Arc 2 setup log: Takeshi

[Anastasia]

This is just a chance to do a bit of foreshadowing and play with Takeshi a bit. Not too much, but cameoing Reiko/Chikako and Serenity was fun.

> ---Takeshi round 1 go!---
> As summer's last breaths tickle Tokyo? As life goes on for so many people in oblivious happiness? One young man strives against what was once had and lost, what still resides in his soul. But all that is aside to his mind for now - for one thing is clear. A blustery old man, long white mustache flaring up as he yells from behind the main desk! "Bellhop! Eiryo! This lady needs service now!" (More)
> Said women is as broad as a football field and smells like the jocks that play on it. But hey, she drips money and a haughty expression, so she ranks service here!  As she pats her tiny lapdog held in her sausage like arms, "Now!" Behind her are at least ten suitcases, bulging and heavy. Oh BOY. At least it's nearly 9 PM and quitting time for the day.
* Takeshi barely manages to hide his grimace, but starts loading up with the suitcases. "Yessir," he replies as he comes out with the baggage cart. Even WITH a cart... what is this woman doing, hauling around lead bricks?
> A good question. She deigns not to pay attention to you in the least, instead, "Come on, Foofy-chan. Momma will get you a steak for dinner!" As she lavishes attention on her silly dog she goes up,e xpecting you to keep pace to the elevators - all the way across the lobby, too!
* Takeshi does the best he can to keep the cart under control as he hurries across the tiled lobby after the woman - it wasn't meant to carry half a ton of luggage all at the same time, and he's pretty sure this load's got to be getting close to that.
> As you reach the elevator at last, it's just opening up. As your dearly hated customer pets her dog, a few people come out of the elevator. A very well dressed group, chattering admit themselves. Very dressy, tuxedos and nicely kept dresses. Most aren't of note, but one in particular catches your eye. She's very pretty - black hair that hangs to her waist, a form fitting dark blue evening gown and clutch purse. Violet eyes stare ahead of this woman, perhaps in her thirties butw ell taken care of. For some reason she glances at you, the faintest, strange feeling. Something...familiar?
> Violet eyes stare ahead of this woman, perhaps in her thirties butw ell taken care of. For some reason she glances at you, the faintest, strange feeling. Something...familiar?
* Takeshi narrows his eyes slightly at the chill that runs down his spine, but he tries not to pay TOO much overt attention to the woman that's drawn his attention. Staring at the customers would probably get him in trouble.
> She lingers a bit, frowning as her tongue plays over her lips. "Excuse me," she decides at last, "...no, nevermind." Firming up and turning, "Sorry to distract you, just had a silly thought."
* Takeshi simply nods in acknowledgement to the woman. "It's all right," he murmurs back, turning his attention back to his current linebacker... er, customer.
> So she goes off, and the elevator goes up! Five minutes later it's mercifully done. As you do, "Oh, tell room service to send up the food fast," she adds on. "Chop chop!"
<Takeshi> "Yes, ma'am." Takeshi does the expected and stands with his palm out for a few moments hopefully, although he's not too enthused about the prospect of getting a tip from THIS one.
> She looks on with thinly veiled disgust, turning her back with a little hmph. "Come on, Foofy. Let's get you a nice pillow and perfume. I think his smell rubbed off..."
<Takeshi> "I'd hope so," Takeshi mutters under his breath as he heads back down to the lobby. Maybe the chef will do him a little favor and make her room service extra slow, if he's lucky...
> On going back to the lobby, you find a surprise - the woman you talked to is still there, along with another woman. This one has aqua blue hair, the two locked in chat, the blue one wearing a nice blue belle gown. They're off in a corner, sure chatting about something!
* Takeshi glances over at the pair but doesn't intrude, not really wanting to attract any more attention than he already has. He heads back to the front counter for now, waiting for the next customer to require his services. Hopefully they'll smell better than the last one did, at least.
> They're having a spirited chat, but they don't bother you again. On coming out from the kitchen(Success!), they're gone. Your boss doesn't let up, "Eiryo!" he calls, looming in his formal bell hop outfit.
<Takeshi> "Yessir!" Takeshi replies, snapping to attention. He's good at THAT, if nothing else.
> "Ten minutes left...mmmph. Go help the cooking staff empty the grease collectors, they're short tonight." So waving, "You're done after that."
<Takeshi> "Yes, sir," Takeshi replies, trying to hide a grimace of distaste. Grease stains on his uniform will NOT be easy to get out. Resigned to his task, he heads for the kitchens.
> A half hour later it's done. Ugh. The entire stupid chore is messy and bothersome, but at least it's over! Time to ride home, the Moon out and full tonight. Through a few quiet neighborhoods and cutthroughs, as well as some busy streets.
* Takeshi takes a deep breath as he goes, enjoying the cool evening air blowing past his face as he heads for home. At least he doesn't have to deal with bosses or annoying customers here - it's just him and the night air of Tokyo.
> A long, narrow street. It has a lot of connecting alleys and pathsways, a neighborhood pass. Over a bit of fence there is a park, the Moonlight shining incandensely down. On the far side of it, near another street and passing through like a ghost - she seems to radiate light. Her body is perfect, glimpsed only a moment.  But what a moment! Takeshi cannot remember much beyond her beauty and a strange sense of conflicted peace, but then she is gone. Gone down and away, seen only the barest second.
* Takeshi screeches to a halt, pausing to look in the direction of the apparition for a few moments before pedaling over to where he saw it appear. 'What the heck WAS that?'
> The light of the full Moon glows, the park nearly turned into a silvery dreamscape before Takeshi blinks it away. A woman - you can't even remember her clothes, but the sight of her makes your heart ache.
* Takeshi shudders slightly, not sure what about the figure is making him feel so strange. Abruptly, he turns his bicycle towards home, putting a bit more effort than usual towards getting home at speed - not that he's spooked, not at all! But all the same, best to get home.
> Aaah, home! A foster family that feeds his stomach and smiles, but they're just...polite. Distant. Away. But atl east it's to his room, a chance for Takeshi tot hink.
* Takeshi changes out of his uniform rather quickly - damn thing is starchy, stuffy, and altogether uncomfortable. Stretching out on his bed, he stares at the ceiling as he mulls over the events of the evening. First that odd woman at the hotel, then that ghostly-looking lady on the way home - just a day for extreme weird.
> A plain, ratehr uninteresting room. The bed is nice and there are windows, but really, it doesn't hold that much yet. So Takeshi relaxes, letting his mind work. (OOC - Feel free to monologue if you like, otherwise we're good with this opening scene.)
* Takeshi lets the thoughts move past one another for a while, finally letting both settle as he drops into a light sleep (as usual).

[Halbarad]

[14:42] <@Kotono> ----Arc 2 setup Takeshi go---
[14:48] <@Kotono> The brisk wind of fall blows. Takeshi can feel it as he bikes along from school. Relative freedom today - little homework, no job and less obligations. The only fly in the ointment is that he's HUNGRY. Missing lunch by misfortune sucked, and he's ready to go home or go somewhere to eat. As he pedals out of school, he notices that a girl in a cute maid costume is going about, passing out flyers. "Crown Arcaaaaaade!" she yells, cute brown ha
[14:50] <@Kotono>  cute brown hair tied back into a ponytail. "Crown Fruits Parlor! Free small drink with every large ice cream sundae special, just today! Free snack packs with every order!"
[14:50] <@Kotono> A few students swarm around her, some taking flyers and some just listening before striking off. Stil,l the word free is being said pretty much every other sentance by the girl.
[14:51] * +Takeshi heads over to check out the arcade, making sure to lock his bike to something before he heads inside to check it out. While he doesn't have a LOT of money, it helps if what little he has will go further. Bit chilly for ice cream, but he'll manage.
[15:12] <@Kotono> The arcade is on the first floor, and there is an outside stair access to the second floor parlor. Nice stuff - the arcade promises entertainment, and the parlor promises food.
[15:13] * +Takeshi heads up to the parlor first - food is good, lack of lunch bad.
[15:20] <@Kotono> It's busy today! A few girls take orders amid booths, and there is a bar as well. The smell of food is strong - Takeshi's stomach rumbles like the windy caves of oblivion.
[15:26] * +Takeshi grimaces at the thunderous rumbles of his stomach - everyone in the place must be able to hear him. He heads up to the bar, trying to catch someone's attention to take his order.
[15:29] <@Kotono> A cute girl with green hair does just that. "Hiya," she nods, "Just a sec!" She's talking to the girl next to you, a knockout raven haired girl with a killer body. Her T*A uniform is just that in so many ways, as she idly sips at a glass of water as she waits. Her fingers drum, a look of bored annoyance on h er face.
[15:32] * +Takeshi gives the girl an appraising look, then nods to her as he waits for the waitress to finish her chat.
[15:36] <@Kotono> "Mmmm. Strawberry swirl shake," The black haired girl orders, head resting on her hands as she glances over at Takeshi. She looks him over and twice, not very interested - even if she does make you weak kneed and your breath coming oddly. Maybe...she's really just that pretty?
[15:37] * +Takeshi tries not to stare too overtly, taking a deep breath. 'Keep it under control, Eiryo,' he growls to himself mentally.
[15:41] <@Kotono> "Mmmm." Flicking at a straw wrapper in distinct boredom as she waits, the waitress comes for Takeshi's order - although the other girl is good for getting your attention, too. Th way her breathing makes her chest rise up and down, as...but it's strange. You just feel weird around her.
[15:42] * +Takeshi shakes his head a bit, trying to clear the odd sensation as he gives his order to the waitress for a sundae - with all the promised freebies, hopefully.
[15:45] <@Kotono> OOC - Mind check, I suppose.
[15:45] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6
[15:46] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6
[15:46] * +Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 6." [2d6=1, 5]
[15:56] <@Kotono> Just...a strange shivering. She looks ever so faintly faintly familiar, but then again, perhaps it's just wishful thinking. As you get your order - sunade, drink and free drink/chips, "Bored," the beautiful girls asks distracted.
[16:00] * +Takeshi blinks a couple of times, trying to get rid of the odd sensation. "Mmm," Takeshi grunts noncommittally. "More hungry than bored," he replies, his somewhat rough voice still sounding bored all the same.
[16:02] <@Kotono> It very slowly tingles away, breathing still a little fast. "Mmm. Juuban," she asks absently, watching the waitresses scurry about in complete uninterest.
[16:03] <+Takeshi> "Yeah," Takeshi replies briefly. "Transferred in a little while back."
[16:04] <@Kotono> "Yeah? I have a couple of friends that go there," So noting as her shake comes, taken with both hands and then sipped out of, "Mmm. You don't know a Tsukino, do you?"
[16:11] <+Takeshi> "Not offhand, although I haven't been there very long," Takeshi admits.
[16:26] <@Kotono> "Mm. Oh." Sip-sip she goes, distractly slurping it on down. "You'll know her if you ever see her - blonde hair in twin ponytails, long as mine."
[16:30] <+Takeshi> "I'll keep an eye out for her," Takeshi replies, raising an eyebrow slightly - odd that she'd point out a friend to him. Maybe. Maybe that odd feeling from her is just making him think a bit weird.
[16:31] <@Kotono> "Yeah. Think she's between boyfriends right now," she chuckles in amusement, "Or not, I'm not sure. But anyway, her name Usagi Tsukino."
[16:52] * +Takeshi chuckles dryly. "I'll keep that in mind if I get into the market," he says with a slight grin. "Probably a bit early for that, still getting used to the place for now."
[16:56] <@Kotono> "Never too early to start," Rei adds easily, stretching back with a sloooow,s ensous move. After she tosses her hair - tossing her head back, making her raven locks fly like pure black gold. This stirs something in you - you still don't know what, but your palms are sweaty and your chest is tight.
[16:59] * +Takeshi takes a sip from his drink to conceal the dry mouth he just found himself with. The girl in front of him is definitely TRYING to show off, but damned if he'll let himself be controlled THAT easily. "Eh, I prefer to take things slow at first," he hedges. "Get a feel for the lay of the land, that kind of thing."
[17:19] <@Kotono> "Heh, heh. Tell her that old Rei-chan sent you as a ...mmm. Call it a donation." Tossing her hair againb efore she goes back to gently mouthing down pure strawberry bliss, "Do that if you ever meether."
[17:20] <+Takeshi> "I'll mention I saw you," Takeshi says with a slight smile. Something going on there, certainly, but God only knows what. He shakes his head a bit before turning back to his food.
[17:22] <@Kotono> It's pretty good - but Rei isn't done talkign. As you scarf down ice cream and soda, "Mmmmm. Say," Rei speaks up again after perhaps three minutes, eyes sidelong looking your way.
[17:22] <+Takeshi> "Hmm?" The dark-haired young man glances up at his temporary companion.
[17:27] <@Kotono> Her eyes happen to meet yours! A lock of moment and of fate, Takeshi's skin crawling! OOC - Mind check agian.
[17:27] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6
[17:27] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6
[17:27] * +Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=2, 5]
[17:29] <@Kotono> A flash of memory, a fragment. It makes Takeshi's spirit freeze and burn in the only way it can when confronted with it's dark secret. Something about this girl...as she frowns deeply. "...hey, you alright," she says, "You look like you zonked out a moment."
[17:30] * +Takeshi can FEEL the color draining from his face as fragments of memory surface - fragments that he'd really, REALLY rather not deal with. And why the hell with this girl? "Uh?" Takeshi says, caught off guard.
[12:27] <@Kotono> "Yeah. Million miles away." Rei goes back to her drink, "If you're alright...?"
[12:28] <+Takeshi> "I think I need to get going, actually," Takeshi replies, sounding rather hoarse. Leaving the remains of his food in place - all of a sudden, he doesn't have much of an appetite - he stumbles for the exit rather quickly.
[12:30] <@Kotono> "Huh," Rei blinks as Takeshi goes off, the faintest memories stirring in his soul. So he stumbles out into the glorious fall, mind ajumble and struggling.
[12:31] * +Takeshi quickly scrapes his bearings together, unlocking his bicycle and heading out as fast as his legs can take him - not really paying attention to where, as long as it's away from HERE.

[Halbarad]

> ---Yet more Arc 2 setup go!---
> Sunday afternoon in the early fall! So much time has passed in peace, so it's easy for Usagi to lose track of things. Like the time or Mom rapping insistently on Usagi's door! "USagi!"
<Usagi> "Yes?" the blonde calls, currently engrossed in reading manga as she lays on her bed.
> "I've called you twice! Get down here!" Uh oh! Mom sounds quite annoyed; nay, she's pissed.
<Usagi> "Uh... sorry?" the blonde replies, somewhat non-plussed. If she didn't hear it, it clearly never happened! Still, ever the dutiful daughter, Usagi shifts up and off her bed, and pads over to leave her room and see what all the fuss is about.
> Mom is waiting, arms crossed and foot atappin' as her daughter exits her room. Barely does the door have a chance to shut when, "Usagi, I want you to go to the supermarket and pick me up a few things for dinner, since I'm stuck here. Your Dad's not feeling good, so I'm going to be busy with that."
<Usagi> "Okay," Usagi shrugs, not sure that a shopping trip warranted this sort of fuss. "What do you want me to get?"
> Fishing into her dress pocket, a sheet of paper is withdrawn. It's thrust at Usagi, and written on it is, "Eggs, milk, three boxes of long noodles, carrots, celery, calpis, diet soda."
* Usagi nods and pockets the list before extending her hand once more in expectation of the funds required for this purchase.
> Money comes - just enough, really. "Bring me back the change," Mom adds as an afterthought, tapping her foot still.
* Usagi frowns a little at that addendum. Oh, well, her part time job means she doesn't need the extra money that much, anyway. "Back in a little bit," she smiles at her mother, and with that, the perky and cute high school girl bounces down the stairs and into her shoes, before heading out the door to do her shopping!
> Bounces indeed! Usagi's grown up, as the boys that look at her on the walk there can attest to! A long walk today - past her normal supermarket, closed this week for repairs. To one a little farther out - a familiar place. Once a battle was here, a crater made and a date ruined. But in this weather and in this peace, it's easy to overlook the side buildings and history, and instead head inside.
* Usagi carries herself confidently through the streets of Juuban, smiling easily at the glances she recieves. Besides, it is a pleasant walk - she wasn't exactly doing anything important at home, and the weather's nice... Barely even registering the site of the once so vital battle, Usagi cheerfully heads into the supermarket to get her groceries.
> Ooooh! This is kind of cool! Bottles of diet soda are arraigned in a pyramid shape near one of the front aisles, a few 'wet floor' signs about but otherwise nothing of note. People come and go but your first item of purchase looks like a slam dunk!
* Usagi suppresses a giggle. Every time she sees one of those, she always wants to charge a shopping cart right into it... Luckily she's above indulging in such acts, but the thought still amuses. Grabbing a basket, since she isn't getting that much, the blonde begins to work her way through the aisles, grabbing all the items on Ikkuko's list.
> OOC - Body check -1.
<Usagi> roll 2d6-1
* Hatbot --> "Usagi rolls 2d6-1 and gets 11."12 [2d6=6, 6]
> Kyaaaaaah! Usagi barely has tim eto react as she passes by the diet soda pyramid! Her feet slip out from unde rher, a tiny wet patch sabotaging her efforts at walking! Her basket flies out of her hand, hitting the middle of the soda bottles! As Usagi lands on her back(1 damage,) soda bottles rain down around her in a rolling mess! OW OW OW! (1 more damage.)
> Spectators look on in utter shock, many demure shoppers staring. One of the cashiers sighs, calling, "Page Eiryo to clean up on aisle 6!"
<Usagi> "Ahhhh!" Usagi shrieks as she's buried under an avalanche of poorly stacked diet soda! Those things hurt!
> Indeed they do! You're in a sea of shaken soda, buried and bruised! (1 more damage to make it an even three. Poor rabbit.)
* Usagi simply whimpers in pain as she lays in an undignified heap, soda bottles strewn all about. At least none burst so she remains mostly dry except for the effect of the wet floor, but... "Owww!" she moans dazedly, rubbing at some of her assorted bruises as she distractedly pushes her skirt down so it will preserve her modesty as she rights herself.
* Takeshi quickly hurries over to the sound of the commotion - he had a feeling someone was going to knock that stupid stack over. Quickly surveying the situation, he quickly shifts the bottles away from the stunned blonde girl in the middle of the pile, offering a hand to help her up. "You okay?"
<Usagi> Said blonde gratefully accepts the hand, gingerly rising to her feet and blushing horribly. She's somewhat short, though well proportioned for her size, looking to be in her late teens - a simple white sweater and dark blue skirt garb her lithe frame, the short hem of the latter showing off a pair of trim and athletic legs as she shakily stands.
<Usagi> "Thanks..." she mutters, chagrin clear even as she manages to give Takeshi a cute and disarming smile. "I'm really sorry about that!"
* Takeshi gives the blonde a slight smile in return. "Sorry about that - had one of the bottles blow up this morning and it's been slick from the mopping ever since." He looks over the mess to see if he's at least been lucky on THAT account this time - restacking the arrangement is going to be enough of a pain itself.
> Small luck - no spilled over or burst bottles. Just a lot of shaken ones and a thumped up blonde.
<Usagi> "Yeah... I was being careful, but my feet just went away from me... sorry..." Usagi squeaks, uncomfortably aware of all the eyes on her. This sure isn't as nice as when people were looking at her, earlier!
* Retrieving #evildunes modes...
<Takeshi> "You going to be okay?" Takeshi asks, giving her a once-over - for apparent injuries, really! She's certainly not hard on the eyes, though, which makes it not an unpleasant task. "Don't worry about the mess - I'm just surprised it hasn't happened BEFORE now." He straightens up, his shoulders slumping as he surveys the scattering of bottles all over the floor. "Guess I know what I'M doing this afternoon, at least."
<Takeshi> With a last glance at the blonde, he bends over to his task. His athletic frame makes little protest, his shoulder-length brown ponytail swinging as he scoops up three or four bottles at a time to get them out of the walkway.
<Usagi> Guilt wars with the desire to flee with what little dignity she may still have. Guilt wins. "Here, let me help!" the blonde blurts out, moving to assist in gathering up the bottles her tumble scattered.
> With all these bottles it does look like it'll take a bit, Usagi can note. Further, it's still just a little slippery about.
<Takeshi> "That's all right, you don't have to," Takeshi replies, stacking the bottles next to the base of the display for now. "It's what I get paid for, anyway." Notably, however, he makes no move to halt the blonde's efforts.
<Usagi> "Really, it's the least I can do..." Usagi responds brightly as she begins to gather up bottles and place them next to where Takeshi put his. "Haven't klutzed out that badly in ages..." she mutters under her breath in a more sour tone.
* Takeshi glances over at his 'assistant', raising an eyebrow at the comment - although he doesn't reply to it directly. "Eh. Accidents happen, probably should have come back with a dry mop anyway." He shakes his head, looking a bit put out.
<Usagi> "Well, it wouldn't have happened if the floor had been dry to begin with," Usagi can't resist that observation, before just sighing. "Bleah... anyway, I'm Usagi Tsukino," she ducks her head in a perfunctory bow to go with her introduction before resuming her work.
<Takeshi> "Takeshi Eiryo," Takeshi replies, nodding in counterpoint to Usagi's introduction. With most of the bottles out of the way, he finally settles down crosslegged at the foot of the former display, beginning the slow and tedious process of restacking the bottles. Hopefully in a way that WON'T be quite so easily knocked over this time.
<Usagi> Having actually got all the bottles collected, Usagi doesn't chance her luck by assisting in the restacking - she'd certainly botch that. "Again, I'm really sorry, Eiryo-san," she bows once more, this time properly, before she turns and flees. She can do her shopping at a place where she didn't just humiliate herself.
<Takeshi> "It's really... okay," Takeshi trails off as the pigtailed blonde disappears in a hurry. Not that he can blame her, really. With a shake of his head, he simply gets back to the job ahead of him.

[Halbarad]

[22:40] <@Anastasia> ---Arc 2 setup go!---
[22:46] <@Anastasia> Aaah, home. In this late fall weather Takeshi has little to do. He's at his new home - it's not bad, really. Nicely middle class, but there's just not much to do. There's the living room with it's TV and some old magazines floating on the coffee table, a small butslightly barren room of entertainment.
[22:47] * +Takeshi flips on the TV in boredom, taking the time to do... well, nothing. It has its merits, certainly, especially after that LAST job. Sheesh.
[22:48] <@Anastasia> There's really not much of interest on at first. There's a TV news station just finishing the middle of the news, which means it's time for the fluff and lighter stuff, and a few animes, as well as a cooking show.
[22:49] * +Takeshi figures he'll leave it on the news for a few minutes, then see if there's anything of interest among the anime. Cooking can take a hike.
[23:03] <@Anastasia> A few commercials, then, "Remember the past? Old trends, flashes in the pans and mysteries. This is today's flashback report. Today: The Juuban Angels."
[23:04] <+Takeshi> "Angels?" Takeshi murmurs to himself, raising an eyebrow. Probably some sort of hospital volunteer group or something.
[23:06] <@Anastasia> "A strange series of events," AT first a few blurry pictures. A girl in a short skirt...you don't get a good look at all. "Called 'extreme cosplayers' at the time, they have had pictures taken of them. These strange girls," What comes next makes Takeshi's breath freeze in his throat. A girl in a familiar uniform flies, wings of electricity on hr back. "These sightings are unexplained, such as this girl helping people out of a burning ap
[23:11] <@Anastasia> apartment building."
[23:12] * +Takeshi freezes in his seat, his attention now totally riveted on the TV. Scarcely daring to breathe, he continues to watch the report...
[23:13] <@Anastasia> "These girls appeared mainly in the summer of 1992 and shortly thereafter. While there have been scattered reports since then, the majority of incidents were then." One of a blue haired girl, stabbed and bloodied. "Including some things written off as 'stunts'. Were they? There is currently no solid information on these mysterious girls, but a small fan movement has occured at times."
[23:15] * +Takeshi glances down at his hands, now clenched tightly in his lap, the knuckles white. He can almost see the blood on them again... blood everywhere... laughing, laughing at the carnage around him...
[23:16] <@Anastasia> So the report ends, now, "ANd now, today's brighter side. This cat and this penguin were locked in a car trunk..."
[23:21] * +Takeshi doesn't even hear the rest of the report, flashes of memory having taken over his conscious thought processes. Liveried soldiers falling en masse, a horde of monsters cutting them down where they stand. Marble halls, the floors slick with the blood of the fallen. Jadeite and Zoicite behind, as they turn a corner, a flash of white and then--
[23:21] <+Takeshi> The vision ends abruptly, Takeshi returning to his senses with an abrupt gasp. Who ARE those girls, and what exactly do his memories mean? All he can remember is a name that still strikes an icy claw of terror in his heart - Metallia - and the names of his three friends, of a few memories bright and cheerful with them - and of the rapine in the marble palace.
[23:31] <@Anastasia> The TV goes on during this, paying no heed to the crisis of Takeshi. Only his memories - his beautifully cursed memories, bubbling up in light of something that could never be seen again, could it?
[23:34] <+Takeshi> "How..." Takeshi mumbles to himself, turning his hands over to look at his palms. "Why here?" he rasps. First that girl at the ice cream parlor, now this... He glances up at the TV again briefly, although there's no real help there. Maybe coming to Juuban WASN'T such a good idea... but there's no way out now unless he's willing to get himself stuck in one of the bunkhouses, and that's flatly OUT.
[23:35] <+Takeshi> Finally coming to a decision, he stands, heading out of the house with barely a word to his foster parents - he really needs some time to think, and hopefully a change of scenery will help keep his thoughts from running around in circles the way they are now.
[23:39] <@Kotono> To the park Takeshi goes. It's not an even path in the late afternoon, but it's where he ends up. HIs thoughts swarm his awareness, making everyone he passes merely a party note of little importance. The park and it's green paths and trees, benches and play grounds...
[23:40] * +Takeshi heads for the leafy trails, figuring that there's likely to be the least amount of traffic on those - yowling kids don't exactly contribute to his feelings of wellbeing in the best of times, and this is far from the best of times.
[23:42] <@Kotono> They're mostly quiet right now - a few walkers, but most are content leaving you alone. Bits of sunlight penetrate, but the path is mostly a tree filled respite from the concrete of Tokyo.
[23:44] * +Takeshi takes a seat in the shade a few feet off the path - not out of sight, but far enough that the few folks out for a stroll aren't likely to bother him much. His shoulders slump as he tries to sort through the jumble of memories in his head that are his and yet aren't, all at once.
[23:48] <@Kotono> In this mess one comes to the fore - hazy and long ago. A marble palace of perfect splendor, a Queen beyond reproach, loyal soldiers fighting...The image won't leave his mind easily, lingering there.
[23:49] <+Takeshi> For once, Takeshi doesn't try to make it go away - closing his eyes, he knits his brow as he attempts to focus on the image, fixing it in his mind as much as he can, trying to get all the details from it that he possibly can.
[23:53] <@Kotono> OOC - Mind check.
[23:55] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6 burning 20 EP for mind
[23:55] * +Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 burning 20 EP for mind and gets 10." [2d6=5, 5]
[23:57] <@Kotono> No good. IT's lost in a haze of blood and flames, the ransake of Metallia raging on in long distant memory.
[23:59] * +Takeshi takes a deep sigh, doing his best to hold on to the few fragments he did get. If these 'angels' have been spotted around Juuban before... it may not be the last he's heard of this. At least on the plus side, he might have a chance of finding some real answers about his memories, if these 'cosplayers' have as much to do with them as they seem to.
[00:05] * +Takeshi lays back on the grass, his arms folded behind his head as he stares up at the clouds scudding across the sky. 'Maybe that girl's got something to do with them...?' he muses. 'Might be why she brought all that back... damn, I must have looked nearly crazy taking off like that.' He shakes his head a bit.
[00:08] <+Takeshi> A few moments' thought brings the girl's name back to mind - Rei - although on reflection, that's probably not going to be much help unless he sees her again. She'd also talked about a friend of hers... that didn't have a boyfriend, but... damn. The panic from that afternoon is making it hard to remember much more than that about what she said.
[00:10] <+Takeshi> "Going to have to keep that under control," he mutters to himself, thinking back to his reaction. If there are people or things here in Juuban that are going to bring up memories, he'd better be ready for them. No telling exactly HOW the girl was related to his memory, after all - she could have been an 'ally' in that horrible slaughterhouse. Best to stay on his guard until he's got a better grasp of the fundamentals of the situation.
[00:12] * +Takeshi finally sits up, a small smile on his face. He may not be any closer to understanding what the hell his memories are, but the simple fact that he could be on the trail of finding out gives him a sense of purpose. Maybe he won't find out what it is that's locked up in the vaults of his mind, but... well, looking for it gives him something to do, at least.
[00:15] <+Takeshi> Standing with a grimace, he realizes that he's going to have to juggle his time better, now - getting an apartment is still up there on the agenda, and it's sure as hell not going to pay for itself. Work will still have to be top priority, but maybe in his free time he can try to run down more information on the Juuban Angels.
[00:15] <+Takeshi> With a grunt he finally stands, a bit more vigor in his step as he heads off again - although not for home just yet. As long as he's out and about, he might as well start the hunt for the next job...

[Halbarad]

[11:19] <@Kotono> ---Arc 2 setup go!---
[11:25] <@Kotono> Sleep. A place where dreams can come - but not fast, not today. Not merely fast, a torrent of energy and power into his mind. Tossing and turning in the images - of innocents burning up, of everything shattering.
[11:40] <@Kotono> Of the Moon? Of what? It's tearing Takeshi apart, or so close that it doesn't matter. But throughout it, one thing stabilizes Takeshi - a faint memory. A woman in the park, barely seen...
[11:44] * +Takeshi thrashes around in the bed, his face a mask of anguish, although slowly - even through the images pounding through his head - the violent struggles lessen, although pain is still stamped on the young man's features.
[11:49] <@Kotono> That image lingers the most of all. Slowly in your mind's eyes you see it - serene and beautiful. Pink hair, cascading down like a waterfall. Beautiful, so beautiful. The way her forehead glows, a dot of a cresecent moon...
[11:53] <+Takeshi> Takeshi's breathing slows a bit as the image solidifies, finally falling back into something like a peaceful sleep. Not that he's capable of conscious thought at the moment, but there is a sense of almost palpable relief as the woman's face clarifies in his mind's eye.
[11:54] <@Kotono> It lingers in Takeshi's dreams this fall night, and when he finally wakens at 4 AM? The Moon is shining down his window. He awakens to being in the late Moonlight, a nearly full moon shining on down.
[11:57] * +Takeshi comes to his senses quickly, although not in the usual state of panic that follows one of his nightmares. He stares blankly ahead, blinking at the woman's face that he can still see before him, as clear as day.
[11:59] <@Kotono> It lingers long as you stare up at the Moon. The beautiful Moon wrapped in silvery white, an aura of it's sun given glow around it. Takeshi feels good.
[12:01] * +Takeshi simply relaxes in the glow of the Moon for a few moments, staring up at its familiar cratered surface. After a few moments, however, a thought strikes him, and he quickly gets out of bed, retrieving a nearly-empty notebook from it and beginning to draw, trying to create a lasting record of the woman's face before the memory fades entirely.
[12:02] <@Kotono> OOC - Mind check here, I think, to see where you are in the ballpark for remembering it.
[12:03] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6 burning 20 EP for Mind
[12:03] <+Reikobot> Takeshi rolled : 2d6 burning 20 EP for Mind --> [ 2d6=3 ]{3}
[12:09] <@Kotono> The sketch progresses. It's a good likeness you think, a face full of hope and peace with a shining moon crescent. Looking on it, your dream feels more real, more remembered.
[12:11] * +Takeshi takes his time, frequently going back and rubbing out mistakes as he draws in the light of the waxing Moon, occasionally glancing up at it as he draws as if for inspiration. There's no telling if he'll ever get this image again, but with the way it made the nightmare lessen... it's got to be important, somehow.
[12:18] <@Kotono> OOC: Want to make a body check to see how the raw quality is, or just assume average here? I'll give you the choice on this case.
[12:18] <+Takeshi> OOC: I'll go with the check.
[12:19] <@Kotono> OOC" Body check. G'luck.
[12:19] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6 burning 20 EP for Body
[12:19] <+Reikobot> Takeshi rolled : 2d6 burning 20 EP for Body --> [ 2d6=12 ]{12}
[12:21] <@Kotono> Damn it! It's a mistake - his wrist slips. A nasty line and small tear in the page, right across her face. A rare bit of unevenhandedness, just a little screwup.
[12:22] * +Takeshi scowls, ripping the page out of the book irritably and beginning again.
[12:23] <@Takeshi> roll 2d6 for body
[12:23] * +Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 for body and gets 9." [2d6=6, 3]
[12:24] <@Kotono> It's not quite as good this time by far. There are mistakes, but you have  aworkable image. Still, the perfect or near perfect image from before is lost. It does remind you of your dream a bit, though.
[12:25] * @Takeshi frowns at the imperfect attempt - well, it's enough to start on, at least. Maybe he can refine it a bit as he goes or something, but it does at least look like the woman. Now the only question is: where the heck does he start looking for information about such a woman?

[Halbarad]

[21:59] <@Anastasia> ---Arc 2 setup oh god it's nearly over now and we can get to brass tacks tomorrow GO!---
[22:01] <@Anastasia> Aaah, home. After all the stuffl ately, getting back to your room with the information and pictures you go is quite a feat. A chance to rest and look them over, or go back out and look for more information, perhaps?
[22:04] * +Takeshi decides to review the information he has first of all - that might give him a better idea where to go from here. Safely ensconced in his room, Takeshi pulls the printed sheets from his bookbag, taking a few moments to read over the articles carefully.
[22:07] <@Anastasia> OOC - Goa head and make a mind check for reference.
[22:08] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6
[22:08] * +Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 and gets 7." [2d6=1, 6]
[22:09] <@Anastasia> The articles talk about the 'Juuban Angel'. In this case, the Sailor of Jupiter, electric wings crackling as she saves innocents from a burning apartment complex. A very good picture of it - it makes you funny inside. Stirred, restless.
[22:12] * +Takeshi frowns slightly, studying the picture. With the odd feeling, he once again pushes aside his usual instincts and reaches into his own memories, trying to (hopefully) bring up something, ANYTHING to connect with the picture more.
[22:12] <@Anastasia> OOC - Mind check again. Even since you passed the last one.
[22:14] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6 burning 10 EP for the brain!
[22:14] * +Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 burning 10 EP for the brain! and gets 5." [2d6=3, 2]
[22:16] <@Anastasia> Something about her...it's familiar. There is a sense you know her - not just from the tormented memories of your old times. Not as you saw her...wait. You saw her fight. A dim memory, an amazoness battling impossible odds? No. But closer to you, recenter.
[22:19] <+Takeshi> Takeshi's frown deepens as the memories that DO come forward aren't quite what he expects to encounter. "How the hell could I have met her EXCEPT back then..." he murmurs to himself, still turning an intent gaze on the grainy photograph.
[22:19] <@Anastasia> It's not -quite- grainy. Someone took some time to brush it up. Her long ponytail, her beautiful body. Sailor Jupiter is like a valkyrie of battle, saving a soul from fiery torment.
[22:22] <+Takeshi> "Has to be someone I've met since getting to Juuban, at least," Takeshi muses, running a finger over the image as he makes a note of the distinguishing features. "Never heard of them being anywhere ELSE in Tokyo."
[22:26] * +Takeshi thinks for a moment. So far in Juuban, two people - well, three - have caught his attention or sparked memories. The almost glowing woman in the park, who doesn't seem too likely - he never saw her all that closely. The raven-haired girl at the ice cream parlor - but then again, the hair isn't right. And the brown-haired girl at the library today, who seemed oddly interested in his own interest in the Angels. (more)
[22:26] <+Takeshi> With the last being his most likely target, he tries to recall the image of her that he'd fixed in his own mind, comparing it with the picture in the reprinted article and comparing the two.
[22:27] <@Anastasia> OOC - I'm going to mind check you again here. Amusing.
[22:27] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6 burning another 10 EP
[22:27] * +Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6 burning another 10 EP and gets 9." [2d6=6, 3]
[22:28] <@Anastasia> They are kind of alike, you think. Mmmm. Say, that brown hair...?
[22:30] * +Takeshi hmms. The hair is about right, true. Face... well, he's got a good picture of Janna's face in his mind, but the photograph here isn't showing that much. So Takeshi goes for the next obvious factor - body shape.
[22:30] <@Anastasia> OOC - I'm going to mind check you again here. +1 since you're already down the wrong trail a bit.
[22:31] <+Takeshi> roll 2d6+1 burning 10 EP for Mind
[22:31] * +Hatbot --> "Takeshi rolls 2d6+1 burning 10 EP for Mind and gets 10." [2d6=6, 3]
[22:31] <@Anastasia> ...hey! They do as well...hey! It's all coming together, isn't it?
[22:35] * +Takeshi frowns, debating. It's looking like a distinct possibility, but this is a bit too important to leave up to chance. Several minutes pass as Takeshi considers his options, then with a final nod, he rises from the bed, heading over to lock - and even brace - the door to his bedroom.
[22:35] <@Anastasia> There's a lock - not a great one, but it should work.
[22:37] * +Takeshi moves his telescope case into place as well, bracing it against the doorknob - being disturbed is not an option here.
[22:37] <@Anastasia> It fits well enough. Unless someone really tries to batter it down he should be more than safe.
[22:38] * +Takeshi takes a deep breath before continuing - he's only done this a bare handful of times before, but it is the logical next step. A moment of concentration later, and his form changes.
[22:39] <@Anastasia> So it appears - he feels different now. Stronger, mroe in control -b ut his memories are just a little closer, too.
[22:42] <+General_Nephrite> Now clad in the charcoal grey of his dreams, Nephrite sighs, concentrating as he reaches out to one of the only clear memories of his dreams. "I call upon the power of the stars," he murmurs. "Great Archer Sagittarius, show me my target!" he finishes, closing his eyes as he focuses on Janna and attempts to discern where she is now and what she's doing.
[22:49] <+General_Nephrite> roll 2d6-2 burning 20 EP for soul
[22:49] * +Hatbot --> "General_Nephrite rolls 2d6-2 burning 20 EP for soul and gets 2." [2d6=1, 3]
[22:54] <@Anastasia> A magazine? A picture of a computer, fairly technical. You can hear humming - an off beat tune as you see Janna turna page. She's at the library again? "Mmmm," she murmurs, scribbling notes. "Jun'll love that if he any of those scientists can catch up. Blech! Wonder if it's really better than...well, duh," she murmurs, "And now I'm talking to myself. Way to go, girl! No wonder you're still single!" Her head slumps down to her magazine,
[22:58] <@Anastasia> A few more notes taken, Janna stretching back after about five minutes. She glances up at a clock, seeing a reasonably late hour. "Gonna be late for dinner...oh well. Work off those stupid pounds from all that sugar. Can't let Jun even weigh less than me! I'd be totally obsolete!" A grousing there, Janna unamused at that prospect. "First he cooks better, he designs better, he's better at getting gu-ack. Not again!" Janna slams her palm
[22:58] <@Anastasia> Janna slams her palm into her head repeatedly, wincing. "I need a boyfriend. Hell, I need a fling."
[22:59] * +General_Nephrite raises an eyebrow at that in the privacy of his bedroom. Could be worth mentioning this Jun to her to catch her off guard. He files the information away in the back of his mind for the moment, however, and continues his observation.
[23:01] <@Anastasia> More info, this time on microwaves. Then Janna stops, glancing around before scratching her chest discreetly, reaching under her shirt. "Whew." A few minutes after that she stretches again, closing the magazine. "Y'know..." Suddenly she giggles, "...what is with me today? Shut up!" Glowering at herself, Janna gets up and puts back her magazines.
[23:03] <+General_Nephrite> 'Wonder why the emphasis on technology?' Nephrite wonders. She'd been looking at information on computers earlier that day, too.
[23:07] <@Anastasia> So she goes on, coming back with one magazine. This one is a modern magazine on stars, and it's a '50 hottest guys' issue. With a little giggle Janna gets to reading, absorbed in lots of pretty pictures.
[23:09] * +General_Nephrite sighs a bit, not particularly interested in this himself - but then the odds of getting something concrete at the exact moment he chose to start looking are pretty slim in any event. Might as well endure for now - with any luck he can get something more solid, given enough time.
[23:10] <@Anastasia> This lasts maybe twenty minutes. Finally Janna gets bored of it and gets another magazine. Back to work this one, a journal about cars.
[23:12] * +General_Nephrite perseveres. He'd spent some time working as an assistant at a garage, so at least the car magazine isn't totally uninteresting. All he can do for now is hope that she goes somewhere soon, as it's doubtful he'll get a lot more information from her while she's at the library. At least on the positive side it does seem to show that she spends a good deal of time there, so if he needs to locate her again...
[23:13] <@Anastasia> More cars stuff, Janna enscribing this as seriously as the last stuff. So the time ticks by, another few pages of notes. You get a few of her scribblings, like, "This part is important!" or little sketches of a long haired man trying to jealously stab the beautiful, demure brown haired girl before she smirks and blots it out. Really, it's an hour of not much before she gets up.
[23:16] * +General_Nephrite takes a deep breath, shifting on his feet a bit as Janna finally seems to be ready for a change of venue. 'About time,' he thinks. While gathering intelligence like this is far from exciting, it's definitely the most important step in formulating a decent strategy.
[23:16] <@Anastasia> It's also somewhat draining. AFter an hour he feels sincerely like he's put up a steady effort. (10 EP per hour of this sounds reasonable due to general stress and maintaining.)
[23:17] <@Anastasia> So she goes out! It's not too long out of the library, the streets of Tokyo unremarkable until she detours into a McDonalds. She licks her lips as she orders a chocolate milkshake and a chicken sandwhich.
[23:19] <+General_Nephrite> The sight of food prompts a corresponding gurgle from Nephrite's own stomach, but he quashes the pangs. 'Not now,' he thinks with a frown. 'Once she gets to her home, then I'll get dinner.'
[23:20] <@Anastasia> Janna gets a seat, slowly sipping down the milkshake and eating the chicken. It's like slow torture! It's bliss for Janna, she makes happy noises after each slurp. "Can't believe I lived so long without you!" she gushes, going back to her feeding. But she's slow, and after 15 minutes, gets in line and gets another. Oi.
[23:22] <@Anastasia> Another ten minutes as she works over the next, half slurped down before she sets off. Now she catches a bus, riding a half hour before she goes to a grocery store. A familiar one - the one you work at! So she goes shopping, another hour total passed as she picks up the stuff for a quick curry dinner or lunch. (10 more EP.)
[23:23] * +General_Nephrite sighs, gritting his teeth - although at least he's got another tidbit to work with. She's not from around anywhere where they have McDonald's? That's going to put her way, WAY out in the country somewhere - certainly not from anywhere inside Tokyo, if that's the case.
[23:31] <@Anastasia> Once she does this she reaches home. It's not far from your work. A secluded street you didn't even know existed, a tree surrounded white house with silver and gold highlights. Inside she looks about, before muttering, "She must be out late with him again. Heh." So she goes to the kitchen, starting to prepare dinner.
[23:33] * +General_Nephrite nods to himself, finally releasing the vision as he makes a note of the house's location. That's enough for one night's work - he's gotten a fairly good amount of information to work with. Letting the changes that have enveloped him dissipate, the uniform of Earth's ancient generals leaves him, leaving him clad once again in his school uniform.
[23:36] <+Takeshi> Ignoring the rumbling of his stomach for now, he pulls his notebook from his bag - the same one containing the sketch of the beautiful queen of his dream, in fact - and turns to the next blank page, titling the head of it 'Janna'. That done, he begins to make notes of his observations on the page, culling them while they're still fresh in his mind.
[23:37] <+Takeshi> 1. She's apparently researching technology. This is easily inferred by most of the subject matter she went over while in the library - computers, microwaves, cars.
[23:38] <+Takeshi> 2. She's apparently well acquainted with someone by the name of Jun, who's also interested in her researches. Tapping his pencil on this entry for a moment, he turns to the next page and heads it with 'Jun', before turning back to Janna and continuing.
[23:41] <+Takeshi> 3. She's lived without having McDonalds for a long time. Inference: She must be from somewhere far out in the country... Takeshi narrows his eyes, glancing up at the first entry for a moment. She'd mentioned Jun wanting to get the information to scientists... maybe she's from another, less developed country entirely? Making a note - 'another country?' at the end of the line, he continues on.
[23:42] <+Takeshi> 4. Shops at the supermarket I work at. Might make a note to keep an eye out for her there, he muses.
[23:47] <+Takeshi> 5. Lives just off Highcastle Avenue, large white house. A very rough sketch of the house's general design is made next to it, enough to help him identify it in a pinch if need be.
[23:49] <+Takeshi> 6. Apparently has at least one roommate. Again pausing to look back at previous notes, he considers. She was very similar to the Angel in the picture, but not quite the exact same. What if her roommate was the girl in question, or perhaps one of the others? It would explain her interest in him looking into them. 'Roommate may be important,' he adds next to the line, circling it a bit.
[23:50] <+Takeshi> A quick scan over his memory reveals nothing else of much use for the moment, and any further rumination is cut off once again by the rumbling of his own stomach. "All right already," he grumbles, removing his telescope case and heading down to see what's available in the way of dinner.