Kyo never told me about this nightclub." At Hikari's voice he jumps slightly, before turning. "Hi, Hikari, hi, person I don't know the name of. Uh. You guys chose to chase the crazy American or something?"
<Valeriya> "Yes, crazy American.  I assume you chased that weird girl too?"
<Hikari> ''Or something,'" Hikari confirms, striding over to peer into the shifting void beyond the doorway without apparent fear or hesitation.
<Mykasi> "...I didn't know Mika had a twin..." Mike frowns at this. "And it was like barely anyone was paying attention to her."
<Hikari> "Only the ones who knew how to see her. I intend to follow her, if you don't mind?"
<Valeriya> "I don't think most twins would be able to pull the stuff she did"
<Valeriya> "I love horror movies, and the one tenet of  them is to never go into the crazy, vortex-strewn world.  Especially through a door that apparently doesn't belong"
<Hikari> "But chasing after a stranger's ghostly twin is acceptable?" Hikari says with some skepticism.
<Valeriya> "You don't have much room to speak"
<Valeriya> "You did the same thing"
<Mykasi> "I'm following her as well." Mike replies. "Oh. Mike. Come if you want, then." With that, and ignoring the secondary catfight, he steps through the doorway.
<Hikari> "Exactly," Hikari says, promptly stepping through after Mike.
> Mike steps through the doorway and vanishes! As does Hikari behind him!
<Valeriya> "Kids"
> The door begins to slowly swing shut...
* Valeriya walks through as well
> ----------------------------------------------
> > (OOC: Scene Change, 2nd Anniversary Edition!)
> > Purple. And black, to a lesser extent, but mostly purple. For what seems like both an eternity and the blink of an eye, the three find themselves falling through an endless void of purple. (more)
> > Something is shining in the distance...a spark of light. Of blue light. Blue light in this endless purple. As soon as your eyes set upon it, you feel yourselves being drawn closer and closer. In a mere moment, the three alight down on...an island, floating amidst all the purple. An island with a single glowing blue door, standing free in the center.
<Valeriya> "Well, at least it's not a burning building this time.  Much happier place now"
<Valeriya> "I suppose no option other than to open the door?"
* Hikari raises an eyebrow, curious despite her better judgement, but the inquiry will have to wait for another time. she approches the door. "I see none other."
* Valeriya heads over and starts to open the door. Motions to Hikari. "Ladies first"
* Mike looks in, before glancing to the library lady. "Then I'll wait on you two, ne?"
<Valeriya> "Nice to see chivalry still exists"
<Hikari> "You're not a lady?" Hikari wonders aloud, honestly not sure what to make of this statement. "Look, if we're going in here together, we should at least know who each of the others is, no? I've seen you two around but can't place a name with the face right now. I'm Hikari."
<Valeriya> "Valeriya"
<Valeriya> "And my last name is Hikari"
<Hikari> "Then our little group is doubly blessed with the essence oflight," Hikari observes. "No doubt we'll need it, given our surroundings."
<Mykasi> "Mykasi - but call me Mike." Mike replies with a shrug. "I've seen you in the library..." This to Valeria. "And you're in my World History class." This to Hikari.
<Valeriya> "Correct"
* Hikari nods. "Yes, that's right." She starts to open the door, but: "I don't suppose either of you have any real idea what we're going to find in here, do you?"
<Valeriya> "Either something good, bad, or neutral"
<Valeriya> "Beyond that, I don't know"
<Hikari> "...Well, that's rather all-encompassing. Only one way to find out, I suppose. Here we go--"
* Mykasi makes a slight face at Valeriya. "Either that other Mika or... hell, I don't know, a crazy clone army of spiders with top hats or crazy old men with long noses or something. But we won't find out without going in, I suspect."
* Mykasi follows Hikari at this!
> The door opens...reavealing a very, very blue room on the other side. Despite there not BEING another side from the outside of the door.(more)
<Valeriya> "And last, as usualy"
> In the center of the room is a small wooden table, with a single chair in front of it. Behind the table, is a large black armchair, with a familiar looking long nosed man sitting in it.(more)
> The red haired girl sitting on the couch stands up and bows, "Welcome to the Velvet Room. I'll, uh, I'll go fetch a couple more chairs."
> Theresa ducks off through a curtained doorward behind Igor's chair.
> *doorway
<Mykasi> "... goddamnit did I pass out again after chasing that girl?" Mike curses, before frowning and looking to Hikari and Valeriya. "Uhh... wait a sec..."
<Hikari> "Ah. Hello again, both of you," Hikari says to the Velvet Room's denizens, apparently seeing no virtue in questioning anything she's seeing by this point. She takes the chair in front of the table promptly.
> Igor chuckles, "Well well, I did not expect to see you all again at once. Please, be patient just a moment and my assistant will return with seats."
<Mykasi> "Waaaaaait you know her, Hikari?!" Mike says, before frowning for a moment.
<Valeriya> "I know him.  He reminded me of a cross between Nicholai Tesla and Pinnochio when I first met him"
* Mykasi looks to Valeriya, before his face suddenly smooths over. "...so that was Mika's other side. Except she didn't get control over it."
> Theresa returns, carrying two wooden chair, just like the one Hikari sat it. Carrying them around, she sets them down on either side of Hikari, "Please be seated."
<Valeriya> "That would be a good explanation...a shadow was it?"
* Valeriya takes the seat to Hikari's right
<Hikari> "I've been here before, I think," Hikari says, sounding a little less certain about all this when forced to talk about with other, clearly real, people.
> Igor nods, "You have all been here before. Last time, I summoned you within your dreams. But this time, you are here physically."
<Valeriya> "And just as mortal, I assume...so where is that girl who ran here?"
> Theresa cocks her head to one side, "Girl?"
* Mykasi heads to the seat to Hikari's left, but holds himself up with his arms on top of the chair, his constant foot-tapping the only indiciation to his nervousness. "Can something be done with... that ghostly Mika? Can she resolve her issues?" To Theresa, "We chased her here."
> Theresa shakes her head, "You three are the only guests we've had today."
<Mykasi> "She might've kept falling or something, though."
<Hikari> "We pursued what was likely a Shadow from our own world into yours," Hikari confirms.
<Valeriya> "Can the other self...disperse and separate in the real world?"
<Mykasi> "Then she did keep going... but perhaps you guys can help us help her? Is there any way to reconcile someone with their... awakened surpressed self? Shadow? That sounds so unfitting..."
* Mykasi looks at the other two in embarrassment, before waiting for a response to any of the questions.
<Hikari> "It fit me perfectly well," Hikari says, not eager to elaborate.
> Theresa, seeming to get it, shakes her head, "No, sorry. I'm afraid you couldn't have chased her here. Any Shadow would have gone straight into the Dream, never touched our realm."
<Valeriya> "I see"
<Mykasi> "She entered a purple and black door. We followed her in, but we fell onto an island with your guys' door in front of it. Could that explain it?" Mike asks.
> Igor nods, "As for helping the girl who's Shadow you chased, I'm afraid that is up to you. There is much you can do, but it is up to you to discover it, and to do it."
<Hikari> "There's a difference? The 'Dream' would be the vague purplish area through which we passed?"
<Valeriya> "So...why did we appear here?"
> Theresa smiles, "No, that purple out there is the Between. It's where the Velvet Room exists primarily, though it also exists in both the Dream and your Real world."
> Igor nods to Valeriya, "Now that, is indeed a good question. If a Shadow was physically active in the real world, and fled into the Dream, you should have followed it. But instead, you came here. That is curious."
<Hikari> "I...see." Well, sort of.
> Theresa looks at her master, "Shall I?"
<Mykasi> "Maybe it means we need to check in with you guys before diving in again?" Mike says, completely straight-faced.
<Valeriya> "Let's listen"
> Igor nods to Theresa, "Hmm, I suppose that is the fastest way." Turning his attention back to the three of you, he cautions, "There are some questions my assistant may be able to answer, but I will need you to close your eyes for just a moment first."
* Hikari indulges this request. Given the circumstances, there's hardly anything strange about it.
* Valeriya closes here eyes. "Sure"
* Mykasi nods and closes his eyes, wondering if he's preparing himself to get his brains clubbed out.
<Valeriya> "I've had worse happen with my eyes closed than this"
* Hikari can't repress a chuckle at this comment.
<Mykasi> "Meanwhile, I've had my eyes closed the past three years..." Mike murmurs.
<Valeriya> "So, who wants to play truth or dare?"
<Hikari> "I'll pass," Hikari is quick to say.
<Mykasi> "I'm no fun to play that with, apparently - always chose truth." Mike replies, eyes still closed.
> You can feel a breeze start to swirl through the room. After a minute or two, Thersa says, "Okay, all done. You can open your eyes now."
* Hikari does so!
<Valeriya> "Ok then.  What was that for?"
* Mykasi opens them. "Besides, I'm sure my story will be brought up at some point anyway, sooo..."
> She smiles, "Well, that was interesting. It seems that, weeeell, you three are a little different then most Persona users."
<Valeriya> "Oh?  Do they have opposite sex personas too?"
> Theresa shakes her head, "Nothing obvious like that."
<Hikari> "Define 'different.' For that matter, define 'interesting.'"
> Pausing, she thinks for a moment.
<Mykasi> "I have an insect with a top hat, so doubtful. Also, see Hikari."
> "Well, you don't have the power to enter the Dream on your own, for one thing."
> Igor's eyebrows raise at this, "Oh? I see."
<Hikari> "Is this normally a standard feature?"
<Mykasi> "Or do we have to upgrade to Persona 2.0 to access the Dream?"
> She nods, "Every other Persona user I've met can do it on thier own, yes."
> Theresa giggles at Mike's comment.
<Valeriya> "So I assume we need help?"
<Hikari> "Fantastic. Is there something akin to management we can speak to rectify this?"
<Valeriya> "Like conveniently placed doors?"
> Igor folds his hands under his nose, "And thus my role in this becomes clear."
<Mykasi> "Ah, a software vendor!"
> He nods, "Doors are indeed what you will need. If you cannot enter the Dream, then I shall act as your...hmm, doorman, so to speak. You can get here, and from here, I can open a door for you into the Dream."
<Valeriya> "Well, that works.  I assume we get back the same way?"
* Mykasi nods, serious again. "Alright... and from the Dream, we can find the people who are suffering from their shadows?"
> "But to get here..." Igor waves his hand, and a small silver key with a blue gem set in it's grip appears on the table, "You will need this."
> "This Velvet Key will turn any door into the door to the Velvet Room. Use it with discretion."
> "But," he smiles, "I am afraid there is only one Velvet Key."
<Valeriya> "Rock-Paper-Scissors?"
* Hikari picks up the key, then glances to the others. "Which of us is the most reliable, do you think?"
<Mykasi> "Either that or just cycle who has it." Mike shrugs to Hikari. "Would be hard to know at this point, don't you think?"
* Hikari looks at Val in silence, then to Mike. "I think that narrows it down to one of us two."
<Hikari> "True enough."
<Valeriya> "Judging a book by its cover?  I think rotating is a good idea"
<Mykasi> "It can be discussed later; right now it's not relevant, truth be told. Back to my previous question - can we easily get to, say, Shadow Mika from wherever your door enters into the Dream?"
> Igor shakes his head, "That requires an explination of how the Dream works. If I may..."
<Hikari> "Go ahead."
> He spreads his hands over the table and an image apears on the surface of the table. It's...the bookstore you entered the alley behind.
> "This, is an image of where you entered from in the real world."
* Mykasi leans on the chair more heavily while watching Igor.
> "If I were to open a doorway to the Dream at this moment, it would lead to the dream of this very area. Dreams, I'm afraid, are not connected. You cannot enter the Dream in one place and exit it in another. Each location, as defined by the perceptions of those who inhabit it, has it's own Dream."
<Mykasi> "So we'd have to go right near Mika and use the key." Mike half-asks.
<Valeriya> "So...locales specific to the dream we want to enter.  So my apartment for my dream, for example?"
> "Within this Dream," the image zooms in, to inside the bookstore, "are the dreams, wishes, fears...and sometimes even the Shadows, of the people dwelling in that area in the Real world."
* Hikari nods. "So: Mika's dorm room for her dreams, for example?"
> Theresa nods, "While she's in it, yes."
* Mykasi nods. "Any warnings or precautions about this that we should hear? Like, if Mika isn't at the dorm, she's at the hospital, would the key still work?"
> Igor continues, "Now, those in the Real world do not need to be sleeping to Dream. And beware if someone leaves or enters the area while you are in it's Dream. That could change things drasticly."
> Theresa nods, "The key would work, yes. But there might not be anything but afterimages of her dreams there."
> "Even if there are no dreamers, there is still a Dream. It will just be kinda empty."
<Valeriya> "What...mmm...the purpose of going into these dreams...the same thing that happened with us?"
<Mykasi> "I'd imagine so..." Mike muses. "I didn't hear what Shadow Mika was saying but it sure as hell didn't look good at all."
> Theresa shakes her head, "It's difficult to go that far into another person. You confronted your Shadows before they broke to the surface. I'm afraid even in the Dream you will only be able to see the Shadows that either already have, or are threatening to take over."
<Hikari> "She was rather distraught," Hikari says vaguely.
<Valeriya> "So we just need to get all warm and cuddly on them?  Or kick their ass with our naked man personas?  I suppose either or"
* Gate-dungeoncrawlinfool is now known as Gatewalker
> Igor shrugs, "As for the purpose, that is for you to decide. There is much you can learn in the Dream. Someone's true feelings, thier idle daydreams, thier inner fears. What you do with it, is up to you."
* Hikari stares at Val. "With our...what?"
<Mykasi> "So inside the Dream lies the keys to free people from their Shadows, but not the shadows directly?" Mike asks, focused on the conversation at this point as he -finally- sits down.
<Valeriya> "A long story"
> Theresa nods, "The Shadows aren't always there. They are sometimes though."
> "It depends on how close to the surface it is while you're there."
* Hikari just nods to Val. Whatever *that* comment was about will have to wait.
<Hikari> "so this could involve some...spelunking, on occasion?"
<Mykasi> "Is there any indicator we'll be able to see to tell if we can catch the Shadow in the dream?"
> Theresa grins, "That's where the other interesting part comes in."
<Valeriya> "Oh, do tell"
<Valeriya> "I could use a third job"
<Valeriya> "How much does this pay?"
> "You three, while being unable to enter the Dream without aid, are far more sensitive to disturbances in the Real world then most. If someone's Shadow is close to the surface, you'll be able to see it."
* Hikari is willing to bet that it pays in the satisfaction of a job well done, but does not voice this.
<Mykasi> "The pay of not wondering what the hell the Shadow's doing loose in the city, is my guess." Mike replies offhand, before nodding to this. "And then they'll be in the Dream... Right. Okay, this makes some sense."
> igor chuckles, "You seem to be under the impression that I am asking you to take upon yourselves the job of calming rogue Shadows. In truth I am asking nothing of you at all, except that you abide by your contracts."
> "My role is to provide some knowledge, and to act as your doorway to the Dream. What you do, and why you do it, is not my concern."
<Hikari> "For some of us, it may be that there's no real difference."
<Valeriya> "So...when a shadow goes rogue...what happens?  I've been meaning to verify this.  If too many go rogue, does that mean invasion?  It seemed like this Mika shadow was controlling the true Mika"
> Theresa frowns, "I'm pretty sure I explained this to all of you last time. If someone gives in to thier Shadow, it takes over."
> She pauses, then shrugs, "Well, or they die."
<Mykasi> "Of course you aren't. Your contract only requests we abide by the consequences of our actions. But letting the Shadows take over someone while we can do something about it..."
> Igor nods to Mike, "That is your decision to make."
<Valeriya> "But...if a shadow takes over...then they die or they are taken over...and the shadow has an agenda?  And when they have two shadows like myself...and why is there a rash of them now?  There's a bit of a mystery here to solve"
<Valeriya> "Not that I'm saying to let people die or be taken over, but...what actually changes?"
<Hikari> "Two?" Hikari just shakes her head again. Another discussion for later.
<Valeriya> "I'm musing to myself, don't mind me"
<Mykasi> "Right. That wasn't obvious?" Mike asks. "Still, I never belonged to the sit-on-my-hands-and-wait-for-a-savior school of thought." To Valeriya, "We'll have to figure that out, won't we? Assuming you two are still in, of course."
> Theresa sighs, "The Shadow's 'agenda' is merely the repressed emotions of the person it grew from. It's thier 'dark side' if you will. How is this hard to understand?"
> Igor shakes his head, "That's enough, Theresa."
<Hikari> "I'll follow my conscience, Mike. That means I'm in, if there was any doubt."
<Mykasi> "Because we come from a world where the dark side normally stays repressed. Unless you have cookies." Mike comments. "Maybe if we follow the string of Shadowings, we can figure out what's behind all this..."
<Hikari> Cookies. Every time Hikari thinks she's following the conversation well enough...
<Valeriya> "I understand it fine, but there has to be a pursuing, driving force behind it.  People have this happen daily - it's called consciousness, and changing personality.  But how does this differ - or is it the same as - a shadow?  I'm just interested in the why of it all"
<Mykasi> "It's different in the violent speed of the change." Mike says. "Mika was pretty much a calm, serene girl... and you saw today. Not the same at all."
<Valeriya> "I mean, after what I've experienced...why now, why this, what's the difference?"
> Igor shrugs, "You may find that your assumptions of what must be, may not be. And what you think to be impossible to be all too real."
<Valeriya> "Then my primary suspect is wasabi"
<Valeriya> "We need to raid every sushi place within 10 kilometres"
<Mykasi> "I don't eat wasabi." Mike shakes his head.
<Valeriya> "There goes that theory"
<Mykasi> "Still, you're right. It has to have a common thread somewhere, so that's something we can try to track down."
* Hikari shrugs. "I don't know if pondering the 'cause' off all this is really useful right now. At least, given that we have only our own experiences with our personal Shadows. Speaking pragmatically, we know one is on the loose now, and we know how to find it. We can theorize when we have more data."
<Valeriya> "I'm interested in finding that common thread.  Much better job, even if unpaid"  *glares at Hikari*  "than working as a librarian or aerobics instructor"
<Valeriya> "Thinking broadly doesn't hurt.  Keeps our options open.  Besides, if we don't have an endpoint in sight...we forget what we're doing ,and miss the forest for the trees"
> Igor sits back in his chair, "Well, do you have any desire to enter the Dream now, or shall you return to your own world until next time?"
<Mykasi> "Alright." Mike cracks his knuckles a bit. "So once we can reach Mika alone again, we'll want to step in. For now? Let's not push our luck running into an area that we haven't seen issues in, and go back to see how the real Mika's faring."
<Valeriya> "I think we should go back, personally.  Get a little more about the girl, make sure she's ok
<Hikari> "Mika's likely been taken to the hospital by now, yes. We can check on her condition and investigate thereafter."
<Valeriya> "And talk to the girl she was fighting with"
<Valeriya> "Besides...I have to pee.  Does this place have a bathroom?"
> Theresa stands up and goes over to the door, "Allow me."
<Valeriya> "Wonderful"
> She opens the door...reavealing the alleyway in the real world you entered from.
> "Good afternoon, and have a pleasant day."
<Hikari> "Likewise, both of you." Hikari bows respectfully before leaving.
<Valeriya> "Thanks.  Enjoy your blue room.  We'll see you again, I bet"
* Mykasi keeps a straight face all through this, though a quick smirk passes his face at this. "Apologies for the prolonged stay, Igor, Theresa."
> Igor says nothing, though Theresa smiles, "That's alright, the company is a pleasant change of pace."
> The three of you step out of the Velvet Room...and back into the real world.
* Mykasi exhales at this. "First order of business. Cell phones or land lines. Everyone have a number to be reached at?"
* Hikari has both, and exchanges them with her apparent comrades-in-arms!
<Valeriya> "Yeah, I got mine.  Here.  Too cheap to have a land line"
<Valeriya> "Time to go tinkle, now"
* Mykasi nods, trading his info. "Alright. We'll talk later, then."

[VySaika]

------------------------------------------------------
> Monday morning, in the school Library where Valeriya is thankfully pulling a solo shift at the moment, the three Persona users gathered, as arranged. Mika had been kept at the hospital overnight, but was checked out Sunday evening. Supposedly, she'll be back at school today...
<Valeriya> "So..."
<Mykasi> "Okay. One of us needs to try and talk to Mika. I'm really worried about how the Shadow darted off..." Mike shakes his head. "I've got my Japanese class with her - I can try to catch her then, presuming she comes. You two able to meet after class and talk to her? Or at least you, Hikari? We can try and get her to come study with us and relax..."
* Mykasi shakes his head. "Sorry. I'm tense and babbling."
<Hikari> "Sounds like a plan," Hikari agrees, about to make a similar suggestion and not needing to now.
<Valeriya> "Best if you two go.  I'm the oddball out - I'd look more like a stalker"
<Valeriya> "...she wasn't cute enough for that, anyway..."
<Mykasi> "I wouldn't phrase it like that, but yeah. We'll just meet up here after my class... Do you two have anything else going on today?
<Valeriya> "Besides, my shift isn't over for a while"
<Hikari> "Makes more sense if I just happen to be there, as an acquaintence of yours, when you check up on her after class. She might be weirded out if I seemed to go out of my way to see her."
<Valeriya> "Work.  It's over mid-afternoon"
* Mykasi nods. "Fair enough. Hang out outside the classroom or something, then?"
<Hikari> "Sure thing."
<Valeriya> "And where would you like me to hang about?"
* Mykasi rubs his head. "I'll try to get her to come study with me here - I'm kinda known for making stupid mistakes in Japanese class, and I've asked her for help a few times, so..."
<Valeriya> "...I'll just read for a while.  Maybe I can learn about why Shikoru is pregnant..."
* Valeriya pulls up a tabloid magazine the library carries...for some unknown reason
<Valeriya> "It's a good thing today is slow"
<Mykasi> "I'm not up to explaining the birds and the bees today." Mike replies with a touch of bitterness, before looking up at a clock on the opposite wall. "Okay. Class in 45 minutes, lasts about an hour and a half."
<Valeriya> "Have fun, kids"
* Mykasi gives Valeriya a slightly amused look before heading off.
* Hikari departs for now, sure that she'll be distracted with thinking about the upcoming meeting until it happens./
> Mike and Hikari head to thier respective classes, leaving Val to distract herself with trashy tabloids.
> (OOC: Scene Change!)
> Mike sits through Japanese class! In retrospect, there's not much to warrent that exclamation point as Japanese class is horribly dull most days. Today is...no better, but different then most. The proffessor is starting to lose his temper a bit with everyone being more interested in whispering about Mika's issues on Saturday and trying to talk to her(or about her) then learning.(more)
> Having the advanatge of sitting directly behind Mika, Mykasi gets to hear most of the gossip. And gets to see Mika's ears being basically red with embarrasment the entire class.
* Mykasi is, of course, far more concerned about her shadow. Does it seem to be at all present?
> Five minutes until the end of class, the prof loses hope of anything getting done today, gives a reading assignment and just retires to his office.
> Concentrating...Mike can see a faint aura around Mika. Almost as if an image of herself is superimposed over her. But this image does not seem to be active...at the moment.
> H: Elsewhere, Hikari's class lets out about five minutes before Mike's does.
* Mykasi idly taps Mika on the shoulder when she's got a lull in conversation. "Ah, Mika... do you mind helping me out with some of these terms? I mean, how do you normally distinguish between the intensely polite forms of the different -kau and -kiku verbs?"
* Hikari hurries over to Mike's classroom!
> Mika visably flinches as you tap her, "Huh? Oh, Mykasi. Um..."
<Mykasi> A slight pause, before he whispers quite softly, "That, and I figure you could use a break from these gossipmongers. It's okay if not, but... figured I'd give you an excuse to leave early."
> She looks around for a moment, realizing that yes, everyone is still looking at her, then hesistates, but nods, "Um...thanks. Okay, sure. I don't know how much help I'll be, but I'll try."(more)
> This is definately a bit more like the normal Mika. Something of a doormat and willing to do just about anything asked of her.
<Mykasi> "Thanks. Uh, library, then?" Mike suggests. "Just next door from this building, and it should be quieter."
> H: Hikari arrives outside of Mike's classroom! A couple of students are slipping out a bit early.
> Mika nods, "Alright." Standing up, she grabs her bag, but lets Mike lead the way.
* Mykasi nods, grabbing his own bag and heading out the door, holding it open for Mika.
* Hikari peers into the classroom, sees her target, and arranges to arrive at the doorway just in time to bump into Mike and Mika.
> And apparently Mike and Mika are two of the students slipping out just a touch early. Hikari appears in front of the doorway just as Mike is about to step out!
<Hikari> What a coincidence! Hikari stops to talk to them. "Oh, hello Mike, Mika." To Mika specifically, with the utmost respect (no gossip monger, Hikari): "You're feeling better today, I hope?"
<Mykasi> "Oh, hey, Hikari." Mike says, before letting Mika answer the question, stepping away from the door a bit.
> Mika blinks as she sees Hikari, and casts her eyes down a bit, not looking you in the face, "Um, yes, thank you..."
<Mykasi> Mike looks to Mika with some concern, before, "...You here to ask for help with World History or something? Mika's offered to help with my conjugation for this class... maybe we can all study together?" he offers, looking between the two after a surreptitious nod to Hikari.
<Hikari> "If that's alright with Mika," Hikari says, looking expectantly at the other girl.
> Mika quickly nods a bit, still not looking up entirely, "Oh, of course."
<Mykasi> "Don't feel pressured to say yes." Mike adds, a bit annoyed at Mika's submissiveness. "It's okay if you're not up for it, alright?"
> She shakes her head, "No, no, I'm fine. I'm alright, really."
<Hikari> Softly: "Mika, you're allowed to look up when you talk to me, you know...Look, let's find some quiet place to work, away from all the gossip hounds?"
> Mika's face turns a bit red, as she nods, mumbles something undecipherable, and quickly starts leading the way to the library.
* Mykasi lets off a slight sigh, before following Mika.
* Hikari frowns a bit, expecting the upcoming conversation to evoke unfavorable comparisons to complicated dentistry, and follows alongside Mika, ready to fend off anyone who tries to shoehorn their way into the little group.
> Hikari and Mykasi make thier way into the library, with Mika in tow. Valeriya, however, does not seem to be in there.
<Hikari> Well, maybe it'll be easier to get Mika talking with just two others there at first? Hikari finds a table for the group, at any rate, one in a quiet corner with plenty of privacy.
* Mykasi makes only a fleeting glance over to the front desk, before following Hikari at this.
> Mika follows Hikari to the table and breaks out her books immediately, "So...you wanted help with the polite forms, right?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah - not the simple polite -masu structure, but the really polite stuff. The teacher, uh, kinda handwaved it as 'you grew up here, you should know this except for the exceptions', but, uhhh..." Mike holds up his hand to show his skin color. "'fraid I'm not exactly from these parts, so."
* Hikari lets Mike take the lead in starting the conversation. Maybe Mika will be more at ease if they at least start with something innocuous.
> Mika actually giggles a little at that, "He does seem like he doesn't like to explain things sometimes, doesn't he? Well..." She starts explaining. These intensely polite forms are of course something Hikari is all too familiar with.
<Hikari> "Maybe he's just lazy," Hikari says in passing, clearly not having much use for unhelpful teachers. "LEaving the students to teach other the material."
* Mykasi listens to this for a few minutes, shaking his head as Mika hits a pause. "How do you two keep track of all this?" A pause, before he glances to Hikari with a grin. "Still better than a fair few American teachers, whatever motives you give him."
* Mykasi then looks at Hikari. "You missed the week before last's World History class, right? Want my notes? He went over the US presidents of the 1900s and their persona.. personalities." (Subtle, Mikey.) "But he said he wouldn't be focusing again on it for a little while."
> Mika seems a bit taken off guard by Hikari's comment, though she dosesn't say anything about it. Looking at Mike again, she half shrugs, "Well...I'm sorry, I don't really know how I keep it all straight. I just do. I guess growing up speaking it really does make a difference."
<Hikari> To Mike: "Yes, thanks. I'll return them as soon as I'm done copying them." To Mika: "Anything can seem normal if you grow up with it, yes. People can get used to anything."
* Mykasi grabs his notebook out of his backpack, opening it to the right sheet. "Ignore the doodles." To Mika: "Yeah, I know. English seems to be the same way for people - the multiple ways to say the same thing are disorienting, but at least there aren't really many politeness restrictions." Mykasi laments, before opening the textbook. "So why does he use this format here..." More prattle about intense formality.
* Hikari accepts the papers and makes a point of looking at the doodles.
> Mika cheerfully explains the formallity nonsense, seeming to be a bit less reserved when talking about the subject. Though she continues to look away every time she accidentally meets Hikari's eyes.
* Hikari exchanges glances with Mike. The real discussion has to start sometime, so she may as well forge ahead. Once the discussions hits a convenient pause: "Mika...you *are* okay, aren't you? The outburst at the concert...whatever caused that's not still a problem, is it?"
<Mykasi> (First, to try and encourage her to ignore the damn gossipers...) "Man." Mike says after most of the hyper-polite stuff's been covered... but then pauses and lets Hikari speak.
> She turns red, but nods, "Y-yes. The doctors said I'm fine now."
<Hikari> "Well, I'm sure the people at the hospital made sure you didn't have any physical problems, but that wasn't exactly what I was asking."
* Mykasi shakes his head. "The doctors say you're fine, but... are you really alright? With all the nonsense people like whispering, I'm more concerned about you stress-wise. ...I know it really stressed me out, when I first came here."
> "No, everything's...everything's fine. I do wish everyone would stop staring at me all the time today, but that's all."
<Mykasi> "Heh." Mike looks away a bit. "...I was one of five First Americans in my high school, out of like sixty from my middle school. Everyone had fucking -bets- as to which of us would crack... which of us would just drop out under the pressure. So we worked together, kept each other afloat..."
<Mykasi> A slight sigh. "What I'm saying is, you don't need to be a pillar of strength all the time - you've got others to lean on, trust me."
* Hikari nods along. "Look, I have to admit that we had an ulterior motive in getting together today. If you have anything you need to share, just to keep it from crushing you...you can trust us. Everyone's got a part of themselves they can't seem to live with, but ignoring it only makes things worse."
> She shakes her head again, "Th-thank you, but I'm alright. Nothing's...nothing's wrong..." Looking over at the clock, she suddenly closes her book and stands up, "I'm sorry, I have another class soon."
<Mykasi> "...Alright. Thank you very much for the help - I think I've finally got a grasp of this. If you need help on anything, I'm here-- wait, do you have my number?" Mike asks.
> Before you even finish speaking, she's moved away from the table and out of the library.
<Hikari> "Well, that was just about as awkward as expected."
<Mykasi> "Damn..." Mike sighs. "Still, trying to force this won't be healthy, either, I don't think." A glance to Hikari. "Try and suppress the gossip some, at least? I'll do what I can in my classes, but that shit really doesn't help people, I can say that much."
<Hikari> "If she's not going to deal with her own problems, an incident like the last one will just happen again. I don't see much choice but to force the matter."
* Mykasi softly curses in Omaha - something that vaguely comes off to Hikari as nuclear bird worship or some such gibberish. A slight pause at Hikari's words. "Perhaps. We may need to take up the Dreaming in order to understand this more... but we can at least eliminate external pressure."
<Hikari> "Perhaps. Did you notice anything strange at all? Like that...shadow self still lingering?"
<Mykasi> "It's around her, but it's not active right now." Mike shakes his head. "Which means we probably have until whatever triggered it last time happens again."
* Hikari nods. "And it will. You saw how she was acting, she's obviously not up to confronting the problem at its source."
<Mykasi> "...you're right. I just... gah, it's like walking blind into a minefield of lolcats."
* Hikari blinks. "'lolcats?'" She shakes her head. "I know it's fundamentally not any of our business, but...we *can* help, and we're the only ones who truly understand the severity of the problem. We'll have to find some other opportunity to confront her."
<Mykasi> "Yeah... Damnit. You know where's she's at in the dorms? Assuming she's even in them." Mike comments. "Alternately, we can try to twist the gossip to our advantage and fish around that way, if you don't know."
<Mykasi> "Oh, and lolcats.... an internet thing. Don't worry about it."
<Hikari> "I don't know, but it probably wouldn't be difficult to determine, as you point out. That friend of hers might be of some help. The one she nearly assaulted at the concert? Mika's problems clearly involve their relationship."
<Mykasi> "Or at least a severe case of loneliness combined with a fear of losing the one friend I know she has. That's why I was trying to get her to warm up some... I was hoping to take the edge out of any social issues."
<Mykasi> A pause. "Bah, all this planning and anticipation, and yet..."
<Hikari> "'And yet...' Do you have another idea?"
<Mykasi> "No, I don't." Mike shrugs. "I'm... just remembering why I hate feeling helpless."
<Hikari> "Well, don't forget it, then. I'm sure she feels the same way."
<Mykasi> "You're probably right. Shadows, coming home to roost..."
* Hikari nods. "Alright, well, see what you can find out through the grapevine, and perhaps I'll see about talking to that friend of hers?"
<Mykasi> "Sounds like a plan. Also need to catch up with Valeriya at some point... probably got pulled away by her job." Mike grunts.
<Hikari> "The lot of a librarian is a harsh one indeed," Hikari says drily. "Alright, I think we're done here for now. Shall we depart and call each other back this evening with any news?"
<Mykasi> "Sounds good." Mykasi nods.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 go go go gadget gossip?
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 go go go gadget gossip? and gets 5."12 [2d8=3, 2]
> (OOC: Scene Change 2: The World Warrior)
> M: After a bit of snooping around, you easily find her room number. It's...somewhat depressingly easy, actually. Everyone is talking about her. As for freinds...you hear alot about Mistia! But as far as anyone knows, no, she doesn't have any other freinds.
<Mykasi> Mike asks one of the more friendly people where Mistia lives!
> H: Classes for the day have ended and you set about tracking down Mistia. She's not an overly hard woman to find, so you manage this feat somewhat quickly. Turns out her room is on your floor, and the next hallway over. Last you heard, she went straight back to her room after her last class.
* Hikari sets off down the hall to intrude into Mistia's personal life as politely as is reasonably possible!
> Hikari arrives outside her door in short order.
* Hikari knocks. (Politely!)
> It takes a few minutes, but the door opens. Mistia blinks as she sees you, "Oh, Hikari. Um..." She looks away for a second, but shakes her head and looks back, "Uh, can I help you with something?"
<Hikari> "I hope so. Actually, it's about helping someone else...look, do you mind if I come in? It's about Mika."
> She winces, "Eeesh. All I've heard about today is what happened Saturday. But..." she sighs, "You're not just some gossiping idiot, so I guess I can hear a bit more about it. Yeah," she opens the door all the way, "come in."
* Hikari enters the room. "I'm not precisely sure where to start...Well, I was in a study group with her earlier today. She was withdrawn, moreso than usual, and it seemed obvious to me that whatever kind of stress made her explode on Saturday is still being bottled up. I thought you might know what the problem is, or be in a position to do something about it."
> She sighs, "It's...well, my best guess is that it's my fault. We go out and do something every Friday. We have for a couple years now. But last week I cancelled on her because it was the only day I had to go out with my boyfreind. I figured we'd just do something Saturday or Sunday, right? I guess it really hurt her or something."
> She sits down, "I tried to apologize to her today, but she's avoiding me."
> "I'm not really that surprised. She must be so embarased about losing her temper and fainting like that."
* Hikari finds a stray chair and occupies it. "Well, that's probably part of it. She's not used to being the center of attention...But I don't think she has a lot of other friends, either, which makes this misunderstanding much more of a problem for her."
> Mistia nods, "You're right on that. I...really don't think she has many other freinds at all."
* Hikari nods. "Has she ever even had a boyfriend?"
<Hikari> (It's a totally innocent question! Really)
> "Mika?" Mistia can't help but laugh, "No way. She's just way too shy. And...well, alot of guys do for for shy girls, but...I guess this is kind of mean to say about my freind but she's shy and plain, not shy and pretty."
> "I've offered to try and set her up with a couple boys, but the idea of a blind date scared her silly."
* Hikari nods. "I was about to ask, yes." She pauses for a moment, making it obvious that she's thinking over something. "Alright. I don't know if there's a way to say this without provoking extreme awkwardness, but I'll try my best. I think Mika might see you as something more than a friend, which...would explain why she took it so personally when you cancelled her night out." (more)
<Hikari> "I'm sorry if this suggestion offends you, but I think it explains her behavior very well."
> Mistia blinks, and is silent for a moment.
* Hikari gives the other girl plenty of time to process this.
> "...if anyone else just said that, I'd accuse you of trying to start trouble or something. Are you serious? How on earth do you figure that?"
* Hikari considers her words carefully. "When I saw you two on Saturday, she reminded me of a jilted lover more than anything else. She took the whole thing *very* personally. This struck me as a possible explanation. And, well, if she's turning down blind dates, it may be that she's just not interested in boys."
> Mistia shakes her head, "That's...Mika's just really...well, she's fragile, you know? And while she's always polite to everyone, it's pretty easy to scare her. She's not tough like you are. I pretty much knew she'd say no when I offered, anyway."
<Hikari> It's Hikari's turn to shake her head in denial. "None of us are completely comfortable with who are, Mistia. Not even me," she adds with a rueful grin. "Well, you've known her for a long time, and you certainly know her better than I do. I'm sure this notion gives you a lot to consider..."
> Mistia sighs, "Look...I am glad that you're concerned. It's nice to see someone besides me worrying about her at all. But I think you're reading too much into it."
* Hikari stands up. "Think about it though, will you? Your her best friend. If this is even possibly what's really going on inside of her, you should be prepared to talk to her about it." She glances at the door. "I'm sorry if this was presumptuous of me. I can go now if you wish."
> Mistia stands back up, "I'll...think about it, I guess. And yeah, I have studying to do." She pauses, then adds, "I'm not mad and throwing you out or anything, just, yeah, I've got to study. And I do mean what I said, thanks for caring about her. She gets picked on so much, you know?"
* Hikari doubts Mistia will be doing much studying at all, but there's no need to point this out. "I know, and you're welcome. Goodbye for now."
* Hikari exits!
> 2d8 for the hell of it
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 for the hell of it and gets 13."12 [2d8=6, 7]
> M: Mike does not manage to find Mistia's room number from anyone though.
> H: Hikari has left the room! You are standing in a hallway.
* Hikari heads back to her own room for now. Whatever comes from that conversation will take some time to percolate. She may as well call up Mike and see if he's got anything new.
> Mike's phone rings!
* Mykasi flips it open. "Speaking?"
<Hikari> "Hikari. What's news?"
<Mykasi> "Figured out Mika's room number and that she's got no friends outside of Mistia, or at least none anyone knows of. Couldn't find Mistia's room number, though."
<Hikari> "Mistia lives down the hall from me, so I went and talked to her. I can only hope that the discussion proves *mutually* enlightening..." She makes sure to keep her voice down, so that no one in the next room or out in the hall overhears this part. Dorm construction, you know? You're not paying for soundproofing. "I let Mistia know that Mika's interest in her is more romantic than platonic, though it may take Mistia some ti
<Hikari>  time to come to terms with this."
<Mykasi> "...more who than what?"
* Hikari frowns to herself. Well, if she *has* to be totally blunt: "I believe Mika's a lesbian. I don't think I need to point out that it's best not to mention this to anyone else? We don't need to compound her problems."
<Mykasi> "...I didn't get that vibe from her at all, but I suppose I can't pick up everything." Mike murmurs. "Besides, I already know it's frowned upon even more over here, or so it feels... feh. Yeah, if you're right, that does need to be kept quiet... though I will say this. Denying that sort of thing for too long - to others, as well as yourself - ...that's not good, either."
<Hikari> "Quite. And...I was close enough to see her Shadow when she lost control on Saturday. It was making it very clear--to anyone who could see it, at least--that Mika's interest was more than 'just friends.' Mistia obviously will need some time to come to terms with this. That said, I'm not sure what our next move is. Since we know where Mika's room is, the three of us *could* explore the dreamworld?"
<Mykasi> "We could..." A pause, before Hikari can hear a rather large thump, then; "Yeah, we could, but we'd want to check if she has a roommate that might interfere."
<Hikari> "It would be prudent, yes. Was that noise on your end?" she asks
<Mykasi> "It was me headdesking for not thinking to look into that part." Mike admits.
<Hikari> "...Ah. Try not to incapacitate yourself, will you?"
<Mykasi> "Don't worry, thicker skull than a goon."
<Hikari> "I'll keep that in mind if I need a bodyguard. Alright, so we're agreed on finding out about possible roommate interference on Mika's end and then using the key? Once we manage to collect Val, of course."
<Mykasi> "Agreed, yeah. Let's make sure we can time this right with Val, first."
<Hikari> "Of course. I'll call her once we finish here. Talk to you tomorrow if I can't reach her, or find anything useful about Mika's roommate."
<Mykasi> "Sounds good." Mike nods. "Talk to you soon, then.
* Hikari hangs up and tries Val's number.
> It goes right to voice mail.
* Hikari frowns and leaves the older woman a message detailing the upcoming plan to visit Mika's dorm (though, nothing *too* explicit, in case Val's the sort to loudly listening to her voicemail around others) and hangs up.

[VySaika]

> ---------------------------------------
> The hallways of the girls' dorms were empty as the three Persona users gathered together near Mika's room. It was nearing midnight, the hour somehow making the artificial lighting of the hallways seem somehow...soulless and haunting.
> The door to Mika's dormroom is right in front of you.
* Hikari doesn't have any kind of speech prepared. "I'm not sure what we're going to find in there. Everyone ready for...anything?" she asks, ready to use the key.
<Mykasi> "Ready." Mike nods shortly. "Let's get Igor to port us in and be done with it."
<Valeriya> "Anything...including those tentacle monsters I saw on that movie last night..."
<Valeriya> "Maybe I shouldn't watch stuff like that before doing this?"
<Valeriya> "Whatever!"
* Hikari does her best not to wonder what Val's talking about and turns the key!
> The key fits snugly into the lock despite being a vastly different size and shape. Soundlessly it turns, and the plain wooden door fades out, leaving a swirling blue portal in it's place.
* Hikari enters the other world!
* Mykasi follows quickly after.
* Valeriya runs in as well
> As soon as the three step through, the blue portal fades away, leaving the wooden door that was there before in it's place...
> (OOC: Scene Change 2: Champion Edition.)
> The velvet room looks exactly as it did the last time you visited, even with all three chairs already brought out. Theresa smiles as you enter, "Welcome to the Velvet Room."
> Igor peers at you all from over his folded hands, "So I assume you are here to enter the Dream?"
<Mykasi> "Thank you. We've come to request your assistence in entering the Dream, yes." Mike nods.
<Hikari> "You assume correctly."
<Valeriya> "Yeah"
> Igor nods, and waves his hand towards the door you came though. A mist suddenly forms, obscuring the door for just a moment, then fading. The door seems unchanged, but he gestures towards it regardless, "The exit of the Velvet Room has been moved. Simply exit from the very door you entered, and you will be in the Dream that lies beyond the door you touched with the Velvet Key."
> Theresa smiles, "Be careful!"
<Valeriya> "Thanks"
<Valeriya> "Well, shall we?"
* Mykasi nods. "Thank you. We shall endeavor to be cautious."
* Mykasi then nods to Valeriya. "Let's."
* Valeriya heads forward into the door
* Hikari just nods and steps back to the door.
<Valeriya> "Me first!"
> The door opens, and you all step through into another world.
> (OOC: Scene Change 2: Hyper Fighting)
> As you step into the Dream, you can almost feel something different. Something in the air perhaps, something that feels...cold. A chill rises up your backs as the mists clear and the scene that is Mika's Dream unfolds.(more)
> You find yourselves in a large room, much larger then any of the dorm rooms could possibly be. The floor is covered in a lush, thick carpet while the walls are hung with silk drapes, all of it in shades of pinks, soft reds and purples. The only feature in the room is a large four post bed near the center of the room, upon which Mika's sleeping from seems to thrash and toss.(more)
> Well, perhaps it would be better to say, the only inanimate feature. For as soon as you enter this room, the other occupants turn thier attentions towards you. Over half a dozen small, beautiful women smile or blink at you in confusion. Each of them dressed like some handmaiden out of a princess fairytale, with plain but pretty gowns of white and pink.
> One of them puts her hands on her hips as she looks at Mykasi specifically, "Who are you? And what's a man doing in here anyway? The princess has no business with your kind."
<Valeriya> "...oh, I had a dream like this once.  It ended weirdly"
<Hikari> "Oh...my." Hikari can't help but feel vaguely embarassed for Mika's sake.
<Valeriya> "I think I woke up...ahem...anyway"
<Valeriya> "I'll bite - what's wrong with him here?"
* Mykasi looks to the woman in some embarrassment. "We're here to try and help Mika..." he manages to mutter before looking to Mika again. "Why does she thrash like this?"
<Hikari> "The 'princess' doesn't look like she's sleeping well," Hikari echoes. "Maybe you should worry more about her than about us?"
> The maid frowns, "The princess has no interest in his ilk. And her sleep is none of your business. I don't know how you got here, but I'm going to ask you all to leave."
* Hikari spares a sidelong glance at Mike, resisting the urge to mutter an "I told you so." She addresses the maid: "I'm afraid we won't be doing that. Mika has been unwell. I imagine you know that much?" She's not sure how aware these maids actually are, but it couldn't hurt to try talking first.
* Mykasi shakes his head after a moment. "If it helps you stomach me, I'm... promised to someone else. But I think we might be able to help, ma'am - and we've been worried for her sake for a while. I want to do what I can to help her... one of the few people that listens to me in class, for one." he mutters at the end.
<Valeriya> "Why?  We aren't causing any trouble here.  And besides, are you saying we aren't good enough for the princess?  We came here to kneel before her grace"
> The maid blinks as everyone starts talking at once, and another kneels by the bedside as Mika's thrashing grows worse.
* Mykasi glances to the other two. "Apparently the reasons my traveling companions had are different from what I had anticipated. However, both their responses are understandable. And what she says..." a gesture to Valeriya, "...is true; this is out of devotion to her."
> The spokesmaid looks at her "princess" in alarm, then turns her gaze back towards you all. And it is not a pleasant one, "You're disturbing her! You have no business in here! Just get out!"
> As she talks, the eyes of Mike and Hikari are drawn to her hands. The maid's fingernails are starting to lengthen. And sharpen.
<Valeriya> I'd say you're disturbing her more than we are with all the yelling"
<Mykasi> "And you're beginning to disturb us, ma'am..." Mike says, eyes focused on the fingernails. "Please. What we request is simple, and I swear we mean no harm to her..."
* Hikari does her best to remain calm, because *someone* has to here and it's apparently not going to be Mika's maids. "Violence in the princess's bedchamber helps no one, least of all her. Listen, do you actually know what's wrong with her?"
> Her eyes are starting to darken, "She doesn't need or want your help! Whoever you are, you aren't wanted here."(more)
> Another maid puts her hand on the first one's shoulder and pulls her back a bit. The second one moves forward, "I'm sorry, but our job is to protect the princess. You profess good intentions, but you are not the one who is destined to save her, so we can't let you wake her up. Either her destined hero has to come, or she has to wake up on her own."
> The second maid smiles politely, "I'm sorry, but that is our duty. You understand, I'm sure."
<Valeriya> "Who is her destined hero?"
<Hikari> "Question: how does one recognize the destined savior?"
* Mykasi stays silent during this. He apparently is more trouble than he's worth here.
> "The one the princess longs for, of course. I don't know who she is, I only know that you aren't her."
<Valeriya> "Mmm...any clues?  We could find her"
<Hikari> "Oh? *I* know who she is. And she doesn't possess the ability to come here. So where does that leave us?"
* Mykasi looks toward Hikari with an "ah, hell" expression written over his face, before nodding slightly at her comment.
<Valeriya> "Huh?  You know who...oooooohhhhhh, ok!"
> She shakes her head, "Of course she can. The chamber exists purely for the princess to wait for her hero in. If the hero couldn't get here, there'd hardly be much point to it, would there?"
<Valeriya> "So you know the hero can get here?  I mean, if you don't know who it is..."
<Hikari> "I've talked to this savior of yours, and she doesn't seem to know about any of this. Saving Mika is Mika's job. She needs to get up and walk out on her own."
> "Hmm, well if the princess wants to leave, she most certainly can. But if she wanted to leave, she wouldn't still be asleep."
<Hikari> "I wonder, has anyone tried waking her?"
> The second maid's eyes narrow now, "I told you, the princess is not to be woken by anyone other then the hero. If you try, I will stop you."
* Mykasi is frowning at this point, looking toward Mika with concern. "To not wake, even in a dream..."
* Valeriya turns to the others. "Is it possible to bring someone else here?"
> All the maids are now looking at you all with measuring gazes. Except that first one who is staring at you with open hatred still.
<Hikari> "I don't know," Hikari replies to Val. "It's a good question. I suppose we could ask Igor."
<Mykasi> "So in other words, she is to wait for a hero that will never come, never to be awakened by any other because you will not accept that..." Mike's frown deepens as he closes his eyes.
> She nods to Mykasi, "That is the princess's will. That is what she has commanded of us."
<Mykasi> "And what if I told you she will die if she continues to sleep so?"
* Valeriya whispers to the others. "You wanna' try talking to Igor about this?"
> "Then that is also her choice. She can wake up anytime she wants. She simply doesn't want to."
<Hikari> "So, you're content obeying orders which you know may result in the princess wasting away to nothing?"
> "And you are content with attempting to force others to live by your desires instead of thier own?"
<Hikari> "When their desires are self-destructive, yes."
* Mykasi shakes his head at this conversation. "I... I think something is stopping her from waking, though. It's how we learned of her situation in the first place."
<Mykasi> "What I'm saying is that she may be trying to wake up, but something is stopping her."
> The maid sighs, "No, you don't understand at all. I know about that something, but that's trying to wake her up. The princess is the one who is keeping herself asleep."
<Valeriya> "Ok.  So she's keeping herself asleep because she wants to...be woken up by something specific?"
<Valeriya> "Sounds like circular reasoning"
<Valeriya> "But is there any way to expedite her awakening?"
<Mykasi> "Just to establish a baseline here, the something you're referring to isn't us, right." Mykasi replies drily.
* Hikari frowns. "We're going in circles here. Shall we talk to Igor about bringing someone else into the Dream? Because if these maids stand for Mika's true wishes, we won't be getting them to cooperate."
> She sighs again, "The princess desires to be woken up by her hero, yes. She isn't content to be woken up by anyone else. But she can always wake up on her own if she wants."
> "There's really nothing else to understand here."
<Valeriya> "Ok.  So either get the hero, or she has to wake up on her own without the hero"
<Mykasi> "Please answer my question." Mike asks, still looking to Mika.
> The maid looks cross, "No, the princess does not wish to be awakened by you. I would think that was assumed in my previous statement. You aren't her hero."
<Valeriya> "I...believe we should talk to Igor and think this through a bit"
<Valeriya> (Look at me, being rational)
* Hikari nods. "Agreed, let's regroup in the Velvet Room for now."
<Mykasi> "... Okay, clearly we're miscommunicating here." Mike replies with a shake of his head. "I was trying to ask... okay, so you're thinking of the Hero. I'm thinking of something else entirely."
* Mykasi shrugs at Hikari and Valeriya. "I disagree, but clearly we aren't going to get any help for Mika here. So let's go."
<Valeriya> "Alright.  Let's head back then"
* Hikari returns through the door for now.
> You return through the door into the Velvet room.
> (OOC: Super Scene Change 2)
> Theresa giggles as you come back in, "Hehe, welcome to the Velvet Room."
<Hikari> "Welcome back, you mean." Hikari sighs. "Well, that could've gone better. Igor, Theresa: tell me, would it be possible for us to bring someone else here with us?"
* Mykasi shakes his head. "I don't even support that idea, but..."
> Igor shakes his head, "Only those who have awakened to Persona may enter the dream."
> Theresa giggles again.
<Hikari> "I'm not sure I do either, Mike. Mistia would likely be traumatized if she even believed us, and I'd prefer to coax Mika into speaking up on her own, but we should consider all possibilities...though it seems this isn't one."
<Valeriya> "Ok...well, that won't work.  Could we beat up her maids and then try to wake her up?  Granted, not sure how brute force would work"
<Mykasi> "Glad to see someone here is entertained!" Mike comments chipperly, before turning to Hikari. "It's not even that. Think about this logically for a second. How quickly would the stories of this place spread? How much of the city would go up in an uproar?" A pause, thinking. "There are two options. That, or me talking to her Thursday."
> Theresa smiles at Mike, "Oh, I am very much, thank you!"
<Mykasi> A very long look at Theresa is the only response Mike gives.
<Valeriya> "Hey, maybe SHE'S the hero!  Theresa, you wanna go kiss her?"
* Hikari can't help but smirk. "You're assuming that Mistia would want to tell everyone about highly personal matters, and that everyone would believe her when she rambled on about entering a dreamworld. I don't think either is likely."
<Valeriya> "It can't hurt"
<Valeriya> "And you probably don't get that many other people paying visits here"
<Mykasi> "...Hikari, have you -heard- some of the damn rumors? And you're also presuming Mistia would stay bottled up. We can't rely on that at all."
> Theresa laughs, "I'd be happy to try if I could, but I cannot leave the Velvet Room."
> Igor looks at his assitant sharply, "Theresa, why don't you go prepare some tea and leave our guests to think in peace?"
<Valeriya> (...huh, a dream lesbo.  Interesting)
* Mykasi mutters in English under his breath, "And once again, life proves itself almost, but not quite, entirely unlike a dating sim."
* Hikari shrugs. "It's irrelevant since we can't bring outsiders here anyway. That brings us to your two options. I hate to operate in a mindset that some people need to be saved from themselves, but it seems apparent to me that Mika is intent on hiding in her shell until it collapses upon her. So let me ask you this: do you think Mika would actually be responsive if you approached her about this?"
<Mykasi> "...I don't know. Part of the issue is obviously her isolation; she's not sure how to deal with herself as it stands. I figure... I know how that goes a fair bit. Maybe if she hears my story, she'd be willing to talk."
<Mykasi> "The other issue, though, is her... uh, youthful hope? Whatever you want to call it. And that... I don't know how to try and puncture it safely."
<Hikari> "We can try, if you're confident that we can let her current condition persist for a couple more days without her suffering further harm. And I suspect 'naivete' is the word you're searching for."
* Mykasi rubs his head. "That's the other problem. I'm not sure..." A pause, and a glance to Igor. "Does battling with the... defenses of the Dream, so to speak, usually harm the relevant dreamer?"
<Valeriya> "Well...doing that means we go out, wait, and if that doesn't work...we possibly alienate her, and are back to square one"
> Igor shakes his head, "Usually no. There are only very few ways to actively harm a person in the Real World from the Dream. And most of those must be done intentionally."
<Valeriya> "I don't know about you guys, but I assume you all had something happen here that...you wouldn't want to let anyone else know about"
<Valeriya> "That's hard to overcome"
<Valeriya> "And no matter how close you are to her, I don't know if it'll work.  No offense to you.  It's just how people work"
* Mykasi grimaces. "I don't know, but I suppose letting her know that there's someone else who doesn't fit in society's sexual norms would help." At Igor's comment, he closes his eyes. "Then our best bet may actually be to try and force our way past them, though I don't know how to fight, I must confess..."
<Valeriya> "Well, if they had balls, I'd know what to do"
<Valeriya> "Women...well, they looked like average cup size...wonder how tender they are there"
<Hikari> "Val's correct. I must admit that I'm not eager to share my personal secrets with even either of you."
<Mykasi> "At this point, I've little to hide." Mike shrugs.
<Valeriya> "So...take a chance on speaking to her, or trying fighting"
* Mykasi then reverts to Miwok. "Granted, I seem to be dealing with people denser than dark matter..."
<Mykasi> "Fighting seems our best bet. I was concerned we would harm her by doing so, but if we think we can manage it, it's probably best."
* Hikari frowns. "Well, unless you're confident you can talk her out of her shell, I'm also prepared to take the direct route and challenge her servants. Though I confess I know little about actual fighting, I was under the impression our abilities should not be limited by mere physical prowess once inside the Dream."
> Theresa returns with a tray with a pot and cups on it, "Here you are Master, a fresh pot of tea. Would anyone else care for some?"
* Mykasi shakes his head. "Let's not take the risk of dealing with - hm?" His eyes follow the tea inquisitively.
* Hikari accepts a cup. "I don't suppose it would hurt. ...Would it?"
> She smiles, "Of course not. It's just regular tea."
> "Though...I do brew it a bit strong."
* Hikari takes a sip to find out!
<Valeriya> "Hey, Igor, Theresa...how do we kick ass in the dream?  Can my naked persona do anything cool?  Like whack things with his...well..."
* Mykasi closes his eye for a moment, before, "...hell. One last drink before the abyss." With that, he accepts a cup. "But as I was saying, let's not take the risk of my failure to talk with her. Instead, dealing with the maids may be best."
> Igor shakes his head, "Your Personas already know what they need to do. Trying to explain it is very difficult. Simply trust that they will protect you."
<Mykasi> "Right."
<Valeriya> "...ok.  So it's a bit like believing in Tinkerbell?"
> The tea is incredibly strong, and unsweatened. But otherwise tastes like tea.
<Mykasi> "Mmm, good tea."
<Valeriya> "I'm Russian...I drink vodka instead of tea - never liked it too much"
* Hikari blinks and sets her cup back down. Too strong for her. "Alright. I suppose we can't make much in the way of battle plans without knowing precisely what we can do. How many of them were there, do you think?"
<Valeriya> "Uh...8?"
<Mykasi> "Six to eight? I don't remember, they all looked the same." Mike shrugs.
<Hikari> "Alright." She looks at the others for a moment. "I'm short on rousing speeches at the moment. Shall we proceed with the mass beating?" She wanders back to the door.
<Valeriya> "Eh, ass-kicking should be fun.  As long as they don't try grabbing my chest or something"
<Mykasi> "Sure. Stick together just in case, you guys. They'll probably go hostile as soon as we move toward Mika." Mike nods, moving with Hikari after putting the tea cup back down and nodding to Theresa in thanks.
> Theresa's grin is still as wide as it was when she was laughing, but at least she's stopped the giggling. She waves as you all leave, "Have fun!"
<Mykasi> "Yes, Mummy."
<Hikari> "You never know, given their creator," Hikari replies to Val. "Alright, here weo go." She opens the door, ready to dart through and take the maids by surprise as soon as her companions seem ready.
> As you step through the door, you can hear Igor sighing behind you...
<Valeriya> "Ok"
> (OOC: Super Scene Change 2 Turbo)
> Hikari leads the way back into Mika's dream. It's much the same as you left it, with Mika thrashing about on the bed and the maids all around her.
<Valeriya> "Can I try kissing her?  Maybe it's like Sleeping Beauty.  I always thought she was a bit of a slut"
> The first maid glares at you, "You again!? What do you want now?"
<Valeriya> "A kiss?"
* Hikari has wasted enough time talking to these vapid drones. She marches towards the bed, ready to strike the first person that tries to stop her from waking Mika. Brynhildr, be ready, she thinks to herself (just in case alerting her persona will actually do some good.)
* Mykasi chokes at Valeriya's comments. "...I thought we we trying subtle. Right, then." With that, he follows Hikari, gesturing for Valeriya to follow.
<Valeriya> "Well, I've done this thing before..."
* Valeriya follows too
<Valeriya> (Besides, I thought this is what Mika wanted)
> As you start moving towards the bed, the maids all jump to high alert. Moving to stop Hikari's march, the maids' seem to change. Thier dresses fade away, leaving them wearing what appears to be the equivilent of pink and black one piece swimsuits. Their nails seem to grow and sharpen, while leathery black bat wings sprout from thier backs.(more)
> Screaching, they lunch for the three Persona users, claws extended! But as they dive, time seems to slow to a crawl and all the color in the room seems to bleed away...(more)
> With the demonic maids lunging for you in slow motion, you can see cards materialize before you. Cards you are very familiar with indeed.(more)
> The one before Hikari glows softly, a fierce red light "I am thou, and thou art I..."
> Mikasi's card follows suit, turning a softer shade of blue, "If you would call upon my power..."
> Finally, as the maids are almost within reach, Valeriya's card glows darkly, "Then cry My name!"
<Valeriya> "Naked man who scares the fuck out of me in my dreams...Caligula!"
<Mykasi> "Anansi, trickster of men and spinner of tales, I beseech you for aid!"
* Hikari turns to the nearest maid. "Brynhildr, send this fool to Hel!"
> The cards shatter, and both time and color flood back to thier proper place. Before Hikari, Brynhildr appears, a swift swing of her spear knocking the lunging demoness back across the room in a single blow!(more)
> Behind Val, the mad emperor materialzes. Looming over the blonde woman, his presance seems to cause the demoness lunging for her to reconsider, aborting her dive midway and crawling back from the Persona, terror in her eyes.(more)
> For Mykasi, the world seems to go dark, then a moment later...he's standing on the other side of the room, the maid who lunged for him having crashed unceremoniously into the ground. Anansi finishes pulling Mike out of his hat and then dances a little jig in place.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 sure
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 sure and gets 13."12 [2d8=5, 8]
> roll 2d8+4 Lilim init
<Mykasi> roll 2d8+9
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8+4 Lilim init and gets 11."12 [2d8=5, 2]
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8+9 and gets 17."12 [2d8=4, 4]
<Valeriya> roll 2d8+8
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8+8 and gets 19."12 [2d8=3, 8]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Init: Hikari>Valeriya>Mykasi>Lilims'
> OOC: Hikari, go.
* Hikari gestures dramatically towards the nearest opponent and commands Brynhildr to smite the foe with a mighty swipe of her spear!
<Hikari> 2d8 Helreio Brynhildr attack roll
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Helreio Brynhildr attack roll and gets 5."12 [2d8=1, 4]
> 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense and gets 5."12 [2d8=4, 1]
> OOC: Hit! Roll for damage
<Hikari> 2d8 goooo 2-4
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 goooo 2-4 and gets 13."12 [2d8=7, 6]
> Brynhildr's spear connects, splitting a screaming demon maid clean in half! Before she even hits the ground, her form seems to dissapate into shadowstuff and melt away...
> OOC: Val is go.
<Valeriya> "Time to die!  Vampire movie time!"
<Valeriya> 2d8 Forgotten Night attack roll
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 Forgotten Night attack roll and gets 5."12 [2d8=4, 1]
> 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense and gets 7."12 [2d8=4, 3]
> 2d8 soul check
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 soul check and gets 6."12 [2d8=1, 5]
> The lilim balks as Caligula levels a field of pure blackness at her...but seems to take no effect...
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Init: Hikari>Valeriya>Mykasi>Lilims(7)'
> OOC: Mike
* Mykasi grins a bit. "A sombrero. Not a top hat, but a sombrero. Sheesh, 'nansi. ...Let's help these gals chill out, shall we?" A gesture to the closest lady-in-demonic-waiting!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Cold as Ice
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Cold as Ice and gets 4."12 [2d8=2, 2]
> 2d8 dodge hax
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 dodge hax and gets 10."12 [2d8=7, 3]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 damage?
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 damage? and gets 7."12 [2d8=5, 2]
> Anansi sweeps off his sombrero and points the opening at a lilim! Suddenly, what looks like a blizzard getting fired out of a super soaker errupts from the hat and sends the poor demon girl flying while coating her head to toe in ice at the same time!
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Init: Hikari>Valeriya>Mykasi>Lilims(6)'
> The remaining lilims are now screaming bloody murder. The one who is still recognizable as the first angry one goes right for Val. "You want a kiss!? I'll give you a kiss!"
> roll 2d8 claw
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 claw and gets 9."12 [2d8=3, 6]
> She dives in, but Val is able to quickly retreat through Caligula...and the lilim isn't quite sure she wants to risk that.
> Two others back away from Hikari...and lighning starts to gather in thier hands.
> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 8."12 [2d8=6, 2]
> Lighning bolts come streaking from thier hands, but in a single fluid motion, Brynhildr parries both with her flaming spear.
> Another pair tries the same trick with Mykasi!
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=4, 6]
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 5."12 [2d8=2, 3]
> OOC: that last one's a hit, Roll Def
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 6."12 [2d8=5, 1]
> One bolt misses the agile Mike, while Anansi catches the second in his hat, the lighning dissapearing into the dark opening, "Ole!"
> The last one tries the lightning trick on Valeriya.
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=5, 2]
> Val doesn't have time to move...the lighning strikes her dead on! ...but she feels nothing. Caligula booms, "Foolish woman! The storms of fate bend to MY will!"
<Valeriya> "Wow, even my persona is a nutjob"
> As the fight breaks out, Mika starts to scream in her sleep...
> OOC: Back to Hikari.
* Hikari turns to one of the demons that just tried to attack her. She decides to experiment a little and see what else her persona can do! "Brynhildr! Burn the ingrate!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Firewall attack roll
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Firewall attack roll and gets 11."12 [2d8=3, 8]
> As Brynhildr's spear touches the ground, a gout of flame erupts under a lilim! But the winged demoness flies higher, avoiding the flames.
> OOC: Val
<Valeriya> "Ok...uh...Cry Havoc and release whatever the hell else you have!"
<Valeriya> roll 2d8 Fallen Cry attack roll
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 Fallen Cry attack roll and gets 8."12 [2d8=3, 5]
> 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense and gets 3."12 [2d8=1, 2]
<Valeriya> roll 2d8 Fallen Cry damage
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 Fallen Cry damage and gets 11."12 [2d8=6, 5]
> The lilim screams as Caligula lets out a roar! The blast hits her square on...and the shadowy subtance the other melted into seems to be knocked right out of her. Her body turns grey and lifeless...and then crumbles into dust.
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Init: Hikari>Valeriya>Mykasi>Lilims(5)'
> OOC: Mike
* Mykasi turns to the one whose lightning Anansi caught. "Let's show this fool the light!"
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Anvil of Light
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Anvil of Light and gets 9."12 [2d8=4, 5]
> 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense and gets 7."12 [2d8=2, 5]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 damage and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
> Anansi flings his hat, which suddenly stops in the air right above a lilim. The hat shakes for a moment...then a translucent glowing anvil drops out of it, simply squashing the demoness into nothingness. The hat then lazily floats back to the spider who threw it.
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Init: Hikari>Valeriya>Mykasi>Lilims(4)'
> The Angry Maid, who seemed to have dodged Caligula's roar, continues trying to tear into Valeriya!
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 3."12 [2d8=1, 2]
<Valeriya> roll 2d8 for defense
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 for defense and gets 4."12 [2d8=1, 3]
> Hey, this is a catfight! Valeriya knows how to handle herself in a catfight! Twisting away from the the lilim, Val grabs her hair and sends her sprawling to the floor, making her flurry of claw swipes rather innefectual.
> The one left facing Mykasi tries a different tactic, and dives right for him!
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 5."12 [2d8=1, 4]
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 13."12 [2d8=8, 5]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 4."12 [2d8=2, 2]
> The demoness dives for him! He ducks! She goes right over his head!
> The other two continue to circle Hikari. From way up in the air now. Again, they shoot lighting from thier hands.
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=1, 6]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 DEFENSE
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 DEFENSE and gets 11."12 [2d8=6, 5]
> 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 8."12 [2d8=3, 5]
> Brynhildr's spear parries one bolt, but the other is too fast. Striking Hikari in the chest, she feels a jolt of pain course through her! (19 damage, Hikari.)
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Init: Hikari[71]>Valeriya>Mykasi>Lilims(4)'
> OOC: And back to the pissed off woman who just got hurt.
> Mika's screaming gets louder, her thrashing more violent...
* Hikari shudders and cries out in pain! She's quick to return to the offensive, though, targeting the demon that shocked her. "Brynhildr, wreak vengeance!"
<Hikari> 2d8 Helreio Brynhildr
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Helreio Brynhildr and gets 13."12 [2d8=7, 6]
> The valkyrie lunges at the flying demoness, but she quickly dances out of the way on her dainty wings.
> OOC: Val
<Valeriya> "So, you like women?  Well, here's a face-full of man for you!"
<Valeriya> 2d8 Fallen Cry
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 Fallen Cry and gets 9."12 [2d8=7, 2]
> Caligula roars again! But the lilim stands strong in the face of it!
> OOC: Mike
* Mykasi glances at the woman. "You really need to chill, girl." With this, Anansi chucks his sombrero - already looking like it froze over - right at the demon! "So just take a siesta~"
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Cold As Ice
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Cold As Ice and gets 4."12 [2d8=2, 2]
> 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense and gets 8."12 [2d8=1, 7]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 damage and gets 11."12 [2d8=5, 6]
> The frozen sombrero bashes her right in the face, then ricochets right back to Anansi's hand! The demoness wobbles on her feet for a second, then slumps over and falls down.
> The scream and claw thing doesn't seem to be working very well, but this lilim is too pissed to do anything else anyway.
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
> Val continues to keep the upper hand in this catfight, keeping the demon maid from sinking claws into her!
> The other two decide that thier tactic is working rather well, and also continue.
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 4."12 [2d8=3, 1]
> 2d8
<Valeriya> "Come on, try harder"
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=4, 3]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 DEF check 1
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 DEF check 1 and gets 10."12 [2d8=7, 3]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 DEF check 2
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 DEF check 2 and gets 3."12 [2d8=2, 1]
> 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 11."12 [2d8=8, 3]
> Another lightning bolt slams into Hikari! The lilims are laughing at her, as if they have no idea that they're down to only 3 left.(14 damage)
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Init: Hikari[57]>Valeriya>Mykasi>Lilims(3)'
> Mika's convulsions are now causing her to rock even the overlarge bed. Some of the drapes start to fall from the wall and bits of the ceiling start to crack...
> OOC: Hikari.
* Hikari sizzles, wisps of smoke trailing from where the bolt struck her. Mika's convulsions and the Dream breaking down aren't things she can worry about right now, not as long as there are still foes to defeat. With a savage cry, she sends Brynhildr after one of her attackers!
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Betrayal attack roll
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Betrayal attack roll and gets 10."12 [2d8=8, 2]
> Again, Brynhildr's attack goes just off. Apparently, Hikari got the competent maids.
> OOC: Val
<Valeriya> "Quotes are boring...I think I'll just rape you without doing something cheesy"
<Valeriya> 2d8 Fallen Cry attack
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 Fallen Cry attack and gets 11."12 [2d8=7, 4]
> She ducks under the blackness and continues her screaming, clawing assault.
> OOC: Mike
> There...aren't any demon maids attacking you at the moment. Hikari seems to be strugling with two on her, and Val is catfighting with a third.
* Mykasi quickly runs over to Hikari as Anansi starts pulling hammers of light out of his hat and chucking them at one of Hikari's tormentors!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Anvil/Hammer of Light
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Anvil/Hammer of Light and gets 6."12 [2d8=1, 5]
> 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense and gets 6."12 [2d8=2, 4]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 damage and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
> Anansi casts Mimic: Hammer Bros! One lilim gets pelted with hammers of light and goes down hard!
> 2d8 for continued catfight
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 for continued catfight and gets 9."12 [2d8=8, 1]
> The fact that the demoness is small enough that Val nearly doubles her mass isn't really helping her case in this bitch fight here.
> 2d8 for panic and lightning bolt the spider-man
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 for panic and lightning bolt the spider-man and gets 4."12 [2d8=3, 1]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 defense?
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 defense? and gets 10."12 [2d8=2, 8]
> The other lilim panics and changes targets. The lightning bolt flies true, going right for Mike's head at great speed! Too bad for her that Anansi got his hat there first, once again causing the bolt to dissapear harmlessly into it's depths.
> The room continues to crack...the floor starts to shake. Mika's screams grow louder.
> OOC: Hikari.
<Hikari> It's time for the demons of repression to, uh, get repressed! YES!
<Hikari> 2d8 Helreio Brynhildr Hatbot don't hate
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Helreio Brynhildr Hatbot don't hate and gets 11."12 [2d8=3, 8]
> Apparently the one left is the competent one. She dodges yet again.
> OOC: Val
> Valeriya half drags the angry lilim back away from the bed and bodily hauls her into the air. Caligula spreads his arms wide and a sudden storm of lightning starts to circle from celing to floor in giant cylinder of electricity. "Bite me!"
> 2d8 Volt Spire
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 Volt Spire and gets 7."12 [2d8=2, 5]
> 2d8 dodge
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 dodge and gets 12."12 [2d8=4, 8]
> 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> The lightning does not help the structural integrity of the room, but when it clears, only Val is left standing there, somwhat singed and rather pissed.
> OOC: Mike
* Mykasi finishes his dash toward Hikari, before Anansi's hat leaps underneath the remaining lilim and explodes upward in a pillar of light!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Stepmine of Light
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Stepmine of Light and gets 6."12 [2d8=1, 5]
> 2d8 dodge
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 dodge and gets 6."12 [2d8=4, 2]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 damage and gets 6."12 [2d8=5, 1]
> The hat explodes upward, slamming into the Lilim and knocking her silly! She drops from the air and hits the ground hard.
> Mika's screaming reaches a point where its peircing in volume and pitch, and the room is shaking violently...

[VySaika]

> ------------------------------
> > The hat explodes upward, slamming into the Lilim and knocking her silly! She drops from the air and hits the ground hard.
> > Mika's screaming reaches a point where its peircing in volume and pitch, and the room is shaking violently...
> All the demonic maids are down, but Mika's condition doesn't seem to be improving. In fact, she's getting louder, and her thrashing more violent. The shaking of the room seems to mirror her convulsions...
* Mykasi grimaces, moving a bit closer to Mika. "Now what? Try to calm her down?"
<Valeriya> "How do you suggest we do that?"
<Hikari> "How, with a bucket of water? She doesn't seem likely to listen to words right now."
<Valeriya> "Maybe a sweet caress?"
<Hikari> "You go ahead, then."
<Valeriya> "Sure.  I mean, she seems like she might be the type that swings that way"
<Valeriya> "Mike, any suggestions?  You know her best"
<Valeriya> "Lullabyes?"
<Mykasi> "So wait, we just beat them up without having any plan for afterward?" Mike yells crossly, before shaking his head. "I've got to try -something-..." With that, he approaches the bed and tries to grab her hand. "Mika! It's okay! You're with friends! Please...!"
* Hikari pauses to spare a glance at Val. "'Might be?' Have you been paying attention?"
<Valeriya> "Hey, I was trying to be PG-13 here"
> Mika lets out a final scream, cringes...and her eyes snap open.(more)
<Hikari> "I appreciate the effort, but--oh my..."
> The eyes staring at Mike as she clamps his hand in a vice like grip are not Mika's eyes. They aren't human eyes at all. Nothing but glowing black, like an empty void lies behind her eyelids. "Finally..."(more)
> (Mike, check vs Body here if you would.)
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 (...eeek)
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 (...eeek) and gets 8."12 [2d8=7, 1]
> With what seems like little effort at all, Mika(?) flings Mike across the room before she even sits up. The team wiseguy lands hard, taken completely off guard by the throw.(10 damage to Mike)
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Hikari[57](60ep), Valeriya, Mykasi[60] '
<Valeriya> "Huh"
<Valeriya> "Well, the bitch is strong"
<Hikari> "Mike!" Hikari rushes over to help her fallen comrade get back on his feet.
<Valeriya> "Makes sense she's a lesbo
<Valeriya> "...shit, PG-13"
<Valeriya> "Oh well"
> Without another word, Mika stands up. The room has stopped shaking...and the bodies of the maids are dissapearing, disolving into black mist.
<Valeriya> "Ok, what's this all about?"
<Mykasi> "Kh... I'm fine, fine - but..."
<Hikari> "Mika...are you feeling better now, or...?" It seems unlikely, but Hikari has to ask (hey, she'd been thinking it would all be over once the demons were dealt with).
> Turning to look at the three of you, she smiles. It is not a pleasant look. "Well, I suppose I should thank you. Your Mika was so afraid of you that she just gave in completely to me."
* Hikari takes this announcement in stride. It's no stranger than what they just dealt with, after all. "And who are we speaking to now?"
<Valeriya> "Carrie?"
<Mykasi> "...well." Mike stands, glaring. "I'd guess what we saw clinging to her beforehand, in the park."
* Mykasi then gives Valeriya an immensely wry look.
> "Mika, of course." Her smile grows a bit wider, "I'm the other Mika, the one she didn't want anyone to see. But now I'm the one on the outside."
<Valeriya> "So I assume the other Mika is now on the inside?"
<Hikari> "So what, now you'll take the wheel and go do all the things she was ashamed of wanting? Ultimately, I don't think that will help her much, if it's not actually her making her own decisions."
<Valeriya> "Do you think she'll be better off this way, lesbo Mika?"
* Mykasi rubs his head slightly. "Given how everone else has turned out? Sheesh, domino effect..."
> She laughs, "What do you mean it's not her? I am her. And she's me. This body is just as much mine as it is hers."
> She raises an eyebrow at Val, "Lesbo? Well you're crude. And you say that to me like you think she isn't. Isn't someone who works in a library supposed to be a bit smarter then that?"
<Valeriya> "Oh, I'm perfectly smart.  I was honestly asking your opinion.  Forcing the issue out isn't going to be easy on either end, which is why I was asking if you think it's better off"
<Valeriya> "Crude, I'll give you that, but I'd rather not beat around the bush"
<Valeriya> "Besides, I once had this time, I was REALLY drunk, and my one friend was home, and she..."
<Mykasi> "Irrelevant."
<Hikari> "So why not work together instead of fighting for control? I don't imagine your attitude will be much better for her socially than her normal meekness."
> "Of course it's better. Hiding your feelings is never better the the truth. I am the truth, and all she knows how to do is hide."
<Mykasi> "Bullshit." Mike says calmly. "She knows far more than that - she's helped me out more than once."
<Hikari> "There's this thing called 'discretion,'" Hikari says, losing patience. "Do we need to get you a dictionary?"
<Valeriya> "Slowly and easily"
> "Haha, you think she wanted to help you? Please." Mika(?) snorts, "We couldn't care enough to give you the time of day. Except that she was too afraid of looking 'mean' if she told you to get bent."
<Valeriya> "Sounds like she needs to just work out her issues, not have them forcably changed"
> "Your Mika is a doormat. How is that supposed to be good for us? I'm tough enough to go after what we want."
<Hikari> "Then tell me, what's the first thing you're going to do once you're in charge?"
<Mykasi> "Then so be it." Mike shrugs, a slight wince inside before letting Hikari speak.
> "Forcably? She GAVE UP. She LET me have control. Because she was too afraid of you seeing her like this."
<Valeriya> "Like you weren't pushing to make the change"
> "And frankly, I don't answer to you. Maybe you think you can tell me what to do because your Mika couldn't tell you off, but I can. I don't need your approval, I don't care about any of you, and I think I've had enough of your preaching."
> "So get lost."
<Mykasi> "...yeah, clinging to her during that band scene didn't help your cause much." Mike notes calmly. "And no. We want to help Mika - the entirety, both you and what you say ran away. Perhaps it's because I've gone through the same damn thing? I don't know. But... no."
<Hikari> "We didn't come here just to be insulted." Hikari turns to address Mike and Val. "When negotiation fails..."
<Mykasi> "Everyone looks to Ceiling Cat?"
* Hikari looks totally confused. "What? I was just going to suggest we beat her into submission."
<Valeriya> "Oh, I was going to call Ghostbusters"
> "Threats now? And you have the gall to accuse ME of 'forcing' anything?"
<Valeriya> "Stop eavesdropping!  It's rude!"
<Valeriya> "You're not supposed to hear us when we're talking to each other!"
<Hikari> "I don't need to threaten something I have every intention of doing anyway."
* Mykasi rubs his head. "See, this is why I wanted to talk to her some more personally instead of doing all this, but..." He then gives Valeriya a somewhat annoyed look. "Um. I'm wondering if you play more video games than I do, which is impressive."
<Valeriya> "Thanks"
* Mykasi then glances to Hikari, before looking to Mika(?) with half-sympathy, half-annoyance. "Let's phrase this another way. Can you bring your other half out as well so we can all talk for this? I realize you're the same person, but it's not as easy for us to try conversation like that.
> She sighs, "No, I can't. Because she doesn't want to talk to you. To even aknowledge that you've seen her like this. She's hiding *from you*. That's the whole reason she let me take over in the first place."
* Hikari shakes her head. "You can try talking as much as you want, Mike. Just let me know when you're done. I'm not letting *that* thing walk out of here thinking it's in charge."
<Mykasi> "Kh..." Mike shakes his head. "We've just been trying to understand, since... feh, I went through this same damn thing and it almost killed me, alright? I can't vouch for the others, but I'm concerned as hell."
> "You want to talk? Look me up back in the physical world then. Maybe I'll hear what you have to say there. But here? In my room? You all aren't invited in here, and I want you to leave."
> A cross look at Hikari, "Except that I guess miss perfect there isn't interested in what anyone else wants."
<Valeriya> "Mmm...well, so she wants to just live inside a shell forever?  What are her plans?  She doesn't have anything she wants to do besides hide in a shell?  Never feel the taste of chocolate again?"
<Mykasi> "Considering that I'm not sure you'd survive...!" Mike blurts out, before checking himself. "Look. I seriously think the only reason I survived? I found some peace with myself, I didn't goddamn run away that time. I realize how hard it was, I've been running for three years, but..."
<Valeriya> "I mean, there's got to be something she's going to miss if you're going to dominate the body for...ever?  Granted, I don't know how that works"
<Hikari> "Look, all three of us went through something like this recently. I don't know for sure what my friends saw, but it seemed obvious to me that taking all of someone's personality traits and flipping them around a hundred eighty degrees isn't a solution to anything. If her and the normal Mika aren't going to reach any kind of reconciliation, then I don't see anything to do but stop this fake here."
<Mykasi> "It's... not a fake, Hikari." Mike says after a moment. "It's what was never admitted, what was desired but never reached for."
<Mykasi> "Presuming it was anything like mine, at least."
<Valeriya> "It varies a bit per person"
* Hikari shrugs. "Right, but the point is that it's professed a desire to *not* listen to us at all."
> "I've got nothing more to say to you here and now. You barge into my room, you start preaching at me about how you liked me better as a doormat, you threaten to 'beat me into submission'. I don't see how you can possibly believe that you're in any kind of right here. Get out, and if you want to talk, try finding me in the real world." She pauses, "You obvuiously know where I live and all."
<Valeriya> "Actually, could we just talk here and beat you up in the real world?  I like that idea"
<Mykasi> "You just missed the entirety of what I said, didn't you." Mike grumbled, before glaring at Valeriya.
<Valeriya> "Cause, really, if we let you out without taking control of your whole selves, you'll become a problem in the real world"
<Hikari> "Val's actually right. Would either of you have been happy to see your 'other self' take over your life? I wouldn't have been. Things only worked out because we reached some kind of agreement. But if Mika's not willing to stand up to *herself*, then..."
* Mykasi sighs and rubs his head. "Okay, critical reasoning failure." A glance to Hikari. "I... might have? It would've been funny to watch, at least, but then I know he would've been a deuce when it was least appropriate and so yeah, compromise."
<Hikari> "If there were two Mikas here talking things over, I'd be willing to sit back and let them work it out. But one's riding roughshod over the other. If we just leave her to do as she will, I'm sure the result will be a disaster."
<Mykasi> "That and I still think I would have died, had that happened." A look to Mika, before glancing to Hikari, and then back to Mika in frustration before throwing his hands in the air. "Goddamnit, everything comes back to violence, doesn't it? Blood and bloody ashes and burning corpses and buggery."
<Valeriya> "By the by, I love what you've done to the place.  It looks so...dilapidated"
<Valeriya> "Oddly, I don't think I would have died...but my issue was a bit different"
<Valeriya> Granted, I probably would have killed someone, which would have eventually resulted in my death, as heros, handsome, sexy ones, would rise to stop me"
> Mika(?) crosses her arms, "And what makes you think you have any right to decide anything about me?"
<Valeriya> "Well, we have the rest of the world, and the other Mika to worry about"
<Valeriya> "Well, maybe not the world...dormitory"
<Valeriya> "That's within scope, right?"
<Valeriya> "But seriously, what will you do if you're let out?"
* Mykasi rubs head. "Why does a doctor take it upon himself to examine a struggling child, or a struggling patient in general? It's because they believe they can help regardless of the other's feelings - that they can assist and mend the person."
<Valeriya> "Mmm...I mean, what happens to other Mika...will she just...sleep?"
* Hikari waits for Bizarro Mika to answer Val's questions for now.
> "How am I supposed to know? She'll probably hide forever. If she wants to come out, then she'll try and come out and we'll see what happens then. This is my first time on the outside you know."
> "As for what I'll do? First thing I'll do is go see Mistia. After that, dunno."
<Valeriya> (Mmm...I wonder what the actual harm would be in letting it out...maybe inner Mika could see it's not so bad, and eventually merge?  Idle speculation, I guess - can't really run an experiment here)
<Hikari> "'Go see Mistia.' Okay. And what would that involve?"
> If her eyes could darken anymore, they would, "Whatever goes on between me and her is NONE of your buisiness."
<Valeriya> "Well, not to pry, but...what if Mistia is...uninterested?"
> "If you don't mean to pry, then don't."
<Hikari> "No, really, what do you *think* is going to happen? I live not far from Mistia, I know her."
<Valeriya> "If your goal is to do...whatever...with Mistia, and she is not into it...what are you going to do?"
> "That's my concern, not yours. You want to talk about that, I've offered more then once already to talk to you about it out there. I'm a little sick of you thinking you can interrogate me in my own room like this."
<Valeriya> (Well...maybe we should consider that...)
<Mykasi> "Except you can just keep on stalling there." Mike is deliberately not looking at anyone's face. "You can keep stalling and not looking at things there and everywhere else, shrugging them off. Hiding. Hiding, hiding, hiding... that's all this is, isn't it."
<Hikari> "And talking about it 'out there' involves leaving you in charge. I've already said I'm not comfortable doing that just based on how much of a disaster my own alternate self's actions would've been in the same situation. If you can't reach some sort of accomodation with the Mika we know...well, if we leave now, who knows if we'll even be able to get back inside once you're in charge?"
<Valeriya> (Mmm...)
<Mykasi> "You don't have a plan. You don't have anything beside your impulses, hiding behind another facade instead of facing yourself."
> "Hiding? I think you have the wrong Mika. What this is about, is you all being asked to leave and not doing it. This is about me not wanting you all inside my dreams in the first place. Or can you seriously say you'd be fine with me pushing my way into your dreams and telling you how you should live, even threatening to beat you up if you don't agree?"
<Valeriya> "To be honest?  Years ago, I wish you would have"
<Valeriya> "It was liberating to finally fix the dreams I've had"
<Mykasi> "Ditto."
<Valeriya> "Honestly, coming to grips with things is a better cathartic than a laxative"
> "...are you crazy? Is that your problem?"
<Valeriya> "Excuse me?  I was constipated a bit ago, but I'm fine now"
<Valeriya> "Maybe not the best terms of phrase there"
<Valeriya> "And actually, a bit of fibre is better"
<Valeriya> "More natural"
<Valeriya> "Feels better too"
> "..." She just stares incredulously at Val.
<Mykasi> "I ran away for long enough." Mike shrugs. "Say what you will, but I think I finally see this. You're still hiding, you're just hiding behind a different facade. Yes, we're intrusive, but it comes back to the doctor metaphor. At this point, I think I stand with Hikari."
<Valeriya> "And...can you...I mean..."
* Mykasi looks to Valeriya, then back to Mika. "And Valeriya, I trust, will always have her own ground to stand on."
* Hikari is just glad to find some point of agreement on her side, and does her best not to wonder what the hell Val's going on about.
<Valeriya> "Oh hell with it - I'd really love to run through an experiment and see you perform in the real world...I'd love to learn more...but democracy wins here, and since you're not cooperative..."
> "So that's it then? You're not going to leave because you think that you're some kind of doctor? That you're arrogant enough to think that you actually know what's best for me more then I do? Is this where I remind youthat your major is robotics, not psych?"
<Mykasi> "I'd spiel off into a thirty-minute rant about AI and sentience construction and the theoretical bases, but I suspect you wouldn't get the point." Mike snarks. "Arrogant? Sure. Can't really deny that, you hit it right on the mark. But it's an arrogance born off experience, off seeing precisely what the hell's happened to myself and others."
<Valeriya> "Eh...well...time to give her her laxative?"
* Mykasi looks to Valeriya. "I have absolutely no clue what you're talking about. If this is an attempt to remain PG-13, just give it up."
<Valeriya> "Oh come on - it was an artistic play on words"
<Valeriya> "Seriously - we're going to clean this out like a laxative cleans out the bowels"
<Valeriya> "It was such an elegant joke, and now I had to explain it"
<Valeriya> "Ruined!"
<Valeriya> "I swear"
<Mykasi> "..." Mike just sort of stares at Valeriya at this point.
<Hikari> "VAL. No matter how confused I am, please never explain your jokes to me again."
<Valeriya> "...you guys are no fun"
<Mykasi> "This is nothing like... this isn't... this..." Mike sighs, before looking to the two and throwing his hands in the air again.
<Valeriya> "Ok, we'll just assume my sense of humour is more refined than either of yours.  Ok, the base way to go about it - asskicking time?"
> Mika narrows her eyes, and shadowy black energy starts to gather around her feet, "If you think you can beat me up in my own dream..."
<Mykasi> "Praying that this isn't a mistake and that..." Mike cuts himself off, before looking to Mika, and then at her feet. "Oh, joy. This again."
<Valeriya> "So, is this going to turn into one of those succubi?  Cause Mika really doesn't have the boobs for it"
<Hikari> "Yes, 'this.' Again. Sorry Mike, I'll try reasoning with the next one. If it seems reasonable." Not much of a battle cry, that.
<Valeriya> "Reason if it seems reasonable?"
<Mykasi> "What I wouldn't give for the magical equivalent of ball gags." Mike mutters in a mishmash of Omaha and English.
<Hikari> roll 2d8+8 Hatbot don't hate
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8+8 Hatbot don't hate and gets 18."12 [2d8=3, 7]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8+9 right
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8+9 right and gets 20."12 [2d8=4, 7]
> 2d8+10 mika init
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8+10 mika init and gets 24."12 [2d8=8, 6]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[60] > Hikari[57](60ep)'
> Mika's eyes start glowing, now more a neon black then simply void of color. The energies start to twist around her as her voice...changes, sounding as it it were two voices speaking at the same time, "This is my dream, and this is my life. I won't let you make my decisions for me!" In a flash of shadows, Mika has changed.(more)
> Gone is the rather plain young woman, and in her place is...a cocoon. A cocoon that is serving as the lower portion of a giant bee-like creature, with two pairs of insect wings sprouting from it's back, while four pair of sharp chitinous legs are protecting the crystal clear cocoon, folded over it like a sheild(more)
> Where it's head should be is instead a human torso. Mika looks down on all of you with fierce determination set across her face, and a third pair of wings, this time those of a butterfly, sprouting from her back. But Mika...is also inside the cocoon, slumbering peacefully beneath her sheild of claws.(more)
> Shadow Mika screams and lightning arcs from her hands, going straight for Hikari!
<Hikari> "...Val, this is where you say something funny, right? For once, it would be welcome."
> 2d8 Voltstorm attack
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 Voltstorm attack and gets 3."12 [2d8=2, 1]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 dodge dodge dodge
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 dodge dodge dodge and gets 11."12 [2d8=3, 8]
> 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 14."12 [2d8=6, 8]
* Mykasi is more concerned with the cocooned Mika. "If we can avoid hitting the cocoon, I'd appreciate it... granted, survival comes first!"
> The lightning grazes against it's target, not a full hit, but more then enough to hurt!
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[60] > Hikari[32](60ep)'
> OOC: Val!
* Hikari screams and writhes, almost going to her knees just from that glancing blast!
<Valeriya> "Ok...let's see what this naked guy can do!"
<Valeriya> "Sensual healing...activate!"
> Caligula appears, and gestures with his scroll, not at the Shadow but at Hikari instead. Letters...latin characters remove themselves from the scroll and begins to whisper themselves as they surround Hikari. A moment later...her wounds are healed!?
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[60] > Hikari(60ep)'
> OOC: Mike is up.
<Valeriya> "Wow, it worked"
<Valeriya> "Didn't expect that"
* Hikari stands upright again! "Wow...thanks."
* Mykasi seems to be focused entirely on Mika at this point! "Hate to do this, but... you need to chill as well, Mika!" With that, Anansi appears and begins tossing huge chunks of ice at the upper section of Mika's body, avoiding the cocoon!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 11."12 [2d8=8, 3]
> Mika growls and blasts the ice chunks right out of the air with a lightning bolt!
> OOC: Hikari
* Hikari doesn't have any snappy quips for her enemy. All she has is an angry valkyrie ready to cut her down to size!
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Betrayal (aiming at upper Mika if it's relevant)
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Betrayal (aiming at upper Mika if it's relevant) and gets 12."12 [2d8=4, 8]
> Brynhildr's thrust is misaimed! Mainly because Mika won't have the good grace to stop moving like a cooperative target.
> Turning her attention to Valeriya, Mika takes aim with another bolt of power, "THAT'S your other self? You *are* crazy!"
> 2d8 Voltstorm
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 Voltstorm and gets 16."12 [2d8=8, 8]
<Mykasi> "I'd speak except I have a spider. An awesome spider, but.
> The lightning races for Valeriya! It would have hit, except that Caligula plucked the energy right outof the air, absorbing it into the...thing that's not a scroll in his other hand that nobody wants to look at too closely.
> OOC: Val
<Valeriya> roll 2d8 for Volt Spire!
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 for Volt Spire! and gets 15."12 [2d8=8, 7]
> 2d8 defense check
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense check and gets 12."12 [2d8=7, 5]
<Valeriya> roll 2d8 for damage
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 for damage and gets 10."12 [2d8=3, 7]
<Valeriya> "Ah, I love my persona.  It's so cooooooool"
<Valeriya> "And naked"
> Caligula returns fire with his own lighting! The bolts dance and twist over Mika's form...but she doesn't seem to give a good god damn.
<Valeriya> "Damn..."
> OOC: Mike
* Mykasi shrugs, and gestures... causing Anansi to appear with a laser gun and take a few potshots at Mika's upper half! (OOC: Anvil of Light)
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 11."12 [2d8=7, 4]
> She's surprisingly agile for something that's about the size of a car all told.
> OOC: Hikari?
<Valeriya> "STOP DODGING"
* Hikari summons Brynhildr again, for the same purpose: maybe with a lucky shot she can slow that beast down!
<Hikari> 2d8 Betrayal again
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Betrayal again and gets 13."12 [2d8=8, 5]
> Mika dodges the thrust yet again, and tries a different tactic. Locking eyes with Valeriya she whispers something that...no one can really understand...
> 2d8 allure
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 allure  and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
> OOC: Val, defense check.
> 2d8 defense for Valeriya
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense for Valeriya and gets 6."12 [2d8=3, 3]
> Instinct from many hours of video games kicking in, Val shuts her eyes and singing something random to drown out the whispers!
> OOC: Val's turn!
<Valeriya> "Ah, Macey Gray...easy to kill any sexual energy"
<Valeriya> "Anyway...you're pretty, but flat"
<Valeriya> roll 2d8 for Fallen Cry
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 for Fallen Cry and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense and gets 14."12 [2d8=8, 6]
<Valeriya> roll 2d8 for damage
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 for damage and gets 5."12 [2d8=4, 1]
> Echoing Valeriya, Caligula also starts screaming out Macey Gray songs at the top of his impressive lungs. This...actually seems to hurt Mika!
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika(23 damage) >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[60] > Hikari(60ep)'
> OOC: Mike's up
* Mykasi has Anansi emerge again to start dropping chunks of hail on top of Mika! "Sheesh."
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 12."12 [2d8=4, 8]
> The falling chunks of ice don't connect soundly, just brushing right off her.
> OOC: Hikari
<Hikari> "STAY STILL, DAMN YOU!"
<Hikari> 2d8 Betrayal again again
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Betrayal again again and gets 11."12 [2d8=8, 3]
> Again Hikari thrusts at Mika, and again she cannot land a solid blow!
> Mika lashes out again at Valeriya, throwing lightning down!
> 2d8 Voltstorm
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 Voltstorm and gets 12."12 [2d8=4, 8]
<Valeriya> "Try a bit harder!"
> Again, Caligula deflects the attack!
> OOC: Val
<Valeriya> Alright!
<Valeriya> "Come on Macy Gray!"
<Valeriya> roll 2d8 for Fallen Cry
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 for Fallen Cry and gets 11."12 [2d8=5, 6]
> Caligula continues to belt out the lyrics, but it seems that Mika is now too pissed to care!
> OOC: Mike
<Valeriya> "Leave it to Macy Gray to fail it up"
* Mykasi grimaces, before letting Anansi let loose with a balled-up web of pure light!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 come on bot.
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 come on bot. and gets 8."12 [2d8=7, 1]
> 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense and gets 9."12 [2d8=5, 4]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 damage!
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 damage! and gets 8."12 [2d8=1, 7]
> The ball of webbing hits Mika right in the face, unfolding itself and wrapping around her head. ...then it explodes.
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika(67 damage) >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[60] > Hikari(60ep)'
> Mika screams, "GAAAH. Okay, I've had about enough of this!"
> OOC: Hikari's turn.
<Mykasi> "God gave Noah the rainbow sign - no more water, the fire next time!" Mike comments wryly in English.
<Hikari> Unless that frustrated scream means Bizarro Mika's going to give up and cooperate...well, if it doesn't look like she's going to, then it probably means that Mika's next move will have a lot of anger behind it. Better slow her down now, if only Hikari can hit her!
<Hikari> roll 2d8 you know the drill
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 you know the drill and gets 11."12 [2d8=4, 7]
> Hikari's thrust goes wide. Again. Perhaps martial arts lessons or something are in order.
> Mika turns to Mykasi, "I was beginning to think that you might be the only one who cared about me too, and not just her. But I guess I was wrong. If this is how you propose to 'cure' me..." She doesn't finish her sentance, but rather lets loose six bolts of lightning at once, one from the tip of each wing. All converging on Mike.
> 2d8 Bolt Lancer
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 Bolt Lancer and gets 6."12 [2d8=4, 2]
<Mykasi> "I do, damnit! Both of you are fucking relevant, but you weren't bloody well listening! Arrrgh..."
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 right, defense check
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 right, defense check and gets 16."12 [2d8=8, 8]
> 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> The lightning slams into Mykasi, throwing him across the room. Again. Slaming into the wall, he can feel his muscles twitching from the shock. As he shakes off the stars and birdies, Mika continues her rant, "Listen!? Why am I the only one who's supposed to listen!? Why should I listen to you when you aren't willing to listen to me!?"
*Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika(67 damage) >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[5]<3 Body drained> > Hikari(60ep)'
<Valeriya> "...that looks like it hurt"
> OOC: Val is up
<Mykasi> "whoof... I could say the same, Mika... damn birdies..."
<Valeriya> "Alright, let's fix that up"
> The latin words come out of Caligula's scroll yet again, this time aiming for Mykasi. As the chant surrounds him, he feels much better. But still not quite in top shape.
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika(67 damage) >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[65]<3 Body drained> > Hikari(60ep)'
> OOK: Mike again
* Mykasi nods slightly to Valeriya in thanks, glancing to Caligula in some confusion, before letting Anansi throw shuriken-like snowflakes out of his... beanie? Right, Anansi and hats.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 11."12 [2d8=7, 4]
> Mike feels sluggish, and that seems to be affecting Anansi as well. His aim is off, the shurikens wobble in the air as they fly at all the wrong angles.
> OOC: Hikari
<Mykasi> "Ugh. That was a bit brutal."
<Hikari> If at first you don't succeed, etctera and so on! Hikari will keep trying this until it works, since it's painfully apparent that Mika's own combat prowess needs to be cut down to an even level!
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Betrayal
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Betrayal and gets 11."12 [2d8=3, 8]
> Hikari's spear thrust misses again! She begins to wonder if she got the discount valkyrie.
<Valeriya> "Huh...this isn't going as well as against the big-boobed women"
> Mika's focus doesn't change, "I told you where I'd listen! I told you when I'd talk! But that wasn't good enough for you! You had to have it all your way! You're just like my stupid family, just like this retarded school, just like everyone else but Mistia!" The lightning gathers at her wings again and jets towards Mike...
> 2d8 Bolt Lancer
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 Bolt Lancer and gets 11."12 [2d8=8, 3]
<Valeriya> "...whoa, hang on"
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 hmph
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 hmph and gets 15."12 [2d8=8, 7]
> 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 9."12 [2d8=2, 7]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika(67 damage) >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[20]<6 Body drained> > Hikari(60ep)'
> The lightning strikes again! Mike can't get out of the way in time, and gets thrown to the ground. This time, he doesn't stand up...
<Valeriya> "Huh...hey, Hikari...you think we might want to...rethink this?"
<Mykasi> "asdf."
> OOC: Val is up
<Hikari> "She sound like she's willing to listen to us if we try to call this off, Val?"
<Valeriya> "Well...can't hurt?"
<Mykasi> "no."
<Valeriya> "No as yes, or no as no?"
* Mykasi vaguely glares at Valeriya from his position of complete exhaustion. "Just... sing, damnit."
<Valeriya> "Alright"
<Valeriya> "I believe in..."
<Valeriya> roll 2d8 for more Macy Gray goodness
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 for more Macy Gray goodness and gets 10."12 [2d8=3, 7]
> Mika turns to glare at Val, but doesn't seem to care about the singing much.
> OOC: Mike's, well, not up, but it's his turn.
* Mykasi closes his eyes. "Dreamtime..." With that, a huge mechanical spider suddenly appears above him, swinging on a web and barreling right at Mika!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 come on mechaspiderdude
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 come on mechaspiderdude and gets 6."12 [2d8=1, 5]
> 2d8 mind check to disbelieve
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 mind check to disbelieve and gets 12."12 [2d8=6, 6]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 hehe, spider~
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 hehe, spider~ and gets 6."12 [2d8=2, 4]
> Spider Mech, Spider Mech, doing...whatever a spider mech does. The Mechaspider, despite not having his own comic, swings past Mika and lets loose with it's...laser eyes? Okay, sure.
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika(81 damage) >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[20]<6 Body drained> > Hikari(60ep)'
> OOC: Hikari's turn
* Hikari practically growls as she sets up her next attack, visibly perturbed by her total lack of success in this battle. With Mike almost down for the count, this isn't the time to choke! "Brynhildr! Take her to Hel!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Helreio Brynhildr
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Helreio Brynhildr and gets 11."12 [2d8=6, 5]
> The gods of fate are having a few beers as they laugh at Hikari's complete lack of success.
<Valeriya> "...that's...hey, Mika, can you stand still for just a second?"
> Ignoring Valeriya, Mika takes careful aim at the spiderbot.
> 2d8 Bolt Lancer
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 Bolt Lancer and gets 9."12 [2d8=3, 6]
<Mykasi> "nooooooooooo.... spider... hercules... mark II...!"
> The lightning from her wings goes right for the Spider Mech! Piercing through it's hull, the electricity makes the thing explode like something out of a giant robot anime!
> OOC: Val
<Valeriya> "Ok..."
<Valeriya> "MACY GRAY, RETURN!"
<Valeriya> roll roll 2d8 Fallen Cry
<Mykasi> A lonely black tear trickles down Mike's cheek.
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 Fallen Cry and gets 10."12 [2d8=7, 3]
> Mika continues to not care about Caligula's pop career.
> OOC: Mike
<Mykasi> A quick second passes, before a huge mechanical bird suddenly swoops in from out of nowhere and drops an anvil of light on Mika!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 come on, mecharoc
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 come on, mecharoc and gets 3."12 [2d8=2, 1]
<Valeriya> "God, I think I'm just going to kick her face in"
> 2d8 Mind check
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 Mind check and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
<Valeriya> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 and gets 12."12 [2d8=4, 8]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 damage?
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 damage? and gets 9."12 [2d8=2, 7]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika(90 damage) >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[20]<6 Body drained> > Hikari(60ep)'
> The mechanical roc swoops in and drops a glowing anvil that barely grazes her side!
> OOC: Hikari
<Hikari> "BURN."
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Firewall
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Firewall and gets 7."12 [2d8=5, 2]
> 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense and gets 12."12 [2d8=4, 8]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 DAMAGE
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 DAMAGE and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika(108 damage) >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[20]<6 Body drained> > Hikari(50ep)'
> Brynhildr's spear touches the ground, and a gout of flame rips up from the ground under Mika! She screams and staggers, but stays up.
> Glaring at Hikari, Mika screams, "Just die!"
> 2d8 Bolt Lancer
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 Bolt Lancer and gets 4."12 [2d8=2, 2]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 oogie
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 oogie and gets 6."12 [2d8=4, 2]
> Suddenly slamming Hikari out of the way, Brynhildr parries the lightning with her lance, barely redirecting it away from Hikari and into the ceiling!
> OOC: Val
<Valeriya> "Alright, time for an asskicking"
<Valeriya> "Get ready for...MY FOOT IN YOUR ASS"
<Valeriya> "...metaphorically speaking"
<Valeriya> roll 2d8 Fallen Cry
* Hatbot --> "Valeriya rolls 2d8 Fallen Cry and gets 13."12 [2d8=8, 5]
> Mika cares not for metaphors and continues to ignore Val.
> OOC: Mike
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 4."12 [2d8=1, 3]
> 2d8 Mind check
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 Mind check and gets 12."12 [2d8=8, 4]
<Mykasi> The bird creates a second anvil out of light, before tossing it right at Mika with an ear-splitting screech!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Status: Mika(DOWN) >  Valeriya >  Mykasi[20]<6 Body drained> > Hikari(50ep)'
<Valeriya> "Time to loot the corpse"
<Mykasi> "Valeriya...?"
> The anvil goes flying right...for the cocoon. Suddenly freaking out, Mika yells, "No!" and does the only thing she can do fast enough: curls in on herself, letting the anvil hit her instead of the cocoon. As the glowing weight bounces off her back, she groans...and collapses.
> Everything else fades away, leaving only the cocoon, with one Mika still blissfully inside.
* Hikari lets out a pent-up breath. "Finally." She rushes over to the collapses creature and prods at the coccoon experimentally.
> The clear threads of the cocoon are soft, almost feeling silken.
<Mykasi> The bird lands next to Valeriya. "I'll finish my sentence with this. Please, no tacky jokes." The bird squawks, before grimacing. "Geh. I can't move. So tired..."
<Valeriya> "Tacky jokes?  Bah"
* Hikari tries tearing the coccoon. With her hands, since there are no cutting implements handy.
* Mykasi focuses on the illusion, turning it into a glowy-ish version of himself, before going to stand by Hikari.
* Valeriya heads over to join the rest
<Valeriya> "You think we could dream a hacksaw in here?"
> The threads are tougher then they look, resisting tearing at first. But a moment later, Brynhildr kneels and Hikari feels herself flooded with nearly inhuman strength and is easily able to tear the cocoon open with her bare hands.
<Mykasi> "I'd rather not hurt her with that..." Glowstick!Mike shakes his head.
<Hikari> "You're welcome to try--oh..." Turns out that won't be necessary! Hikari reaches in to draw out Mika once she's cleared a decent opening.
> Mika is nude as the day she was born, and limp in Hikari's arms.
<Mykasi> Perhaps fortunately for all involved, Mike can't tell this from his place on the wall, and Glowstick!Mike can't exactly see. "Is she alright? Breathing?"
> Mika is in fact breathing, and she seems reasonably intact, other then being unconcious.
* Hikari isn't sure what to make of that. "She...seems okay." She carries Mika over to the bed so that she can at least get a blanket over the girl. "She's breathing. Whatever that means in a dreamworld."
<Mykasi> "Maybe... she'll be able to find her own answers this way, with both made to face each other."
<Valeriya> "Well, it's worth a shot"
<Valeriya> "Check her pulse"
<Hikari> "I hope so. What do you guys think, leave her to sleep it off here, or wait until she comes to?"
<Valeriya> "Mmm...let's wait"
<Mykasi> "I don't know. I'm a bit worried about her in the real world now... I mean, she has to be alive still, but..." Glowstick!Mike mutters, before placing a hand on Mika's head and kneeling slightly. "Doubt you can hear me, but... I care. I don't give a shit which face you show me, don't even care if you hate my guts. That's your right, but seeing all this... maybe this'll sink in through your subconscious. I can hope. Anyway,
<Mykasi> " I can hope. Anyway, come talk to me. If there's anything - anything! I can do for you..."
> Mika does not stir from her rest
* Mykasi sighs. "Feh. Sleep will, Mika. I pray this is nothing more than a bad dream for you..." With that, he kisses Mika's head lightly, before standing and turning to the other two. "You guys will have to pretty much carry me out, I'm afraid. I can't even move."
<Valeriya> "Well, guess we're going"
<Hikari> "I think maybe we should just leave her to sleep for now, yes. We ourselves certainly need rest." Hikari walks over to Mike, kneels down and hoists him up so that he can lean on her shoulder.
<Valeriya> "Good luck, Mika...don't be afraid.  It's not something to be ashamed of.  Don't forget us"
* Valeriya helps Hikari
<Mykasi> The illusion disappears as Mike leans highly on the two, muscles barely functional.
> Hikari...despite being smaller then the american, has no trouble lifting him. Hell, he feels like he weighs near nothing to her.
* Hikari suspects that'll change once she gets back in the real world. Anyway, she carries Mike to the door the trio had come in through, and opens it.
> The ladies help Mike to the door, and return to the Velvet room.
> (OOC: Scene Change Alpha!)
> Blue, blue, blue. The Velvet room looks the same as it always does. And as usual, Theresa smiles as you enter. "Welcome to the Velvet Room."
<Mykasi> "gleebul."
> "Oh dear. Taken a bit of a beating, have you?"
<Valeriya> "Hi long-nose, red-head"
* Mykasi closes his eyes for a moment. "Yuhum."
<Hikari> "Something like that."
> Igor eyes you all as you enter, "Well then, this should be interesting. Quite interesting indeed."
<Valeriya> "So...apparently electricity hurts like hell.  Ask Mike"
* Mykasi locks eyes with Igor. "en... turtain?"
<Hikari> "'Interesting' is one word for it. I don't suppose you could tell us whether what we did in there will actually help Mika, come morning?"
<Hikari> "...Uh, Mike?" To Theresa: "We could possibly use some tea here. At least, I think Mike could."
<Valeriya> "And some morphine"
> Igor elaborates, "You see, I have never seen what happens when someone who has completely submitted to thier shadow suddenly loses that shadow. You defeated Mika's darker nature, after she had already given in to it. What happens here should prove most enlightening."
<Mykasi> /me closes his eyes again, before muttering in Miwok, "Can't talk right..."
> Theresa smiles and nods, "Of course." Taking the same teapot from before, she pours everyone a cup. It's still steaming hot and just as strong as before.
<Valeriya> "...well, enlightening is, unfortunately, a neutral word"
<Hikari> "So nobody knows and this is basically an experiment with one person's sanity hinging on the result. Well. That's great." She finds Mike a chair, for the time being.
<Valeriya> "So maybe my experimental idea would have been..."
* Mykasi looks to Igor again, before speaking in Miwok again, "Shadow... dead?" When in the chair his body... pretty much crumples. He seems unable to move to get the tea, either.
* Hikari hands Mike his cup. Or tries, if he'll take it.
> Igor shakes his head, "Not dead, no. But destroyed. There is a difference in the Dream."
<Mykasi> "Explain." Mike then looks to the cup of tea and shakily raises one hand to take it.
<Hikari> "What is, the Shadow? Well...Alright, maybe you can answer this: if we 'killed' the Shadow without Mika herself coming to terms with her problems, is it possible this could happen to her again?"
> Theresa chimes in, "A Shadow can only die when the person does. It's part of them. It can, however, be destroyed and unable to act or exert any real kind of influance."
<Valeriya> "Or she never comes to terms with it, and therefore...will always be the same?"
* Mykasi shakily lifts the tea to his mouth and pours some in, drinking.
> Igor nods, "That is a possibility, yes."
> Mike spills some tea on himself doing this, but gets most of it in his mouth.
<Mykasi> "...but that side of her personality is not destroyed...?" Mike asks after swallowing.
<Valeriya> "Mmmm..."
<Hikari> "As long as the Shadow can't take over again...well, I can think of worse outcomes."
> Theresa shakes her head, "Nnnnnot really, no. It's mostly subdued though."
* Mykasi then closes eyes. "Tongue's... not working right.."
<Valeriya> "Eh...but she'll never come to terms...or maybe, she'll never need to?"
* Mykasi finishes the tea, before slowly, shakily, putting the cup back down.
> Igor considers for a moment, then adds, "Perhaps it would be best explained as such. The Shadow is nessesary for someone to interact with the supernatural, with the Dream. Without her Shadow, Mika has been cut off from the Dream until such a time when her Shadow is repaired. So no, she will no longer face the dreams, nor will her Shadow be able to take her over. What other effects this might have, I do not know."
<Valeriya> "Honestly, it might not have been a bad idea to see how she acted in the real world...but that's in the past"
<Hikari> "Well, I wouldn't count on her being able to just creep back into her shell. I made sure Mistia knew about things before we came here. If nothing else, she'll probably confront Mika about it eventually."
<Hikari> "And...'until her Shadow is repaired?' Can that happen? How?"
> "I have seen many a Shadow destroyed, but never once it's dominant ego had relinquished control as such."
> Theresa chimes in again, "It can be fixed, yes. And there are multiple ways for this to be done. Explaining them all would take all day."
<Hikari> "How likely are any of them, assuming there's no outside interference in Mika's mind?"
> Theresa shrugs, "Depends on how creative and imaginitive she is. If she's a dreamer, she'll fix it herself over time. If she's the banal sort, then she probably won't.
<Mykasi> "Gamble." Mike says in Japanese finally. "Action... inaction... we made... choice, must deal... from here... must encourage... her."
<Mykasi> A face at this. "Fuck Japanese... language... syntax."
<Hikari> "I don't know her well enough to be sure. But I guess as a general rule, the more reclusive someone is, the more likely they are to have an active fantasy life."
<Valeriya> "Well, we just watch her, I guess"
* Hikari nods to Mike. "I live down the hall from Mistia. I can prod for updates occasionally even if Mika herself avoids us."
<Mykasi> "Watch... no. Even if... alone... I'll try to help. ... She's like Xavier." Mike mutters.
* Hikari can't really comment on that. She doesn't know who Xavier is and isn't about to ask, given Mike's current state.
<Valeriya> "How about we head out and rest?  We aren't going to do much in this state"
<Valeriya> "Plus, I always seem to have to pee after we go into the dream"
> Theresa refills Mike's cup and produces a straw from somewhere.
<Hikari> "If you two have got all the answers you need for now, then we probably should go get some rest. Mike?"
* Mykasi eyes the straw and cup, but acquiesces, looking up to Hikari wearily as he drinks. "Lmgf mmmf fimsh thif."
* Hikari just nods, after taking a moment to puzzle through this.
* Mykasi finishes the tea, nods wearily in thanks to Theresa, then grunts. "Still... can't move."
* Hikari goes to pick him up again. "Don't worry. We'll get you where you need to go."
> After finishing the second cup, Mike...thinks...he could stand on his own. If he had a wall to lean on.
<Mykasi> "Would... be... appreciated. Might... be able... brace on wall... as we go."
<Hikari> "I'll try to arrange that. I'm not this strong in the real world, so we'll likely need it."
<Valeriya> "Poor kid"
<Mykasi> "I'm... skinny." Mike smirks somewhat at this.
<Valeriya> "Well, maybe I can give you a piggy-back ride"
<Mykasi> "...that'd... look silly."
* Hikari raises an eyebrow. "You know Val, you got out of this without a scratch. Whatever your secret is, share it with the rest of us?" Guiding Mike to the door, Hikari thinks better of this request: "Actually, no, please don't."
<Valeriya> "It's the naked man that's my persona"
<Hikari> "Well, I don't think Brynhildr would listen if I asked her to strip down."
<Valeriya> "Try it...it might have helped in that battle"
* Hikari just snorts and reaches for the door to the real world.
* Mykasi is quite glad at this point that nothing in his body seems to have interest or energy enough to rise - though the combination of Brynhildr naked and Caligula makes for decent motivation.
<Mykasi> "Bye, Velvet... Room."
> Hikari opens the door, and the three step back into the real world.
<Valeriya> "Bye long-nose, bye flat-chest!"
<Mykasi> "You're... mad."
<Valeriya> "It's where my strength comes from"
> (OOC: Scene Change Third Strike!)
> The three find themselves standing in a hall in the women's dorm. Right outside Mika's room.
<Valeriya> "Mmm...so, you want to take a look into her room, see how she's doing?"
* Mykasi still feels completely useless and gurgles as such.
* Hikari idly wonders what time it is. Does time spend in the dream world correspond exactly to real time? "Only if you feel like breaking in, Val. We don't have the *real* key to her room. I'd say we get out of here before someone wonders what's wrong with Mike."
> Fortunately, no one else is in the hall. For now...
<Valeriya> "Eh, ok"
<Valeriya> "You guys can watch her otherwise"
<Mykasi> "Lessgo."
* Hikari maneuvers Mike out of the dorm, then. The first stop outside is obviously getting him back to wherever it is that he lives. It occurs to Hikari that she doesn't know for sure where this is.
> With Mike's vague instructions, Hikari and Val manage to get him back to the guy's dorm.
<Mykasi> "Second floor. 23." Mike mutters. "Feh."
<Hikari> "Upstairs. Great."
> The stairway has handrails. Mike is mostly able to pull himself up the stairs using those.
<Mykasi> "whee, muscle control... slowly returning."
> With the ladies' help, Mike makes it back to his room.
* Mykasi fumbles the keys out and unlocks the door. "I... can wobble from here. Thanks."
<Hikari> "Alright. We can get in touch tomorrow sometime, I suppose? In the evening, perhaps? It'll give time for Mika or Mistia to do something. Or not do something, as the case may be."
<Mykasi> "sure." Mike shrugs.
<Valeriya> "Sure.  Just contact me the usual ways.  I work, as always"
<Valeriya> "Anyway, I need to run home and pee"
* Hikari parts ways with her teammates and heads back to her room, then.
<Mykasi> "Have fun. be careful on your way home." Mike says, before stumbling in and closing/locking the door.
> As Mike stumbles in, Kyo looks up at him from his makeshift desk, "'sup du...de? Man, you look like shit. I swear if you start puking again..."
<Mykasi> "Nah... feeling fine. Ish. Spent the evening with three ladies." Mike mutters after closing the door. "Guess how much I got."
> H: Hikari checks her watch...3:00 AM
> M: Kyo considers, "From the look on your face, I'd say somewhere between none and zero."
<Mykasi> "Considering some asshat severely spiked the drinks? Bingo." Mike smirked. "Maybe next time, though. Seems I have a harem of two at a minimum anyway."
<Mykasi> "Granted, one seems a bit loony."
* Hikari feels almost as tired as Mike looked as she returns to her room, opening and closing the door as quietly as possible to avoid waking her roommate.

[VySaika]

Solo Story: Mykasi's Uncomfortable Conversation

> --------------
> Alone in the dorm, Mike waits patiently for the clock to hit 10. That's when your dad said they would call. Another glance at the clock...9:50.
* Mykasi looks at the clock with a grimace, before staring at the phone for a moment, before grimacing and beginning to pace a bit.
> Time...crawls by. Not leaps, not flows. It crawls. But in a few minutes...your phone rings.
* Mykasi exhales rapidly, leaps to the phone, flips it open and checks the caller in the span of half a second.
> The caller ID reads "Home"
<Mykasi> Flipping it open, "Hey."
> A loud yawn is the first thing you hear on the other side, followed by a sharp, "Stephan!"
> Your dad chuckles, "So how's this speakerphone working? Can you hear us both?"
<Mykasi> "I can, yeah." Mike grins. "Sorry to have you guys call so early in the morning - but then again, that'd only hit Dad's schedule, and that on a bad day."
> "It's fine, dear. I normally wake up around now anyway lately."
<Mykasi> "Heh." A slight pause, then, "Are you guys both sitting down?"
> "So your email said that you wanted to talk to us about something? I know it's not before the thursday call like you wanted, but you did say you'd rather wait for your mother to get back."
> Your dad chuckles again, "We are, yes."
<Mykasi> "I did, yeah. Uh..." Mike pauses, before cursing in Japanese. "I don't know how to say this... Um. Okay, let's do it this way. ...I was in a relationship during high school."
> Your mother sounds a bit surprised, "Oh? She anyone we know?"
> Your father doesn't say anything, but rather waits for you to continue on your own speed.
<Mykasi> "You know them quite well, actually." Mike responds a bit cagily. "Though that's not... accurate?"
<Mykasi> A grimace they can't see. "Precise may be the better term, but whatever."
> "No, you got it right the first time. Precise may sound better, but accurate is more correct." Your dad can't help but chime in with bits like this.
<Mykasi> "Right. Accurate, then."
<Mykasi> "...It's inaccurate partially in the case of knowing them... and completely... ah, fuck, screw being roundabout. Xav."
> "And?" Your father sounds more...amused? then anything. "Also, check your language around your mother."
> Your mother, on the other hand, is silent for a moment before, "What...what do you mean 'Xav'? ...And what do YOU mean 'and?'!?"
<Mykasi> "And this is why I didn't say anything earlier - why we didn't..." Mike trails off for a moment. "Why we were freaked at the idea of telling anyone."
<Mykasi> A soft chuckle. "Though to give him credit he was considering it, but... at the time I just couldn't do it. Wasn't strong enough."
> Stephan speaks very softly, his voice calm though still with that tinge of almost laughter, "Dear, why don't you just sit back and let me talk to Mike for a bit, okay?"
> "But what did you mean by that? Did...did you know about this?"
> "Yes, I did. Why don't you just let me handle this for a bit while you calm down before you get too worked up?"
* Mykasi is silent at this, himself curled up on his bed with the phone near his ear but somewhat jolting at this. "...Mind if I ask how?"
> "One thing at a time, Mike. Let me settle things on this end of the phone first."
* Mykasi settles back down at this, somewhat staring at the phone in half-disbelief and half-wonder.
> There's a click, then silence on the other end for a moment.
> After a minute, there's another click, then your father sighing, "Well, she's gone downstairs to make some coffee. You threw her for quite a loop there."
<Mykasi> "...sorry." Mike mumbles into the phone, staring at the ceiling.
> "Wasn't accusing you of anything, simply making a statement of fact."
* Mykasi is silent at this for a moment, then. "Repeating my question - how did you know?"
> He laughs, "Mike...you're underestimating your old man here. So long as the topic of coming clean on things is open, I'll answer your question with one of my own. You're such a good sneak that you seem to actually take pride in your ability to hide things, misdirect and even bald faced lie. Where exactly did you think you got that kind of talent, hmm?"
<Mykasi> "Grandmother." Mike replies instantly.
<Mykasi> Almost immediately after, "... and you didn't say anything?"
> He laughs, "Some of it, sure. But that book you're so fond of, the one that you know every trick in? I edited the Cliff's Notes version."
> "And no, I didn't. It wasn't my place to...what's the term, 'out' the two of you."
> "I figured you'd come clean on your own time. And if you chose not to ever say anything...well, I'd be dissapointed, but that too would be your choice."
<Mykasi> "... sure." Mike says after a moment, before choking a bit at his dad's last comment. "...right. Suppose I can strike the line in my will since I've managed to appease it now, then.":
> "I suppose it's my turn to ask something then. Why did you pick now? The obvious answer is that you'd have an ocean between yourself and our disaproval if it didn't go well, but I like to think I know you well enough that I can safely say that wasn't it."
* Mykasi pauses a moment. "Partially because I figured it'd be better from me than from Xav's parents?"
<Mykasi> "And partially because..." Mike tosses around the words. "I decided I couldn't lie about it anymore."
> "...pardon? Did he suddenly get his memory back and spout that out where they could hear? How did those two find out? Nothing against Xavier, but I've met trained dogs more resourceful then his father, and his mother isn't much better."
<Mykasi> "No, but Sandy knew and blurted it to Bill and Amelia. That incident being the prime reason why Xav and I never told anyone - we saw the reactions of our three best friends and decided it wasn't worth it to let anyone else know."
<Mykasi> "God knows I love those three, but... Sandy and Amelia treated us as little bloody trophies for a while there before we disabused them of the notion of XavierAndMikey, and Bill... well, Bill reacted how I had hoped he would, but in the face of Sandy and Amelia it was just somewhat of another slap."
<Mykasi> "And this was from people that liked us..."
> He snorts, "Well girls will be girls, I suppose. And I suppose...it would have to be Bill, he's the only one still in town, said something where Xavier's parents could hear?"
<Mykasi> "He told it to Xav, didn't realize Xav might not get that the topic would be possibly slash probably taboo, so Xav said something. Or at least that's the events as I got them. All I know now is that when I called to talk to his parents and him and apologize for keeping this quiet, I found my phone was blocked."
> "Blocked? Yeesh. Yes because the problem will obviously go away if you ignore it. If Xavier is gay, then I'm fairly certain that even losing his memories like he did isn't going to change that. That's something that's on a deeper level then concious choice."
<Mykasi> "That and apparently Xavier started the conversation... but that's not all. Apparently Xav's parents are, uh, going hardcore into Christianity." A pause. "Which, by the way, thank you two for deciding the local church was somewhat on wack."
> "I suppose the other question is...well, are you completely gay or was this a sort of experimentation? It's...well, you're a man now, it's really none of my business if that's what you want to answer, but I have to ask anyway."
<Mykasi> "Bisexual." Mike replies. "Which means, yes, Mom may still have non-adopted grandkids someday."
<Mykasi> "...you want to know the irony? Even after the incident with Sandy walking in on us... we were going to tell you guys after we graduated, after we were out of the torture chamber they called high school. But then..."
> "Heh. And that's the furthest into your sex life I'll ever pry, I promise." A pause, "And...yeah. The best laid plans. I'm sure he'll remember things someday. So long as life persists there is hope."
<Mykasi> "... yeah. That was one of your sayings I had forgotten for a while, after..."
> "You're young, Mike. If you could get over something like that as easily as I could, I'd be more worried then impressed."
<Mykasi> "...is Mom back yet? If she isn't..." Mike says, before hesitating.
> "Not just yet. I do smell coffee though, so we should be trading places before too much longer. That was the, well, the deal I made her. I got to talk first while she calmed down, then she gets to talk to you, then she gets to lay into me once the call is over."
<Mykasi> "...right." Mike says, before shaking his head. "Alright, then."
> "Did you have something else you wanted to say before I hand this off to her?"
* Mykasi pauses, before deadpanning, "What, that I'm part of a group of superheroes dedicated to fighting evil wherever it may lurk, but instead of the normal setup we're hunting down evil and corruption by going into people's hearts and beating the shit out of it with What Kind Of Lame Power Is Heart Anyway? abilities and noses longer than your computer desk?"
<Mykasi> And with that, Dad, you can take your edited Cliffs Notes and shove them up your ass.
> Without missing a beat, he responds, "Pics or it didn't happen."
<Mykasi> "Cameras just can't capture THE PURITY OF OUR HEARTS ASCENDING AS ONE TO SMITE OUR FOES, Dad."
> He laughs, "Anyway, I'll take that as a no and go get your mother now. Take care Mike. And remember if you need to talk about anything you can always just call. I'll wake up, no worries. And I promise that I don't already know everything. Well, unless you're worse at this game then I think you are."
<Mykasi> It's not a game, but... "Trust me, you don't. Then again I need to re-evaluate what you -do- know. Love you, take care."
> There's a pause for a bit and then Mike hears his mother's voice on the other end, "...Mykasi? You're still here, aren't you?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah, I am, Mom. ...sorry about dropping this on you so suddenly." Mike says, mirth surpressed.
> "Well, I suppose it's better then not saying anything. So..you're...well, you were...with Xavier?"
<Mykasi> "I was, yeah. ...we were going to come out after we graduated, but then there was the accident..." Mike half-mutters.
> "Right. Ah..." Silence for a moment, then a sigh, "Mykasi, I can't pretend that I approve of...well, of homosexuality at all. But, the important thing is that I do still love you. I want to make sure you know that. I'm not about to disown you or anything silly like that because of this."
<Mykasi> And you were another object on the collossal pile of why we never said anything, Mom. Love you too. "That's fine. I... I don't know. I just decided hiding it was the greater crime, after finally confronting myself about it." Hah. "Since, well..  after that all... all I could do was run."
> "So are you still...I mean, I know he has amnesia now but...are you still in a relationship with him? And do his parents know?"
<Mykasi> "..." Mike is silent for a few moments, before spluttering, "I... that... how could... how is that even..." Mike stands up and walks to the window, throwing it open to look outside for a moment as he composes a response, even if it's dropping the phone out the window.
<Mykasi> "To answer the last question first, yes, his parents do know, no, I didn't tell them, Bill knew and let it slip to Xav who didn't understand why it was an issue and thus told his parents. This conversation would be happening anyway, before you ask. Secondly, no, no, thousand times no, how the..." Exhaling, he leans out the window.
> The other end is quiet.
<Mykasi> "Look, Mom. I'm not amoral, despite getting more from Dad than you'd like, despite being bisexual, despite all of that - I still have a conscience, and..." Choking a bit, he sits down heavily. "Yeah, I still love him. But that... it's not him, not the person I grew to love, he's not... why would anyone think..." And at this, Mike loses his composure a bit, rocking on the floor, speechless.
> "Sweetie...I'm sorry, I didn't...I didn't know how bad it was. I thought...I don't know, I just though if you two were...well, together, he might have remembered that or something. I know the thought that you could forget about someone even that important to you scares me, so..." She sighs.
<Mykasi> "Nothing. That's all he remembered. Nothing, nothing, nothing... couldn't even say my name right at first..." Mike chokes out, still rocking.
> "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything...and I should have already known how bad...he was your best freind..."
<Mykasi> "My... " Mike chokes still further, squeezing the phone tightly in his hand at this.
> She's quiet for a moment then asks, "How is he doing now? I talked to Rhoda the other day but she didn't mention him. Do you still keep in touch?"
<Mykasi> "They blocked my phone number." Mike says bitterly. "Which I learned when I tried to call to apologize to them for not telling them at all."
> "They...do you want me to go ask them to unblock it?"
<Mykasi> "Or at least get me the ability to talk with them once." Mike replies, staring at his bed at this point. "I don't particularly care what they think anymore, but they deserve to hear the full thing and not just some shorthand rhetoric that makes them think 'ohnoes my son has been infected by teh homoes we must purify the evvvviiiiiiiiiiiiil corrupting forces that that wicked man has inflicted upon him'."
> "We'll...I'll go talk to them then. They were probably just scared and lashing out. Which is behavior for injured animals, not adults, yes. And if they won't, then I'll call you and put the speaker on my cellphone on. It's not as good at this one, but they'll still be able to hear you at least."
<Mykasi> "...Thank you." Mike says after a moment.
> Silence then, "What am I doing, you can't see me nodding. And...your father is right that...approval or not this isn't our decision to make. And it's not thier decision to make either. So.."
* Mykasi chuckles a bit at this. "And I never had a choice, either, besides deciding to pursue what my heart told me was right..."
> "Well, I don't have any work today, so if you're going to be up for a couple more hours, I could maybe go see them after breakfast. I know that's kind of late for you, but..."
<Mykasi> "...I'm sorry, but I don't think I can handle it tonight." Mike replies honestly, standing up and heading to the bathroom to wash his face off somewhat.
> "Then, just let me know when you are ready and I'll go over there."
<Mykasi> "I will. Thanks." Mike says. "Though, as a warning - I'm not sure how indepth they'll want to get, but... since I'm the only one that can answer, I'm going to answer their questions. Period. Apologies in advance, but... I can't... I don't want to skirt around this."
> "...I'm sure they won't ask for anything...graphic. Rhoda is a very sensitive woman afterall..."
<Mykasi> "Which is why I'll also not be going any more indepth than they want me to, but." Mike notes a bit bitterly. "At this point, all I can do is try to set what I did wrong, right. I don't expect forgiveness from them - I don't care if they don't - but I still need to do something, there.
> "I understand. You need to do this for yourself, not for them. And not for us either."
<Mykasi> "Yeah." Mike exhales, finishing off wiping his face down and going to sit back down. "...It's for myself, and for the sake of the one who can't speak for himself in this."
> "Alright. Well I suppose I should let you get some sleep then, unless you wanted to talk more..."
<Mykasi> "...not if you don't have anything more you want to ask." Mike replies with a note of exhuastion. "Though... Mom? I don't expect you to accept this, or even to acknowledge it if you don't want to, but... he was more than my best friend."
<Mykasi> "Far more."
> "I...I know that. Just..." she sighs, "Saying 'best freind' there made sense in my head and not because I didn't...want to say he was your boyfreind. But if I try to explain why it made sense I'll only make myself sound like an idiot or something."
<Mykasi> "...Don't worry about it. I think I understand. It just... upset me there, for a bit." Mike says with a slight shrug. "...So. Uh. Try and have a good day?"
> "I'll...probably go to the gym or something. I do have the day off, and you know I don't like just sitting around."
<Mykasi> "...right. Take care, love you." Mike says, somewhat annoyed at himself and generally frustrated at this.
> "I love you too sweetie. Don't ever doubt that, no matter what."
<Mykasi> "I won't. Talk to you later."
> "Good night. And now I need to go yell at your father for hiding things about my only child from me. Sleep well Mykasi."
<Mykasi> "Dream safe."
> And the phone is hung up.
* Mykasi hangs up the phone, looks at it, looks at his pillow...
<Mykasi> And then proceeds to beat the ever-living stuffing out of it untill he passes out to dream of the campfire again.

[VySaika]

> ------------------------
> Thursday, October 28th. Classes for the day have mercifully finished, and Hikari finds herself with the first opportunity she's had to seek out Mistia. It's not like the two of you share any classes, being on completely different tracks and Mistia being very much average while Hikari is generally in the advanced courses.
<Hikari> Well, Hikari will just have to accost the other girl at her dorm room again. At least they're more likely to have some privacy there. Hikari heads right over once her classes are out and she's dropped off her books in her own room.
> The door to the room is shut, of course. But you can hear some kind of music playing inside. Sounds like the volume's a bit higher then the school normally likes, too.
<Hikari> ...Well. Hikari's inclined to treat that as some kind of sign. It's not like Mistia usually has the stereo blaring, right? Probably something happened, and Hikari has some general ideas about what that might be. Only one way to find out for sure, though. She knocks on the door, loud enough to be heard over the music.
> There's a pause, then Mistia's voice can be heard through the door as the music turns down, "Sorry, I'll turn it down."
> A moment later she creaks the door open a bit to see if it was someone actually looking for her instead of just telling her to turn the music down.
> "Oh...Hikari. Hi."
<Hikari> That pause is a little worrisome. "Hi. Is...everything okay?"
> "...sorry, could you hear the music even from your room? I know I don't normally play it this loud, it's just this new CD. Really makes me want to just keep nudging it up, you know?"
<Hikari> "Oh yeah? Who is it?" Maybe it's best to start light here.
> You actually kind of recognize the song. It's been all over the radio lately. Though bouncy pop isn't really your style, so you haven't paid too much attention.
<Hikari> "It sounds...vaguely familiar."
> She smirks, "I'd wonder where you've been for the past month if it didn't. You haven't been paying attention to entertainment news? An old teen idol is making a comeback with a new music career as an adult. And it's actually GOOD."
> She steps in, grabs the CD case and hands it to you. It reads "Risette - Emotional Satellite"
<Hikari> "Huh. I don't really keep up with idols, so I guess they'd be completely new to me."
* Hikari takes the CD case and examines it for the look of things.
> Mistia half laughs, "Never kept up with idols? Well, can't say I'm surprised. We did go to high school together. I remember how hard your mom drove you. So...now that you're out from under her thumb a bit, do you actually do anything for fun?"
> She notices that you're talking with the door open and her music is spilling out into the hallway, "Er, come on in, I guess."
<Hikari> "Um. I read a lot? I guess that's not much of a change." She nods and walks into the dorm room.
> "Well, I suppose there's a reason you're getting good grades and I'm just scratching by."
<Hikari> "Yeah, well, if you need help on anything, just let me know."
> she shakes her head, "Nah, I've already got a good study group. We just need to spend a bit more time studying and less time gossiping."
<Hikari> "Well, the spirit is willing, at least."
> She half laughs again, "I guess. ...so, you didn't come over because you heard my music, did you?"
* Hikari shakes her head. "No, not really. Cards on the table, I guess. I was wondering if you'd thought about what I said last time I was here, if anything had happened. I know it's not really my business, but, well, I already got myself involved. I'd at least like to be sure I didn't make things worse."
> She eyes you for a moment.
* Hikari just waits.
> "Well, I haven't had a chance to bring it up with her. Did you really not hear?"
<Hikari> "Apparently not. What is it that I haven't heard?"
> "She hasn't come out of her room since Tuesday night. Wouldn't leave yesterday, wouldn't open the door for anyone, not even me. Same thing today."
* Hikari just frowns. This isn't sounding good...though for reasons she can't share with Mistia.
> Mistia sighs, "Anytime someone tries to get her out, she either tells them to go away or sometimes throws something at the door. Me, she just wouldn't answer. At all."
> Her voice cracks a bit as she whispers, "Do...do you think she's going to end up like all those people on the news who just went crazy? Is that what's happening to Mika?"
<Hikari> "I hope not. I *do* know that cutting herself from the world like this can't be healthy."
> She nods, "I just don't really know what to do. You're pretty much the only other person who cares about her as something besides 'something to talk about'. And the school doesn't want to break her out of there with force or anything. They said they want to settle this without it being a 'newsworthy incident', both for Mika's sake and the school's."
* Hikari looks for alternatives other than breaking into her subconscious via the dreamworld again. "Have you tried emailing her? If she's afraid of confronting anyone right now...I don't know, maybe that would be easier for her to deal with. Would her family be any help?"
> Mistia rolls her eyes, "Yeah, I tried email. And...her family...ugh. Don't get me started on her family. Please."
<Hikari> "Well...I'm not sure what else to say, at this point."
* Hikari is actually pretty much resigned to taking another look in the dream world, but she needs to talk over that with her teammates, and she can't very well tell Mistia either.
> Slumping down, she sighs again, "The only other person I can think of is my mother. But she's out of town until Saturday. I KNOW she could get her to come out. Just...she's not here right now. Ugh."
<Hikari> "Your mother? Mika would listen to her? Well, maybe you should think about asking her to come here. We'll just have to hope Mika doesn't do anything drastic in the meantime."
> She nods, "I'll tell her about it when I meet her at the airport. She'll tell us that we're too old to need mom to come fix all our problems for us now, but she'll do it anyway. Right now I'd welcome the lecture if it would just get Mika out."
* Hikari can only nod at that. "I can't really think of any other options right now."
> "I'm going to try talking to her again later. See if I can at least get her to open the door so I can pass some food in."
<Hikari> "Sounds like a plan. Let me know how things turn out? I...could come along, but I doubt my being there would help things much."
> She shakes her head, "No...I've got it. Thanks though."
* Hikari gets ready to leave, in that case. There doesn't seem anything more she can do here. "Alright, well, I'll hope for the best, in the meantime."
> She nods, "Yeah. Me too."
* Hikari exits the apartment and makes her way back down the hall to her own room, unless Mistia has anything more to say.
> Mistia does not seem to have anything to add. As Hikari leaves, she can hear the music being nudged back up again.
* Hikari will have to call up Mike and report in as soon as she can. Of course, she's not about to do this in the presence of her own roommate.
> OOC: Scene Change - The original series
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 vs Mind(Rumormill check)
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=6, 1]
> By the time Mike made it to Japanese class, he already knew Mika wasn't going to be there. It seemed that nearly everyone was whispering about it, and his long ear had picked up most of it quite easily. It would seem that Mika, for reasons she won't explain, has locked herself up in her room, refusing to come out or let anyone else in. This lasted all of yesterday and has continued into today.
* Mykasi idly resolves to go and try to visit her once he's out of class, though he's not able to really skip, sadly.
> Japanese class is...actually more productive then usual. The proffessor turns the full force of his barbed tounge and mastery of language on the first person to try and gossip while he's teaching, and nobody else tries it for fear of the same. He's also much more willing to answer questions then usual, because it at least means you're all on task.
<Mykasi> Well, that's quite the development. Mike takes the time to actually get a few clarifications on some of the grammar structures this chapter, and uses the time otherwise to actually, y'know, learn instead of do self-guided study.
> The class eventually ends, as all classes do, and Mike finds himself with a couple hours of free time, usually spent on lunch, before his afternoon classes.
> As soon as the proffessor leaves the room, the quiet erupts into whispered gossip.
* Mykasi listens to the gossip for a moment, not actively engaging in it.
> As might be expected, it's roughly 60% about Mika, 30% about what the school's doing about her, and the remaining 10% just random banter about whatever.
> Rather then just dashing out the door as usual, one of the other students in the class, Shiro Asakura, takes a moment to just shake his head at everyone else before jogging off.
* Mykasi glances at Shiro, before following him out (like hell he's really gonna linger too overly much) and trying to catch up with the guy.
> Mike's fast enough, and Shiro isn't going full tilt yet, so you actually manage it. Or at least manage to get close enough to call his name and catch his attention.
> Shiro turns around, "Hmm?"
<Mykasi> "Oi, Shiro." Mike calls, keeping up his jogging pace to meet up with Shiro (and glad that his backpack's light). "Bit of a stupid question from the gaijin here, but are they always like that?"
> He rolls his eyes, "Whenever someone starts acting really weird, yeah. It's been worse lately though, with all the stuff that's been going down."
> "The 'grown ups' though...they all pretend they aren't interested at all. It's like one extreme of stupid to the other." He snorts.
<Mykasi> "Kh. And of course there's no actual effort to help people out due to it. ...It's kinda weird - I'd normally consider Japan a lot more friendly, but then you get stuff like this..." Mike grunts as they jog. "Usually back home some of the students try to help someone struggling. We're all screwed together and all that, y'know?"
> He shrugs, "I guess that's mostly the same here, somewhat? I mean, people's freinds will try to help out. Just...well, I hate to say this but alot of times other people won't just because they don't want any of the attention on them. I frikkin' hate that attitude."
> "Like being in the public eye for any reason other then certain acceptable ones is somehow anathema."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, that's bollocks to me. Probably gonna head over there either before or after lunch just to see if I can talk to her at all." At Shiro's second comment, Mykasi laughs. "I guess I'm immune to that, eh? Mass minority back home, and here, well... I can pass for Japanese if the person's half blind, otherwise yeah, stick out like curry tea."
> He shrugs, "Even foriegners fall into it. Try acting like they're expected to act instead of saying and doing what they actually think. Harder to just blend in, sure. But enough try it anyway." Then he grimaces, "That or it's the creepy japanophiles coming over here. ...do you Americans get people like that from here ever?"
> "Well, either way, I guess that's just another mold, isn't it?" He laughs, though there doesn't seem to be much amusement it in.
<Mykasi> "Not like Japanophilia, no. We tend to get tourists fascinated with American sights and people, though. And... yeah, it is, but it's just frustrating people don't seem to break outta those. ...One other question - you know any food Mika likes, or should I just grab something from the caf' and drop it off when I go try to talk to her?"
> He thinks for a sec, "Uhhhh...nah, no idea. Not like I ever really talked to her, right? I've always got somewhere to be, and she never came running me down. Sorry man."
<Mykasi> "Fair enough, man. Thanks anyway. Talk to ya later, alright?" Mike shrugs, slowly peeling off toward the caf.
> "Yeah, see you in InstAl." He returns to dashing off towards the track feild.
* Mykasi nods and curves off to grab a lunch plus a bit more to take to Mika!
> Mike buys lunch and a bit, and takes it to go!
> Slipping through the line actually took less time then usual, so Mike has plenty of time left.
* Mykasi hustles over to Mika's dorm room anyway - he wants time if she wants to talk, really.
> Heading into the girls dorm gets Mike some funny looks by people who are there, but he makes it to the outside of Mika's room in short order.
<Mykasi> Yeah, well, if they want to ask he'd tell them. Whatever, not his issue if people are stupid. Knocking twice on the door, Mike calls in, "Mika? It's Mike, from Japanese. ...I brought you a cup of ramen and some mild curry chicken."
> There's a pause, "...just go away."
<Mykasi> "Mika... please." Mike says, leaning against the wall. "... I want to help. I don't... I just want to be there for you, since I couldn't be there for him... I couldn't do anything for him." Mike clears his voice (damnit, getting emotional) and just shakes his head. "...I'm willing to be a shoulder for you if you need it, Mika. ...You don't have to be the only one helping people, the only one going out of their way."
> Another long pause...then, "...who's 'him'?"
<Mykasi> "...hah." Mike chuckles. "...you wanna know? ... my closest friend, back home, the person... I wanted to stay with forever... the person I was in love with."
> "...really?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah. His name was Xavier, I called him Xav - our small circle all did." Mike stumbles through the words at this. "I mean, I knew I liked girls, too, but... with him, everything just clicked."
> The other side of the door is quiet for a while.
> Then the door creaks open, just a bit.
<Mykasi> "I..." Mike murmurs, before looking up. "...Mika?"
> She's not standing in the doorway, though the door is creaking open, "...you can come in. I'm...not ready to come out though..."
<Mykasi> "...That's fine." Mike says. "I... know the feeling." Mike slowly taps the door open, proffering the food ahead of himself. "...last time I did this to myself I got really hungry, so thought you might want the food."
> She moves close enough to take the food, then retreats to sitting on her bed again. Frankly, she looks like hell. She's obviously been crying and she hasn't washed in a couple of days. Doesn't look like she's slept much either.
> "You've...done this before?"
<Mykasi> "Twice, yeah." Mike says, closing the door and leaning near it. "Once back in America, once here... both about Xav, tho."
> She nods, and starts to nibble on the chicken curry, "What happened?"
<Mykasi> "...we were about ready to get out of high school, and a few friends and us were drinking - but he hadn't had any yet, usually he tended to hold back. So he went on a snack run. ...a drunk driver slammed into his car. He survived, but... lost his memory entirely."
> She blanches, "That's horrible..."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. And for a long time, I felt like there was nothing I could do - he accepted my presence politely because, hey, his parents told him we had been friends. ...they didn't know that we..." Mike coughs. "I felt helpless. So I came here, trying to start again, but... my regrets pursued me." [More]
<Mykasi> "'cuz I justified it to myself that I was starting over, when... I was just running. I was trying to leave those memories behind, when they were... I acted like a dick and ran, when I could've been there for him. When I came outta the funk about a month ago... I promised myself I'd not run like that again, not if I could help. I've been keeping in touch now via phone, trying to jog his memory, but now I have things here...and I can't just run from here either."
> She looks away for a bit. "Why...why did you tell me all this?"
<Mykasi> "...because... because I want to be able to help you. Because you always seem so damn alone and it hurts, and... I wanted to tell you... uh..." Mike pauses, before blushing a deep crimson. "... I wanted, uh, to tell you that you can rely on the crazy bisexual foreigner kid to have your back?" Switching back from a yokel tone... [More]
<Mykasi> "Because... yeah, the world sucks. Believe me, I know. Facin' it down can be tough as hell, doing what you need to do, even more so. But there's a light - not necessaraily even in getting your way, but in being able to say that you aren't gonna let it beat you down."
> She looks down, "I don't think I'm that strong. You've already lost so much. I can't...I can't even..." she starts to cry again,
* Mykasi looks to Mika, before walking over to her and kneeling next to her. "No one is, at first - and, Mika? You'd be surprised what you can manage, alright? I'll help you. Promise. I..." A slight pause. "Need a hug?"
> She reflexively scoots away from you the moment you say that.
> Then she shakes her head near violently.
<Mykasi> "Kay." Mike shakes his head, scooting back a bit as well. "Sorry, understood."
> She looks up, "You...already know, don't you?"
<Mykasi> "Eh?" Mike asks, frowning. "Know what, Mika?" Though he can guess, it's better to let her admit it, and so he radiates an aura of complete and utter warmth and trustworthiness! Or as close as he can manage.
> "About...about..." She shakes her head and draws in on herself for a minute.
* Mykasi waits patiently, looking to Mika with big doe-y eyes.
> Finally, in a near whisper she manages to say, "about Mistia."
<Mykasi> "...Mistia? A friend of yours?" Mike asks patiently.
> She looks up and gives you the first cold look you've ever seen out of her, "If you know me at all you have to know who Mistia is. She's...my only freind."
> "And I know everyone is talking about us. About...saturday."
<Mykasi> And I'm chopped liver. Fine, fine. "Ah. I try not to pay much attention to the gossip other than to note it's there, but... alright. She's your only friend, and... that'd make her the person with you at the concert... You afraid she's mad at you or something? I'm sure she's more worried than anything."
> She just shakes her head, "Why...would you tell me all of that if...if you didn't know?"
* Mykasi pauses for a moment, acting a bit befuddled. "I got distracted - but what don't I-..." A lapse, Mike's face turning to that of concern.
> She turns red and looks down, assuming that if you didn't know, you just figured it out.
<Mykasi> "...heh. 's okay, Mika." Mike shakes his head. "I... think I get it now. ......I don't know what to say, other than to reiterate my offer. I'll be there for you, I'll help you as much as I can. I- ...okay, that makes the hug offer -really awkward- and I apologize for that." Mike rubs his head.
> She turns a deeper red, "I...I can't even tell her. I don't know how. I don't know what I'd do if it made her hate me."
<Mykasi> "You don't tell her, and it'll keep eating at you, Mika." Mike says soothingly. "I know it sounds like the hardest thing in the world right now to do, but... Look. If she's been your friend for this long, even if she doesn't know, I'm sure she'll understand. You've got to trust in her on this, as much as it may feel like a risk."
<Mykasi> "I can understand if you need time. I'm not saying do it now. But you need to relieve yourself of this burden on your heart, and the sooner the better, for yourself and for her. I'm sure she's worried that you've been in here alone for so long, Mika."
> She slowly nods, "I don't want her to worry. I...maybe I'll come out tomorrow. Maybe."
* Mykasi nods. "Do so when you're ready. I'm willing to be here to help. ...you want me to bring dinner?"
> She blushes again but nods very slightly.
> "Th...thanks."
<Mykasi> A warm smile. "No prob. Anything in particular you want?"
> "Um...maybe some soup, if there is any."
<Mykasi> "Alright, I'll get you some. I'll be around about 6:40 or so, if that works?"
> She nods.
<Mykasi> "Alright. Take care of yourself, and I'll be back then." A pause. "And I'm glad I didn't have to resort to my backup plan of yodeling." An open grin to Mika.
> She blinks, "Yodeling?"
<Mykasi> "...ah, right, it isn't as popular to reference here." Mike rubs his head. "It's... where people bellow 'Yo-de-le-heee-hooooooooo' at the top of their lungs in a really really silly accent. I can't do it well."
> She blinks again, "I can't imagine anyone does that well. It sounds silly."
<Mykasi> "It's gotten to the point in America where it's mocked in commercials. The effect would have been making a fool of myself. I do that well, at least.
<Mykasi> Anyways... take care, and I'll talk to you around 6:40."
> She nods.
<Mykasi> "Smile!" And with that, Mike's through the door with a wave, closing it softly behind him before checking the time on his cell.
> Realizing that he'll be late for class if he doesn't cast Burp: Copying Shiro and book it, Mike dashes off to his next class with all haste.
* Mykasi still affords himself a faint smile as he runs.
> OOC: Scene Change: the Next Generation
> Neimi eyes the clock and sighs, "Aaaand, that's time for my shift. Bleh. At least I don't have work tomorrow." Grabbing her bag, she makes her usual offer, "Want me to bring you anything? It'll be late as always, but can't be half off employee discounts."
> *can't beat
<Hikari> "A sandwich? I don't know what kind. Surprise me."
> She laughs, "It'll be a surprise to me too. My options are take what we have for leftovers at half price or order something specific at full."
<Hikari> "One Half Price Mystery Special, then."
> Neimi laughs again and heads out for her shift of drudgery.
* Hikari gives Neimi a couple minutes to exit the building, and then calls up Mike.
> M: Mike's cell rings...pretty much right as he's making it back to his room after his last class.
* Mykasi checks caller ID first, not wanting a long conversation as he drops his books off and preps to run over to the cafeteria. Why's campus so spread out?
> It's Hikari's number.
* Mykasi flips the phone open, then! "Friendly neighborhood spider-man speaking."
<Hikari> "Excuse me?" Hikari takes a moment to process this. "Oh. I see. How clever. Look, I spoke to Mistia earlier today. It seems Mika's not leaving her room or talking to anyone."
<Mykasi> "Wasn't talking to anyone." Mike says, looking in to check and see if Kyo is present (would take a miracle, but that kid is probably Schroedinger's Universal Cat until God finally decides to kick the box over).
> Kyo is not in fact there. You notice the small bag he usually takes with him when he goes out for the evenings is also not there.
<Hikari> "Past tense? What happened?"
* Mykasi tosses the books on his bed. "I managed to get in and talk for a bit, gave her a pep talk. Gonna go do this again, grabbing dinner so I can eat with her and just see if I can get her morale up." A pause, looking around as he locks the door to make sure no one's listening.
<Mykasi> "...The dream blasted her morale a whole lot, Hikari." Mike sounds near-miserable at this.
<Hikari> "I'd concluded as much after talking to Mistia. Still, I don't see what else we could have done. I'm sure that shadow-Mika would have made even more of a mess of her life if left in charge. If you can get her out and talking to Mistia again, at least we'll have done more good than harm."
<Mykasi> "...yeah, I guess..." Well, more like I'll have done more good than harm, but to be fair your heart was in the right place. "I'd like to try to negotiate more next time, though. Kinda felt hamstrung this time since you flat out said early on that you wouldn't consider backing off, which made ineffectual my attempts."
<Hikari> "I suppose it would be useful to know if shadows are even open to negotiation."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. I'll explain how I got her to talk to me later, it's not the best material for a phone conversation." Mike shrugs. "You talked to Mistia? Mind updating her, even if in short? I'm not sure Mika's up for talking to her tonight, but I'll keep talking to her and comforting her."
<Hikari> "I'll tell her. And it'll have to be short, since I don't even know what you set to get through to Mika."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, just tell her that a friend of yours who has Japanese with Mika managed to talk his way in, he wanted to pass the message along that Mika's not ready to come out yet but he's working on it, knows her friends are worried."
<Hikari> "Understood. I'll head over as soon as we're done here."
<Mykasi> "Thanks. Sorry for vagueness, but it's really kinda awkward. It does make me wish I had chosen to talk to her before we confronted her shadow, though." Mike muses.
<Hikari> "Well, this is a learning process for all of us. I don't know about you or Val, but this is not a job my previous life's experience prepared me for in any way."
<Mykasi> "Same. And it's good to know that while they don't remember what happens in the dream, they -are- directly affected."
<Hikari> "Yes, I was wondering what would happen if Mika saw me again, whether she'd know me from the dream. Apparently not. I suppose that's something of a relief."
<Mykasi> "Hey, Hikari. You'd know how to look this up on web sites better than I could. Could you get a list of all the people that've gone mad and any symptoms they've had beforehand? Also add us and Mika to the list. I want to try and see if there's any shared links to anywhere or anything."
<Hikari> "I don't have much in the way of plans for this evening. I can do some research after I talk to Mistia."
<Mykasi> "Thanks. Japanese web sites still give me a headache half the time. My symptoms were nausea, exhaustion, and, uh, throwing up."
* Hikari makes note of this. "Alright, I'll look into it once we're done here."
<Mykasi> "Alright. Talk to you later then, I'm at the caf so I gotta grab soup for her."
* Hikari hangs up, and immediately heads down the hall to bring MIstia up to speed.
> H: Hikari arrives outside Mistia's door with no complications. The music is no longer playing loudly.
<Hikari> Well, that can only be a good thing. For many reasons. What good is music that makes you go deaf?
> The door opens a moment after Hikari knocks, though it's Mistia's roommate who answers the door, "Yes? Oh...Hikari, right?"
> You recognize her as another student from the World History Block, Tia.
<Hikari> "Yes, that's right. Is Mistia in?"
> She nods, "Yeah, lemme go poke her."
* Hikari waits patiently.
> Tia closes the door. A few moments later, Mistia opens it while pulling off her headphones. "Oh, uh, hello again? Did you forget something?"
<Hikari> "No, I just dropped by to tell you that a friend of mine who has class with Mika managed to get through to her somehow. I don't really know what he said that reached her, but apparently she let him in and they talked for a bit. Just wanted you to know, I think she might be getting better."
> Mistia looks poleaxed, "Who...what...how?" Shaking her head, she gets ahold of herself, "She wouldn't even let me in and I'm her best freind! Who on earth managed that?"
<Hikari> "Mike--uh, I don't remember how to pronounce his last name." Hikari has the decency to look embarassed. "The American student." That should narrow it down!
> She blinks, "So...basically a complete stranger. I...well...I guess if she's being helped it doesn't matter who does it." Her voice sounds a little flat at that last.
<Hikari> "I'm sure she has her reasons. I'm sorry, I thought you'd just be glad that she was talking at all."
> She shakes her head, "No, no, I am. Just shocked is all."
<Hikari> "Well, I guess that's understandable. It's a strange situation all around. Anyway, want me to stop by if I hear anything else?"
> She nods, "Yeah, please. I think I'll go over in a bit myself though. Maybe if she's talking to someone else she'll be willing to talk to me now."
* Hikari nods. "Alright. Good luck, then." She leaves after this.
> M: Meanwhile, back at the Spider Cave! Mike has managed to collect some soup and is on his way to Mika's room. This time, as classes are mostly over, he gets even MORE funny looks for being in the girl's dorm.
* Mykasi just stolidly continues on, heading up to Mika's room to at the least get the soup to her.

[VySaika]

> ----------------------------------
>  M: Meanwhile, back at the Spider Cave! Mike has managed to collect some soup and is on his way to Mika's room. This time, as classes are mostly over, he gets even MORE funny looks for being in the girl's dorm.
> * Mykasi just stolidly continues on, heading up to Mika's room to at the least get the soup to her.
* Mykasi hums a bit, knocking at Mika's door once he gets there. "Mika? It's me, Mike. I've got some soup for you."
> There's a sound like something was thrown against the door. Then there's a pause, and you can hear her voice on teh other side. "Is...is it just you?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah, it's just me." Mike nods.
> The door cracks open, and through the crack you can see her retreating from the doorway again.
* Mykasi steps in slightly, closing the door behind him before putting the soup down near her. "How're you feeling? Any better?"
> Mika shakes her head a bit, "Not really."
> After a moment she reaches over and takes the soup cup.
<Mykasi> "I'm sorry." Mike says, pulling out a small four-pack of sushi he brought with him. "Want one, or...?"
> She shakes her head, "Soup is enough. I don't eat much."
> She may claim to not eat much, but she certainly does eat quickly. It's not too long before most of the noodles in the soup are gone and she's sipping the broth.
* Mykasi nods slightly. "Alright." A slight smile at seeing her appetite healthy, before he eats one of the sushi rolls himself, putting the other three to the side a bit. "So, uh... can I ask a bit of an odd question?"
> She eyes you for a moment, then nods a bit without saying anything.
<Mykasi> "Uh... what sort of hobbies do you have?" Mike rubs his head, glancing away a bit so as not to pressure her.
> She thinks for a bit, then shrugs, "I read alot. And...I watch movies with Mistia every Friday. ...I guess I don't really have any hobbies. I'm just boring."
<Mykasi> "Hey, now, don't put yourself down like that. What do you read?" Mike asks curiously.
> "Um, everything. I like books with magic in them the most. But I read anything, really."
<Mykasi> "Heh. Hey, tell me, are there any good books about the Sengoku era? I know a few video games about them, and they're fun, butnot that deep at all. Or serious, really." Mike muses.
> She thinks, "Uh, a couple. There's this really thick and kinda dry one called 'The End Of Honor'. The oppinions in it are pretty cynical, but it's also supposed to be one of the most accurate books on the era for the facts."
<Mykasi> "Huh, alright. I'll look into that one." Mike nods. "You know what movie you're gonna see with Mistia this Friday?"
> She looks down and shakes her head, "I...I don't even know if she'll want to. What if she doesn't want to ever do that again? Or...even ever see me again..."
<Mykasi> "To be honest? I'm sure she's just worried about you right now, alright? And... I can't imagine she'll never want to talk to you again. Sounds like you two have been friends for a really long while, and that won't change, alright?" A chuckle. "Xav and I had a small circle of friends... (More)"
<Mykasi> "When one of the girls in the circle found us two out and, ah, outed us to the other two, the other guy in the group, Bill, just kinda blinked for a few seconds after the girls stopped commenting, before shrugging and commenting, 'Okay, sure, but don't expect me to join in, alright?'"
<Mykasi> "I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's really not that big a deal to most people, especially our age, and... they're more likely to be supportive than anything else."
* Mykasi pauses. "Actually, I think his reaction was closer to 'Just so it's known, I prefer chicks.' But details."
> She nods, but looks unconvinced, "But...he wasn't the one you liked. Would he have still been okay with it if he was the one you liked?"
<Mykasi> "Probably, knowing him; he knew me well enough to know that I wouldn't force the issue if it came up, I think." Mike shrugs.
> She's quiet for a bit. Eventually she starts to say someting but stops before any coherent words come out. This happens a few times before she finally manages, "Uh...how..."
<Mykasi> "Hm?" Mike asks.
> "How...how did you...tell him?"
> "...Xavier, I mean. How did you tell him you...um...liked him?"
<Mykasi> "How did I tell Xav, you mean?" Mike nods slightly. "...uh. Well, I... it was after gym class - the one class we actually shared sophomore year, two days before we got out for the semester. It was our final class for the day, so we were walking home, and... He was kinda mopey - family stress, his dad wanted him to run the store, and he was just depressed, you know? (more)"
<Mykasi> "So he was complaining, and then finally just ended the rant with 'And I don't think I'll find anyone that'll love me, either.' And I... just said it. 'Well, I do.'" Mike pauses, reminiscing. "He was quiet for a split second, before laughing, 'Yeah, like a brother, but I mean like a lover.' I... replied, "'I'd be willing to try to love you like that, if you are.'"
<Mykasi> "He just kinda... blanched. The walk home was awkward from there, we didn't talk much. But the next day - it was a Saturday - he dropped by unannounced, and... we ended up talking about it more, and he told me he was gay."
> She nods, and mumbles something under her breath. Then immediately looks embarrased and looks away.
> There's another knock on the door.
<Mykasi> "...I realize it doesn't help your situation much, but... I'd tell you to just be upfront with-" Mike practically jumps five feet in the air from a sitting position. "Ackpth!"
> The voice is muffled through the door, and it's not one Mike recognizes too well, "Mika? Mika, it's me."
> Mika stares at the door.
* Mykasi looks to Mika. "...Is this...? Do you want me to...?"
> The muffled voice continues, "Look, Mika, just let me in, okay? I...who's in there?"
> Mika continues to stare at the door. Her eyes are wide and she seems paralyzed with indecision.
* Mykasi looks to Mika. "I'll talk to whoever it is for a bit while you decide, alright?" he offers, hand on the doorknob.
> Mika shakes her head...then nods...then shakes her head again...then burries her head in her hands and falls over on her side on the bed.
* Mykasi waits precisely three seconds before acting on his impulse, smiling reassuringly at Mika- before blinking rapidly at this, and opening the door to look out into the face of what is most likely Mistia/the girl he recognizes from the park. "Mistia? Hi, pleasure to meet you. Um." A glance back to Mika sobbing, clearly uncomfortable, before he grimaces. "She might want to kill me for this, but come in. I'll take the b
<Mykasi> "She might want to kill me for this, but come in. I'll take the blame for it as it comes."
<Mykasi> A pause. "Oh, and I'm Mike."
* Mykasi then steps back from the door a bit, ready to close it once Mistia's in.
> Mistia eyes you wearily before stepping into the room, only to see Mika curled up with her head in her hands and rushes over next to her, "Mika! Mika, it's okay. Whatever's wrong it's okay now, alright?"
* Mykasi shuts the door quietly, before nodding. "It's okay. You've got friends here... we're here for you."
> Looking back at you, she nearly has daggers in her eyes, "I don't know how you know Mika or got in here, but I swear if you did anything to her..."
> Mika shakes her head, though her hands still cover her face, "No..no..he didn't..."
<Mykasi> "No, I'm just a friend of hers from Japanese class!" Mike shakes his head.
> Mistia looks down at Mika, then nods. Her expression softens a bit, but she still doesn't look like she cares for you much. "...Alright then."
* Mykasi steps back a bit, somewhat looking aside as he watches the two talk.
> The room is quiet for a moment, but Mistia breaks the silence with a sigh, "Look, Mike, right? You might be Mika's freind, but I don't really know you. And I need to talk to Mika about some personal stuff. So..."
<Mykasi> "...I'd rather leave that up to Mika, alright? If she wants further support, I'll stay, but if she wants this to be private as well, I won't." Mike replies honestly. "I don't have any preference either way - this is entirely her call."
<Mykasi> "This isn't anything about trusting you, Mistia - I know you're her closest friend. But... this is up to her."
> She narrows her eyes, "So what you're saying is that you don't care if I'm comfortable talking about personal issues in front of you or not?"
> Mika shakes her head again, "Don't...don't fight!"
> Mistia's expression softens again, "I'm not trying to start a fight, okay? We just need some time to talk in private."
<Mykasi> "...Not what I meant." Mike grunts, looking to Mistia. "But you and I aren't the ones with all this on them, Mistia. I'm more concerned for her." A glance to Mika. "Very well then. I won't antagonize with my presence further. Apologies, Mika, apologies, Mistia. I'll talk to you both later - take care, Mika, and... here's my number if you want to talk." Mike quickly scrawls it before nodding to Mistia. "That's fine. We're
<Mykasi>  Mistia. "That's fine. We're all worried. Later."
* Mykasi then steps out quickly before any further response happens.
* Mykasi then pulls out his cell phone and steps away to the stairwell before calling Hikari.
> H: Hikari's phone rings again! Caller ID says it's Mike. Again!
* Hikari answers again. Hopefully it is more good news?
<Mykasi> "Hey. Mistia's talking to Mika now. I think Mistia hates me but otherwise I'm optimistic."
<Hikari> "Well, that's...we didn't start doing this just so everyone would like us. Maybe we should just be glad if things work out for them."
<Mykasi> "Well, yeah, but I was just kinda annoyed at it. Ah well. It's something. ...Look. I'm not feeling that great, so I'm probably gonna crash at my room. I just wanted you two to know it worked out somewhat - tell Valeriya, okay?"
<Hikari> "Sure thing. Get some rest. We'll wait, see what happens with the girls and talk later."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. Just make sure this doesn't become gossip, alright? At least as much as possible. That's the last she needs. Talk later."
<Mykasi> With that Mike hangs up and heads out.
* Hikari hangs up and promptly dials Val's number.
> V: Val's phone rings! Caller ID suggests that it may be Hikari.
* Valeriya picks up the phone
<Valeriya> Hello?  Would this happen to be a tall, dark and handsome man asking me out on a date?
<Hikari> "Val? It's me. Uh, no, Hikari," she adds.
<Valeriya> "Damn.  A girl can dream, at least.  What is up?"
<Hikari> "Just updating you on our friend from the dreamworld, Mika. It looks like we possibly might have done something that will potentially turn out well. Maybe. She's talking to her friend again, at least. It's something."
<Valeriya> "Maybe?  Can you explain a bit more?  It sounds a bit...tenuous?"
<Hikari> "Well, Mika was shut in her room for days starting right after we visited her dreams. Wouldn't come out, wouldn't talk to anyone, wouldn't even answer emails. It looked pretty bleak, but Mike got through to her somehow. I don't know what exactly he said to her. I suppose we'll have to ask him next time we're all in the same place. Anyway, Mika and Mistia are talking over things right now. Frankly, if Mika's confronting her
<Hikari> problems, I'm inclined to call it a success."
<Valeriya> "Well, that is a success, then.  So the solution for the future is to beat shit up if talking doesn't work.  I like this"
<Hikari> "Well, possibly. I've wondered if our attacking Mika's shadow is what drove her into isolation in the first place. Mike at least insists on talking first next time. I've decided to just be quiet, let him try, and see what happens."
> As Hikari speaks, she can feel a strange warmth growing in her pocket.
<Valeriya> "Well, logical.  I still think...well, it might have been interesting to see what the shadow does if it's in control.  We don't know if it will necessarily end up bad until we see it.  But maybe that's something to wait on"
> It's the Velvet Key. Not only is it warm to the touch, but it's glowing.
* Hikari frowns. The only thing she's carrying around is...oh, the key. She takes it out to look at it. "Personally, I think the only thing a shadow would do while in control is wreak havoc. But we can talk about that when we're together again."
<Valeriya> "Right.  Maybe I'm just too into observing things a bit.  Anyway, what's the current plan?  Watch and wait, go on with our normal lives"
> The key isn't doing anything else. Just feeling warm and glowing.
<Hikari> "I...think...so...whyisthiskeyglowing?"
<Valeriya> "Excuse me, I don't speak crazy-talk"
<Hikari> "Neither do I. The Velvet Key's...glowing. You don't think maybe they're trying to call us or something?"
<Valeriya> "Maybe.  Although you'd think they'd use a cell phone or something.  Do you think Verizon supplies to the Velvet Room?"
<Hikari> "I doubt it. Feel like taking a little trip to see if anything's going on on the other side?"
<Valeriya> "Sure, why not.  Where do you want to meet up?"
<Hikari> "Library, maybe? Is that where you are now?"
<Valeriya> "I'm actually dancing around naked in my room, but I suppose I can stop that and head over there"
<Hikari> "...Yes. Yes, you could stop that any time now. I'll see you in ten minutes or so?"
<Valeriya> "Sure"
* Hikari hangs up and heads over to the library to meet Val. Surely there's some random corner with a door there that they can use to enter the dreamworld without being observed.
* Valeriya hangs up and heads over to the library
> In 15 or so minutes, Val arrives at the library(hey, she lives off campus), and finds Hikari.
<Hikari> "Hey. You know someplace we can use this thing without anyone noticing? Maybe an empty office somewhere?"
<Valeriya> "Yeah, second floor.  Let's walk"
* Hikari does indeed walk. Though not talk quite as much. She's not really sure what to talk *about*, with Val.
> Before long, the girls reach the door that Val had in mind.
<Valeriya> "Ok, opening time!  No one should be in here"
* Valeriya opens the door and walks in
* Hikari uses the key and enters!
> The door opens to reveal the now familiar blue void. And the girls step through.
> OOC: Scene Change - Deep Space (9)
> Hikari and Valeriya step into the Velvet Room. As every time before, Theresa smiles and greets you as you enter, "Welcome to the Velvet Room."
<Hikari> "Hello, Theresa. Odd question, but I don't suppose you were trying to contact us?"
> Theresa then frowns, "Hmm, you seem to be missing one. And yes, the Master was summoning you through the key."
<Valeriya> "Random question - do you have Verizon?  It would be easier to use a cell phone"
<Hikari> "Mike's been busy, I'm afraid. You'll have to make do with two of us for now. So what is it you need us for?"
> She nods, "We can tap into your cell phones to contact you, but when I tried that I got a busy signal."
<Valeriya> "Oh, we were  talking to each other.  That's why"
<Valeriya> "Well, good to know - as long as the cell phone bill isn't crazy high.  Not sure what area 'Velvet Room' falls into"
> Igor gestures to the chairs in front of the table, "Please, be seated."
* Hikari takes a seat and waits patiently for whatever news Igor has.
* Valeriya sits.
> Igor nods as you sit, "I have been monitoring your conditions, as well as those of your Persona, and have noted yet another interesting bit that you should be aware of. Your Persona are all capable of growth, and in more then one way at that."
<Hikari> "Oh?"
> He nods and continues, "There are many different types of Persona, and Persona users. Yours are of the type that can continue to accumulate in power and scope as your personallity and emotions grow and mature."
<Hikari> "Does that mean things will get easier for us eventually?" Hikari remembers with disappointment he apparent inability to even hit Mika's shadow.
> He nods, "In some ways, yes. In others, perhaps not. As time goes on, the shadows may grow stronger as well. But that would happen regardless of your own growth."
<Hikari> "Then we'll just have to study them and learn as we go."
<Valeriya> "Ok, something reassuring.  I like that."
<Valeriya> "So you said in some ways we would grow stronger, but perhaps not in others?  Does that mean we have weaknesses of some sort?"
> Igor shakes his head, "You misunderstood. I was refering to miss Hikari's question if things would grow easier for you. But to answer yours, yes, Persona can have weaknesses. And yours do."
> Theresa chimes in, "These weaknesses are representative of ways in which you are not satisfied with yourselves. They may go away in time, but they may not. It all depends on how you grow."
<Valeriya> "Oh."
<Valeriya> "...so, due to the look of my persona, does that mean I'm insatis...oh, never mind"
* Hikari just keeps to herself any thoughts she might have on personal weaknesses.
> Theresa giggles.
<Valeriya> "Well, now I'll be considering THAT question for a while"
> Igor continues, "Now, there is another way in which you may grow as well."
> Theresa nods, "The power of Social Links."
* Hikari just listens, expecting Igor to continue.
> "Social Links," he explains, "are deeper connections to other individuals. Just as your interactions with others will shape your growth as a person, they can shape the growth of your Persona. Often aiding you in ways you could never have accomplished on your own."
* Valeriya ponders for a second
<Valeriya> (Alice?)
> He waves his hand, and two cards appear on the table. You barely need to look at them to recognize them, for these are the cards containing your Persona.
> He waves his hand again, and they flip over to the back, revealing a woman wrestling a lion on one, and a tower made of human bodies on the other.
<Hikari> "Gruesome," Hikari observes. "That one must be yours, Val."
<Valeriya> "Yeah, it is.  Woman on lion...interesting"
<Valeriya> "At least my persona isn't the only perverted one"
> "Every person who has the power to influance others is guided by one of the twenty-two Greater Arcana. Just as the two of you are Strength and The Tower, and young Mykasi is The Fool, so are others guided by these aspects of the journey through life."
* Hikari is obligated to not know what Val's talking about. "Excuse me?"
> Theresa's smile turns sad for a moment, "Though there are some people who have no Arcana at all. I pity them more then anyone else, since that means they really are of no consequence to anyone. Such a sad existance that must be."
<Valeriya> "So there really do exist inconsequential people?  Do you have any examples of those type of people?  Or are they off your radar too?"
> Igor shakes his head, "Our only concern as resisdents of the Velvet Room is the power of Persona, and those who use it to shape thier destinies."
<Valeriya> "Inconsequential people....well, that goes against most religions I've heard about.  There goes the saying that everyone can make a difference.  Anyway, is there anything going on the world otherwise we should know about?"
> He continues, "By forging close bonds with those around you, your Persona can draw upon the power of the other Arcana, allowing you to accomplish things you otherwise could not."
* Hikari can only nod at this. Val actually had an interesting question! She would've been curious to know the answer.
> Theresa shrugs, "Sorry I can't tell you any more. But if beings like us concerned ourselves with them, they would hardly be inconsequential, would they? And we have enough else to moniter as it is."
<Hikari> "Well, there are only two of you, after all. ...Right?"
> She nods, "Yup. It's not an easy job, I can tell you."
<Valeriya> "Mmm...ok.  So, these people...theoretically, they could be anyone?  Even dead?  It would explain ghost sightings and the like"
> Ignoring his assitant's chatter, Igor shakes his head at Valeryia, "I am afraid not. Our purpose here is to fascilitate your entry into the Dream, and to aid you in discovering the power of your Persona. Other knowledge and aid is beyond our scope. We must allow you to seek out your own destinies without undo influance or interferance."
<Valeriya> (And make me feel a little less crazy)
> Theresa nods, "Anyone who still has the ability to influence others, yes."
<Valeriya> "Interesting.  Would a ghost be any different in that regard than someone who is alive?"
> She shrugs, "Well, you'd have to have some way to interact with them. But if that's not a problem, then nope."
<Hikari> "Val, try to stay on topic. I'd guess there are enough living people around to help that we won't have time to worry about dead ones."
<Valeriya> "But it's still a possibility - and you never know, it means that, even if a subject dies, we can still connect with them - gives us a bit better insight into the dream"
<Valeriya> (Good BS?  Maybe)
<Hikari> "In the meantime, I think I'll concentrate on not letting anyone die in my presence."
<Valeriya> "You do that"
> Igor adds, "Do note that in order to form a Social Link, the other, or others, involved must willingly open up to you, even if just a little at first. Such connections cannot be formed purely through the Dream."
<Valeriya> "I see"
* Hikari isn't the best at opening up to people herself, so she can only wonder how well she'll do at talking others into doing so.
<Valeriya> "So...this makes me wonder...what our lives will look like.  I mean, if we're sick, or old and brittle, we'd still be like that in the dream?  I'm just imagining myself at the age of 80 trying to fight off succubi"
> Igor takes that as a rhetorical question and gestures again, the cards vanishing from the table, "Now you have heard what you needed to hear. I assume you will recount this information to your freind?"
<Hikari> "Insofar as we understood it, we'll be sure to tell him everything, yes."
<Valeriya> "Yeah.  We'll tell him when we see him"
> Igor nods, "Very well then."
> At Igor's nod, Theresa stands up to open the door for you, "Unless you had any other questions?"
<Valeriya> "Yeah - is your hair a natural red, or dyed?"
* Hikari shakes her head. "No. No, I think that's enough strangeness for one day. If anything else occurs to me, I know where to find you--Val, that's just rude."
> Theresa giggles, "My hair is whatever color I want it to be. I do tend to prefer red though."
<Valeriya> "What, I like the highlights?  I just wanted to know"
<Valeriya> "Why do you always assume I'm being a smartass?"
<Valeriya> "I can be serious sometimes"
<Hikari> "Setting aside the question of whether dreamworld denizens have access to hair-dye in the first place..." Hikari muses.
<Valeriya> "Well, it is a dream, I assume if they wanted..."
> Still laughing, Theresa opens the door for you, "Have a pleasant evening."
<Hikari> "You as well," Hikari says, leaving.
<Valeriya> "Yeah, take care"
> Stepping back into the blue void, the girls find themselves back in the library in the real world.
<Valeriya> "Ok, so...nothing seems like it's pressing for intervention"