Transcender of Gender
Zone Six, Angel's Flophouse - J.J. Macfield
It's a... let's say interesting reminder of the disparate cultures nestled within the room, seeing how each person responds to your idea. Witch is as honest as she can be, and even when she isn't, her overwrought eyes betray the frustration beneath her platitudes. Swain is frank in a different manner, making little of your contribution. Perhaps he sees you as a silly little journalist, sticking her nose into affairs where she doesn't belong.
Rather, you hope that's what he thinks, don't you?
Be honest, J.J., you don't like him. One day his ravens are going to whisper in his ear that there's something different about you, and you don't know how he'll react to that.
He wouldn't care.
That's what we always have to hope for, isn't it?
You were raised to believe in the justness of the law, but- like many things you were taught- you came to realise that its sanctity did not extend to you. Those who wrote the rules, those who enforced them, and those who judged them; they would let you slip through the cracks, turn a blind eye to injustices wrought upon you. Because you had the gall to be different, J.J.. Even in this strange, multiversal crossroads, you are still different. And it's because you are different that you can never trust the Peacekeepers, even the ones that tear out the roots and admit their flaws and run a charming little dive bar where everyone who's different is not actually different at all.
You don't want to work with the Peacekeepers. You don't want them to be on your side, and you don't want Kayne to be happy with their protection. But life isn't fair, and you aren't strong enough in the ways that matter to offer a better alternative. So all you can do is suck it up, play along, and stop trying to throw away cards in what's probably the best hand you're going to be dealt.
With your head so full of thoughts, you don't trust your voice to be impartial, and so you simply nod along when needed and only speak up when Witch announces her leave. "The Barovian, wasn't it? There is more I'd like to discuss with you, so I'll hope to catch you there later."
It's not what you want to say, but again, you'll have to deal for now. If you are going to play nice, then Witch is as best a place to start as any. You offer her and Swain a dainty wave as they leave, then rise from your seat and make your way over to Moko, offering a slender arm for him to take in his own. "As much as I hate to tear you two lovebirds apart, I was promised an escort. We'll get your prosthetics first, then I can speak with the craftspeople while Moko tends to Ayla's friend here. And you, Kayne, can get some rest. Please make sure that she does, Ayla."
Assuming there were no interruptions, J.J. would also make her leave.
Edited by whizzerd on Apr 7th 2022 at 2:26:33 PM
they/them || "Forgive me, regent of queer amphibians" - Lt.BGob
Zone Four, Konohana Park—Godsmoot
Twenty-eighth of Firstmonth, Accord 143
"Well, there's no shortage of those around here," you mutter. Honestly, sometimes it feels like there are more immortals than mortal people living in this city. And it's not just the gods like yourself or all the Houraisans in the Diet that make you think that. Take Rumble and Frenzy, for instance: if the stories they've told you are accurate, the two of them are millions of years old. Sure, they're robots, but you figure they'd have broken down a long time ago if that was possible.
Focus, Bill.
You pick up a napkin and wipe off the crumbs and grease. It's quick and easily done, almost second nature after fifteen years of being one-handed, and you crumple the napkin up. You're about to toss it away, but then you think better of it and stuff the thing into a pocket. Doesn't seem right to litter in a place like this.
"So. A Daoist, huh?" You cup your chin, stroking your jawline with your index finger. "I've never met one, but I think there might have been some running around in my world. Can't swear to it, though."
You doubt this Miko is one of them. But you never know. For now, you'll just have to wait and see.
The Danse Macabre Codex
A dogged fellow, aren't we?
Thirteenth of Firstmonth
Satsuki – Inconspicuous courtyard
Satsuki’s eyes narrowed as Witch spoke, searching the other woman’s face for any sign of deception.
“Your mae culpa rings a little hollow when the officer responsible is still on the street. I was told she would be taken off duty for retraining – and yet I saw her guarding the concert this evening.”
Despite the coal of anger still fuelling her icy tone, the part of Satsuki that she held above such things had not missed what Witch had said. This wasn’t just an admission of weakness from a Peacekeeper Guardian. There were undertones of something else. Dissatisfaction, deeper than just one incident. An opening, or a tip of the hand. She did not have the time to interrogate it further, and so she filed it into the back of her mind.
Closing her eyes for just a second, she sighed softly through her nose.
“However, I’m not going to demand a pound of flesh from a child. I don’t want to see her anywhere near my territory. That will suffice.”
An unspoken ‘for now’ lingered in the courtyard for moment.
“What else?”
Edited by LittleMako on Apr 8th 2022 at 9:52:43 PM
Witch - Zone Five - Back Alley Courtyard
"Of fucking course she was," you said to yourself in disbelief, loud enough that Satsuki could still clearly hear it. A ragged sigh escaped your lips; This day just kept getting worse. "I can't even pretend to claim why that might be, unless she's registered as a contractor and Areum's security wished to shore up their numbers in the wake of the assassination attempt yesterday. I will have to look into that." It was the only thing that made even the slightest bit of sense; Areum was not one to rely on the Peacekeepers, and her events were large enough she required her own security anyway. But the Diet had just made a big show of allocating resources in response to yesterday's events, and Areum knew she was not invincible.
You had had something else you wanted to say, but those weren't the words that came out of your mouth. "I'm tired," you said instead, as a different train of thought took the reigns. "So very tired. I stopped having to kill my own countrymen when the peace treaty was signed over twenty years ago, and yet still I'm forced to toss the corpses of children like her onto the pyre." You locked eyes with her, as the exhaustion seeped into even your expression. "Tell me, can you see the end? Because I cannot. I don't know how much more of this I can take."
In that moment, the difference in stature between you was meaningless. A man, a mouse, or a mountain were all similarly insurmountable before a crippled dragon.
In the wake of entertaining your subconscious, you struggled to remember what else you had come to say, your mind briefly overcome with the rememberance of the stench you feared you would never be allowed to forget. As you stared into the sharp, steely blue eyes of your opponent, you saw them soften ever so slightly, even as the fire behind never dimmed. I did not ask for mercy, but I will accept understanding. In that beautiful glint, you found the path again, as though illuminated by moonlight.
"Second. Greed is gone. I imagine your people have already noticed something amiss, but I'm here to tell you I saw him disappear. Vanished into thin air, while barely in a state to even walk. This is beyond him, and he has not been seen in hours. This City knows the scent of blood, and it won't be long now before even the slowest of scavengers catch onto what's happened. Once I have finished substantiating my own spoils, I will see to passing along what remains of value."
"I have nothing more for you. Please take care not to feast too openly or too long. Once Greed's empire is gone, there will no longer be a larger threat than you."
As the time approached to end your visit, something else came rushing back to the forefront of your mind, and you stopped as you turned to leave. "...Actually, there is one more thing," you said. "Consider it a personal request, if you must. That scoundrel of a man who no doubt contacted you today. If you happen to come across any information you would be willing to share regarding him, it would be greatly appreciated." Your expression set firmly again for the first time since Satsuki arrived, a flash of rage rising in your eyes. "After what he put her through today, I want to see him paraded through the streets in chains."
Edited by lynkzero13 on Apr 11th 2022 at 9:21:43 AM
Mad Scientist
Zone One, Yagokoro General Hospital, Room 401; Alexi Vult
"Really? We're four floors up, I'm pretty sure you have a decent chance of dying at that height."
I vaguely recall reading something about that. Was it a 50 percent chance? Whatever.
"Even if you did survive, actually, I'd think you'd be so injured that it wouldn't be too hard for Grey to just shoot you from up here. He is a good shot."
"...That's all moot though if you have some sort of ability to... sustain falls better? Or something? Or maybe teleporting?"
Like Xavier, before he got a hole in his head.
"Anyway, let's check on Grey."
Before things start getting awkward.
Floor 4 Patient Rooms Hallway; Nathan Grey
...They're coming out here. Fuck, think of something to say that won't make them pry too much.
"Oh, uh. Hi. I'm fine. Yes. I am perfectly fine. Nothing... To Worry." I spoke, as a took in many a breath.
"...About. Let's just go."
"...To Deltsin's room. Do you have it? The number? Of his room?"
Local idiot who is a sucker for cute 2d boys
Zone one; Yagokoro General Hospital, Room 401 ~ Teto
As much as I would say I can fly out via my chimera form, that stops when Grey asks about the room number. Plus, Grey has been...a bit strange since he attempted doing a welcoming speech. Eh, he'll tell me sooner or later, right now pull the study of wumbo move on him.
Yeah, you somehow read the last number as one. It's supposed to be the number seven, henceforth the room number being room 407.
“You bowl with 3 middle fingers” Oh hey, a troper wall
Serial Rider
Zone 6-Streets-Horobi
Twenty-Eighth of Firstmonth, Accord 143It has been 6 months, 14 days, and 17 hours since Horobi was transported into the mysterious ship and subsequently, the city of Concordia. He was confused and suspicious at first, but when he learned of the circumstances that he had been forced into, he despaired for a bit until he resolved to steel himself, he still has people to protect after all. Still, he finds the city's eclectic mix of inhabitants to be strange yet fascinating , each of them bringing a piece of their world through their varied powers. However, the city is still full of sentient beings and thus, the capacity for something to be born from their malice, something he swore to destroy.
Trawling through the murky streets of Zone 6, Horobi patrols the zones to deal with any crime that he encounters. While he's certain that the Militia controlling this zone is competent enough to deal with their own threats, recent events has worried him. Of the events to note is the arrest of Dr. Robotnik and the suspension of his worker drones until the end of his trial is reached. He predicts that his arrest would definitely cause most unrest from the citizens , especially those of the working class who were displace by the Doctor's robots. Looking towards the sky, he took a long deep breath to calm himself. While he was a Humagear made to do jobs more efficient than humans, he still has humans emotions and he needs to wrangle it before it gets the better of him, lest he erred in his judgement once again.
Hiroki, Zone 6, Angel's Flophouse
Truthfully, JJ raised a very good point. After Kayne was assaulted by Peacekeepers, how would the public be able to accept having one of their members instated as the zone’s guardian? I could reason to myself that she isn’t like the rest of them, but that was something I had doubts the rest of Concordia would readily believe.
Besides that, I had to admit that… I had these nagging kernels of doubt about these firebrands within Concordia, like Witch - and yes, that includes Commander Satsuki herself. After the horrors Japan and Germany inflicted upon the world, how could I not? How could one’s faith in humanity as a whole and their capacity for goodness not falter after that? For now I would believe their intentions were genuinely benevolent, but I was always prepared for the moment when they might betray everything they stood for. It was the only way I really knew how to live my life.
In spite of the problems that would come from installing Witch as Guardian… what other choice was there? The ideas that Satsuki would be chosen for such a position or desire it in the first place were both laughable. She would never agree to work with the peacekeepers in any capacity due to her disgust she had for them, and they would never allow her to get that close to the levers of power due to their fear of her.
Kayne herself would be a rather strong choice - she maintains a good relationship with both the common man and law enforcement. But besides the difficulty of getting the Diet to sign off on that, didn’t she have her hands full with Zone 7 already? I don’t know if she had the time to take on all this extra responsibility. Doing so would also surely put a serious damper in her anti-authoritarian ‘brand’ for a lack of a better word.
…Not that any of this mattered. Witch was going to be the Guardian because Concordia was no more democratic than the Empire was. Actually, I suppose it is that point of comparison that allows me to accept this city’s miserable state of affairs in the first place. Compared to the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, the powers that be in Concordia were downright saintly. They wouldn’t have stopped at beating dissidents with batons, they would’ve chopped them up with katanas and fed their remains to dogs. Or experimented on them with biological weapons. Judged against them on this scale of evil and depravity, the Diet and the Peacekeepers were but toddlers who hadn’t even taken their first steps.
I truly hoped I would never live to see the day when they decided to stand up and walk. Or for that matter, that I'd ever run into one of those imperial scumbags ever again.
...Such thoughts were best not dwelled upon, I think. JJ and Witch were both making their leave, and I had little reason to stick around any longer - especially when I had the UUU investigation to attend to. I turned to Kayne and bid her adieu.
“I hope you have a swift recovery, Kayne. Don’t be a stranger.”
With that, I took my leave.
Mancunian Candidate
Zone One; Houraisan Estate - Jengbish
Twenty-Eighth of Firstmonth, CT.143
In the two-thousand-and-eighty-third year of the Qo, Vermillion Emperor Xuan prepared a lavish ceremony for the closing of the era. From atop the piled bodies of his heirs he ordained the final end of history, the beginning of the last and eternal plateau, and bade his courtiers partake in his glee - a glittering red elixir was conjured from the sleeves of his beloved alchemists, of arsenic and potable gold, and he imbibed with the smile still frozen on his lips.
The vomiting did not cease.
The interregnum lasted for two hundred years and wiped the eastern half of his empire, fractured into a hundred squabbling domains, from the face of the earth. The rivers clotted with blood. Entire cities were razed and the ground on which they stood sown with salt. From the ashes rose the Palatine, who knew him only as a despot and a fool.
Xuan spurned the grace of heaven, as with all emperors overthrown. He was not born of the moon.
You go barefoot, as is the custom of the household, wearing your silks and your deel and your dao, as is the custom of your own. There's familiarity in the shapes here, the slanting roofs and sliding doors, yet for the passing of a century the ethos is still foreign, and though you're centred by the cool grass and trickling currents of her courtly gardens, though if you close your eyes and and breathe you can almost envision the breeze about your temples blowing out across the Altak, the taste of metal in the air remains. The rocks were polished by guiding hands, as was the grass fastidiously ordered, perfection curated and caged behind high walls. A man can know the customs of the alien, but he can never truly understand them.
At the table she is as white and radiant, silk and hair in smooth soft layers, as are all things in the household of the moon, and speaks to you of crisis - you’re told, by those who judge such things, that her beauty is enough to rob men of their sense. You bow stiffly before taking your seat across the table, swarthy and grey and weathered by the wind, and know you’re here because it cannot reach you. You spent a lifetime gazing at her birthplace.
“To live in interesting times,“ you say, sipping from the cup. “The Terrans say this is a curse.“
Her wine, at least, you understand completely. But you were not summoned to drink.
“Ainsel will live. The physicians say her constitution is impressive. Swain has the men responsible.” They were gone by the time you arrived, cradling her tiny body, staunching her neck, pressing at her sternum with the heel of your hand, and that was the only reason they still drew breath. You entered her warehouse through the wall. “Were it my command I would blow them from the gun and show the people the reward such conduct invites, but I am sure he will do as he sees fit.”
You laid the dao across your lap as you sat down, and as you speak and drink you beat a pensive tattoo on the brass inlaid against its crimson lacquer.
“Areum is still in her melancholy. She cannot find her assassins and thinks this means the city has turned against her. Maia either knows nothing or has deceived us utterly. Myn is probably planning something asinine and we are under threat from foreigners. I am beginning to feel nostalgic.”
Edited by OG-Sama on Apr 20th 2022 at 1:27:28 PM
Twenty-Eighth of Firstmonth, Accord 143
Zone Six; Angel's Flophouse
"They say that the Peacekeepers are on your side, but that isn't necessarily true, is it? At least, not for all of them."
The voice is a familiar one, although it takes you two seconds to place it. When you finally manage to turn your head, you see two young men, one in a red jacket and one in a blue cloak. The older one in red is looking at you, and the younger one in blue is looking at the wall.
Never mind. You know exactly who these two are.
"I'm not here to cause any trouble, Miss Ainsel," says Petunia Smith, raising his hands. "I just wanted to thank Moko and Helena for their help. Without them, we wouldn't have been able to rescue this idiot over here. You remember the idiot, don't you?"
Begonia Smith, who looks exactly the same as the last time you saw him thirty years ago, twiddles his thumbs and fails to whistle.
"Hi, hat girl. Or is that hat lady? I was hoping we could get some milk, like I said back then, but then I realized that you were in bed, so I just got the milk. Instead. Um."
He produces a pint of milk from inside his cloak, dodges the astonished glares of the nurses, then shuffles over to the foot of your bed and puts it on the tray-table.
"I know I've been annoying, and I tried to steal Andradite, and all that, but I hope you'll be able to forgive me. I don't mean to be annoying, it just happens."
"He's lying," says Petunia. "He's always very deliberately annoying."
"Am not! I mean, am not."
Begonia pauses.
"This wasn't how I was hoping it'd go," he admits.
"Our boss managed to weaken the spell that Brand was using to hide Begonia from me," says Petunia. "He still vanishes from time to time, but I think that's a plus, actually. Now, if she could break the tracking spells, it'd be perfect, but as long as he's near me, I can extend the same psychic shield that I'm using to screen myself from Brand."
Begonia rummages inside his cloak, pulls both pockets inside out, then finally removes a fistful of small golden pills from underneath his leather jerkin.
"These don't seem like much," he says, "but they make you invisible to every targeted spell made or owned by Artifacts Incorporated. Wands, hexes, curses, blessings, you name it. If it needs to be aimed at you specifically, it won't work. Break one in half and consume the powder, then wash it down with clean water. The effect takes fifteen minutes to come into effect and lasts for a day. We give them to our item-testers so they don't die."
"The reason why the idiot didn't give them to you while you were rescuing him," says Petunia, "is because they were inside his third secret pocket, which he always forgets."
"I didn't forget it!" says Begonia. "I misplaced it!"
"Fortunately, it turns out we have more than we actually need, which is convenient for all of us."
Petunia places three glass bottles on the table, each with a small handwritten label. Begonia bites his lip and taps his finger on the bed, and then all the pills are inside the bottles, divided evenly into thirds. As Petunia hands out the bottles, you see that the handwriting is small and florid and rather astonishingly cute, if very haphazard.
ARTIFACTS INCORPORATED TARGETED-ITEM TESTER PILLS, DO NOT DISTRIBUTE OR CONSUME DRY
Thank you KAYNE for rescuing me I appreciate it greatly, Yours, Begonia Smith.
You can only hope that he swapped names for the other two bottles, because you didn't actually do any rescuing.
Petunia is still looking at you. It's like he knows how much you've been hurt, which, given that he does have mind-melting mind-magic, is quite possible but also rather creepy.
"I'm sure you don't need me to remind you, but Greed's fingers are all over Zone Five, even now. And I don't mean to bring things back to my own little set of problems, but now…"
"Darien Brand has Greed," says Begonia. "And he wants Moko, and me, and Andradite, and Leo, and uh, a few other people, which is kinda my fault, sorry… actually, now he's definitely out to get Moko."
"I was about to get there," says Petunia. "I'm not asking any of you for help. You've done more than enough. What I want to ask is that you be careful."
"He wants to build a factory in Zone Six," says Begonia. "I've seen his factories. They look good at first, but then you go deeper and you realize that everyone who works in them is, well, made good. It's complicated."
"If he can turn Greed into just another one of his puppets," says Petunia, "you might have more of a problem on your hands."
"Ahem," comes a new voice. "Are you quite finished?"
You turn your head to see a man so thin he looks like an origami ghost. His hair is long and black, his nose is hooked like a hockey stick, and his cheeks are as worn as Jengbish's undergarments. He is somehow fitting into an ornate starched uniform, with the badge of his office on every possible place a badge can fit.
He's a Guardian. Of course.
"My name is Theophilus Shinkansen Houraisan," says the thin man. "You ruined six of my men, which means that it's my fault, of course, except it isn't. I'd like to come to terms, Kayne Ainsel. I hear you're good at that."
His eyeballs wander. He uncaps the milk, puts the bottle to his lips, and drains it dry.
"Let's be reasonable, Ainsel," he says, as he evaporates the milk. "How much do I pay you to forget this?"
Zone One; Supreme Court of Concordia
In order to solidify the Concordian justice system, the Fifteenth Session of the Everlasting Diet called upon every legal mind in the City, self-proclaimed or otherwise, to submit their proposals for a better code of law. They received 50,032 separate papers. Of these, 25,002 were illegible, a further 15,214 were completely impractical, and a further 9800 were written in a strange and disturbing cipher that replaced every instance of the letter 'E' with 'E'SNT'.
The sixteen proposals that made it through, however, were true works of genius. Finely-crafted, logical, rational, practical, and extremely thorough, they were mulled over, admired for their grounded jurisprudence, and then discarded immediately by the Sixteenth Session of the Everlasting Diet, who voted against ratifying any of them because there was a rumor going around that the sixteen proposals were actually some kind of bad luck, and that nothing good could ever come of a double sixteen.
The statutory law was therefore left in its natural state, undisturbed, to flower like a bush. The Concordian justice system, unsolidified and uncodified, boasts a 99.9999999% conviction rate, except for Diet members, in which it boasts a 100% acquittal rate. The courts are all crammed into a single building, because there is very seldom any need for more than one hearing, and in any case the verdicts are almost always the same.
Except for now. This is big stuff.
It is here, in the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court, that you are gathered to take part in one of the trials of the century.
Not halls, actually. Hall. There's only one. It's quite small, and the AC isn't even working. You can smell everyone else.
"All rise," whines the bailiff. He is a large and corpulent sausage. No-one knows why he is a sausage, and no-one has asked.
Everyone rises.
"All sit."
Everyone sits.
"All rise."
Everyone rises.
"Sorry, that was a trial run. All sit."
"My knees are killing me," says the security guard.
"All rise!" snaps the bailiff. "The Honorable Judge is presiding."
Everyone sits.
You know The Honorable Judge quite well, actually. Bald head, long gray beard, a perpetually-perplexed expression. You don't know him well enough to work out what his name is, and apparently, neither does anyone else. He's just the Judge. Honorable, too, at least. He's got that going for him.
"Ahem," says the Judge. "Court is now in session."
"I would like to be excused," says one of the jurors, a little old lady who has glasses so thick that they almost extend from her head. "I think I left the kettle on."
"Um, well," says the Judge. "You do have a duty to fulfill your role as juror…"
"I would like to be excused too," says another juror.
"Me too."
"Me three."
Since the jury is simply a formality, the time-honored tradition in Concordia is for every single member of the jury to recuse themselves before trial on the grounds of terminal boredom.
"If you say so," sighs the Judge, sounding quite defeated.
The entire jury leaves at once. The Judge tugs at his beard, then peers down at his notes.
"Gentlemen, I take it both sides are ready?"
You both affirm this, looking at each other carefully. You've been through this quite a few times, but you never know what will happen in a trial.
"Ivo 'Eggman' Robotnik v. The Ninth Precinct of the Peacekeeping Forces of Concordia, et al. Please may the representatives of each party present their case."
The outcome may have been decided from the start, which could mean that nothing you say actually matters. You could be wasting your time, your breath, your energy. There are powerful forces in this court, and none of them care about justice, and more importantly, most of them haven't even shown up.
But that's the thrill of the chase, isn't it?
Zone Six; Precinct Nine
"No, wait, you can't go in there, lady, that's the important meeting room, Mrs. Witch said heeeeeeeey -"
The door opens and Tsukino Usagi falls in with the grace of a vacuum cleaner, followed by Violet and a tall woman with a brown ponytail, all stacked together like a human sandwich. Perhaps with terrible mayo, to be eaten on a roof. The possibilities are endless.
"I'm sorry Mr. Jakub," whines Usagi. "I told her that you told me not to let anyone in. But she didn't listen. I'm a bad police officer."
"Sir," says Violet. "Requesting permission to peacefully resolve the situation in an untrained manner."
"I'm a bad cop."
"Hold it," says the tall woman. "You can kick me out later, but before that, you might want to hear me now. My name's Jim Smith. I was there at the concert, and I told Vivy to take the stage. You might have seen me by the steps."
She gets to her feet, and you see that one of her legs is straighter than the other, as if she walks with a limp.
"I knew the shot was coming, Areum. I saw it. It's a rather specific gift of mine. Now, if you'll let me speak, I can tell you what I know."
She doesn't seem like she's lying, but then again, the best liars always seem like that.
What does she know?
Zone 6; Streets
You become aware, steadily, that something isn't right.
The streets are normally quiet this time of day, because everyone's either at work or griping about it. There are still people around, of course, but there aren't meant to be crowds.
There certainly aren't meant to be loud chants, either.
"NO BOTS! NO BOTS! DOWN WITH EGGMAN!"
"HEY-HO, HEY-HO, MASS AUTOMATION HAS GOTTA GO!"
"WHERE WERE YOU WHEN A CLAW ON A STICK DISPLACED THREE GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY?"
"DON'T JUST SUSPEND, SCRAP ALL OF THEM!"
The protesters fill the whole street. You see young men, old women, middle-aged geese, the works. The only uniting theme is that most of them have placards, and all of them look very angry.
"Hey, young man!" yells a passing penguin. "What do you think about the criminal replacement of good, honest, working Concordians by hamster-powered machines?"
"They took my brother!" screams the hamster on his head. "I will have vengeance!"
"Join us!" calls the penguin. "You have nothing to lose but those bots!"
"WHERE WERE YOU WHEN A CLAW ON A STICK DISPLACED FOUR GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY?"
This is a complicated situation.
Zone Four; Konohana Park
"Perhaps I am a Taoist. But then again, I have never been one for labels. There are those who cling to the Way like a tattered garment, and there are those who live and breathe in it like air. Ponder this well, friends."
The speaker has a strong low voice, so dulcet and invitingly pitched that for a moment you think him female, before you realize that you were wrong, and the he is actually a she, which does make her female. Probably.
It's something about her chin, perhaps, or the softness of her hand. You're not too sure if you can trust your eyes these days.
When did she get here, anyway?
"I am Toyosatomimi no Miko," says the speaker. "I called you here to discuss the state of religion in this fair city of ours."
Her hair is bright gold, and sticks up in tufts that remind you of a fox's ears. She is wearing a purple cape with a high collar. Underneath, you see hints of pastel pink, a black scabbard, and a long flat piece of wood that looks like a clapper. There is a strange contraption around her ears, and as you peer closer you realize that she just might be wearing earmuffs.
"Even the smallest god has great power. Not because of their might, but because of their dignity. Worship is a terrible and awful thing, but to those whom it is due, it should be natural. Expected, even. But what is the truth of the matter?"
She peers at you with bright, knowing eyes, and you realize that she isn't just a girl in a ridiculous costume. She understands exactly what she's doing.
"You are gods, and yet, save for Amaterasu-no-Okami, none of you have followers. One of you does the same work as the Flophouse healer, but for no pay, and the other languishes in poverty despite having the power to command the storm and the rains. Or the rains, at least."
The wooden clapper touches her chin.
"It goes against the Way. I would help you gain worshipers. There is a part you must play that accords with your being, and at the moment, you and this City are both poorer for want of it. There is power in belief, but not just for your good."
There is a middle-aged lady raving in the distance, but you can't quite make out what she's saying.
Something about Kinky Gong?
Edited by troydenite on Apr 19th 2022 at 1:29:39 AM
An Ordinary Oddball
Kayné Ainsel—Angel's Flophouse; Twenty-Eighth of Firstmonth, Accord 143
Somewhere between the visits of all and sundry, Kayne's twin ravens, Widget and Gizmo, had come pecking at the window, so she had to employ some complicated devilry with a broomstick to open it so that they could enter. They cawed and cooed and nuzzled her, managing to lift her spirits in a way that only such fine feathered children could. At the first sign of someone else coming to visit, they fluttered up to the rafters with only a word from Kayne.
"Lads, I'm only glad you're safe," she said with sincerity to the Smith siblings. "All is forgiven, but not forgotten, you scamps. I can only hope dear old Moko did not threaten you too much when you met him again. The pills will come in handy, though we might need more for a prolonged game of cat-and-mouse. Nevertheless, you have my thanks for keeping us in mind, and especially for keeping your promise from so long ago."
Indeed, the first thing Kayne did upon receiving the milk was to pour half of it into her thermos of coffee. Now it was like she had more coffee than she did in the first place, and she was quite proud of herself for thinking of such a solution to drag her supply of caffeine out, at least until Theophilus Shinkansen Houraisan came in and ruined the reunion. She affixed him with a gaze that was at once both scholarly and predatory, like an owl.
"I am only good at coming to terms because I have had much practice with it, Guardian Houraisan," she said, smiling thinly at him. The smile did not reach her eyes. "I have had to come to terms with my home being scoured from the face of the earth. I have had to come to terms with gnawing my own arm off when it was trapped under rubble in that same incident. I have had to come to terms with losing my leg, too, many, many years later. I have even had to come to terms with finding out that I am barren, yes, barren."
"So imagine my shock and surprise when one of the only places where I may freely create what I desire—even if it isn't children of my own—and help others do the same, was so rudely invaded by your lackeys, straying out of their own Zone. Invaded and razed to the ground," she continued. "Ever since coming here, I have done much, perhaps far too much to, again, come to terms and make good with those who have differing views from my own, but those people have one crucial difference from you in that they are not assholes. Indeed, I am going easy on you because Lady Kaguya and Swain might want a piece of you for themselves."
At this point, Widget and Gizmo fluttered down from the rafters to land on Kayne's shoulders. Kayne's eyes were alight with fury, hearthfire-hot in the sun filtering in through the curtains, contrasting menacingly with the glittering red eyes of her ravens, making it seem as though she were taking a few pages from Swain's book. They were, after all, implying that they had seen and heard everything that had just happened. And so did Swain.
"And it is because I am barren that I have to decency to respect the sanctity of Lady Kaguya's motherhood, of her creation, because I am not immediately demanding a pound of flesh and blood from you, nor your skin to hang over my mantel, nor your thick and empty skull to use as a pisspot," Kayne hissed, her ravens echoing her. "I only want your medals ripped from that uniform of yours so my ravens can use them in their nest, or so I can melt them down for scrap metal. And before you go thinking that this is some curse, or imprecation, or malediction, you should know that I don't believe in such things. You may choose to believe that I am making idle threats. I am not. I rarely make promises I cannot keep."
"I knew Lady Kaguya before you were the barest of an inkling in your mother's belly," Kayne finished, fist clenched in her lap, aware of the knife behind her, sheathed in the pillows she was propped against. She imagined sinking it deep into Guardian Houraisan's neck. "And Swain and Witch were just in here giving me their personal apologies, before you betrayed their ideals of justice with something as paltry as offering me a bribe. But that's beside the point. You wish to discuss payment? There is nothing, nothing that you could give me that could slake my complete and utter distaste for your person now. Instead, maybe you should go pay your respects to Lady Kaguya and Commander Swain so you can apologize for your own mistakes!"
"In short, you want me to forgive and forget?" Kayne asked, low and quiet in the silence that reigned after her fierce tirade. "You should have gotten to know me better, and you shouldn't have left witnesses. This ain't it, Hoss. This ain't it. Come to terms with that." Then she pulled out a cigar from behind her pillows, lit it, and blew a smoke ring in Guardian Houraisan's face. No doubt Helena would come to stop her from smoking, but in the moment, she knew it would feel good.
Edited by JumpingFruit on Apr 24th 2022 at 5:05:16 AM
I wear the skin of the Elder Things, having come unto my own.
Zone Four, Konohana Park—Godsmoot
Twenty-eighth of Firstmonth, Accord 143
You turn to face the owner of this voice. You see those tufts of hair—and you stiffen.
For just a moment, there's no ambiguity there. Those are fox ears, not blonde but off-white, twitching atop a head of off-white hair. Below that hair is a pale face, handsome and familiar. Its amber eyes twinkle. Its lips bare foxlike fangs in a sly grin. If you look down, you're sure you'll see a white kimono, its sleeves embroidered with prancing foxes in every color. You're sure there'll be a bushy white tail swishing idly back and forth as its owner plots their mischief.
You mouth falls open. Two names rise to your lips, vying to be the first one out—
Then the voice speaks again.
You blink at the incongruity. It doesn't sound like them—either of them—at all. And when you open your eyes, the spell is broken.
Blonde hair. Earmuffs. A high-collared cape neither of them would have been caught dead in. Grey eyes that seem far older than the youthful face in which they sit.
You close your mouth, letting those names die unspoken. You smother the familiar surge of guilt under a blanket of annoyance. How many people are you going to run into that remind you of absent friends?
The newcomer—Miko—is still talking. You inhale, exhale, and force yourself to listen.
What she has to say doesn't exactly move you.
"Well. You've obviously done your homework." You put your hand on your hip and cock your head to one side. "I'm Everett. And if you know as much about me as you seem to think, then you know I've already tried this. It didn't work out." You give her a challenging stare. "What makes you think this time will be any different?"
The Danse Macabre Codex
Ayla, Angel's Flophouse
-Ayla's gaze flits around the room as people come and go. What the skinniest of the newcomers wants or what Kay-ne says to him is beyond her, but the tone of their voices are as unmistakable as a dinosaur's roared challenge. Though weakened, Kay-ne is still willing to fight, and must be prevented from doing so before she hurts herself further.-
Kay-ne. Skinny man, enemy? You want Ayla smash skull skinny-man, or Ayla throw skinny man outside Kay-ne room?
Salacia Persei Elimo; Zone Four, Konohana Park - Religious Exemption
Toyosatomimi no Miko's rather unconventional outfit was strangely comfortable, all things considered, but her words were less so. She went on about worship being natural and expected, and Elimo politely nodded when appropriate, her smile becoming slightly more strained as the speech continued.
The dignity of a god, indeed. One would hope it is not sullied by such outlandish expectations.
"I appreciate the ...offer," she said in response, testing out the last word. "You will, I hope, elaborate on these parts you intend us to play. If we all accept, of course. I would not presume to speak for anyone else." Guilt, or something like it, flashed across her face and then was gone.
Her gaze drifted to Amaterasu, who was patiently waiting in the knowledge that this portion of the discussion did not apply to herself, and then snapped to the woman in the distance who was yelling about something. A ...monkey song? She couldn't quite hear from here, but it was definitely the least uncomfortable part of the situation.
So, let's hang an anchor from the sun... also my Tumblr
"...and then I could hear my rib snapping in half," Seija said, her hands in her pockets as she casually recounted a story from a week prior to Zima while walking down the street, "but all in all, I think my time was well spent. Can't serve the people without a few...uhh...broken ribs, right." Her tone was slick as ever, doing well to dramatize the story of beating up, and being beaten up by, a couple of local strike busters.
Ever since that one girl...the one with the glasses, apparently had a talking hat or something, was referred to as a "commernist" or whatever...got similarly well-treated, things had been spicy in the higher-numbered Zones. Couldn't go too far without some story of police violence or the like, and in that situation, Seija thrived. This whole trip had just been to catch up with Zima now that she was out of the clinic, and of course, most of the news Seija had to share was about people getting the shit beaten out of them. Or beating the shit out of others. One of the two.
"Anyway, I think he lost most of his front teeth, so I'm the real winner here. Teeth take a lot longer to grow back than a rib. And what's a..."
They turned a corner, and the sound of something raucous came from the further end of the street. Seija became silent, hastening her steps before coming onto the opposite street. Her eyes went agog...
Something was right. The calls for violent retribution, the stamping of feet in unison...Seija could tell that this protest she looked upon had all the ingredients to become a riot! The best kind of peaceful demonstration! She could practically smell the burned storefronts and trampled bodies...
...ahh, if only her innate contrarianism didn't make her want to loudly support that fatass Robotnik. Nothing would be more sublime than that fleeting moment in-between shouting slogans and having twenty boots stamp down on your body...that moment where the mob gives in to their innate barbarism and decides to fucking murder you, throwing away their claim to humanity by realizing their true, hateful selves. Then, wiping the blood from their soles, they spit on your memory by claiming it was a perfectly civilized congregation the next day...
...Seija could only wish that Zima wasn't here. Maybe if Zima really had gotten her head cracked open behind a Wendy's, then would the world be a better place.
After a moment to take in the sight, she pointed at the mob with a half-raised finger and a dull glance to her friend: "You know, those people seem pretty angry. They really got screwed over by that fat guy, huh?"
Kaguya chuckled to herself. "Nostalgia. Hmm." Her head tilted to the side, playful yet prying. "You had a good life if you're able to look these 'cursed' times and think to one's self about bluer skies." Her eyelids narrow. "Or perhaps you're simply happy you'll get more chances to cut someone down, eh?"
His legs were like tree trunks, and his arms were not much better. The scars that peek out of the silken garments he had on betray his tendency towards, or love of, the violent. And yet, how many within this city would be able to know him like this? He was a living weapon to most observers, but here he was, sitting quietly. Contemplating. Were it not for him towering over all but a few of her children, she'd imagine him a part of the family. Kaguya felt at ease; truth could be spoken here.
"If only Areum were a minor figure, then we wouldn't have to hear her many adherents' caterwauling coming over our walls. Perhaps, though, this will turn out for our better: I've seen many artists grieve and bemoan by withdrawing from society, focusing solely on their prints, or their lacquerwork, or their song...they become quiet. Often, they become more skilled artisans in their trade, as well."
She pulled up the cup to her lips. "Just as many find a different way out of life's woes, of course, but I've yet to see a rafter in this city built to hold up her weight."
"Myn...when is he not coming up with such plans?" The way the drink in her dish disappears suddenly accentuated her feeling on the matter, perhaps. "The poor man would jump at ghosts at night, so I can only imagine the fear that lay in his heart the moment the seas get a little rough."
And, of course, the main issue in the air: a certain friend of theirs. Kaguya sat silently for the following half-a-minute, looking out to the same beautiful panorama that had surrounded her since its construction. Her legs moved before she did, going up from a proper seiza to the side in a much less dignified manner. She poured herself some more.
"I'd beat her assailants to death myself, if I could. I think I stand to remind myself about earlier days, when we all had to fight for our survival, rather than just a few beneath us." She sharply exhaled, smiled, and looked off to the side. "I did my fair share of work back then."
"...but that distracts from the now." She looked back up at him, meeting his eyes. "Kayne's been doing herself no favors in forsaking the life of a First Farer - late to the party as she is, she could be living under my roof, greater than any of my children. And yet, she wants to be an...agitator, I guess the Diet would say. So would the Kaguya that sits on the Diet."
"Forgive me for making this drink of ours unpleasant. What would you do if the Kaguya that sits before you claimed some...sympathy?"
"No, that's weak. Attachment to her views and the movement she wants to make."
She leaned a little over the small, low table and carefully traced a finger over the flat of Jengbish's dao. "You are the Diet's own sword, after all. What would you think if you were presented with a chance to cut down that perfidious Kaguya, knowing she held thoughts for anything but the betterment of Concordia?"
Eggman's legs were strong...fit, even. Not fit enough to keep up with this constant sitting-and-standing routine, though. His eyes winced a little past his dark glasses, though his body language was carefully tailored to hide any other discomfort. No weakness could be shown. His life...his life's work! Everything depended on it.
In a suit tailored just for the occasion,* he sat on the defense's table. Pleasant. Calm. By his own measure, he needed to make the citizens of this ramshackle nowhere believe not only that he was not guilty, but to believe in him. He had received word before the trial commenced of growing demonstrations against him, and few in support. One in support. He actually hadn't paid them to do so, believe it or not, but he would've preferred if everyone in the City was shouting his name after the words 'Thank you Based' came out of his mouth.
He learned that unusual word from someone else in the pen. Good kid, shame he was going to have to go rot in jail for stealing from a grocery after losing his manufacturing job for some arcane reason.
Robotnik couldn't be all smiles, though. He needed to, when the time came, show his indignant outrage at being slandered by his competitors...but it wouldn't be spoken of course. That was his lawyer's job.
And his lawyer, of course, was the best he could find.
Edited by wikkit on Apr 20th 2022 at 6:06:11 AM
Transcender of Gender
"I don't wanna be heeeeere."
I sink down into the plastic seat, my bones evaporating alongside every shred of confidence I'd spent the past hour trying to muster. My shoes squeak against the polished floor, and the seams of my suit creak as I throw my hands up in anger against... I dunno, Amaterasu? I always thought the capital G was responsible for all my suffering, but he isn't the one getting his belly rubbed in the park.
Ahh, whatever. I slump back down, the last of my soul leaving me in a weak sigh. I don't wanna be here. I don't wanna be representing the most guilty person I've ever talked to in my life. I don't wanna be trapped in a spaceship millions of miles from home. I wanna wake up already.
My name is Phoenix Wright, and I'm in one hell of a mess.
Besides me, my assistant makes herself comfortable in another seat. "C'mon, Nick," she says. "It isn't all that bad."
"But Mayaaaaa..." My head rolls back. Eesh, no-one's cleaned that ceiling in a while. The cobwebs have cobwebs. "He's so guilty."
"You should always believe in your client!.. is what I'd normally say, but yeah, he tooootally did it."
I wail. Maya — my dearest friend, my assistant, my partner — ignores me, unfurling the wrapper to her- "Is that a burger? Where'd you get that?"
"Wendy's."
"Where's mine?"
She chomps down so she doesn't have to answer for her crime. I cross my arms and huff. "Oh, whatever. I'll have them order me a Wendy's for my last meal."
"They're not gonna put you to death just for representing Eggman."
"In this city?"
"...Well..."
"If the court doesn't come for me then the public sure will." There's the tiniest bit of movement on one of the webs. I squint, trying to see whether it's a spider or a poor, trapped fly. "Our rent isn't worth this."
"You want death by angry mob, or death by our landlord?"
"We wouldn't have this problem if you'd just let us camp out at Konohana."
"I told you, Nick," she chomps down on her greasy abomination, "'e phys'cal man'feftation of mm Shinto goddeff gives me an ex'stenshel crisis if mm think 'bout it too hard."
"I can tell." I drawl. Up above, the struggling fly is joined by its predator. I look back down as the two dots converge. At the other side of the room, I can see the jurors all coming up with their excuses to leave. All-consuming as my self-pity may be, I do find a space to get angry at how much of a farce this whole system is. Sure, the court at home isn't much better, but at least there's a chance for the innocent to walk (as much of a tightrope as it can be sometimes).
Weirdly enough, thinking about the impossibility of it all is what gives me the energy to right myself in the seat. "Well, I guess I can only do my best. I just have to hope this time that he'll be on top form too."
A soggy piece of lettuce droops down from Maya's lip.
Oh, yeah, this is gonna go great.
"The defence is ready, Your Honor."
I don't know whether it's a miracle or some sort of twisted joke that half the people I know also somehow ended up in this city. There's Maya, of course, briefly ducked under the bench to wipe off a smudge of ketchup she'd just noticed on her chin. There's the Judge, as imposing and gormless as always. And then there's him. Spent my whole adult life chasing that guy down, and now I can't get him to leave. Look at him, with his perfectly tailored suit, his freshly-pressed cravat, his cool gaze... agh, he ticks me off.
But we're in the courtroom now. We're professionals in here. I keep my back straight and my expression straighter as Edgeworth confirms his readiness, and then it's back to me for my opening statement. I spent the night memorising it instead of sleeping, but I still pull out my papers and give them a reassuring tap, tap as I speak.
"On the Twelfth of Firstmonth, the individual known as Andradite was abducted from outside their place of the work: the Egress Eternal in Zone 6. According to the Peacekeepers and related parties who rescued Andradite, the one responsible for this heinous crime was Greed, a known criminal element in Zone 5. It was then postulated from Andradite's recounting that my client, Dr. Ivo Robotnik, was also involved in the abduction."
And Andy's right! Good work everyone, case closed. I let out a weird sound that only Maya can hear, and continue after her elbow nudges my ribs. "Given Greed's continued absence in face of the charges levied against both him and my client, it is the defence's position that not only is Dr. Robotnik innocent of these accusations, but that it's impossible to ascertain the true events of the abduction and fairly conduct a trial until Greed is found. To pin these crimes on Robotnik while a known culprit remains at large would be a gross miscarriage of justice."
You hear that? That's my mentor, Mia, rolling in her grave. I slide the papers back onto the desk, staring daggers at my hand to stop it from shaking - and, also, to stop myself from looking into Edgeworth's eyes and having him realise that I don't believe a single damn word that I'm saying.
Zone Six, Angel's Flophouse - Leonardo Watch
Hospital food sucked. That wasn't a slight against any hard-working hospital chefs out there — it definitely wasn't an insult towards Helena — but it was a simple fact that the meals were a) not the facility's highest priority, and b) made to be healthy and consumable by most anyone, which usually came at the cost of flavour. Leo knew better than most that a hospital meal could almost do more bad than good, which is why he'd stopped on the way to the Flophouse to procure a finer dining experience from the first fast food joint that he recognised.
The two brothers had gone on ahead, leaving Leo hustling after their wake with paper bag in hand. He'd gotten their whole spiel about Petunia's magic screening, and downed one of the pills they'd given him, but that didn't assuage his ever-present anxiety that something was going to go wrong the second that the two of them were out of eyesight. By the time he reached the Flophouse he had to bend over by the front door to get his breath back. He could hear familiar voices from inside, which at least stopped his stomach from twisting in knots.
Alright, no need to be a worrywart, and even less reason to show it. He straightened up, put on his best casual smile, and walked in to Kayne's room. "Hey, sorry I'm la-"
"-I am not immediately demanding a pound of flesh and blood from you, nor your skin to hang over my mantel, nor your thick and empty skull to use as a pisspot-"
Leo froze.
"You want Ayla smash skull skinny-man?"
Leo balked.
In the ensuing silence, a reedy, nervous giggle fought to escape him, but was caught in his throat and emerged instead as a half-muted gargle. "I'll, uh." With great haste, he deposited the food bag on the nearest flat surface. "Just leave this and, uh... come back later?"
Zone Six, Precinct Nine - Ichiban Kasuga
It's supposed to be his day off but, as they say, a hero never sleeps. He also doesn't have much better to do on a... whatever morning this was. It has a Friday feel, so he'll go with that. On this fine Friday morning, Ichiban finds himself taking a stroll to the precinct, humming as he goes. He knew Witch wouldn't be there, but maybe Kim would be, and there'd be extra work to take off his hands if Ichiban knew the guy at all.
That thought of being a Good Worker™ and Cool Friend™ takes a nosedive to oblivion when he actually arrives to find a hulking beast hunched over the doorway. It only takes a second to recognise the kaiju, however, and Ichiban greets him with a holler and a friendly slap on the thigh. "Hey hey, Zilla! What brings you here?" The urge to give Zilla a bounty of good scritches is waylaid by the realisation that, if Zilla was here, then Areum probably was too, and if Areum was here... "It's about the assassinations, right?" he continues, voice dropping into a serious cadence.
It's an absurd reminder that Areum is more than just a catchy tune blared over the Barovian's speakers. She's a politician, too; more than that, she's a person, with her own feelings and dreams and a big ol' pet who's probably worried sick about her. "Don't worry about it pal." With Zilla's head lowered to peek into the window, Ichiban is able to clap him atop his scaly head. "We'll catch whatever bastard is responsible for this."
With that, Ichiban makes his way around the reptile and into the building proper, balking a little at the amount of people crammed into the meeting room. "Hey, who- I mean, morning Jakub, Idunn." He offers his fellow officers a quick salute (upending it with a smaller one towards Violet and Usagi), and then returns his attention to the half dozen other visitors. "You all here for Areum's case? Uhh, are you all supposed to be here?"
they/them || "Forgive me, regent of queer amphibians" - Lt.BGob
Helena, Angel’s Flophouse
Things were immediately very tense once the Houraisan Guardian entered the room. Helena became more and more concerned for Kayne’s blood pressure as she kept talking, but she couldn’t blame her for being angry. The offer she was being given was utterly insulting, though sadly not unexpected. The Houraisans were transparently greedy and corrupt, which made Kayne’s close friendship with their matriarch all the more intriguing to the angel.
But right now there were two things that alarmed Helena - one was Ayla’s implicit desire to start a fight in the hospital, and equally as alarmingly to a medical professional, Kayne was smoking.
“Miss Ainsel, please do not smoke in the hospital. We have people with a variety of medical ailments, some of which are highly sensitive to the presence of secondhand smoke. Also…”
She turns to Ayla.
“There is to be no violence in the hospital, either. Is that understood?”
Helena’s strength and stature rarely came in handy with her job, given how careful it meant she had to be with her often fragile patients. It did, however, mean the Flophouse didn’t need a huge security team during times like this. Now when they had someone with THESE guns, baby.
She looked over at Leo, who had walked in on all of this, and felt bad for him. At this point, feeling bad for Leonardo was such a common feeling for Helena that it would be more noteworthy to specify when she didn’t. Such times included whenever the prodigiously tall bubblegum popstar wasn’t around, or when the other prodigiously tall amoral witch wasn’t present, or when Greed wasn’t causing trouble, or when Eggman wasn’t up to no good, or when his short stature didn’t have an existential battle with a nearby shelf, or when Darien Brand wasn’t plotting his machinations, or when Usagi wasn’t walking around in a peacekeeper’s uniform shouting “all who don’t practice love and justice will be arrested”, or when he wasn’t attacked by a stray animal via an act from an angry god, or when someone didn’t say “excuse me miss, is that your son? He’s the most wonderfully handsome middle schooler I’ve ever seen” when he was traveling with a woman…
…
Well, when all of those conditions were met, Leo was generally fine.
Areum, Zone Six, Precinct Nine
I give a polite nod to Ichiban. I assume just about everyone who plans to be involved with the case has gathered by now.
Idunn postulated that perhaps the assassination attempts were meant damage the prestige of the Diet rather than anything with personal animosity towards me specifically. I had to admit, the thought was a little comforting.
“I suppose that’s a reasonable theory.”
…Left unstated was the fact that after decades of mockery and derision, I didn’t care about the Diet’s reputation anymore, and honestly I probably would not blink if most of its members were assassinated themselves. As much as I’ve reasoned to myself over the course of the last week that it would be more “practical” to try to mend relations with people like Myn or Kaguya, deep down… I had little expectation that ever would come to pass, and I had no desire to grovel for their respect after all these years.
My attention suddenly shifts to the two blondes.
“I don’t even know why you two are still on the force,” I bluntly say to Violet and Usagi. “I wouldn’t trust you two to grab me coffee, let alone do Peacekeeper work. Please do not meddle where you are not wanted.”
The time for whatever fake positivity or jovialness I had been displaying up to this point was over. I didn’t have the energy to do that right now, and it was impossible for me to hide my contempt for these dullards. I then looked over at the mysterious woman who had just entered, wondering if she was bullshitting me or not. I suppose I could judge that for myself after hearing her out, though.
“You have my attention. Please, continue.”
Edited by HilarityEnsues on Apr 22nd 2022 at 1:16:31 PM
Local idiot who is a sucker for cute 2d boys
Zone 3; Don Quixote ~ Teddie
While working, I kept thinking about how to make a commercial for Donki since the customers told me I should make one. To be fair, they're not wrong as Junes have a catchy commercial that Nana-chan sings every time it shows on tv. However, this isn't Inaba, this is CONCORDIA, where the diet doesn't give a damn about whatever. Plus, as I much I would ask Vivy if it's okay if she would like to sing just for the commercial. But, it may or may not be a bad idea considering that something causes the stage to explode somehow. Plus, all I can do is dance, not sing. I mean, Risa can sing, but she isn't in this city for obvious reasons.I guess...they'll didn't bother to know I'm gone... And here comes the negative thoughts I didn't ask for but have to every once in a while. Sure, I flirted with every woman I see in Inaba much to everyone but Yu and Nana-chan annoyance, but there's a reason why I do that is...hard to explain.
Maybe I should stay....at the shadow world instead of going to their world...
Thankfully, I plague those thoughts as I heard the door open from someone. I immediately walk towards whoever that person was and welcome them.
Hello! Welcome to Donki! Do you need something?
Half of me is thinking it's just a customer, but the other half of me is hoping they came for a job.
“You bowl with 3 middle fingers” Oh hey, a troper wall
Mad Scientist
Zone One, Yagokoro General Hospital, Floor 4 Patient Rooms Hallway; Nathan Grey
"Alright. Room 407. Here we go."
Just walk. Keep walking. Walk and...
Here we are.
...I need a moment. I don't want to just go in there right now. I know what Alzheimer's does to people. To their minds.
...To their memories.
That... would remind me too much of-
Gah, don't. You'll just keep- Don't.
Alright, distraction or some reason not to go in just yet. Uhhhhh...
Right, didn't finish that speech. I'll finish it then.
Alexi Vult
...why is Grey just standing motionless in front of the door?
Seriously, why does he kept doing that?
Oh, he's turning around now, back towards Teto. Saying something.
Nathan Grey
"I just remembered. I never finished explaining Concordia and the shared issue all of us face here. Rich, impoverished, or off the grid entirely, all have a shared issue."
Alexi briefly seems about to say something but reconsiders, moving on.
Alright, here we go. "In that we are all stuck here on the Ship. Until someone finds a way out, of course. Although people have likely been searching for one for all one hundred and forty three years of the existence of Concordia. Though personally I can't help but think that they're focusing too much on the idea of the Incoherency holding the way out. I think that, personally, we should look into *creating* a way out of here ourselves, so we don't end up relying on whatever probably broken by now method was initially used to get out of here back when the Ship was used for... whatever the fuck it was used for. Anyway.... Anyway... Any... give me a moment here."
Local idiot who is a sucker for cute 2d boys
Zone 1, Yagokoro General Hospital, Floor 4 Patient Rooms Hallway ~ Teto
....Okay, Grey is delaying the opening of the door of room 407. What is this? The literature club? I just watch for a few seconds to see if he's going to open the door until I sigh so loudly, that I'm convinced that Grey isn't handling whatever the Deltsin guy is diagnosed with that well. Besides, that's what my master would react to if he's here in this city as well.Grey, I understand why you're not opening the door considering it's just a visit of a friend you know of and it's something you didn't want your friend to deal with, but I could just open the door for you if it helps you out a little bit. If not, that's fine since I'm sure we're not in a rush.
I'll admit, I don't know what to do after getting out of the hospital the legal way, so there's that. Even if he doesn't want to open the door, I guess Vult can brute force to open the door in case he said no. Besides, it's not like this is some kind of huge trap we're going to get ourselves into.
Edited by Xabbynip09 on Apr 23rd 2022 at 1:47:45 PM
“You bowl with 3 middle fingers” Oh hey, a troper wall
Peacekeepers - Zone Six - Precinct Nine
"Works for me," Jakub replied to Areum, turning his attention back to the evidence files. As long as he doesn't wreck the place, not my problem, he thought.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much new information to go off of. "Right, right," he said, when the pop star brought up her rival. "We're keepin' an eye on them as well, although right now we don't have any proof to support their involvement. Can't rule it out, though, bad blood when it comes to business has a way of pushing people to do crazy shit."
Also unfortunately, there was more commotion from just outside the meeting room, and several more figures piled into the room and spilled onto the floor in a gangling mess. Jakub groaned as he recognized two of them as the new recruits, and internally found himself agreeing with Usagi. Just the fuckin' worst. How's she even tie her shoes? In a stroke of something tangentially approaching luck, Ichiban wasn't far behind them.
The third woman to rise from the pile was a new face, however, and the grizzled mechanic quickly found his eyes darting to ensure his pistol was on his belt. "Alright, start talking. No funny business." There was still the problem of the other two that needed addressing, though.
"No, Violet," Jakub said, rubbing his forehead, "You can get back to your duties. If you're all caught up on the reports, then check on the pots in the kitchen and make sure we've got coffee for our guests. Tsukino-" he said, turning to Usagi, and briefly reconsidering even saying anything, before finishing "...Just go back to your desk and stay out of the way."
Jakub had to keep himself from cheering as Areum disparaged the two new hires, before remembering that this meant he still had to deal with them on a regular basis. "Sorry 'bout that, ma'am. We're a little... desperate for help, and we're still trying to put them through their paces and get 'em fully trained. They're both eager, and command ain't about to turn down fresh faces." Much as I'd like them to, he thought.
"Mornin', Ichiban," he finally said, nodding to the younger man with something resembling respect. How an ex-yakuza wound up working for the fuzz was beyond his pay grade, but as dense as he was he was still plenty helpful in his own way. At least he could hold his drink as well as he held his own in a fight.
Witch - Zone Three - Hive Alleyway Access
You checked your watch before glancing back down the alley. It was ten minutes out from the appointed time. There had been a fairly last minute member brought on to the team, but everything checked out with all of the mercs. None of them had any history with the UUU, nor much in the way of criminal history beyond what nearly everyone in this City was guilty of. At the very least, none of them were suspected of anything that might put the job in jeopardy.
It certainly was rather... convenient, however, that all three of the mercs were aligned with Satsuki. To your knowledge the Militia had no involvement with the impetus of this operation owing to the other distractions that required their attention. Given they were all lower ranking members and registered mercs in their own right, you were willing to dismiss it as mere coincidence. The last name, however, was vaguely familiar, and just distant enough you had trouble placing a face to match.
Tragically, the good Dr. Grey was less helpful in regards to preparation than you would've liked. He had worked in this facility, as had Vult, and the two of them very likely knew more about it than anyone else still able to speak of it. Your own experience with the complex had barely scratched the surface of it. Their reticence was understandable, you supposed, but you had insisted on more and more information; You weren't about to approve an operation into dangerous territory and go in blind. There had already been enough corpses removed from the facility without introducing more. You'd managed to procure some equipment to aid in the mission, all kept off the record until after the fact courtesy of Swain. Unfortunately you were unable to acquire a known better map of the complex than what the survey teams had compiled. The cleanup and investigation teams had been quite thorough, but the complex was massive, and without more inside information it was unlikely all of its secrets would ever be fully revealed. It also meant there were quite likely still dangers that couldn't be accounted for. All the more reason to be as prepared as possible. The duffel bag resting in the shadows at your feet brimmed with the fruits of your labors in that regard.
The instructions you provided were clear; Arrive armed for a fight, no distinguishing marks or sigils, don't draw attention to yourselves on the way. Spoils would be divided evenly at the end once the main objectives were secured. And most importantly, keep your fucking mouths shut. Just because this salvage operation was above board didn't mean the whole City needed to know about it. The last thing you needed was idiots getting the idea there was more of value still buried down there and breaking in to get themselves killed, or worse, release something still hidden in containment.
You heard footsteps coming from further down the alley. You stuck to the shadows while waiting to confirm you hadn't been compromised, and once you were certain it was, in fact, a member of the team, stepped out into the relative open. "Good, you're here," you said. "Once we can verify everyone, we should be able to begin. I trust everything is in order?"
Mad Scientist
Content Warning: A less than... kind discussion of an Alzheimer's Patient. Followed by the realization of someone of what Alzheimer's is. If you know someone suffering from Dementia, you may not want to read this.
Zone One, Yagokoro General Hospital, Floor 4 Patient Rooms Hallway; Nathan Grey
"...friend?" I asked incredulously. "He's no friend of mine. I only know of him from that letter scrap I grabbed out of a pile of other letter scraps of... varying usefulness. Hell, I'm only here just to grab a fucking biometric scan but sure, apply whatever half-baked idea of a relationship me and Deltsin may have to the fucking reality we fucking live in! Delaying? Here's a delay for you!"
I turned and kicked in the door, slamming it into the wall on the other side of it, although it remained intact.
"There he is!" I pointed towards Deltsin, lying there hooked up to a dozen instruments. "Unmoving! Unseeing! Look upon the mindless husk of a man! LOOK AT HIM! LOOK AT HIM!"
I paused, taking a breath.
"He lies in front of us, dead to the world! Merely existing as not a man, but a corpse. A corpse that can not accept his inevitable demise, even when he can not even comprehend it in the slightest! His mind, once brilliant, I assume at least, if he really was on the Alpha Council, but that's not really a qualifier for intelligence is it, looking back?"
"And if all of that was not enough to debase you of your worthless assumption, then how's this for thought?!" I snatched up his chart, and looked at the admission date. I threw it over to Teto. "Look at the date. He was admitted here over 6 years ago, back in Accord 137, Eighthmonth to be exact. He has lain within these halls even since. I arrived in Concordia only 2 years ago, back in Accord 141, Firstmonth! I joined the UUU the same month and only joined Project Carbon, where I only then knew the Alpha Council, a week from then."
He has likely been in a mindless and deathless state for quite a while since then. I had no reason to know him. No reason to care about his life, and even if I did-!"
I paused, for but a moment to sort out the continuation of my response, my yelling relaxing to a mere harsh voice. "Even if I did, I would give up on him entirely. There is nothing left of who he was, who he might have been, and there is no recovery from this. He will lie here, in a desolate state. For the rest of his remaining, of which there are few, da-!"
Alexi Vult, Throughout all this.
He's... I...
I...
Gone?
Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone.
I grabbed the first thing I saw, the clipboard Grey had tossed over to Teto. I threw it directly at Grey's head, hard.
The wooden board hit him, dead on. In a few moments, he collapsed to the floor. Unconscious.
"...oh fuck."
I could tell I was saying it all aloud, but I couldn't find myself caring about who would hear.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! Fuck! FUCK! FUCK!"
"I just couldn't take it anymore. He just spoke of the man who was practically the only one who even showed kindness to me in that desolate place we called the Hive. Not even my father, the same Voltaire that Grey had taken the letter scrap telling of Deltsin's location, showed me the same kindness."
"To think. If we had never met, I would have never learned of his state."
"...It's funny, isn't it? Funny. Funny. Funny. Funny."
"It makes me want to-Ha! Make me- Heh, hah! Ha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"
I laughed.
Laughed and Laughed and Laughed and Laughed and Laughed and Laughed and Laughed and Laughed and Cried and Laughed and Laughed and Cried and Laughed and Laughed and Cried and Laughed and Laughed and Cried and Laughed and Cried and Laughed and Cried and Laughed and Cried and Laughed and Cried and Laughed and Cried and Cried and Laughed and Cried and Cried and Laughed and Cried and Cried and-
Eventually I stopped laughing, and just cried there on the floor.
Edited by Mindris on Apr 24th 2022 at 3:08:18 PM
Local idiot who is a sucker for cute 2d boys
Zone One; Yagokoro General Hospital, Room 407 ~ Teto
Well, this is a lovely scene I got myself in. And by lovely, I mean a messy situation I'm in. Grey is already unconscious, and Vult is crying on the floor.This could be my chance to leave.
I thought as I looked back at the door that Grey kicked. As I was about to head out, I stopped midway and looked back at them. Grey is still unconscious, and Vult is still crying. Honestly, I can't just leave them in that state. I grab the clipboard that Grey gave me at first before Vult grabs it to dunk it on him and look for whatever blank space I can find. Once I did, I wrote up something on paper for Grey and Vult to read later on. On the paper, it follows:
"By the time you read this, I already left the hospital. Don't get any wrong idea! I wasn't even using you guys to get out in the first place. It's just that...I don't what to do in that situation. I know things going aren't going to get better, but the other things might get better. Sure, deltsin is dead but only dead as who you two remember him as. At least, that's what I believe. You can believe otherwise since there's no point in me cheering everyone up. I don't know if you two got anything else to do besides checking up on Deltsin, but in case you two do, we can meet up somewhere where there's no one around that'll do something after whatever you two are dealing with after deltsin. If not, that's fine. Well, it's been nice to meet you two. Signed Teto."
Yeah, sounds a bit cheesy, but formal enough for them to read once that blows over. Just in case Grey can't even tell who wrote it, I added a little doodle of myself, eating a baguette. After doodling, I put the paper I wrote onto the clipboard and have the clipboard in front of Grey once he wakes up. With that, I left the room and hospital, just to get some fresh air.
Zone one; Outside of Yagokoro General Hospital.
At least I didn't get out of the window, otherwise everyone could see a chimera flying out of the hospital. I mutter to myself. As I look around, some people are looking at me for some reason. I realize that I'm still wearing the hospital gown, not my clothes. Eh, my clothes are already burned from the bonfire, an hospital gown is enough for me to wear. So, I walk around the city, ignoring those who give me looks for wearing the hospital gown. “You bowl with 3 middle fingers” Oh hey, a troper wall
Irvine; Zone Three, Hive Alleyway Access
Irvine silently laments his lack of a watch; if he had one, he thinks, he could measure how long it was taking their absentee to arrive. As it was, though, them being late was just another problem, and not something he could really do anything about.
He can theoretically scan for whoever it was if they had some especially strong magic or actually were magic, he supposes. Unfortunately for that idea, he still has a headache from when he tried doing that five minutes ago, and he's not keen on asking Hiroki and Witch to leave so their swords don't play interference. Aspirin later was certainly better than revealing that he was able to use magic now.
Then Susie arrives. Irvine finds this a mixed blessing; on one hand, she was usually impolite enough to preclude friendly conversation regardless of the proximity of authority figures. On the other hand, this was obviously not an entirely good thing.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" he replies, tone light as always. "If you ask me what your duffel bag being brown means in the context of the city's development, though, I may have to reconsider."
So, let's hang an anchor from the sun... also my Tumblr
Ayla, Angel's Flophouse
-Ayla shakes her head when the others leave.-
"Moko, take many-many day fix Kay-ne leg and arm. Kay-ne tell Ayla who hurt. Ayla track down, carry Kay-ne until Kay-ne fixed."