- Location
- Oblivion
Isn't that the same thing?Quickshot0 said:
Halkegenia Online Thread 7: "Arrun Noir"
- Thread starter Triggerhappy
- Start date
Yeah, and it also messes up my mind when I look at it. Maybe that's why they design it like that?. One moment you are excited that you are going to assault the Spriggan capitol, then the next you are on freefall due to viewing that cthuluesk abomination.Quickshot0 said:You see the Spriggan Capital briefly in the anime, its center is a very tall Mayan like pyramid in a forest region. So I'm afraid it's nothing as cool looking as that.
.
No, it isn't. Just because the shock value of this method is lower, doesn't mean that the end conclusion isn't exactly the same. You've just ensured that the way they value it is some what different.Vaermina said:
This is important, because people tend to at times have irrational beliefs. Like thinking artificial is less good, or that you some how have less value just because some mortals were your creators.
- Location
- Oblivion
And what happens when they find out the real unabridged truth?Quickshot0 said:
Anzer'ke
Anarchism Ho!
They already are.Vaermina said:
The point is that how you find out a truth can have a massive effect on how you perceive, react to and internalise that truth.
Consider a betrayal for instance. Given the cases of 1) Discovering it secretly while the one committing this betrayal hides it from you and 2) Having them come to you reveal it amidst apologies and attempts to redeem themselves. Would you not see that these would give very different outcomes? The how guides the thoughts and thus how the truth effects your changes in view.
- Location
- Oblivion
My mistake then, I thought quick said they should call cardinal a spirit.Anzer'ke said:
Triggerhappy
Stick with Trigger and You'll Make it Through
- Location
- SoCal
Hillarious, this would not be incorrect now but the Faeries really don't know that so it would be off the table as an explanation.Vaermina said:
- Location
- Third planet from the star named Sol
- Pronouns
- He/They
Nope, most of the high level Alfheim stuff is fanservic-y in the sense that it hints but doesn't show, see Lefa, Sakuya, and Alicia.Archons said:Obviously you are confused. These pieces of clothing are far too concealing to be anything other than newby armour
- Location
- Third planet from the star named Sol
- Pronouns
- He/They
We already have a solution for this, based on Asuna and Kirito becoming Halk's Romeo and Juliet, only it actually fits. Asuna is the princess, but she is so incapable/unwilling that she decreed that all governing power would be given to the Fae council while she became a soldier and fought in the Aincrad Crusade.Onel said:
jwolfe_beta
Semi Genre-Savvy Overlord
- Location
- Canada
Another way they may view Asuna is that she's not Mab's daughter but has now become the same sort of entity. Asuna was taken from her home realm by the false-Oberon, twisted into a different form and he then stated that she would be made his 'Titania'. It could be seen as a sort of forced blossoming/use of the [Chalice of Rebirth] if they know about that artifact. After all the pretender did demonstrate some sort of control over Yggdrasill/Cardinal as Asuna would explain that she stole the GM access card from his servants possession.Onel said:
Anzer'ke
Anarchism Ho!
This is more or less what I've kept saying about Albion's populace and the myths+magic is real+multi-worlds. And Halkegians in general. This interpretation could very well be true if TH wanted it to be.Onel said:
It's certainly plausible.
EDIT: point being, people will keep believing this kind of thing more or less indefinitely. Because Halk myths are mostly true history(ish) and it's a plausible explanation. Thus they'll keep seeing them as Faeries rather than humans.
- Location
- Third planet from the star named Sol
- Pronouns
- He/They
Chalice.jwolfe said:
zero_traveler
Revolver Ocelot
- Location
- Revolver Ocelot
Can I ask your reasoning here?DragonKing0117 said:
Remember, HyoRyu and EnRyu are 1: supposed to be brothers/twins and 2: are supposed to have mirrored body designs for a very important reason.
IE: "SYMMETRICAL DOCK-ING!"
- Location
- Oblivion
That makes me wonder if ALO had costumes that could go over your gear to change their graphics.NotAlwaysFanfic said:
- Location
- Oblivion
Not sure I am completely happy with this, but that may be my lack of ability/experience in writing combat.
HalO 2131 Chapter 1 Part 4 - Part's 1, 2, 3
Specialist Grey Ross VR combat recording May 6th 2131 Planet "Unknown" Dimensional coordinates 42.219.31
The fucker tried to gas us or something, I don't know what he used but everyone started falling asleep I would have been a goner too but my combat implants kicked in and took care of whatever he was using. Good thing too because the [Redacted] looked close enough to human that it locked the [spiders] into a morality loop, stupid ass hippie programers.
I tried to scare the guy off with some warning shots from my mag rifle but he just gave me this look yelled something and then all of a sudden sand rose up from everywhere and tries to crush me. Let me tell you that surprised the fuck out of me, the only thing that likely saved my ass from getting buried under tons of sand was [CT] burning out the armors static field generator to blow it away.
At that point you can bet your ass I tried to put a mag round into his head. But he had an honest to god personal force-field, what kind of shit is that? Every shot I sent at him just bounced off like they were nothing more then god damn ping-pong balls. He must have decided to retaliate in kind cause he yelled something and this time the sand formed into little spheres and shot at me like bullets. Felt like getting hit by an old style .50 calibers, but the things couldn't even scratch modern combat armor.
That's when it hit me, I could still hear the bastard. I thank the gods of combat that I had at least one flash bang loaded with the rest of my ordinance. It hit the ground almost right at his feet before going off. It must have effected him pretty badly because I was able to nail him with all four of my RPG's before he recovered. Something in that mess must of gotten through though because by the time the smoke cleared he was panting and looked like he had just escaped from a burning building.
It wasn't enough to put the bastard down though, cause the sand started rising up again. Only this time it formed into two giant human like figures. All I can say is thank god that the [Redacted] didn't know a thing about [spider] programing. Cause the moment they formed it kicked the guys out of their lockup and they opened up with the heavy weaponry. That must have scared the pants off him though, because he took off like a bat out of hell the moment the first of his giants was blown away.
HalO 2131 Chapter 1 Part 4 - Part's 1, 2, 3
Specialist Grey Ross VR combat recording May 6th 2131 Planet "Unknown" Dimensional coordinates 42.219.31
The fucker tried to gas us or something, I don't know what he used but everyone started falling asleep I would have been a goner too but my combat implants kicked in and took care of whatever he was using. Good thing too because the [Redacted] looked close enough to human that it locked the [spiders] into a morality loop, stupid ass hippie programers.
I tried to scare the guy off with some warning shots from my mag rifle but he just gave me this look yelled something and then all of a sudden sand rose up from everywhere and tries to crush me. Let me tell you that surprised the fuck out of me, the only thing that likely saved my ass from getting buried under tons of sand was [CT] burning out the armors static field generator to blow it away.
At that point you can bet your ass I tried to put a mag round into his head. But he had an honest to god personal force-field, what kind of shit is that? Every shot I sent at him just bounced off like they were nothing more then god damn ping-pong balls. He must have decided to retaliate in kind cause he yelled something and this time the sand formed into little spheres and shot at me like bullets. Felt like getting hit by an old style .50 calibers, but the things couldn't even scratch modern combat armor.
That's when it hit me, I could still hear the bastard. I thank the gods of combat that I had at least one flash bang loaded with the rest of my ordinance. It hit the ground almost right at his feet before going off. It must have effected him pretty badly because I was able to nail him with all four of my RPG's before he recovered. Something in that mess must of gotten through though because by the time the smoke cleared he was panting and looked like he had just escaped from a burning building.
It wasn't enough to put the bastard down though, cause the sand started rising up again. Only this time it formed into two giant human like figures. All I can say is thank god that the [Redacted] didn't know a thing about [spider] programing. Cause the moment they formed it kicked the guys out of their lockup and they opened up with the heavy weaponry. That must have scared the pants off him though, because he took off like a bat out of hell the moment the first of his giants was blown away.
Biigoh
Tanuki
- Location
- Tanukia
You know... reading this, you could easily put this down as an actual ON ITS OWN ZnT type fic.Vaermina said:
75% Certain
25% horse thief
I hope Vaermina doesn't have me on ignore because if he does he won't hear this complement for a job well done.
- Location
- Oblivion
It's something to consider, though it would mean a major rewrite of the digital encounters I have planned between ALICE and CARDINAL/Bishop along with most of the later bits.biigoh said:
I didn't actually know enough about spirit magic so just guessed on it's limits.NecroMechanoid said:
Though now that you brought it up I can see how to turn it into a major plot point involving years of a magical arms race to keep up with the Fae.
Thanks, I appreciate it.75% Certain said:
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
Plot point on arms race with Fae?
Well if you want it to go that way. Just make certain it was a COLD War, because, well - if you really push the Fae they will make it a point to build beyond-the-horizon artillery that drops the shells that are at least as effective as the York Bombs. And can geared for armor piercing direct shots as well. Which canonically trumps the Counter, which was the mark of actual elite among the elves, IIRC.
Well if you want it to go that way. Just make certain it was a COLD War, because, well - if you really push the Fae they will make it a point to build beyond-the-horizon artillery that drops the shells that are at least as effective as the York Bombs. And can geared for armor piercing direct shots as well. Which canonically trumps the Counter, which was the mark of actual elite among the elves, IIRC.
zero_traveler
Revolver Ocelot
- Location
- Revolver Ocelot
See, now here's someone thinking in the right direction, Now if we could edge that thinking away from the perverted angle and towards the Normal GaoGaiGar angle...Mega1987 said:
zero_traveler
Revolver Ocelot
- Location
- Revolver Ocelot
HAHA. A one off Idea with the Toku/Kamen Rider thing. Seriously, I got a wild hair and needed to get it out.
"Who ARE you?!" Sheffield snarled at the interloper who had deflected her last magical attack.
"I'm just a passing through Kame...." The pink-armored warrior began when he was suddenly assaulted by a maniacal Leprechaun.
"GIVE ME YOUR TECH!" Yuyu growled as she tried pulling the Deca Driver right off of his armor. A mini-dustcloud kicked up and a moment later, Yuyu was running away, Rider Belt held over her head like a fangirl in triumph and left a disheveled Tsukasa stumbling out of the cloud, armor gone and clothes in complete disarray.
"...Nani?"
Sheffield twitched at the antics.
"Who ARE you?!" Sheffield snarled at the interloper who had deflected her last magical attack.
"I'm just a passing through Kame...." The pink-armored warrior began when he was suddenly assaulted by a maniacal Leprechaun.
"GIVE ME YOUR TECH!" Yuyu growled as she tried pulling the Deca Driver right off of his armor. A mini-dustcloud kicked up and a moment later, Yuyu was running away, Rider Belt held over her head like a fangirl in triumph and left a disheveled Tsukasa stumbling out of the cloud, armor gone and clothes in complete disarray.
"...Nani?"
Sheffield twitched at the antics.
Kamen Rider YY: All Faeries vs. Dai-Reconquista?zero_traveler said:
Triggerhappy
Stick with Trigger and You'll Make it Through
- Location
- SoCal
Another Omake - Semi Canon - I have no clue if this came out right . . .
[<</size]
Kirigaya Yui was roused from her book by a slight tapping at her window. Two fast taps, then a pause, then two more. She tilted her head, smiling faintly. It was an old and [<Familiar]> code to her. Setting her book on the nightstand, she rose from her bed, straightening her nightwear, a shot sleeved, buttoned shirt that fell to mid thigh in front while almos reaching her knees in back, perfect to keep cool hot summer nights.
She moved carefully, staying light on the balls of her feet as she picked her way across her room. She had the entire floor of her room memorized by now, every [<Loosely Fitted Plank]> and [<Squeaky Board]>, but it wouldn't do if she got caught because she'd barked her shin against something in the dark.
The tapping came at the window again and Yui opened the glass panel a bit further, peering out into the darkness of the garden and smelling the [<Sweetness]> of the spring air. The tapping had stopped, there was nobody in sight. She closed her eyes and leaned out a bit further, counting milliseconds patiently, she didn't have to wait long before she felt slim, work calloused hands covering her eyes gently.
"Surprise." He said softly.
"You're back early, Bardiche-kun." Yui said affectionately, only opening her eyes after the hands were removed, she came face to face with emerald eyes beneath wind messed blonde hair.
Three months hadn't seemed like such a long time when he'd set out. But Yui had found herself [<Ancticipating]> his return almost as soon as he'd left. He was one of her [<Best Friends]> after all.
The Sylph boy, now almost a young man, smiled as he seated himself on the eave beside her window, steadying himself carefully with one hand.
"Only a little." He admitted before lamenting. "I just got in a while ago, we had to lodge our report with the Trade Union. Those Romalian's sure are tough customers."
"You should tell me all about it." Yui took a seat at the windowsill and patted for him to settle at her side. She could tell that he was tired, and maybe even a little [<Home Sick]>. It could be tough being away from familiar surroundings for so long.
Bardiche hesitated before taking the offered place, heartbeat spiking slightly. It [<Amused]> her, he was always so shy, especially these last two years as he'd started to notice the way she had begun to change. She leaned against him gently and enjoyed the way he squirmed, [<Turn Round]> at last for all of his teasing when they'd been younger.
Yui observed her [<Childhood Friend]> closely. Only, he wasn't a child anymore. Both maturity and his Sylph Racial Traits had begun to sharpen his features. Bardiche was well on his way to being a [<Handsome]> young man, something that had been occurring to her more and more often over the last two years.
She examined the thought, dissected it, poked and prodded at what it implied. She didn't find the idea [<Unpleasant]> at all, in fact it was usually accompanied by a warm [<Giddiness]> and a [<Squirming]> sensation that made her want to curl her toes.
Bardiche wasn't the only one who had changed, and who continued to change. Reaching up, Yui pulled the collar of her nightshirt closed. She'd grown these past five years as well.
It hadn't been easy either. Learning to cope with her physical existence had come in phases. Just as Yui had become comfortable in her own skin, she'd hit her first growth spurt with all of the clumsiness that came with it, and then the beginning of [<Menarche]>. That had led to its own complications, especially as her [<Primary Binary Cluster]> continued to expand and optimize, forming a bridge between the [<Nebulous]> seat of her consciousness and the portion of her mind that had slowly arisen inside of her skull.
Mind stewing in a wash of hormones, Yui had found herself constantly frustrated by the need to adjust her [<Decision Making Hierarchy]> to compensate for the constant minor changes in perception and [<Value Judgment]> of what she had begun to think of as her [<Heuristic Co-Processor]>. And then there had been the complete loss of [<Objectivity]> when she thought about boys in anything but the most abstract of fashions.
Having Mama and Aunt Suguha to ask for advice and voice her concerns to, and Balandene to stagger with together through the [<Awkward Years]>, were blessings that she would forever be thankful for.
At last, Bardiche pulled away, fishing through the satchel at his side. "Here, I brought you something back." He held up a small, surprisingly heavy leather pouch that upon inspection contained a lovely brass and enamel box and small key. Yui examined the intricate device, expanded senses probing into the gearing and cam assembly within. It wasn't hard for her to fathom its inner workings, in fact, she'd read a book all about them.
Lifting the music box from its case, she took the key and carefully wound the box until she felt the first hint of resistance. Setting the box down, she opened the lid and was rewarded with a small, chiming melody.
"It's lovely, Bardiche-kun." Yui said.
He smiled sheepishly. "Really, it was either this or a Romalian Cross, and I thought you'd appreciate this more."
"Un." She nodded.
Yui placed the small music box down beside her taking the key and winding until she felt the first hint of resistance. She opened the lid and watched as a porcelain ballerina began to spin slowly, accompanied by a soft, sweet melody.
Yui closed her eyes, listening for a time as the music mingled with the [<Chirping]> of insects. "Claire de Lune." She said at last.
"Excuse me?" Bardiche looked down.
"The music has a ninety percent commonality with Claud Debussy's third movement of the Suite of Bergamasque, Claire de Lune." Yui explained casually, and then tilted her head as she noted the way Bardiche was staring at her. "What is it?"
"I'm just amazed you know that." He said, wide eyed.
Yui giggled slightly. "It's not really that amazing. Bishop-chan lets me borrow as many books as I want from the Library, and I don't forget things." Really, that was how she learned almost everything.
At her own request, Mama and Papa had enrolled her in school to learn with the other children, but in the end, she got more out of the opportunity to socialize with her [<Peers]> then she did from learning by rote from a textbook. Logic and mathematics were her first languages, and history and geography were just trivial memorization. It had gotten to the point that most of her teachers simply gave her the assignment list and expected her to be present for exams.
This suited her just fine. She'd much rather spend her [<School Time]> practicing her swordsmanship with her Aunt Suguha or [<Thinking On Her Feet]> with Papa or Klein Ojisan. a
She paused, watching Bardiche anxiously, even resorting to her expanded senses. Bardiche had known her for a long time now. He'd known about her origins for almost, but not quite as long. But if the reminder about what she was even phased him, he didn't show it. In that regard, Bardiche was just like Mama and Papa. She felt strangely [<Vindicated]> by this confirmation.
Bardiche shook his head. "I guess that makes sense. Though, isn't it a hastle to remember everything perfectly."
Yui opened her mouth to reply, and then paused. "Not everything." She admitted. Which was to say that though the fidelity of her memory was perfect, there were still certain [<Precious Moments]> that she could not fully internalize, no doubt a result of the duality between the organic and digital parts of her architecture. "There's some things I just have to relive."
"Oh?" Bardiche looked genuinely interested now. "Like what?"
Yui bit her lip and then, cautiously, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her head in his stomach. "Like this." It had been almost . . . no . . . It had been as bad as when her Papa or Mama were gone. "I missed you." She whispered.
Bardiche's posture slowly loosened, placing his hands on her head. "It was only eleven weeks."
"And that's too long!" Yui half pouted. In fact, it was exactly three times as long as it had taken her to begin wasting run time simulating likely scenarios of what Bardiche and the rest of the Trade Union delegation were doing. She'd even done research on the subject of Romalian Commerce.
Leaning back a little, the Sylph youth gently freed himself from her embrace. "Jeez, Yui-chan." He teased gently. "I though Balandene was supposed to be the wet blanket. I . . ." He stopped.
Yui didn't know why he was staring into her eyes. Why was she staring into his? They grew closer. She was happy, relieved, at peace. Closer and closer. She'd fretted entirely too much about him even as she'd kept herself busy. Closer still.
It wasn't the first time Bardiche had kissed her. Nor was it the first time they'd kissed on the lips. Once, a long time before, Yui had been reading a book lent to her by Emily Obasan/ She'd been curious about all of the [<Kissing]>, specifically the way it was supposed to invoke [<Romantic Feelings]>, and had prodded at Bardiche until he agreed to try it with her. The results had been mixed, [<Interesting]>, but hardly anything that she'd felt the need to try again.
This was completely different. It was clumsy and awkward, not perfect at all, definitely not like it had been described in all of Emily's books. But when they parted, Yui didn't think she'd mind doing it again.
"Yui, I . . ." Bardiche began to stutter, turning red. Odd, why did her cheeks feel so warm? She wasn't embarrassed. [<Simple and unambiguous]>. This was something you did with someone you loved, wasn't it?
And at that thought, Yui froze up. Someone she loved? Yes, she loved Bardiche. He was her friend. Her best friend. He meant the [<World]> to her. She loved him and Balandene just like she loved Mama, Papa, and Aunt Sugu.
Yui shook her head. No that wasn't right. This feeling wasn't the same. She was sure she'd [<Loved]> Bardiche, just like she loved the rest of her family. So why did he slip through her grasp now? She felt her heart pounding in her chest, the warmth spreading from her face to her arms and shoulders.
If there was one thing that Yui disliked, it was uncertainty, confusion, disorder. [<Ambiguity]> was the enemy of everything that she was. She'd known her understanding of love was tenuous at times, but she'd always held fast in the belief that the impossible to optimize [<Sensation]> she experienced when she was with her Mother and Father was exactly that. But now, how could she be certain? Was this new sensation also [<Love]>? Had she been mistaken?
Everything was undermined, everything seemed to be falling apart. Like a half completed puzzle dashed across the floor.
"Yui,? Are you okay, Yui?"
Yui nodded slowly as she hugged herself, even though it was a lie. She was wracked with a shivering sensation that was beyond her control. "I think you should go, Bardiche-kun." She whispered so softly that she could barely even hear herself.
"What? But . . . "
"Please." She begged, she didn't want to look him in the eye. She couldn't [<Predict]> what she would do if she did, and that [<Frightened]> her more than anything.
Bardiche raised his hand tendely to his own lips and then, hesitantly, he nodded. "I-I understand . . . I'll see you later, won't I."
Yui nodded slowly, she didn't actually know if it was true, but the alternative didn't bear thinking about.
Giving her an uncertain nod, the Sylph slipped free from the windowsill, wings humming softly to life as he took lightly to the night sky. Yui didn't move until he left her sight. Only then did she sink down onto the floor, pulling her knees under her chin, and start to cry softly in confusion. The music box, its spring exhausted, wound down into silence . . .
Why did she feel this way?
[<</size]
Kirigaya Yui was roused from her book by a slight tapping at her window. Two fast taps, then a pause, then two more. She tilted her head, smiling faintly. It was an old and [<Familiar]> code to her. Setting her book on the nightstand, she rose from her bed, straightening her nightwear, a shot sleeved, buttoned shirt that fell to mid thigh in front while almos reaching her knees in back, perfect to keep cool hot summer nights.
She moved carefully, staying light on the balls of her feet as she picked her way across her room. She had the entire floor of her room memorized by now, every [<Loosely Fitted Plank]> and [<Squeaky Board]>, but it wouldn't do if she got caught because she'd barked her shin against something in the dark.
The tapping came at the window again and Yui opened the glass panel a bit further, peering out into the darkness of the garden and smelling the [<Sweetness]> of the spring air. The tapping had stopped, there was nobody in sight. She closed her eyes and leaned out a bit further, counting milliseconds patiently, she didn't have to wait long before she felt slim, work calloused hands covering her eyes gently.
"Surprise." He said softly.
"You're back early, Bardiche-kun." Yui said affectionately, only opening her eyes after the hands were removed, she came face to face with emerald eyes beneath wind messed blonde hair.
Three months hadn't seemed like such a long time when he'd set out. But Yui had found herself [<Ancticipating]> his return almost as soon as he'd left. He was one of her [<Best Friends]> after all.
The Sylph boy, now almost a young man, smiled as he seated himself on the eave beside her window, steadying himself carefully with one hand.
"Only a little." He admitted before lamenting. "I just got in a while ago, we had to lodge our report with the Trade Union. Those Romalian's sure are tough customers."
"You should tell me all about it." Yui took a seat at the windowsill and patted for him to settle at her side. She could tell that he was tired, and maybe even a little [<Home Sick]>. It could be tough being away from familiar surroundings for so long.
Bardiche hesitated before taking the offered place, heartbeat spiking slightly. It [<Amused]> her, he was always so shy, especially these last two years as he'd started to notice the way she had begun to change. She leaned against him gently and enjoyed the way he squirmed, [<Turn Round]> at last for all of his teasing when they'd been younger.
Yui observed her [<Childhood Friend]> closely. Only, he wasn't a child anymore. Both maturity and his Sylph Racial Traits had begun to sharpen his features. Bardiche was well on his way to being a [<Handsome]> young man, something that had been occurring to her more and more often over the last two years.
She examined the thought, dissected it, poked and prodded at what it implied. She didn't find the idea [<Unpleasant]> at all, in fact it was usually accompanied by a warm [<Giddiness]> and a [<Squirming]> sensation that made her want to curl her toes.
Bardiche wasn't the only one who had changed, and who continued to change. Reaching up, Yui pulled the collar of her nightshirt closed. She'd grown these past five years as well.
It hadn't been easy either. Learning to cope with her physical existence had come in phases. Just as Yui had become comfortable in her own skin, she'd hit her first growth spurt with all of the clumsiness that came with it, and then the beginning of [<Menarche]>. That had led to its own complications, especially as her [<Primary Binary Cluster]> continued to expand and optimize, forming a bridge between the [<Nebulous]> seat of her consciousness and the portion of her mind that had slowly arisen inside of her skull.
Mind stewing in a wash of hormones, Yui had found herself constantly frustrated by the need to adjust her [<Decision Making Hierarchy]> to compensate for the constant minor changes in perception and [<Value Judgment]> of what she had begun to think of as her [<Heuristic Co-Processor]>. And then there had been the complete loss of [<Objectivity]> when she thought about boys in anything but the most abstract of fashions.
Having Mama and Aunt Suguha to ask for advice and voice her concerns to, and Balandene to stagger with together through the [<Awkward Years]>, were blessings that she would forever be thankful for.
At last, Bardiche pulled away, fishing through the satchel at his side. "Here, I brought you something back." He held up a small, surprisingly heavy leather pouch that upon inspection contained a lovely brass and enamel box and small key. Yui examined the intricate device, expanded senses probing into the gearing and cam assembly within. It wasn't hard for her to fathom its inner workings, in fact, she'd read a book all about them.
Lifting the music box from its case, she took the key and carefully wound the box until she felt the first hint of resistance. Setting the box down, she opened the lid and was rewarded with a small, chiming melody.
"It's lovely, Bardiche-kun." Yui said.
He smiled sheepishly. "Really, it was either this or a Romalian Cross, and I thought you'd appreciate this more."
"Un." She nodded.
Yui placed the small music box down beside her taking the key and winding until she felt the first hint of resistance. She opened the lid and watched as a porcelain ballerina began to spin slowly, accompanied by a soft, sweet melody.
Yui closed her eyes, listening for a time as the music mingled with the [<Chirping]> of insects. "Claire de Lune." She said at last.
"Excuse me?" Bardiche looked down.
"The music has a ninety percent commonality with Claud Debussy's third movement of the Suite of Bergamasque, Claire de Lune." Yui explained casually, and then tilted her head as she noted the way Bardiche was staring at her. "What is it?"
"I'm just amazed you know that." He said, wide eyed.
Yui giggled slightly. "It's not really that amazing. Bishop-chan lets me borrow as many books as I want from the Library, and I don't forget things." Really, that was how she learned almost everything.
At her own request, Mama and Papa had enrolled her in school to learn with the other children, but in the end, she got more out of the opportunity to socialize with her [<Peers]> then she did from learning by rote from a textbook. Logic and mathematics were her first languages, and history and geography were just trivial memorization. It had gotten to the point that most of her teachers simply gave her the assignment list and expected her to be present for exams.
This suited her just fine. She'd much rather spend her [<School Time]> practicing her swordsmanship with her Aunt Suguha or [<Thinking On Her Feet]> with Papa or Klein Ojisan. a
She paused, watching Bardiche anxiously, even resorting to her expanded senses. Bardiche had known her for a long time now. He'd known about her origins for almost, but not quite as long. But if the reminder about what she was even phased him, he didn't show it. In that regard, Bardiche was just like Mama and Papa. She felt strangely [<Vindicated]> by this confirmation.
Bardiche shook his head. "I guess that makes sense. Though, isn't it a hastle to remember everything perfectly."
Yui opened her mouth to reply, and then paused. "Not everything." She admitted. Which was to say that though the fidelity of her memory was perfect, there were still certain [<Precious Moments]> that she could not fully internalize, no doubt a result of the duality between the organic and digital parts of her architecture. "There's some things I just have to relive."
"Oh?" Bardiche looked genuinely interested now. "Like what?"
Yui bit her lip and then, cautiously, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her head in his stomach. "Like this." It had been almost . . . no . . . It had been as bad as when her Papa or Mama were gone. "I missed you." She whispered.
Bardiche's posture slowly loosened, placing his hands on her head. "It was only eleven weeks."
"And that's too long!" Yui half pouted. In fact, it was exactly three times as long as it had taken her to begin wasting run time simulating likely scenarios of what Bardiche and the rest of the Trade Union delegation were doing. She'd even done research on the subject of Romalian Commerce.
Leaning back a little, the Sylph youth gently freed himself from her embrace. "Jeez, Yui-chan." He teased gently. "I though Balandene was supposed to be the wet blanket. I . . ." He stopped.
Yui didn't know why he was staring into her eyes. Why was she staring into his? They grew closer. She was happy, relieved, at peace. Closer and closer. She'd fretted entirely too much about him even as she'd kept herself busy. Closer still.
It wasn't the first time Bardiche had kissed her. Nor was it the first time they'd kissed on the lips. Once, a long time before, Yui had been reading a book lent to her by Emily Obasan/ She'd been curious about all of the [<Kissing]>, specifically the way it was supposed to invoke [<Romantic Feelings]>, and had prodded at Bardiche until he agreed to try it with her. The results had been mixed, [<Interesting]>, but hardly anything that she'd felt the need to try again.
This was completely different. It was clumsy and awkward, not perfect at all, definitely not like it had been described in all of Emily's books. But when they parted, Yui didn't think she'd mind doing it again.
"Yui, I . . ." Bardiche began to stutter, turning red. Odd, why did her cheeks feel so warm? She wasn't embarrassed. [<Simple and unambiguous]>. This was something you did with someone you loved, wasn't it?
And at that thought, Yui froze up. Someone she loved? Yes, she loved Bardiche. He was her friend. Her best friend. He meant the [<World]> to her. She loved him and Balandene just like she loved Mama, Papa, and Aunt Sugu.
Yui shook her head. No that wasn't right. This feeling wasn't the same. She was sure she'd [<Loved]> Bardiche, just like she loved the rest of her family. So why did he slip through her grasp now? She felt her heart pounding in her chest, the warmth spreading from her face to her arms and shoulders.
If there was one thing that Yui disliked, it was uncertainty, confusion, disorder. [<Ambiguity]> was the enemy of everything that she was. She'd known her understanding of love was tenuous at times, but she'd always held fast in the belief that the impossible to optimize [<Sensation]> she experienced when she was with her Mother and Father was exactly that. But now, how could she be certain? Was this new sensation also [<Love]>? Had she been mistaken?
Everything was undermined, everything seemed to be falling apart. Like a half completed puzzle dashed across the floor.
"Yui,? Are you okay, Yui?"
Yui nodded slowly as she hugged herself, even though it was a lie. She was wracked with a shivering sensation that was beyond her control. "I think you should go, Bardiche-kun." She whispered so softly that she could barely even hear herself.
"What? But . . . "
"Please." She begged, she didn't want to look him in the eye. She couldn't [<Predict]> what she would do if she did, and that [<Frightened]> her more than anything.
Bardiche raised his hand tendely to his own lips and then, hesitantly, he nodded. "I-I understand . . . I'll see you later, won't I."
Yui nodded slowly, she didn't actually know if it was true, but the alternative didn't bear thinking about.
Giving her an uncertain nod, the Sylph slipped free from the windowsill, wings humming softly to life as he took lightly to the night sky. Yui didn't move until he left her sight. Only then did she sink down onto the floor, pulling her knees under her chin, and start to cry softly in confusion. The music box, its spring exhausted, wound down into silence . . .
Why did she feel this way?