Vote closed
TomoFlake (Original Tokusatsu-Adjacent Quest)
- Thread starter Fabricati
- Start date
- Mature
- Location
- Sealed away in a pure maidens heart
Well, that's permission! And meanwhile i'm at it, let's break at least one of these ties...
[X] [THOUGHTS] [Wait Does This Count As A Date?] Obviously Mei is going to help Kisaragi, but equally obviously she's going to fall back on old habits of trying to shoulder everything herself and not drag other people in.It's not a date. Sites are not good places for dates.
She turned to Mei, not the group. Regardless if it's a smart idea, i feel like that is something she will respect. ...although we should probably tell everybody where we are going. Not precise co-ordinates but if things go wrong, i'd rather get an rescue with consequences rather than being stuck up shits creek without a paddle. But in the interest of not causing another tie, i'll just leave that as a suggestion.
........ No, i am not willing to budge on the Favour vote. We need to start building favours, and that is something worth spending effort on. Long con.
[X] [THOUGHTS] [Wait Does This Count As A Date?] Obviously Mei is going to help Kisaragi, but equally obviously she's going to fall back on old habits of trying to shoulder everything herself and not drag other people in.
She turned to Mei, not the group. Regardless if it's a smart idea, i feel like that is something she will respect. ...although we should probably tell everybody where we are going. Not precise co-ordinates but if things go wrong, i'd rather get an rescue with consequences rather than being stuck up shits creek without a paddle. But in the interest of not causing another tie, i'll just leave that as a suggestion.
........ No, i am not willing to budge on the Favour vote. We need to start building favours, and that is something worth spending effort on. Long con.
Solarstream
It's all in the cards
- Location
- Zombie World
- Pronouns
- He/Him
well, then I guess I'll switch my votes to the Steam Tunnel after all 
[X] [FAVOR] Given your facility with the Steam Tunnels, you could stake favors as a courier. It'd be a little difficult, and you'd definitely have to explore the Steam Tunnels more thoroughly, but it could be a way to build serious favor with the members of the Night Market.
[X] [PICTURE] It's an image, from above, of multiple scaled-and-mechanical monstrosities through what appear to be catwalks and rafters. One bears a blue magatama, glowing on its chest. (this will require a trip through the Steam Tunnels. A chance to Develop Your Relationship with Ichigo and Kisaragi, and Make Connections with Ayumu and Hiroshi.)
this should break the Favor tie
edit: oh, and I'm fine with the current winning Thoughts vote, so I'll support it too~
[X] [THOUGHTS] [Wait Does This Count As A Date?] Obviously Mei is going to help Kisaragi, but equally obviously she's going to fall back on old habits of trying to shoulder everything herself and not drag other people in.It's not a date. Sites are not good places for dates.
[X] [FAVOR] Given your facility with the Steam Tunnels, you could stake favors as a courier. It'd be a little difficult, and you'd definitely have to explore the Steam Tunnels more thoroughly, but it could be a way to build serious favor with the members of the Night Market.
[X] [PICTURE] It's an image, from above, of multiple scaled-and-mechanical monstrosities through what appear to be catwalks and rafters. One bears a blue magatama, glowing on its chest. (this will require a trip through the Steam Tunnels. A chance to Develop Your Relationship with Ichigo and Kisaragi, and Make Connections with Ayumu and Hiroshi.)
this should break the Favor tie
edit: oh, and I'm fine with the current winning Thoughts vote, so I'll support it too~
[X] [THOUGHTS] [Wait Does This Count As A Date?] Obviously Mei is going to help Kisaragi, but equally obviously she's going to fall back on old habits of trying to shoulder everything herself and not drag other people in.
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- Fae/She
And here I thought we'd learned our lesson about shouldering things by ourselves. u.u
grommile
nasty-minded old cynic
- Location
- NERV-Mercia
- Pronouns
- Traditional/Animate
It's not a lesson that sticks the first couple hundred times.
2-14-1 With Understanding Comes Power
You didn't know the place exactly, but you for certain knew the district. It had to be the Industrial District. While there were port facilities all along the coast in Osaka and even on the deeper riverfront, a container yard like that…
You gently stood up. "I'll be back in a moment."
[Gather Information +Wits+Detective: 6+2+1 vs 1, 8 STRONG HIT]
Quietly, you took your empty cup to the owner. "Hey. You… Wouldn't happen to know if there's a steam tunnel outlet in the Industrial District, would you?"
The woman looked at you dubiously. "You didn't hear it from me, but rumor has it there's one in pretty much every district there's major infrastructure. No place is immune. What are you planning?"
[That is exactly what you needed to know. Momentum +3, 8/10.]
[Face Danger +Resolve: 3+2 vs 2, 7 weak hit]
"I want to bring a friend some coffee," you said with a grin. "A refill to go and a cappuccino, large, extra shot—"
"That's Kisaragi's usual, isn't it?" Asamiya asked, and you feel your chains crawl up your back.
Is asking them for help going to lead to a flare-up? You think about how to answer in a way that won't have Asamiya suddenly following you.
"Well, I mean, she is an hour late," you said, careful, polite, clipped. "I had hoped that I could bring her over."
Asamiya lowered her voice. "I'm worried, too. Is there something you've heard?"
You swallowed your nerves and the audience. You nod, slightly.
Asamiya nodded along with you. It was a strangely heartening feeling.
[Well, so much for slipping out entirely unnoticed. -1 Momentum, 7/10.]
[Compel +Heart: 1+3 vs 6, 8 MISS]
While you waited for the coffee, you leaned against the wall with Asamiya. You start to open your mouth, but then Asura-chan closes it for you. Didn't you call exactly this a crock of shit!? Don't you fucking dare!
"Before you ask, I'm not letting you take this on alone," Asamiya added.
Your chains rattled dangerously, and you winced. "Right. Then— then I'm going to do what I should have done in the first place."
[Your plan goes up in complete smoke. There's no sneaking out of this one, Mei. -1 Momentum, 5/10.]
You picked up the caddy, and set it on the table. Morisawa and Yumeno looked at you.
[Compel +Heart: 4+3 vs 1, 2 STRONG HIT]
"Um…" You swallowed your nerves, but even reading your intention, the chains were strangely silent aside from the warning.
The others turned to you.
"I'm worried about Kisaragi. She's usually early, and it's almost time for practice. Being this late… it's not good. And I understand if right now things are… Tense, and you don't want to help, or she doesn't want your help— but she sent me a text from the dockyards and I'm going to make sure she's okay." It tumbled out of your mouth, all at once. "I— I understand if all of you have been tense with each other lately, though I'm…"
You paused, and your left hand grips your right arm tightly. "I'm not sure why exactly. I'm sure I'll find out eventually. But I can't imagine you all want her to be in trouble. So… So after I bring her back, I want everyone to talk it over, because— because it's worth having everyone on the same page."
The tension ratcheted up so hard it was like you'd pulled back on a bow, except the bow was the entire room. "Even if I realize I've probably been the worst about it."
Yumeno paused and put her face in one hand. "Mm. For now, though, what do you need us to do?"
[Well, they're on your side at least. +1 Momentum, 8/10.]
"I have a plan, but you're probably not going to like it. I don't want to come crashing in, so I'm taking the Tunnels. Asamiya, you wanted to come with me in the vanguard. We'll look for Kisaragi once we're in the industrial district. Yumeno, we might need you to hang back and get ready to take Kisaragi up if she gets hurt. Morisawa—"
"I'll be backup with Yumeno," Morisawa replied, in a tone she didn't usually take. "It's a pretty sound plan, even if it means splitting us up."
"Here's hoping it won't come to hitting things. Ideally we'll be home in time for practice and this will all have been for nothing." You feel a pit in your stomach as you say it. Because when are we ever lucky?
It's a moment's trek to the beating infrastructure under Osaka, and you and Asamiya descended a ladder into the maintenance area for electricians. Holding anything underground like this is… Dangerous, of course, but it was decided that keeping it above ground was worse during the Showa and early Heisei. Despite earthquakes and tsunami, and a lack of giant monster attacks, so it has remained.
[Steam Tunnels: Target: Kisaragi in the Industrial District]
[Base: Dangerous. +2, Vague. -1, within Osaka City. -1, we've visited the Industrial District within the last five days. -1, we're making rendezvous with a Connection.]
[We therefore begin a TROUBLESOME expedition.]
"Last chance to back out, Asamiya. I'm aware there's tension between you two."
"It's exactly because she does stupid things like this that there's tension in the first place."
"Well, do what you like." Let's see…
You descend a couple of levels and end up in a place where the corridors twist and bend unnecessarily.
[Explore a Waypoint +Thoughtful+Detective+Asura-chan: 5+2+1+1 vs 2, 8 STRONG HIT]
But this time, you're not going to be taken in by enticing delusions. You take in every last detail. Half of these aren't even real. We'd just end up going around in circles.
You nodded. Looking left, looking right, and then, you quietly swipe your hand through the illusory entryways and direct Asamiya to keep up with you as you tak tak tak down a corridor.
You pulled out a few pairs of black denim jeans you bought from UNIKOKORO, set them about your shoulders, and clapped your hands twice.
It was, you were sure, viciously grey, viciously denim, and not quite traditional, but if it fouled an arrow or bullet from the back, you'll be glad you did it.
"Is…?" Asamiya paused.
[You have a way forward, and take it.]
[XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Thankfully, you can keep moving, but as you come to the next fork in the road, you pause.
"Torioi, did. Did you just make a jimono!?"
You're suddenly struck by the fact that yes, yes you did just make a jean kimono, of a sort.
You were also wearing thigh-highs and a pleated skirt, and felt taller. "— how did I know what you meant by 'jimono'?"
"That's what you're focusing on?" Asamiya giggled. "Still, glad to know you admit it. What can we expect?"
"Not sure. The picture Kisaragi sent was similar to the ones Haru claimed were from Shirogane Site 1. Still, better to be ready for anything."
"— maybe it was lucky you brought me along."
You paused, and then nodded. If even Tojo considered her a miko, then it was pretty likely that she had enough purity to toss evil spirits around, or bind them.
[Undertake an Expedition +Resolve: 6+2 vs 2, 10 weak hit]
You took it slow, trying to evade detection by youkai and other things that might be down here. You do not want a repeat of what happened a little under a week ago.
Asamiya keeps up with you easily, climbing through pipes and dusting herself off as she goes, checking the items she's hidden in her sleeves and pants pockets.
It's slow, tiring work, mentally and physically exhausting, and the heat threatens to sap your strength.
But at least it gives you time to talk.
"So… You and Kisaragi?" You asked.
"— Ah— no, not really," Asamiya said, sheepishly. "It's just— she reminds me of someone I used to know. Kind of like you do, really."
You paused, peeking around a corner while shadowed. "Oh? How's that?"
[Gather Information +Thoughtful+Detective+Asura-chan: 4+2+1+1 vs 6, 2 STRONG HIT]
[XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[You lose -1 Body, 4/5.]
[You lose 1 momentum, 7/10.]
"Well, when it comes to Kisaragi, she reminds me of this guy I knew." She said it a little insultingly, but you could hear the smile on her lips. "Real nervous around everyone because he was inexperienced, but he covered it with a lot of bluster and aggression."
You blushed. "I mean, if it works…"
Asamiya paused, and then put her head in her hands. "Torioi. Did. Did Kisaragi come on to you!?"
"Well… I mean, at the time, I was sure I was reading too much into it, but—"
"Did Kisaragi come on to you!?"
"It was at the retreat. I made a dumb joke about putting the futons on top of each other, and—"
Asamiya paused, and landed her head against the wall of the concrete corridor. "What the heck?!"
"I mean she nearly pinned me against the wall! I— I mean, sure, at the time I was— I was kind of tempted to reach out, but— but later, I— I figured she was just trying to get my attention for the assembly, you know? I have a hard time reading the situation…"
Asamiya closed her eyes, levered herself off the wall of the corridor, took a deep inhale, and continued onwards. "… I should leave this to Yumeno, but… What makes you think you were reading too much into it?"
"I mean…" You stopped talking and raises a hand. Asamiya clung to the wall behind you.
A tanukigami passed by, sack on its back, cackling like it just stole something, and you took the turn down the way it came.
"— Have you looked at me?"
"Yes. A lot," Asamiya said, flatly.
"Then you know exactly what I'm talking about," you continued. "148 cm. Black hair. Brown eyes. I'd be completely unremarkable and unremarked, if I didn't wear a red hair ribbon everywhere."
"You."
"Me?"
"The regional judo champion."
"Uh—"
"Who carried Kyoto Prefecture to the national finals."
"Well—"
"Unremarkable."
Now you're getting annoyed. "And would you have been able to pick me out of the crowd if there hadn't been constant whispers?"
"Given how elegantly you walk and how you look in the weight room? Absolutely."
The hell was that supposed to mean? Did she think you were dressing for titillation? "— Should I try and cover up more?"
"Absolutely not."
Asura-chan laughed in the back of your head while the realization hit you in a similar place. You ears burned, and all the words you had saved up refused to come out.
"I will discover why I am attractive to my admirers."
[Rank: Formidable]
[XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
You did not want to continue this conversation. "Stop joking around, we're not safe here."
"Are you angry about this?"
[It was more than you wanted to know… And yet— +2 Momentum, 10/10]
[Explore a Waypoint +Thoughtful+Detective+Asura-chan: 3+2+1+1 vs 6, 3 STRONG HIT]
[Detective] You raised one hand and knelt down. Spent brass cartridges, a broken knife, a ruined tarpaulin and a bivouac bag.
Someone was here, and here recently. You hold a hand out over the spent cartridges. Cold. At the very least you didn't have to worry about the shooter. No blood, at least, none you could see.
What kind of being gets shot, but produces no blood? What was so dangerous down here that people regularly risked the sword ban?
Questions for later.
More worryingly, the scent of almonds and death filled the air, and Asura-chan directed your attention upwards, where a ladder was juuuust out of reach. "We're in the right place. Let's go."
[XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [ ]
[Finish an Expedition (Steam Tunnels): 9 vs 4, 1 STRONG HIT]
You took a leap upwards and retrieved the ladder, allowing Asamiya to follow. You continued to talk as you climbed the ladder. "… in any case, I'm well aware that I'm not exactly… That the expectation, even for all my skill, is to look. Delicate. Like these hands have only arranged flowers, and have never touched my own blood."
"You sound like you're quoting someone."
"I am." The chains quieted down, and did not wrap around the rungs of the ladder or slow you down. And well you remember, even now, the lessons of your etiquette teacher! "Forgive me if I say not their name."
KISARAGI REI
"A girl with a punk aesthetic; who looks like she could and would bite a mecha right back."
HARD 2
QUICK 2
THOUGHTFUL 1
RAPPORT 1
RESOLVE 3
RAY POWER 3/3
BODY 5/5
STRESS 2/5
MOMENTUM 0
As one who has borne the fruits of her labor, and achieved her Vows, Kisaragi Rei currently has no Vow. Her Legacy remains to be seen.
XP: 41
ASSETS UNKNOWN
[Objective: Hold out for reinforcements or escape.]
[Rank: Troublesome.]
You gently stood up. "I'll be back in a moment."
[Gather Information +Wits+Detective: 6+2+1 vs 1, 8 STRONG HIT]
Quietly, you took your empty cup to the owner. "Hey. You… Wouldn't happen to know if there's a steam tunnel outlet in the Industrial District, would you?"
The woman looked at you dubiously. "You didn't hear it from me, but rumor has it there's one in pretty much every district there's major infrastructure. No place is immune. What are you planning?"
[That is exactly what you needed to know. Momentum +3, 8/10.]
[Face Danger +Resolve: 3+2 vs 2, 7 weak hit]
"I want to bring a friend some coffee," you said with a grin. "A refill to go and a cappuccino, large, extra shot—"
"That's Kisaragi's usual, isn't it?" Asamiya asked, and you feel your chains crawl up your back.
Is asking them for help going to lead to a flare-up? You think about how to answer in a way that won't have Asamiya suddenly following you.
"Well, I mean, she is an hour late," you said, careful, polite, clipped. "I had hoped that I could bring her over."
Asamiya lowered her voice. "I'm worried, too. Is there something you've heard?"
You swallowed your nerves and the audience. You nod, slightly.
Asamiya nodded along with you. It was a strangely heartening feeling.
[Well, so much for slipping out entirely unnoticed. -1 Momentum, 7/10.]
[Compel +Heart: 1+3 vs 6, 8 MISS]
While you waited for the coffee, you leaned against the wall with Asamiya. You start to open your mouth, but then Asura-chan closes it for you. Didn't you call exactly this a crock of shit!? Don't you fucking dare!
"Before you ask, I'm not letting you take this on alone," Asamiya added.
Your chains rattled dangerously, and you winced. "Right. Then— then I'm going to do what I should have done in the first place."
[Your plan goes up in complete smoke. There's no sneaking out of this one, Mei. -1 Momentum, 5/10.]
You picked up the caddy, and set it on the table. Morisawa and Yumeno looked at you.
[Compel +Heart: 4+3 vs 1, 2 STRONG HIT]
"Um…" You swallowed your nerves, but even reading your intention, the chains were strangely silent aside from the warning.
The others turned to you.
"I'm worried about Kisaragi. She's usually early, and it's almost time for practice. Being this late… it's not good. And I understand if right now things are… Tense, and you don't want to help, or she doesn't want your help— but she sent me a text from the dockyards and I'm going to make sure she's okay." It tumbled out of your mouth, all at once. "I— I understand if all of you have been tense with each other lately, though I'm…"
You paused, and your left hand grips your right arm tightly. "I'm not sure why exactly. I'm sure I'll find out eventually. But I can't imagine you all want her to be in trouble. So… So after I bring her back, I want everyone to talk it over, because— because it's worth having everyone on the same page."
The tension ratcheted up so hard it was like you'd pulled back on a bow, except the bow was the entire room. "Even if I realize I've probably been the worst about it."
Yumeno paused and put her face in one hand. "Mm. For now, though, what do you need us to do?"
[Well, they're on your side at least. +1 Momentum, 8/10.]
"I have a plan, but you're probably not going to like it. I don't want to come crashing in, so I'm taking the Tunnels. Asamiya, you wanted to come with me in the vanguard. We'll look for Kisaragi once we're in the industrial district. Yumeno, we might need you to hang back and get ready to take Kisaragi up if she gets hurt. Morisawa—"
"I'll be backup with Yumeno," Morisawa replied, in a tone she didn't usually take. "It's a pretty sound plan, even if it means splitting us up."
"Here's hoping it won't come to hitting things. Ideally we'll be home in time for practice and this will all have been for nothing." You feel a pit in your stomach as you say it. Because when are we ever lucky?
It's a moment's trek to the beating infrastructure under Osaka, and you and Asamiya descended a ladder into the maintenance area for electricians. Holding anything underground like this is… Dangerous, of course, but it was decided that keeping it above ground was worse during the Showa and early Heisei. Despite earthquakes and tsunami, and a lack of giant monster attacks, so it has remained.
[Steam Tunnels: Target: Kisaragi in the Industrial District]
[Base: Dangerous. +2, Vague. -1, within Osaka City. -1, we've visited the Industrial District within the last five days. -1, we're making rendezvous with a Connection.]
[We therefore begin a TROUBLESOME expedition.]
"Last chance to back out, Asamiya. I'm aware there's tension between you two."
"It's exactly because she does stupid things like this that there's tension in the first place."
"Well, do what you like." Let's see…
You descend a couple of levels and end up in a place where the corridors twist and bend unnecessarily.
[Explore a Waypoint +Thoughtful+Detective+Asura-chan: 5+2+1+1 vs 2, 8 STRONG HIT]
But this time, you're not going to be taken in by enticing delusions. You take in every last detail. Half of these aren't even real. We'd just end up going around in circles.
You nodded. Looking left, looking right, and then, you quietly swipe your hand through the illusory entryways and direct Asamiya to keep up with you as you tak tak tak down a corridor.
You pulled out a few pairs of black denim jeans you bought from UNIKOKORO, set them about your shoulders, and clapped your hands twice.
It was, you were sure, viciously grey, viciously denim, and not quite traditional, but if it fouled an arrow or bullet from the back, you'll be glad you did it.
"Is…?" Asamiya paused.
[You have a way forward, and take it.]
[XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Thankfully, you can keep moving, but as you come to the next fork in the road, you pause.
"Torioi, did. Did you just make a jimono!?"
You're suddenly struck by the fact that yes, yes you did just make a jean kimono, of a sort.
You were also wearing thigh-highs and a pleated skirt, and felt taller. "— how did I know what you meant by 'jimono'?"
"That's what you're focusing on?" Asamiya giggled. "Still, glad to know you admit it. What can we expect?"
"Not sure. The picture Kisaragi sent was similar to the ones Haru claimed were from Shirogane Site 1. Still, better to be ready for anything."
"— maybe it was lucky you brought me along."
You paused, and then nodded. If even Tojo considered her a miko, then it was pretty likely that she had enough purity to toss evil spirits around, or bind them.
[Undertake an Expedition +Resolve: 6+2 vs 2, 10 weak hit]
You took it slow, trying to evade detection by youkai and other things that might be down here. You do not want a repeat of what happened a little under a week ago.
Asamiya keeps up with you easily, climbing through pipes and dusting herself off as she goes, checking the items she's hidden in her sleeves and pants pockets.
It's slow, tiring work, mentally and physically exhausting, and the heat threatens to sap your strength.
But at least it gives you time to talk.
"So… You and Kisaragi?" You asked.
"— Ah— no, not really," Asamiya said, sheepishly. "It's just— she reminds me of someone I used to know. Kind of like you do, really."
You paused, peeking around a corner while shadowed. "Oh? How's that?"
[Gather Information +Thoughtful+Detective+Asura-chan: 4+2+1+1 vs 6, 2 STRONG HIT]
[XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[You lose -1 Body, 4/5.]
[You lose 1 momentum, 7/10.]
"Well, when it comes to Kisaragi, she reminds me of this guy I knew." She said it a little insultingly, but you could hear the smile on her lips. "Real nervous around everyone because he was inexperienced, but he covered it with a lot of bluster and aggression."
You blushed. "I mean, if it works…"
Asamiya paused, and then put her head in her hands. "Torioi. Did. Did Kisaragi come on to you!?"
"Well… I mean, at the time, I was sure I was reading too much into it, but—"
"Did Kisaragi come on to you!?"
"It was at the retreat. I made a dumb joke about putting the futons on top of each other, and—"
Asamiya paused, and landed her head against the wall of the concrete corridor. "What the heck?!"
"I mean she nearly pinned me against the wall! I— I mean, sure, at the time I was— I was kind of tempted to reach out, but— but later, I— I figured she was just trying to get my attention for the assembly, you know? I have a hard time reading the situation…"
Asamiya closed her eyes, levered herself off the wall of the corridor, took a deep inhale, and continued onwards. "… I should leave this to Yumeno, but… What makes you think you were reading too much into it?"
"I mean…" You stopped talking and raises a hand. Asamiya clung to the wall behind you.
A tanukigami passed by, sack on its back, cackling like it just stole something, and you took the turn down the way it came.
"— Have you looked at me?"
"Yes. A lot," Asamiya said, flatly.
"Then you know exactly what I'm talking about," you continued. "148 cm. Black hair. Brown eyes. I'd be completely unremarkable and unremarked, if I didn't wear a red hair ribbon everywhere."
"You."
"Me?"
"The regional judo champion."
"Uh—"
"Who carried Kyoto Prefecture to the national finals."
"Well—"
"Unremarkable."
Now you're getting annoyed. "And would you have been able to pick me out of the crowd if there hadn't been constant whispers?"
"Given how elegantly you walk and how you look in the weight room? Absolutely."
The hell was that supposed to mean? Did she think you were dressing for titillation? "— Should I try and cover up more?"
"Absolutely not."
Asura-chan laughed in the back of your head while the realization hit you in a similar place. You ears burned, and all the words you had saved up refused to come out.
"I will discover why I am attractive to my admirers."
[Rank: Formidable]
[XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
You did not want to continue this conversation. "Stop joking around, we're not safe here."
"Are you angry about this?"
[It was more than you wanted to know… And yet— +2 Momentum, 10/10]
[Explore a Waypoint +Thoughtful+Detective+Asura-chan: 3+2+1+1 vs 6, 3 STRONG HIT]
[Detective] You raised one hand and knelt down. Spent brass cartridges, a broken knife, a ruined tarpaulin and a bivouac bag.
Someone was here, and here recently. You hold a hand out over the spent cartridges. Cold. At the very least you didn't have to worry about the shooter. No blood, at least, none you could see.
What kind of being gets shot, but produces no blood? What was so dangerous down here that people regularly risked the sword ban?
Questions for later.
More worryingly, the scent of almonds and death filled the air, and Asura-chan directed your attention upwards, where a ladder was juuuust out of reach. "We're in the right place. Let's go."
[XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [ ]
[Finish an Expedition (Steam Tunnels): 9 vs 4, 1 STRONG HIT]
You took a leap upwards and retrieved the ladder, allowing Asamiya to follow. You continued to talk as you climbed the ladder. "… in any case, I'm well aware that I'm not exactly… That the expectation, even for all my skill, is to look. Delicate. Like these hands have only arranged flowers, and have never touched my own blood."
"You sound like you're quoting someone."
"I am." The chains quieted down, and did not wrap around the rungs of the ladder or slow you down. And well you remember, even now, the lessons of your etiquette teacher! "Forgive me if I say not their name."
KISARAGI REI
"A girl with a punk aesthetic; who looks like she could and would bite a mecha right back."
HARD 2
QUICK 2
THOUGHTFUL 1
RAPPORT 1
RESOLVE 3
RAY POWER 3/3
BODY 5/5
STRESS 2/5
MOMENTUM 0
As one who has borne the fruits of her labor, and achieved her Vows, Kisaragi Rei currently has no Vow. Her Legacy remains to be seen.
XP: 41
ASSETS UNKNOWN
[Objective: Hold out for reinforcements or escape.]
[Rank: Troublesome.]
- Location
- Sealed away in a pure maidens heart
lol.
Also, looks like Kisaragi is physically fine at least, and full on.... whatever ray power is. So that is good? Also a lot of exp. Is that spent or held?
Total. It's not sure what she spent it on, but given our own progress, it's clear that the epithet 'archmage' is not an idle one.
- Pronouns
- Fae/She
Said it elsewhere, I'll say it again: Love, love, love, that Asamiya is finally getting an idea of just how deep in our head we really are. We're learning about everyone, so it's only fair they're learning about us.
What they do with that realization should be fun to see.
What they do with that realization should be fun to see.
2-14-2 Sweet Heart, Kisaragi Rei
[Site: Nebuka Port Facility, a SHADOWFELL DEPOT. One part loading and unloading dock, this is a layered site. To enter the other half of the facility, a MAGITEK DEPOT known as the Nebuka Skunkworks, you must complete at least one Expedition with an objective of "Secure a Route".]
[Objective: Secure a Route]
[Rank: Dangerous]
[XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Kisaragi Rei was not having a good day. She had been hoping to explore the dockyards that Nebuka Logistics used for their shipments and see if she couldn't find some inkling about what, exactly, they were doing with her father's technology. She was disguised as a dockworker, she'd managed to find herself someplace right near the office, she'd been working quietly, had integrated well, matched the face on her badge.
Arguably, a simple plan. Get in, get the information, get out. There surely had to be something here?
[Secure an Advantage +Resolve +Sweet Heart: 4+3+2 vs 10, 10 PLOT TWIST]
There were just two problems with this assessment.
The first was that the scent of death here was strong. A basic scan of the area revealed not just humans here, but bound gods and youkai, and that was something Rei simply couldn't replicate. Bluster only got you so far, without a lifetime of studying the culture and listening to the old tales.
Even that might not have necessarily been a problem— she had the ability to continue despite that, and while she couldn't exactly fast talk people, she had absolutely learned enough from on-site to know who the right people were.
Which is what made the second problem even more troubling— namely, that she were sure that these weird people with the one-eye masks were not only entirely human but also had an incredible amount of Eva Ray reaction.
Two of them, one masculine-presenting, the other feminine-presenting. The armor wasn't powered, but there was… Was that an Eva Ray reactor implanted in their skin!? What the FUCK!? "How the hell are you not dead yet—"
They jittered and shuddered into sudden, unnatural action.
Shit!
[Enter The Fray +Hard+Sweet Fury: 2+2+1 vs 4, 1 STRONG HIT]
Rei danced out of the way of their literal thunderous blows, sending arcs wildly into steel container walls.
They were expecting her to be intimidated. She was not.
The call was already out. She just had to hope Torioi reached her in time.
[Rei begins with initiative, and gains +3 Momentum— +2 from her strong hit, and +1 from Sweet Fury. 3/10.]
[Objective: Hold out for reinforcements.]
[Rank: Troublesome.]
Still, so much for getting in and out of here undetected. This was liable to be a fight for her life, even if she managed to get out this fight with her skin intact—
Not that she was thinking about that in particular. In English, she called out— "Sweet Shine~!"
"PRINCESS KNIGHT" came the answering call within her soul. The sword and light armor came to her hands immediately, and she went for the strike—
[Strike +Hard+Sweet Sight: 6+2+1 vs 6, 1 STRONG HIT]
Despite the uncomfortably close quarters, the brilliant zweihander did its brutal work. The two— people? Were they even people? Dolls, then— The two dolls were embedded into a container, the armor dented and gouged.
"Target identified as 'Sweet Heart'," One of them buzzed from their position, a surprisingly feminine voice, Rei supposed, to match the feminine-presenting body. "Intercept. Intercept. Intercept—"
The words faded as Rei made a run for it. Damn it. The faster she got out of here, the better-- and even more so if she had to look for where Torioi was going to show up.
Reinforcements were surely coming to help them capture her. She might just have to abandon the expedition.
Progress: [xx] [xx] [xx] [xx] [xx] [xx] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
No time to woolgather now. She had to get someplace she couldn't be easily spotted. Sis. What would you have done…?
[Gain Ground +Quick: 6+2 vs 6, 4 STRONG HIT]
Rei leapt up to the top of the containers for a moment, and slipped her way across the tops of them. Noisy as hell, unexpectedly so-- but it was lost amongst the machinery and the power equipment, humming their hydraulic hymns to the continuation of Osaka.
A moment's attention allowed her to get onto the crane shifting equipment from the top to the ground, shuffling containers as they worked to remove items and put them back in, the endless zombie shuffle of logistics.
There, that faint waft of steam in the distance. She could take shelter in the Tunnels— and if nothing else, the threat of it could keep the Dolls pinned down.
Now— Now all Rei had to do was get there before those things spotted her again.
Progress: [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] []
It was a dead run, now. A dead run and a high chance of failure, but high was better than none. Rei leapt down from the container atop the crane and ran down a carefully curated pile of them.
[Take Decisive Action vs. 9: 5, 5 MATCH]
Rei skidded to a stop atop the containers as the entrance to the Steam Tunnels arrived in her view—
And standing right on top of it, having anticipated her movements, were the Dolls.
"Intruder 'Sweet Heart'. Cease all damage to company property and surrender." The ceramic-steel layered fauld at the male Doll's hip pulled forth a gun.
This is bad… They probably have people all around…
Underneath, in the tunnels which saw the light of day, Torioi shifted the cover of the tunnels just a little, and found that, perhaps unsurprisingly, that trying to move people in armor was a difficult proposition. Figuring it was simply stuck, she rubbed her chin for a moment, rolled her shoulder, buffed her arm, and called out, "Asura-chan, together, please."
"Oh, hell yes." It was like two of Torioi's voice at the same time.
KISARAGI REI [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
With a single blow that sounded like an artillery round, the heavy, solid cover flew into the sky, completely unbalancing both the Dolls. While Rei's eyes followed the cover, partially buckled from the sheer force of the blow, as it spun and whirled, Mei grabbed the foot of one, slammed it into the concrete by pulling its last weight out from under it, and swung it into the other before hauling—
Oh no. Oh no, that was Asamiya. What was she doing here!?
Oh god, worse, what was Torioi wearing!? Was that a kimono made out of denim!?
Torioi looked to Rei, especially, Rei noticed, at her hands, stance, hips, lingering for a moment as if unable to resist the look of Rei's body in a puffed up prince's outfit, the hair. Finally, she said, "Oi. We're here for you, right?"
Rei, for her part, blinked in surprise. Torioi put it together that quickly!? "Ah— Probably. But we have bigger issues."
[Is Mei Lucky (12-)? 4 oh my god she actually is]
"Unidentified intruders, identify yourselves."
"That's quite enough," came a lady's voice, slowly walking into the proverbial frame.
She was of average height, and wore a visibility vest over the top of a suit so severe Rei internally agreed with Torioi's sweat and swallowing. In terms of look, she seemed unremarkable, but she walked with a force and confidence that indicated she, at least, thought she could put everyone in the ground without hesitation.
Rei wondered what that must be like from Torioi's perspective. "We're not going to—"
Above, a guy cable snapped, and the cable slashed into the concrete, barely missing Torioi. The dolls dived for the woman in the visibility vest. The container within slipped the surly bonds of getting hauled into a cargo boat.
"MOVE!" "Look out!"
[Face Danger +Quick+Sweet Shine+Miko Detective: 2+2+2+1 vs. 2, 8 weak hit]
[RAY POWER to +4.]
Rei pulled Torioi from the falling shadow, while Asamiya pulled out an ofuda. The chant wasn't something that Rei recognized, but she thought she caught the words 'barrier' and 'pact'.
The container stopped in mid-air, nearly buckled, and tumbled over to land and skid, blocking their view of the three opponents, though Rei definitely heard, "Target identified as Asamiya, Shrine Maiden to the Ken'in Barrier."
"Let's go, Sweet Heart." Asamiya said it with an evil little smirk.
Torioi, oddly, was quiet about this state of affairs, not even stammering out her usual humbled thanks in return for receiving any help at all. By the time she recovered her composure, they had already closed the cover behind them and moved a little ways into the Steam Tunnels, waiting for the noises around them to die down.
Rei realized she was still touching shoulders with Asamiya, with Torioi leaning on them both. There was a little twitch, and Torioi's hands formed into fists. Her ears were red, her breath tight.
Rei was caught up in thinking about how often Torioi must have had to swallow her violence to have so much of it waiting.
Asamiya smirked. "There's only a few people I know who would use this as anything but a shelter of last resort, and only one dumb enough to use them as a fucking shortcut."
"Really? Who?" Torioi asked, completely oblivious, as usual.
"By the way, Asamiya—" Rei asked. This was as good a time as any. "I messaged Torioi, but… Why are you here?"
"You didn't really think we'd let her just go off on her own, did you?" Asamiya replied, looking at Rei. "Down the Steam Tunnels? After what happened last time?"
"Wait, what time is it?" Rei pulled out her cell phone. It was far, far too late to go overland. "Oh. Practice…"
"Practice!" Asamiya repeated at Rei. "As if what we care about is the judo team!"
Rei found herself blushing terribly. The fact that Asamiya cared that much wasn't a revelation overall, but she didn't quite know how to react to her actually saying it. "That's… Of course I care about the team! We can't join without having a little dedication."
It was then that Torioi did something entirely unexpected.
She giggled, as if having a private little joke to herself, and then added, "Well, as for the others, they're probably still making ready to assist us. I'm sorry if you wanted something other than extraction, but… Under the circumstances, maybe that was for the best."
Oh gosh. Despite everything else terrifying Rei had seen about Torioi up to now, that little slip in her perfect grace left her speechless for a moment. "Uh— Uh— So you're trying to learn more about the steam tunnels?"
"Enough to know we probably shouldn't stick around here. I'll explain on the way." With that, she took off, as expected of Mei at this point— her hair flowing behind her just as gracefully as her feet hit the ground, keeping a completely even, graceful run despite the fact that she was covering ground at an alarming rate.
Rei and Asamiya looked at each other, and as one, pushed to keep up.
[Expedition: Return to the gym before practice.]
[Difficulty: Starts Dangerous. -1, in Osaka City. -1, memorized or recent location. -1, rendezvous with a Connection. Difficulty is Troublesome with an extra -2…]
[Return to a Site -2: 9 vs 3, 9. Mei's progress is 8.]
[Torioi may choose to Rush To The Scene, and does.]
[Rush To The Scene +Supply+Pathshaper: 6+4+1 vs 7, 5 STRONG HIT]
The paths went and wound, and Rei settled into the work of keeping up with Torioi— hard enough to do, never mind Torioi's job of finding the correct path and avoiding anyone who wanted to do them harm. Her face was intense, watching for every little detail— and occasionally she just seemed to nod along with some kind of gut instinct, who she seemed to imagine as a person.
"Anyway, Sweet Heart—" Asamiya said as they continued. "What was that important, that you felt that you had to go on without us?"
"Remember earlier this week?" Rei replied. "You said that it was Nebuka Logistics that tried to attack you and Kaneko, isn't it?"
Torioi came to a halt. "I did. Was that place a Nebuka facility?"
"Yes," Rei nodded, finally remembering to change back to her usual self. "I figured that if I couldn't find where they were stashing the power armor there, I'd be able to find something about where they were really keeping it. But…"
"But you got found before you could genuinely approach," Torioi offered, and Rei nodded. "Mm. Well. That sounds a little more than just wanting to protect your father's legacy. What's really going on?"
Rei's breath caught in her throat. Did. Could she really trust Torioi with that information? She was intimately tied with the Shirogane Nebuka Group, after all, and if they knew… "You may not have known my father's name— The number of people, I think, who knew my father's name as attached to his work is very slim. But Doctor Kisaragi Juzo was someone who—"
[Test Your Relationship +Rapport+Tangled Red String: 4+3+1 vs9 8, 2 weak hit]
The name clearly rang Torioi's bell, because she turned and pulled at Rei's lapel, inches from her face, and said, "You're the daughter of that Kisaragi?"
"You know him!?"
"He was a friend of the family—" Torioi paused. "Wait, if he's that Kisaragi, I wonder why we never met? No, more than that— I get it now."
"You do?"
Torioi nodded. Was that blush on her face because she'd missed the obvious connection, or because of something else? She released Rei immediately after. Maybe it was a mix of both. "I— Of course I do. Your father headed the Eva Ray Reactor project. You must think that the powered armor has an Eva Ray reactor in it. But— those things are huge, Kisaragi. The one at the Power Lab— don't say there isn't— is gigantic in order for the shielding to protect the researchers. Miniaturizing it safely just isn't possible with our current technology."
[SWEET SHINE— This is a Unique Asset. This is an Archmage Asset, rewarded for completing a Background Vow. Eva Rays are the power of human evolution. Thanks to the Eva Rays within you, you gain power when you and your Bonds and Connections work towards a common goal.]
Rei swallowed. "… Yeah, yeah, I suppose you're right, but if they're even trying the danger of that—"
Torioi nodded along with Rei's false speculation. "Of course I'll help. I said I would, didn't I?"
"… Thank you. But— knowing now that your folks were working with my father— I think there's someplace we'll need to visit soon."
"You think it's related to the powered armor?"
Rei nodded. "I don't know what happened to your parents, but if they were involved with the Eva Ray Power Project, it's almost certain that they had a target on their backs for a long time. So, if you know of any place where they stayed or worked often…"
Torioi paused, raising a hand, waiting for fox-fires to dim and pass by before speaking. "Mom tended to move around a lot, but if she worked in the Thunder Devil Dance Hall, there might be some clues there. As for my father… he tended towards staying at home, in his personal workshop, mostly only taking late nights every—"
"Every?" Asamiya prompted.
"Every two weeks," Torioi said, with that certain leaden feeling, like her voice was chaining fate. "I didn't know it at the time, but I bet he was going to the Night Market."
[SITE UNLOCKED: ?????. It's Torioi's old place. What's become of it in the meantime?]
[Now Mei has even more reason to go to the Night Market…]
KISARAGI REI [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
As soon as Torioi reached the familiar exit from the Steam Tunnels at the main university quad, she opened up her cell phone and called someone. "Oi. It's me. Call off the rescue, I'm at the gym and target is secured."
There's a pause. "… That's true, we really should set up a proper rally point next time."
"Who's that?" Rei asked.
"Yumeno."
"Ah, is that--" Asamiya tugged Rei's sleeve, stopping her conversational noises, and they both stood a little bit away while Torioi continued to talk to Yumeno.
"Kisaragi." Asamiya looked Rei in the eyes. Ah, there was that same intensity. "Was your real purpose just to try and find information about your father's research? I think you know more than anyone what that technology is capable of."
"That's exactly why I went to investigate it." Rei replied.
"Then why ask for Torioi at all? You were against calling on kouhai, if I recall."
Rei felt her ears start to burn. "Well—"
"Kisaragi." Asamiya stared into Rei's eyes like she knew exactly what kind of mess was going on behind them. How did she always seem to just know? Rei was torn between trying to wipe the smug look off her face and kissing it to shut her up. "If you want to spend time with someone, you can just spend time with them, you know that, right?"
"Is that really how it works?" Rei replied, and she couldn't help but notice her own smile creeping up on her features. Why did Dad make her such a disaster? "I seem to recall that not going so well."
"I'm worried about you."
"Asamiya worries about all of us, doesn't she?" Rei replied, starting to lean in. This was definitely an aggressive stance. "You tend to forget, but we're all witches, too. Even Morisawa."
"You think Morisawa is the weakest?"
"I think Morisawa is the one you can miss most easily." Rei glanced over to where Torioi was wrapping up her call. "Your attitude seems to have changed towards her, too. A little protective?"
"She didn't realize what was going on, Kisaragi. I don't even think she realized you've been fixing the die roll so she wouldn't suspect your preparations to raid the port facility."
"That wasn't me," Rei said, blinking.
"I wasn't touching them, either."
"But if it wasn't you and wasn't me, and it definitely wasn't Yumeno—"
"It can't be Morisawa, she wasn't even humming—"
"And you know that if I just changed the die face, it'd be obvious." Rei paused. "… I mean, it could have been coincidence…"
Asamiya blinked, leaning back from her aggressive stance. "Coincidence, or fate?"
"Eh?"
"— don't mind me."
Rei sighed. "Maybe I can get her to run next week. That way, you won't trip over yourselves…"
"Oh, we probably will. But in a different way," Asamiya said, with a giggle.
Rei decided she didn't want to know right at the moment.
After practice and a penalty run for showing up late ("Well, you'd better learn to run faster" Yagami-senpai had said, in that way that indicated she would bite you if you did not. While the possibility was appealing, saying so with Sakaki-senpai also glaring at the group was a bad idea), the rest of the archmages, Rei, and Torioi were late to the lockers. Torioi, as was her wont, leaned against her locker with a weather eye for when everyone was filtering back to the lockers. Rei could think of plenty of reasons to hang back, among them the safe, if annoyingly isolating, presumption that everyone in that locker room was straight.
"So. First things first. The dice thing was a good compromise but it's already causing problems," Torioi said. "And honestly, if you're all comfortable with it, I'd like to discuss why it is you're all here with me."
"I mean, is that safe?" Morisawa asked.
"No," Torioi replied, "However, tell me someplace that's safe to discuss this properly and we'll go there. The best I have is the Understacks."
Rei paused, considering the kinds of danger that could result of such a conversation in the deep part of the Understacks. "So, who are—"
"You, Kisaragi. You kicked the hornets' nest. Obviously you're the one who needs the most watching tonight." Torioi shrugged out of her top and headed for the showers. "This is non-negotiable, unless someone else would prefer to set us both up."
Unsurprisingly there were no volunteers, but at the same time, it felt like a natural conclusion… If and only if someone didn't realise the kind of fire she was playing with. "Um— about that, Torioi?"
"I told you before. Our safety comes first to me," Torioi said. "Circumstances are hardly ideal, and I understand that having me pop in and out of your homes is worse than it would usually be, for various reasons."
Oh, shit. She knew.
"And even if I don't know… precisely, why it is so for many of you, I accept that feelings are greatly mixed." For a moment, Torioi's eyebrow twitched, as if she was getting comments from an invisible audience. "Which leads me to my next point. We have to clear out the surveillance on my apartment Sunday. Or, rather, I have to, and I suspect none of you will allow me to do it on my own, for your own various reasons."
She definitely knew.
Next update Tuesday.
[Objective: Secure a Route]
[Rank: Dangerous]
[XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Kisaragi Rei was not having a good day. She had been hoping to explore the dockyards that Nebuka Logistics used for their shipments and see if she couldn't find some inkling about what, exactly, they were doing with her father's technology. She was disguised as a dockworker, she'd managed to find herself someplace right near the office, she'd been working quietly, had integrated well, matched the face on her badge.
Arguably, a simple plan. Get in, get the information, get out. There surely had to be something here?
[Secure an Advantage +Resolve +Sweet Heart: 4+3+2 vs 10, 10 PLOT TWIST]
There were just two problems with this assessment.
The first was that the scent of death here was strong. A basic scan of the area revealed not just humans here, but bound gods and youkai, and that was something Rei simply couldn't replicate. Bluster only got you so far, without a lifetime of studying the culture and listening to the old tales.
Even that might not have necessarily been a problem— she had the ability to continue despite that, and while she couldn't exactly fast talk people, she had absolutely learned enough from on-site to know who the right people were.
Which is what made the second problem even more troubling— namely, that she were sure that these weird people with the one-eye masks were not only entirely human but also had an incredible amount of Eva Ray reaction.
Two of them, one masculine-presenting, the other feminine-presenting. The armor wasn't powered, but there was… Was that an Eva Ray reactor implanted in their skin!? What the FUCK!? "How the hell are you not dead yet—"
They jittered and shuddered into sudden, unnatural action.
Shit!
[Enter The Fray +Hard+Sweet Fury: 2+2+1 vs 4, 1 STRONG HIT]
Rei danced out of the way of their literal thunderous blows, sending arcs wildly into steel container walls.
They were expecting her to be intimidated. She was not.
The call was already out. She just had to hope Torioi reached her in time.
[Rei begins with initiative, and gains +3 Momentum— +2 from her strong hit, and +1 from Sweet Fury. 3/10.]
[Objective: Hold out for reinforcements.]
[Rank: Troublesome.]
Still, so much for getting in and out of here undetected. This was liable to be a fight for her life, even if she managed to get out this fight with her skin intact—
Not that she was thinking about that in particular. In English, she called out— "Sweet Shine~!"
"PRINCESS KNIGHT" came the answering call within her soul. The sword and light armor came to her hands immediately, and she went for the strike—
[Strike +Hard+Sweet Sight: 6+2+1 vs 6, 1 STRONG HIT]
Despite the uncomfortably close quarters, the brilliant zweihander did its brutal work. The two— people? Were they even people? Dolls, then— The two dolls were embedded into a container, the armor dented and gouged.
"Target identified as 'Sweet Heart'," One of them buzzed from their position, a surprisingly feminine voice, Rei supposed, to match the feminine-presenting body. "Intercept. Intercept. Intercept—"
The words faded as Rei made a run for it. Damn it. The faster she got out of here, the better-- and even more so if she had to look for where Torioi was going to show up.
Reinforcements were surely coming to help them capture her. She might just have to abandon the expedition.
Progress: [xx] [xx] [xx] [xx] [xx] [xx] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
No time to woolgather now. She had to get someplace she couldn't be easily spotted. Sis. What would you have done…?
[Gain Ground +Quick: 6+2 vs 6, 4 STRONG HIT]
Rei leapt up to the top of the containers for a moment, and slipped her way across the tops of them. Noisy as hell, unexpectedly so-- but it was lost amongst the machinery and the power equipment, humming their hydraulic hymns to the continuation of Osaka.
A moment's attention allowed her to get onto the crane shifting equipment from the top to the ground, shuffling containers as they worked to remove items and put them back in, the endless zombie shuffle of logistics.
There, that faint waft of steam in the distance. She could take shelter in the Tunnels— and if nothing else, the threat of it could keep the Dolls pinned down.
Now— Now all Rei had to do was get there before those things spotted her again.
Progress: [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] []
It was a dead run, now. A dead run and a high chance of failure, but high was better than none. Rei leapt down from the container atop the crane and ran down a carefully curated pile of them.
[Take Decisive Action vs. 9: 5, 5 MATCH]
Rei skidded to a stop atop the containers as the entrance to the Steam Tunnels arrived in her view—
And standing right on top of it, having anticipated her movements, were the Dolls.
"Intruder 'Sweet Heart'. Cease all damage to company property and surrender." The ceramic-steel layered fauld at the male Doll's hip pulled forth a gun.
This is bad… They probably have people all around…
Underneath, in the tunnels which saw the light of day, Torioi shifted the cover of the tunnels just a little, and found that, perhaps unsurprisingly, that trying to move people in armor was a difficult proposition. Figuring it was simply stuck, she rubbed her chin for a moment, rolled her shoulder, buffed her arm, and called out, "Asura-chan, together, please."
"Oh, hell yes." It was like two of Torioi's voice at the same time.
KISARAGI REI [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
With a single blow that sounded like an artillery round, the heavy, solid cover flew into the sky, completely unbalancing both the Dolls. While Rei's eyes followed the cover, partially buckled from the sheer force of the blow, as it spun and whirled, Mei grabbed the foot of one, slammed it into the concrete by pulling its last weight out from under it, and swung it into the other before hauling—
Oh no. Oh no, that was Asamiya. What was she doing here!?
Oh god, worse, what was Torioi wearing!? Was that a kimono made out of denim!?
Torioi looked to Rei, especially, Rei noticed, at her hands, stance, hips, lingering for a moment as if unable to resist the look of Rei's body in a puffed up prince's outfit, the hair. Finally, she said, "Oi. We're here for you, right?"
Rei, for her part, blinked in surprise. Torioi put it together that quickly!? "Ah— Probably. But we have bigger issues."
[Is Mei Lucky (12-)? 4 oh my god she actually is]
"Unidentified intruders, identify yourselves."
"That's quite enough," came a lady's voice, slowly walking into the proverbial frame.
She was of average height, and wore a visibility vest over the top of a suit so severe Rei internally agreed with Torioi's sweat and swallowing. In terms of look, she seemed unremarkable, but she walked with a force and confidence that indicated she, at least, thought she could put everyone in the ground without hesitation.
Rei wondered what that must be like from Torioi's perspective. "We're not going to—"
Above, a guy cable snapped, and the cable slashed into the concrete, barely missing Torioi. The dolls dived for the woman in the visibility vest. The container within slipped the surly bonds of getting hauled into a cargo boat.
"MOVE!" "Look out!"
[Face Danger +Quick+Sweet Shine+Miko Detective: 2+2+2+1 vs. 2, 8 weak hit]
[RAY POWER to +4.]
Rei pulled Torioi from the falling shadow, while Asamiya pulled out an ofuda. The chant wasn't something that Rei recognized, but she thought she caught the words 'barrier' and 'pact'.
The container stopped in mid-air, nearly buckled, and tumbled over to land and skid, blocking their view of the three opponents, though Rei definitely heard, "Target identified as Asamiya, Shrine Maiden to the Ken'in Barrier."
"Let's go, Sweet Heart." Asamiya said it with an evil little smirk.
Torioi, oddly, was quiet about this state of affairs, not even stammering out her usual humbled thanks in return for receiving any help at all. By the time she recovered her composure, they had already closed the cover behind them and moved a little ways into the Steam Tunnels, waiting for the noises around them to die down.
Rei realized she was still touching shoulders with Asamiya, with Torioi leaning on them both. There was a little twitch, and Torioi's hands formed into fists. Her ears were red, her breath tight.
Rei was caught up in thinking about how often Torioi must have had to swallow her violence to have so much of it waiting.
Asamiya smirked. "There's only a few people I know who would use this as anything but a shelter of last resort, and only one dumb enough to use them as a fucking shortcut."
"Really? Who?" Torioi asked, completely oblivious, as usual.
"By the way, Asamiya—" Rei asked. This was as good a time as any. "I messaged Torioi, but… Why are you here?"
"You didn't really think we'd let her just go off on her own, did you?" Asamiya replied, looking at Rei. "Down the Steam Tunnels? After what happened last time?"
"Wait, what time is it?" Rei pulled out her cell phone. It was far, far too late to go overland. "Oh. Practice…"
"Practice!" Asamiya repeated at Rei. "As if what we care about is the judo team!"
Rei found herself blushing terribly. The fact that Asamiya cared that much wasn't a revelation overall, but she didn't quite know how to react to her actually saying it. "That's… Of course I care about the team! We can't join without having a little dedication."
It was then that Torioi did something entirely unexpected.
She giggled, as if having a private little joke to herself, and then added, "Well, as for the others, they're probably still making ready to assist us. I'm sorry if you wanted something other than extraction, but… Under the circumstances, maybe that was for the best."
Oh gosh. Despite everything else terrifying Rei had seen about Torioi up to now, that little slip in her perfect grace left her speechless for a moment. "Uh— Uh— So you're trying to learn more about the steam tunnels?"
"Enough to know we probably shouldn't stick around here. I'll explain on the way." With that, she took off, as expected of Mei at this point— her hair flowing behind her just as gracefully as her feet hit the ground, keeping a completely even, graceful run despite the fact that she was covering ground at an alarming rate.
Rei and Asamiya looked at each other, and as one, pushed to keep up.
[Expedition: Return to the gym before practice.]
[Difficulty: Starts Dangerous. -1, in Osaka City. -1, memorized or recent location. -1, rendezvous with a Connection. Difficulty is Troublesome with an extra -2…]
[Return to a Site -2: 9 vs 3, 9. Mei's progress is 8.]
[Torioi may choose to Rush To The Scene, and does.]
[Rush To The Scene +Supply+Pathshaper: 6+4+1 vs 7, 5 STRONG HIT]
The paths went and wound, and Rei settled into the work of keeping up with Torioi— hard enough to do, never mind Torioi's job of finding the correct path and avoiding anyone who wanted to do them harm. Her face was intense, watching for every little detail— and occasionally she just seemed to nod along with some kind of gut instinct, who she seemed to imagine as a person.
"Anyway, Sweet Heart—" Asamiya said as they continued. "What was that important, that you felt that you had to go on without us?"
"Remember earlier this week?" Rei replied. "You said that it was Nebuka Logistics that tried to attack you and Kaneko, isn't it?"
Torioi came to a halt. "I did. Was that place a Nebuka facility?"
"Yes," Rei nodded, finally remembering to change back to her usual self. "I figured that if I couldn't find where they were stashing the power armor there, I'd be able to find something about where they were really keeping it. But…"
"But you got found before you could genuinely approach," Torioi offered, and Rei nodded. "Mm. Well. That sounds a little more than just wanting to protect your father's legacy. What's really going on?"
Rei's breath caught in her throat. Did. Could she really trust Torioi with that information? She was intimately tied with the Shirogane Nebuka Group, after all, and if they knew… "You may not have known my father's name— The number of people, I think, who knew my father's name as attached to his work is very slim. But Doctor Kisaragi Juzo was someone who—"
[Test Your Relationship +Rapport+Tangled Red String: 4+3+1 vs
The name clearly rang Torioi's bell, because she turned and pulled at Rei's lapel, inches from her face, and said, "You're the daughter of that Kisaragi?"
"You know him!?"
"He was a friend of the family—" Torioi paused. "Wait, if he's that Kisaragi, I wonder why we never met? No, more than that— I get it now."
"You do?"
Torioi nodded. Was that blush on her face because she'd missed the obvious connection, or because of something else? She released Rei immediately after. Maybe it was a mix of both. "I— Of course I do. Your father headed the Eva Ray Reactor project. You must think that the powered armor has an Eva Ray reactor in it. But— those things are huge, Kisaragi. The one at the Power Lab— don't say there isn't— is gigantic in order for the shielding to protect the researchers. Miniaturizing it safely just isn't possible with our current technology."
[SWEET SHINE— This is a Unique Asset. This is an Archmage Asset, rewarded for completing a Background Vow. Eva Rays are the power of human evolution. Thanks to the Eva Rays within you, you gain power when you and your Bonds and Connections work towards a common goal.]
Rei swallowed. "… Yeah, yeah, I suppose you're right, but if they're even trying the danger of that—"
Torioi nodded along with Rei's false speculation. "Of course I'll help. I said I would, didn't I?"
"… Thank you. But— knowing now that your folks were working with my father— I think there's someplace we'll need to visit soon."
"You think it's related to the powered armor?"
Rei nodded. "I don't know what happened to your parents, but if they were involved with the Eva Ray Power Project, it's almost certain that they had a target on their backs for a long time. So, if you know of any place where they stayed or worked often…"
Torioi paused, raising a hand, waiting for fox-fires to dim and pass by before speaking. "Mom tended to move around a lot, but if she worked in the Thunder Devil Dance Hall, there might be some clues there. As for my father… he tended towards staying at home, in his personal workshop, mostly only taking late nights every—"
"Every?" Asamiya prompted.
"Every two weeks," Torioi said, with that certain leaden feeling, like her voice was chaining fate. "I didn't know it at the time, but I bet he was going to the Night Market."
[SITE UNLOCKED: ?????. It's Torioi's old place. What's become of it in the meantime?]
[Now Mei has even more reason to go to the Night Market…]
KISARAGI REI [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
As soon as Torioi reached the familiar exit from the Steam Tunnels at the main university quad, she opened up her cell phone and called someone. "Oi. It's me. Call off the rescue, I'm at the gym and target is secured."
There's a pause. "… That's true, we really should set up a proper rally point next time."
"Who's that?" Rei asked.
"Yumeno."
"Ah, is that--" Asamiya tugged Rei's sleeve, stopping her conversational noises, and they both stood a little bit away while Torioi continued to talk to Yumeno.
"Kisaragi." Asamiya looked Rei in the eyes. Ah, there was that same intensity. "Was your real purpose just to try and find information about your father's research? I think you know more than anyone what that technology is capable of."
"That's exactly why I went to investigate it." Rei replied.
"Then why ask for Torioi at all? You were against calling on kouhai, if I recall."
Rei felt her ears start to burn. "Well—"
"Kisaragi." Asamiya stared into Rei's eyes like she knew exactly what kind of mess was going on behind them. How did she always seem to just know? Rei was torn between trying to wipe the smug look off her face and kissing it to shut her up. "If you want to spend time with someone, you can just spend time with them, you know that, right?"
"Is that really how it works?" Rei replied, and she couldn't help but notice her own smile creeping up on her features. Why did Dad make her such a disaster? "I seem to recall that not going so well."
"I'm worried about you."
"Asamiya worries about all of us, doesn't she?" Rei replied, starting to lean in. This was definitely an aggressive stance. "You tend to forget, but we're all witches, too. Even Morisawa."
"You think Morisawa is the weakest?"
"I think Morisawa is the one you can miss most easily." Rei glanced over to where Torioi was wrapping up her call. "Your attitude seems to have changed towards her, too. A little protective?"
"She didn't realize what was going on, Kisaragi. I don't even think she realized you've been fixing the die roll so she wouldn't suspect your preparations to raid the port facility."
"That wasn't me," Rei said, blinking.
"I wasn't touching them, either."
"But if it wasn't you and wasn't me, and it definitely wasn't Yumeno—"
"It can't be Morisawa, she wasn't even humming—"
"And you know that if I just changed the die face, it'd be obvious." Rei paused. "… I mean, it could have been coincidence…"
Asamiya blinked, leaning back from her aggressive stance. "Coincidence, or fate?"
"Eh?"
"— don't mind me."
Rei sighed. "Maybe I can get her to run next week. That way, you won't trip over yourselves…"
"Oh, we probably will. But in a different way," Asamiya said, with a giggle.
Rei decided she didn't want to know right at the moment.
After practice and a penalty run for showing up late ("Well, you'd better learn to run faster" Yagami-senpai had said, in that way that indicated she would bite you if you did not. While the possibility was appealing, saying so with Sakaki-senpai also glaring at the group was a bad idea), the rest of the archmages, Rei, and Torioi were late to the lockers. Torioi, as was her wont, leaned against her locker with a weather eye for when everyone was filtering back to the lockers. Rei could think of plenty of reasons to hang back, among them the safe, if annoyingly isolating, presumption that everyone in that locker room was straight.
"So. First things first. The dice thing was a good compromise but it's already causing problems," Torioi said. "And honestly, if you're all comfortable with it, I'd like to discuss why it is you're all here with me."
"I mean, is that safe?" Morisawa asked.
"No," Torioi replied, "However, tell me someplace that's safe to discuss this properly and we'll go there. The best I have is the Understacks."
Rei paused, considering the kinds of danger that could result of such a conversation in the deep part of the Understacks. "So, who are—"
"You, Kisaragi. You kicked the hornets' nest. Obviously you're the one who needs the most watching tonight." Torioi shrugged out of her top and headed for the showers. "This is non-negotiable, unless someone else would prefer to set us both up."
Unsurprisingly there were no volunteers, but at the same time, it felt like a natural conclusion… If and only if someone didn't realise the kind of fire she was playing with. "Um— about that, Torioi?"
"I told you before. Our safety comes first to me," Torioi said. "Circumstances are hardly ideal, and I understand that having me pop in and out of your homes is worse than it would usually be, for various reasons."
Oh, shit. She knew.
"And even if I don't know… precisely, why it is so for many of you, I accept that feelings are greatly mixed." For a moment, Torioi's eyebrow twitched, as if she was getting comments from an invisible audience. "Which leads me to my next point. We have to clear out the surveillance on my apartment Sunday. Or, rather, I have to, and I suspect none of you will allow me to do it on my own, for your own various reasons."
She definitely knew.
Next update Tuesday.
- Location
- England, unfortunately.
- Pronouns
- She/They
Wait, is Rei a goddang Cutie Honey expy?
- Location
- Sealed away in a pure maidens heart
*Inserts Phineas and Ferb song Busted here*
2-14-3 Room Of Whispers
[Secure An Advantage +Resolve+Miko Detective+Sweet Shine: 4+2+2+2 vs 2, 3 STRONG HIT]
It was a moment's messing with the door for Mei to let everyone into the library, a moment's work at the alarm panel for Kisaragi to let everyone in, and a moment's work at the corridors for Asamiya to find the nearest way into the Understacks.
The five of them slipped in, and Mei in particular notes that the others were far more wary of the place than she was.
Iwai-sensei was, sadly, already waiting for them when they arrived. "Torioi."
Mei paused. "— Ma'am?" Aw, damn, we should've known.
"Mind telling me why you've brought a bunch of witches into the Understacks?"
"As if you're not a witch?" Yumeno muttered, gently.
"— I remember you," Iwai said, suddenly laser focused on Yumeno. "The fallen star, wasn't it? How did that go?"
"I had to come back, the first one was a fake."
"Mm, that's about right." She turned back to Mei, expression still sour, waiting on that explanation.
"Well," Mei began, carefully enumerating the ways. "The Night Market has too many ears, the Steam Tunnels too unpredictable, KickStand closed an hour ago, I don't want to go to the Thunder Devil Dance Hall tonight, and the number of people who would want to deal with all of us, and you, on a weekday night, are very slim indeed."
"Safety? Here?" Iwai said, looking the five of them. "… I suppose you would think so, Torioi. What are you planning to talk over?"
"… I've done them a great disservice, I think," Mei said, "and it's time to take responsibility."
Did you actually just put it that way, Asura-chan said, bluntly.
Iwai looked between Mei and the others, who seemed to be looking anywhere but Iwai's eyes, and laughed. "Like hell! But fine, if they all think this is neutral ground, by all means. However…"
"However?" Mei paused. "Has another distortion showed up?"
"Nothing so onerous. I'll take you in. Your job is to get out on your own."
"I will determine why my suitors are attracted to me."
Rank: Formidable
[XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
If there existed anything so bold in the Understacks as to attack Mei, three superheroines, a shrine maiden, and the head librarian, it did not strike during the way in, leading to a place that…
Was, admittedly, nothing like what Mei would have thought from Iwai regarding what a safe place to talk was. She, personally, would have picked that low table again, or the kotatsu amongst the burning ruins of her house, blue-skied and quiet save for the sound of the wind, or her grandmother's house, where she'd talked Asura-chan around to being with her.
This, rather, was almost… Prosaic. A study room, with a round table, and walls with barely any shifting text all over them.
Mei quietly took a seat, facing the door, and the window behind her, normally a blank ruled page, lit up with [What do they even see in me?] in carefully written kanji, down the right side of the page.
[Special Site: The Room Of Whispers, a Morphic Archive. Deep in the Understacks, the whispers of your soul become more and more obvious, and ripple out farther and farther into the world— as do the whispers of others regarding you. A dangerous place to be…]
Mei shook her head. [Focus. You don't know for sure that all of them have a crush on you. No wishful thinking.]
Oi. Gimme yer face for a second.
Mei closed her eyes and there, on the paper, was [Oi. Gimme yer face for a second.] appearing in very clearly marked with helpful hiragana, like Asura-chan's thoughts were for the manga page.
[Oh, that's troublesome. They're going to see everything.] The words were very prim and proper and, Mei hoped, would hide, at least a little, the internal panic that she was feeling right at that moment.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, while keeping her eyes on Asura-chan's point of view.
Of a sudden, the window exploded with watercolors, painted hagiography of each of the women in front of her, complete with flowers, the softness of a smile, the shining in their eyes.
Mei put her head on the desk and groaned in defeat, her ears burning.
Morisawa looked to the others, and gently rapped the table, smiling. "Yes, we're aware there's a slight attraction there."
Mei looked up to see that, behind Morisawa, there was [This is adorable, isn't it?]
Yumeno was looking at the various pictures, and her thoughts were [I wonder if she'd like to be an artist instead of a manager?]
Asamiya was a little more guarded. [Well. This isn't what I expected, but Iwai-sensei certainly seems to know her stuff. ]
Kisaragi looked a bit irritated, not looking anyone in the eyes as carefully pencilled sketch designs of each of the others scrolled past her portion of the wall, changing subject as she changed who she was looking at, usually with best features marked as such.
If anything Mei went redder. [That— that can't be—]
[Believe it, sister.]
[Asura-chan—!!] Mei blinked. [… hiding is going to be impossible, isn't it. New plan.] "Well, it's as you saw. I… I realize it's not the best way to say it, but, lately I've realized…"
[Oh, dear, how do I put this?]
[Just tell them! They can obviously see you like them, you're pretty sure at least one likes you, just DO IT.]
[Who would start a girls' war over me!? There's gotta be a mistake, right, I'll clear this up--]
Morisawa started laughing. [Oh, heavens, was I like that once?] "I'll say it. You're cute. If anything, this whole thing makes you cuter."
The running commentary between Mei and Asura-chan stopped when she said that, both of them choking on their trains of thought.
[This kind of thing is why I can always rely on Morisawa-chan] came Asamiya's text, a faint smile on her face.
Morisawa's breath caught in her throat. Mei briefly felt a welling of joy at seeing they were admiring each other, enjoying each others' company.
Then Asamiya spoke up. "Well, regardless of Iwai's intention to set us up to start dating each other— though I have to say it's a little strange, isn't it? A staff member matchmaking for students…"
"Is that what you think is going on?" Kisaragi said, while [good, no one's realized yet] flashed over the paper.
"Well, it's either that, or Iwai figured this was the only place Torioi could be forthright with her feelings."
[yep they got us in the act don't they]
[yes I gathered that Asura-chan] "I suppose it's true that I, perhaps in wishful thinking, thought all four of you might want to do such a thing—"
"You called it a 'girls' war'," Kisaragi noted.
"Is that not what's happening here?" Mei replied, now leaning back, control of the situation briefly regained.
[Wait the others are interested too?]
[Wait, this is a bad thing?]
[yes]
[it is and I hate I'm on this side of it]
Mei looked around and said, "So I hate to come between friends in that regard."
"Friends is a strong word," Asamiya said.
"Well, you say that, but aren't you all meeting together once a week to play role-playing games?" Mei replied. "… And, uh, thank you, by the way, for trusting me to be…"
"Nah, I knew you wouldn't be a pain," Kisaragi said. "Call it a hunch!"
Everyone stared at the sketch of Mei behind her with the callouts [Elegant bearing with a careful expression. What does she feel?] [Lustrous hair. It's probably soft.] [The bow is a charm point. Is that where her lockpicks come from?] [beautiful eyes like garnets]
It was about this point that the embarrassment became too much for Mei and she covered her face.
Asamiya raised an eyebrow. The florid impressionistic patterns of her thoughts seemed to give Kisaragi a faint pink glow to go with her hair. "A hunch, isn't it?"
Mei looked up to see Asamiya's impressionist oils blending with the shining constellations of Yumeno's galactic photorealism.
[Gather Information +Thoughtful+Detective: 2+2+1 vs 4, 1 STRONG HIT]
As the conversation below began to spiral out a little into little tiny bickering, Mei's attention turned to the growing conversation above.
The mixing of everyone's thoughts and emotions and images— even Mei's own— took shape, constellations connecting to one another, thought meeting thought. Morisawa's filtered in, becoming slowly more animated.
Mei's ukiyo-e and Asura-chan's shounen sensibilities combined with Morisawa's tendency to think in music videos, and the intricate art and drawings of Kisaragi, to make theater out of Yumeno's stars and Asamiya's emotional impressions.
It was beautiful. They all loved each other so vibrantly.
Mei found herself bubbling up with a joy she had valiantly tried to suppress for a long time, and it slipped out in a giggle she didn't even recognize as the conversation stopped, and everyone looked at her. Then up.
"Ah— Sorry, sorry, it's just. I love seeing everyone get along like this. You all seem to like each other in such different ways. It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Mei found herself surprised that the others were nodding.
"And so— I…" How to put it. "Having a competition about this feels so… Silly. Let's work towards spending more time with each other."
"Sounds good," Asamiya said.
"I'm in," Kisaragi nodded.
"That's not what we were doing already?" Yumeno asked with a smile.
"You've surprised me again, Torioi," Morisawa said. "I thought for sure you'd try and favor one of us."
Mei blinked. That seemed like such a weird line to draw. "I mean, I don't know why. I'd be happy if you were dating each other, never mind me."
Yumeno smiled a far more genuine smile than she usually did. The other three suddenly found themselves thinking about that, if the pictures and thoughts behind them were any indication.
Mei, for her part, imagined a tucked away house or a cottage like Yumeno's where they could all live out their lives together. And… While it did have a certain escapist appeal…
No. Best not. But a stable living situation would do them all some good, even though the thought clearly echoed in the others' thoughts as well.
They passed the time with vague plans, and Mei led them out, where she went with Kisaragi (where had she gotten that bike? Wouldn't hers be at the port facility?) to the place she called her home.
"I will determine why my suitors are attracted to me."
Rank: Formidable
[XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
When it starts to fall apart, what does Mei feel? (All these things are true, but which is most true?)
[ ] Revulsion. The horror of it consumes her briefly.
[ ] Anger. A refusal to accept this happened.
[ ] Apprehension. Fear for others, more than herself.
[ ] Curiosity. A wonder at what might have been/
[ ] Resignation. Accepting that of course nothing in this world goes her way.
Voting begins in two hours and will last 3 days. Write-ins are allowed, but keep in mind she's walking into a disaster.
It was a moment's messing with the door for Mei to let everyone into the library, a moment's work at the alarm panel for Kisaragi to let everyone in, and a moment's work at the corridors for Asamiya to find the nearest way into the Understacks.
The five of them slipped in, and Mei in particular notes that the others were far more wary of the place than she was.
Iwai-sensei was, sadly, already waiting for them when they arrived. "Torioi."
Mei paused. "— Ma'am?" Aw, damn, we should've known.
"Mind telling me why you've brought a bunch of witches into the Understacks?"
"As if you're not a witch?" Yumeno muttered, gently.
"— I remember you," Iwai said, suddenly laser focused on Yumeno. "The fallen star, wasn't it? How did that go?"
"I had to come back, the first one was a fake."
"Mm, that's about right." She turned back to Mei, expression still sour, waiting on that explanation.
"Well," Mei began, carefully enumerating the ways. "The Night Market has too many ears, the Steam Tunnels too unpredictable, KickStand closed an hour ago, I don't want to go to the Thunder Devil Dance Hall tonight, and the number of people who would want to deal with all of us, and you, on a weekday night, are very slim indeed."
"Safety? Here?" Iwai said, looking the five of them. "… I suppose you would think so, Torioi. What are you planning to talk over?"
"… I've done them a great disservice, I think," Mei said, "and it's time to take responsibility."
Did you actually just put it that way, Asura-chan said, bluntly.
Iwai looked between Mei and the others, who seemed to be looking anywhere but Iwai's eyes, and laughed. "Like hell! But fine, if they all think this is neutral ground, by all means. However…"
"However?" Mei paused. "Has another distortion showed up?"
"Nothing so onerous. I'll take you in. Your job is to get out on your own."
"I will determine why my suitors are attracted to me."
Rank: Formidable
[XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
If there existed anything so bold in the Understacks as to attack Mei, three superheroines, a shrine maiden, and the head librarian, it did not strike during the way in, leading to a place that…
Was, admittedly, nothing like what Mei would have thought from Iwai regarding what a safe place to talk was. She, personally, would have picked that low table again, or the kotatsu amongst the burning ruins of her house, blue-skied and quiet save for the sound of the wind, or her grandmother's house, where she'd talked Asura-chan around to being with her.
This, rather, was almost… Prosaic. A study room, with a round table, and walls with barely any shifting text all over them.
Mei quietly took a seat, facing the door, and the window behind her, normally a blank ruled page, lit up with [What do they even see in me?] in carefully written kanji, down the right side of the page.
[Special Site: The Room Of Whispers, a Morphic Archive. Deep in the Understacks, the whispers of your soul become more and more obvious, and ripple out farther and farther into the world— as do the whispers of others regarding you. A dangerous place to be…]
Mei shook her head. [Focus. You don't know for sure that all of them have a crush on you. No wishful thinking.]
Oi. Gimme yer face for a second.
Mei closed her eyes and there, on the paper, was [Oi. Gimme yer face for a second.] appearing in very clearly marked with helpful hiragana, like Asura-chan's thoughts were for the manga page.
[Oh, that's troublesome. They're going to see everything.] The words were very prim and proper and, Mei hoped, would hide, at least a little, the internal panic that she was feeling right at that moment.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, while keeping her eyes on Asura-chan's point of view.
Of a sudden, the window exploded with watercolors, painted hagiography of each of the women in front of her, complete with flowers, the softness of a smile, the shining in their eyes.
Mei put her head on the desk and groaned in defeat, her ears burning.
Morisawa looked to the others, and gently rapped the table, smiling. "Yes, we're aware there's a slight attraction there."
Mei looked up to see that, behind Morisawa, there was [This is adorable, isn't it?]
Yumeno was looking at the various pictures, and her thoughts were [I wonder if she'd like to be an artist instead of a manager?]
Asamiya was a little more guarded. [Well. This isn't what I expected, but Iwai-sensei certainly seems to know her stuff. ]
Kisaragi looked a bit irritated, not looking anyone in the eyes as carefully pencilled sketch designs of each of the others scrolled past her portion of the wall, changing subject as she changed who she was looking at, usually with best features marked as such.
If anything Mei went redder. [That— that can't be—]
[Believe it, sister.]
[Asura-chan—!!] Mei blinked. [… hiding is going to be impossible, isn't it. New plan.] "Well, it's as you saw. I… I realize it's not the best way to say it, but, lately I've realized…"
[Oh, dear, how do I put this?]
[Just tell them! They can obviously see you like them, you're pretty sure at least one likes you, just DO IT.]
[Who would start a girls' war over me!? There's gotta be a mistake, right, I'll clear this up--]
Morisawa started laughing. [Oh, heavens, was I like that once?] "I'll say it. You're cute. If anything, this whole thing makes you cuter."
The running commentary between Mei and Asura-chan stopped when she said that, both of them choking on their trains of thought.
[This kind of thing is why I can always rely on Morisawa-chan] came Asamiya's text, a faint smile on her face.
Morisawa's breath caught in her throat. Mei briefly felt a welling of joy at seeing they were admiring each other, enjoying each others' company.
Then Asamiya spoke up. "Well, regardless of Iwai's intention to set us up to start dating each other— though I have to say it's a little strange, isn't it? A staff member matchmaking for students…"
"Is that what you think is going on?" Kisaragi said, while [good, no one's realized yet] flashed over the paper.
"Well, it's either that, or Iwai figured this was the only place Torioi could be forthright with her feelings."
[yep they got us in the act don't they]
[yes I gathered that Asura-chan] "I suppose it's true that I, perhaps in wishful thinking, thought all four of you might want to do such a thing—"
"You called it a 'girls' war'," Kisaragi noted.
"Is that not what's happening here?" Mei replied, now leaning back, control of the situation briefly regained.
[Wait the others are interested too?]
[Wait, this is a bad thing?]
[yes]
[it is and I hate I'm on this side of it]
Mei looked around and said, "So I hate to come between friends in that regard."
"Friends is a strong word," Asamiya said.
"Well, you say that, but aren't you all meeting together once a week to play role-playing games?" Mei replied. "… And, uh, thank you, by the way, for trusting me to be…"
"Nah, I knew you wouldn't be a pain," Kisaragi said. "Call it a hunch!"
Everyone stared at the sketch of Mei behind her with the callouts [Elegant bearing with a careful expression. What does she feel?] [Lustrous hair. It's probably soft.] [The bow is a charm point. Is that where her lockpicks come from?] [beautiful eyes like garnets]
It was about this point that the embarrassment became too much for Mei and she covered her face.
Asamiya raised an eyebrow. The florid impressionistic patterns of her thoughts seemed to give Kisaragi a faint pink glow to go with her hair. "A hunch, isn't it?"
Mei looked up to see Asamiya's impressionist oils blending with the shining constellations of Yumeno's galactic photorealism.
[Gather Information +Thoughtful+Detective: 2+2+1 vs 4, 1 STRONG HIT]
As the conversation below began to spiral out a little into little tiny bickering, Mei's attention turned to the growing conversation above.
The mixing of everyone's thoughts and emotions and images— even Mei's own— took shape, constellations connecting to one another, thought meeting thought. Morisawa's filtered in, becoming slowly more animated.
Mei's ukiyo-e and Asura-chan's shounen sensibilities combined with Morisawa's tendency to think in music videos, and the intricate art and drawings of Kisaragi, to make theater out of Yumeno's stars and Asamiya's emotional impressions.
It was beautiful. They all loved each other so vibrantly.
Mei found herself bubbling up with a joy she had valiantly tried to suppress for a long time, and it slipped out in a giggle she didn't even recognize as the conversation stopped, and everyone looked at her. Then up.
"Ah— Sorry, sorry, it's just. I love seeing everyone get along like this. You all seem to like each other in such different ways. It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Mei found herself surprised that the others were nodding.
"And so— I…" How to put it. "Having a competition about this feels so… Silly. Let's work towards spending more time with each other."
"Sounds good," Asamiya said.
"I'm in," Kisaragi nodded.
"That's not what we were doing already?" Yumeno asked with a smile.
"You've surprised me again, Torioi," Morisawa said. "I thought for sure you'd try and favor one of us."
Mei blinked. That seemed like such a weird line to draw. "I mean, I don't know why. I'd be happy if you were dating each other, never mind me."
Yumeno smiled a far more genuine smile than she usually did. The other three suddenly found themselves thinking about that, if the pictures and thoughts behind them were any indication.
Mei, for her part, imagined a tucked away house or a cottage like Yumeno's where they could all live out their lives together. And… While it did have a certain escapist appeal…
No. Best not. But a stable living situation would do them all some good, even though the thought clearly echoed in the others' thoughts as well.
They passed the time with vague plans, and Mei led them out, where she went with Kisaragi (where had she gotten that bike? Wouldn't hers be at the port facility?) to the place she called her home.
"I will determine why my suitors are attracted to me."
Rank: Formidable
[XX] [XX] [XX] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
When it starts to fall apart, what does Mei feel? (All these things are true, but which is most true?)
[ ] Revulsion. The horror of it consumes her briefly.
[ ] Anger. A refusal to accept this happened.
[ ] Apprehension. Fear for others, more than herself.
[ ] Curiosity. A wonder at what might have been/
[ ] Resignation. Accepting that of course nothing in this world goes her way.
Voting begins in two hours and will last 3 days. Write-ins are allowed, but keep in mind she's walking into a disaster.
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- Pronouns
- Fae/She
EXCUSE ME WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'WHEN IT STARTS TO FALL APART'???
- Pronouns
- Fae/She
[X] Anger. A refusal to accept this happened.
- Location
- Sealed away in a pure maidens heart
[X] Revulsion. The horror of it consumes her briefly.
[X] Resignation. Accepting that of course nothing in this world goes her way.
Your right Fabricati that did go to well! ...Now i just have to wonder what you are pouring gasoline on until you update i guess. Very cool scene and a nice way to get everybody on the same page! Excited to see if it backfires or if the explosions are unrelated, ciao!
[X] Resignation. Accepting that of course nothing in this world goes her way.
Your right Fabricati that did go to well! ...Now i just have to wonder what you are pouring gasoline on until you update i guess. Very cool scene and a nice way to get everybody on the same page! Excited to see if it backfires or if the explosions are unrelated, ciao!
- Location
- Sealed away in a pure maidens heart
Started thinking about this line again and had to go back to comment on it. It's very Mei! "I'm happy as long as your happy" and all that bullshit, but also... she's happy as long as she gets to watch the people she cares about grow closer, hold hands and maybe even kiss? She and Asura sure are crafty, but i'm on to their scheme! They just want to watch!
- Pronouns
- Fae/She
Nah, that's just the compersion. But I have to wonder, why revulsion and resignation? Aren't we tired of things going poorly? Don't we want to go apeshit?
Are we tired of things going badly? do we want to go ape shitt?
(yes, clearly, but how much?)