Soulriders 5.0: Legend of the Unending Games

In this topic, I break down everything you need to know about social links.

First and foremost:

What Are Social Links?
Igor: Social Links are the bonds that you form with others who are capable of influancing the destinies of others. Just as every Persona and Shadow is bound to one of the Arcana, so is every other person of consequence. By forming a close bond with someone, you will become able to draw upon the power of thier Arcana.

Theresa: However, each individual only has the potential to provide power to one Persona user. And each Persona User, with some very few exceptions, only has the potential to bond with up to three, maybe four, Social Links. As none of you are bound to the World Arcana, the exceptions aren't important here.

Igor: What my assistant is trying to say, is that none of you may share a social link. Nor may you form a link with anyone who is already bound to another Persona User. Though even attempting that is not a very likely event in the first place.

Theresa: Which brings us to the next topic...

How Do I Form A Social Link?
Theresa: This one's easy. You just have to go out and meet people! You can go try to speak to someone specific and see if you can form a link with them, or you can leave it up to the fates and just go out to see who you might encounter!

Igor: As usual, my assistant is getting a bit ahead of herself. Before you can form any social links, you must prepare yourself to connect with others. While the three of you may not understand what this means, the ones that need to know it will. In order to form a social link you must spend character points on the Attribute of "S.Link Potential" which is a form of "Unknown Superhuman Power".

Theresa: Charcter points? Attributes? You're talking like this is some kind of game. Normally that's my job...

Igor: There is much you do not understand, Theresa. But after this step is performed, what you mentioned earlier is quite correct. To simply go looking for a link is often enough. Though do make sure you've set aside some time to play that out with the GM.

Theresa: GM? What does a car company have to do with this?

Igor: Nevermind that. Next, we come to the question of...

What Benefit Will I Get From Social Links?

Theresa: Well didn't we cover that earlier? You'll be able to tap into the power of the Arcana of those you bond with.

Igor: Hmm, indeed. But I think some more specific examples are warrented. And as this involves more terms you will not understand, please go make some tea.

Theresa: *sigh* Yes, master Igor.

Igor: Now then, there are of course many things to spend your CP on, but S.Link potential offers a bit of a trade. By spending points in this ability, you will not be able to control what you get from it, but the abilities you get will be a bit stronger then what you could get spending your points on your own. Each Social Link may go up to 10 levels, each level being 1 CP of SLP. As SLP is a variety of Unknown Superhuman Power, it follows the same rules. Namely, that you get +50% point value for what you spend in it. Therefor, a level 10 social link will give you 15cp worth of powers tied to that Arcana, while only requireing 10 of your precious Character Points.

Theresa: I'm back with your tea, master.

Igor: Just set it down, Theresa. Now do not fret, this journey is most likely to be a very long one, so you should have time to focus on both your social links and your own personal growth in equal measure.

Theresa: Did I miss anything interesting?

Igor: Nothing you would understand.

Theresa: Hmph.

-------------

Anyway, that's that. If you have any questions, feel free to poke me and I'll clarify as best I can.

Mykasi: Magician 1
> -------------------------------------
> Saturday passed by pretty uneventfully for the most part. You did manage to catch Mika being out of her room at least, though since Mistia was with her and giving the evil eye to anyone who even looked at Mika funny you didn't get much of a chance to talk to her. The afternoon was mostly lazy, and mostly spent just bumming around your own room.
> The sun is starting to set, which means that your roommate should be coming back shortly...only to just as shortly head right back out.
> Like clockwork, Kyo wanders in waves absently and hits the shower.
* Mykasi tosses a notebook in the air lazily as he waves to Kyo, before catching it... and feeling his stomach rumble at the same time. "Hey, Kyo! You up for running to the ramen joint down the street for something to eat?" Mike yells through the door.
> There's no response for a bit, then a yell back, "You say something? Gimme a sec, can't hear over the water!"
> Apparently your hearing is better then his since you didn't have trouble making out what he said...
<Mykasi> "Hah." Mike chuckles under his breath. "Lord knows I can guess the reason for the delay..."
> Kyo never takes overly long to shower, so just a few minutes later he comes back out, in his shorts thankfully, and finishes drying his hair as he heads over to grab some fresh clothes, "You say something a couple ago, man?"
> (it is, sadly, about a 50/50 if Kyo will remember his shorts before he heads into the shower or not. He's done the 'dash out in his towel, grab his clothes, dash back to the bathroom' thing more then once)
<Mykasi> Sadly, yes. He doesn't look as good in a towel as he does in the shorts. "Was just asking if you wanted to hit the ramen place or something. Got a bit of cabin fever now since I decided to spend my afternoon studying, the more fool I." Mike grins.
> Kyo frowns for a moment, then checks the time, "Geh. Ehhh, guess it won't kill me to miss a day. Yeah, why not."
<Mykasi> "What'm I dragging you away from?" Mike asks as he springs off the bed to pick up his wallet.
> He shrugs, "Just the usual weekend stuff, y'know?" That said, he gets dressed, throws his shoes on, and grabs his jacket all in the span of just over a minute.
<Mykasi> "Fair 'nuff." Mike shrugs, willing to let the matter drop as he swings the door open while Kyo's finishing up. "Though I confess I still can't figure out how you get dressed that quickly."
> Kyo laughs, "Old man was in the force. He seriously trained me and my bro to get dressed and ready for 'inspection' in no time flat."
> Grabbing his own wallet, he adds, "And yeah, that is as boneheaded as it sounds. Anyway, come on. I assume you mean the one three blocks over by the old grocery store?"
<Mykasi> "Oof. That'd do it, yes. And yeah, unless there's one you prefer nearby?" Mike shrugs. "That one's the cheapest I've found, meaning it fits the diet I'm on. College."
> "Yeah, I hear that." Walking and talking as usual Kyo gets moving but keeps up the conversation, "There's a better one over in the mall. It's a little further away, but the stuff is aces. Of course..." he shrugs, "The cook knows what he's worth and charges it. So I don't eat there often."
<Mykasi> "I'll keep that one in mind later, if I manage to scratch up spare change at some point." Mike says, easily adapting to talking on the go. "Not bloody likely for another few weeks, of course, but..."
> Kyo nods, "Money comes and goes, y'know? Always has, always will."
<Mykasi> "You're telling me." Mike snerks. "Always a use for it, even if you'd rather not think about how you'll need to apply it." A slight shake of his head, then, "Oh, right. I looked at the passage you handed off to me? It's talking about a guy who has a snake-skin wallet."
> The two of you slip past the other students getting started on thier saturday evenins, going at a slightly faster pace then most of them. Kyo has just as little issue as Mike does when it comes to slipping between gaps of people, and in just a bit you've made it outside the campus.
<Mykasi> "Right, just a bit further." Mike mutters, before getting momentaraily distracted by a passing gaggle of ladies. "Though I won't ask when belly shirts got as popular here as they did in America. Not complaining, mind."
> Kyo blinks, "Seriously? Well, that makes more sense then."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. The pattern described's a rattlesnake hide." Mike nods.
> Shaking his head, he half chuckles, "Guess it's all the old style poetry and stuff I've been looking at for another class. I was trying to find some metaphor in it."
<Mykasi> "There might be one. Snakes tend to be a biblical reference, or just a generic way to denote evil. Bum rap for 'em, but."
> Looking back at the ladies, he shrugs, "And yeah, don't ask me either. Seems like it just kinda happened overnight. But I don't pay much attention to fashion and shit, so I might just be talking out my ass."
> "Ah, the bible. yeah, I'm still working my way through that thing. Professor said it's nearly a must to understand alot of western culture."
> As you get to the ramen shop, he laughs, "Mythology cracks me up man. The things some people will believe."
<Mykasi> "I admit I just pay attention when it jumps out at me." Mike nods slightly. "And the Bible's a pain - mum was Christian, so... ugh. Tried to get me to read it. Twice."
<Mykasi> "Heh. I'd waggle my finger at you about mythology but I'm too busy salivating at the prospect of dinner. There's some crazy shit out there, though - though I've always had a soft spot for the Indian myths. Go go trickster spiders, you make better Christ figures than half the attempts out there."
> Kyo slips inside and heads over to the counter, "Eh, it's kinda funny if you just look at it like any other mythology book." Looking up at the menu, he considers for all of two seconds then orders, "Eh, spicy beef bowl. Large."
> "Also, this is why I don't like the term 'Indian'. Are you talking about nati...uh, first americans with that, or Indians from India?"
<Mykasi> "Shiitake chicken, heavy on the shiitake." Mike orders a few seconds after. "And yeah, funny... but also kinda sick, even looking at just the second half." At Kyo's comment, "First Americans. Amerindians work better for you? I'll try to remember to say that."
> He nods, "Yeah, that'll help. It was especially confusing 'cause I know the Indians have some elephant god and a cow god and that stuff, so it wouldn't surprise me if they had a spider one too."
> The man behind the counter takes your orders and gets them cooking. It's fairly busy in here, being a saturday night.
<Mykasi> "Ah, yeah. Nah, I don't know much about Hindi myths in general, either, aside from a few names." Mike shrugs.
> Kyo nods, "Yeah, I used to be big into mythology when I was in primary school. You know how every little kid's got something they obsess over? That was mine. Can't remember half the crap I read back then, though. Though I don't think I ever read any Amerindian stuff anyway."
<Mykasi> "Not even Americans tend to read Amerindian." Mike shakes his head. "Or even Amerindians. My dad's big on those, though; shoved a lot of 'em my way. Though my main obsession was building towers with toys.
> He laughs, "Just to knock it down when you were done, right?"
<Mykasi> "...only sometimes, actually!" Mike muses. "Other times I left them in the living room for days on end until my Mother got sick of it being in the way and dismantled it herself. I think I got sick of building them after that, although I still knocked down foam structures for a while."
<Mykasi> A pause. "Actually, you want to know what's weird? Most Americans attribute that to having seen Godzilla as a kid, but I didn't watch it until a friend of mine was holding a film marathon and threw it in there. I was... 16, then?"
> "Man, that movie is the reason I will never move to Tokyo. If giant monster ever do suddenly start showing up, they're all going right there."
* Mykasi snerks. "I do have to wonder what'd inspire that. Some sort of inbred obsession in the monster to go there?"
> Kyo shrugs, "My guess is they watch all those movies too and just want to be with the 'in' crowd."
> As he answers, your orders come out. Kyo pays for his and then inhales deeply over the bowl, "Awesome. I tell you what, man. When they say 'spicy' beef bowl here, they aren't kidding on the spicy part."
<Mykasi> "Possible, yeah." Mike nods, shoving over the money for both his and Kyo's as he knocks Kyo's money back to him. "Dude, I invited. I'll cover this time." At Kyo's comment, he glances at it. "Heh. I'm confessionally a mushroom freak, but I wonder if they'd try cooking spicy shiitake? It'd be interesing to try at least."
> Your roommate shrugs, not contesting your picking up the check, and puts his money back in his wallet, "You could always ask. And yeah, mushrooms are pretty good. You got any good kinds of 'em native to your part of the world?"
> Considering, he asks another one, "On that note, aside from the old cheeseburger and fries, what kinds of stuff do you call 'American' food anyway?"
<Mykasi> "I think there's a few, but not as many as I'd like - and few dishes actually use good mushrooms, just the little bottlecap ones that taste bland as all out." Mike shrugs. "And... well. A lot of pies are fairly classical foods, but some of the less obvious ones... Venison, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce in general, apples are the main set that come to mind."
<Mykasi> "Oh, right. Hot dogs and popcorn, though confessionally I'll only eat the latter of the two."
> Nodding, Kyo bites on the obvious question. "So, uh, what exactly is in a hot dog anyway?"
<Mykasi> "Uh." Mike muses. "At best, it's a bunch of meats - chicken, turkey, beef, and pork - mixed together with bread crumbs and some other stuff, chosen for freshness but still unappealing. At worst, they're... um... " Mike colors a bit, looking down at his ramen bowl. "Neon green. Your call what actually went into that batch."
> "I'm gonna guess a stray bottle of food coloring and not think about it further."
<Mykasi> "It was raw pink and green patchy inside, so sorry to burst your bubble there. But yes, another topic - actually, wait, question. Is there a Japanese obsession with pocky, or is that just American Japanophiles?"
> He thinks, "Uh, it's fairly popular, with teenagers mostly, but I wouldn't call it an obsession."
<Mykasi> "Right. Then I express supreme confusion at the popularity it has with some back in the States."
> He shrugs, "Maybe it just appeals to the American taste more?"
<Mykasi> "American sweet tooth? Perhaps." A bit of musing, "Oh, right. The real American consumable? Condiments. Ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise, syrup... we've probably tried to make a topping out of everything."
> "Huh. Eh, end of the day I think Japanese food is still my favorite." He then reconsiders, "Unless my sister in law is cooking, then it's Chinese."
* Mykasi nods. "Makes sense to me - both countries blend tastes instead of the American-style jackhammer to the tongue."
> Polishing off his beef bowl, Kyo slaps his stomache, "Yeah, that was good stuff. Can't beat a spicy beef bowl when the weather's getting colder."
* Mykasi finishes his off a few seconds after, before nodding. "I'll have to try that at some point, then, yeah."
> "Of course I go for this one when the weather's getting warmer, too. I've tried about half the menu here, but I keep coming back to this one."
<Mykasi> "Heh. Only food I tend to go for constantly return to back home was a soup bowl a restaurant offered; the bowl was made of sourdough bread, was the main trick." Mike grins."Still. Spicy beef bowl... ...man, you're tempting me into a second. I guess I know where I'm going for dinner sometime later this week, then."
> Looking down at his watch, Kyo muses, "Actually...I might be late but I can still drop in for a bit if I book it." Grinning a bit, he holds out a closed fist, "Alright man, I'll see you later. Thanks for the invite and picking up the tab. Hell, maybe I'll join you when you come back and cover the next one."
* Mykasi pretends to choke a bit. "Hey, I didn't think that was how it worked! ...but sure." Bumping fists, Mike nods. "Talk to ya later. I'll probably go for a run now; catch ya tomorrow, probably."
> When your fist connects, suddenly everything fades into greyscale...and all movement stops.
> A small orange light starts to glow inside Kyo, then floats up into the air and transforms into...a spinning card.
<Mykasi> "Wait, what? Seriously?"
> On the back of this card is a hard eyed young man in what looks like some kind of robe eyeing a chunk of what you somehow know to be lead in his hand. On the front...you can't quite make out the image...
> 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 Magician Arcana"
> Then, in the blink of an eye, everything returns to normal.
> Kyo not seeming to have noticed anything strange, just nods as he turns to head out, "Yeah, most likely. Later man!"
<Mykasi> "...Kyo, forgive me for the completely random disgression, but I have the bizarre impulse to call you Merlin." Mike frowns a bit. "No, I can't explain it either. Anyway, talk later, man!"
> It would seem that he either didn't catch that last bit or just chose not to respond, as he quickly slides out of the ramen shop.
* Mykasi sidles out of the ramen shop and wanders over to the gym, lost in thought. 'Perhaps I'll dream of the campfire again tonight... Xav, I'm... not alone anymore. Haven't been for a while, but this is the first I've felt it - and... you aren't, either. I don't know if you'll ever hear this, but... despite the distance, you, too, are not alone. Never alone.'

Hikari: Fortune 1
----------------------------------
> 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.

Mykasi: Magician 2
-----------------------
> > 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".
<Mykasi> "Heh. Likewise for myself, though if you're a genuine 'card shark' you'll definitely be pushin' on my capabilties."
> Kyo, of course, does not have a car, so the two of you race to a bus stop just in time to jump on the bus. The bus ride itself is fairly short and you get off a few minutes later where Kyo promptly leads you through a few twists and turns and into...a fairly residential part of town.
> He looks back over his shoulder, "Doesn't look like the place to find a card club, does it?"
<Mykasi> "Not really, no. Then again, Jack's sounds like a western restaurant or club, not a Japanese one."
> He shrugs, "It's...different, I'll give it that. Not much further here."
<Mykasi> "Fair enough."
> That said, he goes up to an apartment building and rings the buzzer for one of the apartments. A moment later a voice comes out over the intercom, "What's the password?"
> Kyo rolls his eyes, "It's Kyo man. Lemme in."
* Mykasi grins languidly, not saying anything at this point.
> There's silence for a moment, then from the intercom, "Sorry, that's not the password." The voice sounds amused.
> Kyo shakes his head, "Man, you're really gonna make me say that stupid crap?"
> The voice laughs, "Sure am. You ditched us for a couple of months, jackass."
> Kyo sighs, "You're a bastard, PJ. Fine, 'ho ho ho to the hee hee hee'." After saying that he rolls his head back in exasperation, "Damn I feel like a moron saying something that lame."
> The voice laughs, "Serves you right! But yeah, come on in, I guess."
> The buzzer light turns green and there's a click of the door unlocking.
<Mykasi> "There could be far worse passwords, I suspect." Mike comments.
> He nods, "I guess. Still hard to believe those guys are twenty and not twelve with something like that."
> Kyo opens the door and leads you up to the third floor where he knocks on the door of one apartment.
<Mykasi> "Everyone gets their kicks from somethin', I guess. Still, you got a point."
> It opens a second later, revealing a short, chunky guy with bright orange hair grinning like an idiot, "Hey, what's this? You didn't say anything about a guest."
> Kyo shrugs, "I was gonna, until you made me say that stupid password. Anyway, Mykasi, this is Jack. Calls himself 'Pyro Jack' so we call him PJ for short. PJ, this is Mike, my roommate over at HU."
<Mykasi> "Pyro Jack, eh?" Mike says with a grin. "Good to meetcha."
> PJ sticks one chubby hand out, "Yeah, same here. Come on in, alright?"
> He moves back in, unblocking the doorway, and leads the two of you inside.
* Mykasi shakes the hand, then comes in, shooting a slightly amused glance to Kyo.
<Mykasi> "So, uh, idly. A Jack Frost in here, too, or did you melt him?" Mike makes a quick snark, looking around inside.
> Inside, the place is...frankly decked out like an American holloween. Orange, yellow and black everywhere. No actual furniture, but a bunch of pumpkin shaped beanbags surrounding an orange table in the middle of the living room floor. It's actually a fairly roomy place, unlike most apartments.(more)
> Sitting on some of those beanbags are a couple of other people, a young woman with her hair frosted a silvery blue waves enthusiastcly at you, while a gangly thin man with shades and a goatee simply nods quietly. One more person, a young woman almost as pudgy as PJ himself greets you from the kitchen and immediately starts fixing some snacks and drinks for you.
* Mykasi nods back to the rest of the group, partially understanding now why Kyo approached this the way he did.
> Doing the introductions, Kyo points around the room, "Alright, Mike, that's Friesa and Shades sitting down there. And over in the kitchen is PJ's girl Nana."
<Mykasi> "Pleasure." Mike nods.
> PJ also laughs at your question, "Hey, you caught the referance. Good man! But sadly there is no Jack Frost. Haven't met anyone cool enough to pull that roll off yet."
> He looks around expectantly.
> Kyo and Shades let out simultaneous sighs, while Friesa facepalms and Nana giggles.
<Mykasi> "Man, I just got here and already you're harrassing me with puns?" Mike mutters. "Such a cold reception."
> Shades glares at Kyo, "Why you gotta do this to me, man? You don't show up for ages and when you do you bring one of *them* with you?"
> PJ, on the other hand, is laughing.
<Mykasi> "Eh, don't worry. I tend to switch from puns to other forms of jokes quickly. The opening was just too wide." Mike grins lazily.
> Freisa suddenly snrks, "Hehehe...'wide'..."
> PJ suddenly finds the puns alot less funny.
> "Ahem. Anyway, good to meet you. Go on and have a seat, right? You play cards much?"
<Mykasi> "...Wait, what?" Mike blinks. "Damnit, Japanese isn't my first language, did I just manage one without intending it? And yeah, played a lot back home, not so much here though."
> Folks make room and you, Kyo and PJ sit down around the table.
* Mykasi glances over to Kyo idly, trying to appraise his mood quickly as he sits.
> Freisa starts shuffling the cards, "Hmm...five is one too many for spades or hearts. Back to the old standby of poker, I guess?"
> Shades leans in and smiles, "That's fiiiiine by me, babe."
> Kyo settles in as well and after a moment his initial irritation with the group's...to be frank, blatent immaturity, fades. "Oh really? I coulda sworn I remember you saying you'd never play five card draw with me again..."
<Mykasi> "Poker works, sure." Mike shrugs casually.
> Shades turns a glare at him. Impressive how you can tell he's glaring through the sunglasses. "Things'll be different this time. Watch."
> PJ shakes his head, "Gentlemen, play nice. You all know the rules of the house." Pausing a second, he corrects himself, "Well, almost all. Freisa, mind filling Mike here in on the house rules?"
> Freisa smiles as she starts dealing, "Sure thing. The rules can be summed up as follows: don't be a turd."
<Mykasi> "...Right." Mike says after a moment.
> Nana brings over some snacks and drinks. Roasted pumpkin seeds, of course. And some club soda.
<Mykasi> "Thanks." Mike says in gratitude, glancing at the deal and eyeing reactions first and foremost to the cards picked up.
> As the cards hit the table, Mike can tell Kyo is getting focused. He still seems relaxed on a casual glance, but is a very deceptive calm. One Mike himself is rather familiar with, actually.
<Mykasi> Yeeeep, card shark. Mike knows the feeling, and while this isn't the sort of thing he usually manages zen for, perhaps he can pull a few upsets regardless... Mike, for his part, maintains his general posture and facial expression, waiting patiently.
> However, other then that focus, the man is damn near unreadable. Friesa seems to have a permanent smile on her face and also gives away very little. PJ's face, unfortunately for him, is simply very expressive and while he's trying to keep a poker face on, he doesn't always succeed.
> Shades, on the other hand, despite the damn sunglasses is an open book.
> The aura of cool he tries to project is quite clearly as fake as the breasts on most supermodles, and Mike's only known the guy for about ten minutes.
<Mykasi> Which is too bad, as Mike usually has nothing against the breasts of supermodels. Regardless, guessing at who this will come down to overall, he begins playing.
> Freisa and PJ keep up a random conversation while playing, that Kyo occasionally responds to. Shades, after bombing the first hand spectacularly thinking he caught you in a bluff, is super focused, leaning forward and watching every card.
> Kyo simply folds pretty early on the first two hands without even pushing hard. The second hand comes down to you and PJ. He's smiling. You know he's got something good. But you're sitting on a flush yourself.
> PJ pushes a little extra in(you're just playing with chips, not any real money, of course).
> "How about it, hee? You in?"
> Shades(who actually folded this round after the draw) looks at you and PJ as if he's trying to divine your hands.
* Mykasi tilts his head slightly. "Eh, in penny, in pound." With that, he pushes in enough to call.
> PJ smiles and lays his cards down. Full house. Aces and Eights, of course. Which...just *barely* beats a flush.
> Kyo just stares at the cards, "Dead man's hand? How the hell do you DO that, man?"
<Mykasi> "Heh. Coinflip either way, and I guessed you were lower." Mike lowers his own hand, nodding to PJ... and filing PJ's smile away for next time.
> PJ laughs, "Wierd stuff happens around me all the time man, you know that."
> Shades looks at Kyo, "Hey, what's with all the folding, anyway, Mr. Card Master?"
> Kyo shrugs, "When you get crap, you fold. That's part of the whole 'skill' thing."
> Friesa smiles and deals another hand, "Alright, alright, let's keep going!"
<Mykasi> "Indeed." Mike nods.
> A few more hands pass, and Mike can begin to see how things go. PJ...is a lucky son of a bitch, but he's easy to read. Shades is just too agressive of a player and steadily loses as the hands go by. Freisa isn't much better then Shades but doesn't seem to care, she's just having fun.
<Mykasi> Friesa is also, uh, cool, so that's fine by Mike. Casual play's always amusing (and the best Mike manages when completely smashed; half sober as he is, competency is at least stridently attempted.)
> Kyo and Mike himself are doing nearly equally well. Mike on baiting the others to call his 'bluffs' when he actually has a high hand, though it only works on Kyo once. And Kyo on solid poker skill and a stone cold expression.
<Mykasi> Once was about all he expected that the get from Kyo, and as such when it comes down to him and Kyo Mike tries to rely on memory providing decent count odds.
> The last hand plays out with Mike calling early(jack and shit even after the draw) and Shades, Friesa and Kyo pulling the pot up to a decent amount. Freisa finally drops and Kyo starts to lean in and half-smile a very...predatory smile. On the next pass, Kyo puts in enough that Shades, visibly sweating, backs out as well.
* Mykasi just looks at Kyo bemusedly, poker face dropped halfway as he recalls the three-king offsuit he had.
> Pulling the chips in with a smile, he flips his cards over. Nothing but a pair of aces.
> Shades slams his own hand down, "DAMMIT! I woulda WON that!"
> Nana, looking at the game, giggles, "Oh, what's your little saying, Kyo? That was 'aces'?"
<Mykasi> "I... kinda was betting on that. Then again, I stood no chance myself." Mike shrugs. "Three-king only gets so far."
> Freisa groans while Shades actually takes his glasses off to glare at Nana.
<Mykasi> "...Kyo, if you have said that ever once with that hand, you get no pun immunity from me, ever again. Understood?"
<Mykasi> This being said, Mike's grinning at that.
> Kyo holds his hands up, "No way man, that's PJ and Nana's style not mine."
> Freisa collects the cards and shakes her head, "You boys take this game way too seriously."
> PJ looks mock offronted, "Hey, don't look at me when you say that, I'm just having some fun!"
> Nana gives PJ a hug from behind, "That's okay sweetie, you're a man, not a boy."
> Shades puts his glasses back on and crosses his arms, "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
> Freisa giggles, "Sounded pretty clear to me!"
* Mykasi just shakes his head, nibbling on a few of the roasted pumpkin seeds. "Health" food when Mike tends to like more sugar, but hey, he's used to this stuff from home. "Heh. Eh, I can't argue - then again, not being able to drink back home's a sobering comparison."
> PJ snickers, "Not being able to drink is sobering. I like that." Popping a couple seeds himself, he asks, "So what is the drinking age over in America? You are from America, right? That's the accent I'm getting anyway."
<Mykasi> "Yep, west coast." Mike nods, glancing to Kyo again now that the game's over.
> Kyo stays farily relaxed, but now that the cards are gone, it's more of a real relaxation. He does seem fairly amused at having caused Shades' bad mood, though.
> Grabbing a fresh club soda, Kyo thinks, "Uh...drinking age in the States is twenty one, if I remember right. Is that it?" He looks back at you.
<Mykasi> "Oh. Yeah, it is. Though, admittedly, that's a legality more than anything else... there's too many people that don't care for it to be effective." Mike nods.
> PJ nods, "I believe it."
> Nana brings over yet more snacks. She appears to have an endless supply of them. Little mini-riceballs this time. Orange rice balls, of course.
> Setting them down, she wrinkles her nose at Shades, "What I mean by that is that you two need to get around to settling down like my PJ here." Turning her attention to you, she makes the obvious inquiry, "Well, maybe you three. Do you have a girlfriend, Mike?"
<Mykasi> "Ah." Mike says, face falling a bit. "I had a S.O. for a while back home. Not as it stands, however; it got broke off before I came here."
<Mykasi> "Currently not looking for one, kinda as a result."
> She smiles sadly, "That's too bad. And I can so understand, the ocean's a pretty big barrier to have a relationship over. Though...I hope it wasn't because you were moving out here that you broke up..."
> PJ scolds Nana, "Hey, you just met the guy today, no need to pry so much."
> She blushes, "Whoops! Ah, so sorry. I'm just nosy, I hope I didn't offend."
<Mykasi> "Nah. Other factors came into play. And don't worry about it too much. I keep what I want to keep private, private." Mike grins easily. (Yeah, very private.)
> Shades snorts, "Hah. No wonder you get on well with Kyo here then."
> Friesa grins, "Yeah, we've got ourselves a regular international man of mystery here. This guy never talks about himself."
> Suddenly the focus of attention, Kyo squirms a bit, "Eh, not much interesting to talk about."
> "Besides, I've told you guys about my family and stuff."
> Shades shakes his head, "Yeah, stuff that's well past is fair game, but hell if we can get anything about your present out of you. I've got ahold of you a few times to see if you're coming over and what do I hear you're up to?" He tries to mimic Kyo's voice, "'oh, just the usual stuff'"
> Kyo snorts at that, "Tch. Man, when have I got to be accountable to you?"
* Mykasi chuckles a bit. "Eh, to be fair, college cram can blow - and I've been probably the result of a few absences, due to forcing him to show me where some of the better food joints are at this college. Was up in Tokyo first year, so this was disorienting."
> PJ shakes his head a bit sadly, "It's a fair question, Kyo. I mean, you used to hang out with us all the time and then you up and vanish. Now you pop back in outta nowhere, right?" But as you interject, he shrugs, "Alright, I guess that's fair. College wasn't so long ago for me that I don't remember the cramming."
> Freisa's smile turns a bit down, "Just...we're still your freinds, right?"
> Kyo winces, "Yeah...just, I've been busy alot. I'll try to swing by more often, alright?"
<Mykasi> "Eh, I'm around and willing to bug about card games. We'll see, alright? Depends on if I can get out of programming homework, myself." Mike shrugs, trying to leave both himself and Kyo latitude.
> PJ gives him an apprasing look, but doesn't say anything more. He does nod to you, though, "Hey, no problem. Come on over anytime, right? I work from home, so even if you just need a place to chill out randomly for a little bit and you're in the area I should be around."
> Friesa's smile returns fully, "Just make sure you remember the password~"
<Mykasi> "Alright, thanks." Mike nods. "I'll... do my best to keep that one in mind."
> You all hang out a bit more, and people let Kyo's business stay his own for now. There's the usual 'get to know the new guy' questions, mostly about either life in America or what you're studdying in college.
<Mykasi> Most of which Mike answers honestly, but mainly shallowly avoiding most questions about family or the S.O. as best he can.
> After a while, Shades heads out. A few more later and Kyo stands up, "Alright, I'm gonna split. You comin' along, man?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah, got a bit more homework to finish. Thanks, everyone. 'night."
> Nana is the only one who tries to ask questions about the S.O., but PJ gives her the eye and she stops short every time.
> As the two of you stand up and Nana presses a couple more riceballs to go in your hands, the world suddenly returns to greyscale...
<Mykasi> "...Wait, did I just level up again?"
> All motion stops, and all color is gone. Except for a small orange light resting within Kyo.
> The orange light rises out of him and transforms once more into the spinning card. The image on the back is the same and the one on the front is...slightly less blurred, though you still can't tell much about it.
<Mykasi> "Hiya, Merlin. Long time no see."
<Mykasi> "Except not, but."
> The voice returns, as if from everywhere and nowhere all at once, "Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Magician Arcana."
> Then everything snaps back into place at once, with Nana smiling and handing you a baggie full of leftover riceballs(whether you want to take it or not).
> Kyo doesn't even try to fight her, but takes his share, waves to everyone, and slips out the dor.
* Mykasi accepts it, the riceballs were nommy. With that, he slips out the door with Kyo, moving to keep pace.
<Mykasi> "Thought I'd intercede... figured you didn't need the ragging so much." he says when out of the complex.
> Shrugging, he does nod thanks to you, "Uh...yeah, thanks for helping me out there man. I know I've been a bit of a jerk to 'em lately...they're a good group though."
> "Just...well, stuff gets kinda busy, eh?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah, I can get it. Time gets to a crunch point and all. Still, I'll see if I can't drag you out there a bit more often. ...maybe we can teach Shades a poker face, though I wonder if it'll be lethal to try."
> Kyo laughs, "Maaan, that guy. Wants so bad to be the Big Bad Wolf, but he's more like the first little pig."
<Mykasi> "Pret-ty much, yeah." Mike nods slightly. "Nana's good people, though shit timing bringing up my S.O...  that was who the bad news was from."
> He winces again, "Ouch. Yeah, she's nosy but nice. To continue the animal metaphors, she's like a mother bear over Friesa, too."
<Mykasi> "Heh, fair enough. Thanks for the trip, and damn you are good, idly. Mainly kept up out of bluffing the rest of them..."
> Kyo nods, "Yeah, I noticed. Shades is an easy draw while Friesa doesn't really play hard. PJ's the one you gotta watch out for. Not 'cause he's good, though. Guy's a lucky punk."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, pretty much. Luck's more dangerous than skill after a point, though..." Mike grins.
> "And the HANDS he gets! Aces and Eights, four jacks, jack high straights, gah." He shakes his head, "That guy's a weirdness magnet if there ever was one. Rolls with it though."
<Mykasi> "Heh. At least we can be decently sure Nana, Friesa and Shades aren't an esper, a time traveler and a robot respectively?"
> He chuckles, "Yeah, they're loons, but that's about it."
> The two of you get on the bus which takes you back to the campus in short order.
<Mykasi> "That and you'd expect the robot to have a good poker face..."
> Kyo looks up at the dorms and shrugs, "Eh, I'm gonna take a walk. Hope hanging out with those guys helped some?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah, it did - enough that I think I'll just stash the beer for now." Mike nods after a moment. "Thanks again, man."
> Kyo nods and heads off while Mike heads back up to put the beer away and get some sleep before the adventure awaiting tomorrow...
> -----------------------------

Mykasi: Hanged Man 1

> --------------------------------------------
> It's...late. Roughly 1:30 AM on Sunday morning, and Mykasi is still awake. Back in his room at least, and thankfully Kyo is still out(when the hell DOES that guy sleep anyway?). As the minutes tick by, Mike is once again staring at his phone, waiting for it to ring...
* Mykasi is currently also very thankful that this isn't a video conference call, as he looks about as crunked up as he actually was a few hours ago. Fortunately, a cold shower and some food seem to have settled down some of the drunken binge. Some. Damnit, Valeriya...
> Finally the phone rings. Caller ID is your parents' number, of course. Specicially your mom's cellphone.
* Mykasi picks up, naturally. "Hhhey, Mom." Ugh. Great way to start the conversation, slurring words. "...Sorry. A bit exhausted. Been a long day."
> She chuckles a bit, "Sorry these calls have to be so late for you, sweetie. Still awake enough to talk to Xavier's parents, or should we try this another day?"
<Mykasi> "...No. Let's do this today." Mike says after considering.
> "Alright. Well, I'm still a couple minutes away from thier house. Outside of the long day, how are you doing over there?"
<Mykasi> "Stressed, honestly. A lot of projects..." Mike quickly stifles a yawn, shaking his head and standing up. "A lot of projects are adding up rather quickly."
> There's a pause for a moment, then, "Ugh, what am I doing, nodding over the phone again. College life is like that, I'm afraid. At least it is if you're applying yourself properly."
<Mykasi> "I definitely seem to be doing that." Mike says with a slight grin of his own. "And at least I know where I get my own nodding-on-the-phone habit from."
> "Well so long as we don't start nodding-off on the phone, it should be alright." Another pause, "Good lord, that sounded like one of your father's jokes."
<Mykasi> "Must've just been a nod to his sense of humor." Mike says, deadpan.
> "I'm going to pretend that was unintentional and continue telling myself that you didn't inherit his humor."
<Mykasi> "Have fun with that."
> She chuckles again. As much as she complains about Stephan's jokes, she does usually laugh at them.
> "Alright, I'm almost there. I'm going to go ahead and put it on speaker-phone, alright?"
<Mykasi> "Alright." Mike says, hesitant - and honestly worried, but...
> She turns the phone to speaker-mode and a moment later, Mike can hear a knocking sound.
* Mykasi waits quietly.
> A female voice can barely be heard, "Yes? Oh, Mary. What is it?"
> Your mom sighs slighly at Rhoda's rather blatent hostility, "Well if we're just going to skip the pleasantries, I have Mykasi on the line. He really does need to talk to you and Davis."
* Mykasi winces a bit. Man, Rhoda hadn't been so stiff before.
> "...You were serious about that?" There's a pause, then Rhoda adds, "I told you at church last week, Davis and I don't want anything to do with your son. Whatever he has to say, we don't need to hear. He's out of our life now and is going to stay that way."
> Mary's voice gains a slight edge, "You know, there is such a thing as taking being a dutiful wife too far, Rhoda. You are allowed to think for yourself instead of just parroting Davis. You were never like this before."
<Mykasi> ... ha! Mike barely manages to maintain his silence, but gets an immediate smile at that one.
> There's vague sounds that Mike can't quite make out, then Rhoda's very faint voice, "It's just someone from church dear, breakfast is on the table go ahead and help yourself." Then a bit more clearly, "First off, I hardly think you're in a positon to say anything to me about being a good wife or mother. Secondly, unless you want to get into a shouting match with Davis, you should probably leave."
> There's a small pause where you can almost see your mother's eyebrows arching up, "Excuse me? What exactly are you trying to say?"
<Mykasi> Okay. Any bitter feelings over the last conversation with his mother? Go-o-o-o-oooone! Mike's drunk enough to be grinning a bit like a loon, though also worried a bit for his mom at this point...
> "You know very well what I mean. Your son turned out...that way...because you two were so permissive. And God help me, I made the same mistake with Xavier. But we've been given a second chance to raise him right this time and I'm not about to ruin that by bringing your family back into his life."
<Mykasi> Aaaaand that just sent the mood screeching to a damn halt.
> The edge to Mary's voice is now a bit more then slight, "And now you sound just like Father West. And don't you dare take that as a compliment, bigotry in the name of God is still bigotry."
> "Slandering the good Father's name now? And I suppose you defend that boy's...lifestyle?" Rhoda's voice has become just as hard as your mother's.
> There's a long moment of silence, then Mary's voice very softly breaks it, "You know very well that I don't agree with it. But it's his choice to make, not mine. And not yours either. But he is still my son and I will support him, even if I don't always approve of what he does. But right now, all he's trying to do is have a chance to explain things to your family."
> Rhoda retorts, "Sinning is sinning, no matter how good an excuse you have. I don't want to hear it, Mary. And neither does Davis."
* Mykasi lets the words on his tongue die for a moment, before, "Even if they are words of apology for the deception, Mrs. Wolfe?"
> "...has that been on speaker this whole time?" You can only assume your mother nodded, because Rhoda continues, "Deception? Are you telling me that this whole...thing...was a big lie?"
<Mykasi> "... No. Deception as in not telling you what had been happening." Mike grimaces. Oh wouldn't you like it to be otherwise. "As in having kept it a secret for so long, and for the manner in which you learned it."
> With barely controlled anger, she responds, "Is that supposed to change anything? You corrupted our boy, nothing you can say is going to make us forgive you. If you want to do something for us, then keep your Godless ways away from our family and away from our son."
> Mike can hear his mother taking a very deep breath. This is either trying to calm herself down or about to preceed a rant.
> Another voice, barely audible cuts in, "Mom? Is that Mrs. Werfel out there?"
> Rhoda quickly replies, "Go eat your breakfast, Xavier."
* Mykasi opens his mouth to cut off his mother, before clamping it down shut to steel. "... Xav..." Mike chokes out, almost unsure if he can be heard on the phone. "...Xav." after that, a bit louder.
> Mary quickly speaks up, "Yes, Xavier, it's me. And I have Mykasi on the phone out here."
<Mykasi> Mom for the save. Now to comport himself quickly and hope Rhoda or Davis can't stop Xav...
<Mykasi> ...presuming Xav even wants to talk to him. Shit.
> Xavier's voice is a bit more clear, "Really? Um...can I talk to him?"
> Rhoda snaps, "No. Mrs. Werfel was just leaving. Go back to the kitchen."
* Mykasi ... has to refrain from snapping at Mrs. Wolfe himself; harder than it seems in his half-drunk state, and -glad- his dad isn't here to pick up on it even now. "...Hey, Xav."
> Both Mary and Xavier start to say something at once before Rhoda's voice cuts over them both, "Good-bye Mary, and don't come back." Then a slamming door.
> "...well now. That went a bit worse then expected." Mary's voice is fairly flat.
<Mykasi> "...sorry, Mom. I shouldn't have said anything." Mike said, miserable, after a point.
> The phone switches back to normal mode, "No, you didn't do anything wrong, sweetie."
> "Do you think you can stand to stay up a couple more hours?"
<Mykasi> "...heh. I got to hear his voice, at least. And he wants to talk to me. ...better than nothing." Mike grins slightly, miserableness tempered slightly. "Yeah, why?"
> "Because you and Xavier need to talk and Rhoda has no right to tell him he can't talk to you if he wants to."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike pauses slightly. "Mom?"
> "Yes?"
<Mykasi> "I love you. Don't do anything that Dad and I would agree would look cool, as that probably means it's a really bad idea."
> "Sweetie, I'm not about to confront Davis. I know better then that. I will, however, go right around the both of them. The man is more predictable then the end of a John Saul novel and until this week, I've been going to church with them every Sunday. I already know exactly when I'll be able to talk to Xavier without his parents around."
<Mykasi> "...Alright. I confess I thought you were going to try and climb the ivy trellis outside his window." Mike says with a slight laugh. "But I like this plan better."
> "Oh no, nothing extreme like that. And this is going to take a couple hours, so why don't you try to nap a bit?"
> "And...I promise I didn't know they'd gotten this bad. The last I talked to Rhoda about it, she just said that she didn't think it would be a good idea because Davis would get angry. Which would be nothing new for him, considering his temper."
<Mykasi> "...If I fall asleep, I'll be out like a rock. I'll just take another shower and try to get some work done." Mike shrugs, still trying to smooth out the word slurs.
<Mykasi> "It's okay, Mom. Though... from what Bill said, I had been wondering. And now you see why I wanted to say something to you guys..." Mike replied.
> She's quiet a moment, "I know. And I'm sorry how I reacted before. I...I won't try and pretend to approve, but it doesn't mean I love you or support you any less. I hope you understand that."
<Mykasi> "...Honestly, it will take me time myself. But... yeah. I understand. I do." A pause. "Hard for me to take, but I do."
> "Alright, I'll call back in a couple hours, either with or without Xavier. This plan does hinge on him being willing to disobey his parents to talk to you, afterall."
> "Though I think he will be."
<Mykasi> "Right. And... yeah, let's hope so." Mike nods slightly. "Talk to you soon."
> "Try not to work yourself up too much while waiting, Mikey. Talk to you soon."
> She hangs up.
* Mykasi closes the phone and stands there for a few moments, before stepping into the shower again.
<Mykasi> After quickly rinsing off, Mike towels off, tosses briefs and a tee back on, then considers, eyeing his computer and then eyeing the time. "Okay, actually..." Mike clicks the light stand light on, and tosses his phone next to it with the alarm for ten minutes to the hour after next, volume maxed. With that he lies down, figuring that the light will stop him from dozing too hard.
<Mykasi> OOC: in ready stance, though drowsing slightly.
> Mike does cat-nap a bit, but never falls into a full sleep. And after awhile, the phone alarm does go off, waking him up fully.
> About twenty minutes after that, the phone rings. It's your mom's cell number, of course.
* Mykasi picks up immediately. "Hey. How'd it go?"
> The voice on the other end is most defintively not your mother's, "Uh...hey. Mykasi, er, Mike?"
<Mykasi> "...oh. Hey, Xav." Mike's voice mellows even further. "Good to hear your voice, man. You been doing alright?"
> "I think so? I'm not really sure what 'alright' is, to be honest."
<Mykasi> "...I guess that's fair enough." Mike says with a slight sigh. "Really appreciate you being willing to talk to me, at least..." There's a lot Mike wants to say, here, but most of it's catching in his throat. Damn throat. Need cybernetic throat that doesn't get stuff caught in it.
> "Well, I'm just really curious about everything that happened before. Bill and Sandy tell me stuff sometimes, but everyone always said you're the one I was closest to. Uh, I guess I know why now. Heh."
> "But mom and dad and even Father West all try and tell me now that I should stop trying to remember. Which...it just kinda makes me mad, you know?"
<Mykasi> "...yeah. I hate getting preached at like that, too, and... in your shoes, I can't imagine how it'd feel. I'd probably have snapped pretty hard at them." Mike says, before pausing for a moment. "Xav, I've... I've got to apologize. To you, most of all - wanted to apologize to your parents as well, but it seems like they won't hear of that." (More)
<Mykasi> "I... I fucked up. Really bad. At the time where you needed me most, at the time where there was the most I could do for you... well. I gave myself a ton of excuses. That I couldn't get anything done in America, that I couldn't do anything for you... but both were bullshit." Mike's voice, oddly, contains no anger, just a wistful note. "I broke and ran from you, man." (More)
<Mykasi> "And I didn't do anything to try and explain things to you, or your family, or even my own... I ran like a coward because... it felt like everything crumbled. And in that... I forgot about you, dude. And it's torn me up since. And there's nothing I want more than to be back there... but..."
> "But even if it was 'just running' you really do want to do what you're doing in Japan, right?"
<Mykasi> "...There's that, and... well. I've got things that I need to do here now. I come running back to you... I make the same damn mess. And despite what my Mom would probably tell you, I -do- learn from my mistakes." Mike laughed a bit, before calming down. "So... I'll finish up what I need to do here, and then... I'll come back. And if you haven't remembered by then, I'll do all I can to help. ...though I'm still willing as hell to try and help you reme
<Mykasi> " ...though I'm still willing as hell to try and help you remember over the phone." Mike finishes, chuckling.
> "Well, I don't know how often I'll be able to call. You can't call me at all, and I think my dad would notice if I started calling Japan."
> "...uh, your dad says not to worry about that, he's got an idea. Okay..."
<Mykasi> "My dad's like that, yeah. ...Xav, can I request you to swap to speakerphone? I wanna suggest something in case of, well, things going to blazes, but it's something I'd want to make sure my Mom and Dad would support." Mike asks. "And then, any questions - all questions - you got, I'm willing to answer." Xav's computer probably got taken by his parents, then - they never did like the damn thing.
> "Alright, it's this button on the top right?"
> You hear the buzz of it switching, and then your dad's voice, "Yes, that one."
<Mykasi> "Hey. Uh... Just wanted to float a request by you two, and it makes sense that Xav hears it. Mom, you haven't converted my room into a sewing slash embroidery slash treadmill room, right? If... well." Mike says, quieting down and realizing this may sound harsh. "... I just wanna know Xav has somewhere to go."
> Stephan starts lauging, "Great minds think alike, I see. I was about to broach the same idea with you. Though that's a clear last resort, of course."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, definitely. Oh, and I think there's some pictures of the gang hanging up in there. Feel free to go on in and look at them later, Xav." Mike says, clearly relieved that they didn't flinch at the suggestion. "Thanks for that, Xav."
> Stephan continues, "My less drastic idea for communication simply involves us buying a phone for Xavier and having all charges for it come here. We can afford it without too much trouble, before you ask."
<Mykasi> "That works, yeah. Though not using that around your house... might be wise, Xav. But you know that." Mike shakes his head. "And yeah, that should do. Did they take your computer, Xav?"
> Xavier half-heartedly objects, "Uh, you don't have to go and spend money on me like that. I'm sure I can just...I dunno, find ways to call or something. Maybe use Bill's phone when he comes by?"
> "And...I had a computer?"
> Stephan brushes off his objection, "Nonsense. Don't think of this as me spending money on you. I'm buying this for Mike and because I enjoy thumbing my nose at people like your father."
<Mykasi> "...You did, yes." Mike rubs his head. "You saved up for an entire year to purchase it. Worked at your dad's even though you hated it. And... regarding the phone, I can share some of the cost of it. I'll toss some of what I've got floating in my savings for you guys to apply to it."
> Stephan continues, "Don't worry about it, Mike. Save your money for yourself. I'm in the middle of negotiating a contract for a new trilogy, so we should be fine on money for a bit."
<Mykasi> "...Alright. Thanks." Mike says, acquiescing (stocks weren't doing so well anyway).
> Xav sighs, his weak objections shot down hard, "Um, thanks Mr. Werfel."
> Stephan finishes, "Not a problem at all. And remember our door is always open for you. As it is to Bill and Sandy as well when she's in town, before you start objecting to special treatment."
> Xavier had started to say something, but stops before two syllables are out of his mouth.
> Stephan chuckles, "Just goes to show that even with memory loss, you're still largely the same person. You never could stand even the thought of getting preferential treatment, even when you'd earned it."
> Xav wonders aloud, "I'm really that bad about that?"
<Mykasi> "And Amelia if she ever gets out of Pair-eeeeeee." Mike slurs the last syllable deliberately, addressing his dad's earlier point. "And... yes. You did that to us all the time, dude. 'Oh, no, I'm not hungry! You guys finish the pizza!' ...Right after you'd waited for us for, what, six hours? Since we got stuck at Bill's listening to him get chewed out. Yeah."
> "Now I hate to break this up so soon, but you should probably get back before they notice you're gone, Xavier."
<Mykasi> "...Yeah. Sorry for not getting to talk to you more in person, Xav, but if this works out... well." Mike says.
> Xavier sighs, "Right. So...I'll call as soon as I have that phone, okay?"
<Mykasi> "Alright, man. Just... avoid calling during late night your time, and I'll probably be not busy. Looking forward to talking to you, alright?"
> "Right. So...I guess I'll talk to you later. Um, bye."
* Mykasi rubs his head. "Yeah, talk to you later. ...Take care."
> Suddenly, the color fades from the world as everything seems to stop moving.
<Mykasi> "...OH YOU HAVE TO BE FUCKING SHITTING ME."
> A soft grey glow rises out of the phone in Mike's hand and turns into a spinning card, the front too blury to make out but the back...a man hanging upside down from a rope attached to his ankles, dangling over a cliff that looks out to the sea.
> 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 Hanged Man Arcana"
> Then, in the blink of an eye, everything returns to normal.
<Mykasi> "... ..." Mike stares at the phone in his hand, before muttering, "For the love of..."
> The door eases open as Mike is staring at his phone, and Kyo slides in. Seeing you, he blinks, "Still up man?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah. It's... been a long night. I'll take this into the hall, man. You go ahead and crash, alright?" Mike says, before saying into the phone, "Be right back. Roommate's back, gonna let him sleep."
> Kyo just nods and heads right to his bed.
> There's no response from the phone, it seems Xavier had hung up.
* Mykasi nods back and steps out, before glancing to the phone. "...right. Xav's about as bad as Bill about that. Glad to see that hasn't changed, either... ...he wanted to talk to me." Mike grins stupidly. "Heeeee...."
* Mykasi waits about ten minutes before calling his dad's cell, rubbing his head.
<Mykasi> And being glad calls between these three phones don't cost anything. Too bad that's the max the plan allows....
> His dad picks up, "Shouldn't you be trying to get at least some sleep?"
<Mykasi> "Sleep is for people who aren't tempted to start singing at 4:00 AM in a Japanese dorm." Mike deadpans. "Seriously, though, I will in a little bit. Mainly... just wanted to say thanks to both of you."
> He chuckles, "Not a problem, Mikey. So I take it from the threats of a spontaneous musical interlude that you're feeling better?"
<Mykasi> "...yeah. That really helped, sappy as it may sound." Mike rubs his head, grinning still. "Honestly, yesterday... was really miserable, all things considered, so this helped a whole ton."
> "Anything you want to talk about, or just one of those days?"
<Mykasi> "...It's kinda hard to explain. An acquantaince of mine... well, she's... kinda disappeared. No one has a clue where she went, and, well... Honestly, I'm really damn worried at this point." Mike says, keeping things simple. "Not the same friend as got the dreamcatcher, someone else. I... don't know how to account for it. But the police said they're looking, so."
> He's quiet for a moment, then replies, "It sounds like things are getting a bit weird over there."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. There's been some odd stuff in the news as well, but... I'm keeping safe, okay? So don't worry." Well, as safe as you can when SOMETHING IS OUT TO EAT YOU ALIVE oh fuck need to not think anymore blargh. "Thanks for backing me up on the room suggestion, and thanks re: the phone."
> "I trust you to take care of yourself, Mike. And don't worry about us helping Xavier. Frankly I've been holding my peace about Davis for years due to your mother's freindship with Rhoda. I never have been able to stand the man, and just because he's Xavier's father doesn't give him the right to ruin his life."
<Mykasi> "To quote Davis quite out-of-context-ly? 'Amen, Father. Amen.'" Mike grins.
> He snorts, "Good one. Anyway, it's past time for you to catch some shut-eye, and I'm expecting a call from my publisher any minute now as well. Wish me luck."
<Mykasi> "You'll be fine, Dad. And alright, I'll go crash. Talk to you later, email me with how the publishing goes."
> "Will do. Good night, Mikey."
<Mykasi> "G'night."
> The call ends.
* Mykasi closes up the phone and quietly goes back inside his room, prepared to crash straight away and guessing Kyo's done the same.
> Kyo is indeed already asleep when you go back in.
<Mykasi> And so does Mike put his phone away and slip into bed, ready to finally crash...
> ---------------------------------------------

Nagare: Death 1

> ----------------------------------------------
> Monday afternoon, while Mykasi and Hikari are at the Dreamspeakers craft shop, Nagare went home. As he nears the parking garage for his building he can't help but notice a familiar form sitting on the mailbox across the street. A familiar small blonde female form in a cute blue summer dress...
> She seems to be staring off into the distance at the moment, for all that Nagare can tell.
* Nagare raises his eyebrow, carefully looking around to see if there's another living soul at the environments, as simply speaking to Alice straight could pick up a few strange looks.
> There's a teenager walking around with headphones on. But you see him around all the time, and he never seems to talk to anyone, just walk around listening to his music.
> Other then him, the place is pretty empty for the time being.
* Nagare shrugs to himself and decides it's a risk worth taking. As he approaches, the teacher lights a cigarette.
> She doesn't seem to notice you until you're practically right in front of her. When she does, she blinks a couple of times and pulls her attention away from the sky, "Oh, um, hullo!"
<Nagare> "Do you always contemplate the scenery like this? I honestly didn't expect to meet you here," the teacher says as he blows a puff of smoke up in the air. "... I actually never asked, does the smoke bother you?"
> "Well, I don't really have much to do most of the time, so I watch the clouds alot. Sometimes they look like things, you know." Alice looks up, then looks back down and shrugs, "But they don't look like anything interesting today."
> "And only when there's so much of it that I can't see. I..." she sounds embarrased, "I can't actually smell things in this world, so it's just like whispy little strings of fog to me."
* Nagare scratches his head, albeit slightly relieved. One less trivial worry to deal with, at least. "I... see, I see. You know... back when I was a kid, I used to look at the clouds. But they always had the shape of something I knew. I think that it's because I tried to imagine the shapes around them."
<Nagare> "If you're too bored and the clouds themselves don't give you shapes, you can actually make them if you think hard enough."
> Alice nods, "Oh yes! Sometimes when I can see alot of shapes I'll make up stories about them. Like when one is a horse and another is a boat, I'll try to think of why a horse would be on a boat and think about that until the clouds go away."
> She looks back up and frowns, "But sometimes they just look like clouds no matter which way you look at them."
* Nagare sits on the ground besides Alice and looks up. "I imagine that would happen if you have all the time in the world to look at clouds and nothing else to do." The teacher then keeps quiet for a minute, draining his cigarette slowly and releasing the wisps of smoke as time passes.
> Alice swings her feet as she sits there. Nagare can see them hitting the mailbox, but they don't make any sound. "I used to wander all over trying to talk to everyone just to see who could hear me, but most people didn't want to talk to me even when they could. And some people got really angry, so I stopped trying for awhile."
* Nagare crosses his arm, cigarette in mouth, frowning slightly. He stops for a moment, then tries to actually talk, but as his mouth opens, the cigarette falls ingloriously to the ground. "Ah, damn. Anyhow... I have to ask. For how long have you been stuck in this loop?"
> She stops and thinks, tilting her head to the side, "Um...I can't really remember how long, to be honest."
* Nagare slides his foot slightly to stomp the fallen cigarette, killing its light, and tilts his head. "It seems like you've been... 'dead' for a long time, from what I can infer. Possibly longer than I have lived. This is... disheartening, to say the least."
> Alice shakes her head, "Oh no, I'm not dead. I was never alive at all, you see."
* Nagare raises his eyebrow. "Eh?"
> She looks at you flatly, "I said I was never alive at all, so I can't be dead."
<Nagare> "I understand -that- part, but you were never alive? How does -that- work?"
> Alice shrugs, "I don't know. It just does."
<Nagare> "I guess I should be less surprised given the things I've seen recently. Oh well. That does raise a few more interesting questions, though."
> The kid with the headphones walks by. He just nods to you and keeps going.
* Nagare scratches his head, waiting for the kid to go off into the distance, and turns to Alice. "That's an improvement compared to the lady on Sunday."
> Alice bites on the obvious questions, "You've been seeing weird things? Well, besides me. I don't think I'm weird but I know everyone else does."
> Then she giggles, "I've followed him around a few times. He's weird too. Though he can't see me..."
<Nagare> "I wonder if he can't see you or if he just doesn't care," Nagare mumbles sardonically. "And... yes, you could say that."
> She places her hands on her hips, "Well if he can see me then he's very rude. I've tried talking to him and he never answered."
* Nagare smirks. "I wouldn't put being rude behind a teenager. Although I can't say I'm much better off given that first impression."
> "I wonder what it's like being a teenager? Everyone seems to talk about them as if it's something special...usually in a bad way."
* Nagare scratches his cheek with a sardonic smile. "It is pretty special, yes. I'm not sure you'd ever understand just -how-. I'll just say that I'm glad to have -that- phase behind me, although, in retrospect, I probably didn't really stand out much in that sense. Too busy."
> "Too busy doing what?"
<Nagare> "When I was that age? Studying to get into law school as fast as possible. After that, too busy studying and trying to figure out the quickest path to social fulfillment. I just didn't really stop to pay much attention to the immediate world surrounding us," the teacher remarks pensively.
> She considers this for a moment, "Hmm. Do they teach social fulfillment in law school? I've only ever been to grade school before." She pauses, "Well, I wasn't actually in the school, but I did stay with the same class for a whole year once. Not that anyone in the class knew I was there, of course."
* Nagare begins laughing, reaching for another cigarette as he smiles. "It must have been a waste of time for you, Alice. Your mental age seems to be quite a bit beyond that threshold," Nagare muses as he lights the cigarette.
> "Oh no, it was very interesting! I learned all sorts of things I never knew before!"
> Then she considers, "Though I think I've forgotten most of them now..."
<Nagare> "I'd imagine. You probably could get away with just moving through the grades for a few years if you care. It'd be interesting, if for no other reason that you'd be free of the added responsibilities. But...," Nagare tries to finish a thought, but stops midway.
> She frowns, "Well, it wasn't always fun. Sometimes I forgot people couldn't see me and raised my hand to answer questions. Then I remembered and the rest of the day wasn't very fun."
* Nagare snickers. "Your dichotomy sometimes is appalling. On the other hand, I can't help but be amused."
> Alice blinks, "My what?"
> "I don't think I learned that word in school at all."
<Nagare> "I'd be impressed if you -did-. Anyhow... it's... a division between two contradictory groups or ideas, so to speak. I say this because you seem to exist with this childlike yearning, yet you also carry a sort of world-weariness that is thick enough to cut with a knife."
> "Oh."
> She doesn't really seem to know what to say besides that.
* Nagare takes a smoke from his cigarette. "Mind, this doesn't say much. I'm just stating what seems obvious to me. I tended to do that a lot with my wife. It always made her a bit angry."
> Alice is quiet for a moment, then adds very quietly, "I'm just happy that someone is talking to me at all..."
* Nagare nods and sighs. "That's... good. I'm not doing you a favor, though. At this point, I'm just starting to find it actually funny that you have the heart to listen to me ramble. Although... this doesn't bother me."
> She tilts her head, "Why is that funny? Do most people not listen to you?"
* Nagare snickers. "Actually, I just generally don't talk to people much besides the typical amenities. I'm not sure if I even told Kasumi what was my favorite color, or food, for instance."
> Alice nods, "My favorite food is tepin...tappen...tuppin...um, when they cook things on that hot grill right at the table and the cooks do tricks while they do it!"
* Nagare scratches his head. "You know... can you even eat? It would make a lot of sense if you were unable to, given what you're saying."
> "Oh no, I can't eat it. It's just so much fun to watch them cook it!"
* Nagare smiles. "Definitely makes sense. Although some teppenyaki dishes are quite good. Not a bad choice there."
> "So what is your favorite food?"
<Nagare> "Beef ramen, preferrably with onions and only a dash of soy sauce. Simple, practical and fulfilling."
> "I think the last person who talked to me liked sushi best. But I get confused whenever I go into a sushi place. There's so many kinds of fish to keep track of. Do they really all taste different?"
<Nagare> "Depending on the cook's skill, even a single ingredient can turn a sushi into a completely new dish, taste-wise. A poor cook manages to make them all taste equally inedible, though."
> She nods, "I wish I could try these things. It would be fun to taste all these different foods!"
* Nagare nods and scratches his cheek, sighing half-heartedly. "Your excitement makes me wonder a little bit. Yours is a strange perspective to see unfold, that's for sure."
> Alice pouts a bit, "I just want to know what it's like to be a normal person is all. Is it really that strange?"
<Nagare> "That's not the strange part. Craving for what you never had but routinely see is typical. However, it's... sobering to realize how the very triviality of existing can be as covetable as you show. And it's sad because, if you -were- a normal person... I'm sure you wouldn't be excited about it if you had been one for your whole life."
> She thinks about it for a moment, then asks, "So it's like when I hear people saying that they wish they could walk through walls or be invisible and I think that it's not as much fun as they think it is?"
* Nagare nods. "Precisely. You're pretty sharp."
> "Well, I do have a lot of time to think about things."
* Nagare nods. "It shows. And it's good, too. That was just about the only thing I could spare time for until a few years ago."
* Nagare looks at the clock, raises his eyebrow, slightly startled. "... I lost track of time. I'll have to go now, missy."
> Her face falls a bit, "Oh."
* Nagare scratches his head, getting up. "I don't mind, though. I just need to hurry a bit so I don't get late to this afternoon's appointment. And, well, at this point, you figured out where I can be found. I'm sure we'll meet again."
> She nods, "Um, okay. Whenever I don't have anything else to do I'll just come back around here, okay?"
* Nagare nods, dusting himself off. "Feel free. I didn't expect you to find me so easily, but it was... a bit heartening."
> She smiles a bit, nods and then vanishes.
> The moment she dissapears from sight, all movement in the world seems to stop as the color bleeds away from everything.
> In the space she was sitting, a pale white energy glows...and turns into a spining card. You can't make out the image on the front...but the back is clearly a gillotine where the blade is a playing card and jack-o-lanterns are strewn about the base all wearing silly expressions.
> 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 Death Arcana"
> Then, in the blink of an eye, everything returns to normal.
* Nagare blinks, shaking his head. "I honestly have to wonder if this will turn into a habit."
> --------------------------------------------------

Hikari: Fortune 2

------------------------------------------------
> Wednesday, after the meeting with Nagare and Mykasi and making the decision to take the trip to the Okuro residence, Hikari heads back up to her room to spend the couple hours she has before it's time to go.
> As she opens the door, she finds her roommate already there, flipping through pages in one of her rulebooks and scratching down notes in one of her many sketch/notebooks.
<Hikari> "Hard at work, I see," Hikari says with a touch of skepticism.
> Neimi looks up, "Hmm? Oh, hey. I'm just leveling my character before the game tonight. Jinai waited until now to tell me that we got a level last session, the lamer."
> Then she remembers something and grins, "Oh yeah! Are you still interested in sitting in on a session? I've got tonight off this week, so I'm good to go."
<Hikari> "Eh? Well...I suppose I have the afternoon free. It would be good to take my mind off things for a while."
> She shrugs, "Well, it's more of an evening game then an afternoon game. We start at six and play until...generally either ten or midnight."
> OOC: It's roughly 5 now and you're planning on meeting up with Mike/Nagare at 7, just togive you the timetables.
<Hikari> "That's...Well, like an athlete preparing for a marathon. You always keep at it for that long? I could spare an hour or two to see how these things work, but I have somewhere to be in a few hours."
> Neimi nods, "Yup, once a week for the fantasy game, generally for four hours, sometimes six if we get in the middle of something big. Then another game on Saturdays, we alternate the Horror and Sci-Fi one in that slot. That's an early afternoon game, runs usually for 3 hours, sometimes a bit more. And the Maid game is pretty slow, it only runs every other Sunday."
> "Trust me, once you actually start playing, the hours kinda slip by really fast."
> "There never actually seem to be enough time to get what you're trying to accomplish done in any given session."
<Hikari> "Maid...game?"
> "But if you've only got a bit of time today..." she muses for a moment, "Well, what time do you need to leave by?"
<Hikari> "Oh...Somewhere approaching seven, I'd guess."
> Neimi nods, "Yeah, not nearly enough time. But...how about we head over to the gameroom now and work on getting you a quick intro? Jinai is really good at explaining the rules to new players. Then you can just watch us play until you need to go and see if you think it seems fun?"
> "You should definately get the crash course in the rules first though, since you'll be able to understand what's going on easier that way."
<Hikari> Hikari nods. "Okay."
> "It's not really all that complicated, it just sounds like it if you don't know the rules at all."
> Neimi gets up, stuffs her book and notebook into a backpack and swings it over her shoulder, "Alright, the gameroom is actually Dr. Yattori's programing classroom, by the way. He lets us use it to play in, so long as we don't make a mess."
> "And Jinai is always the first to show up, so he should already be there now. You ready?"
<Hikari> "If I can handle college-level mathematics than I am sure the rules of a game will be no obstacle. I'm ready when you are."
> Then she laughs, "Wait, you don't have anything to bring yet, of course you're ready. Come on then."
> As you walk, she nods, "Yeah, that's a good way to look at it. Well...just don't play a grappler. Grappling rules...well, just dont' play a grappler."
<Hikari> "Ah. Why is that, exactly?" Hikari asks as they head out.
> Neimi just grins, "It's complicated enough to make me avoid it and I'm a robotics major." After a bit of walking, you make your way to the classroom where Dr. Yattori teaches programming. There is no class right now, of course. Instead, a thin young man with a long face and rediculously thick glasses is arrainging papers and rulebooks on a desk.
> Neimi walks in and waves at him, "Hey Jinai."
* Hikari nods respectfully, waiting for herself to be introduced and taking a close look at the books on the table.
> The man looks up, "Neimi. And your freind is?"
> Neimi does the introductions, "Hikari Ishigami, my roommate. Hikari, this is Jinai Akazuma, the game master for the fantasy and maid games."
<Hikari> "Pleased to meet you," Hikari says politely. "So, ah...what is the theme of this game? I am not familiar with how these things work."
> Jinai nods in your direction, "Alright. Nice meeting you, Ishigami. And new to gaming, eh? Well, don't worry about it, it'll all make sense in a bit. Go ahead and have a seat?"
> He organizes the papers he was working with, then pulls out a book titled 'Dungeons and Dragons Player's Handbook'.
* Hikari does indeed sit down. "As I understand it, the games are essentially about pretending to be someone else--" which is not entirely outside of Hikari's experience, "--I just don't know anything about the rules."
> He nods, "That's a good start, yeah. Think of it like improv acting with rules. You don't actually get up and act out the parts, but you do decide all the actions of your characters. No script at all. But to help you out, such as when you want to do something you aren't sure you can accomplish, we have the system."
> "The basics of this system, which is the 3.5 edition of Dungeons and Dragons, can be summed up by rolling a twenty sided die," he pulls one out of his bag, "one of these things here, then adding your modifiers to it and seeing if you beat the challange number."
<Hikari> "Well, that makes it a little easier. I think I would be rather self-conscious about, you know, getting up and swinging a sword around in a classroom." Hikari takes the book and flips through it as she listens.
> "For example, say Neimi wants to climb a wall. Her character's climb skill is a plus 3, so she rolls this die, adds three to the result and tells me that number. I check to see if she succeeds."
> He tosses the die on the table.
> roll 1d20
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 1d20 and gets 11."12 [1d20=11]
> The die comes up an 11. "So she would get a result of 14 in this case. If the difficulty was that or lower, she succeeds. If it was fifteen or higher, she fails."
<Hikari> "What happens if she fails?"
> He grins, "In this case, we're assuming she's starting from the ground. So if she fails, she just doesn't go anywhere. Her character is trying to climb but just can
> t make any progress."
<Hikari> "Ah. So, can't she just try again? It seems like failure hardly matters if there's no risk involved."
> "That depends. What if there were guards chasing her? What if someone's being attacked on the other side of the wall? She's wasting time trying again while other things continue to happen around here."
> *around her, even
<Hikari> "I see. I'm sure I will understand better when I watch things happening."
> He nods, "The biggest thing to keep in mind is that it's not a video game. The rest of the world doesn't wait for you while you do whatever you want. If the monsters are going to attack the town tomorrow, there's not enough time to go do a sidequest three cities away to get a better magic sword or anything like that."
<Hikari> "'Sidequest?' I haven't really played many videogames. Maybe it's a good thing to enter into this with no preconceptions?"
> Jinai adjusts his glasses a bit, "Combat is pretty much the same. You roll your attack, which is that d20 again, add your modifiers, and see if you hit the target's Armor Class. Armor Class is just a difficulty number like any other, so don't get confused by it having a different term. And yeah, that's actually a good thing. If you're a fan of fantasy literature at all, you'll probably like my games."
> Neimi nods, "Jinai prefers alot more classic fantasy to modern stuff, so it's pretty novel and mythology inspired."
<Hikari> "Oh, we may have something in common, then."
> He just shrugs, "Old school is the best school for fantasy, as far as I'm concerned."
<Hikari> "Well, it's the only one I really know." Except for the postmodern variety, but that's not the kind of thing Hikari would actually say.
> Jinai nods, "Yeah, then just ignore Haragi when he tries to compare everything to video games or anime to explain it. He's got it stuck in his head that everyone likes the same things he does, despite any evidence to the contrary."
<Hikari> "I am sure I can respond with a blank stare if such a situation arises."
> Neimi frowns a bit, "Oh yeah, Jinai? Hikari can only stay for about an hour of actual gametime today, and that's assuming everyone's ready to go AT six. Think you could have us start off with a fight so she can at least get a feel for that?"
<Hikari> "Yes, I'm sorry, but I did have plans for later in the night. Perhaps I can return for a full session sometime int he future."
> He adjusts his glasses again and thinks on it for a moment, "Hmm. Combat is actually considered the most tedious part of the game by many. Sure you think it's best to start off with that?"
<Hikari> "Well, I'll defer to Neimi's judgement since I know nothing at all about the subject."
> Neimi nods, "Yeah, I figure if anything's going to scare her off it'll be the math storm that combat brings along, not the roleplaying. I prefer jumping into the worst or most boreing part of something first, so I can know that it's only uphill from there, myself."
<Hikari> "Well, let's have a demonstration, then?"
> Jinai nods, "Alright then. I've got some appropriate baddies already worked up, so we can just start off with a bang. But yeah, we can show off a quick demonstration before the group gets here. Neimi, did you level?"
> She nods and pulls out her papers and dice, "Everything but my skills. ANd thanks for waiting until the last minute to tell me, by the way."
> He shrugs, "I told Keiko to tell you. You have three classes with her."
<Hikari> "How many players are there in this particular game?" Hikari asks.
> Neimi rolls her eyes but doesn't respond to Jinai, "Four. Me, who plays Garita the druid. Keiko Noi, who plays Ophelia the sorceress. Yoro Haragi who plays Duke the barbarian. And then Kosuke Nabara who plays Jean Franc the rogue."
> She continues, "The party dynamic is pretty much that Garita and Duke are old freinds who blessed with thier powers by a dying nature spirit and are now a little crazy. Jean Franc is a nobleman who is trying to save his homeland from political corruption and is having us help him out. Ophelia is Jean Franc's cousin."
* Hikari nods. "Well, I'd appreciate any input on how to introduce a new character to such a group, of course. If I decide to play, that is."
> Jinai nods, "That's my job. If you want to play, what we'll do is you just work out your character's stats and everything with Neimi and then you and I can talk about your background and how to fit you in. Trust me, I can make anything you want to come up with work."
<Hikari> "Are there knights and such in this world?"
> Neimi nods, "Yeah. It's very middle Europe inspired. We've got knights and swashbucklers and that kind of thing as the normal. Duke is actually a former squire who got his powers of rage from the nature spirit. Garita is the only foreigner in the group, she's from Kenlund, the land to the north. That place is very celtic and norse flavored. Druids for spellcasters and vikings for warriors."
<Hikari> "I know a little about norse mythology. I'm sure I can work something out based on that."
> Jinai interjects, "Though even Garita was raised in Ralegar, which is the name of the primary kingdom. She didn't get her druidic powers until the same nature spirit. she's a forigner by blood, but not really by culture. Though she's lately trying to do the whole crazy forigner woman thing."
> Neimi chuckles, "She just found out she has the name name as an old Kenlund earth goddess. So she's convinced  that she's the goddess Garita reborn now. She's kinda loopy."
<Hikari> "I see," Hikari says, beginning to grow lost in the sea of names and references.
> Jinai holds up a bunch of papers, "Yeah, I know that look. I've got most of the mythology and world information all written up. I can make a copy for you if you want, just read it at your leisure."
<Hikari> "I'm sure I can fit reading it into my busy schedule of studying," Hikari says without a trace of irony.
> At that point, Neimi and Jinai run through a practice combat really fast, explaining the steps to Hikari. Melee attacks, ranged attacks, spellcasting and saving throws all get demonstrated as Garita and her faithful boar companion barely managed to fend off a pair of ogres. Or at least one ogre that rolls like a god and the other who botched his save against Entangle round 1.
> As they're wrapping that up, the other members of the group start filing in.
* Hikari tries to keep up. It's a lot to remember, though, and she's initially put in mind of a long-ago introduction to algebra. She nods politely to the others as they wander in.
> Yoro Haragi, the first to arrive, is...frankly the sterotypical fat otaku nerd. He's wearing a shirt and a hat that advertise two different animes, is carrying a bag of gaming supplies and a sixpack of soda, and immediatly tries to impress Hikari with his knowledge of anime trivia. Neimi and Jinai manage a sychonized eyeroll.
* Hikari requires no special effort to glaze over in ignorance. "I can see you're very knowledgeable about this subject," she manages eventually.
> Kosuke Nabara slides in second, still wearing a somewhat nice buisniness suit, though his jacket is slung over one shoulder and he doesn't have a tie on. Short cut hair and a very compact build make him look fairly respectable. He smiles politely as he's introduced to Hikari, then pays you no special attention and chats with Haragi about the feats they took on levelup for a bit as he gets his things ready.
> Neimi whispers to explain, "He comes in right from his job on wednesdays. He's not really the kind of guy to wear a suit around all the time just because."
* Hikari just shrugs. "There's nothing wrong with wearing a suit if someone wants to, is there?"
> She shrugs back, "No, it just looks kinda funny if you're dressed proffesionally like that while playing games."
<Hikari> "Oh." Hikari takes a creaful look at herself. She's not wearing anything fancy, exactly, but it's a little nicer than a t-shirt & jeans combo. "I didn't know there was a dress code."
> Finally, about five minutes late, Keiko Noi stumbles in carrying a bag that's nearly half her own size. Tiny enough to make Hikari look tall, she smiles apologetically as she drags her bag to the table and takes her seat, "Sorry everyone! I was halfway here then realized I left my bag in my room."
> Jinai shakes his head, "How exactly do you not notice that you forgot something that heavy?"
<Hikari> "What exactly did you bring? Is all of that necessary to play the game?"
> "Oh!" she blinks as if she just now noticed you, "Um, hi! N-no, not really. Well, not for most people, But I use alot of stuff from splatbooks, er, optional sourcebooks, so I need to make sure I have all of those handy."
> Nabara sighs, "You use five books in your build. Not fifteen."
> Keiko blushes a little, "W-well, what if someone else needs them? I just like to have them on hand, okay?"
* Hikari has quit IRC (Ping timeout)
* Hikari has joined #personador
> <Hikari> "What exactly did you bring? Is all of that necessary to play the game?"
> > "Oh!" she blinks as if she just now noticed you, "Um, hi! N-no, not really. Well, not for most people, But I use alot of stuff from splatbooks, er, optional sourcebooks, so I need to make sure I have all of those handy."
> > Nabara sighs, "You use five books in your build. Not fifteen."
> > Keiko blushes a little, "W-well, what if someone else needs them? I just like to have them on hand, okay?"
> Neimi does the introductions, "Keiko, this is my roommate, Hikari Ishigami. Hikari, this is Keiko Noi. If you ever hear any robotics majors mentioning 'Team Geek Girls' they're largely talking about the two of us."
* Hikari nods. "Pleased to meet you," she says to the new girl.
> Jinai then clears his throat to get attention, "Alright people, let's get this show on the road. Ishigami here is only sticking around for about an hour today to observe and see if she wants to actually play, so how about we skip the usual putzing around until six-thirty phase and get right to the game."
* Hikari merely raises an eyebrow at the declared lack of efficiency in usual procedure but isn't so rude as to comment on it.
> Haragi opens his mouth as if to object to something, but a swift kick under the table from Nabara makes him snap it shut. Nabara gets his own dice and sheet out and nods, "Sounds good. We were just leaving Lakeridge, right?"
> Jinai nods, "Indeed. The troupe has just left Lakeridge by the western road, bearing a letter from the Count addressed to the Queen Mother in the captial."
> Hagari leans forward, starting to get a different gleam in his eye as he gets into character, "Duke looks around the path as they go. He's waiting for an ambush. As he's looking around he's muttering 'Yeah, letters this important never make it where they're going without a fight...'"
* Hikari observes, not having much to comment on just yet and not wanting to disrupt flow of the game unless she has an important question.
> Nabara leans back in his chair and speaks in an amusing accented voice, "Tut tut my good man, talk like that will have rainclouds following you for leagues. Optimism is the word of the day."
> Noi smiles but her voice sounds somewhat glum despite that, as she adds(also in a similar accent to Nabara), "Optimisim and vigilance, cousin. The Count would not insist that we carry this letter if he wasn't expecting trouble."
* Hikari has to admit that she feels a little silly sitting in the midst of a group of people speaking dialogue for fictional characters, but she's not really one to criticize people for having strange hobbies (what, with what she's got planned for this evening?) and keep sher mouth shut.
> Neimi doesn't say anything, but then raises an eyebrow at Jinai as he rolls a die and looks at her, "Truffler starts snorting and pawing at the ground with one hoof. He's pretty clearly agitated by something."
> Then she nods, "Hold on, Truffler's not the type to spook easy. There's something wrong."
<Hikari> "What was that roll for?" Hikari asks Neimi quietly.
> Haragi grins, "I knew it! Duke readies his sword."
> Neimi whispers back, "Truffler is my animal companion, and his sense of smell is insanely good. He generally spots trouble before any of the rest of us do thanks to that nose. But Jinai rolls those checks himself, so if Truffler failed I wouldn't know he even rolled. Since unless he says something, that roll could have been anything."
> Jinai nods, "All things considered, it was a pretty safe bet, yeah. Alright folks, spot checks. Listen isn't going to help you here."
* Hikari nods. "So there are probably monsters in the vicinity."
> Nabara winces, "I do not like the way you said that. And 14 for me."
> Haragi rolls, "Hah, 23."
> Noi makes hers, "14 as well."
> Neimi then rolls twice, "20 even for me and 17 for Truffler."
<Hikari> "This rolling is to find the enemy?" Hikari asks to make sure.
> Jinai nods and rolls a couple dice without saying anything. Then he cracks his knuckles, "Duke, you notice seven men all packed tightly together slipping through the trees towards you. They're dressed in browns and greens to blend in, have scarves serving as makeshift masks and are carrying weapons. There is no sound as they move."
> Neimi nods, "Yeah. Duke and I are generally the ones who spot the enemy, as we have higher spot and listen checks."
> Haragi asks, "Do they look solid?"
> Jinai nods, "Yeah, they do."
> Haragi grins, "I charge thier formation screaming 'Alastor! For the prince!' and fly into a rage!"
<Hikari> "What would they be other than solid?" Hikari wonders. "I'm sorry to interrupt with questions, it just seemed a strange thing to ask."
> Neimi smirks, "We ran into ghosts once before. And ghosts also don't make any sound as they move."
* Hikari nods. It makes as much sense as can be expected in a game.
> From there, combat starts happening. Jinai explains to you that the enemies here are humans, not monsters. Just a team of six hired murderers with a wizard as support. It's a really tough fight as the wizard proceeds to levitate up in the air and start tossing spells and explosive flasks at people while the team's only good ranged offense, Ophelia, gets taken out in round 2 by sneak attacks.(more)
> Duke, however, seems to be some kind of unstoppable monster and with a series of good rolls kills three of the brigands in one swing, causing Haragi to extol the virtues of Great Cleave. Neimi rolls combat for both Garita and Truffler, the latter of whom seems far more effective in a melee, and eventually the wizard is the only one left.
> That's when Garita transforms into an eagle to fly up in the air over him, and turns back into a human mid-air to grab him on the way down. And Hikari gets a view of just why grapple rules are to be usually avoided.
> Still Garita succeeds after much rolling and the wizard is captured.
> Jean Franc is in the middle of interrogating the captured wizard about who sent him, Nabara managing to seem very menacing with teh same voice that was earlier chirping about optimism, when Jinai holds one hand up to call a pause.
> "Alright, and that's 6:50. So Ishigami, think you've got an idea of what the game's like now?"
<Hikari> "I think I understand the basics. I'm not certain whether it's for me or not, but I could try next time and see how it goes? I don't have much in the way of hobbies, and one that keeps me involved with other people might be nice."
> He nods, "Alright then. So if you want to jump in next time, just have Neimi help you make a character and then talk to me about fitting in the background. She's got all my IM info, so you can just ping me online. I'm usually on, so catching me shouldn't be hard."
* Hikari nods. "I'll try to have something done by next Wednesday."
> Haragi nods energetically, "Hey, playing is a lot more fun then just watching, I'm tellin ya. And maybe if you like DnD after you've played a bit, you can sit in on my Saturday games. They've got alot more modern feel and are a real blast."
> Nabara shakes his head, "One thing at a time, Yoro."
> Noi smiles and nods, "I look forward to seeing what you bring in!"
<Hikari> "Saturday is...the maid game? I admit I'm not sure how such an idea could function as a game," Hikari says, almost immediately regretting doing so.
> Haragi shakes his head, "Nono, Saturday is my games. One is a sort of horror game, I call it the Nowhere Files. It uses another d20 system like this, only it's d20 Modern. I alternate that with a hard Sci-Fi game, the Infinity Project. It uses a completely different system."
* Hikari can only nod silently at this series of names that don't mean anything to her.
> Neimi nods, "The maid game is Sundays, but only every other Sunday. Jinai runs that one too."
> "Anyway," she stands up, "I'm gonna take a break to go get something from the vending machine while Kosuke's questioning the wizard. I've got a healing spell left, so someone can just roll that for me on Ophelia, okay?"
> Haragi sniffs, "I brought sodas..."
> "Something drinkable." Neimi amends.
* Hikari also stands up. "I think I should take one game at a time for now, but thank you," she says before stepping out with Neimi. "It was nice meeting you all. Perhaps we'll see each other again next week."
> Once you're out in the hall, Neimi looks at you a bit sheepishly, "Sorry about him. Haragi can get pretty intense about his games."
<Hikari> "Well, I suppose we all have things we're passionate about," Hikari says charitably.
> "So...are you actually planning on giving it a go, or were you just being nice?"
<Hikari> "I don't see the harm in trying. I have to admit that I really don't have much to do outside of studying, most days."
> She smiles as she gets a can of tea from the vending machine, "Great. Well, we can talk sometime about what you want to play. Feel free to poke through my DnD books even if I'm not around, okay?"
* Hikari gets a can for herself--she might need the energy, given what else is going on tonight. "Sure, thanks."
> "Alright then, see you later!" Neimi takes her can and ducks back into the game room, waving behind her as she goes in. AS the door closes behind her, the color seems to drain out of the world and everything fades to grey.
> The soft green light appears before the door, and once more turns into the spinning card. The front is still too blurred to see, but the back is the same. Ten sided dice where the sides are the faces of a woman all in different masks.
> The voice returns as well, softly echoing from everywhere around you, 3"Thou art I...And I am thou...through this bond, thou shalt have the blessings of the Fortune Arcana."
> The card fades and the color snaps back into the world as Hikari feels a power settle within her.
<Hikari> "I can't help but think the symbology of that card was eerily appropriate," Hikari muses as she heads out to her car.
> ---------------------------------------------

Nagare: Death 2

> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Thursday, the day after Nagare's first real fight in the Dream world. Frankly, as ehxausted as he was after that he may not have woken up until noon if it weren't for his trusty alarmclock blaring in his ear at seven in the morning.
* Nagare would give the universe a rosary of complaints, but honestly, at that point, his organism had only a variety of narcotics as its immediate need at the point. Showering certainly didn't dispel the numbness, and the timid sunlight seemed to only -strengthen it-.
<Nagare> Which mostly meant that putting his clothing on was more of a mechanic reflex than anything.
> The day, much as Nagare might wish it, doesn't seem inclined to go away and the sunlight only gets brighter as the minutes crawl on.
* Nagare groans, now at least fully dressed. No coffee at home meant he'd have to pick it up on the way to work, and even walking to the car felt like a gargantuan task with the recently adquire sores from the Dream. More reason to believe children are -dangerous little monsters-.
> No sooner does Nagare get out of his apartment building when he sees, accross the street at that same mailbox, a small blonde girl in a blue dress....trying to dance? Yeah, she's dancing around the mailbox like she's trying to waltz without a partner.
* Nagare scratches his head for a moment. It honestly doesn't take more than that and a slightly embarrassed glance for him to break into the magic of the moment, however. The teacher unnecessarily whispers, calling the young girl's attention like he would do to one of his students.
> Looking up as you call, she waves, "Oh, hullo!" Then she looks at your face a moment, "Ummm, are you not well? You're not going to die again, are you?"
* Nagare sighs, lighting up a long overdue cigarette. There's only so much a half-awake body can take. "Honestly, the sores are making me wish I -did- right now. Long story, and I'm sure you'd probably laugh at me if I told you."
> She looks at you quizzically, "Why, is it a funny story?"
<Nagare> "It's a bit unbelievable - I mean, even for the stunning standards we set here. Although you could call it funny if you were particularly perverse."
> Alice looks a bit confused still, "Why wouldn't I believe it? You said you would be honest with me, after all."
<Nagare> "Well, I'll just say that it involved shanghai-ing the dreams of two impressively dim boys. There were dinosaur knights and robot ninja."
> She giggles, "That does sound silly. And a bit scary too. I've heard that dinosaurs were very large, so I shouldn't like to make one cross with me at all."
<Nagare> "Well... those weren't very large. They were pretty dangerous, though. At least, you do agree with me," the teacher snickers.
> "Well, silly can be fun too! But I doubt anything's very fun when it's trying to hurt you."
* Nagare scratches his head embarrassedly. "Well, about that... there are -some people-... that... um... yeah. But that has nothing to do with you."
> She frowns, and tries to make eye contact, "Is someone trying to hurt you? I don't want you to get hurt, you're the only one who talks to me anymore!"
<Nagare> "Well, it's not that there's anyone -trying- to hurt me. Just, I've gotten involved in something that isn't exactly safe. Just, it's also necessary to keep people safer."
> Alice thinks a moment and then her expression brightens, "Oh, like a policeman?"
<Nagare> "It's... not entirely unlike that, no."
> She claps her hands, "Sometimes I go to a store that's open all night and watch the television with the man who works at night. Once he was watching detective movies and it looked like so much fun to be a detective!"
> "Well, it looked a bit scary sometimes as well, but that's okay because the detective always wins in the end."
<Nagare> "I sorta wish reality was like the movies in that sense. Would be a lot safer. And, -somehow-, less strange."
> Alice continues on, feeling rather talkative today, "I went to that shop last night, too, but he wasn't watching detective movies. He was watching a show about dancing!"
* Nagare looks at the clock. Seems like he has some time, so it wouldn't hurt to stick around a bit longer. "Oh, so this explains your little dance. It's kinda funny, really. You're so excitable about things."
> "Is that strange? To get excited about things that seem fun?"
* Nagare strokes his chin, breathing the cigarette smoke slowly. "Not necessarily. It is a bit odd to me, but I'm not the right person to ask about these things."
> "Do you not like to have fun?" She pulls herself up to sit on the mailbox so she's not staring up at you all the time.
* Nagare smiles weakly. "I'm not sure if I know what having fun is, honestly. Sure, I enjoy painting, and I devote a lot of my free time to it, but I'm not sure if I'd feel comfortable calling it just 'fun'," he completes.
> Alice frowns, "Well, having fun is...um..." she pauses and thinks...
> "It's...well, it's fun!" She blushes, embarrassed "I don't know how else to describe it..."
* Nagare laughs softly, having another toke from the cigarette. "You'd be surprised at how hard things can be to define. This isn't really something to be ashamed of."
> She nods, "It just feels strange. I know what it is! I just don't know how to say it."
* Nagare nods. "That was the main reason I ended up picking up painting again. Tons of things that I couldn't really say, but understood. Yet, I could actually try to convey them with a brush and a canvas and the right colors and shapes. It's pretty interesting, really."
> "Um..." She hesitates a moment, as if afraid to say something but does force it out, "could I see some of your paintings?"
* Nagare sighs. "You could, but I'll have to warn you they're not very good. I didn't have a lot of formal training."
> Alice smiles, "Really? Yay! And that's okay, so long as you have fu...well, so long as you like painting them then what else matters?"
<Nagare> "Well... I -guess-. I could spend days trying to find something to disagree about that, but I'm not sure you'd understand why. Regardless...," the teacher takes a moment to look at the clock... "Oh, crap. I probably should get going to work, lest I want to be late."
> "Oh." She looks a little sad again, but doesn't protest, "Okay. I'll go listen to music at the radio station then."
* Nagare snickers lightly. "No need to look so down. I promise you'll get to see my atelier as soon as we sit down to talk in a non-busy day. That okay?"
> She nods!
<Nagare> "That's a deal, then. I'll see you soon, Alice."
> "Um, okay! Bye!" She hops off the mailbox and vanishes the moment she touches the ground.
> As she vanishes the world again fades to grey and all movement seems to crawl to a halt.
> Again the voice whispers, coming from no discernable direction and seeming to echo from all around you as a spinning card appears, "Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Death Arcana"
> As suddenly as it happened, the grey stillness ends, the card and voice vanishing, leaving Nagare standing next to a lonely mailbox in front of his apartment.
* Nagare scratches his head lightly as she disappears, smiling. "This little girl sometimes makes me wonder if I'm actually wrong about children. On the other hand, Ewan basically embodied all the problems I have with them. Still, I can't help but think." With that, the teacher finally heads towards his car and goes to yet another typical day - only with terrible sores.
> -----------------------------------------

Hikari: Fortune 3

> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> It's early Sunday evening, and Hikari has just finished studdying for her Monday and Tuesday classes. Over on the other side of the room, Neimi is in the middle of getting ready for work when her phone rings. Scrambling, she manages to answer it before it goes to voicemail.
> "Hello? Oh, yes. ...she is? Great! No, I don't mind at all. Yeah, have a nice night. Thanks for calling instead of telling me when I got there."
* Hikari peers over from her desk and raises an eyebrow inquisitively. "Good news?"
> Hanging back up, she plops back down on her bed in what almost seems a triumphant fashion, "Yeah. Got the night off. Asked for it off earlier, but Ina put in for it as well and she got it. But apparently her plans changed and now she wants the shift. No complaints from me, I hate the Sunday dinner shift."
<Hikari> "Oh? So what are are you going to do with this unexpectedly free evening?"
> Without even getting up, she shrugs, "Dunno. Could roll up a new character for the Maid game, since Mimi got vaporized earlier today. But Jinai likes the rolls for that game to be done in his presence, so he might not even accept whatever I come up with."
> Neimi rolls over on her side to look at you, "How about you? Still studdying?"
<Hikari> "...Vaporized?" Hikari shakes her head. "No, I'm done for the day. I didn't have any plans, really. More than likely I'd end up going to sleep early."
> "Yeah," she nods, "Keiko's character, Christie, is a mad scientist. She tricked me into trying a new formula and Mimi ended up turning into Godzilla. They had to destroy me before I got to Tokyo. Of course this is when I would start rolling insanely well, so the only thing left was orbital laser."
> "Unfortunately, the laser worked a little too well. So now I need a new character."
<Hikari> "I...see. Not every game is this flamboyant, I take it?" Hikari says hopefully, not really looking forward to Ewan vs. Keita in pen-and-paper format.
> Neimi laughs, "Oh, no way. Maid is just what we play to blow off steam and act like lunatics for a bit. It's just really silly. The other three games are fairly serious, especially Haragi's horror game."
<Hikari> "And what does that involve?"
> "It's a big conspiracy game. We've been helping to deal with this outbreak of strange occult things, but have been picking up evidence that not everything's as simple as it looks. Right now we're thinking that the government is actually behind the sudden apperance of the supernatural and is using our department to cover it all up."
> "But," she adds, "knowing Haragi that's probably not any closer to the truth then the official story is. He's really good at spinning plot pretzles."
<Hikari> This sounds a little too much like real life for Hikari. All she needs is a government conspiracy behind the shadow incidents, and voila. "The one I sat in on last Wednesday seemed like it was somewhere in between. Is that accurate?"
> Neimi nods, "A bit. The fantasy game is mostly serious, but it's not all grimdark. So...still think you might be interested in playing at all? Hey, we've got time right now if you want to try making a character?"
* Hikari glances around the room and considers this for a moment. What else was she going to do with the rest of the evening? Maybe she should take up a hobby anyway. It'd keep her out of trouble; she had enough of that with the shadow problems. "I suppose we could do that."
> She sits up and smiles, "Alright! So, the first thing to think about is what kind of character you want to play. I can help you pick out the class and everything, but Jinai always says that you should start with a story and worry about the mechanics after that."
<Hikari> It doesn't take long for an obvious option to present itself. "There are knights and such in these games, I assume?"
> She nods, "Yeah, there are. It's based pretty heavily on medival europe, so the world has a lot of Arthurian influances. The two main countries so far are Ralegar, which is really Arthurian based, and then Kenlund which is pretty Celtic and Nordic in design."
<Hikari> "Nordic?" Hikai says, obviously intrigued.
> "Yeah. Kenlund has more vikings and druids then knights and wizards. My character, Garita, is of Kend blood, even though she was raised in Ralegar. She's a druid in keeping with thier old traditions." She smiles and adds, "Well, when she's not insisting that she's a goddess reborn, but she's going a little crazy right now."
<Hikari> "...I see," Hikari says, wondering what she's getting herself into. "I don't think I'm prepared to use any character with a god complex just yet. I will have to make someone very, very sane. Just to ease into things."
> "Oh, that's just my character. Not everyone from Kenlund is like that at all."
<Hikari> "Oh," Hikari says with relief. "So it would fit if I wanted to make someone very...orderly, and heroic, and upright? that sort of thing?"
> Neimi nods, "Sure. You could be a Ralelish knight, or a warrior from Kenlund just as easily. Any country can have people who are Lawful Good. Which sounds like the alignment you want."
<Hikari> "Alignment?" Hikari repeats, sounding confused again.
> "Alignment is basically an indicator for how your character usually behaves. It's not a hard and fast rule or anything, but genrally someone who's Lawful Good will be orderly and heroic and such, while someone who's say Lawful Neutral instead will be just as orderly but not nessesarily heroic. They might believe that there is no good reason for breaking the law, instead of sya forgiving a starving man who stole bread."
> "Everyone finds different alignments easier to play. Like Keiko and I can play nearly anything, but Haragi doesn't play anything but Chaotic Good, and Nabara defaults to either Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral almost every time."
* Hikari nods along. "Yes, Lawful Neutral sounds rather unpleasant. I don't think that one suits me."
<Hikari> "Is that more or less what everyone's playing right now?"
> Neimi shakes her head, "it's not that bad. Remember, you don't HAVE to be a jerk to be LN, it's just a stereotype of the alignment. It's not like it's LE or anything." She pauses, "That's Lawful Evil, by the way. There are nine alignments total, Lawful/Neutral/Chaotic on one axis and Good/Neutral/Evil on the other."
> She nods, "Yeah. Garita is Neutral Good, Jean Franc is LN, Ophelia is pure Neutral, and Duke is Chaotic Good."
* Hikari frowns. "You could play an evil character? Does anyone actually do that?"
> "Not in this game. It really only works when everyone's being evil. Those games can be fun...so long as everyone has the maturity for it."
<Hikari> "Aha. And your group does or does not possess the requisite maturity for that?" Hikari wonders, remembering her introductions and rather doubting the answer here is a positive.
> "Uhhh..." she hesitates, "I think Nabara and Jinai could. No way would I want to be in a group playing that kind of game with Haragi, though. And...Keiko gets really really into character. I'd be kinda scared to see her play an evil character, to be honest."
> "But even if we could do it, that's not the point of this game."
* Hikari nods. "I'd hope not. I don't think I could fit myself into such a scenario at all."
> "Yeah, evil games are not for new players. And really they're not for most veteran players either. It's really hard to do. I've only been in one, and it lasted all of three sessions until someone starting using 'evil' as an excuse to be disgusting."
<Hikari> "Should I ask what happened? Actually, should I ask who it was? No, I probably shouldn't."
> "Nobody you know and nothing you want to hear. This was back in high school."
> "Anyway, back to the topic at hand, you're wanting to play a knight? Or a Kend warrior? I dunno if they have any girl vikings, though I guess you could go for a valkyrie themed character if you want to."
* Hikari nods. Makes sense. High-schoolers can be responsible for any kind of depravity, after all! "There are valkyries?" Hikari asks, interest obviously piqued.
> "Well, not that I know of in game, but you sound like you like Norse stuff and that's a classic female warrior archetype from that kind of setting. I'm sure Jinai could work it in somehow, he's really good about that."
<Hikari> "Well, I believe I could make something in that style. It feels like I should use some idea I'm familiar with to ease into things..."
> "Alright, so the best class to play for something like that is just the classic Fighter. Which is good, since it's also the easiest class to play. Want to go ahead and try rolling her up? You can think of a name and personality and that kind of thing while we're picking out stats."
<Hikari> "Um, alright...what do I roll?" Hikari asks, set upon by a creeping feeling that she is soon about to be very much out of her depth.
> Neimi grabs a container with multiple sets of dice in them, "Well, first you need dice. You'll be using 4d6, that's four six sided dixe, for character creation." She pulls out four such dice and hands them over to Hikari, "Some gamers get really weird about other people touching thier dice, but not me so you can use these for now."
<Hikari> "Warn me if anyone we'll be working with has strange habits?" Hikari says as she quite unceremoniously rolls the dice.
> She then grabs some paper and a pencil, "Alright, you have six stats, so you'll need to roll those dice six times. Each time, you add up the total of the highest three dice and record that number. So a roll of 2, 3, 4, and 6 would be a thirteen. The two gets dropped."
> OOC: So...go ahead and !rollchar, Hikari!
<Hikari> !rollchar
<Hatbot>  [4d6=6, 5, 5, 5] -> 16
<Hatbot>  [4d6=5, 1, 6, 6] -> 17
<Hatbot>  [4d6=6, 3, 4, 3] -> 13
<Hatbot>  [4d6=3, 3, 6, 3] -> 12
<Hatbot>  [4d6=4, 5, 4, 6] -> 15
<Hatbot>  [4d6=5, 6, 2, 5] -> 16
<Hatbot> Hikari: 17, 16, 16, 15, 13, 12
> Neimi finishes writing down the numbers as Hikari rolls them, "Okay, that's a pretty nice set."
<Hikari> "Oh? That's good. There are a lot of high numbers in there, I suppose."
> "Yeah, higher is always better here. Now you need to pick which numbers go on which stat. As a fighter, you'll need Strength and Constitution the most..." Neimi continues by explaining what the six stats all do to Hikari.
<Hikari> Those two are pretty straightforward, at least. "Do I need to be good at more than fighting? Is there more to the game than that?" Hikari says, pondering this mysterious Charisma attribute and wondering if it actually has a use.
> "For a fighter, not really. There's lots of roleplaying, but you wouldn't be rolling dice for that too often. That's mostly Jean Franc's job. Like if you want to lie to someone, you need to roll bluff. Or diplomacy to convince somebody of something when they don't trust you. Those are based on Charisma. But sadly, as a fighter you can't put ranks into any of those skills."
<Hikari> "Oh. I suppose it's my job to hit things when needed, so I won't worry about being persuasive or charismatic..."
> "Well, you can be if you want to. But yeah, it's probably better to just play the tagalong fighter for a little bit until you get comfortable with the roleplaying part and want to jump in."
<Hikari> "Alright." Hikari jots down numbers next to the attributes and looks at the sheet in progress. "Is there anything else I need to do?"
> "Yeah, next is skills and feats. I'll help you out here, since there's a lot to look through. So the first question is how do you want to fight? What kind of weapon do you want...uh," she pauses, "so do you have a name in mind for her? Well, whatever her name is, try to picture how you want her to fight."
<Hikari> "Hildegard," Hikari says with complete seriousness, perfectly masking the creeping embarassment she feels at participating in this (it would be rude to Neimi to acknowledge that she does think this is all a bit silly; and who knows, it could wind up being engaging after all. It's enough to know her roommate better, really). "I could use swords...or spears? She would be the kind of person to charge headling into a battle to
<Hikari>  She would be the kind of person to charge headling into a battle to protect everyone else."
> "Spears are fun. So hearing that, I'd suggest either going for sword and shield, or a spear weapon. You could carry both, of course, but you'll only end up being really good at once. Sword and Shield will be better if you want to have good defenses and be hard to hurt, spear will be better if you want to do more damage and kill the enemies faster, since it's a two handed weapon."
> "Two handed weapon is what Duke uses, actually. And it works really well for him. But don't worry, I can make your style different enough from his that you won't feel like you're stepping on his toes."
* Hikari considers this for a moment. "Spears," she says decisively. "That's what I'll use."
> "Okay, so here's what I'd suggest..." She pulls out some books and suggests feats, such as Combat Reflexes(while explaining what AoOs are), Combat Expertise and Improved Trip, explaining the rules for each in turn, "Basically with this build, you run into the middle of the enemies, and force them to either focus on you, or get knocked down and stabbed if they try to run past you to get at your allies."
* Hikari nods. "That sounds suitable, yes." She's mostly just taking Neimi's suggestions since, well, Hikari herself is a little lost, but this sounds like it fits her personality anyway.
> Neimi finishes helping you pick feats, which takes a bit of time as you're building a level six fighter, but skills take next to no time at all(since fighters get so few and have so few choices anyway), so it balances.
> "And now we're basically done. Hildegard is ready to be played. You still need to get equipment, but thankfully Jinai handles that for you."
<Hikari> "And I only need to learn how to play," Hikari adds.
> "Well, that'll come with playing a few times. It's not that hard, but nobody picks it up right away. You're pretty smart, so I'm sure you'll have a handle on the stuff that applies to Hilde here at least before long."
<Hikari> "I don't imagine it could be more complicated than, say, calculus," Hikari concedes. "Or cooking."
> "Not even remotely. So do you think you'll be free to join in on Wednesday?"
<Hikari> "I don't have any other plans. I assume you'll be around to help me through whatever trial by fire I have ahead of me?"
> "It'll be fine, this is a good group so nobody will give you problems for being new. We were all new to the game at one point, too. The only thing left is to send an email to Jinai and let him know what you're wanting to play. He'll help you come up with a background and stuff like that. KNowing him, he'll want us to come in a bit early to work that out in person."
<Hikari> "Alright." Hikari walks over to ther computer. "I suppose I can do that now," she says, never one to put off for later something she could do immediately.
> Neimi pulls her laptop up and sends you an IM with his email address.
* Hikari writes up something that is probably needlessly formal given the circumstances (actual greetings and farewells, "I am honored to join your company" and the like) along with the details worked out with Neimi and politely asks that everything be reviewed by Wednesday, then sends it to the address Neimi gave her, CCing Neimi on the whole thing. "There, all done."
> Neimi opens the email and reads it. Then she laughs, "Wow...Hikari, you know you don't need to be that formal with the group, right? It's just a game. I mean, we all probably take it more seriously then we should, but it's still just a hobby we do to have fun."
<Hikari> "That's just how I write," Hikari says, mildly affronted. "Would it be better if I neglected to use capitalization?"
> She stares at you blankly for a moment before responding, "I...wasn't talking about capitalization and grammar. More like..." She shakes her head, "You know what? Nevermind. I really shouldn't have been surprised."
<Hikari> "I don't think there's anything strange about it at all," Hikari says conclusively.
> "Of course you don't. Anyway," she gets up and grabs her shoes, "if I'm not going into the Crown, than I'm going to go have something very non-Brittish for dinner. Maybe some noodles."
<Hikari> "Oh? Did you have something particular in mind? I haven't eaten yet either."
> "There's a good ramen place at the mall, I hear. It's gotten pretty popular lately, so I'm thinking about going to try it out."
<Hikari> "Do you mind if I tag along? I've been locked up here all afternoon. I could use a walk outside."
> She nods, "Sure. Maybe some company will help me keep my mind off the fact that I'm willingly walking out into that cold."
<Hikari> "Or you could put on an extra layer and gloves, but I'll do what I can."
> As Neimi grabs her coat and heads for the door, the world seems to stop in it's tracks once again, the color leaking out of everything. The same soft green light as before wells up from inside Neimi and transforms into the spinning card, the one with the designs of ten sided dice with faces instead of numbers on the back.
> Once more, the whispering echo speaks, "Thou art I...And I am thou...through this bond, thou shalt have the blessings of the Fortune Arcana."
> As the power settles over Hikari, the world snaps back into normalcy, and Neimi opens the door, "Hey, I only have two jackets. This one and my work jacket. And if I'm not going in, I refuse to wear that as a matter of principle."
<Hikari> "You could wear it *under* your normal jacket," Hikari says as they leave. "I won't tell anyone."
> The two of you head out to the ramen place at the mall(which is fairly crowded, being dinnertime on a Sunday) and enjoy some very good noodles while talking.

Nagare: Devil 1

> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> The drive home from the Dragon's Jug had been uneventful, which may have been a refreshing change of pace. No accidentally running across not!ghost girls this time, at least. Now Nagare was home, alone as usual in his quiet appartment. For the moment, nothing was different.
> Nothing except the large and fairly elaborate looking key sitting heavily in the professor's pocket.
* Nagare checks the windows and doors before putting that key to use. He figured he'd get the list matter out of the way sooner than later, after all. Although, honestly, just visiting the Velvet Room by himself would be a refreshing change of pace.
> All your windows and doors are securely shut and locked.
* Nagare shrugs. "Fine enough for me," and uses the key on the door to his room.
> The large key somehow fits easily into the small modern lock, and turns easily. The door swings silently open, revealing the swirling mass of blue and purple once more. In the silence of the apartment, and without anyone else around, the portal looked somehow...different. It's hard to place a finger on how, but it just seems more...forbodeing? Or inviting? Or perhaps both at once...
* Nagare capitulates for a moment on the particularity of that portal, not quite grasping what made it seem so distinct this time. With a heavy sigh, the teacher walks slowly into the portal.
> (OOC: Blue shift! ...I mean, Scene Change!)
> The Velvet Room looks much as it always does. Very blue, from top to bottom. Three wooden chairs sit before the same small table as always, while a blue couch and a large black chair sit behind it.
> The chair...is empty.
> Theresa stands from the couch and bows, "Welcome to the Velvet Room. If you're here to enter the Dream, I'm afraid the Master is out at the moment."
> Then she looks up and a smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, "Except that you're not here to see the Master, are you?"
* Nagare carefully examines the room, calmly appreciating its vivid, yet subtle hues. Then, he redirects his attention to Theresa with a faint, somewhat embarrassed smile. "Well, not quite. There's a bit of a business aspect to my visit, but."
> The smile fills to a full grin, as she gestures to a chair and sits back on the couch herself, "Go ahead and have a seat. I was wondering how long it would take, as well as which one of you it would be. But you're here to see me specifically, which is why I'm here and the Master isn't."
* Nagare coughs, stifling a laughter. "Wait a minute, you mean you can unconsciously flick a switch on the presences in the Velvet Room? The Dream functions in strange ways indeed."
> "It's not that simple, but explaining it would take all day." Theresa shrugs, "Effectively, yes. Though now that you're here, I'm not sure it will work for Mike or Hikari."
* Nagare blinks. "Wait, what do you mean by -," then he suddenly deflates, awkwardly smiling as he rubs his forehead. "... I think this is starting to sink in. This is related to that Social Link business, I gather?"
> The grin grows, "Yeeeeep. And boy do you know how to pick your links. First the DEATH link, and now me."
* Nagare laughs, reclining on the chair comfortably. "I have no idea. I guess I just have a knack for supernatural friends. But I can't say it's bad, really. Both you and Alice are probably among the most fascinating people I've met so far."
> She chuckles, "Considering that even I don't know WHAT she is, I'll have to agree on that. Maybe the Master would know, but I kinda doubt he'd tell. He's more tight-lipped with you all then usual."
> Then she cocks her head to the side in mock-thought, "Though that might have something to do with the fact that I don't shut up."
* Nagare grins. "Honestly, -someone- has to give straight answers sometimes. And I have to wonder if you don't do it just for the fun of it. You seem to get a kick out of getting Igor non-plussed."
> "I really do." She outright laughs, then smiles at you again, "So, on that subject, you had some questions? I can't promise I'll know all the answers, or even that I'll tell you if I do. There are some things even I won't talk about."
* Nagare sighs. "Well, I figure I may well slip the business part of this visit into the fray," he says as he picks a heavily folded piece of paper from the pocket of his jacket, and hands it to Theresa. "This is a list Mykasi found when doing searches over miss Valeriya."
> The smile fades, as she frowns at the list, "Wow. Where did he find this?"
<Nagare> "You'd have to ask Mykasi. His recklessness is problematic, but his resourcefulness is a worthy rival to it. All I know is he's been monitoring a rather strange website, which had this roster."
> Theresa nods, "Well, what I can tell you is that none of these other names are Persona users. That's all I know off the top of my head. But Persona users aren't the only people with connections to the supernatual out there, so I'd need to do a bit of digging to find out who they are. Or were, I guess. If it's even relevent."
> "Anyway, he knows how to call me, have him call and I can maybe give some better insight once I can ask him for more details."
<Nagare> "I'll be sure to tell him that. Also, you think you could have a copy of this list handy? It may be relevant in the future."
> Her smile turning apologetic, she shakes her head, "Sorry, but that's something I can't do. This is something that's being actively hunted by pattern spiders. Sure, we have our own archives, and I'm sure they're all in them, but we can't let you store something like that here. You have to manage to protect it from the spiders on your own."
* Nagare nods. "Well, I'll be sure to keep it safe. And make a few copies myself. Having -that- taken care of...," Nagare reclines back and lights a cigarette. "... wait, is this kosher?"
> She responds with a perfectly straight expression, "Only so long as there are no pork products, or any meat and dairy mixed, in it."
<Nagare> "I doubt pork/dairy cigarettes would make for consumable tobacco products. Remarkable comedic timing, though," the teacher grins.
> "Comedy is but one of my many specialties."
<Nagare> "I really could stand to be better on that front, myself," the teacher lightly says as he blows a puff of smoke, watching it entwine itself with the dense blue hues of the Room. "You know, the Velvet Room is actually a fascinating little place."
> SHe shrugs, "It's a great place to visit, I'll grant. You wouldn't want to live here though."
<Nagare> "We always say that about the places we're stuck to, really. Igor doesn't let you out much, I figure?"
> "You know," she changes the subject, "you're a pretty interesting one yourself. You seem right at home here, you have an easier time dealing with Alice and me then with normal people...but then you run into situations in the actual Dream itself and they completely overwhelm you with how absurd they are."
> "It's almost like you're most comfortable in between worlds, rather then fully in either one."
* Nagare scratches his head confusedly. "I'd ask how you -know- that, but I figure I should be more surprised you -didn't- know. And... I don't know. Dealing with the Dream itself still involves... human psyches. And people are things whom I've always found best dealt by simply walling away. Your point is interesting, though."
> Theresa shrugs again, "I know since I watch you all whenever you go into the Dream. It's kinda part of our job to keep an eye on what you're all up to, and it's certainly bound to be more interesting then...well, just about anything else."
<Nagare> "You certainly seem fascinated by people. It's a funny little contrast, really. Although I also have to beg the question of how you know about Alice, given she's not a part of the Dream as far as I can gather."
> "We keep track of when you establish links." She explains matter of factly, "I see what the link is, who it is, and I just extrapolated from there. You did admit to finding her intersting, which led me to the conclusion that you have an easier time relating to her then normal people, despite her being something supernatural."
* Nagare nods. "Occam's Razor still applies to the Dream sometimes."
> "Well, I was applying it to you. And while you can enter the Dream, you aren't Of the Dream. Actual Dream constructs themselves..." She has to giggle, "Sometimes, sure. But by no means is it reliable."
<Nagare> "I have to wonder if that doesn't actually apply to people as well. After all, what does give birth to dreams but the imagination of the living?"
> "True, but applying rational logic to raw imagination is pretty risky. Like..." she thinks for a moment, "let's see, was there any logical reasoning whatsoever for Sailor Anansi?"
<Nagare> "Yeah, that's more or less what I mean. People themselves are... at least as unreliable as the Dream. It's what the Dream is essentially made of. And the less we speak about Mykasi having a side of his who wants to wear a frilly high-school girl outfit, the better."
> Her grin turns mischevious, "Hey, I'm sure he'd pull it off alot better then his Persona did at least. Especially if I could give him some fashion tips first."
* Nagare snickers. "I'm also certain this would cause an even stronger impression than Sailor Anansi did on Hikari and I.
> Now she actively snickers as well, "Oh wow, I would love to see Hikari's face on getting confronted with that. Or just see her getting stuffed into one of those, that'd work too."
* Nagare strokes his chin calmly. "I can't say I wouldn't be entertained by this, but I feel compelled to not get into these deviant thoughts any further, lest you get funny ideas with my frame as well."
> "Oh, it's way too late for that"
* Nagare coughs. "I should have seen -that- one coming."
> She grins, "You really should have."
> Then she closes her eyes and her smile softens, "Well...this is pretty much your last chance to leave while you still can. Are you absolutely sure you want to start this link?"
> Theresa opens her eyes and looks directly at you, gauging your reaction.
* Nagare shrugs, taking a final toke from the cigarette and tossing it away as he blows the smoke upwards. "I've sorta been taking this on stride ever since I awakened. If I'm proposing myself to get into new situations, running away... wouldn't make sense, would it?"
> She nods, "Very well then." And she holds out her hand.
* Nagare raises his eyebrow. "... wait, so...," then he deflates. "... oh. Sorry," he says a bit awkwardly, somewhat clumsily reaching out for Elizabeth's hand.
<Nagare> *OOC: Strike that Elizabeth, meant Theresa. >_>
> As you take her hand, the color fades right out of the Velvet Room, and all time seems to grind to a halt. A deep crimson light appears within Theresa, and floats out in a lazy spiral, transforming into a spinning card.(more)
> The front of the card is difficult to make out. There's an image there, but it's too blurred to be recognizable. The back, however, is a giant image of a woman with glowing eyes, one red, one black, holding a hand over a pair of nude people trying desperately to hold on to the other's hand as they fall in seperate directions.(more)
> A whisper fills the room, "Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Devil Arcana"
> The card vanishes...just as another card materalizes on the table between them...and the color and motion snaps back into the world.
> Theresa smiles, as she picks up the new card, "Don't say I didn't give you the chance to get while the getting was good."
* Nagare scratches his head with the free hand. "I'm not sure if I've gotten used to this pause yet. And... well, nobody said I had common sense. But it's bound to at least be far more interesting this way."
> She chuckles, and shows you the card, "Well, it may just be." The card has an image of a small and cute woman in what looks like a unitard, only she has bat wings and a classic little devil tail, "Social Links give you power, and this is mine. This card is Lilim, a shadow of the DEVIL arcana. Keep ahold of this and you can summon her in the Dream. She can't do much, but it's a start."
* Nagare raises his eyebrow, nodding. "I'll definitely keep this in mind," as he gently holds the card. "Although it's odd that the quest for friendship is beginning to get into a straight-up supernatural entourage, it seems."
> "That quite probably says something about you, you know."
* Nagare sighs wearily. "It probably does. I need to tread carefully, there. But so far, so good, at least."
> She shrugs, but doesn't say anything.
* Nagare scratches his head once again. "I'll take that as a sign that maybe I should be going back for now. But... in all seriousness, thanks for the time of day."
> Theresa laughs, "I wasn't chasing you out, I just have some thoughts on that subject, but I figured I'd save them for another day. Can't run out all the material on the first date, afterall."
* Nagare coughs lightly. "I'm not sure if 'date' is the right word for this, but I digress. Regardless... I'm glad. I'll be sure to visit you again when you're not under Igor's scrutiny," the teacher says with a light-hearted smile, already getting up and preparing to take the door back to the real world.
> She has an amused grin, but stands and bows again as you leave, a laugh in her voice as she gives her usual farewell, "Thank you for visiting the Velvet Room. Have a pleasant evening."
<Nagare> "I will. See you again, Theresa," Nagare waves as he walks into the portal, a smile in his face.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nagare: Death 3

> ---------------------------------------------------------
> Saturday morning finds Nagare...well, disturbed to be quite honest. That DAMNED SONG ran through his head the entire night, and did not bring pleasant dreams with it. Thankfully, once awake he finds his apartment as blissfully silent as ever, the gentle ticking of the clock seeming to enhance the quiet instead of disturb it.
* Nagare breathes heavily. That song about restoring hit points and Dis-poison for healing some illness or other just kept ringing. For some reason, that dream also involved the laughing complexion of an old lady with glasses and some sort of Escherian shopping center and ohgod it's starting again. Probably a good time to get busy, then. The teacher decides to pick up the newspaper and his pipe for a quiet, simple morning.
> The newspaper...is perhaps less pleasent then your dreams last night. The headline is something about politics, but one of the other stories concerns one mister Richard Bland. Apparently he's been hospitalized after he attempted to kill himself yesterday afternoon. Well, they can only guess that's what he was trying to do. Nobody seems to think of another reason someone would slam thier own head into a concrete wall over and over.
> thier own head into a concrete wall over and over.
* Nagare lights up his pipe, blinking at the news. This definitely would have to reach the ears of Mykasi and Hikari, and he could very well suspect what was at work at that point. "Better keep this newspaper handy."
> As you read the rest of the stories, there's a knock at the door!
* Nagare raises an eyebrow at the sudden knock. People rarely ever visited him, and even when they did, they were usually solicitors or some girlscout trying to sell cookies (and why would any of those pester people at a Saturday morning anyway?). As he kept pondering over the subtleties of whoever could be behind the knock, the teacher went to answer the door, puffing some smoke from his pipe somewhat distractedly...
> It's...Alice! She smiles up at you, "Hullo! Um...did you hear my knocking? I wasn't sure if you would or not."
* Nagare blinks, and begins rubbing his temples with his free hand - in the process, inevitably dropping the newspaper. "... you can knock on doors. Erm - sorry, and hi! Let me just pick up this mess," the teacher mumbles awkwardly as he picks up the newspaper.
> She steps back, "Oh, um, most people can't hear it when I do, so I didn't really know if I could or not! Maybe it's only people who can see me who can hear me knock and stuff too?"
* Nagare finishes picking up his paper and drops it on the couch, then coming back. "I think the answer to this is pretty much given. Anyhow, come on in - just don't mind if the house isn't exactly pristine."
> Alice takes a few experimantal steps in, "Is it normal for people to be upset if someone's house isn't clean?"
<Nagare> "It's kinda awkward for the person visiting - you want to make them feel welcome. But it's just that I barely woke up and all. There isn't much to -do- besides make my bed."
> "Oh..." she looks a bit down, "Um, should I have not knocked so early?"
* Nagare shakes his head softly, sighing. "Don't worry about that. You're awfully apologetic, you know? Relax a bit, it's fine. I mean, I'm dressed up and all - although you wouldn't know I was an early bird in the weekends too. Anyhow, what brings you here this morning?"
> "Well, you said you would show me your paintings sometime! And...it's been awhile since you came to see me so I thought you'd forgotten about me but then I remembered that you said I would have to come see you sometimes instead and then I thought that's what you were waiting for so...I knocked!"
> Having no actual need to breathe, Alice rambles all of that off in the same breath quite easily.
* Nagare puts down his pipe and snickers. "Heh. I was actually rather busy the last few days, so I wasn't able to really take some time off to talk to you. Not a bad pitch of insight, though - and you actually came at a good time for that. Saturday is when I usually dedicate the day to my paintings, and I've been working on a few things lately. It's odd, but it feels like the motions have been going far more easily lately."
> She nods, mostly just glad that you aren't throwing her out, "One of the teachers in the school I stay at sometimes would say 'practice makes perfect' all the time, whenever a student would complain about something being too hard."
<Nagare> "It's... not really a matter of practice, I think. But I probably should show the change to you in practice. Do you want to get to the atelier now?"
> Alice claps her hands, which oddly makes no sound(like most of the things she does besides talking), "Oh, yes!"
* Nagare nods. "Follow me, then," the teacher says as he begins heading to the atelier. This also begs the question of how can she make sounds when she knocks on a door while being unable to create a sound when clapping, though...
> Alice follows, cheerfully humming as she walks.
* Nagare enters the room in the corner, where the paintings and tools lie. It's dimly, but not uncomfortably lit, with two finished paintings sharing a corner. A single canvas hangs at the right edge of the room, where the incomplete painting of a woman staring at the sea lies. On the remaining corners, a few other paintings and the area for the tools lie. The room seems to almost breathe as it was resting, calm, somewhat soothing.
* Nagare actually notices how restful the room seems to be, though, and stares at the space somewhat blankly. "It... certainly had less pleasant days," the teacher mumbles to himself.
> She immediately starts looking around at the finished and half-finished works, carefully touching nothing even though she probably couldn't actually mess anything up, "So an 'attleyay' is where you keep paintings?"
<Nagare> "Basically the place I use to paint and to keep the works safe. It's probably my little haven in a sense."
> Going over to the incomplete painting, Alice mimics the pose of the woman watching the sea for a moment and then giggles, "This one's pretty, but it looks kind of sad. Is she a real person?"
<Nagare> "May be, may not. Although I tend to use my ex-wife as a base model for most of the women I draw. I don't know whether this qualifies as an obsession or whether Kasumi just looked stunning. I tend to go with the latter."
> "Oh. Why does she look so sad in the painting?
> "
* Nagare takes a gander at the painting, pensively analyzing it for a moment. "... mmmm. When I began drawing the picture, I was actually remembering Kasumi. In hindsight, it's somewhat romantic to imagine a widow of the sea fornlornly observing her beloved's nigh-endless grave... but at the time I began shaping this canvas, I kept remembering her expression at night in the last months of our marriage. That... may have something to do with it."
> "Oh. Um..." eager to change the subject since that sounds very awkward, she moves over to one of the finished paintings, "What's this one about?"
* Nagare looks at it. It's a pretty simple painting - a still life of an autumnal meadow in the early night, with a strong level of details on the movement of the breeze and the leaves, as well as the color layers of the sky. "This one is about as straightforward as it gets. It's basically a meadow in the fall at night. I like the colors and details, though - and sometimes I wonder how did I manage the sky here."
> "Does it have a name?"
* Nagare halts for a moment. A sudden, yet very -obvious- realization has hit him."I actually never -named- my paintings. I just tend to go 'the painting with the burgundy flask' or 'the painting with the awful shading' or 'the painting that's better off donated to an incinerator' for monikers."
> Alice giggles, "Hehe. Oh, I have an idea! Why don't you call it..." she thinks a moment, the idea more being that she could come up with a name then already having one.
* Nagare eyes Alice somewhat wearily. "You don't need to think very hard, really..."
> "'Evening Meadow - Fall'. I think serious names suit you better then funny names. Oh!" she exclaims, suddenly getting an idea, "What if you did paintings of the same meadow for each season? They could be a set! And I think the winter one would be very pretty, especially if it had snow."
<Nagare> "... that's actually not a bad idea, although I'm not very methodical as a painter. I don't know if I'd do very well, though: I've never bothered much with different weather moods - although I could give it a try. That'd take quite a while, and it'd have to wait until I at least finish the one I'm currently working on."
> She nods and looks at the other finished painting, "What about this one?"
* Nagare eyes the painting. It's... actually a face painting of Kasumi. And, even more oddly, one with actually complete, even sharp, features - as it was the first picture he actually finished after his Persona had awakened. Nagare looks at the painting, sighing somewhat heavily. "That's... Kasumi. And also the very first painting of a living person I managed to complete."
> "She's very pretty." Then she looks up at you with a questioning expression, "You didn't paint people before? Why not?"
<Nagare> "I just couldn't get their forms right. Whenever I tried painting a person, I would at least never be able to create a face. Often, they had labyrinthine traces - closer to a Munch painting than to a human. Which may have its merits, but is quite undesirable in realistic paintings."
> "Oh." She pauses a moment, then asks, "Um, what's a Munch painting? Is it a painting you can eat?"
* Nagare snickers, taking the opportunity to take a seat. "No, no. I was referencing Edward Munch. He did a very famous painting called 'The Scream', which you might recognize.'
> Alice shakes her head, "No, I don't. I don't really know anything about art, except for what I learned in school."
<Nagare> "I see. That's not a subject they would approach with nine-year-olds, though, so it just makes sense."
> She looks around the studio a bit wistfully, "I wish I could help. Painting looks fun!"
* Nagare nods with a weak smile, glancing the paintings around the room. "It's a lot of work - and it takes a rather startling amount of patience. I find it very enjoyable, though. Particularly nowadays."
> "I can be patient!" Alice insists...then looks down, "But I can't actually paint anyway, so I suppose it doesn't matter."
<Nagare> "Well, both of those you can apply the practice-perfect corollary to. Painting is a lot about a long-term effort - the most brilliant paintings took years to complete, after all."
> She looks at you crossly, "No, I mean I really can't! See?" She picks up a paint brush...though while Nagare sees it in her hand, he also sees it still in the cup she took it from, and she dips it in some paint...which isn't disturbed even though he sees paint on the brush. Then she runs it over an empty canvas, causing red streaks to appear...(more)
> At least until she steps away from it, when they promptly vanish.
> "See?" She repeats, "I wasn't saying I wasn't good at it, I was saying that I litterally can't do it."
* Nagare blinks. "... I see. Does this happen when you write too?"
> She nods, "Yes. It happens whenever I do anything, really." She drops the brush, and it simply dissapears as if it never was.
<Nagare> "I honestly feel I should be a bit more surprised than I am. Although it has to be disheartening to have your interaction with the world pan out in this way. I mean, a typical ghost usually can't interact with things at all. However, you almost can, but your efforts are instantly erased as if they never were."
> "Nobody would be able to see it but you anyway. I would try to paint or write in school all the time and nobody ever saw me, even when I drew pictures on the board."
* Nagare shakes his head. "Well, yes, but it makes the whole mechanics all the more insulting. Why not even let you have those small memoirs for yourself? Whoever came up with you seems to be rather unkind."
> "I wish I knew who did. Then I could ask them if they made anyone else like me and maybe I could have friends."
* Nagare nods. "The real question is whether the responsible would give you an answer. On the other hand, I guess you've got me for now? Great consolation, though."
> She nods quietly, now in a thoroughly sad mood.
* Nagare sighs, rubbing his temple. Sometimes, Alice just seemed to know how to tug at someone's heartstrings - and Nagare had to wonder how far could she go if she actually had any malice. "... yeah, I'm sorry about that. Although... hey. If you want, you can come back here again. You're welcome to visit me, you know."
> Straightening up a bit, she bows politely, "Oh, um, thank you very much. It is nice to talk to someone who can hear me. When I can't talk to anyone for a really long time I start to wonder if I'm real."
* Nagare nods. "Anyone would, really, even if they were flesh and blood. If you want, I may even start on the meadow paintings sooner than later. I do wish to begin painting, and I prefer not having spectators, so it means I'm... well, saying my goodbye for today. But, as I said, you're welcome to visit me. Just remember to knock on the door."
> She nods, "Um, okay. Bye."
> A moment later she pads out of the room and is simply gone.
> As Nagare watches the empty space where the strange girl was, the color in his studio bleeds away, everything turning to grey, making the entire room seem like a monochrome still life of an amature's atelier(more)
> The voice returns, as he knew it would, accompanied by the same spinning card with guillotine of playing cards on the back, "Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Death Arcana"
> The card vanishes, and the color returns, though the room remains perfectly still.
* Nagare sighs. "It's like this is a recurring theme. I have to wonder if I should apologize to Alice later, though..."
> ----------------------------------------------

Hikari: Fortune 4

> --------------------------------------
> The previous Wednesday, before all the Shiro unpleasantness, Hikari had decided to play her first real session of Dungeons and Dragons. At Jinai's request, she and Neimi arrive at the gaming room a bit before everyone else so that they can hash out character history a bit.
> Jinai is setting up his GM screen as you enter, and nods in your general direction, "Ladies. Go ahead and have a seat and pull your character sheet out, Hikari."
* Hikari hands it over with the formality of a job applicant turning in a resume.
> Neimi sits down next to Hikari, shaking her head a bit at her formality, then pulling out a copy of the Player's Handbook and handing it over to her. "Here. I've already put bookmarks in it for the rules you'll need to reference the most." Indeed, the book has multiple, clearly labeled, tabs sticking up from the top.
> Jinai quirks a very small smile as he takes the sheet and looks it over, giving a small whistle as he looks over the stats, "You weren't kidding about those rolls, Neimi. Not bad at all. I think this beats out Jean Franc for total modifiers."
<Hikari> "Well, I'm a lucky person," Hikari says with a shrug.
> Handing the sheet back, he picks up an index card and quickly writes down a small list of equipment, handing that to you as well, "Alright, here's what I'm giving you for equipment. The thing you'll want to note is the weapon. It's a +1 Ghost Touch Longspear. This means you can attack incorporeal things like ghosts and shadows or even fog monsters without any penalties."
> He smiles, "This ties into what we're doing with your background a bit. You're wanting to be a Valkyrie from Kenlund, yes?"
<Hikari> "Yes, that's correct. What would happen if someone struck one of those creatures with a normal spear, out of curiosity?"
> Neimi chimes in, "A normal normal spear? It misses, period. A magic spear without Ghost Touch? They have a 50% chance to miss anyway, even if they hit the AC on the attack."
> Then she looks at Jinai, "By the way, you giving her a weapon like this is filling me with a very familiar sense of dread."
* Hikari raises an eyebrow. "So I should assume I'm being given this in order to deal with a specific menace?"
> Jinai merely shrugs enigmatically at Neimi, then looks back to you, "So I was actually planning on doing something with the Valkyries a bit later, but I can intro that plot now since you want to play one. I'll give you a quick rundown of what they do in my world, and you can decide if that's still what you want, alright?"
* Hikari nods. "Of course, go ahead."
> "Basically," he continues, "Valkyries are the sacred warriors of Kenlund. They don't lose control like the berserkers do, they aren't raiders like the vikings are, in fact they rarely concern themselves with mortal opponents at all. Valkyries are specially trained to deal with the supernatural. They hunt ghosts, other undead, wicked fey and even demons."(more)
> "They refer to all of these enemies as Weird Souls, and it's essentually thier job to purify them. Usually by killing them off. Sometimes they work with Druids, but most often they answer only to themselves. Within the borders of Kenlund, a Valkyrie has the right to basically go where she pleases and investigate anything or anyone if she suspects a Weird Soul may be involved."
> "That sound good to you?"
<Hikari> "So we are the supernatural police, or exterminators?" Hikari nods. "That's acceptable."
> He nods, "Close to it, yes. The other thing to note on your sheet is the Valkyrie's Helm. So long as you're wearing that, you get a +4 sacred bonus on your will saves to resist mind control or possession attempts made by anything that would be considered a Weird Soul. It won't help against mortal magic, though."
> Neimi grins, "That's actually pretty cool. Do I know anything about the Valkyries?"
<Hikari> "It's certainly better than nothing," Hikari says, idly wishing she had something like that to prevent her from behaving strangely in the dream after, say, losing a few IQ points.
> Jinai scratches his chin, "Eh, when she shows up I'll let you throw your K:R for it."
<Hikari> "'K:R?'"
> Neimi nods, "Alrighty. And that's Knowledge:Religion. We abbreviate things alot here."
<Hikari> "Maybe I should keep notes..."
> Jinai moves along, "So that brings us to Hildegard in specific. What is she doing in Ralegar instead of Kenlund. The obvious answer is..." he pauses...
<Hikari> "Hunting something that fled?"
> "Bingo. Chasing a Weird Soul." He smiles again, and this time the smile looks a bit cold as the light somehow picks that exact moment to gleam mennacingly off his glasses. Then he hands you another sheet of paper, "There's been a problem in Kenlund lately. Something has decided to start hunting Vakyries back. And it had been very successful for awhile."
* Hikari looks at the sheet. "Obviously my fallen sisters will have to be avenged," she says with a nod.
> "There are only twelve valkyries left. Including you. This isn't nearly enough to protect the country as you used to. There were over twenty when you all banded together to attack the feind en masse. You won...vaguely. The creature fled from your combined might, though you were unable to kill it. And it fled due south, to Ralegar."
<Hikari> "If twenty of us together couldn't kill it, what chance do I have alone?" Hikari says skeptically.
> "That paper contains the details you know on the creature. It's nothing that any Valkyrie had seen before, causing you all to give it it's own new name, The Green Fury. And your job isn't to hunt it down and kill it alone. You and four other Valkyries like you all went to Ralegar and split up, looking for Ralish allies to help you."
> Neimi is now narrowing her eyes suspiciously at Jinai.
<Hikari> "Oh, I see. Alert the locals and enlist them to our cause." She glances at Neimi. "Is something wrong?"
> Neimi shakes her head, "Oh, I just think I see where he's tying this in to previous plot threads."
<Hikari> "Is that something I should know aobut?"
> Jinai shrugs noncommitally again, "If it comes up, you can learn about it in character. For now, you don't know any of the other PCs yet, though once you stumble across them you can peg them as warrior types, and fairly strong ones at that, pretty easily. Especally Duke, for his physique, and Garita, as you know how to recognize a druid when you see one."
<Hikari> "Alirhgt. I suppose if Hildegard doesn't know something then I shouldn't either."
> Neimi nods, "That's usually easiest for new players, yeah. Some players don't really believe in player/character seperation, but Keiko and I are fairly big on it."
<Hikari> "Well, of course, if I did know something I wasn't supposed to, I would be sure not to exploit it."
> Jinai nods, "You did strike me as the type to play fair, yes. Anyway, we still have a minute or two before everyone gets here, so Neimi can help you put all the gear on your sheet and show you where all the modifiers go."
> Neimi proceeds to do just that!
<Hikari> "This will take some getting used to," Hikari says. "It is quite a lot of numbers. Sometimes it looks like I'm studying for a chemistry exam."
> Then Jinai snaps his fingers, "Oh yeah, one last thing. When we start, you aren't with the group yet. You have actually just arrived outside the town of Glasgon via the hidden roads through the Stone Circle. It only took you a matter of minutes to reach the Glasgon Circle from where you and the other seperated, despite the distance, but as it was a strange form of magical travel you feel like you just ran a marathon in full armor."
> ran a marathon in full armor."
<Hikari> "So I'm exhausted. Right. I suppose I should hope I don't immediately get in a fight."
> He nods, "I'm not that mean. You can see the outskirts of the town from the Circle and basically started trudging that way to get to somewhere to sleep."
> Neimi then smiles, "And we, of course, are all at the inn right now."
> Right about then, the door opens. Keiko Noi comes in first, smiling shyly and waving as she sees you. This time...she doesn't seem to have her Giant Bag O'Books.
* Hello-DojimathedralWaddleDee has quit IRC (Quit: -=runbarunbarunbarunbarunba~=-)
> The reason for that is apparent in just a moment though, as Yoro Haragi trudges in after her carrying her bag.
<Hikari> Hikari nods politely to the new arrivals. "There were too many books for one person to carry, I suppose?"
> Haragi hauls it over to her chair and sets it down with a grunt before stretching to pop his back and plopping down in his own chair. THEN he notices you and grins, "Hey, that's a character sheet! Here for real this time, huh?" He leans over to look at it a bit, "So what'd you roll up?"
> Keiko nods, "We met in the hall on the way here, he offered to carry my bag."
<Hikari> "That was gentlemanly of him. And yes, I'm going to give it a try. I trust you'll all tell me when I do something wrong."
> Jinai cuts in, "Leave that to me and Neimi for awhile, since we're familiar with her build. And it's my job anyway."
> Haragi was just about to open his mouth to respond with an "Of course" when Jinai cuts him off and he snaps his mouth shut.
* Hikari shrugs. "In answer to your question, I made a valkyrie. I'm told I was very fortune with the dice." She points at the sheet.
> Instead he does the best upside-down reading of your sheet that he can(as he's sitting across from you), "Fighter, huh? Yeah, guess I could use some help on the front lines. And..." he blinks as he sees the stats, "sweet baby zombies look at those stats!"
> Suddenly interested, Keiko leans over and looks, blinks twice, then turns a narrowed gaze on you, "I hate you so much right now."
> Neimi starts laughing.
* Hikari can only assume that's an expression of enthusiasm on Haragi's part. "Now, we'll never be teammates if you let envy drive us apart, you know."
<Hikari> (Latter directed to Keiko.)
> Wordlessly, Keiko pulls out her own sheet and shows the stats to Hikari. Ophelia the sorceress has an 18(on Cha, of course), a 12(on Dex)...then two 11s, a 10 and...a 6.
<Hikari> "Oh. That's...I'm sorry."
> Neimi keeps laughing, "Hey, you're an experienced player. You can, and have, made those stats work."
> Keiko sighs, "I know, I know. Ophie is great and all. Just...uuuuugh."
<Hikari> "That's all the more reason to work together, though. Individually we can compensate for each other's deficiences, right?"
> Haragi shrugs, "I'm just waiting for Kosuke to get here so I can see the look on his face when he learns that Jean Franc just got knocked off the top of the stat heap."
> Neimi nods, "That is how you run group games. Oh, and Keiko? She's a zone controller, longspear, Combat Reflexes, Imp Trip, the works."
> Keiko's eyes light up, "Oh reaaaaaally now?" Then she smiles at you, "Nevermind, you are now my new best freind~"
<Hikari> "Is it really something to be proud of? It's just a roll of the dice. Anyone could end up on top one day and lose out the next."
<Hikari> "Oh really? What did I do?"
> Keiko nods, "Basically, you're a defensive fighter. You stop the badguys from moving around, and especially from attacking your squishy companions. Ophelia is about as squishy as they come, and our current frontliner does a really HORRIBLE," she glares at Haragi for a moment, "job of stopping enemies from reaching me."
> Haragi shrugs again, "Hey, they can't attack when they're dead."
<Hikari> "That can just as well be said of our companions. I suppose Hildegard will have to lecture him on teamwork."
> About then, the door opens and Kosuke Nabara strides in, looking just as suave as before. A simple polite nod in your direction shows he notices you but isn't making a big fuss out of it as he slides into his seat and pops open his briefcase to pull out his papers.
> Haragi makes a face at your comment, but then points at Nabara as he enters, "Aha! There's the tardy beast!"
> Jinai then clears his throat before Haragi can continue or Nabara can respond.
* Hikari is quiet and attentive. Presumably this is where the actual game starts.
> Everyone stops talking and finishes pulling out their stuff for the game as Jinai continues, "Alright, Hikari's come to play a full session this time, so lets try to keep the usual bickering and OOC antics to a minimum so she doesn't get lost. We last left off in the town of Glasgon where you had just arrived after passing off the count's letter to Pierre...."(more)
> He continues to set the scene, including a breif recap of the last session, and everyone falls into character. Haragi and Neimi both look more focused, like they're concentrating a bit while roleplaying. Nabara doesn't look any different at all, delivering quips and sarcastic barbs as if they come to him with the same ease they come to his character in.(more)
> Keiko is the biggest change, her entire expression and demenor changing the moment she enters character, going from a tiny nerd girl to actually acting perfectly like a rather bored noblewoman with great sorcerous powers. It's a bit uncanny, actually.
<Hikari> OOC? Hikari doesn't remember if she's heard this one before or not. It's not in her notes, at least! She'll ask Neimi to be sure once there's no game to interrupte.
> They roleplay a bit, talking about thier next move, when Jinai looks over at you, "Alright, about this time, Hildegard has gotten from the Stone Circle to the outskirts of town. A man in leather armor starts approaching you on the road. You also note he's wearing a tabard with the same arms on it as the flags flying near the gate."
<Hikari> Keiko's transformation is also less surprising to Hikari than it might once have been. She knows from firsthand experience now that everyone has their own hidden side!
> "The man holds up one hand as he gets near, 'Hold, traveller.'"
<Hikari> "Oh, this is my turn? Hildegard will ask him for a respectable establishment where she can rest."
> Jinai nods, "Yeah, this is you. And rather then saying what she does, try actually talking as her. Also he did just hold up a hand to tell you to stop. How did she respond to that? Did she stop? Did she keep walking up to him?"
> Neimi cuts in, "Okay, how we usually do this, is describe actions, like 'Garita goes over to the table' or something, and then actually talk IC, that's In Character, when teh character is talking."
<Hikari> "Oh, I'm sorry. Well, she would stop when asked. He *is* a representative of the local authorities after all. Let's see, uh...'Greetings, sir guard?'"
> Jinai nods, "The guard approaches," he then alters his voice a bit to speak as the guard, "'Greetings. Aplogies for the delay, but all armed travellers have to declare their names and what weapons they carry at the gate. Your name, Dame...?'" He then goes back to his normal voice, "Common knowlegde here, you know that Dame is what they call female knights and warriors in Ralegar."
<Hikari> "'Hildegard,'" Hikari says. Her speech is very stiff; she suddenly feels incredibly awkward and probably looks it at least a little. "'I've come from Kenlund hunting a...foul beast.'"
> "The man blanches a little, 'Foul beasts from Kenlund you say? Well, I've seen no beasts near the town, but some other travellers have come through recently, perhaps they know more. If you'll show me what weapons you carry, I can direct you to the Wayhaven, I'm sure that's where they're staying'"
> Neimi leans over, "This is where you can just go, 'Hildegard shows him the weapons' or something."
<Hikari> "Alright. 'Only my spear,' Hildegard says, holding up her weapon for inspection. 'I'd be glad for a chance to rest if you could point me in the right direction.'" She sounds a little like someone who never properly understood the meaning of punctuation, at least when saying dialogue. Why was this so kind of thing so much easier in the dream?
> "The guard nods, and directs you to the inn." Jinai then looks over to everyone else, "The door to the inn opens, and a very oddly dressed woman walks in." He looks back to you, "And now for the first true hurdle of roleplaying. Please describe your character, since the oddly dressed woman is of course Hildegard."
<Hikari> "Oh. Um. Hildegard is dressed in armor from head to toe. She has long, flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Uh. You can tell she's assessing the fighting ability of the patrons as she looks around." Hikari glances around the group. "Is that okay?" She suddenly feels like a very small creature placed in a spotlight.
> Jinai chuckles, "Yeah, that's good enough."
<Hikari> "Alright...I guess I wait for the others to react now?"
> Then Haragi and Neimi speak up near simultaneously. Haragi: "Hey, can I roll my Geography knowlegde to recognize what a valkyrie is? Duke has been studdying Kenlund a bit." Neimi: "So should I roll my K:R now or when she actually SAYS she's a valkyrie?"
> Jinai nods to you first, then at the two of them, "Yeah, go ahead."
> Haragi picks up his grey d20, shakes it a couple times, and rolls it. Neimi does the same with hers(she only has one out in front of her, Haragi has like five).
> Neimi's die lands on a 5, causing her to shrugs and go, "So, that's a 15."
> Haragi's lands on a 1.
> Haragi snorts, "First botch of the session, ladies and gentlemen. At least it wasn't a combat roll."
<Hikari> "Do we always roll to know what we...know, I suppose, or just in certain circumstances?" Hikari wonders.
> Nabara snickers while Jinai looks over at Neimi first, "Alright. That armor...honestly, it's looking really familiar to you. It's kinda bugging you a bit to be honest. Once she says she's a Valkyrie, you'll place it and you'll know the basics. They hunt evil spirts or something."
> Jinai then looks over to Haragi with a smile, "Duke...recognizes that armor instantly. Only Valkyries wear helms like that. They're living goddesses, decended from the heavens to cleanse the mortal realm of evil, and take the most valient of mortal heroes back with them to serve in the personal armies of the gods."
> Nabara's snicker turns to outright laughter, "Oh this'll be good."
<Hikari> "What? What's so funny?" Hikari asks, with some suspicion.
> Jinai then looks over to you, "To answer your question, for common knowlegde, no. For anything strange, very specific or esoteric, yeah. And sometimes, when you botch a check or just fail it too badly, I'll feed you misinformation instead, like I just did to Duke. Part of the challange of roleplaying is acting on this misinformation instead of the real info if your character rolls that badly."
> Neimi randomly rolls a die.
> d20
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls d20 and gets 14."12 [d20=14]
> She then snickers.
* Hikari nods. "I understand. So, I should introduce myself here?"
* Hikari glances at Neimi, always feeling like she's missing something here.
> Haragi speaks up, "Duke's eyes go wide as he sees her, then he takes a couple steps towards her, and falls to his knees, 'V-valkyrie! You're here for me, aren't you?' Duke looks up and flexes his muscles, the guy looks like he could bench press a horse, 'Take me with you! I am worthy, I am ready! Let me prove myself!'"
> Neimi facepalms.
> Jinai raises an eyebrow, "It might help if you described how Duke looks."
<Hikari> "Um." Hikari looks to Neimi, desperate.
> Haragi winces, "Right. Derp. Okay, Duke is big. Like, really big. Six foot four, built like a brick shithouse, muscles on his muscles, that kind of thing. He's dressed like he wants to be a viking, in Kend style armor and stuff, but he's clearly from Ralegar. Kinda dirty blonde hair, looks like he's never brushed it. Oh yeah, and huge honking greatsword on his back."
> Nabara speaks up, "Jean Franc stands up from his chair at the bar, walking over to Duke and looking down at him with a raised eyebrow, 'Funny, I could swear you've only had one drink today.' Then he looks up at the newcomer and bows slightly, 'My apologies for my...he must be drunken, there's no other explanation, freind, madam.'"
<Hikari> "Alright. Well. Let's see...'You're mistaken, fellow warrior, but I am looking for, er, strong warriors. I come from Kenlund, hunting a foul beast that has strayed into your lands.' Uh. Hildegarde talks to Jean too: 'Would you or others here help this valkyrie put down the monster among you?'"
> He continues, "Jean Franc, by the by, is a very handsome young man. Black hair, quite curly and allowed to hang almost to his shoulders. A perfectly trimmed goatee as well, which goes excellently with his slightly darker complextion. He doesn't look like a great warrior like Duke, but there is a certain...fluidity and subtle grace to his movements."
> Neimi then speaks up, "The short woman in the corner who has been feeding tidbits to a boar looks over at the commotion. She's dressed very simply, in the brown robes of a druid, a gold stained sickle hanging at her side to complete the outfit. She looks a bit young for a druid, though, there's no grey in her aubern hair at all, and not a single wrinkle on her somewhat round face."(more)
> "She stands up and approaches Hildegard with a small smile on her face, 'Greetings Valkyrie. I was wondering when you would arrive.'"
> Jinai nods at you, "Hilde would recognize druidic garb when she sees it. That's not something anyone from Kenlund needs a roll for."
<Hikari> Hikari looks around. "I'd recognize a druid? Okay. 'You were expecting me? Then has the monster already caused trouble in this area?'"
> Neimi smiles and shakes her head, "Garita shakes her head, 'None I have seen yet. But I felt it's presense, so I called you here. I am Garita.' She then smiles and waits for the recognition."
> Jinai frowns, "Hmm. Alright, Hilde is a valkyrie so she should know about the Kend gods, but Garita is a dead god and has been for awhile. Now you don't have any knowledge religion as a fighter, but I'll let you roll raw Intelligence to know about Garita if you want."
> "Meanwhile, over at the bar," Keiko speaks up, "The rather svelt dark haired woman in a dress that is FAR too nice for this country town sighs and signals the barkeep for another drink, 'Here we go again.'"
<Hikari> "Oh. Alright...which one is that?" Hikari checks her sheet, feeling just slightly lost. All those numbers! "So...this plus one, I think," she says, rolling.
> OOC: you can just roll a d20, yeah.
<Hikari> roll 1d20+1 dump stat!
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 1d20+1 dump stat! and gets 8."12 [1d20=7]
> Neimi frowns, "Man, that would have been a great time for a high roll."
> Jinai shrugs, "So you...kinda vaguely think you know the name, but hell if you can place it."
> Nabara smirks, "No brainwashing for you."
> Neimi sticks her tounge out at him.
<Hikari> "Then Hildegard just continues talking, I suppose. 'Greetings, Druid Garita. I look forward to working with you to, er, purify the weird soul.' Hildegard looks around the room. 'Will anyone else fight for their town's defense?'"
> "Garita frowns a bit, 'Hmph, it seems that the Valkyries are not as well educated as they once were.'"
> (OOC: Gonna go the infodump/sessionwrap from here. Gimme a bit~)
<Hikari> "Hildegard should take offense at that. People shouldn't just defame her order!"
<Hikari> (OOC: Okay, feel free to ignore that, then. >.>)
> Neimi winks at you, "Garita gives you a steely look, 'I would say it deserved when the valkyries forget who they once served. I am Garita, ancient goddess of the earth reborn into this mortal frame.'"(more)
> This causes Ophelia to chime in telling you to please ignore the druid's megalomania, she gets like that sometimes. Garita and Ophelia start bickering in character, until Jean Franc takes control and seperates the ladies.(more)
> He then suggests sitting down and Hilde sharing what she knows on this monster before they even consider facing it. Jinai then directs you to the paper he gave you, and Hikari/Hilde dutifully shares the info on it.(more)
> The name 'Green Fury' causes Garita and Duke to go 'hey that sounds like' and start talking about the warning that a nature spirit gave them...all the way back at the beginning of the game. During this time, Hikari catches Nabara subtly rolling his eyes.(more)
> The discussion of what to do about the Fury goes on a bit, and Jean Franc suggests that this group alone is hardly set to combat it, but notes that you may have just found the right group anyway, as he can get you an audience...with the King himself. And they're on their way to the capital anyway.
* Hikari nods approvingly. "That'a certainly a good place to look for help. The authorities should know if there's a monster loose in the countryside, too. People need to know to stay indoors."
> And thus Hilde joins the party. The group quickly sets out and heads on the way to the capital. The journy is amusing as Neimi notes that Garita is insistant on teaching Hilde about the ancient gods so the valkyries are ready for thier return, and Haragi notes that Duke is still not entirely convinced that Hilde isn't a goddess herself.(more)
> But that doesn't all get RPed out, they just note that the conversation is happening, along with a quick explanation of 'downtime/traveltime' to Hikari. Then Jinai rolls some dice and tells everyone to make spot checks...(OOC: Please roll 2d8 to see what Hikari's dice luck is like. yes you may Divine Relationship this if you want)
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 3."12 [2d8=1, 2]
> Hikari's dice are on fire. Figurtively, of course. She picks up the rules specific to her character pretty quickly, and when the weird little goblin things with red caps start attacking and yelling in Sylvan(which Hilde speaks) "Kill the Valkyrie!", she kinda sorta mass trips and stabs and basicaly makes them look like a bunch of chumps.(more)
> The others do thier parts, Jean Franc pouncing on Redcaps Hilde knocks down and using his Sneak Attack to deal gobs of damage, Garita and Ophelia using magic to zap the ones who try to avoid Hilde's area, and Truffler and Duke dishing out the damage, Duke manageing to pull a triple crit chain with Great Cleave causing Haragi to get up and dance(more)
> The Redcaps driven off, Ophelia notes that if the forces of darkness are specifically aiming for you this might be more serious then she thought, and Jean Franc agreeing. You all decide to press on to the capital with all the speed you can muster, and Jinai calls the end of the session.
> Neimi shakes her head, "Okay, Hikari? You can have that set. It NEVER rolled that well for me."
<Hikari> "I can tell this will take some getting used to," Hikari says. "I'm not very good at trying to talk like someone else. At least I was good at killing the monsters?" she adds.
> Haragi blinks, "Wait, those were YOUR dice? How can secondhand dice roll that well!?"
> Nabara rolls his eyes openly this time, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Ah yes, since dice are these magical things that only recognize a single master."
<Hikari> "Does everyone normally bring their own dice? I don't really see the point in that. They roll the same no matter who's using them."
> Nabara nods, "My thoughts exactly. Some of us are a bit more superstitious then that."
> Haragi snorts, "Say what you want, but did you see that cleave chain? I may be weird about my dice, but they don't let me down in a crunch."
<Hikari> "I'm sure they have at some point. It's really just a matter of probability."
> Jinai laughs, "Yeah, between that and Hikari's luck you guys pasted an encounter three over ECL. Also good tactics there, Hikari. Not surprising if Neimi taught you how to play that build, though."
> Neimi smiles, "Zone control builds are like my specialty. Lancers, chainers, and of course Druids and wizards."
<Hikari> "ECL?"
> "Effective Character Level," Keiko chimes in, "Basically, it was a fight for 9th level characters when we're only 6th. Jinai decided to throw you right into the deep end of the pool."
> Jinai shrugs, "It all worked out. So, did you have fun? Enough that we'll see you next wednesday I hope?"
<Hikari> "That's alright. I don't mind being challenged. It's the best way to learn things. I imagine I'll be back. I've had a lot going on lately. It's good to have a day set aside to relax and do something a little silly." Well, that's not something she would've thought to add previously. But going on *actual* life-threatening adventurers makes meaningless diversions suddenly a lot more attractive!
> Keiko giggles, "Well if it's silly you want..."
> Neimi interupts, "I think the Maid game is a bit TOO silly for Hikari, to be honest."
> Jinai nods, "Alright then. Good session, I'll see you all later. Hikari, if you have any questions on the world or anything, Neimi can fill you in."
* Hikari nods. "Yes. One degree of nonsense at a time, please."
> Neimi smiles and helps you get your stuff together. As she picks the PHB back up, the world goes to grey once again...
> The soft green light appears inside Neimi and spins out in a lazy spiral, transforming into the spinning card, the one with the designs of ten sided dice with faces instead of numbers on the back. The front is...less blurred this time. There's a person on there. But you can't make out any details still.
> Once more, the whispering echo speaks, 3"Thou art I...And I am thou...through this bond, thou shalt have the blessings of the Fortune Arcana."
> And as Hikari feels the power settle into her, the world snaps back to normal.

Nagare: Death 4

> ------------------------------------------
> Wednesday afternoon finds Nagare returning home with a handfull of papers to grade after his last class is over. It's the last day of November, and the weather is only getting colder. The few people he sees out on his drive home are dressed in even heavier clothing...except for the blond girl in a blue summer dress dancing circles around the mailbox across the street from his apartment.
* Nagare shakes his head, organizing the papers in a pile - graded ones left, ungraded ones right. The stacks are eerily balanced in size - a glass half-full or a glass half-empty, perhaps? The teacher sighs, eyeing the paper piles, then Alice across the window.
* Nagare gets up, lightly rubbing his forehead. For a moment, he glances at the window again. "Maybe I should nag her. Not like I have the focus to continue grading right now," he decides, heading for the door.
> Alice seems to just be twirling around the mailbox randomly, and you can hear the faint sound of her singing something as you step outside. She does curtsy as the headphones boy passes by her, but he doesn't react of course.
* Nagare observes Alice for a moment, then clears his throat to talk to Alice - more of a small ritual than anything, really. "Has he ever bothered to look up?"
> "Hmm?" She looks up as you approach, "Oh, no, he doesn't seem to do anything besides walk around listening to his headphones. Sometimes he talks to the ghosts over by the old cemetary, but he never talks to me. That's how I can prove I'm not a ghost, you know."
* Nagare blinks. "Wait, he talks to -ghosts-?"
> Then she puts her hands on her hips and looks a bit cross, "Though I wonder why the ghosts never talk to me? I know they've died! They're ghosts! But I can see them and they can't seem to see me. Or maybe they're just ignorning me. That would be so rude!"
> "Hmm?" Alice blinks and breaks off from her mini-rant, "Oh, yes. Didn't I say that before?"
<Nagare> "For your first - you're not asking the right person. I didn't even know ghosts were real. Second question, no, not really. Although now I'm somewhat leery of the things you can actually see."
> "Leery?" Her brow furrows a bit, "You don't believe me?"
<Nagare> "It makes me leery for the exact opposite reason, actually. I've been seeing quite a few oddities lately, but I still reserve the right to maintain a certain comfort zone regarding the supernatural. The existence of ghosts shreds this zone a little bit further."
> "You sound like you would rather not know." Alice notes, then argues, "But isn't it better to know if something is real? That way you won't be surprised if it ever bothers you. I know of some ghosts that have played very mean pranks on people, so what you don't know can hurt you." She nods sagely at the last point.
<Nagare> "You have a point. On the other hand, you could very well blame the unknown on the things you -do- know. It's mostly a psychological effect - the truth tends to be rather unpleasant. But I guess I don't have the room to talk when I've seen inside people's dreams. And they retaliate."
> "You can see people's dreams? Are you psychic?"
* Nagare snickers and shakes his head, leaning his elbow on the mailbox. The teacher then begins to mumble. "It'd be far more convenient that way, but no. It's... a long story. The short version is that, after a very strange chain of events, I became able to enter... a dream world, so to speak, and I get strange powers while in it. And I suddenly feel ridiculous for saying all this with a straight face."
> Alice giggles, "Don't worry, I won't make fun of you!"
> "So what's it like in that dream world? It sounds fun!"
* Nagare sighs. If he wore glasses, he'd be probably obsessively tinkering with them right now. "It... is difficult to explain. There's a huge landscape that's called the Outer Dream, which I've barely seen. Past that, each person has a very different dreamscape that may as well be its own world. Remember the dinosaur and robot weirdness I mentioned the other day?"
* Taishyr has joined #personador
* Taishyr is now known as xorn-exhaustaion
> She thinks a moment then nods, "Oh, yes! Dinosaur knights and robot ninjas."
<Nagare> "Exactly. That was the dreamscape of two eight-year-olds," the teacher remarks, poorly hiding the wince as he remembers Ewan and Keita.
> "Well that's not too strange, is it? Boys like things like that, so I should expect them to dream about it."
<Nagare> "It's a bit more strange when the boys -and- the robot dinosaur thingies are hell-bent on killing you."
> She frowns, "Well boys do like violent things as well. That's still horribly rude, though!"
<Nagare> "It's vaguely entertaining to see how innocently you justify it," Nagare adds with a light smile.
> "Well, you can't really blame people for what they dream, can you?" She asks with a serious expression, "And I've watched alot of cartoons that are supposed to be for boys, and they're all so violent. Even the ones that talk about freindship all the time still always end with beating up a badguy."
* Nagare stretches lazily. "You probably have a point. I'm just very easily annoyed by children. Their Dream mostly reminded me why I'm glad for being essentially sterile."
> "Oh." She goes quiet for a bit.
<Nagare> "Hm?"
> "Um," she looks down a bit, "I'm not annoying....am I?"
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "Alice. If you were annoying me, I doubt we'd be talking -right now-. Believe me, when you annoy me, you will know."
> "Oh." Now she looks embarrassed, "It's just that you said that you were annoyed by children and I know I'm a child too...even though I'm not really alive."
<Nagare> "Case-by-case basis, really - I'm not the most pleasant person to be around, but I'm not -that- intolerant. And we've been over this before - in fact, when we met for the second time, even," Nagare says with a shrug. "Were you this self-conscious with the other people you talked to?"
> "No one else has ever talked to me more then twice."
* Nagare blinks. "In all this time? How many people have even bothered to talk to you at all, just for perspective?"
> Alice cocks her head to the side and tries to think, "Um...it's hard to remember. A few, I know. Most just tell me to go away when I tell them why they can see me, or call me a halucination which is mean. Sometimes they promise to play with me again but forget."
> Then she shakes her head, "I'm sorry, I can't remember a number."
<Nagare> "It's probably a bit much to ask of you when the notion of time is as fluid as in your case. It's a bit eerie, though - as far as you're concerned, you could've been wandering aimlessly like this for decades, or even centuries."
> She nods shyly, "I've never really thought about that before."
* Nagare scratches his head. "I think I might make you think about a lot of things you probably didn't even want to before. It tends to be one of my jobs as a teacher, but sometimes I wonder if I'm not just being horrible when doing that. And, in your case, it's not even on purpose."
> "That's okay!" She quickly asserts, "I'd rather even talk about things that make me sad then not talk at all!"
<Nagare> "I... suppose. We've talked about these things before, and I have the feeling you'd probably at least want to understand yourself a bit more."
> She thinks then nods, suddenly cheering up, "Maybe if we could find out what my What is, we could find other people like me! And I could have more freinds!"
<Nagare> "It's a possibility, yes. But I don't even know where to begin. Well, no, there's a place, but I'm not sure if you even sleep, let alone dream."
> Alice shakes her head, "I don't sleep, no. I've always wanted to sleep, so I could dream. I wonder what I would dream about?"
<Nagare> "One interesting question is whether you'd have a Dream, actually. If a Dream is a mental landscape of a person's thoughts, even if you don't sleep, I'd find it unlikely that you'd be entirely unable to dream. Daydreaming is all the rage these days, I've heard," the teacher nods sagely.
> "I...don't know. I think I daydream alot, though! So maybe I would! Um..." she pauses, then asks, "So how do you go into someone's dreams? Is it like a magic spell?"
* Nagare strokes his chin, pondering as he lights a cigarette. "It definitely involves supernatural cantrips, but it's closer to a ritual fueled by an artifact."
> "An artifact? Do you walk through a looking glass?"
* Nagare snickers as he blows off a puff of smoke. "That would happen -inside- the Dream rather than -outside-, although the literary reference is cute. No, it involves unlocking doors with a one-of-a-kind key and walking through them."
> She furrows her brow again, "Literary referance? Did I accidentally say something funny?"
<Nagare> "Nah, don't worry about it. Although you probably should try reading a certain book I know - you ought to find it mighty familiar."
> "I can't read books unless someone else turns the pages..." she frowns again, "and then it's very hard to read over someone's shoulder when they read faster then I do. Since they turn the pages before I'm ready! That's why I like television more, it just plays on it's own once someone turns it on!"
<Nagare> "Well, I'm pretty sure you could watch the animation movie version of that book - far less interesting language, but what I'd want you to get across is the basic idea."
> "Okay. Um, do you have it? I'll be happy to watch it whenever you want to play it!"
<Nagare> "I... only have the book, actually. I could help you read it, though."
> Alice nods, "Okay!"
* Nagare begins pondering, leaning over the mailbox as he finishes the cigarette. "Then, it's settled. Next time we meet, you can come in and read," the teacher says, then looking back to his apartment's door. "I kind of don't want to go back inside, but I probably should go back to grading papers."
> "Um, is there anything I could do to help?"
<Nagare> "Sadly, no. The help would come in handy, but you'd be physically unable to do the writing work, and you wouldn't be able to understand the content of the papers anyway. But the willingness to help is appreciated."
> "Oh." She looks down a bit, but nods, "Okay. I'll go sneak into the anime club room at the high school and watch anime with them then." Then she frowns, "well, unless they're watching weird things again. Then I'll go do something else."
* Nagare winces. "That has to be a russian roulette. Who knows when they will start cranking up the hentai again. The student council has filed quite a few complaints about that already."
> "Is that where you teach, at the high school? I've never seen you there."
> "But I usually only go to the anime club room and the library."
<Nagare> "... wait, high school. Sorry, I'm a university teacher. In that case, man, I'd loathe to see the person who'd have to deal with the kids watching hentai."
> She giggles, "I don't think they've been caught yet. I couldn't report them! And even if I could I don't think I'd want to because then they might not let them even play regular anime anymore and I like watching things there."
<Nagare> "Well, nature follows its course in those cases. If they -do- get caught, there's always the university anime club, just as a pointer."
> "I'll remember that! Um, bye!" Then she waves and starts heading off towards the highschool, simply dissapearing after taking three steps.
> As she vanishes, the familiar greyness sweeps over the world and time slows to a stop.
> The card reappears in a swirl of grey light, the back depicting the same guillotine of playing cards, and the front...less blurry now. It's clearly a person standing there, but you can't make out any details just yet. It seems to become more clear each time though.
> Once more, the voice returns, echoing through the world, 12"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Death Arcana"
> And as before, the world snaps back into normalcy the moment the spinning card dissapears.
* Nagare scratches his head. "It definitely never gets noticeably less weird. Although I probably should look into Alice's Dream theories now..."
> -------------------------------------------------------

Mykasi: Hanged Man 2

------------------------------------------------------
> Friday evening, Mykasi is back in his room cooling down(or warming up more like, it IS frikking cold out there) after an afternoon run with Shiro and Oda. Suddenly, his phone rings! The caller ID say's it's Bill...
* Mykasi flips open the phone. "Howdy, Bill."
> Bill's voice on the other end sounds...tired as crap, "Hey guy. Uh, has Xav called you in the past couple days?"
<Mykasi> "...no?" Mike says, suddenly concerned. "Why?"
> "Great, great. He was talking about calling soon, probly be tomorrow then. So...look, I gotta talk to you about something, guy. I really don't know what I should do here."
<Mykasi> "... what's going on? You sound exhausted." Mike comments, leaning back.
> "Yeah, just got put back on the night shift, so I'm about to hit the hay after this. Anyway..." he pauses, breathes a bit heavily and then spits it out, "look, Lupe's back in town. I ran into him the other day, and...I don't like the way he looks these days. He looks like one of those rough guys you don't wanna meet in a dark alley, right? He was asking about everybody, I don't think he knows what's up with Xav yet."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike grimaces, before vocalizing a grunt. "Okay, yeah, that's a... that's a big issue. I don't know how to address that, but I don't think we can stop him from finding out, for one. Give me a second to think."
> "Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I dunno what to do there. Lupe...I mean, you know I never liked the guy, right? But this is different. He's not the same guy he used to be. And he dodged my question when I asked him about Sammy, too."
<Mykasi> "Kch. Yeah, he was okay to me at least, but that was before he dropped out - and I didn't hear anything good about what he got into when he did. Nothing at all." Mike swallows. "...and he wouldn't hesitate to try and... okay. I think I need to call Xav later today, before they run into each other, and... shit. Any chance you took a photo of him with your camera?" Mike asks hopefully.
> "Nah, didn't think about it. Sorry."
> Bill mutters, "Never wished Amy was back here so much. He's scared shitless of her..."
<Mykasi> "It's okay." Mike shakes his head, beginning to pace. "...Shitfuck. And of course he'd be up to no good when the gang's mostly disassembled, yeah. I'd say threaten him with Amy still being around, but... again, he'll find out she isn't. Short term solutions cause long term problems."
<Mykasi> A pause. "Hey, do you know if the old martial arts place is still open? The one about fifteen minutes down Drake Avenue?"
> "The one Amy went to? Uh, I think it is? Haven't heard of it closing anyway."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, that one." Mike muses. "...I really hate to even tread this line of thought, but he lacks a lot of the mental defenses that we have, having forgotten a lot of these people, and... Lupe was always decent at acting nice when he wanted something. Having physical defenses might be wise for him, if you get my drift."
> "Maybe talk to Xav about taking classes? Though I'm more worried about Lupe trying to con Xav into helping him do something stupid and getting himself in trouble then about him actually being violent. ...do you think that's really likely?"
<Mykasi> "It depends precisely on -what- Lupe's been doing." Mike comments bitterly. "If he's just ye old usual addict, yeah, the con will be the problem. But depending on what he's taking... he may not be entirely rational, dude."
> "He seemed kinda high when I talked to him. And I could smell the weed on his clothes. Dunno if he's doing anything else though...he more looks like...I dunno, some kinda gangbanger or thug, you know?"
> "Bandana, tattoos, leather jacket, all that crap." Bill snorts, having a fairly low oppinion of people who try to look 'tough' like that in general.
<Mykasi> "Okay, so he didn't get into heroin like I had heard." Mike mutters. "Then yeah, I'll talk to him some over the phone... and then likely send him to my dad and mom for a brief 'Just Say No' class. Lord knows if anyone can do it, those two can."
<Mykasi> "Sorry, I'll talk to -Xav-." Mike corrects. "I'm willing to talk to Lupe but it will consist of 'if you even think twice of getting anyone I know into trouble I will get the Japanese Mafia to fly over and carve your fucking ass into sushi, capiche?' so."
> "Yeah, that sounds good. Want me to call your dad and let him know about Lupe, guy? I gotta admit, if you didn't have any ideas, all I could think of was letting Mr. Wolfe know Lupe was in town, since I'm pretty sure he'd keep Xav well clear of him. But he'd probably keep him well clear of me and your folks at teh same time, you know?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah, and that's pointless for now. Should be a last case measure. And... sure, go ahead and let my Dad know what you've seen, tell him to call me if he wants. I've got to crack down and figure out why the hell this program's returning triple results half the time and no results the other half, wouldn't mind hearing from him - and he'll be up at this hour, you know him."
> "Right. Alright, I'll give him a call then. Later guy."
> And with that Bill hangs up.
* Mykasi shakes his head and cracks knuckles, before confirming that it's not 4:00 AM in the morning or earlier. (His dad would still be up regardless, but sending a text to Xav telling him to call when he gets the chance would be best - presuming that phone plan went through.)
> (OOC: Time slip~)
> Suddenly, music! At 5AM in the morning! "Never gonna give you up~ Never gonna let you down~ Never gonna turn around and desert you~"
> Kyo looks up with a grunt, "...the fuck...?"
> The music is, of course, coming from Mike's phone.
<Mykasi> "Chrissake-" Mike grabs the phone and rolls out of bed, barely stopping himself from a hard slam into the floor as he grabs his t-shirt. Flipping the phone open, Mike scurries into the bathroom. "Hey, Xav." Oh well, he didn't need sleep anyway.
> Xavier's voice is a bit subdued, "Hi. Um, did I wake you up? Sorry, this was the only chance I had to call, since I'm on my lunch break. And your dad said to go ahead and call even if you were asleep, so..."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, it's cool, my dad was right on the money." Mike replies with a nod. "Don't worry about it. You talked to my dad, then?"
> "Yeah, I'm over here right now. Well, I'm in the backyard since cell phones hate the inside of your house for some reason."
<Mykasi> "Haha, yeah, my dad rues the design of the house for that. Anyways, apologies for what probably seems like a pretty huge freakout all of a sudden."
> "Yeah...so, who is this Lupe guy? Your dad said I should ask you about him. Huh? Oh yeah, he also wants me to ask what his full name is since he doesn't remember?"
<Mykasi> "Armaldo Lupe Rojas." Mike notes first, spelling it out for Xav and his dad. "And... oh geez, Lupe. To give you an idea, I was the one of us five who got along with him, and that was because I was willing to 'help' with some homework sometimes. He dropped out in ninth grade and began running with the gangs pretty early, to give you an idea."
> "...how well did I get along with him? Did I at all?"
<Mykasi> "You and he didn't talk too much - mainly since, well, he didn't get along so well with any of us outside of me, and Amy freaked the hell outta him so he tended to stay away unless he needed to talk to me." Mike shook his head. "The few times you two talked weren't too friendly, as I recall, but he was always good at being nice when he wanted to be. 's part of why I wanted to warn you."
> "I guess I'll keep clear of him, then." Xav pauses a bit, then half laughs, "You know, it's a bit funny. I hear so much about 'the gang' from Bill, and all the fun we used to have. I never really thought about it before, but it makes sense that not everthing I forgot was so nice."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, not all of it was." Mike says with a slight nod. "...I'm willing to tell you about those times, too, if you want to hear them. It's just... I think it's instinct for us to want to give you the good memories first, at the very least, you know?"
> "That's fine. Unless it's important I'd...well, I'm kinda okay with not remembering the bad stuff. I need to keep in mind that life before the accident wasn't always happy, but I don't know how it would help to know the specifics."
<Mykasi> "Heh." Mike grins. "Fair enough, dude." A slight pause. "But... yeah. Just... use your judgment and stay away from him when you can, alright?"
> "Right. Your dad said he likely won't be in town long anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem." He pauses a bit then, "Oh, yeah! Uh, did Bill tell you? I told him not too, but you know Bill, he kinda forgets stuff like that sometimes."
> His voice sounds excited rather then nervous as he changes the topic.
<Mykasi> "Bill has told me that Lupe's back in town and to expect a call from you - that's it. What's up?" Mike asks, a slight grin on his face.
> "Well, I was wandering around town getting to know it better, trying to remember things, stuff like that. Sandy was down so she was showing me around. And apparently I used to like to hang out at some antique shop over on Jules? Anyway, I found something there that...well, I don't know how, I just knew you'd want it."(more)
> "So I picked it up, and Bill paid the shipping for it. He said that he still owed you money from a pool game or something anyway so he considered that paying you back?"
<Mykasi> "Haha, alright." Mike grins. "Thanks! I take it it'll be a surprise for when it gets here, or will you tell me now?"
> "I'll let it be a surprise. Well, unless you really want to know now. Um...do you like surprises? I, well, I don't remember, you know?"
> Man, now he's even picking up some of Bill's patterns of speach..
<Mykasi> "Maaaaaaaaaaaaan, you're even sounding like Bill now. Granted, it could be worse." Mike chuckles. "But yeah, I like surprises, so I'll wait. Thanks, dude~."
> "I am? Uh, is that a bad thing? I mean he stops by the store alot so I talk to him three or four times a week, so I guess it's not surprising. I was told by my doctor that I'd pick up unconcious habits from people around me really easily since I don't remember any of my own."
<Mykasi> "Nah, it's fine, dude. I can think of far worse people to pick up habits from. Lupe, for example." Mike comments dryly. "And that makes sense, sure. You're still adapting."
> "Uh, anyway, I have to start heading back. Only an hour for lunch and I'm supposed to pick something up for my father on the way back too. So..."
<Mykasi> "It's okay, go on. And take care of yourself, alright?"
> "I will. You too, okay? Everyone agrees that you're the worst person in the whole world about working yourself into the ground."
> "Huh?" his voice is a bit distant, like he was lookig away from the phone for a second, then it returns to normal, "Oh, and your dad says he wants you to call him once we hang up.
<Mykasi> "... I'll do my best to keep well rested." Mike grins slightly. "Later, dude- ah, alright, gotcha."
> "Alright. Bye for now." You say your goodbyes and hang up.
* Mykasi shuts the phone off, waits about thirty seconds, and then calls his dad.
> It picks up near instantly, "Heya Mikey. So how are you holding up out there?"
<Mykasi> "Well, the dream ninjas riding dinosaurs almost got eradicated by Tokyozorr, but a last minute interference by the Clueless Band managed to save the day and rescue the two brats who were promptly thrown in a dumpster for being ingrateful. In other news, I'm fine, just wondering why my program is being cranky when I fine-tune it and trying to balance school and social issues. And staying warm."
> "Yeah, I check the news for your part of the world every now and again, and I've heard talk of record lows there." Then he adds with a deadpan, "Nothing about the dream-ninjasaurs though, but that's probably not news to the Japanese."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, old hat here. One of the first phrases they had me learn in Japanese is 'oh, look, Godzilla is destroying the city again', remember?" Mike grins. "No clue on the record colds, though..."
> "Anyway, on to the matter at hand. I'm talking with a local detective fairly often as part of the research for my new book. I could bring Lupe up with him, see if he's got a warrent or anything out and have him picked up, if you want. I'll leave that as your decision, though."
<Mykasi> "...only if he tries to start shit." Mike shakes his head. "He leaves us and ours alone, I don't end up caring. But if he tries anything, go ahead if he's got anything on his head. Fuck, if you can get the phone number for Lupe, I'll call him myself if he starts something and warn him off. He'll probably listen to me, especially if I magically know he has a warrant all the way from Japan."
> "Hmm. No idea how to get the number, but if I ever run into him I'll ask him for it so you can call him. And alright then, I'll keep my ears out but lay off him for now."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, just saying, mystical Mike powers plus he listened to me at least a little might help, if it ever works out. But... this is another problem I can't deal with head on." Mike shakes his head. "So... thanks, Dad."
> "Not a problem, Mikey. Between your mother, myself and Bill, we can handle things on this side of the Pacific. I'd rather you be free to keep your focus on yourself out there."
<Mykasi> "Look, all I'm saying is, approximately ten trillion tons of force should move Japan over to California, solve both the cold issues and these pesky distance issues with one fuel-burning stone." Mike comments.
> "Oh, so is THAT what you're really working on out there?"
<Mykasi> "Sadly, no. Just working on a program to sift through any source and pull out references based on relevancy and accuracy at a rate about a hundred times faster than the current common search engines."
<Mykasi> A beat.
<Mykasi> "Well, and entering magical dream worlds to beat up freakish monsters and meet ancient gods, but you know. Japan. That shit happens here."
> "Obviously."
* Mykasi exhales. "But yeah. Everything still going alright there with Xavier?"
> "Well enough. He...works hard at the store, so Davis lets him have his free time. Bill seems to have done a very good job in convincing the Wolfes that he's still okay and maintains few ties with us, which frankly impresses me."
<Mykasi> "Bill's picked up a few tricks." Mike comments, sounding impressed even to himself. "But is there a reason you hesitated on saying he works hard at the store? They overworking him or something?"
> "It's just that he never wanted to work there, so seeing him apply himself so hard now is...a bit distasteful to me."
<Mykasi> "... well, he's doing so in order to work himself free, so to speak." Mike comments. "Subversive attention to duty - which is actually a fairly Xavier thing to do."
> "It rather is, yes. Like some strange form of passive-aggression." Stephen laughs a bit, "I suppose I'm not so clean of that particular vice myself, though."
<Mykasi> "Avoidance of problems until he can't avoid any further, then pretty much engaging until they're worn down to the dirt... yeah." Mike shrugs. "Give it time, see how this works out. From what I understand he's not terribly enthused about working there -now-, but..."
> "It's less that he objects to the store, more that Davis isn't being very subtle about trying to control him, I think. But even now, you still likely know him better then I do."
> "And for the record," Stephen states, "to counter-balance your mother's grudging acceptance, I'll make it very clear that should you rekindle this relationship in full when you come back, or decide to stay in Japan and convince him to move out there with you, you have my full support. So long as you're happy, I really don't care what you do or who you're with."(more)
> "Well, so long as you're happy and not hurting anyone. Anyone who doesn't deserve it at least."
<Mykasi> A low chuckle. "I've been trying to help people as I can, here. And as for Xav... oh, geez, Dad. I... I don't know yet. I honestly don't know. All I do know is that I want to make sure he can reclaim something of a life - and I don't care if that life, in the end, can't be with me." (More)
<Mykasi> "If it can, awesome, if it can't or if he doesn't want that, then that's okay too. That too, like with Davis' control, has to come down to Xav's decision in the end - not mine, yours, mom's, or Davis's. And that's the choice, the decision, that I want Xav to be able to make in full, without feeling obligated to choose any one way." (More)
<Mykasi> "He knows now that if his family drives him too far, he can let go and walk away - and he's smart still, damnit, he's likely figured out he no longer has as many connections to anyone now. He chooses. Not them, at this point. That needs to be his right - not only to try and remember, but to try and remake himself."
> "Well said."
<Mykasi> "Thanks. I've been grinding my monologue stat."
> "Speaking of grinding, I need to go pick up some more peppercorns. Making those black pepper coated porkchops for dinner tonight."
<Mykasi> "..." A slight whimper escapes from Mike's throat. "Damnit, Dad, you're gonna make me try and hunt down something like that here and I won't be able to find any!"
> "Surely you can make it yourself. Unless Japan mysteriously doesn't sell black pepper, vinegar or porkchops?"
<Mykasi> "Pork is insanely expensive here." Mike mutters. "Poultry, fish or beef."
> "Well, you can make it with chicken. Just never try to make it with fish. You can't taste the fish through the pepper at all."
* Nagare is now known as Hello-DojimathedralWaddleDee
<Mykasi> "Ngh, it was more a case of 'urge to have some pork, rising'." Mike mutters. "But I'll keep that in mind, maybe give some to my roommate."
> "He'd probably appriciate it, with the weather the way it is out there. Alright Mikey, I'm about to head off. Take care of yourself, son. And don't hesitate to let me know if you need anything."
<Mykasi> "Alright, Dad- Oh! Right. Something to tell Mom that might make her happy."
> "Oh?"
<Mykasi> "I think I found God again. Doesn't mean I agree with her on anything still, but I think I'm willing to acknowledge he has a high probability of existing at this point. ...though you may just want to phrase it the first way. It'll keep her happier." Mike is grinning madly, rather glad his dad can't see his smile at this point.
> "I'll look forward to hearing your evidence sometimes. I know you a little better then you think you don't have any."
> *sometime, even
<Mykasi> "Some other time, sure. For now, talk to you later."
> "Talk to you later, Mikey."
> And with the goodbyes said, you both hang up...leaving Mike awake at five-something in the morning.
<Mykasi> "...ffffssssssgh." Mike hisses, closing his eyes for a bit, before stumbling back out and into bed, muttering to himself in Miwok softly.
> And thus Mike goes back to sleep. At least until Kyo's alarm goes off.
> ------------------------------

Nagare: Devil 2

> -------------------------------------------
> Thursday evening. Classes are all done with, papers are all graded, and Nagare finds himself alone at him. It's quiet, as usual. Only the tick of the clock breaks the silence of the apartment.
* Nagare eyes the clock wearily. "The evening's dull as usual, I see."
* Nagare shuffles his pockets, pacing around. For some reason, the lack of things to do somewhat unsettle him. As he shuffles, he picks up the Velvet Key, which was lingering on his suit pockets for -some- reason.
<Nagare> "... I need to be more careful with these things. Although I guess it...," the teacher stops, then capitulates. "I might as well."
* Nagare shrugs, picks up the key and uses it on the kitchen's door. As he opens it, the teachers braves "the endless ocean that rises before him" and enters the door.
> Nagare steps through the door and swiftly finds himself in the Velvet Room. Once more, Igor is not there, only Theresa sitting on her couch. She doesn't stand to greet you this time, but smiles, lounges back and gestures to the chairs, "You're back."
* Nagare puts up a smile as Theresa gestures. "Well, after you suggested I should visit more often, I thought it would be a good idea. Plus, the apartment, for some reason, felt somewhat oppressive this evening."
<Nagare> "I do not remember when did I get so careless as to just put the Velvet Key in my suit's pockets and wander around with it, though."
> She grins, "The Key...sometimes has a mind of it's own. Now that you've established the DEVIL link, you'll likely find that it's with you whenever you seriously think about visiting."
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "That might end up somewhat inconvenient for the others. On the other hand, I feel a bit relieved for that."
> "Well, at least they'll always know where to find it?"
* Nagare nods, lightly knocking on the table. "You have a good point. It doesn't matter much who has the Key as long as it's with us when it means business anyway. Anyhow, I have to wonder. What have you been doing as of late?"
> Theresa shrugs, "Not much in here to do, I'm afraid. I've been looking more into the matter of dissapearing people, but there's only so much I can do from here, even with the Velvet Room archives. Otherwise I keep an eye on you three whenever you go into the Dream and annoy the Master alot."
* Nagare folds his arms, taking a more pensive stance. "While the idea of annoying Igor sounds amazingly entertaining, it's probably not nearly as amusing when there's nobody to bounce it off. Igor probably could outstare a mountain with eyes painted on it, come to think of it."
> "Almost certainly, yes." She agrees, "Wouldn't surprise me if he has before."
<Nagare> "For how long have you been doing this again?"
* Nagare coughs. "I'm sorry, but I've been growing a bit of an interest on the passings of time in terms as volatile and hard to fathom as the supernatural's."
> She smiles, "Longer then I'd like, really."
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "You've learned well from Igor, I see. But it's just been starting to get me. I think I had this same conversation with Alice in a fashion."
> "Now there's an interesting topic. I wish you could bring her in here, I'd love to meet her."
* Nagare ponders. "I'm wondering if she even has a Dream as it stands, actually. And... hmmmm. I think she'd be ecstatic herself to meet you - she craves for interaction, and I'm sure you'd make her feel very welcome. But I wonder if it's even possible. Heck - are you able to exit the Velvet Room yourself?"
> Theresa shakes her head, "No. But...that's for an entirely different reason."
* Nagare snickers. "I gather it relates to your shenanigans with Igor or is this history unrelated to you? Forgive me if I'm being nosy here."
> "Hmm." She smiles slyly and stands up, "Ah, I'm being a horribly rude hostess. Would you care for some tea?"
* Nagare nods, smiling. "I'd be delighted. It's even a good opportunity to switch to amenities - makes for better tea."
> Theresa chuckles and vanishes into the back, returning a few minutes later with some of her normal insanely strong and hot tea.
> Sitting back down, she pours you a cup, and another for herself.
* Nagare lightly blows the tea's steam off, waiting a little until it simmers down. "There's a little ceremony for drinking this tea, come to think of it."
> "What's that, waiting until it won't burn your mouth off?" She asks, before taking a sip of her own...without waiting for it to cool at all of course.
<Nagare> "Yes, but I'll take any ritual measures I can get. My lips are neither supernatural nor made of steel. Nor am I Mykasi, for that matter."
> Theresa laughs, "He is an odd one, isn't he?"
<Nagare> "Certainly odd enough for me to nag at him, but not odd enough to disallow banter. The sense of humor is certainly appreciable, and you get used to the head-in-the-clouds demeanor," the teacher nods, finally deciding to take a sip. "It's still quite hot."
> "That may well be what allows him to handle the Dream. Much like your...detatchedness, if that's even a word."
* Nagare stops to ponder for a minute, as he takes small, careful sips from Theresa's tea. "There are always some ends loose that allow one to withstand the Dreamscapes, I guess. Although the merits of this as a blessing are debatable. The detachment could be easily seen as a vice, for an instance."
> "There's no rule that says a vice and a virtue can't be the same thing."
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "Really? I'm honestly not sure if I agree. Although I've never been quite strict on moral codes."
> Theresa laughs, as if your response really amuses her for some reason.
<Nagare> "I'm aware of the irony."
> That only makes her laugh harder.
> "No, no, hehehe, I assure you, you have no idea what makes this so funny."
* Nagare keeps a calm smile, nodding. The phrase both unsettles and pleases the teacher, but he keeps the lighter side above the surface. "Oh, good, this means I won't have to enter a pointless diatribe about how law isn't about morals or right and wrong."
> "Oh, absolutely," she calms down, though the laughter is still apparent in her eyes, "Laws are about control. For good reasons if you're lucky, and ill if you're not."
<Nagare> "I'll argue to death that the law is a necessary evil for a social animal such as the human being. The unfortunate - or maybe not even so unfortunate - casualties are mostly a side effect. That's usually the part where the idealistic freshmen raised on Sailor Moon break down crying."
> She nods again, "Even we supernatural entities have some laws that govern us. Fewer, of course. As there are are far fewer ways of enforcing these laws on beings that defy conventional reality, as I'm sure you can guess. But they still exist."
<Nagare> "Even things beyond our kern follow a set of internal logic mechanisms, really. Come to think of it... this gives the Inner Dreamscapes I've seen make... more sense."
> "Shadows...are interesting. They spring into existance with thier own internal set of rules and laws that they simply cannot break. But what they are changes from shadow to shadow." She takes another sip of her tea before continueing, "The Shadows of people are based on the person, of course. But lesser shadows...sometimes there is no rhyme or reason to them at all."
<Nagare> "Wouldn't that make sense if they're born from the collective of dreams? Pardon me for trying to apply elementary logic to the Dream, but they can only become something that... well, their source already is, in some fashion. Being very crude, often the Dream has no rhyme/reason to it."
<Nagare> "Thus, it makes sense that Shadows may have none of that either."
<Nagare> "Although I feel like I'm bludgeoning a fascinating subject into the ground here."
> "I suppose that will suffice for an explanation this time, as much as you can explain any of this," she shrugs and half nods.
* Nagare scratches his cheek, slightly embarrassed. "I probably could stand to try to let my imagination run a bit wilder than that, I suppose," he says, then reaching for the cigarette pack in his other pocket. "Do you mind if I smoke? I realize I should've asked this last time."
> Theresa laughs, "Doesn't bother me at all, no."
* Nagare nods, still a bit embarrassed. "I just wonder where do the ashes go to. Do you have an ashtray? It hit me that I was awfully rude last time just now, and that borders on childish from my part."
> "It's not a problem. The Velvet Room has seen worse then a few ashes before, and I'm sure it will again." Lounging back on the couch again, she smiles...and it looks very slightly predatory, "So. Care to indulge me with a little game?"
* Nagare breathes heavily. "I suspect this is a rhetorical question. But sure."
> She laughs, "I won't force you to play, but if you win I can promise you'll get quite a prize. Here's the game," she sits back up, eyes alight with something akin to mischief, "every visit, you get one chance to guess my name. My real name. Theresa, as I'm sure you've already guessed, is just a name I use. To help you out, you get to ask me one question each time.(more)
> "I may not answer, mind you. And I might be infuriatingly vague," her smile grows wider as she says that, "But whatever answer I do give you will be true."
> "Are you up for it?"
* Nagare scratches his head, letting out a snide smirk. "Before I say 'yes', I will just note that I've always been very bad at playing games."
> "That really just makes it more fun for me, you realize."
<Nagare> "Well, this means at least -one- side inevitably makes the most out of the game regardless of what happens. And I knew I had signed a deal with the devil as soon as the link began - and didn't mind."
> She grins, "Well then, why don't we start now? What question would you like me to answer?"
* Nagare scratches his chin pensively. "Let me see. Is your real name heavily symbolic?"
> She smiles, "In a way, yes."
* Nagare snickers. "It's a start."
> "It is!" She agrees enthusiasticly, "So, since you don't lose anything for guessing and you get one guess per visit anyway, care to take a shot?"
<Nagare> "It's certainly going to be absolutely hopeless, but, let's see... Eve, since we're playing the heavy-handed symbolism card? May as well make sense within the very little I have."
> "A decent guess, but no, I'm not Eve."
<Nagare> "Could've been worse. If Mykasi was in my place, I vaguely suspect he'd ask if your name was Adam."
> She snickers, "Oh god, that guy. I'll give you a freebie, I'm not Adam either."
* Nagare smiles. "That's good to know."
> Theresa pours herself another cup of tea, "Not a bad question for being put on the spot either. Makes me wonder what you'll come up with when you have some time to think."
<Nagare> "Probably still not enough to guess it right. I just hope I don't end up offending you and saying your true name is Edward Longhorn in the middle of the game."
<Nagare> With that, the teacher once again does his "ritual" of letting the tea simmer a bit.
> "If I got offended easily, the comparison to Eve would have done it already, trust me."
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "Thank you for reminding me of the razor line I walk with you."
> Theresa just smiles and sips her tea.
* Nagare eyes his own tea, blows lightly on it and begins to slowly sip as well, nodding. "Still, thank you for humoring me."
> "Oh, the pleasure is all mine. This is really the most fun I get to have these days."
* Nagare nods. "Likewise, Theresa. Likewise."
> After being silent for a moment, Theresa muses, "Hmm. I wonder if I asked the Master, would he let Alice come in with you sometime?"
<Nagare> "I'd honestly would support the notion myself. Alice already has a notion of the Dream, and I've been honestly thinking about whether she could have any resonance within it, so to speak."
> "It may go better if you petition him for it yourself, to be honest." She notes with a half-smile.
<Nagare> "I will, even if to just hear a 'no' - and I'm grateful for your insight," the teacher finishes, smiling as well. "The tea is beginning to feel a bit softer, by the way."
> "That's you getting used to it. That or your tastebuds dying, one or the other." Closing her eyes for a moment, she smiles, "Well, I think it's about time."
> Then she hold out her hand.
* Nagare nods, and takes her hand, as if he already knew what to expect.
> The color fades from the Velvet Room, though it's hard to notice the time stopping effect in here. The light from within Theresa returns, floating out and becoming the spinning card with the image of a giant woman with glowing eyes, one red, one black, holding a hand over a pair of nude people trying to stay together as they fall. The front of the card is no more clear then before, however.
> The whispering voice returns as well, echoing through the room, "Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Devil Arcana"
> As the card fades, the grey retreats, and the Velvet Room returns to normal.
> Theresa smiles and lets go of your hand, "And that's Rank 2."
<Nagare> "It's quite odd to think of this in terms of ranks, no?"
* Nagare then scratches his head, shaking it as he smiles awkwardly. "No, nevermind that. Anyhow, I guess I should go back."
> She smiles as you move to leave, standing and bowing like usual, "Farewell, and have a pleasant evening~"
* Nagare waves to Theresa as he enters the door. "It was a pleasure, Theresa. My best regards!"
> A laugh behind him is all Nagare hears as he passes through the portal and returns to his apartment.
* Nagare enters his apartment once again, Theresa's laughter echoing in his eardrums still. "I have to wonder what makes her laugh so freely... and why she does it, really."
> ---------------

Nagare: Devil 3

> ---------------------------------------------------------
> The four had returned from the Dream, to find it was about as late as they had expected. Quickly and quietly they went thier seperate ways, Mike and Shiro back to the male dorms, Hikari to the female, and Nagare to his car to go home. After a quick stop to get food(as he was in no shape to bother cooking), the proffessor found himself in his apartment.
> Alone, as usual. And after the day's antics, the quiet felt almost strange.
* Nagare roams the apartment, a vague, unsettling feeling. The teacher fiddles, etching his hands into his pockets, almost as if wishing he'd find something in them.
> The key is there, of course. He still had it when they left, as neither Mike nor Hikari had asked for it back yet.
<Nagare> Although it may not have been in -that- set of pants. Nagare probably had the magical nature of that key to thanks, although it probably wouldn't be fond of the washing machine -either way-. The teacher picks the key, looking at the kitchen's k
<Nagare> Although it may not have been in -that- set of pants. Nagare probably had the magical nature of that key to thanks, although it probably wouldn't be fond of the washing machine -either way-. The teacher picks the key, looking at the kitchen's open door. Then he closes it... and opens it again, now with the key, opening the pathway to the Dream... and to the Velvet Room.
<Nagare> As soon as the ocean-like blue of the entrance appears, Nagare enters, heading to the Velvet Room...
> (OOC: The portal is actually swirling purple, it's the VR itself that's blue~ but whatever, Scene Change!)
> As he had expected, Theresa was the only occupant of the Velvet Room this time. With a smile, she gestures to the seat, and pours a cup of tea that was already prepared, "Hello again."
* Nagare picks up the chair and sits in a rather uncharacteristic hurry. It's almost as if he needs to get something out of his chest. "Good afternoon, Theresa. Although I feel the urge to skip pleasantries a bit."
> Theresa half smirks, "Oh really? You always struck me as the sort who enjoyed the little ceremonies expected by polite society."
* Nagare fiddles with air somewhat awkwardly a bit. "We can always pick them up later. But I believe this is important. I'll just skip straight to what I need to ask, since otherwise, I'll just dance around the issue for no reason. It's...," the teacher breathes heavily, then picking up his voice to finish... "... Lilith. Isn't it?"
> Theresa grins and shakes her head, "Sorry, but no. Good guess, though. Much closer then I'd expect on the second try."
> "So, do you want to ask your question now, or have some tea first?"
<Nagare> "Now that my blunder's settled, tea's a good idea. It just sorta unsettled me that the answer could be -that- obvious if true. And that, in a certain way, I'd have sort of cheated."
<Nagare> "Although, if I'm in the right track, the slight sneering at the Eve guess still makes too much sense."
> "Cheated?" She raises an eyebrow, "whatever do you mean by that?"
> Then she laughs, "And I sneered at Eve because I've met the woman and she's the most self-absorbed half-wit I've ever had the displeasure of being stuck in a room with."
* Nagare adjusts his seat, beginning to relax a bit more. "Well. In the Dreamscapes, we blundered - with a little help from fate - into servants of yours. Also, I'd have guessed the very first people to be made would be nimrods."
<Nagare> "Back into the subject, though, it was... almost eerie to see the sheer reverence they had towards you."
> "Hmm." Theresa sips her own tea, not minding the heat or the strength.
* Nagare picks up his tea finally, carefully drinking it one sip at a time... like usual. Overconfidence in the powers of tea is a dangerous endeavor.
> "So, who exactly did you meet? And I hope the visit with them was pleasant?"
* Nagare puts down the tea for a moment, looking up to Theresa. "We met Lilly, the leader of a Lilim cove - we were treated quite well. Also, ask Hikari about how pleasant the visit was - the visible silence alone will make your day. But... seriously... capital 'Her's and 'She's?"
> This causes her to chuckle, "Ah, I remember Lilly. You should be able to trust her, she's fond of her drinks and her pleasures, but also quite protective of her freinds."
<Nagare> "I hope so, certainly. Although, as I said, you might get better stories from Hikari. I'd probably pay live money to see her reaction."
> Theresa's smile grows at this, "Oh I'm sure I don't need to. Lilly can be veeeeery pursausive when she desires."
* Nagare smiles amusedly. "What happened -really- didn't need persuasion. Which makes it all the more amusing. But I guess I shouldn't expect anything else from anyone with a link to you."
<Nagare> "The side effect of being well liked by Lilims I'm rather ambivalent on, though."
> "Oh?" She gives a coy expression, "And why might that be? I've been nothing but a lady~"
* Nagare smirks. "Neither has Lilly. But playful subtlety has been one of your most powerful tools since I've met you."
> "Hmm. Flattery will get you..." she pauses, considers, then smiles playfully, "on second thought, by all means, continue."
* Nagare shakes his head with a grin. "No compliment comes gratuitously from me unless I'm lying, you know. And I know better than to lie to you."
> "I'm reasonably certain you're a horrible liar, anyway."
> As the tea settles into Nagare a bit more, he finds it relaxing him, filling him with a bit more awareness and energy as well. Not alot, but enough to be noticable.
<Nagare> "I used to fare okay at it back when I was practicing. Then my life turned upside down and -that- particular skill was lost. Not that I miss it."
<Nagare> "I also have to add that I honestly needed this cup of tea."
> "You must have used up some of your spiritual energy in there, this time." Theresa notes, "I make my tea with a very, very small touch of Soma extract. Not even as much as was in those pills, but it gives the tea it's strength and it's restorative property."
<Nagare> "If it was just spiritual, it'd have been less unpleasant. But no, there were godforsaken -trees- dropping on me. Flaming trees. "
* Nagare sighs. "Sometimes, I loathe the Dreamscapes.
> Theresa smiles again, a bit more tenderly this time, "They do contain everything. From your wildest desire to your most secret fear, if it can be imagined it exists somewhere in the Dream. The entire land is terrible and beautiful all at once. Now that you've been there, I wonder if you'll be able to look at your own world the same again?"
<Nagare> "I don't think I have even in the more restrained confines of those smaller Dreamscapes. It's... quite jarring, however. I started wondering if -our- world, in fact, isn't just as volatile as the Dream."
> "In some ways it is." She nods in agreement, "The largest difference between the two is that in your world, the majority of people agree on what the rules are. Both the rules of reality and those of society. In the Dream...well, you've seen for yourself already."
<Nagare> "In all fairness, the agreement on rules in -our- world... isn't really all that firm. The true difference seems to be the fabric that holds these two worlds together."
> "Ah," she counters, "but most people would agree, no matter where they are from, that flaming trees cannot maliciously fling themselves at you of thier own will. There is no such agreement on that rule or any other like it in the Dream."
* Nagare blinks. "Wait. So, the fabric of facts is so -fragile- in the Dream that they couldn't even agree on the creations of a single fundamental law."
<Nagare> "Or is it the opposite? Nobody can agree about any rule - thus, the tissue that forges the Dream becomes volatile and mutant."
> This gets a grin, "What part of 'if it can be imagined, it exists somewhere in the Dream' did you not understand the first time?"
* Nagare laughs softly, sighing and scratching his cheek. "Don't mind me, I'm being infected by Mykasi and trying to insert logic where it's a child's trinket."
> Theresa chuckles, "Your world is rational and governed by laws that don't change, so it's in your nature to ascribe them to other things as well. But the Dream...doesn't always follow them. It does in some ways, but that's more something for you to discover on your own."
<Nagare> "I figure there has to be -some- bridging material to keep the Dream afloat even in an inherently fragile manner.
> "Well, everyone at least agrees that it exists. That's something to start from~"
<Nagare> "Besides that, though, all bets are off. The most interesting part is the freedom given to existence in there."
> "It really is." Theresa smiles a bit sadly, "So long as you keep your sense of wonder, you can never get bored in the Dream, there's always something new and fantastic to see."
> "There's a price for it, of course." She shrugs, "But there is for anything worth having."
* El-Cideon is now known as Sierra_Dreaming
<Nagare> "I think I even understand that. Too much contact with the Dreaming could easily disconnect one from reality. And, whether we want it or not, the world of Dreams is still a foreign land where -we- aren't natural."
<Nagare> "We just have the unfortunate coincidence of feeding the material that binds that mess together."
> "Partly that. Partly how in exchange for the infinite possibility of the Dream, you give up the right to be safe. Nothing and no one is safe in there, but it would lose some of it's beauty if it was, don't you think?"
<Nagare> "The same actually applies to our world, though. What we -have-, however, is an illusion of safety. There's a slight irony in that. A place where there is no fact or truth actually exposes its inhabitants to one of the most primal, yet hidden realities in our existence."
> She pours herself another cup and nods, "Illusions are an interesting thing. While Mykasi creates them as easily as he breathes, you see through them equally readily. And it appears that these talents are possesed by the both of you in both worlds, just a little more litteraly in the Dream."
<Nagare> "I figure there'd be a reason why we seem to quibble and mesh so much."
<Nagare> "And that is probably part of it. In a sense, this essentially makes us complete. Somehow. Which is odd, given my own Persona also has a knack for illusions just as much as it has for piercing through them."
> "All Persona have multiple facets, it's how you choose to use them that matters." Taking a long drink of her tea, she sets the cup down and smiles, changing the subject, "So, I'm getting curious. Did you put much thought into your question, or merely your guess?"
* Nagare snickers. "I always put more thought into my guesses than my questions, sadly. At this point, you may slap me for the lack of decor for the question I have in mind."
<Nagare> "But I figure the worst that can happen is that you'll slap me and refuse me an answer. Were you ever a wife, be it by will of desire or will of force?"
> She nods, "I was, actually."
* Nagare scratches his head. "You're even a good sport."
> That gets a snicker, "Oh please, that's hardly an intrusive question."
<Nagare> "You've never been to a Japanese courtroom, I see."
> "Oh, just becuase some stuck up suits consider it intrusive doesn't mean it actually is." she counters.
<Nagare> "It's where I was raised in, remember. It's a nice reminder on -why- the difference in rules between the Dreamscapes and the Landscapes isn't as unbridgeable as it seems to be."
> Theresa nods, "You may still seem uptight compared to some of your allies, but compared to those still living in the land of the courts you've come a long way I think. Even just from the time we first spoke."
* Nagare stretches gently. Theresa's words seem to have hit quite a good spot in his mind. "It's a relief, honestly. Loosening up also doesn't always come easy, but it feels like it was what I needed to actually -live-."
> Then she gets a positively wicked grin, "If you want a bit more help with that, just ask Lilly. I'm sure she'd be MORE then happy to lend a hand or two~"
<Nagare> "I've seen a glimpse of what she can do, really... and I think I'd like to take my steps more leisurely than that. Although Hikari certainly seemed to enjoy -that- lesson," the teacher replies, emulating Theresa's grin with mild at best success.
> Theresa snickers again, "Oh, I'd be dissapointed in Lilly if she didn't. There is no greater shame for a succubuss or a lilim then to have your partner leave unsatisfied."
<Nagare> "I think part of Hikari's post-sobering awkwardness comes -exactly- from the success."
> "Poor thing." Despite the sympathetic words, Theresa's expression is nothing short of amused, "I'm sure she'll come to terms with it in time, but that had to be shocking if she wasn't interested in girls before."
* Nagare grins, tapping his fingers on the table lightly. "Shiro is just as shocked as Hikari is. This is bound to bring some amusement given the presumed chemistry there."
> Theresa shrugs, "Likely a fair presumption. Hikari is an attractive young woman, I'm surprised she doesn't have more suitors as it is."
<Nagare> "I'm honestly not. She seems to have a stern control of her personal walls."
<Nagare> "But this is something I should say to -her- at some point instead of confiding to you if the time comes. And maybe I should consider returning to the real world as well, since time passes almost as unerringly in the Dream as it does in reality."
> Theresa nods, "Well, that just leaves this then," and she holds out her hand.
* Nagare extends his hand to Theresa, in a sense already knowing what to expect. It doesn't stop him from feeling a little rush in his heartbeats, however.
> Nagare knows how this works by now. The moment thier hands touch, the color drains from the room, and time crawls to a halt. The spinning card appears once more, the front still unclear but the back the same as before, appears from a light that originates within Theresa.
> The whispering voice returns to the room, echoing through the small space, 4"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Devil Arcana"
> And in a flash, the card vanishes, and the color and time return.
> Theresa smiles, "That's three. Next time I'll be able to give you a bit more of my power."
<Nagare> "Heh. I'm glad for the assistance. Although just having the chance for these conversations is a reward as is."
> "Aw, you know just what to say to make a girl feel appriciated~" she laughs.
* Nagare smiles. "I needed -something- to at least goad a good-looking girl to marry me once, after all."
> Theresa smiles softely this time, "Why don't you tell me about her next time, hmm?"
<Nagare> "Remind me next time. I think this is worth spending some time on, especially now that I'm far more comfortable with it than before. Deal?"
> She nods, "Of course. And make sure to give some good thought to my little game between now and then as well. I'm quite looking forward to your next attempt."
<Nagare> "Believe me, I'm trying. Wouldn't like to disappoint you in it, either."
> "Well, you still have time. I'm sure you'll figure it out by the end."
* Nagare nods, then gets up, bowing politely to his gracious host. "I hope so as well. Once again, it was a pleasure, Theresa. I'll remember to not call you by capital letters unless absolutely needed."
<Nagare> With that, the teacher heads to the door, waving to Theresa with a smile as he retreads to the reality he came from by crossing the door...
> Theresa snickers, "I should hope not, you're not even of my Arcana, much less my Faction." But as Nagare moves to leave, she stands as usual and bows, a smile still on her face, "Thank you for visiting, have a pleasant evening~"
> And thus Nagare crosses the threshhold and is back in his own kitchen once more.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hikari: Chariot 1

> ----------------------------------------
> Wednesday, after the fairly mind-numbing(though never from boredom so much as the pure deluge of information) World History class, Hikari goes her seperate way from Mike and manages to make it all the way back to her dorm before her phone rings! The caller ID notes it as Shiro.
<Hikari> "Hello," Hikari answers.
> "Hey. I've got free time in a bit if you were serious about wanting to pick up some martial arts skills. Still interested?"
<Hikari> "Quite. I hardly availed myself well with the sword in our last battles. If I'm going to carry it, I should know how to use it."
> "Alright then. Make sure you don't have anything else you need to do today and then meet me over at the big bookstore on Gekkan, pretty easy to get to where we're going from there. And you might want to take the bus, you probably won't be in any shape to drive afterwards."
<Hikari> That sounds like a challenge! "Is that so? It's not as though I'm out of shape, you know."
> SHiro laughs, "Yeah, just trust me on this one, alright?"
<Hikari> "Very well. I'll see you soon." Hikari hangs up. Whatever he has planned can't be that tough, can it? She's surely faced worse in the Dream. Well, she'll find out soon enough. Having no other immediate plans, she sets out.
> the bus route that heads to the stop on Gekkan is fairly popular with students from the college, as the bookstore in question is the largest one in the entire city, so it's a route that Hikari's taken before and knows fairly well. WHen she gets there, Shiro can be seen wandering around on the sidewalk near the store, stretching and moving to keep himself warm in this infernal cold weather.
> Seeing Hikari, he waves and jogs over, "Alright, let's go." And then he sets off down the street!
<Hikari> "Go where?" Hikari manages before he darts away. Are they just going to run? She could do that on her own! She chases after him, anyway.
> "Freind of mine is actually a martial arts instructor, he's agreed to let us use some of his space." He answers, slowing his pace so you can keep up.
* Hikari nods. It's easier than talking and uses less energy!
> "Garu's cool," he continues, "and you don't have to watch what you say around him. I've filled him in on the lunacy, and he believes me."
<Hikari> "Does he? I haven't considered sharing this with anyone who isn't already involved in it. I can't help but feel it must tkae a strange sort of person to believe all of this secondhand without a question."
> Shiro shrugs, "Well, he was skeptical for awhile, but he bought it after I went into his backyard and moved to the Dream right in front of him. Besides, he's an open minded kinda guy anwyay."
<Hikari> "The disappearing act would be a convincing factor, yes."
> Shiro just chuckles and keeps jogging, leading Hikari to a Taekwando dojo tucked away just a the end of a street in the shopping district. Trying the door and finding it locked, Shiro taps on the glass until he gets the attention of a dark haired man inside who waves, then comes over and opens the door.
* Hikari bows politely. Intorductions are Shiro's job, of course.
> The man, bigger then Shiro(though that isn't really difficult), has very dark hair cut very short, and his skin is a bit darker then most people around here, making him look not entirely japanese. His most distinctive feature, however, is the fact that his face is rather wide and flat, somewhat squished looking...really, there's no way around it. Dude's ugly.
> He smiles and holds out a hand, "Hey there. You must be Hikari Ishigami, yes? I'm Hyong Garu, nice to meet you."
> Then he shudders a bit as the wind picks up, "Come on in, and let's get that door shut."
* Hikari shakes the proffered hand, with a polite smile and a "Nice to meet you too," before gratefully sidling inside. It's cold out there!
> Shiro follows suit and Garu closes the door, locking it again. Then Shiro starts heading for a door in the back wall as he talks, "Thanks again for letting us use the space, man."
> Garu shakes his head, "No trouble, no trouble. Glad there's something I can do to help with this mess you're involved in."
* Hikari follows Shiro--presumably he knows where everything is and is headed for the practice space.
> Shiro pulls out a key and opens the door, which leads into a smaller practice room. Then he looks back to Garu, "You got everything I asked for in there?"
> "Yes indeed. Just make sure to clean up when you're done and put things back where you got them. And there's also a first aid kit in there, in case something goes wrong."
<Hikari> "I am forced to wonder: does this frequently happen?"
> Garu laughs, "With particularly driven advanced students like Shiro? More often then I'd like. But it's not the frequency of accidents that you have to be prepared for, it's that they can happen at all. Best to always be prepared for the worst, I say."
<Hikari> "I believe I have a certain amount of experience with the worst, given recent events. If Shiro can match the worst of the Dream then I have truly understimated him."
> Shiro snorts, "Dunno about the worst, but I've been able to survive everything in there so far at least. Alright, you go in first and get changed. There should be some womens gis folded up on a box in there, dunno your size so just asked him to put a couple common sizes in there. Lemme know when you're done."
<Hikari> "Well, yes. I'd be very surprised if you *hadn't* survived and you were still here talking to me." Hikari heads inside, looking for the aforementioned box of clothes.
> There's a box against one wall that has a trio of martial arts outfits folded up on top of it. Hikari is able to pick out the one that's roughly her size fairly easily.
* Hikari changes, giving a small knock on the door when she's done and sizing up the room.
> The room has some space, but really only enough for two or three people to practice safely, as opposed to the large main classroom out there. No shelves or anything like that, but a few boxes(all with foam padding on all the corners and edges, just in case) are sitting against one wall.
* Hikari stretches a little, limbering up. It wouldn't do to let her body go all stiff when practice is just about to begin, right?
> Shiro comes in when you knock, having apparenly changed out there already, and throws his bag in the corner. Then taking his spot on the mat, he faces you, "Alright, I need to go over a couple things before we start."
> "First, your main focus here is weapon work, right? Especially the sword?"
* Hikari nods. "Yes. We have it, so we may as well make good use of it, shouldn't we?"
> He nods, "Yeah, it's a good idea. And hell, your weapon's actually magic, so you'll probably get some good use out of it. My spear's just a nice spear, but for some reason I can't use most of my techniques in there without it. Anyway, the second thing to note is that this isn't the Dream. You don't have Brynhildr's strength in here, or her protection."
> "So what I need to know, is if you've been in a real fight out here before."
<Hikari> "No. I'm not unused to strenuous exercise, however. Not *all* of my strength is Brynhildr's. I do take time out of my classwork to stick to a regular exercise regimen. I may not have any personal experience with real violence, but you needn't think I'm fragile."
> Shiro nods again, "Yeah, that'll help, but it's still not quite the same thing. See, right now your body is used to that buffer that Brybildr provides against damage and pain. Your body is going to expect the hits you'll take here to hurt alot less then they will, which will ironically make the pain feel even worse then it actually is."(more)
> "What I'll be teaching you here, isn't how to fend off some bullies or win competitions or any of that crap. This is serious 'for use on the battlefield' style martial arts. It's not a formalized style, it's the stuff I've pieced together from everything I've learned in my life, formally or being being hit with it."
> He grins, then takes off his glasses and sets them over on the box, "Long story short, unless you learn even faster then I did, chances are before we're done here I'll have beaten the living shit out of you. Same way I learned, and the only way I know how to teach it."
<Hikari> Hikari doesn't look disturbed by the prospect. Just as serious and attentive as ever. "If the end result of this is that injuries in the Dream seem less significant then they did before, then I consider the pain a worthwhile lesson," Hikari says. "You have long experience with combat, or was the Dream your introduction as well? I must wonder who your teacher was. Garu, I presume?"
> He shakes his head, "Been fighting all my life, actually. First learned from my old man, then from other teachers. Ran into Garu when I moved here, and as far as unarmed goes, he's the best I've worked with. But yeah, I've been beat up with fists, chains and even swung at with knives and shot at once. I didn't grow up in a nice place."
> Then Shiro opens a box and pulls out two bamboo training swords, tossing one to you, "Anyway, we're not here to talk about me. We're here to teach you how to use one of these things. We'll start with basic forms first, so no pain yet. Just a bunch of repetition."
<Hikari> "It doesn't sound like it." Hikari can only shake her head. It sounds like such a different upbringing from her own that she can hardly imagine it. Maybe best not to try? She catches the training sword in one hand. "I observe the form and echo it, I assume?"
> "Yup, that's the idea." And with that, he starts. the basics are, well, pretty basic. But Hikari learns fast, and has the grip, the motions and the stances down in a fairly short amount of time. It feels...natural. Surprisingly natural, as if her hands were made for holding a weapon more then a pencil or a textbook.
> After finishing the forms, Shiro nods approvingly, "Huh, you might be a quicker study on this then I was. Not bad at all. Takes most people weeks to get the forms down right, and that's if they have a background in unarmed combat first. Without it, even longer."
<Hikari> She's noticed this kind of thing before. "I can't help but be alarmed sometimes at how quickly this sort of thing comes to me. It's not exactly what I was brought up for."
> "It's not your upbringing that matters, I think." Shiro shrugs, "It's more about your nature. That's what the Personas are, right? If STRENGTH Brynhildr, a valkyrie of legend, is your real nature? Then it shouldn't be surprising at all."
<Hikari> "I suppose not. I'd just never considered that my destiny lay in fighting supernatural monsters."
> "Take me for example. I was already good at this stuff, but got even better faster then I should have when Red Hare awakened." Then he smiles, "Hey, don't think shadows are the only thing you can knock around with this. Though for more practical self-defense, you should sign up for some of Garu's classes. Chances are you won't have a weapon if some bozo takes a shot at you, and he's a better unarmed teacher then I'd be."
<Hikari> "I'll consider it. I do have a very full schedule right now, what with classes, studying and schoolwork, dungeons and dragons, dream excursions...I've hardly had time for anything else. There are times, you know, that I think perhaps it's a good thing all this happened to me? I have been so much more focused since these troubles started. Isn't that a little terrible? That other people have to meet misfortune for me to find s
<Hikari>  find some sort of calling."
> "Eh. Better then nobody responding to it. Bad shit happens, that's the way the world works. What matters is that there are people who thrive in it, who rise to the challange and kick ass when this kinda crap goes down instead of just rolling over and crying like most people out there."
> "Anyway," Shiro stretches a bit, then moves back on the mat to face you, "Ready for the second part? This is where the pain starts."
<Hikari> "I'm ready, yes." Hikari stands, watching him, holding her sword, trying to anticipate the first move!
> "Here's how this works. You're on the attack first, and don't hold back. I won't tell you what forms to use, or which stances to attack from. Just like in a real fight, make your own calls. But if you mess up, you'll pay for it."
<Hikari> "Of course," Hikari says, deciding that the best time to attack is right when Shiro finishes talking! Maybe he won't expect it? She darts forward with a blunt thrust at his midsection.
> (OOC: I don't see a real need to roll this out? He's basically going to beat the crap out of Hikari this time, as he has 2 ranks each in Melee Attack/Def, she's got none, and this is just a training thing. Just freeform it from here~)
<Hikari> (OOC: sure.)
> Shiro actively grins as he steps back and snaps his weapon down to parry Hikari's...then counters by kicking her legs right out from under her as her lunge carried her in too close.
> That...hurt. Alot more then Hikari was expecting, both the kick and the fall to the ground. Not as bad as some things in the Dream, but still more then her body was braced for.
> Shiro snorts, "By the way, I won't just be using the sword. Shadows don't all use weapons, and some attack with things I don't even know what to call, so I'm not playing by any rules."
<Hikari> "Mmph," is Hikari's elegant response to being knock flat on her ass. "I can't help but think you enjoyed that very, very much, sensei," she grumbles as she climbs to her feet. "Very well. Duly noted: rules are out the window." She tries a wild swing at his head, standing back a bit test his reflexes from a safe (hopefully) distance.
> Shiro just laughs at the accusation and the lesson contiues(more)
> The next few exchanges go much as the first, with Shiro ducking, parrying or otherwise avoiding Hikari's weapon and countering with a strike of his own. Sometimes she manages to dodge those, but usually they connect and hit with far more force then Hikari might expect a man smaller then she is to have, sending her right to the floor more often then not(more)
> However Hikari is a quick study, and despite being battered by Shiro's counterattacks is refining her technique with every missed strike. The misses become less frequent, and Hikari's own strength is not insignifigant, managing to knock Shiro to the ground once or twice herself. Perversely, the attacks that land only seem to put him in a better mood, and the exchanges become a bit more vicious the more damage they both sustain.(more)
> they both sustain.(more)
> Finally, Shiro responds to Hikari's most recent attack in a new manner entirely. CATCHING her weapon with his open hand, wincing at the sting but still stepping in and planting his foot right into her midsection and shoving her back, pulling it right out of her grip.
> Then he takes a couple steps back and laughs as he pants with exhaustion, "Okay, that's enough for today."
* Hikari grunts and staggers back from that last strike with a wheeze, clutching her stomach for a moment before she can get a word out. "I...yes...yes, I think it is," she pants. "I trust you wouldn't try that last maneuver with a real sword? I begin to wonder if there is a gambit too mad for you."
> He shakes his head, "Not...here, no." He takes a deep breath to steady himself and slows his breathing to normal before going on, "In the Dream though? Yeah, I could. And so can a bunch of Shadows. Remember, I'm not trying to teach you how to fight people here.
> Then he considers, "You might be able to get away with a stunt like that in the Dream too, actually. You're about as strong as I am in there."
<Hikari> "What possessed you to try that? Never mind, I'll just assume you saw a shadow do it first. And...yes, Brynhildr is a great help."
> "Nah, I'd been disarmed and didn't have much else I could do. Last ditch effort, but it worked." He explains.
<Hikari> "So you could have died if it hadn't worked?" Hikari tsks. "Really, Shiro. Maybe we can teach you something about caution while we work together?"
> Shiro snorts, "Come on, I'd been hit with weapons before in there and they didn't take parts off of me. My hand isn't any more vulnerable then the rest of me. Besides, I heal insanely quick."
> "Anyway," he changes the subject, "just give me a call when you want to keep training. I'm not free in the mornings, but my afternoons are usually pretty good. And Garu doesn't have any classes after five on the weekdays, so that's probably the best time."
<Hikari> "Convenient. I, on the other hand, have a nice set of bruises to explain away during the next few days. Although at least now I have a reasonable explanation. It was much more awkward when they came from the Dream. All I could think of to say was that I fell down a flight of stairs, and it seemed to convince no one."
> Shiro winces and laughs, "Stairs? Yeesh, yeah, no kidding. That's the oldest excuse for a guy beating his girl in history."
<Hikari> "Yes, and I haven't even got a guy. It was the first time the Dream had left me so obviously damaged and I hadn't considered an excuse before people began asking. Now I have a perfect one, of course."
> "Yeah, advanced martial arts classes are generally good for bruises. Hell, Garu's school here has been getting more people signing up since things have gone to crap. Lot of people wanting to learn some self defense in case someone goes nuts and attacks them or whatever."
> "Anyway, lemme grab my stuff and I'll duck back out so you can change back."
<Hikari> "I suppose I can't blame them." Hikari nods, waits for Shiro to leave and then switches back to her normal clothes, wincing as various injured spots are brushed.
> As Shiro leaves and the door closes, Hikari feels a power gather around her...and the room goes grey.
> A light, red-orange and almost harsh in it's brightness gathers into the middle of the room, and transforms into a card. On the back of the card is a picture of a man, a classic warlord, standing astride a herd of stampeding horses as they run. The front...Hikari can make out the outline of a horse, but there is no color or definition.
> The card spins, and a voice echoes in the room, 7"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Chariot Arcana"
> And as soon as it had come, the card, the voice and the grey all leave.
> Not two seconds later, Shiro opens the door with a surprised look on his face, "Uh, did that just happen?"
<Hikari> Hikari *was* in the process of changing when Shiro barged in, but she was at least mostly dressed. He can get an eyefull of cleavage before she buttons up her shirt, that's about it. "I'm afraid it did," Hikari says in a level tone.
> He doesn't even seem to have noticed, amsuingly enough, "Weeeeird. I didn't think that could happen between Persona users. You don't have these links with Mike or Nagare, right?"
<Hikari> "No, I don't. Not so far, at least. I admit we don't individually spend much time together outside of working on our various mysteries."
> Shiro shakes his head, then laughs, "Well, guess this training'll help out in more ways then one, huh?"
<Hikari> Hikari smiles. Does someone have a camera? "It seems that way, yes."
> -------------------------------------------------

Mykasi: Lovers 1

Hikari: Fortune 5

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Friday afternoon rolls around, and Mike, Hikari, Mika, Mistia and Neimi have all met up out in front of the school. Mike and Hikari are still a bit tired from all the Dream exploration this week, of course, but it's hard for anyone to notice with fatigue being so easily attributable to the cold.(more)
> Neimi in particular is bundled up in two jackets, actually wearing her work jacket underneath her normal one in spite of her principles, and still shivering, "Gah, I think my glasses are freezing to my face! What is wrong with this weather lately?" Shaking her head, she sighs and looks around, "Anyway, so what movie are we going to?"
> Mistia frowns, "Well...that's the thing. Did any of you watch the news this morning?"
<Mykasi> "I missed it." Mike says regrettably, shivering himself in the cold. "What's up?"
<Hikari> "I rarely watch television. And this morning I only wanted to stay in bed."
> Mistia explains, "Well...I was planning on seeing that new Midnight movie that's so popular, but the only theater here showing it is closed as of last night. Somebody went nuts and started, get this, shooting at the monsters on the screen with a gun!"
> Mika shudders, "It was a sold out showing too. Those poor people."
> Mistia nods, "Yeah. Nobody got hurt apparently, but the theatre's closed for a bit. So," she pulls a paper out of her pocket, "I printed off a list of what's showing at some other theatres, figured we could pick something as a group then."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike grimaces wearily. "Another case? Damn. What happened to the person who was shooting at the screen? He get arrested?" At Mistia's comment, "Good thinking. Whatcha got?"
* Hikari just shakes her head. Mike beat her to the most important question: who did it?
> Neimi takes her glasses off to facepalm, "I didn't watch the news, but saw that on a website. Didn't say the name of the theatre, though." Then at Mike's question, she pulls out her phone and starts pulling something up, "Lemme see if I can find out! Just got internet for this thing, so I may as well use it, right?"
> Mistia hands Mike the paper, while listing the ones that looked good to her on it, "Well, there's a new sci-fi movie out called Strange Journey that looked good. And the sequal to that big medical drama from last year, Trauma Center 2 is out as well. Mika and I are up for either of those."
> Mika nods, "There's also a fantasy romance one, called Let Us Cling Together. I'd like to see that, but I don't know if the rest of you like romance movies..."
<Hikari> "I don't watch many movies, but...sequels are never as good as the originals, aer they?"
<Mykasi> "I'm good with anything - Let Us Cling Together and Strange Journey both sound good." Mike nods, passing the list to Hikari. "I'm the sort of dude that'd want to see Trauma Center 1 first - maybe we can grab a cheap DVD copy for another day?"
> Neimi shakes her head, "As a rule no. And I got it here. Woman actually, name isn't officially public yet but an unnoficial news site says her name is Eirin Uemaro...a government employee. And she was arrested, yeah. Doesn't say what's been done with her yet, but it WAS just last night."
<Hikari> "Either one of those is fine by me. I think I would be inclined to watch fantasy before science fiction, but I will bow to the group concensus here. As I said, I don't know much about movies."
<Mykasi> "Poor woman." Mike shakes his head. "And unless Neimi violently objects it sounds like Let Us Cling Together's winning the day."
> Neimi nods, "Yeah, I'm generally bigger on fantasy as well, though I'm a sci-fi buff too. LUCT it is, then."
> Mika smiles, "I hope it's good!"
> Mistia shrugs, "I hope so too. I've heard it's three hours long, so if it's not..."
<Mykasi> "Same! And eh, I watched all three Lord of the Rings movies back to back to back. I'm not worried."
<Hikari> Three hours seems like a lot of movie to Hikari, but hey, she's a patient person. Usually.
> Neimi asks, "Theatrical release or directer's cuts?"
<Mykasi> "I don't remember. Whichever the longer ones were."
> "That'd be the cuts." Neimi looks over at Hikari, "Have you seen those yet? Your English is good enough to follow movies in the language, right?"
<Hikari> "Yes, I believe so. I haven't watched them, no. As I said, I don't watch movies often."
> "We'll have to fix that, then. I'll see if I can borrow them from Jinai, he imported them awhile back. And he'll totally want you to watch them, too. It's practically required watching for anybody playing DnD." Neimi laughs.
> "Dee enn dee?" Mistia asks, prounouncing the letters oddly, "What's that?"
> Neimi sighs, "...I'll explain in the car. Who's driving anyway?"
<Hikari> "I'll drive," Hikari volunteers.
<Mykasi> "Thanks." Mike nods.
> And thus the five all manage to pile into Hikari's car, Neimi claiming shotgun by virtue of being taller then the other three, leaving Mike, Mistia and Mika all squished into the back. While Hikari drives, Neimi explains what DnD is to Mistia, prompting the expected response of, "No offense, but that's kinda silly."
> Mika, on the other hand, blushes just a touch when Mistia puts it down, but doesn't say a word.
> Eventually, you get to the theatre where Let Us Cling Together is playing!
<Hikari> "Yes, it is," Hikari has to agree. "It's a harmless enough way to pass the time with your friends, though."
> As Hikari pulls into the parking lot, you all notice that there aren't nearly as many cars or people as you would normally expect at a movie theatre on a Friday night.
<Mykasi> "Guess people are scared...?"
<Hikari> "I would guess so. At least there won't be any lines..."
> Mistia nods, "Probably. So I'll buy the tickets, everyone just pass me the money for it. Mika, you know what I want at the concession stand, right?"
> Mika giggles, "You get the same thing every week, so I should hope so."
> Mistia winces, a touch embarrased, "Right."
* Mykasi nods, passing Mistia some cash with a grin. "Eh, consistency's a virtue. One I've never learned well."
> Neimi snorts, "Same thing every week isn't so bad. We've got this one customer at the Crown who seriously comes in every single day for lunch and gets the same order. Never changes at all. Pays in exact change and leaves the same tip every time too."
<Hikari> "Well, at least he actually leaves a tip."
> "True." Neimi nods, "We've got a few who don't, which really hurts the servers since the boss refuses to add in an automatic gratuity on the checks. Says it's dishonest."
> Everyone gets out of the car and passes thier money to Mistia, who goes to buy the tickets. Mike can see the person at the ticket counter give her a reaaaaaally funny look when she asks for that particular movie, too.
<Mykasi> "Ouch." Mike winces. "Yeah, relies on tipping then. Kinda weird - got told before I came here that usually it was factored in, but a decent amount of places here don't. Maybe Western influence is kicking in there."
> Mistia wanders back with the tickets, "What was her problem? Well, whatever. Here you go," she passes out the tickets.
<Mykasi> "Some people pass judgments automatically." Mike shakes his head. "Regardless of the situation."
<Hikari> "What was who's problem?" Hikari wonders, taking her ticket.
> Neimi looks over at the woman, still giving you all an off look, "Suddenly, I'm a bit concerned for the quality of this movie. Well, considering some of the stuff I watch, it can't be THAT bad."
> Mistia shrugs, "Anyway, I'm going to go grab good seats. Anyone have a preferance? Front, back? Right in the middle is where I usually aim for."
<Hikari> "The middle is fine. Just not the front. It hurts my neck."
<Mykasi> "Works for me. I'm easy." Mike shrugs. "You two have any preference?" he asks as a followup, glancing to Hikari and Neimi.
> Neimi nods, "Middle or back, yeah. Same as Hikari, front for a three hour movie? No thanks."
> Mistia nods, "Right then." And she heads in!
> Mika, suddenly visably less comfortable without Mistia there, quickly leads the way in to grab snacks.
* Mykasi follows Mika leisurely, keeping a calm smile up to try and keep Mika at ease.
* Hikari just gets a soda. She's not usually big on soft drinks, but she might need the caffeien for a three-hour movie.
> Neimi considers, "Hmm, anyone wnat to split a popcorn? I never manage to finish one on my own."
* Mykasi grabs some M&Ms, before nodding to Neimi. "It's three hours, I'll probably be hungry again."
> Neimi goes halves with Mike on a popcorn, while Mika gets her and Mistia's drinks(apparently Mistia's weekly order is a small diet soda, no ice, and a cheese pretzel). And you all head into the theatre!
> Mistia's in there, having gotten a seat right in the middle. Which wasn't hard, as besides for the five of you there are exactly three people in the theatre, some high-school kids all sitting in the very back.
* Hikari takes a seat--though not next to Mistia. Presumably that's Mika's spot!
> Mika does indeed sit right next to Mistia, suddenly seeming much more calm once there.
* Mykasi sits ... uh, next to Neimi, who probably will sit next to Hikari. Awkward sitting arrangements go.
> You all get assituated in your seats...and the movie(after much previews) eventually starts!
> Let Us Cling Together starts off with a bang, men on horses bearing down on a small town, and a trio of teenaged rebel types trying to ambush them...and getting thier clocks cleaned. Turns out it was all a misunderstanding, as the knights were goodguys too! And thus they join forces with the rebel kids to go save thier beloved leader who is being held captive in his own castle!(more)
> Of course, this same beloved leader later has the main character TORCH a town full of innocent people and blame it on the badguys(and the Hero's best freind who turned on him for doing this). And the movie really tries to sell that this was the correct and right course of action(more)
<Mykasi> "...that's... not a bad start, at least? Cliche-breaking."
> Also, the romantic tension between the Hero and his...sister...is so thick you could cut it and spread it on toast. Which is leaving Mika's face a nice shade of red from the moment it first becomes obvious.(more)
> Neimi whistles lowly, "Weeeeell, that's. Um. Yeah."
<Hikari> "It is."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike blinks, but leans back, not saying anything for Mika's sake.
> The movie goes on, with the beloved leader commiting more and more atrocities in the name of aiding his country, until the Hero finally turns on him, winning an epic duel with the beloved leader's chief henchman. Who delivers the line that it doesn't matter which of them one. The loser should be blamed for the murder so the winner can unite the country as a hero. All the while with the Hero's sister trying to get the Hero to run away with her(more)
> Eventually it comes to light that the Sister is not really the Hero's sister, and is actually the long lost princess of the entire kingdom! And then now that he knows she's not his sister and stops rejecting her, she runs away from him and gets herself killed trying to be a hero.(more)
> Mistia sips her drink, "This is the most inane thing I've ever seen, I swear."
> Neimi shrugs, "Not that bad by my standards."
> Mistia raises an eyebrow, "You have really low standards."
<Hikari> "I don't understand. Does she not want him any more just because they're no longer related?"
* Mykasi shakes his head almost sympathetically. "Oh, geez."
> Of course, then the Hero goes into stone-cold-badass mode and start working on nothing but uniting the land, by the sword if nessesary(which it is), and his Best Freind from before shows back up with a Big Damn Heroes moment, helping him out in this epic final confrontation with the real badguys!(more)
> Mika sighs, "I thought this was supposed to be a romance?"
* Mykasi shakes his head. "Apparently it got weird billing."
<Hikari> "Well, many romance stories end tragically, after all."
<Mykasi> And at Hikari's comment, Mike visibly winces.
> The movie goes on, with the Hero being crowned king of the newly united nation, and ending with him standing atop his castle, looking out over the land...and seeing his sister's image in the moon...
> Neimi quickly checks the 'net via her phone, "...apparently there's a scene after the credits, too. Something about being the real ending."
<Mykasi> "Mmm. I'd like to see it." Mike comments.
> Mistia eyes the screen, "That would have been a halfway decent note to leave on. So any bets on how they mess it up?"
<Hikari> "'Real ending?' Why put it after the credits? Who sits through the credits of every movie they see? Why not put it in the actual movie?"
<Mykasi> "Hero falls into a timewarp, befriends a dragon, dies fighting the Death Star."
> The credits roll, with a suitably epic but ultimately leaving no real impression song.
> Neimi shakes her head, "She said mess it up, not make it awesome."
<Mykasi> "Dragon Guard's ending -was- messed up."
> Mistia shrugs at Hikari, "No idea. It's a trend to put bonus scenes after the credits, but putting the 'real ending' there is just pretentious."
> Eventually the credits end...and the extra scene starts playing. The camera is on the hero, and moving just a bit...until it reveals a man sneaking up behind him. Who pulls out a gun, yells that this is for the small country that the Hero was fighting for in the beginning that the first half of the movie was set in, and shoots and kills the hero.
> Neimi blinks, "What."
<Hikari> "Hmm."
<Mykasi> "... that's... dramatic."
<Hikari> "I can understand why that would happen, just not why you would choose not to include it in the movie itself." Hikari shrugs.
> Mika frowns, "That was...a really depressing movie. Um...sorry I suggested it everyone."
<Hikari> "Being tragic doesn't necessarily make something bad," Hikari says, trying to make the most of things.
> Neimi looks over to Hikari, "Hey, remember how I was saying that Nabara likes heavy political stuff without much supernatural in it?"
<Hikari> "Yes?"
> "This is basically the kind of plot he'd love. Only the post-credits scene would make him rage so hard."
> "Since," she grins, "Ideally for him, he'd be the one playing the Hero."
<Hikari> "Well, maybe he should run the game instead. Although then I suppose he'd be killing us instead."
> "Yeah, we don't let Nabara run DnD games. For a very good reason." Neimi rolls her eyes at the memory.
<Mykasi> "I enjoyed it, yeah."
> Mistia pats Mika on the shoulder, "Well, it wasn't THAT horrible. Just innane. Hopefully we can go see that Midnight movie next week, I'm sure the theatre will be operating again by then."
> Mika nods shyly, then...actually screws up the courage to ask Neimi a question, "Why is that? Is he really bad at it?"
> Neimi shrugs, "Not...bad, per se. His stories are interesting. Just...he views the whole thing as Players vs GM. Like it's his sacred duty to not let us succeed, and if we do, it's only becuase we outsmarted him to do it."
> Mistia eyes Mika, "You sound like you actually understand what she's talking about?"
> Mika blushes and mumbles, "Um...I've played some games like that...online. On message boards."
<Hikari> "Oh? People play them through text as well?"
> Neimi nods, "Yeah, there are some good sites for it. Never could get into playing online though. Just moves so slowly compared to in person games."
> Mistia gets up, "We should probably move this conversation out into the lobby."
* Hikari stands up. "Yes. Or a restaraunt, if anyone's hungry?"
> Neimi considers, "Actually, the Crown's not too far from here, and I can get us a free appatizer. Especially if anyone likes mushrooms. We've got some fried mushrooms with a curry-yogurt-whatever-dip that's incredible."
<Hikari> "Fine by me. Everyone else?"
> Mistia asks, "The Queen's Crown, you mean? You work there?"
> Neimi nods, "I just bus tables, and clean. But yeah."
> Mika nods her assent as well(and presumably Mike too!) and you all head out.
> The Queen's Crown is an "English style pub" owned and operated by freinds of Neimi's father. On the way there, Neimi explains that they're originaly from England, just like her father, and figured thier food(and more importantly alchohol) was different enough from the local stuff that they might have a market.
> It's not wildly successful, but seems to fare well enough at least. As you make it in and Neimi gets you all a table, you do notice that this place at least isn't hurting for buisness right now. The bar is nearly full and there are only a few tables that are empty, though many have only one or two customers.
* Mykasi nods as the table gets set up. "Honestly? If you guys have braised beef, I'm going to be in heaven tonight. It's been forever since I've had Western food."
> Neimi nods, "We do, but it's heavy and kinda bland. This is traditional English food, remember. If you want something with flavor, go for the rack of lamb, it's fantastic. Also heavy, but not bland at all. And comes with the best mashed potatoes you will ever eat."
<Mykasi> "Duly noted. ...oh, wait. Am I offending any vegetarians here?"
> Mistia looks over the menu, "I'm remembering why I only came here once. I don't really like heavy food..."
> Mika shakes her head, "You're fine."
<Hikari> "I'm sure there's a salad of some sort."
> The waitress comes by and takes everyone's orders. Neimi uses her employee powers to get a free appitizer of those mushrooms she mentioned.
> Mistia and Mika end up splitting a soup+salad combo, with Mika taking the soup and Mistia the salad.
* Hikari is fine with the beef depite Neimi's assurance of its blandness!
* Mykasi gets the lamb rack on Neimi's recommendation.
> "So, Mykasi," Neimi looks over while you all wait for your food, "Do you roleplay at all? Or are we three-two here instead of four-one?"
> Mistia gives Neimi an unamused look.
<Mykasi> "Ah, four-one, though I haven't for a while." Mike comments. "I do know the rules and everything else, however."
<Mykasi> "And Mistia, yeah, it's definitely dependent on tastes. While I'd say give it a try sometime, it may not be up your creek, and that's okay too."
> Mika shakes her head, "Um, well, what I played online didn't have rules or anything. I don't know anything about Dungeons and Dragons."
> Neimi raises an eyebrow, "Freeform? Online freeform? You really have more patience then I do."
<Hikari> "It's not for everyone. It's an excuse to socialize, at least, something I think I haven't had much opportunity to do in the past."
> Mika looks embarrased at Neimi's comment.
<Mykasi> "Heh. I liked the freeform I tried, actually. But..." Mike trails off a bit, looking out to the crowd.
<Hikari> "...But?"
> Mika looks over, suddenly curious.
<Mykasi> "...it was with Xav." Mike says quietly.
> "Oh." Mika looks down.
<Hikari> "Ah." Hikari simply nods.
> Mistia suddenly looks a touch embarrased as well.
> Neimi looks around at everyone, "I'm missing something here, aren't I?"
<Hikari> "I think it's for Mike to share, if he wants to. I don't know if this is the place. That's up to him."
> Mistia shakes her head, "Don't worry about it. So," she quickly attempts to change the subject, "what's the big difference between rules and freeform or whatever?"
<Hikari> "I wouldn't know, really. I'm new to this sort of thing." Hikari looks to the more dedicated nerds at the table.
<Mykasi> "Heh, it's okay." Mike shakes his head. "Sorry, I just made things awkward." To Neimi, "Talk to me later, I'll explain." And then to Mika, "You want to explain? You'll probably do a better job than I here."
* Mykasi also gives a grateful nod to Mistia.
> Neimi eyes Hikari, then Mistia, then Mike, then shrugs.
> "Well...I've never played with rules, um, a system, so..." Mika tries to shluff off having to explain.
<Hikari> "Then how did anything happen?" Hikari prods, not wanting the girl to get away with hiding more.
> About this time, the appitizer comes out! Crispy breaded deep fried mushrooms with a curry and yogurt dip of some kind. It smells weird, but good.
* Hikari is quick to try it while she awaits an answer.
> Mika looks over at Hikari, "Well...sometimes there's a moderater who just decides if things succeed or not. And sometimes it's just...everyone playing thier character and talking and...stuff."
<Hikari> "Hm. I suppose it's like what I've played without numbers or direction?"
> "Usually a looooot less fighting or conflict of any sort in a freeform," Neimi adds.
> "So where do you play, anyway?" Neimi then asks Mika, as the theme seems to be trying to get her to talk.
> Mika quickly shakes her head, "You wouldn't have heard of it. Really small forum."
* Retrieving #personador modes...
> The mushrooms are...good! Well, if you like a really strong mushroom flavor, which they have so much that even a liberal dipping in the sauce can't mask it.
<Hikari> "Well, I certainly wouldn't have. I don't spend a great deal of time on the internet. Is there a particular theme to it, at least?"
> "It's purely a freeform site," Mika explains, "And mostly modern day or fantasy anime style."
* Mykasi enjoys the mushrooms, listening in. "If it's a close-knit community, that can get pretty fun, I'd imagine."
> Mistia half sighs, but smiles a bit, "You do sound like you enjoy it. Okay, why don't you show me the site later and I'll give it a try?"
> Mika quickly shakes her head, "N-no, that's okay! You don't have to..."
<Hikari> "Come on, what could it hurt, Mika?" Hikari says, since apparently more encouragement is needed.
> "R-really...it's fine. She doesn't have to..."
> Mistia shakes her head, "Okay." And then changes the subject yet again, "You're right, Neimi. These mushrooms are good."
> Neimi eyes Mistia, but then nods, "Yup. Probably the best thing on the menu all around. There's nothing else like them around here."
<Mykasi> "They are quite good, yes."
<Mykasi> "... Though, I'm curious - a question for you four." Mike says. "Outside of Japanese - and English, for Neimi - what's your favorite food type?"
<Hikari> "Italian," Hikari says instantly.
> "Thai," Neimi says, also without hesitation.
> Mistia thinks about it for a minute, "Hmm. Honestly, I really do just love Japanese food more then anything else. I'd...probably have to say Chinese, then?"
> Mika half smiles, "Um, I really like hamburgers, and those are American, right?"
> Neimi then reconsiders, "Well...Thai or Indian. I've had some bad Indian, but the good is SO good. Never had bad Thai though."
* Mykasi nods and grins. "Discounting Japanese and American... uh... Probably Mexican, myself."
> Mika thinks, "I've never had that."
> Mistia nods, "Me either, actually."
> Neimi makes a face, "And I never will again."
* Mykasi makes a face back at Neimi. "You lack taste! But yeah, bad Mexican's reaaaaaaally bad. Good Mexican is excellent."
> "Only had it once," she explains, "and the horrible things it did to my stomache could only be explained by H.P. Lovecraft. Ugh."
<Mykasi> "Ooof. Yeah, bad Mexican does that." Mike winces.
> Mistia leans in to Hikari and whisper, "Who's that, do you know?"
* Hikari shakes her head. "Afraid not, no."
> Mika leans over and whispers as well, "I think he writes about tentacle monsters..."
* Hikari simply raises an eyebrow.
> Mistia looks at Neimi with a touch of horror and revulsion...
* Mykasi doesn't notice this side branch of the conversation.
> Neimi blinks at Mistia, "What?"
> The real orders come out about then, thankfully saving Mistia from having to explain that, and everyone digs in.
> As you all eat...Mike and Hikari suddenly notice everything else but the two of them freeze in place. And the color drains out of the world.
<Mykasi> "FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF----"
> The green light that Hikari is used to swirls out of Neimi and comes to rest before her, while two lights, one red, one white, come from Mika and Mistia. Together, these two lights settle in front of Mike, and merge into one soft pink light.
> Then as one, the two lights transform into spinning cards, that both of you can see.
<Mykasi> "... pink. Of course."
> The card before Hikari spins slowly, on the back are two ten sided dice, with faces, each wearing a different mask, where the numbers should be. On the front...the form is still blurry. It's...a humanoid figure...a woman? Yes, a woman. Of some sort. It's still to vague to see more clearly.
<Hikari> Hm. That's different.
> Before Mike, the card is a simple one. Two silhouettes of women, one red, one white, facing eachother with one hand each raised and just lightly touching. The background is split the same, only reversed in color, with the white woman on the red feild, and vise versa. Thier hands touch right on the border between the two. On the front...the image is too blurred to make out at all.
> As one, two voices seem to sweep through the room, coming from everywhere at once. 3"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Fortune Arcana", 13"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Lovers Arcana"
> The cards spin one last time, and the pair feel a power settling over them. Then the cards vanish, and color and motion surge back into the world.
* Mykasi attempts to keep a straight face as the events settle in. "This is good food."
<Hikari> "Yes. Yes it is."
> Neimi nods, "Yeah, the lamb? That's the second best thing on the menu. If you drink, come in sometime and ask my boss about the dark beers, have one of those, the mushrooms and the lamb all in one night and you'll basically have the perfect trio here."
> Mistia shakes her head, "I've tried a couple of western beers, and...yeah, just like most western food, way too heavy. Give me sake or a nice light wine any day."
<Mykasi> "I like cheap beer. But then again, American, it's either that or absurdly expensive stuff." Mike grins.
* Hikari doesn't have much to say about beer. Nothing to say about intoxicating beverages at all, no sir! She's carefully quiet during this part.
> Mika seems a touch uncomfortable at the subject as well. Though presumably for a different reason.
<Mykasi> "Anyway, this was fun. Thanks, all." Mike says, finishing up and glancing to Neimi.
> Neimi nods, "Yeah, this was fun. Not my normal social circle, but meeting people is fine too. Maybe we should get together and check out Strange Journey sometime? I'll look up some clips online."
> Mistia looks over to Mika...who after a moment nods, "Um...maybe, sure."
<Hikari> "Maybe. Hopefully it's shorter than this one. And has a better ending. And no implied incest."
<Mykasi> "Sure. I'd be up for that." Mike nods happily.
> Mistia then passes a quick greatful smile to Mike over Mika's head, and adds, "Alright then. Friday's our weekly movie night, and I do want to see Midnight next week, so maybe the week after?"
* Hikari simply nods.
<Mykasi> "Alright, sounds good." Mike nods.
> With tentative plans made, they finish thier meals and head back to the dorms~
> ------------------------------------------------

Nagare: Devil 4

> -------------------------------------------------------
> Saturday evening. Nagare has spent the day comfortably at home, other then dealing with a call from Hikari in the morning and another conferance call between all three to set up the next day's excursion to the mental hospital, he's had the day to himself.
* Nagare roams his atelier, fiddling with his brushes. After he spent the rest of the day painting, honestly he felt like talking to someone. And the bizarre dream he had in Lily's cove just wouldn't leave his mind. As he finishes rearranging his tools, he picks up the key in his pocket and eyes the door.
* Nagare sighs. "... may as well," With that, he approaches the atelier's door and uses the Velvet Key, waiting for it to open its way to the blue room.
> The door swings open, revealing the swirling portal that leads to the Velvet Room. And once Nagare steps in, of course only Theresa is there. She doesn't rise, but simply smiles from her half lounging position on her couch, "Ah, good evening Professor."
* Nagare smiles as well, approaching the couch and picking up a chair to sit down along the way. "I honestly wouldn't know what to do if I entered the room one day and found Igor instead of you."
> She laughs, "That would only happen if he had something important to tell you, and he didn't trust me to deliver the news over the phone. And you would probably feel the key calling you in. So long as you come of your own accord to see me, it will always be me that greets you."
<Nagare> "I know that objectively, but I am always wary of the Dream's whimsy. Regardless, it's good to see you as always."
> "The Velvet Room...isn't exactly the Dream. It's neither here nor there, so to speak." She shrugs, then pries herself up from her lounge...then reaches down beside the sofa and picks up a tray with a tea kettle and two cups resting on it, "Tea?"
* Nagare scratches his head. "I have to ask. How come you never pulled tea out of thin air before?"
<Nagare> "That said, a sip of your tea is one of the last things any human being worth his weight in salt would refuse."
> Theresa smiles, "Oh, I didn't. I just made it before you got here." She pours you a cup, then one for herself, and sips hers while smiling somewhat mischeviously. And despite what she says, the tea is still piping hot, so it couldn't have been sitting there that long...could it?
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "I could protest about this, but it's hardly in my best interests," the teacher remarks as he gently blows the tea so it cools down.
> She chuckles lightly, "Beginning to just take the strangeness at face value, hmm? So," she sets her cup down and changes the subject a bit, "what brings you here this evening?"
<Nagare> "The fact that I still haven't really grown accostumed to just taking the bizarreness of the Dream in stride, I believe. More precisely...," Nagare sips a small bit of tea, "I have experienced a dream within the Dream."
> She nods, "You mentioned that yesterday. You didn't have it again last night, did you?"
<Nagare> "I... don't -think- so. But I so rarely remember my dreams. Not that it -helps-, considering I keep rewinding it while awake."
> "It was about screaming, wasn't it? It sounds like there was more to it then simple screaming...?"
<Nagare> "The screaming honestly wasn't the most disturbing thing about it. It's... more how it wouldn't be acknowledged. And it would persist slowly, in a muffled manner. Think of it as a slowly closing wound that never quite heals."
> She nods, "I told you about how dreams within the Dream all followed the same rules on any given night, didn't I? What of Hikari's dream? Do you know if hers was a vision, or just a dream?"
<Nagare> "I never found out what her dream was besides something involving Brynhildr. I admit to being quite self-absorbed in this regard."
> Theresa chuckles, "You may wish to, then. Since you dreamt on the same night, and in the same place even, your dreams would follow the same rules. Either both are true, visions so to speak, or both are merely dreams. If yours is a vision...hmm," she shrugs, "perhaps the Master could guess as to what it was, but good luck getting it out of him."
<Nagare> "It -could- be a vision, given its odd familiarity. I can't be quite sure given the state I often was in during my stay in an asylum, but... for some reason, the leitmotif behind that dream feels very familiar."
* Ranmilia has quit IRC (Quit: )
> Theresa laughs a bit, though it's not exactly a happy sound, "You were in an asylum? I'm a bit surprised, though at the same time I'm not. Persona users tend to be a bit, or more then a bit in some cases, imbalanced. Though I really only know much about the places from hearsay, I've always gone out of my way to avoid them."
* Nagare shrugs, his expression going somewhat somber and bitter. "What can I say? My parents didn't quite take all that well from a few things that happened in my life. The whole thing was an overreactive chain."
> "Your parents had you commited?" She quirks an eyebrow at that, "Would that have been due to the incident your Shadow...claimed to have orchestrated?"
<Nagare> "Generally speaking, yes. I didn't protest either. That was quite a blow to Kasumi, however. "
<Nagare> "In particular, she had the divorce files just about ready when I fell... ill, so to speak. She had to give the news while I was locked away."
> Theresa nods, no longer smiling but...not really frowning either, simply looking...sympathetic? "That couldn't have done your mental state any favors. Or perhaps it was just what you needed? A full break with the past?"
> Then she laughs again, "I'm sorry, we still don't know eachother quite well enough that I should sit here psychoanylizing you."
* Nagare lets out a faint, but surprisingly frank smile. "You have no need to apologize. It's even liberating to be able to spell this out," he nods. Then, he ponders a bit further. "Even now, though, it still feels like a bizarre dream to me. I suspect the circumstances may have hit her harder than they hit me, especially considering the way my marriage went. I was the distant one."
> "You do seem to be most comfortable when a bit detatched from things," she notes, "That actually ties back in with little Alice and myself there, doesn't it? Those stuck between worlds...neither here, nor there, so to speak." She repeats her earlier phrase, with a slightly altered meaning.
* Nagare nods uncomfortably. "Can't deny that. A hands-off approach honestly keeps me going. That may very well be why I've been so obsessed with finding a pattern, a key foundation to the Dreamscapes since I began delving into it."
<Nagare> "... although I wonder if this marginal nature is true for me as well."
> "It's at least somewhat true of all Persona Users. Though...unlike beings like myself and Alice, you have the power to choose your place. The Reality you have always known, the Supernatural world you have recently awakened to...or perhaps somewhere in between."
<Nagare> "I honestly think the in-between is the only place where we truly -belong-, so to speak. But it is essentially incomplete."
> That gets another laugh out of her, "Incomplete, hmm? I wonder, is anything truely complete to one who has seen two worlds?"
* Nagare snickers. "This may well be pointless. Some may say being incomplete is pretty much the raison d'etre of a human being.
> "Perhaps. Philosphy is an interesting subject that way." She takes another sip of her tea, then changes the subject, "So. Have you given any more thought to our little game?"
* Nagare sips from his tea... how come it never becomes actually -cold-? "I keep running into walls with it recently. Somehow, I feel like I'm as close to the answer as I was when we started it."
<Nagare> "Although I may well ask another question. Do you have sisters? How many of them? And yes, I know I may be cheating here," he finishes sardonically.
> "Hmm," she smiles, "If you'd phrased that all as one question, I may have let it slide. But yes, I do have sisters."
<Nagare> "Well, I'll keep that in mind when I ask you another question. Although I'll veer away from my last line of thought. Lachesis, maybe?"
> Theresa shakes her head, "Getting colder."
<Nagare> "I'll remember to stay away from more esoteric mythologies, then."
> She chuckles, but simply refills her tea and takes another sip, "Hmm."
* Nagare suddenly blinks and begins laughing. "Also, if you've been pulling my leg all this time and your actual name is Theresa backwards, I'm afraid I'll have to stop being friends with you for a couple days."
> "As...Asereth...no, Asereht?" She tries to prounounce that a few times, then just shakes her head, "No, that's rediculous."
<Nagare> "You understand why I would have to do that were it true, then."
> "I think I'd have to stop being my freind for a few days for that. I never really understood why that backwards name thing became popular?"
* Nagare snickers. "Easiest form of acronym. Great crutch for unskilled writers."
> Theresa shrugs, "I suppose that makes as much sense as anything. Though, if you'll indulge me in a question, why Lachesis instead of Clotho or Atropos?"
* Nagare shakes his head. "I honestly suspect you'd like being the odd one out in the naming scheme. Nothing much of depth besides it. Plus, I also have the nagging suspicion that, if one is incorrect, all three are, rendering which one I chose besides my own logic moot."
> That gets a laugh out of her, "Haha! Such a shallow reason, hmm? Well, I can't say it's entirely unfitting."
<Nagare> "I know it can be quite cruel, but I realize that utilizing simple patterns works better when dealing with the supernatural. Besides, I won't deny I was somewhat second-guessing myself here."
> "So, to date you have determined that I am not Eve, Lilith or Lachesis." She counts the names off on her fingers, then moves to the questions, "Also, my name is heavily symbolic, I have been a wife, and I do have sisters."
* Nagare nods. "Now, to find out -what- distinguishes your name from the name of thousands of other symbolic women. I can't say this isn't interesting."
> "Well, you should still have...say, six more tries after this one." She smiles, the reducing of the supernatural phenomonon to mere numbers clearly amusing her.
> That said, she holds her hand out wordlessly.
* Nagare understands quietly the gesture and picks Theresa's hand carefully.
> The color drains from the room, and all motion stops...even the steam from the tea hovering motionless in the air as Nagare and Theresa become the only things with life in a world of frozen greyscale. The light from within her returns, and transforms back into the spinning card with the image of a giant woman with glowing eyes, one red, one black, holding a hand over a pair of nude people trying to stay together as they fall.
> The front of the card...is slightly more in focus. enough to tell that the picture is a biped at the very least.
> As you watch the card, the voice returns, 4"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Devil Arcana"
> And as the card and voice vanish, the color and motion rushes back into the world.
> Theresa smiles, "Now...I believe last time I mentioned that I would be able to give you another gift this time, yes?"
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "Yes. Although I'd have to be very petty to make -that- my reason to visit you."
> Another card materlizes in her hand. The back has the same image of the DEVIL Arcana that is on the spinning card and the Lilim's card, while the picture on the front...is a man? A darkly handsome man, wearing blue jeans, a long leather coat and wearing a wide brimmed hat. In his hand, he carries a fiddle.
> She snickers, "Oh, I know. It's a nice perk though, hmm? Now this, is the second of my servants you can summon. The Fiddler."
<Nagare> "The Fiddler? This one isn't quite familiar to me, I believe."
> "He's...a bit more modern then I think you're expecting. Also from the wrong part of the world. There's a story about a man who challanged the devil to a musical duel and won. Also, the mysterious traveller making his way around the south with nothing but a fiddle, seducing young ladies and cheating at pool along the way is something of a minor modern legend these days."
> She shrugs, "But really, where he comes from isn't quite as important as what he can do. Be wary when you summon him to play. You are immune to his music, but Mykasi and Hikari won't be. And anything that lacks it's own mind will also be uneffected."
<Nagare> "I... understand. Will keep that in mind when calling him out, of course. I have to say Lilim works in a simpler manner. But that may well be the nature of the beast."
> "My lilims are very straightforward, yes. He is a bit less so."
* Nagare nods. "Makes perfect sense. Lilims are... not complex creatures, come to think of it."
> "They're very good at what they do though," she notes in a pleasant, conversational tone that completely ignores the implications of the statement.
* Nagare snickers. "Hikari can definitely attest to that. I have to admit they make me somewhat uncomfortable when they're too close."
> "Haven't felt up to making too nice with them yet, hmm?"
* Nagare scratches his head. "Intimacy has never been my forte. Kasumi can attest bitterly to that."
> She softens her smile a bit, "Well, I'm sure they'll take no for an answer...though expect them to keep bugging sometimes. Lily's a good girl, despite how much she would protest the label."
> "So I don't think any of hers would push too hard."
* Nagare nods solemnly. "That much I definitely can gather from her. But now, I'm beginning to wonder."
> "Wonder what?" she prompts
<Nagare> "About Kasumi, mostly. Talking about the dream and those past events just brought her back into my mind. Which seemed to be a bit far off since I awakened to the Dream."
> "Thinking about trying to get back together with her? Or just wondering how she's doing?"
* Nagare shakes his head with a bitter laugh. "The latter. I'll be perfectly honest, she was a wonderful person, but I never -loved- her. And I've been rather cruel to her in the last few years. Since I got back into a working life, I've been getting roughly seasonal calls from her. I haven't answered once."
> "Well if you do want to talk to her again...I'll suggest that you call her. That way you'll have time to psyche yourself up for the conversation before you have it. The phone only gives you so much time to pick up, after all."
* Nagare scratches his head. "I just wonder, really. I even remember she seemed quite... miserable. Not that she wanted to go back or anything. But the way things ended. Maybe I just kept feeding into her guilt."
> "She probably blames herself. And if you aren't answering, thinks you blame her too."
* Nagare nods. "Maybe I should fix -that- up, at the very least. I never really harbored any animosity towards her. But, back then, I just enjoyed the thought that my continued existence made her miserable. Given the circumstances, -back then-, it'd have been easier if I was dead."
> Theresa smiles sadly, "Perhaps. But it's easy to think that when you aren't the one that has to deal with the consequences of your own death. Aside from the obvious one, of course."
* Nagare sighs. "Maybe you are right. For they that remain, the wounds grow deeper and deeper, as said the gods. But maybe I should stop bothering you with my neuroses for now. You've done far more than you'd probably have to listening to me today."
> She chuckles, "Don't worry about bothering me. But it sounds like you all have more interesting adventures planned soon, so you may want to get some decent rest. And perhaps some dinner to go with that tea."
* Nagare shrugs. "I can be apologetic if I want. But yes, you're quite right. I'll try to watch for that at least," the teacher says, motioning to get up.
> She stands as well, and walks you to the door, "On that note, would you mind bringing something good in with you next time? It's been quite some time since I've had real food."
* Nagare nods warmly. "I'll make sure. I'll warn you that I can't cook even a fried egg, so you'll have to cope with restaurant orders."
> "Oh, that's quite alright. The best meal is one you didn't have to make yourself, as the old saying goes."
> "Hmm, perhaps something Greek, if there's anything like that in your area?" She requests pleasently.
* Nagare bites his lips. "Hopefully I'll find something in that vein. Kanezawa is fortunately not backwater."
<Nagare> "-Anyhow-, I should leave. Until next time, Theresa!," the teacher says, parting with a smile as he crosses the blue door...
> She doesn't give the usual impersonal farewell, merely waves as you step across the boundary and back to your own apartment.
> ---------------------------------------

Mykasi: Hanged Man 3

> --------------------------------------------------\
> Saturday evening comes, Mike has spent the day...doing whatever he does on Saturdays! After recieving a very unique gift from Xavier that morning, of course.
<Mykasi> Mike hums slightly in a quiet restaurant as he examines the wooden boat in his right hand, carefully flipping it over and over. After a few moments he sighs, before flipping his cell phone open and hitting Xav's speed dial, hoping he remembered to put it on vibrate like his parents were going to try and teach him to do...
> The phone is answered...but immediately hung up without any answer.
> Moments later, Mike gets a text: Call back in 10.
* Mykasi nods slightly and sips on his drink, waiting for about eleven minutes just to be safe before trying again.
> The waitress comes by to ask if you're ready to order yet while you're waiting for it to be safe.
* Mykasi nods and orders a beef bowl with a slight smile.
> She whisks off to put the order in! It comes out...honestly, right about the time the 11 minute mark hits.
<Mykasi> "Heh." Mike nods, thanking the waitress before dialing up Xav again.
> This time he answers, "Um, hi! Sorry about hanging up, I needed to get out of the house first. My parents still don't know I have this phone."
<Mykasi> "That's fine, dude. I kinda figured that was the case. How's it going?" Mike replies cheerfully.
> "Um..." Xav is quiet for a moment, "it's...going, I guess?"
<Mykasi> "...stuff going on that you wanna talk about?" Mike offers.
> "Well...I don't really know what to talk about for it. My dad is just getting really stressed out about the shop, since alot of stuff happened all at once. One of his big suppliers raised it's prices, then one of the contracts we have ran out and the customer didn't want to renew...because they heard that Home Despot..er" he corrects himself, "Home Depot is looking into building a store in town."
> "So he's pretty angry about pretty much everything right now."
<Mykasi> "Yikes." Mike mutters. "Yeah, that... doesn't surprise me, sadly. Just keep your head down for now, I guess?"
> "Later today he's going to call up some other small buisiness owners in town and try to get some petition going to block Home Depot from opening it's branch here. 'Keep Small Businesses Alive' or something like that. I'm supposed to be helping with it."
<Mykasi> "...feh." Mike shakes his head. "On the one hand I have sympathy for your dad, but... Iunno, dude. Does he want you to call around and try to enlist help, then? Or does he want you on some other end of arranging it?"
> "I dunno, he hasn't said exactly what he wants yet. He just had the idea this morning. I thought I'd just be watching the store while he did that, but I guess not."
<Mykasi> "What I'd say is if you'd be more comfortable doing that, volunteer upfront to mind the store while he calls people - since he has business connections, he'd know what to do better no matter what." Mike suggests with a shrug. "Both keeps you out of range of fire from him and lets you do something to help, if that makes sense? Probably more relaxed then trying telemarketing."
> "I guess I can try that, sure. I really don't want to go around talking to people about it and stuff anyway. I mean..." he sighs, "well, the store is important since that's our family's livelihood and all. But...I just can't really bring myself to care about it the same way he does. I'm trying to, but it's just not there."
> "Bill says that's pretty much what I was like before, too."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, honestly." Mike chuckles a bit at this. "You were more interested in figuring out something else to do for a living. But... yeah. You can't force yourself to do this sort of thing- or, better put, you can but you can't force yourself to do it well. And trying to force yourself doesn't lead to anything good... so yeah." A slight pause as Mike sighs.
<Mykasi> "But that's... something your dad never seems to get. Sorry to speak ill of him, but... he's, uh, stubborn."
> "That's okay, he takes it as a compliment. Says what other people call stubborn, he calls determined."
> "Except when it's about something he disagrees with," Xav sighs as he amends, "Then it's being stubborn."
<Mykasi> "Yeaaaaah." Mike shakes his head with a slight grimace. "Determined is being willing to fight for something you believe is right, but being able to stand down when you learn it's not. Stubborn... is fighting for something even if it's wrong, just because it's the way you think should be gone."
> "Yeah, I guess." Xav is quiet for a minute, then perks up, "Oh! Did you get the package yet?"
<Mykasi> "Oh, yeah! Just got it this morning!" Mike says, cheering up himself. "It's actually why I called! Where'd you find this, anyway - it's amazing!"
> "It was in this little antique store over on Jules. Bill says I used to hang out there alot, so he took me there while we were walking around town. Apparently most of what they have there is junk, but sometimes they get really good stuff in. When I saw the boat, I asked Bill if you would like it, and he said yeah, so I got it."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, it's pretty damn sweet." Mike hums, looking it over. "Thanks, man. I remember that store now - if I needed to catch you while you were in a funk, that was the first place I went to."
> "We're actually going back there today, once Sandy gets here. I get Saturdays off, so sometimes she comes down and if Bill can get off as well, we all go do stuff. I wonder if we'll find anything else good in there."
<Mykasi> "Heh, cool. Tell her to... well, I don't know if I'll be awake. Say hi for me - I've been bad on keeping up on email communique. Been busy on this end." Mike says with some regret. "Whatcha doing until then?"
> "Not much, really. Just sort of wandering around. There's...not really all that much to do here."
* Mykasi sighs. "Yeah, they took down the arcade a while back... bah. There was a reason we spent a fair amount of time hiking up in the hills."
> "I guess it was easier when there was a group? I...wouldn't really know, though."
* Disconnected
* Attempting to rejoin channel #personador
* Rejoined channel #personador
* Topic is 'Hikari: 105/105 HP [60/70 EP], Mike: 54/70 HP [79/95 EP], Nagare: 75/75 HP [80/90 EP], Shiro: 140/140 HP [75/75 EP]'
* Set by Gatewalker on Fri Oct 01 18:15:37
<Mykasi> "Yeah, it was." Mike grimaces. "Dunno what to tell you there..." A quiet pause. "...I..."
> "Um...sorry. I keep forgetting that it makes people uncomfortable when I mention my amnesia."
<Mykasi> "No, no, it's not that." Mike says, with a shake of his head. "...I'm kicking myself for not being there for you. But..." A pause. "...but I'm involved in some stuff here now, and I can't leave just yet. Otherwise I'm making the same mistake again, you know? ... But I'll be back. I promise you that, alright?"
> "Hey, don't worry about me, okay? I've still got my family here, and yours too, and Bill, and sometimes Sandy. So just worry about whatever you've got out there, okay?" Then he adds, "So, um, what kind of stuff, anyway? You're doing...robots, right?"
<Mykasi> "Uh... yeah. Robots and AI at school..." Mike says, with a slight pause. "And some other stuff on the side. I'll...tell you more about that some other time - basically I've been helping investigate some strange events over here."
> "Really? Like helping the police? I didn't know you did stuff like that at all."
<Mykasi> "I'd help the police if they weren't terminally incompetent." Mike mutters. "No, there's a professor looking into it and he's got me and another student assisting. It's... a lot more complex than that, but that's the basic gist. As I said, I'll detail it more later - specifically when I've a better grasp on it, ya know?" Another pause. "Basically it's research on a social level, kinda. Good fuel for my AI work, at least."
> "Oh, uh, okay."
<Mykasi> "Heh. Sorry. It's..." Mike fumbles for a bit. "Blah. I don't know quite how to explain it right now. There's been a rash of... peculiar behavior - people going kinda bonkers or acting strangely - and we're trying to figure out why."
> "Alright. Well, be careful, okay?"
<Mykasi> "I will. You take care of yourself as well, alright? Stay chill." Mike nods.
> "Yeah...uh hold on, getting another call. Gimme a second." Mike hears a beep and then it's quiet on the other end for a minute.
* Mykasi chows on his food while he waits!
> The phone beeps back on, "That was Sandy, she's almost here, was calling to see where to meet up."
<Mykasi> "Alright, man. Tell her I said howdy and have fun, alright?" Mike says after swallowing. Mmm, salty.
> "Yeah, will do. We're meeting over by the Farmside Diner for breakfast first, so I've got to run to get over there before she does. And I've got to call Bill to see if he's coming. So...I'll talk to you again later?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah. Talk to ya later." Mike nods.
> "Alright, bye!" He hangs up. And as he does so...Mike can see the color draining out of the room for the second time in one day...
> The motion in the restaraunt goes still, as the soft light rises out of Mike's phone and turns once more into the spinning card.
<Mykasi> "Fffffffffff-"
> The voice returns, as Mike knew it would. 7"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Hanged Man Arcana"
<Mykasi> "-ffffffffffffff-"
> He can feel a power settle into the carved boat sitting on his table again...right before everything returns to normal.
<Mykasi> "-fffffff..." Mike's hiss dulls down as he jams another heaping chopstickful of soy sauce, beef and rice into his mouth, slamming the phone shut.
> Someone at the next table over gives Mike an odd look, then makes a point of ignoring the strange foriegner.
<Mykasi> Mike mentally notes the advantages of being strange already as he continues to dig into his food.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hikari: Chariot 2

> --------------------------------------------
> It's Tuesday, the day after the adventures with the Basked Mandit hideout. Hikari is still feeling sore after all of that, which was fairly destracting for her morning class rush, but she pulled through somehow.(more)
> Just after her Cullinary Arts class let out(with Yuka giving her odd looks through most of it from the next table over), Hikari's phone rings. Caller ID says it's Shiro.
* Hikari ignores such looks. If someone's got something to say to her, they can bloody well say it! By, for example, calling her on her phone. Which she answers: "Hello?"
> "Hey. I'm heading out to grab some lunch then go practice. Wanna tag and you can fill me in on anything I missed over the weekend? You guys didn't actually go to the Zoo, did you?"
<Hikari> "No. We had an exercise in vigilianteism instead. With, I must suspect, similar results."
> "Is everyone still standing at least?"
<Hikari> "With some effort, yes."
> Shiro snorts, "Sounds like the Dream, yeah. Anyway, meet you over in the cafeteria, or have you got other stuff to do?"
<Hikari> "I have nothing pressing to do but ignore suspicious glances. I'll meet you there."
> "Cool." Shiro hangs up at that.
* Hikari hangs up as well and heads out.
> Yuka starts to follow you out, but then hangs back and you make it to the cafeteria with nobody else giving you any trouble. Shiro's already there, with a bag of food in hand. He walks over when he sees you, "Managed to slide in right before the line got bad. If you like curry rice, I've got two in here. If not, I'll hang out while you get whatever."
<Hikari> If Yuka wants gossip, she can just make something up! There's no way it'll be as strange as the reality, after all. "It will do," she says to Shiro.
> "Cool." He hands you a cup of curry rice from the bag, as well as some chopsticks, and starts heading out, talking as he walks, "I figure nobody else is crazy enough to eat outside in this weather, should be alright to talk there, right?"
<Hikari> "It would take a very determined eavesdropper to follow, yes." Hikari heads outside as well.
> Shiro snickers, "Not worried about active eavesdroppers so much as casual overhearing. It'd take some balls to actually try to spy on me. The last girl who did looked like she was about to piss herself in terror when I caught her." You get outside, and head over to the picnic tables. It's icy cold, of course. Shiro doesn't seem bothered, and you're actually less chilled by it then you used to be as well.
<Hikari> "It's...happened before? You realize I have to wonder who it was and what they were doing, of course." Hikari sits down and starts working on her food.
> Shiro shrugs, "Some chick. I didn't even get her name. I'd just caught her edging close to my conversations, usually with Oda, a few times. Ignored her the first couple, then decided it wasn't coincidence and got in her face about it. She clammed up, bolted, and she's kept her distance since."
<Hikari> "But perhaps she had a crush on you? Think of the lost opportunity."
> That seems to amuse him greatly, "Hah! Probably crushing on Oda more likely. And even if she was into me, if she didn't even have the guts to say something, I've got no interest."
<Hikari> "Well, I suppose there is something to be said for having high standards."
> He starts into his rice as well, but nods, "High standards? Eh, I guess you can call it that, sure. I don't really think about it much, but for a girl to get my interest she's got to have guts and integrity. Everything else is second to that, but I guess my standards for those are pretty high, yeah."
> "Anyway," he looks around to make sure there's nobody around, then asks, "you guys dig anything important up this weekend, or just getting more of a feel for things in there?"
<Hikari> "Did we mention the asylum to you yet? I don't imagine we did. Or this strange creature we found warding people away from it. Or that girl we lost in the dream. Well, where should I start?"
> Shiro blinks, "Uh, yeah, that's all news to me. Just start wherever, I guess? Or summerize it, I can follow pretty easily." He thinks a moment, then asks, "Wait, by asylum do you mean Kana Family Memorial, where that Richard Bland guy is? You get in to see him at all?"
<Hikari> "We didn't see him, but we did find Mike's former roommate. Or what was left of him. A shadow, claiming to be the only thing holding him together, and that he and many other patients of the hospital are, in the real world, often restrained against their will by drugs. Some of them might even be sane, without that. (more)
<Hikari> "It's quite evident that the Dream hospital is overseen by some powerful supernatural presence. It did not welcome visitors and getting out was a task all its own. I think it apparent that whatever its designs, they have some malign influence on the real world. I don't know when exactly we'll go back to deal with it, but I don't plan to wait long."
> Shiro's eyes narrow, "Tch. Sounds like you could use my help in there, but I probably won't be able to get in. I'll try at least, so let me know when you're going back."
<Hikari> "Of course. Likely you wouldn't find it without us--someone or something had gone to some effort to keep visitors away for their own good. I would very much like to know who had done this, but the guardian this individual left behind to deter wanderers didn't actually seem to know."
> "Active interferance, not just the Dream screwing around with the landscape?" he muses, "I don't think I've seen that before. Well, assuming that shadow forest from before doesn't count. Was the guardian hostile?"
<Hikari> "No. No, I'm not sure it could even understand the concept of hostility. It was there to confuse and divert travelers with illusions. A very simple little creature. A...frog shikigami, it said? It claimed its master put it there to keep bystanders from straying into unsafe territory. I don't it was lying. I don't think it capable of lying, actually."
<Hikari> *I don't think
> "A shikigami? Hmm. I...don't think controlling those is a persona power, so that might mean something else is in play." he shakes his head, "I've been reading up on occult stuff since all this crap started, but it's hard to know what's good and what's a bunch of crap from books, so I can't really make any guesses. Damn." Shiro shrugs, then moves on, "Alright, so that's the asylum. You said something about a girl getting lost? What do you mean?"
> You said something about a girl getting lost? What do you mean?"
<Hikari> "We were just walking to Frost's in the dream and encountered a human girl on the road. It became apparent that she didn't know she was in the Dream, and at this point she became somewhat agitated. For lack of any better ideas, we tried to lead her back to the real world through the Velvet Room. She stepped through the door with the rest of us just fine, but only the three of us actually appeared there. We're still not sur
<Hikari> We're still not sure how she got into the Dream or what happened to her. (more)
<Hikari> "I sent a message to her page on...MindSpace, was it? One of those vapid networking sites."
> Shiro just stares at you blankly for a moment before managing to articulate out, "....what? A girl? A normal girl, no shadow, no Persona, no nothing, in the Dream? What the FUCK!?" The look on his face is somewhere between completely befuddled and shocked.
<Hikari> "With the addition of profanity, that was essentially my reaction. And she was as confnused as the rest of us. We know her name, at least. If you run across any headlines about a girl named Noa Tachakana disappearing, let us know?"
> He shakes his head, "Alright, think fast time. Any chance she's still in the Dream somewhere?"
<Hikari> "If she is, I don't know where to find her. Beyond notifying our various friends and contacts there to look and listen for any sign."
> Shiro nods, and stands up, setting down his half-finished lunch, "Alright, I'm gonna find a spot to go through and get the Captain looking for her. Unless you guys already went to him?"
<Hikari> "We did not. Do you want company? Perhaps I could retrieve the key..."
> "Sure. Hell, we can work on more of your swordskills while we're in there if you want. Get some work in using the sword you'll actually be fighting with, with the strength you'll actually have when you use it."
<Hikari> "I had some practice last night, actually, but more would not be amiss. Just a moment while I visit the professor for the key?" Hikari hastily finishes her meal before standing.
> Shiro waits there, while Hikari runs over to Nagare's office. He is in fact in there, and doesn't mind lending you the key.
* Hikari returns to Shiro with the key. "Meet me at Frost's? Using the school to enter the Dream no longer seems safe for us."
> "Hmm? Why's that? And why run all the way to Satomi Tadashi, let's just head over to Garu's dojo, it's closer."
* Hikari shrugs. "Any place we can reliably meet each other in short order works, yes. Probably we've taken to using Satomi Tadashi. Last time we were there, the proprietor saw us enter the Dream and didn't seem to care. Likely best not to push things."
<Hikari> *using St too much, argh forgotten words
> "Huh," Shiro shrugs, "Well, Garu already knows about this stuff, so using his dojo won't be a problem. You can use the key from inside, I'll go through from just outside." He lays out the plan, then starts to take off before skidding to a stop after going not twenty feet, "Wait, you have a car don't you? It's not a long run, but driving would be even quicker."
<Hikari> "Yes, it would. This way." Hikari heads to her car to drive both of them to the dojo.
> The roads aren't crowded on a tuesday afternoon, so it takes little time to get there. You park in the parking lot the dojo shares with the other buisiness nearby and head in!
* Hikari takes out the key. "Shall we, then?"
> As you open the door, Garu inclines his head in greeting, "Ah, good afternoon, Shiro, Miss Ishigami."
> Shiro nods back, "Hey. Just needed a safe spot to go through to the Dream. You don't have class for awhile yet, so you mind if we use your door?"
<Hikari> "Greetings. I hope you don't mind us using your building as a waypoint. We are...passing through, today."
> Garu considers this, before shaking his head, "Ah, go right ahead I suppose. Good luck with whatever you're doing over there today."
> "Thanks man." Shiro heads back out to take himself over, leaving you inside to use the key.
* Hikari uses the key on the front door and steps through, not intending to linger long in the Velvet Room past pleasantries.
> (OOC: Scene Change, the S.Link version!)
> You pass through the Velvet Room and come out in a street of the Dream that is right in front of what seems to be a very serene garden with an oranate fence and gate secluding it from the surrounding chaos.
> A minute later, a whirlwind forms nearby and Shiro materalizes.
* Hikari_Ishigami looks around. "This is actually a very pleasant area."
> Shiro walks over and nods, "Yeah, that garden's always there when Garu's alone in his dojo. Tells you something about the guy, huh?"
<Hikari> "Is that so? The Dream side is different depending on whether or not he's there? What is it like when he's away, or when a class is in attendance?"
> "Different. Not always the same thing, but I don't come here often then. I try to time it for when it's just him, easier to talk that way. Anyway...RED HARE!" Shiro calls his Persona, and the mighty horse forms next to him. He swings up into the saddle and holds a hand down.
* Hikari takes it and climbs up.
> Once you're secure, Red Hare rears once letting out a powerful neigh, then takes off like a shot. One jump puts you on a nearby roof but he doesn't slow down from there. With practiced ease, Shiro races over most of the Dreamscape, completely avoiding anything that might try to bar his path by a combination of elevation, agility and sheer neckbreaking speed.
> After a very short time, you jump down from the rooftop route and land right outside of the gates to the Battlegrounds, the school Parking Lot.
> Slowing Red hare to a stop, he has the horse kneel so it's easier for you to slide off.
* Hikari is fortunately tough enough to not be worried about a little jostling and windblown hair! She hops off the horse, looks around. "Where do you expect to find him, exactly?"
> "This is one of his usual hangouts, so he should be around here somewhere. And if he's not, he might be by either the zoo or the food court." Without dismounting himself, Shiro heads over to a nearby Shadow, a small robot-clown thing balancing on a ball and asks, "Hey, you seen Captain Squiggly around here today?"
> The clown responds, "I will answer your question if you can beat my quiz game! Are you ready? The first question is: what is the..." The clown is suddenly cut off by the point of Shiro's spear hovering less then an inch from it's face, "Um...yes, the captain has set up over that way." he points at a nearby alleyway.
> Shiro nods, "Thanks." then puts his spear back in it's clip and heads over that way!
* Hikari can't help but nod in approval. "Very succinct, good," she says as she walks along.
> You head into the alleyway, and indeed the man made of worms and his cycloptic merman buddy are hanging out there right by a sewer entrance. Shiro nods at the merman as he approaches, "Got work for the captain. Uh, hey, Hikari, want to describe her to him? You know more then I do here."
<Hikari> "Yes. We lost another human during one of our recent visits here. A young woman--about our age? Mike seemed to find her attractive, though I imagine that means little to Dream denizens? She was wearing a heavy coat and a backpack the last we saw her. Noa Tachakara was her name if that helps."
> The Captain squirms some, and the merman asks, "Oy, ANOTHER bloody persona user? How many of you lot does that make now? Anyway, the Captain says 'es up for it, just describe the bird as best you can and tell us where ya saw 'er last and 'ell get right to it."
<Hikari> "We're not sure she was a persona-user. In fact, she didn't even know she was in the Dream until we told her. It was very strange, and she may be in danger if she's still here." Hikari describes the girl as best as she can remember.
> The merman and the worm-man look at eachother before the merman goes, "Roight. Fair 'nough then. We can make it tops on the ol' priority list if you've got the macca for it?"
> Shiro nods, "Do it. I can get the macca."
> The captain squirms again, then breaks apart into hundreds, maybe thousands, of worms. Half immediately flow into the sewer entrance while the rest scatter apart in all directions.
* Hikari shudders a little. "I may never get used to seeing that."
> The merman barks out a laugh, "That's what makes 'im the best, shiela!"
<Hikari> "Everyone he meets is sufficnelty unnerved that they can't help but tell everything they know?"
> "Nah," he shakes his head, "because he can look damn near everywhere at once. Each and every one o' those little worms is 'im, everything they see, 'e knows. Makes findin' stuff fair easy when 'es got a few thousand pairs of eyes t' look with."
<Hikari> "I'm not going to contemplate how they function both as thousands of separate organisms and as a single one. Should we leave and come back later for results?"
> Shiro nods, "Yeah, that's how it works. We either check back in with him, or he comes and finds us. The captain knows the places I hang out, so leaving one worm at a few spots to catch my attention won't be hard for him. I just hope he finds something soon."
* Hikari nods. "Alright. Did you have plans for the afternoon, then? I myself had none in particular."
> "I was planning on going to work out and practice, but we can turn it into getting you some more training with that sword." he thinks a moment, then holds his hand out, "mind if I get a feel for the balance myself? Will be a bit easier to give you pointers if I know how to use this particular weapon myself."
* Hikari materializes the sword and hands it over. "Go ahead. I believe I'm improving with it, but good advice is always welcome."
> Shiro nods as he works with the weapon a bit, "Yeah, you learn really damn fast. There's no way you should even be near my level, I've been doing martial arts since I could walk, but you actually made me strain last time. Do you pick up everything this fast, or just violence?"
<Hikari> "Now that you put it that way, I feel I should be concerned about having such a natural proclivity for it." Hikari shrugs. "It did come to me in a relatively short time, didn't it? But it's a necessary talent to deal with the problems in front of me. I have no choice but to learn fast, do I?"
> Shiro nods again, then flips the sword to catch by the blade and hand the hilt back to you, "Yup. Anyway, the blade's pretty well balanced. Designed to be used in two hands, though we're strong enough to use it in one easily. I'd stick to using it two handed for now though, weight focuses well closer to the tip so you can get some real destructive power into the swings that way."
> Nearby, the merman hops out of his pool, then folds it up, water and all, and tucks it under his arm, "Why don't I give you two some space 'ere?" And he quickly excuses himself from the alleyway.
<Hikari> "Brute force does not seem to be something I lack. It's quite effective when I'm able to connect."
> "It's also easier to move back into a parrying stance two handed," he continues, "You pay much attention to defense, or do you just take hits as they come in?"
<Hikari> "As of last night, the latter," Hikari says with a grimace. "The encounter was ultimately a compelling argument against that habit, I think."
> With a wave, Red Hare vanishes but not before Shiro grabs his spear back from it's clip, "Alright, I'm going to start slow here. This thing isn't magical or anything, but it's sharp, so try not to let it hit you. What you want to do," he explains, "is block with the flat of your strong. That means the half of the blade closer to the hilt."
> "There is never, EVER," he emphasizes, "a reason to take a hit on the edge of the sword. It's easier to block with the flat, and easier to counter from that position. So keep that in mind. Ready?"
<Hikari> "So as with most things, movies fail to convey fighting accurately. Noted." Hikari grasps the sword with both hands and stands ready. "Let us proceed."
> Shiro begins attacking, slowly so Hikari has plenty of time to react to his moves. He keeps up the conversation as the training goes, "Well, that thing's a more western style blade anyway, so it had a broader flat. Which is honestly good for someone with your strength, the sword itself can take more abuse so you can put more muscle behind it. Katanas are cool and all," he pauses to correct your stance then continues(more)
> "But I honestly prefer western style swordsmanship."
* Hikari does her best to repel the strikes with the lower half of the blade, as instructed. "Perhaps one day you can teach me to deflect lasers as well," Hikari says. "This was, unfortunately, what we faced last night."
> After a bit, he stops and nods, "Yeah, you're getting it. Though this will only help you against melee attacks. Blocking ranged stuff is another beast entirely. And I can't really help you there, I've got no range at all. Maybe Mykasi could help out there if you want to practice that?"
<Hikari> "I am sure that Anasni would delight in taunting me with any number of phantom projectiles to deflect."
> Shiro just nods, "I gotta admit, out of the three of you, Mike's the one that scares me most. I mean, I know you've got fire which hits me hard, but a real fight against you would at least be a straight up one. And I'm not afraid of a fair fight with anyone. Mike though..." he just shakes his head, "I get the feeling he thinks fair fights are for suckers."
<Hikari> "There's something to be said for preparation. A real fight begins before blades are actually crossed, doesn't it?"
> He nods again, "Yeah. That's strategy, which isn't my strong suit. I can plan my own actions just fine, but dealing with how others should move and trying to predict the enemy's actions beyond thier direct attacking isn't something I've really done. I'm not used to worrying about anything bigger then my own immediate situation."
<Hikari> "Well, perhaps there's something you can learn from us as well, then? The problems we face are, truly, bigger than any of us."
> "I'm starting to get that, yeah." He summons Red Hare and puts the spear back on the clip and sending him back away, letting the Persona vanish with his weapon this time, "Good enough for today there. I held back alot here, not because I don't think you could take the hits but because I didn't want you to accedentally break my spear with a strong parry. Still it gets the basics across well enough."
<Hikari> "Could I really do that, you think?" Hikari says, with some apparent surprise.
> "Probably. You're as strong as I am, and I can shatter rocks with my bare hands here. Combine that with your sword being magically strong and my spear just being well made?" Shiro shrugs, "I could see it happening pretty easily."
<Hikari> "That's just here, however. I could do no such thing in the real world. We could always spar there instead, with practice weapons, if it's a concern."
> "Yeah, we'll do most of it there. Part of the reason for practicing here though is to get you working with the weapon you'll actually be using. It does make a difference, trust me."
* Hikari nods. "I'm sure I'll get plenty of practice here soon enough, whether I want it or not. Whatever's running the Dream hospital is...less than friendly to visitors."
> That thought makes his eyes go dark a bit again, "Right. Definately bring me along when you go. Even if I can't get in, I can see about raising some hell outside and getting whatever's in there to divert some resources to trying to deal with me, maybe make it easier for you on the inside."
> "Anyway, you can use that key wherever, right? And it'll take you back to Garu's place?"
<Hikari> "Of course. And I don't intend to wait long. As soon as I can talk the others into making another attempt, really." A nod, as Hikari looks for the nearest door. "That's correct, yes."
> There's a door in some building around, yes. Shiro nods, "Cool. I'll just go back from here then, since it's close to the school anyway. And I really want a hot shower."
<Hikari> "Likewise. Goodbye for now." Hikari turns away to make her exit.
> As he sits down to summon the wind and Hikari touches the Velvet Key to the door, the world seems to stop and the color drains away leaving it all shades of grey.
> Two lights appear, one from him and one from her, then as expected, expand out into spinning cards. As one two voices speak, 7"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Chariot Arcana." 5"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Strength Arcana."
> Hikari notices on the Strength Card...it's the same one she saw when she first got her Persona. With the woman wrestling a lion on the back, and Brynhildr herself on the front. The Chariot card's front is still fuzzy, however.
> The cards dissapear and the world returns to normal.
> Shiro chuckles, "Yeah, i was waiting for that. Later."
<Hikari> "This is going to happen every time we practice, isn't it?" Hikari says in parting. "We'll just have ot get used to it. Goodbye."
> ---------------------------------------------

Nagare: Death 5

> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> It's amazing how one can go from fighting dream bandits made of lines and boxes with laser guns one day and be giving lectures on two different sections of law to classes full of distracted students the next, but such is the position Nagare finds himself in that Tuesday. It's nearing finals week, right before the holiday break, and it's his job to prepare his students as best he can, despite his other obligations.(more)
> Classes have wrapped up for the day though, with the odd point of Hikari stopping by over lunch to borrow the Velvet Key, and the law proffessor turned Persona User finds himself in his office with more lessons to plan for the rest of the week.
* Nagare sighs heavily as he jots notes down, picking up the odd graded paper here and there. Roman Law Theory is probably not what a student would like to have as a Christmas gift, but one's got to go with the program. (more)
* Nagare picks up some papers in order to organize things, wondering amenities. For a moment, he stops to consider it's been a while since he last saw Alice. "I have to wonder if she could pick up this kind of thought."
<Mykasi> Mike, meanwhile, is humming away as he works on the search gigas (titled Webspinner after a decidedly uncreative moment). After finishing a particularly annoying bit of code, he decides to call Nagare, pressing the speed dial key as he puts the phone to his ear.
> Nagare's cell rings! Caller ID says it's your friendly neighborhood spider man.
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "However, I don't have to wonder if Mykasi can - I know," he mutters lightly as he picks up the phone. "Uncanny timing, Mykasi. How are things?"
<Mykasi> "Got that program mostly done." Mike replies, typing some comments for it. "Just was calling to report that and check in."
<Nagare> "Honestly, I was just thinking about random things as I was preparing notes for class. Santa is coming in Roman Law Theory dressing for the freshmen this year."
<Mykasi> "Awwww, how nice of him!" Mike grins, working on the program a bit. "What do you have planned for the evening?"
<Nagare> "Honestly, nothing. Although I've been wondering about Alice right now. I haven't seen her in a while, and I know she's rather lonely."
<Mykasi> "Alice...? Oh, right, the ghostly girl." Mike recalls after a moment. "Hey, wanna go track her down? I could use a break and maybe I'll be able to see her?"
* Nagare bobs his head, pondering lightly. "Well... I felt like she could use a visit anyhow. And regardless of whether you see her or not, I have the inkling that someone else even -acknowledging- she exists would light her day. Can't see how this would be bad."
<Mykasi> "Alright!" Mike chirps into the phone. "Where should we meet?"
* Nagare raises an eyebrow and ponders. "I think... mmmmm. There's the restaurant I met Alice for the first time. It's a good place to start. I have to admit it's a bit erratic as to when I meet her, but I have the feeling I'll find her if I'm looking for her," the teacher notes, then giving Mike the coordinates to the place.
<Mykasi> "Gotcha. Meet you there in twenty, it's gonna take me a bit of time to type this last line but then I'll find you." Mike confirms.
<Nagare> "Alright. We could take the moment to have dinner as well. Ramen is a near-magnet for me anyway."
<Mykasi> "Ballin'!" And with that Mike hangs up.
* Nagare shrugs with a smirk as Mykasi hangs up. "Well, this is going to be interesting, to say the least. I'll try to make sure I get there first just so Alice doesn't get startled as much. Not getting startled at all would be a dreamer's desire."
* Nagare then prepares to go as well.
> And thus, the two leave for the Ramen: Six Ways restaraunt. As he drives past his apartment building on the way there, nagare does notice Alice sitting by the mailbox across the street where she can usually be found.
* Nagare stops immediately close to the mailbox, waving to Alice. "It's a bit cold to be hanging around outside without a coat, wouldn't you think?"
> Alice brightens up immediately, but then gives you a look, "I don't feel hot and cold, you know that!"
* Nagare snickers. "And I envy you for that. However, it's quite fortunate that I found you here - exactly the person I was looking for. Want to make company to a surly middle-aged single man for dinner tonight?"
> She claps, "Oh, yay! I would be happy to!"
* Nagare nods. "Hop into the car, then, even if you don't theoretically need to. Want me to open the door for you?," and -that- line, he says with yet another smirk.
> Alice touches the door and is now sitting in the passanger side seat. You didn't really see her move to it, she just kind of entered the car and thus was in the seat or something.
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "I think I'm beginning to understand how you seem to weave through places as quickly as you do. Anyhow, ready?"
> She nods happily!
> As you get back on the road and go all of three streets down to the Ramen place, Nagare sees Mike's bike just getting turned off as he parked mere seconds before you arrived.
* Nagare gets the car moving once again, and heads towards the ramen place where it all started. As he drives, he glances Alice for a moment before speaking. "Just one thing, I'll have a companion for dinner. And... well, he is aware of your existence to a degree."
> Alice's eyes widen, "Really? You told someone about me and they believe you?"
> "Most of the people I've told about me didn't believe me..." she quietly mumbles.
<Nagare> "Well, I'll say this: I know a few people that are just as strange as I am, albeit in different ways."
> She nods! Meanwhile, Mike can see Nagare's car pulling into the parking lot. He doesn't see anyone in the passanger seat, of course.
* Nagare parks the car, nodding to Alice. "Well, we're here. I think it's best you see it with your own eyes."
* Mykasi hums, glancing around for the blonde little girl he's been told about, shivering while doing so.
> Alice nods, touches the car door and appears outside the car. She looks around, "Oh, you're eating here again? Is the food here good?"
* Nagare stubs his chin lightly. "It's a good ramen place, but it's mainly iconic. Felt like a good place to make the meeting, and my -other- companion is a ramen fiend as well...," the teacher completes, looking for Mykasi as he locks the car.
* Ranmilia has quit IRC (Quit: )
> Mike is standing around in the parking lot over there!
* Nagare finds Mykasi and raises an eyebrow. "Ah, speak of the devil."
* Ranmilia has joined #personador
> Alice follows Nagare's gaze, "Oh, is that him?" she deflates a bit, "he can't see me."
* Nagare sighs. "I'd honestly be very surprised if he could. Those would be some inconvenient skeletons to dig from the closet. However, it speaks volumes that he believes you exist before any evidence."
> "It means he trusts you." Alice notes, nodding. Then walking over to where Mykasi is, she curtsies politely, "Um, hello! It's a pleasure to meet you...kind of..."
> "Um, kind of meet you, I mean! Not that it's only kind of nice!" she quickly amends, looking back to Nagare and blushing a touch.
* Nagare nods to Mykasi, then lightly gesturing to Alice's direction.
<Nagare> "I've brought company, Mykasi."
* Mykasi waves to Nagare. "Heya. I-" At Nagare's gesture, Mike's face registers an almost mrf-ish expression for a moment before looking down to about where Alice is. "Hi, Alice! Uh, I'm afraid I can't see you - and if you've said anything, I can't hear it, either, much's the pity - but it is a pleasure to meet you!"
> Alice smiles, "Um, that's okay! Thank you for believing in me anyway!"
* Nagare nods, kneeling to Alice's height. "I can serve as a translator for you if that helps a bit. I think you'll find Mykasi rather interesting, to say the least."
* Mykasi glances to the Professor, before nodding. "That should work. Uh, can we go in? I'm freezin' here."
> "Okay!" Alice nods readily, "Um, I can hear him though, so you only need to translate one way."
* Nagare nods. "Right. Let's go in," then Nagare turns to Alice, whispering. "Honestly? I wouldn't be able to translate some of the things he says if I tried."
<Mykasi> "Alright!" Mike says, leading the way to the door, either not hearing or not deigning to hear Nagare's whisper.
> Alice giggles and you all head in. It's blissfully warm inside and it smells delicious. Ramen: Six Ways only does one thing, but boy does it do it well. And the smells are particularly fantastic today because they have teh door leading into the kitchen propped open so extra heat gets into the dining room.(more)
* Mykasi looks over the simple menu with glee. "Sweet. Beef ramen it'll be, then."
> The place is reasonably well filled, with 3 of the eight tables inside already occupied and two parties standing in the spot near the door waiting for to-go orders. You aren't standing there but a moment when a young man in an apron comes up and smiles, "Ah, Dr. Suiren! Are you eating in or getting it to go today?"
* Nagare salutes the youngster. "Good evening, lad. We're eating in. Do you have a table for three? We're half-expecting a third, so if you could spare the extra chair, I'd be delighted."
> The server, who Nagare vaguely places as the son of the owner, nods, "Of course. Right over here please sir." He takes you to a table and swiftly sets three places, "Are you ready to order, or do you need some time? Or are you waiting for your third?"
* Nagare glances at Mykasi, placing the weight of his decision entirely on how much patience Mike's stomach has. "Your thoughts, Mykasi?"
> Alice sits in the third chair with the placemat and giggles.
<Mykasi> "Ah... I'm sure that Hikari won't mind if we just order first." Mike says with a slight nod to Nagare and a grinning clance at Alice's chair. "I'd like the beef bowl."
> The server nods, "It's our most popular recipie for a reason. And you, doctor?"
* Nagare nods. "Well then. Can you provide chicken noodles for me?"
> "Absolutely. We do have a couple of take out parties waiting, so it may take a bit more time to get your orders out then usual. My apologies if it does. I'll go put those in for you." He zips back into the kitchen!
> Alice looks after where he went, "He really seems to like what he does."
* Mykasi grins at Alice's chair again, head cocked a bit as he speaks in that low casual restaraunt voice. "Apologies if this is a weird question to ask, but what do you do for fun, Alice?"
* Nagare sits back a bit. "He's quite an enthusiastic boy. I have the feeling he'll run this place like a clock some twenty years from now, Alice."
> "Um, fun?" Alice is caught a bit off guard by the question, "I...well, I sometimes go to school! And I sometimes go to libraries and read books over people's shoulders, or go to shops that have television playing."
* Nagare nods and looks to Mykasi. "She goes to school sometimes. Other times, she goes to libraries, reads books over people's shoulder or watches TVs playing at shops. I'll have to add she seemed a bit startled by the question, which is understandable."
<Mykasi> "Heh, neat. I'll make a note to try and leave a book open. There's usually a lot of fun stuff going on at college, though, too! Maybe you could watch some of the robotics students try to make a robot work right before it explodes." Mike grins. "Shiro sucks at this, have I mentioned that? Anyways, hm... Do you ever just go into buildings and look around? I imagine you know a ton about architecture, Alice."
> "Um, well, leaving a book open doesn't help because I can't turn pages. And...I don't like colleges." She mutters and looks away.
<Nagare> "She said that leaving a book open doesn't help; she can't turn pages. And she doesn't like colleges, either," Nagare notes somberly, then glancing at Alice.
* Nagare coughs.
<Mykasi> "Oh. Sorry, Alice." Mike rubs his head. "Though I'm sure I can figure out a way to solve the former problem... set up the pages of a book as a PDF file, then just have them flip through once every two minutes or so..."
> "Um...what's a Pee Dee Eff?" Alice asks, a bit confused.
* Nagare glances to Alice. "It's a type of computer file. Although this is the part where Mykasi may turn a bit dense - don't worry, it's typical. His intentions are in the right place, though."
> "Oh." Alice frankly turns red at the mention of computers.
<Mykasi> "Oh, right." Mike rubs his head again, embarrassed. "Uh, are there any parks you like?"
> "Oh, yes!" Alice grasps onto the topic change, then suddenly looks down again, "Oh, um, no. Not anymore."
* Nagare shakes his head. "She says not anymore... although...," the teacher ponders for a minute and returns to Alice. "Hmmmm. Alice, if you say not 'anymore', there was a park you liked. Can you tell us about that park?"
> About this time, the server comes back with a tray holding two fairly large bowls of ramen. He sets the first down in front of Mike and the other for Nagare. Looking over at the 'empty' seat, he frowns, "Ah, your third still hasn't made it? We can get a to-go order ready for...her? if you'd like?" he offers.
<Mykasi> "Ah, I recall she likes beef bowls as well. If she doesn't get here I'll drop it off for her." Mike says at this.
* Nagare raises an eyebrow, then leaves a light snicker. "Sounds good."
> Mike's bowl...smells like perhaps the best beef ramen he's ever smelled in his life. And he's eaten more then his fair share of good beef ramen.
> He nods, "I'll put that in for you then. Enjoy your meal!" And he zips back to the kitchen.
> Alice raises up on her seat to look into the bowls, "It looks good! I think anyway. I wish I could smell it. Or taste it."
<Mykasi> "Thanks!" Mike says, before glancing to Alice apologetically. "Ah... Well, what about museums? Do you go to any of those?"
* Nagare takes a moment to tend to Alice before beginning to savor the dish. "It's... delightful, to say the least."
* Mykasi is, naturally, already beginning to chow down, but his eyes still linger on Alice's chair.
> Alice looks down, "Um, sometimes, but I've already been to all the museums here and they're boring now. And...um, the park I used to go to was where I met the last person who promised to be my freind but then never came to see me again so I don't like going back there anymore."
* Nagare slowly savors the ramen so he doesn't burn his tongue or lips. As he finishes a portion, his eyes land on Alice. "... I... see...". The teacher then glances at Mykasi. "I don't know if you'll listen, but she said she sometimes goes to museums, but they're all boring now, since she's been to them all. And... the park she used to go was where she met the last person who could see her before me." (more)
<Nagare> "... However, she never came back, so she doesn't like going there anymore."
<Mykasi> "... man, that's a total bummer. Hey, maybe we could track down the person?" Mike says between scarfs of food. "I mean, presuming it's been recently. It would help you get some closure, Alice."
> "I looked for her, even at her apartment, but she wasn't there anymore. It was empty." Alice's voice gets quieter and more sad the longer this topic of conversation goes on.
* Nagare frowns as he notices Alice's growing distance, and sighs heavily. "It... may be better if we don't linger much longer on this topic, Mykasi. Alice is quite sensible."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike frowns deeply. "Uh, okay? What'd she say?"
<Nagare> "She said she looked for her even at her apartment, but it was entirely empty," the teacher notes.
<Mykasi> At that, Mike's frown furrows still further. "Entirely empty? Odd... Look, I'm sorry, I'm just curious as to what her name was. It isn't right that this happened to you, Alice.." Mike places his hand next to Alice's placemat. "I'm sure it wasn't you, alright? And... you don't merit this regardless. You deserve to know what happened, why she had to leave. If she left so suddenly, there had to be something else behind it, r
<Mykasi> there had to be something else behind it, right?"
> Alice fidgets, "Um, okay. Her name is Valeriya. She's really pretty, and has blonde hair like me. But she has a really big scar on her face. I met her in the park and I looked for her at her apartmenet and at the place she worked at but I didn't see her anywhere! She promised she would play with me again and I thought she really meant it but...but...." Alice looks like she's about to start crying at this point.
* Nagare blinks and squints his eyes. The chicken noodles are probably a forgotten realm at this point. "... wait. Valeriya?"
> Alice nods, "Um...that's what she said her name was!"
<Mykasi> "...what." Mike says with a very flat tone, now -looking- at Nagare with a critical eye.
* Nagare rubs his temple. "Okay. One thing at a time. Alice said the name of the lady is Valeriya. Blonde, beautiful, but with a scar running across her face. She tried looking for her in her apartment and her workplace, but she disappeared. And she had promised to play with her too..."
> Alice looks back and forth between the two of you, "Do you know her?" her voice sounds half hopeful, half afraid.
* Nagare sits up, somberly tilting his head. "This... I haven't met her personally, but this seems to match rather precisely the person we've been looking for. Mykasi?"
<Mykasi> "..." Mike's face is twisted up for a moment, before his eyes slowly close. "...Alice... We're going to do our best to bring her back so she can play with you, alright? I'm sure - I know - she meant to keep her promise, but... something's happened to her, and she can't meet with you. We can't... find her. But we'll keep looking, alright?"
> Alice nods quietly...then the server comes by with the to-go order of beef ramen in a styrofoam container in a plastic bag. He sets it down on the table, but looks a bit distressed and ventures a question, "Ah...is everything alright here? Is there a problem with the ramen...?"
<Mykasi> "Oh. No, the ramen's fine. Just... thinking of another friend who can't be here." Mike says simply. "The ramen's excellent, in fact. Thank you."
* Nagare shakes his head. "No need for concern."
> He nods, "Alright then. I'll leave the check here, just come up to the counter to pay whenever you're finished." He sets the check down and goes back to the kitchen again.
* Nagare taps the table, looking at the floor, then at Mykasi, then finally at Alice. "Alice. Are you okay?"
> She nods, though she certainly doesn't look okay. She doesn't make eye contact and mostly just looks down and fidgets in the chair.
* Mykasi has his eyes closed as well until Nagare asks Alice the question, which is when he looks over to Alice somberly, hand back next to that placemat.
* Nagare sighs heavily and gets up, glancing to Alice. "I... think I'll have to tend to this. Mykasi... I'll talk to you tomorrow. I'll cover the bill. I'm sorry, but I think we may have touched a very sensitive matter here."
<Mykasi> "I... of course." Mike bows his head sadly, standing up from the bowl (emptied already) before leaning in a bit toward Alice's chair. "Alice, next time I'll give you a piggyback ride as apology, okay? Hold me to that." And with that he steps away and heads out, the takeout bag in hand.
> Mike steps outside, his stomache full of hot ramen in stark contrast to the freezing air.
* Nagare watches Mykasi leave, then returning his sight to Alice. "... Alice."
> "I'm sorry. I ruined your dinner..." Alice mutters as she still won't look up.
* Mykasi mutters to himself outside as he gets on his motorbike and speeds back home to work. Or get drunk. Or something.
* Nagare shakes his head. "I wouldn't apologize for something I didn't do, and you shouldn't either. You don't have to look as glum as this."
> She nods vaguely, and makes herself look up, but she doesn't seem too convinced.
* Nagare sits back down, tapping Alice's shoulder, whispering. "You know. I have absolutely no idea how to deal with this. I honestly have no idea on how to cheer you up right now. But, for some reason, you compel me to try anyway, and this is both fascinating and unsettling. I'll pay my dues right now, but I want to talk a bit to you as we go back."
<Nagare> "Is this okay with you?"
> She now looks slightly confused, but nods again.
* Nagare nods, goes to pay the ramen's bill and returns to the table, motioning for Alice to follow the teacher.
> Alice follows along!
* Nagare heads to his car and motions Alice to get into the vehicle once again. Then, he opens it, entering himself. "Okay, I think we can talk more calmly now. Listen, Alice. That's hardly the only reason you're upset now, isn't it? It's not just the dinner that you believe you ruined."
> Alice gets in the car as well, but is quiet for a bit before just spilling out all at once, "What...what if she ran away because of me!? It wouldn't be the first time someone did even after they told me they'd come play again, and if she was his freind then he'll be mad at me for her leaving because of me and then...then..." she chokes up a bit.
* Nagare bites his lips before shaking his head and eyeing Alice with stark frankness in his eyes. "Alice, as much as self-pity is easy to understand given your background, it's at least a bit presumptuous of you to think she would have disappeared because of you. If nothing else, if you -had-? Mykasi wouldn't have been anywhere near as caring as he was back there."
> "Well how would he know until he finds her? But what if he finds her and she ran away because she thought she was crazy because she could see me? It...it's happened before." her voice gets very quiet, "it's happened before alot."
* Nagare gazes at the outside from his window, watching the lights flicker by, for a moment unfocusing his sight from Alice. "This... is different. What we can gather from her disappearance is that she didn't 'run away'. Rather, it seems she has been essentially... erased from existence. As if she never was. But we can't infer much more than that. Regardless... it's a blame you can't - and shouldn't - have to carry."
> That makes Alice look up, "...erased? What...do you mean by that?"
<Nagare> "It's as if she never existed. Her registries are seemingly gone. People can't seem to remember her, even those who had regular contact with her before. For your average layman, she may as well have never been born. Yet, she -did- exist until relatively recently."
> "But...I remember her. And so do you and him?" Alice looks a bit confused here.
<Nagare> "I told you we're not quite normal. Mykasi is one of my companions in the Dreamscapes I told you about. There seems to have something about the supernatural there."
> "And I'm...well, me." She nods, and seems to relax a bit, "Um...that's awful that could happen but I'm glad it means she wasn't doing it on purpose."
<Nagare> "I don't think you'd have to worry about that, either. I'll have to admit that this was a bit awkward, but... I just felt that at least being acknowledged beyond the rare people who can even see you could help you a bit. Now, I'm not sure where do I begin to apologize."
> "No, it's okay!" Alice insists, "It was nice to talk to someone else, even just a little bit. And it was also nice to find out that she didn't abandon me on purpose. I wish I could help find her, but I can't even imagine where to start looking for someone who was...erased."
* Nagare shakes his head. "Neither do we, actually. We just keep looking for clues anywhere. But... well, Mykasi seems to have been hit by her disappearance particularly hard. As if her safety was a personal concern of his. Regardless, I think this gives a bit of a perspective on just how damned screwed up my life is at points. But I'm pretty sure you understood that."
> Alice nods, "Uh-huh."
* Nagare pulls up the car right in front of his apartment building, leaving the car. "I guess that's... more or less it for today. Will you be okay, Alice?"
> She nods again, "Uh-huh. I'll be okay."
> "Um...bye." She simply vanishes, without even touching the door of the car.
* Nagare taps the car's door lightly, biting his lips tensely. Then, he silently returns to his home, trying to sort through the thoughts in the back of his mind.
> After she dissapears, the shade of the world turns grey...not that the dark december evening wasn't already largely that color, and the spinning card returns, with the guillotine of playing cards on the back and the blurry image of some kind of person on the front.
<Nagare> "... wait."
> The voice, now so very familiar, echoes through the small car, "Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Death Arcana"
> And then as soon as it came, the voice and card vanish, and what little color was there bleeds back into the world.
* Nagare blinks. "I almost forgot about -that- detail. Sigh."
* Nagare then finally goes inside home, closing a rather long night.
> -----------------------------------------------------

Mykasi: Magician 3

> -------------------------------------------------------
> Tuesday evening, Mike has finished eating with Nagare and Alice, and has found out something he...well, needed to know but hearing it wasn't exactly easy. Thankfully traffic was light so getting back even in his mood wasn't hard, and upon getting back to the dorm room he finds...his roommate actually there?(more)
> Kyo is set up at the tiny excuse for a desk with his laptop, 5 textbooks and what seems to be a twenty-four case of canned espresso drinks sitting next to him. As you enter, he looks up for a second, "Yo." then goes back to staring at one particular page of text in his english book.
* Mykasi bites his lip, attempting not to grin at this (not hard with the thoughts racing through his head). "I see you're prepared to be up all night."
> He nods, "Yeah. I've heard horror stories about the final for this english course, so I'm gonna cram hardcore. How 'bout you? Cracking down, or not sweating it?"
<Mykasi> "Horror stories? Haven't heard a good one of those in a long while." Mike chuckles, stretching a bit. "I'm probably studying a bit before each final, but I've done pretty well thus far and understand the material - well, except some of the Japanese stuff but the honorific crap always goes over my head."
> Kyo nods again, "Yeah, 'snormally how I do it. But this is THE main class for my major, and we're getting two exams in it. Verbal and written. The written is supposed to be brutal from all reports too, and better yet, Dr. Dakkan doesn't believe in grading on curves ever."
> "So," he cracks open his first of the espresso drinks, "here I am."
* Mykasi raises one eyebrow, before plopping down. "Okay, I got a better idea. Practice with me. Alternately ask me for help, but... either way, I ain't doing anything constructive tonight."
> Kyo considers, then passes you the book he'd been reading out of and starts speaking in English, which he's not too bad at all things considered, "Alright. The words, um, passage I think, in yellow highlight? Read that for me?"
* Mykasi takes the book, scans it, then blinks. "Wait, you're reading... shit, this is pretty hardcore. Okay, give me a minute."
<Mykasi> "If it is all that time, one hundred and fifty seven coins spun... consecutively have come down heads - " "One hundred and fifty seven consecutive times, and all you can do is play with your food."
* Mykasi shakes his head and leafs through the book. "Seriously? 'Rosencratz and Guildenstern Are Dead'? Please tell me he doesn't intend to have you write an essay on this in English, too. It gives migraines to college students back in America..."
> That gets a laugh out of him, "Yeah, our TA has said some native speakers wouldn't pass his class." Then as you read it, he listens and tries to mimic your pronunciation, "Con-sec-u-tive-ry. LY. Con-sec-u-tive-LY. Arl..ALL." then back in Japanese, "dammit I WILL learn how to say that letter right."
> Then he nods again, "And yeah, that's what the essay's on too. He pulls no punches."
<Mykasi> "Hah. For L, use the tip of your tongue; R, use the middle. Don't try using all the tongue to make either sound, it gets more complicated that way." Mike comments before shaking his head. "Okay. I can't directly help on the essay - literature isn't my suit - but if I remember Bill's bitching right, it's a Dadaist play - which means that the meaning (more)"
<Mykasi> "is incredibly wide open as to how much of the play -actually- happens. In other words, it's subject to interpretation."
> He stares blankly at you for a moment, "Um...what?"
> "I don't...what?" he stares at the book, then back at you, then back at the book, "so wait, he's going to be testing us on something that's open to interperetation. That's...ugh."
<Mykasi> "Oh right, sorry. Let me see if I can't put that in Japanese..." Mike thinks before swapping over. "The play is focused on Rosencratz and Guildenstern, who die... fuck, this was eleventh grade for me. I think offscreen? It's called a Dadaist play, because the events seem pointless due to that."
<Mykasi> "Oh. Yeaaaah." Mike shakes his head. "In that, he sounds -exactly- like the teachers back home. There's a reason I'm no English major."
> Kyo shakes his head, "Yeesh. Yeah, the verbal part I'm not too worried about. I just need to get some pronunciations down and prove I can speak it. I'm better at that then the written part. Especially when I'm not sure what the hell the written part is even going to be asking for. I know it's on this play, but that's it so far."
* Mykasi flips through the pages a bit more. "Uh... guh, I still can't believe it's on this. Let's see... Oh, right. This jogs my memory a bit. Rosencratz and Guildenstern are indistinguishable to reflect their status in the original play - they didn't have identities outside of that." Mike pauses and eyes the text. "Kinda like... Shadows of people?"
> "Shadows of people? Like they're there but not there at the same time? Or something?" He shakes his head, and pulls out another can which he hands to you.
<Mykasi> "...oh, uh, yeah, kinda." Mike shakes his head and accepts the can. "They're facsimiles. Uh... fuck, gimme a sec." Looking over at his own laptop Mike pulls up Google and searches for good crib notes...
> "Man, I didn't get into this to study this bizzare shit. I got into this for communications, and I can get needing to learn the history to get that, but this?" he shrugs.
<Mykasi> "Yeah, it's kinda lame. There's a distinct difference between people interested in communications and interested in literature - one would think colleges would tailor their classes to this." Mike shakes his head.
<Mykasi> "Hm. Oh, some theories go that it's them dead and in Hamlet's head this all happens..." Mike muses, glancing at the laptop. "Bah. Don't know what else to tell you."
> "I talked to Dr. Dakkan about that, and man he was insistant that you have to be exposed to stuff like this to get the culture. I'm not sure WHY but he's the proffessor so end of the day it doesn't matter if I agree or not."
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 COMP CHECKU
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 COMP CHECKU and gets 10."12 [2d8=6, 4]
<Mykasi> "... Not really. Dadaism died out a while back and the only end result is Americans hate thinking a little bit more." Mike glibly replies. "Oh- right. One of the main themes is that existence is meaningless outside of what we assign to it."
> "Huh." Kyo leans back in his chair and thinks, "You know, he's always saying stuff like 'you will get out of this class only as much as you put in' and other stuff like that. Maybe he just likes those kind of themes."
<Mykasi> "Probably. Write to his biases there and you'll probably do well." Mike grins, drinking from the can without really noticing the taste.
> "Play the opponent, not the game." He nods, looking a bit more focused then he was before, "Yeah, that's something I can do. Figure out why he likes this story so much, probably that stuff right there, and write to that. Should be something I can work in no matter what the actual topic is."
<Mykasi> "Right." Mike nods agreeably. "I mean... yes, it's important that you learn, sure. But to paraphrase him, if you learned what you needed to, the tests are pointless - you got what you put in. That's just busywork."
> Then Kyo laughs, "And hey, if I can bullshit in english well enough, it still shows my proficiency in the language. Which is what this class is SUPPOSED to be about."
<Mykasi> "There's that, too, yes!" Mike laughs as well.
> "Now it's just the spelling I have to worry about." he eyes the book wearily again, "since the essay is one-hundred percent in english of course. I think I hate the spelling rules for your language as much as you hate the honorific rules in mine."
<Mykasi> "Possibly, yeah. If not more." Mike ruefully grins. "Since English is a bastardization of multiple other languages, a lot of the spellings correspond to their native languages. Any words in particular you need major help on?:
> He picks up another book on his desk. A college edition Mirriam-Webster dictionary. "That's what I bought this thing for. There's a bookstore that specializes in imports over by Kanazawa U, I hit it up every now and again and saw this on a shelf last time."
> "Sometimes I think I should have just gone to Kanazawa U instead."
<Mykasi> "Niiiiice." Mike grins. "Just make sure you check for silent starting letters - like knight/night - and you'll be good to go."
<Mykasi> After a moment, Mike tilts his head. "Any reason in particular, there?"
> "Better english program," he answers matter of factly.
> "But," he adds on, "Hokuriku does some study abroad programs, which Kanazawa U does not. You'd know all about those, though, right?"
<Mykasi> "Ah." Mike says. "That's true, yeah. And no chance at taking a few classes over there?"
> "I could, but both schools make you jump through flaming hoops to do it. They're kinda competetive, which is a pain in the ass sometimes but what can you do."
<Mykasi> "Guh. That's frustrating." Mike shakes his head wearily. "America doesn't care so much, there. ...Hm, that's an idea. I know some universities in the US offer online courses. Try signing up for one of the English as a Foreign Language ones online? UC Berkeley doesn't even require you to register, as I recall."
> "Hmm," Kyo considers, "talk to me again in January about that? Don't want to get destracted before finals with it, but it doesn't sound like a bad idea there."
<Mykasi> "Gotcha." Mike nods. "Should help if you're willing to push yourself. Online classes can be a pain for the unmotivated... but then again I suspect neither of us have that precise issue..."
> That gets a laugh out of him, "Yeah, I don't really dabble in stuff. I either just do it, or don't bother at all. Halfassing isn't my style."
<Mykasi> "I dabble, I guess? But I tend to go in the directions I'm interested in and learn what I need to." Mike says. "More just I get straight to what I need and work from there."
> "Pick up what you need and move on?" he nods, "yeah, I can see that." Then he picks the books back up and sets them back on his desk, "Alright, that helped alot. Not what I was intending to do, but I've got a plan now. Just need to read the play a couple times to get it, and keep the dictionary handy just in case, but I shouldn't need help for that." he pauses, then adds, "except for some pronunciations here and there."
> "How about you then, need any help with your japanese final prep?"
<Mykasi> "Ah... sure, that couldn't hurt." Mike nods. "Get ready to laugh, though." Then shaking his head, he switches to Japanese honorifics, "Would you most graciously aid me in the comprehension of the differences between honorific and plain structure?"
> Kyo winces slightly, "Right. Okay, to be clear here you got that mostly right I'm just wincing at it being said in your accent. Your voice and honorific structure just does not work for some reason."
* Mykasi snerks. "There's a bloody reason I don't try honorifics often!"
> "Alright, just go over the phrases you're supposed to have and I'll correct where you're wrong. I'm actually good at this stuff since my dad was police, he was pretty insistant on formality sometimes, especially when we were around any co-workers."
<Mykasi> "Right." Mike nods, before listing out the phrases, attempting to get the voice to be a bit less... painful? Something like that.
> Kyo corrects where nessesary. The problem seems to be more Mike having difficulty pronouncing them right then remembering what goes where, except for a few odd instances.
<Mykasi> "... Alright. That... I think that all makes sense. Though I still question some of that shit." Mike shakes his head after they finish. "Irregularities in languages, they buuuuurn."
> "Yeah, my brother thought I was insane for majoring in one. I think the phrase was 'do something easier, like Law or Medicine.'"
<Mykasi> "Hah. We'll need translators forever, though - AI aren't learning languages anytime soon. Sentience is easier, for crying out loud." Mike shakes his head.
> "Man, are you actually learning about AIs?" Kyo shakes his head, "Just try not to be the one who invents the inevitable robot overlords, alright? I don't want to be the one who has to say 'yeah, I roomed with the guy who accidentally took over the world.'"
<Mykasi> "There's only one real mistake in that statement there." Mike notes.
> "Lemme guess," Kyo smirks, "the 'accidentally' part?"
<Mykasi> "Bingo." Mike crosses his arms with a grin. "I make those dudes, you better bet it's intentional. Which reminds me, wanna be ambassador to England or Australia? I wouldn't recommend the US."
> "I'll pass, I'm allergic to responsibility for anything beyond my own well being."
<Mykasi> "Fair 'nuff." Mike grins. "Though I'm not sure I'd want to rule the world, either. Get someone who -can- and is -capable-... that's more tempting."
> "See, the way I figure it," Kyo notes, "is that anyone who could successfuly run the whole world, would have to understand how much of a shitty job it would be and wouldn't want to."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, pretty much." Mike ruefully smiles. "Everyone complaining that their breakfast is too warm, or the air in Kyoto is too clear or too rainy or too smoggy... Human nature's a bitch, sometimes."
> Kyo nods and looks back at the desk, "Eeeeh, I'll study for math later. Never had any trouble with numbers, doubt I'll magically develop some just in time for finals. Should study a bit anyway, but that one's basically in the bag as far as I'm concerned.
* Mykasi nods a bit. "I'll leave you to that, then. I've got to try and figure out this program."
> Kyo gives you a funny look for a moment, then shrugs, "You're on your own there, I couldn't program my way out of Pac-Man." He stands up and stretches a bit, "I'm gonna get something to eat so the coffee doesn't get bored and chew it's way through my stomach. Thanks for the help, man."
<Mykasi> "No prob, dude. Thanks for the Japanese guidan- I mean, I thank you very deeply from the bowels of my stomach for the assistance rendered on my quandaries almost too petty to mention to you." Mike grins.
> That makes him wince again,
> "Okay, you did that on purpose."
<Mykasi> "Yup."
> Shaking his head, he chuckles as he heads out. And as soon as he leaves, the color fades from the world and all motion seems to stop.
> A light spirals out from Kyo's books, transforming into the spinning card. The hard eyed young magician on the back with the front still...being too hard to see even a solid outline for yet. The voice, that damned voice, comes from everywhere and nowhere all at once, "Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Magician Arcana"
> The card dissapears, the color and motion snap back into place in the room.
* Mykasi sighs and shakes his head. "I'll never get used to that stupid thing."
<Mykasi> "And who the hell voice acts for fucking -stillframes in space-time?!-"
<Mykasi> With that, Mike turns to his program and begins working, muttering under his breath.
> ---------------------------------------------------

Nagare: Empress 1

> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sunday evening, after returning from Yomi and the realm of Okuninushi. Thanks to the medicines supplied by the god, Nagare has recovered from the state that the land of the dead put him into...at least physically. As it always seems to be at his apartment, it's a quiet night, the place feeling quite empty.
* Nagare fiddles with his cellphone unsettlingly. After the bizarre experience in Yomi, his already existing urge to actually contact Kasumi felt far stronger than usual. He eyed the number in his mobile's screen, fiddling with buttons without actually pressing them. And the seasonal call hadn't -happened- yet.
> The clock on the wall ticks rythmicly. The only sound in the apartment aside from what Nagare himself makes.
* Nagare sighs. The "call" button was a quick movement away, but he just felt uneasy. Although that was a bit pointless to ponder about once he actually -had- pressed the button. He started hearing the ringing tone, a knot began to slowly tie his stomach into two neat halves.
> The line rings. Once.
> Twice.
* Nagare begins regretting the movement. However, he also didn't have the heart to turn off the call. The teacher waited.
> Three tim...the ringing stops. "Dr. Ryouzaka's residence. Hello?"
> That's her voice.
* Nagare stays silent for a moment. The teacher sighs, and says as blankly as he could possibly say, trying to not betray his own confusion. "This is Nagare Suiren."
> "..." The silence echoes for a moment.
> "N-nagare?" Kasumi practically whispers the name.
* Nagare pointlessly nods. "Yes. I didn't actually think I'd hear your voice again until about just a couple months ago. This..." The teacher bites his lips. "This... is quite awkward, I have to admit."
> Kasumi half laughs, an old nervous habit of hers, "Ah...yes. It is. How..." there is another moment of silence before she finishes the question, "are you?"
* Nagare sighs with a half-smile, recognizing Kasumi's ticks one by one. "I'm standing on two legs, which is about as good as I can ask." Then, he actually has to stop for a few seconds to follow through. ".... and you? How have you stood up for the last few years?"
> "I'm...doing well. My practice...is helping." You can almost see that very feint quarter-smile she gets sometimes. "It's hard sometimes, but any work that's worth it always is."
* Nagare nods half-heartedly, just like he would upon seeing that smile. "This is good to know. Are you in good spirits, at least? Are things going okay outside work?" And there, he fell into one of those old habits with her - walking circles to reach a point.
> Kasumi laughs again, "I don't really have much outside work right now, to be honest. It's a very hard season, and the clinic is keeping me quite busy. But I'm making a difference here, so there isn't much more I could ask."
> She as well fell quickly into the old pattern. Simple chit-chat, about safe topics. Like work. That was always safe.
* Nagare coughs. "I understand. Not even a love life or somesuch? I'd... honestly be hard-pressed to think you wouldn't have managed at least a small date at a coffee shop." And here, he cracked a pattern open. Nagare wasn't talking to her for a safe net or chit-chat. At this point, he firmly believed there was a barrier to break, a wrong to right. And that drive was what he wanted to see from Kasumi as well.
> Kasumi was quiet for a long moment.
> "That...is not something I would have ever expected you to ask about." Her voice sounds odd, like it's surprised and...hopeful all at once.
> "I am, actually. His name is Hyoma, he's a gardener. And...I've been seeing him for almost a year now, to be honest."
* Nagare nods quietly. The news struck almost eerily blankly into Nagare's heart... which honestly seems to fit rather well with his assessment of how he felt about Kasumi. "This is good to hear. How do you get along?" Once again, a circle. But he was getting closer.
> "Rather well. He's quite passionate about his plants, and I'm afraid unless it's vegitables to go on the table I don't share it entirely. So sometimes I find myself just smiling and nodding along. But really, when that's the worst I have to complain about I'd say it's going rather well."
> She's quiet for a bit, then sighs slightly, "I...don't even have to ask, do I?"
* Nagare nods. "About me? I've been alone since I got back to my feet. I'm fine with that, honestly. But... Kasumi, this isn't why I called. This isn't about our love life, or our life together. It's... different. Certainly, your seasonal calls weren't for simple pleasantries... or were they?" His tone was inquisitive, unsettling. Like he rarely ever was with her.
> "No." She says simply, her tone settling into quiet and serious, "I...to be honest, I just needed to know how you were. I needed to know if you were alright. If perhaps you'd...gotten better."
> "It sounds like you have, though. You aren't sounding like the Nagare I knew. Like any of the Nagares I ever knew. Which I'm hoping is a good thing."
* Nagare bobs his head lightly. "I suppose. Much has happened. But... you needn't concern about me at this point. I just wanted to hear if you were okay. And..." Nagare sighs deeply. "If I could talk to you again."
* Ranmilia is now known as Ransleep
> "Remember who you're asking not to be concerned." Kasumi says with one of her rare genuine chuckles, "But I understand. I'm doing well. And I'm glad to hear that you're taking care of yourself. And..." she pauses a bit, "well, we were freinds first, weren't we?"
> "I wasn't exagerating when I said I didn't have much time outside of work right now, but I'm sure your own isn't any less demanding. But...if you still want to talk, then we can always just play phone tag until we both have the free time."
* Nagare nods. "Indeed. This should be fine. Gives us both time to mull over some things. And to kick off old habits. Speaking of which, 'phone tag'?" He finishes with a light chuckle.
> "Ah," she laughs again, "one of Hyoma's phrases. For when busy people just call back and forth until they stop getting eachother's voicemail."
<Nagare> "Sounds like usual, then. But it's all good. But... it's getting a bit late, and I'm sure both of us will need to be up early tomorrow. I won't take over two years to call you back, I promise."
> "I believe you. Well...good night then."
* Nagare pauses for a moment. "... good night. Also, Kasumi. Just one more thing."
> "Hmm?"
* Nagare sighs heavily. "... I... no. Nevermind. I'll be able to talk about this better later. But... thank you for not hanging up the phone. Good night. Hopefully, we'll talk again in less than a year."
> "I'll call to wish you a merry Christmas if you don't call back by then at the very least." She says calmly, simply letting what you may or may not have almost said there go.
* Nagare snickers. "Otherwise, I'd entirely forget Christmas itself. Thank you, Kasumi, once again. I hope we talk again soon. Good night... and don't worry so much, okay? Until later... and good luck." He then finishes, and slowly closes the phone. He knew he might extend himself indefinitely if he didn't hang up at that point.
> As Nagare closes the phone...the color drains from the room.
> The sound of the clock stops, and his apartment is bathed in that by now familiar silent shade of grey.
> A light...soft, gentle golden-white in hue rises from the phone in Nagare's hand, and transforms into a spinning card.
> As always, the front of the card is obscured. But the back...depicts a regal and motherly woman upon a throne, leaning down to offer her hand and her smile to the masses gathered about her feet.
> Then the voice speaks, right on cue. From everywhere and nowhere all at once, 8"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Empress Arcana"
> The voice ceases. The card vanishes. And the color returns to the apartment.
* Nagare blinks. "Wait, you can have those via -phone calls-? This is just bizarre." Then, he sighs. "This... was actually far less unsettling than I thought. Maybe this will be fine."
* Nagare then shakes his head with a faint smile in his face, heading to his bedroom. Monday would be a busy day and he still needed rest from the misadventures in Yomi.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mykasi: Hermit 1

-----------------------------------------------------------
> Sunday evening, after having spent the night in the realm of the god Okuninushi to recover from the ordeal in Yomi. Mykasi finds himself without his teammates, as the three split up to do other things. And Hikari took the key with her.
* Mykasi considers this quietly for a moment, sitting in a cafe and sipping at his (horrendously bad) coffee for a bit, before dialing Dami's number on his cell phone. Something to do, at least.
> After about three rings, Dami picks up, "Ah, hello?
<Mykasi> "Hey, Dami." Mike says. "Outta curiousity, do you want to try and get more work done on that connection? I don't have the key, but we can try adjusting things on this end to see if we can fine-tune the process at all."
> "...oh, Mykasi." It actually sounded like he didn't recognize your voice for a moment. "Ah...yes, that would be quite helpful. I can go to the access area to adjust things there as nessesary while you moniter changes on the transition point."
<Mykasi> "Alright." Mike replies, apparently not phased by the lack of recognition at first. "I'll be there... thirty minutes or so, if that's okay?"
<Mykasi> OOC: Strike
<Mykasi> "Alright." Mike replies, apparently not phased by the lack of recognition at first. "I'll be there in... thirty minutes or so, if that's okay?"
> "Ah...I'm not actually at home right now, so give me an hour please."
<Mykasi> "Oh, sure. Sorry." Mike nods apologetically. "In an hour, then?"
> "Yes. Ah, I'll see you then."
<Mykasi> "Alright." Mike says, before hanging up and eyeing his coffee with a disgust normally exhibited only when glaring at Nagare.
<Mykasi> Mike then pulls out his laptop and works a bit more on the search program before heading over to Dami's.
> You take your bike over to Dami's place, having the road practically to yourself. Having checked the weather while on the laptop, Mike noticed that is has in fact gotten colder, so it isn't just that it feels worse after having come back from Okuninushi's realm and Yomi(which oddly wasn't cold at all).
> You remember which door is his in the apartment building fairly easily.,
<Mykasi> Mike knocks, shivering as he waits, bundled up. It seems that traffic is getting to be less and less nowadays, too... is it just because no one wants to go out in this, or...?
> The door opens fairly quickly, and you can feel the heat from inside the building. Dami waves you in quickly, "Well timed, I think I've been back only three minutes."
<Mykasi> "Oh, sorry I didn't give you time to settle in." Mike shuffles in quickly. "Barely any traffic, as usual nowadays. Wonder if that's just weather related, or if it has another cause...?"
> Dami shuts the door behind you, "Between the weather and the madness, it's not surprising people don't want to leave the comfort of thier homes unless nessesary."
<Mykasi> "True..." Mike says, shaking his head a bit. "Alright, let's get cracking?"
> Dami nods, "Ah, yes. Well, there are a couple of issues that I need to work on, but neither is really my area of expertise." he heads back into his bedroom as he speaks, "the first is the connection speed, of course. It's rather bad, but I don't really know how to get it going any faster. The other is communications. I can...sometimes get instant messaging working. But that's all thus far."
> Heading over to the computer desk in his room, he shows you the mirror on the floor where the cords are coming through, "Here's the transition point. I...would ask that you let me know before you touch the cords at all, if you need to do that."
* Mykasi nods. "Alright. The first is likely to, if modifiable at all, to be modifiable by tweaking connections - both physical and software. The second sounds kinda like a router/firewall issue. And yeah, definitely."
> "I'll grant that computers, especially hardware, is not my forte." Dami notes, "Combined with the, ah, dimensional science nature of the project at hand and I'm rather surprised I've gotten as far as I have. As for the connections..."
> He shrugs, "I'm not sure what to do there at this point, as I said. Though it being a physical or software connection issue...could be fixable? If I'm not using the right kind of cord, or need programs upgraded...as I said, this isn't my forte."
> "If the problem lies in, ah, cross dimensional lag, for lack of a better term, then I really have no idea how to fiz that." He adds that last with the barest hint of a chuckle.
<Mykasi> "Electronics and computers are finicky. Don't worry too much - I've been working on a program for what, two, three months, and it's still not operating as I want it to." Mike says. "I'll look over stuff as we're testing and see what I can spot."
> He nods, "Well, I suppose connection speed is somthing that can be tweaked while working on the other project. Ideally what I want to accomplish is making verbal communication possible between the dimensions. Ah...I wrote down an idea on how to do that...let me find it, and see if you spot any glaring faults?
> "
<Mykasi> "Sure thing." Mike nods.
* Mykasi glances at the wires without touching as Dami looks, trying to figure out what he's using.
> He begins rooting through the drawers in his desk until he grabs a paper, "Ah, here we are. Internet phone, that's it. Setting up the remote units to make an internet call, via a program like skype or something similar, back to the computers here, one in the dream the other here. And having those computers talk to eachother and effectively transfer the call along."
<Mykasi> "Mmm." Mike muses. "Theory's sound, but Skype won't quiiite do it? Unless you set up two accounts, since you can't have two phone calls out at once on that. Best bet is something homebrew for the Dream - or, no, use Google Wave, have Google Wave call Skype, have Skype call out. There'll be lag but nothing unmanageable."
> "Ah." Dami nods, "I have not used those programs at all, so I was not aware of that limitation. And going between the two programs causes lag? I wonder how much more going through the mirror will cause on top of that."
<Mykasi> "Well, Skype itself has a bit of lag - the program's doing another redirect. Skype to Google Wave will add a bit more, if we try to custom it it'll be ten times worse really since efficiency will be difficult to get." Mike replies. "My dad and I use the two programs to talk - he's a Skype holdout - so yeah, can testify we'll have some lag. Our focus should then be, once we know it works, to fine-tune the connection."
> Dami nods, "The other question would be, can you install those programs on a normal phone? Or will we need to set up custom remote units just for this?"
<Mykasi> "See, what we'd need to do is be able to dial the Skype numbers from the Dream. Which, yes, means we need to broadcast somehow, thinking on it." Mike pauses. "So this will require a bit of custom firmware to get the phones to send out on a frequency we set an antenna to or something similar. Damned overreliance on satellites...."
<Mykasi> "...hm." Mike says after a pause. "Actually, that's an idea. Figure out what the damned Binary District uses for non-wired communications, propogate that to wherever this is in the Dream."
> "Hmm..." Dami sits down on the edge of the bed and thinks, "that...is a possibility. Ah, I'm afraid I have little knoweldge of the Binary District however. I'm aware that there is a large block of streets by that name which is stable, but that's all."
<Mykasi> "We've visited it in our info searching. Hikari's got a familiarity with it now, so we might be able to wheedle out more information." Mike says. "Worth a look into later. They're effectively the dataland of the Dream." With that, Mike hums. "It shouldn't be hard to get a low-power antenna working, we'd just need to go buy the materials, it's all pretty easy homebrew." (more)
<Mykasi> "Stuff like that's how my dad got me into electronics, though I've got a better idea on the software end nowadays. Anyway, let's tune up the connection first?"
> Dami nods, "Very well. Ah, give me just a moment." He moves back to the desk and pokes the comp out of sleep mode and keys his password in, "I suppose you should go ahead and install Google Wave on this machine. And...is it possible to put Skype on a flashdrive so I could install it on the computer on the other end from that? Downloading things directly from there is...problematic, to say the least."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, sure." Mike nods, pulling out a flash drive. "Yours or mine? Regardless, I'll prep that first before downloading and installing Google Voice."
> Dami digs one out of a drawer and sets it on the desk, "If this isn't large enough, use yours I suppose. It's four gigabytes?"
<Mykasi> "We could download a thousand Skypes onto that." Mike grins, sticking Dami's thumb drive into the computer and tossing Skype on it.
> The connection from this side is good at least!
<Mykasi> And so Mike ejects the flash drive when done and hands it over! "Okay, I'll get Google Wave going on this."
> Dami takes the drive and nods, "I'll move over and IM this machine from there, assuming it's working today. If I don't get a response after awhile...I suppose I'll come back over and see what to do from there."
<Mykasi> "Alright." Mike nods, checking connection info while the download's going. "I'll see what I can spot from here."
> Dami walks over to the mirror on the wall, touches it...and vanishes.
<Mykasi> And Mike gets to work on trying to fine tune!
> Connection info from this side seems pretty stable. Except for one, a physical line running from this machine to one called Raven2. That line, despite being a LAN connection, is flickering between brief flashes of good...and large amounts of nearly none.
> OOC: Roll computers if you want, diff is pretty harsh here as DIMENSIONAL PHYSICS are involved and all.
<Mykasi> Hm. That's interesting. Mike checks the Persona users forum to see if there's any previous attempts at doing something similar as he gets to work trying to streamline here.
<Mykasi> roll 2d8 IN-DIG-NAY-SHUN
* Hatbot --> "Mykasi rolls 2d8 IN-DIG-NAY-SHUN and gets 6."12 [2d8=3, 3]
> Mike checks the rabbit hole! Nothing he can find on it in there at all, but the whole Dream vs Physical World bit is unique to your Incident, so that's not too surprising.
> While checking the connections and trying to muck with it, Mike does notice some basic software bugs and innefficiencies that Dami has going on. Pretty basic stuff, but nothing someone who wasn't a computer nerd would ever likely catch. It would take some time, but you think you could at least fix those problems.
<Mykasi> Right. After making a list of them for future reference, Mike begins fixing them as he waits for a message.
> It takes some time, but eventually an AIM pops up from the uncreatively named account Raven2: "Testing."
<Mykasi> "Message received." Mike replies, after a moment following with "Ironing out some connection issues."
> After some time, while Mike spends it futzing with the issues he spotted, the IM beeps again. "Skype installed." And then a minute later with the number.
* Mykasi generates an account/number for Google Voice at this and almost uses it to try and call the Skype number... before realizing there's no headset out on this end. Instead, he simply sends an instant message to the Skype number with Google Voice, giving that number to Dami.
> The mirror ripples and Dami steps back out of it, "It, ah, just now occured to me that I am not in possession of all of the hardware nessesary for this test." He looks a touch embarrased.
<Mykasi> "Heh. Don't worry about it. If Skype and Google Voice can IM each other, there shouldn't be any major barriers outside of the magical for them to converse with each other." Mike says.
> "The...magical, would be the concern, yes." Dami sighs, "I don't suppose Hokkuriku offers courses in Dream Science?"
<Mykasi> "Not as far as I know, sadly. We'll have to figure this out mainly from the Dream end." Mike shakes his head. "I suspect part of it might be that the connection's best when the Dream's more in synch with here. This being said I don't know precisely how to account for this... I'll try to figure out a test."
<Mykasi> "...logically, have this computer stream a set of known data to the other computer, see what patterns if any crop up in differences..."
> Dami nods, "That sounds reasonable. Ah, how are you going with the fixes you mentioned, by the way?"
<Mykasi> "Oh, uh, here. Lemme show you." Mike says, handing over the list. "There were a bunch of minor things I caught - things no one thinks to check or knows how because Microsoft hides them insanely well - like this connection relay thing here..."
> Dami looks over it, and you spend some time explaining things to him while continuing to work on the issues. He has a veeeeery basic grasp of computers, but learns quickly and asks for quite a few clarifications. Before you know it, you've been there a couple of hours.
* Mykasi nods after a bit, putting the sheet next to the computer. "Feel free to try and tweak some of these if you want. It's been... a long weekend, and I've got to go get my own work done before tomorrow rolls around."
> "Ah, yes, you have finals to prepare for don't you?" Dami shakes his head, "I must say, I'm thankful this didn't happen while I was still in school. Keeping up would have been something of a problem."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. Not... worried worried? But still need to study for them." Mike nods. "Tests, at least, I do good at - it's projects that get me."
> "Yes, most of the time tests were simply a matter of memorization, which is easy. But...limited in it's worth, compared with the difficult task of innovating. Which a good project should be trying to do at least in some small way."
<Mykasi> "Yeah. ...doesn't help that if I get into a project, I try to do it as well as possible, including features not originally requested for. Part of why the program for the Professor's taken so long."
> "The other part being...well, the mess, of course."
<Mykasi> "Yeah." Mike shakes his head. "... kinda hard to believe, still, you know? But, yeah, I should get going." Mike sticks his hand out to Dami. "Talk to you later, alright? We'll get this working when we can."
> Dami nods and shakes your hand, "Certainly."
> And suddenly. The room goes grey.
> Dami, however, seems to retain his color. Much as Hikari did while you were at the restaraunt with Neimi, Mika and Mistia. He looks around, letting go of your hand. "What...?"
<Mykasi> "... God. Damn. It."
<Mykasi> "Cutscene power, ignore it and pretend it goes away."
> Then a color appears inside of him. As one does with you. The ball of light coming from Dami is grey...oddly reminicent of the greyscale of Yomi in-fact. While the one from Mike...can't make up it's mind on what color it is at all. It's practically prismatic.
> "Cutscene power?" Dami sounds confused.
<Mykasi> "You'll see." Mike is disgruntled but resigned, though Dami's color is... interesting.
> The lights float out of your bodies...and become spinning cards, just as you expected. The back of Dami's card has an interesting picture of an abstracted cityscape...and it takes you a moment to realize that some of the patterns between buildings make an old looking face. The front is blurred and impossible to make out at all.
> But Mike can clearly see his own card. The back...is exactly what he drew for his FOOL card in the class over at Dreamweavers. While on the front, clear as day, is Anansi. Back in the classic tophat and monocle.
<Mykasi> "Lemme guess, the front of your card is Raven?" Mike asks with slight amusement.
> And of course, right on cue, comes the voice. From everywhere and nowhere all at once. 3"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Hermit Arcana." 13"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Fool Arcana."
> Dami nods, "Indeed. And as that implies you cannot see mine just as I cannot see yours, I would surmise that your card holds Anansi?"
> Then he starts a bit at the voices.
> But they leave...as do the cards. And the color returns to the world.
<Mykasi> "Yep." Mike says. "...That reminds me. I've done some asking into Social Links, and I do have one request for you."
> "Social Links? Is...that was that was?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah." Mike nods. "And... I don't care if you try to avoid getting one with Toshio. I wouldn't blame you. But do continue to keep in touch with him. One thing I have figured out is that keeping a good contact with someone... makes you safer from being neverwas'd. It'd help protect both you and Toshio. ...Consider it. I know you've got a lot on your plate as well."
> Dami is quiet...and nods slightly after a moment, "I will keep that in mind."
<Mykasi> "Alright. Anyway, take care, alright?" Mike says with a wave, heading for the door.
> "Ah, yes. You as well."
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hikari: Fortune 6
Mykasi: Lovers 2

----------------------------------------------------------------------
> (OOC: Whistling along to the hollow tune of...Scene Change love~)
> Friday evening, Mike, Hikari, Mika, Mystia and Neimi all snag one of the tables in the library. The last week before finals is over, and this is thier last real chance to groupthink before the big tests. All around you, you can see various other groups doing much the same.
> After hearing about it, and considering that he shares many classes with Mike and Neimi, Shiro had invited himself along as well...or at least he had planned to, but had to cancel after getting a phone call telling him he had to go back home for the weekend again.
<Mykasi> Which is too bad. Shiro and Mika would probably get along like a house on fire, considering what Shiro did to Mika. Anyways, Mike quickly opens his books. "Alright. Language first, Robotics later."
> Neimi plops down in her seat and sets her bag down and pulls out her language book, "Sounds like an idea, since it's the only class all five of us are taking. Even if we have it different periods."
<Hikari> "As I have no knowledge of or interest in robots, I approve of this plan."
> Mika nods along with Hikari, "Yeah. Robots...are over my head."
* Mykasi gives a very odd look to Hikari, but nods to Mika. "Yeah, I can understand that."
> Mystia laughs, quietly of course, "I think they're over everyone's. Even the people that study them."
> Neimi gives her a look, "Hey!"
* Mykasi chuckles. "To be fair, Neimi, she... pretty much has it right, no? I mean, even the professors get mixed up."
> Neimi shakes her head, "Yeah, because it's a new field. We're practically pioneering it here, not just learning the same things passed down from generation ad infinitum."
* Mykasi nods. "On the other ha- actually this discussion can wait until after the language part, since isn't stuff like that part of the theoretical section? "Purpose of robotics and the field therein"?"
> Mystia opens her mouth to respond...but stops as she sees Mika giving her a pleading look.
> Neimi nods, "Alright, sure. I'm not too worried about the open ended stuff like that anyway. Prime spots to just make stuff up, right?"
* Mykasi nods. "It isn't as if they're language professors... Anyway, tenses."
> Mika gives Mystia a small smile, then starts studdying!
<Hikari> "Shouldn't we quiz each other?" Hikari suggests. "Language is by nature verbal information, after all."
<Mykasi> "Everyone okay with that?" Mike asks, looking up from his text.
> Neimi nods, "Yeah, that sounds good. Hikari, you wanna start? You've got the formal conjugation pretty much down."
> Mystia adds, "Let's just make sure to keep it down. I'd rather not get thrown out of the library."
> Mika giggles very quietly
<Mykasi> "What, no yelling 'Objection'? Sadface."
<Hikari> "Why would we yell, Mike? We're in a library."
> That gets a half surprised look from Mystia, "You've played those games too?"
<Mykasi> "...never min-" Mike looks up to Mystia with a grin on his face. "Yep!"
> Mika explains for Hikari, "It's from a game about lawyers. I..haven't played them, but I know the referance."
<Hikari> "Ah. Games. I see."
> Neimi shrugs, "Don't worry, you aren't missing much. I played about half of the first one before I got bored out of my skull."
<Mykasi> "Yes yes traditional disdain for new media." Mike grins. "Anyway, conjugation?"
<Hikari> "Yes." Hikari proceeds around the table testing everyone in turn with verb tenses. She's pretty good at the subject in general, after all.
> Neimi and Mykasi seem to have the most trouble with that subject. Mystia struggles a bit here and there, but does fairly well. While Mika basically aces it without any hangups at all.
* Mykasi does his best to answer, though being a non-native speaker probably makes him the worst at the table on the subject.
<Hikari> "Well, those of us who don't spend too much of our time on videogames seem to grasp the basics, at least."
> Now it's Hikari's turn to get a Look from Neimi, "I do not play that many video games."
<Hikari> "I could replace that with 'watching indecipherable television programs?' D.r What, or whatever?"
<Mykasi> "The 'basics' of an insanely specific variation of a nasty dialect. Besides, most of the time I'm out running around doing shit, not gaming."
<Mykasi> This causes Mike to choke momentaraily. "...Dr. Who."
> Neimi blushes veeeeery faintly, but protests in an even tone, "That's just for keeping up on my bilingual skills."
> Mystia rolls her eyes, "Right."
<Hikari> "Well, I suppose there is something to be said for immersion," Hikari concedes.
* Mykasi chuckles softly. "Anyways, we've got the noun variants stuff too." A pause. "... damnit, I may need to marathon Dr. Who after finals when I don't feel like doing much."
> Neimi nods, "Always fun. Well, depending on the doctor."
<Mykasi> "Skip the ugly ones." Mike says in a near-stage whisper.
* Hikari can only look blankly at this entire exchange.
> Mystia shakes her head, "How about we skip talking about something with no relevance to any of our classes? So nouns, right? Mika, you want to take that?"
> Mika freezes up for a second...before nodding, "Um, okay. So..." she begins to quiz everyone in turn about noun variants.
> Neimi does far better on this then on the formal conjugation. Mystia does well, and Hikari basically aces it without issues. Mike struggles a touch, but nothing too bad. Good for someone who wasn't raised speaking it anyway.
* Mykasi replies as best he can, feeling better on this! Nouns are easier for Americans anyway. Used to asking for cheeseburgers.
* Hikari makes sure to answer without hesitation (well, when she knows the answer, but that's probably most of the time), largely to encourage Mika.
> Mika gets into the groove of it soon enough, and before long you all finish that.
> Neimi shakes her head when you're done, "There's a reason I'm not a lit major. so anything left for this, or do we move on to different subjects?" there's a hint of pleading in her voice there as she asks that
* Mykasi exhales. "Right. Hate this stuff, but I think I get it. Okay, I think that's actually it? I can't remember any other main topics, and we spent fucking forever on conjugation..."
<Hikari> "Sufficient for you to master the conjugation of profanity, even. Yes, let's move on?"
<Mykasi> "That I picked up on before coming to Japan..."
> "And perfected after having Shiro Asakura for a lab partner only once," Neimi adds.
<Mykasi> "Shiro could probably make a mountain blush." Mike shakes his head.
> Neimi puts away her lit books, and pulls out her Inst Al books. "Soooo, while we're doing this, would one of you mind quizzing Mykasi and me about this? I've got some page markers in there, this is pure memorization. Just read an instrument and we'll say what it does and what that data is used in?"
* Hikari takes the book, flips through it out of mild curiosity. "Sure."
> Mystia looks a bit relieved when Hikari offers to, and chats very quietly with Mika while that's going on.
> The instrumental analysis book, as Hikari flips through it, is...exceedingly dry and technical. And yeah, looks like pure memorization, nothing else.
* Hikari flips about randomly, tosses out questions with air of temporary authority granted by having the book of answers.
* Mykasi takes turns with Neimi replying, feeling more confident about this. It's stuff he gets! ...but it is incredibly boring.
> When it comes to pure power of retention, Neimi simply isn't a match for Mike at all. By the time Hikari's done quizzing them, she's looking more then a touch embarrased.
* Mykasi shakes his head at the end. "I've got a good head for pure memorization - it's patterns like the Japanese that make me fall on my face."
* Hikari raises an eyebrow. "Perhaps Mike should be giving the quiz?"
> "I reaaaaaally hope I don't fail this." Neimi sighs, "This subject is just. So. Boring. It's hard to study for it."
> "Is is required for your major?" Mystia asks, without a hostile tone for a change.
> Neimi nods, "Ooooooh yes. If it weren't I don't think anyone would take it."
> "Ever."
<Mykasi> "There's a lot of courses in the engineering and robotics field that most people would avoid simply because they're both unproductive and uninteresting, yeah..."
<Hikari> "Regrettably, not everything useful can also be interesting."
<Mykasi> "Sadly it doesn't fall under either category. We have manuals for a reason."
> Mika looks back and forth between Mike and Neimi, "Is...it at least useful?"
> "Oh." Mika looks down as Mike answers her question the moment she asks it.
> Mystia yawns, "I'll admit, just listening to that bored me. How about we take a break for a bit?"
<Mykasi> "No..." Mike shakes his head with a small smile. "Wish it was. And sure."
> Mystia nods, and with a quick look over at the library aide who doesn't seem to be paying too much attention, pulls a juice box out of her bag and opens it up. "So what are you all doing for break? Going home or spending it here?"
* Mykasi doesn't immediately reply, instead glancing out the window and letting others respond.
<Hikari> "I am obliged to play host for my sister during the break. With luck, we will both survive."
> Mika smiles, takes a drink of the juice, then puts it back in front of Mystia. "Um...I'm staying here, so...maybe I could help? How young is she?"
<Hikari> "Sixteen," Hikari says. "She is very sixteen."
> Neimi looks dramatic for a moment, "I..am going home." then she grins, "which happens to be in town, so yes. I'm going home and staying."
> "Oh." Mika says.
<Mykasi> "...likely calling home and talking to people there, then just getting some work done and some running in." Mike says after a bit.
> "Considering all the crazy stuff going on here, I'm surprised your folks don't want to bring you home." Mystia notes, "Or are they trying and you're telling them to knock it off?"
* Hikari shrugs. "She's not the impressionable younger sort, no. Would that she were."
<Mykasi> "...Oh. Any of you heard of a Noa Tachikara?" Mike asks after a moment. "A friend's looking for her but I've not heard the name floating around."
> Neimi shakes her head, as does Mystia.
* Hikari can only adopt a blank expression because, well, yeah.
> Mika thinks, "I...know a Maya Tachikara. She's a model. But not a Noa."
<Hikari> "Oh? You know her personally?"
> Mika shakes her head quickly, "I...um...I met her once. At a convention. But that's all. I...um, read her blog, though."
<Hikari> "Is that so? Anything interesting in it lately?"
* Mykasi stays quiet, listening to the two talk.
> "I...haven't checked it in awhile, actually." Mika admits.
> "A couple weeks ago she was talking about a possible role in a TV serial she was auditioning for, but couldn't give any more details." she offers.
<Mykasi> "Mmm. The name isn't common, but you don't remember her mentioning a sister?" Mike asks. "Ah well. I'll keep asking around some."
> "Sister?" Mika thinks, "I...think she did at one point. But not by name. Is this Noa Maya's sister?"
<Mykasi> "Iunno." Mike says. "As I said, Tachikara isn't a common name, I thiiiink, and I didn't really get many details from my friend."
> As Mike is talking to Mika, Neimi leans over to Hikari, "Hey, so about your sister. When she gets here, I can either clear out and let her have my bed or stay and give her a floor mat or something. Would you rather I stick around to make it more tolerable?"
<Hikari> "She can cope with the floor. Maybe she'll learn some humility? Or maybe she'll complain more."
<Hikari> "Of course, if you're leaving, she'll assume the empty bed is for her. So it's up to you whether you don't mind a stranger using it."
> Neimi smiles, "I'll stick around then. I game with Haragi and Nabara and work in food service, complaining I can handle."
<Hikari> "Well, we'll see. I only hope your experience has you up to the task."
* Mykasi shakes his head. "But yeah, I don't know. If you find out Noa and Maya are related, let me know? I suspect my friend didn't even know - as I said, he was mainly just going off a name."
> You note that Mystia never seems to touch the juice box. Mika drinks from it, then puts it back in front of Mystia. After a bit, the library aid comes over and tells Mystia to toss it with a short lecture, which she listens to then gets up and does without batting an eyelash...while Mika looks a touch embarrased but doesn't say anything.
> Mika nods at Mike, "Ah, okay. If you want her blog, I can give you the url?"
<Mykasi> "Ah, sure. I could toss it to him. Thanks."
> Mika quickly scribbles down the url for you on a piece of scrap paper.
<Mykasi> "Thanks." Mike nods, pocketing it and not commenting on the juicebox thing.
> Neimi eyes Mystia's talking to but doesn't say anything about it, just nodding to Hikari, "Don't worry about it. I'll be fine, and even if she really is that bad, it'll only be for a bit right?"
> Mystia comes back to her seat, "Well...should we get back to studying?"
<Mykasi> "Sure." Mike nods at that.
> You all study for a while longer, brushing up on everyone's problem subjects eventually. And for all that she's clearly very intelligent...Neimi does seem to consistantly be the least studeous of the lot of you(or at least less competent at bullshiting through the need to study then Mike).
> Mystia and Neimi continue taking veiled shots at eachother, but knock it off any time someone changes the subject or Mika gives Mystia another pleading look. And eventually you notice it's gotten quite a bit later then you intended.
> Then...the world goes grey.
<Mykasi> "... for the love of..."
> As before, red and white lights come from Mika and Mystia, then merge into a single pink light before becoming the spinning LOVERS card. And Neimi's green light is very familiar to Hikari by now.
> The front of the LOVERS card is still too blurred to see, but the outline of a woman on the FORTUNE card is growing more clear. Still no detail can be seen, but the outline is coming into focus nicely.
> And of course, the voices return as well.
> 3"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Fortune Arcana",  13"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Lovers Arcana."
<Mykasi> "I JUST WANTED TO STUDY!"
> And thankfully after Mykasi's outburst, the feeling of power settles over you, and the color returns to the world.
> Mika...gives Mike a concerned look, "Are...you okay?"
<Mykasi> "...Thinking I'm ready for a break for the night." Mike grins after a moment.
> Mystia looks at her watch, "...uh, yeah. Wow it's almost 10. We were here waaaaay too long."
<Mykasi> "Yeah." Mike shakes his head after a long moment. "Sorry 'bout that. Thanks for coming, everyone."
> And you all shuffle off to your own rooms or other pursuits.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------

Nagare: Devil 5

> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Nagare works unsettlingly on preparing the finals exams for the entirety of his classes. For something that could be quite simple - just a few open questions with wide space for interpretations - this is quite a lot of work. Particularly because Nagare obsessively lists his own answers to the questions he comes up with.
* Nagare eyes the clock. Already half past midnight on an otherwise sedate Wednesday. At this point, he picks up his pipe - how long has it been since he could actually stop to smoke at home? - and shuffles his pockets, as if looking for a reprieve.
> Nagare's hand happens on the Velvet Key in his pocket.
* Nagare smiles quietly. The teacher grasps the key and picks up his tobacco materials, getting up from the chair. At least one of his exams was done - he could make up for the small misdemeanor next day, after all. And he hasn't seen Theresa in a while.
<Nagare> That said, Nagare swiftly moves to the door of his atelier and uses the Velvet Key to open it, already expecting the usual ritual of the Room.
> The key opens...and Nagare enters the Velvet Room.
> It's blue, as it always is. And just as you expected, Theresa is alone in the room. She smiles, not bothering to stand from her lounging position on the couch, "Ah, hello there."
* Nagare waves, holding a package of tobacco on his left hand and awkwardly arranging the pipe with his right hand. "I really hope you have an ashtray handy. It's been a while, Theresa."
> Theresa nods, "Less time then it seems, I'm sure. You've been rather busy lately." She reaches down under the table and pulls an ashtray out, setting it on top.
* Nagare smiles, sitting down and putting the tobacco squarely on the table. "Your resourcefulness is astounding. But, seriously. It just feels like much has been happening. Including things that don't relate to this Dreamscape madness."
> "Normal life doesn't exactly stop just because you live in two worlds now, does it?" She laughs.
* Nagare shrugs as he draws a puff of smoke from his pipe. "It's not like I had -much- of a normal life to begin with. But no, this just has been more revealing than normal. But visiting the land of the dead and then talking to your ex-wife after two years of estrangement does that."
> "So just how did that conversation go?" Theresa sits up a bit as she pries.
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "Surprisingly peacefully. It did help solidify a few suspicions I've always had, though. Mostly about myself."
> "Self reflection is good." Theresa nods, "Better when it actually provides some answers."
* Nagare nods. "It was quite odd to realize mid-conversation that my suspicion about -never- having loved her were true, though. It is a bit cruel, when I think of it."
> Theresa shrugs, "It's...less cruel then going on trying to convince yourself you did. Especially when it comes to base emotions, it's best not to live with blinders on."
* Nagare shakes his head. "That's the thing. I'm not sure she ever knew. I know I hadn't told her, at least."
> "You misunderstand, I wasn't talking about her knowing the truth. Truth about someone else is...subjective, and not always nessesary." She gives an odd smile as she states that, "truth about yourself is something you should have, though."
* Nagare nods. "It does make sense. As much as it does seemingly still longing for the sleep of the dead, at least, if Yomi's resonance is correct."
> "You have died before," she notes, "so the realm believing that you belong there isn't too farfetched."
<Nagare> "Well, I do have to admit that I felt an uncanny affinity towards it myself. It was almost as if I was -home-. Mykasi and Hikari were quite non-plussed about it as well." The teacher finishes the sentence as he realizes he needs to refill the tobacco on his pipe.
> "Hmm. Well, maybe it resonated with your MOON nature?" she offers. "But regardless of why, you did make it back out. For which I'm personally quite glad. I'd hate to think you found that place more appealing then our little conversations."
* Nagare snickers. "I openly dodged a bullet there, then. I just can't put my finger on what drew me to that place so fiercely. But then, Hikari and Mykasi quite literally dragged me out of the place. Odd situation, that. But... I guess this is enough about me. How have you been doing in the in-betweens?"
> "That eager for a subject change, are we?" she grins a bit, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, I'm doing just fine. Going to some movies, doing a bit of gardening. And of course shopping, can't forget the shopping."
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "When did you start shuffling out of the Velvet Room?"
> "I haven't."
* Nagare reaches for some more tobacco herbs and fills his pipe, the smoke rising as he lights it. "Then, I have to question the size of this place if you can go to the movies, gardening and shopping. And now I realize you're probably being facetious and now I feel like a twelve-year-old."
> "I've also taken the time to paint the cieling in a nice shade of gullible." She adds, neither her voice nor face betraying a thing.
* Nagare looks up at the ceiling. "The color gullible is remarkably similar to velvet blue. Is this supposed to say something about this place?", he finishes sardonically.
> "It says that don't actually get to leave at all, so how I've been in the meantime is the same as I've always been." She softens the michevious smile a bit, showing no bitterness or malice, "nothing really changes in here, without Persona Users coming in and out."
* Nagare sighs. "This is actually more static than the deadlands, then. Theresa, how -did- you end up here? I can't really imagine this was your life plan."
> "That's...." she sighs as well, "a very long story. Suffice it to say that calling me a prisoner here isn't entirely accurate. But it's not innacurate either. I certainly didn't become the Assistant of my own free will."
* Nagare adjusts himself on the chair, drawing a heavy cloud of smoke from his pipe, pondering. "... which probably draws into the game we're playing, no?"
> "The reason I was brought in here does have something to do with my real name, yes." She smiles, "I'll give you that one for free."
* Nagare smiles quietly, scratching his head. "I'll take that clue with your graces, then. I'd never figure I'd end up playing a mock Rumpelstiltskin game in my life, though."
> "Well, I don't spin straw into gold, but I think I'm a fair bit easier on the eyes, so I'll say you're getting the better end of the deal then the poor sap in that story."
<Nagare> "Well, you also gave me a couple nifty cards as well! So far, so good. But, actually, this is a good segue for me to ask."
> "Hmm. Shall we recap what you know then?" Theresa asks.
<Nagare> "Please. My brain is still half-fried from the last few days -and- burning the midnight oil on the finals."
> "Well," she begins counting off on her fingers, "You have confirmed that my name is highly symbolic. I do have siblings. And I have been married. You have also discovered that I am neither Eve, Lilith, nor Lachisis."
<Nagare> "Yes - by default, I also discovered you're highly unlikely to be Clothos or Atropos either. Anyhow... I hope you don't take this personally. But were you always female or were you ever from a different gender, species or anything like it - possibly even being genderless at some point?"
> Theresa smiles widely, "Well well. Not a question I was expecting so soon. I'm impressed."
> "To answer, no. I am not always nessesarily female."
* Nagare taps the table lightly. "... then, suddenly I feel a lot less afraid to make the guess I started brewing at some point in my mind. It may be wrong anyway, but it's not entirely bereft of foundation. So... anyhow. Might your name be Lucifer?"
> That makes her snort, "Hahaha, Lucifer? Wow. Um. Just...wow."
> She breaks down laughing for a bit.
* Nagare coughs. "... I suppose I'll leave until you have your breath back."
> After a few moments she recovers, "Ah...whew. Sorry, no. But you made me picture that guy as having been a wife, which...just..." she starts snickering again.
* Nagare coughs. "... I suppose it's a bit like Buddha having been a housewife as well, if you're going to draw into stranger comparisons."
> "Easier to imagine that, actually. Balance, many ways to enlightenment, etc. While Lucy could pull off being female if he wanted, you wouldn't catch him doing it unless he had no other choice. Illusions sure, but real transformation? Nooooot likely."
<Nagare> "I have to honestly wonder how do you -know- all those people on a first-name basis."
> "Hmm." Theresa grins.
* Nagare shrugs lightly. "Another facet of the game we're playing, I'll gather."
> "Really, when you're trying to guess my name, isn't every part of my past a facet of it in some way?"
<Nagare> "Not only the past, really. But yes. Also, do I get a moral victory for making you laugh uncontrollably with this guess?"
> "Oh, you really do." Theresa laughs again, "Lucifer. Haha. The only thing more amusing then that is trying to imagine him in his aspect as Satan as a wife. THAT is just mind breaking."
* Nagare blinks, but then shrugs with a smile. "Oh dear. I've unlocked a terrible spark in your imagination, it seems."
> Theresa shakes her head, "Not much to do here but imagine, really. And that's a good one."
* Nagare shakes his head. "I'll keep that in mind. Hopefully, I'll have a suitably entertaining guess next time as well."
> "Well, if you aren't aiming for right, entertaining is a good second option." Theresa smiles.
> "And I suppose that brings us to this." She holds out her hand.
* Nagare slowly takes Theresa's hand, already knowing what to expect. Only this time he has a pipe firmly entrenched in his mouth.
> The world goes grey as you take her hand. And the light returns, then turns into the spinning card. The front...is getting clearer. It's...a humanoid of some kind. Male or female is still a bit hard to tell, but it's clearly a human outline.
> And as before, the voice returns, 4"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Devil Arcana"
> It vanishes, and the color returns to the velvet room. Theresa smiles, "And five. Halfway there."
> "Also," she chides, "you forgot your promise to bring me some dinner. I'll be expecting dinner AND desert next time, Doctor Suiren."
* Nagare scratches his head. "I... god, I actually did. I'll make up for this next time. And if I don't, you can take my stillborn child from me."
> "Didn't I just tell you that I'm NOT Satan?" Theresa smirks. "And it's alright. Fortunately for you, I don't need to eat, I just like to."
* Nagare snerks. "Well. Rumpelstiltskin would take the woman's child from her if she failed, at least in one of the stories. Given I'll never have a -living- child... but enough with the poor fairy tale references. I'm on my way now - hopefully, to return soon. And to hopefully bring a tasteful dinner. Thank you, Theresa." With that, the teacher salutes Theresa, heading slowly towards the door back to the real world.
> "Farewell," she singsongs, "And have a pleasant morning."
> -----------------------------------------------------------------

Nagare: Sun 1

> -------------------------------------------------------
> Friday afternoon...after a hellish week of giving and grading exams where nobody, professors or students, was in top form thanks to the reccent downward spiral of events, Dr. Nagare Suiren finds himself in his office...still grading papers. (more)
> The atmosphere in his classes lately hasn't been particularly pleasant, as he's overheard more then a bit of griping when the student's don't think he can hear them about the way alot of his questions and prompts are phrased. But they still did...well, part of you doesn't want to think this was thier best, to be quite honest. Not with some of the results you're looking at.
> Though a few students still managed to do well, a couple of them exceptionally so. Though Nagare has yet to get to the essays, one student in particular is standing out as likely getting the highest score in both of your classes he's in. That being Rikkuto Oda.
* Nagare impatiently taps a pen on the wooden desk. The teacher glances a paper, then glances his cigarette pack, as if he desperately longed for a cigarette break.
* Nagare then realizes that the paper -actually belongs to Oda-, shrugging off and continuing the grading process. "That might as well be a break as it stands."
> Grading his paper, you notice a few minor mistakes here and there, but nothing that would cost him major points. In fact it doesn't look like he got any of the answers completely wrong at all, simply didn't elaborate on the right parts or cited the wrong precedent case on one.
> And...as you're grading, there's a knock on the office door.
* Nagare blinks. "It's open. Enter at your own pace."
> The door opens, and two of your students step into the office...and as if summoned by the grading of his exam, one of them is Oda. The other, Shinjo Tanegashima, is one of the harder working, if not particularly gifted, Law majors.
> "Uh, excuse us Professor," Oda starts. Tanegashima picks up from there, "if you have a moment, we have some questions about the corperate law exam?"
* Nagare scratches his chin, slightly surprised as his students enter the room. "Well. I'm currently grading, but I can spare a moment, certainly. What do you need clarified, lads?"
> Tanegashima takes the lead, and asks if you could clarify what exactly you were asking on two of the questions...two which according to the papers you've graded thus far about half of your students struggled with.
* Nagare cringes as he reads the questions. "Re-reading this makes even me wonder what I was trying to convey there. My apologies, men."
> They both visibly relax a bit and Oda breathes an audible sigh of relief, "Okay, it wasn't just us. Ah, thank you." Tanegashima nods appriciatively as well as you clarify things.
* Nagare shakes his head. "I may just end up cancelling these two questions from the test and see what can I substitute them for grading purposes. I probably wouldn't have noticed this either if you didn't show up. Rather fortuitous."
> Tanegashima looks even more relieved, which doesn't surprise you too much, this isn't teh first test he's come to ask questions about. "Thank you very much for your time, sir."
* Nagare nods. "I see. Anything else I can help you with, boys?"
> Oda...goes from looking relieved to seeming uncomfortable for a second, before speaking up, "I...uh, have another question, if I may? Um," he looks over at Tanegashima, "you can go first if you have something else though?"
> Tanegashima shakes his head, "No, that's all. Thank you again." He half bows and excuses himself from the office.
* Nagare bobs his head, waving to Tanegashima as he leaves, and then looking back to Oda. "Well. Seems we only have your question left. If you may."
> "Well..." he hesitates a moment, then shrugs and just starts talking, "forgive me if this sounds presumptious, but...Shiro mentioned to me in passing earlier that he and Mykasi Werfel have been helping with a civil project that you've been working on? And I wanted to know if there was anything I could do to help at all?"
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* Nagare blinks. "... oh. I... well, it is a bit of a complicated story. I'm not sure you could help out - not without asking them first, at least."
> "I...see," he looks down, "it...it's something dangerous, isn't it?"
* Nagare bites his lip. "To say the least. And certainly hazardous to your mental health. I still struggle to wrap my head around it at a near-daily basis."
<Nagare> "However, I will note that you may get more from them than you'd get from me regarding -that- matter - at least at first."
> Oda looks up, then shakes his head, "Maybe Mykasi, but whenever he's getting into something dangerous again is the one thing Shiro tries not to talk to me about."
> Realizing his somewhat disrespectful tone there, he bows his head again, "Um, sorry..."
* Nagare taps his fingers on the table quietly. "... that does make things complicated, yes. Wait a moment."
* Nagare bobs his head. "Do you have an idea of what this... project might entail, Oda? Now I'm curious to know what you -do- seem to know."
* Nagare coughs. "Also, you don't have to worry about being too terribly polite outside of a controlled class environment. Dealing somewhat regularly with Shiro and Mykasi does harden one's senses."
> Oda is quiet for a minute, then half shrugs, "I can make some guesses, but I don't know anything for certain. Besides that whatever it is isn't safe to be involved in. And Shiro doesn't want to talk to me about it, so...I don't press. He'd tell me if I cornered him, since Shiro, well, he doesn't lie about things. But..." he trails off a bit.
* Nagare nods and gets up, picking up one of his books in a nearly thoughtless manner. Then, he eyes Oda. "You worry about what he is doing, that's for certain. Well. I... guess I -could- begin to tell you - he -does- trust you, from what I've seen, and I also have reasons to trust you as well, Oda."
> He half smiles, "Um, thank you. I...figured it wasn't that he didn't trust me, he just didn't want me getting into anything dangerous too. But...if my guess is right, and your project involves...well..." he hesistates a moment before going on, "all the crazy things going on lately?"
> "The people going insane, and that stalker from before, and..." he trails off again, looking half embarrased about how rediculous that sounds.
* Nagare nods somberly. "To a notably close degree, in manners we still haven't began to figure out. Although it makes me curious. Do you have any guess as to why those things have been happening?"
> "I...really don't," he admits. "Nor can I really guess how two robotics students and a law professor are trying to do something about it, but...well, like I said, if there's anything that can be done I want to help as well. This is a problem for everyone, and I don't like sitting around knowing that someone is doing something about it while I'm not."
* Nagare snickers. "Idealistic. I have to wonder if that's the main reason you decided to study Law, in which case I'd almost say you're taking a heck of a detour. But I have to appreciate the drive." The teacher stops for a moment. "I have to beg a question from you, Oda. Which -does- get, even tangentially, into this."
> "Okay," he nods.
* Nagare sighs, and then tosses the question. "What are your thoughts about... the dreaming? If any?" For a moment, Nagare also tries to muster another question, but stops mid-thought.
> "The...dreaming?" Oda blinks, confused by the question.
<Nagare> "Yes. Dreams, and what may entail from them."
> "I...don't really know," he answers, "I don't dream. Or...I don't think I do, at least. If I do, I don't remember them."
* Nagare nods. "More or less how I thought them until this 'project' started. I'm still getting disabused of the notion as we go. As of now, suffice to say that we're delving into a territory that is more or less governed by the wilderness of the mind. More precisely, dreams.
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> He's quiet, waiting for you to continue.
<Nagare> "And... well. It seems like a multitude of dreams -is- capable of creating a world of its own. That's... that's where this so-called project happens. I won't blame you for thinking this is entirely too far-fetched - it's a leap of faith to even assume that reality is anything but what we can grasp. But. If you -do- want to help, the first thing is to actually believe - even if forcibly - the notion, so to speak."
> "It...sounds rediculous...but would explain why Shiro really doesn't want to talk to me about it. And," he sighs a bit, but offers a lopsided half smile, "I'm more willing to believe that then that my freind and my teacher are liars."
* Nagare snickers lightly. "Your thinking methods regarding this matter are somewhat fascinating, I have to add. It's not the kind of thing I see explicitly on your essays."
> "Well, those are about logic. And this...whole..." he struggles for a word then settles on, "thing. Uh, doesn't seem to care much about logic. Nothing makes sense around here lately. Why are there these outbursts of insanity popping up, why do the police and news keep using those same canned responses that translate to mean they have no clue what's going on?"
> He shrugs, "I can't make heads or tails of it all myself, so I'm willing to consider just about anything. SO long as I trust the source at least."
* Nagare nods. "This is good to hear. I'll be frank and say we'll need all the help we can get, but trusting someone in this matter is quite... problematic, to say the least. Shiro would also be quite relieved."
> That makes his give the half bitter chuckle again, "I...doubt that. But he'll get over it. So...uh, what can I do to help then?"
* Nagare ponders. "Well, for starters, I need to touch upon this conversation with Shiro and Mykasi. Once -they- are aware that you are aware in a sense, they should soften up to the notion somewhat. Besides that... well."
<Nagare> "You could help us out with a few unusual information gathering matters, or just listening to my rambling about how this whole thing makes absolutely no sense. There's a part of this whole issue that I doubt you'll ever be able to take into your hands, but it'll turn clearer as we elaborate on it."
> "I'll take your word on that," Oda nods, "so...well, I'll be going home over break, and my father may not want me coming back here considering the news, but I'll do my best to make it back and do whatever I can to help. I don't leave until monday though, so...well, if I could get the whole story from everyone this weekend sometime, that would be great."
* Nagare nods. "If you corner either of Shiro or Mykasi, they may end up coughing it out straight. I can elaborate further if you wish as well, but... well, you do know my linguistics gymnastics. If you have the patience for them, I'm not going anywhere. Just be careful - both in these parts and with your father."
<Nagare> "I understand from personal experience how much of a wall a parent can be."
> "I'll...talk to Shiro and Mykasi tomorrow, we all go running on saturday mornings." Oda decides, then nods, "And I will. I think maybe he'll be excited enough that I'm staying in the law course that he'll let me."
* Nagare snickers. "Hopefully. If you want, I can even give a written note on how you are the best student in my classes, although that seems excessive."
> He looks a bit embarrased as you say that, "I...don't think that's nessesary, no."
* Nagare raises an eyebrow. "You'd be surprised at how often my father asked for those. But he was... rather unique."
> "I..uh..." he doesn't really seem to know how to respond to that.
* Nagare begins laughing. "Don't worry about that. I had the same reaction -you- did back then. Anyhow, I'm sure you're going to have a busy couple of days, Oda. Feel free to keep in contact in case you have any questions. Anything else?"
> "No, that's all. Thank you for telling me what's going on."
* Nagare nods. "No thanks necessary, Oda. You're free to go. Have a good time back at your home, and see you next year, or at least I expect."
> "I'll make sure to come back," he nods, then excuses himself from your office.
> And then...the color bleeds out of the world and all motion seems to stop.
* Nagare deflates - just as he was starting to tap the tabletop with his pen. "... oh dear."
> A light appears, the color of pure and untarnished gold, which transforms into a spinning card. The front, as you expect, is blurred and impossible to see. But the back is magnificent. A sun in glory, simple but powerful, shining gold and silver in color and with no other adornments then a stylized border to distract from the main piece.
> And of course, the voice makes itself known. From everywhere and nowhere all at once, "Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Sun Arcana."
> The voice leaves, the card vanishes, and color returns to the world.
* Nagare blinks, shaking his head. "I have to wonder if I'm actually becoming far too social for my own good."
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mykasi (Hanged Man 4)

> ----------------------------------------------------------
> A few hours after exiting teh Velvet Room and parting ways with Hikari and Nagare, Mike finds himself back in his room. With Kyo gone for the holiday, it feels alot more empty, despite the fact that his roommate didn't have much in the way of belongings.
<Mykasi> Normally, this'd be a time for personal enjoyment, but... "Damn, the city's attitude is beginning to rub off on me." Mike mutters after a moment, kicking his shoes off. "Can't even enjoy free time and some space to myself in Japan, of all places." With that, he sits on the bed, exhausted.
<Mykasi> After a moment, he empties his pockets, pausing at the cell phone and staring at it.
> The cell phone doesn't move. It just sits there.
<Mykasi> "Guh." Mike says, putting the phone down on the table next to his bed before taking his shirt off... and eyeing his phone again. After a moment, he retrieves the phone and hits Xavier's speed dial, muttering to himself softly.
> It rings three times before being picked up, "Hmm? Hello? Mike?" Xav sounds half zombified.
<Mykasi> "Hey. You alright?" Mike says, checking the time.
> "Yeah, I'm good." He yawns, "Just...was up late, tha'sall."
<Mykasi> "Mm. Well, don't get caught with this if you're at the house." Mike auto-chides, before softening. "Sorry, impulse. Anyway, what kept you up?"
> "Um..." he hesitates a moment before muttering, "...youtube."
<Mykasi> "Oh dear. Yipdog flying through space?" Mike replies sympathetically.
> "And...don't worry about me getting caught right now. I'm actually not home." His voice sounds a touch embarassed about that.
<Mykasi> "Oh, fair enough. Where are you at? Uh, if you don't mind me askiyyaaaaaaaaaaaa" Mike yawns, before, "Feh heheh."
> "At...a freind's house. It's...something of a long story.
> "
> Last Mike had heard, there wasn't any way Davis would let Xav out of his sight long enough to have slept at someone else's house.
<Mykasi> "... is everything alright, Xav?" Mike asks again, concern leaking into his voice.
> "Yeah, everything's fine. I'm...well, just a little..." he trails off. Knowing Xav like you do, this is very clearly hesitation due to embarrasment then anything else.
<Mykasi> "You can talk to me, dude. It's alright." Mike soothes.
> "Yeah, I know. Just...it's kinda...not something I'm really proud of. So," he takes a deep breath, "Sandy was down a bit ago and...suggested something that might get my dad off my back a bit. I'm ashamed to say it worked like a charm once she talked me into it."
> "See, she introduced me to a freind of hers, uh, Kayla? Dunno if you know her. Brunette, wing tatoos on her shoulders, plays guitar? And...I kinda let dad think that we're...well..." he trails off again.
<Mykasi> "..." Mike pauses for a moment. "..."
<Mykasi> Then, "Oh, -right-! Think I had a class with her junior year? Sophmore? Something like that."
<Mykasi> "Anyway, that did the trick?"
> "Yeah. I spent the night over here last night. She has a computer, so she lets me use it. And so long as I either cook something or buy her breakfast, I'm basically welcome over whenever. She was pretty cheesed when Sandy explained what was going on to her, so...count one more person who practically hates my dad."
> he didn't exactly sound enthused about that last line.
<Mykasi> "Hm. Well, at least it leaves you another freedom for when you need it." Mike nods. "That's pretty awesome at least. ..." A pause as Mike crosses his legs. "... I don't quite know how to ask this."
> "Ask what?"
* Mykasi exhales. "I realize a lot of us have... bluntly put, animosity toward your dad. ... I'm sorry if it's bothering you; I can try to restrain myself and my family, at least. It's not something you need to deal with regardless of your own position."
> "It's...alright. I'm not really happy about it, but he's bringing on himself. If someone was angry at him for something he didn't do, I'd defend him, but..." he sighs, "I can't get mad at people for justifiable feelings."
<Mykasi> "It sounds like it's uncomfortable for you, still. And... making you uncomfortable is kinda the precise fucking opposite thing we're trying to do, yanno?" Mike offers.
> "Yeah, but having people walking on eggshells around me would make me more uncomfortable. I'm amnesiac, not retarded."
* Mykasi actually laughs at this. "Fair, though that was hardly my intended implication."
* Hello-RarithedralWaddleDee (~lolcirno@189.27.29.140.dynamic.adsl.gvt.net.br) has joined #velvetroom
> "Yeah, I know. I'm just...a little tired of being treated like an invalid. My mother's the worst, but people at church aren't much better. Dad at least puts me to work, even if I hate it, and expects me to be able to do normal person things. I'm not really sure how, but that's better then being treated like I shouldn't be expected to be able  to do anything."
<Mykasi> "That makes sense, yeah." Mike nods, leaning against the wall. "I... can kinda see why they're doing it, but ... yeah. Figuring out how well you can push yourself and keep going is better than never knowing until it's too late."
> "I figured you'd understand." you hear something else on the line, then Xav says, "It's Mykasi, calling from Japan. ...yeah it's like a twelve hour difference or something so he can only call really early or really late."
<Mykasi> "Kayla?" Mike asks.
> "Yeah. She heard me talking and came out. I'm sleeping on her couch, it's like a one room studio apartment."
<Mykasi> "Aaah." Mike nods to himself. "Tell her hi for me. ...she's probably remember what class we actually shared..."
> "He says hi. And...wonders if you remember what classes you had together." she says something and xav goes, "...oh. Uh...she says 'detention hall'."
<Mykasi> "... ... Riiiight, I totally forgot that! Shit!"
* Hello-RarithedralWaddleDee is now known as Nagare
<Mykasi> "Anyway, yeah, that was due to a series of pranks I played on the administration, just to catch you up."
> "That sounds like something Sandy would approve of. And Bill would have halfheartedly lectured you over."
<Mykasi> "Pretty accurate, yeah." Mike grins. "No one liked that teacher, and it wasn't a case of him just being picked on - he was a full-fledged asshole to pretty much all his students. Outside of you - he contracted with your dad - Amelia, because... I don't know there, our theory was he was creeping on her but I always thought he was intimidated - and Chaz because his dad was Mr. Namingway's best friend."
> "Mr. Namingway? Was that the teacher?"
<Mykasi> "The teacher that... kicked it off, yeah."
> "It went past him?" you hear more of Kayla's voice on the other end.
<Mykasi> "To a few of the officials supporting him, yes." Mike shakes his head. "I kept in line, mostly, but a few of the administration members got unhappy about it as well so I kinda extended the game a bit. It ended junior year when I no longer had him and one of his own outbursts to a different student got him put on probation. The administration never forgave me, tho. Had to keep in line after that."
<Mykasi> "...or at least give the illusion thereof."
> "Kayla says that you and Amelia have become local legends at the school already. The guy who the administration could never quite get the better of and the girl who scared even the gangbangers into giving her the right of way."
<Mykasi> "...wait, seriously?" Mike... half hesitates at this. "I mean, it's nice to know someone's going down as standing up to them..."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike remains quiet for a bit longer, before, "I'm... I'm glad you're getting some more latitude in your actions."
<Mykasi> The sentence is choked out as Mike stares at the ceiling.
> "...are...you okay?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah, yeah... at least right now I am." Mike says, looking up. "... look. My hope for you is that you become able to do as you want, that you push yourself and find what you want to do. And I think you're honestly on your way to that."
> "Um...thanks? Are you sure you're okay, you sound really choked up..."
<Mykasi> "..." Mike pauses, staring at the ceiling a bit more. "...yeah. I... -will- be okay. Just take care of yourself, alright? It's all I can ask."
> "I'm doing my best. How are things going for you, out in japan?" Xav blatently tries to change the subject in an attempt to make Mike feel better.
<Mykasi> "Eh, decent. Roommate's gone for the holidays, so I've just been putting time into th- into my personal projects. Cold as hell, though."
> "Built any working robots yet?" there's a bit of a laugh as he asks that.
<Mykasi> "I've gotten some to be wheeling around on the floor detecting objects! Trying to get them to pick stuff up tends to result in them tipping over, though." Mike says with mock chagrin.
> "Like...roombas?"
<Mykasi> "Yeah, pretty much! A bit more intelligent in how they move, though.
> "It's...funny how if you were still here you'd probably be spending so much money at my dad's store with the robotics that he'd have to like you."
<Mykasi> "Well, we'll see if that happens when I return. Presuming he doesn't ban me from the store." Mike says with a chuckle.
> "If it happens, just look him in the eye and say 'should I go to Home Depot instead?' and he'll let you buy whatever you're there for."
<Mykasi> "Hahahahahaha, okay, fair." Mike grins.
> "He's doing everything he possibly can to fight off the encroachment of 'big buisiness', it's...almost scary. The idea of the store going under I think terrifys him as much as my accident did."
<Mykasi> "I can't terribly blame him, even though I think that the way he's fighting it is a bad one." A pause. "...-that's- an idea. Talk with my dad and see if you two can cook up an online service setup, letting them send you guys stuff to repair or furnish or letting them order from you direct, then pitch it to your dad?"
> "...I think the only person my dad likes less then you is your dad. And the feeling's pretty mutual. But...maybe Bill would know someone else who could help? It's a good idea at least, and he'd like that I'm suggesting something for the store."
<Mykasi> "Yeah, it's why I suggested you pitch it to him." Mike nods. "And... actually, if you're interested, you could probably begin teaching yourself the internet work."
<Mykasi> "You'd probably still want someone to help you out so asking Bill's a good idea, too, but if you can maintain it you can keep it lifted off the ground without your dad needing to hire anyone else."
> "That would be good. Actually...he wouldn't mind a new hire, if we could afford it." more of Kayla's voice, "Huh? Um...yeah, my card's in my wallet. Should still be in my pants pocket. Just orange juice and a hashbrown, thanks."
<Mykasi> "Just be careful with letting others have your card, though it's- why am -I- doing this to you?!" Mike curses himself out for a moment. "Sorry. But alright, that's good at least - just be careful, as a fair few will charge a ton for internet work."
> "Oh, Kayla's just taking my card to go get breakfast. The deal is that I buy it for staying over. And...I'm pretty sure she can be trusted, she is Sandy's freind."
<Mykasi> "Yeah which is why I chastised myself." Mike replies. "I'm just paranoid some days."
> "No problem, I hear you've pretty much always been paranoid."
* Mykasi snorts. "Well... um... ... damnit, don't have a response to that. I'll think of something witty and reply to it later. Haven't slept in forty hours... give or... take?"
> "....what." Xav sounds suddenly annoyed, "And you called me instead of going to bed?"
<Mykasi> "...wanted to hear your voice, and I'm honestly not tired yet." Mike replies. "Just... humor me tonight, alright? ...I'll explain more later."
> "...alright. So what kept YOU up so late?"
<Mykasi> "One of the personal projects that kinda devolved into a flaming mess." Mike replies. "And before that I'd been cramming a ton to prepare for trying to get some other stuff working, buuuut flaming mess needs repairing first before the studying pays dividends." A pause. "Or at least that's the condensed version."
> "...flaming mess bad, yeah." You can almost see Xav shaking his head, "That was real eloquent."
<Mykasi> "Look, I wasn't ever an English fanatic, okay? I can bluff being polite, but eloquent was outta my league."
> "No, no," he stammers, "I meant my response. Seriously, 'flaming mess bad'? Didn't even fit an 'is' or anything in there?"
<Mykasi> "Oh. Well, it's a far more concise explanation than I managed!" Mike laughs.
<Mykasi> "Anyway, thanks for humoring me. Have a good day, alright?"
> "Yeah...I will. Got a shift later, and will have to sit through dad giving me knowing looks that are entirely wrong, but hey. It's...kinda funny, even if I feel bad about lying. And you, you go to sleep."
<Mykasi> "You do what you need to. If that's lie, lie; if it's the truth, then speak it. Alright? Do what you need to. Me, yes, I need to fall asleep. Talk to you later.
> "...yeah. Later."
> You hang up...
> and the world goes grey.
> From your phone a light twirls out, and the light transforms into a spinning card, the HANGED MAN.
<Mykasi> "Kch."
<Mykasi> "Theresa, I'm blaming you for this today."
> As expected the voice returns, as it always does. "Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Hanged Man Arcana"
> The voice vanishes...but the card turns back into a light and floats over to the little wooden canoe on Mike's desk. Then it sinks in, and for a brief moment the canoe glows before all color returns to the world.
* Mykasi stands up and wanders over to the canoe, hefting it slightly. "...Thanks, Xav. Iunno if it'll help me in what's to come, but..."
<Mykasi> And with that, Mike walks evenly back to the bed, before falling down onto it. And beginning to snore immediately.
> ------------------------------------------------------

Hikari (Chariot 3)

> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> A few hours after leaving the Velvet Room and parting ways with Mykasi and Nagare, Hikari's cell phone rings. The caller ID says it's Shiro.
* Hikari answers (taking a quick look around to see if sister or roommate are listening, just in case she has to edit herself while speaking). "Hello?"
> Aiko is in the room, but has her headphones on. And the music on them going loud enough that you can almost hear it. Neimi is off at work.
> "Hey. It safe to talk on your end?"
<Hikari> "Safe enough."
> "Right." he gets straight to the point of the matter, "I'm thinking it's best to strike hard and fast. Go back in today, take out Hell Rider before he gets wind that we're going to hit him. I dont' entirely trust what he said about Rider not being affiliated. You get anything good from the guys you went to talk to?"
<Hikari> "Largely that what they always claim to be unable to tell us may in fact be outweighed by what they don't actually know in present circumstances," Hikari says, leaning back in her chair. "The situation appears more a mess than even we'd considered. I think we need to have a long talk with a devil summoner once immediate problems are dealt with."
> "Man, I'm almost glad I can't talk to these guys sometimes. They sound pretty damn frustrating. Anyway, you want in on running down Rider? I've got a plan but I need either you or Mike for it."
<Hikari> "One of us is more viscerally attuned to dealing harsh retribution than the other," Hikari says," and with all due respect to Mike, I believe it is not him."
> "Yeah, you're kinda the better fighter by miles. And if Rider happens to pull a flamethrower out of his horse's ass, he can't hose the both of us with one element like he could me and Mike. Half of why I called you first. Anyway," he moves on, "I'm over at the Achibara shopping center, where it leads into the food court. Meet me over here when you're ready?"
<Hikari> "Of course." Hikari hangs up and wastes no time in getting ready to head out again.
> Aiko looks up as you get ready, "Off again?" Looking at the clock she raises an eyebrow, "So...at this hour, you're either heading out clubbing, in which case I'm coming too. You're off to one of those games, but Neimi's not here so I doubt that. Or..." she grins, "you've got a date."
<Hikari> "You're not coming," Hikari says as she pulls on her coat, "from which you may draw whatever conclusion you prefer."
> He grin grows, "Is he cute?"
* Hikari considers this. "There are worse adjectives to apply. Although he woul likely prefer not to be caught in the same room as 'cute.' Only one of them would leave walking."
> "A tough guy, huh?" Aiko laughs, "Well, have fun. And...nevermind."
<Hikari> "'Nevermind?'" Hikari wonders, not willing to just leave it at that. "Not your type?"
> "Just..." she shrugs, "you know, be careful? You're not that big, and if he's a rough sort...just forget it, okay? Have fun."
* Hikari laughs. "Size isn't the only thing that matters in a fight." Having given Aiko something else to be confused about, she opens the door to head out!
> You leave and make your way to the Achibara shopping center. It's easy to spot Shiro when you get there. He's the guy in a green hoodie and running pants who's shadowboxing in an empty part of the parking log.
<Hikari> "Your opponent appears to have fled," Hikari observes.
> He stops and looks over at you...then you notice his glasses weren't on as he pulls them out of his pocket, "Heh. Just trying to get loose before we head in. You ready? I know you need an outside door, so we should head over to Noiro. The guy who works nights will let you head out the back, no questions asked, if you slip him some cash."
> Noiro...is a liquor store.
<Hikari> "I am not obligated to by something?" Hikari asks. Actually, it might be a bad thing to unwind after the fight, but good luck keeping a bottle intact during a battle.
<Hikari> *buy
> "Not that I've seen." Shiro shrugs, "But if you want to, go for it."
<Hikari> "Maybe on the way back. Shall we go?"
* Hello-RaritythedralWaddleDee (~lolcirno@189.27.29.140.dynamic.adsl.gvt.net.br) has joined #personador
> He nods and leads the way in. Surely enough, slipping the register guy a few bills has him jerk his head towards the backdoor and not say a thing about your activities. Shiro heads out first, so you can see it leads into a very small alleyway. Then you use the key and pass through to teh dream.
> (OOC: She don't, she don't, she don't need no Scene Changer~)
* Hello-RarithedralWaddleDee (~lolcirno@189.27.29.140.dynamic.adsl.gvt.net.br) has joined #personador
> You step into the foodcourt. Shiro arrives a few moments later in his usual gust of wind, and in an instant Red Hare forms beside him.
* Hello-RaritythedralWaddleDee (~lolcirno@189.27.29.140.dynamic.adsl.gvt.net.br) Quit (Ping timeout)
> Mounting up, he offers his hand down, "And the reason this is a two person job is that Red Hare can't carry three. So...how's your aim from a fast moving platform?"
<Hikari> "I wouldn't know," Hikari says. "I am sure I'll learn quickly enough."
> "Probably," he agrees as he pulls you up on his Persona behind him, "Just keep your legs anchored and keep one hand on me. Use the other for fighting. Let me worry about keeping you from falling off, you worry about hitting your target."
> "It's a simple strategy, but I don't have any ranged attacks at all so I can't do it alone. He's gonna run, but I can keep pace. And you just pop shots after him until he either falls down or turns to fight."
<Hikari> "Yes," Hikari says with a nod, wrapping an arm around Shiro's midsection. "Let us hope he possesses no resistance to fire."
> "I bet Biker does, so who knows. Anyway, here we go. Now to find the bastard..." Red Hare trots forward a bit, then suddenly lunges forward and upward, onto the sky route Shiro is so fond of. And he begins moving as fast as a car on the highway over rooftops looking for a very specific shadow.
* Hello-RarithedralWaddleDee is now known as Nagare
* Hikari keeps an eye trained on the streets below. When they are streets and not, say, forests, that is.
> For some time you go, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, dodging flying or other upwardly mobile shadows, until you are very quickly coming up on Mab's Domain in the distance. But as you get closer you can see over the wall into the battleground before the gates, the 'parking lot'...fewer shadows then usual are there, but amoung them is a man on a horse. Wearing a cloak. Carrying a scythe.
> "Aaaand that's him. Hold on tight, I'm going in for a hard landing."
* Hikari hangs on with both arms! Purely to avoid falling off, mind.
> Red Hare picks up more speed! And then...JUMPS! Sailing over the street, then over the wall, the equine Persona decends into the parking lot and lands with a hard impact, perfectly between Hell Rider and the gate out.
> The DEATH Arcana Shadow turns, as does nearly every other Shadow in the area, to stare at the newcomers.
> Hell Rider, from close up...looks more like a grim reaper impersonater then the real deal. The skull face is quite clearly a mask, though a very nice white metal one, and his cloak is donned over what looks like modern police style body armor rather then robes. Fairly muscular, he seems to be made of something solid, not just bones.
<Hikari> "You seem to be running out of opponents." Hikari summons Brynhildr to loom next to her. "Perhaps we can help with that problem."
> Shiro does draw his spear, seeming to need no hands to stay mounted, "And here was was expecting you to be out in the streets. Thanks for cornering yourself for me, saves us some effort."
> Hell Rider takes a few steps backwards...or at least his horse does. He seems just as in tune with his mount as Shiro is with Red Hare. In a raspy, yet deep, voice he spits out at Shiro, "Well if it isn't the wind rider. Can't beat me alone so you've brought a girl to help you? Hah."
<Hikari> "The better to stop you running away again."
> "Your taunting might have more effect if we werne't standing outside the castle of a 'girl' who could probably nuke us all into next week in ten seconds," Shiro counters, "or if I came here to fight with you."
> Hell Rider pauses. you can't see due to the mask, but he's probably blinking in confusion, "You...aren't here to fight me?"
> "Man," Shiro readies his spear, "This isn't a fight. I'm here to exterminate you."
> Rider readies his scythe as well, "Cornering DEATH isn't the smartest move you've ever made. Come and find out why, mortals!
> "
> (OOC: Init time~)
<Hikari> roll 2d8+11
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8+11 and gets 24."12 [2d8=6, 7]
<Hikari> "We've met DEATH," Hikati says. "Cosplaying him is not a fearsome thing for the reasons you think it is."
> roll 2d8+9 Shiro Init
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8+9 Shiro Init and gets 20."12 [2d8=3, 8]
> roll 2d8+10 Rider init
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8+10 Rider init and gets 17."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> 4INIT ORDER: Hikari > Shiro > Hell Rider > Random Shadows
> (OOC: keep in mind, you aren't the only ones in the battleground. Other shadows may engage at random points just for shits. Anyway, hikari is up!)
<Hikari> Experiment time, first! Hikari points ot the Rider: "Brynhildr? Set him alight."
<Hikari> roll 2d8 vs 12 FIRE
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 vs 12 FIRE and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> roll 2d8 vs 11 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 11 defense and gets 12."12 [2d8=6, 6]
> (OOC: damage him up)
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 10."12 [2d8=3, 7]
> 4INIT ORDER: Hikari > Shiro > Hell Rider(11 damage) > Random Shadows
> The fire connects, roaring up from under his horse. But he only rears and snarls, seeming largely unimpressed.
> Shiro responds to this by taking the one chance he'll have to move in, swinging his spear high overhead to avoid hitting Hikari before bringing it around in a powering side arc as a ball of wind gathers around the blade, "Baofengyu zasi!"
> roll 2d8 vs 11 tempest crash
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 11 tempest crash and gets 11."12 [2d8=4, 7]
> roll 2d8 vs 7 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 7 defense and gets 5."12 [2d8=1, 4]
> Somehow the Rider jerks backwards in time to avoid the blow, then brings his scythe across in a powerful swing at Shiro before lunging away to make more space.
> roll 2d8 vs 12
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 12 and gets 9."12 [2d8=1, 8]
> roll 2d8 vs 9 shiro defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 9 shiro defense and gets 13."12 [2d8=8, 5]
> roll 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 10."12 [2d8=4, 6]
* Retrieving #personador modes...
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Hikari: 110/110 HP [70/80 EP], Mike: 70/70 HP [95/95 EP], Nagare: 90/90 HP [100/100 EP], Shiro: 130/140 HP [75/75 EP], Dami: 70/70 HP [175/175 EP], Carlie: 50/50 HP [75/75 EP]'
> Shiro snorts at the impact, "Man, the damn professor's got a harder swing then you."
> The gathered shadows edge around the conflict for now, not interfereing on either side...(go Hikari)
<Hikari> "Do you know from that experience, Shiro? Was I not here for one very interesting day?" As she speaks, Hikari calls on Brynhildr to weaken the Rider even further.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 vs 13 Betrayal
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 vs 13 Betrayal and gets 10."12 [2d8=2, 8]
> roll 2d8 vs 11 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 11 defense and gets 6."12 [2d8=1, 5]
> Brynhildr's strike is on the mark, but Hell Rider is nearly as dodgy as Mike, and evades at the last second.
> Shiro grunts, "No, but I've seen the prof drop things. That hit couldn't have bruised a pixie. Anyway, hold on tight."
> That's all the warning Hikari gets before Red Hare goes UP. The Persona launches nearly thirty feet in the air before coming down straight at the Hell Rider, Shiro bringing his spear down whirling, "Fengjia, rind the wind!"
> roll 2d8 vs 11 wind ride
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 11 wind ride and gets 4."12 [2d8=1, 3]
> roll 2d8 vs 7 evasion
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 7 evasion and gets 8."12 [2d8=7, 1]
> roll 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 7."12 [2d8=5, 2]
> 4INIT ORDER: Hikari > Shiro > Hell Rider(70 damage) > Random Shadows
> The spear connects and the Hell Rider is sent sprawling...rider and horse alike get knocked down and flung backwards. Never once does he lose contact with his mount.
<Hikari> "Are you sure you needed my assistance for this fight?" Hikari wonders.
> Scrambling back to it's hooves, the horse rights itself and Hell Rider with it, a great gash visible across his armor where Shiro connected. Whirling his Scythe overhead, he send the blade flying towards the pair of you...then while it's in the air, turns and BOLTS for the gate.
> roll 2d8 vs 10 flying scythe
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 10 flying scythe and gets 12."12 [2d8=8, 4]
> The scythe misses...and boomerangs in the air...coming back for you...
> roll 1d100
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 1d100 and gets 50."12 [1d100=50]
> Various shadows nearby continue to watch the fight...or what's left of it as the Rider turns tail and flees.
> Shiro spits, "Yeah, cause I get one good lick in and there he goes. And watch the scythe, it'll keep coming until it connects." (Hikaris up)
<Hikari> "Then we'll have to stop him first." Hikari sits up, waves towards the fleeing Rider. "Brynhildr! Cut the coward down before he escapes!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 vs 13 Helreio
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 vs 13 Helreio and gets 7."12 [2d8=4, 3]
> roll 2d8 vs 11 dodgy
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 11 dodgy and gets 8."12 [2d8=3, 5]
> He isn't quite at the edge of your range as Brynhilder streaks out, but she slashes just where he was. Hard to hit a moving target.
> Red Hare lurches forward as Shiro kicks it into high gear, "Time to run this sonnova bitch down." And run he does. It's hard for him to get close enough to strike...but keeping within Hikari's range is no issue at all.
> But as you go...the scythe returns.
> roll 2d8 vs 10 homing scythe is a bitch
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 10 homing scythe is a bitch and gets 12."12 [2d8=6, 6]
> again it barely passes you by...but spins and starts in once more.
> (OOC: Shiro is keeping you in range for now, Rider will have to try some antics to shake him, so neither he nor SHiro are making rolls for the time being. Until Rider varies it up, it goes you then scythe then back to you)
<Hikari> "Like all thugs, you run as soon as the odds turn against you! Stand still and accept your punishment!"
<Hikari> roll 2d8 vs 13 Helreio
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 vs 13 Helreio and gets 13."12 [2d8=5, 8]
> roll 2d8 vs 11 moving target defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 11 moving target defense and gets 8."12 [2d8=2, 6]
> Brynhilder sweeps in for another strike, but the Rider jukes to the left and her spear crashes into the ground. And the scythe sweeps back towards you...
> roll 2d8 whirly scythe
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 whirly scythe and gets 13."12 [2d8=6, 7]
> But the fast moving Red Hare is just as hard to hit as the Hell Rider. Rushing through the streets, going around and over traffic as needed, neither side has gained any ground just yet...
<Hikari> Hopefully Shiro isn't producing mass amounts of roadkill as they go--though that's hardly something Hikari can be concerned with as she directs her persona to strike again.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 vs 13 yeah, spammage
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 vs 13 yeah, spammage and gets 15."12 [2d8=7, 8]
> This time Hikari's aim is off and Bryhildr shatters a cart full of tomatoes with teeth that the Rider had just rushed past. The tomatoes do not take kindly to this, but you're gone before they can pull themselves together enough for an attack.
> All the while, the scythe, also moving at nearly sixty miles an hour, sweeps back in again from behind...
> roll 2d8 vs 10 will this attack ever hit
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 10 will this attack ever hit and gets 9."12 [2d8=7, 2]
> OOC: Okay, yes. Hikari, it's after you this time. Defense.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 defense
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 defense and gets 11."12 [2d8=8, 3]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 reroll don't hold it againt me I'm not linking with yhou Neimi
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 reroll don't hold it againt me I'm not linking with yhou Neimi and gets 10."12 [2d8=3, 7]
> roll 2d8 damage at least you have phys defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage at least you have phys defense and gets 9."12 [2d8=4, 5]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Hikari: 90/110 HP [70/80 EP], Mike: 70/70 HP [95/95 EP], Nagare: 90/90 HP [100/100 EP], Shiro: 130/140 HP [75/75 EP], Dami: 70/70 HP [175/175 EP], Carlie: 50/50 HP [75/75 EP]'
> The scythe grazes Hikari, but the armor provided by her Persona softens the blow. However...it's still enough when she's not exactly used to riding at these speeds...(OOC: body check or be unhorsed.)
<Hikari> roll 2d8 vs 12
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 vs 12 and gets 6."12 [2d8=3, 3]
> Making the right adjustments, Hikari stays on! The scythe clatters to the ground...but she blinks and suddenly sees that it's *back in Hell Rider's hands* ahead of you.
<Hikari> Solution: deprive him of hands!
<Hikari> roll 2d8 yeah more slugging away
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 yeah more slugging away and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> roll 2d8 vs 11 dodgy
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 11 dodgy and gets 13."12 [2d8=8, 5]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 about damn time!
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 about damn time! and gets 3."12 [2d8=2, 1]
> 4INIT ORDER: Hikari > Shiro > Hell Rider(121 damage) > Random Shadows
> roll 2d8 body check
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 body check and gets 16."12 [2d8=8, 8]
> Brynhildr comes in from the side...and body checks Hell Rider straight into the side of a building. Then stabs him for good measure.
> Rider slams into the wall and between the impact and the spear thrust, he gets knocked down hard. He struggles to get up...but not before Shiro is already on top of him.(Shiro had to use his whole turn, but you are now in melee range. Rider is still down. Hikari's turn)
* Hikari would finish this personally and dispose of him hand-to-hand with the lightsword...but he's shown himself to be too good at evasion to allow that. No, she'll watch for escape attempts and hang on to Shiro while Brynhildr continues her brutal work.
<Hikari> roll 2d8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=3, 4]
> roll 2d8 vs 7 dodge penalty while prone
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 7 dodge penalty while prone and gets 16."12 [2d8=8, 8]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 damage, right!
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 damage, right! and gets 10."12 [2d8=2, 8]
> 4INIT ORDER: Hikari > Shiro > Hell Rider(142 damage)
> Stepping up Shiro begins slowly spinning the Blue Dragon replica at his side. It picks up speed, more and more until it's nearly a blur with a ball of wind at the tip whipping in a fast circle. Wordlessly he brings the spear down on the prone Hell Rider.
> roll 2d8 vs 13 tempest crash
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 13 tempest crash and gets 9."12 [2d8=7, 2]
> roll 2d8 vs 3 I suppose he does get a defense roll
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 3 I suppose he does get a defense roll and gets 9."12 [2d8=8, 1]
> roll 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 4."12 [2d8=3, 1]
> 4INIT ORDER: Hikari > Shiro > Hell Rider(201 damage aka really fucking dead)
> The spear connects...and the ball of wind transfers from the spear into Hell Rider, bouncing him off the ground, horse and all, and carrying him well over fifty feet into the air. Possibly closer to a hundred.
> Quickly Shiro dismounts Red Hare and dashes over, planting the spear firmly on the ground, tip in the air.
> Hell Rider comes down.
> And is predictably and messily impaled on the Blue Dragon Replica, Shiro managing to keep his feet despite the mass crashing down on him.
> A gurgle later, and the Rider disolves into shadowstuff, fading away.
> "About fucking time." Shiro spits on the ground where the larger part of his enemy disolved towards.
* Hikari dismounts, walks over to Shiro. "Messy but effective. A good warm-up, no?"
> "Yeah." He shakes his head, "Well...I'm still in good shape. How about you? Up for doing something really stupid?"
<Hikari> "It would not be the first time," Hikari admits. "What did you have in mind?"
> "Well...you know my stance on deception, right?" Shiro shrugs, "And I did tell Hell Biker I'd go see him after I finished off Rider. I say we go pay him a visit. Don't go in the garage, just outside. Make him come out. Give him a test run, see what he's got for moves. Then hightail it out of there...unless we seriously think the two of us can take him."
<Hikari> "You didn't say you had to visit him *immediately* afterward, did you?" Hikari shakes her head. "I would rather not go without the entire team available to help--after all, if we fall, they're on their own, and without any knowledge of what happened to us." Hikari considers for a moment. "Are you sure you could get us away in time if it came to that?"
> Shiro nods, "He might be faster on the ground, but I'm the 'Wind Rider', remember?" He grins, "Let's see him take that bike across rooftops. Sure, he might be able to drive it up a wall, but I can leap right over the streets. Him? I'm willing to bet my life he can't."
> "It's got another purpose, too," he adds.
<Hikari> "Perhaps, but I'm not willing to bet everyone else's. If the two of us can't take him and fall somehow, we leave the others in a dreadful situation. IT's rather far to go for intelligence."
<Hikari> "Oh?"
> "We hit him now, he'll start looking for us. Means we can set up a battlefield of OUR choosing, rather then bracing him in his own lair. Hang around, wait for him to get the word. He comes to us."
<Hikari> "Well...it's not without merit...But we leave at the first sign of real danger, agreed?"
> Shiro nods, "Yeah, we take one hit and we scramble. Mostly I want to see what powers he has, help us plan."
<Hikari> "Fire and violence." Hikari makes an educated guess. "Very well, let's be on our way before I come to my senses."
> "Heh," he gets back on Red Hare and swings you up behind him. Then takes to the rooftops once again, heading back for the Hell Biker's domain...
> Taking the rooftop road, you take awhile but find the deserted area again. And rather then risk the crumbling rooftops there, Shiro lands back in the streets.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> The deserted area is much as you remember it. Despite having been here earlier that day, that's no garuntee the Dream won't change things while you're away. Or perhaps it's simply the stabilizing influance of a nearby Power at work.
> Red Hare's hoofbeats seem to slowly echo through the streets as you go, Shiro not picking up the pace for once. "You fight better on foot, or want to stay mounted for a faster escape?"
<Hikari> Pity, the place could use some more life. Well, maybe it'll improve once the current landlord's been dealt with. "Mounted," Hikari says. "This is for advanced intllegence, isn't it? The opportunity for escape must take priority."
> "Got it." Shiro nods, "And just as a warning, if I say it's time to go and start running, don't bother attacking and just hold on for dear life. I might have to get fancy with the escape. Fancy by Mike's standards."
<Hikari> "This was your idea," Hikari reminds him. "IF anyone calls for retreat, I expect it to be me. Let's get on with it."
> You continue on, navigating the same path through the streets as before until the abandoned parking garage is looming before you.
> Red Hare stops, Shiro having no intention of going inside. Taking a moment to stretch and take a deep breath, "Got anything you want to say to this guy before I call him out?"
* Hikari summons Brynhildr. "Nothing that is better expressed in words."
> "Got it." Shiro raises his voice and calls out, "Hey, Biker! Hell Rider's been axed, so here I am."
> There's a short silence...and then you hear the dim rumble of a motor. A motor that sounds like the screams of the damned.
> The rumble gets louder and louder...and a headlight can be seen approaching from the darkness of the parking garage. It draws closer...until Hell Biker rides out into the open.
* Hikari takes this stray moment to wonder what exactly he does down there when he's not riding down other Powers.
> Putting one foot down to stop his bike, the DEATH Power speaks, "I will give you one more chance to tell me who, if not Messaiah, gave you your Personas. Speak truely and you will leave here alive."
* Hikari considers this for a moment. "Witty commentary is not my area of expertise. Pretend Mike was here saying something snarky with an inscrutable cultural reference and we'll proceed."
> Shiro chuckles.
> Hell Biker shakes his head, "So be it then." And flames roar to life around his wheels.
> (OOC: Thaaaaaat's init)
> roll 2d8+14 Hell Biker init
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8+14 Hell Biker init and gets 22."12 [2d8=5, 3]
> roll 2d8+11 Shiro Init
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8+11 Shiro Init and gets 20."12 [2d8=2, 7]
<Hikari> roll 2d8+11 that is a lot of init
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8+11 that is a lot of init and gets 21."12 [2d8=2, 8]
> 4INIT ORDER: Hell Biker > Hikari > Shiro
> The screeching of damned souls grows louder as the Biker revs his engine and the flames from the wheels erupt to cover his entire machine! Peeling out from a full stop, he guns it and attempts to ram directly into Red Hare!
> roll 2d8 vs 14 he wants to take you for a ride
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 14 he wants to take you for a ride and gets 11."12 [2d8=4, 7]
> roll 2d8 vs 9 Shiro defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 9 Shiro defense and gets 11."12 [2d8=4, 7]
> roll 2d8 damage
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 damage and gets 15."12 [2d8=7, 8]
* Gatewalker changes topic to 'Hikari: 110/110 HP [70/80 EP], Mike: 70/70 HP [95/95 EP], Nagare: 90/90 HP [100/100 EP], Shiro: 72/140 HP [75/75 EP], Dami: 70/70 HP [175/175 EP], Carlie: 50/50 HP [75/75 EP]'
> 4INIT ORDER: Hell Biker(20 damage) > Hikari > Shiro
> The bike grazes the horse, and Hell Biker blurs off past you after his hit and run. Shiro grits his teeth from teh flaming impact, but keeps both himself and Hikari seated.
> (OOC: Hikari.)
* Hikari sends her persona racing after the Biker as he wheels away!
<Hikari> roll 2d8 vs 13 Helreio
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 vs 13 Helreio and gets 8."12 [2d8=5, 3]
> roll 2d8 vs 14 Biker defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 14 Biker defense and gets 9."12 [2d8=6, 3]
> Brynhilder gives chase, but the biker is the master of the streets and easily slide away from her charge.
> Shiro half snorts, "Alright, let's see how you handle this." Like the Biker before him, Red Hare launches from a full stop into full steam ahead, only instead of charging at the Biker, he leaps up to the nearest rooftop!
> roll 2d8 jump check
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 jump check and gets 7."12 [2d8=4, 3]
> The bike turns, and Biker looks up at his quarry now far above him. "So this is to be a three dimensional battle." A chain of black fire appears in his hand, and as the bike rests on the street he whirls the chain above his head, picking up more and more speed until it appears to be a circular blur of dark flames...(Go Hikari)
<Hikari> "Seen enough yet?" Hikari mutters to Shiro. "At the very least, attempt to keep myself between him and you. Without the horse, neither of us get out of here." For now, Hikari sends Brynhildr to sap the Biker's strength...if that's possible...so that whatever-that-is stands a better chance of missing them.
<Hikari> roll 2d8 vs 13 Betrayal
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 vs 13 Betrayal and gets 12."12 [2d8=8, 4]
> roll 2d8 vs 10 defense
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 10 defense and gets 5."12 [2d8=3, 2]
> Brynhildr approaches, but Biker quickly leans to the side to avoid her strike, carefully making sure the chain gets caught neither on the ground nor the appraoching valkyrie.
> Shiro nods, "Yeah, this is enough to make a plan. Red Hare, let's move!"
> The Persona lets out a powerful neigh, then takes off running from rooftop to rooftop at breakneck speeds.
> But even as he runs, you can hear the distant echo of the Biker's voice, "GET OVER HERE!"
> And...across such a distance as to be absurd, the chain of black fire is chasing after you.
> roll 2d8 vs 10 hikari you're behind shiro on the horse so this targets you
* Hatbot --> "Gatewalker rolls 2d8 vs 10 hikari you're behind shiro on the horse so this targets you and gets 5."12 [2d8=3, 2]
<Hikari> roll 2d8 vs 8
* Hatbot --> "Hikari rolls 2d8 vs 8 and gets 7."12 [2d8=1, 6]
> From nowhere Brynhildr appears, and slashes the chain as it is mere inches from Hikari's back!
> Shiro doesn't have the energy to spare to look back to see what happened, he only knows Hikari is still holding on so he keeps running, "I'm making for the Food Court! Let's see if hes got the nuts to follow us into Seiryuu's domain."
* Hikari hangs on with both hands, occasionally stealing a glance back to check on their pursuit.
<Hikari> "He's already killed one Power, I wouldn't put it past him to start with another."
> (OOC: a bunch of chase rolls are about to go down. Considering it's NPC vs NPC I'm going to just roll them myself rather then clutter up chatlog with things a player has no control over)
> As Shiro takes the rooftop road, Hikari doesn't need to turn around and look for Biker. She can hear him, the roaring motorcycle making a very distinctive sound. But...he stays on the streets. If he can drive that thing up walls, he's choosing not to.
> Occasionally looking down you can see the Biker gaining ground. Slowly but surely. Then...pulling ahead. Shiro keeps running, jumping easily from rooftop to rooftop, between buildings and even over streets as needed without trouble.
* Hikari wonders how much collateral roadkill is progressing down below them. "He's ahead of us," she points out. "It may be time to consider another route."
> Until the Hell Biker roars forward...and Shiro begins to run out of roof. Ahead is a major street, at least 8 lanes wide. And Biker has just pulled into the middle of it, revving his engine and waiting for Red Hare to hit the ground.
> Shiro grins, "Yeah, we'll see about that."
> Red Hare charges off the roof, and Shiro draws his spear, "HOLD ON!" Twisting around in the air, Red Hare spins so Shiro faces the building you just dove off of...and Shiro slams his spear into it, the ball of wind gathered at the tip striking the building...and sending Red Hare FLYING inthe opposite direction. Over the street.
> and clear over Hell Biker's head.
> Managing to get control just in time, Shiro grabs the ledge of the rooftop on the other side of the street, then pulls himself, the horse, and Hikari all up at once.
* Hikari does indeed hang on, hopefully not with quite so much strength that Shiro stops breathing, but it's hard to concentrate on that given the circumstances.
> From here, the Food COurt is in sight. And as you keep going that way, Hikari can see Hell Biker slow and stop the pursuit.
<Hikari> "Good enough," Hikari says. "Or at least there are just some fights he's not ready for yet."
> Shiro doesn't respond until you land in the food court. Where he proptly falls off Red Hare onto the ground, breathing heavily.
* Hikari staggers off as well, more than glad to be back on terra firma. "What is the saying? Any landing you can walk away from...?"
> "Yeah...haha...ha...man. That guy...hits...HARD." Shiro is half laughing and half panting with that observation, while some Shadows hanging out in the Food Court eye the pair of you curiously.
<Hikari> "As expected." Hikari stumbles in little circles until the world stops spinning. "We need...something to protect us against fire if we're to make another attempt. I don't know how or where to find that, or what it might be, but..."
> "Yeah. Me and Mike are about screwed. Still...I've got an idea of how he fights now. We can make a plan. And maybe that Master Frost dude will know how to defend against fire? Sounds like he might have to do it himself sometimes from the name, right?"
<Hikari> "Yes...Yes, I'll suggest that to the others next time all of us meet."
> He nods, then pulls himself off the ground and dismisses Red Hare, "Sounds like a plan. Hey, you had dinner yet? I haven't eaten since breakfast, so I'm gonna grab something while I'm here."
<Hikari> "Well, I suppose it wouldn't be a proper date without dinner, would it?" Hikari says quietly. In a normal tone: "Certainly."
> Considering the lack of reaction, Shiro probably didn't hear the first part, as he's busy looking around the foodcourt. "Cool. Let's see...chupaqueso...too heavy after that. Kabobs? Eeeh...still have no idea what a 'geen' or a 'toopna' are. Melon riceballs...that looks safe enough."
> "Melon riceballs sound good? Or do you want to try the mystery meat kabobs?"
<Hikari> "There's only one way to find out, isn't there?" Hikari says. "I am feeling adventurous. I believe I will discover what a 'geen' is, for our mutual enlightenment."
> The kabob vendor is....a floating cloud with mass of snakes on top of it. The snakes seem to be able to use thier mouths like hands fairly easily though, as you see the thing turning kabobs on a grill. "Yesssss? You like kabob? Geen or toopna?"
> Shiro walks over there with you, "You try one, I'll try the other?"
<Hikari> "Geen?" Hikari requests.
> "I'll try the toopna then." Shiro pays for the kabobs and one of the snakes hands each of you a different stick with meat on it.
> Geen meat is apparently light green in color.
<Hikari> "I hesitate to remind myself what meat this color would indicate back on our side," Hikari says, before bravely taking a bite.
> Hikari gets a very slight static shock as she bites into the meat. And...as she chews, it almost tingles, like the meat itself has a charge in it. The flavor isn't bad, but it's not really great either. Heavily spiced and a little overcooked.
> But the electric texture doesn't go away, it's in every bite.
> Shiro takes a bite of his as well...and looks at it oddly, "It looks normal...but it tastes like eating burnt water. That doesn't even sound like it makes sense, but that's the only way I can describe it."
<Hikari> "Electric eel?" Hikari speculates for her own. She reaches up to see if her hair is standing on end.
> It's not, but as you run your hand through your hair it clings to your hand like hair does to staticy things.
> Shiro shrugs, "I asked this guy awhile back what geen and toopna were, and he just looked at me like I has asked him what a cow was and went 'it's geen and toopna!'"
<Hikari> "Hmm. Perhaps we're better off not knowing."
> "Probably. So long as it's not soylent green, you know?"
<Hikari> "I don't know what that means," Hikari admits, "so I'll assume it's worse."
> "Something from an old movie my old man liked to watch. Dystopian future, overpopulation, all that crap. Suddenly some miracle food comes out and solves all the problems. Turns out it's made from people." Shiro doesn't seem phased thinking about that as he takes another bite of his kabob.
* Hikari nods, and continues eating. Having just fought an incarnation of death, her standards for being disturbed are somewhat more elevated than anything a movie could produce.
> "You know, before if I'd gotten fire rammed like that, I'd have at least flinched. I mean, it hurt like a bitch, don't get me wrong. And the guy just grazed me at that, but I might not have reacted so fast." Shiro takes another bite, "But after awhile ago, hits stopped hurting as much. Think it might be that link, since the timing's right."
> "Kinda like how after I started getting that Justice Link with Garu, darkness and light attacks got the bite taken out of them." He shakes his head, "Damn weird how these things work, huh?"
<Hikari> "So I'll have to try harder when sparring from now on, is what you're saying?" Hikari wonders. "Just as well I've grown stronger too."
> "Hah, if you've been holding anything back so far, you've been doing it wrong." He shakes his head, "Nah, just kinda wondering about how this stuff works. The Personas, the links, all that crap. Funny now how school's over for me I'm starting to think like the scientist my class choices would make you think I was."
<Hikari> "Scientist, is it? I wouldn't have expected that at all. I would've expected more...well, it's hard to imagine you focusing on something that isn't physical, honestly," Hikari admits.
> "Well, I was in the robotics track. Right there with Mike, we had most of the same classes." Shiro shrugs, "Though you've got me on the physical part. My whole idea was to get into it to try and learn how to make better prosthetics then are available now. So athelets, fighters, and other people who do alot of physical stuff wouldn't just have to give up if they got fucked up too badly."
> "Turns out I'm not actually that smart. Think I passed Robotics by the skin of my ass, and InstAl...yeah." he snortts, "I didn't pass that one. I'd have better odds of surviving slapping Cerberus across the mouth then passing that class."
<Hikari> "But it would be a different kind of match if they competed with the assistance of a device, wouldn't it?" Hikari shrugs. "Reality has done a fine job of sidetracking both of us, hasn't it? You know, there are times I'm not sure what I would be doing if all of this--" she gestures around to the Dream in general, "--hadn't found me. There are times I think I owe Dami an apology."
> "Why, been holding it against him?" Shiro shrugs, "No idea who did this to me, but if I did I'd have to thank them. The idea of all this shit going on and being helpless to fight back if it came to me...you can probably guess how I feel about being helpless, huh?"
<Hikari> "I did at first," Hikari says. "It was an effort not to resort to violence on meeting him. Ever since, however, I've found being presented with so many problems gives on e astrange sense of purpose. I almost worry what I'll do when it's all over."
> "Hell, for all I know it was that Messaiah guy and the best way I could thank him now is by revoking Biker's liscence. With a spear."
<Hikari> "A whole arsenal will be needed based on what we saw today."
> Shiro nods again, "I feel that. Wonder what 'all over' is even going to mean? Are the Personas going to go away? Will we stop being able to come to the Dream?"
<Hikari> "We may be able to answer those questions sooner rather than later. We're not the first, you know--Mike found others. We've yet to communicate with them further. That should prove an interesting day. Perhaps career counseling will ensue."
> "Heh. Yeah, I'd like to hear how they handled going back to being mundane after going toe to toe with nightmare monsters." Shiro muses a bit, "Wonder if any of 'em are in the area at all? If there's anything they could do to help here?"
<Hikari> "We'll ask, of course. I can't help but imagine it playing out like war veterans returning to civilian life..."
> Shiro give you an odd look after that line...then finishes off his kabob and stands up, "Yeah... Hey, I'm gonna head back and see if Garu's got some time kick my ass around the dojo. Need to burn off some tension and can't risk heading out to trash Shadows right now."
<Hikari> "Yes. And I should head back before my sister makes too many untoward assumptions. She surely has enough of them already."
> "Well at least we've got a good reason to stick to the normal world for awhile," Shiro shrugs, "Give me a call if you want to practice more, or when you guys are calling a planning session. I'll try to work out what I think Biker's weakspot is from what we know."
* Hikari nods. "I think it a very safe assumption that it isn't fire, which leaves me rather sidelined. Ah well, we'll learn. Very quickly if necessary. We haven't much choice." Hikari nods, half turns, then pauses for the inevitable...
> Shiro finds a good spot to sit down and summon the wind. And as he does so...the color bleeds from the world. Everything except for the four large colored squares where you stood before when speaking to the Seiryuu.
> "Heh. Was wondering if that was going to happen."
> A light appears inside Hikari, and another inside Shiro. The lights slowly spiral out, and float over to the other before becoming the spinning cards.
> And as one, the voices return, 7"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Chariot Arcana." 5"Thou art I... And I am thou... Through this bond, thou shalt have the blessing of the Strength Arcana."
<Hikari> "It's amazing what one can become accustomed to," Hikari says in response.
> "It really is. Alright, catch you later." Color and movement returns to the world, and the wind finishes encircling Shiro. A moment later, he's gone.
* Hikari heads for the nearest door to go back home.
> You make it back to your dorm eventually, and as expected Aiko was waiting. She grins as you make it in, "Have fun?"
<Hikari> "Well," Hikari says, "you may observe that I am uninjured and then proceed to make your own assumptions. I could hardly stop you."
> ------------------------------------------------------------------