Chapter 2 Logs - (JUSTICE) Shadows of Keita and Ewan Okuro

[VySaika]

> -------------------------------------
> Ah, Tuesdays. Most students would have long since buckled under the kind of pressure that Hikari gets on Tuesdays, and indeed a couple of your fellow students who had similar scheduals have dropped a class or two, but Hikari herself and one other seem to be holding up alright. That one other, surprisingly enough, is none other then Yuka Shiida, one of the biggest gossips and general complainers in the entire school.
> Once again, it's time for Culinary Arts class, and Dr. Hanaya is even later then usual, leaving most of the class to chatter or check notes as they well until she arrives.
> Yuka, who is only one table away from Hikari and her group, is unsurprisingly opting for the former. One of her group, an older girl named Issa Okuro is the current center of the rambling.
<Hikari> Maybe Shiida has someone else do her work for her? Hey, it wouldn't be the first time Hikari had heard of something like that. Anyway, because she feels obliged to watch out for strange behavior (and NOT out of genuine interest in gossip, right?), she listens in a little while she waits for class to start.
> Okuro is getting her notes together as she talks, "So you two wouldn't believe what I got in the mail yesterday."
> Shiida shakes her head, "The way things have been around here lately, I'd believe anything. What was it?"
> Okuro shrugs, "Okay, point on that. But really, it was this bizzare loop thing with a bunch of leather strips crossed around it. The strange part though is that the return address was from my house. But my parents insist they didn't send anything like that."
> The third girl at the table rolls her eyes, "Don't you have two little brothers? I bet it was them."
> Okuro shrugs, "Probably. It's just the kind of dumb artsy thing that Ewan would be into."
> Before anyone else can respond, the door opens and Dr. Hanaya walks in, and as usual promptly locks the door behind her.
* Hikari can only shrug. It doesn't sound like anything she should be concerned about and she has no idea what the object in question could be. Besides, class is on, it's time to focus!
> Class progresses as usual. There's no actual cooking today, it's pure note taking. The lecture winds down...pretty much JUST in time for a couple people to get out and make thier next class, so there's a bit of scrambling for the door.
* Hikari has places to be too, and heads out with the rest of the students. The life of a scholar is a busy one!
> Tuesday runs it's course, leaving Hikari's brain stuffed with information and body worn out from all the running around by the time her last class is over.
* Hikari is looking forward to getting to sleep early after that busy day. She heads straight back to her room, drops her books in a corner, and stretches--before noticing the dreamcatcher still sitting around the apartment. "...Oh."
> Neimi looks over at you, "Hmm? You forget something in class?"
<Hikari> "Uh. Sort of. I forgot something while I was in class, but I didn't forget anything IN class. ...Does that make any sense?" She's a little distracted.
> She laughs, "Oh yeah, I do that all the time. The proffessor will be talking about something and I'll KNOW that I know the answer but it all sounds like greek until I get back to the room and suddenly go 'oh yeah, durr' and remember the answer."
> She shrugs and pulls her shoes on, "Anyway, heading out for my standard Tuesday late shift. Want the usual half-price sandwich special?"
<Hikari> "Yeah. Yeah, that's pretty much it." She tries to remember anything she knows about Okuro. Would Hikari have any reasonable pretext to start a conversation with her, anything in common? "Sure, that'll be fine," she says.
> Neimi nods and heads out while Hikari wracks her brain about her classmate. Issa Okuro is a history major and is also one of the students in that 4 hour world history block you have tomorrow. But there are 40+ others in that class as well. That and Culinary Arts are the only classes she has with you though. Anything else...
> OOC: Mind check please
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 3."12 [2d8=2, 1]
> Fortunately, Hikari seems to have a very good memory for random trivia, and the fact that she sits with Shiida means you've heard quite a bit of random trivia about her life while waiting for Dr. Hanaya to show up in Culinary Arts.
<Hikari> Well, she'll have to pick something to start a conversation with before or after class tomorrow. Any lead could prove to be worthwhile, after all.
> Okuro is a couple years older then you are, and this is apparently the last semester before she gets her BA degree. Despite the fact that she only needs a couple of credits, she's a bit of a workaholic and has a schedual that is actually heavier then your own overall. From what you recall from random chatter, she appears to still live at home, where her two much younger brothers are a constant pain in her side(more)
> Also she seems to have 0 love life, or interest in such, at all. You can recal Shiida teasing her on that on more then one occasion.
<Hikari> Well, commiserating about the workload is easy enough a beginning. Hikari wouldn't feel right pestering even close acquaintances about their romantic encounters (or lack thereof), so maybe she can start with idle school chatter.
> The only other thing that comes to mind is that she actually seems to enjoy Yuka Shiida's company, for whatever reason.
<Hikari> Perplexing indeed, but Hikari can't exactly start a conversation with "Why DO you hang out with that gossip queen, anyway?" School or family seems the place to start.
> (OOC: Scene Change Rebooted!)
> It's Wednesday, right after lunch, and those who are lucky enough to have one of the coveted spots in the World History block are making thier way towards the classroom.
* Hikari moves with the crowd, walking a little faster than usual in order to make sure she gets there before anyone else sits down next to her quarry. And if Mike's around before her, she'll stop off and give him an update real quick before moving on to Okuro.
> Kyo rolls his neck, popping it loudly, and nods to Mike(who he was actually around to grab lunch with for once), "Alright, you got class and I got errands to run. Later man."
> Hikari finds Okuro already sitting down, but Mike's a little bit behind you.
<Mykasi> "Yep." Mike nods slightly. "Ciao." With that, he bails on Kyo and skids over to class, hustling a bit to try and get a seat alongside the wall so he can lean on it.
> But only a little. He actually walks into the room about 3 seconds after Hikari herself does.
* Hikari stops by Mike once he's alone (she'd been looking for him--ah, there he is!). "There might be something up with Okuro," she says quietly. "I'm going to investigate." Wasting no more time, Hikari Ishigami, P.I., moves on!
> Hikari grabs a seat next to Okuro, who just nods absently by way of greeting while she pulls her notes out.
<Mykasi> "Hi, Hi- uh, oka- ...right!" Mike finishes, before waving to a casual acquaintance in the class and pulling out his notes (and his robotics club charter concept to work on while bored. Not often, here, but best to be prepared.)
* Hikari takes a seat next to Okuro, dropping into the chair, yawning noticeably, and generally looking the part of the bedraggled, overworked student (fortunately, this requires very little actual acting on her part). "Ready for another busy class?" she says idly.
> Okuro half smiles as she pulls out her final piece of class equipment, a laptop, "With this new toy, oh yes. I don't think anyone alive can write as fast as Jocyce talks, but my typing speed isn't much slower."
* Hikari nods. "I should try that. Or just record the lectures." She shakes her head. "I don't know how you keep up with everything. You take even more classes than I do."
> She does give you a half concerned look after a moment, "Are you alright? You look pretty tired. I know you and Yuka have the same schedual Tuesdays, so you'd have enough of a reason."
> She shrugs, "I've also got a couple of years of doing this on you. It gets easier, so long as you don't let yourself slack off during breaks."
* Hikari smiles. "I'm okay. Just, you know, school and family stuff, keeps you busy. Sometimes you just need to sleep for a day to recover, but I can't do that today."
> Okuro laughs, "That's what weekends are for. Sleep. Well, when my brothers let me, the little gremlins. Sometimes I'm tempted to get a room here. People your own age HAVE to be more considerate."
<Hikari> "Well, my brother's quiet, at least. He likes numbers a lot. What do yours do?"
> She rolls her eyes, "Argue. That's what they do. One's eight and the other's seven, so they argue about everything. Dinosaurs or robots, pokemon or digimon, japaneese food or chinese food, the list goes on."
<Hikari> "Well, at least they argue with each other and not you, right? At least it's only secondhand noise."
* Mykasi is, coincidentally, sketching out a robot dinosaur's schematics. Naturally, it is stepping on a city, though in this case it's Washington D.C.
> She grins, and it's not an overly pleasant expression, "Oh they know better then to argue with me. And I don't mind secondhand noise most of the time. Actually helps me to study. Just keeps me from sleeping."
* Hikari shakes her head. "I need peace and quiet to get anything done. It's good not living at home, for me."
> "I thought you said your brother was quiet?"
<Hikari> "Oh, my *brother* is. My sister's always on the phone, and it doesn't seem to bother her if anyone's around to hear."
> Okuro shakes her head, "I thankfully don't have any sisters. And my brothers are so much younger then me that I may as well be an only child most of the time. I feel sorry for my mom sometimes haveing to deal with those little gremlins all day every day."
* Hikari nods. She's not sure how to lead the conversation in the direction of that dreamcatcher, but it's probably enough to have had *a* conversation with Okuro, for now. Asking more specific questions in the future will be less awkward after that.
> Just as someone Mike's sitting next to looks like they're about to ask about the mechasaur stomping on D.C., Jocyce comes striding in and launches straight into the day's lecture without so much as a "hey is everyone ready", and all conversation comes to a screaching halt as everyone srambles to keep up.
* Mykasi gives a very quick amused grin to the person next to him before quickly switching to note-taking mode.
* Hikari can't help but be nostalgic for the days when she only had to worry about keeping up with classes. It's so much easier when you don't need to wonder if your fellow students are possessed.
> The class seems to go by much faster then most 4 hour periods do, leaving only Jocyce himself and the few students who share that retarded level of energy not exhausted.
<Mykasi> While perhaps less flagged than most, Mike's still somewhat peppy, and thus has avoided "draw-on-note-pages-ania" symptoms thus far. Though it won't last much past the end of class...
> Okuro stays in her seat awhile longer while everyone else is filling out to put the finishing touches on her notes.
* Hikari is out of things to talk about after class, and out of energy to do it. She'll just have to keep an eye on Okuro during the coming days and see if anything changes. She stops by Mike on the way out to update him.
* Mykasi dutifully stays in place as he sees Hikari swing by, stuffing notes into his bag. "So, what's going on?"
> Fortunately, everyone else in Mike's part of the room left as soon as they were able, so it's fairly empty over there
<Hikari> "Not much, right now." she shuffles out of the classroom, expecting Mike to follow (it doesn't seem like a good idea to talk about the girl while she's still in the room). "She got a dreamcatcher in the mail, from nobody, just like I did. But she seems perfectly normal so far."
<Mykasi> "Dream...catcher?" Mike pauses slightly. "Wait, what about them?"
* Mykasi of course dutifully follows, leading them away from the class when they're out.
<Hikari> "One of them came for me in the mail, right before my Shadow appeared. I could never figure out who sent it. Anyway, I didn't really make the connection until I overheard Okuro say she got one too. You never got one, I take it?" It strikes Hikari that this is the kind of thing they probably should've talked about earlier.
<Mykasi> "No, I never did. We didn't exactly discuss what happened before... though, honestly? Nothing odd occurred for me, relatively speaking. Former roommate who was obviously on something was found to be on something, got expelled, I was tested to make sure I wasn't as well, then I came back and got new roommate." Mike shakes his head. "So... wait, dreamcatchers...?"
<Mykasi> After a few moments, "...that's... interesting.
<Mykasi> "...that's... interesting. It was the only odd thing that happened?"
* Hikari shrugs. "Well, maybe it is nothing. It could be a coincidence. We do have a very small number of known cases to work from."
<Mykasi> "Except that, uh, Dream World and dreamcatchers. And you couldn't figure out who sent it?" Mike shakes his head, beginning to feel hackles rise. "...Look, I realize this may sound mountain out of molehill, but it's also the first actual possibility we've run across..."
<Hikari> "No. The return address was my parents' house, but they didn't know anything about it. Okuro's circumstances are the same.
<Hikari> "
<Mykasi> "...bizarre." Mike notes, mentally filing this away before shaking his head. "Well, you've got more of an idea about her than I do, so keep an eye out, alright?"
* Hikari nods. "Of course.I have another class with her as well, so I should be able to see her once a day."
<Mykasi> "Alright. That should be good enough." Mike says, glancing at his iPod (doubling as his watch since senior year, high school.) "Then keep me up to date?"
* Hikari nods. "Of course."
> You two head your seperate ways.
> (OOC: Scene Change: Revised Edition!)
* Mykasi waits an appropriate length of time before pulling out the mecha-dinosaur pic again, sketching out more mentally.
> Thursday follows Wednesday, as it usually does, and Hikari finds herself heading for Cullinary Arts once more. This class does have assigned tables, but Okuro and Shiida are right next to your table anyway, so.
* Hikari watches Okuro for any signs of Shadow possession, feeling vaguely voyeuristic but knowing that it's necessary to observe.
> She doesn't seem to be acting at all out of the ordinary. Today Yuka is going on and on about someone else entirely's personal life and Okuro is just kinda nodding along and making approrpiate noises when Shiida checks to see if she's still listening.
> After awhile, the third girl at that table shows up and sits down, "Hey, Okuro. Was it your brothers playing a joke afterall?"
> Okuro blinks, "What?"
> "You know, with that thing you got in the mail?"
> She suddenly remembers and shakes her head, "They swear it wasn't, and I honestly have to believe them. Ewan nearly begged me to let him have it, so if he'd gotten something like that at all he never would have sent it to me."
* Hikari frowns, and wonders if it might be someone else in the family that they have to watch for.
> The professor walks in a moment later, cutting off any further chatter at that table.
* Hikari decides that, in addition to watching Okuro in the future, she'll have to find excuses to ask more about her family in case the girl herself seems to remain normal.
> Class happens, food is cooked and eaten, and nothing strange happens.
* Hikari follows along like the dutiful student she is, vaguely distracted but not enough to make her botch the assignment.
> (OOC: Advanced Scene Change!)
> Friday evening rolls around, and Kyo has made his usual nightly exit, leaving Mike alone with his computer and a lot of questions about dreamcatchers.
<Mykasi> Well, "alone" for various definitions of alone, but that's an argument for another time. First, there's actually one more bit of info he wants to get... and that he needs to get from Hikari, so he rings her up.
<Mykasi> While the phone rings, Mike types in "dreamcatchers" in Japanese on Google to get some preliminary results.
> H: Hikari's phone rings! It's Mike!
* Hikari answers the phone. "Hello?"
<Mykasi> "Hey, it's Mike. Decided to do some quick dreamcatcher research. Can you describe the one you got for me? What's it made out of, anything on it, hanging off of it...?"
<Hikari> "It's basically a circle made of wood. It's got all sorts of strings and straps woven around it, beads and feathers hanging from them. It's not very large. Palm-sized, maybe. There are some carvings on it too, not that I know what they mean. If they mean anything."
<Mykasi> "Hm... So it's not one of the shitty 'neo-traditional' ones people sell for a quick buck. Any chance you can get a picture of the carvings with your cell phone or something?" At this point, Mike's already hit tab explosion (for him, ~30 tabs open) and is attempting to pare things down.
<Hikari> "Of course." Hikari pauses to take a picture of the object--taking it down from the window and shooting it sitting on her desk under a lamp --then sends it on over.
* Mykasi takes a glance at the picture to see if he recognizes the carvings himself.
> The carvings seem to be very stylized bird shapes
<Mykasi> "Stylized birds?" Mike notes, once back on the phone. "Interesting... I'll have to ask my dad on that one, it doesn't mean anything to me off the top of my head."
* Hikari can only shrug. "That's more of a lead than I had on it."
<Mykasi> "As for dreamcatchers... well, in myth, I can tell you that one of the primary ones has, uh... Anansi being their origin."
<Hikari> "...Interesting. Maybe you didn't *need* one." Hikari muses.
<Mykasi> "Maybe, though it seems like something Valeria would've mentioned. Anyway, the Great Spirit sent Anansi to a skilled warrior to give him a blessing. As the story goes, Anansi left him a web that'd influence dreams, but seven times the warrior - Sun In Eyes - knocked it away. Anansi got sick of it and bit him, and told him it was a gift while he was hallucinating."
<Hikari> "...Huh." It's hard to think of what else to say to the story, really.
<Mykasi> "Now, most version have the dreamcatchers keep the bad dreams caught, in theory letting the good ones cycle, but the one my dad taught me - back then at least - had Anansi say that it was good dreams that were caught, so you could remember them in the morning. The bad dreams would cycle out."
<Hikari> "Mine didn't keep the bad dreams out, I can say that much for sure," Hikari says, thinking back the confrontation with her Shadow.
<Mykasi> "The only other relevant note is that the dreamcatchers are supposed to be made by someone close to you or by yourself. From extrapolation... well, maybe the dreamcatcher just doesn't work if those conditions aren't met. I'll ask my pa that one, too."
<Hikari> "Someone close to us or made by us...well, my family didn't know anything about it, and I know I didn't make it. And it was sent from my home address. Maybe my Shadow did it? Somehow? Yes, I'm just groping for answers here."
<Mykasi> "I've not a clue, myself. It's got me worried, but..." A pause. "You think Valeriya got one?"
<Hikari> "We should probably find out. And now I also wonder if Mika did."
<Mykasi> "Don't recall seeing one, but I wasn't paying attention to that. You wanna call her while I keep digging?"
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 11."12 [2d8=6, 5]
<Hikari> "I'll try Val, yes. Call me back if you find anything." Hikari hangs up and phones her other teammate.
<Mykasi> "Righty-o."
> H: You call Val! The phone rings. And rings. And rings. And goes to voicemail.
* Mykasi digs for vendors of dreamcatchers in Japan, then. Especially in this area.
<Hikari> "Valeriya? It's Hikari. I've noticed something that might be a lead and wondered if you could answer a question for me. Please call back at your earliest convenience, thanks." There doesn't seem much more to say, right now.
> M: A few minutes plying your Search-Fu on the internet brings up...all of 1 small occult shop in this city that deals with stuff from other cultures. The place is called...Dreamspeakers. Yeah.
* Mykasi is completely unsurprised at this, and browses their online selection, if any, to see if there's any pictures that match up with Hikari's.
> They have a couple of sample dreamcatchers there. They're about the same size/shape, but the ornamentations and carvings are completely different.
> The site does mention multiple times about making custom ordered designs though.
* Mykasi makes a note to have Hikari bring hers over so he can take it in. If anyone knows about the making of this, it'd be them, most likely.
* Hikari calls Mike back, feeling restless now that they have something to investigate again.
* Mykasi then idly flicks over to a more, ah, entertaining site as he waits for Hikari to return the call... which happens immediately. But of course.
<Hikari> "Hello again. I was unable to reach Val. I left her a message, for what that's worth. Find anything interesting?"
<Mykasi> "One store in the city sells dreamcatchers. There's a note that they do custom orders, so we might wanna take it in and see if it's their work. You up for it?"
<Mykasi> "Also, somehow I'm not surprised you can't reach Val - we can swing by the library later, maybe?"
<Hikari> "We may as well look into it, yes. I haven't any other ideas of what we could do right now, and now that we have an idea I find that Iv ery much want to do *something*. We can stop by the library as well, yes."
<Mykasi> "Alright. I take it nothing changed on her front?"
<Hikari> "Not that I know of, though I haven't talked to her in days."
<Mykasi> "Right." Mike says, idly eyeing the website he has up before tabbing to his email client. "I'm gonna toss an email to my dad, too. He knows tons more than I on this sort of thing."
<Hikari> "Of course. Shall we meet outside your building? I can walk over while you write."
<Mykasi> "Hold on a minute." Mike checks how late the place is open.
> Apaprently open until midnight on weekends. Only until 9pm on weekdays though.
<Mykasi> "I... think it'll be closed if we try to go tonight, but it's open late on weekends, Try tomorrow, maybe?"
<Hikari> "Alright. Maybe we'll have heard from Val by then, too."
<Mykasi> "That'd be good." Mike says, suddenly a touch worried. Perhaps he should swing by the library beforehand tomorrow...
<Mykasi> This being said, he alt-tabs back to the email - but with his adult entertainment site in the background. He can afford to be slower on writing this one.

[VySaika]

> ----------------------------------------------------------
> Saturday morning finds Mykasi awake a bit earlier then most students might like, and after a quick shower heading right for the place that most students would rabidly avoid on a weekend: the campus library. Not three minutes after he arrives, the door opens and a second student, Hikari of course, quietly slips in.
> Valeria is not there, sadly. Instead it seems that miss Yukina Ijikimodo is working the saturday morning shift.
<Mykasi> "Hey. Gonna ask them if Valeriya's around - got a cover for why her, so just let me talk?" Mike suggests, beginning to head to the check-out desk, where no doubt bushy-tailed morning people are working happily - though apparently not Val?
> Yukina does seem to be the morning person type, humming softly to herself while she's sorting papers of some kind at the checkout desk. She doesn't even seem to notice Mike walking up to her.
* Hikari just nods. Mike can go right ahead and take the lead if he wants.
* Mykasi coughs softly. "Ah, excuse me, ma'am; would Valeriya happen to be working today, by any chance?"
> Yukina looks up, "Huh? Oh, sorry, I was absorbed in my work. And...looking for her, huh? Another one of her fans?" She sniffs, "Well, you're out of luck. She's not on today, or any time for the next few days for that matter."
<Mykasi> "Fans? No, we had asked her for a favor regarding our World History class..." Mike replies, puzzled. "Wait, what do you mean, fans?"
> She eyes you for a moment, then smiles, "Right, you're from America. You probably see girls like her all the time. Alot of the local boys come in just to try to find some excuse to talk to her or stare when they don't think she's looking. Sickening really, it's like they're still in highschool."
* Hikari can only nod in agreement at this!
<Mykasi> "Oh." A slight pause as Mike's gears shift a bit, before a slight chuckle. "Heh, guess I didn't think about it that way. Still... that sort of puts the project on hold for a bit, unless we can get in touch with her... Could you try to get a message to her?" (more)
<Mykasi> "Sorry to sound like we're using you as a courier service, I just don't know any other way to get in contact with her as it stands..." Well, since she's not receiving calls...
> Yukina shrugs, "I can leave a message on her voicemail, I guess. I...wouldn't get your hopes up though, I think she's out of town."
> OOC: Mind check, both of you.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
<Rei-chan> 6,0Mykasi rolled :6,0 2d8 --> 6,0[ 2d8=15 ]4,0{15}
<Hikari> roll 2d8
<Rei-chan> 6,0Hikari rolled :6,0 2d8 --> 6,0[ 2d8=12 ]4,0{12}
> OOC: Mind checks failed. Proceed.
* Hikari frowns. "It was nice of her to tell us about it beforehand. I wonder where she went?"
<Mykasi> "Alright, then." Mike shrugs. "Guess that's the best we can do at this juncture. Thanks, though. ...Actually, one other question. You guys have any books on..." A slight pause. "...Native... Native American mythology? Curious to see what the views on it are over here."
> She frowns, "Hmm. I don't know off the top of my head. I can take a look in the system if you'd like to wait a little while? The computer's a bit slow these days, really need to just replace the stupid thing, so it will take a few minutes."
* Mykasi glances to Hikari. "You mind taking the time, or should we get running? I know you wanted to start on the other half of this project, so."
* Hikari shrugs. "We've got a few minutes. I don't mind."
<Mykasi> "Right. Sure, if you could?" Mike turns back to Yukina.
> She nods, "Sure thing. Just have a seat and I'll let you know what we have in a bit."
> She starts typing and occassionally glaring at the computer.
* Mykasi shrugs and sits down a respectful distance away, muttering under his breath.
* Hikari may as well take a seat while she waits, and does so.
<Mykasi> Low on his breath, Mike mutters, "...Fanboys? Maybe she went into hiding or something, but then why hide from us, too? Something else is definitely going on..."
<Hikari> "The situation is certainly strange, but that word aptly applies to Valeriya herself as well. I don't really know what to think right now."
<Mykasi> A slight pause, before, "I don't know. She seemed interested enough in figuring out what was going on, at least, even if her brain went off on the largest tangents..." Mike shakes his head again. "Anyway, I wanted this book because... well. If you two both got these random dreamcatchers, someone is sending them for a reason. I know most of the Indian beliefs in them, but I couldn't tell you the Japanese perspective, which
<Mykasi> "but I couldn't tell you the Japanese perspective, which is more likely what this person's following... Thus my interest, here."
> She looks up and waves you back over, "Okay, so we have a couple non-fiction, and a couple fiction books that also deal with the subject. Non-fiction first, we have 'Secrets of the First Americans' by T.L. Stagg, that's in English by the way, as well as 'The Spiritual Animal: Nature In World Mythology' by Keiji Kanaka...oops, that one's checked out."(more)
> She smiles apologetically, "Sorry about that. Did you also want to hear the fiction titles that have that tag?"
<Mykasi> "Yes, please." Mike returns. "And the checked-out one - any chance I could get on a reserve list for that?"
* Hikari can't help but wonder who has it checked out, but there's no polite way to get that information.
> She shakes her head, "Sorry, we don't do reserve lists here. Had a big problem with a teacher being unable to get a book they needed because of that a couple years ago. As for the fiction titles..."(more)
> "Let's see, we have books one through four of the 'Avatar Thunder' series by Sieko Hataji, but book three is checked out. We also have 'Forest Illusion' by S. Werfel, another one in English. I think that's part of a series but we only have that one."
<Mykasi> "Hm... Books one and two of the Avatar Thunder series would work. I'm interested mainly in perspective of the culture and how it's been adapted here if at all, so that'd work." Mike nods, before grinning. "Oh, and yeah, 'Forest Illusion' is first of a trilogy, or at least planned to be. Dad hasn't finished the third one yet, though."
> Yukina blinks, "Oh, that's your father? I hadn't even heard of him until looking this up, but I'm not a big fiction reader. Is he really popular in America?"
> "Oh yeah, and the Avatar Thunder books should all be on shelf seven over in the fiction section." She points right at the shelf.
<Mykasi> "Semi-." Mike shrugs. "Big name from what I understand in First American circles and 'realistic fantasy', however you want to take that term, but not too well known at all outside of those two groups. I admittedly don't keep up with how well he sells, partially since he likes to keep it quiet himself. Just amused to know he's got a book or two over here, mainly."
<Mykasi> "And alright, thanks. Should be interesting reading at the least, unless vampires are involved."
> She shrugs, "Well, we only have the number of English books we do because Prof. Jocyce donated a bunch when he started working here. No surprise, most of them are about various world cultures."
<Mykasi> "Fair enough. Huh, interesting."
* Mykasi quickly runs to grab the books, before returning to the checkout desk and handing them over with his student ID. "Thanks for this."
> Yukina quickly checks you out and hands you the books, "Alright. Good luck with your project."
<Mykasi> "Thanks. If you can get in touch with Valeriya, just tell her Mike's waiting for a response. She's got my email, I don't have hers. So." Mike shrugs. "Have a good day, ma'am." With this, he nods and heads out, glancing to Hikari once out. "Sorry. Should we go to the store next?"
<Hikari> "Of course," she says, starting to walk in that direction. "Your father's a writer?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah." Mike nods. "Does a lot of work with First American themes, as well as some stuff outside it."
* Hikari nods. "That's nice. Though I don't read much fiction myself. I suppose it's nice to make a living doing something you enjoy, though."
<Mykasi> "Heh. He prefers fiction so that he can tell stories that make more sense than reality, if that makes sense." A pause, before, "Granted, with what we've been going through, that'd not be hard."
* Hikari can't help but smile. "Yes, I think I understand."
<Mykasi> "Alright. I'll probably let you do the talking, since you're the one that got it in the mail. I'll browse and see if anything jumps out at me."
<Mykasi> "Idly, did you bring it with you?"
<Hikari> "Of course," she says, briefly taking it out of her purse to show it.
<Mykasi> "Gotcha. Might help to show that to the shopkeeper."
<Hikari> "I assumed as much. I'd hope they can recognize their own stock, if this is where it came from."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. Alright, then let's get going? It's a decent clip away, but we've got some time."
> And thus Mike and Hikari make thier way to the occult shop.
> (OOC: Scene Change: 3rd Edition!)
> Dreamspeakers is a rather small shop in a less trafficed part of town. The streets and buildings are all in various states of disrepair and the entire area might feel rather ominious if it weren't for the fact that it's just after noon when you get there so there's a few kids playing like they don't have a care in the world(more)
> All in all, the area almost feels like it's own little retreat from the rest of the city. It's hard to hear the noise from the main streets from here, and for all that the area is clearly run down...it feels peaceful here.(more)
> The shop itself is nothing special at all from the outside. Just another dusty old building in a street full of dusty old buildings, the sign out front with the shop's name and...a large dreamcatcher hanging from it...are the only things that make it stand out.
<Mykasi> "Been a few years since I've walked this kind of road..." Mike says, opening the door for Hikari as he watches the kids. "Interesting dreamcatcher design out here, too..."
<Hikari> It's nice hearing children at play, somehow. Makes Hikari remember more innocent times and all that. Not that she's about to monologue about any of this. "Me too. But I didn't grow up in this kind of area." She enters the shop, searching for the proprietor.
> A small bell rings as you enter, causing an older man to stand up from the table he was sitting at and greet you, "Ah, hello there. Not too often we get customers at this hour of day. Welcome to Dreamspeakers, what can I help you with?"
> The man is easily in his fifties, but his expression is warm and both his voice and eyes are clear.
* Hikari gets right to the point. "I was given a dreamcatcher a few days ago, but I haven't been able to determine where it came from. I wonder, could you tell me if this might've come from your store?" She shows the man the dreamcatcher she received in the mail. They can move onto a conversation about dreamcatchers in general once he's answered the first question.
* Mykasi just quietly steps in afterward and lets Hikari lead this off, glancing about curiously.
> He takes it and looks it over, "Hmm. Definately done in the same style I use, but I didn't make this one. And every dreamcatcher sold in this store is hand made by myself."
> Mike's poking around finds that the store is full of the more benign occult objects and books. Bits and pieces from all kinds of mythologies are represented, but there is a definate bias towards Native American culture.
* Hikari frowns. "Still a mystery, then. I don't suppose you could tell us a little about how these objects are supposed to work? I knew little about them before receiving this, and what information I could find online was, unsurprisingly, inconsistent. Not everyone even agrees whether they keep out the bad dreams or hold onto the good ones."
* Mykasi glances over the books just to see what they're about, but otherwise just keeps listening in.
> The man laughs, "Well, that's a bit of a question there. I suppose I could point you towards a book I consider fairly reliable if you're looking for the most commonly accepted answer."
<Hikari> "That's a start, yes."
> Walking over to a bookshelf, he pulls out a book and flips through it until he finds the passage he wants, "According to the Ojibwa, with whom the dreamcatchers are said to originate, the purpose of the dreamcatcher is to protect children from nightmares, letting the good dreams filter through but trapping the bad dreams in the webbing."
> He closes the book, "This book does have quite a bit more about them, as well as other Native American practices and beliefs, if you're interested."
* Hikari glances at the cover, making sure it's not one they already picked up at the library.
> The title of the book is 'Spiritual Nations - Volume 5'
* Hikari nods. "I may as well take a copy, yes."
> He nods and starts ringing the book up, "Is there anything else you're looking for? If you're that interested in dreamcatchers I do offer some classes here on Monday afternoons about how to make your own."
* Mykasi glances over at this, obviously interested.
<Hikari> "I'll think about it, though school keeps me pretty busy these days. In the meantime, perhaps you could send me an email if you happen to see another dreamcatcher exactly like mine? I would like to know where it came from, so if anyone you know happens to have one that's identical, it might be helpful."
> He pulls a small form from under the register, "Here, why don't you go ahead and fill this out? It's the form for signing up for my craft classes. You pay by the class when you show up so if classes keep you away that's fine, but there's spaces here to put your contact information, like an e-mail address."
* Hikari fills in her name and email address, which seems good enough for now.
> He takes the mostly filled out form and puts it in an accordian folder.
* Mykasi walks over at this point. "Uh, could I ask for one of those forms as well? If I can get in here, I'd not mind attending myself."
* Hikari pays for the book and prepares to leave, assuming Mike's ready. She herself doesn't have much more to say.
> The man nods and hands Mike a form, "Not a problem. Anything besides the classes you might be interested in, young man?"
<Mykasi> "Uh, yeah. Actually, could I see that dreamcatcher again, Hikari?" Mike says respectfully.
* Hikari hands it over.
* Mykasi nods and looks at the stylized bird shapes. "I was actually wondering if you might know whether or not birds would have a significance on the dreamcatcher. From what I can tell, that's what these designs are...?" Mike points them out to the propertier.
> "Hmm." He looks over the dreamcatcher for a moment and strokes his chin, "Not in a traditional dreamcatcher, no."
<Mykasi> "In other forms, then?" Mike queries.
> He hesitates, but nods after a moment, "I can't speak with any authority on the subject, mind you, and some of my oppinions on things like this are considered outright hogwash by proffesionals in the field. But...I can think of a couple of reasons why a dreamcatcher might have designs like that on it, yes."
<Mykasi> "That's fine." Mike says with a slight grin. "Quite frankly we've got nothing to run on - any hints as to this might help us figure something out."
> He frowns but nods, "Hmm. How did you say you came into possesion of this again, miss?"
<Hikari> "It was a gift, but I'm not sure who from. Sort of a mysterious admirer, I guess." She's not sure how else to explain it. Getting into the whole discussion about how it came from her house but no one there actually sent it doesn't seem worth the time, and it might just confuse the conversation.
> "Hmm. That might be it indeed then." He sighs and has a seat back at his table, "Bear with an old man for a moment here while I ask a fairly silly question." He looks up and makes eye contact with the both of you, "Do you kids believe in magic? Real magic, not the flashy hocus-pocus thats in those animated shows and video games."
* Hikari can't help but pause to exchange a glance at Mike. "I believe that there are things that defy conventional explanations," she says carefully.
<Mykasi> "...Yeah, I do." Mike says half-sheepishly after a moment, before glancing to Hikari. "I told you about my dad - he's definitely a believer in magic, too, though he's as bad a geek as I."
> The old man nods, "Well then. If my guess here is right, and it's probably not mind you, whoever sent this to you may well believe in magic."
> He leans back and starts to explain, "The dreamcatcher may not be important for what it actually does, but instead what it represents. The ability to effect dreams. It's the Concept that matters, not the actual form. Combined with the bird motif...well, birds are a traditional symbol of messengers."
> "If your guess of a secret admirer is right, it may be that someone is trying to send you a specific kind of dream, through the birds and the dreamcatcher."
> He shrugs, "That's my best guess, anyway. But if that's true, they'd have to look at magic the same way I do, and it's not a popular viewpoint."
<Hikari> "It wouldn't surprise me to learn whoever made believed they were working magic. What I need to know is what their intentions are, yes."
<Hikari> *to learn that whoever made it
> The proprietor laughs, "Well, if it works then the kind of dreams you have should be able to tell you what the intentions were."
* Mykasi considers this for a moment. "Hm. That... makes logical sense in some ways, accepting that belief as true - and frankly I've got no reason to refute it." Mike murmurs, before looking up. "A slightly different question. How else could a specific dream be sent? I mean, let's say that the dreamcatcher failed for some reason - she returns it or gives it to a friend, in theory. Is there another method that you could th
* Hikari can only nod and mutter, "Huh." She's not eager to start a conversation about the actual content of her dreams since she received the thing.
<Mykasi> "Is there another method that you could think of?"
> He shakes his head, "Honestly, I can't think of anything off the top of my head. Magic, as I believe in it, is all about combining the right Concepts with the Willpower. It's very...open ended, I think is a fitting phrase. Since I've never needed to send anyone a dream, I haven't thought of ways to go about doing it."
<Mykasi> "Fair enough." Mike nods slightly. "It's at least something for us to run with - a lot more than we had previously. Thank you. Oh, and..." Walking over to the stock of items, Mike picks up a small carved owl and brings it over, another sheepish grin on his face. "Beside Anansi and the Coyote, I confess to being fond of Athena."
> He laughs, "Good taste, that's another of my hand-crafted items. Been sitting here nearly six months waiting for a buyer." He rings up the owl and take the form you filled out and files it away in the accordian folder.
<Mykasi> "Thank you again for helping us out." Mike nods, before looking to Hikari, handing her back the dreamcatcher. "Anything else?"
* Hikari shakes her head. "No, but thank you for your time. It's been educational." This is supposed to be complimentary, really!
> "No trouble. It's nice to see more of the younger generation taking some time to think about the real wonders of the world and history, not just hard science and crazy fantasy."
<Mykasi> "You're talking to a roboticist-in-training here, but hell if I don't believe there's something else going on." Mike says with a laugh. "Take care, sir."
* Hikari exits with a reminder to let her know if he sees any dreamcatchers like hers, then waits outside fo Mike before speaking again.
* Mykasi exits after another wave, and walks down the street a bit before glancing to Hikari.
<Hikari> "I was thinking some about the intentions of whoever sent me this. As I see it, there are two broad possibilities: the sender wished the recipients to take control of their shadow, or to succumb to it. This is, of course, assuming the object is the cause of my experience in some way."
<Mykasi> "That'd make sense, yes. Following that logic, what reason would someone have for either result?" Mike asks.
<Hikari> "I can't begin to imagine why should would want to unleash shadow-controlled people on the city. At the same time, forcing someone to confront their shadow is an extremely dangerous way to see that someone comes into the power that we now have." She shakes her head. "Someone or something abnormal is the cause either way. In other words, I don't really know anything more than I did before." She sounds frustratedf.
* Mykasi considers. "Well, there's three things I can think of. Keep in mind I do read fantasy novels, so that might taint this, but... If they want recipients to control their shadow, then there must be something that only Personas can do or trigger. If they want them to succumb... either it's to cover for something else, or just for the chaos?" (More)
<Mykasi> "And... it's possible they might want both. Seperating wheat from chaff, if that makes any sense? Letting people who can't handle it go mad, while keeping tabs on those that stay sane - because they're either unaffected by the initial attempt, or able to control it."
<Mykasi> "Anyways, I gotta run an errand to the post office. I'll talk to you later, then?"
<Hikari> "It sounds very sinister when you put it that way. I don't care for someone meddling with my life regardless of their intentions. Oh, yes, I won't keep you any further. Goodbye for now."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, I'll talk to you once I get a reply from my dad." ...well, once he sends the email out, since he got distracted last night. But details.

[VySaika]

> ---------------------------------------------
> After taking a trip to the store Dreamweavers the previous day, Mykasi and Hikari are left with more questions then answers. Including "where the HELL is Valeria?". A peaceful Sunday morning finds Mykasi reading his father's reply while Kyo has just slid out to go see his brother.
* Mykasi looks over his Dad's email again before rubbing his head in annoyance. "Call the police? Not likely..." he mutters, before glancing to the phone and flipping it open. "No Valeriya, little help..." With that, he punches in Hikari's number and dials.
* Hikari is studying, of course, being an early riser and not having a lot else to do on a slow Sunday morning. That doesn't mean she's not glad for a distraction, though. She answers the phone.
<Mykasi> "This is Mike. Dad gave an email, the gist is 'yeah, no First American or person trained in First American matters would use this design, she should talk to the police'." Mike says in a tone of distracted annoyance, pulling up a few web sites to check for any news.
<Hikari> "The police?" Hikari sounds honestly surprised. "Would they actually know anything useful? I suppose at worst we've wasted some time and garnered some funny looks for talking to them about occult nonsense, but...I'm not sure how they could be any help."
<Mykasi> "In part that's due to the pretext I sent the email under - saying 'oh hey Dad I think this dreamcatcher caused her to suddenly manifest the capability to go into other people's minds' is not the most viable option in the universe." Mike notes. "Regardless, after thinking on it, I think that pretext... may be closer than I thought." (More)
> M: Mike's quick news search reveals a local man found dead this morning. Wearing a colorful costume resembling that of a popular superhero. He'd apparently been shot, but no other details about his death or identity have been released yet.
<Mykasi> "You said that the return address was your house? That actually reminded me of a trick my mom used to pull to avoid postage costs. Address it to, say, a work address, return address it to their home address - much higher chance that the person gets the letter, right?"
<Mykasi> "And... huh. A man wearing the costome of a superhero, found dead this morning - shot. Wonder what the heck that's about."
<Hikari> "Well, that's...a sneaky trick. The only reason I could think of to interest the police was in saying it came from a stalker or something. I'm sorry, did you say someone killed a superhero?"
<Mykasi> "Saying it might have come from a stalker was what I told my dad actually. And not a superhero, but a guy in a superhero costume. Kinda bizarre. ...There's one other thing. It's kinda far out there, but... it might be worth the shot."
<Hikari> "That's certainly unusual. I wonder which superhero he was trying to be? Not that I know anything about them. ...Well, 'out there' described a lot of what we've seen lately, doesn't it? Go ahead."
<Mykasi> "Okay. The dreamcatcher is our current guess as to what triggered your episode, correct? So... it's got something to do with the Dream World, in theory... Maybe taking it into the Dream World will help us get some answers?"
<Hikari> "I hadn't thought of that. Maybe our unusual friends there will be able to tell us if there's anything special about it."
<Mykasi> "That, too, yeah. It's worth a shot, at least... My roommate isn't here, but you probably don't wanna venture into the guy's dorm." Mike muses. "Uh, how do you wanna do this?"
<Hikari> "We could meet at the library and find an empty room to use there? We can see if there's word on Val at the same time."
<Mykasi> "That, too." Mike nods. "See you there, then."
* Hikari hangs up, and wastes no time preparing to leave.
> roll 2d8 luck check
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 luck check and gets 9."12 [2d8=2, 7]
> Heading out, the two shortly meet up at the Library. As luck would have it, Yukina Ijikimodo is working again this morning.
<Hikari> Mike did the talking last time, didn't he? He's welcome to do so again, if so.
<Mykasi> A slight nod to Hikari, before walking over... "Hey!" Mike says cheerfully. "Thanks for the Avatar Thunder recommendation."
> Yukina blinks, "Hmm? Oh, right. Uh, didn't you check those out just yesterday? You can't be done already..."
<Mykasi> "Nah, though I got a fair bit in. Speed reading." Mike grins. "Thus far it's been pretty interesting - the approach to some of it's really quite unique."
> She shrugs, "Well, glad you're enjoying it. Oh, and I left a message for Valeriya. She hasn't called back though."
> "Anything I can help you find today?"
> The library, by the way, is far from empty. Even on a Sunday morning there are a fair few students, most of whom neither of you recognize(hey, it's a decent sized school) taking the time to quietly study thier butts off.
<Mykasi> "Nah, not today. Thanks for the message to Valeriya, tho." Mike nods a bit. "Just wanted to say thanks for the Avatar Thunder series, was gonna ask about Valeriya while I were in but hey. Anyway, have a good day!" With that cheerfully piped out, Mike heads back over to Hikari. "So... look for a room?"
* Hikari nods. "Yes. We may as well head for the one we used last time. Hopefully it's empty again."
> The office door is actually in a nearly ideal place for such escipades. None of the tables where people sit to read are in direct line of sight, and according to Val nobody actually uses it for anything but storage space.
* Mykasi still quickly listens at the door to make sure this can't be fouled up.
* Hikari takes one last cautionary look around before inserting the key and entering the dreamworld.
> The door opens to that familiar blue void, which our heroes quickly step through before anyone comes wandering near.
> (OOC - Scene: the Changing)
> Like always, Theresa stands up and bows with a smile on her face, "Welcome to the Velvet Room."
> The room is blue as always, and there are already three chairs set in front of the table that Igor sits at, hands folded under his nose as he observes you.
* Hikari takes one of the chairs. "You're both well, I presume? For whatever that word means here?"
* Mykasi nods gratefully to the two. "Hi,..." About to launch off, Mike reins in and lets Hikari speak first.
> Igor nods, "Indeed, the Velvet Room prospers as it always does. Are you here to enter the Dream?"
<Mykasi> "Possibly." Mike replies. "Hikari, you have the dreamcatcher?"
* Hikari nods, and places it on the table.
> The dreamcatcher does not appear any different in the Velvet Room then it does in the Real World.
<Mykasi> "Can... you guys sense anything odd about that thing? I realize it's a weird question, but."
> Theresa looks it over, "Pretty. Though blue's not really my color."
* Mykasi looks around the room.
* Mykasi then glances back to Theresa wryly.
<Hikari> "Does it seem...I don't know, powerful, in any way? Enchanted, perhaps?"
> Theresa smiles and winks before sitting back up straight.
> Igor considers the dreamcatcher for a moment, then extends one hand to hold over it. In a moment, the dreamcatcher starts to glow softly, "Hmm. Interesting indeed."
<Hikari> "'Interesting' is a fairly neutral word. We need to know if this object was given to me with good intent or ill."
* Mykasi grins to Theresa, before glancing to Igor with obvious interest.
> He nods after a moment, "That, I could not tell you even if I knew the answer. Our purpose is to offer you assitance in reaching the Dream, as well as to offer some small guidance in the nature and use of your powers. But not to directly interfere, even with simple information beyond what we are here to provide." He removes his hand, and the dreamcatcher stops glowing(more)
> "I can, however, assure you that this is indeed an artifact of the Dream, and holds some measure of power. What that power is, and what it's purpose might be, I do not know."
<Mykasi> "Might we gain a measure more insight if we examine it in the Dream?" Mike hazards.
> Theresa nods, "That's usually the way things work. The Velvet Room is both part of the Dream but also something else entirely. Artifacts of the Dream don't always function normally in here."
* Hikari looks to Mike. "Let's find out what it does here, then? If you're ready, I am quite prepared for anything that might give us answers."
<Mykasi> "Right. Seems like our best bet." Mike nods slightly. "Thank you for your aid, you two. It's confirmation of our suspicions, which is greatly appreciated."
> Igor nods, "So you wish to enter the Dream from here then?"
<Mykasi> "If we could, yes." Mike nods.
> "Be warned, the Dream you are about to enter is empty. There is no one dreaming in that room, so the Dreams you will see will be those of the room itself. You may not be able to comprehend, or even see, the things of which an object dreams."
> He holds his hands up and the door glows for a moment, then he nods, "The door will now lead you to the Dream."
<Hikari> "The...room is dreaming? I confess to some confusion. How is that possible?"
> Theresa shrugs, "And that would be why you probably won't even see much. Objects 'dream' in ways that living creatures just can't understand."
<Mykasi> "Will we be able to exit the Dream easily so long as we stay near the door?" Mike queries.
<Hikari> "I suppose it would be like explaining color to a blind person? Very well. It's not as though this will be the first aspect of this affair that I don't comprehend."
> Theresa nods, "Object dreams are harmless anyway, just confusing." She suddenly frowns, "Well...usually. But it's pretty rare that they won't be, so you should be fine."
* Mykasi thinks for a moment, before, "I'm not sure I want to know the exceptions - especially since my mind is fertile enough to guess anyway. So, uh, shall we?"
<Hikari> "Let's hope the odds are with us today." Hikari nods. "Yes, let's. And it's not as though we need to explore, so we should just stay by the door anyway. Hopefully whatever this thing does will be apparent quickly."
<Mykasi> "Or just give us more to guess at." Mike mutters, before nodding.
> The door opens, and the two step out into the Dream...
> (OOC: The Revenge of the Return of the Son of Scene Change)
> The Dream is...grey. Lots of swirly grey, like paint that had been lazily brushed onto a white canvas and then half erased. There is no floor, there is no ceiling, there are no walls. The only thing in this "room" is the door, a splash of warm brown against the endless grey. (more)
> Despite there being no visable floor, Mykasi and Hikari can stand just fine, the grey seems solid underneath thier feet.
> (Soul checks, both of you)
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 8."12 [2d8=6, 2]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 bang zoom to the moon, Hatbot
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 bang zoom to the moon, Hatbot and gets 13."12 [2d8=8, 5]
> Mike...suddenly catches glimpses of color. A breif flash of a man pounding his fist against...something. Another of...something else, happening to fast to see clearly.
* Hikari glances down and tries very hard to not think about falling into infinity. It's better to focus on their reason for being here: does the dreamcatcher seem to be doing anything? Does it look different?
* Mykasi blinks, before shaking his head. "Maybe it's the memories of this room...?"
<Hikari> "Eh?"
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=7, 2]
> Hikari pulls out the Dreamcatcher! (Mind checks, both of you)
<Mykasi> "I'm seeing glimpses of things. It's... likely irrelevant, but I'll keep my eyes out."
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 mind check for dreamcatcher
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 mind check for dreamcatcher and gets 3."12 [2d8=2, 1]
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=6, 4]
> Mike sees another flash of color...only this one isn't a simple flash. There's a bird. A crow or a raven sitting on the dreamcatcher, watching Hikari. Unlike the other apparitions in the room, it does not vanish after a mere glimpse.
> Hikari...gets the distinct creepy feeling of being watched by something, but can't see the bird at all.
* Mykasi watches the raven to see if it moves.
* Hikari glances at Mike again. Is he staring at her?! Hey, he's the only one in the room, who else could it be?
> The bird occasionally shifts position or bobs its head. But otherwise doesn't move.
* Mykasi is distinctly staring at the dreamcatcher and not at Hikari... but after a moment, he slowly reaches out to the dreamcatcher.
* Hikari lets him take it. If he's got an idea, run with it!
* Mykasi pauses as Hikari hands it over, not moving to touch it but watching the raven.
> The bird doesn't respond to Mike's slowly moving hand, simply continuing to watch Hikari.
* Mykasi distinctly avoids touching the dreamcatcher, one finger going up carefully as he glances to Hikari. "Wait."
* Hikari waits.
<Mykasi> Slowly, Mike reaches out, before quickly attempting to grab at the space he sees the raven in!
> (Attack roll~)
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> (soul check, Mikey)
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 3."12 [2d8=2, 1]
> In the blink of an eye, Mike reaches out and grabs something right above the Dreamcatcher! Suddenly, Hikari can see a rather large black bird in Mike's hand...or is that Anansi's hand? Somehow, the hands of the spider persona are superimposed over Mike's as he struggles to keep this bird in his grasp.
> The bird is also now making a whole lot of noise.
<Mykasi> "GOTCHA, you goddamn fucking raven! Little asswipe hellpunk snitch!" Mike bellows.
<Mykasi> "Help me here! It's slippery!"
* Hikari wastes only a split-second on being shocked before grabbing on to try and keep the vile creature from fleeing.
> (body check for Hikari)
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=7, 2]
> Hikari's hands close around the bird, and...for all that it's a fairly strong bird, it's still a bird trying to fight someone with the strength of a small bear. It's not going anywhere. Doesn't stop it from trying, though. And making a whole lot of noise.
<Mykasi> "For the love of cheese and crackers." Mike mutters in Japanese. "Bird. Do you understand us?"
> The bird does not respond intelligably. It just squawks and struggles alot while trying to bite at Hikari's hands. It even sinks it's beak in a few times! To discover that biting Hikari is somewhat akin to biting concrete.
<Mykasi> "Good grief. Apparently it's just been watching you from on top of the dreamcatcher." Mike mutters.
<Mykasi> "Doesn't seem intelligent enough to know what it's doing, either."
<Hikari> "Maybe," Hikari says, in between flinching at the pecking, harmless though it might be, "it's been watching on behalf of someone else?" The notion that someone could've been watching through the dreamcatcher in the real world is not a pleasant one.
<Mykasi> "The bird's a raven... More First American references, unless I miss my guess." Mike says, before looking to see where the dreamcatcher's wound up in all this.
> The Dreamcatcher is now on the "ground". Hikari dropped it when she grabbed the bird.
* Mykasi picks it up and watches the reaction of the bird as he tries playing with the strands streched across it. For SCIENCE.
<Hikari> "Do you think this thing's been watching me in the real world too? And we just haven't been able to see it?" She's obviously pretty anxious about this possibility.
<Mykasi> "Quite probably, given how goddamn inane all this is getting." Mike mutters.
> As Mike starts fiddling with the dreamcatcher, the bird's attention goes from trying to escape Hikari's grip to staring at Mike.
* Hikari can't help but shudder. "This...this thing's going into a fucking box when I get back home, if we don't just destroy it."
<Mykasi> "Huh. So it adjusts to follow whoever touches it-" Mike says, before pausing. "...goddamnit if the cool guy from the store has issues I'm finding whoever sent this to you and beating him to death with this very goddamn dreamcatcher."
> The bird's stare is...not the same observational one it was with Hikari. It looks more like it would like to kill you, actually.
<Hikari> "You'll have to wait in line."
> Large black birds are actually rather proficient at murderous glares.
<Mykasi> "Oh, bird, you have -no idea- how much I'm reciprocating that glare right now, believe you me." Mike mutters. "Get a firm grip on it, gonna try something."
* Hikari hangs on for all she's worth! Which is a lot, in this place. "I wonder if we could it bring the bird into the real world, now that we've got a hold of it," she muses aloud.
<Mykasi> "Maybe, but do you want to drag a raven through the library?" Mike asks rhetorically, before taking a few of the strands in two fingers, and slowly pulling away for as far as he can without feeling like it'd snap, watching the bird all the while.
> The bird starts thrashing, trying to get out of Hikari's grip so it can get at Mike. (Body check, Hulk-ari)
<Hikari> "No...I'm just trying to untangle the metaphysics of this whole situation." And it's easier than thinking about some other things. "The field's never been my strong poin--hey, stay still!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 12."12 [2d8=4, 8]
> Hikari has to apply a fair amount of pressure, but she has it to apply. The bird stays where it is for now. But it doesn't stop it's thrashing and snapping in Mike's direction.
<Mykasi> "Bad karma, bird..." Mike mutters, glancing to the dreamcatcher. "Okay. I see two options, though I don't like either. Option one, one of us keeps the dreamcatcher - preferably under lock, key and padlock - and we try to use it later to track whatever creepy fucker made it. Alternate option; I break it, we keep looking for other clues but lose this one, double-edged as it is."
<Hikari> "Do we have other clues right now? I would love to incinerate this thing right now, but we may need to compare it to others of its kind later. We can put it in a safe deposit box somewhere, I suppose. It wouldn't see much in there."
<Mykasi> "That'd probably work best." Mike says, easing pressure on the cords. "Let's just hope it doesn't screw over anyone else somehow in there. Visit the bank once we're out of here?"
<Hikari> "Yes. The sooner I get rid of it, the better."
<Mykasi> "Kay. Uh, you got the money? I just invested what I had in a short-term gamble." Mike replies embarrassedly.
> As Mike eases the pressure on the cords, the bird settles down. The murderous look doesn't go away though.
* Hikari nods. "Don't worry about it."
<Mykasi> "You want me to hold onto this so it isn't watching you, idly?"
<Hikari> "Oh, it can watch me walk all the way to the bank to lock it up, and whoever made it can be frustrated the whole time. You hear that, you stupid bird? Enjoy your four walls, because soon that's all you're going to see."
<Mykasi> "Right." Mike grins slightly, putting the dreamcatcher at Hikari's feet. "This being said, if it flies at me after you let go I reserve the right to nuke both of them into ash."
<Hikari> "I won't stop you, if that happens." She nudges the dreamcatcher right by the door, so she can grab it and dart out of the room as soon as the bird is released, then gets ready to throw the raven away from the two of them. "Ready when you are."
* Mykasi gets into position, hand on the doorknob. "Right. Give that damn thing a throw to remember."
* Hikari does so, hurling the bird as far away from the two of them as she can, then grabbing the dreamcatcher and heading through the door.
* Mykasi ducks through after one quick glance at the bird!
> The bird gets flung! Neither of you see just how far it goes because you both race through the door and back into the Velvet Room, while a very dizzy bird caws out indignatly behind you.
> (OOC: A witty title that involves Scene Change)
> Blue, blue, blue. It's the same Velvet Room as always. Theresa stands, smiles and bows as always. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
<Hikari> "Well, we found *something*. I can't help but wonder if the bird will still be here if we use this room again. Maybe we should try a different place next time."
<Mykasi> "So, hypothetical question. If a bird is resting on a dreamcatcher, and Hikari throws the bird for a fairly good distance before leaving, is the bird still on the dreamcatcher?" Mike muses.
> Igor shrugs, "That would depend entirely on the nature of the artifact in question. If this bird is a part of it, or merely a shadow attached to it."
<Mykasi> "Didn't seem to like me much when I tugged on the dreamcatcher, so..." Mike shrugs. "A bad dream, caught in the web."
> Theresa giggles, "I suppose you would have a thing or two to say about webs, wouldn't you?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah. Ravens like breaking them. Granted, it being caught in Anansi's own is a cheerful thought. Stupid punk."
> Igor eyes his assistant and her attempts at cleverness.
> Igor then turns his attention back to the two of you, "Will you be wanting to return to the normal world, then?"
<Hikari> "Yes, I think our business here is concluded for the time being. Oh, Mike...you said you saw something about the memories of the room...?"
<Mykasi> "...I can't think of anything else to do right now, other than get the dreamcatcher away from anyone and everyone we can." Mike shrugs.
<Mykasi> "Oh, right. It was fuzzy but I saw some images - someone punching the wall, some other distorted clips. Nothing too vivid, but interesting."
> Igor nods and holds his hands up. The door glows again and then settles out, "The door will now return you to your world."
* Hikari can only nod and, having nothing more to say here, leave once again.
<Mykasi> "Thank you." Mike nods before exiting the room.
> (OOC: More Scenes and the Changing thereof)
> Back in the library. Nobody is watching the door as you exit from it.
<Mykasi> "Shall we?" Mike mutters. "And once I get back I'm tossing my dad another email."
<Hikari> "Yes, I want to get this thing locked up as soon as possible." Hikari's set on going to the bank and getting that taken care of immediately.
<Mykasi> "Should I come with, or send off that email?" Mike shrugs. "You comfortable dropping it off yourself?"
<Hikari> "It's been in my room all this time without physically harming me. I'm sure I can handle a walk to the bank alone if you have other things to do."
<Mykasi> "Right." Mike rubs his head embarrassedly. "Then I'll go write that email."
* Hikari heads off to the bank, then, apparently not noticing whatever has caused Mike to be embarassed.
* Mykasi heads off back to his room, himself.
> And the two split up.
> Hikari heads to the bank where she already has an account and easily gets a safe-deposit box to put the dreamcatcher in.
* Hikari is more than glad to be rid of the object, knowing what she now does, and drops it off with a muttered, "Enjoy your cell, bastard."
> And Mike heads back to his room to compose another email.

[VySaika]

> --------------------------------------------------------------
> Monday afternoon, Hikari and Mykasi have agreed to meet up at the Dreamspeakers shop to attend the proprietor's crafting class. Hikari's last class on Monday lets out a bit sooner then Mike's does, so she reaches arrives at the store a few minutes before he does.
* Hikari waits quietly, finding some place to loiter inconsipcuously while she does so. She's not really in the mood to have random strangers start conversations with her.
> The store looks pretty much exactly like it did before, only there's a few more people there. The proprietor smiles as you enter, as he wasn't really expecting to see you at all, though he continues chatting with an older woman who has a young girl, maybe 10 at the oldest, clinging to her side like a burr while beaming happily.
* Hikari leaves them to their conversation, instead merely observing those around her for any suspicious behavior until Mike arrives.
> There is also someone else in the store, already sitting at the table where the class will presumably be taking place. A darked haired man, even skinnier then Mike, who blinks when he sees you, almost as if he were surprised..
> Maybe it was a mistake though? He certainly doesn't say anything, simply goes back to reading the book he has out.
* Hikari will have to monitor him carefully throughout the evening, just in case that was a look of recognition. She's not really inclined to start a conversation as it is. It'll be interesting to see if he reacts the same way to Mike, at the least.
> A bit later, the old woman and her grandaughter have a seat at the table as well, and Mike walks in a few moments after that.
> The thin man looks up as Mike enters, but doesn't react strangely at all, simply goes back to reading after noting that someone entered.
* Mykasi nods respectfully, eyes passing over the rest of the group as he sits - and only acknowledging Hikari slightly with a nod.
> The proprieter smiles again as Mike enters, "Ah, good. You both came. Well, first thing's first." He goes around the table collecting everyone's payments for this class.
* Hikari sits next to Mike and wastes no time getting down to business, speaking quietly enough that only the two of them might hear. "Don't stare, but the dark-haired man across the way seemed rather surprised to see me. I'm not sure how to approach him, or if we should, so I plant o just observe him for now."
> The thin man hands him two payments, "Mine and Toshio's."
* Mykasi hands over his payment, nodding slightly to Hikari as well.
* Hikari pays for herself in turn.
> The proprietor(Taro Kimura by name), nods and takes them both, "Ah, he's coming today?"
> The thin man shrugs, "He didn't say he wasn't."
> After collecting everyone's payments, the proprietor starts to introduce the two of you to his regulars when he's interupted by the door opening and another young man walking in.
* Mykasi glances over to see if he recognizes the kid, though odds are bad.
> Bishie is about the only way to describe this guy. Very handsome, hair bleached blonde in the center and dyed blue on the sides pulled back into a ponytail, left ear pierced with a dangling crecent moon earring, tight fitting baby-blue shirt and tattered blue-jeans. He kinda stands out in this crowd and likely would in any other as well.
> Grinning, he plops down into a seat next to the thin guy, "Hey, new people. How's it going?"
> The thin guy sighs, "Late as usual, Toshio. I already covered you, by the way."
* Hikari might be attracted in other circumstances, but this is strictly business! She merely nods to the newcomer and makes note of his name.
<Mykasi> "Not bad. You?" Mike grins in return, immediately amused.
> Toshio laughs, "Thanks man. And I'm always good. Name's Toshio Ito, the grumpy guy here is Dami Daidoji, the old lady's Mrs. Watanabee and the sprout is her grandaughter Eiko."
> Mr. Kimura chuckles, "I was about to get to that, actually."
<Mykasi> "Mike here." Mike nods, letting Hikari introduce herself.
<Hikari> "Hikari Ishigami," Hikari says simply.
> For thier parts, Mrs. Watanabe seems to not care for Toshio very much, frowning at his entrance, while Eiko giggles a bit when he calls her a sprout.
> Mrs. Watanabe frowns at Mike as well, while she's at it, but doesn't say anything.
> Mr. Kimura places a few boxes on the table and sits down, "Alright then, shall we get started? We'll just continue on from where we were last time and you two can ask questions where you need to. If you already know the basics of handicraft you'll pick it up fast. If not, Just ask anyone but little Eiko for help."
* Hikari shrugs. "I have some basic competence with this sort of thing. I believe I can muddle through."
> In the boxes are...paints and cardstock.
> Mr. Kimura continues, "You're in luck actually, since last time was mostly me talking about the tarot and not getting into much about the making them yet. That's what today's class is about. Fortune telling is practiced in almost every culture in the world, and this method of it has spread like wildfire whenever it's brought to a new area. I personally have three different decks I've painted myself, each with a different theme."
> each with a different theme."
<Hikari> Tarot, eh? Well, that's interesting. (Well, sort of--less so for any intrinsic merits than for having some relation to Hikari and Mike's newly-discovered abilities.)
> Kimura gives a quick rundown of the Tarot and what it means for the two of you while he passes out cardstock and paint supplies to everyone.
* Mykasi nods, suddenly serious again as he accepts the stock.
> "Personally," he concludes, "I find that performing readings with decks that you've made yourself tend to be more accurate and easier to interpret. Like with anything else, having a personal connection to the tools you're using makes getting in touch with the supernatural a bit easier."
* Hikari listens patiently. If knowing more about the subject could shed light on the strangeness of the Dream, it's worth hearing about.
> Once everything is passed out, he starts talking about how to paint them, "Now the borders, the numbers and the name should always be in the same place, no matter what your theme is. So here's a template for that." he sets a couple of cards that have nothing but the name, border and number on them in the middle of the table.
> "But that does leave the question of a theme. It should be something that means something to you." He looks over at the four regulars, "Now you four had an entire week to think over what theme to use. Have you come up with one?"
* Hikari contemplates a theme while she carefully watches the other attendees. Of course, an obvious possibility presents itself quickly, just considering her persona...
> Mrs. Watanabe speaks up, "Well, Eiko and I have been talking about it and we've made our decisions. Eiko dear, why don't you say yours first?"
> Eiko looks anywhere but directly at anyone for a moment before she speaks up, "Um, I'm using a garden. With vegitables and berries and stuff."
* Mykasi nods approvingly at this.
> Toshio grins at the cuteness while Dami raises an eyebrow, "Oh, you like vegitables?"
> Eiko shyly nods, "Uh huh. Because grandma says eating vegitables makes you smart."
* Hikari is forced to nod along in turn, and concedes a smile. "Grandma's right."
<Mykasi> "Indeed."
> Mrs. Watanabe nods, "They do indeed. And as for myself, I shall be designing my cards with a harbor theme, as my father used to work on fishing boats."
> Toshio nods, "Gotta go with the open sky, myself. Birds, planes, maybe Superman will put in an apperance or two. Seems like the perfect theme for a free spirit like me, right?" He grins at Dami as he says that last.
> Dami shrugs, "Having trouble thinking of one, myself. Maybe just using the modern world. The city, modern sciences and technologies, things like that. A rather loose theme, but it's all I can really come up with."
> Mr. Kimura shakes his head, "No, no, that's fine. That's more then fine. Better to have a broad theme like that, in my oppinion."
> "IF you two don't have anything in mind yet, you can start with borders, numbers and names. Remember that those never change."
<Mykasi> "Actually, I was leaning toward Native American stories." Mike replies, leaning back a bit.
* Hikari nods. "I have some ideas, though I may as well just fill in the basics first."
> Toshio nods, "Like native american stuff, huh? Shoulda been here a couple months ago, we were doing dreamcatchers." He pauses, "Though I guess we might loop back around to 'em again sometime, right?"
> Dami winces while Mrs. Watanabe gives him yet another glare.
* Mykasi raises an eyebrow. "There's a story behind that, but kinda, yeah." A nod to Mr. Kimura's interjected here.
> Mr. Kimura gets everyone on track and teaches everyone how to paint the cards. There's not a lot of detail in some of them, but everyone has one or two cards finished by the end of the class. Kimura says that the materials are included in the price of the class, so the cards are yours, though you may want to leave them at the shop to dry.
> Both Mrs. Watanabe and Dami seem to be naturals at this sort of thing, their cards are fairly well done. Eiko's are sloppy but full of effort at least, and Toshio goes for a bit of a minimalist approach, what's there is decent but there's not much to them.
* Hikari isn't really much of an artist when it comes to painting fine detail, but she does get the borders and general features done for most and sketches in vaguely human figures on a couple (Fool: Loki, for one.)
> Like any good capitalist teacher who's income relies on his students coming back time and again, Mr. Kimura has nothing but positive comments and constructive criticism to say about anyone's cards.
* Mykasi has a bunch of half-decent but not great sketches on four cards, mainly applying the borders, numbers and names so that he can come back once he's decided where most the stories fit.
> As the responsible people clean up after themselves, Toshio looks over at the two of you, "So you two plan on coming in regular, or just checking the place out?"
<Hikari> "I'm not sure yet," Hikari says, quite honestly. "I may linger long enough to finish this project and see how I feel once it's done."
<Mykasi> "I'll be coming in when I can." Mike nods.
> He nods, "Well, if it's anything like the others, we won't actually finish it all here. Different subject every month, and only one hour a week isn't really enough time to get much done. Can't speak for anyone else, but I usually take my stuff home at the end of the month and finish it up in my free time."
> Dami eyes him, "I'm fairly sure that 'finish' is exactly what you don't do with any project ever."
> Toshio shrugs, "Hey, once I get bored with it I'm finished."
<Hikari> "Well, I do have a lot of schoolwork to deal with at home. We'll see what happens."
> Toshio nods, "Well, hope to see you back in. More fun with more people, right?" Grabbing his bag, he looks over at Dami, "You coming?"
> Dami shakes his head while picking up his own briefcase, "Back to the evening shift this week, actually."
> "Again? Geeze man."
<Hikari> "The life of a salaryman is a harsh one," Hikari observes as she gets up and prepares to leave.
* Mykasi is packed up himself, as homework still needs to be done. With a smile to everyone else, "Apologies, but I've got to get running myself. Still some work to do before I sleep."
> Shrugging at his freind's comment, Dami nods to the two of you, "Pleasure to meet you, miss Ishigami...Mike."
* Hikari nods and follows Mike out.
> Toshio and Dami follow shortly behind the two of you, but split off in different directions after just a couple streets.
<Mykasi> "That was... interesting. I don't think any of them are our people, but... the way people reacted when the dreamcatchers were brought up might merit further investigation later." Mike notes.
<Hikari> "I can't shake Dami's initial reaction. I suppose he could've been surprised just by the appearance of anyone new." She shrugs. "A cursory internet search on either couldn't hurt."
<Mykasi> "Fair." Mike shrugs. "I'll leave that to you?"
<Mykasi> "Since, uh, like hell I know which kanji to use for their names without having it written out in front of me. For'ner and all."
* Hikari laughs lightly. "Not a problem."
<Mykasi> "... Tarot, huh? Not familiar at all with it, but... Magician Arcana. That's one of the Tarot, isn't it?"
<Hikari> "Yes, I believe so, based on Mr. Kimura's summary. Why do you ask?"
<Mykasi> "...Well... there's just... Goddamnit, I know it's coincidental, but what are the odds of Tarot coming up as our first visit there when they're tied in part to how our Personas work?"
* Hikari glances sidelong at Mike. "Do you suspect some sort of conspiracy?"
<Mykasi> "...No, but... goddamnit, it's a convergence of events, it feels like. Maybe I'm just more sensitive to it since it seems like everything's related to it, but..."
<Hikari> "Well, I don't see how this could be arranged, unless you think the store owner was deliberately sending us some sort of message. Which I doubt." She shrugs. "Some things are just coincidental."
<Mykasi> "I know the shop keeper's probably not involved. Just... neeeergh." Mike trails off. "...never mind, I must be getting paranoid."
<Hikari> "That's understandable. And you didn't even have an invisible bird living in your room for a week."
<Mykasi> "... blargh, don't remind me." Mike mutters, turning in toward the college.
* Hikari breaks off to head to her own dorm once they're there. "Well, I'll let you know tomorrow if I find anything. And I'll still be keeping tabs on Okuro in class, of course."
<Mykasi> "Thanks." Mike nods.
> The two of you arrive back at campus before too much longer. It's late afternoon/early evening at this point. Some folks are getting out of very late classes. Kyo is in the shower already when Mike gets back to his dorm, and Neimi is packing up to go to one of her games when Hikari gets back to hers.
* Mykasi mutters something under his breath and pulls out the papers, sitting on his bed to do homework and fill out a few scholarship applications to make things easier.
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=2, 8]
> Hikari hits the 'net and sees what she can dig up on her the regulars at the crafting class. First of all, Watanabe is such a common family name that finding anything on the old woman is nearly impossible. And her granddaughter doesn't have anything either.
> There was apparently some local paper that did a tiny interview with Toshio a couple years back about a restauraunt that just opened up that he was working at. The place is called "Tranquility" and actually isn't too far from the nearby mall.
> There's nothing you can find about a Dami Daidoji though.
<Hikari> Hmm. Maybe she could hit the restaurant sometime. It's an excuse to get out, and she could always namdedrop Toshio to see if anyone there remembers anything about him.
> (OOC: Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a Scene Change!)
> Tuesday rolls around, and once again it's time for Hikari's weekly dose of exhaustion. Geography and Latin are as headachy as usual, though thankfully a bit quieter as Yuka Shiida seems to be absent. Then Culinary Arts comes around, the class that Hikari shares with Issa Okuro.
* Hikari makes sure to get there in time to sit next to Okuro, of course. She has to wonder if Okuro's noted this sudden rise in attention and wondered at its cause, and this briefly makes Hikari feel guilty for using the other girl for information. But hey, it is for her benefit!
> Your table is right next to hers(assigned tables for groups in this class) but you manage to sit at the spot at yours closest to hers.
> And...frankly, Okuro looks dead on her feet. Enough baggage under her eyes to take a trip to the U.S. and despite her workload being worse then yours, you've never seen her that bad before.
<Hikari> "Any more trouble from the siblings?" Hikari jokes lightly as she settles in.
> She slowly turns to face you in a half-glare, "I'm going to kill them."
> "Those little monsters were at it, tooth and nail, all weekend long."
<Hikari> "Oh yeah?"
> She litterally head-desks, "I swear they didn't even stop to sleep. The arguing, the fighting. They broke out into actual fist fights twice! Try to seprate them and they only thing they'll go on about is how much they hate the other."
<Hikari> "What was the problem this time?"
> "Anything. Everything. One of them says something, the other disagrees and they start at it again."
<Hikari> "Would it be intruding too much if I suggested corporal punishment as a solution?"
> She lifts her head to look you in the eye...and you can see that her eyes are somewhat bloodshot, "I got...two hours of sleep? The entire weekend. Because they would not stop."
> Okuro laughs, "Oh believe me that happened. Both times they hit eachother, mother and I each turned one of them over our knee. They proceeded to blame the other for getting them in trouble."
<Hikari> "Well, look at it this way: at least as long as they're around the house, you know what trouble they're getting into? I can only guess at what my sister does when she's out."
> She shakes her head, "Sorry to go on about that, you just asked the wrong question I guess. Ugh. Mother's about at her wits' end and I'm at a loss too."
<Hikari> "That's alright. Everyone needs to vent once in a while."
> She nods, "Yeah, if they behaved like this in public, we'd just die of embarrasment." Looking over, she asks the obvious question, "Have alot of trouble with your sister?"
<Hikari> "Well, not directly. My parents worry about me enough that I don't think they watch her as much as they should. She stays out too late, runs up outrageous credit card bills, that sort of thing. That's what we know about, at least."
> "Generically irresponsible, huh? I don't know what happened in the last five years, but teenagers right now are a lot less considerate of their families." She shakes her head and laughs, "Listen to me, sounding like an old woman. Heh."
> She looks over, "At least I assume she's a teenager, since it sounds like your younger sister?"
<Hikari> "No, that's okay. It's everyone's job to disapprove of what younger people are doing, sooner or later. It's just a matter of taking turns. I wasn't exactly perfect either. And yes, she's sixteen. She's VERY sixteen."
> She shrugs, "Maybe it's becuase I was about sixteen with the first gremlin was born that I didn't go getting into trouble. Mother needed my help too much for that."
> About this time, one of the school staff walks into the classroom, "Excuse me everyone."
<Hikari> "Mm. I don't know whether to pity you or commend you for that."
* Hikari looks up.
> The staff-member gets everyone's attention, then continues, "Dr. Hanaya just called in to say that she's feeling ill and doesn't want to contaminate the food. So everyone is supposed to cook something, eat it, and clean up after themselves."
> He looks rather amused by the instructions he was given to relay.
> After delivering the message, he turns around and heads back out.
> Okuro eyes the clock, "Let's see, this, lunch, then a couple hours before my next class. I think this may be my cue to go sleep. I can skip lunch for one day. Not like I haven't done it before."
<Hikari> "I suppose I'm on my own, then. Well...who wants cake?"
> About half the class takes this as a convenient excuse to skip, while the other half form up into random groups to cook things.
* Hikari was wondering how many others would take the opportunity to bail. Not her, though. She's too responsible for that!
<Hikari> roll 2d8 for EPIC CAKE-BAKING
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 for EPIC CAKE-BAKING and gets 7."12 [2d8=4, 3]
> Hikari leads a group in making an awesome cake. It is delicious
> Someone comments that Yuka will be very dissapointed that she missed an opportunity to freely snack in Culinary Arts class
<Hikari> "Well, that takes care of lunch," Hikari announces to no one in particular. It's turning out to be a pleasant day, actually. Maybe she doesn't need to worry about Okuro after all, if nothing's happened after this time. "Oh? What kept her from class today?"
> Nobody seems to know exactly why she's not here, they just know she's not. Yuka does share your exact Tuesday schedual afterall, so most folks were asking you the same question.
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 12."12 [2d8=5, 7]

[VySaika]

Solo Story: Hikari checks out Tranquility and hears more from Okuro

> --------------------------------------------
> Wednesdays are nearly as exhausting as Tuesdays for Hikari, and she only has the one class that day. Of course, nobody even remotely sane takes any other classes on the same day as the four hour World History block. And despite her recent adventures with Shadows, Dreams and large nosed...who the hell knows what he is...Hikari is at least still remotely sane, right?
> As usual, she's one of the first people in the class, and also as usual Okuro is already seated.
> Unlike usual, she has her head face down on the desk like she's basically dead in her seat.
> All the chairs around her are open, as most folks are eyeing her funnily and keeping thier distance.
<Hikari> Well, that's partly understandable--she's overworked, being tired makes sense! Hikari takes a seat next to her and starts conversation as casually as ever. "Working late last night?"
> Okuro sits up, "Ugh, I wish. No, actually I didn't get any studdying done at all, if you can believe that." She sighs, "No, it was nothing remotely so pleasant as being up too late working."
<Hikari> "Oh? The little monsters causing trouble again, I take it?"
> "Monsters is too nice a term. They're little demons now." She shakes her head, "Yesterday, right about the time we were talking about them in CulArts class? Do you know what they were up to then?"
> "Fighting. At school."
<Hikari> "...Ah. Was anyone badly hurt?"
> Okuro leans back in her chair, "Ewan is a year older then Keita, they aren't even in the same class. They got sent to the office for being disruptive about the same time. They see eachother there and start swinging."
> She shakes her head, "Black eye for each of 'em, and a tanned behind to follow. But that one wasn't from eachother."
> She laughs a bit, the sound being far from pleasant, "Now that was bad enough, but things got even more rediculous at home."
<Hikari> "Why'd they start fighting *each other*? They were just too worked up still when they got to the office, I guess? Who started it? Oh, I'm sorry, go on."
> "We can't let them stay in the same room acting like this, right? So we try to seperate them. Ewan stays in the room while Keita sleeps on the futon in the family room. Only that didn't work. At all."
<Hikari> "Why not?"
> "Ewan starts going on about how he 'won' and Keita 'lost' becuase he's getting kicked out of the room."
> She shrugs, "So we decide to switch it up. Then Keita starts doing the same thing."
> "This ends up with us putting Ewan on the futon, Keita in with mother, and me sleeping in thier room."
> She snorts, sounding far more crude then you've ever heard her before, "If you can call that sleeping, anyway."
<Hikari> "...Ah." She can only shake her head. "I suddenly feel much more fortunate for the brother I have."
> Okuro nods, "These two normally aren't that bad. They get loud alot, but never like this. Neither me or mother have any idea what's going wrong." Sighing, she mutters in a very low tone, "She's even afraid they're going insane like those people on the news."
* Hikari sighs sadly. "Well, there's definitely something strange going on lately." Okuro doesn't know the half of it, of course. "Why were they sent to the office in the first place?"
> "Just being loud and disruptive. And disrespectful, which is really out of character for them. They've never backtalked their teachers before, and then they both do it in the same day."
<Hikari> "Hm. Did this just start yesterday, or have they been making trouble--I mean, this unusually disruptive kind of trouble--for a while now?"
> She thinks, "Hmm. This is recent, yeah. They haven't been THIS bad before, but they've been getting generally more obnoxious for probably a week now."
* Hikari can only nod. It's pretty clear to her what the likely cause is, but she can't exactly talk about that. She'll have to bring it up with Mike next time she sees him, though.
> Everyone finally arrives and the class begins. Jocyce's energy is infectious as usual, and most everyone manages to get into the groove. Okuro is a little too zombified to really get into it, though.
<Hikari> Well, Hikari will be glad to share her notes with the other girl later, if necessary. It's the last she can do!
<Hikari> *least
> Jocyce seems to have noticed that as well, since after the class finally wraps up and everyone is slowly filing out, he comes over to where you two are sitting to talk to her a bit. For politeness's sake though, he does wait until everyone, including Hikari, is out of earshot to actually speak with her.
> Now Mike shares this class as well, but you noticed he was in the very first batch of people who slid out. Must have had something to do.
<Hikari> She'll have to catch up with him later, then. Hikari heads home after class is done. Hopefully the teacher can cheer Okuro up a little.
> Amusingly, you run into Neimi in the hallway on your way up to the dorm. She laughs, "Oh, hey. How was the weekly history deluge?"
* Hikari shrugs. "Oh, you know, the usual: wars, starvation, that kind of thing. Speaking of which, interested in getting dinner out somewhere tonight?"
> Neimi thinks on it for a moment, "Hmm. I could do an early one, since I have a shift at the Crown tonight. That okay with you?"
<Hikari> "Sure thing. I'm not doing anything this evening, so we can go whenever suits you."
> She nods, "Let me just go drop my stuff in the room and grab my uniform, and we can go now."
> Putting action to words, she heads to the room to do just that!
> A couple minutes later, the two girls have dropped thier bags off in the room and Neimi has grabbed one of her many other bags(this one containing her uniform for the Crown) and are on their way out the door.
* Hikari tags along, ditching her own books at the same time. "I heard about this place in town called 'Tranquility.' Thought it might be worth a try."
> She nods, "Oh yeah, I've heard of it. Never eaten there, though. Usually when I'm going to eat out I abuse my employee discount or just grab cheap mall food."
> Checking her wallet, she shrugs, "Probably shouldn't actually go somewhere nice like that, but...oh whatever, I can just scrimp a bit more later, right?"
<Hikari> "Well, I'll cover you tonight. Least I can do for you having to work unexpectedly, right?"
> She blinks, "Really? Thanks! That actually takes the sting out of it a bit. If I've asked for no Wednesday shifts once, I've done it a dozen times. And what do I get this week? Ugh."
<Hikari> "I guess they didn't give you a choise?" Not that Hikari has any direct experience with working in a restaraunt, but she gathers that unexpected shifts are frequently inflicted on hapless employees.
> Neimi nods, "Yeah. Even with the owner being a family freind, there's only so much I can get away with. The ability to refuse shifts is not on that list."
> The girls pile in Hikari's car and drive over to the restaraunt, chattering about small stuff along the way.
> (OOC: Scene Change, it's what's for dinner!)
> Tranquility, as it's name might suggest, is a very simple and almost placid place. The outside is nothing special to look at, just another small brick building business on a street that's full of the same. Inside, the decor is very peaceful, done largely in aqua blues and greens, with no few plants adding freshness to the atmosphere(more)
> A woman smiles as you enter, and offers to show you to a table. Even the uniforms of the servers are in the tranquil blue/green color scheme, some with lillypad decorations on thier aprons.
<Hikari> The place seems pretty mellow. Hikari approves of this!
> Neimi takes a long look around, "Wow. This place is really nice."
> The hostess smiles, "Glad you think so. Will it be just the two of you dining?"
* Hikari nods. "Yes, thank you."
> The woman nods, "Right this way then." She leads the two of you over to a booth and places a couple of menues down, "Here are your menues. If you haven't eaten here before, we're very well known for our vegitarian dishes. I hope you enjoy your meal, and your server will be with you shortly." Unless Hikari has any questions for her, she nods again and heads back up to the front.
* Hikari will ask her nosy questions later. It would seem odd to start with that right off the bat. She merely peruses the mneu for now.
> Neimi does the same with hers, "Vegitarian actually does sound nice. Really different from the heavy stuff at the Crown. Hmm...sesame eggplant stir-fry?"
> After a couple more looks through, she closes the menu, "Yeah, gotta go with that. Sounds way too good."
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=7, 3]
> A waitress comes by after a minute, "Welcome to Tranquility. Are you ready to order, or do you need a bit more time?"
* Hikari is quite hungry, she finds. "I could do with a slab of meat, myself." Pretty much anything involving beef would work, really; she picks something suitable nearly at random.
> The two of you place your orders. The waitress nods and brings you some water before heading off to the kitchen.
> Neimi takes of sip of her water, "Garden Pepper Steak Slices, huh? That looked good to. Of course, nearly everything on the menu did. This is a really nice place. Thanks again for inviting me out."
<Hikari> "Well, we live together. We should watch out for each other, right?"
> She nods, "Yeah. Though I've heard some pretty bad horror stories about roommates. Very thankful I got someone nice."
> She then tilts her head and thinks, "Then again, most of the horror stories about roommates I've heard have been from the boys..."
<Hikari> "Oh yes. There are so many times I'm glad I live with someone who actually knows the meaning of 'hygiene.'"
> "You know...uh..." she takes a second to wrap her toung around the name, "Mykasi, right? The American guy? Did you hear about the problem with his roommate last month? That has to be the worst one yet."
<Hikari> "Huh? No, I don't know anything about that."
> Neimi shakes her head, "His roommate...Sho, I think his name was, was caught doing drugs. Got kicked out of the school, and people were talking about Mykasi having to take a drug test as well. Talk about your inconsiderate roommate there."
<Hikari> "Wow, no kidding. I think we can count on each other not to do anything that rash, at least."
> "Actually, you might not know him. He's on the same track as me, and you and I don't actually share a single class somehow."
> She nods, "No kidding. I like to think we both have more sense then that."
<Hikari> "Oh, I've met him a couple times," Hikari says carefully.
> Neimi doesn't seem to think anything strange of that, as she just nods and keeps the conversation moving, "So besides studdying and more studdying, what have you been up to lately? We actually haven't had a chance to talk much lately, now that I think about it."
> half sheepishly, she adds, "Though I guess that's mostly because I've got either work or a game basically every night."
<Hikari> "Oh, that's about it, really. I'm a slave to education. Better get used to it now, since I'm likely going to be a teacher when it's all said and done. What is this gaming you're involved in all the time? Is it like, uh...Dance Revolution or something?" Hikari asks, making plain her ignorance on the subject.
> Neimi actually blushes a bit and shakes her head, "No, no I stay well away from the DDR mats now." Quickly changing the subject, she explains, "Uh, well they're called Role Playing Games. You make a character for the setting and system you're using and then play that character. Everyone else has a character as well, and you all interact and try to accomplish your gouls and stuff like that."
> She then adds, "Well, not everyone. There's the Game Master as well."
> "The Game Master basically controls everyone and everything that isn't a Player Character."
<Hikari> "That's too bad, DDR at least sounds like it gives you good exercise. So...the point is to beat the Game Master, I guess?"
> She shakes her head, "No, since the Game Master also controls NPCs, that's non-player characters, who are freindly to you. Like if your character has family, they're probably NPCs. It's not really about winning and losing, it's really just having fun."
<Hikari> "I...see," Hikari says, still not totally clear on the goal here. "I don't know, maybe it's something I'd have to seein action."
> Suddenly Neimi smiles, "Really? I can definately get you in on a game if you want. You don't have to stick around if it's not your thing, but I have alot of fun with it."
<Hikari> "Well...I guess it doesn't hurt to try something once," she says, not really having considered it before. "Maybe I'll sit in next Wednesday if they don't make you work again?"
> She nods, "Sure. Or on one of the other games, since the Western Fantasy genre might not be your style. We've also got a really silly anime Maids game going, a really serious modern horror game and a science fiction game that's pretty erratic in tone."
> "I know you read alot, so I can basically just say that any kind of genre there's fiction for, there's a game for."
<Hikari> "Oh, I don't know, I might find it easy enough to grasp fantasy as a subject. I have some interest in mythology, and it's basically the same thing, right?"
> "Yeah, it's fairly close." She looks up as she sees the waitress heading back towards you, "Hey, looks like food!"
<Hikari> "In a restaraunt?" Hikari says lightly. "You're pulling my leg."
> The waitress makes her way back to the table and sets down your food while Neimi actually giggles at your comment. She smiles politely once your food is down and asks, "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
<Hikari> "No, I think this is adequate for now. Oh," she adds casually," I was wondering, does Toshio Ito still work here?"
> The waitress nods, "He does. Usually works lunches, though, not dinner. Are you a freind of his?"
<Hikari> "Oh, I don't know if I could say that. I just met him casually and...well, I was curious."
> The woman gives you a knowing look, but doesn't say anything else, just nods and heads back off.
> Neimi raises an eyebrow at you, "A boy you're into?"
<Hikari> Hikari was hoping to pry out more information than that, but since she's probably already given the impression of being a slavering stalker, it'll have to do for now. If she has some reason to talk to him, she at least knows she can come back here during lunchtime some day. "Only potentially," she says to Neimi.
> She nods, "Is he cute?"
<Hikari> "You have to ask?"
> That makes her laugh, "I suppose I don't!"
<Hikari> "No, it's just what I said. I met him by coincidence somewhere and was just curious."
> Neimi smiles and nods, and then decides it's time to dig in to her meal.
* Hikari does so as well, before it starts to get cold!
> The girls polish off thier food, and it's definately worth the price(which is sadly high enough that Neimi would need Hikari to cover for her even if she wasn't already intending to).
> She looks a touch guilty, "Really good stuff, but...wow is it pricy. Thanks again, Hikari."
* Hikari shakes her head. "Oh, don't worry about it." She'll make sure to ask about Toshio with someone else on the way out (though preferably not within earshot of Neimi--she doesn't want to get needled overly much about her apparent interest in the man, even if it is likely to be only good-natured.)
> Since Neimi is walking to work from here, you go ahead and split up. Though as she's making her way to the door a bit ahead of her, Hikari notices that Neimi's occasional bouts of 'genius ditz' has struck again and she left her bag at the table.
* Hikari picks it up for her, then stops off with the hostess to inquire again about Toshio. Hopefully she can get a little more information this time. It's hard not to frame the question as stemming from anything but romantic interest, but that's probably just as well--it's easy for someone to not question her curiosity that way.
> The hostess nods, "Yes, he works here."
<Hikari> "I'm sorry if it's untoward of me to ask, but...could you tell me a little about him?" She makes sure to look down demurely, like a shy, inexperienced girl. It's a look she's quite familiar with, though it doesn't reflect her true self at all.
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=4, 6]
> She smiles, and you realize the woman is actually a good bit older then you, "Another pretty one fallen for that boy, hmm? Not that I can blame you, mind."
<Hikari> "Oh? Does this happen a lot?" Hikari has the grace to look embarassed.
> Taking a moment to make sure there's no customers she needs to help, she continues, "I can tell you this, young lady. If you want to keep his attention long you'll need to be a great deal more then just another pretty face. He's a good boy, but he's a dreamer."
* Hikari nods. "Is that so?"
> She shakes her head, "It does, but not like you might think. He's a charmer, but he doesn't just go chasing women all day. More the other way around, really. Lots of girls try to get his attention, but none of them keep it very long. He says they're not 'interesting' enough, whatever that means."
> She chuckles a bit, "I hope that helps?"
* Hikari can only respond with a "Hm." Presumably *uninteresting* isn't a word that applies to Hikari, given recent events in her life. "Well, thank you for talking to me about this. I understand this isn't exactly part of your job." She nods and makes her way out after Neimi, unless the woman has more to say (Hikari thinks it would seem odd to press more at this point).
> As you get out to the sidewalk, you see Neimi walking back towards the restaraunt with a scowl on her face.
> "I can't believe I forgo...Hikari!" Her face lights up when she sees you with her bag.
* Hikari hands it over. "Hey, don't worry, I'm looking out for you."
> As Neimi takes the bag, her fingers brush against Hikari's.
> ...and then the world seems to stop
> The color drains out of everything, the entire world fading to greyscale, and all motion stops.
> Then, a spark of color in the grey world. A small, soft green light glowing deep inside Neimi appears.
> The light flickers as it floats upwards, out of her body...and then transforms into a spinning card.
<Hikari> Admittedly this isn't the strangest thing Hikari's seen lately. there doesn't seem much to do but watch.
> The front of the card...you can't make out. The image is blurred and out of focus. But the back is clear. A pair of dice...ten sided ones by the look of them. But instead of numbers, each surface has a woman's face. It's the same woman in each picture, but in each one she is wearing a different mask.
> As if from both nowhere and everywhere around you all at once, a voice begins to speak, "Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Fortune Arcana"
> Then, in the blink of an eye, everything returns to normal.
> Neimi doesn't seem to have noticed anything amiss, and shoulders her bag while running off towards the Crown, hastily waving goodbye over her shoulder.
* Hikari can only wave herself, not entirely sure of what just happened but feeling vaguely optimistic.

[VySaika]

> ------------------------------------------------------
> Thursday afternoon, and yet another day of classes passed. Hikari has, as usual, headed right back up to her dorm after the last class. Neimi was on her way out(for yet another game) as she was heading in, so Hikari has the room to herself for awhile.
* Hikari dials Mike as soon as she gets back.
> Outside at the one picnic table on the school grounds, Mike hears his phone go off.
<Mykasi> No one ever uses the thing, anyway... Kinda odd, if you ask
<Mykasi> No one ever uses the thing, anyway... Kinda odd, if you ask Mike, but no one ever does. Flipping his phone open and checking the ID, "Moshi-moshi-yoshi, Hikari. What's up?"
* Hikari gets right to business. "We may have another lead. Okuro, who received a dreamcatcher recently? Tells me that her brothers have been uncharacteristically...rambunctious as of late. Perhaps violent. Acting up is somewhat normal for them, but in light of recent events, I doubt the escalation to be a coincidence."
<Mykasi> "Okay. What can be done about it?" Mike asks bluntly in return, looking over the homework.
<Hikari> "I don't know," Hikari admits. "But I feel strongly that whatever's at work in town lately is responsible here as well. I'm not that close to Okuro, but I think if there's any excuse to get close enough to make use of the dream key, we should take it. Do you have any suggestions?"
<Mykasi> "I honestly don't. I don't even really know her, honestly." Mike shrugs, before remembering Hikari can't see it. "I'm not sure how I could get involved, even. It's responsible, probably, I agree, but... getting close is kinda next to impossible without forcibly intruding, I feel?"
<Hikari> "I suppose you're right. I hate leaving things alone, though. We've already seen that this can be dangerous to the affected person and those around them if ignored too long. I suppose I'll just have to keep listening for an opportunity."
<Mykasi> "Seems like our best bet... though it was sent to Okuro, but is affecting the kids? That's odd... Make sure she isn't getting affected, too. Sorry I can't be more help here. Maybe if she's studying in a room for a prolonged period, you can use the key and check up on her? Retreat before things get heated if you try that, though." Mike muses.
<Hikari> "One of her brothers took the dreamcatcher, actually. My apologies if I neglected to mention that. He insisted, and since Okuro herself had no use for it, she let him have it."
<Mykasi> "Hm. I hate to suggest breaking a lead, but tell her next time you see her to take the dreamcatcher and break it in front of them as a threat?"
<Hikari> "If there's an opportunity, I will. If it puts an end to the problem, it's the best thing for everyone involved. I wouldn't feel right prolonging the situation for the sake of information anyway."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, definitely. Bring it up, saying that it might have caused the conflict escalation or something by one having it but not the other? Iunno. I know how I'd do it but I'd be a horrible big brother so it might not be applicable." Mike shrugs.
<Hikari> "You never had siblings?" Hikari asks. It occurs to her that she doesn't actually know. "Sometimes you have to be firm with children to make them behave."
<Mykasi> "Nope. Grew up with friends, but parents decided one rugrat was enough."
<Hikari> "Ah. So, how would you do it? It doesn't hurt for me to consider other options."
<Mykasi> "I'd just take it, smash it between my hands in front of them, and tell the brats that that's what I'll do to their arms if they don't stop their childish bullshit right now, tone up, and shut up."
<Mykasi> "And in saying that, I sound kinda like my mom."
* Hikari can't help but laugh a little. "Well, it would solve the *immediate* problem, certainly. I'll consider mentioning it if I can convince Okuro that the dreamcatcher really is the problem."
<Mykasi> "Don't even have to do that. Just tell her that since she gave it to one of them and he's proven to be a little snotball, that breaking it in front of him might mollify him a bit. She should probably also tell the other one that if he starts gloating at all child brain flambe will be on the menu."
<Hikari> "Certainly. Although I doubt that pyrokinesis is among Okuro's talents. ...Oh yes, I did some research on our 'classmates' from the store Monday. Just a cursory internet search, didn't turn up much. The young man with the wild hair works at a local restaraunt, so I suppose that at least it will be easy to find him or his friend if we needed to for some reason."
<Mykasi> "I see." Mike muses, before shrugging. "Eh, iunno. Right now they're low on my list. This being said, outta curiousity, we know where Okuro lives? Keeping options open in case she decides to keep the damn thing around may be wise."
<Hikari> "I don't know, but surely we could look her family up in a telephone directory. Even if her parents are listed rather than her, all I really need to know in order to narrow things down is the general neighborhood in which she lives."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. Something else to check into, I guess." Mike mutters. "Damnit, Japanese conjugation... Anyway. I can't really think of any other advice at this juncture. Ball's mostly in your court."
<Hikari> "Of course. Keep your ears open for anything else strange, in the meantime. And...no news on Val, I take it?"
<Mykasi> "None on my end. I don't like this silence... She wasn't the most stable person in the first place, it seemed. Hope nothing happened..."
<Hikari> "Given recent events, I
<Hikari> "Given recent events, I'm hardly inclined to be optimistic as the silence grows."
<Mykasi> "...Same." Mike mutters. "Wish we had a way to figure out where she lived, but... Geh. I don't know. Maybe it's penguin flu."
<Hikari> "Is there anyone else that might know her, outside of the library? Was she part of any clubs?"
<Mykasi> "She... mentioned being an aerobics instructor? Uh... I don't remember the name, though, it was something that translated clunkily into English." Mike mutters.
* Hikari searches her memory. "Afternoon...Club? Does that sound right?"
<Mykasi> "Right, the Noon Down Caf- er, Afternoon Club" Mike mutters. "Knew it was something stupid. Anyway. I... think I know where that is; meet you there?"
<Hikari> "I have no other plans for this afternoon, so yes, I'll see you there shortly."
<Mykasi> "Right. See you there."
> And so the two head out for the Afternoon Club.
> (OOC: Scene Change Forever)
> Mike gets to the club a bit ahead of Hikari, as he was already outside when they decided to go. The Club itself is very much your stereotypical gym, very clean even from the outside and in a nice part of town.
> As Mike arrives, he can see a pair of students hanging around outside. One of them he recognizes, Shiro Asakura. The other...looks vaguely familiar, but you don't think you've ever actually met the guy, just seen him around.
* Mykasi nods to the two amiably anyway, flipping open his phone to check the time.
> It's just a little after 5PM.
> Asakura nods to you in return, "Hey. Didn't know you came here, man."
<Mykasi> "Actually, I don't. Yet. Kinda considering, though - know one of the coaches here, she spoke pretty highly of the rest of the place. And frankly I could use better upper body strength." Mike grins easily.
> Asakura nods, "Yeah, some muscle work's never a bad idea. And just upper? How's your lower? You run alot?"
> The guy with him rolls his eyes, "Here we go..."
* Mykasi grins again, guessing where the conversation's heading - and, oddly, not minding the up-and-coming sales pitch. "Decent bit, if only because I set my alarm clock thirty minutes ahead for that fresh 'damnit-overslept-again' adrenaline rush. Oddly enough it never fails to work unless I'm sick."
> Asakura laughs, "Hah! Alright man, ever thought about signing up for the track team? Lost a couple of good guys to graduation last year, so we could really use some new talent. I mean, me and Oda here can outrun damn near anyone else in Japan, but two people doesn't make a team."
> Oda shrugs, "Well, we do have five right now. But, well..."
<Mykasi> "I'll consider, though I can't make promises - schedule's already decently cramped with all the robotics track classes and the Japanese classes." Mike shrugs.
> Shaking his head, Asakura kinda dismisses that statement, "I said we need talent. Right now we've got you, me, and a handfull of dead weight."
> He nods and shrugs nearly simultaneously, "Hey, I'll take that. We've got a practice tomorrow if you've got time, 7AM. Good way to get the blood going in the morning, right?"
> About this time, Hikari is closing in on the Club and notices Mike talking to Rikuto Oda(in some of your advanced classes) and another guy who you've seen around plenty of times but never actually interacted much with.
<Mykasi> "Ah... yeah, should be able to make it." Mike nods, thinking instead of this being a good way to integrate more and have a good foundation to fight this dream stuff from. "Worst comes to worst, I can help as pacing or backup, probably."
* Hikari slows her walking speed. She doesn't really know these people, may as well let Mike finish his conversation if he wants before intruding.
* Mykasi for his part has his back inconveniently facing away from Hikari and as such doesn't notice her approaching.
<Hikari> Guess it doesn't make any difference, then. She may as well just insert herself into the group. ""Good afternoon, Mike."
> Oda sees Hikari coming and nods politely to her, "Ishigami, good afternoon."
* Hikari nods. "To you too, Oda."
<Mykasi> "Oh, hey." Mike says. "Oda, Shiro, Hikari. Hikari, Shiro and Oda." Definitely a Western introduction, but hey, he doesn't pass for Japanese except under really bad light.
> Looking down at his own watch, Oda pokes Asakura, "Um, I think we're going to be late."
> Shiro nods to Hikari, "Hey. You go to Hokuriku as well, right?" Then looking at Oda he smriks, "Yeah, right. You got your breath man?"
> "...come on, we just finished a workout..."
<Mykasi> "Heh, don't let me hold you two up, then." Mike grins. "I'm gonna go see if I can find my friend in here. You two have fun." Mike snorts at the exchange. "Lemme guess, Shiro, it's a good cooldown exercise."
* Hikari nods. "That's correct. Nice to meet you," she says, not to be brusque or rude, but she wouldn't want Oda kept from whatever it is that he needs to go do.
> Stretching, he nods, "Yep. You'll fit right in on the team."
* Mykasi snorts again, cocky grin on his face. "We'll see."
> A moment later, the two of them take off running. For all that Oda seemed reluctant, he actually overtakes Asakura before they're even around the first corner.
<Mykasi> "...heh. Either Oda's a quick starter or he's flat out faster than Shiro. Amusing." Mike muses. "Sorry about that. Ready?"
<Hikari> "Yes, let's go in."
* Mykasi nods and leads the way!
> And so the two enter the club! On the inside, it's a rather bright and cheerful place, with the walls painted in oranges, yellows and aqua blues, and the general atmosphere being full of energy. Everything smells a bit of sweat, soap and chlorine from the pool.
> A woman in an orange and gold tracksuit, and with her short, spiky hair streaked with red and silver, loiters around the entrance and grins as you come in, "Hey there! Don't recognize your faces. Welcome to the Afternoon Club."
* Hikari isn't averse to the occasional workout, so this is nothing new to here. If there's a main desk here, she'll march right up to that. Otherwise, she'll just have to flag down the nearest employee.
<Hikari> "Oh, I'm afraid we're not exactly regulars. Actually, I'm looking for a friend of mine who works here. Valeriya Hikari? Is she in?"
* Mykasi nods politely to the woman, a slight smile on his face. "Hiya." Since Hikari seems determined, he lets her take the lead - that, and he doesn't know if there's any weird etiquette for gyms here.
> The woman, who is actually wearing a nametag that reads 'Gietta Suziwara' thinks for a moment and shakes her head, "You must have the wrong club. We don't have anyone named Valeriya on the staff here."
> *wrong gym, even
<Hikari> "Are you sure? Tall girl, blonde, looks a bit Russian, noticeable facial scar?" Hikari hates using that as someone's defining feature but, well, they're hard to not notice. "She mentioned that she worked here."
> She thinks for a moment, "Well, we have trainers come and go all the time. Maybe she used to work here? Though I've been here over a year, so it couldn't be recently. I can go ask the boss for you, if you want?"
* Hikari nods. "Please do. It's rather important that we speak with her."
> Gia nods and heads over to another room, though her shout can still be heard clearly, "Hey boss! We've got some folks who need to talk to you in the front!"
<Mykasi> "Doesn't... work here?" Mike murmurs very softly. "She... wasn't the sort to lie, I don't think. Be completely fanciful, sure. Lie, not so much..."
> She walks back over, "He should be out in a couple minutes. And...wow, that description sounds really familair but I'm sure I've never met anyone like that. Weird, you'd think something that disctinctive would stick out more if I knew her at all..."
<Mykasi> "Imaginative person, enjoyed acting slightly loopy but smart as a tack?" Mike asks, seeing if that jogs her memory at all.
> She shakes her head, "I...gah, that really does sound familiar. But no, someone like that hasn't been in here since I started. Maybe I ran into her somewhere else in the city...?"
> Sighing, she then remembers to introduce herself, "Oh yeah, Gietta Suziwara. I'm pretty much the senior trainer here now. Nice to meet you. And I hope even if the person you're looking for isn't here you'll still stick around. Everyone could use more excersize these days."
* Hikari nods politely. "I'll think about it."
* Mykasi nods slightly in an attempt to regain mental equilibrium. "Indeed. Looks quite well run."
> "Well, that's because this isn't just a business for the boss. He's really trying to help people and reach out to the community with this place." She laughs, "That attitude kinda rubs off on all of us after awhile."
<Mykasi> "Heh." Mike grins slightly, still trying to hide being shaken by Valeriya's abscence.
> A moment later a...very large(for Japan anyway) middle aged man walks out into the front. His hair is buzzcut short, which would make him look rather severe if he weren't smiling broadly.
> He nods to Gia, then looks at you two, "So, miss Suziwara said you needed to speak with me? I'm Akamatsu Shigen, the owner and operator of the Afternoon Club."
* Mykasi nods politely to the man, letting Hikari ask the questions again.
<Hikari> "Greetings, sir," Hikari starts, pushing ahead in spite of confusion. "We were looking to speak with an employee of yours, if you could direct us to her? We're friends from school."
> He nods, but looks confused, "Not a problem, though I'm sure Suziwara could have done that just as well. What's her name?"
> Gia shrugs, "That's just it. I've never heard of her, but they said she told them she works here."
<Hikari> "Well, we did ask her, but--well, yes, that. I thought we should check with you just to be sure. Her name is Valeriya Hikari. Her appearance is quite distinctive: tall, blond hair...she looks very continental."
> "Valeriya...?" He blinks and shakes his head, "It...hmm. I want to say I know the name, but she's definately not an employee. Maybe she doesn't work here but comes in to excersize?"
> Gia shrugs, "Yeah, same thing here. I swear I know that description, but I know I've never met her. If she is a customer, she's never come in on my shifts. And since one of the two of us is always here..."
<Hikari> "She mentioned to us once that she worked here sometimes. I don't know why she'd lie." Her own confusion is obvious.
> He shakes his head again, "I'm sorry, but I suppose I can't help you then. My apologies."
<Hikari> "Well, I..." There doesn't seem to be anything more to say. "Well, thank you for your time," Hikari says.
* Mykasi frowns deeply himself. "It's alright. Thank you; your help's greatly appreciated. Sorry to bother you."
> He waves it off, "Not a problem. I hope you find your freind, and when you do, give her a good lecture on not lying about things."
<Mykasi> "...We will." Mike says after a moment's pause, before shakily heading to the door.
* Hikari waits until she's out in the street to speak again. "Do you ever get that sensation that something's just not right? Like this little nagging voice in the back of your head? My brother calls it 'brain itch.'"
* Mykasi looks at Hikari, before finally realizing he's shaking all over. "Fuck. This is bringing the old me back some... This... They both seemed to recognize her but couldn't place her. At the library, no one knows where she is. ...Hikari. The people who don't control themselves... well, we don't fully know, but it seems bad. But what happens to the people that do?"
<Mykasi> "Are we going to end up like that? Just be forgotten or something? I - wait, family! Did she mention any family?"
<Hikari> "I'm...not entirely following you, Mike," Hikari says. She looks a little unnerved by his mood, but that may just be because of the entire situation. "If she had family, she never spoke of them to me."
<Mykasi> "Look... We've been operating under the presumption that someone is deliberately sending these things out, right? Or at least, I have - the raven on the dreamcatcher, the fact that we're even seeing those... But we haven't known what their motives are. Is this part of it? I - I can't see this as an innocent act! Some damn coincidence! Maybe if they both completely didn't recognize her I'd buy it, but they both felt it was familiar!"
<Hikari> "Mike, slow down. You're going to drive yourself insane if you keep pursuing this. No one you know has failed to recognize you lately, have they? I'm sure there's an explanation for this--if not necessarily one we'll like--but getting yourself stirred into an emotional frenzy will not help us find it. I don't like this either, but if you're start feeling that you're lost, it's only a matter of time before you will be."
<Hikari> *you're = you
* Mykasi exhales, before continuing in a far calmer tone. "I don't know. Maybe she just used to work here and quit right beforehand or something, but didn't want to let on. I don't know. But... You're right. I just... got things I want to do back home, mistakes I wanna fix. This isn't where I want to call it quits... damnit. Sorry, I'm obviously out of it. Look, I'm gonna follow Shiro and Oda's example, take a jog, try to clear my head. Talk
<Mykasi> " take a jog, try to clear my head. Talk to you later?"
* Hikari isn't about to press Mike on whatever those mistakes might be. Not the time. "...Alright. If things get to be too much, please call me? It does no one any good to stew on their own."
<Mykasi> "I know. Just... need to do some thinking. As I said, this brought the old me - paranoid, depressive, pessimistic - back a fair bit. ...There's a reason I'm willing to thank my Shadow for coming that night, even though it could have gone badly." Mike says after a moment. "Talk to you later, Hikari."
* Hikari leaves with a simple "Goodbye."
> Mike takes off in a quick jog, leaving Hikari to her own devices.
* Hikari wanders back to the school at her own pace, trying to think of anything to keep herself busy and out of any unpleasant existential pitfalls. Does she know anyone involved with the administration of the school? If even they don't know of Val any more, something strange is definitely afoot.
> Thinking on it a moment, Hikari remembers Lahla Atsuki, an RA who lives in the dorm room two doors down from Hikari and Neimi's room. She's more Okuro's peer then Hikari's, but same general age bracket.
<Hikari> That's a decent place to start. Hikari stops by to knock on Atsuki's door as soon as she gets back to the dorm.
> Atsuki answers the door promptly, "Yes?" As someone who takes herself and everything else incredibly seriously, her apperance reflects this quite a bit. Very tiny, even for a japanese woman, she keeps her hair cut short, wears plain and functional clothing and glasses, and *never* smiles.
<Hikari> "I'm sorry to bother you, Atsuki, but...well, I'm trying to get in contact with a friend of mine, but I haven't seen her on campus lately. I don't know if she's been sick or was summoned for a family emergency or what--I can't reach her at all. I thought if something came up, she might've left word with the school that she was taking a leave of absence. I know it's a little unorthodox to ask, but I'm getting worried and I wa
<Hikari>  and I was hoping you could talk to someone in the administration to see what's happened."
> She considers a moment, then nods, "Alright. If it weren't serious, you of all people would know better then to bother me with it. Who exactly are you looking for?"
<Hikari> "Her name is Valeriya Hikari."
> Atsuki nods, "Nobody from my dorms at least. Alright, I'll check and have an answer for you tomorrow. Just knock sometime after six, I should be back then."
* Hikari bows politely before turning away. "Thank you very much."
> She just nods in return and shuts her door.
<Hikari> Lacking any other serious options, Hikari figures that she may as well return to her room and see what a curosry internet search turns up on her erstwhile teammate. It's not like she knew a lot about the other girl in the first place.
> OOC: and once again, the Mind Check for 'net search returns.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 HATUBOTTO
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 HATUBOTTO and gets 10."12 [2d8=5, 5]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 again
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 again and gets 8."12 [2d8=5, 3]
> Hikari spends some time searching the internet for traces of one Valeriya Eun Hikari. And comes up with...nothing. Not even "nothing much" or "nothing important". Simply nothing. As if the person she is searching for does not exist and never did.
> Plenty of hits on other people named Valeriya, or other families named Hikari. But none of her. Anywhere.
<Hikari> This is becoming disturbing. Well, more disturbing. She's pretty sure at this rate that Atsuki's query will turn up inconclusive as well. She's starting to understand how Mike feels, and the need to go out and do *something*. It's easy to feel the world's forgotten you when you're at home alone.
<Hikari> If it's not too late in the day, wandering to the archery range and murdering a few targets might be therapeutic right about now.
> It's a bit after six, but there's still some light in the sky.
<Hikari> Good enough. Hikari grabs her bow and heads out. Exercise is sometimes the best option when you need to shut your brain down.
> Hikari makes her way down to the archery range! Or what passes for it anyway. With only two target and not actually all that much distance, it's no surprise not many people bother with archery here. Track is actually the only sport that Hokuriku is competetive at, with everything else lacking space, funding and people.
> However, there is somehow someone else down there already.
> As Hikari draws closer, she can see...Mistia Iori of all people, lobbing arrows in the general direction of one target with varying amounts of success.
<Hikari> Hey, as long as there's at least one open position at the "range," it serves well enough for the purpose of working through some tension. Hikari sets herself up at the free target and grants Mistia with a friendly nod.
> Mistia blinks, but nods, "Oh, hi. Sorry, am I in the way?"
<Hikari> "Oh, it's not a problem. There's room for two here, after all. Until the world ends and the school develops an actual archery team, you're fine right where you are."
> "Oh, there's not actually a team at all? Why do they even have a range, then?"
> She shrugs and fires another arrow at the target. At, not into.
<Hikari> "Oh, there might be a team, just not enough of one to be competitive and worth mentioning." She shrugs and eyes the wayward arrow critically. "I didn't know this was a hobby of yours."
> "It's...not, really. I used to be into it a few years ago because my mom wanted me to have at least one athletic hobby. But once she let up on that I quit." She shrugs, "Don't really know why I'm taking it up again. Just found this thing at home and thought it might be fun, I guess?"
<Hikari> "Well, it is good when you desperately need to stop yourself from thinking about something," Hikari says, getting set up and preparing to make her first shot. "Not that I'm suggesting you do," she adds hastily.
> Mistia laughs a little darkly, "You're...not far off on that, actually." Changing the subject, she asks, "How long have you been into archery?"
* Hikari lines up a shot and releases before speaking. "Oh, quite a long time. It's a lot like your situation, actually. Being engaged in some manner of sport is just something every active young lady should do. As per my parents, at least. And archery's less strenuous than most."
> Hikari's first shot...slams right next to the bullseye.
> Mistia eyes the shot, "I think you picked it up alot better then I did..."
* Hikari smiles ruefully. "Well...they would've noticed if I was lazy about it."
> "Sounds like your parents were pretty intense about things."
<Hikari> "They were and are. I understand that it's important to be diligent, but it can be tiresome sometimes." she pauses to take another shot.
> Mistia takes another shot at her target. Putting a bit more effort in, she manages to clip the outside of the target at least.
> Hikari's isn't as good as her first, but still sinks into an actual scoring part of the target.
> She nods, "My mother was always pretty permissive, on the other hand. So long as I wasn't getting into trouble and was at least kinda trying, she didn't mind."
> She takes a step forward, "Hold on a sec, I'll recover the arrows."
> Doing just that, Mistia grabs all the arrows from the targets and the ground around hers, and gets back behind the safty line quickly.
* Hikari makes a note to observe Mistia's technique, ready to give constructive criticism if she sees anything that can easily be improved. "Mm. Well, at least she was consistent. My sister can get away with anything for some reason."
> "What? That's lame." She gives Hikari her arrows back and takes aim at her target again, "Do they have some kind of reason for that, or just pretend it's not unfair somehow?"
> As she lets her shot loose, and it hits the edge of the target again, Hikari can see some of what's wrong. Her stance is bad, she's not drawing the string right, and worst of all she's closing one eye to shoot. No depth perception that way.
<Hikari> "I've never been sure. I sometimes think that they focused so much on the first-born--that's me--to really notice the trouble she got up to. And now that I'm finally away from home, it's too late to reign her in. ...Oh, Mistia? Both eyes open. You'll be more accurate that way."
* Hikari walks over to correct Mistia's manner of holding the bow, as well. Easier to do this with a visual example.
> She cringes, "Ugh, right. Both eyes open. I knew that." Shaking her head, she sighs, "It just *feels* better to close one, or something." She nods and follows suit as you correct her stance.
> Firing another arrow, Hikari's efforts are rewarded by Mistia at least hitting the scoring zone. If barely.
<Hikari> "Well, the best way to do something isn't always intuitive. Life would be a lot easier if it was."
> "Tell me about it." Shrugging, she steps back to let you shoot a bit, "And that's still pretty lame. Makes me glad I'm an only child. Though I'm pretty sure mother would have treated any siblings just the same."
* Hikari takes a couple example shots so Mistia can copy the correct posture. "Well, it makes me worry more about her than myself. One of us is going to be prepared to make a living some day, and it's not my sister. Of course, I doubt she's interested in *working* for living anyway."
> "Let me guess. She's looking more for the 'find a rich guy, seduce' angle?"
<Hikari> "That's my best guess," Hikari says with a sigh.
> Hikari's shots continue to be good, if not perfect. Mistia tries to copy the stance but isn't quite getting it.
> She shakes her head, "Like the world needs more of those. And...yeah, I'm just not getting this."
> She puts her bow down.
<Hikari> "It's just a question of practice. I can help you a little if you really want to get better at it."
> Mistia shrugs, "I've never really been interested. Just doesn't come easily enough to me, and I've got enough other things I could be doing. Just...needed some fresh air, today."
<Hikari> "Is something going on?" Hikari asks. It's pretty easy to assume, but she should still ask, right?
> She nods, "Mika's coming back to school on Monday. You can probably imagine how people are going to talk, right?"
<Hikari> "Yes. Yes, I can. Do you mind my asking if everything's alright between you two?"
> She shrugs, "Honestly? I don't know. I'm just trying to help her get back to...well, functioning, basically. I'll worry about...that...later."
* Hikari simply nods. It's not the kind of thing you press someone about.
> She looks up after a second, "Uh, do you know if anyone besides you and that Mykasi guy know about...the way she feels?"
<Hikari> "I haven't told anyone, and I don't think he's the type to spread gossip about someone's personal affairs either. You don't need to worry." Well, there is Val, but...for obvious reasons, Hikari suspects there's no need to mention her.
> Mitsia nods, "Right. Well, I'm sure rumors will spring up on thier own anyway." Suddenly half-smiling, she laughs with a bit of irony in her voice, "There've always been rumors, actually. I just...well, never listened to them. I knew we were just freinds, right? Heh."
<Hikari> "I can't say I blame you. Most rumors aren't worth listening to, nor are the people who spread them."
> She nods, "Yeah. Anyway, it's getting kinda dark. I guess I'll see you around sometime?"
<Hikari> "Sure. Have a good night."
> Mistia picks up her stuff and heads back in.
* Hikari spends another twenty minutes or so shooting on her own before heading back to the dorm.
> -----------------------------------

[VySaika]

> ----------------------------------------------------
> Friday afternoon, the beginning of the weekend for those who neglected to take any classes on Saturday(such as both Hikari and Mike). It's a fairly busy time on campus, though most of the activity is people leaving campus grounds to go do something non-academic and let loose just a bit with what passes for the city's nightlife.
> But up in the dorms, Hikari has made it back to her room to find Neimi still there, absorbed in some manner of book.
> She looks up as you enter, and grabs a letter off her desk, "Hey. Atsuki stopped by a few minutes ago and left this for you."
* Hikari stops in to drop off her school books before checking up with Atsuki--and finds out that she doesn't have to go do that after all. "Thanks, Neimi." She takes the letter, opens and reads it.
> It's a quick note in Atsuki's expectedly perfect script noting that there are no records of a Valeriya Hikari in the school at all but one of the teachers thought the name sounded extremely familiar. She continues asking if you're absolutely certain she was a student at this school and if you are to come talk to her and she'll see what she can find as the school's records aren't always well kept.
<Hikari> No real surprises there, given the way things had been going. It might not be a bad idea to find out which teacher that was, though. She may as well walk down the hall and ask right now, assuming Atsuki's in at this time of day.
> She is, in fact. A knock on her door gets a muffled, "One moment" in responce and then she opens it up. "Ah, Ishigami. Did you get the note I left for you?"
<Hikari> "Yes, I did. Thank you for looking into this. I...don't really know what to say about there being no records, though. I wonder if you could tell me which teacher thought he knew her, though?"
> Atsuki nods, "Aska Mikidao, the head of the library. She also teaches japaneese, but nothing advanced. She just happened to be in the office when I went to inquire, so I spoke with her about it."
> "As for the records," she actually sneers a small bit, "this school's record keeping policies are...horribly outdated and...barely adequate. If she hasn't been here long, her information could have easily slipped through the cracks."
<Hikari> "I suppose so. Actually, it occurs to me that I don't know how long she's been here."
> "If the two of you have any mutual aquaintences outside the school, you might be better off looking there."
* Hikari nods. "I think I've troubled you enough, then. Thank you again."
> She nods, "Sorry I couldn't be of more help."
* Hikari returns to her room.
> Neimi looks back up, "So what was that all about?"
> "There aren't any problems with our room, are there?"
<Hikari> "No, nothing like that. I just needed to get in touch with the administration about something and it was easiest to talk to her."
> Neimi nods and goes back to her book. Actually a novel and not one of those gaming books, too!
<Hikari> "What are you reading?" Hikari asks.
> She holds it up, and the title is in english, "It's called 'Eliminster in Hell'. It's about a really famous wizard from a stock fantasy game setting. You can probably guess what it's about."
<Hikari> "I could make an educated guess," Hikari says. "Is it any good?" she asks.
> "No." she responds laughingly, "But I like it anyway."
<Hikari> "Well, it's good to be honest about what you like, I suppose."
> She laughs again and goes back to reading.
* Hikari may as well contact Mike and let him know what is--or, apparently isn't--going on with Val, and suggest talking to the library head.
> Mike's phone rings, wherever he happens to be!
<Mykasi> Mike happens... to be at a bar, looking at a piece of paper he printed out before coming here while curled up in a corner booth. Jumping a bit as the phone rings, after fifteen seconds he flips it open. "Hi-heh, Hikaaari. How's it going?"
<Hikari> "Well enough. Am I interrupting something?"
<Mykasi> "Oh, no, nonono. Jes'... drinking, honestly. Got enny news?" Mike slurs, putting the paper down and leaning back a bit.
<Hikari> "...Alright. I have a depressing lack of news, for the most part, but we may wish to talk to the head librarian. She sounds like the only person around that remembers anything." Hikari hopes that Mike is sober enough to infer what she's talking about. She doesn't want to say too much on the phone while Neimi is in the room, after all.
<Mykasi> "And... people rememba'd befurr? ...wonder if she'd rememba if we asked 'er now..." Mike calms down for a bit, before, "Oh! Hirari! I'got somefin' you should look at. It's big. Uh... I probably shudn't walk right now, I don't think."
<Hikari> "Uh...no, perhaps you shouldn't..."
<Mykasi> "No, priddy sure I shouldn't. I'll... try to get abid moar sober. Before you git here."
<Hikari> "Right, that sounds like the best plan...Where are you, exactly?"
<Mykasi> "Uh. A bear."
<Mykasi> "ImeanImean a bar, a bar! Uh..."
<Hikari> "Excuse me--oh, of course. Well, which one?"
<Mykasi> "The... uh... 'Panikku Paradisu.'"
<Hikari> "Alright, I'll be there...well, soon enough. Do me a favor and don't have any more before I arrive?"
<Mykasi> "Sure thing. Gunna order water."
<Hikari> "Good enough. See you soon." She hangs up, looks up the bar's address (surely it's listed online somewhere) and bids Neimi farewell for the night before heading out.
> Hikari hops in her car and heads to the Panikku Paradisu bar. It's a very small place, sort of a hole-in-the-wall type establishment. There isn't much conversation going on inside either, everyone seems to be keeping to themselves and thier drinks fairly well. The message is clear, this isn't a place one goes to socialize. This is a place one goes to get smashed.(more)
> Which is exactly what Mike, who is sitting in a corner booth a bit away from everyone else, was up to earlier.
<Mykasi> Mike is, now, simply holding his head, two large drained glasses with ice in them next to three bottles of beer as he looks at a piece of paper blearily.
* Hikari takes a seat in the booth, across from Mike. "We're more coherent now, I hope? ...Mike?"
* Mykasi looks up to Hikari, revealing near-bloodshot eyes and bags under his eyes. "...Yeah. Sorry."
* Hikari eyes the piece of paper. "Is something wrong?"
<Mykasi> After a moment, Mike pushes the paper over to Hikari, leaning back a bit.
* Hikari takes it and reads it.
<Mykasi> As Hikari looks it over, Mike explains. "I, uh... got access to the library time sheets. That's two of the pages; the other side has the rest. A span of two days. The first of which we met up with Valeriya on, at the library."
<Mykasi> After a pause, before swigging a bit of the one not empty beer bottle, "She's not on there. Anywhere. In any of the records. Someone ripped out her name completely, hasn't covered it up. Sloppy job."
<Mykasi> "Er, out of the records of the library time sheets, I mean."
<Hikari> "I hate to say it, but in a strange way that's rather comforting. If you can *tell* that someone altered the records, then that means we're looking for a person, that can be found and made to explain himself. Doesn't it?"
<Mykasi> "It also means we're not hallucinating and that this is something -else-, something that is malicious, has removed her from this scenario, has seen fit to just delete all records, and, oh, let's not forget..." Mike takes the bottle he has in hand and chugs it down, finishing it, before putting it down again. "They can make everyone else all but forget she ever existed."
<Mykasi> "Comforting? Not the word I'd choose. Knurding, more like."
<Hikari> "I...excuse me, what?"
<Mykasi> "Knurding. The opposite state of being from drunkenness. Being hyper-sensitive to reality, lacking the usual existential illusions, having a rather terrible clarity to possess."
<Mykasi> "Perhaps best described as being as far from sobriety as drunkenness is, but in the other direction."
<Hikari> "I'm not sure I understand the problem. Anyway, I came down here to tell you that she's gone from the school administration's records as well--which I'm sure doesn't help your mood at all, but the head librarian at least seems to have some recognition of Val's existence." (more)
<Hikari> "We may as well talk to her. If it doesn't work...how about using the key? If someone's *mind* has been tampered with, maybe we can find out how or why it was done through the dreamworld. There would have to be some kind of trace, wouldn't there?"
* Mykasi stares at Hikari for a moment. "Did you ever have one of those moments as a child, at night, tucked into the sheets, where you suddenly started wondering if the entire damn thing was pointless, that death was always out there, and that once that happened you'd feel nothing, see nothing, know nothing, -be- nothing? And that that invalidated everything else you'd done?"
<Hikari> "Not that I can recall. It sounds like I'm better off for it, too. Look, Mike, we have to do *something*.--something other than getting drunk--and you'd feel a lot better being up on your feet and active."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike is quiet for a moment, before, "I'll agree to using the key. But we aren't talking to her about it."
<Hikari> "Why not her in particular? We should be trying to exhaust every possible lead. If you just don't want to be there if--or when--she turns out to be just like the others, then I can talk to her by myself."
<Mykasi> "No. Nonononono." Mike shakes his head. "Whoever... whoever ripped out her name, I don't think they hacked into the system. They had permission, I think."
<Mykasi> "...I think."
<Mykasi> "Regardless, I don't trust them right now. Don't know if they're just running with it, or if they've been mindwiped, or both, or what, but someone had permission to edit, I think."
<Hikari> "That's possible. But I doubt it's the head librarian herself. If she was responsible, she wouldn't even admit to being familiar with Val's name, after all. What makes you think that whoever did it had permission?"
<Mykasi> "...Weren't any traces. I checked." Mike shakes his head. "At least, none I saw... and the sheet doesn't exactly make me think of someone looking to cover tracks."
<Hikari> "I'd still like to ask her, though I won't insist that you come with me. At least we're agreed about using the key? It's just a matter of finding an opportunity for it."
* Mykasi hesitates, before shrugging. "Do as you want. And... sure. But not tonight. Got some knurding I still wanna work off."
<Hikari> "I...see. You'll be able to find your home afterwards, I hope?"
<Hikari> *your way
<Mykasi> "...I'm just gonna buy a six-pack on the way home. Probably won't touch most of it at this point, but." Mike shrugs. "Sorry, but. I seriously just... don't want to think about the implications of this right now." After a moment, he laughs. "It's funny. Haven't had more than a beer since before graduating high school."
* Hikari raises an eyebrow. "*Before* grad--ah, never mind." It's not really her place to judge someone elese's bad habits, after all.
* Mykasi grins. "Eh, in America, it's way too common to drink beforehand. We always made sure someone was sober enough to get people back home, though."
<Hikari> "Well, I suppose that's something." Hikari stands up. "Try and enjoy yourself some, I guess. I'm going to go talk to the librarian. I'll let you know what she says--tomorrow, presumably--if she actually remembers anything important."
<Mykasi> "Alright." Mike says after a moment. "If she doesn't seem to remember... ask her to check the time sheet on one of the days we visited her. I'm curious to know her reaction."
<Mykasi> "Tell her you seem to recall her being in the library then, and maybe she was working or something?"
* Hikari nods. "I will, yes. Goodbye for now. And...try not to spend the entire evening alone, if you can help it? It'll only make your mood worse." She exits the bar and heads back to school.
<Mykasi> "Heh." Mike calls out, before grimacing and going to pick up another water from the bar front.
> (OOC: Schene Ch...*hic*..chrng...)
> Hikari returns to school and heads straight for the library. As luck would have it(and since getting a student to cover the last shift on a friday night is unpossible) Miss Mikidao is actually there herself, just reading a book at her desk while the very few students who bother with the library on a Friday evening do thier own thing.
* Hikari walks up to the desk. "Ah, Miss Mikidao, just who I was looking for? I was hoping I could ask you about one of the student aides who works here sometimes. She's a friend of mine who I haven't seen around school for several days now and I'm starting to get worried. I thought perhaps you'd heard something?"
> She looks up from her book, "Hmm? One of my library aides?" She shakes her head, "All of them have been here in the last two days. Perhaps you've just had a schedual conflict? Who is it you're looking for?"
<Hikari> "Valeriya Hikari. I've gone to the administration and no one knows anything, but I was told that you were familiar with her."
> She frowns, "Oh. Yes, miss Atsuki was asking me about her earlier. On your behalf, I take it?" She shakes her head again, "The name...honestly, the name is very familiar. But she's not one of my aides. 
<Hikari> "Are you absolutely certain? I've come here and spoken her to before while she was on-duty. Recently, in fact." Hikari recits the last day and time, to the best of her recollection, that she and Mike met Hikari at the library. "you can check your records to confirm that, can't you?"
<Hikari> *met Val
> OOC: hmm. Call it an ettiquete check here. Powered by soul
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 12."12 [2d8=7, 5]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 let's try that again
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 let's try that again and gets 9."12 [2d8=5, 4]
> Her face hardens for a moment as you call into question what she says she knows about something as simple as who her employees are. Just as she opens her mouth to tell you that she knows what she knows, Hikari sees a breif flash of green and hears the rattle of dice...
> Then Miss Mikidao shakes her head a bit to clear it and smiles, "If it will make you feel better, alright. Give me just a minute."
* Hikari nods and waits patiently.
> A few moments later, she frowns again, "Hmm. This can't be right. The time sheet doesn't have anyone listed for working that time. I enter it myself every week, so I know it was put in the system right." She sighs, "We need new computers here so badly."
> Standing up, she turns towards the door behind her desk, "Let me just check my hard copy, then."
<Hikari> "Of course, go right ahead."
> Miss Mikidao steps into her office.
> A few moments later, she steps back out and she does NOT look happy.
<Hikari> "Is something wrong?"
> Turning a rather cold glare on you, she answers, "Whatever is going on here, I am NOT amused, miss Ishigami."
* Hikari doesn't have to fake being perplexed. "Excuse me?"
> "The hardcopies of my timesheets are missing. I had them this morning, as I was making the shcedual for next week. And now they're gone. Just as you come in to ask about a specific time that's somehow no longer in the system. I don't know what sort of game you think you're playing, but I would think a young woman your age would be more mature then this."
<Hikari> "I'm not playing any game, I'm looking for a *friend* of mine who's *missing*. Look, is it possible that someone tampered with your files? I don't know why someone would do that, but it's all I can think of."
> "I think you can answer that question better then I can, miss Ishigami, as I can't think of any other reason someone would insist that someone works here who doesn't then cite a time that's not accounted for to 'prove' it." Her expression does not lighten at all.
<Hikari> "If you can think of any reason WHY I would in here just to play a prank on you, please enlighten me, because I can't think of one. Look, I don't know how long she'd been working here--maybe she'd just started and you hadn't met her enough to remember. You said you knew the name, right? Where else could it be from?"
> She snaps, "How am I supposed to know what goes through the minds of irresponsible pranksters?" But then she pauses and thinks, "I...I don't know. I can't remember where I heard it. And my memory is nearly perfect, as any of my students will tell you."
> She shakes her head and sits back down, "How can I not remember where I've heard that name? And how can I not remember who I schedualed for those missing timeslots?"
> "I do NOT forget things like this..."
<Hikari> "If I wanted to play a prank on you, I wouldn't walk right up and tell you about it...Can you try to remember how you know the name, at least? She's hard to forget: tall girl, Russian descent, blonde hair, sizable facial scar."
> "Facial scar...?" She shakes her head, "I...can't remember...ugh." She closes her eyes and begins massaging her temples.
<Hikari> "Take your time, if you have to. This is very serious for me."
> "I'm entirely too young to be forgetting things like this." She looks at the computer again, "Have you spoken with the other aides? Perhaps miss Ijikimodo? She seems to have the shift right before or right after those missing times rather often. IF...if this Valeriya did work here..." the very notion seems to make her pale a bit, "then she would have seen her fairly often."
* Hikari nods. "I'll talk to her."
> Miss Mikidao sighs and sinks down in her chair a bit, "Then as my records all seem to be missing and I...I can't...remember her at all," her voice cracks, "I think that's all I can do for you, miss Ishigami."
<Hikari> "Thank you for you help," Hikari says, sincerely. "Please let me know if anything else comes up? And, I'm sorry for any trouble I've caused you." She leaves after a respectful bow.
> (OOC: Scene Change, the knurd edition)
> Mike got back to his room without too much difficulty. There was a bit of a moment when he had to remember how to use the stairs again, but other then that everything went as smoothly as could be expected for someone in his state. As he gets in, he can hear the shower going.
<Mykasi> "Six-pack delivery." Mike yells, stumbling in, closing the door, and heading to the computer, dropping the pack on his bed as he goes.
> As usual, Kyo can't seem to hear what you yell while he's showering, responding with a, "What? Yeah, I'll be out in a few!"
<Mykasi> "GET BETTER EARS." Mike bellows in English, sitting down with a thud and eyeing his computer, before beginning to compile the junk file and checking further for cracks in...
> OOC: roll that computer use check
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 does Mike pull off Miracle Drunk powers?!
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 does Mike pull off Miracle Drunk powers?! and gets 4."12 [2d8=2, 2]
> The junk file is quickly composed and inserted into the system without Mike leaving any traces of his entry.
* Mykasi takes this chance to try and confirm there's little traces of outsider meddling, checking more than he did when he got stonewall'd to the face by the timesheet.
<Mykasi> Well, outside of yours truly.
> Mike's check is thorough. He checks through every inch of the system and is very certain he's found everything there is to be found.
> There are no other cracks into the library system.
> Nor was the data altered during any time period when someone with legit access was logged in.
> There is actually no sign whatsoever of who or what altered the data. It's almost as if it just changed suddenly of it's own accord.
<Mykasi> "...inside job..." Mike murmurs, mentally noting all this before pausing. "Wait, no records of it being changed at all... ...Hate. So much hate."  After a moment, he makes sure his hack from the earlier entry is cleaned up, before considering and checking to see if any books were recorded checked out during one of Valeriya's supposed shifts.
> There were! The system still clearly lists what books were checked out when and what student ID was used to check them out. Even during Val's shifts.
<Mykasi> But no recording of who checked them out? Someone has to be logged onto the computer to manage it...
<Mykasi> *to manage checking books in.
> The records do not show any name for who was logged into the systems at those times. In fact it doesn't show that anyone at all was logged into the systems at those times. Rather contradictory data, that.
> About this time the sounds of the shower stop.
<Mykasi> "..." With that Mike carefully closes up his way in, hoping that no one catches the way he came in by (and hoping the decoy IP is defense enough if it's caught), before rubbing his head and switching to a... uh... his email. Yes, his email feels sanest right now. No one's forgotten he's alive, right? Have you, spambots?
> The spambots have not forgotten you~ Nor has Amelia who has apparently sent an email earlier today. It has pictures of her in France attatched.
<Mykasi> Any pictures of her naked in France? No? Damn. Though probably just as well, Amelia's more a sister than anything else. Any in front of the Eiffel Tower that he can rib her about, then?
> Nope, but one of her under the Arc De Triumphe. Also one of her winning some kind of local amature martial arts thing. Not really a surprise there, the woman is beastly strong.
> Kyo steps out of the bathroom a second later, and he remembered his shorts this time.
<Mykasi> "Heh. Nice one, Amelia." Mike murmurs, sending a congratulatory email ("Hey! Congrats on the award, and nice pictures. Though I note you avoided having your photo taken with the Eiffel Wang. Probably wise. What's been the most enjoyable part of being over there? Cheers, Mike") before wav ing to Kyo (...damnit.). "Hey. Six-pack here, get better ears, doing anything tonight?"
> He makes his way over to his dresser to grab some fresh clothes while eying the six pack on your bed, "What's the occasion, man? Didn't peg you as the weekend drinker sort."
<Mykasi> "Not usually, no. Just... some bad news from home, was kinda trying to forget about it since there's nothing I can do about it as it stands."
<Mykasi> "Hell, put bluntly that'
> Kyo winces, "Oof. Tough luck, man. What all happened?" He adds a second later, "Or is it one of those 'don't wanna talk about it' things?"
<Mykasi> "Eh... mom's pissed at me since I didn't tell her something, and a friend's prognosis isn't all that great as it stands." Mike summarizes the current status (kinda), making a mental note to email his mom at some point very soon. "More of just a 'I'd rather do something and forget about it', thus why I was asking what you were doing tonight."
> He looks at the clock, then shrugs, "Was just gonna get up to the usual shit."
> Thinking on it a moment, he nods, "Eh, Fridays are a bit busy for me anyway. Got a destination in mind?"
<Mykasi> "You know any good places for jumping into a card game or something? If not, I'
<Mykasi> "You know any good places for jumping into a card game or something? If not, I'm down with a beef bowl over at Kasugayama."
> "Cards, eh?" He hesitates a minute, then shrugs, "I play with some guys down at Jack's every now and then. They're, uh...well, not too great so I don't head down there much, but it's a good enough way to kill some time."
> "At cards, anyway. Good guys, if you're down with geek humor."
<Mykasi> "Uh... you've probably never heard some of my worse jokes, have you." Mike grins. "If you're down with it, we could crash their setup - at the least, we have each other to compete against?"
> Kyo cracks his knuckles, "Think you're in my league, do you? Alright, we'll see where the cards fall."
<Mykasi> "It's possible, at least. I'm not bad, myself, though if you're all you're hyped up to be, I may very well be behind." Mike says modestly, but still with that grin.
> Kyo grins, "Hey, I'm good for the standards around here, but they might not be as high as where you're from. We'll find out I guess, eh?"
> With that, he grabs his coat and leads the way out and off to this "Jack's".
> (OOC: Scene Change, will do the S.Link a bit later)
> Saturday morning finds Hikari still in her dorm room while Neimi has left for the day. She's almost never around on Saturdays, having one class, then some manner of game, then going to see her parents. Which gives Hikari a nice peaceful room to herself to relax the weekend away in.
> Or at least it would if she didn't have more pressing issues.
> Like the phone suddenly ringing!
* Mykasi wakes up and quickly showers in the morning, muttering about cards as changes and heads outside. Halfway down the stairs he pulls out the phone and dials up Hikari, walking as he goes.
<Hikari> "Hikari speaking," she responds crisply, having been up for some time (as usual), probably studying.
<Mykasi> "Hey, Hikari." Mike says, getting outside and beginning to walk. Man, morning streets are nice.
<Hikari> "Ah, good morning, Mike. I have to say that I envoy you somewhat for not accompanying me to the library last night."
<Hikari> *envy
* Mykasi stops immediately. "Shit, did something go wrong?"
<Hikari> "Not exactly. It went more or less as expected. Mikidao just didn't take not remembering very well at all. She looked...lost."
<Mykasi> "...damn." Mike mutters after a moment, continuing on. "That's stressful. Did she seem pressured to look into her records at all?"
<Hikari> "Oh, she checked her records. There's no record of anyone working the hours during which Valeriya was there, no record of her at all online or hard copy. At first the poor woman accused ME of tampering with her records."
<Mykasi> "Right. I'll lay low on my end for a while, then." Mike says after a moment. "She's likely to begin looking more in-depth, and while I'm pretty sure I covered my tracks, I don't want her thinking I did any of that."
<Mykasi> "Haven't modified any of the files myself, which if she finds my tracks somehow should be noticeable, but... if she's suspicious, anything will ring guilty. Damn. Ah well."
<Hikari> "If we're lucky, she'll convince herself it was all some kind of mistake. Did you find any traces of whoever did this?"
<Mykasi> "Absolutely none at all. Period. End of statement. I was effectively the only person that'd bothered getting into there." A pause, before, "Which is weird in and of itself - college campus, programming college, usually there's some asshole looking to pull a prank."
* Hikari frowns. "Very strange. Or I suppose it would be, had I not so recently entered another student's psyche and fought demons there."
<Mykasi> "...touche." Mike mutters. "Any other info on your end?"
<Hikari> "No, unfortunately. Are you still interested in using the key to check in Mikidao? If *people* are being modified as well as computer's, I want to see what's responsible for it."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, definitely interested at this point." Mike nods. "We should also probably perform a few more tests on how the key works at some point, but... Yeah, for now, let's see if we can get a good time to do that."
<Mykasi> "Though, honestly? At this point any person we know knew Hikari's probably as good as any other."
<Mykasi> *Valeriya.
<Hikari> "Tonight?" Hikari suggests. "Though you do raise a good point. There was another library employee, Ijikimodo, who worked close enough hours to Val's to have talked to her regularly. As a fellow student, it would doubtless be easier for us to reach her to use the key."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, definitely." Mike nods. "And sure, tonight works. Draws less attention to you if Mikidao's around, too, as well as myself. Probably ideal - we don't know what's going on. We need to make sure we don't make enemies while looking into this."
<Hikari> "Yes, very true. Shall we meet up around nightfall?"
<Mykasi> "Dusk works, yeah. She's got the very late shifts, so we should be safe so long as we don't dawdle. And... our goal is investigation. We really don't want people passing out or something because we poked something in their head, so let's not get too aggressive."
<Hikari> "Of course. We are looking for information, after all. Though if we encounter more spectral crows, it'll be an act of will for me to not strike them down."
<Mykasi> "Right. Guess I get to visit the ladies' dorm again, then." Mike mutters. "Why can't you people have integrated dorms? ...Anyway, one test I want to do at some point is to see how it reacts to multiple people. If we can learn to sort through who each person is, we stand far better odds of finding people in there later."
<Hikari> "Americans DO have integrated dorms? How does this not result in chaos? ...Nevermind. Anyway, what you propose would make for an interesting experiment. Save it for some day when we are stalled on other leads?"
<Mykasi> "Right. And in the integrated dorms, two rooms share a small bathroom; only one gender per bathroom, usually. More akin to shared apartment studios than anything else." Mike elaborates, ignoring the 'Nevermind.' "Only other variant is that it's just one gender per floor, but."
<Hikari> Hikari's only response to this is a curious "Hm."
<Mykasi> "Right. Anyway, talk to you later, gonna get jogging and try to get my mind off things."
<Hikari> "Of course. See you tonight."
<Mykasi> "Yep." With that, Mike hangs up, drops the phone in his pocket, and starts running.
> --------------------------------------

[VySaika]

> -------------------------------------
> Saturday night finds Mykasi and Hikari making thier way towards the dorm room of miss Yukina Ijikimodo, library assistant, Val's co-worker, and all around air-headed girly girl. It's fairly late, and the halls are thankfully quiet and empty aside from the duo.
* Hikari has the key, of course. "Ready when you are," she says quietly. "Hopefully we only get her dreams, and not her roommate's or something."
<Mykasi> Which Mike is grateful for - being the target of gossip would put on pressure he's not interested in. "Hopefully. Maybe the roommate's out? Who knows. We need to try this anyway, and if we get both, it's good differentiation practice."
* Hikari nods, and wastes no more time before using the key and opening the door.
> The key turns and the door silently opens to the familiar blue swirl.
> (OOC: Scene Change, the 6 lines in edition)
> How about that, the Velvet Room continues to be blue. Who would have guessed? As usual, Igor sits in his high backed chair behind a small table with three chairs set in front of it. Theresa rises from her seat on the couch and bows as the two of you enter, "Welcome to the Velvet Room."
<Hikari> "Hello again."
* Mykasi is, of course, completely and utterly shocked that the Velvet Room would dare to have the -audacity-, the sheer -panache- to remain blue, but manages to keep his cool despite this monumentuous disaster. "Heya, you two. Looking to enter the Dream again."
> Igor nods, "Of course." As before, he raises his hands and the door glows faintly for just a moment. As the glow fades, he simply gestures to the door.
> Theresa blinks, "Hmm, shouldn't there be one more of you?"
<Mykasi> "We're... trying to find her." Mike falters for a moment.
<Hikari> "Yes. Yes, there should be. That's rather what we're here about."
> "Or is she...oh." Theresa blushes a touch and nods, "Well, I haven't seen her lately. Good luck."
<Mykasi> "...not reassuring, but thanks." Mike nods slightly. "Let's do this, Hikari?"
<Hikari> "Yes," Hikari says hesitantly. She was hoping Igor or Theresa might have something to say about Val's disappearance, even in their own cryptic way, but alas. She opens the door and proceeds.
> The door opens, and the duo proceed into the Dream proper...
> (OOC: Scene Change Combo, 27 damage!)
> Hikari and Mykasi step out of a small door tucked into an alleyway and can see a very busy street ahead of them. It's nighttime, but the streetlights and various neon signs make everything rather visible. Well dressed men and women walk up and down the sidewalks on both sides, occasionally crossing the strangely trafic-less street and ducking into the brightly lit storefronts and bars that line the street.(more)
> Well dressed...is a rather catch all term here. The fashion choices here stand out as fitting in two disctintly seperate categories: fancy business dress such as the many men in suits and ties and the ladies in very nice skirt-suits walking around. And then the ones dressed in a manner that can better be described as downright 'glitzy', sparkling dresses and jewelery choices that are on the bleeding edge of high fashion.(more)
> To nearly mirror this odd schism in attire, two buildings stand out amoung all the lights and signs of the street. One, an asture and imposing building proudly declaring itself to be the Federal Supreme Court of Justice, while the other, from which loud noises can be heard and a line is outside the door of, is the Ampersand Theater.
* Mykasi whistles slightly. "I-i-interesting... hm. Though I confess I've no clue where to start - maybe a random pedestrian?"
* Hikari stops at the edge of the road and takes a long look around. "Looks fairly normal so far. Someone's into fashion and apparently not much else." Hikari probably looks underdressed, being prone to plain, understated clothes. "I suppose. Keep an eye out for Ijikimodo herself, of course."
<Mykasi> "Of course. If she's a fashion freak, the theater might be more likely... or maybe she's split?" Mike proposes. "One side focuses on Justice, the other on Art..."
<Mykasi> "In which case we might have better odds of talking to someone in the Supreme Court."
<Hikari> "Or maybe this is two dreams merging together," Hikari wonders. "What do we know about Ijikimodo? I'd say stick which whichever side sounds more like it reflects her interests. I'd rather not spy on more people's thoughts than is necessary to get the job done."
<Mykasi> "Uh.." Mike muses. "You're... probably right. I don't know that much about Ijikimodo, honestly, though..." After a moment, Mike shrugs, pulls a coin out of his pocket, and flips it.
<Mykasi> roll 1d2
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 1d2 and gets 2."12 [1d2=2]
<Mykasi> "Let's check the Ampersand Theater first, unless you think she's at the Court of Justice?" Mike says after checking the coin.
<Hikari> "I have no more clues than you do," Hikari says, heading towards the theater.
<Mykasi> "Right." Mike nods, following and looking around for Ijikimodo.
> The pair make their way towards the theater. There's no sign of Ijikimodo on the street, though the few pedestrians who aren't ignoring you two sort of look down thier noses at you. After a moment, they reach the outside of the theater, where there is a long line extending out the door as a pair of bouncers check everyone before letting them in.(More)
> Next to those two is a third bouncer standing in front of a roped off door labled as the 'VIP Entrance'.
> There are signs outside the theater as well, indicating that some manner of fashion show is underway tonight.
<Mykasi> "Fashion show... Hm. We do have one option, but if we resort to it you'll need to do the talking. Let's duck to an alleyway and figure this out?" Mike mutters to Hikari.
<Hikari> "Sure," Hikari says, finding a convenient alleyway in which to talk.
> There is a convenient alleyway right between the theater and a book store. The two duck into it!
<Mykasi> A book store? How tempting, but now's not the time. Is the VIP line in sight? "This entrance seems to be a very much... high end... appearance venue. I can use an illusion to try and make us more appealing in that regard. Acceptable?" Mike proposes.
> If you look around the corner, the VIP lane is in sight. And currently empty, as presumably all VIPs are already inside.
<Hikari> "Go ahead. I don't think much of our chances of being accepted by the bouncers otherwise, and I'd rather not cause undue trouble here by forcing our way in."
<Mykasi> "Right. Do you want to try waiting in line, or bluffing through the VP line?" Mike asks, even as he begins to focus. "This is decently complex, I won't be able to talk while maintaining it besides mono-syllablism."
<Hikari> "VIP line. If this is something you'll have to concentrate on, then the sooner we get in, the better. I'd rather not wait in line."
<Mykasi> "Right. If they call us on it, tell them we're modeling the newest in holographic fashion or something equally absurd, and that anything other than plainclothes would disrupt it or something. I don't know. We'll run with it." With that, Mike begins focusing carefully. (More)
<Mykasi> Mike chooses for himself a very formal tuxedo suit combo, with the added flair of four dragons interweaving into a dreamcatcher's web on the back (and Anansi in the middle, natch) and two serpents running down the front part of the vest. (More)
<Mykasi> For Hikari, Mike hesitates, before setting her up in a skin-tight (to illusionary appearance, natch) black halter studded generously, if somewhat modestly, with rubies and garnets, with elbow-long gloves of black velvet studded with rubies as well. The dress is a slightly frilly black number, simple and cut rather... far... up the waist.
<Mykasi> The final touch is two thin golden cards, one to Hikari and one to himself, with simply his name on one and Hikari's on another. "Suitable?" Mike asks after a moment.
* Hikari looks down at herself and frowns. "Just as long as it stays an illusion," she says. "Ready?"
* Mykasi nods... before dropping the illusion momentaraily. "We're relying on your knowledge of bluffing and etiquette to get us through; appearance will get us somewhere, but not all the way. I'll adjust the illusion if you think it's needed." Mike nods slightly, before bringing the illusion back up, making sure everything's set up properly. "Ready."
* Hikari nods and leaves the alleyway, heading to the VIP line. She marches right up to the bouncers quite imperiously, as though she had every right to be there and, in fact, they should feel lucky to be in the presence of her and Mike. She deigns to grace them with a polite nod before attempting to enter. Anyone truly important doesn't need to announce their presence, after all.
* Mykasi for his part matches Hikari's stride with a careful, dignified, reserved, calm (fuuuuuuuuuuuuck I hate this shit why can't we just be in someone's porno dream world or something that'd be fun) pace of his own, assuring everyone else around them that they have their reasons to be there.
> The bouncer does not remove the rope from the door, "Just a moment, miss. Names?" He holds up a list to look for the names you give on.
<Hikari> "'Names,'" Hikari repeats sardonically, looking donw her nose at the man just like all the other attendees had done to her. "You are capable of reading, aren't you?"
> The bouncer frowns and takes a look at your namecards. Comparing them to the list, he shakes his head, "Yeah, those names aren't on here. You're going to need to go stand in line with everybody else."
<Hikari> "Then your list is wrong," Hikari says, with unshakeable certainty. "We broke a prior engagement at the last moment in order to be here, by special request of the designer herself. If we're not on the list, it's just a result of the last minute rush. Now, we're expected inside. Are you going to let us in, or will you have to be fired after we stand in line and then report you to the management?"
> OOC: Make an ettiquete check, if you please.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Hatebot, is it in effect?
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Hatebot, is it in effect? and gets 10."12 [2d8=7, 3]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Hatebot, it is in effect
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Hatebot, it is in effect and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
> OOC: 9 was the target number.
> The bouncer starts to shake his head in refusal...but then Hikari can faintly hear the sound of rattling dice and he rubs his head, "Uh, hold on a second." That said, he opens the door and calls inside, "Hey, Kakashi! We have any last minute VIPs added on?"
> Another man comes up to the door from the inside and looks at the two of you...
* Mykasi immediately makes the illusion extend to him.
* Hikari poses! Haughtily and attractivily in equal parts, she hopes.
> OOC: Mike, mind check to add him to the illusion fast enough.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 woo
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 woo and gets 6."12 [2d8=2, 4]
> The man nods after a second, "Alright, miss are you the replacement model? I'm afraid the agency didn't tell us who to expect, just that they'd send one over."
<Hikari> "You can't tell just by looking?" Hikari says by way of confirmation, feeling vaguely soild by the whole display.
> He laughs, "Sorry, but rules say I have to ask. Alright, come on in. It's still in the pre-show, so the girls in the back should have enough time to tell you what you need to do."
> Kakashi removes the rope from the door and gestures you in, "Follow me, please."
* Mykasi nods very slightly.
* Hikari does so, assuming Mike will be following her.
> The man doesn't say anything about Mike's presance, so it must be all good. He leads the two of you, not into the main theater, but through a hallway that loops around to the back.
* Mykasi naturally follows, determined to follow the deception through to the end, whatever it may be... though slightly worried at the distance from the natural exit.
* Hikari just keeps a look out for Ijikimodo or anything that might seem out of place.
> After a moment, you reach a doorway that he knocks on. A woman quickly sticks her head out, "Yes? Oh, Kakashi, what is it?"
<Mykasi> And again the illusion shifts to the woman!
<Mykasi> While still covering Kakashi, of course.
> Kakashi gestures at Hikari, "The replacement model finally got here."
> She smiles, "Well then, no time to waste. Miss Yukina's been pretty furious that we're one short so she'll be happy to see you." Reaching out, she takes Hikari's hand and starts to pull her into the doorway.
> Kakashi turns to Mike and nods, "You're from the Agency too, right? I'll show you over to the VIP seats. 'fraid it's ladies only past the door."
<Mykasi> "Hold. Hikari... stay a moment." Mike says quickly, nodding to Kakashi. "There is... one thing." With that, he pulls out a high-tech looking remote from the pocket of his clothes and begins working with it carefully.
* Hikari waits for whatever it is that Mike has in the works, assuming she can resist being dragged away.
> The woman isn't pulling hard, and couldn't move you even if she did.
<Mykasi> "This is... a prototype from our best division. We were requested... to test it out... and Hikari, though young... showed much promise." Mike grins, before finishing 'adjustments'... and Hikari's clothes flash from a blazing blue dress, to a white tux, then finally to the very plainclothes she entered with. "This is... the best in holographic fashion. We are hoping... to market within only a few years. " (More)
<Mykasi> "I am well... briefed on your desire to keep a low profile, Hikari... I have set the design to the 'plaincloth' attire. The test has proven a complete success. Thank you for your time, and enjoy the... modeling for Miss Yukina." With that, Mike stiffly bows to the group. "Very well. Lead on... sir."
* Hikari nods. "Of course, I was honored to be the first treated to this exciting new fashion trend. Thank you!" She turns back to the girl in the doorway, ready to follow her in.
> The woman's eyes are wiiiide with amazement at the display, but she recovers quickly and urges Hikari into the back, "Okay, no time to get distracted, we have a whole show to do and I hope you can learn fast because there's no time for rehersal."
<Hikari> "I'm sure I can pick things up in time," Hikari assures the girl.
> Kakashi shakes his head in disbelief, "Whoo boy. Miss Ijikimodo's going to want to talk to you after the show, I can promise that. Alright, Mr..." he looks at your name badge again, "Kaliska-Werfel, come with me and we'll get you settled in."
> OOC: Splitting the party here. Mike's just going to go sit in the front row of the show, nothing special happening there, so I'm gonna focus on Hikari.
<Mykasi> "Mr. Kali... works." Mike says with a very faint grin. "Thank you, sir. I... would be honored by her presence, if she is willing.. to grace me with it. Lead on."
> The woman smiles and guides Hikari over to a changing room where a bunch of other women are hanging out. Many of them she can recognize as the more attractive women from Hokkuriku. Including Yukina Ijikimodo herself who raises an eyebrow as you enter, "Melissa, who is this?"
> Melissa, the girl with you, responds, "Hikari Ishigami, the replacement model from the Agency."
* Hikari gives a respectful bow to the creator of the dream and head of the fashion show.
> Yukina breathes a sigh of relief, "About time! Alright, Idori, show her what she'll be wearing and walk her through the order. We're starting in ten minutes, so we can skip her dress for the first part if we need to, but we'll need her ready to go before the second at the latest."
> A woman you vaguely think you may have seen around school nods, "Alright, let's go." And leads you over to where the costumes you'll be wearing are.
* Hikari takes whatever opportunity she has to examine Ijikimodo herself for signs of anything strange; if she's noticed gawking, she can just explain it off as idol worship. She follows the aide to the costumes while trying to monitor everything around her.
> The costumes, and they can only be called that, range from the simply skimpy to the blatently absurd.
<Hikari> "Ah...which one's mine?" Hikari says, looking over the selection with some trepidation.
> One of them is bikini top made of interlocked, glittering, plastic snowflakes. Along with a glittering silver skirt that is long on the sides but so short as to reveal the equally gittering silver bikini bottom in the front and back. With four inch heels for the shoes.
* Hikari eyes her other options, if she actually has any.
> Idori gestures to that one, "That's your first one. You'll be wearing these seven over the course of the whole show. Don't worry about being able to get into or out of them fast enough on the first try, our assistants here are good enough to make it not a problem.
> "
<Hikari> "Seven?" It's an act of will to not stutter. How long an ordeal has she got herself into? Well, it's not like she can just back down without the whole charade falling apart. She takes the bikini-like garment and examines it critically.
> A couple of women come over and get ready to help you into the costume. Idori shows the other outfits(one of which has gigantic plastic WINGS as part of it...) and explains the order you'll need to wear them in, and the order you'll be walking out in.
> As she talks, the women try to get you to try that costume on so they can make last second alterations so it will fit right.
<Hikari> Hikari's eyes glaze over sometime during the explanation. Some part of her she doesn't feel like addressing right now is almost looking forward to this--it is just a dream after all, it's not like anyone's actually going to see any of this! Except Mike is out there, and they're only here on a job, and she can't afford to get distracted. She cooperates with the aides to get the changing done as quickly as possible.
> OOC: Mind check, Hikari! How well can she actually remember this complicated stuff.
<Hikari> roll 2d6 Hikari's not excellent at Mind
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d6 Hikari's not excellent at Mind and gets 6."12 [2d6=1, 5]
> It's all a little confusing and complicated, but Hikari thinks she can remember her part. Which is good, because it's almost showtime.
> Yukina is calling everyone together, all the models in thier first outfits. When she sees Hikari wearing the snowflake bikini, she grins, "You're ready too? Great! Alright ladies, line up at the door in order and let's get this show on the stage!"
* Hikari composes herself as best as she can, given she's barely dressed and about to walk in front of a crowd. The crowd being composed of figments honestly doesn't help much. Well, just as long as she doesn't fall off those damn heels, this'll be over soon enough. She gets in line and awaits her turn.
> M: Out in the theater, the lights start to flash blue and white while a techno remix of a traditional winter folksong comes on the speakers. A well dressed, but just in a nice dress, woman walks out onto the stage and announces the beginning of the Annual Ijikimodo Designs Fashion Show!
> The crowd goes wild with applause.
> In the VIP section with him, Mike can see all kinds of celebrities, Japanese and American movie stars, a Japanese politician he thinks he vaguely recognizes, and even the current top pop idol singers. All also applauding wildly.
* Mykasi applauds fairly loudly, keeping his cool (and the illusion) up as he watches the entire drama play out (and hoping Hikari can do her part).
> Then the first model walks out on stage, strutting her way down the catwalk and excecuting a perfect turn at the end, winking and waving to the crowd. Mike...thinks he recognizes that woman from Hokkuriku, actually. Kilika Idori, from alot of your tech classes.
<Mykasi> And she's pretty cute, too. Mike doesn't hold back the smile as he watches.
> She walks back down the catwalk as another model takes her place. One by one until...Hikari makes her own stage debut.
> OOC: Body check, at +2 since I'm sure she's worn heels before being mildly high class. So target number 12.
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=4, 6]
* Mykasi holds his own breath, watching - wait, what is the hell is she WEARING?!?
> Hikari is able to get the movements down, and doesn't mess up the walk!
<Mykasi> Hikari is... definitely attractive, but... oh, shit. Oh, shit.
* Hikari can only presume that the lights and whatever makeup they decided to put on her will obscure the fact of her blushing furiously. She does her best to mimic the strut favored by the models; it's not exactly the kind of walk that comes naturally to her, at least when friends are watching. She can't help but look for Mike in the crowd as she strolls down the catwalk; she almost doesn't want to find him.
* Mykasi deliberately, for his part, is almost shrinking into his illusion, highly embarrassed and feeling quite responsible for this debacle.
<Hikari> Oh. There he is. enjoy the show while it lasts, Mike! Hikari finishes her rounds and circles round to the wings and backstage area again.
<Mykasi> Oh, shit.
> As soon as Hikari gets backstage a woman ushers her over to the changing area, gets her out of that outfit and into the next one!
> And the show goes on. It goes through a total of five different lines, two of which Hikari has two outfits to display in. Fortunately hers are far from the strangest outfits. During one line, which seems themed on various birds, Ijikimodo herself comes out in little more then strategically pasted on feathers, a thong and sporting a gigantic peacock tail attatched to her...somehow.
> After over an hour of this, the show finally wraps up, with all the girls coming out at once to take a final bow in thier last outfits!
> The applause is deafening.
* Mykasi applauds as well, more for the sake of supporting Hikari than anything else.
> And after that, the ladies all return to the back and the crowd starts to mill about and file out.
<Hikari> Hikari, for her part, desperately wants to be away from the lights and noise. She bows with the other girls and looks forward to exiting the stage,
> H: Once in the back, none of the models waste any time returning to normal, comfortable clothes.
* Mykasi makes his own way back to the model's room, waiting a comfortable distance outside for Hikari.
> M: After a moment, Kakashi comes back over to you and jerks his head towards the back, "Alright, let's give the ladies a couple to get changed and then go see miss Ijikimodo. She'll be all over that holographic fabric...or whatever it is."
<Mykasi> OOC: Strike prev. line, sorry.
<Mykasi> "Alright. And it's... not precisely... holographic fabric. But I won't bore... you with details." Mike grins slightly.
<Hikari> Nor does Hikari linger any more than necessary, changing back into her normal clothes and then taking another look around for Ijikimodo. If she's not around, Hikari needs to leave the dressing room and find Mike--remembering the incident with the dreamcatcher, she wonders whether Mike has a better chance of spotting anything strange about Ijikimodo.
> Yukina is chatting with a woman in low tones, finally nodding to her as Hikari makes her way over there, "Yeah, everyone's decent. Go ahead and call him in, I've gotta see this."
> Turning to Hikari, she beams, "Great job! It was a little shaky here and there, but for seeing all the outfits for the first time that's hardly a problem. You're a real pro, Hikari."
<Hikari> "Thank you," Hikari says respectfully, while silently mulling over whether she appreciates being good at something like this.
> M: a woman sticks her head out of the back, sees Mike and Kakashi, and waves the two of you in, "Yeah, come on in, miss Yukina's ready to see you."
> OOC: aaaand, recombine party.
* Mykasi nods slightly, pulling out the remote again... and noticing a blinking red light. "Ah...? ...Her supply is running... low? Inconvenient, but... I can work with it." he says after a moment, entering and bowing respectfully to the models.
* Hikari merely nods to Mike with no easily readable expression.
> Yukina eyes Mykasi carefully, "So you're Mr. Kaliska-Werfel, from the Agency? I'm told you have a new kind of fashion technology to display?"
<Mykasi> "I do. Unfortunately... while it works properly... the battery woven into Milady Hikari's fabric is... running low. While it will function... the radius will, sadly, be low, so as... to conserve energy. Milady, if you would care... to approach Hikari? Everyone else, so as to... allow me to preserve energy..." Mike clears his throat for a moment.,
* Hikari stands idle for the sake of the demonstration. It's not like it's anything grueling after the show itself.
<Mykasi> "I estimate four of you... can stand around her... close enough for her to... model the design. Everyone else... please stand with me... I will organize this into... shifts of four, so everyone... can witness. Acceptable... milady?"
> Yukina nods and moves a step closer to Hikari, "Alright." A couple other girls move in closer as well, eager to be the first ones to see this.
* Hikari poses, hands on her hips, so everyone can get a good look.
<Mykasi> "Alright. Everyone else... please stand near me. It will... help me sort... this through." Mike nods, before readjusting the illusion onto Hikari, giving her the first dress she came in with. "None of us... see the holograph... because I have reduced the distance it shows the display... to save energy."
> They all nod along like this makes sense somehow.
* Mykasi waits for the group's reactions to the illusion coming up before speaking any further.
> Yukina oohs over the display, "That's incredible! The technology, anyway. The dress isn't, but you haven't had me designing those yet so I guess that's to be expected."
> The others watching all murmer appriciative noises as well.
<Mykasi> "The dress was... a somewhat primitive model... used from our database of design. Your input... for the final phases... will be greatly valued." Mike nods slightly. "If you four could move back a bit... and allow some others to look?..."
> The models cycle in and out.
<Mykasi> And Mike adjusts the illusion accordingly! Before then shifting the dress to a... daring... sky-blue shift mentally, and being quite glad the current number of targets means Hikari can't see herself. "Shifting on the go... is quite possible. However, that remains one... of the two challenges. Our team is... working on a sensory glove... allowing you to manipulate the outfit with your hand alone."
> Yukina nods, "Well, once you have the kinks worked out, I'd love to be a part of this project. I'll call the Agency and talk to them about the meeting details, okay?
> "Thank you so much for coming out to display this."
> She turns back to Hikari, "Also, I'm going to ask to hire you on more permanently. That was a great performance, and I need a new model anyway since I lost one a few days ago."
<Mykasi> "It is... our deepest pleasure. We look forward... to further collaboration." Mike bows again. "Anyone else who has not seen it... please step in and witness. I will... turn it off afterward."
> the last group steps in to look.
<Mykasi> And at this, he steals a glance to Hikari.
* Mykasi shifts the illusion to them, and holds it for fifteen seconds before shutting it off.
<Hikari> "Oh, uh, thank you, Miss Ijikomodo, I'm honored," Hikari manages.
<Mykasi> "A loss? That is... too bad. While I am pleased Hikari Ishigami... could manage to fulfill the needs... who could have left your service so?" Mike asks, head tilted slightly. "To be absent from your... illuminating talent... is an oddity, indeed."
> She shakes her head, "Hell if I know what happened to her. She just stopped showing up to rehersals all of a sudden."
<Hikari> "Which of your models was it? Anyone famous? Because that's very unprofessional behavior."
> She nods, "No kidding. It was..." she blinks, "it was...uh..."
> OOC: Soul checks, both of you.
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 13."12 [2d8=5, 8]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
> As she hesitates, Mykasi can begin to see something near her. A...spider. A very strange spider, almost as if made entirely from yarn, is hanging over her head and pulling some kind of strand out of her.
* Mykasi is making a show out of messing with the switch, before spotting the spider. With that, he moves forward quickly, before grabbing at the spider over Yukina's head! "Apologies, ma'am... a spider was... above you. I have grabbed it."
> OOC: Sorry, the spider is like a full foot and a half diameter. I thought I mentioned that but I didn't. It's not a tiny little thing.
<Mykasi> OOC: Oh, then strike my line.
> OOC: If that changes your action, feel free to redo, yeah.
* Mykasi is making a show out of messing with the switch, before spotting the spider... and visibly flinching slightly, before creating a bright red aura around it (visible to Hikari) and a red blade with his capability of illusion that hovers in the air, slicing at the spider!
> The blade slices at the spider, but passes right through it. The spider doesn't even seem to notice. Hikari sees a red blade pass through a red outlined area of space. It almost looks like the shape of a...very large spider.
> Yukina shakes her head, "Oh wow, the stress must really be getting to me. I can't even remember her name." She laughs a little nervously, "I'm just tired after the show, is all. Sorry about that."
* Mykasi disappears the sword, then, and walks up to Yukina. "Apologies, ma'am... but I think a small spider is above you." With that, he tries to knock the spider away physically.
> At the word spider, she jerks back a step but Mike can see it doesn't break the line the spider is pulling from her.
> OOC: Attack roll.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=1, 6]
> Mike's hand connects with the spider, and it goes bouncing away, landing on the ground. It gets back up quickly...and begins advancing on Mykasi. And now EVERYONE can see it.
<Hikari> Whatever Mike's trying to strike is surely what the two of them came here for. She focuses her persona on the center of that red aura and commands Brynhildr to strike it dead!
> OOC: Initiatives. That's 2d8+ACV
<Hikari> roll 2d8+8 yeah I'd forgotten how init worked >.>
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8+8 yeah I'd forgotten how init worked >.> and gets 11."12 [2d8=1, 2]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8+9
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8+9 and gets 14."12 [2d8=3, 2]
> roll 2d8+7
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8+7 and gets 14."12 [2d8=2, 5]
> roll 2d8+7
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8+7 and gets 15."12 [2d8=5, 3]
> roll 2d8+7
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8+7 and gets 17."12 [2d8=8, 2]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Initiatives: Pattern Spider 3 > Pattern Spider 2 > Mike > Pattern Spider 1(9 damage) > Hikari'
> Mike's illusiononary tux drops as well when he attacks, but the models are too busy screaming and running from the giant spiders...s? Yes, two more spiders swiftly drop down from the ceiling of the room to join the combat.
<Mykasi> "Eeeeeh?!?" Mike, for his part, is so very confused. "Ma'am, please leave! I'll squish them!"
> The spiders are fairly large, being roughly a foot and a half in diameter, not counting thier legs, though they seem to be made entirely of black and brown yarn, with eight tiny orange buttons sewn on for eyes.
> The two dropping down from the ceiling are stilling hanging on threads, but aim at Mike from above and spray some manner of white thread at him!
> roll 2d8 spider 3
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 spider 3 and gets 8."12 [2d8=2, 6]
> roll 2d8 spider 2
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 spider 2 and gets 14."12 [2d8=7, 7]
> OOC: One hit, Mike, DCV it up.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 go go DCV power?
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 go go DCV power? and gets 7."12 [2d8=1, 6]
> As if from nowhere, Anansi appears with a new hat, absorbing the thread into it's depths!
> OOC: Mike, you're up.
* Mykasi blinks. "A... peacock masquerade hat. Really, now." With that, he gestures to the one on the ceiling! "Time for the rampant destructive force of technology! Absolute Zero Pontification Effort Attack!" Sure, it's in English, but he's got to be cheesy somehow. This has been too serious thus far.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 attack roll
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 attack roll and gets 11."12 [2d8=3, 8]
<Mykasi> Waves of ice seem to approach the spider... but seem to dissipate as they approach! "Curses! Foiled by woolen technology!"
> The previously whacked away spider does not seem to care for the spray and pray approach of it's dangling fellows, instead attempting to physically jump on Mike's face and bite him.
> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 14."12 [2d8=7, 7]
> Mike is just a little faster then the spider and gets WELL out of the way before it lands.
> OOC: Hikari is go
<Mykasi> "Facehugging is prohibited by charter 26 b of the arms code!"
<Hikari> "What does any of that even MEAN, Mike?" Hikari wonders, while summoning Brynhildr to see how well these wolly creatures burn.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Firewall
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Firewall and gets 10."12 [2d8=3, 7]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Initiatives: Pattern Spider 3 > Pattern Spider 2 > Mike > Pattern Spider 1(9 damage) > Hikari[60ep]'
<Mykasi> "Movie references and bad anime translations. Don't worry about it." Mike replies.
> As Hikari joins the frey, one of the ceiling spiders turns to shoot at her!
> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=4, 5]
> But the threads just barely miss thier mark!
> The other continues it's spray at Mykasi.
> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
> And the white threads fail to find purchase there as well.
> OOC: Mike.
<Mykasi> "Okay okay fine we'll try a different method here." Mike mutters in Japanese again, before gesturing simply to the hanging spider as a large spear of ice shoots out at the hanging spider that attacked Hikari!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 12."12 [2d8=6, 6]
> The spider nimbly swings on it's line to avoid the spear. Agile little suckers.
> The one on the ground reminds Mike that face hugging is not against the Legs charter, which is the only one spider signed.
> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
<Mykasi> "Excuses! Next you'll tell me Algus never signed the Nose charter!
> But it aimed it's points a little high and goes right over Mike's head.
> OOC: Hikari
* Hikari continues to focus on the grounded spider. One foe at a time! "BURN, vermin!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 as above
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 as above and gets 12."12 [2d8=8, 4]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Initiatives: Pattern Spider 3 > Pattern Spider 2 > Mike > Pattern Spider 1(9 damage) > Hikari[50ep]'
> The spider is VERY quick to get away from the rising pillar of flames.
> Now both cieling spiders are spraying at Hikari.
> roll 2d8 spider 3
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 spider 3 and gets 8."12 [2d8=5, 3]
> roll 2d8 spider 2
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 spider 2 and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
> OOC: One hit, DCV it up.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 failure incoming
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 failure incoming and gets 5."12 [2d8=2, 3]
> Brynhildr slashes the thread away before it reaches Hikari!
> OOC: Mike
<Mykasi> "I'd feel more confident if these bugs weren't evasive." Mike mutters, trying to slam one of the bugs with a pillar of pure light instead! OOC: Roll?
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 HAMMER OF JUSTICE
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 HAMMER OF JUSTICE and gets 6."12 [2d8=4, 2]
> roll 2d8 spider defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 spider defense and gets 7."12 [2d8=4, 3]
> OOC Hit, roll damage.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 SEEKING ITS REVENGEBEAMU
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 SEEKING ITS REVENGEBEAMU and gets 7."12 [2d8=2, 5]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Initiatives: Pattern Spider 3(54 damage) > Pattern Spider 2 > Mike > Pattern Spider 1(9 damage) > Hikari[50ep]'
> A pillar of light forms into existance under one spider and knocks it square off it's thread and up into the air! It lands with a very soft 'whump', being made of yarn and all. And then it gets back up and begins to advance along the ground.
<Mykasi> "Goddamnit, they're spiders, one would think Anansi would be able to tell them to shape up or fuck off." Mike mutters.
> Anansi points at the spiders, "Shape up! Fuck off!"
> The spiders do not listen.
<Mykasi> "How disappointing, Anansi. Seriously."
> The original one does so much not listening that it blatently attacks again!
> roll 2d8 facehugger
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 facehugger and gets 9."12 [2d8=8, 1]
> Yarn legs are apprently not made for accurate jumping.
> OOC: Hikari
* Hikari turns towards the spider so viciously mauled by Mike and focuses on immolating the beast. She has no snappy repartee, just a burning desire to destroy these creatures that's obvious from her militant expression.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 third time = charm? Maybe?
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 third time = charm? Maybe? and gets 8."12 [2d8=4, 4]
> OOC: It can't make that DCV check as it'd have a penalty, so roll damage.
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 13."12 [2d8=5, 8]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Initiatives: Pattern Spider 3(OVERKILLED) > Pattern Spider 2 > Mike > Pattern Spider 1(9 damage) > Hikari[50ep]'
> The flames engulf the dazed spider and it makes a sound for the first time, chittering in pain as it shrivvles and burns!
> A bare moment later and the flames dissipate, leaving only the buttons, not even ash from the yarn behind.
<Mykasi> "Nice!" Mike cheers.
> The remaining ceiling spider spews thread at Hikari with gusto!
> 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 6."12 [2d8=1, 5]
> OOC: DCV it up
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=5, 5]
> The thread lands gently...and Hikari feels the world swim in front of her as she...she...what was she doing again? Oh right, fighting spiders! ...um...wait, why was she fighting spiders again...? (-4 Mind, Hikari)
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Initiatives: Pattern Spider 3(OVERKILLED) > Pattern Spider 2 > Mike > Pattern Spider 1(9 damage) > Hikari[20ep]{-4 Mind}'
> OOC: That also drops your ACV to 6, so you target number for your attacks is now 7
> OOC: Mike.
* Mykasi grimaces and slams the spitting spider with another pillar of pure light! "Stop that sorta shit, damnit! Not cool!"
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 whack?
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 whack? and gets 11."12 [2d8=5, 6]
> The swinging spider nimbly evades the pillar, not staying in place long enough to be accurately hit!
> The ground spider takes yet another leap at Mike's face!
> roll 2d8 facehugger
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 facehugger and gets 8."12 [2d8=3, 5]
> And once more misses. He just needs to face the facts, Mike does not want a hug right now.
> OOC: Hikari, who is now at 2 Mind.
<Hikari> "Um...die in flames, or something," Hikari mumbles, staring off into space for a moment before remembering what she's here to do.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 trying to torch that bugger what spat on me
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 trying to torch that bugger what spat on me and gets 6."12 [2d8=5, 1]
<Mykasi> "That's the... wait, 'or something'?"
> roll 2d8 no defence hax plz
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 no defence hax plz and gets 12."12 [2d8=4, 8]
> OOC: Hit, roll damage
<Hikari> roll 2d8 d-d-damage
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 d-d-damage and gets 11."12 [2d8=5, 6]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Initiatives: Pattern Spider 3(OVERKILLED) > Pattern Spider 2(52, stunned) > Mike > Pattern Spider 1(9 damage) > Hikari[10ep]{-4 Mind}'
> The pillar of flames, shaky as it is, connects and the spider goes flying off it's strand! It's still alive...but currently curling up into a ball and shaking.
* Mykasi takes this shot to try and nail it with a spear of ice!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 whoops, pre-emptivre
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 whoops, pre-emptivre and gets 7."12 [2d8=6, 1]
> OOC: Stunned, so no defense. Damage it up.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Initiatives: Pattern Spider 3(OVERKILLED) > Pattern Spider 2(Dead) > Mike > Pattern Spider 1(9 damage) > Hikari[10ep]{-4 Mind}'
> The ice lance hits, skewering the spider straight through. It shudders one last time and dissipates...entirely, not leaving any buttons behind
> The last spider, as if it knows no other courses of action to take, tries to jump on Mike's head once more.
> roll 2d8 facehugger
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 facehugger and gets 13."12 [2d8=5, 8]
> Yarn legs REALLY weren't made for this.
> OOC: Hikari.
* Hikari struggles to focus as she calls forth a storm of blades to rend the remaining spider. "So, like, get torn into pieces?"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Helreio
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Helreio and gets 4."12 [2d8=1, 3]
> roll 2d8 dcv
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 dcv and gets 11."12 [2d8=8, 3]
> OOC: Damage.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 damageification
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 damageification and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Initiatives: Pattern Spider 3(OVERKILLED) > Pattern Spider 2(Dead) > Mike > Pattern Spider 1(45 damage) > Hikari[10ep]{-4 Mind}'
> The storm of blades slashes the spider, ripping chunks of yarn off and even getting a couple of eyes! The spider cares not, continuing it's leaping assault!
> Hikari feels...weird. Lightheaded, dizzy. Mykasi can see Brynhildr flickering in and out in places, like some kind of weak holigraphic image.
> OOC: Mike
<Mykasi> "...Hikari, please stop acting like a valley girl." Mike says, a bit unnerved. "It's... creeping me out." This being said, he drops a final hammer of light on the spider, trying to finish it!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Think of these as Pikohans.
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Think of these as Pikohans. and gets 8."12 [2d8=5, 3]
> roll 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 defense and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
> OOC: Roll damage
<Mykasi> Anansi charges up...! And tosses a tiny hammer at the spider, that goes into the pillar of light.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> The pillar connects, crumpling the spider into a ball. It melts away a moment later, leaving nothing behind.
> OOC: Free action.
<Mykasi> "...damnit." Mike mutters. "Hikari, you okay?"
* Hikari rubs her foreheard. "It's like...there's cotton where my brain should be." She shakes her head, as if trying to dislodge water from her ear. "We won, right?"
<Mykasi> "We... did. I'll get you healed up as soon as I can..." Mike mutters. "Stay here, I'm going to find Yukina. Okay?"
<Hikari> "Right. Okay." Hikari shuffles her feet, then spends a long moment staring at them. Amazing things, feet. Hey, what's with those buttons one of the spiders left behind? She kneels down to take a look at those.
* Mykasi himself doesn't notice Hikari, going instead to look outside for someone to flag down.
> H: The orange buttons feel...warm. They're not scorched in the least, despite the raging flames the spider died in. They don't seem too special otherwise. Just eight tiny orange buttons.
<Hikari> They might be worth keeping. You never know, right? She can put them in the...place...safe place...you store things to keep them safe there...yeah...where she put the dreamcatcher.
> M: Mike finds Yukina out in the theater proper, along with a bunch of the other models, all hiding behind thier bouncers. With them he sees...Hikari? Yeah, there's a Hikari there, acting just like the rest of the models, are girly and afraid of big spiders.
> Kakashi approaches you, "Hey, did you get those spiders?"
<Mykasi> How odd. "Hold on a moment." Mike tells real-Hikari, before nodding to Kakashi. "Yeah, they're smushed... How bizarre. Still, SCIENCE! has... eliminated them."
> OOC: Real Hikari is in the back, Yukina and everyone else are in the theatre. Not the same room, you can't seem them both at once. Just confiriming that.
<Mykasi> OOC: Yeah, gotcha.
> Kakashi nods, "Great. The janitors will clean up, so don't worry if there was a mess. Never heard of spiders that big before."
> Yukina shivers, and all the models mimic the movement, "They were the size of WATERMELONS!"
<Mykasi> "Indeed." Mike murmurs. "A frightening thing, indeed... I wish to take back some of the parts, for SCIENCE!. They may be jealous... of Yukina's talents... so I will create mechanisms to fight them. Ah... tell me, Yukina... Was the model that left... named Valeriya, by any chance...?"
> Her eyes light up, "Yeah! yeah, that was it! Valeriya. She was great looking, but had this horrible scar..." she giggles, "I just had her model all of my mask designs so we didn't scare the audience."
<Mykasi> "Ah, yes..." Mike nods slightly. "I see. I see, indeed. But she has... just disappeared? A tragedy. Maybe... I can help her... if I can find her. SCIENCE! is powerful, indeed... Well, I must go. Let me gather the buttons, first... and then I shall be like the wind."
> She nods, actually kinda creeped out by Mike now, "Uh, sure. You do that. I'll be in touch with the Agency to talk about that new technology of yours, okay?"
<Mykasi> "Very well, then. My apologies... Fare well, ma'am." With that, he strides back into the waiting room. "Hikari, Velvet Room key, please give it to me." he says, looking around the room.
<Hikari> "Did I bring a...what? With me?" Hikari pats herself down, checking her pockets. "Oh, this?" she says, finding it eventually.
> Mike sees no sign of spiders. Even the buttons are gone! Though Hikari is standing right where they were.
<Mykasi> "Yes." Mike says, taking it, before looking around. "You got the buttons? Good. Keep them, Hikari, follow me." Mike says, leading her to the door into the room. "Let's hope this works... we haven't tried it yet."
* Hikari does indeed follow Mike, though she stands a very good chance of being distracted by shiny lights if they have to go outside again.
* Mykasi first closes the door, and then tries to use the Velvet Key on the door.
> The key fits in the lock perfectly and turns easily. The door silently swings open, revealing a swirling blue portal.
<Mykasi> "Let's go, Hikari!" Mike says, snapping fingers in her face as he prods her in.
<Hikari> "Where are we going?" Hikari asks, walking through the portal anyway.
<Mykasi> "Home!"
> (OOC: Scene Change-Man, Scene Change-Man, doing whatever a Scene Change can!)
> The duo step back into the Velvet Room. Igor has not moved from his seat while Theresa stands and greets you as usual, "Welcome to the...oh dear." Her face falls a bit.
<Mykasi> "...what." Mike says, obviously a bit annoyed at this point.
> "You used the Velvet Key on a different door. That could get...well..." She looks away.
<Hikari> "This place is very blue," Hikari observes.
> Igor eyes Theresa, "This isn't the time for your games."
> She giggles, "Spoilsport. I've been waiting for them to try that, too!"
<Mykasi> "And here I was worried you were going to say she was gonna be like this forever." Mike half-growls.
> Igor shakes his head, "No, the damage caused by the pattern spiders should clear up soon."
<Hikari> "Who's like what?"
> Theresa nods, "She'll be fine by morning, just have her sleep it off."
<Mykasi> "Don't worry about it, Hikari. Just go talk to her." Mike points to Theresa, before looking to Igor. "Pattern spiders? You know them, then?"
> Theresa smiles at Hikari, "Would you like some tea?"
* Hikari nods. "Sure!"
> Igor nods, "Yes. Pattern spiders are one of the few shadows capable of moving between dreams. They belong to no physical being, but are part of the very Dream itself."
> Theresa gestures for the two of you to sit and goes to get some tea.
* Hikari sits down as instructed, looking vacant.
* Mykasi sits down, before listening to Igor's comment... and standing back up immediately. "It's not from any one source? But that makes no sense, it seems to have been taking memories of Valeriya!"
> Igor nods, "So that's what they were up to? I begin to understand."
> Theresa comes back out with the tea. It's scalding hot, as usual.
> She pours a cup for both of you.
<Mykasi> "Explain?" Mike says, still standing and gazing down.
> Igor shakes his head, "It is difficult to explain to one who is not part of the Dream. Pattern spiders are effectively the repairmen of reality."
* Hikari sips the tea regardless of the steam pouring off it, then yelps and nearly drops the cup.
> Theresa shrugs, "It's not that hard. Something must have happened to remove Valeriya from reality. So the pattern spiders are trying to fix the paradox."
<Hikari> "What do ducks have to do with anything?" Hikari says, eyeing the tea more warily now.
<Mykasi> "Repairmen...? ...Re... pair... men...?" Mike says very slowly, before glancing to Theresa. "To... fix the gap... made by Valeriya... ...being removed from reality." A slight pause, before, "...What in Anansi's eight unblinking eyes can do -THAT-?!?!"
> Theresa smiles apologetically, "I could go down a list, but the boss would probably hit me with something."
<Mykasi> "Can you write it out and give it to me later?"
> Igor ignores his assistant's barb, "It is within possibility to be done. What is capable of it are things that...to be honest, there is nothing you can do about at this point in time. However..."
> Theresa winks at Mike while Igor's not looking but doesn't reply.
<Mykasi> "...However...?"
> Igor does glance at his assistant, but she's gone over to blowing on Hikari's tea to help cool it.
> "However," he continues, "as a Persona User, you cannot be directly altered by the pattern spiders yourselves."
<Hikari> The conversation as a whole is obviously beyond Hikari's reach right now. "If you have to blow on it to drink it, why make it so hot in the first place?"
> Theresa looks back up and nods, "What they did to Hikari was just kinda scramble her brain a bit. They can't actually steal any memories from the two of you."
> She smiles at Hikari, "Because I like to drink it that hot. I'm helping to cool it down for you."
<Hikari> Hikari looks amazed. "Doesn't it hurt your tongue?"
> She laughs, "Not in the least."
<Mykasi> "Oh, that's totally cheerful news." Mike near-hisses, beginning to pace around the room. "So they spiders aren't too dangerous to us. Great. We still have something that DEVOURS PEOPLE OUT OF REALITY or some such... goddamn..." Mike's face is tight, near-completely controlled. "Is there anything that can be done to pull her back?"
> He shakes his head, "I'm afraid I don't know. I would have to know exactly what happened to her in order to have any chance of knowing a way to reverse it. But I do not."
> "And even if I did know, I could not garauntee a way to fix things. Some things are simply irreversible."
<Hikari> "Like toothpaste!"
* Mykasi closes his eyes for a very long moment. "...Very well. Tha... thank you anyways, Igor. If I learn the cause, I will let you know." It seems that Mike is steadfastly ignoring Hikari right now, as even this comment fails to change his expression.
> Theresa snickers, but doesn't let it last long, "There is a small bit of good news, comparitively. Being removed from reality isn't quite like dying. If it can be reversed at all, it won't matter how long it takes to do it."
<Mykasi> "... That's something, yes. Alright, then." Mike murmurs, pacing again. "Then... this is the same as before. But this time... I won't..." A pause. "You know what? Screw rational thought at this point, I'm going to go get drunk enough to see Saturn. Hikari, you finished sitting down and drinking your g... your tea?"
> Igor nods, "That is true, but carries the risk of immense confusion if left too long. As the spiders will simply repair everything as if she had always been around. And the Persona Users such as yourselves will not get those memories."
<Hikari> "It's too hot to drink," Hikari says, standing up anyway.
<Mykasi> "I anticipated as such, but there's not much to do there; we'll just have to figure out something for her." Mike mutters.
> Igor motions towards the door, "Shall I return you to the real world?"
<Mykasi> "It'd be more than appreciated, thanks." Mike nods.
> The door glows for a moment. When the glow fades, Theresa stands and moves to open the door for you, "Thank you for visiting, and have a pleasant evening."
<Hikari> "You too. Enjoy your tea!"
<Mykasi> "Not bloody likely. But thanks anyway, and sorry about the tea. I'll have a cup next time." Mike says, eyeing Hikari with something approaching frustration as he half guides, half shoves her through. "Let's get you to your room."
> The duo exit the velvet room and return to the real world.
> (OOC: Toothpaste!)
> The duo walk out into the hallway in the female dorms.
<Mykasi> "Okay. Your dorm room... right nearby Mika's. Let's go. Hup-two-hup-two." Mike mutters in her ear, pushing her forward gently.
<Mykasi> OOC: s/Mika/Mistia
<Hikari> "They seemed like nice people, even though one of them looked weird. Just goes to show, you can't judge someone by their nose." Hikari meanders down the corridor, going in whatever direction indicated.
<Mykasi> "I'll call you later, okay Hikari? Don't go drinking anything else, just lie down and sleep. Maybe the nice people will visit you in your dreams, too?" Mike suggests, quickly getting her up to her room. "You have your key, right? Just go on in and rest."
<Hikari> "Lots of people visit me in my dreams," Hikari says by way of parting. Then she disappears into her room and, presumably goes to sleep.
* Mykasi makes sure the door closes, before leaving the dorm, heading to the same bar as last time... barely managing to hold tears and rage back behind his teeth.
> -----------------------------------

[VySaika]

> --------------------------------------------
> Monday morning, a bit after dawn but awhile before any classes, Mykasi has already awoken, nightmares of memory stealing spiders still half lingering in his mind. Kyo hasn't gotten up yet, which isn't entirely surprising as the guy didn't get in until the AM hours anyway.
> The ring of Mike's cellphone cuts through the quiet of the still morning.
> The caller ID reads...a string of 0s...
* Mykasi quickly grabs it, frowning, before glancing up at Kyo and heading out of the room, t-shirt half on (anyone else who's awake is in classes anyway) and flipping open the phone, choosing to accept the call. "...Yes?"
> Theresa's cheerful voice greets him, "Goooood morning! Awake and sober, I hope?"
<Mykasi> "You may choose to speak softer any time you please." Mike growls halfheartedly into the phone, before rubbing his head. "Awake yes, sober not so; knurd is more appropriate. What's this regardin-" Mike stops there, quiet.
> "I may, yes. But I probably won't. And this is a business call, specifically the business of me actually being allowed to tell you stuff without the Master brandishing a newspaper."
> "Even more specifically, there's a new Persona user. And like you, he can't enter the Dream on his own. He needs to use the Velvet Key."
<Mykasi> "...Theresa, I have a question, though I suspect I know the answer I'll get." Mike says, before blinking at this. "However, said question can wait. A new Persona user? Convenient timing. Who is he?"
> "Buuuut, well, there's only the one. Which is a bit of a problem. We're required to let him access the Dream, the same as you, but we don't have another Key for him. So we're hoping the two of you will work something out with him."
> "A professor at your school, actually. Dr. Nagare Suiren."
<Mykasi> "You guys can't just make more keys?" Mike asks rhetorically, before feeling his stomach churn. "A... professor here? Okay. Just to confirm, he's only accessed his persona now? He has no idea of what's happened before this point, effectively?"
> "No, we can't. Believe me, I asked. I'd like to give you each one, but it's a completely unique item. And bingo. We just talked to him last night, in fact. You remember when the Master pulled you in the first time through your own dreams, right?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah. You guys did the same?" Mike muses, before, "...Alright. I don't quite trust the staff here, but it sounds like he's been uninvolved in the mess until now. Whether or not he gets involved any further or does his own thing, we'll have to see, but..." Mike closes his eyes. "Blast. This complicates things some. Oh, right. Theresa, you sweet little thing, you?"
> "Yeeees?"
<Mykasi> "How in -hell- did you get this number, pray tell?"
> "You're seriously asking a magical dream woman how she got your phone number?"
<Mykasi> "Yes?"
> "You've brought it into the Velvet Room. I don't actually need the number, I can just connect to it. Would you belive I'm not using a phone to call you?"
<Mykasi> "Right. Okay, that's silly enough that I'm just going to let it pass and ask if you can send that list of Things That Can Eat People Out Of Reality to my email, since it's on this phone so in theory you can send to it." Mike deadpans.
> "Honestly? That list would be like three miles long, Mike." Her voice is now quiet and sympathetic, "I don't want to scare you, but...there are more things in existance, and outside of it but can effect us anyway, then even I can comprehend. And I'm a natural born part of this mess."
<Mykasi> "So, in other words, trying to narrow it down would be a needle in a haystack?" Mike says, finally sticking his right arm through the t-shirt as he leans back against the wall.
> "With the information we have now? Yeah, it really would. But stuff like this won't be an isolated incident. And anything that can do this will have other effects on the world as well. Give me some time and keep me updated on what you find out, and I can probably help you figure out what's going on."
<Mykasi> "Alright. One final question - can I dial in, or is this one-way only?" Mike muses.
> "If you need to call me, dial your own number. But only on that phone, since I can connect with it. Whatever you do, do NOT try that on a phone you haven't brought into the Velvet Room."
<Mykasi> "...does that cause reality to eat you?"
> "Chances are nothing would happen. But there's a small chance that you could end up sicing an invincible serial killer on yourself or someone else."
> "And no, this is not one of my jokes."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike leans back. "Is this speaking from experience, Theresa?"
> "Personal? No. I've seen it happen before though."
<Mykasi> "Right. Will keep that in mind, then." Mike says, before, "Okay. Dr. Nagare Suiren, correct? You have his num- actually, just give him mine. Let him preserve his privacy if he chooses to." (Silly Japanese privacy customs... bah.)
<Mykasi> "...wait. You might not be able to call him. Can you?"
<Mykasi> "Since he's only entered via the Dream?"
<Mykasi> "Or wait uh you know what I mean."
> "No, I can. I'll do that then."
<Mykasi> "Right." Mike shrugs. "Oh, and I might as well ask one final question - is it safe for Persona users to enter another Persona user's Dream?"
> "Should be safer, actually. Assuming the Persona user who's Dream it is is freindly towards you."
> "If they're hostile, then things could get really nasty really fast."
<Mykasi> "Right. Might have Hikari do that just so we get a feel for what happens."
> "We'll be ready whenever you want to enter the Dream. Anything else?"
<Mykasi> "No. Thanks for the call, Theresa. I'll keep you up to date regarding what we learn on Valeriya, though I'm at a loss right now for the next step. I'll think of something, though."
> "Hey, this is pretty heavy stuff. Don't worry if you're over your head a bit, that's normal."
> "And the Master is starting to wonder why it's taking me this long to deliver some simple news about a new Persona user, so I'm gonna cut the call here. See you!"
<Mykasi> "I question the use of the term 'pretty' to describe any of this except maybe you and Hikari, but. See ya."
> She chuckles and the call ends.
* Mykasi shrugs, before calling Hikari.
* Hikari is up already, of course, being an early riser and all-round responsible human being. "Yes?"
<Mykasi> "Hi. This is Mike, gonna make this quick since a call may be coming." Mike says. "Want to meet you to debrief you on Saturday since I spent half of it drunk and half of it half drunk half euphoric; important news from Theresa is that there's a new Persona user, who's going to call me. Dr. Nagare Suiren. Should we meet him at the library?"
<Hikari> "Unless you think the library staff has had enough of us recently. I rather suspect that the head librarian, at least, would not be eager to see me on the premises again. I don't know a better meeting place, however."
<Mykasi> "...mmm, fair enough. I don't want to suggest the bar either, seeing as how I'm trying not to drink this week. Meet up at the Crazy Shinjiro Noodle Shop, then? The one just off campus, north end? Shouldn't be busy and it's a good time for brunch."
<Hikari> "Alright. See you there."
<Mykasi> "Alright." Mike nods, hanging up and going to jog for a bit while waiting for the call.
> (OOC: Perspective Change!)
> Monday mid-morning finds Dr. Suiren just finished with his early morning class with the rest of the day now ahead of him as that's the only class of the day. As he takes a moment in his office to collect himself after the class, his phone rings.
> Caller ID shows a string of 0s again.
* Nagare picks up the phone, noticing the string in a slightly uncomfortable breeze of dejá vu. He had seen them before. Unlike the last time, however, he was at more of a state to actually pick the call up, albeit unsettlingly so. He takes the call, waiting for the caller's response.
> The cheerful voice of the redhead from that dream, Theresa, can be heard, "Hello again. Have I caught you at a good time?"
* Nagare doubletakes for a second, then coughs slightly. "... ahem. As convenient a time as possible, I guess. I didn't expect to talk to you again so soon, though."
> "Well, I contacted the other Persona users, specifically the one who has the Velvet Key. He told me to give you his number so that you could call him and arrainge a meeting."
> She rattles off Mykasi's number. "His name is Mykasi Kaliska-Werfel. A student at your school."
<Nagare> "... interesting name. Not one of my students, to boot. Any particular information I should keep in mind for the contact, though?"
> "Not really. The rest is up to you all. Just keep in mind that's the only Velvet Key there is, so if you want to get into the Dream you'll need to work something out with them."
> "I do think he's expecting you to call him pretty soon, though."
* Nagare nods. "Right. I'll get on to it, then. Thank you... Theresa, was it?"
> "Yep. Alright then, message delivered. Bye!"
> The call ends.
* Nagare picks the phone and dials Mykasi's string. When was the last time he -actually- made a call, anyway? Some nights pointlessly deciding on whether to call Kasumi or not, always with the same end result.
> M: As he's out on his jog, Mike's phone rings. The number is an unfamiliar one.
* Mykasi flips the phone open, guessing at the number and trying to keep his voice unaccented (and probably badly failing.) "Hello?"
<Nagare> "Good morning. Is this Mr. Kaliska-Werfel?"
<Mykasi> "Mike's fine. I presume this is Dr. Nagare?" Mike hazards, walking along slowly.
<Nagare> "Correct, although no need for the title. I... am not very sure how to begin this conversation, actually, for all that I think you know the reason behind this."
<Mykasi> "Fair enough. The entire situation... is quite weird, isn't it?" Mike grins a bit. "It might be easier to explain this in person, sir. There's a ramen shop right near the north exit of campus - Crazy Shinjiro Noodle Shop. It should be quiet around this time, and classes are later for me. We can meet there and explanations can be given? I'll treat on the ramen, of course."
* Nagare snickers lightly. "Sure, I need to have lunch anyway and I have some time to spare. Also, don't worry about covering my bill - but I appreciate the offer."
<Mykasi> "It's no big deal, sir, I've got a bit to spare. But we can argue about it there, alright? My friend and I will meet you there." Mike comments.
<Nagare> "I see. At what time should we meet? Any distinctive features so I may recognize you as I arrive?"
<Mykasi> "Uh, I can get there any time; think the other person might be on her way, but they'll probably take their time a bit in getting there as well. Fifteen-thirty minutes work? And I'm a foreigner, sir. Shouldn't be hard to spot me."
<Nagare> "You'd be surprised, actually. The transfer program in the university has quite a few foreigners already running around. Something more specific would help. If you don't feel like it, though, I can work a distinction out."
<Mykasi> "Uh, grey t-shirt with Engrish on the front, tan slacks, buzz haircut."
<Nagare> "Alright. Just in case, though: I'll be wearing a blue suit, no tie, black shirt, sunglasses, will probably be smoking. Not that distinctive, actually, but I hope it works."
<Mykasi> "Right." Mike says, wrinkling his note a bit. "Will keep an eye out for you, gonna try and claim a corner booth. So."
<Nagare> "Thank you. Having that sorted out, I'll be heading to the meeting place as soon as I get things ready. Until then Mr. Kal- I mean, Mike, was it?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah, Mike. And until then, ah... Mr. Nagare."
<Nagare> "Certainly. A good day to you, sir." And with that, the teacher finishes the call, closing the phone.
<Mykasi> "... Bleah, smoking." Mike grimaces, heading out to the meeting place early.
* Nagare picks up his suit and prepares to head to the meeting place. The car probably wouldn't be necessary, but taking the piece out of campus grounds probably would be best given his schedule for the rest of the day.
> (OOC: Scene Change, the new character edition)
> Mike and Hiakri reached the shop a bit before Nagare, successfully grabbing a corner booth.
<Mykasi> "Sorry about rushing this, but I'd like to get this out of the way and see if we can actually trust the guy." Mike says, shrugging. "Warning; he's a smoker."
<Hikari> "Just as long as he doesn't do it in here."
<Mykasi> "He might."
* Nagare parks the car nearby, the place not seeming too terribly packed as it stands. Dressed exactly as he said he would - lit cigarette midway through in his mouth included - the teacher looks for his liaisons with the description in mind.
> Unfortunately for Mike and Hikari, Crazy Shinjiro Noodle Shop is not a no-smoking establishment. Fortunately for the two of them, they did sit in the non-smoking section...
* Mykasi looks up and waves at Nagare, before realizing where they sat and blushing very slightly. Oops, faux pas no. 1.
* Nagare notices the slight inconvenience, and, upon spotting Mike, waves from a distance. "I hope you can wait just until I finish this, then. I'll be there when I'm done."
* Mykasi nods at this, sitting back down. "Whoops. Good way to start off on the right foot."
<Mykasi> This is muttered to Hikari, low.
* Hikari turns to get a good look at their apparent partner, then turns back to Mike. "Don't worry. It's for the greater good."
> After a minute or two, Nagare does finish his smoke.
<Mykasi> "Heh..." Mike grins slightly.
<Nagare> The teacher at least is a fast smoker. Upon finishing the last toke of the cigarette and killing its light before tossing it on the trash, Nagare removes his sunglasses and calmly, if somewhat somberly, approaches the table. "Good morning to you both. My apologies for my habit as well."
<Mykasi> "It's alright." Mike shrugs. "I forgot about it while choosing seats." At that, he extends his hand out. "Mike.
* Hikari nods respectfully. It wouldn't be polite to tell a teacher that she doesn't care for being in the presence of cigarette smoke, so..."Good morning, Dr. Nagare."
* Nagare takes the cue and shakes the student's hand. "Nagare Suiren at your service. Pleased to meet you." Upon finishing the handshake, Nagare shifts his eyes to Hikari. "Good morning, miss. I presume you are the third..."
<Hikari> "Hikari Ishigami, yes. Pleased to meet you. Although, to be perfectly accurate, I'd be the fourth. But that's a long story..." She trails off, sounding troubled.
* Nagare raises his eyebrow. "Fourth? I... should I press further about this matter?"
<Hikari> "Yes, you should, though it might not be the best place to start...and I think it's a subject Mike will need to work up to dealing with anyway."
<Mykasi> "Yeah." Mike exhales, leaning back. "Kinda figured I'd give you a warning before letting you borrow the key, since it's quite possible that these powers are... related to what happened to her. Tell me, sir. Any chance you've heard of a Valeriya? Tall, blond foreigner, scar, worked at the library?"
> ...actually, come to think of it, Nagare has met a woman like that. In the library at campus. She was shamelessly flirting with someone while working. Things like that stand out. But...
> It's hard to remember her. Like there's some sort of fog clouding up his head when he tries to think.
* Nagare crosses his arms and begins pondering. "That is... quite a distinctive portrait you're conveying. I... honestly think I remember someone akin to what you are describing, but... it feels like trying to actually remember that brings up a haze."
<Nagare> "And, honestly, given your description, it's very odd that someone as distinctive as that would be hard to recollect."
<Mykasi> "Tch... There's a reason behind that." Mike mutters. "Hikari, how much do you remember of Saturday?"
<Hikari> "I remember...well, I remember the relevant portion well enough. About halfway through our encounter with those creatures, things become patchy. It feels rather like I was drunk for the rest of the evening, though I know that was not the case. I woke up at home with a pocket full of buttons which I had the vague impression should be locked up somewhere."
<Mykasi> "...I'll want to look at those buttons later." Mike notes after a moment. "But okay. I'll make this somewhat short and sweet." After clearing his throat and drinking a swig of water, he looks directly to Nagare.
* Nagare picks up the glance, and eyes Mike back.
<Mykasi> "After each of us went through the, uh, awakening to the Persona, we were at the concert that was happening when an argument broke out - and one of the people had a... second them hanging off of them. We broke up the argument and indirectly confronted the second person - their Shadow - before pursuing it to the Velvet Room. It was there that we formally introduced ourselves to each other - myself, Hikari, and... Valeriya."
* Nagare nods. "I see. Please continue."
* Hikari nods along, ready to jump in if Mike forgets anything important. Nagare seems to be taking this strangeness fairly well so far.
<Mykasi> "Got the Velvet Key, learned identity of the girl, went into her dream with it because she'd pretty much curled up in her room in shock. Ended up fighting the Shadow, which had emerged as dominant over her... and which defeating ended up killing her confidence, though things likely would've been worse otherwise. I've been visiting fairly often, as has another friend of hers, to try and bolster her self-esteem, but it's an uphill fight.
<Mykasi> "So, that concludes, we're trying to figure out what else has been going on. We go a week or so... two? Maybe that much. Before realizing that we haven't really heard from Valeriya. So we conduct our own investigation... and learn everyone who knew her seems to have forgotten, as time goes on. To make matters worse, we can't find her name in records. Anywhere. Trust me, I, ah, did a rather large sweep."
* Nagare hunches, pensive, his eyes hanging low. So, that... that is the world he's getting into? "... that... that is somewhat difficult to fathom rationally. You're implying that this individual simply... ceased to exist within a continuum out of the blue?"
* Mykasi smiles thinly. "Let me finish."
<Hikari> "Everyone we've talked to is unable to remember her," Hikari adds. "Every time we ask, it's exactly like your response."
<Mykasi> "Not exactly like. You at least seem to remember her. No one else thinks she existed." Mike mutters. "We went into the dreams of a colleague of hers, and found... spiders, taking memories from that colleague. Memories of her. We fought them off, and Igor and Theresa... explained this. You haven't heard this yet, Hikari." Mike frowns, before finishing off his cup of water in one large swig.
<Hikari> "Haven't I? Where was I?"
* Mykasi grimaces. "You were attacked by the spiders and got rather forgetful. The drunken feeling. Trust me, you'd remember this if you were, ah, 'sober'."
<Mykasi> "Valeriya has been removed from reality. Entirely. The spiders we fought were 'repairmen', attempting to fix the damage caused by this by mending over the gap created."
* Nagare retains his stance, only raising his eyebrow a bit as Mike and Hikari converse. "I... see... although it's still rather hard to believe."
<Mykasi> "She is nowhere in the school records. There is not a person on campus - aside from us three - that will assent that she ever existed." Mike near-hisses. "We only remember her, apparently, because the Personas protect us. You presumably only partially remember because your acquisition was recent."
<Hikari> "For better or worse, you'll grow accustomed to the bizarre soon enough if you start working with us. It's hard for things to surprise you once you've walked through someone else's dreams...though admittedly this turn of events has more than succeeded in doing so."
<Nagare> "I... admit I have seen a few strange things even beforehand, although nothing to that extent. I am, however, impressed you managed to gather this much by yourselves. You two seem resourceful."
* Hikari shrugs. "I suppose I consider persistence a virtue."
<Mykasi> "And I'm used to information gathering." Mike says evasively. "So... there you have it, Mr. Nagare. This is life and death, even once you have your Persona. We still don't even know what claimed her. Even with your Persona... you can still back down."
<Mykasi> "I know I surely wouldn't blame you if you did."
* Nagare snickers. "Hardly an option. I said to Igor that I knew I'd regret backing down more than I ever would having taken responsibility," Nagare states as he lifts up a bit, crossing his arms. "I have no idea of what to do right now, and I'm probably hardly the best company to keep around. But I have no illusions about this. I made a choice of my own volition and I will see it through."
<Mykasi> "...Very well, then. If you feel you have need of the Velvet Key, you can borrow it. And..." Mike muses. "You've not been in the Dream of someone else, have you?"
* Nagare shrugs frankly. "Not as far as I know. Although, given my history, I'm sure I could say otherwise on a technicality."
<Hikari> "Is that something you wish to elaborate on?" Hikari prods.
* Mykasi remains silent for now.
<Nagare> "Maybe when we're not half-a-step up from complete strangers," the teacher grins. "But at least I figured I should leave plain that I have my skeletons to dance in the dark with."
* Mykasi closes his eyes for a moment. "Okay. For the next part of this... well. We need a room we'll know will be empty for a while."
<Hikari> "That's fair enough. I think it reasonably clear that everyone does; or everyone involved with shadows, at least."
<Mykasi> "I'd like to at least let you get a feel for the dream, Mr. Nagare, so that you aren't in danger... and there's some information we need, anyways."
<Nagare> "I'm fine with that. Looks like we're in for the long haul, so might as well get acquainted with this."
* Mykasi nods slightly. "Would you happen to have an empty room available? We're trying to stay away from the library, for the most part."
<Nagare> "Anyhow. If we need a room to discuss this, I have an office and the rest of the day a blank slate."
<Nagare> "Since nobody else uses it, we should be fine."
<Mykasi> "Right. That should do, though I have classes later." An exhalation, before, "And I don't like doing this, but we need the info. You two need to enter my Dream."
* Hikari nods in general agreement. "Mike, for the purpose of demonstration, who--ah. Well." She's not entirely successful at hiding relief at her not being the test subject here. "I suppose that makes me your tour guide, Dr. Nagare."
<Mykasi> "I'm the one suggesting this crazy plan, I get to be the guinea pig." Mike mutters. "And this will allow us to identify other Persona users if we enter their Dream - on accident or on purpose. At least, I hope it will."
* Nagare rubs his temples, slightly concerned. "That's quite a tutorial to undergo, but may as well. In this case, should we go to the office? I can give you both a lift."
<Hikari> "I'll be sure to watch for anything unusual while we're there, Mike. At least, as far as that word has any meaning inside the dream."
<Mykasi> "Alright. And sure, Mr. Nagare." Mike nods slightly, rubbing his own temples.
* Nagare gets up, and heads back to the car, giving the young'ins a nod towards the vehicle. The travel to the office should be pretty simple, given the distance. The one regret, however, is that he entirely forgot to actually order lunch. Oh well.
<Mykasi> Mike had a bowl, and as such pays before leaving.
* Hikari had a full breakfast, of course, being up more than early enough to do so before needing to go out anywhere.
> The drive back to the campus is short and uneventful, as is the walk through the halls to Dr. Suiren's office.
<Mykasi> "Alright. I'll go in - won't touch anything, but will take a seat if that's okay - and you guys can use the key and go on in." Mike says, definitely looking uncomfortable about this.
* Nagare closes the door just for safety's sake. "Please take a seat."
<Hikari> "Right. I'll need the key, of course. And I will try not to stay any longer than necessary, Mike."
* Mykasi nods and sits down, before taking out the key. "...Try to find me in there - I'll make it as easy as possible. I want you two to try and see if anything's been affecting me, like with everyone else."
* Hikari takes the key, and waits for Mike to close himself in the office. She'll wait a moment and then use the key to enter.
* Mykasi closes himself in, sitting back down and closing his eyes. "...for Science, I guess..."
> The key turns in the lock easily, and the door silently swings open, revealing a swirling portal of blue.
* Nagare glances apprehensively to Hikari. "So... that's the cue, I gather?"
* Nagare coughs, trying to not give much of a reaction to the door. It's one thing to see his dream landscapes, but seeing those things in reality? A different endeavor entirely. It's rather obvious he is -trying- to not show his agape, to boot.
<Hikari> "Yes. And as I said, you'll get used to this, though I am not sure that this is a good thing. Shall we go?"
> (OOC: Here, there, everywhere! Finishing Strike! Sceeeeeene CHANGE!)
> The swirling portal of blue gives way to the more familiar and (possibly)comforting blue of the Velvet Room once Nagare and Hikari have crossed the threshhold. All is as it was before, only with three chairs set instead of the two Nagare saw earlier. Theresa stands and bows as you enter, "Welcome to the Velvet Room."
* Hikari nods politely. "Hello again. We're running something of an experiment today. Hopefully the intrusion will not be an extensive one."
* Nagare calmly assesses the deep-blue, catching the sight of Theresa, Igor and... the chair. Supporting his chin with his palm, the teacher finally acknowledges Theresa. "I see this room is flexible. Hello."
> Igor peers at you from over his nose, hands folded under it as usual, "Are you desiring to enter the Dream in this location?"
<Hikari> "Yes, please."
> He waves his hand and the door glows for a moment. As the glow fades, he nods to you, "The door will now lead you into the Dream."
<Hikari> "Thank you again Igor, Theresa." Hikari walks to the door, preparing to open it. "This is often rather strange. I admit that I still don't ever know quite what to expect in here."
<Hikari> OOC: Latter was meant to be directed at Nagare.
* Nagare rests his chin on the back of his hand. "You know, this gives me the impression that the Dream might be an endless matriotchka. But... anyhow, shall we?"
* Hikari nods, and opens the door.
> (OOC: Scene Change Man, Scene Change Man, doing whatever a Scene Change can~)
> The door opens out into...what looks like an old campground. There are a couple of picnic tables, a rock-ringed campfire, a pair of cheap tents and in the distance some old cars parked on the side of the road. It's twilight in the Dream, the sun clearly set but there's still enough light to see by, even without the fire. (more)
> A quick look around reveals that the door the two stepped out of was...the outhouse. Of course.
> Unlike the impossibly busy Dream of Yukina Ijikomodo, there are no people to be seen here at all. Not even a dream version of Mykasi. It's very peaceful, just the chirping of the crickets and the crackle of the fire.
<Hikari> "This is rather more pleasant than I've come to expect," Hikari says with some approval. "...Although I wish I could say the same for the doorway."
* Nagare takes a moment to envision the scenery, a vague feeling of fascination taking him by surprise. "It's... a rather beautiful visage. Artistically - even eerily so. There's a certain texture to a standstill that makes it... rather unique for a place, come to think of it...," the teacher mumbles to himself, almost if dozing off.
> Suddenly, a large figure slowly lowers down from the tree branches above. A six foot tall tauric arachnid, with the lower body of a giant spider and the upper body of a man...only dark, wooly like the rest of it's body, and with facial features such as eight eyes and mandibles. Wearing tiny hipster sunglasses. And a french beret. Sporting a goatee.
> Hikari, of course, can instantly recognize this as Anansi, Mike's Persona.
* Hikari makes an effort to suppress any misgivings about spiders that recent events might have instilled in her. "Ah. Hello?"
> This figure is also hanging upside down as it lowers itself.
* Nagare suddenly snaps out of his daze and doubletakes as the spider suddenly materializes. Suddenly, his own deliriums seem far more placid than he ever imagined. The teacher takes a few steps back, unpleasantly surprised.
> 2"Bonjour maddemouselle et monsiour!"1 Anansi speaks with a *horrible* French accent, lowering completely to the ground and inverting himself to stand upright.
<Hikari> "We were looking for Mike. Is he around?" Hikari asks, doing her level best to suppress that creeping Oh-God-I'm-Talking-to-a-Giant-Spider realization.
> 2"Une moment, une moment."1 He takes off his hat and shoves one arm in, all the way past the elbow. After a moment of rooting around...he pulls pulls Mykasi out of the hat by his ankles, sets him down on the ground and dusts him off.
<Hikari> "Thank you, Anansi. Mike? how do you feel?"
<Nagare> "Good... afternoon?," Nagare vaguely mutters, hardly able to contain a near-deranged laugh. Unlike Hikari, Nagare seems a bit less capable of dealing with the in-depths of someone else's dreams. Thinking of it, as much as he could anyway, those hallucinations were easier because they were -his-.
* Mykasi blinks. "Okay, I'm just going to say that that was the creepiest thing I've felt in a while." Mike mutters. "Fine, aside from that." He turns to look at Anansi, calmly. "Hey. Uh... hey. Nagare. You want me to have Anansi go back up?"
<Hikari> "I'm sure it was not significantly easier watching it."
<Mykasi> "Possibly not, no."
> Anansi puts his hat back on and strokes his goatee.
<Nagare> "I... I'll cope. This isn't a fear in particular, I'm just not used to dealing with someone else's landscapes. I'll be desensitized before long, I'm sure... or... I hope."
* Mykasi raises one eyebrow to Anansi, resisting a snicker. "French today, I see. Guess I was thinking about Amelia as well, wasn't I?"
<Nagare> The teacher shivers a bit as he tries to not look at the bizarre spider creature straught.
* Mykasi glances to Nagare. "Really, it's no big. This is my Persona... Anansi. First American trickster god."
<Hikari> "He's eccentric, but harmless. I'm sorry if this is awkward, Dr. Nagare. It does get easier."
> The spider-creature takes a bow, 2"It iz, how do you say, a pleasure to be meeting you, non?"1
* Mykasi glances to Anansi again, both amused and annoyed. "If I didn't know this was entirely my fault because this -is- seriously what the other half of my mind goes through most of the time... it'd probably be creepy to me, too. But my sense of humor was part of my Shadow, not of me."
<Mykasi> "Well. Part of me, but the repressed part, which is... bah. You get the point."
<Nagare> "I... suppose. I just... - ah, p-pleased to meet you,", the teacher says, halfway glancing at the grass, halfway glancing at the eccentric trickster. "I... guess I understand, although it makes me a bit scared to think what my Persona is, then."
<Hikari> "Don't you know? I, at least, had mine announced to me when it first appeared."
* Mykasi glances to Anansi again, before mentally attempting to change his size to perchable-on-shoulder instead. "Hikari, do you see anything out of the ordinary, other than Anansi?" he asks, looking around carefully.
* Nagare ponders for a moment. "Mine... well, I know his -name-. However, his appearance is a blur to me."
> Anansi reaches over to his back and pulls a plug out of his abdomen. Air begins rushing out of the spider and he starts shrinking. Once he's down to rougly the size of a small housecat, he replaces the plug, stabilizes his size, and leaps up onto Mike's shoulder.
* Hikari takes another look around, searching the trees, the tents, the roadside, for anything that might seem out of place or just exceptional when compared to other dreamscapes she's seen. "Nothing stands out so far, Mike. It's actually quite pleasant here."
<Hikari> "Well, mostly," Hikari corrects.
* Nagare deflates a bit further as Anansi's antics continue. "He... is always like this, I presume."
<Mykasi> "... Right." Mike nods, watching Anansi's antics with amusement before nodding to him on his shoulder. "...Maybe something will trigger if I show the event associated with this place? I don't know; I'd like to test everything we can beforehand." A glance to Nagare. "Yeah. His usual offense involves pulling things out of his hat."
<Hikari> "You can alter the dreamscape consciously? I wonder if all dreamers have that capacity, or only ones who are awake while we're visiting."
* Nagare nods, somewhat embarrassed. The teacher rubs his temples and glances back to Mykasi. "... you sure this is okay with you, though? I'm not sure I'd be able to show any depths of my own landscapes this readily..."
<Mykasi> "It's worth a shot, isn't it? And... I'm pretty sure I'm unconscious in the real world right now." Mike notes with an odd calmness, before glancing to Nagare, wearily. "...For one, we need to know how a persona user's world reacts. I might not be normal - Anansi operates fairly well under his own impetus - but... it seems our best bet." (More)
<Mykasi> A slight deflation of his own, before, "And, well. I'm not going to ask you two to share, even after this, but... We've lost Valeriya, and with her whatever insight her own situation might have provided. Disseminating my own situation seems ideal, and... frankly?" A pause. "Mine's bad, sure, but... heh. Yesterday... I think I've got to trust you guys, at least somewhat. And, all things considered, this is all but harmless."
<Mykasi> "After all, I'm the foreigner - any other oddities can just get added up to that, no?" A bitter smile is on Mike's face at this point, looking the two over. "So even if it leaks from you two, it doesn't matter much."
<Hikari> "Well, if you don't mind...Though Dr. Nagare is correct, of course. We needn't stay here any longer than you're comfortable with."
* Nagare nods. "Yes. We are the 'intruders', after all. Even an agreement only goes so far as the mind's willing," the teacher says with a more relaxed tone. "Also, no need for the title honorific, miss Hikari. Just Nagare will do."
<Mykasi> "I'd like to provoke the incident, purely to ensure that there is nothing interfering. I may not be able to see it - it is my own mind, and that itself produces blind spots." Mike shakes his head, sounding... clinical, at this point. "Mr. Nagare, are you ready? I promise that this is simply people talking - it is the conversation topic that should eludicate matters, and produce reactions." At this, he nods. "Very well. Let me try to in
<Mykasi>  "Very well. Let me try to initiate this."
* Hikari nods politely in response to Nagare's request, and waits patiently for Mike.
* Nagare heaves. At this point, he had to wonder what he got into, but a choice is a choice. If nothing else, it was insightful - and, most of it, rather humbling.
<Mykasi> At this, the scene around the campfire seems to flicker... and then five people - First Americans? are sitting around it. Two girls, both in blue jeans and t-shirts - one in plain yellow, one in a green shirt with English writing. Three guys, one with a striped polo and slacks, one in sweat pants and a blue t-shirt, and... Mykasi, in tattered, baggy jeans and a large, loose T-Shirt with more English on it. All five are laughing.
<Mykasi> Mike - the one with Anansi on his shoulder, gestures to each in turn. "The one in yellow's Amelia, green is Sandy. Polo and slacks boy is Bill, and the one in sweats is... Xav."
<Mykasi> The shadowy Sandy laughs, "Come on guys, do it!" as Amy adds "Pleeaaaaase? It's just us, there's nothing to hide here, right?"
<Mykasi> The shadowy Mike simply buries his head in his hands while Xavier shakes his head, "No way! It's too embarrasing. Come on Bill, help us out here!"
* Hikari doesn't feel inclined to interrupt here. It's Mike's show, and she only needs to watch for anything that might give them important clues about how the Dream functions.
<Mykasi> "Ah, yes. I was too busy laughing to try and get out of this one." Mike grins lopsidedly.
<Mykasi> The shadowy Bill laughs, "Alright girls, I've got a deal for you. If you want to see those two kiss so bad, then we get to see you two kiss." Amy's eyes go wide, "What? Come on, we aren't even like that!"
<Mykasi> Sandy, ever the shameless one, thinks about it for a second before batting her eyelashes at Amelia, and chiming in in her best singsong voice, "I'm game if you are~"
<Mykasi> Xavier blushes as Amelia shakes her head, "Uh-uh, no way. I KNOW where your mouth has been girl. Never-MIND!"
<Mykasi> Shadow Mike, as you well remember, is now trying very hard not to fall off his chair laughing.
<Mykasi> "Yeah. I sucked at keeping a straight face.... even though if Xav had been willing..." Mike notes sadly.
<Mykasi> Bill grins at Xavier, "Help rendered." Then he stands up and pulls out his wallet, "Alright man, here's thirty, go get us some drinks and a couple snacks, alright?"
<Mykasi> Xavier blinks, "Why me?" Sandy laughs and swishes around her mostly empty beer bottle, "'Cause you're the only one who hasn't had anything to drink yet, Xav!"
<Mykasi> Xavier can't help but laugh, "I guess I can't argue with that. Alright, I'll be back in a few."
<Mykasi> And with Xavier standing up and turning toward Hikari and Nagare... the entire scene freezes, except the fire. Mike stares at Xavier for a long moment.
* Nagare crouches, watching the scene carefully as the shadows weaved their story, as the man behind the web dryly weaved them back. At some point, he almost felt he could pinpoint what felt off about the image, but it was not his landscape. In that case, the only way he would not be mistaken would be in silence.
<Hikari> It's hard not to notice that Mike seems a little preoccupied during this interlude. "Is everything alright, Mike? We can stop here if you want."
<Mykasi> "The next time I saw Xavier was when he was being treated in the hospital. On the way back, he was hit by a drunk driver. The driver of the other car died. Xavier went into a coma and... when he awoke, he remembered nothing. Not his parents, his friends, his school, or... me." Mike says at this, in a soft voice, glancing to Anansi.
<Mykasi> A glance to Hikari as well, shrugging. "This is pretty much it. That was the last time I... saw my Xavier. The next time, it was his body, but... he wasn't there. I lost him, there."
> Anansi looks about as dejected as a spider-thing can. He huddles down and pulls the beret completely over himself until only his legs are sticking out of it, then crawls up onto Mike's head and finishes climbing into the hat, leaving the beret on Mike's head.
* Hikari nods slowly. There doesn't seem to be anything she could say that would help the mood here, so she doesn't say anything.
* Nagare remains crouched, half-sitting on the floor. As comprehensive as he tried to be, the idea of getting that much insight over a near-complete stranger's mind still felt foreign and difficult. The teacher fixates his sight upon the frozen scenery, as if a mental cog struggled with a new movement to make its impulse.
* Mykasi doesn't stop Anansi, honestly feeling this way himself. "...I ran. I retreated into my studies, retreated into everything, and when the weight in America got too bad... I fled here. I didn't stay to try and help him recover his memories. It... broke me, in a lot of ways, to have someone I cared for that much... lost in an instant. For a long time, I blamed myself. Still do, kinda. But."
<Mykasi> "...That's all a lot of if-I-would-haves and I-should-have-dones. I may have fled that road, but I can return to it. But... I have obligations here, now. Not only my studies, but now... I owe it to Valeriya, to do what I can for her. So she isn't lost forever... like Xav might be."
<Mykasi> "Once I'm done here, once I can, I'll return. And maybe, just maybe, what I've learned here and know now... can be put to use to bring him back, too."
* Mykasi pauses, before looking around. "Nothing's triggered? Damn. Wanted something to beat up."
* Hikari smiles. "Sorry, Mike. I guess you're healthier than you expected?"
* Nagare still dazes a bit, as if the thinking process had taken over the observation itself.
<Mykasi> "More like I was hoping to flush one of those damn ravens or spiders out. Ah well, embarrassing solo commentary over. Nothing to see here, people." Mike grins.
<Hikari> "Yes, it seems that way. I know this wasn't easy for you, so we can be on our way if you think there's nothing more to be learned here."
<Mykasi> "Works. Sorry this wasn't as easy as I'd hoped, Mr. Nagare." Mike notes.
* Nagare "wakes up", so to speak, as Mike dismisses the flashes. "I... see. I... suppose," the teacher spurts out of reflex, a bit dazed still..
* Hikari heads for the door (okay, the outhouse. Sigh). "Mr. Nagare? I'm sure this has been very disorienting for you. If there's something more to talk about, we'd best do it outside."
<Mykasi> "And, just for the record, I also like the ladies. But..." Mike grins still wider. "Xav's still first. And yeah, let's get outside and talk further."
* Nagare rubs his temples, nodding. Oddly, they're right. More oddly, though, is that it might have been more disorienting than it should have been for the wrong reasons.
* Hikari opens the door back to the Velvet Room and exits, waiting there for Nagare.
* Nagare follows into the door. His mind races, however his body still functions properly enough to pass through a door.
* Mykasi lets Nagare exit before him, glancing back to the campfire and waiting to see if he wakes up or needs to go out manually...
> As Nagare and Hikari exit through the door, Mike can feel the hat on his head grow...until it simply falls, swallowing his entire body.
<Mykasi> "BIRTH CANAL AGAIN AUGH"
> (OOC: Scene Change, the Anansi is creepy edition!)
> Theresa bows as the two of you enter the Velvet Room again, "Welcome back."
* Nagare groans, still recovering from his vague apoplexia. "My apologies."
> Igor is watching the door as he speaks, "Well now, that was most interesting indeed. It seems that young Mykasi, or should I say Anansi, has a few unexpected tricks up his sleeve."
> Theresa quips, "I don't think his sleeves are where he keeps his tricks, Master Igor."
<Hikari> "It's not your fault. These are not affairs most people are prepared to dwell in, and nor should they be. Let's get back to Mike, on the outside. You'll feel better there, I'm sure." She nods to Igor and Theresa in passing. "It was an educational experience, yes."
<Nagare> "That... the matters themselves aren't quite what I'm apoplexic about, but I guess. It was enlightening in more than one sense, to be sure."
> Theresa smiles, "Just so this is all clear, that is not what normally happens when you enter the Dream of a Persona user. Being able to simply enter his own Dream like that is a rather unique ability."
* Nagare blinks. "Wait, so we basically got the exception rather than the rule."
<Hikari> "Is it? I suppose you couldn't tell us what we could normally expect?"
<Nagare> "That would help, yes."
> Igor actually chuckles, "Those of the FOOL arcana are very good at being the exceptions, Dr. Suiren."
> Then he shakes his head, "As that is information you can easily gather yourselves, I am afraid not."
* Hikari frowns. "Of course. Thank you anyway, though--had you not informed us of such, we likely would have gone out believing that all persona users have dreamscapes as amicable as Mike's."
> Theresa grins, "What we can tell you is that a Persona user's Dream is actually safer then a normal one...IF the Persona user in question is freindly towards you. If not, it can get real ugly real fast."
<Hikari> "A compelling reason to stay on friendly terms with other persona users, then."
<Nagare> "We won't always have that kind of luck, though," Nagare adds bitterly, and changes his subject. "It's a start, at least. I'm not sure if it's the best idea for us to simply hop about each other's landscapes to begin picking up the puzzle pieces, but sounds simplest."
> Theresa suddenly speaks up again, "Oh yeah! Hikari, we haven't explained Social Links to Nagare yet. Can you fill him in for us?"
<Hikari> "It would be very surprising if every variable fell in the most convenient fashion, yes. But if that happened, none of us would be here in the first place, would we?" She shrugs. "Shall we go? I'm sure Mike is waiting--oh, me? Well...isn't that your job?"
> She shrugs, "Well, you had to fill Mike in and he's already formed a stage two link, so you obviously got the point across well. I'm sure you'll do fine again."
* Nagare glances confusedly at Hikari. "Social... links? That sounds both amazingly awkward and surreal."
<Hikari> "It's simple enough to summarize, Mr. Nagare. A persona gains strength based on our real-world associations with other people, essentially."
> Igor nods towards the door, "Shall I return you to your world?"
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "I... guess? That doesn't sound very inviting, though. Anyhow, we might want to take the nod. We've been here for a while already."
* Hikari nods to Igor. "Yes, please. I believe our new partner would benefit from returning to the real world."
> Igor waves his hand and the door glows for a moment. As the glow fades, he nods again, "It will now return you to your world."
* Hikari promptly leaves.
* Nagare nods, somewhat exhausted and a bit relieved, and heads for the door. "Thank you, Igor. Thank you for your time."
> Theresa stands and bows as you leave, "Thank you for visiting, and have a pleasant day."
> (OOC: Scene Change, the session break edition)
> ------------------------------

[VySaika]

> ------------------------------------------------
> Nagare and Hikari exit the Velvet Room, finding themselves back outside Nagare's office. Meanwhile inside the office, Mykasi is blinking back awake after suddenly blacking out.
<Mykasi> Mike blinks, standing wobbily... before losing control over his legs momentarily and falling over, crashing his back into the chair with a thud.
* Hikari hears a thud from inside the office, and opens the door (normally) to enter and check on Mike.
* Nagare stumbles a bit as he leaves the door. "... wait a minute, we're outside."
<Mykasi> "I'm okay!" Mike calls from inside the room, rubbing his head.
* Hikari kneels down to help Mike up. "That was as strange for you as it was for us, I take it?"
* Mykasi stands up shakily. "Uh. Let's... let's not... Let's just say that entering your dream like that is heavily surreal and you guys should be glad we didn't do that on you two, okay?"
* Nagare scratches his head. "Well, they -did- say that your own Dream was quite unique."
<Hikari> "Yes. Igor claimed that your dream would be significantly different from anyone else's, principally in the degree of control you were able to exercise over it."
<Mykasi> "... wait."
<Mykasi> "So you're telling me... that we just did all that... and we have no concrete base to draw upon because I'm apparently an oddball in this regard? Did they explain -how- I was odd?"
<Hikari> "Most aren't able to enter their own dream, as I recall. You can thank Anansi for being an exception."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike looks relatively shell-shocked at this one. "...so... we just did all that... Anansi just did that to me... and we have nothing to work from... because it was..."
<Nagare> "I wouldn't say we have nothing to work with from - if nothing else, any doubt about us being able to actually enter a Persona user's dream peacefully, if that ever was in question, is sated in that regard. Knowing that the possibility feasibly exists is a start."
<Hikari> "Well, I wouldn't say we have nothing at all. We know one thing to *not* expect as a given with other persona-users. This is little comfort, of course." Hikari sighs. "This entire learning process would be easier if Igor could just tell as much as he hints at."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike looks to Nagare and Hikari, before muttering in Miwok under his breath. After another moment, "Okay, fine. Fair enough. And... what time is it?"
<Nagare> "On the other hand, this exercise can only be useful if we manage to enter our target's dreams. And it's unlikely we'll simply stumble onto her mental landscape," Nagare mutters.
> A clock in Nagare's office says that the time is closing in on 1.
<Mykasi> "Class at 1:30." Mike says. "Should we make plans to meet and try to talk things through later this evening?"
<Nagare> "If we can meet up at all, certainly."
<Hikari> "Yes. I suspect our new partner needs time to digest recent events anyway." Hikari says with a nod to Nagare.
<Mykasi> "Alright. Uh... I'll be running around a bit after classes, so someone start the phone calls ringing around 5:30 or so? Do you guys have conference calls as a capability on your phones?" Mike asks.
<Hikari> "Possibly. I've not needed to use such a feature before now."
<Nagare> "Got it. Somewhat of a relic from my earlier job."
<Mykasi> "Right. Oh, and the meeting at the dreamcatcher place. That might be worth returning to, just to keep our ears to the ground regarding the one you've got." Mike notes to Hikari, before grimacing. "Bah, this is stretching ourselves thin... but alright. Mind initiating the call, and we'll work from there? I really should get running to class."
<Mykasi> "And the meeting's at 5:30, so 4:30 probably works better as a call time, I get out right around then presuming the teacher doesn't hold us in to finish up the lecture."
<Nagare> "I... what is this dreamcatcher place?," the teacher asks with a confused semblance.
<Hikari> "Yes, I would be interested in continuing to attend those meetings. A couple of the other participants did seem worth further investigation."
* Mykasi nods. "Uh, it's a shop. We ran across it while following a lead on something that was sent to Hikari. Oh, and uh tell that girl to break the dreamcatcher if you haven't already and I really should get going anything else?"
<Hikari> "Nothing occurs to me. And I'll do that straightaway, Mike."
<Mykasi> "Right. Okay, further briefings later." With that Mike departs at a quick walk, since no one runs in Japan unless it's from the scene of a crime. Or Godzilla.
<Mykasi> Or they're track nerds, but.
* Hikari also makes a polite exit and heads to class.
* Nagare waves to the kids, still somewhat stunned. Maybe he should head home, although painting today would be out of the question unless he wanted to lose track of time.
> (OOC: Scene Change Moon Makeup!)
> Hikari, as before, gets out of her last class slightly before Mike does and begins making her way towards the Dreamspeakers craft shop. On the way there, her phone starts ringing. It's Mike.
* Hikari answers the call. "Hello."
<Mykasi> "Hey. Sorry for the quick depart. Gonna set up the conference call with Nagare - though, a question first. What's your impression of him?"
<Hikari> "My impression is that he's confused, which I can't blame him for at all. We all are at first, after all. But I can't form a reliable opinion of him from that alone."
<Mykasi> "Fair enough. That was... my general reaction as well. I guess time will tell. Setting up conference call." With that, he dials in Nagare to the call.
> N: Back at his house, Nagare's phone rings. The number is the one you were given this morning, Mykasi.
* Nagare eyes his clock as the phone rings, smiling faintly. Punctuality, a good sign, he thinks as he picks up his phone. "Good afternoon, Nagare speaking."
<Mykasi> "Hi, sir. Dialing you in, Hikari and I are both heading to the workshop we mentioned earlier. At least, I presume Hikari is. Didn't actually ask." Mike says with a note of embarrassment.
<Hikari> "Of course I am. We'd made plans, hadn't we? What else would I be doing right now?"
<Mykasi> "I don't know, homework? Studying? Something emergency might've come up that I hadn't given you the chance to tell me?" Mike notes. "But alright."
<Nagare> "I hate to interrupt, but what are we going to discuss? I'm still a bit out of the loop in the whole affair. What is this deal with dreamcatchers?"
<Mykasi> "Ah, right. Hikari, fill him in? Currently in a crowd." Mike says.
<Hikari> "Of course. A dreamcatcher was delivered to me by an unknown sender. My persona awakened almost immediately afterward, so we've theorized about there being some connection. When we brought the object itself into the Dream there proved to be something clearly unnatural about it. So now we're examining those with knowledge of dreamcatchers to see who might've sent it to me."
* Nagare nods. "I see. Did you run into other dreamcatchers as well during this endeavor?"
<Hikari> "A classmate of mine received one in the same mysterious fashion. She's since reported strange behavior in her family, so I think there's a chance that these objects are capable of influencing people in some way."
<Hikari> "What we don't know is how anyone would make an object that could do this, or why. Hence our investigations."
<Mykasi> "The unnatural thing about it was that a raven was perched on the dreamcatcher." Mike clarifies a bit. "And seemed to be watching Hikari... until I, uh, royally skeeved it off."
<Nagare> "This... could get you in trouble in the future, although we can't know for now. But have you tried this interaction with the other dreamcatcher - at least, if I'm interpreting this correctly, the raven interaction was something experienced in the Dream, right?"
<Hikari> "We're already in trouble. And we would need to acquire the other dreamcatcher first. I don't know the girl well enough to just walk into her home and take it."
* Nagare bites his lips and snickers weakly. "Well, yes. Although you can't assume it couldn't get worse. Regardless, I'll take it you are actually trying to get within reach of that dreamcatcher."
<Mykasi> "That. If we're going to investigate it, we might as well take the plunge and try to enter the dream of... her kid brothers?" Mike suggests, before, "Actually, no. While it's quite possibly dangerous, it seems to be causing quite the disturbance in her family... I suggested that Hikari tell her to break it."
<Hikari> "Which is what I plan to do when I see her tomorrow. The discovery of that crow in the dream has left me quite convinced that whoever created these objects has no benevolent intentions."
* Nagare scratches his head. "Um, why, exactly? From where I stand, the crow would be a signal of abnormality rather than straight hostility. Did the crow try to attack you two unprovoked?"
<Hikari> "It was INVISIBLE and it was WATCHING me. I am not inclined to give it the benefit of the doubt."
<Nagare> "You know, cats also do that," Nagare adds with a hint of sarcasm. "However, it's a fair point when dealing with the surreal."
<Mykasi> "Cats are not invisible ravens that cause people to fall sick and force encounters with their other self, if we've narrowed the source of her encounter down correctly." Mike notes. "I agree that there is the -slight- potential it's not hostile, but it's still unwelcome - and seems to be causing bad changes in another person's family."
<Nagare> "And, if nothing else, just that we don't really know what do they do encourages looking for them. It's all just rather distressingly vague, to be honest, but I guess this is the substance of dreams."
<Mykasi> "Frustration and devouring people. Works."
> As the conversation goes on, Hikari arrives at Dreamspeakers a bit before Mike does. Mrs. Watanabe and Eiko are already there, but neither Toshio nor Dami have arrived yet.
> Mr. Kimura, the propriator, smiles as you enter. "Ah, welcome back. Is your freind coming back as well?"
* Hikari sits down across the table from the two and nods politely. "Hello again. Oh, he should be here soon. We were supposed to meet up here today."
* Mykasi is a few minutes behind Hikari, partially because he stopped to buy an apple.
> He nods and continues getting things ready. Mike arrives a few minutes later, and Toshio is only a few moments behind him.
* Mykasi nods to the group. "Sorry for being a bit late. Got an apple since I skipped lunch."
<Hikari> "If we can forgive Toshio then I believe a pardon can be granted to you as well, Mike."
<Mykasi> "Yay!" With that, Mike sits down attentively.
> Toshio shrugs as he walks in right behind Mike, "Hey, you're still in before me. Good to see you two came back. Hey ma...uh. Huh." He started to greet an empty seat before realizing Dami wasn't in it.
> Mr. Kimura nods a welcome to the two boys, then asks Toshio, "Is he not coming today?"
* Mykasi glances to Toshio, then to the empty seat with a bit of confusion.
> Toshio shrugs, "He didn't say anything about it when I saw him at lunch."
> Mr. Kimura frowns, but continues passing out supplies, "Well, I'm sure something important came up."
> "Now, we had started working on painting Tarot cards..." He begins to teach the class as he passes out supplies and collects payments.
* Hikari dutifully pays up and attentively listens to Mr. Kimura's instructions, occasionally casting a glance at Toshio since he and his associate stood out to her more than did any of the other attendees at the last class.
<Mykasi> Mike hands his payment over as well, listening to the instructions as well, somewhat keeping an eye on the rest of the group but mainly focusing on the work at hand.
> Kimura sets out a few cards from his own decks, "Now there are certain elements that need to be in the cards. To start at the beginning, no matter what your theme is, the FOOL card needs to have a young person, usually a young man, and some manner of animal who is following him. This card is representative of starting the journey that the cards go through."
> "The next step is the Magician. This card is representative of the arrogance and ambition of youth. The character on it should be fairly young, not nessesarily a child or a teenager, mind you, just young, and trying to achieve something. It could really be anything, so keep it in mind with your theme."
> "The next card," he continues, "Is the High Priestess. This one's fairly simple, just think of some manner of elder sister or mother figure. A woman of kindness. Let's focus on these three cards today, alright?"
* Mykasi nods to this. "Alright."
* Hikari nods along, searching her knowledge of mythology for appropriate figures.
> Next to Hikari, Toshio is nodding absently to the lesson and starting to sketch on his Fool card.
* Hikari waits long enough for Toshio to get something substantial done before taking a look at what he's working on.
> Mr. Kimura goes over to help little Eiko sketch out the flower people she's decided on drawing.
* Mykasi leans in and begins sketching his Fool card out - Anansi in his man form. After a moment of contemplation, the animal chosen is Coyote, nipping at Anansi's heels. "Raven'd work, but..."
> Toshio's Fool card seems to be a young man wearing a pilot jacket, a scarf and aviator goggles. The outline of an eagle is starting to come together in the air above the man.
> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gateguard rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=8, 2]
<Hikari> "Who is it that you've chosen for your Fool?" Hikari inquires while sketching away at her own.
> Toshio shrugs, "Nobody in particular. Since I'm going with a sky theme, I figured a wannabe pilot would make a good Fool card. This guy doesn't have a name yet, though."
> Pointing at the eagle outline, he notes, "He's supposed to be looking up at the eagle and dreaming about flying, see?"
* Mykasi nods absently to Toshio's commentary, looking over briefly to Eiko and Mrs. Watanabe with a smile to the two as he keeps working.
> He looks over at Hikari's card, "How about you?"
<Hikari> "Oh, I see," Hikari says, before shifting her card over for Toshio's inspection. It's an attempt at portraying the norse god Loki. There is no animal added just yet. "I may give him a wolf for his animal companion."
> Kimura looks up at this exchange, "Loki is, if I recall correctly, the father of the Fenris Wolf, so that would be fairly appropriate."
<Hikari> "Yes, that was the connection I had in mind."
* Mykasi nods to this as well, quietly amused by that choice.
> "I dunno much about Norse mythology myself," Toshio admits.
<Hikari> "Oh? That's a shame. I don't know of many other mythologies with the gall to kill all their gods."
<Mykasi> "How's the garden going?" Mike looks up to Eiko and Mrs. Watanabe with a kind smile.
> As everyone seems to be sharing, Mrs. Watanabe shows her own card. A young sailor standing on a pier, staring out at sea with a dog wearing a bandana around it's neck beside him. It's actually incredibly well drawn. Eiko shows her...very enthusastic drawing of a little flower pixie girl with a humming-bird.
> Toshio blinks, "All the gods die? That's pretty hardcore."
<Hikari> "That's very good, Eiko," Hikari says encouragingly. Hey, enthusiasm is all that matters when it comes to kids and art. To Toshio: "Well, yes. Some of the stories detail the end of the world."
* Mykasi shows honest appreciation of the two cards, being sure to compliment both on their work, and showing his own of Anansi and Coyote once everyone's done smiling and commenting on Eiko and Mrs. Watanabe. "Yeah, Norse myth sounded pretty dark, but it wasn't my field, so to speak."
> "End of the world, huh?" He shakes his head, "I like happier, more relaxed stuff, myself."
<Mykasi> "Fair 'nuff." Mike nods along absently.
<Hikari> "Well, the story usually ends with a pair of humans surviving the battle, so it's ultimately about renewal as well as destruction, but I suppose it is difficult to overlook the massacre of a whole pantheon."
> He nods in understanding, "I guess that makes sense. I mean there were people who actually beleived that stuff, right? So they couldn't seriously go 'and then the whole world was destroyed!' without having anything come after."
* Hikari nods. "It would take a very disturbed mind to believe in nothing but destruction, I think."
> "I was more thinking that someone would just ask, 'so how are we here then?' and it would kill the whole belief if they didn't have anyone survive the end of the world."
* Mykasi is studiously finishing up the base set for Magician (a young man with a spear, angling it toward the Sun) and the High Priestess (a woman, arms stretched around a set of lodges and longhouses) as the two talk.
<Hikari> "Oh, well, I think the myth cycle was less meant to be a precursor to human life than it was thought of as a parallel to it. It wasn't really about explaining things."
> He nods and continues working on his cards. Toshio's Magician is the same young man getting into what he claims is a flight simulator, and his High Priestess is a woman feeding birds.
> You all work on your cards as the class goes by, with Mr. Kimura offering art pointers and exlaining more about the Tarot along the way.
> After awhile, the class wraps up.
* Mykasi nods politely to Mr. Kimura as he cleans up, satisfied with his progress thus far. "Thank you very much for the lesson."
> As he's putting up the supplies, Mr. Kimura gives everyone some cardstock and a packet of papers, "And here's some stock and information to start working on the minor arcana at home if you want. Remember the cost of the lessons also covers supplies, so these are yours to keep."
<Mykasi> "Ah. Thank you." Mike nods to this. Right, Minor Arcana. That's gonna be frustrating to draw individual story links from....
* Hikari gets her cards and materials gathered together and prepares to leave. "Well, I hope your friend is felling better next week," she says to Toshio.
> Toshio nods a bit absently, "Yeah, this is the first time he's missed a class since we started coming here. Maybe his work called him in?" He shakes his head, "I'll seem him at lunch tomorrow and ask, I guess."
* Mykasi pauses as everyone else cleans up, walking over to Mr. Kimura after he finishes handing stock out. "Outta curiousity, any other dreamcatchers like Hikari's come up at all?"
> Mr. Kimura shakes his head, "I'm afraid not, no."
<Hikari> "Oh? Do you two work together?"
<Mykasi> "Alright. Sorry to bug you about that, was just wondering." Mike rubs his head in embarrassment.
> "Nah. I'm a waiter, Dami comes in every day for lunch."
* Hikari nods. "Do you go to school as well?"
> Toshio grins, "Not anymore. Got my degree last year. You're a student, I take it?"
<Hikari> "Yes, I am still a student. Of what, exactly, seems always in flux."
> He shrugs, "That happens. Took me a couple years to figure out what exactly I wanted to study, myself."
<Hikari> "And what was that?"
> "Media arts. Film editing, that kinda stuff. I'm big into art, but my own art's not good enough to make a living from, so I got into dealing with other people's work. It's fun stuff."
<Hikari> "Is that right? Maybe I could look at some of it sometime."
> He grins, "Actually I don't have any work in my feild right now, so there's not much to see. I might still have my old projects laying around somewhere, though."
<Hikari> "Well, that's good enough. If you don't mind, that is." She digs out her phone to add in his number, assuming Toshio obliges.
> He laughs, "Heh, sure, why not?" and gives you his number.
> Mrs. Watanabe sniffs at you both dissaprovingly and ushers her grandaughter out.
* Hikari enters the number into her phone and gives Toshio hers as well, then puts the phone back in her purse. "Thank you. I should be getting back to campus soon, so I'll see you at the next meeting if nothing comes up earlier." Hikari rejoins Mike, feeling vaguely guilty about making him wait for her.
* Mykasi shakes his head in amusement, looking over the store. "Ah... out of curiousity, I'd like to send a gift to someone back home. Preferably... something evoking the Hanged Man arcana amusingly?" he asks the shopkeeper. "Be right there."
> "Hanged Man?" Kimura asks with a bit of surprise, "Hmm. I'm not sure I really have anything right now that would relate to that at all. That'd be a fairly dark gift to send, too. Why that particular card?"
<Mykasi> "I know the connotations, yeah." Mike's grin is somewhat weak. "Mainly just was thinking of sending it to him as sort of a 'know what you're going through, and I know you can get out of it' sort of thing. We both share a bit of dark humor." Well, they -did-...
> "Hmm," he strokes his chin for a moment, "Well, as i said I don't have anything that would work for that right now. But if you can come up with an idea for what exactly you'd like to send, I can help you pick out the right materials and you can try making it yourself?"
<Mykasi> "Alright, I'll think on that. Sorry to creep you out." Mike rubs his head. "Things haven't been going so hot for him, so... thought I'd appeal to his humor. Thanks again." With that, he rejoins Hikari. "You ready?"
* Hikari nods. "Yes, let's head back now."
<Mykasi> "Alright."
> Toshio waves as he ducks out the door just ahead of you two, "Alright, see you folks next week!"
<Mykasi> "See ya, man."
> Mike and Hikari head back to campus and go about the rest of thier days, while Nagare continues to chill at home.
> (OOC: !egnahC enecS)
> Tuesday, as always, is Hikari's hell day for classes. Latin has just let out and she has managed to make her way to Cullinary Arts in good time, pulling up a seat at her table just as Yuka Shiida, who is right behind Hikari, sits down at her table next to Issa Okuro.
<Hikari> "So," Hikari says, leaning forward, "dare I ask what trouble they've got into this week?"
> Okuro just burries her face in her hands, "I...really don't want to talk about it."
> Yuka leans over to you in a whisper, "They started fighting so bad that someone called the police. Her poor mom is super embarrased."
* Hikari nods seriously. "Well, Okuro, I was going to make a suggestion, and...if you don't mind, I will anyway. If your brothers won't listen to anyone, it might be best to apply some kind of discipline to get their attention. Take away something they're attached to, maybe. This all started not long after one took that dreamcatcher, didn't it? Maybe that would do the trick. Break it if that's what it takes to get through. w
<Hikari>  Break it if that's what it takes to get through. When kids get wild like this, you have to do something drastic."
> She looks up at you and is silent for a moment, "We've been trying discipline, believe me. Both of the little beasts have gotten thier share of spankings and groundings and anything else we can think of. But nothing's worked."
> Then she thinks for a minute...
> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gateguard rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=6, 4]
> roll 2d8 Fortune hax
* Hatbot --> "Gateguard rolls 2d8 Fortune hax and gets 14."12 [2d8=8, 6]
> And shakes her head, "I'll take that away from them too, if you think it'll help. It's about the only thing left in thier room, honestly. But...I can't really imagine how that could have any more effect then what we've already tried."
<Hikari> "Well, you have to keep trying until something works. I would, at least. Otherwise I'd go crazy."
> She sighs, "Crazy...that's what my mother's afraid of. She thinks what's happening to them is the same thing that's been happening to people on the news."
* Hikari can only nod at that. She's sure that's exactly the case, but it won't help Okurao any to say that.
> Dr. Hanaya comes in a moment later and begins the class.
> The class goes by with no further conversation with Okuro. She seems depressed as hell...but otherwise fine. Hikari can't see any signs of Shadow around her.
> (OOC: Jyaki-GUN Scene Change!)
> Later in the afternoon, Mike(out for a jog) and Nagare(looking over papers in his office) both have thier phones ring. It's Hikari.
* Mykasi pulls off to the side, picking up the phone. "Moshi-moshi. What's up?"
<Hikari> "I have updates on two things today: one is that I advised Okuro to obtain and destroy the dreamcatcher she received. She seemed receptive to this idea. She claims her brothers have been acting with a madness similar to that seen so often on the news lately, so I have little doubt that the dreamcatcher is at least partly the cause. (more)
<Hikari> "The second is a small but very disturbing fact: my dreamcatcher is gone from the safe deposit box. I went in to deposit the buttons and found the box empty. The bank's cameras showed no sign of a break-in; the object is simply gone."
* Mykasi pauses completely. "... They showed no sign of anyone else accessing it, either?"
<Hikari> "No."
* Nagare grimaces. "... this isn't good. That's one of the possibilities I had for a next step thrown off the window -and- another subject to the list of things we must track down."
<Mykasi> "...Please keep talking. I'm going to put the phone down for a second and proceed to cuss out the universe in Miwok."
<Mykasi> After a short stream of loud, punctuated cuss words in Miwok, Mike picks up the phone again. "Okay, back. That is mildly frustrating."
* Nagare sighs. "If the dreamcatcher simply disappeared out of thin air, I highly doubt we'll find clues about this in the real world to boot. Although this might make the other thought I had a bit less experimental...," Nagare completes as if trying to hint at a vague possibility.
<Mykasi> "And... if the things just fucking disappear like a certain someone I can think of... augh. What're you thinking of, sir?" Mike asks, sitting down.
<Hikari> "Indeed, I don't expect us to be able to track it down. If whole people can disappear without a trace, I don't think we stand much more chance of finding a small, misplaced object. All I can think of right now is to pursue Okuro's case, unless someone else has an idea."
* Nagare taps his fingers on his table, frowning a bit before making the suggestion. "Well. What I'm considering is... I had the tangential idea of us trying to see into another Persona user's dream after Mykasi's experiment proved atypical. This would have no relation to the dreamcatcher as it stands... but..."
* Nagare pauses for a moment to complete his thoughts. "... but I wonder. The dreamcatcher you had in hand was sent to you, right, Hikari?"
<Hikari> "It's better than doing nothing," Hikari acknowledges, eventually. "I despise inactivity."
<Hikari> "That's correct, Mike."
<Hikari> *Nagare
* Mykasi just listens for now. "Alright... Keep going. I think I follow, but want to make sure we're on the same page." he says after a moment.
<Nagare> "Well. This is quite a stretch, but... I wonder if a dreamcatcher couldn't leave a trace within a person's Dream once they come into contact. You already discovered that the dreamcatcher -had- a connection of sorts to Hikari when trying to interact with it in the Dream, right?"
<Mykasi> "...It's something to work from, sure. Though..." Mike falls silent himself.
<Hikari> "Well, we assumed as much, since it was sent to me and it was clearly meant--or at least able--to observe. We did not bring the dreamcatcher into my own dream, however."
* Nagare bites his lips. "It's reaching, but given the nature of the beast we're dealing with, I think we may have a better chance of having an idea of the thing's whereabouts - or whatever it might do - by scouring the Dream of someone who had contact with it. The fact it didn't get into your Dream might be less relevant than the fact it had you as a target, Hikari, and it's worth investigating."
<Mykasi> "We didn't. Also... remember how rooms hold memories, kinda? It might be worth a shot to check your room's Dream, but only if this line of inquiry falls flat. And... When do you have class with Okuro next, Hikari?"
<Nagare> "And, if nothing else, we can tangentially get insight on how a less unique Persona user's Dream functions," Nagare adds flatly.
<Mykasi> "Yes yes I know I'm special enough to shit pixie dust it seems thanks didn't need the reminder." Mike deadpans.
<Hikari> "Yes. Yes, that sounds reasonable," Hikari says stiffly. "When do we plan on doing this?"
<Mykasi> "...That's your call, Hikari." Mike says softly after a moment.
<Nagare> "That's up to you, really - it's your inner world. However, you may want to follow through on what's going on with the dreamcatcher we haven't lost sight of yet, since it might add insight to this endeavor. When is your next class with the lass in question?"
<Hikari> "I check up on Okuro every time I see her, so that part is not a problem. I have class with her tomorrow and will ask for an update then. As for the rest of your proposal...shall we do it tonight?" She sounds distinctly like someone looking to dispense with something unpleasant as soon as possible.
<Mykasi> "...alright. Neutral meeting grounds somewhere would be useful, to keep the oddities present down." Mike notes. "Any suggestions?"
<Hikari> "Could we continue using your office, Nagare? If it's unlikely that any other teachers will be around this evening then that seems safe enough."
<Mykasi> "...yeah. That seems optimal, as it stands." Mike nods after a moment.
* Nagare scratches his head. "I'm not sure if I'm very comfortable with shuffling around the university well past my working hours, but that can be arranged."
<Hikari> "If it bothers you, suggest somewhere else. It's certainly less odd than you coming to any of the dorms, and I'm wary of using the library much more than we have."
<Mykasi> "...We should really try to find a place where we can meet and/or use the key without issue at some point. But for now, let's work with the office and figure out a better solution later?" Mike proposes.
<Nagare> "Well, the alternative would be using my apartment. It'd probably not be a -terrible- idea, but I get visitors so rarely it'd raise eyebrows fast. For now, the office will do."
<Hikari> "Very well. I'll see you all this evening."
<Mykasi> "Alright." Mike nods. "We'll meet there, then.
<Nagare> "Until then. Take care," Nagare adds.
> -------------------------------------------

[VySaika]

> -----------------------------------------------------
> It's a fairly calm and pleasant Tuesday night, despite the ever present chill, and Dr. Nagare Suiren finds himself outside of his office at a very unusal hour. Nobody questioned his excuse of needing to get some papers from his office, and he was easily able to let Mykasi and Hikari into the bulding as well once nobody else was around.
> Now, the three of them are outside the office, with the Velvet Key back in Mykasi's possesion.
* Mykasi tosses the key gently from hand to hand. "You sure you want to do this, Hikari?" he asks softly.
<Nagare> "If this is too uncomfortable to you, we could still drop the idea. We're not -completely- at our wit's end yet," Nagare concurs.
<Hikari> "It's necessary," Hikari says, opening the door. "Is anything else relevant?" She enters the office and sits down on the nearest chair.
<Mykasi> "... right." Mike says after a long moment. "We'll just look for any signs of that dreamcatcher and get out."
<Nagare> "May as well. Should we skip the pleasantries and go straight ahead into the Dream, then?"
<Mykasi> "... I suppose." Mike mutters. "Back in a bit, Hikari." With that, he closes the door... before glancing at Nagare for a few seconds. Apparently coming to a conclusion, he then puts the Velvet Key in.
> The key turns easily in the lock and the door silently swings open. With only a moment more hesitation, Mykasi and Nagare step through the swirling portal.
> (OOC: Your sins lay heavy upon you, Changer of Scenes!)
> The Velvet Room is a blue as always. Igor sits in his high backed chair behind the table, while three small wooden chairs sit in front of it. Theresa stands and bows as you enter, her usual serene smile on her face, "Welcome to the Velvet Room."
<Mykasi> "Hi." Mike says with a nod to Igor and Theresa. "Apparently I'm an aberration, so we're running test two."
<Nagare> "I wonder if you always look forward to welcoming the people who wander into this room. Hello."
> Theresa grins and winks slightly at Nagare while answering Mike, "Oh yes, FOOL arcana and all. Get used to that."
<Mykasi> "So I'm probably not wise to use as a baseline for anything? Got it." Mike mutters. "Would be so much easier if I could be, but of course that doesn't work."
> Igor nods, "The unpredictability of the FOOL Arcana is as much of a curse as a blessing, I'm afraid."
> He then motions to the door, and it glows for just a moment.
> "The way to the Dream is open for you."
<Nagare> "Thank you. Mykasi, shall we?"
<Mykasi> "Thanks. Back in a bit, hopefully."
* Mykasi nods to Nagare.
> Theresa waves as you exit, "Have fun in there!"
<Mykasi> "Fun?!"
<Nagare> "Her definition of fun must be rather ample. Don't mind that."
> (OOC: By the holy laws, you shall be Scene Changed!)
> The pair step out of a door...and onto a cloud. A steel grey stormcloud that feels soft beneath thier feet yet solid enough to stand on...though the constant rumbling feeling beneath them makes that stability questionable. Before them stands a mighty gate, easily twenty feet tall and made of spears and sheilds lashed together.(more)
> Behind them, a bit past the tiny guard post they stepped out of, is a beautiful rainbow bridge that stretches off into the horizon. As dazzling as the sight is, not even the sight of such a thing is able to make the sudden drop in temperture any less noticable. While there is no snow or rain, it is colder then any normal winter day here.
<Mykasi> "She's ample in a lot of regards, but that's neither here, there, nor Sweden." Mike says, before pausing. "Whoa. She has a better sense of the dramatic than I do. Granted, you guys caught me while I was thinking of back home, but... and sheesh, this is cold. Which way should we go?"
* Nagare shivers. "This has more of a nordic appeal than I'd care for. Anyhow... we could knock on the door."
<Mykasi> "We... could. Though I confess I'm also not fond of unstable footing." Mike mutters, picking his way toward the gate. "We can check beyond the rainbow if this fails."
<Nagare> "As long as we don't end up collecting odd farm dwellers in our way to the Yellow Brick Road, I see nothing wrong with this," the teacher nods flatly as he gently knocks on the gate's front.
<Mykasi> "And now you have me worried about flying monkeys attacking."
> Nagare's simple knock echos with the sound of thunder...and a moment later a woman in armor appears in a flash of light above them, slowly lowering to the cloud to forcibly place herself between the pair and the gate.(more)
> Mykasi isntantly recognizes this woman as Brynhildr, Hikari's Persona. Nagare sees a tall and beautiful woman, what little can be seen past the armor, with long dark hair and a large and deadly spear in hand. Her expression is not a pleasant one, but when has it ever been?
* Mykasi bows to the Persona upon recognizing it. "Brynhildr. Perhaps you can give us guidance for what we seek, so as not to trespass needlessly upon your land?"
* Nagare raises an eyebrow, vaguely unsettled by her presence. "G-good evening, lady warrior..."
> Her eyes narrow as she looks at Mykasi, "Hmph. What is it you seek, mortal? Know now that you have not earned the right to pass beyond these gates."
<Mykasi> "As I am sure you are aware-" (Fuck, I -hope- you're aware of it, else a theory goes down the drain) "-, we believe the dreamcatcher to be afflicting the miasma upon the twins. We wished to study the effects of it to see if anything could be determined - I seem to be effective at tracing such lines of power, at least. Did the dreamcatcher take up a place of residence in your Dream?"
> She hesitates a moment, then nods, "Such a thing was here for a short time, but it is here no longer."
<Mykasi> "Will you permit us to examine the area it once stood, to see if any further knowledge can be acquired to better aid us against our enemies?"
> She narrows her eyes again, "It was placed inside the gates, where it should not have been. You have not earned the right to enter the gates."
<Mykasi> "Is there a way this right may be earned, then?" Mike asks simply.
<Nagare> "Then... would you be as kind as to inspect that area yourself and relay to us if there's anything particularly odd about this? This is very important."
> Bryhildr nods, "There are two ways. To earn her trust so that she will open the gate for you. Or to prove your STRENGTH as a hero. Beyond these gates lies her own Valhalla."
> She raises an eyebrow at Nagare, "I can. What is it I should be looking for?"
<Mykasi> "Anything that would be associated with a raven, or any threads or residual power." Mike says simply. "I do not know what form it will take, as it tends to change; but if there is anything associated with a raven or a bird in that place, or a dreamcatcher, it would be of great aid."
* Nagare ponders. "Additionaly, if possible, look for a vital trace from the dreamcatcher. Something that relates to it directly, so it at least might enable us to track it. It might be too much to ask, but we'll be willing to help as well if you allow us."
> She frowns, but nods, "My skills at mystical detection are lacking, but I will look. And...you cannot help without entering the gate, which I cannot yet allow. I am sorry."
<Mykasi> "I understand. Please do what you can - that is all that can be asked. If some remnant can be brought out, that alone may be enough for us to continue." Mike bows slightly.
* Nagare nods, supporting his chin with the back of his hand. "It's fine, any help at all is appreciated. Thank you for your kindness."
> She nods, and dissapears in a flash of light.
> OOC: Cid, want to roll a Soul check for your persona?
<Hikari> roll 2d8 how much does Hatbot despise me today?
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 how much does Hatbot despise me today? and gets 5."12 [2d8=3, 2]
> OOC: You guys want to say anything before she comes back, or just waiting on her quietly?
<Mykasi> OOC: Mike's fine with staying quiet, will talk with Nagare if he has anything to say.
<Nagare> OOC: I'll talk a bit, actually.
* Nagare waits a bit, arms crossed. He glances at Mykasi for a moment, frowning. He sighs before actually risking saying something. "You seemed deeply bothered back there."
<Mykasi> "Bothered by what?" Mike asks, starting at the gate as if he expected it to grow arms and attack him.
<Nagare> "You described yourself as 'an apparent freak' because of how your Dream unfolded. I don't know, but that... wasn't what I meant when I called your Dream unique. I had no intent to insult you."
<Mykasi> "...Oh, that." Mike says, shivering. "Be glad you -can't- be drawn into your own dream. It didn't hurt, but... Let us just say that I feel like I've been born four times now." A lopsided grin. "Four...? Shit, that's unlucky here, isn't it."
<Mykasi> "But, no. I'm not offended by you calling my Dream unique. The experience of entering it was, just, uh.... yeah."
* Nagare arches, nodding. He makes a mention to look for a cigarette, but acquiesces. "Well. You just seemed so angry about it. There's a lot underneath people, and unveiling those layers unsettles me rather a bit. Although you don't really have to worry if you think this is an estrangement factor, is what I wanted to say."
<Mykasi> "Heh. Honestly, there's not too much too me aside from the past; bad sense of humor, mad scientist aspirant, geek extraordinaire. That's pretty much it." Mike shrugs. "The anger was... well, we went through all that - I got born again twice - and what we learned is that apparently I cheat." A half-grin, half-scowl.
<Mykasi> "Fuck, I could've told you that, didn't need my Persona to do it for me. You know?"
* Nagare grins. "Well, I guess I can relate to that 'born again' situation. And, really, in the end, it's... all you anyway. A Persona isn't supposed to be a detached part from a person, but... the person, just as well. At least, that's how I started seeing it once it happened. The split is very painful."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, I can imagine that." Mike murmurs, looking at the gate and mentally sorting things out...
* Nagare smiles awkwardly, scratching his head. "Sorry, I'm just not very good at this."
<Mykasi> "It's fine. In a lot of ways, neither am I. Guess we both get to figure this out." Mike chuckles a bit, still waiting.
> A few minutes later, Brynhildr reappears in a flash of light. Setting foot down before the gates, she's clearly frowning a bit.
* Nagare nods and sighs, staring at the gate. Hopefully, Brynhildr would have interesting info about this...
* Mykasi glances to Brynhildr carefully. "Anything?"
* Nagare gets up. "You seem distressed, lady."
> "There is some sort of faint...energy still there. As if it has been marked by something. It is very difficult to see, and hard to describe. I know very little about it, it simply seems to exist in that spot, like an aura left by a powerful presence."
> "The aura and presence of the dreamcatcher itself and that foul bird are gone. What is left feels like a mere shadow of that."
<Mykasi> "I see... So it leaves a residual trace, like what was on the dreamcatcher? This is useful." Mike murmurs, frowning. "And... powerful? I realize this might be hard, but can you estimate the strength of what left it from what you saw?"
> She shakes her head at Nagare then, "Not distressed, mortal. A bit frustrated at my lack of ability to read and understand such things better, but not truely distressed."
> She nods to Mike, "When it was here, it was more easily seen. Sometimes it was not very strong, other times it felt easily my own strength or perhaps even greater. Afterall, nothing I did could remove the cursed artifact."
* Mykasi nods slightly. "Can you tell me how it felt when it was here? I was not sent one, so... I have no basis of comparison."
<Nagare> "Hmmm. Do you think we could actually recognize the existence of this aura from here, lady Brynhildr?"
> She hesitates, then shakes her head, "I do not know how to describe it, as I also have nothing else to compare it with. And not without opening the gates. Nothing should be able to breach those gates and affect the inside without my permission. Though this dreamcatcher shamnefully did just that."
<Mykasi> "It infiltrated." Mike shook his head. "I... have a guess on that, if I may venture it?"
> She shrugs, "You may speak as much as you wish on any topic you please, so long as it is on this side of the gate."
<Mykasi> "Dreamcatchers are a First American creation. Implicit about accepting gifts, especially dreamcatchers... is that you're responsible for whatever may result from accepting it. If they work anything like my culture would suggest, that would allow, implicitly, for it to puncture defenses." Mike elaborates a bit.
> Brynhildr's eyes narrow again, "Then by accepting the Dreamcatcher in the mortal world, she unknowingly allowed it past the gates?"
<Mykasi> "That'd be my guess, yes." Mike nods. "Of course, if it works not based on First American rules but by Persona rules, that's a whole another level of mindscrew. I can't speculate yet there."
<Nagare> "If it's possible, though, could you at least keep the identity of this aura fresh in your mind? I'm pretty sure this could come in handy later, and, if nothing else, Hikari may be able to pick up on it. At the point we're at, any cue is welcome in any way we can muster," Nagare ponders out loud.
> She nods, "Be assured, I will not forget this trespass, nor anything related to it."
<Mykasi> "Thank you." Mike nods, bowing again slightly.
* Nagare bows. "Your assistance has been most welcome."
> She nods, her face returning to it's normal impassive state, "Have you any other business here?"
<Mykasi> "I do not believe so, unless you have another question, Mr. Suiren?" Mike asks.
<Nagare> "No, I believe this has been elucidating enough. We should get back."
<Mykasi> "We'll see each other again soon, I imagine." Mike nods, turning back toward the guard post. "Fare thee well."
> The valkyrie nods sharply and dissapears in another flash of light.
> Mike and Nagare go back through the door and return to the Velvet Room...
> (OOC: Get thee hence; a Scene Change awaits thee.)
> The pair enter the Velvet Room again. Theresa stands and bows again, "Welcome back."
<Nagare> "Your solicitude never ceases to impress me, Theresa."
<Mykasi> "Thanks. I take it that was more the usual for a dream?"
> She smiles and shrugs, "It's part of the job description."
> Igor nods, "Indeed. Normally, a person cannot exist within thier own Dream. Not even a Persona User."
<Mykasi> "... You know what? Suddenly, I'm glad I got pulled into mine." Mike says after a moment's pause.
> Theresa giggles, "Lemme guess, don't want to expose anyone to Anansi too long without you around to reign him in?"
* Nagare scratches head. "Are all Personas this unusual? This is beginning to worry me, as I still haven't had the chance to even greet mine."
<Mykasi> "Don't think Mr. Suiren and Hikari -really- want to find out how they look in sailor fukus." Mike deadpans.
> Theresa giggles again, but then smiles at Nagare. And it is not a reasurring smile, "Unusual? Brynhildr is downright tame for a Persona."
> "Anansi is pretty wacky, though."
<Nagare> "... suddenly, the prospect of becoming a sailor scout is not the scariest prospect presented in the past few minutes," the teacher grimaces.
<Mykasi> "And with that knurding thought, I propose we return back." Mike states bluntly.
> Igor waves his hand. The door glows for a moment, then he nods, "The door will now return you to your own world."
<Mykasi> "Thank you."
<Nagare> "Thank you. Until next time."
<Mykasi> "...actually, question." Mike says, pausing.
> Theresa chuckles, "Get used to weird guys. The Dream is full of it." Then she bows as you exit, her voice and face returning to the gentle serenity in a blink, "Thank you for visiting, and have a pleasant night."
<Mykasi> "... ... ...No, never mind." Mike says, shaking his head as he follows Nagare.
* Nagare turns, glancing at Mike. "... now you piqued my curiosity."
> (OOC: And now I'm out of VP quotes for Scene Changes~)
> The door opens and Mike and Nagare exit back into the hall outside Nagare's office.
> Hikari is still inside the office, of course. And no, she didn't see the door open from her side.
<Mykasi> "I had it answered for me once before. I just forgot I did." Mike shakes his head in response to Nagare.
* Nagare nods to Mike. "I see. That's enough for me. So, who shall relay the news?"
<Mykasi> "You proposed the expedition. You go ahead." Mike shrugs.
* Hikari hears voices outside the door and stands up. It sounds like Mike and Nagare.
* Nagare nods. "Well. Miss Hikari, are you awake?"
* Hikari walks to the door and opens it. "Yes. What did you find?" She sounds not entirely eager for answers.
<Nagare> "Not much, but what we did find is enough for concern. Apparently, there's an aura still lingering where the dreamcatcher once stood."
<Hikari> "Meaning what? Someone can still track me, spy on me? Read my mind?"
<Nagare> "We... can't say. However, lady Brynhildr seemed quite distressed that the dreamcatcher and the raven slipped past her without her notice. The aura of the objects themselves is gone, though. The one that's there is... a shadow, so to speak. I doubt this means anyone's there. But..."
<Hikari> "Like a footprint, perhaps? Could you tel anything of whoever left it?"
* Nagare takes a deep breath. "... Brynhildr said it was as if it was a mark. A footprint would be an appropriate metaphor, but we had no access to that aura itself, and it seemed too faint to be able to make much of it from her description."
<Hikari> "No access to it?" Hikari wonders aloud. "Well, at least we have an idea of something to look for when exploring someone else's dream."
<Nagare> "It went about as well as I hoped, honestly. A vague and ominous clue is at least better than thin air," the teacher shrugs.
* Hikari nods. "Even small clues help. Gather enough of them and we may be able to assemble a facsimile of the bigger picture. ...What was it like in there, if I might ask?"
* Nagare scratches his head, grimacing a bit. "It was... well, I've seen a few operas evoke that kind of imagery, if I may be this daring."
* Hikari looks relieved. "Well, I can believe that."
<Mykasi> "Brynhildr guards your mind's privacy zealously, as it should." Mike interjects, looking at a bookshelf vacantly. "We had to ask her to look for us. I suspect Anansi would do the same, except I felt like venting."
<Hikari> Another nod. Again, Hikari seems both unsurprised and satisfied by this outcome.
<Nagare> "On the other hand, this means we're now at square one once again. Although...." Nagare begins mulling something.
<Hikari> "You have an idea? Because I'm afraid I'm rather short on them myself, save for checking in with Okuro whenever possible."
<Nagare> "Well. This is tentative, but... would be actually knowing if a Shadow is active helpful here?"
<Mykasi> "...Elaborate, please." Mike says after a moment, still staring at the bookshelf.
<Hikari> "Yes, but I don't see a way of doing that outside of entering someone's dream. Which isn't exactly easy given that we have no reason to be visiting the family."
* Nagare takes a more pensive stance. "Well. Igor and Theresa told me that, apparently, my Persona is capable of recognizing Shadow activity from the real world."
* Mykasi full halts at this. "Can it, now. Did they say how it can do this?"
* Nagare winces. "No. They did not. And given how I haven't even accessed my Persona yet, we'd have to scramble on this."
<Mykasi> "Hm." Mike muses. "That is a decent point - you haven't had a chance to learn what you can do. And it'd probably be unwise to have you learn in the fire..."
<Hikari> "That's very useful if it's true. Though it would presumably still require us to get close to the individuals in question."
<Nagare> "At least, close enough to pick up that activity. We could just try to get within sight reach of them and hope for a reaction?"
<Nagare> "But Mykasi has a fine point there."
* Mykasi thinks for a moment, before exhaling. "I can't think of a better method." With that, he tosses Hikari the key and goes to sit in Nagare's chair again. "Let's do this. Go ahead and enter mine."
<Hikari> "Ah...alright, if you say so."
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "Um. I am not sure what you're proposing here."
<Mykasi> "You need training in the Dream World. I am offering a place to train, or at least to warm up."
* Nagare scratches his head. "I'm not sure if I should thank you for offering an opportunity neither of you had to get acquainted with your powers or if I should be deathly afraid."
<Mykasi> "Yes."
* Nagare frowns. "I guess I might as well."
<Hikari> "You're lucky. We had to figure things out while fighting demons."
<Nagare> "I imagine. At least, I'm having the opportunity of a relative safe haven."
<Mykasi> "Let's get this over with." Mike says, waving them out the door.
* Hikari waits for the door to close, then uses the key on it.
> (OOC: Nanananananana-nananananananana....SCENE CHANGE!!!!)
> Nagare and Hikari pass through the Velvet Room as usual, and then come out into Mike's Dream. They walk out from the same outhouse and arrive at the same campsite. Only the fire has gone out and instead of twilight it's just now breaking dawn. (more)
> The creeping sunlight reveals that the campsite is on a hill(that was distinctly not there before), and the hill overlooks a sprawling futuristic city...with the path down to the city blocked by giant webs.
<Nagare> "This looks quite impressive."
<Hikari> "Hm. Or maybe someone watches too many movies."
> Suddenly, a black and white shape bounds out from the shadows! It's Anansi...wearing a tiara. And a sailor fuku. ...with D cups. Anansi twirls his/her scepter with a heart shaped spider on the top, "Stop right there evildoers! In the name of justice and my web of love, I punish...oh. You're not evildoers! Hihi~"
> His/Her voice is now high pitched and almost actually girly, opposed to the bad french accent of before.
<Hikari> "I--Mike...what--" Hikari's central processing unit appears to have shut down.
* Nagare halts entirely, the only sign of life coming from an occasional twitch.
> He/she bounces up and down, with unnecesary bounce physics straight out of a Dead or Alive game, "Hold on..." Twirling the scepter again, a circle of light appears on the ground, "Sparkly Moon Spider Summoning!"
> And moments later, Mike appears in a flash of pink light in intricate web patterns.
<Hikari> "Mike, for our sake, I ask you to use the hat next time."
* Mykasi is facing away from Anansi, toward Hikari and Nagare. "Hey, guy- what's wrong? You two look like you've seen a ghost or something. And what about a hat?"
* Nagare twitches. It seems like he still hasn't recovered his functional thoughts.
<Hikari> "Turn around!"
<Mykasi> "Is his hat really stupid this time?" Mike turns... and freezes, seeing Anansi.
* Nagare twitches again.
<Mykasi> Mike opens his mouth, before clamping it down again, hard, his face turning redder than a tomato.
<Hikari> "I wish, Mike. I truly do."
> Anansi salutes Mike, "Sailor Anansi, protector of love and justice, reporting for duty!"
<Mykasi> "I you I this wait what god fuck what hell ass bitch balls christ shit no what god hell what how that I what you this I what hell balls ass fuck christ what how how what what what"
<Mykasi> A pause.
<Hikari> "Just tell him he's relieved of duty. All the evildoers have been vanquished, right?"
<Mykasi> "An... Anansi, please, just... put a top hat on instead of that or something. Hikari's right, you're fine, evil's gone, it's all good."
* Nagare finally recovers enough lucidity to actually think, and rubs his temples. "I think I have migraine."
> Anansi nods, causing more bouncage, then pirouettes on his/her four spidery legs while pink light surrounds him from the scepter, "Spider Moon Mystery Transformation!"
> And one transformation scene later, Anansi is wearing a top hat, monocle and tweed sweater.
<Hikari> "MUCH better."
<Nagare> "What has been seen, however, can never be unseen."
<Mykasi> "That's... better, yes. Much better." Mike mutters, before glancing to Nagare. "Alright, Anansi. We're going to let Mr. Suiren get some experience with his Persona, alright?"
> Anansi nods, "RIght-o."
> The voice, however, has not changed.
* Mykasi winces slightly. "Subconscious: rebellious. Go ahead, Mr. Suiren?"
* Nagare deflates and eyes Mykasi wearily. "What can I say? There are no words. Let us move over this... unfortunate incident as fast as we can."
* Hikari steps to one side to watch, and offer advice where appropriate, calling up Brynhildr just in case there's some notion to practice operating as a team or something along those lines.
> Brinhyldr appears and stands quietly behind Hikari. Dressed as normal, thankfully.
* Mykasi pauses. "Wait, did you guys hear something?"
* Nagare coughs. "So... what do I do?"
* Mykasi looks around carefully, confused.
<Hikari> "I didn't hear anything, Mike. Save ofr Nagare's--wholly justified--confused muttering."
> A moment later, the cry of a large bird tears through the quiet of the hilltop, as a giant raven the size of a tiger spewing violet gunk from it's beak  dives straight for Nagare!(more)
<Mykasi> "Goddamnit... that sounded almost like win-"
> As the terrible creature dives towards him, Nagare suddenly sees the world slow down...the color fades from the world and all movement slows to a crawl.
> A spinning card appears before him. A card he recognizes.
> A feint grey light in the card pulses as he hears a soft and confident voice whisper, "Thou art I, and I am thou...if you would call upon my power...then cry my name!"
* Nagare opens his eyes, the name of his Persona coming clear as a ray of light into his mind. The call, in a tranced daze, flows into his voice and echoes as he finds this memory. "Abartach!"
> The neigh of a horse is heard, as the card shines and turns into an elfin wizard on a silver horse. The wizard eyes the diving raven and suddenly smirks, "Hah, illusion."
> The moment he says that, time and space snap back to normal...only Nagare can see right through the raven like a holograph with bad resolution.
> The wizard shifts the incredibly large book he carries to his other arm, and bows a bit to those assembled. Dressed in a victorian suit, brown in color, with a green cape, he cuts a rather fine figure. A blue broach completes his attire, while long blonde hair in a ponytail sits upon his head, only enhancing the fey look about him.
* Mykasi nods in return, the raven dissolving into mist. "A pleasure. And apologies for the deception, but I recalled what was needed to evoke our own Personas - a present danger."
<Hikari> "Did you have to use a raven?" Hikari complains. "I half-feared something had followed us, somehow."
* Nagare frowns slightly, but sighs in relief. "Speaking of which... I believe I have someone to acquaint myself with," the teacher completes as he contemplates Abartach.
<Mykasi> "I requested an eagle. Anansi improvises." Mike notes.
<Hikari> "I've noticed."
> Anansi shrugs, "Eagles aren't a known threat, he may have just seen through it. A raven attacking was more beleivable."
> Abartach regards Nagare in kind, but says nothing for the moment.
<Hikari> "I suppose," Hikari concedes, grudgingly.
<Mykasi> "More believable, but also more deceptive. I just wanted to trigger his Persona, nothing more." Mike mutters... before finally seeming to catch a glimpse of the city down the hill. "Wow. Oh, that reminds me. Anansi, would you be aware of any presence or power that might have triggered your awakening or that might still linger in here?"
* Nagare sits down, paying attention to his Persona for a moment. "It's still a bit hard to believe that you are a part of myself. In a sense, this is far more surprising than the Shadow."
> Abartach inclines his head noncommitally and pulls a monocle out of his breast-pocket, polishing it for a moment before placing it over his left eye, "The Shadow is a reflection of the Self, while a Persona is a part of the Self. You already have a Self that looks like you, so a secondary part should take on a different appearance. It's only practical."
> Anansi shakes his head, "Not a bit, and I've already looked. Whatever it was, it wasn't as intrusive as that dreamcatcher."
<Mykasi> "Thanks anyway." Mike says, attention returning to the city as Nagare talks with his Persona.
<Nagare> "Fair enough. So... how does this work, anyway?"
<Hikari> "It's essentially as simple as telling your persona what to do. I suppose thinking the required directions might be enough, though a rousing battle cry is oddly more satisfying."
> Abartach simply inclines his head in agreement towards Hikari.
<Mykasi> "And since neither of you are FOOL, I'd guess, it's straightforward from there. I get the transsexual sailor costumed cabana spider." Mike notes.
> Anansi dances a little jig in place, producing a cane from nowhere to go with the tophat.
<Hikari> "Yes. I am more than welcome to leave the unusual abilities to you if that is the tradeoff."
* Nagare nods, not without vaguely wincing at Mike's comment. "I see. What are your capabilities in this sense, Abartach? I'd like to know what can I expect from you."
> Abartach smirks, "Ah, but just think on it and you'll realize you already know."
<Mykasi> "I have some limited summoning and creation abilities as well - I can make a basic opponent for you and Abartach to fight, I think, if that'd help at all." Mike comments, looking out over the city.
* Nagare nods to Mykasi. "May as well. This isn't very natural to me, as it quite obviously shows."
<Nagare> "Although... eh. Just knowing that I can actually beckon him is enough for now."
> The elfin wizard's smirk grows a bit, "It will be before long. It very much is natural to you, it just doesn't feel like it yet."
<Mykasi> "Alright. At the least, now, you won't be taken off guard." Mike nods. "Back out, then?"
<Hikari> "You'll get used to it more quickly than you expect, if you've got this far."
* Hikari just nods to Mike.
* Nagare smirks. "I do hope you're correct for our sake. And yeah, we probably should go."
* Mykasi waves the two out, at this.
* Nagare quietly follows Mike's lead.
> And the two head back to the Outhouse and exit Mike's Dream.
> After they leave, Anansi looks back at Mike, "Soooo...guess you don't want to take the Hat Express this time, eh?"
> Yes, his voice goes back to normal now. Atfer the company has left.
<Mykasi> "I'll pass, thanks." Mike gives Anansi a wry grin, completely unsurprised at the voice swap. "You try it sometime and see how it feels."
> Anansi twirls, changes back into Sailor Anansi and points his/her wand at Mike, "Spider Summoning Unravel!"
> And Mike dissapears in a flash of light.
<Mykasi> "NOT WHAT I WANTED TO SEE BEFORE LEAVING MY DREAM!"
> (OOC: Sailor Anansi says~)
> Nagare and Hikari arrive back in the real world, with Theresa grinning and making a comment about "my my, isn't this one a handsome gentleman?" on thier way through the Velvet Room.
> And so the three decide that today has been more then long enough and all go thier seperate ways to get some sleep.
> --------------------------------------------------

[VySaika]

> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Wednesday, around lunchtime. Hikari has recovered from her ordeals of the previous day and is on her way to grab some lunch before that four hour world history block that is her only class today. As she makes her way to one of the campus caffeterias, she notices Okuro standing in a hallway, looking around like she's trying to find someone.
* Hikari walks up to the other girl. "Hello, Okuro. Are you looking for someone?"
> She sighs a bit, "Actually, you'll work. I'm not going to be able to come to class today, so I need someone to take notes for me. Missing even one of these classes can leave you so lost, but I don't really have much choice."
* Hikari nods. "Of course, I'll make you a copy of my notes. What's wrong, if you don't mind my asking?"
> Okuro fliks her eyes around just a bit and then shakes her head, replying in a near whisper, "Uh...not something I want to talk about with this many people around..."
<Hikari> "We can go somewhere quiet if you like. I have time to spare before class begins."
> She seems torn for a moment, but then nods and heads outside. There are students who brought their lunches out, of course, but far fewer then in the more pleasant months of the year. It's fairly chilly and that means it's pretty easy to get to a place where your chances of being overheard are small.
> Okuro shivers a bit and sighs again as you walk over by an old picnic table nobody ever seems to use, "I'll give you three guesses what the problem is, and the first two don't count."
* Hikari sits down and gestures for Okuro to do the same. "What did they do this time?"
> She takes a seat, "Nothing new, really. Just more fighting. All the time, without ever stopping. Mother...she's taking them to a doctor. A psychologist. Today, which is why I can't come to class. She can't handle the two of them alone. And you can guess how much they want to go along quietly."
<Hikari> "I would guess that you're bringing them leashed and chained. I wonder, did you try...well, blackmailing them into behaving, as I suggested?"
> She gives a slightly unladylike snort, "Yeah. Broke the thing right in front of them. Boy did that set them off. Didn't think it would work, but it couldn't hurt. And it's not like that silly thing was important at all anyway."
<Hikari> "Well, I'm sorry if I only made things worse. I thought it might be worth trying."
> Okuro shakes her head, "It didn't make it worse, really. Just made them both mad at me for about ten minutes instead of eachother."
> "Then they went right back to blaming the other for me doing that."
<Hikari> "Well, I can only hope this doctor is skilled enough to sort things out. I hate to see someone so stressed out over something she can't control."
> "If you think I'm stressed, you should see my mother. She...she really thinks that's what's happening. They're just going crazy like the people on the news."
> She shakes her head, "I just hope the doctor can tell us it's something else."
<Hikari> "You shouldn't believe everything you hear on the TV. Sometimes I think people start behaving irrationally about things just because some news program made them believe a problem was much greater than it actually was just to get attention. ...Anyway, let me know if you need help with anything else. I admit my siblings sound nothing like the problem yours have been lately, but I'm not unfamiliar with having an uncooperative young one around."
> She shakes her head, "You're taking notes for me in Dr. Jocyce's class. That's more then enough, really. Thanks, Ishigami."
> "And I should probably get going."
* Hikari nods. "Of course. I hope things go well."
> She checks her watch, nods and heads off for the parking lot at a jog.
* Hikari proceeds to class.
> Hikari heads into World History, finds a seat near Mike and catches his attention to note a need to meet up after class. Meanwhile, Nagare is teaching his own classes, the last of which just so happens to let out about ten minutes after the World History block does.
> After World History lets out, Hikari and Mike are getting thier stuff together and getting ready to go like everyone else in class
* Mykasi gathers up his stuff quickly, looking the notes over as people file out, figuring he'll just time things to walk out with Hikari.
* Hikari makes her way towards Nagare's office, assuming that's a reasonable place to meet up.
* Nagare is just arranging a few documents in his office as the classes have let out as he waits for the others to arrive.
> By the time the pair reach Nagare's office(located right next to the classroom he uses, of course), the students from his Corporate Law class are filing out. Only one of them looks at the two of you funny for not usually being around here at this time, the rest just kind of go about thier own business without batting an eyelash.
<Hikari> "Hm. Perhaps another location next time," Hikari notes once that particular student is out of earshot.
* Mykasi ignores the student who's so ignoble as to pay attention to others, nodding slightly to Hikari once the group's gone. "Perhaps, yeah. Still..."
<Mykasi> "Let's go in once they filter out."
> After a moment everyone has gone on thier own ways.
* Mykasi then advances in, waving slightly to Nagare as they enter.
* Hikari also enters the office. "Good day."
* Nagare raises his head while he organizes a few sheets. "Oh, good day. Anything happen today? You seem to be wearing long faces."
* Mykasi glances to Hikari with a somewhat bemused expression.
<Hikari> "I have very little positive to report, unfortunately. Okuro took my suggestion, but it has resulted in no change in the behavior of the children. I'm still at a loss as to find a reasonable way for us to examine them and their dreams."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike grunts. "Damnit. It might have been there too long or something, and we can't afford to wait much longer if they're in danger. Reasonable may need to go out the window, here, I'm afraid. Can we figure out their home address?"
<Hikari> "I don't imagine it would be difficult to find. I don't have her phone number or address myself though, no."
<Mykasi> "There a school directory for teachers?" Mike asks the next logical question.
* Nagare ponders, leaning against his desk slightly. "I'm certain we could find her address within the school directory, yes. Shouldn't take long, even."
<Mykasi> "That would be best. I hate asking you to break privacy, but if things are getting severe, we can't afford to tread lightly any further. Still as light as possible, but..."
<Hikari> "It's for Okuro's own good that we're doing this. It's a perfectly reasonable breach given the circumstances."
<Mykasi> "I don't like it even then." Mike shakes his head with a shrug. "And... worst comes to worst I might be able to figure it out, but I'd -really- like to avoid that."
<Nagare> "I'll just note this should be an exception. This kind of thing does leave trails, after all."
<Mykasi> "... I... might be able to help with that." Mike says, hesitantly.
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "Computer-savvy precedes you, I gather?"
<Mykasi> "I'm... pretty good with computers, and can probably set up a few reroutes if you'll give me a bit of time so they'll have a harder time to track you. This being said, note that if they -do- find you under this, it'll seem even more off-color. Simply opening the registry file shouldn't gather too much flack."
<Mykasi> "...yeah."
<Nagare> "I guess I -can- explain this to the school if they do bother to check it out. But first, we need to know in how much of a hurry we are. Unless the boys are being taken to a sanitarium, we probably could just address people in her class to find out about her address..."
<Mykasi> "Honestly, given how Mika turned out, I'd rather not muck around and waste much more time. We don't know if we have a deadline before their normal selves go under or what."
<Hikari> "Mike is correct. Also, asking others leaves a trail of its own."
* Nagare nods. "I'll just search the school directory, then. It's a pity this student isn't in the Law program, that'd make things very easy to clear."
* Mykasi shrugs. "This is an advantage to us, as is. I don't like using my skills unless I need to."
<Mykasi> "...or unless I'm drunk and pissed, but tangent."
* Nagare frowns. "That looks like a good time to do the search," the teacher adds as he picks up his laptop.
* Mykasi nods slightly, leaning back.
* Hikari raises an eyebrow. "Should I ask about that comment, Mike? I assume there's a story behind it."
<Mykasi> "Uh... ...maybe later?" Mike says evasively.
<Hikari> "I won't press you on it. It wouldn't be fair. You've already told us more about yourself than I have about myself, after all."
<Mykasi> "It's nothing big, just... uh, I do my best programming when drunk. Of course, it's not always, uh, coherent best."
* Mykasi mutters something in English about reliable bounce mechanics.
<Hikari> "In that case, I'll just ask you to stretch your abilities and do as well as can given that you are currently sober."
<Mykasi> "Yes'm."
> Nagare searches for Okuro's address, and finds it in the registry after a moment.
* Nagare snickers. "That almost reminds me of someone else, miss Hikari - ah, here is the address."
<Hikari> "Hm?"
<Nagare> "I found Okuro's address," the teacher misdirects the conversation.
<Mykasi> "Alright. It local?"
> Her address is local, it's just over in an apartment building in a residential area.
<Nagare> "Yup. This should do it," Nagare nods as he jots down the address.
<Mykasi> "Right. We probably should wait until people are in for the night." Mike notes.
<Hikari> "Yes. It would look quite odd, the three of us stopping by."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. On the other hand, if blinds are closed, we never need to make our presence known - the Key doesn't seem to make itself known, from what we've seen?"
<Hikari> "I don't believe so, no. As long as we arrive sufficiently late at night that no one else is likely to be outdoors, we should be safe enough."
<Nagare> "Hm. You think we'd be able to detect Shadow activity from that distance?"
<Hikari> "I have no idea. We can pause outside and give you an opportunity to check, perhaps? I presume we will be using the dream key whether or not you find a positive result, though."
* Nagare nods. "The sad part would be if we found out multiple Shadows acting up at the same time."
<Mykasi> "That seems best. Try to get there around dinner, a bit later?" Mike proposes.
<Nagare> "Sounds good. If needed, I can give you a lift."
<Hikari> "Where are we meeting? I assume somewhere well away from the Okuro residence. If one of us got there early or late, it would increase their chances of being seen there, which is not desirable."
<Mykasi> "Let's arrange for 7:00? And... let's all get there by different methods. I'll find a park nearby to relax at before we do this, so I'm there on time."
* Hikari nods.
<Nagare> "I'm fine with this as well, as long as we rendezvous in time. I don't see a problem with this."
* Mykasi nods. "Alright. We meet a block away 5 minutes beforehand. Work?"
<Hikari> "Acceptable. I can drive myself there."
* Mykasi nods. "I'll be jogging and stuff."
<Nagare> "Certainly."
> And so the three head off to make thier own seperate ways to the Okuro residence.
> (OOC: You're Scene Changin' me around~ My feet are off the ground~)
> At roughly the appointed time, Mykasi is loitering around a newspaper stand a block away from the Okuros' apartment building. As he loiters, he can see Nagare's car pulling towards him. And Hikari's is only a minute or so behind.
* Mykasi glances over a newspaper he's picked up from the stand, looking over to the apartment building once in a while but otherwise unconcerned in appearance.
<Mykasi> As the two pull up, he walks over. "Good, I got the right place."
> The guy selling newspapers had chatted with Mike for a couple minutes earlier about random mundane stuff like the political story on the front page. Now he's back to reading his own paper while waiting for anyone else to buy stuff.
* Hikari parks some ways off from Nagare's. No need to make things *too* obvious. Then she gets out and walks towards the others. "Everyone's ready? Nagare, I suppose you can scan at regular intervals as we approach the apartment?"
* Nagare leaves his car, lighting a cigarette on the way. Not exactly inconspicuous, but. "I can try, certainly."
<Hikari> "That is about as much as we can ask for, given that we don't know precisely how your ability functions nor its range. It's something of an experiment."
* Nagare also stays a few steps further than usual from the pack due to smoke, but nods. "It's as much of an experiment for me as it is for you."
* Mykasi shrugs. "Let's just get going. This is going to look weird no matter what, so let's do this as quick as possible while still testing your ability." A pause. "I wonder if this apartment complex has any open rooms?"
<Hikari> "I don't know, but I do agree that spending as little time in the halls of the building is eminently desirable. The fewer who see us, the better--hopefully no one will. Shall we?"
> And the group heads up to the front door of the building. It swings right open, apparently this isn't a gated community. A middle aged woman in an office with a large window that's near the door sees you all come in, smiles and exits her office to approach you.
> "Oh, good afternoon. Are you here to look at our apartments?"
> She is, of course, looking primarily at Nagare.
* Nagare awkwardly waves to the lady, prematurely tossing his cigarette away. "Um... good afternoon. We're... yeah, we're interested in seeing the apartments in this neighborhood."
* Mykasi glances to Nagare as well, adopting a lightly confused expression as if he didn't understand fully what the woman said.
* Nagare coughs slightly and gives a sign to the lady to wait a moment, then moving his sight to Mykasi. "This is probably as good an excuse as any to get closer to our home mark than we would by just loitering around. Let's play along," the teacher whispers.
> She smiles broadly like the low class salesman she is and nods, "Well, I hope you'll find what you're looking for here at the Tomoe Apartments! It just so happens that we have a couple of two bedroom apartments available as well as one three bedroom. Which one would you like to see?"
> OOC: Did Nagare address Mike in japaneese or English?
<Nagare> OOC: English. Less odds of the wrong sides picking up the conversation there.
* Hikari remains silent and attentive likes the dutiful daughter or wife she's probably supposed to be in this little charade.
* Nagare returns to the lady, putting up his best people's person impersonation. "My apologies. But we may as well check all three if you'd be so kind. Is that possible?"
> She doesn't seem to understand a word Nagare said to Mike, as she just kind of extends her smile to Mykasi and nods cheerfully like she's trying to be encouraging.
> She then nods to Nagare again, "Well, our two bedroom apartments are all the same model, so you'd really only need to see one. One is on the third floor and the other is on the second. Our three bedroom unit is here on the ground floor though, so let's start there?"
<Mykasi> "Hai." Mike says in somewhat clipped Japanese, back, before looking to the saleswoman in embarrassment. "Sorry! My Japanese is not good. Here for foreign exchange Hokuriku University." he tells the woman somewhat embarrasedly in technically correct, if slightly overly formal, Japanese.
* Nagare ponders for a minute. "Actually, could I see the one on the second floor? I'd like to have a glimpse of a possible view, if that wouldn't be a problem."
> She nods understandingly to Mike and then more proffesionally to Nagare, "That's fine of course. Just follow me?"
> She leads the way up some stairs and up to the second floor.
* Nagare nods firmly to the lady, following her without fuss.
> She leads you through a hall on the second floor. The doors here are all labeled with number...all in the 200s.
> After walking near the end of the hall, she uses her key to open up one door, #205, and gestures you all in.
> "This is our two bedroom model here. Feel free to look around, and I'll answer any questions you have."
* Nagare nods to the lady. "I'll go ahead and look into the back of the apartment. Feel free to ask questions to her, boys," the teacher cues to Mykasi and Hikari.
* Hikari walks in and makes a show of looking around, particularly at the kitchen.
* Mykasi blinks blinks, glancing to Hikari and Nagare as he follows Hikari in a bit. "Ano... What bus route from here to Hokuriku University exist?" he asks the woman after a moment, still slightly embarrassed.
* Hikari investigates the appliances with the eye of an expert chef!
> Nagare looks around the apartment, but doesn't see anything out of the ordinary.
> Hikari notices that the fridge is decent, but the oven frankly sucks hard.
* Nagare scans the rooms with a frown. "Hmmm..."
> The woman speaks slowly in japanese to tell Mike about the bus route.
<Mykasi> "Oh. So only one stop? That's good." Mike nods slightly. "Ah... what about to the downtown? The, ano... commercial area? Is that right?"
* Nagare takes the opportunity to conspicuously leave the apartment. Maybe he could reach the third floor from there.
> OOC: Mike, roll fast talk skill to keep her attention on you.
<Mykasi> OOC: 2d8, right?
> OOC: Yup. AGainst your Mind+1(plus hidden situational mods)
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 right, time to be a chatty foreigner
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 right, time to be a chatty foreigner and gets 8."12 [2d8=2, 6]
> Mike fakes struggling with his Japanese enough to keep the lady's full attention while Nagare slides out!
> N: You're out in the hallway, and near the end of it. At the very end is a door that has no number. Possibly a stairwell?
* Nagare goes to check if it is indeed a stairwell - after all, Mike's sacrifice should not be in vain.
> N: It is! Directly across from apartment #200 is a stairwell. It has stairs that lead both up and down.
* Nagare quickly steps up, hoping the apartments don't have a idiosyncratic numbering scheme!
> N: Exiting the stairwell on the third floor, Nagare is stareing right at apartment #300. ...and he almost instantly gets a headache from looking at it. Even through the walls, he can "see" some kind of aura...no...auras in there. Two of them. And they're strong.
* Nagare is immediately taken aback by the sudden feeling of dread. "... this is not good," he mumbles.
* Nagare decides to return as quickly as he reached the floor. That -has- to be it.
> Nagare manages to slide back into the apartment also without being seen. Mike has moved into the kitchen once Hikari vacated it and the manager lady went with him, still answering questions on how to get places and what things are in the area.
* Hikari examines the bathroom. It better have a nice shower!
> The shower looks...usable...at least.
* Nagare tries to hide his distraught expression a bit, and decides to approach Hikari, as Mike seems to be plenty busy.
* Hikari makes sure to keep her back turned to the manager, to minimize the chance of her overhearing anything.
* Nagare gently taps Hikari's back.
<Hikari> "Well?" she says quietly.
* Nagare frowns. "I sensed two rather strong auras coming from an apartment on the third floor. Also, a very unwelcome headache," the teacher whispers in a half-mutter.
<Hikari> "I suspected as much. We still need to find a way to detach ourselves from our guide before we can proceed, however. It will take all of us to deal with these shadows if things become ugly."
<Nagare> "I'll fetch Mykasi to deliver the bad news. Maybe he'll have an idea."
* Nagare actually does so, returning to Mike and the lady.
<Hikari> "Of course. I'll provide a distraction." Hikari approaches the manager. "Excuse me, miss. I have been taking a close look at the appliances around the apartment. Are these the standard fixtures in all apartments?"
* Nagare takes the cue to approach Mike.
> She breaks away from her conversation with Mike to answer Hikari. And yes. Yes they are.
* Mykasi glances over to Nagare in surprise, probably a relief for the poor woman. "Ah?" he says, before in English, "What's up?" With that, he steps away to talk to Nagare quickly.
* Nagare grimaces - although keeping the conversation in plain English. "Two strong, headache-inducing auras on the third floor. I haven't sensed a Shadow before, but I somehow doubt the migraine I got was a mere coincidence."
* Hikari makes sure to look disappointed. "Some of them are adequate, but it would be a challenge to cook on this oven...Oh, I'm sorry," she adds respectfully. "I shouldn't criticize."
<Mykasi> "Right. Uh... I think I may have a plan, but it'll require tipping our hands just a bit. I can say I remember her friend lives here and suggest visiting, being the idiot foreigner. We can also go get drinks, since aren't you supposed to bring something when visiting an acquaintance? It'll make the entire thing seem more organic than just going 'oh hey let's go up a floor and disappear'."
> The woman mentions that the three bedroom units do have more quality appliances in some areas, such as a larger shower for one. She suggests that the oven there might be more to Hikari's liking, though she's afraid this model is standard in all the two bedroom units.
<Mykasi> Mike spews this out in English, apparently somewhat frustrated by having to speak bad Japanese for so long.
* Nagare sighs, folding his arms. "The lady took a toll on your liveliness, I figure. Your plan honestly sounds the best we can come up with in such short notice, and she just seems dim enough to comply there."
<Mykasi> "Something like that." Mike shrugs. "And... well. I'm the idiot foreigner. If she reacts badly, you can chide me and say I'm speaking out of line because I don't know better, alright? Trust me, I won't take it personally. So, should I try it?"
* Nagare nods. "Feel free. I think Hikari would feel relieved as well."
<Hikari> Hikari would feel relieved. There's only so long she can talk about kitchen appliances before he mind goes blank out of reflex.
* Mykasi nods slightly. "Hai, hai... Oh! Hikari-san!" Mike says, turning to (and interrupting) Hikari. "Your friend, Oku... Okuru? Okuro-san! She said she lived here to me. Maybe we can go visit?" A pause, before his face collapses. "Wait, we didn't bring anything to give to them... maybe we should go get something?"
<Hikari> "What did you have in mind?" Hikari asks, speaking slowly and carefully for the poor, dumb American.
> Nagare is obsevent enough to catch a slight twinkle in the manager lady's eyes as she make a questioning expression, "Oh, are you freinds with Issa Okuro? That poor girl and her mother have been having such a hard time lately, I'm sure a visit from freinds would help them so much."
<Hikari> "I know her from school, yes." She turns to Nagare. "Perhaps we could stop by once we are finished touring the apartments?"
<Mykasi> "Ano..." Mike frowns. "Uh. I don't know. We were told in America to bring something, but weren't told what. Maybe we can go get them some drinks?"
<Nagare> "It's not really -necessary-, but no harm. You think you could excuse us? I think we should take the time to visit them now," the teacher says to the host lady.
> She nods, "Oh, of course, of course. Will you still be wanting to see the three bedroom unit when you're done?"
<Nagare> "It might be late when we're done, so I'd rather not keep you waiting for no reason. The visit to this apartment was enough for tonight, I think. But thank you for the attention."
> She nods, "Come back whenever it's convenient for you to see that unit, then. But I can't promise it will still be available, as it is the only three bedroom we currenly have open."
<Mykasi> "Thank you, ma'am!" Mike chirps politely.
* Hikari nods politely.
* Nagare nods to the saleswoman. "Alright, then, let's take our leave. Many thanks."
> She ushers you all out of the apartment and locks the door behind her.
* Hikari proceeds up the stairs (tactfully behind "father" of course, at least as long as the manager can see them) to the Okuro apartment.
* Mykasi steps outside, glancing to Nagare and Hikari. "Which stairway is it?" he asks in English, just to make it sound like they're not that diabolical planning group or something.
* Nagare points to the door that leads to the stairway, keeping up with the English. "There."
<Mykasi> "Right. Uh... She said third floor? 300?" Mike continues in English.
* Mykasi follows Hikari and Nagare in that direction as they talk.
> And the three go up the stairs. When they are standing in front of the Okuro apartment, Nagare can again see the auras clearly even through the wall.
* Nagare winces, rubbing his temples. "This is very unpleasant."
<Hikari> "Soon it will end," Hikari says. "Who has the key?"
<Mykasi> "Let's hope this works. I forsee one possible hitch, but..." Mike glances to Hikari. "You do, don't you?"
<Hikari> "Oh, of course." Hikari uses the key and immediately enters the door. It doesn't do them any good to stand around in the hall talking.
> (OOC: Do you have to~ Do you have to~ Do you have to let it Scene Change~?)
> The Velvet Room is, once again, very blue. Three chairs are in front of the table and Igor sits behind it, staring down at all of you over his nose. Theresa as usual stands up as you enter, smiles and bows, "Welcome to the Velvet Room."
<Hikari> "Hello again," Hikari says politely.
* Nagare nods to Igor and Theresa. "Good evening. Tangentially, Shadows are not good for my health."
<Mykasi> "Hio." Mike says in far more languid Japanese.
> Igor nods, "It is simply the strain of seeing that which your eyes know should not be seen in that world. You will become accustomed to it over time, and it will hurt less."
* Mykasi nods slightly. "Can you tell us how many Dreams we'll be entering or is that 'enter and see'?"
> Igor nods to Theresa, who closes her eyes for a moment.
<Hikari> "At least five, I'd guess," Hikari says. "Simply based on the number of family members."
> After a second, Theresa nods, "There are four people in the area you can enter. You'll have to pass through one to get to the ones I'm sure you're going for. The last is out of your way entirely, so it shouldn't be a problem."
<Mykasi> "Five?" Mike frowns at Hikari. "Okuro's mom, Okuro, the twins. So four makes sense."
<Hikari> "Well, I just assumed her father would be around as well."
<Mykasi> "But the woman didn't mention her dad. So it seemed kinda clear he's, um, not around."
<Hikari> "That's not the assumption I would normally make, Mike."
> Theresa smiles, "Definately no 'dad' type person in there, in any case."
* Nagare scratches his head. "I'm not sure this is really relevant to the matter at hand."
<Hikari> "I suppose it's not, no."
> Igor motions towards the door, "Would you like to enter the Dream now?"
<Hikari> "I don't see any reason to delay." Hikari glances at her companions. "You're both ready?"
<Mykasi> "Right, sorry." Mike shrugs. "Sounds kinda like Sandy's situation..." he mutters in English. "Yeah, let's go."
<Nagare> "No point in dawdling."
> The door glows for a moment and Igor nods, "It will now take you to the Dream."
* Hikari nods. "Onwards, then." She opens the door and proceeds inside.
<Mykasi> "Right." Mike says. "Thanks, see you when we get back out."
* Nagare waves to Igor and Theresa, then enters the door as well.
> Theresa waves back, "Have fun in there!"
> (OOC: Happiness~ was when I was young and I didn't Change a Scene~)
> ------------------------------------------------------------------

[VySaika]

> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> The trio steps out of the Velvet Room and into...a classroom? Or is this an arena? Frankly, it looks like a little of both. A wide open circle is surrounded by classroom desks and chairs arranged like bleachers, stretching up to the sky. Directly accross from the hallway leading into the circle that you're standing in is(more)
> a gigantic podium with the periodic table embossed on the front in ornate gold. Sitting in a high backed chair glaring down into the arena is...a giant textbook with eyes. And it doesn't look particularly happy.(more)
> In the middle of the arena is Issa Okuro, pencil in hand and desperately doing battle against animate equations that stab at her with 1 shaped spears and fling x shaped shurikens. She is dodging and avoding the attacks as best she can while hastily sketching out the answers to the attacking equations. As soon as she writes an answer in the air aimed at an equation it poofs into dust.
> And at the podium, a dinging sound can be heard, followed by the Textbook's voice, "Seventeen problems remaining"
* Hikari is silent for a long moment while she takes all this in. "I wonder, do many other students live in such stark fear of school? I've never really understood that attitude."
> Any of you who have taken higher math classes can recognize these equations as being calculus.
* Nagare snickers. "You just never experienced Law school. I think this is a bit more pressing than just high-school math, though."
> And a bit more advanced calc then Mike or Hikari have taken.
* Mykasi looks around with a slight discomfort, muttering, "And here I thought I was hard on myself. Sheesh. Let's see if we can circle around this and avoid disturbing her? Best not to get into any altercations before our destination." To Hikari, he shrugs. "I can understand this feeling, but to me it'd be more competition than anything else. And sheesh, some of those calculus equations are beyond even me."
<Hikari> "Yes, let's see if we can sneak past and avoid angering the giant book?" It says a lot about recent events that Hikari has no difficulty saying this seriously.
* Nagare frowns. "I have to wonder if this is normal Dream behavior for just about every mental exercise."
> She sketches out another answer, causing the equation to poof away. The Textbook intones, "Sixteen problems remaining."
<Mykasi> "It's possible. My own Dream has changed based on what I was thinking about - she might be more relaxed, normally." Mike says, glancing around for some sort of path around the math.
> You'd pretty much have to go through the arena to the door that's right under the podium on the other side. But you can hug the edges, it's a pretty big arena.
* Mykasi proceeds to do just that, watching the math problems carefully to try and make sure none attempt to approach them. Since this isn't their problem, nor is she the one being plagued, it might be safe?
* Hikari also sticks to the walls, watching the killer numbers carefully for signs of aggression.
* Nagare hugs the edges as well. At times like this, he's vaguely glad to not have taken math for a major - although he couldn't say if Law was much of a reprieve.
> The math ignores you, as does Issa. You manage to make it to the other side, when the Textbook leans over it's podium and eyes you, "Halt! Who goes there?"
* Nagare freezes. What -does- one do when halted by a sentient twenty-feet (or something) textbook?
<Mykasi> "Distractionary people that Issa wants to think about. However, Math must hold sway for now, and thus we're seeing ourselves out." Mike pauses, looking up at the Textbook innocently. "We'll return later."
> The Textbook eyes you cautiously, "Hmm. Are you students?"
* Nagare scratches his head. "I am not, although I do -have- students."
> The Textbook's attention swivles to Nagare, "Students? Does that make you a parent or a teacher, sir?"
* Mykasi glances to Nagare at this, and says in a voice nearly under his breath, "Try using teacher authority to get us past and out?"
* Hikari nods, having the same idea as Mike.
* Nagare glances Hikari and Mykasi. That's a great idea, but how would he -put it to use-? "Well, I am a teacher, yes."
> "Hmm." The Textbook muses, "May I see your identification, sir?"
* Nagare takes his wallet and picks up his staff room badge. "Does this work for one?"
> The Textbooks leans in closely to peer at the badge, then sits back up straight, "Dr. Nagare Suiren, professor of Law. I assume these are your students?"
* Hikari nods obediently, letting the respected teacher speak for the group.
* Nagare eyes them sternly. "Why, yes."
* Mykasi bows to the textbook. All hail Textbook! All hail Textbook!
> The Textbook inquires, "Have they done thier homework?"
* Nagare nods. "They are quite studious lads. Never missed an assignment, even."
> "Very well then, you may proceed." The door under the podium swings open, "Be advised sir, the lands beyond these are no longer civilized."
<Nagare> "Ah, yes. We will take the utmost care. Thank you for the advice, sir."
* Mykasi nods slightly. "We shall be careful, and perchance return the rule of law and knowledge to that troubled land. Thank you, good sir.
<Hikari> And arithametic, Hikari thinks to herself as she passes through the door.
* Mykasi follows Hikari. "Allow us to lead the way, teacher." Mike is, admittedly, grinning as he gets out of sight of the book.
* Nagare follows sheepishly, scratching his cheek as he leaves.
> As soon as the three of you pass through the door, the landscape drastically changes. Lush plantlife is everywhere, and the climate is both warm and muggy. Various insects buzz around, but mostly leave you alone. Two suns burn overhead, one large yellow one and one much smaller red one, bathing the world in a faint orange light.
* Mykasi looks around. "H-uh. Jurassic."
<Hikari> "I wasn't aware the Earth had two suns during the Jurassic period," Hikari says. "Are you alright so far, Nagare? This must still seem very strange to you."
> The terrain turns into dense jungle a ways to the right, while things thin out into a plain after a bit to the fore or the left.
<Nagare> "I... honestly have fared better, but it's not -quite- outside the limits of my suspension of disbelief. Which both comforts and frightens me," the teacher muses somewhat confusedly.
<Mykasi> "It didn't. Otherwise, this is pretty nifty. Maybe we'll run into Ayla." Mike muses, looking up at the red star before glancing toward the plains. "Let's head that way? I'd rather not wade into dense jungle, real or dreamy."
<Nagare> "I won't object to that line of thought."
<Hikari> "Who? And yes, I was about to suggest we head for the plains. It would be easier for any hostile denizens to ambush us in the jungle."
> OOC: is that forward towards the plains or left towards the plains? Either direction leads to open ground, but I need to know which way you take.
<Hikari> OOC: forward, forward, always forward!
<Mykasi> "That and the dinosaurs always begin the chase scenes in the open, I thought. Been a while since I've seen the movies, though, so."
<Nagare> "I've even forgotten there were movies about dinosaurs, to be honest."
<Mykasi> OOC: Actually I was reading it as open area spread from our left to in front of us, was gonna suggest walking effectively in between the two. This being said, if it's not an option, forward.
> OOC: Anything but due left counts as forward for my purposed.
<Mykasi> OOC: Then forward for now. May we live to regret it.
> The three of you walk along for a short while, watching the brush you arrived in give way to thinner brush and eventually plains. After a short while, you catch sight of something moving towards you. A pair of somethings. Bipedal by the looks of them...but long in the body regardless.
> Still too far out to get a really good look yet. Do you just let them approach or what?
* Mykasi pauses slightly, eyeing this oncoming something. "Should we move to the side and let them pass, or accost and see if we can figure out where the center of all this is?"
* Hikari glances to her teammates. "Shall we walk up and say hello? We'll have to confront some manner of creature here sooner or later, after all."
<Mykasi> "This is true." Mike shrugs. "Mr. Suiren?"
* Nagare scratches his chin. "We... should keep ourselves on guard regardless. I'm not sure approaching them straight is a good idea, but don't think there's much of a way around it."
* Mykasi nods slightly. "Fair. Well, let's let them approach, then? I can whip up an illusion if they seem ready to attack."
* Mykasi follows his own words, getting into a general "ready" stance and waiting for the figures to get closer.
> And the figures draw closer. They move very quickly, closing the gap much faster then expected, though they still stop a small distance away. It's a pair of...dinosaurs. Struthiomimus for those who would recognize the type. Only they're wearing leather armor, and carrying both shortbow and a small sword. The bows are in hand for both creatures, though no arrows are yet set to string.
> The dinosaurs eye you all wearily for a moment, before one looks to the other, "They don't look like the usual metal men...what do you think?"
* Nagare deflates. "... metal... men?"
> The second one cocks his head to the side and observes you for a moment, "No, they don't. Can't imagine what else they'd be though, there's nobody else around here but us and them."
<Mykasi> "...oh, good grief." Mike seems to half grin and half grimace. "War between dinosaurs and robots." Then, to the dinosaurs, "No, we aren't metal men, we're travelers. Why, what's going on here?"
> They look at eachother for a moment, then the first one speaks, "Not metal-men? Ehhhh...I'm not so sure about that." He takes a couple steps back and pulls out an arrow, though he doesn't set it to the bow just yet.
> The second one sniffs, "They don't smell like metal-men, either. Hmm. Well, there's a real quick way to test it."
* Hikari smacks a fist against her palm by way of demonstration. "We're not made of metal, or this would sound different, wouldn't it? Metal man clank and echo, don't they?"
> He pulls an arrow out himself, "Maybe, maybe not. Could just be padding. Two of you stay where you are and one of you come over here if you want to prove you're not the enemy."
<Hikari> "Not until you explain how you plan to go about doing this 'proving.'"
> The second one shrugs, an interesting motion on a dinosaur, "Easy. I'm going to stab one of you with an arrow. If you bleed real blood, you're made of meat and not metal."
* Nagare groans. "... you know, you don't have to stab us with an arrow to get us to bleed."
<Hikari> "Prick a finger if you must. Nothing more," Hikari insists. "I'm sure neither of YOU would appreciate being stabbed just to prove a point, would you? Let's keep this simple and civil."
* Mykasi walks ahead. "And I'll consent to the finger prick, alright? Will even do the honors myself, if you'd be willing to let me."
> He shakes his head, "Nope. Can't trust you to pick the place yourself, you could just have blood in one spot to try and fool us."
<Hikari> "Do a lot of these metal men you fight walk around with blood JUST to fool you?"
* Nagare openly facepalms. "Then just prick us yourselves on a spot you deem appropriate."
* Mykasi tilts his head. "Where would they get it from...? Regardless, I'll allow this. But if you try to get too violent, I have my own guardian spirit, and he will not take kindly to it. Perhaps you'd like to see him? Robots don't have guardian spirits, do they? At least, they don't where I'm from."
> The first one spits, "The metal-men are decietful and trecherous. This wouldn't be the first trick they've tried to pull on us to get past our patrols."
> The second one eyes Mike, "Depends on what you call a guardian spirit. They've got thier share of servants and beasts, that's for sure."
> "Anyway, are you coming over here or are we heading off to get reinforcements?"
<Hikari> "Mike...Well, if you want to try this...I guess we'll just be watching these two very closely, for what that's worth."
* Mykasi steps forward some more. "I will consent, but first..." And with that, Mike focuses on creating a light show of sparks and fireworks above him for the two dinosaurs, letting Anansi appear as a result.
> The first one places arrow to string, "Are you trying to intimidate us?"
<Mykasi> "No, no, no. Sheesh." Mike shrugs, dismissing it. "Simply proving a bloody point." (And will be proving another in a moment.) With that, he finishes walking over to the dinosaur calmly, somewhat annoyed beneath the facade.
* Mykasi then proffers his arm up for inspection.
> The second one shrugs again, "Don't see what it's supposed to prove. Metal-men summon monsters all the time. None that look like that, but I can't say for certain it couldn't be one of thiers either."
<Mykasi> "They do?" Mike glances to the second one. "New here, wasn't exactly aware of that. But fine, let's do this."
> That said, the dinosaur grabs Mike's arm and places a careful arrow-jab into his left shoulder. It hurts rather a bit as it wasn't the most gentle of jabs. But far less then getting shot with the arrow would.
<Mykasi> "Tch..." Mike winces as it enters, but otherwise keeps the facade up. "Satisfied?"
* Nagare eyes the scene wearily. "I have to ask. Have any of the metal men you speak of so often ever bothered sauntering through this? I have to think they'd already have attacked you in some manner by now instead of agreeing to this."
> Of course the arrow comes out bloody. The dinosaur places his nose near the wound and sniffs, "Yeah, that's real blood alright. Sorry about that, but we're border patrol so we don't take chances."
* Retrieving #personador modes...
<Mykasi> "Right..." Mike mutters. "So, can you tell us what the fighting's over, outta curiousity?"
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp), Hikari(90/90 hp)'
> Ignoring Nagare for the time being, he continues to address Mike, "Territory war, and a nasty one. The metal-men are trying to take over our kingdom and we're doing all we can to hold them off."
<Mykasi> "I see." Mike frowns, openly curious. "They've stated no other reason?"
> Then he looks up at Nagare, "I love how you talk about being new here and then act like you already know all about what metal-men would do or what we should do. We're Knights of the Rainbow Scale, Indigo patrol unit. Don't tell us how to do our jobs."
> He shrugs, "They insist this land belongs to them and want to drive us out. We're fighting back. It's really that simple."
<Hikari> Hikari endeavors not to let the strain of talking to dinosaurs show. The situation's ridiculous enough that she's glad to let someone else do the talking here.
> The first one puts his arrow away and trots back up to join his chatty partner, "Think we should take them to Lord Keita? We've never had meat-people travellers before."
> The second one(who is the one that did the stabbing, by the way) nods, "Yeah, that's probably the best idea. I'll lead them in, you finish the patrol?"
<Hikari> "We'd be glad to speak to someone in charge and let you two return to your duties," Hikari says, eager to m ove on to someone who might have more in-depth information (or at least possibly be a shadow that needs to be dealt with).
* Mykasi nods slightly, content to agree with Hikari there.
<Nagare> "May as well."
> He then nods back to the three of you, "The name's Aganir, Knight of the Rainbow Scale, Igdigo patrol. I assume you have proper names like us instead of...what do they call them, identification codes or something like the metal-men?"
> *Indigo, even
<Hikari> "My name's Hikari," Hikari says, seeing no reason not to.
<Nagare> "Nagare Suiren's the name."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. Mike." Mike nods slightly.
> "Great. Follow me then." And with that he starts trotting off at frankly faster then any of you can go. After a second he realizes this and slows down.
* Mykasi nods as he slows down. "Sorry. Our kind's more suited to adaptability than raw speed or power."
* Hikari follows at about the best pace you could expect her to keep while wearing a skirt. Really, she should prepare better when going on these excursions.
* Nagare just paces somewhat uncomfortably. This little diversion somewhat highlights nicely why he didn't want children in the first place.
> Aganir nods, "Yeah, you're shaped like the metal-men, but made of meat like us. You can understand why we were cautious. The only people like you we've seen before are Lord Keita and the master of the metal-men. And you three are alot bigger then them."
<Nagare> "I have to ask... how tall are those metal men, then?," the teacher asks skeptically.
> "About your size."
> "Most of them, anyway. Some are smaller...some are bigger. The bigger ones are the Violet Brigade's problem though, not ours."
<Nagare> "... I see," Nagare nods. He also has to wonder about what is this a statement on.
* Mykasi nods slightly, rubbing his shoulder. "And I'd hope you forgive me for not being too eager to being poked, seeing as how I do bleed, yes." After a moment, "So Lord Keita and the master of the metal-men are like us, but none else here are?"
> He nods, "Yeah. Alot of the metal-men are shaped like you, though. Two legs and arms, short neck, flat face, no tail. That kinda thing."
* Nagare ponders. "Have you tried tracking them down to know where do they come from? Or do you just fend them off?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah. The design was based off our kind, thus the similarities. However, the similarities end there." Mike notes.
> He gestures off to the left, "Yeah, they come from that way. We've tried to go on counter-offensives plenty of times. We gain ground, we lose ground. It always comes back to a bloody stalemate."
* Mykasi nods. "Alright. That helps us. This will sound kinda weird, but... we usually end up where we're needed. Maybe we can do something to help out, here."
> He nods, "Maybe. That would be appriciated. But you'll need to talk to Lord Keita about that. He's the king, afterall."
<Mykasi> "Naturally."
<Mykasi> OOC: I'm content.
> The rest of the walk to the Lord's encampment is uneventful. Aganir is happy to chat and explain things as best he can in a fairly blunt manner.
> You see the camp long before you get there. Largely due to the HUGE FRIKKING DINOSAURS that are hanging out there. Including such notables as a group of triceratops and some brachiasaurs.
* Mykasi looks over the camp critically. If the kid lacks anklyosauruses, it will be much harder to forgive him for this wound.
> Everything is in a bizzare mix of prehistoric and middle ages europe for style. Small thatched buildings are used by the smaller dinos as storage and such, while there are no buildings at all for the larger ones. But all the warrior types are armed and armored, with western style leather, chain and plate, as well as swords, lances and bows.
* Hikari is suddenly very glad that they talked their way into the camp.
* Mykasi is also pretty pleased by their choice.
> The only japanese thing in this entire camp is the small boy in chainmail and wearing a steel crown sitting atop an anklyosaurus's back. The anklyosaur in question has green patterns painted on it's shell, matching the green bands and markings of the other dinos around him.
<Hikari> "I'm not going to ask our guide why giant reptiles with fearsome natural weapons are using artificial ones," Hikari says quietly to her teammates, "but for my own sake I had to point out to someone that this makes no sense."
> And these look like the toughest, meanest bastards in the entire camp.
<Mykasi> "It would make sense to a kid. Therefore, it's here." Mike whispers back, before nodding respectfully to the child.
* Nagare squints his eyes, scratching his chin annoyedly as he glances through the landscape. "This is like walking into the dreams of a kid who watched too many dinosaur movies - wait a minute, this IS walking into the dreams of a kid who watched too many dinosaur movies."
> Aganir stops as you approach the Lord and does the best salute he can manage, "Lord! Aganir of the Indigo patrol reporting. We found these three while out on patrol. They're meat-people, lord. I checked myself. They claim to be travellers."
> The kid looks down at you all, "Travellers? That's new. Welcome to the kingdom of Moor'Deb, travellers! I'm Keita, the king here."
<Hikari> "Greetings, your Highness," Hikari says respectfully. It wouldn't do to be rude to royalty. Not when surrounded by dinosaurs, at least.
* Nagare hesitates, then tries to reply as respectfully as possible. Hard to not be dismissive of a glorified runt, though. "Greetings, your Majesty."
* Mykasi inclines his head respectfully, allowing a -very quick- grimace to pass his face before he straightens back up. "As your servant Aganir has said, we have traveled here from... Nap-paj, heading where we are needed - and this seems like a land where aid could be used, indeed."
* Nagare whispers to Hikari. "I don't mean to be nosy... but Mykasi seems to be taking to this a lot better than I'd expect."
<Hikari> "He walks around with Anansi in his head," Hikari whispers back. "It's likely this is just another day as far as  he's concerned."
> Keita nods, "Well, we could sure use some help. The leader of the robot army has refused message to leave that I've sent him. He thinks that our kingdom belongs to him and that we should just turn it over to him. But this kingdom is our home, so we can't back down either."
> *every message to leave, even
* Nagare scratches his chin, mumbling. "You... do have a point."
> "The only option he's leaving us is to drive him out the hard way." Then Keita pats the shell of the giant brute he's sitting on, "Hey Percival, let me down."
> The anklyosaur shuffles a bit, "Are you sure that's wise, my Lord? We know nothing of these visitors."
> Keita shakes his head, "Nah, they're adults. We can trust them."
> The word 'adults' seems to send a whisper through the crowd, as all the dinosaurs are now looking at you all with respect.
> Percival lowers his head to the ground, allowing Keita to walk down his head and hop to the ground. Where it is even more apparent that he's a 7 year old kid in chainmail.
* Mykasi nods. "Then I think we may need to go and try to speak sense into him, first - if he is the source of the antagonism, then that seems our ideal destination." After Keita descends his throne, Mike kneels a bit. "First, though, I've got a question. Have you or your men seen... sorry, this is a limited amount of magic I have, so it won't be seen by everyone, but..."
<Mykasi> With that, Mike summons a raven, translucent and slightly fuzzy, for him, Percival and Aganir to see. "This bird, or felt anything... just, wrong? On patrols or around here?"
> Keita looks at it, "That's a...crow, right? Only time we see those is after a battle."
> OOC: Is Anansi still out and visible?
<Mykasi> OOC: Anansi would appear after a moment, probably shoulder-perchable.
> As Anansi, in a pirate hat with an eyepatch instead of his usual monocle, appears, Keita's eyes go wide, "Woah! Hey, is that one of the new pokemon?"
<Mykasi> "Ah, no. Sadly. He's a guardian spirit of mine. Go ahead and greet 'em, Anansi?"
> Anansi draws a cutlass and brandishes it, "Avast ye scurvy lizards! Drink some arrr-ange juice and ye won't be so scurvy!"
> Keita starts laughing, "It's a pirate spider! That's awesome!"
* Mykasi grins at the kid. "Still, you've got the service of all these dinosaurs... quite lucky yourself. That's a big honor. Still, only after a battle...? Likely not what we're looking for, then, sadly."
<Hikari> "We were looking for a raven," Hikari clarifies. "A similar bird, but larger."
> He nods, "Yeah, they come in and peck at our fallen until they return to the earth." As Hikari corrects him, he thinks again, "Ummm...no, don't think I've seen any really big ones. All the ones I've seen are pretty small."
> Then he asks the obvious question, "Why?"
* Mykasi nods. "We travel, attempting to help solve problems. There... have been ravens in previous places where chaos like this has occured, and we believe them to be to blame. However, I do not think it has been the only source - perhaps some other cause lies in this scenario."
<Nagare> "I do have to wonder, though - do those crows -always- appear after your battles?"
> Keita nods, "Well, that's what crows do, right?"
<Hikari> "The last one we found was spying on us," Hikari adds.
> "Spying?" He makes a face, "Sounds like something Ewan would do. He and his robot ninjas have no honor or cavalry at all."
<Mykasi> "Robot ninjas..." Mike muses. "Right. We'll do what we can, but I want to request one thing of you, if I may. If we can stop this fighting and have them live in peace in their own land, will you allow them to do so? Returning the aggression against them will only perpetuate this cycle, but we may be able to get both sides to live peacefully, if you'll agree to this."
> He nods, "Yeah, all I want is for them to leave Moor'Deb."
<Mykasi> "Got it. Then... we'll need to talk to them - it's possible the raven may be inciting him into this. You said their leader's name was Ewan?" Mike asks.
> He nods, "Yeah, my brother Ewan is the Robot Master."
<Mykasi> "Alright." Mike nods, standing. "We'll do what we can. Is there a way through their defenses, anything we should know of?"
> He thinks, "Ummm, maybe you could tell the guards you're there to talk? You're not dinosaurs, so I don't think they'd attack."
<Hikari> "Well, that's worked so far," Hikari says, a little surprised at the fact.
> "Oh yeah, you'll need some help getting to the border though." He looks over at Aganir, "Patrolman, go get some of the Yellow Riders."
<Mykasi> "Right. Then we'll try that. Do you know if he listens to adults? Some people do, some don't." Mike replies with a rueful grin.
> Aganir nods and darts off while Keita makes a face again, "Sometimes he doesn't. He thinks he's smarter then adults are sometimes and then he gets in trouble."
<Mykasi> "Heh. I remember being like that, causing my own family no end of trouble." Mike makes his own wry face. "Alright, then. We'll do our best to end this. Thank you very much for your help."
<Nagare> "I'll have to wonder how will that pan out four years from now," the teacher grimly muses to himself.
> Aganir returns in a moment, with three velociraptors behind him. They're all wearing yellow rank insignias and have yellow pennents attached to the end of the lances they carry.
> ...they also all have a pokeball attached to thier belts.
<Mykasi> "Trained trainers?" Mike hazards to Keita.
> Keita smiles, "These are some of my Yellow Riders. They'll get you to the border pretty quick and drop you off."
<Hikari> "Oh. So now we...ride...dinosaurs..."
* Nagare deflates further, eyeing Hikari. "You know... at times like this, I feel -particularly glad- I don't have spawnlings of my own."
<Mykasi> Mike blinks to Hikari, suddenly having a somewhat more somber expression. "Alright, then. No time like the present."
> Keita nods to the riders and the lead rider steps forward, issueing a command, "Riders, mount up!"
> In unison, the three riders throw thier pokeballs to the ground, causing triceratops to come out of them. Triceratops with barding and saddles.
* Hikari stifles the piercing voice of sanity in her head and approaches the nearest triceratops.
> In unison again, they all hop up to the saddles and settle in, then make thier mounts lie down so you can all climb aboard.
<Mykasi> Okay, so Mike's sudden guess on a kid's version of how to handle this was wrong. Suits him fine, as he also approaches to get on.
<Hikari> Dinosaurs riding dinosaurs. Just don't say anything, Hikari, or you'll start babbling like a lunatic. Mount up and get this over with!
* Mykasi glances to Nagare. "You okay?"
* Nagare grimaces. "I will be as soon as this is over. There are just no words," the teacher mumbles, mounting the goddamned triceratops. You'd think the guy was born thirty.
<Mykasi> Clearly Mike is the only one here that actually -had a childhood-, he muses with a note of resignment as he nods to Lord Keita from atop the triceratops.
> As soon as the three of you are in the saddles in front of the raptors(as you can't sit behind them due to tail), the rider leader barks out, "Riders, advance!"
> And the cavalry gets underway.
> The triceratops move fairly fast, surprisingly. And as the riders are not chatty in the slightest, the ride is short(though surely not short enough for Hikari and Nagare) and quiet aside from the stomping of dinosaur feet.
* Hikari hasn't even been riding on a horse or pony in her life; it's the most she can do here to hang on for dear life and hope she doesn't look too undignified.
> When the start to approach the border...you can SEE the border. The land on one side is barren, completely devoid of all plantlife, even simple grass. That might have something to do with the ground being made of steel.
> As you get in sight of this, the riders come to a halt and lower thier mounts.
> The leader speaks to Mike, who is right in front of him, "You're on your own from here."
* Mykasi nods. "Right. Thanks for the ride. Be careful on your way back." he notes as he slides off the triceratops.
> "We'll move back out of sight of the border and await your return."
* Hikari climbs off the triceratops, rather grateful to have her feet on the ground again. Not that she'd let this show. "Thank you," she says politely to the rider.
<Mykasi> "Alright. I... well, I'm not sure if we'll return by this method, but we'll try." Mike nods. "If no more attacks come this way, tell Lord Keita to try sending messages across again."
* Nagare unmounts, slightly disgruntled. "This was... novel."
> The rider just nods in response, then orders his troops, "Riders, fall back."
* Mykasi nods. "Let's go. Keep your eyes peeled for the ninja robots." This is... not said entirely with a straight face, as Mike leads the way into the robot land.
> The triceratops go back in the pokeballs and the raptors run back away from the border.
<Hikari> "I envy your easy familiarity with the absurd, Mike," Hikari says as they cross the border. "sometimes, at least."
<Nagare> "I dread to see what will become of these landscapes once they reach adolescence," the teacher adds not entirely without a hint of spite.
<Mykasi> "I've been screaming on the inside. And be so very glad the kid isn't as creative as I was at his age." Mike notes regretfully. "That last part could have gone far worse."
<Hikari> "I'm aware. There were a LOT of ways for it to have gone worse. Most of them involved claws and teeth."
<Mykasi> "Or riding in one of those balls."
* Nagare snerks. "I have to wonder -what- kind of screaming was happening, though. And I have to admit your diplomacy skills towards the kid were unparalled."
> As you work your way over to robot land, you note that the robot side of the border? Completely featureless. It's simply flat steel ground as far as the eye can see. Well, not *completely* featureless, there are lots of lines and rivets and such between and in the steel plates which make up the ground.
<Mykasi> "I remember being his age pretty well." Mike says diplomatically. "And quite frankly he was rather friendly."
<Hikari> "Keita was welcoming enough that I suspect our real problem lies across the border," Hikari says.
> The moment you step onto the steel plating, you hear a click.
<Mykasi> "...traps?" Mike hazards, glancing around for a source quickly as well as checking beneath him.
* Hikari freezes in her tracks, looking down to see what she might've stepped on.
> A hole opens up near one plate nearby and what looks like a lamp-post rises out of it. The light in the post begins flashing red as a siren alarm goes off.
* Nagare grimaces. "This cannot be good."
<Mykasi> "Oh for chrissakes." Mike mutters. "Well, let's keep going, since we're now guaranteed to run into somebody."
> A mere moment later, another much larger hole opens, and a half dozen figures rise out of the ground. They're all fairly humanoid shaped, though clearly robotic in nature. They have armored plating that is reminicent of stylized japanese armor and carry no weapons at all. In such tight unison that it's practially lockstep they approach you.
<Mykasi> "Hi!" Mike says, his cheerful tone instantly back. "We're here to pay our respects to Ewan, if we could?"
> Once within 60ft, they all point thier arms at you...and the hands all morph into guns. One of them states in a very synthetic voice, "Intruders. Identify yourselves."
<Mykasi> "Uh. Mike." Mike waves cheerfully.
<Hikari> "Hikari Ishigami," Hikari states flatly. She doesn't expect to charm robots. Why try?
<Nagare> "Nagare Suiren," the teacher replies wearily.
> "Unit types 'Mike' 'Hikari Ishigami' and 'Nagare Suiren' unrecognized. State your model number and primary function."
<Mykasi> "Adults, travellers. No model number. We are human, like Ewan." Mike explains simply.
> "Unit type 'human' recognized, primary function 'adult' recognized. Initiating response protocol. S.A. Unit 06 has been notified, please standby for arrival."
> The robots morph thier guns back into hands, but do not move otherwise.
* Mykasi nods and shrugs slightly. "Kid logic." he mutters under his breath.
> Before long, the sound of a motorcycle breaks the silence as a figure on an armored chopper comes ripping into the scene.
* Mykasi keeps an eye on the approaching figure warily.
<Hikari> Watching the approaching figure, Hikari decides that the most surprising revelation of the day is that she was more at home at the fashion show.
> The bike pulls up right beside the robot drones, and the figure on it steps off. The best way to describe this person is a robotic samurai-biker. Classic(if chrome) samurai armor and helm...but with a silver biker visor instead of the usual oni-mask and what you would swear is a sawed-off shotgun attached to his side.
> Of course, that pales in comparison to what is blatently a very long chainsaw-katana across his back.
<Mykasi> "Wonder if it's electric." Mike muses quietly, nodding slightly to the robotic biker dude from Mar- wait, wrong genre.
* Nagare facepalms, groaning. At this point, there are just no words, as said by a world-weary, cowardly archer from a distant land.
<Hikari> Hikari is at a loss for words. "Greetings" doesn't quite seem appropriate this time.
> The figure approaches you, and in a still very synthetic but clearly more intelligent voice addresses you, "Greetings humans. I am Self Aware Unit 06, but as I have been told that humans will wish to use a name, you may call me Biker."
<Hikari> "Good day to you, Biker," Hikari manages to say, with all the politeness she can muster given the circumstances.
<Mykasi> "Hail and well met, Biker." Mike nods slightly. "We would like to talk to your master, Ewan, if we may."
> He nods and taps the side of his helmet, causing an antenna to extend. "Projecting callscreen."
> A moment later, a holographic screen appears right in-front of his face. And on it is a boy in formal samurai warrior garb.
* Mykasi nods to the image of the boy. "Ewan, I presume. It's a pleasure."
> The boy looks at you and nods, "I am. This is the first time we've had humans from the outside in here. Good thing I put a protocol in the guards for it just in case. So who are you? And what do you want with me?"
<Mykasi> "I am Mike, a traveler and soothsayer of sorts. These two are allies of mine - Mr. Suiren and Mrs. Ishigami. We had heard of you, and sought to meet you. Also... we hunt an bird. One of great evil, that more often than not stays invisible. There is the potential that he may linger near you, as he does near others... with talent." Mike says simply.
> He smirks, "Soothsayer? Invisible evil birds? Man, mystical stuff like that is stupid. We do science around here."
* Mykasi grins slightly. "It sounds silly, yes. But perhaps you've heard of Clarke's Third? Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic - and the reverse can hold true as well. Any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to technology in use. Besides, robotics is my other specialty. The AI function callback loops and
<Mykasi> *s/any sufficiently advanced technology is equivalent to technology/replace second tech with magic. Bah.
<Mykasi> "The AI function callback loops and Turing testing, in particular, but that's irrelevant right now." Mike crosses his arms, looking somewhat grim now. "Regardless of belief, such magics work on a strict methodology, which is how we've been able to trace it here. If it is present, it could be corrupting designs unknowingly - such things have been observed before." (More)
<Mykasi> "Requesting permission to examine your residence in person and eliminate this as a potential."
* Hikari hasn't the slightest clue what Mike just said and can only hope that this was the point.
> OOC: Make that a fast talk check, Mikey.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 kay will try
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 kay will try and gets 13."12 [2d8=6, 7]
* Nagare sighs. "You know, that sounds like the kind of fast-talking my students try to pull on me when they don't do their assignments rather than science."
<Mykasi> If Mike had a spare shoe, he would throw it at Nagare. After admitting he was right.
> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 6."12 [2d8=3, 3]
> Ewan is starting to nod along but when Nagare speaks he narrows his eyes a bit, "...nah, magic that works like science is even more stupid. If it worked like science it would just be science, not magic. That's dumb. You don't really do robotics, do you?"
> "Permission denied. Go talk about evil birds with my brother, he's slow enough to believe anything."
* Nagare tries to divert the attention of the kid in a last-ditch attempt to salvage the whole thing. "You know, we talked to your brother about this and he actually didn't believe us..."
* Mykasi raises an eyebrow, and is about to speak when Nagare speaks up. And almost removes his shoe then and there in frustration, but lets the incident play out.
> OOC: Mind check, Nagare. Roll well.
<Nagare> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Nagare rolls 2d8 and gets 9."12 [2d8=4, 5]
> Ewan bursts out laughing, "Too dumb even for Keita to believe? Wow, you guys must really stink."
<Mykasi> "Or perhaps it's because we're actually talking about something technical that went over his head." Mike says very calmly. "And is in danger of going over yours. Listen. From what we can tell, the bird - a raven - functions both under the invisibility field designed by Kowager, as well as possesses either a sentient mind implanted from another animal and elevated, or an rogue AI."
> OOC: Computers as a social skill? Eh, same ranks as your Fast Talk anyway. Roll. Target number is 10.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 and gets 13."12 [2d8=7, 6]
* Hikari breaks composure and, with a dramatic sigh, rubs her temples.
> He frowns, "Invisibility feild, huh? Alright, I'll program my robots to be able to detect it with thier sensors. Which means I've got work to do, so you can see yourselves out."
<Mykasi> "Call me skeptical, but I doubt that will work." Mike cuts in bluntly. "You'd need to pass about ten different levels of detection order to manage that."
> "Hey, I know what I'm doing! S.A. 06, show 'em the door. I'm tired of these stupid adults now."
> The robot samurai biker nods and the viewscreen shuts off.
> -------------------------------------------------------------

[VySaika]

> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Biker turns his head towards the three of you and motions back towards the border, "If you will all please move in that direction."
* Mykasi exhales slightly. "Right. Biker, I apologize, but I believe your master's life to be in danger. May I ask two questions of you?"
> The robot nods, but insists, "Unless I am directed elsewhere, yes. But first you must comply the the Master's instructions."
> *comply with the, even
<Hikari> "You'll speak with us if we do the talking at the border? I think that's acceptable," Hikari says, glancing at her companions.
* Mykasi exhales. "For now. But please understand that if I am convinced he is in danger, I will do all I can to help him - even if that means I must override his request. I would presume you understand this imperative?" Mike says, beginning to back off.
> Biker shakes his head, but makes no threatening moves as you are moving in the indicated direction, "I must warn you that any attempts at re-entry will be reported to the Master and he may designate you as a hostile unit. No matter your intentions, the Master's will is absolute."
<Mykasi> "Thank you, Nagare." Mike mutters very low under his breath as he backs off still further, moving to the border.
* Nagare slinks back, following Mike. There would be time for pointless, if justified nagging later.
> The three of you make it back past the border. It doesn't take very long, as the guards got to you pretty quickly. Once you have stepped off the metal ground that designate's Ewan's domain, Biker addresses Mike, "Thank you for your compliance. You may state your queries at this time."
<Mykasi> "Alright. Firstly, have you seen a bird - or a dreamcatcher - anywhere near Ewan?" Mike says, making an image of both - the bird in the left hand, the dreamcatcher in the right.
> Biker shakes his head, "Negative. The Master does not take the field of battle where those birds gather, nor did he approach that object."
<Nagare> "Wait a second, you know where those birds gather?," the teacher interrupts.
<Mykasi> "Righty-o." Mike mutters, dimissing the quick illusions. "Has his attitude changed recently, would you say?"
<Hikari> "'That object?' So there was such a thing here recently?"
> Biker turns his head to Nagare, a very quick and mechanical motion, "Affirmative, such birds always gather in the aftermath of a battle with our reptilian adversaries."
* Mykasi grunts. "We knew that one." he mutters again under his breath.
> To Mike, "I'm sorry, I do not fully understand your query." Then to Hikari, "And that is an affirmative as well."
<Mykasi> "Where was the object located, and where is it now?" Mike asks, glad Hikari picked that up.
> "It's current location is unknown, I am sorry to report. It was located near this area directly above the border to the north."
> Biker then takes on a slightly less pleasent tone, "I have a query of my own. What is the signifigance of this object?"
<Hikari> "We believe it to be an attempt at infiltration by a hostile third party," Hikari says. "If it's still present, it may pose a threat to your master."
<Nagare> "Strike the 'may'. We know as much as it being a threat, period."
> "What data do you posses on this third party?"
<Mykasi> "Minimal, other than that it has struck a minimum of once before, and is potentially the culprit for far more attacks. Multiple lethal." Mike says calmly.
> Biker nods, "And you are seeking this infiltrator?"
<Hikari> "Yes. This is the principle reason we came here."
<Mykasi> "Yes. Odds are significant that they are related to the bird, but correlation is not 100% with regards to causation. Regardless, the object would be a very useful starting point."
> "Hmm. As I stated, the current location of the object is unknown. It simply dissapeared recently with no warning."
<Hikari> "Can you take us to where it was last seen?"
> Biker nods, "Yes. Follow me, but please remain on the organic side of the territorial line."
> Biker then begins walking north!
<Mykasi> "Fine." Mike nods, following and resisting the urge to either glance at Dr. Suiren or step onto the metallic side just to be a dick.
* Hikari stays on the safe side of the border as she follows the robot north.
* Nagare scratches his head, following the bot from the organic side. At least, the creations of the master -weren't- hopeless little brats.
> After a mere five or so minutes of walking, Biker stops and gestures to an area directly above the border. (OOC: Soul checks, people)
<Nagare> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Nagare rolls 2d8 and gets 11."12 [2d8=3, 8]
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 You can take mah moneys, you can take my lands, but you can't touch me 'cuz baby I got SOUL!
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 You can take mah moneys, you can take my lands, but you can't touch me 'cuz baby I got SOUL! and gets 6."12 [2d8=5, 1]
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> Hikari and Mike can see...something. An aura of sorts, or more the mere remains of one, about ten feet off the ground just suspended in mid air. It feels very familiar indeed to Hikari...
> Nagare...his head starts to hurt a bit, almost like when he saw the Shadows in the real world. But he can't see anything there.
* Mykasi highlights the aura with an illusion. "Right there, Biker?"
> Biker nods, "That exact area."
<Hikari> "We've seen this before. If 'seen' is the right word. This is definitely the same magic at work."
<Mykasi> "Damn and blast. And it's nowhere in your territory?" Mike mutters, musing.
<Nagare> "All I know is this area is setting the kind of migraines I've got from the boys earlier. That doesn't make this any less ominous," Nagare mumbles.
> Biker shakes his head, "Until it's dissapearance, the object was stationary."
<Hikari> "Even if it's not here any more, perhaps it had time to do what it was sent for. Perhaps they serve a dual purpose: to introduce the shadow to a victim, or to summon it somehow, and then to observe the results. Maybe it can no longer fulfill the latter task, but it seems clear at least that the former happened?"
* Mykasi muses. "It does. But... hm. The question is if the shadow is...." Mike is quiet for a moment, looking at the aura.
* Mykasi shakes himself out of his reverie. "I don't know. But I think I know where we can get a few more answers first." Mike says, looking back over toward the dinosaur camp.
* Hikari follows Mike's gaze. "What do you have in mind?"
<Nagare> "The Shadow could have possibly migrated if it already did what it wanted at Ewan's landscape. Assuming it has the urge to take things at a clippy pace, it could still be looming towards Keita's now. At least, that's what I think I'm gathering from this."
<Mykasi> "We can check to see if any of them got close enough to perhaps trigger it. Doing so would have been problematic for both sides, here." Mike muses. "And that's a possibility, but I'm not convinced by it. And there's a few assumptions you two are... well. Regardless, let's get moving and we can talk as we go." Mike says, nodding slightly to Biker as he heads back toward the dinosaur camp.
<Nagare> "Although... it's probably not just one Shadow. I did see two auras back then."
> As you begin to move away, Biker presses a button on his helmet, and the sound of his bike revving to life is heard in the distance.
* Mykasi glances to confirm Biker has indeed left.
<Hikari> "What assumptions?" Hikari asks as they walk away. "If I'm wrong about something, I should know about it."
> Mere moments later, it pulls into sight and screeches to a halt next to it's rider. Then he hops on and rides off.
* Nagare scratches his chin and lights a cigarette. "Those dream dwellers have a far greater concern for the person's welfare than the master himself. Is this a recurring pattern?"
<Mykasi> "The 'one Shadow' thing, for starters - Dr. Suiren's statement of two auras is confirmation enough for me that both are infected. I don't like the idea of having to fight either one in their own turf, but..." Mike muses in frustration, before glancing to Suiren, bitterness no longer completely disgused. "Elaborate, please."
<Hikari> "Everyone's the focus of their own dreams, yes. Or they have been in those that we've seen so far."
* Nagare blows a cloud of smoke to the air. "Elaborate on what, specifically? If you mean the auras, that was more or less it. Two distinct auras, but with the same headache-inducing nature. Also," Nagare turns to Hikari to respond, "What I mean more precisely is that, beyond the mere focus, those creatures actually go to further bounds to protect their masters than I'd expect. This... is honestly a surprise to me."
<Hikari> "Well, this is the first we've seen dreams with actual borders that need protecting. Usually they're concerned more with adulation."
<Mykasi> "'Protect'? They behave as their master wants them to - no more, no less. If the master wanted to frolic naked through a field of dandelions with no guards, they'd do so - but most people want some protection, some praise, something to bolster themselves." Mike comments. "In other words, I think both the Ewan and the Keita here are Shadows, at least in part."
* Nagare frowns. "But how do we poke that out of them if that's the case?"
<Hikari> "Given what I've been told of the boys and their recent behavior, I fully agree."
<Mykasi> "I -was- trying diplomacy - was going to hear both sides, then try forcing the Shadows to either reconcile with each other or emerge to be dealt with. Now, however, I doubt it to be feasible. We're going to have to figure out a different way." Mike notes. "I am skeptical that we can deal with all the guards present in either camp, so... another method must be decided on that can get both dealt with at the same time."
<Hikari> "Incite a battle of some sort. That would keep most of the forces on either side engaged, hopefully."
<Mykasi> "That's one idea, yes.
<Mykasi> "That's one idea, yes." Mike nods slightly.
* Nagare scratches his chin. "Honestly, feels like the simplest way to trigger the Shadows' presence would be to - Hikari said it first. There even seems to be a connection between their fighting and the Shadows, so it'd quite likely give us another lead."
* Mykasi muses. "Right. Hm... And yet I dislike the idea of dealing with one before the other - it opens up risk to whoever we deal with first, I suspect."
* Mykasi pauses, and gets a slight grin. "...I have an idea. Hear me out?"
<Nagare> "May as well," Nagare nods as he finishes the cigarette. "I have to wonder what happens to cigarettes that linger in a dream, tangentially."
<Mykasi> "Something to ask the Velvet Room duo when they get out."
<Nagare> "I won't be held responsible if Keita picks up smoking when he's a teenager, regardless."
<Mykasi> "Hikari?" Mike glances to the fellow student. "You have anything, or should I make my suggestion?"
<Hikari> "Go ahead, Mike."
* Mykasi nods slightly. "First, we need to incite the fighting. Best if this is done simultaneously - you two can go convince Keita while I go trip the trap and convince Ewan via robotic proxy. Tell them that they're amassing robotic forces at the border where we tried to cross - it makes a convenient point to focus them at." (More)
<Mykasi> "Second, let's lure both leaders to where the dreamcatcher was. I can pretend to have a comm-link to you guys via my handy dandy cell phone - you guys B.S. some link to me. About ten minutes after telling Keita about the army, fake the mental link or call or whatever and tell Keita that Ewan's heading to where the Dreamcatcher was to try and circle around the army personally."
<Hikari> "It would take a little more acting ability than I--and I suspect Nagare--possess, but the patterns sound familiar enough for this dream. They'll likely believe it as long as we sound as serious about this war as they are."
<Mykasi> "I'll do the same and try to convince Ewan that this is his chance to deal with Keita personally. If we can get them both to meet north of the fighting and without most of their army, we might be able to resolve this simply. Make sure they come with a small force - "larger groups might intimidate the other into retreat" and somesuch."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. 's why I'm sending you two to deal with the one that trusts us. I'm going to have to sweet-talk Ewan, most likely." Mike grimaces. "Remember, think like you were eigh-... ... just think like a normal eight-year old thinks. It's how I've been running this."
<Nagare> "I'll have to rely on Hikari for that. I think all that ran through my mind when I was eight was studying. But sounding serious shouldn't be too hard."
<Hikari> "I think I may never have been clear on how an old-year-old is supposed to think, but I'm sure that I can observe and learn."
* Mykasi exhales. "Don't think, feel. That's the best advice I can give you. I'll wait five minutes then head back to the border."
* Hikari looks as though this may be a little outside her experience, but assures Mike that she'll try her best anyway.
<Nagare> "I think we should make our headway, then, because this is gonna be a bit of a walk. We'll work on the 'feeling' as we get there," the teacher says somewhat uncomfortably.
* Mykasi looks kinda irritable, but nods. "Should I wait ten minutes, then?
<Nagare> "Ten to fifteen for extra breathing room? But no more than that."
<Mykasi> "Right."
<Mykasi> "Oh!"
<Hikari> "...Oh?"
<Mykasi> "Ask if they saw or interacted with the dreamcatcher, too. It might be relevant later, even if we can't use the information now." Mike notes.
<Nagare> "Will do."
* Hikari nods. "Anything else? If not, I suppose I'll be on my way and try to get into the proper mindset."
<Mykasi> "Go ahead. I'll be waiting."
* Nagare nods. "We'll be back," he says as he heads towards the direction the dinosaur knights parked. At least they would speed the process up.
* Hikari walks towards the dinosaurs' land again. "I can't decide whether I feel sillier engaging in diplomacy with the dinosaurs or with the robots."
> Hikari and Nagare return to the Dino Cavalry, who thankfully don't seem inclined to ask questions on Mike's wherabouts, but simply pull out thier pokeballs, release their mounts and get underway.
> (OOC: Be my, be my, be my dark Scene Change~)
> The ride is fairly quick, the triceratops moving at a steady and rapid clip just as before. In short order, Nagare and Hikari have returned to Lord Keita's camp, and indeed are brought basically right up to him by the riders.
> Keita, having returned to his perch on Percival's back, frowns at your return, "Um, where's your freind?"
* Nagare picks up composure. "He's busy at the border. We came back because we have pressing news here and you need to know."
> Keita nods, his demenor settling into as businesslike a state as a seven year old in chainmail can manage, "Really? Okay, what's the situation?"
<Hikari> "Yes. Mike is engaged in reconnaisance. We went to the border to keep an eye on the robots and found them amassing an army in preparation for an invasion."
<Nagare> "Their forces don't seem very numerous, however. This shouldn't be a case for a full-on assault, but a fast skirmish."
<Hikari> "Yes. If someone were to strike at their command center before the army in full could be brought to bear..."
> Keita thinks a moment, "Command center? Do you know who's going to be leading the attack? I know what most of his officers can do by now, so that's important."
* Hikari gets a faraway look on her face, and taps two fingers to her temple in a dramatic gesture. "Just a moment, Mike is sending me a message over our mental link..."
> His eyes widen, "Woah, you're physics too? That's awesome!"
<Hikari> "He's...he's found where their field headquarters is being set." Hikari directs Keita to the location they'd discussed as a group moments ago. "Ewan himself is going to be there!"
* Nagare glances at Hikari. Fortunately, she's quick to pick up on the impersonation - he'd just embarrass himself if he tried. Although he'd probably have to apologize for that later.
<Hikari> "If you hurry, ride with a small, elite squad, you may be able to slip through the enemy lines before their position is fortified. With one precise blow, you could end the whole war!"
> OOC: Alrighty, ettiquete roll to get him to believe that.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 the etiquette of ACTING!!!
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 the etiquette of ACTING!!! and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
> OOC: what is it with making skill checks on the nose (Soul+Skill in this case...)
> Keita suddenly hardens his expression, "So the Robot Master is finally taking the feild in person? And he's going to where that weird hoop thing was? Why there?"
> Percival looks up as much as he can, "It is clearly some source of power my lord. We should have seized it when we had the chance."
<Hikari> "It may have some mysterious, mystical significance--if he can't determine its powers, surely he'll destroy it to deprive you of its power."
> Keita looks down, "Mrrr. Sorry Percival. I should have listened to you. But..." he looks back up and stands on Percival's back, "This is the chance we've been waiting for!"
* Nagare frowns. At least, in -this- case there's some semblance of accuracy to what she is saying. From the place it should the least.
> Turning to his army, he raises his hand in the air...and a gleaming golden sword manifests in it, shining light down on the camp. "The Robot Master has finally come from behind his tricks and traps! Knights of the Rainbow Scale, form up! The Green Guardians and I will take the lead."
* Hikari makes sure to look appropriately inspired by this bold disaply.
> A cheer sounds through his army as the dinosaurs all scramble to color code themselves and bid solemn farewells to the noncombatans in the camp.
> As he nods on in approval of his army's readiness, Keita looks back to the two of you, "So will you help us? Having adults on our side could be the edge we need, since I'm sure he'll have all his strongest robots with him there."
<Hikari> "Of course, we'll need make sure Mike gets out of the enemy camp safely."
<Nagare> "... certainly," Nagare agrees, if a bit reluctantly by instinct. It's all part of the plan, though.
> He smiles and holds his sword aloft again, "We'll make a straight line for the hoop thingy, everyone else, fan left and right to try and trap the Robot Master in a circle!" Pointing his sword in the right direction dramatically, he yells, "Knights of the Rainbow Scale, move out!"
* Nagare whispers to Hikari as Keita dramatically announces his grand stand. "I'm not sure if Mykasi would've been able to fire them up this much. Regardless, I owe you one."
<Hikari> "Well, I have a younger brother. I just had to remember what I'd seen him watch on television as a young boy and do my best to suppress the shame."
* Hikari says this quietly enough to be heard only by Nagare, of course!
* Nagare mumbles. "I'll be sure to repay you. Hopefully, a milkshake round is good enough to drown shame."
<Hikari> "As long as it's strawberry-flavored, it will suffice."
> (OOC: Check in the appropriate box for a Scene or Change~)
> Back at the border, Mike watches Hikari and Nagare head off.
* Mykasi exhales. "Don't let Suiren fuck this up too, Hikari. And stay safe, both of you." he mutters as he watches them depart, before... actually, that's a good point - Mike checks his phone clock.
> The phone clock reads: "1/2:74"
<Mykasi> "... well goody gee whiz whillickers I guess I'll just set my alarm for 'Banana dome whetstone'!" Mike snarks, before mentally counting off ten minutes, making sure he's out of sight of the border.
> You count down the minutes.
* Mykasi guesstimates the proper time... and goes sprinting out of the forest toward the border, quickly stepping on the metal plates until he hears the "click" before he waits there, panting.
> Sure enough, a moment later the drones reappear and demand you to identify yourself.
<Mykasi> "Mike, human adult, dinosaurs are approaching border in large numbers." Mike pants out (faking most the panting, he's not that badly out of shape).
> The drone states that S.A. Unit 05 has been notified and that you are to stand-by for it's arrival.
<Mykasi> "'kay." Mike pants, acting as if to catch his breath even though it likely doesn't matter.
> A few moments later, the sound of...helicopter blades? Yeah, helicopter blades, can be heard approaching. And something is coming from the northeastern sky. Fast.
<Mykasi> "this is completely goddamn fucking stupid why the hell am i even here i could be getting drunk off my gourd" Mike mutters under his breath, looking to the northeast carefully.
> A robotic humanoid with helicopter blades attatched to it's hands flies into view, and then seperates tthe blades and falls to the ground landing gracefully in a kneel with a metallic 'cling' as it hits.
> The figure is..dressed like a ninja. In all grey and black. And the blades that are now resting back along it's arms are clearly sharp.
* Mykasi is clearly unimpressed, but tries faking it harder. "Came to notify your master that a large group of dinosaurs is approaching the border. Didn't count numbers, did notice movement. Other two companions went to further monitor, I came back to alert."
> The ninja-bot approaches and gets straight to business, "Your report is appriciated, Human Mike. Please wait behind the security drones while I perform arial reconnisence."
> At the ninja-bot's word, even more drones pop out of the ground and march to form a line on the border.
* Mykasi shakes his head slightly. "I've got my own protection, and I'd like to continue scouting myself. They're still a fair bit in from what I saw - raced here as fast as I could, so. Looked like a straight march toward the southern border - check there, I'll scout north?"
> Ninja-Bot suddenly cocks it's head to the side as an antenna extends out from it's mask.
> "Incomming message, Master Ewan wishes to speak with you."
<Mykasi> "Right." Mike mutters.
> A screen flickers to life in front of Ninja-Bot's face, where Ewan is looking at you cautiously, "What are you doing back here?"
* Mykasi looks to Ewan calmly. "I was continuing my investigation into the raven on the other side when I saw a large group of dinosaurs heading in this direction. From all appearances, it looks like they intend a strike on your territory, so I came back to alert you."
> He groans, "Whaaaat? Now? Stupid Keita, I'm in the middle of working here!"
> He looks down and fiddles with something off screen, "Okay, so you're...there. Where are they coming from?"
<Mykasi> "Looked like they were heading where we first made contact earlier, though with your mobility, if they've shifted directions it doesn't matter." Mike says, glancing to the sudden-appearance robots. "You can also use S.A. Unit 05 to scout them out and further plan. Myself, I'm going to sweep north and see if I can spot any other units. I don't have an interest in fighting - my purpose here is to locate the damn bird." (More)
<Mykasi> "This being said, if I see anything else I'll notify you as fast as we can."
> "This bird is that big a deal, huh? Well, whatever. If you see anything, just yell Initiate Communicatins Program and some kind of comm station should pop up nearby."
<Mykasi> "Right. Will remember that." Mike notes. "And yeah, the bird's that big of a deal. Keep your eyes on where Keita's deploying and react accordingly, I guess. Anything else you want from me?"
> He snorts, "Nah, we can defend ourselves. His dinosaurs might be big, but my robots have better weapons, I'm not scared. Thanks for the warning though."
<Mykasi> "Right. If anything further comes up I'll let you know."
<Mykasi> With that, Mike heads north a bit and back west at a jog.
> You jog north! As you go along the border, you can see patches of defense drones already popping out in various spots.
* Mykasi shakes his head and heads west, back into the jungle far enough that the line of sight from the robots to him would be blocked.
> OOC: That'll take you a little while. It's plains for a bit, then brush, then jungle as you go west.
<Mykasi> OOC: Yeah, Mike's end of the plan was to wait ten minutes, then go notify Ewan that Keita was coming this way personally. >_> So.
<Mykasi> OOC: He'd be fine heading back to the jungle, is what I'm saying.
> OOC: Alrighty.
> OOC: Though really just the deep brush is far enough away that it's out of sight from the robot land, if that's all you want.
<Mykasi> OOC: Yeah, that works - out of sight of robots is the ideal, here.
> Mike reaches the brush, which is just out of sight of the robotic land, but presses on into the deep brush a bit just to be safe.
* Mykasi sits there in a patch of deep brush and does some situps to pass time, counting off before he gets back up (and hiding in the brush as best he can if he hears helicopter sounds approaching). Presuming nothing, he then gets back up and runs back over to the robotic camp, not stepping on the plates this time.
> Mike arrives back at the robotic border, but stops short of crossing the line.
<Mykasi> A slight sigh escapes Mike's lips, before he calls out, "Initiate Communications Program!" with a brief scowl.
> A moment later, a terminal of some sort with a screen and lots of flashy techno looking bits on the outside rises up out of the ground about 15ft into the robotic half.
<Mykasi> "... uh huh." Mike mutters under his breath, before he approaches the terminal. "Ewan! Keita himself seems to be with the riding squadron! This might be your chance to end this!"
> Hey, there's no alarm this time! As you reach the terminal, the screen lights up showing...the side of Ewan's head as he's crouched over futzing with something off-screen. As you call out, he looks up, "What? He's attacking personally? ...he's gotta have some kind of plan, even he's not dumb enough to pull a frontal attack for no reason."
> "Did you see what troops he was with?"
<Mykasi> "Like I know. And... there were indigo, violet, and green, notably - probably others but I saw mostly those, looked as if those units were heading northwest to where a dreamcatcher was located. Biker knows where I speak of. Sending a strike force might be able to end this. I'm going to go ahead and scout the area out - but coming personally may be your own best bet." (More)
<Mykasi> "If he's coming personally himself, he likely believes himself to have a plan, you're right. Being present yourself to oversee and counteract any plan would probably be optimal."
> "The Violet Brigade are his heavy hitters, and the Indigo Scouts....yeah, they're there to try and spot any stealth maneuvers we make. The green ones are his own personal unit, though. Yeesh." Ewan shakes his head as he muses, "And he's going for where the dreamcatcher was?"
> Ewan scowls, "I bet he stole it in the first place. Issy gave that to ME, not him!"
<Mykasi> "Yeah." Mike nods, hoping that's what Dr. Suiren and Hikari said. "My companions might have been captured by them, as well; they had split off further south to scout for the bird. Regardless, I don't like this, not one bit. I'll head north." A pause. "Issy?"
> "Our sister! I always have to share everything with him, but this time she gave it to me, just me!"
* Mykasi pauses. "Then this seems like a good chance to ask him if he did take it, then. But having to share everything with him? That's pretty tough." Mike notes.
> He stands up, leaving Mike looking at his stomach through the screen, "Yeah, it's time to finish this. I'm activating the Sengoku Giant, and we'll see if his dinosaurs can defeat my mobile suit!"
<Mykasi> I hate this kid. Okuro, you better appreciate this. And... that's dramatically more firepower than Mike wanted. "Be careful - if he senses the jig is up, he may just retreat. I'm heading out." And with that, Mike begins jogging north at a fast clip.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------

[VySaika]

> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> As Mike raced towards the determined site, he saw...pretty much exactly what he didn't want to. The army of dinosaurs could clearly be seen marching on the location, not all of them by any means, but still far more then he wanted. And as they approached the border, an army of robots rose up out of hidden bunkers in the ground.(more)
> Suddenly, a shadow passed over the robotic forces...as a mobile suit landed behind them. Easily fifty feet tall, and looking like a classic samurai in mecha form, complete with a giant gleaming katana which began to hum and vibrate with power.
<Mykasi> "...homicide." Mike mutters, shaking his head as he lets the armies approach, hoping the dreams are too focused on conflict with each other and feeling bad for Okuro and her mom.
> Nagare and Hikari can see Keita blanch a bit at the arrival of the(let's face it) gundam. "I...uh...didn't know he had one of those."
> Pervival the anklyosaur grunts, "Keep heart, my lord. We will not fall so easily, no matter how large his toys are."
* Nagare grimaces. "So, he -also- reads manga. This is going to be awkward."
* Hikari looks up (and up, and up) at the robot. "This is rather more of an inconvenience than I'd expected."
> The speakers on the gundam blare to life, letting Ewan's voice boom over the battlefeild, "You took it, didn't you? And I bet you broke it, too! Just like you always break anything cool we get!"
* Mykasi tries to spot Keita in the crowd of dinosaurs, somewhat frustrated but at least pleased both sides brought a huge army so it wouldn't be one-sided.
> Keita is standing on the back of Percival and is carrying a glowing golden sword. He's not that hard to spot.
> Keita then makes a face at his brother's gundam, "I did not take it! You probably broke it yourself!"
* Mykasi then looks for Nagare and Hikari quickly, attempting to figure out how to rectify the situation.
> Ewan apparenly heard that somehow, "I do not break things! You're the one who smashes stuff everywhere! You're the reason mom won't let us have anything electronic!"
> Keita fires back, "Well it's my stuff too! If I want to play with it like that I can!"
* Nagare waves to Mike nervously. "Your timing couldn't be better. Or worse, depending on your point of view."
> Ewan's voice is near deafening as he yells back, "NOT THIS ONE! THIS ONE WAS MINE! JUST MINE!"
* Mykasi focuses for a moment, and an illusion pops up in front of Nagare and Hikari. "Be careful. This is gonna get violent... Let's let the armies wear themselves down, and then I'll distract them both from each other and against, well, something. I don't know, this is a far bigger army on both sides than I anticipated..."
> Percival growls, "Accusing the lord of theft. Such shameful behaviour in a leader."
* Hikari nods. "We obviously can't openly face either of them in this situation. The fewer that remain when we act, the easier our task will be."
* Mykasi nods slightly with the illusion-self, before grimacing. "Sorry to leave you guys with the dinos. Try to get to me as soon as possible - united we'll be in less danger." With that the illusion winks out.
> Keita yells back, "I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T TAKE IT!"
* Mykasi retreats back just slightly, planning on maneuvering so that he can keep the two boys in range of an illusion.
<Nagare> "Okay. Now, we try to stay out of the way?," Nagare eyes Hikari.
<Hikari> "I'm not eager to get stepped on today," Hikari says. "We wait until there's aoog dopportunity to strike, yes."
<Hikari> *a good opportunity
* Nagare nods and begins moving away from the carnage place just enough to remain relatively safe without losing sight of the madness.
> As Nagare and Hikari hang back, and Mike tries to set up a position, Ewan shouts back, "I don't believe you. It's time to kick you and your stupid rainbosaurs out of here, and with the Sengoku Giant on my side you don't stand a chance!"
> Keita points his sword at his brother dramatically, "Oh yeah? Well a real knight never gives up! Knights of the Rainbow Scale, ATTACK!"
<Hikari> "...That said, I hope we don't have to wait too long," Hikari admits. "I feel like my brain is dying."
* Mykasi raises an eyebrow from his kinda-distant position away, but doesn't send his illusion to snark with Hikari and Nagare. Time for that later.
* Nagare shrugs wearily, lighting a cigarette. "My suspension of disbelief died of critical functional failure long ago. At this point, I just shrug and let my mind die from the inside."
* Hatbot has quit IRC (Client exited)
> The dinosaur army charges forward, and is immediately met by heavy weapons fire from the robots. Dinos drop by the dozen as hails of bullets, lasers and even small rockets and missiles slam into thier ranks. But the Knights charge onward, screaming defiant battlecries. As the first triceratops crash into the robot line, metallic parts start flying everywhere, the dinos proving superior in close quarters(more)
> Both Keita and Ewan hang back a bit as thier minions fight it out. Lance weilding dinosaur cavalry tramples over and impales robotic gunners, but then get slaughtered as Biker suddenly rushes into the fray, chainsaw katana in hand. There's no blood of course, when a dinosaur gets cut or shot it just seems to leave scars, until they've taken too much damage and simply fall over. Robots, on the other hand, explode and break rather messily. (more)
> explode and break rather messily. (more)
> A trio of allosaurus charge in, having swept around a bit to the side, and manage to trap Biker, as well as another fairly unique looking robot, in between them. The robots manage to take two of them down, but in the end are crushed by the giant clubs the dinosaurs are somehow weilding in thier tiny arms(more)
> The battle continues like this, until things have thinned out a bit...and as if by some sort of unspoken agreement, the engines on the Sengoku Giant fire up at the exact same time that Keita yells, "CHARGE!" and Percival and the other Green Guardians stampede into battle.(more)
* Kobot has joined #personador
* ChanServ sets mode: +oa Gatewalker Gatewalker
> The two clash, the Giant taking out multiple guardians in a single swing of it's sonic katana, but taking heavy damage as well from thier attacks. Other robots try to jump into the battle, but Keita picks them off expertly with blades of light sent out by slashes of his golden sword. (more)
> Before long, only two things remain in the carnage of that clash. A heavily damaged Sengoku Giant, and Percival with Keita miraculously still on his back.
> The Giant's eyes flash, and the sword comes up, "One more. I can still make one more attack. This is it..."
* Mykasi stands, having silently witnessed the carnage, and listens closely as he begins focusing...
> Keita's knuckles go white as he clenches his sword, "Percival, look out!"
* Hikari groans. "This must be the part where he brings out the ultimate weapon he inexplicably neglected to use until the most dramatic moment," she says, shaking her head.
> The anklyosaur roars, and leans heavily forward before suddenly spinning on his front legs and planting his giant mace like tail square into the Giant's head. But not fast enough, as the sword comes down, and Percival roars again, this time in pain.
* Nagare coughs. "The only way this could get any stupider would be if a virginal maiden suddenly appeared in the middle of this sorry spectacle."
* Hikari glances around and looks a little relieved when she doesn't spot one.
> Keita hops off his mount/protector/advisor's back, "You...you...you killed him!"
> Ewan's voice is heard, though the Giant doesn't seem to be moving, "Urgh...yeah, well, you brought him here. That's why I have robots. Nobody on my side dies, I can just rebuild them."
> Keita clenches his teeth, "You KILLED HIM!" And the sword in his hands flashes, glowing more fiercely by the second until it looks like a sword shaped beam of sunlight.
* Hikari totally gives up all sense of composure and genuinely facepalms. "I'm sure this would all be very tragic were I still five years old, but as it stands...there are no words."
* Nagare boggles, dropping his cigarette - but at least stomping the fallen butt on the ground. "What could I possibly say? There are no words."
* Mykasi focuses, and another image of Mike plays out for Nagare and Hikari. "Okay, gonna act soon. You guys... well." A slight chuckle from the illusion. "You're going to hate me. But feel free to make it more dramatic if you can."
> Ewan sighs, "Aw man. Come on, there's still some power left. Move!" The engines sputter but fail to come to life fast enough.
<Hikari> "I'll be as dramatic as dignity allows," Hikari concedes.
<Mykasi> "In other words, I shouldn't count on much?"
<Nagare> "We're already at negative dignity just by -witnessing- this."
> Keita lifts his sword above his head, "Golden....Lightblade..." The light on the sword gathers until it's nearly a twenty foot tall blade of light. From Mike's perspective, he can see a hatch open in the back of the Giant.
<Hikari> "Essentially."
<Mykasi> "...right. Well, then just leave it to me. I want to see Keita break the damn mech to ensure it's out of the picture, but then I'm gonna act." Mike notes.
> "FLARE!" Keita finishes screaming his attack name as the sword comes down and frankly obliterating the Giant in a matter of seconds. Mike, of course, can see Ewan(wearing some kind of powered personal armor) hop out of the hatch and fly a short distance back right before this.
* Nagare hunches and facepalms, letting out a faint stutter. "... he just goes the full monty, doesn't he."
<Mykasi> "And... there!" Mike says, before whisking away that illusion... and right as a whirlwind of darkness appears between Keita and Ewan, spinning. And from the depths... "Ah... AHA... AHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAAAAAA HAHAHAHA! YOU HAVE PLAYED RIGHT INTO MY HANDS, YOU FOOLISH FOOLS!"
> Keita, winded and panting from using his ultimate attack, looks up in surprise, "Wait, what? Who are you?"
> Ewan lands, and Nagare and Hikari can see him now, "Wait...were they telling the truth about an evil bird?"
* Nagare glances at Hikari desperately. He has no words. Just entirely weary, pathetic, begging eyes as if someone was wrenching his heart with a thousand steel toothpicks very slowly. Begging for the immense absurdity to stop.
<Mykasi> "HAHAHA! Who am I, the childish children ask! I am that which has provoked this all from behind the scenes! I am the evil vision of darkness that brings about night's dimness! For you two have waged war endlessly against each other, oblivious to me, the true threat! Now, possessing three that sought to aid you, I will KNOCK YOU ALL OVER!" (More)
<Mykasi> "Divided, you stand no chance - for only two united against me, now and forever, can ever hope to pierce my elusiveness! Pathetic children, gaze upon my TRUE FORM and writhe in the despair of despairing life!" And with that, a hand reaches out of the shadow, and pulls it away... (More)
<Mykasi> Anansi, nine feet tall and decked out in pirate array, with ghostly chains and rattling bones hanging from each of his six arms. Two eyepatches cover two of his oddly spider-like face, while the hat is a huge bubble over his head, fitting snugly around his neck. Five scimitars are gripped, one in each hand - and each hand is coated in fire, ice, mist, skulls, or green gunk. (More)
<Mykasi> The final hand is humanoid and clenched, an aura burning around it. The clothing resembles an ancient Japanese wizard's, and the feet are goat-like. To top it off, Anansi has three barbed tails coming out of his shoulders, oddly blurring into reptilian wings. (More)
<Mykasi> "...for you boys cannot survive the TRUE THREAT - the MASTER - SPIDER - PIRATE - SPACEMONAUT - GHOST - GOAT - SHUGENJA - SORCEROR - DRAGON - SCORPION - ANGEL - ASIA ADVERSARY! AS PIRATES ARE SUPERIOR OVER KNIGHTS, NINJA, SAMURAI AND ROBOTS, YOUR DOOM IS IMMINENT!"
<Hikari> "I'm not sure I can ever look Mike in the face again after this."
> Keita clenches his sword, "Oh yeah? Nothing can defeat the honor of a knight!"
<Nagare> "After this, I can't really fathom why I ever could in the first place."
* Nagare deflates wearily.
> Ewan winces, "What? Come on, that's just stupid."
<Mykasi> "This hand of mine glows with a cruelest power! Its burning grip tells me to slay all of you! Take this! My hatred, my anger, and all of my sorrow! ACCURSED FIIIIINGER!"
* Nagare groans, mumbling. "Ewan, around fifteen years later you will wake up, remember this and say the exact same thing to your inner eight-year-old."
<Mykasi> The Anansi amalgation then turns to Ewan. "STUPID! You dare to call me STUPID?! Very well - taste my WRATH!" And with that, a boom of energy lashes out toward the young kid!
<Hikari> "Just be glad it's only a dream. Can you imagine their shadows rampaging around town in this kind of mood?"
> Ewan then grins, "But if that's the way you want to do things..." He hold up one hand, and a small gout of fire shoots out from a nozzle on the back, "It's not a Burning Finger, but it's good enough for you!" And he looses a full spray of white hot fire right at the incoming energy blast!
> roll 2d8
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d8 --> [ 2d8=15 ]{15}
> OOC: He buys it, but note he did meet your attack head on with his own for when you describe the effects. Roll damage
<Mykasi> roll 2d8
<Kobot> Mykasi rolled 2d8 --> [ 2d8=3 ]{3}
<Mykasi> The whirling energy heads straight toward the fire, mixing through the blast before passing unscathed through and slamming into Ewan's chest as Anansi laughs! "Foolish child! To stop an energy attack with fire is pure lunacy! Embrace your defeat, un-united one!"
> It slams into Ewan's chest, but he barely moves, "Wait...that's it? Hah, whatever. Bring it on."
<Mykasi> With that, the eyes turn toward Keita hungrily...
> OOC: Roll initiative
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 kay-o, time for Mike to try and unite them together against Spacemonspidergoat Anansi
<Kobot> Mykasi rolled 2d8 kay-o, time for Mike to try and unite them together against Spacemonspidergoat Anansi --> [ 2d8=7 ]{7}
> roll 2d8+8 Ewan
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d8+8 Ewan --> [ 2d8=12 ]{20}
> roll 2d8+8 Keita
<Hikari> roll 2d8+8 for once I want to roll high here
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d8+8 Keita --> [ 2d8=10 ]{18}
<Kobot> Hikari rolled 2d8+8 for once I want to roll high here --> [ 2d8=6 ]{14}
<Nagare> roll 2d8+8 mrf
<Kobot> Nagare rolled 2d8+8 mrf --> [ 2d8=8 ]{16}
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(0 damage), Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp), Hikari(90/90 hp)'
> Ewan frowns at the spidergoatnansipirate, "Yeah, well a flamethrowe isn't the only thing I've got!" The hand of his other arm morphs into a handcannon in classic megaman style and he fires a ball of crackling electricity at his opponent!
> roll 2d8 lightning cannon
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d8 lightning cannon --> [ 2d8=6 ]{6}
> OOC: That's a hit on the illusion. Mind check, Mikey.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 righty-o, you stupid kid
<Kobot> Mykasi rolled 2d8 righty-o, you stupid kid --> [ 2d8=9 ]{9}
<Mykasi> Anansi glimmers... and the charged electricity passes straight through! "Ahahaha, foolish child! I am a GHOST! Such mortal weapons and techniques will have no effect on me, you disunited brat! Your love is insufficient!"
> Keita then brightens up, "A ghost! Then you're dead meat against the holy Lightblade!"
> Keita takes a stance and swings, sending a blade of rainbow light towards the spiderghost, "Prism Lightblade Slash!"
> roll 2d8
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d8 --> [ 2d8=9 ]{9}
> But the lightblade beam goes just slightly wide.
> Ewan sighs, "Learn to aim, doofus."
> OOC: Mike's up.
<Mykasi> "Hah! 'Holy'? No sword is holy that is used in war, that is made to destroy!" Anansi accuses, pointing his own five blades at Keita. "Should you beat this, I shall arise again and again, for you two do not have the unity needed to break me!" With that, one of the pointed blades flashes white as a ray shoots toward Keita!
> roll 2d8 Mind check
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d8 Mind check --> [ 2d8=7 ]{7}
> The ray hits...and simply dissapates as a holy aura surrounds Keita. "Hah! That didn't hurt at all!"
> OOC: Go Nagare.
<Mykasi> Anansi simply smiles. "Revealing your strengths is as good as revealing your weaknesses to me! Masterfully mind-controlled minions, attack!"
* Nagare clenches his fist. Mykasi, you will pay, he thought. However, that would have to wait. The teacher moves forward to the fray, focuses and harnesses the power of Abartach, aiming at Keita. "PERSONA!" (OOC: The Lying Prince on Keita.)
<Nagare> roll 2d8 mrf?
<Kobot> Nagare rolled 2d8 mrf? --> [ 2d8=7 ]{7}
> roll 2d8 defense
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d8 defense --> [ 2d8=5 ]{5}
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(0 damage), Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[80/90 ep], Hikari(90/90 hp)'
<Nagare> As Nagare summons Abartach, The Lying Prince opens his book in a manic, yet somewhat subdued echo of laughter, chanting as a lotus-shaped shadow emerges from the open book. Paper flies hastily as the shadow begins lunging elegantly, yet swiftly in a spiral towards Keita.
> The shadow slides towards him, but he quickly parries with his shining blade, deflecting the attack!
> OOC: Hikari
* Hikari raises her hand to the sky and calls out. "Brynhildr! Undermine that which gives the enemy strength!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Betrayal on Keita I guess since everyone's aiming at him right now
<Kobot> Hikari rolled 2d8 Betrayal on Keita I guess since everyone's aiming at him right now --> [ 2d8=9 ]{9}
> roll 2d6 DCV at -4 for second defense
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d6 DCV at -4 for second defense --> [ 2d6=9 ]{9}
> OOC: Hit.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 damage
<Kobot> Hikari rolled 2d8 damage --> [ 2d8=9 ]{9}
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(0 damage)[2 Body damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[80/90 ep], Hikari(90/90 hp)'
> Brynhildr flies forward, slicing at Keita before he can react with a hazy aura surrounding her spear! He takes the blow full on, but doesn't seem to be hurt by it. He does, however, shakes his head a bit as if growing tired.
> Ewan glances at the attacking adults, "Keita, I can't hurt the spider, you focus on him!" He takes aim and a ball of cracking energy goes flying towards Hikari!
> roll 2d8 lightning cannon
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d8 lightning cannon --> [ 2d8=14 ]{14}
> The blast misses, Hikari ducking out of they way in time!
> Keita nods, "Um, okay. Right. Prism Lightblade Slash! Hi-YA!"
> roll 2d8 attack on the spider
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d8 attack on the spider --> [ 2d8=9 ]{9}
> Again, it misses by a few inches at most.
> OOC: Mikey, go.
<Mykasi> "Hah! Pathetic! Do you not listen? Do you not hear? Even if you hit! Even if this form fades! You cannot defeat it unless your hearts are united in truth!" Anansi crows, as the two eyepatches lift up... and laser beams shoot out at Ewan!
> roll 2d8 mind check
<Kobot> Gatewalker rolled 2d8 mind check --> [ 2d8=9 ]{9}
> Ewan suddenly blinks, "Hey, wait." He peers at the spider as the lasers fly, "It's some kind of...I dunno, light projection. It's not a ghost, this is a trick!"
> OOC: Nagare, go
<Mykasi> The projection-Anansi laughs. "Hahah! So you pass the first test! But my true form is still hidden, and I still have these three innocents possessed! Let us see how well you can survive this!" And with that, the illusion vanishes... and Mike clutches his head in pain! "Ooooogh..."
* Nagare glances at Ewan, deciding to change his target from Keita - after all, the kid catching up could get terribly dangerous. "Abartach!," he shouts, as the sorcerer once again unleashes the shadow petals of The Lying Prince, this time against Ewan.
<Nagare> roll 2d8 fffffffff
<Kobot> Nagare rolled 2d8 fffffffff --> [ 2d8=12 ]{12}
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(0 damage)[2 Body damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[70/90 ep], Hikari(90/90 hp)'
> The petals go wide, as Ewan immediately takes evasive action.
> OOC: Hikari is go.
<Hikari> "Brynhildr! Strike this brat down!" Hikari cries (with a rather alarming amount of relish) as she directs her persona to make full-on assault at Keita.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Helreio Brynhildar
<Kobot> Hikari rolled 2d8 Helreio Brynhildar --> [ 2d8=10 ]{10}
<Hikari> roll 2d8 ONE MORE TIME
<Kobot> Hikari rolled 2d8 ONE MORE TIME --> [ 2d8=13 ]{13}
> Hikari's relish goes to waste, as Brynhildr's attack can't seem to catch up with the now quickly dodging Keita.
> Ewan takes careful aim at Hikari again, firing off a ball of lightning without any witty banter!
> roll 2d8 lightning cannon
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 lightning cannon and gets 10."12 [2d8=3, 7]
> OOC: DCV it up
<Hikari> roll 2d8 OH SHIT--
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 OH SHIT-- and gets 10."12 [2d8=5, 5]
> roll 2d8 damage
<Hikari> roll 2d8 RE. ROLL.
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 14."12 [2d8=8, 6]
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 RE. ROLL. and gets 3."12 [2d8=2, 1]
> OOC: Nevermind. Dodged
> The ball of lightning is coming straight for her...it's too quick, she can't dodge it! But...suddenly Hikari hears the rattle of rolling dice as the ball *curves right around her* and flies off into the distance.
> Ewan gapes, "WHAT!?"
> Keita turns and lunges at Hikari, swinging mightily with his sword, "YAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!!"
> roll 2d8 melee attack
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 melee attack and gets 7."12 [2d8=4, 3]
> OOC: DCV at -4 for your second dodge in a round
<Hikari> roll 2d8 arrrgh
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 arrrgh and gets 7."12 [2d8=2, 5]
> roll 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 7."12 [2d8=4, 3]
> He connects, his flashing blade hitting with a LOT more force then Hikari would expect from a kid!
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(0 damage)[2 Body damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[70/90 ep], Hikari(57/90 hp)'
> Hikari can tell from the attack. He's easily just as strong as you are in here.
> OOC: Mike's up
* Mykasi clutches his head. "Aaagh... damnit... don't want this... they can't fight it... please... care... ...aaaaaagh!" And with that, Anansi as a spidermongoataut appears over Mike's head, as sheets of ice suddenly shoot out of one of the swords at Keita! "hahahaHAHAHA FREEEEEEEEEZE!"
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Cold as Ice, and ain't it nice, so nice it'll freeze 'em twice~
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Cold as Ice, and ain't it nice, so nice it'll freeze 'em twice~ and gets 4."12 [2d8=1, 3]
> roll 2d8 DCV the first for Keita
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 DCV the first for Keita and gets 10."12 [2d8=3, 7]
> OOC: Hit
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 FreezefreezeFREEEZE
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 FreezefreezeFREEEZE and gets 13."12 [2d8=6, 7]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(39 damage)[2 Body damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[70/90 ep], Hikari(57/90 hp)'
> The waves of ice wash over Keita, causing him to stagger backward,
> "Woah! Cold! That's really cold!"
> OOC: Nagare
* Nagare breathes deeply. "All right, maybe third time is the charm. Come, Abartach!," he shouts as, once again, the devious sorcerer calls for the lotus shadows of the Lying Prince, now vying for Keita's hopefully vulnerable flesh.
<Nagare> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Nagare rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=5, 5]
> Nagare's focus is imperfect, his concentration tainted with fear at fighting for his life. The attack responds to this and flickers, moving strangely, and ultimately failing to connect with it's target.
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(39 damage)[2 Body damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[60/90 ep], Hikari(57/90 hp)'
> OOC: Hikari is up
* Hikari grits her teeth as she struggles back up from Keita's attack. "Brynhildr? BURN."
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Firewall Keita
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Firewall Keita and gets 6."12 [2d8=3, 3]
> roll 2d8 DCV the second for Keita
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 DCV the second for Keita and gets 6."12 [2d8=1, 5]
> OOC: Hit
<Hikari> roll 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 damage and gets 11."12 [2d8=5, 6]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(67 damage)[2 Body damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[60/90 ep], Hikari(57/90 hp)[60/70 ep]'
> The pillar of fire errupts under Keita, and he screams, "OW! That's hot!"
> Ewan moves in closer, his thrusters keeping him in the air about 15ft up, and he fires another blast at Hikari while admonishing his brother, "Come on, tough it out! Let's beat them one at a time, alright?"
> roll 2d8 lightning cannon
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 lightning cannon and gets 5."12 [2d8=4, 1]
> OOC: That's clearly a hit. DCV
<Hikari> roll 2d8 DCV that's surely a success
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 DCV that's surely a success and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> Brynhildr rushes to Hikari's side and deflects the attack with swift slash of her spear!
> Keita grits his teeth, "Right. HAAAH!" And slashes at Hikari again, with renewed vigor!
> roll 2d8 melee attack
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 melee attack and gets 16."12 [2d8=8, 8]
> He swings with incredible force! Hikari surely would have been gravely injured by such an attack...if it had hit. Instead, she simply takes a step back as he telegraphs it and watches him spin himself around with teh force of his own attack.
> Ewan sighs again, "You really are a doofus."
> OOC: Mike
<Mykasi> "Khhh... alone... not one... he hides... all three... reawaken... E... wan? L...yahahahahahaHAHAH, FREEZE FOREVER!" And as before, Anansi gestures to Keita - as a huge blade of ice suddenly swings out from the air, attempting to slice him in half!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 little punk FrEeZeEeEhahahAHA
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 little punk FrEeZeEeEhahahAHA and gets 7."12 [2d8=4, 3]
> roll 2d8 DCV the first for Keita
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 DCV the first for Keita and gets 11."12 [2d8=4, 7]
> OOC: Clearly connects. Damage it up
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 that connected last time, I believe? So WHAM, PUNK. BRING IT.
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 that connected last time, I believe? So WHAM, PUNK. BRING IT. and gets 8."12 [2d8=3, 5]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(121 damage)[2 Body damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[60/90 ep], Hikari(57/90 hp)[60/70 ep]'
> Keita is dizzy from his wild miss and cannot dodge the icy blade! It slams into him, sending him flying a few feet and leaving him in a pile on the ground. But a second later, one fist slams into the ground hard enough to punch a small crater into it and he forces himself up.
> Keita does NOT look happy.
> OOC: Nagare
* Nagare strokes his chin. This may as well be the breaking point - and Keita probably wouldn't be able to stand up much longer if an assault kept up. Once again, he calls for the Lying Prince, shadows aiming for Keita in a swift lunge.
<Nagare> roll 2d8 goddamn
* Hatbot --> "Nagare rolls 2d8 goddamn and gets 7."12 [2d8=6, 1]
> roll 2d8 DCV the second
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 DCV the second and gets 4."12 [2d8=2, 2]
> OOC: Thank Betrayal. That would have missed otherwise.
<Nagare> roll 2d8 for dameeji
* Hatbot --> "Nagare rolls 2d8 for dameeji and gets 4."12 [2d8=1, 3]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[60/90 ep], Hikari(57/90 hp)[60/70 ep]'
> The spiral of darkness finally finds it's mark! As it connects, it seems to just quietly seep into the boy. His face goes ashen, his eyes blink in a confused haze. The sword drops from his hands as he wobbles...and falls over.
> A golden shadow of light flickers over him and then fades away. Leaving Keita laying on the ground, no longer the warlord in armor but merely a boy in his pajamas. The sword, however, is still there.
> OOC: Hikair
<Hikari> "Yes! Good work!" Hikari cries as she turns to Ewan. "Now, Brynhildr, crack that metal shell and pull him out!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Betrayal spamming commences
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Betrayal spamming commences and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> roll 2d8 DCV for Ewan
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 DCV for Ewan and gets 8."12 [2d8=1, 7]
> Ewan's thrusters kick in, taking him just out of range of Brynhildr's attack a split second before it lands.
> Ewan glances at Hikari, before looking over at Mike...and Anansi. His voice is flat and emotionless, "The spider's the one doing all this."
> His thrusters kicking on at full speed, he rushes towards Mike, the flamethrower kicking to life, "Burn, you stupid spider."
> roll 2d8 flamethrower
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 flamethrower and gets 8."12 [2d8=2, 6]
> OOC: DCV, mikey
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 waugh, an actual fire attack! Man the fucking water torpedoes!
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 waugh, an actual fire attack! Man the fucking water torpedoes! and gets 8."12 [2d8=5, 3]
> Anansi is faster then the flames, his pirate hat interposes itself with barely and inch to spare, and the flames are swallowed into the void!
> "Grrr." Ewan just growls as he thrusts out his other hand and a ball of lightning quickly flashes out!
> roll 2d8 guess what his limit power is
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 guess what his limit power is and gets 13."12 [2d8=6, 7]
> But the ball of lightning is poorly aimed and goes right past everyone's favorite FOOL.
> OOC: Mike,.
* Mykasi gulps inwardly. Damnit, -now- it aims for him when the kid's unreasonable! "H... kh... E... wan? ... Ha... dream... catcher? There? The... yaaagh!" Anansi again gestures outward, this time grabbing hold of a dumpling in its hand as Mike, twitching, yells, "MAAAASUTAAAAAA..."
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 "SPPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARKU!" (Anvil of Light~)
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 "SPPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARKU!" (Anvil of Light~) and gets 6."12 [2d8=1, 5]
> roll 2d8 DCV
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 DCV and gets 6."12 [2d8=3, 3]
> Ewan sideslips again, the blast of light going right past him. Apparently laser is more difficult then innitially assumed.
* Nagare grimaces. "This better work. Abartach!"
* Nagare focuses as the shadow flower once again materializes in front of Abartach, now aiming for Ewan's obnoxious ass.
> OOC: Yes, it's your turn. Sorry, was answering a question in PM. Nagare, go.
<Nagare> roll 2d8 ffff
* Hatbot --> "Nagare rolls 2d8 ffff and gets 12."12 [2d8=5, 7]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(9 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[40/90 ep], Hikari(57/90 hp)[60/70 ep]'
> Ewan doesn't even look Nagare's way as he slides out of the way of the attack.
> OOC: Mike, electronics skill roll please
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 right
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 right and gets 10."12 [2d8=2, 8]
> As Ewan is kind of right there IN YOUR FACE, Mike has a good view of...some manner of radar on one of his arms. A blip for Nagare's attack appeared on it and the suit just moved. He has some kind of sensor to help avoid attacks built into that thing.
> OOC: Hikari's up
<Mykasi> "MINIONS! ENGAGE AND TAKE DOWN UP CLOSE!" Mike-Anansi shrieks. "THE BRAT HAS RADAR!"
<Hikari> "Yes, master," Hikari drones without much enthusiasm. More energetically: "Stand still and take your punishment, Ewan!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 Betrayal spamming continues
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 Betrayal spamming continues and gets 10."12 [2d8=5, 5]
> Mike notes another blip on the radar, and Ewan sideslips again, causing Hikari's attack to catch nothing but air.
> He's not really talking much at this point. Mike has a good look at his face though, and he looks fairly cheesed off. The flamethrower lightning cannon combo continues.
> roll 2d8 flamethrower
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 flamethrower and gets 8."12 [2d8=3, 5]
> OOC: DCV it, Mike
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 goddamnit not more fire i hate fire with burning passion
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 goddamnit not more fire i hate fire with burning passion and gets 6."12 [2d8=3, 3]
> roll 2d8 lightning cannon
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 lightning cannon and gets 15."12 [2d8=8, 7]
> The fire is again lost in the void of Anansi's hat, while the ball of lightning misses by a mile. Ewan looks more pissed by the second.
> OOC: Mikey
* Mykasi grimaces, stumbling back. "Nnn... E... wan? Ewan? Is... is that.... ..." Anansi shimmers in place a bit, seeming to barely manage crossing his blades as multiple pentagrams appear and spiral at Ewan!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Evil Sealing Circle(s)~
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Evil Sealing Circle(s)~  and gets 8."12 [2d8=1, 7]
> roll 2d8 DCV
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 DCV and gets 9."12 [2d8=2, 7]
> OOC: Hit
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Sealing is not difficult, ze?
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Sealing is not difficult, ze? and gets 10."12 [2d8=3, 7]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(28 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[40/90 ep], Hikari(57/90 hp)[60/70 ep]'
> The pentagrams of light flash into Ewan, his system not dodging in time. But the armor takes the brunt of the blow, leaving him still in fairly good shape.
> OOC: Nagare
* Nagare tries to come a bit closer, but his act, ultimately, ends up mostly the same. Once again, he calls upon Abartach, now silently, as the sorcerer conjures his deadly flower lunge, aiming at Ewan.
<Nagare> roll 2d8 maybe this time I'll luck out?
* Hatbot --> "Nagare rolls 2d8 maybe this time I'll luck out? and gets 10."12 [2d8=8, 2]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(28 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[30/90 ep], Hikari(57/90 hp)[60/70 ep]'
> Nagare can feel himself starting to run out of energy as he misses yet again. It's taking something to power this dark magic. Nagare isn't sure exactly what, but every time he invokes the power it's taking something from him...
> OOC: Hikari
* Hikari opts to try something different, picking up Keita's sword from where it feel and charging at Ewan with blade in hand. "Leave him alone, you bully!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 swordgirl mode engage
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 swordgirl mode engage and gets 10."12 [2d8=7, 3]
> Ewan barely manages to get out of the way in time from Hikari's charge, "What...you...YOU PUT THAT DOWN! THAT'S HIS, NOT YOURS!"
> His face scrunches up like...well, an angry child's. Only most angry children don't accompany this with a flamethrower.
> roll 2d8 now fireing(har har) on Hikari
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 now fireing(har har) on Hikari and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> OOC: DCV
<Hikari> roll 2d8 DODGE DODGE DODGE
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 DODGE DODGE DODGE and gets 3."12 [2d8=1, 2]
> roll 2d8 lightning cannon
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 lightning cannon and gets 8."12 [2d8=5, 3]
> OOC: DCV mark 2.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 DODGE DODGE DODGE (the sequel)
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 DODGE DODGE DODGE (the sequel) and gets 3."12 [2d8=1, 2]
> Brynhilder moves with her mistress, her flashing spear first spinning like a fan to repel the fire and then deflecting the lightning ball with lightning speed!
> OOC: Mike.
<Hikari> "Some brother you are," Hikari calls back. "So only you're allowed to take what belongs to him?"
<Mykasi> "...nnnhg... Ewan... it won't... all possessed... ...care... please... disable?" Mike croaks out, as Anansi, still seeming to move sluggishly, manages to spit out ice-cold venom at the robochild!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Light wasn't right, so maybe Ice will be nice! Freeeeeeeze
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Light wasn't right, so maybe Ice will be nice! Freeeeeeeze and gets 11."12 [2d8=8, 3]
> The radar blips and Ewan sideslips the icy bile.
> OOC: Nagare
* Nagare breathes heavily, both exhausted from the repeated castings of the black magic and from missing constantly. He decides to aid Hikari instead, as she probably could use the help. Nagare focuses, as Abartach summons the healing powers of Dian Cecht's well. (OOC: Slane's Dew on Hikari.)
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(28 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[30/90 ep], Hikari(90/90 hp)[60/70 ep]'
> A splash of healing water flows over Hikari, and her wounds melt away in it's cool embrace.
> OOC: Hikari
<Hikari> "You want the sword, Ewan? Take it blade first!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 attacking again
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 attacking again and gets 10."12 [2d8=8, 2]
> Hikari...realizes that she doesn't actually know how to use a sword beyond 'pointy end goes into the other guy' and swings it fairly clumsily. Especially as she's not quite prepared for her own strength. However she avoids looking as stupid as Keita did, at least,.
> Ewan, face still scrunched up in rage, continues his assault on Hikari.
> roll 2d8 flamethrower
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 flamethrower and gets 9."12 [2d8=7, 2]
> OOC: DCV
<Hikari> roll 2d8 oh god
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 oh god and gets 13."12 [2d8=6, 7]
> roll 2d8 lightning cannon this could be bad
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 lightning cannon this could be bad and gets 9."12 [2d8=2, 7]
> OOC: Miss
> roll 2d8 flamethrower damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 flamethrower damage and gets 9."12 [2d8=3, 6]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(28 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[30/90 ep], Hikari(62/90 hp)[60/70 ep]{Burn: 5 rounds remaining}'
> The fire connects...and it clings to Hikari persistantly, refusing to go out! There's some sort of sticky chemical mixed in this fire!
> OOC: Mikey
* Mykasi grimaces. "Hi... kari? Ewan? Wha..." With Mike clutching his head, Anansi this time attempts to slam a sheet of pure ice into Ewan!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Freeze, please, as fire's kinda tired
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Freeze, please, as fire's kinda tired and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
> roll 2d8 DCV
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 DCV and gets 14."12 [2d8=7, 7]
> OOC: Hit!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 FREEZE, PUNK. THIS IS THE LONG ARM OF THE SHORTY LAW
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 FREEZE, PUNK. THIS IS THE LONG ARM OF THE SHORTY LAW and gets 11."12 [2d8=8, 3]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(47 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[30/90 ep], Hikari(62/90 hp)[60/70 ep]{Burn: 5 rounds remaining}'
> The ice slams into Ewan's back, his suit not reacting in time. But the armor still holds up under the assault. That's some good stuff.
> OOC: Nagare, of course
* Nagare heaves. "I really can't keep going much longer," he lets out. However, he has no choice but to keep trying as long as he could. One more casting might actually work this time, he thought, as he called upon Abartach and summoned the shadows of the Lying Prince once again...
<Nagare> roll 2d8 I'm basically dry
* Hatbot --> "Nagare rolls 2d8 I'm basically dry and gets 13."12 [2d8=8, 5]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(47 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[20/90 ep], Hikari(62/90 hp)[60/70 ep]{Burn: 5 rounds remaining}'
> The spiral of darkness is weaker, slower. Keita's suit has all the time it needs to slip away.
> OOC: and Hikari
* Hikari cries out in pain as she writhes in flames. She manages to draw herself up for another attack, but this time her only battle cry is a wordless scream. "HYAAAAAAIGH!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 OH LOOK IT'S ANOTHER FUCKING 10
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 OH LOOK IT'S ANOTHER FUCKING 10 and gets 15."12 [2d8=7, 8]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(47 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[20/90 ep], Hikari(58/90 hp)[60/70 ep]{Burn: 4 rounds remaining}'
> Her swing is foreful, and carves a chunk out of the ground at least! She does feel the sword slice right through the rock and dirt like it was barely there, if it's any consolation.
> Ewan screams back in Hikari's face, "AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!" as he fires his weapons again.
> roll 2d8 flamethrower
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 flamethrower and gets 8."12 [2d8=3, 5]
> roll 2d8 lightning cannon
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 lightning cannon and gets 13."12 [2d8=7, 6]
> OOC: one DCV please
<Hikari> roll 2d8 ...(I have only ellipses left)
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 ...(I have only ellipses left) and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 and gets 6."12 [2d8=5, 1]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(47 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[20/90 ep], Hikari(20/90 hp)[60/70 ep]{Burn: 5 rounds remaining}'
> The fire washes over her again, spraying on more of that burning adhesive. Hikari knows she can't take much more of this...
> OOC: Mikey
<Mykasi> "...ngh? Hi...kari! Ewan, why...?!" Mike stutters out, Anansi shimmering as another wall of ice goes flying toward Ewan!
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 Baby it's cold outside, oh baby it's cold outside
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 Baby it's cold outside, oh baby it's cold outside and gets 7."12 [2d8=6, 1]
> roll 2d8 DCV
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 DCV and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
> OOC: Hits
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 PERFECT CIRNO, PUNK. YOU CAN'T BEAT THE SKILLZ OF THE MASTER FOOL
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 PERFECT CIRNO, PUNK. YOU CAN'T BEAT THE SKILLZ OF THE MASTER FOOL and gets 10."12 [2d8=6, 4]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(66 damage), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[20/90 ep], Hikari(20/90 hp)[60/70 ep]{Burn: 5 rounds remaining}'
> The ice slams into Ewan again, causing him to look back behind him, "Okay, knock that off!"
* Nagare grimaces and tries for one last shot before he's essentially out of energy to summon his spell. Abartach summons the lotus shadows once more, entangling onto themselves and lunging at Ewan.
<Nagare> roll 2d8 at least it looks pretty?
* Hatbot --> "Nagare rolls 2d8 at least it looks pretty? and gets 7."12 [2d8=2, 5]
> roll 2d8 DCV-4
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 DCV-4 and gets 7."12 [2d8=5, 2]
> OOC: Hit
<Nagare> roll 2d8 for damage
* Hatbot --> "Nagare rolls 2d8 for damage and gets 8."12 [2d8=2, 6]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Ewan(84 damage*OUT*), Keita(209*OUT* damage)[2 Body/Soul damage], Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[20/90 ep], Hikari(20/90 hp)[60/70 ep]{Burn: 5 rounds remaining}'
> The spiral flickers into existance once more, sliding out like a serpent through the air. Nagare kept his focus even against his failing energy and the spell struck true, Ewan's sensors causing him to slide right into the shadow's path. The spiral sinks silently into him, causing him to blink...waver in the air...and collapse.
* Hikari drops the sword, grateful for the fight to be over, and falls to her knees frantically beating at the flames enveloping her body.
> A silver shadow of light flickers over him, and then dissipates. Ewan the robot master is no longer there, just a boy in his pajamas, unconcious on the ground.
* Mykasi looks to Hikari, before saying, "Close your mouth and eyes!" and attempting to create fire extinguisher foam over her.
* Nagare kneels and sighs in relief. "... god... finally," then looking at Hikari and moving to tend to her.
* Hikari has enough presence of mind to listen to Mike, but not much more than that.
> Mike creates foam! It's unfortunately freezing cold, but it puts the fire out at least.
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Mike(65/70 hp), Nagare(75/75 hp)[20/90 ep], Hikari(5/90 hp)[60/70 ep]'
<Mykasi> "Can you heal her again?" Mike asks the doctor at this.
<Nagare> "Sadly, not until tomorrow. These powers have odd limitations, and I can only heal a person once a day, it seems," the teacher frowns.
> Abartach materalizes and shakes his head, "I'm sorry, but no. Any given mortal may not drink from Slane's Dew twice in such a short time."
<Mykasi> "Right. Then we take the front lines. Can you stand, Hikari?" Mike asks, looking around.
* Hikari shivers now instead, mostly just a wreck on the ground by this point. Burned, sopping wet, covered in foam, her heart racing in the aftermath of the fight. "It's alright," she croaks. "I think I'd be dead if I hadn't done it once already."
<Mykasi> "Dr. Suiren, please tend to her as you can." Mike says, looking to the two kids with some sorrow on his face at this point.
* Hikari manages to stand, unevenly. She looks at the two fallen boys with some clear loathing. "I think I may amend my plan to be a teacher."
* Nagare nods. "Will do, mike. Hikari, may I offer you my support for walking? Ignoring the drivel about you ever thinking about teaching grade schoolers, of course."
* Hikari nods. "Yes, thank you..."
> As you look around, you notice the armies are....gone. The landscape is scuffed up beyond all belief, but there's not a single dinosaur or robot in sight. Not even scattered parts.
<Mykasi> "No surprise. But maybe that'll make the kids work together in the future now, since we've presented a common enemy to their subconscious." Mike muses. "Do... we go back now, then? I confess this isn't how the first one worked out."
<Nagare> "We may as well. I'm exhausted, and while the effect of actually beating those brats up was vaguely cathartic, staying any longer in this landscape is going to drive me insane. Hikari also needs the rest."
* Mykasi glances to Hikari, nodding slightly.
* Mykasi takes the sword, before leading the group out quietly.
<Hikari> "And probably a change of clothes," Hikari mumbles as she toddles out of the dreamscape.
> ---------------------------------